bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patient satisfaction, preferences, expectations, characteristics, and impact of suboptimal control of rheumatoid arthritis: A subgroup analysis of Japanese patients from a large international cohort study (SENSE)
Authors: Kawahito Yutaka , Takakubo Yuya , Morinobu Akio , Matsubara Naoko , Nagy Orsolya , Sugiyama Eiji
Published: November 2021

Objective

To evaluate treatment satisfaction, disease outcomes, and perspectives of patients with poorly controlled rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with conventional synthetic, targeted synthetic, or biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), we conducted a subgroup (post hoc) analysis of Japanese patients participating in the SENSE study.

Methods

Data for Japanese patients (n/N = 118/1629) from the global, multicenter, cross-sectional, observational SENSE study were analyzed. The primary endpoint was the global satisfaction subscore assessed using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM) version 1.4. Other patient-reported outcomes included self-reported RA medication adherence and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment-RA. Patient perspectives included patients’ expectations and preference of pharmacologic treatment.

Results

Median (range) age and RA disease duration were 67.0 (18.0–87.0) years and 8 (0.0-54) years, respectively; 81.4% of patients were female. Mean (SD) TSQM global satisfaction subscore was 56.8 (17.5), and only 5.9% of patients reported good satisfaction with treatment (TSQM global ≥80). Mean (SD) self-reported treatment adherence using VAS was high (93.5% [13.8%]). Mean (SD) total work productivity impairment was 45.6% (32.0%); presenteeism contributed toward more total work productivity impairment (43.9% [30.4%]) than absenteeism (8.3% [24.4%]). Patients expected improvement in all parameters from their treatment, especially improvement in joint symptoms. Most patients (80.7%) preferred oral medication and 18.7% preferred monotherapy. Patient acceptability of potentially manageable side effects was high (7.5%-34.0%). Although most patients (81.3%) found combination therapy acceptable, 43.2% were receiving DMARD monotherapy.

Conclusion

Although most Japanese patients with RA with moderate-to-high disease activity were dissatisfied with their current DMARD treatment, high treatment adherence, high acceptability of combination therapy, high acceptability of manageable potential side effects, and preference for oral medication were reported. Data support the development of a more individualized and patient-centric approach for RA treatment.
Combined impact of TiO2 nanoparticles and antibiotics on the activity and bacterial community of partial nitrification system
Authors: Xu Han , Liu Binghua , Qi Wenyu , Xu Meng , Cui Xiaoyu , Liu Jun , Li Qiang
Published: November 2021

The effects of TiO2 nanoparticles (nano-TiO2) together with antibiotics leaking into wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), especially the partial nitrification (PN) process remain unclear. To evaluate the combined impact and mechanisms of nano-TiO2 and antibiotics on PN systems, batch experiments were carried out with six bench-scale sequencing batch reactors. Nano-TiO2 at a low level had minimal effects on the PN system. In combination with tetracycline and erythromycin, the acute impact of antibiotics was enhanced. Both steps of nitrification were retarded due to the decrease of bacterial activity and abundance, while nitrite-oxidizing bacteria were more sensitive to the inhibition than ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. Proteobacteria at the phylum level and Nitrosospira at the genus level remained predominant under single and combined impacts. The flow cytometry analysis showed that nano-TiO2 enhanced the toxicity of antibiotics through increasing cell permeability. Our results can help clarify the risks of nano-TiO2 combined with antibiotics to PN systems and explaining the behavior of nanoparticles in WWTPs.
A multi-patient analysis of the center of rotation trajectories using finite element models of the human mandible
Authors: Gholamalizadeh Torkan , Darkner Sune , Søndergaard Peter Lempel , Erleben Kenny
Published: November 2021

Studying different types of tooth movements can help us to better understand the force systems used for tooth position correction in orthodontic treatments. This study considers a more realistic force system in tooth movement modeling across different patients and investigates the effect of the couple force direction on the position of the center of rotation (CRot). The finite-element (FE) models of human mandibles from three patients are used to investigate the position of the CRots for different patients’ teeth in 3D space. The CRot is considered a single point in a 3D coordinate system and is obtained by choosing the closest point on the axis of rotation to the center of resistance (CRes). A force system, consisting of a constant load and a couple (pair of forces), is applied to each tooth, and the corresponding CRot trajectories are examined across different patients. To perform a consistent inter-patient analysis, different patients’ teeth are registered to the corresponding reference teeth using an affine transformation. The selected directions and applied points of force on the reference teeth are then transformed into the registered teeth domains. The effect of the direction of the couple on the location of the CRot is also studied by rotating the couples about the three principal axes of a patient’s premolar. Our results indicate that similar patterns can be obtained for the CRot positions of different patients and teeth if the same load conditions are used. Moreover, equally rotating the direction of the couple about the three principal axes results in different patterns for the CRot positions, especially in labiolingual direction. The CRot trajectories follow similar patterns in the corresponding teeth, but any changes in the direction of the force and couple cause misalignment of the CRot trajectories, seen as rotations about the long axis of the tooth.
A study protocol for a preliminary randomised controlled trial assessing the acceptability and effectiveness of two eating disorders prevention interventions in Switzerland: The HEIDI BP-HW project
Authors: Carrard Isabelle , Bucher Della Torre Sophie
Published: November 2021

Because of the serious consequences of eating disorders on young women’s lives and because of the lack of specialised care facilities, assessing and implementing evidence-based prevention interventions is necessary. Switzerland, like other Western countries, has high prevalence rates of eating disorders. However, no prevention interventions have been evaluated in this country so far. This paper presents the protocol of a preliminary study with the aim to evaluate the acceptability and effectiveness of two interventions, the Body Project (BP) and the Healthy Weight Program (HW), for female students from French-speaking Switzerland. These two interventions were chosen because they have been widely evaluated and they proved to be effective in various countries. They take place in groups and include four weekly sessions over one month. Because of the pandemic situation, the group sessions will take place online on an collaborative platform. The design is a three-arm randomised controlled study. Ninety female students aged 18–25 and presenting with at least moderate body dissatisfaction will be randomised into three groups: (1) one-month BP intervention, (2) one-month HW intervention, and (3) one-month waiting-list control group followed by the BP intervention. Assessments of body dissatisfaction, thin-ideal internalisation, dietary restraint, negative affect, and eating disorder psychopathology will be conducted before and after the interventions or waiting list and after a one-month follow-up. ANCOVA and ANOVA with repeated measures will be used to assess group differences and follow-up stability. Acceptability will be assessed with a questionnaire on participants’ satisfaction with the interventions, group discussion at the end of the intervention, and with participants’ rate of attendance to the group sessions. The study results will provide additional data on these two eating disorders prevention interventions and will suggest ways for their dissemination and further evaluation in Switzerland.
Succinylation profiles of brain injury after intracerebral hemorrhage
Authors: Deng Yuan-Hong , Zhang Xin-Xiao , Tao Chuan-Yuan , Liang Yan-Jing , Yuan Jing , Yang Su-Hao , Yang Yuan-Rui , Xiong Xiao-Yi
Published: November 2021

Protein posttranslational modifications (PTMs) regulate the biological processes of human diseases by genetic code expansion and cellular pathophysiology regulation; however, system-wide changes in PTM levels in the intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) brain remain poorly understood. Succinylation refers to a major PTM during the regulation of multiple biological processes. In this study, according to the methods of quantitative succinyllysine proteomics based on high-resolution mass spectrometry, we investigated ICH-associated brain protein succinyllysine modifications and obtained 3,680 succinylated sites and quantified around 3,530 sites. Among them, 25 succinyllysine sites on 23 proteins were upregulated (hypersuccinylated), whereas 13 succinyllysine sites on 12 proteins were downregulated (hyposuccinylated) following ICH. The cell component enrichment analysis of these succinylproteins with significant changes showed that 58.3% of the hyposuccinylated proteins were observed in the mitochondria, while the hyper-succinylproteins located in mitochondria decreased in the percentage to about 35% in ICH brains with a concomitant increase in the percentage of cytoplasm to 30.4%. Further bioinformatic analysis showed that the succinylproteins were mostly mitochondria and synapse-related subcellular located and involved in many pathophysiological processes, like metabolism, synapse working, and ferroptosis. Moreover, the integrative analysis of our succinylproteomics data and previously published transcriptome data showed that the mRNAs matched by most differentially succinylated proteins were especially highly expressed in neurons, endothelial cells, and astrocytes. Our study uncovers some succinylation-affected processes and pathways in response to ICH brains and gives us novel insights into understanding pathophysiological processes of brain injury caused by ICH.
Prevalence and distribution pattern of Cryptosporidium spp. among pre-weaned diarrheic calves in the Republic of Korea
Authors: Jang Dong-Hun , Cho Hyung-Chul , Shin Seung-Uk , Kim Eun-Mi , Park Yu-Jin , Hwang Sunwoo , Park Jinho , Choi Kyoung-Seong
Published: November 2021

Cryptosporidium spp. are protozoan parasites that belong to subphylum apicomplexa and cause diarrhea in humans and animals worldwide. Data on the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. and its subtypes among calves in the Republic of Korea (KOR) are sparse. Hence, our study aimed to investigate the prevalence and association between the age of calf and the identified Cryptosporidium spp. and to determine the genotypes/subtypes of Cryptosporidium spp. in pre-weaned calves with diarrhea in the KOR. A total of 460 diarrheic fecal samples were collected from calves aged 1−60 days and screened for Cryptosporidium spp. by the 18S rRNA gene. Species identification was determined using the sequencing analysis of the 18S rRNA gene, and C. parvum-positive samples were subtyped via the sequence analysis of the 60-kDa glycoprotein (gp60) gene. Sequence analysis based on the 18S rRNA gene revealed the presence of three Cryptosporidium spp., namely, C. parvum (n = 72), C. ryanae (n = 12), and C. bovis (n = 2). Co-infection by these species was not observed. The infection rate was the highest in calves aged 11−20 days (26.1%, 95% CI 17.1−35.1), whereas the lowest rate was observed in calves aged 21−30 days (7.7%, 95% CI 0.0−16.1). The prevalence of C. parvum was detected exclusively in calves aged ≤20 days, and the highest infection rate of C. ryanae was seen in calves ≥31 days of age. The occurrence of C. parvum (χ2 = 25.300, P = 0.000) and C. ryanae (χ2 = 18.020, P = 0.001) was significantly associated with the age of the calves. Eleven different subtypes of the IIa family that belonging to C. parvum were recognized via the sequence analyses of the gp60 gene. Except for two (IIaA18G3R1 and IIaA15G2R1) subtypes, nine subtypes were first identified in calves with diarrhea in the KOR. IIaA18G3R1 was the most frequently detected subtype (72.2% of calves), followed by IIaA17G3R1 (5.6%), IIaA15G2R1 (4.2%), IIaA19G4R1 (4.2%), IIaA16G4R1 (2.8%), IIaA17G4R1 (2.8%), IIaA19G3R (2.8%), IIaA14G1R1 (1.4%), IIaA14G3R1 (1.4%), IIaA15G1R1 (1.4%), and IIaA19G1R1 (1.4%) These results suggest that the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. is significantly associated with calf age. Furthermore, the findings demonstrate the high genetic diversity of C. parvum and the widespread occurrence of zoonotic C. parvum in pre-weaned calves. Hence, calves are a potential source of zoonotic transmission with considerable public health implications.
The effects of supervision on three different exercises modalities (supervised vs. home vs. supervised+home) in older adults: Randomized controlled trial protocol
Authors: Costa Sabrine Nayara , Boiko Ferreira Luis Henrique , Barauce Bento Paulo Cesar
Published: November 2021

Background

Multicomponent physical exercise programs are a viable strategy for treating physical decline resulting from the aging process in older populations and can be applied in supervised and home-based modalities. However, the magnitude of the intervention effects in terms of physical function development may vary according to the modalities application due to different supervision degrees.

Objective

This study aims to compare the effects of supervision in a multicomponent exercise program in different application modalities (supervised vs. home vs. supervised+home) in neuromuscular adaptations, muscle strength, gait, physical function, and quality of life, analyzing the differences between intensity, volume, and density of home and supervised sessions in community older adults.

Methods

This protocol is a randomized controlled clinical trial with a sample of 66 older adults divided into three groups: supervised exercise (SUP = 22), home-based exercise (HB = 22), and supervised plus home-based exercise (SUP+HB = 22). The multicomponent exercise program will last 12 weeks, three times per week, for 60 min per session and include warm-up, balance, muscle-strengthening, gait, and flexibility exercises. The study’s primary outcomes will be neuromuscular function, composed of the assessment of muscle isokinetic strength, muscle architecture, and neuromuscular electrical activation. The secondary outcome will be physical function, usual and maximum gait speed with and without dual-task, and quality of life. All outcomes will be assessed at baseline and post-intervention (week 12).

Conclusion

This study will be the first clinical trial to examine the effects of different supervision levels on home-based exercises compared to supervised protocols. The results of this study will be essentials for planning coherent and viable home-based programs for older adults.

Trial registration

Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials. Number RBR- 7MZ2KR. https://apps.who.int/trialsearch/Trial2.aspx?TrialID=RBR-7mz2kr.
Correlations among age, sex, axial length, and subfoveal choroidal thickness in the choriocapillaris structure analyzed using multiple en face image averaging optical coherence tomography angiography
Authors: Ichioka Ai , Ooto Sotaro , Uji Akihito , Manabe Saki , Shiragami Chieko , Tsujikawa Akitaka
Published: November 2021

Purpose

To analyze the structure of the choriocapillaris in healthy eyes by using averaged en face images acquired using swept source optical coherence tomography angiography and to examine the changes in the macular profile in relation to age, sex, axial length, and choroidal thickness.

Methods

This prospective, cross-sectional study included 81 eyes of 81 subjects without ophthalmologic or systemic diseases who underwent a full ophthalmologic examination, including 3 × 3-mm macular optical coherence tomography angiography. Four to nine choriocapillaris en face images were registered and averaged. The averaged images were then binarized and analyzed.

Results

The averaged choriocapillaris images showed a continuous capillary meshwork, whereas the unaveraged images had a granular appearance. The mean total area and size of flow voids were 0.99 ± 0.20 mm2 and 567.8 ± 201.5 μm2, respectively, and these values correlated positively with age (p = 0.002, R = 0.336 and p = 0.026, R = 0.247, respectively). Age-related gains in the mean total area and flow void size were 4.20 × 10−3 mm2 and 3.07 μm2 per year, respectively. However, the mean total area and flow void size had no significant correlation with axial length, subfoveal choroidal thickness, or sex.

Conclusions

Multiple averaged en face swept source optical coherence tomography angiography is more effective than a single optical coherence tomography angiography scan for better visualizing the choriocapillaris. The total area and size of flow voids within a 3 × 3-mm macular area positively correlated with age. This technique can be useful for investigating the changes arising in macular diseases.
Perinatal complications and maximising lamb survival in an adolescent paradigm characterised by premature delivery and low birthweight
Authors: Wallace Jacqueline M. , Shepherd Paul O. , Milne John S. , Aitken Raymond P.
Published: November 2021

The competition for nutrients in overnourished and still-growing adolescent sheep negatively impacts gestation length, colostrum supply and lamb birthweight, all of which may affect neonatal morbidity and survival to weaning. Herein perinatal complications and the requirement for supplementary feeding were analysed in relation to gestational-intake, and the degree of premature delivery and prenatal growth-restriction exhibited. Pregnancies were established by embryo transfer and the mean/standard deviation (SD) gestation length and birthweight of the optimally-fed control group (n = 100) was used to define early delivery and reduced birthweight categories (1.5 and 3.0 SDs below the control mean for each aspect). Control lambs were largely delivered at term (94%), and had a normal birthweight (92%), while very preterm (≤139days, 18.5%) and preterm delivery (140-142days, 54.8%), extremely low birthweight (ELBW; females ≤2838g and males ≤3216g, 21.1%) and low birthweight (LBW; females 2839 to ≤4001g and males 3217 to ≤4372g, 32.2%), were common in the overnourished group (n = 270, P<0.001). Accordingly, overnourished dams were more likely to lamb without assistance while the incidence of major dystocia was greater in controls. Initial lamb vigour at birth was independent of gestational-intake, delivery or birthweight category but both ELBW and very premature lambs required more assistance with feeding in the first 24h postnatal, primarily reflecting low colostrum availability. Indeed, relative to normal, ELBW lambs had a greater risk of experiencing mismothering, and enhanced likelihood of requiring supplementary feeding throughout the neonatal period (P<0.001). ELBW lambs also had a greater possibility of respiratory issues at birth (P<0.01) and renal complications (P<0.001), while very preterm delivery was associated with an increased risk of gastrointestinal tract problems (P<0.01). In spite of these complications, all-cause mortality was low (5.4%) suggesting that our proactive neonatal care regime can overcome many of the issues associated with extreme prematurity and low birthweight.
Ketamine for critically ill patients with severe acute brain injury: Protocol for a systematic review with meta-analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis of randomised clinical trials
Authors: Madsen Frederik Andreas , Andreasen Trine Hjorslev , Lindschou Jane , Gluud Christian , Møller Kirsten
Published: November 2021

Introduction

Intensive care for patients with severe acute brain injury aims both to treat the immediate consequences of the injury and to prevent and treat secondary brain injury to ensure a good functional outcome. Sedation may be used to facilitate mechanical ventilation, for treating agitation, and for controlling intracranial pressure. Ketamine is an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist with sedative, analgesic, and potentially neuroprotective properties. We describe a protocol for a systematic review of randomised clinical trials assessing the beneficial and harmful effects of ketamine for patients with severe acute brain injury.

Methods and analysis

We will systematically search international databases for randomised clinical trials, including CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, and trial registries. Two authors will independently review and select trials for inclusion, and extract data. We will compare ketamine by any regimen versus placebo, no intervention, or other sedatives or analgesics for patients with severe acute brain injury. The primary outcomes will be functional outcome at maximal follow up, quality of life, and serious adverse events. We will also assess secondary and exploratory outcomes. The extracted data will be analysed using Review Manager and Trials Sequential Analysis. Evidence certainty will be graded using GRADE.

Ethics and dissemination

The results of the systematic review will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publication. With the review, we hope to inform future randomised clinical trials and improve clinical practice.

PROSPERO no

CRD42021210447.
Pilot randomised controlled trial of the Risk Acceptance Ladder (RAL) as a tool for targeting health communications
Authors: Perski Olga , Stevens Claire , West Robert , Shahab Lion
Published: November 2021

Background

Improving adherence to self-protective behaviours is a public health priority. We aimed to assess the potential effectiveness and ease of use of an online version of the Risk Acceptance Ladder (RAL) in promoting help-seeking for cigarette smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, insufficient physical activity, or low fruit and vegetable consumption.

Methods

843 UK adults were recruited, of whom 602 engaged in at least one risky behaviour. Those with no immediate plans to change (n= 171) completed a behaviour specific RAL. Participants were randomised to one of two conditions; a short message congruent (on-target,n= 73) or incongruent (off-target,n= 98) with their RAL response. Performance of the RAL was assessed by participants’ ability to select an applicable RAL item and reported ease of use of the RAL. Effectiveness was assessed by whether or not participants clicked a link to receive information about changing their target behaviour.

Results

Two thirds (68.9%, 95% CI = 61.8%-75.3%) of participants were able to select an applicable RAL item that corresponded to what they believed would need to change in order to alter their target behaviour, with 64.9% (95% CI = 57.5%-71.7%) reporting that it was easy to select one option. Compared with the off-target group, participants allocated to the on-target group had greater odds of clicking on the link to receive information (31.5% vs 19.4%; OR = 2.07, 95% CI = 1.01–4.26).

Conclusion

The Risk Acceptance Ladder may have utility as a tool for tailoring messages to prompt initial steps to engaging in self-protective behaviours.
Malaria awareness of adults in high, moderate and low transmission settings: A cross-sectional study in rural East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia
Authors: Guntur Robertus Dole , Kingsley Jonathan , Islam Fakir M. Amirul
Published: November 2021

Introduction

The 2009 Indonesian roadmap to malaria elimination indicated that the nation had been progressing towards achieving malaria elimination by 2030. Currently, most of the districts in the western part of Indonesia have eliminated malaria; however, none of the districts in the East Nusa Tenggara Province (ENTP) have met these set targets. This study aimed to investigate the status of malaria awareness of rural adults in the ENTP.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted between October and December 2019 in high, moderate, and low malaria-endemic settings (MESs) in the ENTP. After obtaining informed consent, data were collected using an interviewer-administered structure questionnaire among 1503 participants recruited by a multi-stage cluster sampling method. A malaria awareness index was developed based on ten questions. A binary logistic regression method was applied to investigate the significance of any association between malaria awareness and the different MESs.

Results

The participation rate of the study was 99.5%. Of this number, 51.4% were female and 45.5% had completed primary education. The malaria awareness index was significantly low (48.8%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 45.2–52.4). Malaria awareness of rural adults residing in low endemic settings was two times higher than for those living in high endemic settings (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 2.41, 95% CI: 1.81–3.21) and the basic malaria knowledge of participants living in low malaria-endemic settings was almost four times higher than that in high endemic settings (AOR: 3.75, 95% CI: 2.75–5.11). Of the total participants, 81.3% (95% CI: 79.1–83.5) were aware that malaria could be prevented and 75.1% (95% CI: 72.6–77.6) knew at least one prevention measure. Overall, the awareness of fever as the main symptom of malaria, mosquito bites as the transmission mode of malaria, and seeking treatment within 24 hours of suffering from malaria was poor at 37.9% (95% CI: 33.9–41.9), 59.1% (95% CI: 55.9–62.3), and 46.0% (95% CI: 42.3–49.7), respectively. The poor level of awareness was significantly different amongst the three MESs, with the lowest levels of awareness in the high endemic setting.

Conclusion

Malaria awareness of rural adults needs to be improved to address Indonesia’s national roadmap for malaria elimination. Results indicated that public health programs at a local government level should incorporate the malaria awareness index in their key strategic intervention to address malaria awareness.
Does diacritics‐based lexical disambiguation modulate word frequency, length, and predictability effects? An eye‐movements investigation of processing Arabic diacritics
Authors: Hermena Ehab W. , Bouamama Sana , Liversedge Simon P. , Drieghe Denis
Published: November 2021

In Arabic, a predominantly consonantal script that features a high incidence of lexical ambiguity (heterophonic homographs), glyph-like marks called diacritics supply vowel information that clarifies how each consonant should be pronounced, and thereby disambiguate the pronunciation of consonantal strings. Diacritics are typically omitted from print except in situations where a particular homograph is not sufficiently disambiguated by the surrounding context. In three experiments we investigated whether the presence of disambiguating diacritics on target homographs modulates word frequency, length, and predictability effects during reading. In all experiments, the subordinate representation of the target homographs was instantiated by the diacritics (in the diacritized conditions), and by the context subsequent to the target homographs. The results replicated the effects of word frequency (Experiment 1), word length (Experiment 2), and predictability (Experiment 3). However, there was no evidence that diacritics-based disambiguation modulated these effects in the current study. Rather, diacritized targets in all experiments attracted longer first pass and later (go past and/or total fixation count) processing. These costs are suggested to be a manifestation of the subordinate bias effect. Furthermore, in all experiments, the diacritics-based disambiguation facilitated later sentence processing, relative to when the diacritics were absent. The reported findings expand existing knowledge about processing of diacritics, their contribution towards lexical ambiguity resolution, and sentence processing.
A NOVEL EIGENVECTOR-BASED METHOD TO DETECT MILD ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE USING EVENT-RELAT
Authors: Brown B.L. , Hendrix S.B. , Cecchi M. , Scott J.M. , Silcox J.W. , Brighton K.D. , Hedges D.
Published: November 2021

Event-related potentials (ERPs) are a physiological measure of cognitive function that have shown diagnostic and prognostic utility in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In this study, we used a novel eigenvector-based technique to better understand brain electrophysiological differences between subjects with mild AD and healthy controls (HC). Using ERPs from 75 subjects with mild AD and 95 HC, we first calculated cognitive task eigenvectors within each subject from three conditions and then calculated second-order eigenvector components to compare the AD group to the HC group. A MANOVA of the three second-level components discriminated between AD and HC multivariately (Wilks’ lambda=.4297, p<0.0001, R2 = .5703), and also on each of the three components univariately (all 3 p-values<0.0001). The eigenvector-based technique used in this study accurately discriminated between the mild AD group and HC. As such, this analysis method adds to our understanding of the differences in ERP signal between AD and HC, and could provide a sensitive biomarker for diagnosis and monitoring of AD progression.
Assigning Guilt and Dispersing Blame: Conspiracy Discourse and the Limits of Law in the Nuremberg Trials
Authors: Niebauer Allison Morris
Published: November 2021

This essay investigates how Allied postwar planners sought to overcome a set of legal, political, and pragmatic problems in the punishment of Nazi perpetrators by turning to conspiracy law. In doing so, they sought to glean the rhetorical benefits of conspiracy discourse and argument but were largely thwarted due to the specialized burdens of proof required by law. Here, I suggest that while everyday uses of conspiracy discourse can overcome the problem of assigning individual guilt in the midst of dispersed and collective criminality due to its low burdens of proof, the heart of the Western legal tradition—the fault principle—stymies the effectiveness of conspiracy law as a charge. Despite its relative inefficacy, conspiracy law has had a significant legacy in shaping postwar understandings of World War II and in providing a precedent to hold perpetrators accountable in recent postconflict trials. The continued usage of conspiracy law, despite its shortcomings, points to the limits of legal solutions in the wake of mass atrocities and the need for creative mechanisms for dealing with perceptions of individual and collective guilt.
A Comparison of the Neuroprotective and Reactivating Efficacy of a Novel Bispyridinium Oxime K870 with Commonly Used Pralidoxime and the Oxime HI-6 in Tabun-Poisoned Rats
Authors: Kassa Jiří , Hatlapatková Jana , Žďárová Karasová Jana , Hepnarová Vendula , Caisberger Filip , Pejchal Jaroslav
Published: November 2021

Aim: The comparison of neuroprotective and central reactivating effects of the oxime K870 in combination with atropine with the efficacy of standard antidotal treatment in tabun-poisoned rats. Methods: The neuroprotective effects of antidotal treatment were determined in rats poisoned with tabun at a sublethal dose using a functional observational battery 2 h and 24 h after tabun administration, the tabun-induced brain damage was investigated by the histopathological evaluation and central reactivating effects of oximes was evaluated by the determination of acetylcholinesterase activity in the brain using a standard spectrophotometric method. Results: The central reactivating efficacy of a newly developed oxime K870 roughly corresponds to the central reactivating efficacy of pralidoxime while the ability of the oxime HI-6 to reactivate tabun-inhibited acetylcholinesterase in the brain was negligible. The ability of the oxime K870 to decrease tabun-induced acute neurotoxicity was slightly higher than that of pralidoxime and similar to the oxime HI-6. These results roughly correspond to the histopathological evaluation of tabun-induced brain damage. Conclusion: The newly synthesized oxime K870 is not a suitable replacement for commonly used oximes in the antidotal treatment of acute tabun poisonings because its neuroprotective efficacy is only slightly higher or similar compared to studied currently used oximes.
Obesity in Children with Leptin Receptor Gene Polymorphisms
Authors: Abaturov Aleksandr , Nikulina Anna
Published: November 2021

Introduction: The study of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the leptin receptor gene (LEPR) based on next generation genomic sequencing (NGS) data is becoming an increasingly important aspect of diagnosis, treatment and prevention of both metabolically healthy (MHO) and metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO) phenotypes. Material and methods: 35 obese children 6-18 years old were examined by the NGS method with bioinformatic analysis. The main group (n = 18) was formed by children with MUO, according to the recommendations of the expert group of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The control group (n = 17) was represented by children with MHO. Statistical methods were used: analysis of variance, Wald’s sequential analysis, Spearman’s correlation analysis, analysis of nominal data and multiple discriminant analysis. Results: 10 types of non-synonymous SNPs (rs3790435, rs1137100, rs2186248, rs70940803, rs79639154, rs1359482195, rs1137101, rs1805094, rs13306520, rs13306522) of the LEPR gene in obese children have been identified. Multiple discriminant analysis demonstrated that the following LEPR SNPs are of greatest importance in the development of MUO: rs3790435, rs13306522, rs13306520. Analysis of nominal data revealed significant differences in the groups for Copy number variation (CNV) rs3790435 of the LEPR gene. Wald’s analysis allowed us to identify 6 important predictors of MUO (І ≥ 0.5): 2 CNV rs3790435 (Relative Risk, RR = 2, Prognostic coefficient, PC = +2.76); male gender of the child (RR = 1.3, PC = +1.35); rs3790435 (RR = 1.9, PC = +2.76); hyperleptinemia more than 40.56 ng/ml (RR = 2, PC = +3); CNV rs1359482195 ≥ 3 (RR = 1.9, PC = +5.8); SNP of the LEPR gene ≥4 (RR = 3.8, PC = +5.8). Conclusion: Children with the genotype rs3790435 gene LEPR had signs of MUO more often.
Spindle Cell Lipoma Occurring in the Submandibular Space: Fifth Case Reported along with a Concise Review of the Literature
Authors: Jawanda Manveen Kaur , Grewal Harshaminder Kaur , Gupta Sonia , Sharma Vineet , Narula Ravi
Published: November 2021

Spindle cell lipoma (SCL) is an uncommon histological variant of lipoma that accounts for 1.5% of all adipose tumors. It rarely occurs in the oral cavity. The most common sites of involvement are the buccal mucosa, tongue, lip, alveolar mucosa, gingiva, and palate. Submandibular space is a very rare site of occurrence for SCL. When occurs in this site, SCL mainly involves the 4th–7th decade with a female predominance. Due to wide communications of submandibular space, the actual extent and appearance of the lesions present here gets masked up especially those involving the deeper tissues leading to an inaccurate diagnosis. Wide overlap of clinical and histopathological features of SCL to other clinical pathologies leads to a challenging task for the clinicians to reach an accurate diagnosis. To our knowledge, only four cases of intraoral SCL involving the submandibular region directly or indirectly have been reported in the literature. Here we represent another rare case of SCL in an 18-year-old male patient along with a concise review of the literature. This case appears to be quite rare due to its location (submandibular space), age, and sex of the patient (18/M).
The Effect Of Health Service On Patient Satisfaction In Haji Hospital, Medan City
Authors: Andani Nidya , Nyorong Mappeaty , . Asriwati
Published: November 2021

The study aimed to determine the effect of quality and the dominant variables affecting service on patient satisfaction at the Haji Hospital-Medan in 2020. Quantitative research was conducted through a survey analytic research approach with a cross sectional study approach. Test through logistic regression on independent variables, namely; Reliability, Responsiveness, Assurance, Empathy and Tangible from the questionnaire data of respondents as many as 80 samples. The results showed that there was a significant effect of service quality on patient satisfaction from four variables, namely; the reliability of the p value is 0.000 (p <0.05), the responsiveness of the p value is 0.038 (p <0.05), the empathy p value is 0.016 (p <0.05), the tangible p value is 0.001 (p <0.05). The assurance variable, there is no effect of the quality of health services on patient satisfaction with a p value of 0.696 (p> 0.05). The dominant variable affecting patient satisfaction is the variable of empathy with an odds ratio of 0.2120.
Fiatal fogyasztók evési magatartásának és önkontrolljának vizsgálata az egészségtudatos magatartás tükrében
Authors: Krisztik-Pető Dalma
Published: November 2021

A TANULMÁNY CÉLJA

A nem megfelelő táplálkozás számos betegség forrása lehet, melyek kezelése hatalmas gazdasági terhet jelent az egészségügy számára. A jelenlegi egészségügyi rendszer a betegségek kezelésére fókuszál, azonban a megelőzéssel hatalmas összegeket lehetne megtakarítani társadalmi és egyéni szinten is. Az egészségtudatos táplálkozás tulajdonképpen megfelelő ételek választását jelenti, az ettől eltérő evési magatartás gyakran a tájékozottság hiányából fakad. A fiatal korosztály egészségtudatos táplálkozásának vizsgálata kiemelt jelentőséggel bír, hiszen ők lesznek a jövő munkavállalói és fogyasztói. Kutatásunkban arra keressük a választ, hogy milyen összefüggés fedezhető fel 18-23 éves fiatalok önkontrollja és evési magatartása között. Célunk, hogy olyan összefüggésekre világítsunk rá, melyek egy egészségmegőrző kampány alapjául szolgálhatnak.

ALKALMAZOTT MÓDSZERTAN

A kérdés megválaszolására kérdőíves kutatást végeztünk, melynek alapját Tangney–Baumeister–Boone önkontroll skálája, valamint a Holland Evési Magatartás kérdőív (DEBQ) adta. A mintánkba 529, 18 és 23 év közötti egyetemista került. Elemzéseink során faktoranalízist használtunk.

LEGFONTOSABB EREDMÉNYEK

Eredményeink azt mutatják, hogy a gyenge önkontrollal rendelkező egyénekre sokkal inkább jellemző, az érzelmek hatására történő valamint a külső hatásra történő evés, azaz ők fokozott negatív vagy pozitív érzelmek hatására több ételt fogyasztanak, valamint ha meglátnak egy számukra kívánatos ételt, akkor azt elfogyasztják, függetlenül attól, hogy éppen éhesek-e. Ezzel szemben az étkezés visszafogása nem jellemző rájuk. Az erős önkontrollal rendelkezőkre sem az érzelmek, sem a gusztusos ételek nincsenek hatással, rájuk a leginkább jellemző a visszafogott evés.

GYAKORLATI JAVASLATOK

Eredményeink hasznosak lehetnek az elhízás megelőzését célzó kampányok szempontjából. Véleményünk szerint érdemes lenne a prevenciós üzeneteket differenciáltan megfogalmazni, ezáltal a különböző evési magatartású egyénekhez célzottan szólni. Fontos eleme kell, hogy legyen továbbá az üzeneteknek az önkontroll jelentőségére való utalás.

Köszönetnyilvánítás: A kutatás az EFOP-3.6.1-16-2016-00008;” Intelligens élettudományi technológiák, módszertanok, alkalmazások fejlesztése és innovatív folyamatok, szolgáltatások kialakítása a szegedi tudásbázisra építve 2” c. pályázat finanszírozásával valósult meg.
Online marketing lehetőségek és kihívások az autószerelők piacán
Authors: Kurucz Attila , Pete Dorottya , Keller Veronika
Published: November 2021

A TANULMÁNY CÉLJA

Jelen kutatás célja a szolgáltatószektorban működő hazai autószerelő és –javító vállalkozások online megjelenésének feltérképezése. Az autószereléssel kapcsolatos szavak keresési találatainak köszönhetően elérhető honlapok elemzése tartalom, design és felhasználói tapasztalat (UX) szempontjából. További cél a honlap létrejötte és a vizuális design közötti, az oldalak információtartalma és a hirdetett szavak száma közötti, valamint a weboldalak nyitó oldalának típusa és a hirdetés tárgya közötti összefüggések feltárása.

ALKALMAZOTT MÓDSZERTAN

A gépjárműjavítással, szervízeléssel kapcsolatban 100 kulcsszót gyűjtöttünk össze és a Google Ads hirdetések hatására elért weboldalakat (88) kvalitatív szempontok - a link nyitóoldala, a hirdetés tárgya, reszponzívitás, sütik használata, design, tartalom, UX - szerint elemeztük. Majd kvantitatív tartalomelemzés segítségével ismertettük a kutatási eredményeket. A keresések (lekérdezések) módszerét standardizáltuk - lokalizációhoz, időszakokhoz és hálózathoz (ugyanaz az IP cím) kötöttük -, hogy az összevetés releváns maradjon.

LEGFONTOSABB EREDMÉNYEK, ÚJDONSÁGOK

A weboldalak 65%-a minden szempontnak megfelelt, azaz egységes volt a színvilága, a vizuális elemeket jól alkalmazta, illetve megfelelő mennyiségű információt tartalmazott. Minél több információval van ellátva egy honlap, annál több kifejezésre van lehetősége a vállalatnak hirdetni. A Google algoritmusa figyelembe veszi a releváns tartalmakat, ami az organikus, és a fizetett elérések szempontjából is magasabb minőséget nyújt.

GYAKORLATI JAVASLATOK

A kutatás eredményei hasznosak lehetnek a KKV szektor számára, különösen a gépjárműszervízeléssel foglalkozó cégeknek. A hazai KKV szektornak érdemes figyelemmel kísérni az aktuális online marketing trendeket és a változó fogyasztói igényeket, elvárásokat, hiszen a jól átgondolt, arculati elemekhez illeszkedő, kellően informatív ugyanakkor kreatív elemekben bővelkedő honlap és a tudatos keresőmarketing tevékenység hozzájárul a versenyelőny megszerzéséhez.
An Information System Design Product Theory for Student Academic Self-Service University Management System
Authors:   Faculty of Computing, College of Computing and Applied Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, 26300 Pahang, Malaysia., Umar Ong Muhamad idaham , Ameedeen Mohamed Ariff ,   Faculty of Computing, College of Computing and Applied Sciences, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, 26300 Pahang, Malaysia.,   IBM Centre of Excellence, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Cybercentre, Pahang Tech Park Gambang, 26300 Pahang, Malaysia.
Published: November 2021

The role of Information System Design Theory in software development is enormous. With the help of design theory, developers could estimate how the system will be and the reasons why the system reacts that way. The focus of the article is to revised and re-establish the design theory of a self-service university management system. The objectives of this publication are to identify the most relevant publication that will act as a guideline to generate the design theory artifacts and to establish the artifacts which will consist of three components named kernel theory, meta-requirements, and meta-design for the stated system. The system scope will be focused on enabling self-service functions. Validation will be done through FEDS framework with the inclusion of a traceability matrix between the meta-requirement against the real-world user requirement. The significance of this article is to provide an initial set of design theory artifacts to be utilized by software developers in the development or evaluation of a University Management System.
Accessory corpus luteum regression during pregnancy II: reproductive outcomes
Authors: Monteiro Pedro L J , Gamarra Caio A , Genari Rodrigo S , Prata Alexandre B , Barletta Rafael V , Duran Peregrino G , Canavessi Aurea M O , Sartori Roberto , Wiltbank Milo C
Published: November 2021

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of accessory corpus luteum (CL) induction on fertility in dairy cows. On day 5 after artificial insemination (AI), lactating Holstein cows were assigned unequally to receive gonadotrophin-releasing hormone treatment (GnRH) (n = 641) or no treatment (control; n  = 289). Cows had their blood sampled for progesterone (P4), and ovaries were scanned by ultrasound on days 5, 12, 19, 26, 33, 47, and 61 after AI. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed on days 26, 33, 47, and 61. On day 12, cows treated with GnRH were allocated to ipsilateral (n = 239) or contralateral (n = 241) groups based on the side of accessory CL formation relative to previous ovulation. Accessory CL cows had greater P4 than controls. In total, 52.7% (78/148) of pregnant cows in contralateral group had accessory CL regression earlier (<day 33; 30.8%) or later (days 33–61; 69.2%) in pregnancy with coincident decrease in P4. No cows with ipsilateral accessory CL underwent regression. There was no difference in pregnancy/AI among groups. Cows with contralateral accessory CL that underwent early regression had greater pregnancy loss (30%) than controls (10%), or cows with ipsilateral CL (3%) or contralateral CL with either later or no regression (12%). Cows with ipsilateral accessory CL had lower pregnancy loss than controls. In conclusion, elevating circulating P4 by the induction of accessory CL, particularly ipsilateral CL, increases P4 and reduces pregnancy loss. However, contralateral accessory CL that undergoes regression before day 33 of pregnancy has increased pregnancy loss, possibly due to an abrupt decrease in P4 at a pivotal period of pregnancy (days 26–33).
Inflammatory response elicited by Ureaplasma parvum colonization in human cervical epithelial, stromal, and immune cells
Authors: Tantengco Ourlad Alzeus G , Kechichian Talar , Vincent Kathleen L , Pyles Richard B , Medina Paul Mark B , Menon Ramkumar
Published: November 2021

Ureaplasma parvum is a commensal bacterium in the female reproductive tract but has been associated with pregnancy complications such as preterm prelabor rupture of membranes and preterm birth (PTB). However, the pathologic effects of U. parvum in the cervix, which prevents ascending infections during pregnancy, are still poorly understood. To determine the impact of U. parvum on the cervix, ectocervical (ecto) and endocervical (endo) epithelial and stromal cells were incubated with U. parvum. Macrophages were also tested as a proxy for cervical macrophages to determine the antigenicity of U. parvum. The effects of U. parvum, including influence on cell cycle and cell death, antimicrobial peptide (AMP) production, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and inflammatory cytokine levels, were assessed. U. parvum colonized cervical epithelial and stromal cells 4 h post-infection. Like uninfected control, U. parvum neither inhibited cell cycle progression and nor caused cell death in cervical epithelial and stromal cells. U. parvum increased the production of the AMPs cathelicidin and human β-defensin 3 and exhibited weak signs of EMT evidenced by decreased cytokeratin 18 and increased vimentin expression in cervical epithelial cells. U. parvum induced a proinflammatory environment (cytokines) and increased MMP-9 in cervical epithelial cells but promoted pro- and anti-inflammatory response in cervical stromal cells and macrophages. U. parvum may colonize the cervical epithelial layer, but induction of AMPs and anti-inflammatory response may protect the cervix and may prevent ascending infections that can cause PTB. These findings suggest that U. parvum is a weak inducer of inflammation in the cervix.