bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gluteal atrophy and fatty infiltration in end-stage osteoarthritis of the hip
Authors: Kivle Kjetil , Lindland Elisabeth S. , Mjaaland Knut Erik , Svenningsen Svein , Nordsletten Lars
Published: January 2021

Aims

The gluteus minimus (GMin) and gluteus medius (GMed) have unique structural and functional segments that may be affected to varying degrees, by end-stage osteoarthritis (OA) and normal ageing. We used data from patients with end-stage OA and matched healthy controls to 1) quantify the atrophy of the GMin and GMed in the two groups and 2) describe the distinct patterns of the fatty infiltration in the different segments of the GMin and GMed in the two groups.

Methods

A total of 39 patients with end-stage OA and 12 age- and sex frequency-matched healthy controls were prospectively enrolled in the study. Fatty infiltration within the different segments of the GMin and the GMed was assessed on MRI according to the semiquantitative classification system of Goutallier and normalized cross-sectional areas were measured.

Results

The GMin was smaller in the OA-group (p < 0.001) compared to the control group, but there was no group difference in the size of the GMed (p = 0.101). Higher levels of fatty infiltration were identified in the anterior segment of the GMin (p = 0.006) and the anterior (p = 0.006) and middle (p = 0.047) segments of the GMed in the OA group. All subjects in the control group had fatty infiltration of the anterior segment of the GMin, but all except one had no fatty infiltration in the entire GMed.

Conclusion

End-stage OA was associated with significant atrophy of the GMin and higher levels of fatty infiltration, particularly in the anterior segments of the GMin and GMed. Minor fatty infiltration of the anterior segment of GMin appears to be a normal part of ageing. Our study has demonstrated different patterns of atrophy and fatty infiltration between patients with end-stage OA and healthy matched peers. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2021;2(1):40–47.
Water Exchanges and Phosphorus Flux between a Reservoir and Eutrophic Littoral Zone
Authors: McCarty James A. , Hudson Cody B.
Published: January 2021

Highlights

Convective currents led to hydraulic flux and transport of P between bottom and surface waters of the littoral zone.

Hydraulic flux was primarily into the bottom of the cove and out of the cove along the surface.

Eutrophic littoral areas are a significant source of P to the photic zone of reservoirs, supporting algal growth.

Abstract. Eutrophication of surface waters is defined by excessive algal growth, with consequences for drinking water treatment. The sources of phosphorus (P) in southern U.S. reservoirs that fuel peak algal productivity in late summer are still not fully understood. One potential source is reservoir littoral zones, which have been described as the most productive zone of a waterbody. A shallow cove named Granny Hollow in Beaver Lake, northwest Arkansas, was selected as an isolated and semi-controlled location to measure and model sources of P and its transport in a littoral area for the month of July 2018. Hydraulic and P fluxes between the reservoir and littoral area were quantified through field measurements and a 3D lake model. In quantifying hydraulic flux for the month of July, the model indicated that water tended to move into the cove along the bottom and out along the top, with a net hydraulic flux out of the cove of -723,000 m3. Peak surface velocity in the cove averaged 2.09 cm s-1 for the month of July, while peak bottom velocity was 1.29 cm s-1. Diurnally, water movement switched directions, moving out of the cove along the surface during differential heating and into the cove along the surface during differential cooling due to thermoconvective flow. During differential heating, the water velocity and hydraulic flux to the main reservoir channel along the surface of the cove were greater than the velocity and flux in the opposite direction during differential cooling. The sources of P within the cove during July included P released from bottom sediments within the cove and littoral zone and transport of P from the reservoir channel to the cove. Transport of P from the main reservoir into the cove was a result of thermoconvective flow. During differential heating, bottom waters from the main reservoir channel were transported to the surface within the littoral zone by thermoconvective currents flowing upslope from deeper to shallower waters. This resulted in P exchange between the reservoir and littoral area and is significant because it represents movement of P from the bottom of the reservoir upward into the photic zone, where it can be used for algal productivity. During July 2018, it was estimated that 13.3 kg of P were transported from the bottom of the cove to the surface by convective currents and subsequently out of the cove. This study shows that eutrophic coves represent a significant source of P to the reservoir and more importantly to the photic zone, supporting algal growth. Keywords: 3D reservoir model, Eutrophication, Internal loading, Thermoconvective flow.
Runout tracking in gear motors using a microsensor based on all-fiber Fabry–Perot interferometry
Authors: Jiang Chunlei , Xu Kaichuan , Zhang Zihua , Wang Weicheng
Published: January 2021

A novel radial runout measurement method for gear motors using a microsensor based on all-fiber Fabry–Perot interferometry is investigated. In order to achieve the fault diagnosis, in this method, a single-mode fiber is put forward as a sensor to measure radial runout of the rotating shaft. The performance of the proposed sensor has been compared to a Portable Digital Vibrometer–100 laser vibrometer for validation purposes, and the results show that the difference between them is approximately 

±

0.55

µ

m

.
Analysis of the suppression of spurious frequencies by the blocking effect in an injection-locked optoelectronic oscillator
Authors: Xu Weijie , Yang Chun , Wang Ziye
Published: January 2021

The blocking effect causing the suppression of spurious frequencies in an injection-locked optoelectronic oscillator (IL-OEO) is studied in this paper. The blocking effect analysis in nonlinear systems is carried out using the Volterra series and is experimentally measured in a microwave amplifier. The blocking effect in the nonlinear system helps in analyzing the suppression of spurious frequencies in an IL-OEO. Under injection locking, the spurious frequencies in the IL-OEO are significantly suppressed, and the spurs are further suppressed when the power of the reference signal is increased.
Heterodyne phase shifting method in scanning probe microscopy
Authors: Di Donato Andrea , Fabi Gianluca , Mencarelli Davide , Pierantoni Luca , Morini Antonio , Farina Marco
Published: January 2021

The present paper describes a novel implementation of the continuous phase shifting method (PSM), named heterodyne holography, in a scanning probe microscope configuration, able to retrieve the complex scattered field in on-axis configuration. This can be achieved by acquiring a continuous sequence of holograms at different wavelengths in just a single scan through the combination of scanning interference microscopy and a low-coherent signal acquired in the frequency domain. This method exploits the main advantages of the phase shifting technique and avoids some limits relative to off-axis holography in providing quantitative phase imaging.
Cavity-enhanced Raman scattering from optically deformed droplets
Authors: Vennes Benjamin , Rafferty Aidan , Preston Thomas C.
Published: January 2021

We investigate Raman scattering from optically deformed droplets both theoretically and experimentally. Using a dual-beam optical trap, single aqueous aerosol microdroplets are held in an environmentally controlled cell and deformed, while both input and output resonances are simultaneously excited. Our systematic investigation shows that, depending on the scattering angle and whispering gallery mode (WGM) order and polarization, drastically different line shapes can be observed. The inelastic light scattering formalism developed here accounts for the profile of the excitation beam and the nonspherical shape of the optically deformed particle. Model calculations are in good agreement with measured Raman spectra and correctly predict the splitting of WGMs in measured spectra. The experiments and model presented here enable the accurate characterization of nanometer-sized deformations in micrometer-sized particles, which has many potential applications.
Closed-form approximation of symmetric thin-film multi-layer plasmonic dispersion equation solutions
Authors: Alattar Yousef , Kember Guy , Cada Michael
Published: January 2021

An original asymptotic method is developed and used to find closed-form approximations to the symmetric thin-film three- and multi-layer plasmonic dispersion equations. Closed-form analysis of three-layer metal-insulator-metal (MIM: "M" is metal and "I" is insulator) and IMI devices shows a complementary physics underpinning their properties. Analysis of multi-layer symmetric devices, considered for a seven-layer MIMIMIM example, uncovers a remarkable departure from the physics governing MIM and IMI features. Multi-layer propagation length and attenuation are determined by proximity, in the space of cladding thickness and wavelength, to singularities that exist in the limit of vanishing imaginary part of the cladding dielectric constant. Exploitation of this phenomenon will expand the development of a broader range of thin-film applications in optoelectronics.
Modelling thalamocortical circuitry shows that visually induced LTP changes laminar connectivity in human visual cortex
Authors: Sumner Rachael L. , Spriggs Meg J. , Shaw Alexander D.
Published: January 2021

Neuroplasticity is essential to learning and memory in the brain; it has therefore also been implicated in numerous neurological and psychiatric disorders, making measuring the state of neuroplasticity of foremost importance to clinical neuroscience. Long-term potentiation (LTP) is a key mechanism of neuroplasticity and has been studied extensively, and invasively in non-human animals. Translation to human application largely relies on the validation of non-invasive measures of LTP. The current study presents a generative thalamocortical computational model of visual cortex for investigating and replicating interlaminar connectivity changes using non-invasive EEG recording of humans. The model is combined with a commonly used visual sensory LTP paradigm and fit to the empirical EEG data using dynamic causal modelling. The thalamocortical model demonstrated remarkable accuracy recapitulating post-tetanus changes seen in invasive research, including increased excitatory connectivity from thalamus to layer IV and from layer IV to II/III, established major sites of LTP in visual cortex. These findings provide justification for the implementation of the presented thalamocortical model for ERP research, including to provide increased detail on the nature of changes that underlie LTP induced in visual cortex. Future applications include translating rodent findings to non-invasive research in humans concerning deficits to LTP that may underlie neurological and psychiatric disease.
Resistance to pirimiphos-methyl in West African Anopheles is spreading via duplication and introgression of the Ace1 locus
Authors: Grau-Bové Xavier , Lucas Eric , Pipini Dimitra , Rippon Emily , van ‘t Hof Arjèn E. , Constant Edi , Dadzie Samuel , Egyir-Yawson Alexander , Essandoh John , Chabi Joseph , Djogbénou Luc , Harding Nicholas J. , Miles Alistair , Kwiatkowski Dominic , Donnelly Martin J. , Weetman David ,   The Anopheles gambiae 1000 Genomes Consortium
Published: January 2021

Vector population control using insecticides is a key element of current strategies to prevent malaria transmission in Africa. The introduction of effective insecticides, such as the organophosphate pirimiphos-methyl, is essential to overcome the recurrent emergence of resistance driven by the highly diverse Anopheles genomes. Here, we use a population genomic approach to investigate the basis of pirimiphos-methyl resistance in the major malaria vectors Anopheles gambiae and A. coluzzii. A combination of copy number variation and a single non-synonymous substitution in the acetylcholinesterase gene, Ace1, provides the key resistance diagnostic in an A. coluzzii population from Côte d’Ivoire that we used for sequence-based association mapping, with replication in other West African populations. The Ace1 substitution and duplications occur on a unique resistance haplotype that evolved in A. gambiae and introgressed into A. coluzzii, and is now common in West Africa primarily due to selection imposed by other organophosphate or carbamate insecticides. Our findings highlight the predictive value of this complex resistance haplotype for phenotypic resistance and clarify its evolutionary history, providing tools to for molecular surveillance of the current and future effectiveness of pirimiphos-methyl based interventions.
RAFFI: Accurate and fast familial relationship inference in large scale biobank studies using RaPID
Authors: Naseri Ardalan , Shi Junjie , Lin Xihong , Zhang Shaojie , Zhi Degui
Published: January 2021

Inference of relationships from whole-genome genetic data of a cohort is a crucial prerequisite for genome-wide association studies. Typically, relationships are inferred by computing the kinship coefficients (ϕ) and the genome-wide probability of zero IBD sharing (π0) among all pairs of individuals. Current leading methods are based on pairwise comparisons, which may not scale up to very large cohorts (e.g., sample size >1 million). Here, we propose an efficient relationship inference method, RAFFI. RAFFI leverages the efficient RaPID method to call IBD segments first, then estimate the ϕ and π0 from detected IBD segments. This inference is achieved by a data-driven approach that adjusts the estimation based on phasing quality and genotyping quality. Using simulations, we showed that RAFFI is robust against phasing/genotyping errors, admix events, and varying marker densities, and achieves higher accuracy compared to KING, the current leading method, especially for more distant relatives. When applied to the phased UK Biobank data with ~500K individuals, RAFFI is approximately 18 times faster than KING. We expect RAFFI will offer fast and accurate relatedness inference for even larger cohorts.
Leprosy perceptions and knowledge in endemic districts in India and Indonesia: Differences and commonalities
Authors: van’t Noordende Anna Tiny , Lisam Suchitra , Ruthindartri Panca , Sadiq Atif , Singh Vivek , Arifin Miftahol , van Brakel Willem Herman , Korfage Ida J.
Published: January 2021

Background

Understanding how knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding leprosy differ in endemic countries can help us develop targeted educational and behavioural change interventions. This study aimed to examine the differences and commonalities in and determinants of knowledge, attitudes, practices and fears regarding leprosy in endemic districts in India and Indonesia.

Principle findings

A cross-sectional mixed-methods design was used. Persons affected by leprosy, their close contacts, community members and health workers were included. Through interview-administered questionnaires we assessed knowledge, attitudes, practices and fears with the KAP measure, EMIC-CSS and SDS. In addition, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were conducted. The quantitative data were analysed using stepwise multivariate regression. Determinants of knowledge and stigma that were examined included age, gender, participant type, education, occupation, knowing someone affected by leprosy and district. The qualitative data were analysed using open, inductive coding and content analysis.

We administered questionnaires to 2344 participants (46% from India, 54% from Indonesia) as an interview. In addition, 110 participants were interviewed in-depth and 60 participants were included in focus group discussions. Knowledge levels were low in both countries: 88% of the participants in India and 90% of the participants in Indonesia had inadequate knowledge of leprosy. In both countries, cause, mode of transmission, early symptoms and contagiousness of leprosy was least known, and treatment and treatability of leprosy was best known. In both countries, health workers had the highest leprosy knowledge levels and community members the highest stigma levels (a mean score of up to 17.4 on the EMIC-CSS and 9.1 on the SDS). Data from the interviews indicated that people were afraid of being infected by leprosy. Local beliefs and misconceptions differed, for instance that leprosy is in the family for seven generations (Indonesia) or that leprosy is a result of karma (India). The determinants of leprosy knowledge and stigma explained 10–29% of the variability in level of knowledge and 3–10% of the variability in level of stigma.

Conclusion

Our findings show the importance of investigating the perceptions regarding leprosy prior to educational interventions in communities: even though knowledge levels were similar, local beliefs and misconceptions differed per setting. The potential determinants we included in our study explained very little of the variability in level of knowledge and stigma and should be explored further. Detailed knowledge of local knowledge gaps, beliefs and fears can help tailor health education to local circumstances.
Asymptomatic Leishmania infection in HIV-positive outpatients on antiretroviral therapy in Pernambuco, Brazil
Authors: Guedes Diego Lins , Justo Alda Maria , Barbosa Júnior Walter Lins , Silva Elis Dionísio da , Aquino Samuel Ricarte de , Lima Junior Manoel Sebastiao da Costa , Montarroyos Ulisses , Bezerra Gilberto Silva Nunes , Vieira Amanda Virginia Batista , Pereira Valéria Rêgo Alves , Medeiros Zulma Maria de
Published: January 2021

Background

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in HIV-positive individuals is a global health problem. HIV-Leishmania coinfection worsens prognosis and mortality risk, and HIV-Leishmania coinfected individuals are more susceptible to VL relapses. Early initiation of antiretroviral therapy can protect against Leishmania infection in individuals living in VL-endemic areas, and regular use of antiretrovirals might prevent VL relapses in these individuals. We conducted a cross-sectional study in Petrolina, Brazil, an VL-endemic area, to estimate the prevalence of asymptomatic Leishmania cases among HIV-positive outpatients.

Methods

We invited any HIV-positive patients, aged ≥ 18-years-old, under antiretroviral therapy, and who were asymptomatic for VL. Patients were tested for Leishmania with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA)-rK39, immunochromatographic test (ICT)-rK39, direct agglutination test (DAT), latex agglutination test (KAtex), and conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR). HIV-Leishmania coinfection was diagnosed when at least one VL test was positive.

Results

A total of 483 patients were included. The sample was predominantly composed of single, < 48-years-old, black/pardo, heterosexual males, with fewer than 8 years of schooling. The prevalence of asymptomatic HIV-Leishmania coinfection was 9.11% (44/483). HIV mono-infected and HIV-Leishmania coinfected groups differed statistically significantly in terms of race (p = 0.045), marital status (p = 0.030), and HIV viral load (p = 0.046). Black/pardo patients, married patients, and those with an HIV viral load up to 100,000 copies/ml presented higher odds for HIV-Leishmania coinfection.

Conclusions

A considerable number of asymptomatic Leishmania cases were observed among HIV-positive individuals in a VL-endemic area. Given the potential impact on transmission and health costs, as well as the impact on these coinfected individuals, studies of asymptomatic Leishmania carriers can be useful for guiding public health policies in VL-endemic areas aiming to control and eliminate the disease.
Tensiones en los proyectos educativos (Río de la Plata, siglo XIX): La palabra de Mariquita Sánchez, Petrona Rosende de Sierra, Rosa Guerra y Juana Manso
Authors: Natanson Brigitte
Published: January 2021

A partir de la lectura de varias publicaciones: Recuerdos, revistas, periódicos, manuales, redactadas y dirigidas por mujeres (La Aljaba, La Camelia, La educacion, Recuerdos del Buenos Aires virreinal, Julia ó La educacion, Anales de la educacion comun), este artículo compara los proyectos sobre la educación e instrucción de las mujeres en Argentina en el siglo XIX. Después de recordar la situación a finales de la era colonial y principios de la independencia, destaca el papel de Mariquita Sánchez, Petrona Rosende de Sierra, Rosa Guerra y Juana Manso en esta obra educacional, tanto como maestras como escritoras.
Necrocapitalismo y marginalidad: representación de los residuos sociales en la literatura latinoamericana del narcotráfico
Authors: Castillo Gerardo
Published: January 2021

En este artículo planteamos que la narcoficción presenta de manera constante personajes y espacios con alta marginación social, como consecuencia de un capitalismo neoliberal imperante, mismo que produce nuevas formas de mercado y control a partir del fenómeno del narcotráfico. De este modo, realizamos una revisión general de un conjunto de narconovelas que abordan el trasiego de drogas y la exclusión económica como temática central. Nuestro análisis parte de las novelas emblemáticas La virgen de los sicarios, Rosario Tijeras, Contrabando y Trabajos del reino, mismas que, desde la década de los noventa, han explorado esta preocupación, que en la literatura latinoamericana contemporánea ya es un tópico permanente.
La tópica exordial en la peregrinatio de los Infortunios de Alonso Ramírez
Authors: Gómez Ximena
Published: January 2021

Carlos Sigüenza y Góngora escribe los Infortunios de Alonso Ramírez (1690) por petición del virrey Gaspar de la Cerda Sandoval Silva y Mendoza tras escuchar el testimonio que dio el puertorriqueño Alonso Ramírez sobre su aventura en los mares coloniales con piratas ingleses y franceses. Este texto sigue generando ambigüedad sobre la autoría, la intención autoral y su naturaleza híbrida. El presente estudio ofrece un análisis retórico de la tópica exordial en el primer apartado de los Infortunios, cuya semántica apunta al topos medieval de la peregrinatio vitae como configurador de la narratio. El objetivo habrá sido preparar y mantener la benevolencia del receptor durante toda la lectura de la narración.
Creación y recepción artística en la obra narrativa de Adolfo Couve. Una aproximación desde la noción de amateur
Authors: Joannon Felipe
Published: January 2021

El artículo explora el alcance interpretativo de la noción de amateur que la crítica utilizó para calificar el oficio de escritor de Adolfo Couve y, por extensión, las peculiaridades de su obra literaria. En base a los testimonios de su disciplina de trabajo y al análisis de algunos pasajes narrativos en que el autor describe la experiencia artística, se evalúa la pertinencia de dicha noción y se señalan los ámbitos en que esta se vuelve necesaria para comprender el ideario estético de Adolfo Couve.
Una caminata provinciana: digresión y peregrinación en A Luján (una novela peregrina) de Ariel Magnus
Authors: Oliver María Paz
Published: January 2021

Este trabajo pretende analizar la representación del peregrinaje en relación con la construcción de un discurso digresivo sobre la provincia en la novela A Luján (una novela peregrina) (2013), del escritor argentino Ariel Magnus. Considerando la dimensión sagrada del viaje asociada a la peregrinación, se abordarán los diversos modos en que la experiencia de recorrer el espacio urbano problematiza las nociones de centro y periferia desde un discurso que mezcla el humor y la ironía. En sintonía con el poder de la caminata para impulsar la reflexión, la digresión actúa como una herramienta retórica que descentra el discurso y define una estética caracterizada por la errancia textual. En la construcción de un imaginario religioso sobre la provincia, la novela ironiza sobre el sentido de la caminata espiritual bajo las condiciones mundanas del viaje turístico y juega con las figuras tradicionales asociadas al peregrino y el turista.
Luis Fayad. Los parientes de Ester. Madrid: Cátedra, 2019. Edición de José Manuel Camacho Delgado.
Authors: López-López Carmen María
Published: January 2021

Reseña de Carmen María López López (Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia): LUIS FAYAD. Los parientes de Ester. Madrid: Cátedra, 2019. Edición de José Manuel Camacho Delgado. ISBN: 978-84-376-4053-2.
Raúl Zurita. Otra antología. Selección de Eva Valero Juan y José Carlos Rovira. Talca: Editorial Universidad de Talca (Colección Premio «José Donoso»), 2019.
Authors: Fernández Rodríguez Teodosio
Published: January 2021

Reseña de Teodosio Fernández (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid): Raúl Zurita. Otra antología. Selección de Eva Valero Juan y José Carlos Rovira. Talca: Editorial Universidad de Talca (Colección Premio «José Donoso»), 2019. ISBN 9789563291018.
Una habitación propia para las mujeres españolas. El proyecto institucionista para la educación de la mujer en la exposición Mujeres en vanguardia
Authors: De la Cueva Batanero Almudena
Published: January 2021

Fruto de la labor de recuperación de su historia que se viene llevando a cabo, la Residencia de Estudiantes organizó en 2015 la exposición Mujeres en vanguardia para conmemorar el centenario de la Residencia de Señoritas (1915). Dentro de las diferentes iniciativas alentadas desde el institucionismo para promover la educación de la mujer, la Residencia de Señoritas respondió al objetivo específico de facilitar el acceso de las mujeres a la educación superior, una aspiración que suponía una apuesta pionera en la sociedad de su tiempo. Este trabajo está dedicado a exponer el planteamiento y contenidos de dicha exposición y las investigaciones desarrolladas para profundizar en la influencia del institucionismo para promover el acceso de la mujer a la educación y su incorporación a la vida profesional.
«Soy la inspectora Murillo». Acerca de la violencia machista en La casa de papel
Authors: De Benito Mesa Iris
Published: January 2021

El objetivo de este trabajo es realizar un análisis de la serie televisiva La casa de papel, especialmente del modo en que se representan sus personajes femeninos. Partiendo de los preceptos del policial como género narrativo, de sus tipos y convenciones, nos acercamos de forma específica al personaje de Raquel Murillo, una de las figuras clave en el desarrollo de esta narrativa. Teniendo como soporte, por una parte, la tradición de dicho género narrativo y, por otro, una síntesis teórica sobre las formas de la violencia y el desencadenamiento de sus efectos, nos proponemos explorar el modo en que estas afectan a dicho personaje. Como inspectora a cargo de resolver el caso, Raquel Murillo ocupa una posición de poder como sujeto de conocimiento, si bien las violencias que se ejercen sobre ella la empujan hacia el lugar de la víctima. Pero ¿son esas violencias reconocibles para el público? ¿Qué papel juegan los personajes masculinos a la hora de legitimar a la inspectora como una mujer fuerte?
Women’s Poetry that Heals across Borders: A Trans-American Reading of the Body, Sexuality, and Love
Authors: Núñez-Puente Carolina
Published: January 2021

Drawing on the idea of literature as healing (Wilentz), this article examines the anti-dualistic restoring defense of the body, sexuality, and love in Angelou (African American), Cisneros (Chicana), and Peri Rossi (Uruguayan Spanish). My trans-American comparative reading seeks to transcend frontiers and join the poets’ efforts to demolish racist, (hetero) sexist, and other prejudices. The authors insist on the body and emotions as providing reliable sources of knowledge; they propose that women can cure themselves by loving their bodies, poetry can close up the wounds of sexist violence, and respect for lesboeroticism can heal intolerant communities. While celebrating the female, the poetic personae embrace non-binary positions that defy sexual and gender stereotypes; moreover, their poems’ cross-cultural and multi-tonal dimension functions as a bridge among people. In sum, the poetry of Angelou, Cisneros, and Peri Rossi has the power to cross borders and heal the world.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor activity of peptides derived from Kacang goat skin collagen through thermolysin hydrolysis
Authors: Pratiwi Arby'in , Hakim Thoyib R. , Abidin Mohammad Z. , Fitriyanto Nanung A. , Jamhari Jamhari , Rusman Rusman , Erwanto Yuny
Published: January 2021

Background and Aim: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is one of the inhibitory enzymes isolated from animals for the treatment of hypertension. ACE inhibitor (ACE-I) peptides can be obtained by hydrolyzing proteins from various animal tissues, including muscle and connective tissues. However, the study on ACE-I activity from collagen of Kacang goat skin has not been conducted. This study explores the potency of collagen from Kacang goat skin as a source of an antihypertensive agent through ACE inhibition. Thermolysin will hydrolyze collagen and produce the peptide classified antihypertensive bioactive peptides. This study aimed to determine the potential of thermolysin to hydrolyze collagen of Kacang goat skin for ACE-I peptide production and to identify the production of ACE-I peptides.

Materials and Methods: Collagen from Kacang goat skin was hydrolyzed with thermolysin and incubated at 37°C for 1 h. Molecular weight (MW) evaluation was performed by SDS PAGE; fractionation peptides at <5 kDa, 3-5 kDa, and <3 kDa were performed by ultrafiltration and ACE-I activity determined by IC50 measurement.

Results: Collagen was hydrolyzed by thermolysin, resulting in protein with MW of 117.50-14.60 kDa. The protein content of fractionation at >5 kDa was 3.93±0.72 mg/mL, content of 3-5 kDa was 3.81±0.68 mg/mL, and that of <3 kDa was 2.33±0.38 mg/mL. Fractionation was performed 3 times and one of the results was selected for the ACE-I test. The selected fraction was tested by IC50 measurement with three repetitions and it showed an average enzyme activity at 0.83 μg/mL or 82.94 mg/mL.

Conclusion: Thermolysin hydrolysis of collagen from Kacang goat skin showed the potential to produce bioactive peptides, such as ACE-I.
Red ginger-extract nanoemulsion modulates high blood pressure in rats by regulating angiotensin-converting enzyme production
Authors: Hanifah Nada , Achmad Yusuf Farid , Humaira Aida , Salasia Siti Isrina Oktavia
Published: January 2021

Background and Aim: Red ginger (RG) has reportedly been used in folk medicine for the management and prevention of hypertension. One of the hypertension study models in experimental animals is the unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). This study aimed at evaluating the effect of RG-extract (RGE) nanoemulsion on UUO-induced hypertension and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) production in rats.

Materials and Methods: RG was extracted using ethanol, combined with virgin coconut oil, polysorbate 80, and polyethylene glycol 400 to form the oil phase. The particle sizes of RGE nanoemulsions were analyzed using a particle size analyzer. The UUO method was used to induce chronic kidney disease in rats (504 mg/200 g and 360 mg/200 g b/w per oral for 7 days). The systolic and diastolic blood pressure was determined non-invasively in conscious state by tail plethysmography using an automated blood pressure monitor. ACE in serum was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: The RGE nanoemulsions exhibited a particle size of 32.8 nm and a polydispersity index (PI) of 0.268, indicating a homogenous nanoemulsion. UUO rats treated with RGE nanoemulsion (360 mg/200 g b/w) experienced a significant decrease in both their systolic blood pressure (p<0.05) from 142±1 mmHg to 107±6 mmHg and their diastolic blood pressure from 106±1 mmHg to 84±4 mmHg. Furthermore, treatment with RGE resulted in a 10.80% decrease in the level of ACE.

Conclusion: The size and the PI of the RGE used in this study suggest a stable and effective distribution of the particle size in the emulsions. RGE nanoemulsions at the dose of 360 mg/200 g bw can be used as potential ACE inhibitors because they were found to decrease the blood pressure of hypertensive UUO rats.
Vállalkozói attitűdök kutatása egyetemi-főiskolai hallgatók körében (Research of students’ entrepreneurial attitudes)
Authors: S. Gubik Andrea
Published: January 2021

Magyarország 2006-ban csatlakozott a Szt. Gallen-i Egyetem (Svájc) által koordinált (GUESSS Global University Entrepreneurial Spirit Students’ Survey) kutatáshoz, amely a hallgatók vállalkozásindítással kapcsolatos elképzeléseit és vállalkozási tevékenységét kérdőíves adatfelvétel segítségével vizsgálja. Az online megkérdezésnek köszönhetően Magyarország esetében 2011-ben 5 677 hallgató válaszai alapján értékelhették a szerzők a hallgatók vállalkozásindítási szándékát és azok legfontosabb alakító tényezőit. A kutatás nemzetközi jellegének köszönhetően eredményeik összevethetők a nemzetközi tapasztalatokkal is. A tanulmány bemutatja a nemzetközi kutatás célját, elméleti hátterét, a kérdőívet és a kérdezés folyamatát. A magyar adatbázis legfontosabb jellemzői mellett a szerzők ismertetik a vállalkozásindítási szándék, a főiskolai-egyetemi környezet nemzetközi összehasonlító adatait. _______ Hungary joined the GUESSS (Global University Entrepreneurial Spirit Students’ Survey) research project organized and led by the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland in 2006. GUESSS evaluated students’ entrepreneurial intentions and activities with the help of a questionnaire. In 2011 an online survey was conducted in Hungary, addressing 5.677 students. The students’ responses regarding their business start-up activities and intentions as well as the most important factors shaping them were evaluated. The international nature of the research allowed the authors’ to compare Hungarian results to international practices. This paper describes the purpose of the international research, its theoretical background, the questionnaire and the interview process. Apart from presenting the most important features of the Hungarian data set, they describe the start-up intentions, the university and college environment and compare them to the international data.
Családi vállalkozás folytatásának tervei a felsőoktatási hallgatók körében (The plans of students on taking over family firms)
Authors: Reisinger Adrienn
Published: January 2021

Tanulmányában a szerző a felsőoktatási hallgatók vállalkozásindítással kapcsolatos attitűdjeit kétféle szempontból vizsgálja. Kutatása középpontjában a hallgatók családivállalkozás-folytatásának tervei, az ehhez kapcsolódó jellemzők állnak. A fő kérdés az, hogy inkább folytatnák-e a családi vállalkozást (ha van ilyen) vagy indítanának saját vállalkozást? A családi vállalkozás indításával kapcsolatban azonban nemcsak annak a ténye fontos, hogy a hallgatók folytatnák-e a családi hagyományokat, hanem az is, hogy a folytatásnak vagy a saját vállalkozás indításának milyen motivációi vannak, vagyis mennyiben befolyásolja a döntésben a hallgatót a vállalkozásokról alkotott véleménye, a családi háttere, illetve egyéb pszichológiai tényezők. ____ In her study the author analyses the attitudes of the Hungarian higher education students on taking over family firms in two points of view. In the centre of her research there are the plans of students on taking over family firms and its main characteristics. The main question is that students rather take over firms or establish new ones? Besides of these facts it is also very important to know what the main motivations of this decision are: how extent does the following facts influence students’ decisions: family background, psychological factors, opinions about firms etc.
A vállalkozói hajlandóság vizsgálata a női hallgatók körében Magyarországon (Research of entrepreneurial intentions of the Hungarian female students)
Authors: Koltai Judit Petra , Szalka Éva
Published: January 2021

Köztudott, hogy a nők lényeges szerepet töltenek be a gazdasági életben, ezért fontos megvizsgálni azt, hogy melyek az ösztönző és az akadályozó tényezők a vállalkozásindításuk során. Egy 2011-es nemzetközi kutatás többek között a magyar női hallgatók vállalkozói hajlandóságát befolyásoló tényezőket vizsgálta. A kutatás többek között a motivációs tényezőkre, a személyiségjegyekre, valamint a korlátozó tényezőkre irányult. A vizsgálat eredményei azt igazolták, hogy a női vállalkozói létet nemcsak a pénzügyi indítékok vezérelték, hanem a belső tényezők is. Elsősorban az egyéni tényezők jelentették az akadályokat számukra, a szervezeti-környezeti korlátok szerepe kisebb jelentőséggel bírt. A vizsgálat eredményei többnyire a szakirodalmi adatokat igazolták. _____ It is widely known, that women play an important role in the economy, which makes the determination of motives and obstacles during business start-ups inevitable. Hungarian female students were surveyed during an international study in 2011 to determine the factors of entrepreneurial intentions. The survey included among other factors the motives for self‐employment, the personal characteristics and the barriers they faced. Results revealed that primary motivations for females during business start-ups were not only monetary motives, but also intrinsic factors. Problems faced by Hungarian female students were mainly individual; the organizationalenvironmental ones had lower importance. Results on motives and barriers were mostly consistent with the authors’ literature findings.
A Kraft-index – kreatív városok – fenntartható vidék (The KRAFT Index: Creative Cities – Sustainable Regions)
Authors: Miszlivetz Ferenc , Márkus Eszter
Published: January 2021

A KRAFT-index: Kreatív városok – fenntartható vidék egy komplex mutatórendszer, amely a fejlődési tendenciát, hálózatosodást, a fontosabb szereplők együttműködési készségét és kapacitását, kreativitási potenciálját, valamint a szereplők szinergiáiból fakadó belső energiákat és lehetőségeiket jelzi. A város- és vidékfejlesztés sikerének zálogaként előtérbe állítja és méri az ún. „puha” tényezőket, úgymint a kreativitást, innovációs képességet, új tudás létrehozását, tudástranszfert, együttműködési készséget, bizalmat, kollektív kompetenciákat. A társadalmi, gazdasági és tudományos kapcsolatok és hálózatok sűrűsége, minősége és dinamizmusa a sikeres fejlődés és fejlesztés kulcsai: ezek ma már fontosabb tényezők, mint a fizikai távolság, az adminisztratív jogi határok vagy az ún. „kemény” indikátorok. Az index értékeli egy térség lehetőségeit arra, hogy az ott élők, dolgozók, alkotók és letelepedni kívánók életminőségét, a vállalatok minőségi munkaerő iránti igényét és a fenntarthatósági szempontokat egyaránt figyelembe véve fejlessze gazdaságát és versenyképességét. Három tulajdonságcsoportot mér: 1. kreativitiási és innovációs potenciál, az új tudás létrehozásának képessége, 2. társadalmi és kapcsolati tőke, hálózati potenciál és „összekapcsoltság”, valamint 3. fenntarthatósági potenciál. _____ The KRAFT Index: Creative Cities – Sustainable Regions is a complex indicator system to measure development tendencies, ‘networkedness’, cooperation inclination and capacity, creativity potential and possibilities arising from the synergies among actors. It highlights and gauges ‘soft’ factors, such as creativity, innovation capacity, knowledge production, knowledge transfer, willingness for cooperation, trust, and collective competences and perceives effective regional cooperation among economic and social actors as the measure of successful urban and rural development. The density, quality and dynamism of social, economic and academic networks are more important factors than physical distance, administrative legal barriers or ‘hard’ indicators. The index evaluates the potential of a region to develop its economy and competitiveness by considering the quality of life of its inhabitants, workers, producers and immigrants, the quality workforce requirements of companies and sustainability. It measures three groups of qualities: 1. creativity and innovation potential, the ability of knowledge production; 2. social and connection capital, network potential and connectedness; and 3. sustainability potential.
A vállalati logisztikai költségek a magyarországi kis- és középvállalkozások körében végzett felmérés tükrében (Corporate logistics costs of the Hungarian small- and medium-sized enterprises)
Authors: Gecse Gergely
Published: January 2021

A cikk a magyarországi kis- és középvállalkozások logisztikai költségeit vizsgálja a nemzetközi kutatások tükrében és a 2009-es közel kétezer hazai KKV-re kiterjedő „Vállalkozások helyzetének felmérése” alapján. A hazai logisztikai költségeket leginkább a vállalatméret és az ágazat befolyásolja. A magyarországi kis- és középvállalkozások ki nem szervezett szállítási és raktározási tevékenységei a hazai fuvarozóknak és raktárszolgáltatóknak jelentős piacbővülést jelenthetnének. Ez azonban csak látens piacbővülés, mivel a hazai KKV-k nem tervezik, hogy szállítási és raktározási tevékenységeiket nagyobb arányban szervezzék ki. Ez részben azzal magyarázható, hogy a feldolgozóipari, mezőgazdasági és kereskedő kis- és középvállalkozások viszonylag nagy arányban tekintik a logisztikát alapvető képességnek. Nemzetközi viszonylatban a magyarországi KKV-k magas logisztikai költségszintekkel szembesülnek, melynek mérséklésével az adminisztrációs terhek csökkentéséhez hasonló megtakarítást lehetne elérni. ____ This article examines total logistics costs and its components of the Hungarian small- and medium-sized enterprises in the light of international researches. It shows that company-size and its sector are the most important drivers of logistics costs and its components according to „Survey of position of enterprises”, which covered nearly 2000 Hungarian SMEs in 2009. It also proves that transport and warehousing demand of the Hungarian SMEs means a significant market growth for national carriers and warehouse providers. It is only a latent growth, because the Hungarian SMEs do not plan to outsource their transport and warehouse activities in a greater extent. The relative high level of logistics as a core competence among processing industry, agriculture and trade SMEs can be a partial explanation to this. The Hungarian small- and medium-sized enterprises face with high logistics costs in international comparison. Its reduction may bring similar savings as reduction of administrative burdens.
Projekttervezési módszerek kihívásai a XXI. században (Challenges of the project planning methods in the 21st century)
Authors: Kosztyán Zsolt Tibor
Published: January 2021

Több mint száz éve született meg Henry Gantt (Gantt, 1910) sávos ütemterve, Kelley (Kelley, 1961) és Walker (Walker, 1959) is több mint hatvan éve publikálta kritikus út módszerét. Az ezekre épülő költség- és erőforrás- tervezési módszerek vajon alkalmasak-e a ma kihívásaira? Az olvasó ebben a tanulmányban többéves kutatómunka gyümölcsét láthatja. A kutatás során az egyik legfontosabb cél annak vizsgálata volt, hogy a meglévő projekttervezési eszközök mennyiben felelnek meg a mai projektek kihívásainak; hol és milyen területen van szükség e módszerek továbbfejlesztésére, esetleg meghaladására. Ebben a tanulmányban a szerző olyan módszereket mutat be, amelyek messze túlvezetnek bennünket a projekttervezés eddig elsősorban operatív feladatokra szorítkozó módszereitől, és olyan kérdések megválaszolására fordítja figyelmünket, mint pl. milyen tevékenységeket, projekteket valósítsunk meg; melyeket hagyjuk el vagy ütemezzük be egy későbbi projektbe; hogyan rangsoroljuk, priorizáljuk a projektek megvalósítását, fontosságát? ______ Gantt chart (Gantt, 1910) was born by Henry Gantt more than a hundred years ago. Kelley and Walker published their critical planning method more than a 60 years ago (see i.e. Kelley-Walker, 1959). Can we use methods based on network planning methods for the challenges of 21st century? In this paper the author can see the results of the recent researches. In this study with their colleagues he investigated which project planning methods can be used in challenges of the 21st century and where and how to improve them. In these researches new matrix-based project planning methods are specified, where they can deal not only operative but strategic questions: which subprojects/tasks should be completed, how to treat priorities of completion in case of defining logic planning, how to support not only traditional but agile project management approaches.In this paper he introduces a new matrix-based method, which can be used for ranking project or multi project scenarios with different kinds of target functions. The author shows methods that are used in an expert module. He shows how to integrate this expert module into the traditional PMS system.
A hazai kis- és közepes vállalatok szociokulturális beállítódása a hofstede-dimenziók mentén = The socio-cultural attitudes of the Hungarianc small and medium enterprises along the Hofstede dimensions
Authors: Kopfer-Rácz Kinga , Hofmeister Tóth Ágnes , Sas Dóra
Published: January 2021

A kis- és közepes vállalkozások (KKV-k) kutatása viszonylag új, és emiatt meglehetősen feltáratlan terület, bár a megjelenő tudományos cikkek és eredmények száma és minősége évről évre jól érzékelhetően nő (Collinson – Shaw, 2001). A KKV-kutatások igen fontos sajátossága továbbá, hogy kifejezetten interdiszciplináris terület, megközelíthető a menedzsment, az innovációkutatás, a marketing, a szervezetszociológia, de akár a pszichológia felől is. Több kutatás is felveti a szociokulturális háttér jelentőségének kérdését KKV-k esetében. A szerzők kutatásuk során kvantitatív felmérést végeztek 200 vállalkozó körében a Hofstedeskála (Hofmeister et al., 2008) felhasználásával, melynek eredményeként kiderült, hogy a KKV-vezetők beállítódása jelentősen különbözik mind a hazai nagyvállalati vezetőktől, mind az általános lakosságtól. Jelen tanulmányunkban bemutatjuk azokat a Hofstede-dimenziókat, amelyek mentén karakteres különbségek jelentkeztek a vállalkozók és a nagyvállalati vezetők, valamint a társadalom összessége között. Az eredmények alapján határozottan kirajzolódnak olyan „vállalkozói” gondolkodásmódbeli sajátosságok, mint a nagyobb versenyszellem, a közvetlenebb, kevésbé hierarchikus működési stílus, a rendkívül erős, rövid távú orientáció, valamint a kockázatvállalás rendhagyóan alacsony foka. _____ Although there has been an increasing academic attention towards small and medium-sized enterprises, it is still a novel research area with a number of unanswered questions. It is also an especially interdisciplinary field as it can be approached from various viewpoints such as management, innovation, marketing, organization sociology or even psychology. Different academic disciplines have studied the influence of socio-cultural factors and concluded that they are relevant aspects of entrepreneurial activity. This paper presents the results of the authors’ quantitative research which aimed at finding patterns in the software of the minds of SME managers where they applied Hofstede’s cultural scale (Hofmeister et al., 2008). Drawing upon data from 200 Hungarian SMEs, the results indicate they have different attitude and way of thinking compared to large company managers and to the general Hungarian population. This paper points out the relevant Hofstede dimensions where significant differences have been revealed. The main finding of the study is that managers of small and medium businesses have a special mindset which can be characterized with higher level competitiveness, more direct and less hierarchic operation, extremely high level of short term orientation and low level of risk taking