bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Implementing population health management: an international comparative study
Authors: Steenkamer Betty , de Weger Esther , Drewes Hanneke , Putters Kim , Van Oers Hans , Baan Caroline
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to gain insight into how population health management (PHM) strategies can successfully integrate and reorganize public health, health care, social care and community services to improve population health and quality of care while reducing costs growth, this study compared four large-scale transformation programs: Greater Manchester Devolution, Vancouver Healthy City Strategy, Gen-H Cincinnati and Gesundes Kinzigtal.

Design/methodology/approach

Following the realist methodology, this explorative comparative case-study investigated PHM initiatives' key features and participants' experiences of developing such initiatives. A semi-structured interview guideline based on a theoretical framework for PHM guided the interviews with stakeholders (20) from different sectors.

Findings

Five initial program theories important to the development of PHM were formulated: (1) create trust in a shared vision and understanding of the PHM rationale to establish stakeholders' commitment to the partnership; (2) create shared ownership for achieving the initiative's goals; (3) create shared financial interest that reduces perceived financial risks to provide financial sustainability; (4) create a learning environment to secure initiative's credibility and (5) create citizens' and professionals' awareness of the required attitudes and behaviours.

Originality/value

The study highlights initial program theories for the implementation of PHM including different strategies and structures underpinning the initiatives. These insights provide a deeper understanding of how large-scale transformation could be developed.
Consumer engagement behaviors: do service convenience and organizational characteristics matter?
Authors: Roy Sanjit Kumar , Shekhar Vaibhav , Quazi Ali , Quaddus Mohammed
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to investigate the role of service convenience in the relationship between organizational characteristics (such as brand equity, store ambiance, store layout, customer information and employee responsiveness) on customer engagement behaviors (CEBs), including service improvement, customer cooperation, positive word-of-mouth and customer helping customers. It examines two research models, with service convenience as a separate antecedent of CEBs (model A) and as a mediating variable between organizational characteristics and CEBs (model B).

Design/methodology/approach

Using a positivist paradigm, data were collected from 384 respondents representing the existing customers of grocery retailers based in India via a survey instrument. Data were analyzed using partial least squares (PLS) path modeling.

Findings

Results demonstrate service convenience as a motivational driver of CEBs. Results also show that the organizational characteristics significantly influence service convenience which in turn impacts CEBs.

Practical implications

The findings have important implications for store managers in effective management of customers' time and effort in terms of saving customers' time and effort as well as motivating customers to elicit their engagement behaviors.

Originality/value

The originality of this paper lies in identifying the impact of organizational characteristics in helping customers to save time and effort in their shopping activities and thereby elicit various types of CEBs. The paper also adds to knowledge by examining the role of service convenience in the nexus between organizational characteristics and CEB types.
Constructing an Axonal‐Specific Myelin Developmental Graph and its Application to Childhood Absence Epilepsy
Authors: Drenthen Gerhard S. , Fonseca Wald Eric L. A. , Backes Walter H. , Aldenkamp Albert P. , Vermeulen R. Jeroen , Debeij‐van Hall Mariette H. J. A. , Klinkenberg Sylvia , Jansen Jacobus F. A.
Published: April 2020

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The process of myelination starts in utero around 20 weeks of gestation and continues through adulthood. We first set out to characterize the maturation of the tract‐specific myelin content in healthy subjects from childhood (7‐12 years) into adulthood (18‐32 years). Second, we apply the resulting development graph to children with childhood absence epilepsy (CAE), a pediatric epilepsy that was previously characterized by changes in myelin content.

METHODS

In a prospective cross‐sectional study, 15 healthy children (7‐12 years), 14 healthy adult participants (18‐32 years) and 17 children with a clinical diagnosis of CAE (6‐12 years) were included. For each participant, diffusion weighted images were acquired to reconstruct bundles of white matter tracts and multi‐echo multi‐slice GRASE images were acquired for myelin‐water estimation. Subsequently, a tract‐specific myelin development graph was constructed using the percentual difference in myelin‐water content from childhood (12 year) to adulthood (25 year).

RESULTS

The graph revealed myelination patterns, where tracts in the central regions myelinate prior to peripheral tracts and intra‐hemispheric tracts as well as tracts in the left hemisphere myelinate prior to inter‐hemispheric tracts and tracts in the right hemisphere, respectively. No significant differences were found in myelin‐water content between children with CAE and healthy children for neither the early developing tracts, nor the tracts that develop in a later stage. However, the difference between the myelin‐water of late and early developing tracts is significantly smaller in the children with CAE.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that CAE is associated with widespread neurodevelopmental myelin differences.
Listeria monocytogenes SpxA1 is a global regulator required to activate genes encoding catalase and heme biosynthesis enzymes for aerobic growth
Authors: Cesinger Monica R. , Thomason Maureen K. , Edrozo Mauna B. , Halsey Cortney R. , Reniere Michelle L.
Published: April 2020

An imbalance of cellular oxidants and reductants causes redox stress, which must be rapidly detected to restore homeostasis. In bacteria, the Firmicutes encode conserved Spx‐family transcriptional regulators that modulate transcription in response to redox stress. SpxA1 is an Spx‐family orthologue in the intracellular pathogen Listeria monocytogenes that is essential for aerobic growth and pathogenesis. Here, we investigated the role of SpxA1 in growth and virulence by identifying genes regulated by SpxA1 in broth and during macrophage infection. We found SpxA1‐activated genes encoding heme biosynthesis enzymes and catalase (kat) were required for L. monocytogenes aerobic growth in rich medium. An Spx‐recognition motif previously defined in Bacillus subtilis was identified in the promoters of SpxA1‐activated genes and proved necessary for the proper activation of two genes, indicating this regulation by SpxA1 is likely direct. Together, these findings elucidated the mechanism of spxA1 essentiality in vitro and demonstrated that SpxA1 is required for basal expression of scavenging enzymes to combat redox stress generated in the presence of oxygen.
Supplemental Material: Isotope sclerochronology indicates enhanced seasonal precipitation in northern South America (Colombia) during the Mid-Miocene Climatic Optimum
Authors: Scholz S.R.
Published: April 2020

Supplemental figures, tables, and methods discussed in the text, as well as a separate MSExcel file containing all raw isotopic data.
Can we improve coaches’ injury prevention views and implementation practices in the community female Gaelic sport of camogie?
Authors: O'Connor Siobhán , Lacey Peter
Published: April 2020

Objectives

To evaluate the effect of a nationwide coach education workshop on the attitudes towards, willingness and perceived ability of camogie coaches to implement a Camogie Injury Prevention Programme (CIPP) and their implementation of this programme 4 weeks after the workshop.

Methods

Coaches (n=98) from all four provinces in Ireland were recruited and completed a questionnaire prior to and immediately following a developed workshop on the CIPP. Four weeks later 40 of the 98 coaches completed a follow-up questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were completed and a mixed between–within analysis of variance was conducted to examine the differences in willingness and perceived ability to conduct the CIPP over time and between genders. Non-parametric tests examined the differences in attitude scores. The implementation rate of the programme 4 weeks following the workshop was also assessed.

Results

Just 13.4% of coaches had previously heard of the CIPP. Significant improvements in attitudes towards, willingness and perceived ability to conduct the CIPP was noted (p<0.001) post-workshop. Ninety-one per cent of coaches reported that implementing the CIPP in a phased approach with their teams would be beneficial. The camogie coaches primarily viewed the CIPP content favourably, finding the exercises important, relevant and mostly enjoyable. However, some coaches reported that the Nordic hamstring curl is too challenging for players to complete (immediately following workshop: 28.7%; 4 weeks later: 53.3%). Four weeks after the workshop, 72.5% of coaches who responded were implementing the CIPP with their teams in the community.

Conclusions

Due to the success of the education workshop, the Camogie Association should incorporate this injury prevention workshop into all mandatory camogie coaching education courses.
Dexamethasone causes defective glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase dependent antioxidant barrier through endoglin in pregnant and nonpregnant rats
Authors: Badmus Olufunto O. , Olatunji Lawrence A.
Published: April 2020

Glucocorticoid therapy has been associated with adverse cardiometabolic effects during pregnancy. Inflammation-mediated cardiac dysfunction, an independent risk factor for morbidity and mortality, has been linked to defective glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) dependent antioxidant defenses and increased endoglin expression. We therefore sought to investigate the effects of dexamethasone (DEX) on cardiac endoglin and G6PD-dependent antioxidant defense. Twenty-four rats were randomly assigned to nonpregnant (PRE(–)), DEX-exposed nonpregnant (PRE(–) + DEX), pregnant (PRE(+)), and DEX-exposed pregnant (PRE(+) + DEX) rats, respectively (n = 6 per group). PRE(–) and PRE(+) rats received vehicle (per oral (po)), while PRE(–) + DEX and PRE(+) + DEX groups were administered DEX (0.2 mg/kg po) between gestational days 14 and 19, respectively. Results showed that DEX caused increased cardiac pro-inflammatory markers (adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity, endoglin, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), tissue injury markers (LDH, GGT, AST, ALT, and ALP), metabolic disturbances (elevated fasting plasma glucose, free fatty acid (FFA), lactate, cardiac FFA, and lactate) and depressed G6PD-dependent antioxidant defenses (G6PD activity, reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione ratio, and nitric oxide) in pregnant and nonpregnant rats. The present study demonstrates that DEX led to increased cardiac endoglin and VCAM-1 that is accompanied by defective G6PD-dependent antioxidant defenses but not cardiac lipid accumulation in both pregnant and nonpregnant rats.
Effect of the Interface Improved by Self-Assembled Aromatic Organic Semiconductor Molecules on Performance of OLED
Authors: Havare Ali Kemal
Published: April 2020

This work focuses on characterization the performance of enhanced interface of organic light emitting diode (OLED) device by Self-assembled Monolayer (SAM) technique. SAM technique is popular in order to overcome the weak bonding at the organic/inorganic interface in OLED. New generation of SAM molecules, phenyl-benzoic-acid (PBA, 4-(9H-carbazol-9-il) benzoic acid (MZ39), 4-(2,5-di-2thienyl-1H-pyrrol-1-il) benzoic acid (MZ25) were coated on between Indium Tin Oxide (ITO). The two configuration of ITO/SAM/TPD/Al and ITO/TPD/Al diode were fabricated as hole-only device to show the contribution of SAM layer on the hole mobility calculated by Space Charge Limited Current (SCLC) technique. The optical characterization of OLED devices with configuration ITO/TPD/Alq3/Al and ITO/SAM/TPD/Alq3/Al was performed to see the effect of aromatic SAM molecules on the luminance and quantum efficiency. Especially, the SAM modified OLED has a maximum luminance of 397 cd m−2. All devices containing SAM layer showed better performance than reference one.
Cathodic Electrodeposition of Stoichiometric Cobalt Chalcogenide Thin Films
Authors: Myung Noseung , Jee Hyung-Woo , Rho Kongshik , Lee Su Jin , Sohn Eun Bee , Paeng Ki-Jung , Rajeshwar Krishnan
Published: April 2020

Here, we demonstrate a two-step electrochemical approach for the synthesis of cobalt chalcogenides, CoQ (Q = S or Se) based on the prior modification of a substrate with S or Se, followed by electrochemical reduction in a Co2+-complexing electrolyte to afford CoS or CoSe in film form. The two-step strategy circumvents a common problem with the electrodeposition of metal chalcogenides, namely admixture of the target material with undesired phases such as excess metal or the chalcogen. The strategy was combined with complexation to shift the free metal deposition regime to more negative potentials. Compositional analysis showed that as-synthesized films retain a stoichiometric ratio of Co and S or Se and XPS analysis confirmed the formation of CoS and CoSe. The electrodeposited films were successfully used as electrocatalysts for the triiodide/iodide redox system and showed comparable (or even, superior) performance to a Pt electrode. As also demonstrated both by the present work and by companion studies in our laboratories, the two-step strategy is generally applicable to a variety of other metal chalcogenides.
A pro-inflammatory diet increases the likelihood of obesity and overweight in adolescent boys: a case–control study
Authors: Vahid Farhad , Bourbour Fatemeh , Gholamalizadeh Maryam , Shivappa Nitin , Hébert James R. , Babakhani Khatereh , Mosavi Jarrahi Alireza , Mirzaei Dahka Samaneh , Doaei Saeid
Published: April 2020

Background

Obesity and Overweight at an early age can contribute with many chronic diseases such as cancers, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Diet-related inflammation is one of the most important underlying mechanisms that may has a key role in obesity and overweight. This paper aimed to compare the dietary inflammatory index (DII®) in normal weight and overweight adolescent boys.

Methods

A total of 535 adolescent boys (214 cases were overweight and obese and 321 controls with normal weight) participated in this study from two schools in Tehran, Iran. The student’s weight and body composition were measured using a Bio-Impedance Analyzer (BIA) scale. A validated semi-quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) was used to assess dietary inflammatory index.

Results

Results obtained from modeling DII® as a continuous variable identified a positive association between DII® and obesity (OR = 1.08, CI 1.01–1.16). After multivariable adjustment, subjects with DII® > 0.02 had at 1.5 times higher odds of obesity and overweight compared to subjects with DII® ≤ 0.02 (OR = 1.52; CI 1.04–2.22).

Conclusion

Our study indicated the importance of dietary-induced inflammation in the obesity and overweight during adolescence. Therefore, advising adolescent to consume diet with lower DII® with more fruits and vegetables, rich sources of fiber, flavonoids, zinc, magnesium and selenium and avoiding the consumption of saturated fatty acids (SFA), trans-fatty acids, and cholesterol may support a healthy weight.
Candida tropicalis is the most prevalent yeast species causing candidemia in Algeria: the urgent need for antifungal stewardship and infection control measures
Authors: Megri Youcef , Arastehfar Amir , Boekhout Teun , Daneshnia Farnaz , Hörtnagl Caroline , Sartori Bettina , Hafez Ahmed , Pan Weihua , Lass-Flörl Cornelia , Hamrioui Boussad
Published: April 2020

Background

Despite being associated with a high mortality and economic burden, data regarding candidemia are scant in Algeria. The aim of this study was to unveil the epidemiology of candidemia in Algeria, evaluate the antifungal susceptibility pattern of causative agents and understand the molecular mechanisms of antifungal resistance where applicable. Furthermore, by performing environmental screening and microsatellite typing we sought to identify the source of infection.

Methods

We performed a retrospective epidemiological-based surveillance study and collected available blood yeast isolates recovered from the seven hospitals in Algiers. To identify the source of infection, we performed environmental screening from the hands of healthcare workers (HCWs) and high touch areas. Species identification was performed by API Auxa-Color and MALDI-TOF MS and ITS sequencing was performed for species not reliably identified by MALDI-TOF MS. Antifungal susceptibility testing followed CLSI M27-A3/S4 and included all blood and environmental yeast isolates.ERG11sequencing was performed for azole-resistantCandidaisolates. Microsatellite typing was performed for blood and environmentalCandidaspecies, where applicable.

Results

Candida tropicalis(19/66) was the main cause of candidemia in these seven hospitals, followed byCandida parapsilosis(18/66), Candida albicans(18/66), andCandida glabrata(7/66). The overall mortality rate was 68.6% (35/51) and was 81.2% forC. tropicalis-infected patients (13/16). Fluconazole was the main antifungal drug used (12/51); 41% of the patients (21/51) did not receive any systemic treatment.Candida parapsilosiswas isolated mainly from the hands of HCWs (7/28), and various yeasts were collected from high-touch areas (11/47), includingNaganishia albida, C. parapsilosisandC. glabrata. Typing data revealed interhospital transmission on two occasions forC. parapsilosisandC. glabrata, and the same clone ofC. parapsilosisinfected two patients within the same hospital. Resistance was only noted forC. tropicalisagainst azoles (6/19) and fluconazole-resistantC. tropicalisisolates (≥8 μg/ml) (6/19) contained a novel P56S (5/6) amino acid substitution and a previously reported one (V234F; 1/6) in Erg11p.

Conclusions

Collectively, our data suggest an urgent need for antifungal stewardship and infection control strategies to improve the clinical outcome of Algerian patients with candidemia. The high prevalence ofC. tropicalisjoined by fluconazole-resistance may hamper the therapeutic efficacy of fluconazole, the frontline antifungal drug used in Algeria.
Determination of parecoxib and valdecoxib in rat plasma by UPLC-MS/MS and its application to pharmacokinetics studies
Authors: Chen Mengchun , Sun Wei , Wang Zhe , Huang Chengke , Hu Guoxin , Chen Yijie , Wang Ledan
Published: April 2020

Background

The present study aimed to develop and validate a rapid, selective, and reproducible ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry separation method for the simultaneous determination of the levels of parecoxib and its main metabolite valdecoxib in rat plasma. Moreover, this method was applied to investigate the pharmacokinetics of parecoxib and valdecoxib in rats.

Methods

Following the addition of celecoxib as an internal standard, one-step protein precipitation by acetonitrile was used for sample preparation. The effective chromatographic separation was carried out using an ACQUITY UPLC®BEH C18 reversed phase column (2.1 mm × 50 mm, 1.7 μm particle size) with acetonitrile and water (containing 0.1% formic acid) as the mobile phase. The procedure was performed in less than 3 min with a gradient elution pumped at a flow rate of 0.4 ml/min. The electrospray ionization source was applied and operated in the positive ion mode and multiple reaction monitoring mode was used for quantification using the following: target fragment ions: m/z 371 → 234 for parecoxib, m/z 315 → 132 for valdecoxib and m/z 382 → 362 for celecoxib.

Results

The method validation demonstrated optimal linearity over the range of 50–10,000 ng/ml (r2 ≥ 0.9996) and 2.5–500 ng/ml (r2 ≥ 0.9991) for parecoxib and valdecoxib in rat plasma, respectively.

Conclusions

The present study demonstrated a simple, sensitive and applicable method for the quantification of parecoxib and its main pharmacologically active metabolite valdecoxib following sublingual vein administration of 5 mg/kg parecoxib in rats.
Tacr3 in the lateral habenula differentially regulates orofacial allodynia and anxiety-like behaviors in a mouse model of trigeminal neuralgia
Authors: Cui Wen-Qiang , Zhang Wen-Wen , Chen Teng , Li Qian , Xu Fei , Mao-Ying Qi-Liang , Mi Wen-Li , Wang Yan-Qing , Chu Yu-Xia
Published: April 2020

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is debilitating and is usually accompanied by mood disorders. The lateral habenula (LHb) is considered to be involved in the modulation of pain and mood disorders, and the present study aimed to determine if and how the LHb participates in the development of pain and anxiety in TN. To address this issue, a mouse model of partial transection of the infraorbital nerve (pT-ION) was established. pT-ION induced stable and long-lasting primary and secondary orofacial allodynia and anxiety-like behaviors that correlated with the increased excitability of LHb neurons. Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated expression of hM4D(Gi) in glutamatergic neurons of the unilateral LHb followed by clozapine-N-oxide application relieved pT-ION-induced anxiety-like behaviors but not allodynia. Immunofluorescence validated the successful infection of AAV in the LHb, and microarray analysis showed changes in gene expression in the LHb of mice showing allodynia and anxiety-like behaviors after pT-ION. Among these differentially expressed genes was Tacr3, the downregulation of which was validated by RT-qPCR. Rescuing the downregulation of Tacr3 by AAV-mediated Tacr3 overexpression in the unilateral LHb significantly reversed pT-ION-induced anxiety-like behaviors but not allodynia. Whole-cell patch clamp recording showed that Tacr3 overexpression suppressed nerve injury-induced hyperexcitation of LHb neurons, and western blotting showed that the pT-ION-induced upregulation of p-CaMKII was reversed by AAV-mediated Tacr3 overexpression or chemicogenetic inhibition of glutamatergic neurons in the LHb. Moreover, not only anxiety-like behaviors, but also allodynia after pT-ION were significantly alleviated by chemicogenetic inhibition of bilateral LHb neurons or by bilateral Tacr3 overexpression in the LHb. In conclusion, Tacr3 in the LHb plays a protective role in treating trigeminal nerve injury-induced allodynia and anxiety-like behaviors by suppressing the hyperexcitability of LHb neurons. These findings provide a rationale for suppressing unilateral or bilateral LHb activity by targeting Tacr3 in treating the anxiety and pain associated with TN.
Quantification of tremor using consumer product accelerometry is feasible in patients with essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease: a comparative study
Authors: van Brummelen Emilie M. J. , Ziagkos Dimitrios , de Boon Wadim M. I. , Hart Ellen P. , Doll Robert J. , Huttunen Teppo , Kolehmainen Petteri , Groeneveld Geert Jan
Published: April 2020

Background

To quantify pharmacological effects on tremor in patients with essential tremor (ET) or Parkinson’s Disease (PD), laboratory-grade accelerometers have previously been used. Over the last years, consumer products such as smartphones and smartwatches have been increasingly applied to measure tremor in an easy way. However, it is unknown how the technical performance of these consumer product accelerometers (CPAs) compares to laboratory-grade accelerometers (LGA). This study was performed to compare the technical performance of CPAs with LGA to measure tremor in patients with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and essential tremor (ET).

Methods

In ten patients with PD and ten with ET, tremor peak frequency and corresponding amplitude were measured with 7 different CPAs (Apple iPhone 7, Apple iPod Touch 5, Apple watch 2, Huawei Nexus 6P, Huawei watch, mbientlabMetaWear (MW) watch, mbientlab MW clip) and compared to a LGA (Biometrics ACL300) in resting and extended arm position.

Results

Both in PD and ET patients, the peak frequency of CPAs did not significantly differ from the LGA in terms of limits of agreement. For the amplitude at peak frequency, only the iPhone and MW watch performed comparable to the LGA in ET patients, while in PD patients all methods performed comparable except for the iPod Touch and Huawei Nexus. Amplitude was higher when measured with distally-located CPAs (Clip, iPhone, iPod) compared with proximally-located CPAs (all watches). The variability between subjects was higher than within subjects for frequency (25.1% vs. 13.4%) and amplitude measurement (331% vs. 53.6%). Resting arm position resulted in lower intra-individual variability for frequency and amplitude (13.4 and 53.5%) compared to extended arm position (17.8 and 58.1%).

Conclusions

Peak frequencies of tremor could be measured with all tested CPAs, with similar performance as LGA. The amplitude measurements appeared to be driven by anatomical location of the device and can therefore not be compared. Our results show that the tested consumer products can be used for tremography, allowing at-home measurements, in particular in studies with a cross-over or intra-individual comparison design using the resting arm position.

Trial registration

This trial was registered in the Dutch Competent Authority (CCMO) database with number NL60672.058.17 on May 30th 2017.
What is global health? Key concepts and clarification of misperceptions
Authors: Chen Xinguang , Li Hao , Lucero-Prisno Don Eliseo , Abdullah Abu S. , Huang Jiayan , Laurence Charlotte , Liang Xiaohui , Ma Zhenyu , Mao Zongfu , Ren Ran , Wu Shaolong , Wang Nan , Wang Peigang , Wang Tingting , Yan Hong , Zou Yuliang
Published: April 2020

The call for “Working Together to Build a Community of Shared Future for Mankind” requires us to improve people’s health across the globe, while global health development entails a satisfactory answer to a fundamental question: “What is global health?” To promote research, teaching, policymaking, and practice in global health, we summarize the main points on the definition of global health from the Editorial Board Meeting of Global Health Research and Policy, convened in July 2019 in Wuhan, China. The meeting functioned as a platform for free brainstorming, in-depth discussion, and post-meeting synthesizing. Through the meeting, we have reached a consensus that global health can be considered as a general guiding principle, an organizing framework for thinking and action, a new branch of sciences and specialized discipline in the large family of public health and medicine. The word “global” in global health can be subjective or objective, depending on the context and setting. In addition to dual-, multi-country and global, a project or a study conducted at a local area can be global if it (1) is framed with a global perspective, (2) intends to address an issue with global impact, and/or (3) seeks global solutions to an issue, such as frameworks, strategies, policies, laws, and regulations. In this regard, global health is eventually an extension of “international health” by borrowing related knowledge, theories, technologies and methodologies from public health and medicine. Although global health is a concept that will continue to evolve, our conceptualization through group effort provides, to date, a comprehensive understanding. This report helps to inform individuals in the global health community to advance global health science and practice, and recommend to take advantage of the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China.
Alterações pulmonares causadas pelo novo Coronavírus (COVID-19) e o uso da ventilação mecânica invasiva
Authors: Campos Nataly Gurgel , Costa Rayana Fialho da
Published: April 2020

Introdução: o novo coronavírus é semelhante a outras pneumonias coronavirais e também pode levar à síndrome do desconforto respiratório agudo. Métodos: comunicação breve sobre as repercussões pulmonares causadas pela doença e uso da ventilação mecânica invasiva. Resultados: a ventilção mecânica invasiva é a forma de tratamento adequada para pacientes com saturação abaixo de 92%, pressão arterial de O2 abaixo de 65 mm/Hg com ou sem hipercapnia, frequência respiratória > 30 ipm e piora clínica. Conclusão: o uso da ventilação não invasiva ou de oxigenoterapia nasal de alto fluxo não é recomendado na rotina.
Neuronal subset-specific Pten-deficient mice do not exhibit deficits in sensorimotor gating processes
Authors: Binder Matthew S. , Nolan Suzanne O. , Lugo Joaquin N.
Published: April 2020

Background: Deficits in sensorimotor gating have been reported in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as well as in ASD murine models. However, this behavior has not been examined in the neuronal subset-specific (NS)-Pten knockout (KO) model of ASD. NS-Pten KO mice exhibit hyperactivity of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway which is implicated in the onset of autistic deficits. This study investigates the potential relationship between PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling and deficits in sensorimotor gating.   

Methods: To assess sensorimotor gating in NS-Pten KO mice we utilized a three-day paradigm. On day 1 (habituation) the mice were administered 80 repetitions of a 120-dB startle stimulus. On day 2, prepulse inhibition was measured with 90 trials of the startle stimulus that was paired with a smaller (2, 7, or 12 dB) prepulse stimulus. Day 3 was assessed one week later, consisting of randomized startle trials and trials with no stimulus and was used to determine the startle response.

Results: No significant difference between NS-Pten KO or wildtype (WT) mice was found for habituation (p > 0.05). No significant differences were found between groups when assessing the percentage of prepulse inhibition at 2, 7, and 12 dB (p > 0.05). There was also no difference in startle response between groups (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: Our study found that the NS-Pten KO model does not display significant deficits in sensorimotor gating processes. The present findings help to elucidate the relationship between PI3K/AKT/mTOR hyperactivation and sensory reactivity.
Recovering from Critical Incidents: Evidence from Paramedic Performance
Authors: Bavafa Hessam , Jónasson Jónas Oddur
Published: April 2020

Problem definition: In service operations settings where the difficulty of jobs is unpredictable, workers can encounter critical incidents (CIs)—jobs that are sufficiently disturbing to challenge workers’ coping mechanisms. We examine the impact of encountering CIs on subsequent operational performance of workers. Academic/practical relevance: Prior work has examined the effects of CIs on the long-term psychological health of workers. We demonstrate that encountering CIs has a practically meaningful impact on operational performance. We also examine the time-dependency and process-dependency of the effect and analyze whether it is mitigated by individual characteristics such as age or experience. Methodology: We use data on 902,002 ambulance activations conducted by paramedics at the London Ambulance Service (LAS). We define CIs as incidents where patients have a high probability of dying at the scene and examine the impact of such events on the paramedics’ performance for the remainder of their shifts. Our outcomes are the completion time of the ambulance activation and each of its five subprocesses. The exogenous assignment of CIs to paramedic crews allows a clean identification of our effect using a shift-level difference-in-differences specification. Results: Crews who have encountered one prior CI (two prior CIs) spend on average 2.6% (7.5%) more time completing each remaining ambulance activation in the shift. The impact is strongest for the jobs immediately following a CI but persists throughout the shift. The largest effects come from the subprocesses that are least standardized and where paramedics cannot rely on standard operating procedures. The duration effect is larger for teams of older paramedics but is simultaneously mitigated by experience. Managerial implications: Our results show that CIs increase subsequent job duration and that more than one CIs have a compounding, negative effect on operational performance. As a result, managers in settings where performance consistency is key would be advised not to assign new jobs to teams with recent CI experiences.
Biometrics and its Resistance
Authors: Michelsen Lea Laura
Published: April 2020

Research on biometrics pays much attention to a major biopolitics and often frames the subject as passive and powerless. Here, I trace a minor biopolitics—articulations of biopolitical resistance—within the aesthetic practice of artist and educator Heather Dewey-Hagborg. Expanding Hans Belting’s image theory with biopolitical theory, I argue that it is possible to trace two forms of resistance: 1. an aesthetic resistance which critically visualizes the otherwise invisible carrier medium and sub-perceptive level of biometric images (in this case DNA portraits) and 2. a bodily resistance which disrupts the biometric image by masking and manipulating its core sub-perceptive image actor: the DNA. By working across several aesthetic domains, Hagborg intervenes at multiple levels of the biopolitical visual economy (Väliaho), making it possible for a broad audience to perceive, engage with, and critically reflect upon biometric images and the ways in which they operate, organize, and affect society.
On the Assessment of Homogeneity in a Uniform Regression Model
Authors: Makhaeva T.P. , Ponomarev I.V.
Published: April 2020

When conducting an exploratory analysis of the data and the subsequent construction of functional dependencies between the observed phenomena, it is often necessary to assess the degree of dependence between the studied data. The basis for obtaining such criteria with a probabilistic approach usually includes the correlation component of the sample. The choice of the used indicator directly depends on the methods of studying the sample, as well as the tools for constructing the model. In most cases, at the initial stage of modeling, it is precisely the homogeneity estimates of the sample that are studied, a good selection of which can reduce the complexity of constructing the relationship between the data.In this paper, we study a method for assessing  the uniformity of sample data when constructing a uniform regression model. The first part of the paper describes the correlation coefficient for the L∞ regression, studies the interval of its change, describes the geometric interpretation and the algorithm for constructing this indicator. In the second part of the paper, we study the method of constructing an indicator of "concentration" of the sample. For this, formulas are derived that relate the correlation coefficient to the magnitude of the original sample. In conclusion, a description is given of the algorithms for constructing the considered indicators, and conclusions are drawn about the complexity of these algorithms.
Identification of Individuals at Increased Risk for Pancreatic Cancer in a Community-Based Cohort of Patients With Suspected Chronic Pancreatitis
Authors: Jeon Christie Y. , Chen Qiaoling , Yu Wei , Dong Elizabeth Y. , Chung Joanie , Pandol Stephen J. , Yadav Dhiraj , Conwell Darwin L. , Wu Bechien U.
Published: April 2020

OBJECTIVES:

We lack reliable methods for identifying patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP) at increased risk for pancreatic cancer. We aimed to identify radiographic parameters associated with pancreatic cancer in this population.

METHODS:

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with suspected CP within an integrated healthcare system in Southern California in 2006–2015. Patients were identified by a diagnostic code and confirmed by imaging findings (parenchymal calcification, ductal stones, glandular atrophy, pseudocyst, main duct dilatation, duct irregularity, abnormal side branch, or stricture) defined by the natural language processing of radiographic reports. We used Cox regression to determine the relationship of smoking, alcohol use, acute pancreatitis, diabetes, body mass index, and imaging features with the risk of incident pancreatic cancer at least 1 year after abnormal pancreas imaging.

RESULTS:

We identified 1,766 patients with a diagnostic code and an imaging feature for CP with a median follow-up of 4.5 years. There were 46 incident pancreatic cancer cases. Factors that predicted incident pancreatic cancer after 1-year of follow-up included obesity (hazard ratio 2.7, 95% confidence interval: 1.2–6.1) and duct dilatation (hazard ratio 10.5, 95% confidence limit: 4.0–27). Five-year incidence of pancreatic cancer in this population with duct dilatation was 6.3%.

DISCUSSION:

High incidence of pancreatic cancer in suspected patients with CP with pancreatic duct dilatation warrants regular surveillance for pancreatic cancer.
The extended internal QC (eIQC): a new practical approach for quality assurance in point-of-care glucose testing using the POCTopus Software – a pilot study
Authors: von Meyer Alexander , Luppa Peter B. , Cadamuro Janne
Published: April 2020

Background

Quality assurance (QA) in point-of-care testing (POCT) is an important issue for organizing POCT structures within the healthcare sector. In Germany, only one device needs to participate in an external QA program, if the responsible core laboratory is supervising internal quality controls of all other identical POCT devices. This flexible definition of quality control (QC) testing is in line with the fundamentals of ISO 22870 and the ISO 15189, but can only be regarded as a minimum requirement.

Methods

We present a pilot study for an inexpensive new approach for additional POCT QC measurement similar to the external QA program within the medical laboratory using capillary glucose measurement as an example. This new system, referred to as “extended internal QC (eIQC)”, uses in-house generated QC material from leftover full blood from routine diagnostics. We provide information on calculation of target values and acceptance ranges and preliminary data on stability and comparison between POCT and core laboratory testing (COBAS 8000). Additionally, we simulated the approach using three devices within the laboratory as surrogate for three POCT sites. In this pilot study, measurements of QC material beyond the mandatory QA plan are structured and optimized through the use of the POCTopus Software solution.

Results

QC material was easily generated including specification of target values. The software aided in automatized processing of the samples. The software showed limitations in evaluation and monitoring without relevant use of resources. We found a significant bias between measurements on POCT and COBAS 8000 instruments.

Conclusions

The presented new approach for additional QAs for POCT enables POCT coordinators to establish an additional safety and QC level. Further software improvements are required. Further studies are needed for validation and comparison measurements between methods. Overall, this approach offers great potential for POCT structures seeking higher quality standards.
Weimar, Cold War, and Historical Explanation
Authors: Menzel Julia Harriet , Kaiser David
Published: April 2020

This essay is part of a special issue entitled “Looking Backward, Looking Forward: HSNS at 50,” edited by Erika Lorraine Milam.
СИСТЕМНО-ІНТЕГРОВАНИЙ ПІДХІД ДО ПРОБЛЕМИ ОБДАРОВАНОСТІ ОСОБИСТОСТІ НА РІЗНИХ ЕТАПАХ ЇЇ ОНТОГЕНЕЗУ
Authors: Добровольська Наталія
Published: April 2020

У статті розкрито можливості застосування системно-інтегрованого підходу до вивчення проблеми обдарованості особистості на різних етапах її онтогенезу. Зокрема з позицій системно-інтегрованого підходу виявлено ​​загальну структуру психорегуляційних компонентів обдарованої особис­тості. Розглянуто структуру соціально-психологічних проявів обдарованої особистості і визначено їх внесок у загальну регуляцію навчальної діяльності; виявлено ​​ієрархію домінантних цінностей і мотивів обдарованих підлітків і визначено типологію обдарованих дітей з розкриттям змістовних і структурних характеристик кожного з типів; сформульовано психодіагностичні критерії особистісних характеристик, які сприяють регуляції навчальної діяльності і показано значущість ціннісних орієнтацій для оптимального розкриття здібностей обдарованих учнів; розроблено спеціальну програму соціально-психологічного супроводу процесу становлення обдарованої особистості. Індивідуальні відмінності компонентів психічної регуляції навчальної діяльності дозволили виокремити групу обдарованих респондентів з продуктивною  мотиваційною складовою психічної регуляції такої діяльності та досліджуваних з непродуктивною мотиваційною складовою психічної регуляції навчальної діяльності. Показано, що реалізація системного підходу в цій галузі вимагає не тільки реконструкції наявних концепцій обдарованості, а й розробки нових технологічних рішень – комплексу засобів, здатних фіксувати досліджуваний предмет як багатовимірний, цілісний і змінюваний у часі, зокрема залежно від різних умов навчання. Програма соціально-психологічного супроводу, побудована на принципах системно-інтегрованого підходу та спрямована на становлення мотиваційної складової механізму психічної регуляції навчальної діяльності обдарованої особистості, довела свою ефективність у напрямку підвищення показників творчої мотивації, творчої спрямованості, рефлексивності, здатності до комбінування, дивергентного мислення, свободи продукування асоціацій, винахідливості, самооцінки, саморегуляції.
КНИГА БЫТИЯ И СОВРЕМЕННАЯ ПСИХОЛОГИЯ: СОВПАДЕНИЯ И РАСХОЖДЕНИЯ (рос)
Authors: Левит Леонид
Published: April 2020

В статье рассматриваются совпадения и различия между библейским сюжетом о первородном грехе и результатами, выявленными современной экспериментальной наукой. Так, показано, что подав­ляю­щее большинство людей действительно подвержено закономерностям, которые трактуются религией в качестве божественного наказания за вкушение плодов с дерева познания. Речь идёт о повышенной уязвимости к негативу, быстрой адаптации к позитиву, трансформации кратковременного «добра» в дол­го­временное «зло» и восприятии труда в качестве тягостной необходимости. Таким образом, отмечаемая в христианских источниках «большая склонность человека к злу, нежели к добру» имеет определённые научные подтверждения. Создаётся впечатление, что над «массовым» человеком действительно тяго­теют негативные закономерности, которые можно истолковывать как следствие «божественного нака­зания». По контрасту, свободно выбираемая активность одарённого индивида подчинена противопо­лож­ным закономерностям: получению качественно особых (в том числе, потоковых) позитивных переживаний благодаря напряжению сил, отсутствию адаптации к позитиву с одновременной повышенной устой­чивостью к негативной информации и общераспространённым стрессам, развитию внутреннего потен­циала и успешной самореализации. В частности, последнее наиболее ярко выражено в творческой актив­ности учёного, продолжающего «срывать плоды с дерева познания», тем самым как бы «нарушая» бо­жественные запреты и общечеловеческие закономерности. В эпоху, когда наука  не обнаружила следов «внешнего» источника смысла жизни (включая божественный замысел), на современного думающего человека ложится личная ответственность за создание персональной смысловой конструкции
ОСОБА З ІНВАЛІДНІСТЮ У РЕФЛЕКСІЯХ СТУДЕНТІВ-ПСИХОЛОГІВ
Authors: Галян Олена , Галян Ігор
Published: April 2020

У статті проаналізовано теоретико-прикладні аспекти формування у студентської молоді когнітивного, емотивного та конативного компонентів ставлення до осіб з інвалідністю (інвалідизованих). Став­лення в міжособистісному пізнанні відображають той аспект взаємодії, який стосується зістав­лення об’єктивного світу та його суб’єктивної інтерпретації. Зміст психологічного ставлення фор­мується під впливом соціальних настановлень, уявлень та індивідуального досвіду взаємодії з різними категоріями осіб. Засвідчено домінування соціальної моделі сприймання інвалідизованого, в якій провідна роль належить пошуку його місця в соціумі, визначення шляхів самореалізації та опти­маль­ного життєздійснення. Доведено, що в сучасних умовах спостерігається тенденція до заміни побу­тових стереотипів сприймання інвалідизованих професійними уявленнями, завдяки яким окреслюються підходи до формування в суспільстві толерантного ставлення до цієї групи осіб. Диференційовано вплив соціального та особистісного контексту толерантності студентів на ставлення до осіб з обмеженими можливостями. Конкретизовано фактори, які визначають сприймання інвалідів та ставлення оточення до них. Акцентування на осо­бистісних, вольових та соціально-психологічних проявах осіб з обмеженими мож­ливостями постало детермінантами формування системи ставлень до них. Водночас визнано наявність індивідуальних варіантів психічної активності осіб з інвалідністю, а відповідно й ієрархії їхніх провідних рис. Обґрун­товано потребу удосконалення психолого-педагогічного супроводу особис­тісного розвитку студентів в умовах закладу вищої освіти, де підтримується прагнення усіх суб’єктів освітнього процесу до продуктивного самоздійснення
Levels of radium-226 in the rainbow trout, macroinvertebrates-substrates and water adjacent to the mining concession Loma Larga, Azuay-Ecuador
Authors: Viloria Ávila Tony Jesús , Pesantez Adriana , Vázquez Silva Efrén , Delgado Ernesto Manuel , Duque Paola , Sajo-Bohus Laszlo
Published: April 2020

Mineral processing has been identified among the twelve main industrial processes that must be under control due to the expose to natural radioactive sources. The modification and, generally, the increase in the concentration of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) in the earth's crust cause an imbalance in the ecosystem. Imbalance that affects the fauna, which are able to bio accumulate these radioisotopes and introduce them into the trophic chain. The main purpose of this work was to establish a radio-ecological baseline. For this purpose, the concentration levels of 226Ra in rainbow trout, in macro invertebrate matrices-substrates and water from the Irquis and Portete rivers were evaluated. A study area adjacent to the Loma Larga mining concession was selected. The measurements were made using the Lucas cells coupled to a Pylon AB6A counter and the "Can Technique", using LR-115 passive detectors. The results indicated that rainbow trout bio accumulated in bones and organsa mean of 94.7% of the total 226Ra detected, which values varied from 4.69 to 2.46 Bq/kg, while macro invertebrate-substrate matrices showed a concentration that ranged between 0.7 and 1.3 Bq/kg in the Irquis River, while in the Portete River was between 1.1 and 19.3 Bq/kg. The water samples, in the sampling points of the Irquis River, showed concentrations that ranged between 37.3 and 119.1 mBq/l and in the Portete River between 43.5 to 146.4 mBq/l.