bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spatial variation in population-density of snow leopards in a multiple use landscape in Spiti Valley, Trans-Himalaya
Authors: Sharma Rishi Kumar , Sharma Koustubh , Borchers David , Bhatnagar Yash Veer , Suryawanshi Kulbhushansingh R. , Mishra Charudutt
Published: May 2021

The endangered snow leopard Panthera uncia occurs in human use landscapes in the mountains of South and Central Asia. Conservationists generally agree that snow leopards must be conserved through a land-sharing approach, rather than land-sparing in the form of strictly protected areas. Effective conservation through land-sharing requires a good understanding of how snow leopards respond to human use of the landscape. Snow leopard density is expected to show spatial variation within a landscape because of variation in the intensity of human use and the quality of habitat. However, snow leopards have been difficult to enumerate and monitor. Variation in the density of snow leopards remains undocumented, and the impact of human use on their populations is poorly understood. We examined spatial variation in snow leopard density in Spiti Valley, an important snow leopard landscape in India, via spatially explicit capture-recapture analysis of camera trap data. We camera trapped an area encompassing a minimum convex polygon of 953 km2. Our best model estimated an overall density of 0.5 (95% CI: 0.31–0.82) mature snow leopards per 100 km2. Using AIC, our best model showed the density of snow leopards to depend on estimated wild prey density, movement about activity centres to depend on altitude, and the expected number of encounters at the activity centre to depend on topography. Models that also used livestock biomass as a density covariate ranked second, but the effect of livestock was weak. Our results highlight the importance of maintaining high density pockets of wild prey populations in multiple-use landscapes to enhance snow leopard conservation.
Investigation of the associations between physical activity, self-regulation and educational outcomes in childhood
Authors: Vasilopoulos Fotini , Ellefson Michelle R.
Published: May 2021

It is common knowledge that physical activity leads to physiological and psychological benefits. The current study explored the association between physical activity and self-regulation longitudinally and the indirect relationship this may have on academic achievement, using secondary data on primary and secondary school children from the Millennium Cohort Study, a cohort of infants born in 2000–2001 in the United Kingdom. There are two main findings. First, there is a positive link between physical activity and emotional (not behavioural) regulation both concurrently and longitudinally across all three time points, 7-years-old, 11-years-old and 14-years-old. The relationship was negative for emotional regulation and negligible for behavioural regulation when controlling for socioeconomic status. Second, across two time points (due to data availability), physical activity positively predicted academic achievement through emotional regulation for 7-year-olds and behavioural regulation in 11-year-olds. The impact of this relationship was more pronounced when controlling for socioeconomic status. Together these findings indicate that emotional regulation is linked to physical activity in early childhood. Subsequently, emotion regulation predicts academic attainment, suggesting that early interventions might focus on attention rather than behaviour.
Soccer goalkeeper expertise identification based on eye movements
Authors: Hosp Benedikt W. , Schultz Florian , Höner Oliver , Kasneci Enkelejda
Published: May 2021

By focusing on high experimental control and realistic presentation, the latest research in expertise assessment of soccer players demonstrates the importance of perceptual skills, especially in decision making. Our work captured omnidirectional in-field scenes displayed through virtual reality glasses to 12 expert players (picked by DFB), 10 regional league intermediate players, and13 novice soccer goalkeepers in order to assess the perceptual skills of athletes in an optimized manner. All scenes were shown from the perspective of the same natural goalkeeper and ended after the return pass to that goalkeeper. Based on the gaze behavior of each player, we classified their expertise with common machine learning techniques. Our results show that eye movements contain highly informative features and thus enable a classification of goalkeepers between three stages of expertise, namely elite youth player, regional league player, and novice, at a high accuracy of 78.2%. This research underscores the importance of eye tracking and machine learning in perceptual expertise research and paves the way for perceptual-cognitive diagnosis as well as future training systems.
Helicase-like transcription factor-deletion from the tumor microenvironment in a cell line-derived xenograft model of colorectal cancer reprogrammed the human transcriptome-S-nitroso-proteome to promote inflammation and redirect metastasis
Authors: Helmer Rebecca A. , Martinez-Zaguilan Raul , Kaur Gurvinder , Smith Lisa A. , Dufour Jannette M. , Chilton Beverly S.
Published: May 2021

Methylation of theHLTFgene in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells occurs more frequently in men than women. Progressive epigenetic silencing ofHLTFin tumor cells is accompanied by negligible expression in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Cell line-derived xenografts (CDX) were established in control (Hltf+/+) andHltf-deleted maleRag2-/-IL2rg-/-mice by direct orthotopic cell microinjection (OCMI) ofHLTF+/+HCT116 Red-FLuc cells into the submucosa of the cecum. Combinatorial induction ofIL6andS100A8/A9in theHltf-deleted TME withICAM-1andIL8in the primary tumor activated a positive feedback loop. The proinflammatory niche produced a major shift in CDX metastasis to peritoneal dissemination compared to controls. Inducible nitric oxide (iNOS) gene expression and transactivation of theiNOS-S100A8/A9signaling complex inHltf-deleted TME reprogrammed the human S-nitroso-proteome. POTEE, TRIM52 and UN45B were S-nitrosylated on the conserved I/L-X-C-X2-D/E motif indicative of iNOS-S100A8/A9-mediated S-nitrosylation. 2D-DIGE and protein identification by MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry authenticated S-nitrosylation of 53 individual cysteines in half-site motifs (I/L-X-C or C-X-X-D/E) in CDX tumors. POTEE in CDX tumors is both a general S-nitrosylation target and an iNOS-S100A8/A9 site-specific (Cys638) target in theHltf-deleted TME.RELis an example of convergence of transcriptomic-S-nitroso-proteomic signaling. The gene is transcriptionally activated in CDX tumors with anHltf-deleted TME, and REL-SNO (Cys143) was found in primary CDX tumors and all metastatic sites. Primary CDX tumors fromHltf-deleted TME shared 60% of their S-nitroso-proteome with all metastatic sites. Forty percent of SNO-proteins from primary CDX tumors were variably expressed at metastatic sites. Global S-nitrosylation of proteins in pathways related to cytoskeleton and motility was strongly implicated in the metastatic dissemination of CDX tumors.Hltf-deletion from the TME played a major role in the pathogenesis of inflammation and linked protein S-nitrosylation in primary CDX tumors with spatiotemporal continuity in metastatic progression when the tumor cells expressed HLTF.
Dynamics of data availability in disease modeling: An example evaluating the trade-offs of ultra-fine-scale factors applied to human West Nile virus disease models in the Chicago area, USA
Authors: Uelmen J. A. , Irwin P. , Brown W. M. , Karki S. , Ruiz M. O. , Li B. , Smith R. L.
Published: May 2021

Background

Since 1999, West Nile virus (WNV) has moved rapidly across the United States, resulting in tens of thousands of human cases. Both the number of human cases and the minimum infection rate (MIR) in vector mosquitoes vary across time and space and are driven by numerous abiotic and biotic forces, ranging from differences in microclimates to socio-demographic factors. Because the interactions among these multiple factors affect the locally variable risk of WNV illness, it has been especially difficult to model human disease risk across varying spatial and temporal scales. Cook and DuPage Counties, comprising the city of Chicago and surrounding suburbs, experience some of the highest numbers of human neuroinvasive cases of WNV in the United States. Despite active mosquito control efforts, there is consistent annual WNV presence, resulting in more than 285 confirmed WNV human cases and 20 deaths from the years 2014–2018 in Cook County alone.

Methods

A previous Chicago-area WNV model identified the fifty-five most high and low risk locations in the Northwest Mosquito Abatement District (NWMAD), an enclave ¼ the size of the combined Cook and DuPage county area. In these locations, human WNV risk was stratified by model performance, as indicated by differences in studentized residuals. Within these areas, an additional two-years of field collections and data processing was added to a 12-year WNV dataset that includes human cases, MIR, vector abundance, and land-use, historical climate, and socio-economic and demographic variables, and was assessed by an ultra-fine-scale (1 km spatial x 1 week temporal resolution) multivariate logistic regression model.

Results

Multivariate statistical methods applied to the ultra-fine-scale model identified fewer explanatory variables while improving upon the fit of the previous model. Beyond MIR and climatic factors, efforts to acquire additional covariates only slightly improved model predictive performance.

Conclusions

These results suggest human WNV illness in the Chicago area may be associated with fewer, but increasingly critical, key variables at finer scales. Given limited resources, these findings suggest large variations in model performance occur, depending on covariate availability, and provide guidance in variable selection for optimal WNV human illness modeling.
Inter-episodes earthquake migration in the Bohai-Zhangjiakou Fault Zone, North China: Insights from numerical modeling
Authors: Shao Bo , Hou Guiting , Shen Jun
Published: May 2021

In this paper, we focus on why intraplate seismic initiation and migration occurs, which has widely been considered to be caused by static stress triggering caused by earthquakes, as well as post-seismic slips. To illustrate the mechanism underlying large earthquakes, in particular the migration caused by two key episodes that occurred after 1500 in the Bohai-Zhangjiakou Fault Zone (BZFZ) of North China, we developed a high-resolution three-dimensional viscoelastic finite element model that includes the active faults with vertical segmentation, their periodical locking, and the lithosphere heterogeneity. We used the birth and death of element groups to simulate stress intensity changes during the two episodes (named Episode I and II), with our results showing that the Tangshan earthquake was primarily triggered by the Sanhe-Pinggu M8.0 earthquake in 1679, whereas the Zhangbei M6.2 earthquake in 1998 was not triggered by earthquakes in Episode I. According to our work, the calculated stress changes in the different segments of the fault zone correspond to the magnitude of the triggered earthquakes. Further, the largest stress decrease was near the Sanhe-Pinggu fault and occurred the largest earthquake in Episode I, whereas the largest stress increase was near the Tangshan fault and occurred during the largest earthquake in Episode II. Given the above, we propose a model for seismic migration to describe the dynamic mechanisms of earthquake migration within the BZFZ and North China, in which the factors affecting both the seismic migration path and intensity primarily include the distance between the triggered active fault and the original fault, the coupling of the active faults, the location and scale of the low-velocity anomaly, its distance from the active fault, and the location and scale of the crustal thinning.
Religious affiliation and suicidality among college students in China: A cross-sectional study across six provinces
Authors: Lew Bob , Kõlves Kairi , Zhang Jie , Zhizhong Wang , Koenig Harold G. , Yip Paul S. F. , Abu Talib Mansor , Osman Augustine , Siau Ching Sin , Chan Caryn Mei Hsien
Published: May 2021

Background

Several past studies indicated that religious beliefs, orientation, and practice are protective of suicide. Findings from recent studies in China suggest that religiosity may contribute to increased suicidality. However, few studies have examined the associations between religious affiliation across different faiths and suicidality in China.

Objective

The current study examines the association between religious affiliation and suicidality among college students in six provinces in China.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 11,407 college students from six universities in Ningxia, Shandong, Shanghai, Jilin, Qinghai, and Shaanxi. We collected the data between October 2017 and March 2018 using self-report questionnaires. They included self-report measures of depression, psychache, hopelessness, self-esteem, social support, and life purpose.

Results

Participants with a Christian affiliation had 1.5 times (95% CI: 1.14, 1.99, p = 0.004) higher odds of indicating an elevated suicide risk, 3.1 times (95% CI: 1.90, 5.04, p<0.001) higher odds of indicating a previous suicide attempt, and increased overall suicidality (B = 0.105, p < 0.001) after accounting for demographic and risk/protective factors. Christians also scored the highest in depression, psychache, hopelessness, and the lowest social support, self-esteem, and purpose in life. Muslims reported decreased suicidality (B = -0.034, p = 0.031). Buddhism/Daoism yielded non-significant results in the multivariate analyses.

Conclusions

Christian college students reported increased suicidality levels, perhaps due to public policies on religion. The decreased suicidality levels among Muslims may be attributed to higher perceived social support. The associations between religious affiliation and suicidality, depression, and hopelessness contrast sharply with US samples. This finding may be influenced by interactions between the religious denomination, individual, and social/political factors. This conclusion includes the possibility of anti-religious discrimination, which this paper did not investigate as a possible mediator and therefore remains a conjecture worthy of future investigation.
The impact of urinary incontinence on falls: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Moon Shinje , Chung Hye Soo , Kim Yoon Jung , Kim Sung Jin , Kwon Ohseong , Lee Young Goo , Yu Jae Myung , Cho Sung Tae
Published: May 2021

Objective

Previous studies on the association between urinary incontinence (UI) and falls have reported conflicting results. We, therefore, aimed to evaluate and clarify this association through a systematic review and meta-analysis of relevant studies.

Methods

We performed a literature search for relevant studies in databases including PubMed and EMBASE from inception up to December 13, 2020, using several search terms related to UI and falls. Based on the data reported in these studies, we calculated the pooled odds ratios (ORs) for falls and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using the Mantel–Haenszel method.

Results

This meta-analysis included 38 articles and a total of 230,129 participants. UI was significantly associated with falls (OR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.45–1.83). Subgroup analyses based on the age and sex of the participants revealed a significant association between UI and falls in older (≥65 years) participants (OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.31–1.93), and in both men (OR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.57–2.25) and women (OR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.29–1.54). Subgroup analysis based on the definition of falls revealed a significant association between UI and falls (≥1 fall event) (OR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.42–1.82) and recurrent falls (≥2 fall events) (OR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.49–1.78). According to the UI type, a significant association between UI and falls was observed in patients with urgency UI (OR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.15–1.70) and those with stress UI (OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.39–2.15).

Conclusions

This meta-analysis, which was based on evidence from a review of the published literature, clearly demonstrated that UI is an important risk factor for falls in both general and older populations.
Vaccine hesitancy among paediatric nurses: Prevalence and associated factors
Authors: Elizondo-Alzola Usue , G. Carrasco Mireia , Pinós Laia , Picchio Camila Andrea , Rius Cristina , Diez Elia
Published: May 2021

Objective

This study describes the prevalence of vaccine hesitancy associated with the Catalan systematic childhood vaccination calendar and some related psychosocial determinants among paediatric primary care nurses in Barcelona (Spain).

Methods

Cross-sectional descriptive study. In 2017 we invited the paediatric nurses (N = 165) working in Barcelona public primary health centres with paediatric departments (N = 41) to participate. They answered a questionnaire with sociodemographic and behavioural variables: severity and perceived probability of contracting the diseases of the vaccines in the vaccination schedule; safety and protection offered by each vaccine; and beliefs, social norms, and knowledge about vaccines. Outcome variable was vaccine hesitancy, dichotomized into not hesitant (nurses who would vaccinate their own offspring), and hesitant (including those who would not vaccinate them, those who had doubts and those who would delay the administration of one or more vaccines). We performed bivariate analysis and adjusted logistic regression models.

Results

83% of paediatric nurses (N = 137) agreed to participate. 67.9% had the intention to vaccinate their children of all the vaccines in the systematic schedule. 32.1% of nurses experienced vaccine hesitancy, especially about the HPV (21.9%) and varicella (17.5%) vaccines. The multivariate analysis suggests associations between hesitancy and low perception of the severity of whooping cough (aOR: 3.88; 95%CI:1.32–11.4), low perception of safety of the HPV vaccine (aOR:8.5;95%CI:1.24–57.8), the belief that vaccines are administered too early (aOR:6.09;95%CI:1.98–18.8), and not having children (aOR:4.05;95%CI:1.22–13.3).

Conclusions

Although most paediatric nurses had the intention to vaccinate their own children, almost one-third reported some kind of vaccine hesitancy, mainly related to doubts about HPV and varicella vaccines, as well as some misconceptions. These factors should be addressed to enhance nurses’ fundamental role in promoting vaccination to families.
Public parks and the pandemic: How park usage has been affected by COVID-19 policies
Authors: Volenec Zoe M. , Abraham Joel O. , Becker Alexander D. , Dobson Andy P.
Published: May 2021

Public parks serve an important societal function as recreational spaces for diverse communities of people, with well documented physical and mental health benefits. As such, parks may be crucial for how people have handled effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the increasingly limited recreational opportunities, widespread financial uncertainty, and consequent heightened anxiety. Despite the documented benefits of parks, however, many states have instituted park shutdown orders due to fears that public parks could facilitate SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Here we use geotagged social media data from state, county, and local parks throughout New Jersey to examine whether park visitation increased when the COVID-19 pandemic began and whether park shutdown orders were effective at deterring park usage. We compare park usage during four discrete stages of spring 2020: (1) before the pandemic began, (2) during the beginning of the pandemic, (3) during the New Jersey governor’s state-wide park shutdown order, and (4) following the lifting of the shutdown. We find that park visitation increased by 63.4% with the onset of the pandemic. The subsequent park shutdown order caused visitation in closed parks to decline by 76.1% while parks that remained open continued to experience elevated visitation levels. Visitation then returned to elevated pre-shutdown levels when closed parks were allowed to reopen. Altogether, our results indicate that parks continue to provide crucial services to society, particularly in stressful times when opportunities for recreation are limited. Furthermore, our results suggest that policies targeting human behavior can be effective and are largely reversible. As such, we should continue to invest in public parks and to explore the role of parks in managing public health and psychological well-being.
Public support for harm reduction: A population survey of Canadian adults
Authors: Wild T. Cameron , Koziel Jakob , Anderson-Baron Jalene , Asbridge Mark , Belle-Isle Lynne , Dell Colleen , Elliott Richard , Hathaway Andrew , MacPherson Donald , McBride Keely , Pauly Bernie , Strike Carol , Galovan Adam , Hyshka Elaine
Published: May 2021

We described public views toward harm reduction among Canadian adults and tested a social exposure model predicting support for these contentious services, drawing on theories in the morality policy, intergroup relations, addiction, and media communication literatures. A quota sample of 4645 adults (18+ years), randomly drawn from an online research panel and stratified to match age and sex distributions of adults within and across Canadian provinces, was recruited in June 2018. Participants completed survey items assessing support for harm reduction for people who use drugs (PWUD) and for seven harm reduction interventions. Additional items assessed exposure to media coverage on harm reduction, and scales assessing stigma toward PWUD (α = .72), personal familiarity with PWUD (α = .84), and disease model beliefs about addiction (α = .79). Most (64%) Canadians supported harm reduction (provincial estimates = 60% - 73%). Five of seven interventions received majority support, including: outreach (79%), naloxone (72%), drug checking (70%), needle distribution (60%) and supervised drug consumption (55%). Low-threshold opioid agonist treatment and safe inhalation interventions received less support (49% and 44%). Our social exposure model, adjusted for respondent sex, household income, political views, and education, exhibited good fit and accounted for 17% of variance in public support for harm reduction. Personal familiarity with PWUD and disease model beliefs about addiction were directly associated with support (βs = .07 and -0.10, respectively), and indirectly influenced public support via stigmatized attitudes toward PWUD (βs = 0.01 and -0.01, respectively). Strategies to increase support for harm reduction could problematize certain disease model beliefs (e.g., “There are only two possibilities for an alcoholic or drug addict–permanent abstinence or death”) and creating opportunities to reduce social distance between PWUD, the public, and policy makers.
Social networks and infectious diseases prevention behavior: A cross-sectional study in people aged 40 years and older
Authors: Steijvers Lisanne C. J. , Brinkhues Stephanie , Hoebe Christian J. P. A. , van Tilburg Theo G. , Claessen Vivian , Bouwmeester-Vincken Noortje , Hamers Femke , Vranken Petra , Dukers-Muijrers Nicole H. T. M.
Published: May 2021

Background

Social networks, i.e., our in-person and online social relations, are key to lifestyle behavior and health, via mechanisms of influence and support from our relations. We assessed associations between various social network aspects and practicing behavior to prevent respiratory infectious diseases.

Methods

We analyzed baseline-data (2019) from the SaNAE-cohort on social networks and health, collected by an online questionnaire in Dutch community-dwelling people aged 40–99 years. Outcome was the number of preventive behaviors in past two months [range 0–4]. Associations between network aspects were tested using ordinal regression analyses, adjusting for confounders.

Results

Of 5,128 participants (mean age 63; 54% male), 94% regularly washed hands with water and soap, 55% used only paper (not cloth) handkerchiefs/tissues; 19% touched their face as little as possible; 39% kept distance from people with respiratory infectious disease symptoms; median score of behaviors was 2. Mean network size was 11 (46% family; 27% friends); six network members were contacted exclusively in-person and two exclusively via phone/internet. Participants received informational, emotional, and practical support from four, six, and two network members, respectively. Independently associated with more preventive behaviors were: ‘strong relationships’, i.e., large share of friends and aspects related to so called ‘weak relationships’, a larger share of distant living network members, higher number of members with whom there was exclusively phone/internet contact, and more network members providing informational support. Club membership and a larger share of same-aged network members were inversely associated.

Conclusion

Friends (‘strong’ relationships) may play an important role in the adoption of infection-preventive behaviors. So may ‘weak relationships’, e.g. geographically more distant network members, who may provide informational support as via non-physical modes of contact. Further steps are to explore employment of these types of relationships when designing infectious diseases control programs aiming to promote infection-preventive behavior in middle aged-and older individuals.
Unraveling the unbinding pathways of SARS-CoV-2 Papain-like proteinase known inhibitors by Supervised Molecular Dynamics simulation
Authors: Sohraby Farzin , Aryapour Hassan
Published: May 2021

The COVID-19 disease has infected and killed countless people all over the world since its emergence at the end of 2019. No specific therapy for COVID-19 is not currently available, and urgent treatment solutions are needed. Recent studies have found several potential molecular targets, and one of the most critical proteins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus work machine is the Papain-like protease (Plpro). Potential inhibitors are available, and their X-ray crystallographic structures in complex with this enzyme have been determined recently. However, their activities against this enzyme are insufficient and need to be characterized and improved to be of clinical values. Therefore, in this work, by utilizing the Supervised Molecular Dynamics (SuMD) simulation method, we achieved multiple unbinding events of Plpro inhibitors, GRL0617, and its derivates, and captured and understood the details of the unbinding pathway. We found that residues of the BL2 loop, such as Tyr268 and Gln269, play major roles in the unbinding pathways, but the most important contributing factor is the natural movements and behavior of the BL2 loop, which can control the entire process. We believe that the details found in this study can be used to refine and optimize potential inhibitors like GRL0617 and design more efficacious inhibitors as a treatment for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
The impact of glucosamine on age-related macular degeneration in patients: A nationwide, population-based cohort study
Authors: Feng Kathy Ming , Chien Wu-Chien , Chen Jiann-Torng , Chen Yi-Hao , Chung Chi-Hsiang , Sun Chien-An , Chen Ching-Long
Published: May 2021

Purpose

To analyze the association between glucosamine (GlcN) use and the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) using claims data from the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD).

Methods

A retrospective, population-based study was conducted with NHIRD data from a 14-year period (2000–2013). Chi-squared and Student’s t-tests were used to evaluate differences between the study and comparison cohorts for categorical and continuous variables, respectively. Risk factors for disease development were examined by the adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) with 95% confidence interval. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to compare the cumulative risk of AMD between the two cohorts.

Results

In total, 1,344 patients with GlcN treatment were enrolled in the study cohort and 5,376 patients without GlcN use were enrolled in the comparison cohort. The incidence rate of AMD was lower with GlcN use (3.65%) than without GlcN use (5.26%) (P = 0.014). GlcN use was associated with a lower risk of developing AMD among patients with hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, stroke, other neurological disorders, or degenerative arthritis. Although the incidence of wet type AMD did not significantly differ (P = 0.91), the incidence of dry type AMD was lower in patients with GlcN use (2.9%) than those without GlcN use (4.84%) (P = 0.003). Kaplan-Meier analysis similarly revealed a lower rate of dry type AMD in patients with GlcN use compared to those without GlcN use (log-rank P = 0.004).

Conclusions

GlcN treatment can decrease the risk of developing dry type AMD. Further prospective controlled studies are needed to determine the effectiveness of GlcN treatment in patients with AMD and the associated mechanism.
Quality of life in people living with HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder: A scoping review study
Authors: Alford Kate , Daley Stephanie , Banerjee Sube , Vera Jaime H.
Published: May 2021

Quality of life (QoL) is recognized as an essential end point in the disease management of chronic conditions such as HIV with calls to include good QoL as a ‘fourth 90’ in the 90-90-90 testing and treatment targets introduced by World Health Organization in 2016. Cognitive impairments impact a broad spectrum of experiences and are a common issue effecting people living with HIV (PLWH). Despite this, few studies have examined QoL in PLWH who also have a cognitive disorder. This study aimed to synthesize and describe what is known about QoL in those living with HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). A scoping review of peer-reviewed literature was conducted to identify how QoL has been investigated and measured in PLWH with HAND, and how PLWH with HAND report and describe their QoL. We searched PsychInfo, Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science along with hand-searching reference lists from relevant studies found. Included studies were those published in English after 1st January 2003 which included PLWH with cognitive impairment not due to other pre-existing conditions. Fifteen articles met criteria for inclusion. Two studies measured QoL as a primary aim, with others including QoL assessment as part of a broader battery of outcomes. The MOS-HIV and SF-36 were the most commonly used measures of overall QoL, with findings generally suggestive of poorer overall QoL in PLWH with HAND, compared to PLWH without cognitive impairment. Studies which examined dimensions of QoL focused exclusively on functionality, level of independence, and psychological QoL domains. There is a considerable dearth of research examining QoL in PLWH with HAND. The initiatives which advocate for healthy aging and improved QoL in PLWH must be extended to include and understand the experiences those also living with cognitive impairment. Research is needed to understand the broad experiential impacts of living with these two complex, chronic conditions, to ensure interventions are meaningful to patients and potential benefits are not missed.
The Trypanosoma brucei subpellicular microtubule array is organized into functionally discrete subdomains defined by microtubule associated proteins
Authors: Sinclair Amy N. , Huynh Christine T. , Sladewski Thomas E. , Zuromski Jenna L. , Ruiz Amanda E. , de Graffenried Christopher L.
Published: May 2021

Microtubules are inherently dynamic cytoskeletal polymers whose length and organization can be altered to perform essential functions in eukaryotic cells, such as providing tracks for intracellular trafficking and forming the mitotic spindle. Microtubules can be bundled to create more stable structures that collectively propagate force, such as in the flagellar axoneme, which provides motility. The subpellicular microtubule array of the protist parasite Trypanosoma brucei, the causative agent of African sleeping sickness, is a remarkable example of a highly specialized microtubule bundle. It is comprised of a single layer of microtubules that are crosslinked to each other and to the overlying plasma membrane. The array microtubules appear to be highly stable and remain intact throughout the cell cycle, but very little is known about the pathways that tune microtubule properties in trypanosomatids. Here, we show that the subpellicular microtubule array is organized into subdomains that consist of differentially localized array-associated proteins at the array posterior, middle, and anterior. The array-associated protein PAVE1 stabilizes array microtubules at the cell posterior and is essential for maintaining its tapered shape. PAVE1 and the newly identified protein PAVE2 form a complex that binds directly to the microtubule lattice, demonstrating that they are a true kinetoplastid-specific MAP. TbAIR9, which localizes to the entirety of the subpellicular array, is necessary for maintaining the localization of array-associated proteins within their respective subdomains of the array. The arrangement of proteins within the array likely tunes the local properties of array microtubules and creates the asymmetric shape of the cell, which is essential for parasite viability.
Estudiantes universitarios con trastornos del espectro del autismo: revisión de sus necesidades y notas para su atención
Authors: Alcantud Marín Francisco , Alonso-Esteban Yurena
Published: May 2021

En los últimos 10 años hemos visto incrementar el número de publicaciones relacionadas con la inclusión en las aulas universitarias de estudiantes con Trastornos del Espectro del Autismo, síndrome de Asperger o Autismo de alto funcionamiento. En este artículo, se resume la literatura sobre la presencia de estudiantes con Trastornos del Espectro del Autismo en la Universidad y se reflexiona sobre la necesidad de desarrollar programas específicos para su atención en el marco de los servicios de apoyo a los estudiantes con discapacidad u otras estructuras de servicios similares. Entre las medidas específicas, hemos encontrado experiencias sobre programas de sensibilización a profesores y estudiantes con la finalidad de generar una cultura sobre “el autismo”, programas para tratar la ansiedad, programas de prevención de salud mental, etc. En definitiva, medidas que, aunque están dirigidas a un colectivo en particular, pueden beneficiar a toda la comunidad universitaria.
Antibiotic use in animal husbandry: A mixed-methods study among general community in Boyolali, Indonesia
Authors: Karuniawati Hidayah , Hassali Mohamed Azmi Ahmad , Ismail Wan Ismahanisa , Taufik Taufik , Suryawati Sri
Published: May 2021

Background and Aim: Antibiotic resistance is one of the most serious problems worldwide. One predictive factor of increasing antibiotics resistance is the use of antibiotics in animals. This study aimed to explore the use of antibiotics for animal husbandry in a general community in Indonesia.

Materials and Methods: A concurrent mixed-methods study was conducted. Data were collected from 407 respondents using a questionnaire, followed by an in-depth interview in 12 respondents. Data were analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively.

Results: Forty-two (10.32%) of 407 respondents used antibiotics for animal husbandry. Of these 42, >60% occasionally bought antibiotics from the pharmacy without prescription and 50% used their leftover antibiotics. Respondents also bought antibiotics from food stalls and animal feed shops. Tetracycline and amoxicillin were the most common antibiotics used for animal husbandry. The majority of respondents used antibiotics for therapeutic purposes and received information about using antibiotics for animal husbandry from friends and neighbors. Most of the respondents used antibiotics for animal husbandry incorrectly and had never heard of antibiotics resistance.

Conclusion: Inappropriate antibiotic use in animal husbandry was common in the community. Education on the prudent use of antibiotics for animal husbandry is needed.
Contrast-enhanced ultrasound Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System category M: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Shin Jaeseung , Lee Sunyoung , Kim Yeun-Yoon , Chung Yong Eun , Choi Jin-Young , Park Mi-Suk
Published: May 2021

Purpose: A meta-analysis was conducted to determine the proportion of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System category M (LR-M) in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) and non-HCC malignancies and to investigate the frequency of individual CEUS LR-M imaging features.Methods: The MEDLINE and Embase databases were searched from January 1, 2016 to July 23, 2020 for studies reporting the proportion of CEUS LR-M in HCC and non-HCC malignancies. The meta-analytic pooled proportions of HCC and non-HCC malignancies in the CEUS LR-M category were calculated. The meta-analytic frequencies of CEUS LR-M imaging features in nonHCC malignancies were also determined. Risk of bias and applicability were evaluated using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 tool.Results: Twelve studies reporting the diagnostic performance of the CEUS LR-M category were identified, as well as seven studies reporting the frequencies of individual CEUS LR-M imaging features. The pooled proportions of HCC and non-HCC malignancies in the CEUS LR-M category were 54% (95% confidence interval [CI], 44% to 65%) and 40% (95% CI, 28% to 53%), respectively. The pooled frequencies of individual CEUS LR-M imaging features in non-HCC malignancies were 30% (95% CI, 17% to 45%) for rim arterial phase hyperenhancement, 79% (95% CI, 66% to 90%) for early (<60 s) washout, and 42% (95% CI, 21% to 64%) for marked washout.Conclusion: In total, 94% of CEUS LR-M lesions were malignancies, with HCCs representing 54% and non-HCC malignancies representing 40%. The frequencies of individual CEUS LR-M imaging features varied; early washout showed the highest frequency for non-HCC malignancies.
Editorial
Authors: González Martínez Nelson Fernando
Published: May 2021

Este volumen incluye nueve artículos de tema libre y dos reseñas. El primer artículo, de Juan Carlos Sánchez, presenta una interesante visión en torno a América Latina y su lugar en la historia del mundo occidental. El autor plantea que sociedades como la mesoamericana o la inca, deberían ser incluidas en las narrativas helenoeurocéntricas de la historia universal. Se trata de una nueva propuesta para hacer historia en un mundo transmoderno y poscapitalista. Entre otras, el texto pone en diálogo hipótesis provenientes de la filosofía, la filosofía de la historia y la historia.
Los intelectuales son interrogados: cultura, democracia y totalitarismo en una encuesta de la Revista de las Indias, 1944-1945
Authors: Villegas Andrés
Published: May 2021

Este artículo busca aportar a la historia intelectual a través de la interpretación de una encuesta realizada por la Revista de las Indias entre 1944 y 1945. A partir de la revisio?n de diversas fuentes impresas se caracteriza a los colombianos y espan?oles encuestados, se discute las respuestas que dieron a dos problemas especi?ficos: el futuro inmediato de la cultura y la funcio?n social de los intelectuales en la posguerra. Se concluye que los interrogados vincularon su destino como grupo al triunfo de las democracias liberales, al tiempo que rechazaron la hegemoni?a sovie?tica.
A dos décadas de la privatización del ferrocarril en México: Los casos de Nuevo Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, y Empalme, Sonora (México)
Authors: López Salazar Ricardo
Published: May 2021

Este artículo tiene como objetivo central el analizar los impactos de la desaparición del ferrocarril en dos localidades del norte de México: Nuevo Casas Grandes (NCG), Chihuahua, y Empalme, Sonora. Revisten especial interés por su fundación a la luz del inicio y desarrollo de la actividad ferroviaria a mediados del siglo pasado, y por su importancia como ramales de sus respectivas rutas. Para lograr el cometido planteado, utilizamos información secundaria proveniente de fuentes oficiales, INEGI y CONEVAL para observar la evolución de problemas sociales como la pobreza, ante la suspensión del ferrocarril de manera total en NCG y de los Talleres Generales de Reparación y de transporte de pasajeros en Empalme. También realizamos un ejercicio empírico utilizando la metodología del Índice de Pobreza Humana (IPH) desarrollada por el PNUD de la ONU, consistente en identificar dicho fenómeno con base en cuatro indicadores sociales: ingreso, salud, educación y vivienda. Por último, se expone la opinión de algunos extrabajadores, los cuales profundizan en las formas de trabajo en el interior del ferrocarril, los sueldos, prestaciones, ascensos y su postura ante la privatización del ramo.
Prácticas letradas académicas más allá del déficit: una revisión crítica de literatura
Authors: Sito Luanda , Moreno Mosquera Emilce
Published: May 2021

¿Qué relaciones podemos derivar al acercar las discusiones sobre literacidad académica a la formación docente? En esta revisión de literatura se analizan los aportes que posibilita la perspectiva de la literacidad académica para la enseñanza del lenguaje en la formación profesional, en especial para la formación de maestros. Desde los nuevos estudios de literacidad (NEL) se comprende la lectura y la escritura académicas como prácticas incrustadas en contextos sociales; se trata de un marco de oposición a enfoques convencionales de enseñanza de la escritura, en relación con la epistemología y la construcción de conocimiento. Partiendo de este campo de estudios, se analizan cincuenta referencias, que constituyen investigaciones empíricas publicadas en revistas indexadas en los últimos diez años, y trabajos clásicos del campo. Se trata de una investigación cualitativa e interpretativa, en la que se retoman algunos trabajos clásicos y se conectan con las categorías de análisis: 1) literacidad académica a través de las disciplinas, 2) pedagogía de la escritura y la lectura, 3) trayectoria universitaria estudiantil, 4) prácticas letradas académicas: tensiones en los procesos de apropiación, 5) literacidad digital. Los NEL, como marco de investigación crítico, plantean la necesidad de un cambio estructural en los programas de escritura que tenga en cuenta la experiencia del estudiante y generen prácticas dialógicas y equitativas para evitar la deserción. Igualmente, una parte de la revisión comprende que la decolonización del currículo no solo requiere un mejor acceso epistemológico a discursos académicos, sino también cuestionamientos críticos frente a estos discursos.
Trayectorias de acceso al mundo de la escritura: relevancia de las prácticas de literacidad no escolares para la literacidad escolar
Authors: Kleiman Ángela B.
Published: May 2021

En este artículo, Angela Kleiman, investigadora chilena radicada hace largo tiempo en Brasil, discute aspectos de la literacidad escolar tradicional y reflexiona sobre la relevancia de las prácticas de escritura no escolares para favorecer el acceso a la cultura letrada. Kleiman presenta trabajos de dos de las líneas que lleva adelante el grupo de investigación que lidera, Letramento do Professor. La primera de ellas se centra en el desarrollo, análisis y documentación de propuestas de enseñanza denominadas proyectos de literacidad y sus efectos en el aprendizaje de la lengua escrita. Estos proyectos toman como eje de la planificación curricular no contenidos gramaticales, tipos de texto o géneros, sino prácticas de literacidad de la vida social significativas desde el punto de vista de los estudiantes y su comunidad. La segunda línea de investigación se enfoca en los usos situados y vernáculos de la lengua escrita y su impacto en diferentes procesos de construcción identitaria experimentados por líderes y agentes comunitarios. Estos actúan al margen de las literacidades promovidas por las instituciones formadoras socialmente legitimadas realizando prácticas de resistencia. Ambas líneas de indagación confluyen en aportar al desarrollo de programas de enseñanza de la escritura destinados a la inclusión de estudiantes socialmente vulnerados y cuyo acceso a la cultura letrada enfrenta múltiples obstáculos.
THE EFFECT OF MOBILE PROMOTIONS AND APPLICATION QUALITY ON CONSUMERS’ MOBILE BUYING IMPULSIVENESS: A CASE OF COMPARISON BETWEEN ZUBIZU AND HOPI
Authors: YILDIRIM Yusuf Ozan , BAYRAKTAR Azra
Published: May 2021

Today, digital consumers have adapted to the new world order and started to live their second life in mobile phones. Because everything has centralized over the mobile phones, marketing activities turned their face to the mobile marketing. Shopping activities of consumers moved to the mobile phones, therefore marketing promotions started to be mobile. This paper tries to surface the usage of mobile promotions and its effect on buying impulsiveness. In this research, the effect of sales promotions that appeal to both hedonic and utilitarian consumers and mobile application quality on consumers’ mobile buying impulsiveness is examined. In order to achieve this research objective, over many mobile applications which represents both hedonic and utilitarian consumers in Turkey, two commonly used applications are selected. In the results of the research, it was seen that impulsive buying behavior is extracted as two-dimensions; impulsive and suggestion based. According to the results, mobile promotions positively affect both impulsive and suggestion based buying, and the effect on impulsive buying is higher than suggestion based. On the other hand, although the application quality has no effect on impulsive purchasing, it has a positive effect on suggestion based buying behavior. Finally, in order to examine the regression differences between the selected applications, Hopi for utilitarian consumers, and Zubizu for hedonic consumers, research model were examined through structural equation model. According to this; as for the Zubizu application, application quality has more effect on impulsive buying behavior, and for the Hopi application, mobile promotions are more effective on impulsive buying. As a result, the application for hedonic consumption, impulsiveness acts according to the recommendations. On the other hand, the application for utilitarian consumptions are affected more in a manner of promotional activities.
A longitudinal study at an English medium instruction university in Turkey: the interplay between English language improvement and academic success
Authors: Yuksel Doğan , Soruç Adem , Altay Mehmet , Curle Samantha
Published: May 2021

This article reports a quantitative empirical study that investigated whether English language proficiency increases over time when studying academic content through English Medium Instruction (EMI). It was also investigated whether an increase in proficiency predicts EMI academic achievement. Student English language test score data and Grade Point Average (GPA) data were collected from a public university in Turkey. Two academic subjects were compared: Business Administration (a Social Science subject,n = 81) and Mechatronics Engineering (a Mathematics, Physical and Life Sciences subject,n = 84). Results showed that in both subjects, English language proficiency statistically significantly improved over a four-year period of studying through English. Furthermore, this improvement predicted EMI academic achievement; meaning that the more proficient students became in English, the higher they achieved in their EMI academic studies. This provides evidence for policymakers, EMI practitioners, and language professionals around the world that English does improve when studying academic content through English, and that this improvement has a positive effect on content learning outcomes. Implications of these findings, and suggestions for further research are discussed.