bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SURVEI IDENTIFIKASI KONDISI KERUSAKAN BIJI KOPI LIBERIKA TUNGKAL KOMPOSIT DAN PENYEBABNYA DI SIMPANAN
Authors: Rahayu Susi , Hayata Hayata , Meilin Araz
Published: December 2022

Damage to coffee beans which is stored in storehouse due to insect pests can reduce its quality through a decrease in coffee weight and its quality, consequently causing the price of coffee beans decrease because they have low quality. The purpose of the study was to identify the damaged condition of the Libtukom coffee and to find out the cause of the damage to the stored coffee been. This research was carried out in Mekar Jaya Village, Betara District, West Tanjung Jabung Regency, Batanghari University   Laboratory and BPTP Pest Laboratory Jambi since August to October 2021. This research was carried out at 4 locations where farmers' coffee beans storehouse using the light and bait trap method. and handpicking. This research was conducted by taking samples of coffee beans that were attacked by insect pests as much as 4 kg each sample so that 16 kg was obtained. The observed parameters were the characteristics of coffee damage, the number of insects caught, characteristics of the storehouse of Libtukom coffee beans and the moisture content of the stored coffee beans. The data were analyzed descriptively using the mean/mean value, standard deviation and presented in tabular form. The results showed that the highest characteristics of the damage to coffee beans in the four storage locations were the hollo seed more than one hole, followed by spoted bean and then    one hole in hollo bean. The amount obtained on the insect catching method in the warehouse of   Libtukom coffee bean using bait traps was Araecerus fasciculatus that obtained more, while   light traps showed  more the other insect.
Strength Calculation Method of Bedding Rock Based on Improved Hoek-Brown Criterion Considering the Effect of Critical Confining Pressure
Authors: Li Li , Ni Bo , Qiang Yue , Zhang Shixin , Zhao Dongsheng , Zhou Ling
Published: December 2022

Rock is a commonly used building material. Studying rock properties can reduce production time and cost, improve production efficiency and construction safety. Therefore, rock mechanics characteristics, especially strength, have always been a hot field of rock mechanics. Classical strength criteria such as the Mohr-Coulomb (M-C) criterion and Hoek-Brown (H-B) criterion are based on rock strength homogeneity and cannot reflect the characteristics of layered rock strength changing with azimuth. Therefore, it is necessary to modify the classic strength criterion to reflect layered rock anisotropy. Based on existing triaxial test results and rock anisotropic strength properties, an improved H-B criterion for rock anisotropy considering the effect of critical confining pressure is proposed in this paper, which can be used to calculate the strength of layered rocks. Taking slate as an example, the calculation results of the improved H-B criterion show that: 1. the improved H-B criterion can mostly control the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of McLamore slate test results within 30%, which is obviously better than the classical H-B criterion and has good extrapolation ability; 2. the material parameters m, n are determined by test results and inversion analysis, which avoids the arbitrariness. The proposed method can be used as a supplementary and alternative method to estimate or calculate the strength of layered rock.
Exercise to Combat Respiratory Muscle Wasting in Cancer
Authors: Murphy Ben
Published: December 2022

Cachexia is the term used to describe the progressive loss of muscle mass in association with severe disease. The primary resulting alteration observed in cachexia is a shift in the fundamental balance of muscle protein synthesis and muscle protein degradation. One of the diseases most commonly associated with cachexia is cancer, in which the prevalence rate is 50-80%. Furthermore, cachexia is estimated to be responsible for 20% of cancer deaths. Potentially contributing to this mortality rate is the wasting of the respiratory muscles. Despite this, relatively little research has investigated the impact of cancer cachexia on respiratory muscle wasting and dysfunction. Additionally, exercise provides promise in the implementation of a therapeutic intervention aimed at ameliorating the adverse effects of cancer cachexia.
An Introduction To Monte Carlo-Tree (MC-Tree) Method
Authors: Trinh Yen Thuan
Published: December 2022

The article aims to introduce concepts in option pricing and risk management. Pricing and risk management is one of the fundamental problems in financial mathematics. Then readers may explore further to understand how to use mathematical models in pricing and risk management. More specifically, our research introduces a new method called Monte Carlo-Tree (MC-Tree), for option pricing and risk management with high accuracy.
Ecomusicology and the Potential of Music and Sound for Environmental Education
Authors: Gambirasio Luca
Published: December 2022

Ecomusicology is an interdisciplinary field drawing together scholars from sciences and humanities who share a research interest in the overlapping of music, culture, and nature. Human and non-human animals constantly rely on sonic signals to relate with other animals and the environment. Considering this auditory connection, and the contribution that ecocritical music and music about places may have in nurturing a sentiment of environmental stewardship, I propose an applied environmental education methodology that relies on participatory music making and critical listening to foster environmental awareness.
Who Gets Child Protection and Welfare Services and Why?
Authors: O'Leary Donna
Published: December 2022

When children are reported to Tusla Child and Family Agency, social workers may conduct Initial Assessments to determine their safety and welfare to decide if they need ongoing services. We know little about these impactful decisions. Equally, little is known about the nature of concerns investigated or about the children and families themselves. To fill this gap, two empirical studies were conducted in Tusla between 2015 and 2016. The first explored social worker’s rationales for their judgments and decisions. The second, cross-sectional study profiled the population undergoing assessments and identified through multivariable analysis, factors associated with the decision to provide ongoing service. The study developed new insights into the characteristics of children and families undergoing initial assessment and into decision making processes. Social workers’ judgments about service needs are informed by case factors, policies, resource constraints and their perception of their expertise and role. Almost 40% of children assessed received ongoing service. Multivariable analysis indicated decisions to provide ongoing services are multifactorial, influenced by a handful of current and historic case and organisation factors. This is the largest study of initial assessments conducted in Ireland to date. Implications of the findings for interventions, policy and further research are discussed.
A Reproductive Justice Approach to Abortion Access and Provision in Ireland after the Eighth Amendment
Authors: Waltz Charlotte
Published: December 2022

In this paper, I draw on ongoing ethnographic research on abortion care in Ireland. My research follows a reproductive justice framework to inquire whether pregnant people have the means and the accessibility to abortion care, and whether providers have the means to provide abortion care. I argue that my approach provides an innovative way of examining reproductive justice in Ireland through a feminist and intersectional lens. Moving away from the moral framing of abortion which has dominated the public construction of the issue in Ireland to date, the reframing of abortion as a reproductive justice opens up opportunities for a more balanced consideration of abortion provision as policy, practice and lived experience for both service users and service providers.
Perspectives on Hungarian and Uralic prehistory
Authors: Holopainen Sampsa
Published: December 2022

Besprechung
Klima, László & Türk, Attila (eds.). 2021. Párhuzamos történetek: Interdiszciplináris őstörténeti konferencia a PPKE Régészettudományi Intézetének szervezésében. Budapest, 2020. november 11‒13. / Parallel stories: Interdisciplinary conference on Hungarian prehistory, organized by the Institute for Archaeology, PPCU, Budapest, 11‒13 November 2020. Studia ad Archaeologiam Pazmaniensia 23 & Magyar Őstörténeti Kutatócsoport Kiadványok 2. Budapest. 245 pp.
Gestión administrativa en el desempeño laboral de las empresas de Delivery-Cantón Machala
Authors: Parra-Ganchosa Carlos , Márquez-Abarca Borys , Sánchez-Cabrera Liana , Mora-Sanchez Norman
Published: December 2022

En las diferentes empresas que se manejan tanto a nivel nacional como regional y se puede hasta referir desde una perspectiva global la gestión que se lleva a cabo debe ser tomada como liderazgo, es decir, se debe siempre buscar el trabajo en equipo, el aprender y crecer entre todos, no existir individualidad dentro de la organización, aunque en forma jerárquica sea necesario el que se cuente con diferentes áreas en el que haya un grupo de trabajo o departamentos. La principal herramienta que tiene una compañía es el talento humano, porque es el conocimiento vital, no un simple recolector de datos, sino que ayudará a crear valor dentro de la organización y así lucrarse ante otras empresas. Para que una empresa mejore, debe modernizarse o contratar empleados más eficientes, el departamento de RRHH también se encarga de buscar y atraer nuevos empleados. La gestión del talento en relación con la gestión de recursos humanos conduce a la construcción de métricas normativas que pueden mejorar el proceso de selección, implementación, evaluación y capacitación de los empleados, lo que se traduce en mejoras significativas en la motivación, el bienestar de los empleados y la compensación y los beneficios.
Análisis de los costos de producción agrícola ecológica utilizando un enfoque de costos totales o absorbentes en época de pandemia COVID-19 para fortalecer la economía agraria y seguridad alimentaria
Authors: Reyes-Romero Diana , Tinoco-Sáenz Tomas , Burgos-Burgos John
Published: December 2022

La producción y exportación de banano es la actividad principal de la provincia de El Oro lo genera que la economía de la provincia este siempre al alza por la gran demanda que tiene esta fruta en el exterior, pero la reciente pandemia por el COVID-19 perjudicó a este sector agrícola. El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar los efectos que causo la pandemia de COVID 19 en las exportaciones de banano mediante un análisis de costo de producción y rentabilidad de la caja de banano durante la crisis sanitaria. Para ello se utilizó un diseño metodológico narrativo, descriptivo, analítico y no ex­perimental, el mismo, que permitió recabar infor­mación de la producción bananera durante pandemia sin manipular ninguna variable de estudio. Los hallazgos demuestran que hubo bajas en las exportaciones, el material para el proceso de embarque demoraba en llegar, el precio de la caja de banano bajó, hubo paralización de puertos, y un sin número de dificultados que les impedía seguir laborando normalmente, por lo tanto, su nivel de rentabilidad fue afectada de manera significativa, de igual forma, su rendimiento productivo decreció en comparación a los años anteriores por lo que se tuvo que implementar la estrategia de la asociatividad para reducir los costos operacionales.

Palabras claves: Análisis de costos, producción agrícola, economía agraria, seguridad alimentaria
PENGUKURAN PRODUKTIVITAS SEKOLAH DI SMP KOTA MATARAM
Authors: Zulfikar Ahmad , Afian Tilal
Published: December 2022

Abstract: Schools as educational organizations must always increase productivity with various innovations and achievements, should not stagnate in the comfort zone with low productivity, therefore it is necessary to measure school productivity for school self-evaluation as a reference in increasing school productivity. The purpose of this study was to describe the level of school productivity in the Mataram city junior high school. The method used in this study is a survey method with a quantitative approach, the population is 1620 respondents in 35 junior high schools consisting of principals, teachers and administrators, the sample used is 106 respondents, drawn using proportional stratified random sampling based on the sampling formula of solvin. The data collection technique used a questionnaire and then analyzed descriptive statistical data using the WMS (Weighted Means Scored) technique. The results of the measurement of school productivity at the Mataram City Middle School show that the school input dimension is in the very high category with a score of 4.37 while the school output is in the high category with a score of 4.25.   Keywords: Measurement, School Productivity   Abstrak: Sekolah sebagai organisasi pendidikan harus selalu meningkatkan produktivitas dengan berbagai inovasi dan prestasi, tidak boleh stagna pada zona nyaman dengan produktivitas rendah, maka dari itu diperlukan pengukuran produktivitas sekolah untuk evaluasi diri sekolah sebagai acuan dalam peningkatkan produktivitas sekolah. Tujuan dari penelitian Ini adalah untuk mengetahui gambaran tingkat produktivitas sekolah di SMP kota Mataram . Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah metode survey dengan pendekatan kuantitatif, populasinya adalah 1620 responden di 35 unit SMP  yang terdiri  dari kepala sekolah, guru dan tenaga administrator,  sampel yang digunakan berjumlah 106 responden, ditarik dengan menggunkan  proportional stratified  random sampling berdasarkan rumus pengambilan sampel dari solvin. Teknik pengumpulan data menggunakan angket kemudian di lakukan analisis data statistik deskriptif dengan menggunakan teknik WMS (Weighted Means Scored). Hasil dari pengukuran produktivitas sekolah di SMP kota Mataram menunjukkan bahawa dimensi school input berada pada kategori sangat tinggi dengan skor 4,37 sedangkan school output berada pada kategori tinggi dengan skor 4,25.    Kata kunci : Pengukuran, Produktivitas Sekolah
«Too much ideological bitterness has been added to this issue»: V. N. Andreev’s correspondence with M. Finley
Authors: Karpyuk Sergey G.
Published: December 2022

The documents of M. Finley in the library of Cambridge University and in the personal fund of V. N. Andreev in the manuscript department of the Russian National Library in Saint Petersburg contain letters from two historians. The correspondence of M. Finley and V. N. Andreev shows that the Soviet scientist was not only a situational Finlean, but also quite consciously followed the principles of M. Finley’s work with sources. Acquaintance with M. Finley’s works and correspondence with him significantly influenced V. N. Andreev: he became a follower of an English scientist, working outside the framework of scientific schools that existed in Soviet scholarship. Correspondence with M. Finley shows a high degree of inclusion of a Soviet scientist in the current agenda of world science about Antiquity in the late 1950s – first half of the 1960s, however, the closeness of the Soviet scientific community, the lack of full-fledged international communication did not contribute to the perception of V. N. Andreev’s ideas by Western scientists. For M. Finley, V. N. Andreev was apparently just one of his many followers scattered around the world. The lack of personal contact did not allow this position to be changed. The very fact that the Soviet scientist in matters of methodology followed and listened to the advice of the scientist of the «bourgeois» testified that the Soviet historiography of Antiquity since the late 1950s could no longer be perceived as a single stream; the Soviet historical narrative of the thaw era ceases to be unified.
Photosynthetic apparatus of barley plants treated with 5-aminolevulinic acid: mechanisms of adaptation to drought
Authors: Kuryanchyk Tatsiana G. , Kozel Nikolay V.
Published: December 2022

A significant effect of soil drought on the morphometric parameters of the leaves of barley plants of the Brovar and Avans varieties, the accumulation of reactive oxygen species, as well as the content of photosynthetic pigments in them has been established. It has been shown that during drought, the treatment of leaves of barley plants of the Brovar variety with 5-aminolevulinic acid causes a decrease in the content of proteins of photosystem antenna complexes, which leads to a decrease in the size of the light-harvesting antenna and is an effective mechanism for protecting the photosynthetic apparatus from oxidative stress. Fine adjustment of the photosynthetic apparatus components of leaves of barley plants ofthe Brovar variety to drought may be a key factor in determining the resistance of this variety to this type of abiotic stress. In the Avans variety, these adaptation mechanisms are either absent or manifest to a lesser extent, which leads to a more intensive development of oxidative stress in plants of this variety under the action of soil drought.
Influence of light intensity and its spectral composition on photosynthetic activity of cucumber Cucumis sativus under fusarium wilt
Authors: Kabashnikova Luidmila F. , Domanskaya Irina N. , Pashkevich Lyubov V. , Dremuk Irina A. , Martysiuk Hanna V. , Molchan Olga V.
Published: December 2022

The responses of cucumber chloroplasts of the Kustovoi variety formed under lighting of different intensity (6000 and 11 000 lx) or under LED lighting with a predominance of red light and far red light to infection with fungus Fusarium oxysporum were studied. The amount of chlorophylls and carotenoids in chloroplasts formed at low light increased in 72 h after infection, and at high light a significant increase in pigment catabolism was observed. Under fusarium wilt, the violaxanthin cycle was not involved in the conditions of the studied light range, and the photochemical activity of chloroplasts did not depend much on the level of illumination. The predominance of red light or far red light caused an increase in both chlorophylls and carotenoids content in terms of the dry mass of the leaf compared to their content in plants grown on white light. Infection on white light and red light caused an increase in the total content of chlorophylls and carotenoids, and a decrease in these parameters relative to healthy plants was noted on far red light. Fusarium wilt led to a decrease in photochemical activity and electron transport of photosystem I (by 20 %) in chloroplasts on red light and far red light. A decrease in the functional efficiency of photosystem II was also observed, most likely due to irreversible changes in pigment-protein complexes with two types of LED lighting. Various mechanisms of the response of cucumber chloroplasts to pathogen infection are discussed, depending on the light conditions of the formation of photosynthetic membranes.
Addressing Global Cancer Care Inequities Using Implementation Science and Community-Engaged Research Approaches
Authors: Hirko Kelly A.
Published: December 2022

Advances in cancer prevention efforts, screening and early detection, and treatments have contributed to steady reductions in cancer mortality for individuals in high-income countries in recent years. Yet, these benefits have not yet been realised for many populations across the globe, particularly for those residing in low- and middle-income countries, and in other medically underserved communities. Addressing cancer disparities will require targeted efforts to equitably improve cancer care delivery across the care continuum; from detection, through treatment, and to survivorship. This feature article describes how implementation science and community-engaged approaches can address cancer inequities by improving the delivery, uptake, and effective expansion of evidence-based cancer care in real-world resource-limited settings.
Stuck Together: A Correspondence on Protocols between Scholars and Objects
Authors: Hiskes Andries , Ben Shimon Ohad
Published: December 2022

Through a correspondence between two scholars, this paper explores and critiques various ways in which scholars working in ethnography and cultural analysis frame and construct their methodology and object of study. Through the close reading of theoretical accounts of methodology in ethnography and cultural analysis, we examine how these accounts construct the relationship between the scholar and her object of study. We read these scholarly practices as protocols, referring to the ways in which accounts of methodology may be understood as rules/guidelines by which scholars in these fields conduct research. Protocol etymologically refers to protos (first) and kolla (glue). Through the figure of the protocol, we delineate how scholars in ethnography and cultural analysis themselves become implicated in giving accounts of their research methodologies.
Bilinen Son Mevlid: Karaalizâde Hayyat Ömer Efendi’nin Behcetü’l-Âbidîn’i
Authors: Kayalık Şahin Duygu
Published: December 2022

Hz. Muhammed’in dünyayı teşrifinin ve bu esnada meydana gelen mucizelerin temel alındığı mevlidlerde, Hz. Âmine’nin hamileliği ile Hz. Muhammed’in çocukluğu, hilyesi, nübüvveti, miracı, hicreti ve vefatı gibi konular da işlenmiştir. Şairler, Allah’ın rahmetine ulaşmak, Hz. Muhammed’in şefaatine nail olabilmek, bu dünyada bir yadigâr bırakmak, hayırla anılmak ve mevlidlerini okuyanları da Hz. Muhammed’in aşkıyla irşad etmek gibi çeşitli gayelerle mevlid telif etmişlerdir. Türk İslam edebiyatının en yaygın türlerinden biri, sayıları iki yüze yakın olan mevlidlerdir. Literatürde yer almayan ve çalışmamıza konu teşkil eden mevlidlerden biri Behcetü’l-Âbidîn’dir. Kaynaklarda ismine rastlamadığımız Karaalizâde Hayyat Ömer Efendi tarafından 1417/1996 senesinde Arap harfleriyle ve aruzun “fâilâtün/ fâilâtün/ fâilün” kalıbıyla yazılan Behcetü’l-Âbidîn, mesnevi nazım şeklinde ve 161 beyit hâlinde inşa edilmiştir. Ömer Efendi, Hz. Muhammed’e salavat getirilmesini telkin ettiği vasıta beyitlerinden sonra Arapça salavat virdleri ekleyerek eseri zenginleştirmiştir. Derleme bir mevlid metninden ziyade telif bir mevlid olan ve klasik tarzda tertip edilen Behcetü’l-Âbidîn, varlığı bilinen son mevlid olması bakımından önem arz etmektedir. Bu çalışmada öncelikle Karallî mahlaslı Ömer Efendi’nin hayatına dair bilgiler derlenerek sunulmuş; Behcetü’l-Âbidîn dil, şekil ve muhteva bakımından incelenmiştir. Eserin transkripsiyonlu metni hazırlanarak ilim dünyasına tanıtılmıştır.
Pepeling: What makes the epigraphs at the gravesites of Javanese Muslim saints linguistically unique from the perspectives of deathscapes?
Authors: Purnomo SF. Luthfie Arguby , Hadziq Abdulloh , Halim Abd. , Ibrahim Rustam , Purnama SF. Lukfianka Sanjaya , Untari Lilik
Published: December 2022

The gravesites of Javanese Muslim saints have signage called pepeling, epigraphs containing wise words from the deceased saints. This article attempts to elucidate the uniqueness of pepeling from deathscapes, linguistic landscapes specifically concerning lingual and non-lingual elements of mortality. We employed the theories of deathscapes by Maddrell and Sidaway (2010), the language of the cemetery by Deering (2010), wise quotes by DeFrank et al. (2019), and ethnic markers by Bell and Paegle (2021) to reveal the linguistic uniqueness of pepeling found from the gravesites of 21 Javanese Muslim saints. We found that pepeling was linguistically unique for three reasons. First, pepeling tends to contain a combination of Javanese or Indonesian ethnic markers with references to Islamic teaching. The presence of pegon, a Javanese expression written in an Arabic text, signifies this combination. Second, the places where pepeling are installed signify an implied lingual meaning. They encompass geographical area, cemetery complex, and pepeling’s directional positions. Third, pepeling tends to contain second viewpoint signifying the roles of the saints as a guide for the people even in their death. These findings may contribute to the fusion of gnomologia with deathscapes.
Evaluation of Nursing Functions In Home Health Services: A Retrospective Study
Authors: ŞENER ÖZALP Şenay , CİNGİL Dilek , GÖGER Seda
Published: December 2022

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the nursing functions of home health services.

Methods: The study was planned retrospectively and descriptively in a state hospital’s Home Health Care Unit. The study sample consists of all files of patients who received home health services between 16.01.2019 and 16-07.2019. Data Registration Form and Nursing Functions Evaluation Form were used in collecting the data. Kolmogorov-Smirnov test to test compliance with normal distribution in data analysis, descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, arithmetic mean, t-test and Mann Whitney U test in independent groups of 2, One-way ANOVA (Post-hoc Tamhane’s T2 test if the difference between groups was significant) and Kruskal-Wallis test were used in groups of 3.

Results: As a result of the data analysis, it was determined that there is a statistically significant difference between the independent, semidependent, and dependent function scores applied by nurses in patients with diabetes, recent operations, and heart failure(p
Strontium-doped apatitic bone cements with tunable antibacterial and antibiofilm ability
Authors: Dapporto Massimiliano , Tavoni Marta , Restivo Elisa , Carella Francesca , Bruni Giovanna , Mercatali Laura , Visai Livia , Tampieri Anna , Iafisco Michele , Sprio Simone
Published: December 2022

Injectable calcium phosphate cements (CPCs) represent promising candidates for the regeneration of complex-shape bone defects, thanks to self-hardening ability, bioactive composition and nanostructure offering high specific surface area for cell attachment and conduction. Such features make CPCs also interesting for functionalization with various biomolecules, towards the generation of multifunctional devices with enhanced therapeutic ability. In particular, strontium-doped CPCs have been studied in the last years due to the intrinsic antiosteoporotic character of strontium. In this work, a SrCPC previously reported as osteointegrative and capable to modulate the fate of bone cells was enriched with hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HA-NPs) functionalized with tetracycline (TC) to provide antibacterial activity. We found that HA-NPs functionalized with TC (NP-TC) can act as modulator of the drug release profile when embedded in SrCPCs, thus providing a sustained and tunable TC release. In vitro microbiological tests on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus strains proved effective bacteriostatic and bactericidal properties, especially for the NP-TC loaded SrCPC formulations. Overall, our results indicate that the addition of NP-TC on CPC acted as effective modulator towards a tunable drug release control in the treatment of bone infections or cancers.
Pneumonia in myasthenia gravis: Microbial etiology and clinical management
Authors: Su Manqiqige , Jin Shan , Jiao Kexin , Yan Chong , Song Jie , Xi Jianying , Zhao Chongbo , Zhou Zhirui , Zheng Jianming , Luo Sushan
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) are prone to the development of pneumonia due to the long-term immunotherapies they receive and a tendency for aspiration. Pneumonia remains a risk factor for MG worsening and is the most prevalent cause of mortality in MG patients. Classification of the pathogens involved and exploration of the risk factors for mechanical ventilation (MV) could aid in improving clinical outcomes.

Methods

Between January 2013 and October 2022, we performed an inpatient database review for MG patients with pneumonia concurrence in a tertiary research center specializing in neuromuscular disorders. The clinical and microbiological characteristics of 116 MG patients with pneumonia were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

In our cohort, 90.32% (112/124) of organisms were bacteria and 42.86% (48/112) of pathogenic bacteria were carbapenem-resistant. A high abundance of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) was detected using next-generation sequencing (NGS) in 12 patients, while cytomegalovirus (CMV) was detected in 8 patients. Non-fermentative Gram-negative bacilli were the most prevalent microorganisms, in which ampicillin, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (SMZ-TMP), piperacillin, cefoperazone, ceftazidime, and cefepime may have an anti-infectious effect. Moreover, peripheral lymphocyte percentage [odds ratio (OR) 0.88, 95% CI 0.75–0.96, p = 0.02] and serum globulin (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.02–1.35, p = 0.03) were significantly associated with the risk of MV demand.

Discussion

Our identification of the microbial etiology of pneumonia in MG patients may provide future perspectives on accurate antibiotic options and enable early interventions when risk factors are present.
Synergistic effect of pyrvinium pamoate and posaconazole against Cryptococcus neoformans in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Li Yali , Li Sheng , Chen Min , Xiao Jialing , Fang Hong
Published: December 2022

Background

Cryptococcosis is a global invasive mycosis with high rates of morbidity and mortality, especially in AIDS patients. Its treatment remains challenging because of the limited antifungals and their unavoidable toxicity, and as such more efforts need to focus on the development of novel effective drugs. Previous studies have indicated that pyrvinium pamoate (PP) has individual and synergistic fungistatic effect. In this study, the effects of PP alone and in combination with azoles [fluconazole (FLU), itraconazole (ITR), voriconazole (VOR), posaconazole (POS)] or amphotericin B (AmB) were evaluated against Cryptococcus neoformans both in vitro and in vivo.

Methods

A total of 20 C. neoformans strains collected from cryptococcal pneumonia and cryptococcal meningitis were studied. The effects of PP alone, PP-azoles and PP-AmB interactions against C. neoformans were evaluated via the microdilution chequerboard technique, adapted from broth microdilution method according to the CLSI M27-A4. The in vivo antifungal activity of PP alone and in combination with azoles and AmB against C. neoformans infections was evaluated by Galleria mellonella survival assay.

Results

The in vitro results revealed that PP individually was ineffective against C. neoformans (MIC>16 μg/ml). Nevertheless, the synergistic effects of PP with ITR, VOR, POS, FLU or AmB was observed in 13 (65.0%, FICI 0.188–0.365), 3 (15.0%, FICI 0.245-0.301), 19 (95.0%, FICI 0.188-0.375), 7 (35.0%, FICI 0.188-0.375), and 12(60.0%, FICI 0.281-0.375) strains of C. neoformans, respectively. There was no antagonism. The survival rates of larvae treated with PP (3.33%) showed almost no antifungal effective, but the larvae survival rates improved when PP combined with AmB (35% vs. 23.33%), FLU (40% vs. 25%), ITR (48.33% vs. 33.33%), VOR (48.33% vs. 53.33%) and POS (56.67% vs. 36.67%) comparison with AmB or azoles alone, and statistical significance was observed when PP combined with POS versus POS alone (P = 0.04).

Conclusions

In summary, the preliminary results indicated the potential of PP in reduction the MICs of azoles and AmB, also itself against C. neoformans; the combination of PP with AMB, FLU, ITR, VOR and POS improve the survival rates of C. neoformans infection larvae, compared with they are alone. The in vitro and in vivo data show that PP could enhance the activity of POS against C. neoformans. This study contributes with data of PP in combination with classical drugs of choice for cryptococcosis treatment.
Prevalence of bat viruses associated with land-use change in the Atlantic Forest, Brazil
Authors: Loh Elizabeth H. , Nava Alessandra , Murray Kris A. , Olival Kevin J. , Guimarães Moisés , Shimabukuro Juliana , Zambrana-Torrelio Carlos , Fonseca Fernanda R. , de Oliveira Daniele Bruna Leal , Campos Angélica Cristine de Almeida , Durigon Edison L. , Ferreira Fernando , Struebig Matthew J. , Daszak Peter
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Bats are critical to maintaining healthy ecosystems and many species are threatened primarily due to global habitat loss. Bats are also important hosts of a range of viruses, several of which have had significant impacts on global public health. The emergence of these viruses has been associated with land-use change and decreased host species richness. Yet, few studies have assessed how bat communities and the viruses they host alter with land-use change, particularly in highly biodiverse sites.

Methods

In this study, we investigate the effects of deforestation on bat host species richness and diversity, and viral prevalence and richness across five forested sites and three nearby deforested sites in the interior Atlantic Forest of southern Brazil. Nested-PCR and qPCR were used to amplify and detect viral genetic sequence from six viral families (corona-, adeno-, herpes-, hanta-, paramyxo-, and astro-viridae) in 944 blood, saliva and rectal samples collected from 335 bats.

Results

We found that deforested sites had a less diverse bat community than forested sites, but higher viral prevalence and richness after controlling for confounding factors. Viral detection was more likely in juvenile males located in deforested sites. Interestingly, we also found a significant effect of host bat species on viral prevalence indicating that viral taxa were detected more frequently in some species than others. In particular, viruses from the Coronaviridae family were detected more frequently in generalist species compared to specialist species.

Discussion

Our findings suggest that deforestation may drive changes in the ecosystem which reduce bat host diversity while increasing the abundance of generalist species which host a wider range of viruses.
The LAUsanne STAPHylococcus aureus ENdocarditis (LAUSTAPHEN) score: A prediction score to estimate initial risk for infective endocarditis in patients with S. aureus bacteremia
Authors: Papadimitriou-Olivgeris Matthaios , Monney Pierre , Mueller Linda , Senn Laurence , Guery Benoit
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a common complication of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB). The study aimed to develop and validate a prediction score to determine IE risk among SAB.

Methods

This retrospective study included adults with SAB (2015–2021) and divided them into derivation and validation cohorts. Using the modified 2015 European Society of Cardiology modified Duke Criteria for definite IE, the LAUSTAPHEN score was compared to previous scores.

Results

Among 821 SAB episodes, 419 and 402 were divided into derivation and validation cohorts, respectively. Transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) were performed in 77.5 and 42.1% of episodes, respectively. Definite IE was diagnosed in 118 episodes (14.4%). Derivation cohort established that cardiac predisposing factors, such as cardiac implantable electronic devices, prolonged bacteremia ≥48 h, and vascular phenomena were independently associated with IE. In addition to those parameters, native bone and joint infections were used to constitute the LAUSTAPHEN score. LAUSTAPHEN and VIRSTA scores misclassified <4% of IE cases as low risk. Misclassification using POSITIVE and PREDICT scores was >10%. The number of TOEs required to safely exclude IE were 66.9 and 51.6% with VIRSTA and LAUSTAPHEN, respectively.

Discussion

LAUSTAPHEN and VIRSTA scores exhibited the lowest misclassification rate of IE cases to the low-risk group. However, the number of patients requiring TOE was higher for VIRSTA than for LAUSTAPHEN.
Correlation analysis of serum IGF-1 and IL-6 and urinary albumin/creatinine ratio in patients with type 2 diabetic kidney disease
Authors: Liu Guan-Wen , Zeng Jiao-E , Li Lan-Fang
Published: December 2022

Objectives

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is one of the most common chronic complications in diabetic patients, and there are major limitations in its pathological diagnosis. This study’s objectives were to examine the changes in serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in DKD patients with various urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) and to evaluate the utility of these two biological markers in the clinical diagnosis of the condition.

Methods

We chose 80 type 2 diabetic patients as the experimental group and 20 healthy normal participants as the control group. The experimental group was split into three groups based on the ACR range: diabetes without nephropathy group (ACR < 30 mg/g), microalbuminuric group (30 < ACR < 300 mg/g), and macroalbuminuric group (ACR > 300 mg/g). The levels of serum IL-6 and IGF-1 were assessed in each trial participant.

Results

Serum IGF-1 was higher in the experimental group than in the control group (P < 0.01), and serum IL-6 levels were also higher than in the control group (P < 0.001). In DKD patients, serum levels of IL-6 and IGF-1 tended to rise when ACR levels rose. By Pearson correlation analysis, serum IGF-1 and IL-6 were positively correlated with ACR (r = 0.765 and r = 0.651, all P < 0.001) and negatively correlated with eGFR (r = -0.389 and r = -0.364, all P < 0.01). Additionally, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) characteristic curve showed that the area under the curve (AUC) values for serum IGF-1 and IL-6 were 0.9056 and 0.7850, respectively, while the AUR value for both combined was 0.9367.

Conclusion

Serum IGF-1 and IL-6 levels can be used to diagnose DKD, and the combined analysis of these two indicators can improve the sensitivity and specificity of the disease diagnosis.
Cognition and brain oxygen metabolism improves after bariatric surgery-induced weight loss: A pilot study
Authors: Anwar Nareen , Tucker Wesley J. , Puzziferri Nancy , Samuel T. Jake , Zaha Vlad G. , Lingvay Ildiko , Almandoz Jaime , Wang Jing , Gonzales Edward A. , Brothers Robert Matthew , Nelson Michael D. , Thomas Binu P.
Published: December 2022

Objective

The primary objectives of this pilot study were to assess cognition and cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2) consumption in people with severe obesity before (baseline), and again, 2- and 14-weeks after sleeve gastrectomy bariatric surgery.

Methods

Six people with severe/class 3 obesity (52 ± 10 years, five females, body mass index (BMI) = 41.9 ± 3.9 kg/m2), and 10 normal weight sex- and age-matched healthy controls (HC) (48 ± 6 years, eight females, 22.8 ± 1.9 kg/m2). Global CMRO2 was measured non-invasively using MRI and cognition using the Integneuro testing battery.

Results

Following a sleeve gastrectomy induced weight loss of 6.4 ± 2.5 kg (% total-body-weight-lost = 5.4) over two-weeks, cognition total scores improved by 0.8 ± 0.5 T-scores (p=0.03, 15.8% improvement from baseline). Weight loss over 14-weeks post-surgery was 15.4 ± 3.6 kg (% total-body-weight-lost = 13.0%) and cognition improved by 1.1 ± 0.4 (p=0.003, 20.6% improvement from baseline). At 14-weeks, cognition was 6.4 ± 0.7, comparable to 6.0 ± 0.6 observed in the HC group. Baseline CMRO2 was significantly higher compared to the HC (230.4 ± 32.9 vs. 177.9 ± 33.9 µmol O2/100 g/min, p=0.02). Compared to baseline, CMRO2 was 234.3 ± 16.2 µmol O2/100 g/min at 2-weeks after surgery (p=0.8, 1.7% higher) and 217.3 ± 50.4 at 14-weeks (p=0.5, 5.7% lower) after surgery. 14-weeks following surgery, CMRO2 was similar to HC (p=0.17).

Conclusion

Sleeve gastrectomy induced weight loss was associated with an increase in cognition and a decrease in CMRO2 observed 14-weeks after surgery. The association between weight loss, improved cognition and CMRO2 decrease should be evaluated in larger future studies.
Epigenetic basis of diabetic vasculopathy
Authors: Bhamidipati Theja , Kumar Manishekhar , Verma Sumit S. , Mohanty Sujit K. , Kacar Sedat , Reese Diamond , Martinez Michelle M. , Kamocka Malgorzata M. , Dunn Kenneth W. , Sen Chandan K. , Singh Kanhaiya
Published: December 2022

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) causes peripheral vascular disease because of which several blood-borne factors, including vital nutrients fail to reach the affected tissue. Tissue epigenome is sensitive to chronic hyperglycemia and is known to cause pathogenesis of micro- and macrovascular complications. These vascular complications of T2DM may perpetuate the onset of organ dysfunction. The burden of diabetes is primarily because of a wide range of complications of which nonhealing diabetic ulcers represent a major component. Thus, it is imperative that current research help recognize more effective methods for the diagnosis and management of early vascular injuries. This review addresses the significance of epigenetic processes such as DNA methylation and histone modifications in the evolution of macrovascular and microvascular complications of T2DM.
Does market integration promote green technology innovation? Evidence from China
Authors: Lin Tao , Chen Zhao
Published: December 2022

Understanding how to improve green technology innovation is critical to addressing environmental pollution and climate change. Using data from the annual reports of Chinese listed manufacturing firms from 2002 to 2018, this paper investigates the impact of market integration on firms’ green technology innovation. The research design relies on the instrumental variable approach. The results show that both commodity market integration and factor market integration can significantly promote green technology innovation. However, heterogeneity exists across regions, ownership systems, and industry types. Exploring the mechanisms, we find that commodity market integration affects firms’ green technology innovation mainly by expanding market size, intensifying market competition, and promoting technology spillovers. Factor market integration influences firm green technology innovation by optimizing resource allocation and reducing government intervention.
Effects of shrub encroachment on grassland community and soil nutrients among three typical shrubby grasslands in the alpine subhumid region of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China
Authors: Yu Shuhan , Liu Xiaolong , Chen Xueling , Sun Meiling , Cao Yongqiang , Hu Jinjiao , Yang Lixue , Hu Jian
Published: December 2022

Introduction

The alpine meadows are distributed widely and play a vital role in ecosystem service functions on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP). Under the combined effect of climate change and overgrazing, shrubs display an apparent expansion trend, leading to the shrinking of alpine meadows, and directly affecting the structure and function of grassland ecosystems. However, the effects of shrub encroachment on the plant community and soil nutrients of alpine grassland ecosystems still need to be clarified.

Method

We aimed to determine differences in vegetation characteristics and nutrient distribution along the soil profile between shrub patches and their adjacent grassland at three sites, which were three typical types of shrub-encroached grassland, including Spiraea alpina Pall. (SA), Lonicera tubuliflora Rehd. (LT), and Salix cupularis Rehd. (ST).

Results

The results showed that shrub invasion changed the plant community structure of alpine grassland ecosystems, and shrub type was the critical factor driving this alteration. The expansion of the three shrubs reduced grassland species diversity. Shrub encroachment in SA positively impacted vegetation biomass but significantly decreased the soil organic content (SOC) and total nutrients. Shrub invasion in the ST had the most substantial impact on vegetation and soil, resulting in significantly lower nutrient content in shrubs than in grassland patches. The effect of LT was a significant reduction in vegetation biomass but no significant changes in biodiversity or soil nutrients. Grassland patches were more strongly correlated than shrub patches for SA and LT, while the opposite was true for ST. Vegetation characteristics were correlated least with soil nutrients for SA, while ST was most correlated, and LT was between them. Soil nutrients show more positive correlations with vegetation, enzyme activity, and microbial biomass in deeper soils (20–100 cm) than in shallow soils (0–20 cm). The deeper the soil layer is, the more significant the positive correlations in the shrub patches. Our findings indicated that shrubs play critical roles in the dynamics of vegetation patterns and soil environments for managing and sustainable utilization of shrubby alpine grasslands.
Dynamics of intersexual dominance in a highly dimorphic primate
Authors: Smit Nikolaos , Ngoubangoye Barthélémy , Charpentier Marie J. E. , Huchard Elise
Published: December 2022

Intersexual dominance, which is measured by the probability that members of one sex elicit submission of members of the other sex during agonistic interactions, is often skewed in favor of males. However, even in sexually dimorphic species, several factors may influence intersexual dominance. Here, we use an 8-year dataset to examine the dynamics of intersexual dominance in wild-living mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx). Mandrills exhibit an extreme male-biased sexual size dimorphism but females show pronounced kin-differentiated social relationships and occasionally form coalitions against males. We established intersexual hierarchies across consecutive 6-month time blocks, representing either mating or birth seasons. Although females appeared to outrank 11% of males, they elicited male submission in only 2% of agonistic interactions against males. This discrepancy is likely due to the temporary residency of most males in the exceptionally large mandrill groups, the sexually coercive male mating strategies and the scarce number of agonistic interactions within most dyads, that may limit hierarchical inferences. In a second step, we found that the intersexual hierarchy mixes the intrasexual ones respecting their respective order. Females outranked mostly young and old males during the mating (vs. birth) season and social integration was positively correlated to dominance status in both sexes. In a third step, we found that females win more conflicts against young or old males which are closer to them in the intersexual hierarchy. These results extend our understanding of female-male dominance relationships by indicating that female mandrills occasionally outrank males who are considerably larger than them, and that a combination of demographic and social factors can influence the intersexual hierarchy.