bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Beat perception in polyrhythms: Time is structured in binary units
Authors: Møller Cecilie , Stupacher Jan , Celma-Miralles Alexandre , Vuust Peter
Published: August 2021

In everyday life, we group and subdivide time to understand the sensory environment surrounding us. Organizing time in units, such as diurnal rhythms, phrases, and beat patterns, is fundamental to behavior, speech, and music. When listening to music, our perceptual system extracts and nests rhythmic regularities to create a hierarchical metrical structure that enables us to predict the timing of the next events. Foot tapping and head bobbing to musical rhythms are observable evidence of this process. In the special case of polyrhythms, at least two metrical structures compete to become the reference for these temporal regularities, rendering several possible beats with which we can synchronize our movements. While there is general agreement that tempo, pitch, and loudness influence beat perception in polyrhythms, we focused on the yet neglected influence of beat subdivisions, i.e., the least common denominator of a polyrhythm ratio. In three online experiments, 300 participants listened to a range of polyrhythms and tapped their index fingers in time with the perceived beat. The polyrhythms consisted of two simultaneously presented isochronous pulse trains with different ratios (2:3, 2:5, 3:4, 3:5, 4:5, 5:6) and different tempi. For ratios 2:3 and 3:4, we additionally manipulated the pitch of the pulse trains. Results showed a highly robust influence of subdivision grouping on beat perception. This was manifested as a propensity towards beats that are subdivided into two or four equally spaced units, as opposed to beats with three or more complex groupings of subdivisions. Additionally, lower pitched pulse trains were more often perceived as the beat. Our findings suggest that subdivisions, not beats, are the basic unit of beat perception, and that the principle underlying the binary grouping of subdivisions reflects a propensity towards simplicity. This preference for simple grouping is widely applicable to human perception and cognition of time.
Predicting treatment outcomes following an exacerbation of airways disease
Authors: Halner Andreas , Beer Sally , Pullinger Richard , Bafadhel Mona , Russell Richard E. K.
Published: August 2021

Background

COPD and asthma exacerbations result in many emergency department admissions. Not all treatments are successful, often leading to hospital readmissions.

Aims

We sought to develop predictive models for exacerbation treatment outcome in a cohort of exacerbating asthma and COPD patients presenting to the emergency department.

Methods

Treatment failure was defined as the need for additional systemic corticosteroids (SCS) and/or antibiotics, hospital readmissison or death within 30 days of initial emergency department visit. We performed univariate analysis comparing characteristics of patients either given or not given SCS at exacerbation and of patients who succeeded versus failed treatment. Patient demographics, medications and exacerbation symptoms, physiology and biology were available. We developed multivariate random forest models to identify predictors of SCS prescription and for predicting treatment failure.

Results

Data were available for 81 patients, 43 (53%) of whom failed treatment. 64 (79%) of patients were given SCS. A random forest model using presence of wheeze at exacerbation and blood eosinophil percentage predicted SCS prescription with area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) 0.69. An 11 variable random forest model (which included medication, previous exacerbations, symptoms and quality of life scores) could predict treatment failure with AUC 0.81. A random forest model using just the two best predictors of treatment failure, namely, visual analogue scale for breathlessness and sputum purulence, predicted treatment failure with AUC 0.68.

Conclusion

Prediction of exacerbation treatment outcome can be achieved via supervised machine learning combining different predictors at exacerbation. Validation of our predictive models in separate, larger patient cohorts is required.
Growth, secondary metabolite production, and in vitro antiplasmodial activity of Sonchus arvensis L. callus under dolomite [CaMg(CO3)2] treatment
Authors: Wahyuni Dwi Kusuma , Rahayu Shilfiana , Zaidan Andi Hamim , Ekasari Wiwied , Prasongsuk Sehanat , Purnobasuki Hery
Published: August 2021

Malaria is still a global health problem.Plasmodiumis a single-cell protozoan parasite that causes malaria and is transmitted to humans through the femaleAnophelesmosquito. The previous study showed thatSonchus arvensisL. callus has antiplasmodial activity. Several treatments are needed for callus quality improvement for antimalarial compound production. This study aimed to examine the effect of dolomite [CaMg(CO3)2] on growth (morpho-anatomical structure and biomass), secondary metabolite production, andin vitroantiplasmodial activity ofS.arvensisL. callus. In this study, leaf explants were grown in Murashige and Skoog medium with a combination of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D, one mg/L) and 6-benzyl amino purine (BAP, 0.5 mg/L) with dolomite (50, 75, 100, 150, and 200 mg/L). The 21 days callus ethanolic and methanolic extract were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and thin-layer chromatography (TLC). The antiplasmodial test was performed on a blood culture infected withPlasmodium falciparumstrain 3D7 using the Rieckmann method. The results showed that dolomite significantly affected callus growth, metabolite profile, and in vitro antiplasmodial activity. Dolomite (150 mg/L) showed the highest biomass (0.590 ± 0.136 g fresh weight and 0.074 ± 0.008 g dry weight). GC-MS analysis detected four compounds from callus ethanolic extract. Pelargonic acid, decanoic acid, and hexadecanoic acid were major compounds. One new terpenoid compound is based on TLC analysis.S.arvensisL. callus has antiplasmodial activity with the IC50value of 5.037 μg/mL. It was three times lower than leaf methanolic extract and five times lower than leaf ethanolic extract.
Seroepidemiology and associated risk factors of hepatitis B and C virus infections among pregnant women attending maternity wards at two hospitals in Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Authors: Israr Muhammad , Ali Fawad , Nawaz Arif , Idrees Muhammad , Khattak Aishma , Ur Rehman Shafiq , Azizullah Azizullah , Ahmad Bashir , Bano Syeda Asma , Iqbal Rashid
Published: August 2021

Background & aim

Hepatitis B and C infections are global issues that are associated with a massive financial burden in developing countries where vertical transmission is the major mode and remains high. This cross-sectional study was designed to investigate the seroepidemiology and associated risk factors of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections among 375 pregnant women attending antenatal care health facilities at Bacha Khan Medical Complex (BKMC) Shahmansoor and District Head Quarter (DHQ) Hospital Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

Methodology

From a total of 375 pregnant women selected using systematic random sampling from both hospitals, 10 ml of blood samples were collected and alienated serum was examined for indicators identification through the Immuno-Chromatographic Test (ICT) and 3rd Generation Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). A pre-structured questionnaire was used to collect the socio-demographic data and possible risk factors. The data was analyzed via SPSS 23.0 statistical software. A chi-square analysis was performed to determine the association between variables. P-value < 0.05 was set statistically significant.

Results

The overall frequency of HBV and HCV among 375 pregnant women involved in the study was 3.7% and 2.1% respectively. None of the pregnant women were co-infected with HBV and HCV. Dental extraction (P = 0.001) and blood transfusion (P = 0.0005) were significantly allied with HBV infection while surgical procedure (P = 0.0001) was significantly associated with HCV infection. Moreover the sociodemographic characteristics: residential status (P = 0.017) and educational level (P = 0.048) were found significant risk factors of HBsAg and maternal age (P = 0.033) of anti-HCV, respectively.

Conclusion & recommendation

HBV and HCV infections are intermediary endemic in the study area. A higher prevalence of HBV was detected among pregnant mothers with a history of dental extraction, history of blood transfusion, resident to the urban area and low educational level. The age and surgical procedures were the potential risk factors found significantly associated with HCV positivity among pregnant mothers in our setup. Future negotiations to control vertical transmission should include routine antenatal screening for these infections early in pregnancy and the requirement of efficient preventive tools including the birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine in combination with hepatitis B immune globulins to the neonate.
Socioeconomic position is associated with N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP)—Results of the population-based Heinz Nixdorf Recall study
Authors: Rudman Marina , Frank Mirjam , Emmel Carina , Matusch Emanuel , Kara Kaffer , Mahabadi Amir Abbas , Erbel Raimund , Jöckel Karl-Heinz , Dragano Nico , Schmidt Börge
Published: August 2021

Objectives

N-Terminal pro Brain Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP) is a diagnostic marker for heart failure and a prognostic factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of this study was to examine the association of socioeconomic position (SEP) with NT-proBNP while assessing sex-differences and the impact of CVD risk factors and prevalent CVD on the association.

Methods

Baseline data of 4598 participants aged 45–75 years of the Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study were used. Income and education were used as SEP indicators. Age- and sex-adjusted linear regression models were fitted to calculate effect size estimates and 95% confidence intervals (95%-CIs) for the total effect of SEP indicators on NT-proBNP, while potential mediation was assessed by additionally accounting for traditional CVD risk factors (i.e., systolic blood pressure, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, diabetes, anti-hypertensive medication, lipid-lowering medication, BMI, current smoking). Education and income were included separately in the models.

Results

With an age- and sex-adjusted average change in NT-proBNP of -6.47% (95%-CI: -9.91; -2.91) per 1000€, the association between income and NT-proBNP was more pronounced compared to using education as a SEP indicator (-0.80% [95%-CI: -1.92; 0.32] per year of education). Sex-stratified results indicated stronger associations in men (-8.43% [95%-CI: -13.21; -3.38] per 1000€; -1.63% [95%-CI: -3.23; -0.001] per year of education) compared to women (-5.10% [95%-CI: -9.82; -0.01] per 1000€; -1.04% [95%-CI: -2.59; 0.50] per year of education). After adjusting for CVD risk factors some of the observed effect size estimates were attenuated, while the overall association between SEP indicators and NT-proBNP was still indicated. The exclusion of participants with prevalent coronary heart disease or stroke did not lead to a substantial change in the observed associations.

Conclusions

In the present study associations of education and income with NT-proBNP were observed in a population-based study sample. Only parts of the association were explained by traditional CVD risk factors, while there were substantial sex-differences in the strength of the observed association. Overt coronary heart disease or stroke did not seem to trigger the associations.
Social conditions and mental health during COVID-19 lockdown among people who do not identify with the man/woman binomial in Spain
Authors: Jacques-Aviñó Constanza , López-Jiménez Tomàs , Medina-Perucha Laura , de Bont Jeroen , Berenguera Anna
Published: August 2021

Evidence suggests that non-binary people have poorer mental and physical health outcomes, compared with people who identify within the gender binomial (man/woman). Research on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health has been conducted worldwide in the last few months. It has however overlooked gender diversity. The aim of our study was to explore social and health-related factors associated with mental health (anxiety and depression) among people who do not identify with the man/woman binomial during COVID-19 lockdown in Spain. A cross-sectional study with online survey, aimed at the population residing in Spain during lockdown, was conducted. Data were collected between the 8th of April until the 28th of May 2020, the time period when lockdown was implemented in Spain. Mental health was measured using the Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale for anxiety, and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) for depression. The survey included the question: Which sex do you identify with? The options “Man”, “Woman”, “Non-binary” and “I do not identify” were given. People who answered one of the last two options were selected for this study. Multivariate regression logistic models were constructed to evaluate the associations between sociodemographic, social and health-related factors, anxiety and depression. Out of the 7125 people who participated in the survey, 72 (1%) identified as non-binary or to not identify with another category. People who do not identify with the man/woman binomial (non-binary/I do not identify) presented high proportions of anxiety (41.7%) and depression (30.6%). Poorer mental health was associated with social-employment variables (e.g., not working before the pandemic) and health-related variables (e.g., poor or regular self-rated health). These findings suggest that social inequities, already experienced by non-binary communities before the pandemic, may deepen due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A deterministic approach for design of supervisory control of LPV systems with delay
Authors: Zahid Ch. Nauman , Salim Mina , Riaz Raja Ali , Iqbal Jamshed
Published: August 2021

Linear Parameter Varying (LPV) systems and their control have gained attraction recently as they approximate nonlinear systems with higher order than ordinary linear systems. On the other hand, time delay is an inherent part of various real-life applications. A supervisory control structure is proposed in this paper for LPV systems subject to time delays. In the proposed control structure, a supervisor selects the most suitable controller from a bank of controllers; which desires to enhance the performance of closed-loop system in contrast with using a single robust controller. The analysis is based on the celebrated Smith predictor for time delay compensation and we provide a sufficient condition to assure the stability of the closed-loop switched system in terms of dwell time. Simulations on blood pressure control of hypertension patients in postoperative scenario are used to exemplify the effectiveness of the utilized technique. The operating region of the system is partitioned into five smaller operating regions to construct corresponding robust controllers and perform hysteresis switching amongst them. Simulation results witnessed that the proposed control scheme demonstrated a pressure undershoot less than the desired value of 10mmHgwhile the Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) remains within ±5mmHgof the desired value.
Peoples’ understanding, acceptance, and perceived challenges of vaccination against COVID-19: A cross-sectional study in Bangladesh
Authors: Paul Alak , Sikdar Dwaipayan , Mahanta Janardan , Ghosh Sanjib , Jabed Md. Akib , Paul Sujat , Yeasmin Fahmida , Sikdar Suranjana , Chowdhury Bishawjit , Nath Tapan Kumar
Published: August 2021

In order to eliminate COVID-19, many countries provided vaccinations. However, success depends on peoples’ knowledge levels and rates of acceptance. But, previous research on this topic is currently lacking in Bangladesh. This cross-sectional study aimed at to investigate Bangladeshi peoples’ knowledge, acceptance, and perception of challenges regarding COVID-19 vaccines. Quantitative data were collected using an online survey (n = 1975) and face-to-face interviews (n = 2200) with a pre-tested structured questionnaire. In addition, seven open-ended interviews were conducted with health experts regarding challenges of vaccination. Binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the association between explanatory and dependent variables. Effect size was estimated to understand the magnitude of relationship between two variables. Of 4175 respondents, 92.6% knew about COVID-19 vaccines, while only 37.4% believed vaccines to be effective in controlling COVID-19. Nearly 46% of respondents believed that COVID-19 vaccines have side-effects, and 16.4% of respondents believed that side-effects could be life-threatening. Only 60.5% of respondents indicated that they would receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Out of 1650 respondents (39.5%) who did not intend to receive the vaccine, 948 (57.4%) believed that they would be naturally protected. Regressions results indicated that men had higher rates of knowledge regarding the vaccine. In addition, rural respondents demonstrated lower knowledge regarding the vaccine. Furthermore, education had a significant association with knowledge of COVID-19 vaccines. Respondents with university education had more knowledge regarding the vaccine (Odds ratio, OR = 29.99; 95% confidence interval, CI 11.40–78.90, effect size 1.88; p = 0.01) and correct dosage (OR 27.34; 95% CI 15.25–49.00, effect size 1.83; p = 0.01). However, women (OR 1.16; 95% CI 0.96–1.40, effect size 0.08) and rural (OR 1.24; 95% CI 1.07–1.44, effect size 0.12; p = 0.01) respondents were more enthusiastic regarding receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Higher educated respondents showed higher probability of receiving the vaccine. Those who believed in the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine were 11.57 times more interested (OR 11.57; 95% CI 8.92–15.01, effect size 1.35; p = 0.01) in receiving the vaccine. Open-ended interviews identified several challenges toward successful COVID-19 vaccination. Mass awareness creation, uninterrupted supply, equitable distribution, and sectoral coordination were suggested to achieve at least 70% immunization across the country.
Evaluation of the ability of the trypsin-like peptidase activity assay to detect severe periodontitis
Authors: Iwasaki Masanori , Usui Michihiko , Ariyoshi Wataru , Nakashima Keisuke , Nagai-Yoshioka Yoshie , Inoue Maki , Kobayashi Kaoru , Nishihara Tatsuji
Published: August 2021

Objectives

N-benzoyl-DL-arginine peptidase (trypsin-like peptidase) is specifically produced by certain strains of periodontitis-associated bacteria. We aimed to examine the effectiveness of an objectively quantified trypsin-like peptidase activity assay (TLP-AA) for detecting severe periodontitis.

Methods

The study population included 347 adults (108 men and 239 women; average age, 43.3 years) who underwent a full-mouth periodontal examination. Specimens for the TLP-AA were obtained using tongue swabs. Using a color reader, the TLP-AA results were obtained as a* values, with higher positive a* values indicating an increased intense enzymatic activity. The predictive validity of the TLP-AA results for severe periodontitis was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and the periodontitis case definition provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/American Academy of Periodontology as the gold standard. Furthermore, multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to predict severe periodontitis using the TLP-AA results and health characteristics, as the exposure variables.

Results

Severe periodontitis was observed in 5.2% of the participants. TLP-AA had high diagnostic accuracy for severe periodontitis, with an area under the curve of 0.83 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.75–0.92). The cut-off score for the a* value that best differentiated individuals with severe periodontitis was 0.09, with a sensitivity of 83% and specificity of 77%. Multivariable logistic regression analyses revealed that the TLP-AA results were significantly associated with severe periodontitis after adjusting for health characteristics (adjusted odds ratios: 1.90 [95% CI: 1.37–2.62] for the a* value).

Conclusions

Objectively quantified TLP-AA results are potentially useful for detecting severe periodontitis in epidemiological surveillance.
Luteolin as a potential host-directed immunotherapy adjunct to isoniazid treatment of tuberculosis
Authors: Singh Dhiraj Kumar , Tousif Sultan , Bhaskar Ashima , Devi Annu , Negi Kriti , Moitra Barnani , Ranganathan Anand , Dwivedi Ved Prakash , Das Gobardhan
Published: August 2021

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major health problem throughout the world with one third of the population latently infected and ~1.74 million deaths annually. Current therapy consists of multiple antibiotics and a lengthy treatment regimen, which is associated with risk for the generation of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis variants. Therefore, alternate host directed strategies that can shorten treatment length and enhance anti-TB immunity during the treatment phase are urgently needed. Here, we show that Luteolin, a plant-derived hepatoprotective immunomodulator, when administered along with isoniazid as potential host directed therapy promotes anti-TB immunity, reduces the length of TB treatment and prevents disease relapse. Luteolin also enhances long-term anti-TB immunity by promoting central memory T cell responses. Furthermore, we found that Luteolin enhances the activities of natural killer and natural killer T cells, both of which exhibit antitubercular attributes. Therefore, the addition of Luteolin to conventional antibiotic therapy may provide a means to avoid the development of drug-resistance and to improve disease outcome.
BB0562 is a nutritional virulence determinant with lipase activity important for Borrelia burgdorferi infection and survival in fatty acid deficient environments
Authors: Kuhn Hunter W. , Lasseter Amanda G. , Adams Philip P. , Avile Carlos Flores , Stone Brandee L. , Akins Darrin R. , Jewett Travis J. , Jewett Mollie W.
Published: August 2021

The Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi relies on uptake of essential nutrients from its host environments for survival and infection. Therefore, nutrient acquisition mechanisms constitute key virulence properties of the pathogen, yet these mechanisms remain largely unknown. In vivo expression technology applied to B. burgdorferi (BbIVET) during mammalian infection identified gene bb0562, which encodes a hypothetical protein comprised of a conserved domain of unknown function, DUF3996. DUF3996 is also found across adjacent encoded hypothetical proteins BB0563 and BB0564, suggesting the possibility that the three proteins could be functionally related. Deletion of bb0562, bb0563 and bb0564 individually and together demonstrated that bb0562 alone was important for optimal disseminated infection in immunocompetent and immunocompromised mice by needle inoculation and tick bite transmission. Moreover, bb0562 promoted spirochete survival during the blood dissemination phase of infection. Gene bb0562 was also found to be important for spirochete growth in low serum media and the growth defect of Δbb0562 B. burgdorferi was rescued with the addition of various long chain fatty acids, particularly oleic acid. In mammals, fatty acids are primarily stored in fat droplets in the form of triglycerides. Strikingly, addition of glyceryl trioleate, the triglyceride form of oleic acid, to the low serum media did not rescue the growth defect of the mutant, suggesting bb0562 may be important for the release of fatty acids from triglycerides. Therefore, we searched for and identified two canonical GXSXG lipase motifs within BB0562, despite the lack of homology to known bacterial lipases. Purified BB0562 demonstrated lipolytic activity dependent on the catalytic serine residues within the two motifs. In sum, we have established that bb0562 is a novel nutritional virulence determinant, encoding a lipase that contributes to fatty acid scavenge for spirochete survival in environments deficient in free fatty acids including the mammalian host.
Extra-illustration, preservation and libraries in the nineteenth-century United States
Authors: Walsh Megan
Published: August 2021

Extra-illustration, usually considered an eighteenth-century and early-nineteenth-century British phenomenon, is abundantly present in the creative book practices of the late nineteenth-century United States, but it is often overlooked in scholarship. Analysing the collecting, cutting and pasting habits of Massachusetts banker Nathaniel Paine, this article argues that extra-illustration was closely connected to the then emerging modes of information organization that have since shaped modern libraries. Paine added hundreds of mass-produced images of US president George Washington to the volumes in his library, including a group of pamphlets printed just after Washington died in 1799. This unusual group of pamphlets, as well as Paine’s other extra-illustrative supplements to his volumes and scrapbooks, reveal an effort not only to preserve a particular version of the past but also to develop an indexing scheme built around pictures.
Synthesis of Biolubricant via Chemical Modification from
Vegetable Oil Blend using Heterogeneous Catalyst
Authors: Rajwani S. , Yadav P.K.S.
Published: August 2021

Present study reports the synthesis of biolubricant synthesis from the vegetable oil blend [dehydrated
castor oil (DCO) and waste ricebran oil (WRBO)] using heterogeneous catalyst and its physico-chemical
properties. The biolubricant was synthesized from blend of vegetable oils using two chemical
modification processes i.e. synthesizing methyl esters of blend oil using sodium methoxide as catalyst
and then epoxidation of synthesized methyl esters using Amberlite IR-120 strongly acidic ion-exchange
resin. The biolubricant sample was examined by 1H & 13C NMR and FT-IR analysis. Viscosity index,
rheological properties, thermal stability and pour point values of chemical and structurally modified
blend oil (i.e. biolubricant) (Tonset = 215 ºC, iodine value (IV) = 197.5, pour point (PP) = -4.5 ºC)
showed notable improvement than that from blend oil methyl esters (Tonset = 181 ºC, iodine value (IV)
= 167.65, pour point (PP) = -9.5 ºC). Thus, a blend of non-edible oil (dehydrated castor oil) and waste
cooking oil (WRBO) is likely to be used potentially as biolubricant basestock for hydraulic applications.
Effect of Zinc Doping on the Electrical and Dielectric
Properties of CCTO Compound Synthesized by Solid-State Method
Authors: Slaoui M. , Gouitaa N. , Issmaeli Y. El , Harrach A. , Abdi F. , Haddad M. , Lamcharfi T.
Published: August 2021

In this work, the influence of zinc doping on structural and dielectric properties of CaCu(3-x)ZnxTi4O12
(CCZxTO with x = 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5 and 15%) ceramics sintered at 1000 ºC for 8 h was studied.
The ceramic samples were prepared by the conventional solid-state and calcined at 1050 ºC for 4 h.
The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of pure and Zn-doped CCTO were analyzed by using Rietveld
refinement with cubic CCTO phase with no trace impurity phase. The scanning electron microscopy
(SEM) investigation showed that for Zn-doped CCTO, the grains distributions were homogenous
with average sizes which decreased with increasing of Zn concentration. The dielectric permittivity as
function of temperature showed two dielectric anomalies (weakly and strong) and the dielectric constant
value largely decreased for x = 2.5%, which is about tree magnitude smaller than the pure ceramic. Then
it increased and reached a maximum at x = 10%, which is larger than the value of pure ceramic. And for
x > 10%, the dielectric constant decreased for about two magnitude smaller than the ceramic at x =
10%. The cole-cole diagramm for all the samples showed existence of two semi-arcs attributed to the
grains and grains boundaries. It was found that the Rg values were much smaller than the Rgb value.
This give an evidance on the formation of interior barrier layer capacity (IBLC).
Role of Cationic and Anionic Dopants on the Structural, Morphological, Optical and
Magnetic Properties of Lead Oxide Nanocrystals Prepared by Solvothermal Method
Authors: Saraswathi N. , Abhirama K.J.
Published: August 2021

A facile and simple microwave assisted solvothermal technique was adopted for the synthesis of
undoped and doped (Mn2+, S2–) lead oxide nanoparticles. Thermogravimetric analysis and differential
thermal analysis were carried out to realize the thermal behaviour of PbO nanoparticles. The synthesized
nanoparticles were annealed at about 400 ºC. The calcined samples were characterized by powder
X-ray diffraction, SEM, EDX, UV spectroscopic analysis and VSM measurement. The diffraction
patterns of the prepared nanoparticles showed the formation of an orthorhombic phase of lead oxide.
All the samples were in nano- regime with an average grain size of 22-26 nm. Spherical morphology
of the samples was revealed in the SEM micrographs. EDX pattern confirmed the presence of cationic
and anionic dopants. The band gap energy values range from 4.2 to 5.6 eV. The VSM measurement
revealed that the sample has weak ferromagnetic nature.
Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Flexible Poly(L-lactide)-b-polyethylene Glycol-b-poly(L-lactide)/Microcrystalline Cellulose Biocomposites
Authors: Jirum Jenjira , Baimark Yodthong
Published: August 2021

In this work, flexible biocomposites were prepared through melt blending using flexible poly(L-lactide)- b-polyethylene glycol-b-poly(L-lactide) (PLLA-PEG-PLLA) as a matrix and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) as a filler. The effects of the addition of MCC on the thermal, morphological and mechanical properties of PLLA-PEG-PLLA/MCC biocomposites were investigated compared to PLLA/MCC biocomposites. Thermal stability of both PLLA and PLLA-PEG-PLLA from thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was improved by MCC blending. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the biocomposites exhibited good phase compatibility between PLLA-PEG-PLLA matrix-MCC filler. From tensile tests, the stress and strain at break of the PLLA/MCC and PLLA-PEG-PLLA/MCC biocomposite films decreased while the Young’s modulus increased as the MCC content increased. The strain at break of PLLA-based and PLLA-PEG-PLLA based biocomposite films containing 20 wt.% MCC were 2% and 162%, respectively. Thus, the PLLA-PEG-PLLA/MCC biocomposites have potential to be used as flexible bioplastics for packaging applications.
MAGING, FUNCTIONAL AND BIOLOGICAL MARKERS FOR SARCOPENIA: THE PURSUIT OF THE GOLDEN RATIO
Authors: MARZETTI E.
Published: August 2021

Sarcopenia is a major public health issue industrialized nations are called to face. Millions of elderly are currently sarcopenic and their number is projected to rise steadily in the next years due to the demographic trend of our societies. This, together with the burdensome clinical correlates of sarcopenia, will impose increasing demands on healthcare systems worldwide. Although the decline in muscle mass and strength with age has been known for many years, operational definitions of sarcopenia have been developed only recently (1- 4), reflecting the complexity of the syndrome and the very preliminary phase of research on the subject. After all, the recognition of sarcopenia as a clinical entity dates only about 20 years (5). Nevertheless, the impressive advancements in the understanding of the pathophysiology of sarcopenia have led to the identification of a wide range of biomarkers and diagnostic procedures for this condition, the standardization of which could help develop algorithms to correctly diagnose sarcopenia and track its progression and response to treatments.
SARCOPENIA: HAVE WE REACHED THE CONSENSUS?
Authors: CHEN L.-K.
Published: August 2021

Sarcopenia, the age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass, may cause substantial social and economic losses due to its associations with a number of adverse outcomes in the older people, such as falls, hip fractures, physical disabilities, institutionalizations and death (1-5). Although the impact of sarcopenia to the health of older people has been demonstrated, extensive research works are still needed to reach an international consensus with regard to its diagnosis and treatment. The International Working Group of Sarcopenia successfully invited geriatricians and scientists in this domain and formulated recommendations for clinical trials of sarcopenia in Toulouse, France (6). The International Working Group of Sarcopenia reviewed current evidences in definitions, diagnosis, biomarkers and clinical implications of sarcopenia, to provide some critical information for the study design of clinical trials of sarcopenia. Although the International Working Group of Sarcopenia has developed consensus in many dimensions of clinical trials of sarcopenia, some controversies remained unclear still which deserve more works in the future. Some controversies were summarized as below:
THE PHENOTYPE OF FRAILTY PREDICTS DISABILITY AND MORTALITY AMONG MEXICAN COMMUNITY-DWELLING ELDERLY
Authors: AGUILAR-NAVARRO S. , GUTIERREZ-ROBLEDO L.M. , GARCIA-LARA J.M.A. , PAYETTE H. , AMIEVA H. , AVILA-FUNES J.A.
Published: August 2021

Background: Frailty represents a major public health priority in Western countries. Specific social and cultural factors may influence the prevalence and predictive value for negative health-related events of this syndrome. Objective: To determine the prevalence and predictive value of the phenotype of frailty among community-dwelling Mexican American older persons. Design, Setting and Participants: Two-year longitudinal study of 5,644 men and women aged 60 years and older participating in the Mexican Health and Aging Study. Measurements: The Frailty index used in the present study was a modified version of the operational definition proposed in the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS). Frailty was defined by the presence of at least three of the four following criteria: weight loss, weakness, exhaustion, slowness, and low physical activity. The main outcomes were incident disability and mortality. Chi-square, ANOVA and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to test the prognostic value of frailty for the outcomes of interest. Results: The mean age of the study sample was 68.7 (SD 6.9) years. Thirty-seven percent of participants (n=2,102) met the definition of frailty. Frail subjects were significantly older, and more likely to be women than non-frail participants. They also presented lower education, more chronic diseases, lower income, and poorer self-reported health status. After adjusting for potential confounders, frailty was found to be a predictor of incident mobility disability (odds ratio [OR] 1.91, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.37-2.66), activities of daily living (ADL) disability (OR 9.33; 95%CI 3.37-25.82), and instrumental ADL (IADL) disability (OR 1.81, 95%CI 1.23-2.68). The risk of mortality among frail participants was almost three-fold higher than in non-frail ones. Conclusion: The prevalence of frailty is higher in this elderly population than what previously reported in other cohorts. The phenotype of frailty was confirmed to be a predictor for adverse health-related outcomes (including mobility, ADL, and IADL disability). Further studies in Latin American countries are needed to identify frailty and develop adapted interventions for the prevention of adverse outcomes in older persons.
PREDICTIVE DEMI-SPAN EQUATIONS FOR ESTIMATION OF STATURE IN AGED MEXICAN AMERICANS
Authors: SIORDIA C. , PANAS L.J. , MARKIDES K.
Published: August 2021

Objectives: To develop demi-span height predictive equations for older Mexican Americans. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Data files housed by the Sociomedical Division in the department of Community Health and Preventive Medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. Participants: 1,078 (700 females, 378 males) Southwest U.S.A. community-dwelling older Mexican Americans, aged 80-102 years. Measurements: Demi-span, height, weight, BMI, demi-span equivalent height (DSEH), DSEH derived BMI (DS-BMI). Bland and Altman agreement analysis on: height and DSEH; BMI and DS-BMI. Paired t-test comparing derived and actual measures by single-age units and sex. Results: DSEH with Bassey equations (DSEHBassey) are significantly different than actual measures. DSEHBassey derived BMIs (DSBasseyBMIs) are significantly different than BMIs computed from actual measures. DSEH with Mexican equations (DSEHMexican) are not significantly different than real measures. DSEHMexican derived BMIs (DSMexicanBMIs) are not significantly different than real measures. Conclusions: These findings provide evidence that both DSEHBassey and DSBasseyBMIs estimates are significantly different from measured height and BMI. Both DSEHMexican and DSMexicanBMIs estimates are shown to produce similar height and BMI estimates to those obtained from real measures.
Examining Project-Based Learning Successes and Challenges of Mathematics Preservice Teachers in a Teacher Residency Program: Learning by Doing
Authors: Lee Jean S. , Galindo Enrique
Published: August 2021

This phenomenological study describes how secondary mathematics preservice teachers (PSTs) in a teacher residency program designed and implemented project-based learning (PBL) units. The Six A’s, a framework used to evaluate the rigor and relevance of PBL units, helped capture the research question: What are the successes and challenges PSTs experience as they implement PBL units for the first time? This qualitative study illustrates how PSTs engaged students in relevant learning, wrestled with sustaining the rigor, and included the community to be partners in the projects. Findings indicate that high-quality implementation of PBL instruction requires involving the community, facilitating mathematical learning, and transforming the learning environment. PSTs recognized that a PBL approach requires a shift from traditional teaching practices and reconceptualizing both what it means for teachers to teach mathematics and for students to learn mathematics. This study contributes to the scarce body of knowledge on how teacher residency programs can utilize PBL as an instructional model to prepare PSTs for PBL environments.
Policy Failures with Learner-Centred Pedagogy: Case Studies from the Zimbabwean Experiment on Project-Based Learning
Authors: Chimbi Godsend Tawanda , Jita Loyiso C.
Published: August 2021

Globally, policy reform in education has recommended learner-centered pedagogy for more than a century, but its practical implementation remains an illusion in many classrooms. This study describes history teachers’ experiences while experimenting on project-based learning (PjBL) in Zimbabwe’s current curriculum reform initiative. Project-based learning has gained acceptance as an indispensable approach in developing learners’ 21st century skills of creativity, critical thinking, research, and problem-solving. Using a qualitative multiple-case study, four history teachers were observed and interviewed while implementing PjBL at four secondary schools in Zimbabwe. Results indicate policy failures with learner-centered pedagogy. Where some participants and their students had made significant progress, others had done very little at the time the policy reformers withdrew the projects. Feasibility studies could have circumvented some of the pitfalls experienced while enacting PjBL.
Biscioni’s Dante
Authors: Arduini Beatrice , Todorović (85–96) Jelena
Published: August 2021

This essay focuses on the 1723 edition of two of Dante Alighieri’s “minor texts”, the Vita Nova and the Convivio, both of which had troubled editorial histories, within the volume Prose di Dante Alighieri e di Messer Gio. Boccacci prepared for the Tartini press in Florence by Anton Maria Biscioni. In intervening in the texts of both works in unique ways, this edition sought to return to Dante’s original intentions when writing them. This essay argues that Anton Maria Biscioni’s work offers modern readers a unique glimpse into the workshop of an editor of this eighteenth-century edition of Dante’s texts, an editor who details all the facets of the editorial process, from the collation of manuscripts to the hard choices determined by that collation and by the current practices of the editorial trade. The authors argue that main achievements of this 1723 edition can be seen in its editor’s promotion of bibliographical studies.
What Books Taste Like
Authors: Lamb (97–105) Jonathan P.
Published: August 2021

This paper explores the language of book taste in early modern England to argue that a key shift occurred in Francis Bacon’s famous aphorism about eating books: “Some bookes are to bee tasted, others to bee swallowed, and some few to bee chewed and digested: That is, some bookes are to be read only in partes; others to be read, but cursorily, and some few to be read wholly and with diligence and attention.” Writers for the next century would quote and adapt this line, a process that would culminate in a shift from “taste” in the sense of sample to “taste” in the sense of discrimination and distinction.
Adriano R. Germano, presidente eleito para a gestão 2023/2024 do Colégio Brasileiro de Cirurgia e Traumatologia Buco-Maxilo-Facial, divulga as metas da sua gestão
Authors: Germano Adriano R.
Published: August 2021

Adriano Rocha Germano, que acaba de ser eleito presidente do Colégio Brasileiro de Cirurgia e Traumatologia Buco-Maxilo-Facial gestão 2023/2024, é sócio desde 1997 e membro titular do CBCTBMF. Foi coorde- nador de capítulo por duas vezes e secretário geral na gestão passada. Especialista pelo CFO, Mestre e Doutor em CTBMF pela Unicamp, possui pós-doutorado realizado no Hospital 12 de Octubre/Madri-Espanha. Atualmente, é Professor Titular na Área de CTBMF/ UFRN, coordenador Programa Residência CTBMF – Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes/UFRN, professor da Pós-Graduação no nível Mestrado e Doutorado/ UFRN, cirurgião buco-maxilo-facial do Hospital Infantil Varela Santiago/RN e, também, atua na cínica privada no Centro de Reabilitação Maxilo-Facial/Natal/RN.
Evolução do estado nutricional em vítimas de trauma maxilofacial
Authors: Silva Camila Roberta , Amaral Marcio Bruno Figueiredo , De Jesus Alessandro , Costa Samuel Macedo , Teixeira Caroline San Severino
Published: August 2021

Introdução: Pacientes que sofrem trauma maxilofacial correm risco de desnutrição, devido ao comprometimento da função mastigatória e da deglutição, além do aumento das demandas de nutrientes para a cicatrização de feridas. Objetivo: Acompanhar a evolução do estado nutricional em pacientes vítimas de trauma maxilofacial. Métodos: Estudo de coorte, prospectivo, descritivo-analítico, realizado no período de junho a dezembro de 2019, em dois hospitais referenciados em trauma da cidade de Belo Horizonte/MG. O estado nutricional de pacientes adultos vítimas de trauma maxilofacial foi avaliado em quatro momentos distintos, a partir da dieta, do peso corporal, altura, índice de massa corporal, circunferência braquial, percentual de perda de peso e diagnóstico nutricional. Resultados: Foram avaliados 45 pacientes, com mediana de idade de 31 anos (q1-q3: 23-47,5), sendo a maioria deles do sexo masculino (88,9%). Entre os tipos de fraturas, predominou a de mandíbula isolada (n=25, 55,6%). Trinta e cinco pacientes (77,8%) foram submetidos a tratamento cirúrgico e 27 pacientes (60%) não foram submetidos a bloqueio maxilomandibular. A perda de peso mostrou-se significativamente maior nos primeiros 30 dias após o trauma, e os pacientes mais afetados foram os que sofreram fraturas de mais de um osso da face (1,4%), seguidos daqueles com fratura de mandíbula isolada (1,2%) (p=0,04). Conclusão: Durante o tratamento, vítimas de trauma maxilofacial exclusivo apresentaram comprometimento do estado nutricional. Os primeiros 30 dias após as fraturas foram os mais críticos do ponto de vista nutricional, e recomenda-se instituir terapia nutricional complementar, por meio de suplementação oral ou enteral nesta fase.
Mutlu Özcan
Authors: Gonçalves Sergio Eduardo de Paiva , Giannini Marcelo
Published: August 2021

Graduada em Odontologia pela Universidade de Marmara (İstanbul, Turquia). / Convalidação da graduação em Odontologia pela Faculdade de Medicina e Odontologia de Cologne, Alemanha. / Título de Doutora pela Universidade de Groningen, Holanda. / Professora da Clínica Odontológica de Biomateriais do Centro Médico Universitário de Groningen, Holanda. / Professora e Chefe da Divisão de Biomateriais Odontológicos (Universidade de Zurique, Suíça). / Diretora e Professora da Clínica de Distúrbios da Mastigação (Universidade de Zurique, Suíça). / 650 publicações científicas.
Modismo, polêmica ou ignorância científica?
Authors: Goes Mario Fernando de
Published: August 2021

Raphael Lee Bowen (1925-2020), em 1962 criou a molécula de Bis-GMA, ou resina de Bowen. Além do trabalho revolucionário de Bowen com materiais restauradores compostos, ele também desenvolveu os selantes dentários usados para prevenir a cárie. Sua indiscutível contribuição à Odontologia mundial o levou a várias homenagens, incluindo sua introdução no Hall da Fama da Herman Ostrow School ff Dentistry of USC, em 1997.
Phenotypic and genetic characterization of date palm cultivars resistant to bayoud disease
Authors: Boudeffeur Said , Ameur Ameur Abdelkhader , Aci M M , Khelafi Hafida , Laaboudi Abdelkader , Khersi M , Makhzoum Abdullah , Khelifi L
Published: August 2021

Taqerbucht cultivars of date palm are well known by their natural resistance against devastating fungus Bayoud disease. In order to know, if these accessions have the same genetic and morphological profile or each of them constitutes a separate cultivar, we carried out a morphological and molecular characterization and we compared four Taqerbucht (Tq.) date palm cultivars from the southwestern region of Algeria: Tq.hamra cultivar (red fruits), Tq. safra cultivar (yellow fruits), Tq.beïda (white fruits) and Tq.kahla cultivar (black fruits). Seventy one phenotypic characteristics, including 33 quantitative and 38 qualitative traits, have been selected for comparison. Principal component analysis (PCA) and multi-component clustering were used to analyze and compare the data. The results suggest that the four cultivars can be classified into distinct groups. One group contains one cultivar, the Tq.kahla and another group contains the three other cultivars (Tq.safra, Tq.beïda and Tq. hamra). Based on phylogenetic analyses and sequence comparisons, the cultivar Tq. kahla seems to be divergent from the cultivar Tq.hamra, whereas the two cultivars Tq.Safra and Tq.beïda are close to each other. Using 16 Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) genetic markers to analyze genetic diversity among the cultivars, we found that 13 markers were detectable in 31 allele's loci, and the number of alleles per locus varied from 1–4 with an average of 2.38 alleles per locus. Expected heterozygosity (He) values ranged from 0.375–0.500 and observed heterozygosity (Ho) values from 0.750–1.000.