bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
THE RANGE OF COMMUNICATION TOPICS OF THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED IN THE INTERNET COMMUNITIES
Authors: Pronchev Gennadi B. , Goncharova Inna V. , Proncheva Nadezhda G.
Published: July 2020

Purpose of the study: This study discusses questions associated with the analysis of the most relevant communication topics of sight-disabled people in the Internet communities. According to the World Health Organization, there are about 1.3 billion people worldwide who live with a form of vision disorder. For solving a broad range of social problems of the sight-disabled, interest-based virtual social communities are created in the global internet network. By analyzing the content of these communities, one can judge about the most relevant topics of interest for sight-disabled people.

Methodology: In this work, search and study of the Internet communities of sight-disabled people have been conducted in the VK (Russia)] social network. Using the Popsters service of analytics of social network posts and pages, the authors have analyzed the content of the said communities and identified the most relevant topics for this category of citizens. In the research, the hypothesis was used about a stable and significant statistical relation existing between the activity of users in the Internet communities associated with a particular topic and the level of significance of the selected topic for them.

Main Findings: The development of information and communication technologies promotes socialization and integration of sight-disabled people into the civic society. The Internet communities of sight-disabled people focused on various topics are registered in the VK social network. The state has to more extensively support and develop technologies contributing to socialization and integration of sight-disabled people into the civic society.

Applications of this study: The research findings can be of interest for specialists dealing with problems of socialization and social adaptation of people having vision limitations.

Novelty/Originality of this study: It has been found that the Internet communities with the user-supplemented content have the highest quantity of users registered. The topics range of posts in these Internet communities is quite diverse. Posts asserting the traditional life principles: compassion, assistance, overcoming difficulties – win the highest users' response.
Efecto de la aplicación de aire caliente humidificado como tecnología poscosecha en la calidad de la Feijoa
Authors: Sanchez-Rubio David Leopoldo , Perez-Benavides Jhon Harrison , Perez-Rodriguez Claudia Patricia
Published: July 2020

La feijoa (Acca sellowiana) es una fruta climatérica exótica de América del Sur, por su atractivo sabor agridulce se ha posicionado tanto en el mercado nacional como internacional. Por este motivo es pertinente avanzar en el desarrollo y aplicación de tecnologías de poscosecha que propendan por su adecuado manejo y conservación. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar el efecto en la calidad poscosecha de frutos de feijoa sometidos a una corriente de aire a temperatura de 41°C y HR de 57 % por 2 horas (T1) y por 4 horas (T2). Posteriormente se evaluaron parámetro físico - químicos en el almacenamiento durante dos semanas en condiciones ambientales. Se encontró disminución en la pérdida de peso de los tratamientos frente a control, así como disminución en la contracción del diámetro ecuatorial sin detrimento de parámetros químicos como pH, acidez total titulable (ATT) e índice de madurez (IM). Entre los dos tratamientos, el que presenta mejores condiciones es el T2 (41°C, 57 % HR, por cuatro horas) según parámetros como la pérdida de peso, contracción del diámetro ecuatorial, pH, ATT e IM.
Desarrollo de un enjuague bucal natural a partir de extractos de zingiberáceas orgánicas disponibles en Costa Rica
Authors: Soto-Calvo Bernardo , Mendaza-Lainez Edurne , Varela-Rojas Irene
Published: July 2020

Este artículo presenta un innovador enjuague bucal totalmente natural formulado con aceites esenciales de Curcuma longa-Linn y Zingiber officinale-Roscoe (variedad hawaiana). Los resultados de los ensayos de formulación se evaluaron con una prueba sensorial usando una escala hedónica para elegir entre dos alternativas: enjuague neutro o pungente. Las biomoléculas presentes en la mezcla se consideran en investigaciones anteriores como nutracéuticas, incluyen propiedades antiinflamatorias y antisépticas validadas en aplicaciones orales, el producto mejora la higiene bucal y funciona bien para los dientes y las encías. El mercado global ha puesto de moda este tipo de productos y, además, la formulación tiene un alto potencial en cuanto a salud oral preventiva.
Administracja dialogu — o nowych metodach administrowaniaw relacji organ–przedsiębiorca
Authors: Piotrowska Aldona
Published: July 2020

Celem opracowania jest analiza zjawiska, które można określić jako „administracja dia-logu”, polegająca na wprowadzaniu normami prawnymi kompetencji do dialogu z przedsiębior-cą w celu wspólnego wypracowania najefektywniejszych rozwiązań służących realizacji interesu publicznego. Dialog ten jest alternatywą tradycyjnych, sformalizowanych metod administrowania. Cyfryzacja umożliwia tę zmianę ze względu na możliwość indywidualizacji oddziaływania nadzor-czo-regulacyjnego. Dialog jako metoda administrowania jest wyrazem humanizacji prawa administracyjnego, wprowadzającej bardziej partnerskie podejście do przedsiębiorcy, a jednocześnie ekonomizacji prawa (to jest uwzględniania czynników ekonomicznych w procesie stosowania prawa). Elementy dialogu można dostrzec w działaniach zarówno formalnych, obejmujących między innymi negocja-cyjne stosowanie prawa ochrony konkurencji (na przykład tak zwane decyzje zobowiązujące), jak i nieformalnych (na przykład Innovation Hub, piaskownice regulacyjne).
Niezależność organów administracji publicznej na przykładzie ewolucji statusu prawnego Prezesa UOKiK
Authors: Błachucki Mateusz
Published: July 2020

Artykuł analizuje zagadnienie niezależności organów administracji publicznej na przy-kładzie statusu polskiego organu antymonopolowego. Obejmuje ukazanie ewolucji statusu praw-nego organu antymonopolowego i omówienie jego aktualnej pozycji prawnej. Badaniom poddano również dyrektywę ECN+ i obowiązki, jakie nakłada na władze krajowe w zakresie niezależności krajowych organów antymonopolowych. Opracowanie podejmuje także problem faktycznej nieza-leżności organu antymonopolowego oraz niedostatecznych gwarancji rozliczalności tego organu. W konkluzjach wykazano, że formalna niezależność organu antymonopolowego może w polskich warunkach prowadzić do skutków sprzecznych z założeniami dyrektywy ECN+.
Rola organizacji przedsiębiorców w sferze zamówień publicznych
Authors: Przeszło Ewa
Published: July 2020

W zamówieniach publicznych uczestniczyć mogą także organizacje zrzeszające przed-siębiorców. Takie organizacje funkcjonujące w Polsce mają zróżnicowany charakter prawny. Są to w szczególności organizacje samorządu zawodowego, izby gospodarcze oraz inne zrzeszenia. Z ustawy Prawo zamówień publicznych wynika ich uprawnienie do wnoszenia środków ochrony prawnej na rzecz członków tych organizacji. Warto jednak zauważyć, że przepisy prawa kształtujące status organizacji przedsiębiorców umożliwiają im bezpośrednie uczestnictwo w zamówieniach pu-blicznych w charakterze wykonawców. Podstawę stanowi w tym zakresie osobowość prawna oraz wynikająca z niej możliwość prowadzenia działalności gospodarczej, jeśli jej przedmiot odpowiada wyznaczonemu ustawowo przedmiotowi zamówień publicznych.
Z problematyki racjonalizacji ograniczeń swobody kontraktowej w zamówieniach publicznych
Authors: Szostak Ryszard
Published: July 2020

Swoboda kontraktowa obowiązuje w zamówieniach publicznych pomimo licznych ograniczeń. Dominują ograniczenia ustawowe, charakterystyczne dla parametrycznego sterowa-nia gospodarką, natomiast indywidualna ingerencja administracyjna ma znaczenie drugoplanowe. W zakresie wyboru typu umowy ograniczenia są sporadyczne, ponieważ ustawa nie przesądza o tym, kiedy i jakich zamówień mogą udzielać jednostki sektora publicznego. Także przedsiębiorcy ubiegają się o poszczególne zamówienia na zasadzie dobrowolności. Zakaz transakcji bezpośred-nich uzasadnia jednak dotkliwą pod względem biurokratycznym reglamentację procedur udzielania zamówień publicznych, choć wola stron ma tu znaczenie podstawowe, zwłaszcza przy konstru-owaniu warunków proceduralnych, a ustawa działa jedynie uzupełniająco. Równie uciążliwe są ograniczenia swobodnego kształtowania treści umowy. Wzrasta zastosowanie klauzul obligatoryj-nych, wymuszonych ustawowo, coraz bardziej rygorystyczne są normatywne zasady wykonywania zamówień publicznych, uzasadnione potrzebą wzmożonej ochrony interesu publicznego. Panująca w pozostałym zakresie swoboda nierzadko bywa nadużywana przez zamawiającego, który zawcza-su projektuje postanowienia umowy. Dlatego istotne znaczenie praktyczne ma unormowana ostat-nio możność zwalczania klauzul abuzywnych w trybie odwoławczym. Jednocześnie, wzmacniając zasadę realnego wykonania zamówienia wykluczającą możnością obchodzenia wyników przetar-gu, wprowadzono zakaz dokonywania istotnych zmian w umowach o zamówienia publiczne oraz przedwczesnego ich rozwiązywania. Niedogodności formalne i biurokratyczne łagodzić ma postę-pująca informatyzacja zamówień publicznych.
Zasady prawne relacji przedsiębiorców z organami władzy publicznej
Authors: Dobaczewska Anna
Published: July 2020

Niniejsze opracowania jest próbą oceny, czy i w jakim zakresie zmiany legislacyjne z lat 2015–2019 przyniosły realne zmiany dla prowadzących działalność gospodarczą, w szczególności w ich relacjach z organami administracji publicznej, w tym w postawie oczekiwanej od organów wobec przedsiębiorców. Nie mniej istotne jest zwrócenie uwagi na zasady, jakimi powinien kiero-wać się ustawodawca, uchwalając prawo regulujące warunki podejmowania i wykonywania dzia-łalności gospodarczej. Artykuł koncentruje się na ewentualnych różnicach między zasadami zawar-tymi w Konstytucji RP oraz kodeksie postępowania administracyjnego a katalogiem podstawowych zasad prowadzenia działalności gospodarczej i zasad stanowienia prawa gospodarczego zawartych w ustawie Prawo przedsiębiorców.
Cele ustawy z dnia 6 marca 2018 roku Prawo przedsiębiorców
Authors: Sarnowski Maciej
Published: July 2020

Niniejszy artykuł dotyczy jednego z podstawowych aktów prawnych składających się na prawo gospodarcze publiczne, jakim jest ustawa z dnia 6 marca 2018 roku Prawo przedsiębiorców. W trakcie przeprowadzonych rozważań poruszono kwestię potrzeby wprowadzenia nowej regulacji prawnej, która legła u podstaw podjętych w 2017 roku prac legislacyjnych. Ponadto autor tekstu odniósł się do katalogu wartości wskazanych przez ustawodawcę w treści preambuły i ich znaczenia dla podmiotów prowadzących działalność gospodarczą w Polsce. W konkluzji wskazano między innymi, że klarowne zestawienie zasad o podstawowym charakterze w tym elementarnym i syste-mowym dla całego ustawodawstwa gospodarczego akcie prawnym porządkuje oraz promuje wśród przedsiębiorców owe reguły, pogłębiając zarazem ich świadomość prawną. Dodatkowo w opinii autora uporządkowany katalog zasad podstawowych umieszczony w rozpatrywanej ustawie Prawo przedsiębiorców zwiększa czytelność ustawy dla jej adresatów, a także ułatwia dokonywanie kon-troli sądowoadministracyjnej ich stosowania.
Engaging in hate speech as grounds for enhancement of criminal punishment — Wisconsin v. Mitchell
Authors: Machaj Łukasz
Published: July 2020

The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which prohibits any abridgement of freedom of speech, must be regarded as a cornerstone of the American social and political order. The number of expressive categories placed beyond the First Amendmentʼs pro-tective mantle is very small. In particular, there is no hate speech exception to the free speech Constitutional clause. The article analyzes the decision of the United States’ Supreme Court in the case of Wisconsin v. Mitchell. The issue at hand concerned the question of whether it is constitu-tionally permissible to enhance criminal punishment for bias-motivated crimes in comparison with crimes motivated by other factors. In those types of cases, the factual basis for meting out a more severe punishment is usually and necessarily provided by a criminal’s expression that reveals the aforementioned bias. By considering such regulations to be constitutional, the Supreme Court cre-ated an exception regarding the First Amendment protections granted to hate speech by permitting the courts — albeit in a very narrow and specific set of circumstances — to attach negative con-sequences to someoneʼs engagement in constitutionally protected expressive activity. The article critically describes the doctrinal justifications given for this conclusion by the Supreme Court, con-sidering them to be cursory and doctrinaire. The author contends that the Mitchell decision is an example of results-oriented jurisprudence, issued with the political aim of combatting hate crimes in mind. While this objective remains a worthy one, it does not — in the author’s opinion — provide a sufficient justification for reducing the scope of the First Amendment’s protection of (admittedly outrageous, immoral, and shocking) expression a majority may find distasteful. While the legisla-tive branch ought to be permitted to consider specific motives as aggravating factors in a crime (at least from the First Amendment standpoint), a penalty-enhancement should not be contingent on the question whether the accused engaged in protected expressive activity, distinguishing “silent” and “vocal” criminals. The paper utilizes descriptive and analytical methods.
Używanie symboli ideologii nazistowskiej w orzecznictwie Europejskiego Trybunału Praw Człowieka. Uwagi na podstawie spraw Nix v. Niemcy oraz Šimunić v. Chorwacja
Authors: Sakowicz Andrzej
Published: July 2020

Celem artykułu jest zagadnienie używania symboli ideologii nazistowskiej w orzecz-nictwie Europejskiego Trybunału Praw Człowieka. Współcześnie w niektórych państwach eu-ropejskich zabrania się bowiem w sferze publicznej symbolicznego posługiwania się symboliką systemów totalitarnych — czy to nazistowskiej swastyki, komunistycznego młota i sierpa, czy też jakiegokolwiek innego symbolu. Na tym tle pojawia się pytanie, jakie są granice ingerencji w wolność słowa. W sprawie Nix v. Niemcy Europejski Trybunał Praw Człowieka stwierdza, że kryminalizacja używania symboli nazistowskich ma na celu zapobieżenie odrodzeniu się nazizmu i utrzymanie pokoju politycznego. Podstawową kwestią było jednak ustalenie, czy zakaz posłu-giwania się symbolami ideologii nazistowskiej w przestrzeni publicznej może być uznany jako ingerencja „niezbędna w demokratycznym społeczeństwie” w wolność wyrażania opinii. ETPCz uznał, że wskazana przesłanka została zrealizowana. Czyniąc rozważania w tym zakresie, słusznie przyjął, że „państwa, które doświadczyły okrucieństw nazizmu, mogą zostać uznane za »państwa, na których spoczywa szczególna odpowiedzialność moralna, by zdystansować się od masowych potworności popełnionych przez nazistów«”. ETPCz dodał, że nie tylko propagowanie nazizmu winno być karalne, lecz także posługiwanie się symboliką nazistowską w celu przyciągnięcia uwagi czytelnika. Ma to bowiem uniemożliwić przyzwyczajenie ludzi do symboli ideologii nazistowskiej bądź dopuszczania do ich tolerowania, zwłaszcza w państwie tak historycznie doświadczonym przez nazizm jak Niemcy. Niewątpliwe sprawa Nix v. Niemcy ilustruje strukturalną analizę propor-cjonalności w odniesieniu do wolności słowa. W artykule poddano analizie także sprawę Šimunić v. Chorwacji, która dotyczyła piłkarza ukaranego przez władze chorwackie za to, że w trakcie meczu zwrócił się do tłumu z pozdrowie-niem symbolizującym nienawiść w stosunku do ludzi różnych wyznań lub tożsamości etnicznych, co było manifestacją ideologii rasistowskiej. Wykorzystał on oficjalne powitanie organizacji Usta-sza obowiązującego w czasach reżimu Niezależnego Państwa Chorwackiego. Trybunał wskazał, że skarżący użył wskazanego gestu w czasie meczu piłkarskiego wobec ogromnej widowni, na które to okrzyki widzowie odpowiedzieli, co więcej, zrobił to cztery razy. W sprawie Šimunić v. Chorwacja Trybunał powtórzył, że charakter i surowość nałożonej kary są czynnikami, które należy wziąć pod uwagę przy ocenie proporcjonalności ingerencji w wolność słowa. W artykule znalazła się analiza orzecznictwa ETPCz oraz wynikające z niej wnioski.
XIM4 meeting report, Sept. 25-27 2019, Padua (Italy)
Authors: Cochard Hervé , Petit Giai , Torres-Ruiz José M. , Delzon Sylvain
Published: July 2020

The fourth edition of the international xylem meeting was held for the first time outside France. This represents an important step forward for the meeting and attests to the resolutely international dimension of this symposium. The conference was organized by the University of Padua in the green setting of the botanical garden. No less than 140 researchers from more than 21 countries attended these three intense days of seminars and discussions. For logistical reasons, the number of places had been limited by the organizers, which forced us to decline a number of registrations. This tends to prove, if there was any need, that the community of researchers in xylem physiology and plant hydraulic functioning is booming, and that these meetings are becoming an essential biennial event for our discipline. For this edition, no less than a hundred communications were presented, including about fifty plenary talks. It is difficult to summarize all the richness of this work in a few lines, so we propose here to highlight some of the most salient points.
L’ovulation après le tarissement des truies : mécanismes physiologiques et facteurs de variation
Authors: QUESNEL H. , PRUNIER A.
Published: July 2020

Cet article analyse les mécanismes physiologiques qui contrôlent l’activité ovarienne des truies après la mise bas et l’influence des facteurs susceptibles de retarder le retour en oestrus et l’ovulation après le sevrage des porcelets. Pendant la lactation, la truie est soumise aux stimuli liés aux porcelets et doit faire face à des besoins nutritionnels très élevés pour produire le lait. Ceci induit l’inhibition de la sécrétion des hormones gonadotropes et en conséquence de la croissance folliculaire. La stimulation des mamelles diminue au cours de la lactation et l’activité de l’axe hypothalamus-hypophyse-ovaires augmente progressivement. Après le sevrage, les sécrétions gonadotropes s’élèvent rapidement et les gros follicules peuvent alors entamer leur croissance préovulatoire, qui aboutira normalement à l’oestrus et à l’ovulation. Les hormones qui participent au contrôle du métabolisme général et de la lactation (insuline, hormone de croissance, IGF-I, cortisol, ocytocine, prolactine) sont susceptibles de moduler la croissance folliculaire, soit par une action directe au niveau de l’ovaire, soit par un effet sur la sécrétion des hormones gonadotropes. L’accroissement du déficit nutritionnel pendant la lactation induit un retard de l’ovulation après le sevrage. L’alimentation pendant la lactation a donc des effets marqués sur la durée de l’intervalle sevrage-oestrus. Celle-ci est également dépendante de facteurs liés à l’animal (génotype, numéro de portée, production laitière), à l’environnement (photopériode, température) ou à la conduite d’élevage (durée de la lactation, taille de la portée, mode de sevrage, environnement social). L’équilibre nutritionnel joue un rôle pivot et permet d’expliquer, au moins en partie, l’influence de la majorité des autres facteurs, qui sont susceptibles d’agir sur l’amplitude de la production laitière ou sur l’appétit des truies. Les mécanismes d’action semblent impliquer les trois niveaux de l’axe hypothalamus-hypophyse-ovaires.
Вычисление коэффициента распространения COVID-19 с элиминацией недельного цикла
Authors: Кромер Виктор
Published: July 2020

С целью исключения недельного цикла при вычислении коээфициента распространения covid-19 предлагается производить расчет с изменением рекомендованной Роспотребнадзором формулы, не по 8 последним данным, а по 11 последним данным, что повышает точность вычисления в 7 раз, средняя квадратичная погрешность вычисления изменяется с 0,072 до 0,010.
Proposed Lake Arthur Detention Basin Expansion City of Port Arthur, Jefferson County, Texas
Authors: Hogan Michael , Kimbell Jennifer
Published: July 2020

Terracon Consultants, Inc. (Terracon) was contracted by the City of Port Arthur (client) to conduct a cultural resources survey of an approximately 54-acre project area in Port Arthur, Jefferson County, Texas in advance of the proposed expansion of an existing detention basin. Since the proposed undertaking will occur on land owned or controlled by a political subdivision of the State of Texas, and because funding for this project will come, in part, from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), this project required compliance with the Antiquities Code of Texas (Texas Natural Resources Code Chapter 191) and its implementing rules and regulations (Texas Administrative Code Chapter 26) and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), (54 USC § 306101) and its implementing rules and regulations, 36 CFR 800. This project was conducted under Antiquities Permit #9109.

The proposed project area comprises a 54-acre tract of land located between Texas State Highway 347 and U.S. Route 69 in Port Arthur, Texas. Terracon archeologists excavated a total of eleven (11) shovel tests to a depth of 80 centimeters (cm) below surface, or to sediments inferred to predate human occupation in the area. The removed sediment was passed through ¼-inch hardware mesh to screen for artifacts. No cultural materials were identified during the survey. Additionally, to comply with Section 106 of the NRHP, adjacent parcels were evaluated to determine whether historic properties might be present and subject to visual effects from the project. No such historic properties were identified. Fieldwork was conducted between October 15 and October 17, 2019 by Michael Hogan (Staff Archeologist) and Amani Bourji (Field Technician) under the supervision of Jenni Hatchett Kimbell (Principal Investigator). The report was authored by Michael Hogan and Jenni Hatchett Kimbell.

Given the absence of known prehistoric or historical-period resources within the proposed project area, Terracon recommends that the expansion of the Lake Arthur detention basin proceed as planned. Should human remains, historic properties, or buried cultural materials be encountered during construction or disturbance activities, work should cease in the immediate vicinity and Terracon, the Texas Historical Commission (THC) Archeology Division, or other proper authorities should be contacted.
Un videojuego que promueve la participación ciudadana interactiva en las reformas urbanas
Authors: Bello-Maldonado Germán David
Published: July 2020

Este artículo describe el proceso de creación de City Co, un videojuego que tiene como objetivo concientizar a la población joven sobre la relevancia y la implicación del desarrollo territorial. Para exponer el contexto y la relevancia del videojuego, primero se presenta una descripción de la planificación urbana y su relación con la vida de cada ciudadano, luego una muestra de algunos desafíos en el urbanismo, los beneficios de la participación ciudadana y el uso de medios tecnológicos en el desarrollo territorial. También se nombran algunos videojuegos city builders y algunos de sus aportes al pensamiento urbano. En el texto, se presentan y analizan las diferentes fases en la estructuración del prototipo de City Co, que en su prueba piloto toma como base el Plan Parcial El Triángulo de la ciudad de Bogotá, Colombia. Esto, para finalmente demostrar y concluir que los medios tecnológicos contribuyen a la información y a la comunicación del desarrollo territorial en las reformas urbanas y aportan a la generación de interés en el conocimiento y el entendimiento de procesos de planes urbanísticos. Por esta razón se puede afirmar que un videojuego como City Co, al igual que otros city builders, resulta pertinente en tanto que informa de modo significativo a la población joven y promueve en estas inquietudes sobre la planificación territorial.
Comprehensive comparison of immune features between ultra-low and ultra-high mutation burden non-small cell lung cancers
Authors: Wang Zhigang , Duan Zhaojun , Chen Chong , Bai Xiaoyin , Liu Wei , He Yongqun , Yang Xiaolin , Yang Bo
Published: July 2020

Background: Tumor mutation burden (TMB) is associated with the formation of tumors and the outcomes of immunotherapy, especially in non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC). The aim of this study was to study immune features of NSCLC with different mutation burdens. We performed a comprehensive comparison of immune features, including driver mutations, up- or down-regulated expression of key biological pathways, tumor cell evolution, tumor cell stemness, etiology, and immune cell infiltration, between ultra-low (UL) and ultra-high (UH) TMB NSCLC. Results: Generally, we found that UL-TMB tumors contained a higher proportion of driver mutations and maintained an “immune-desert” tumor microenvironment with reduced effector cell infiltration and increased suppressor cell infiltration. In UH-TMB tumors, the expression levels of cell cycles, DNA replication and mismatch repair pathways were up-regulated. We discovered that UL-TMB tumors had different up-regulated pathways between a denocarcinoma (LUAD) and squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC). Basically, the expression levels of primary bile acid biosynthesis, arachidonic acid metabolism, and drug metabolism pathways were up-regulated in LUAD; however, the expression level of CaM pathway and the PLC-gamma1 signaling pathway were up-regulated in LUSC. Most mutations in UH-TMB tumors occurred in the early stages, while UL-TMB tumors showed the opposite trend. UH-TMB tumors had a relatively high stemness score. Despite the mutations and neo-antigens increasing in UH-TMB tumors, the overall antigen presentation capacity was weak. Conclusions: These results support rational design of therapeutic strategies for NSCLC with different mutation burdens.
Spatio-Temporal Impact of Self-Financed Rotavirus Vaccination on Rotavirus and Acute Gastroenteritis Hospitalisations in the Valencia Region, Spain.
Authors: López-Lacort Mónica , Orrico-Sánchez Alejandro , Martínez-Beneito Miguel Ángel , Muñoz-Quiles Cintia , Díez-Domingo Javier
Published: July 2020

Background: Several studies have shown a substantial impact of Rotavirus (RV) vaccination on the burden of RV and all-cause acute gastroenteritis (AGE). However, the results of most impact studies could be confused by a dynamic and complex space-time process. Therefore, there is a need to analyse the impact of RV vaccination on RV and AGE hospitalisations in a space-time framework to detect geographical-time patterns while avoiding the potential confusion caused by population inequalities in the impact estimations.Methods: A retrospective population-based study using real-world data from the Valencia Region was performed among children aged less than 3 years old in the period 2005-2016. A Bayesian spatio-temporal model was constructed to analyse RV and AGE hospitalisations and to estimate the vaccination impact measured in averted hospitalisations. Results: We found important spatio-temporal patterns in RV and AGE hospitalisations, RV vaccination coverage and in their associated adverted hospitalisations. Overall, ~1866 hospital admissions for RV were averted by RV vaccination during 2007–2016. Despite the low-medium vaccine coverage (~50%) in 2015-2016, relevant 36% and 20% reductions were estimated in RV and AGE hospitalisations respectively.Conclusions: The introduction of the RV vaccines has substantially reduced the number of RV hospitalisations, averting ~1866 admissions during 2007-2016 which were space and time dependent. This study improves the methodologies commonly used to estimate the RV vaccine impact and their interpretation.
Availability, Accessibility, and Quality of Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Services in Urban Health Facilities of Rwanda: A survey among social and healthcare providers
Authors: Ndayishimiye Pacifique , Uwase Rosine , Kubwimana Isabelle , Niyonzima Jean de la Croix , Dzekem Roseline Dine , Nyandwi Jean Baptiste , Kadima Justin Ntokamunda
Published: July 2020

Background: Adolescents are still getting pregnant and contracting Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) in Rwanda as elsewhere. Quality and comprehensive SRH services and information for adolescents is valuable for adolescents’ wellbeing. This study aimed at understanding SRH services providers’ viewpoints on accessibility, availability, and quality of SRH services provided to adolescents in selected cities of Rwanda. Method: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey conducted between May 2018 and May 2019 in six selected cities of Rwanda using a mixed-methods approach. A checklist was used to collect data from 159 conveniently selected SRH services providers. The survey tool was validated. SPSS version 20 was used to describe quantitative data and ATLAS TI version 5.2 was used to code and analyze the qualitative data thematically.Results: Qualitatively, health care providers reported that the availability of adolescent SRHS are satisfactory with access to accurate SRH information, contraceptive methods, prevention and management of STIs and HIV services, and counselling. However, the accessibility of some services remains limited. According to respondents, some products such as female condoms are less in demand and often expire before they can be distributed. One nurse clarified that they render services at a low price if an adolescent has insurance medical coverture. Religious leaders and family members may hinder adolescents from health-seeking behavior by promoting abstinence and discouraging use of protective means. Quantitatively, we found that 94.3% of health facilities provide information to adolescents on SRH services that were available and 51.6% affirmed delivering services at a low cost. Only 57.2% of respondents mentioned that adolescents are involved in designing the feedback mechanisms at their facilities.Conclusion: SRH services in Rwanda are available for the general population and are not specifically designed for adolescents. These SRH services seem to be fairly accessible to adolescents with insufficient quality as adolescents themselves do not get to be fully involved in service provision among other aspects of quality SRH as stated by the World Health Organization (WHO). Therefore, there is a need to improve the present quality of these services to meet adolescents’ needs in an urban setting.
Human and spatial-temporal clustering analysis of human brucellosis in mainland China from 2012 to 2016
Authors: Liang Peifeng , Zhao Yuan , Zhao Jianhua , Pan Dongfeng , Guo Zhongqin
Published: July 2020

Objective: The aim of the present study was to better understand the epidemiology of brucellosis in mainland China. We set out to investigate the human, temporal and spatial distribution and clustering characters of the disease. Methods: Human brucellosis data from mainland China between 2012 and 2016 were collected from the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention. Geographic information system ArcGIS10.3 (ESRI, Redlands) and SaTScan software were used to identify potential changes in the spatial and temporal distribution of human brucellosis in mainland China during the study period.Results: A total of 244,348 cases of human brucellosis were reported during the study period. During 2012-2016, the average incidence of human brucellosis was higher in the 40-65 age group. The temporal clustering analysis showed that the high incidence of brucellosis occurring between march and July annually. The spatial clustering analysis of the incidence of human brucellosis showed that the location of brucellosis clustering in mainland China remained relatively fixed, mainly concentrated in most parts of northern China. The result of spatial-temporal clustering analysis showed that there is a primary cluster area of Heilongjiang , and three secondary clusters area of Tibet, Shanxi and Hubei province.Conclusion: Human brucellosis remains a widespread challenge, particularly in northern China. The clustering analysis highlights potential high-risk human, time and areas which may require special plans and resources for monitoring and controlling the disease.
A geospatial analysis of two-hour surgical access to district hospitals in South Africa
Authors: Chu Kathryn , Dell Angela J , Moultrie Harry , Day Candy , Naidoo Megan , Straten Stephanie van , Rayne Sarah
Published: July 2020

Background: In a robust health care system, at least 80% of a country’s population should be able to access a district hospital that provides surgical care within two hours. The objective was to identify the proportion of the population living within two hours of a district hospital with surgical capacity in South Africa. Methods: All government hospitals in the country were identified. Surgical district hospitals were defined as district hospitals with a surgical provider, a functional operating theatre, and the provision of at least one caesarean section annually. The proportion of the population within two-hour access was estimated using service area methods.Results: Ninety-eight percent of the population had two-hour access to any government hospital in South Africa. One hundred and thirty-eight of 240 (58%) district hospitals had surgical capacity and 86% of the population had two-hour access to these facilities. Conclusion: Improving equitable surgical access is urgently needed in sub-Saharan Africa. This study demonstrated that in South Africa, just over half of district hospitals had surgical capacity but more than 80% of the population had two-hour access to these facilities. Strengthening district hospital surgical capacity is an international mandate and needed to improve access.
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 and Pulmonary Tuberculosis Coinfection: Double Trouble
Authors: Singh Abhijeet , Gupta Ayush , Das Kamanashish
Published: July 2020

Background: The ongoing pandemic of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has received worldwide attention by becoming a major global health threat. We encountered one case with COVID-19 and tuberculosis (TB) coinfection which has not been frequently reported. Case presentation: A 76 year old female presented with acute respiratory symptoms superimposed on chronic symptoms, suggestive to have pneumonia. Oropharyngeal throat swab sample for COVID-19 was positive as detected by real-time reverse-transcriptase–polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) assay. GeneXpert Ultra detected Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex with Rifampicin resistance indeterminate. Patient was treated with appropriate management. Conclusion: Clinicians should suspect coinfection with TB during ongoing pandemic of COVID-19 as therapeutic strategies need to be determined timely to improve outcome and prevent transmission in community.
Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio is a prognostic factor for colon cancer: a propensity score analysis
Authors: Mazaki Junichi , katsumata Kenji , Kasahara Kenta , Tago Tomoya , Wada Takahiro , Kuwabara Hiroshi , Enomoto Masanobu , Ishizaki Tetsuo , Nagakawa Yuichi , Tsuchida Akihiko
Published: July 2020

Background: A large number of patients suffer recurrence after curative resection, and mortality from colon cancer remains high. The role of systemic inflammatory response, as reflected by neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), in cancer recurrence and death has been increasingly recognized. This study aimed to analyze long-term oncologic outcomes of Stage II-III colon cancer to examine the prognostic value of NLR using a propensity score analysis.Methods: A total of 375 patients with colon cancer underwent radical surgery between 2000 and 2014 at Tokyo Medical University Hospital. Long-term oncologic outcomes of these patients were evaluated according to NLR values. A cut-off NLR of 3.0 was used based on receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Primary outcomes were overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS). An analysis of outcomes according to tumor sidedness was also performed.Results: Patients with lower NLR values (“lower NLR group”) were more likely to have lymph node metastasis compared to those with higher NLR values (“higher NLR group”) before case matching. After case matching, clinical outcomes were similar between the two groups. There were no significant differences in 5-year OS and 5-year RFS rates between the two groups before case matching based on propensity scores. After case matching, 5-year OS rates were 94.5% in the lower NLR group (n = 135) and 87.0% in the higher NLR group (n = 135), showing a significant difference (p = 0.042). Five-year RFS rates were 87.8% in the lower NLR group and 77.9% in the higher NLR group, also showing a significant difference (p = 0.032). Among patients with left-sided colon cancer in the matched cohort, 5-year OS and 5-year RFS rates were 95.2% and 87.3% in the lower NLR group (n = 88), respectively, and 86.4% and 79.2% in the higher NLR group (n = 71), respectively, showing significant differences (p = 0.014 and p = 0.047, respectively).Conclusions: The NLR is an important prognostic factor for advanced colon cancer, especially for left-sided colon cancer.
Efficacy of Melatonin on Postoperative Outcomes After Hysterectomy: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
Authors: Laosuwan Prok , Dechaworawut Kamolwan , Rodanant Oraluxna , Charuluxananan Somrat
Published: July 2020

Background: Melatonin became a part of multimodal analgesia in several recent studies because of its analgesic, anxiolytic and anti-inflammatory properties. Incidence of anxiety and pain in patients undergoing hysterectomy is not low. Moreover, preoperative anxiety is related to postoperative pain. The hypothesis of this study was whether melatonin could improve pain and other postoperative conditions after hysterectomy.Methods: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial involved recruitment of 54 patients, aged between 18 and 65 years old, planned to undergo hysterectomy, with or without oophorectomy under spinal anesthesia. The patients were allocated to receive 4 mg prolonged-release melatonin at night before surgery and in the morning before surgery or 2 doses of placebo at the same time point. Morphine consumption within 24 hours with patient-controlled analgesia machine and visual analog scale (VAS) pain score were recorded. In addition, quality of sleep, Thai standard anxiety level score, fatigue, general well-being and satisfaction score were measured by a blinded assessor and analyzed.Results: Mean of cumulative dose of morphine consumption in melatonin and placebo group were 33.04 ±10.42 and 42.63 ±8.21 mg, respectively. (p < 0.001) Mean of postoperative VAS pain scale was lower in the melatonin group at recovery room arrival (T0) (23.41 vs 8.07, p = 0.01). However, there was not a significant difference between postoperative groups at 1(T1), 6 (T6) and 24 h (T24). Fatigue and general well-being score in the melatonin group were better than the placebo group.Conclusion: Prolonged-release formulation of melatonin decreased pain intensity in post anesthetic care room and lowered doses of postoperative morphine within 24 hours after surgery. Postoperative fatigue, general well-being and satisfaction scores were better in the treatment group. However, there was no anxiety and sleep quality improvement. Melatonin may be an additional choice of multimodal analgesia for hysterectomy. Clinical trial registration: TCTR20140516001, Registered 16 May, 2014, http://www.clinicaltrials.in.th/index.php?tp=regtrials&menu=trialsearch&smenu=fulltext&task=search&task2=view1&id=1076, Efficacy of melatonin on postoperative outcomes after hysterectomy: a randomised, doubl-blinded, placebo-controlled trial
Combined subcostal and posterior transversus abdominis plane block for postoperative pain relief after abdominoplasty
Authors: Sayed Haytham El , Fadhul A Shaheed , Falalki Mohamed Al , Awad M Nasr
Published: July 2020

Background: Abdominoplasty is a common aesthetic surgery. Adequate pain management during the postoperative period is of great importance. Previous studies have failed to achieve safe and reliable effective analgesic techniques beyond the recovery room. This research aims to investigate the outcome of the abdominoplasty operation for the patients' received transversus abdominis plan block in comparison with the non-blocked patients.Methods: 58 patients, undergoing elective abdominoplasty, received general anesthesia. Patients were randomly assigned to two equal groups of 29 patients each. Combined subcostal and posterior transversus abdominis plane block group and non-blocked group. For both groups, the standard postoperative analgesic regimen consisted of IV Paracetamol 1 g every 6 hours. Values of visual analog scale values were recorded postoperatively, once the patient had a visual analog scale ≥ 4, IV opioids administered and visual analog scale recorded every 30 min till pain improved. The primary outcome was opioids consumption in the first 72 hours postoperatively, the secondary outcome was the value of visual analog scale at rest and movement (or with knee flexion) in the first 72 hours postoperatively, time to first ambulation, time to first incentive spirometer 900 ml/min were recorded and also the incidence of postoperatively mechanical ventilatory support (CPAP) requirements.Results: Morphine consumption in the first 72 hours was 6.97±1.97 in the non-blocked group and 4.38±2.04 in the blocked group (p < 0.05). Pethidine consumption in the first 72 hours was 208.62±85.64 in the non-blocked group and 20.69±25.06 in the blocked group (p < 0.05). VAS was lower in the blocked group during the first 72 hours were (p < 0.05). Time to first ambulation was 12.41±5.04 hours in the non-blocked group and 4.62±1.08 hours in the blocked group (p < 0.05), time to first incentive spirometer 900 ml/min was 11.45±5.05 hours in the non-blocked group and 4.27±1.09 hours in the blocked group (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Combined subcostal and posterior transversus abdominis plane block is a promising regional anesthetic technique for postoperative pain relief in abdominoplasty surgery, it offers a longer postoperative analgesic effect duration and fewer analgesic requirements with less postoperative complications.
Sero-Prevalence and Risk Factors of Hepatitis C Virus Infection Among Children Diagnosed With Cancer in Lagos Nigeria.
Authors: Okoli Chukwudi , Salako Abideen , Nwafia Ifeyinwa
Published: July 2020

Introduction: HCV is a blood borne viral infection transmitted mainly via blood and blood product transfusion. Children diagnosed with cancers are especially in the high-risk group for infection with blood transmissible infections like HCV because of their dependence on blood and blood product. Children with cancer are also exposed to unwholesome practice like scarification marks. Also children with cancer because of their immunocompromised state lack the ability effectively clear HCV after an acute infection, there are therefore very likely to have chronic infections.Because of the above reason it became necessary to determine the prevalence and risk factors for HCV infection among children with cancer at Lagos .Methods: We designed a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted over a 12 months period at the Oncology ward and outpatient clinics of LUTH.Result: 50 children with cancers were recruited age range 7 months and 17 years. Ninety percent of them has been exposed to blood transfusion while 32% and 18% of them has had surgery and scarification marks respectively. The most diagnosed cancer was ALL with 44%. And 82% of the subjects were on chemotherapy at the time of recruitment. The sero-prevalence of HCV infection among those with cancer was 0%.Conclusion: The sero-prevalence of HCV infection was zero percent despite significant exposure to blood transfusion and other risk factors.
Changes in the quality of cause-of-death statistics in Brazil: garbage codes among registered deaths in 1996-2016
Authors: França Elisabeth , Ishitani Lenice Harumi , Teixeira Renato , Duncan Bruce B. , Marinho Fatima , Naghavi Mohsen
Published: July 2020

Background: Registered causes in vital statistics classified as garbage codes (GC) are considered indicators of quality of cause-of-death data. Our aim was to describe temporal changes in this quality in Brazil, and the leading GCs according to levels assembled for the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study. We also assessed socioeconomic differences in the burden of different levels of GCs at a regional level. Methods: We extracted data from the Brazilian Mortality Information System from 1996 to 2016. All three and four digit ICD-10 codes considered as GC were selected and classified into four categories, according to the GBD study proposal. GCs levels 1 and 2 are the most damaging unusable codes, or major GCs. Proportionate distribution of deaths by GC levels according selected variables were performed. Age-standardized mortality rates after correction of underreporting of deaths were calculated to investigate temporal relationships as was the linear association adjusted for completeness between GC rates in states and the Sociodemographic Index (SDI) from the GBD study, for 1996-2005 and 2006-2016. We classified Brazilian states into three classes of development by applying tertiles cutoffs in the SDI state‐level estimates. Results: Age-standardized mortality rates due to GCs in Brazil decreased from 1996 to 2016, particularly level 1 GCs. The most important GC groups were ill-defined causes (level 1) in 1996, and pneumonia unspecified (level 4) in 2016. At state level, there was a significant inverse association between SDI and the rate of level 1-2 GCs in 1996-2005, but both SDI and completeness had a non-expected significant direct association with levels 3-4. In 2006-2016, states with higher SDIs tended to have lower rates of all types of GCs. Mortality rates due to major GCs decreased in all three SDI classes in 1996-2016, but GCs levels 3-4 decreased only in the high SDI category. States classified in the low or medium SDI groups were responsible for the most important decline of major GCs. Conclusion: Occurrence of major GCs are associated with socioeconomic determinants over time in Brazil. Their reduction with decreasing disparity in rates between socioeconomic groups indicates progress in reducing inequalities and strengthening cause-of-death statistics in the country.