bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stability of clonidine hydrochloride in an oral powder form compounded for pediatric patients in Japan
Authors: Saito Jumpei , Hanawa Takehisa , Matsumoto Takahiro , Yoshikawa Nozomi , Harada Tsutomu , Iwahashi Kana , Nakamura Hidefumi , Yamatani Akimasa
Published: September 2021

Background

Clonidine hydrochloride is used to treat sedative agent withdrawals, malignant hypertension, and anesthesia complications. Clonidine is also prescribed off-label to pediatric patients at a dose of 1 μg/kg. The commercially available enteral form of clonidine, Catapres® tablets, is often compounded into a powder form by pharmacists to achieve dosage adjustments for administration to pediatric patients. However, the stability and quality of compounded clonidine powder have not been verified. The objectives of this study were to formulate a 0.2 mg/g oral clonidine hydrochloride powder and assess the stability and physical properties of this compounded product in storage.

Methods

A 0.2 mg/g clonidine powder was prepared by adding lactose monohydrate to crushed and filtrated clonidine tablets. The powder was stored in polycarbonate amber bottles or coated paper packages laminated with cellophane and polyethylene. The stability of clonidine at 25 °C ± 2 °C and 60% ± 5% relative humidity was examined over a 120-d period in “bottle (closed),” “bottle (in use),” and “laminated paper” storage conditions. Drug dissolution and powder X-ray diffraction analysis were conducted to assess physicochemical stabilities. Validated liquid chromatography-diode array detection was used to detect and quantify clonidine and its degradation product, 2,6-dichloroaniline (2,6-DCA).

Results

Clonidine content was maintained between 90.0 and 110.0% of the initial contents in all packaging and storage conditions. After 120 d of storage, 2,6-DCA was not detected, and no crystallographic and dissolution changes were observed.

Conclusions

Compounded clonidine powder stability was maintained for 120 d at 25 °C ± 2 °C and 60% ± 5% relative humidity. This information may contribute to the management of clonidine compounded powder in community and hospital pharmacies in Japan.
The time-varying causal relationship between the Bitcoin market and internet attention
Authors: Zhang Xun , Lu Fengbin , Tao Rui , Wang Shouyang
Published: September 2021

The increasing attention on Bitcoin since 2013 prompts the issue of possible evidence for a causal relationship between the Bitcoin market and internet attention. Taking the Google search volume index as the measure of internet attention, time-varying Granger causality between the global Bitcoin market and internet attention is examined. Empirical results show a strong Granger causal relationship between internet attention and trading volume. Moreover, they indicate, beginning in early 2018, an even stronger impact of trading volume on internet attention, which is consistent with the rapid increase in Bitcoin users following the 2017 Bitcoin bubble. Although Bitcoin returns are found to strongly affect internet attention, internet attention only occasionally affects Bitcoin returns. Further investigation reveals that interactions between internet attention and returns can be amplified by extreme changes in prices, and internet attention is more likely to lead to returns during Bitcoin bubbles. These empirical findings shed light on cryptocurrency investor attention theory and imply trading strategy in Bitcoin markets.
Optimizing auditory input for foreign language learners through a verbotonal-based dichotic listening approach
Authors: Cai Xirui , Lian Andrew , Puakpong Nattaya , Shi Yaoping , Chen Haoqiang , Zeng Yizhen , Ou Jibing , Zheng Wei , Mo Yin
Published: September 2021

The quality of the physical language signals to which learners are exposed and which result in neurobiological activity leading to perception constitutes a variable that is rarely, if ever, considered in the context of language learning. It deserves some attention. The current study identifies an optimal audio language input signal for Chinese EFL/ESL learners generated by modifying the physical features of language-bearing audio signals. This is achieved by applying the principles of verbotonalism in a dichotic listening context. Low-pass filtered (320 Hz cut-off) and unfiltered speech signals were dichotically and diotically directed to each hemisphere of the brain through the contralateral ear. Temporal and spatial neural signatures for the processing of the signals were detected in a combined event-related potential (ERP) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiment. Results showed that the filtered stimuli in the left ear and unfiltered in the right ear (FL-R) configuration provided optimal auditory language input by actively exploiting left-hemispheric dominance for language processing and right-hemispheric dominance for melodic processing, i.e., each hemisphere was fed the signals that it should be best equipped to process—and it actually did so effectively. In addition, the filtered stimuli in the right ear and unfiltered in the left ear (L-FR) configuration was identified as entirely non-optimal for language learners. Other outcomes included significant load reduction through exposure to both-ear-filtered FL-FR signals as well as the confirmation that non-language signals were recognized by the brain as irrelevant to language and did not trigger any language processing. These various outcomes will necessarily entail further research.
Experience of patients diagnosed as asymptomatic COVID-19 after dental treatment
Authors: Seo Ju-Yeon , Lee Sung-Tak , Choi So-Young , Kim Jin-Wook , Kwon Tae-Geon
Published: September 2021

Background

The potential risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission from asymptomatic COVID-19 patients is a concern in dental practice. However, the impact of this risk is not well documented to date. This report describes our dental clinical experience with patients who did not exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 but were later confirmed as positive for COVID-19.

Case presentation

Of the 149,149 patients who visited the outpatient clinic of KNUDH and the 3291 patients who visited the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinic of KNUH, 3 were later confirmed as having COVID-1 between 1 February 2020 and 28 February 2021. Owing to close contact with these patients during their treatments, 46 dental and medical staff had to undergo quarantine from the date of the patients’ confirmation of COVID-19 infection.

Conclusion

The presented cases showed the potential existence of asymptomatic COVID-19 patients after dental treatment with aerosol-generating procedures. Clinicians should be aware of the infection prevention measures and try to protect healthcare personnel from secondary infection of COVID-19 during dental treatments.
Perspectives in modeling and model validation during analytical quality by design chromatographic method evaluation: a case study
Authors: Dong Yongzhi , Liu Zhimin , Li Charles , Pinter Emily , Potts Alan , Tadey Tanya , Weiser William
Published: September 2021

Design of experiments (DOE)-based analytical quality by design (AQbD) method evaluation, development, and validation is gaining momentum and has the potential to create robust chromatographic methods through deeper understanding and control of variability. In this paper, a case study is used to explore the pros, cons, and pitfalls of using various chromatographic responses as modeling targets during a DOE-based AQbD approach. The case study involves evaluation of a reverse phase gradient HPLC method by a modified circumscribed central composite (CCC) response surface DOE.

Solid models were produced for most responses and their validation was assessed with graphical and numeric statistics as well as chromatographic mechanistic understanding. The five most relevant responses with valid models were selected for multiple responses method optimization and the final optimized method was chosen based on the Method Operable Design Region (MODR). The final method has a much larger MODR than the original method and is thus more robust.

This study showcases how to use AQbD to gain deep method understanding and make informed decisions on method suitability. Discoveries and discussions in this case study may contribute to continuous improvement of AQbD chromatography practices in the pharmaceutical industry.
Emergence of highly infectious SARS-CoV-2 variants in Bangladesh: the need for systematic genetic surveillance as a public health strategy
Authors: Hasan Mohammad Mehedi , Rocha Ian Christopher N. , Ramos Kimberly G. , Cedeño Trisha Denise D. , dos Santos Costa Ana Carla , Tsagkaris Christos , Billah Md. Masum , Ahmad Shoaib , Essar Mohammad Yasir
Published: September 2021

Bangladesh, a low-middle-income country in South Asia is facing one of its worst public health emergencies due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The increase in the number of cases from the disease, since the second half of March 2021, can potentially cause the health system overload, and has, as one of the main reasons, the non-compliance with measures of social distance and the emergence of the variants of concern in the country. This increase in the contagion curve can also provide a favorable environment for the occurrence of more mutations in the structure and genome of the virus. Therefore, there is an urge to carry out genomic surveillance programs in order to identify, monitor and characterize these variants, and understand whether the vaccines currently used are effective against them.
Comparison of different calibration techniques of laser induced breakdown spectroscopy in bakery products: on NaCl measurement
Authors: Bilge Gonca , Eseller Kemal Efe , Berberoglu Halil , Sezer Banu , Tamer Ugur , Boyaci Ismail Hakki
Published: September 2021

Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a rapid optical spectroscopy technique for elemental determination, which has been used for quantitative analysis in many fields. However, the calibration involving atomic emission intensity and sample concentration, is still a challenge due to physical-chemical matrix effect of samples and fluctuations of experimental parameters. To overcome these problems, various chemometric data analysis techniques have been combined with LIBS technique. In this study, LIBS was used to show its potential as a routine analysis for Na measurements in bakery products. A series of standard bread samples containing various concentrations of NaCl (0.025%–3.5%) was prepared to compare different calibration techniques. Standard calibration curve (SCC), artificial neural network (ANN) and partial least square (PLS) techniques were used as calibration strategies. Among them, PLS was found to be more efficient for predicting the Na concentrations in bakery products with an increase in coefficient of determination value from 0.961 to 0.999 for standard bread samples and from 0.788 to 0.943 for commercial products.
Recurrent atelectasis and brain infarction in a patient with anti-neutrophil antibody negative eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis: a case report
Authors: Sada Ken-ei , Miyauchi Atsushi , Hashimoto Daisuke , Ino Riku , Nojima Shigeru , Yamanaka Shingo , Kawamura Masafumi
Published: September 2021

Background

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is an anti-neutrophil antibody (ANCA)-associated necrotizing vasculitis, which predominantly affects small to medium vessels, and is associated with asthma and eosinophilia. EGPA has two different pathogenic aspects: eosinophilic granulomatous inflammation and ANCA-associated inflammation. A recent histological study of peripheral nerves showed that not only ANCA-associated inflammation but also eosinophil-associated vascular occlusion leads to ischemia. Endobronchial involvement is relatively common especially in the patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis but rare in patients with EGPA. Central nervous system (CNS) involvement is also rare in patients with EGPA, the pathogenesis and relationship between these two rare conditions have not been elucidated.

Case presentation

A 62-year-old woman was admitted with numbness, purpura, and eosinophilia. She had a 3-year-history of bronchial asthma. Chest computed tomography showed left lower lobe collapse, and brain magnetic resonance imaging indicated occipital lobe infarction. Skin biopsy findings led to the diagnosis of EGPA. ANCA test results were negative. All symptoms improved after initiating glucocorticoids. However, atelectasis and brain infarction relapsed with increasing eosinophil counts. Atelectasis quickly disappeared with increasing glucocorticoid dose, and glucocorticoid could be reduced to a maintenance dose after the initiation of mepolizumab.

Conclusion

Both atelectasis and brain infarction might develop not only via ANCA-associated inflammation but also via eosinophilic inflammation.
Bayesian network model to distinguish between intentional attacks and accidental technical failures: a case study of floodgates
Authors: Chockalingam Sabarathinam , Pieters Wolter , Teixeira André , van Gelder Pieter
Published: September 2021

Water management infrastructures such as floodgates are critical and increasingly operated by Industrial Control Systems (ICS). These systems are becoming more connected to the internet, either directly or through the corporate networks. This makes them vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Abnormal behaviour in floodgates operated by ICS could be caused by both (intentional) attacks and (accidental) technical failures. When operators notice abnormal behaviour, they should be able to distinguish between those two causes to take appropriate measures, because for example replacing a sensor in case of intentional incorrect sensor measurements would be ineffective and would not block corresponding the attack vector. In the previous work, we developed the attack-failure distinguisher framework for constructing Bayesian Network (BN) models to enable operators to distinguish between those two causes, including the knowledge elicitation method to construct the directed acyclic graph and conditional probability tables of BN models. As a full case study of the attack-failure distinguisher framework, this paper presents a BN model constructed to distinguish between attacks and technical failures for the problem of incorrect sensor measurements in floodgates, addressing the problem of floodgate operators. We utilised experts who associate themselves with the safety and/or security community to construct the BN model and validate the qualitative part of constructed BN model. The constructed BN model is usable in water management infrastructures to distinguish between intentional attacks and accidental technical failures in case of incorrect sensor measurements. This could help to decide on appropriate response strategies and avoid further complications in case of incorrect sensor measurements.
Confidential machine learning on untrusted platforms: a survey
Authors: Sagar Sharma , Keke Chen
Published: September 2021

With the ever-growing data and the need for developing powerful machine learning models, data owners increasingly depend on various untrusted platforms (e.g., public clouds, edges, and machine learning service providers) for scalable processing or collaborative learning. Thus, sensitive data and models are in danger of unauthorized access, misuse, and privacy compromises. A relatively new body of research confidentially trains machine learning models on protected data to address these concerns. In this survey, we summarize notable studies in this emerging area of research. With a unified framework, we highlight the critical challenges and innovations in outsourcing machine learning confidentially. We focus on the cryptographic approaches for confidential machine learning (CML), primarily on model training, while also covering other directions such as perturbation-based approaches and CML in the hardware-assisted computing environment. The discussion will take a holistic way to consider a rich context of the related threat models, security assumptions, design principles, and associated trade-offs amongst data utility, cost, and confidentiality.
A low-boom and low-drag design method for supersonic aircraft and its applications on airfoils
Authors: Ye Liu-qing , Ye Zheng-yin , Ye Kun , Wu Jie , Miao Sheng-jie
Published: September 2021

Sonic boom reduction has been an urgent need for the development of future supersonic transport, because of the heavy damage of noise pollution. This paper provides a novel concept for supersonic aircraft to reduce the sonic boom and drag coefficient, wherein a suction slot near the leading edge and an injection slot near the trailing edge on the airfoil suction surface are opened. To make sure of a zero net mass flux flow control, the mass flow sucked in near the leading edge is equal to the mass flow injected near the trailing edge. The diamond and NACA0008 airfoils are adopted as the baseline airfoil to verify the capability of the proposed design method. The effects of the suction and injection location, the suction and injection slot size, the mass flow rate and the attack angle on the ground boom signature and drag coefficient are studied in detail. The results show that the optimized airfoils with the suction and injection have benefits in both sonic boom reduction and wave drag reduction. And the reduction of the sonic boom intensity is more sensitive to the injection near the trailing edge than the suction near the leading edge. From the viewpoint of aerodynamics, opening the suction and injection slots will have no adverse effect on the aerodynamic performances of the supersonic aircraft and even increase the lift-drag ratio under some circumstances. For energy saving, the suction and injection slots can be selectively opened, which are opened when the supersonic aircraft flies over the city but are closed when the aircraft flies over the sea.
An impact echo method to detect cavities between railway track slabs and soil foundation
Authors: Bahati Pierre Anthyme , Le Viet Dinh , Lim Yujin
Published: September 2021

The impact echo technique is one of the most useful non-destructive test methods for determining the thickness of concrete or detecting possible cracks or cavities in the internal parts of a concrete structure without damaging the surface. Many types of unstable conditions in railway tracks, including various modes of irregularities, may occur when cavities are generated directly under a concrete slab track or when a slight open space is made under a loose sleeper. In this study, we developed a nondestructive testing (NDT) system for detecting abnormalities in concrete tracks and performed 3D numerical simulations using the ABAQUS finite element analysis (FEA) program to investigate the impact echo response from a concrete track slab with different sizes of cavities. Sections of concrete slab were simulated as solid body masses under the railway tracks with gaps in the bodies themselves or with cavities existing between the track concrete layer (TCL) and the hydraulically stabilized base (HSB). We investigated the locations and depths of the cavities and gaps in the model concrete slab using the acoustic impact echo response based on the frequency response of the elastic waves generated in the slab. In addition, a Short-time Fourier Transform (STFT) and a wavelet technique were adopted for a time frequency analysis. Our study demonstrated that the impact echo technique developed in this study by FEA and NDT can measure and confirm the location and depth of cavities in concrete slabs.
Cyclodextrin Complex Formation with Water-Soluble Drugs: Conclusions from Isothermal Titration Calorimetry and Molecular Modeling
Authors: Shalaby Karim S. , Ismail Muhammad I. , Lamprecht Alf
Published: September 2021

Cyclodextrin (CD) complexes are frequently used for enhancing the solubility or absorption of poorly water-soluble drugs. On the contrary, little is known about their complex formation with water-soluble drugs. Here, we have studied the interaction between 2-hydroxypropyl β-CD (HPβCD) and three water-soluble drugs, namely naloxone (NX), oxycodone (OC), and tramadol (TR), by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) combined with molecular modeling in view of the potential impact on drug release. The results showed that the complex formation of HPβCD with all three drugs occurs spontaneously. The complexes formed with NX and OC were found to be 2NX:1HPβCD and 3OC:2HPβCD, respectively. TR was found to form 2 complexes with HPβCD; of 1:2 and 1:1 complexation ratios. The binding of HPβCD to NX was greater than to OC due to the higher hydrophobicity of the structure of the former. Moreover, the binding affinity of HPβCD to TR was higher than to OC, which indicated the effect of the higher flexibility of the guest in increasing the binding affinity.In vitrodrug release experiments from the various complexes revealed a significant impact of the stoichiometry of the complex on the release profiles. Accordingly, the co-administration of cyclodextrins with water-soluble drugs should be closely monitored, as it may result in unintentional complex formation that can potentially impact the drugs’ gastrointestinal absorption.
Infections of the Peripheral Nervous System
Authors: LoRusso Samantha
Published: September 2021

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This article describes infections that affect the peripheral nervous system, including their clinical features, differential diagnoses, and treatments.

RECENT FINDINGS

Rates of pyomyositis have increased recently in the United States, possibly because of an increase in risk factors such as IV drug use, obesity, and diabetes. Other peripheral nervous system infections, such as diphtheria, have become more common in older patients secondary to a lack of revaccination or waning immunity. Although recommended treatment regimens for most infections remain unchanged over recent years, debate over the ideal dosing and route of administration continues for some infections such as tetanus and leprosy (Hansen disease).

Infections of the peripheral nervous system are varied in terms of the type of infection, localization, and potential treatment. Nerve conduction studies and EMG can help determine localization, which is key to determining an initial differential diagnosis. It is important to recognize infections quickly to minimize diagnostic delays that could lead to patient morbidity and mortality.
Neurosyphilis
Authors: Chow Felicia
Published: September 2021

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This article focuses on the epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of neurosyphilis, with an emphasis on clinically relevant issues faced by the practicing neurologist.

RECENT FINDINGS

The incidence of primary and secondary syphilis, the sexually transmissible stages of infection, has been on the rise for the past 2 decades. A concerning recent trend is the surge in cases of syphilis in women and of congenital syphilis. Neurosyphilis remains a relatively common complication that can occur at any stage of syphilis. Along with meningitis, meningovascular syphilis, which has been historically described as a late presentation of neurosyphilis, now frequently occurs as a manifestation of early infection. Late forms of neurosyphilis, including tabes dorsalis and general paresis, are less prevalent in the era of widespread penicillin use. As more laboratories adopt the reverse-sequence algorithm for syphilis testing, patients with serodiscordant results (ie, a reactive serum treponemal test with a nonreactive nontreponemal test) may present an increasingly encountered diagnostic challenge for neurologists. Although the CSF Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) remains a mainstay of diagnostic testing for neurosyphilis, using a higher titer cutoff (greater than 1:320) for the Treponema pallidum particle agglutination assay (TPPA) from the CSF may improve the utility of the TPPA as a supporting criterion for the diagnosis of neurosyphilis. Penicillin G is the treatment of choice for neurosyphilis, although ceftriaxone may be a reasonable alternative therapy.

A high index of suspicion and awareness of the variable clinical presentations of neurosyphilis are essential to the approach to this treatable infection. Neurologists should be mindful of the limitations of serologic testing in the diagnosis of neurosyphilis and exercise clinical judgment to determine the likelihood of the diagnosis.
Neurologic Infections in Patients on Immunomodulatory and Immunosuppressive Therapies
Authors: Anand Pria
Published: September 2021

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Both broadly immunosuppressive medications and selective immunomodulatory agents that act on particular components of the immune system are increasingly used in the treatment of neurologic and non-neurologic diseases. These therapies predispose patients to particular infections, some of which may affect the nervous system. Therefore, familiarity with the clinical and radiologic features of neurologic infections associated with specific immunomodulatory therapies is of importance for the practicing neurologist. This article reviews these neuroinfectious conditions, as well as other neurologic complications unique to transplant recipients and other patients who are immunocompromised.

RECENT FINDINGS

Diagnosis of infectious pathogens in patients who are immunocompromised may be particularly challenging because a decreased immune response can lead to atypical imaging or laboratory findings. Next-generation sequencing and other novel diagnostic modalities may improve the rate of early identification of neurologic infections in patients who are immunocompromised and ultimately ameliorate outcomes in this vulnerable population.

A broad range of bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections of the nervous system can complicate solid organ and hematopoietic cell transplantation as well as other forms of immunocompromise. In addition to neurologic infections, such patients are at risk of neurotoxic and neuroinflammatory complications related to immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive therapies. Early recognition of infectious and noninfectious complications of immunocompromise is essential to guide appropriate treatment, which can include antimicrobial therapy and, in some cases, withdrawal of the predisposing medication with a transition to an alternative regimen.
Neurologic Manifestations of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection
Authors: Nath Avindra
Published: September 2021

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This article describes the spectrum of neurologic complications associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, their underlying pathology and pathogenic mechanisms, gaps in knowledge, and current therapeutic strategies.

RECENT FINDINGS

COVID-19 is the clinical syndrome caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. It can affect the entire neuraxis, and presentations in the acute phase are variable, although anosmia is a common manifestation. Encephalopathy is common in patients who are hospitalized and is often associated with multiorgan involvement. Immune-mediated encephalitis is probably underrecognized; however, viral encephalitis is rare. Other manifestations include stroke, seizures, myelitis, and peripheral neuropathies, including Guillain-Barré syndrome, which sometimes has atypical manifestations. Treatment is symptomatic, and immunotherapies have been used successfully in some patients. Long-term complications include dysautonomia, exercise intolerance, malaise, sleep disturbances, cognitive impairment, and mood disorders.

Neurologic manifestations of COVID-19 may occur in the acute setting and may be independent of respiratory manifestations. Immune-mediated syndromes and cerebrovascular complications are common. Large populations of patients are expected to have long-term neurologic complications of COVID-19, many of which may emerge only after recovery from the acute illness.
Encephalitis and Brain Abscess
Authors: Venkatesan Arun
Published: September 2021

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This article reviews infections of the brain parenchyma and includes an overview of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnostic approach, and management of infectious encephalitis and brain abscess.

RECENT FINDINGS

The epidemiology of infectious encephalitis and brain abscess has changed in recent years. Vaccination has reduced the incidence of certain viruses associated with encephalitis, while a decrease in fulminant otogenic infections has led to fewer brain abscesses associated with otitis media. However, changes in climate and human population density and distribution have enabled the emergence of newer pathogens and expanded the geographic range of others, and greater adoption of intensive immunosuppressive regimens for autoimmune conditions has increased the risk of opportunistic infections of the brain. The widespread use of early neuroimaging, along with improved diagnostic methodologies for pathogen detection, newer antimicrobial therapies with better brain penetration, and less invasive neurosurgical techniques, has resulted in better outcomes for patients with infectious encephalitis and brain abscess. Novel technologies including metagenomic next-generation sequencing are increasingly being applied to these conditions in an effort to improve diagnosis. Nevertheless, both infectious encephalitis and brain abscess continue to be associated with substantial mortality.

Infectious encephalitis and brain abscess can present as neurologic emergencies and require rapid assessment, thorough and appropriate diagnostic testing, and early initiation of empiric therapies directed against infectious agents. Close clinical follow-up, proper interpretation of diagnostic results, and appropriate tailoring of therapeutic agents are essential to optimizing outcomes. Diagnosis and management of parenchymal brain infections are complex and often best achieved with a multidisciplinary care team involving neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists, infectious disease physicians, and pathologists.
Multicenter Study Evaluating Nitrous Oxide Use for Labor Analgesia at High- and Low-Altitude Institutions
Authors: Wood Cristina , Arbet Jaron , Amura Claudia R. , Nodine Priscilla , Collins Michelle R. , Orlando Barbara S. , Mayer David C. , Stein Deborah , Anderson Jessica
Published: September 2021

BACKGROUND:

Nitrous oxide (N2O) has been used nationally as an analgesic in many clinical settings. While neuraxial analgesia is still the most commonly used labor analgesic in the United States, there is increasing use of N2O in labor. Given the reduction in the partial pressure of gases at a higher altitude, N2O has been reported to have reduced analgesic properties. However, there is no study to date evaluating the impact of altitude on labor analgesia and N2O.

METHODS:

We conducted a multicenter retrospective data analysis of a N2O registry collected from 4 institutions over a 3-year period. We compared the impact of altitude on 50% N2O administration for labor analgesia, conversion rates to another analgesic modality, as well as collected side effect frequencies and conversion predictors. Multivariable regression models were used to compare clinical characteristics and outcomes between parturients at high and low altitudes, while adjusting for race, ethnicity, education, and age (logistic and linear regressions for categorical and quantitative outcomes, respectively).

RESULTS:

A total of 1856 laboring parturients (age 18–50) were included in the analysis. The odds of converting from 50% N2O to another analgesic modality had no statistically significant difference between high- versus low-altitude institutions (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.90–1.42; P = .3). Yet, when parturients at low altitude converted from N2O, they were more likely (aOR, 3.03; 95% CI, 1.59–5.88) to choose neuraxial analgesia instead of another analgesic modality when compared to high-altitude parturients. This is possibly due to higher epidural rates at the low-altitude institutions. When parturients at high altitude did convert into another modality, they were more likely (aOR, 2.19; 95% CI, 1.14–4.21) to convert due to inadequate pain relief compared to low-altitude parturients; however, missing data may have affected this finding. Laboring individuals at low altitude were significantly more likely to experience side effects (aOR, 2.13; 95% CI, 1.45–3.12). Those requiring labor augmentation, assisted vaginal, or cesarean delivery converted to neuraxial analgesia significantly more often than those that delivered via spontaneous vaginal delivery (P < .05) in both high- and low-altitude groups.

CONCLUSIONS:

This is the first study evaluating 50% N2O as a labor analgesic at high altitude. As expected, we found lower side effects at high altitude, likely due to the lower partial pressure of N2O. However, there was not a statistically significant increase in conversion from N2O to another analgesic modality at high altitude and no clinically significant differences in neonatal outcomes.
India and the Compagnie des Indes in the Age of the French Revolution
Authors: Cross Elizabeth
Published: September 2021

This article examines the global history of the Age of Revolution through the lens of the Nouvelle Compagnie des Indes (1785–94). Established in the aftermath of the American Revolution, the company was not only a commercial entity but also an integral part of a diplomatic strategy for reestablishing the postwar Franco-British relationship. The geopolitical context of the Indian Ocean world forced French political and commercial actors to imagine forms of imperial and commercial power that frequently placed French interests under British protection, often in ways that provoked significant opposition in the metropole. Amid ideologies of competition, Anglophobia, and militarism, the case of the Nouvelle Compagnie des Indes reveals how both state and private actors struggled to promote wide-ranging commercial collaboration between France and Britain in the 1780s and 1790s in ways that often anticipated later partnerships between the two empires.

Cet article examine l'histoire globale de l’ère de la Révolution française à travers le prisme de la Nouvelle Compagnie des Indes (1785–94). Etablie après la guerre d'indépendance américaine, la compagnie n’était pas seulement une entité commerciale, mais une partie intégrante d'une stratégie diplomatique pour rétablir les relations franco-britanniques. Le contexte géopolitique de l'océan Indien exigeait que les acteurs politiques et commerciaux français imaginent de nouvelles formes de pouvoir impérial et commercial. Celles-ci plaçaient fréquemment les intérêts français sous la protection britannique, souvent d'une manière qui provoquait de fortes résistances dans la métropole. Dans un contexte idéologique de compétition, d'anglophobie et de militarisme, le cas de la Nouvelle Compagnie des Indes révèle que des acteurs aussi bien étatiques que privés essayaient de promouvoir une vaste collaboration commerciale entre la France et la Grande-Bretagne dans les années 1780 et 1790, en anticipant souvent les partenariats ultérieurs entre les deux empires.
Investigating the morphological dynamics of the plasma membrane by high-speed atomic force microscopy
Authors: Yu Yiming , Yoshimura Shige H.
Published: September 2021

Despite numerous recent developments in bioimaging techniques, nanoscale and live-cell imaging of the plasma membrane has been challenging because of the insufficient z-resolution of optical microscopes, as well as the lack of fluorescent probes to specifically label small membrane structures. High-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM) is a powerful tool for visualising the dynamics of a specimen surface and is therefore suitable for observing plasma membrane dynamics. Recent developments in HS-AFM for live-cell imaging have enabled the visualisation of the plasma membrane and the network of cortical actin underneath the membrane in a living cell. Furthermore, correlative imaging with fluorescence microscopy allows for the direct visualisation of morphological changes of the plasma membrane together with the dynamic assembly or disassembly of proteins during the entire course of endocytosis in a living cell. Here, we review these recent advances in HS-AFM in order to analyse various cellular events occurring at the cell surface.
Effects of Exercise-induced Hypoalgesia and Its Neural Mechanisms
Authors: WU BAO , ZHOU LILI , CHEN CHANGCHENG , WANG JUAN , HU LI , WANG XUEQIANG
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Exercise-induced hypoalgesia is frequently documented in the literature. However, the underlying neural mechanism of this phenomenon remains unclear. Here, we explored the effects of different intensities of isometric exercise on pain perception with a randomized controlled design and investigated its neural mechanisms through tracing the dynamic changes of heat-evoked brain responses.

Methods

Forty-eight participants were randomly assigned to one of the three groups with different exercise intensities (i.e., high, low, and control). Their subjective pain reports and brain responses elicited by heat stimuli before and after exercise were assessed.

Results

We observed 1) the increased pressure pain thresholds and heat pain thresholds on the dorsal surface of the hand and the biceps brachii muscle of the exercised limb (closed to the contracting muscle), and the decreased pressure pain ratings at the indexed finger of the unexercised limb; 2) more reduction of pain sensitivity on both the biceps brachii muscle and the dorsal surface of the hand induced by the high-intensity isometric exercise than the low-intensity isometric exercise; and 3) both the high-intensity and the low-intensity isometric exercise induced the reduction of N2 amplitudes and N2–P2 peak-to-peak amplitudes, as well as the reduction of event-related potential magnitudes elicited by the heat stimuli on the exercised limb.

Conclusions

The hypoalgesic effects induced by the isometric exercise were not only localized to the moving part of the body but also can be extended to the distal part of the body. The exercise intensities play a vital role in modulating these effects. Exercise-induced hypoalgesia could be related to the modulation of nociceptive information transmission via a spinal gating mechanism and also rely on a top-down descending pain inhibitory mechanism.
The acceptability and side effects of COVID-19 vaccine among health care workers in Nigeria: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Ilori Oluwatosin Ruth , Ilori Oluwatosin Stephen , Oluwatobi Awodutire Phillip , Ige Olabisi Roseline , Idowu Adesanmi B , Balogun Oluwafemi Samson , Lawal Olamide Idris
Published: September 2021

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is global public health crisis. Mass vaccination, until herd immunity is achieved, is one of the most effective ways of combating the deadly infectious virus. The disposition of health workers towards the AstraZeneca vaccine will most likely determine if other members of the community will be willing to get vaccinated or not. Thus, the purpose of this study is to determine the attitudes of healthcare workers to the COVID-19 vaccine, as well as determine the various side effects experienced by those who have already been vaccinated.

Method: Frequency tables were created, and Chi-square was used to determine the relationship between respondents' socio-demographic characteristics, as well as their acceptance or rejection of the COVID-19 vaccine and attitude towards it. Using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 22.0, multinominal logistic regression was used to determine the key factors which influenced respondents’ decision to have the vaccine.

Result: There was a statistically significant relationship between the cadre of health care workers, their tribe, and their involvement in the care of COVID-19 patients and their attitude towards the vaccine.

Conclusion: Previous involvement in the care of COVID-19 patients is one of the most important determinants of health care workers' acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine. Most respondents were positive about the vaccine; however, the fear of side effects was the primary reason why those who were yet to be vaccinated, do not plan to do so. The most common side effect reported by those who had already been vaccinated, was pain at the injection site. Public awareness of the vaccine and its benefits should be increased, and the vaccine should be made available in all health care facilities.
How many online workers are there in the world? A data-driven assessment
Authors: Kässi Otto , Lehdonvirta Vili , Stephany Fabian
Published: September 2021

An unknown number of people around the world are earning income by working through online labour platforms such as Upwork and Amazon Mechanical Turk. We combine data collected from various sources to build a data-driven assessment of the number of such online workers (also known as online freelancers) globally. Our headline estimate is that there are 163 million freelancer profiles registered on online labour platforms globally. Approximately 19 million of them have obtained work through the platform at least once, and 5 million have completed at least 10 projects or earned at least $1000. These numbers suggest a substantial growth from 2015 in registered worker accounts, but much less growth in amount of work completed by workers. Our results indicate that online freelancing represents a non-trivial segment of labour today, but one that is spread thinly across countries and sectors.
ТИПОЛОГИЯ БИЗНЕС-ПРОЦЕССОВ УСЛУГ РОЗНИЧНОЙ ТОРГОВОЙ СЕТИ
Authors: Valeeva Yulia S.
Published: September 2021

В современных условиях является актуальным исследование и выделение  бизнес-процессов услуг розничных торговых сетей. Региональная экспансия розничных торговых сетей расширяет масштаб деятельности предприятия, потому возникают организационно-управленческие вопросы, которые предполагают описание и оптимизацию всех бизнес-процессов для обеспечения экономической устойчивости, конкурентоспособности предприятия.
Цель – является разработка типологии бизнес-процессов услуг розничной торговой сети с применением процессного и ценностно-ориентированного подходов.
Метод или методология проведения работы: предложен ценностно-ориентированный подход к содержанию системы управления розничной торговой сетью, который основан на принципе делегирования полномочий и ответственности через бизнес-процессы с целью обеспечения целевых темпов роста интегрального показателя их эффективности и повышения степени удовлетворения потребностей всех заинтересованных сторон, что позволило представить адаптированную к сфере розничной торговли модели непрерывного улучшения процессов, или цикла Деминга-Шугарта
Результаты: получена типология бизнес-процессов, учитывающая специфику развития розничных торговых сетей.
Область применения результатов: полученные результаты целесообразно применять в практике деятельности розничных торговых сетей.
ТУРИЗМ И ЭКОНОМИКА СОВМЕСТНОГО ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИЯ ЖИЛЬЯ НА ПРИМЕРЕ AIRBNB
Authors: Sarafanova Anastasiya G. , Sarafanov Alexander A.
Published: September 2021

В этой статье рассказывается об экономике совместного проживания на примере Airbnb, компании, веб-сайт которой разрешает обычным людям сдавать свои дома в аренду в качестве жилья для туристов. Представлен обзор феномена совместного использования – явления, явившегося следствием мирового финансового кризиса, начавшегося в конце 2000-х гг. Изучены антецеденты и последствия краткосрочной аренды жилья через Airbnb. Рост спроса на данный сектор рассматривается через призму теории подрывных инноваций, которая описывает, как продукты, которые традиционно не востребованы, но предлагающие альтернативные преимущества, могут со временем преобразовать рынок и привлечь основных потребителей. Это привлечение клиентов обычно дополняется воздействием средств массовой информации и тем фактом, что существующие лидеры рынка не могут игнорировать присутствие инновационных бизнес-моделей, что означает подрыв старых бизнес проектов. Цифровые инновации меняют технологический ландшафт, предпринимательскую практику, а также поведение, отношение и убеждения потребителей во всем мире. Экономика совместного использования предлагает новый подход к разработке и предоставлению продуктов и услуг, который направлен на предотвращение потерь ресурсов, повышение эффективности и поддержку изменений. Так же в исследовании анализируется влияние коронавирусной инфекции на сектор совместного проживания.
РОЛЬ ФИНАНСОВОЙ БЕЗОПАСНОСТИ В СИСТЕМЕ ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОЙ БЕЗОПАСНОСТИ ХОЗЯЙСТВУЮЩЕГО СУБЪЕКТА
Authors: Chuvashlova Marina V. , Vasyaeva Anna A. , Gorlovskaya Ekaterina A. , Pochinova Maria A.
Published: September 2021

Экономическая безопасность России напрямую зависит от экономической безопасности каждого конкретного предприятия. Хозяйствующим субъектам в условиях непростого экономического положения страны приходится бороться с многочисленными внутренними и внешними угрозами, стараясь поддерживать стабильный уровень своего существования и развиваться одновременно. Одной из основных функциональных составляющих экономической безопасности является финансовая безопасность. Актуальность данной темы заключается в том, что на текущий момент имеет место недостаточная теоретическая проработанность понятийного аппарата в области финансовой безопасности, несовершенство теоретического инструментария ее оценки. Отсутствие адекватной оценки влечет за собой возникновение сложностей в управлении уровнем финансовой безопасности предприятия.

Цель: изучение понятия, сущности и значения финансовой безопасности организации.

Метод или методология проведения работы: в статье использовались методы анализа, синтеза, обобщения, сравнения и другие.

Результаты: рассмотрены теоретические основы финансовой безопасности и финансовой устойчивости организации.
Skalne olśnienia: Współczesna poezja tatrzańsko-podhalańska
Authors: Kalus Ewa
Published: September 2021

EPIPHANIES IN THE MOUNTAINS. MODERN POETRY OF TATRA AND PODHALE REGIONS The subject of this book is national poetry from the Tatra Mountains region and Podhale regional poetry from the years 1980-2010, for which the interpretation keys were provided by cultural literary theory and methodology of sciences closely related to literature studies: folklore, ethnography, cultural anthropology, cultural psychology (psychological anthropology, etno-psychology, and ethnic psychology) and philosophical anthropology, together with the methodology of philosophical disciplines – existential phenomenology, phenomenology of religion and phenomenology of space. No comparative study on these two types of literature and culture at the same time (global and local) has been conducted, which would include trans-cultural and social processes as well as aesthetic and ideological diversity of culture inscribed in lyrical confessions.
“Meet Me Halfway”: The Costs and Benefits of Bargaining
Authors: Zhang Xu , Manchanda Puneet , Chu Junhong
Published: September 2021

Bargaining is an important pricing mechanism, prevalent in both online and offline markets. However, there is little empirical work documenting the costs and benefits of bargaining, primarily because of the lack of real-world bargaining data. We leverage rich, transaction-level bargaining data from a major online platform and supplement it with primary data to quantify the costs and benefits of bargaining for sellers, buyers, and the platform. We do this by building a structural model of buyer demand and seller pricing decisions while allowing for the existence of bargaining initiation cost, loss-of-face cost, and price discrimination. Using our results, we perform three policy simulations to quantify the importance of not distinguishing between no-bargain and failed-bargain transactions, ignoring the loss-of-face cost, and not allowing for bargaining. These simulations provide rich details on how the various costs of bargaining impact our understanding of buyer and seller behavior and transaction outcomes. Banning bargaining, in particular, benefits the buyer and the platform greatly but only has a modest benefit for sellers. Finally, we show that our results are robust to our assumptions and replicate in another product category.