bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of Anti-leptospiral IgM and Detection of Pathogenic Leptospira Species DNA in Neonates Presenting With Clinical Sepsis in Southwestern Uganda
Authors: Hope Derick , Businge Stephen , Kyoyagala Stella , Bazira Joel
Published: January 2022

BackgroundLeptospirosis is an emerging neglected zoonotic disease that presents with nonspecific signs/symptoms and it can be mistaken for other diseases. Due to limited diagnostic capacity and unawareness, data on human leptospirosis particularly in neonates is scarce in many sub-Saharan countries. It has been underreported hindering preventive and control measures in place. The study aimed at determining prevalence of leptospirosis as a cause of febrile illness in neonates using a commercially available IgM ELISA and a quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). MethodsThis was a descriptive cross-sectional study that included 103 neonatal sepsis cases whose parents/legal guardians gave informed consent. Data on demographic and clinical characteristics was collected using structured data collection form. EDTA whole blood sample was collected from the neonates by trained study nurses. From the samples, IgM ELISA was done using automated analyzers, DNA extracted and qPCR was performed using primers for LipL32, specific for the pathogenic leptospires. ResultsThe prevalence of anti-leptospiral IgM among the neonates as determined by ELISA was 4.3%, where all of them presented with lethargy and poor feeding. No pathogenic Leptospira species DNA was amplified by qPCR.ConclusionsEvidence of leptospirosis was demonstrated in neonatal sepsis cases in this study. The findings suggest considerations of leptospirosis in the differential diagnosis of neonates with sepsis. More data is needed on the real epidemiology, clinical features and burden of leptospirosis in neonates. There is need to include intermediate pathogenic species of Leptospira in the diagnostic qPCR assays.
Comparison of household socioeconomic status classification methods and effects on risk estimation: Lessons from a natural experimental study, Kisumu, Western Kenya
Authors: Were Vincent , Foley Louise , Turner-Moss Eleanor , Mogo Ebele , Wadende Pamela , Musuva Rosemary , Obonyo Charles
Published: January 2022

IntroductionLow household socioeconomic status is associated with unhealthy behaviours including poor diet and adverse health outcomes. Different methods leading to variations in SES classification has the potential to generate spurious research findings or misinform policy. In low and middle-income countries, there are additional complexities in defining household SES, a need for fieldwork to be conducted efficiently, and a dearth of information on how [1]classification could impact estimation of disease risk. MethodsUsing cross-sectional data from 200 households in Kisumu County, Western Kenya, we compared three approaches of classifying households into low, middle, or high SES: fieldworkers (FWs), Community Health Volunteers (CHVs), and a Multiple Correspondence Analysis econometric model (MCA). We estimated the sensitivity, specificity, and inter-rater reliability and misclassification of the three methods using MCA as a comparator. We applied an unadjusted generalized linear model to determine prevalence ratios to assess the association of household SES status with a self-reported diagnosis of diabetes or hypertension for one household member. Results Compared with MCA, FWs successfully classified 21.7% (95%CI=14.4%-31.4%) of low SES households, 32.8% (95%CI=23.2-44.3) of middle SES households, and no high SES households. CHVs successfully classified 22.5% (95%CI=14.5%-33.1%) of low SES households, 32.8% (95%CI=23.2%-44.3%) of middle SES households, and no high SES households. The level of agreement in SES classification was similar between FWs and CHVs but poor compared to MCA, particularly for high SES. None of the three methods differed in estimating the risk of hypertension or diabetes. ConclusionsFW and CHV assessments are community-driven methods for SES classification. Compared to MCA, these approaches appeared biased towards low or middle household SES and not sensitive to high household SES. The three methods did not differ in risk estimation for diabetes and hypertension. A mix of approaches and further evaluation to refine SES classification methodology is recommended.
They Learn from Home: Deschooled Learning, Preventive Behavior, and Mental Health of Students during COVID-19 Lockdown in Bangladesh
Authors: Rahman Mostafizur , Hossain Afnan , Sufian Abu , Anwar Nahid
Published: January 2022

Background: In the age of extreme importance of schooling education, deschooled learning has received less importance. The purpose of this study is to explore deschooled learning and its effectiveness on preventive behaviors and mental health conditions of students in Bangladesh.Methods: This study was designed following the quantitative method, and 1,085 responses were collected from social media platforms, using the snowball sampling technique. Binary logistic regression was used to measure and infer the proposed association.Results: As per fully-adjusted regression models, the individuals who had more deschooled learning were 1.667 times (95% CI= 1.191, 2.332; P= 0.01) and 1.426 times (95% CI= 1.038, 1.958; P= 0.05) more likely to prevent contact from symptomatic and asymptomatic carriers, respectively. Moreover, the persons with higher deschooled learning were more likely to have better mental health conditions including less fear (B= -0.462; 95% CI= -0.955, 0.030; P= 0.1), lower anxiety (B= -0.482; 95% CI= -0.844, -0.119; P= 0.01), and more perceived vulnerability (B= 1.292; 95% CI= 0.497, 2.087; P= 0.01). Conclusion: This study adds that policymakers may formulate health plans and policies for initiating informal health literacy (IHL) that may help increase deschooled learning and informal knowledge among individuals especially during a pandemic situation (like COVID-19) and help them to be safe by adopting preventive behaviors and maintaining better mental health conditions in low-income settings like Bangladesh.
Giant bladder stone resulting in acute kidney injury; a case report and review of literature
Authors: Issack Feysel Hassen , Gebresellasie Kaleab Habtemichael , Gebrehiwot Fitsum Gebreegziabher , Adem Mubarek Bargicho , Mummed Ferid Ousman , Hassen Ibsa Kedir
Published: January 2022

A giant bladder stone is very rare in adults. We report a case of giant bladder stone causing acute kidney injury in a 23-year-old male, who presented with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) characterized by both irritative and obstructive LUTS. In addition, he also had episodes of reddish urine for the past decade. A non-contrast-enhanced CT scan was used for the diagnosis. Open cystolithotomy was performed and a 500g weighing stone was removed. He developed a superficial surgical site infection which was treated with wound care. He was discharged improved. Improvement in symptoms and serum creatinine was noted on follow-up.
Attenuating pandemic supply shocks with 3D printed emergency use equipment
Authors: Budhwani Karim I. , Pierce Albert T. , Arora Nitin
Published: January 2022

The fast-moving COVID-19 pandemic stressed supply chains even for some of the best prepared medical facilities. As a result, producing on-demand personal protective equipment (PPE) using additive manufacturing (AM) capabilities (3D-printing) emerged as a common strategy. While layer-by-layer processing confers several advantages to AM, it also imposes prohibitive print times, particularly for large volume parts. This leads to potential for using AM to rapidly produce smaller adaptors that modify available components for addressing critical shortages in emergencies. We applied this principle in developing a quick, simple, and low-cost adaptation of elastomeric half-mask respirators for emergency use in high-risk clinical settings. As we move toward reopening society, we must proactively build stronger bridges between engineering and medicine to respond to critical shortages in PPE ensuing from a potential second wave.
Data-Driven Modeling of Ultimate Load Capacity of Closed- and Open-Ended Piles using Machine Learning
Authors: Ulker Mehmet Barış Can , Altınok Emirhan , Taşkın Gülşen
Published: January 2022

Field pile load tests are fairly expensive experiments that can be applied to certain pile types required to be installed in full scale. Hence, it is neither practical nor efficient to perform a load test for every installed pile. While there exist many empirical relations for predicting pile capacities, such methods typically suffer from accuracy and generality. Therefore, current geotechnical practice still looks for methods to accommodate full-scale pile load testing to serve as both accurate and practical tools. In this study, load bearing capacities of closed and open-ended piles in cohesive and cohesionless soils are predicted using machine learning. Nine such methods are utilized in the analyses where CPT and pile data are considered as the learning features necessary to teach those methods the database gathered via a comprehensive search. Then, machine learning models are developed, and the databases are separated into five-folds according to the cross-validation-principle, which are used for both training and testing of the machine learning methods. Model predictions are validated with classical empirical equations. Results indicate that the Relevance Vector Regression and the Random Forest methods typically generate considerably better predictions than the other methods and empirical equations. Hence, machine learning methods are found as reliable tools to predict the pile load capacities of both open-ended and closed-ended piles provided that there is a large enough database and an appropriate method to use.
Hyaluronic acid Hydrogels Hybridized with Au-Triptolide Nanoparticle for Intra-articular targeted multi-therapy of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Li Chenxi , Liu Rui , Song Yurong , Zhu Dongjie , Yu Liuchunyang , Huang Qingcai , Zhang Zhengjia , Xue Zeyu , Hua Zhenglai , Lu Cheng , Liu Yuanyan
Published: January 2022

Triptolide (TP) is a DMARD highly effective in patients with RA. Hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogels loaded RGD-attached gold nanoparticles containing TP were synthesized to alleviate the toxicity and increase therapeutic specificity. The hydrogels can be applied for targeted photothermal-chemo therapy, and in vivo imaging of RA. Heat was locally generated at the inflammation site after degradation of HA chains due to near-infrared resonance (NIR) irradiation of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), and TP was released. Administration of the hybrid hydrogels containing low dosage of TP combined with NIR irradiation alleviated arthritic conditions and improved the inflamed joint in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice. In vitro effect of the hydrogel was mediated through decrease of phosphorylation of mTOR and its substrate, p70S6K1, thus inhibiting mTOR pathway.
Improving Diversity and Quality of Adversarial Examples in Adversarial Transformation Network
Authors: Nguyen Duc-Anh , Minh Kha Do , Le Khoi Nguyen , Le Minh Nguyen , Hung Pham Ngoc
Published: January 2022

This paper proposes a method to mitigate two major issues of Adversarial Transformation Networks (ATN) including the low diversity and the low quality of adversarial examples. In order to deal with the first issue, this research proposes a stacked convolutional autoencoder based on pattern to generalize ATN. This proposed autoencoder could support different patterns such as all-feature pattern , border feature pattern , and class model map pattern . In order to deal with the second issue, this paper presents an algorithm to improve the quality of adversarial examples in terms of L 0 -norm and L 2 -norm. This algorithm employs an adversarial feature ranking heuristics such as JSMA and COI to prioritize adversarial features. To demonstrate the advantages of the proposed method, comprehensive experiments have been conducted on the MNIST dataset and the CIFAR-10 dataset. For the first issue, the proposed autoencoder can generate diverse adversarial examples with the average success rate above 99%. For the second issue, the proposed algorithm could not only improve the quality of adversarial examples significantly but also maintain the average success rate. In terms of L 0 -norm, the proposed algorithm could decrease from hundreds of adversarial features to one adversarial feature. In terms of L 2 -norm, the proposed algorithm could reduce the average distance considerably. These results show that the proposed method is capable of generating high-quality and diverse adversarial examples in practice.
Differential Transcriptomic Profiles in Canine Intestinal Organoids Following Lipopolysaccharide Stimulation
Authors: Sahoo Dipak K. , Borcherding Dana C. , Chandra Lawrance , Jergens Albert E. , Atherly Todd , Bourgois-Mochel Agnes , Severin Andrew J. , Ellinwood Matthew , Snella Elizabeth , Martin Martin , Allenspach Karin , Mochel Jonathan P.
Published: January 2022

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is associated with chronic intestinal inflammation and promotes intestinal cancer progression in the gut. While the interplay between LPS and intestinal immune cells has been well characterized, little is known about LPS and intestinal epithelium interactions. In this study, we explored the differential effect of LPS on proliferation and the transcriptome in 3D enteroids/colonoids obtained from dogs with naturally occurring gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and GI mast cell tumor. The study objective was to analyze LPS-induced modulation of signaling pathways involving the intestinal epithelia and critical to colorectal cancer development in the context of IBD or a tumor microenvironment. While LPS incubation resulted in a pro-cancer gene expression pattern and stimulated proliferation of IBD enteroids and colonoids, down-regulation of several cancer-associated genes like CRYZL1, Gpatch4, SLC7A1, ATP13A2, and ZNF358 was also observed in tumor enteroids. Genes participating in porphyrin metabolism (CP), thiamine and purine metabolism (TAP2, EEF1A1), arachidonic acid, and glutathione metabolism (GPX1) exhibited a similar pattern of altered expression between IBD enteroids and IBD colonoids following LPS stimulation. In contrast, genes involved in anion transport, transcription and translation, apoptotic processes, and regulation of adaptive immune responses showed opposite expression patterns between IBD enteroids and colonoids following LPS treatment. In brief, the cross-talk between LPS/TLR4 signal transduction pathway and several metabolic pathways, such as fatty acid degradation and biosynthesis, and purine, thiamine, arachidonic acid, and glutathione metabolism, may be important in driving chronic intestinal inflammation and intestinal carcinogenesis.
Plant Maturity Affects Flowering Ability and Flower Quality in Phalaenopsis, Focusing on Their Relationship to Carbon-to-nitrogen Ratio
Authors: Tsai Shing-Shan , Chang Yao-Chien Alex
Published: January 2022

In the commercial production of phalaenopsis orchids, the cultivation time after deflasking is used to describe the plant age and maturity. Carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio is often used as an indicator of plant growth and flowering potential. High C/N ratios are considered to promote reproductive growth, and low C/N ratios are associated with the early vegetative growth or even inhibiting flowering. This study investigated how plant age and maturity affected flowering ability and flower quality of phalaenopsis and their relationship to C/N ratio. The plant materials of various ages were the purple, small-flowered Phalaenopsis Sogo Lotte ‘F2510’ and white, large-flowered P. Sogo Yukidian ‘V3’, which were 2 to 7 months and 10 to 20 months after deflasking, respectively. Plants were placed under 25/20 °C for 4 months to force flowering and investigate the flowering-related parameters. The leaf C/N ratio of both varieties increased in general with the increase of plant age. The spiking (flower-stalk emergence) rate of P. Sogo Lotte ‘F2510’ 2 months after deflasking was only 42%, which indicates that these plants were not completely out of their juvenile phase, whereas that of those 3 to 7 months after deflasking was 100%, indicating that plants had acquired full flowering ability. No linear correlation was found between the C/N ratio and days to spiking, to first visible bud, to first flower open, and to 90% flower opening in the white, large-flowered P. Sogo Yukidian ‘V3’. However, there was a positive correlation between the C/N ratio and inflorescence length, flower-stalk diameter, first flower diameter, and flower count. Thus, the C/N ratio is feasible to be used as an indicator for assessing the flowering quality in phalaenopsis.
A Decade of Studying Guest Workers Through the Projects of the Serbian Ethnological and Anthropological Society
Authors: Antonijević Dragana , Banić Grubišić Ana , Rašić Miloš
Published: January 2022

This review paper provides an overview of the ten-year long anthropological research on the cultural identity of guest workers and their descendants as part of the projects implemented by the associates of the Department of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade and the SASA Institute of Ethnography. The projects were supported by the Serbian Ethnological and Anthropological Society and the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade. The phenomenon of “temporary workers abroad”, or the so-called guest workers (Gastarbeiter), which emerged in the early 1960s and continued in the decades to come, has long remained beyond the interest of Serbian anthropological and ethnological science. This is why, after having noticed a scientific research gap related to this phenomenon, in 2010 we initiated the anthropological research of the cultural identity of guest workers. Our intention was to take into account different factors of guest-worker identity construction and to look at the processes, discourses and concepts related to this socio-cultural group from different angles. Over time, as we delved deeper into the problem of migrant workers and migration in general, our interests, and consequently our research, expanded to other topics in addition to cultural identity. In that context, this review paper intends to inform the scientific and professional public about the findings of research on migrants working temporarily abroad and their descendants, and to highlight some of the most important topics that we focused on in this research, while being aware that the phenomenon of migrants and migration is so diverse that it is impossible to include or investigate all its elements that make it so complex.
Traditional Sports and Games as an Element of Intangible Cultural Heritage
Authors: Bjeljac Željko , Brankov Jovana , Ćurčić Nevena
Published: January 2022

Traditional sports and games have been recognized in modern times as an important segment of cultural heritage and local identity. They are an expression of creativity in the field of sports and recreation of the inhabitants in the regions where they originated. The role and importance of traditional sports and games have been especially emphasized in the last 30 years through various announcements, declarations, executive plans, and since 2010 they have been inscribed on the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage. They are seen as special performance skills that are preserved, as an example of good practice, a list of knowledge, a list of living guardians of heritage and a list of festivals and customs. Also, they found their place on the national lists of the former republics of SFRY. On the territory of Serbia, traditional sports and games are still not on the national list of intangible cultural heritage, although practice shows that some need to be preserved and revitalized. The paper analyses process of recognizing traditional sports and games in the world and in the former Yugoslavia as an intangible cultural heritage. Also, using survey research, it will be investigated to what extent the awareness and present knowledge on this topic is developed among visitors to various competitions in traditional sports and games in Serbia, and what are the attitudes of respondents regarding their preservation and authenticity.
“I Urge Young People not to Rush to Leave for the Great Europe” : On Entrepreneurship in Organic Production in Serbia from an Anthropological Perspective
Authors: Zarić Miloš
Published: January 2022

Our research is based on the assumption that in the period after 2008, designated as the “mature stage” of the second transition, decision-makers and experts in the phenomenon of organic production discursively shaped a common, though fundamentally ambivalent system of cognitive ideas and notions relating to this issue and its various aspects, which is designated in this paper as the concept of entrepreneurship in organic production in Serbia. For the purposes of our research, this concept is understood as a mythical notion, as it were, in accordance with the definition of the concept of the myth put forward by the French semiotician Roland Barthes, for whom the myth is a form of speech, a certain discursive formation, and everything that is discourse-related can be a myth. Through an analysis of structural and semantic aspects of the concept of entrepreneurship in organic production in Serbia, the paper looks at both the mechanism of articulation of this concept within expert and public discourse and at its implications, the way in which it is linked to the concrete entrepreneurial ventures of two migrants-returnees, whose entrepreneurial stories have a significant explanatory value in terms of the topic of this paper. The paper aims to highlight the contradictions involved in the concept of entrepreneurship in Serbian organic production and draw attention to the possibility of their creative resolution on the plane of individual ways of thinking and acting in this sphere of entrepreneurship, and also to point to the relationship between two categories that from an anthropological point of view are mutually permeable, namely, the categories of “myth” and “reality”.
The Court and the Monastery Complexes as Centers of Craft Production in Medieval Serbia
Authors: Fostikov Aleksandra
Published: January 2022

Being important economical centers on the territory of medieval Serbia and places that in the division of power into sacral and secular stood out, the court and the monastery were the central places of the manor but also first grade centers i.e. urban settlements within boundaries or fence-encircled areas. This was especially the case with the court of the ruler or the head of the church. Thus, in parallel with the craftsmen who were working for the sovereign, landlord or for the monastery on the territory of the manor – the craftsmanship activity was also taking place within the court or monastery complex - on the territory of physically or imaginarily enclosed economic space - the immediate courtyard.

Unlike monasteries whose yard had been encircled and so there is no doubt to whom the workshop actually belonged, in the case of the fortified capital cities, it is difficult to make a distinction between the lord and city workshops. This is especially the case when there are no written sources or systematic archaeological excavations. Based on current knowledge it can be assumed that within the palace complex there were a blacksmith, a goldsmith, a mint, a potter and a tailor, and very likely shoemaker workshops. They were appropriately employing blacksmiths, weavers, gunsmiths, goldsmiths, jewelers, potters, craftsmen who worked on the production and decoration of clothes and shoes, and probably persons practicing the fine crafts, such as engraving. In the case of monasteries, there were blacksmith, goldsmith and potter workshops, and based on the tools it can be assumed that leather production was also present. Workshops with artisans for the production of the essential elements of books, especially within the scriptoriums, should be added to this list as well.

Among them, the most skilled ones were certainly the craft masters. The monastery and church circle were common to found in the working role of craftsmen in a secular environment, as well as secular persons working in the monasteries. Apart from the craftsmen who lived continuously in the complexes, there were also those who traveled with their masters, or stayed within the complexes for a prolonged time due to their working obligations. In that case and where the work was related to a large construction project, some of them stayed within the complexes for years.
Accessibility Mapping through Linking Land-Use Development Potentials and Planning for Cycling
Authors: Uteng Tanu Priya , Uteng Andre
Published: January 2022

The transport sector aims to address climate change by reducing emissions, and a key to achieving this goal is to increase uptake of sustainable modes such as walking, cycling, and public transport. Therefore, it is important to determine ways to achieve this goal and to build a portfolio
of feasible reduction strategies. This study is based in Norway where the government has a clear policy objective to reduce growth in urban car traffic and assimilate future sustainable transport modes. Cycling has therefore gained importance in both policy discussions and programme implementation
through providing dedicated infrastructure to increase its modal share. Ways to increase cycling can be plotted at both macro- and microlevels. At the micro-level, road design and improved conditions for cyclists can lead to an increase in cycling. At the macro-level, land-use planning can
be one of the tools to promote cycling. We analyse the issue at a macro-level based on an Integrated Methodology for Land Use prognosis within Transportation Models (INMAP) which estimates the mutual eff ects of land-use plans and increased accessibility by e-bike. We assess the extent to
which future growth areas, as earmarked by the strategic master plans of the cities of Oslo and Trondheim, coincide with the areas that have a high job accessibility by bicycle and e-bike. Analyses reveal that on the introduction of e-bikes in Oslo, accessibility to jobs in the city centre
increases from 20,000–24,000 to over 28,000 jobs. For Trondheim, in terms of spatial expansion of accessibility for jobs, there is an extension of the catchment area from 6 km2 to 18 km2. Based on the findings, this study strongly recommends integrating the impact
of e-bikes with land-use planning processes and decisions. Through active land-use management, municipalities and regional development authorities can take informed decisions to steer urban mobility in a more sustainable direction.
Increasing Risk Factors for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; an Insight
into Chronic Periodontitis and Insulin Resistance
Authors: Thalla Sreenu , R. Kamaraj , A. Kavitha
Published: January 2022

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is marked by the excessive intrusion of triglycerides into hepatocytes without any role of alcohol consumption. Various risk factors have been attributed to this disease pathogenesis, including metabolic disorders, immune response, and even an intricate relationship between the two. The role of insulin resistance (IR) in NAFLD has long been known; however, the molecular basis of disease progression under this metabolic backdrop is still being investigated. Similarly, the periodontitis-mediated immune response is another major factor involved in NAFLD manifestation, which has generated huge interest. The prevalence of pathogenic bacteria elicits a strong immune response, which according to the studies shows a strong correlation with NAFLD state. Such pre-existing conditions have a strong probability of explaining the disease onset. Additionally, increasing reports on inflammatory response and its links to insulin resistance have further increased the scope of understanding NAFLD. Through this review, we aim to elaborate on these factors explaining their role in the disease progression.
Prevalence of High-Risk Antibiotic Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in the Holy Cities of Makkah and Al-Madinah
Authors: Al-Sultan Abdulrahman A.
Published: January 2022

Background:

Acinetobacter baumannii strains resistant to carbapenems are a global public health problem.

Objectives:

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the prevalence of genetic fingerprints associated with Metallo β-lactamases in A. baumannii in addition to the clonal diversity of A. baumannii in Makkah and Al-Madinah regions of Saudi Arabia, which receive a high number of international visitors.

Methods:

Multi-antibiotic resistant A. baumannii isolates were investigated. Bacterial isolation was conducted employing a basic bacteriological technique after confirming the ID of isolates. The antimicrobial susceptibility test was carried out using the Vitek 2 compact system. The molecular clonal diversity of the isolates was determined by Pulse Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE). Clusters were analyzed with BioNumerics software version 6.5. Dice coefficient was used for calculating the similarities.

Results:

The results indicated resistance in 82.5% of A. baumannii isolates against the carbapenems. All the isolates were found to be sensitive to colistin, while 5% of isolates were resistant to tigecycline. The screening of carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii isolates showed that the dissemination of imipenem and meropenem resistance was 81 and 84%, respectively, while the majority of the strains were susceptible to tigecycline and colistin. The blaOXA and blaVIM were the most encountered genes in A. baumannii isolates, while ISAba1 was the prominent insertion sequence. The genetic fingerprinting results (PFGE) revealed two types of epidemic clones: monoclonal and polyclonal models of 17 clusters.

Conclusion:

The current investigation indicates the diversity in genetic fingerprints of carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii in Makkah and Al-Madinah region of Saudi Arabia, and that two types of epidemic clones are present. It has also been demonstrated that such clones create serious infection dissemination to other parts of the world as heavy pilgrimage traffic is received throughout the year in Makkah and Al-Madinah, especially in the Haj season.
Perspectives Concerning Various Symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 Detected Individuals
Authors: Pasharawipas Tirasak
Published: January 2022

After exposure to SARS-CoV-2, varying symptoms of COVID-19 ranging from asymptomatic symptoms to morbidity and mortality have been exhibited in each individual. SARS-CoV-2 requires various cellular molecules for penetration into a target host cell. Angiotensin-converting enzyme2 (ACE2) acts as the viral receptor molecule. After attachment, SARS-CoV-2 also requires the transmembrane protease serine-2 (TMPRSS-2) and furin molecules, which serve as co-receptors for penetration into the target cell and for subsequent replication. In the meantime, a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is required for the induction of adaptive immune cells, especially cytotoxic T cells and helper T cells, to clear the virally infected cells. This perspective review article proposes different aspects to explain the varying symptoms of the individuals who have been exposed to SARS-CoV-2, which relates to the polymorphisms of these involved molecules.
“Ele vai negar tudo”: O estudo interacional de uma estória de violência doméstica contra a mulher narrada em entrevista de pré-mediação familiar judicial
Authors: Gago Paulo Cortes , Oliveira Maria do Carmo Leite de , Penna Áida Silva , Pereira Maria de Lourdes , Paula Vanderlei Andrade de
Published: January 2022

In this article, we study the narrative of a woman, allegedly the victimof gender-based violence, produced spontaneously in a legal family pre-mediationinterview, in a child custody lawsuit. In a qualitative research work, in light ofthe theoretical-methodological framework of Conversation Analysis, we analy-zed moments of this narrative as sequential objects, arranged in turns of talk-in-interaction. We describe the types of violence narrated, the way they occurred,and the actions of the social actors involved. Furthermore, we relate the narra-tive episodes that make up the plot to the ‘Maria da Penha’ Law and the cycle ofviolence. The results point to a complex network of personal and institutional re-lationships that deal with violence against women, in which everyone is an actor,whether in combat or in the perpetuation of the cycle of violence. We relate themicro-interactional results to macro-social and public policy issues.
THE TRADITION OF ALCHEMICAL AND ASTROLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE WITHIN AND AROUND THEOPHAN PROKOPOVYCH’S LIBRARY
Authors: RODYHIN Kostiantyn , RODYHIN Mykhailo
Published: January 2022

The important role of the alchemical and astrological tradition in the formation and trans-formation of science as a social institution in the Early Modern period is researched in detail in Western historiography of science. At the same time, the Ukrainian aspect of this pan-European phenomenon needs further intensive study.The article deals with the alchemical and astrological component of Ukrainian science of the High Baroque era on an example of Theophan Prokopovych (1677 – 1736). The analysis of the ca¬talog of Prokopovych’s library confirmed that the alchemical-astrological and magical-physical knowledge belonged to the sphere of interests of the scholar. His activity, in addi-tion to cosmogonic reasoning and mathematical calculations, also had a practical compo-nent. Books from the library’s holdings included works of late alchemy, which allowed Pro-kopovych to be aware of the latest ideas, trends, and achievements in this and related fields of knowledge. This is reflected in the formation of the worldview and creative work of the scholar.A comparison of the facts of biographies, the essence and direction of creativity, and the relationship of the authors mentioned in Prokopovych’s treatise “Natural Philosophy or Physics”, testified to the existence of the united pan-European scientific and information space, within which the tradition of late alchemy was formed and transformed during the 16th-18th centuries. Theophan Prokopovych also belonged to this tradition, and his works reflected the state and essence of Ukrainian alchemical knowledge of the High Baroque era. Prokopovych’s own views on problems of alchemy and astrology are a topic of special re-search.
PARTICIPATION OF SIDOR HOLUBOVYCH IN SOCIO-POLITICAL PROCESSES IN THE GALICIAN LANDS DURING THE WORLD WAR I
Authors: KAMINSKA Oksana
Published: January 2022

The civic-political activity of Sydor Golubovych during the World War I was analyzed in the article based on the complex study of archive sources, periodicals and scientific literature. His role in the political organizations in Vienna during his emigration period in 1914-1915-s and after his return to L’viv in 1915-1918-s was determined. Namely, the prerequisites of reorganization of the Main Ukrainian Council into the Common Ukrainian Council, problem of political struggle among different party groups within the political circles in Galicia and Bukovina were highlighted. The main aspects of Golubovych’s activity in the Common Ukrainian Council (CUC) were revealed, within the council his main attention was drawn to the issues of the “Military bank” creation, issues related to the Ukrainian refugees, migrant workers, internees from Galicia and Bukovina, who according to the official data were 90 thou in different parts of Austria, Germany and Czech Republic. Moreover, it is mentioned that S. Golubovych was a participant of the political actions for autonomy of Ukrainian schooling, separate Ukrainian university opening in L’viv, transformation of the STC into the Ukrainian academy of science, etc. It was found that after his return to L’viv in August 1915, S. Golubovych as a member of the L’viv’s delegation of the CUC and member of the Regional Credit Union (RCU) was predominantly responsible for the problems of region’s restoration after the military actions. Simultaneously, the main attention was drawn to the busy social activity, namely he was included into the senior council at Stavropigijskyi institute – former Moscow-oriented institution transferred to the Ukrainians by the Austrian governor general Kollard, and was a founder and editor of the newspaper “Ukrayinsʹke slovo” that was the main media source in Galicia. Furthermore, during 1917-1918-s the politician frequently visited Ternopol’s region where he endeavored to keep close contacts with his electorate.A role of S. Golubovych was described before the November events of 1918, where he as a figure of the Ukrainian National Democratic Party (UNDP) and member of the Ukrainian Parliamentary Representation (UPR) participated in meetings and demonstrations’ organization devoted to the independence proclamation of the Ukrainian National Republic (UNR), peace treaty agreement in Brest-Lytovsk, was actively involved in implementation of so called “viche week” organized to support the autonomy demands of the Eastern Galicia as a separate Ukrainian territory within the Austrian monarchy, etc.
Reversing the Antibiotic Resistance “Yelp Effect” Through the Use of Emotionally Framed Responses to Negative Reviews of Providers: Questionnaire Study
Authors: Turner Monique Mitchell , Choung Hyesun , Bui Quoc-Ha Hannah Mai , Beck Paige , Ashraf Hera
Published: January 2022

Background

The overuse of antibiotics has rapidly made antimicrobial resistance a global public health challenge. There is an emerging trend where providers who perceive that their patients expect antibiotics are more likely to prescribe antibiotics unprompted or upon request. Particularly, health care providers have expressed concern that dissatisfied patients will provide disparaging online reviews, therefore threatening the reputation of the practice. To better deal with the negative reviews and inform patients, some health care staff directly respond to patients’ online feedback. Engaging with patients’ online reviews gives providers an opportunity to prevent reputational damage and improve patients’ understanding of the antibiotic resistance problem.

Objective

We aim to test the effectiveness of different response strategies to the negative patient online reviews on the readers’ perceptions of the health care provider and their perceptions related to antibiotics resistance.

Methods

Two experiments were conducted to examine the impact of message tactics (apologizing, inducing fear or guilt) that can be employed by health care providers when responding to patients’ negative online feedback related to not receiving an antibiotic.

Results

Overall, our results demonstrated positive impacts of responding to patients’ online reviews. In study 1, we found apologetic messaging and use of emotional appeals in the response were effective in making readers feel more favorable toward the message. Readers also expressed a greater credibility perception toward the provider and willingness to visit the clinic when emotional appeals were used. Findings from study 2 largely supported the effectiveness of a fear-based response in improving the readers’ credibility perceptions and willingness to visit the clinic. The fear-inducing information was particularly effective among parent readers.

Conclusions

This paper demonstrated that a strategic response to online patient complaints could prevent reputational damage and minimize the potential negative impacts of the review. The results also glean insight into the step toward developing a novel intervention—crafting a persuasive response to patients’ negative feedback that can help improve the understanding of antibiotic resistance problems.
Prediction of Physical Frailty in Orthogeriatric Patients Using Sensor Insole–Based Gait Analysis and Machine Learning Algorithms: Cross-sectional Study (Preprint)
Authors: Kraus Moritz , Saller Maximilian Michael , Baumbach Sebastian Felix , Neuerburg Carl , Stumpf Ulla Cordula , Böcker Wolfgang , Keppler Alexander Martin
Published: January 2022

BACKGROUND

Assessment of the physical frailty of older patients is of great importance in many medical disciplines to be able to implement individualized therapies. For physical tests, time is usually used as the only objective measure. To record other objective factors, modern wearables offer great potential for generating valid data and integrating the data into medical decision-making.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to compare the predictive value of insole data, which were collected during the Timed-Up-and-Go (TUG) test, to the benchmark standard questionnaire for sarcopenia (SARC-F: strength, assistance with walking, rising from a chair, climbing stairs, and falls) and physical assessment (TUG test) for evaluating physical frailty, defined by the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), using machine learning algorithms.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included patients aged >60 years with independent ambulation and no mental or neurological impairment. A comprehensive set of parameters associated with physical frailty were assessed, including body composition, questionnaires (European Quality of Life 5-dimension [EQ 5D 5L], SARC-F), and physical performance tests (SPPB, TUG), along with digital sensor insole gait parameters collected during the TUG test. Physical frailty was defined as an SPPB score≤8. Advanced statistics, including random forest (RF) feature selection and machine learning algorithms (K-nearest neighbor [KNN] and RF) were used to compare the diagnostic value of these parameters to identify patients with physical frailty.

RESULTS

Classified by the SPPB, 23 of the 57 eligible patients were defined as having physical frailty. Several gait parameters were significantly different between the two groups (with and without physical frailty). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of the TUG test was superior to that of the SARC-F (0.862 vs 0.639). The recursive feature elimination algorithm identified 9 parameters, 8 of which were digital insole gait parameters. Both the KNN and RF algorithms trained with these parameters resulted in excellent results (AUROC of 0.801 and 0.919, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

A gait analysis based on machine learning algorithms using sensor soles is superior to the SARC-F and the TUG test to identify physical frailty in orthogeriatric patients.
Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections in Malaysia : A scoping review protocol (Preprint)
Authors: HISHAM MUHAMMAD , Ahmag Fazila Haryati , Mohamed Haris Hasmah , Lodz Noor Aliza , Yoep Norzawati , Muhammad Eida Nurhadzira , Ali Rafidah , Muhamad Nor Asiah
Published: January 2022

BACKGROUND

Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infection is one of the 13 notable Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) according to the CDC and WHO. In 2010, it is estimated that 1.73 billion people are infected with STH globally of which 70% of cases occur in Asia. To date, there is a dearth of published literature on the prevalence of STH infection throughout Malaysia.

OBJECTIVE

The objectives of this study are to review research activity on STH infection in Malaysia, to estimate the prevalence of STH infection among Malaysian, and to identify significant risk factors associated with the infection.

METHODS

We will conduct a scoping review based on the 6-stages structured framework of Arksey and O’Malley’s (2005) methodology. A comprehensive search strategy focusing on STH infection will be executed using electronic databases (Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science and EMBASE). A systematic approach to searching, screening, reviewing and data extraction will be applied based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR). Mendeley software and Microsoft Excel programmes will be used to manage the references and to remove duplicates. Relevant data from selected articles will be extracted using a standardized data extraction form using the Google Form application. Results will be summarized descriptively in tabular form including types of interventions, study design, settings, tools used, and the outcomes of each study.

RESULTS

We would like to provide further evidence on the prevalence of STH in terms of parasite species that predominately cause the infection and the intensity of the infection. Finally, we will present the significant risk factors that contribute to STH infection and discuss prevention taken by considering the government or private sectors involvement towards curbing this issue.

CONCLUSIONS

We hope that the findings of this scoping review will provide information for policymakers and strengthen policy guidelines to eradicate STH infection, and for researchers to further study and investigate any STH-related issue in Malaysia.
La competencia económica en México: crítica a un enfoque utópico
Authors: Huerta Quintanilla Rogelio
Published: January 2022

En octubre de 2018 la Comisión Federal de Competencia Económica (COFECE) publicó el documento Poder de mercado y bienestar social. La investigación fue llevada a cabo por un profesor del Departamento de Economía de la Universidad Estatal de Pensilvania. La conclusión del estudio es que si se suprime el poder de mercado en México y se impulsa la competencia perfecta, los precios bajarán y se conseguirá un aumento del 16% (para el año de la investigación) en los ingresos reales de los consumidores. La crítica abarca la teoría, la interpretación de los resultados y su visión carente de realismo.
Analysis of Radon Mass Exhalation in Soil Samples from Fault Regions of Kolasib District Mizoram, India
Authors: Ralte Laldingngheta
Published: January 2022

Abstract: In order to identify the distribution of radon mass exhalation soil samples from fault regions of Kolasib District were obtained. These were measured and analysed using scintillation based smart RnDuo device. The soil samples were collected from three different points in each selected fault. The exhalation rates from different locations ranges from 2.3 mBq/kg/hr – 54.19 mBq/kg/hr with an average of 20.42 mBq/kg/hr. Gamma survey measurement was also carried out which ranges between 89 nSv/hr – 157 nSv/hr with an average of 117.13 nSv/hr. The correlation graph between mass exhalation and gamma survey was plotted and a very weak correlation was obtained. Keywords: Radon, mass exhalation, soil samples, RnDuo, fault
Kematangan emosi dalam perilaku ujaran kebencian pada kebijakan politik
Authors: Afif Much. Faisal Abdul , Nurhamidah Yuni , Mashuri M. Fath
Published: January 2022

The widespread use of social media by Indonesians has both positive and negative impacts. In addition, to making it easier for us to find information and reading sources, the use of social media also leaves negative impacts such as hate speech behavior that occurs on social media. One of the things that are thought to be correlated with hate speech behavior is emotional maturity. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between emotional maturity and hate speech behavior on social media towards political issues in Indonesia. The method used in this research is correlational quantitative, and using purposive sampling to select the subjects. Subjects of research were 205 person. In measuring the emotional maturity of this study using a Likert scale and hate speech behavior using a vignette scale. Data were analyzed using by the person product moment analysis technique. The results were that there was a negative relationship between the two variables with a significance value of<0.001 and a correlation coefficient value of -0.313, which means that the higher the emotional maturity of a person, the lower the level of hate speech behavior will be, and vice versa.