bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rapid Detection of Orthopoxviruses
Authors: Poltavchenko A. G. , Ersh A. V. , Filatov P. V. , Ushkalenko N. D. , Yakubitsky S. N. , Sergeev Al. A. , Shcherbakov D. N.
Published: October 2021

The aim of the study was to develop a sensitive and fast immunochemical test for the detection of orthopoxviruses (OPXV) in the “point of care” format.

Materials and methods. The analyses were performed in cultured crude and purifed preparations of vaccinia virus, cowpoxvirus, rabbitpoxvirus and ectromelia virus, as well as in the blood and tissue suspensions of infected mice and rabbits. OPXV-antigen was detected by one-stage and two-stage protocols of dot-immunoassay based on ﬂat protein arrays using rabbit polyclonal antibodies as capture and detection reagents.

Results and discussion. The results show that the detection limit of OPXV is inversely related to the degree of their purifcation. The one-stage (rapid) protocol is specifc and allows detecting OPXV in crude culture samples of the virus and in clinical samples in the range of 104–103 PFU/ml within 39 minutes. Rapid dot-immunoassay can be applied to detect or exclude the presence of a viral threat in samples and can be useful in various aspects of biosafety provision. The simplicity of the one-stage protocol, the possibility to visually account the results and easy interpretation of the results allow the rapid test to be used in the “point of care” format.
Biological Properties and Genetic Characteristics of Francisella tularensis Strains Isolated in the Territory of the Rostov Region in 2020
Authors: Tsimbalistova M. V. , Sorokin V. M. , Aronova N. V. , Anisimova A. S. , Pichurina N. L. , Pasyukova N. I. , Selyanskaya N. A. , Vodop’yanov S. O. , Vodop’yanov A. S. , Pisanov R. V. , Pavlovich N. V. , Kovalev E. V. , Noskov A. K.
Published: October 2021

Objective of the study was to investigate biological properties and genetic characteristics of tularemia agent strains isolated from natural foci of the Rostov Region in 2020.

Materials and methods. Field material from natural foci of the Rostov Region was examined by serological, bacteriological, biological, and molecular-genetic methods. Cultural-morphological, biochemical, antigenic and pathogenic properties of isolated cultures were studied. Protein profles were obtained through MALDI-TOF MS using mass spectrometer Autoﬂex speed III Bruker Daltonics and Flex Control of Biotyper software. The genetic characteristics of the strains were determined by VNTR and INDEL typing and SNP analysis.

Results and discussion. Six strains of tularemia pathogen were isolated from mouse-like rodents using biological method. The investigation of their biological features and data of PCR analysis and INDEL typing with canonical markers showed that all strains are typical representatives of the Francisella tularensis subsp. holarctica biovar EryR. VNTR typing by six genetic loci revealed that all strains belong to four individual genotypes. The strain isolated in 2020 in the Salsky district was identical to the strain which was isolated in the same area in 1989. Based on the whole genome sequencing of two strains, we established that they are closest to the cultures isolated in Turkey (2009, 2012) and Khanty-Mansiysk (2013) by the studied set of SNP markers. Thus, we found that both identical (or closely related) clones of the tularemia agent and new strains with unique genotypes which previously were not described for the Rostov Region can circulate in natural foci of this region for a long period of time.
Regarding Coinfection With Denge Viruses and Agents of Hemocontact Infections in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Authors: Ostankova Yu. V. , Naidenova E. V. , Serikova E. N. , Schemelev A. N. , Valutite D. E. , Zueva E. B. , Huinh Hoang Khanh Thu , Semenov A. V.
Published: October 2021

According to the WHO, there is an increase in the number of cases of dengue fever worldwide. In many countries, where dengue fever is an endemic disease, blood-borne infections associated with hepatitis B and C viruses and HIV are widespread. The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is an endemic region for these pathogens. The unique epidemiological situation in the country provides an excellent opportunity to study the interaction between Arboviruses, agents of parenteral viral hepatitis B and C, and HIV infection in the body of sick people.

The aim of this review was to analyze the literature data on the detection of cases of simultaneous infection with Dengue viruses of 1–4 types and agents of blood-borne infections in sick people in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Despite the fact that the simultaneous circulation of these pathogens in the patient's body can affect the pathophysiological mechanisms of the disease development, there were very few works devoted to co-infection with Dengue viruses and HIV, hepatitis C or B viruses, including in the regions adjacent to Vietnam. Therefore, research in this direction is promising for both fundamental science and practical medicine.
Buku Ajar Kualitas Layanan: Teori Dan Aplikasinya
Authors: Sulistiyowati Wiwik
Published: October 2021

Mata Kuliah ini menyajikan beberapa hal, antara lain adalah manajemen jasa, konsep kualitas, manajemen desain jasa, manajemen kualitas jasa, dan manajemen kepuasan pelanggan serta aplikasi pengukuran kualitas layanan dalam sebuah bidang jasa, pendidikan dan distribusi.
Buku Ajar Perancangan Berbasis Komputer Dengan Integrasi Arduino Dan Android
Authors:   Rohman Dijaya, Suprayitno Eko Agus
Published: October 2021

Segala puji dan syukur penulis panjatkan ke hadirat Tuhan Yang Maha Esa, yang telah memberikan berkat dan karuniannya sehingga penulis dapat menyelesaikan PERANCANGAN BERBASIS KOMPUTER DENGAN INTEGRASI ARDUINO DAN ANDROID ini dengan baik. Perkembangan ilmu pengetahuan dan teknologi saat ini sangatlah cepat. Terutama Kemajuan teknologi dibidang Teknologi Informasi dan Komunikasi Otomasi. Perkembangan dan Kemajuan Teknologi tersebut tidak lepas dari semangat untuk memudahkan kehidupan dan komunikasi manusia. Sehingga integrasi keilmuan secara ilmiah antara pengembang teknologi lintas bidang keahlian sangat diperlukan. Belakangan ini mikrokontroler keluarga Arduino Uno menjadi sangat popular. Tidak mengherankan jika turunan mikrokontroler tersebut pun bermunculan. Kepopulerannya tidak luput dari dukungan berbagai vendor yang menyediakan berbagai komponen yang dapat mendukung Arduino Uno dalam pengaplikasiannya. Disamping itu perkembangan teknologi jika tidak terintegrasi dengan smartphone juga akan kurang lengkap. Android sudah menempati posisi utama di setiap smartphone yang ada di Indonesia. Belajar mengintegrasikan Smartphone android dengan Arduino salah satu peluang besar dalam meningkatkan daya saing teknologi di rana elektronika.
Bonding of Cast Iron-Aluminum In Bimetallic Castings By High Pressure Die Casting Process
Authors: Wu Mengwu , Yang Jinpeng , Huang Feng , Hua Lin , Xiong Shoumei
Published: October 2021

A practical bimetallic casting consisting of aluminum matrix and cast iron inserts was manufactured via high pressure die casting (HPDC) process. Different surface treatment methods of the cast iron inserts, including salt membrane plating and electrogalvanizing, were adopted to improve the bonding quality of bimetallic castings. Microstructure characterization on the bonding interface was conducted at different locations of bimetallic castings. Results indicate that compounds with flawless and continuously metallurgical bonding interface can be successfully fabricated by the HPDC process with the zinc rack plating treatment on the surface of cast iron inserts which results in a dense zinc coating with an average thickness of 8 μm. The melt flow speed and heat transition during solidification of the HPDC process are two key factors in determining the bonding integrity of bimetallic castings. With the dissolution and diffusion of the very thin zinc coating during solidification, there is no obvious aggregation of zinc element at the metallurgical bonding interface. Instead, a reaction layer with an irregular tongue-like morphology is formed with an average thickness of approximately 1 μm while it mainly consists of intermetallic phases Al60Cu30Fe10 and Al2FeSi, etc.
Endophytic Fungi of Brunfelsia Uniflora: Isolation, Cryopreservation, and Determination of Enzymatic and Antioxidant Activity
Authors: Marsola Sara Jane , Jorge Lais Freitas , Menequeti Adriano Broges , Berteli Miria Benetati Delgado , Lima Thaís Emanuelle Feijó , Bezerra José Luiz , Lopes Ana Daniela , Gazim Zilda Cristiani , Valle Juliana Silveira , Colauto Nelson Barros , Linde Giani Andrea
Published: October 2021

Brunfelsia uniflora (Pohl.) D. Don (Solanaceae), commonly known as manacá-de-cheiro , is widely distributed in Brazil and used by local indigenous peoples as an antirheumatic, antisyphilitic , depurative, emetic, vermifuge, and purgative agent. Several studies have examined the biological activities and phytochemical profile of Brunfelsia ; however, few have focused on the diversity of endophytic microorganisms that colonize members of the genus. This study aimed to isolate and cryopreserve endophytic fungi from B. uniflora and determine their cellulase, laccase, and antioxidant activities. Endophytic fungi were isolated from B. uniflora stems, cultured on wheat grains, immersed in a 150 g/L aqueous sucrose solution, and cryopreserved at −80°C for 1 and 6 months. Cellulase activity was determined by a qualitative test using carboxymethylcellulose medium and laccase activity by a quantitative test based on the oxidation of 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate). Prior to antioxidant activity assays, fungi were grown in malt extract broth for production of mycelial biomass. A methanolic extract was prepared for evaluation of DPPH• scavenging activity, FRAP activity, and total phenolic content. A total of 46 endophytic fungal isolates were obtained from B. uniflora stems and classified into 24 groups according to morphological similarities. B. uniflora was shown to harbor a great diversity of endophytic fungi . Mycelial viability was observed after 1 and 6 months of cryopreservation at −80 °C. Fungi exhibited cellulase and laccase activities. Isolate CE23 had the highest laccase activity after 7 days of cultivation. Twelve isolates were found to have low total phenolic contents and DPPH• and FRAP activities.
Clown Care In A Palliative Care Unit: A Useful Paradox? A Preliminary Pilot Study Involving Questionnaires And Text Analysis.
Authors: Aouridi-Héritier Laoridi , Alonzo Sophie , Fabbro-Peray Pascale , Guinamard Marion , Blanchard Sylvie , Sawyers Teresa , Rataboul Pierre
Published: October 2021

Title: The impact of Clown Therapy in a Palliative Care Unit (PCU); a pilot studyBackground: Although several studies on clown therapy have demonstrated benefits for children and the elderly, few studies exist on its impact on quality of life in adult terminal patients.We devised this monocentric, prospective, descriptive pilot study, covering both quantitative and qualitative aspects, to test the hypothesis that “clowning” in the PCU would help to improve the quality of life of patients, and benefit those accompanying them and their carers.Methods: 30 terminal patients [age range 63-79, 19 women, 11 men] from the palliative care unit at Nîmes University Hospital were included in the study from 31/03/2016 to 08/11/2016. All had given written informed consent. 2 clowns visited the patients and their companions, inviting them to take part in 15 to 30-minute improvised role-plays to prepare them for the inevitable separation. Primary outcome measures for the impact of the clowns’ interventions were: The Edmonton Symptom Assessment System evaluating patients’ physical symptoms and the McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire assessing patients’ quality of life. The secondary outcome measure was Alceste textual data analysis software to analyse semi-structured interviews held with patients, their companions and carers. Results: However long the clown’s intervention, the ESAS scores indicated a significant improvement in nausea (p=0.0248) and dyspnea (p=0.0476). Scores for depression (p=0.0160) also showed an improvement. A slight difference in the scores for anxiety (p=0.0900) and drowsiness (p=0.0812) was also observed. 2 days after the clowns’ intervention, the Mc Gill scores revealed a significantly greater physical quality of life (p=0.0044) and a very slight increase in the patients’ overall quality of life (p=0.0807). Results of the lexical analysis with Alceste revealed benefits for all those involved and gave an indication for better patient management at the PCU. Conclusions: This pilot study demonstrating the impact of “clowning” on various physical and mental symptoms in adult patients indicates the benefits of such interventions for patients, their companions and carers. Although the usefulness of clowns for children with life-threatening diseases is clear, the results obtained with our study clearly indicate the benefits of these interventions in adult, end-of-life patients. Further studies would be required to confirm these findings.Date of first registration : 20/11/2015Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT02610452This research was registered under the following reference : IDRCB 2015-A00719-40 and approved by the local committee for the protection of persons, CPP Sud-Méditerranée III-Nîmes on November 6th, 2015 under the reference 2015.06.03.
Nonspreading Solutions and Patch Formation in An Integro-Difference Model With a Strong Allee Effect and Overcompensation
Authors: Otto Garrett , Fagan William , Li Bingtuan
Published: October 2021

Previous work involving integro-difference equations of a single species in a homogenous environment has emphasized spreading behaviour in unbounded habitats. We show that under suitable conditions, a simple scalar integro-difference equation incorporating a strong Allee effect and overcompensation can produce solutions where the population persists in an essentially bounded domain without spread despite the homogeneity of the environment. These solutions are robust in that they occupy a region of full measure in the parameter space. We develop bifurcation diagrams showing various patterns of nonspreading solutions from stable equilibria, period two, to chaos. We show that from a relatively uniform initial density with small stochastic perturbations a population consisting of multiple isolated patches can emerge. In ecological terms this work suggests a novel endogenous mechanism for the creation of patch boundaries.AMS subject classification. 92D40, 92D25
A Comparison of in-house and Shared Rapidplan Models for Prostate Radiation Therapy Planning
Authors: Mackonis Elizabeth Ruth Claridge , Sykes Jonathan , Hardcastle Nicholas , Espinoza Anthony , Brown Alison , Perez Gino , Evans Bridgitte , Sheehan Hayden , Haworth Annette
Published: October 2021

PurposeKnowledge-based planning (KBP) can increase plan quality, consistency and efficiency. In this study, we assess the success of a using a publicly available KBP model compared with developing an in-house model for prostate cancer radiotherapy using a single, commercially available treatment planning system based on the ability of the model to achieve the centre’s planning goals. Methods and MaterialsTwo radiation oncology centres each created a prostate cancer KBP model using the Eclipse RapidPlan software. These two models and a third publicly-available, shared model were tested at three centres in a retrospective planning study. Results The publicly-available model achieved lower rectum doses than the other two models. However, the planning-target-volume (PTV) doses did not meet the local planning goals and the model could not be adjusted to correct this. As a result, the plans most likely to satisfy local planning goals and requirements were created using an in-house model. For centres without an existing in-house model, a model created by another centre with similar planning goals was found to be preferred. ConclusionsVariations in local planning practices including contouring, treatment technique and planning goals can influence the relative performance of KBP. The value of publicly available KBP models could be enhanced through standardisation of planning goals and contouring guidelines, providing information related to the planning goals used to create the model and increased flexibility to allow local adaptation of the KBP model.
Isolation And Culture of Rat Intestinal Mucosal Microvascular Endothelial Cells Using Immunomagnetic Beads And Their Marker Expression
Authors: Wu Yanmei , Wang Zhaoli , Hu Ge , Zhang Tao
Published: October 2021

Microvascular endothelial cells (MVECs) have been an important tool in many research fields, while their purification remained challenging. This study aimed to establish a method for isolating rat intestinal mucosal MVECs using immunomagnetic beads, and characterize their proliferation ability and marker expression. Rat jejunum mucosas were scraped and digested by collagenase type II to obtain primary cell culture by the differential adhesion method. Magnetic beads were coated with anti-CD31 antibodies and incubated with the single-cell suspension of the primary cell culture. The CD31+ cells were separated using an automatic magnetic separation system, and their proliferation ability were assayed at different passages. The expression of factor VIII (FVIII), CD31, and CD34 was detected by immunofluorescence staining. Results indicated that rat intestinal mucosal MVECs grew into a contact-inhibited cobblestone-like monolayer after about 6 days, whose proliferation ability had no significant decline at passage 20. Three markers were generally expressed in the cells, and the fluorescence intensity of FVIII was higher after magnetic separation than before, and those of CD31 and CD34 remained similar. In conclusion, highly pure MVECs can be isolated from the primary cell culture of rat intestinal mucosas using magnetic beads coated with anti-CD31 antibodies, and magnetic separation may influence the expression of FVIII.
Linking emotional valence and anxiety in a mouse insula-amygdala circuit
Authors: Nicolas Céline , Ju Anes , Wu Yifan , Eldirdiri Hazim , Delcasso Sebastien , Jacky Débora , Supiot Laura , Fornari Claudia , Vérité Adrien , Masson Maxime , Rodriguez-Rozada Silvia , Wiegert J. Simon , Beyeler Anna
Published: October 2021

The response of the insular cortex (IC) and amygdala to stimuli of positive and negative valence were found to be altered in patients with anxiety disorders. However, the coding properties of neurons controlling anxiety and valence remain unknown. Combining photometry recordings and chemogenetics in mice, we uncover the anxiogenic control of projection neurons in the anterior IC (aIC), independently of their projection target. Using viral tracing and ex vivo electrophysiology, we characterize the monosynaptic aIC to the basolateral amygdala (BLA) connection, and employed projection-specific optogenetics, to reveal anxiogenic properties of aIC-BLA neurons in anxiety-related behaviors. Finally, using photometry recordings, we identified that aIC-BLA neurons are active in anxiogenic spaces, and in response to aversive stimuli. Together, these findings show that negative valence, as well as anxiety-related information and behaviors, are encoded by aICBLA glutamatergic neurons, providing a starting point to understand how alterations of this pathway contribute to psychiatric disorders.
ST-PCNN: Spatio-Temporal Physics-Coupled Neural Networks for Dynamics Forecasting
Authors: Huang Yu , Li James , Shi Min , Zhuang Hanqi , Tang Yufei , Zhu Xingquan , VanZwieten James , Chérubin Laurent
Published: October 2021

Ocean current, fluid mechanics, and many other physical systems with spatio-temporal dynamics are essential components of the universe. One key characteristic of such systems is that they can be represented by certain physics laws, such as ordinary/partial differential equations (ODEs/PDEs), irrespective of time or location. Physics-informed machine learning has recently emerged to learn physics from data for accurate prediction, but they often lack a mechanism to leverage localized spatial and temporal correlation or rely on hard-coded physics parameters. In this paper, we advocate a physics-coupled neural network model to learn parameters governing the physics of the system, and further couple the learned physics to assist the learning of recurring dynamics. Here a spatio-temporal physics-coupled neural network (ST-PCNN) model is proposed to achieve three goals: (1) learning the underlying physics parameters, (2) transition of local information between spatio-temporal regions, and (3) forecasting future values for the dynamical system. The physics-coupled learning ensures that the proposed model can be tremendously improved by using learned physics parameters, and can achieve useful long-range forecasting (e.g., more than two weeks). Experiments using simulated wave propagation and field-collected ocean current data validate that ST-PCNN outperforms typical deep learning models and existing physics-informed models.
Promoting evidence-based clinical practice for women in abortion situations after the implementation of a surveillance network: a situational analysis in a Brazilian university hospital
Authors: Veiga-Junior Nelio N. , Eugeni Caroline , Kajiura Beatriz D. , Dantas Priscilla B. F. , Trabach Caroline B. , Junqueira Aline A. , Nunes Carina C. , Baccaro Luiz F.
Published: October 2021

Background

Manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) and medical abortion (MA) can be used to treat women with abortion complications and the choice of the evacuation method is essential for the safe management of abortion.
Objective

to evaluate the frequency of use of MVA and MA and investigate the associated factors after the installation of a surveillance network of good practices (MUSA Network) in a university hospital in Brazil.
Methods

A cross-sectional study of women admitted for abortion at UNICAMP Women’s Hospital, Brazil, between July 2017 and November 2020. The dependent variables were the rates of MVA and MA. The independent variables were clinical and sociodemographic data. The Cochran-Armitage test, chi-square test, Mann–Whitney test and multiple logistic regression were used for statistical analysis.
Results

474 women were included. Most women (91.35%) had undergone uterine evacuation: uterine curettage (78.75%), MVA (9.46%) and MA (11.54%). We observed a significant tendency toward an increase in the use of MVA (Z = 9.85; P <0.001). Factors independently associated with performance of MVA were admission in 2020 (OR 64.22; 95% CI 3.79–1086.69) and lower gestational age (OR 0.837; 95% CI 0.724–0.967). The only factor independently associated with MA was a higher level of education (OR 2.66; 95% CI 1.30-5.46).
Conclusion

the use of MVA increased after the installation of a surveillance network for good clinical practices. Being part of networks that encourage the use of evidence-based practices is an opportunity for health facilities to increase access to safe abortions.
Grain Growth Control of ZnO-V2O5-Cr2O3 Based Varistors by PrMnO3 Addition
Authors: Cai Chankun , Shi Yu , Xie Manyi , Xue Ke , Xu Maofeng , Wu Yanlong , Peng Jun , An Shengli
Published: October 2021

In this work, the grain growth behaviour of ZnO+V2O5(1 mol%)+Cr2O3(0.35 mol%)-based ceramics with 0.25–0.75 mol% additions of PrMnO3 was systematically investigated during sintering from 850°C to 925°C with the aim to control the ZnO grain size for their application as varistors. It was found that with the increased addition of PrMnO3, not only did the average grain size decrease, but the grain size distribution also narrowed and eventually changed from a bimodal to unimodal distribution after a 0.75 mol% PrMnO3 addition. The grain growth control was achieved by a pinning effect of the secondary ZnCr2O4 and PrVO4 phases at the ZnO grain boundaries. The apparent activation energy of the ZnO grain growth in these ceramics was found to increase with increased additions of PrVO4; hence, the observed reduction in the ZnO grain sizes.
A Cross-Sectional Study of Gender Differences in Quality of Life Domains in Patients With Neurofibromatosis Type 1
Authors: Hamoy-Jimenez Geohana , Elahmar Hadiya , Mendoza Meg , Kim Raymond , Bril Vera , Barnett Carolina
Published: October 2021

Background. There is limited data regarding gender differences in quality of life between women and men with Neurofibromatosis type 1. We aimed to study differences in quality of life domains between women and men with Neurofibromatosis type 1 living in Canada.Methods: This is a cross sectional study of adults with Neurofibromatosis type 1 attending a tertiary NF centre at Toronto General Hospital between January 2016 to December 2017. Demographic and clinical data were collected. We compared scores of generic measures (SF-36, EQ-5D-5L, pain interference) and a disease-specific measure (PedsQL-NF1 module) between women and men. We also assessed the relationship between disease visibility scored by an examiner (Ablon’s visibility index) and self-reported perceived physical appearance, stratified by gender.Results. One hundred and sixty-two participants were enrolled, 92 females and 70 males. Ablon’s index score 1 was in 43% and score 2 in 44%, while only 13% of patients had a score 3. Women had worse scores on the total PedsQL-NF1 scales, and also in the perceived physical appearance, anxiety and emotional health domains. In women, there was a significant association between Ablon’s index and perceived physical appearance, with lower scores with increments in Ablon’s class (ANOVA p<0.001). In men, there was no difference in self-reported physical appearance by Ablon’s index. There were no differences between men and women in the SF-36 or EQ-5D-5L scores.Conclusion. Women with NF1 reported worse NF1-related quality of life than men, with worse perceived physical appearance, anxiety, and mental health. Perceived physical appearance did not always correlate to disease visibility; therefore, healthcare providers should inquire about body image, physical appearance concerns, and mental health, especially among women with NF1.
Response of Human Glioblastoma Cells to Hyperthermia: Cellular Apoptosis and Molecular Events
Authors: Hashemi Mansoureh , abbasiazam Aida , Oraee-Yazdani Saeed , Lenzer Janice
Published: October 2021

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) also categorized as a grade IV astrocytoma, is an aggressive brain tumor which invades the surrounding brain tissue. Hyperthermia is known to be effective for chemo-radiotherapy to sensitize cancer cells to radiation as a treatment option for patients with GBM. The current study was performed in order to assess and compare the properties of the astrocyte and cancer stem cells isolated from glioblastoma exposed to hyperthermia. Astrocytes and cancer stem cells were isolated from human glioblastoma tissue. Glioblastoma tissues were digested and cultured in culture medium supplemented with B27, basic fibroblast growth factor and epidermal growth factor. The morphology and specific markers were evaluated in astrocyte and cancer stem cell of human glioblastoma through immunocytochemistry and quantitative real-time RT-PCR. The multipotentiality of cancer stem cells was presented using differentiation potential into neurons, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes. For hyperthermia, cells were exposed to temperatures at 42‑46˚C for 1h using a water bath. Cell survival rate by MTT assay and apoptosis using quantitative real-time RT-PCR and western blot were evaluated. Results demonstrated that there were two morphology types in cell culture including epithelioid morphology and fibroblastic morphology. Astrocytes were confirmed via expression of the Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) protein; whereas, cancer stem cells (CSCs) were round and floating in the culture medium. Immunocytochemical staining indicated that nestin, CD133 and SRY-box 2 (SOX2) antigens were positively expressed in primary neurospheres. Results indicated that cancer stem cells of glioblastoma are multipotent and are able to differentiate into neurons, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes. The current study obtained evidence via apoptosis evaluation that CSCs are resistant to hyperthermia when compared to astrocytes isolated from glioblastoma. Furthermore, hyperthermia was demonstrated to decrease cell resistance, which may be effective for chemo-radiotherapy to sensitize cancer cells to radiation. Taken together, CSCs of glioblastoma could be used as a powerful tool for evaluating the tumorigenesis process in the brain and developing novel therapies for treatment of GBM.
Preferable Outcome of Janus Kinase Inhibitors For a Group of Difficult-to-Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients: From The FIRST Registry
Authors: Ochi Sae , Sonomoto Koshiro , Nakayamada Shingo , Tanaka Yoshiya
Published: October 2021

Backgrounds：Treatment of difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis (D2T-RA) is one of the greatest unmet needs in rheumatology. This study aims to find out preferable treatment option for a group of D2T-RA patient who are refractory to multiple biologic and targeted synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs).Methods: Data were obtained from patients enrolled in the FIRST registry who started either TNF-inhibitor (TNFi), interleukin-6 receptor inhibitor, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 immunoglobulin, or Janus-kinase inhibitor (JAKi) in the period of August 2013 - December 2020. Those who failed to ≥2 and ≥3 b/tsDMARDs were categorised as D2T-RA and very D2T-RA (vD2T-RA), respectively. Change in clinical disease activity index (CDAI) and health assessment questionnaire disability index were compered among groups using propensity-based inverse-probability treatment weighted (IPTW) method. Results: Of 2,128cases included, 353 were categorised as D2T-RA. Among the D2T-RA, 106 were identified as vD2T-RA. JAKi showed significant improvement in CDAI in the patients with D2T-RA and vD2T-RA, compared to IPTW-adjusted patients treated with the other 3 regimens. Latent class analysis of the trajectories of treatment response revealed that the proportion of a group of patients who showed poor response was lower among JAKi subgroup than those with other subgroups. This superiority of JAKi was more apparent among in methotrexate- and glucocorticoid-free individuals. Hazard ratio of severe adverse events were comparable among the four treatment subgroups in both the D2T-RA and b/tsDMARD-naïve groups.Conclusions: This study compared responsiveness to different classes of b/tsDMARDs among D2T-RA and vD2T-RA patients who were refractory to multiple b/tsDMARDs. The results suggest JAKi is a preferable treatment choice for this type of D2T-RA.
Histone H2AX Promotes Metastatic Progression by Preserving Glycolysis via Hexokinase-2
Authors: Liu Yue , Li Haojian , Wilson Crystal , Bai Hui Jen , Boufraqech Myriem , Weyemi Urbain
Published: October 2021

Genomic stability is essential for organismal development, cellular homeostasis, and survival. The DNA double-strand breaks are particularly deleterious, creating an environment prone to cellular transformation and oncogenic activation. The histone variant H2AX is an essential component of the nucleosome responsible for initiating the early steps of the DNA repair process. H2AX maintains genomic stability by initiating a signaling cascade that collectively functions to promote DNA double-strand breaks repair. Recent advances have linked genomic stability to energetic metabolism, and alterations in metabolism were found to interfere with genome maintenance. Utilizing genome-wide transcripts profiling to identify differentially-expressed genes involved in energetic metabolism, we compared control and H2AX-deficient metastatic breast cancer cell lines, and found that H2AX loss leads to the repression of key genes regulating glycolysis, with a prominent effect on hexokinase-2 (HK2). These observations are substantiated by evidence that H2AX loss compromises glycolysis, effect which was reversed by ectopic expression of HK2. Utilizing models of experimental metastasis, we found that H2AX silencing halts progression of metastatic breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231. Most interestingly, ectopic expression of HK2 in H2AX-deficient cells restores their metastatic potential. Using multiple publicly available datasets, we found a significantly strong positive correlation between H2AX expression levels in patients with invasive breast cancer, and levels of glycolysis genes, particularly HK2. These observations are consistent with the evidence that high H2AX expression is associated with shorther distant metastasis-free survival. Our findings reveal a role for histone H2AX in controlling the metastatic ability of breast cancer cells via maintenance of HK2-driven glycolysis.
Characterization of a Rare Mosaic Unbalanced Translocation of t(3;12) in a Patient With Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Authors: Hu Xiaolin , Baker Elizabeth K , Johnson Jodie , Balow Stephanie , Pena Loren D.M. , Conlin Laura K. , Guan Qiaoning , Smolarek Teresa A.
Published: October 2021

Background
Unbalanced translocations may be de novo or inherited from one parent carrying the balanced form and are usually present in all cells. Mosaic unbalanced translocations are extremely rare with a highly variable phenotype depending on the tissue distribution and level of mosaicism. Mosaicism for structural chromosomal abnormalities is clinically challenging for diagnosis and counseling due to the limitation of technical platforms and complex mechanisms, respectively. Here we report a case with a tremendously rare maternally-derived mosaic unbalanced translocation of t(3;12), and we illustrate the unreported complicated mechanism using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and chromosome analyses.
Case Presentation:
An 18-year-old female with a history of microcephaly, pervasive developmental disorder, intellectual disability, sensory integration disorder, gastroparesis, and hypotonia presented to our genetics clinic. She had negative karyotype by parental report but no other genetic testing performed previously. SNP microarray analysis revealed a complex genotype including 8.4 Mb terminal mosaic duplication on chromosome 3 (3p26.3->3p26.1) with the distal 5.7 Mb involving two parental haplotypes and the proximal 2.7 Mb involving three parental haplotypes, and a 6.1 Mb terminal mosaic deletion on chromosome 12 (12p13.33->12p13.31) with no evidence for a second haplotype. Adjacent to the mosaic deletion is an interstitial mosaic copy-neutral region of homozygosity (1.9 Mb, 12p13.31). The mother of this individual was confirmed by chromosome analysis and FISH that she carries a balanced translocation, t(3;12)(p26.1;p13.31).
Conclusion
Taken together, the proband, when at the stage of a zygote, likely carried the derivative chromosome 12 from this translocation, and a postzygotic mitotic recombination event occurred between the normal paternal chromosome 12 and maternal derivative chromosome 12 to “correct” the partial 3p trisomy and partial deletion of 12p. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first time that a mechanism utilizing a combined cytogenetic and cytogenomic approach, and we believe it expands our knowledge of mosaic structural chromosomal disorders and provides new insight into clinical management and genetic counseling.
PRIORIZAÇÃO DE DESPERDICIOS NA MANUTENÇÃO DE EQUIPAMENTOS MÉDICOS EM OPERAÇÕES HOSPITALARES
Authors: Santos Luciano , Lima Aline , Nascimento Gabriel
Published: October 2021

Contribuindo para a melhoria dos indicadores de desempenho na manutenção de equipamentos médico-hospitalares, esse artigo apresenta um modelo de priorização de desperdícios capaz de dar suporte ao processo de tomada de decisões e direcionar esforços para a eliminação de desperdícios. Para tanto, utiliza-se a técnica Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) para relacionar e quantificar o impacto dos desperdícios nos indicadores de desempenho da manutenção. O objeto do estudo foi um hospital privado localizado em João Pessoa (PB) que tem passado por uma reestruturação do setor de Engenharia Clínica. O processo de avaliação foi conduzido de forma participativa, dentro da abordagem de pesquisa-ação, envolvendo pesquisadores externos e internos ao hospital estudado. Os resultados demonstraram que o modelo desenvolvido é capaz de relacionar e quantificar o impacto de cada desperdício nos diferentes indicadores de desempenho da manutenção, sinalizando aqueles desperdícios que devem ser priorizados. Além disso, a análise de sensibilidade aplicada ao modelo permitiu demonstrar a variação da prioridade dos desperdícios em função da variação da importância dos indicadores.
ESTUDO SOBRE O IMPACTO DA ADESÃO DOS HOSPITAIS UNIVERSITÁRIOS FEDERAIS À EMPRESA BRASILEIRA DE SERVIÇOS HOSPITALARES (EBSERH)
Authors: Dalcin Tomás , Lunardi Guilherme , Barcelos Camila
Published: October 2021

Em 2011, o Governo Federal criou a Empresa Brasileira de Serviços Hospitalares (EBSERH), tendo por objetivo principal reunir os Hospitais Universitários Federais (HUF’s) sob a égide de um novo modelo de gestão focado na eficiência hospitalar. Todavia, transcorrida quase uma década da sua criação, os estudos científicos realizados até agora não permitiram concluir se os hospitais que aderiram à EBSERH melhoraram seu desempenho. Assim, por meio do método de estudo de eventos, foram analisados diferentes indicadores de desempenho hospitalar referentes aos 40 hospitais universitários que ingressaram na rede, comparando-se o seu desempenho pré e pós-adesão à EBSERH. O estudo permitiu concluir que os hospitais melhoraram significativamente seu desempenho após a entrada na EBSERH, especialmente quanto aos indicadores econômico-financeiros e assistenciais. Não foram identificadas melhorias significativas quanto à infraestrutura dos hospitais, enquanto que nos indicadores relativos à área de ensino e pesquisa, ganhos e perdas foram identificadas.
LEAN NAS EMERGÊNCIAS: ANÁLISE COMPARATIVA DA IMPLEMENTAÇÃO EM CINCO HOSPITAIS BRASILEIROS
Authors: Sampaio Juventino Grace Kelly , Cavalcante dos Santos Barbara Emanuelle , Francis Souza Bezerra da Silva Mariane , Agra Pimentel Cristiane
Published: October 2021

O projeto Lean nas emergências visa diminuir a superlotação e trazer melhorias na gestão dos hospitais participantes do projeto. Com isso, o presente trabalho objetiva realizar uma análise crítica e comparar os resultados obtidos na implementação do lean em cinco hospitais participantes. Esse estudo permitirá ampliar o conhecimento da filosofia, além de contribuir para um melhor desempenho em futuros ciclos, por meio das fragilidades e entraves identificados. Esta pesquisa caracteriza-se como estudo de caso, qualitativo, descritivo e exploratório através de visita técnica e exploração de campo. A avaliação comparativa permitiu identificar semelhanças nos resultados como, o planejamento e utilização das ferramentas lean; treinamentos padronizados; envolvimento dos gestores/representantes-chaves dos hospitais. Além de diferenças, como a desigualdade em relação às ações e nível de desempenho frente ao projeto; a qualificação e habilitação do diretor médico do hospital C e a limitação de recursos disponíveis no hospital E, em comparação aos demais.
Globalisation, the Forgotten Phase: Some Personal Reflections
Authors:   Former Minister of Education, Royal Government of Bhutan, Thimphu, Powdyel Thakur S
Published: October 2021

This paper is built on the premise that there have been at least two waves of globalisation – sublime globalisation of the earliest times that was truly an expression of global minds, and the modern material globalisation that represents a largely reductive, economic obsession that characterises today’s brand of globalisation. The paper begins by looking at the advent of globalisation in a little Bhutanese village, discusses globalisation as it is understood today and makes an attempt to distinguish the two waves of globalisation with the help of some examples. The paper concludes with a vision of a time when the world attains a sense of true globalisation.
Eyes Everywhere: Ecological Migration and State Surveillance in the Age of Iron Man
Authors:   Research Scholar, Department of English, School of Social Sciences and Languages, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore Tamil Nadu, India, Thomas Thejas Gigy , N.S. Prasantha Kumar
Published: October 2021

In today’s society, migrants/citizens are monitored and exploited. A comprehension of the complexity of surveillance and resistance to it is crucial to guarantee a more democratic community. Disciplinary societies (in the Foucauldian context) have moved beyond the panopticon’s ecologies. Today’s monitoring is reterritorialized. Surveillance, enabled by digitalization, can adapt to any room today, but with the constant change in spaces, simply monitoring human actions would be inadequate. It is necessary to monitor both behavior and geographical place. Surveillance is also increasingly being marketed. Products are now being sold on the basis of people’s private lives. This dual aspect of surveillance connected to “safety” and “company” is well suited to the neo-liberal agenda. But monitoring also needs the supervised to participate. The States and MNCs are in a challenging situation if and when the monitored resist surveillance. Efforts are still being made by the state and its technology to properly monitor ecological migrations. This study claims that it is ecological and migration surveillance that makes Iron Man a strong avenger. Yet there are several cases in which his surveillance is inefficient through the cinematic narrative. For those already oppressed and who resist surveillance, the study would investigate these moments as flashes of optimism. This study also attempts to enunciate some of the aspects derived from works by theoreticians like Gary Marx and David Lyon. With the collective will of surveillance, unethical monitoring of ecologies and migrations imposed on us, it can be resisted to a good extent.
Interrogating the “Animal”: An Investigation into the Ethics of Man-Animal Divide
Authors:   Faculty Gurudas College, Kolkata, Singha Ray Swagata
Published: October 2021

Humanity defines itself through an animal other, the animal in Jacques Derrida’s definition of “absolute alterity,” cannot return the human gaze. In this paper, I explore the possibilities of accommodation and hospitality which posthuman philosophy provides in conceptualizing the position of alterity of the “animal”. Building on the writing of Jacque Derrida and Giorgio Agamben I will argue how Posthumanism can radicalize the way in which the anthropocentric worldview looks at the animal as other, questioning the positioning and relevance of speciesism and species boundary. Also, the issue of the agency has been interrogated in this research article. I have also argued for a new mode of conceptualizing the “other” / the “animal” which abolishes the hierarchical view of anthropocentric conception of nonhuman but instead views the other from the lens of companionship, borrowing from the ideas of “companionship” and “Chuthulucene” of Donna J. Haraway. The paper is an attempt to expand the humanist exclusionary boundaries and is an exercise in developing a posthuman ethics through which the category of human can be radically questioned and can be made more hospitable.
Bridging Black Male and Female Standpoints through Autoethnographic Cultural Symbiosis in Gloria Naylor’s The Men of Brewster Place
Authors: Vats Adishree
Published: October 2021

The present paper argues that Gloria Naylor in The Men of Brewster Place (1998) spectacularly recreates, from a black female’s viewpoint, a solemn literary leeway for African American men’s narratives, and recommends an obligatory shufti to their hidden lives as to how the apparatuses of dominion objectify, suppress and marginalize African American men as well. These men have also been victimized, marginalized and objectified on the basis of their race, class and sexuality by the stereotypical mainstream power structure just like their female counterparts. Furthermore, the paper endeavours to scrutinize how it is unworkable to accomplish a genuine Black Feminist Standpoint without essentially appreciating Black Men’s Standpoint. Black men, who although are suppressors when it comes to their relationship with black females, simultaneously are also being suppressed beneath the tutelage of the mainstream hegemonistic-cum-stereotypical power system. As a sequel to Naylor’s first novel, The Women of Brewster Place (Naylor, 1983), The Men of Brewster Place attempts to autoethnographically lend some voice to her male characters, who complemented her female characters in the first novel.
A Study on Gender Differences in Workplace Communication across Organizations
Authors:   Assistant Professor, Srusti Academy of Management, Bhubaneswar. Corresponding author., Dash Kabita Kumari , Dash Susanta Kumar ,   Professor, Odisha University of Agriculture & Technology, Bhubaneswar, Satpathy Swayamprabha ,   Associate Professor, Shiksha “O” Anusandhan University, Bhubaneswar.
Published: October 2021

Communication is an important aspect of human existence. It has a huge impact on the functioning of any organization. Organizations progress if there is close and greater coordination among both genders. The present study was conducted at Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Odisha. Socio-academic data on 120 employees of three different types of organizations, viz. Government, NGO and Corporate, taken at random were included in the present study. This is an empirical study on gender differences and their effect on workplace communication in various organizations. The objectives of this study are to find out the gender differences in communication in different workplaces and analyze the effects of socio-academic factors like age, qualification and experience on gender-related communication. The study findings depict qualification and gender was found to be dependent across the organizations with ?2 estimate of 8.542. More employees were found to be engaged under moderate qualifications from both genders. The age and experience of employees were revealed to be independent of the gender of employees in the present study. The distribution of males recorded significant dependency of age and organization with ?2 value of 20.081 revealing a higher frequency of higher age group employees in government and non-government institutions in comparison to corporate. Both the new entrants and highly experienced females had lower communication abilities than their male counterparts. However, in the middle part of employment, the females showed an edge over males with regard to this variable. Females in the age group of 31 to 40 years recorded significantly better organizational communication than their male counterparts.
Channel morphology and prediction of mid-line channel migration in the reach of Ganga River using GIS and ARIMA modeling during 1975–2020
Authors: Verma Rajnish Kumar , Ashwini Kumar , Singh Ajai
Published: October 2021

The dynamic nature of meandering poses several challenges in a river. The river Ganga shows severe bank erosion in many of its stretches which creates insecurity to the habitats. In the present study, channel morphology and lateral mid-line migration for 1975 to 2020 in 5 years intervals have been studied. The prediction of lateral mid-line migration from 2020 to 2050 by using multi-temporal Landsat satellite images was made by using the ARIMA model. The river reach was divided into 8 bends and 48 cross-sections were identified. The channel length was observed as 224.35 km in 1975 which reduces to 199.96 km in 2020. A decreasing trend was observed for the mean of channel length and meander ratio, and an increasing trend was noted in the mean of sinuosity ratio and tortuosity ratio. A total of 11 cross-sections showed the rightward shifting and 36 cross-sections showed the leftward shifting. Observed and predicted values showed a good R2 value of 0.90 and 0.89 at CS-24 and CS-25, respectively. The results may be used for planning and management of various river training work and understanding the river system dynamics.