bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Media attention toward COVID-19 across 18 countries: The influence of cultural values and pandemic severity
Authors: Ng Reuben , Tan Yi Wen
Published: December 2022

Background

Current media studies of COVID-19 devote asymmetrical attention to social media, in contrast, newspapers have received comparatively less attention. Newspapers are an integral source of current information—that are syndicated and amplified by social media to a wide global audience. This is the first-known study to investigate the impact of cultural values and pandemic severity on media attention towards COVID-19. Findings lay the groundwork for targeted public health communications that are culturally nuanced.

Objective

We investigated the impact of cultural values and pandemic severity on Media Attention towards COVID-19 across 18 countries.

Methods

We tracked the global volume of COVID-19 coverage (to measure media attention) over 8 months in a news media database of 12 billion words with 30 million articles from over 7,000 news media sites. Predictors of Media Attention towards COVID-19 came from the Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker (incidence and mortality) and Hofstede’s Cultural Values.

Results

Media attention toward COVID-19 increased 55 times over 8 months. Higher rates of new cases and deaths predicted this exponential increase. Countries with higher power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and long-term orientation, were associated with increased media attention, controlling for covariates.

Conclusions

Cultural values play a significant role in the news media’s attention toward COVID-19, controlling for pandemic severity. We provided a framework to design targeted public health communications that are culturally nuanced.
Behavioral factors predict all-cause mortality in female coronary patients and healthy controls over 26 years – a prospective secondary analysis of the Stockholm Female Coronary Risk Study
Authors: Deter Hans-Christian , Meister Reinhard , Leineweber Constanze , Kecklund Göran , Lohse Lukas , Orth-Gomér Kristina ,   Fem-Cor-Risk Study group
Published: December 2022

Objective

The prognosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) is related to its severity and cardiovascular risk factors in both sexes. In women, social isolation, marital stress, sedentary lifestyle and depression predicted CAD progression and outcome within 3 to 5 years. We hypothesised that these behavioral factors would still be associated with all-cause mortality in female patients after 26 years.

Methods

We examined 292 patients with CAD and 300 healthy controls (mean age of 56 ± 7 y) within the Fem-Cor-Risk-Study at baseline. Their cardiac, behavioral, and psychosocial risk profiles, exercise, smoking, and dietary habits were assessed using standardized procedures. Physiological characteristics included a full lipid profile, the coagulation cascade and autonomic dysfunction (heart rate variability, HRV). A new exploratory analysis using machine-learning algorithms compared the effects of social and behavioral mechanisms with standard risk factors. Results: All-cause mortality records were completed in 286 (97.9%) patients and 299 (99.7%) healthy women. During a median follow-up of 26 years, 158 (55.2%) patients and 101 (33.9%) matched healthy controls died. The annualized mortality rate was 2.1% and 1.3%, respectively. After controlling for all available confounders, behavioral predictors of survival in patients were social integration (HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.99–1.0) and physical activity (HR 0.54, 95% CI 0.37–0.79). Smoking acted as a predictor of all-cause mortality (HR 1.56, 95% CI 1.03–2.36). Among healthy women, moderate physical activity (HR 0.42, 95% CI 0.24–0.74) and complete HRV recordings (≥50%) were found to be significant predictors of survival.

Conclusions

CAD patients with adequate social integration, who do not smoke and are physically active, have a favorable long-term prognosis. The exact survival times confirm that behavioral risk factors are associated with all-cause mortality in female CAD patients and healthy controls.
Genetic risk scores and dementia risk across different ethnic groups in UK Biobank
Authors: Mukadam Naaheed , Giannakopoulou Olga , Bass Nick , Kuchenbaecker Karoline , McQuillin Andrew
Published: December 2022

Background

Genetic Risk Scores (GRS) for predicting dementia risk have mostly been used in people of European ancestry with limited testing in other ancestry groups.

Methods

We conducted a logistic regression with all-cause dementia as the outcome and z-standardised GRS as the exposure across diverse ethnic groups.

Findings

There was variation in frequency of APOE alleles across ethnic groups. Per standard deviation (SD) increase in z-GRS including APOE, the odds ratio (OR) for dementia was 1.73 (95%CI 1.69–1.77). Z-GRS excluding APOE also increased dementia risk (OR 1.21 per SD increase, 95% CI 1.18–1.24) and there was no evidence that ethnicity modified this association. Prediction of secondary outcomes was less robust in those not of European ancestry when APOE was excluded from the GRS.

Interpretation

z-GRS derived from studies in people of European ancestry can be used to quantify genetic risk in people from more diverse ancestry groups. Urgent work is needed to include people from diverse ancestries in future genetic risk studies to make this field more inclusive.
Differentiating between bacterial and viral infections by estimated CRP velocity
Authors: Largman-Chalamish Michal , Wasserman Asaf , Silberman Adi , Levinson Tal , Ritter Omri , Berliner Shlomo , Zeltser David , Shapira Itzhak , Rogowski Ori , Shenhar-Tsarfaty Shani
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Differentiating between acute viral and bacterial infection is challenging due to the similarity in symptom presentation. Blood tests can assist in the diagnosis, but they reflect the immediate status and fail to consider the dynamics of an inflammatory response with time since symptom onset. We applied estimated C-reactive protein (CRP) velocity (eCRPv), as derived from the admission CRP level divided by time from symptom onset, in order to better distinguish between viral and bacterial infections.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included patients admitted to the emergency department with a confirmed viral (n = 83) or bacterial (n = 181) infection. eCRPv was defined as the ratio between the absolute CRP level upon admission to time from symptom onset (in hours). Absolute CRP and eCRPv values were compared between the 3 groups.

Results

Bacterial patients presented with higher CRP levels (133 mg/L) upon admission compared to viral patients (23.31 mg/L) (P < 0.001). Their median value of eCRPv velocity was 4 times higher compared to the viral patients (1.1 mg/L/h compared 0.25 mg/L/h, P < 0.001). Moreover, in intermediate values of CRP (100–150 mg/L) upon admission, in which the differential diagnosis is controversial, high eCRPv is indicative of bacterial infection, eCRPv >4 mg/L/h represents only bacterial patients.

Conclusions

During an acute febrile illness, the eCRPv value can be used for rapid differentiation between bacterial and viral infection, especially in patients with high CRP values. This capability can potentially expedite the provision of appropriate therapeutic management. Further research and validation may open new applications of the kinetics of inflammation for rapid diagnosis of an infectious vs. a viral source of fever.
Effect of salt reduction interventions in lowering blood pressure: A comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled clinical trials
Authors: Aliasgharzadeh Soghra , Tabrizi Jafar Sadegh , Nikniaz Leila , Ebrahimi-Mameghani Mehrangiz , Lotfi Yagin Neda
Published: December 2022

Background

Excessive salt intake results in hypertension (HTN), which is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). This review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effect of salt reduction interventions on systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP).

Methods

Studies were identified via systematic searches of the databases, including PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science. All the studies examining the effectiveness of salt reduction interventions on blood pressure (BP), regardless of age, sex, and HTN status, were included in the systematic review, and eligible studies were used in the meta-analysis. A random-effect model was applied for quantitative data synthesis.

Results

A total of 50 trials extracted from 40 articles (21 trials on nutrition education,10 on self-help materials,17 on salt substitutes, and 2 on food reformulation) were included in the systematic review. The pooled results of 44 eligible trials showed that salt substitution and nutrition education interventions had significant effects on both SBP (WMD: -7.44 mmHg, P<0.001 and WMD: -2.75 mmHg, P<0.001, respectively), and DBP (WMD: -3.77 mmHg, P<0.001 and WMD: -2.11 mmHg, P<0.001, respectively). Furthermore, using self-help materials led to a significant reduction in SBP among subjects aged 25–60 years (WMD: -2.60 mmHg, P = 0.008); it also decreased both SBP and DBP among those who were hypertensive (WMD: -3.87 mmHg, P = 0.003 and WMD: -2.91 mmHg, P<0.001, respectively).

Conclusion

Our results supported that salt substitution and nutrition education are effective nutrition strategies to lower BP. It seems that multi-component approaches could be more effective in improving BP status. However, further trials are required.
GW-2974 and SCH-442416 modulators of tyrosine kinase and adenosine receptors can also stabilize human telomeric G-quadruplex DNA
Authors: Salem Alaa A. , El Haty Ismail A. , Ghattas Mohammad A.
Published: December 2022

GW-2974 is a potent tyrosine kinase receptor inhibitor while SCH-442416 is a potent adenosine receptors’ antagonist with high selectivity towards human adenosine A2Areceptor over other adenosine receptors. The two compounds were reported to possess anti-cancer properties. This study aimed to investigate whether stabilization of human telomeric G-quadruplex DNA by GW-2974- and SCH-442416 is a plausible fundamental mechanism underlying their anti-cancer effects. Human telomeric G-quadruplex DNA with sequence AG3(TTAGGG)3was used. The study used ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis), fluorescence, fluorescence quenching, circular dichroism (CD), melting temperatures (Tm) and molecular docking techniques to evaluate interactions. The results showed that GW-2974 and SCH-442416 interacted with G-quadruplex DNA through intercalation binding into two types of dependent binding sites. Binding affinities of 1.3 × 108–1.72 × 106M−1and 1.55 × 107–3.74 × 105M−1were obtained for GW-2974 and SCH-442416, respectively. An average number of binding sites between 1 and 2 was obtained. Additionally, the melting temperature curves indicated that complexation of both compounds to G-quadruplex DNA provided more stability (ΔTm= 9.9°C and 9.6°C, respectively) compared to non-complexed G-quadruplex DNA. Increasing the molar ratios over 1:1 (drug:G-quadruplex) showed less stabilization effect on DNA. Furthermore, GW-2974 and SCH-442516 have proven ≥ 4.0 folds better selective towards G-quadruplex over double-stranded ct-DNA.In silicomolecular docking and dynamics revealed favorable exothermic binding for the two compounds into two sites of parallel and hybrid G-quadruplex DNA structures. The results supported the hypothesis that GW-2974 and SCH-442416 firmly stabilize human telomeric G-quadruplex DNA in additions to modulating tyrosine kinase and adenosine receptors. Consequently, stabilizing G-quadruplex DNA could be a mechanism underlying their anti-cancer activity.
Peeking and lying in the temptation resistance paradigm in 2.5-year-olds: The role of inhibitory control
Authors: Białecka-Pikul Marta , Białek Arkadiusz , Stępień-Nycz Małgorzata , Talwar Victoria , Bosacki Sandra
Published: December 2022

The main aim of the present study was to establish whether inhibitory control (IC) abilities influence the peeking and lying behaviours of 2.5-year-olds, as measured by a modified temptation resistance paradigm (mTRP). Using a longitudinal design, 252 children’s IC abilities were tested at ages 1.5, 2 and 2.5, as well as their ability to lie at age 2.5. Results showed that 35% of 2.5-year-olds peeked, 27% of peekers lied and 40% of non-peekers falsely confessed they had peeked. Non-peekers had higher IC than peekers at ages 2 and 2.5. Lower IC at age 2 increased the probability of peeking at age 2.5 by 6 times. The highest level of IC was presented in children who followed the adult’s restrictions in the mTRP and were then able to tell the truth about their behaviour. These results suggested that the first, or so-called primary, lies of 2.5-year-olds are probably spontaneous, rather than deliberate. Implications for further research were discussed.
Immunomodulatory drug fingolimod (FTY720) restricts the growth of opportunistic yeast Candida albicans in vitro and in a mouse candidiasis model
Authors: Najarzadegan Niloofar , Madani Mahboobeh , Etemadifar Masoud , Sedaghat Nahad
Published: December 2022

Fingolimod (FTY720) is a drug derived from the fungicidal compound myriocin. As it was unclear whether FTY720 has antifungal effects as well, we aimed to characterize its effect on Candida albicans in vitro and in a mouse candidiasis model. First, antifungal susceptibility testing was performed in vitro. Then, a randomized, six-arm, parallel, open-label trial was conducted on 48 mice receiving oral FTY720 (0.3 mg/kg/day), intraperitoneal C. albicans inoculation, or placebo with different combinations and chorological patterns. The outcome measures of the trial included serum concentrations of interleukin-10 and interferon-gamma, absolute lymphocyte counts, and fungal burden values in the mice’s livers, kidneys, and vaginas. Broth microdilution assay revealed FTY720’s minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC99) to be 0.25 mg/mL for C. albicans. The infected mice treated with FTY720 showed lower fungal burden values than the ones not treated with FTY720 (p<0.05). As expected, the mice treated with FTY720 showed a less-inflammatory immune profile compared to the ones not treated with FTY720. We hypothesize that FTY720 synergizes the host’s innate immune functions by inducing the production of reactive oxygen species. Further studies are warranted to unveil the mechanistic explanations of our observations and clarify further aspects of repurposing FTY720 for clinical antifungal usage.
Understanding the neurodynamic process of decision-making for mobile application downloading
Authors: Parmar Harshit , Davis Fred , Walden Eric
Published: December 2022

In this article, we try to explore and understand the neurodynamics of the decision-making process for mobile application downloading. We begin the model development in a rather unorthodox fashion. Patterns of brain activation regions are identified, across participants, at different time instance of the decision-making process. Region-wise activation knowledge from previous studies is used to put together the entire process model like a cognitive jigsaw puzzle. We find that there are indeed a common dynamic set of activation patterns that are consistent across people and apps. That is to say that not only are there consistent patterns of activation there is a consistent change from one pattern to another across time as people make the app adoption decision. Moreover, this pattern is clearly different for decisions that end in adoption than for decisions that end with no adoption.
Business Cycle Accounting for the COVID-19 Recession
Authors: Fernandes Daniel
Published: December 2022

We apply the Business Cycle Accounting framework to the COVID-19 recession in the Euro Area and the United States. We conclude that the efficiency wedge had the most important role in the Euro Area, followed by the labor and investment wedges. In the United States, the labor wedge was the most crucial, with the investment wedge taking a second place. We present hypotheses, supported by our theoretical framework, for the dichotomy of the role of the efficiency wedge between the studied regions.
The 2011-2014 Economic Adjustment Programme for Portugal
Authors: De Pinho Manuel Correia , Pinho Maria Manuel
Published: December 2022

The 2007 global crisis triggered a severe sovereign debt crisis in Portugal, which led to the need to comply with an Economic Adjustment Programme (EAP) based, among other pillars, on fiscal consolidation. According to our literature review, the economic environment in which the adjustment occurs matters. Also, the composition of the adjustment seems to be relevant to its effectiveness, with expenditure-based plans being less contractionary (or even expansionary) than tax-based plans. Our purpose is to understand, through a VAR model, which could have been the Portuguese economic path without the EAP compared with the actual one. Our results suggest that the austerity programme may have been harmful for the economic activity in the short run, but in a longer horizon it produced a better outcome than the one without the EAP application. In the absence of the EAP, the tax to GDP ratio would be below the actual, with the inverse happening for the primary public expenditure ratio and for the public debt interest rate. Overall, our results support the likelihood of less disciplined fiscal accounts in the absence of the EAP.
Influencia y evolución de Internet en la Comunicación de la Ciencia y sus fuentes
Authors: Fernández Muerza Álex
Published: December 2022

Internet es un invento que ha revolucionado las comunicaciones y la historia de la civilización humana. Los científicos - hablando de manera amplia- han sido los pioneros, creadores y usuarios tempranos de los distintos avances de la Red, y han posibilitado que posteriormente se extendieran al resto de la sociedad. En este artículo se muestra cómo Internet se ha convertido en una herramienta básica ya desde sus orígenes para la Comunicación de la Ciencia y sus fuentes, influyendo y mejorando su labor. Los comunicadores de ciencia, divulgadores o periodistas han aprovechado desde el principio las diferentes herramientas y aplicaciones que han ido surgiendo en la evolución de la Red: desde la Internet “veterana” (correo electrónico, web, listas de correo, foros de debate, etc.) hasta la Web 2.0 (blogs, wikis, redes sociales, podcasts, streaming, etc.). Asimismo, se apuntan las posibilidades de la virtualización (cloud computing, realidad virtual y aumentada, metaverso) para marcar el presente y futuro de Internet.
Variações do txaísmo
Authors: Dinato Daniel
Published: December 2022

Como uma tentativa de resposta à questão levantada por Jaider Esbell, "O que vem a ser o Txa´ísmo?", busco, nesse artigo, formular o conceito de curador-txai. Trata-se de uma prática curatorial a longo prazo que venho estabelecendo com o MAHKU (Movimento dos Artistas Huni Kuin) e que visa, sobretudo, cuidar de relações: aquelas vivas nas obras do coletivo e as que me unem aos artistas do MAHKU. Trata-se, também, de uma prática que vai além da organização de eventos específicos, tais como exposições, embora estas possam eventualmente ser o resultado de nosso diálogo. Finalmente, é uma prática sustentada pela aliança, baseada na etnografia e que procura levar a sério as especificidades das práticas artísticas da MAHKU.
Txaísmo e perspectivismo ameríndio em Jaider Esbell
Authors: Paula Leandro Raphael Nascimento de , Monteiro Alves Jôsy , Del Cármen Rodrigues de Olivera Marina , Brussolo Pritama Morgado
Published: December 2022

O presente artigo se delineia no sentido de evocar a produção de Jaider Esbell, artista Makuxi (RR), como uma interlocução entre as cosmologias originárias, o perspectivismo ameríndio e o txaísmo em uma tentativa de alargar o campo da História e Crítica de Arte Brasileira. Assim, propomos uma reflexão acerca do sistema hegemônico da arte, e quais as possibilidades de reescrita de uma história da arte mais inclusiva a partir da decolonialidade e da fala de Esbell. Deste modo, a obra “Malditas e desejadas” nos auxilia a perceber resistência, reexistência, ressignificação e a potência da produção indígena contemporânea, nos auxilia também a escutar as histórias dos povos secularmente oprimidos que tanto lutam para serem ouvidos.
AlmA Londrina e suas experiências convergentes como rádio comunitária na web
Authors: Kaseker Mônica , Tocci Mariana
Published: December 2022

Este artigo apresenta um estudo de caso sobre a AlmA Londrina Rádio Web, buscando observar como essa webrádio, considerada comunitária e cultural, utiliza as potencialidades da internet. Por meio de entrevistas com membros da equipe e análise do site, analisa-se como a interatividade, instantaneidade, ubiquidade, multimidialidade, hipertextualidade, personalização, memória e atualização potencializam a atuação comunitária da rádio. Conclui-se que a Alma Londrina ampliou a pluralidade de vozes na radiofonia local e possibilitou a experimentação de novas linguagens e rotinas produtivas especialmente no jornalismo cultural e colaborativo. No entanto, a luta pela sobrevivência diante das incertezas nas políticas de incentivo à cultura impede que a equipe utilize plenamente as potencialidades da internet.
Ecossocialismo: Perspectivas para a Sustentabilidade e a Educação Ambiental / Eco-Socialism: Sustainability and Environmental Education Prospect
Authors: Frei Betto Michael Löwy ,
Published: December 2022

As análises aqui desenvolvidas partem do pressuposto que a dramática crise ecológica exige alternativas radicais, para além do capitalismo. Após analisar diferentes ângulos dos problemas ambientais em escala mundial, os autores apresentam os pressupostos e fundamentos do Ecossocialismo. Trata-se de uma corrente de pensamento e de ação pautada na defesa ecológica do meio ambiente e da luta por uma sociedade socialista, inspirada nos valores de liberdade, igualdade e solidariedade. Em ruptura com a ideologia produtivista do progresso - em sua forma capitalista e/ou burocrática - e em oposição à expansão ilimitada de um modo de produção e de consumo insustentável e incompatível com a proteção da natureza, esta corrente representa uma tentativa original de articular as ideias fundamentais do socialismo - marxista e/ou libertário - com os avanços da crítica ecológica.ABSTRACT: The analysis developed here is based on the assumption that the dramatic ecological crisis requires radical alternatives beyond capitalism. After analyzing worldwide environmental problems from different angles, the authors present expectations and foundations of eco-socialism. This is a school of thought and action based on the defense of the ecological environment and struggle for a socialist society, inspired by the values â€‹â€‹of freedom, equality and solidarity. Breaking with the productivist ideology of progress - in its capitalist and/or bureaucratic form - and in opposition to unlimited expansion of production and an unsustainable consumption mode, and incompatible with conservation of nature, this current of thought represents an original attempt to articulate the fundamental ideas of socialism - Marxism and/or libertarian - with advances in ecological critique.
ADOLESCÊNCIA HETERONORMATIVA MASCULINA: UM ENFRENTAMENTO COM POSSIBILIDADE DE SUICÃDIO
Authors: Santos Welson Barbosa , Borges Marisa , Almeida Juliano da Silva Martins de
Published: December 2022

O presente artigo tem como proposição compreender os processos sociais de constituição de identidades masculinas em relação a heteronormatividade. Parte-se do pressuposto que aqueles comportamentos de adolescentes masculinos que estão fora do que a sociedade aceita e impõe como condutas, contêm os conflitos e as tensões que podem estimular o suicídio entres esses adolescentes. A investigação inicial realizada em rede virtual envolveu 200 meninos adolescentes, alunos de duas instituições de ensino e, destes, foram coletados os relatos de 17 sujeitos apreendendo suas experiências culturais e também suas masculinidades inscritas no discurso da hetoronormatividade. Â
GARANTIA DO DIREITO À EDUCAÇÃO NOS PAÃSES MEMBROS DO MERCOSUL
Authors: Rezende Souza Kellcia , Da Silva Scaff Elisangela Alves
Published: December 2022

O presente estudo analisa a normatização do direito à educação nos países membros do Mercado Comum do Sul (Mercosul). A fim de propiciar o alcance do objetivo proposto foi realizada uma pesquisa bibliográfica e documental com enfoque qualitativo. A fonte documental se constituiu pelos seguintes documentos: Constituições Federais vigentes dos países membros do Mercosul e Planos de Ações do Setor Educacional do Mercosul. Ademais, a discussão versará pelo confronto dos ordenamentos legais com as reflexões suscitadas pela literatura da área, procurando colocar em evidência similitudes e diferenças do direito à educação nos ordenamentos legais em curso nos países membros do Mercosul, cuja realidade carece de investigações.
Usefulness of a Perfusion Balloon for Intraprocedural Stent Thrombosis in a Patient With ST-Segment Elevated Myocardial Infarction Complicated With Cardiogenic Shock
Authors: Takeyama Taro , Mizutani Yukiko , Ishikawa Tetsuya , Yamada Kota , Nakamura Hidehiko , Nakahara Shiro , Taguchi Isao
Published: December 2022

Intraprocedural stent thrombosis is a rare but serious complication of reperfusion therapy for acute coronary syndrome. There is currently no consensus on the intraprocedural management of intraprocedural stent thrombosis. It is difficult to attain thrombolysis in myocardial infarction flow grade 3, particularly in cases of cardiogenic shock.

A 49-year-old man who presented with anterior ST-segment elevated acute myocardial infarction with cardiogenic shock underwent emergency percutaneous coronary intervention to diffuse proximal lesions in the left anterior descending artery under the support of intra-aortic balloon pumping. Intraprocedural stent thrombosis occurred following the postdilations with a 3.5- × 38-mm everolimus-eluting stent. Despite administration of argatroban and nitroprusside, and after frequent balloon inflations using 3.5-mm noncompliant balloons and thrombectomy, the no-reflow phenomenon was repetitively established. However, after brief and prolonged balloon inflations using 3.5- and 3-mm Ryusei perfusion balloon catheters (Kaneka Medix), the diffusely protruded thrombus inside the stent regressed, and thrombolysis in myocardial infarction flow grade 3 was obtained. The final intravascular ultrasound image showed a well-suppressed, in-stent thrombus and 24% gain of stent area (from 7.5 to 9.3 mm2).

A Ryusei perfusion balloon enabled frequent, long inflation times without deteriorating hemodynamics during reperfusion in ST-segment elevated acute myocardial infarction complicated with cardiogenic shock. Thus, extended balloon inflation using a perfusion balloon is deemed a viable option not only for intraprocedural stent thrombosis but also for cases with a high burden of thrombi during the primary stenting procedure for patients with acute coronary syndrome.
Půjčit si je tak snadno...
Authors: Rádl Michael
Published: December 2022

In this article, I focus on the issue of the financial literacy of regular pawnshop customers. Generally, the terms of the pawn loan are considered as relatively unfavourable, so I was interested in the level of financial literacy of regular borrowers. During field research, it turned out that a pawn loan can be viewed from both the economic and a symbolic perspective. While the former is strictly rational and takes into account the costs and benefits with regard to the specific goals, the latter is rather related to the reasons that borrowers put forward at the moment they decide to accept the loan fee, and concerns such terms as self-esteem, prestige, or position in the social hierarchy. To the uninformed observer, a pawn loan may seem relatively irrational, and the ignorance of the context may make the impression that the financial literacy of those who borrow money in a pawnshop under quite unfavourable conditions is relatively low. However, this view of the issue is not complex, since it completely overlooks the situation and living conditions of borrowers. The question arises whether the commonly used concept of financial literacy is universally applicable to all strata of society, or whether disadvantaged groups in certain life situations act according to different principles of financial literacy, which are adapted to their given living conditions
Evaluation of ichroma™ COVID-19 interferon gamma release assay for detection of vaccine-induced immunity in healthcare workers
Authors: Lim Yong Kwan , Kweon Oh Joo , Choi Yoojeong , Kim Tae-Hyoung , Lee Mi-Kyung
Published: December 2022

Objectives

We compared the performance of a new interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) format assay, the ichroma™ COVID-19 IGRA (IGRA-SARS), with that of the widely used QuantiFERON SARS-CoV-2 ELISA kit (QFN-SARS) in vaccinated healthcare workers (HCWs). Additionally, we analyzed the long-term changes in IGRA results after the final vaccine dose.

Methods

A total of 383 specimens from 281 HCWs were enrolled in this study, and the results of SARS-IGRA and QFN-SARS assays were compared. In addition, we performed the receive operator curve analysis to estimate the optimal cut-off value for IGRA-SARS.

Results

For all specimens, IGRA-SARS and QFN-SARS showed 75.7% and 64.2% of the positive results, respectively. The absolute agreement between IGRA-SARS and QFN-SARS was 80.0%, and the Fleiss’ κ value was 0.525, indicating moderate agreement. ROC curve analysis of the IGRA-SARS results showed a cut-off value of >0.254 IU/mL, which was consistent with the manufacturer’s specifications. The positive rates of both IGRA assays decreased significantly after a postvaccination period of 6 months.

Conclusions

IGRA-SARS showed acceptable performance in the detection of vaccine-induced immunity against COVID-19; however, harmonization of IGRA assays has not yet been achieved. Additionally, the significant decline of positive rates of IGRA after the last vaccination would support the necessity of booster vaccination after a postvaccination period of 6 months.
Association of VKORC1 and CYP2C9 single-nucleotide polymorphisms with warfarin dose adjustment in Saudi patients
Authors: Holail Jasmine , Mobarak Reem , Al-Ghamdi Bandar , Aljada Ahmad , Fakhoury Hana
Published: December 2022

Objectives

Despite its wide usage, warfarin therapy remains challenging due to its narrow therapeutic index, inter-individual response variability, and risk of bleeding. Previous reports have suggested that polymorphisms in VKORC1 and CYP2C9 genes could influence warfarin therapy. Herein, we investigated whether VKORC1 −1173C>T, CYP2C9*2, and CYP2C9*3 gene polymorphisms are associated with warfarin dose adjustment and related bleeding events.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted on Saudi adults receiving warfarin for more than 1 month. Their demographics and relevant clinical data were obtained. Genotyping for VKORC1 −1173C>T, CYP2C9*2, and CYP2C9*2 genotypes was performed.

Results

Patients who are homozygous for the mutant T allele VKORC1 T/T required the lowest warfarin daily maintenance dose, compared to VKORC1 C/T and VKORC1 C/C. Similarly, there was a significant reduction in warfarin daily maintenance dose among CYP2C9*1/*3 and CYP2C9*1/*2 groups compared to CYP2C9*1/*1. However, we found no significant correlation between the studied polymorphisms and warfarin-associated bleeding.

Conclusions

Similar to other populations, the VKORC1 and CYP2C9 gene polymorphisms are significantly associated with warfarin dosage in Saudi patients. The presence of at least one copy of the mutant alleles for VKORC1 −1173C>T, CYP2C9*2, and CYP2C9*3 is associated with a significant reduction in warfarin maintenance dose.
Cerebrospinal fluid lactate as a predictive biomarker for tuberculous meningitis diagnosis
Authors: de Almeida Sérgio Monteiro , Kussen Gislene B. , Cogo Laura L. , Nogueira Keite
Published: December 2022

Objectives

The definitive diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is achieved by identifying Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTb) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF); however, diagnostic confirmation is difficult due to the inability of current tests for an effective diagnosis. Our objective was to retrospectively assess the characteristics of CSF lactate (CSF-LA) as an adjunct biomarker in the diagnosis of TBM.

Methods

608 CSF laboratory reports were assessed. Of these, 560 had clinically suspected TBM. These were classified as definite (n=36), probable (23), possible (278), or non-TBM (223) according to the international consensus TBM case definitions. An additional 48 CSF samples were negative controls with normal CSF.

Results

Against a reference standard of definite TBM, the cut-off value for CSF-LA was 4.0 mmol/L, the area under the ROC curve was 0.88 (95% CI, 0.82–0.94; p=0.0001), sensitivity was 69%, specificity 90%, negative predictive value 98%. These diagnostic parameters decreased when calculated against those of the other categories of TBM. CSF-LA exhibited high specificity, efficiency, negative predictive value, and clinical utility index in all the groups studied.

Conclusions

CSF-LA is a useful diagnostic marker to rule out TBM when associated with conventional microbiology tests, nucleic acid amplification assays, and clinical algorithms, particularly in endemic areas.
Non-finite verb forms in Turkic exhibit syncretism, not multifunctionality
Authors: Washington Jonathan N. , Tyers Francis M. , Salimzianov Ilnar
Published: December 2022

Non-finite verbs in Turkic are typically categorised as participles, converbs, and sometimes infinitives, with multiple uses of a form within one category considered to constitute multiple functions. This multifunctionality approach predicts that all non-finite verb forms within each of the categories should have the same range of syntactic functions. We show that this is not the case. Based on analysis of a representative set of Turkic languages (Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Sakha, Tatar, Turkish, and Tuvan), we propose a categorisation based on morphological and syntactic properties of non-finite verbs, resulting in four categories: verbal nouns, verbal adjectives, verbal adverbs, and infinitives. Under this approach, forms that are typically labelled as participles end up categorised as verbal nouns, verbal adjectives, or both, and forms that are typically labelled as converbs end up categorised as verbal adverbs, infinitives, or both. Some forms even span these two divisions. When a non-finite verb form appears to exist in multiple categories, we consider this to be a case of syncretism; this is, there is a member of one category that has the same form as a member of another category. We propose historical trajectories that may have led to the types of situations that are attested, examine the limitations of this approach, and discuss its wider implications.
The effect of linguistic choices in note-taking on academic listening performance: a pedagogical translanguaging perspective
Authors: Zhou Xiaozhou (Emily) , Chen Xinran , Wang Ziyang
Published: December 2022

The inherent complexity of listening activities poses considerable challenges to second language listeners. For decades, researchers have been exploring effective strategies to help improve L2 learners’ listening proficiency. Note-taking, which is frequently and strategically employed to complete listening tasks and to learn content, has also been examined extensively from various perspectives. However, it seems that little is known about the effect of L2 learners’ linguistic choices in note-taking on their listening performance. Employing pedagogical translanguaging as an analytical lens, the current research sets out to investigate whether or not L2 learners’ multilingual notes, compared to monolingual notes, significantly enhance their performance in academic listening activities. Conducted in a Chinese university EFL context, this study adopts a mixed-methods approach. A total of 90 participants were assigned to three groups and were asked to take notes in Chinese, English, and a combination of all languages, symbols, drawings, etc., respectively. Data were collected from the results of two listening tasks (a listening comprehension test and a retelling task), a questionnaire survey designed to focus on their attitudes to the linguistic choices they made in note-taking, and the multilingual notes taken. The findings revealed that students who were allowed to make full use of their linguistic and semiotic resources in note-taking were able to perform significantly better in both listening tasks. The same group of students also demonstrated a diverse and flexible mobilization of their multilingual and multimodal assets in the notes they took. This study provides evidence for applying pedagogical translanguaging as an effective approach in designing note-taking instructions. It is suggested that L2 learners should be encouraged to deploy their entire linguistic repertoire when taking notes during listening activities, which could lead to improved performance.
A word-based account of comprehension and production of Kinyarwanda nouns in the Discriminative Lexicon
Authors: van de Vijver Ruben , Uwambayinema Emmanuel
Published: December 2022

Are the cognitive units in the mental lexicon of Bantu speakers words or morphemes? The very small experimental literature addressing this question suggests that the answer is morphemes, but a closer look at the results shows that this answer is premature. A novel theory of the mental lexicon, the Discriminative Lexicon, which incorporates a word-based view of the mental lexicon, and is computationally implemented in the Linear Discriminative Learner (LDL) is put to the test with a data set of 11,180 Kinyarwanda nouns, and LDL is used to model their comprehension and production. LDL predicts comprehension and production of nouns with great accuracy. Our work provides support for the conclusion that the cognitive units in the mental lexicon of Kinyarwanda speakers are words.
Analysis of a deteriorating system with delayed repair and unreliable repair equipment
Authors: Li Yan-Ling , Xu Gen Qi , Chen Hao
Published: December 2022

In this article, we mainly consider a repairable degradation system consisting of a single component, a repairman, and repair equipment. Suppose that the system cannot be repaired immediately after failure and cannot be repaired “as good as new.” Herein, the repair equipment may fail during repair and the system will replace a new one after failures. In particular, the repair time follows the general distribution. Under the above assumptions, a partial differential equation model is established through the geometric process and supplementary variable technique. By Laplace transform, we obtain the availability of the system, and from the expression one can see that the availability of the system will tend to zero after running for a long time. Therefore, we further study a replacement policy

N

N

based on the failed times of the system. We give the explicit expression of the system average cost

C

(

N

)

C\left(N)

and obtain the optimal replacement policy

N

∗

{N}^{\ast }

by minimizing the average cost rate

C

(

N

∗

)

C\left({N}^{\ast })

. That is, the system will be replaced when the failure number of the system reaches

N

∗

{N}^{\ast }

. Furthermore, the extended degenerate system is proposed by assuming that the system is not always successive degenerative after repair, and then the optimal replacement policy is studied. Finally, the numerical analysis is given to illustrate the theoretical results.
Compact mappings and s-mappings at subsets
Authors: Lin Shou , Ling Xuewei , He Wei
Published: December 2022

Almost

s

s

-mappings and almost compact mappings have been introduced and studied. In this article, we continue to research some questions related to the almost s-images (resp., almost compact images) of metric spaces. The following results are obtained. (1) A space

X

X

is a quotient and almost compact image of a metric space if and only if

X

X

is a sequential space having a

c

s

∗

c{s}^{\ast }

-network which is point-regular at nonisolated points, which gives an affirmative answer to Question 4.9 in the article “S. Lin, X. W. Ling, and Y. Ge, Point-regular covers and sequence-covering compact mappings, Topology Appl. 271 (2020), 106987.” (2) There exists a bi-quotient and almost compact image of a metric space satisfying no base, which is point-countable at nonisolated points, which gives negative answers to Question 3.1 in the article “X. W. Ling and S. Lin, On open almost s-images of metric spaces, Adv. Math. (China) 48 (2019), no. 4, 489–496” and Question 3.7 in the article “X. W. Ling, S. Lin, and W. He, Point-countable covers and sequence-covering s-mappings at subsets, Topology Appl. 290 (2021), 107572.” (3) Some characterizations of countably bi-quotient and almost

s

s

-images (resp., pseudo-open and almost compact images) of metric spaces.
Graphene-oxide-reinforced cement composites mechanical and microstructural characteristics at elevated temperatures
Authors: Han Seungyeon , Hossain Mohammad Shakhawat , Ha Taeho , Yun Kyong Ku
Published: December 2022

The focus of this research was to investigate the effects of graphene oxide (GO) on the microscopic composition, structure, pore size, and mechanical properties of GO-reinforced cement composites. Furthermore, the research explored the thermal behavior of GO-reinforced cement mortar at different elevated temperatures (250, 500, 750, and 1,000°C). This study considered three sets of GO-reinforced cement composites with 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 wt% of GO (by weight of cement); the water–cement ratio in all the mixtures was 0.5. To characterize the chemical composition, microstructure, and hydration degree resulting from GO addition, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry, derivative thermogravimetry, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and micro-computed tomography (Micro-CT) were used. The experimental results revealed that GO addition changed the microstructural composition and pore diameter distribution of the cement composite. The optimal amount of GO required for improving the mechanical properties of the cement composite under both unheated and heated conditions was identified to be 0.1 wt%. GO improves the cement matrices’ ability to bind with GO nanosheets, leading to compressive strength retention and decreased micro-cracking (computed by material and defected volume changes by Micro-CT analysis). This is primarily due to the hydration products. However, the optimal amount of GO can result in nanomaterial agglomeration, thus lowering the thermal resistance of the cement composite. Overall, the study identified GO as a nano-additive with the potential to improve the strength and toughness of the cement composites. Moreover, the effect of elastic modulus was also evaluated. As a result, the GO microstructure analysis revealed that it has a porous structure with a visible crack pattern.
Sustained oxygen release of hydrogen peroxide-acrylic resin inclusion complex for aquaculture
Authors: Ma Chenghong , Zhang Shulin , Cong Fangdi , Xu Yanling , Zhang Jingjing , Zhang Dajuan , Zhang Liwang , Su Yongpeng
Published: December 2022

To overcome the lack of dissolved oxygen in high-density aquaculture water, a hydrogen peroxide-acrylic resin inclusion complex with sustained oxygen releasing effect was designed and prepared. The resin was synthesized by emulsion polymerization of acrylic acid, methyl methacrylate and butyl acrylate in a mass ratio of 2: 3: 5, and neutralized with sodium hydroxide solution by 50%. The resin solution was mixed in a mixture of urea and 30% hydrogen peroxide solution (CO(NH2)2: H2O2, 1: 1, mol: mol), and dried at 40 °C for 4 h to obtain the hydrogen peroxide-acrylic resin inclusion complex. The product with 4.0% resin by mass of hydrogen oxygen solution, could release oxygen for 92 h in pond water. After optimization by adding a small amount of NaCl, Na2SO4, and EDTA, it was mixed with calcium carbonate and magnesium stearate in a mass ratio of 5: 4: 0.9, and pressed into tablets (1.2 × 0.6 cm, 0.99 g). One tablet in 50 L simulated micro ecosystem aquaculture water with 20 of Carassius auratus fish could release oxygen for 116 h and brought fish with 83.3% of survival rate higher than 51.7 and 70.0% of blank and sodium percarbonate groups.
Reducing component stress during encapsulation of electronics: a simulative examination of thermoplastic foam injection molding
Authors: Ott Constantin , Drummer Dietmar
Published: December 2022

The direct encapsulation of electronic components is an effective way of protecting components against external influences. In addition to achieving a sufficient protective effect, there are two other big challenges for satisfying the increasing demand for encapsulated circuit boards. The encapsulation process should be both suitable for mass production and offer a low component load. Injection molding is a method with good suitability for large series production but also with typically high component stress. In this article, two aims were pursued: first, the development of a calculation model that allows an estimation of the occurring forces based on process variables and material parameters. Second, the evaluation of a new approach for stress reduction by means of thermoplastic foam injection molding. For this purpose, simulation-based process data was generated with the Moldflow simulation tool. Based on this, component stresses were calculated with the calculation model. The suitability of the new approach was clearly demonstrated and a significant reduction in shear forces during overmolding was achieved. It was possible to demonstrate a process development that makes it possible to meet the two main requirements of direct encapsulation in addition to a high protective effect.
Location-specific labour control strategies in online retail
Authors: Fuchs Martina , Dannenberg Peter , López Tatiana , Wiedemann Cathrin , Riedler Tim
Published: December 2022

Online retail is currently profoundly restructuring the working conditions in the retail sector. Existing studies generally describe the working conditions in the large warehouses of online retail as ‘digital Taylorism’. This article broadens this perspective and draws on the theoretical concept of the local labour control regime. It explores how managements’ technological and social labour control strategies vary spatially between online retail warehouses located in inner and outer metropolitan areas of the four largest German cities. The study uses qualitative methods and is mainly based on expert interviews with executives, representatives of trade unions and works councils, representatives of associations, and further experts. This study gains insights on the spatial variety of labour control and thus is relevant for international research on labour control and for practitioners’ ability to create decent and humane work.
Tracking Pleistocene occupation on the Eastern Iranian Plateau: preliminary results
Authors: Sadraei Ali , Shipton Ceri , Garazhian Omran , Azar Mahya , Zafaranlou Roghayeh , Soroush Mohammad Reza
Published: December 2022

The Tracking Pleistocene Human Occupations in the East of Iran project was initiated with two field seasons in 2020 and 2022. The authors present the results of this fieldwork, which identified 176 Palaeolithic localities, demonstrating the presence of Lower Palaeolithic and Middle Palaeolithic occupations in the Ferdows-Sarayan-Qaen plains.