bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electronic Reporting of Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response: Lessons learned from Northeast, Nigeria, 2019.
Authors: Ibrahim Luka Mangveep , Okudo Ifeanyi , Stephen Mary , Ogundiran Opeayo , Pantuvo Jerry Shitta , Oyaole Daniel Rasheed , Tegegne Sisay Gashu , Khalid Abdelrahim , Ilori Elsie , Ojo Olubunmi , Ihekweazu Chikwe , Baraka Fiona , Mulombo Walter Kazadi , Lasuba Clement Lugala Peter , Nsubuga Peter , Alemu Wondimagegnehu
Published: January 2021

Background: Electronic reporting of integrated disease surveillance and response (eIDSR) was implemented in Adamawa and Yobe states, North-East of Nigeria, as an innovative strategy to improve disease reporting. Its objectives were to improve the timeliness and completeness of IDSR reporting by health facilities, prompt identification of public health events, timely information sharing, and public health action. We evaluated the project to determine whether it met its set objectives.Method: We conducted a cross-sectional study to assess and document the lessons learned from the project. We reviewed the performance of the local government areas (LGAs) on timeliness and completeness of reporting, rumors identification, and reporting on the eIDSR and the traditional paper-based system using a checklist. Respondents were interviewed online on the relevance, efficiency, sustainability, project progress and effectiveness, the effectiveness of management, and potential impact and scalability of the strategy using structured questionnaires. Data were cleaned, analyzed, and presented as proportions using an MS Excel spreadsheet. Responses were also presented as direct quotes.Results: The number of health facilities reporting IDSR increased from 103 to 228 (117%) before and after implementation of the eIDSR respectively. The timeliness of reporting was 43% in the LGA compared to 73% in health facilities implementing eIDSR. The completeness of IDSR reports in the last six months before the evaluation was ≥ 85%. Of the 201 rumors identified and verified, 161 (80%) were from the eIDSR pilot sites. The majority of the stakeholders interviewed believed that eIDSR met its predetermined objectives for public health surveillance. The benefits of eIDSR included timely reporting and response to alerts and disease outbreaks, improved timeliness, and completeness of reporting, and supportive supervision to the operational levels. The strategy helped stakeholders to appreciate their roles in public health surveillance.Conclusion: The eIDSR has increased the number of health facilities reporting IDSR, enabled early identification, reporting, and verification of alerts, improved timeliness and completeness of reports, and supportive supervision of staff at the operational levels. It was well accepted by the stakeholder as a system that made reporting easy with the potential to improve the public health surveillance system in Nigeria.
Effects of trees, gardens, and nature trails on heat index and child health: Design and methods of the Green Schoolyards Project
Authors: Lanza Kevin , Alcazar Melody , Hoelscher Deanna M. , Kohl III Harold W.
Published: January 2021

Background: Latinx children in the United States are at high risk for nature-deficit disorder, heat-related illness, and physical inactivity. We developed the Green Schoolyards Project to investigate how green features—trees, gardens, and nature trails—in school parks impact heat index (i.e., air temperature and relative humidity) within parks, and physical activity levels and socioemotional well-being of these children. Herein, we present novel methods for a) observing children’s interaction with green features and b) measuring heat index and children’s behaviors in a natural setting, and a selection of baseline results.Methods: During two September weeks (high temperature) and one November week (moderate temperature) in 2019, we examined three joint-use elementary school parks in Central Texas, United States, serving predominantly low-income Latinx families. To develop thermal profiles for each park, we installed 10 air temperature/relative humidity sensors per park, selecting sites based on land cover, land use, and even spatial coverage. We measured green features within a geographic information system. In a cross-sectional study, we used an adapted version of System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) to assess children’s physical activity levels and interactions with green features. In a cohort study, we equipped 30 3rd and 30 4th grade students per school during recess with accelerometers and Global Positioning System devices, and surveyed these students regarding their connection to nature. Baseline analyses included inverse distance weighting for thermal profiles and summing observed counts of children interacting with trees.Results: In September 2019, average daily heat index ranged 2.0°F among park sites, and maximum daily heat index ranged from 103.4°F (air temperature = 33.8°C; relative humidity = 55.2%) under tree canopy to 114.1°F (air temperature = 37.9°C; relative humidity = 45.2%) on an unshaded playground. 10.8% more girls and 25.4% more boys interacted with trees in September than in November.Conclusions: We found extreme heat conditions at select sites within parks, and children positioning themselves under trees during periods of high heat index. These methods can be used by public health researchers and practitioners to inform the redesign of greenspaces in the face of climate change and health inequities.
Changes in Patient Visits and Diagnoses seen in an Academic Ophthalmology Department during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Berkenstock Meghan K , Liberman Paulina , McDonnell Peter J , Chaon Benjamin C
Published: January 2021

BACKGROUND: To minimize the risk of viral transmission, ophthalmology practices limited face to face encounters to only patients with urgent and emergent ophthalmic conditions, in the weeks after the start of the COVID-19 epidemic in the United States. The impact of this is unknown. METHODS: We did a retrospective analysis of the change in the frequency of ICD-10 code use and patient volumes in the six weeks before and after the changes in clinical practice associated with COVID-19.RESULTS: The total number of encounters decreased four-fold after the implementation of clinic changes associated with COVID-19. The low vision, pediatric ophthalmology, general ophthalmology, and cornea divisions had the largest total decrease of in-person visits. Conversely, the number of telemedicine visits increased sixty-fold. The number of diagnostic codes associated with ocular malignancies, most ocular inflammatory disorders, and retinal conditions requiring intravitreal injections increased. ICD-10 codes associated with ocular screening exams for systemic disorders decreased during the weeks post COVID-19. CONCLUSION: Ophthalmology practices need to be prepared to experience changes in practice patterns, implementation of telemedicine, and decreased patient volumes during a pandemic. Knowing the changes specific to each subspecialty clinic is vital to redistribute available resources correctly.
A potential suite of climate markers of long-chain n-alkanes and alkenones preserved in the top sediments from the Pacific sector of the Southern Ocean
Authors: Chen Xin , Liu Xiaodong , Lin Da-Cheng , Wang Jianjun , Chen Liqi , Yu Pai-Sen , Wang Linmiao , Xiong Zhifang , Chen Min-Te
Published: January 2021

Investigating organic compounds in marine sediments can potentially unlock a wealth of new information in these climate archives. Here we present pilot study results of organic geochemical features of long-chain n-alkanes and alkenones and individual carbon isotope ratios of long-chain n-alkanes from a newly collected, approximately 8-meter long, located in the far reaches of the Pacific sector of the Southern Ocean. We analyzed a suite of organic compounds in the core. The results show abundant long-chain n-alkanes (C29-C35) with predominant odd-over-even carbon preference, suggesting an origin of terrestrial higher plant waxes via long-range transport of dust, possibly from Australia and New Zealand. The δ13C values of the C31 n-alkane range from -29.4 to -24.8‰, in which the higher δ13C values suggest more contributions from C4 plant waxes. In the analysis, we found that the mid-chain n-alkanes (C23-C25) have a small odd-over-even carbon preference, indicating that they were derived from marine non-diatom pelagic phytoplankton and microalgae and terrestrial sources. Furthermore, the C26 and C28 with lower δ13C values (~ -34‰) indicate an origin from marine chemoautotrophic bacteria. We found that the abundances of tetra-unsaturated alkenones (C37:4) in this Southern Ocean sediment core ranges from 11-37%, perhaps a marker of low sea surface temperature (SST). The results of this study strongly indicate that the δ13C values of long-chain n-alkanes and index are potentially useful to reconstruct the detailed history of C3/C4 plants and SST change in the higher latitudes of the Southern Ocean.
Grouping of genomic markers in populations with family structure
Authors: Wittenburg Dörte , Doschoris Michael , Klosa Jan
Published: January 2021

Background : Linkage and linkage disequilibrium (LD) between genome regions cause dependencies among genomic markers. Due to family stratification in populations with non-random mating in livestock or crop, the standard measures of population LD such as r 2 may be biased. Grouping of markers according to their interdependence needs to account for the actual population structure in order to allow proper inference in genome-based evaluations. Results : Given a matrix reflecting the strength of association between markers, groups are built successively using a greedy algorithm; largest groups are built at first. As an option, a representative marker is selected for each group. We provide an implementation of the grouping approach as a new function to the R package hscovar. This package enables the calculation of the theoretical covariance between biallelic markers for half- or full-sib families and the calculation of representative markers. In case studies, we have shown that the number of groups comprising dependent markers was smaller and representative SNPs were spread more uniformly over the investigated chromosome region when the family stratification was respected compared to a population-LD approach. In a simulation study, we observed that sensitivity and specificity of a genome-based association study improved if selection of representative markers took family structure into account. Conclusions : Chromosome segments which frequently recombine in the underlying population can be identified from the matrix of pairwise dependence between markers. Representative markers can be exploited, for instance, for dimension reduction prior to a genome-based association study or the grouping structure itself can be employed in a grouped penalization approach.
Trends in burden of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in countries, regions, and worldwide from 1990 to 2017: results from the Global Burden of Disease Study
Authors: Ou Zejin , Yu Danfeng , Liang Yuanhao , He Wenqiao , Li Yongzhi , Meng Yaxian , Xiong Husheng , Zhang Minyi , He Huan , Gao Yuhan , Wu Fei , Chen Qing
Published: January 2021

Background Antituberculosis-drug resistance is an important public health issue, and its epidemiological patterns has dramatically changed in recent decades. This study aimed to estimate the trends of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), which can be used to inform health strategies.Methods Data were collected from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. The estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) were calculated to assess the trends of MDR-TB burden at global, regional, and national level from 1990 to 2017.Results Globally, the age-standardized rate (ASR)of MDR-TB burden including incidence, prevalence, death and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) had pronounced increasing trends from 1990 to 1999, with the EAPCs were 17.63(95% confidence interval [CI]: 10.77 to 24.92), 17.57(95%CI: 11.51 to 23.95), 21.21(95%CI:15.96 to 26.69), and 21.90(95%CI: 16.55 to 27.50), respectively. Particularly, the largest increasing trends were seen in areas and countries with low and low-middle sociodemographic index (SDI). However, the trends in incidence, prevalence, death and DALYs of MDR-TB decreased globally from 2000 to 2017, with the respective EAPCs were −1.37(95%CI: −1.62 to −1.12), −1.32(95%CI: −1.38 to −1.26), −3.30(95%CI: −3.56 to −3.04) and −3.32(95%CI: −3.59 to −3.06). Decreasing trends of MDR-TB were observed in most regions and countries, particularly that of death and DALYs in Slovenia were −18.96(95%CI: −20.82 to −17.06) and −19.35 (95%CI: −21.10 to −17.55), respectively. Whereas the pronounced increasing trends of MDR-TB occurred in Papua New Guinea, Singapore, and Australia.Conclusions The ASR of MDR-TB showed pronounced decreasing trends from 2000 to 2017. However, the MDR-TB burden remains a substantial challenge to the TB control globally, and requires effective control strategies and healthcare systems.
Bottom up innovation for health management capacity development: a qualitative case study in a South African health district
Authors: Orgill Marsha , Marchal Bruno , Shung-King Maylene , Sikuza Lwazikazi , Gilson Lucy
Published: January 2021

Background As part of health system strengthening in South Africa (2012- 2017) a new district health manager, taking a bottom-up approach to developing management capacity, developed a suite of innovations to improve the processes and practices of managers and NGO partners in monthly district management team meetings. Understanding capacity as a property of the health system not only of individuals , the research explored mechanisms triggered in context, including the initial sensemaking by the district manager, the subsequent sensegiving and sensemaking in the team and how these homegrown innovations interacted with existing social processes and norms within the system to produce outputs.Methods We conducted a realist evaluation complemented by a case study approach over a two-year period (2013-2015) in the district. The initial programme theory development included ten senior manager interviews and a literature review. To understand processes and mechanisms triggered in local context and identify outputs we conducted fifteen interviews with managers in the management team and with seven non-state actors, supplemented by researcher notes and time spent in the district. Thematic analysis was conducted using the Context-Mechanism-Outcome-Actor configuration alongside theoretical constructs. Results The new district manager drew on systems thinking, tacit and experiential knowledge to design bottom up innovations. Capacity was triggered through micro-practices of sensemaking and sensegiving which included using sticks (positional authority, enforcement of policies, over-coding), intentionally providing justification for change and setting the scene (a new agenda, distributed leadership). These micro practices and managers engaging with the new practices, triggered a generative process of buy-in and motivation which influenced managers and partners to participate in new meeting practices within a routine meeting. Conclusion District managers are well placed to design local capacity development innovations and must draw on systems thinking, tacit and experiential knowledge to enable relevant ‘bottom-up’ capacity development in district health systems. Doing so by drawing on intangible soft skills and tangible policy resources (hardware) of the system to influence motivation and buy-in for improved management practices. From a systems perspective, we argue that capacity development can be conceived of as part of the daily activity of managing within routine spaces.
Incidence and Time-Varying Predictors of HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Male Sex Workers in Mexico City
Authors: Ganley Karla , Wilson-Barthes Marta , Zullo Andrew R. , Sosa-Rubí Sandra G. , Conde-Glez Carlos J. , García-Cisneros Santa , Lurie Mark N. , Marshall Brandon D.L. , Operario Don , Mayer Kenneth H. , Galarraga Omar
Published: January 2021

Background: Male sex workers are at high-risk for acquisition of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We quantified incidence rates of STIs and identified their time-varying predictors among male sex workers in Mexico City.Methods: From January 2012 to May 2014, Male sex workers recruited from the largest HIV clinic and community sites in Mexico City were tested for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, hepatitis, and HIV at baseline, 6-months, and 12-months. Incidence rates with 95% bootstrapped confidence limits were calculated. We examined potential time-varying predictors using generalized estimating equations for a population averaged model. Results: Among 227 male sex workers, median age was 24 and baseline HIV prevalence was 32%. Incidence rates (per 100 person-years) were as follows: HIV [5.23; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.15–10.31], chlamydia (5.15; 95% CI: 2.58–9.34), gonorrhea (3.93; 95% CI: 1.88–7.83), syphilis (13.04; 95% CI: 8.24–19.94), hepatitis B (2.11; 95% CI: 0.53–4.89), hepatitis C (0.95; 95% CI: 0.00–3.16), any STI except HIV (30.99; 95% CI: 21.73–40.26), and any STI including HIV (50.08; 95% CI: 37.60–62.55). In the multivariable-adjusted model, incident STI (excluding HIV) were lower among those who reported consistently using condoms during anal and vaginal intercourse (odds ratio = 0.03, 95% CI: 0.00–0.68) compared to those who reported inconsistently using condoms during anal and vaginal intercourse. Conclusions: Incidence of STIs is high among male sex workers in Mexico City. Consistent condom use is an important protective factor for STIs, and should be an important component of interventions to prevent incident infections.
Selenium levels and glutathione peroxidase activity in patients with ataxia-telangiectasia: association with oxidative stress and lipid status biomarkers
Authors: Andrade Itana Gomes Alves , de Souza Fabiola Isabel Suano , Fonseca Fernando Luiz , Lago Carolina Sanchez Aranda , Sarni Roseli Oselka Saccardo
Published: January 2021

Introduction: Ataxia-Telangiectasia (A-T) is a multi-system disorder that may be associated with endocrine changes, oxidative stress in addition to inflammation. Studies suggest that selenium is a trace element related to protection against damage caused by oxidative stress. Objective: To describe the plasma levels of selenium and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity in A-T patients and to relate them to oxidative stress and lipid status biomarkers. Methods: This is a cross-sectional and contolled study evaluating 22 A-T patients (age median, 12.2 years old) matched by gender and age with 18 healthy controls. We evaluated: nutritional status, food intake, plasma selenium levels, erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity, lipid status, inflammation and oxidative stress biomarkers. Results: Adequate levels of selenium were observed in 24/36 (66.7%) in this evaluated population. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in selenium levels [47.6 ug/L (43.2-57.0) vs 54.6 (45.2-62.6) ug/dL, p = 0.242]. Nine/22 (41%) of A-T patients had selenium levels below the reference value. The A-T group presented higher levels of LDL-c, non-HDL-c, oxidized LDL, Apo B, Apo-B/Apo-A-I, LDL-c/HDL-c ratio, malondialdehyde [3.8 µg/L vs 2.8 µg/L, p=0.029] and lower Apo-A-I/HDL-c and glutathione peroxidase activity [7300 U/L vs 8686 U/L, p=0.005]. Selenium levels were influenced, in both groups, independently, only by the concentrations of oxidized LDL, malonaldehyde and non-HDL-c. The oxidized LDL (AUC=0.849) and ALT (AUC=0.854) were the variables that showed the greatest discriminatory power between groups. Conclusion: In conclusion, we observed the presence of selenium below the reference value in nearly 40% and low GPx activity in A-T patients. There was a significant, inverse and independent association between selenium concentrations and oxidative stress biomarkers. Those data reinforce the importance of assessing the nutritional status of selenium in those patients.
Dynamic fingerprint of fractionalized excitations in single-crystalline Cu3Zn(OH)6FBr
Authors: Fu Ying , Lin Miao-Ling , Wang Le , Liu Qiye , Huang Lianglong , Jiang Wenrui , Hao Zhanyan , Liu Cai , Zhang Hu , Shi Xingqiang , Zhang Jun , Dai Junfeng , Yu Da-Peng , Ye Fei , Lee Patrick , Tan Ping-Heng , Mei Jia-Wei
Published: January 2021

Beyond the absence of long-range magnetic orders, the most prominent feature of the elusive quantum spin liquid (QSL) state is the existence of fractionalized spin excitations, i.e., spinons. When the system orders, the spin-wave excitation appears as the bound state of the spinon-antispinon pair. Although scarcely reported, a direct comparison between similar compounds illustrates the evolution from spinon to magnon. Here, we perform the Raman scattering on single crystals of two quantum kagome antiferromagnets, of which one is the kagome QSL candidate Cu3Zn(OH)6FBr, and another is an antiferromagnetically ordered compound EuCu3(OH)6Cl3. In Cu3Zn(OH)6FBr, we identify a unique one spinon-antispinon pair component in the E2g magnetic Raman continuum, providing strong evidence for deconfined spinon excitations. In contrast, a sharp magnon peak emerges from the one-pair spinon continuum in the Eg magnetic Raman response once EuCu3(OH)6Cl3 undergoes the antiferromagnetic order transition. From the comparative Raman studies, we can regard the magnon mode as the spinon-antispinon bound state, and the spinon confinement drives the magnetic ordering.
Crustal porosity reveals the bombardment history of the Moon
Authors: Huang Ya Huei , Soderblom Jason , Minton David , Hirabayashi Masatoshi , Melosh Jay
Published: January 2021

Planetary bombardment histories provide critical information regarding the formation and evolution of the Solar System and of the planets within it. These records evidence transient instabilities in the Solar System’s orbital evolution, giant impacts such as the Moon-forming impact, and material redistribution. Such records provide insight into planetary evolution, including the deposition of energy, delivery of materials, and crustal processing, specifically the modification of porosity. Bombardment histories are traditionally constrained from the surface expression of impacts — these records, however, are degraded by various geologic processes. Here we show that the Moon’s porosity contains a more complete record of its bombardment history. We find that the terrestrial planets were subject to double the number of ≥20-km-diameter-crater-forming impacts than are recorded on the lunar highlands, fewer than previously thought to have occurred. We show that crustal porosity doesn’t slowly increase as planets evolve, but instead is generated early in a planet’s evolution when most basins formed and decreases as planets evolve. We show that porosity constrains the relative ages of basins formed early in a planet’s evolution, a timeframe for which little information exists. These findings demonstrate that the Solar System was less violent than previously thought. Fewer volatiles and other materials were delivered to the terrestrial planets, consistent with estimates of the delivery of siderophiles and water to the Moon. High crustal porosity early in the terrestrial planets’ evolution slowed their cooling and enhanced their habitability. Several lunar basins formed early than previously considered, casting doubt on the existence of a late heavy bombardment.
Growing the Pie or Slicing it Differently - on the Need to Disentangle Two Aspects of Trade Agreements
Authors: Dietsch Peter
Published: January 2021

Recent trade negotiations such as TTIP include investor protection clauses. Against the background of an analysis of the case for trade, the paper asks whether such clauses can be justified from a normative perspective. More specifically, what is the impact of investor protection on the domestic distribution of the gains from trade between labour and capital, and how should we assess this impact from the perspective of justice? In order to answer this question, the paper develops a series of ideal-type scenarios that reflect the consequences of investor protection on employment on the one hand, and on the distributive conflict between labour and capital on the other. While no claim is made which of these scenarios corresponds to TTIP or other trade agreements, they provide a useful normative framework to analyse such agreements.
Economic Participation Rights and the All-Affected Principle
Authors: Zimmermann Annette
Published: January 2021

The democratic boundary problem raises the question of who has democratic participation rights in a given polity and why. One possible solution to this problem is the all-affected principle (AAP), according to which a polity ought to enfranchise all persons whose interests are affected by the polity’s decisions in a morally significant way. While AAP offers a plausible principle of democratic enfranchisement, its supporters have so far not paid sufficient attention to economic participation rights. I argue that if one commits oneself to AAP, one must also commit oneself to the view that political participation rights are not necessarily the only, and not necessarily the best, way to protect morally weighty interests. I also argue that economic participation rights raise important worries about democratic accountability, which is why their exercise must be constrained by a number of moral duties.
Challenging Humanitarian Intervention?
Authors: Van Goozen Sara
Published: January 2021

N/A
Cosmopolitanism: Is There Room for Special Relationships?
Authors: Lenard Patti Tamara
Published: January 2021

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David Jacobson, Of Virgins and Martyrs: Women and Sexuality in Global Conflict (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press, 2013)
Authors: Ganguli Agomoni Mitra
Published: January 2021

No abstract.
Glass Ceilings and Iron Bars: Women, Gender, and Poverty in the Post-2015 Development Agenda
Authors: Murphy Susan
Published: January 2021

This paper argues that it is necessary to focus on gender rather than exclusively on women in discussions on global poverty eradication. It argues firstly, that the drivers of poverty are complex and multifaceted leading to a least two different forms of deprivation – transitory and structural poverty – each requiring different forms of analysis and treatment. Transitory poverty can arise as a consequence of an event or shock that would diminish an individual’s capacity to retain or secure employment and where a State lacks an appropriate form of social protection. Structural poverty, on the other hand, arises where groups are excluded from the workforce on a more permanent basis due to a wide variety of factors of discrimination such as sex, race, ethnicity, and age. Focusing on the sex of an individual alone cannot explain why some are more likely to experience different forms of poverty than others. Policies that protect women against transitory poverty, such as care related allowances, are not sufficient to eradicate structural poverty. Secondly, structural poverty prompts an examination of gender roles and relations. Unlike the category of ‘women’, the concept of gender demands consideration of a wider range of intersecting factors that influence life chances. The structure of contemporary gender relations, where women continue to experience higher levels of violence, and carry the greatest burden of responsibility for non-market based production activities, create the social conditions where domination and dependence thrive, and where persistently high rates of poverty seem inevitable. Such circumstances are generated by human agency. Thus, thirdly, it argues that these circumstances can and should be changed through human action. Knowledge of these circumstances gives rise to moral obligations for both men and women to avoid upholding values and practices that lead to domination and dependence as a matter of basic justice.
Climate Change and Justice between Nonoverlapping Generations
Authors: Karnein Anja
Published: January 2021

It is becoming less and less controversial that we ought to aggressively combat climate change. One main reason for doing so is concern for future generations, as it is they who will be the most seriously affected by it. Surprisingly, none of the more prominent deontological theories of intergenerational justice can explain why it is wrong for the present generation to do very little to stop worsening the problem. This paper discusses three such theories, namely indirect reciprocity, common ownership of the earth and human rights. It shows that while indirect reciprocity and common ownership are both too undemanding, the human rights approach misunderstands the nature of our intergenerational relationships, thereby capturing either too much or too little about what is problematic about climate change. The paper finally proposes a way to think about intergenerational justice that avoids the pitfalls of the traditional theories and can explain what is wrong with perpetuating climate change.
How Carbon Source and Seedcoat Influence the In Vitro Culture of Peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch) Immature Seeds
Authors: Pérez-Jiménez Margarita , Guevara-Gázquez Alfonso , Carrillo-Navarro Antonio , Cos-Terrer José
Published: January 2021

The effects of carbon source and concentration and of seedcoat were tested on the in vitro germination of peach seeds derived from crosses performed in the field. Seeds were extracted from the fruit and cultured in Woody Plant Medium (WPM) supplemented with sucrose, glucose, or sorbitol at concentrations of 15, 30, and 45 g·L−1. The percentage of germination as well as the root and hypocotyl lengths were measured after the stratification process and before acclimatization. Seedcoat did not have any influence on seed germination in any tested media and genotype. Glucose at a concentration of 15 g·L−1 and sucrose at 15, 30, and 45 g·L−1 resulted in greater stem seedling growth. The root developed the most when seeds were cultured in media with 15 or 30 g·L−1 of sucrose.
Islamic Spiritual Capital Implementation at BMT UGT Sidogiri
Authors: Kurniasari Widita , Sawarjuwono Tjiptohadi , Ryandono Muhamad Nafik Hadi
Published: January 2021

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to obtain an in-depth description of the implementation of the concept of Islamic Spiritual Capital at BMT UGT Sidogiri. The approach used in this research is Islamic phenomenology. This research explores events/phenomena and organizational culture at BMT UGT Sidogiri. This method helps to reveal how to implement Islamic Spiritual Capital in the culture of working at BMT UGT Sidogiri. The results showed that the importance of civilize Islamic Spiritual Capital was reflected through prayer discipline, time discipline and rule discipline. Uphold the work ethic of three -as in working, they are working hard, working smart and working sincerely. This work ethic involves the body, brain and heart. Islamic leadership is basically a belief that prioritizes the attributes of the STAFF (Siddiq, Tabligh, Amanah, Fathonah). Motivation in working is intended to worship, seek the blessing of Allah and become a charity hereafter so that the goal is not only for the world. So that, every employee has an Islamic commitment that is having the confidence to be loyal to the organization and istiqomah (steadfastness) at work.Abstrak: Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk memperoleh gambaran yang mendalam tentang implementasi konsep Modal Spiritual Islam di BMT UGT Sidogiri. Pendekatan yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah fenomenologi Islam. Penelitian ini mengeksplorasi peristiwa/fenomena dan budaya organisasi di BMT UGT Sidogiri. Cara ini membantu mengungkap bagaimana mengimplementasikan Modal Spiritual Islam dalam budaya kerja di BMT UGT Sidogiri. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pentingnya modal kerohanian Islam yang beradab tercermin melalui disiplin shalat, disiplin waktu dan disiplin aturan. Menjunjung tinggi etos kerja tiga -sebagai dalam bekerja, mereka bekerja keras, bekerja cerdas dan bekerja dengan ikhlas. Etos kerja ini melibatkan tubuh, otak dan hati. Kepemimpinan Islam pada dasarnya adalah keyakinan yang mengutamakan atribut STAF (Siddiq, Tabligh, Amanah, Fathonah). Motivasi dalam bekerja dimaksudkan untuk beribadah, mencari ridho Allah dan menjadi sedekah akhirat agar tujuannya tidak hanya untuk dunia. Sehingga setiap karyawan memiliki komitmen islami yaitu memiliki kepercayaan diri untuk setia pada organisasi dan istiqomah (ketabahan) dalam bekerja.
Anticancer Activity of Diosgenin and Its Semi-synthetic Derivatives: Role in Autophagy Mediated Cell Death and Induction of Apoptosis
Authors: Bhardwaj Nivedita , Tripathi Nancy , Goel Bharat , Jain Shreyans K.
Published: January 2021

During cancer progression, the unrestricted proliferation of cells is supported by the impaired
cell death response provoked by certain oncogenes. Both autophagy and apoptosis are the signaling
pathways of cell death, which are targeted for cancer treatment. Defects in apoptosis result in
reduced cell death and ultimately tumor progression. The tumor cells lacking apoptosis phenomena
are killed by ROS- mediated autophagy. The autophagic programmed cell death requires apoptosis
protein for inhibiting tumor growth; thus, the interconnection between these two pathways determines
the fate of a cell. The cross-regulation of autophagy and apoptosis is an important aspect to modulate
autophagy, apoptosis and to sensibilise apoptosis-resistant tumor cells under metabolic stress and
might be a rational approach for drug designing strategy for the treatment of cancer. Numerous proteins
involved in autophagy have been investigated as the druggable target for anticancer therapy.
Several compounds of natural origin have been reported, to control autophagy activity through the
PI3K/Akt/mTOR key pathway. Diosgenin, a steroidal sapogenin has emerged as a potential candidate
for cancer treatment. It induces ROS-mediated autophagy, inhibits PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, and
produces cytotoxicity selectively in cancer cells. This review aims to focus on optimal strategies using
diosgenin to induce apoptosis by modulating the pathways involved in autophagy regulation and its
potential implication in the treatment of various cancer. The discussion has been extended to the medicinal
chemistry of semi-synthetic derivatives of diosgenin exhibiting anticancer activity.
Cholesterol: Bioactivities, Structural Modification, Mechanisms of Action, and Structure-Activity Relationships
Authors: Zhang Kong , Li Tianze , Shan Xijie , Lu Rongfei , Zhang Shaoyong , Xu Hui
Published: January 2021

Cholesterol, steroid alcohol, was discovered by M.E. Chevreul in 1815. Cholesterol and its
derivatives showed a large variety of biological properties such as anticancer activity, anticardiac activity,
anti-inflammatory activity, antimicrobial activity, anti-psychotic activity, antioxidant activity,
drug-loaded activity, etc. In this mini-review, the advances of structural modification of cholesterol
from 2014 to 2020 are summarized. In addition, the bioactivities, mechanisms of action and structureactivity
relationships of cholesterol and its related derivatives are also discussed.
Recent Developments in Arylation of N-Nucleophiles via Chan-Lam Reaction: Updates
from 2012 Onwards
Authors: Abedinifar Fahimeh , Mahdavi Mohammad , Rezaei Elham babazadeh , Asadi Mehdi , Larijani Bagher
Published: January 2021

''Chan-Evans-Lam'' (CEL) reaction is the copper-mediated cross-coupling of N-nucleophiles with boronic acids that was independently reported in 1998 by Chan, Evans, and Lam for the first time. This reaction is accom-plished at room temperature with a remarkably wide range of nucleophiles. In the recent decade, it has been particularly attractive as a convenient method for constructing the various C–N bonds in organic synthesis. Therefore, a compre-hensive survey through all reported process was crucial. In this review, we summarized research progress about N-Arylation, based on the type of N-nucleophile involved in this reaction and catalysts from 2012 onwards.
Prediction of Successful Induction of Labor using Ultrasonic Fetal Parameters
Authors: Hassan Wassan Nori Mohammed , Shallal Fatin , Roomi Ali B.
Published: January 2021

Background:

Induction of labor (IOL) is a common obstetrical procedure. Bishop's score was the single predictor element used by practitioners to assess the risk of failure, which led to an increase in cesarean sections (CS). Ultrasound (US) examination was proposed since the variability limitations of Bishop score warranted alternative assessment tools.

Objective:

This study verifies how the US and other maternal parameters are used in the transperineal approach as an indication and as a predictor of successful induction.

Material and methods:

A prospective clinical study of 100 participants with term singleton pregnancy referred for IOL and who fit the criteria of this study. Their maternal parameters and fetal head to perineum distance (HPD), measured by the transperineal US, were calculated before the induction. After the induction, the patients were stratified into two groups, which are vaginal delivery (68%) and CS (32%). The estimated time interval to delivery was also recorded.

Results:

None of the maternal parameters was significant; the P-values of maternal age, parity, body mass index (BMI), gestational age, and weight of the fetus is 0.75, 0.75, 0.69, 0.81, and 0.81, respectively. One-way ANOVA test estimated the most significant factors for inducing labor. Fetal HPD and induction to delivery interval were remarkably significant in both groups <0.0001.

Conclusion:

The shorter the HPD (<47.65±1.66 mm), the higher the possibility of vaginal delivery and a shorter delivery interval. By contrast, the longer HPD (>52.56±1.93mm), the lower the possibility of vaginal delivery and a longer delivery interval. These promising results may serve as a valuable tool in predicting a mode of delivery.
Data-driven visibility
Authors: Jønsson Alexandra , Bogers Loes
Published: January 2021

Through artistic interventions into the computational backbone of maternity services, the artists behind the Body Recovery Unit explore data production and its usages in healthcare governance. Taking their artwork The National Catalogue Of Savings Opportunities. Maternity, Volume 1: London (2017) as a case study, they explore how artists working with ‘live’ computational culture might draw from critical theory, Science and Technology Studies as well as feminist strategies within arts-led enquiry. This paper examines the mechanisms through which maternal bodies are rendered visible or invisible to managerial scrutiny, by exploring the interlocking elements of commissioning structures, nationwide information standards and databases in tandem with everyday maternity healthcare practices on the wards in the UK. The work provides a new context to understand how re-prioritisation of ‘natural’ and ‘normal’ births, breastfeeding, skin-to-skin contact, age of conception and other factors are gaining momentum in sync with cost-reduction initiatives, funding cuts and privatisation of healthcare services.
Luhmann without society
Authors: Wansleben Leon
Published: January 2021

Konings successfully mobilizes social theory to demonstrate how various
post-Marxist, Polanyian, and Foucauldian analyses fail to make sense of
financialization and neoliberal governance as persistent societal formations. In
their place he offers an analysis focused on the logic of ‘leverage’, which he
sees as a source of not only private gain but also governmental power. I fully
endorse Konings' turn to social theory, and in particular to the work of Niklas
Luhmann. But I suggest that, since Konings leaves out Luhmann's broader theory
of society, he can neither capture the tight couplings between the economy and
politics presupposed in neoliberal governance, nor contextualize this governance
as a ‘provincial’, US-centred project.
New algebraic properties of middle Bol loops II
Authors: Jaiyéolá T. G. , David S. P. , Oyebola O. O.
Published: January 2021

A loop (Q, ·, \, /) is called a middle Bol loop (MBL) if it obeys the identity x(yz\x)=(x/z)(y\x). To every MBL corresponds a right Bol loop (RBL) and a left Bol loop (LBL). In this paper, some new algebraic properties of a middle Bol loop are established in a different style. Some new methods of constructing a MBL by using a non-abelian group, the holomorph of a right Bol loop and a ring are described. Some equivalent necessary and sufficient conditions for a right (left) Bol loop to be a middle Bol loop are established. A RBL (MBL, LBL, MBL) is shown to be a MBL (RBL, MBL, LBL) if and only if it is a Moufang loop.
EVIDÊNCIAS DE AÇÕES DE ENFERMAGEM EM PROMOÇÃO DA SAÚDE PARA UM ENVELHECIMENTO ATIVO: REVISÃO INTEGRATIVA
Authors: Freitas Cibelly Aliny Siqueira Lima , Silva Maria Josefina da , Vieira Neiva Francenely Cunha , Ximenes Lorena Barbosa , Brito Maria da Conceição Coelho , Gubert Fabiane Do Amaral
Published: January 2021

RESUMO:Envelhecimento Ativo é o processo de otimização das oportunidades de saúde com o objetivo de aumentar a qualidade de vida do idoso. Para o enfermeiro, membro da equipe multidisciplinar, promover um cuidado gerontológico específico constitui atividade primordial. O objetivo da revisão integrativa é analisar as evidências disponíveis na literatura sobre as ações de Enfermagem em Promoção da Saúde para um Envelhecimento Ativo. Para a seleção dos artigos foram consultadas as bases de dados eletrônicas, Lilacs, Medline, Cochrane, Cinahl e Scopus; e ao total quatro artigos constituíram a amostra. Os materiais analisados apontam a Promoção da Saúde como essencial para o envelhecimento ativo e propõe a existência de uma relação entre cultura e saúde. Ao final, a presente revisão favorece a aquisição de conhecimentos acerca das ações de Enfermagem com ênfase na relação interpessoal entre enfermeiros/idosos, baseada na comunicação e princípios éticos.PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Enfermagem. Idosos. Promoção da Saúde. ABSTRACT:Active Ageing is the process of optimizing the health opportunities for health, with the aim of increasing the elderly life quality. For the nurse, member of the multidisciplinary team, to promote a specific geriatric care constitute a primordial activity. This integrative review aimed to analyze the literature available evidences about the actions of Nursing Health Promotion for an Active Aging. To the sample selection the databases Lilacs, Medline, Cochrane, Cinahl and Scopus were consulted, and the total of four articles constituted the sample. The studies emphasize that aspects of health promotion for the elderly are essential for active aging and suggest the existence of a relationship between culture and health. The present review aid the knowledge acquisition about the nursing actions emphasizing the interpersonal relationship between the nurse and the elderly, based on communication and ethical principles KEYWORDS: Nursing. Elderly. Health Promotion.
USO DE MEDICAMENTOS EM IDOSOS QUE RESIDEM EM UMA INSTITUIÇÃO DE LONGA PERMANÊNCIA
Authors: Freitas Adriana Valéria Da Silva , Noronha Ceci Vilar
Published: January 2021

A demanda pela institucionalização vem crescendo e o perfil do idoso que procura o asilo no Brasil vem se modificando, sendo necessário saber sobre o cenário atual. Assim, questionamos: de que maneira é realizada a administração de medicamentos a idosos nas instituições de longa permanência? A metodologia consistiu em entrevistas com idosos que residem em um asilo situado em Salvador-Bahia, aliada à observação sistemática neste local. A análise do material empírico se deu a partir das categorias fundamentadas nas falas dos idosos com ênfase na temática das medicações, a qual constitui o interesse central deste estudo. Os resultados indicam que a administração direta da medicação usada pelos idosos é uma tarefa realizada pelos cuidadores. No entanto, devido às possibilidades de ocorrer trocas relacionadas à dosagem da medicação e/ou ao idoso que deveria recebê-la, verificou-se que a instituição ainda deveria avançar para planejar e programar melhor a administração dos medicamentos, superando improvisações e atuando de modo a não causar efeitos iatrogênicos. Concluímos ressaltando a importância de que nas instituições de longa permanência (ILP) sejam realizados estudos sobre a eficácia de medicamentos em idosos e que a capacitação do corpo técnico no que toca à administração da medicação seja continuada, evitando os erros e os abusos terapêuticos observados pelas pesquisadoras e percebidos pelos próprios idosos.
A PRODUÇÃO CIENTÍFICA BRASILEIRA E A PROBLEMATIZAÇÃO ACERCA DA MEIA-IDADE: UM ESTUDO A PARTIR DE PERIÓDICOS DO CAMPO DA EDUCAÇÃO FÍSICA
Authors: Antunes Priscilla De Cesaro , Silva Ana Márcia
Published: January 2021

Objetivou-se apresentar um panorama da produção acadêmica do campo da Educação Física, tendo como foco central o momento da vida identificado como meia-idade. Foram analisados 18 periódicos vinculados ao campo da Educação Física, no período compreendido entre 2000 e 2010, recuperando-se 79 artigos que apresentaram foco na meia-idade. Partiu-se da hipótese de que esse tema é pouco explorado, a qual foi confirmada visto que os artigos recuperados constituíram apenas 2% do total de 3.941 artigos publicados no período. Observou-se que, predominantemente: os estudos foram pesquisas de campo, realizadas com mulheres, num intervalo amplo de idades; os temas abordados foram os de aptidão física, doenças/fatores de risco, validação de testes/equações, adesão/ motivação para exercício, concepção de envelhecimento, esporte, aposentadoria, necessidades especiais e sociabilidade. A análise dos resultados indicou que tais temas foram tratados a partir de uma perspectiva biologicista, enquanto a meia-idade foi caracterizada como um momento de declínio com alterações fisiológicas no organismo que trazem prejuízos para a vida; os autores têm recorrido a referenciais sobre velhice para analisar/refletir dados sobre meia-idade, e a doença, mais do que a saúde, foi o parâmetro central para os estudos analisados.
EFEITOS DE OFICINAS DE INCLUSÃO DIGITAL EM ADULTOS TARDIOS: NOVOS CONHECIMENTOS PARA UM ENVELHECIMENTO SAUDÁVEL
Authors: Goulart Denise , Ferreira Anderson Jackie , Mosquera Juan José Mouriño , Stobäus Claus Dieter
Published: January 2021

O artigo é fruto da discussão entre os autores, a partir da construção da Tese de Doutorado de Ferreira, incluindo também elementos do desenvolvimento do Projeto Potencialidade: Oficinas de Inclusão Digital, que era realizado no Instituto de Geriatria e Gerontologia da PUCRS, descrito no início do trabalho. Através das falas desses idosos que participaram das oficinas nos Cursos de Extensão e das análises pertinentes embasadas nos autores utilizados, elencamos algumas  previsões para os próximos anos acerca do desenvolvimento humano, especialmente na vida adulta tardia/velhice, revelando alguns elementos que podem servir de base para futuros estudos na área.