bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hope for Girls’ Education in Poverty-Stricken Areas: The School-Running Experience and Process of Huaping Girls’ High School in Yunnan, China
Authors: Zhu Hongqing
Published: September 2020

As a measure to eradicate poverty, education has become the choice of more and more countries in the world. The development of girls’ education is an important means to break the intergenerational transmission of poverty. In the practice of poverty alleviation through supporting education, the Chinese government strives to solve the problem of poverty by developing education for girls. In this process, the government, enterprises, institutions, and individuals have made tremendous efforts one after another. Teacher Guimei Zhang used her efforts to set up the first high school for girls in Huaping County of Lijiang, the poorest western part of Yunnan Province, China, providing valuable educational opportunities for school-age girls in poverty-stricken areas for free. The school challenges the current education system. Girls can enter the school based on their will without the entrance examination. All students have achieved impressive and outstanding outcomes. This article records in detail the school-running experience, process, and propositions of Huaping Girls’ High School.
Types of audit quality research: their advantages and disadvantages
Authors: Vaicekauskas Darius
Published: September 2020

There is no single common definition of audit quality. Audit quality depends upon the observer, as well as on methods used in order to evaluate it. Considering that audit quality is usually an object under the investigation of three groups of stakeholders - external users, preparers and supervision authorities – three types of audit quality researches can be determined.

In accordance to laws applicable in different countries, auditors and audit firms are usually periodically inspected by professional competent inspectors. The inspectors assess whether the firms and auditors do not infringe the provisions of auditing standards, national auditing laws, as well as how they manage internal resources and policies to provide high quality auditing services. These inspections could be performed only on legal basis by legally affirmed inspectors and their findings usually reach other stakeholders only if outrage deficiencies are detected. This lead to high quality assessments costs for other stakeholders to evaluate audit quality this way.

In order to reduce quality assessment costs, external users apply audit quality surrogate researches – they employ various surrogates, which in their opinion, are closely tied with the audit quality (probability that auditors will detect deficiencies and will react properly) and assess whether these surrogates are applicable to particular audit firm. Surrogates such as audit firm size, auditor’s tenure, non-audit services provided to audit clients are often employed. Although these researches may be informative and interesting to various analytics and scientists, the lack of particular necessary information and difficult mathematical-statistical models reduce the quantity of such researches.

Due to audit clients' direct interaction with their auditors, clients do not rely on surrogates – they evaluate audit quality on their own perceptions. Usually these perceptions are based on various attributes of an audit firm (size, brand, reputation) and audit team (empathy, communication, responsiveness). That kind of research does not focus on defining audit quality, it is more leaning towards the attributes, existence of which in engagements causes clients' perceptions of audit as of good quality.

Literature analysis shows that due to increasing interest in an audit quality subject, various different types of audit quality researches will arise  in the future.
Mathematical methods for forecasting the company's financial results
Authors: Urbonaitė Judita , Kvekšienė Milda
Published: September 2020

Forecasting is essential for the company activities, as it helps to predict company's future results. Forecasting methods theory analysis has showed that the application of mathematical methods are very wide. After the forecasting of sales revenue and profits of „Klaipėda vanduo“ LC. for 2013–2014 has been done, it is possible to claim that forecasting according to parabolic trend is appropriate for forecasting indicators, one the grounds that MAPE index for sales revenue and gross profit indicators has turned out to be very accurate, and for financial forecast - accurate. Linear trend forecasting is also suitable for the sales revenues forecasting due to the similarity of received calculated errors. The results achieved have depicted that according to the linear trend the sales revenues average will be 41,48 million litas in 2013. The average of the sales revenues according to parabolic trend will be 41,56 million litas. In 2014 according to linear trend the sales revenues will reach 41,70 million litas and according to parabolic trend they will reach 41,87 million litas. Gross profit in 2013 is forecasted to be 8,21 million litas and in 2014 – 5,4 million litas. 2013 and 2014 forecasting showed, that company will suffer net losses.
INFLUENCE OF COLD MACERATION TREATMENT ON AROMATIC AND SENSORY PROPERTIES OF VUGAVA WINE (Vitis vinifera L.)
Authors: Jagatić Korenika Ana-Marija , Prusina Tihomir , Ivić Stipe
Published: September 2020

In Croatian viticultural sub-region of Middle and South Dalmatia, several high-quality white wines, mainly using the native grape varieties, are being produced and one of them is Vugava from the island of Vis. The aim of this two-year study was to investigate the effect of cold maceration conditions on aromatic and sensory properties of Vugava wines in comparison to the control wine produced without maceration. The GC/MS method was used for the determination of higher alcohols, methanol, ethyl acetate, and acetaldehyde concentrations. Aromatic profile was obtained by odor activity values and sensory evaluation. The significant difference in concentrations of total higher alcohols and isoamyl alcohol was determined in both vintages unlike the differences in basic wine composition. There was no visible difference or significant increase of methanol and ethyl acetate concentration what is positive from the health and sensory point of view. Sensory evaluation of Vugava wines showed that treatment of cold maceration (20 h/10 °C) resulted in increased complexity and better rated wine.
Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infection Reduction in a Pediatric Safety Engagement Network
Authors: Foster Charles B. , Ackerman Kathy , Hupertz Vera , Mustin Laurie , Sanders Joann , Sisson Patricia , Wenthe Rachel E.
Published: September 2020

BACKGROUND:

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are a leading cause of health care–associated infection. Catheter insertion bundles (IBs) and maintenance bundles (MBs) have been developed to prevent CAUTIs but have not been extensively validated for use in pediatric populations. We report the CAUTI prevention efforts of a large network of children’s hospitals.

METHODS:

Children’s hospitals joined the Children’s Hospitals’ Solutions for Patient Safety engagement network from 2011 to 2017, using an open start time engagement approach, and elected to participate in CAUTI prevention efforts, with 26 submitting data initially and 128 at the end. CAUTI prevention recommendations were first released in May 2012, and IBs and MBs were released in May 2014. Hospitals reported on CAUTIs, patient-days, and urinary catheter-line days and tracked reliability to each bundle. For the network, run charts or control charts were used to plot CAUTI rates, urinary catheter use, and reliability to each bundle component.

RESULTS:

After the introduction of the pediatric CAUTI IBs and MBs, CAUTI rates across the network decreased 61.6%, from 2.55 to 0.98 infections per 1000 catheter-line days. Centerline shifts occurred both before and after the 2015 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CAUTI definition change. Urinary catheter use rates did not decline during the intervention period. Network reliability to the IBs and MBs increased to 95.4% and 86.9%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS:

IBs and MBs aimed at preventing CAUTIs were introduced across a large network of children’s hospitals. Across the network, the rate of urinary tract infections among hospitalized children with indwelling urinary catheters decreased 61.6%.
Introducing Telepsychiatry to Medical Students with Simulated Patients: An Innovation by Necessity
Authors: Miller Michael , Schatte Dawnelle , Szauter Karen
Published: September 2020

This article was migrated. The article was marked as recommended. Introduction: The abrupt discontinuation of medical student-patient contact due to the covid-19 pandemic resulted in a rapid change to virtual teaching. Student education was restructured to include online cases, small group discussions, synchronous and asynchronous lectures, and modified problem-based learning and team-based learning sessions. However, the key focus of the clerkship experience, contact with patients, was missing. Process: The Psychiatry Clerkship directors have previously provided complex simulated encounters to students using video-taped encounters of physician-simulated patient interactions to teach and assess student note writing skills. This concept was adapted to a live encounter for individual students on the psychiatry clerkship. Students reviewed the patient chart, performed the encounter, provided an oral patient presentation to faculty, and wrote a patient note. Individualized feedback was provided for each step of the process. Outcomes: The process was well received by students and faculty and provided an opportunity to directly observe student skills despite distancing from direct patient care. The simulated patients had a very positive experience and appreciated the opportunity to advance their own skills while contributing to student's education. Discussion: Removing students from clinical sites stimulated the rapid development of a process to observe learners involved in patient encounters. These educational sessions allowed direct observation of skills required in the initial evaluation of a patient presenting to psychiatry for care.
FATORES ASSOCIADOS A MAIOR RISCO DE OCORRÊNCIA DE ÓBITO POR COVID-19: ANÁLISE DE SOBREVIVÊNCIA A PARTIR DE CASOS CONFIRMADOS
Authors: Galvão Maria Helena , Roncalli Angelo Giuseppe
Published: September 2020

OBJETIVO: Realizar uma análise de sobrevivência de indivíduos diagnosticados com covid-19 identificados pelos sistemas de informação em saúde, analisando os fatores associados ao maior risco de ocorrência de óbitos. MÉTODOS: Consistiu em uma análise de sobrevivência de indivíduos notificados por covid-19 no estado do Rio Grande do Norte, utilizando dados dos Sistemas de Informação em Saúde para a vigilância de casos e óbitos por covid-19. A variável dependente foi o tempo até a ocorrência o desfecho. As variáveis independentes foram sexo, cor da pele, faixa etária, residir na capital e presença de comorbidades. Para análise de dados foi utilizado o método de Kaplan-Meyer e, na análise multivariada, utilizou-se o Modelo de Regressão de Cox tempo-dependente, utilizando a covariável “tempo desde a notificação do evento em dias”. RESULTADOS: Apresentaram maiores riscos de ocorrência de óbitos por covid-19 os indivíduos com 80 anos ou mais de idade (HR=8,06; p<0,001), do sexo masculino (HR=1,45; p<0,001), com cor de pele não branca (HR=1,13; p<0,033) ou sem informação (HR=1,29; p<0,001), que possuem comorbidades (HR=10,44; p<0,001) ou que a presença de comorbidades não foi informada (HR=10,87; p<0,001).CONCLUSÕES: A partir da identificação do perfil de pacientes com maior risco de óbito a partir da identificação pelo sistema de saúde, estratégias e linhas de cuidado específicas devem ser tomadas para prevenir a evolução ao óbito nesses casos. Recomenda-se a utilização da distribuição dessas variáveis na população com a finalidade organizar a oferta e disponibilidade de leitos de atenção à saúde.
A de novo GABRB2 variant associated with myoclonic status epilepticus and rhythmic high‐amplitude delta with superimposed (poly) spikes (RHADS)
Authors: Nishikawa Aiko , Otani Yui , Ito Susumu , Nagata Satoru , Shiota Mutsuki , Takanashi Jun‐ichi , Nakashima Mitsuko , Saitsu Hirotomo , Matsumoto Naomichi , Oguni Hirokazu
Published: September 2020

We report a child who developed myoclonic status epilepticus (MSE) at four months of age, associated with rhythmic high‐amplitude delta and superimposed (poly) spikes (RHADS), harbouring a GABRB2 (β2 subunit of the GABA A receptor) variant. The patient was treated under a presumptive diagnosis of neonatal‐onset alpers syndrome (AS) and underwent targeted sequence analysis for POLG1 (polymerase gamma 1) and subsequent whole‐exome sequence analysis (WES). The patient is currently a 10‐year, eight‐month‐old boy, suffering from daily MSE associated with RHADS and severe global developmental delay from early infancy. Although POLG1 mutation was negative, WES revealed a de novo missense variant of GABRB2 (NM_021911.2: c.784G>T, p.[Val262Phe]). Based on a review of case series with GABRB2 variants, we found that five of the 18 cases shared the clinical and EEG characteristics associated with our patient. In summary, this de novo GABRB2 variant was associated with an AS phenotype, characterized by treatment‐resistant MSE and RHADS, and may represent an alternative aetiology for neonatal‐onset AS without POLG1 mutation [Published with video sequence].
Testing blood and CSF in people with epilepsy: a practical guide
Authors: Sutton Fiona , Barca Diana , Komoltsev Ilia , Craiu Dana , Guekht Alla , von Oertzen Tim , Cock Hannah R.
Published: September 2020

Laboratory investigations, whilst not essential to the diagnosis of seizures or of epilepsy, can be fundamental to determining the cause and guiding management. Over 50% of first seizures have an acute symptomatic cause, including a range of metabolic, toxic or infectious cause. The same triggers can precipitate status epilepticus, either de novo or as part of a deterioration in control in individuals with established epilepsy. Some, such as hypoglycaemia or severe hyponatraemia, can be fatal without prompt identification and treatment. Failure to identify seizures associated with recreational drug or alcohol misuse can lead to inappropriate AED treatment, as well as a missed opportunity for more appropriate intervention. In individuals with established epilepsy on treatment, some laboratory monitoring is desirable at least occasionally, in particular, in relation to bone health, as well as in situations where changes in AED clearance or metabolism are likely (extremes of age, pregnancy, comorbid disorders of renal or hepatic function). For any clinician managing people with epilepsy, awareness of the commoner derangements associated with individual AEDs is essential to guide practice. In this article, we review indications for tests on blood, urine and/or cerebrospinal fluid in patients presenting with new‐onset seizures and status epilepticus and in people with established epilepsy presenting acutely or as part of planned monitoring. Important, but rare, neurometabolic and genetic disorders associated with epilepsy are also mentioned.
INFLUENCE OF TYPHUS IN PREGNANCY AND THE FETUS
Authors: Lvov I. M.
Published: September 2020

The typhus epidemic observed at the end of last year and the beginning of this year in Kazan gave me quite a lot of material for studying the influence of this disease on the course of pregnancy and the fetus. Back in 1867, Dr. Kaminsky gave us a diagram of how to monitor fever in the mother, and at the same time accurately established the influence of typhoid fever on the course of pregnancy and the fetus. It was he who pointed out that out of 98 typhoid cases in 63, the pregnancy was terminated, the course of the disease itself during pregnancy was ordinary, and bleeding easily follows after childbirth. Further, Kaminsky found that with a rise in the mother's temperature to 40 , there is a danger for the life of the fetus in the form of a changed heartbeat and its movements, indicating the onset of intrauterine asphyxiation of the fetus. This danger increased as the temperature rose or its status quo continued for a long time, and the case in these cases was resolved either by an interruption of pregnancy or by the death of the fetus without the termination of pregnancy at this time.
TO THE STUDY ABOUT REPEATED LAPAROTOMIES
Authors: Solovyov A. N.
Published: September 2020

The modern trend towards conservative laparotomy in gynecological operations is a sign of the times. It appeared as a reaction against the hobbies that many doctors suffered, thanks to the success of laparotomy, as a result of which the opening of the abdominal cavity became almost unpunished.
About Duhrssen's deep incisions in the cervix, vagina and perineum
Authors: Voff I.
Published: September 2020

The author reports two cases where he found the use of Duhrssen notches shown; the first case is also interesting in that childbirth and the postpartum period were complicated by inflammation of the kidney.
A case of a preserving caesarean section
Authors: Fisher A.
Published: September 2020

Ms. Ch., 26 years old; poor health; started to walk at the age of 6; the first menstruation - at the age of 12, got married on the 19th and immediately became pregnant. The first birth, which lasted 46 hours, ended with a craniotomy at the Obstetric Aid in Moscow; the second pregnancy was artificially terminated by the author at the end of the 24th week, - a living child was born, died after 7 weeks from congenital weakness; The author interrupted the third pregnancy at the 36th week, and the labor was completed by the difficult imposition of forceps on the head moving above the entrance to the pelvis, - the girl was born in asphyxiation, revived. The present, fourth, pregnancy proceeded as follows: the last regulations between March 7 and 10, 1891; first fetal movement - July 24; only on 30 November (i.e. at the end of the 38th week) did the pregnant woman turn to the author.
Towards the doctrine of central perineal tears
Authors: Zabolotskiy A.
Published: September 2020

Analyzing the signs by which the authors define the central perineal rupture, namely, the violation of the integrity of all its tissues in the central part with the preservation of the posterior commissure of the genital fissure and the anus, the author says that they do not exhaust the concept of a central perineal rupture and proposes to formulate it as follows: central rupture is such damage to the perineum, which, being localized in its center, violates the integrity of either its entire thickness, or individual layers of this thickness, and at the same time is separated by sections of undamaged tissue, both from the genital fissure and from the anus. "
About choosing a wet nurse
Authors: Markova S.
Published: September 2020

The author first of all points out the qualities that a good nurse should have. She must not be younger than 20, otherwise she is not experienced enough and not strong enough to feed a baby. In addition, the milk of a woman from 16 to 20 years old contains relatively little water and sugar, and a lot of casein and fat, in composition it is close to cow's milk and is difficult to digest. On the other hand, a nurse should not be older than 35 years, because at this age a woman's milk contains a lot of water and few dense constituents; such milk is not very nutritious. The time of the woman's release from the burden is of great importance. It is best to take a woman as a wet nurse no earlier than 3 months after her birth.
Endurance of the uterus in relation to aseptic foreign bodies. Dangers of Expansion Lint and Sponges Prepared for Sale
Authors: Zabolotskiy A.
Published: September 2020

The author recommends to be more careful when using objects for the expansion of the uterus, which are on sale, in view of their poor processing or due to a simple mistake of the manufacturer, and cites one of his observations in this regard, made three years before.
KİTLESEL AÇIK ÇEVRİMİÇİ DERSLERE KATILAN BİREYLERİN DERSLERİ TAMAMLAMA DURUMLARININ ÇEŞİTLİ DEĞİŞKENLERE GÖRE İNCELENMESİ
Authors: GÖKTAŞ Merve , ASLAN Alper , ATICI Bünyamin
Published: September 2020

Kitlesel açık çevrimiçi dersler internet kullanımının
yaygınlaşması ile birlikte daha geniş kitleler tarafından tercih edilmeye
başlanmıştır. Eğitimciler tarafından önümüzdeki yıllarda daha fazla tercih
edileceği düşünülen kitlesel açık çevrimiçi derslerde dersi yarıda bırakması
önemli bir sorundur. Gerçekleştirilen araştırmada kitlesel açık çevrimiçi
derslere katılan bireylerin dersleri tamamlama durumları cinsiyet, yaş,
mezuniyet türü, sistem kullanım durumu, katılma nedenleri ve özerk öğrenme
potansiyeli değişkenlerine göre incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Bu araştırmada nicel
araştırma yöntemlerinden betimsel tarama modeli kullanılmıştır. Araştırmanın
örneklemi 63 erkek ve 64 kadın olmak üzere toplam 127 kişiden oluşmaktadır.
Örneklem seçiminde amaçsal örnekleme yöntemlerinden ölçüt örneklem
benimsenmiştir. Katılımcıların kitlesel açık çevrimiçi ders almış olmaları
ölçüt olarak belirlenmiştir. Veri toplama aracı olarak araştırmacılar
tarafından hazırlanan kişisel bilgi formu ile Arslan ve Yurdakul (2015) tarafından
geliştirilen Özerk Öğrenme Ölçeği kullanılmıştır. Verilerin analizinde
kestirimsel analiz yöntemlerinden Ki-kare testi, point-biserail korelasyon
analizi ve bağımsız gruplar t-testi kullanılmıştır. Araştırma sonuçları
bireylerin kitlesek açık çevrimiçi dersleri tamamlama oranlarının cinsiyet
değişkenine göre erkeklerin lehine, yaş değişkenine göre 25-44 yaş aralığı
lehine, mezuniyet türüne göre lisans ve lisansüstü mezunların lehine anlamlı
bir şekilde yüksek olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Sistem kullanma durumlarına ve
özerk öğrenme potansiyellerine göre ise anlamlı bir farklılık bulunamamıştır.
Bunun yanı sıra bireylerin kitlesel açık çevrimiçi derslere katılma nedenleri
arttıkça dersi tamamlama oranlarının arttığı görülmüştür.
Beyond Canned Television
Authors: Lin Lisa
Published: September 2020

The October of 2018 saw the creation of BBC Earth Tribe, a global online brand representing BBC Natural History Unit (NHU)’s programming on Tencent Video, one of China’s leading online streaming services. Besides providing over 650 hours of BBC documentaries to Chinese online audiences, BBC Earth Tribe delivers unprecedented access to creators from BBC NHU through interactive screen forms and offline events. This article offers a study of BBC Earth’s global strategies in its partnerships with one of the largest Chinese digital platforms, Tencent, in terms of coproduction and online community building beyond traditional canned television distribution. It examines Project Penguin, which has formalised coproduction partnerships between BBC Studios and Tencent Online Media Group (OMG) since October 2018. The distribution partnerships involve not only pre-sales of BBC Earth’s flagship documentaries but also coproduction and online community building on Tencent-run platforms, from streaming services to social media platforms. By examining BBC Earth’s distribution strategies in the Chinese media landscape from the early 2000s, the paper aims to theorise distribution strategies between BBC Studios and Tencent Video and its socio-cultural implications on television distribution in the digital, multiplatform era of convergence.
Oprawa artystyczna proklamacji królów hiszpańskich Filipa V i Ferdynanda VI w Cusco (1702, 1747)
Authors: Kubiak Ewa
Published: September 2020

Artykuł został poświęcony uroczystościom proklamacji królewskiej Filipa V i Ferdynanda VI w Cusco (Peru), które odbyły się 8 stycznia 1702 r. i 23 września 1747 r. Rekonstrukcja świąt była możliwa dzięki trzem źródłom: kronice miasta napisanej w połowie XVIII w. przez Diego de Esquivela y Navię oraz dwóm drukom okazjonalnym zawierającym opisy uroczystości, autorstwa Pedro José de Bermúdeza (1702) i José Antonio Santandera (1748). W artykule została przeanalizowana oprawa artystyczna związana z uroczystościami, a także w pewnym zakresie odtworzono wygląd architektury okazjonalnej wraz ze zdobiącym ją malarstwem. Program ikonograficzny w czasie proklamacji Ferdynanda VI odzwierciedlał społeczny i polityczny kontekst uroczystości, która stanowiła manifestację dążeń emancypacyjnych miasta, opierających się na podkreślaniu starożytności Cusco i jego bogatej tradycji imperialnej w okresie przedhiszpańskim.
Поэтика заглавия в лирике о фотографии
Authors: Самаркина Мария
Published: September 2020

Статья посвящена проблеме заглавия в лирике о фотографии. На примере анализа русской, польской и американской лирики ставится проблема соотношения заглавия и фотопоэтики, которая может обнаруживаться в стихотворении, может быть спровоцирована названием или может вовсе отсутствовать в тексте. Заглавие не является обязательной частью фотопоэтики лирического текста, поскольку может служить лишь метафорой, за которой не стоит материальный артефакт или его создание. Заглавие необходимо включать в анализ лирики о фотографии в тех случаях, когда в самом тексте можно обнаружить признаки фотопоэтического, и его название мотивировано содержанием. Из-за своей документальности упоминание фотографии, наверное, чаще других объектов будет восприниматься как апелляция к реальному артефакту, и чем точнее указание на сопутствующие обстоятельства или изображенные объекты, тем конкретнее для нас как читателей будет ее визуальность.
New Speech Compression Technique based on Filter Bank Design and Psychoacoustic Model
Authors: Talbi Mourad , Bouhlel Med Salim
Published: September 2020

In this paper, a new speech compression technique is proposed. This technique applies a Psychoacoustic Model and a general approach for Filter Bank Design using optimization. It is evaluated and compared with a compression technique using a MDCT (Modified Discrete Cosine Transform) Filter Bank of 32 Filters and a Psychoacoustic Model. This evaluation and comparison is performed by calculating bits before and after compression, PSNR (Peak Signal to Noise Ratio), NRMSE (Normalized Root Mean Square Error), SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio) and PESQ (Perceptual evaluation of speech quality) computations. The two techniques are tested and applied to a number of speech signals that are sampled at 8 kHz. The results obtained from this evaluation show that the proposed technique outperforms the second compression technique (based on a Psychoacoustic Model and MDCT filter Bank) in terms of Bits after compression and compression ratio. In fact, the proposed technique yields higher values for the compression ratio than the second compression technique. Moreover, the proposed compression technique presents reconstructed speech signals with acceptable perceptual qualities. This is justified by the values of SNR, PSNR and NRMSE and PESQ.
Design of Ultrasonic Transducer for Secondary Wave Generations with High Directivity
Authors: Kim Chol-Hak , Kim Myong-Jin , Ri Chol-Su
Published: September 2020

In this paper, we described a method of designing ultrasonic transducer which simultaneously radiates two finite-amplitude ultrasonic waves to produce the secondary waves with high directivity. For nonlinear effects, it is necessary that the frequencies of two primary waves are coincident with natural frequencies of the ultrasonic transducer. The main problem here is to predict the resonance frequencies of the first mode as well as higher modes. While the first resonance frequency of the transducer can be estimated easily, it is not trivial to do higher ones. When the length of transducer is much greater than its diameter, this problem is reduced to one-dimensional and higher mode frequencies are nothing but multiples of the first mode frequency. However, such a case is seldom encountered. Using the transfer matrix method, we obtained the resonance frequencies of the transducer analytically and compared these with numerical results from the simulation. The theoretical and simulation results are in good agreement with the difference of 3--6 kHz.
Shoulder Range of Motion and Strength Characteristics in Circus Acrobats
Authors: Huberman Carlie , Scales Melissa , Vallabhajosula Srikant
Published: September 2020

OBJECTIVES: To begin to establish normative data for shoulder range of motion (ROM) and strength in the circus acrobats and to compare these values based on age, sex, hand dominance, and acrobatic subgroup. METHODS: Active (AROM) and passive (PROM) of the full shoulder complex and PROM
of the isolated glenohumeral joint were measured in 193 circus acrobats using standardized techniques for anterior elevation (flexion), posterior elevation (extension), lateral elevation (abduction), and external and internal rotation. Shoulder strength was measured using a hand-held dynamometer
in all planes of motion. Measurements were taken twice and averaged. Mixed ANOVA were performed. One-sample t-tests were used to compare with general population. RESULTS: Several significant differences were noted between dominant and non-dominant sides, but not between the sex or age groups
tested. Acrobats who did both aerial and ground acrobatics had significantly greater full shoulder complex flexion AROM than the aerial group, and AROM extension than the ground group. Circus acrobats had significantly greater AROM full shoulder complex extension, abduction, internal and external
rotation, and shoulder strength than the general population. CONCLUSION: Overall, results from this cross-sectional study revealed that circus acrobats had greater shoulder strength and ROM than the general population, which could affect the way these patients should be treated in a clinical
setting. Age and sex seemed to have minimal effects, but there was clearly an effect of hand dominance. Acrobats who train both aerial and ground acrobatics may have greater ROM in certain planes than those who train in only one type of discipline.
Proteome analysis of lysine 2-hydroxyisobutyrylation in the peripheral blood of systemic lupus erythematosus patients
Authors: Zhou Xianqing , Lin Hua , Zhang Ruohan , Sui Weiguo , Zhang Yue , Chen Jiejing , Xue Wen , Yan Qiang , Li Chunhong , Xu Huixuan , Huang Shaoying , Dai Werer , Tang Donge , Dai Yong
Published: September 2020

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease that affects multiple organs, the pathogenic mechanism is related to many factors, but the specific pathogenic mechanism has not been clarified yet. Protein lysine modifications play important roles in gene regulation, transcription, metabolism and other biological processes. The lysine 2-hydroxyisobutyrylation(K hib ) histone mark has recently been discovered as a novel protein modification. In this study, patients in the active SLE group were examined (N=8), while the control group was healthy (N=20).Utilizing antibody-based affinity enrichment and nano-HPLC/MS/MS analyses of K hib peptides, we identified 156 upregulated proteins(fold change>1.5),124 downregulated proteins(fold change<1/1.5), including 220 K hib sites that were upregulated and 187 K hib sites that were downregulated. Our data demonstrate that proteins with K hib sites were localized in the cytoplasm. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that proteins with K hib sites are broadly involved in a wide range of biological processes, cellular components and molecular functions. The 03010 Ribosome pathways may exert important influence on the SLE pathogenic mechanism, according to a KEGG analysis. The functional analysis of K hib is of value for important future investigations of SLE pathogenesis.
Non-severe immunosuppression might be associated with a lower risk of moderate-severe acute respiratory distress syndrome in COVID-19.
Authors: Monreal Enric , Maza Susana Sainz de la , Gullón Pedro , Natera-Villalba Elena , Chico-García Juan Luis , Beltrán-Corbellini Álvaro , Martínez-Sanz Javier , García-Barragán Nuria , Buisán Javier , Toledano Rafael , Alonso-Canovas Araceli , Pérez-Torre Paula , Matute-Lozano María Consuelo , López-Sendón Jose Luis , García-Ribas Guillermo , Corral Íñigo , Fortún Jesús , Montero-Errasquín Beatriz , Manzano Luis , Máiz-Carro Luis , Costa-Frossard Lucienne , Masjuan Jaime
Published: September 2020

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an emerging infectious disease that has spread rapidly worldwide. The role of immunosuppression among COVID-19 patients has not been elucidated and management may be challenging. OBJECTIVE: To assess differences in severe outcomes of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 according to immune system state. DESIGN: Retrospective single-center observational study with confirmed COVID-19 patients admitted to Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal from March 18, 2020 to April 04, 2020. The final date of follow-up was April 09, 2020.PARTICIPANTS: Confirmed COVID-19 patients. MAIN MEASURES: The primary endpoint was development of moderate-severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Time to moderate-severe ARDS, the need for mechanical or non-invasive ventilation (MV/NIV), death, and a composite of death or MV/NIV were secondary endpoints. KEY RESULTS: Of 138 patients included, 27 (19.6%) were immunosuppressed (IS), with 95 (68.8%) male patients and a median (Q1, Q3) age of 68 (54–78) years. Among the baseline characteristics, no relevant or significant differences were observed between IS and non-immunosuppressed (non-IS) patients, detecting a non-severe immunosupression among IS. A significantly lower proportion of IS patients (22.2% [95%CI, 9.8–43.0%]) compared to non-IS patients (49.5% [95%CI, 40.2–58.9%]) developed moderate-severe ARDS, in both unadjusted (OR 0.29 [95%CI, 0.11–0.76], p=0.014) and adjusted (aOR 0.16 [95%CI, 0.05–0.55], p=0.004) analyses. After stratifying by pathologies, only IS autoimmune diseases remained significant (aOR 0.12 [95%CI, 0.03–0.57], p=0.007). Non-significant trends toward a longer time to moderate or severe ARDS, a lower need for MV/NIV, and a lower risk of death or MV/NIV were detected in IS. CONCLUSIONS: In our cohort of COVID-19 patients, non-severe immunosuppression was associated with a lower risk of moderate-severe ARDS, especially among AD. This suggests a potential protective effect from a hypothesized host hyper-inflammatory response and warrants reconsideration of management of IS patients.
Determinants of Utero-vaginal prolapse in Western Ethiopia
Authors: Firdisa Gamachis , Tilahun Temesgen , Kejela Gemechu
Published: September 2020

Background: Uterovaginal prolapse is a significant public health concern in developing countries like Ethiopia where access to health care is limited. It significantly affects women’s health and productivity. Thus, it is very important to identify determinant factors and take preventive actions. Methods: A hospital-based unmatched case-control study was conducted on 86 cases and 258 controls who attended gynecologic outpatient departments in Nekemte town, from May 1 to July 30/2019. Cases were women with grade II, III & IV uterovaginal prolapse while controls were women free from uterovaginal prolapse but with other gynecologic diseases. Data were collected using pretested interviewer-administered structured questionnaires and measurements on height and weight were taken to calculate the body mass index of women. Data were entered using Epi Data version 3.1 and analysis was carried out by SPSS version 24.0. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariable logistic regressions were performed. The adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was used and statistical significance was declared at p<0.05. Results: This study revealed, age ≥40 years (AOR=10.49; 95%CI: 4.03, 27.35), duration of labor ≥24 hours (AOR=8.32; 95%CI: 3.58, 19.33), instrumental delivery (AOR=7.40; 95%CI: 1.21, 45.28), non- utilization of family planning (AOR=3.14; 95%CI: 1.32, 7.47) and underweight (BMI <18.5 kg/m2) 5.30 (AOR=5.30; 95%CI: 1.83, 15.33) were determinants of utero vaginal prolapse. Conclusion: Age ≥ 40 years, prolonged labor, instrumental delivery, non-utilization of family planning, and underweight were identified as determinant factors of uterovaginal prolapse. Thus, family planning service utilization and appropriate and timely obstetric care are advisable.
Nrf2 protects against seawater drowning-induced acute lung injury via inhibiting ferroptosis
Authors: Qiu Yu-bao , Wan Bin-bin , Liu Gang , Wu Ya-xian , Chen Dan , Lu Mu-dan , Chen Jun-liang , Yu Ren-qiang , Chen Dao-zhen , Pang Qing-feng
Published: September 2020

Background: Ferroptosis is a new type of nonapoptotic cell death model that was closely related to reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. Seawater drowning-induced acute lung injury (ALI) which is caused by severe oxidative stress injury, has been a major cause of accidental death worldwide. The latest evidences indicate nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) suppress ferroptosis and maintain cellular redox balance. Here, we test the hypothesis that activation of Nrf2 pathway attenuates seawater drowning-induced ALI via inhibiting ferroptosis.Methods: we performed studies using Nrf2-specific agonist (dimethyl fumarate), Nrf2 inhibitor (ML385), Nrf2-knockout mice and ferroptosis inhibitor (Ferrostatin-1) to investigate the potential roles of Nrf2 on seawater drowning-induced ALI and the underlying mechanisms.Results: Our data shows that Nrf2 activator dimethyl fumarate could increase cell viability, reduced the levels of intracellular ROS and lipid ROS, prevented glutathione depletion and lipid peroxide accumulation, increased FTH1 and GPX4 mRNA expression, and maintained mitochondrial membrane potential in MLE-12 cells. However, ML385 promoted cell death and lipid ROS production in MLE-12 cells. Furthermore, the lung injury became more aggravated in the Nrf2-knockout mice than that in WT mice after seawater drowning.Conclusions: These results suggested that Nrf2 can inhibit ferroptosis and therefore alleviate ALI induced by seawater drowning. The effectiveness of ferroptosis inhibition by Nrf2 provides a novel therapeutic target for seawater drowning-induced ALI.
Soft tissue facial changes among adult females during the first six months of orthodontic treatment: a spatially dense 3D geometric morphometric study
Authors: Hou Si Yu , Zhou Wenwen , Dai Hongwei , Wong Hai Ming , Wen Yi Feng , Zhou Jianping
Published: September 2020

Background: To investigate changes in facial morphology during the first six months of orthodontic treatment among adult females receiving orthodontic treatment.Methods: 18 adult females receiving orthodontic treatment were randomly recruited. 3D facial images were taken at baseline (T0), three months (T1), and six months (T2) after treatment initiation. Spatially dense facial landmarks were digitized to allow for sufficient details in characterization of facial features. 3D geometric morphometrics and multivariate statistics were used to investigate changes in mean and variance of facial shape and facial form associated with treatment.Results: We observed statistically significant changes in facial shape across the three treatment stages (p = 0.003). Pairwise comparisons suggested significant changes from T0 to T1 (p = 0.0059) and from T0 to T2 (p = 0.0098). Heatmap visualization indicated that the buccal and temporal region were invaginated while the labial region became protruded with treatment. The magnitude of shape change was 0.009, 0.004, and 0.010 from T0 to T1, T1 to T2, and T0 to T2, respectively, in unit of Procrustes distance. The average magnitude of change per-landmark was 1.31 mm, 0.22 mm, and 1.33 mm, respectively. Changes in mean facial form were not statistically significant (p = 0.103). No changes in variance of facial shape were observed across treatment stages (p > 0.05).Conclusion: Rate of facial changes was twice as fast during the first three months as that during fourth to sixth month. Buccal and temporal region became invaginated while labial region became protruded with treatment.
Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of dentists in offering dental treatment to pregnant women in Jordan: A Cross-Sectional survey
Authors: AlShurman Bara' Abdallah , Khader Yousef Saleh , Batieha Anwar , Al-Batayneh Ola B. , Odat Abd-Albaset , Alyahya Mohammad , Dawoud Mourad , AlShurman Maria A.
Published: September 2020

Background: Although international guidelines emphasized that pregnant patients should receive proper dental treatment, many dentists are still hesitant to do so. This study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitude, and practices of dentists towards offering dental treatment to pregnant women in Jordan.Methods: An online survey was distributed to 1000 dentists using social-media applications between August and October, 2019. The survey consisted of three sections; dentists’ knowledge about the association between oral diseases and pregnancy, their participation in training courses, and their practices regarding various dental treatments during pregnancy. Descriptive statistics were obtained and Chi-square tests were used to measure the association between demographic variables and knowledge, attitude, and practices variables. Significance was considered at P-value < 0.05.Results: A total of 547 (54.7%) responded to the questionnaire. Only (37.5%) agreed that periodontal diseases might increase risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Almost (75.9%) did not attend any training program. The 2nd trimester was the most preferable time to do all dental procedures. There was a tendency to perform scaling and fillings especially in the 2nd trimester (82.4%), (86.1%) respectively. The majority of dentists would feel comfortable to do RCT (72.0%) or extraction (60.0%) in the 2nd trimester, whereas greater caution was apparent on 1st and 3rd trimester. A proportion of (32.5%) thought that taking x-rays during pregnancy was contraindicated. About (53.7%) didn’t know about the safety to administer nitrous oxide sedation during pregnancy. Around (75.9%) refused to prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to pregnant women. By far, paracetamol was the drug of choice (96.9%) to prescribe as an analgesic and amoxicillin as an antibiotic (89.2%).Conclusion: lack of knowledge, poor attitude and incorrect practices were observed among surveyed dentists with regards to management of pregnant women. Thus, further education courses about international guidelines are needed to correct the common misconceptions and negative attitudes and practices of dentists in treating pregnant women.
Nurses’ perceptions and practices regarding oral care in hospitalized patients: a qualitative study on missed nursing care
Authors: Charalambous Melanie , Efstathiou Georgios , Lambrou-Christodoulou Persofoni , Irakleous Iraklis , Papastavrou Evridiki
Published: September 2020

BACKGROUNDOral health is considered essential for individuals’ well-being. Poor oral health has a negative impact on overall human health while contributing and predisposing to other diseases. It has been internationally documented that nurses delay or omit oral care of hospitalized patients and as a result of this, the risk of adverse events is increased.METHODSFour focus groups were organized (n=30) to elicit the issue under study. Nurse managers and nurses working in medical and surgical departments in 3 acute care hospitals participated in June 2019. The discussions were coordinated by an independent moderator, using a semi-structured interview guide. Recordings of the conversations were transcribed and thematic analysis was performed according to Krueger and Casey guidelines.RESULTSThe findings confirm that oral care of hospitalized patients is often omitted and is not acknowledged as an important patient need. The barriers and facilitators that affected oral health care positively or negatively were divided into three themes and included patient’ characteristics, nurses’ knowledge and skills and recourses as well as the working environment.CONCLUSIONSOral care is not considered as priority and there are many factors that contribute negatively or positively to its implementation. Nurse managers and nurses can play a crucial role for the adoption of universal oral care practices in hospitalized patients.
The Mechanism of Talaromyces Marneffei Influencing Macrophage RAW264.7 Polarization and Sterilization Ability via Arginine Metabolism Pathway
Authors: Shen Linxia , Yang Di , Chen Rifeng , Liu Donghua
Published: September 2020

Background

The opportunistic fungi T. marneffei is an intracellular pathogen that causes systemic and lethal infection through the mononuclear phagocyte system. Macrophages act as pacesetters to resist pathogen invasion and communicators to activate adaptive immunity. During infection, macrophages induce iNOS to generate NO, which kills invading pathogenic microorganisms. Arginase competes with the iNOS for a common substrate L-arginine. We tried to investigate the effect of arginine metabolism on the escape of T. marneffei from macrophage killing.
Results

We performed qPCR, immunobolt detection, immunofluorescent staining, arginase activity assay and NO production assay when macrophages were co-cultured with T. marneffei. We conducted immunobolt detection, arginase activity assay, NO production assay, phagocytic activity assay and T. marneffei killing assay after adding the arginase specific inhibitor nor-NOHA to the co-culture system. T. marneffei decreased the NO production in macrophages by increasing macrophage arginase activity. With lastingness of infection, T. marneffei induced macrophages towards M2 phenotype polarization, thereby reducing antimicrobial activity and promoting fungal survival. Moreover, inhibiting the T. marneffei-induced macrophage arginase activity with nor-NOHA restored NO synthesis and strengthened the function of fungal killing.
Conclusions

T. marneffei potentiated its own survival via regulating arginine metabolism pathway in macrophages during an infection.
Investigating the Efficiency of Photothrombosis-associated Focal Cerebral Ischemia by Monitoring Histopathological Changes and Neurobehavioral Performance in a Model of Mouse
Authors: Shabani Zahra , Farhoudi Mehdi , Rahbarghazi Reza , Karimipour Mohammad , Mehrad Hossein
Published: September 2020

Background Photothrombotic (PT) stroke model is a novel method to induce ischemic stroke in the target site using excitation of a photosensitive agent such as Rose Bengal dye after light illumination. Here, we performed a photothrombotic-induced brain ischemic model using green laser and photosensitive agent Rose Bengal (RB) and its efficiency evaluated through cellular, histological, and neurobehavioral approaches.Methods Mice were randomly allocated into RB; Laser irradiation; and RB + Laser irradiation groups. Mice were exposed to green laser at a wavelength of 532 nm and intensity 150 mW in a mouse model after injection of RB. Four circular polarizers were applied to control output beam intensity. The laser was illuminated on the target region under stereotactic surgery. Mice were euthanatized after 28 days. We assessed ischemic stroke outcomes using multiple approaches including macroscopic, microscopic (H&E and Cresyl violet staining). The volume of lesion sites was calculated using unbiased stereological assay and Cavalier’s principle. We performed double immunofluorescence staining for NeuN and BrdU on day 28. To assess the quality of ischemic stroke, neurological behavior, and functional deficits were done on days 1, 7, 14, and 28. Results Laser irradiation plus RB promoted pale ischemic changes after 7 days. Microscopic staining revealed neural tissue degeneration and demarcated necrotic site and neuronal injury plus prominent astrogliosis in the periphery of irradiated sites on day 28. NeuN+/BrdU+ staining showed a significant number of proliferating cells in Laser irradiation plus RB group compared to the group (p<0.05) while the percent of NeuN+ cells reduced. Neurological behavior and functional deficits were detected in mice from Laser irradiation plus the RB group. No histological or functional deficits were detected in RB and Laser irradiation groups. Conclusion Our study revealed that the PT although increased the cell proliferating in the periphery of the lesion site, but due to undesirable microenvironment the neurogenesis decreased concomitantly with functional deficits. This method of PT introduces a reliable, reproducible, noninvasive, and accessible stroke model similar to human stroke condition.