bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Examining the Association Between Age and Tractor Driving Performance Measures Using a High-Fidelity Tractor Driving Simulator
Authors: Faust Kayla , Casteel Carri , McGehee Daniel V. , Peek-Asa Corinne , Rohlman Diane , Ramirez Marizen R.
Published: July 2021

Highlights

This study uses a new tractor driving simulator to examine the impact of age on perception response time in an emergency braking situation.

The results demonstrate increased risk for crash among older farm equipment operators.

Abstract.
Transportation-related incidents are the leading cause of occupational fatalities for all industries in the U.S. In the agriculture industry, where tractor-related incidents are the leading cause of occupational fatality, fatal crashes occur more frequently among senior farm equipment operators (FEOs) than younger FEOs. This study examined the association between age and driving performance among FEOs using a simulated driving environment. We demonstrated that older FEOs have longer perception response times when encountering an incurring semi-truck during a simulated drive than younger FEOs. These results persisted when adjusted for selected medical diagnoses and medications, tractor generation, and tractor horsepower. However, due to the small sample size and limitations of the tractor driving simulator, its use for event perception response time research is questionable. The tractor driving simulator used in this study may be better suited for distracted driving studies and studies comparing the ways in which FEOs drive passenger vehicles compared to tractors. Keywords: Driving simulation, Perception response time, Senior drivers, Tractor.
Single-photon vibrometry
Authors: Rehain Patrick , Ramanathan Jeevanandha , Sua Yong Meng , Zhu Shenyu , Tafone Daniel , Huang Yu-Ping
Published: July 2021

We propose and demonstrate a single-photon sensitive technique for optical vibrometry. It uses high speed photon counting to sample the modulated backscattering from a vibrating target. Designed for remote vibration sensing with ultralow photon flux, we show that this technique can detect small displacements down to 110 nm and resolve vibration frequencies from DC up to several kilohertz, with

≤
0.01

detected photons per pulse. This single-photon sensitive optical vibrometry may find important applications in acousto-optic sensing and imaging, especially in photon-starved environments.
Data integration uncovers the metabolic bases of phenotypic variation in yeast
Authors: Petrizzelli Marianyela Sabina , de Vienne Dominique , Nidelet Thibault , Noûs Camille , Dillmann Christine
Published: July 2021

The relationship between different levels of integration is a key feature for understanding the genotype-phenotype map. Here, we describe a novel method of integrated data analysis that incorporates protein abundance data into constraint-based modeling to elucidate the biological mechanisms underlying phenotypic variation. Specifically, we studied yeast genetic diversity at three levels of phenotypic complexity in a population of yeast obtained by pairwise crosses of eleven strains belonging to two species, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and S. uvarum. The data included protein abundances, integrated traits (life-history/fermentation) and computational estimates of metabolic fluxes. Results highlighted that the negative correlation between production traits such as population carrying capacity (K) and traits associated with growth and fermentation rates (Jmax) is explained by a differential usage of energy production pathways: a high K was associated with high TCA fluxes, while a high Jmax was associated with high glycolytic fluxes. Enrichment analysis of protein sets confirmed our results.

This powerful approach allowed us to identify the molecular and metabolic bases of integrated trait variation, and therefore has a broad applicability domain.
Tetrahymena meiosis: Simple yet ingenious
Authors: Loidl Josef
Published: July 2021

The presence of meiosis, which is a conserved component of sexual reproduction, across organisms from all eukaryotic kingdoms, strongly argues that sex is a primordial feature of eukaryotes. However, extant meiotic structures and processes can vary considerably between organisms. The ciliated protistTetrahymena thermophila, which diverged from animals, plants, and fungi early in evolution, provides one example of a rather unconventional meiosis.Tetrahymenahas a simpler meiosis compared with most other organisms: It lacks both a synaptonemal complex (SC) and specialized meiotic machinery for chromosome cohesion and has a reduced capacity to regulate meiotic recombination. Despite this, it also features several unique mechanisms, including elongation of the nucleus to twice the cell length to promote homologous pairing and prevent recombination between sister chromatids. Comparison of the meiotic programs ofTetrahymenaand higher multicellular organisms may reveal how extant meiosis evolved from proto-meiosis.
Low-level Plasmodium vivax exposure, maternal antibodies, and anemia in early childhood: Population-based birth cohort study in Amazonian Brazil
Authors: Pincelli Anaclara , Cardoso Marly A. , Malta Maíra B. , Johansen Igor C. , Corder Rodrigo M. , Nicolete Vanessa C. , Soares Irene S. , Castro Marcia C. , Ferreira Marcelo U. ,   on behalf of the MINA-Brazil Study Working Group
Published: July 2021

Background

Malaria causes significant morbidity and mortality in children under 5 years of age in sub-Saharan Africa and the Asia-Pacific region. Neonates and young infants remain relatively protected from clinical disease and the transplacental transfer of maternal antibodies is hypothesized as one of the protective factors. The adverse health effects of Plasmodium vivax malaria in early childhood–traditionally viewed as a benign infection–remain largely neglected in relatively low-endemicity settings across the Amazon.

Methodology/Principal findings

Overall, 1,539 children participating in a birth cohort study in the main transmission hotspot of Amazonian Brazil had a questionnaire administered, and blood sampled at the two-year follow-up visit. Only 7.1% of them experienced malaria confirmed by microscopy during their first 2 years of life– 89.1% of the infections were caused by P. vivax. Young infants appear to be little exposed to, or largely protected from infection, but children >12 months of age become as vulnerable to vivax malaria as their mothers. Few (1.4%) children experienced ≥4 infections during the 2-year follow-up, accounting for 43.4% of the overall malaria burden among study participants. Antenatal malaria diagnosed by microscopy during pregnancy or by PCR at delivery emerged as a significant correlate of subsequent risk of P. vivax infection in the offspring (incidence rate ratio, 2.58; P = 0.002), after adjusting for local transmission intensity. Anti-P. vivax antibodies measured at delivery do not protect mothers from subsequent malaria; whether maternal antibodies transferred to the fetus reduce early malaria risk in children remains undetermined. Finally, recent and repeated vivax malaria episodes in early childhood are associated with increased risk of anemia at the age of 2 years in this relatively low-endemicity setting.

Conclusions/Significance

Antenatal infection increases the risk of vivax malaria in the offspring and repeated childhood P. vivax infections are associated with anemia at the age of 2 years.
Treating chronic diarrhea: A systematic review on Immunoproliferative Small Intestinal Disease (IPSID)
Authors: Evangelista-Leite Daniele , Affonso Madaloso Breno , Shouta Yamashita Bruno , Enrico Aloise Francesco , Polito Verdasca Lucas , Lopes de Mello Murilo , Murata Hayashi Renan , Zimberg Chehter Ethel
Published: July 2021

Immunoproliferative Small Intestinal Disease (IPSID) is a disease characterized by extra-nodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma with villous atrophy in the small intestine, causing chronic intermittent non-bloody diarrhea. Although originally associated with the Mediterranean region, this disease is present in many countries worldwide and may have been underreported due to its complicated diagnosis and scarce scientific literature, especially in regards to treatment. This study aims to review IPSID clinical features, therapeutic options, and treatment outcomes to help physicians identify and treat IPSID. Using PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review of articles was conducted on PubMed database with search terms including IPSID, therapy, treatment, and outcomes. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were used to select 33 English language articles published from the year 2000–2020 that included relevant clinical information about IPSID treatment. Data were extracted independently by at least two authors to reduce the introduction of potential bias. There were 22 case reports, 7 reviews, 1 research article, 1 prospective study, 1 letter to the editor and 1 memoriam in which 76 patients were identified. Epidemiological analysis showed a mean patient age of 32 years old, 2.4:1 mal to female ratio and heterogeneous ethnicities, with 16 Europeans (43.2%) and 12 Asians (32.4%). Chief symptoms included chronic diarrhea (53/76, 69.7%), weight loss (49/76, 64.4%), malabsorption (38/76, 50%), abdominal pain (32/76, 42.1%), and finger clubbing (24/76, 31.6%). Patients stratified into the early disease stage (Galian A) were treated with tetracycline antibiotics, corticosteroids, and non-pharmacological supplements with mostly with complete or partial remission. Late stages (Galian B or C), were treated mostly with anthracycline-based chemotherapy, and occasionally surgery, radiotherapy, or rituximab. This work offers a targeted approach to diagnosing and treating IPSID to aid physicians and serve as a treatment guideline recommendation for future public policies and clinical studies.
High-molecular weight DNA extraction, clean-up and size selection for long-read sequencing
Authors: Jones Ashley , Torkel Cynthia , Stanley David , Nasim Jamila , Borevitz Justin , Schwessinger Benjamin
Published: July 2021

Rapid advancements in long-read sequencing technologies have transformed read lengths from bps to Mbps, which has enabled chromosome-scale genome assemblies. However, read lengths are now becoming limited by the extraction of pure high-molecular weight DNA suitable for long-read sequencing, which is particularly challenging in plants and fungi. To overcome this, we present a protocol collection; high-molecular weight DNA extraction, clean-up and size selection for long-read sequencing. We optimised a gentle magnetic bead based high-molecular weight DNA extraction, which is presented here in detail. The protocol circumvents spin columns and high-centrifugation, to limit DNA fragmentation. The protocol is scalable based on tissue input, which can be used on many species of plants, fungi, reptiles and bacteria. It is also cost effective compared to kit-based protocols and hence applicable at scale in low resource settings. An optional sorbitol wash is listed and is highly recommended for plant and fungal tissues. To further remove any remaining contaminants such as phenols and polysaccharides, optional DNA clean-up and size selection strategies are given. This protocol collection is suitable for all common long-read sequencing platforms, such as technologies offered by PacBio and Oxford Nanopore. Using these protocols, sequencing on the Oxford Nanopore MinION can achieve read length N50 values of 30–50 kb, with reads exceeding 200 kb and outputs ranging from 15–30 Gbp. This has been routinely achieved with various plant, fungi, animal and bacteria samples.
Least-squares community extraction in feature-rich networks using similarity data
Authors: Shalileh Soroosh , Mirkin Boris
Published: July 2021

We explore a doubly-greedy approach to the issue of community detection in feature-rich networks. According to this approach, both the network and feature data are straightforwardly recovered from the underlying unknown non-overlapping communities, supplied with a center in the feature space and intensity weight(s) over the network each. Our least-squares additive criterion allows us to search for communities one-by-one and to find each community by adding entities one by one. A focus of this paper is that the feature-space data part is converted into a similarity matrix format. The similarity/link values can be used in either of two modes: (a) as measured in the same scale so that one may can meaningfully compare and sum similarity values across the entire similarity matrix (summability mode), and (b) similarity values in one column should not be compared with the values in other columns (nonsummability mode). The two input matrices and two modes lead us to developing four different Iterative Community Extraction from Similarity data (ICESi) algorithms, which determine the number of communities automatically. Our experiments at real-world and synthetic datasets show that these algorithms are valid and competitive.
A sampling survey of enterococci within pasteurized, fermented dairy products and their virulence and antibiotic resistance properties
Authors: Mariam Solomon H.
Published: July 2021

Globally, fermented foods (FFs), which may be traditional or industrially-produced, are major sources of nutrition. In the traditional practice, the fermentation process is driven by communities of virtually uncharacterized microflora indigenous to the food substrate. Some of these flora can have virulent or antibiotic resistance properties, posing risk to consumers. Others, such as Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium, may also be found in such foods. Enterococci that harbor antibiotic resistance or virulence factors can cycle among animals, food, humans and the environment, thereby transferring these harmful properties at the gene level to harmless commensals in the food matrix, animals and humans. In this work, several microbial isolates obtained from different FF sources were analyzed for their identity and virulence and/or antibiotic resistance properties. For identification aiming at enterococci, isolates that were Gram-positive and catalase- and oxidase-negative were subjected to multiple tests including for growth in broth containing 6.5% NaCl, growth and hydrolytic activity on medium containing bile-esculin, hemolytic activity on blood agar, and growth at 45°C and survival after incubation at 60°C for 30 min. Furthermore, the isolates were tested for susceptibility/resistance to a select group of antibiotics. Finally, the isolates were molecularly-characterized with respect to species identity and presence of virulence-encoding genes by amplification of target genes. Most sources contained enterococci, in addition to most of them also containing Gram-negative flora. Most of these also harbored virulence factors. Several isolates were also antibiotic-resistant. These results strongly suggest attention should be given to better control presence of such potentially pathogenic species.
Taphonomy of marine vertebrates of the Pisco Formation (Miocene, Peru): Insights into the origin of an outstanding Fossil-Lagerstätte
Authors: Bosio Giulia , Collareta Alberto , Di Celma Claudio , Lambert Olivier , Marx Felix G. , de Muizon Christian , Gioncada Anna , Gariboldi Karen , Malinverno Elisa , Malca Rafael Varas , Urbina Mario , Bianucci Giovanni
Published: July 2021

The Miocene Pisco Formation, broadly exposed in the Ica Desert of southern Peru, is among the most outstanding Cenozoic marine Fossil-Lagerstätten worldwide. It is renowned for its exceptional preservation and abundance of vertebrate fossils, including a rich assemblage of whales and dolphins (Cetacea). Here, we integrate taphonomic data on 890 marine vertebrate fossils, gathered through 16 different localities. Our observations range from the taxonomic distribution, articulation, completeness, disposition and orientation of skeletons, to the presence of bite marks, associations with shark teeth and macro-invertebrates, bone and soft tissue preservation, and the formation of attendant carbonate concretions and sedimentary structures. We propose that the exceptional preservation characterising many Pisco vertebrates, as well as their exceptionally high abundance, cannot be ascribed to a single cause like high sedimentation rates (as proposed in the past), but rather to the interplay of several favourable factors including: (i) low levels of dissolved oxygen at the seafloor (with the intervention of seasonal anoxic events); (ii) the early onset of mineralisation processes like apatite dissolution/recrystallisation and carbonate mineral precipitation; (iii) rapid burial of carcasses in a soupy substrate and/or a novel mechanism involving scour-induced self-burial; and (iv) original biological richness. Collectively, our observations provide a comprehensive overview of the taphonomic processes that shaped one of South America’s most important fossil deposits, and suggest a model for the formation of other marine vertebrate Fossil-Lagerstätten.
Managing occupational health among goldminers in Ghana: Modelling the likelihood of experiencing occupational related health problems
Authors: Aram Simon Appah
Published: July 2021

Background

The importance of goldmining to Ghana’s development cannot be overestimated. However, the associated morbidities and mortalities resulting from occupational exposure to health hazards and the general cost associated with it is critical. In managing occupational health, a simple comprehension of the main determinants of the problem is required.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey of 504 goldminers was fitted to a nested binary logistic regression model to evaluate the independent effect of subsector departments, compositional attributes, contextual factors and working conditions on goldminers’ likelihood of experiencing occupational related health problems.

Results

Subsector department was robust and persisted in predicting experiencing occupational related health problems in all three models. Goldminers who were in artisanal small scale (ASM) non-production, large scale (LSM) production and LSM non-production were less likely to experience occupational related health problems as compared to their counterparts in ASM production. For the compositional factors, female goldminers were more likely to experience occupational related health problems as compared to their male co-workers. Goldminers who were married and also older miners were more likely to experience occupational related health problems as compared to the unmarried and the relatively younger goldminers. At the contextual level, miners who worked on shift-based schedule and also miners who lived close to mine sites were more likely to experience occupational related health problems. Among the working conditions, goldminers who worked in good health conditions were less likely to experience occupational related health problems. Surprisingly, goldminers who rated their safety conditions as good were more likely to experience occupational related health problems.

Conclusion

Gold miners are exposed to different health risk scenarios across subsectors and departments. These conditions need critical attention and action from industry stakeholders. Programs that promote self-care culture should be promoted, especially in the ASM subsector. PPE’s could be relied on for protection in the mining industry but they should be the last line of defense and not to replace preventive measures and actions.
Project-based maturity assessment model for smart transformation in Taiwanese enterprises
Authors: Lin Tzu-Chieh , Wang Kung Jeng
Published: July 2021

As smart technology proliferates, enterprises must engage not only in the transformation of intelligence but contend with pressure do so as soon as possible. Smart transformation is critical for manufacturing enterprises in the development of smart manufacturing. This study addressed the gap between maturity models and project management by designing an effective assessment framework for smart transformation. It adopts the Smart Industry Readiness Index, created by the Singapore Economic Development Board, as a maturity assessment model to analyze enterprises’ smart transformation and formulate project management strategies. Enterprises can use this model to examine the maturity level of their transformation and assess scope for improvement in their project strategies and implementation barriers. This study focuses on Taiwanese enterprises using data collected from 165 valid questionnaires and subjected to a cluster analysis. Enterprises were divided into three categories. The results reveal that, first, most enterprises’ smart transformation is at an immature or medium-maturity level, and is therefore amenable to further improvement. Second, inconsistent with research findings, many enterprises invest in transformation projects but fail to advance these projects to maturity. Third, most enterprises’ project management plans fail to meet actual transformation needs. Using the thematically oriented maturity model proposed in this study, Taiwanese enterprises can effectively evaluate the maturity of their transformation projects. In conclusion, the study highlights that Taiwanese enterprises must identify more effective external resources to strengthen their competitiveness.
Designing an intelligent monitoring system for corn seeding by machine vision and Genetic Algorithm-optimized Back Propagation algorithm under precision positioning
Authors: Ji Jiangtao , Sang Yayuan , He Zhitao , Jin Xin , Wang Shengsheng
Published: July 2021

Objective

To realize the regulation of the position of corn seed planting in precision farming, an intelligent monitoring system is designed for corn seeding based on machine vision and the Genetic Algorithm-optimized Back Propagation (GABP) algorithm.

Methods

Based on the research on precision positioning seeding technology, comprehensive application of sensors, Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) controllers, and other technologies, combined with modern optimization algorithms, the online dynamic calibration controls of line spacing and plant spacing are implemented. Based on the machine vision and GABP algorithm, a test platform for the seeding effect detection system is designed to provide a reference for further precision seeding operations. GA can obtain better initial network weights and thresholds and find the optimal individual through selection, crossover, and mutation operations; that is, the optimal initial weight of the Back Propagation (BP) neural network. Field experiments verify the seeding performance of the precision corn planter and the accuracy of the seeding monitoring system.

Results

1. The deviation between the average value of the six precision positioning seeding experiments of corn under the random disturbance signal and the ideal value of the distance is less than or equal to 0.5 cm; the deviation between the average value of the six precision positioning seeding experiments of corn under the sine wave disturbance signal (1 Hz) is less than or equal to 0.4 cm; the qualified rate of grain distance reaches 100%. 2. The precision control index, replay index, and missed index of the designed corn precision seeding intelligent control system have all reached the national standard. During the operation of the seeder, an alarm of the seeder leaking occurred, and the buzzer sounded and the screen displayed 100 times each; therefore, the reliability of the alarm system is 100%.

Conclusion

The intelligent corn seeder designed based on precision positioning seeding technology can reduce the seeding rate of the seeder and ensure the stability of the seed spacing effectively. Based on the machine vision and GABP algorithm, the seeding effect detection system can provide a reference for the further realization of precision seeding operations.
Relation of prior statin and anti-hypertensive use to severity of disease among patients hospitalized with COVID-19: Findings from the American Heart Association’s COVID-19 Cardiovascular Disease Registry
Authors: Daniels Lori B. , Ren Junting , Kumar Kris , Bui Quan M. , Zhang Jing , Zhang Xinlian , Sawan Mariem A. , Eisen Howard , Longhurst Christopher A. , Messer Karen
Published: July 2021

Background

Statins have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects that may reduce the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), in which organ dysfunction is mediated by severe inflammation. Large studies with diverse populations evaluating statin use and outcomes in COVID-19 are lacking.

Methods and results

We used data from 10,541 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 through September 2020 at 104 US hospitals enrolled in the American Heart Association’s COVID-19 Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Registry to evaluate the associations between statin use and outcomes. Prior to admission, 42% of subjects (n = 4,449) used statins (7% on statins alone, 35% on statins plus anti-hypertensives). Death (or discharge to hospice) occurred in 2,212 subjects (21%). Outpatient use of statins, either alone or with anti-hypertensives, was associated with a reduced risk of death (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.59, 95% CI 0.50–0.69), adjusting for demographic characteristics, insurance status, hospital site, and concurrent medications by logistic regression. In propensity-matched analyses, use of statins and/or anti-hypertensives was associated with a reduced risk of death among those with a history of CVD and/or hypertension (aOR 0.68, 95% CI 0.58–0.81). An observed 16% reduction in odds of death among those without CVD and/or hypertension was not statistically significant.

Conclusions

Patients taking statins prior to hospitalization for COVID-19 had substantially lower odds of death, primarily among individuals with a history of CVD and/or hypertension. These observations support the continuation and aggressive initiation of statin and anti-hypertensive therapies among patients at risk for COVID-19, if these treatments are indicated based upon underlying medical conditions.
Strengthening the success rate of suprapubic aspiration in infants by integrating point-of-care ultrasonography guidance: A parallel-randomized clinical trial
Authors: Mahdipour Sadroddin , Saadat Seyedeh Nastaran Seyed , Badeli Hamidreza , Rad Afagh Hassanzadeh
Published: July 2021

Background

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common disease in childhood. A sterile collection of urine samples using suprapubic aspiration (SPA) and bladder catheterization (BC) is helpful for rapid and accurate diagnosis of UTI in infants. With the advent of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), the use of ultrasound by non-radiologists at the patient’s bedside, great advancement has been noticed in various medical fields. Considering the importance and advantages of using POCUS in the physical examination and guiding procedures, the authors aimed to compare urine sampling’s success rate by SPA, BC, and POCUS guided SPA (POCUS-SPA) in infants performed by three pediatricians.

Materials and methods

This study is a randomized clinical trial conducted on 114 neonates and infants with suspected UTI admitted to 17-Shahrivar children’s hospital from April 2017 to September 2019. Neonates and infants were randomly assigned to three groups of BC, SPA, and POCUS-SPA. The primary outcome was the success of sampling defined by obtaining 1cc of urine in each method. The secondary outcome was assessing the pain level.

Results

Results showed that the POCUS-SPA had the highest success rate in urine sampling, and a statistically significant relation was noted among the three groups (P = 0.0001). From 38 patients in each group, 37 patients of POCUS-SPA (97.4%), 34 patients of BC (89.5%), and 23 patients of SPA (60.5%) had a successful sampling. Most of the patients in all three groups experienced severe pain.

Conclusions

In the current study, results showed that the POCUS-SPA significantly increased the success rate of urine sampling and most of the patients in all three groups had severe pain. Based on the shortage of access to radiologists in emergency setups, it seems that the POCUS-SPA by the pediatricians can be one of the most appropriate and applicable diagnostic methods in infants with UTI.
Association between socioeconomic status and physical inactivity in a general Japanese population: NIPPON DATA2010
Authors: Sumimoto Yuka , Yanagita Masahiko , Miyamatsu Naomi , Okuda Nagako , Nishi Nobuo , Nakamura Yosikazu , Nakamura Koshi , Miyagawa Naoko , Miyachi Motohiko , Kadota Aya , Ohkubo Takayoshi , Okamura Tomonori , Ueshima Hirotsugu , Okayama Akira , Miura Katsuyuki ,   for NIPPON DATA2010 Research Group
Published: July 2021

Background

Lower socioeconomic status (SES) may be related to inactivity lifestyle; however, the association between SES and physical inactivity has not been sufficiently investigated in Japan.

Methods

The study population is the participants of NIPPON DATA2010, which is a prospective cohort study of the National Health and Nutrition Survey 2010 in Japan. They were residents in 300 randomly selected areas across Japan. This study included 2,609 adults. Physical activity was assessed by physical activity index (PAI) calculated from activity intensity and time. The lowest tertile of PAI for each 10-year age class and sex was defined as physical inactivity. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the association of SES (employment status, educational attainment, living status, and equivalent household expenditure (EHE)) with physical inactivity.

Results

In the distribution of PAI by age classes and sex, the highest median PAI was aged 30–39 years among men (median 38.6), aged 40–49 years among women (38.0), and median PAI was decreased with increasing age. Multivariable-adjusted model shows that not working was significantly associated with physical inactivity after adjustment for age in all age groups and sexes. Not living with spouse for adult women and elderly men was significantly associated with physical inactivity compared to those who living with spouse. However, neither educational attainment nor EHE had any significant associations with physical inactivity.

Conclusions

The result indicated that physical inactivity was associated with SES in a general Japanese population. SES of individuals need to be considered in order to prevent inactivity lifestyle.
Infectious titer determination of lentiviral vectors using a temporal immunological real-time imaging approach
Authors: Labisch Jennifer J. , Wiese G. Philip , Barnes Kalpana , Bollmann Franziska , Pflanz Karl
Published: July 2021

The analysis of the infectious titer of the lentiviral vector samples obtained during upstream and downstream processing is of major importance, however, also the most challenging method to be performed. Currently established methods like flow cytometry or qPCR lack the capability of enabling high throughput sample processing while they require a lot of manual handling. To address this limitation, we developed an immunological real-time imaging method to quantify the infectious titer of anti-CD19 CAR lentiviral vectors with a temporal readout using the Incucyte®S3 live-cell analysis system. The infective titers determined with the Incucyte®approach when compared with the flow cytometry-based assay had a lower standard deviation between replicates and a broader linear range. A major advantage of the method is the ability to obtain titer results in real-time, enabling an optimal readout time. The presented protocol significantly decreased labor and increased throughput. The ability of the assay to process high numbers of lentiviral samples in a high throughput manner was proven by performing a virus stability study, demonstrating the effects of temperature, salt, and shear stress on LV infectivity.
Protective effects of omega-3 fatty acids in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease stages B2 and C
Authors: Nasciutti Priscilla Regina , Moraes Aline Tavares , Santos Thaiz Krawczyk , Gonçalves Queiroz Karine Kelly , Costa Ana Paula Araújo , Amaral Andressa Rodrigues , Fernando Gomes Olivindo Rodrigo , Pontieri Cristiana Ferreira Fonseca , Jeremias Juliana Toloi , Vendramini Thiago Henrique Annibale , Brunetto Marcio Antonio , Carvalho Rosângela de Oliveira Alves
Published: July 2021

Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is characterized by thickening of the valve leaflets and omega-3 (ω-3) supplementation has been associated with modulation of blood pressure (BP) and heart rate, improvement of doppler echocardiographic indices, antiarrhythmic, anti-inflammatory and anti-dislipidemic effects in dogs and humans, although prospective studies of it single use are still absent in the veterinary literature. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of ω-3 supplementation in dogs with MMVD. Twenty-nine dogs were followed quarterly for 12 months by clinical evaluation, arterial blood pressure, electrocardiography, doppler echocardiography, thoracic radiography and laboratory tests including inflammatory mediators and cardiac biomarker blood concentrations. The dogs were classified in stages B2 and C, according to the classification proposed by ACVIM 2019. They were randomly assigned to either ω-3 group (ω-3G) or control group (CG). The ingestion of ω-3 reduced the chance of developing arrhythmias by 2.96 times (p = 0.003). The vertebral heart size (VHS) measurements were higher in the control group (p = 0.033). In conclusion, at the dosages used in this study, ω-3 dietary supplementation reduces the volumetric overload, has antiarrhythmic effect and keeps dogs with B2 and C stages of MMVD in milder stages of the disease.
SARS-CoV-2 infection in the Syrian hamster model causes inflammation as well as type I interferon dysregulation in both respiratory and non-respiratory tissues including the heart and kidney
Authors: Francis Magen Ellen , Goncin Una , Kroeker Andrea , Swan Cynthia , Ralph Robyn , Lu Yao , Etzioni Athema Louise , Falzarano Darryl , Gerdts Volker , Machtaler Steven , Kindrachuk Jason , Kelvin Alyson Ann
Published: July 2021

COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) caused by SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) infection is a disease affecting several organ systems. A model that captures all clinical symptoms of COVID-19 as well as long-haulers disease is needed. We investigated the host responses associated with infection in several major organ systems including the respiratory tract, the heart, and the kidneys after SARS-CoV-2 infection in Syrian hamsters. We found significant increases in inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1beta, and TNF) and type II interferons whereas type I interferons were inhibited. Examination of extrapulmonary tissue indicated inflammation in the kidney, liver, and heart which also lacked type I interferon upregulation. Histologically, the heart had evidence of myocarditis and microthrombi while the kidney had tubular inflammation. These results give insight into the multiorgan disease experienced by people with COVID-19 and possibly the prolonged disease in people with post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC).
Israel Galván en La Fiesta: Su baile flamenco contemporáneo y transgresor de la teatralización
Authors: Cabrera Fructuosa María
Published: July 2021

En el siguiente artículo nos proponemos profundizar en el estudio del baile flamenco de la teatralización actual, en sus movimientos, sus sonidos y sus espectáculos, tomando como modelo al artista Israel Galván y, en concreto, su obra La Fiesta. Todo ello contextualizado en la era de la globalización, teniendo en cuenta sus flujos culturales y su consecuente hibridación, transculturación y transgresión en el arte.
Cartas para ultramares, uma instalação áudio-fotográfica
Authors: Balbela de Azambuja Gustavo José , Nocchi Martins Isadora
Published: July 2021

De que maneira uma instalação áudio-fotográfica pode colaborar com o entendimento de tensões e desconfortos que emanam de uma paisagem urbana e latinoamericana tomando como objeto um bairro de classe média em Porto Alegre? É a esta discussão que se propõe este artigo, a partir da análise do processo de criação da instalação Cartas para ultramares. Os reflexos de interferências culturais estrangeiras, da globalização neoliberal e mesmo do colonialismo nessa paisagem são constantes, e estão tão profundamente inseridos no tecido urbano do Sul Global que, por vezes, parecem desaparecer aos olhos de seus habitantes. Diante deste contexto, a instalação aqui analisada busca propor caminhos para problematizar essas questões como uma forma de estabelecer uma interface crítica com o público diante da paisagem. Observamos que o formato áudio-fotográfico potencializa a observação destes desconfortos a partir de diferentes camadas, ao mesmo tempo que possibilita ao espectador uma experiência de transposição do contexto específico retratado pela obra para seus próprios contextos da vida.
canallita machirulo: Una aproximación a las masculinidades del rock español
Authors: Vila Diéguez David
Published: July 2021

En un tiempo en el que es común despotricar contra el reggaetón y el trap por su supuesto carácter machista, es de imperiosa necesidad reflexionar sobre los tipos de masculinidades que otros estilos como el rock han venido construyendo desde muchos años antes. Este artículo representa un primer acercamiento a dicho empeño. Partiendo de conceptos como la hipermasculinidad, la masculinidad hegemónica, la camaradería masculina y otros, este ensayo realiza una lectura de la producción cultural de bandas como Coz, Lujuria o Los Zigarros, para detallar el tipo de masculinidades que en ellas se proyectan. Para ello, el artículo se basa en un arquetipo que denomina como ‘el canallita machirulo’.
Una canción sin género: Notas sobre performatividad y agencia en los bertsos de Maialen Lujanbio
Authors: Gómez-Urda Félix
Published: July 2021

El artículo propone una aproximación desde un enfoque performativo a la actuación de Maialen Lujanbio en la competición final por el Euskal Herriko Bertsolari Txapelketa en 2017. El artículo explora el concepto de realización escénica propuesto por Fischer-Lichte y revisa las nociones de producción de sentido, performatividad y performance para inferir las posibilidades transformadoras de la obra de la bertsolari. El texto defiende que el material, más allá del contexto en el que tuvo lugar su recepción en directo, pervive como objeto artístico, huella corporal y documento político. Las cualidades performativas presentes en la creación y ejecución en vivo sitúan los bertsos de la autora en el contexto de lo sensible, recepción que activa un afecto de archivo que desborda los límites espacio temporales de la representación original y coloca de nuevo a la lectora-espectadora frente a las imágenes culturales y sociales –y por lo tanto políticas– surgidas de la improvisación.
Relación entre la exposición a pesticidas y las enfermedades mentales: Una revisión sistemática
Authors: García-Martínez Nuria , Navarro-González Inmaculada , Andreo-Martínez Pedro
Published: July 2021

Este trabajo realiza una revisión sistemática sobre la relación existente entre la exposición a residuos de pesticidas y la presencia de enfermedades o trastornos mentales. Los pesticidas son sustancias químicas utilizadas en la inmensa mayoría de los campos agrícolas para prevenir o eliminar las plagas que amenazan a los cultivos. Sin embargo, su uso puede implicar serios problemas para la salud de las personas como enfermedades pulmonares, cáncer, enfermedades metabólicas, problemas de infertilidad e incluso trastornos psicopatológicos. La metodología para realizar este estudio de revisión siguió las indicaciones marcadas por el protocolo PRISMA, encontrándose un total de cuatro artículos originales tras aplicar los criterios de exclusión e inclusión establecidos. Tres artículos estudiaron la relación exposición a residuos pesticidas - enfermedades mentales en sujetos con características diferentes y con niveles de exposición variables. Única-mente un artículo empleó ratones sometidos a diferentes dosis de pesticidas como modelo para evaluar su efecto sobre el comportamiento de estos animales. De los resultados encontrados por los diferentes artículos se puede deducir que la exposición a residuos de pesticidas tiene claros efectos sobre la salud mental de individuos altamente susceptibles a la presencia de contaminantes como mujeres lactantes y recién nacidos; así como personas sometidas a elevados niveles de pesticidas como formuladores y aplicadores agrícolas o personas residentes en las cercanías de campos agrícolas. Por otro lado, futuras investigaciones sobre este tema, basadas en modelos animales y estudios poblacionales, son necesarias para establecer conexiones realistas entre los trastornos mentales y los diferentes tipos de pesticidas usados actualmente en los campos agrícolas.
The Subjugation of Women through Lexical Innovation in Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale
Authors: López-Rúa Paula
Published: July 2021

Given the importance of novel formations in science and speculative fiction, the aim of this paper is to analyse a selection of morphosemantic and semantic neologisms that occur in the feminist dystopia The Handmaid’s Tale (1985), namely those items more closely connected with women’s lives. These items are gathered, classified and discussed by resorting to the tools provided by Morphology, Lexical Semantics, Onomastics and Women’s Studies. Therefore, the paper explores how new names for people (Econowives, Offred), activities (Particicution), artifacts (Birthmobile) and places (the Colonies) play a part in the linguistic task of female subjugation. It shows how in a fictional republic where gender roles and religious totalitarianism are taken to extremes, the forms and meanings of words are manipulated to enhance power relations and gender inequality, impose an orthodox frame of mind (comply with the system), and avoid uncomfortable truths. Neologisms provide a sense of authenticity in the narrative and show how language evolves to satisfy various needs, not only pragmatic, but also social, ideological and euphemistic.
Negociaciones de la masculinidad en el heavy español de los ochenta
Authors: Arenillas Meléndez Sara
Published: July 2021

El heavy surgió en España a principios de los ochenta con bandas como Barón Rojo, que tenían influencia de la NWOBHM y se ajustaban a la articulación de lo que Deena Weinstein denomina como «masculinidad cultural» del heavy. A mediados de esta década aparecieron propuestas como la de Sangre Azul, que recogían el trabajo de grupos norteamericanos del glam y el lite metal. Éstos proponían un discurso más abierto en términos de género, que favorecía la implicación de mujeres dentro de la escena heavy. Este artículo trata de analizar las propuestas presentes en el heavy español de los ochenta a través del caso de Barón Rojo y Sangre Azul. Mediante una metodología interdisciplinar, se estudia cómo el primero articulaba una masculinidad más cercana al tipo de la masculinidad hegemónica, mientras que el segundo, a través de estrategias como la inclusión del romanticismo en las letras, se desviaba de ella.
Patriarcavirus, feminist dystopias and COVID-19: reflections on the phenomenon of gender pandemics
Authors: Machado-Jiménez Almudena
Published: July 2021

This essay examines contemporary feminist dystopias to study the phenomenon of gender pandemics. Gender pandemic narrative allegorises possible aftermaths of patriarcavirus, unleashing many natural disasters that force global biopolitics to hinder gender equality. The main objective of this essay is to explain how gender pandemics are appropriated in patriarchal utopian discourses as a pretext to control female empowerment, diagnosing women as diseased organisms that risk the state’s well-being. Moreover, the novels explore the interdependence between biology and sociality, portraying the acute vulnerability of female bodies during and after the pandemic conflicts, inasmuch as patriarchal power arranges a hierarchical value system of living that reinforces gender discrimination. Particularly, the COVID-19 emergency is analysed as a gender pandemic: the exacerbated machismo and the growing distress in the female population prove that women are afflicted with a suffocating patriarcavirus, which has critically gagged them in the first year of the pandemic.
La educación de un arquitecto en primer año: La malla de los nueve cuadrados y Architectonics de la Cooper Union
Authors: Pérez Oscar Mauricio
Published: July 2021

La malla de los nueve cuadrados, el famoso ejercicio de John Hejduk, ha sido el proyecto más replicado del curso Architectonics de la Cooper Union. Este recurso pedagógico ha sido reproducido en diversas universidades del planeta. Esto puede deberse a la facilidad en su reproducción material, sin embargo, el ejercicio contiene un contexto conceptual preciso que acompaña a sus elementos; los estudios de Colín Rowe y Robert Slutsky sobre las relaciones entre la historia de la arquitectura y la formulación del lenguaje visual desarrollado a partir del arte y el diseño de vanguardia del siglo XX. Este ejercicio se presenta en un espacio abstracto, desprovisto de escala y función, que permite el análisis y la especulación espacial. El objetivo de su estudio se basa en el reconocimiento y la comparación, otras visiones de la clase de Arquitectura después de malla de los nueve cuadrados, revisando ejercicios de arquitectos como Raimund Abraham, Elizabeth Diller, Anthony Candido y Chester Wisniewski y descubrir las persistencias y variaciones en cada caso. Esto a partir de las dos principales publicaciones de trabajos de estudiantes que han salido de Cooper hasta la fecha: Educación de un Arquitecto 1964-1971 y Formación de arquitecto 1972-1985.
Síntesis de la diversidad tipológica de vivienda en Santa Cruz de la Sierra – Bolivia
Authors: Ruiz Garvia Ricardo
Published: July 2021

El acelerado crecimiento de la ciudad de Santa Cruz de la Sierra ha derivado en una serie de retos complejos que superan todas las previsiones para alcanzar una planificación efectiva. En ese sentido, resulta importante profundizar en el estudio de su estructura física, mediante el análisis de su diversidad tipológica habitacional consolidada. En la introducción se evidencia una dicotomía existente, entre la visión utópica por parte de organismos reguladores de la ciudad, frente a una huella física que escapó de manera sistemática a los objetivos de la legislación establecida. El análisis aborda el estudio de las tipologías habitacionales informales, posteriormente se revisan las tipologías de vivienda desarrolladas por el mercado inmobiliario y finalmente se analiza la tipología de autoconstrucción de vivienda social a cargo del Estado boliviano. Los resultados reflejan una síntesis de la diversidad tipológica habitacional existente, obteniéndose así un diagnóstico actualizado que advierte una producción de unidades habitacionales con un bajo rendimiento, que influye negativamente en la calidad medioambiental urbana, alejando a la ciudad de alcanzar un desarrollo sostenible en un futuro cercano.
Buenas prácticas de aulas virtuales en la docencia universitaria semipresencial
Authors: Area Moreira Manuel , San Nicolás Santos Mª Belén , Fariña Vargas Elena
Published: July 2021

En este artículo presentamos el diseño y resultados de un estudio realizado en la Universidad de La Laguna (ULL) destinado a identificar buenas prácticas de aulas virtuales en la docencia universitaria desarrolladas bajo la modalidad de blended learning o enseñanza semipresencial. El estudio se desarrolló en el primer trimestre del año 2008 y analizó una importante muestra de las aulas virtuales (N= 107) existentes en el Campus Virtual de dicha universidad en el periodo 2005-07. Se seleccionaron seis ejemplos de aulas virtuales, clasificados por campos científicos, caracterizadas por la incorporación de recursos de información, de comunicación y de aprendizaje experiencial.