bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metagenomic next-generation sequencing to characterize potential etiologies of non-malarial fever in a cohort living in a high malaria burden area of Uganda
Authors: Mwakibete Lusajo , Takahashi Saki , Ahyong Vida , Black Allison , Rek John , Ssewanyana Isaac , Kamya Moses , Dorsey Grant , Jagannathan Prasanna , Rodríguez-Barraquer Isabel , Tato Cristina M. , Greenhouse Bryan
Published: May 2023

Causes of non-malarial fevers in sub-Saharan Africa remain understudied. We hypothesized that metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS), which allows for broad genomic-level detection of infectious agents in a biological sample, can systematically identify potential causes of non-malarial fevers. The 212 participants in this study were of all ages and were enrolled in a longitudinal malaria cohort in eastern Uganda. Between December 2020 and August 2021, respiratory swabs and plasma samples were collected at 313 study visits where participants presented with fever and were negative for malaria by microscopy. Samples were analyzed using CZ ID, a web-based platform for microbial detection in mNGS data. Overall, viral pathogens were detected at 123 of 313 visits (39%). SARS-CoV-2 was detected at 11 visits, from which full viral genomes were recovered from nine. Other prevalent viruses included Influenza A (14 visits), RSV (12 visits), and three of the four strains of seasonal coronaviruses (6 visits). Notably, 11 influenza cases occurred between May and July 2021, coinciding with when the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 was circulating in this population. The primary limitation of this study is that we were unable to estimate the contribution of bacterial microbes to non-malarial fevers, due to the difficulty of distinguishing bacterial microbes that were pathogenic from those that were commensal or contaminants. These results revealed the co-circulation of multiple viral pathogens likely associated with fever in the cohort during this time period. This study illustrates the utility of mNGS in elucidating the multiple potential causes of non-malarial febrile illness. A better understanding of the pathogen landscape in different settings and age groups could aid in informing diagnostics, case management, and public health surveillance systems.
Patterns of contraceptive use through later reproductive years: A cohort study of Australian women with chronic disease
Authors: Harris Melissa L. , Egan Nicholas , Forder Peta M. , Bateson Deborah , Loxton Deborah
Published: May 2023

Background

Pregnancies among women with chronic disease are associated with poor maternal and fetal outcomes. There is a need to understand how women use or don’t use contraception across their reproductive years to better inform the development of preconception care strategies to reduce high risk unintended pregnancies, including among women of older reproductive age. However, there is a lack of high-quality longitudinal evidence to inform such strategies. We examined patterns of contraceptive use among a population-based cohort of reproductive aged women and investigated how chronic disease influenced contraceptive use over time.

Methods and findings

Contraceptive patterns from 8,030 women of reproductive age from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (1973–78 cohort), who were at potential risk of an unintended pregnancy were identified using latent transition analysis. Multinomial mixed-effect logistic regression models were used to evaluate the relationship between contraceptive combinations and chronic disease. Contraception non-use increased between 2006 and 2018 but was similar between women with and without chronic disease (13.6% vs. 12.7% among women aged 40–45 years in 2018). When specific contraceptive use patterns were examined over time, differences were found for women with autoinflammatory diseases only. These women had increased odds of using condom and natural methods (OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.00, 1.44), and sterilisation and other methods (OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.08, 2.39) or no contraception (OR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.04, 1.66), compared to women without chronic disease using short-acting methods and condoms.

Conclusion

Potential gaps in the provision of appropriate contraceptive access and care exist for women with chronic disease, particularly for women diagnosed with autoinflammatory conditions. Development of national guidelines as well as a clear coordinated contraceptive strategy that begins in adolescence and is regularly reviewed during care management through their main reproductive years and into perimenopause is required to increase support for, and agency among, women with chronic disease.
Levels and determinants of quality antenatal care in Bangladesh: Evidence from the Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey
Authors: Akter Ema , Hossain Aniqa Tasnim , Rahman Ahmed Ehsanur , Ahmed Anisuddin , Tahsina Tazeen , Tanwi Tania Sultana , Nusrat Nowrin , Nahar Quamrun , Arifeen Shams El , Chowdhury Mahbub Elahi
Published: May 2023

Background

Assessing the quality of antenatal care (ANC) is imperative for improving care provisions during pregnancy to ensure the health of mother and baby. In Bangladesh, there is a dearth of research on ANC quality using nationally representative data to understand its levels and determinants. Thus, the current study aimed to assess ANC quality and identify the sociodemographic factors associated with the usage of quality ANC services in Bangladesh.

Methods

Secondary data analysis was conducted using the last two Bangladesh Demographic and Health Surveys (BDHSs) from 2014 and 2017–18. A total of 8,277 ever-married women were included in the analysis (3,631 from 2014 and 4,646 from 2017–18). The quality ANC index was constructed using a principal component analysis on the following ANC components: weight and blood pressure measurements, blood and urine test results, counselling about pregnancy complications and completion of a minimum of four ANC visits, one of which was performed by a medically trained provider. Multinomial logistic regression was used to determine the strength of the association.

Results

The percentage of mothers who received all components of quality ANC increased from about 13% in 2014 to 18% in 2017–18 (p < 0.001). Women from the poorest group, those in rural areas, with no education, a high birth order and no media exposure were less likely to receive high-quality ANC than those from the richest group, those from urban areas, with a higher level of education, a low birth order and media exposure, respectively.

Conclusion

Although the quality of ANC improved from 2014 to 2017–18, it remains poor in Bangladesh. Therefore, there is a need to develop targeted interventions for different socio-demographic groups to improve the overall quality of ANC. Future interventions should address both the demand and supply-side perspectives.
Concomitant western diet and chronic-binge alcohol dysregulate hepatic metabolism
Authors: Buyco Delfin Gerard , Dempsey Joseph L. , Scorletti Eleonora , Jeon Sookyoung , Lin Chelsea , Harkin Julia , Bayen Susovon , Furth Emma E. , Martin Jasmin , Delima Monique , Hooks Royce , Sostre-Colón Jaimarie , Gharib Sina A. , Titchenell Paul M. , Carr Rotonya M.
Published: May 2023

Background and aims

There is significant overlap between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) with regards to risk factors and disease progression. However, the mechanism by which fatty liver disease arises from concomitant obesity and overconsumption of alcohol (syndrome of metabolic and alcohol-associated fatty liver disease; SMAFLD), is not fully understood.

Methods

Male C57BL6/J mice were fed chow diet (Chow) or high-fructose, high-fat, high-cholesterol diet (FFC) for 4 weeks, then administered either saline or ethanol (EtOH, 5% in drinking water) for another 12 weeks. The EtOH treatment also consisted of a weekly 2.5 g EtOH/kg body weight gavage. Markers for lipid regulation, oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis were measured by RT-qPCR, RNA-seq, Western blot, and metabolomics.

Results

Combined FFC-EtOH induced more body weight gain, glucose intolerance, steatosis, and hepatomegaly compared to Chow, EtOH, or FFC. Glucose intolerance by FFC-EtOH was associated with decreased hepatic protein kinase B (AKT) protein expression and increased gluconeogenic gene expression. FFC-EtOH increased hepatic triglyceride and ceramide levels, plasma leptin levels, hepatic Perilipin 2 protein expression, and decreased lipolytic gene expression. FFC and FFC-EtOH also increased AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation. Finally, FFC-EtOH enriched the hepatic transcriptome for genes involved in immune response and lipid metabolism.

Conclusions

In our model of early SMAFLD, we observed that the combination of an obesogenic diet and alcohol caused more weight gain, promoted glucose intolerance, and contributed to steatosis by dysregulating leptin/AMPK signaling. Our model demonstrates that the combination of an obesogenic diet with a chronic-binge pattern alcohol intake is worse than either insult alone.
Apolipoprotein E genetic variation, atherogenic index and cardiovascular disease risk assessment in an African population: An analysis of HIV and malaria patients in Ghana
Authors: Thomford Nicholas Ekow , Anyanful Akwasi , Ateko Richmond Owusu , Blackhurst Dee , Biney Robert Peter , Boadi Dennis , Nyarko Samuel Badu , Ekor Martins , Kyei George Boateng
Published: May 2023

Background

Apolipoprotein E is involved in lipid transport and clearance of lipoprotein through low-density lipoprotein receptors (LDLR). ApoE variation has been linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. There are 3 isoforms of ApoE which originate from two non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms denoted as ε2, ε3 and ε4. The ε2 isoform is implicated in higher levels of atherogenic lipoprotein with the ε4 isoform causing LDLR downregulation. This leads to variable effects and differential CVD risk. Malaria and HIV are life-threatening diseases affecting several countries globally especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Parasite and viral activities have been implicated in lipid dysregulation leading to dyslipidaemia. This study examined ApoE variation and CVD risk assessment in malaria and HIV patients.

Methods

We compared 76 malaria-only, 33 malaria-HIV coinfected, 21-HIV-only and 31 controls from a tertiary health facility in Ghana. Fasting venous blood samples were taken for ApoE genotyping and lipid measurements. Clinical and laboratory data were collected with ApoE genotyping performed using Iplex Gold microarray and PCR-RFLP. Cardiovascular disease risk was calculated using the Framingham BMI and cholesterol risk and Qrisk3 tools.

Results

The frequency of C/C genotype for rs429358 was 9.32%, whiles T/T genotype for rs7412 was found in 2.48% of all participants. ε3/ε3 was the most distributed ApoE genotype accounting for 51.55% of the total participants whiles ε2/ε2 was found in 2.48% of participants, with 1 in malaria-only and 3 in HIV-only patients. There was a significant association between ε4+ and high TG (OR = 0.20, CI; 0.05–0.73; p = 0.015), whiles ε2+ was significantly associated with higher BMI (OR; 0.24, CI; 0.06–0.87; p = 0.030) and higher Castelli Risk Index II in females (OR = 11.26, CI; 1.37–92.30; p = 0.024). A higher proportion of malaria-only participants had a moderate to high 10-year CVD risk.

Conclusion

Overall malaria patients seem to have a higher CVD risk though the means through which this occurs may be poorly understood. ε2/ε2 genotypes was observed in our population at a lower frequency. Further studies are vital to determine CVD risk in malaria and how this occurs.
Assignment strategies modulate students’ academic performance in an online learning environment during the first and second COVID-19 related school closures
Authors: Spitzer Markus Wolfgang Hermann , Moeller Korbinian , Musslick Sebastian
Published: May 2023

A growing number of studies seek to evaluate the impact of school closures during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. While most studies reported severe learning losses in students, some studies found positive effects of school closures on academic performance. However, it is still unclear which factors contribute to the differential effects observed in these studies. In this article, we examine the impact of assignment strategies for problem sets on the academic performance of students (n ≈ 16,000 from grades 4–10 who calculated ≈ 170,000 problem sets) in an online learning environment for mathematics, during the first and second period of pandemic-related school closures in Germany. We observed that, if teachers repeatedly assigned single problem sets (i.e., a small chunk of on average eight mathematical problems) to their class, students’ performance increased significantly during both periods of school closures compared to the same periods in the previous year (without school closures). In contrast, our analyses also indicated that, if teachers assigned bundles of problem sets (i.e., large chunks) or when students self-selected problem sets, students’ performance did not increase significantly. Moreover, students’ performance was generally higher when single problem sets were assigned, compared to the other two assignment types. Taken together, our results imply that teachers’ way of assigning problem sets in online learning environments can have a positive effect on students’ performance in mathematics.
Rootstock-mediated carbohydrate metabolism, nutrient contents, and physiological modifications in regular and alternate mango (Mangifera indica L.) scion varieties
Authors: Vittal Hatkari , Sharma Nimisha , Dubey Anil Kumar , Shivran Mukesh , Singh Sanjay Kumar , Meena Mahesh Chand , Kumar Nirmal , Sharma Neha , Singh Nisha , Pandey Rakesh , Bollinedi Haritha , Singh Bikram Pratap , Sharma Radha Mohan
Published: May 2023

Most of the popular scion varieties of mango possess alternate/irregular bearing. There are many external and internal factors assigned, among them carbohydrate reserves, and nutrient content plays important roles in the floral induction process in many crop species. In addition to that rootstock can alter the carbohydrate reserve and nutrient acquisition of scion varieties in fruit crops. The present investigation was carried out to understand the effect of rootstocks on the physiochemical traits of leaf, and bud and nutrient content in regular and alternate bearing varieties of mango. The rootstock “Kurukkan” promoted starch content in leaves of both alternate bearing varieties ‘Dashehari’ (5.62 mg/g) and regular ‘Amrapali’ (5.49 mg/g) and encouraged higher protein content (6.71 mg/g) and C/N ratio (37.94) in buds of alternate bearing ‘Dashehari’. While Olour rootstock upregulated the reducing sugar in leaves of ‘Amrapali’ (43.56 mg/g) and promoted K (1.34%) and B (78.58 ppm) content in reproductive buds of ‘Dashehari’. Stomatal density in ‘Dashehari’ scion variety was found higher on Olour rootstock (700.40/mm 2), while the rootstock fails to modify stomatal density in the scion variety regular bearer ‘Amrapali’. Further, a total of 30 carbohydrate metabolism-specific primers were designed and validated in 15 scion/rootstock combinations. A total of 33 alleles were amplified among carbohydrate metabolism-specific markers, which varied from 2 to 3 alleles with a mean of 2.53 per locus. Maximum and minimum PIC value was found for NMSPS10, and NMTPS9 primers (0.58). Cluster analysis revealed that scion grafted on Kurukkan rootstock clustered together except ‘Pusa Arunima’ on Olour rootstock. Our analysis revealed that Fe is the key component that is commonly expressed in both leaf and bud. Although Stomatal density (SD) and Intercellular CO2Concentration (Ci) are more specific to leaf and Fe, B, and total sugar (TS) are abundant in buds. Based on the results it can be inferred that the physiochemical and nutrient responses of mango scion varieties are manipulated by the rootstock, hence, the scion-rootstock combination can be an important consideration in mango for selecting suitable rootstock for alternate/irregular bearer varieties.
Effects of plant growth regulators on the contents of rutin, hyperoside and quercetin in Hypericum attenuatum Choisy
Authors: Song Rui , Xia Yunrui , Zhao Zhe , Yang Xing , Zhang Nanyi
Published: May 2023

To explore the accumulation of rutin, hyperoside and quercetin in Hypericum attenuatum Choisy under treatment with different plant growth regulators, 100 mg/L, 200 mg/L and 300 mg/L cycocel, 100 mg/L, 200 mg/L and 300 mg/L mepiquat chloride and 1 mg/L, 2 mg/L and 3 mg/L naphthalene acetic acid were foliage sprayed on Hypericum attenuatum Choisy plants at the early growth stage. We sampled and determined the important flavonoid contents at the flowering stage. The results showed that the three plant growth regulators had different effects on the accumulation of rutin, hyperoside and quercetin in the leaves, stems and flowers of Hypericum attenuatum Choisy at the flowering stage. After spraying 1 mg/L naphthalene acetic acid at the early growth stage, the rutin contents in the leaves, stems and flowers increased by approximately 60.33%, 223.85% and 192.02%, respectively (P < 0.05). Spraying 100 mg/L mepiquat chloride increased the hyperoside contents in the leaves and flowers by approximately 7.77% and 12.87%, respectively (P < 0.05). Spraying 2 mg/L naphthalene acetic acid significantly increased the quercetin contents in the flowers and leaves by approximately 95.62% and 47.85%, respectively (P < 0.05). Therefore, at the early growth stage, spraying 1 mg/L naphthalene acetic acid significantly increased rutin content, spraying 100 mg/L mepiquat chloride significantly increased hyperoside content, and spraying 2 mg/L naphthalene acetic acid significantly increased quercetin content in Hypericum attenuatum Choisy. In conclusion, the accumulation of flavonoids in Hypericum attenuatum Choisy was regulated by plant growth regulators.
Resenha de Flores-Júnior, O. La vie facile. Une lecture du cynisme ancien, Paris, Librairie philosophique J. Vrin.
Authors: Chapuis Maxime , Flores-Júnior Olimar
Published: May 2023

Resenha de Flores-Júnior, O. La vie facile. Une lecture du cynisme ancien, Paris, Librairie philosophique J. Vrin.
PAPEL FUNDAMENTAL DOS AGROTÓXICOS PARA A PRODUÇÃO DE ALIMENTOS: ESTUDO SOB O OLHAR DA INTERNET DAS COISAS E DE CASS SUNSTEIN
Authors: Milkiewicz Larissa , Gonçalves Oksandro
Published: May 2023

Contextualização: Projeções da ONU apontam probabilidade de 80% de que a população mundial esteja entre 8,4 e 8,6 bilhões em 2030 e entre 9,4 e 10 bilhões em 2050.  Nesse sentido, projeta-se que a produção de alimentos deverá crescer 60% para atender a demanda mundial, sendo que o agrotóxico, bem como a tecnologia, são ferramentas para garantir esta necessidade.
Objetivo: Analisar o uso e a regulação do agrotóxico no Brasil sob a perspectiva de Cass Sunstein da aplicação do Princípio da Precaução e, por fim, o papel da Internet das Coisas na aplicação precisa do produto para a produção de alimentos.
Metodologia: Utiliza-se de método hipotético dedutivo por meio de levantamento bibliográfico, análise legislativa e documental. Além disso, vale-se de pesquisa empírica qualitativa para análise dos dados da Organização das Nações Unidas para a Agricultura e Alimentação quanto ao uso de agrotóxico e a produção anual do Brasil, China, Índia e Estados Unidos, países estes com as maiores produções de alimentos mundialmente.
Resultados: Conclui-se que deve ser considerada condicionante à dignidade humana a eficiência econômica, sem a qual as condições materiais para proporcionar dignidade à população ficam prejudicadas. Demonstrou-se que o Brasil não é o país com maior consumo de agrotóxicos e que o problema reside no uso incorreto, fator que acarreta danos à saúde humana e ao meio ambiente pelo não cumprimento das recomendações técnicas, e que a IoT pode funcionar como instrumento para otimizar a produção agrícola mediante uma aplicação precisa de agrotóxico na lavoura.
ESTADO CONFLITUOSO DA LEI DOS CONTRATOS NORTE-AMERICANOS DE CANNABIS
Authors: Scheuer Luke
Published: May 2023

Contextualização: A lei norte-americana acerca da venda e consumo de Cannabis é bastante conflitante. A lei federal proíbe totalmente sua venda sob a Lei de Substâncias Controladas de 1970. Apesar desse tratamento criminalizado, muitos estados “legalizaram” a maconha e até licenciaram empresas para vendê-la. Uma grande indústria cresceu rapidamente para vender esse tipo de produto. No entanto, essas empresas estão violando abertamente a lei federal. Essa violação desencadeia inúmeros problemas legais para esses negócios, inclusive nas áreas de impostos, seguros e funções legais básicas. Objetivo: Este artigo pretende explorar o efeito desse conflito de leis (entre a lei federal e a lei estadual) e as implicações complexas de manter e executar contratos norte-americanos de Cannabis que violam a lei federal. Metodologia: A presente pesquisa vale-se do método indutivo, empregando a análise de decisões judiciais e a revisão bibliográfica. Resultados: Este artigo argumenta que quando a política pública por trás da legalização da maconha é sopesada contra a proibição federal, um tribunal deve considerar que a exigibilidade desses contratos deve ser apoiada pela política mais forte. Portanto, os contratos que envolvem negócios/empresas relacionadas à maconha devem ser aplicados mesmo que violem a Lei Federal de Abuso de Substâncias Controladas.
Role of Diagnostic Laparoscopy in the Evaluation of Blunt Injury to Abdomen in Hemodynamically Stable Patients
Authors: Reethika Thatikonda  , Sathyanarayana Gorthi  , Pranay Baith  , Ali Raza Syed  , Lakshmi Vara Prasad Gaddam  , Vijetha Potru  , Adithya Murthy Ponna  , Manasa Gaini
Published: April 2023

BACKGROUND

In this study, we wanted to evaluate the role of diagnostic laparoscopy in the management of blunt injury to abdomen in hemodynamically stable patients.

METHODS

This was a hospital based prospective observational clinical case study conducted among 30 patients who presented with blunt trauma of abdomen to the Department of General Surgery, Kamineni Academy of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, L.B. Nagar, Hyderabad, from September 2019 to September 2021 after obtaining clearance from Institutional Ethics Committee and written informed consent from the study participants. The aim of the study is to assess the role of Diagnostic Laparoscopy in the management of Blunt Injury to Abdomen in Hemodynamically Stable patients. Objective of the study were to assess the incidence of Hollow Viscus Injury not detected by clinical or radiological assessment, incidence of persistent bleed and to assess the incidence of Mesentery injury not detected by clinical or radiological assessment.

RESULTS

The most common mode of injury was road traffic accidents (23 cases) 76.66 %, followed by fall from height (3 cases) 9.99 %. Then accidents and assaults which were (2 cases) 2.22 % each. Ongoing bleeding from solid organ injuries was seen intra-operatively in 3 cases (9.99 %). P value = 0.0237 was calculated using Fischer’s exact test and was found to be significant P < 0.05. Most common grade of liver injury was Grade 1- 37.75 % followed by grade 3 - 33.33 %, then grade 2 - 20.8 % and grade 4 - 8.33 %. Grade 1 and grade 2 splenic injuries were more common with 36.36 % (4 cases) each. Followed by grade 3 27.27 % (3 cases). Diagnostic laparoscopy ongoing bleed was noted in 9.99 % (3 cases), followed by mesenteric injury in 6.66 % (2 cases) and hollow viscous perforation in 3.33 % (1 case). Total of 6 therapeutic procedures were done after diagnostic laparoscopy. Out of which, 4 were carried out in laparoscopy (66.66 %) and two were converted from laparoscopy to laparotomy (33.33 %).

CONCLUSIONS

Diagnostic laparoscopy can be carried out in patients of blunt trauma of abdomen, who are hemodynamically stable without any increase in morbidity or mortality. It is a highly useful tool to detect injuries which could not be detected on CT scan. Laparoscopic surgery can be used both as a diagnostic and therapeutic modality. Laparoscopy helps in reducing the negative laparotomies and significant decrease in both morbidity and mortality. With advances in technology and increasing in expertise in laparoscopy, it can be concluded that diagnostic laparoscopy is a valuable modality in the diagnosis and management of patients with blunt trauma to abdomen.
THE GENDERED IMPACT OF CORRUPTION: WOMEN AS VICTIMS OF SEXTORTION IN SOUTH AFRICA
Authors: Hagglund Kirstin , Khan Franaaz
Published: May 2023

Corruption affects people differently due to a range of factors, including gender, context, race, socio-economic status, power relations and vulnerability. Research suggests that corruption can affect women more adversely than it does men.1 This is because vulnerable groups are more susceptible to corruption, and women are often more vulnerable than men as they are viewed as easier targets. Furthermore, it follows that more vulnerable women are likely to be more adversely affected by corruption than those that are less vulnerable. The evidence generally shows that the gendered impact of corruption is related to societal gender roles, social inequality and discrimination. Thus, women's disadvantages in many areas of life result in greater vulnerability to corruption compared to men, who enjoy more power and protection, and better access to countervailing strategies. Corruption severely influences the extent to which women's rights are ensured and protected. In cases where women find themselves in a social, political, organisational or cultural context where they are more disempowered relative to men, and they are direct victims of corruption, their experiences of corruption can be more acute, and their avenues to respond to it more limited.2 In this article, the law pertaining to sextortion in South Africa is explored. The authors recommend that women must be brought into the public arena and information about public services be made widely available as this can be critical in reducing the differential impacts of corruption on them.
LOVELL FERNANDEZ MEMORIAL LECTURE: THE GLOBAL SHADOW ECONOMY 23 FEBRUARY 2023
Authors: PIETH MARK
Published: May 2023

Ladies and Gentlemen, dear friends and colleagues, it is a great honour for me to deliver this Lovell D. Fernandez Memorial Lecture. Lovell is alive in our memory. We remember him as an inspired teacher and as a warm-hearted person.He personified the dramatic transition South Africa underwent: Lovell was born and brought up in the times of Apartheid. He had the stamina to survive in a difficult academic environment and he has given a lot to those who were fortunate to be born after Apartheid.From his interest in transitional justice, he turned to economic crime. He realised that corruption and related money laundering were amongst the major challenges for economies in the Global South, including South Africa. I am personally very happy that Lovell invited me to teach at the University of Western Cape. For us (Kathrin and I) this course in South Africa is one of the highlights of the year.
Sun Stroke: Physiological Mechanism and Palliative Intervention
Authors:   Social Service & Nursing, Sri Radha Krishna Raas Mandir, Kedar Gouri Road, Bhubaneswar–751002, Odisha, Mob : +918895997259, Bhattacharya Deepak
Published: May 2023

Sun stroke is a high-emergency clinical condition consisting of a cascade of six prominent symptom groups with failed gravity and intramuscular routes of IM and IV administration, gut constriction and grave prognosis. 2% KCl + 5% NaCl +2% CaOH with diluted milk as vector is proposed. Institutional framework is absent. Nurses are called upon. Keywords: Sun stroke, Oral administration, 2% KCl + 5% NaCl +2% CaOH, Panacea.
POLITIK SIKLUS ANGGARAN LOKAL (STUDI APBD KOTA SURAKARTA MENJELANG PILKADA 2010)
Authors: HARSASTO PRIYATNO
Published: April 2023

Incumbent always has a strategic position in general election. Many literatures discuss how incumbents take advantage of his position by holding on his budgeting power to create personal popularityr. In political economic literature this phenomena is called politics budget cycle. This research trys to uncover the practice of this kind of politics in Surakarta: wheater the incumbent used his budgeting power to win the local election or not?In doing so, this research used descriptive analisys which took advantage of documents as well as indepth interview. The main finding of this research is we cannot find any evidence of the use of politics budget cycle in Surakarta.Two sensitive sectors, namely social sectors did not increase dramatically before the election. When probing into some important sections of the budget, it is found that alocation for education and health services increase dramatically. However, those two sections are parts of basic services so that we cannot conclude that it has something to do with incumbent’s political ambition to retain his power. When we look into education and health programs, we found that those programs have already served the need of the people long before the election. In conclusion, there are not any clue that incumbent take advantage of his budgetary power to win his position as mayor of Surakarta.
A review of frictional pressure drop characteristics of single phase microchannels having different shapes of cross sections
Authors: Khatoon Bushra , Khan Wasim , Shabih-Ul-Hasan  , Alam M. Siraj
Published: May 2023

This paper theoretically studied pressure drop variation in microchannels having different cross sections (circular, rectangular, square, trapezoidal, triangular, elliptical, parallel plate, co-centric circles, hexagonal, wavy, smoothed or rounded corners cross sections, and rhombus) for single phase Newtonian fluid (gas and liquid) flow. Based on 41 years (approximately) prior literature (1981–till now), 249 articles were studied and number of correlations of pressure drop calculation in microchannels with or without friction factor equation for four cross sections i.e., rectangular, square, circular, trapezoidal, wavy and triangular is collected and also mentioned their limitations at one place. Other than these four cross sections, there is very few experimental/numerical works was present in the literature. A comparable study was performed for laminar as well as turbulent friction factor to calculate the pressure drop with the help of classical theory for gas and liquid flow in microchannels with circular and rectangular cross sections. Results show wonderful outcomes i.e., correlations of laminar pressure drop study can be extendable for transition and turbulent regime in both types (circular and rectangular) of cross sections of microchannels. In different types of flow regime, it is suggested that for each type of cross section (circular and rectangular) we can go for single correlation for gas/liquid system. It is also investigated that the macro channels pressure drop equations can be used for microchannels up to the certain values of Reynolds number. Basically, this paper provides all possible equations of friction factor related to the microchannels that helps to calculate the pressure drop, is collected at one platform also compared their deviation with conventional channels.
Incidence and trend of leishmaniasis and its related factors in Golestan province, northeastern Iran: time series analysis
Authors: Majidnia Mostafa , Hosseinzadeh Ali , Khosravi Ahmad
Published: May 2023

Objectives

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease whose transmission depends on climatic conditions and is more important in northeast Iran. This study aimed to investigate the time trend of leishmaniasis and present a prediction model using meteorological variables in Golestan province.

Methods

The 10-year data on leishmaniasis (2010–2019) were collected from the portal of the Ministry of Health and the National Meteorological Organization. First, the disease incidence (per 100,000 population) in different cities of the Golestan province was estimated. Then, the geographical distribution and disease clusters map were prepared at the province level. Finally, by using the Jenkins box model time series analysis method, the disease incidence was predicted for the period 2020 to 2023 of the total province.

Results

From 2010 to 2019, 8,871 patients with leishmaniasis were identified. The mean age of patients was 21.0 ± 18.4 years. The highest mean annual incidence was in Maravah-Tappeh city (188 per 100,000 population). The highest and lowest annual incidence was in 2018 and 2017, respectively. The average 10-year incidence was 48 per 100,000 population. The daily meteorological variables like monthly average wind speed, sunshine, temperature, and mean soil temperature at depth of 50 cm were significantly associated with the incidence of the disease. The estimated threshold for an epidemic was 40.3 per 100,000 population.

Conclusions

According to the results, leishmaniasis incidence cases apears in July and with a peak in November. The incidence rate was highest in Maravah-Tapeh and Gonbad-Kavous, and lowest in Kordkoy counties. The study showed that there were two peaks in 2010 and 2018 and also identified a downward trend in the disease between 2010 and 2013 with a clear decrease in the incidence. Climate conditions had an important effect on leishmaniasis incidence. These climate and epidemiological factors such as migration and overcrowding could provide important input to monitor and predict disease for control strategies.
Timing-accurate simulation framework for NVM-based compute-in-memory architecture exploration
Authors: Rietz Vincent , Münch Christopher , Mayahinia Mahta , Tahoori Mehdi
Published: May 2023

Data-intensive applications have a huge demand on processor-memory communication. To reduce the amount of data transfers and their associated latency and energy, Compute-in-Memory (CIM) architectures can be used to perform operations ranging from simple binary operations to more complex operations such as additions and matrix-vector multiplications directly within the memory. However, proper adjustments to the memory hierarchy are needed to enable the execution of CIM operations. To evaluate the trade-off between the usage of different emerging non-volatile memories for CIM and conventional computing architectures, this work extends the widely used gem5 simulation framework with an extensible timing-aware main memory CIM simulation capability. This framework is used to analyze the performance of CIM extended main memory with various emerging memory technologies, namely Spin-Transfer-Torque Magnetic Random Access Memory (STT-MRAM), Redox-based RAM (ReRAM) and Phase-Change Memory (PCM). We evaluate different workloads from the PolyBench/C benchmark suite and other selected examples. In comparison to a processor-centric system, the results show a significant reduction in execution time for the majority of applications.
Personal names in medievallibri vitæas a sociolinguistic resource
Authors: Waldispühl Michelle , Wallis Christine
Published: May 2023

This paper explores the potential of using a historical sociolinguistic approach to interrogate the extensive lists of personal names found in medievallibri vitæ. So far, these lists have mainly been exploited in historical and a few onomastic studies, with a focus on name etymology and personal naming practices. Both the linguistics of the names and sociolinguistic perspectives remain to date underexamined. In this contribution, we explore possible sociolinguistic research questions, and present methodological challenges and preliminary results on the basis of four case studies from two examples, thelibri vitæof Thorney Abbey and Reichenau. The case studies examine autographs, choice of script and language, and dialect adaptation. Our main interest lies in the modelling and explanation of graphic and linguistic variation in the names. Our particular focus is on the status of the respective vernacular languages involved (Old English and Old High German) and in the conclusions we can draw from these documents about their underlying writing traditions in general, and scribal training and practices in particular.
Same people, different outcomes: the sociolinguistic profile of three language changes in the history of Spanish. A corpus-based approach
Authors: Blas Arroyo José Luis
Published: May 2023

Within the framework of Historical Sociolinguistics and using a corpus of ego-documents written by Spaniards from different social backgrounds, this study analyses the sociolinguistic profiles of three phenomena of variation and change that took place in two critical periods in the history of Spanish: the Golden Age and the Early Modern Spanish. The study focuses on three standard variants that would end up displacing several vernacular forms whose use was much more widespread in Golden Age Spanish: (a) the use of the complementiserquein doxastic predicates depending on the verbcreer[’believe, think’], to the detriment of the variantcreer+Ø; (b) the analogical pronounquienesin relative clauses with an explicit human antecedent (’estos son los niños a quienes me dirigí’ [‘these are the children I spoke to’]), as opposed to the traditional relativequien; (c) the diffusion of the demonstrative pronounallí[‘there’] at the expense ofallá. Despite the success of the standard variants in the eighteenth century, the three cases of variation show different sociolinguistic conditioning, which in turn is closely related to several parameters, such as the speed and robustness of the respective changes, the typology of the variables and the linguistic constraints at work in each case.
Language shift in the Erlangen Huguenot community
Authors: Pfäffle Anna , Schiegg Markus
Published: May 2023

This article examines the language shift and the accompanying changing status of French and German in the Erlangen Huguenot community (southern Germany) during the approximately 150 years following the first French immigrants settling in Erlangen in 1686. Our quantitative analysis is based on a diachronically-balanced corpus of 314 archival sources transmitted from this community and provides an overview of the language shift from French to German over time. The linguistic choices are influenced by the social group of the writers and addressees, the direction of communication and the domain of the texts. Our qualitative analysis focuses on multilingual texts and linguistic practices throughout the time period examined and traces the changing status of the two languages in the community, from French as the dominant language in the earlier years, to the use of German in conceptually oral texts with retention of French in school contexts and by the consistory, to French as a social symbol of the intellectuals in the early 19th century. Our paper provides empirical accounts for an under-researched context of language shift and contributes to historical sociolinguistic research on historical language contact, multilingualism, and linguistic identity.
Two cases of mole shrews (Anourosorex squamipes) with albinism in southwestern China
Authors: Lv Yan , Guo Xian-Guo , Zhao Cheng-Fu , Mao Ke-Yu , Huang Xiao-Bin
Published: May 2023

Albinism is a kind of anomalous hypopigmentation with a complete white pelage, and it is completely devoid of melanin in the skin, hair follicles and eyes. The present paper firstly reports two cases of adult mole shrews (Anourosorex squamipes) with albinism, which were found in Sichuan province of southwestern China. The two female mole shrews show a complete white pelage. Stained by the soil, the albinistic mole shrews show a yellowish white color. Besides the same morphological characteristics, all the body parameters of the two albinistic mole shrews are within the parameter range of the six normal mole shrews captured at the same site.
Comparison of two equivalent stress methods based on cumulative damage adjustment and on a consistent fatigue strength reduction for transforming of variable into constant amplitude loading
Authors: Sonsino Cetin Morris , Rennert Roland
Published: May 2023

This paper compares two methods for transforming a stress or load spectrum into a damage-equivalent constant amplitude loading, i.e., the required fatigue strength (RFS) and the consistent equivalent strength (CES) concepts. Because of their shared fundamentals, i.e., the modified Palmgren-Miner hypothesis for a given allowable damage sum, the resulting RFS- and CES-amplitudes are comparable to each other, but not equal, when the slopes after the knee-points of the Woehler-lines differ. The RFS-method delivers a damage-equivalent stress as the knee-point of a fictitious bi-linear or linear Woehler-line by positioning of the Woehler-line for a given allowable damage sum. In contrast to this, the CES-method also results in a damage-equivalent stress as the knee-point, which depends on the consistent fatigue strength reduction by increasing cumulating damage until the allowable damage sum is reached. Thus, the main difference to the RFS-method is that the CES-method retains the constant amplitude loading slope after the knee-point. Both methods indicate a lowest necessary strength quality, but, like the calculated fatigue lives, they differ according to the calculation methods, and depend on the slopes of the Woehler-lines after the knee-points.
Analytical solutions of fractional couple stress fluid flow for an engineering problem
Authors: Naz Rabia , Ikram Muhammad Danish , Asjad Muhammad Imran
Published: May 2023

In this article, analytical solutions of couple stress fluid flow modeled with a power law fractional differential operator are discussed. Stokes’ second problem for an incompressible couple stress fluid is studied for an horizontal plate of infinite length. The governing equations of the flow problem are expressed in terms of a partial differential operator and then converted into a non-dimensional model by using dimensional analysis. Then the integer order problem was formulated in terms of the non-integer order of three types of fractional derivatives and then solved with the help of the Laplace transform method. The obtained solutions are complex and expressed in terms of series. In order to check the memory index of the solutions obtained with three different fractional operators, we have plotted some graphs. It is found that the constant proportional operator provides us a better choice about the memory and maximum enhancement achieved in the comparison of Caputo and Caputo–Fabrizio. Furthermore, in order to check the accuracy of the present results, we have compared the obtained solutions with the existing literature and found a good agreement between them.
Impoliteness among multilingual Facebook users in Congo Brazzaville
Authors: Tsoumou Jean Mathieu
Published: May 2023

This paper analyses a 265,147-word corpus of multilingual Facebook comments discussing political news in Congo-Brazzaville, collected between 2015 and 2016. The commenters use French, Lingala, Kituba, as well as ethnic languages such as Laary, to provide evaluations of the news and engage in impolite exchanges with each other. It is now widely evidenced that digital discourse is increasingly attracting (im)politeness research, going from Western-centric grounds into exploring other societies and cultures such as Asia and Africa. Despite this, (im)politeness research in multilingual contexts – such as Congo-Brazzaville – remains neglected. The paper aims to redress this imbalance by analysing impoliteness in Facebook interactions among Congolese users. Thus, the paper provides insights into how the notion of impoliteness plays out in a context that is polarized politically and sociolinguistically. The findings suggest that what triggers impoliteness is not just the desire to either claim own grounds, or the fact that the target of the impolite comment is a user with an opposing view, but also the desire to control what others should and should not say (or do). Furthermore, the interpretation of impoliteness in this context lies in the users’ abilities to understand the role of language alternation as it is framed in the comments.
NARRATIVAS DE MULHERES E CIÊNCIA
Authors: Fagundes Luczinski Giovana , Peixoto Farias Camila
Published: May 2023

A pandemia de covid-19 evidencia muitos desafios, entre eles o de sustentar e fortalecer, no âmbito científico, a possibilidade de construção de saberes a partir de uma perspectiva situada e comprometida socialmente. O contexto pandêmico não pode ser narrado a partir de uma perspectiva generalista, sob o risco de silenciar a pluralidade de vozes que o constituem. Tendo este parâmetro para nosso fazer na universidade, o presente texto visa discutir a prática de pesquisa feita por e com mulheres, problematizando os lugares destinados a elas/nós segundo a lógica dos regimes de poder como o cisheteropatriarcado e o racismo. Para isso, partimos de um breve recorte histórico a fim de marcar um lugar epistemológico no âmbito científico e explicitar, a partir daí um modo de pesquisar situado e comprometido com a transformação da sociedade em que vivemos. Nesse sentido, apresentamos as ações do projeto de pesquisa “Agora é que são elas: a pandemia de Covid 19 contada por mulheres”, sob nossa coordenação. O projeto está alicerçado no diálogo entre duas perspectivas teóricas distintas, a Psicanálise e a Psicologia Fenomenológico-existencial em leituras críticas e contemporâneas que se desafiam e se complementam ao interrogar um fenômeno de interesse em comum. Um terceiro âmbito de saberes vem compor essa triangulação teórico-metodológica: as Teorias Feministas. A investigação empreendida busca que as narrativas das mulheres sejam incluídas nas discussões sobre a pandemia a partir de uma perspectiva interseccional e que as produções científicas sobre esse fenômeno possam ser corporificadas, plurais e situadas, como procuraremos mostrar a partir de alguns recortes de dados já analisados. Por fim, destacamos a importância de que as mulheres protagonizem a produção de conhecimento sobre si mesmas e que as análises cientificas sejam efetivamente interseccionais.
COSMOPOLÍTICA SOLIDÁRIA
Authors: De Oliveira Soares Jardim Hélen , Da Silva Voss Dulce Mari Dulce Mari da Silva VOSS
Published: May 2023

A escrita busca tornar visível o invisível, modos próprios de existir, lutar pela vida e manter as origens ancestrais africanas nas culturas afro-brasileiras. O estudo decorre de uma pesquisa descritiva, cujos dados foram extraídos das postagens feitas numa rede social pelo Ilê de Oxum Panda Miré Fraternidade Ogum Beira Mar, terreiro localizado na cidade de Bagé (RS, Brasil). E, a partir da análise dos dados coletados, move-se o pensamento em torno do cotidiano desta comunidade, seus saberes e fazeres, compreendendo-os como elementos que indicam a criação de modos próprios de existir em desvios às necropolíticas de morte geradas pela pandemia do COVID-19 que afeta de modo ainda mais perverso as comunidades periféricas, ao agravar as desigualdades sociais, diante do crescimento do desemprego, da fome e da pobreza. Ao protagonizar ações solidárias, a comunidade do terreiro demonstra lealdade aos princípios éticos e políticos de uma filosofia de vida afro, concebida nos processos comunitários. Marcas simbólicas e culturais engendradas no cotidiano que evidenciam uma cosmopolítica solidária. Com isso, ao praticar a religiosidade e a solidariedade, não só em suas ritualísticas, mas também na ajuda mútua que oferece as demais pessoas das periferias, nestes cruéis tempos pandêmicos, reafirma laços e afetos comunitários, sinais de afirmação e autoafirmação da vida. Artes de resistir e existir em que se criam elos entre o passado e o presente ao resgatar saberes e modos de vida relegados ao senso comum, menosprezados na interpretação acadêmica, mas intensos nos movimentos cotidianos que contém em si o germe de uma vida coletiva mais plural e mais bela.