bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance system, Kebbi State, Nigeria, 2013-2018
Authors: Bala Hashim Abdulmumin , Mohammed Yahaya , Barau Nyampa , Surajudeen Lukman , Ori Polycarp Uche
Published: October 2020

Background: Since 1988, the incidence of polio has reduced by more than 99 percent, worldwide, according to the WHO. Each year, more than 350,000 children were paralyzed, in more than 125 endemic countries. Today, only two countries are still having transmission of polio: Pakistan and Afghanistan. No wild poliovirus has been reported anywhere in Africa since 2016. A good and effective Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance system is necessary to detect any suspected case of polio to interrupt the transmission of polio within any country. We evaluated the AFP surveillance system to identify gaps in its operations.Methods: We used the updated CDC guidelines for evaluating public health surveillance systems and the WHO performance standards to assess the system. We also interviewed stakeholders using an adapted questionnaire, and a key informant interview. We also reviewed AFP surveillance data from 2013-2018. We summarized data using means, frequencies, and proportion.Results: A total of 49 respondents were interviewed. Of these, 47 (98%) reported case definitions as being easy to use, and case investigation forms as being easy to fill, 46 (97%) reported data tools could easily accommodate changes, and all the surveillance officers understand the case definition of AFP. All respondents were willing to continue with the system. The non-polio AFP rate (24.6-55.2), stool adequacy (95-99.7%), timeliness, and completeness of reporting were found to be consistently above the WHO minimum standard.Conclusion: The AFP surveillance system in Kebbi State was found to be useful, simple, flexible, acceptable, sensitive, representative, timely, and stable, though donor-driven. The absence of data on 60-day follow up and feedback from the laboratory was a major problem with the system.
More Than Smart Pavements: Connected Infrastructure Paves the Way for Enhanced Winter Safety and Mobility on Highways
Authors: Shi Xianming
Published: October 2020

Currently, there is an urgent demand for more cost-effective, resource-efficient and reliable solutions to address safety and mobility challenges on highways enduring snowy winter weather. To address this pressing issue, this commentary proposes that the physical and digital infrastructures should be upgraded to take advantage of emerging technologies and facilitate the vehicle-infrastructure integration (VII), to better inform decision-makers at various levels. Driven by the paradigm shift towards more automation and more intelligent transportation, it is time to reimagine the vehicle-infrastructure ecosystem with the cold-climate issues in mind, and to enhance communications and coordination among various highway users and stakeholders. This commentary envisages the deployment of vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technologies to bring about transformative changes and substantial benefits in terms of enhanced winter safety and mobility on highways. At the center of the commentary is a conceptualized design of next-generation highways in cold climates, including the existing infrastructure entities that are appropriate for possible upgrade to connected infrastructure (CI) applications, to leverage the immensely expanded data availability fueled by better spatial and temporal coverage. The commentary also advances the idea that CI solutions can augment the sensing capabilities and confidence level of connected or autonomous vehicles. The application scenarios of VII system is then briefly explored, followed by some discussion of the paradigm shift towards V2X applications and a look to the future including some identified research needs in the arena of CI. This work aims to inspire dialogues and synergistic collaborations among various stakeholders of the VII revolution, because the specific challenges call for systematic, holistic, and multidisciplinary approaches accompanied by concerted efforts in the research, development, pilot testing, and deployment of CI technologies.
Design and Management System of Intelligent Pension Space Positioning Based on BIM Technology
Authors: Yu Tiantian , Wang Ruping
Published: October 2020

With the continuous development of China's economy and the gradual improvement of the medical security system, people's living standards will also be improved, and the aging population will become an inevitable trend of social development in China. The imperfect design of home space positioning of medical and elderly care community makes the traditional family elderly care impacted. BIM technology can endow the space with wisdom,co-ordination,energy saving,and development in the design of smart elderly care space positioning,and provide favorable support for the design of new technology,new ideas,and new models for the elderly care space.This article mainly studies the design and implementation of smart pension space positioning under BIM technology.This paper introduces the frontier of Internet of Things technology and the theory of sensor network topology control.It uses basic IoT technology to implement the"point,line,and surface"combination of personnel placement algorithms,sensor network communication protocols,topology checks,security models,and sensor network wireless communication units.The basic technology and communication technology of personnel deployment based on BIM technology are introduced,the development strategy of wireless nodes is studied,the installation of equipment radio personnel and communication equipment is designed,and the system management platform for the design and development of staff placement in pension institutions is provided.The website's information service management,standardized procedures,optimized services,provision of information,intelligent management and pension services.The experimental results of this paper show that the smart pension space positioning under the BIM technology solves the management loopholes in nursing homes,shortage of nursing staff,inefficiency,lack of services,and family conflicts.It improves the efficiency of the elderly by 25%and the safety index by 23%-27%.It combines many things.Network,cloud computing and other technologies will provide greater convenience for the elderly in smart community life,which will be an important future development direction of smart community pension.
Determining the three-dimensional atomic structure of a metallic glass
Authors: Yang Yao , Zhou Jihan , Zhu Fan , Yuan Yakun , Chang Dillan , Kim Dennis , Pham Minh , Rana Arjun , Tian Xuezeng , Yao Yonggang , Osher Stanley , Schmid Andreas , Hu Liangbing , Ercius Peter , Miao Jianwei (John)
Published: October 2020

Amorphous solids such as glass are ubiquitous in our daily life and have found broad applications ranging from window glass and solar cells to telecommunications and transformer cores1,2. However, due to the lack of long-range order, the three-dimensional (3D) atomic structure of amorphous solids have thus far defied any direct experimental determination without model fitting3-13. Here, using a multi-component metallic glass as a proof-of-principle, we advance atomic electron tomography to determine the 3D atomic positions in an amorphous solid for the first time. We quantitatively characterize the short-range order (SRO) and medium-range order (MRO) of the 3D atomic arrangement. We find that although the 3D atomic packing of the SRO is geometrically disordered, some SRO connect with each other to form crystal-like networks and give rise to MRO. We identify four crystal-like MRO networks - face-centred cubic, hexagonal close-packed, body-centered cubic and simple cubic - coexisting in the sample, which show translational but no orientational order. These observations confirm that the 3D atomic structure in some parts of the sample is consistent with the efficient cluster packing model8,10-12,20. Looking forward, we anticipate this experiment will open the door to determining the 3D atomic coordinates of various amorphous solids, whose impact on non-crystalline solids may be comparable to the first 3D crystal structure solved by x-ray crystallography over a century ago14.
In situ wide-field visualization of palladium hydrogenation
Authors: Jin Chongjun , Fang Nicholas , She Xiaoyi , Du Huifeng , Shen Yang , Xin Rihui
Published: October 2020

Visualizing hydrogenation processes in metals in real-time is important to various hydrogen-involved applications. However, observing hydrogen diffusion was limited by transmission electron microscopy, and the kinetics of hydrogenation in the interior of the metals was not reported. Here we proposed an optical microscopy-based visualization of palladium hydrogenation from diffusion surface to the interior by introducing a fast-response mechanical platform that transforms the hydrogen diffusion into self-organized ordered wrinkles with sharp optical contrast. This platform is an Au/Pd double layer on elastomer which results in directional hydrogenation from sidewall to the interior. The kinetics of hydrogenation in the interior of the palladium along the diffusion direction was monitored in real-time. This platform will enable in-situ visualization of atom/ion diffusion on metals that are crucial in energy storage and hydrogen detection.
Effect of Boschniakia Rossica Extract on BMP-5 and ActRIIA in Mice Model of Kidney-Yang Deficient
Authors: Mu Fan-Song , Chen Min , Tian Meng-Fei , Feng Chang-Yin , Meng Xian-Ming , Luo Meng
Published: October 2020

Background Boschniakia rossica (Cham. & Schltdl.) B. Fedtsch. (Bu-Lao-Cao in Chinese name) is a famous Chinese traditional drug and mainly distributed in Korea, Japan, Russia, and China. The dried whole grass of Boschniakia rossica is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat kidney deficiency, yang deficiency, waist and knee aches and constipation. In order to quantify the active ingredients in B. rossica chinensis and body weight, clinical features and serum SOD and MDA activities, cAMP, cGMP, and testosterone (T), follicle-stimulating growth hormone (FSH), mouse bone morphogenetic protein-5 (BMP-5), mouse activin receptor IIA (ActRIIA) were measured to elucidate the mechanism underlying its treatment of kidney yang deficiency potential. Methods Extracts of B. rossica were evaluated by HPLC-MS analyses. Kidney-yang deficiency syndrome was induced in mouse with hydrocortisone (10 mg/Kg, 15d) and treated with B. rossica extract. The animals were treated orally with 3 doses of B. rossica extract: 1000, 500 and 250 mg/Kg, for 15 days. Body weight and clinical characteristics were recorded daily. For biochemical analyses, the following tests were performed: superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) activity, testosterone (T) content, follicle growth hormone (FSH) content, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) content, mouse bone morphogenetic protein-5 (BMP-5) content and activin receptor IIA (ActRIIA) content. Results Our study found that all the mice except the blank group showed significant systemic depletion caused by hydrocortisone. Low T content, low cAMP activity and high cGMP content were consistent with the physiological and biochemical indexes of kidney-yang deficiency syndrome. After oral gavage, the pathological conditions were improved in both the Positive group and the B. rossica groups.Conclusions The high-dose extract of B. rossica showed similar therapeutic effects as Jingui Shenqi Pill. The extract of B. rossica can be used to treat with hydrocortisone-induced kidney yang deficiency syndrome by increasing serum testosterone content and decreasing FSH content. More importantly, the experiment found that activin A and BMP-5 also have effects on kidney yang deficiency syndrome.
High Throughput Comparison of 13 Herbal Plants Extracted by Heat-Refluxed and Heat-Pressurized Extraction Techniques Using Chemometrics
Authors: Abdullah F. I. , Chua Lee Suan
Published: October 2020

BackgroundA reliable and effective extraction technique would be of great importance for high quality of herbal extracts. In particular, herbal extracts that are used for product development. MethodThirteen commonly used herbs of different families were selected and extracted using both heat-refluxed and heat-pressurized extraction methods for comparison. The yield and antioxidant capacity of the herbal extracts were compared and statistically analyzed for classification. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to reduce the dimensionality of mass spectrometric data generated by LC-MS/MS.ResultThe extraction yield was found to be higher in heat-refluxed extracts than those prepared by heat-pressurized system. Similarly, heat-refluxed system could produce herbal extracts with higher reducing power. Although majority of heat-pressurised extracts showed to have higher cation radical scavenging activity, the inhibition was mostly not more than 50%. The result of PCA revealed that only 22.4% and 16.1% of the total variance was recorded for the first two components from the total of 41 and 38 components for heat-refluxed and heat-pressurized extracts, respectively. Although low similarity among phytochemicals, the herbal extracts still could cluster according to their antioxidant capacity rather than the extraction technique. Herbal extracts with close phytochemical profiles were also located in the similar cluster of antioxidant assay. This explains the importance of phytochemicals contributing to the antioxidant capacity.ConclusionTo conclude, both extraction techniques were not comparable and the deviation of phytochemicals attributed to the difference in antioxidant capacity.
WITHDRAWN: Elucidating the mechanisms of Tibetan medicine Ershiwuwei Lvxue Pill in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis via a system pharmacological approach
Authors: Liu Chuan , Fan Fangfang , Zhong Lu , Li Ning , Zhang Yunsen , Su Jinsong , Chu Qiqi , Tang Ce , Zhang Yi , Tu Ya
Published: October 2020

Background: Ershiwuwei Lvxue Pill (ELP, མགྲིན་མཚལ་ཉེར་ལྔ།), a traditional Tibetan medicine preparation, has been used hundreds of years for the clinical treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Tibet, China. Nevertheless, its chemical compositions and therapeutic mechanism are unclear. Methods: In this work, a system pharmacological approach based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS), network pharmacology and molecular docking simulation was proposed for exploring the promising bioactive compounds and mechanisms for the treatment of RA.Results: For the first time, the compounds database of ELP was successfully established and 96 compounds were identified based on UPLC-Q-TOF/MS analysis. Among them, 22 bioactive compounds were screened according to ADME, oral bioavailability and drug likeness. Screening based on relevant databases and topological analysis revealed that 22 bioactive ingredients participated in 46 potential target proteins and 12 signaling pathways in RA. The functional enrichment analysis indicated that ELP exerted the anti-RA effects via synergistically regulating multiple biological nodes of the disease network. In that, 10 targets with high degree value including IL6, TNF, TP53, AKT1, JUN, VEGFA, MAPK3, STAT3, IL1β and PTGS2. The pathways with greater p-value contribution are PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, Cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, JAK-STAT signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway and Toll-like receptor signaling pathway. In addition, good molecular docking scores were highlighted between five promising bioactive compounds (ellagic acid, quercetin, kaempferol, galangin, coptisine) and five core targets (PTGS2, STAT3, VEGFA, MAPK3, TNF). Conclusion: Overall, the present work revealed the material basis and potential mechanism of ELP treatment on RA and provides insight for further research. However, further studies are needed to validate the biological processes and effect pathways of ELP.
Clinical Effects of Polymyxin B in Patients infected with Carbapenem-resistant organisms
Authors: Li Guo-Hua , Lu Qiong , Qu Qiang , Zhu Hai-Hong , Li Hang , Ou-Yang Zhan-Bo , Wu Wen-Qiang , Wang Jiao-Jiao , Qi Ting-Ting , Yan Han , Yuan Hai-Yan , Qu Jian
Published: October 2020

Purpose: Carbapenem-resistant organisms (CROs) pose great challenges for clinical treatment. Polymyxin B (PMB) is one of the “last resort” choices of CRO infections. We explored the possible factors affecting PMB efficacy. Methods: This retrospective study involved CRO infected patients treated with PMB for ≥72 h. The endpoint indicator was clinical efficacy. We compared the characteristics (demographics, pathogenic bacteria, PMB treatment) between patients who had “clinical success” (CS) and “clinical failure” (CF).Results: A total of 192 patients were enrolled: 110 in the CS group and 82 in the CF group. The total cumulative dose for the CS group was higher than the CF group [1100 (700–1443.75) vs. 800 (500–1112.5) mg; P = 0.001]. Treatment duration in the CS group was longer than the CF group [11 (8–14) vs. 8 (6–11) days; P < 0.000]. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed mechanical ventilation, vasoactive agents, multiple-site infection, and total cumulative dose to be independently associated with clinical efficacy. Cox survival analysis for 30-day mortality also showed that the use of vasoactive agents and the total cumulative dose of PMB could influence survival time and mortality rate independently.Conclusion: PMB had good efficacy and a low prevalence of adverse reactions. The total cumulative dose，duration of PMB treatment, mechanical ventilation, vasoactive agents, and multiple-site infection were factors associated with the clinical efficacy of PMB.
The global usage rate of bed nets during the last ten years: a systematic review and  meta-analysis
Authors: Mahmoud Mona Hanafy , Chikuni Ruth L. , Tawfik Gehad Mohamed , Rashidy Asmaa Ibrahim , Salama Ahmed Elsayad , Sulaiman Loai Jalal , Simakechula Chikuni Gelly , Sayed Ahmed Magdy , AlFadaly Mahmoud Ali , AL-Manaseer Balqees Mahmoud , Abdelghany Seif Mahmoud , Ali Fatma Elzahraa Yasser , Elsergany Mohamed M. , Shakaria Rana Hesham , Mohamed Hadeir Said , Mohamed Yara Mahmoud , Khalifa Ahmed Mohamed , Biala Marwa Isa , Abdelrahman Abdelrahman Hamdy , Abulnaga Mahmoud Abdulmonem , Abozaid Ali Ahmed-Fouad , Abdelsattar Mostafa Khaled , Quang Loc Le , Thuong Nguyen Dinh , Desokey Mohammed Salah , Mostafa Esraa Mahmoud , Islam Sheikh Mohammed Shariful , Moji Kazuhiko , Huy Nguyen Tien
Published: October 2020

Background: Malaria is an endemic disease especially in tropical areas transmitted by Anopheles mosquito through their bites. Therefore, bednets are one of the best methods for protection against their bites. However, many regions have limited access to bednets and limited knowledge about their importance. Objectives: Primary objectives were to estimate bednet possession and usage rate for last 10 years. Secondary objectives aimed to calculate the prevalence of specific bednets’ types.Methods: We performed an electronic search on 12 databases, and 106 studies were included obeying the criteria. Results: 106 studies included in our meta-analysis. Study participants were mostly from Africa while a few from Asia and southern America. Overall bednet ownership rate per households among countries was 72.1% (95% CI: 62.9-79.7) while per individuals was 52.5% (95% CI: 37-67.4). In addition, overall bednet usage rate per households among countries was 41.2% (95% CI: 25.1-59.3) same as bednet usage per individuals.Conclusion: Our study suggests that the bednet ownership and usage rate among different countries are less satisfactory, hence not maximizing the potential benefit of the bed net. There is a crucial need to increase awareness towards the bednet usage across endemic areas and implement programs for free distribution of bednets.
High Cell Density Cultivation of A Recombinant Bacillus Subtilis for Nattokinase Production
Authors: Zhang Jianhua , Cui Qing , Qian Bingjun , Sun Xiangjun
Published: October 2020

Background: Nattokinase (NK), a fibrinolytic enzyme, can be produced by culturing recombinant Bacillus subtilis in Luria-Bertani broth in a shaking flask. For use as a nutraceutical, however, a large-scale preparation and a simple purification process are required.Results: The present study utilized a fed-batch process to cultivate a B. subtilis strain carrying a pHT01 plasmid with an NK-encoding gene (B. subtilis/pHT01-aprN1). For batch A (FB A), with a pH-stat two-stage fermentation strategy, we achieved an activity of 2910.5 ± 21.6 U mL-1 and a specific activity of 30.32 U ml-1 OD600-1. Then, we changed the strategy with a later induction and lower feeding rate to pursue higher cell density and thus higher enzyme activity, a 11.9-fold activity of 4521.8 ± 23.8 U mL-1 was acquired, however, the specific activity was lower than FB A. For the third batch, low-glycerol-level-maintain feeding strategy was followed, and finally, a NK activity of 7778 ±17.28 U mL-1 was obtained, according to our knowledge, it was the highest activity assayed by the fibrin plate method ever reported. Furthermore, fermentation supernatant was successively purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation and nickel column affinity chromatography with a total NK recovery rate of 65.2%.Conclusions: Our results indicate that there is a balance between the cell growth rate and NK expression when recombinant Bacillus subtilis is cultured with a fed-batch process. The equilibrium state can be attained by optimizing the induction and feeding strategy, and thus a high cell density and enzyme activity can be achieved.
Exposure to negative socio-emotional events induces sustained alteration of resting-state brain networks in the elderly
Authors: Lugo Sebastian Baez , Deza-Araujo Yacila , Collette Fabienne , Vuilleumier Patrik , Klimecki Olga
Published: October 2020

While basic emotional functions seem preserved in the elderly, adaptive brain mechanisms required to cope with socio-emotional stressful events remain unresolved and scarcely investigated in this population. To evaluate how the aging brain reacts during and after emotionally challenging social events, we designed a new "task-rest" paradigm in which elderly participants (N=127) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while exposed to socio-emotional videos. We unveil neural markers of "emotional inertia" in brain activity and connectivity following negative scenes. Exposure to others' suffering induced differential activations that lingered over time into the subsequent resting-state in regions of the default mode network (DMN). Moreover, emotional elicitation potentiated subsequent resting-state connectivity between posterior DMN and amygdala, which in turn was related to anxiety, rumination, and negative thoughts. These findings uncover brain mechanisms underlying emotional resilience and empathy in the elderly and may help understand how poor social stress regulation promotes neurodegenerative diseases.
Legacy-Based Targets for Tropical Forest Restoration
Authors: Loughlin Nicholas , Gosling William , Duivenvoorden Joost , Cuesta Francisco , Mothes Patricia , Montoya Encarni
Published: October 2020

Unparalleled levels of tropical forest restoration are required to counter decades of deforestation, minimise losses in biodiversity and aid in combating climate change. Restoration projects which disregard the temporal dimension (decades-centuries) risk restoring a degraded ecosystem, as our expectations of what is ‘normal’ diminish over generations. Actively incorporating ‘practical palaeo-reference ecosystems’ into restoration projects provide targets against which success can be measured.
Microsecond polarimetry of the repeating FRB 20180916B
Authors: Nimmo Kenzie , Hessels Jason , Keimpema Aard , Archibald Anne , Cordes James , Karuppusamy Ramesh , Kirsten Franz , Li Dongzi , Marcote Benito , Paragi Zsolt
Published: October 2020

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) exhibit a wide variety of spectral, temporal and polarimetric properties, which can unveil clues into their emission physics and propagation effects in the local medium. FRBs are challenging to study at very high time resolution due to the precision needed to constrain the dispersion measure, signal-to-noise limitations, and also scattering from the intervening medium. Here we present the high-time-resolution (down to 1 μs) polarimetric properties of four 1.7-GHz bursts from the repeating FRB 20180916B, which were detected in voltage data during observations with the European VLBI Network. In these bursts we observe a range of emission timescales spanning three orders of magnitude, the shortest component width reaching 3-4 μs (below which we are limited by scattering). We demonstrate that all four bursts are highly linearly polarised (≥ 80%), show no evidence for significant circular polarisation (≤ 15%), and exhibit a constant polarisation position angle during and between bursts. On short timescales (≤ 100 μs), however, there appear to be subtle (few degree) polarisation position angle variations across the burst profiles. These observational results are most naturally explained in an FRB model where the emission is magnetospheric in origin, as opposed to models where the emission originates at larger distances in a relativistic shock.
WITHDRAWN: The Anti-asthmatic Effect of Intratracheally Treated Mesenchymal Stem Cells via Modulation of Lung Macrophage Activation
Authors: Kang Hanbit , Mo Yosep , Shin Jaewoo , Kim Hye Young , Cho Sang-Heon , Kang Hye-Ryun
Published: October 2020

BackgroundMesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess immunomodulatory properties that provide therapeutic potential for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. While the therapeutic and clinical effects of MSCs are partially known, the effects of its administration to the airway in asthma, a chronic airway inflammatory disease, remain unclear.MethodsSix-week-old female BALB/c mice were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin. The effects of intratracheally administered umbilical cord MSCs were evaluated by measuring airway hyperresponsiveness, airway inflammatory cell analysis, histological analysis, flow cytometry, and quantitative real-time PCR. Furthermore, ex vivo experiments confirmed the effect of MSC treatment on macrophages that originated from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and were treated with interleukin (IL)-4 to induce M2 activation. Additionally, an in vitro transwell assay confirmed the effect of MSCs on macrophage activation through direct or indirect treatment using the CRL-2019 alveolar macrophage (AM) cell line.ResultsIntratracheal administration of MSCs significantly decreased the elevated levels of inflammatory cells and airway resistance in the murine asthma model. MSC administration also significantly decreased the numbers of Th2 cells, ILC2, and macrophages in the lungs of asthmatic mice. In particular, MHCII and CD86 expression was prominently reduced in dendritic cells and AMs following MSC treatment. Suppressed SiglecF+CD11c+CD11b- resident AMs, presenting strong negative correlation with type II inflammatory cells such as Th2 cells, ILC2, and eosinophils, were restored by intratracheal MSC treatment. Typical macrophage polarization to M2, particularly M2a, was significantly diminished. Expression levels of markers presenting M2 polarization and Th2 inflammation were decreased in the asthma model upon MSC administration. Ex vivo experiments of IL-4 treated AMs confirmed that MSC treatment reduced Il-12 and Tnfa expression as well as that of M2 markers such as Cd206 and Retnla. In vitro experiments of IL-4 treated AMs confirmed that both direct and indirect MSC treatments through transwells significantly reduced Il-5 and Il-13 expression. No difference between the two treatment methods was found.ConclusionsUmbilical cord MSCs appear to regulate pulmonary macrophages, suppress Th2 inflammation, and mediate anti-asthmatic effects via soluble mediators.
Alpha 1-antitrypsin as a Potential Biomarker for Diagnosing Major Depressive Disorder
Authors: Bai Shun-jie , Xie Jing , Chen Kunxia , Bai Huili , chen jian-jun
Published: October 2020

Background: Despite decades of intensive research on major depressive disorder (MDD), the pathogenesis of MDD is still unclear and the objectively diagnostic method remains unavailable. Therefore, we conducted this study to assess whether alpha 1-antitrypsin (AAT) could be a potential biomarker for diagnosing MDD.Methods: The levels of AAT, liver function-related indicators, renal function-related indicators, blood lipids-related indicators, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, homocysteine and transferrin were detected. The orthogonal partial least-squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) was used to find the differential variables, Random Forest was used to identify the simplified biomarker panel, and receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the identified panel.Results: The 86 MDD patients and 99 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. In total, we found nine differential variables between MDD patients and HCs, and a potential biomarker panel consisting of AAT, albumin (ALB) and apolipoprotein A1 (APOA) was identified. This panel could effectively separate MDD patients from HCs in two independent samples sets. The level of AAT was significantly negatively correlated with HDRS score and improved after antidepressant treatment. Meanwhile, MDD patients with suicide idea or behavior had significantly lower AAT levels compared to MDD patients without suicide idea or behavior.Conclusions: Our results suggested that AAT held the promise to become a potential biomarker for diagnosing MDD, and also might be a potential novel therapeutic target for MDD.
Proton Improves BED Compared With Photon Beam-based Partial Stereotactic Ablative Boost Radiotherapy for Large Non-small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Bai Yun , Zhao Zhilei , Gao Xianshu , Qin Shangbin , Liu Siwei , Zhao Bo , Ma Mingwei , Ren Xueying , Li Xiaoying , Qi Xin , Chen Jiayan , Xie Mu , Ding Xuanfeng
Published: October 2020

Purpose: Increased volume ratio of Biologic Effective Dose (BED) was associated with higher local control rate in a setting of large (greater than 5 cm) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) via photon partial stereotactic ablative boost radiotherapy (P-SABR). Taking advantage of unique physics characteristic of the Bragg peak, we exploit the potential dosimetric and clinical benefit of using proton P-SABR.Methods: Thirty patients’ CT structure set with large NSCLC previously treated with photon P-SABR were re-planned with three different treatment modalities: intensity modulated proton therapy (Proton-IMPT), proton volumetric modulated arc therapy (Proton-Arc) and photon volumetric modulated arc therapy (Photon-VMAT). Proton-Arc was mimicked with 8 to 14 beams (10 to 20 degree apart). Dosimetric metrics were compared among all of three treatment modalities in which tumor and organ at risks (OARs) doses were compared in volumes receiving >50% and ≤50% of the prescription dose, representing high- and low-dose regions, respectively. Normal Tissue Complication Probability (NTCP) of lungs and esophagus were compared as well.Results: In the high-dose region, mean doses of PTVs were 72.64 GyE, 80.42 GyE and 82.22 GyE and B90 (the ratio of BED>90GyE to the in-field tumor) were 71.17%, 86.59% and 87.32% for Photon-VMAT, Proton-IMPT and Proton-Arc plans, respectively (photon versus proton, p<0.05). In addition, proton plans could keep a similar OARs dose sparing in high-dose region. In stage N2 to N3 group, V50 of esophageal were comparable for the three treatment modalities (p>0.05). In the low-dose region, doses of OARs were reduced dramatically in proton plans compared with Photon-VMAT plans (p<0.05). The potential clinical benefit of utilizing Proton-IMPT will reduce the mean probability of symptomatic radiation pneumonitis by 61.63% and the mean probability of grade≥2 radiation-induced esophagitis by 50.00% in comparison with Photon-VMAT group (p<0.05).Conclusion: Higher BED inside the target could be achieved by using proton beam therapy with similar OARs dose sparing in high-dose region and significantly better OARs low dose sparing compared with photon techniques. Proton techniques has a potential role in the management of large NSCLC to increase the local control rate while reducing the side effect.
Grundrechte jenseits der «anthropologischen Schranke»?
Authors: Blattner Charlotte E. , Fasel Raffael N.
Published: October 2020

Im Jahr 2016 lancierte die Organisation Sentience Politics im Kanton Basel-Stadt eine Initiative mit dem Ziel, ein Grundrecht auf Leben und körperliche und geistige Unversehrtheit für nichtmenschliche Primaten in die Verfassung aufzunehmen. Diese Initiative wurde zum Gegenstand eines Rechtsstreits, der 2019 zu einem wegweisenden Urteil des kantonalen Verfassungsgerichts führte. Das Verfassungsgericht anerkannte die Kompetenz der Kantone, «den Kreis der Rechteinhaber über die anthropologische Schranke hinaus auszudehnen». Dieses Urteil wurde kürzlich vom Bundesgericht bestätigt. Die Autoren, die diesen Fall juristisch begleitet haben, geben in diesem Beitrag aus erster Hand Einblicke in die juristischen Strategien hinter der Initiative und besprechen die wichtigsten rechtlichen Entwicklungen im Rechtsstreit unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Urteils des Verfassungsgerichts Basel-Stadt.
A Theoretical Study On Factors Influencing Employees Performance, Rewards And Motivation Within Organisation
Authors: Mamun M. Z. A. , Khan M. Y. H.
Published: October 2020

Under modern conditions, human resources and their motivation to work are an essential component of the success of enterprises operating in a changing and global competitive environment. It is because of the interest of the company’s employees in the results of their work, provided that appropriate working conditions are created, it is possible to increase labor productivity, as well as improve the economic and financial performance of the company. The purpose of the article is to identify the factors that affect the efficiency of the company’s employees and encourage them to work. The results of systematization of scientific research have shown that high staff productivity is not possible without a system of rewards and motivation. The study of improving the efficiency of employees in the article is carried out in the following logical sequence: analyzed modern views on personnel management, studied the relationship between the structural elements of personnel management policy: efficiency, remuneration and motivation, developed a mechanism for managing staff efficiency. The methodological basis of this study is qualitative methods, which allowed to gain a deeper knowledge of the behavior of employees. Recommendations for building a system of personnel efficiency management are offered, which will allow to retain employees, increase labor potential, as well as improve the efficiency of the whole business. Emphasis is placed on the need to introduce not only material rewards, but also to take into account other components in building the company’s personnel policy: a favorable corporate environment, quality communication between employees and management, implementation of coaching, rational division of responsibilities between employees, participation in management decisions. The obtained results have practical significance and can be useful for the top management of the company in the context of strategic personnel management.

Keywords: employee performance, human resource management, motivation, organization, rewards.
Overcoming The Socio-Economic Consequences Of Military Conflict in Ukraine And The Impact Investment Of Post-Conflict Recovery Of Anti-Terrorist Operation
Authors: Yelnikova Julia , Kuzior Aleksandra
Published: October 2020

The article analyzes the socio-economic consequences of the armed conflict for the economic development of the ATO regions. The key problems related to the temporarily occupied territories were identified, the directions of their solution and the role that impact investment can play in this were specified. A dynamic analysis of indicators of socio-economic development of Ukrainian economy as a whole and in the regional context for the period from 2012 to 2019 was conducted. It is determined that the loss of territorial control has led to a significant deterioration of the economy in Ukraine; the assessment of losses of economic potential at the anti-terrorist operation zone was carried out. The social component of this issue is analyzed separately, namely, how the conflict affected the population, the loss of human capital, in particular due to mass displacement. These include human losses, forced displacement, destruction of physical infrastructure, disruption of so-called soft economic infrastructure (for example, existing links between sellers and consumers). Given the scale of losses and consequences, we can talk about a wide range of areas for impact investment, related to economic recovery in post-conflict regions. The article presents a list of steps to restore the occupied territories, which can be translated into the plane of solving socio-economic problems, as well as an assessment of the overall needs for the restoration of government-controlled areas of the ATO. This allowed us to conclude that the restoration of infrastructure is one of the most promising areas for attracting investment and implementing impact investment. However, a study of this area for investment revealed that not all areas will be cost-effective and attractive to investors. Therefore, the direction of impact investments immediately after the political settlement of the conflict in Donbass in infrastructure should be expected only in the field of telecommunications. Other sectors will receive private investment only after a few years of stability, so only public financial support and public investment policy should be considered a key source of funding.

Keywords: socio-economic consequences, recovery, military conflict, impact investment, loss assessment, development.
An Evaluation Of Corporate Sustainability In Context Of The Jevons
Authors: Biewendt Marcel , Blaschke Florian , Böhnert Arno
Published: October 2020

The successful implementation and continuous development of sustainable corporate-level solutions is a challenge. These are endeavours in which social, environmental, and financial aspects must be weighed against each other. They can prove difficult to handle and, in some cases, almost unrealistic. Concepts such as green controlling, IT, and manufacturing look promising and are constantly evolving. This paper aims to achieve a better understanding of the field of corporate sustainability (CS). It will evaluate the hypothesis by which Corporate Sustainability thrives, via being efficient, increasing the performance, and raising the value of the input of the enterprises to the resources used. In fact, Corporate Sustainability on the surface could seem to contradict the idea, which supports the understanding that it encourages the reduction of the heavy reliance on the use of natural resources, the overall environmental impact, and above all, their protection. To understand how the contradictory notion of CS came about, in this part of the paper, the emphasis is placed on providing useful insight to this regard. The first part of this paper summarizes various definitions, organizational theories, and measures used for CS and its derivatives like green controlling, IT, and manufacturing. Second, a case study is given that combines the aforementioned sustainability models. In addition to evaluating the hypothesis, the overarching objective of this paper is to demonstrate the use of green controlling, IT, and manufacturing in the corporate sector. Furthermore, this paper outlines the current challenges and possible directions for CS in the future.

Keywords: corporate sustainability, jevons paradox, efficiency side-effects, grey energy, rebound-effect.
The Hidden Cost of Supply Chain Disruptions: Case Study of the UK’s Automotive Sector
Authors: Escaith Hubert , Khorana Sangeeta , Kerr William A.
Published: October 2020

As the world economy has become increasingly integrated the spectre of transnational supply chains has become a central feature of globalisation. The smooth and unfettered working of transnational supply chains has facilitated efficiency increasing changes to business operations (such as just in time inventory management). The automotive sector worldwide has been at the forefront of internationally integrated supply systems. The European Union (EU) has, in part, been structured to reduce friction in Europe-wide supply chains through the single market. Transnational supply chains are at the heart of United Kingdom (UK) – EU trade, and the UK’s departure from the EU’s single market (Brexit) will increase friction in international trade. This case study of the UK’s automotive sector uses a social network approach to analyse supply chain linkages between the UK, EU and other trading partners, and how these could be impacted as a result of Brexit. We use data from Trade in Value Added (TiVA) and World Input-Output Database (WIOD) to map supply chains, estimate total value-added in exports and examine how Brexit is likely to impact the competitiveness of UK exports. Results confirm that the UK’s automotive sector is closely integrated with the EU. To offset the loss of UK’s export competitiveness after Brexit, trade facilitation measures complemented with a duty drawback scheme could be an option in the short run. Policy measures are, however, unlikely to replace the benefits of duty-free and frictionless access enjoyed under single market trading arrangements. This suggests that the UK automotive sector, which is primarily comprised of globally active firms, may have to reconfigure supply chain arrangements and in the long run alter how decisions pertaining to locations are made.

Keywords: Brexit, global value chains, input-output linkages, WIOD.
PROPHYLAXIS OF SCHOOL BULLYING AT TRAINING FUTURE TEACHERS OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES
Authors: Polishchuk Ganna
Published: October 2020

The article reveals the essence of bullying as a social aggression or social situation that arises in a group; psychological features of bullies, their victims and observers; modern types of bullying (physical, verbal, social, cyberbullying); psychological peculiarities of interpersonal relations of students of higher education institutions with experience of school bullying. The authors have conducted an experimental research with future foreign language teachers using the method of interpersonal perception in a conflict situation (A. Tatishcheva in the modification of O. Misenko) to clarify students' understanding of such concepts as "bullying" and "conflict" and they have analyzed the results. It was found, that only one fifth of the respondents (20.64 %) clearly understood the essential features of the "conflict" concept, and have understood the mechanisms of perception of conflict situations (high level); half of the respondents (50.16 %) were partially able to characterize the phenomenon of the study (middle level), and a third (29.20 %) – completely did not understand the meaningful field of the concept of "conflict", and have experienced great difficulty in correlating this concept with others (low level). The obtained empirical data shows that the students did not get adequate knowledge in the course of their life on the identified problems, had no idea about conflict situations solving strategies. This has led to the need for focused work to clarify the nature of the «conflict» and other concepts related to it («bullying», «mobbing», «violence», etc.). The article offers modern forms and methods of teaching students’ prevention and overcoming school bullying, like: case study, webinars, individual conversations with students during pedagogical practice, announcements in the form of mini-lectures at parental meetings and more.
THE RESURGENCE OF NATIONALISM: THE BREAKUP OF YUGOSLAVIA
Authors: Asaturov Sergey , Martynov Andrei
Published: October 2020

The choice between modern nation-building and integration into supranational European and Euro-Atlantic structures remains a strategic challenge for the Balkan countries. Success in solving this problem of predominantly mono-ethnic Croatia and Slovenia has not yet become a model to follow. Serbian and Albanian national issues cannot be resolved. Serbia's defeat in the Balkan wars of 1991–1999 over the creation of a "Greater Serbia" led to the country's territorial fragmentation. Two Albanian national states emerged in the Balkans. Attempts to create a union of Kosovo and Albania could turn the region into a whirlpool of ultra-nationalist contradictions. The European Union has started accession negotiations with Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Northern Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro. The success of these negotiations depends on the readiness of the EU and the ability of these Balkan states to adopt European norms and rules. The accession of all Balkan nation-states to the European Union must finally close the "Balkan window" of the vulnerability of the united Europe. Nation-building in the Balkans on the basis of ethnic nationalism sharply contradicts the purpose and current values of the European integration process. For more than three decades, the EU has been pursuing a policy of human rights, the rule of law, democracy and economic development in the Balkans. The region remains vulnerable to the influences of non-European geopolitical powers: the United States, Russia, Turkey, and China. The further scenario of the great Balkan geopolitical game mainly depends on the pro-European national consolidation of the Balkan peoples and the effectiveness of the European Union's strategy in the Balkans.
THE PRACTICES OF ADAT (CUSTOM) INEQUALITY IN PAKPAK DESTITUTE WOMEN AT PEGAGAN JULU VIII VILLAGE, DAIRI, INDONESIA
Authors: Munthe Hadriana Marhaeni , Sudarwati Lina
Published: October 2020

The aim of this study: This writing analyzed the incidence of practices of adat (custom) inequality in poor women at the social institution of Pakpak community at Pegagan Julu VIII Village.

The research used the qualitative-feminism method which emphasized on the process of research focusing on women as the research subjects. It digs up their life experience. The data were gathered by using FGD and conducting an in-depth interview and observation on women as the research subjects. The gathered data were analyzed by using the perspective of the Social Feminism theory.

The result of the research showed that Pakpak women were the important conservers and the doers of adat in their community. This reality was not straightly proportional to their authority to make any decisions in any adat activities or work due to patriarchal culture which prioritizes men, so that it makes women weak in a bargaining position. Consequently, most of the adat values and practices do not take the side of women at the family level and in the community so that they were marginalized in their access and control.

Poverty, undergone by women, will be severer by the adat burden, which has to be born by women. This situation will potentially cause them to be in double poverty and alienation from their own adat.