bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of Extracellular Vesicle-Based Cell-to-Cell Communication in Multiple Myeloma Progression
Authors: Saltarella Ilaria , Lamanuzzi Aurelia , Apollonio Benedetta , Desantis Vanessa , Bartoli Giulia , Vacca Angelo , Frassanito Maria Antonia
Published: November 2021

Multiple myeloma (MM) progression closely depends on the bidirectional crosstalk between tumor cells and the surrounding microenvironment, which leads to the creation of a tumor supportive niche. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as key players in the pathological interplay between the malignant clone and near/distal bone marrow (BM) cells through their biologically active cargo. Here, we describe the role of EVs derived from MM and BM cells in reprogramming the tumor microenvironment and in fostering bone disease, angiogenesis, immunosuppression, drug resistance, and, ultimately, tumor progression. We also examine the emerging role of EVs as new therapeutic agents for the treatment of MM, and their potential use as clinical biomarkers for early diagnosis, disease classification, and therapy monitoring.
Fecal Microbiome Changes and Specific Anti-Bacterial Response in Patients with IBD during Anti-TNF Therapy
Authors: Schierova Dagmar , Roubalova Radka , Kolar Martin , Stehlikova Zuzana , Rob Filip , Jackova Zuzana , Coufal Stepan , Thon Tomas , Mihula Martin , Modrak Martin , Kverka Miloslav , Bajer Lukas , Kostovcikova Klara , Drastich Pavel , Hercogova Jana , Novakova Michaela , Vasatko Martin , Lukas Milan , Tlaskalova-Hogenova Helena , Jiraskova Zakostelska Zuzana
Published: November 2021

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic disorders of the gastrointestinal tract that have been linked to microbiome dysbiosis and immune system dysregulation. We investigated the longitudinal effect of anti-TNF therapy on gut microbiota composition and specific immune response to commensals in IBD patients. The study included 52 patients tracked over 38 weeks of therapy and 37 healthy controls (HC). To characterize the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota, we used amplicon sequencing of the V3V4 region of 16S rRNA for the bacterial community and of the ITS1 region for the fungal community. We measured total antibody levels as well as specific antibodies against assorted gut commensals by ELISA. We found diversity differences between HC, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis patients. The bacterial community of patients with IBD was more similar to HC at the study endpoint, suggesting a beneficial shift in the microbiome in response to treatment. We identified factors such as disease severity, localization, and surgical intervention that significantly contribute to the observed changes in the gut bacteriome. Furthermore, we revealed increased IgM levels against specific gut commensals after anti-TNF treatment. In summary, this study, with its longitudinal design, brings insights into the course of anti-TNF therapy in patients with IBD and correlates the bacterial diversity with disease severity in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC).
Some Issues on Crystal Plasticity Models Formulation: Motion Decomposition and Constitutive Law Variants
Authors: Trusov Peter , Shveykin Alexey , Kondratev Nikita
Published: November 2021

In this paper, kinematic relations and constitutive laws in crystal plasticity are analyzed in the context of geometric nonlinearity description and fulfillment of thermodynamic requirements in the case of elastic deformation. We consider the most popular relations: in finite form, written in terms of the unloaded configuration, and in rate form, written in terms of the current configuration. The presence of a corotational derivative in the relations formulated in terms of the current configuration testifies to the fact that the model is based on the decomposition of motion into the deformation motion and the rigid motion of a moving coordinate system, and precisely the stress rate with respect to this coordinate system is associated with the strain rate. We also examine the relations of the mesolevel model with an explicit separation of a moving coordinate system and the elastic distortion of crystallites relative to it in the deformation gradient. These relations are compared with the above formulations, which makes it possible to determine how close they are. The results of the performed analytical calculations show the equivalence or similarity (in the sense of the response determined under the same influences) of the formulation and are supported by the results of numerical calculation. It is shown that the formulation based on the decomposition of motion with an explicit separation of the moving coordinate system motion provides a theoretical framework for the transition to a similar formulation in rate form written in terms of the current configuration. The formulation of this kind is preferable for the numerical solution of boundary value problems (in a case when the current configuration and, consequently, contact boundaries, are not known a priori) used to model the technological treatment processes.
Fabrication of Metal (Cu and Cr) Incorporated Nickel Oxide Films for Electrochemical Oxidation of Methanol
Authors: Liaqat Rimsha , Mansoor Muhammad Adil , Iqbal Javed , Jilani Asim , Shakir Sehar , Kalam Abul , Wageh S.
Published: November 2021

Methanol electrochemical oxidation in a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) is considered to be an efficient pathway for generating renewable energy with low pollutant emissions. NiO−CuO and Ni0.95Cr0.05O2+δ thin films were synthesized using a simple dip-coating method and tested for the electro-oxidation of methanol. These synthesized electrocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and Raman spectroscopy. Different electrochemical techniques were used to investigate the catalytic activity of these prepared electrocatalysts for methanol oxidation, including linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and chronoamperometry (CA). In the presence of 0.3 M methanol, the current densities of NiO−CuO and Ni0.95Cr0.05O2+δ thin films were found to be 12.2 mA·cm−2 and 6.5 mA·cm−2, respectively. The enhanced catalytic activity of NiO−CuO and Ni0.95Cr0.05O2+δ thin films may be a result of the synergistic effect between different metal oxides. The Chronoamperometry (CA) results of the mixed metal oxide thin films confirmed their stability in basic media. Furthermore, the findings of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) of mixed metal oxide thin films demonstrated a lower charge transfer resistance as compared to the pure NiO, CuO, and Cr2O3 thin films.
Correlation of Urine Loss after Catheter Removal and Early Continence in Men Undergoing Radical Prostatectomy
Authors: Hoeh Benedikt , Preisser Felix , Wenzel Mike , Humke Clara , Wittler Clarissa , Hohenhorst Jan L. , Volckmann-Wilde Maja , Köllermann Jens , Steuber Thomas , Graefen Markus , Tilki Derya , Karakiewicz Pierre I. , Becker Andreas , Kluth Luis A. , Chun Felix K. H. , Mandel Philipp
Published: November 2021

Background: To determine the correlation between urine loss in PAD-test after catheter removal, and early urinary continence (UC) in RP treated patients. Methods: Urine loss was measured by using a standardized, validated PAD-test within 24 h after removal of the transurethral catheter, and was grouped as a loss of <1, 1–10, 11–50, and >50 g of urine, respectively. Early UC (median: 3 months) was defined as the usage of no or one safety-pad. Uni- and multivariable logistic regression models tested the correlation between PAD-test results and early UC. Covariates consisted of age, BMI, nerve-sparing approach, prostate volume, and extraprostatic extension of tumor. Results: From 01/2018 to 03/2021, 100 patients undergoing RP with data available for a PAD-test and early UC were retrospectively identified. Ultimately, 24%, 47%, 15%, and 14% of patients had a loss of urine <1 g, 1–10 g, 11–50 g, and >50 g in PAD-test, respectively. Additionally, 59% of patients reported to be continent. In multivariable logistic regression models, urine loss in PAD-test predicted early UC (OR: 0.21 vs. 0.09 vs. 0.03; for urine loss 1–10 g vs. 11–50 g vs. >50 g, Ref: <1 g; all p < 0.05). Conclusions: Urine loss after catheter removal strongly correlated with early continence as well as a severity in urinary incontinence.
Current Attitudes toward Unfunded Cancer Therapies among Canadian Medical Oncologists
Authors: Wong Selina K. , Gondara Lovedeep , Gill Sharlene
Published: November 2021

Background: Despite successes in the development of innovative anticancer therapies, the fiscal and capacity restraints of the Canadian public healthcare system result in challenges with drug access. A meaningful proportion of systemic therapies ultimately do not receive public funding despite supporting clinical evidence. In this study, we assessed Canadian medical oncologists’ current attitudes toward discussing publicly unfunded cancer treatments with patients and predictors of different practices. Methods: A web-based survey consisting of multiple choice and case-based scenarios was distributed to medical oncologists identified through the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada directory. Results: A total of 116 responses were received. Almost all respondents reported discussing publicly unfunded treatments, including those who did so for Health Canada (HC) approved treatments (50%) and those who discussed off-label treatments (i.e., not HC approved) as guided by national guidelines (48%). Respondents in practice for over 15 years versus less than 5 years (OR 0.14, 95% CI 0.04–0.50, p = 0.002) and those who worked in a community practice versus comprehensive cancer center (OR 0.17, 95% CI 0.03–0.91, p = 0.04) were significantly less likely to discuss off-label treatment options with their patients. Almost half of respondents (47%) indicated that their institution did not permit the administration of unfunded treatments. Conclusions: There is variability in medical oncologists’ practices when it comes to discussing unfunded therapies. Given the limitations within Canada’s publicly funded healthcare system, physicians are faced with the challenge of navigating an increasingly complex balance between patient care and available resources. Engagement of relevant stakeholders and policy makers is crucial in the continued evaluation of Canada’s drug funding process.
Image-Enhanced Capsule Endoscopy Improves the Identification of Small Intestinal Lesions
Authors: Ogata Noriyuki , Ohtsuka Kazuo , Ogawa Masataka , Maeda Yasuharu , Ishida Fumio , Kudo Shin-ei
Published: November 2021

Image-enhanced endoscopy is useful for diagnosing and identifying lesions in the gastrointestinal tract. Recently, image-enhanced endoscopy has become a breakthrough technology that has attracted significant attention. This image enhancing technology is available for capsule endoscopy, which is an effective tool for small intestinal lesions and has been applied in flexible spectral color enhancement technology and in contrast capsule like narrow-band imaging. In this field, most researchers focus on improving the visibility and detection of small intestinal lesions. This review summarizes previous studies on image-enhanced capsule endoscopy and aims to evaluate the efficacy of this technology.
Capacity Building for Internationalization at a Technical University in Kazakhstan
Authors: Jantassova Damira , Churchill Daniel , Kozhanbergenova Aigerim , Shebalina Olga
Published: November 2021

This article discusses the internationalization capacity building project at the Karaganda Technical University (‘KTU’) in Kazakhstan. The project, entitled “Capacity building for the internationalization of a technical university by means of digital learning technologies,” was supported by the fund “Scientific foundations “Mangilik el” (education of the 21st century, fundamental and applied research in the humanities)” for scientists 2020–2022. The project’s primary purpose was to explicate a sustainable strategy for internationalizing a Kazakh technical university, considering the national and international contexts, evaluating internationalization capacity needs, formulating and implementing a capacity-building response for internationalization, and enhancing the qualifications and abilities of students and teachers to an internationally comparable level. In addition, the project delivers a set of strategies for internationalization and a benchmarking methodology for evaluating the effectiveness of internationalization processes. The benchmarking analysis of the internationalization process of a university has been conducted through a classification method, comparative analysis, multi-factor SWOT analysis, and correlation analysis.
Algorithmic Structures for Realizing Short-Length Circular Convolutions with Reduced Complexity
Authors: Cariow Aleksandr , Paplinski Janusz P.
Published: November 2021

A set of efficient algorithmic solutions suitable to the fully parallel hardware implementation of the short-length circular convolution cores is proposed. The advantage of the presented algorithms is that they require significantly fewer multiplications as compared to the naive method of implementing this operation. During the synthesis of the presented algorithms, the matrix notation of the cyclic convolution operation was used, which made it possible to represent this operation using the matrix–vector product. The fact that the matrix multiplicand is a circulant matrix allows its successful factorization, which leads to a decrease in the number of multiplications when calculating such a product. The proposed algorithms are oriented towards a completely parallel hardware implementation, but in comparison with a naive approach to a completely parallel hardware implementation, they require a significantly smaller number of hardwired multipliers. Since the wired multiplier occupies a much larger area on the VLSI and consumes more power than the wired adder, the proposed solutions are resource efficient and energy efficient in terms of their hardware implementation. We considered circular convolutions for sequences of lengths N= 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.
Multi-User Virtual Reality for Remote Collaboration in Construction Projects: A Case Study with High-Rise Elevator Machine Room Planning
Authors: Truong Phong , Hölttä-Otto Katja , Becerril Paulina , Turtiainen Reetta , Siltanen Sanni
Published: November 2021

Virtual Reality (VR) is considered among the major technologies to address the inefficient collaboration issue caused by the predominant use of 2D drawings in the construction industry. However, there is still a knowledge gap between researchers and practitioners about the actual benefits of VR in the business context. This paper presents the benefits of VR usage in four real-life high-rise elevator projects from the user and business perspectives. Four VR environments of actual machine rooms for planning were created and tested in a multi-user setting. Overall, users find VR more intuitive than conventional tools to enhance planning accuracy and collaboration. The results also show that VR brings significant economic savings and gains for business in the industry. Future study should investigate the real cost-benefit ratio of VR and streamline its technical implementation within construction projects. The research contributes to the current body of knowledge by providing real-life economic benefits and directions to address the research gap in both academia and industry to promote the wide adoption of VR.
Two-Stage Geothermal Well Clustering for Oil-to-Water Conversion on Mature Oil Fields
Authors: Hranić Josipa , Raos Sara , Leoutre Eric , Rajšl Ivan
Published: November 2021

There are numerous oil fields that are approaching the end of their lifetime and that have great geothermal potential considering temperature and water cut. On the other hand, the oil industry is facing challenges due to increasingly stringent environmental regulations. An example of this is the case of France where oil extraction will be forbidden starting from the year 2035. Therefore, some oil companies are considering switching from the oil business to investing in geothermal projects conducted on existing oil wells. The proposed methodology and developed conversions present the evaluation of existing geothermal potentials for each oil field in terms of water temperature and flow rate. An additional important aspect is also the spatial distribution of existing oil wells related to the specific oil field. This paper proposes a two-stage clustering approach for grouping similar wells in terms of their temperature properties. Once grouped on a temperature basis, these clusters should be clustered once more with respect to their spatial arrangement in order to optimize the location of production facilities. The outputs regarding production quantities and economic and environmental aspects will provide insight into the optimal scenario for oil-to-water conversion. The scenarios differ in terms of produced energy and technology used. A case study has been developed where the comparison of overall fields and clustered fields is shown, together with the formed scenarios that can further determine the possible conversion of petroleum assets to a geothermal assets.
Colour Analysis: An Introduction to the Power of Studying Pigments and Dyes in Archaeological and Historical Objects
Authors: Tamburini Diego
Published: November 2021

Nature offers a myriad of colours and the desire to replicate them is intrinsic to human nature [...]
An End-to-End Point of Interest (POI) Conflation Framework
Authors: Low Raymond , Tekler Zeynep Duygu , Cheah Lynette
Published: November 2021

Point of interest (POI) data serves as a valuable source of semantic information for places of interest and has many geospatial applications in real estate, transportation, and urban planning. With the availability of different data sources, POI conflation serves as a valuable technique for enriching data quality and coverage by merging the POI data from multiple sources. This study proposes a novel end-to-end POI conflation framework consisting of six steps, starting with data procurement, schema standardisation, taxonomy mapping, POI matching, POI unification, and data verification. The feasibility of the proposed framework was demonstrated in a case study conducted in the eastern region of Singapore, where the POI data from five data sources was conflated to form a unified POI dataset. Based on the evaluation conducted, the resulting unified dataset was found to be more comprehensive and complete than any of the five POI data sources alone. Furthermore, the proposed approach for identifying POI matches between different data sources outperformed all baseline approaches with a matching accuracy of 97.6% with an average run time below 3 min when matching over 12,000 POIs to result in 8699 unique POIs, thereby demonstrating the framework’s scalability for large scale implementation in dense urban contexts.
A GIS-Based Approach to Estimate Electricity Requirements for Small-Scale Groundwater Irrigation
Authors: Nilsson Anna , Mentis Dimitrios , Korkovelos Alexandros , Otwani Joel
Published: November 2021

Access to modern energy services is a precondition to improving livelihoods and building resilience against climate change. Still, electricity reaches only about half of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), while about 40% live under the poverty line. Heavily reliant on the agriculture sector and increasingly affected by prolonged droughts, small-scale irrigation could be instrumental for development and climate change adaptation in SSA countries. A bottom-up understanding of the demand for irrigation and associated energy services is essential for designing viable energy supply options in an effective manner. Using Uganda as a case study, the study introduces a GIS-based methodology for the estimation of groundwater irrigation requirements through which energy demand is derived. Results are generated for two scenarios: (a) a reference scenario and (b) a drought scenario. The most critical need is observed in the northern and southern regions of the country. The total annual irrigation demand is estimated to be ca. 90 thousand m3, with the highest demand observed in the months of December through February, with an average irrigation demand of 445 mm per month. The highest energy demand is observed in the northern part of the study area in January, reaching 48 kWh/ha. The average energy demand increases by 67% in the drought scenario. The study contributes to current gaps in the existing literature by providing a replicable methodological framework and data aimed at facilitating energy system planning through the consideration of location-specific characteristics at the nexus of energy–water–agriculture.
Is Colectomy Associated with the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Patients without Colorectal Cancer? A Population-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Wu Chin-Chia , Lee Cheng-Hung , Hsu Ta-Wen , Yeh Chia-Chou , Lin Mei-Chen , Chang Chun-Ming , Tsai Jui-Hsiu
Published: November 2021

Type 2 diabetes might be influenced by colonic disease; however, the association between colonic resection and type 2 diabetes has rarely been discussed. This population-based cohort study explored the association between colectomy and type 2 diabetes in patients without colorectal cancer. A total of 642 patients who underwent colectomy for noncancerous diseases at any time between 2000 and 2012 in the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan were enrolled. The enrolled patients were matched with 2568 patients without colectomy at a 1:4 ratio using a propensity score that covered age, sex, and comorbidities. The risk of type 2 diabetes was assessed using a Cox proportional hazards model. The mean (standard deviation) follow-up durations in colectomy cases and non-colectomy controls were 4.9 (4.0) and 5.6 (3.6) years, respectively; 65 (10.1%) colectomy cases and 342 (15.5%) non-colectomy controls developed type 2 diabetes. After adjustment, colectomy cases still exhibited a decreased risk of type 2 diabetes (adjusted HR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.61–1.04). A stratified analysis for colectomy type indicated that patients who underwent right or transverse colectomy had a significantly lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes (adjusted HR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.34–0.98). In the present study, colectomy tended to be at a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes in patients without colorectal cancer, and right or transverse colectomies were especially associated with a significantly reduced risk of type 2 diabetes.
Associations between Circulating Inflammatory Biomarkers and Indicators of Muscle Health in Older Men and Women
Authors: Bergens Oscar , Nilsson Andreas , Kadi Fawzi
Published: November 2021

Systemic inflammation is believed to contribute to declining muscle health during aging. The present study aims to examine associations between indicators of muscle health and pro- and anti-inflammatory biomarkers in older men and women, while also considering the impacts of physical activity and protein intake. An assessment of skeletal muscle index (SMI) by bioelectrical impedance analysis, handgrip strength, and 5-sit-to-stand time, using standardized procedures, was conducted in a population of older men (n = 90) and women (n = 148) aged 65–70 years. The inflammatory biomarkers C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, IL-18, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and macrophage inflammatory protein-1α were assessed in blood samples. Data were analyzed and stratified according to biological sex using multiple linear regression models. In older women, SMI was inversely associated with the pro-inflammatory markers CRP (β = −0.372; p < 0.05), fibrinogen (β = −0.376; p < 0.05), and IL-6 (β = −0.369; p < 0.05). Importantly, these associations were independent of abdominal adiposity (waist circumference), protein intake, physical activity level, as well as any adherence to muscle strengthening guidelines (≥2 sessions/week). In contrast, no corresponding associations were observed in men. In conclusion, our findings indicate the detrimental influence of a pro-inflammatory environment on muscle health regardless of important lifestyle-related factors in older women. However, the lack of such associations in older men highlights the importance of considering biological sex when examining the complex interaction between the systemic inflammatory environment and muscle health.
Elevated APE1/Ref-1 Levels of Synovial Fluids in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Reflection of Disease Activity
Authors: Yoo In Seol , Lee Yu-Ran , Kang Seong Wook , Kim Jinhyun , Joo Hee-Kyoung , Yoo Su-Jin , Park Chan Keol , Lee Ha-Reum , Park Ji Ah , Jeon Byeong-Hwa
Published: November 2021

There is growing evidence that apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1/redox factor-1 (APE1/Ref-1) regulates inflammatory responses. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease, which is characterized with synovitis and joint destruction. Therefore, this study was planned to investigate the relationship between APE1/Ref-1 and RA. Serum and synovial fluid (SF) were collected from 46 patients with RA, 45 patients with osteoarthritis (OA), and 30 healthy control (HC) patients. The concentration of APE1/Ref-1 in serum or SF was measured using the sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The disease activity in RA patients was measured using the 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28). The serum APE1/Ref-1 levels in RA patients were significantly increased compared to HC and OA patients (0.44 ± 0.39 ng/mL for RA group vs. 0.19 ± 0.14 ng/mL for HC group, p < 0.05 and vs. 0.19 ± 0.11 ng/mL for OA group, p < 0.05). Likewise, the APE1/Ref-1 levels of SF in RA patients were also significantly increased compared to OA patients (0.68 ± 0.30 ng/mL for RA group vs. 0.31 ± 0.12 ng/mL for OA group, p < 0.001). The APE1/Ref-1 concentration in SF of RA patients was positively correlated with DAS28. Thus, APE1/Ref-1 may reflect the joint inflammation and be associated with disease activity in RA.
Effectiveness of Global Postural Re-Education in Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Gonzalez-Medina Gloria , Perez-Cabezas Veronica , Ruiz-Molinero Carmen , Chamorro-Moriana Gema , Jimenez-Rejano Jose Jesus , Galán-Mercant Alejandro
Published: November 2021

Background: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the global postural re-education (GPR) program’s effectiveness compared to other exercise programs in subjects with persistent chronic low back pain. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were carried out using PRISMA2020. An electronic search of scientific databases was performed from their inception to January 2021. Randomized controlled trials that analyzed pain and patient-reported outcomes were included in this review. Four meta-analyses were performed. The outcomes analyzed were disability due to back pain and pain. The risk of bias and quality of evidence were evaluated. The final search was conducted in March. Results: Seven trials were included, totaling 334 patients. The results showed improvement in pain measured by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) (Standardised Mean Difference (SMD) = −0.69; 95% Confidence Interval (CI), −1.01 to −0.37; p < 0.0001), Numerical Pain Scale (NRS) (SMD = −0.40; 95% CI, −0.87 to 0.06); p = 0.022), VAS + NRS (SMD = −1.32; 95% CI, −1.87 to −0.77; p < 0.0001) and function (Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ)) (SMD = −0.55; 95% CI, −0.83 to −0.27; p < 0.0001) after GPR treatment. Conclusion: This meta-analysis provides reliable evidence that GPR may be an effective method for treating LBP by decreasing pain and improving function, with strong evidence.
Eumycetoma Medical Treatment: Past, Current Practice, Latest Advances and Perspectives
Authors: Siddig Emmanuel Edwar , Ahmed Ayman , Ali Yousif , Bakhiet Sahar Mubarak , Mohamed Nouh Saad , Ahmed Eiman Siddig , Fahal Ahmed Hassan
Published: November 2021

Mycetoma is a neglected tropical disease that is associated with poor communities and socioeconomically impaired individuals in the tropical and sub-tropical areas. Interestingly, the disease is caused by either bacteria (actinomycetoma) or fungus (eumycetoma). The latter form of the disease, eumycetoma, is the most common type in Africa. Eumycetoma is characterized by a prolonged disease duration and low cure rate. The effective case management of eumycetoma largely depends on the accurate diagnosis and identification of the causative agent to the species level and evaluating its susceptibility to the available drugs. This review summarizes the currently available and used antifungal agents for the treatment of eumycetoma and discusses optimizing the newly developed antifungals as a potential second line for eumycetoma treatment.
L-Band SAR Co-Polarized Phase Difference Modeling for Corn Fields
Authors: Barber Matías Ernesto , Rava David Sebastián , López-Martínez Carlos
Published: November 2021

This research aims at modeling the microwave backscatter of corn fields by coupling an incoherent, interaction-based scattering model with a semi-empirical bulk vegetation dielectric model. The scattering model is fitted to co-polarized phase difference measurements over several corn fields imaged with fully polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images with incidence angles ranging from 20° to 60°. The dataset comprised two field campaigns, one over Canada with the Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR, 1.258 GHz) and the other one over Argentina with Advanced Land Observing Satellite 2 (ALOS-2) Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR-2) (ALOS-2/PALSAR-2, 1.236 GHz), totaling 60 data measurements over 28 grown corn fields at peak biomass with stalk gravimetric moisture larger than 0.8 g/g. Co-polarized phase differences were computed using a maximum likelihood estimation technique from each field’s measured speckled sample histograms. After minimizing the difference between the model and data measurements for varying incidence angles by a nonlinear least-squares fitting, well agreement was found with a root mean squared error of 24.3° for co-polarized phase difference measurements in the range of −170.3° to −19.13°. Model parameterization by stalk gravimetric moisture instead of its complex dielectric constant is also addressed. Further validation was undertaken for the UAVSAR dataset on earlier corn stages, where overall sensitivity to stalk height, stalk gravimetric moisture, and stalk area density agreed with ground data, with the sensitivity to stalk diameter being the weakest. This study provides a new perspective on the use of co-polarized phase differences in retrieving corn stalk features through inverse modeling techniques from space.
Will Internet Market Newness Improve Performance? An Empirical Study on the Internet Market Innovation of Offline Retailers in China
Authors: Lu Cheng , Gu Tongyu , Chen Jie , Liu Zunli
Published: November 2021

With the increasing impact of the Internet, the transformation of traditional retailers through Internet innovation has become a pressing issue. Based on the theory of innovation and marketing capability, this study investigated the relationships among adaptive marketing capability (AMC), Internet market newness, and innovation performance. The mediation effect of compromise on these relationships was also investigated. Through data analysis of 205 questionnaires in China, the current study confirmed that interaction between AMC and Internet market newness significantly affected innovation performance, and Internet market newness positively affected performance only when AMC was high. The results also demonstrated that compromise mediated the interaction with performance. AMC moderated not only the direct effects on performance by Internet market newness, but the effects on compromise by Internet market newness.
Production safety training using networked digital intelligent systems
Authors: Khalin E.V.
Published: November 2021

The preparation and control of the knowledge of those working on industrial safety using networked digital intelligent learning systems containing formalized knowledge in text and graphical representation and simulation models in the form of distributed databases and knowledge is considered as the most important element of the organization of safe production based on digital technologies. When integrating training systems into a specific digital production, educational content, if necessary, is supplemented and developed by those responsible for training and the students themselves as part of the educational resource of digital organizations for training and retraining personnel.
A Importância do Inventário Florestal para Fauna e Flora da Região Local/ The Importance of Forest Inventory for Fauna and Flora of the Local Region
Authors: Santos João Soares , Bezzera Silvana , Alves Solange
Published: November 2021

Ao longo dos anos percebe-se a interferência da ação humana  no meio ambiente.Fazendo um retrocesso histórico, é possível verificar que o Brasil sempre foi alvo da exploração de povos que viam neste país uma significativa  fonte de riqueza.A Mata Atlântica, vegetação típica brasileira, pela diversidade de fauna e flora que sempre abrigou, sofreu desde o início da colonização do Brasil, danos que atualmente se refletem em dados destacando através de  paralelos temporais que da extensão original dessa referida vegetação, hoje tem-se apenas vestígios espalhados por determinados pontos do país. No estado de Sergipe, a Mata Atlântica está praticamente extinta pelas continuativas práticas históricas e atuais de culturas agrícolas e demais preparos para com o plantio.Para servir como suporte a pesquisas para interesses a nível de indústria e no sentido de conscientizar a todos sobre a necessidade de preservação, o inventário florestal precede formas de identificação de desequilíbrios ecológicos e especifica a Mata Atlântica como ameaçada em toda sua biodiversidade. Os remanescentes da Mata Atlântica no Estado de Sergipe constituem-se em áreas estratégicas de conservação. São os recursos disponibilizados por esse ecossistema que poderão ser utilizados como fonte de pesquisa pra que haja o adequado manuseio, favorecendo assim, a preservação da fauna e flora da região em que se observa os impactos ambientais provocados pela destruição da Floresta Atântica.
Individual performance: the influence of the values, the type of remuneration and the goals on individual performance / Desempenho individual: a influência dos valores, do tipo de remuneração e das metas
Authors: De Conti Bruno Resende , Neto Mário Teixeira Reis , Dos Santos Tony Moreira , Dos Santos Derek Moreira , La Falce Jefferson Lopes
Published: November 2021

Este trabalho teve como objetivo analisar os efeitos dos valores pessoais, o tipo de remuneração e metas sobre o desempenho dos indivíduos, por meio de um experimento em laboratório utilizando a metodologia de anagramas. Para a pesquisa, foi realizado um experimento com alunos e funcionários de uma instituição de ensino superior de Minas Gerais. A análise dos dados foi realizada usando um modelo log-linear marginal de Liang e Zeger (1986) com o auxílio do software R. Os resultados sinalizaram que o tipo de remuneração e o uso de metas não afetaram o desempenho dos indivíduos, mas os indivíduos que optaram pela remuneração variável tiveram uma renda 29% maior do que os indivíduos que optaram pela remuneração fixa. Indivíduos com maior grau de benevolência apresentaram desempenho 14% pior. Os indivíduos do sexo masculino tiveram desempenho 26% superior ao das mulheres. Os alunos tiveram 18% mais desempenho do que os funcionários. Indivíduos que já haviam realizado atividades com anagramas tiveram desempenho 19% superior e a experiência adquirida pelos indivíduos durante o experimento foi fundamental para aquela parte deles que mudou sua preferência pelo tipo de remuneração.
Covid-19 e os desafios dos pequenos negócios: um estudo sobre as estratégias de atendimento utilizadas pelo Sebrae-MA / Covid-19 and the challenges of small businesses: a study on the service strategies used by Sebrae-MA
Authors: Rodovalho Joliane Bimbato , Neto Inácio Ferreira Façanha
Published: November 2021

A pandemia da doença Covid-19 colocou a prova todas as empresas no mundo, tornando as estratégias em situações de crise, um fator de sobrevivência em vários sentidos. Foi nesse contexto, que o presente trabalho buscou abordar conceitos que envolvem o Serviço Brasileiro de Apoio às Micro e Pequenas Empresas no Estado do Maranhão (Sebrae-MA) e os pequenos negócios, propriamente ditos, por meio de referências de Gestão de Crise na elaboração de estratégias de Relacionamento com o Cliente e a relação desses elementos com o trabalho desenvolvido pela Instituição, buscando identificar as medidas elaboradas pela mesma, para o enfrentamento da pandemia; fazendo a caracterização do processo de digitalização para assim, compreender como isso contribuiu na continuidade dos serviços prestados; além de avaliar a eficácia das ações realizadas a partir dos resultados obtidos durante o período em que o estudo foi aplicado. Trata-se, portanto, de uma pesquisa de natureza descritiva, tendo sido feito o um amplo referencial bibliográfico e também investigativo, por meio da pesquisa in loco realizada na Sede do Sebrae-MA, a fim de analisar se as ações empregadas pelo referido órgão, para minimizar os efeitos ocasionados pelo coronavírus nos pequenos negócios, foram relevantes e, dessa forma, proporcionar uma reflexão sobre a capacidade de superação tanto do Sebrae, quanto das Micro e Pequenas Empresas. E dessa forma, observar quando as medidas adotadas são assertivas e bem empregadas, proporcionando bons resultados e garantindo a continuidade do empreendimento.
The Development of Leadership in Confessional Schools / O Desenvolvimento de Lideranças nos Colégios das Missionárias Servas do Espírito Santo no Brasil
Authors: Dos Santos Zélia Cordeiro , Aragão Sandra Cordeiro dos Santos , Cabral Patrícia Martins Fagundes
Published: November 2021

This paper aims at analyzing the processes of identity construction and the development of leaders through the perception of the intermediate leaders who work in the education organizations run by the Missionry Holy Spirit Sisters (MSSpS) of the Southern Brazil Province, which comprises four schools located in three Brazilian states. The theoretical background of this research was based on Komives (2005), DeRue and Ashford (2010), Cabral (2018), among other scholars who investigated the development and construction of leaders’ identities. This is a qualitative research that used 15 semi-structured interviews, listening to workers who have been in a position of leadership for at least three years. The data analysis was carried out from the transcripts of the interviews and the insertion of that content in the software NVivo© 10., divided into categories according to the answers given by the interviewees. The results found pointed out four central categories regarding identity construction and leadership development: (1) the perception of the qualities needed by the leader, (2) the organizational culture, (3) awareness of their own trajectory and (4) challenges. A fifth dimension was identified related to (5) the conceptions of leadership held by the institution. Each of these dimensions pointed out different implications regarding identity construction and leadership development. Among them, the experience of interaction, in which they influence and are influenced, was seen as a privileged source of learning for the development of a leader’s identity.
Características de un servicio gastronómico orientado a personas con discapacidad visual y auditiva en viña del mar, Chile / Characteristics of a gastronomic service for people with visual and hearing disabilities in viña del mar, Chile
Authors: Canal Hilde Obermöller , Narbona María Francisca Soto , Villaroel Paula Meza
Published: November 2021

Durante los últimos años, la inclusión ha adquirido una gran importancia dentro de la sociedad chilena, mediante nuevas políticas que aseguran la igualdad social, laboral, y educacional para personas en situación de discapacidad. Sin embargo, esta inclusión se ve enfocada principalmente a personas con discapacidades del tipo motriz e intelectual, siendo las menos atendidas las discapacidades visuales y auditivas. El objetivo de esta investigación es poder determinar las características que debe tener un servicio gastronómico orientado a personas con discapacidad visual y auditiva en Viña del Mar, Chile.El proyecto busca ofrecer independencia a personas en situación de discapacidad, entregando las comodidades que necesitan de acuerdo con su discapacidad, ya sea auditiva o visual. Se han escogido centrar la investigación a estas dos discapacidades ya que son las menos atendidas dentro del mercado.Esta investigación, basada en encuestas y entrevistas, arrojó información relevante, determinando cuáles son las necesidades que debe implementar un servicio gastronómico orientado a la población con algún tipo de discapacidad.
Desafios da reciclagem de lixo eletrônico e as cooperativas de mineração urbana / Challenges of e-waste recycling and urban mining cooperatives
Authors: Giese Ellen Cristine , Lins Fernando Antônio Freitas , Xavier Lúcia Helena
Published: November 2021

A expansão da população, atrelada à elevação dos níveis de produção e consumo de bens, vem intensificando a geração de resíduos sólidos em áreas urbanas. Estima-se que no Brasil são gerados anualmente 2 milhões de toneladas de resíduos de equipamentos eletroeletrônicos (REEE). Se não for tratado adequadamente, essa categoria de resíduos pode causar impactos negativos ao meio ambiente em razão do potencial de contaminação. Os depósitos de REEE localizados nas áreas urbanas são conhecidos também como minas urbanas, uma vez que os REEE apresentam uma quantidade expressiva de matérias-primas críticas e metais valiosos. Aliado à Política Nacional de Gestão de Resíduos Sólidos (PNRS), o presente trabalho apresenta uma discussão sobre os desafios para o funcionamento eficiente das cooperativas de reciclagem de REEE, as quais também podem contribuir para o desenvolvimento da mineração urbana como uma maneira de auxiliar na mitigação do impacto negativo da crescente geração destes tipos de resíduos e gerar renda.
Mulheres no mercado de trabalho mexicano / Women in the mexican labor market
Authors: Jaimes Alicia Sánchez , Chávez Abraham Nares
Published: November 2021

No México, o caminho para a igualdade foi muito longo e, apesar de haver promulgações de direitos humanos nas quais a igualdade de gênero é reconhecida, a desigualdade continua se manifestando nas diferentes áreas em que as mulheres se desenvolvem, no ensino, no mercado de trabalho. etc.No século XXI, as mulheres mexicanas continuam sendo um grupo altamente vulnerável, existem fatores que limitam sua participação na sociedade e alcançam a plenitude em seu desenvolvimento pessoal, profissional e econômico. Apesar da marginalização a que foram submetidas, as mulheres mexicanas demonstraram seu desejo de se incorporar substancialmente à vida pública.
NGHIÊN CỨU ĐẶC ĐIỂM DỊCH TỄ BỆNH SÁN LÁ RUỘT Ở GÀ THẢ VƯỜN NUÔI TẠI TỈNH THÁI NGUYÊN
Authors: Minh Lê , Duyên Dương Thị Hồng , Tuấn Đỗ Quốc , Phương Đỗ Thị Lan
Published: November 2021

Đã định danh được 3 loài sán lá ruột ký sinh ở gà nuôi thả vườn tại 3 huyện của tỉnh Thái Nguyên, gồm: Hypoderaeum conoideum, Echinostoma revolutum và Notocotylus intestinalis. Tỷ lệ nhiễm sán lá ruột ở 3 huyện của tỉnh Thái Nguyên là 16,33% với cường độ từ nhẹ đến rất nặng, trong đó chủ yếu nhiễm ở cường độ nhẹ và trung bình. Huyện Phú Bình có tỷ lệ và cường độ nhiễm sán lá ruột cao nhất (18,94%), tiếp đến là huyện Đồng Hỷ (15,38%) và thấp nhất là huyện Phú Lương (14,41%). Gà giai đoạn trên 6 tháng tuổi nhiễm cao nhất (21,55%), giảm xuống 16,89% ở giai đoạn > 3 - 6 tháng tuổi và thấp nhất ở giai đoạn ≤ 3 tháng tuổi (9,86%). Gà nuôi ở vụ Xuân - Hè nhiễm sán lá ruột cao hơn vụ Thu - Đông (20,10% so với 11,92%). Thời gian trứng phát triển thành Miracidium trong môi trường nước ở vụ Xuân - Hè cao hơn vụ Thu - Đông.
STUDYING THE EFFECT OF A COMBINATION OF PLANT GROWTH REGULATOR ON MULTIPLE SHOOTS AND ROOTING IN GmCHI TRANSGENIC T. PANICULATUM
Authors: Trang Vũ Thị Như , Mậu Chu Hoàng , Ngân Ngô Thị Thúy
Published: November 2021

Thổ nhân sâm (Talinum paniculatum) là loại cây thân thảo được biết đến với giá trị dược liệu cao. Cây Thổ nhân sâm chuyển gen GmCHI ở thế hệ T1 có hàm lượng flavonoid tổng số tăng 7,4 lần và 4,8 lần so với cây đối chứng không chuyển gen. Để tăng thu nhận flavonoid từ sinh khối của các cây Thổ nhân sâm chuyển gen ở thế hệ T1 có hàm lượng flavonoid cao thì việc nghiên cứu hiệu quả tạo đa chồi và ra rễ ở cây chuyển gen là cần thiết. Trong bài báo này, chúng tôi trình bày kết quả nghiên cứu ảnh hưởng của tổ hợp các chất kích thích sinh trưởng lên sự phát sinh chồi và ra rễ ở cây Thổ nhân sâm chuyển gen GmCHI. Đoạn thân mang mắt chồi bên là vật liệu thích hợp để tạo đa chồi khi sử dụng môi trường MS cơ bản bổ sung kinetin. Bổ sung 2,0 mg/l BAP cho hiệu quả đa chồi cao hơn so với bổ sung 1,5 mg/l kinetin hay kết hợp 1,5 mg/l kinetin với 0,8 mg/l IBA. Sử dụng 0,5 mg/l IAA có khả năng tạo rễ tốt hơn so với kết hợp 0,5 mg/l IAA với kinetin.
THÀNH PHẦN HÓA HỌC VÀ HOẠT TÍNH CHỐNG OXY HÓA CỦA CAO CHIẾT TỪ PHẦN TRÊN MẶT ĐẤT CỦA CÂY CƠM RƯỢU HOA NHỎ (GLYCOSMIS PARVIFLORA (SIMS) LITTLE)
Authors: Phú Nguyễn Đình Quỳnh , Linh Nguyễn Khánh Thùy , Nghĩa Đoàn Thị Ái , Dự Tống Văn , Thùy Nguyễn Thị Thu
Published: November 2021

Loài Cơm rượu hoa nhỏ (Glycosmis parviflora (Sims) Little) được sử dụng trong y học cổ truyền nước ta để chữa cảm mạo, ho, ăn uống không tiêu... Các nghiên cứu về thành phần hóa học và hoạt tính sinh học của loài này còn ít. Nghiên cứu được thực hiện với mục tiêu xác định hàm lượng phenolic tổng, flavonoid toàn phần và đánh giá tác dụng chống oxy hóa của cao toàn phần và các cao phân đoạn từ phần trên mặt đất cây Cơm rượu hoa nhỏ. Phenolic tổng, flavonoid toàn phần và hoạt tính chống oxy hóa được xác định bằng phương pháp quang phổ sử dụng thuốc thử lần lượt là Folin-Ciocalteu, AlCl3 và dung dịch 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) trong methanol. Kết quả cho thấy, cao ethyl acetat có hàm lượng phenolic tổng cao nhất, tương đương147,47± 0,33mgQAE/g cao chiết; cao n-hexane có hàm lượng flavonoid toàn phần cao nhất, tương đương132,71 ± 0,14mg QE/g cao chiết; hoạt tính chống oxy hóacủa cao ethylacetat mạnh nhất với IC50 = 36,36 ± 0,10 μg/mL và cao n-hexane kém nhất với IC50 = 416,65 ± 0,18 μg/mL. Các cao phân đoạn ethyl acetat và n-hexane lần lượt chứa hàm lượng phenolic và flavonoid cao nhất; cao hơn nhiều so với cao toàn phần methanol. Cùng với việc chứa hàm lượng phenolic cao nhất, phân đoạn ethyl acetat thể hiện hoạt tính chống oxy hóa mạnh nhất.
NGHIÊN CỨU QUY TRÌNH SẢN XUẤT BỘT BÍ ĐAO UỐNG LIỀN BẰNG PHƯƠNG PHÁP SẤY THĂNG HOA
Authors: Nguyệt Trần Thị , Vân Phạm Thị Hà , Anh Nguyễn Châu
Published: November 2021

Chế biến bột bí đao uống liền sấy thăng hoa một trong những biện pháp nhằm kéo dài thời gian tồn trữ của sản phẩm so với bí đao tươi nguyên liệu. Mục đích của nghiên cứu này là tạo ra bột bí đao uống liền từ nguyên liệu bí đao chanh có giá trị dinh dưỡng và giá trị cảm quan tốt, góp phần đa dạng hóa sản phẩm và giải quyết đầu ra bí đao tươi dồi dào sau thu hoạch của nông dân. Trong nghiên cứu này, bí đao được chần ở 85º trong 1 phút sau đó cấp đông ở -20ºC trong thời gian 2 ngày, sau cấp đông lấy ra để ép lấy nước dịch. Phối trộn dịch ép với 1% dịch lá dứa (v/v) và chất mang bổ sung là bột sắn dây đã hồ hóa, maltodextrin. Bán thành phẩm được chuyển lạnh đông, sấy thăng hoa. Kết quả nghiên cứu cho thấy bổ sung maltodextrin 2,5% và sắn dây 3% (w/v) vào dịch bí đao cho chất lượng sản phẩm tốt nhất. Bột bí đao uống liền tạo ra có chất lượng cảm quan của bột bí đao tốt và dịch hoàn nguyên có hàm lượng chất rắn hòa tan 97,330brix, mùi vị đặc trưng. Sản phẩm bột bí đao uống liền sấy thăng hoa bảo quản ở nhiệt độ lạnh (12 ± 2oC, độ ẩm 45 ± 5%) sau 30 ngày bảo quản vẫn giữ được chất lượng sản phẩm.