bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors Affecting Women Entrepreneurs’ Success; A study of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Emerging Market of Pakistan
Authors: KHAN RIZWAN Ullah , Salamzadeh Yashar , Shah Syed Zulfiqar Ali , Hussain Mazhar
Published: August 2020

In the present era, women are recognized as successful entrepreneurs through their strong desire, qualities and capabilities for robust economic development. Due to such an important contribution of women in economic development, we propose to investigate the factors, which affect women entrepreneur’s success in Pakistan. Data collected through structured questionnaires from 181 registered SMEs operating in Pakistan. A conceptual model is developed, while SPSS and AMOS software’s are used for analysis. The results indicate that the internal factors; including the need for achievements, risk-taking and self-confidence and external factors including economic factors and socio-cultural factors have a positive and significant influence on the success of women-owned enterprises. This research recommends Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA), policymakers and practitioners to encourage women entrepreneurs to run their businesses for the long term by providing a variety of incentives and supports related to those internal and external factors. Numerous studies have been conducted to test the different factors’ effects on women's entrepreneurial success but our study investigated some psychological, cultural and religious factors that are still almost untouched especially in Pakistan. The current study also contributes to the existing literature through empirical shreds of evidence.
Bottom Up Innovation for Health Management Capacity Development: a Qualitative Case Study in a South African Health District
Authors: Orgill Marsha , Marchal Bruno , Shung-King Maylene , Sikuza Lwazikazi , Gilson Lucy
Published: August 2020

Background As part of health system strengthening in South Africa (2012- 2017) a new district health manager, taking a bottom-up approach to developing managerial capacity, developed a suite of innovations to improve the processes and practices of managers and NGO partners in monthly district management team meetings. Using a systems perspective on capacity development, the research explored the initial sensemaking by the district manager, how these homegrown innovations interacted with existing social processes and norms, the mechanisms for change that were triggered and the emergent capacity outputs. Methods We conducted a realist evaluation complemented by a case study approach over a two-year period (2013-2015) in the district. The initial programme theory development included ten senior manager interviews and literature review. To understand processes and mechanisms triggered in local context and identify emergent capacity outputs we conducted fifteen interviews with managers in the management team and with seven non-state actors, supplemented by researcher notes and time spent in the district. Thematic analysis was conducted using the Context-Mechanism-Outcome -Actor configuration alongside theoretical constructs. Results The new district manager drew on complex frames, tacit and experiential knowledge to design bottom up innovations, and collective capacity development was triggered through micro-practices of sensemaking and sense-giving. Sensegiving included using sticks (positional authority, enforcement of policies, over-coding), intentionally providing justification for change and setting the scene (a new agenda, distributed leadership). These micro practices, managers engaging with the new practices and social sense-making, influenced the motivation of managers and partners to further participate in new meeting practices, and triggered a generative process of buy-in and emergent capacity in a routine meeting structure. Conclusion District managers are well placed to design local level capacity development innovations and must draw on multiple knowledge forms to enable relevant ‘bottom-up’ capacity development in complex health systems. Managers must draw on their intangible soft skills and the tangible policy resources (hardware) of the system to influence motivation and buy-in for improved management practices. From a systems perspective, we argue that capacity development can be conceived of as part of the daily activity of managing in routine spaces, to unleash capacity.
Delayed Incomplete Paraplegia After En Bloc Spondylectomy of Thoracic Metastasis, A Case Report
Authors: Du Chuanchao , Liu Shanshan , Jia Fei , Liu Xiaoguang , Wei Feng
Published: August 2020

Background: Delayed paraplegia after total en bloc spondylectomy (TES) is exceptionally rare, and from the best of our knowledge, no such cases were reported yet. Case presentation: We herein report a case of delayed paraplegia which happened after TES of a solitary thoracic metastasis from renal clear cell carcinoma. After thorough evaluation, the patient received TES to expect a long-term local control. In operation, the patient suffered a short period of low blood pressure (mean synthetic pressure ＜90mmHg) which happened during vertebral prosthesis implantation. After operation, the neurological status was just as preoperative level, however, the patient suffered incomplete paraplegia 10 hours later. His symptoms and clinical examinations were consistent with infarct of anterior spinal artery and ischemia syndrome of spinal cord. The patient was given hyperbaric oxygen therapy and rehabilitation exercises after the tragedy, and he got recovery 2 months later, and showed much better than preoperative status 12 months later. Possible reasons for the delayed paraplegia were discussed, and we carefully concluded that intraoperative hypotension and manipulation both contributed to the happening of anterior spinal artery infarction. Conclusions: Based on this case and literature review, keeping blood pressure above daily level and other precautionary measures for spinal cord ischemia were recommended.
Deep spatial profiling of COVID19 brains reveals neuroinflammation by compartmentalized local immune cell interactions and targets for intervention
Authors: Bengsch Bertram , Schwabenland Marius , Salié Henrike , Tanevski Jovan , Killmer Saskia , Matschke Jakob , Püschel Klaus , Mei Henrik , Boettler Tobias , Neumann-Haefelin Christoph , Hofmann Maike , Saez-Rodriguez Julio , Knobeloch Klaus-Peter , Blank Thomas , Thimme Robert , Glatzel Markus , Prinz Marco
Published: August 2020

COVID-19 causes neurological symptoms that can be potentially life-threatening in up to 67 % of the patients. The underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of COVID-19 associated encephalopathy, the involved immune cells, their spatial distribution and their cellular interactions during disease remain largely unclear. In this study, we performed a 38-biomarker imaging mass cytometry analysis of the brain stem from 25 patients and additional controls to understand the local immune response during SARS-CoV-2 infection at a spatially resolved, high-dimensional single-cell level. Importantly, utilizing an unbiased image segmentation and cell classification pipeline, we observed a significant immune activation in the central nervous system (CNS) and identified novel context-specific CD8 T cell and microglial clusters. Spatially resolved single-cell analysis identified distinct phenotypes of T cells and microglial clusters, their presence in specific anatomical regions and their cellular interactions. Our analysis further highlights microglial nodules and perivascular immune cell clusters as key sites of the local immune response. It also demonstrates that disease-associated neuroinflammation is associated with severe axonal damage as a structural basis for the neurologic deficits. Finally, we identified compartment- and cluster-specific immune checkpoints that can be used for future therapeutic interventions.
Lithium Chloride Induces Apoptosis in Human Choroidal Melanoma Cells via the NOXA/Mcl-1 Axis and Induction of ER Stress
Authors: Zhang Qiuqiu , Zhang Qianwei , Li Huiyuan , Zhao Xiaofei , Zhang Han
Published: August 2020

Background: Choroidal melanoma is the most common primary intraocular malignancy that occurs in adults. Lithium chloride (LiCl) has been safely used in the clinic to treat psychiatric disorders for several decades. In this study, we aimed to understand whether LiCl exerts anticancer effects on choroidal melanoma cells and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods: Human choroidal melanoma cells were treated with LiCl, and cell survival was assessed with MTT assays. Cell proliferation was measured by plate colony formation assays. Cell apoptosis was evaluated using flow cytometry, and proteins were detected using western blotting. A human choroidal melanoma xenograft model was established to demonstrate the effect of LiCl on human choroidal melanoma in vivo. An unpaired t-test was used to compare differences between two groups, and one-way ANOVA was used to compare differences among more than two groups.Results: We found that LiCl inhibited cell survival and clonogenic potential and induced apoptosis in human choroidal melanoma cells. LiCl also reduced the proliferation of choroidal melanoma cells in vivo. Moreover, the upregulation of NOXA and downregulation of Mcl-1 were responsible for LiCl-induced apoptosis. Mcl-1 overexpression obviously impaired LiCl-induced apoptosis and cleavage of casp8, casp9, casp3 and PARP. Moreover, the protein expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress markers, including IRE1α, Bip, p-eIF2α, ATF4 and CHOP, was upregulated following treatment with LiCl. Conclusions: In summary, LiCl induced an endoplasmic reticulum stress response while activating intrinsic apoptosis. Furthermore, the NOXA/Mcl-1 axis contributed to LiCl-induced apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo. The present study provides important mechanistic insight into potential cancer treatments involving LiCl and enhances the understanding of human choroidal melanoma.
WITHDRAWN: Invasive liver abscess caused by hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae: case report and literature review
Authors: Xiao Xiao-Guang , Mu Zhao-Hong , Li Qing-Dong , Zhang Yong-Li
Published: August 2020

Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae is a common pathogenic bacteria that cause infectious diseases, Klebsiella pneumoniae invasive liver abscess syndrome is a rare disease, which often caused by hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae(hvKP), the hvKP patients with sepsis may have life-threatening multiple organ dysfunction and visual sequelae.Case presentation: We report a case of Klebsiella pneumoniae invasive liver abscess syndrome caused by hvKP, the patient was treated with long-term antibiotic treatment, along with controlling blood sugar with Insulin, and the patient was eventually discharged from the hospital. Case analysis and literature review were performed to improve the understanding of invasive liver abscess caused by hvKP.Conclusions Patients with hvKP invasive liver abscess are in relatively severe conditions and often have poor visual prognosis. Appropriate antimicrobial drugs should be administered to prevent complications and improve prognosis.
Electrical activity of fungi: Spikes detection and complexity analysis
Authors: Dehshibi Mohammad Mahdi , Adamatzky Andrew
Published: August 2020

Oyster fungi Pleurotus djamor generate actin potential like spikes of electrical potential. The trains of spikes might manifest propagation of growing mycelium in a substrate, transportation of nutrients and metabolites and communication processes in the mycelium network. The spiking activity of the mycelium networks is highly variable compared to neural activity and therefore can not be analysed by standard tools from neuroscience. We propose original techniques for detecting and classifying the spiking activity of fungi. Using these techniques, we analyse the information-theoretic complexity of the fungal electrical activity. The results can pave ways for future research on sensorial fusion and decision making of fungi.
WITHDRAWN: The thermochemical non-equilibrium expansion effects of the high enthalpy nozzle
Authors: Shen Junmou , Chen Xing , Lu Hongbo , Shao Zongjie , Yao Dapeng , Bi Zhixian , Ma Handong
Published: August 2020

The high enthalpy shock tunnel can simulate the free-flow speed above 3km/s. The characteristic of the flow is that the kinetic energy of the high enthalpy stagnation gas is high enough to effectuate high-temperature effects such as dissociation even ionization of fluid molecules. The high enthalpy nozzle converts the high enthalpy stagnation gas into hypervelocity free flow. The flow of the high enthalpy nozzle consists of three distinct flow regions: an equilibrium region upstream of the throat, a non-equilibrium region near the throat, and a frozen region downstream of the throat. The study focuses on the conical nozzle, testing thermochemical non-equilibrium expansion effects under the different expansion angle of the expansion section, the curvature radius of the throat, the throat radius, and the convergence angle of the convergent section. A multi-block solver for axisymmetric compressible Navier-Stokes equations is applied to simulate the thermochemical non-equilibrium flow in several high enthalpy conical nozzles. The significant conclusions of this study contain tripartite. Firstly, the thermochemical non-equilibrium effects are sensitive to the maximum expansion angle and throat radius, but not to the radius of throat curvature and the contraction angle. Secondly, as the maximum expansion angle decreases and the throat radius increases, the flow approaches equilibrium. Finally, the maximum expansion angle and the throat radius not only affect the position of the freezing point but also impacts the flow field parameters, such as temperature, Mach number, and species mass concentration.
New perspective: the multi-targets mechanism of hydroxychloroquine in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis based on network pharmacology
Authors: Xie Bo , Lu Haojie , Xu Jinhui , Hu Yebei , Luo Haixin , Chen Yi , Geng Qingwei , Song Xiuzu
Published: August 2020

Background

Network pharmacology is a new method of bioinformatics in exploring drug targets in recent 3 years. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is a multi-targets drug that are clinically effective in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) but whose mechanism is not well understood.
Methods

The predicted targets of HCQ and the proteins related to RA were returned from databases. Followed by protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, the intersection of the two group of proteins was conducted. Furthermore, gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment was used to analyse these proteins in a macro perspective. Finally, the candidate targets were verified by molecular docking.
Results

The results suggest that the efficacy of HCQ against RA is mainly associated with 4 targets of smoothened homolog (SMO), sphingosine kinase (SPHK) 1, SPHK2 and gatty-acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), with their related 3316 proteins’ network which regulate ErbB, HIF-1, NF-κB, FoxO, Chemokine, MAPK, PI3K/Akt pathways and so forth. Biological process are mainly concentrated in the regulation of cell activation, myeloid leukocyte activation, regulated exocytosis and so forth. Molecular docking analysis shows that hydrogen bonding and π-π stacking are the main forms of chemical force.
Conclusions

Our research provides protein targets affected by HCQ in the treatment of RA. SMO, SPHK1, SPHK2 and FAAH involving 3316 proteins become the multi-targets mechanism of HCQ in the treatment of RA. As well, the research also provides a new idea for introducing network pharmacology into the evaluation of the multi-target drugs in internal medicine.
Hydroxychloride Trace Minerals Have a Positive Effect on Growth Performance, Carcass Quality and Impact Ileal and Cecal Microbiota in Broiler Chickens
Authors: Kuijk Sandra J.A. van , Han Yanming , Garcia-Ruiz Ana Isabel , Rodiles Ana
Published: August 2020

Background: The objective was to study the effect of hydroxychloride trace minerals (HTM) on growth performance, carcass quality and gut microbiota of broiler chickens in comparison to sulphate trace minerals (STM). In total 1440 male Ross 308 day-old chicks were divided over 12 replicate pens with 30 birds each per treatment. Four different treatments were tested according to a 2×2 factorial study design, where the animals received a three phase diet containing either inorganic Zn from sulphates or Zn from HTM in high (80 ppm Zn) or low Zn dosage (20 ppm Zn). In all treatments 15 ppm Cu was added from the same mineral source as the Zn. Body weight and feed intake were measured on day 0, 10, 27 and 34, while carcass and breast meat yields were measured at the end of the study (day 34). In addition, high-throughput sequencing analysis was performed in digesta samples from ileum and cecum to study the gut microbiome (day 34). Results: The results showed an improved (P<0.05) body weight of broiler chickens fed HTM, regardless of Zn level, on day 27, while on day 34 this effect remained as a tendency (P= 0.0542). In the overall study period, birds fed HTM had a higher (P<0.05) average daily gain and average daily feed intake when compared to birds fed STM. The mineral source did not affect the carcass characteristics, however, feeding 80 ppm Zn resulted in a significantly higher (P=0.0171) breast meat yield, regardless of source. High-throughput sequencing analysis of the microbiota revealed a higher microbial diversity in the ileum and cecum of HTM fed birds compared to STM fed birds. Taxonomical differences were mainly found in the cecum, specifically between the group fed high and low Zn levels from HTM. This is in line with the mineral contents observed in the cecal digesta. Comparing both groups fed 80 ppm Zn, the HTM group had more Streptococcaceae, Streptococcus, Clostridia, Weissella and Leuconostocaceae compared to the STM group. Conclusions: HTM improved growth performance of the birds; and the source and level of Zn modulated the gut microbiota communities in broilers differentially.
Maternal mental health and child nutritional status in an urban slum community in Bangladesh
Authors: Khan Ahad Mahmud , Flora Meerjady Sabrina
Published: August 2020

Objective: Maternal poor mental health might diminish her capability of taking adequate care of her child, resulting in negative impact on child’s nutrition. This study aims to determine the association between maternal mental health and child nutritional status.Methods: It was a cross-sectional study carried out in 264 mother-child pairs in an urban slum area of Bangladesh. Self-Reporting Questionnaire-20 (SRQ-20) was used for assessing maternal mental health. SRQ-20 score ≥7 was considered as common mental disorders (CMD). Anthropometric measurements were done for assessing child nutritional status. Results: The prevalence of maternal CMD was 46.2%. Maternal CMD was associated with poorer child feeding practice (p<0.001), poorer hygiene practice (p<0.001), poorer preventive care service use (p=0.016) and suffering from diarrheal disease (p=0.049). The prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight were 44.3%, 18.2% and 33.7%, respectively. Poorer child feeding practice was associated with wasting (p=0.004) and underweight (p<0.001) but not with stunting. Poorer hygiene practice and suffering from diarrheal disease were associated with stunting and underweight but not with wasting. In multivariate analysis, maternal CMD was associated with child underweight (adjusted OR=2.25, 95% CI=1.15-4.43). Association between maternal CMD and wasting found in bivariate analysis that disappeared after multivariate analysis. No association was observed between maternal CMD and stunting in this study.Conclusions: Maternal mental health affects child nutritional status through child feeding practice, hygiene practice and preventive care use. Interventions to address mental health of mothers in child nutrition programmes might contribute to improve child nutritional status.
COVID-19 detection in Chest X-ray Images using Deep Learning
Authors: Erdem Ebru , Aydın Tolga
Published: August 2020

COVID-19 is an important threat worldwide. This disease is caused by the novel SARS-CoV-2. CXR and CT images reveal specific information about the disease. However, when interpreting these images, experiencing an overlap with other lung infections complicates the detection of the disease. Due to this situation, the need for computer-aided systems is increasing day by day. In this study, solutions were developed with proposed models based on deep neural networks (DNN). All analyzes were performed on CXR data received on the publicly available. This paper offers a comparison of the deep learning models (SqueezeNet, Inception-V3, VGG16, MobileNet, Xception, VGG19+MobileNet (Concatenated)) that results in the detection and classification of disease. Empirical evaluations demonstrate that the Inception-V3 model gives 90% accuracy with 100% precision for the COVID-19 infection. This model has been provided with better results compared to other models.
Increased Levels of YKL-40 in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Luo Wanwan , Zhang Lingmin , Sheng Lingling , Zhang Zhencheng , Yang Zaixing
Published: August 2020

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) could be classified as type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and others according to etiology and pathology. Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most serious complications of DM. YKL-40 is a marker of inflammation and some studies have indicated that DM was related with inflammation. The objective of our study is to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to confirm the relationship between YKL-40 and DM as well as DN.Methods: Pubmed, Embase, CNKI and Chinese wanfang databases were searched for eligible studies by two independent authors. Studies were included in this meta-analysis if they fulfilled the following inclusion criteria: (1) a study involving the role of YKL-40 in DM (or DN) designed as a case-control study or cohort study; (2) the data of serum YKL-40 levels were available; (3) studies were published in English or Chinese.Results: Twenty-five studies involving 2498 DM patients and 1424 healthy controls were included. Compared with healthy controls, DM patients had significantly higher levels of YKL-40 (DM: SMD=1.62, 95%CI, 1.08 to 2.25, P=0.000; GDM: SMD=2.85, 95%CI, 1.01 to 4.70, P=0.002). Additionally, DM patients with different degree of albuminuria had significantly higher levels of YKL-40 compared with healthy controls (normoalbuminuria: SMD=1.58, 95%CI, 0.59 to 2.56, P=0.002; microalbuminuria: SMD=2.57, 95%CI, 0.92 to 4.22, P=0.002; macroalbuminuria: SMD=2.69, 95%CI, 1.40 to 3.98, P=0.000) and serum YKL-40 levels increased with increasing severity of albuminuria among DM patients (microalbuminuria vs normoalbuminuria: SMD=1.49, 95%CI, 0.28 to 2.71, P=0.016; macroalbuminuria vs microalbuminuria: SMD=0.93, 95%CI, 0.34 to 1.52, P=0.002).Conclusions: DM patients have higher levels of YKL-40 compared with healthy controls. Additionally, levels of YKL-40 are significantly higher in DM patients with different degree of albuminuria than in the healthy controls and the levels of YKL-40 are positively related with the severe degree of albuminuria.
Endothelial Progenitor Cells Induce Osteogenic Differentiation in Co-cultured Mesenchymal Stem Cells via the MAPK Signaling Pathway
Authors: xu chu , liu haijie , he yuanjia , li yuanqing , he xiaoning
Published: August 2020

Background: The role of bone tissue engineering is to regenerate tissue using biomaterials and stem cell based approaches. Combination of two or more cell types is one of the strategies to promote bone formation. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) may enhance the osteogenic properties of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and promote bone healing, this study aimed to investigate the possible mechanisms of EPCs on promoting osteogenic differentiation of MSCs.Methods: MSCs and EPCs were isolated and co-cultured in Transwell chambers, the effects of EPCs on the regulation of MSC biological properties was investigated. Real-time PCR array, qRT-PCR and western blotting were performed to explore possible signaling pathways involved in osteogenesis. The expression of osteogenesis markers and calcium nodule formation was quantified by qRT-PCR, western blotting and Alizarin Red staining. Results: Results showed that when co-cultured with EPCs, MSCs exhibited greater alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and increased calcium mineral deposition significantly. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway was involved in this process. p38 gene expression and p38 protein phosphorylation levels showed significant up-regulation in co-cultured MSCs. Silence expression of p38 in co-cultured MSCs reduced osteogenic gene expression, protein synthesis, ALP activity and calcium nodule formation.Conclusions: These data suggest paracrine signaling from EPCs influence the biological function and promote MSCs osteogenic differentiation. Activation of the p38MAPK pathway may be the key to enhancing MSCs osteogenic differentiation via indirect interactions with EPCs.
Reduced Interaction of VAMP2 and Aggregated α-synuclein by Environmental Enrichment Alleviates Hyperactivity and Anxiety in a Model of Parkinson’s Disease.
Authors: Kim Kyungri , Wi Soohyun , Seo Jung Hwa , Pyo Soonil , Cho Sung-Rae
Published: August 2020

BackgroundAlthough Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the prevalent motor diseases caused by the accumulation of mutated α-Synuclein (α-Syn), it is characterized by non-motor symptoms such as olfactory loss, cognitive decline, depression and anxiety in the early stage of the disease. Environmental enrichment (EE) provides a complex environment comprising physical, cognitive, and social stimuli that improve synaptic plasticity and behavioral functions. The therapeutic effects of EE on behavioral recovery of motor function in a mouse model of PD pathology have been reported. However, the effects of EE on non-motor symptoms in human A53T α-Syn overexpressing transgenic (hA53T α-Syn) mice have yet to be determined. In this study, we revealed the beneficial effect of EE on changes in synaptic plasticity in the striatum and nucleus accumbens (NAc) during the initial phase of PD.MethodTo investigate therapeutic effects of EE in abnormalities during the early phase of PD, we randomly assigned eight-month-old hA53T α-Syn mice to either EE (PD-EE) or standard conditions (PD-SC) for two months. Next, we performed behavioral tests, biochemical and histological analysis at 10 months of age.ResultsEE significantly alleviated locomotor hyperactivity and anxiety in the early stage of PD. EE normalized the level of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), phosphorylated and oligomeric forms of α-Syn (pSer129 α-Syn), and SNARE complex-forming proteins including SNAP-25, Syntaxin1 and VAMP2. Moreover, the close link between VAMP2 and pSer129 α-Syn was significantly reduced after exposure to EE.ConclusionsOur results showed that EE attenuates aversive mood state on the early stage of PD mouse model. These results were parallel with the reduced expression of pathological α-Syn and the increased expression of neurotransmitter transporter proteins in EE. Interestingly, the interaction between pSer129 α-Syn and VAMP2 also decreased in EE. The restoration of synaptic vesicle transportation status may be responsible for the neuroprotective effects of EE in hA53T α-Syn mice.
PET Imaging of Peripheral Benzodiazepine Receptor Standard Uptake Value Increases After Controlled Cortical Impact, a Rodent Model of Traumatic Brain Injury.
Authors: Aertker Benjamin m , Kumar Akshita , Caplan Henry W , Cardenas Fanni B , Cox Charles S , Bedi Supinder
Published: August 2020

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) disrupts the complex arrangement of neuronal and glial cells. As a result of TBI there is activation of microglia. Activated microglia after injury can be measured in vivo by using positron emission topography (PET) ligand peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR28) and their phenotypes (activated vs resting) can be assessed (ex vivo) using morphology. This study aims to utilize in vivo (PET) and ex vivo (morphology) to assess the changes in microglia after a controlled cortical impact (CCI), a rodent model for TBI.Methods: Male Sprague Dawley rats underwent a sham injury or severe CCI. Microglia activation was assessed 120 hours after the injury by PET/CT imaging using the radioligand [11C] PBR-28. Standardized uptake values (PBR28suv) were calculated over the duration of the scan and mean values were compared. In order to verify in vivo results, ex vivo morphological analysis [ramified (resting) or amoeboid-shaped (activated)] was performed (dentate gyrus, corpus callosum and thalamus) with the antibody IBA-1. To further conclude that PBR is a marker for activated microglia after CCI, we examined co-staining of PBR with microglia and astrocytes.Results: In vivo and ex vivo results were complementary. Injured animals displayed greater PBR28suv when compared to sham animals. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated elevated numbers of activated microglia in the ipsilateral dentate gyrus, corpus callosum and thalami of injured animals compared to sham animals. Additionally, PBR co-stained with microglia and not astrocytes.Conclusion: CCI, a rodent model of TBI resulted in a significant increase in PBR28suv due to injury. Similarly, morphological analysis demonstrated a significant increase in amoeboid-shaped (activated) microglia. These results serve as a surrogate marker for increased neuroinflammation in the brains of severely injured animals. PBR28suv can serve as an in vivo tracking system for monitoring neuroinflammation following TBI and cellular therapies.
Design and psychometric properties of BAtSS: A new tool to assess human attitudes towards bats.
Authors: Pérez Beatriz , Álvarez Boris , Boso Alex , Lisón Fulgencio
Published: August 2020

Despite the benefits that bats offer the ecosystem, these animals are feared due to mythological beliefs and their association with dirt and disease. The COVID-19 pandemic has aggravated this situation, exacerbating the already habitual attacks on these creatures. Today there is an urgent need to address the human-bat conflict in order to develop conservation policies. Understanding peoples' attitudes towards bats is a key part of this process. The object of this study was to design the Bats Attitudes Standard Scale (BAtSS) and analyse its psychometric properties. We developed an initial version of the scale in which we established the content validity; we analysed the items and structure in a pilot sample. In the next phase, we analysed psychometric properties in a sample of 1639 Chilean people. The final BAtSS consists of 34 Likert-type items configured in an oblique-hierarchical structure of 4 factors (Scientistic, Positivistic, Negativistic and Myths) and 3 facets (Negativistic-Emotional, Negativistic-Behavioural and Negativistic-Cognitive). It presents adequate internal consistency and the analysis of concurrent validity confirms the capacity of the scale to discriminate between groups. Women and participants with a lower level of education are more Negativistic and less Positivistic. People with a higher level of education have a less mythological view of bats. We also analysed the items which would be more/less difficult to change under the assumptions of Item Response Theory (IRT). Finally, BAtSS is a robust tool to assess the human attitudes and could help to understand and solve human-wildlife conflicts and therefore, improving the conservation actions
Increased risk of cardiovascular death in breast cancer patients without chemotherapy or (and) radiotherapy: a large population-based study.
Authors: Guan Tianwang , Zhang Hanbin , Yang Jinming , Lin Wenrui , Wang Kenie , Su Miao , Peng Weien , Li Yemin , Lai Yanxian , Liu Cheng
Published: August 2020

Background

Cardiovascular death (CVD) in breast cancer patients without chemotherapy or (and) radiotherapy has not been studied yet. This study evaluates the correlation between breast cancer and CVD risk independent of chemotherapy (CT) or (and) radiotherapy (RT).
Methods

Data of female breast cancer patients without receiving CT or RT were retrieved from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result (SEER) database (2004–2015). Data were divided into two cohorts: Patients who underwent tumor resection (resection cohort) and those who didn’t undergo resection (no resection cohort). The CVD risk in patients was expressed as standardized mortality ratios (SMRs). A 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) was applied to balance inter-group bias, and competing risk regressions were utilized to evaluate the impact of tumor resection on CVD.
Results

The CVD risk was significantly higher (SMR = 2.196, 95% CI:2.148–2.245, P < 0.001) in breast cancer patients who did not receive CT or RT compared to the general population. Breast cancer patients who did not undergo tumor resection showed a higher CVD risk than patients who underwent tumour resection (tumor resection SMR = 2.031, 95% CI: 1.983–2.079, P < 0.001; no resection SMR = 5.425, 95% CI:5.087–5.781, P < 0.001). After PSM, the CVD risk among patients without tumor resection indicated an increase of 1.165-fold compared to the patients with tumor resection (HR = 1.165, 95% CI: 1.039–1.306, P = 0.009).
Conclusions

Female breast cancer patients are at higher risk of CVD despite unexposure to cardio-toxic CT or RT. However, female breast cancer patients subjected to tumor resection have decreased CVD risk. This study suggests that monitoring female breast cancer patients not receiving RT or CT might serve as a preventative measure against CVD.
Sex and Nest Type Influence Avian Blood Parasite Prevalence in a High Elevation Bird Community
Authors: Rodriguez Marina D. , Doherty Paul F. , Piaggio Antoinette J. , Huyvaert Kathryn P.
Published: August 2020

Background - Prevalence of avian haemosporidian parasites and the factors influencing infection in the Colorado Rocky Mountains are largely unknown. With climate change expected to promote the expansion of vector and avian blood parasite distributions, baseline knowledge and continued monitoring of the prevalence and diversity of these parasites is needed. Methods - Using an occupancy modeling framework, we conducted a survey of haemosporidian parasite species infecting an avian community in the Colorado Rocky Mountains in order to estimate prevalence and diversity of blood parasites and to investigate species-level and individual-level characteristics that may influence infection. Results - We estimated prevalence and diversity of avian haemosporidia across 24 bird species, detecting 39 parasite haplotypes. We found that open cup nesters have higher Haemoproteus prevalence than cavity or ground nesters. Additionally, we found that male Ruby-crowned Kinglets, White-crowned Sparrows, and Wilson’s Warblers have higher Haemoproteus prevalence compared to other host species. Conclusions - Our study presents baseline knowledge of haemosporidian parasite presence, prevalence, and diversity among avian species in the Colorado Rocky Mountains and adds to our knowledge of host-parasite relationships of blood parasites and their avian hosts.
Efficacy and safety of jakinibs in rheumatoid arthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Yin Yufeng , Liu Mengru , Chang Xin , He Michun , Wang Mingjun , Wu Jian
Published: August 2020

Objectives

To assess the efficacy and safety of jakinibs for the treatment of active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in patients with an inadequate response or intolerance to conventional synthetic or biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs).

Methods

A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library. Randomized placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) of jakinibs in RA patients were eligible. The effective outcome was RA improvement to reach an American College of Rheumatology 20%/50%/70% (ACR20/50/70) response rate at week 12 and 24 after treatment. The safety outcomes included treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), serious adverse events (SAEs), discontinuations due to adverse events, infections and serious infections.

Results

Twenty-eight randomized, double-blind, controlled trials including 14500 patients were included. Both at week 12 and 24, the pooled analysis was suggestive of an effective treatment with jakinibs, represented as the increased clinical response of ACR20, ACR50 and ACR70. The subgroup analysis based on different types of jakinibs demonstrated that only peficitinib treatment had no impact on the clinical response of ACR50 or ACR70 at week 12. Jakinibs were associated with an increased incidence of infections at week 12 and TEAEs and infections at week 24. No increase in the risk of SAEs, discontinuations due to adverse events, or serious infections was observed in comparisons between treatment with jakinibs and treatment with placebo in these patients.

Conclusions

Jakinibs are efficacious and well tolerated in RA patients up to a period of 24 weeks, although they are associated with an increased risk of infectious complications.
Consecutive Observation of Dynamic Metastases of Human Ovarian Carcinoma to Grading Lymph Nodes in Mouse Model
Authors: Du Licheng , Kong Fenghua , Yang Qing , Li Yaqiong , Ding Peikai , Yu Guoxiang , Yao Yiping , Zhao Yueran , Tian Xingsong
Published: August 2020

Background：Lymphogenous metastasis, one of the most common dissemination routes for ovarian carcinoma, predicts a poor prognosis and relates to most cancer-related death. Now there were no effective therapy and control methods for ovarian carcinoma. Hence, it is necessary to build an animal model of lymph node metastasis in ovarian cancer to seek for the tools to find effective treatments. Our purpose of this study was to investigate the tumor cell dissemination of ovarian carcinoma to the gradient lymph nodes of nude mice and its possible mechanism. Methods: The mice models of VEGF-D over-expressed were built and the tumor growth and sentinel lymph nodes were evaluated weekly, while the visible lymph nodes and tumor masses were excised for histological examination using HE examination. Then Evan’s Blue was conducted to observe the unveil lymphatic network. Subsequently, immunohistochemistry was performed to check the expression of relative genes. Meanwhile, microvessel counting was performed within the tumor tissues and measured using computer assisted morphometric analysis.Results: The over-expression of VEGF-D promoted the tumor growth of ovarian carcinoma, facilitated the hyperplasia of tumor lymphatic and increased the intratumoral lymphatic vessel density. Besides, the up-regulation of VEGF-D induced the expression of MMP-2, which might be the underlying mechanism for the lymph metastasis in ovarian cancer. Conclusion: it was a step-by-step progression from the inoculation of cancer cells, to the proliferation of the primary tumors, and then to the lymphatic metastases, in which VEGF-D and MMP-2 played vital roles.
Niños migrantes, ¿una permanente violación a sus derechos?
Authors: Castillo Santiago Rolando
Published: August 2020

Las fronteras entre países, representan cambios radicales en cuanto a costumbres, usos, conductas y normas, tales elementos tienden a individualizar al ser humano en su hacer diario, el tránsito de infantes de un país a otro es un hecho que siempre ha existido pero que a la fecha ha incrementado, haciendo relevante el estudio de esta conducta desde una perspectiva jurídico-social, enfocados en la denominación de estos sujetos por su calidad pero que al mismo tiempo analice al derecho como una fuente sustancial que rompe las barreras de territorio sobre los derechos universales denominado: Derechos Humanos. Este artículo examina los derechos humanos de las niñas, niños y adolescentes migrantes, el trato que reciben por parte de los Estados donde transitan, específicamente en los pasos fronterizos de México.
El reconocimiento de los servicios ecosistémicos culturales en el ámbito científico del Derecho Ambiental y de las Ciencias Sociales. Aplicación de sus contribuciones al caso de la protección jurídica de los bosques nativos en Norpatagonia argentina y chilena
Authors: Minaverry Clara María
Published: August 2020

El relevamiento normativo y jurisprudencial realizado en investigaciones anteriores ha revelado que existe un escaso reconocimiento de los servicios ecosistémicos culturales en los ámbitos científicos de Argentina y de Chile. Dentro de este contexto, en el presente trabajo se propone realizar una revisión documental de otra fuente del Derecho, la doctrina, a través de la pesquisa y de la selección de 50 artículos científicos pertenecientes al área del Derecho Ambiental y de las Ciencias Sociales en América Latina desde 1997 hasta 2019. Luego se examinará si sus contribuciones pueden o no ser adecuadas para ser trasladadas al contenido de futuras políticas públicas y/o legislaciones orientadas hacia la protección y utilización sostenible de los bosques nativos en la Norpatagonia argentina y chilena. Se trata de un estudio de tipo bibliográfico-documental y descriptivo. Se revisaron artículos científicos publicados en revistas de Derecho Ambiental, de Ciencias Sociales y Naturales, que se encuentran en sistemas de indización y en bases de datos de acceso abiertos y de uso frecuente por parte de los investigadores de la región. Una de las conclusiones arribadas es que en el ámbito académico la temática analizada (servicios ecosistémicos culturales) posee un grado consistente pero escaso, de carácter exploratorio y reciente de desarrollo en América Latina, a pesar de que en la región existe un valioso patrimonio natural y cultural. A esto se le suma la baja cantidad de investigaciones elaboradas por equipos interdisciplinarios y la poca utilización de metodologías sociales mixtas, resultando arduo que los resultados de las primeras trasciendan hacia el ámbito de aplicación de los Poderes Legislativo, Judicial y a otros organismos públicos.
Varejo Omnichannel:
Authors: Stettiner Caio Flavio , Carminatti Gabriela , Formigoni Alexandre , Francisco de Brito Milton , Moia Roberto Padilha , Junger Alex Paubel
Published: August 2020

O varejo está enfrentando um momento desafiador: o de fornecer uma experiência fluida e sem atrito entre todos os pontos de contato do consumidor com a marca, ou seja, precisa ser "omnichannel". O objetivo deste estudo, então, é entender o que significa ser "omnichannel" e identificar as premissas para que uma empresa consiga entregar essa experiência ao cliente. Para isso, utilizou-se de metodologia exploratória qualitativa, lançando mão de levantamento bibliográfico com autores que auxiliam na compreensão do cenário atual, e de entrevistas com profissionais referência no assunto, buscando informações atualizadas sobre as ações que endereçam uma entrega "omnichannel" em quatro grandes empresas brasileiras: Panvel Farmácias, Magazine Luiza, Lojas Paquetá e Livraria Cultura. Os resultados obtidos mostram que os principais desafios são culturais, principalmente devido ao medo do novo, presente no modelo mental dos profissionais, e ao fato das empresas ainda trabalharem em silos, separando o "online" do "offline". Apesar disso, identificou-se que algumas empresas já estão entregando ações que auxiliam na tangibilização dessa experiência "omnichannel", como compra "online" e retirada em loja ou compra em loja e entrega do produto em casa. Ao fazerem isso, essas empresas focam nas necessidades do consumidor que deseja se relacionar com a marca, não mais com um site ou vendedor de forma isolada. A premissa básica para a conquista dessa experiência, então, é um olhar centrado no cliente ao invés do canal ou forma de entrega, entendendo suas necessidades e se relacionando de forma relevante e fluida através de todos os pontos de contato.
Composición florística del bosque mesófilo de montaña perturbado y sus ecotonos en el Parque Nacional Cañón del Río Blanco, Veracruz, México
Authors: Vargas-Rueda Abel Felipe , Rivera-Hernández Jaime Ernesto , Álvarez-Aquino Claudia , Salas-Morales Silvia Hortensia , Alcántara-Salinas Graciela , Pérez-Sato J. Antonio
Published: August 2020

Antecedentes y Objetivos: Dentro de la poligonal del Parque Nacional Cañón del Río Blanco (PNCRB), se han llevado a cabo escasos estudios florísticos, por lo que el objetivo del presente trabajo es contribuir al conocimiento florístico del bosque mesófilo de montaña (BMM) perturbado y sus ecotonos con la selva mediana subperennifolia y el bosque de Quercus, ubicado en la región de las Altas Montañas del estado de Veracruz, México.
Métodos: Se realizaron colectas de material botánico en dos períodos, el primero entre 2012-2014 y el segundo en 2016; se complementó el listado consultando las colectas depositadas en el herbario CORU “Dr. Jerzy Rzedowski Rotter” de la Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias de la Universidad Veracruzana, así como las mencionadas en los fascículos de la Flora de Veracruz para el área de estudio y lo reportado en el Herbario Nacional de México MEXU, en el Portal de Datos Abiertos de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.
Resultados clave: Se obtuvieron 1742 registros, en donde se incluyen 136 familias botánicas, 414 géneros y 663 especies. Las familias con mayor riqueza fueron Orchidaceae, Asteraceae, Bromeliaceae, Fabaceae, Solanaceae y Malvaceae.
Conclusiones: Aunque es una zona con alta perturbación antropogénica, los fragmentos del BMM en el PNCRB y sus ecotonos presentan una gran riqueza de plantas vasculares, teniendo uno de los valores más altos que se han reportado en el estado de Veracruz. La lista florística que aquí se presenta ayudará para tomar decisiones de conservación sobre los recursos naturales y/o restauración del área de estudio.
Unique Internet Search Strategies of Individuals With Self-Stated Autism: Quantitative Analysis of Search Engine Users’ Investigative Behaviors (Preprint)
Authors: Yechiam Eldad , Yom-Tov Elad
Published: August 2020

BACKGROUND

Although autism is often characterized in literature by the presence of repetitive behavior, in structured decision tasks, individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been found to examine more options in a given time period than controls.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to examine whether this investigative tendency emerges in information searches conducted via the internet.

METHODS

In total, 1746 search engine users stated that they had ASD in 2019. This group’s naturally occurring responses following 1491 unique general queries and 78 image queries were compared to those of all other users of the search engine. The main dependent measure was scrolled distance, which denoted the extent to which additional results were scanned beyond the initial results presented on-screen. Additionally, we examined the number of clicks on search results as an indicator of the degree of search outcome exploitation and assessed whether there was a trade-off between increased search range and the time invested in viewing initial search results.

RESULTS

After issuing general queries, individuals with self-stated ASD scanned more results than controls. The scrolled distance in the results page of general queries was 45% larger for the group of individuals with ASD (P<.001; d=0.45). The group of individuals with ASD also made the first scroll faster than the controls (P<.001; d=0.51). The differences in scrolled distance were larger for popular queries. No group differences in scrolled distance emerged for image queries, suggesting that visual load impeded the investigative behavior of individuals with ASD. No differences emerged in the number of clicks on search results.

CONCLUSIONS

Individuals who self-stated that they had ASD scrutinized more general search results and fewer image search results than the controls. Thus, our results at least partially support the notion that individuals with ASD exhibit investigative behaviors and suggest that textual searches are an important context for expressing such tendencies.