bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Empirical Study on Physical Sub-Health Risk Perception: Physical Examination Data of Tertiary Grade-A Hospitals in Anhui Province, China
Authors: Jiang Xueli , Zhang Liping , Gao Yufei , He Chengsen , Tang Zhiru , Sun Jiangjie
Published: March 2021

Background: Physical sub-health is directly related to people's work effectiveness and quality of life. Sub-health prevention has become an urgent medical problem. Current research on sub-health mainly focuses on the diagnosis, influencing factors and treatment. Based on the proposed physical sub-health risk perception scale, we explore the differences in the demographic factors and the mechanism of risk perception level on physical sub-health to provide data support for the management of public physical sub-health.Methods: Clinical and risk perception data were collected from 770 physical examinees, which were analyzed using SPSS 23.0, R, and Python software. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to investigate the correlation and multiple stepwise regression analysis was used to explore the influence of demographic variables on physical sub-health and risk perception. Also, this study used a two-way interaction moderated multiple regression approach to examine the moderating effects of demographic variables on physical sub-health and risk perception.Results: Attribute of living place, sub-health duration, marital status, average annual household income, risk perception level were negatively associated with physical sub-health (r= -0.07 ~ -0.17, P < 0.05). The risk perception level was positively correlated with education, attribute of living place,average annual household income, sub-health duration, number of employees in the unit and sub-health proportion in the unit (r= 0.09 ~0.26, P＜0.05), but negatively correlated with age (r= -0.11, P＜0.05). The number of children had a moderating effect on physical sub-health and risk perception (Interaction coefficient α= -0.3, P＜0.05).Conclusions: The factors directly affecting the physical sub-health included age, education, attribute of living place,sub-health duration and sub-health proportion in the unit, while the risk perception level, marital status and average annual household income were found to be indirect influencing factors. The number of children had a moderating effect on physical sub-health and risk perception. Therefore, we suggest attaching importance to public physical exercise and health checkups, correctly guiding public risk perception, and spreading the national policy of bearing and rearing better children etc. to promote the development of public physical health in China.
Development of a Liquid Biopsy Based Purely Quantitative Digital Droplet PCR Assay for Detection of MLH1 Promoter Methylation in Colorectal Cancer Patients
Authors: Wang Danyi , O’Rourke Dennis , Garcia Jorge Sanchez , Cai Ti , Scheuenpflug Juergen , Feng Zheng
Published: March 2021

Background MutL Homolog 1 (MLH1) promotor methylation is associated with microsatellite instability high colorectal cancer (CRC). The strong correlation between methylation status and cancer development and progression has led to a growing interest in the use of methylation markers in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) for early cancer detection and longitudinal monitoring. As cancer-specific DNA methylation changes in body fluids are limited, it is particularly challenging to develop clinically applicable liquid biopsy methodologies with high sensitivity and specificity. The purpose of this study was to develop a fit-for-purpose methylation sensitive restriction enzyme (MSRE) based digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) assay to examine MLH1 promoter methylation in ctDNA in advanced CRC. Methods Primers and probes were designed to amplify CpG sites of the MLH1 promoter. Methylated and unmethylated control genomic DNA were sheared to mimic ctDNA and subjected to MSRE HpaII digestion. Plasma samples from 20 healthy donors and 28 CRC patients were analyzed with the optimized MSRE procedure using ddPCR. Results Using methylated and unmethylated controls, we optimized the conditions for HpaII enzyme digestion to ensure complete digestion and avoid false positives. Based on the results from the ddPCR assay using 1ng circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) input from healthy donors or CRC samples, ROC curves were generated with an area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.965. The optimal assay sensitivity and specificity was achieved when 8 positive droplets were used as acceptance criteria (78% sensitivity and 100% specificity). A tiered-based cutoff (20%, 50%, 80% percentile based) was applied to distinguish CRC samples with different methylation level.Conclusions Our study demonstrated that the liquid biopsy assay for MLH1 promoter methylation detection using purely quantitative ddPCR is a simple and ultrasensitive procedure that provides reliable methylation detection in ctDNA. The MSRE ddPCR approach can also be applied to other genes of interest where methylation patterns could reveal clinically relevant information for future clinical biomarker and/or companion diagnostic development.
Frontend Innovation And Top Income Inequality: Evidence From Emerging Markets
Authors: Eyisi Nwakego , Kanwal Asma
Published: March 2021

This paper contributes to the literature on income inequality, by extending existing models to examine the effect of front-end innovation (FEI) on top income inequality. We use a fixed effect panel regression, on annual country level data for twenty four emerging markets, over a twenty four (1995–2018) year period, and find an insignificant correlation between income inequality, and FEI. The instrumental variable estimates however, shows a significant association between measures of FEI and top income shares. Further, we confirm that FEI is weakly related with broad measures of income inequality. Our instrumentation strategy, and robustness checks, suggests that this correlation partly reflects a causality, from FEI to top income inequality. Finally, we show that FEI is necessary for the survival of new ventures, in the crucial early years. Overall, our findings confirm that FEI, is a significant determinant of increases, in entrepreneurial income share.
A Copper Alloy Light Cannon From Grodno – An Example of Early Firearms From Eastern Europe
Authors: Żabiński Grzegorz , Strzyż Piotr , Goryczka Tomasz , Aniołek Krzysztof , Miśta-Jakubowska Ewelina
Published: March 2021

The paper discusses a recent find of a copper alloy light cannon discovered at the Old Castle in Grodno, Belarus. First, the archaeological and historical contexts of the discovery are dealt with. Then, the morphology and typochronology of the cannon are discussed and relevant analogies are proposed. Next, the technology of manufacture of the cannon is dealt with on the basis of metallographic examinations and EDS analyses of the metal’s elemental composition. It was found out that the artefact had been made of leaded copper. The cannon can be dated to the late 14th c., as implied both by the find context, the morphology and the chemical composition of the artefact. Its deposition can possibly related to fights over the Old Castle in Grodno in this period, waged by Teutonic, Polish and Lithuanian forces. It can tentatively be assumed that the cannon was manufactured in a Teutonic Order’s workshop, but further research is necessary to verify this supposition.
Pathological Alterations in the Gastrointestinal Tract of a Porcine Model of DMD
Authors: Zhou Xiaodong , Ouyang Hongsheng , Pang Daxin , Han Renzhi , Tang Xiaochun
Published: March 2021

Patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) develop severe skeletal and cardiac muscle pathologies, which result in premature death. Therefore, the current therapeutic efforts are mainly targeted to correct dystrophin expression in skeletal muscle and heart. However, it was reported that DMD patients may also exhibit gastrointestinal and nutritional problems. How the pathological alterations in gastrointestinal tissues may contribute to the disease are not fully explored. Here we employed the CRISPR/Cas9 system combined with somatic nuclear transfer technology (SCNT) to establish a porcine model of DMD and explored their pathological alterations. We found that genetic disruption of dystrophin expression led1 to morphological gastrointestinal tract alterations, weakened the gastrointestinal tract digestion and absorption capacity, and eventually led to malnutrition and gastric dysfunction in the DMD pigs. This work provides important insights into the pathogenesis of DMD and highlights the need to consider the gastrointestinal dysfunction as an additional therapeutic target for DMD patients.
Robust Dynamic Optimization of a Dual-rotor System Based on Polynomial Chaos Expansion
Authors: xu bensheng , zang chaoping , Wang Xiaowei , Zhang Genbei
Published: March 2021

A novel methodology of robust dynamic optimization of a dual-rotor system based on polynomial chaos expansion (PCE) is developed in this paper. The dual-rotor system model was built by the Timoshenko theory and the finite element method. Instead of the direct Monte Carlo simulation (MCS), the PCE of the present dual-rotor system under support stiffness uncertainty is generated to facilitate a rapid analysis of stochastic responses and yield desirable results in significantly less number of functional evaluations. The PCE is explored as a basis for robust optimization, focusing on the problem of minimizing the unbalance response at operating conditions while minimizing its sensitivity to uncertainty in the support stiffness. This strategy avoids the use of MCS in order to effectively increase the efficiency of the optimization and significantly reduce the computing cost and time spending. The robust dynamic optimization attempts to both optimize the mean performance and minimizes the variance of the performance simultaneously. The multi-objective optimization results show that vibration response can be decreased and is significantly less sensitive to the variation of design parameters compared with initial design case by matching of unbalance amplitude and phase angle differences. Implementation of the proposed robust dynamic optimization in the present dual-rotor system illustrates its potential for further complicated applications.
Enhanced Extraction of Skin Interstitial Fluid Using a Tilted Microneedle Device Fabricated by 3D Printing
Authors: Kim Sanha , Lee Min Suk , Yang Hee Seok , Jung Jae Hwan
Published: March 2021

Interstitial fluid (ISF) is a body fluid that fills, surrounds cells and contains various biomarkers, but it has been challenging to extract ISF in a reliable and sufficient amount with high speed. To address the issues, we developed the tilted microneedle ISF collecting system (TMICS) fabricated by 3D printing. In this system, the microneedle (MN) was inserted at 66° to the skin by TMICS so that the MN length could be extended within a safe range of skin penetration. Moreover, TMICS incorporating three MN patches created reliable ISF collecting conditions by penetrating the skin at consistent angle and force, 4.9 N. Due to the MN length increase and the patch number expansion, the surface area of the penetrated tissue was increased, thereby confirming that ISF extraction efficiency was improved. Skin ISF was collected into the paper reservoir on the patch, and the absorbed area was converted into a volume. ISF extraction from the rat skin in vivo by TMICS was well tolerated, and the 2.9 μL of ISF was obtained within 30 sec. Therefore, TMICS is promising to apply in the diagnosis of multiple biomarkers in ISF with high speed and stability.
Identification of Novel Mutation Sites in DNAH1 of Multiple Morphological Anomalies of the Flagella Patients
Authors: Wang Xiong , Sha Yan-Wei , Zhu Xing-shen , Zhang Xiao-ya , Cui Yuan-qing , Chen Jie , Lian Hua-yu , Yan Wei , Yuan He-jia , Qin Wei-bing , Tang Yunge , Zhang Xin-zhong , Zhou Huiliang , Lu Zhongxian
Published: March 2021

BackgroundMultiple morphological anomalies of the sperm flagella (MMAF) is a term used to describe abnormalities in sperm morphology, which lead to primary infertility in males. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is an effective treatment for MMAF. However, ICSI failure rates remain high in MMAF patients. Our purpose was to investigate novel gene mutations in a cohort of nineteen patients with MMAF and assess the impact of these mutations on assisted reproductive therapy.MethodsWe recruited nineteen infertile patients with MMAF and twenty healthy men with proven fertility at the Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University. The morphology of the spermatozoa was observed using Papanicolaou staining and the ultrastructure of the spermatozoa was inspected using transmission electron microscopy. Gene mutations were evaluated using whole-exome sequencing and novel mutations were further validated in patients and their parents using Sanger sequencing. The effect of these novel mutation sites on the expression of DNAH1 was analysed using immunofluorescence, and the effect of these novel mutations on pregnancy outcome was analysed using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). ResultsSpermatozoa from 19 patients presented with a typical MMAF phenotype including severe ultrastructural defects. We identified ten novel mutation sites in the DNAH1 locus from six of these patients, none of which were identified in DNAH1 or the other MMAF-related genes from the twenty men with proven fertility. In the sperm from these patients, DNAH1 was absent. Three patients with DNAH1 mutation who underwent intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) had a good outcome. ConclusionHere, we describe several novel compound heterozygous mutations and a novel homozygous mutation in DNAH1 from six independent MMAF patients. This study adds to the body of knowledge surrounding the genetic landscape of MMAF and DNAH1 improving our ability to diagnose and treat MMAF efficiently.
Identification of long noncoding natural antisense transcripts (lncNATs) correlated with drought stress response in wild rice (Oryza nivara)
Authors: Xu Yong-Chao , Zhang Jie , Zhang Dong-Yan , Nan Ying-Hui , Ge Song , Guo Ya-Long
Published: March 2021

Background

Wild rice, including Oryza nivara and Oryza rufipogon, which are considered as the ancestors of Asian cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.), possess high genetic diversity and serve as a crucial resource for breeding novel cultivars of cultivated rice. Although many rice domestication related traits, such as seed shattering and plant architecture, have been intensively studied at the phenotypic and genomic levels, further investigation is needed to understand the molecular basis of phenotypic differences between cultivated and wild rice. Drought stress is one of the most severe abiotic stresses affecting rice growth and production. Adaptation to drought stress involves a cascade of genes and regulatory factors that form complex networks. Long noncoding natural antisense transcripts (lncNATs), a class of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), regulate the corresponding sense transcripts and play an important role in plant growth and development. However, the contribution of lncNATs to drought stress response in wild rice remains largely unknown.
Results

Here, we conducted strand-specific RNA sequencing (ssRNA-seq) analysis of Nipponbare (O. sativa ssp. japonica) and two O. nivara accessions (BJ89 and BJ278) to determine the role of lncNATs in drought stress response in wild rice. A total of 1,246 lncRNAs were identified, including 1,091 coding–noncoding NAT pairs, of which 50 were expressed only in Nipponbare, and 77 were expressed only in BJ89 and/or BJ278. Of the 1,091 coding–noncoding NAT pairs, 240 were differentially expressed between control and drought stress conditions. Among these 240 NAT pairs, 12 were detected only in Nipponbare, and 187 were detected uniquely in O. nivara. Furthermore, 10 of the 240 coding–noncoding NAT pairs were correlated with genes previously demonstrated to be involved in stress response; among these, nine pairs were uniquely found in O. nivara, and one pair was shared between O. nivara and Nipponbare.
Conclusion

We identified lncNATs associated with drought stress response in cultivated rice and O. nivara. These results will improve our understanding of the function of lncNATs in drought tolerance and accelerate rice breeding.
Modeling the COVID-19 Dynamics and Explaining the Portuguese CaseA Contribution for Fiting Differential Equation Solutions to Epidemiological Data
Authors: Beira Maria Jardim , Sebastião Pedro José
Published: March 2021

Compartmental epidemiological models are, by far, the most popular in the study of dynamics related with infectious diseases. It is, therefore, not surprising that they are frequently used to study the current COVID-19 pandemic. Taking advantage of the real-time availability of COVID-19 related data, we perform a compartmental model fitting analysis of the portuguese case, using an online open-access platform with the integrated capability of solving systems of differential equations. This analysis enabled the data-driven validation of the used model and was the basis for robust projections of different future scenarios, namely, increasing the detected infected population, reopening schools at different moments, allowing Easter celebrations to take place and population vaccination. The method presented in this work can easily be used to perform the non-trivial task of simultaneously fitting differential equation solutions to different epidemiological data sets, regardless of the model or country that might be considered in the analysis.
Fabrication of Porous TiVAlC Ceramics with Low-Temperature Reactive Synthesis Method
Authors: Zou Haoran , Li Xide , Zhang Chuo , Wen Yi , Fan Yiquan , Liu Yuzuo , Xiong Lieqiang , Zheng Xiao , Yang Junsheng
Published: March 2021

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Association Between Tumor Budding Grade and T Stage in Predicting Recurrence in High-risk Stage Ii Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Kodama Hiroyuki , Yamaguchi Toshifumi , Ishizuka Yasunobu , Aoki Masahiko , Miyamoto Takahiro , Terazawa Tetsuji , Shimamoto Fukutaro , Goto Masahiro , Hamamoto Hiroki , Osumi Wataru , Yamamoto Masashi , Tanaka Keitaro , Okuda Junji , Uchiyama Kazuhisa , Higuchi Kazuhide , Yukami Hiroki
Published: March 2021

In pathological stage (pStage) II colon cancer, factors such as T stage (T) are high-risk features (HRF) for recurrence. The SACURA trial showed that tumor budding (BD) grade was also associated with recurrence: the 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) rate was lower in patients in the BD3 group compared with that of other groups. Interestingly, the BD3 group had a higher proportion of patients with T4. We investigated the prognostic association between T4 and BD3 for recurrence in pStage II colorectal cancer (pII-CRC) with HRF. We analyzed pII-CRC patients with HRF between 2013–2018 at our hospital, Japan. Inclusion criteria were as follows: ≥1 HRF [<12 lymph nodes examined (<12LN), lymph/vascular-invasion, perineural-invasion, T, BD, and histologic-type]. We primarily analyzed the relationship between each factor and RFS. Among 2,920 pII-CRC patients, 448 had HRF. Of these, 43 (9.6%) had T4 and 236 (52.7%) had BD3. On initial analysis, <12LN (P=0.0412), tumor location (P=0.0023), T4 (P=0.0023), and BD3 (P=0.0396) were independent prognostic factors for RFS. Among 257 patients with BD3 and/or T4, the 5-year RFS rates were 81.3%, 74.6%, and 66.2% for patients with BD3 (214 patients), T4 (22 patients), and BD3 plus T4 (21 patients), respectively (hazard ratio 3.08, P=0.0079). pII-CRC patients with BD3 plus T4 had poorer prognosis than those with other factors.
Preparation of green synthesized copper oxide nanoparticles for efficient removal of lead from wastewaters
Authors: Zarrabi Amir , Ghasemi-Fasaei Reza
Published: March 2021

Green synthesis is a clean and eco-friendly process in which metal nanoparticles can be produced via reaction between a metal salt solution and plant organ extract. In present study, three copper oxide nanoparticles were synthesized using green synthesis processes from the leaf extracts of selected plants as abundant plant cover in the study area including astragalus (Astragalus membranaceus), rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) and mallow (Malva sylvestris). The effectiveness of three green synthesized nanoparticles in the adsorption of lead ions from a polluted water was studied under laboratory conditions. According to the results, the removal efficiencies of the copper oxide nanoparticles synthesized from astragalus (A-CuO-NPs), rosemary (R-CuO-NPs) and mallow leaf extract (M-CuO-NPs) especially at the highest initial concentration of Pb (1.5 mM) were 88.4 %, 84.9 % and 69.6 %, respectively. Most probably due the smooth morphology and more uniform configuration of the M-CuO-NPs, the changes between equilibrium adsorption (qe) and equilibrium concentration (Ce) were more regular than those of the A-CuO-NPs and R-CuO-NPs. Accordingly the best fitted data to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms were observed in the adsorption of Pb onto the M-CuO-NPs. Despite the lowest removal efficiency of the M-CuO-NPs, with the equal volumes of each leaf extract and CuSO4.5H2O solution (20 mM), the most produced dry weight was observed for these nanoparticles (4.3 g per 100 mL of leaf extract). According to the results reported herein, the copper oxide nanoparticles synthesized from different plant covers are efficient adsorption agents for Pb from wastewaters.
Maintaining face-to-face contact during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal qualitative investigation in UK primary care
Authors: Turner Andrew , Scott Anne , Horwood Jeremy , Salisbury Chris , Denholm Rachel , Scott Lauren , Iyer Geeta , Macleod John , Murphy Mairead
Published: March 2021

BackgroundIn March 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic required a rapid reconfiguration of UK general practice to minimise face-to-face contact with patients to reduce infection risk. However, some face-to-face contact remained necessary and practices needed to ensure such contact could continue safely.AimTo examine how practices determined when face-to-face contact was necessary and how face-to-face consultations were reconfigured to reduce COVID-19 infection risk. Design and SettingQualitative interview study in general practices in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.MethodLongitudinal semi-structured interviews with clinical and managerial practice staff at four timepoints between May and July 2020.ResultsPractices worked flexibly within general national guidance to determine when face-to-face contact with patients was necessary, influenced by knowledge of the patient, experience, and practice resilience. For example, practices prioritised patients according to clinical need using face-to-face contact to resolve clinician uncertainty or provide adequate reassurance to patients. To make face-to-face contact as safe as possible and keep patients separated, practices introduced a heterogeneous range of measures that exploited features of their indoor and outdoor spaces and altered their appointment processes. As national restrictions eased in June and July, the number and proportion of patients seen face-to-face generally increased. However, the reconfiguration of buildings and processes reduced the available capacity and put increased pressure on practices.ConclusionPractices responded rapidly and creatively to the initial lockdown restrictions. The variety of ways practices organised face-to-face contact to minimise infection highlights the need for flexibility in guidance.
Effects of Media Violence on Mental Health of Viewers
Authors: Kamal Madiha , Zahid Gulrukh
Published: March 2021

It has been evident that violence showing through media is creating numerous issues in youth as well as in younger children. In this study we have scrutinize the effect of violence exhibiting through the media, on the mental health of a viewer and as well as its effects on economics. By using a primary data methodology, a total of 100 respondents submitted their response to the database for this study. Majority of the participants in the survey were females aged between 18–24 years. The results have shown that by picturing violent content on media has an impact on mental health, both long term and short-term impacts depends on the content and its severity.
Impact of perinatal environmental health education intervention on exposure to endocrine disruptors during pregnancy - PREVED study: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: OUAZZANI Houria EL , ROUILLON Steeve , VENISSE Nicolas , SIFER-RIVIERE Lynda , DUPUIS Antoine , CAMBIEN Guillaume , AYRAUD-THEVENOT Sarah , GOURGUES Anne-Sophie , PIERRE-EUGENE Pascale , PIERRE Fabrice , RABOUAN Sylvie , MIGEOT Virginie , ALBOUY-LLATY Marion
Published: March 2021

Background
The suspected or actual effects on health of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDC) and their ubiquitous presence in everyday life justify the implementation of health promotion interventions. These interventions should ideally apply during critical windows like pregnancy. Perinatal environmental health education interventions may help to reduce EDC exposure during pregnancy.
Methods/Design
PREVED (Pregnancy, PreVention, Endocrine Disruptors) is an open-label randomized controlled trial assessing the impact of environmental health education intervention on EDC exposure during pregnancy. Inclusion, consent and randomization take place during the first trimester. The participants are randomly allocated into three groups: i) control group (information leaflet on EDCs), ii) intervention group in neutral location (information leaflet and workshops in a meeting room) and iii) intervention group in contextualized location (information leaflet and workshops in a real apartment). Workshops are organized between the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Main outcome is the percentage of participants who reported consuming manufactured/industrial food. Secondary outcomes are: i) psycho-social dimensions ii) EDC concentrations in urine iii) EDC concentration in colostrum and iv) percentage of participants who reported consuming paraben-free personal care products.
Discussion
PREVED is a ground-breaking intervention research project dedicated to perinatal environmental health education that aims to identify pollutant sources in daily life and to offer accessible and realistic alternative solutions, by promoting the sharing of know-how and experience in a positive and non-alarmist approach.
Trial registration number
ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03233984 (current status: ongoing). Retrospectively registered on 31 July 2017 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03233984) because when the first participant was enrolled in this non-drug intervention, ClinicalTrials.gov was centred in therapeutic trials.
World Health Organization Trial Registration Data Set:
Additional file 1
Widmungen für Bernhard Klausnitzer anlässlich seines 80. Geburtstages
Authors: Dathe Holger H.
Published: March 2021

Widmungen von Dieter Stöckel, Thomas Keil, Max Sieber, Jörg Gebert, Wolf-Harald Liebig, Heinz Sbieschne, Uwe Hornig, Uwe Fischer, Joachim Schmidt, Manfred und Barbara Uhlig, Wolfgang Schawaller, Ivan Löbl, Wolfgang Zimmermann, Robert Trusch, Gerald Moritz
Motivations, challenges, and process support for the evolution of existing software to mobile computing platforms
Authors:   College of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Ha’il, Ha’il, Saudi Arabia, Alseadoon Ibrahim
Published: March 2021

Software maintenance and evolution support changes in the structure and behavior of existing software to change it as per the needs and demands of new requirements. The majority of the existing software systems lack features of mobile computing such as portability, context-awareness, connectivity, and high interactivity. The evolution of the existing software for mobile computing platforms can enable these systems to retain their core data and logic while acquiring new features that are compatible with mobile systems. The objectives of this research are to (i) systematically identify the motivations and challenges of software evolution for mobile computing, and (ii) develop and validate a process model that supports the evolution of existing software to a mobile computing platform. To conduct this research, an empirical software engineering approach has been adopted to investigate existing solutions (30 published studies from 1996 to 2019) and empirically derive a process model that supports software evolution for mobile computing. A case study-based approach is adopted to demonstrate the process-centric evolution of existing software as a mobile-enabled application. Case study-based demonstration highlights that the proposed process (i) supports an incremental evolution and (ii) allows user-decision support to guide the evolution process. Evaluation results highlight computation and energy efficiency along with enhanced usability of a mobile application when executed on resource-constrained mobile devices. The results of this research could help researchers and practitioners to rationalize motivations and challenges to utilize a process-based approach to evolve existing or aging software for mobile computing platforms. Future research is focused on providing patterns and tool support to automate and customize the evolution process.
Диэлектрические и пироэлектрические свойства композитов на основе нитридов алюминия и галлия, выращенных методом хлорид-гибридной эпитаксии на подложке карбида кремния на кремнии
Authors: Солнышкин А.В. , Сергеева О.Н. , Шустова О.А. , Шарофидинов Ш.Ш. , Старицын М.В. , Каптелов Е.Ю. , Кукушкин С.А. , Пронин И.П.
Published: March 2021

The microstructure, dielectric, and pyroelectric properties of AlxGa1-xN composite epitaxial layers grown on SiC / (111) Si substrates by chloride-hydride epitaxy are studied. In the process of layer growth, the phenomenon of spontaneous formation of heterojunctions was discovered. Based on AlxGa1-xN epitaxial layers, a material has been obtained which currently has one of the highest pyroelectric coefficients for crystals (or thin films) of aluminum nitride.
Фазовая кластеризация в иерархическом ансамбле связанных осцилляторов ван дер Поля
Authors: Темная О.С. , Tsironis G.P.
Published: March 2021

We demonstrate phase clusterization in a hierarchical network of mutually coupled van der Pole
oscillators. We find that in the system with random initial phases there is a coupling parameter,
which corresponds to intermittent transition from non-synchronous state to synchronous.
Clusterization does not decay if oscillators have non-identical natural frequencies or randomly
distributed initial phases. In this structure, those elements that are placed on the same
hierarchical level have equal phases.
The Use of Person-Centered Language in Medical Research Journals Focusing on Psoriasis: A Cross-Sectional Analysis (Preprint)
Authors: Ottwell Ryan , Heigle Benjamin , Reddy Arjun K. , Sajjadi Nicholas , Wirtz Alexis , Cook Courtney , Howard Hannah , Hartwell Micah , Vassar Matt
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND

Person-centered language (PCL) places a person’s identity before any disability or medical condition they may have. Using PCL reduces stigma and improves the patient-physician relationship, potentially optimizing health outcomes. Patients with psoriasis often feel stigmatized due to their chronic skin condition.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to evaluate the use of PCL in psoriasis literature and to explore whether certain article characteristics were associated with non-person-centered language.

METHODS

We performed a systematic search on PubMed for recently published articles in journals that regularly publish psoriasis studies. After article reduction procedures, randomization, and screening, we reached our target sample of 400 articles. The following non-PCL terms were extracted from each article: "Psoriasis Patient," "Psoriasis subject," "Affected with," "Sufferer", "Suffering from", "Burdened with," "Afflicted with", and "Problems with." Screening and data extraction occurred in a masked, duplicate fashion.

RESULTS

Of the 400 included articles, 272 (68.0%) were not adherent to PCL guidelines according to the American Medical Association Manual of Style. The most frequent non-PCL term was "Psoriasis Patient," found in 174 (43.5%) articles. Stigmatizing language was associated with the type of article and funding status, with original investigations and funded studies having higher rates of stigmatizing language.

CONCLUSIONS

Articles about psoriasis commonly use non-PCL terms. It is important to shift away from using stigmatizing language about patients with psoriasis to avoid potential untoward influences. We recommend using “patients with psoriasis” or “patient living with psoriasis” to emphasize the importance of person-centered care.

CLINICALTRIAL
Feasibility of Indirect Secondary Distribution of HIV Self-test Kits via WeChat Among Men Who Have Sex With Men: National Cross-sectional Study in China (Preprint)
Authors: Li Shangcao , Zhang Jing , Mao Xiang , Lu Tianyi , Gao Yangyang , Zhang Wenran , Wang Hongyi , Chu Zhenxing , Hu Qinghai , Jiang Yongjun , Geng Wenqing , Shang Hong , Xu Junjie
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND

HIV self-testing (HIVST) kits are common in key sexually active populations. Direct secondary distribution of HIVST kits (DSDHK) is effective in improving the uptake of HIVST. However, there are concerns about the various limitations of DSDHK, including limited geographic reach, payment problems, and need for face-to-face interactions.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we aim to evaluate the feasibility and characteristics of indirect secondary distribution of HIVST kits (ISDHK) via WeChat (distributing HIVST application links and follow-up HIVST kits to partners) among men who have sex with men (MSM).

METHODS

From October 2017 to September 2019, an HIVST recruitment advertisement was disseminated on the WeChat social media platform to invite MSM to apply for the HIVST kits (referred to as index participants [IPs]). All MSM participants were encouraged to distribute the HIVST application link to their friends and sexual partners (referred to as alters) through their social networks. All the alters were further encouraged to continue distributing the HIVST application link. All participants paid a deposit (US $7), which was refundable upon completion of the questionnaire, and uploaded the test results via a web-based survey system.

RESULTS

A total of 2263 MSM met the criteria and successfully applied for HIVST. Of these, 1816 participants returned their HIVST results, including 1422 (88.3%) IPs and 394 (21.7%) alters. More alters had condomless anal intercourse, a higher proportion of them had never previously tested for HIV, and they showed a greater willingness to distribute HIVST kits to their sexual partners (P=.002) than the IPs. After controlling for age, education, and income, the alters had a greater proportion of MSM who had never tested for HIV before (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.29, 95% CI 1.00-1.68), were more willing to distribute the HIVST application link (aOR 1.71, 95% CI 1.21-2.40), had a lower number of sexual partners (aOR 0.71, 95% CI 0.57-0.90), and were less likely to search for sexual partners on the web (aOR 0.78, 95% CI 0.60-1.02) than IPs. In comparison, the rates of reactive HIVST results, conducting HIV confirmatory tests, HIV seropositivity, and initiation of HIV antiretroviral therapy were similar for IPs and alters.

CONCLUSIONS

The ISDHK model of distributing HIVST application links among the MSM population via social media is feasible. The ISDHK model should be used to supplement the DSDHK model to enable a greater proportion of the MSM population to know their HIV infection status.
Pflegende Angehörige als neue Herausforderung für die kirchliche Diakonie
Authors: Hofstetter Simon
Published: March 2021

In seinem Beitrag «Pflegende Angehörige als neue Herausforderung für die kirchliche Diakonie» fasst Simon Hofstetter die Ergebnisse seiner Dissertation mit dem Titel «Das Unsichtbare sichtbar machen. Pflegende Angehörige als Herausforderung für den diakonischen Auftrag der Kirchen» zusammen. Er geht darin davon aus, dass pflegende Angehörige von betagten Menschen für die Gesellschaft unersetzbare Dienste leisteten, die jedoch noch viel zu wenig wahrgenommen und wertgeschätzt würden. Weder kommen sie mit ihren Anliegen in öffentlichen Debatten zu Wort, noch sind sie Gegenstand zentraler sozialpolitischer Programme. Eine ähnliche Beobachtung sie in der kirchlichen Diakonie zu machen, wo bislang noch keine Ansätze vorliegen, der Angehörigenarbeit im diakonischen Wirken grössere Beachtung zu schenken.Simon Hofstetter versucht, die Tätigkeiten der pflegenden Angehörigen aus der gesellschaftlichen Unsichtbarkeit herauszuholen und zum bedeutsamen Thema der kirchlichen Diakonie zu machen. Er hält pflegende Angehörige für «konsekutiv Betroffene», die wegen ihrer meist umfangreichen Betreuungsleistungen vielfach von gesellschaftlicher Teilhabe ausgeschlossen werden und zu vereinsamen drohen. In der Dissertation gibt er kirchlich-diakonisch En­gagierten Anregungen, wie sie in der Angehörigenarbeit sowohl vor Ort als auch auf gesamtgesellschaft­licher Ebene aktiv werden können, um dem entgegenzuwirken.
Social et protestant? Une alliance de valeurs et de compétences face à de nouveaux défis
Authors: Küng Hélène
Published: March 2021

Hélène Küng führt in ihrem Beitrag «Social et protestant? Une alliance de valeurs et de compétences face à de nouveaux défis» aus, welche doppelte Erfahrung sie als Direktorin eines Centre Social Protestant (CSP) gemacht hatte: Zum Einen seien die CSP aufgrund ihrer Arbeit und Expertise anerkannt und geschätzt, zum Anderen habe jedoch die Verbindung von «social» und «protestant» Fragen ausgelöst oder gar Verwirrung gestiftet: Wenn sich auch die kirchliche soziale Arbeit als eine auf der Achtung der Menschenwürde und des Einsatzes für Gerechtigkeit basierende Arbeit versteht, so werde ihr von Seiten der nicht-konfessionellen sozialen Arbeit gelegentlich einiges Misstrauen entgegengebracht; dass beide dieselben Ziele vertreten, sei zuweilen anspruchsvoll zu vermitteln.Küng beschreibt sodann, wie die Weiterverfolgung dieser Ziele von drei aktuellen Entwicklungen eindringlich hinterfragt werde: Zum Ersten begegnen die Sozialwerke einer «neuen Philanthropie», in welcher private Wohltäterinnen oder Wohltäter persönliche Projekte lancierten – schlimmstenfalls ohne jegliche Absprachen mit Partnerorganisationen sowie ohne auf den sozialen Bedarf einzugehen. Zum Zweiten seien die protestantischen sozialen Akteure herausgefordert, angesichts der Mitgliederentwicklung die Rolle vom Mehrheitsvertreter zu verlassen und einen neuen Platz als kleine, aber wichtige Stimme im «Orchester» der sozialen Akteure zu finden. Schliesslich, zum Dritten, sei das soziales Wirken – ob konfessionell geprägt oder nicht – angesichts zunehmender sozialer Spannungsfelder nötiger denn je.Dass die CSP öffentliche Subventionen erhalten und dennoch – nötigenfalls auch gegen die öffentliche Hand – gesamtgesellschaftlich Stellung beziehen für sozial Benachteiligte sei keinesfalls problematisch; vielmehr sei das Einbringen ihrer Stimme in den öffentlichen Diskurs wichtig, zumal die CSP mit ihrer Erfahrung direkt vor Ort eine unabdingbare kritische Gesprächspartnerin («partenaire critique») darstellen.
Diakonie und 500 Jahre Reformation in Zürich
Authors: Sigrist Christoph
Published: March 2021

Christoph Sigrist fragt in seinem Beitrag «Diakonie und 500 Jahre Reformation in Zürich», wie heute «das reformatorische Erbe mit Blick auf den diakonischen Auftrag von Kirchen und Werken fruchtbar und zukunftsgerichtet, zielführend und nachhaltig zu verstehen ist».Sigrist bezieht sich in seinen reformationsgeschichtlichen Ausführungen vorwiegend auf die Situation Zwinglis in Zürich und schildert die dort erfolgte «Übertragung der sozialen Verantwortung der Wohlfahrt und Bekämpfung der Armut an den Staat und verschiedene gesellschaftliche Akteure» und die damit in theologischer Perspektive in Verbindung stehende «Ablösung vom heilsrelevanten Handeln an den Armen zur bürgerlichen Christenpflicht mit den Armen». Denn dass Armut für Zwingli zunächst ein theologisches Problem darstellte, weist Sigrist mit dem den Worten Zwinglis nach: «Ein Christ syn ist nit schwätzen von Christo, sunder wandlen, wie er gewandelt hat. Ein Christ syn ist der schönst und zierlichest Adel, der in dem Himmel und uff erden sin mag.»Obwohl Sigrist verschiedene Parallelen im Sozialsystem des 15. und des 21. Jahrhunderts sieht – «Kontrolle und Repression den Ausgegrenzten gegenüber» sowie die «Prozesse von Marginalisierungen wie Arbeitslosigkeit und Vagabundentum in beiden Jahrhunderten» –, benennt er auch zentrale Differenzen: Wir leben heute in einer Gesellschaft, «in der nicht mehr die konfessionellen Grabenkämpfe das kulturelle und politische Leben prägen, sondern die Frage, wie das Christsein selber angesichts der multikulturellen und interreligiösen Zusammensetzung von Menschen, Gütern und sozialen und gesellschaftspolitischen Systemen zu gestalten ist.» Bestand die zentrale Herausforderung damals in der «Korruption in der Armutsbekämpfung, ist es heute die Überforderung im Zusammenleben unterschiedlicher Kulturen und Religionen».In Bezug auf die «typisch schweizerische Subsidiarität kirchlichen Engagements gegenüber dem Staat» ist für Sigrist eine Klärung des inhaltlichen Auftrages der diakonischen Leistung von Kirchgemeinden, gesamtkirchlichen Diensten, diakonischen Werken und kirchlichen Hilfswerken vonnöten». Darüber hinaus erachtet «die theologische Begründung helfenden Handelns für das kirchliche Leben und das diakonische Wirken [als] konstitutiv», dabei gewinne die «Multiperspektivität theologischer Ansätze […] angesichts der pluralen Gesellschaft immer mehr an Gewicht».
Zukunftsfähige Konfirmationsarbeit? Nur mit diakonischer Praxis!
Authors: Schlag Thomas
Published: March 2021

Thomas Schlag fragt in seinem Beitrag «Zukunftsfähige Konfirmandenarbeit? Nur mit diakonischer Praxis!», wie das Verhältnis von Konfirmandenarbeit und Kirche theologisch und pädagogisch verantwortet bestimmt werden kann.

Aus europaweiten Studien ist ihm bekannt, dass Konfirmandenarbeit in ihren unterschiedlichen Ausprägungen je durch unterschiedliche (theologische, pädagogische, rituelle, personal-existentielle und gesellschaftspolitische) Dimensionen geprägt sind; diese unterschiedlichen Dimensionen führen gemäss Schlag «nicht nur zu unterschiedlichen Profilen der Konfirmationsarbeit, sondern auch zu, […] unterschiedlichen Typen der Verhältnisbestimmung von Konfirmandenunterricht und der Kirche» - ihnen allen kommt jedoch die grundlegende heuristische Funktion zu, durch welche «die Bedingungsfaktoren und Optionen für eine zukunftsfähige Konfirmationsarbeit als kirchliche Bildungspraxis genauer in den Blick» geraten.

Schlag plädiert darauf aufbauend für einen «Perspektivenwechsel auf die ungenützten Potentiale kirchlicher Kommunikation» und macht den Vorschlag, «anhand der vierfachen Fassung des kirchlichen Auftrags als martyria, leiturgia, diakonia und koinonia zu einer dezidiert theologischen Bestimmung der Reziprozität von Konfirmationsarbeit und Kirche zu gelangen». Als unverzichtbare Bestandteile aller Bildungskommunikation leisteten die vier Aspekte des kirchlichen Auftrags in der Konfirmandenarbeit erstens einen Beitrag zur individuellen Glaubenspraxis, indem sie nicht zuletzt «öffentlich deutlich […] machen, worum es in dieser spezifischen kirchlichen Praxis überhaupt geht»; zweitens leisten sie in der Konfirmandenarbeit einen Beitrag zu einer öffentlichen Kirche, namentlich dadurch, dass die beiden Grundvollzüge der diakonia und koinonia ins Spiel kommen und «in persönlichem und öffentlichem Sinn Verantwortungsübernahme erfahrbar» werden lassen.
Mariátegui: socialismo y Buen Vivir
Authors: Friggeri Félix Pablo
Published: March 2021

el objetivo de este artículo es relacionar las propuestas de José Carlos Mariátegui y la del Buen Vivir en la búsqueda de la confluencia de caminos de superación del capitalismo en América Latina tanto en lo político como en lo epistémico. Se examinan las características del Socialismo Indoamericano de Mariátegui y su relación con la praxis indígena; el sujeto epistémico-político de esta construcción; la importancia de la subjetividad y la espiritualidad en estas propuestas y unesbozo de una agenda posible de diálogo entre el marxismo y los movimientos indígenas en la línea de lo propuesto por el Amauta. Se establece un diálogo entre los elementos de un trabajo de campo realizado con el movimiento indígena ecuatoriano y material bibliográfico de Mariátegui y sus intérpretes. Se concluye resaltando la confluencia de ambas propuestas y su potencialidad para enriquecer el análisis de la realidad latinoamericana y alimentar propuestas políticas liberadoras.
Updates in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Authors: Henrique Pires de Aguiar Paulo , Camporeze Bruno , Zapelini Caroline , Hiroshi Murashita Fujiki Ricardo , Watanabe Rodriguez Jonathan , Henrique Simm Aguiar Pedro , Cassia de Almeida Motta Giovana
Published: March 2021

Background: The Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), known as reflex sympathetic dystrophy, Sudeck atrophy, causalgy or posttraumatic pain has been described as an important cause of chronic morbidity, which acknowledge of clinical limits, pathophysiology and implications of pathogenesis is still little elucidated. Therefore a great dissatisfaction for patients and health professionals has been described regarding to the currently available therapeutic methods. Objectives: The goal of this paper is to discuss the current perspectives of physiopathology, diagnosis and treatment in CRPS. Methods: A review of the literature was carried out using the MEDLINE, LILACS, and SciELO databases, with preference to articles in English, Portuguese and Spanish. Results: The diagnosis is predominantly based in clinical evidences of signs and symptoms. Although it has been described in the literature in many studies and guidelines about the treatment of CRPS, there is no consensus of procedure indications. Between the surgical methods, the use of spinal cord stimulation and others neuromodulators approaches has been described associated to significant rates of success in the management of CRPS. Conclusion: According to the literature and authors experience, the successful treatment of CRPS is based in early diagnosis associated to experienced interdisciplinary team aiming the functional restoration and psychological aspect monitoring.
Cervical Intramedullary Spinal Cord Glioblastoma in a 10 Year-Old Child. Case Report
Authors: Garcia Martins Otávio , José dos Santos Amir , Carlos Garcia D’Almeida Antonio , Cezimbra dos Santos Samir , Júlia Ramos Fontanari Anna , Gago Guilherme
Published: March 2021

Among all pediatric tumors in CNS, the intramedullary spinal cord tumors are less than one-third of 1% and only about 1-3% of them are high-grade gliomas. Intramedullary glioblastoma (GBM) is considered highly threatening because of its aggressiveness and, even with intense management, lesion progress and patients develop severe deficits. Authors report a very rare case of a 10-year-old patient with extensive cervical GBM with an unusual outcome.