bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mutation spectrum of the OPA1 gene in a large cohort of patients with suspected dominant optic atrophy: Identification and classification of 48 novel variants
Authors: Weisschuh Nicole , Schimpf-Linzenbold Simone , Mazzola Pascale , Kieninger Sinja , Xiao Ting , Kellner Ulrich , Neuhann Teresa , Kelbsch Carina , Tonagel Felix , Wilhelm Helmut , Kohl Susanne , Wissinger Bernd
Published: July 2021

Autosomal dominant optic atrophy is one of the most common inherited optic neuropathies. This disease is genetically heterogeneous, but most cases are due to pathogenic variants in the OPA1 gene: depending on the population studied, 32–90% of cases harbor pathogenic variants in this gene. The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive overview of the entire spectrum of likely pathogenic variants in the OPA1 gene in a large cohort of patients. Over a period of 20 years, 755 unrelated probands with a diagnosis of bilateral optic atrophy were referred to our laboratory for molecular genetic investigation. Genetic testing of the OPA1 gene was initially performed by a combined analysis using either single-strand conformation polymorphism or denaturing high performance liquid chromatography followed by Sanger sequencing to validate aberrant bands or melting profiles. The presence of copy number variations was assessed using multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification. Since 2012, genetic testing was based on next-generation sequencing platforms. Genetic screening of the OPA1 gene revealed putatively pathogenic variants in 278 unrelated probands which represent 36.8% of the entire cohort. A total of 156 unique variants were identified, 78% of which can be considered null alleles. Variant c.2708_2711del/p.(V903Gfs*3) was found to constitute 14% of all disease-causing alleles. Special emphasis was placed on the validation of splice variants either by analyzing cDNA derived from patients´ blood samples or by heterologous splice assays using minigenes. Splicing analysis revealed different aberrant splicing events, including exon skipping, activation of exonic or intronic cryptic splice sites, and the inclusion of pseudoexons. Forty-eight variants that we identified were novel. Nine of them were classified as pathogenic, 34 as likely pathogenic and five as variant of uncertain significance. Our study adds a significant number of novel variants to the mutation spectrum of the OPA1 gene and will thereby facilitate genetic diagnostics of patients with suspected dominant optic atrophy.
Fine-grained classification based on multi-scale pyramid convolution networks
Authors: Wang Gaihua , Cheng Lei , Lin Jinheng , Dai Yingying , Zhang Tianlun
Published: July 2021

The large intra-class variance and small inter-class variance are the key factor affecting fine-grained image classification. Recently, some algorithms have been more accurate and efficient. However, these methods ignore the multi-scale information of the network, resulting in insufficient ability to capture subtle changes. To solve this problem, a weakly supervised fine-grained classification network based on multi-scale pyramid is proposed in this paper. It uses pyramid convolution kernel to replace ordinary convolution kernel in residual network, which can expand the receptive field of the convolution kernel and use complementary information of different scales. Meanwhile, the weakly supervised data augmentation network (WS-DAN) is used to prevent over fitting and improve the performance of the model. In addition, a new attention module, which includes spatial attention and channel attention, is introduced to pay more attention to the object part in the image. The comprehensive experiments are carried out on three public benchmarks. It shows that the proposed method can extract subtle feature and achieve classification effectively.
Nearly one-third of lactating mothers are suffering from undernutrition in pastoral community, Afar region, Ethiopia: Community-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Mulaw Getahun Fentaw , Mare Kusse Urmale , Anbesu Etsay Woldu
Published: July 2021

Background

Undernutrition is responsible for a significant proportion of maternal and child morbidity and mortality. Lactating women are nutritionally vulnerable groups because this period places a high nutritional demand on the mother and leads to nutritional stress. Poor nutrition during lactation has a significant negative consequence to mothers and children’s survival, growth, and development. Therefore this study aimed to assess the nutritional status of lactating mothers and associated factors in pastoral community, Afar region, Ethiopia.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January 5/2020 to February 10/2020, in the Abala district. The data were collected from a sample of 366 lactating mothers whose children aged less than 24 months. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews and anthropometric measurements. Study participants were recruited using a systematic sampling technique. Anthropometric measurements (both body mass index and mid-upper arm circumference) were taken from each mother using calibrated equipment and standardized techniques. Data were entered into Epi-data version 4.2 and exported to SPSS version 22 for analysis. Predictor variables with a P-value < 0.25 at bivariable analysis were candidates for the final model. Statistical significance was declared at P-value of < 0.05 in the multivariable logistic regression.

Result

This study showed that 120(32.8%) and 122(33.3%) surveyed mothers were undernourished using a cut-off body mass index <18.5 kg/m2and mid-upper arm circumference <23 Centimeter, respectively. Lactating mothers who didn’t meet the minimum dietary diversity score were more than five (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 5.103; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.128, 12.238) times more likely to be undernourished than those who met the minimum dietary diversity score. Mothers with short birth intervals were also more than four (AOR = 4.800; 95% CI: 2.408, 9.567) time more likely to be undernourished.

Conclusion

Nearly one-third of lactating mothers were undernourished. Undernutrition among lactating mothers was significantly associated with maternal dietary diversity score and birth interval. Health education on proper and adequate maternal dietary feeding practices, and proper family planning utilization during lactation should be emphasized.
Does co-inoculation of mycorrhiza and Piriformospora indica fungi enhance the efficiency of chlorophyll fluorescence and essential oil composition in peppermint under irrigation with saline water from the Caspian Sea?
Authors: Khalvandi Masoumeh , Amerian Mohammadreza , Pirdashti Hematollah , Keramati Sara
Published: July 2021

Symbiotic associations with endophytic fungi are ecologically important for medicinal and aromatic plants. Endophytic fungi highly affect the quantity and quality of herbal products. In this study, a pot experiment was carried out in the greenhouse to investigate the interactive effects of Piriformospora indica and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AMF) inoculation on the chlorophyll fluorescence, essential oil composition, and antioxidant enzymes of peppermint under saline condition. The results showed that Fo, YNPQ, YNO, and NPQ values were obviously increased under salinity conditions, while essential oil content, chlorophyll a and b, gs, Fm, Fv, ETR, ФPSII and Fv/Fm ratio decreased by increasing salinity. In addition, salt induced the excess Na+ uptake, whereas the opposite trend was observed for P and K+. The synergistic association of P. indica and AMF caused a considerable increase in the antioxidant ability, essential oil content, Fv/Fm ratio, ФPSII, and amount of P and K+ uptake in salt-stressed plants. The main peppermint oil constituents, menthol, menthone, and 1,8-cineole increased considerably in inoculated plants. Besides, the applied endophytic fungi positively enhanced the ability of peppermint to alleviate the negative effect of the salinity stress.
Comparison of spotlighting monitoring data of European brown hare (Lepus europaeus) relative population densities with infrared thermography in agricultural landscapes in Northern Germany
Authors: Sliwinski Katharina , Strauß Egbert , Jung Klaus , Siebert Ursula
Published: July 2021

A successful wildlife management requires monitoring. Including non-scientific volunteers into monitoring actions is a common way for obtaining long-term and comprehensive data. Hunters present a valuable target group as they are spread out nationwide in Germany and additionally, they provide a know-how regarding game species. Since 1990s, various German hunting associations established monitoring programs and motivated hunters to join, in order to record population sizes of huntable game species under standardized census methods. The aim of this study was to compare instructed hunters performed spotlight counts of European brown hares with thermography in three federal states (Lower-Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, North Rhine-Westphalia) in 2015–2018 in Northern Germany. Therefore, we modelled the number of hares counted by both methods with the associated observed area. Moreover, we performed repeated thermographic counts in selected areas and performed distance sampling to test the deviations of estimated population densities within a short time period. Repeated infrared thermographic counts on three consecutive nights show a coefficient of variation from 6.6% to 15.5% with deviations of 2.2–2.7 hares per 100 ha, while the method of distance sampling reveals minor deviations of 0.9–1.7 hares per 100 ha and a coefficient of variation from 3.1–7.4%. The coefficient of variation value between spotlight and infrared thermographic count lies between 0 to 21.4%. Our model confirmed no significant differences between the European brown hare density estimations based on a spotlight count and an infrared thermographic count on the following night. The results provide insight into the dimension of the error margin of density estimations performed by spotlight counts. Therefore, we recommend to take possible counting errors into account and to ideally perform repeated counts to assess the error margin for each counting site. This would help for example to quantify the uncertainty in the calculation of mortality rates. Additionally, our results show that monitoring data generated by instructed hunters can provide reliable and valid data, if implemented and conducted in a standardized scientific way.
Wild-type TTR amyloidosis among patients with unexplained heart failure and systolic LV dysfunction
Authors: Goland Sorel , Volodarsky Igor , Fabricant Yacov , Livschitz Shay , Tshori Sagi , Cuciuc Valeri , Zilberman Liaz , Fugenfirov Irena , Meledin Valeri , Shimoni Sara , Josfberg Sagie , George Jacob
Published: July 2021

Aim

Transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA) is an increasingly recognized cause of heart failure (HF) with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), typically presenting as restrictive cardiomyopathy. The potential co-existence of ATTR-CA with systolic heart failure has not been studied. The aim of this study is to describe the prevalence of ATTR-CA and its clinical characteristics in HF patients with reduced LVEF.

Methods

Patients with an unexplained cause of LV systolic dysfunction were screened for ATTR-CA by a 99mTc-PYP planar scintigraphy. Patients in whom presence of ≥ 2 uptake was confirmed by SPECT imaging were included. Their clinical, laboratory and echocardiographic data were collected.

Results

Out of 75 patients (mean age 65±12 years, LVEF 35.8±7.9%) included in this study, 7 (9.3%) patients (mean age 75±6 years, LVEF 32.0±8.3%) had ATTR-CA. Patients with ATTR-CA were more symptomatic at diagnosis (NYHA FC 3–4 (86% vs 35% (p = 0.03)) and had a more severe clinical course evident by recurrent hospitalizations for HF, and a need for intravenous diuretic treatment (p = 0.04 and p<0.01, respectively) at follow-up, compared with patients with no ATTR-CA. Patients with ATTR-CA had similar LVEF but a clear trend for larger LV mass index (157.1±60.6 g/m2 vs. 121.0±39.5 g/m2, p = 0.07) and a larger proportions of ATTR-CA patients had IVS thickness >13 mm (57.1% vs 13.1%, p = 0.02) as compared to HF patients with no ATTR-CA.

Conclusion

In our study, a meaningful percentage of patients with unexplained LV dysfunction had a co-existing ATTR-CA indicating that the clinical heterogeneity of ATTR-CA is much broader than previously thought.
Where does the money go to? Cost analysis of gynecological patients with a benign condition
Authors: Pynnä Kristiina , Räsänen Pirjo , Roine Risto P. , Vuorela Piia , Sintonen Harri
Published: July 2021

Objectives

The impact of benign gynecological conditions on life of women and on costs for the society is high. The purpose of this study is to gain knowledge and understanding of costs of the treatment of these disorders in order to be able to improve the clinical care processes, gain insight into feasible savings opportunities and to allocate funds wisely.

Methods

The healthcare processes of 311 women attending university or community hospitals in the Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District between June 2012 and August 2013 due to a benign gynecological condition were followed up for two years and treatment costs analysed.

Results

Total direct hospital costs averaged 689€ at six months and 2194€ at two years. The most expensive treatment was that of uterine fibroids in the short term and that of endometriosis and fibroids later on. Costs did not depend on hospital size. Surgical operations caused nearly half of hospital costs. Productivity loss caused biggest expenses outside of the hospital. LNG-IUD (levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device) accounted for the largest pharmaceutical costs for patients. Hospital treatment was associated with a reduced need for outpatient services during follow-up.

Conclusions

A majority of direct hospital costs arise over time. This stresses the need for prolonged healthcare management. To control costs, the need for repetitive doctors’ appointments, monitoring tests, and ward treatments should be carefully evaluated. Procedures not needing an operation theatre (for example hysteroscopy for polypectomy), should be done ambulatorily.
The role of race and scientific trust on support for COVID-19 social distancing measures in the United States
Authors: Kazemian Sara , Fuller Sam , Algara Carlos
Published: July 2021

Pundits and academics across disciplines note that the human toll brought forth by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the United States (U.S.) is fundamentally unequal for communities of color. Standing literature on public health posits that one of the chief predictors of racial disparity in health outcomes is a lack of institutional trust among minority communities. Furthermore, in our own county-level analysis from the U.S., we find that counties with higher percentages of Black and Hispanic residents have had vastly higher cumulative deaths from COVID-19. In light of this standing literature and our own analysis, it is critical to better understand how to mitigate or prevent these unequal outcomes for any future pandemic or public health emergency. Therefore, we assess the claim that raising institutional trust, primarily scientific trust, is key to mitigating these racial inequities. Leveraging a new, pre-pandemic measure of scientific trust, we find that trust in science, unlike trust in politicians or the media, significantly raises support for COVID-19 social distancing policies across racial lines. Our findings suggest that increasing scientific trust is essential to garnering support for public health policies that lessen the severity of the current, and potentially a future, pandemic.
Dialogic gathering of films. Promoting meaningful online interactions during COVID-19 confinement
Authors: Padrós-Cuxart Maria , Rodrigues de Mello Roseli , Ramis-Salas Mimar , Duque Elena
Published: July 2021

A broad body of scientific literature exists on the effects that COVID-19 related confinement has had on the population: mental health problems, isolation, and problems concerning cohesion and employment, among others. However, there is a gap in the literature on the actions that reverse some of the effects generated during lockdown. This article collects the results of a study conducted with 53 people participating in a dialogic gathering of films (DGF) that was held online during two months of confinement. The data from the survey show that the development of this DGF generated improvements in 1) personal welfare and attitudes concerning the management of confinement, 2) living together and online relationships, 3) motivation and creativity in the professional domain, and 4) openness to a diversity of perspectives and realities, which improves the understanding, argumentation and positioning in social, scientific and ethical debates.
Processing of expressions by individuals with autistic traits: Empathy deficit or sensory hyper-reactivity?
Authors: Meng Chunyan , Huo Chao , Ge Hongxin , Li Zuoshan , Hu Yuanyan , Meng Jing
Published: July 2021

Individuals with autistic traits display impaired social interaction and communication in everyday life, but the underlying cognitive neural mechanisms remain very unclear and still remain controversial. The mind-blindness hypothesis suggests that social difficulties in individuals with autistic traits are caused by empathy impairment in individuals; however, the intense world theory suggests that these social difficulties are caused by sensory hyper-reactivity and sensory overload, rather than empathy impairment. To further test these two theories, this study investigated event-related potentials (ERPs) to explore the cognitive neural processing of repetitive expressions in individuals with autistic traits. This study employed the Mandarin version of the autism-spectrum quotient (AQ) to assess autistic traits in 2,502 healthy adults. Two subset groups were used, e.g., the participants of a high-AQ group were randomly selected among the 10% of individuals with the highest AQ scores; similarly, the participants in the low-AQ group were randomly selected from the 10% of participants with the lowest AQ scores. In an experiment, three different facial expressions (positive, neutral, or negative) of the same person were presented successively and pseudo-randomly in each trial. Participants needed to define the expression of the face that was presented last. The results showed that compared with the low-AQ group, the high-AQ group exhibited higher P1 amplitudes induced by the second and third presented expressions, as well as higher P3 amplitudes induced by the third presented negative expressions. This indicates that individuals with autistic traits may experience overly strong perception, attention, and cognitive evaluation to repetitive expressions, particularly negative expressions. This result supports the intense world theory more strongly than the mind-blindness hypothesis.
Presentation of a new method based on modern multivariate approaches for big data replication in distributed environments
Authors: Sabaghian Khatereh , Khamforoosh Keyhan , Ghaderzadeh Abdolbaghi
Published: July 2021

As the amounts of data and use of distributed systems for data storage and processing have increased, reducing the number of replications has turned into a crucial requirement in these systems, which has been addressed by plenty of research. In this paper, an algorithm has been proposed to reduce the number of replications in big data transfer and, eventually to lower the traffic load over the grid by classifying data efficiently and optimally based on the sent data types and using VIKOR as a method of multivariate decision-making for ranking replication sites. Considering different variables, the VIKOR method makes it possible to take all the parameters effective in the assessment of site ranks into account. According to the results and evaluations, the proposed method has exhibited an improvement by about thirty percent in average over the LRU, LFU, BHR, and Without Rep. algorithms. Furthermore, it has improved the existing multivariate methods through different approaches to replication by thirty percent, as it considers effective parameters such as time, the number of replications, and replication site, causing replication to occur when it can make an improvement in terms of access.
Gender inequality among medical, pharmaceutical and dental practitioners in French hospitals: Where have we been and where are we now?
Authors: Le Boedec Antoine , Anthony Norah , Vigneau Cécile , Hue Benoit , Laine Fabrice , Laviolle Bruno , Bonnaure-Mallet Martine , Bacle Astrid , Allain Jean-Sébastien
Published: July 2021

Introduction

Women are under-represented in senior academic and hospital positions in many countries. The authors aim to assess the place and the evolution of all appointed female and male health practitioners’ working in French public Hospitals.

Materials and methods

Data of this observational study were collected from the National Management Centre (Centre National de Gestion) from 2015 up to January 1, 2020. First, the authors described demographic characteristics and specialties of all appointed medicine, pharmacy, and dentistry doctors’ working as Hospital Practitioners, Associate Professors, and Full Professors in French General and University-affiliated Hospitals in 2020. Then, they retrospectively reported the annual incidence of new entrance according to gender and professional status from 1999 to 2019 thanks to the appointment date of all practitioners in activity between 2015 and 2020.

Results

In 2020, 51 401 appointed practitioners (49.7% of female) were in activity in French public hospitals with a large majority being medical doctors (92.4%) compared to pharmacists (6%) and dentists (1.6%). Women represented 52.5% of the Hospital Practitioners, 48.6% of the Associate Professors, and 22.0% of the Full Professors (p < 0.001). There were disparities between the rates of female Full Professors in medicine (20.6%), pharmacy (36.1%), and dentistry (44.3%, p < 0.001). Women were appointed Hospital Practitioners and Associate Professors earlier than men (respectively 37.1 versus 38.8 years, p < 0.001 and 36.1 versus 36.5 years, p = 0.04), and at a later age among Full Professors (43.7 versus 41.9 years, p < 0.001). Compared to men, the annual proportion of appointed women varied significantly between 1999 and 2019 from 47.6% to 60.4% for Hospital Practitioners, from 50.0% to 44.6% for Associate Professors, and from 11.2% to 33.3% for Full Professors (p < 0.001 for trend).

Conclusions

Although more and more women occupy positions in French hospitals, there is still a gender gap regarding access to Full Professor status in medicine and pharmacy, but not in dentistry. The disparity in numbers makes comparison difficult. Despite a trend towards gender equality during the last twenty years, it has not yet been achieved regarding access to the highest positions.
The prevalence of M. tuberculosis among acid fast bacilli cultures from military health system and veterans affairs beneficiaries in Hawaii and the Pacific Islands from 2002 to 2019
Authors: Crecelius Elena M. , Lustik Michael B. , Horseman Timothy S. , Jones Milissa U.
Published: July 2021

The prevalence of tuberculosis among military health system (MHS) and Veterans Affairs (VA) beneficiaries in Hawaii and the Pacific Islands has not been previously reported. Our analysis evaluates the prevalence of M. tuberculosis (MTB) among acid fast bacilli culture(s) (AFB) tested at Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC) on Oahu, HI and describes demographic factors associated with positive samples. We analyzed 9,768 AFBs from 4,129 individuals with AFB specimens processed at TAMC from January 2002 to November 2019: of those who were tested 3,178 were MHS beneficiaries and 951 were VA beneficiaries. There were a total of 40 individuals with MTB-positive cultures over the period of study: 31 MHS beneficiaries and 9 VA beneficiaries. Of the MTB-positive specimens, 93% were from pulmonary samples while the remainder were from lymph node aspirates (5%) and peritoneal samples (2%). Cumulative incidence rates of MTB-isolation were 1.8 per 100,000 MHS beneficiaries and 1.2 per 100,000 VA beneficiaries, both of which were lower than reported incidence rates in Hawaii, the U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands and the United States for the study period. MHS beneficiaries of Asian-Pacific Islander race or ethnicity had nearly 20 times higher odds of positive AFB than white MHS beneficiaries (OR = 19.56, 95% CI 5.52, 69.29, p = < 0.001). This study demonstrated a higher odds of MTB-positivity associated with Asian-Pacific Islander race or ethnicity and low incidence rates of TB among MHS and VA beneficiaries in Hawaii and the Pacific Islands when compared with the civilian population.
Immune response dynamics in COVID-19 patients to SARS-CoV-2 and other human coronaviruses
Authors: Ravindran Resmi , McReynolds Cindy , Yang Jun , Hammock Bruce D. , Ikram Aamer , Ali Amna , Bashir Adnan , Zohra Tanzeel , Chang W. L. William , Hartigan-O’Connor Dennis J. , Rashidi Hooman H. , Khan Imran H.
Published: July 2021

COVID-19 serological test must have high sensitivity as well as specificity to rule out cross-reactivity with common coronaviruses (HCoVs). We have developed a quantitative multiplex test, measuring antibodies against spike (S) proteins of SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and common human coronavirus strains (229E, NL63, OC43, HKU1), and nucleocapsid (N) protein of SARS-CoV viruses. Receptor binding domain of S protein of SARS-CoV-2 (S-RBD), and N protein, demonstrated sensitivity (94% and 92.5%, respectively) in COVID-19 patients (n = 53), with 98% specificity in non-COVID-19 respiratory-disease (n = 98), and healthy-controls (n = 129). Anti S-RBD and N antibodies appeared five to ten days post-onset of symptoms, peaking at approximately four weeks. The appearance of IgG and IgM coincided while IgG subtypes, IgG1 and IgG3 appeared soon after the total IgG; IgG2 and IgG4 remained undetectable. Several inflammatory cytokines/chemokines were found to be elevated in many COVID-19 patients (e.g., Eotaxin, Gro-α, CXCL-10 (IP-10), RANTES (CCL5), IL-2Rα, MCP-1, and SCGF-b); CXCL-10 was elevated in all. In contrast to antibody titers, levels of CXCL-10 decreased with the improvement in patient health suggesting it as a candidate for disease resolution. Importantly, anti-N antibodies appear before S-RBD and differentiate between vaccinated and infected people—current vaccines (and several in the pipeline) are S protein-based.
Comparing flipped classroom and conventional live demonstration for teaching orthodontic wire-bending skill
Authors: Lau May Nak , Kamarudin Yasmin , Zakaria Nor Nadia , Sivarajan Saritha , Mohd Tahir Norhidayah @ Nor Zahidah , Bahar Aufa Dahlia , Naimie Zahra , Othman Siti Adibah , Wan Hassan Wan N.
Published: July 2021

Flipped classroom may overcome weaknesses of live demonstration in teaching orthodontic wire-bending. This study aims to compare the effectiveness between flipped classroom and live demonstration in transferring skills for fabricating Adams clasp. Forty third-year undergraduate dental students were assigned to two groups. The students in group LD (n = 20) attended a live demonstration while students in group FC (n = 20) attended a flipped classroom. Both groups were taught on skills to fabricate Adams clasp in a standardised way. Each student from both groups were asked to submit an Adams clasp for a blinded quality assessment by two trained and calibrated assessors using a 18-item rubric, followed by validated students’ satisfaction questionnaires to evaluate their perceived satisfaction on the teaching method received. A crossover study was then conducted three weeks later where LD attended a flipped classroom while FC attended a live demonstration. Students’ satisfaction questionnaires were again collected from each student for blinded analysis. Mean scores for the quality of Adams clasp were 9.775 and 9.125 for LD and FC, respectively. No significant difference was detected between the two groups. Statistically significant association was found for one statement on the questionnaire, “I found the classroom arrangements conducive for the wire-bending activity” (p = 0.010). No significant differences were found between the two groups for other statements (p > 0.05). In conclusion, within the limitations of the study, flipped classroom is equally effective as conventional live demonstration in transferring orthodontic wire-bending skills for fabrication of Adams clasp. However, students perceived the classroom arrangements during the flipped classroom significantly more conducive for teaching orthodontic wire-bending.
Vitamin D deficiency and severity of pneumonia in Indonesian children
Authors: Oktaria Vicka , Triasih Rina , Graham Stephen M. , Bines Julie E. , Soenarto Yati , Clarke Michael W. , Lauda Mike , Danchin Margaret
Published: July 2021

Objective

To determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Indonesian children hospitalized with pneumonia and evaluate the association between vitamin D status and severity of pneumonia.

Methods

A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February 2016 to July 2017 in two district hospitals in Yogyakarta province, Indonesia. Infants and young children aged 2–59 months hospitalized with pneumonia were recruited. Serum blood samples were collected on admission and analyzed for total serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 concentrations using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as a level of serum vitamin D <50 nmol/L. The association between vitamin D deficiency and severity of hospitalized pneumonia according to WHO criteria, including the presence of danger signs, hypoxemia (SpO2 in air below 90%), duration of hospitalization, and admission to Intensive Care Unit (ICU), was analyzed using logistic regression.

Results

133 children with WHO-defined pneumonia were enrolled in the study and 127 (96%) had their vitamin D status determined. The mean vitamin D concentration was 67 (± 24 SD) nmol/L and 19% of participants were vitamin D deficient. Age younger than 6 months was associated with prolonged hospitalization (> 5 days) and low birth weight and poor nutritional status on admission were risk factors for hypoxemia. However, vitamin D status was not associated with the presence of danger signs, duration of hospitalization, or hypoxemia.

Conclusions

One in every five children hospitalized with pneumonia was vitamin D deficient. Vitamin D status was not associated with the severity of pneumonia.
Therapeutic monitoring of adalimumab at non-trough levels in patients with inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Kato Masaichi , Sugimoto Ken , Ikeya Kentaro , Takano Ryosuke , Matsuura Ai , Miyazu Takahiro , Ishida Natsuki , Tamura Satoshi , Tani Shinya , Yamade Mihoko , Hamaya Yasushi , Iwaizumi Moriya , Osawa Satoshi , Furuta Takahisa , Hanai Hiroyuki
Published: July 2021

Adalimumab (ADA) trough level and anti-ADA antibody (AAA) positivity influence mucosal healing and loss of response in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In this study, we clarified the correlation between ADA monitoring, including non-trough level, and real-world IBD clinical outcomes. This retrospective, observational, single-center study involved patients with ulcerative colitis (19) and Crohn’s disease (33) treated with ADA from January 2007 to August 2018. Serum ADA and AAA levels were measured 4‒14 days after ADA administration. The AAA positivity rate was 23.1% (12/52). ADA continuity was higher in AAA-negative patients than in AAA-positive patients (P = 0.223). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed that a serum AAA cut-off of 9.2 μg/mL was associated with ADA continuity. The ADA level was significantly higher in the endoscopic remission group than in the non-remission group (P = 0.02). Based on the ROC curve analysis results of serum ADA level and endoscopic remission, the cut-off value of the serum ADA level was set to 11.1 μg/mL. Under the combined use of ADA with immunomodulators and AAA positivity, ADA continuity was significantly higher when the serum AAA level at 4–14 days after ADA administration was ≥9.2 μg/mL. Furthermore, endoscopic remission can be expected with a serum ADA level of ≥11.1 μg/mL. Overall, to predict clinical outcomes, it would be useful to measure the blood level of ADA regardless of the timing of the trough.
Aprendizaje estratégico y tecnologías de la información y la comunicación: una revisión crítica
Authors: Monerero Font Carles , Badia Garganté Antoni
Published: July 2021

En este artículo se presenta un esquema de redefinición de estrategia de aprendizaje, basada en las contribuciones recientes de las tecnologías del aprendizaje. Esta nueva definición aborda la cuestión de cómo las posibilidades tecnológicas de los programas informáticos, de las herramientas tecnológicas, o de los entornos educativos, hacen posible que un alumno o un grupo de alumnos utilicen nuevas formas de desarrollar un aprendizaje estratégico. Revisamos cómo diferentes características de la definición de estrategia de aprendizaje se han transformado debido a la introducción de las TIC en la educación. Por último, el artículo señala nuevos desafíos conceptuales y futuros desarrollos de la investigación.
Unidades de aprendizaje activas interrelacionadas con uso natural de herramientas TIC en la construcción arquitectónica
Authors: Martí Audí Núria , Fonseca Escudero David
Published: July 2021

La incorporación de nuevas tecnologías en los estudios universitarios es un factor consumado. No obstante, no siempre es un proceso realizado correctamente y en muchos casos se ignora la opinión del usuario final, el alumno. Una correcta implementación debe evaluar el grado de satisfacción, necesidad, interés y posibles modificaciones que el uso de cualquier tecnología conlleva tanto en la formación del estudiante como en la percepción de la utilidad y aprovechamiento que este consigue. En el presente artículo analizamos una nueva aproximación en la docencia relacionada con la materia de Construcción Arquitectónica. A partir de una serie de unidades interactivas fundamentadas en el trabajo colaborativo de los alumnos, se abordan problemas complejos próximos a la realidad profesional del sector. El objetivo es valorar el grado de adaptación del alumno a un modelo de aprendizaje centrado en el descubrimiento práctico-teórico usando diversos sistemas tecnológicos de manera simultánea y natural, permitiendo una mayor autonomía en la adquisición de habilidades y saberes.
Aprendizaje sobre intervalos de confianza con el software R
Authors: Gonçalves Gariela , Afonso Luís , Ferreira Marta , Ferro Teresa , Nascimento Maria M.
Published: July 2021

Este trabajo ha consistido en estudiar la viabilidad de la implementación de un método de enseñanza que, en la asignatura de  Matemática Computacional, involucra a los estudiantes y profesores a través del uso del software estadístico R para el desarrollo de un trabajo práctico como  fortalecimiento de las clases tradicionales. La inferencia estadística, es decir, la determinación de los intervalos de confianza, fue el contenido seleccionado para esta experiencia. Se pretendía mostrar, en primer lugar, que es posible promover, a través de la metodología propuesta, la adquisición de las competencias básicas de inferencia estadística y promover las relaciones positivas entre maestros y estudiantes. También se presenta un estudio comparativo entre las metodologías utilizadas y sus resultados cuantitativos y cualitativos en dos años escolares consecutivos, involucrando varios indicadores. Los datos utilizados en el estudio fueron obtenidos a partir de 1) las respuestas  de los estudiantes a las preguntas del examen en los años 2010/2011 y 2011/2012, 2) la realización de un grupo de trabajo en 2011/2012 y 3) a través de las  respuestas a un cuestionario (opcional y anónimo) que también aplicó en 2011/2012. En términos de resultados, se destaca el mejor rendimiento de los estudiantes en las preguntas de examen en 2011/2012, que fue el curso en el que los estudiantes utilizaron el software R, y la perspectiva muy favorable de los estudiantes sobre el uso de software R.
Mujeres e industria audiovisual hoy: Involución, experimentación y nuevos modelos narrativos
Authors: Martínez-collado Martínez Ana , Navarrete Tudela Ana
Published: July 2021

Este artículo analiza las prácticas artísticas audiovisuales en el contexto actual. Describe, en primer lugar, el proceso de involución de las prácticas audiovisuales realizadas por mujeres artistas. Las mujeres no están presentes ni como productoras, ni realizadoras, ni como ejecutivas de la industria audiovisual de tal manera que inevitablemente se reconstruyen y refuerzan los estereotipos tradicionales de género. A continuación el artículo se aproxima a la práctica artística audiovisual feminista en la década de los 70 y 80. Tomar la cámara se hizo absolutamente necesario no sólo para dar voz a muchas mujeres. Era necesario reinscribir los discursos ausentes y señalar un discurso crítico respecto a la representación cultural. Analiza, también, cómo estas prácticas a partir de la década de los 90 exploran nuevos modelos narrativos vinculados a las transformaciones de la subjetividad contemporánea, al tiempo que desarrollan su producción audiovisual en un “campo expandido” de exhibición. Por último, el artículo señala la relación de las prácticas feministas audiovisuales con el complejo territorio de la globalización y la sociedad de la información. La narración de la experiencia local ha encontrado en el audiovisual un medio privilegiado para señalar los problemas de la diferencia, la identidad, la raza y la etnicidad.
La mujer y la investigación en tecnología educativa: Análisis de su presencia en la autoría de artículos científicos
Authors: Cabero Almenara Julio , Marín Díaz Verónica , Vázquez Martínez Ana Isabel
Published: July 2021

La figura de la mujer en el mundo de la tecnología ha ido creciendo poco a poco en las últimas décadas, reflejándose esta circunstancia en las publicaciones derivadas de sus trabajos tanto teóricos como investigadores. El presente artículo muestra la presencia del género femenino en la publicación de artículos realizados en la revista Píxel-Bit, Revista de Medios y Educación, a lo largo de sus 38 números de edición. Para la realización del mismo se ha empleado un sistema categorial, previamente elaborado y validado por expertos relacionados con las Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación y Metodología de Investigación. Con él, fueron codificados la totalidad de los artículos publicados. Realizándose a continuación un análisis descriptivo: univariante y relacional. Los principales resultados indican una constante presencia femenina en la autoría de los artículos, que abordan formatos de publicación tanto de reflexión como de investigación. Destacando el porcentaje de artículos de investigación realizados sobre la Aplicación de las TIC en la Universidad, encontrándose a continuación la formación del profesorado y la teleformación/e-learning.
No cuerpos, lugares del anonimato: El cuerpo en el net.art
Authors: Aguilar María Teresa
Published: July 2021

Este texto se ocupa del papel que la representación del cuerpo humano adquiere en el net.art. Por un lado, considera que el cuerpo humano ha sido descorporeizado y proyectado en el no lugar del espacio telemático, enfrentado así a las tendencias de rematerialización del cuerpo, como el arte carnal y el body art, y, por otra, parte considera que incluso en esta esfera ciberespacial el cuerpo de Internet se ve como una prolongación del arte carnal, según los trabajos de Orlan y Tomic. La construcción del género y el trabajo artístico de las mujeres en la red es otro de los objetivos que este texto pone de manifiesto como vinculación de mujeres y nuevas tecnologías en el contexto artístico del net.art.
De la primera lengua a la traducción literaria: Itinerarios de evaluación y reescritura creativa / From mother tongue teaching to literary translation: Assessing and creative rewriting
Authors: Sánchez Iglesias Jorge J. , Seseña Gómez Marta
Published: July 2021

Esta propuesta parte de las particularidades de la formación en Lengua A para Traductores, un ámbito poco definido y normalmente muy alejado de los contenidos literarios. Se plantean dos conjuntos de actividades, vinculados a la evaluación y a la reescritura, de cuya vinculación surgen los conceptos de lectura intencional y desautomatización de la escritura, y que parecen por tanto especialmente adecuadas para fomentar una creatividad en el uso de la lengua que resulta de la mayor importancia para la traducción literaria. A partir de unas primeras experimentaciones con reescritura de textos literarios, se puede concluir que las nociones de tono y estilo están intuitivamente disponibles para los escritores noveles y son por tanto excelentes candidatas para ser operativas en la formación en traducción literaria.  The distinguishing characteristics of First Language training - a vaguely defined area of study which is not usually explored in literary publications - will form the basis of our investigation.  We will consider two sets of activities, both linked to evaluation and rewriting, which will allow us to explore the concepts of intentional reading and deautomisation of the writing process. These notions seem especially useful for encouraging creativity in language use, a highly important skill in literary translation. Based on the results of a few initial experiments involving the rewriting of literary texts, we can conclude that novice writers are intuitively aware of tone and style. These notions could therefore provide an excellent focus for literary translation training.
El legado de la Península Ibérica en la época medieval: una valiosa fuente de recursos para los retos educativos del siglo xxi / learning from the past: the legacy of medieval Iberia for 21st century education
Authors: David Marianne , Muñoz-Basol Javier
Published: July 2021

El legado histórico de la ‘convivencia’, o intercambio cultural que se produjo en la época medieval entre los musulmanes, los judíos y los cristianos de la Península Ibérica, puede contribuir al contexto educativo global en el que vivimos como una valiosa fuente de contenido interdisciplinar. Esta interacción entre diferentes culturas, en ocasiones conflictiva, y que se desarrolló durante casi ocho siglos, supuso además una variada amalgama de costumbres y conocimientos en numerosos ámbitos del saber. En el presente artículo rescatamos este momento histórico para mostrar cómo se puede vincular al contexto educativo multicultural en el que vivimos. Para ello, explicamos el fenómeno de la ‘convivencia’ en su contexto histórico y, a continuación, presentamos diferentes ejemplos relacionados de investigación-acción: un programa de teatro que se lleva a cabo en la actualidad en el campamento de refugiados de Yenín en Palestina, y una actividad interdisciplinar de trabajo en equipo para que estudiantes de diversas culturas puedan investigar, buscar y experimentar, a la vez que encuentran soluciones creativas para abordar algunos de los retos educativos a los que nos enfrentamos en el siglo XXI.     The legacy of convivencia or cultural exchange among the Muslims, Jews and Christians of medieval Iberia has an important contribution to make to education in the 21st century. Creating a bridge between the history of convivencia and our own global society, this article aims to bring into the classroom a subject that is both timely and relevant, given its multicultural and interdisciplinary content. Highlighting the interaction of Iberia’s ‘three cultures’ over almost eight centuries we illustrate issues of diversity, emphasizing how these medieval Iberians built community by interacting with each other and melding their contrasting, often conflictive traditions, languages and religions into a remarkable pluralistic narrative. To demonstrate how convivencia can serve education we offer a framework for interdisciplinary learning, as well as two examples of action research and role playing: a successful theatre program for high school students of the Jenin refugee camp in Palestine that is effecting social change; and a collaborative classroom activity in which students do research, brainstorm, and experiment with representation to give voice to conflict as they search for creative solutions to some of today’s pressing issues.
El uso de las TIC en la enseñanza de lenguas extranjeras a partir del análisis del discurso de docentes universitarios / The use of the ICT to teach foreign languages from a critical discourse analysis of the university professors’ speech
Authors: Bermúdez Jiménez Jenny , Montoya Díaz Ángela
Published: July 2021

El proceso de transformaciones en el campo educativo surgido a partir del desarrollo y aplicación generalizada de las TIC, tiene de diferente, sobre las revoluciones tecnológicas precedentes, el ritmo asombrosamente acelerado que impone. Es de innegable importancia para las ciencias sociales, y para el campo de la pedagogía y la didáctica en particular, reflexionar sobre las implicaciones que la adopción generalizada y creciente de las TIC tiene sobre su presente y su futuro. Este estudio intenta establecer no solamente las implicaciones formalmente previsibles –de primer orden–  en cuanto a eficacia y eficiencia, resultantes del uso de las TIC en la enseñanza de lenguas extranjeras, sino hasta dónde esta función tiende a transformar roles –implicaciones de segundo orden– de los actores, incluidos los docentes y la institucionalidad de la que hacen parte, además del grado de conciencia que existe sobre tales fenómenos. La investigación busca evidenciar cuál es el uso de las TIC en la enseñanza de lenguas extranjeras a partir del análisis del discurso de docentes universitarios. No se presenta una aplicación lineal del método de análisis del discurso de Teun Van Dijk: sino una adaptación, aplicando su esquema conceptual más en el orden de lo institucional-pedagógico que en el orden gramatical. Enfatizando el análisis en las relaciones binarias de discurso y cognición, pragmática e ideología.     The transformation process occurring in the educational field, which has resulted from the generalized development and application of the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), differs from preceding technological revolutions in the amazingly accelerated pace it sets. Reflecting upon the implications of the generalized and increasing adoption of ICT is undeniably important for the present and future of social sciences and, particularly, for the areas of pedagogy and didactics. This study does not only attempt to establish those implications formally foreseeable in terms of efficacy and effectiveness resulting from the use of ICT to teach foreign languages –first order, but also to determine how much this function tends to transform the roles of participants –second order implications. The latter includes the teachers, the institution they belong to and the degree of awareness existing upon those phenomena. The research study aims at making evident what the use of ICT for language teaching is as seen from a critical discourse analysis of the university professors’ speech. It does not show a direct application of Teun Van Dijk’s discourse analysis method, but rather an adaptation which emphasizes the implementation of the conceptual framework in institutional-pedagogic terms than in grammar terms, therefore highlighting the analysis of the binary relationships existing between discourse and cognition and pragmatics and ideology.