bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Smokeless Tobacco Cessation in an Emergency Room in Rural West Virginia
Authors: Reed Donald , Danberry Kathy
Published: April 2022

Background

Emergency room nurses have a strong influence on the population of smokeless tobacco users. If healthcare providers address patient's tobacco use by using a brief intervention strategy (one minute or less), it increases the quit attempt rate threefold. The object of this study is to assess the effectiveness of asynchronous internet based brief tobacco intervention training with rural emergency room nurses.

Methods

A 1-h asynchronous training session on smokeless tobacco use and the 2-A and 1-R (Ask, Advise, and Refer) brief tobacco intervention strategy were given to 13 emergency room nurses at a rural acute care hospital in West Virginia. Paired sample t-tests were used to compare the pre-and post-test results.

Results

The 1-h training session produced significant and positive increases in all items measured: increased motivation to assist patients in quitting; increased knowledge of smokeless tobacco use, its dangers, and cessation processes; increased self-efficacy in implementing brief interventions; increased perception of tobacco cessation as important; increased perception of the effectiveness of tobacco cessation interventions; and increased acknowledgment of barriers and an awareness of how to deal with them.

Conclusions

The results suggest that there is a significant potential benefit from training emergency room nurses. Brief tobacco interventions should be conducted by clinical staff during the medical history check, physical examination, or discharge phases of the emergency room visit.
Uncertainty, Search Engine Data, and Stock Market Returns During a Pandemic
Authors: Xu Sheng , Zhang Jing , Shen Rui
Published: April 2022

In recent years, a series of uncertain events, including the spread of COVID-19, has affected the Chinese stock market. When people face uncertainty, they often turn to internet search engines to obtain more information to support their investment decisions. This paper uses the uncertainty index, investor sentiment reflected by search engine data, and Chinese stock return data during the pandemic to examine the relationships among the three. Using daily data from March 2, 2020, to March 2, 2021, our empirical findings reveal that stock returns during a pandemic lead to an increase in investor retrieval of search engine data and that uncertainty affects stock returns during a pandemic. However, the reverse is not true. Therefore, in the face of an uncertainty such as market volatility caused by the spread of the pandemic, the active release of favorable information by regulators can help guide investor sentiment, prevent sharp stock market volatility, and improve the effectiveness of policy governance.
Case Report: Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation in the Chronic Spinal Cord Injury Patient
Authors: Nascimento Tais Nunes , Boffino Catarina Costa
Published: April 2022

The traumatic spinal cord injury can generate sequels with high clinical severity and dysfunction and limitations of irreversible character. Current studies seek to reverse the sequelae and gain functionality in these individuals. Galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) has shown to be beneficial in spinal cord function as an evaluation correlated to functionality and for stimulation with physiological and functional characteristics in disease and healthy people. The present study observed the effects of Noise Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation in a patient with chronic spinal cord injury with tetraplegia on postural and trunk control. The evaluations were the Functional Independence Measure (FIM), the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) evaluation, and the Clinical Posturography, using force platform to assess postural balance, in the sitting position, through Sensory Organization and Functional Reach Tests. Ten sessions of Noise Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation associated with customized vestibular and neurofunctional rehabilitation were performed. The effects observed were increments in all assessments and tests that include modifications in functional independence, motor and sensory levels, change in disability grade from A (complete) to C (incomplete), and improvements in postural balance and trunk control. The phenomenon of stochastic resonance has shown benefits in postural control in people without vestibular lesions and we could observe some of these phenomena in our patients. We emphasize the need for evaluation with larger populations to observe the phenomena and effects in this group of patients and potential benefits and limitations.
How can Enzymes Help us With Manufacturing?
Authors: Roura Padrosa David , Paradisi Francesca
Published: April 2022

Did you know that the microscopic world has its own superheroes? These tiny heroes are called extremophiles. Extremophiles are microorganisms that can survive in the most dangerous places on Earth, such as hot streams or icebergs. Extremophiles can survive in these harsh environments because they have molecular tools called enzymes, which help them to perform important chemical reactions. While all organisms have enzymes, those of extremophiles are adapted to work under the extreme conditions in which they live, so we call those enzymes extremozymes. Extremozymes can help us produce drugs, food, and other products that we use every day! In the lab, we can make extremozymes even better by increasing their strength and durability through a process called immobilization. Using enzymes in industrial processes often helps to protect the Earth, because enzymes are generally more environmentally friendly than many man-made chemicals.
Assessing Intraspecific Variability and Diversity in African Yam Bean Landraces Using Agronomic Traits
Authors: Olomitutu Oluwaseyi E. , Abe Ayodeji , Oyatomi Olaniyi A. , Paliwal Rajneesh , Abberton Michael T.
Published: April 2022

Landraces are repositories for potential beneficial traits which could be used to develop varieties with enhanced qualities. Optimal utilization of the available large collection of landraces of African yam bean (AYB) presently conserved at the Genetic Resource Center, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan (GRC-IITA), requires an assessment of the magnitude and nature of genetic diversity within the germplasm. One hundred and ninety-six AYB accessions were evaluated during the 2018 and 2019 cropping seasons in three agro-ecologies of Nigeria, using a 14 × 14 triple lattice design. The accessions were assessed for fourteen agronomic traits. Accession, environment, and accession × environment interaction effects were significant (p < 0.05) for all the traits. Variances due to environment and accession × environment interaction were higher than the genotypic variances. Similarly, estimates of phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) were higher than genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all traits. Broad-sense heritability ranged from 17.1% (days to maturity) to 66.4% (seed length). Seed yield per plant had positive significant genotypic correlation with all the studied traits, except pod length and seed length. The first three principal components accounted for 59.7% of the total variation among the accessions and comprised of the 14 traits. Five major clusters were delineated based on phenotypic characteristics. Genetic variation was present among the AYB accessions, and these results will be useful for setting breeding goals and conservation approaches.
Response of Wheat Yield and Protein-Related Quality on Late-Season Urea Application
Authors: Horvat Daniela , Dvojković Krešimir , Novoselović Dario , Tucak Marijana , Andrić Luka , Magdić Damir , Drezner Georg
Published: April 2022

Field experiments were conducted, aiming to evaluate whether the late-season foliar urea application (35 kg N ha−1) is effective in improving grain yield and protein-related quality in ten common wheat cultivars during two consecutive growing seasons. On average, late urea application significantly (p < 0.05) increased grain yields, thousand kernel, and hectolitre weight. The total grain protein significantly (p < 0.05) increased by 17.5% under urea application, while dough mixing behaviour was improved by increasing flour water absorption and reducing the degree of softening. Considering dough elastic properties, the changes in dough energy and maximum resistance under urea application were strongly cultivar dependent and their values compared to control varying from −12.7% to +42.4% and −25.1% to +7.7%, respectively. The distribution of grain storage proteins was significantly influenced by late urea application, but to a lesser extent than the total grain proteins. The proportion of total gliadins, α- and γ-gliadins increased by 5.3%, 5.8%, and 6.5%, respectively, while total glutenins and high-molecular weight glutenins decreased by 4.5% and 7.4%, respectively. In summary, the late-season application of urea has greatly improved the protein-related quality without considerable disruption of the storage proteins composition.
Ultrasound Examination of Unilateral Seminoma in a Salernitano Stallion
Authors: Giangaspero Brunella Anna , Bucci Roberta , Del Signore Francesca , Vignoli Massimo , Hattab Jasmine , Quaglione Gina Rosaria , Petrizzi Lucio , Carluccio Augusto
Published: April 2022

An 18-year-old Salernitano stallion developed a progressive enlargement of the left testicle over eight months. An ultrasound evaluation was performed, along with a hormonal profile. A histopathological evaluation of the testis was performed after unilateral orchiectomy. On B-mode ultrasound examination, testicular parenchyma was characterized by the loss of internal structure, with the presence of multiple coalescing, nodular, well-defined and heterogeneous lesions with capsule deformity, appearing with an irregular profile. On dissection, the testicular parenchyma bulged over the cut section, confirming the increase in size. Microscopically, the lesion consisted mainly of large, densely packed, polygonal-to-round-shaped neoplastic cells. Mitotic figures were plentiful and frequently atypical; further microscopic features included apoptosis and necrosis. At immunohistochemistry, the entire neoplasm showed strong and diffuse immunolabeling for vimentin, while CD117-specific immunoreactivity was only observed in scattered clusters of neoplastic cells. Based on the gross, microscopic and IHC findings, a diagnosis of diffuse seminoma was made. Three months later, a follow-up examination showed no evidence of recurrence and the preservation of reproductive abilities. The case presented shows an unusual ultrasonographic pattern for seminoma and the basis of the correlation between the characteristics of the sonoelastographic examination and histological diagnosis.
Special Issue on Applied Research on Water Treatment by Onsite Wastewater Management and Agricultural and Stormwater Control Measures at Varying Spatial Scales
Authors: Iverson Guy , Humphrey Charles P.
Published: April 2022

Human population growth has led to increased wastewater generation and discharges, land clearing and fertilization for food production, and impervious surfaces associated with housing and road construction [...]
Development of a Dual-Input Magnetic Gear Train for the Transmission System of Small-Scale Wind Turbines
Authors: Wu Yi-Chang , Ou Feng-Ming , Tsai Mi-Ching , Fajri Saian Nur
Published: April 2022

Magnetic gear mechanisms have advanced to have a promising future in transmission technology. Previous research indicates that magnetic gear mechanisms might replace mechanical gear mechanisms in some applications. Small-scale wind turbines (SWT) with counter-rotating rotors that were initially fitted by bevel gears are proposed to be replaced by a coaxial magnetic gear train (CMGT). The CMGT is intended for use as a speed multiplier in order to obtain maximum power at low wind speeds, due to its beneficial transmission of power without physical contact. The primary objective of this study is to build a dual-input CMGT that will be employed in the transmission system of small-scale counter-rotating wind turbines. A dual-input CMGT is built through the analytical modeling of an equivalent magnetic circuit (EMC), which aims to predict the magnetic flux density in the air-gaps of CMGT. Several models within design constraints were compared to obtain the optimum design parameters of the preliminary CMGT design resulting from an EMC analysis. The optimized critical design parameters were then selected and analyzed using finite-element analysis (FEA) to depict the performance of the proposed SWT design. According to the findings, the developed design can generate an inner air-gap flux density of 0.8314 T and an outer air-gap flux density of 1.0200 T. The model likewise produces promising simulation results with an output transmitted torque in the inner rotor (output link) of 8.7 Nm, 56.9 Nm in the outer rotor, and 48.0 Nm in the carrier with pole-pieces. Thus, this design can generate higher torque than a bevel-geared wind turbine. The speed characteristics are also compromised in order to raise the generator’s rotating speed to generate more power. Finally, this study demonstrates the performance and embodiment design of the proposed SWT using CMGT.
Smart Nanocarrier Based on Poly(oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate) Terminated pH-Responsive Polymer Brushes Grafted Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles
Authors: Alfawaz Amal , Alzahrani Khalid , Niazy Abdurahman , Alghamadi Hamdan , Lambarte Rhodanne , Beagan Abeer , Alfhaid Latifah , Alotaibi Khalid , Alswieleh Abdullah
Published: April 2022

A platform technology based on inorganic/organic nanoparticles for carrying drugs could be of enormous potential benefit in treating cancer. Surface modification of the nanoparticles with pH-responsive and biocompatible polymers can improve the selectivity and targeting toward the tumor cells. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) and its derivatives being present on the surface could enhance the ability to tailor nanomaterial hydrophilicity and to resist the adhesion of proteins and/or cells. Herein, we report a new nanoplatform based on mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) conjugated with poly(2-(diethylamino) ethyl methacrylate) (PDEAEMA) brushes as a candidate for stimuli-responsive intracellular drug delivery system. Alkyl bromide functional initiators (end-functionalized PDEAEMA brushes) were derivatized to amine, followed by the reaction with ethylene sulfide and poly(oligo(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate (POEGMEA). Using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to examine the attachment of POEGMEA, it was found that the POEGMEA molecules in the outer surface of PDEAEMA brushes have been successfully reacted with thiol groups, as indicated by the increase in the peak intensity of the C–O group at 286.5 eV. Brush-modified silica hybrids have an average diameter of ca. 250 nm, as estimated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Rhodamine B dye was loaded into the brush-modified silica hybrids nanoparticles with loading capacity of ca. 74%. The accumulated dye released from brush-modified particles in acidic media was approximately 60%, whereas the dye amount release in basic media was less than 15% after 10 h exposure time. Alamar Blue assay was used to assess the cytotoxicity of MSNs–PDEAEMA, MSNs–PDEAEMA–SH, and MSNs–PDEAEMA–POEGMEA. The results show that all three nanosystems were non-toxic to hMSC with an increase in cell proliferation for MSNs–PDEAEMA–POEGMEA at 50 µg/mL after both 24 and 48 h of incubation.
3D Concentric Electrodes-Based Alternating Current Electrohydrodynamics: Design, Simulation, Fabrication, and Potential Applications for Bioassays
Authors: Silva Raphaela K. S. , Rauf Sakandar , Dong Ming , Chen Liang , Bagci Hakan , Salama Khaled N.
Published: April 2022

Two-dimensional concentric asymmetric microelectrodes play a crucial role in developing sensitive and specific biological assays using fluid micromixing generated by alternating current electrohydrodynamics (ac-EHD). This paper reports the design, simulation, fabrication, and characterization of fluid motion generated by 3D concentric microelectrodes for the first time. Electric field simulations are used to compare electric field distribution at the electrodes and to analyze its effects on microfluidic micromixing in 2D and 3D electrodes. Three-dimensional devices show higher electric field peak values, resulting in better fluid micromixing than 2D devices. As a proof of concept, we design a simple biological assay comprising specific attachment of streptavidin beads onto the biotin-modified electrodes (2D and 3D), which shows ~40% higher efficiency of capturing specific beads in the case of 3D ac-EHD device compared to the 2D device. Our results show a significant contribution toward developing 3D ac-EHD devices that can be used to create more efficient biological assays in the future.
Sm-CeO2/Zeolite Bifunctional Catalyst for Direct and Highly Selective Conversion of Bioethanol to Propylene
Authors: Jin Huan , Miao Changxi , Yue Yinghong , Tian Chao , Hua Weiming , Gao Zi
Published: April 2022

A series of Sm-CeO2/Beta composites with various Beta contents were prepared by an incipient impregnation method, followed by calcination at 650 °C. They were characterized by XRD, N2 adsorption, SEM, NH3-TPD, CO2-TPD and 27Al MAS NMR. The Sm-CeO2/Beta bifunctional catalysts exhibit eminent catalytic performances in the selective conversion of ethanol to propylene. In particular, the Sm-CeO2/10%Beta catalyst with 10% Beta zeolite gives the highest C3H6 yield of 59.3%. A good match between Sm-CeO2 and Beta accounts for its optimal result.
Molecular Markers of Pediatric Solid Tumors—Diagnosis, Optimizing Treatments, and Determining Susceptibility: Current State and Future Directions
Authors: Trubicka Joanna , Grajkowska Wiesława , Dembowska-Bagińska Bożenna
Published: April 2022

Advances in molecular technologies, from genomics and transcriptomics to epigenetics, are providing unprecedented insight into the molecular landscape of pediatric tumors. Multi-omics approaches provide an opportunity to identify a wide spectrum of molecular alterations that account for the initiation of the neoplastic process in children, response to treatment and disease progression. The detection of molecular markers is crucial to assist clinicians in accurate tumor diagnosis, risk stratification, disease subtyping, prediction of treatment response, and surveillance, allowing also for personalized cancer management. This review summarizes the most recent developments in genomics research and their relevance to the field of pediatric oncology with the aim of generating an overview of the most important, from the clinical perspective, molecular markers for pediatric solid tumors. We present an overview of the molecular markers selected based on therapeutic protocols, guidelines from international committees and scientific societies, and published data.
A Study on Improving the Sensitivity of Indirect X-ray Detectors by Adding Hybrid Perovskite Quantum Dots
Authors: Lee Kwanyong , Lee Jehoon , Han Daeho , Liu Hailiang , Kang Jungwon
Published: April 2022

In this paper, we demonstrate the enhancement in detection sensitivity of an indirect X-ray detector based on poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and fullerene derivatives [6,6]-phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM) by adding perovskite quantum dots (PeQDs). The weight ratio of P3HT and PC71BM was fixed at 1:1 (20 mg/mL in chlorobenzene), and different amounts of FAPbBr3 PeQDs of (0–3) mg were added to the P3HT:PC71BM active layer solution. The experimental results show that the detector using P3HT:PC71BM:FAPbBr3 PeQDs (1 mg) achieved a sensitivity of 2.10 mA/Gy∙cm2. To further improve the sensitivity, a ligand exchange experiment was performed on the P3HT:PC71BM:FAPbBr3 PeQDs (1 mg) detector. Under the condition of 12 h ligand exchange time, the detector with P3HT:PC71BM:FAPbBr3 PeQDs (1 mg) showed the highest sensitivity of 2.26 mA/Gy∙cm2, which was increased by 28% compared to the pristine detector with a P3HT:PC71BM active layer.
Predicting Early Disease Recurrence of Pancreatic Cancer following Surgery: Determining the Role of NUDT15 as a Prognostic Biomarker
Authors: Hughes Daniel Llwyd , Willenbrock Frances , Soonawalla Zahir , Mukherjee Somnath , O’Neill Eric
Published: April 2022

Surgical resection remains the only curative treatment strategy for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC). A proportion of patients succumb to early disease recurrence post-operatively despite receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. The ability to identify these high-risk individuals at their initial diagnosis, prior to surgery, could potentially alter their treatment algorithm. This unique patient cohort may benefit from neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, even in the context of resectable disease, as this may secure systemic control over their disease burden. It may also improve patient selection for surgery. Using the Cancer Genome Atlas dataset, we first confirmed the poor overall survival associated with early disease recurrence (p < 0.0001). The transcriptomic profiles of these tumours were analysed, and we identified key aberrant signalling pathways involved in early disease relapse; downregulation across several immune signalling pathways was noted. Differentially expressed genes that could serve as biomarkers were identified (BPI, C6orf58, CD177, MCM7 and NUDT15). Receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed in order to identify biomarkers with a high diagnostic ability to identify patients who developed early disease recurrence. NUDT15 expression had the highest discriminatory capability as a biomarker (AUC 80.8%). Its expression was confirmed and validated in an independent cohort of patients with resected PDAC (n = 13). Patients who developed an early recurrence had a statistically higher tumour expression of NUDT15 when compared to patients who did not recur early (p < 0.01). Our results suggest that NUDT15 can be used as a prognostic biomarker that can stratify patients according to their risk of developing early disease recurrence.
Secrecy Enhancement for SSK-Based Visible Light Communication Systems
Authors: Xie Wangzhaoqi , Li Bao , Peng Yuyang , Zhu Han , AL-Hazemi Fawaz , Mirza Mohammad Meraj
Published: April 2022

Visible light communication (VLC) is a technology that uses unlicensed light spectrum resources and high spatial reuse rates for communication. Because it does not occupy any resource allocation in wireless communication, it has fully alleviated the problem of spectrum scarcity in radio frequency (RF) communication and gradually become a new development direction. However, owing to the inherent broadcasting nature of the VLC channel, the VLC link is vulnerable to eavesdropping by unexpected or unauthorized users in spacious public places. Therefore, enhancing the security of the VLC system has attracted extensive attention. This paper studies the security optimization scheme of the VLC system based on the space shift keying (SSK) technology in the free space optical environment called the SSK-VLC system. The antenna selection (AS) technology and artificial noise (AN) cancellation method are adopted to enhance the confidentiality of the SSK-VLC system. In this paper, we presume that the SSK-VLC system includes three parts: a transmitter containing multiple light-emitting diodes, a legitimate receiver, and an eavesdropper, respectively. By using the designed AS and AN method, the transmitted valid information can be demodulated at the legitimate receiver, and at the same time, the received information by the eavesdropper will be disturbed. The simulation results prove that the proposed optimization scheme can further improve the security performance, including the secrecy rate (SR) and the bit error ratio (BER), compared with the traditional SSK-VLC scheme.
Communication Technologies in Emergency Situations
Authors: Carreras-Coch Anna , Navarro Joan , Sans Carles , Zaballos Agustín
Published: April 2022

Emergency situations such as wildfires, water floods, or even terrorist attacks require continuous communication between the coordination centres, the several on-the-field teams, and their respective devices to properly address the adverse circumstances. From a technological point of view, this can be best seen as a live Ubiquitous Sensor Network—composed of human beings (e.g., first responders, victims) and devices (e.g., drones, environmental sensors, radios)—with stringent and special communication requirements in terms of flexibility, mobility, reliability, bandwidth, heterogeneity, and speed of deployment. However, for this specific use case, most of the already deployed and well-known communication technologies (e.g., satellite, 4G/5G) might become unusable and hard to repair due to the associated effects of the disaster itself. The purpose of this paper is (1) to review the emergency communications challenges, (2) to analyse the existing surveys on technologies for emergency situations, (3) to conduct a more updated, extensive, and systematic review of the emergency communications’ technologies, and (4) to propose a heterogeneous communication architecture able to communicate between moving agents in harsh conditions. The proposed approach is conceived to link the relocating agents that constitute a Ubiquitous Sensor Network spanning a large-scale area (i.e., hundreds of square kilometres) by combining Near Vertical Incidence Skywave technologies with Drone-Based Wireless Mesh Networks. The conclusions derived from this research aim to set up the fundamentals of a rapidly deployable Emergency Communications System inspired by the Ubiquitous Sensor Network paradigm.
On-Orbit Experimental Result of a Non-Deployable 430-MHz-Band Antenna Using a 1U CubeSat Structure
Authors: Nakayama Daisuke , Yamauchi Takashi , Masui Hirokazu , Kim Sangkyun , Toyoda Kazuhiro , Malmadayalage Tharindu Lakmal Dayarathna , Cho Mengu ,   the BIRDS-4 Project Team
Published: April 2022

1U CubeSats often use the 430-MHz band for communication due to their size and power limitations, and half-wavelength dipole antennas are employed. A 430-MHz-band dipole antenna requires a deployable structure for a 1U CubeSat. However, a 1U CubeSat has a small volume margin for redundant systems, so the antenna deployment system can be a single point of failure. In this paper, the 1U CubeSat structure itself was used as an antenna. As a sub-mission of the BIRDS-4 project, three 1U CubeSats (GuaraniSat-1, Maya-2, and Tsuru) demonstrated this antenna structure. The results of the ground tests showed a maximum gain of −5.7 dBi with the flight model. These satellites were deployed from the International Space Station on 14 March 2021. Radio signals were alternately transmitted from the dipole antenna and the structure antenna onboard Tsuru for on-orbit demonstration on 15 December 2021, and the received signal strength on the ground was compared using RTL-SDR, SDR# and several codes. The ground station was able to receive both dipole and structure CW signals. The received power strength indicates that a gain of −8.1 dBi is being demonstrated with the structure antenna.
Vernacular Sustainabilities—Multispecies Stories and Life-Death Entanglements of the Sertão Nordestino in Contemporary Brazilian Futurisms (The Film Bacurau and the Sertãopunk Comic Cangaço Overdrive)
Authors: Castro Azucena
Published: April 2022

In northeastern Brazil, a region with extreme droughts and the smallest rainfall index in the whole country, water sources are crucial to ensure the survival of humans and nonhumans in this semi-arid region, known as sertão nordestino. Since the mid-twentieth century, classical cultural expressions focusing on this area have emphasized poverty in a desert of dry vegetation. Unlike romanticized portrayals of the backland in the 1990s, contemporary visual culture resorts to speculative and science fictional elements to reflect on possible futures amidst pressing socio-environmental challenges in the Capitalocene. This article examines how speculative and science-fictional elements in the film Bacurau (2019) by Juliano Dornelles and Kleber Mendonça Filho and the sertãopunk comic Cangaço Overdrive (2018) by Zé Wellington and Walter Geovani configure human–nonhuman and life–death entanglements to rearticulate both the representation of these communities as backward or picturesque and their historical de-futuring due to neo-colonialism and extractivism. These Brazilian visual productions problematize the notion of sustainability as a linear progression of human-centric futurity. In a dialogue between feminist posthumanist (Donna Haraway) and decolonial (T. J. Demos) works and the visual productions, I offer the notion of ‘vernacular sustainabilities’ that decenters the human while fashioning new conceptualizations of entangled and diverging futures in the sertão.
Cognitive Reserve, Early Cognitive Screening, and Relationship to Long-Term Outcome after Severe Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Ekdahl Natascha , Godbolt Alison K. , Deboussard Catharina Nygren , Lannsjö Marianne , Stålnacke Britt-Marie , Stenberg Maud , Ulfarsson Trandur , Möller Marika C.
Published: April 2022

The objective was to investigate the relationship between early global cognitive functioning using the Barrow Neurological Institute Screen for Higher Cerebral Functions (BNIS) and cognitive flexibility (Trail Making Test (TMT), TMT B-A), with long-term outcome assessed by the Mayo-Portland Adaptability Index (MPAI-4) in severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) controlling for the influence of cognitive reserve, age, and injury severity. Of 114 patients aged 18–65 with acute Glasgow Coma Scale 3–8, 41 patients were able to complete (BNIS) at 3 months after injury and MPAI-4 5–8 years after injury. Of these, 33 patients also completed TMT at 3 months. Global cognition and cognitive flexibility correlated significantly with long-term outcome measured with MPAI-4 total score (rBNIS = 0.315; rTMT = 0.355). Global cognition correlated significantly with the participation subscale (r = 0.388), while cognitive flexibility correlated with the adjustment (r = 0.364) and ability (r = 0.364) subscales. Adjusting for cognitive reserve and acute injury severity did not alter these relationships. The effect size for education on BNIS and TMT scores was large (d ≈ 0.85). Early screenings with BNIS and TMT are related to long-term outcome after sTBI and seem to measure complementary aspects of outcome. As early as 3 months after sTBI, educational level influences the scores on neuropsychological screening instruments.
Impact of Daily Bedside Echocardiographic Assessment on Readmissions in Acute Heart Failure: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Ricci Jean-Etienne , Aguilhon Sylvain , Occean Bob-Valéry , Soullier Camille , Solecki Kamila , Robert Christelle , Huet Fabien , Cornillet Luc , Schmutz Laurent , Chevallier Thierry , Akodad Mariama , Leclercq Florence , Cayla Guillaume , Lattuca Benoît , Roubille François
Published: April 2022

Acute heart failure (AHF) management is challenging, with high morbidity and readmission rates. There is little evidence of the benefit of HF monitoring during hospitalization. The aim of the study was to assess whether daily bedside echocardiographic monitoring (JetEcho) improved outcomes in AHF. In this prospective, open, two parallel-arm study (clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02892227), participants from two university hospitals were randomized to either standard of care (SC) or daily treatment adjustment including diuretics guided by JetEcho evaluating left ventricular filling pressure and volemia. The primary outcome was 30-day readmission rate. Key secondary outcomes were six-month cumulative incidence death, worsening HF during hospitalization and increasing of myocardial and renal biomarkers. From 250 included patients, 115 were finally analyzed in JetEcho group and 112 in SC group. Twenty-two (19%) patients were readmitted within 30 days in JetEcho group and 17 (15%) in SC group (relative risk [RR] 1.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.70–2.24; p = 0.4). Worsening HF occurred in 17 (14%) patients in the JetEcho group and 24 (20%) in the SC group (RR 0.7; 95% [CI] 0.39 to 1.2; p = 0.2). No significant difference was found between the two groups concerning natriuretic peptides and renal function (p > 0.05 for all). The cumulative incidence rate of death from any cause at six months from discharge was 8.7% in the JetEcho group and 11.6% in the SC group (HR 0.63, 95% [CI] 0.3–1.4, p = 0.3). In AHF patients, a systematic daily bedside echocardiographic monitoring did not reduce 30-day readmission rate for HF and short-term clinical outcomes.
Artificial Intelligence for COVID-19 Detection in Medical Imaging—Diagnostic Measures and Wasting—A Systematic Umbrella Review
Authors: Jemioło Paweł , Storman Dawid , Orzechowski Patryk
Published: April 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked a barrage of primary research and reviews. We investigated the publishing process, time and resource wasting, and assessed the methodological quality of the reviews on artificial intelligence techniques to diagnose COVID-19 in medical images. We searched nine databases from inception until 1 September 2020. Two independent reviewers did all steps of identification, extraction, and methodological credibility assessment of records. Out of 725 records, 22 reviews analysing 165 primary studies met the inclusion criteria. This review covers 174,277 participants in total, including 19,170 diagnosed with COVID-19. The methodological credibility of all eligible studies was rated as critically low: 95% of papers had significant flaws in reporting quality. On average, 7.24 (range: 0–45) new papers were included in each subsequent review, and 14% of studies did not include any new paper into consideration. Almost three-quarters of the studies included less than 10% of available studies. More than half of the reviews did not comment on the previously published reviews at all. Much wasting time and resources could be avoided if referring to previous reviews and following methodological guidelines. Such information chaos is alarming. It is high time to draw conclusions from what we experienced and prepare for future pandemics.
Advances and Challenges in Biomarkers Use for Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction: From Bench to Clinical Practice
Authors: Rocco Erica , Grimaldi Maria Chiara , Maino Alessandro , Cappannoli Luigi , Pedicino Daniela , Liuzzo Giovanna , Biasucci Luigi Marzio
Published: April 2022

Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is related to a broad variety of clinical scenarios in which cardiac microvasculature is morphologically and functionally affected, and it is associated with impaired responses to vasoactive stimuli. Although the prevalence of CMD involves about half of all patients with chronic coronary syndromes and more than 20% of those with acute coronary syndrome, the diagnosis of CMD is often missed, leading to the underestimation of its clinical importance. The established and validated techniques for the measurement of coronary microvascular function are invasive and expensive. An ideal method to assess endothelial dysfunction should be accurate, non-invasive, cost-effective and accessible. There are varieties of biomarkers available, potentially involved in microvascular disease, but none have been extensively validated in this heterogeneous clinical population. The investigation of potential biomarkers linked to microvascular dysfunction might improve the assessment of the diagnosis, risk stratification, disease progression and therapy response. This review article offers an update about traditional and novel potential biomarkers linked to CMD.
Clinical Implications of Krüpple-like Transcription Factor KLF-14 and Certain Micro-RNA (miR-27a, miR-196a2, miR-423) Gene Variations as a Risk Factor in the Genetic Predisposition to PCOS
Authors: Mir Rashid , Saeedi Nizar H. , Jalal Mohammed M. , Altayar Malik A. , Barnawi Jameel , Hamadi Abdullah , Tayeb Faris J. , Alshammari Sanad E. , Mtiraoui Nabil , M. Ali Mohammed Eltigani , Abuduhier Faisel M. , Ullah Mohammad Fahad
Published: April 2022

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a disorder with a symptomatic manifestation of an array of metabolic and endocrine impairments. PCOS has a relatively high prevalence rate among young women of reproductive age and is a risk factor for some severe metabolic diseases such as T2DM, insulin insensitivity, and obesity, while the most dominant endocrine malfunction is an excess of testosterone showing hyperandrogenism and hirsutism. MicroRNAs have been implicated as mediators of metabolic diseases including obesity and insulin resistance, as these can regulate multiple cellular pathways such as insulin signaling and adipogenesis. Genome-wide association studies during the last few years have also linked the Krüpple-like family of transcription factors such as KLF14, which contribute in mechanisms of mammalian gene regulation, with certain altered metabolic traits and risk of atherosclerosis and type-2 DM. This study has characterized the biochemical and endocrine parameters in PCOS patients with a comprehensive serum profiling in comparison to healthy controls and further examined the influence of allelic variations for miRNAs 27a (rs895819 A > G), 196a2 (rs11614913 C > T), 423 (rs6505162C > A), and transcription factor KLF14 (rs972283 A > G) gene polymorphism on the risk and susceptibility to PCOS. The experimental protocol included amplification refractory mutation-specific (ARMS)-PCR to detect and determine the presence of these polymorphic variants in the study subjects. The results in this case–control study showed that most of the serum biomarkers, both biochemical and endocrine, that were analyzed in the study demonstrated statistically significant alterations in PCOS patients, including lipids (LDL, HDL, cholesterol), T2DM markers (fasting glucose, free insulin, HOMA-IR), and hormones (FSH, LH, testosterone, and progesterone). The distribution of Krüppel-like factor 14 rs972283 G > A, miR-27a rs895819 A > G, and miR-196a-2 rs11614913 C > T genotypes analyzed within PCOS patients and healthy controls in the considered population was significant (p < 0.05), except for miR-423 rs6505162 C > A genotypes (p > 0.05). The study found that in the codominant model, KLF14-AA was strongly associated with greater PCOS susceptibility (OR 2.35, 95% CI = 1.128 to 4.893, p < 0.022), miR-27a-GA was linked to an enhanced PCOS susceptibility (OR 2.06, 95% CI = 1.165 to 3.650, p < 0.012), and miR-196a-CT was associated with higher PCOS susceptibility (OR 2.06, 95% CI = 1.191 to 3.58, p < 0.009). Moreover, allele A of KLF-14 and allele T of miR-196a2 were strongly associated with PCOS susceptibility in the considered population.
Three-Dimensional Guided Zygomatic Implant Placement after Maxillectomy
Authors: Vosselman Nathalie , Glas Haye H. , Merema Bram J. , Kraeima Joep , Reintsema Harry , Raghoebar Gerry M. , Witjes Max J. H. , de Visscher Sebastiaan A. H. J.
Published: April 2022

Zygomatic implants are used in patients with maxillary defects to improve the retention and stability of obturator prostheses, thereby securing good oral function. Prosthetic-driven placement of zygomatic implants is even difficult for experienced surgeons, and with a free-hand approach, deviation from the preplanned implant positions is inevitable, thereby impeding immediate implant-retained obturation. A novel, digitalized workflow of surgical planning was used in 10 patients. Maxillectomy was performed with 3D-printed cutting, and drill guides were used for subsequent placement of zygomatic implants with immediate placement of implant-retained obturator prosthesis. The outcome parameters were the accuracy of implant positioning and the prosthetic fit of the obturator prosthesis in this one-stage procedure. Zygomatic implants (n = 28) were placed with good accuracy (mean deviation 1.73 ± 0.57 mm and 2.97 ± 1.38° 3D angle deviation), and in all cases, the obturator prosthesis fitted as pre-operatively planned. The 3D accuracy of the abutment positions was 1.58 ± 1.66 mm. The accuracy of the abutment position in the occlusal plane was 2.21 ± 1.33 mm, with a height accuracy of 1.32 ± 1.57 mm. This feasibility study shows that the application of these novel designed 3D-printed surgical guides results in predictable zygomatic implant placement and provides the possibility of immediate prosthetic rehabilitation in head and neck oncology patients after maxillectomy.
Rire sans humour n’est que ruine de l’homme. L'humour est mort.
Authors: Chouraqui Guy
Published: April 2022

Humour out of humour.

The necessity to get maximum scores of audience constrains television and radio to a severely limited register of jokes. This fact reduces the variety of sources of laughter and jokes are frequently oversimplified to fit with stereotypes. There is some analogy between this situation and problems exis¬ ting in public communication of science and democracy.
Filles et garçons en école d’ingénieurs. Les trajets sociaux et scolaires des élèves de l’Institut National des Télécommunications
Authors: Fontanini Christine
Published: April 2022

Cette recherche, menée auprès d’élèves ingénieurs de l’Institut National des Télécommunications (INT), a pour objectif d’une part de comparer entre les filles et les garçons les facteurs pouvant rendre compte de ce choix d’orientation et d’autre part les raisons de leur choix pour cette école d’ingénieurs.

Les résultats de l’étude montrent que les filles doivent encore posséder des atouts scolaires et sociaux plus importants que
Yapı Kredi Araştırma Kütüphanesi Y. 0339 Numarada Kayıtlı "Mecmua-i Eş’âr" ve MESTAP’a Göre Tasnifi
Authors: AKPINAR Şerife , İNER Cihan
Published: April 2022

Mecmualar, edebiyat tarihinin temel kaynaklarından biridir. Özellikle antoloji niteliği taşıyan şiir mecmuaları, dönemin edebî zevki yanında mürettibinin zevkini yansıtan birer kişisel kayıttır. Her mecmua, kendine mahsus bir tertip ve muhtevaya sahiptir. Son yıllarda bu eserlerin gün yüzüne çıkarılması, dijital bir veri tabanında toplanarak tanıtılması çalışmalarına öncelik verilmeye başlanmıştır. Bu çalışma ile Yapı Kredi Araştırma Kütüphanesi’nde Y-0339 numarada kayıtlı Mecmûa-i Eş’âr, Mecmuaların Sistematik Tasnifi Projesi’ne (MESTAP) göre tasnif edilmiştir. Yazmada tertip tarihi ve müellifle ilgili bir bilgiye rastlanmamakla beraber yapılan inceleme neticesinde mecmuanın 19. yüzyıl başlarında, Bayramiyye tarikatı mensubu ya da muhibbi bir mürettib tarafından tertip edildiği düşünülmektedir. 91 varaktan oluşan Mecmûa-i Eş’âr, 15.-19. yüzyıllar arasında yaşamış şairlerin şiirlerinden derlenmiştir. Bu durum, mecmuanın neredeyse bütün klasik Türk edebiyatı sahası şiir zevkini yansıtma çabasıyla tertip edildiğini düşündürmektedir. Mecmuada 128 farklı şaire ait 357 şiir bulunmakta olup bu şiirlerin bazılarının şairleri tespit edilememiştir. Birkaç Farsça manzumenin de derlendiği mecmuada klasik Türk şiiri ve dinî-tasavvufî Türk halk şiirinin numunelerine rastlanmaktadır. Aruz vezninin yanı sıra hece ile yazılmış şiirler de bulunan Mecmûa-i Eş’âr’da, hemen hemen bütün nazım şekillerinden şiirlere yer verilmiştir.
O compliance na gestão da secretaria de inovação da Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina / Compliance in the management of the innovation secretariat of the Santa Catarina Federal University
Authors: Santos Júnior Roberto Luís de Figueiredo
Published: April 2022

Este estudo aborda o compliance na gestão de núcleos de inovação tecnológica, tendo como objeto a aplicação do compliance nas diversas situações voltadas para gestão, haja vista que, notadamente, gestores universitários ou não, carecem da compreensão total do passivo jurídico que estão prestes a assumir. O objetivo é elaborar um Programa de Compliance aplicado à gestão de núcleos de inovação tecnológica. Adotou-se como passos metodológicos, uma pesquisa bibliográfica e documental, estudo de caso, abordagem qualitativa, sendo estruturado em quatro estágios principais que estão distribuídos em atividades de ensino, pesquisa e extensão. Ao concluir são apontadas as melhorias na Secretaria de Inovação, porém algumas delas serão evidenciadas com o grau de maturidade do Programa de Compliance. Portanto, a criação de um guia pode conduzir ao esgotamento das dúvidas dos gestores e demais partes interessadas naquilo que é o dia-a-dia de trabalho nas universidades, viabilizando a elaboração de um Programa de Compliance.
Análisis del impacto de la reingeniería de los sistemas de información en la competitividad de las pymes / Analysis of the reengineering impact of information systems on the competitiveness of SMEs
Authors: Trujillo Silvia Edith Albarrán , Gallegos Mireya Salgado , Merlos Juan Carlos Pérez
Published: April 2022

El concepto de reingeniería no es nuevo, desde mediados de los años 90 y en la década del 2000 en que se concretaron los principios sobre los que se rige la misma, está se aplica de manera continua en los procesos empresas, pero no sólo puede aplicarse en los procesos, también se aplica ahora en los sistemas de información automatizados tiempo atrás, éstos, pueden entorpecer en lugar de ayudar a los procesos, al haber sido diseñados  para otras condiciones tecnológicas diferentes a las que rigen en la actualidad. Con los cambios continuos en la tecnología y a través de los años, se ha llegado al punto en las empresas, en que las primeras automatizaciones concretadas, ahora son obsoletas y/o requieren de actualización en tecnología y en los sistemas en sí. Para realizar lo anterior deben aplicarse metodologías de desarrollo lo suficientemente ágiles para que los cambios causen el menor impacto posible en aspectos relacionados con la competitividad de las empresas como es la presencia en medios o mantener una ventaja competitiva. El objetivo de este artículo es evidenciar los aspectos relevantes que afectan la competitividad en una pyme al realizar una reingeniería a los sistemas de información.