bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dietary sodium chloride attenuates increased β-cell mass to cause glucose intolerance in mice under a high-fat diet
Authors: Taki Keigo , Takagi Hiroshi , Hirose Tomonori , Sun Runan , Yaginuma Hiroshi , Mizoguchi Akira , Kobayashi Tomoko , Sugiyama Mariko , Tsunekawa Taku , Onoue Takeshi , Hagiwara Daisuke , Ito Yoshihiro , Iwama Shintaro , Suga Hidetaka , Banno Ryoichi , Sakano Daisuke , Kume Shoen , Arima Hiroshi
Published: March 2021

Excessive sodium salt (NaCl) or fat intake is associated with a variety of increased health risks. However, whether excessive NaCl intake accompanied by a high-fat diet (HFD) affects glucose metabolism has not been elucidated. In this study, C57BL/6J male mice were fed a normal chow diet (NCD), a NCD plus high-NaCl diet (NCD plus NaCl), a HFD, or a HFD plus high-NaCl diet (HFD plus NaCl) for 30 weeks. No significant differences in body weight gain, insulin sensitivity, and glucose tolerance were observed between NCD-fed and NCD plus NaCl-fed mice. In contrast, body and liver weights were decreased, but the weight of epididymal white adipose tissue was increased in HFD plus NaCl-fed compared to HFD-fed mice. HFD plus NaCl-fed mice had lower plasma glucose levels in an insulin tolerance test, and showed higher plasma glucose and lower plasma insulin levels in an intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test compared to HFD-fed mice. The β-cell area and number of islets were decreased in HFD plus NaCl-fed compared to HFD-fed mice. Increased Ki67-positive β-cells, and increased expression levels of Ki67, CyclinB1, and CyclinD1 mRNA in islets were observed in HFD-fed but not HFD plus NaCl-fed mice when compared to NCD-fed mice. Our data suggest that excessive NaCl intake accompanied by a HFD exacerbates glucose intolerance, with impairment in insulin secretion caused by the attenuation of expansion of β-cell mass in the pancreas.
Community surveillance and response to maternal and child deaths in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review
Authors: Basera Tariro J. , Schmitz Kathrin , Price Jessica , Willcox Merlin , Bosire Edna N. , Ajuwon Ademola , Mbule Marjorie , Ronan Agnes , Burtt Fiona , Scheepers Esca , Igumbor Jude
Published: March 2021

Background

Civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systems do not produce comprehensive data on maternal and child deaths in most low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), with most births and deaths which occur outside the formal health system going unreported. Community-based death reporting, investigation and review processes are being used in these settings to augment official registration of maternal and child deaths and to identify death-specific factors and associated barriers to maternal and childcare. This study aims to review how community-based maternal and child death reporting, investigation and review processes are carried out in LMICs.

Methods

We conducted a scoping review of the literature published in English from January 2013 to November 2020, searching PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Joanna Briggs, The Cochrane Library, EBM reviews, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. We used descriptive analysis to outline the scope, design, and distribution of literature included in the study and to present the content extracted from each article. The scoping review is reported following the PRISMA reporting guideline for systematic reviews.

Results

Of 3162 screened articles, 43 articles that described community-based maternal and child death review processes across ten countries in Africa and Asia were included. A variety of approaches were used to report and investigate deaths in the community, including identification of deaths by community health workers (CHWs) and other community informants, reproductive age mortality surveys, verbal autopsy, and social autopsy. Community notification of deaths by CHWs complements registration of maternal and child deaths missed by routinely collected sources of information, including the CRVS systems which mostly capture deaths occurring in health facilities. However, the accuracy and completeness of data reported by CHWs are sub-optimal.

Conclusions

Community-based death reporting complements formal registration of maternal and child deaths in LMICs. While research shows that community-based maternal and child death reporting was feasible, the accuracy and completeness of data reported by CHWs are sub-optimal but amenable to targeted support and supervision. Studies to further improve the process of engaging communities in the review, as well as collection and investigation of deaths in LMICs, could empower communities to respond more effectively and have a greater impact on reducing maternal and child mortality.
Wear patterns and dental functioning in an Early Cretaceous stegosaur from Yakutia, Eastern Russia
Authors: Skutschas Pavel P. , Gvozdkova Vera A. , Averianov Alexander O. , Lopatin Alexey V. , Martin Thomas , Schellhorn Rico , Kolosov Petr N. , Markova Valentina D. , Kolchanov Veniamin V. , Grigoriev Dmitry V. , Kuzmin Ivan T. , Vitenko Dmitry D.
Published: March 2021

Isolated stegosaurian teeth from the Early Cretaceous high-latitude (palaeolatitude estimate of N 62°- 66.5°) Teete locality in Yakutia (Eastern Siberia, Russia) are characterized by a labiolingually compressed, slightly asymmetrical and mesiodistally denticulated (9–14 denticles) crown, a pronounced ring-like cingulum, as well as a “complex network of secondary ridges”. The 63 teeth (found during on-site excavation in 2012, 2017–2019 and screen-washing in 2017–2019) most likely belong to one species of a derived (stegosaurine) stegosaur. Most of the teeth exhibit a high degree of wear and up to three wear facets has been observed on a single tooth. The prevalence of worn teeth with up to three wear facets and the presence of different types of facets (including steeply inclined and groove-like) indicate the tooth-tooth contact and precise dental occlusion in the Teete stegosaur. The microwear pattern (mesiodistally or slightly obliquely oriented scratches; differently oriented straight and curved scratches on some wear facets) suggest a complex jaw mechanism with palinal jaw motion. Histological analysis revealed that the Teete stegosaur is characterized by relatively short tooth formation time (95 days) and the presence of a “wavy enamel pattern”. Discoveries of a “wavy enamel pattern” in the Teete stegosaur, in a Middle Jurassic stegosaur from Western Siberia, and in the basal ceratopsianPsittacosaurus, suggest that this histological feature is common for different ornithischian clades, including ornithopods, marginocephalians, and thyreophorans. A juvenile tooth in the Teete sample indicates that stegosaurs were year-round residents and reproduced in high latitudes. The combination of high degree of tooth wear with formation of multiple wear facets, complex jaw motions, relatively short tooth formation time and possibly high tooth replacement rates is interpreted as a special adaptation for a life in high-latitude conditions or, alternatively, as a common stegosaurian adaptation making stegosaurs a successful group of herbivorous dinosaurs in the Middle Jurassic–Early Cretaceous and enabeling them to live in both low- and high-latitude ecosystems.
Disentangling the effects of modality, interval length and task difficulty on the accuracy and precision of older adults in a rhythmic reproduction task
Authors: Gallego Hiroyasu Elisa M. , Yotsumoto Yuko
Published: March 2021

Studies on the functional quality of the internal clock that governs the temporal processing of older adults have demonstrated mixed results as to whether they perceive and produce time slower, faster, or equally well as younger adults. These mixed results are due to a multitude of methodologies applied to study temporal processing: many tasks demand different levels of cognitive ability. To investigate the temporal accuracy and precision of older adults, in Experiment 1, we explored the age-related differences in rhythmic continuation task taking into consideration the effects of attentional resources required by the stimulus (auditory vs. visual; length of intervals). In Experiment 2, we added a dual task to explore the effect of attentional resources required by the task. Our findings indicate that (1) even in an inherently automatic rhythmic task, where older and younger adult’s general accuracy is comparable, accuracy but not precision is altered by the stimulus properties and (2) an increase in task load can magnify age-related differences in both accuracy and precision.
Membrane particles from mesenchymal stromal cells reduce the expression of fibrotic markers on pulmonary cells
Authors: Merino Ana , Hoogduijn Martin J. , Molina-Molina Maria , Arias-Salgado Elena G. , Korevaar Sander S. , Baan Carla C. , Montes-Worboys Ana
Published: March 2021

Background

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating lung disease with limited treatment options in which the telomere shortening is a strong predictive factor of poor prognosis. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) administration is probed in several experimental induced lung pathologies; however, MSC might stimulate fibrotic processes. A therapy that avoids MSC side effects of transformation would be an alternative to the use of living cells. Membranes particles (MP) are nanovesicles artificially generated from the membranes of MSC containing active enzymes involved in ECM regeneration. We aimed to investigate the anti-fibrotic role of MP derived from MSC in an in vitro model of pulmonary fibrosis.

Methods

Epithelial cells (A549) and lung fibroblasts, from IPF patients with different telomere length, were co-cultured with MP and TGF-β for 48h and gene expression of major pro-fibrotic markers were analyzed.

Results

About 90% of both types of cells effectively took up MP without cytotoxic effects. MP decreased the expression of profibrotic proteins such as Col1A1, Fibronectin and PAI-1, in A549 cells. In fibroblasts culture, there was a different response in the inhibitory effect of MP on some pro-fibrotic markers when comparing fibroblast from normal telomere length patients (FN) versus short telomere length (FS), but both types showed an inhibition of Col1A1, Tenascin-c, PAI-1 and MMP-1 gene expression after MP treatment.

Conclusions

MP conserve some of the properties attributed to the living MSC. This study shows that MP target lung cells, via which they may have a broad anti-fibrotic effect.
Invasive species trait-based risk assessment for non-native freshwater fishes in a tropical city basin in Southeast Asia
Authors: Chan Joleen , Zeng Yiwen , Yeo Darren C. J.
Published: March 2021

Biological invasions have created detrimental impacts in freshwater ecosystems. As non-native freshwater species include economically beneficial, but also harmful, species, trait-based risk assessments can be used to identify and prevent the import of potentially invasive species. Freshwater fishes are one of the most evaluated freshwater taxa to date. However, such assessments have mostly been done in sub-temperate to temperate regions, with a general lack of such research in the tropics. In view of this knowledge gap, this study aims to determine if a different set of traits are associated with successful establishment of non-native fishes within the tropics. In tropical Southeast Asia, Singapore represents a suitable model site to perform an invasive species trait-based risk assessment for the tropical region given its susceptibility to the introduction and establishment of non-native freshwater fishes and lack of stringent fish import regulation. A quantitative trait-based risk assessment was performed using random forest to determine the relative importance of species attributes associated with the successful establishment of introduced freshwater fishes in Singapore. Species having a match in climate, prior invasion success, lower absolute fecundity, higher trophic level, and involvement in the aquarium trade were found to have higher establishment likelihood (as opposed to native distributional range and maximum size being among the commonly identified predictors in subtropical/temperate trait-based risk assessments). To minimize invasive risk, incoming freshwater fishes could be screened in future for such traits, allowing lists of prohibited or regulated species to be updated. The findings could also potentially benefit the development of invasive species action plans and inform management decisions in the Southeast Asian region. Considering a geographical bias in terms of having relatively less documentation of biological invasions in the tropics, particularly Asia, this study highlights the need to perform more of such risk assessments in other parts of the tropics.
Determinant factors for the occurrence of tuberculosis after initiation of antiretroviral treatment among adult patients living with HIV at Dessie Referral Hospital, South Wollo, Northeast Ethiopia, 2020. A case-control study
Authors: Abdu Mehd , Ali Yeshimebet , Anteneh Samuel , Yesuf Mohammed , Birhanu Adane , Mohamed Salih , Hussien Adem
Published: March 2021

Introduction

Globally, tuberculosis takes the first rank for the ill-health of people living with HIV/AIDS. Despite the favorable outcome of antiretroviral therapy, the risk of tuberculosis remains higher among HIV patients. This obliges to identify factors for its occurrence and further prevention of drug-resistant tuberculosis. There is a contradiction between different studies and studies conducted in Ethiopia studied poorly the association between adherence to antiretroviral therapy and viral load with tuberculosis. Studies conducted in the study area were limited to cross-sectional study design. Therefore, this study claimed to identify factors determining the occurrence of tuberculosis after initiation of antiretroviral therapy.

Methods

This study was conducted at Dessie Referral Hospital by using a case-control study design on a sample of 565 with a control: case ratio of 3:1. Participants from controls were selected by systematic random sampling and from cases by consecutive random sampling. The data were collected by interviewing through structured questionnaires and from the medical record. The data were entered into Epi data version 3.1. In the multivariable analysis, variables with a P-value of ≤0.05 were anticipated as independent determinant factors.

Result

Patients without separate kitchen (AOR: 3.547, 95% CI: 2.137, 5.888), having opportunistic infection (AOR: 3.728, 95% CI: 2.058, 6.753), CD4 count of <350 cells/mm3 (AOR: 3.383, 95% CI: 1.520, 7.528), baseline WHO stage III (AOR: 3.321, 95% CI: 1.688, 6.534) or IV (AOR: 2.900, 95% CI: 1.251, 6.722), don’t taking IPT (AOR: 3.701, 95% CI: 2.228, 6.147) and those who were poorly adherent (AOR: 2.626, 95% CI: 1.272, 5.423) or moderately adherent (AOR: 3.455, 95% CI: 1.885, 6.335) to anti-retroviral therapy were more likely to develop tuberculosis after anti-retroviral therapy initiation.

Conclusion

Poor housing conditions, having an opportunistic infection, low CD4 count, starting ART at the advanced HIV stage, don’t take IPT, and being poorly adherent to antiretroviral therapy were associated with the occurrence of TB after initiation of ART. The institution should screen for TB as early as possible and strictly follow their drug adherence.
A comparative analysis of biogas production from tomato bio-waste in mesophilic batch and continuous anaerobic digestion systems
Authors: Szilágyi Árpád , Bodor Attila , Tolvai Norbert , Kovács Kornél L. , Bodai László , Wirth Roland , Bagi Zoltán , Szepesi Ágnes , Markó Viktória , Kakuk Balázs , Bounedjoum Naila , Rákhely Gábor
Published: March 2021

Annually, agricultural activity produces an enormous amount of plant biomass by-product. Many studies have reported the biomethane potential of agro-industrial wastes, but only a few studies have investigated applying the substrates in both batch and continuous mode. Tomato is one of the most popular vegetables globally; its processing releases a substantial amount of by-product, such as stems and leaves. This study examined the BMP of tomato plant (Solanum lycopersicumMill. L. cv. Alfred) waste. A comparative test revealed that the BMPs of corn stover, tomato waste,and their combination were approximately the same, around 280 mL methane/g Volatile Solid. In contrast, the relative biogas production decreased in the presence of tomato waste in a continuous mesophilic anaerobic digestion system; the daily biogas productions were 860 ± 80, 290 ± 50, and 570 ± 70 mL biogas/gVolatile Solid/day in the case of corn stover, tomato waste, and their mixture, respectively. The methane content of biogas was around 46–48%. The fermentation parameters of the continuous AD experiments were optimal in all cases; thus, TW might have an inhibitory effect on the microbial community. Tomato plant materials contain e.g. flavonoids, glycoalkaloids (such as tomatine and tomatidine), etc. known as antimicrobial and antifungal agents. The negative effect of tomatine on the biogas yield was confirmed in batch fermentation experiments. Metagenomic analysis revealed that the tomato plant waste caused significant rearrangements in the microbial communities in the continuously operated reactors. The results demonstrated that tomato waste could be a good mono-substrate in batch fermentations or a co-substrate with corn stover in a proper ratio in continuous anaerobic fermentations for biogas production. These results also point to the importance of running long-term continuous fermentations to test the suitability of a novel biomass substrate for industrial biogas production.
PhotoModPlus: A web server for photosynthetic protein prediction from genome neighborhood features
Authors: Sangphukieo Apiwat , Laomettachit Teeraphan , Ruengjitchatchawalya Marasri
Published: March 2021

A new web server called PhotoModPlus is presented as a platform for predicting photosynthetic proteins via genome neighborhood networks (GNN) and genome neighborhood-based machine learning. GNN enables users to visualize the overview of the conserved neighboring genes from multiple photosynthetic prokaryotic genomes and provides functional guidance on the query input. In the platform, we also present a new machine learning model utilizing genome neighborhood features for predicting photosynthesis-specific functions based on 24 prokaryotic photosynthesis-related GO terms, namely PhotoModGO. The new model performed better than the sequence-based approaches with an F1 measure of 0.872, based on nested five-fold cross-validation. Finally, we demonstrated the applications of the webserver and the new model in the identification of novel photosynthetic proteins. The server is user-friendly, compatible with all devices, and available atbicep.kmutt.ac.th/photomod.
Implementation status of morbidity and mortality conferences in Austrian hospitals-A cross-sectional national survey study
Authors: Tuca Alexandru-Cristian , Münch Johanna , Schwappach David L. B. , Borenich Andrea , Banfi Chiara , Mautner Selma , Hoffmann Magdalena , Schwarz Christine , Kamolz Lars-Peter , Brunner Gernot , Sendlhofer Gerald
Published: March 2021

Introduction

Morbidity and mortality conferences (M&MCs) are an instrument for learning from past complications, unexpected follow-ups and deaths in hospitals and are important for improving patient safety. However, there are currently no quantitative data on the implementation of M&MCs in Austria. The aim of the study was to determine the status quo of the M&MCs in Austria.

Materials and methods

A national cross-sectional study was conducted by means of a survey of 982 chief physicians of surgical disciplines, internal medicine, anesthesiology, intensive care, gynecology/obstetrics and pediatrics. The questionnaire focused on overall goals, structure and procedures of hospital M&MCs.

Results

Of the 982 contacted chief physicians, 314 (32.0%) completed the survey. Almost two thirds of the respondents, i.e. 203 (64.7%), had already implemented M&MCs. Of the 111 chief physicians who had not yet introduced M&MCs, 62 (55.9%) were interested in introducing such conferences in the future. Of the 203 respondents that had implemented M&MCs, 100 stated that their M&MC could be improved. They reported issues with "shame and blame" culture, hierarchical structures, too little knowledge about the capability of M&MC and, in particular, time constraints. Overall, the participating chief physicians showed that they are striving to improve their existing M&MCs.

Discussion/Conclusion

While we found a relatively high number of already implemented M&MCs we also identified a large heterogeneity in the format of the M&MCs. A highly structured M&MC including guidelines, checklists or templates does not only considerably improve its outcome but can also alleviate the main limiting factor which is the lack of time.
Interpretation of the absorbed constituents and pharmacological effect of Spica Schizonepetae extract on non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Wang Shuai , Yang Xinxin , Wang Wei , Zhang Yunkun , Li Tianjiao , Zhao Lin , Bao Yongrui , Meng Xiansheng
Published: March 2021

As a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with a usage history of over 2,000 years in China, Spica Schizonepetae possesses definite clinical activity in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, its active ingredients and mechanism of action remain unclear at present. The further exploration of its active components and underlying mechanism will provide a basis for the development of candidate anti-tumor drugs. Our previous study explored the chemical constituents of Spica Schizonepetae extract (SSE). On this basis, molecular networking technology was applied in analyzing the QTOF-MS/MS data of rat plasma after intragastric administration of SSE using the GNPS database platform. A total of 26 components were found, including 9 proterotype components and 17 metabolites, which revealed the potential active ingredients of SSE. Later, the Lewis lung cancer mouse model was established, and the inhibition rate and histopathological sections were used as the indicators to investigate the anti-tumor effect of SSE, whereas the body weight, survival rate, thymus index and spleen index served as the indicators to explore the pharmacological effects of SSE on improving mouse immunity. The results showed that SSE had comparable anti-tumor efficacy to cisplatin, which enhanced the immunity, improved the quality of life, and extended the survival time of lung cancer mice. Furthermore, human A549 lung tumor cells were selected to explore the mechanism of SSE in treating NSCLC based on cell metabonomics. After data mining by the MPP software, 23 differential endogenous metabolites were identified between SSE and tumor groups. Moreover, results of pathway enrichment analysis using the MetaboAnalyst 4.0 software indicated that these metabolites were mainly enriched in four metabolic pathways (p < 0.1). By adopting the network pharmacology method, the metabolic pathways discovered by cell metabolomics were verified against the ChEMBL, STITCH, UniProt and TCGA databases, and differences in the underlying mechanism between cells and humans were found. It was proved that SSE affected the metabolism of purine, arachidonic acid and histidine to exert the anti-tumor efficacy. Furthermore, the multi-target, multi-pathway, and immunoenhancement mechanism of SSE in anti-tumor treatment was revealed, which provided a scientific basis for new drug development and the rational application of Spica Schizonepetae in clinic.
A heterochromatin inducing protein differentially recognizes self versus foreign genomes
Authors: Burton Eric M. , Akinyemi Ibukun A. , Frey Tiffany R. , Xu Huanzhou , Li Xiaofan , Su Lai Jing , Zhi Jizu , McIntosh Michael T. , Bhaduri-McIntosh Sumita
Published: March 2021

Krüppel-associated box-domain zinc finger protein (KRAB-ZFP) transcriptional repressors recruit TRIM28/KAP1 to heterochromatinize the mammalian genome while also guarding the host by silencing invading foreign genomes. However, how a KRAB-ZFP recognizes target sequences in the natural context of its own or foreign genomes is unclear. Our studies on B-lymphocytes permanently harboring the cancer-causing Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) have shown that SZF1, a KRAB-ZFP, binds to several lytic/replicative phase genes to silence them, thereby promoting the latent/quiescent phase of the virus. As a result, unless SZF1 and its binding partners are displaced from target regions on the viral genome, EBV remains dormant, i.e. refractory to lytic phase-inducing triggers. As SZF1 also heterochromatinizes the cellular genome, we performed in situ footprint mapping on both viral and host genomes in physically separated B-lymphocytes bearing latent or replicative/active EBV genomes. By analyzing footprints, we learned that SZF1 recognizes the host genome through a repeat sequence-bearing motif near centromeres. Remarkably, SZF1 does not use this motif to recognize the EBV genome. Instead, it uses distinct binding sites that lack obvious similarities to each other or the above motif, to silence the viral genome. Virus mutagenesis studies show that these distinct binding sites are not only key to maintaining the established latent phase but also silencing the lytic phase in newly-infected cells, thus enabling the virus to establish latency and transform cells. Notably, these binding sites on the viral genome, when also present on the human genome, are not used by SZF1 to silence host genes during latency. This differential approach towards target site recognition may reflect a strategy by which the host silences and regulates genomes of persistent invaders without jeopardizing its own homeostasis.
Rev. John Burton frames the Fiji Methodist Mission, 1924
Authors: Weir Christine
Published: March 2021

In his role as General Secretary of the Australasian Methodist Missionary Society in the 1920s and 1930s, Reverend John W. Burton travelled each winter to one of the ‘mission fields’ in the South Pacific to inspect the mission’s activities, and to encourage and advise. Accompanying him was his camera; Burton had long been an enthusiastic photographer. Following his 1924 visit to Fiji he created two albums of his photographs, one illustrating the indigenous Fijian mission, the other the Indian mission. This article focuses on the ‘social biography’ of the photographs, and examines Burton’s choice and balance of subjects in each album, which cover educational and other mission activities, village and town scenes, landscapes and individual and group portraits. It also considers the placement and message in context of many of the individual photographs when they were later reproduced to illustrate stories in the mission magazine, Missionary Review, of which Burton was the Editor.
Early Māori photography as commodified object: Mementoes, miniatures and material culture
Authors: Conrich Ian
Published: March 2021

During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, there was a boom in the different forms of material culture of the photographic image with the emergence of cheap methods for its mass (re)production. The material culture extended into postcards, illustrated books, magic lantern slides and stereoviews, but also into the much-less discussed area of souvenir china. These commodified objects of illustrated porcelain were popular mementoes of places visited, physical reminders of spaces encountered, made possible through newly developing modes of leisure culture and organized travel. Edwardian New Zealand was no exception, where images of the Māori were a striking presence within its visual culture. This was a country that was beginning to promote its cultural uniqueness partly through its Indigenous population, with early tourism literature referring to the country as Maoriland. New Zealand souvenirs depicted images of the Māori and Māoritanga (Māori culture) on decorative china essentially for consumption by local tourists and travellers. This article considers these commodified objects in the context of photography as material culture, exploring their social biography and the manner in which the images were reproduced and altered. It contends that in addressing keepsake china as objects bearing photographic images, and in positioning these souvenirs as popular artefacts within a scopic culture, a more complex argument of variant readings emerges.
Out of the box, onto the web: Digitizing images in the Tuzin Archive for Melanesian Anthropology
Authors: Garcia-Spitz Cristela , Creely Kathryn
Published: March 2021

How are ethnographic photographs from the twentieth century accessed and represented in the twenty-first century? This report from the Tuzin Archive for Melanesian Anthropology at the University of California San Diego Library provides an overview of the photographic materials, arrangements and types of documentation in the archive, followed by summaries of specific digitization projects of the photographs from physician Sylvester Lambert and anthropologists Roger Keesing and Harold Scheffler, among others. Through the process of digitization and online access, ethnographic photographs are transformed and may be discovered and contextualized in new ways. Utilizing new technologies and forming broad collaborations, these digitization projects incorporate both anthropological and archival practices and also raise ethical questions. This is an in-depth look at what is digitized and how it is described to re/create meaning and context and to bring new life to these images.
Researching early photography of the Pacific Islands: An overview
Authors: Quanchi Max
Published: March 2021

Historical research on the early years of photography in the Pacific Islands has revealed changes in the practice of photography, the development of Pacific imagery, tropes and stereotypes and changes in the ways images were distributed, archived and used in modern contexts. Research in the field was initially focused on photography’s indexical nature and the role of professional and amateur photographers, travellers, colonial officials and missionaries. The research highlighted here, only in the English language and excluding Aotearoa/New Zealand, reveals how later analyses have begun to grow more theoretical, in keeping with postcolonial approaches to reading cross-cultural representation, and how new directions in research point towards the nature of Indigenous engagement with early photography.
Te Ao Tawhito: The Old World 3000 bc–ad 1830, Atholl Anderson (2018)
Authors: Jones Nicholas , Muru-Lanning Charlotte , Muru-Lanning Marama
Published: March 2021

Review of: Te Ao Tawhito: The Old World 3000 bc–ad 1830, Atholl Anderson (2018)

Wellington: Bridget Williams Books, 216 pp.,

ISBN 978 1 98853 335 3 (pbk), NZ$59.99

 

Te Ao Hou: The New World 1820–1920, Judith Binney, Vincent O’Malley and Alan Ward (2018)

Wellington: Bridget Williams Books, 200 pp.,

ISBN 978 1 98853 340 7 (pbk), NZ$59.99

 

Te Ao Hurihuri: The Changing World 1920–2014, Aroha Harris with Melissa Matutina Williams (2018)

Wellington: Bridget Williams Books, 176 pp.,

ISBN 978 1 98853 345 2 (pbk), NZ$59.99
Successes and failures in Hungarian family businesses
Authors: Repisky Máté , Málovics Éva , Farkas Gergely
Published: March 2021

Family business researchers widely investigated the loss or the threatened loss of socioemotional wealth. Another growing theme within entrepreneurship is the consequences of business failures affecting entrepreneurs. However, these two fields rarely overlapped. The aim of this study was to explore different challenging events’ effects on the family entrepreneurs and to identify the factors that can determine the successfulness of the coping strategies. In this study, we present three case studies about family enterprises, which went through a challenging period and balanced between failure and success. In two cases the main challenges rooted in familiness of the enterprises and in the third case the challenge came from external regulatory change. The two inner challenges were generated by the retirement of the founder and the divorce between the two owners. We could observe both successful and partially successful coping strategies, but the common point was that all of them were strongly rooted in the socio-emotional wealth of family businesses.
Overcoming methodological issues in measuring financial literacy of companies, a proposed measurement model
Authors: Kuruczleki Éva
Published: March 2021

In the past decade, individual and company financial literacy measurement methods went through substantial changes. To investigate factors contributing to financial literacy of both individuals and firms, scholars needed to reach out for new measurement methods other than the traditional knowledge tests widely used previously. This paper provides a synthesis of the most recent studies concerning both individual and company financial literacy regarding the dimensions of financial literacy and methods available for measuring and modelling financial literacy. The results highlight new emerging trends in the assessment: qualitative methods (e. g. interviews and case studies), for getting insight into very special segments of financial literacy, and more elaborate and complex models, such as OLS regression, bivariate and multivariate logit and probit models, which provide effective ways to get a deeper understanding of the interaction of factors forming and determining financial literacy both at the individual at company level. However, even though the toolkit of measuring financial literacy is getting richer and richer, the connection between the individual and firm-level models seem to be nonexistent. This paper proposes a measurement model with the help of which company financial literacy can be measured through the assessment of individuals and their relationship contributing to firm-level financial decisions.
Investments in an intelligent and digital future
Authors: Marciniak Róbert , Móricz Péter , Baksa Máté
Published: March 2021

Over the past few years, there has been an avalanche of new digital technologies in the business services sector, many of which proved to be disruptive. Business service centres (BSCs) even in innovative industries like information and communication technology (ICT) find it highly challenging to accommodate these changes. New technological solutions transform consumer needs, shape organizational processes, and alter the way employees cooperate in a computerized environment. These changes make it inevitable for companies to adjust their business models. In this paper, we present a case study of IT Services Hungary Ltd., a Hungarian based BSC in the ICT industry. We carried out semi-structured interviews with the CEO and four senior technology experts of the company to analyse digital transformation plans they initiated. We investigated and now reveal three projects through which they implemented cognitive automation, cloud computing, and advanced cybersecurity technologies. We also describe the general organizational, financial, employment, and motivational background of these projects at IT Services Hungary Ltd. With this paper, we aim to present transferable best practices and appealing management efforts to invest in an intelligent and digital future.
Comparative analysis of the innovation system of Kazakhstan
Authors: Shakenova Ainur
Published: March 2021

In the modern world, economic growth is closely linked to the development of innovation. Today, to become an economically developed country, it is necessary to invest in innovation and improve factors that have a direct impact on innovation activity. However, the significant problem in innovation is the gap among the industrialized countries, countries with economies in transition, and developing countries. This study focuses on a country with a transition economy – Kazakhstan, and its ability to make an innovation breakthrough. In search of the indicators influencing innovation activity in Kazakhstan, we drew on the methodology of the European Innovation Scoreboard. Through data harmonization, we found Kazakh indicators and compared them with European indicators. This empirical result allows us to draw conclusions on the importance of human resources in science, and of fast-growing enterprises with innovation activity. The growth in R&D expenditure also positively affected Kazakh innovation in line with world practice. In this way, the quality improvement of some key factors is positively affecting the growth of many innovative indicators in Kazakhstan. The contribution of this empirical result allowed us to compare Kazakhstan with European Union countries through the European system of innovation estimation.
Drivers of productivity differences in the Hungarian manufacturing sector 2014–2017
Authors: Juhász Péter , Reszegi Lászó , Hajdu Miklós
Published: March 2021

Earlier research proved the existence of multilayer dualities within the Hungarian Economy. Based on these findings, this paper examines the driving forces of productivity differences comparing two groups in Hungarian manufacturing sector: locally owned and foreign-owned companies. The cluster analysis and the panel regression based on financial data of 1725 firms for the period 2014 to 2017 revealed that, while crucial driving forces may match, their direction and importance differ considerably. While foreign companies have an apparent advantage in productivity, their increase in export ratio correlates with lower efficiency; in contrast, export intensity boosts the efficiency of the locally owned companies. While the proportion of highly trained workforce correlates with productivity, this effect appears to be weaker in foreign-owned companies, which signals inefficient use of intellectual resources. These results raise questions regarding the efficacy of the current Hungarian economic policy of promoting foreign investments (FDIs).
Livestock product supply and factor demand responsiveness
Authors: Kibara Manyeki John , Szakálné Kanó Izabella , Kotosz Balázs
Published: March 2021

Despite there being incredible challenges in enhancing livestock development in Kenya, this article isolates product supply and factors input demand responsiveness as the main constraints facing the smallholder. A flexible-Translog profit function permits the application of dual theory in the analysis of livestock product supply and factor demand responsiveness using farm-level household data. The results indicate that own-price elasticities were elastic for cattle, while goat and sheep were inelastic. Cross-price and scale elasticities were found to be within inelastic range in all cases, with the goat being a preferred substitute for cattle. All factor inputs demand elasticities were inelastic with the exception of elastic cattle output prices and labour cost. Thus, the recommended policy option would be supportive pro-pastoral price policies, enhanced investment in pastureland improvement and an increasing wage rate, since these assume key significance in improving the livestock production/marketing.
Az oksági homályosság relatív nézőpontja – egy új megközelítés
Authors: Bakonyi Zoltán
Published: March 2021

Az információs aszimmetriával foglalkozó gazdálkodástudományi irodalom egy ritkán tárgyalt területe az oksági homályosság, melyet a szerző jelen tanulmányában az erőforrás-alapú elmélet keretein belül tárgyal. A dolgozat központi gondolata az, hogy az információs probléma a vállalaton belül és azon kívül egyaránt jelentkezik, melyet ugyanazon jelenség, az oksági homályosság eredményez. Az elemzés központi hipotézise az, hogy míg a külső oksági homályosság (másolhatósági korlátként) előnyt jelenthet a vállalat számára, addig a belső (információs korlátként) hátrányt okozhat. Ahhoz, hogy ezt a látszólag egymásnak ellentmondó állítást igazolja, a szerző bevezeti az oksági homályosság relatív megközelítését. Az utolsó fejezetben olyan menedzsmentmódszereket (keresztfunkcionális csoportok, információs rendszerek, megegyezéses eredménycélokkal történő vezetés) mutat be röviden, melyekkel lehetséges az oksági homályosság eredményezte kihívások kezelése.
Atenção Primária à Saúde
Authors: Faquim Juliana Pereira da Silva , Guerra Lucia Dias da Silva , Carnut Leonardo , Zilbovicius Celso
Published: March 2021

Com a descoberta do novo agente do coronavírus em dezembro de 2019 na China, denominado SARS-CoV-2, a Covid-19 disseminou-se em inúmeros países e levou a Organização Mundial da Saúde – OMS a declarar a doença como uma pandemia. Assim, a Atenção Primária à Saúde – APS no Brasil, compreendida para além da porta de entrada dos usuários nos sistemas de saúde, representa um modelo assistencial de reorientação e organização de um sistema de saúde integrado com garantia de atenção que tem, nesse momento, um papel importante no enfrentamento da pandemia. A crise vivenciada pelo Brasil não é apenas sanitária, mas política, social e econômica, com a piora nas condições de vida da população, sobretudo, dos mais vulneráveis. Então, o esforço não é apenas para conter uma cadeia de transmissão do vírus e seus desdobramentos, mas deve ser também no campo econômico e social visando o fortalecimento de políticas públicas voltadas para o investimento em saúde pública, proteção da vida, redução das desigualdades sociais e reconstrução das bases éticas de convivência em tempos de necessária solidariedade social. É importante, assim, discutir o lugar da Atenção Primária à Saúde na pandemia tendo como referência os bastidores políticos e considerando que esta tem potencial capacidade de redução das iniquidades em saúde e deve, portanto, ser fortalecida e estruturada. Temáticas como financiamento do Sistema Único de Saúde – SUS, flexibilização das leis trabalhistas, ferramentas de proteção social, valorização e investimento na ciência e tecnologia precisam ocupar o centro das discussões com o foco na APS. Para contribuir com esse debate, o objetivo desta proposta foi promover uma webconferência com o tema: “Atenção Primária à Saúde: desvelando os bastidores políticos e o seu lugar na pandemia covid-19”.
Percepções acerca de itinerários de práticas educativas interprofissionais em saúde
Authors: Rennó Junqueira Simone , Zilbovicius Celso , Carvalho Yara Maria de , Ferreira Gomes Lígia
Published: March 2021

A partir de programas indutores do Ministério da Saúde, em parceria com a Secretaria Municipal da Saúde do município de São Paulo, Brasil, a Universidade de São Paulo promove experiências interprofissionais de formação integradas com os serviços públicos de saúde na graduação e na pós-graduação. Este artigo trata do percurso de iniciativas originárias destes programas indutores, inseridas em cursos estruturados em modelos pedagógicos tradicionais. São exemplos uma disciplina optativa de graduação, realizada em Unidade Básica de Saúde e oferecida a estudantes de todas as áreas e o Mestrado Profissional Formação Interdisciplinar em Saúde. O cenário pedagógico mais integrado à realidade do Sistema Único de Saúde – SUS permite uma prática educativa interprofissional e serve, portanto, como uma nova estratégia de ensino-aprendizagem, mais problematizadora e com novos participantes. Espera-se da universidade o reconhecimento e o apoio a essas iniciativas de formação interprofissional para que se possa investigar e avaliar programas, projetos e serviços, bem como que essas vivências se tornem um espaço de formação e educação permanente que possam contribuir para uma prática mais completa e voltada às necessidades de saúde da sociedade.
Jefimenko Equations in Computation of Electromagnetic Fields for Lightning Discharges
Authors: Adhikari Pitri Bhakta , Bhandari Bishal
Published: March 2021

The practicality of the Jefimenko equations in computations of electric fields, from lightning, was analyzed. The general Jefimenko equations are derived from Maxwell’s equation. Different processes for the computations of electromagnetic fields due to lightning was compared with the generalized three dimensional Jefimenko equations. The applications of these generalized equations in the field of electricity and magnetism were assessed.
Stationary and Dynamical Solutions of the Gross-Pitaevskii Equation for a Bose-Einstein Condensate in a PT symmetric Double Well
Authors: Cartarius Holger , Dast Dennis , Haag Daniel , Wunner Günter , Eichler Rüdiger , Main Jorg
Published: March 2021

We investigate the Gross-Pitaevskii equation for a Bose-Einstein condensate in a PT symmetric double-well potential by means of the time-dependent variational principle and numerically exact solutions. A one-dimensional and a fully three-dimensional setup are used. Stationary states are determined and the propagation of wave function is investigated using the time-dependent Gross-Pitaevskii equation. Due to the nonlinearity of the Gross-Pitaevskii equation the potential dependson the wave function and its solutions decide whether or not the Hamiltonian itself is PT symmetric. Stationary solutions with real energy eigenvalues fulfilling exact PT symmetry are found as well as PT broken eigenstates with complex energies. The latter describe decaying or growing probability amplitudes and are not true stationary solutions of the time-dependent Gross-Pitaevskii equation. However, they still provide qualitative information about the time evolution of the wave functions.
Krankheitszeichen und Stigma
Authors: Fangerau Heiner
Published: March 2021

Diagnostics - the recognition and naming of diseases - plays a key role in the contact between doctors and patients. In the nineteenth century, the diagnostic process underwent a central shift in both its theoretical conception and its practical implementation. The semiotics practiced until then, the »theory of signs«, which - with a prognostic orientation - primarily wanted to distinguish states of »health« and »sickness «, was replaced by diagnostics as a way of thinking in »disease patterns« and disease classifications. Symptoms as sensations became specific signs of illness through the interpretative work of the doctor. This article examines this historical change in sensory perception in diagnostics and asks how, in the late nineteenth century, sensory perceptions in medical diagnostics constituted body knowledge, social actions, and symbolic meaning in a given space and time. It is argued that, paradoxically, the claim to truth of a value-free medical diagnosis that was accomplished with certain senses and techniques did not lead to the dissolution of disease-related stigmatizing stereotypes, but on the contrary had the potential to turn diagnosis into an ineluctable verdict with social consequences.
Plano Municipal de Educação de Ananindeua-PA:
Authors: Silva José Augusto Lopes da , Rodrigues Ellen Cristina Carvalho
Published: March 2021

Tal artigo tem por objetivo discutir a formação e a valorização docente em Ananindeua-PA pelo viés do Plano Municipal de Educação (PME), em diálogo com o Plano Estadual de Educação do Pará (PEE-PA) e as metas 15, 16, 17 e 18 do Plano Nacional de Educação (PNE) de 2014-2024. Para tanto foi realizada uma pesquisa bibliográfica e documental, a fim de compreender como ocorre o planejamento e a implementação dessas políticas educacionais. O trabalho está dividido em três momentos: visão geral do município e dos principais aspectos educacionais; PNE e o que demanda sobre formação e valorização dos professores; PME de Ananindeua e o PEE-PA, no que tange às políticas voltadas para os profissionais da educação em contexto local. O não atendimento das metas e políticas voltadas para a área pode comprometer os avanços da educação no município.