bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Elementi di plurilinguismo nell’opera di Filippo Orioles
Authors: Bancheri Salvatore
Published: January 2021

La prima metà del Settecento — periodo in cui scrisse Filippo Orioles (1687–1793), autore del Riscatto d’Adamo — fu segnato in Sicilia da un continuo alternarsi di dominazioni e quindi anche da normale commistione di linguaggi. Di riflesso, i lavori dell’Orioles (La notte in giorno, La S. Rosalia, Il S. Alessio e Il San Basilio Magno), analizzati brevemente nella loro esemplarità linguistica, sono uno specchio di questa realtà. Nelle opere esaminate troviamo una mescolanza di lingue (italiano, spagnolo e latino), frequenti latinismi, dialetti (siciliano e napoletano). La contaminazione dei linguaggi si manifesta sia sul piano puramente linguistico, sia su quello dei codici e delle tradizioni culturali: abbiamo in contempo il linguaggio lirico e drammatico, colto e popolare, profano e religioso. Al linguaggio galante dei salotti si contrappone il dialetto schietto dei popolani; al tono epico si contrappone quello eroicomico dei servi. L’elemento più interessante delle commedie agiografiche dell’autore palermitano è il plurilinguismo — inteso in senso lato — grazie al quale va in scena, sia pure in modo anacronistico, la Sicilia del ’700, sia aristocratica che popolana. E sono proprio, e principalmente, i personaggi del popolo con il loro colorito dialetto che rendono meno pesanti, se non addirittura vivaci, le commedie dell’Orioles.
Narratives of Murder and Knowledge: Pellegrino Artusi and Dante Alighieri as Sleuths
Authors: Cicioni Mirna
Published: January 2021

Using McHale’s notions of “epistemological” and “ontological” dominants, this article analyzes three historical crime novels that have real historical characters as their protagonist: Marco Malvaldi’s Odore di chiuso (2011), featuring Pellegrino Artusi as the detective, and Giulio Leoni’s I delitti del mosaico (2004) and La crociata delle tenebre (2007), with Dante Alighieri as the sleuth. The article shows how the hybridization of crime fiction, history, and biography may be a fertile ground for the representation of the different ways of “knowing” in their respective historical periods and the construction of a dialogue between past and present constructed around depictions of social and political diversity, language issues, and ideas of “Italy.”
Vladimir Mayakovsky as Exemplary Character: Two Interpretations by Dario Fo and Carmelo Bene
Authors: Angelucci Malcolm , Kolsky Stephen
Published: January 2021

This article contributes to the mapping of the role played by the Russian poet, playwright, artist and performer Vladimir Mayakovsky (1893-1930) in the Italian context of the 60s and 70s, concentrating on Dario Fo’s L’operaio conosce 300 parole, il padrone 1000, per questo lui è il padrone (1969), and Carmelo Bene’s TV production of Bene! Quattro modi di morire in versi (1974, broadcast in 1978). Mayakovsky appears here as a character, constructed as an exemplary figure for the role of the artist. After framing exemplarity theoretically as a strategy that effaces the intrinsic discrepancy between example and rule, the article will map the presence of this rhetorical move in the two texts. It will discuss the ways in which they share a series of common features, forming in both cases an implicit agenda of legitimization at a time when both Fo and Bene were shifting the context of their practice. In this sense, this contribution argues that Fo’s L’operaio and Bene’s Quattro modi both introduce a programmatic element that defines a specific poetic and politics, and at the same time attempt at performing the very poetic that is being presented.
Fables and Faith: Favoleggiare in the Commedia
Authors: DeCoste Mary-Michelle
Published: January 2021

The verb favoleggiare appears twice in Dante’s Divina commedia, both times in the Paradiso. An examination of the use of this word, alongside a secondary consideration of the word favola as it is used elsewhere in the Paradiso, suggests the poet’s concern with the relationship between knowledge, particularly the shared beliefs of a community, and faith. As the pilgrim progresses on his journey through heaven, he comes to learn that the epistemology perpetuated through fables, while it may have its uses, is not enough to allow him to regain the diritta via Firmly rooted in the past, fables cannot adequately explain the sense behind human tragedy, nor do they provide all the tools necessary to acquire salvation. As the pilgrim will come to learn, we must look away from our human community to the divine, which remains unchanged and unaffected by the course of human affairs. It is this that the pilgrim must bear in mind through the suffering that awaits him on earth as he keeps his eyes on his heavenly reward. In order to do this, he must abandon his reliance on fables and accept that the cross is the only framework upon which a holy life can be based.
Negotiations of a Woman’s Self: Liminal Experiences and Dialogic Reconsiderations in Anna Banti’s Un grido lacerante
Authors: Haaland Torunn
Published: January 2021

This article focuses on the authorial figure in Anna Banti’s last work, Un grido lacerante. An introspective portrait of an aging author whose life and career have been shaped by remorse over a lost vocation, the novel has traditionally been interpreted as an expression of the autobiographical and historical dimension of Banti’s work. Moving away from notions of self-confessional narratives in favor of an analysis of textual strategies, this study investigates the role of the protagonist within a self-research that opens up to shared experiences and problems of existential, interpersonal and socio-cultural importance. This universalist focus engages in particular Bakhtin’s concepts of dialogic construction and narrative space-time. While the “chronotope” of the threshold encloses the liminality of the protagonist between contradictory identities and inclinations, the idea of a “dialogic self” accentuates the function of this unresolved intermediate position in promoting a subject that is negotiated in relation to internal and external constraints. By formulating an unconventional idea of self and a narrative that develops in a fragmentary and contradictory way to overcome the limits of its own fiction, the novel confronts the constraints women face in pursuing their inclinations and aspirations and addresses issues of a more humanistic nature concerning the right to construct and define one’s own identity independently of conceptions and norms of gender behaviour.
Câncer de mama e fatores de risco em familiares de mulheres mastectomizadas
Authors: Guimarães Clarissa Maria Cardoso , Silva Samara Campos Mendes , França Jael Rúbia Figueiredo , Andrade Smalyanna Sgren da Costa , De Brito Karen Krystine Gonçalves , Costa Cí­ntia Bezerra Almeida
Published: January 2021

Introdução: O câncer de mama atinge mulheres no Brasil e no mundo, principalmente aquelas inseridas nos fatores de risco. Objetivo: Identificar o perfil dos familiares acompanhantes de mulheres submetidas í  mastectomia e averiguar o conhecimento sobre os fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento do câncer de mama. Material e métodos: Estudo transversal com abordagem quantitativa realizado com 152 familiares do sexo feminino e de primeiro grau de mulheres mastectomizadas em tratamento no hospital de referência para câncer em João Pessoa/PB. Aplicou-se formulário estruturado contendo questões objetivas de variáveis sociodemográficas, história reprodutiva, história familiar e conhecimento sobre os fatores de risco para o câncer de mama. Resultados: Prevaleceram mulheres de idade inferior a 35 anos, com ensino médio completo, maioria casada e etnia parda. O sedentarismo, uso de contraceptivo e grau de parentesco foram apontados como fatores de risco inerentes ao surgimento do câncer de mama. Houve conhecimento satisfatório sobre elementos importantes ao desenvolvimento da neoplasia mamária entre as participantes. Conclusão: Espera-se que os resultados possam subsidiar ações para a redução do risco de desenvolvimento da doença entre os familiares de mulheres mastectomizadas.Palavras-chave: neoplasias da mama, fatores de risco, Enfermagem.
Percepção da equipe de enfermagem sobre cuidados paliativos na unidade de terapia intensiva
Authors: Silva Carolina Pedra Branca Valentim , Amaral Taisi Soares Assis , Da Silva Valdenir Almeida
Published: January 2021

Introdução: Diante do processo distanciamento da morte dos núcleos familiares e da desumanização do morrer, torna-se essencial adotar uma prática de cuidado que minimize o sofrimento e qualidade de vida diante da finitude. É nesse contexto que surgem os Cuidados Paliativos direcionados ao paciente na terminalidade da vida. Objetivo: Identificar a percepção da equipe de enfermagem sobre cuidados paliativos em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva. Métodos: Pesquisa qualitativa realizada com 30 profissionais de enfermagem que trabalham na terapia de um hospital público de grande porte, em Salvador, Bahia. Os dados foram coletados entre novembro de 2018 e janeiro de 2019, por meio de entrevista semiestruturada e foram processadas no software IRAMUTEQ. O projeto foi aprovado por um Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa. Resultados: Foram geradas quatro classes lexicais. Os entrevistados apontaram a relevância do cuidado humanizado para o conforto, alí­vio da dor e qualidade de vida dos pacientes em terminalidade. Houve destaque para o papel dos familiares junto aos pacientes e para seu maior envolvimento nas decisões sobre a paliação. Conclusão: A percepção dos profissionais foi direcionada í  indicação de um cuidado humanizado, que proporcione conforto e que agregue a equipe multiprofissional para o alcance dos objetivos da paliação.Palavras-chave: cuidados paliativos, enfermagem, unidade de terapia intensiva, percepção, humanização da assistência.
Long term follow-up of pediatric-onset Evans syndrome: broad immunopathological manifestations and high treatment burden
Authors: Pincez Thomas , Fernandes Helder , Leblanc Thierry , Michel Gérard , Barlogis Vincent , Bertrand Yves , Neven Bénédicte , Chahla Wadih Abou , Pasquet Marlène , Guitton Corinne , Marie-Cardine Aude , Pellier Isabelle , Armari-Alla Corinne , Benadiba Joy , Blouin Pascale , Jeziorski Eric , Millot Frédéric , Paillard Catherine , Thomas Caroline , Cheikh Nathalie , Bayart Sophie , Fouyssac Fanny , Piguet Christophe , Deparis Marianna , Briandet Claire , Dore Eric , Picard Capucine , Rieux-Laucat Frédéric , Landman-Parker Judith , Leverger Guy , Aladjidi Nathalie
Published: January 2021

Pediatric-onset Evans syndrome (pES) is defined by both immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) before the age of 18 years. There have been no comprehensive long-term studies of this rare disease, which can be associated to various immunopathological manifestations (IM). We report outcomes of the 151 patients with pES and more than 5 years of follow-up from the nationwide French prospective OBS’CEREVANCE cohort. Median age at final follow-up was 18.5 years (range, 6.8–50.0 years) and the median follow-up period was 11.3 years (range, 5.1–38.0 years). At 10 years, ITP and AIHA were in sustained complete remission in 54.5% and 78.4% of patients, respectively. The frequency and number of clinical and biological IM increased with age: at the age of 20 years, 74% had at least one clinical IM (cIM). A wide range of cIM occurred, mainly lymphoproliferation, dermatological, gastrointestinal/hepatic and pneumological IM. The number of cIM was associated with a subsequent increase in the number of second-line treatments received (other than steroids and immunoglobulins; hazard ratio 1.4, 95% Confidence Interval: 1.15–1.60, P=0.0002, Cox proportional hazards method). Survival at 15 years after diagnosis was 84%. Death occurred at a median age of 18 years (range, 1.7–31.5 years), and the most frequent cause was infection. The number of second-line treatments and severe/recurrent infections were independently associated with mortality. In conclusion, long-term outcomes of pES showed remission of cytopenias but frequent IM linked to high second-line treatment burden. Mortality was associated to drugs and/or underlying immunodeficiencies, and adolescents-young adults are a high-risk subgroup.
Analysis of the Implementation of the Indonesian National Qualifications Framework Oriented Curriculum in the Mathematics Education Program of Universitas Negeri Medan
Authors: Aruan Yuliani , Syahputra Edi , Surya Edy
Published: January 2021

This study aims to describe: 1) the implementation of the curriculum oriented to the Indonesian National Qualifications Framework (KKNI), 2) student responses to the six tasks required in the KKNI curriculum, 3) the quality of student performance and achievement with the implementation of the KKNI curriculum. This research is a descriptive qualitative research which aims to describe the implementation of the curriculum oriented to the Indonesian National Qualifications Framework (KKNI). Subjek in this study were undergraduate students-1 in the first semester, three, and five mathematics education of UNIMED. The subjects who were subjected to in-depth interviews were randomly selected six students. Data obtained from the distribution of questionnaires and observations of the lecture process and in-depth interviews. The object of this research is the implementation of the KKNI curriculum, student responses, performance, and achievement oriented to the Indonesian National Qualifications Framework (KKNI). Based on data analysis, it is found that: 1) The implementation of the Indonesian National Qualifications Framework (KKNI) has not been carried out optimally or well in the mathematics education lecture process, 2) Students have a positive response to the application of the Indonesian National Qualifications Framework (KKNI), 3) Performance Quality is quite good in the application of the Indonesian National Qualifications Framework (KKNI), 4) Students' learning achievement is quite low in the application of the Indonesian National Qualifications Framework (KKNI).
Analysis of Students' Mathematical Communication Ability in the Application of Vygotsky's Theory at High School Level
Authors: Sinaga Muhammad Ishak , Sinaga Bornok , Napitupulu Elvis
Published: January 2021

This study aims to analyze and discover the extent to which students 'mathematical communication skills in the application of Vygotsky's theory, to analyze and find descriptions of students' answer processes through tests of mathematical communication skills, and to analyze and find errors and difficulties of students in developing mathematical communication skills. Data obtained through tests of mathematical communication skills, Vygotsky's Theory questionnaire, student response questionnaires, interview guidelines, and data triangulation. This study uses qualitative data analysis used to analyze data on students' mathematical communication skills and student response questionnaire data through learning in the application of Vygotsky's theory with 5 items of two-variable linear program material in the form of essays in grade XI MIA-2 students of Al Ulum Medan Private High School. Who are given treatment through learning by applying Vygotsky's theory in the odd semester of the 2019/2020 learning year, which has 35 students. Based on the research results, there were 3 students (8.57%) who had a high level of mathematical communication skills; 7 students (20%) have moderate level of mathematical communication skills; 25 students (71.43%) have a low level of mathematical communication skills. After analyzing the student's answer process descriptively, the student's answer process to the mathematical communication test can be concluded that in the first indicator there are 15 students who are able to solve the questions correctly. In the second indicator, there are 8 students who are able to solve the questions correctly. In the third indicator, there are 8 students who are able to solve the questions correctly. In the fourth indicator, there are 4 students who are able to solve the questions correctly. In the fifth indicator, there are 6 students who are able to solve the questions correctly. In the sixth indicator, there are 4 students who are able to solve the questions correctly.
Knowing, Being, and Doing Religion
Authors: Illman Ruth , Czimbalmos Mercédesz
Published: January 2021

This article introduces a new analytical model for researching vernacular religion, which aims to capture and describe everyday religiosity as an interplay between knowing, being, and doing religion. It suggests three processes that tie this triad together: continuity; change; and context. The model is envisaged as a tool for tracing vernacular religion in ethnographic data in a multidimensional yet structured framework that is sensitive to historical data and cultural context, but also to individual narratives and nuances. It highlights the relationship between self-motivated modes of religiosity and institutional structures, as well as influences from secular sources and various traditions and worldviews.The article is based on an ongoing research project focusing on everyday Judaism in Finland. The ethnographic examples illustrate how differently these dynamics play out in different life narratives, depending on varying emphases, experiences, and situations. By bringing together major themes recognized as relevant in previous research and offering an analytical tool for detecting them in ethnographic materials, the model has the potential to create new openings for comparative research, because it facilitates the interlinking of datasets across contexts and cultures. The article concludes that the model can be developed into a more generally applicable analytical tool for structuring and elucidating contemporary ethnographies, mirroring a world of rapid cultural and religious change.
Reproductive biology of Kalanchoe laetivirens (Crassulaceae) in the edaphoclimatic conditions of Santa Catarina, Brazil
Authors: Sousa Filho Leonardo Norberto de , Albarello Jean Bressan , Cardozo Mayara Martins , Faita Márcia Regina , Santos Cristina Magalhães Ribas dos
Published: January 2021

Crassulaceae of the Kalanchoe laetivirens species have ornamental potential, but are poorly studied, especially their reproductive biology and trophic resources made available to visitors. The aim of this study, therefore, was to characterize the reproductive system of K. laetivirens through analyses of floral morphology, trophic resources and floral visitors. Floral structures, pollen / egg ratio, in vitro pollen germination, pollen grain structure in scanning microscopy and the availability of trophic resources by the evaluation of potential and instant nectar were described. The survey of floral visitors was carried out, and the pollen and nectar collection frequencies were recorded. The results show that the species has tubular flowers, complete with tetramer calyx and corolla, eight epipetalous stamens and four pistils with pluriovulated ovaries. Based on pollen / ovule ratio, this species is optionally autogamous. Morphologically, the pollen grain is small, tricolporate and has radial symmetrywith in vitro germination facilitated in the presence of sucrose (20%). Visitors mostly collected pollen with the highest frequency of visits at 9:30 am. The production of instant nectar had little variation between the evaluated times. The results are relevant to the understanding of the reproductive biology of Kalanchoe laetivirens and its relationship with floral visitors.
Avaliação do Programa de Distribuição de Leite em Permanbuco: uma análise incremetal
Authors: Andrade Jucimar Casimiro de , Silva Fernando Salvino da , Santana Robson José Silva , Chaves Renata Porto , Silva Antônielle Patricia Lima da
Published: January 2021

O presente trabalho tem o objetivo de apresentar o programa de distribuição de leite do  Estado de Pernambuco intitulado inicialmente “leite de Pernambuco” e posteriormente “leite de todos” funcionando desde o ano 2000. Passou por três governos federais e obteve maior força através do Programa de Aquisição de Alimentos (Paa) criado em 2003, vinculado ao Ministério de Desenvolvimento Social e Combate a Fome (Mds) durante o primeiro governo Lula. Presentemente esse programa em Pernambuco atende famílias em condições de pobreza e tem por objetivo melhorar as condições nutricionais desses segmentos vulneráveis da sociedade. Para análise do programa foi utilizado o modelo incremental de políticas públicas de Lindblom adaptado por Dye (2010). Pelos dados disponíveis o programa beneficia cerca de 106.500 famílias e 5.244 agricultores familiares que produzem leite no Estado. Os resultados obtidos mostram que o programa foi adaptado ao longo do período analisado para atender melhor os produtores de leite e o público em condições de risco alimentar.
O impacto do isolamento social na pandemia de COVID-19 no acesso ao tratamento e aos serviços de prevenção do HIV
Authors: Parente Juliana da Silva , Azevedo Suely Lopes de , Moreira Letícia da Fonseca Anacleto , Abreu Larissa Murta , Souza Lorrany Viana de
Published: January 2021

A Organização Mundial da Saúde, em março de 2020, declarou o COVID-19 como uma pandemia, recomendando medidas de prevenção, controle e tratamento da doença. Uma das principais medidas, o isolamento social, resultou na suspensão de diversos procedimentos nos serviços de saúde. A reorganização dos serviços voltados para o atendimento ambulatorial de patologias ocasionou perdas e consequências incalculáveis na continuidade do tratamento. O estudo tem como objetivo discutir as consequências das medidas de distanciamento social e a organização dos serviços ambulatoriais voltados para o atendimento das pessoas que vivem com HIV durante a pandemia de COVID-19. Método: revisão integrativa, realizada no Portal de Periódicos da CAPES, utilizando estudos disponíveis na íntegra, indexado no portal da PUBMED, contendo os descritores: HIV, Antiretroviral Therapy, Social Isolation. A amostra, resultou de 9 estudos selecionados após os critérios de inclusão e exclusão. Resultados: A pandemia interferiu diretamente no tratamento e na oferta de serviços para as pessoas que vivem com HIV. Evidenciou-se uma diminuição na rotina de testagem, reagendamentos ou supressão dos horários de atendimentos de rotina e diminuição da distribuição de medicamentos. Conclusão: Apesar da situação de risco, o atendimento nos serviços de saúde a populações-chave deve ser garantido, quali e quantitativamente, sendo responsabilidade dos gestores reorganizar os serviços, em busca de erradicar interrupções dos atendimentos e melhorar a assistência prestada.
Informatização do processo de seleção de bolsistas de assistência estudantil: a experiência do IFMG
Authors: Melo Eduardo Cardoso , Silva Gabriel da , Silva Paulo César Lourenço da
Published: January 2021

Os órgãos governamentais vêm buscando maneiras de aprimorar a sua eficiência com o apoio de recursos tecnológicos, ampliando assim o acesso da população a diversos serviços que, até então, demandavam presença física em determinados locais. O presente artigo é apresentado neste contexto de inovações no governo eletrônico, em especial, porque delineia e apresenta os resultados do projeto de informatização das atividades relacionadas ao processo de seleção de estudantes bolsistas do Instituto Federal de Minas Gerais (IFMG). Trata-se de uma pesquisa que apresenta um novo produto a partir de um experimento exploratório conduzido como um estudo de caso no âmbito desta instituição. A execução do processo com o suporte do Sistema de Informação construído gerou, como principais ganhos, a redução em cerca de 51% no tempo médio de publicação dos resultados de editais, maior rapidez na liberação dos recursos financeiros para estudantes com comprovada vulnerabilidade socioeconômica e a otimização de recursos humanos envolvidos com as análises documentais. Finalmente, aumentos de eficiência na execução de tarefas em conjunto com o incremento na satisfação dos envolvidos são resultados que devem ser amplamente divulgados para que a administração pública seja mais efetiva na condução de projetos de inovação tecnológica.
Dissolved organic carbon from cultured kelp Saccharina japonica: production, bioavailability, and bacterial degradation rates
Authors: Gao Y , Zhang Y , Du M , Lin F , Jiang W , Li W , Li F , Lv X , Fang J , Jiang Z
Published: January 2021

Seaweed farming is widely perceived as one of the most environmentally benign types of aquaculture activity. In the past 10 yr, global seaweed production has doubled and reached 31.8 million t. Farmed seaweed also has important functions in local ecosystems. We focus on the production, bioavailability, and bacterial degradation rates of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from cultured kelp Saccharina japonica. Semi in situ incubations in 2 growing seasons were conducted to estimate DOC production, and laboratory incubations were used to determine bioavailability and decay rates of DOC from cultured kelp. Results showed that DOC production was 6.2-7.0 mg C (g dry wt)-1 d-1 in the growing seasons, and the proportion of DOC in net primary production was 23.7-39.1%. The decomposition rate of DOC was 4 ± 1% d-1 and 9 ± 1% d-1 in January and April, respectively. About 37.8% remained as refractory DOC after 150 d incubation. It was calculated that the total DOC from kelp in Sanggou Bay was approximately 11.3 times of that from phytoplankton for the whole bay (144 km2). Our results suggest that more than half of the bioavailable DOC will be exported out of the bay to potentially support the wider food chain through bacterial uptake. Cultured kelp is therefore an important source of DOC in the embayment, contributes to the coastal DOC pool and provides a potential pathway for carbon dioxide sequestration.
Insights into the planktonic to sessile transition in a marine biofilm-forming Pseudoalteromonas isolate using comparative proteomic analysis
Authors: Wu Z , Wu Y , Huang Y , He J , Su P , Feng D
Published: January 2021

Bacterial biofilms play an important role in marine biofouling. The formation of a biofilm starts when marine bacterial cells transition from a planktonic to an attached state. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in this transition are poorly understood. Here, 51 strains of marine bacteria were isolated from natural biofilms growing on submerged artificial surfaces (glass slides, epoxy panels, and bridge pillars) and evaluated for their biofilm-forming capacity. Eleven strains formed relatively strong biofilms and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that they belonged to the genera Leisingera, Roseobacter, Pseudoalteromonas, Alteromonas, Tenacibaculum, Vibrio, Chryseobacterium, Aquimarina, and Acinetobacter. Strain Pseudoalteromonas sp. W-7 showed efficient and rapid attachment and was therefore chosen for further study. An iTRAQ-based comparative proteomic analysis of planktonic and attached strain W-7 cells was carried out. A total of 3468 proteins were identified, of which 163 showed significant differential expression (120 down-regulated and 43 up-regulated in attached cells relative to planktonic cells). KEGG (Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes) analysis indicated that pyruvate metabolism, carbon fixation, and carbon metabolism were signiﬁcantly affected in attached cells. Up-regulated proteins such as UTP-glucose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase, acetyltransferase component of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, OmpA-like protein, and acetyl-coenzyme A synthetase may be important during initial adhesion. Our findings provide a deeper understanding of the planktonic to sessile transition of marine fouling bacteria.
The future of paleoclimate
Authors: Esper J , Büntgen U
Published: January 2021

Our understanding of natural climate variability rapidly declines over the Common Era (CE) as the pre-instrumental temperature amplitude differs substantially among large-scale reconstructions. Highlighting such differences and emphasizing paleoclimatic findings is crucial for placing anthropogenic climate change in a long-term context. We argue that more proxy records are needed to accurately reconstruct first millennium CE temperature variability and value regional studies producing such data.
Gut Microbiota: A New Regulator of Cardiovascular Function
Authors: Bulgakova S. , Zakharova N. , Romanchuk P.
Published: January 2021

In studies Romanchuk N. P. from invention in 2010 (A method for producing a cereal component for an instant food product and a method for producing a functional instant food product. RF patent for invention №2423873, consisting in increasing the preventive effect on the human body through the introduction of vital food substances into a functional food product to suppress free radical activity, invasive detoxification of the human body, optimizing neurogenic regulation of vascular tone in arterial hypertension and restoring reproductive functions in males and females by optimizing the quality structure of product components), to the present (https://doi.org/10.33619/2414-2948/58/14) it has been shown that a new managed healthy biomicrobiota and personalized functional and balanced nutrition of the “brain and microbiota” is a long-term medical program of the patient, which allows the combined use of nutritional epigenetics and pharmaceuticals, and most importantly the prevention of polypharmacy. The main engine of human longevity is when microbiological memory remains stable, and the diet of functional (healthy) dietary nutrition and the structure of healthy biomicrobiota function almost unchanged. The human microbiome is a collection of all microbes that inhabit the body. The human gut microbiome is a unique collection of microorganisms that affect a number of important processes: from metabolic and immune to cognitive, and deviation of its composition from the norm leads to the development of various pathological conditions. Harmful changes in the composition or number of gut bacteria, commonly referred to as intestinal dysbacteriosis, have been associated with the development and progression of numerous diseases, including cardiovascular (CVD) diseases. Most CVD risk factors, including aging, obesity, certain dietary patterns, and sedentary lifestyles, have been shown to cause bowel dysbiosis. Dysbacteriosis is associated with gut inflammation and reduced gut barrier integrity, which in turn increases levels of circulating structural components of bacteria and microbial metabolites that may contribute to CVD development. The purpose of the present review is to summarize available data on the role of the gut microbiome in the regulation of cardiovascular function and pathological processes. Particular attention is paid to dietary-related microbiome changes, as well as cellular mechanisms by which the microbiome can alter CVD risk.
Organization of Pulsating Air Flow Through a Heat Exchanger
Authors: Li J. , Shan J. , Guo Z. , Levtsev A.
Published: January 2021

In recent years, the enhancement of heat transfer by pulsating flow has become a research hotspot. A great deal of work has been done in the past, with remarkable results, to achieve better heat transfer rates. How to improve the efficiency of heat exchanger is always a research topic. In this paper, pulsating air flow is formed by standard ventilation grille and electric actuator, and the pulsating air flow is guided through two-stage heat exchanger to study the influence of pulsating air flow on heat transfer efficiency. The experimental results show that the heat transfer efficiency can be improved by pulsating flow and the heat recovery efficiency can be reduced by increasing the flow rate of the heating medium.
Ecological Systems Theory: Exploring the Development of the Theoretical Framework as Conceived by Bronfenbrenner
Authors: Crawford Marcus
Published: January 2021

The Ecological Systems theory represents a convergence of biological, psychological, and social sciences. Through the study of the ecology of human development, social scientists seek to explain and understand the ways in which an individual interacts with the interrelated systems within that individual’s environment (Bronfenbrenner, 1983a). Bronfenbrenner (1994) sought to develop a theory of human development that would consider the influences of all of the systems that play a role in impacting the lived experiences of the individual no matter how remote the influence. Today, many of these concepts are commonplace in social work practice (micro-, meso-, and macrosystems, for instance); however, its foundation of empirical support is often less understood. This article will explore the historical development of the Ecological Systems theory through the works of Bronfenbrenner, will examine the empirical evidence supporting the theory, and will discuss the implications of the theory within social work practice.
Estimating Movement Smoothness From Inertial Measurement Units
Authors: Melendez-Calderon Alejandro , Shirota Camila , Balasubramanian Sivakumar
Published: January 2021

Inertial measurement units (IMUs) are increasingly used to estimate movement quality and quantity to the infer the nature of motor behavior. The current literature contains several attempts to estimate movement smoothness using data from IMUs, many of which assume that the translational and rotational kinematics measured by IMUs can be directly used with the smoothness measures spectral arc length (SPARC) and log dimensionless jerk (LDLJ-V). However, there has been no investigation of the validity of these approaches. In this paper, we systematically evaluate the use of these measures on the kinematics measured by IMUs. We show that: (a) SPARC and LDLJ-V are valid measures of smoothness only when used with velocity; (b) SPARC and LDLJ-V applied on translational velocity reconstructed from IMU is highly error prone due to drift caused by integration of reconstruction errors; (c) SPARC can be applied directly on rotational velocities measured by a gyroscope, but LDLJ-V can be error prone. For discrete translational movements, we propose a modified version of the LDLJ-V measure, which can be applied to acceleration data (LDLJ-A). We evaluate the performance of these measures using simulated and experimental data. We demonstrate that the accuracy of LDLJ-A depends on the time profile of IMU orientation reconstruction error. Finally, we provide recommendations for how to appropriately apply these measures in practice under different scenarios, and highlight various factors to be aware of when performing smoothness analysis using IMU data.
Stress Granules in the Post-transcriptional Regulation of Immune Cells
Authors: Curdy Nicolas , Lanvin Olivia , Cadot Sarah , Laurent Camille , Fournié Jean-Jacques , Franchini Don-Marc
Published: January 2021

Immune cell activation triggers transcriptional and translational programs eliciting cellular processes, such as differentiation or proliferation, essential for an efficient immune response. These dynamic processes require an intricate orchestration of regulatory mechanisms to control the precise spatiotemporal expression of proteins. Post-transcriptional regulation ensures the control of messenger RNA metabolism and appropriate translation. Among these post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms, stress granules participate in the control of protein synthesis. Stress granules are ribonucleoprotein complexes that form upon stress, typically under control of the integrated stress response. Such structures assemble upon stimulation of immune cells where they control selective translational programs ensuring the establishment of accurate effector functions. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge about post-transcriptional regulation in immune cells and highlight the role of stress sensors and stress granules in such regulation.
Automated Electrocardiogram Analysis Identifies Novel Predictors of Ventricular Arrhythmias in Brugada Syndrome
Authors: Tse Gary , Lee Sharen , Li Andrew , Chang Dong , Li Guangping , Zhou Jiandong , Liu Tong , Zhang Qingpeng
Published: January 2021

Background: Patients suffering from Brugada syndrome (BrS) are at an increased risk of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. Whilst electrocardiographic (ECG) variables have been used for risk stratification with varying degrees of success, automated measurements have not been tested for their ability to predict adverse outcomes in BrS.

Methods: BrS patients presenting in a single tertiary center between 2000 and 2018 were analyzed retrospectively. ECG variables on vector magnitude, axis, amplitude and duration from all 12 leads were determined. The primary endpoint was spontaneous ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation (VT/VF) on follow-up.

Results: This study included 83 patients [93% male, median presenting age: 56 (41–66) years old, 45% type 1 pattern] with 12 developing the primary endpoint (median follow-up: 75 (Q1–Q3: 26–114 months). Cox regression showed that QRS frontal axis > 70.0 degrees, QRS horizontal axis > 57.5 degrees, R-wave amplitude (lead I) <0.67 mV, R-wave duration (lead III) > 50.0 ms, S-wave amplitude (lead I) < −0.144 mV, S-wave duration (lead aVL) > 35.5 ms, QRS duration (lead V3) > 96.5 ms, QRS area in lead I < 0.75 Ashman units, ST slope (lead I) > 31.5 deg, T-wave area (lead V1) < −3.05 Ashman units and PR interval (lead V2) > 157 ms were significant predictors. A weighted score based on dichotomized values provided good predictive performance (hazard ratio: 1.59, 95% confidence interval: 1.27–2.00, P-value<0.0001, area under the curve: 0.84).

Conclusions: Automated ECG analysis revealed novel risk markers in BrS. These markers should be validated in larger prospective studies.
Observations on Glucose Excursions With the Use of a Simple Protocol for Insulin, Following Antenatal Betamethasone Administration
Authors: Paulsen Chané , Hall David R. , Mason Deidré , van de Vyver Marí , Coetzee Ankia , Conradie Magda
Published: January 2021

Aims

Pregnant women with diabetes often require preterm delivery. Antenatal betamethasone reduces perinatal morbidity and mortality, but induces hyperglycemia. The primary objective was to observe glucose excursions and determine the preliminary safety of a protocol for subcutaneous insulin following betamethasone administration in an antenatal ward.

Material and Methods

This retrospective study included all women with diabetes who received betamethasone due to anticipated preterm delivery. Glucose excursions were evaluated in the fasting state and 2-h postprandial. Blood glucose values ≥14mmol/L or ≤3.5mmol/L were regarded as unacceptable hyper- and hypoglycemia respectively. Events over the first 96 h were documented.

Results

This study spanned 52 months and included fifty-nine women. Eleven episodes of defined hypoglycemia occurred in six women, all receiving insulin therapy, but none after a corrective dose of insulin. No serious hypoglycemic incident was reported. Seventeen women experienced hyperglycemic incidents almost entirely (47/56) within 48 h of betamethasone administration, most often postprandially (34/56) and in 85% of episodes, preceded by pre-prandial values >9 mmol/L (29/34). 14 (82.4%) of these women were receiving background insulin therapy. No case with gestational diabetes encountered defined hyperglycemia.

Conclusions

This small study demonstrated preliminary safety of the protocol. Enhanced surveillance is necessary for 72 h after initiation of betamethasone.
Functional Paleoecology and the Pollen-Plant Functional Trait Linkage
Authors: Brussel Thomas , Brewer Simon Christopher
Published: January 2021

Paleoecological investigations using the pollen-plant functional trait linkage are increasing in value as new insights to past ecological function and dynamics are revealed. These retrospective approaches link pollen sequences to plant functional trait measurements to reveal long-term changes in ecosystem properties that are difficult to resolve using traditional paleoecological methods. Despite these methodological improvements and the newfound perspectives, there has yet to be thorough testing of whether transforming pollen to ecological function tracks functional trait distributions in geographic space. We assess this in North America by linking surface pollen samples to measurements of three functional traits that represent major axes of plant ecological strategy. Pollen-derived estimates of function were first used to investigate occupied trait space at different scales. These estimates were used to reconstruct the latitudinal functional diversity gradient of North America, and results were compared to the continent’s functional diversity gradient estimated from tree assemblages and gradients based on pollen richness and evenness. Results indicated that the patterns in pollen-based function sufficiently track ecological function in trait and geographic space and the macroecological biodiversity pattern was reconstructed, although there were minor differences between the slopes of the functional diversity and each of the pollen index gradients. Taken together, the outcomes of our investigation indicate reliability in extending the pollen-plant functional trait linkage into deeper time, at least for examining North American functional dynamics.
Rethinking Biological Invasions as a Metacommunity Problem
Authors: Brown Bryan L. , Barney Jacob N.
Published: January 2021

Perhaps more than any other ecological discipline, invasion biology has married the practices of basic science and the application of that science. The conceptual frameworks of population regulation, metapopulations, supply-side ecology, and community assembly have all to some degree informed the regulation, management, and prevention of biological invasions. Invasion biology needs to continue to adopt emerging frameworks and paradigms to progress as both a basic and applied science. This need is urgent as the biological invasion problem continues to worsen. The development of metacommunity theory in the last two decades represents a paradigm-shifting approach to community ecology that emphasizes the multi-scale nature of community assembly and biodiversity regulation. Work on metacommunities has demonstrated that even relatively simple processes at local scales are often heavily influenced by regional-scale processes driven primarily by the dispersal of organisms. Often the influence of dispersal interacts with, or even swamps, the influence of local-scale drivers like environmental conditions and species interactions. An emphasis on dispersal and a focus on multi-scale processes enable metacommunity theory to contribute strongly to the advancement of invasion biology. Propagule pressure of invaders has been identified as one of the most important drivers facilitating invasion, so the metacommunity concept, designed to address how dispersal-driven dynamics affect community structure, can directly address many of the central questions of invasion biology. Here we revisit many of the important concepts and paradigms of biological invasions—propagule pressure, biotic resistance, enemy release, functional traits, neonative species, human-assisted transport,—and view those concepts through the lens of metacommunity theory. In doing so, we accomplish several goals. First, we show that work on metacommunities has generated multiple predictions, models, and the tools that can be directly applied to invasion scenarios. Among these predictions is that invasibility of a community should decrease with both local controls on community assembly, and the dispersal rates of native species. Second, we demonstrate that framing biological invasions in metacommunity terms actually unifies several seemingly disparate concepts central to invasion biology. Finally, we recommend several courses of action for the control and management of invasive species that emerge from applying the concepts of metacommunity theory.
RNA Sequencing Reveals LINC00167 as a Potential Diagnosis Biomarker for Primary Osteoarthritis: A Multi-Stage Study
Authors: Jiang Liying , Zhou Yiqin , Shen Junjie , Chen Yi , Ma Ziyuan , Yu Yuhui , Chu Minjie , Qian Qirong , Zhuang Xun , Xia Shengli
Published: January 2021

Objectives

Given the roles played by lncRNA in human diseases and the high incidence of OA, this study investigated the pivotal pathways involved in the disease and identified potential biomarkers for OA diagnosis.

Methods

We first performed an exploration of RNA-sequencing in peripheral blood leukocytes from six subjects (3 OA and 3 healthy controls). Promising candidate lncRNAs were evaluated in first stage validation using a GEO dataset (GSE114007) of 38 subjects (20 OA and 18 healthy controls), followed by a second stage validation using quantitative PCR analysis with 101 subjects (67 OA and 34 controls). The third stage investigated the potential value of validated lncRNA in the early diagnosis of OA in peripheral blood leukocytes from a total of 120 participants (60 cases and 60 controls).

Results

The dataset identified a total of 1,380 up-regulated and 719 down-regulated mRNAs and 5,743 up-regulated and 7,384 down-regulated lncRNAs. The up-regulated DEGs were mainly enriched in the extracellular matrix, while the down-regulated DEGs were mainly enriched in the IL-17 and wnt signaling pathways. 18 overlapping candidate lncRNAs survived after first-stage validation. 3 hub lncRNAs were selected for the second validation stage and qualified in an external sample, and lncRNA LINC00167 was further confirmed with a similar result (down-expressed in both stages). Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that LINC00167 can distinguish OA cases from healthy controls with a high area under the curve of 0.879 (95%CI: 0.819, 0.938; P < 0.001), with a sensitivity of 80.7% and specificity of 83.5%.

Conclusion

The expression profile of OA was identified and critical pathways were elucidated by an integrated approach to RNA-seq from easily accessible blood. LINC00167 may serve as a potential early diagnosis marker for OA in clinical practice. The detailed mechanism of action of this lncRNA requires further elucidation in future studies.
A New Stepwise Molecular Work-Up After Chorionic Villi Sampling in Women With an Early Pregnancy Loss
Authors: Pauta Montse , Badenas Cèlia , Rodriguez-Revenga Laia , Soler Anna , Grande Maribel , Sabrià Joan , Illanes Carmen , Borobio Virginia , Borrell Antoni
Published: January 2021

Objective:To explore the use of a new molecular work-up based on the stepwise use of Quantitative Fluorescence PCR (QF-PCR) extended to eight chromosomes and single nucleotide polymorphism array (SNP-array) in chorionic villi obtained by chorionic villi sampling (CVS) offered to women experiencing an early pregnancy loss.

Methods:During a 3-year period (January 2016–December 2018), CVS was offered to women experiencing an early pregnancy loss before the evacuation of the products of conception (POC) to retrieve chorionic villi, irrespective of the number of previous losses. A new molecular work-up was prospectively assayed encompassing a first QF-PCR round (with the 21, 18, 13, 7, X, and Y chromosomes), a second QF-PCR round (with the 15, 16, and 22 chromosomes), and a high resolution SNP-array in those cases with normal QF-PCR results. A control group in which POC were collected after surgical uterine evacuation was used to be compared with the intervention group.

Results:Around 459 women were enrolled in the intervention group (CVS) and 185 in the control group (POC after uterine evacuation). The QF-PCR testing success rates were significantly higher in the intervention group (98.5%: 452/459) as compared to the control group (74%: 109/147;p< 0.001), while the chromosomal anomaly rate at the two QF-PCR rounds was similar between the two groups: 52% (234/452) in the intervention and 42% (46/109) in the control group (p= 0.073). The SNP-array was performed in 202 QF-PCR normal samples of the intervention group and revealed 67 (33%) atypical chromosomal anomalies (>10 Mb), 5 (2.5%) submicroscopic pathogenic copy number variants, and 2 (1%) variant of uncertain significance (VOUS).

Conclusion:Eighty-two percent of women experiencing an early pregnancy loss opted for a CVS. The testing success rates were higher in the intervention group (CVS; 98%) as compared to the control group (POC; 74%). The overall yields were 52% by QF-PCR (including three complete hydatiform moles), and 16% by SNP-array, including 15% atypical chromosomal anomalies and 1.1% submicroscopic pathogenic copy number variants.