bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Use of a TLC-Ag dressing on 2270 patients with wounds at risk or with signs of local infection: an observational study
Authors: Dissemond Joachim , Dietlein Michael , Neßeler Ingo , Funke Lutz , Scheuermann Oliver , Becker Elisa , Thomassin Laetitia , Möller Udo , Bohbot Serge , Münter Karl-Christian
Published: March 2020

Objective:

A description of wounds treated with a poly-absorbent silver dressing (with technology lipido-colloid with silver ions, TLC-Ag), and evaluation of the short-term clinical impact of the dressing on the wound healing process, under real-life conditions.

Method:

A large, prospective, multicentre, observational study of patients in 81 centres in Germany, presenting with an exuding wound at risk or with clinical signs of local infection for whom the evaluated TLC-Ag dressing (UrgoClean Ag, Laboratoires Urgo, France) has been prescribed. Main outcomes included: reduction in number of wound infections diagnosed and clinical signs of local infection, wound healing rate, clinical assessment of wound healing progression, relative wound area reduction (RWAR), local tolerability, handling and acceptance of the dressing.

Results:

A total of 2270 patients with acute and chronic wounds of various aetiologies were treated with the evaluated dressing for a mean duration of 22±13 days. All clinical signs of local infection and the diagnosed wound infections were substantially reduced at two weeks after the treatment initiation. All wound infection parameters continued to reduce until the last visit. In the meantime, clinical improvement in wound healing was reported in 98.9% of acute wounds, with a wound closure rate of 68.5%. In chronic wounds, a median RWAR of 57.4% was achieved, with an improvement in healing process documented by clinicians in 90.6% of cases, stabilisation in 6.1% and worsening in 3.2%. Similar results were reported, regardless of exudate level and proportion of sloughy and granulation tissues in the wound bed at baseline. The dressing was well tolerated and well accepted by both patients and health professionals.

Conclusion:

These results, documented in a large cohort of patients treated in current practice, support and complete the clinical evidence on the healing properties and safety profile of the TLC-Ag dressing in the management of wounds at risk or with clinical signs of local infection, regardless of wound and patient characteristics. Declaration of interest: This study was supported by a grant from Laboratoires Urgo. UM, EB, LT and SB are employees of Laboratoires Urgo. JD, KCM and MD provided advisory and speaking services to pharmaceutical and other healthcare organisations including, but not limited to, Laboratoires Urgo. Data management and statistical analyses were conducted independently by INPADS GmbH, Germany.
Evaluation of a superabsorbent wound dressing, patient and clinician perspective: a case series
Authors: Atkin Leanne , Barrett Simon , Chadwick Paul , Callaghan Rosie , Rippon Mark G , Rogers Alan A , Simm Sue
Published: March 2020

Objective:

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the fluid management capabilities of a superabsorbent wound dressing (Zetuvit Plus Silicone), with secondary objectives related to parameters that support whether the dressing enables undisturbed healing.

Method:

This study was an open labelled non-comparative study. Patients included in the study were selected by the clinical investigator(s) according to whether the patient required a dressing for the management of moderately to highly exuding wounds.

Results:

A total of 50 patients were included in the study. Results related to the primary objective demonstrated that the superabsorbent wound dressing was able to absorb all levels of exudate across the range (low to high). At each assessment time point these results show that in 98% of assessments the superabsorbent dressing was rated as ‘very good’ (91%) or ‘good’ (7%) at exudate management. Secondary objectives relating to wound bed preparation, healing and management of pain were also positive. Additionally, at the end of each patient treatment, the dressing's fluid management capabilities were rated overall as ‘excellent’ (100% of cases). There was little pain associated with the wound or at dressing change throughout the study and its flexibility/conformability allowed for comfort and patient satisfaction aligned with increased quality of life. Additionally, inclusion of a silicone adhesive layer allowed painless and atraumatic removal of the dressing, increasing patient comfort, both during wear and at dressing removal, and supported the description of enabling undisturbed wound healing.

Conclusion:

The superabsorbent wound dressing achieved the primary objective relating to wound exudate management in all the assessments undertaken in this study. In addition, the silicone interface allowed for undisturbed healing as evidenced by little or no adherence of the dressing to underlying tissue, preventing damage to periwound skin. Overall, the superabsorbent wound dressing with the addition of the silicone interface could offer advantages over other superabsorbent polymer dressings (that might adhere to the wound surface) or silicone wound dressings (that might not have the absorbent properties of this type of dressing).
Punch grafting for pain reduction in hard-to-heal ulcers
Authors: Conde-Montero Elena , de Farias Khayat Yasmin , Pérez Jerónimo Laura , Vázquez Alicia Peral , Marín Lorena Recarte , Guisado Soledad , de la Cueva Dobao Pablo
Published: March 2020

Objective:

Punch-grafting is a traditional technique to enhance wound healing, which has been associated with significant pain reduction. There are few studies measuring pain reduction after punch grafting, our study was designed to measure this outcome.

Method:

Patients with hard-to-heal wounds treated with punch grafting were included in a single centre prospective study. Wound pain intensity was measured using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at baseline (before the procedure) and at three time points after the procedure. Punch grafting was performed in an outpatient setting. Patient demographic data, wound aetiology and percentage of graft take were recorded.

Results:

A total of 136 patients were included (62 men and 74 women). Mean age was 60±35 years and 51 (38%) had venous leg ulcers (VLU), 29 (21%) had postoperative wounds, 15 (11%) Martorell ulcers, 15 (11%) traumatic wounds, four (3%) arterial ulcers and 22 ‘other’ ulcers. Of the patients, 31 (23%) did not present with painful ulcers and, after punch grafting, all of them remained painless; 16 (12%) patients obtained >70% pain reduction, whereas 86 (63%) patients achieved pain suppression. Pain suppression did not depend on the percentage of graft take.

Conclusion:

Punch-grafting is a simple, technique that not only promotes wound healing but also reduces pain. It can also be performed on an outpatient basis. Further studies should be performed to achieve a better understanding of this beneficial finding. Declaration of interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Prevalence of pressure ulcers in hospitalised patients: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Olivo Stella , Canova Cristina , Peghetti Angela , Rossi Maurilio , Zanotti Renzo
Published: March 2020

Objective:

The main aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of pressure ulcers (PU) and related risk factors of PU development in hospitalised patients in Italy. Furthermore, the study investigated the association between risk factors for PU present on admission and the development during hospitalisation (hospital-acquired pressure ulcer, HAPU).

Methods:

A cross-sectional study, using two separate designs at two separate timepoints: 2010 and 2015. The methodology used to measure PU prevalence was that recommended by the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (EPUAP).

Results:

The total sample was 7681 hospitalised patients (3011 patients in 2010, 4670 in 2015). Prevalence of PU in hospital was 19.5% in 2010 and 17% in 2015. The number of patients with PU present on admission were 9.60% in 2010 and 9.42% in 2015. Patients with HAPU were 5.08% in 2010 and 5.87% in 2015. Older age and comorbidities, and a total Braden score of ≤16 were positively associated with PU present on admission and HAPU in hospitals (p<0.05). A longer length of stay appeared to correlate positively with a better clinical outcome for PU if there were already present on admission. Heterogeneous results emerged for length of stay of >30 days and being admitted to intensive care unit (ICU).

Conclusion:

Our results are comparable with other European and Italian studies. Most of the risk factors associated with PU development have been confirmed. However, further studies are needed to examine the effects of context on PU present on arrival and HAPU, especially regarding hospital length of stay.
Heterotopic ossification: a preventable case of gossypiboma in spinal cord injury
Authors: Liu Xiangxia , Kaminsky Alexander J , Hill David M , Velamuri Sai R
Published: March 2020

Objective:

Heterotopic ossification is the formation of ectopic bone in soft tissues. It has three established aetiologies: genetic, traumatic and neurogenic. A gossypiboma is defined as a retained foreign body, such as a mass or sponge, usually after a surgical procedure. In this article, we present a unique, preventable case of a patient admitted for newly developed heterotopic ossification in the gluteus maximus muscle caused by a retained piece of foam from negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT). The heterotopic ossification lesion, together with the retained foreign body, was completely excised and reconstructed using a posterior thigh fasciocutaneous advancement flap. This is the first reported case of heterotopic ossification caused by a retained foreign body and may be helpful to better understanding of the aetiology of heterotopic ossification.
La utilidad de lo efímero en el estudio de la lengua del siglo XIX: Cuestiones gramaticales a través de la prensa
Authors: Puche Lorenzo Miguel Ángel
Published: March 2020

La prensa, durante el siglo XIX, se convierte en el medio idóneo para difundir y exponer las más diversas cuestiones. A causa del alcance social adquirido, es el texto escrito de mayor trascendencia de este periodo y en él adquiere especial protagonismo la lengua. Por ello, las opiniones vertidas, los debates planteados o la propagación de nuevos modelos lingüísticos aparecidos en sus páginas permiten destacar la utilidad de este medio efímero para la evolución de la lengua española, relativa a un periodo poco atendido. El análisis de determinadas cuestiones gramaticales será un claro ejemplo de su importancia y de que, probablemente, determinados cambios se propagaron o se dataron por vez primera en sus páginas.
Una proposta per prevenir l'assetjament escolar en les classes d'Educació Física basada en el model pedagògic cooperatiu
Authors: Faus Boscà Joan , García Puchades Wenceslao
Published: March 2020

El objetivo del presente estudio es evaluar el impacto de una unidad didáctica (UD) de Educación Física (EF) basada en el aprendizaje cooperativo (AC) en el ambiente de respeto, integración grupal y confianza. Esta UD se ha realizado con un grupo de 1º de ESO. Para evaluar este impacto se ha llevado a cabo un estudio de caso en el que se han extraído datos mediante la observación de los participantes. Estos datos se han clasificado en categorías previamente establecidas mediante la consulta de la literatura existente. Los resultados muestran indicios para afirmar que el AC provoca que aumente la confianza, las interacciones la integración y el respeto entre el alumnado. Como conclusión, se destaca la posibilidad de vincular el AC con la prevención del acoso escolar (AE) gracias a su potencialidad para promover interacciones positivas entre el alumnado.
Injection-locking chaos synchronization and communication in closed-loop semiconductor lasers subject to phase-conjugate feedback
Authors: Jiang Ning , Zhao Anke , Liu Shiqin , Zhang Yiqun , Peng Jiafa , Qiu Kun
Published: March 2020

The properties of injection-locking chaos synchronization and communication in closed-loop external-cavity semiconductor lasers (ECSL) subject to phase-conjugate feedback (PCF) are investigated systematically. We theoretically analyze the general conditions for the injection-locking, and numerically investigate the properties of injection-locking chaos synchronization in the phase and intensity domains, the influences of frequency detuning and intrinsic parameter mismatch on the injection-locking chaos synchronization, as well as the performance of injection-locking chaos synchronization-based communication in closed-loop PCF-ECSL systems. The numerical results demonstrate that with respect to the conventional optical feedback (COF) scenario, the injection-locking chaos synchronization in a PCF-ECSLs configuration shows a significantly wider high-quality synchronization region and excellent feasibility, and the performance of chaos communication can also be enhanced.
Signal-to-noise ratio analysis of computational distributed fiber-optic sensing
Authors: Shu Dayong , Zhou Da-Peng , Zhou Xinlei , Peng Wei , Chen Liang , Bao Xiaoyi
Published: March 2020

In this work, we analyze the signal-to-noise ratio of the computational distributed fiber-optic sensing technique via differential ghost imaging in the time domain using the illumination pattern of Walsh-Hadamard sequences instead of random sequences. When only the white Gaussian noise is considered in the detection, both the theoretical and experimental results show that the computational method requires twice more number of averages compared to the conventional time-domain method in order to achieve the same level of signal-to-noise ratio. Since the computational approach is focusing on stationary measurement, doubling the measurement time can normally be acceptable in practice, but it can reduce the sampling rate requirement significantly compared to the conventional method, offering great advantage to simplify the data acquisition design in the distributed fiber-optic sensing system.
Community media, their communities and conflict: A mapping analysis of Israeli community broadcasting groups
Authors: Nossek Hillel , Carpentier Nico
Published: March 2020

Community media organisations are famously difficult to define, as this media field is highly elusive and diverse, even if there is a certain degree of consensus about a series of basic characteristics. One key defining component is the objective to serve its community by allowing its members to participate in self-representational processes. Yet this component raises questions about what ‘community’ means, and how the community that is being served relates to other parts of society. This article studies a particular social reality – Israel – where community television is the dominant model, community television production groups are separated from the actual distribution of the produced content and different configurations of ‘us’ and ‘them’ characterise political reality. Following the methodological procedures outlined in Voniati et al. (2018), a mapping of 83 Israeli community broadcasting groups was organised, allowing us to flesh out the different ways in which these community broadcasting groups deal with their community/ies and the ‘other’. The analysis shows that many of these Israeli community broadcasting groups have fairly closed, singular-community articulations of ‘their’ communities. They rarely engage in interactions with other communities (limiting internal diversity) and their external diversity is even more restricted, with only one Arab–Israeli community broadcasting group able to be identified. The analysis did, however, identify a dozen groups with more open approaches towards their outer worlds, and thus the potential to assume a more conflict-transformatory role.
Alternative Media Meets Mainstream Politics: Activist Nation Rising, Atkinson, Joshua D & Kenix, Linda Jean (2019)
Authors: Anderson Heather
Published: March 2020

Review of: Atkinson, Joshua D & Kenix, Linda Jean (2019) Alternative Media Meets Mainstream Politics: Activist Nation Rising. Lanham, USA: Lexington Books. ISBN 9781498584340, hbk, 223 pp.
Google Earth Engine (GEE): una poderosa herramienta que vincula el potencial de los datos masivos y la eficacia del procesamiento en la nube
Authors: Perilla Gabriel Alejandro , Mas Jean-François
Published: March 2020

Desde hace décadas se están produciendo imágenes satelitales para el mundo entero. Sin embargo, ha habido un rezago tecnológico que ha impedido poder analizar la extensa cantidad de información satelital disponible. Hasta fechas recientes la mayoría de los estudios se enfocaban en regiones relativamente reducidas y periodos cortos. No obstante, el potencial de estas imágenes permite afrontar problemas a escalas globales y abarcar periodos largos. Google Earth Engine es una herramienta innovadora, que permite realizar análisis geoespaciales usando procesamiento y acervos de datos en la nube. De este modo, se convierte en una opción interesante para solucionar el rezago tecnológico, y así poder examinar las grandes bases de imágenes satelitales.
Of Broken Seals and Broken Promises: Attributing Intention at the IAEA
Authors: Weichselbraun Anna
Published: March 2020

In the world of global politics, talk is cheap. States sign negotiated agreements, but a treaty without an enforcement mechanism is considered weak, because states are not expected to adhere to commitments whose materiality is merely that of ink and paper. To verify the terms of state commitments to the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which entered into force in 1970, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) nuclear safeguards inspectors place tamper-evident seals in nuclear facilities. While seals appear to work simply as a binary signal, their meanings are multivalent. This article draws on fieldwork at the IAEA, and on broken seals in Iran between 2004 and 2006 that escalated into an international crisis, to examine the relationship between the material properties of the seal and its signifying potentialities. Bringing the perspective of semiotic ontology to the question of materiality, this essay argues that seals constitute a semiotic infrastructure of nuclear governance that materializes international law.
Pozyskiwanie studentów zagranicznych do uczelni krajów półperyferyjnych. Badanie porównawcze Norwegii, Polski i Portugalii
Authors: Antonowicz Dominik , Sin Catrina , Wiers-Jenssen Jannecke
Published: March 2020

W artykule zbadano podejścia zastosowane w celu przyciągnięcia międzynarodowych studentów w trzech krajach leżących na obrzeżach Europy (Europejskiego Obszaru Gospodarczego): Norwegii, Polski i Portugalii. Kraje te, uważane za półperyferyjne pod względem rekrutacji studentów z zagranicy, mają mniejsze tradycje w zakresie mobilności przyjazdowej niż kraje, które są głównymi rekrutującymi i które były przedmiotem wcześniejszych badań dotyczących przyciągania studentów z zagranicy. W artykule przeanalizowano krajowe polityki i strategie, koncentrując się na ich powstawaniu, racjonalnych rozwiązaniach i instrumentach. Badanie ma charakter porównawczy i ma na celu znalezienie podobieństw i różnic w podejściu tych krajów do zmieniającego się globalnego środowiska szkolnictwa wyższego. Głównym wynikiem analiz jest ustalenie, że kraje półperyferyjne wydają się stosować inne strategie i uciekać się do innych przewag komparatywnych niż najwięksi rekrutujący. Wyniki podkreślają potrzebę określenia przez te kraje ich szczególnych zdolności przyciągania i atutów, a także celowego wyboru regionów, w których będą rekrutować studentów.
Ekonomia prestiżu akademickiego. Ilościowe ujęcie najlepszych czasopism na przykładzie dziedziny badań nad szkolnictwem wyższym
Authors: Kwiek Marek
Published: March 2020

Niniejsze studium dotyczy stratyfikacji (rozwarstwienia) w globalnym środowisku badaczy szkolnictwa wyższego oraz zmieniającej się geografii afiliacji autorów prac w sześciu najbardziej elitarnych czasopismach naukowych w tym obszarze. Model maksymalizacji prestiżu przez instytucje i naukowców oraz teoria pryncypała-agenta stanowią dwie ramy teoretyczne badania, które obejmuje 6 334 artykuły opublikowane w sześciu prestiżowych czasopismach w latach 1996–2018 w kontekście 21 442 artykułów opublikowanych w 41 podstawowych czasopismach w badanym obszarze. Porównano autorów zajmujących się szkolnictwem wyższym w pełnym i niepełnym wymiarze („etatowcy” i „niepełnoetatowcy”, full-timers i part-timers) i przeanalizowano rozkład ich przynależności do poszczególnych krajów z longitudinalnej (podłużnej) perspektywy ostatniego ćwierćwiecza. Wyniki wskazują, że około 3,3% naukowców publikujących zarówno w czasopismach elitarnych, jak i podstawowych, będących autorami co najmniej 5 artykułów w latach 1996–2018 stanowi trzon wydawniczy globalnej społeczności badawczej, podczas gdy 80% badaczy, którzy są autorami tylko jednego artykułu, stanowi jej peryferie. Pisma Higher Education i Studies in Higher Education wyłaniają się jako globalne czasopisma elitarne, z rosnącym udziałem prac autorów nieanglosaskich. Globalne trendy w obszarze badań nad szkolnictwem wyższym obejmują malejącą rolę naukowców amerykańskich oraz rosnącą rolę naukowców z Europy kontynentalnej i Azji Wschodniej.
PIDS
Authors: Jiang Hao , Liu Chunwei , Jin Qi , Paparrizos John , Elmore Aaron J.
Published: March 2020

We propose PIDS, Pattern Inference Decomposed Storage, an innovative storage method for decomposing string attributes in columnar stores. Using an unsupervised approach, PIDS identifies common patterns in string attributes from relational databases, and uses the discovered pattern to split each attribute into sub-attributes. First, by storing and encoding each sub-attribute individually, PIDS can achieve a compression ratio comparable to Snappy and Gzip. Second, by decomposing the attribute, PIDS can push down many query operators to sub-attributes, thereby minimizing I/O and potentially expensive comparison operations, resulting in the faster execution of query operators.
A Facile and Catalyst-free Synthesis of Hexahydroacridine-1,8(2H,5H )-dione and Octahydroacridin-10(1H )-yl)thiourea Derivatives: Inter- and Intramolecular Aza-Michael addition
Authors: Pesyan Nader Noroozi , Akhteh Narmin , Batmani Hana , Anıl Barış , Şahin Ertan
Published: March 2020

An easy and convenient technique for the one-pot synthesis of novel compounds of hexahydroacridine-1,8(2H,5H)-dione and octahydroacridin-10(1H)-yl) thiourea derivatives has been developed by the reaction of the octahydro-1H-xanthenes with hydroxylamine hydrochloride and thiosemicarbazide in ethylene glycol, which is a green solvent, under mild reaction conditions. IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR spectrometry, and X-ray diffraction analysis were used to identify the structures of these compounds.
Quercetin modulates granulosa cell mRNA androgen receptor gene expression in dehydroepiandrosterone-induced polycystic ovary in Wistar rats via metabolic and hormonal pathways
Authors: Olaniyan Olugbemi T. , Bamidele Okoli , Adetunji Charles O. , Priscilla Bretet , Femi Adebayo , Ayobami Dare , Okotie Gloria , Oluwaseun Ibitoye , Olugbenga Eweoya , Mali Pratap C.
Published: March 2020

Background

It is estimated that about 5–10% of women suffer from polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) which is a major cause of female reproductive dysfunction. This study examined the role of quercetin on dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)-induced PCO in Wistar rats.

Methods

Twenty-eight pre-pubertal female Wistar rats that are 21 days old weighing 16–21 g were sorted into four groups (n = 7). Group I served as control and was given distilled water only, Group II were injected with 6 mg/100 g BW of DHEA in 0.2 mL of corn oil subcutaneously, Group III received 100 mg/kg BW of quercetin orally and Group IV received 6 mg/100 g BW of DHEA in 0.2 mL of corn oil subcutaneously and 100 mg/kg BW of quercetin orally. Rats were sacrificed after 15 days by cervical dislocation method. Blood samples and ovaries were collected for hormonal, biochemical, and histopathological analysis and expressions of mRNA androgen receptor gene were determined using RT–qPCR. All data were analysed using one-way ANOVA.

Results

A significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the antioxidant and metabolic enzyme activity in the DHEA treated group was observed when compared with control. DHEA co-administration with quercetin showed a significant decrease in malondialdehyde and cytokines when compared with DHEA treated group. Also a significant increase in progesterone, metabolic and antioxidant enzyme activity was observed. The histopathology demonstrates a reduction in cystic and atretic cells, improved expression of BCl2, E-Cadherin and a decrease in Bax.

Conclusions

Quercetin alleviated DHEA-induced PCO. These effects could be attributed to its antioxidant property.
The Ethics of Police Body-Worn Cameras
Authors: Thomsen Frej Klem
Published: March 2020

Over the past decade, police departments in many countries have experimented with and increasingly adopted the use of police body-worn cameras (PBWCs). This article aims to examine the moral issues raised by the use of PBWCs, and to provide an overall assessment of the conditions under which the use of PBWCs is morally permissible. It first reviews the current evidence for the effects of using PBWCs. On the basis of this review the article sets out a teleological argument for the use of PBWCs. The final two sections of the article review two deontological objections to the use of PBWCs: the idea that use of PBWCs is based on or expresses disrespectful mistrust, and the idea that the use of PBWCs violates a right to privacy. The article argues that neither of these objections is persuasive, and concludes that we should conditionally accept and support the use of PBWCs.
Discovery of bioactive drug candidates from some Turkish medicinal plants-neuroprotective potential of Iris pseudacorus L.
Authors: Sener Bilge , Sevim Duygu
Published: March 2020

Medicinal plants have an enormous potential for producing bioactive compounds of great benefit to mankind. There is a great scope for new drug candidates based on traditional medicinal plants throughout the world. The number of drugs derived from medicinal plants that are recently introduced into clinical use is increasing. Besides, numerous of standardized herbal extracts were also approved as phytomedicines by the health authorities to be used in phytotherapy. The drug discovery program from nature in our laboratory involves several steps from plant collection, extraction, HTS of the extracts by using in vitro enzyme inhibitory tests, bioassay-guided fractionation through the isolation and structure elucidation of bioactive compounds. Continuing our researches in the field of anticholinesterase activity, neuroprotective potential of Iris pseudacorus L. have presented in this article.
Change of Direction Performance in Elite Players From Different Team Sports
Authors: Loturco Irineu , Pereira Lucas A. , Reis Valter P. , Abad César C. C. , Freitas Tomás T. , Azevedo Paulo H. S. M. , Nimphius Sophia
Published: March 2020

Loturco, I, Pereira, LA, Reis, VP, Abad, CCC, Freitas, TT, Azevedo, PHSM and Nimphius, S. Change of direction performance in elite players from different team sports. J Strength Cond Res 36(3): 862–866, 2022—The primary aim of this study was to examine the differences in change of direction (COD) deficit between elite futsal, soccer, handball, and rugby players. A secondary aim was to compare the performance in both COD and linear speed tests among these athletes. One-hundred sixty-one elite male players from 4 team sports performed a 20-m linear sprint speed and a Zigzag COD speed test. The COD deficit was calculated as the difference between linear and Zigzag test velocities. Differences in COD speed, COD deficit, and sprint velocity were assessed via 1-way analysis of variance. The significance level was set at p < 0.05. Soccer players displayed significantly lower performance than the remaining team sports, and rugby players performed better than all the other groups in the Zigzag COD test. Moreover, the COD deficit was significantly higher in soccer players in comparison with the other disciplines (p < 0.05). No differences were observed in the COD deficit among rugby, futsal, and handball players (p > 0.05). In summary, soccer players were slower than futsal, handball, and rugby players to change direction and presented the greatest COD deficit magnitude. By contrast, the fastest athletes in the COD speed test (rugby players) were not more effective than futsal and handball players at changing direction (as they exhibited similar levels of COD deficit). Coaches should be aware of this evidence, which reinforces previous findings, indicating that very specialized training strategies might be required to improve COD performance in professional athletes.
Chronic Activation of Gp1 mGluRs Leads to Distinct Refinement of Neural Network Activity through Non-Canonical p53 and Akt Signaling
Authors: Liu Dai-Chi , Soriano Stephanie , Yook Yeeun , Lizarazo Simon , Eagleman Daphne E. , Tsai Nien-Pei
Published: March 2020

Group 1 metabotropic glutamate receptors (Gp1 mGluRs), including mGluR1 and mGluR5, are critical regulators for neuronal and synaptic plasticity. Dysregulated Gp1 mGluR signaling is observed with various neurologic disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). It is well established that acute activation of Gp1 mGluRs leads to elevation of neuronal intrinsic excitability and long-term synaptic depression. However, it remains unknown how chronic activation of Gp1 mGluRs can affect neural activity and what molecular mechanisms might be involved. In the current study, we employed a multielectrode array (MEA) recording system to evaluate neural network activity of primary mouse cortical neuron cultures. We demonstrated that chronic activation of Gp1 mGluRs leads to elevation of spontaneous spike frequency while burst activity and cross-electrode synchronization are maintained at the baseline. We further showed that these neural network properties are achieved through proteasomal degradation of Akt that is dependent on the tumor suppressor p53. Genetically knocking down p53 disrupts the elevation of spontaneous spike frequency and alters the burst activity and cross-electrode synchronization following chronic activation of Gp1 mGluRs. Importantly, these deficits can be restored by pharmacologically inhibiting Akt to mimic inactivation of Akt mediated by p53. Together, our findings reveal the effects of chronic activation of Gp1 mGluRs on neural network activity and identify a unique signaling pathway involving p53 and Akt for these effects. Our data can provide insights into constitutively active Gp1 mGluR signaling observed in many neurologic and psychiatric disorders.
Pattern Separation Underpins Expectation-Modulated Memory
Authors: Frank Darya , Montemurro Marcelo A. , Montaldi Daniela
Published: March 2020

Pattern separation and completion are fundamental hippocampal computations supporting memory encoding and retrieval. However, despite extensive exploration of these processes, it remains unclear whether and how top-down processes adaptively modulate the dynamics between these computations. Here we examine the role of expectation in shifting the hippocampus to perform pattern separation. In a behavioral task, 29 participants (7 males) learned a cue-object category contingency. Then, at encoding, one-third of the cues preceding the to-be-memorized objects, violated the studied rule. At test, participants performed a recognition task with old objects (targets) and a set of parametrically manipulated (very similar to dissimilar) foils for each object. Accuracy was found to be better for foils of high similarity to targets that were contextually unexpected at encoding compared with expected ones. Critically, there were no expectation-driven differences for targets and low similarity foils. To further explore these effects, we implemented a computational model of the hippocampus, performing the same task as the human participants. We used representational similarity analysis to examine how top-down expectation interacts with bottom-up perceptual input, in each layer. All subfields showed more dissimilar representations for unexpected items, with dentate gyrus (DG) and CA3 being more sensitive to expectation violation than CA1. Again, representational differences between expected and unexpected inputs were prominent for moderate to high levels of input similarity. This effect diminished when inputs from DG and CA3 into CA1 were lesioned. Overall, these novel findings strongly suggest that pattern separation in DG/CA3 underlies the effect that violation of expectation exerts on memory.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTWhat makes some events more memorable than others is a key question in cognitive neuroscience. Violation of expectation often leads to better memory performance, but the neural mechanism underlying this benefit remains elusive. In a behavioral study, we found that memory accuracy is enhanced selectively for unexpected highly similar foils, suggesting expectation violation does not enhance memory indiscriminately, but specifically aids the disambiguation of overlapping inputs. This is further supported by our subsequent investigation using a hippocampal computational model, revealing increased representational dissimilarity for unexpected highly similar foils in DG and CA3. These convergent results provide the first evidence that pattern separation plays an explicit role in supporting memory for unexpected information.
Ludomusicology and the New Drastic
Authors: Van Elferen Isabella
Published: March 2020

In a rereading of Carolyn Abbate's seminal article “Music—Drastic or Gnostic?” this article proposes that the study of game music not only presents us with new research themes but, moreover, has the potential to inspire a major disciplinary reform. Game music studies and ludomusicology can lead to a New Drastic Musicology: an intellectual engagement with video game music that is just as rooted in immediacy, interactivity, and playfulness as the object with which it concerns itself. The New Drastic, I shall argue, can engender significant critical, epistemological, thematic, and analytical innovations in the discipline of musicology. Fundamentally, my argument is that playing with music invites “playing” with critical music theory.
Battle Hymn of the God-Slayers
Authors: Yee Thomas B.
Published: March 2020

“God is dead,” declared philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, “… and we have killed him” (1887)—a proclamation that numerous video game protagonists could aptly say by journey's end. The prominent god-slayer trope in video game storylines casts the gameworld's god(s) as the final boss, to be slain by players, inviting connection to real-world religious ideas. Adequate scholarly attention has not been given to the musical features of the god-slayer trope—specifically, the bosses’ unique battle tracks—to discover what the music's meaning contributes to the trope. Quantitative analysis of video games featuring the god-slayer trope reveals that the bosses’ battle tracks may strategically combine rock and sacred music topics for significant semiotic effect.

This article explores the meanings associated with rock and sacred music topics, using analytic methods from the burgeoning field of musical semiotics. By invoking music-theoretic work in topic theory (Monelle 2006, Hatten 2004), agential modalities (Tarasti 1994), and virtual agency (Hatten 2018), I argue that the rock and the sacred music topics initially appear to conflict—but the trope serves as a hermeneutic premise for a meaningful and productive synthesis uniquely fit for the narrative god-slayer trope. Xenoblade Chronicles (2010) forms a striking case study, with its tracks “Zanza” and “The God-Slaying Sword” exemplifying the sacred-rock trope and its semiotic meaning in relation to the game's plot—a narratively apt battle hymn for the game's god-slaying protagonists. Using a cultural-historical lens, the conclusion explores connections between the narrative god-slayer trope and the descent of Japan's god-emperor from divinity to humanity.
Prognostic role of lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio in pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms
Authors: Zhou Wentao , Kuang Tiantao , Han Xu , Chen Wenqi , Xu Xuefeng , Lou Wenhui , Wang Dansong
Published: March 2020

Objectives

Systemic inflammation markers have been demonstrated to be associated with prognosis in various tumors. In this study, we aimed to assess the value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR), systemic immune-inflammation index and the counts of lymphocyte, monocyte and neutrophil in predicting prognosis among patients with resected pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (pNENs).

Methods

A total of 174 patients were included in the study. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the predictive roles of inflammation markers for relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) in pNEN patients.

Results

The optimal cut-off values of NLR, LMR and lymphocyte count were 1.9, 5.0 and 1.4 × 109/L, respectively, determined by the X-tile software. RFS was found to be significantly longer in patients with NLR ≤1.9 (P = 0.041), LMR >5.0 (P < 0.001) and lymphocyte count >1.4 × 109/L (P = 0.002) in comparison to those with NLR >1.9, LMR ≤5.0 and lymphocyte count ≤1.4 × 109/L, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that LMR (hazard ratio 0.30, 95% CI 0.11–0.85, P = 0.023) was an independent predictor for RFS, but not NLR or lymphocyte count. For long-term survival analysis, patients with NLR ≤1.9 (P = 0.016) were found to be associated with favorable OS, but NLR was not an independent factor validated by multivariate analysis.

Conclusions

Preoperative LMR is an independent systemic inflammation marker to predict relapses in pNEN patients who underwent curative resections, whose clinical value needs to be verified in further large sample-based prospective studies.
СТРАТЕГІЧНО-КРИЗОВИЙ ТРИКУТНИК В ЄВРАЗІЇ: ВИКЛИКИ ДЛЯ УКРАЇНИ ТА ЗАХОДУ
Authors: ПІЛЯЄВ Ігор
Published: March 2020

Метою статті є дослідження сучасного феномену стратегічно-ціннісного трикутника на Євразійському мегаконтиненті з вершинами-епіцентрами в Україні, на Корейському півострові та навколо Тайваню. Застосовуючи методологічний інструментарій постнекласичної синергетики, теорії політичного реалізму, конструктивізму, цивілізаційної та політико-трансформаційної теорії, в контексті сучасних глобалізаційних процесів визначено поняття стратегічної ціннісної кризи та нинішню стратегічно-кризову конфігурацію в Євразії. Проаналізовано природу триваючої кризи навколо України та її ключові наслідки для трансформації глобального лідерства «Великої сімки» (G7), Євразійського мегаконтиненту в цілому та Східної Азії зокрема. Доведено, що українська криза є ключовою стратегічною кризою не лише на пострадянському просторі, а й загалом на Євразійському мегаконтиненті. Отже, за характером залучення головних акторів світової та континентальної політики вона є порівняльною з тривалими кризами на Корейському півострові та навколо Тайваню. Обґрунтовано висновок, що російська анексія Криму і триваючий збройний конфлікт на Сході України блокують інтеграційні процеси в межах як Великої Європи, так і континентальної Євразії, зокрема, між її двома найбільш економічно й соціально розвинутими і динамічними макрорегіонами –– Східно-Азійським та ЄС. Водночас з боку Росії зростає ризик її остаточного "повороту на Схід" і, відповідно, встановлення суворо авторитарного геостратегічного, і навіть військово-політичного, альянсу між Російською Федерацією і Китаєм. Запропоновано шляхи врегулювання окреслених стратегічних криз через подолання традиційної культурно-ціннісної парадигми «Схід –– Захід», інклюзивний діалог, гармонізацію різних нормативних порядків за участю ключових акторів мегаконтинентальної політики, посилення взаємодії між європейськими, євразійськими і азіатсько-тихоокеанськими інституціями (форматами) співробітництва та інтеграції.
Sexo, intimidad y dinero. Prácticas de mujeres que vendieron sexo al sur de la provincia de Buenos Aires, 1936-1960
Authors: Simonetto Patricio
Published: March 2020

El objetivo de este artículo es examinar las prácticas con las que mujeres que vendieron sexo negociaron las condiciones de sus servicios con clientes, policías, parejas y proxenetas una vez abolido el sistema de burdeles patentados en la Argentina. Este estudio se inscribe en un problema de investigación más amplio que estudia las múltiples formas de vender y comprar sexo en la Argentina del siglo XX. Para lograr esta meta analizamos testimonios alojados en causas judiciales por la aplicación de la Ley de Profilaxis Social (1936), que abolió el sistema de burdeles patentados, del Departamento Histórico Judicial Sur de la provincia de Buenos Aires. Partimos de un enfoque que entrecruza en la perspectiva histórica los aportes de los estudios culturales, el género y las sexualidades para identificar las prácticas y sentidos con los que los actores sociales comerciaron servicios sexuales. El artículo argumenta que existe un vínculo entre las prácticas de las mujeres y sus entornos, la herencia de la cultura del sistema reglamentario y las dinámicas sociales regionales. Por último, aporta a un campo escasamente estudiado al enfocarse en espacios periurbanos o rurales tras la abolición de la prostitución reglamentada.
Nutriendo al trabajador y mejorando la producción. Los programas de alimentación en la gran industria chilena (1920-1950)
Authors: Yáñez-Andrade Juan Carlos
Published: March 2020

El presente artículo analiza los programas y acciones que desarrollaron las empresas asociadas a la gran industria chilena para mejorar la condición nutricional de la población trabajadora, con el objetivo de enfrentar las enfermedades profesionales y mejorar los rendimientos productivos de los trabajadores. Es de especial interés conocer el papel que tuvo la familia y la mujer en su calidad de madre y esposa para transmitir los valores asociados a la correcta alimentación. Las fuentes disponibles para el estudio son los escritos de médicos que abordaron la temática de la alimentación, en especial en el ámbito laboral, las encuestas de nutrición desarrolladas entre fines de la década de 1920 y comienzos de los años de 1940, y las publicaciones de los Departamentos de Bienestar Social de las distintas empresas estudiadas.
Historia pública. Una apuesta para pensar y repensar el quehacer histórico
Authors: Torres-Ayala Daniela
Published: March 2020

La historia pública es, ante todo, un marco de posibilidades y relaciones cuyo principal objetivo es democratizar la producción y difusión del conocimiento histórico acercando a distintas y plurales ciudadanías a crear de manera mancomunada diversas narrativas históricas posibles. Esta apuesta por la dislocación de la producción y difusión de conocimiento histórico y del quehacer histórico tradicional por vía colaborativa entre profesionales de las ciencias sociales y una ciudadanía cada vez más interesada en su pasado y su presente, es lo que da a la historia pública su principal característica, le da el carácter público. En este sentido, el principal objetivo del texto es abordar la historia pública como un campo dentro de la disciplina histórica, que desde sus múltiples propuestas, dilemas y posibilidades plantea para los y las profesionales de la historia retos importantes para hacer de la historia una disciplina más accesible, democrática y cercana al público, que hace necesario pensar y asumir métodos y enfoques propios en un campo cuyas experiencias son tan variadas como las temáticas y formas de la investigación y la intervención histórica.
New and old records of Euglossa imperialis Cockerell, 1922 (Apidae, Apinae, Euglossini) for the Amazon rainforest, Cerrado, and Pantanal of Mato Grosso, Brazil
Authors: Schorn de Souza Marta Helena , dos Anjos-Silva Evandson José
Published: March 2020

Euglossa imperialis Cockerell, 1922 has recently been catalogued in the Cerrado of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, and here we add both new and old data obtained from expeditions conducted in 10 municipalities of Mato Grosso since 2002. In this study we record this species for the first time in the wetlands of Cáceres and Barão de Melgaço, as well as on the northern Pantanal. Further studies are required to examine the variation in the coloration and other characteristics in E. imperialis populations from the northern and southern floodplains..
PENGARUH PEMBANGUNAN KEBUDAYAAN TERHADAP PEMBANGUNAN MANUSIA DI INDONESIA
Authors: Zuriatina Isna
Published: March 2020

The diversity of Indonesian culture is a strong basic capital in development. The government has realized that cultural treasures in Indonesia are valuable assets. Cultural development is one of the government's efforts to improve the welfare and quality of human life in Indonesia. To measure the quality of human life, the Human Development Index (HDI) indicator is used, which explains how the population can access the results of development in obtaining income, health, education, and so on. The Cultural Development Index (CDI) is an instrument used to measure the achievements of cultural development performance, which consists of 7 dimensions, namely dimensions of cultural economy, education, socio-cultural resilience, cultural heritage, cultural expression, cultural literacy, and gender. To find out how much influence the CDI has on HDI in Indonesia, a simple linear regression statistical method is used. The result of this study illustrate that the CDI and HDI have a positive relationship, that is, the higher the CDI achievement, the higher the HDI achievement of a region. From the result of R Square shows that 40 percent of the HDI variable can be explained by the CDI variable, while the rest can be explained by other factors. Through a simple linear regression statistical analysis test found that every one percent increase in the CDI, will increase the HDI by 0.437 percent. This finding is expected to provide recommendations to the government regarding cultural-based national development. All development planning must also consider cultural development.
Malay Local Wisdom: An Analysis of Social History of the Malay Literary Saga Books
Authors: Abdul Malik Mohd Puaad Bin , Abdul Jalal Ahmad Farid , Abd. Rahim Rahimin Affandi , Kahal Siti Maimunah Binti
Published: March 2020

Kajian ini mengungkapkan bagaimana suatu episteme keilmuan Melayu muncul dalam konteks sosialnya. Dengan kajian literature kajian ini menemukan bahwa kesedaran masyarakat dunia tentang kearifan tempatan milik masyarakat peribumi bukan eropah boleh diisi dengan mengemukakan konsep kearifan tempatan berasaskan ilmu melayu Islam. Kemudian, konstruk dan formula kearifan tempatan Melayu memang agak unik kerana merupakan hasil adunan dan sentesis antara Islam dengan pemikiran Melayu. Ia agak dinamik dan masih terpakai hingga pada masa sekarang. Selanjutnya, kitab jawi memang merupakan produk kearifan tempatan Melayu Islam yang terpenting. Ia dapat dilihat daripada segi penciptaan tulisan jawi dan konstruk ilmu yang dibangunkan oleh ulama melayu silam. Ia merupakan warisan berharga yang perlu dijaga dan dikaji oleh generasi akan datang.