bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Favorable outcomes of chidamide combined with cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, vindesine, prednisone, and etoposide (C-CHOEP) in patients with newly diagnosed peripheral T-cell lymphoma
Authors: Wei Chong , Zhang Yan , Wang Wei , Zhang Lu , Mao Yueying , Feng Jun , Cai Huacong , Zhang Wei , Zhou Daobin
Published: December 2020

Background: Outcomes with CHOP (cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, vindesine, and prednisone) or CHOP-like regimens are poor in most types of peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs). In this study, we investigated whether the combination of chidamide with CHOEP (cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, vindesine, etoposide, and prednisone) regimen (C-CHOEP) was superior to CHOEP and GDP-ML (gemcitabine, cisplatin, dexamethasone, methotrexate, and pegaspargase) regimen for previously untreated PTCL patients. Methods: This is a single-center retrospective study conducted at Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH). Between January 2012 and August 2019, a total of 94 newly diagnosed PTCL patients were included in this study, including 34 patients from the C-CHOEP phase 2 trial, 34 patients treated with CHOEP regimen matched to those in the C-CHOEP group, and 26 patients from a previous phase 2 trial of GDP-ML therapy. Results: The complete remission rate of patients in the C-CHOEP group was significantly higher than that of GDP-ML and CHOEP group (55.9% vs. 32.0% and 29.4%, p = 0.047), with an overall response rate of 82.4% vs. 64.7%, and 72.0%, respectively (p = 0.244). The overall survival of patients in the C-CHOEP group was significantly superior than that of the GDP-ML and CHOEP group, with 1- and 3- year OS rates of 80.9% and 73.5% in the C-CHOEP group vs. 67.4% and 36.9% in the GDP-ML group, and 64.6% and 48.9% in the CHOEP group (p = 0.048). Progression-free survival (PFS) was also improved with median PFS of 19.8 months in the C-CHOEP group vs. 6.6 and 8.1 months in the GDP-ML and CHOEP group. The most common adverse events were hematologic toxicities. Grade 3-4 neutropenia and febrile neutropenia occurred in 58.8% and 20.6% of patients in the C-CHOEP group with no significant difference compared with the CHOEP group. Conclusion: Our study suggested that C-CHOEP therapy was superior to CHOEP and GDP-ML therapy for newly diagnosed PTCL patients as shown by a significant improvement of CR rate and OS with a favorable safety profile.Trial registration: The study of C-CHOEP regimen is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov on December 2nd 2016 (NCT02987244). The study of GDP-ML regimen is registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry on March 30th 2012 (ChiCTR-ONC-12002055).
The role of edoxaban in preventing thromboembolic complications in patients with atrial fibrillation
Authors: Shakhmatova O. O.
Published: December 2020

Edoxaban is a selective direct factor Xa inhibitor. Edoxaban in a dose of 60 mg per day is an effective and safe option in the prevention of thromboembolic complications in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, including in combination therapy in patients after percutaneous coronary interventions. ENGAGE AF-TIMI 48 is currently the most extensive study comparing direct oral anticoagulants and warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation, both in terms of number of participants and duration of observation. For edoxaban, an adequate approach to dose reduction has been developed in patients with alikely increase in plasma concentration due to renal impairment, low body weight or inter-drug interactions. Such dose reduction does notlead to an increase in the frequency of ischemic complications.Edoxaban is characterized by an optimal safety profile in patients with chronic moderate kidney disease, a small number of drug interactions and a convenient mode of administration. In patients with atrial fibrillation and concomitant ischemic heart disease, the use of Edoxaban is associated with a decrease in the frequency of myocardial infarctions, as well as strokes and episodes of systemic thromboembolism in comparison with warfarin. The drug can be successfully used as anticoagulant support for cardioversion and catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation.Edoxaban intake does not require routinelaboratory control. In case of unexpected situations (life-threatening bleeding, urgent surgical intervention) in patients receiving edoxaban, to assess the degree of anticoagulation should use the determination of anti-Xa activity. Clinical studies of a specific antidote of edoxaban - andexanet alfa are ongoing. Before approval of the specific antidote in severe andlife-threatening bleedings against the background of edoxaban administration, the use of prothrombin complex concentrate should be considered. Data on the effective and safe use of edoxaban in routine clinical practice have been accumulated.
Recurrent ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation: frequency, heterogeneity, prevention
Authors: Geraskina L. A. , Alieva M. M. , Fonyakin A. V. , Maximova M. Yu. , Garabova N. I. , Burzhunova M. G.
Published: December 2020

Introduction. For the prevention of recurrent ischemic stroke (IS) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), oral anticoagulants (OAC) are considered a priority. The comorbidity of AF patients raises a discussion about the non-alternative feasibility and exceptional clinical efficacy of OAC. The validity of the choice of a specific antithrombotic agent can be assessed using a dynamic assessment of the causes of the first and recurrent stroke in patients with AF.Aim. To assess the frequency recurrent IS and quality of medicament prevention therapy in patients with AF depend on heterogeneity of stroke leading pathogenetic mechanism.Materials and methods. The data from the register of 200 patients with IS and AF were analyzed. 55 (27.5%) patients suffered recurrent IS (24 (43,6%) men, 31 (56,4%) women, mean age 72,3 ± 10,2 years). The pathogenetic subtype of recurrent IS was determined, including a retrospective assessment of the pathogenetic subtype of a previous IS. We studied the presence and nature of antithrombotic therapy (ATT) preceding a second stroke.Results. The first IS was due to cardiogenic embolism in 36.4% of patients, the atherothrombotic subtype occurred in 18.2%, and the lacunar subtype in 34.5% of patients. Embolic stroke from an undetermined source (ESUS) - in 10.9% of patients. OACs were prescribed only to 31.7% of patients, antiplatelet agents - to 14.6% of patients, 53.7% of patients did not receive ATT. The leading pathogenetic subtype of recurrent stroke was cardiogenic embolism (70.7%), the frequency of lacunar stroke decreased (4.9%), and the frequency of atherothrombotic stroke remained unchanged. In 14 patients with recurrent stroke, AF was first detected, including all patients with ESUS.

Conclusion. The proportion of recurrent stroke in patients with AF is 27.5%. Compared with the first stroke, recurrent stroke in patients with AF is characterized by an increase in the proportion of cardiogenic embolism up to 70.7%, which is due to the insufficient prescription of OAC, which must be recommended, including for patients with non-cardioembolic subtypes of stroke.
Jest Kullanımının Görme Yetersizliğinden Etkilenmiş ve Gören Yetişkinlerin Leksikal Ulaşım Sürecine Etkisinin Karşılaştırılması
Authors: TÖRET Zahide , ÖZDEMİR Selda
Published: December 2020

Giriş: Jestler, leksikal ulaşım sürecinde rol oynayıcılardır. Bu araştırmanın temel amacı jestlerin GY olan ve görenyetişkinlerin leksikal ulaşım sürecine etkisini karşılaştırmaktır.Yöntem: Araştırmanın deseni deneysel desen 2x2 tekrarlı ölçümler tasarımıdır. Araştırmaya, eğitim, cinsiyet veyaş bakımından benzer özellikler gösteren 20 görme yetersizliği olan ve 20 gören yetişkin katılmıştır.Katılımcıların sözel performansları, Sözel Akıcılık Testi kullanılarak ölçülmüştür. Leksikal ulaşım sürecinde jestkullanmanın etkisini belirlemek amacı ile katılımcılara iki gruptan oluşan hedef kelime listesinde bulunankelimelerin anlamları okunmuştur. Katılımcıların kelimeleri jestler engellenmiş ve jestler serbest koşulundatahmin etmeleri istenmiştir.Bulgular: Araştırma sonunda, görme yetersizliği (GY) olan ve gören katılımcıların jest kullanmalarının serbestolduğu koşulda kullandıkları sembolik ve kendini düzenleme jestlerinin sıklıkları arasında anlamlı bir farklılıkolmadığı, ancak vurgulayıcı jestleri kullanma sıklıkları arasında anlamlı farklılık olduğu sonucuna ulaşılmıştır.Jest kullanımı engellenmiş koşulda ise katılımcı grupların leksikal ulaşım süreci sonunda doğru yanıt vermesıklıkları arasında anlamlı farklılıklar olduğu görülmüştür.Tartışma: Araştırmanın sonuçları ilgili alanyazın çerçevesinde tartışılmış, ileride yapılacak uygulama vearaştırmalar için önerilerde bulunulmuştur.
Using the Mechanisms of the Paris Climate Agreement for Conservation and Reforestation in the Russian Federation .
Authors: Stetsenko A. V. , Uvarov V. B.
Published: December 2020

Theproblem of climate change is a global challenge of the XXI century for all mankind.However,despitetheadoptionoftheParisclimateagreement,whichisdesignedtosynchronizethe actions of various countries, individual countries or groups of countries are taking thepathof obtaining unilateral preferences under the pretext of fulfilling the obligations stipulatedin the agreement. The article analyzes the challenges and risks that Russia may face inthe absence of its own greenhouse gas regulation systems against the background of thedeclared and implemented in a number of countries policy of achieving zero greenhouse gasemissions. Ways to fully utilize the potential absorption capacity of Russian forests and otherecosystems in relation to the goals of the Paris climate agreement are considered. We aretalkingabout potential effects for the Russian economy in the form of domestic investmentin forest projects to absorb CO2, while increasing the competitiveness of Russian exportproducts in the context of the introduction of protectionist measures by individual countriesunder the pretext of fighting for “climate neutrality”.
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2: The Importance of Prompt Detection of Cardiovascular Involvement
Authors: Centurión Osmar A. , Miño Luís M. , Scavenius Karina E.
Published: December 2020

Increased morbidity and mortality are associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) when there is cardiovascular (CV) involvement. Due to the absence of prospective, well-designed, controlled studies, the exact mechanism responsible for cardiac injury among patients with COVID-19 remains uncertain. However, possible mechanisms described in observational studies can be considered. Non-ischemic events and ischemic myocardial involvement are the two main pathophysiological mechanisms of acute cardiac injury in COVID-19 patients. Non-ischemic myocardial injury is probably predominant and is secondary to multiple pathological mechanisms. Cardiac involvement is relatively common among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and is associated with a greater risk of in-hospital mortality and ventricular arrhythmias. There was also a high and significantly positive linear correlation between troponin T and plasma high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels. It is important to promptly detect CV involvement to avoid increased mortality in these patients. These findings highlight the importance of clinical surveillance and laboratory testing of serum troponin levels to ensure appropriate early identification and proceed with appropriate treatment. This should apply to patients with/without prior CV involvement. There are several possible mechanisms of myocardial tissue damage and the exact mechanisms involved need to be explored in well-designed studies.
Comparison of Ropivacaine-Fentanyl with Bupivacaine-Fentanyl for Labour Epidural Analgesia
Authors: Kulkarni Kalpana , Patil Rahul
Published: December 2020

Background:

Bupivacaine with opioid is commonly used for labour epidural analgesia. Ropivacaine is considered as an alternative to bupivacaine due to its lower cardiovascular complications. However, there is a controversy regarding the efficacy of these drugs as some studies suggest equivalent action, whereas others report that ropivacaine produces less motor blockade. The study aimed to compare the effect of ropivacaine-fentanyl and bupivacaine-fentanyl for labour analgesia.

Materials and Methods:

The prospective randomized study was performed on 60 parturients, divided into two groups of 30 subjects each. Group I received 10ml of bupivacaine 0.1% + fentanyl 2µg/ml and Group II received 10ml of ropivacaine 0.1% + fentanyl 2µg/ml by epidural catheter. Pre-anaesthetic evaluation was performed on all the participants and all were administered metoclopramide 0.25mg/kg and ondansetron 0.08-0.1mg/kg intravenously as premedication. The baseline and post anaesthesia systolic, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, VAS score, degree of motor block, sedation and APGAR score of the baby were recorded. The data were tabulated and statistically analyzed.

Results:

When compared, there was no significant difference in systolic/diastolic blood pressure in two groups except at 360 min where diastolic pressure was low in group II. Significantly higher heart rate at 30 min (P=0.0003), 120 min (0.006), and 300 min (P=0.001) was observed in group I subjects. VAS score was significantly less at 180 min (P=0.019) and 300 min (P=0.019) in group II. Adverse effects such as fetal bradycardia, nausea/vomiting and hypotension observed were clinically insignificance when compared in two groups.

Conclusion:

Bupivacaine and ropivacaine produce an equal degree of analgesia and hemodynamic stability in 0.1% of concentration when added with 2µg/ml fentanyl . However, heart rate was well maintained with lower VAS scores in group II receiving ropivacaine. No significant difference in the side effects between the two groups. Hence, Ropivacaine can be used as a safe alternative to bupivacaine for labour epidural analgesia.
EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF DULOXETINE IN THE TREATMENT OF CHEMOTHERAPY INDUCED PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS
Authors: Eka Widyadharma I Putu , Putri Vania Rau Chiquita , Taslim Pinzon Rizaldy , Y Yudiyanta , Wiwiek Indrayani Agung , Eko Purwata Thomas , Nugraha Boya
Published: December 2020

Background: One of the adverse effects of chemotherapy in the neurological field is chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), it was an adverse effect caused by many chemotherapeutic regimens and a major cause of continuous pain in patients who survived cancer. When the symptoms get worse, survivor’s quality of life is declining and they are often having problems with mental health, insomnia, cognitive functioning, fatigue, physical functioning, and pain. So far the choice of therapy for CIPN is still limited. Now, there was no drug approved to treat pain due to CIPN. Duloxetine are a SNRI (serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor), which it’s useful in CIPN are highly supported by evidence. Methods: We conducted a systemactic-computer based literature search on January 4, 2019 in PubMed database for article published between 2013 and 2018. We searched for a literature related with used a duloxetine for management of chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy. Results: From the 4 studies that included in this review, the total participants are 478 patients with neuropathic pain and already get a chemotherapy regiment. From the meta-analysis showed one study had no effect, two studies had small effect, and one study had medium effect. Conclusion: Duloxetine is a great option for the treatment of CIPN in especially reducing neuropathic pain.
CRANIAL ULTRASOUND: EFFICIENT SCREENING TOOL FOR EARLY DETECTION OF BRAIN INJURY IN PRETERM INFANTS
Authors: Rachma Erawati Dini , Yueniwati Yuyun
Published: December 2020

Background: Cranial ultrasound becomes an important diagnostic tool to evaluate brain injury in infants. Brain injury is a major complication for preterm birth. The brain injury of preterm infants differs from that of a term infant. Brain injury has correlation with gestational age and mode of delivery. Objective: To analyze the correlation between cranial ultrasound findings with gestational age and mode of delivery and to reveal if cranial ultrasound can be used to detect brain injury in premature infants. Methods: An observational analytic study using cross-sectional design took place in Saiful Anwar Hospital Malang, Indonesia. 38 healthy preterm infants underwent cranial ultrasound examination within the first four day of life. Fisher Exact test was used to analyze the correlation between cranial ultrasound findings with gestational age and mode of delivery. Results: Most of the healthy preterm infants (89.5%) were ≥ 32 weeks gestational age, and 52.6% of samples had caesarean section as their mode of delivery. There were three abnormal findings in cranial ultrasound; increased periventricular echogenic (5.3%), increased parenchym echogenic (5.3%), and indistinguishable of gray-white matter differentiation (5.3%). There was no significant correlation between abnormal cranial ultrasound findings with gestational age and mode of delivery (p= 0.202; p= 0.218). Conclusion: There were abnormal cranial ultrasound findings in some healthy preterm infants despite no significant correlation between ultrasound findings with gestational age and mode of delivery. Cranial ultrasound in preterm infants could become a screening tool for early detection of brain injury.
Механизмы возникновения напряжений в тонких пленках и покрытиях
Authors: Шугуров А.Р. , Панин А.В.
Published: December 2020

Проведен анализ литературных данных, посвященных причинам развития механических напряжений в эпитаксиальных, поликристаллических и аморфных пленках в процессе их формирования и при различных внешних воздействиях. Описан механизм возникновения внутренних напряжений при гетероэпитаксиальном росте пленок, обусловленных несоответствием постоянных кристаллических решеток пленки и подложки. Показана взаимосвязь между развитием напряжений несоответствия в гетероэпитаксиальных пленках и изменением характера их роста. Рассмотрены модели возникновения сжимающих и растягивающих напряжений в поликристаллических пленках вследствие формирования и коалесценции островков на начальной стадии их роста. Обсуждаются закономерности эволюции внутренних напряжений в сплошных пленках в зависимости от условий их осаждения, а также их химического состава, структуры и механических свойств. Рассмотрены механизмы развития внутренних напряжений в тонких пленках, связанных с образованием в них точечных дефектов, внедрением примесей и фазовыми превращениями, происходящими в процессе осаждения. Подробно рассмотрены внешние факторы, приводящие к возникновению напряжений в тонких пленках в процессе их хранения и эксплуатации. Ключевые слова: тонкие пленки, покрытия, напряжения, дефекты.
Caracterización de prácticas ambientales en relación con el manejo de recursos y cuidado del Entorno Escolar Rural
Authors: López López Gregorio Gabriel , Julio Galvis Gabriel Ángel , Pérez Vásquez Nabi Del Socorro
Published: December 2020

El artículo muestra resultados de una investigación cuyo propósito fue la caracterización de las prácticas ambientales en estudiantes de básica secundaria de la zona rural del municipio de Montería, en relación con el manejo de los recursos agua, energía, residuos sólidos y cuidado del entorno escolar. Con un enfoque cualitativo mediante la investigación acción, desde el paradigma sociocrítico, que acerca al investigador a la problemática detectada apoyándose en actores claves para transformar la realidad a partir de la interpretación de resultados, se utilizan técnicas como la encuesta aplicada a estudiantes y docentes, observación participante, y entrevistas semiestructuradas a grupos focales de estudiantes con las que se logró recopilar información sobre los puntos de vista, modos de pensar, de hacer, de actuar y las percepciones de los estudiantes sobre la trasformación de las prácticas ambientales. Se evidenciaron prácticas ambientales inadecuadas, descuido por el entorno escolar, bajo nivel de conocimiento ambiental. Al caracterizar las prácticas ambientales se evidenciaron acciones negativas o desfavorables en la mayoría de los estudiantes, quienes hacen manejo inadecuado del agua al usar las unidades sanitarias, al tomar agua en las piletas y lavarse las manos. El manejo de residuos sólidos es el principal problema ambiental de la institución, denotando prácticas inadecuadas hacia el ambiente.
Las competencias de lectura y escritura a través de un sistema ubicuo y colaborativo de aprendizaje
Authors: Velásquez Ramos Erika Petrona
Published: December 2020

En este artículo se muestran los resultados de una investigación que tuvo como objetivo evaluar la incidencia de la implementación de un sistema ubicuo y colaborativo de aprendizaje, en el fortalecimiento de las competencias de lectura y escritura en los estudiantes de grado noveno de la Institución Educativa Antonia Santos. Se aplicó un diseño metodológico de investigación evaluativa – evaluación de programas educativos, centrado en metas y habilidades que el estudiante debe desarrollar al finalizar el proceso formativo en la competencia comunicativa de lectura y escritura. Para el desarrollo de la investigación se contempló una fase diagnóstica, una fase de diseño del programa, una fase de implementación del programa y una fase de evaluación de la implementación del programa. Los resultados obtenidos reflejan un mejoramiento en las competencias comunicativas de lectura y escritura, en comparación con la prueba diagnóstica aplicada a principio del año escolar. Finalmente, es viable considerar que es indispensable comprender que la lectura y escritura son las principales herramientas de formación para comprender el mundo, poder interactuar y resolver problemas en contextos disciplinares y socioculturales diversos.
Cystic Fibrosis Point of Personalized Detection (CFPOPD): An Interactive Web Application
Authors: Wolfe Christopher , Pestian Teresa , Gecili Emrah , Su Weiji , Keogh Ruth H , Pestian John P , Seid Michael , Diggle Peter J , Ziady Assem , Clancy John Paul , Grossoehme Daniel H , Szczesniak Rhonda D , Brokamp Cole
Published: December 2020

Background

Despite steady gains in life expectancy, individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease still experience rapid pulmonary decline throughout their clinical course, which can ultimately end in respiratory failure. Point-of-care tools for accurate and timely information regarding the risk of rapid decline is essential for clinical decision support.

Objective

This study aims to translate a novel algorithm for earlier, more accurate prediction of rapid lung function decline in patients with CF into an interactive web-based application that can be integrated within electronic health record systems, via collaborative development with clinicians.

Methods

Longitudinal clinical history, lung function measurements, and time-invariant characteristics were obtained for 30,879 patients with CF who were followed in the US Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Patient Registry (2003-2015). We iteratively developed the application using the R Shiny framework and by conducting a qualitative study with care provider focus groups (N=17).

Results

A clinical conceptual model and 4 themes were identified through coded feedback from application users: (1) ambiguity in rapid decline, (2) clinical utility, (3) clinical significance, and (4) specific suggested revisions. These themes were used to revise our application to the currently released version, available online for exploration. This study has advanced the application’s potential prognostic utility for monitoring individuals with CF lung disease. Further application development will incorporate additional clinical characteristics requested by the users and also a more modular layout that can be useful for care provider and family interactions.

Conclusions

Our framework for creating an interactive and visual analytics platform enables generalized development of applications to synthesize, model, and translate electronic health data, thereby enhancing clinical decision support and improving care and health outcomes for chronic diseases and disorders. A prospective implementation study is necessary to evaluate this tool’s effectiveness regarding increased communication, enhanced shared decision-making, and improved clinical outcomes for patients with CF.
Promoting Mask Use on TikTok: Descriptive, Cross-sectional Study (Preprint)
Authors: Basch Corey H , Fera Joseph , Pierce Isabela , Basch Charles E
Published: December 2020

BACKGROUND

Over the past decade, there has been an increasing secular trend in the number of studies on social media and health.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine the content and characteristics of TikTok videos that are related to an important aspect of community mitigation—the use of masks as a method for interrupting the transmission of SARS-CoV-2.

METHODS

In total, 100 trending videos with the hashtag #WearAMask (ie, a campaign on TikTok), along with 32 videos that were posted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and involved masks in any way (ie, all related WHO videos at the time of this study), were included in our sample. We collected the metadata of each post, and created content categories based on fact sheets that were provided by the WHO and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We used these fact sheets to code the characteristics of mask use.

RESULTS

Videos that were posted on TikTok and had the hashtag #WearAMask garnered almost 500 million views, and videos that were posted by the WHO garnered almost 57 million views. Although the ratio of the number of trending #WearAMask videos to the number of WHO videos was around 3:1, the #WearAMask videos received almost 10 times as many cumulative views as the WHO videos. In total, 68% (68/100) of the trending #WearAMask videos involved humor and garnered over 355 million cumulative views. However, only 9% (3/32) of the WHO videos involved humor. Furthermore, 27% (27/100) of the trending #WearAMask videos involved dance and garnered over 130 million cumulative views, whereas none of the WHO videos involved dance.

CONCLUSIONS

This study is one of the first to describe how TikTok is being used to mitigate the community spread of COVID-19 by promoting mask use. Due to the platform’s incredible reach, TikTok has great potential in conveying important public health messages to various segments of the population.
Feasibility of a Waistband-Type Wireless Wearable Electrocardiogram Monitoring System Based on a Textile Electrode: Development and Usability Study (Preprint)
Authors: Gwon Danbi , Cho Hakyung , Shin Hangsik
Published: December 2020

BACKGROUND

Electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring in daily life is essential for effective management of cardiovascular disease, a leading cause of death. Wearable ECG measurement systems in the form of clothing have been proposed to replace Holter monitors used for clinical ECG monitoring; however, they have limitations in daily use because they compress the upper body and, in doing so, cause discomfort during wear.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to develop a wireless wearable ECG monitoring system that includes a textile ECG electrode that can be applied to the lining of pants and can be used in the same way that existing lower clothing is worn, without compression to the upper body.

METHODS

A textile electrode with stretchable characteristics was fabricated by knitting a conductive yarn together with polyester-polyurethane fiber, which was then coated with silver compound; an ECG electrode was developed by placing it on an elastic band in a modified limb lead configuration. In addition, a system with analog-to-digital conversion, wireless communication, and a smartphone app was developed, allowing users to be able to check and store their own ECGs in real time. A signal processing algorithm was also developed to remove noise from the obtained signal and to calculate the heart rate. To evaluate the ECG and heart rate measurement performance of the developed module, a comparative evaluation with a commercial device was performed. ECGs were measured for 5 minutes each in standing, sitting, and lying positions; the mean absolute percentage errors of heart rates measured with both systems were then compared.

RESULTS

The system was developed in the form of a belt buckle with a size of 53 × 45 × 12 mm (width × height × depth) and a weight of 23 g. In a qualitative evaluation, it was confirmed that the P-QRS-T waveform was clearly observed in ECGs obtained with the wearable system. From the results of the heart rate estimation, the developed system could track changes in heart rate as calculated by a commercial ECG measuring device; in addition, the mean absolute percentage errors of heart rates were 1.80%, 2.84%, and 2.48% in the standing, sitting, and lying positions, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The developed system was able to effectively measure ECG and calculate heart rate simply through being worn as existing clothing without upper body pressure. It is anticipated that general usability can be secured through further evaluation under more diverse conditions.
Comparison of Public Responses to Containment Measures During the Initial Outbreak and Resurgence of COVID-19 in China: Infodemiology Study (Preprint)
Authors: Zhou Xinyu , Song Yi , Jiang Hao , Wang Qian , Qu Zhiqiang , Zhou Xiaoyu , Jit Mark , Hou Zhiyuan , Lin Leesa
Published: December 2020

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 cases resurged worldwide in the second half of 2020. Not much is known about the changes in public responses to containment measures from the initial outbreak to resurgence. Monitoring public responses is crucial to inform policy measures to prepare for COVID-19 resurgence.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess and compare public responses to containment measures during the initial outbreak and resurgence of COVID-19 in China.

METHODS

We curated all COVID-19–related posts from Sina Weibo (China’s version of Twitter) during the initial outbreak and resurgence of COVID-19 in Beijing, China. With a Python script, we constructed subsets of Weibo posts focusing on 3 containment measures: lockdown, the test-trace-isolate strategy, and suspension of gatherings. The Baidu open-source sentiment analysis model and latent Dirichlet allocation topic modeling, a widely used machine learning algorithm, were used to assess public engagement, sentiments, and frequently discussed topics on each containment measure.

RESULTS

A total of 8,985,221 Weibo posts were curated. In China, the containment measures evolved from a complete lockdown for the general population during the initial outbreak to a more targeted response strategy for high-risk populations during COVID-19 resurgence. Between the initial outbreak and resurgence, the average daily proportion of Weibo posts with negative sentiments decreased from 57% to 47% for the lockdown, 56% to 51% for the test-trace-isolate strategy, and 55% to 48% for the suspension of gatherings. Among the top 3 frequently discussed topics on lockdown measures, discussions on containment measures accounted for approximately 32% in both periods, but those on the second-most frequently discussed topic shifted from the expression of negative emotions (11%) to its impacts on daily life or work (26%). The public expressed a high level of panic (21%) during the initial outbreak but almost no panic (1%) during resurgence. The more targeted test-trace-isolate measure received the most support (60%) among all 3 containment measures in the initial outbreak, and its support rate approached 90% during resurgence.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared to the initial outbreak, the public expressed less engagement and less negative sentiments on containment measures and were more supportive toward containment measures during resurgence. Targeted test-trace-isolate strategies were more acceptable to the public. Our results indicate that when COVID-19 resurges, more targeted test-trace-isolate strategies for high-risk populations should be promoted to balance pandemic control and its impact on daily life and the economy.
“Thought I’d Share First” and Other Conspiracy Theory Tweets from the COVID-19 Infodemic: Exploratory Study (Preprint)
Authors: Gerts Dax , Shelley Courtney D , Parikh Nidhi , Pitts Travis , Watson Ross Chrysm , Fairchild Geoffrey , Vaquera Chavez Nidia Yadria , Daughton Ashlynn R
Published: December 2020

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 outbreak has left many people isolated within their homes; these people are turning to social media for news and social connection, which leaves them vulnerable to believing and sharing misinformation. Health-related misinformation threatens adherence to public health messaging, and monitoring its spread on social media is critical to understanding the evolution of ideas that have potentially negative public health impacts.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to use Twitter data to explore methods to characterize and classify four COVID-19 conspiracy theories and to provide context for each of these conspiracy theories through the first 5 months of the pandemic.

METHODS

We began with a corpus of COVID-19 tweets (approximately 120 million) spanning late January to early May 2020. We first filtered tweets using regular expressions (n=1.8 million) and used random forest classification models to identify tweets related to four conspiracy theories. Our classified data sets were then used in downstream sentiment analysis and dynamic topic modeling to characterize the linguistic features of COVID-19 conspiracy theories as they evolve over time.

RESULTS

Analysis using model-labeled data was beneficial for increasing the proportion of data matching misinformation indicators. Random forest classifier metrics varied across the four conspiracy theories considered (F1 scores between 0.347 and 0.857); this performance increased as the given conspiracy theory was more narrowly defined. We showed that misinformation tweets demonstrate more negative sentiment when compared to nonmisinformation tweets and that theories evolve over time, incorporating details from unrelated conspiracy theories as well as real-world events.

CONCLUSIONS

Although we focus here on health-related misinformation, this combination of approaches is not specific to public health and is valuable for characterizing misinformation in general, which is an important first step in creating targeted messaging to counteract its spread. Initial messaging should aim to preempt generalized misinformation before it becomes widespread, while later messaging will need to target evolving conspiracy theories and the new facets of each as they become incorporated.
YouTube as a source of information on chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Brandi Ramos Thales , Castilho Bokehi Luciana , Castilho Bokehi Raphael , da Silava Pinheiro Taynah , Barreto de Oliveira Erika , da SilvaGianoti Torres Renan , Bokehi Jose Raphael , Calil-Elias Sabrina , de Castilho Selma Rodrigues
Published: December 2020

This research aimed to analyze the quality of the information conveyed through YouTube videos in Portuguese on the use of two medicines suggested for the treatment of COVID-19: chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine. The ‘Brief DISCERN’ questionnaire was applied to assess the quality of the video content as well as baseline characteristics, such as length, views, likes and dislikes, in a total of 90 videos with almost 4,5 million views. Traditional media accounted for 58,89% of videos. Misleading information was present in most of the videos (63,5%). Despite the ease of access, the videos showed problems in the quality of information.
Making Time for Critique: Canadian ‘Right to Shelter’ Debates in a Chrono-Political Frame
Authors: Zion Mark
Published: December 2020

This article engages with Canadian ‘right to shelter’ discourse, with a focus on shared assumptions that do crucial work but are sometimes unstated. It offers a ‘chrono-political’ framework to organize various claims made in the courtroom, in legal academic commentary, and by homeless people themselves. People sleeping outdoors have had noteworthy success in court, preventing immediate bodily peril. However, the ‘emergency’ temporality in those cases ultimately offers a limited politics. The author evaluates proposals from legal academics who therefore prescribe court orders that aim to transcend emergency protection: the state ought proactively to provide some minimal level of shelter to everyone, thereby conjoining the emergency temporality with a longer term ‘progressive’ temporality. However, it is argued that these proposals insufficiently formulate how judges understand their institutional role and the extent to which courtroom doctrine can redirect wider neoliberal trends. Regulative assumptions about ‘gradual improvement’ in the law must themselves be interrogated. As an antipode for the courtroom emergency temporality, a ‘dissensual’ temporality is explored, not as a ‘solution,’ but as an already operant politics, one not previously explored in legal academic commentary on the ‘right to shelter.’ Never to be romanticized, the tent city is nonetheless seen to enact what Jacques Rancière terms ‘dissensus,’ in which participants stage their equality in a way that calls into question the existing arrangement of political intelligibility. Amidst present constraints, dissensus discloses an expansive nonlinear temporality that channels egalitarian predecessors, taking feasible action in the present and attempting to prefigure a more equal future dwelling arrangement.
Uzticības, sadarbības un vienotības konceptu izpratne Nacionālajā attīstības plānā 2021.–2027. gadam
Authors: Kruks Sergejs
Published: December 2020

Sadarbība iespējotu politikas un ekonomikas problēmu risināšanu. Bet nepārliecina, ka pasivitātes cēloņi būtu meklējami indivīda psiholoģijā un labojami socializācijas procesā
Patiesības loma postpatiesības apstākļos
Authors: Sīlis Vents
Published: December 2020

Mediji mirst kopā ar patiesību – ja tie vairs nespēj pastāvēt par savu redakcionālo neatkarību un nošķirt patiesu informāciju no postpatiesības, to eksistencei vairs nav jēgas
Andra Grīnberga drukātais vārds
Authors: Hermanis Voldemārs
Published: December 2020

Andra Grīnberga 2019. gadā iznākušās grāmatas Kustinu dzīvi: 60 gadi žurnālista ceļos un neceļos apskats.
No Jāņa līdz Jānim. Katram bija savs Jānis Stradiņš
Authors: Dimants Ainārs
Published: December 2020

Atvadoties no žurnāla Akadēmiskā Dzīve ražīgā autora, redkolēģijas locekļa un aktīva atbalstītāja, akadēmiskās vienības Austrums goda biedra.
Development of Borrowers’ Solvency Assessment Model: Logistic Regression Application
Authors:   University of Latvia, Jukna Dāniels
Published: December 2020

Borrowers’ solvency assessment models can not only increase company’s profit, but also potentially decrease the impact from the negative economic consequences of the crisis. However, there is no consensus on such models. Considering the flaws in the scientific literature, the main aim of this article was to develop the borrowers’ solvency assessment model, which can be applied in practice. The most appropriate method for developing such models was found to be logistic regression, and this research goal is to identify the best modelling approach to achieve the highest borrowers’ solvency predictability. By implementing the best-chosen model, a nonbank lending company could provide a 42.5% lower total borrowers risk of default than without implementing such a model. Depending on the risk policy of the non-bank lending company, three methodologies were developed based on different assumptions about the significance of type 1 error and type 2 error in the company to determine the exact cut-off value
Momíl, excavaciones en el Sinú
Authors: Reichel-Dolmatoff Gerardo , Reichel-Dolmatoff Alicia
Published: December 2020

El presente trabajo trata de algunas de las investigaciones arqueológicas realizadas en el valle del río Sinú, Departamento de Córdoba, Colombia, de Diciembre de 1954 a Abril de 1955, en misión del Instituto Colombiano de Antropología. En años anteriores el autor y su esposa se habían dedicado a investigaciones similares en el Departamento del Magdalena, al Este del río del mismo nombre, describiendo algunas culturas arqueológicas y trazando un esquema tentativo de sus desarrollos temporales y espaciales (Reichel-Dolmatoff, 1954). Desde principios de 1954 se continuó este programa en las regiones al Oeste del río Magdalena, iniciándose las primeras excavaciones en el Departamento de Bolívar, principalmente en la zona costanera de Cartagena (Dussan de Reichel, 1954; Reichel-Dolmatoff, 1955). La estación seca de 1954-1955 fue aprovechada por el autor y su esposa doña Alicia Dussan de Reichel, para ampliar aún el campo de investigaciones tanto en el Golfo de Morrosquillo, como en la región del bajo río Sinú. Tratándose aquí de una zona arqueológica desconocida por completo, las labores efectuadas hasta la fecha no tuvieron un carácter intensivo y por consiguiente no pueden considerarse sus resultados como definitivos; más bien se realizó un reconocimiento general cuyas conclusiones son preliminares y esperan una ampliación y corrección en el futuro.
“Heirs of Byzantium” in the assessment of friends and foes: Russian sovereignty as a cross-cutting theme of “oriental stories” by Konstantin Leontiev
Authors: Fetisenko Olga L.
Published: December 2020

The article is devoted to the study of the geopolitical problems of the artistic works
of Konstantin Leontiev, created during the years of consular service in the Greek and
Bulgarian provinces of the Turkish Empire, as well as shortly after his retirement. Reviewing Konstantin Leontiev’s “oriental stories”, devoted mainly to the life of the Greeks, the author reveals the peculiarities of the poetics of the works of the cycle. The article proves that “oriental stories” go far beyond “ethnographism” or “ethnopsychologism”, giving the artist the opportunity to distinguish what is related to others, as well as to see Russia and Russians from the outside, to show its perception by the Greeks and the South Slavs. The “element of geopolitical analytics” is investigated as necessary in the artistic problems of the stories. Particular attention is paid to the consideration of the features of the perception of Russia by the older and younger generations of Greeks noted by Konstantin Leontiev. The author of the article states that the older generation unconditionally believed in Russia, considered the Russians to be the true heirs of Byzantium; while the young europeanised Greeks, for
the most part, no longer looked at Russia or saw it as a hostile origin. This conflict of moods is viewed in the work as a kind of reflection of the spiritual processes taking place in the real, not idealised, Russian world. The author of the article states Leontiev’s hope for the high mission of the Russian Orthodox state, which reconciles various religious principles in itself and around itself.
Pre-symbolism — Faces and Reflections
Authors:   Library-Museum “House of A.F. Losev”
Published: December 2020

The collective monograph examines one of the least studied pages in the history of Russian literature of the 19th century — pre-symbolism. There are two versions of the approach to the pre-symbolism studies as an independent phenomenon are proposed in the book: “narrow” — consideration of the literary situation of the “timelessness” era of the 1870s-1880s, and “broad” — understanding of pre-symbolism as a special trend in Russian culture, which became a “bridge” connecting romanticism and symbolism. The following problems are discussed in the collective monograph are pre-symbolism – modernism – theory and individual practices; pre-symbolism as a phenomenon of Russian and European culture; pre-symbolism – predecessors and heirs; religious and philosophical aspects of the creativity of the pre-symbolists; the prosaic heritage of the pre-symbolist poets; poetics of A.K. Tolstoy, A.A. Fet, S.Ya. Nadson, K.K. Sluchevsky, Vl.S. Solovyov, A.A. Golenishchev-Kutuzov et al.; reception of pre-symbolists creativity in literature and criticism of the Symbolists (Andrei Bely, Fyodor Sologub) and the post-symbolists (Igor Severyanin, E. Zamyatin). For the first time, the book introduces archival materials from the epistolary and literary heritage of Vl. Solovyov, I.F. Annensky, A.L. Volynsky et al. The book can be recommended to philologists, philosophers, culturologists, and also to everyone interested in the development of Russian culture in the 19th – the first half of the 20th centuries.
Planeación Estratégica, instrumento funcional al interior de las organizaciones
Authors: Palacios Rodríguez Miguel Ángel
Published: December 2020

En un mundo cada vez más incierto y de cara a los nuevos retos organizacionales, la importancia de la planeación estratégica es vital ya que sirve a catalizar el porvenir de las decisiones actuales al interior de las organizaciones. La esencia de la planeación estratégica consiste en la identificación sistemática de las oportunidades y amenazas que surgen en el futuro los cuales, combinados con otros datos relevantes, proporcionan la base sobre la que una empresa puede tomar mejores decisiones en el presente para explorar las oportunidades y evitar los peligros. El valor agregado que tiene el planear consiste en diseñar un futuro deseado identificando las formas para lograrlo.
Meshless approximation method of one-dimensional oscillatory Fredholm integral equations
Authors: Zaheer-Ud-Din Z , Siraj-Ul-Islam S
Published: December 2020

In this findings, a numerical meshless solution algorithm for 1D oscillatory
Fredholm integral equation (OFIE) is put forward. The proposed algorithm is
based on Levin?s quadrature theory (LQT) incorporating multi-quadric radial
basis function (MQ-RBF). The procedure involves local approach of MQ-RBF
differentiation matrix. The proposed method is specially designed to handle
the case when the kernel function (KF) involves stationary point(s) (SP(s)).
In addition to that, the model without SP(s) is also considered. The main
advantage of the meshless procedure is that it can be easily extended to
multidimensional geometry. These models have several physical applications
in the area of engineering and sciences. The existence of the SP(s) in such
models has numerous applications in the field of scattering and acoustics
etc. (see [1, 2, 4, 6-8]). The proposed meshless method is accurate and
cost-effective and provides a trustworthy platform to solve OFIE(s).
Asymptotic regularity, fixed points and successive approximations
Authors: Berinde Vasile , Rus Ioan
Published: December 2020

Let (M,d) be a metric space. In this paper we survey some of the most
relevant results which relate the three concepts involved in the title: a)
the asymptotic regularity; b) the existence (and uniqueness) of fixed points
and c) the convergence of the sequence of successive approximations to the
fixed point(s), for a given operator f : M ? M or for two operators f,g : M
? M connected to each other in some sense.