bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Panorama da Produção Empírica Internacional de Inovação em Serviços Turísticos entre 2008 e 2020: Uma Revisão Sistemática da Literatura
Authors: Peixoto Nathane Eva Santos , Pereira-Filho Melcíades Marinho , Farias Josivania Silva
Published: November 2020

Objetivo: Apresentar um panorama da produção empírica internacional sobre inovação em serviços turísticos de 2008 a 2020 e propor uma agenda de pesquisa.Método: Revisão Sistemática da Literatura (RSL) com utilização do Methodi Ordinatio para classificar e selecionar os artigos mais relevantes da temática. Na sequência foi realizada uma análise de conteúdo dos artigos analisados.Principais resultados: O setor hoteleiro é o principal locus de estudo das pesquisas empíricas. Taiwan é o país que mais pesquisou sobre inovação em serviços turísticos. As principais temáticas dos artigos são (i) determinantes da inovação; (ii) resultados da inovação; (iii) comportamento inovador; (iv) papel do turista na inovação; (v) inovação sustentável e, (vi) inovação em rede. Ao final, este trabalho apresenta as principais lacunas e propõe uma agenda de pesquisa.Relevância/ originalidade: O turismo é um setor relevante para economia, representa 10,3% do PIB global. Além disso, o alto grau de competitividade do setor exige inovações das empresas. A originalidade deste artigo está em demonstrar, por meio da revisão sistemática da literatura, como a academia tem estudado a inovação em serviços turísticos, trazendo os principais conceitos, abordagens, resultados, lacunas e agenda de pesquisa sobre temática.Contribuições Teóricas/ metodológicas: Dentre as contribuições teóricas, destaca-se a sistematização das pesquisas sobre inovação em serviços turísticos, sistematização das principais temáticas, identificação das lacunas e apresentação de uma agenda de pesquisa. Em relação às contribuições metodológicas tem-se a utilização do Methodi Ordinatio que seleciona os artigos não apenas pelo fator de impacto da revista, mas também pondera ano de publicação e número de citações do artigo.
Qualidade da informação ambiental versus rentabilidade de empresas do setor elétrico listadas no ISE
Authors: Santos Ana Lúcia dos , Prado Alexsandro Gonçalves da Silva , Moreira Caritsa Scartaty , Soares José Mauro Madeiros Veloso
Published: November 2020

A teoria dos stakeholders presume que os investimentos socioambientais resultam melhor desempenho financeiro, visto que refletem a preocupação da empresa com o meio ambiente e a sociedade. O presente estudo objetivou verificar a relação existente entre a qualidade da informação ambiental e a rentabilidade de empresas do setor de energia elétrica pertencentes ao Brasil Bolsa Balcão (B3) listadas no Índice de Sustentabilidade Empresarial (ISE). A amostra compreendeu 10 empresas brasileiras com ações negociadas na B3 no período de 2014 a 2017. Quanto à coleta de dados, utilizou-se: o Relatório de Sustentabilidade, o modelo Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), as Demonstrações Financeiras Padronizadas (DFPs) e informações econômico-financeiras extraídas no banco de dados do Sistema Economática®. A partir dos resultados evidenciou-se que as empresas têm o grau de acurácia médio ou alto, indicando boa qualidade de evidenciação. Ao aplicar a técnica estatística de regressão quantílica, percebeu-se que um maior nível de evidenciação dada pelo índice de acurácia não está associado às variáveis Lucros antes de Juros, Impostos, Depreciação e Amortização (EBITDA), Lucro antes do Imposto de Renda + Disponibilidade Financeira Líquida (LAIR+DLF), Margem Bruta, Earnings Before Interest and Taxes (Margem EBIT), Margem Ebitda, Rentabilidade do Ativo (RentAt) e Retorno sobre o Investimento (ROIC). No geral, os resultados indicaram a inexistência de relação entre a rentabilidade das empresas e as ações socioambientais.
Body and Social Interaction—The Case of Dance. Symbolic Interactionist Perspective
Authors: Byczkowska-Owczarek Dominika
Published: November 2020

The article aims at presenting the symbolic interactionism as a useful and flexible theoretical perspective in research on the human body. It shows the assumptions of symbolic interactionism in their relation to the human body, as well as explains how basic notions of this theoretical perspective are embodied—the self, social role, identity, acting, interacting. I depict the unobvious presence of the body in the classical works of George H. Mead, Anselm Strauss, Howard Becker, Erving Goffman, and in more recent ones, such as Bryan Turner, Ken Plummer, and Loïc Wacquant. I also describe the Polish contribution to the field, including research on disability, hand transplant, the identity of a disabled person, together with the influence of sport, prostitution as work, yoga, climbing, relationships between animals and humans based on gestures and bodily conduct, the socialization of young actors and actresses, non-heteronormative motherhood, and the socialization of children in sport and dance. In a case study based on the research on ballroom dancers, I show how to relate the theoretical requirements of symbolic interactionism with real human “flesh and bones.” I depict three ways of perceiving own bodies by dancers: a material, a tool, a partner; and, two processes their bodies are subjected to: sharpening and polishing a tool. I draw the link between the processual character of the body, of the symbolic interactionist theoretical perspective, and process-focused grounded theory methodology.
The Role of Sport in the Process of Negotiating Identity: Dealing with the Stigma of Disability by People with Acquired Bodily Dysfunctions
Authors: Niedbalski Jakub
Published: November 2020

This paper is intended to present the role of sport in the lives of people with physical disabilities and to determine how practicing sports changes the way a person with a physical disability sees themselves. The paper reflects the experiences of people who started practicing sports, which allowed them to adopt an alternative perspective of their bodies and thus pushed them to negotiate their identities. Using the concept of Goffmanian stigma, I point to the sports activities’ usefulness in understanding the management of stigma by those dealing with a physical disability. Taking into account the above theoretical references, in the research, which constitutes a foundation of this paper, I refer to the subjective perspectives of the researched individuals, rendering their points of view, and, based on that, construct and offer theoretical generalizations. Therefore, the research materials employed in this study are constituted by the personal experiences of people with physical disabilities who practice sports. All data have been gathered by conducting unstructured interviews with such people. The research materials were analyzed and interpreted following the procedures of grounded theory methodology.
El Principio de Legalidad: Una aproximación desde el Estado Social de Derecho
Authors: Orbegoso Silva Miluska
Published: November 2020

En la presente investigación se llevará a cabo un estudio del Principio de Legalidad en el Estado Social de Derecho, en el cual se realiza una crítica a la formulación clásica del mismo y se plantea un nuevo entendimiento de acuerdo a las exigencias que se desprenden desde la cláusula social y que en concreto afectan a la nueva Administración Pública Prestadora. Se plantea asimismo un entendimiento del principio de legalidad sobre la base del Estado de Derecho, pero que responde al nuevo papel que cumple la Administración Pública Prestadora. Se inicia con una aproximación clásica del mismo, una crítica y finalmente un acercamiento actual del mismo.
Aplicação dos Critérios de Beers de 2015 Operacionalizados para Portugal em Pessoas Idosas Institucionalizadas: Um Estudo Transversal
Authors: Peixoto Sofia , Almeida Armando , Caramelo Ana , Mendes Lígia
Published: November 2020

Introdução: O consumo de medicamentos potencialmente inapropriados é elevado entre idosos institucionalizados, predispondo à ocorrência de potenciais interações medicamentosas, eventos adversos a medicação, risco de cascata iatrogénica, aumento da morbimortalidade e dos custos em saúde. A revisão da medicação é uma estratégia promissora com vista à otimização terapêutica, ainda que pouco documentada em Portugal. Este estudo pretende caraterizar, utilizando critérios explícitos, a existência de medicamentos potencialmente inapropriados, entre idosos institucionalizados, e calcular a eventual poupança, em medicamentos, com a sua supressão.Material e Métodos: Estudo descritivo e transversal, realizado em três estruturas residenciais para pessoas idosas, de regiões geográficas distintas, a partir de uma amostra aleatória de 33 processos clínicos. Para a caracterização da existência de medicamentos potencialmente inapropriados, utilizaram-se os Critérios de Beers de 2015, revistos pela American Geriatrics Society e na versão operacionalizada para Portugal.Resultados: Em média, 11 fármacos são prescritos aos idosos residentes das estruturas residenciais para pessoas idosas. Todos os processos contêm medicamentos potencialmente inapropriados (média de 4,8 ± 2,0 por residente), sendo os ansiolíticos (17,7%), antidepressivos (17,7%) e antipsicóticos (15,8%) os mais prevalentes. A sua redução resultaria numa poupança média mensal de €9,6, por residente.Discussão: O consumo de medicamentos potencialmente inapropriados é superior ao que a bibliografia descreve e o custo com os medicamentos é elevado. O envolvimento dos enfermeiros no processo de gestão e reconciliação medicamentosa, em articulação com o médico, poderá ser uma estratégia eficaz. O estudo é pioneiro na utilização da última versão portuguesa dos critérios de Beers, o que dificulta a comparabilidade dos resultados.Conclusão: O consumo de medicamentos potencialmente inapropriados é elevado, o que sugere a necessidade de adoção de medidas de melhoria.
The Burden of Post-Thrombotic Syndrome in a Long-Term Retrospective Cohort in Northern Portugal
Authors: Mendes-Andrade Inês , Dias-Neto Marina , Rocha-Neves João , Mansilha Armando
Published: November 2020

Introduction: Post-thrombotic syndrome is a frequent and disabling complication of deep venous thrombosis. Its incidence is not described in the Portuguese population. The objective of this study is to report the incidence and severity of post-thrombotic syndrome after the initial episode of deep venous thrombosis.Material and Methods: This is an observational, unicentric, retrospective cohort of patients who had a first episode of deep venous thrombosis in the lower limb, documented with duplex ultrasound (n = 101). The modified Villalta score was applied by phone interview for the diagnosis and staging of post-thrombotic syndrome. The quality of life of patients was measured with the modified CIVIQ 14 classification.Results: Median follow-up time was six years (interquartile range 1). Severe post-thrombotic syndrome was present in 27% of patients and moderate in 33%. Performing physical activity at the time of the interview was associated with lower incidence of post-thrombotic syndrome (relative risk 0.489; 95% confidence interval = 0.320 - 0.748). Body weight gain after deep venous thrombosis (relative risk 2.188; 95% confidence interval 1.137 - 4.210) and lower education levels (relative risk 2.005; 95% confidence interval 1.297 - 3.098) were associated positively with post-thrombotic syndrome. Quality of life was 90 ± 17 vs 64 ± 18 vs 43 ± 15 in patients without postthrombotic syndrome, with moderate post-thrombotic syndrome and with severe post-thrombotic syndrome, respectively (p < 0.001).Discussion: The long-term incidence of post-thrombotic syndrome in a cohort of patients from Northern Portugal is higher than in other studies and correlates with worse adjusted CIVIQ-14 scores.Conclusion: Large studies of prospective nature could provide more definitive evidence.
Initial Assessment of the Impact of the Emergency State Lockdown Measures on the 1st Wave of the COVID-19 Epidemic in Portugal
Authors: Ricoca Peixoto Vasco , Vieira André , Aguiar Pedro , Carvalho Carlos , Rhys Thomas Daniel , Abrantes Alexandre
Published: November 2020

Introduction: Portugal took early action to control the COVID-19 epidemic, initiating lockdown measures on March 16th when it recorded only 62 cases of COVID-19 per million inhabitants and reported no deaths. The Portuguese public complied quickly, reducing their overall mobility by 80%. The aim of this study was to estimate the initial impact of the lockdown in Portugal in terms of the reduction of the burden on the healthcare system.Material and Methods: We forecasted epidemic curves for: Cases, hospital inpatients (overall and in intensive care), and deaths without lockdown, assuming that the impact of containment measures would start 14 days after initial lockdown was implemented. We used exponential smoothing models for deaths, intensive care and hospitalizations and an ARIMA model for number of cases. Models were selected considering fitness to the observed data up to the 31st March 2020. We then compared observed (with intervention) and forecasted curves (without intervention).Results: Between April 1st and April 15th, there were 146 fewer deaths (-25%), 5568 fewer cases (-23%) and, as of April 15th, there were 519 fewer intensive care inpatients (-69%) than forecasted without the lockdown. On April 15th, the number of intensive care inpatients could have reached 748, three times higher than the observed value (229) if the intervention had been delayed.Discussion: If the lockdown had not been implemented in mid-March, Portugal intensive care capacity (528 beds) would have likely been breached during the first half of April. The lockdown seems to have been effective in reducing transmission of SARS-CoV-2, serious COVID-19 disease, and associated mortality, thus decreasing demand on health services.Conclusion: An early lockdown allowed time for the National Health Service to mobilize resources and acquire personal protective equipment, increase testing, contact tracing and hospital and intensive care capacity and to promote broad prevention and control measures. When lifting more stringent measures, strong surveillance and communication strategies that mobilize individual prevention efforts are necessary.
A Abordagem da Medicina Física e de Reabilitação nos Doentes com Síndrome Pós Internamento em Cuidados Intensivos por COVID-19 em Portugal
Authors: Leandro Gisela Henriques , Martins Daniela Costa , Vaz Inês Machado , Rios Jonathan
Published: November 2020

N/a.
Letter to the Editor Regarding the Article “Geriatric Assessment of the Portuguese Population Aged 65 and Over Living in the Community: The PEN-3S study”. On Clinically Significant Depression and Validity of Cut-off Points.
Authors: Moura Ana Rita , Gonçalves-Pereira Manuel
Published: November 2020

N/a.
Previsões sobre o Futuro da Pandemia: O Papel dos Modelos Matemáticos
Authors: Gomes Manuel Carmo , Nunes Ana , Nogueira João , Rebelo Carlota , Viana João , Rozhnova Ganna
Published: November 2020

N/a.
Canadian Public Health Agency Lessons on Using Choropleth Maps to Characterize Geographic Distribution of COVID-19 Data
Authors: Guillette David , Stratton Julie , Varia Monali , Chau Vivian , Loh Lawrence C.
Published: November 2020

N/a
Medical emergencies teaching in dentistry undergraduate courses in southeastern Brazil
Authors: Viana Faria Luan , Medeiros Yuri de Lima , Fernandes Lopes Danielle , Vilela Eduardo Machado , Assis Neuza Maria Souza Picorelli
Published: November 2020

Aim: The aim of this study is to offer an overview of the MedicalEmergencies (ME) discipline offer in Dentistry graduations insoutheastern Brazil and to observe the curricular characteristicsof the discipline when present. Methods: This cross-sectionaldocumentary study analyzed the available curricular frameworksin the official websites of Higher Education Institutions (HEI)in southeastern Brazil registered on the Ministry of Education’se-MEC website. The data were analyzed and tabulated using theGraphPad Prism 8.1.2 software, being described by absolute andrelative frequencies. Fisher’s exact test was used to compare theproportions between public and private institutions. Results:Of the 176 courses in the Southeast, 144 were included in thestudy for providing access to the curriculum, 19 (13.19%) werepublic and 125 (86.81%) were private. Only 27 (18.75%) of the HEIpresent the discipline of ME, with a greater tendency of supply inprivate HEIs (20.80%) when compared to public HEIs (5.26%),but this difference was not statistically significant (p> 0.05).As a positive aspect, the discipline is predominantly mandatory(88.88%), and the with regard to the teaching methodology ispredominantly theoretical (68.18%). The average workload is50.14 hours (SD=19.54). Conclusions: In only 18.75% of thedental institutions in Southeast Brazil, ME discipline were offered.When offered, the discipline is predominantly theoretical andmandatory. This study raises an important discussion regardingthe need to include specific and mandatory subjects on ME inthe dentistry curricula in Brazil and reflects the need to updateand standardize the national curricular guidelines for dentistry.
PIBIC VARIÁVEIS HEMATOLÓGICAS DE Oreochromis niloticus COMO BIOMARCADORES DE EFEITOS PARA A EXPOSIÇÃO SUBLETAL AGUDA AO BIOPESTICIDA À BASE DE Bacillus thuringiensis.
Authors: Silva Sandy Alves , Mariano Wagner dos Santos , Paulino Marcelo Gustavo
Published: November 2020

Na tentativa de controlar e combater efeitos danosos de insetos na lavoura e o impacto ambiental, os biopesticidas são alternativas biologicamente ativas que prometem causar menor dano ambiental. Os biopesticidas à base de Bacillus thuringiensis são os mais utilizados como inseticidas, entretanto, não é claro seus efeitos em organismos não-alvos. O trabalho propôs avaliar os possíveis efeitos causados por biopesticida à base de B. thuringiensis utilizando sensíveis biomarcadores hematológicos de tilápia-do-Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus). Exemplares de tilápia foram divididos em dois grupos (n=10 por grupo) e colocados em aquários de 150 L. O aquário do grupo controle continha água, enquanto do grupo tratado foi adicionado 60 mg L-1 do biopesticida na água do aquário teste. Após exposição, 1 mL de sangue foi coletado, via punção caudal, para análises dos biomarcadores hematológicos: hemoglobina (Hb), hematócrito (Hct), eritrócitos (RBC), volume corpuscular médio (VCM), hemoglobina corpuscular média (HCM) e concentração de hemoglobina corpuscular média (CHCM), leucócitos e trombócitos totais e analise diferencial leucocitária. Após as 48 horas de exposição não houve diferença significativa nas variáveis analisadas entre o grupo controle e grupo tratado. Os resultados sugerem baixa toxicidade para a tilápia, no delineamento proposto, sem alterações que comprometessem os processos fisiológicos vitais da espécie.
PIBIC SISTEMA GALHADOR-PLANTA HOSPEDEIRA: UM ESTUDO SOBRE A QUANTIFICAÇÃO DE ESTÔMATOS E DOS PIGMENTOS FOTOSSINTÉTICOS NAS FOLHAS DE Caryocar brasiliense CAMB. (CARYOCARACEAE)
Authors: Bezerra Lima Samila , Scareli-Santos Claudia , Dias da Silva Maurina
Published: November 2020

Objetivou-se avaliar a influência da infestação de galhador em Caryocar brasiliense Camb. (Caryocaraceae) na quantificação de estômatos e dos pigmentos fotossintéticos nas estações seca e chuvosa. Foram coletados cinco indivíduos localizados na UFT - campus Araguaína; no laboratório as folhas foram separadas em sadias e infestadas e empregada a técnica do esmalte para o estudo dos estômatos. Foi utilizado o método colorimétrico para a quantificação dos pigmentos fotossintéticos presentes nas folhas, sadias e infestadas, e galhas do morfotipo polipoides. A quantificação de estômatos evidenciou maior número na estação seca para as, os maiores valores foram atribuídos às folhas sadias (118,0 µm cm-2) e infestadas (126,5 µm cm-2) localizados na face abaxial. Os teores de clorofila b das plantas coletadas na estação seca não mostraram diferenças estatísticas entre folhas sadias (0,815 µm cm-2) e infestadas (0,774 µm cm2). Na estação chuvosa, apenas nas galhas apresentaram diferenças significativas. Os teores de clorofila total (4,227 mg L-1), a (4,773 mg L-1), b (4,773 mg L-1) e carotenoides (2,397 mg L-1) foram estatisticamente maiores nas folhas infestadas coletadas na estação chuvosa. Nas galhas não foram observadas diferenças significativas com exceção dos pigmentos carotenoides, os quais foram estatisticamente maiores na estação chuvosa (0,895 mg L-1).
Mobilizacijska struktura veteranskog pokreta u Hrvatskoj
Authors: Bagić Dragan , Kardov Kruno , Škacan Mislav
Published: November 2020

Cilj rada je istražiti dinamiku udruživanja hrvatskih ratnih veterana te ustanoviti ključna obilježja koja doprinose članstvu u veteranskim organizacijama. Analiziraju se podaci veteranskih organizacija iz Registra udruga RH za razdoblje od 1991. do 2014. godine te podaci o socio-demografskim karakteristikama, veteranskom identitetu i političkim preferencijama članova veteranskih organizacija prikupljeni anketnim istraživanjem 2015. godine. Rezultati pokazuju da je članstvo veteranskih organizacija određeno ratnim iskustvom, socio-demografskim te političkim obilježjima. Veteranske organizacije su dominantno mjesnog karaktera, a ključne interne razlike u udruživanju određene su posljedicama rata i načinom ulaska u rat. Zabilježene su značajne razlike između članova i ne-članova veteranskih organizacija u smislu da su članovi u većoj mjeri orijentirani prema desnom političkom spektru, što pokazuje da u određenim prilikama veteranske organizacije mogu značajno usmjeravati kolektivno djelovanje ratnih veterana u političkoj areni. U radu se raspravljaju uvidi o asocijacijskoj gustoći veterana, razlike između članova i ne-članova veteranskih organizacija te obrasci i ciklusi veteranskog udruživanja.
Dendritic Polymers as Promising Additives for the Manufacturing of Hybrid Organoceramic Nanocomposites with Ameliorated Properties Suitable for an Extensive Diversity of Applications
Authors: Douloudi Marilina , Nikoli Eleni , Katsika Theodora , Vardavoulias Michalis K. , Arkas Michael
Published: November 2020

As the field of nanoscience is rapidly evolving, interest for novel, upgraded nanomaterials with combinatory features is also inevitably increasing. Hybrid composites, offer simple, budget-conscious and environmental-friendly solutions that can cater multiple needs at the same time and be applicable in many nanotechnology-related and interdisciplinary studies. The physicochemical idiocrasies of dendritic polymers have inspired their implementation as sorbents, active ingredient carriers and templates for complex composites. Ceramics are distinguished for their mechanical superiority and absorption potential that render them ideal substrates for separation and catalysis technologies. The integration of dendritic compounds to these inorganic hosts can be achieved through chemical attachment of the organic moiety onto functionalized surfaces, impregnation and absorption inside the pores, conventional sol-gel reactions or via biomimetic mediation of dendritic matrices, inducing the formation of usually spherical hybrid nanoparticles. Alternatively, dendritic polymers can propagate from ceramic scaffolds. All these variants are covered in detail. Optimization techniques as well as established and prospected applications are also presented.
Configuraciones disciplinares para la producc ión científica en la educación de México. Una revisión desde la sociología de la educación y la formación del Sistema Educativo
Authors: Ramírez Díaz José Antonio
Published: November 2020

El presente texto es producto de una pesquisa sobre la conformación disciplinar de la investigación educativa en México en su relación con la institucionalización del sistema nacional de investigación a través del Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT). Ha sido escrito para identificar la articulación de los núcleos teóricos y metodológicos procedentes de la sociología con los acontecimientos históricos más relevantes en la creación del Sistema Educativo de México, los cuales han estimulado la formación del campo científico de la educación en el país. A lo largo del trabajo se establece la relación entre los paradigmas de investigación, la producción teórica clásica y contemporánea de la sociología de la educación y los sucesos críticos con los cuales se consolidó el sistema educativo nacional.
La desigualdad espacial en regiones cañeras. Medición y análisis con aplicación de conjuntos difusos
Authors: Quintero Castellanos Carlos Emigdio , Flores Payán Lucio
Published: November 2020

Este trabajo explora las posibilidades de una herramienta de análisis que ayude en la comprensión de las desigualdades espaciales de regiones agroindustriales de sistema producto caña de azúcar, en el estado de Jalisco, México. El modelo de análisis recurre a teoría de la lógica difusa y su aplicación matemática de los conjuntos difusos. A través de dos cuerpos teóricos que ayudan a explicar la disminución de las desigualdades espaciales, el de intervención y de no-intervención gubernamental, se definieron cuatro componentes que, promediados, a manera de un índice multidimensional, permite diferenciar a las regiones en términos de desigualdad. Se contrasta este índice con un modelo de regresión lineal simple para considerar las ventajas y desventajas de este.
External Validation of Achieving the Patient Acceptable Symptom State for the EuroQol-5 Dimension 1 Year After Total Hip Arthroplasty
Authors: Florissi Isabella , Galea Vincent , Shin David , Sauder Nicholas , Colon Iban Yhan E. , Ingelsrud Lina H. , Troelsen Anders , Bragdon Charles , Malchau Henrik
Published: November 2020

Background:

Patient acceptable symptom state (PASS) thresholds for the EuroQol-5 Dimension-3 Level (EQ-5D-3L) questionnaire have been established for patients being evaluated 1 year following total hip arthroplasty (THA) but with varying derivation cohorts and methods. The aim of this study was to (1) generate an EQ-5D PASS threshold 1 year following THA on the basis of an international patient cohort, (2) validate preexisting and newly generated PASS thresholds 1 year following THA using the institutional registry of an academic care center, and (3) assess whether THA PASS thresholds vary by patient age and sex.

Methods:

The derivation cohort for the THA PASS threshold consisted of 774 patients (after exclusions) who were enrolled in an international, multicenter study from 2007 to 2012 and who completed the EQ-5D and a numerical rating scale (NRS) for satisfaction 1 year postoperatively. With the NRS dichotomized at 2.5 as the anchor, a PASS cutoff for the EQ-5D was generated using the 80% specificity method. The Youden method and 75th percentile approach served as sensitivity analyses. The external validation cohort comprised 1,472 patients who had undergone THA. PASS thresholds were used to dichotomize the external validation sample. The ability of the threshold to predict satisfaction was evaluated with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Patient subcohorts were stratified by age (>65 and ≤65 years) and sex.

Results:

Three THA PASS thresholds of 0.77 (our newly defined threshold), 0.82, and 0.92 were validated in this study. The EQ-5D PASS threshold of 0.77 (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.816) best predicted satisfaction 1 year after THA. Subcohort analyses yielded comparable 1-year PASS thresholds for THA between age cohorts and between sex cohorts.

Conclusions:

This study identifies PASS thresholds that best predict patient satisfaction 1 year following THA. Although the varied methodology and patient cohorts used to derive PASS values complicate the comparison of these thresholds, this analysis can help surgeons understand the level of health-related quality of life associated with patient satisfaction following THA.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Characteristics of Coagulation/Fibrinolysis Abnormalities in Serious Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Patients Complicated with Stroke: Case Series
Authors: Ishikura Hiroyasu , Maruyama Junichi , Izutani Yoshito , Morimoto Shinichi , Takayama Kazushi , Irie Yuhei , Kitamura Taisuke , Iwaasa Mitsutoshi , Hoshino Kota , Nakamura Yoshihiko
Published: November 2020

Background: Not surprisingly, novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients are frequently complicated with COVID-19 associated coagulopathy (CAC). And cerebrovascular disease is not uncommon during SARS-CoV-2 infection, especially in older patients and severe patients with risk factors. This time we treated six patients with serious COVID-19, of whom two had a stroke during ICU admission. Based on our experience, we report some findings on the relationship between CAC pattern and risk of stroke in patients with serious COVID-19.Case presentation: Two patients who subsequently had a stroke were transferred to our emergency center and underwent veno-venous extracorporeal corporeal membrane oxygenation (V-V ECMO) with unfractionated heparin as an anticoagulant for treatment of severe respiratory failure. In one patient, the platelet count was 5.7 × 104/mm3 on ICU admission, increased to above 10 × 104/mm3 after 5 days. In the other patient, the platelet count progressed to above 10 × 104/mm3 for the observation period of 8 days. Both prothrombin-international normalized ratio and activated partial thromboplastin time remained almost within the normal ranges throughout the 8-day period. In contrast, the levels of fibrin degradation products, D-dimer, and plasmin alfa2-plasmin inhibitor complex remained above the upper limits of the normal ranges throughout the 8-day period, and the levels in both cases increased markedly around the onset of stroke.Discussion: From these findings, we gained a strong impression that the pattern of CAC in stroke patients was not a “suppressed-fibrinolytic type” pattern, but rather an “enhanced-fibrinolytic type” pattern.Conclusions: During the period in which serious COVID-19 patients undergo V-V ECMO, we need to be aware that these patients with CAC may be complicated with stroke not only cerebral infarction, but also cerebral hemorrhage.
Iron and nickel atoms in comet atmospheres
Authors: Manfroid Jean , Hutsemekers Damien , Jehin Emmanuel
Published: November 2020

When sufficiently close to the Sun, ices in cometary nuclei sublimate, ejecting in space dust and gases whose compositions can be derived by the remote spectral analysis of the cometary atmospheres. Those very rich spectra reveal a host of constituents from simple radicals like OH and CN in the optical range, to relatively complex organic molecules in the infrared and sub-millimeter domain. The majority of these molecules are made of C, H, O and N atoms. Iron, nickel and a few other siderophile atoms have only been detected in two exceptional sungrazer comets in a century and a half. Here we report that free atoms of iron and nickel are ubiquitous in cometary atmospheres as revealed by high-resolution spectra obtained in the near-ultraviolet with the ESO Very Large Telescope for a large sample of comets of various dynamical origins. The emissions of NiI and FeI in cometary comae have been overlooked until now and, surprisingly, are even detected at large heliocentric distances. The abundances of both species appear to be of the same order of magnitude, contrasting with the typical solar system abundance and providing clues about their origins in comet nuclei.
Tight Association of Genome Rearrangements With Gene Expression in Conifer Plastomes
Authors: Wu Chung-Shien , Sudianto Edi , Chaw Shu-Miaw
Published: November 2020

Background: Our understanding of plastid transcriptomes is limited to a few model plants whose plastid genomes (plastomes) have a highly conserved gene order. Consequently, little is known about how gene expression changes in response to genomic rearrangements in plastids. This is particularly important in the highly rearranged conifer plastomes. Results: We sequenced and reported the plastomes and plastid transcriptomes of six conifer species, representing all six extant families. Strand-specific RNAseq data shows a nearly full transcription of both plastomic strands and detects C-to-U RNA-editing sites at both sense and antisense transcripts. We demonstrate that the expression of plastid coding genes is strongly functionally dependent among conifer species. However, the strength of this association declines as the number of plastomic rearrangements increases. This finding indicates that plastomic rearrangement influences gene expression.Conclusions: Our data provide the first line of evidence that plastomic rearrangements not only complicate the plastomic architecture but also drive the dynamics of plastid transcriptomes in conifers.
Social Purpose in an Organization from the Perspective of an Employee: A Self-Determination Outlook on the Meaning of Work
Authors: Puchalska-Kaminska Malwina , Łądka-Barańska Agnieszka , Roczniewska Marta
Published: November 2020

ObjectiveAdvancing social purpose in organizations is usually studied from the macro perspective, i.e., how it benefits organizational business goals or society more broadly. In this paper, we focus on social purpose from the perspective of the employee and propose that advancing social purpose in an organization allows individuals to fulfil an important human need for the meaning of work (MW). This study’s objective was to assess whether a volunteering Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program in a manufacturing company allows employees to fulfil their basic psychological needs for relatedness, competence, and autonomy. The data was collected through in-depth interviews and an analysis of artifacts, i.e., the company's multimedia materials such as employer branding ads and lectures where managerial staff shares knowledge about management strategies in this company.ResultsIn the analysis, three main themes describing different aspects of voluntary work at the company were identified. These themes were related to SDT theory and described how voluntary activities served the needs of (1) relatedness, (2) competence, and (3) autonomy. We conclude that CSR programs have the most positive impact on MW when they allow employees to engage in prosocial actions and satisfy those needs.
Description of a Rat Model of Polymicrobial Abdominal Sepsis Mimicking Human Colon Perforation
Authors: Utiger Julia M , Glas Michael , Levis Anja , Prazak Josef , Haenggi Matthias
Published: November 2020

Objective: Standard rodent sepsis models as cecal ligation and puncture models (CLP) or cecal ligation and incision models (CLI) are frequently not suited experiments, mainly because they lack surgical repair, and they are difficult to control for severity. The colon ascendens stent peritonitis model (CASP) overcomes some of these limitations. Result: Here we present our modification of the rodent CASP model, where severity of sepsis can be controlled by timing of surgical repair and treatment, and by diameter of the stent. Further, basic hemodynamic monitoring (blood pressure and heart rate) and frequent blood sampling can be achieved, which might guide further treatment.
Implication of Nitrergic System in the Anticonvulsant Effect of Ferulic Acid in Pentylenetetrazole-induced Seizures in Male Mice
Authors: Khoei Hossein Amini , Boroujeni Shakiba Nasiri , Lorigooini Zahra , Salehi Arash , Sadeghian Reihaneh , Madiseh Mohammad Rahimi-
Published: November 2020

Background and Aim: Given the widespread prevalence of seizures worldwide and the low efficacy of synthetic drugs, studies are needed to find new compounds with appropriate efficacy. Ferulic acid (FA) is a phenolic compound with antioxidant and neuroprotective effects. The aim of present study was to investigate the role of nitrergic system in the anticonvulsant effect of FA in pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures in male mice. Material and Methods: 64 male NMRI mice weighing 25-29 g were randomly divided into 8 experimental groups (n=8). FA at doses 5, 10 and 40 mg / kg alone and in combination with L-NAME (nitric oxide synthase inhibitor) or L-arg (nitric oxide precursor) was administrated (i.p.). PTZ was injected (i.v. route) 30 min after drugs administration. Seizure onset time was recorded and the nitrite levels of prefrontal cortex and serum were determined by Griess Method. Results: FA at doses of 10 and 40 mg / kg significantly increased the seizure threshold as well as reduced the serum and brain nitric oxide levels in comparison to the saline- received group. Co-administration of effective dose of FA (10 mg/kg) plus L-arginine significantly decreased the seizure threshold in compared to the effective dose of FA alone. Co-injection of sub-effective dose of FA (5 mg/kg) with L-NAME significantly increased the seizure threshold as well as significantly decreased the brain nitric oxide level in compared to the sub-effective dose of FA alone.Conclusion: FA partially at least, via modulation of nitrergic system possessed anticonvulsant effect in PTZ-induced seizures in mice.
Simultaneous Uniportal Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery of Bilateral Pulmonary Nodules
Authors: Lin ShengCheng , Yang Chenglin , Guo Xiaotong , Xu Yafei , Wang Lixu , Wang Zhe , Yu Xin , Wang Chunguang , Yu Zhen tao
Published: November 2020

Background: Surgical resection is an appropriate treatment option for synchronous bilateral pulmonary nodules with ground-glass opacities. The applicability of simultaneous uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery is not fully understood. We evaluated the experience in performing such surgeries at our hospital and the associated postoperative complications.Methods: Clinical data of 35 patients who underwent simultaneous bilateral pulmonary resection with uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery at our hospital were reviewed retrospectively. Results: Simultaneous bilateral pulmonary resection with uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery was performed for 35 patients (15 men, 20 women); 97 nodules were operated on, and the average nodule diameter was 11.4 mm (range, 1-38 mm). Computerized tomography showed that most nodules had ground-glass opacity (52/97, 53.6%); solid nodules (24/97, 24.7%) and nodules with mixed ground-glass opacity (21/97, 21.7%) were noted. Surgical resection included lobar-sublobar resection (11/35, 31.4%) and sublobar-sublobar resection (24/35, 68.6%). Wound infection and postoperative 30-day mortality were not observed. Pneumonia was the major postoperative complication, with a higher incidence in the lobar-sublobar group (6/35, 17.1%) than in the sublobar-sublobar group (4/35, 11.4%; P = 0.021). Pneumonia did not correlate with operative time (mean, 262.3±108.1 vs. 261.9±87.5 min, P = 0.991), duration of chest drainage (mean, 7.0±4.0 vs 5.4±2.1 days, P = 0.124), and postoperative hospital stay (mean, 10.2±3.6 vs 10.2±6.4 days, P = 0.978). The mean follow-up time was 8 (range, 3-22) months. Recurrence of primary lung cancer or mortality was not noted at the final follow-up. Conclusions: Simultaneous bilateral pulmonary resection with uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery is feasible and safe for appropriate patients. Simultaneous lobar-sublobar pulmonary resection for bilateral nodules can increase the risk of developing pneumonia.
Totally Endoscopic Aortic Valve Replacement with Concomitant Trans-Aortic Mitral Valve Repair for Mitral Regurgitation
Authors: Pitsis Antonios , Tsotsolis Nikolaos , Boudoulas Harisios , Boudoulas Konstantinos Dean
Published: November 2020

BackgroundMinimally invasive aortic valve procedures through a hemi-sternotomy or a right anterior mini-thoracotomy have gained popularity over the last several years. Totally endoscopic aortic valve replacement (TEAVR) is an innovative and a less invasive (incision-wise) surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) technique. The operative steps of TEAVR have been reported previously from our group. Mitral regurgitation (MR) frequently accompanies aortic valve disease, and sometimes requires repair. Can totally endoscopic surgery be applied in such cases?Case presentationWe present the surgical technique of a totally endoscopic approach to aortic valve replacement and concomitant mitral valve repair for primary or secondary MR. We used the aortotomy incision and avoided an atriotomy that would result in a prohibited increase in cross-clamp (XC) and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) times and an elevation in mortality and morbidity rates. Neochords (artificial chordae tendineae) were used for the repair of primary MR and the edge-to-edge approach was used for the repair of secondary MR.ConclusionTotally endoscopic aortic valve replacement and concomitant mitral valve repair can be performed transaortically with reasonable XC and CPB times, and excellent short-term results.
A Compartmental Model that Predicts the Effect of Social Distancing and Vaccination on Controlling COVID-19
Authors: Dashtbali Mohammadali , Mirzaie Mehdi
Published: November 2020

The understanding of the interaction between disease dynamics and human behavior is an important and essential point to control infectious. Disease outbreak can be inﬂuenced by social distancing and vaccination. In this study, we introduce two compartmental models to derive the epidemic curve and analyze the individual’s behavior in spreading and controlling the COVID-19 epidemic. The ﬁrst model includes Susceptible, Exposed, Infectious, Hospitalized, Recovered and Death compartments and in the second model, we added a new compartment namely, semi-susceptible individuals that are assumed to be more immune than the susceptible. A comparison of the two models shows that the second model provides a better ﬁt to the daily infected cases from Egypt, Belgium, Japan, Nigeria, Italy, and Germany released by WHO. Finally, we added a vaccinated term to the model to predict how vaccination could control the epidemic. The model was applied on the record data from WHO.
Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein (MOG) Antibody Disease in a 11-year-old child with COVID 19 infection
Authors: Khan Archana , Panwala Hiren , Ramadoss Divya , Khubchandani Raju
Published: November 2020

Optic Neuritis is the most common presentation of MOG Antibody Disease (MOG-AD). We share our experience with a 11-year-old boy who developed MOG associated Optic Neuritis temporally associated with SARS- CoV-2 infection. He responded well to intravenous methylprednisolone therapy followed by oral prednisolone. While various neurological and ophthalmological manifestations of COVID-19 have been described previously, there are few case reports of Optic neuritis associated with COVID-19. Our case further supports the evidence to suggest that SARS CoV-2 is another such virus that triggers MOG-AD.
Explanation and Prediction of Clinical Data with Imbalanced Class Distribution based on Pattern Discovery and Disentanglement
Authors: Zhou Peiyuan , Wong Andrew K.C.
Published: November 2020

Background: Statistical data analysis, especially the advanced machine learning (ML) methods, have attracted considerable interest in clinical practices. We are looking for interpretability of the diagnostic/prognostic results that will bring confidence to doctors, patients and their relatives in therapeutics and clinical practice. When datasets are imbalanced in diagnostic categories, we notice that the ordinary ML methods might produce results overwhelmed by the majority classes diminishing prediction accuracy. Hence, we need methods that could produce explicit transparent and interpretable results in decision-making, without sacrificing accuracy, even for data with imbalanced groups. Methods: In order to interpret the clinical patterns and conduct diagnostic prediction of patients with high accuracy, we develop a novel method, Pattern Discovery and Disentanglement for Clinical Data Analysis (cPDD), which is able to discover patterns (correlated traits/indicants) and use them to classify clinical data even if the class distribution is imbalanced. In the most general setting, a relational dataset is a large table such that each column represents an attribute (trait/indicant), and each row contains a set of attribute values (AVs) of an entity (patient). Compared to the existing pattern discovery approaches, cPDD can discover a small succinct set of statistically significant high-order patterns from clinical data for interpreting and predicting the disease class of the patients even with groups small and rare.Results: Experiments on synthetic and thoracic clinical dataset showed that cPDD can 1) discover fewer patterns compared to other existing pattern discovery methods; 2) allow the users to interpret succinct sets of patterns coming from uncorrelated sources, even the groups are rare/small; and 3) obtain better performance in prediction compared to other interpretable classification approaches. Conclusions: In conclusion, cPDD discovers fewer patterns with greater comprehensive coverage to improve the interpretability of patterns discovered. Experimental results on synthetic data validated that cPDD discovers all patterns implanted in the data, displays them precisely and succinctly with statistical support for interpretation and prediction, a capability which the traditional ML methods lack. The success of cPDD as a novel interpretable method in solving the imbalanced class problem shows its great potential to clinical data analysis for years to come.