bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Knowledge, Attitude and Perceptions towards Basic Life Support Training among Student Teachers in a Malaysian University
Authors: Fariduddin Muhamad Nur , Siau Ching Sin
Published: May 2021

Basic Life Support (BLS) training for school teachers is increasingly acknowledged as an important public health method to disseminate knowledge regarding life-saving skills such as CPR. However, there is a lack of studies examining this crucial area of training in Malaysia. Hence, this study aimed to investigate student teachers' knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions towards Basic Life Support training in a public university in Malaysia. An online questionnaire was implemented among final-year student teachers spanning seven different majors. Participants were required to answer 40 questions regarding their CPR knowledge, attitudes towards obtaining BLS training, and perceptions towards performing CPR. A total of 111 student teachers (80.2% female) responded to the survey. Results indicated that the majority of the participants (98.2%) would like to join a CPR training if offered. However, most participants reported a lack of information or resources in obtaining CPR training (82.0%) and had fears of incurring injury (93.7%), being sued (96.4%), being uncomfortable about bodily fluids (85.6%), or concerns of being infected with a communicable disease (85.6%) by the individual receiving CPR. Notably, knowledge regarding CPR was low regardless of CPR training history. Therefore, there is a need for public health information to be disseminated regarding CPR to dispel fears regarding its practice and provide future teachers opportunities to obtain BLS training.
A bilateral optic neuritis side effect of biological treatment with pembrolizumab in a patient with metastatic melanoma
Authors: Nassar Andrea , Rivera Neiby , Mora Javier , Martinez Ayleen
Published: May 2021

Pembrolizumab is an anti-PD-1 humanized monoclonal antibody, standardized therapy for the treatment of metastatic melanoma, providing an overall survival benefit to patients; however, it may be associated with immune-related adverse effects (irAE). We describe the case of a patient with a history of metastatic melanoma undergoing treatment with pembrolizumab, who presented visual acuity deterioration due to inflammatory involvement of the optic nerves. There are few reported cases of an optic neuritis side effect of treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors. The patient received high doses of steroids and plasmapheresis with improved light perception. This case highlights the need to recognize atypical processes, mediated by the immune system, associated with treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), including pembrolizumab.
Analisis Kompetensi dan Pengembangan Karir Pegawai dengan Employee Engagement Sebagai Intervening dalam Peningkatan Kinerja ASN Kecamatan di Wilayah Kota Depok
Authors: Hidayat Hidayat , Manggabarani Alfatih , Sumardjo Mahendro
Published: May 2021

The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of employee competence and career development on employee engagement and performance, with employee engagement serving as an intervening variable. The research sample consists of 82 employees from the District State Civil Apparatus in the Depok City area. During the data analysis with PLS (Partial Least Square). According to the findings of this study, ASN competence has no significant effect on performance, with a path coefficient of 0.133 (p value 0.150 > 0.05), and State Civil Apparatus competence has no significant effect on employee engagement, with a path coefficient of 0.058 (p value 0.692 > 0.05). This demonstrates the need for an increase.Keywords: Competence, Employee Career Development, Employee engagement, Employee Performance AbstrakPenelitian bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh kompetensi pegawai dan pengembangan karir terhadap employee engagement dan kinerja dengan variable employee engagement yang berperan sebagai variabel intervening. Sampel penelitian adalah Aparatur Sipil Negara Kecamatan di wilayah Kota Depok dengan jumlah sample 82 pegawai. Sedangkan analisis data menggunakan PLS (Partial Least Square). Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa kompetensi ASN tidak signifikan berpengaruh terhadap kinerja dengan koefisien jalur sebesar 0.133 (p value 0.150 > 0,05) dan kompetensi Aparatur Sipil Negara juga tidak berpengaruh signifikan terhadap Employee engagement dengan koefisien jalur sebesar 0.058 (p value 0.692 > 0.05). Hal ini menunjukan perlunya ada peningkatan kompetensi Aparatur Sipil Negara Kecamatan di wilayah Kota Depok.Kata Kunci: Kompetensi, Pengembangan Karir Pegawai, Employee engagement, Kinerja Pegawai
EVALUATION OF ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECT OF FRUIT PEEL EXTRACTS OF ANNONA SQUAMOSA L. ON MOUSE MODELS OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
Authors: Phan Huan Tai , Nguyen Trang Thi , Tran Phuong Nhung Thi
Published: May 2021

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease arise as a consequence of exposure to antigens that cause arthritis. A number of herbs have been studied and proven to inhibit arthritis, such as artichoke tea, honey and bee venom. In this study, Freund′s Complete Adjuvant (FCA) induced rheumatoid arthritis in mice model was established and evaluated the effect of fruit peel extracts of custard apple, Annona squamosa Linn (AS), on their treatment. After 10 weeks, treated with the peel extracts at high dose, 400 mg/kg/day, the mice body weight increased from 31.56 g to 38.00 g, amount of leukocytes decreased from 8.38 to 5.23 (x103 cells/mm3) and ankle joint diameter decreased from 4.63 to 3.95 (mm). Histological analysis revealed that effect of fruit peel extracts of AS inhibited invasion of the immune cells into the joint substrate, reduced the fiber formation and restored cartilage structure of synovial membrane. Therefore, AS fruit peel extract prevents inflammatory cell growth of rheumatoid arthritis, increases the number of leukocytes and the body's immunity.
AMEDMENT STABLE KOJIC ACID PRODUCED BY NON-TOXINOGENIC ASPERGILLUS ORYZAE USING FIVE LEVELS CENTRAL COMPOSITE DESIGN OF RESPONSE SURFACE METHODOLOGY
Authors: Mahmoud Ghada Abd-Elmonsef , Zohri Abdel-Naser A.
Published: May 2021

Kojic acid is a remarkable secondary metabolite of Aspergillus with various hot spot applications in the field of medicine, cosmetics, food, agriculture, and chemistry field. However the needs of stable large production with safe cultures still need continuous searching. Microbial kojic acid concentrated highly on Aspergillus species especially Aspergillus flavus group. Ten isolates of A. flavus and A. oryzae isolated from various Egyptian sources were producible of KA in range 0.091±0.01 to 66.81± 0.95 g/l. Aspergillus oryzae (no. 4) that give maximum production was selected as non-toxinogenic safe isolate for optimizing the production by five levels CCD design of RSM. Maximum value of kojic acid with 108.4% increasing was 139.24 g/L (predicted 135.8 g/L) using glucose (+1; 200 g/l), yeast extract (+1; 6 g/l), KH2PO4, (+1; 1.5 g/l) and MgSO4.7H2O (+1; 1 g/l) through run (24). Model significance and validity tested by R2 values of KA was 0.987, DM 0.989 and CS 0.9831 and calculated with Derringer’s desirability function as 0.937. Optimized kojic acid showed stability against different range of heat stress from 40°C to 100°C during five continuous hours which may attribute that microbial product usually more stable than synthetic ones by attaching it with other active groups that guaranty more stability under stress conditions. Aspergillus oryzae (Ao-4) represents promising safe isolate for industrial kojic acid production with highly product stability using this significant valid experimental design.
ANTITUMOR PROPERTIES OF VEGETABLE OIL EXTRACT FROM GREEN MICROALGA COELASTRELLA SP.
Authors: Toshkova-Yotova Tanya , Georgieva Ani , Todorova Katerina , Pilarski Plamen , Toshkova Reneta
Published: May 2021

Microalgae are of great importance for the production of original natural substances of interest for food, health or biotechnological applications. Mass cultures of green microalgae are used for production of carotenoids such β-carotene, astaxanthin, canthaxanthin, lutein etc.
The aim of this study was to obtain an oil extract from a Bulgarian green microalga strain Coelastrella sp. BGV and to assess its anticancer and apoptogenic activity in vitro against human tumor cells HeLa by means of MTT and fluorescence microscopy analyses. The results showed that the oil extract obtained by a direct extraction using a common vegetable oil reduces proliferation and induces apoptosis in HeLa cells.
In contrast to widely used organic solvents for the production of carotenoids, the applied bio-solvent (sunflower oil) can be a valuable alternative approach for the needs of the food industry. The resulting oil extract showed promising antitumor and apoptosis-inducing activity against HeLa cells in vitro and potential for future use in practice.
PROPOLIS: ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION ANALYSIS
Authors: BOUZAHOUANE Hana , Ayari Adel , Guehria Ines , Riah Ouafa
Published: May 2021

Over the last few years, propolis has been the object of many studies conducted around the world, and its biological properties and chemical composition have been widely investigated. The present study focuses on the evaluation of the antimicrobial activity as well as an examination of the chemical composition of two samples of propolis from Eastern Algeria coming from the commune of El Mechrouha and Ouled Driss in the wilaya of Souk-Ahras. The two samples are tested for their antimicrobial power by undertaking the agar diffusion technique on eight pathogenic microbial strains (six bacterial strains and two fungal strains) which are: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus thoraltensis, , , Candida famata and Aspergillus niger. The results obtained clearly show the impact of propolis on the microbial susceptibility of Gram-positive bacteria (S. agalactiae and S. aureus), as well as on fungal species (C. famata and A. niger). The analysis of the chemical composition of the ethanolic extracts of the two propolis by UV-visible absorption spectrometry and thin layer chromatography showed that Algerian propolis is wealthy in phenolic compounds, and high performance liquid chromatography allowed the identification of four polyphenols (Gallic acid, Caffeic acid, Quercetin and Catechin). These outcomes permitted a first assessment of the two propolis which present comparable components in their chemical compositions.
PREVALENCE AND ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANC PATTERNS OF CAMPYLOBACTER SPECIES ISOLATED FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES IN EYGPT
Authors: El-Naenaeey El-sayed , Abd El-Hamid Marwa , Khalifa Eman
Published: May 2021

Campylobacter food poisoning is understated in developing countries. To determine the occurrence and antimicrobial resistance of this pathogen in Zagazig City, Sharkia Governorate, Egypt, a total of 286 samples from chicken (195), cattle (47) and human (44) were collected. Bacteriological examination of the collected samples revealed high prevalence rates of Campylobacter species from human stool, chicken and raw milk samples (90.91%, 86.15% and 82.98%, respectively). C. jejuni was recognized as the most frequently recovered species (63.29%). There were no significant effects on the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. based on the sample type (p = 0.54). Thirty eight campylobacter isolates were confirmed molecularly using PCR amplification of 23S rRNA gene. Furthermore, PCR targeting mapA and ceuE genes were then applied for the confirmation of C. jejuni and C. coli isolates, respectively. The antibiotic resistance results showed that all isolates (100%) were resistant to ampicillin, amoxicillin and erythromycin. On the other hand, the lowest resistance rates were detected against amikacin, impenem and cefoxitin (28.74%, 32.39% and 47.77, respectively). In total, 207 (83.81%) campylobacter isolates were MDR, while 38 isolates (15.38%) and 2 chicken C. jejuni isolates (0.81%) were XDR and PDR, respectively. One hundred and forty five antimicrobial resistance profiles were generated with an MAR index of 0.45 or greater. Our results suggested that the presence of MDR campylobacters in chicken and raw milk, specifically to erythromycin and/ or ciproﬂoxacin aggravates the human health alarm and emphasizes the necessity to educate the consumers about the safeness and the goodness of such foods.
EVALUATION OF THE DOMINANT PROTEIN FROM WHOLE-CELL HEATING METHOD USING MALDI-TOF/TOF MASS SPECTROMETRY
Authors: Gusti Ningrum Siti , Wibawan I Wayan Teguh
Published: May 2021

Immunoglobulin G (IgG) are the essential tools in diagnostic kits. The whole-cell is still considered to be used for animal‘s immunization to produce IgG. The goal of this study was to determine dominant protein on the Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157:H7-induced typical antibody response also determined by MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry. The heating method was conducted at 71 °C and 83 °C for antigen preparation. The proteins were characterized using SDS-PAGE and evaluated by MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry. The present study reported that the dominant polyclonal antibody inducing protein was ompC E. coli. The evaluation of mass spectra by MALDI-TOF/TOF might help to identify the dominant polyclonal antibody inducing protein in future preparation of diagnostic kits.
OPTIMIZING THE PRODUCTION OF PECTINASE OF ORANGE PEEL WASTE BY PENICILLIUM CHRYSOGENUM MF318506 USING RESPONSE SURFACE METHODOLOGY IN SUBMERGED FERMENTATION
Authors: Nehad E. Ahmed Nehad , Rahman Hassan Mohamed M. Abd El
Published: May 2021

Pectinases find wide application in different industrial applications, e.g., textile, food, tea, paper and pulp, vegetable oil extractions, saccharification of agricultural remains, and in fermented drinks. Three fungal strains were screened for pectinase production. Results indicated that all strains are capable of producing a pectinase enzyme. Penicillium chrysogenum MF318506 showed the highest pectinase activity (0.214 U/ml) on the recommended medium at 30 ◦C at 150 rpm, on 6 days. Different agricultural wastes (orange peel, banana peel, potato peel, pomegranate peel, wheat bran, and rice bran) were screened as a carbon source. The maximum pectinase activity of 0.48U/ml was obtained from Orange peel and was selected for further studies. Screening of important medium components for pectinase production by the Plackett-Burman design (PBD) showed that the maximum pectinase activity of 1.057 U/ml was achieved with 3 % orange peel, 2.0 g/l (NH4)2SO4, 6.0 g/l peptone, 6.0 g/l KH2PO4, 6.0 g/l K2HPO4, 0.1 g/l MgSO4.7H2O, 0.5 g/l KCl and 0.1 g/l FeSO4. Finally, the Box-Behken design (BBD) which uses the response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to further optimization of the selected factors using the PBD. The maximum pectinase activity of 1.292U/ml was observed at 2.5% orange peel and 4.5 g/l peptone. The Statistical optimization, enhanced the pectinase production by 6.04 folds using Orange peel waste as a substrate. The pectinase produced by Penicillium chrysogenum MF318506 has potential applications in different industrial fields.
RESPONSE OF CADAVERINE ON THE PROTEIN PROFILING OF CULTURED TISSUES OF BRASSICA JUNCEA (RH-30) UNDER MULTIPLE STRESS
Authors: Tomar Pushpa C , Arora Komal
Published: May 2021

A lysine catabolite named cadaverine, a polyamine is known as plant growth regulating compound. Its precise role as growth regulators and/or inducer of nitrogen assimilation positively affects plant growth and productivity under different stress condition. Cad strongly maintains the stressed plant growth through maintaining the metabolites and ionic homeostasis. This entry summarizes not only cadaverine effect on B. juncea callus in terms of the growth parameters but also on protein content and profiling of these mustard calli. The basal medium used for tissue culture was MS media augmented with different stress conditions and treatments (100mM NaCl, 1mM Cd or Pb, 1mM cadaverine or 5mM NH4NO3). Better growth was observed in callus grown in media supplemented with cad as compared to control and stressed one. Also, callus sub cultured in cad media maintained desired growth of callus over control and even with NH4NO3 supplementation. The application of Cad suppressed the accumulation of 66 kDa peptide under salt stress whereas the same peptide’s expression remained unaffected by NH4NO3 supplementation. NH4NO3 induced the expression of 54 and 44 kDa peptides under NaCl and Pb stress. Sub- cultured callus upon Cad supplementation significantly expressed peptides of 76, 72, 45, 42, 40, 32, 30, 24, 22 and 21 kDa, where expression of 66 and 34 kDa peptides were prominent. Cad boosted the callus formation and growth when grown in stressed conditions and these stress induced proteins in the presence of Cad suggesting their role in the growth of plant under various stress conditions.
COVID-19: PERVASIVENESS OF COMORBIDITIES WITH EMPHASIS ON CANCER, PATHOGENESIS AND PALLIATIVE CARE MEASURES
Authors: Dhaundiyal Sonali , Anand Jigisha , Rai Nishant
Published: May 2021

In retrospection and review of the available literature, cancer patients are regarded as highly susceptible to the incidence of the ongoing ‘COVID-19’ pandemic. Other comorbidities including hypertension, diabetes, kidney problems, high cholesterol are found to be having severe effects on COVID-19 related mortality. Reports associating these diseases with COVID-19 must be carefully elucidated not just because these comorbidities induce severity in COVID-19 patients but also as several other factors increase the risk of occurrence of this pandemic. From vigorous screening to advance researches regarding this association as well as the still elusive mechanism of its pathogenesis, from clinical management to implementation of national and international guidelines, from adopting a dynamic approach to tackle the co-infection to having resourceful hospitals and medical care facilities, a structured and methodical proposition involved in the development of therapeutic strategies promise a better approach to target COVID-19.
PRODUCTION, PURIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF AN ANTIBACTERIAL COMPOUND FROM STREPTOMYCES GRISEUS TBG19NRA1 ISOLATED FROM THE FOREST SOILS OF THE WESTERN GHATS OF KERALA, INDIA
Authors: Sugathan Shiburaj , Valsala Gayathri , Parambath Jeeshma Nambidi , Menon Karthik , Bahuleyan Rameshkumar Koranappallil
Published: May 2021

A new actinomycete strain designated TBG19NRA1, exhibiting antimicrobial activities against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, was isolated from forest soil of Neyyar Wild Life Sanctuary, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Cultural characteristics strongly suggested that this isolate belongs to the genus Streptomyces. Polyphasic taxonomic studies including phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rDNA sequence suggests that the isolate is a strain of S. griseus. Studies on the effect of different nutritional compounds on antibiotic activity revealed that the highest antibacterial activity was obtained when 1% starch (w/v) was used as the sole carbon source along with mineral trace elements. Extraction and purification of TBG19NRA1 culture supernatant led to the isolation of a pure molecule with good antibacterial activity. The compound has been identified as the cyclic polyether lasalocid A on the basis IR, MS and 13C NMR data interpretation and comparison with reference data from literature.
Cellular mechanisms linking cancers to obesity
Authors: Liu Xiao-Zheng , Pedersen Line , Halberg Nils
Published: May 2021

Obesity is epidemiologically linked to 13 forms of cancer. The local and systemic obese environment is complex and likely affect tumors through multiple avenues. This includes modulation of cancer cell phenotypes and the composition of the tumor microenvironment. A molecular understanding of how obesity links to cancer holds promise for identifying candidate genes for targeted therapy for obese cancer patient. Herein, we review both the cell-autonomous and non-cell-autonomous mechanisms linking obesity and cancer as well as provide an overview of the mouse model systems applied to study this.
Coping with the calcium overload caused by cell injury: ER to the rescue
Authors: Chandra Goutam , Mázala Davi A. G. , Jaiswal Jyoti K.
Published: May 2021

Cells maintain their cytosolic calcium (Ca2+) in nanomolar range and use controlled increase in Ca2+ for intracellular signaling. With the extracellular Ca2+ in the millimolar range, there is a steep Ca2+ gradient across the plasma membrane (PM). Thus, injury that damages PM, leads to a cytosolic Ca2+ overload, which helps activate PM repair (PMR) response. However, in order to survive, the cells must cope with the Ca2+ overload. In a recent study (Chandra et al. J Cell Biol,doi: 10.1083/jcb.202006035) we have examined how cells cope with injury-induced cytosolic Ca2+ overload. By monitoring Ca2+ dynamics in the cytosol and endoplasmic reticulum (ER), we found that PM injury-triggered increase in cytosolic Ca2+ is taken up by the ER. Pharmacological inhibition of ER Ca2+ uptake interferes with this process and compromises the repair ability of the injured cells. Muscle cells from patients and mouse model for the muscular dystrophy showed that lack of Anoctamin 5 (ANO5)/Transmembrane protein 16E (TMEM16E), an ER-resident putative Ca2+-activated chloride channel (CaCC), are poor at coping with cytosolic Ca2+ overload. Pharmacological inhibition of CaCC and lack of ANO5, both prevent Ca2+ uptake into ER. These studies identify a requirement of Cl– uptake by the ER in sequestering injury-triggered cytosolic Ca2+ increase in the ER. Further, these studies show that ER helps injured cells cope with Ca2+ overload during PMR, lack of which contributes to muscular dystrophy due to mutations in the ANO5 protein.
A CONSTRUÇÃO DE UM DATA WAREHOUSE UTILIZANDO OS INDICADORES EDUCACIONAIS DO INEP
Authors: Ilha Luciano , Moreira Junior Fernando De Jesus
Published: May 2021

Esta pesquisa na área da educação e das novas tecnologias aplicadas na gestão escolar, tem objetivo desenvolver uma metodologia para importar os indicadores educacionais disponibilizados pelo Instituto Nacional de Estudos e Pesquisas Educacionais Anísio Teixeira (INEP) para um repositório de dados e, também, apresentar um conjunto de técnicas e ferramentas de Business Intelligence, para desvendar este conjunto de dados em informações. A natureza deste estudo é uma pesquisa aplicada, realizada com os gestores escolares municipais de Santa Maria, RS, utilizando a tecnologia de Data Warehouse (DW). Assim, reporta uma pesquisa exploratória, de abordagem quantitativa, que utiliza como método a pesquisa-ação para elaborar um produto que facilite a extração e a utilização dos indicadores do INEP. Para isso, avaliou-se a utilização do produto com este público, a fim de validar a proposta de gestão, buscando uma análise da contribuição proporcionada pela visualização destes indicadores em informações significativas, com o intuito de subsidiar tomada a decisão dos gestores escolares municipais. Os resultados evidenciam que o produto transformou dados em conhecimento e contribui como instrumento de apoio para a elaboração das estratégias a ser aplicada nas escolas, buscando melhorias na qualidade do ensino com foco no aprendiz do aluno. Em síntese, a proposta do projeto apresentou as etapas para a criação de DW com os indicadores do INEP, instigando o uso de tecnologias digitais na gestão escolar por meio do blog desenvolvido para os gestores, que disponibilizam um conjunto de dashboards com esses indicadores.
Activation of the Amiloride-Sensitive Epithelial Sodium Channel by the Serine Protease mCAP1 Expressed in a Mouse Cortical Collecting Duct Cell Line
Authors: VUAGNIAUX GRÉGOIRE , VALLET VÉRONIQUE , JAEGER NICOLE FOWLER , PFISTER CORINNE , BENS MARCELLE , FARMAN NICOLETTE , COURTOIS-COUTRY NATHALIE , VANDEWALLE ALAIN , ROSSIER BERNARD C. , HUMMLER EDITH
Published: May 2021

This study examines whether serine proteases can activate the amiloride-sensitive sodium channel (ENaC) in mammalian kidney epithelial cells. The transepithelial sodium transport assessed by amiloride-sensitive short-circuit current appears to be sensitive to aprotinin, a protease inhibitor in a mouse cortical collecting duct cell line (mpkCCDc14). This result indicated that serine proteases may be implicated in the regulation of ENaC-mediated sodium transport. Using degenerated oligonucleotides to a previously isolated serine protease from Xenopus, xCAP1 (channel activating protease), a novel full-length serine protease (mCAP1), has been isolated and characterized. RNA analysis showed a broad pattern of expression in tissues (kidney, lung, colon, and salivary glands) expressing ENaC. Reverse transcription-PCR experiments also showed that mCAP1 was abundantly expressed in proximal tubule cells and was also expressed in intact and cultured collecting duct cells. Coexpression of the Xenopus, rat, or human α-, β-, and γ-ENaC subunits in Xenopus oocytes also showed that mCAP1 induces a significant increase in ENaC-mediated current accompanied by a decrease of channel molecules at the cell surface. It is proposed that this novel mouse channel activating protease may act as a regulator of ENaC within the kidney.
Serial Change in Echocardiographic Parameters and Cardiac Failure in End-Stage Renal Disease
Authors: FOLEY ROBERT N. , PARFREY PATRICK S. , KENT GLORIA M. , HARNETT JOHN D. , MURRAY DAVID C. , BARRE PAUL E.
Published: May 2021

Echocardiographic abnormalities are the rule in patients starting dialysis therapy and are associated with the development of cardiac failure and death. It is unknown, however, whether regression of these abnormalities is associated with an improvement in prognosis. As part of a prospective cohort study with mean follow-up of 41 mo, 227 patients had echocardiography at inception and after 1 yr of dialysis therapy. Improvements in left ventricular (LV) mass index, volume index, and fractional shortening were seen in 48, 48, and 46%, respectively. Ninety patients had developed cardiac failure by 1 yr of dialysis therapy. Twenty-six percent of the remaining 137 patients subsequently developed new-onset cardiac failure. The mean changes in LV mass index were 17 g/m2 in those who subsequently developed cardiac failure compared with 0 g/m2 among those who did not (P = 0.05). The corresponding values were -8 versus 0% for fractional shortening (P < 0.0001). The associations between serial change in both LV mass index and fractional shortening and subsequent cardiac failure persisted after adjusting for baseline age, diabetes, ischemic heart disease, and the corresponding baseline echocardiographic parameter. Regression of LV abnormalities is associated with an improved cardiac outcome in dialysis patients. Serial echocardiography adds prognostic information to one performed at baseline.
Comparison of Mortality Risk for Dialysis Patients and Cadaveric First Renal Transplant Recipients in Ontario, Canada
Authors: RABBAT CHRISTIAN G. , THORPE KEVIN E. , RUSSELL J. DAVID , CHURCHILL DAVID N.
Published: May 2021

In population-based studies, renal transplantation has been shown to improve survival compared to dialysis patients awaiting transplantation in the United States. However, dialysis mortality in the United States is higher than in Canada. Whether transplantation offers a survival advantage in regions where dialysis survival is superior to that in the United States is uncertain. This study examines a cohort of 1156 patients who started end-stage renal disease (ESRD) therapy and were wait-listed for cadaveric renal transplantation in the province of Ontario, Canada between January 1, 1990 and December 31, 1994. Patients were followed from wait-listing for renal transplant (n = 1156), to cadaveric first renal transplant (n = 722), to death, or to study end (December 31, 1995). The annual crude mortality rates for wait-listed dialysis patients and transplanted patients were 5.0 and 3.4%, respectively. In Cox proportional hazards models, mortality in wait-listed patients was associated with increased age and diabetes, but not time from onset of ESRD to wait-listing. Factors associated with death following transplantation include older age, diabetes, and longer time spent on the waiting list before transplantation. In a time-dependent Cox regression model, the relative risk of death after transplantation compared to dialysis varied in a time-dependent manner. Covariates associated with increased risk included older age, diabetes, and time from onset of ESRD to wait-listing. The average relative risk (RR) of dying was 2.91 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.34 to 6.32) in the first 30 d after transplantation, but was significantly lower 1 yr after transplantation (RR 0.25; 95% CI, 0.14 to 0.42), indicating a beneficial long-term effect when compared to wait-listed dialysis patients. This long-term benefit was most evident in subgroups of patients with diabetes (RR 0.38; 95% CI, 0.17 to 0.87) and glomerulonephritis (RR 0.13; 95% CI, 0.04 to 0.39) as the cause of ESRD. The survival advantage associated with renal transplantation is evident in this cohort of patients with a lower wait-listed dialysis mortality than that reported previously in the United States. The magnitude of the treatment effect is consistent across studies.
Elevated Levels of Serum Sulfite in Patients with Chronic Renal Failure
Authors: KAJIYAMA HIROSHI , NOJIMA YOSHIHISA , MITSUHASHI HIDEKI , UEKI KAZUE , TAMURA SHIGEO , SEKIHARA TETSUO , WAKAMATSU RYOUJI , YANO SHINTARO , NARUSE TAKUJI
Published: May 2021

Sulfite, a well known air pollutant, is toxic for humans, especially those with sulfite hypersensitivity. Sulfite is also generated endogenously, during normal metabolism of sulfur-containing amino acids. Mammalian tissues contain the enzyme sulfite oxidase, which detoxifies both endogenous and exogenous sulfite by oxidation to sulfate. Deficiency of sulfite oxidase in humans is fatal, demonstrating its physiologic importance. Nevertheless, information about serum and tissue levels of sulfite in normal and pathologic conditions is limited. Using a sensitive HPLC assay, it is shown here that sera from patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) contain significantly higher amounts of sulfite than those from healthy subjects. Mean ± SD of serum sulfite in healthy subjects (n = 20) was 1.55 ± 0.54 μM, whereas those in patients under maintenance hemodialysis (HD patients; n = 44) and CRF patients before introducing dialysis therapy (pre-HD patients; n = 33) were 3.23 ± 1.02 μM (P < 0.01) and 3.80 ± 3.32 μM (P < 0.01), respectively. Among pre-HD patients, serum sulfite was positively correlated with serum creatinine (r = 0.714, P < 0.0001), and negatively with serum albumin (r = -0.407, P = 0.0188), hematocrit (r = -0.524, P = 0.0017), and total cholesterol (r = -0.375, P = 0.0318). There was no significant association between sulfite and patient age, gender, or leukocyte counts. Multiple regression analysis revealed serum creatinine as the sole independent predictor of serum sulfite levels. Each HD treatment was associated with approximately 27% reduction in serum sulfite levels, suggesting the presence of a dialyzable form in serum. Thus, these results indicate that reduced glomerular filtration is a factor that determines serum sulfite levels. Chronic elevation in serum sulfite levels might contribute to tissue or organ dysfunction in patients with CRF.
Effect of Uremia and Dialysis Modality on Mononuclear Cell Apoptosis
Authors: MARTÍN-MALO ALEJANDRO , CARRACEDO JULIA , RAMÍREZ RAFAEL , RODRIGUEZ-BENOT ALBERTO , SORIANO SAGRARIO , RODRIGUEZ MARIANO , ALJAMA PEDRO
Published: May 2021

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of both uremia itself and hemodialysis (HD) membranes on the induction of apoptosis. Four groups of subjects were evaluated: 21 nondialyzed (Non-D) patients, 10 continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients, and 53 HD patients who were on hemophan, cuprophan, cellulose acetate, AN69, and polysulfone; control subjects were nine healthy volunteers. Circulating mononuclear cells were obtained before dialysis and cultured for 48 h. Mean percentage of apoptosis was analyzed by a FACScan flow cytometer using Annexin V-FITC. Cell apoptosis was increased in Non-D patients (11.5 ± 5.5%) compared with control subjects (2.1 ± 0.7%, P < 0.001) and CAPD patients (7.0 ± 5.8%, P < 0.05). In patients on HD with cuprophan, apoptosis was higher than in control subjects and Non-D and CAPD patients. In Non-D patients, apoptosis was inversely correlated with renal creatinine clearance (r = -0.62, P = 0.003). Cell apoptosis was higher in hemophan than the other HD membranes. In seven patients on hemophan, switching to polysulfone resulted in decreased apoptosis (P < 0.01). Mononuclear cell circulation through mini-dialyzers made of different types of membranes (cuprophan, hemophan, cellulose acetate, AN69, and polysulfone) prouced a significant increase in apoptosis. However, there was a marked difference in the percentage of apoptosis induced by these five membranes, being significantly increased in hemophan and cuprohan compared with the other three membranes. Similar results were obtained when whole blood from healthy donors was circulated through the mini-dialyzers, showing that mononuclear cell apoptosis was increased in hemophan and cuprophan compared with polysulfone. In conclusion, uremia and membrane characteristics may independently affect the mononuclear cell apoptosis.
Cost-Effectiveness of Maxillary Implant-Supported Overdentures Compared to Complete Dentures and Implant-Supported Fixed Dental Prostheses-A Systematic Review
Authors: P Ghiasi , C Ahlgren , L Arnebrant , S Tranæus , C Larsson
Published: May 2021

Purpose: Implant-supported restorations are well-documented treatments from a clinical perspective. Analysis of their cost-effectiveness is however limited, especially for implant-supported overdentures. The objective of this systematic review was to assess the literature on cost-effectiveness regarding maxillary implant-supported overdentures compared to complete dentures and fixed implant-supported restorations.
Algorithmes en physique des particules
Authors: CHARPENTIER Philippe
Published: May 2021

Les expériences de physique des particules comme celles qui se font au CERN à Genève nécessitent des moyens informatiques extrêmement puissants afin de transformer les informations brutes provenant des détecteurs en données de physique analysables. Ce traitement est l'œuvre de centaines d'algorithmes qui élaborent graduellement l'information nécessaire à l'analyse. De nombreux algorithmes sont alors également utilisés dans cette phase finale d'analyse afin de séparer les événements intéressants du bruit de fond. Ces derniers sont très similaires aux algorithmes dont on parle souvent dans les moteurs de recherche ou dans les programmes d'intelligence artificielle. Nous passons en revue cette panoplie d'algorithmes utilisés à tous les étages de l'analyse de physique.
Les algorithmes au service du rêve
Authors: GORET Anthony
Published: May 2021

Les espaces de loisirs et culturels offrent une expérience divertissante dans un espace clos et aménagé, le tout géré par un opérateur unique. Les visiteurs sont pris en charge par le personnel du site, le principal objectif étant de veiller à leur satisfaction et leur bien-être. Entrer dans un site de loisirs ou culturel, c'est pénétrer dans un monde qui vous entraîne loin de votre quotidien en vous adonnant à des activités récréatives pour apprendre, se cultiver, se détendre, se divertir. La force du modèle repose sur un défi constant : la capacité des exploitants à innover, pour renouveler sans cesse l'intérêt du public. Les outils numériques offrent de nombreuses opportunités pour les entreprises du divertissement : amélioration du parcours avant, pendant et après la visite, support d'aide à la relation client, optimisation dans la gestion et l'exploitation d'un site, et bien d'autres solutions encore à inventer.
Vers une agriculture algorithmique…
Authors: SAUDUBRAY Frédéric
Published: May 2021

Les algorithmes procurent de nombreux services dans le domaine de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation. Ils facilitent l'accès à l'information et constituent d'indéniables outils d'aide à la décision. Alliés à la robotique et au machinisme, ils peuvent réduire la pénibilité du travail et l'empreinte écologique de l'agriculture. Si leur utilité n'est plus à démontrer, il n'en reste pas moins vrai que l'omniprésence et l'essor considérable des algorithmes engendrent des interrogations quant aux évolutions et risques associés relativement à l'indépendance des utilisateurs, l'uniformisation des règles de décision, l'exacerbation de certaines inégalités voire les transformations du métier d'agriculteur. Au final, il apparait que l'important n'est pas de persister dans une vision manichéenne des algorithmes (entre «~facilitateur~» et «~asservisseur~») mais de parier sur l'intelligence de l'être humain pour les utiliser de manière pertinente et non en «~aveugle~» pour les utilisateurs et en «~dominateur~» pour les concepteurs. Espérons qu'une telle utilisation intelligente des algorithmes ne soit pas une utopie.
Sostenibilidad y Lean Construction
Authors:   Universidad EAFIT, Vásquez-Hernández Alejandro
Published: May 2021

A partir de la noción de desarrollo ligada a la idea de bienestar y satisfacción de necesidades, el aporte de la industrialización al aumento sustancial de los indicadores de desarrollo, la tensión asociada a la posibilidad de sostener en el tiempo el modelo de desarrollo que condujo al sustancial aumento en la calidad de vida, resultante de los cada vez más negativos indicadores ambientales del Sistema Tierra, y el aporte de la industria de la construcción, tanto en términos de desarrollo como de deterioro ambiental, se pretende en este capítulo explorar aproximaciones entre los conceptos Lean Construction y construcción sostenible, con el propósito de buscar contribuciones de la filosofía Lean a los desafíos que emergen desde los condicionantes del desarrollo sostenible. Lo anterior, bajo la premisa de que las estrategias y prácticas enmarcadas bajo la filosofía Lean Construction han demostrado tener el potencial para disminuir impactos ambientales, económicos y sociales, asociados a proyectos de construcción (Vieira de Carvalho et al., 2017; Weinheimer et al., 2017; Bajjou et al., 2017; Li et al., 2017).
HTAPP_CODEX antibody panel v1
Authors: Goltsev Yury , Schuerch Christian , P Nolan Garry
Published: May 2021

This document includes information on the CODEX antibody panel used to profile metastatic breast cancer and neuroblastoma samples for the Human Atlas Pilot Project (HTAPP). This panel is mainly used to profile the immune responses to cancer and other diseases.
Group B Streptococcus (Streptococcus agalactiae) Isolation, Identification and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing v1
Authors: Tafroji Wisnu , da Gloria Carvalho Maria , C Pimenta Fabiana , majid khoeri Miftahuddin , Safari Dodi
Published: May 2021

This protocol provides a guideline for isolation, identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing by microdilution of Group B Streptococcus (GBS) / Streptococcus agalactiae. The isolation is done by incubation of swab specimens in LIM broth enriched with 1.0 mL of rabbit serum, followed by selective media chromoagar. The identification is performed according to biochemistry characteristics by observing CAMP activity. Definitive grouping was done by latex agglutination (Remel cat no. R62031), according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The DNA was obtained using the fast extraction methodology for Streptococcusisolates and serotyping of GBS isolates was performed by conventional multiplex PCR. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing by broth microdilution was performed following the recommendations of Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) breakpoints.
Determining post antibiotic effect (PAE) of antimycobacterial compounds using autobioluminescent Mtb v1
Authors: Shetye Gauri , Cho Sanghyun , Bae Cho Kyung , Franzblau Scott
Published: May 2021

The post antibiotic effect of a drug is an important pharmacodynamic parameter for understanding the compound’s internalization, its residence time on the target, target’s vulnerability, and predicting dosing interval. The conventional CFU-based PAE assay is labor intensive, requires a long incubation time, and is not adaptable for real-time data acquisition. Here we have described an auto-luminescence-based PAE assay which generates real-time data using basic instrumentation (microplate luminometer) available in a Bio-Safety Level-3 (BSL-3) laboratory. Both RLU and CFU data demonstrated extended and consistent PAE of the RNA polymerase inhibitor rifampin whereas, the cell the wall inhibitor, isoniazid exhibits no apparent PAE. In this protocol auto-bioluminescence is used to measure the post antibiotic effect (PAE) of the antibiotics against the Mycobacterium tuberculosis. PAE by luminescence is defined as a difference in time taken by the drug-treated bacterial culture (T) and its corresponding no drug control (C) to register a 1.5-fold increase in log10RLU.
Critical Discourse Analysis of Political Discourse — A Case Study of Trump's TV Speech
Authors: Tian Lirong
Published: May 2021

Critical discourse analysis (CDA) is an effective method of the discourse analysis. It is aimed at analyzing the special relationship between power and the traditional ideology in implied discourse. Traditional discourse analysis always analyzes the structure and composition of discourse in terms of linguistic features, CDA makes language analysis more creative. It deeply explores the inherent potential of language and systematically interprets the deep meaning of discourse. This paper will take the specific corpus, namely Trump's TV speech, as the language material, Halliday's systematic functional grammar as the theoretical basis, and physicality, modality and personal pronoun as the framework. This paper studies how speakers in political speech use language to shorten the distance between people and win people's affirmation and support from the aspects of transitivity analysis, modality analysis and personal pronoun.
Neologistic Jargon Aphasia: A Case of Akala Gboo
Authors: Aboh Sopuruchi Christian
Published: May 2021

This paper conducts a psycholinguistic analysis of a neologistic jargon aphasic, Akala Gboo (a pseudonym of the patient) who is 52 years old. Neologistic jargon aphasia is a type of language disorder that manifests in the form of fluent speech, production of series of meaningless sounds and formulation of new words. This aphasic condition has not been explored to a large extent by researchers. By adopting the descriptive research design and using oral interview as instrument of data collection, the research finds out that the jargon aphasic exhibits elements of phonemic and morphemic paraphasias; as well as production of new words which are very much meaningful to him but they sound as gibberish to the hearers such as kwotekumakumakakununism, inianimous kalikwokaminolamkamkwuu. The paper finds out that the stimulants of the jargon aphasic symptoms are excitement and excessive intake of alcohol and cigarette. However, the paper recommends that government agencies and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) should set up an aphasia centre where the needs of aphasics will be catered for and which will also make them easily accessible for aphasia researchers.
A Discourse Analysis Study of Graffiti at Secondary Schools in Jordan
Authors: Ta'amneh Mohammad Abd Alhafeez Ali
Published: May 2021

This research aims to explore the thematic meanings of graffiti written on the walls and desks at secondary public schools in the Directorate of Education for the Qasabat Irbid District during the second semester of the academic year 2020/2021. The data comprise 207 written graffiti taken from different locations. Braun and Clarke's (2006) Thematic Analysis and Fairclough's (1995) Critical Discourse Analysis are adopted to account for the data thematically and linguistically. The findings of the study show that the qualitative and quantitative data fall into three main discourse themes: Religious, Political, and Emotional. Each one has been classified into subcategories accordingly. The results also show that the highest percentage of the discourse theme domains is related to the emotional one which constitutes the half of data. The lexical features indicate that the language of the graffiti is simple. Yet, it presents a complete thought. Languages and language variations are also identified.
The Cause of Speaking Anxiety of Pre-intermediate EFL Learners and Its Effects on Their Oral Performance
Authors: Al-Mukdad Sarah
Published: May 2021

This study is in the area of teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL). It focuses on the factors causing speaking anxiety to pre-intermediate EFL learners, the direct or indirect effects of speaking anxiety on the overall oral performance, in addition to suggesting possible treatments to this problem. The study was conducted at The Higher Language Institute (HLI) and the data obtained through distributing a questionnaire to pre-intermediate students was analyzed analytically. Results show that all kinds of factors are hardly regarded separately. Yet, the linguistic factors are demonstrated to be dominant in learners' oral performance. Finally, certain treatments are presented depending on the data obtained and the most important was to implement an ungraded speaking test to lower speaking anxiety in oral exams. The research concludes with a brief summary, suggestions for further research, and some recommendations for the EEL context.
A Digital Ruble of the Central Bank as a Civil Rights Object
Authors: Gabov A. V.
Published: May 2021

In recent years digitalization is one of the main drivers of changing the financial field in the world as a whole and in Russia. At first, the phenomenon called "cryptocurrency" (in essence, it is what the economists call "private money") developed beyond state control and was subjected to a very critical attitude on the part of official regulators. However, state and central banks later joined digital experiments. Thus, the phenomenon of the “digital currency of the Central Bank” — Central Bank digital currencies (CBDC) — appeared. The Central Bank saw new opportunities, primarily in terms of abandoning paper (cash) circulation and control, in the new instrument. Many central banks in the world are currently conducting research, and some have reached the level of testing relevant solutions. The Central Bank of the Russian Federation does not stand aside as well: in 2019, the first report was prepared — a study on the prospects of digital currencies of central banks; in 2020 the report “Digital Ruble” was published for public consultation. The introduction of such a financial instrument entails significant changes in the legal field. The paper analyzes such changes as well as the main shortcomings of the Report.
AQUAPONIA, uma novidade na educação ambiental
Authors: Martins Pedro
Published: May 2021

A aquaponia é uma atividade que conjuga a aquacultura e a hidroponia. Geralmente, consiste na criação em circuito fechado de peixes e plantas, sendo ambos destinados à alimentação humana. Os peixes excretam compostos azotados, os quais, após transformação por bactérias nitrificantes, são utilizados como nutrientes pelas plantas. Assim, a água fica limpa de novo e disponível para os peixes. Este circuito fechado permite aumentar a produção de alimentos de forma sustentada, poupar água e evitar poluição dos solos e das águas. A aquaponia é um conceito transversal a diversos contextos, que vão desde o nível local, de uma agricultura de subsistência, até um nível global, marcado pela sobrepopulação e pela depleção de recursos. Por este motivo, a aquaponia tem vindo a ser abordada de forma emergente por programas de educação ambiental um pouco por todo o mundo. A EPAMAC é uma escola profissional em Portugal, que está presente em diversos projetos associados ao tema e tem vindo a revelar-se uma instituição embaixadora do conceito de aquaponia no sistema educativo português.