bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The epidemiological data of a cohort of patients with early arthritis
Authors:   “Dr. I. Cantacuzino” Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, SERBAN Teodora ,   “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, SATULU Iulia ,   “Dr. I. Cantacuzino” Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, VUTCANU Oana ,   “Dr. I. Cantacuzino” Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, MILICESCU Mihaela ,   “Dr. I. Cantacuzino” Clinical Hospital, Bucharest,   “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, MIHAI Carina ,   “Dr. I. Cantacuzino” Clinical Hospital, Bucharest,   “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, BOJINCA Mihai ,   “Dr. I. Cantacuzino” Clinical Hospital, Bucharest,   “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, STOICA Victor ,   “Dr. I. Cantacuzino” Clinical Hospital, Bucharest,   “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest
Published: September 2021

Objectives. The aim of this study is to describe the epidemiologic characteristics of a cohort of patients with early arthritis and to identify the particularities that may help to identify the patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA) from this cohort. Methods. 73 patients with ERA or early undifferentiated arthritis (EUA) were enrolled. Patients were recruited from those who presented in the “Early Arthritis Research Center” of “Dr. I. Cantacuzino” Hospital with inflammatory arthritis of one or more joints, lasting for at most 12 months. Results. 73 patients were included in this study, 44 females (60.3%) and 29 males (39.7%). 47 patients (64.3%) fulfilled the 2010 EULAR/ACR criteria for RA. The mean age of patients enrolled in the study was 49.81±15.93 years. The mean symptom duration was 3.39±3.42 months. The predominant form of presentation was polyarticular. While the values of acute phase reactants are comparable between groups and the differences are not significant (p>0.05 – Mann-Whitney test), in case of immunologic markers there is a difference represented by significantly higher values in the group with ERA (p<0.001). The NTJ and NSJ is significantly higher in patients with ERA (p<0.001). The values of VASd are significantly higher than that of VASp (p<0.001). CDAI and SDAI identified more patients with high disease activity than DAS28. Conclusion. It was observed that there is a high degree of variation between results reported in different studies performed on cohorts of patients with early arthritis and we believe it is important to know the particularities of patients treated by one to improve clinical practice. The patients with ERA tended to have higher values of the parameters evaluated than the patients with EUA.
The management of penetrating abdominal trauma – challenging situations in emergency
Authors:   Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie „Carol Davila“, Bucureşti, ŞERBAN Dragoş , ŞAVLOVSCHI Costel ,   Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie „Carol Davila“, Bucureşti, BRĂNESCU Cristian ,   Spitalul Universitar de Urgenţă Bucureşti, KHATIB Ahed El ,   Spitalul Universitar de Urgenţă Bucureşti, TUDOR Corneliu ,   Spitalul Universitar de Urgenţă Bucureşti, VANCEA Geta ,   Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie „Carol Davila“, Bucureşti, DASCĂLU Ana Maria ,   Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie „Carol Davila“, Bucureşti
Published: September 2021

The paper is a retrospective study on a group of 97 patients admitted to the emergency room between 2012 to 2015 for suspicion of penetrating abdominal trauma. We have analyzed clinical data, paraclinical tests and how they correlate with therapeutic management. Out of the 97 patients, 78 presented penetrating stab wound. In 62 cases, immediate surgery was decided and 15 cases underwent seriated clinical and imaging follow-up. Of these, 3 patients underwent delayed laparotomy, for developing signs of peritonitis. The rate of non-therapeutic laparotomies was 9.72% (6 cases). Shock, peritonitis and evisceration were indications for immediate laparotomy. When the depth of the wound was uncertain, imaging tests (ultrasound, especially CT) provide valuable information for therapeutic management. Conservative treatment is an option for patients with no signs of hemodynamic instability and peritonitis, under careful clinical and paraclinical surveillance.
Management of esophageal foreign bodies on postcaustic esophageal strictures
Authors:   Spitalul Clinic de Urgenţă pentru Copii „Grigore Alexandrescu“, București, TOADER Mioriţa , OPREA Alina ,   Spitalul Clinic de Urgenţă pentru Copii „Grigore Alexandrescu“, București, ȘTEFAN Olivia ,   Spitalul Clinic de Urgenţă pentru Copii „Grigore Alexandrescu“, București, LUPU Vasile Valeriu ,   Universitatea de Medicină și Farmacie „Gr. T. Popa“, Iași, DRĂGHICI Mircea ,   Dentirad Hospital, Ploiești, TOADER Corneliu ,   Universitatea de Medicină și Farmacie „Carol Davila“, București,   Institutul Naţional de Boli Cerebrovasculare, București
Published: September 2021

Esophageal foreign bodies cand be swallowed accidentally by children and on purpose by adults with psychiatric disorders. Elderly people and people under the effect of alcohol are more susceptible to swallow insufficiently chewed food that end being stuck in the esophagus. Children with postcaustic esophageal strictures are highly prone to presenting with esophafeal foreign bodies. One of the main reasons is due to an inadequate food regimen or incorrect mastication. The authors present a series of 21 cases with esophageal foreign bodies on postcaustic esophageal strictures treated between 2012 and 2013.
Uncertainties in the postoperative management of a pregnant woman with hepatic hydatid cyst
Authors:   Departament ATI, Spitalul Universitar de Urgenţă, Bucureşti, NICA Adriana Elena ,   Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie „Carol Davila“, Bucureşti, COŢOFANĂ M. ,   Departament III, Chirurgie Generală, Spitalul Universitar de Urgenţă, Bucureşti, MUȘAT Florentina ,   Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie „Carol Davila“, Bucureşti, ANDRONIC O. ,   Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie „Carol Davila“, Bucureşti, PĂDURARU D.N. ,   Departament III, Chirurgie Generală, Spitalul Universitar de Urgenţă, Bucureşti,   Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie „Carol Davila“, Bucureşti
Published: September 2021

There are 3 therapeutic modalities to treat cystic echinococcosis: chemotherapy, surgery (classic or laparoscopic), PAIR technique (puncture, aspiration, injection, and re-aspiration), with the latter two being performed with or without chemotherapy. We present the case of of a 17-year-old female, with a 6-month-old caesarean section in her medical history, diagnosed, by another medical facility, with a hepatic hydatid cyst, who presents with pain in the right hypochondrium, nausea and vomiting. The ultrasound examination revealed a cystic mass in the fifth hepatic segment, on the visceral surface, which compresses the right branch of portal vein and the gall bladder. It was decided to perform a Lagrot cystectomy under general anesthesia with orotracheal intubation. The pacient received albendazole postoperatively, knowing that the patient will continue breastfeeding, because this treatment can be safely administered due to the reduced concentration of the active metabolite in breast milk.
Cervical suppurative lymphadenitis in children: diagnostic and management aspects
Authors:   Spitalul Clinic de Urgenţă pentru Copii „M.S. Curie“, Bucureşti, EPURE Veronica , GHEORGHE Dan Cristian ,   Spitalul Clinic de Urgenţă pentru Copii „M.S. Curie“, Bucureşti,   Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie „Carol Davila“, Bucureşti
Published: September 2021

Cervical lymphadenopathy is a frequent diagnosis in children (encountered in up to 45% of healthy children), as well as a challenging matter for both parents and physician. A complex diagnostic and therapeutical algorithm should be followed step by step in the presence of a neck swelling in a child. The authors review clinical data from the literature, as well as one example of cervical suppuration from their own experience.
Foot pain – plantar pathology. Diagnosis and therapeutic solutions
Authors:   Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie „Carol Davila“, Bucureşti, NICA Adriana Sarah ,   Institutul Naţional de Recuperare, Medicină Fizică şi Balneoclimatologie, Bucureşti, NARTEA Roxana ,   Institutul Naţional de Recuperare, Medicină Fizică şi Balneoclimatologie, Bucureşti, CONSTANTINOVICI Mariana ,   Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie „Carol Davila“, Bucureşti,   Spitalul Judeţean, Buzău, CLĂNŢĂU Maria-Delia ,   Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie „Carol Davila“, Bucureşti,   Institutul Naţional de Recuperare, Medicină Fizică şi Balneoclimatologie, Bucureşti
Published: September 2021

The plantar vault has a very important role in maintaining the functional integrity of any person, having a great impact both in the still life of the human body and also in the walking dynamics. Although the plantar pathology is being treated in an interdisciplinary context, with a very important functional component, the subject remains in the medical field a subevalueted and partial treated theme. We have frequently patients with foot pain. The international medical literature shows that the painful foot always should be evaluated in an interdisciplinary context. Beyond all the therapeutical decisions must be the interdisciplinary dialogue between the orthopaedist, rheumatologist, the specialist in metabolic diseases, cardiologist and the rehabilitation specialist. The therapeutical solutions do not involve only the pharmaceutical and surgical therapy. Thus, it’s rising the need of setting the positive diagnosis and setting the differential diagnosis. The performed anamnesis will contain all the aspects of the patient, medical history, both personal and family medical history and various particular situations. Performing the clinical exam is a critical stage for establishing the diagnostic stage, but a partial one because we also need a biological evaluation, also metabolism evaluation and some functional parameters. Paraclinical examination (such as: radiograph, ultrasound, thermography, IRM, podobarometry and other laboratory examinations) help us establish the correct clinical and functional diagnosis. The high incidence of this pathology also is associated with numerous flare-ups. The differential diagnosis is made between dysmetabolic conditions, mechanical, inflammatory and posttraumatic conditions, both repeated micro-traumatisms and also secondary of specific trauma.
The role of the family doctor in endothelial dysfunction and metabolic syndrome comorbidities
Authors:   Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie „Carol Davila“, Bucureşti, TICĂRĂU Adriana , MATEI Dumitru ,   Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie „Carol Davila“, Bucureşti
Published: September 2021

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the population register percent growth, which is why the role of the family doctor in preventive medicine becomes essential, one of its main objectives being the early detection of patients exposed to risk factors in order to prevent cardiovascular diseases. Closely linked to metabolic syndrome is endothelial dysfunction, as a result of its evaluation, it can be selected patients with metabolic syndrome, and patients who associated comorbidities: non-alcoholic fatty liver, hyperuricemia, polycystic ovary syndrome, sleep apnea.
Socio-economic impact in the late diagnosis of retinopathy of prematurity
Authors:   C.M.D.T.A. Roma, POPESCU Daniela ,   Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie „Carol Davila“ Bucureşti, MATEI Dumitru ,   Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie „Carol Davila“ Bucureşti,   Institutul Naţional pentru Sănătatea Mamei şi Copilului „Alessandrescu-Rusescu“, Bucureşti
Published: September 2021

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) represents a determinate cause of blindness in children that could be avoided. Blindness due to ROP and the stage of it when its being diagnosed is mostly determined by: socioeconomic degree of country development; availability of the screening in neonatal care; gestational age and hospital screenings; treatment programs available at any given time in the country; screening and treatment costs (material and human resources). ROP is the number one cause of blindness in Romania at the time being. Early discovery decreases exponentially the chances of blindness onset. Low birth weight (LBW), fewer than 1,500 g, represents an additional risk factor together with the degree of prematurity. Mandatory screening both during hospitalization as well as in the first 4-6 weeks after birth may avoid a major social problem. It is a simple process – eye exam with fundus examination – and it depends entirely on the availability, consistency and seriouseness of the parents. Thus a major social impact with disastrous consequences could be avoided.
La construcción del Alcázar de Sevilla. Replanteo, cimentaciones y murallas fundacionales
Authors: Tabales Rodríguez Miguel Ángel , Gurriarán Daza Pedro
Published: September 2021

La realización de diferentes excavaciones arqueológicas y estudios murarios en los últimos años en el alcázar de Sevilla han permitido clarificar el proceso de obras que se desarrolló durante el siglo XI y supuso el punto de arranque para la erección de uno de los mayores complejos militares y palatinos del período andalusí. Este trabajo describe el proceso, desde el planteamiento inicial de las obras hasta la terminación de las torres y lienzos, con especial énfasis en el replanteo y la ejecución de los cimientos. Se han obtenido dataciones absolutas que permiten, superadas las polémicas tradicionales sobre su cronología, definir un cronotipo arquitectónico extrapolable o comparable a partir de ahora con otros casos aun por investigar del mismo período.
Opportunities and Challenges in Wind Energy
Authors: Hu Xinxin , Liu Cathy Zishang , Zhou Steve
Published: September 2021

Wind energy increasingly plays a crucial role in replacing existing systems based on fossil fuels and nuclear generators. However, skepticism about the technological feasibility, economy of scale, and operational profitability prevails. The paper aims to fill this gap by analyzing the affordability of wind energy and by exploring the optimization issue incurring during the integration process of the micro electricity grid. Focusing on locational marginal pricing (LMP) and Midwest independent system operator (MISO) data between January 2014 and December 2020, the authors find wind power generation helps decrease the system energy price after control the effect of gas price. Further, the model captures the important seasonal and uncertain characteristics of power generation and consumption over the years. They also identify and discuss the bottleneck issues of the MISO power grids. These findings provide insights into affordability and technologic integration for long-term strategic planning on green energy including pricing, seasonality, dispatch, and reliability issues.
Predicting Inpatient Status for the Next 30/60/90 Days With Machine Learning
Authors: Prayaga Lakshmi , Devulapalli Krishna , Prayaga Chandra , Carloni Joe
Published: September 2021

In this paper, we report the development of machine learning techniques which can help hospital authorities assess a patients' medical condition and also calculate the probability of readmission of the patient as inpatient, and thus identify patients with higher risks for readmissions. Factor Analysis is performed on patient data to understand the severity of mental health, and Random Forest models are used to determine the probability of a patient becoming an inpatient for the next 30/60/90 days from their last visit to the physician’s office. The Random Forest model fits the data with an overall OOB Error rate of 3.69% and an accuracy of 97.65%. The accuracy on the test data was 96.11%. A web application is also developed to provide a user-friendly interface for physicians and administrators to interact with and obtain relevant information for a given patient and or a group of patients. The web application affords physicians additional inputs to assist in their diagnosis and administrators, a window into anticipating and preparing for future patient needs.
Ontology-Based IoT Healthcare Systems (IHS) for Senior Citizens
Authors: Gupta Sakshi , Singh Umang
Published: September 2021

Rapid incremental growth in population causes the virulence of infectious diseases worldwide. Due to this, health hazards with population growth raise pollution in the air, water, and soil and affect the immunity of individuals. To handle the situation, reliable and easy to reach healthcare services are required. The proliferation of connected technologies along with the Internet of Things (IoT) is providing modern healthcare with extensive care. All-pervading IoT technology gaining a very much attraction nowadays. This paper presents a brief about the E-Health Care System along with its framework. This attempt also presents the ontology approach as data produced by healthcare applications is vast and unstructured which needs to be organized in proper format with a smooth flow of data and also results in less request-response time. Further, this paper discusses the impact of the disease on senior citizens in the current scenario.
Reversible Data Hiding in a Chaotic Encryption Domain Based on Odevity Verification
Authors: Liu Lianshan , Wang Xiaoli , Meng Lingzhuang , Tian Gang , Wang Ting
Published: September 2021

On the premise of guaranteeing the visual effect, in order to improve the security of the image containing digital watermarking and restore the carrier image without distortion, reversible data hiding in chaotic encryption domain based on odevity verification was proposed. The original image was scrambled and encrypted by Henon mapping, and the redundancy between the pixels of the encrypted image was lost. Then, the embedding capacity of watermarking can be improved by using odevity verification, and the embedding location of watermarking can be randomly selected by using logistic mapping. When extracting the watermarking, the embedded data was judged according to the odevity of the pixel value of the embedding position of the watermarking, and the carrier image was restored nondestructively by odevity check image. The experimental results show that the peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) of the original image is above 53 decibels after the image is decrypted and restored after embedding the watermarking in the encrypted domain, and the invisibility is good.
Image Forensic Tool (IFT)
Authors: Pawar Digambar , Gajpal Mayank
Published: September 2021

Images now-a-days are often used as an authenticated proof for any cyber-crime. Images that do not remain genuine can mislead the court of law. The fast and dynamically growing technology doubts the trust in the integrity of images. Tampering mostly refers to adding or removing important features from an image without leaving any obvious trace. In earlier days, digital signatures were used to preserve the integrity, but now a days various tools are available to tamper digital signatures as well. Even in various state-of-the-art works in tamper detection, there are various restrictions in the type of inputs and the type of tampering detection. In this paper, the researchers propose a prototype model in the form of a tool that will retrieve all the image files from given digital evidence and detect tampering in the images. For various types of tampering, different tampering detection algorithms have been used. The proposed prototype will detect if tampering has been done or not and will classify the image files into groups based on the type of tampering.
Travellers' Intentions to Use Facial Recognition Systems for Authentication in Hotels
Authors: Huang Hung-Fu , Lee Ching-Chang
Published: September 2021

With the rapid development of this technology, facial recognition systems have become widely adopted in recent years. The application of the facial recognition systems by the hotel industry has resulted in a novel service model, as well as in high expectations. These systems can be used to improve conventional services and can also enhance hotel security. Based on theory, this paper employs a technology acceptance model to gain a deeper understanding of how travelers' intention to use facial recognition systems for authentication is formed. This paper employed the survey method and used data from 413 subjects to develop a model yielding results with both theoretical and management implications. These results highlight the advantages and potential commercial value of facial recognition systems, and can provide useful analysis and suggestions for the hotel industry.
Use and Impact of Online Travel Reviews for Planning Free and Easy Holidays
Authors: Halawani Yahya Mohamad , Soh Patrick Chin-Hooi , Halawani Firas Mohamad
Published: September 2021

Online travel reviews (OTRs) are used by travelers to plan and book their holiday particular by the free and easy traveler. Hence, it is essential for hoteliers to understand the factors that affect and empower travelers when using OTRs to plan their holidays. This study has adopted three theories: dual-process theory, psychological empowerment (PE) and TPB. These theories were used to test additional dimensions of the informational and normative social influence, its links with perceived empowerment, and their impact on the intention to use OTRs. Using SmartPLS to analyze the data collected from 392 Malaysian, the results show that PE is significantly affected by informational and normative social influence, from travelers’ perception of PE positively affects their attitude toward using OTRs, and attitude significantly influences intention to use OTRs when plans for travel. Furthermore, the research findings contribute to the literature on travelers’ behavioral intention; this study also has direct implications for online travel providers.
Experiential Learning by Business Students on Short-Term Study Tours
Authors: Bharucha Jehangir Pheroze
Published: September 2021

This study incorporates a qualitative, case study based approach to analyze the impact of a short domestic study tour on business students of a Mumbai based college. The methods for data collection were structured questionnaires, feedback forms, interviews, focus groups, and work diaries. Short and economical study tours within the country have succeeded tremendously in their objective and have provided a very high level of learning experiences. There is strong evidence of experiential learning which seem to produce a significant, almost magical, impact on students.
Critical Factors for the Success of Web-Based Learning
Authors: Kazanidis Ioannis , Valsamidis Stavros Ioannis , Kontogiannis Sotirios , Ellinidou Soultana
Published: September 2021

Success is the main purpose in any entity. So, in any educational institute, the education offered must be successful. It seems that some factors are critical to achieve it. Web Based Learning (WBL) has some specific factors which are studied in this paper. These factors are the characteristics of Instructors, Students, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and ICT used by school Support. In this perspective, the research purpose of this study is to present, investigate and assess the factors that influence and lead to successfully use the Web Based Learning. It also studies the dependence of the proposed five factors and their interrelationships. The results based on a structured questionnaire which was distributed and completed in a Greek university. Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used.
Student Perceptions Towards the Use of the Mobile Flipped Classroom Approach
Authors: Halili Siti Hajar , Mohsin Norharyanti , Razak Rafiza Abdul
Published: September 2021

This study aimed at identifying students’ perception in terms of motivation, learning and engagement in using mobile flipped classroom approach based on Kolb’s Learning Cycle (1984). This quantitative study was conducted using a questionnaire to collect the data. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive analysis (percentage, means and standard deviations) utilizing the SPSS 20. The research took place in one of the top private universities in Malaysia and equipped with adequate free internet access. The researcher applied homogenous purposive sampling by selecting 40 undergraduate students registered in multimedia and computer animation course. The result showed that students had positive perceptions in terms of students’ motivation, learning and engagement in multimedia and animation course using mobile flipped classroom approach. Future research is recommended to focus on different age and a group of participants to obtain in-depth information on the implementation of mobile flipped classroom approach in a different context.
Is E-Learning for Primary School Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic a Boon or Bane?
Authors: Swain Sukanta Chandra
Published: September 2021

Pandemic due to the deadly virus Covid-19 has put the entire world in complete lock-down, that too, for months together. India has locked-down the entire country for more than two months. Schools, Colleges and Universities were to be closed immediately putting everything in halt. Classes were abruptly suspended and examinations were to be postponed indefinitely. Education at all levels got affected hugely. Higher education institutes (HEIs) of India that are embedded with technology blend teaching-learning system, used electronic mode for teaching and learning, i.e., e-learning, immediately after the announcement of first phase of lock-down. Following the trend, some of the primary Schools of the country also adopted the virtual platform for teaching-learning. On this backdrop, it is necessary to unfold whether the stakeholders of primary education are ready for virtual platform of teaching-learning. Thus, the objective of this paper is to establish on the basis of personal interviews among 50 parents of primary School students and 30 primary School teachers.
Data Analytic Models That Redress the Limitations of MapReduce
Authors: Garg Uttama
Published: September 2021

The amount of data in today’s world is increasing exponentially. Effectively analyzing Big Data is a very complex task. The MapReduce programming model created by Google in 2004 revolutionized the big-data comput-ing market. Nowadays the model is being used by many for scientific and research analysis as well as for commercial purposes. The MapReduce model however is quite a low-level progamming model and has many limitations. Active research is being undertaken to make models that overcome/remove these limitations. In this paper we have studied some popular data analytic models that redress some of the limitations of MapReduce; namely ASTERIX and Pregel (Giraph) We discuss these models briefly and through the discussion highlight how these models are able to overcome MapReduce’s limitations.
Personalized Online Learning
Authors: Nadira Benmedakhene , Makhlouf Derdour , Amroune Mohamed
Published: September 2021

The success of MOOC (massive open online courses) is rapidly increasing. Most educational institutions are highly interested in these online platforms, which embrace intellectual and educational objectives and provide various opportunities for lifelong learning. However, many limitations, such as learners' diversity, lack of motivation, affected learners' outcomes, which unfortunately raised the dropout rate. Thus, multiple solutions were afforded on MOOC platforms to tackle these common problems. This paper suggests a model outline of a customizable system Context-Driven Massive Open Online Courses that could be implemented in any learning environment, and that goes hand in hand with learners' context to boost their motivation towards learning, and to help identify their learning needs. The paper introduces CD-MOOC following a learner-based approach by employing two types of users' data; long-term and short-term data assembled form learners' online traces when interacting on the platform. The data help users design their own learning path based on their context and preferences.
I Carabidi della Valle Stura di Demonte (Alpi Marittime e Cozie) (Coleoptera Carabidae)
Authors: Bisio Luigi , Vigna Taglianti Augusto
Published: September 2021

Dopo avere brevemente illustrato i principali caratteri geologici, climatici e vegetazionali della bassa Val di Susa, gli autori propongono una sintesi delle ricerche carabidologiche condotte sino a oggi in quest’area. Viene presentato un catalogo topografico delle 198 specie di Carabidi (Cicindelinae incluse) segnalate in questo territorio, con note riguardanti l’ecologia e la corologia di quelle più interessanti. Infine, sono descritte le principali carabidocenosi osservate.
Morphological and morphometric changes and epithelial apoptosis are induced in the rat epididymis by long-term letrozole treatment
Authors: Pilutin Anna , Misiakiewicz-Has Kamila , Rzeszotek Sylwia , Wiszniewska Barbara
Published: September 2021

The epididymis is an organ that plays a key role in sperm maturation. The aim of this study was to examine the association between the chronic treatment of mature male rats with letrozole and morphological evaluation and morphometric values of epididymis as well as changes in the number of apoptotic cells in epididymal epithelium. Adult rats were treated with letrozole for 6 months and the epididymis weight, morphology, morphometric values and the number of apoptotic cells in  the epithelium were examined. Long-term aromatase inhibition resulted in presence of intraepithelial clear vacuoles, hyperplasia of clear cells and a hyperplastic alteration in the epithelium known as a cribriform change. Moreover, changes in diameters of the epididymal duct and the epididymal lumen and changes in the epididymal epithelium height were observed. The number of apoptotic epithelial cells was increased in letrozole-treated group. It can be indicated that chronic treatment with letrozole can affect morphology, morphometric values and apoptosis in the epididymis of adult male rats. Observed changes are similar to that observed in the aging processes and may also be important for patients treated with aromatase inhibitors.
Identification of abnormally high expression of POGZ as a new biomarker associated with a poor prognosis in osteosarcoma
Authors: Zheng Sikuan , Liu Yue , Sun Haohe , Jia Jingyu , Wu Tianlong , Ding Rui , Cheng Xigao
Published: September 2021

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most prevalent malignant bone tumor in children and young adults. There is an urgent need for a novel biomarker related to the prognosis of OS. We performed a meta-analysis incorporating six independent datasets and performed a survival analysis with one independent dataset GSE21257 in the GEO database for gene screening. The results revealed that one potential biomarker related to OS survival, POGZ was the most significantly upregulated gene. We also verified that the POGZ was overexpressed in clinical samples. The survival analysis revealed that POGZ is associated with a poor prognosis in OS. Moreover, flow cytometry analysis of isolated OS cells demonstrated that OS cells were arrested in the G1 phase after POGZ knockdown. The RNA-seq results indicated that POGZ was co-expressed with CCNE1 and CCNB1. Pathway analysis showed that genes associated with high expression levels of POGZ were related to the cell cycle pathway. A cell model was constructed to detect the effects of POGZ. After POGZ knockdown, OS cell proliferation, invasion and migration were all decreased. Therefore, POGZ is an important gene for evaluating the prognosis of OS patients and is a potential therapeutic target.
Social Determinants of Health: Considerations for Athletic Health Care
Authors: Picha Kelsey J. , Welch Bacon Cailee E. , Normore Clinton , Snyder Valier Alison R.
Published: September 2021

Health disparities are prevalent concerns in the United States and a frequent topic of conversation in the public health realm. Causes of health disparities include social inequities and social determinants of health. Although social determinants of health have been suggested to contribute more to individual and population health than the health care provided, this concept in athletic health care has received little attention. Therefore, the purpose of our article was to describe social determinants of health, present examples of social determinants, and discuss actionable steps for the athletic training profession to become more culturally proficient. By increasing the awareness of and acknowledging social determinants of health, athletic trainers will be positioned to improve patient outcomes more readily and contribute to ongoing conversations at the policy level of health care.
Patient-Reported Outcome Measures for Pediatric Patients With Sport-Related Injuries: A Systematic Review
Authors: Marshall Ashley N. , Root Hayley J. , Valovich McLeod Tamara C. , Lam Kenneth C.
Published: September 2021

Despite a call to incorporate patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) into all aspects of health care, little is known about which instruments are best suited for a pediatric patient population with sport-related injury. The objective of this article was to perform a systematic review of the currently available evidence to determine which PROMs were used for pediatric patients with sport-related injuries and identify the associated psychometric properties and considerations for clinical utility. We conducted a literature search for articles on PROMs used in the pediatric population through electronic databases and a manual search of reference lists and authors between from inception to 2020. Articles were grouped based on the PROM(s) included, and considerations for clinical utility and psychometric properties were extracted from each article. Thirty-nine articles were included in this review, from which 22 PROMs were identified: 12 PROMs were developed specifically for the pediatric population, 4 were modified versions of an adult scale, and 6 were adult measures used in a pediatric population. Of the PROMs included in this review, the Oxford Ankle Foot Questionnaire for Children and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory were the most comprehensive in their development and assessment. Several outcome measures used for pediatric patients had missing or inadequate measurement properties and considerations for clinical utility, particularly in regard to readability, responsiveness, and interpretability. Clinicians and researchers should consider a measure's feasibility, acceptability, appropriateness, and psychometric properties when selecting a PROM for use with the pediatric population.
Secondary School Socioeconomic Status and Athletic Training Practice Characteristics
Authors: Robison Hannah J. , Simon Janet E. , Nelson Erik J. , Morris Sarah N. , Wasserman Erin B. , Docherty Carrie L.
Published: September 2021

Context

Socioeconomic status (SES) is a significant predictor of morbidity and mortality across health outcomes. Limited information exists on how school SES affects athletic training practice when a certified athletic trainer (AT) is present at secondary schools.

Objective

To describe contact frequencies and service rates provided by ATs for injuries among secondary school student-athletes and how these differ by school SES.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

The number of athletic training facility (ATF) visit days and AT services were collected from 77 secondary schools. Schools were separated into 3 school SES groups: affluent (n = 31), average (n = 29), and disadvantaged (n = 17).

Patients or Other Participants

Secondary school student-athletes who participated in ≥1 of 12 boys' or 11 girls' sports, visited the ATF during the 2014–2015 through 2018–2019 academic years, and received athletic or nonathletic injury care.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Contact frequencies were expressed as ATF visit days per injury, AT services per injury, and AT services per ATF visit day. Rates for service type used were expressed as the total count over reported athlete-exposures.

Results

The ATs documented 1191 services. Affluent and average SES school communities provided more contact frequencies for injury-related care than did disadvantaged school communities, particularly in AT services per injury (7.10 ± 13.08 versus average: 9.30 ± 11.60 and affluent: 9.40 ± 12.20; P = .020). Affluent school communities supplied greater rates of services in 5 of the 11 service groups reported. No differences were observed among school SES groups in therapeutic exercise.

Conclusions

Our findings reflect that AT practice characteristics may have differed by school SES, but these differences did not appear to result in less medical care. Given the complexity and widespread effects of SES, future investigators should use a complex method to determine SES and aim to identify how SES may affect secondary school student-athletes in ways other than AT practice characteristics.
Aprecierea toleranței la șocul termic a frunzelor speciilor spontane de stejar din diferite zone a Republicii Moldova cu ajutorul metodei de fluorescență a clorofilei
Authors: Cuza Petru , Florență Gheorghe , Dascaliuc Alexandru
Published: September 2021

În condiţiile actuale de încălzire a climei rolul cercetărilor care se referă la aprecierea acţiunii factorilor de stres termic asupra posibilelor schimbării în răspândirea speciilor de stejar va spori în viitor. Răspunsul plantelor la acţiunea şocului termic include evitarea factorilor de stres şi mecanismele fiziologice şi biochimice de recuperare a leziunilor pricinuite ţesuturilor frunzelor. Recuperarea stării funcționale a fotosistemului II în frunzele speciilor de stejar expuse șocului termic s-a manifestat la nivel maxim atunci când probele au fost incubate în condiții optime de păstrare. Speciile de stejar au elaborat posibilităţi diferite de adaptare la acţiunea temperaturilor ridicate. Dintre cvercinee, stejarul pufos este cea mai termotolerantă specie spontană răspândită în Republica Moldova. După excluderea influenței mecanismelor care determină evitarea / diminuarea acţiunii temperaturilor ridicate, frunzele stejarului pufos au arătat o sensibilitate mai sporită la șocul termic decât cele ale stejarului pedunculat și gorunului. În funcție de aclimarea frunzelor la temperaturi ridicate, speciile de stejar au arătat o adaptare avansată, după cum urmează: stejarul pedunculat în zona de nord, gorunul – în zona de centru și stejarul pufos – în condițiile ecologice ale zonei de sud a Republicii Moldova.
A VI-a ediție a Sesiunii Naționale de Comunicări Științifice Studențești, pe teme de Silvicultură și Protecția Mediului, online, 28 mai 2021
Authors: Dragomir Ionuţ-Marian , Ştirbu Ionuţ-Marian
Published: September 2021

Cea de-a VI-a ediție a Sesiunii Naționale de Comunicări Științifice Studențești pe teme de Silvicultură și Protecția Mediului s-a desfășurat în data de 28 Mai 2021 în format online. La acest eveniment au participat 28 de studenți, afiliați la 3 universități de profil; Universitatea ”Transilvania” din Bașov, Universitatea ”Ștefan cel Mare” din Suceava și Universitatea din Oradea. Subiectele prezentărilor au fost diverse, tratând diferite aspecte legate de Silvicultură, Entomologie, Dendrometrie, Economie forestieră, Management cinegetic, Botanică, Dendroclimatologie precum și altele discipline ce țin de domeniul silvic. Prezentările au fost susținute online, sub formă de videoconferință, fiind transmise în timp real pe o binecunoscută rețea de socializare. Putem afirma că această sesiune a avut un rol multiplu, precum îmbunătățirea abilităților de comunicare a studenților participanți, oportunitatea de a-și disemina rezultatele cercetărilor, de a creea o legătură de comunicare între studenții celor 3 universități și nu în ultimul rând de a-i stimula să rămână activi în cercetarea silvică.
Unknown Polish Subscriptions to the Emblems of Otto van Veen and Herman Hugo: A Study on the Functioning of Western Religious Engravings in the Old-Polish Culture
Authors: Grześkowiak Radosław , Niedźwiedź Jakub
Published: September 2021

The Seweryn Udziela Ethnographic Musem in Cracow holds an impressive collection of old engravings, among which there are also copperplates by Cornelis Galle. He used selected prints from Amorum emblemata (1608) and Amoris divini emblemata (1615) by Otton van Veen and Pia desideria (1624) by Herman Hugo to create his own emblematic cycle on metaphysical relations between the Soul and Amor Divinus. The drawings from the works of Veen and Hugo were very popular in the seventeenth century and inspired numerous poets and editors around Europe. In the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, it was Hugo’s Pia desideria that aroused particular interest. The cycle was imitated and translated by e.g. Mikołaj Mieleszko SJ, Zbigniew Morsztyn, Aleksander Teodor Lacki, and Jan Kościesza Żaba. On three of Galle’s prints stored in the Cracow museum, an anonymous author wrote epigrams, unknown until now, that accompany the images taken from the cycle by Veen (no. 8 and 21) and by Hugo (II 5). This emblematic microcycle was, with all probability, written down at the end of the seventeenth or at the beginning of the eighteenth century by a nun or a monk in one of the Lesser Polish convents or monasteries. Possibly, the origins of the cycle may be linked with the Carmelite convent in Cracow. And whether it is the actual place where the cycle was created or not, it is a good point to begin studies on the employment of emblematic practices in Catholic convents and monasteries in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century. Imported copperplates and woodcuts were a typical piece of the equipment of a cell. They were hung on the cell walls or were simply collected in sets of prints and often exchanged as gifts among nuns or monks, e.g. on the occasion of the New Year (an example of such a gift from 1724 is given in this paper). It was a common practice to write notes of diverse character on the reverse side of such prints, e.g. autobiographic details, short prayers or excerpts from sacred texts and religious literature. Still, the main purpose of the emblems was their application in everyday meditations and other forms of personal prayers. The three subscriptiones in the Ethnographic Museum in Cracow are also prayers of this kind, combining word and image.
Astrology—Emblematics—Heraldry: On Comets, Moons and Stars in the Book of Arms by Szymon Okolski
Authors: Piskała Magdalena
Published: September 2021

The paper examines the presence of astrology in the heraldic work Orbis Polonus by Szymon Okolski dating from the mid-1600s. While due to a growing fascination with Neoplatonism and hermetic writings, astrology had enjoyed popularity since the Renaissance, in Okolski’s case its influence came mostly through early-modern books of emblems and compendia of symbols. It is, therefore, important not only to track down astrological motifs in the works of Alciatus, Cesare Ripa, Giulio Cesare Capaccio, Julius Wilhelm Zincgref, and Diego de Saavedra to compare them with those found in Orbis Polonus, but also to recognise the fact that emblematics had a great impact on how Okolski perceived the import of his heraldic work as such.

The novelty of Okolski’s project consisted in treating armorial bearings as universal symbols and interpreting them not only in accordance with the rules of heraldry, but also through a wide range of cultural sources, trends, and traditions. In order to make the symbolic significance hidden in coats of arms more apparent, the author tried to organise the heraldic entries in a new way. Apart from the usual parts describing the coat of arms (delineatio), its origins (origo) and the family that used it (linea familiae), he introduced subchapters dealing with its symbolic meaning. He called them “considerations”, “precautions”, or “omens” depending on which aspect of the symbolic explanation he wanted to emphasise. Especially the third of these dovetails with astrology because the symbolism of the coat of arms, including motifs derived from, or related to, astrology, is presented as the best path that should be taken by a family bearing a particular coat of arms. All the while, however, these auguries are made based on symbols as such and not on careful observation of stars, planets or comets, and Okolski was not concerned with the destiny of individual people but with more general tendencies that affected the virtue of noble families, and virtue is for Okolski the foundation of nobility.
Lemmas in the Old-Polish Armorial Poetry as a Manifestation of Genre Hybridisation
Authors: Czarski Bartłomiej
Published: September 2021

One of the most popular panegyrical forms in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was the so-called “stemmata”. Similar to emblems, these visual works consisted of an illustration presenting a coat of arms and an epigram, often featured on the reverse side of the title card of texts printed in the old-Polish period. This paper discusses selected cases in which, influenced by emblems, lemmas are incorporated into the structure of stemmata. The study explains how the lemma is introduced in a stemma and how it affects the latter’s meaning. Particular attention is paid to cases in which mottos are treated as the title of a combination of a coat of arms and a poem. Another subject analysed here is “academic stemmata”, a sub-genre of the heraldic poem that consists of several features characteristic of emblems. The presence of lemma in the structure of stemmata is recognised as the consequence of a trend to liven up this visual form. Making the emblem more attractive was a way to draw the attention of readers, increasing its author’s chance of communicating a panegyrical message. This effect was desired not only by the authors of stemmata but above all by their powerful patrons. The presence of lemma in the structure of heraldic poems also relates to the role of mottos in the Jesuit educational system. Mottos and verba aurea were treated by Jesuit teachers as a very useful medium for presenting moral and parenetic subjects, and it was fairly easy for authors of stemmata to use them for panegyric purposes.
On the Diploma of Nobility of Jan Januszowski and a Portrait of a Renaissance Printer
Authors: Kiliańczyk-Zięba Justyna
Published: September 2021

Jan Januszowski, best known as Jan Kochanowski’ friend, was the most distinguished printer of the Polish Renaissance. Januszowski, a lawyer educated in Cracow and Padua, was an extremely versatile man: an outstanding printer, as well as a prolific writer and translator. For all his achievements, he was ennobled by Sigismund III Vasa, and—happily—the diploma of nobility of Jan Januszowski, penned on parchment and splendidly illuminated, survived to the present day. The illumination of the document is rich and sumptuous. It shows the coats-of-arms representing the provinces of the Polish Kingdom and Grand Duchy of Lithuania and small portraits: three of them depict Polish kings, the fourth is of Januszowski himself—it is one of the very few known portraits of Polish Renaissance intellectuals and the oldest portrait of a Polish printer. The document’s decoration is not only beautiful, but also meaningful, as its content and composition reflects the nature of the state—the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth—and suggests Januszowski’s important place in its structure and strong links between the printer and the most important dignitaries of the country.