bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Data-driven multi-scale mathematical modeling of SARS-CoV-2 infection reveals heterogeneity among COVID-19 patients
Authors: Wang Shun , Hao Mengqian , Pan Zishu , Lei Jinzhi , Zou Xiufen
Published: November 2021

Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) often exhibit diverse disease progressions associated with various infectious ability, symptoms, and clinical treatments. To systematically and thoroughly understand the heterogeneous progression of COVID-19, we developed a multi-scale computational model to quantitatively understand the heterogeneous progression of COVID-19 patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-like coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). The model consists of intracellular viral dynamics, multicellular infection process, and immune responses, and was formulated using a combination of differential equations and stochastic modeling. By integrating multi-source clinical data with model analysis, we quantified individual heterogeneity using two indexes, i.e., the ratio of infected cells and incubation period. Specifically, our simulations revealed that increasing the host antiviral state or virus induced type I interferon (IFN) production rate can prolong the incubation period and postpone the transition from asymptomatic to symptomatic outcomes. We further identified the threshold dynamics of T cell exhaustion in the transition between mild-moderate and severe symptoms, and that patients with severe symptoms exhibited a lack of naïve T cells at a late stage. In addition, we quantified the efficacy of treating COVID-19 patients and investigated the effects of various therapeutic strategies. Simulations results suggested that single antiviral therapy is sufficient for moderate patients, while combination therapies and prevention of T cell exhaustion are needed for severe patients. These results highlight the critical roles of IFN and T cell responses in regulating the stage transition during COVID-19 progression. Our study reveals a quantitative relationship underpinning the heterogeneity of transition stage during COVID-19 progression and can provide a potential guidance for personalized therapy in COVID-19 patients.
Synergism therapeutic and immunoregulatory effects of Albendazole + rAd-mIL-28B against Echinococcosis in experiment-infected mice with protoscoleces
Authors: Zhang Yan , Wang Jianghua , Yang Qingxia , Li Zhi , Xu Xiaoying , Chen Chong , Hou Zongjie , He Qi , Sheng Li , Ma Xingming , Luo Yanping
Published: November 2021

The metacestode stage ofEchinococcus granulosuscan cause cystic echinococcosis (CE), which still widely occurs around the world. Since the early 1970s, benzimidazoles have been shown to inhibit the growth of cysts and used to treat CE. However, benzimidazoles are still ineffective in 20%-40% of cases. In order to explore the new agents against CE, we have investigated the therapeutic effect of the recombinant adenoviral vector expressing mouse IL-28B (rAd-mIL-28B) on protoscoleces-infected mice. In our study, we successfully established the model mice which infected with protoscoleces intraperitoneally. At 18 weeks post-infection, the mice received rAd-mIL-28B (1×107PFU) weekly by intramuscular injection for 6 weeks. Compared with the untreated control (13.1 ± 2.2 g), there was a significant reduction in cysts wet weight in rAd-mIL-28B group (8.3 ± 3.5 g) (P < 0.05), especially in Albendazole (ABZ) + rAd-mIL-28B group (5.8 ± 1.4 g) (P < 0.01). We also observed the severe damage of the germinal layer and the laminated layer of cysts after treatment. rAd-mIL-28B group showed a prominent increase in the level of Th1 type cytokines (such as IFN-γ, IL-2 and TNF-α). Meanwhile, the frequency of Foxp3+T cells was decreased in the rAd-mIL-28B group (4.83 ± 0.81%) and ABZ + rAd-mIL-28B group (4.60 ± 0.51%), comparing with the untreated group (8.13 ± 2.60%) (P < 0.05). In addition, compared with the untreated control (122.14 ± 81.09 pg/ml), the level of IFN-γ significantly increased in peritoneal fluid in the rAd-mIL-28B group (628.87 ± 467.16 pg/ml) (P < 0.05) and ABZ + rAd-mIL-28B group (999.76 ± 587.60 pg/ml) (P < 0.001). Taken together, it suggested that ABZ + IL-28B may be a potential therapeutic agent against CE.
Affective touch topography and body image
Authors: Cazzato Valentina , Sacchetti Sofia , Shin Shelby , Makdani Adarsh , Trotter Paula D. , McGlone Francis
Published: November 2021

Recent evidence suggests that altered responses to affective touch—a pleasant interoceptive stimulus associated with activation of the C-Tactile (CT) system—may contribute to the aetiology and maintenance of mental conditions characterised by body image disturbances (e.g., Anorexia Nervosa). Here, we investigated whether tactile pleasantness and intensity differ across body sites, and if individual differences in dysmorphic appearance concerns and body and emotional awareness might be associated with touch perceptions across body sites. To this end, we measured perceived pleasantness and intensity of gentle, dynamic stroking touches applied to the palm, forearm, face, abdomen and back of 30 female participants (mean age: 25.87±1.17yrs) using CT-optimal (3 cm/s) and non-CT optimal (0.3 and 30 cm/s) stroking touch. As expected, participants rated CT-targeted touch as more pleasant compared to the two non-CT optimal stroking touch at all body sites. Regardless of stroking velocity, touch applied to the abdomen elicited the lowest pleasantness ratings. Lower levels of emotional awareness, greater levels of interoceptive sensibility and of dysmorphic concerns were associated with lower preference for CT-optimal stroking touch applied to the forearm and the back. These findings begin to elucidate the link between CT sensitivity, dysmorphic appearance concerns and body and emotional awareness, which may have implications for future research looking to inform early interventions. Addressing impaired processing of affective interoceptive stimuli, such as CT-targeted touch, may be the key to current treatment approaches available for those populations at risk of disorders characterised by body image disturbance.
Comparison of hybrid learning and remote education in the implementation of the “Adopt a Microorganism” methodology
Authors: Rodrigues Cintra Armellini Bárbara , La Luna Alexandre , Bueris Vanessa , Pinto de Almeida Alisson , Moraes Tamais Alicia , Krzyzanowski Flavio , Hasten Reiter Victor Samuel , Lellis-Santos Camilo , Café Ferreira Rita de Cássia
Published: November 2021

The Internet has changed the way teachers and students access information and build knowledge. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has created challenges for both teachers and students and a demand for new methodologies of remote learning. In the life sciences, mixing online content with practical activities represents an even greater challenge. In microbiology, the implementation of an active teaching methodology, the #Adopt project, based on the social network Facebook®, represents an excellent option for connecting remote education with classroom activities. In 2020, the version applied in high school, “Adopt a Microorganism”, was adapted to meet the demands of emergency remote education owing to the suppression of face-to-face activities caused by the pandemic. In the present study, we assessed how the change in methodology impacted the discourse richness of students from high school integrated with technical education in the Business Administration program of the Federal Institute of São Paulo, Sorocaba Campus. Three questionnaires related to the groups of microorganisms (Archaea, Bacteria, Virus, Fungi, and Protozoan) were applied. The students’ responses in the 2019 and 2020 classes were compared concerning content richness and multiplicity of concepts through the application of the Shannon diversity index, an approach that is generally used to assess biodiversity in different environments. The observed results suggest that remote learning provided students with a conceptual basis and richness of content equivalent to that achieved by students subjected to the hybrid teaching model. In conclusion, this study suggests that the #Adopt project methodology increases students’ discourse richness in microbiology even without face-to-face traditional classes.
Community health and human-animal contacts on the edges of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda
Authors: Muylaert Renata L. , Davidson Ben , Ngabirano Alex , Kalema-Zikusoka Gladys , MacGregor Hayley , Lloyd-Smith James O. , Fayaz Ahmed , Knox Matthew A. , Hayman David T. S.
Published: November 2021

Cross-species transmission of pathogens is intimately linked to human and environmental health. With limited healthcare and challenging living conditions, people living in poverty may be particularly susceptible to endemic and emerging diseases. Similarly, wildlife is impacted by human influences, including pathogen sharing, especially for species in close contact with people and domesticated animals. Here we investigate human and animal contacts and human health in a community living around the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (BINP), Uganda. We used contact and health survey data to identify opportunities for cross-species pathogen transmission, focusing mostly on people and the endangered mountain gorilla. We conducted a survey with background questions and self-reported diaries to investigate 100 participants’ health, such as symptoms and behaviours, and contact patterns, including direct contacts and sightings over a week. Contacts were revealed through networks, including humans, domestic, peri-domestic, and wild animal groups for 1) contacts seen in the week of background questionnaire completion, and 2) contacts seen during the diary week. Participants frequently felt unwell during the study, reporting from one to 10 disease symptoms at different intensity levels, with severe symptoms comprising 6.4% of the diary records and tiredness and headaches the most common symptoms. After human-human contacts, direct contact with livestock and peri-domestic animals were the most common. The contact networks were moderately connected and revealed a preference in contacts within the same taxon and within their taxa groups. Sightings of wildlife were much more common than touching. However, despite contact with wildlife being the rarest of all contact types, one direct contact with a gorilla with a timeline including concerning participant health symptoms was reported. When considering all interaction types, gorillas mostly exhibited intra-species contact, but were found to interact with five other species, including people and domestic animals. Our findings reveal a local human population with recurrent symptoms of illness in a location with intense exposure to factors that can increase pathogen transmission, such as direct contact with domestic and wild animals and proximity among animal species. Despite significant biases and study limitations, the information generated here can guide future studies, such as models for disease spread and One Health interventions.
Suicide disparities across metropolitan areas in the US: A comparative assessment of socio-environmental factors using a data-driven predictive approach
Authors: Mukherjee Sayanti , Wei Zhiyuan
Published: November 2021

Disparity in suicide rates across various metropolitan areas in the US is growing. Besides personal genomics and pre-existing mental health conditions affecting individual-level suicidal behaviors, contextual factors are also instrumental in determining region-/community-level suicide risk. However, there is a lack of quantitative approach to model the complex associations and interplays of the socio-environmental factors with the regional suicide rates. In this paper, we propose a holistic data-driven framework to model the associations of socio-environmental factors (demographic, socio-economic, and climate) with the suicide rates, and compare the key socio-environmental determinants of suicides across the large and medium/small metros of the vulnerable US states, leveraging a suite of advanced statistical learning algorithms. We found that random forest outperforms all the other models in terms of both in-sample goodness-of-fit and out-of-sample predictive accuracy, which is then used for statistical inferencing. Overall, our findings show that there is a significant difference in the relationships of socio-environmental factors with the suicide rates across the large and medium/small metropolitan areas of the vulnerable US states. Particularly, suicides in medium/small metros are more sensitive to socio-economic and demographic factors, while that in large metros are more sensitive to climatic factors. Our results also indicate that non-Hispanics, native Hawaiian or Pacific islanders, and adolescents aged 15-29 years, residing in the large metropolitan areas, are more vulnerable to suicides compared to those living in the medium/small metropolitan areas. We also observe that higher temperatures are positively associated with higher suicide rates, with large metros being more sensitive to such association compared to that of the medium/small metros. Our proposed data-driven framework underscores the future opportunities of using big data analytics in analyzing the complex associations of socio-environmental factors and inform policy actions accordingly.
Bayesian inference across multiple models suggests a strong increase in lethality of COVID-19 in late 2020 in the UK
Authors: Pietzonka Patrick , Brorson Erik , Bankes William , Cates Michael E. , Jack Robert L. , Adhikari Ronojoy
Published: November 2021

We apply Bayesian inference methods to a suite of distinct compartmental models of generalised SEIR type, in which diagnosis and quarantine are included via extra compartments. We investigate the evidence for a change in lethality of COVID-19 in late autumn 2020 in the UK, using age-structured, weekly national aggregate data for cases and mortalities. Models that allow a (step-like or graded) change in infection fatality rate (IFR) have consistently higher model evidence than those without. Moreover, they all infer a close to two-fold increase in IFR. This value lies well above most previously available estimates. However, the same models consistently infer that, most probably, the increase in IFR preceded the time window during which variant B.1.1.7 (alpha) became the dominant strain in the UK. Therefore, according to our models, the caseload and mortality data do not offer unequivocal evidence for higher lethality of a new variant. We compare these results for the UK with similar models for Germany and France, which also show increases in inferred IFR during the same period, despite the even later arrival of new variants in those countries. We argue that while the new variant(s) may be one contributing cause of a large increase in IFR in the UK in autumn 2020, other factors, such as seasonality, or pressure on health services, are likely to also have contributed.
Money matters (especially if you are good at math): Numeracy, verbal intelligence, education, and income in satisfaction judgments
Authors: Bjälkebring Pär , Peters Ellen
Published: November 2021

Objective numeracy, the ability to understand and use mathematical concepts, has been related to superior decisions and life outcomes. Unknown is whether it relates to greater satisfaction in life. We investigated numeracy’s relations with income satisfaction and overall life satisfaction in a diverse sample of 5,525 American adults. First, more numerate individuals had higher incomes; for every one point higher on the eight-item numeracy test, individuals reported $4,062 more in annual income, controlling for education and verbal intelligence. Combined, numeracy, education, and verbal intelligence explained 25% of the variance in income while Big-5 personality traits explained less than 4%. Further, the higher incomes associated with greater numeracy were related to more positive life evaluations (income and life satisfaction). Second, extant research also has indicated that the highly numerate compare numbers more than the less numerate. Consistent with numeracy-related income comparisons, numeracy moderated the relation between income and life evaluations, meaning that the same income was valued differently by those better and worse at math. Specifically, among those with lower incomes, the highly numerate were less satisfied than the less numerate; this effect reversed among those with higher incomes as if the highly numerate were aware of and made comparisons to others’ incomes. Further, no clear income satiation point was seen among those highest in numeracy, and satiation among the least numerate appeared to occur at a point below $50,000. Third, both education and verbal intelligence related to income evaluations in similar ways, and numeracy’s relations held when controlling for these other relations. Although causal claims cannot be made from cross-sectional data, these novel results indicate that numeracy may be an important factor underlying life evaluations and especially for evaluations concerning numbers such as incomes. Finally, this study adds to our understanding of education and intelligence effects in life satisfaction and happiness.
Large-scale interactive retrieval in art collections using multi-style feature aggregation
Authors: Ufer Nikolai , Simon Max , Lang Sabine , Ommer Björn
Published: November 2021

Finding objects and motifs across artworks is of great importance for art history as it helps to understand individual works and analyze relations between them. The advent of digitization has produced extensive digital art collections with many research opportunities. However, manual approaches are inadequate to handle this amount of data, and it requires appropriate computer-based methods to analyze them. This article presents a visual search algorithm and user interface to support art historians to find objects and motifs in extensive datasets. Artistic image collections are subject to significant domain shifts induced by large variations in styles, artistic media, and materials. This poses new challenges to most computer vision models which are trained on photographs. To alleviate this problem, we introduce a multi-style feature aggregation that projects images into the same distribution, leading to more accurate and style-invariant search results. Our retrieval system is based on a voting procedure combined with fast nearest-neighbor search and enables finding and localizing motifs within an extensive image collection in seconds. The presented approach significantly improves the state-of-the-art in terms of accuracy and search time on various datasets and applies to large and inhomogeneous collections. In addition to the search algorithm, we introduce a user interface that allows art historians to apply our algorithm in practice. The interface enables users to search for single regions, multiple regions regarding different connection types and holds an interactive feedback system to improve retrieval results further. With our methodological contribution and easy-to-use user interface, this work manifests further progress towards a computer-based analysis of visual art.
Games and enculturation: A cross-cultural analysis of cooperative goal structures in Austronesian games
Authors: Leisterer-Peoples Sarah M. , Ross Cody T. , Greenhill Simon J. , Hardecker Susanne , Haun Daniel B. M.
Published: November 2021

While most animals play, only humans play games. As animal play serves to teach offspring important life-skills in a safe scenario, human games might, in similar ways, teach important culturally relevant skills. Humans in all cultures play games; however, it is not clear whether variation in the characteristics of games across cultural groups is related to group-level attributes. Here we investigate specifically whether the cooperativeness of games covaries with socio-ecological differences across cultural groups. We hypothesize that cultural groups that engage in frequent inter-group conflict, cooperative sustenance acquisition, or that have less stratified social structures, might more frequently play cooperative games as compared to groups that do not share these characteristics. To test these hypotheses, we gathered data from the ethnographic record on 25 ethnolinguistic groups in the Austronesian language family. We show that cultural groups with higher levels of inter-group conflict and cooperative land-based hunting play cooperative games more frequently than other groups. Additionally, cultural groups with higher levels of intra-group conflict play competitive games more frequently than other groups. These findings indicate that games are not randomly distributed among cultures, but rather relate to the socio-ecological settings of the cultural groups that practice them. We argue that games serve as training grounds for group-specific norms and values and thereby have an important function in enculturation during childhood. Moreover, games might server an important role in the maintenance of cultural diversity.
Pre hospital delay and its associated factors in acute myocardial infarction in a developing country
Authors: Chowdhury Ishmum Zia , Amin Md. Nurul , Chowdhury Mashhud Zia , Rahman Sharar Muhib , Ahmed Mohsin , Cader F. Aaysha
Published: November 2021

Background

Early revascularization and treatment is key to improving clinical outcomes and reducing mortality in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In low- and middle-income countries such as Bangladesh, timely management of AMI is challenging, with pre-hospital delays playing a significant role. This study was designed to investigate pre-hospital delay and its associated factors among patients presenting with AMI in the capital city of Dhaka.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study was conducted on 333 patients presenting with AMI over a 3-month period at two of the largest primary reperfusion-capable tertiary cardiac care centres in Dhaka. Of the total patients, 239(71.8%) were admitted in the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Dhaka and 94(28.2%) at Ibrahim Cardiac Hospital & Research Institute, Dhaka Data were collected from patients by semi-structured interview and hospital medical records. Pre-hospital delay (median and inter-quartile range) was calculated. Statistical significance was determined by Chi-square test. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was done to determine the independent predictors of pre-hospital delay.

Results

The mean age of the respondents was 53.8±11.2 years. Two-thirds (67.6%) of the respondents were males. Median total pre-hospital delay was 11.5 (IQR-18.3) hours with median decision time from symptom onset to seeking medical care being 3.0 (IQR: 11.0) hours. Nearly half (48.9%) of patients presented to the hospital more than 12 hours after symptom onset. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, AMI patients with absence of typical chest pain [OR 5.21; (95% CI: 2.5–9.9)], diabetes [OR: 1.7 (95% CI: 1.0–2.9)], residing/staying > 30 km away from nearest hospital at the time of onset [OR: 4.3(95% CI = 2.3–7.2)] and belonged to lower and middle class [OR: 1.9(95% CI = 1.0–3.5)] were significantly associated with pre-hospital delays.

Conclusion

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients with atypical chest pain, diabetes, staying far away from nearest hospital and belonged to lower and middle socioeconomic strata were significantly associated with pre-hospital delays. The findings could have immense implications for improvements about timely reaching of AMI patients to the hospital within the context of their sociodemographic status and geographic barriers of the city.
In-vitro antibiotic resistance phenotypes of respiratory and enteric bacterial isolates from weaned dairy heifers in California
Authors: Depenbrock Sarah , Aly Sharif , Wenz John , Williams Deniece , ElAshmawy Wagdy , Clothier Kristin , Fritz Heather , McArthur Gary , Heller Meera , Chigerwe Munashe
Published: November 2021

Antimicrobial drug (AMD) use for bovine respiratory disease (BRD) continues to be concerning for development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in respiratory and enteric bacteria of cattle. This study aimed to provide data regarding AMR in respiratory isolates, and identify relationships between respiratory and enteric AMD susceptibility, in weaned dairy heifers. A cross-sectional study was performed between June of 2019 and February 2020, on 6 calf rearing facilities in California. Deep nasopharyngeal and rectal swabs were collected from 341 weaned heifers and submitted for selective bacterial culture and AMR testing. Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, and Histophilus somni were selectively isolated from respiratory samples; Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. were selectively isolated from rectal swabs. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined for selected isolates against 19 AMD. The proportion of resistant isolates was calculated using Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (respiratory) or USDA NARMS (enteric) breakpoints; when no applicable breakpoint was available, the distribution of MIC was described and compared. Association between AMR in a calf’s respiratory isolate and a higher or lower MIC of the matched enteric isolates was determined. More than 50% of P. multocida isolates were resistant to each of 7 AMD commonly used to treat BRD (florfenicol, gamithromycin, tildipirosin, tilmicosin, danofloxacin, enrofloxacin and tetracycline). Resistance in respiratory isolates was only associated with higher matched enteric MIC for gamithromycin and tulathromycin. Multidrug resistance was reported in >70% of P. multocida and M. haemolytica isolates. Antimicrobial resistance, including multidrug resistance, in respiratory isolates appears to be widespread in weaned dairy heifers; this finding has not previously been reported and raises concern for the future efficacy of AMD used to treat respiratory diseases in weaned dairy heifers. Enteric bacterial MIC appear to have limited direct association with respiratory isolate AMR classification.
The role of education, religiosity and development on support for violent practices among Muslims in thirty-five countries
Authors: Gullickson Aaron , Ahmed Sarah
Published: November 2021

Despite widespread scholarly interest in values and attitudes among Muslim populations, relatively little work has focused on specific attitudes popularly thought to indicate anti-modern or anti-liberal tendencies within Islam. In this article, we use data from the Pew Research Center from 2008-2012 to examine support for violent practices among Muslims in thirty-five countries. Support for violent practices is defined by three questions on the acceptability of killing apostates, the stoning of adulterers, and severe corporal punishment for thieves. Using multilevel models that capture country-level variability, we analyze the relationship between support for violent practices and education, religiosity, and development. In general, we find that support for violent practices is less common among individuals with more education and less religiosity and who come from more developed countries. However, when we examine variation across countries, we see evidence of substantial heterogeneity in the association of education and religiosity with support for violent practices. We find that education is more liberalizing in more liberal countries and in less developed countries. The effects of religiosity are also related to country-level context but vary depending on how religiosity is measured. Overall, the variation we observe across countries calls into question a civilizational approach to studying values among Muslim populations and points to a more detailed multiple modernities approach.
Plasma obtained following murine hindlimb ischemic conditioning protects against oxidative stress in zebrafish models through activation of nrf2a and downregulation of duox
Authors: Guan Rui , Wen Xiao-yan , Leung Chung Ho , Ciano-Oliveira Caterina Di , Lam Stephen , Dai Si Yuan , Karbassi Farhad , Mauro Antonio , Wang Youdong , Rotstein Ori
Published: November 2021

Ischemia/reperfusion of organ systems in trauma patients with resuscitated hemorrhagic shock (HSR) contributes to tissue injury and organ dysfunction. Previous studies using a murine model of HSR showed that remote ischemic preconditioning (RIC) protected against organ injury and that the plasma was able to prevent neutrophil migration in a zebrafish tailfin-cut inflammation model. In this study, we hypothesized that RIC plasma inhibits neutrophil function through a decrease in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production via the upregulation of the transcription factor Nrf2 and downstream antioxidative genes. Plasma from mice subjected to RIC (4 cycles of 5-min hindlimb ischemia/reperfusion) was microinjected into zebrafish. The results show that RIC plasma caused a reduction of ROS generation in response to tail injury. In addition, RIC plasma protected the fish larvae in the survival studies when exposed to either H2O2 or LPS. Oxidative stress PCR Array showed that RIC plasma treatment led to upregulation of antioxidative related genes including hsp70, hmox1a, nqo1 as well as downregulation of duox, the producer of H2O2. To explore the role of nrf2 in RIC, RIC plasma from Nrf2 KO mice were injected to the zebrafish and showed no inhibitory effect on neutrophil migration. Moreover, knockdown of nrf2a attenuated the anti-inflammatory and protective effect of RIC plasma. The downregulation of duox and upregulation of hmox1a were confirmed to require the activation of nrf2a. Therefore, we show that the protective effect of RIC may be related to the elaboration of humoral factors which counter injury-induced ROS generation in a nrf2-dependent fashion.
Adipocyte STAT5 deficiency does not affect blood glucose homeostasis in obese mice
Authors: Beghini Marianna , Wagner Theresia , Luca Andreea Corina , Metz Matthäus , Kaltenecker Doris , Spirk Katrin , Hackl Martina Theresa , Haybaeck Johannes , Moriggl Richard , Kautzky-Willer Alexandra , Scherer Thomas , Fürnsinn Clemens
Published: November 2021

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the lack of signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) in mature adipocytes of obese mice (Stat5Adipoq mice) improves glucose and lipid metabolism as previously observed in lean mice. Male Stat5Adipoq mice and their wild type (WT) littermates were fed high-fat diet (HFD). Effects of adipocyte STAT5 deficiency on adiposity as well as on glucose and lipid metabolism were determined under ad libitum feeding and after weight loss induced by calorie restriction. Compared to WT mice, obese Stat5Adipoq mice showed modestly accelerated weight gain and blunted depletion of fat stores under calorie restriction (reduction in % body fat after 3 weeks: WT, -9.3±1.1, vs Stat5Adipoq, -5.9±0.8, p = 0.04). No differences were observed between Stat5Adipoq and WT mice with regard to parameters of glucose and lipid metabolism including basal glycaemia, glucose tolerance, and plasma triglycerides. In conclusion, STAT5 deficiency in the adipocyte of HFD-fed obese mice was associated with increased fat accumulation. In contrast to previous findings in lean mice, however, lipid accumulation was not associated with any improvement in glucose and lipid metabolism. Our results do not support adipocyte STAT5 as a promising target for the treatment of obesity-associated metabolic derangements.
A study of intermedia and interorganizational agenda-setting in the news coverage of the Ebola virus on Twitter
Authors: Al-Rawi Ahmed , Groshek Jacob
Published: November 2021

The Ebola virus is a rare but often severe and fatal illness in humans. It spreads from animals to humans and then transgresses through human-to-human transmission. The 2014 Ebola virus disease outbreak captured substantial media attention around the world, which is the cornerstone of our study since it can inform us about the current news coverage on the COVID-19 pandemic. This article investigates the media coverage of Ebola in five pairs of English and Arabic international television media outlets (BBC, CNN, SkyNews, RT and France24) by examining the headlines of 298,559 news stories that the respective organizations posted on their official Twitter accounts. Methodologically, we extracted headlines from news outlets that addressed the news on the Ebola virus in two languages: English and Arabic. The media outlets include the following: CNN (English and Arabic), BBC (English and Arabic), SkyNews (English and Arabic), RT (formerly known as Russia Today) (English and Arabic) and France24 (English and Arabic) from late 2013 to early 2015 during which time the Ebola epidemic intensified. We then used descriptive statistics to understand the volume of news coverage and calculate the frequencies, percentages, mean, median and standard deviations for these channels. Further, we continued to model time series regression between the five pairs of news outlets using Granger causality tests. The findings show that over the course of approximately one year’s worth of coverage on these networks, Ebola was mentioned in the headlines of 4138 stories, which constitutes 1.38 per cent of the total news coverage of all media outlets. Building on the theory of intermedia agenda-setting that outlines the ways in which major news organizations influence the agendas of other news outlets, the findings reported here indicate strong, time-ordered patterns where English-language coverage consistently precedes and helps to significantly explain the distribution of Arabic media coverage. In addition to providing evidence of intermedia agenda-setting from a comparative perspective in this context, this article expands on this theory and suggests that it can be applied to multilingual outlets from the same news organizations.
Es necesario que los actores nos ganemos, con nuestro comportamiento, con nuestro estudio, con nuestra dedicación, el respeto del público
Authors: Álvarez Barrientos Joaquín
Published: November 2021

El artículo aborda algunos aspectos relativos a los medios que emplearon los actores para prestigiar su profesión, desde la creación de instituciones de enseñanza a un discurso moral, de respeto y político, desde el siglo XVIII al XIX.
Trayectoria artística de Joaquina Baus Ponce de León
Authors: Ballesteros Dorado Ana Isabel
Published: November 2021

En este artículo se muestra la carrera escénica de una primera actriz apenas estudiada hasta hoy. Se deshacen errores transmitidos sobre sus antecedentes familiares, se presentan sus primeras actuaciones, la evolución de su salario y de los papeles que encarnó, como así mismo su actividad en distintos teatros y compañías y la repercusión de sus trabajos en el público y la crítica de su tiempo.
Carmen Cobeña y Federico Oliver, empresarios del Teatro Español de Madrid (1909-1910)
Authors: Menéndez-Onrubia Carmen
Published: November 2021

El teatro Español de Madrid, de propiedad municipal, era explotado por empresarios comerciales o por actores convertidos en empresarios. La adjudicación del mismo se hacía por concurso, y en la temporada teatral de 1909-1910, no sin polémica en la prensa y con pareceres dispares entre los miembros de la Comisión de espectáculos del Ayuntamiento, recayó en la primera actriz Carmen Cobeña y su esposo, el dramaturgo Federico Oliver. El pliego de condiciones recogía las cláusulas a cumplir: solo se pondrían en escena producciones de autores españoles, número mínimo de funciones, de estrenos, de obras clásicas, de autores noveles y de dramaturgos contemporáneos a representar, por una compañía de primer orden y con una escenografía adecuada. Al análisis de las circunstancias en que se desenvolvió esa temporada teatral va dedicado el presente trabajo.
La trayectoria vital de los actores del siglo XVIII: Un componente de la historia teatral por explorar
Authors: Peytavy Christian
Published: November 2021

Los datos sobre la vida y la actividad de los actores, vistos como seres individuales y no como grupo, son numerosos pero muy dispersos. Recopilarlos gracias a herramientas modernas como MOVACT parece indispensable hoy en día: a través del prisma de la trayectoria vital de los actores, su movilidad por la Península, las compañías de las que formaron parte y las obras en las que actuaron, no solamente podremos conocerlos mejor, sino que afinaremos nuestro conocimiento de la actividad teatral en España en la segunda mitad del siglo XVIII y podremos abrir nuevas perspectivas de investigación.
Clarín y el teatro: catorce cartas inéditas de María Guerrero, Fernando Díaz de Mendoza y José Echegaray
Authors: Rubio Jiménez Jesús
Published: November 2021

Clarín mantuvo correspondencia con diferentes actores. En este ensayo se recuperan algunas cartas de dos de ellos, María Guerrero y Fernando Díaz de Mendoza, relativas sobre todo a su drama Teresa. Su lectura contrastada con las correspondientes cartas de Clarín permite conocer cómo entendían el trabajo de los actores y la puesta en escena. Sus intereses eran diferentes y su colaboración por ello acabó descarrilando.
Matilde Díez, La Divina, en Barcelona: El año cómico de 1836-1837
Authors: Soria Tomás Guadalupe
Published: November 2021

El artículo estudia la trayectoria artística de Matilde Díez en el año cómico de 1836-1837, cuando se ajusta como primera dama en el Teatro de la Santa Cruz de Barcelona. En esa temporada, en la que se gana el apodo de La divina, destaca por sus interpretaciones del repertorio de Dumas, entre otros dramas románticos. Gran parte del mismo estaba traducido por Covert-Spring –José Andreu y Fontcuberta–, cuyas críticas en, entre otros, El Vapor, contribuyeron, junto con una amplia producción poética laudatoria, a consolidar su notoriedad. Heredera escénica de Concepción Rodríguez, desarrolló una dilatada carrera que la convirtió en la actriz de referencia de gran parte del XIX.
Fernández Cordero, Carolina. Galdós en su siglo XX. Una novela para el consenso social. Madrid/Frankfurt am Main: Iberoamericana/Vervuert, 2020, ISBN Iberoamericana 978-84-9192-160-8, Vervuert 978-3-96869-054-4, 336 páginas
Authors: Flores Ruiz Eva María
Published: November 2021

Reseña de: Fernández Cordero, Carolina. Galdós en su siglo XX. Una novela para el consenso social. Madrid/Frankfurt am Main: Iberoamericana/Vervuert, 2020, ISBN Iberoamericana 978-84-9192-160-8, Vervuert 978-3-96869-054-4, 336 páginas.
Alarcón Sierra, Rafael (ed.), Jaén 1936-1939: capital andaluza de la República de las Letras. Jaén: Editorial Universidad de Jaén, 2020, ISBN: 978-84-9159-371-3, 483 págs.
Authors: Íñiguez Egido Alain
Published: November 2021

Reseña de: Alarcón Sierra, Rafael (ed.), Jaén 1936-1939: capital andaluza de la República de las Letras. Jaén: Editorial Universidad de Jaén, 2020, ISBN: 978-84-9159-371-3, 483 págs.
Isolation and antibiotic sensitivity of Campylobacter species from fecal samples of broiler chickens in North West Province, South Africa
Authors: Mileng Kealeboga , Ramatla Tsepo A. , Ndou Rendani V. , Thekisoe Oriel M. M. , Syakalima Michelo
Published: November 2021

Background and Aim: Infections with Campylobacter species have gained recognition as the most frequent cause of foodborne gastroenteritis globally. Their significance in South Africa is still an area of study interest. This study was, therefore, carried out to determine the occurrence of Campylobacter species in chickens from North West Province of South Africa as well as their antibiotic sensitivity status.

Materials and Methods: A total of 2400 chicken fecal samples were collected and pooled to a total of 480 samples from five registered active poultry abattoirs in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District of North West Province, South Africa. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for the detection of Campylobacter spp. targeting the 16S rRNA gene while antibiotic sensitivity was determined using disk diffusion inhibition test.

Results: After isolation, a total of 26 samples were confirmed to be harboring Campylobacter jejuni by PCR and sequencing. C. jejuni was found to be the only isolate detected in all the fecal samples tested. The study further demonstrated that C. jejuni infections were highest in the summer season (3%) followed by autumn and winter at 1%, while there were none detected in the spring. The isolated C. jejuni-positive samples on disk diffusion inhibition test displayed resistance to nalidixic acid, tetracycline, erythromycin, and ciprofloxacin at 98%, 80%, 83%, and 21%, respectively.

Conclusion: C. jejuni isolated in this study is known to cause disease in humans, and thus its occurrence requires application of "One Health" strategy to reduce the spread of this zoonotic pathogen in South Africa.
Three Years Follow-Up of Single-Stage Correction with Modified Chula Technique for Frontoethmoidal Encephalomeningocele: The Advantage of The Teamwork Approach (A Case Report)
Authors: Lumintang Loelita Marcelia , Niryana I Wayan , Sanjaya Hendra , Hamid Agus Roy
Published: November 2021

Backgrounds: The main objective of Frontoethmoidal encephalomeningocele (FE) treatment are neural morbidities defect correction and aesthetically pleasing looks. Staged procedures are used to be performed in Indonesia. This article aimed to reveal the result of FE correction through the single-stage modified Chula technique (ST-MCT) procedure in collaboration with the neurosurgery team.
Case Reports: A rare case of 5 years old girl diagnosed with FE was reported in this study. The FE was slowly increased in size, causing apparent facial deformity and the appearance of telecanthus. An ST-MCT procedure in collaboration with the neurosurgery team was conducted to correct the defects. The IOD values, IPD values, postoperative complications, and anesthetic improvements were evaluated in this study.
Result: The patient was well after the surgery, with no complications and short length of stay. There were noted improvement of ICD, IOD and IPD postoperative follow up. At three years after the surgery ICD= 29mm; IOD= 26mm; IPD= 52 mm (normal range).
Summary: ST-MCT procedure conducted in collaboration with neurosurgery team had shown excellent correction of ICD, IOD, and IPD values, no complication, shorter length of stay, and minimal scars. It considers as the most proper technique to reach a good result of correction and aesthetically pleasing looks in FE cases.
Epidemiology and Characteristics of Plastic Surgery Cases in Simpang Lima Gumul General Hospital, Kediri Regency During Covid-19 Pandemic
Authors: Wirawan Nathania Carolina , Herihadi Eko
Published: November 2021

Backgrounds: Chinese Government found the first case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The pandemic impacts the number of visits to plastic surgery clinics in many countries such as Italy and the United States following surgical limitations. This study was aimed to determine the impact of the pandemic on the field of Reconstructive and Aesthetic Plastic Surgery in Indonesia, particularly in Kediri Regency, East Java.Methods: The study design was an analytical cross-sectional study, using data obtained from the medical records of plastic surgery patients at SLG General Hospital in Kediri Regency. The data analysis included descriptive analysis and dummy regression analysis.Results: This study included a total of 29 observations, 14 before the pandemic era and 15 during the pandemic, with a total of 460 individuals from various diagnostic categories. Based on the findings, the number of patients diagnosed with Congenital Disorders, Skin, and Soft Tissue, and Aesthetic Surgery dropped by 7%, 2%, and 6%, respectively. Meanwhile, there was an increased number of patients with Maxillofacial, Burn and Wound Care, and Hand and Microsurgery by 5%, 4%, and 1%, respectively. Conclusions: The average number of patient visits for the Skin and Soft Tissue, Burn and Wound Care, and Hand and Microsurgery categories did not vary much during this pandemic.
BEYOND THE CONTROVERSY ON Aß BLOOD-BASED BIOMARKERS
Authors: Pesini P. , Sarasa M.
Published: November 2021

Central biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have been proven to have diagnostic and prognostic capacity. However, both amyloid positron emission tomography and cerebrospinal fluid collection studies present problems that limit their widespread acceptability in global clinical trials. Thus, development of other measures as potential surrogates of amyloid positivity should be pursued. Results from numerous experimental studies strongly suggest that the association between Aβ plasma levels, particularly the Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio, and AD diagnosis goes beyond what could be attributable to pure chance, although this association is still controversial. The aim of this review is to consider selected works that may help to improve the design of blood based biomarkers studies by controlling a number of confounding sources related to the clinical gold standard, the time-course of central and peripheral biomarkers, and the metabolism of Aβ in blood that may be blurring the presumptive association between Aβ blood levels and AD. Based on these data and to get pass the controversy, we tentatively postulate that at early stages of preclinical AD, blood Aβ levels and central Aβ biomarkers would follow parallel but temporally displaced trajectories. This association would become eventually lost as the disease progresses and the clearance mechanisms in the blood brain barrier are increasingly impaired.
COMMUNITY-BASED INTERVENTION FOR PREVENTION OF DEMENTIA IN JAPAN
Authors: Suzuki T. , Makizako H. , Doi T. , Park H. , Lee S. , Tsutsumimoto K. , Umemura K. , Maki Y. , Shimada H.
Published: November 2021

Population aging is accelerating, with prolonged life expectancy and a decrease in birth rate. As age is a significant risk factor for dementia, we are confronted with an ever-increasing prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI)/dementia. Thus, the Japanese National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology launched a project to promote community-based research, including the development of an effective screening system for high-risk groups and intervention for dementia prevention. This review introduces the project, the Obu Study of Health Promotion for the Elderly, with the following strategic triad: 1) Identification of the target population by population screening; we regarded patients with MCI as the target population, and developed a screening test battery to identify MCI in a population screening setting. 2) Scientific evaluation of community-based intervention; we developed an interventional method combining exercise and cognitive training (“cognicise”). In practical settings, “cognicise” is programmed into multicomponent exercise intervention, which was reported to have benefits of cognitive improvement and reduction of brain atrophy based on randomized controlled trials. 3) Standardization of the methods of population screening and community-based intervention for evidence-based policy making and widespread implementation. Dementia prevention, or at least delaying the onset of dementia and/or stopping/slowing the progression of dementia, should benefit the whole society as well as individuals. It is our continuing challenge to improve the screening system and community-based intervention for dementia prevention through accumulation of evidence .