bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Followers' Perception of Leadership Style, Organizational Commitment and Regulatory Focus, Moderated by Organizational Types
Authors: Mash Roni , Cohen Lihi
Published: September 2021

Research hypotheses assumed that a positive connection would be found between transformational leadership, on one hand, and affective commitment and focus on promotion, on the other. It was also assumed that this connection would be stronger in coercive organizations. Furthermore, the research hypotheses assumed there would be positive connections between transactional leadership, on one hand, and continuance commitment and focus on prevention, on the other; stronger in utilitarian organizations. 82 employees of coercive organizations and 80 employees of utilitarian organizations participated in this study using the MLQ questionnaire, an organizational commitment questionnaire, and a regulatory focus questionnaire. It was found that the more a leader is perceived by followers as having a transformational style, the more followers will feel affective commitment toward the organization and the more they will focus on promotion and successes. Moreover, the more a leader is perceived as a transactional leader followers will feel more continuance commitment and be more focused on preventing failures. The moderation model by type of organization was confirmed. Difference between the connections noted above in coercive organizations as compared to utilitarian organizations was found.
Peningkatan Efektivitas Pembelajaran dengan Moodle sebagai Media Pembelajaran: Metode Literatur
Authors: Setiawan Ananda , Rahmattullah Muhammad , Ratumbuysang Monry Fraick Nicky Gillian , Rizky Maulana , Mustofa Achmad
Published: September 2021

Increasing the effectiveness of learning is a way to achieve the success of educational development. One way to achieve learning effectiveness is to use learning media to simplify and make the learning process effective. This research aims to reveal as many empirical studies on effectiveness as possible through articles published in international journals to explain to educators the impact of implementing Moodle as a learning media. This research used a literature study method. The results of this study provide an explanation that Moodle can improve student achievement, motivation, communication, interest, discipline and increase self-confidence.
Kajian Konflik Sosial Terhadap Kebijakan Social Safety Net Pada Era New Normal Di Kabupaten Cirebon
Authors: Puspitasari Ratna , Resmalasari Septiani
Published: September 2021

In early 2020, corona disease 2019 (Covid-19) appeared in Wuhan, December 2019 and rapidly spread to almost around the world so that it is determined by WHO as pandemic since it has attacked 114 countries including Indonesia. The growth of Covid 19 was confirmed to have experienced a high spike as of September 4, 2020. There were 26 million people exposed to the Covid 19 virus, so the Indonesian government needs to provide social assistance for people affected by Covid-19. Based on the latest Worldometers update at the beginning of 2021, namely on Friday, January 8, 2021, the SAR CoV-2 corona virus has infected a total of 88.368.538 people worldwide with a calculation of 63.454.087 people who have recovered from infection while a total of 1.904.030 people were declared dead. The Covid-19 data and information center said a total of 494 people were suspected of being exposed to Covid-19. Minister of Social Affairs, Juliari Batubara ensured that 120.000 Beneficiary Families of the Family Hope Program (KPM PKH) in Cirebon Regency would receive a certain amount of rice as social assistance. There are 15 kilograms of rice in three distributions to help the food needs of the Beneficiary Families. The distribution of social assistance to communities affected by Covid-19 caused conflicts in several areas in Cirebon Regency which caused social turmoil as a result of social changes in the Covid-19 era. This study tried to examine the social conflicts that arise in the process of distributing social assistance in Cirebon with Karl Marx's theory of Social Conflict which consists of vertical conflict and horizontal conflict. This study used qualitative research methods and a phenomenological approach in the Covid-19 era as a tool for the researcher to analyze this study.
Thermal Decomposition of Brominated Butyl Rubber
Authors: Zhang Wei , Xiong Jinping , Zang Yang , Lu Yanli , Lin Weisheng , Zhao Shengyun
Published: September 2021

The thermal decomposition of brominated butyl rubber under air atmosphere was investigated by thermogravimetry (TG) and derivative thermogravimetry (DTG) at various heating rates. The kinetic parameters were evaluated by TG and the isoconversional method developed by Ozawa. One prominent decomposition stage was observed in the DTG curves at high heating rates while an additional small peak was observed at low heating rates. The apparent activation energy determined using the TG method ranged from 219.31–228.13 kJ·mol-1 at various heating rates. The non-isothermal degradation was found to be a first order reaction, and the activation energy, as determined by the isoconversional method, increased with an increase in mass loss. The kinetic data suggested that brominated butyl rubber had excellent thermal stability. This study will indirectly aid in improving rubber pyrolysis methods and in enhancing the heat resistance of materials.
Privacy preservation Models for Third-Party Auditor over Cloud Computing: a Survey
Authors: Razaque Abdul , Frej Mohamed , Alotaibi Bandar , Alotaibi Munif
Published: September 2021

Cloud computing has become a prominent technology due to its important utility service; this service concentrates on outsourcing data to organizations and individual consumers. Cloud computing has considerably changed the manner in which individuals or organizations store, retrieve, and organize their personal information. Despite the manifest development in cloud computing, there are still some concerns regarding the level of security and issues related to adopting cloud computing that prevent users from fully trusting this useful technology. Hence, for the sake of reinforcing the trust between Cloud Clients (CC) and Cloud Service Providers (CSP), as well as safeguarding the CC’s data in the cloud, several security paradigms of cloud computing based on a Third-Party Auditor (TPA) have been introduced. The TPA, as a trusted party, is responsible for checking the integrity of the CC’s data and all the critical information associated with it. However, the TPA could become an adversary and could aim to deteriorate the privacy of the CC’s data by playing a malicious role. In this paper, we present the state-of-art of cloud computing’s privacy-preserving models (PPM) based on a TPA. Three TPA factors of paramount significance have been discussed: TPA involvement, security requirements, and security threats caused by vulnerabilities. Moreover, TPA’s privacy preserving models have been comprehensively analyzed and categorized into different classes with an emphasis on their dynamicity. Finally, we discuss the limitations of the models and present our recommendations for their improvement.
Distributed Acoustic Sensing Based on Coherent Microwave Photonics Interferometry
Authors: Hua Liwei , Zhu Xuran , Cheng Baokai , Song Yang , Zhang Qi , Wu Yongji , Murdoch Lawrence C. , Dauson Erin R. , Donahue Carly , Xiao Hai
Published: September 2021

A microwave-photonics method has been developed for measuring distributed acoustic signals. This method uses microwave-modulated low coherence light as a probe to interrogate distributed in-fiber interferometers, which are used to measure acoustic-induced strain. By sweeping the microwave frequency at a constant rate, the acoustic signals are encoded into the complex microwave spectrum. The microwave spectrum is transformed into the joint time-frequency domain and further processed to obtain the distributed acoustic signals. The method is first evaluated using an intrinsic Fabry Perot interferometer (IFPI). Acoustic signals of frequency up to 15.6 kHz were detected. The method was further demonstrated using an array of in-fiber weak reflectors and an external Michelson interferometer. Two piezo-ceramic cylinders (PCCs) driven at frequencies of 1700 Hz and 3430 Hz were used as acoustic sources. The experiment results show that the sensing system can locate multiple acoustic sources. The system resolves 20 nε when the spatial resolution is 5 cm. The recovered acoustic signals match the excitation signals in frequency, amplitude, and phase, indicating an excellent potential for distributed acoustic sensing (DAS).
Prevalence, Causes and Associated Factors for Postpartum Haemorrhage (Pph) At St. Joseph Referral Hospital Peramiho-Songea, Tanzania; A Hospital-Based Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study.
Authors: Mvandal Samson , Kindimba Coletha
Published: September 2021

Background: The prevalence of postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is increasing globally that is from 6.5% in 2000 to 11% in 2016. But there are regional variations where there is decrease of PPH in some parts of Asia and increase in Africa and developed countries. Objectives: The main objective of this study was to assess the prevalence, causes and associated factors for postpartum haemorrhage at St. Joseph referral hospital in Peramiho- Songea from November 2017 to December 2019. Method: The retrospective cross-sectional hospital-based study was used and data was obtained from maternity hospital registry book/data base of St. Joseph mission hospital in Peramiho Songea, from November 2017 to November 2019. Descriptive data was analysed by tables and graphs. Results: The prevalence of PPH in Peramiho referral hospital was 1.3% in 2017, 1.26% in 2018 and 1.4% in 2019. The overage prevalence for the three years is 1.3%. However, 73.3% of total prevalence is from home deliveries in rural areas. The main cause of PPH in the hospital was uterus atony (42%), retained placenta (15.5%), 3rd and 4th grade tears (11.2%), uterine rupture (8.1%) and coagulopathy (5.6%). The main attributing factors were age >35years (34%), other antenatal pregnancy complication (27%), previous PPH (18.6%), Antenatal anaemia (16%), placenta previa, Eclampsia, preeclampsia (12%) each. Conclusion: The prevalence of PPH from this study is slightly high with the main cause being uterine atony and affected mainly those undergone SVD where about two quarter were home deliveries. However further research studies are needed to investigate the main reason for higher home deliveries in Peramiho residence and nearby area.
THE ROLE AND PLACE OF INTELLECTUAL POTENTIAL IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISES
Authors: Marchuk Lesia
Published: September 2021

In today's conditions, the growth of the competitive environment and globalization processes significantly affect the state of the world economy, its development is determined by the level of use of intellectual potential. The most important and significant process is the intellectualization not only of the economy but also of production, which in turn is responsible for the high qualification of staff and continuous improvement. It is substantiated that the intellectual potential at the macroeconomic level in economic globalization processes acts as the main factor determining the country's place in the world economic arena. The advantage of intellectualization of the economy has been experimentally confirmed and recognized as a new source for modern society. This is because intellectual assets displace tangible ones, just as information displaces current assets. The considered intellectual potential can be applied to the electricity market.
ROLE OF STATE IN THE PROCESS OF CREATION AND SUPPORT OF INNOVATIVE CLUSTERS
Authors: Avershyn S. , Mekhovych S.
Published: September 2021

In the article a question is considered in relation to the role of the state in creation and support of innovative clusters . Clusters as integrated formations of enterprises are the global phenomenon. They behave to the variety of network structures and differ in the presence of innovative constituent, that allows to adapt to the changes in a changeable competition environment. The processes of their creation and functioning pass in regional institutional environments and need attention and support of regional power. One of forms of this support there are mechanisms of state-private partnership. It is well-proven that conceptually cluster politics is a major instrument of technological reengineering of productive base of domestic enterprises. She can be effective at the observance of certain principles. Their essence and directions of action are considered. Forming of competition production and realization of the programs of technological reengineering depends on the select model of industrial politics. This politics must take into account the historical features of development and current situation. In today's Ukraine such politics has situation and conjuncture character, directly depends on dominant in the country of public and economic ideology, formed on the basis of permanent informal mutual relations and rules of behavior between the state, business and society, that, accordingly, determines aims, general strategy and specific of tool of development of industry. At development of models of effective industrial politics in Ukraine it follows to take into account the row of existent organizationally-administrative and institutional limitations. Ignoring of priority of industrial development on the modern stage creates an economic danger.
ANALYSIS OF MACHINE-BUILDING ENTERPRISES TO ENHANCE CAPITAL BUDGETING IN CURRENT CONDITIONS
Authors: Makarenko A.
Published: September 2021

An integral assessment of the production capacity of several machine-building enterprises, which includes their financial position analysis, is performed in the article. The methodological basis for determining the integral indicator of the financial position is a method of multifactorial discriminatory analysis. Five classes assigned based on the level of financial position range from the highest level of capacity to meet obligations and the lowest probability of default to the lowest level with a high probability of default. The analysis shows that the financial independence ratio exceeds the critical value for 60% of enterprises, 40% pay off debt in time and their financial risk ratio value is close to industry standard, 20% entities encounter problems with paying off current debt. In general, according to the results of integral assessment of the considered enterprises production capacity, over 60% of the entities belong to the first class, 20% - each to the fifth and second classes. These results serve as an input in the development of required rate of return assessment model to enhance capital budgeting at machine-building enterprises.
METHODICAL APPROACH IS TO FORMING OF TREKSHN-MAP FOR ENTERPRISES THAT CARRY OUT FOREIGN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
Authors: Pushkar Oleksandr , Tataryntseva Yuliia , Zaichenko Inna , Abdelali Rabai
Published: September 2021

In the articles reasonable methodical recommendations are from the construction of трекш-карти on leaving of enterprise to the foreign markets. Due to offer recommendations, an enterprise can place priorities in the process of development of relationships with the segments of users, that influences on end-point. The generalized key going is near understanding of essence and methods of development of трекшн-карти. A Трекшн-карта in the general understanding represents business progress on his key indexes. The difference of construction of трекшн-карти from the ordinary financial analysis of economic performance indicators differs in that except measuring, methodology envisages a deep причинно-наслідковий analysis, development of evident materials that complement the analysis of coefficients. Methodical recommendations are worked out from the construction of трекшн-карти for enterprises that carry out ЗЕД. Distinguished basic stages and their essence is considered it is Well-proven that the construction of трекшн-карти answers the modern queries of market, necessary as for the inwardly brandname planning.
Data collection for outbreak investigations: defining a minimal data set using a Delphi approach
Authors: Perrocheau Anne , Brindle Hannah , Roberts Chrissy , Murthy Srinivas , Shetty Sharmila , Martin Antonio Isidro Carrion , Marks Michael , Schenkel Karl
Published: September 2021

Background
Timely but accurate data collection is needed during health emergencies to inform public health responses. Often, an abundance of data is collected but not used. When outbreaks and other health events occur in remote and complex settings, operatives on the ground are often required to cover multiple tasks whilst working with limited resources. Tools that facilitate the collection of essential data during the early investigations of a potential public health event can support effective public health decision-making. We proposed to define the minimum set of quantitative information to collect whilst using electronic device or not. Here we present the process used to select the minimum information required to describe an outbreak of any cause during its initial stages and occurring in remote settings.
Methods
A working group of epidemiologists took part in two rounds of a Delphi process to categorise the variables to be included in an initial outbreak investigation form. This took place between January-June 2019 using an online survey.
Results
At a threshold of seventy-five percent, consensus was reached for nineteen (23.2%) variables which were all classified as ‘essential’. This increased to twenty-six (31.7%) variables when the threshold was reduced to 60% with all but one variable classified as ‘essential’. Twenty-five of these variables were included in the ‘Time zero initial case investigation’ ‘(T0)’ form which was shared with the members of the Rapid Response Team Knowledge Network for field testing and feedback. The form has been readily available online by WHO since September 2019.
Conclusion
This is the first known Delphi process used to determine the minimum variables needed for an outbreak investigation. The subsequent development of the T0 form will improve the efficiency and standardisation of data collection during emergencies.
Early Start Hemodialysis With A Catheter is Associated With Greater Mortality: A Propensity Score Analysis
Authors: Laham Gustavo , Pujol Gervasio Soler , Guzman Jenny , Boccia Natalia , Abib Anabel , Diaz Carlos H.
Published: September 2021

Introduction: Deciding when and how to initiate hemodialysis (HD) is still controversial. An early start (ES) seems to show a lack of benefit. “Lead time bias" and comorbidities have been associated with different outcomes in ES groups. On the other hand, it is well accepted the impact that the type of vascular access (VA) has on patient survival. Our aim was to evaluate survival with early start (ES) vs. late start (LS) on HD, taking into account the vascular access (VA) used.Methods: Between 01/95 and 06/18, 503 incidental patients initiated HD at our Dialysis Unit. eGFR was estimated by the CKD-EPI equation. Diabetes mellitus (DM), coronary disease (CD), and peripheral vascular disease (PVD) were considered co-morbid conditions. According to eGFR and VA, patients were divided into four groups: G1: ES (eGFR > 7 ml/min) with catheter (ES+C), G2: ES with fistula or graft (F/G) (ES+F/G), G3: LS (eGFR< 7 ml/min) with catheter (LS+C), and G4: LS with F/G (LS+F/G). The cut-off value to define ES or LS was based on median eGFR for these 503 patients. We compared patient’s survival rates by Kaplan-Meier and log-rank test. The four groups were compared before and after matching with propensity scores (PS). Cox analysis was performed to determine the impact of predictors of mortality. Results: Median eGFR was 7 (5.3-9.5) ml/min/1.73m2, median follow-up time was 30.9 (13-50) months, 52.1% had F/G access at entry, and 46.9 % died during the observation period. Among the four groups, the ES+C were significantly older, there were more diabetics and co-morbid conditions, while phosphatemia, iPTH, albumin, and hemoglobin were significantly higher in the LS groups. Before propensity score (PS) matching, the ES+C group had a poor survival rate (P<0.0001), while LS+F/G access had the best survival. After PS, a total of 180 patients were selected in the same four groups and ES+C kept showing a statistically significant poorer survival. Multivariate analysis revealed that ES+C was an independent predictor of mortality.Conclusion: In this retrospective study, ES+C on HD was associated with a higher mortality rate than LS. This association persisted after PS matching.
Preventive practices towards Sexually Transmitted Infection and its determinants among young people in Ethiopia: a protocol for a systematic review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Anbesu Etsay Woldu , Aychiluhm Setognal Birara , Alemayehu Mussie
Published: September 2021

Background
Globally, about 178.5 million new cases of curable sexually transmitted infections occur among young people aged 15–24 years. There are fragmented and inconsistent findings on preventive practices of sexually transmitted infection and there is no national representative data on preventive practices of sexually transmitted infection in Ethiopia. Thus, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of good preventive practices of sexually transmitted infection and identify its determinants among young people in Ethiopia.
Methods
The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guideline was employed to develop the review protocol. Databases such as PubMed, CINAH, Google, and Google Scholar were used to search published and unpublished studies from May 15 − 12 August/2021. Joanna Briggs Institute Meta-Analysis of Statistics Assessment and Review Instrument will be used to assess the quality of the studies. Statistical heterogeneity will be checked using I2 statistics. Subgroup analyses and meta-regression will be done based on regions to identify the sources of heterogeneity at a p-value < 0.05. The statistical analysis will be done using STATA version-14 software. A random-effects model will be employed to estimate the pooled prevalence and identify determinants of preventive practices of sexually transmitted infections.
Discussion
Young people have a high unmet need for sexual and reproductive health services and poor preventive practices toward sexually transmitted infection. Despite different interventions implemented to enhance the preventive practice of sexually transmitted infection among young people, the problem is still a challenge in low-income countries, including Ethiopia
Scoliosis in Children: Impact of Goal Directed Therapies on Intra-operative and Postoperative Outcomes
Authors: Kumba Claudine , Miladi Lotfi
Published: September 2021

Background: Scoliosis is among interventions with high postoperative complication rates due to the characteristics of the surgery where blood loss, transfusion and fluid requirements can be increased. A monocentric retrospective observational study was undertaken earlier to determine predictors of intraoperative and postoperative outcomes in surgical patients. In this initial cohort there were patients who underwent scoliosis surgery and a secondary analysis to describe outcomes in these patients was realized and presented here.Objective: To describe intraoperative and postoperative outcomes in patients under 18 years old in scoliosis surgery included in the initial study and to propose improvement implementation measures.Methods: Secondary analysis of patients in scoliosis surgery. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee.Results: There were 116 patients with a mean age of 147.5 ± 40.2 months. Twenty-eight patients (24.1%) presented intraoperative and or postoperative complications. The most common intraoperative complication was hemorrhagic shock in 3 patients (2.6%). The most common postoperative organ failure was neurologic in seven patients (6%), respiratory in 3 patients (2.6%), cardio-circulatory in 2 patients (1.7%) and renal failure in one patient (0.9%).The most common postoperative infection was surgical wound sepsis in 8 patients (6.9%), urinary sepsis in three patients (2.6%), abdominal sepsis and septicemia in two patients (1.7%) respectively.Twelve patients (10.3%) had reoperations. Fifty-six patients (48.3%) had intraoperative transfusion.There was no in-hospital mortality.Conclusion: Integrating goal directed therapies in this surgical setting could improve postoperative outcomes
Localization and Surface Characterization by Zhurong Mars Rover at Utopia Planitia
Authors: Ding Liang , Zhou Ruyi , Yu Tianyi , Gao Haibo , Yang Huaiguang , Li Jian , Yuan Ye , Liu Chuankai , Wang Jia , Zhao Yuyan , Wang Zhengyin , Wang Xiyu , Bao Gang , Deng Zongquan , Huang Lan , Li Nan , Cui Xiaofeng , He Ximing , Jia Yang , Yuan Baofeng , Liu Guangjun , Zhang Hui , Zhao Rui , Zhang Zuoyu , Cheng Ziqing , Wu Fan , Xu Qian , Lu Hao , Richter Lutz , Liu Zhen , Niu Fuliang , Qi Huanan , Li Shu , Feng Wenhao , Yang Chaojie , Chen Baichao , Dang Zhaolong , Zhang Mingming , Li Lichun , Wang Xiaoxue , Huang Zhao , Zhang Jitao , Xing Hongjun , Wang Guanyu , Niu Lizhou , Xu Peng , Wan Wenhui , Di Kaichang
Published: September 2021

China’s first Mars rover, Zhurong, has successfully touched down on the southern Utopia Planitia of Mars at 109.925° E, 25.066° N, and since performed cooperative multiscale investigations with the Tianwen-1 orbiter. Here we present primary localization and surface characterization results based on complementary data of the first 60 sols. The Zhurong rover has traversed 450.9 m southwards over a flat surface with mild wheel slippage (less than 0.2 in slip ratio). The encountered crescent-shaped sand dune indicates a NE-SW local wind direction, consistent with larger-range remote-sensing observations. Soil parameter analysis based on terramechanics indicates that the topsoil has high bearing strength and cohesion, and its equivalent stiffness and internal friction angle are ~1390-5872 kPa∙m-n and ~21°-34° respectively. Rocks observed strewn with dense pits, or showing layered and flaky structures, are presumed to be involved in physical weathering like severe wind erosion and potential chemical weathering processes. These preliminary observations suggest great potential of in-situ investigations by the scientific payload suite of the Zhurong rover in obtaining new clues of the region’s aeolian and aqueous history. Cooperative investigations using the related payloads on both the rover and the obiter could peek into the habitability evolution of the northern lowlands on Mars.
Exceptional Phonon Point Versus Free Phonon Coupling in Zn1-xBexTe Under Pressure: An Experimental and ab Initio Raman Study
Authors: Shoker M. B. , Alhaddad T. , Pagès O. , Torres V. J. B. , Postnikov A. V. , Polian A. , Hussein R. Hajj , Pradhan G. K. , Narayana C. , Gardiennet C. , Kervern G. , Nataf L. , Ravy S. , Itié J.-P. , Strzałkowski K. , Marasek A. , Firszt F.
Published: September 2021

Raman scattering and ab initio Raman/phonon calculations, supported by X-ray diffraction, are combined to study the vibrational properties of Zn1-xBexTe under pressure. The dependence of the Be-Te (distinct) and Zn-Te (compact) Raman doublets that distinguish between Be- and Zn-like environments is examined within the percolation model with special attention to x~(0,1). The Be-like environment hardens faster than the Zn-like one under pressure, resulting in the two sub-modes per doublet getting closer and mechanically coupled. When a bond is so dominant that it forms a matrix-like continuum, its two submodes freely couple on crossing at the resonance, with an effective transfer of oscillator strength. Post resonance the two submodes stabilize into an inverted doublet shifted in block under pressure. When a bond achieves lower content and merely self-connects via (finite/infinite) treelike chains, the coupling is undermined by overdamping of the in-chain stretching until a phonon exceptional point is reached at the resonance. Only the out-of-chain vibrations "survive" the resonance, the in-chain ones are "killed". This picture is not bond-related, and hence presumably generic to mixed crystals of the closing-type under pressure (dominant over the opening-type), indicating a key role of the mesostructure in the pressure dependence of phonons in mixed crystals.
A Facile Scalable Conductive Graphene-Coated Calotropis Gigantea Yarn
Authors: Zhang Junze , Liu Jing , Zhao Zeyu , Huang Di , Chen Chao , Zheng Zhaozhu , Fu Chenxi , Wang Xiaoqin , Ma Yanxue , Li Yuling , Liu Zekun , Li Yi , Li Gang
Published: September 2021

Graphene-functionalized fibers have attracted substantial attention due to their potential applications in flexible wearable electronic devices. However, these conventional conductive materials are facing difficulties in mass production. In this paper, we report a graphene-coated Calotropis gigantea yarn by pad dyeing with graphene oxide and reduction process, which endows it with high conductivity, outstanding conducting stability, and scale production capacity. By optimizing the dyeing parameters, the modified Calotropis gigantea yarns display high electrical conductivity of 6.9 S/m. Range analysis results indicate that electrical conductivity of the graphene-coated yarns exhibits strong dependence on the concentration of graphene oxide and pad dyeing cycles. The combination between hydrogen bond of the fiber and the oxygen bond of graphene during dyeing process renders the functionalized yarns stable conductivity to washing and bending. Based on the simple fabrication process, and fascinating performance, the graphene-coated yarns show great potential in facile scale production.
Clinical Sign and Biomarker-based Algorithm to Identify Bacterial Pneumonia Among Outpatients with Lower Respiratory Tract Infection in Tanzania
Authors: Hogendoorn Sarika K.L. , Lhopitallier Loïc , Richard-Greenblatt Melissa , Tenisch Estelle , Mbarack Zainab , Samaka Josephine , Mlaganile Tarsis , Mamin Aline , Genton Blaise , Kaiser Laurent , D'Acremont Valérie , Kain Kevin C. , Boillat-Blanco Noémie
Published: September 2021

Background.Inappropriate antibiotics in lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) is a major contributor to resistance. We aimed to design an algorithm based on clinical signs and host biomarkers to identify bacterial community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) among patients with LRTI.Methods. Participants with LRTI were selected in a prospective cohort of febrile (≥38°C) adults presenting to outpatient clinics in Dar es Salaam. Participants underwent chest X-ray, multiplex PCR for respiratory pathogens, and measurements of 13 biomarkers. We evaluated the predictive accuracy of clinical signs and biomarkers using logistic regression and classification and regression tree analysis.Results. Of 110 patients with LRTI, 17 had bacterial CAP. Procalcitonin (PCT), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and soluble triggering receptor expressed by myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) showed excellent predictive accuracy to identify bacterial CAP (AUROC 0.88, 95%CI 0.78-0.98; 0.84, 0.72-0.99; 0.83, 0.74-0.92, respectively). Combining respiratory rate with PCT or IL-6 significantly improved the model compared to respiratory rate alone (p=0.006, p=0.033, respectively). An algorithm with respiratory rate (≥32/minute) and PCT (≥0.25 μg/L) had 94% sensitivity and 82% specificity.Conclusions. PCT, IL-6 and sTREM-1 had excellent predictive accuracy in differentiating bacterial CAP from other LRTIs. An algorithm combining respiratory rate and PCT displayed even better performance in this sub-Sahara African setting.
The Structure of Social Support: A Multilevel Analysis of the Personal Networks of People with Severe Mental Disorders
Authors: Wyngaerden François , Vacca Raffaele , Dubois Vincent , Lorant Vincent
Published: September 2021

Background. For psychiatric service users suffering from severe mental disorders, the social support provided by personal social networks is essential for living a meaningful life within the community. However, the importance of the support received depend on the relations between the providers of social support. Yet this hasn’t been addressed in the literature so far for people with severe mental disorders. This article seeks to investigate how characteristics of service users with severe mental disorders, their social contacts, and the pattern of relationships between those contacts influence the distribution and provision of social support to people with severe mental disorders. Methods. We collected personal network data relating to 380 psychiatric service users from a random sample of health care providers in Belgium. We computed various measures of the structure of those neworks and of the position of support persons within those networks. We conducted a multilevel analysis of the importance of the support provided by each support persons.Results. The results show that the more central a support person was in the network of a service user, the more important his or her support was considered to be by the service user. Also, the denser the network in which a support person was embedded, the less important was the support he or she offers, but only for hospitalised service users. Conclusions. These finding highlight the collective dimension of social support. We discuss the implications for the organisation of mental health care.
Optimal accounting for age and time structure of HIV incidence estimates based on cross-sectional survey data with ascertainment of ‘recent infection’
Authors: Mhlanga Laurette , Eduard Grebe , Welte Alex
Published: September 2021

BackgroundMany surveys have attempted to estimate HIV incidence from cross-sectional data which includes ascertainment of ‘recent infection’, but the inevitable age and time structure of this data has never been systematically explored – no doubt partly because statistical precision in such estimates is often insufficient to allow for satisfactory disaggregation. Given the non-trivial age structure of HIV incidence and prevalence, and the enormous investments that have been made in such data sets, it is important to understand effective ways to extract valid age structure from these precious data sets. MethodsUsing a comprehensive demographic/epidemiological simulation platform developed for this, and some wider, purposes (documented in more detail separately) we simulated a complex ‘South Africa inspired’ HIV epidemic, with explicitly specified 1) age/time dependent incidence, 2) age/time dependent mortality for uninfected individuals, and 3) age/time/time-since-infection dependent mortality for infected individuals. In this simulated world, we conducted cross-sectional surveys at various times, and applied variants of the recent infection based incidence estimation methodology of Kassanjee et al. We analysed in considerable detail how to smooth, and average over, the age structure in these surveys to produce the incidence estimates, paying attention to the fundamental trade-off between bias and statistical error.ResultsWe summarise our detailed observations about incidence estimates, generated by various age smoothing or age disaggregation procedures, into a straightforward fully specified ‘one size fits most’ algorithm for processing the survey data into age-specific incidence estimates: 1) generalised linear regression to turn observations into ‘prevalence’ of ‘infection’ and ‘recent infection’ (logit, and complementary log log, link functions, respectively; fitting coefficients of up to cubic terms in age/time); 2) a ‘moving window’ data inclusion recipe which handles each age/time point of interest separately; 3) post hoc age averaging of resulting pseudo continuously fitted incidence; 4) bootstrapping as a generic variance/significance estimation procedure.ConclusionsAs far as we are aware, this is the first analysis of several fine details of how age structure in cross-sectional surveys interacts with recency-based incidence estimation. Our proposed default estimation procedure generates incidence estimates with negligible bias and near-optimal precision, and can be readily applied to complex survey data sets by any group in possession of such data. Our code is available, in part freely through the R computing platform, and in part upon request.
PCGEM1 Promotes Proliferation, Migration And Invasion In Prostate Cancer By Sponging miR-506 To Upregulate TRIAP1
Authors: Liu He , He Xin , Li Tianjiao , Qu Yi , Xu Lina , Hou Yingnan , Fu Yao , Wang Hongzhi
Published: September 2021

Background: The important role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in cancer has been demonstrated in many studies. Prostate cancer gene expression marker 1 (PCGEM1) is a lncRNA specifically expressed within the prostate and overexpressed in many cancer cells. Numerous studies have shown that PCGEM1 promotes cell proliferation, invasion and migration. However, the specific mechanism of PCGEM1 within prostate cancer (PCa) has not been elucidated. MicroRNA-506-3p (miR-506-3p) is a noncoding RNA, and studies have indicated that miR-506-3p is downregulated in prostate cancer cell lines and functions as a tumor suppressor.Methods: The TCGA (GEPIA) database (http://gepia.cancer-pku.cn/) was employed to measure PCGEM1 levels in PCa. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to determine the PCGEM1 gene level. CCK-8 (Cell Counting Kit-8) and colony formation assays were used to detect cell proliferation, and Transwell assays were applied to assess cell invasion and migration. The interacting ability of miR-506-3p with PCGEM1 or TRIAP1 was validated through a dual-luciferase reporter assay. TRIAP1 protein expression was detected by Western blotting.Results: PCGEM1 expression was increased in PCa tissues and cells. In PCa tissues, High PCGEM1 expression was associated with high Gleason score, distant metastasis and extracapsular extension. In addition, PCGEM1 knockdown inhibited PCa cell (C4-2B and PC-3) proliferation, invasion and migration. miR-506-3p may interact with PCGEM1 or TRIAP1, and the suppressive effect of PCGEM1 knockdown was reversed when TRIAP1 or a miR-506-3p inhibitor was cotransfected.Conclusion: PCGEM1 expression increased in PCa cells and tissues, enhancing PCa cell proliferation, migration and invasion by sponging miR-506 to upregulate TRIAP1.
The Disorder of Mitochondrial Dynamics Causes Deafness By Promoting Macrophage-Mediated Hair Cell Death
Authors: Zhang Yuan , Fu Xiaolong , Li Yiyuan , Hong Guodong , Li Peipei , Guo Siwei , Ye Fanglei , Jin Jin , Chai Renjie
Published: September 2021

Mitochondrial dynamics are essential for maintaining the physiological function of the mitochondrial network, and the disorder of mitochondrial dynamics leads to neurodegenerative diseases. However, how mitochondrial dynamics affects auditory function in the inner ear remains unclear. FAM73a and FAM73b are mitochondrial outer membrane proteins that mediate mitochondrial fusion. Here, we found that FAM73a or FAM73b deficiency resulted in elevated oxidative stress and apoptosis of hair cells. Additionally, mitochondrial fission also causes an increase expression of IL-12 in basilar membrane macrophages through accumulating IRF1. As a bridge between innate and adaptive immune responses, hyperproduction of IL-12 further promoted the polarization of Th1 and tissue damage. Our data highlighted an important role of mitochondrial dynamics in maintaining cochlear homeostasis and hair cell survival. Mitochondrial dynamics not only disturbed hair cell function, but also induced the disorder of immune responses.
Use of Interventional Neuroradiology Devices (Solitaire AB and Cascade Net) In The Treatment of Complex Renal Aneurysms Through Stent-Assisted Coil Embolisation.
Authors: Pampín Eva , Zarraga Fernando López , Moliner Francisco Javier Maynar , Garriz Amaya Iturralde , Torre Rebeca Bastida
Published: September 2021

Introduction: The risk of rupture of true renal artery aneurysms is low but when they are bigger than 2 - 2.5 cm it increases significantly, making treatment essential. The need to use alternatives to conventional techniques in order to avoid predictable complications as coil migration is mandatory.Discussion: Routinely-used techniques in interventional neuroradiology such as flow diverters or those assisted with an occlusion balloon or stent have are suitable alternatives for complex aneurysms.Conclusion: Interventional neuroradiology devices such as the Cascade Net stent (Perflow Medical and Grupo Logsa) and Solitaire AB stent retriever (Medtronic) are valid and safe options. We describe the technique of such devices.
Assessing The Reliability of Zygomatic Bone Landmarks as Guides to Reach The Inferior Orbital Fissure in Orbitozygomatic Osteotomy. Anatomical Study Of 83 Human Skulls.
Authors: Melchenko Semyon A , Cherekaev Vasiliy A , Aleshkina Olga Yu , Danilov Gleb V , Musa Gerald , Strunina Uliya V , Golbin Denis A , Lasunin Nikolay V , Zaychenko Alexander A
Published: September 2021

ObjectivesTo perform an adequate orbito-zygomatic craniotomy, it is very important that the bone cut which passes through the body of the zygoma reaches the inferior orbital fissure (IOF). To reach the IOF, two surface landmarks on the body of the zygoma are described: a point located directly superior to the malar eminence and the zygomaticofacial foramen. The article explores the reliability of these landmarks and three other alternative points to reach the IOF.Method Eighty-three adult skulls were used in this study. The IOF dimensions and the relationship with the malar eminence, the point superior to the malar eminence, the zygomaticofacial foramen and 3 alternative points (E, C, F) were analyzed.Results. The malar eminence was unacceptable for use as a guide to the IOF. The point superior to the malar eminence was also unacceptable as a guide as only 9.4% and 10.9% were in the projection of the IOF on the right and left, respectively. 59.7% of the total zygomaticofacial foramina fell in the IOF projection. The point F fell in the projection of the IOF in 98.8% and 100.0% on the right and left, respectively. Conclusion. The use of the malar eminence as a guide to reach the IOF is unreliable in one third of cases as it is not easily identified intraoperatively in these cases. The zygomaticofacial foramen cannot be considered a reliable surgical landmark to reach the IOF. The authors recommend using the point “F” which is reliable in 98.8-100% of cases.
Temporally restricted activation of IFNβ signaling determines
response to immune checkpoint therapy
Authors: Zemek Rachael , Chin Wee Loong , Fear Vanessa , Wylie Ben , Casey Thomas , Forbes Catherine , Tilsed Caitlin , Boon Louis , Guo Belinda , Bosco Anthony , Forrest Alistair , Millward Michael , Nowak Anna , Lake Richard , Lassmann Timo , Lesterhuis W.Joost
Published: September 2021

Little is known about the dynamic biological events that underpin therapeutic efficacy in immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) in cancer, due to the inability to frequently sample tumors in patients. Here, we mapped the transcriptional profiles of 144 responding and non-responding tumors within two mouse models at four time points during ICB. We found that responding tumors displayed on/fast-off kinetics of type-I-interferon (IFN) signaling. Phenocopying of this kinetics using time-dependent sequential dosing of recombinant IFNs and neutralizing anti-bodies markedly improved ICB efficacy, but only when IFNβ was targeted, not IFNα. We identified Ly6C+/CD11b+ inflammatory monocytes as the primary source of IFNβ and found that active type-I-IFN signaling in tumor-infiltrating inflammatory monocytes was associated with T cell expansion in patients treated with ICB. Together, our results suggest that on/fast-off modulation of IFNβ signaling is critical to the therapeutic response to ICB, which can be exploited to drive clinical outcomes towards response.
Current Biomarkers of Apoptosis Process in Chronically Inflamed Nasal Sinus Epithelium: Representatives of BAX, Bcl-2 and miRNA Group
Authors: Morawska-Kochman Monika , Smieszek Agnieszka , Marcinkowska Klaudia , Marycz Krzysztof , Nelke Kamil , Zub Krzysztof , Zatonski Tomasz , Bochnia Marek
Published: September 2021

In chronic upper respiratory tract diseases, increased cell proliferative activity is observed, which is coordinated by Bcl-2 proteins as well as by small non-coding RNAs.The aim of this study was to determine the expression of critical apoptosis markers at the mRNA and miRNA level in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CSRwNP).The study group consisted of 10 patients with CSRwNP and 10 healthy controls. TUNEL staining was performed to detect in situ apoptosis in the maxillary sinus mucosa. The levels of selected mRNA transcripts associated with cell survival and apoptosis: BAX, p53, p21, CASP3, CASP9, c-MYC, CCND1, BRIC5 and APAF1 and miRNAs: miR-17-5p, miR-145-5p, miR-146a-5p and miR-203a-3p were determined by RT-qPCR. CSRwNP patients showed increased apoptosis determined by TUNEL assay accompanied by increased expression of BAX, P21, P53, CASP3, CASP9, c-MYC, APAF-1 transcripts and decreased mRNA levels of BCL-2 and BIRC5. There were increased expression levels of miR-203a-3p and decreased expression levels of miR-17-5p and miR-145-5p. These findings appear to be characteristic features of apoptosis in CRSwNP. The proapoptotic effect of miR-203a-3p may be crucial for future treatment strategies for CRSwNP.
Increasing The Grain Yield And Grain Protein Content of Common Wheat (Triticum Aestivum) By Introducing Missense Mutations In The Q Gene
Authors: Chen Qing , Guo Zhenru , Shi Xiaoli , Wei Meiqiao , Fan Yazhen , Zhu Jing , Zheng Ting , Wang Yan , Kong Li , Deng Mei , Cao Xinyou , Wang Jirui , Wei Yuming , Jiang Qiantao , Jiang Yunfeng , Chen Guoyue , Zheng Youliang , Qi Pengfei
Published: September 2021

Grain yield (GY) and grain protein content (GPC) are important traits for wheat breeding and production; however, they are usually negatively correlated. The Q gene is the most important domestication gene in cultivated wheat because it influences many traits, including GY and GPC. Additionally, Qc1 is an overexpressed Q allele containing a missense mutation in the microRNA172-binding site. The common wheat (Triticum aestivum) mutant S-Cp1-1, which carries Qc1, has a very high GPC and some unfavorable characteristics, including dwarfism and compact spikes, which decrease the GY. We previously suggested that missense mutations in the sequences encoding the AP2 domains of Qc1 can be exploited to enhance the agronomic performance of wheat. In this study, we characterized two new Q alleles (Qs1 and Qc1-N8). Compared with the wild-type Q allele, Qs1 contains a missense mutation in the sequence encoding the first AP2 domain, whereas Qc1-N8 has two missense mutations, one in the sequence encoding the second AP2 domain and the other in the microRNA172-binding site. The Qs1 allele did not significantly affect the GPC or other processing quality parameters, but it adversely affected the GY by decreasing the thousand kernel weight and grain number per spike. In contrast, Qc1-N8 positively affected the GPC and GY by increasing the thousand kernel weight and grain number per spike, thereby reversing the unfavorable agronomic characteristics resulting from Qc1. Thus, we generated a novel germplasm relevant for wheat breeding. Furthermore, our findings provide new information useful for enhancing cereal crops via non-transgenic approaches.