bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evolution of time-delay signature of polarized chaos in a unidirectional-coupling VCSEL system with variable-polarization optical injection
Authors: Chen Jianjun , Mu Xueli , Li Linfu
Published: June 2021

The evolution characteristics of the time-delay signature (TDS) of polarized chaos is systematically investigated in a unidirectional-coupling vertical-cavity surface-emitting (VCSEL) scheme with variable-polarization optical injection (VPOI), by means of the time series, optical spectra, power spectra, and autocorrelation function. In this scheme, the polarized chaos with TDS from a master VCSEL (M-VCSEL) with the external cavity is unidirectionally injected into another solitary slave VCSEL (S-VCSEL) through VPOI. The numerical results show that the VPOI can exert significant influence on the TDS characteristics of polarized chaos in the S-VCSEL. Under special injection parameters, as the polarization injection angle (

θ
p

) of VPOI varies, the TDS evolution for the

X

polarization component can exhibit almost an opposite evolutionary pattern to that for the

Y

polarization component in the S-VCSEL. A series of TDSs is mapped in the

θ
p

plane, and the injection strength and frequency detuning have been simulated to thoroughly elaborate the TDS evolution of polarization-resolved chaos in the S-VCSEL. Moreover, the optimal parameter spaces with effectively suppressed TDS are also determined for each polarization component in those maps.
Flexoelectric-effect-based light waveguide liquid crystal display for transparent display
Authors: Shin Yunho , Jiang Yingfei , Wang Qian , Zhou Ziyuan , Qin Guangkui , Yang Deng-Ke
Published: June 2021

We report a light waveguide liquid crystal display (LCD) based on the flexoelectric effect. The display consists of two parallel flat substrates with a layer of flexoelectric liquid crystal sandwiched between them. A light-emitting diode (LED) is installed on the edge of the display and the produced light is coupled into the display. When no voltage is applied, the liquid crystal is uniformly aligned and is transparent. The incident light propagates through the display by total internal reflection at the interface between the substrate and air, and no light comes out of the viewing side of the display. The display appears transparent. When a voltage is applied, the liquid crystal is switched to a micrometer-sized polydomain state due to flexoelectric interaction and becomes scattering. The incident light is deflected from the waveguide mode and comes out of the viewing side of the display. We achieved thin-film-transistor active matrix compatible driving voltage by doping liquid crystal dimers with large flexoelectric coefficients. The light waveguide LCD does not use polarizers as in conventional LCDs. It has an ultrahigh transmittance near 90% in the voltage-off state. It is very suitable for transparent display, which can be used for head-up display and augmented reality display.
Positive and Negative Affects in Horse-assisted Coachings
Authors: Schütz Kathrin , Schmitz Josanne
Published: June 2021

The present study examines whether horses can be implemented in coaching in order to change individuals’ positive and negative affects. To this end, an experimental group (n = 46) received a horse-assisted coaching, whereas the control group (n = 46) did not receive any coaching. The short-time intervention consisted of one coaching session with a horse for a duration of two hours. Positive and negative affects were measured with the PANAS (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule) in both groups using a pre-post-test-design. Results reveal that the level of positive affects increased, and the level of negative affects decreased significantly in the intervention group when compared to the control group. This outcome suggests the possibility of improving emotions and states of mood in humans through horse-assisted coaching.
Efficient representations of tumor diversity with paired DNA-RNA aberrations
Authors: Ke Qian , Dinalankara Wikum , Younes Laurent , Geman Donald , Marchionni Luigi
Published: June 2021

Cancer cells display massive dysregulation of key regulatory pathways due to now well-catalogued mutations and other DNA-related aberrations. Moreover, enormous heterogeneity has been commonly observed in the identity, frequency and location of these aberrations across individuals with the same cancer type or subtype, and this variation naturally propagates to the transcriptome, resulting in myriad types of dysregulated gene expression programs. Many have argued that a more integrative and quantitative analysis of heterogeneity of DNA and RNA molecular profiles may be necessary for designing more systematic explorations of alternative therapies and improving predictive accuracy. We introduce a representation of multi-omics profiles which is sufficiently rich to account for observed heterogeneity and support the construction of quantitative, integrated, metrics of variation. Starting from the network of interactions existing in Reactome, we build a library of “paired DNA-RNA aberrations” that represent prototypical and recurrent patterns of dysregulation in cancer; each two-gene “Source-Target Pair” (STP) consists of a “source” regulatory gene and a “target” gene whose expression is plausibly “controlled” by the source gene. The STP is then “aberrant” in a joint DNA-RNA profile if the source gene is DNA-aberrant (e.g., mutated, deleted, or duplicated), and the downstream target gene is “RNA-aberrant”, meaning its expression level is outside the normal, baseline range. With M STPs, each sample profile has exactly one of the 2M possible configurations. We concentrate on subsets of STPs, and the corresponding reduced configurations, by selecting tissue-dependent minimal coverings, defined as the smallest family of STPs with the property that every sample in the considered population displays at least one aberrant STP within that family. These minimal coverings can be computed with integer programming. Given such a covering, a natural measure of cross-sample diversity is the extent to which the particular aberrant STPs composing a covering vary from sample to sample; this variability is captured by the entropy of the distribution over configurations. We apply this program to data from TCGA for six distinct tumor types (breast, prostate, lung, colon, liver, and kidney cancer). This enables an efficient simplification of the complex landscape observed in cancer populations, resulting in the identification of novel signatures of molecular alterations which are not detected with frequency-based criteria. Estimates of cancer heterogeneity across tumor phenotypes reveals a stable pattern: entropy increases with disease severity. This framework is then well-suited to accommodate the expanding complexity of cancer genomes and epigenomes emerging from large consortia projects.
High risk of early sub-therapeutic penicillin concentrations after intramuscular benzathine penicillin G injections in Ethiopian children and adults with rheumatic heart disease
Authors: Ketema Ezra B. , Gishen Nigus Z. , Hailu Abraha , Leul Abadi , Hadgu Abera , Hagos Kiflom , Berhane Samual , Tsega Temesgen , Page-Sharp Madhu , Davis Timothy ME , Moore Brioni , Batty Kevin T. , Carapetis Jonathan , Salman Sam , Manning Laurens
Published: June 2021

Introduction

Intramuscular benzathine penicillin G (BPG) injections are a cornerstone of secondary prophylaxis to prevent acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD). Uncertainties regarding inter-ethnic and preparation variability, and target exposure profiles of BPG injection are key knowledge gaps for RHD control.

Methods

To evaluate BPG pharmacokinetics (PK) in patients receiving 4-weekly doses in Ethiopia, we conducted a prospective cohort study of ARF/RHD patients attending cardiology outpatient clinics. Serum samples were collected weekly for one month after injection and assayed with a liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy assay. Concentration-time datasets for BPG were analyzed by nonlinear mixed effects modelling using NONMEM.

Results

A total of 190 penicillin concentration samples from 74 patients were included in the final PK model. The median age, weight, BMI was 21 years, 47 kg and 18 kg/m2, respectively. When compared with estimates derived from Indigenous Australian patients, the estimate for median (95% confidence interval) volume of distribution (V/F) was lower (54.8 [43.9–66.3] l.70kg-1) whilst the absorption half-life (t1/2-abs2) was longer (12.0 [8.75–17.7] days). The median (IQR) percentage of time where the concentrations remained above 20 ng/mL and 10 ng/mL within the 28-day treatment cycle was 42.5% (27.5–60) and 73% (58.5–99), respectively.

Conclusions

The majority of Ethiopian patients receiving BPG as secondary prophylaxis to prevent RHD do not attain target concentrations for more than two weeks during each 4-weekly injection cycle, highlighting the limitations of current BPG strategies. Between-population variation, together with PK differences between different preparations may be important considerations for ARF/RHD control programs.
Evidence of Zika virus circulation in asymptomatic pregnant women in Northeast, Brazil
Authors: Branco Rebeca Costa Castelo , Brasil Patrícia , Araújo Josélio Maria Galvão , Cardoso Flávia Oliveira , Batista Zulmira Silva , Leitão Valéria Maria Souza , da Silva Marcos Antonio Custódio Neto , de Castro Lailson Oliveira , Valverde Joanna Gardel , Jeronimo Selma Maria Bezerra , Lima Josélia Alencar , Ribeiro da Silva Raimunda , Barbosa Maria do Carmo Lacerda , Brito Luciane Maria Oliveira , Xavier Marcelo Antônio Pascoal , Nascimento Maria do Desterro Soares Brandão
Published: June 2021

Background

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a flavivirus associated with microcephaly and other fetal anormalities. However, evidence of asymptomatic ZIKV infection in pregnant women is still scarce. This study investigated the prevalence of Zika infection in asymptomatic pregnant women attending two public maternities in Maranhão state, Northeast Brazil.

Methods

A total of 196 women were recruited at the time of delivery by convenience sampling from two maternity clinics in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil, between April 2017 and June 2018. Venous blood, umbilical cord blood and placental fragments from maternal and fetal sides were collected from each subject. ZIKV infection was determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) for ZIKV and by serology (IgM and IgG). Nonspecific laboratory profiles (TORCH screen) were obtained from medical records.

Results

The participants were mostly from São Luís and were of 19–35 years of age. They had 10–15 years of schooling and they were of mixed race, married, and Catholic. ZIKV was identified in three umbilical cord samples and in nine placental fragments. Mothers with positive ZIKV RT-qPCR were in the age group older than 19 years. Of the 196 women tested by ZIKV rapid test, 6 and 117 women were positive for anti-ZIKV IgM and anti-ZIKV IgG antibodies, respectively. Placental Immunohistochemistry study detected ZIKV in all samples positive by RT-PCR. The newborns did not show any morphological and/or psychomotor abnormalities at birth.

Conclusions

Asymptomatic ZIKV infection is frequent, but it was not associated to morphological and/or psychomotor abnormalities in the newborns up to 6 months post-birth. Although pathological abnormalities were not observed at birth, we cannot rule out the long term impact of apparent asymptomatic congenital ZIKV infection.
How does onchocerciasis-related skin and eye disease in Africa depend on cumulative exposure to infection and mass treatment?
Authors: Vinkeles Melchers Natalie V. S. , Stolk Wilma A. , Murdoch Michele E. , Pedrique Belén , Kloek Marielle , Bakker Roel , de Vlas Sake J. , Coffeng Luc E.
Published: June 2021

Background

Onchocerciasis (river-blindness) in Africa is targeted for elimination through mass drug administration (MDA) with ivermectin. Onchocerciasis may cause various types of skin and eye disease. Predicting the impact of MDA on onchocercal morbidity is useful for future policy development. Here, we introduce a new disease module within the established ONCHOSIM model to predict trends over time in prevalence of onchocercal morbidity.

Methods

We developed novel generic model concepts for development of symptoms due to cumulative exposure to dead microfilariae, accommodating both reversible (acute) and irreversible (chronic) symptoms. The model was calibrated to reproduce pre-control age patterns and associations between prevalences of infection, eye disease, and various types of skin disease as observed in a large set of population-based studies. We then used the new disease module to predict the impact of MDA on morbidity prevalence over a 30-year time frame for various scenarios.

Results

ONCHOSIM reproduced observed age-patterns in disease and community-level associations between infection and disease reasonably well. For highly endemic settings with 30 years of annual MDA at 60% coverage, the model predicted a 70% to 89% reduction in prevalence of chronic morbidity. This relative decline was similar with higher MDA coverage and only somewhat higher for settings with lower pre-control endemicity. The decline in prevalence was lowest for mild depigmentation and visual impairment. The prevalence of acute clinical manifestations (severe itch, reactive skin disease) declined by 95% to 100% after 30 years of annual MDA, regardless of pre-control endemicity.

Conclusion

We present generic model concepts for predicting trends in acute and chronic symptoms due to history of exposure to parasitic worm infections, and apply this to onchocerciasis. Our predictions suggest that onchocercal morbidity, in particular chronic manifestations, will remain a public health concern in many epidemiological settings in Africa, even after 30 years of MDA.
Predictors of underachieved and overachieved fertility among women with completed fertility in Ghana
Authors: Yeboah Isaac , Kwankye Stephen Owusu , Frempong-Ainguah Faustina
Published: June 2021

Background

A woman’s ability to achieve her preferred family size is critical in addressing issues of high fertility in sub-Saharan Africa. The socio-cultural context in sub-Saharan Africa presents some difficulty for the attainment of preferred fertility for many women. Few studies in sub-Saharan Africa have examined the extent to which women are unable to achieve their preferred family sizes. This study, therefore, examines the factors that are associated with the non-attainment of women’s preferred fertility by the end of their reproductive years.

Data and methods

The study analyzed pooled cross-sectional data with a sub-sample of 1,888 currently married women aged 45–49 years from five rounds of the Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, 1993 to 2014. Test of associations and multinomial logistic regression analysis were used to examine the predictors of underachieved and overachieved fertility relative to achieved fertility.

Results

The results indicate that 44 per cent of the women recorded overachieved fertility while about 36 per cent underachieved their fertility. Partner wants more, experiencing child loss and married more than once were significantly associated with overachieved fertility. Nonetheless, increased years of a woman’s education and delaying her at first birth were negatively associated with overachieved fertility. On the other hand, underachieved fertility was significantly associated with having a partner with fewer fertility preference, being of the Islamic faith and ever use of modern contraception.

Conclusion

Partner’s fertility preference, child loss experience, marrying more than once and ever use of modern contraception were important predictors of a woman’s inability to achieve her fertility preference. Policies to regulate men’s fertility behaviour, delaying age at first birth, use of modern contraception, encouraging longer years of education, and reducing infant and child mortality are important strategies to achieve fertility preference in Ghana.
Longitudinal changes in IgG levels among COVID-19 recovered patients: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Alzaabi Ashraf Hassan , Ahmed Luai A. , Rabooy Abdulla E. , Zaabi Ali Al , Alkaabi Mohammed , AlMahmoud Falah , Hamed Mai Farouk , Bashaeb Khalid Omar , Bakhsh Abdul Rahim , Adil Suha , Elmajed Nadeen , Abousalha Ahmed Nigm , Uwaydah Ahmad Kanaan , Mazrouei Khulood Al
Published: June 2021

Objectives

To quantify SARS-CoV2 IgG antibody titers over time and assess the longevity of the immune response in a multi-ethnic population setting.

Setting

This prospective study was conducted in a tertiary hospital in Abu Dhabi city, UAE, among COVID-19 confirmed patients. The virus-specific IgG were measured quantitatively in serum samples from the patients during three visits over a period of 6 months. Serum IgG levels ≥15 AU/ml was used to define a positive response.

Participants

113 patients were analyzed at first visit, with a mean (SD) age of participants of 45.9 (11.8) years 87.5% of the patients were men. 63 and 27 participants had data available for visits 2 and 3, respectively.

Primary outcome

Change in SARS-CoV2 IgG antibody titers over the visits.

Results

No mortality or re-infection were reported. 69% of the patients developed positive IgG response within the first month after the onset of symptoms. The levels of IgG showed a consistent increase during the first three months with a peak level during the third month. Increasing trend in the levels of IgG were observed in 82.5%, 55.6% and 70.4% of patients between visit 1 to visit 2, visit 2 to visit 3, and from visit 1 to visit 3, respectively. Furthermore, about 64.3% of the patients showed sustained increase in IgG response for more than 120 days.

Conclusions

Our study indicates a sustained and prolonged positive immune response in COVID-19 recovered patients. The consistent rise in antibody and positive levels of IgG titers within the first 5 months suggest that immunization is possible, and the chances of reinfection minimal.
Integrated bioinformatics analysis and screening of hub genes in papillary thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Fan Rong , Dong Lijin , Li Ping , Wang Xiaoming , Chen Xuewei
Published: June 2021

Background

With the increasing incidence of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), PTC continues to garner attention worldwide; however its pathogenesis remains to be elucidated. The purpose of this study was to explore key biomarkers and potential new therapeutic targets for, PTC.

Methods

GEO2R and Venn online software were used for screening of differentially expressed genes. Hub genes were screened via STRING and Cytoscape, followed by Gene Ontology and KEGG enrichment analysis. Finally, survival analysis and expression validation were performed using the UALCAN online software and immunohistochemistry.

Results

We identified 334 consistently differentially expressed genes (DEGs) comprising 136 upregulated and 198 downregulated genes. Gene Ontology enrichment analysis results suggested that the DEGs were mainly enriched in cancer-related pathways and functions. PPI network visualization was performed and 17 upregulated and 13 downregulated DEGs were selected. Finally, the expression verification and overall survival analysis conducted using the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis Tool (GEPIA) and UALCAN showed that LPAR5, TFPI, and ENTPD1 were associated with the development of PTC and the prognosis of PTC patients, and the expression of LPAR5, TFPI and ENTPD1 was verified using a tissue chip.

Conclusions

In summary, the hub genes and pathways identified in the present study not only provide information for the development of new biomarkers for PTC but will also be useful for elucidation of the pathogenesis of PTC.
Usefulness of postoperative surveillance MR for women after breast-conservation therapy: Focusing on MR features of early and late recurrent breast cancer
Authors: Lee Jeongmin , Kang Bong Joo , Kim Sung Hun
Published: June 2021

Purpose

To investigate the imaging characteristics of early and late recurrent breast cancer and the detectability of mammography, ultrasonography, and breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients who underwent breast-conservation therapy (BCT).

Materials and methods

Total of 1312 women with 2026 surveillance breast MRI after BCT between January 2014 and September 2018 were studied. Early recurrence was defined as newly diagnosed breast cancer and/or axillary metastasis within 12 months of surgery. Late recurrence was defined as recurrence after 12months of surgery. We assessed the detectability of recurrent lesions in each postoperative imaging modality and evaluated characteristics of recurrent lesions on postoperative MRI by comparing early and late recurrence groups.

Result

Of the 2026 cases, 103 were confirmed as recurrent breast cancer by biopsy or surgery. Thirty-one cases were early recurrence, and 72 cases were late recurrence. MRI showed significantly higher detectability for recurrent lesions (102 cases, 99%) than mammography (59.4%,p< 0.001) or ultrasound (68.9%,p< 0.001), or both mammography and ultrasound (81.6%,p< 0.001). The recurrent lesions did not have typical malignant morphologic features, but variable features on MRI. However, early recurrent lesions showed fast enhancement in early dynamic phase regardless of the kinetic pattern of delayed dynamic phase; and late recurrence lesions showed early fast enhancement and delayed washout pattern. There were 19 cases which were not detected on mammography or ultrasound but could only be detected with MRI.

Conclusion

Postoperative breast MRI showed significantly higher detectability for recurrent lesions than mammography and ultrasound. Early fast enhancement is the most important feature of recurrent lesions on postoperative breast MRI for both early and late recurrence groups. Due to its high possibility of recurrence, further work-up should be considered regardless of their morphologic features.
Prognostic value of preoperative circulating tumor cells counts in patients with UICC stage I-IV colorectal cancer
Authors: Abdalla Thaer S. A. , Meiners Jan , Riethdorf Sabine , König Alexandra , Melling Nathaniel , Gorges Tobias , Karstens Karl-F. , Izbicki Jakob R. , Pantel Klaus , Reeh Matthias
Published: June 2021

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer death worldwide. There is an urgent need to identify prognostic markers for patients undergoing curative resection of CRC. The detection of circulating tumor cells in peripheral blood is a promising approach to identify high-risk patients with disseminated disease in colorectal cancer. This study aims to evaluate the prognostic relevance of preoperative CTCs using the Cellsearch® system (CS) in patients, who underwent resection with curative intent of different stages (UICC I-IV) of colorectal cancer. Out of 91 Patients who underwent colorectal resection, 68 patients were included in this study. CTC analysis was performed in patients with CRC UICC stages I-IV immediately before surgery. Data were correlated with clinicopathological parameters and patient outcomes. One or more CTCs/7.5 mL were detected in 45.6% (31/68) of patients. CTCs were detected in all stages of the Union of International Cancer Control (UICC), in stage I (1/4, 25%), in stage II (4/12, 33.3%), in stage III (5/19, 26.3%) and in stage IV (21/33, 63.6%). The detection of ≥ 1 CTCs/ 7.5ml correlated to the presence of distant overt metastases (p = 0.014) as well as with shorter progression-free (p = 0.008) and overall survival (p = 0.008). Multivariate analyses showed that the detection of ≥ 1 CTCs/ 7.5ml is an independent prognostic indicator for overall survival (HR, 3.14; 95% CI, 1.18–8.32; p = 0.021). The detection of CTCs is an independent and strong prognostic factor in CRC, which might improve the identification of high-risk patients in future clinical trials.
Investigating difficult to detect pancreatic lesions: Characterization of benign pancreatic islet cell tumors using multiparametric pancreatic 3-T MRI
Authors: Antwi Kwadwo , Wiesner Patricia , Merkle Elmar M. , Zech Christoph J. , Boll Daniel T. , Wild Damian , Christ Emanuel , Heye Tobias
Published: June 2021

Introduction

Pancreatic islet-cell tumors (PICT) often present with atypical signal-characteristics and are often missed on preoperative imaging. The aim of this study is to provide a multiparametric PICT characterization and investigate factors impeding PICT detection.

Material and methods

This is a detailed MRI analysis of a prospective, monocenter study, including 49 consecutive patients (37 female, 12 male; median age 50) with symptoms due to endogenous hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia (EHH) and mostly negative prior-imaging. All patients received a 3-T MRI and a 68Ga-DOTA-exendin-4-PET/CT. Pooled accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and inter-reader agreement were calculated. Reference-standard was histopathology and 68Ga-DOTA-Exendin-4-PET/CT in one patient who refused surgery. For PICT analyses, 34 patients with 49 PICTs (48 histologically proven; one 68Ga-DOTA-exendin-4-PET/CT positive) were assessed. Dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) Magnetic Resonance Images (MRI) with Golden-Angle-Radial-Sparse-Parallel (GRASP) reconstruction, enabling imaging at high spatial and temporal resolution, was used to assess enhancement-patterns of PICTs. Tumor-to-background (T2B) ratio for each sequence and the employed quantitative threshold for conspicuity of PICTs were analyzed in regard to prediction of true-positive PICTs.

Results

Evaluation of 49 patients revealed a pooled lesion-based accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of 70.3%, 72.9% and 62.5%, respectively. Mean PICT size was 12.9±5.3mm for detected, 9.0±2.9mm for undetected PICTs (p-value 0.0112). In-phase T1w detected the most PICT (67.3%). Depending on the sequence, PICTs were isointense and poorly visible in 29–68%. Only 2/41(4.9%) PICTs showed typical signal-characteristics across T1w, T2w, DWI and ceT1w combined. 66.6% of PICTs enhanced simultaneously to the parenchyma, 17.8% early and 15.6% late. Predictor screening analysis showed number of sequences detecting a PICT, lesion size and in-phase T1w T2B ratio had the highest contribution for detecting a true-positive PICT.

Conclusion

The majority of PICTs enhance simultaneously to surrounding parenchyma, present with atypical signal-characteristics and thus are poorly visible. In non-enhancing PICTs, radiologists should search for small lesions most likely conspicuous on unenhanced T1w or DWI.
High rate of completion for weekly rifapentine plus isoniazid treatment in Chinese children with latent tuberculosis infection—A single center study
Authors: Yang Heng , Yang Yang , Hu Zhi-dong , Xia Lu , Liu Xu-hui , Yu Xin , Ma Jia-ye , Li Tao , Lu Shui-hua
Published: June 2021

Three months of weekly rifapentine plus isoniazid (3HP) is a short course regimen for latent tuberculosis infection treatment with satisfied safety and efficacy. However, research on its use in children is limited. In this study, we evaluated the completion rate and safety of the 3HP regimen among children in China. Participants aged 1–14 years receiving 3HP for TB prevention at Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center were followed from December 2019 to November 2020 to evaluate the safety and completion rate of the treatment. Thirty-one children were eligible for inclusion, but five were excluded from the analysis (three were treated with a lower than recommended dose, and two were lost to follow-up). Of the 26 children included in the analysis, the treatment completion rate was 100%. Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were reported in 38.5% (10/26) of the patients. The most common ADRs were gastrointestinal symptoms (19.2%,5/26), and all ADRs were rated as Grade 1. The 3HP regimen has a high completion rate, and it seems well tolerated in our study population. However, further randomized controlled clinical trial with larger sample size are warranted.
Temporal and spatial variations of soil C, N contents and C:N stoichiometry in the major grain-producing region of the North China Plain
Authors: Yang Huan , Song Xuan , Zhao Yun , Wang Weitong , Cheng Zhennan , Zhang Qi , Cheng Daoquan
Published: June 2021

Soil C, N contents and C:N stoichiometry are important indicators of soil quality, the variation characteristics of which have great significance for soil carbon-nitrogen cycle and sustainable utilization. Based on 597 observations along with soil profiles of 0–20cm depth in the 1980s and the 2010s, the temporal and spatial variations of soil C, N contents and C:N stoichiometry in the major grain-producing region of the North China Plain were illustrated. Results showed that there were significant changes in soil C, N contents over time, with increasing rates of 60.47% and 50%, respectively. The changes of C, N contents resulting in a general improvement of C:N stoichiometry. There was a significant decline in nugget effects of soil C, N contents from the 1980s to 2010s, the spatial autocorrelation of soil nutrients showed an increasing trend, and the effect of random variation was reduced. C:N stoichiometry was higher in Huixian City and Weihui City, and lower in Yanjin County, an apparent decline was observed in the spatial difference of soil C:N stoichiometry from the 1980s to 2010s. Soil C, N contents and C:N stoichiometry differed among soil types, agricultural land-use types, and topography in space. The temperature, precipitation, and fertilization structure were considered as the main factors that induce the temporal variations. These findings indicated that the soil nutrient elements in the farmland ecosystems changed in varying degrees in both time and space scales, and the variation was influenced by soil types, land-use types, topography, meteorological factors, and fertilization structure.
Rapid detection of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis based on allele-specific recombinase polymerase amplification and colorimetric detection
Authors: Singpanomchai Nuntita , Akeda Yukihiro , Tomono Kazunori , Tamaru Aki , Santanirand Pitak , Ratthawongjirakul Panan
Published: June 2021

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) poses a serious threat to TB control. Early diagnosis and proper treatment are essential factors to limit the spread of the disease. The existing molecular tests for MDR-TB usually require specific instruments, steady power supply, and routine maintenance, which might be obstacles for low-resource settings. This study aimed to develop allele-specific isothermal recombinase polymerase amplification (allele-specific RPA) to simultaneously detect the most common mutations in therpoBgene at codons 516, 526, and 531, which are associated with rifampicin resistance, and in thekatGgene at codon 315, which is related to isoniazid resistance. Allele-specific primers targeting four major mutations,rpoB516,rpoB526,rpoB531, andkatG315, were constructed and used in individual RPA reactions. The RPA amplicons were endpoints detected by the naked eye immediately after applying SYBR Green I. The optimised RPA assay was evaluated with theMycobacterium tuberculosiswild-type strain H37Rv and 141 clinicalM.tuberculosisisolates. The results revealed that allele-specific RPA combined with SYBR Green I detection (AS-RPA/SYBR) detected these four major mutations with 100% sensitivity and specificity relative to DNA sequencing. The limits of detection for these particular mutations with AS-RPA/SYBR were 5 ng. As a result of the outstanding performance of AS-RPA/SYBR, including its easy setup, speed, lack of a specific instrument requirement, and lack of cross-reaction with other bacteria, this technique may be integrated for the molecular diagnosis of MDR-TB, especially in low-resource settings.
Apuntes para una reforma de la regulación laboral de la subcontratación de obras y servicios
Authors: Gómez Gordillo Rafael
Published: June 2021

La reforma de la normativa laboral que regula el fenómeno de la subcontratación o externalización productiva es una de las prioridades de Gobierno y Sindicatos en el presente ciclo de reformas. La actividad de las empresas multiservicios ha permitido evidenciar la necesidad de acometer una reforma integral de una regulación que ha permanecido bastante estable desde la aprobación de la versión original del Estatuto de los Trabajadores. La propuesta de reforma más conocida plantea la igualación de las condiciones de trabajo de empresa principal y contratista, aunque en sede parlamentaria ha sido plateada la conveniencia de extender la acción normativa sobre algunos otros aspectos de la regulación. El artículo estudia las propuestas realizadas por los distintos grupos parlamentarios y reflexiona sobre otros aspectos que, en opinión del autor, debieran ser objeto de consideración.
Ketone bodies – causes and effects of their increased presence in cows' body fluids: A review
Authors: Guliński Piotr
Published: June 2021

Ketosis is the most common metabolic disease in high-performance dairy cows during the first 6-8 weeks of lactation. Its main symptoms include an excessive amount of so-called ketone bodies in a cow's body fluids. Ketone bodies consist of β-hydroxybutyric acid (βHBA), acetoacetic acid, and acetone. βHBA is the main component with its share of the total volume of ketone bodies in the blood of about 70%. Clinical symptoms of ketosis in cows include loss of appetite, preference for forage to concentrated feed, and acetone odor in their mouth and urine. Those symptoms are accompanied by a production drop, an increase of concurrent illness (mastitis, metritis, and displaced abomasum), and poor reproductive performance. One of the ketosis characteristic effects is an increase in the level of fat in milk (>5%), while protein levels decrease (<2.9%). In the case of subclinical ketosis (SCK), the fat–protein ratio in milk is increased to above 1.4:1. The current consensus for SCK is to consider a cutoff point of βHBA to be at least 1.2 mmol/L in blood plasma. Ketosis prevention is based on keeping perinatal cows in good condition, that is, with around 3.5 points in the five-point body condition scoring, carefully balancing food doses during the first 2 months of lactation with the correct energy–protein ratio. Glucose precursor products should be administered orally, in particular to at-risk herds. Ketosis occurs in 7-14% on average of the total number of cows in a herd. In general, data on the prevalence of SCK vary considerably, depending on their source. Moreover, the problem is mostly observed in poorly-fed animals with high milk production potential. The objectives of this review are to reveal the current situation of ketosis prevalence, the possibility of diagnosis, consequences in dairy cows and to provide some recommendations for ketosis treatment and prevention.
Early Emergency Responses of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency against the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Accident in 2011
Authors: Okuno Hiroshi , Sato Sohei , Kawakami Takeshi , Yamamoto Kazuya , Tanaka Tadao
Published: June 2021

Background: The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) is specified in the Disaster Countermeasures Basic Act as a designated public corporation for dealing with nuclear disasters.Materials and Methods: The Nuclear Emergency Assistance and Training Center (NEAT) was established in 2002 as the activity base providing technical assistance to both national and local governments during nuclear emergencies. The NEAT has a robust structure and utilities and special installations, and it organizes training and exercises.Results and Discussion: Due to an offshore earthquake that caused a devastating tsunami in March 2011, a nuclear accident occurred at the Tokyo Electric Power Company’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The NEAT responded by conducting off-site environmental radiation monitoring and contamination screening, dispatching special vehicles, offering telephone consultations, and calculating the dispersion of radioactive materials. An examination of the emergency response activities revealed that the organization was prepared for these types of disasters and was able to plan long-term response.Conclusion: As a designated public corporation, the JAEA technically supports the national government, the Fukushima prefectural government, and the Ibaraki prefectural government, all of which responded to the off-site emergencies resulting from the March 2011 Fukushima Daiichi accident
La libertad de expresión y discurso del odio
Authors: Grau-Alvarez Jaime
Published: June 2021

El objetivo de este trabajo es ofrecer una comparativa sobre la delimitación de la libertad de expresión bajo el concepto de discurso del odio, en dos de los contextos jurídicos más importantes del mundo como son los de Estados Unidos y Europa.

Es interesante entender cómo se ha configurado el discurso del odio en los dos sistemas. A simple vista, el desarrollo de la libertad y, por ende, el desarrollo de la libertad de expresión se ha configurado de manera similar en ambos órdenes, siendo uno de los derechos más protegidos y salvaguardados por la Primera Enmienda o en los derechos fundamentales de las constituciones europeas. Sin embargo, para su delimitación, el camino parece haberse bifurcado, siendo el delito de odio un agravante en Estados Unidos mientras que en Europa se recoge como un delito adicional.

Se realizará un análisis de las bases de la libertad de expresión para cada ordenamiento, destacando las sentencias más relevantes que han sentado jurisprudencia y que sirven como punto de partida para el análisis comparado. Por otro lado, es necesario comparar como resuelven los Tribunales Supremos de ambos ordenamientos para casos que versan sobre asuntos similares como discursos de componente racista o discursos homófobos. Para ello, se van a contrastar las sentencias más relevantes sobre estos discursos, para ver como Estados Unidos ampara este tipo de discursos dentro de la libertad de expresión, mientras que Europa prioriza la dignidad humana.

Por último, se analizará cómo se configura este tipo de discursos en España, para ver cómo el Tribunal Constitucional en ciertos casos, permitió discursos que a ojos del TEDH posiblemente vulnerasen la dignidad humana.
Personalistyczne ujęcie chrześcijańskiej nauki moralnej w magisterium Soboru Watykańskiego II
Authors: Gryz Krzysztof
Published: June 2021

W okresie poprzedzającym Sobór Watykański II przygotowano kilka projektów, które miały stanowić podstawę dla ojców Soboru do dyskusji na sesjach plenarnych. Obejmowały one fundamentalne problemy teologiczne i duszpasterskie, które Komisja Przygotowawcza (Commissio antepreparatoria) uznała za najważniejsze. Wśród nadesłanych propozycji znalazły się również projekty dotyczące zagadnień moralnych: De ordine morali christiano i De castitate, matrimonio, familia et virginitate. Choć od strony merytorycznej były dobrze przygotowane, spotkały się ze znaczną krytyką ze strony członków Komisji Teologicznej i niektórych biskupów, gdyż – ich zdaniem – nie odpowiadały oczekiwanemu przez papieża Jana XXIII duszpasterskiemu charakterowi soboru. Projekty te były wielokrotnie redagowane, aż ostatecznie zdecydowano, że kwestie te zostaną poruszone w szerszym dokumencie omawiającym relacje Kościoła ze światem, który ostatecznie przybrał kształt Konstytucji duszpasterskiej o Kościele we współczesnym świecie Gaudium et spes.

Osią nauczania tej Konstytucji jest integralna wizja osoby ludzkiej, stworzonej przez Boga jako istota rozumna i wolna, odkupiona przez Chrystusa i powołana do wiecznej wspólnoty w Bogu. Po latach kard. Karol Wojtyła, komentując Konstytucję, zsyntetyzował jej nauczanie, zwłaszcza w sprawach moralnych, na dwie kategorie personalistyczne: „uczestnictwo” i „solidarność”. Pierwsza odnosi się do osobistej relacji człowieka z Bogiem, druga dotyczy relacji człowieka ze światem, który tworzą inni ludzie i wspólnoty, w których żyją. Obie kategorie wyrażają osobiste zaangażowanie człowieka jako odpowiedź na dar i wezwanie zawarte w objawieniu się Boga dla człowieka.
Zdrowie publiczne – przemyśleć bioetykę na nowo. Od zasady autonomii do zasady odpowiedzialności
Authors: Surmiak Wojciech
Published: June 2021

W ostatnich latach pojawia się coraz mocniej na forum bioetyki pewien nowy paradygmat uprawiania tej refleksji etycznej. Jak dotąd wśród zasad bioetycznych na pierwszy plan wysuwała się zasada autonomii pacjenta. W kontekście troski o zdrowie publiczne coraz bardziej jednak należy odwoływać się do zasady odpowiedzialności. Bez wątpienia ta nowa refleksja wzbogaca i dopełnia wciąż jeszcze krótką akademicką historię uprawiania bioetyki. W niniejszym artykule zostały ukazane pewne elementy etosu lekarskiego i etyki badań naukowych na płaszczyźnie medycznej, które muszą zostać ujęte w przestrzeni tzw. medycyny zapobiegawczej skoncentrowanej na principium odpowiedzialności, gdyż bez takiego podejścia byłoby niezmiernie trudne podejmowanie słusznych działań na płaszczyźnie zdrowia publicznego.
Zależność przedsoborowej myśli teologicznomoralnej od refleksji prawnej i prawnokanonicznej. Analiza na podstawie kwestii relacji człowieka do zwierząt
Authors: Smykowski Krzysztof
Published: June 2021

Celem niniejszego artykułu jest podjęcie refleksji nad sposobem argumentacji podejmowanym przez autorów podręczników teologii moralnej przełomu XIX i XX wieku w zakresie relacji człowieka do zwierząt i określenia granic ich wykorzystania. Analiza kilkunastu opracowań reprezentujących różne nurty doprowadziła do stwierdzenia, że większość stwierdzeń stanowi powtórzenie przepisów prawa cywilnego i kanonicznego albo komentarz do nich. Uwzględnienie tylko tych danych nie pozwoliło moralistom na sformułowanie spójnej koncepcji, która stanowiłaby wyczerpującą odpowiedź na pojawiające się w tym czasie coraz częściej pytania i wątpliwości o zakres panowania człowieka nad światem stworzonym.
The Power of Human Speech in Hittite Anatolia
Authors: Casa Romina Della
Published: June 2021

With the aim of improving our understanding of how Hittite practitioners in ancient Anatolia used human speech to achieve a desired efficacy or performativity (and therefore change a current situation), this paper explores the ritual character of Telipinu’s mugawar (CTH 324) and its historiola. Along these lines, it examines what traces of human agency are present in the text, and under which circumstances its performance would have been most valuable. Considered from a broader perspective, this study also aims to link Hittite texts to the lives of Anatolia’s inhabitants and to the many ways they did things with words.
Presents in the Palace during the Middle Assyrian Period (1500–1000 BC)
Authors: Llop-Raduà Jaume
Published: June 2021

This paper analyses the terminology for “present” and “giving a present” in the context of Middle Assyrian documents related to the palace. This terminology is specific to the genres of these texts and to the languages (Babylonian and Assyrian) used in them.
English for university admin staff: it’s all in the mix
Authors: Westbrook Pete
Published: June 2021

As a result of increasing internationalisation, the University of Copenhagen established the Centre for Internationalisation and Parallel Language Use (CIP) in 2008 as a research, competence development and resource centre. Part of CIP’s remit is to provide language training (mainly in Danish and English) for students and staff at the University. While there has been a lot of focus on teaching and learning through the medium of English, the language needs of administrative staff seem to have been neglected. They are expected to communicate with international students, teachers and researchers who do not necessarily speak the local language. This activity report looks at how CIP has set about meeting these needs by developing specific terminology-based language courses in English for university administrative staff, including HR, finance and study administrative staff. The terminology taught on the courses is tailored to the specific group of participants; however, a basic framework of activities is used as the starting point for all the terminology courses. As participants’ course evaluations have been overwhelmingly positive about the blend of activities, this paper reports on the design of the framework and how it is applied to the courses in practice.
Coping strategies in oral academic presentations of international undergraduate students in a Philippine university: a small-case study
Authors: Domingo Ephraim Viernes
Published: June 2021

Higher education students are increasingly becoming aware of the importance of being successful in oral academic presentations (OAP) in their academic endeavors. For English as a second language students in English-medium institutions, it also provides them with opportunities for language socialization. However, succeeding in the delivery of an OAP comes with various challenges emerging from linguistic and psychological factors. This small-case study explores OAPs as an oral academic socialization activity by documenting the strategies that 13 international undergraduate students in a large private Philippine university use to cope with the difficulties facing them in preparing and presenting an OAP. Using language socialization as the theoretical framework and semi-structured interviews to gather data, it identifies and explains eight personal strategies (six still employed and two no longer used) and discusses various factors that play a vital role in applying these strategies. The three most commonly used strategies are adopted to ensure a successful and acceptable OAP, typically a graded task. The two least frequently used ones are yet to be employed successfully. In applying these strategies, students not only perform the required academic task but are also engaged in different levels and frequencies of language socialization before and during the delivery of an OAP. Pedagogical implications in the use of OAPs as an academic task for language socialization in higher education are also discussed.
Towards bilingual expertise – evaluating translanguaging pedagogy in bilingual degrees at the university level
Authors: Mickwitz Åsa , Lehtonen Heini , Cvetanović Dragana , Toom Auli
Published: June 2021

A great deal of effort has been made in recent years to promote multilingual values in academia and society. This was one reason why the University of Helsinki introduced the Bilingual Bachelor’s programme (TvEx) in 2010 to guarantee a sufficient number of bilingual professionals in Finnish society. The aim of this study is to explore students’ reflections on the (learning) challenges they face in becoming bilingual experts. The data consist of lecture observations and 13 semi-structured retrospective interviews with 14 students conducted during 2018–2019. The results show that emerging bilingual students need to build a sense of belonging with both language groups in order to develop bilingual expertise. From the students’ point of view, teaching is experienced as satisfactory in terms of both language and content learning, especially in smaller teaching groups in which students feel safe to ask questions and where they are given individual support. It thus seems that learning in terms of both language and disciplinary content could be improved if teachers were to raise language awareness by explicitly addressing the language agenda of the class at the beginning of each course. They could, for example, initiate a discussion on the language situation(s) in the classroom in order to negotiate a functional set of teaching practices that would suit all students present in the class. Our findings also imply that teachers need to develop more student-centred approaches through which they can help their students to deepen content knowledge and to improve language skills.