bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Experience of Systemic Transformation in Contemporary Biographical Narratives of Older Poles
Authors: Życzyńska-Ciołek Danuta
Published: November 2019

The aim of this article is to explore whether—from the subjective perspective of people born before the end of WWII—systemic transformation brought about significant changes in their individual lives, and if yes—what was the meaning of those changes for them. In particular, I examine how experiences related to the events that preceded systemic transformation in Poland or took place during its most intensive stage are reflected in contemporary biographical narratives of 49 persons aged 72 or more, for whom the period of professional activity, in whole or in major part, occurred in the times of the Polish People’s Republic. I perform the analysis in three steps. First, I investigate the place of systemic transformation in the narratives, and consider the reasons why it is relatively often absent or poorly reflected there. Second, I present thematic motifs prevailing in those interviews where references to the systemic change appear. In the third step, I investigate the meaning of experiences connected with transformation for the narrators, the accompanying emotions—some of them still persisting—and ways in which the narrators incorporated those experiences into their biographies. The underlying narratives come from people who were drawn for a nationwide quantitative panel survey many years ago, in 1987, and participated in it for the next 25-30 years.
“We Are the Poles from Former Yugoslavia.” Transformation Processes Shifted in Time—The Biographical Perspective
Authors: Ligus Rozalia
Published: November 2019

This paper is based on the first analysis of the 25 narrative interviews collected from March to November 2018 in small local communities in the Lower Silesia Region. All narrators belong to the families that were transferred from the former Yugoslavia in 1946 to the western lands which were incorporated to Poland. The socio-cultural conditions are significant for local development, so I present some features of localism after 1989 when the state transformation processes started. Next, I discuss the narrators’ self-identity dilemmas and make an attempt to conceptualize “migrating biography” as one of the features of living in a postmodern world.

The aim of the whole project, but not described in this article, is to reveal the intergenerational adult learning processes seen from the insider’s perspective, as well as to describe such lives in a psychosocial and cultural context.
Monismus und/als Revolution. Die Monismuskritik in MARIE EUGENIE DELLE GRAZIES modernem Epos "Robespierre" (1894)
Authors: Rys Michiel
Published: November 2019

Wissenschaftliche und philosophische Revolutionen leiten oft soziale und politische Umbrüche ein. Der Begriff ‚Monismus‘– am Ende des 19. Jahrhunderts ein Modewort – kann als diskursiver Hinweis auf einen solchen, durch Darwinismus und Positivismus angeregten Paradigmenwechsel interpretiert werden. Trotzdem bleibt Monismus ein Nenner für unterschiedliche, gegensätzliche Theorien, die, insbesondere was ihre ethischen Konsequenzen betrifft, grundsätzlich unvereinbar sind. Im Zentrum dieses Aufsatzes steht das 1894 veröffentlichte Epos Robespierre, in dem die Wiener Dichterin MARIE EUGENIE DELLE GRAZIE verschiedene Monismen darstellt, einander gegenüberstellt und kritisiert. Das Epos wird als Beispiel von DELLE GRAZIES monistischem Literaturbegriff betrachtet. Zum Schluss wird versucht, ihre Themenwahl, die Französische Revolution, mit der Umbruchsstimmung um die Jahrhundertwende zu verknüpfen.
Wie stirbt eine Sprache aus? Überlegungen zu sozialpolitischen, wirtschaftlichen und kulturellen Faktoren des Sprachtodes am Beispiel der deutsch-schlesischen Varietät aus dem ehemaligen Kreis Waldenburg (powiat wałbrzyski)
Authors: Dulat-Lewicz Katarzyna
Published: November 2019

Der vorliegende Artikel fokussiert auf die sozialpolitischen, wirtschaftlichen und kulturellen Veränderungen, die sich nach der Westverschiebung Polens von 1945 im ehemaligen Kreis Waldenburg (heute: powiat wałbrzyski) ereigneten und folglich zur Verdrängung des Deutschen sowie zum Verschwinden der deutsch-schlesischen Ortsvarietät führten. Obwohl die Waldenburger Deutschen im Vergleich zu anderen deutsch(sprachig)en Gemeinschaften in Niederschlesien viel mehr Freiheiten genießen durften, wurde dort das Schlesische nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg fast völlig abgebaut und ist heute stark vom Aussterben bedroht.
Laporan Kasus: Pyometra Pada Anjing Golden Retriever
Authors: Adigunawan I Wayan Widya , Pemayun I Gusti Agung Gde Putra , Wirata I Wayan
Published: November 2019

Pyometra adalah akumulasi nanah dalam lumen uterus anjing betina yang umumnya menyerang anjing betina dewasa. Seekor anjing Golden Retriever berjenis kelamin betina bernama Elis, umur 8 tahun dengan bobot badan 35,4 kg, beralamat di Jalan Ahmad Yani Gang Bina Marga 90Y, Denpasar dengan keluhan mengeluarkan leleran kental berwarna kemerahan dari alat kelamin selama seminggu. Pemilik melaporkan anjing sudah pernah dikawinkan dua bulan yang lalu namun tidak terjadi kebuntingan. Secara fisik anjing terlihat lesu dengan napsu makan menurun dan minum masih baik, urinasi normal. Berdasarkan hasil pemeriksaan klinis dan darah lengkap yang dilakukan di Rumah Sakit Hewan Universitas Udayana, anjing didiagnosa menderita pyometra. Anjing ditangani dengan melakukan pembedahan untuk mengangkat ovarium dan uterus (ovaryohysterectomy) dan dilanjutkan pemberian antibiotika dan analgesik. Pada hari ke-14 pasca operasi luka bekas insisi sudah mengering, kulit menyatu dengan baik, dan sudah tidak lagi mengeluarkan leleran dari alat kelamin.
Studi Kasus : Babesiosis Pada Anjing Persilangan
Authors: Paramita Ni Made Diana Pradnya , Widyastuti Sri Kayati
Published: November 2019

Babesiosis adalah penyakit parasit yang disebabkan oleh Babesia sp dan didistribusi didalam sirkulasi darah. Babesiosis pada anjing disebabkan oleh Babesia canis (subfilum: apicomplexa, ordo: piroplasmida, genus: babesia, spesies Babesia canine) yang diperantai oleh caplak (tick-borne) yaitu caplak-anjing coklat Rhipicephalus sanguineus sebagai vektor utama. Hasil pegamatan ditemukan kasus babesiosis pada anjing campuran pom dan peking, berjenis kelamin jantan usia 8 bulan di Denpasar, Bali. Tanda klinis yang tampak dari infeksi Babesia sp pada anjing kasus yaitu nafsu makan berkurang, haemoglobinuria dan terdapat eritema pada bagian abdomen. Pada hasil pemeriksaan darah lengkap didapatkan interpretasi bahwa anjing mengalami anemia normositik hiperkromik leukositosis, limfositosis, dan eosinophilia. Pemeriksaan ulas darah tipis teramati adanya agen Babesia. Anjing ini diterapi dengan pemberian Antibiotik clindamycin (10mg/kg BB, q: 12 jam, PO) dua kali sehari selama dua minggu, dan terapi suportif menggunakan livron B-pleks untuk meningkatkan daya tahan tubuh diberikan selama 7 hari. Hasil evaluasi terhadap anjing penderita menunjukan baha dalam waktu 4 hari nafsu makan hewan kasus sudah kembali normal dan memerlukan waktu 14 hari sampai menunjukan tanda-tanda perbaikan klinis.
THE EFFECT OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ON THE RISK OF OBESITY IN ADULTHOOD
Authors: Suryadinata Rivan Virlando , Sukarno Devitya Angielevi
Published: November 2019

Indonesia has an increasing number of obese people every year. Risk factors and complications caused by obesity can increase morbidity and mortality in the community. One of factors causing the increasing number of obese people is caused by the decreasing level of physical activities done by Indonesian people.This study aims to determine the effect of physical activity levels on the risk of obesity. The study used an observational analytic case control design. Subjects were chosen through a purposive sampling method. The population was young adults in Surabaya. The sample of the study included 97 obese adults and 97 non-obese adults. The study was conducted in March - July 2018 in South Surabaya through distributing questionnaires to two groups. The questionnaire given used the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ). The results showed that physical activity performed by adult age group of obesity was mostly classified as low activity (59,8%), while non-obese adult age group was mostly included in medium activity (56,6%).This shows a significant difference in physical activity between obese and non-obese groups (p=0,047). It can be concluded that decreased levels of physical activity may increase the risk of obesity in adult.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CONSUMPTION OF SUPPLEMENTS AND PHYSICAL FITNESS IN THE ADULT MALE MEMBERS OF TIVOLI FITNESS CENTER IN SIDOARJO
Authors: Afrindo Fajar , Adriani Merryana
Published: November 2019

Physical fitness is the basic capital of a person to perform physical activities efficiently in a long time without fatigue with adequate rest. Good physical fitness can be very influential on the work activities of respondents, and it is also very important for human life. This study aims to analyze the relationship between consuming supplements and nutritional status on the members of Tivoli fitness center in Sidoarjo. The type of the study used in this study was a quantitative approach with Cross Sectional study. This study employed quantitative approach with cross sectional study where each of the respondents was observed or interviewed for once, and dependent and independent variables were observed or interviewed at the same time or following on observation time status. Further, this study applied simple random sampling with sample list of male member respondents in Tivoli fitness center. Variables in this study were independent variables consisting of respondent characteristic, level of knowledge and consumption pattern, and a dependent variable that was physical fitness. Data analysis was done by using statistic test. The results of this study showed that respondents who consumed more supplementshad higher fitness level in which they felt fitter compared to the respondents who did not consume supplements. The result of chi square statistic test from fisher's exact test obtained p value of 0.716. The p value is > 0.05. It can be concluded from the study that consumption of supplements showed no statistically significant relationship with the physical fitness ofthe members of Tivoli fitness center in Sidoarjo.
THE DIFFERENCE OF E.COLI CONTENT IN THE CHICKEN MEAT IN THE SOUTH KEPUTRAN TRADITIONAL MARKET AND SUPERMARKET ' X ' OF SURABAYA CITY
Authors: Permana Athalla , W R. Bambang
Published: November 2019

Hygiene and sanitation practices in chicken influenced Eschericia coli bacterial contamination in food. A Study conducted by Sasmita and Juwita mentioned that there was positively E.coli content in chicken meat in supermarket. Thus, the purpose of this study was to assess the difference of E.Coli content in chicken meat and personal hygiene of food handler. It was an observational study with cross sectional approach. The population of this study included traditional market sellers and supermarkets. The sample of this study consisted of 14 samples of chicken meat in which 7 samples came from the South Keputran traditional market and other 7 samples came from Supermarket ‘X’. Moreover, 7 traditional market sellers and 2 supermarkets were involved to be examined. Variables of the study were E.coli content in chicken meat from Traditional Market of South Keputran and Supermarket ‘X’ and personal hygiene. Samples of chicken meat was done by accidental sampling. Data were collected through interview and observation, whereas the difference of E-Coli content was analyzed using statistical test. The results of this study indicated that one of chicken meat samples positively contained E.Coli bacteria, and no significant differences of the E.coli content were found on the chicken meat samples from both the Traditional Market of South Keputran and Supermarket ‘X’. The suggestion that can be given to Supermarket ‘X’ seller is to control and pay close attention to the sanitation process from suppliers to retails
THE CORRELATION BETWEEN TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY AND DEHYDRATION IN FISH-TASTING WORKERS
Authors: Ningsih Nensi Kristin
Published: November 2019

Dehydration is a condition when body loses or lacks liquid or water. Dehydration can occur due to an internal factor such as person’s characteristics, and external factors such as the physical condition of environment, and environmental sanitation. An example of a person having the risk of dehydration is smoked fish workers because they are exposed to heat form burning dry coconut shells. The purpose of this study was to discover the correlation between worker characteristics, the physical condition of environment as well as environmental sanitation, and dehydration level. This study used cross sectional design with 19 respondents, and samples were taken using simple random sampling technique. The study took place at RW 02 Kelurahan Kenjeran, Kecamatan Bulak, Surabaya starting from February 2018 until finished. Data were analyzed using cross tabulation, and statistic tests which were chi square and Kolmogorov smirnov with 95% confidence level. Data were collected by measurement, interview, observation, and examination. The results showed that there was correlation between the physical condition of environment which included temperature (p=0,003<0,05) and humidity (p=0,001<0,05). The conclusion of this study was that the physical condition of environment including temperature and humidity had an important role to the dehydration level of the smoked fish workers.
Relevance Feedback using Genetic Algorithm on Information Retrieval for Indonesian Language Documents
Authors: Azmi Salman Dziyaul , Kusumaningrum Retno
Published: November 2019

Background: The Rapid growth of technological developments in Indonesia had resulted in a growing amount of information. Therefore, a new information retrieval environment is necessary for finding documents that are in accordance with the user’s information needs.Objective: The purpose of this study is to uncover the differences between using Relevance Feedback (RF) with genetic algorithm and standard information retrieval systems without relevance feedback for the Indonesian language documents.Methods: The standard Information Retrieval (IR) System uses Sastrawi stemmer and Vector Space Model, while Genetic Algorithm-based (GA-based) relevance feedback uses Roulette-wheel selection and crossover recombination. The evaluation metrics are Mean Average Precision (MAP) and average recall based on user judgments.Results: By using two Indonesian language document datasets, namely abstract thesis and news dataset, the results show 15.2% and 28.6% increase in the corresponding MAP values for both datasets as opposed to the standard Information Retrieval System. A respective 7.1% and 10.5% improvement on the recall value at 10th position was also observed for both datasets. The best obtained genetic algorithm parameters for abstract thesis datasets were a population size of 20 with 0.7 crossover probability and 0.2 mutation probability, while for news dataset, the best obtained genetic algorithm parameters were a population size of 10 with 0.5 crossover probability and 0.2 mutation probability.Conclusion: Genetic Algorithm-based relevance feedback increases both values of MAP and average recall at 10th position of retrieved document. Generally, the best genetic algorithm parameters are as follows, mutation probability is 0.2, whereas the size of population size and crossover probability depends on the size of dataset and length of the query.Keywords: Genetic Algorithm, Information Retrieval, Indonesian language document, Mean Average Precision, Relevance Feedback
Revealing the Influence of the Degumming Process in the Properties of Silk Fibroin Nanoparticles
Authors: Carissimi Guzmán , Lozano-Pérez A. Abel , Montalbán Mercedes G. , Aznar-Cervantes Salvador D. , Cenis José Luis , Víllora Gloria
Published: November 2019

In recent years, numerous research studies have shown the excellent characteristics of silk fibroin nanoparticles as a vehicle for drugs delivery and it is foreseeable that their production could reach industrial scale in the coming years. For this reason, it is essential to know all the parameters that affect the formation of nanoparticles in order to standardize the process. Several studies have stated that the process used for sericin removal (degumming) from silk cocoons has a strong impact in the silk fibroin integrity and their mechanical properties after processing it into biomaterials. In this work, silk cocoons were degummed following four standard methods: autoclaving, short alkaline (Na2CO3) boiling, long alkaline (Na2CO3) boiling and ultrasounds. The resultant silk fibroin fibers were dissolved in the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate and used for nanoparticle synthesis by rapid desolvation in polar organic solvents. The relative efficiencies of the degumming processes and the integrity of the resulting fibroin fibers obtained were analyzed by weight loss, optical microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, infrared spectroscopy and SDS-PAGE. Particle sizes and morphology were analyzed by Dynamic Light Scattering and Field Emission Scanning Electronic Microscopy. The results showed that the different treatments had a remarkable impact on the integrity of the silk fibroin chains, as confirmed by gel electrophoresis which can be correlated with particle mean size and size distribution changes. The study confirm that all the parameters of the process must be controlled in order to reach an optimum reproducibility of the nanoparticle production.
Sector Coupling in the North Sea Region – A Review on the Energy System Modelling Perspective
Authors: Maruf Md. Nasimul Islam
Published: November 2019

Sector coupling is one of the emerging topics in recent energy and climate change policy discussions. It can play a significant role in creating the pathway of a renewable-based energy system in the European energy sector. The North Sea region is very likely to play a key role in the transition to a sustainable energy system. Though different energy modelling approaches allow a versatile use, they lead to the problem of an unclear understanding of specific aspects of sector coupling, and the relevance of existing tools and techniques to model and analyze such a system. This paper is aimed at providing a comprehensive understanding of sector coupling and its incorporation in energy system models. Followed by a thorough literature review on sector coupling and energy system modelling, the paper outlines an approach to select an appropriate tool based on the specific rationales of the research. The paper also presents ‘Oemof’ as an open model tool to address the complex challenges of energy systems. The conclusions from the literature review provide a detailed understanding of the concept of sector coupling and indicate that it can be advantageous from the viewpoints of decarbonization, flexibility, network optimization, and system efficiency. To solve the coupling barriers, diversified techno-socio-economic circumstances should be taken into account through the use of model collaboration. It is also demonstrated how a list of appropriate tools for model collaboration can be picked up methodologically from an available wide range of models. Finally, ‘Oemof’ is hypothesized as a progressive tool to design a sector-coupled and renewable-based energy system in the North Sea region.
Surface Melt on Ross Ice Shelf Interior during a Downsloping Wind Event
Authors: Karmosky Chris
Published: November 2019

On January 8, 2005, a surface melt event began on the interior portion of Ross Ice Shelf. While many surface melt events on Ross Ice Shelf are caused by the advection of warm air onto the shelf from the Ross Sea, surface winds during this event were directed offshore and the spatial pattern of surface melt was inconsistent with the Southern Ocean serving as a heat source. Rather, due to the interior location of the surface melt coupled with prevailing wind direction and surface temperature data it is thought that adiabatic warming of Föhn winds is the driving cause of this melt event. Passive Microwave (SSM/I) imagery was used to determine surface melt occurrence and the event’s extent. Spatial patterns of surface melt were then compared to NCEP/NCAR reanalysis output for several synoptic weather variables including surface temperatures, sea level pressure and surface vector winds. Synoptic-scale weather conditions were consistent with those that would produce downsloping wind (föhn) conditions in the interior of the Ross Ice Shelf where the anomalous surface melt was located.
Pharmacists’ Knowledge Attitude and Practice Regarding the Dispensing of Antibiotics without Prescription in Tanzania: An Explorative Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Poyongo Baraka P. , Sangeda Raphael Z.
Published: November 2019

Background: Inappropriate use of antibiotics has been reported to contribute to the emergence and increase of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the world. Antibiotics are prescription-only medicines to be dispensed to a person with a legal prescription inscribed by a qualified medical practitioner. Enforcing the dispensing of antibiotics with prescription is a way to promote the rational use of antibiotics and preventing the development and spread of AMR. It is, therefore, the responsibility of a pharmacist to dispense or supervise the dispensing of antibiotics in pharmacies and ensure its rational use. This study aimed to assess pharmacists’ knowledge, attitude and practice regarding the dispensing of antibiotics without prescription in Tanzania. Methods: An online semi-structured questionnaire was designed, tested and shared with licensed pharmacists in Tanzania through an invitation link sent in their official WhatsApp groups. A list of names, contacts and emails of licensed pharmacists obtained from the Pharmacy Council was used to directly contact and request pharmacist to fill the questionnaire, in case the pharmacist contact was not on WhatsApp, a text SMS invitation was sent. Study data were collected and managed using REDCap electronic data capture tools hosted at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Data were then downloaded and exported into Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 for data analysis; Chi-square test was used to test association for categorical data, where a p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: More than 75% of pharmacists had excellent knowledge about the legal requirements for dispensing antibiotics and of the AMR challenge. Of the interviewed pharmacists, seventy-four percent admitted to dispensing antibiotics without prescription in their daily practice. The main reasons for administering antibiotics without prescription were the profitability nature of pharmacy business, a failure of the patient to get a prescription and lack of stringent regulatory authorities. Penicillins, macrolides and floroquinolones were the classes of antibiotics mostly dispensed without a prescription. Conclusion: The study shows that the dispensing of antibiotics without prescription is a common practice in Tanzania. The regulatory authorities should make regular inspections in pharmacies to detect this malpractice. The community should be trained on the importance of taking laboratory tests before getting medications for their sickness by a qualified medical practitioner.
Machine Learning Approaches for the Prioritization of Genomic Variants Impacting Pre-mRNA Splicing
Authors: Rowlands Charles F , Baralle Diana , Ellingford Jamie M
Published: November 2019

Defects in pre-mRNA splicing are frequently a cause of Mendelian disease. Despite the advent of next-generation sequencing, allowing a deeper insight into a patient’s variant landscape, the ability to characterize variants causing splicing defects has not progressed with the same speed. To address this, recent years have seen a sharp spike in the number of splice prediction tools leveraging machine learning approaches, leaving clinical geneticists with a plethora of choices for in silico analysis. In this Review, some basic principles of machine learning are introduced in the context of genomics and splicing analysis. A critical comparative approach is then used to describe seven recent machine learning-based splice prediction tools, revealing highly diverse approaches and common caveats. We find that, although great progress has been made in producing specific and sensitive tools, there is still much scope for personalized approaches to prediction of variant impact on splicing. Such approaches may increase diagnostic yields and underpin improvements to patient care.
PENGARUH KONSENTRASI KENTOS KELAPA TERHADAP DEGRADASI LEMAK DAGING AYAM
Authors: Suloi Andi Nur Fajri , Budyghifari Laras , Dwi Arista Sitti Syuhada , Laga Amran
Published: November 2019

Penyakit kardiovaskular seperti hipertensi, jantung koroner, gagal jantung, dan stroke menyebabkan 17,9 juta orang meninggal dunia atau 31% dari seluruh kematian global (World Health Organization, 2017). Penyakit ini pada umumnya diakibatkan oleh tingginya konsumsi pangan sumber lemak. Daging ayam bagian paha merupakan salah satu bahan pangan berlemak tinggi (7%) dibandingkan dengan potongan daging sapi (6,8%) dan daging domba (4,9-5,2%) dengan tingkat konsumsi yang tinggi (Dinh et al., 2011). Ekstrak kasar enzim lipase secara efisien dapat menghidrolisis lemak menjadi asam lemak bebas dan gliserol. Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk melihat pengaruh konsentrasi kentos kelapa sebagai sumber enzim lipase pada hidrolisis lemak daging ayam bagian paha. Kentos kelapa dipreparasi lalu diaplikasikan pada daging ayam dengan konsentrasi 1-5% dan 10-50%. Parameter pengamatan meliputi perubahan pH, Total Padatan Terlarut, dan Asam Lemak Bebas. Hasil terbaik untuk tiap parameter ialah perlakukan dengan konsentrasi kentos sebesar 10% dengan asam lemak bebas sebesar 2.99%, total padatan terlarut sebesar 4,1% dan pH sebesar 5.3
Add-on effect of Kinesiotape in patients with acute lateral ankle sprain: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Shin Jeong-Cheol , Kim Jae-Hong , Nam Dongwoo , Park Gwang-Cheon , Lee Jeong-Soon
Published: November 2019

Background: Evidence on the add-on effect of Kinesiotape (KT) on acupuncture for treating ankle sprains remains insufficient. We assessed the add-on effect of KT on ankle sprains by comparing acupuncture combined with KT (AcuKT) with acupuncture alone in patients with acute lateral ankle sprain (ALAS). Methods: This study was a multicenter, randomized, controlled clinical trial that included a per-protocol analysis of the add-on effect of KT on ALAS. The randomization was software-based and only the assessors were blinded. Sixty participants (20 each from three centers) with Grade I or II ALAS were randomly assigned to acupuncture (n=30) or AcuKT (n=30) group. Both groups received acupuncture treatment once daily, 5 days per week for 1 week. The AcuKT group received additional KT treatment. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores for pain and Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) were obtained, and edema measurements were performed at baseline (Week 0), at the end of the intervention (Week 1), and at 4 weeks after intervention (Week 5). The European Quality of Life Five Dimension-Five Level Scale (EQ-5D-5L) measurements were conducted at Week 0, Week 1, Week 5, and Week 26 after the intervention. The number of recurrent ankle sprains was determined at 4, 8, 12, and 26 weeks after the intervention. Results: Fifty-six patients with ALAS completed the trial (AcuKT group, 27; acupuncture group, 29). There were significant changes in VAS score (AcuKT: p<0.001; acupuncture: p<0.001), FAOS (AcuKT: p<0.001; acupuncture: p<0.001), and EQ-5D-5L measurements (AcuKT: p<0.001; acupuncture: p<0.001) within both groups. There were no significant differences between groups in terms of any outcome and in a subanalysis based on symptom severity. Conclusions: These results indicate that AcuKT did not show positive add-on effects of KT on acupuncture in terms of pain reduction, edema, recovery of function, activities of daily living, quality of life, and relapse of ALAS.
Nutritional deficiency and associated factors among new pulmonary tuberculosis patients of Bale Zone Hospitals, Southeast Ethiopia
Authors: Hussien Bedru , Hussen Mohammedaman Mama , Seid Abdulwahhab , Hussen Abduljewad
Published: November 2019

Objective Tuberculosis remains deadliest communicable diseases accountable for health problem among various individuals annually and is related to malnutrition. Addressing nutritional deficiency in Tuberculosis patients is a crucial side of Tuberculosis management programme. Therefore, the aim was to assess the magnitude of nutritional deficiency and associated factors among new pulmonary tuberculosis patients of Bale Zone Hospitals, South-east Ethiopia, 2018. Cross-sectional study design was utilized. Data collection was carried out using structured questionnaires and anthropometric measurements. Body mass index was calculated to see nutritional deficiency. Crude and adjusted odds ratios in conjunction with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals were computed. P-value < 0.05 was thought of to declare a result as statistically associated. Results Prevalence of nutritional deficiency was 63.2 %. The mean Body mass index for all listed participants was 17.86 kg/m2. Employment status of the patients, p-value 0.012 (AOR = 1.82; 95 % CI = 1.14, 2.89) and Khat chewing, p-value 0.02 (AOR = 0.43; 95 % CI = 0.23, 0.85) were factors independently associated with Nutritional Deficiency. Prevalence of Nutritional Deficiency was found to be high. Nutritional support for the impoverished, regular nutritional assessment and dietary counseling are necessary for better treatment outcome and effective Tuberculosis management programme.
The impact of racially-motivated housing discrimination on allostatic load among Indigenous university students
Authors: Currie Cheryl , Motz Takara A. , Copeland Jennifer L
Published: November 2019

Background Allostatic load (AL) is an aggregate measure of wear and tear on the body due to the chronic activation of the stress response system. The goal of this study was to examine the association between racially-motivated housing discrimination and AL score within a sample of Indigenous university students.Methods Data for this cross-sectional study were collected from Indigenous adults attending university in a small city in western Canada between 2015 and 2017 ( N = 104; Mean age = 27.8 years). An item adapted from the Experience of Discrimination Scale was to assess racially-motivated housing discrimination in the past 12 months. AL was measured as a composite of 7 biomarkers assessing neuroendocrine, cardiovascular, metabolic, and immune system function. Bias-corrected and accelerated bootstrapped linear regression models were used to examine associations adjusting for age, income, parenthood, and other situations in which discrimination had been experienced.Results Indigenous university students who experienced racially-motivated housing discrimination in the past year (16.8% of the sample) had an average AL score of approximately 4, which was almost double that of their peers who had not. In an adjusted model. racially-motivated housing discrimination was associated with a-1.5 point increase in AL score. This model explained 35% of the adjusted variance in AL score, of which racially-motivated housing discrimination explained 24% ( R 2 Change = 0.24, F Change = 32.52, Sig. F Change p <0.001).Conclusions Indigenous adults who experienced racially-motivated housing discrimination in the past year had early and more pronounced wear and tear on neuroendocrine, cardiovascular, metabolic, and immune system functioning in young and middle adulthood than Indigenous peers who did not. These findings combine with others to highlight the need for increased efforts to prevent racially-motivated housing discrimination in urban centres.
Sampling methods affect nematode-trapping fungi biodiversity patterns across an elevational gradient.
Authors: Wei Deng , Jia-Liang Wang , Scott Matthew B. , Yi-Hao Fang , Shuo-Ran Liu , Xiao-Yan Yang , Wen Xiao
Published: November 2019

Background Understanding the patterns of species richness across elevational gradients is a key concept for contemporary research in ecology and evolution, and critical to understanding large-scale trends in biodiversity, global change and conservation. However, patterns of elevational species richness between taxonomic groups, regions and latitudes are inconsistent, so that the various, sometimes conflicting hypotheses exist. Several scholars have pointed out that research on elevational distribution patterns is often biased by the sampling design employed. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed species richness of nematode-trapping fungi (NTF) across an elevation gradient at two mountainous sites in western Yunnan Province, P.R. China. We tested for potential differences in the results when using different sampling designs.Results A total of 3 genera, 17 species, 222 strains of NTF were isolated and identified from Gaoligongshan and Cangshan. Species accumulation curves for both sites and sampling modes had acceptable leveling, demonstrating sufficient sampling effort. At Gaoligongshan, the elevation distribution patterns of NTF were different under two sampling patterns. When reducing the analyzed altitude range in Gaoligongshan, the elevation distribution pattern of the NTF changed. A similar elevation distribution pattern was observed in Cangshan when testing the same altitude range. In general, when treating the same dataset using different sampling designs, the resulting distribution patterns of species richness and occurrence frequencies were clearly different. Moreover, after removal of the samples located within lower-altitude zones affected by anthropogenic interferences, the distribution pattern of NTF in the two sites tended to become uniform.Conclusion The sampling design, and in particular the elevation interval between plots, has a significant effect on the assessment of species distribution in mountainous regions. Other factors such as human activities and the multi-dimensionality of biodiversity also contribute to result biases. It is recommended that future studies on the elevational gradients of species richness consider with care sampling design using stratified approaches according to the most relevant factors.
Prevalence and genotyping of Toxoplasma gondii in stray cats in Mashhad area, Iran.
Authors: Khodaverdi Majid , Razmi Gholamreza
Published: November 2019

Background: Cats as a definitive host have an important role in the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis in humans and animals. The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of Toxoplasma gondii infection and isolate and identify the genotypes of T. gondii in stray cats in Mashhad suburb. Methods: From April 2016 to August 2017, 175 fecal samples from stray cats and 31 brain samples from cats killed in driving accidents were collected. The fecal samples were examined by fecal flotation technique and T. gondii -specific PCR. The brain samples were investigated by T. gondii -specific PCR and consequently examined by mice bioassay. The DNA of T. gondii isolated was genotyped using SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB and GRA6 as PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) markers. Results: In the present study, Toxoplasma -like oocysts were microscopically observed in 2.2% (4/175) fecal samples. The presence of Toxoplasma oocysts was confirmed in one microscopy-positive sample by PCR. In addition, T . gondii DNA was detected in 4% (7/175) microscopy-negative samples using PCR. T. gondii was isolated from one brain PCR-positive sample by mice bioassay. The isolate was avirulent and many T. gondii cysts were observed in mice brain. The isolate was successfully genotyped by PCR-RLFP analysis .The isolated genotyped was type II. Beside, eight Toxoplasma- positive fecal samples contained insufficient DNA and only amplified at SAG-3 locus in PCR. These samples were also showed type II pattern at this locus. Conclusions: Parasitological and molecular results showed low frequency of Toxoplasma infection in the stray cats, and identified the genotype of T. gondii isolate as type II, for the first time in Mashhad area, Khorasan Razavi Province.
KnowSeq R/bioc package: Beyond the traditional RNA-seq pipeline. A breast cancer case study.
Authors: Castillo-Secilla Daniel , Galvez Juan Manuel , Ortuno Francisco Manuel , Herrera Luis Javier , Rojas Ignacio
Published: November 2019

The number of gene expression analyses has grown exponentially over the last years. The main triggers of this increase are the reduction in the sequencing cost per sample and the technological advances, specially in the computing scope. Those analyses generally involve a number of steps. Firstly, a raw samples alignment and a quality analysis are needed. After that, a Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs) extraction and a subsequent gene enrichment can be performed. The development of intelligent predictive tools results essential in bioinformatics given that there exists a real need of assistance for decision-making systems towards precision medicine. Therefore, KnowSeq incorporates novel steps of feature selection and classifier design in the traditional RNA-seq pipeline. No tool exists in the research community that achieves this complete RNA-seq analysis, encapsulating all those steps in one single tool.
In order to show the functionalities provided by the general pipeline designed for the KnowSeq package, an application to a real problem is presented. Concretely, an analysis of a breast cancer set of patients collected from the controlled repository GDC portal is performed, keeping paired samples between tumour and control. As results show, KnowSeq achieves extracting more relevant biological knowledge related with breast cancer from the RNA raw data acquisition. KnowSeq is available through Bioconductor.
KnowSeq R/bioc package is born with the purpose of providing an integrative tool, containing the necessary steps to address complex RNA-seq analyses in a modular and flexible way. In this paper a breast study case is addressed with KnowSeq, obtaining outstanding results and demonstrating the validity of KnowSeq to carry out gene expression analyses.
Application of ultrasound elastography for monitoring the effects of TβR1 shRNA therapy on hepatic fibrosis in a rat model
Authors: Shi Xiangzhou , Li Jing-Hua , Min Ying-Bin , Yang Rui-Jing , He Chun-Xiang , Yang Yi-Lin
Published: November 2019

Background: To investigate the application of ultrasound elastography in monitoring the effects of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 signaling pathway-targeted combination therapy for hepatic fibrosis. Methods: 1.Short hairpin RNA (shRNA) constructs targeted towards TβR1 were designed, synthesized, and packaged using an adeno-associated virus (AAV), and the effective target shRNA was selected based on transfection results. 2. Fifty rats were randomly allocated (n=10 per group) to the (A) control group, (B) model group, (C) 0-week therapy group, (D) 4-week therapy group, and (E) combination therapy group. At weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12, acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography was used to measure the liver stiffness, inner diameter of the portal vein diameter, and blood velocity; radio frequency ultrasound imaging was used to measure the abdominal aortic elasticity parameter and pulse wave velocity (PWV) of the rats. 3. At week 12, portal vein puncture was performed to measure the portal venous pressure, and rat liver specimens were obtained for the pathological measurement of the degree of hepatic fibrosis. Conclusion: Ultrasound elastography can reflect the degree of fibrosis in moderate to severe hepatic fibrosis and the variations in the degree of fibrosis after treatment through shRNA silencing of TβR1 . Therefore, it is a potential non-invasive technique for monitoring the effects of anti-fibrosis therapy.
Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is associated with general and abdominal obesity in girls during puberty
Authors: Wang Yingying , Dong Xiaolian , Fu Chaowei , Su Meifang , Jiang Feng , Xu Dongli , Li Rui , Qian Junhua , Wang Na , Chen Yue , Jiang Qingwu
Published: November 2019

Background: Childhood obesity is an important public health issue. Although both thyroid hormone and menarche are known to play a role in body metabolism and energy expenditure, evidence for these associations in girls around puberty was limited. This study was aimed to investigate the association of TSH with general and abdominal obesity in girls during puberty. Methods: A multi-stage cluster sampling method was used to select one junior middle school from each of 4 study areas: Minhang District in Shanghai, Haimen City in Jiangsu Province, Yuhuan City and Deqing County in Zhejiang Province. A total of 474 girls aged 11 to 14 years from 4 schools were enrolled. Information on demographic factors and puberty stage were collected, and anthropometric measurements and thyroid hormones were determined. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess the associations of Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) with the risk of obesity measured by body mess index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC). Results: Of the 474 girls, the prevalences of BMI-based general obesity and WC-based abdominal obesity were 19.8% (94/474) and 21.7% (103/474), respectively. Compared with normal weight girls, the mean serum TSH concentration was significantly higher in BMI-based general overweight or obese girls (P=0.037), but not in WC-based central overweight or obese girls (P=0.173). In the multiple logistic regression models, for girls with highest tertile of serum TSH concentration relative to those in the lowest tertile, the odds ratios were 2.63 (95% CI 1.34 to 5.14) and 2.53(95% CI 1.31 to 4.88) for overweight or obesity based on BMI and WC after adjustment for puberty stage and other covariates. Conclusions: Serum TSH concentration was positively associated with both general and abdominal obesity in school-age girls and the association was independent of puberty.
Well-being in high-risk pregnancy: an integrative review
Authors: Author) kobra mirzakhani(Former Corresponding , Ebadi Abbas , Faridhosseini Farhad , Author) Talaat Khadivzadeh(New Corresponding
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Background: A prerequisite to the interventions for well-being improvement in high-risk pregnancy is to make the concept clear, objective, and measurable. Despite the wealth of studies into the concept of well-being in high-risk pregnancy, there is no clear definition for it. This study aimed to explore the concept of well-being in high-risk pregnancy.
Methods: This integrative review was conducted using the Whittemore and Knafl’s approach. A literature search was done without any data limitation in dictionaries, thesauruses, encyclopedias, well-being-related textbooks, midwifery, psychology, and mental health journals, and Iranian and international databases. The most primary inclusion criterion was relevance well-being in high-risk pregnancy. The full-texts of all articles were assessed using the checklists of the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). Data were analyzed through the constant comparison method and were managed using the MAXQDA 10 software. Meaning units were identified and coded. The codes were grouped into subcategories and categories according to the attributes, antecedents, and consequences of well-being in high-risk pregnancy.
Results: Thirty articles were included in the review, from which 540 codes were extracted. The codes were grouped into seven main attributes, eight main antecedents, and five main consequences of well-being in HRP. Findings showed that the four dimensions of well-being in high-risk pregnancy concept were physical, mental-emotional, social, and spiritual well-being.
Conclusion: As a complex and multidimensional concept, well-being in high-risk pregnancy refers to the pregnant woman’s evaluation of her life during high-risk pregnancy. It includes physical, hedonic, and eudaimonic components. The assessment of well-being in HRP should include all these components.
Keywords: Well-being, Pregnancy, High-risk pregnancy
Genetic mapping and genomic selection for maize stalk strength
Authors: Liu Xiaogang , Hu Xiaojiao , Li Kun , Liu Zhifang , Wu Yujin , Wang Hongwu , Huang Changling
Published: November 2019

Background Maize is one of the most important staple crops and is widely grown throughout the world. Stalk lodging can cause enormous yield losses in maize production. However, rind penetrometer resistance (RPR), which is recognized as a reliable measurement to evaluate stalk strength, has been shown to be efficient and useful for improving stalk lodging-resistance. Linkage mapping is an acknowledged approach for exploring the genetic architecture of target traits. In addition, genomic selection (GS) using whole genome markers enhances selection efficiency for genetically complex traits. In the present study, two recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations were utilized to dissect the genetic basis of RPR, which was evaluated in seven growth stages.Results The optimal stages to measure stalk strength are the silking phase and stages after silking. A total of 66 and 45 quantitative trait loci (QTL) were identified in each RIL population. Several potential candidate genes were predicted according to the maize gene annotation database and were closely associated with the biosynthesis of cell wall components. Moreover, analysis of gene ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway further indicated that genes related to cell wall formation were involved in the determination of RPR. In addition, a multivariate model of genomic selection efficiently improved the prediction accuracy relative to a univariate model and a model considering RPR-relevant loci as fixed effects.Conclusions The genetic architecture of RPR is highly genetically complex. Multiple minor effect QTL are jointly involved in controlling phenotypic variation in RPR. Several pleiotropic QTL identified in multiple stages may contain reliable genes and can be used to develop functional markers for improving the selection efficiency of stalk strength. The application of genomic selection to RPR may be a promising approach to accelerate breeding process for improving stalk strength and enhancing lodging-resistance.
Investigating the satisfaction level of physicians in regards to implementing medical picture archiving and communication system (PACS)
Authors: Abbasi Reza , Jabali Monireh Sadeqi , Tadayon Hamidreza
Published: November 2019

Background User's satisfaction with PACS is considered as one of the important criteria for assessing success in using PACS. The objective of this study is to determine the level of satisfaction in PACS’ users and also comparing its functional features with traditional film-based systems.Methods This analytical study was conducted in 2017. Residents at three large university hospitals in Kerman city were included. We used self-administered questionnaire that was consisted of three parts include: demographic information, individuals' satisfaction, comparing features of the two digital and traditional imaging systems. Validity of this questionnaire was approved by specialists and its reliability was obtained as 86%. Data analysis was done with using descriptive statistics and after checking the normality of data, data compared with the spearman, the Mann Whitney U and the Kruskal-Wallis statistical tests.Results The mean of the participants' ages 31.4 (± 4.4) years old and approximately 59% of the participants were females. Mean of overall physicians’ satisfaction with PACS' score has no significant relationship (P>0.05) with the variables of age, experience in using PACS, type of specialty, level of interpretation of images using PACS, however it did show a significant relationship with their computer skills (P<0.05).Conclusions The mean for physicians’ satisfaction with PACS was at a moderate to high level, yet there are still problems in successfully implementing these systems and establishing interoperability between them. PACS has not fully met all the demands of physicians and has not achieved its predetermined objectives such as all-access from different locations.