bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patient-derived cell lines and orthotopic mouse model of peritoneal carcinomatosis recapitulate molecular and phenotypic features of human gastric adenocarcinoma
Authors: Song Shumei , Xu Yan , Huo Longfei , Zhao Shuangtao , Wang Ruiping , Li Yuan , Scott Ailing W. , Pizzi Melissa Pool , Wang Ying , Fan Yibo , Harada Kazuto , Jin Jiankang , Ma Lang , Yao Xiaodan , Shanbhag Namita D. , Gan Qiong , Roy-Chowdhuri Sinchita , Badgwell Brian D. , Wang Zhenning , Wang Linghua , Ajani Jaffer A.
Published: June 2021

Background

Gastric adenocarcinoma with peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC) is therapy resistant and leads to poor survival. To study PC in depth, there is an urgent need to develop representative PC-derived cell lines and metastatic models to study molecular mechanisms of PC and for preclinical screening of new therapies.

Methods

PC cell lines were developed from patient-derived PC cells. The tumorigenicity and metastatic potential were investigated by subcutaneously (PDXs) and orthotopically. Karyotyping, whole-exome sequencing, RNA-sequencing, and functional studies were performed to molecularly define the cell lines and compare genomic and phenotypic features of PDX and donor PC cells.

Results

We established three PC cell lines (GA0518, GA0804, and GA0825) and characterized them in vitro. The doubling times were 22, 39, and 37 h for GA0518, GA0804, and GA0825, respectively. Expression of cancer stem cell markers (CD44, ALDH1, CD133 and YAP1) and activation of oncogenes varied among the cell lines. All three PC cell lines formed PDXs. Interestingly, all three PC cell lines formed tumors in the patient derived orthotopic (PDO) model and GA0518 cell line consistently produced PC in mice. Moreover, PDXs recapitulated transcriptomic and phenotypic features of the donor PC cells. Finally, these cell lines were suitable for preclinical testing of chemotherapy and target agents in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusion

We successfully established three patient-derived PC cell lines and an improved PDO model with high incidence of PC associated with malignant ascites. Thus, these cell lines and metastatic PDO model represent excellent resources for exploring metastatic mechanisms of PC in depth and for target drug screening and validation by interrogating GAC for translational studies.
Metformin induces Ferroptosis by inhibiting UFMylation of SLC7A11 in breast cancer
Authors: Yang Jingjing , Zhou Yulu , Xie Shuduo , Wang Ji , Li Zhaoqing , Chen Lini , Mao Misha , Chen Cong , Huang Aihua , Chen Yongxia , Zhang Xun , Khan Noor Ul Hassan , Wang Linbo , Zhou Jichun
Published: June 2021

Background

Ferroptosis is a newly defined form of regulated cell death characterized by the iron-dependent accumulation of lipid peroxidation and is involved in various pathophysiological conditions, including cancer. Targeting ferroptosis is considered to be a novel anti-cancer strategy. The identification of FDA-approved drugs as ferroptosis inducers is proposed to be a new promising approach for cancer treatment. Despite a growing body of evidence indicating the potential efficacy of the anti-diabetic metformin as an anti-cancer agent, the exact mechanism underlying this efficacy has not yet been fully elucidated.

Methods

The UFMylation of SLC7A11 is detected by immunoprecipitation and the expression of UFM1 and SLC7A11 in tumor tissues was detected by immunohistochemical staining. The level of ferroptosis is determined by the level of free iron, total/lipid Ros and GSH in the cells and the morphological changes of mitochondria are observed by transmission electron microscope. The mechanism in vivo was verified by in situ implantation tumor model in nude mice.

Results

Metformin induces ferroptosis in an AMPK-independent manner to suppress tumor growth. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that metformin increases the intracellular Fe2+ and lipid ROS levels. Specifically, metformin reduces the protein stability of SLC7A11, which is a critical ferroptosis regulator, by inhibiting its UFMylation process. Furthermore, metformin combined with sulfasalazine, the system xc− inhibitor, can work in a synergistic manner to induce ferroptosis and inhibit the proliferation of breast cancer cells.

Conclusions

This study is the first to demonstrate that the ability of metformin to induce ferroptosis may be a novel mechanism underlying its anti-cancer effect. In addition, we identified SLC7A11 as a new UFMylation substrate and found that targeting the UFM1/SLC7A11 pathway could be a promising cancer treatment strategy.
The brain transcriptome of the wolf spider, Schizocosa ocreata
Authors: Stribling Daniel , Chang Peter L. , Dalton Justin E. , Conow Christopher A. , Rosenthal Malcolm , Hebets Eileen , Graze Rita M. , Arbeitman Michelle N.
Published: June 2021

Objectives

Arachnids have fascinating and unique biology, particularly for questions on sex differences and behavior, creating the potential for development of powerful emerging models in this group. Recent advances in genomic techniques have paved the way for a significant increase in the breadth of genomic studies in non-model organisms. One growing area of research is comparative transcriptomics. When phylogenetic relationships to model organisms are known, comparative genomic studies provide context for analysis of homologous genes and pathways. The goal of this study was to lay the groundwork for comparative transcriptomics of sex differences in the brain of wolf spiders, a non-model organism of the pyhlum Euarthropoda, by generating transcriptomes and analyzing gene expression.

Data description

To examine sex-differential gene expression, short read transcript sequencing and de novo transcriptome assembly were performed. Messenger RNA was isolated from brain tissue of male and female subadult and mature wolf spiders (Schizocosa ocreata). The raw data consist of sequences for the two different life stages in each sex. Computational analyses on these data include de novo transcriptome assembly and differential expression analyses. Sample-specific and combined transcriptomes, gene annotations, and differential expression results are described in this data note and are available from publicly-available databases.
Slime molds as a valuable source of antimicrobial agents
Authors: Tafakori Vida
Published: June 2021

Given the emerging multidrug-resistant pathogens, the number of effective antimicrobial agents to deal with the threat of bacterial and fungal resistance has fallen dramatically. Therefore, the critical solution to deal with the missing effective antibiotics is to research new sources or new synthetic antibiotics. Natural products have different advantages to be considered antimicrobial agents. There are different natural sources for antimicrobial agents, such as bacteria, fungi, algae, slime molds, and plants. This article has focused on antibiotics from slime molds, especially Myxomycetes. The reason why slime molds have been chosen to be studied is their unique bioactive metabolites, especially over the past couple of decades. Some of those metabolites have been demonstrated to possess antibiotic activities. Hence, this article has focused on the potential of these creatures as an alternative source of antibiotics.
Deletion of ER-retention motif on SARS-CoV-2 spike protein reduces cell hybrid during cell–cell fusion
Authors: Wang Xuening , Chen Chih-Hsiung , Badeti Saiaditya , Cho Jong Hyun , Naghizadeh Alireza , Wang Ziren , Liu Dongfang
Published: June 2021

Background

The novel SARS-CoV-2 has quickly become a global pandemic since the first reported case in December 2019, with the virus infecting millions of people to date. The spike (S) protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus plays a key role in binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a host cell receptor for SARS-CoV-2. S proteins that are expressed on the cell membrane can initiate receptor-dependent syncytia formation that is associated with extensive tissue damage. Formation of syncytia have been previously observed in cells infected with various other viruses (e.g., HIV, Ebola, Influenza, and Herpesviruses). However, this phenomenon is not well documented and the mechanisms regulating the formation of the syncytia by SARS-CoV-2 are not fully understood.

Results

In this study, we investigated the possibility that cell fusion events mediated by the S protein of SARS-CoV-2 and ACE2 interaction can occur in different human cell lines that mimic different tissue origins. These cell lines were transduced with either wild-type (WT-S) S protein or a mutated variant where the ER-retention motif was removed (Δ19-S), as well as human ACE2 expression vectors. Different co-culture combinations of spike-expressing 293T, A549, K562, and SK-Hep1 cells with hACE2-expressing cells revealed cell hybrid fusion. However, only certain cells expressing S protein can form syncytial structures as this phenomenon cannot be observed in all co-culture combinations. Thus, SARS-CoV-2 mediated cell–cell fusion represents a cell type-dependent process which might rely on a different set of parameters. Recently, the Δ19-S variant is being widely used to increase SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus production for in vitro assays. Comparison of cell fusion occurring via Δ19-S expressing cells shows defective nuclear fusion and syncytia formation compared to WT-S.

Conclusions

This distinction between the Δ19-S variant and WT-S protein may have downstream implications for studies that utilize pseudovirus-based entry assays. Additionally, this study suggest that spike protein expressed by vaccines may affect different ACE2-expressing host cells after SARS-CoV-2 vaccine administration. The long-term effects of these vaccines should be monitored carefully. Δ19-S mRNA may represent a safer mRNA vaccine design in the future.
Some properties of degenerate complete and partial Bell polynomials
Authors: Kim Taekyun , Kim Dae San , Kwon Jongkyum , Lee Hyunseok , Park Seong-Ho
Published: June 2021

In this paper, we study degenerate complete and partial Bell polynomials and establish some new identities for those polynomials. In addition, we investigate the connections between modified degenerate complete and partial Bell polynomials, which are closely related to the degenerate complete and partial Bell polynomials, and the joint distribution of weighted sums of independent degenerate Poisson random variables.
Nitrogen addition reduced carbon mineralization of aggregates in forest soils but enhanced in paddy soils in South China
Authors: Cao Ruirui , Chen Longchi , Hou Xincun , Lü Xiaotao , Li Haimei
Published: June 2021

Background

Despite the crucial role of nitrogen (N) availability in carbon (C) cycling in terrestrial ecosystems, soil organic C (SOC) mineralization in different sizes of soil aggregates under various land use types and their responses to N addition is not well understood. To investigate the responses of soil C mineralization in different sized aggregates and land use types to N addition, an incubation experiment was conducted with three aggregate-size classes (2000, 250, and 53 μm) and two land use types (a Chinese fir plantation and a paddy land).

Results

Cumulative C mineralization of the < 53-μm fractions was the highest and that of microaggregates was the lowest in both forest and paddy soils, indicating that soil aggregates enhanced soil C stability and reduced the loss of soil C. Cumulative C mineralization in all sizes of aggregates treated with N addition decreased in forest soils, but that in microaggregates and the < 53-μm fraction increased in paddy soils treated with 100 μg N g−1. Moreover, the effect sizes of N addition on C mineralization of forest soils were below zero, but those of paddy soils were above zero. These data indicated that N addition decreased SOC mineralization of forest soils but increased that of paddy soils.

Conclusions

Soil aggregates play an important role in soil C sequestration, and decrease soil C loss through the increase of soil C stability, regardless of land use types. N addition has different effects on soil C mineralization in different land use types. These results highlight the importance of soil aggregates and land use types in the effects of N deposition on the global terrestrial ecosystem C cycle.
Novel method using DW-MRI and ADC images to guide stereotactic biopsy for the diagnosis small primary angiitis of the central nervous system: a case report
Authors: Su Xu , Han Liang , Li Mengxing , Wang Zhengming , Gao Jiadui , Tian Yu , Du Chao
Published: June 2021

Objective

To determine the role of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) imaging to guide stereotactic biopsy for the diagnosis of intracranial angiitis.

Case presentation

In a 28-year-old woman who had experienced inactive headache and right limbs numbness for 4 days, preoperative magnetic resonance (MR) scanning, enhanced scanning, diffusion tensor imaging, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and ADC image scanning were performed. Stereotactic biopsy was performed in one target where the area of edema detected with MR FLAIR, and two targets where the area shown as a high-value and a lower value area in the DWI/ADC image. Pathological examinations together with computed tomographic and enhanced MRI scans were conducted after surgery. A preoperative enhanced MRI scan showed a uniform low-intensity lesion in the patient’s left centrum semiovale, with a volume of 3.1 cm3. The DWI and ADC images showed uneven high-intensity signals and different ADC values in the lesion area, respectively. During surgery, tissues around the lesion and the lesion center were sampled at the three selected targets. The postoperative pathological diagnosis was primary angiitis of the central nervous system, and the patient was given anti-inflammatory medication and hormone therapy. The 3-year follow-up confirmed that the patient had recovered well, with a Glasgow Outcome Scale score of five.

Conclusion

DW-MRI and ADC images can be reliably used to determine the location of small intracranial lesions, and guide stereotactic biopsy to facilitate the diagnosis of primary vasculitis of the central nervous system.
Appendiceal bleeding in an elderly male: a case report and a review of the literature
Authors: Maeda Yuto , Saito Seiya , Ohuchi Mayuko , Tamaoki Yuka , Nasu Jiro , Baba Hideo
Published: June 2021

Background

The prevalence of acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding has been increased including colonic diverticulitis and angioplasty. However, appendiceal bleeding is extremely rare.

Case presentation

We present a case of lower gastrointestinal bleeding from the appendix in an elderly male who presented with melena. Appendiceal bleeding was diagnosed using lower gastrointestinal endoscopy, and laparoscopic appendectomy was performed. The patient did not have melena postoperatively, and was discharged 6 days after the surgery.

Conclusion

It is important to distinguish appendiceal bleeding from lower gastrointestinal bleeding and to treat it as soon as possible with less invasiveness.
New homozygous gpt delta transgenic rat strain improves an efficiency of the in vivo mutagenicity assay
Authors: Masumura Kenichi , Ando Tomoko , Ukai Akiko , Fujiwara Sho , Yokose Shigeo , You Xinyue , Suzuki Takayoshi , Hayashi Hiroyuki , Nohmi Takehiko , Takagi Hisayoshi , Honma Masamitsu
Published: June 2021

Background

Gene mutation assays in transgenic rodents are useful tools to investigate in vivo mutagenicity in a target tissue. Using a lambda EG10 transgene containing reporter genes, gpt delta transgenic mice and rats have been developed to detect point mutations and deletions. The transgene is integrated in the genome and can be rescued through an in vitro packaging reaction. However, the packaging efficiency is lower in gpt delta rats than in mice, because of the transgene in gpt delta rats being heterozygous and in low copy number. To improve the packaging efficiency, we herein describe a newly developed homozygous gpt delta rat strain.

Results

The new gpt delta rat has a Wistar Hannover background and has been successfully maintained as homozygous for the transgene. The packaging efficiency in the liver was 4 to 8 times higher than that of existing heterozygous F344 gpt delta rats. The frequency of gpt point mutations significantly increased in the liver and bone marrow of N-nitroso-N-ethylurea (ENU)- and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP)-treated rats. Spi− deletion frequencies significantly increased in the liver and bone marrow of BaP-treated rats but not in ENU-treated rats. Whole genome sequencing analysis identified ≥ 30 copies of lambda EG10 transgenes integrated in rat chromosome 1.

Conclusions

The new homozygous gpt delta rat strain showed a higher packaging efficiency, and could be useful for in vivo gene mutation assays in rats.
Evaluation of cannabidiol’s inhibitory effect on alpha-glucosidase and its stability in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids
Authors: Ma Hang , Li Huifang , Liu Chang , Seeram Navindra P.
Published: June 2021

Objective

Cannabidiol (CBD) has been reported to have anti-diabetic effects in pre-clinical and clinical studies but its inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase, a carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzyme, remain unknown. Herein, we evaluated CBD’s inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase using in vitro assays and computational studies.

Methods

CBD’s inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase activity was evaluated in a yeast enzymatic assay and by molecular docking. The stability of CBD in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids was evaluated by high-performance liquid chromatography analyses.

Results

CBD, at 10, 19, 38, 76, 152, 304, 608, and 1216 μM, inhibited α-glucosidase activity with inhibition of 17.1, 20.4, 48.1, 56.6, 59.1, 63.7, 74.1, and 95.4%, respectively. Acarbose, the positive control, showed a comparable inhibitory activity (with 85.1% inhibition at 608 μM). CBD’s inhibitory effect on α-glucosidase was supported by molecular docking showing binding energy (-6.39 kcal/mol) and interactions between CBD and the α-glucosidase protein. CBD was stable in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids for two hours (maintained ≥ 90.0%).

Conclusions

CBD showed moderate inhibitory effect against yeast α-glucosidase activity and was stable in gastric and intestinal fluids. However, further studies on CBD’s anti-α-glucosidase effects using cellular and in vivo models are warranted to support its potential application for the management of type II diabetes mellitus.
Dielectric metasurface zone plate for the generation of focusing vortex beams
Authors: Hu Yufeng , Liu Xuan , Jin Mingke , Tang Yutao , Zhang Xuecai , Li King Fai , Zhao Yan , Li Guixin , Zhou Jing
Published: June 2021

Vortex beams carrying orbital angular momentum have important applications in high dimensional optical information processing, manipulations of tiny particles, super-resolution imaging and so on. Among various optical components, metasurface represents an ideal platform for realizing vortex beams with multiple optical functionalities due to its strong ability in manipulating the phase, polarization and amplitude of light. A metasurface combing the functions of a lens and a vortex beam generator can greatly shrink the size of many optical systems. Here, we alternatively propose a new metasurface design based on the concept of a Fresnel zone plate to generate, focus the vortex beams, and perform on-axis interference between different vortex beams. These functions are experimentally demonstrated through encoding the spiral phase profiles into the odd and even zones of a dielectric metasurface. The proposed vortex beam generation strategy employs the advantages of both the Fresnel zone plate and the metasurface, and may open new routes for high-dimensional optical information processing.
Efficacy of axial TheraTogs on gait pattern in children with dyskinetic cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: El-Shamy Shamekh Mohamed , Abd El Kafy Ehab Mohamed
Published: June 2021

Background

TheraTogs promotes proprioceptive sense of a child with cerebral palsy and improves abnormal muscle tone, posture alignment, balance, and gait. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of TheraTogs orthotic undergarment on gait pattern in children with dyskinetic cerebral palsy. Thirty children with dyskinetic cerebral palsy were selected for this randomized controlled study. They were randomly assigned to (1) an experimental group that received TheraTogs orthotic undergarment (12 h/day, 3 days/week) plus traditional physical therapy for 3 successive months and (2) a control group that received only traditional physical therapy program for the same time period. Gait parameters were measured at baseline and after 3 months of intervention using Pro-Reflex motion analysis.

Results

Children in both groups showed significant improvements in the gait parameters (P < 0.05), with significantly greater improvements in the experimental group than in the control group.

Conclusions

The use of TheraTogs may have a positive effect to improve gait pattern in children with dyskinetic cerebral palsy.

Trial registration

This trial was registered in the ClinicalTrial.gov PRS (NCT03037697).
Studying Müllerian duct anomalies – from cataloguing phenotypes to discovering causation
Authors: Santana González Laura , Artibani Mara , Ahmed Ahmed Ashour
Published: June 2021

Müllerian duct anomalies (MDAs) are developmental disorders of the Müllerian duct, the embryonic anlage of most of the female reproductive tract. The prevalence of MDAs is 6.7% in the general female population and 16.7% in women who exhibit recurrent miscarriages. Individuals affected by these anomalies suffer from high rates of infertility, first-trimester pregnancy losses, premature labour, placental retention, foetal growth retardation and foetal malpresentations. The aetiology of MDAs is complex and heterogeneous, displaying a range of clinical pictures that generally lack a direct genotype-phenotype correlation. De novo and familial cases sharing the same genomic lesions have been reported. The familial cases follow an autosomal-dominant inheritance, with reduced penetrance and variable expressivity. Furthermore, few genetic factors and molecular pathways underpinning Müllerian development and dysregulations causing MDAs have been identified. The current knowledge in this field predominantly derives from loss-of-function experiments in mouse and chicken models, as well as from human genetic association studies using traditional approaches, such as microarrays and Sanger sequencing, limiting the discovery of causal factors to few genetic entities from the coding genome. In this Review, we summarise the current state of the field, discuss limitations in the number of studies and patient samples that have stalled progress, and review how the development of new technologies provides a unique opportunity to overcome these limitations. Furthermore, we discuss how these new technologies can improve functional validation of potential causative alterations in MDAs.
Gestão de pessoas por competências e escolha de gestores para cargos de confiança: um estudo no Instituto Federal do Sertão Pernambucano.
Authors: PEREIRA GOMES ANA KAROLINA , Barbosa Milka Alves Correia , Cassundé Fernanda Roda
Published: June 2021

Este estudo buscou compreender como o atual modelo de gestão de pessoas contribui para a escolha de servidores para ocuparem cargos de confiança no âmbito do Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Sertão Pernambucano (IF Sertão-PE). Para tanto, foram abordados no referencial teórico os temas: gestão de pessoas no serviço público, cargos de confiança e competências. Trata-se de um estudo qualitativo básico, com dados coletados por meio de pesquisa documental e entrevistas semiestruturadas, realizadas com gestores da alta administração do IF Sertão-PE. Os dados revelaram que, embora o IF Sertão-PE dê prioridade à ocupação de cargos por indivíduos do seu quadro funcional e estimule a educação formal dos servidores, o processo de escolha para cargos de confiança ainda é influenciado por aspectos subjetivos, desvinculados da gestão por competências. Ademais, predomina na instituição o modelo tradicional de gestão de pessoas, reativo e limitado ao atendimento de demandas específicas, contribuindo limitadamente para a escolha de gestores. Sem o propósito de esgotar as discussões sobre as temáticas, este trabalho corrobora a importância de otimizar as práticas de gestão de pessoas no setor público, bem como evidencia a relevância dos gerentes públicos enquanto agentes de transformação e de promoção da eficiência.
A produção de sentidos na construção de um modelo democrático participativo
Authors: Delgado Marcos Vinicius Araujo , Da Costa Lima Raphael Jonathas
Published: June 2021

O presente artigo resulta de um estudo de caso sobre a experiência de Volta Redonda/RJ, assumindo como objeto empírico o Conselho Municipal de Desenvolvimento Urbano (CMDU). O objetivo é analisar os sentidos da participação social e suas implicações na atuação do CMDU como órgão capaz de restringir ou favorecer a construção de um modelo democrático- participativo. O CMDU integrou um conjunto de esforços da sociedade civil dedicados a repensar a cidade após a privatização da Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional (CSN), em 1993, e a superar divergências históricas entre setores da sociedade civil local, como os movimentos sociais e o empresariado. Como procedimento metodológico, recorreu-se a uma abordagem predominantemente qualitativa baseada em entrevistas semiestruturadas, em pesquisa documental e na observação não-participante. Para o tratamento dos dados, utilizou-se a análise crítica do discurso. Ao analisar a experiência do CMDU, infere-se que, a despeito do envolvimento dos sujeitos através de um modelo da gestão participativa, este, de maneira ambivalente, pode assumir características contrárias ao aprofundamento democrático. Os discursos coletados revelam que as imbricações e ambiguidades de diferentes tipos de projetos políticos têm reflexos na atuação do CMDU, atribuindo múltiplos direcionamentos ao sentido da participação na construção de um modelo democrático-participativo.
Funcionalismo público brasileiro no século XXI
Authors: Souza Silveira Leonardo , Henrique Elgaly da Penha Pedro , Portes Costa de Castro Bruno
Published: June 2021

O presente artigo tem como objetivo analisar a trajetória do perfil ocupacional do Poder Executivo nos níveis federal, estadual e municipal do Brasil entre 2003 e 2018. Em número de vínculos empregatícios, o executivo tornou-se 42% maior no intervalo, tendo, porém, heterogeneidades entre os níveis federativos e no grau de especialização dos servidores incorporados. Estudos prévios vêm se utilizando de análises temporais para demonstrar a transformação do Estado por meio do funcionalismo em aspectos políticos e sociológicos. Este trabalho busca contribuir na compreensão sobre o que faz o Estado, qual o perfil dos recursos humanos disponíveis para sua atuação, e como ele se tem transformado nos últimos anos. Para isso, foram analisados dados da Relação Anual de Informações Sociais (RAIS) sobre os grandes grupos ocupacionais e as categorias que mais cresceram e mais diminuíram nesse período. Os resultados sugerem um processo de variações ocupacionais do Estado que dialogam com as novas atribuições posteriores à Constituição de 1988, apesar de diferenças marcantes entre os níveis federativos.
Planejamento e gestão estratégica com simplicidade
Authors: Neves Marcos Fava , Gray Allan Wayne
Published: June 2021

Um método que concentra todo o processo de planejar e implementar a estratégia na resposta a cinco perguntas: Onde estamos? Para onde vamos? Como chegar lá? Quais são os projetos estratégicos? Como fazer acontecer?
Ruptura, mudanças e alguma esperança pós-Covid-19
Authors: Tonelli Maria José , Wilner Adriana
Published: June 2021

Ao terminarmos este fatídico ano de 2020, sabemos que os negócios sofreram rupturas e precisam enfrentar desafios para sua continuidade nos próximos anos. O varejo foi especialmente afetado. O setor, que já estava em transformação com o impacto das novas tecnologias, teve de acelerar, e muito, esse processo.
Organizações em Conexão
Authors: Tonelli Maria José , Wilner Adriana
Published: June 2021

Transformação digital é o tema do momento. A pandemia deixou ainda mais evidente a urgência de as organizações aprenderem a aproveitar todo o potencial tecnológico disponível para sobreviver, crescer e promover o desenvolvimento econômico e social do país. Não faltam ferramentas para isso, mas há muita dificuldade em compreendê-las e usá-las. O caderno especial desta edição apresenta caminhos para decifrar e explorar as novas tecnologias.
Como empresas usam inteligência analítica
Authors: De Souza Meirelles Fernando
Published: June 2021

Mesmo com o desenvolvimento de ferramentas avançadas para apoio à decisão, a predileção nas empresas ainda é pelo Excel. Mas esse cenário está mudando.
Transformação digital: gerando valor para o "novo futuro"
Authors: Albertin Alberto Luiz , De Moura Albertin Rosa Maria
Published: June 2021

O poder das tecnologias digitais permite que a sociedade e as empresas façam algo novo, diferente e melhor, que é a essência da transformação digital.
Increase of SARS-CoV-2 RNA load in faecal samples prompts for rethinking of SARS-CoV-2 biology and COVID-19 epidemiology
Authors: Petrillo Mauro , Brogna Carlo , Cristoni Simone , Querci Maddalena , Piazza Ornella , Van den Eede Guy
Published: June 2021

Background

Scientific evidence for the involvement of human microbiota in the development of COVID-19 disease has been reported recently. SARS-CoV-2 RNA presence in human faecal samples and SARS-CoV-2 activity in faeces from COVID-19 patients have been observed.

Methods

Starting from these observations, an experimental design was developed to cultivate in vitro faecal microbiota from infected individuals, to monitor the presence of SARS-CoV-2, and to collect data on the relationship between faecal bacteria and the virus.

Results

Our results indicate that SARS-CoV-2 replicates in vitro in bacterial growth medium, that the viral replication follows bacterial growth and it is influenced by the administration of specific antibiotics. SARS-CoV-2-related peptides have been detected in 30-day bacterial cultures and characterised.

Discussion

Our observations are compatible with a ‘bacteriophage-like’ behaviour of SARS-CoV-2, which, to our knowledge has not been observed or described before. These results are unexpected and hint towards a novel hypothesis on the biology of SARS-CoV-2 and on the COVID-19 epidemiology. The discovery of possible new modes of action of SARS-CoV-2 has far-reaching implications for the prevention and the treatment of the disease.
Analysis of the Dynamics of Mortality of Liquidators of the Consequences of the Accident at the Chernobyl NPP - Workers of the Atomic Industry of Russia
Authors: Shafransky I. , Tukov A. , Prokhorova O. , Kalinina M.
Published: June 2021

Purpose: Assessment of the health of persons working under the influence of certain adverse environmental factors.

Material and methods: The work includes all male liquidators registered in the Sectoral Register of persons exposed to radiation as a result of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. This is about 18.5 thousand people. More than half of them have a verified dose load, all of which were exposed to radiation while working in the 30-km zone of the Chernobyl NPP. At this stage of the study, estimates were obtained for the corresponding retirement intensity function for two cohorts of liquidators – 1986 and subsequent years of work.In order to assess the dynamics of the age-specific mortality of the liquidators, the data for the years 2000 and 2014 are considered. It did not make sense to take earlier years due to the relatively young age of the liquidators at that point in time. The second estimate is related to exactly 15 years – half the entire period of observation of the register. 2014 turned out to be more preferable compared to 2015 due to the fact that it was in 2014 that a significant number of people were deregistered and thus dropped out of consideration.

Empirical analysis methods are used – survival curves are considered (data such as the lifetime) both in terms of morbidity and mortality. And a comparison is made of the curves obtained in different rank groups. For fitting curves, risk functions of various parametric distributions constructed using the likelihood function can be used. The main problem of this analysis is a large number of censored data at this stage of the study.

Results: The death rate of the liquidators differs significantly from the death rate of the male population of the Russian Federation, however, this difference decreases with time, primarily due to a decrease in the death rate of the population in the Russian Federation. If the trends in the dynamics of age-specific mortality in the Russian Federation correspond to global standards, which corresponds to a positive dynamic, the dynamics of the age-specific mortality of the liquidators is paradoxical, which primarily concerns the cohort of liquidators of 1986. The weather smoothed mortality of the liquidators of 1986 exceeds that calculated for all the liquidators of the register, which may indicate the presence of some additional factors determining the health of this group of persons. By the years 2007–2010, a significant increase in the slope of the mortality curve is observed as a sign of the cohort selection, relegation of the weaker ones first. Using the Kaplan –Meier method, survival curves for cohorts were constructed, and the presence of significant differences in their mortality was shown.
Positive cognitive-behavioural psychotherapy
Authors: Reichel Agnieszka
Published: June 2021

W ciągu ostatnich dekad widać pojawiające się nowe nurty psychoterapii poznawczo-behawioralnej (ang. cognitive-behavioural therapy — CBT). Należą one do trzeciej, a nawet czwartej fali. Artykuł zwraca uwagę na istniejące kierunki CBT, główny nacisk kładąc na pozytywną terapię poznawczo-behawioralną (ang. positive cognitive-behavioural therapy — P-CBT). W tym podejściu (nazywanym też czwartofalowym) punkt ciężkości zostaje przeniesiony z psychopatologii na mocne strony i zasoby klienta. Od zrozumienia mechanizmów powstawania dysfunkcji poznawczo-behawioralnych przechodzimy do skoncentrowania się na procesach powstawania funkcjonalnych przekonań. Głównym punktem odniesienia staje się w nim analiza celu, a nie analiza problemu. Oprócz techniki „strzałki w dół” eksplorującej negatywne przekonania, pojawia się „strzałka w górę”, która koncentruje się na wydobywaniu pozytywnych przekonań klienta. W artykule zostają również opisane elementy P-CBT, takie jak: relacja terapeutyczna, konceptualizacja, analiza celu, własna obserwacja, zmiana procesów poznawczych, zmiana zachowań, zmiana emocji, zadania domowe oraz informacje zwrotne.
Druga część artykułu ukazuje jedne z pierwszych badań porównujących klasyczną terapię poznawczo-behawioralną z terapią P-CBT, która jest obecnie przedmiotem badania na Uniwersytecie w Maastricht. Autorami badań są: Nicole Geschwind, Emke Bosgraff, Fredrike Bannink oraz Frenk Peters. Badanie było przeprowadzone wśród pacjentów ze zdiagnozowanymi zaburzeniami depresyjnymi. W artykule zostały ukazane sposoby przeprowadzenia badania oraz jego rezultaty.
Self-stigma for the time of passing — an interpretative phenomenological analysis of the experience of older women struggling with depression in the course of mood disorders
Authors: Bańbura-Nowak Anna , Kowara Katarzyna , Opoczyńska-Morasiewicz Małgorzata
Published: June 2021

Cel pracy

Autostygmatyzacja związana z zaburzeniami psychicznymi może stanowić dodatkową przyczynę cierpienia osób nimi dotkniętych. Naszym zamiarem było poszerzenie przyjętego w literaturze założenia, że zjawisku autostygmatyzacji towarzyszą jedynie negatywne konsekwencje. Podjęłyśmy próbę opisania i zrozumienia sposobów przeżywania siebie i relacji z innymi w kontekście chorowania na depresję, a także poddałyśmy refleksji wielość możliwych znaczeń autostygmatyzacji.

Metoda

Na podstawie danych zebranych podczas wywiadów indywidualnych z sześcioma kobietami w wieku 60+, hospitalizowanymi z powodu nasilenia epizodu depresji w przebiegu zaburzeń nastroju przeprowadziłyśmy interpretacyjną analizę fenomenologiczną.

Wyniki

Wyodrębniłyśmy trzy znaczenia, jakie może mieć zaabsorbowanie chorobą i opisałyśmy je w obszarach: (1) Zmaganie się z depresją jako ważny aspekt tożsamości; (2) Depresja jako jeden z aspektów, wokół których zorganizowane jest myślenie o przyszłości; (3) Depresja jako regulator relacji interpersonalnych.

Wnioski

Autostygmatyzacja przejawiała się u badanych w postaci dotkliwej dewaluacji siebie i owładnięcia krytycznymi myślami na swój temat. Wydaje się jednak, że usilne postrzeganie siebie przez pryzmat choroby mogło też pełnić pewne funkcje ochronne: wypełniać pustkę po pełnionych dawniej rolach; zabezpieczać przed konfrontacją z przemijaniem oraz stwarzać przestrzeń do kontaktu z innymi. Na podstawie uzyskanych wyników sformułowałyśmy wskazania do psychoedukacji starszych osób zmagających się z depresją: zachęcanie do tworzenia narracji na temat swojej przeszłości, umożliwienie kontaktu z rówieśnikami dotkniętymi podobnymi troskami, odstąpienie od prób zachęcania do zmiany sposobu przeżywania siebie i rewizji autonarracji.
Experiential techniques and therapeutic relationship in schema therapy
Authors: Finogenow Maria
Published: June 2021

Terapia schematów została stworzona przez Jeffreya Younga i jego współpracowników. Wywodzi się z terapii poznawczo-behawioralnej, łączy jednak w sobie elementy innych koncepcji. Choć czerpie z różnorodności klasycznych technik poznawczych i behawioralnych, istotnie podkreśla rolę technik doświadczeniowych, skoncentrowanych na emocjach oraz relacji terapeutycznej.
Wykorzystywane w terapii schematów techniki skoncentrowane na emocjach bazują na uruchomieniu schematów wraz ze związanymi z nimi funkcjami poznawczymi, emocjami, doznaniami cielesnymi i wspomnieniami. Do najważniejszych technik z tej grupy zalicza się technikę kierowania wyobrażeniami oraz pracę z krzesłami. Technika kierowania wyobrażeniami wykorzystywana jest zarówno w fazie diagnozy (do diagnozy schematów, ich źródeł, stylów radzenia sobie i trybów), jak i w fazie zmiany. W fazie zmiany najczęściej stosowana jest wyobrażeniowa zmiana skryptów, której celem jest bezpośrednie uzdrawianie schematów pacjenta. Z kolei praca z krzesłami najczęściej bywa wykorzystywana do pracy z nieadaptacyjnymi trybami radzenia sobie.
W terapii schematów relacja terapeutyczna odgrywa istotną rolę, zarówno jako czynnik leczący w procesie terapii, jak i stanowiący ważne tło dla stosowanych interwencji emocjonalnych. W podejściu tym wskazuje się na dwie ważne cechy relacji terapeutycznej: ograniczone powtórne rodzicielstwo oraz empatyczną konfrontację.
Psychotherapy during social isolation caused by COVID-19 – therapists’ and clients’ perspectives
Authors: Kluzowicz Julia , Kluzowicz Maria
Published: June 2021

Cel pracy

Artykuł przedstawia wyniki badania przeprowadzonego na grupie 155 respondentów — 54 psychoterapeutów i 101 klientów korzystających z psychoterapii. Przedmiotem badania były ich postawy wobec psychoterapii zdalnej w sytuacji izolacji społecznej. Badanie dotyczyło postrzegania trudności oraz zalet psychoterapii zdalnej, a także zmian w kontakcie terapeuta–klient w tak prowadzonej terapii.

Metoda

Badanie przeprowadzono w formie ankiety online rozesłanej pocztą elektroniczną oraz zamieszczanej na profilach grup tematycznych na platformie Facebook.

Wyniki

Badani respondenci w zdecydowanej większości kontynuowali psychoterapię w trakcie izolacji społecznej, pomimo że przeważająca część z nich nie miała wcześniej kontaktu z taką formą pracy terapeutycznej. Najczęściej wybieranym sposobem odbywania sesji, zarówno przez psychoterapeutów jak i klientów, był kontakt poprzez połączenie audio-wideo, rzadziej przez telefon. Największą trudnością wskazywaną w obu tych formach okazał się brak bezpośredniego kontaktu z rozmówcą. Psychoterapeuci zwracali jednak uwagę, że psychoterapia zdalna może być dla klienta wygodniejsza od tradycyjnie prowadzonej w kontakcie bezpośrednim. Większość respondentów stwierdziła, że w trakcie izolacji społecznej przekonała się do psychoterapii zdalnej, choć nie uważa jej za formę lepszą niż tradycyjna.

Wnioski

Izolacja społeczna spowodowana wirusem SARS-CoV-2 wymusiła w Polsce nagłą zmianę formy pracy psychoterapeutycznej, na którą większość jej uczestników nie była przygotowana. Wyniki ukazujące najważniejsze ograniczenia i zalety psychoterapii zdalnej mogą stanowić wskazówkę do kształcenia przyszłych pokoleń psychoterapeutów, które — jak pokazuje obecna sytuacja — muszą być przygotowane do udzielania pomocy również w formie zdalnej.
La pandemia de la COVID-19 como debate público: el caso español
Authors: Alcíbar Cuello José Miguel
Published: June 2021

El objetivo de este artículo es examinar las líneas básicas de la gestión política de la crisis sanitaria provocada por la pandemia de la COVID-19 (acrónimo del inglés coronavirus disease 2019) en España. En este sentido, se exploran algunos debates públicos que implican aspectos científicos, políticos, económicos y sociales de esta controversia sociocientífica. Aunque el grueso de las reflexiones se ciñe al caso español (en concreto, los debates sobre economía frente a salud, y sobre confianza y credibilidad en las instituciones), también se aborda el debate sobre el origen del coronavirus, de alcance internacional. Con una metodología cualitativa se analiza el discurso de una muestra intencional de mensajes públicos. Se concluye que hay que extraer tres lecciones: respuesta global, centralización de las competencias o mejor coordinación en el territorio español y un plan de comunicación riguroso, coordinado, serio y transparente. Respecto de la gestión de la COVID-19 se apunta a los estudios comparativos con el objeto de dilucidar los factores estructurales y coyunturales.
Misoprostol-induced Coronary Vasospasm Complicated by Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy and Cardiac Arrest
Authors: Kaur Parminder , Santana Melvin , Singh Balraj , Sah Anuraag , Pullatt Raja , Shamoon Fayez
Published: June 2021

Misoprostol is a synthetic E1 prostaglandin commonly used to induce abortion in the United States and elsewhere. There is limited literature on the cardiovascular adverse effects of misoprostol, and, to the best of our knowledge, very few such events have been reported. We describe the case of 52-year-old woman who was given misoprostol for cervical softening before endometrial ablation and experienced a cardiac arrest due to coronary vasospasm. She was successfully resuscitated and echocardiography showed features consistent with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Coronary angiography revealed coronary artery spasm which responded to nitroglycerin. Our case adds to the limited literature on this life-threatening adverse event of misoprostol.
Patterns of Cognition, Communication, and Adaptive Behavior in Children With Developmental Disabilities
Authors: Albert Phebe , Romski MaryAnn , Sevcik Rose A. , Morris Robin D.
Published: June 2021

Young children with developmental disabilities (DD) exhibit a range of strengths and weaknesses in cognitive, language, and adaptive skills. Identifying individual patterns of abilities across these domains is important for informing interventions. This study examines how 129 toddlers with significant developmental delays and less than 10 spoken words perform across different developmental domains and assessment methods (i.e., caregiver report and clinician-administered tests). Children exhibited statistically and clinically meaningful strengths and weaknesses across developmental domains, which may have important implications for differential interventions. Caregiver-reported and clinician-rated measures of cognition, language and adaptive functioning were highly related. However, the relation between caregiver report and clinician ratings was weaker for a subgroup of children with relatively more limited expressive language compared to other children in the sample.
Digital holographic polarimeter using dual reference beam interferometry
Authors: Goodman Matthew A. , Mohan R. Krishna , Barber Zeb W. , Babbitt Wm. Randall
Published: June 2021

An off-axis digital holographic imaging polarimeter was developed to
estimate the Jones matrices of an object. The Jones vector image of
the electric field returned from the object is determined from a
single holographic recording using the interference between the dual,
nearly orthogonal, reference beams. The technique compensates for
phase variations in the optical beam paths between the recorded
holograms and relaxes the need to generate orthogonal illumination
polarization states. A minimization algorithm was developed to compute
an estimation of the Jones matrix image of an object based on a set of
measured Jones vector images. A proof-of-concept demonstration was
performed to compute an estimated Jones matrix image of a
polarimetrically complex object using digital holograms recorded with
6 different illumination polarizations.
Learning implicit light propagation from multi-flame projections for computed tomography of chemiluminescence
Authors: Pan Hujie , Zhang Fuhao , Li Xuesong , Xu Min
Published: June 2021

Classic algorithms for computed tomography of chemiluminescence include two main steps: tomographic weight matrix calculation using imaging models, and inverse calculation using algebraic reconstruction techniques (ARTs). However, pre-calculated weight matrices require a large amount of storage, and accurate voxel weights may not be obtained using a simplified imaging model. In this study, we propose a new, to the best of our knowledge, method named the multi-weight encode reconstruction network (Multi-WERNet) to learn the implicit light propagation physics from the multi-projections of different flames and simultaneously reconstruct the 3D flame chemiluminescence. The reconstructed results from Multi-WERNet are close to those of ART, and no radial streak is found, which is commonly seen in ART-based methods. With the help of information from different flames, the results reconstructed with 5 views using Multi-WERNet outperform the ART method. Moreover, Multi-WERNet successfully learns the implicit light propagation physics as a voxel weight encoder and can be transferred to unseen cases. Finally, Multi-WERNet is found to have higher robustness than ART in reconstruction with imperfect projections, which makes the algorithm more practical.