bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The origin of amniotic fluid monocytes/macrophages in women with intra-amniotic inflammation or infection
Authors: Gomez-Lopez Nardhy , Romero Roberto , Leng Yaozhu , Xu Yi , Slutsky Rebecca , Levenson Dustyn , Pacora Percy , Jung Eunjung , Panaitescu Bogdan , Hsu Chaur-Dong
Published: September 2019

Background

Monocytes, after neutrophils, are the most abundant white blood cells found in the amniotic cavity of women with intra-amniotic inflammation/infection. However, the origin of such cells has not been fully investigated. Herein, we determined (1) the origin of amniotic fluid monocytes/macrophages from women with intra-amniotic inflammation/infection, (2) the relationship between the origin of amniotic fluid monocytes/macrophages and preterm or term delivery and (3) the localization of monocytes/macrophages in the placental tissues.

Methods

Amniotic fluid samples (n = 16) were collected from women with suspected intra-amniotic inflammation or infection. Amniotic fluid monocytes/macrophages were purified by fluorescence-activated cell sorting, and DNA fingerprinting was performed. Blinded placental histopathological evaluations were conducted. Immunohistochemistry was performed to detect CD14+ monocytes/macrophages in the placental tissues.

Results

DNA fingerprinting revealed that (1) 56.25% (9/16) of amniotic fluid samples had mostly fetal monocytes/macrophages, (2) 37.5% (6/16) had predominantly maternal monocytes/macrophages and (3) one sample (6.25% [1/16]) had a mixture of fetal and maternal monocytes/macrophages. (4) Most samples with predominantly fetal monocytes/macrophages were from women who delivered early preterm neonates (77.8% [7/9]), whereas all samples with mostly maternal monocytes/macrophages or a mixture of both were from women who delivered term or late preterm neonates (100% [7/7]). (5) Most of the women included in this study presented acute maternal and fetal inflammatory responses in the placenta (85.7% [12/14]). (6) Women who had mostly fetal monocytes/macrophages in amniotic fluid had abundant CD14+ cells in the umbilical cord and chorionic plate, whereas women with mostly maternal amniotic fluid monocytes/macrophages had abundant CD14+ cells in the chorioamniotic membranes.

Conclusion

Amniotic fluid monocytes/macrophages can be of either fetal or maternal origin, or a mixture of both, in women with intra-amniotic inflammation or infection. These immune cells could be derived from the fetal and maternal vasculature of the placenta.
Crystal structure of (acetic acid-κ1
O)-bis(μ2-2-chlorobenzoato-κ2
O:O′)-(2-chlorobenzoato-κ1
O)-(μ2-hydroxy-κ2
O:O)-bis(1,10-phenanthroline-κ2
N,N′)dimanganese(II) — methanol (1/1), C48H37Cl3Mn2N4O10
Authors: Li Feng
Published: September 2019

C48H37Cl3Mn2N4O10, monoclinic, P21/n (no. 14), a = 12.759(3) Å, b = 19.347(5) Å, c = 18.945(5) Å, β = 97.321(5)°, V = 4638(2) Å3, Z = 4, R
gt(F) = 0.0432, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.1196, T = 298(2) K.
The dialogue between died and viable cells: in vitro and in vivo bystander effects and 1H-NMR-based metabolic profiling of soluble factors
Authors: Panzarini Elisa , Vergallo Cristian , Fanizzi Francesco Paolo , Mariano Stefania , Tata Ada Maria , Dini Luciana
Published: September 2019

The bystander effect (BE) is an important biological phenomenon that induces damages in distant and not directly affected by a chemical/physical stress cells. This effect, well known in ionizing radiation treatment, relies on reactive signals released by exposed cells and transmitted via cell–cell interaction or culture medium. In this study, cycloheximide (CHX)-induced apoptotic U937 cells and untreated THP-1 cells were chosen to investigate the chemical-induced BE. The effects of apoptotic U937 cells culture medium, Conditioned Medium (CM), on THP-1 cells were evaluated by morphological and immunohistochemical analysis performed by light microscopy; 1D 1H and 2D J-resolved (JRES) NMR metabolomic analysis has been used to characterize the molecules involved in the BE. In summary, this study indicates that: CM of CHX-treated U937 cells induces a time-dependent induction of toxicity, probably apoptotic cell death, and macrophagic differentiation in THP-1 cells; CM contains different metabolites respect fresh culture medium; CM recruits in vivo activated fibroblasts, endothelial cells, macrophages and mononuclear inflammatory cells in rat calf muscles. These data suggest that CHX exposed cells could cause BE through the release, during the apoptotic process, of soluble factors into the medium that could be exploited in anticancer protocols.
Müssen wir Russland besser verstehen lernen? Eine kritische Auseinandersetzung mit den Argumenten für eine neue Russlandpolitik
Authors: Adomeit Hannes
Published: September 2019

In jüngster Zeit mehren sich die Stimmen in Deutschland, die eine Aufhebung der Sanktionen gegen Russland verlangen. Begründet wird diese Forderung unter anderem mit dem Argument, dass Russland missverstanden werde. Die „Mainstream“-Medien bauten ein „Feindbild Russland“ auf. Präsident Vladimir Putin werde verunglimpft und „dämonisiert“. Seine ausgestreckte Hand werde zurückgewiesen. Die Fortsetzung der gegenwärtigen Russland-Politik beinhalte die Gefahr des Ausbruchs eines Dritten Weltkriegs. Es sei infolgedessen notwendig, russische Sicherheitsinteressen endlich angemessen zu berücksichtigen und eine Politik des Interessenausgleichs und der Vertrauensbildung einzuschlagen. In diesem Artikel geht es darum, die Kernargumente der Kritiker westlicher Russland-Berichterstattung, Forschung und Politik zu beleuchten und zu fragen, wie wirklichkeitsgetreu und stichhaltig diese tatsächlich sind und welche Folgerungen sich daraus für eine realistische Russland-Politik ergeben.
Die Stärke schwacher VerfahrenZur verfahrensförmigen Entdramatisierung von Perspektivendifferenzen im Kontext der Organspende
Authors: Nassehi Armin , Saake Irmhild , Barth Niklas
Published: September 2019

Wenn die Soziologie auf die Praxis der postmortalen Organspende schaut, dann stößt sie auf die Dominanz medizinischer Gründe, die sie über das Verständigungsideal des gelungenen und guten Diskurses zu kontrollieren versucht. Mit der Sichtbarkeit anderer guter Gründe für oder gegen die Organallokation gestaltet sich die Organspende aber grundlegend als ein Problem von Perspektivendifferenzen. Unsere Analysen von Wortprotokollen des Deutschen Ethikrats (ER) folgen einer verfahrenssoziologischen Interpretation. Während das Verständigungsideal desguten Diskursesvor allem darauf zielt, über eine partizipative Debatte die Geltung medizinischer Gründe zu schwächen, gelingt es der Praxisschwacher Verfahren(Scheffer) hingegen, (medizinische) Entscheidungen über die Sichtbarkeit von Perspektivendifferenzen mit einem Reflexionspotential für andere gute Gründe auszustatten.
Helfen und Reziprozität. Freiwilliges Engagement für Geflüchtete im ländlichen Raum
Authors: Wagner Greta
Published: September 2019

Freiwillige, die sich im ländlichen Raum in der Unterstützung für Geflüchtete engagieren, verfolgen damit häufig kein politisches transformatives Ziel, sondern wollen vor allem helfen. Aber welche Reziprozitätserwartungen verbinden sich mit dem Helfen? In einer gabentheoretischen Perspektive und auf der Basis qualitativer Daten werden hier Dimensionen von Reziprozität aus den Erzählungen der Freiwilligen rekonstruiert. Hierbei zeigt sich, dass direkte Reziprozität zwischen Freiwilligen und Geflüchteten vor allem auf der symbolischen Ebene stattfindet und mit dem Helfen auch das Bestreben verbunden ist, auf die Überzeugungen der Geflüchteten einzuwirken. Insbesondere die Verbindung von als wohltätig verstandenem Helfen mit Versuchen normativer Beeinflussung birgt die Gefahr einer Missachtung von deren Selbstbestimmung. Möglichkeiten die symbolische Ungleichheit zwischen Freiwilligen und Geflüchteten zu reduzieren, liegen in Formen generalisierter Reziprozität.
Strah i odluke o zdravlju djece
Authors: Katarinčić Ivana
Published: September 2019

Aktualna tema u hrvatskoj javnosti već je dulje vrijeme propitivanje (obaveznog) procjepljivanja djece. Informacije o nužnosti i (ne)opravdanosti cijepljenja djece plasirane su u javnost različitim kanalima iz oprečnih okulara, često samo fragmentarno, što za posljedicu ima to da su ideje o cijepljenju u znatnoj mjeri obavijene različitim predrasudama i pretpostavkama, ali i polarizaciju neistomišljenika. Oprečna mišljenja i stavovi generirali su suprotstavljene pozicije onih koji obavezu cijepljenja zagovaraju i onih koji se toj obavezi opiru. Pritom se i jedna i druga strana iz različitih razloga osjećaju ugroženo i zastrašeno te im je objema zajednički strah (bilo od posljedica cijepljenja ili posljedica necijepljenja) te briga za zdravlje djece. Analiza je usmjerena na predodžbe, strahove i prijeporne točke artikulirane u javnom prostoru te produkciju i percepciju (ne)formalnih znanja. U središtu pozornosti je heterogena skupina kritičara cijepljenja koja, osim što uznemiruje dominantni diskurs, akumulira različite strahove koji su posljedica sumnji, nepovjerenja, (ne)informiranosti. Ukazivanjem na vrlo konkretne probleme i propuste u sustavu cijepljenja, ta skupina dovodi u pitanje obavezu na preventivni postupak. Iako se nadležnost odlučivanja i raspravljanja o cijepljenju dodjeljuje prvenstveno medicinskom i tek dijelom pravnom području, tema se propituje i iz drugih očišta, posebno njezini etički, politički i ideološki aspekti s obzirom na to da ideja kontroverzne medicinske intervencije zadire u odluke o zdravlju i bolestima djece koje uključuju ljudska prava, slobode i odgovornosti.
Chemogenetic Silencing of Prelimbic Cortex to Anterior Dorsomedial Striatum Projection Attenuates Operant Responding
Authors: Shipman Megan L. , Johnson Gregory C. , Bouton Mark E. , Green John T.
Published: September 2019

Operant (instrumental) conditioning is a laboratory analog for voluntary behavior and involves learning to make a response for a reinforcing outcome. The prelimbic cortex (PL), a region of the rodent medial prefrontal cortex, and the dorsomedial striatum (DMS), have been separately established as important in the acquisition of minimally-trained operant behavior. Despite dense anatomical connections between the two regions, experimenters have only recently linked projections from the PL to the posterior DMS (pDMS) in the acquisition of an operant response. Yet, it is still unknown if these projections mediate behavioral expression, and if more anterior regions of the DMS (aDMS), which receive dense projections from the PL, are also involved. Therefore, we utilized designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs) to test whether or not projections from the PL to the aDMS influence the expression of operant behavior. Rats underwent bilateral PL-targeted infusions of either a DREADD virus (AAV8-hSyn-hM4D(Gi)-mCherry) or a control virus (AAV8-hSyn-GFP). In addition, guide cannulae were implanted bilaterally in the aDMS. Rats were tested with both clozapine-N-oxide (CNO) (DREADD ligand) and vehicle infusions into the aDMS. Animals that had received the DREADD virus, but not the control virus, showed attenuated responding when they received CNO microinfusions into the aDMS, compared to vehicle infusions. Patch clamp electrophysiology verified the inhibitory effect of CNO on DREADDs-expressing PL neurons in acute brain slices. GFP-expressing control PL neurons were unaffected by CNO. The results add to the recent literature suggesting that connections between the PL and aDMS are important for the expression of minimally-trained operant responding.
Rehabilitative Training Interacts with Ischemia-Instigated Spine Dynamics to Promote a Lasting Population of New Synapses in Peri-Infarct Motor Cortex
Authors: Clark Taylor A. , Sullender Colin , Jacob Daron , Zuo Yi , Dunn Andrew K. , Jones Theresa A.
Published: September 2019

After subtotal infarcts of primary motor cortex (M1), motor rehabilitative training (RT) promotes improvements in paretic forelimb function that have been linked with its promotion of structural and functional reorganization of peri-infarct cortex, but how the reorganization unfolds is scantly understood. Cortical infarcts also instigate a prolonged period of dendritic spine turnover in peri-infarct cortex. Here we investigated the possibility that synaptic structural responses to RT in peri-infarct cortex reflect, in part, interactions with ischemia-instigated spine turnover. This was tested after artery-targeted photothrombotic M1 infarcts or Sham procedures in adult (4 months) C57BL/6 male and female GFP-M line (n= 24) and male yellow fluorescent protein-H line (n= 5) mice undergoing RT in skilled reaching or no-training control procedures. Regardless of training condition, spine turnover was increased out to 5 weeks postinfarct relative to Sham, as was the persistence of new spines formed within a week postinfarct. However, compared with no-training controls, new spines formed during postinfarct weeks 2–4 in mice undergoing RT persisted in much greater proportions to later time points, by a magnitude that predicted behavioral improvements in the RT group. These results indicate that RT interacts with ischemia-instigated spine turnover to promote preferential stabilization of newly formed spines, which is likely to yield a new population of mature synapses in peri-infarct cortex that could contribute to cortical functional reorganization and behavioral improvement. The findings newly implicate ischemia-instigated spine turnover as a mediator of cortical synaptic structural responses to RT and newly establish the experience dependency of new spine fates in the postischemic turnover context.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTMotor rehabilitation, the main treatment for motor impairments after stroke, is far from sufficient to normalize function. A better understanding of neural substrates of rehabilitation-induced behavioral improvements could be useful for understanding how to optimize it. Here, we investigated the nature and time course of synaptic responses to motor rehabilitative trainingin vivo. Focal ischemia instigated a period of synapse turnover in peri-infarct motor cortex of mice. Rehabilitative training increased the stability of new synapses formed during the initial weeks after the infarct, the magnitude of which was correlated with improvements in skilled motor performance. Therefore, the maintenance of new synapses formed after ischemia could represent a structural mechanism of rehabilitative training efficacy.
Developmental Idealism in Internet Search Data
Authors: Dorius Shawn F. , Swindle Jeffrey
Published: September 2019

Scholarship on developmental idealism demonstrates that ordinary people around the world tend to perceive the level of development and the specific characteristics of different countries similarly. We build on this literature by examining public perceptions of nations and development in internet search data, which we argue offers insights into public perceptions that survey data do not address. Our analysis finds that developmental idealism is prevalent in international internet search queries about countries. A consistent mental image of national development emerges from the traits publics ascribe to countries in their queries. We find a positive relationship between the sentiment expressed in autocomplete Google search queries about a given country and its position in the global developmental hierarchy. People in diverse places consistently associate positive attributes with countries ranked high on global development indices and negative characteristics with countries ranked low. We also find a positive correlation between the number of search queries about a country and the country's position in indices of global development. These findings illustrate that ordinary people have deeply internalized developmental idealism and that this informs their views about countries worldwide.
The Reliability and Stability of Measures of Individuals' Values and Beliefs Concerning Developmental Idealism in Nepal
Authors: Thornton Arland , Ghimire Dirgha , Young-DeMarco Linda , Bhandari Prem
Published: September 2019

This paper examines the reliability and stability of developmental idealism (DI) measures in Nepal. DI is a set of cultural schemas that contains beliefs and values favoring modern societies and families over traditional ones and that views modern families as causes and effects of modern societies. It also views the world as dynamic, with change from traditionality toward modernity. Earlier studies have shown that DI has been disseminated widely internationally, but provide little evidence concerning whether individual views of DI can be reliably measured or the extent to which such views are stable across time. We estimate the reliability and stability of DI measures using panel data collected in Nepal. Our results indicate substantial reliability, equal or nearly equal to the reliability of standard value and belief items measured in general American surveys. There is also considerable stability of DI views across our study interval from 2008 to 2011.
BAĞIMSIZ DENETİM KALİTESİ AÇISINDAN BAĞIMSIZ DENETİM KURULUŞLARININ ÖZELLİKLERİ VE DENETİM GELİRLERİ: BAĞIMSIZ DENETİM KURULUŞLARI ÜZERİNE BİR ARAŞTIRMA
Authors: SAKİN İbrahim , TÜRK Zeynep
Published: September 2019

Bu çalışmanın amacı, Türkiye’de faaliyette bulunan bağımsız denetim kuruluşlarının bağımsız denetim kalitesi açısından özellikleri ile bağımsız denetim gelirleri arasındaki ilişkiyi analiz etmektir. Bu araştırmada, Türkiye faaliyette bulunan 73 adet bağımsız denetim kuruluşunun 2017 yılına ait şeffaflık raporlarından elde edilen faaliyet yılı, ortak sayısı, yönetim kurulu üye sayısı, sorumlu denetçi sayısı, denetimi yapılan KAYİK sayısı ve uluslararası tecrübe durumu değişkenleri bağımsız denetim kalitesiyle ilişkilendirilen bağımsız denetim kuruluşlarının özellikleri olarak belirlenmiştir. Yapılan analiz sonucunda, faaliyet yılı, sorumlu denetçi sayısı ve denetimi yapılan KAYİK sayısının bağımsız denetim gelirlerini pozitif yönde etkilediği gözlemlenmiştir. Buna karşın, ortak sayısının, yönetim kurulu üye sayısının ve uluslararası tecrübe durumunun denetim gelirleri üzerinde herhangi bir etkisinin olmadığı sonucuna ulaşılmıştır.
Transformation with Artificial Chromosomes in Oxytricha trifallax and Their Applications
Authors: Clay Derek M , Kim Hoyon , Landweber Laura F
Published: September 2019

Oxytricha trifallax, like other ciliates, has separate germline and somatic nuclei. The diploid germline genome in the micronucleus is composed of long conventional chromosomes. The macronucleus contains a somatic genome which is naturally fragmented into thousands of kilobase-sized chromosomes. Here, we develop a method to stably incorporate artificial chromosomes into the macronucleus. We report two cases of successful transformation and demonstrate the use of somatic transformation to investigate gene regulation and gene function in Oxytricha. We show that the transformed artificial chromosomes are maintained through multiple asexual divisions. Furthermore, they support the transcriptional regulation of the native chromosome from which they were derived and are translated to produce functional proteins. To test if transformed chromosomes are amenable to practical applications, we generated a tagged version of a representative gene (AL1) and used it to co-precipitate associated proteins. This revealed an association with nucleic acid binding proteins, specifically RNA-binding proteins, and RNA immunoprecipitation of AL1 revealed its association with multiple RNAs. The use of artificial chromosomes in Oxytricha enables an array of genetic and molecular biological assays, as well as new avenues of inquiry into the epigenetic programming of macronuclear development and genome rearrangement.
Dynamic Patterns of Transcript Abundance of Transposable Element Families in Maize
Authors: Anderson Sarah N , Stitzer Michelle C , Zhou Peng , Ross-Ibarra Jeffrey , Hirsch Cory D , Springer Nathan M
Published: September 2019

Transposable Elements (TEs) are mobile elements that contribute the majority of DNA sequences in the maize genome. Due to their repetitive nature, genomic studies of TEs are complicated by the difficulty of properly attributing multi-mapped short reads to specific genomic loci. Here, we utilize a method to attribute RNA-seq reads to TE families rather than particular loci in order to characterize transcript abundance for TE families in the maize genome. We applied this method to assess per-family expression of transposable elements in >800 published RNA-seq libraries representing a range of maize development, genotypes, and hybrids. While a relatively small proportion of TE families are transcribed, expression is highly dynamic with most families exhibiting tissue-specific expression. A large number of TE families were specifically detected in pollen and endosperm, consistent with reproductive dynamics that maintain silencing of TEs in the germ line. We find that B73 transcript abundance is a poor predictor of TE expression in other genotypes and that transcript levels can differ even for shared TEs. Finally, by assessing recombinant inbred line and hybrid transcriptomes, complex patterns of TE transcript abundance across genotypes emerged. Taken together, this study reveals a dynamic contribution of TEs to maize transcriptomes.
Pharmaco-Genetic Screen To Uncover Actin Regulators Targeted by Prostaglandins DuringDrosophilaOogenesis
Authors: Spracklen Andrew J , Lamb Maureen C , Groen Christopher M , Tootle Tina L
Published: September 2019

Prostaglandins (PGs) are lipid signaling molecules with numerous physiologic functions, including pain/inflammation, fertility, and cancer. PGs are produced downstream of cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, the targets of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). In numerous systems, PGs regulate actin cytoskeletal remodeling, however, their mechanisms of action remain largely unknown. To address this deficiency, we undertook a pharmaco-genetic interaction screen during late-stage Drosophila oogenesis. Drosophila oogenesis is as an established model for studying both actin dynamics and PGs. Indeed, during Stage 10B, cage-like arrays of actin bundles surround each nurse cell nucleus, and during Stage 11, the cortical actin contracts, squeezing the cytoplasmic contents into the oocyte. Both of these cytoskeletal properties are required for follicle development and fertility, and are regulated by PGs. Here we describe a pharmaco-genetic interaction screen that takes advantage of the fact that Stage 10B follicles will mature in culture and COX inhibitors, such as aspirin, block this in vitro follicle maturation. In the screen, aspirin was used at a concentration that blocks 50% of the wild-type follicles from maturing in culture. By combining this aspirin treatment with heterozygosity for mutations in actin regulators, we quantitatively identified enhancers and suppressors of COX inhibition. Here we present the screen results and initial follow-up studies on three strong enhancers – Enabled, Capping protein, and non-muscle Myosin II Regulatory Light Chain. Overall, these studies provide new insight into how PGs regulate both actin bundle formation and cellular contraction, properties that are not only essential for development, but are misregulated in disease.
Germline Maintenance Through the Multifaceted Activities of GLH/Vasa inCaenorhabditis elegansP Granules
Authors: Marnik Elisabeth A , Fuqua J Heath , Sharp Catherine S , Rochester Jesse D , Xu Emily L , Holbrook Sarah E , Updike Dustin L
Published: September 2019

Vasa homologs are ATP-dependent DEAD-box helicases, multipotency factors, and critical components that specify and protect the germline. They regulate translation, amplify piRNAs, and act as RNA solvents; but, the limited availability of mutagenesis-derived alleles and their wide...

Vasa homologs are ATP-dependent DEAD-box helicases, multipotency factors, and critical components that specify and protect the germline. They regulate translation, amplify piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), and act as RNA solvents; however, the limited availability of mutagenesis-derived alleles and their wide range of phenotypes have complicated their analysis. Now, with clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR/Cas9), these limitations can be mitigated to determine why protein domains have been lost or retained throughout evolution. Here, we define the functional motifs of GLH-1/Vasa in Caenorhabditis elegans using 28 endogenous, mutant alleles. We show that GLH-1’s helicase activity is required to retain its association with P granules. GLH-1 remains in P granules when changes are made outside of the helicase and flanking domains, but fertility is still compromised. Removal of the glycine-rich repeats from GLH proteins progressively diminishes P-granule wetting-like interactions at the nuclear periphery. Mass spectrometry of GLH-1-associated proteins implies conservation of a transient piRNA-amplifying complex, and reveals a novel affinity between GLH-1 and three structurally conserved PCI (26S Proteasome Lid, COP9, and eIF3) complexes or “zomes,” along with a reciprocal aversion for assembled ribosomes and the 26S proteasome. These results suggest that P granules compartmentalize the cytoplasm to exclude large protein assemblies, effectively shielding associated transcripts from translation and associated proteins from turnover. Within germ granules, Vasa homologs may act as solvents, ensuring mRNA accessibility by small RNA surveillance and amplification pathways, and facilitating mRNA export through germ granules to initiate translation.
MetaCrowd: Crowdsourcing Biomedical Metadata Quality Assessment
Authors: Zaveri Amrapali , Hu Wei , Dumontier Michel
Published: September 2019

To reuse the enormous amounts of biomedical data available on the Web, there is an urgent need for good quality metadata. This is extremely important to ensure that data is maximally Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable. The Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) allow users to specify metadata in the form of textual key: value pairs (e.g. sex: female). However, since there is no structured vocabulary or format available, the 44,000,000+ key: value pairs suffer from numerous quality issues. Using domain experts for the curation is not only time consuming but also unscalable. Thus, in our approach, MetaCrowd, we apply crowdsourcing as a means for GEO metadata quality assessment. Our results show crowdsourcing is a reliable and feasible way to identify similar as well as erroneous metadata in GEO. This is extremely useful for data consumers and producers for curating and providing good quality metadata.
Ethical Issues in Biometrics
Authors: Cooper Isaac , Yon Jimmy
Published: September 2019

In recent years, the social application of biometrics has brought great benefits, but also caused people’s concerns about privacy protection, autonomy, and social exclusion. Here we have sorted out the ethical issues related to the application of biometrics, such as privacy protection, functional transformation, body informationization, informed consent, and social exclusion, and analyzed their core and unique issues. We believe that the current management specifications for the development and application of biometric technology are significantly behind their development. In addition to the introduction of policies, the regulation or governance of biometrics technology should also accelerate the practice of ethical governance and regulatory governance.
Análisis de las tasas de interés de referencia en Costa Rica, en moneda nacional y extranjera, desde una perspectiva de inversión financiera utilizando la metodología del Efecto Fischer Internacional
Authors: Arguedas Campos Carlos Leonardo , Vallejo Esquivel Gustavo Mauricio
Published: September 2019

El propósito del presente artículo es analizar tres indicadores del Banco Central de Costa Rica (BCCR): la tasa básica pasiva (TBP), el tipo de cambio del colón con respeto al dólar estadounidense (TC) y la tasa efectiva en dólares (TED); como componentes macroeconómicos que afectan la valoración de una inversión en colones o en dólares, mediante la construcción de un modelo del Efecto Fischer Internacional (EFI), para el período comprendido del primer trimestre de 2016 al primer trimestre de 2019. A partir de dicho modelo se evaluará si durante este período invertir en dólares puede generar una ganancia de capital y se esbozará la importancia que tienen los cambios absolutos del tipo de cambio para realizar dichas inversiones.
The Roots of Violence in Western Social Theories: In Search of Solution for Islam and Modernity
Authors: Matin Usep Abdul
Published: September 2019

I argue that if we recognize the roots of violence in modern social theories, we may have at least a picture of how to solve the problem of violence for both Islam and modernity. I use the term “violence” to refer to an idea or an action that explicitly endorses revolt or physical conflict in attaining a goal. I will review fourteen social theories of the colonial and post-colonial period from the beginning to the end of the Twentieth Century, as presented by Charles Lemert in his book, Social Theory: The Multicultural & Classic Readings (1993). I refer my understanding of violence and its solutions for Islam and modernity on my interpretation of the types of abuse that I took from Lemert’s book. I discuss my argument in the following subtitles. The first subtitle is an introduction to capitalism as the answer to Islam and modernity. The second item is my finding of the notion of violence as a concept that is originated in the Western social theories of the colonial period. The third point is the degree to which I find that the roots of violence are also originated in the Western social methods of the post-colonial period.  The fourth point of my article conveys the term “violence” used in linguistics by two French philosophers: Jacques Derrida and Michelle Foucault. The fifth element concludes this article by strengthening the above-mentioned assumption.
Outcome analysis of acute myeloid leukemia patients treated with high dose daunorubicin
Authors: Dolatkhah Roya , Jam Effat Irani , Nikanfar Alireza , Esfahani Ali , Chavooshi Sayed Hadi , Nejati Babak , Sanaat Zohreh
Published: September 2019

Abstract: Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is a malignant hematopoietic disease caused by the presence of a malignant clone in the bone marrow. The classic AML treatment includes a combination of an Anthracycline and Cytarabine. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of high doses of Daunorubicin on patients' outcome.

Methods: During the study period, 16 AML patients received induction therapy with Cytarabine (100 mg/m2/d) for 7 days and Daunorubicin (90 mg/m2/d) for 3 days. Outcome analysis was performed to evaluate the overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) during 2 years of study.

Results: The mean age of patients was 38+/-12.38 years, with the age range between 16 and 54 years old. Seven patients (43.8%) were females, and 9 cases (56.3%) were males. OS was 81.3%, with a mean of 396.88 days. (95% CI: 306.99-486.77). DFS was 83.3%, with a mean of 383.57 days (95% CI: 299.88-467.26). The log-rank test showed a significant difference in DFS of AML sub-types, as M1 subtypes had lower DFS (P log-rank= 0.013). Although M1 subtypes had a lower OS, there was no significant difference in OS between subgroups (P log-rank= 0.067).

Conclusion: Although disease-free survival was improved by increasing the dose of daunorubicin, there was no difference in the overall survival between the AML subgroups and sexes.
Reducing Streptococcal Testing in Patients <3 Years Old in an Emergency Department
Authors: Ahluwalia Tania , Jain Shobhit , Norton Laura , Meade Jennifer , Etherton-Still Jana , Myers Angela
Published: September 2019

BACKGROUND:

Although pharyngitis is common, group A Streptococcus is an uncommon etiology, and sequelae are rare in patients <3 years old. Inappropriate testing leads to increased cost of health care and unnecessary exposure to antibiotics. Rapid streptococcal tests (RSTs) for group A Streptococcus pharyngitis are not routinely indicated in this age group. At our urban, tertiary pediatric emergency department (ED), on average, 20 RSTs were performed each month for patients <3 years of age. Our objective was to reduce RSTs in the ED in patients aged <3 years by 50% in 18 months.

METHODS:

We initiated this project in October 2016 at an urban, tertiary pediatric ED. We surveyed pertinent multidisciplinary stakeholders to identify factors leading to RSTs in children <3 years of age. We conducted multiple interventions and collected weekly data on the number of RSTs in children aged <3 years (outcome measure) and the number of family complaints and return visits for complications of pharyngitis (balancing measure). We used statistical process control for analysis.

RESULTS:

The mean number of RSTs ordered per month in patients aged <3 years declined by 52% in 10 months. The majority of tests during the study phase were ordered by nurse practitioners (62%) for patients aged 25 to 36 months (66%). There has been 1 family grievance and no patient complications attributable to the project.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our interventions led to a successful and sustained reduction of RSTs in patients aged <3 years. A local clinical practice guideline was developed, and the project was expanded to other acute care settings.
Update of 2018 journal rankings and bibliometric indicators
Authors: Pavas Andres , Arzola de la Peña Nelson
Published: September 2019

This editorial note summarizes the most recent results about ranking and bibliometric indicators of the Ingeniería e Investigación journal. Some novelties with regard to the inclusion in one of the Latin American indexes are resported.
Clase media y movilidad social en Colombia
Authors: Uribe Mallarino Consuelo , Ramirez Moreno Jaime
Published: September 2019

A partir del análisis de clases sociales como expresión de la desigualdad social, en este artículo repasamos los fundamentos teóricos y metodológicos utilizados para explicar la expansión de la clase media en Colombia. A través de la perspectiva de la movilidad social, consideramos la dinámica de las oportunidades de vida de una clase de origen a una clase de destino como producto de cambios intra o intergeneracionales. A pesar de la diversidad de métodos y de puntos de corte para definir y medir las clases sociales, resaltamos el crecimiento de la clase media en Colombia y en América Latina en el último decenio. En Colombia, sin embargo, este crecimiento se enmarca en una paradójica situación de persistente concentración del ingreso; los cambios al interior de la clase que ha experimentado dicha movilidad social ayudan a explicar dicha paradoja.Así mismo, identificamos las teorías y aproximaciones que se han empleado para el análisis de clase social y de movilidad social en la sociología y la economía, donde el cruce interdisciplinar parece particularmente propicio, al integrar el análisis de la estratificación social con los procesos de producción y distribución de la riqueza. Reseñamos los métodos empleados para realizar estudios de movilidad social y las fuentes de las que se derivan los datos. Señalamos, igualmente, cómo la movilidad social ha ingresado a la agenda de las políticas públicas económicas y sociales. Finalmente, presentamos los estudios sobre el componente valorativo del análisis de la clase media, en los que se indica que no es claro que esta posea un conjunto homogéneo de valores o que tenga una posición mayoritaria a favor de la democracia. Como parte de las conclusiones, indicamos que, así como el análisis de la movilidad social con base en clases sociales es bienvenido desde el punto de vista conceptual, en la práctica la expansión de la clase media en Colombia ha implicado mejores oportunidades de vida para este grupo de población. Sin embargo, permanece para ella una amenaza por su vulnerabilidad y se echan de menos mejoras sustanciales en políticas que alivien la concentración del ingreso.
Sociología en provincia. Los programas de la Universidad del Valle (Cali, Colombia)
Authors: Valencia Gutiérrez Alberto
Published: September 2019

El Departamento de Ciencias Sociales de la Universidad del Valle fue creado en el año 1969 y en 1980 puso en marcha el programa de Sociología, alrededor del cual se conformó un grupo de científicos sociales que ha marcado una pauta fundamental en el desarrollo de esta disciplina en el país. El artículo describe desde una perspectiva sociológica el contexto de creación de esta unidad académica y su proyecto de formación de sociólogos, en medio de las transformaciones de los años sesenta y setenta que marcaron derroteros para la organización de las ciencias sociales en Colombia. También, se explica el origen académico y la trayectoria del grupo de profesores que la conformaron: los pilares de su concepción de la sociología y el tipo de aprendizaje que impulsaron, a partir de la idea de que la sociología se define como un oficio basado en la investigación y como un debate en el que concurren diferentes perspectivas y orientaciones tanto en el plano teórico como en el metodológico. La dinámica de trabajo de este grupo de profesores condujo a la creación de la Maestría en Sociología en 1991 y del Doctorado en Sociología en 2016.El artículo muestra igualmente la manera como se asume críticamente el desarrollo de otros programas de sociología con especial énfasis en el de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia, creado veinte años antes, y las llamadas universidades pontificias. Con este artículo se trata de contribuir a lo que ha sido la historia de la sociología en Colombia, desde sus comienzos en los años sesenta. Este texto es resultado de la experiencia de su autor como miembro del Departamento de Ciencias Sociales de la Universidad del Valle durante todo el periodo que comprende el estudio. Se trata, pues, de una investigación participativa basada en fuentes primarias, como entrevistas no estructuradas.
Gender inequality and intimate partner violence in Bolivia
Authors: Camargo Esperanza
Published: September 2019

Intimate partner violence against women is of particular concern in Bolivia, a country ranked second among ten Latin American countries in the prevalence of physical and sexual violence toward women (Hindin, Kishor, and Ansara, 2008). This study examines the correlation between intimate partner violence and the type of domestic decision making. Using factor analysis and structural equation modeling on a sample of 2,759 Bolivian heterosexual couples, this study finds that intimate partner violence is less likely to occur in families in which the decision making is egalitarian (female and male partners make decisions together) but more likely to occur when either the male partner or the female partner makes decisions alone. These findings support the hypotheses that the gender distribution of power may cause conflict between intimate heterosexual partners (Anderson, 1997; Dobash, Dobash, Wilson, and Daly, 1992; Jewkes, 2002). It also goes further in demonstrating that such distribution could lead to egalitarian, matriarchal, or patriarchal domestic decision making and that there are differential consequences for both intimate partner offending and victimization. In rural areas, Bolivian women are more vulnerable; men more often make decisions alone; and women are less educated and poorer than in urban areas. In the patriarchal-type family, men make decisions and may abuse their female partners physically and psychologically. This type of family is poorer and less educated, and it is inversely correlated with women’s and men’s education. Indeed, education seems to play a key role in heterosexual relationships; men's education is inversely correlated with females' physical victimization. However, these findings also support a) the status inconsistency theory: in wealthier, more educated households, the female partner made decisions alone but was still physically and psychologically abused by her intimate partner, and b) intimate partner violence is influenced by structural factors, such as patriarchal beliefs, social power structure, poverty, and social inequalities (Barak, 2003, 2006).
Operaciones y estructuras de la práctica teórica. Una exploración a partir del caso de la teoría de los sistemas sociales de Niklas Luhmann
Authors: Gonnet Juan Pablo , Torres Esteban
Published: September 2019

En la actualidad, la construcción teórica aparece como una práctica cada vez más alejada del horizonte de trabajo de las ciencias sociales en América Latina. Esta se muestra como un esfuerzo prescindible en las dinámicas de investigación social. En el presente artículo se ponen en evidencia ciertas dificultades que tienen las ciencias sociales para dar respuestas adecuadas a los problemas que presenta la realidad social en nuestra región. En el mejor de los casos tenemos análisis parciales sobre fenómenos sociales particulares cuya conexión e interacción con otros procesos no son desarrolladas. En este contexto problemático, consideramos relevante preguntarnos cómo se elabora o construye teoría social o sociológica. Ciertamente, sobre esta temática se ha dicho mucho en el campo de la reflexión epistemológica y metodológica. Sin embargo, estas perspectivas se tornan estériles cuando el problema que se nos presenta no tiene tanto que ver con las condiciones de validación y legitimación de una teoría, sino que remite, más elementalmente, a sus condiciones de posibilidad. Ahora bien, tampoco creemos que sea adecuado sostener un conjunto de especulaciones acerca del modo en que imaginamos que se crea o emerge una teoría; sobre lo cual también es posible detectar bastante literatura. Para evitar esto, entendemos que resulta necesario dirigir la mirada hacia las prácticas teóricas mismas, es decir, atender al modo en que los pensadores de nuestro campo han construido sus perspectivas teóricas. Para este artículo, a modo de exploración, hemos tomado como referente la teoría sociológica de Niklas Luhmann, especialmente, su libro Sistemas sociales. Nuestro objetivo es identificar en el texto operaciones, estrategias y recursos mediante los cuales el autor presenta su discurso teórico y lo hace reconocible como tal en el seno de una comunidad académica y científica. Confiamos en que el reconocimiento de estas operaciones constructivas estimule la elaboración teórica en las ciencias sociales, a partir de un mejoramiento en la comprensión de qué es la teoría y cómo se teoriza.
La revista Cuadernos de Sociología de la Universidad Santo Tomás (Bogotá, Colombia, 1977-2011)
Authors: Urra Canales Miguel , Garzón Ferro Ana María , García Jurado Mayra Alejandra , Castiblanco Durán Camilo , Gamba Trimiño Alexander , Lizarazo Zuloaga Sthefanía
Published: September 2019

En 1977 ve la luz el primer número de la revista Cuadernos de Sociología, promovida desde la Facultad de Sociología de la Universidad Santo Tomás. Hasta el 2011, la Revista se publicó ininterrumpidamente, excepto en 1996, 1997 y 1998. Bajo el amparo metodológico de un estudio de caso, antecedido por un trabajo de archivo y recuperación documental, se realizó un ejercicio de sistematización de la información de la Revista, con la que se generó una base de datos de 592 registros, que facilitó el análisis del contenido de los documentos. Para completar la recolección de información, se realizó una entrevista en profundidad a su fundador, Guillermo Páez Morales.Como resultados de la investigación, se obtuvo información acerca del contexto y las motivaciones del nacimiento de la Revista, su desarrollo (reflexiones publicadas, eventos, autores y autoras, y temas abordados) y las circunstancias que causaron que dejara de publicarse. Se destaca la fuerte participación femenina, tanto en la redacción de artículos, como en el proceso editorial. Más de la mitad de los artículos publicados corresponden al tipo reflexión, con énfasis en aspectos antropológicos y filosóficos, perspectivas políticas, reflexiones teóricas, reflexiones disciplinares o profundización en temas coyunturales. Temáticamente, hay un énfasis en la sociología política, la sociología urbana, el conflicto armado, la sociología de la familia y los estudios culturales.Como conclusiones, se plantean la importancia de la revista como herramienta para la generación de comunidad académica; su carácter divulgativo, según el cual priman los artículos de reflexión y, dentro de estos, los de reflexión sobre la sociología como ciencia social; la pertinencia de profundizar en los contenidos de la Revista desde un análisis hermenéutico, para trazar un paralelismo entre estos y el proceso de institucionalización de la sociología en Colombia; la relevancia de esta y otras revistas ya desaparecidas para hacer “sociología de la sociología”; y una propuesta para rescatar en las publicaciones y en los procesos de investigación el dinamismo, la creatividad y la espontaneidad que siempre ha acompañado a la sociología colombiana.
Biohydrogen production by co-digestion of fruits and vegetable waste and coffee mucilage
Authors: Moreno Cárdenas Edilson León , Zapata Zapata Arley David
Published: September 2019

In the present investigation, the effects of the substrate composition, organic load, medium acidification time, operation pH, and temperature on the production of hydrogen by anaerobic fermentation with fruits and vegetable waste, and fresh mucilage of coffee was evaluated. For this purpose, tests were carried out in a 20-liter bioreactor operated in batch mode, under a central composite experimental design (CCD). The fermentations were conducted under mesophilic conditions, without adding inoculum, and without sterilizing the substrate. The results for maximum daily hydrogen production (MDP), the maximum hydrogen content in the gas (MHC) and cumulative production (CHP) showed an acceptable fit to second-order polynomial models. All the independent variables were significant, especially the operation pH and the acidification time. Also, the premises for a model obtained by regression, according to error analysis, were fulfilled. In the same way, it was possible to optimize the response variables. The maximum specific production concerning the organic load was 5511 mL H2 gCODremoved-1, and regarding the volatile solids was of 670 mL H2 gVSadded-1. These values are higher than those reported with similar substrates in continuous fermentation, with cell retention, use of inoculum, and substrate pretreatment.
Efficient use of nutrients in fine aroma cacao in the Province of Los Ríos-Ecuador
Authors: Cuenca-Cuenca Edisson W. , Puentes-Páramo Yina J. , Menjivar-Flores Juan C.
Published: September 2019

Soil nutrients are vital to high production of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.); however, excessive use of fertilizers affects the environment and profitability of this crop. This research aimed to determine the efficient use of nutrients (EUN) for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in four fine aroma cacao clones (EET-576, EET-575, EET-103, and CCN-51), which are economically important in Ecuador. The experiment design used split plots, with four treatments and four repetitions. The treatments consisted of applications of different doses of N-P-K (kg ha-1): TR (control), T1 (N59-P29-K118), T2 (N74-P37-K148), and T3 (N88-P44-K176). The results showed highly significant differences for the agronomic (AE) and recovery (RE) efficiency of N-P-K in terms of the clone and treatment. The highest efficiencies were presented for clone CCN-51 and the lowest in clone EET-103. The treatment that obtained the highest efficiency was T2 for clones CCN-51, EET-575 and EET-576, except for EET-103 that reached the highest efficiency with T1. The lowest efficiencies were obtained in T3. The highest yields were presented in clone CCN-51, followed by EET-575, later EET-576, and finally EET-103. Influence of the genotypes on the maximum limit of nutrient absorption was evident under the studied conditions, suggesting that it determines the efficient use of nutrients for each clone in interaction with this specific cultivation area.