bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Heart rate Dynamics in Individuals While they Were Evaluating and Describing Emotional Images
Authors: Savitskaia T.Y. , Nosulenko V.N. , Alexandrov Y.I.
Published: April 2020

The aim of present research was to investigate system organization of behavior dynamics which manifests in heart rate dynamics. The participants (n=30) described 24 images which in turn appeared on a computer screen. Having described an image, the participants evaluated emotional images by valence and arousal on 9-point scales, but not earlier than one minute after describing it. Heart rate was recorded during image description. Sample entropy of the heart rate irregularity was lower for images rated as negative with high arousal, as compared to neutral images in a group of participants whose ratings of negative and neutral images differed considerably. The received results allow us to suggest that higher emotionality characteristics are connected to temporary systems dedifferentiation.
Conscious self-regulation as a resource for success in the Russian language in students with different levels of intelligence
Authors: Bondarenko I.N. , Potanina A.M. , Morosanova V.I.
Published: April 2020

The article offers a new view of the assessment of success in the Russian language. Four language competencies are used as its indicators: Language Proficiency, Literacy, Word Structure, and Sentence Structure. The diagnosis is based on the principle of mastering the norms of the language. The study aims to identify regulatory and intellectual predictors of this success. Two hundred eighty-six students in grades 7 and 9 (50.3% girls) completed the questionnaire assessing the level of conscious self-regulation of V. I. Morosanova. In addition, they carried out Raven’s test and two tasks on the language competence assessment. The results showed that gender, age, conscious self-regulation and intelligence significantly influences success in Russian. It is important to note that the contribution of self-regulation significantly exceeded the contribution of intelligence in adolescence. We conducted a similar analysis of a sample divided by gender. The results shed light on the resources for increasing success in Russian for girls and boys. The development of intellectual abilities is promising for girls; the level of intelligence and conscious self-regulation (and above all, the Modeling process), are essential for boys.
Features of understanding the psychological freedom of the individual adolescent, high school and student age
Authors: Stepanova N.A.
Published: April 2020

A significant number of domestic and foreign studies are devoted to the study of freedom as a mental phenomenon. Modern authors consider psychological freedom of personality mainly as effective self-determination, paying insufficient attention to its spiritual foundations and ontogenetic features of development. The following assumption was made: age peculiarities of understanding of psychological freedom of a person consist in the fact that in adolescence, high school and student age different components of psychological freedom reflect the content and manifestation of freedom, and spirituality is the basic structural component of psychological freedom, determining its content and manifestations at different age stages. The study involved 329 subjects: 105 adolescents aged 14 years, 102 high school students aged 17 years, 122 students aged 19-21 years. The results of the study allowed to describe the differences in the views of adolescents, high school students and students about freedom, age differences in the content of individual components of psychological freedom of the individual and their manifestation, the role of spirituality in the development of psychological freedom, demonstrated its decisive importance in understanding the true inner freedom.
Functional optimality of personal the meaning of the profession
Authors: Karpinskii K.V. , Gizhuk T.V. , Kiselnikova N.V.
Published: April 2020

The purpose of this study was to determine the functional potential of various types of personal meaning of the profession. The article describes the results of an empirical study that involved a sample of 647 subjects. As methods of mathematical-statistical processing were used: the Pearson correlation criterion, one-way analysis of variance, followed by post hoc comparison of the mean values of groups by the Scheffe method, the criterion GT-Vegeliusa. The analysis made it possible to identify the optimal, suboptimal and pessimistic personal meaning of the profession from the point of view of its regulatory functions.
The Essence of the Presidential Power in Russia in the Works Written by Prof. Ekaterina I. Kozlova
Authors: Nevinskiy V. V.
Published: April 2020

The paper is devoted to the study of academic views of Prof. Ekaterina I. Kozlova on the problems of essence, content and role of the presidential power in modern Russia. The author substantiates Prof. Kozlova’s opinion concerning: 1) objective conditionality of non-inclusion of the President of the Russian Federation in any branch of the state power; 2) conditional constitutional separation of the power of the President of the Russian Federation from the bodies of traditional branches of state power giving the presidential power an integrative function; 3) the essence of the power of the President of the Russian Federation (presidential power) as the totality of its constitutional representative powers and, in part, powers in the legislature, executive power, and judiciary. Some Prof. Kozlova’s views have been developed in the context of the author’s attitude to Prof. Ekaterina I. Kozlova ideas.
LUZ, CÂMERA, MISSÃO: ETNOGRAFIAS VISUAIS DE SALESIANOS ITALIANOS NA AMÉRICA DO SUL
Authors: Ciacchi Andrea
Published: April 2020

Carlo Crespi (1891-1982) e Alberto Maria De Agostini (1883-1960), padres salesianos italianos, estiveram envolvidos em atividades missionárias na América do Sul, na primeira metade do século XX. Na década de Vinte, realizaram documentários com imagens que retratavam populações indígenas, na Amazônia equatoriana e na Patagônia/Terra do Fogo, respectivamente. Aqui procuro reconstruir historiograficamente e contextualizar essa produção visual com as trajetórias dos dois autores e com os dilemas políticos, ideológicos e etnográficos que cercavam a ação evangelizadora dos salesianos naquele período e nessas regiões.
Fruiting and quality attributes of cambui (Myrciaria floribunda (West ex Willd.) O. Berg in the Atlantic Forest of northeast Brazil
Authors: Cruz Silva Ana Veruska , Sirqueira Nascimento Ana Letícia , Muniz Evandro Neves
Published: April 2020

Cambuizeiro is a fruit native to the Atlantic Forest biome that has potential for ornamental use and for human consumption, either raw or processed, due to the organoleptic characteristics of its fruits. Accordingly, the study objective was to evaluate the fruiting periods and quality attributes of two types of cambuizeiros, differentiated by fruit color. The plants studied were from a natural population from the Embrapa Tabuleiros Costeiros Experimental Station, in the municipality of Itaporanga d’Ajuda, state of Sergipe, Brazil. A total of 20 plants, 14 with orange and six with purple fruit, seven days after anthesis (DAA), were evaluated weekly during fruiting. After harvest, the fruits were evaluated for weight, length, width, number of seeds, pH, soluble solids (SS), total titratable acidity (TTA) and vitamin C content. There was heterogeneity in the ripening of the two cambuizeiro types. The highest peak of ripening occurred at 63 DAA (83.2% of orange and 68.3% of purple fruits). The purple fruits had superior physical attributes. However, the pulp of the orange colored fruits had a higher TTA content. Both types of fruits have potential characteristics for commercial exploration and use.
William of Orange in France and the Transnationality of the Sixteenth-Century Wars of Religion
Authors: Van Tol Jonas
Published: April 2020

William of Orange’s French campaign of 1569 is one of the most curious and least-understood episodes in the life of the leader of the Dutch Revolt. The confusion over his motives for participating in the wars in France arises from the longstanding tendency to see the Dutch Revolt and French Wars of Religion as similar but separate conflicts. Yet Orange regarded them fundamentally as manifestations of the same struggle. This article unpacks the development of Orange’s transnational outlook during the decade leading up to his French campaign – an outlook that was shared by many of his peers in the Low Countries and beyond and that shaped the course of the French Wars of Religion and the Dutch Revolt. Willem van Oranjes veldtocht in Frankrijk in 1569 is een van de meest curieuze en slechtst begrepen episodes uit het leven van de leider van de Nederlandse Opstand. De verwarring rond zijn motieven om in Frankrijk te gaan vechten is ontstaan door de diepgewortelde neiging om de Nederlandse Opstand en de Religieoorlogen in Frankrijk te beschouwen als vergelijkbare, maar op zichzelf staande oorlogen. Echter, Oranje zelf beschouwde ze in essentie als manifestaties van hetzelfde conflict. In dit artikel zal de transnationale kijk van Willem van Oranje ontrafeld worden. Dit perspectief is ook zichtbaar bij veel tijdgenoten en heeft grote invloed gehad op het verloop van de Religieoorlogen in Frankrijk en de Nederlandse Opstand.
Robustesse, rusticité, flexibilité, plasticité... les nouveaux critères de qualité des animaux et des systèmes d’élevage : définitions systémique et biologique des différents concepts
Authors: SAUVANT D. , MARTIN O.
Published: April 2020

La problématique globale de ce texte introductif concerne l’adaptation des systèmes aux perturbations. L’étude des modalités de cette adaptation engendre différents termes, notions et définitions. Ainsi, ces notions de rigidité, d’élasticité, de flexibilité et de plasticité… se retrouvent dans de nombreuses disciplines scientifiques, qu’il s’agisse de la physique, de la sociologie, de l’économie, de la biologie animale et des systèmes d’élevage. L’approche systémique permet de situer les facettes de l’adaptation des systèmes dans un cadre générique largement partagé et la modélisation de cette adaptation constitue un vrai défi aux chercheurs.
Robustesse et canalisation : vision de généticiens
Authors: BODIN L. , BOLET G. , GARCIA M. , GARREAU H. , LARZUL C. , DAVID I.
Published: April 2020

L’objectif de cet article est de définir et illustrer la notion de robustesse telle qu’elle est vue par les généticiens. Pour ces derniers, il existe deux concepts de robustesse. Le premier considère que la robustesse correspond à la capacité de survie de l’animal et au maintien d’un potentiel global de production dans des environnements stressants et fait notamment référence au rôle de l’axe corticotrope. Le second concept définit la robustesse comme le maintien d’un potentiel de production spécifique : dans ce cadre, un animal est dit robuste pour un caractère donné si ce caractère est stable dans des environnements variés, ce qui rejoint la notion d’interaction génotype-milieu et s’explique par différentes hypothèses génétiques (modèle de surdominance, modèle pléiotropique, modèle épistatique). La canalisation d’un caractère correspond alors à l’action de sélectionner pour diminuer la sensibilité aux variations environnementales. Cette canalisation est intéressante pour répondre, par exemple, aux attentes des producteurs (optimum de production), des transformateurs (homogénéité des productions) ou aux nouvelles contraintes environnementales (agriculture durable). La mise en pratique de cette dernière passe par différentes modélisations des interactions génotype-milieu ; la plus novatrice utilise les modèles dits structuraux qui considèrent une variabilité génétique de la variance du caractère considéré et pour lesquels des développements méthodologiques sont encore nécessaires. Différentes expériences de sélection canalisante ont été mises en place sur des animaux de rente avec plus ou moins de succès. A l’heure actuelle, seule la sélection canalisante sur l’homogénéité des poids des lapereaux à la naissance est pratiquée en routine.
The Airborne and Gastrointestinal Coronavirus SARS-COV-2 Pathways
Authors: Santa-Coloma Tomás
Published: April 2020

Since there is not a clear consensus about the possibility for COVID-2 to be an airborne disease, a controversy also exists regarding the need to use surgical masks to prevent its spreading. Here, using the Kepler conjecture for ideal packaging, the number of virions of different sizes that can be accommodated inside droplets was calculated and are proportional to the 3rd potency of the droplet/virion diameter. The differences between particles of 5 um and 100 μm are around four orders of magnitude, explaining why the airborne spread is much more difficult but still possible. There is no solid evidence yet that the airborne coronaviruses may reach enough concentration to infect, but in certain circumstances, this may be true. The WHO partially recognizes now this fact in a warning to health workers (from my point of view too late as the pandemic declaration). Another issue is if the virus stays infective in aerosols generated from patients. This has not been directly probed yet except with artificial aerosols, but there are no reasons by which the virus cannot remain in the air and be infective if the viral charge and time of exposure are enough. Another issue is if the virus can infect the intestine; there are some signs in this sense. Finally, and most importantly, to flatten the curve, leave the quarantine, and avoid a rebound, we need to reduce the interactions by using surgical masks. For cultural reasons, a social distance of 2 meters (2M) is extremely hard to manage. Surgical masks do the task of reducing the interactions in conditions of proximity and, therefore, help to “flatten the curve”. The WHO and CDC “laissez-faire” in this matter does not help and we are running out of time. Anticipated actions, such as the use of surgical masks for the general population, are critical.
A Mathematical Model of COVID-19 Using Fractional Derivative: Outbreak in India with Dynamics of Transmission and Control
Authors: Shaikh Amjad S. , Shaikh Iqbal N. , Nisar Kottakkaran Sooppy
Published: April 2020

Since the first case of 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) detected on Jan 30, 2020, in India, the number of cases rapidly increased to 3819 cases including 106 deaths as of 5 April 2020. Taking this into account, in the present work, we are studying a Bats-Hosts-Reservoir-People transmission fractional-order COVID-19 model for simulating the potential transmission with the thought of individual social response and control measures by the government. The real data available about infectious cases from $14^{th}$ March to $26^{th}$ March 2020 is analysed and accordingly various parameters of the model are estimated or fitted. The Picard successive approximation technique and Banach's fixed point theory have been used for verification of the existence and stability criteria of the model. Numerical computations are done utilizing the iterative Laplace transform method. In the end, we illustrate the obtained results graphically. The purpose of this study is to estimate the effectiveness of preventive measures, predicting future outbreaks and potential control strategies using the mathematical model.
Ace Inhibitors and AT1R Blockers for COVID-2019: Friends or Foes ?
Authors: Focosi Daniele , Tuccori Marco , Maggi Fabrizio
Published: April 2020

Human respiratory beta coronavirus are emerging causes for Public Health Emergencies of International Concern (PHEIC). SARS-CoV2 is circulating worldwide since November 2019. We review here the cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in COVID-19, and data supporting the role for dysregulation of the RAS counterregulatory axis due to binding of SARS-CoV2 S protein to ACE2 receptor. Since this counterregulatory axis provides benefits not only on the cardiovascular front but also in acute lung injury, we speculate on potential use of ACE inhibitors and AT1R blockers in critically ill COVID-19 patients, and report current evidences.
The "Zero Point" and the Autonomous Nervous System. Reverse Analysis, Syllogism and Genetic. Possible Correlations with the Covid19 Virus. A New Perspective.
Authors: Brogna Carlo
Published: April 2020

Acetylcholine (ACh) is one of the best characterized neurotransmitters. Its central roles in the cholinergic areas and central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral (PNS) synapses are well known. It was the first molecule identified as a neurotransmitter and appears to be phylogenetically one of the oldest signaling molecules. In fact, ACh was detected in bacteria, protozoa, fungi, algae and primitive plants, indicating that the cholinergic system was widely distributed in living organisms before its appearance in the nervous system. The autonomous nervous system (ANS) is an integral part animal kingdom history. It determines fight-escape reactions as well as outlining the vital and cognitive functions bio-organization rhythms. The virus (Covid-19) extraneous effects acting on it could help to better understand its functions. Through a new deductive and inductive the path axioms are developed and an absurd hypothesis, "natural genetic recombination between different species" is put forward, trying to verify a correlation, tracing what could be the genesis, the "zero-point", crucial and fundamental moment. A positive correlation with different toxins is obtained and the double pathogenic mechanism of Covid-19 theory is proposed. The process allows us to outline the possibility about toxic-like factors presence.
Efektifitas Model Latihan E-Movement terhadap Peningkatan Kecepatan dan Kelincahan pada Pemain Sepakbola UNDIKMA FC
Authors: Awan Soemardiawan , Wati Susi Yundarwati
Published: April 2020

Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk menghasilkan suatu produ k model program latihan e-movement yang efisien dan efektif untuk meningkatkan kondisi fisik seperti kecepatan dan kelincahan latihan e-movement. Metode penelitian menggunakan rancangan atau desain dengan model eksperimen adalah menggunakan One group pretest–posttest design dengan karakteristik subjek keseluruhan pemain tergabung dalam UKM olahraga yang karakteristik yang populasinya berjumlah 30 pemain yang berumur 20-22 Tahun pemain UNDIKMA FC Mataram yang menjadi sampel adalah berjumlah 18 orang serta teknik sampel menggunakan purposive sampling metode pengumpulan data menggunakan tes perbuatan, obeservasi lapangan dan dukumentasi. Instrument tes yang digunakan adalah tes kecepatan 30 meter dan kelincahan (shuttle run) dari Nurhasan tahun 2000. analisis data menggunakan rumus uji t-test. (Hulfian, 2014:54). Kesimpulan Dari hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa nilai thitung antara e-movement dengan X1 (kecepatan) sebesar 14.803 nilai thitung antara X2 (kelincahan) sebesar 9.703 dan nilai thitung secara simultan antara Y dan X1, X2, ditarik kesimpulan analisis tabel pada taraf signifikan 5% dengan jumlah sampel ( n – 1 ) yaitu 17 sebesar 1.740, maka dalam penelitian ini diterima. Oleh karena itu, hal ini dapat diartikan bahwa ada Efektifitas model latihan e-movement terhadap peningkatan kecepatan dan kelincahan pada pemain sepakbola UNDIKMA FC. kebaharuan Dari hasil penerapan latihan E-Movement tersebut dalam bentuk buku pedoman latihan bagi atlet Kota Mataram Khususnya NTB yang dimodifikasi adalah Standar Operasional Prosedure lebih dimengerti dan sederhan, dan suatu produk program latihan e-movement yang efisien dan efektif.
Referral Outcomes of Identified Health Problems and Difficulties Related to School Medical Inspections in Government Schools in an Education Zone in Sri Lanka
Authors: Arnold Mahendra , Wickramatilake Sepali , Karunapema Palitha , Fernando Dinusha , Sampath Roshan , Mahesh Buddhika , Panditharathna Sujeewa
Published: April 2020

Background and Introduction:

School Medical Inspections (SMI) assess the health status of children, and provide opportunities for early detection, referral and prevention of disease conditions among school-aged children in Sri Lanka. There is paucity of data on the outcomes of referrals and difficulties encountered in relation to SMI. This study aimed to describe the outcomes of identified health problems in SMI and the difficulties encountered by public health staff in the conduct of SMI in an educational zone in the Kandy District, Sri Lanka.

Methods:

This study was comprised of a quantitative and a qualitative component. The quantitative component - a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with secondary data of 87 government schools in the Katugasthota educational zone in Kandy district, Sri Lanka. The study sample consisted of 2,876 children in whom health problems were identified and referrals were made. The qualitative component - key informant interviews (KIIs) were conducted among 5 Medical Officers of Health (MOH) and 10 Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) to identify the difficulties they encountered related to SMI.

Results:

The overall SMI coverage was 88.6%. Dental caries was the main health problem identified (22.9%, N=2,247). Other leading conditions included: skin diseases (1.1%, N=110); anemia (2.1%, N=202); visual defects (1.8%, N=182); and suspected heart disease (1.2%, N=120). Of the referrals, 92.1% (N=2,071) were for dental caries; 84.6% (N=154) were for visual defects; 90% (N=108) were for suspected heart diseases; 100% (N=110) were for skin diseases; 100% (N=202) were for anemia; and 66.6% (N=8) were for behavioral problems. Support from the schools to conduct the SMI was not satisfactory; parents faced many obstacles in obtaining services at the referral centers.

Conclusions and Implications for Translation:

There was a high coverage of SMI. Referral outcomes for dental caries, skin diseases and anemia were relatively high. Follow-up of area PHI in referral-outcome tracking and management should be strengthened. It is necessary to improve the priority services provided to referred school children in hospital settings.
Business Ethics Pays: A Modern Approach
Authors: Koerner Roy H.
Published: April 2020

Published in Oil & Gas Executive, Volume 1, Number 2, 1998, pages 46-51.

Ethics is a branch of philosophy dealing with moral behavior. It can be controversial. Philosopher Benedict Spinoza (1632-77), for example, stated that "belief in God motivates people to behave ethically," while philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) argued that "Atheism motivates people to behave ethically" (Ethics, Carol Wekesser, Greenhaven Press, 1995). But despite such divergent views and cultural differences, transcending, universally accepted standards of ethical behavior do exist. The often-quoted statement of Jesus in the New Testament, "…do to others what you would have them do to you…," has similar counterparts intexts of rabbinical Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism. The tenet also can be found in ancient Greek and Roman writings. Different views exist on the role of ethics in business. Peter Pratley in The Essence of Business Ethics(Prentice-Hall, 1995) describes three common views of how business relates to the community. The premodern unitarian view is that business is in unity with society and should have social welfare as a prime consideration.

The separationist view is that business is entirely separate from the community, with "profit at any price" the motive. The integrationist view is that business and society integrate on matters of mutual interest for mutual benefit. These divergent views are all at work at any one time and, with professional ethics, play major roles in commerce.

Community-Oriented Businesses

Fig. 1 illustrates the unitarian interaction of business and community. The fragmented spheres of people, business, and institutions in modern society are inside the bounds of community moral standards and accountability. The utilitarian entrepreneurs of some nonprofit service organizations and other groups, such as consumer rights and certain environmental organizations, hold this view. They contend that business and institutions should be held to the same standards of conduct as individuals. Management guru Peter Drucker recognized two nonprofit organizations as models of success at a November 1997national conference on leadership. One of the two, The Samaritan Inst., an interfaith health-care network founded 25 years ago, is an example of an organization operating in unity with the community.
The growing use of the WHO Safe Childbirth Checklist: Lessons learned at the Yaounde Gyneco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital, Cameroon
Authors: DOHBIT Julius Sama , WOKS Namanou Ines Emma , KOUDJINE Carlin Héméry , TAFEN Willy , FOUMANE Pascal , ASSUMPTA Lucienne BELLA , OGU Rosemary Nkemdilim , III Fru Fobuzshi ANGWAFO
Published: April 2020

Background: Safe childbirth remains a daunting challenge, particularly in low middle income countries, where most pregnancy-related deaths occur. Cameroon’s maternal mortality rate, estimated at 529 per 100,000 live births in 2017 is significantly high. Adherence to essential birth practices by birth attendants is key to improving pregnancy outcomes. The WHO Safe Childbirth Checklist (SCC) was designed as a tool to improve the quality of care provided to women giving birth. It was implemented at the Yaounde Gynaeco-Obsteric and Paediatric Hospital in order to improve quality of care. The purpose of this study was to determine the adoption rate of the SCC and its association with maternal (eclampsia, perineal tears, post-partum haemorrhage) and neonatal (foetal death, neonatal asphyxia and neonatal death) complications, six months after introduction at the maternity. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted from January – June 2018. Six months was chosen because research conducted on the SCC in India showed that adherence to essential birth practices was optimal within this period. Data collection sheets were used to document information from delivery records. The Chi square test was used to compare categorical variables, while the student’s T test was used to compare continuous variables. Results: Out of 1611 deliveries conducted, only 1001 records could be traced, giving 38% of missing data. Twenty-five records were excluded. During the study period, checklists were used in 828 clinical notes, giving an adoption rate of 84.8%. Fewer cases of severe pre-ecclampsia/eclampsia were associated with the use of SCC (2·1% Vs 5·4%, p = 0·017). The difference in the proportion of perineal tears, post-partum haemorrhage, stillbirths, neonatal asphyxia and neonatal deaths observed between the checklist and non-checklist groups was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the SCC program is a cost effective intervention that could potentially reduce maternal mortality and morbidity, most of reduction coming from prevention of severe pre-eclampsia, eclampsia in low-middle income countries.
Factors affecting postoperative survival of patients with insufficient union following osteoporotic vertebral fractures and impact of preoperative serum albumin on mortality
Authors: Ohba Tetsuro , Yokomi Hiroshi MD , Koy Kensuke MD , Tanaka Nobuki , Oda Kotaro , H Hirotaka MD
Published: April 2020

Background: Numerous comparative studies of surgical procedures have focused on clinical and radiographical outcomes, as well as the effect of bone fragility on the outcome of spinal surgery; however, insights concerning a long-term risk of mortality or morbidity have been limited. Additionally, the effect of surgical therapy on survival after vertebral compression fractures remains controversial. Our aim was to evaluate the preoperative factors that affected the long-term survival of patients who underwent spinal surgery for an insufficient union following osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVF) and to determine long-term mortality.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the cases of 105 consecutive patients who underwent spinal surgery for OVF. Mortality was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and a log-rank test. The preoperative backgrounds of patients were analyzed to determine which risk factors led to death among the OVF cases. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to estimate survival based on preoperative albumin levels of £ 3.5 g/dL (hypoalbuminemia) versus > 3.5 mg/dL.Results: The mean follow-up time for survival was 4.1 ±0.8 years. Two years after surgery, 15% of patients with OVF had died. The ratio of male-to-female was significantly higher for patients with OVF who died than for those who were still alive. No significant difference in mortality was observed among surgical procedures for OVF. Multivariate analysis revealed that only serum albumin £3.5 g/dL was a significant risk factor for long-term postoperative mortality of patients with OVF.Conclusions: Preoperative hypoalbuminemia was associated with long-term postoperative mortality following surgery for OVF.Level of Evidence: Level 3
Demographic profile, clinical features, and outcome of peripapillary subretinal hemorrhage: an observational study
Authors: Zou Ming , Zhang Yi , Huang Xi , Gao Sheng , Zhang Junjun
Published: April 2020

Background: To evaluate the etiology, demographic profile, clinical features, and outcomes in patients with peripapillary subretinal hemorrhage (PSH).Methods: Thirty-eight eyes of 37 consecutive patients with PSH were enrolled in this prospective observational study over 4 years; all were followed for 2 years. The main outcome measures were demographic profile, possible etiology, clinical features, outcome, and prognosis.Results: Sixty-eight percent (26/38) of eyes were in female patients; the mean patient age was 20 years. Only 1 patient (1/37) showed bilateral involvement. All patients experienced acute onset of PSH. All eyes were myopic and their best-corrected visual acuities ranged from 20/1000 to 20/12.5. The fundus features of affected eyes were classified into 3 groups: (1) PSH alone (4/38 eyes, 10.5%); (2) PSH with intrapapillary hemorrhage (17/38 eyes, 44.7%); (3) PSH with intrapapillary and vitreous hemorrhage (17/38 eyes, 44.7%). PSH occurred in nasal edges of optic discs with a crescent shape and dull-red color. All affected optic discs were small and crowded, exhibiting variable degrees of tilting. The cup of affected optic discs was narrower and deeper than that of normal control discs. Other ancillary tests provided no additional value. After a mean follow-up of 2.85 months, the hemorrhages resolved spontaneously without sequelae. Recurrence of disease was not observed in any patients. Conclusions: PSH is common in myopic eyes with tilted optic discs. We suspect that these hemorrhages occurred as a result of abrupt movement acting on a morphologically vulnerable optic disc.
Distinct Actions of the Fermented Beverage Kefir on Host Behaviour, Immunity and Microbiome Gut-Brain Modules in the Mouse
Authors: de Wouw Marcel van , Walsh Aaron M. , Crispie Fiona , Leuven Lucas van , Lyte Joshua M. , Boehme Marcus , Clarke Gerard , Dinan Timothy G. , Cotter Paul D. , Cryan John
Published: April 2020

Background: Mounting evidence suggests a role for the gut microbiota in modulating brain physiology and behaviour through bi-directional communication along the gut-brain axis. As such, the gut microbiota represents a potential therapeutic target for influencing centrally-mediated events and host behaviour. It is thus notable that the fermented milk beverage kefir has recently been shown to modulate the composition of the gut microbiota in mice. It is unclear whether kefirs have differential effects on microbiota-gut-brain axis and whether they can modulate host behaviour per se. Methods: To address this, two distinct kefirs (Fr1 and UK4) or unfermented milk control were administered to mice that underwent a battery of tests to characterise their behavioural phenotype. In addition, shotgun metagenomic sequencing of ileal, cecal and faecal matter was performed, as was faecal metabolome analysis. Finally, systemic immunity measures and gut serotonin levels were assessed. Statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA followed by Dunnett's post hoc test or Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Mann-Whitney U test.Results: Fr1 ameliorated the stress-induced decrease in serotonergic signalling in the colon and reward-seeking behaviour in the saccharin preference test. On the other hand, UK4 decreased repetitive behaviour and ameliorated stress-induced deficits in reward-seeking behaviour. Furthermore, UK4 increased fear-dependent contextual memory, yet decreased milk gavage-induced improvements long-term spatial learning. In the peripheral immune system, UK4 increased the prevalence of Treg cells and interleukin 10 levels, whereas Fr1 ameliorated the milk gavage stress-induced elevation in neutrophil levels and CXCL1 levels. Analysis of the gut microbiota revealed that both kefirs significantly changed the composition and functional capacity of the host microbiota, where specific bacterial species were changed in a kefir-dependent manner. Furthermore, both kefirs increased the capacity of the gut microbiota to produce GABA, which was linked to an increased prevalence in Lactobacillus reuteri. Conclusions: Altogether, these data show that kefir can signal through the microbiota-gut-immune-brain axis and modulate host behaviour. In addition, different kefirs may direct the microbiota toward distinct immunological and behavioural modulatory effects. These results indicate that kefir can positively modulate specific aspects of the microbiota-gut-brain axis and support the broadening of the definition of psychobiotic to include kefir fermented foods.
The risk of fracture and prevalence of osteoporosis is elevated in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: cross-sectional study from a single Hungarian center
Authors: Vincze Anett , Bodoki Levente , Szabó Katalin , Nagy-Vincze Melinda , Szalmás Orsolya , New József Varga , Dankó Katalin , Gaál János , Griger Zoltan
Published: April 2020

Background: The prevalence of osteoporosis and risk of fractures is elevated in rheumatoid arthritis, but we have little information about the bone mineral density and fracture risk in patients with inflammatory myopathies. We intended to ascertain and compare fracture risk, bone mineral density (BMD) and the prevalence of vertebral fractures in patients with inflammatory myositis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to assess the effect of prevalent fractures on the quality of life and functional capacity. Methods: Fifty-two patients with myositis and 43 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were included in the study. Fracture Risk was determined using FRAX® Calculation Tool developed by the University of Sheffield. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and bidirectional thoracolumbar radiographs were performed to assess BMD and vertebral fractures. Quality of life was measured with Short Form-36 (SF-36) and physical function assessment was performed using Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). Results: We found a significantly elevated fracture risk in RA compared to myositis patients if the risk assessment was performed without the application of the BMD results. If BMD results and glucocorticoid dose adjustment were taken into account, the differences in fracture risk were no longer significant. The prevalence of osteoporosis was found to be significantly higher in the myositis group (7% vs. 13.5%, p: 0,045), but the fracture prevalence was similar in the two groups (75% vs. 68%). The fractures rates were independently associated with age in the myositis group, and with lower BMD results in the RA patients. The number of prevalent fractures was significantly correlated to poorer physical function in both groups, and poorer health status in the myositis group, but not in the RA group. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that inflammatory myopathies carry significantly elevated risk for osteoporosis and fractures. This higher risk is comparable to one detected with RA in studies and strongly affects the physical function and quality of life of patients. Therefore further efforts are required to make the fracture risk assessment reliable and to facilitate the use early preventive treatments.
Polymorphisms in endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase genes are associated with cervical cancer risk in a Chinese Han population
Authors: Li Chuanyin , Li Yaheng , Yan Zhiling , Dai Shuying , Liu Shuyuan , Wang Xia , Wang Jun , Zhang Xinwen , Shi Li , Yao Yufeng
Published: April 2020

Background: Antigen-processing machinery molecules play crucial roles in infectious diseases and cancers. Studies have shown that polymorphisms in endoplasmic reticulum aminopeptidase (ERAP) genes can influence the enzymatic activity of ERAP proteins and are associated with the risk of diseases. In the current study, we evaluated the influence of ERAP gene (ERAP1 and ERAP2) polymorphisms on susceptibility to cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and cervical cancer. Methods: Six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ERAP1 and 5 SNPs in ERAP2 were selected and genotyped in 556 CIN patients, 1072 cervical cancer patients, and 1262 healthy control individuals. Candidate SNPs were genotyped using SNaPshot assay. And the association of these SNPs with CIN and cervical cancer was analysed. Results: The results showed that allelic and genotypic frequencies of rs26653 in ERAP1 were significantly different between cervical cancer and control groups (P=0.001 and 0.004). The allelic frequencies of rs27044 in ERAP1 and rs2287988 in ERAP2 were significantly different between control and cervical cancer groups (P=0.003 and 0.004). Inheritance model analysis showed that genotypes of rs27044, rs26618, rs26653 and rs2287988 SNPs may be associated with the risk of cervical cancer (P=0.003, 0.004, 0.001 and 0.002). Additionally, haplotype analysis results showed that the ERAP1 haplotype, rs27044C-rs30187T-rs26618T-rs26653G-rs3734016C, was associated with a lower risk of cervical cancer (P=0.001). The ERAP2 haplotypes rs2549782G- rs2548538A-rs2248374A-rs2287988G-rs1056893T (P=0.009 and 0.006) and rs2549782T-rs2548538T-rs2248374G-rs2287988A-rs1056893T (P=0.003 and 0.009) might be associated with cervical cancer and the development from CIN to cervical cancer. Conclusion: Our results indicated that rs27044, rs26618 and rs26653 in ERAP1 and rs2287988 in ERAP2 influenced susceptibility to cervical cancer.
Magnitude of Turnover Intention and Associated Factors Among Nurses Working in Emergency Departments of Governmental Hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A cross sectional institutional based study.
Authors: Aniley Andualem Wubetie , Taye Biniyam , Girma Biruk
Published: April 2020

Background: The turnover intention is a probability of an employee to leave his or her current job within a certain period due to various factors. It is the strongest predictor of actual turnover which is expected to increase as the intention increases. Emergency Department(ED) nurses are especially vulnerable to turnover because of their increased potential for developing burnout and compassion fatigue in which the work environment has a great role. Objective : To assess the magnitude and associated factors that affect turnover intention among nurses working in emergency departments of selected governmental hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: Institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted on 102 nurses in three selected governmental hospitals, Addis Ababa from February 19 to March 31, 2018, using a structured pre-tested self-administered questionnaire. Logistic regression model was used and adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was calculated to identify associated factors. Result: A total of 102 respondents were involved with a response rate of 91.1%. Among them, 79 (77.5%) respondents had the intention to leave the current working unit of the emergency department or hospital. Significant predictive factors of nurses' intention to leave their jobs are educational status (adjusted odds ratio (OR) =4.700, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.033- 50.772; p <0.048), monthly income of Less than 3145 ETB (adjusted OR=6.05, 95% CI=1.056-34.641; p <0.043) and professional autonomy (adjusted OR=0.191, 95% CI=0.040- 0.908; p <0.037). Conclusion: more than 75% of the respondents has intention to leave their current working place of emergency unit. Educational status; monthly income and autonomy were significantly associated with emergency nurses‟ turnover intention in three governmental hospitals. Emergency leaders and hospital managers should have made efforts to enhance nurses' decision making for patient care activities and shared decision overwork or unit related activities.
Knockdown of hsa_circ_0074298 suppressed the progression of pancreatic cancer by targeting the miR-519/SMOC2 axis
Authors: Chen Hong , Xu Dafang , Wang Lishan , Zhou Jiahua
Published: April 2020

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic cancer (PC) is among the most malignant tumors in digestive system because of its fast progression, metastasis, as well as its resistance to chemotherapy. Former studies found that circRNAs that were differentially expressed were correlated with progression and gemcitabine (GEM)-resistance in PC, and hsa_circ_0074298 aberrant expression played a role in PC progression, but the regulatory mechanism was unclear. METHODS: The RT-qPCR was used to detect hsa_circ_0074298 expression in PC cell lines. The CCK8, colony formation, and Transwell assays were used to evaluate the effect of hsa_circ_0074298 on PC cell migration and proliferation. Bioinformatics and luciferase reporter experiments were used to characterize the regulatory mechanism. Nude mouse xenografts were generated to examine the effect of hsa_circ_0074298 on tumor growth. RESULTS: The present study showed that hsa_circ_0074298 expression increased significantly in both PC cell lines and PC tissues. Downregulation of hsa_circ_0074298 caused a significant decrease in PC cell proliferation and in nude mouse xenograft growth. Hsa_circ_0074298 silencing also increased chemotherapy sensitivity to GEM. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that hsa_circ_0074298 was a miR-519 sponge and that the SMOC2 gene was a miR-519 target. MiR-519 downregulation or SMOC2 overexpression restored cell proliferation, migration, and chemoresistance after hsa_circ_0074298 silencing. The dual luciferase reporter assay showed that hsa_circ_0074298 interacted with miR-519, and miR-519 binding to the SMOC2 3′-UTR, then suppressed posttranscriptional SMOC2 expression. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, hsa_circ_0074298 functioned as a tumor promoter through a novel miR-519/SMOC2 axis, highlighting its possibility as a potential therapy for PC.
Fluorescence labeling of a NaV1.7-targeted peptide for near-infrared nerve visualization
Authors: Gonzales Junior , Pirovano Giacomo , Chow Chun Yuen , Franca Paula Demetrio de Souza , Carter Lukas M. , Klint Julie Kaae , Guru Navjot , Lewis Jason S. , King Glenn F. , Reiner Thomas
Published: April 2020

Background Accidental peripheral nerve injury during surgical intervention results in a broad spectrum of potentially debilitating side effects. Tissue distortion and poor visibility can significantly increase the risk of nerve injury with long-lasting consequences for the patient. We developed and characterized Hs1a-FL, a fluorescent near-infrared molecule for nerve visualization in the operating theater with the aim of helping physicians to visualize nerves during surgery. Hs1a was derived from the venom of the Chinese bird spider, Haplopelma schmidti, and conjugated to Cy7.5 dye. Hs1a-FL was injected intravenously in mice and harvested nerves were imaged microscopically and with epifluorescence.Results Hs1a-FL showed specific and stable binding to the sodium channel NaV1.7, present on the surface of human and mouse nerves. Hs1a-FL allowed epifluorescence visualization of sciatic mouse nerves with favorable nerve-to-muscle contrast.Conclusions Fluorescent NaV1.7-targeted tracers have the potential to be adopted clinically for the intraoperative visualization of peripheral nerves during surgery, providing guidance for the surgeon and potentially improving the standard of care.
Supervisors’ intention to observe clinical task performance: an exploratory study using the Theory of Planned Behaviour during postgraduate medical training
Authors: de Jonge Laury PJWM , Mesters Ilse , Govaerts Marjan JB , Timmerman Angelique A , Muris Jean WM , Kramer Anneke WM , Vleuten Cees PM van der
Published: April 2020

Background Direct observation of clinical task performance plays a pivotal role in competency-based medical education. Although formal guidelines require supervisors to engage in direct observations, research demonstrates that trainees are infrequently observed. Supervisors may not only experience practical and socio-cultural barriers to direct observations in healthcare settings, they may also question usefulness or have low perceived self-efficacy in performing direct observations. A better understanding of how these multiple factors interact to influence supervisors’ intention to perform direct observations may help us to more effectively implement the aforementioned guidelines and increase the frequency of direct observations. Methods We conducted an exploratory quantitative study, using the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) as our theoretical framework. In applying the TPB, we transfer a psychological theory to medical education to get insight in the influence of cognitive and emotional processes on intentions to use direct observations in workplace based learning and assessment. We developed an instrument to investigate supervisors intention to perform direct observations. The relationships between the TPB measures of our questionnaire were explored by computing bivariate correlations using Pearson’s R tests. Hierarchical regression analysis was performed in order to assess the impact of the respective TPB measures as predictors on the intention to perform direct observations. Results In our study 82 GP supervisors completed our TPB questionnaire. We found that supervisors had a positive attitude towards direct observations. Our TPB model explained 45% of the variance in supervisors’ intentions to perform them. Normative beliefs and past behaviour were significant determinants of this intention.Conclusion Our study suggests that supervisors use their past experiences to form intentions to perform direct observations in a careful, thoughtful manner and, in doing so, also take the preferences of the learner and other stakeholders potentially engaged in direct observations into consideration. These findings have potential implications for research into work-based assessments and the development of training interventions to foster a shared mental model on the use of direct observations.