bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PROFESSOR A.YA. ALYMOV AND DOMESTIC EPIDEMIOLOGY (ON THE 120TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS BIRTH)
Authors: Knopov M. Sh , Taranukha V. K
Published: April 2021

In the paper there is presented the life and creative work way of a prominent epidemiologist of our country, a talented organizer of medical health care, well-known public figure, a wonderful teacher, chief epidemiologist of the Navy during World War II, corresponding member of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Professor, General-Major of Medical Service Andrey Yakovlevich Alymov/
On the occasion of the Centenary of the establishment of anti-plague state service in Tsaritsyn-Stalingrad-Volgograd
Authors: Antonov V. A , Smelyansky V. P. , Lipnitskiy A. V , Yakovlev A. T , Viktorov D. V
Published: April 2021

In the article there is presented a brief history of the formation and development of anti-plague service in Tsaritsyn Stalingrad Volgograd
Clinical significance of genetic diversity of hepatitis A virus
Authors: Chulanov V. P , Karandashova I. V , Pimenov N. N , Molochniy V. P , Tomilka G. S , Sleptsova S. S , Semenova V. K , Malyi V. P , Boiko V. V , Kamolov B. D , Volchkova E. V
Published: April 2021

Aim: to identify features of the clinical course of hepatitis A (HA) caused by viruses of different subtypes. Patients and methods: In the study there were included 195 patients with hepatitis A (130 males and 65 females) at the age from 15 to 72 years residing in the territories with various manifestations of the epidemic process of HA (Moscow, the Khabarovsk region, the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), the Republic of Tajikistan and Ukraine). All patients were examined for the presence of Hepatitis A virus (HAV) RNA in blood, with following determination of the genotype of the virus by PCR. Biochemical blood tests (concentration of total and direct bilirubin, ALT activity) were performed from 2 to 9 times depending on the duration of hospital stay and severity of infection. The dynamics of biochemical indices was evaluated in accordance with the period of the disease: the first period -from the 1 st to 10 th day, the second -from 11 th to 20 th day, the third -from the 21 st day and later. Results: A direct moderate correlation (The Spearman correlation coefficient r = 0,3; p = 0,002) between the duration of jaundice and patients ’ age has been revealed. A significant relationship was observed in the group ofpatients with subtype IIIA (r = 0,4; p = 0,003) and was absent in patients with subtype IA. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups of patients with subtypes IA and IIIA, in dependence on the duration of hospitalization, the variant of the course ofprejaundice period, severity of the course disease, duration of the persistent jaundice and symptoms of intoxication. Absolute values and the dynamics of the reduction of total and direct bilirubin, as well as the dynamics of decrease of ALT activity in groups of patients with various subtypes were not differed significantly. Cholestatic forms of HA were observed only in patients with HAV isolates belonging to subtype IIIA. Conclusion: HAV subtype has no effect on the severity of the course of the disease neither major clinical symptoms and laboratory indices in patients from different age groups. A direct correlationship between the duration ofjaundice syndrome and age in patients with subtype IIIA may indicate a trend towards the formation of cholestatic forms of HA in patients with this subtype of the virus in older age groups.
Features of the replication of hantaviruses - pathogens of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in cell cultures of different origin
Authors: Malkin G. A , Dzagurova T. K , Korotina N. A , Balovneva M. V , Konyushko O. I , Sotskova S. E , Tkachenko E. A
Published: April 2021

There are presented results of the adaptation ofpathogens of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) virus Puumala and Dobrava strains, to the reproduction in cell cultures of the simian origin - Green monkey kidney (Vero, 4647), Green monkey spleen (455), calf kidney (PT-1) and sheep kidney (4184). Hantaviruses were shown to be able to adapt to the replication in the new cellular system differing in species origin from the culture of Vero E6 origin in which the strains were isolated. This fact demonstrates the heterogeneity of hantavirus population, with the existence of «quasispecies» which can recognize and bind to ligands (b3 integrins) of the other species specificity. The highest yield of the virus, which is comparable with the culture of Vero E6, culture Vero provides. In Vero cells after 3-4 passages Puumala and Dobrava-Belgrade viruses replicate also actively as in a permissive culture Vero E6, that proposes the use of Vero culture cell allowed for the production of immunobiological drugs administered to people as a substrate in the delivery of vaccines against HFRS.
Therapeutic effect of aerosol form of aprotinin against Influenza
Authors: Zhirnov O. P , Bokova N. O , Isaeva E. I , Vorobeva I. V , Konakova T. E , Malyshev N. A
Published: April 2021

There was studied the therapeutic efficacy ofinhalations ofaerosolform ofaprotinin delivered by a propellant in the metered-dose inhaler (MDI). This clinical trial was performed during the winter-spring outbreak caused with pandemic Influenza H1N1pdmO9. Aprotinin (a natural antiprotease low molecular weight polypeptide from bovine lungs) is known to be an antiviral drug, which inhibits influenza virus proteolytic activation accomplished by host respiratory proteases. Patients inhaled 2 aerosol doses of aprotinin (160 Kallikrein-inhibiting Units (KIU)) each 2 hours for 5 days. In comparison group, patients were treated with Ingavirin (a synthetic peptidoamine with unknown antiviral target), 90 mg per dayfor 5 days. On day 2 after treatment viral loads in naso-pharyngeal washes were determined. In aprotinin patients about the tenfold decrease of viral load was determined in comparison to Ingavirin patients. Duration of clinical symptoms, such as rhinorrhea, weakness, headache, sore throat, cough, chest pains, fever, in aprotinin group was 1 -2 days shorter then in Ingavirin group. No side effects neither patient discomfort were revealed in aprotinin group of patients. MDI, containing aprotinin as an active substance, can be recommended as a drug against Influenza caused by different viruses, including seasonal H1 N1, H3N2, swine-like H1 N1 pdmO9, and avian-like H7N9 viruses.
Scientific Conference of the Problem Commission “Arboviruses and other zoonoses viruses: Topical issues of the study of West Nile fever, dengue fever and other tropical imported arboviral infections in the Russian Federation”
Authors: Butenko A. M
Published: April 2021

In the article there is presented a brief overview concerning proceedings of RAMS Problem Commission "Arboviruses and other zoonoses viruses" on the theme: "Actual issues of studying of West Nile fever, dengue fever and other tropical imported arboviral infections in the Russian Federation", which was held in Federal State Budgetary Institution "D. I. Ivanovsky Institute of Virology (Russian Federation, Moscow) on 16th of March, 2014.
Enteroviral infections in the Republic of Belarus
Authors: Amvroseva T. V , Poklonskaya N. V , Zueva V. L , Bogush Z. F , Dedyulya K. L , Lukashev A. N
Published: April 2021

In the article there has been analyzed the current state of the problem of non-polio enteroviral infections (EVIs) in humans in the Republic of Belarus. There are reported clinical and epidemiological features of the development of the epidemic process, there is presented the dynamics of morbidity rate in the past decade, there is described the structure for the recorded in recent years EVIs in the context ofadministrative territories, clinicalforms, age groups, the impact of seasonal factors. The particular attention is given to the characteristic of disease outbreak with a description of its dominant pathogens. There are recommended the best ways of improving the surveillance of this group of infections.
Modern possibilities for the prediction of the efficacy of antiviral therapy of chronic hepatitis C
Authors: Ryumin A. M , Korochkina O. V , Sobchak D. M , Sobolevskaya O. L , Butina T. Yu , Kuznetsova I. V , Koreyvo E. G
Published: April 2021

Despite numerous investigations, the problem ofpredicting of efficiency of the antiviral therapy of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) remains to be actual. As recent investigations showed polymorphism of IL-B28 gene in large part determines the achievement of the sustained virological response. In this study in 70 CHC patients there were evaluated factors which influence on the results of the treatment, their occurrence in the population, and the use the control them as a predictor of the efficacy of the therapy. There is considered the possibility of correction of some of them. This allows you to predict the achievement of sustained virological response. There has been confirmed the need for the accounting of IL-B28 gene polymorphism in the relation to the wide spread occurence in the population of normal genotypes in loci Rs12979860 and Rs8099917.
Method of DNA-comet assay in the diagnosis of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic viral hepatitis C
Authors: Popov A. F , Mikhailov A. O , Ivanova N. S , Simakova A. I
Published: April 2021

In the study there were included 100 patients, which were selected in 5 group in dependence on the degree of liver fibrosis: I - F0, II - F1, III - F2, IV- F3, V - F4. Sixth (control) group was consisted of 43 healthy volunteers. The performed research has shown the relationship between the stage of fibrosis and the degree of DNA degradation in peripheral blood lymphocytes. The biggest level of DNA destruction in peripheral blood lymphocytes was established in group V patients with chronic viral hepatitis C. This allowed to consider method of DNA-comet assay as promising auxiliary method in the assessment of the formation of liver fibrosis.
Trends in the longterm dynamics of morbidity of acute intestinal infections and epidemiological features of outbreaks in recent years
Authors: Sergevnin V. I , Kuzovnikova E. Zh , Tryasolobova M. A , Ladeyshchikova Yu. I
Published: April 2021

There was performed the analysis of long-term dynamics ofmorbidity of certain nosologicalforms ofacute intestinal infections (AII) of the population of the Perm region and the Russian Federation in 2000-2014. There are summarized results of the epidemiological investigation of AII outbreaks recorded in the Perm region in 2009-2014. It was found that in recent years in the territory of the Perm region and the Russian Federation as a whole against the background of significant reduction or stabilization of the population incidence of certain bacterial AII there was noted the gain in the population incidence of viral AII. According to the materials of the Perm region in recent years, there were most frequently recorded food outbreaks of salmonellosis and food outbreaks of norovirus and rotavirus infections involving water as an intermediate factor of transmission.
Experience in the implementation of epidemiological surveillance of West Nile fever in the Volgograd region
Authors: Monastyrskiy M. V , Shestopalov N. V , Akimkin V. G , Demina Yu. V
Published: April 2021

West Nilefever (WNF) is the most important arbovirus infectionfor the Volgograd region. The observed decrease in the WNF incidence from 2001 to 2006, in 2008 and2009, the reducing the number ofsevere forms ofdiseases only give evidence ofa temporary regression of the epidemic process in the territory of the Volgograd region. In the territory of the Volgograd region there are prerequisites and harbingers of the complication of epidemiological situation on West Nile fever. The aim of the performed in the Volgograd region epidemiological surveillance for WNF is to provide the information necessary and sufficient for the analysis of the epidemiological situation, as well as to determine the direction of policy and activities in public health and in making management decisions.
Shiga toxin in patients with HIV infection in the presence of mono- and mixed markers of intestinal infections
Authors: Korogodskaia E. G , Umbetova K. T , Belaia O. F , Yudina Yu. V , Belaia Yu. A , Zuevskaya S. N , Volchkova E. V
Published: April 2021

The goal - to study the frequency of detection and levels of Shiga toxin in the feces ofpatients with HIV infection at the stage of secondary diseases in the presence of mono and mixed O-antigens of intestinal bacteria. Materials and methods In 2012-2014 there were examined 123 patients with 4A, 4B, 4C- HIV infection, without diarrhea. The average age ofpatients accounted for 36,8 ± 7,8 years. The control group was consisted of 40 blood donors. In paired stool samples by means of the reaction of coagglutination (RCA) on slides there were tested LPS/O-antigens as markers of causal pathogens of major intestinal infections, Shiga toxin antigen and levels of IgG-immune complexes (IgG-IC in RCA on the plates) in patients with mono and mixed O-antigen in feces. Results There were established the excess of detection rate and titers of antigen Shiga toxin in stool in patients with HIV in comparison with donors, an gain of these indices in mixed infection, and a downward trend of IgG-IC levels in the feces in all cases of HIV-infection if compared with blood donors (p ≤ 0.01). Conclusion Detection of mono- and mixed-O-antigens in the feces of patients with HIV infection, an gain in titers and the frequency of the detection of Shiga toxin antigen, declined IgG-IC levels in feces indicate to pronounced intestinal dysbiosis and disturbed production of specific antibodies in patients with HIV infection at the stage of secondary diseases.
Distribution of the tick-borne encephalitis virus among naturally infected ixodid ticks and small mammals in the Novosibirsk region
Authors: Bakhvalova V. N , Chicherina G. S , Panov V. V , Glupov V. V , Morozova O. V
Published: April 2021

A comparative analysis of the virus infection carrier state and distribution of genetic types of the virus of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) among invertebrates (2 species of ticks, Ixodes persulcatus Schulze and Ixodes pavlovskyi Pomerantsev 1946) and vertebrate reservoir hosts (4 species of small rodents: the red vole Myodes rutilus Pallas, gray-sided vole Myodes rufocanus Sundevall, field mouse Apodemus agrarius Pallas, birch mice Sicista betulina Pallas and 1 species of insectivores - common shrew Sorex araneus L (1758)), dominating on the territory of the Novosibirsk region in 2009-14 years, was performed with the use of virological and molecular biological methods. Frequency detection of RNA and / or E protein in mammals (70,9 ± 3,0%) were shown to considerably exceed levels of virus infection carrier state rate of ticks (3,4 ± 0,4). In the circulation of three major types of TBE - Far East (FE), Siberian (NIB) and European (Eur) in natural populations in mono - or polytype forms in mites Sib type prevailed (p
Identification of markers of opportunistic infections and viral hepatitis in oncohematological patients
Authors: Kornienko M. N , Rybalkina T. N , Karazhas N. V , Nikitina G. Yu , Kalugina M. Yu , Yarosh L. V , Semenenko T. A
Published: April 2021

The purpose of the study To estimate the prevalence of markers of herpesvirus infections and pneumocystosis in patients of the hematological department. To identify whether the contamination of hematological patients with hepatitis B and C (HBV, HCV) affects on the activation of opportunistic infections (OIs). Materials and methods There were examined 94 patients of the hematological department, including 48 patients with markers of HBV infection and 46 cases without them. Obtained results Markers of acute OIs (simple herpes virus type 1- 6,4%, EBV - 14,9%, CMV - 6,4%, and Human Herpesvirus 6- 13,8% and 33,0% of pneumocystosis) in hematological patients were determined more frequently than in donors. Comparative analysis of the data revealed the excess of the proportion of cases with markers of acute HHV-6 infection in hematological HBV patients in comparison with a group of hematologic patients without markers of HBV infection (22,9% against 4,4%, p
Molecular genetic characterization of Vibrio cholerae non-01/non-0139 strains isolated from ship ballast and port surface water in rostov region
Authors: Zakharova I. B , Vodyanitskaya S. Yu , Podshivalova M. V , Kruglikov V. D , Arkhangelskaya I. V , Viktorov D. V
Published: April 2021

In the given paper there are presented the results of analysis for presence in genomes of Vibrio cholerae non-O1/non-O139 strains isolated from ships' ballast water and the coastal zone of Taganrog Gulf class 1 integrons (In1) and SXT/R391 integrative conjugative elements. The intact sequence of In13'-conservative segment (qacEdelta1-sul) was detected in 3 strains (no. 33, 59, 182), whereas in strains V. cholerae no. 28 and 52 there were revealed the probable changes of target sequence (duplication and deletion, respectively). The fragment of SXT/R391 integrase IntSXT gene was detected in 7 of 10 strains tested. Group of strains no. 27, 36, 38, 117 and 59, 182 belong to 2 most common identified genotypes, while the rest isolates are characterized by unique genotypes that indicates to different source of their origins.
ELISA diagnostic test systems, serodiagnosis of arboviral infections
Authors: Larichev V. F , Kozlova A. A , Saifullin M. A , Khutoretskaia N. V , Shkinev V. M , Butenko A. M
Published: April 2021

There are developed and tested by ourselves ELISA kits for serodiagnostics of most endemic to Russia arboviral infections and some imported tropical diseases. Their application allowed in 1999 to set the value WN virus in the etiology of outbreaks ofWN fever in the southern region of Russia, then in Voronezh and Tula regions. From 1999 to 2014, according to the data of Russian Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing in the Russia there were diagnosed 2284 cases of WNfevers and 1725 cases of CCHF. In 2012-2014 specific IgG and neutralizing antibodies to the WN virus were detected in the population of the Southern and Black earth regions of Russia. Data of the examination of residents ’ sera from Tatarstan, Tver, Ryazan, Kaluga, Kursk and Vologda regions were proved to be negative. In 2000 there were revealedfirst cases of CCHF in the Volgograd region, Kalmykia and Dagestan also. The application of ELISA-IgM kits allowed to reveal cases of Sindbis, Batai, Tahyna, Inkoo, sandfly fevers, Uukuniemi and Bhanja. During the period of2009-2014 there were verified 190 imported cases of dengue fever, Chikungunya, WNfever, sandfly fevers, and Japanese encephalitis among persons returning from travel in tropical countries.
Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, new questions for the study
Authors: Nafeev A. A , Sibaeva E. I , Khaysarova A. N
Published: April 2021

In the work there are presented results of morbidity of Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in the population of the Ulyanovsk region for 2003-2013 with the use of the epidemiological method on the establishment of a causal relationship to the number and infection rate of mouse-like rodents. The presented material shows that in besides well-known classical criteria exerting the influence on the epidemic process in HFRS there are others, in particular, an increasingly growing role of anthropogenic factors which are to subjected to the closer study in the system of epidemiological surveillance of the given infection. Observed by ourselves results, taking into account the number of mouse-like rodents and their infection rate with Hantavirus did not admit unambiguously for the last 11 years as determining in the development of the epidemic process of HFRS in the Ulyanovsk Region.
Features of the specific humoral response and cytokine regulation in whooping cough in children
Authors: Popova O. P , Skirda T. S , Fedorova I. M , Koteleva S. I
Published: April 2021

In the article there is presented the comparative analysis of the character of the specific humoral response to pertussis in dependence on the age, terms of the disease and vaccination history in 279 patients, among which 114 patients were under 1 and 165 patients - over 1 year of the age. In the study of the level of the production of antibodies of different isotypes in unvaccinated patients of different age in dependence on the terms of medical examination it has been revealed that in the patients under the age of 1 year there was typical the low production of all the classes of antibodies in any time of the disease, especially IgM. It has been shown that in babies aged from 0 to 3 and from 4 to 6 months old the production level of these immunoglobulins in examination at the early stages of the disease was established to be considerably lower than in the patients at the age from 7 to 12 months, and was equal to 1,1 ± 0,4 and 1,5 ± 0,1 U/ml versus 9,1 ± 3,8 U/ml correspondingly, (p
The use of human placenta for purification of normal and immune animal sera
Authors: Kozlov V. G , Ivin Yu. Yu , Grachev V. P
Published: April 2021

There was described and efficient and economical approach for the removal of toxic substances from normal and immune sera from various species of animals with the use of human placenta tissue. Purification brings about to perceptible losses of neither serum-specific activity nor the original volume. Being simple the method does not require any special equipment and can be used in conditions of low-volume or in laboratory production of serum preparations. There are considered as well possible origins of serum toxicity as mechanism of antitoxic activity of placenta.
Retrospective analysis of forensic sectional examinations after a coronary bypass surgery
Authors: Rubtsov Alexandr E. , Rubtsova Anna V. , Morozov Michael Yu. , Morozov Yuri E.
Published: April 2021

Background: In the case of sudden or violent death, occurring in the rehabilitation period after a previously performed coronary bypass surgery, a forensic medical examination is usually prescribed. In recent years, the number of such forensic examinations has increased. At the same time, problems were revealed related to the lack of guidelines for the study of coronary shunts and recommendations on the structure of forensic diagnosis. Aims: This study aimed to summarize significant differences and features of coronary shunt research methods and give examples of diagnosis in cases of forensic examinations of corpses of patients who underwent coronary bypass surgery. Conclusions (acts) of forensic medical examinations (studies) of corpses performed at the bureau of forensic medical examination of the city of Moscow for the five-year period in 20122016 were studied. Cases of forensic examinations in patients who had previously undergone coronary bypass surgery were identified, original technical methods for sectional study of postoperative shunts are summarized, and options for constructing and substantiating sectional diagnoses were developed. In the analysis of 135, 446 conclusions (acts), 56 cases of forensic examinations of corpses of persons with signs of previously performed coronary bypass surgery were selected. Distinctive features of original methods for the study of shunts, tasks resolved during the study of native and prosthetic heart vessels, and examples of the design of forensic protocols are described. Examples of construction and substantiation of forensic diagnoses are also provided. Conclusion: This study revealed original technical methods for the study of coronary shunts during the concealment of corpses and examples of protocols of identified changes, and options for the formulation of forensic medical diagnoses in cases of forensic examinations of corpses of persons with a previously performed coronary bypass surgery are given.
Quaternary Deposits Affect Coseismic Offset on Thrust Faults: Evidence from the 2008 Mw 7.9 Wenchuan, China, Earthquake
Authors: Wang Hu , Zhang Zhihou , Ran Yongkang , Chen Lichun , Yao Yu , Liu Pengfei , Shi Zeyu , Li Kaijin , Deng Lin
Published: April 2021

Coseismic offset is an important parameter to determine the characteristics of surface ruptures produced by large earthquakes and has significant implications for understanding fault-zone mechanics. To date, most studies have focused on broad-wavelength variations in coseismic offset and their related mechanisms. However, high-frequency variations in coseismic offset have been less commonly reported due to difficulty in field identification. Here, we show that three sites have typical abrupt changes in coseismic offset within short distances along surface ruptures produced by the 2008 Mw 7.9 Wenchuan earthquake. The Bailu, Qingping, and Xiaoyudong sites on different segments of the seismogenic faults show that coseismic vertical offsets can vary from ∼0.6 to ∼1.7  m at neighboring locations. Moreover, the offset gradients at the three sites are estimated from ∼2.5 to ∼30.9  m/km. Based on geologic and geophysical investigations at the three sites, we suggest that Quaternary deposits are the primary factor affecting coseismic offset. Specifically, thick and loosely packed deposits are more likely to yield smaller coseismic offsets than thin and densely packed deposits. Finally, through a compilation of recent thrust-type earthquakes, we suggest that the coseismic vertical offset gradient for thrust faults can vary greatly, which requires caution in seismic hazard assessments when designing linear infrastructure projects and constraining slip rates at specific sites.
Monitoring Human Activity at a Very Local Scale with Ground-Motion Records: The Early Stage of COVID-19 Pandemic in California, U.S.A., New York City, U.S.A., and Mexicali, Mexico
Authors: Wu Baoning , Douilly Roby , Ford Heather A. , Funning Gareth , Lee Hsin-Yu , Niyogi Shankho , Mendoza Manuel , Kyriakopoulos Christodoulos , Oglesby David
Published: April 2021

In this article, we analyze the change in anthropogenic seismic noise level within a frequency range of 4–14 Hz, through a survey of seismic stations in California, United States, New York City, United States, and Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico from early December 2019 to late April 2020. Our analysis shows that some stations recorded a drop in anthropogenic seismic noise during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the timing of the anthropogenic noise decrease typically correlates with the timing of a strict curtailment of personal and economic activity issued by the local government. In other locations, the drop in the anthropogenic seismic noise appears not to follow the lockdown timing perfectly. During our analysis, we observed that many stations did not record a drop during the early stage of COVID-19 pandemic. Of the 19 stations of the Southern California Seismic Network that were surveyed, we found that only five show a similar extent of drop in anthropogenic seismic noise comparable to the Christmas holiday break in 2019. This suggests that the human activity that caused seismic noise did not significantly reduce during the COVID-19 pandemic near most surveyed stations in southern California. A further analysis implies that the primary seismic noise source in southern California might be traffic, and the continuation of industrial traffic, such as cargo transportation, during the COVID-19 pandemic may be the reason why many stations did not record a noise drop. Our results show that the anthropogenic seismic noise recorded by seismic stations is capable of indicating human activity, and that this metric is, particularly, powerful in measuring how localized communities initially responded to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Complex Fault Geometry of the 2020 Mww 6.5 Monte Cristo Range, Nevada, Earthquake Sequence
Authors: Ruhl Christine J. , Morton Emily A. , Bormann Jayne M. , Hatch-Ibarra Rachel , Ichinose Gene , Smith Kenneth D.
Published: April 2021

On 15 May 2020 an Mww 6.5 earthquake occurred beneath the Monte Cristo Range in the Mina Deflection region of western Nevada. Rapid deployment of eight temporary seismic stations enabled detailed analysis of its productive and slowly decaying aftershock sequence (p=0.8), which included ∼18,000 autodetected events in 3.5 months. Double-difference, waveform-based relative relocation of 16,714 earthquakes reveals a complex network of faults, many of which cross the inferred 35-km-long east–northeast-striking, left-lateral mainshock rupture. Seismicity aligns with left-lateral, right-lateral, and normal mechanism moment tensors of 128 of the largest earthquakes. The mainshock occurred near the middle of the aftershock zone at the intersection of two distinct zones of seismicity. In the western section, numerous subparallel, shallow, north-northeast-striking faults form a broad flower-structure-like fault mesh that coalesces at depth into a near-vertical, left-lateral fault. We infer the near-vertical fault to be a region of significant slip in the mainshock and an eastward extension of the left-lateral Candelaria fault. Near the mainshock hypocenter, seismicity occurs on a northeast-striking, west-dipping structure that extends north from the eastern Columbus Salt Marsh normal fault. Together, these two intersecting structures bound the Columbus Salt Marsh tectonic basin. East of this intersection and the mainshock hypocenter, seismicity occurs in a narrow, near-vertical, east-northeast-striking fault zone through to its eastern terminus. At the eastern end, the aftershock zone broadens and extends northwest toward the southern extension of the northwest-striking, right-lateral Petrified Springs fault system. The eastern section hosts significantly fewer aftershocks than the western section, but has more moment release. We infer that shallow aftershocks throughout the system highlight fault-fracture meshes that connect mapped fault systems at depth. Comparing earthquake data with surface ruptures and a simple geodetic fault model sheds light on the complexity of this recent M 6.5 Walker Lane earthquake.
Sampling Algorithms Combination with Machine Learning for Efficient Safe Trajectory Planning
Authors:   Faculty of Electrical Enginering, Ingolstadt University of Applied Sciences, Ingolstadt, Germany, Chaulwar Amit
Published: April 2021

The planning of safe trajectories in critical traffic scenarios using model-based algorithms is a very computationally intensive task. Recently proposed algorithms, namely Hybrid Augmented CL-RRT, Hybrid Augmented CL-RRT+ and GATE-ARRT+, reduce the computation time for safe trajectory planning drastically using a combination of a deep learning algorithm 3D-ConvNet with a vehicle dynamic model. An efficient embedded implementation of these algorithms is required as the vehicle on-board micro-controller resources are limited. This work proposes methodologies for replacing the computationally intensive modules of these trajectory planning algorithms using different efficient machine learning and analytical methods. The required computational resources are measured by downloading and running the algorithms on various hardware platforms. The results show significant reduction in computational resources and the potential of proposed algorithms to run in real time. Also, alternative architectures for 3D-ConvNet are presented for further reduction of required computational resources.
The Determinants of Hotel Room Rates in Beirut: A Hedonic Pricing Model
Authors:   Normandy University, France, Nadia El-Nemr , Beatrice Canel-Depitre , Atour Taghipour
Published: April 2021

This work attempts to identify locational, structural and other attributes that have an effect on room rates in Beirut region. Therefore, a sample of 89 hotels were considered in this study. Data were collected from TripAdvisor website during March 2019, considered as a low season in Lebanon. An OLS regression analysis was used to identify significant variables. Results has shown a strong positive significance of star rating category and accessible rooms, and a strong negative significance of centrally located, business and safe labels. Hotel managers are advised to use current findings and analysis to adjust their pricing strategies and communicated image.
Demographic study of congenital talipes equinovarus deformity in central India
Authors: Ahirwar Rahul , Upadhyay Sachin , Varma H. S.
Published: April 2021

Background: Congenital idiopathic clubfoot is the most common birth defect of the musculoskeletal system affecting 1 in every 1000 live births each year. Aim of our study was to determine the demographic variables, risk factors associated with CTEV in central India.Methods: A retrospective study was conducted from January 2019 to August 2020 using data of 200 patients with CTEV registered at department of orthopaedics, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose medical college, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India were included in our study.Results; Out of total of 200 patients, 167 patients belong to age group <1 year (83.5%) with range from 10 days -7 years. Males were twice (65%) likely affected and (53.5%) clubfoot cases had both feet affected. Right side was more affected in unilateral cases. 189 patients (94.5%) were idiopathic, whereas 11 patients (5.5%) were non-idiopathic. there were 58 (29%) children out of 200, born of consanguineous marriage of parents. Risk factors like anemia, jaundice, asphyxia, obstructed labor, history of miscarriage had positive correlation with clubfoot. CTEV patients of low birth weight <2.5 kg associated with maternal risk factors like smoking, alcohol, anemia.Conclusions: Demographic study is useful tool for determining birth prevalence and risk factors associated with CTEV. There are significantly higher proportion of consanguinity in clubfoot patients. Cultural differences may lead to differences in our findings with respect to the previous studies. These preliminary findings will help in the future for similar studies in central India as well as in the general Indian population.
Clinical outcome of acute Monteggia fractures in children after open reduction and internal fixation of ulna
Authors: Kumar Manoj , Bhatt Muhammad Farooq , Gupta Sanjeev , Lone Zubair A. , Ahmed Maneer , Raina Gagandeep Singh
Published: April 2021

Background: Monteggia fracture dislocations are a rare but a complex injury. The fracture of the ulna associated with proximal radioulnar joint dissociation and radio capitellar dislocation. This injury comprises less than 1% of all pediatric forearm fractures and typically affects patients between 4 and 10 years of age. There are many options for treatment of these fractures. The present study was planned to assess the clinical outcome of patients treated with open reduction and internal fixation of ulna with plating.Methods: The study was conducted in department of orthopedics, government medical college and hospital, Jammu from August 2018 to January 2021. 25 patients of Monteggia fractures were managed with open reduction and internal fixation of ulna with plating. Patients were evaluated at follow-up for pain, stability and disturbance of daily and sports activities. Functional outcome was assessed using elbow performance score.Results: Mean age of study participants was 8.2 years and male children predominated our study constituting 17 patients (68%). 14 patients were Bado type 1, four patients were Bado type 2 whereas seven patients were Bado type 3. The outcome was excellent in 18 patients (72%) and no cases of failure were encountered.Conclusions: Stable anatomical fixation by open reduction and internal fixation of ulna fractures with plating, that in turns leads to the stable reduction of radial head, in the management of acute Monteggia fracture dislocations in children has a very good outcome.
Comparative analysis of correction of idiopathic congenital talipes equinovarus by conventional and accelerated Ponseti method with minimum 12 months follow up in a tertiary care hospital in North India
Authors: Singh Pankaj Vir , Ghani Abdul , Singh Tejpal , Malik Anzar Tariq , Singh Simranpreet
Published: April 2021

Background: Congenital talipes equinovarus varus (CTEV) is one of the most common congenital anomalies of foot and ankle affecting 1/1000 live birth approximately. With a male dominance pattern, this deformity is bilateral in 50% cases. It has four basic components: cavus, adduction, varus and equinus. Severity of clubfoot is accessed using Pirani score (0 to 6). Insights into the basic pathoanatomy of this complex 3 dimensional deformity has helped to correct it using the method given by Ignacio Ponseti, a Spanish orthopaedician, in which serial manipulations of foot are done and weekly casts are applied, followed by a tendoachilles tenotomy in selected cases to correct the equinus component which is then followed by splintage of the feet in Steenbeek splint initially for 23 hours day for 3 months and then 12 hours a day for 3 years. The most important component of this treatment is parental counselling regarding the need for compliance with treatment which is often loophole responsible for relapse in initially corrected feet.Methods: This was a prospective study including 40 patients (61 feets) of idiopathic clubfoot with age <3 month at presentation who were randomly distributed in two groups, group 1 (accelerated Ponseti casting group) in which twice weekly casts were applied and group 2 (standard Ponseti casting group) in which weekly casts were applied. Initial Pirani score was calculated in all the patients and was rechecked and documented in every successive visit. All the patients were followed upto 12 months and there was no lost to follow up in this study.Results: The mean days of plaster duration in accelerated casting group was 18.45 days as compared to 47.25 days in standard casting group (statistically significant, p value <0.05). Also, Pirani score at the end of last follow up was comparable in both the groups. Tenotomy rate was slightly higher in accelerated casting group (89.5%) as compared to standard group (85.7%) which may be attributed to higher initial Pirani score in former (5.5) as compared to later (5.0).Conclusions: Accelerated biweekly Ponseti casting reduces the overall days of treatment with similar results compared to standard weekly casting regime.
Bipolar TURP in high-risk patients with large prostate gland: our experience
Authors: Wani Prince M. , Wani Mohammad S. , Bhat Arif H. , Khawaja Abdul R. , Malik Sajad A. , Das Yaser A. , Para Sajad A. , Dar Manzoor A.
Published: April 2021

Background: The present gold standard monopolar-TURP is associated with a number of complications and has less safety margin in comorbid patients. Bipolar TURP is a modification of conventional M-TURP and has the potential to overcome its most prominent shortcomings with better safety profile in patients with comorbidities. Aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of bipolar-TURP in terms of operative and postoperative parameters.Methods: This prospective study was conducted in the department of urology SKIMS Srinagar, from April-2019 to October 2020. Forty-five patients with one or more comorbidities and BHP, with a prostate weight ≥60 gm was evaluated. Operative and postoperative parameters were recorded and patients followed with IPSS and uroflowmetry for a period of 6-months.Results: Of 45 patients who underwent B-TURP, pre-operative parameters were mean age(years) 66.59±9.88, mean prostate size (gm) 77.42±18.4, mean IPSS of 26.3±2.9, mean serum PSA (ng/dl) of 2.32±0.88, mean Qmax (ml/s)of 7.71±2.41 and PVRU of 113.45±16.5 ml. Operative and post-operative parameters were, mean operative time(min) of 68.14±29.6, TUR syndrome in none, mean change in Na+ of -0.98±0.75 meq/l, mean change in Hb of -1.66±0.68 g/dL, mean irrigation time (hours) 24.53±5.46, clot retention in 3 (6.66%) patients, transfusion in 2 (4.44%) patients, mean postoperative catheter time(hours) 69.5±10.5 and mean hospital stay 3.6±1.61 days. Two (4.44%) patients developed stricture urethra and were managed with urethral dilatation. IPSS and Qmax at 6-weeks were 10.2±2.18 and 16.22±2.31 ml and at 6-months were 6.43±1.16 and 19.12±3.14 ml respectively.Conclusions: B-TURP seems to be a more sensible choice for patients with underlying comorbidities or implanted cardiac devices.
Association of passive smoking and lung cancer: Is there substantial evidence to prove the causation?
Authors: Ambati Sudhir Kumar
Published: April 2021

Cigarette smoking plays a crucial role in the development of lung cancer. Tobacco smoke positively influences lung cancer development in both smokers and never or non-smokers. The influence of passive smoke on lung cancer development is associated with toxic substances that cause chronic inflammation in the respiratory systems. Frequent or high exposure to second-hand or environmental tobacco smoke causes respiratory infections that impair lung function and triggers lung cancer development through cell damage, mitosis, and apoptosis. The toxic substances found in second-hand smoke, including carcinogens, ammonia, carbon monoxide, and nitrosamines, have a significant association with squamous cell carcinoma, small cell lung carcinoma, large cell carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma. Although some previously conducted studies showed no significant association between passive smoking and lung cancer, recent studies provide substantial evidence between their associations. Thus, exposure to passive smoke increases the risks of lung cancer.
Transparencia y equidad en la distribución de vacunas COVID-19 en América Latina y el Caribe: Preguntas claves para abordar temas de género y diversidad
Authors: Duryea Suzanne , Pereira María Antonella
Published: April 2021

A medida que los países avanzan en la preparación de planes de distribución de vacunas COVID-19 en América Latina y el Caribe (ALC), es imprescindible que se tomen medidas para asegurar que se realice de forma transparente y equitativa. Este documento plantea preguntas y acciones clave que pueden informar la transparencia y equidad en el despliegue de las vacunas COVID-19 durante su priorización, monitoreo y ejecución. El monitoreo y reporte del plan de vacunación es imprescindible para la transparencia. Por medio de un monitoreo riguroso, se puede confirmar si las vacunas están llegando a poblaciones vulnerables y tomar acciones correctivas de ser necesario. Se deben considerar tres aspectos en la etapa de ejecución de los planes de vacunación contra el COVID-19: la estrategia comunicacional, los mecanismos y ajustes que permiten el acceso a la vacunación para poblaciones vulnerables, y los mecanismos de consentimiento para poblaciones diversas. Es critico facilitar el acceso de los grupos vulnerables y asegurar que condiciones como la raza, la pertenencia étnica, el género, y el estado de discapacidad no sean un obstáculo para la vacunación.
Cross-Border Payments with Blockchain
Authors: Allende López Marcos , Leal Batista Antonio
Published: April 2021

This document describes the proof-of-concept (PoC) developed by the Inter-American Development Bank, the IDB Lab, LACChain, the Citi Bank Innovations Labs, and ioBuilders to demonstrate cross-border payments between entities in different countries that involve currency exchange, using digital money represented by tokens -tokenized money- in the LACChain Besu Blockchain Network. For this PoC, Citi Bank played the role of the bank holding the funds; the IDBs headquarters in the U.S. played the role of the sender of tokenized dollars; an individual in Dominican Republic played the role of recipient of tokenized Dominican pesos; LACChain provided the blockchain infrastructure and developed the back end, the smart contracts and the integrations; and ioBuilders provided technical advice and developed the front end.
Alfombras de Guano: salvando nuestra herencia cultural
Authors: Paz Suárez María Isabel , Zaldumbide Chiriboga Mónica Gabriela
Published: April 2021

El tejido de la alfombra anudada ha representado, por siglos, la identidad del cantón Guano, en Ecuador. Sin embargo, en la actualidad, la incapacidad de monetizar esta técnica artesanal ha estancado el desarrollo de su comunidad. La caída en ventas de las alfombras ha llevado a que el cantón entero comience a diversificar sus oficios, lo cual ha llevado a una pérdida de la herencia textil acumulada por siglos. Además, muchos de los artesanos, ante el golpe de la falta de demanda por sus actividades, han sufrido la explotación de intermediarios abusivos, la apropiación de sus oficios, remuneraciones injustas, entre otros problemas que alejan a las nuevas generaciones de aprender de estas tradiciones. Adicionalmente, la falta de formación adecuada para defender y adaptar sus oficios a un contexto contemporáneo enfrenta a las alfombras de Guano a una inminente extinción artesanal.

Este ensayo es parte de una iniciativa de investigación y aplicación llamada “Alfombras de Guano: El Proyecto”, que surgió en 2017 del Colegio de Arquitectura y Diseño Interior (CADI), de la Universidad San Francisco de Quito. Desde entonces, se ha trabajado en conjunto con los artesanos en crear un plan a futuro basado en el cuarto de los objetivos de desarrollo sostenible de la ONU. Rediseñar las alfombras, capacitar a los artesanos y crear plataformas de exposición son los canales que se han implementado para revitalizar al cantón de Guano en el mediano y largo plazo. La aplicación exitosa de este plan tiene el potencial de convertirse en un caso de estudio para otras comunidades artesanales de la región, y contesta a la pregunta: ¿cómo se puede proteger el conocimiento artesanal y potencializarlo a través de la educación, para que sea un canal de desarrollo económico de pequeñas comunidades en la actualidad?
Programa de Telesalud para pacientes crónicos de sectores rurales de Pichincha: prevención y promoción en salud en época de pandemia por Covid-19. Ensayo
Authors: Palacios León Iván , Vivas Vaca Carolina , Paz y Miño Mariel , Trueba Gabriel
Published: April 2021

El presente estudio de caso se refiere a la experiencia en fase de implementación por parte de profesores, alumni y estudiantes de diferentes escuelas de la Universidad San Francisco de Quito, el Ministerio de Salud Pública (MSP), y pacientes vulnerables durante la pandemia del Covid-19 (del 23 de marzo de 2020 al 12 de diciembre de 2020). La Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) advirtió desde el inicio de la pandemia que los grupos con mayor vulnerabilidad de desarrollar Covid-19 de manera grave o tener alta mortalidad son la población adulta mayor y personas que sufren enfermedades crónicas como diabetes e hipertensión. Frente al riesgo de contagio de esta población vulnerable del sector rural de Pichincha, la Escuela de Medicina de la Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) diseñó el “Programa de Telesalud para pacientes crónicos de sectores rurales de Pichincha”. Participaron como voluntarios del programa graduados (alumni), estudiantes y docentes de las escuelas de Medicina, Psicología, Nutrición y Microbiología; además, médicos de los centros de salud del primer nivel del Ministerio de Salud Pública. Los objetivos del programa fueron atender mediante llamadas telefónicas para fortalecer estilos de vida saludables, principalmente en cuanto a dieta y actividad física, por medio de charlas, mejorar la adherencia al tratamiento de patologías preexistentes, y brindar apoyo nutricional y psicológico. Además, se llevaron a cabo otras actividades complementarias para prevenir el contagio de Covid-19, como entregar visores faciales a pacientes y personal de salud, y aplicar pruebas gratuitas de SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR, las cuales se administraron en los centros de salud y hospitales intervinientes, y se procesaron en el laboratorio de Microbiología de la USFQ. Esto se efectuó mediante un protocolo diseñado para el efecto, que sigue los lineamientos de la OMS y del MSP del Ecuador. Se evaluó el programa mediante el análisis FODA (fortalezas, oportunidades, debilidades y amenazas). Durante el periodo reportado, se tuvo un impacto directo en 8,598 personas, las cuales se han beneficiado del Programa de Telesalud, incluyendo pacientes que recibieron atenciones vía telefónica de medicina, asesoría nutricional y asesoría psicológicas, y 3,115 personas que se aplicaron pruebas SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR.