bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New lipase-producing Streptomyces isolated from halo-alkaline habitat in Wadi El Natrun: polyphasic identification and statistical optimization of enzyme production
Authors: Mohamed Mohamed A. , Awad Hassan M.
Published: January 2021

Background

Bioprospecting lipase producers in non-conventional habitats are the way to find special enzymes of diverse applications. Halo-alkaline marshes in Wadi El Natrun in Egypt are some of the most stable ecological systems in the world, and because of the double extremities of alkalinity and salinity, they harbor individual microbes capable of adapting stress conditions.

Results

Eight strains were recovered from the coastline soil of Al-Beida Lake in Wadi El Natrun and have been tested for lipase production. Among the eight isolates, the strain SBLWN_MH2 was the most active producer of lipase (7.5 U/ml). The crude SBLWN_MH2 lipase showed activity over a wide pH range (3.5 to 13) with an optimum pH at 10.5, and it was able to show more than 75% of its highest activity at pH elevated up to 13. The identification using phenotypic and genotypic methods strongly indicated that the strain SBLWN_MH2 belonged to the genus Streptomyces with a similarity of 99%. Thus, it has been given the suggested name Streptomyces sp. SBLWN_MH2 (MG593538). SBLWN_MH2 produced extracellular lipase in modified starch casein medium supplemented with different oils or Tween-80, and the potential production rate has been attained in the case of linseed oil after 3 days. Further experiments have been carried out to optimize medium composition through Box-Behnken design and response surface methodology, and it was possible to achieve more than 3.5-fold increase in lipase production.

Conclusions

The present study indicates that Streptomyces sp. SBLWN_MH2 is a potential lipase producer and could be fruitfully employed in the large-scale production of highly alkaline lipase.
Endothelial dysfunction and body mass index: is there a role for plasma peroxynitrite?
Authors: Chikopela Theresa , Heimburger Douglas C. , Kaluba Longa , Hamambulu Pharaoh , Simfukwe Newton , Mutale Wilbroad , Koethe John R. , Goma Fastone
Published: January 2021

Background

Endothelial function is dependent on the balance between vasoconstrictive and vasodilatory substances. The endothelium ability to produce nitric oxide is one of the most crucial mechanisms in regulating vascular tone. An increase in inducible nitric oxide synthase contributes to endothelial dysfunction in overweight persons, while oxidative stress contributes to the conversion of nitric oxide to peroxynitrite (measured as nitrotyrosine in vivo) in underweight persons. The objective of this study was to elucidate the interaction of body composition and oxidative stress on vascular function and peroxynitrite. This was done through an experimental design with three weight groups (underweight, normal weight and overweight), with four treatment arms in each. Plasma nitrotyrosine levels were measured 15–20 h post lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment, as were aortic ring tension changes. Acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) challenges were used to observe endothelial-dependent and endothelial-independent vascular relaxation after pre-constriction of aortic rings with phenylephrine.

Results

Nitrotyrosine levels in saline-treated rats were similar among the weight groups. There was a significant increase in nitrotyrosine levels between saline-treated rats and those treated with the highest lipopolysaccharide doses in each of the weight groups. In response to ACh challenge, Rmax (percentage reduction in aortic tension) was lowest in overweight rats (112%). In response to SNP, there was an insignificantly lower Rmax in the underweight rats (106%) compared to the normal weight rats (112%). Overweight rats had a significant decrease in Rmax (83%) in response to SNP, signifying involvement of a more chronic process in tension reduction changes. A lower Rmax accompanied an increase in peroxynitrite after acetylcholine challenge in all weight groups.

Conclusions

Endothelial dysfunction, observed as an impairment in the ability to reduce tension, is associated with increased plasma peroxynitrite levels across the spectrum of body mass. In higher-BMI rats, an additional role is played by vascular smooth muscle in the causation of endothelial dysfunction.
Traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities of Cochlospermum tinctorium A. Rich (Cochlospermaceae): a review
Authors: Ahmad Mubarak Hussaini , Jatau Abubakar Ibrahim , Khalid Garba M. , Alshargi Omar Yahya
Published: January 2021

Background

The plant Cochlospermum tinctorium A. Rich is a sub-shrub that belongs to the family Cochlospermaceae. The plant has been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of malaria, rickets, stomachache, diarrhea, gastric ulcer, parasitic infestations, liver diseases, fever, pain, inflammation, infectious diseases, epilepsy, snake bite, burns, orchitis, labour, menstrual problems, and many other diseases. This review summarizes the traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities of Cochlospermum tinctorium.

Main text

To date, few bioactive molecules have been identified and isolated from the plant such as 7,3-dimethyldihydroquercelin, 5,4-dimethylquercelin, cochloxanthine, dihydrocochloxanthine, arjunolic acid, 3-O-E-p-coumaroylalphitolic acid, alphitolic acid, 1-hydroxytetradecan-3-one, 3-bisabolen, 2-tridecanone, 3-hexadecanone, 1-dodecanol, l-tetradecanol, 2-pentdecanone, 3-octadecanone, 1-hydroxy-3-hexadecanone, 1-nonadecanol, l-O-acetyl-3-hexadecanone, and l-hydroxy-3-oetadecanone. The literature related some of the reported ethnomedicinal uses of the plant to these compounds found in the different parts of the plant.

Conclusion

The comprehensive information documented in this review about the importance of the C. tinctorium may provide an opportunity for research advancement in drug discovery and a better understanding of the medicinal benefits of the plant.
The Case for Biocalculus: Improving Student Understanding of the Utility Value of Mathematics to Biology and Affect toward Mathematics
Authors: Aikens Melissa L. , Eaton Carrie Diaz , Highlander Hannah Callender
Published: January 2021

This study examines changes in life science students’ understanding of the utility of mathematics to biology, their interest in mathematics, and their overall attitudes toward mathematics after taking courses that integrate calculus into biological problems. Factors that contribute to improved attitudes toward mathematics are identified.
Impact of a 40-Gene Targeted Panel Test on Physician Decision Making for Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Barnell Erica K. , Newcomer Kenneth F. , Skidmore Zachary L. , Krysiak Kilannin , Anderson Sydney R. , Wartman Lukas D. , Oh Stephen T. , Welch John S. , Stockerl-Goldstein Keith E. , Vij Ravi , Cashen Amanda F. , Pusic Iskra , Westervelt Peter , Abboud Camille N. , Ghobadi Armin , Uy Geoffrey L. , Schroeder Mark A. , Dipersio John F. , Politi Mary C. , Spencer David H. , Duncavage Eric J. , Ley Timothy J. , Griffith Malachi , Jacoby Meagan A. , Griffith Obi L.
Published: January 2021

PURPOSE

Physicians treating hematologic malignancies increasingly order targeted sequencing panels to interrogate recurrently mutated genes. The precise impact of these panels on clinical decision making is not well understood.

METHODS

Here, we report our institutional experience with a targeted 40-gene panel (MyeloSeq) that is used to generate a report for both genetic variants and variant allele frequencies for the treating physician (the limit of mutation detection is approximately one AML cell in 50).

RESULTS

In total, 346 sequencing reports were generated for 325 patients with suspected hematologic malignancies over an 8-month period (August 2018 to April 2019). To determine the influence of genomic data on clinical care for patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), we analyzed 122 consecutive reports from 109 patients diagnosed with AML and surveyed the treating physicians with a standardized questionnaire. The panel was ordered most commonly at diagnosis (61.5%), but was also used to assess response to therapy (22.9%) and to detect suspected relapse (15.6%). The panel was ordered at multiple timepoints during the disease course for 11% of patients. Physicians self-reported that 50 of 114 sequencing reports (44%) influenced clinical care decisions in 44 individual patients. Influences were often nuanced and extended beyond identifying actionable genetic variants with US Food and Drug Administration–approved drugs.

CONCLUSION

This study provides insights into how physicians are currently using multigene panels capable of detecting relatively rare AML cells. The most influential way to integrate these tools into clinical practice will be to perform prospective clinical trials that assess patient outcomes in response to genomically driven interventions.
Under-Theorized and Under-Taught
Authors: May Vivian M.
Published: January 2021

Interpretive approaches to Black women’s insurgency can stifle as much as they reveal. Harriet Tubman is deservedly remembered for her sustained resistance to multiple forms of oppression. Yet, she is often made visible in ways that distort, rendering her invisible. Scholars often warp Tubman’s contributions by presenting her as an exceptional but lone figure, by animating stereotypes of Black women’s unparalleled strength, or by fragmenting her activism via single-issue lenses. Critics also draw on maternal or salvific frames to soften Tubman’s militancy or enfold her into the nation’s triumphal narrative (misrepresenting Tubman and erasing how systems of oppression she challenged continue today). Unfortunately, such forms of “checking” Tubman go relatively “unchecked” in feminist scholarship, where Tubman’s work is often not viewed as relevant to core feminist theories, concepts, methods, or curricula. However, Tubman’s contributions should be understood as pertinent to women’s studies, particularly from within women of color theoretical traditions.
March against Racism and Violence and in Favor of Living Well (bem viver), Brasilia 2015
Authors: Ferreira Claudia , Medeiros Adriana
Published: January 2021

These three brief pieces formed part of a two-part special issue (vol. 4, nos. 1 and 2, 2016) on Afro-Descendant Feminisms in Latin America. The unprecedented nationwide mobilizational process that culminated in the first-ever Marcha das Mulheres Negras contra o Racismo e a Violência e pelo Bem Viver (Black Women’s March against Racism and Violence and for Living Well), which brought tens of thousands of Black women to Brasília on November 18, 2015, is described in an opening essay by Alvarez. It is followed by one of the several Manifestos produced by Marcha organizers, which captures the core political and theoretical issues discussed in hundreds of events across every sector of Afro-descendant women’s activism and women from the mixed-gender Brazilian Black movement as well. Finally, a photo essay by Brazilian photographers Claudia Ferreira and Adriana Medeiros offers a vivid glimpse into what many consider a watershed moment in the Afro-Brazilian feminist movement.
Effect of Glycine Position on the Inner Diameter of Supramolecular Nanotubes Consisting of Glycolipid Monolayer Membranes
Authors: Kameta Naohiro , Ding Wuxiao , Masuda Mitsutoshi
Published: January 2021

Three novel glycolipids were synthesized by amide bond formation among a d-gluconolactone, 12-aminododecanoic acids, and a glycine. Self-assembly of the glycolipids in water produced nanotubes, in which the glycolipids were tilted, packed in parallel, and formed monolayer membranes. The inner diameters of the nanotubes were smaller in glycolipids with a shorter distance between the glycine unit and the glucose headgroup. X-ray diffraction, infrared, and circular-dichroism spectroscopy revealed that the nanotubes with smaller inner diameter had weaker intermolecular hydrogen bonds between glycolipids and larger supramolecular chirality amplified by twist packing of the tilted glycolipids within the monolayer membranes. J-type aggregates of achiral dye molecules encapsulated into nanotubes with smaller inner diameter exhibited induced circular dichroism. These findings should be useful for the fine tuning of the inner diameter of supramolecular nanotubes.
A Direct Method to Monitor Glutathione Stability in High Concentration Protein Formulations
Authors: Keever Seth , Nakhle Bassam , Yeung Bernice
Published: January 2021

Due to its antioxidant properties and favorable safety profile, glutathione (GSH) finds use in protein formulations by improving overall protein stability. Once degraded, primarily by oxidation into glutathione disulfide (GSSG), the protecting effect of GSH is lost. A simple, direct method using reversed-phase separation and charged-aerosol detection (RP-CAD) to quantitate GSH is described in this paper. The analytical methodology is also capable of monitoring several by-product degradants of GSH, both oxidative and non-oxidative. For high-concentration protein formulations, the method provides direct analysis of GSH and its degradants in the presence of protein at up to 225 mg/mL simply through a dilution of the sample. Quantitation of many amino acids typically included in pharmaceutical protein formulations is also possible. Use of an online diverting valve in the method prevents interference in the detector from the high protein concentration in formulation. Accuracy and effectiveness of this method is demonstrated through monitoring the stability of GSH in high-concentration protein formulations through confirmation of GSH concentration and mass-balance of its loss over time. Monitoring GSH stability in protein formulations is necessary, as GSH concentration is indicative of protein stability.
Kenya’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic: a balance between minimising morbidity and adverse economic impact
Authors: Wangari Edwin N. , Gichuki Peter , Abuor Angelyne A. , Wambui Jacqueline , Okeyo Stephen O. , Oyatsi Henry T.N. , Odikara Shadrack , Kulohoma Benard W.
Published: January 2021

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has ravaged the world’s socioeconomic systems forcing many governments across the globe to implement unprecedented stringent mitigation measures to restrain its rapid spread and adverse effects. A disproportionate number of COVID-19 related morbidities and mortalities were predicted to occur in Africa. However, Africa still has a lower than predicted number of cases, 4% of the global pandemic burden. In this open letter, we highlight some of the early stringent countermeasures implemented in Kenya, a sub-Saharan African country, to avert the severe effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. These mitigation measures strike a balance between minimising COVID-19 associated morbidity and fatalities and its adverse economic impact, and taken together have significantly dampened the pandemic’s impact on Kenya’s populace.
Runcer-Necromancer: a method to rescue data from an interrupted run on MGISEQ-2000
Authors: Pavlova Anna , Belova Vera , Afasizhev Robert , Bulusheva Irina , Rebrikov Denis , Korostin Dmitriy
Published: January 2021

During the sequencing process, problems can occur with any device, including the MGISEQ-2000 (DNBSEQ-G400) platform. We encountered a power outage that resulted in a temporary shutdown of a sequencer in the middle of the run. Since barcode reading in MGISEQ-2000 takes place at the end of the run, it was impossible to use non-demultiplexed raw data. We decided to completely use up the same cartridge with reagents and flow cell loaded with DNB and started a new run in a shortened custom mode. We figured out how the MGISEQ-2000 converts preliminary data in .cal format into .fastq files and wrote a script named “Runcer-Necromacer” for merging .fastq files based on the analysis of their headers (available online: https://github.com/genomecenter/runcer-necromancer). Read merging proved to be possible because the MGISEQ-2000 flow cell has a patterned structure and each DNB has invariable coordinates on it, regardless of its position on the flow cell stage. We demonstrated the correctness of data merging by comparing sample analysis results with previously obtained .fastq files for them. Thus, we confirmed that it is possible to restart the device and save both parts of the interrupted run.
Managing Circular Economy Barriers in Recycling Companies
Authors:   Department of Management, Universitas Muhammadiyah Riau, Pekanbaru, Indonesia, Siregar Dede Iskandar , Suandevin Hichmaed Tachta Hinggo , Zaki Hammam
Published: January 2021

Abstract: Circular Economy (CE) has recently attracted the attention of academics, governments and business people due to the concept which believed to be a solution to the negative impacts caused by the traditional economic system. Previous research examining this topic has generally dominated CE principles as the focus of an investigation. Another study also conducted a mapping of CE barriers which consisted of cultural, regulatory, market and technological factors. However, the focus of such studies often makes it difficult to determine how companies are implementing CE. This article aims to fill the gap by analyzing how recycling companies manage CE based on their saving factor. This study uses a qualitative case study approach in three companies located in Pekanbaru. The first two cases are waste managers made from cans, paper, plastics and organic waste, while the last case involves a used oil refining company. Data collection was done through desk evaluations, direct interviews, and document studies, while the analysis was utilized by using within-case and cross-case. The results show that CE implementation was carried out through several approaches including adopting a sharing economy system (between companies and customers), cooperating production of similar companies, and encouraging employee skills improvement through continuous training. Keywords: Circular Economy, barriers, strategies, case studies, recycling companies
The Effect of Customer Experience Towards Engagement in Soco by Sociolla
Authors:   School of Business and Management, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia, Febilincia Siti Dzulqadah , Nasution Reza Ashari
Published: January 2021

Abstract. Though usage of m-commerce is increasing, the engagement for the platform is low. This research aims to optimize engagement through variable that influences customer experience. Data gathering is done through online survey and use PLS SEM method to analyze the final data. Based on the result of 407 respondents, customer experience has a significant effect towards engagement. Though, customer experience will have stronger effect towards engagement through satisfaction. The most influential antecedents in customer experience is Telepresence. The more immersed the customers in an app, the more it brings to positive customer experience. The findings provide managerial implications for marketers in multi-channel retail, specifically in beauty industry, who uses m-commerce as their channel to set strategy in optimizing customer experience and engagement in mobile application. Keywords: Customer experience; engagement; satisfaction; m-commerce; mobile application
Analyzing the Process of Absorptive Capacity: A Case Study of Garment SMEs in Yogyakarta
Authors:   Department of Management Universitas Muhammadiyah Riau, Pekanbaru Indonesia, Siregar Dede Iskandar , Priyono Anjar ,   Department of Management Universitas Islam Indonesia, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Published: January 2021

Abstract: Absorptive capacity is defined as the company's ability to identify, explore, and apply knowledge gained from the external environment into the form of services. Previous studies examined this generally put forward the role of R&D and leadership authority to neglect the natural process of absorptive capacity. As a knowledge process, its natural process unseparated from the involvement of all parties in the company (including employees). This study aims to analyze the absorptive capacity process in Gramen SMEs located in Yogyakarta with its characteristics that still prioritize business practices based on traditional approaches and local wisdom. By adopting a qualitative based on case studies, it found that the process of absorbing information generally carried out through informal interactions with customers and various communities. It is also confirmed that each stage of absorptive capacity does not always flow linearly, and the intensity of the absorption holds by companies determined by innovations required and the characteristics of the company. Keywords: Absorptive capacity; exploration; transformation; exploitation; innovation capability.
LOS REQUISITOS PARA A CARACTERIZAÇÃO DO TRABALHADOR RURAL COMO SEGURADO ESPECIAL À LUZ DOS JUÍZES JÚPITER, HÉRCULES E HERMES DE FRANÇOIS OST.
Authors: Santana Dariel , Borsio Marcelo , Carús Guedes Jefferson
Published: January 2021

The purpose of this study is to critically analyze the requirements regarding the framing of rural workers as a special insured, confronting them with the reality of the Brazilian rural area. Therefore, as a methodology, the jurisprudence of the higher courts was researched, exploratory bibliographic research and qualitative analysis were used. In addition, empirical research was carried out, listening to the various actors in the social security processes. Here it will be demonstrated that judges Jupiter, Hercules and Hermes can live harmoniously within the scope of Social Security Law, with space for each one of them, depending on the complexity of the specific case set out. In less complex cases, where the legal text is able to offer the appropriate response to the conflict, it is time for the Jupiterian exegesis to be applied by the interpreter. In hard cases, however, the toga of the first must give way to the toga of the last two, since the literality of the text does not deliver the most appropriate solution to the social security dispute. In this sense, the open type for the characterization of the special insured has the considerable advantage of flexibility, allowing the operator of the law a topic-problematic interpretation, to find the best answer for the specific case, taking into account, therefore, the heterogeneities of this continental country, whose social, geographical, climatic, economic and cultural differences are colossal. The legal system has gradually moved away from Kelsen’s pyramidal metaphor and towards a more horizontal and intertwined normative system - much closer to the sphinx of the Memphis alabaster than to the Cheops pyramid - with interdisciplinarity as a vector of stabilization of the system and this will be demonstrated in this study.
Tagging Items Automatically Based on Both Content Information and Browsing Behaviors
Authors: Liu Shen , Liu Hongyan
Published: January 2021

Tags have been adopted by many online services as a method to manage their online resources. Effective tagging benefits both users and firms. In real applications providing a user tagging mechanism, only a small portion of tags are usually provided by users. Therefore, an automatic tagging method, which can assign tags to different items automatically, is urgently needed. Previous works on automatic tagging focus on exploring the tagging behavior of users or the content information of items. In online service platforms, users frequently browse items related to their interests, which implies users’ judgment about the underlying features of items and is helpful for automatic tagging. Browsing-behavior records are much more plentiful compared with tagging behavior and easy to collect. However, existing studies about automatic tagging ignore this kind of information. To properly integrate both browsing behaviors and content information for automatic tagging, we propose a novel probabilistic graphical model and develop a new algorithm for the model parameter inference. We conduct thorough experiments on a real-world data set to evaluate and analyze the performance of our proposed method. The experimental results demonstrate that our approach achieves better performance than state-of-the-art automatic tagging methods.

Summary of Contribution. In this paper, we study how to automatically assign tags to items in an e-commerce background. Our study is about how to perform item tagging for e-commerce and other online service providers so that consumers can easily find what they need and firms can manage their resources effectively. Specifically, we study if consumer browsing behavior can be utilized to perform the tagging task automatically, which can save efforts of both firms and consumers. Additionally, we transform the problem into how to find the most proper tags for items and propose a novel probabilistic graphical model to model the generation process of tags. Finally, we develop a variational inference algorithm to learn the model parameters, and the model shows superior performance over competing benchmark models. We believe this study contributes to machine learning techniques.
Tunable telephoto: governable Fourier spectrum anamorphic scaling
Authors: Gómez-Sarabia Cristina M. , Tajahuerce Enrique , Ojeda-Castañeda Jorge
Published: January 2021

We discuss the Gaussian design of a device that controls the scale, in an anamorphic fashion, of Fraunhofer diffraction patterns. The device uses two pairs of varifocal cylindrical lenses. For spherical lenses, the optical powers can be predicted by using a previously known high-level solution. We emphasize the anamorphic capabilities, by considering the case My = 1/ Mx. The proposed device does not introduce vignetting, and it does not alter the axial location of the Fraunhofer diffraction patterns. Since the composing elements work at fixed inter-lens separation, the device does not require mechanical compensation.
The clarifying role of time series data in the population genetics of HIV
Authors: Feder Alison F. , Pennings Pleuni S. , Petrov Dmitri A.
Published: January 2021

HIV can evolve remarkably quickly in response to antiretroviral therapies and the immune system. This evolution stymies treatment effectiveness and prevents the development of an HIV vaccine. Consequently, there has been a great interest in using population genetics to disentangle the forces that govern the HIV adaptive landscape (selection, drift, mutation, and recombination). Traditional population genetics approaches look at the current state of genetic variation and infer the processes that can generate it. However, because HIV evolves rapidly, we can also sample populations repeatedly over time and watch evolution in action. In this paper, we demonstrate how time series data can bound evolutionary parameters in a way that complements and informs traditional population genetic approaches. Specifically, we focus on our recent paper (Feder et al., 2016, eLife), in which we show that, as improved HIV drugs have led to fewer patients failing therapy due to resistance evolution, less genetic diversity has been maintained following the fixation of drug resistance mutations. Because soft sweeps of multiple drug resistance mutations spreading simultaneously have been previously documented in response to the less effective HIV therapies used early in the epidemic, we interpret the maintenance of post-sweep diversity in response to poor therapies as further evidence of soft sweeps and therefore a high population mutation rate (θ) in these intra-patient HIV populations. Because improved drugs resulted in rarer resistance evolution accompanied by lower post-sweep diversity, we suggest that both observations can be explained by decreased population mutation rates and a resultant transition to hard selective sweeps. A recent paper (Harris et al., 2018, PLOS Genetics) proposed an alternative interpretation: Diversity maintenance following drug resistance evolution in response to poor therapies may have been driven by recombination during slow, hard selective sweeps of single mutations. Then, if better drugs have led to faster hard selective sweeps of resistance, recombination will have less time to rescue diversity during the sweep, recapitulating the decrease in post-sweep diversity as drugs have improved. In this paper, we use time series data to show that drug resistance evolution during ineffective treatment is very fast, providing new evidence that soft sweeps drove early HIV treatment failure.
Modeling the initial phase of SARS-CoV-2 deposition in the respiratory tract mimicked by the 11C radionuclide
Authors: Evangelista Heitor , Amaral César , Porto Luís Cristóvão , Gonçalves Junior Sérgio J. , Delfino Sodré Eduardo , Nogueira Juliana , dos Santos Angela M. G. , Cataldo Marcio , Junger Daniel
Published: January 2021

The knowledge on the deposition and retention of the viral particle of SARS-CoV-2 in the respiratory tract during the very initial intake from the ambient air is of prime importance to understand the infectious process and COVID-19 initial symptoms. We propose to use a modified version of a widely tested lung deposition model developed by the ICRP, in the context of the ICRP Publication 66, that provides deposition patterns of microparticles in different lung compartments. In the model, we mimicked the "environmental decay" of the virus, determined by controlled experiments related to normal speeches, by the radionuclide 11C that presents comparable decay rates. Our results confirm clinical observations on the high virus retentions observed in the extrathoracic region and the lesser fraction on the alveolar section (in the order of 5), which may shed light on physiopathology of clinical events as well on the minimal inoculum required to establish infection.
The external realities of people with type 2 diabetes—Understanding disease perspective and self-management behaviour via Grounded Theory Approach
Authors: Swarna Nantha Yogarabindranath , Chelliah Azriel Abisheg Paul , Haque Shamsul , Yen Gan Kim , Md. Zain Anuar Zaini
Published: January 2021

Background

Qualitative strategies can uncover the relationship between the external realities of people living with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and the barriers that are associated with disease self-management. Information from in-depth interviews (IDI) and focus group discussions (FGD) can be used to devise psychological models that could potentially facilitate behaviour changes in people with T2D. We aim to identify salient factors that govern the external realities of people with T2D in relation to disease management.

Methods

A qualitative study was conducted at a regional primary care clinic in Malaysia using a Grounded Theory Approach. People with T2D were recruited through purposeful sampling to determine their living experiences with the disease. A total of 34 IDIs with 24 people with T2D and 10 health care professionals, followed by two FGDs with people with T2D, were conducted.

Results

Three major processes that arbitrate self-management practices include– 1) external reality, 2) internal reality, 3) mediators of behaviour. Within the context of external reality, three important sub-themes were identified—intrinsic background status, personal experience, and worldview. Lifestyle habits of persons with T2D play a central role in their disease management. Another common recurring concern is the issue of a low-quality food environment in the country. More importantly, individuals with T2D have a high degree of expectations for a more person-centered approach to their illness.

Conclusions

We identified modifiable and non-modifiable behavioural factors that influence the daily living environment of people with T2D. This information can be used to customize the management of T2D through targeted behavioural interventions.
Anthropogenic landscape decreases mosquito biodiversity and drives malaria vector proliferation in the Amazon rainforest
Authors: Chaves Leonardo Suveges Moreira , Bergo Eduardo Sterlino , Conn Jan E. , Laporta Gabriel Zorello , Prist Paula Ribeiro , Sallum Maria Anice Mureb
Published: January 2021

Inter-relationships among mosquito vectors, Plasmodium parasites, human ecology, and biotic and abiotic factors, drive malaria risk. Specifically, rural landscapes shaped by human activities have a great potential to increase the abundance of malaria vectors, putting many vulnerable people at risk. Understanding at which point the abundance of vectors increases in the landscape can help to design policies and interventions for effective and sustainable control. Using a dataset of adult female mosquitoes collected at 79 sites in malaria endemic areas in the Brazilian Amazon, this study aimed to (1) verify the association among forest cover percentage (PLAND), forest edge density (ED), and variation in mosquito diversity; and to (2) test the hypothesis of an association between landscape structure (i.e., PLAND and ED) and Nyssorhynchus darlingi (Root) dominance. Mosquito collections were performed employing human landing catch (HLC) (peridomestic habitat) and Shannon trap combined with HLC (forest fringe habitat). Nyssorhynchus darlingi abundance was used as the response variable in a generalized linear mixed model, and the Shannon diversity index (H’) of the Culicidae community, PLAND, and the distance house-water drainage were used as predictors. Three ED categories were also used as random effects. A path analysis was used to understand comparative strengths of direct and indirect relationships among Amazon vegetation classes, Culicidae community, and Ny. darlingi abundance. Our results demonstrate that Ny. darlingi is negatively affected by H´ and PLAND of peridomestic habitat, and that increasing these variables (one-unit value at β0 = 768) leads to a decrease of 226 (P < 0.001) and 533 (P = 0.003) individuals, respectively. At the forest fringe, a similar result was found for H’ (β1 = -218; P < 0.001) and PLAND (β1 = -337; P = 0.04). Anthropogenic changes in the Amazon vegetation classes decreased mosquito biodiversity, leading to increased Ny. darlingi abundance. Changes in landscape structure, specifically decreases in PLAND and increases in ED, led to Ny. darlingi becoming the dominant species, increasing malaria risk. Ecological mechanisms involving changes in landscape and mosquito species composition can help to understand changes in the epidemiology of malaria.
Pandemic-related attitudes, stressors and work outcomes among medical assistants during the SARS-CoV-2 (“Coronavirus”) pandemic in Germany: A cross-sectional Study
Authors: Dreher Annegret , Pietrowsky Reinhard , Loerbroks Adrian
Published: January 2021

Background

The SARS-CoV-2 virus has spread rapidly around the globe since December 2019 creating much uncertainty among medical staff. Due to close patient contact, medical assistants are at increased risk of an infection. Several studies have investigated psychological consequences of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on medical staff, yet studies in the outpatient setting are scarce and studies addressing medical assistants are lacking. This study aimed to investigate pandemic-related stressors, attitudes, and work outcomes among medical assistants and to identify possible determinants.

Methods

The population under study were medical assistants across entire Germany. A self-devised online questionnaire was published between April 7th, 2020, and April 14th. including questions on pandemic-related stressors, attitudes and work outcomes. Additionally, symptoms of depression and anxiety disorder were measured by PHQ-2 and GAD-2, respectively. Logistic regression was performed to identify possible determinants.

Results

2150 medical assistants provided complete data (98.0% female, mean age 37.6 years). Major stressors were uncertainty about the temporal scope of the pandemic (95.1% agreement), about how to act correctly (77.5%), feelings of not being allowed to let patients down (75.9%), uncertainty about one’s financial situation (67.4%) and about contact persons for further information (67.1%). One third (29.9%) of the study population screened positively for depression and 42.6% for anxiety disorder. Feeling burdened by one’s financial situation was significantly associated with working in specialist practices (1.32 [1.08–1.62]), caring for children (1.51 [1.22–1.87]), depression (1.28 [1.01–1.62]), and anxiety disorder (1.93 [1.55–2.39]). Feeling burdened by thoughts about virus contraction at work was also significantly associated with working in specialist practices (1.33 [1.07–1.64]), caring for children (1.33 [1.07–1.66]), depression (1.54 [1.18–2.00]), and anxiety (4.71 [3.71–5.98]).

Conclusions

This study provides novel evidence regarding major SARS-CoV-2 pandemic-related stressors among medical assistants and suggests need for special support for medical assistants caring for children and working in specialist practices.
Fogyatékossággal élő hallgatók tanulmányi pályafutása a felsőoktatási adminisztratív adatok tükrében
Authors: Hrabéczy Anett , Pusztai Gabriella
Published: January 2021

A sajátos nevelési igényű hallgatók vizsgálatának aktualitását adja, hogy a felsőoktatási expanzió következtében az ezredforduló után nagyobb számban jelentek meg az egyetemeken, azonban Magyarországon jogszabályi szinten csak 2007 óta foglalkoznak jelenlétükkel. A korábbi kutatások nemzetközi és hazai viszonylatban is vizsgálták az intézmények akadálymentességét és inkluzív gyakorlatait, kevés figyelmet fordítottak azonban ennek a hallgatói csoportnak a tanulmányi pályafutására és eredményességére. Kutatásunk ezért a fogyatékossággal élő hallgatók felsőoktatási pályafutását vizsgálja kvantitatív kutatási módszerrel, a Felsőoktatási Információs Rendszer teljeskörű statisztikai adatait elemezve. Kutatásunkban arra a kérdésre kerestük a választ, hogy milyen arányban és milyen lemorzsolódási kockázattal haladnak a felsőoktatásban a vizsgált csoporthoz tartozók. Eredményeink szerint a fogyatékossággal élő személyeknek kedvezőbb státusú településekről van nagyobb esélyük bekerülni. Közülük a férfi hallgatók nagyobb arányban jutnak be, viszont a nők szereznek gyakrabban diplomát. A fogyatékossággal élő hallgatók körében gyakori a túlfutás, miközben kevésbé vesznek igénybe passzív féléveket, s a lemorzsolódás ritkább körükben.
Museification of the Traumatic Past in South Africa: Competing Narratives
Authors: Bogatova O.A. , Mitrofanova A.V.
Published: January 2021

The article summarizes the results of a case study undertaken with the help of non-participant observation in January 2020 in South Africa. Three memorial sites have been observed: the Apartheid Museum, the Liliesleaf Farm Museum and the Voortrekker Monument. Data collection and analysis have allowed identifying the ideological and evaluative content of the expositions of museums that serve the purpose of commemorating the traumatic past of South Africa, and tracing their relationship with other commemorative narratives and the evolution of historical policy in the 20th -21st centuries. The authors draw parallels with some elements of Soviet domestic and, in particular, national policy, which, without declaring segregation goals directly, engendered similar consequences, and became evaluated as encouraging ethnic particularism in the post-Soviet period. The article concludes that in all cases in question, representations of collective trauma and armed struggle fulfill a legitimizing function, justifying the rights of ethnic and racial groups to the territory and nation building. In general, museum displays and memorials dedicated to apartheid and commemorating events related to state building represent South African society as deeply divided.
The Collapse of the French Colonial Empire in the Memory Politics of the Fifth Republic
Authors: Filippova E.I. , Filippov V.R.
Published: January 2021

The historical memory of the French about the collapse of the French colonial empire is controversial and situational. The apologetic version of historical memory interprets French colonialism as the civilizational mission of France on the Black Continent. This version is based on mythologemes formulated by C. de Gaulle and his associates J. Foccart, F. Houphouët-Boigny and others. This is the approach to the historical past that informs the official historical narrative and memorial policy of the Fifth Republic. To a degree, all the presidents of the French Republic from J. Chirac to E. Macron remain faithful to it. This “patriotic version” of the national history provides the ideological foundation for Champs Elysee’s policies toward African nations. These policies, collectively known as “France-Afrique”, represent a latent mechanism for preserving economic and political dependence of the Tropical Africa’s nations on their former colonial master. An alternative version of historical memory interprets colonialism as a crime against humanity, and the African policy of the Champs Elysees as a special form of neocolonialism, designed to promote France's political and economic preferences in the countries that were formerly its colonies. This intellectual tradition is cultivated in the work of F.-X. Verschave and other researchers, members of the non-governmental organization “Survie”.
A hitelezői érdekhordozó megjelenésének vizsgálata a számviteli beszámolókban – A vállalatmérettel összefüggő szabályozásbontás tükrében
Authors: László Norbert
Published: January 2021

A kutatás a hasznosság oldaláról közelíti meg a témát, s azt vizsgálja, hogy a szabályozás összhangban van-e a hazai gyakorlattal. A pénzügyi helyzettel összefüggő információk az érdekhordozók közül elsődlegesen a hitelezők (tágabb értelmezésben a szállítókat is magában foglalja) számára fontosak. Így ezen információk előállítása csak akkor minősül hasznosnak, ha egyáltalán megjelenik olyan érdekhordozó, aki igényli azt. A számviteli törvény a méret alapján tesz különbséget a cash flow-kimutatás készítési kötelezettségében, ezért a szerző a vállalati sokaságot ez alapján kettébontva elemezte a hitelezői kötelezettségek megjelenését. A varianciaelemzés azt mutatja, hogy – összehasonlítva a nagyobb cégekkel – a hitelező mint érdekhordozó a kisebb vállalkozásoknál szignifikánsan kisebb arányban jelenik meg. Ez alapján a méret szerint történő megkülönböztetés indokoltnak tűnik, azonban további vizsgálat keretében lehetne még elemezni, hogy az értékhatárok jó helyen vannak-e ebből a szempontból, esetleg szükség lenne-e egyéb tényezők (például a hitelezői kötelezettségek arányának) bevonására az előírásokra vonatkozó különbségtételnél.
Innovációmenedzsment és innovációs stratégiák – a vállalati tudás szerepe az innovációs folyamatokban (Innovation management and innovation strategies – the role of corporate knowledge in innovative processes)
Authors: Sára Zoltán , Csedő Zoltán , Fejes József , Tóth Tamás , Pörzse Gábor
Published: January 2021

A szerzők kutatásának célja, hogy az innovációmenedzsment és az innovációs stratégiák összefüggéseiben rávilágítsanak a magyarországi vállalatokat jellemző stratégiai irányokra és azonosítsák a vállalati tudás szerepét az innovációs folyamatokban. Az induktív logikán alapuló, kvalitatív interjúkra építkező módszertan segítségével történt az adatok gyűjtése és elemzése. Kutatási eredményeik alapján megállapítható, hogy a magyar vállalatok többsége tisztában van az innováció stratégiai jelentőségével és a tudás innovációfokozó erejével. Azonban a bizonytalan szabályozási környezet, a negatív piaci hangulat, a finanszírozási forrásokhoz való hozzáférés és a globális verseny megnehezítik a hazai KKV-k innovációs törekvéseit. Ugyanakkor a multinacionális vállalatok élen járnak mind a technológiai, mind pedig a nem technológiai innovációk terén is. A nem technológiai innováció területén komoly fejlődési lehetőségek körvonalazódhatnak a magyar KKV-k számára is, hiszen ezek kevésbé költségesek és időigényesek, és a belső erőforrásokat felhasználva a szervezeti tudásbázisra is épülhetnek. ____ The aim of the authors’ research is to highlight the characteristic strategic directions of Hungarian companies and identify the role of corporate knowledge in the innovative processes in the context of innovation management and innovative strategies. The collection and analysis of data were helped by a methodology which is based on inductive logic and qualitative interviews. The diagnosis, based on there search results,was that the majority of Hungarian companies are aware of the strategic importance of innovation and the innovation enhancing power of knowledge.
A Rare Case of Metastatic Colon Cancer in a Patient With Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Tongue
Authors: Khan Sikandar , Ur Rahman Asad , Castillo Michael , Riaz Amir , Miret Rafael , Bejarano Pablo , Castro-Pavia Fernando
Published: January 2021

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the colon, both primary and metastatic, are extremely rare malignancies. We present a case of a 60-year-old man with metastatic SCC of the tongue status after radiation and chemotherapy who presented with fatigue and melena. Colonoscopy revealed a 5 cm mass in the transverse colon. Pathology established the diagnosis of poorly differentiated SCC with p16 immunostaining, similar to biopsies from his initially diagnosed lingual cancer. To the best of our knowledge, there are no previously reported cases of primary SCC of the tongue metastasizing to the colon.
Increased Fecal Neopterin Parallels Gastrointestinal Symptoms in COVID-19
Authors: Grabherr Felix , Effenberger Maria , Pedrini Alisa , Mayr Lisa , Schwärzler Julian , Reider Simon , Enrich Barbara , Fritsche Gernot , Wildner Sophie , Bellmann-Weiler Rosa , Weiss Günter , Scholl-Bürgi Sabine , Müller Thomas , Moschen Alexander , Adolph Timon E. , Tilg Herbert
Published: January 2021

INTRODUCTION:

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has spread from Wuhan, China, and become a worldwide pandemic. Most patients display respiratory symptoms but up to 50% report gastrointestinal symptoms. Neopterin is a surrogate marker for viral inflammation, and its production by macrophages is driven by interferon-γ.

METHODS:

We measured fecal neopterin in 37 hospitalized COVID-19 patients not requiring intensive care measures and 22 healthy controls.

RESULTS:

Fecal neopterin was elevated in stool samples from COVID-19 patients compared with that in samples from healthy controls. Especially, patients reporting gastrointestinal symptoms exhibited increased fecal neopterin values.

DISCUSSION:

COVID-19 is associated with an inflammatory immune response in the gastrointestinal tract.
High-Dose Proton Pump Inhibitors Are Superior to Standard-Dose Proton Pump Inhibitors in High-Risk Patients With Bleeding Ulcers and High-Risk Stigmata After Endoscopic Hemostasis
Authors: Zhu Zhenhua , Lai Yongkang , Ouyang Liu , Lv Nonghua , Chen Youxiang , Shu Xu
Published: January 2021

INTRODUCTION:

To define the best cutoff of the Glasgow-Blatchford score (GBS) for identifying high- and low-risk rebleeding patients with bleeding ulcers and high-risk stigmata after endoscopic hemostasis and compare the efficacy of high-dose and standard-dose intravenous proton pump inhibitors (HD-IVPs and SD-IVPs, respectively) in this patient population.

METHODS:

We retrospectively reviewed the data of 346 patients with bleeding ulcers and high-risk stigmata who underwent endoscopic hemostasis between March 2014 and September 2018 in our center and were divided into an HD-IVP group and an SD-IVP group. Propensity score–matching analysis was performed to control for selection bias and other potential confounders. Recurrent bleeding rates were calculated according to the GBS.

RESULTS:

Overall, 346 patients meeting the inclusion criteria were enrolled, with 89 patients in the SD-IVP group and 89 patients in the HD-IVP group after matching with all baseline characteristics balanced (P > 0.05). GBS = 8 was the best cutoff for identifying high-risk rebleeding patients (GBS ≥ 8) with a significant difference (P = 0.015) in recurrence rate between the SD-IVP (17/61, 27.9%) and HD-IVP (7/65, 10.8%) groups and low-risk rebleeding patients (GBS < 8) with no difference (P = 1) in recurrence rate between the SD-IVP (2/28, 7.1%) and HD-IVP (2/24, 8.3%) groups.

DISCUSSION:

The best cutoff for identifying high-risk and low-risk rebleeding patients with bleeding ulcers and high-risk stigmata after endoscopic hemostasis was GBS = 8. Although HD-IVP is more effective than SD-IVP in high-risk patients, they are equally effective in low-risk patients.