bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vitamin D retesting by general practitioners: a factor and cost analysis
Authors: Scully Helena , Laird Eamon , Healy Martin , Crowley Vivion , Walsh James Bernard , McCarroll Kevin
Published: July 2021

Objectives

Vitamin D testing by Primary Care doctors is increasing, placing greater workloads on healthcare systems. There is little data though on vitamin D retesting in Ireland. This study aims to investigate the factors associated with vitamin D retesting by Irish General Practitioners (GPs) and examine the resulting costs.

Methods

This is a retrospective analysis over 5 years (2014–2018) of GP requested 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) results in 36,458 patients at a major city hospital in Dublin, Ireland. Those with one test were compared with individuals who were retested and samples categorised to determine changes in status between tests.

Results

Nearly one in four patients (n=8,305) were retested. Positive predictors of retesting were female (p<0.001), age (60–69 years, p<0.001), location (Co. Kildare, p<0.001) and initial deficiency (<30 nmol/L, p<0.001) or insufficiency (30–49.9 nmol/L, p<0.001). Vitamin D status improved on retesting, with deficiency halving on first retest (9 vs. 18%, p<0.001) and dropping to 6% on further retests. About 12.2% of retests were done within 3 months and 29% had ≥2 retests within 1 year. 57% of retests were in those initially vitamin D replete (>50 nmol/L). The annual cost of inappropriate testing was €61,976.

Conclusions

One in four patients were retested and this varied by age, gender and patient location. Over 10% of retests were inappropriately early (<3 months), a third too frequent and over half were in replete individuals incurring significant costs. Clear guidance for GPs on minimum retesting intervals is needed, as well as laboratory ordering systems to limit requests using pre-defined criteria.
Using Complete Monotonicity to Deduce Local Error Estimates for Discretisations of a Multi-Term Time-Fractional Diffusion Equation
Authors: Chen Hu , Stynes Martin
Published: July 2021

Time-fractional initial-boundary problems of parabolic type are considered. Previously, global error bounds for computed numerical solutions to such problems have been provided by Liao et al. (SIAM J. Numer. Anal. 2018, 2019) and Stynes et al. (SIAM J. Numer. Anal. 2017). In the present work we show how the concept of complete monotonicity can be combined with these older analyses to derive local error bounds (i.e., error bounds that are sharper than global bounds when one is not close to the initial time

t
=
0

{t=0}

). Furthermore, we show that the error analyses of the above papers are essentially the same – their key stability parameters, which seem superficially different from each other, become identical after a simple rescaling. Our new approach is used to bound the global and local errors in
the numerical solution of a multi-term time-fractional diffusion equation, using the L1 scheme for the temporal discretisation of each fractional derivative. These error bounds are α-robust. Numerical results show they are sharp.
Fleshing out Language and Intersubjectivity: An Exploration of Merleau-Ponty’s Legacy to Cognitive Linguistics
Authors: Sambre Paul
Published: July 2021

This paper examines how recent cognitive linguistic work on conceptualization and intersubjectivity (Verhagen 2005, 2008; Langacker 2008) echoes Merleau-Ponty’s older reflection on the notion of intersubjectivity, a key factor in embodiment and language. Three topics are explored in this respect. First, the largely implicit references to Merleau-Ponty in Lakoff and Johnson’s Philosophy in the Flesh (1999) are related more explicitly to Merleau-Ponty’s notion of flesh. Second, the discursive status of usage events is shown to be directly connected to the linguistic consequences of Merleau-Ponty’s intercorporality, as it brings together living bodies in intersubjective experiences. The third objective is methodological: the focus is not only on Merleau-Ponty’s often quoted Phenomenology of Perception 1945, 1958), but shows lines of continuity with the explicit philosophy of language in his later work, like Eloge de la philosophie (1960,1963), Signes (1960, 1968b), Conscience et acquisition du langage (1964, 1973a) and La prose du monde (1969, 1973b). This discussion includes Merleau’s relation to Saussurean linguistics, and gives rise, perhaps surprisingly, to a dynamic view on language as a locus of intersubjective creativity, which reaches beyond the individual basis of perception, gesture and incorporated language.
A Narrative of National Reform: Quanto vale ou é por quilo? (2005)
Authors: Gordon Richard A.
Published: July 2021

Quanto vale ou é por quilo? tells the story of two groups of characters: one that profits from the continued misery of much of the Brazilian population, and another that tries to expose and punish those in the private and political sectors who are responsible for such exploitation. By exploring parallels between a time marked by African slavery in Brazil and the presumably more illuminated present, the film attempts to lay bare a systemic social and economic disparity that continues to be intertwined with race. This article hypothesizes that the narrative locates the solution for some of the nation’s woes in the realm of social identity. More specifically, it argues that the film proposes that the country’s pernicious inequities are grounded in the perpetuation of nefarious and persistent attributes in understandings of Brazilianness among much of the population. If Brazil is to improve, the film advises, then prevailing definitions of the national group must be modified. Drawing on research in social psychology, and work in the area of cognitive approaches to literature and culture, this article seeks to decipher what sort of intervention on identity the film is making, and which of its elements might lead to influencing viewers’ social identities.
Emplotting Immigration: The Rhetoric of Border Narratives
Authors: Bancroft Corinne
Published: July 2021

Most everyone in the U.S. knows the stories told about illegal immigration, whether or not they subscribe to those stories. Right-wing narratives explain how ‘illegals’ or ‘aliens’ invade our country to ‘steal our jobs’ and ‘smuggle drugs’. Liberal narratives justify the illegal entrance of ‘desperately poor people’ who come here to feed their families. Patrick Hogan, in Understanding Nationalism, reveals the national and psychological purposes of such stories and explains how they are formed. This essay addresses the relationship between these national narratives and migrants’ actual experiences. As long-time volunteer of a humanitarian aid organization on the U.S./Mexico border, the author has heard stories about and witnessed the violence and death caused both by the desert and law enforcement. The more familiar narratives frame and consequently limit debate about the nation’s border enforcement policies, which force people to the most isolated desert areas where these atrocities occur. Through personal anecdotes about motivations for crossing and experiences in the desert, migrants offer critical stories that challenge standard emplotments, providing a new perspective on an apparently familiar problem.
Construction work cost and duration analysis with the use of agent-based modelling and simulation
Authors: Śladowski Grzegorz , Sroka Bartłomiej
Published: July 2021

Assuming a systemic approach, a construction project can be treated as a complex system composed of many different interlinked elements such as construction works, human agents, equipment, materials and the knowledge needed to perform the said work. The system’s structure can be divided into many mutually connected precision levels. This multilevel decomposition of the system facilitates a bottom-up approach in assessing the performance of a planned project, while starting the analysis at its lowest aggregation levels. The basic level distinguishes three typical units and their attributes: persons, knowledge and construction resources. Unit attributes and their dynamic interactions under changing environmental conditions affect the properties and performance of a given construction work and, as a consequence, the properties and performance of the project. The objective of this article is to analyse the attributes and micro-behaviours of units through bottom-up project assessment, allowing the estimation of its parameters such as completion time and cost. We utilised multiagent modelling that allows for performing micro-simulations in complex systems with adaptive components. The analysis was backed by a case study of road renovation work performed under specific conditions on the grounds of a listed heritage site.
Solvability for nonlocal boundary value problems with generalized 𝑝-Laplacian on an unbounded domain
Authors: Matyjasik Marek , Szymańska-Dȩbowska Katarzyna
Published: July 2021

This paper is devoted to the existence of solutions for a class of nonlinear boundary value problems with integral boundary conditions and generalized 𝑝-Laplacian on the positive half-line.
We establish sufficient conditions to guarantee the existence of solutions in a special function space by using Leray–Schauder-type arguments.
Examples are also given to illustrate the main results.
Knowledge of osteopathic manipulative medicine and osteopathic physicians in a New York South Asian community
Authors: Lee Jasmine , Maung Chun , Espares Jenzel , Chen Justin , Yip Frenda , Lin Willis , Zhao Lauren , Li To Shan
Published: July 2021

Context

Research regarding patient awareness of osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) can help identify barriers and factors limiting patient knowledge. Levels of knowledge about OMM and osteopathic physicians have been studied in New York’s Chinese and Korean populations, but have not previously been investigated in the South Asian population.

Objectives

To assess the knowledge of OMM and osteopathic physicians within a South Asian community of New York.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was designed in which a culturally appropriate survey, provided in both English and Hindi, was administered to study participants in order to measure knowledge of osteopathic medicine. The study utilized convenience sampling and distributed surveys to individuals who identified themselves of South Asian descent at high traffic sites in Hicksville, New York. The survey contained 10 questions, assessing the individual’s knowledge of osteopathic medicine. The Kruskal–Wallis and Chi-Square tests were employed to determine statistical significance of the data obtained from the surveys.

Results

The survey was conducted on 100 participants in Hicksville, New York. The respondent demographics included 53 males and 47 females with an average age of 41.2 ± 16.3 years old. There were 34 (34%) participants who had heard of osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) and 26 (26%) participants who had knowledge of doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) physicians. Respondents were found more likely to have knowledge of DOs if they were born in the United States (US) vs. other countries (US, 8 of 14 [57.1%] vs. others, 18 of 86 [20.9%]; p=0.006) or lived longer in the US (11 of 26 [42.3%], p=0.039). Participants who spoke a non-English primary language were also found less likely to have knowledge of DOs as they made up 46 of the 58 respondents who indicated no knowledge (79.3%, p=0.042).

Conclusions

A general lack of knowledge of DOs and OMM exists within the South Asian community of Hicksville, New York and lower levels of awareness were found among participants who were male, born outside the US, had a language other than English as their primary language, and had spent less time in the US. Additional educational resources may be implemented to increase awareness of DOs and OMM among this and similar communities.
Global epidemiology of mucopolysaccharidosis type III (Sanfilippo syndrome): an updated systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Kong Weijing , Wu Shanshan , Zhang Jing , Lu Cheng , Ding Yingxue , Meng Yan
Published: July 2021

Objectives

Mucopolysaccharidosis III, an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder, is characterized by progressive mental retardation and behavioral problems. Meta-analysis of global mucopolysaccharidosis III epidemiology, which serves as a fundamental reference for public health decision-making, was not available prior to this study. To provide a systematic review and meta-analysis of birth prevalence of mucopolysaccharidosis III in multiple countries.

Methods

MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched for original research articles on the epidemiology of mucopolysaccharidosis III from inception until 1st July, 2020. A checklist adapted from STROBE (STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology) was used to assess the quality of all studies involved. Meta-analysis, adopting a random effects logistic model, was performed to estimate pooled birth prevalence of mucopolysaccharidosis III and its subtypes.

Results

Twenty-five studies screened out of 1,826 records were included for data extraction. The pooled global mucopolysaccharidosis III birth prevalence was 0.76 cases (95% CI: 0.57–0.96) per 100,000 live births. The pooled global birth prevalence of mucopolysaccharidosis III subtypes (A, B, and C) was 0.52 cases (95% CI: 0.33–0.72), 0.21 cases (95% CI: 0.12–0.30) and 0.01 cases (95% CI: 0.005–0.02) per 100,000 live births, respectively.

Conclusions

Based on the global population size (7.8 billion) and the life span of patients, there would be 12–19 thousand mucopolysaccharidosis III patients worldwide. To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive systematic review that presented quantitative data fundamental for evidence-based public health decision-making by evaluating global epidemiology of mucopolysaccharidosis III.
Bildung und Mahayana-Buddhismus
Authors: Makabe Hiromoto
Published: July 2021

Hier wird die bisher wenig erläuterte, aber sehr wichtige Frage thematisiert, wie der Mahayana-Buddhismus, besonders die Wahre Sekte des Reinen Landes, in der Rezeption der deutschen Pädagogik und Philosophie in Japan funktionierte, indem ich die allgemeine Pädagogik von Masao Fukushima (1889-1979) als ein Beispiel aufgreife. Er versuchte, die deutsche Pädagogik aufgrund des eigenen traditionellen Gedankengutes original zu akzeptieren und seine eigene Pädagogik zu etablieren. Paradoxerweise behauptet die Wahre Sekte des Reinen Landes, dass man die Perfektion erst erreichen kann, wenn man auf den „Eigene-Kraft-Glaube“ („Jiriki“) verzichtet, der auf die vernünftige Kontrolle der Natur und des Selbst abzielt. Dieser Glaube steht eigentlich in Konflikt mit der modernen Erziehungsidee, also Autonomie oder Selbstbestimmung. Ich zeige, wie Fukushima versuchte, dieses Dilemma zu überwinden.
Seasonal and interannual variations in the propagation of photosynthetically available radiation through the Arctic atmosphere
Authors: Laliberté J. , Bélanger S. , Babin M.
Published: July 2021

The Arctic atmosphere–surface system transmits visible light from the Sun to the ocean, determining the annual cycle of light available to microalgae. This light is referred to as photosynthetically available radiation (PAR). A known consequence of Arctic warming is the change at the atmosphere–ocean interface (longer ice-free season, younger ice), implying an increase in the percentage of PAR being transferred to the water. However, much less is known about the recent changes in how much PAR is being transferred by the overlaying atmosphere. We studied the transfer of PAR through the atmosphere between May 21 and July 23 at a pan-Arctic scale for the period ranging from 2000 to 2016. By combining a large data set of atmospheric and surface conditions into a radiative transfer model, we computed the percentage of PAR transferred to the surface. We found that typical Arctic atmospheres convey between 60% and 70% of the incident PAR received from the Sun, meaning the Arctic atmosphere typically transmits more light than most sea ice surfaces, with the exception of mature melt ponds. We also found that the transfer of PAR through the atmosphere decreased at a rate of 2.3% per decade over the studied period, due to the increase in cloudiness and the weaker radiative interaction between the atmosphere and the surface. Further investigation is required to address how, in the warmer Arctic climate, this negative trend would compensate for the increased surface transmittance and its consequences on marine productivity.
Pathological changes and oxidative stress of the HPG axis in hypothyroid rat
Authors: Wang Lu , He Wen , Xu Xiaoyu , Qi Lingbin , Lv Bo , Qin Jiaying , Xue Zhigang , Xue Jinfeng
Published: July 2021

Hypothyroidism is a common endocrine disease caused by a deficiency of thyroid hormones, which could affect the hypothalamus–pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis and cause additional severe fertility problems. However, the pathogenesis of abnormal reproductive capacity caused by hypothyroidism and whether there are differences between females and males need more study. Here, we constructed a prolonged neonatal hypothyroid rat model using 6-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU). H&E staining and RNA-sequencing were performed to detect histopathological and transcriptome changes. Our results indicated that the numbers of ventromedial hypothalamus nuclei were increased, and the number of pituitary chromophobes was sharply increased, whereas the proportion of pituitary acidophils and pituitary basophils were obviously reduced. The differentially expressed genes of the HPG axis organs were identified, and different tissues shared similar steroid hormone and oxidative stress-related terms in gene ontology analysis. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and differential expression analysis indicated oxidative stress, and apoptosis-related genes were more enriched in male hypothyroid pituitaries, whereas the serum levels of growth hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone that were detected by ELISA were also reduced more in male hypothyroid rats, suggesting that prolonged neonatal hypothyroidism may have a more significant impact on male pituitaries. Moreover, the multi-organ oxidative stress in hypothyroid rats was confirmed by the higher expression of oxidative stress-related genes, such as the Txnip. The increased level of oxidative stress may have contributed to the histopathological and transcriptome changes of HPG axis organs in the prolonged neonatal hypothyroidism rats, especially in male pituitaries.
Anaerobic digestion of dairy manure in a fixed bed CSTR: Methane production performance and microbial diversity
Authors: Wang Haipeng , Zhao Yiquan , Yang Anyi , Yan Lei , Lim Teng Teeh , Zhao Hongyan , Gu Ji-Dong , Wei Dan , Wang Weidong
Published: July 2021

To improve the fixed bed and continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR) technology relative to the rate of treatment of dairy manure (DM), a continuous stirred tank-treated DM with immobilized carrier biofilm was investigated for 20 days (hydraulic retention time (HRT) was 10 d). Methane productivity, biofilm characteristics, and microbial diversities of the biofilm and digestate were measured. The highest content of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), proteins, and polysaccharides occurred at 15 days of digestion. An agglomeration phenomenon was observed using a scanning electron microscope on the biofilm. This indicated that the biofilm consisting of EPS was stable during the second HRT. Microbial diversities in digestate and carrier biofilm were characterized using a 16S rRNA sequencing technique. Results showed that the dominant bacterial communities were Pseudomonas (17% to 26%), Clostridium (13% to 21%), and Bacteroidetes (7% to 16%), while the archaea communities were Methanocorpusculum (25% to 37%), Methanosarcina (15% to 33%), Methanoculleus (11% to 15%), and Methanosaeta (13% to 18%). The methane production rate was significantly correlated with bacterial communities (Pseudomonas, Clostridium, Altererythrobacter atlanticus), archaeal communities (Methanosarcina, Methanoculleus, Methanosaeta, and Methanoplanus), and biofilm characteristics (chemical oxygen demand (COD) and EPS). These findings showed that a carrier biofilm could efficiently increase methane production.
Cushioning capability analysis of seat foundations considering the sitter’s anthropometric dimensions
Authors: Hu Lingling , Tor Onder , Shen Liming , Zhang Jilei , Quin Franklin , Yu Xiaohong
Published: July 2021

Sitting comfort is primarily determined by the cushioning capability of the seat foundation. Limited literature has been found related to the effects that different sized human buttocks had on the cushioning capability of the seat foundation. Moreover, there is no testing method specialized to measure the load-deformation behavior of foam cushions that imitates the sitting behavior between indenters with different sizes and seat support. This study investigated the effects of various indenter diameters (20 cm, 30 cm, 36 cm, 41 cm, 51 cm, and 58 cm), foam stiffness levels (high and low), and seat bases (spring versus solid flat panel) on the compressive load-deformation behavior of upholstered seat foundations. The load-deformation curves of all the tested foam-seat base combinations exhibited three typical regions, i.e., linear elasticity, plateau, and densification, when subjected to the loads applied through different indenter diameters. Statistical results indicated that the primary effects of the indenter diameter, foam stiffness level, and seat base had significant effects on the spring constants, which represented the slopes of lines in these three regions. In addition, a regression technique was proposed to derive power equations for the estimation of the spring constants of a seat foundation as a function of the indenter diameter, foam material stiffness, and seat base type.
Optimization of Antibiotic Prophylaxis Delivery for Pediatric Surgical Procedures
Authors: Yalamanchi Pratyusha , Parent Ashley L. , Baetzel Anne E. , Crowe Susan M. , Gutting Andrew A. , Gisondo Gino , Portice Lynda C. , Thorne Marc C. , Wagner Deborah S. , Bates Katherine E. , Tribble Alison C.
Published: July 2021

OBJECTIVES

To optimize prophylactic antibiotic timing and delivery across all surgeries performed at a single large pediatric tertiary care center.

METHODS

A multidisciplinary surgical quality team conducted a quality improvement initiative from July 2015 to December 2019 by using the A3 problem-solving method to identify and evaluate interventions for appropriate antibiotic administration. The primary outcome measure was the percentage of surgical encounters for pediatric patients with appropriate timing of antibiotic administration before surgical incision. Surgical site infection rates was the secondary outcome. Intervention effectiveness was assessed by using statistical process control.

RESULTS

A total of 32 192 eligible surgical cases for pediatric patients were completed during the study period. Identified barriers to timely perioperative antibiotic administration included failure to order antibiotics before the surgical date and lack of antibiotic availability in the operating room at the time of administration. Resulting sequential interventions included updating institutional guidelines to reflect procedure-specific antibiotic choices and clarifying timing of administration to optimize pharmacokinetics, creating a hard-stop antibiotic order within electronic health record case requests, optimizing pharmacy and nursing workflow, and implementing an automatic antibiotic prophylaxis timer in the operating room. Administration of prophylactic antibiotics during the recommended preincision time window significantly improved; the correct timing was recorded in 38.6% of preintervention cases versus 94.0% at the conclusion of rollout of the sequential interventions (P < .001). Surgical site infection rates remained stable.

CONCLUSIONS

Here we demonstrate utility of the A3 problem-solving schematic to successfully optimize prophylactic antibiotic timing and delivery in the surgical setting for pediatric patients by implementing systems-based interventions.
Identificación morfológica y molecular de Meloidogyne javanica en una plantación de papaya (Carica papaya l.) en Pococí, Limón, Costa Rica
Authors: Peraza Padilla Walter
Published: July 2021

Introducción. Meloidogyne es un géne[1]ro de nematodos fitoparásitos de importancia agrícola mundial. La diagnosis correcta de estas debe incluir el uso de diferentes herramientas de identificación, ya que representa muchas especies. Objetivo. Identificar morfológica y molecularmente una población de Meloidogyne asociada a una parcela de papaya (Carica papaya L.) en Costa Rica. Materiales y métodos. En abril de 2015, en el cantón de Pococí-Limón, se detectaron agallas en el sistema radical de una plantación de papaya. Se recolectaron raíces agalladas y se extrajeron hembras, masas de huevos y juveniles (J2 ) de Meloidogyne sp. Se examinaron patrones perineales de hembras, así como su taxonomía. Los estadios juveniles se identificaron morfológica y molecularmente mediante PCR-RFLP. Se amplificó una región intergénica del genoma mitocondrial (COII/16S) con los imprimadores C2F3 y 1108 y se generaron productos de PCR de 1,7 kb. Resultados. Al tratar los productos de PCR con endonucleasas, se produjeron tres fragmentos, uno de 1000, 460 y 250 pb con la enzima AluI, cinco fragmentos, uno de 660, 600, 150, 105 y 85 pb con la enzima DraI y no hubo corte del producto PCR con la enzima HinfI, es decir, fue de 1,7 pb. Por medio de las técnicas se logró la caracterización de Meloidogyne javanica asociada al sistema radical del cultivo. Conclusión. La correcta identificación de una especie de nematodo es primordial para evitar su propagación a otros sitios donde aún no está presente y es un aspecto relevante para conocer cuáles de esas especies están asociadas a un determinado cultivo, para definir estrategias de combate.
“Tayní”: variedad de frijol común Mesoamericano de grano rojo brillante
Authors: Chaves Barrantes Néstor Felipe , Hernández Fonseca Juan Carlos , Araya Villalobos Rodolfo , Rosas Sotomayor Juan Carlos
Published: July 2021

Introducción. El frijol de grano rojo es el segundo más consumido en Costa Rica. El mercado penaliza el precio del grano rojo oscuro y exige variedades de tono claro y brillante, aunque, las personas productoras requieren cultivares resistentes a patógenos y de alto potencial de rendimiento. Objetivo. Describir el proceso de desarrollo y las principales características agronómicas de la variedad Tayní. Materiales y métodos. Esta variedad se derivó del cruzamiento triple Tío Canela 75 // SRC1-1-18 / SRC 1-12-1 realizado en 1999 en la Escuela Agrícola Panamericana (Honduras). Fue evaluada en Costa Rica entre el 2002 y el 2008, por el Instituto Nacional de Innovación y Transferencia en Tecnología Agropecuaria y la Universidad de Costa Rica. El comportamiento y características agronómicas de Tayní se determinaron con base en la información obtenida de la evaluación de 4 viveros de adaptación, 28 ensayos de rendimiento y 32 parcelas de validación, llevados a cabo bajo manejo del productor en 12 localidades de Costa Rica. La variedad se liberó el 23 de febrero del 2012 en Pueblo Nuevo, Upala, Alajuela. Resultados. Tayní es una variedad de grano rojo claro brillante, que obtuvo un rendimiento de 1450 kg.ha-1 bajo manejo de la empresa productora y de 2063 kg.ha-1 en condiciones experimentales. Posee un hábito de crecimiento tipo II, resistencia intermedia a Pseudocercospora griseola (mancha angular) y a Thanatheporus cucumeris (mustia hilachosa), y resistencia a los virus del mosaico común (gen I) y del mosaico dorado amarillo (gen bgm-I y QTL mayor SW12). La tonalidad del rojo de su grano (grado 5) es de mayor valor comercial que la de Cabécar (grado 6). Bajo condiciones lluviosas, el grano de Tayní se decolora menos que el de Cabécar (1,1 y 2,8%, respectivamente). Conclusiones. La tonalidad del color rojo del grano y menor porcentaje de decoloración, le dan a Tayní ventaja comercial con respecto a Cabécar, la variedad de grano rojo más sembrada en Costa Rica
Manejo del minador de la hoja (Leucoptera coffeella) en el cultivo de café en Costa Rica
Authors: Ramírez Valerio Daniel , García Jiménez Fiorella
Published: July 2021

Introducción. El minador (Leucoptera coffeella) es un micro-lepidóptero cuyas larvas se alimentan de hojas de las plantas de café y hacen galerías en la lámina foliar, que provocan defoliación cuando la infestación es abundante. No obstante, el potencial daño de este insecto no se había presentado en el país sino hasta el 2019. Objetivo. Describir prácticas de manejo de fincas que pueden propiciar el aumento de poblaciones de L. coffeella y evaluar la eficacia biológica de 5 insecticidas para el control del minador. Materiales y métodos. Durante el primer trimestre del 2019 se dio seguimiento a 3 fincas con poblaciones altas de L. coffeella que causaban defoliación importante en las plantas de café; se recolectaron y revisaron hojas con lesiones causadas por las larvas de L. coffeella. Además, se desarrolló un ensayo de eficacia biológica de los 5 insecticidas para el control de la plaga. Resultados y conclusiones. El ataque de L. coffeella, se presentó en fincas que tenían en común algunas prácticas de manejo del suelo sin cobertura vegetal, uso intensivo de insecticidas y ausencia de árboles de sombra en las plantaciones. En las hojas recolectadas en todos los sitios se encontraron pupas de Closterocerus sp. reportado como parasitoides de L. coffeella. El uso de insecticidas a base de deltametrina o novaluron presentaron un buen control de la plaga.
Jumping plant lice (Hemiptera, Psylloidea) in rest stops of Hungarian highways
Authors: Kontschán Jenő , Ripka Géza , Kiss Balázs
Published: July 2021

In the framework of a survey of arthropods in rest stops of Hungarian highways, 19 species of jumping plant lice were collected. Three species belong to the family Aphalaridae, one to Calophyidae, two to Liviidae, nine to Psyllidae and four to Triozidae. Two species (Livilla variegataandTrioza neglecta) are alien, non-indigenous species; the others are native to Hungary. The most abundant species wereCalophya rhois,Cacopsylla melanoneuraandTrioza neglecta. The specimens ofC.melanoneurawere found in 20,T. neglectain 10 andC. rhoisin 6 localities out of the 31 rest stops surveyed.
First records of Chrysocyon brachyurus (Illiger, 1815) (Mammalia, Carnivora) in the Gualeguay Department, Entre Ríos Province, Argentina
Authors: Mac Allister Matias E. , Chimento Nicolás R. , Fernández Gabriela P.
Published: July 2021

The maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus, Illiger 1815) is the largest canid in South America. The objective of this work is to present a new border registry of Chrysocyon brachyurus, in the Department of Gualeguay, Province of Entre Ríos (32°59'51.78''S, 59°30'59.12''W); validate its membership in that taxon through the use of the COI molecular marker and review and comment on recent reports of specimens recorded further south of the known range of the species in a conservation context.
ON THE KOLMOGOROV-WIENER FILTER FOR RANDOM PROCESSES WITH A POWER-LAW STRUCTURE FUNCTION BASED ON THE WALSH FUNCTIONS
Authors: Gorev V. N. , Gusev A. Yu. , Korniienko V. I. , Safarov A. A.
Published: July 2021

Context. We investigate the Kolmogorov-Wiener filter weight function for the prediction of a continuous stationary random process with a power-law structure function.

Objective. The aim of the work is to develop an algorithm of obtaining an approximate solution for the weight function without recourse to numerical calculation of integrals.

Method. The weight function under consideration obeys the Wiener-Hopf integral equation. A search for an exact analytical solution for the corresponding integral equation meets difficulties, so an approximate solution for the weight function is sought in the framework of the Galerkin method on the basis of a truncated Walsh function series expansion.

Results. An algorithm of the weight function obtaining is developed. All the integrals are calculated analytically rather than numerically. Moreover, it is shown that the accuracy of the Walsh function approximations is significantly better than the accuracy of polynomial approximations obtained in the authors’ previous papers. The Walsh function solutions are applicable in wider range of parameters than the polynomial ones.

Conclusions. An algorithm of obtaining the Kolmogorov-Wiener filter weight function for the prediction of a stationary continuous random process with a power-law structure function is developed. A truncated Walsh function expansion is the basis of the developed algorithm. In opposite to the polynomial solutions investigated in the previous papers, the developed algorithm has the following advantages. First of all, all the integrals are calculated analytically, and any numerical calculation of the integrals is not needed. Secondly, the problem of the product of very small and very large numbers is absent in the framework of the developed algorithm. In our opinion, this is the reason why the accuracy of the Walsh function solutions is better than that of the polynomial solutions for many approximations and why the Walsh function solutions are applicable in a wider range of parameters than the polynomial ones. The results of the paper may be applied, for example, to practical traffic prediction in telecommunication systems with data packet transfer.
C-reactive protein: pathogenetic characteristics and possible therapeutic target
Authors: Utkina E. A. , Afanasyeva O. I. , Pokrovsky S. N.
Published: July 2021

It is known that the key mediator of acute phase response and marker of inflammation is C-reactive protein (CRP), the study of the role of which in the development of not only cardiovascular, but also infectious diseases has acquired particular relevance at the present time. CRP can be involved in all stages of the atherosclerotic process, including activation of the complement system and vascular endothelial cells, thrombosis, lipid accumulation, and apoptosis.

The review describes modern concepts of the structure, biological and pathophysiological properties of CRP, its value as a cardiovascular risk predictor, as well as existing methods for reducing its blood level.

According to recent studies, cardiovascular patients who achieved lower CRP levels with drug therapy had better clinical prognosis, making CRP an attractive therapeutic target. Currently, a search is underway for approaches to correct CRP levels associated with both the development of novel drugs and therapeutic apheresis methods to remove CRP from blood plasma.
Prediction of 5-year survival in patients with heart failure and implanted cardiac resynchronization therapy devices
Authors: Soldatova A. M. , Kuznetsov V. A. , Gorbatenko E. A. , Enina T. N. , Malishevsky L. M.
Published: July 2021

Aim. Based on clinical parameters and diagnostic investigations, to create a complex model of personalized selection of patients with heart failure (HF) for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). To establish the diagnostic value of the created model in predicting 5-year survival.

Material and methods. The study included 141 patients with HF (men, 77,3%; women, 22,7%). The mean age of patients at the time of implantation was 60,0 [53,0; 66,0] years. All patients had New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II-IV HF, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤35%, and QRS ≥130 ms. Patients were randomly divided into training (n=95) and test (n=36) samples, which were comparable in main clinical and functional characteristics.

Results. The index included parameters that had a significant relationship with 5-year survival according to the Cox regression: male sex, prior myocardial infarction, hypertension, QRS <150 ms, no left bundle branch block, PR ≥200 ms with sinus rhythm/absence of radiofrequency ablation in atrial fibrillation, NYHA class III, IV HF, LVEF <30%, left ventricular end-diastolic volume ≥235,0 ml, NT-proBNP ≥2692,0 ng/ml. All variables were scored based on the в-coefficients. In the training sample, a value ≥45 points demonstrated a sensitivity of 82,4% and a specificity of 67,2% in predicting 5-year survival (AUC, 0,873; p<0,001). The index use on the test sample showed comparable results (AUC, 0,718; p=0,020; sensitivity — 71,4%, specificity — 62,5%). Also, in the training sample, the index ≥45 points was associated with1-year survival (sensitivity — 84,6%, specificity — 58,1%, AUC, 0,811; p<0,001).

Conclusion. An index of personalized selection for CRT has been created, which makes it possible to accurately predict the 5-year survival rate, as well as the 1-year survival rate, regardless of the current selection criteria.
A midiatização em perspectiva crítica
Authors: Lelo Thales Vilela
Published: July 2021

Resumo O artigo propõe uma revisão crítica da literatura europeia em midiatização, especificamente a vertente socioconstrutivista. O objetivo é evidenciar que as pesquisas aglutinadas nessa corrente têm frequentemente desconsiderado as contradições que permeiam o fenômeno da midiatização por idealizarem as transformações socioculturais decorrentes dele. São recuperados os principais argumentos de autores que abordam o conceito em perspectiva micro, meso e metaprocessual, assinalando suas lacunas teórico-metodológicas e indicando outras chaves investigativas para apreender as ambivalências que atravessam as sociedades saturadas de mídia.
Guia de Técnicas para a Gestão do Tempo de Estudos: Relato da Construção
Authors: Marcilio Fabiane Cristina Pereira , Blando Alessandra , Rocha Roberta Zanini da , Dias Ana Cristina Garcia
Published: July 2021

Resumo Uma das dificuldades com as quais os universitários deparam ao iniciar o curso superior é a forma de administrar o tempo, interferindo nos estudos e na vida de modo geral. Em função disso, considera-se importante que o profissional que irá auxiliá-lo em sua gestão de tempo consiga compreender como ocorre o processo de orientação em relação a esse tema. O objetivo deste trabalho consiste em descrever a criação e a utilização do Guia de técnicas para gestão do tempo de estudos na universidade, que visa auxiliar os profissionais na prática de atendimento a universitários que apresentem dificuldades na administração do tempo de estudos. Esse material, desenvolvido nos anos de 2017 e 2018, proporciona sugestões de dezesseis técnicas apresentando em cada uma seu objetivo, os materiais necessários e a descrição da aplicação. As técnicas estão subdivididas de acordo com quatro etapas: a) diagnóstico do uso do tempo; b) desenvolvimento de estratégias para lidar com as dificuldades; c) estabelecimento de objetivos e metas; e d) implementação e avaliação das mudanças. Observou-se que as intervenções, apoiadas pela utilização do guia têm auxiliado os alunos com dificuldades na gestão do tempo que frequentam um serviço de apoio aos estudantes universitários.
Educação sexual e reprodutiva no puerpério: questões de gênero e atenção à saúde das mulheres no contexto da Atenção Primária à Saúde
Authors: Justino Giovanna Brunna da Silva , Stofel Natália Sevilha , Gervasio Mariana De Gea , Teixeira Iraí Maria de Campos , Salim Natália Rejane
Published: July 2021

Estudo qualitativo que teve como objetivo compreender os desafios de profissionais de saúde para a realização de ações de educação sexual e reprodutiva durante o puerpério no contexto da Atenção Primária. Foram realizadas entrevistas com a equipe de saúde de uma Unidade de Saúde da Família em um município do interior de São Paulo. A análise foi conduzida por meio da análise dos sentidos. Evidenciou-se que a discussão de gênero e os aspectos culturais influenciam na forma da abordagem da temática, além de existirem resistências na esfera da gestão, na falta de investimento em recursos humanos e materiais que favoreçam a problematização, e na sensibilização sobre o papel da Atenção Primária para a garantia dos direitos sexuais e reprodutivos das mulheres no período puerperal.
PERCEPÇÃO, DEGRADAÇÃO E EDUCAÇÃO AMBIENTAL DE RIBEIRINHOS DO RIO IGARAÇU, PIAUÍ, BRASIL
Authors: Aguiar Maria Rikelly Frota , Amarante Luiz Henrique Machado , Sales Manoel Bruno Alves , Oliveira Jefferson Soares de , Vieira Irlaine Rodrigues
Published: July 2021

Investigações abordando a percepção ambiental esclarecem pensamentos e atitudes fundamentais para a elaboração da educação ambiental assimilativa. Objetivou-se compreender a percepção ambiental de ribeirinhos do Rio Igaraçu, Parnaíba, Piauí sobre os danos ambientais ocorrentes nesse recurso hídrico. Foram selecionados um responsável por cada família ribeirinha. Estes foram entrevistados utilizando formulários semiestruturados e questionados sobre os danos ambientais que ocorrem, causa e consequências. Os resultados foram avaliados pelo Nível de Fidelidade (FL). A maioria deles percebem a existência de danos (67,86%, n:38). Dentre os danos, as principais causas são o lixo (FL: 74,41) e o esgoto (FL:11, 60). Apesar da comunidade depender do rio para alimentação e hidratação, grande parte deles não se sente prejudicada (56,9%). Por outro lado, percebem que a fauna (FL: 55,35%) e a flora (FL: 35,70) estão sendo negativamente afetadas. Conclui-se que os informantes estão cientes dos danos ocorrentes no rio, suas causas e consequências, mas não percebem como estas alterações afetam suas vidas. Desta maneira é necessário a incorporação destes dados na construção do processo da educação ambiental desta comunidade para que essa seja mais assimilativa e efetiva, a fim de construir mudanças de atitudes, valores e mitigação de danos à saúde.
In vitro Antioxidant, Cytotoxic and Antidiabetic Activity of Protein Hydrolysates Prepared from Chinese Pond Turtle (Chinemys reevesii)
Authors: Islam Md. Serajul , Wang Hongxin , Admassu Habtamu , Mahdi Amer Ali , Ma Chaoyang , Wei Fu An
Published: July 2021

Research background. Cardiovascular diseases and diabetes are the biggest causes of
death globally. Bioactive peptides derived from many food proteins using enzymatic proteolysis and food processing have a positive impact on the prevention of these diseases. The bioactivity of Chinese pond turtle muscle proteins and their enzymatic hydrolysates has not received much attention, thus this study aims to investigate their antioxidant, antidiabetic and cytotoxic activities.
Experimental approach. Chinese pond turtle muscles were hydrolysed using four proteolytic enzymes (Alcalase, Flavourzyme, trypsin and bromelain) and the degrees of hydrolysis were measured. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was conducted to explore the amino acid profiles and molecular mass distribution of the hydrolysates. The antioxidant activities were evaluated using various in vitro tests, including 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2’-azino-bis(3-thylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, reducing capacity, chelating Fe2+ and lipid peroxide inhibition activity. Antidiabetic activity was evaluated using α-amylase inhibition and α-glucosidase inhibition assays. Besides, cytotoxic effect of hydrolysates on human colon cancer (HT-29) cells was assessed.
Results and conclusions. The amino acid composition of the hydrolysates revealed higher mass fractions of glutamic, aspartic, lysine, hydroxyproline and hydrophobic amino acids. Significantly highest inhibition of lipid peroxidation was achieved when hydrolysateobtained with Alcalase was used. Protein hydrolysate produced with Flavourzyme had the highest radical scavenging activity measured by DPPH (68.32 %), ABTS (74.12 %) and FRAP (A700 nm=0.300) assays, α-glucosidase (61.80 %) inhibition and cytotoxic effect (82.26 %) on HT-29 cell line at 550 μg/mL. Hydrolysates obtained with trypsin and bromelain had significantly highest (p<0.05) hydroxyl radical scavenging (92.70 %) and Fe2+ metal chelating (63.29 %) activities, respectively. The highest α-amylase (76.89 %) inhibition was recorded when using hydrolysates obtained with bromelain and Flavourzyme.
Novelty and scientific contribution. Enzymatic hydrolysates of Chinese pond turtle muscle protein had high antioxidant, cytotoxic and antidiabetic activities. The findings of this study indicated that the bioactive hydrolysates or peptides from Chinese pond turtle muscle protein can be potential ingredients in pharmaceuticals and functional food formulations.
Lessons learned
Authors: Hoaglund Erica P. , Smith Christopher E.
Published: July 2021

The Plains Hognose Snake (Heterodon nasicus) has been the focus of many studies due, in part, to this species' interesting morphological characteristics and death-feigning behavior. However, significant gaps exist in our understanding  of this species' natural history. Often perceived to be a semi-fossorial species in the literature, our data suggests that this species spends the majority of its time during the active season above ground. In addition, we provide some of the first data on communal hibernation for this species. Also discussed are observations on nocturnality, oophagy, and reproduction. Given that the plain Hognose Snake is imperiled in many of the states and provinces in which it occurs, additional research is needed to better inform in-situ conservation efforts.
March of the Green Iguana
Authors: Falcón Wilfredo , Ackerman James D. , Daehler Curtis C.
Published: July 2021

Green Iguanas (Iguana iguana L. 1758) have been introduced outside their native range largely through the pet trade. In many places, exotic populations have invaded and many have become established. Of special concern is the Greater Caribbean Basin, where several exotic populations of Green Iguanas have had a negative impact, and may threaten the conservation of several native species, including possible native and distinct forms of I. iguana in the Lesser Antilles, and the endangered Lesser Antilles Iguana (I. delicatissima Laurenti 1768). We assessed the risk of spread and invasion by Green Iguanas in the Greater Caribbean Basin using the maximum entropy niche-modeling algorithm (MaxEnt) to predict the potential distribution of this reptile. We used a total of 187 location points that represented occurrences from both the native and the invasive range, coupled with environmental data as predictor variables. Our model had average training and test AUC values of 0.90 and 0.87 respectively, indicating a high predictive ability. The model predicts suitable conditions for I. iguana in south and central Florida (mainly along the coast), and in regions of all the islands in the Caribbean. Given the known negative impact of Green Iguanas and their dispersal capabilities, governments in the Greater Caribbean Basin should manage non-native populations to prevent further spread, and revise and enact laws that allow management agencies to respond quickly in the case of new Green Iguana incursions.
Differential habitat use by Common Watersnakes (Nerodia sipedon)
Authors: Neuman-Lee Lorin A. , Durso Andrew M. , Kiriazis Nicholas M. , Olds Melanie J. , Mullin Stephen J.
Published: July 2021

Understanding intraspecific variation in habitat use is important for the management of any species. In many studies of reptiles, habitat use by juveniles is poorly understood when compared to their adult conspecifics because of capture biases and logistical constraints. We compared habitat use between sexes and age classes of Common Watersnakes (Nerodia sipedon) at a reservoir in central Illinois. Juvenile N. sipedon occurred more frequently in habitat with high conopy cover, whereas adults N. sipedon, especially reproductive females, were found exclusively in habitat with no canopy cover. Adult males used both locations equally. We emphasize the need to investigate ontogenetic variation in habitat use to better understand how reptiles utilize diverse anthropogenically altered landscapes.