bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of 1.5 oC and 2 oC global warming scenarios on malaria transmission in East Africa
Authors: Ogega Obed Matundura , Alobo Moses
Published: March 2021

Background: Malaria remains a global challenge with approximately 228 million cases and 405,000 malaria-related deaths reported in 2018 alone; 93% of which were in sub-Saharan Africa. Aware of the critical role than environmental factors play in malaria transmission, this study aimed at assessing the relationship between precipitation, temperature, and clinical malaria cases in East Africa and how the relationship may change under 1.5 oC and 2.0 oC global warming levels (hereinafter GWL1.5 and GWL2.0, respectively).

Methods: A correlation analysis was done to establish the current relationship between annual precipitation, mean temperature, and clinical malaria cases. Differences between annual precipitation and mean temperature value projections for periods 2008-2037 and 2023-2052 (corresponding to GWL1.5 and GWL2.0, respectively), relative to the control period (1977-2005), were computed to determine how malaria transmission may change under the two global warming scenarios.

Results: A predominantly positive/negative correlation between clinical malaria cases and temperature/precipitation was observed. Relative to the control period, no major significant changes in precipitation were shown in both warming scenarios. However, an increase in temperature of between 0.5 oC and 1.5 oC and 1.0 oC to 2.0 oC under GWL1.5 and GWL2.0, respectively, was recorded. Hence, more areas in East Africa are likely to be exposed to temperature thresholds favourable for increased malaria vector abundance and, hence, potentially intensify malaria transmission in the region.

Conclusions: GWL1.5 and GWL2.0 scenarios are likely to intensify malaria transmission in East Africa. Ongoing interventions should, therefore, be intensified to sustain the gains made towards malaria elimination in East Africa in a warming climate.
Grandchild’s IQ is associated with grandparental environments prior to the birth of the parents
Authors: Golding Jean , van den Berg Gerard , Northstone Kate , Suderman Matthew , Ellis Genette , Iles-Caven Yasmin , Gregory Steve , Pembrey Marcus
Published: March 2021

Background. Despite convincing animal experiments demonstrating the potential for environmental exposures in one generation to have demonstrable effects generations later, there have been few relevant human studies. Those that have been undertaken have demonstrated associations, for example, between exposures such as nutrition and cigarette smoking in the grandparental generation and outcomes in grandchildren. We hypothesised that such transgenerational associations might be associated with the IQ of the grandchild, and that it would be likely that there would be differences in results between the sexes of the grandparents, parents, and children.

Method.We used three-generational data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC).  We incorporated environmental factors concerning grandparents (F0) and focussed on three exposures that we hypothesised may have independent transgenerational associations with the IQ of the grandchildren (F2): (i) UK Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at grandparental birth year; (ii) whether grandfather smoked; and (iii) whether the grandmother smoked in the relevant pregnancy. Potential confounders were ages of grandparents when the relevant parent was born, ethnic background, education level and social class of each grandparent.

Results. After adjustment, all three target exposures had specific associations with measures of IQ in the grandchild. Paternal grandfather smoking was associated with reduced total IQ at 15 years; maternal grandfather smoking with reduced performance IQ at 8 years and reduced total IQ at 15.  Paternal grandmother smoking in pregnancy was associated with reduced performance IQ at 8, especially in grandsons. GDP at grandparents’ birth produced independent associations of reduced IQ with higher GDP; this was particularly true of paternal grandmothers.

Conclusions.These results are complex and need to be tested in other datasets. They highlight the need to consider possible transgenerational associations in studying developmental variation in populations.
A textbook on professionally oriented foreign (English) language for students of non-linguistic areas of study
Authors: Kuznetsova L.V.
Published: March 2021

Учебное пособие составлено в соответствии с программой дисциплины «Иностранный язык» и содержит теоретический материал по вопросам грамматики английского языка, необходимого для изучения в высшем учебном заведении и практические задания по отработке и закреплению изученного теоретического материала. Учебное издание предназначено для обучающихся по направлению подготовки 38.03.01 Экономика, 38.03.02 Менеджмент, 02.03.02 Фундаментальная информатика и информационные технологии. Будет полезно обучающимся других направлений подготовки: 40.03.01 Юриспруденция и 44.03.01 Педагогическое образование, преподавателям вузов.
El control del cannabis: de las políticas nacionales al régimen global
Authors: López Restrepo Andrés
Published: March 2021

Cuando el régimen internacional de control de drogas apareció a principios del siglo xx tenía como objetivo ocuparse del opio y sus derivados. En los años siguientes incluyó algunas drogas, como la cocaína, y excluyó otras, como el alcohol. El cannabis había sido prohibido antes de la creación del régimen internacional en diversos países del mundo musulmán, el África subsahariana y América Latina, ninguno de los cuales era decisivo en la comunidad internacional. El cannabis fue incluido en el régimen en 1925 por iniciativa de Egipto, Sudáfrica y la India, y su prohibición definitiva apenas tuvo lugar en 1961.
Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties of Moringa oleifera Leaves and Pods Extracts in Pork Meatballs During Cold Storage
Authors: Prasajak Patcharee , Renumarn Phanida , Sriwichai Wichien , Detchewa Pakkawat
Published: March 2021

Effects of M. oleifera leaves and pods extracts on physicochemical properties, free radical scavenging properties, antimicrobial activities and sensory attributes of pork meatballs were evaluated during cold storage at 4°C for 15 days. The preparation of pork meatballs was divided into eight treatments as control, 0.02% butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), 0.2% leaves and pods aqueous extract, 0.4% leaves and pods aqueous extract, 0.8% leaves and pods aqueous extract. Aqueous leaves extract showed highest level of total phenolic (67.18 mg GAE/g extract) and flavonoid contents (5.60 mg CE/g extract) compared to those observed in aqueous pods extract as 55.17 mg GAE/g extract and 3.54 mg CE/g extract, respectively. The leaves extract had strongest antioxidant activity against DPPH radicals with IC50 49.85 μg/ml while the pods extract exhibited IC50 99.31 μg/ml. According to pork meatballs analysis, meatballs samples with addition of aqueous leaves extract exerted higher antioxidant activities in a concentration-dependent manner that were performed by higher DPPH scavenging activity and lower TBARs values in comparison with aqueous pods extract. Conversely, M.oleifera pods extract showed highest antibacterial activity against all testedfoodborne bacterial strains including Staphylococcus aureus (TISTR 1466),Bacillus cereus (TISTR 678), Escherichia coli (TISTR 780), Salmonellatyphimurium (ATCC 13311) with lowest MIC (1.56 mg/ml) and MBC (3.13 mg/ml)in agreement with the decrease of total microbial counts as compared to controland BHT samples. The meatballs with pods extract possessed higher sensoryattributes scores than those added with the leaves extract. In conclusion, 0.8%pods extracts effectively retarded lipid oxidation as well as decreased microbialgrowth in pork meatballs during cold storage. However, it was point out thatinferior sensory scores were affected by increasing additional the extract in themeatballs. Therefore, the use of Moringa extracts should be carefully applied inthe meatballs for avoidance of lowering consumer acceptance.
Production of Xyloligosaccharides from Rice Straw by Microwave-assisted Enzymatic Hydrolysis and Evaluation of Their Prebiotic Properties
Authors: Pattarapisitporn Alisa , Thiangthong Nonglak , Inthajak Pakorn , Jaichakan Pannapapol , Panpa Wantana , Klangpetch Wannaporn
Published: March 2021

Rice straw (RS) is a by-product from rice production process. It is rich in cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. RS hemicellulose mainly composes of arabinoxylan (AX). This research aimed to investigate the potential of microwave-pretreatment in AX extraction from RS and substrate to produce xylooligosaccharides (XOS) via enzymatic hydrolysis. The extractive-free RS was pretreated by microwave process at 160°C for 5-15 min, then the AX was extracted with 4% sodium hydroxide. The total sugar and reducing sugar content of AX exhibited that increasing microwave-pretreatment time increased the yield of AX. The highest AX content was found at 160°C for 10 min as 7.73%, reducing sugar content of 11.89 mg/g, and total sugar of 165.85 mg/g. The crude AX obtained by microwave-pretreatment was then used as a substrate for XOS production by two commercial xylanases of Pentopan mono BG (BG) and Ultraflo Max (UM), at the enzyme concentration of 50-300 U/g AX (50°C, pH 6.0) for 24 h.The reducing sugar content and sugar profiles were monitored by DNS assay,and thin layer chromatography (TLC) which revealed that BG 50 U/g at 12 h andUM 50 U/g at 24 h showed the promising reducing sugar of 16.4 and 25.44 mg/g,respectively. The composition of XOS derived from RS (RS-XOS) prepared by BGwas xylobiose (X2), xylotriose (X3), xylotretraose (X4), and xylopentaose (X5)while by UM was xylobiose (X2), xylotriose (X3) and xylotretraose (X5). Moreover,XOS produced by BG contained very low amount of xylose (X1). In addition, theRS-XOS could the growth of Lactobacillus brevis greater than commercial XOS.
Improvement of Thanaka Powder by Gamma Radiation: Microbial and Chemical Properties
Authors: Pewlong Wachiraporn , Sajjabut Surasak , Chookaew Sirilak , Eamsiri Jarurattana , Khemthong Khemruji , Maikaew Lamai
Published: March 2021

Thanaka powder is made from the stem bark of the Hesperethusa crenulata plant. Most Burmese women use it on the skin of the face as sun protection, a moisturizing agent and acne treatment. For a hygiene purpose, gamma radiation is currently used to control microorganisms and insect contamination in many products. In this experiment, the the effects of gamma radiation on the microbial numeration, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and chemical constituent alterations in Thanaka powder were investigated. Gamma irradiation was applied to powder samples at 5, 10, 15 and 20 kGy. The total bacterial count and total yeast and mold count were decreased with increasing irradiation dose. Gamma irradiation at a dose of 5 kGy was sufficient to reduce the microbial load in the powder to meet the standards of microbial quality for cosmetic products in Thailand. No significant change in the DPPH activity of the Thanaka powder was observed after irradiation. Additionally, the radiation process caused significant increases in total phenolic content, FRAP value and arbutin content. At a dose of 20 kGy, the total phenolic content, FRAP value and arbutin content were significantly higher than the non-irradiated Thanaka powder at 7.45, 9.59 and 16.04%, respectively.
Effect of Foam-Mat Drying Conditions on Antioxidant Activity, Total Phenolic Compound, Anthocyanin Content and Color of Purple-Fleshed Sweet Potato Powder
Authors: Jakkranuhwat Nattakan , Kunchansombat Patcharee
Published: March 2021

This research was aimed to study chemical properties (antioxidant activity, total phenolic compound and anthocyanin content) and color of foam-mat dried purple-fleshed sweet potato powder affected by 2 drying methods (tray drying and vacuum drying) and 3 drying temperatures (50, 60 and 70°C). The foaming process of purple-fleshed sweet potato used carboxymethyl cellulose (1%) mixed with hydroxy propylcellulose (1%) as a foaming agent. The results showed that different drying methods and temperatures affected qualities of foam-mat dried purple-fleshed sweet potato powder significantly (P <0.05). Vacuum drying method at 70°C showed antioxidant activity, total phenolic compound and anthocyanin content in foam-mat vacuum-dried powder than tray-dried one at 70°C. The results also showed that increasing temperature led to an increase in anthocyanins and antioxidant activities of the samples (P <0.05) because low oxygen and drying time condition could avoid the oxidation reaction. Therefore, their low phytochemical content loss during vacuum drying could be considered from the high intense of purple color (low b* value). Results of this study suggested that foam-mat drying by vacuum method at 70°C could retain higher quality of purple-fleshed sweet potato powder, in terms of phytochemical content as well as antioxidant capacities. This study has indicated that, under the experimental conditions, obtain for highly nutrition powder characteristics and applying for food ingredients.
Combination of pathological and spectroscopic characterization to promote diagnosis of retinal pigment epithelium-Bruch’s membrane complex in a diabetic rat model
Authors: Chen Yang , Xie Ting , Ye Minlu , Lai Qiaoling , Wang Yuting , Xu Yunchao , Chen Wenyi , Zheng Weidong , Feng Shangyuan , Huang Yan
Published: March 2021

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common condition of diabetes, and approaches to detecting early DR using the unique characteristics of the retinal pigment epithelium-Bruch’s membrane complex (RBC) have increasingly attracted attention. A diabetic model was established in Sprague-Dawley rats via streptozocin (STZ) injection for 1 (DM1) and 6 months (DM6), confirmed by weekly blood glucose measurement. Serum and retinal tissue-based advanced glycation endproducts (AGE) levels significantly elevated in diabetic rats, and RBC was evaluated by transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The results showed that whole Raman spectra and all marked band intensities could respectively achieve almost equal and accurate discrimination of all animal groups, along with the determination of important molecules from the band data. Further quantitative analyses indicated series of metabolic disturbance due to hyperglycemia were involved while the body self-regulation mechanism still played a role with different effects during the disease progression. Given this, Raman spectroscopy can reliably distinguish the early characterization of DR in addition to providing intrinsic key molecules that is sensitive to identify the early disease progression.
Data processing methods and data acquisition for samples larger than the field of view in parallel-beam tomography
Authors: Vo Nghia T. , Atwood Robert C. , Drakopoulos Michael , Connolley Thomas
Published: March 2021

Parallel-beam tomography systems at synchrotron facilities have limited field of view (FOV) determined by the available beam size and detector system coverage. Scanning the full size of samples bigger than the FOV requires various data acquisition schemes such as grid scan, 360-degree scan with offset center-of-rotation (COR), helical scan, or combinations of these schemes. Though straightforward to implement, these scanning techniques have not often been used due to the lack of software and methods to process such types of data in an easy and automated fashion. The ease of use and automation is critical at synchrotron facilities where using visual inspection in data processing steps such as image stitching, COR determination, or helical data conversion is impractical due to the large size of datasets. Here, we provide methods and their implementations in a Python package, named Algotom, for not only processing such data types but also with the highest quality possible. The efficiency and ease of use of these tools can help to extend applications of parallel-beam tomography systems.
Efficient electro-optical modulation on thin-film lithium niobate
Authors: Jin Mingwei , Chen Jiayang , Sua Yongmeng , Kumar Prajnesh , Huang Yuping
Published: March 2021

Thin-film lithium niobate has emerged as an excellent, multifaceted platform for integrated photonics and opto-electronics, in both classical and quantum domains. We introduce a novel, to the best of our knowledge, dual-capacitor electrode layout for an efficient interface between electrical and optical signals on this platform. It significantly enhances the electro-optical modulation efficiency to an exceptional voltage–length product of

0.64

V

⋅

c
m

, thereby lowering the required electric power by many times. This technique can boost the performance of growing applications at the interface of integrated electronics and optics, such as microwave photonics, frequency comb generation, and telecommunication transmission.
Emulating exceptional-point encirclements using imperfect (leaky) photonic components: asymmetric mode-switching and omni-polarizer action
Authors: Khurgin J. B. , Sebbag Y. , Edrei E. , Zektzer R. , Shastri K. , Levy U. , Monticone F.
Published: March 2021

Non-Hermitian systems have recently attracted significant attention in photonics. One of the hallmarks of these systems is the possibility of realizing asymmetric mode-switching and omni-polarizer action through the dynamic encirclement of exceptional points (EPs). Here, we offer a new perspective on the operating principle of these devices, and we theoretically and experimentally show that linear asymmetric mode-switching and omni-polarizer action can be easily realized—with the same performance and limitations—using simple configurations that emulate the physics involved in encircling EPs without the complexity of actual encirclement schemes. The proposed concept of “encirclement emulators” and our theoretical and experimental results may allow better assessment of the limitations, practical potential, and applications of EP encirclements in non-Hermitian photonics.
Reduction of retro-reflector and expansion of the viewpoint of an aerial image by the use of AIRR with transparent spheres
Authors: Fujii Kengo , Yasugi Masaki , Maekawa Satoshi , Yamamoto Hirotsugu
Published: March 2021

This paper proposes a novel optical system to form an aerial image over a transparent sphere. The proposed optical system is composed of two transparent acrylic spheres in the light path of the aerial imaging by retro-reflection (AIRR) device. The first sphere collects the diverging light rays from a light-source display. The second sphere converges retro-reflected light rays to the aerial image. Raytracing simulation results shows that the area of light entering the retro-reflector can be reduced. Furthermore, this reduction of retro-reflector has been confirmed with a prototype aerial display by the use of a piece of retro-reflector. Thus, the proposed optical system features reduction in the area of expensive retro-reflector.
Accuracy in the prediction of disease epidemics when ensembling simple but highly correlated models
Authors: Shah Denis A. , De Wolf Erick D. , Paul Pierce A. , Madden Laurence V.
Published: March 2021

Ensembling combines the predictions made by individual component base models with the goal of achieving a predictive accuracy that is better than that of any one of the constituent member models. Diversity among the base models in terms of predictions is a crucial criterion in ensembling. However, there are practical instances when the available base models produce highly correlated predictions, because they may have been developed within the same research group or may have been built from the same underlying algorithm. We investigated, via a case study on Fusarium head blight (FHB) on wheat in the U.S., whether ensembles of simple yet highly correlated models for predicting the risk of FHB epidemics, all generated from logistic regression, provided any benefit to predictive performance, despite relatively low levels of base model diversity. Three ensembling methods were explored: soft voting, weighted averaging of smaller subsets of the base models, and penalized regression as a stacking algorithm. Soft voting and weighted model averages were generally better at classification than the base models, though not universally so. The performances of stacked regressions were superior to those of the other two ensembling methods we analyzed in this study. Ensembling simple yet correlated models is computationally feasible and is therefore worth pursuing for models of epidemic risk.
The velvet protein Vel1 controls initial plant root colonization and conidia formation for xylem distribution in Verticillium wilt
Authors: Höfer Annalena M. , Harting Rebekka , Aßmann Nils F. , Gerke Jennifer , Schmitt Kerstin , Starke Jessica , Bayram Özgür , Tran Van-Tuan , Valerius Oliver , Braus-Stromeyer Susanna A. , Braus Gerhard H.
Published: March 2021

The conserved fungal velvet family regulatory proteins link development and secondary metabolite production. The velvet domain for DNA binding and dimerization is similar to the structure of the Rel homology domain of the mammalian NF-κB transcription factor. A comprehensive study addressed the functions of all four homologs of velvet domain encoding genes in the fungal life cycle of the soil-borne plant pathogenic fungusVerticillium dahliae. Genetic, cell biological, proteomic and metabolomic analyses of Vel1, Vel2, Vel3 and Vos1 were combined with plant pathogenicity experiments. Different phases of fungal growth, development and pathogenicity requireV.dahliaevelvet proteins, including Vel1-Vel2, Vel2-Vos1 and Vel3-Vos1 heterodimers, which are already present during vegetative hyphal growth. The major novel finding of this study is that Vel1 is necessary for initial plant root colonization and together with Vel3 for propagationin plantaby conidiation. Vel1 is needed for disease symptom induction in tomato. Vel1, Vel2, and Vel3 control the formation of microsclerotia in senescent plants. Vel1 is the most important among all fourV.dahliaevelvet proteins with a wide variety of functions during all phases of the fungal life cycleinas well asex planta.
Evaluation of fecal immunoassays for canine Echinococcus infection in China
Authors: Wang Liying , Wang Qian , Cai Huixia , Wang Hu , Huang Yan , Feng Yu , Bai Xuefei , Qin Min , Manguin Sylvie , Gavotte Laurent , Wu Weiping , Frutos Roger
Published: March 2021

Human echinococcosis is present worldwide but it is in China that disease prevalence is the highest. In western China, especially in the Tibetan Plateau, the burden of echinococcosis is the most important. Dogs are a major definitive host of Echinococcus and monitoring the presence of Echinococcus worms in dogs is therefore essential to efficiently control the disease. Detection kits based on three different technologies including sandwich ELISA, (indirect) ELISA, and gold immunodiffusion, are currently marketed and used in China. The objective of this work was to assess the efficacy of these kits, in particular with respect to sensitivity and specificity. Four fecal antigen detection kits for canine infection reflecting the three technologies were obtained from companies and tested in parallel on 220 fecal samples. The results indicate that the performance is lower than expected, in particular in terms of sensitivity. The best results were obtained with the sandwich ELISA technology. The gold immunofiltration yielded the poorest results. In all cases, further development is needed to improve the performance of these kits which are key components for the control of echinococcosis.
Skull base reconstruction: A question of flow? A critical analysis of 521 endoscopic endonasal surgeries
Authors: Di Perna Giuseppe , Penner Federica , Cofano Fabio , De Marco Raffaele , Baldassarre Bianca Maria , Portonero Irene , Garbossa Diego , Ceroni Luca , Pecorari Giancarlo , Zenga Francesco
Published: March 2021

Introduction

Post-operative CSF leak still represents the main drawback of Endoscopic Endonasal Approach (EEA), and different reconstructive strategies have been proposed in order to decrease its rate.

Objective

To critically analyze the effectiveness of different adopted reconstruction strategies in patients that underwent EEA.

Materials and methods

Adult patients with skull base tumor surgically treated with EEA were retrospectively analyzed. Data recorded for each case concerned patient demographics, type of surgical approach, histotype, anatomical site of surgical approach, intra-operative CSF leak grade (no leak (INL), low flow (ILFL), high flow (IHFL)), reconstructive adopted strategy, Lumbar Drain positioning, post-operative CSF leak rate and intra/post-operative complications.

Results

A total number of 521 patients (January 2012-December 2019) was included. Intra-operative CSF leak grade showed to be associated with post-operative CSF leak rate. In particular, the risk to observe a post-operative CSF leak was higher when IHFL was encountered (25,5%; Exp(B) 16.25). In particular, vascularized multilayered reconstruction and fat use showed to be effective in lowering post-operative CSF leaks in IHFL (p 0.02). No differences were found considering INL and ILFL groups. Yearly post-operative CSF leak rate analysis showed a significative decreasing trend.

Conclusion

Intra-operative CSF leak grade strongly affected post-operative CSF leak rate. Multilayer reconstruction with fat and naso-septal flap could reduce the rate of CSF leak in high risk patients. Reconstructive strategies should be tailored according also to the type and the anatomical site of the approach.
Laboratory biomarkers of COVID-19 disease severity and outcome: Findings from a developing country
Authors: Leulseged Tigist W. , Hassen Ishmael S. , Ayele Birhanu T. , Tsegay Yakob G. , Abebe Daniel S. , Edo Mesay G. , Maru Endalkachew H. , Zewde Wuletaw C. , Naylor Lydia K. , Semane Dejene F. , Dresse Menayit T. , Tezera Bereket B.
Published: March 2021

Aim

To identify laboratory biomarkers that predict disease severity and outcome among COVID-19 patients admitted to the Millennium COVID-19 Care Center in Ethiopia.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted among 429 COVID-19 patients who were on follow up from July to October 2020. Data was described using frequency tables. Robust Poisson regression model was used to identify predictors of COVID-19 severity where adjusted relative risk (ARR), P-value and 95 CI for ARR were used to test significance. Binary Logistic regression model was used to assess the presence of statistically significant association between the explanatory variables and COVID-19 outcome where adjusted odds ratio (AOR), P-value and 95%CI for AOR were used for testing significance.

Results

Among the 429 patients studied, 182 (42.4%) had Severe disease at admission and the rest 247 (57.6%) had Non-severe disease. Regarding disease outcome, 45 (10.5%) died and 384 (89.5%) were discharged alive. Age group (ARR = 1.779, 95%CI = 1.405–2.252, p-value <0.0001), Neutrophil to Lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (ARR = 4.769, 95%CI = 2.419–9.402 p-value <0.0001), Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) (ARR = 1.358, 95%CI = 1.109–1.662 p-value = 0.003), Sodium (ARR = 1.321, 95%CI = 1.091–1.600 p-value = 0.004) and Potassium (ARR = 1.269, 95%CI = 1.059–1.521 p-value = 0.010) were found to be significant predictors of COVID-19 severity.

The following factors were significantly associated with COVID-19 outcome; age group (AOR = 2.767, 95%CI = 1.099–6.067, p-value = 0.031), white blood cell count (WBC) (AOR = 4.253, 95%CI = 1.918–9.429, p-value = 0.0001) and sodium level (AOR = 3.435, 95%CI = 1.439–8.198, p-value = 0.005).

Conclusions

Assessing and monitoring the laboratory markers of WBC, NLR, SGOT, sodium and potassium levels at the earliest stage of the disease could have a considerable role in halting disease progression and death.
Characterizing the immune response of chickens to Campylobacter jejuni (Strain A74C)
Authors: Mortada Mohamad , Cosby Douglas E. , Akerele Gabriel , Ramadan Nour , Oxford Jarred , Shanmugasundaram Revathi , Ng Theros T. , Selvaraj Ramesh K.
Published: March 2021

Campylobacteris one of the major foodborne pathogens causing bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide. The immune response of broiler chickens toC.jejuniis under-researched. This study aimed to characterize the immune response of chickens toCampylobacter jejunicolonization. Birds were challenged orally with 0.5 mL of 2.4 x 108CFU/mL ofCampylobacter jejunior with 0.5 mL of 0.85% saline.Campylobacter jejunipersisted in the ceca of challenged birds with cecal colonization reaching 4.9 log10 CFU/g on 21 dpi.Campylobacterwas disseminated to the spleen and liver on 7 dpi and was cleared on 21 dpi from both internal organs. Challenged birds had a significant increase in anti-Campylobacterserum IgY (14&21 dpi) and bile IgA (14 dpi). At 3 dpi, there was a significant suppression in T-lymphocytes derived from the cecal tonsils of birds in the challenge treatment when compared to the control treatment after 72 h ofex vivostimulation with Con A orC.jejuni. The T-cell suppression on 3 dpi was accompanied by a significant decrease in LITAF, K60, CLAU-2, IL-1β, iNOS, and IL-6 mRNA levels in the ceca and an increase in nitric oxide production from adherent splenocytes of challenged birds. In addition, on 3 dpi, there was a significant increase in CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes in the challenge treatment. On 14 dpi, both pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines were upregulated in the spleen, and a significant increase in CD8+ T lymphocytes inCampylobacter-challenged birds’ ceca was observed. The persistence ofC.jejuniin the ceca of challenged birds on 21 dpi was accompanied by an increase in IL-10 and LITAF mRNA levels, an increase in MNC proliferation when stimulatedex-vivowith the dilutedC.jejuni, an increase in serum specific IgY antibodies, an increase in both CD4+ and CD8+ cells, and a decrease in CD4+:CD8+ cell ratio. The balanced Th1 and Th2 immune responses againstC.jejunimight explain the ceca’s bacterial colonization and the absence of pathology inCampylobacter-challenged birds. Future studies on T lymphocyte subpopulations should elucidate a pivotal role in the persistence ofCampylobacterin the ceca.
Modelling the impact of interventions on the progress of the COVID-19 outbreak including age segregation
Authors: Rodríguez Jorge , Patón Mauricio , Uratani Joao M. , Acuña Juan M.
Published: March 2021

In this work, a SEIR-type mathematical model of the COVID-19 outbreak was developed that describes individuals in compartments by infection stage and age group. The model assumes a close well-mixed community with no migrations. Infection rates and clinical and epidemiological information govern the transitions between stages of the disease. The impact of specific interventions (including the availability of critical care) on the outbreak time course, the number of cases and the outcome of fatalities were evaluated. Data available from the COVID-19 outbreak from Spain as of mid-May 2020 was used. Key findings in our model simulation results indicate that (i) universal social isolation measures appear effective in reducing total fatalities only if they are strict and the number of daily interpersonal contacts is reduced to very low numbers; (ii) selective isolation of only the elderly (at higher fatality risk) appears almost as effective as universal isolation in reducing total fatalities but at a possible lower economic and social impact; (iii) an increase in the number of critical care capacity directly avoids fatalities; (iv) the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) appears to be effective to dramatically reduce total fatalities when adopted extensively and to a high degree; (v) extensive random testing of the population for more complete infection recognition (accompanied by subsequent self-isolation of infected aware individuals) can dramatically reduce the total fatalities only above a high percentage threshold that may not be practically feasible.
The relationships between negative emotions and latent classes of smartphone addiction
Authors: Yue Heng , Zhang Xuemin , Sun Junfang , Liu Min , Li Cuiyun , Bao Hugejiletu
Published: March 2021

The relationships between negative emotions and smartphone addiction has been tested through the literature. However, most of the studies applied variable-centered approaches. The heterogeneity of smartphone addiction severity has not been examined for the associations with negative emotion variables. The purposes of the present study is to explore the latent classes of smartphone addiction and analyze the relationships between depression, social anxiety and boredom and these subgroups. The Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV) and three negative emotion scales were employed to conduct a survey of 539 college students. Mplus8.3 software was applied to perform the latent class analysis (LCA) based on the smartphone addiction symptom ratings. ANOVA and multinomial logistic regression were used to explore the differences among these latent categories and the associations between these subgroups and negative emotion variables. Results demonstrated that Negative emotional variables were significantly correlated with smartphone addiction proneness. Based on their scores on the Smartphone Addiction Scale, smartphone users were divided into three latent classes: low risk class, moderate class and high risk class. Women were more likely to be classified in the high-risk class. The severity of depression and boredom was able to predict the membership of the latent class effectively; while social anxiety failed to do this in the high risk class.
Two novel loci underlie natural differences in Caenorhabditis elegans abamectin responses
Authors: Evans Kathryn S. , Wit Janneke , Stevens Lewis , Hahnel Steffen R. , Rodriguez Briana , Park Grace , Zamanian Mostafa , Brady Shannon C. , Chao Ellen , Introcaso Katherine , Tanny Robyn E. , Andersen Erik C.
Published: March 2021

Parasitic nematodes cause a massive worldwide burden on human health along with a loss of livestock and agriculture productivity. Anthelmintics have been widely successful in treating parasitic nematodes. However, resistance is increasing, and little is known about the molecular and genetic causes of resistance for most of these drugs. The free-living roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans provides a tractable model to identify genes that underlie resistance. Unlike parasitic nematodes, C. elegans is easy to maintain in the laboratory, has a complete and well annotated genome, and has many genetic tools. Using a combination of wild isolates and a panel of recombinant inbred lines constructed from crosses of two genetically and phenotypically divergent strains, we identified three genomic regions on chromosome V that underlie natural differences in response to the macrocyclic lactone (ML) abamectin. One locus was identified previously and encodes an alpha subunit of a glutamate-gated chloride channel (glc-1). Here, we validate and narrow two novel loci using near-isogenic lines. Additionally, we generate a list of prioritized candidate genes identified in C. elegans and in the parasite Haemonchus contortus by comparison of ML resistance loci. These genes could represent previously unidentified resistance genes shared across nematode species and should be evaluated in the future. Our work highlights the advantages of using C. elegans as a model to better understand ML resistance in parasitic nematodes.
Eine gesunde Leber – nicht nur was für Streber
Authors: Pagès Mireia Alemany i , Ramalho-Santos João , Azul Anabela Marisa , Tavares Rui
Published: March 2021

Sabe o que é o fígado? Conhece as muitas coisas importantes que faz, mantendo-nos vivos e saudáveis? Sabia que os hábitos alimentares podem afetar o bem-estar de nosso fígado? Ou que um estilo de vida sedentário pode prejudicá-lo? Provavelmente não sabe, mas uma em cada quatro pessoas no mundo tem Doença do Fígado Gordo Não Alcoólico (FIGNA; NAFLD na sigla inglesa), que pode passar despercebida por muito anos, e resultar em danos graves ao fígado, incluindo cirrose e cancro. Será que é uma dessas pessoas? O acumular excessivo de gordura no fígado é causado por dietas pouco saudáveis e estilos de vida sedentários. Acha que pode estar em risco? Embora estes problemas possam existir em pessoas com um peso ideal, a obesidade e a diabetes de tipo 2 são fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento de FIGNA. Então como podemos resolver isto? Conheça melhor o seu fígado com esta banda desenhada, e descubra como tratar e prevenir esta forma de doença hepática! Pense no seu fígado da próxima vez que comer, e não se esqueça de o ajudar, mantendo um estilo de vida ativo. Lembre-se que um fígado equilibrado é meio caminho andado!
Zdravá játra vždy splní své povinnosti!
Authors: Pagès Mireia Alemany i , Ramalho-Santos João , Azul Anabela Marisa , Tavares Rui
Published: March 2021

Sabe o que é o fígado? Conhece as muitas coisas importantes que faz, mantendo-nos vivos e saudáveis? Sabia que os hábitos alimentares podem afetar o bem-estar de nosso fígado? Ou que um estilo de vida sedentário pode prejudicá-lo? Provavelmente não sabe, mas uma em cada quatro pessoas no mundo tem Doença do Fígado Gordo Não Alcoólico (FIGNA; NAFLD na sigla inglesa), que pode passar despercebida por muito anos, e resultar em danos graves ao fígado, incluindo cirrose e cancro. Será que é uma dessas pessoas? O acumular excessivo de gordura no fígado é causado por dietas pouco saudáveis e estilos de vida sedentários. Acha que pode estar em risco? Embora estes problemas possam existir em pessoas com um peso ideal, a obesidade e a diabetes de tipo 2 são fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento de FIGNA. Então como podemos resolver isto? Conheça melhor o seu fígado com esta banda desenhada, e descubra como tratar e prevenir esta forma de doença hepática! Pense no seu fígado da próxima vez que comer, e não se esqueça de o ajudar, mantendo um estilo de vida ativo. Lembre-se que um fígado equilibrado é meio caminho andado!
FORMAÇÃO CONTINUADA DE PROFESSORES ALFABETIZADORES: UM ESTUDO EM TRÊS MUNICÍPIOS DO MARAJÓ/PA
Authors: Ferreira Benedito De Jesus Pinheiro , Da Silva Solange Pereira
Published: March 2021

O presente texto tem por finalidade analisar a formação continuada de professores alfabetizadores proposta pelo Governo Federal, no âmbito do Pacto Nacional pela Alfabetização na Idade Certa (PNAIC) nos municípios de Breves, Melgaço e Portel, estado do Pará, para verificar quais os principais avanços no processo de alfabetização das séries iniciais após este processo de qualificação dos professores alfabetizadores. O estudo está fundamentado na pedagogia histórico-crítica, cuja fundamentação teórico-filosófica é a do materialismo histórico-dialético, e utiliza revisão da literatura, análise documental voltada aos boletins de desempenho da Avaliação Nacional da Alfabetização (ANA) e aplicação de questionários. Os resultados indicam duas questões fundamentais: Não é possível se conceber uma educação de qualidade sem considerar as condições objetivas de valorização do trabalho pedagógico, dentre elas, a questão salarial, a carreira docente, as condições estruturais de trabalho. É preciso repensar a operacionalização da formação continuada de professores alfabetizadores e as responsabilidades que lhes são imputadas, haja vista que à grande maioria destes professores não são garantidas condições objetivas para a realização do trabalho que lhe é confiado, reforçando-se, cotidianamente, o processo de precarização do trabalho docente.
VIVER PARA ESCREVER: SARTRE COMO FILÓSOFO-EDUCADOR
Authors: Silva Maurício
Published: March 2021

Este artigo tem como objetivo discutir alguns aspectos da filosofia sartriana que revelem uma intersecção entre sua filosofia (e também sua biografia) e o que se pode chamar, muito genericamente, de processo educacional, isto é, fatos e fenômenos que apresentam, de modo direto ou indireto, um lastro pedagógico mais ou menos evidente em sua produção filosófica. Do ponto de vista metodológico, realizamos uma pesquisa bibliográfica, buscando a interação entre filosofia e educação, tendo como resultado parcial da referida pesquisa a ideia do ato pedagógico como um ato libertário, numa linhagem de pensamento capaz de aproximar Sartre e Paulo Freire.
O PENSAMENTO COMPUTACIONAL NA FORMAÇÃO DO LICENCIANDO EM PEDAGOGIA
Authors: Corrêa Júnior Valdir José , Raabe André Luis Alice
Published: March 2021

Este artigo é parte de uma tese de doutorado em andamento, na qual se defende a importância de se promover a inserção do Pensamento Computacional nos cursos de Licenciatura em Pedagogia, dado que este se faz presente na Base Nacional Comum Curricular (BNCC) e esta, por sua vez, a partir da Resolução 02/2019 do Conselho Nacional de Educação, constitui-se no elemento norteador dos currículos de formação dos professores da Educação Básica. Trata-se de uma pesquisa de abordagem qualitativa e, quanto à sua tipologia, constitui-se como empírica (Estudo de Caso) e documental, tendo como método a análise de conteúdo. As evidências obtidas por meio de uma intervenção junto a licenciandos do curso de Pedagogia da Universidade do Vale do Itajaí, por meio de oficinas pedagógicas, indicam que é possível e viável a proposição de atividades com o objetivo de desenvolver o Pensamento Computacional para este público.
Políticas educacionales y dictadura cívico-militar en Chile (1973-1990): El proceso de trasformación neoliberal y autoritario de los espacios formativos y de trabajo del profesorado
Authors: Zurita Felipe
Published: March 2021

El objetivo de este artículo es analizar la política educacional dirigida hacía el trabajo docente y fundamentada en el modelo económico neoliberal que construyó e implementó la dictadura cívico-militar en Chile (1973-1990). De forma más específica, interesó conocer cómo fueron afectados los espacios formativos y los espacios laborales del profesorado por estas iniciativas. Para alcanzar este objetivo, se realizó un análisis de fuentes documentales jurídicas y de las actas de la junta militar de gobierno. Las conclusiones indican que los espacios formativos y de trabajo del profesorado chileno fueron profundamente afectados por las políticas educacionales de orientación neoliberal del régimen, principalmente en lo relacionado al deterioro de la institucionalidad dedicada a la formación inicial docente y a la imposición del carácter de flexibilización de las condiciones laborales del profesorado. Desde una perspectiva panorámica, las políticas educativas de la dictadura cívico-militar pueden ser entendidas como un esfuerzo sistemático de deterioro y maltrato al profesorado con el objetivo de construir una nueva forma de ser docente en Chile.
Problematyka praw dziecka oraz roli zabawy w procesie jego rozwoju i wychowaniu w świetle poglądów wybranych przedstawicieli myśli pedagogicznej XX wieku
Authors: Buława-Halasz Joanna
Published: March 2021

The twentieth century was special in the history of all mankind. Through many wars, a sense of security was disturbed, basic human needs were not satisfied. Paradoxically, it was at this age that particular attention was paid to children and their needs. This time became the century of the child through the recognition of his rights, which was particularly manifested in the appreciation of the role of play in upbringing.
Między kosmopolityzmem a nazizmem – konteksty przestrzeni symbolicznych czterech filmów nakręconych przez niemieckiego operatora Franza Weihmayra
Authors: Mazur Daria
Published: March 2021

The paper is a comparative analysis of the circumstances influencing symbolic spaces in four movies by Franz Weihmayr in the years 1931–1942: Dzikie Pola [Wild Fields], Halutzim, La Habanera and The Great Love. The analysis allows for delineating the development of the German cinematographer Franz Weihmayr’s career, which, in the context of historical-political and ideological-artistic circumstances, can serve as an example of a broader phenomenon: a particular fluctuation of choices made by German cinematographers over the Weimar, Nazi, and post-war periods. This analysis is of pioneering importance because of the paucity of publication heretofore dedicated to Weihmayr’s works, who at the time worked together with, among others, Leni Riefenstahl, Frank Wysbar, and Hans Detlef Sierck, as well as Polish directors, such as Józef Lejtes and Aleksander Ford. The framework for semiotic analyses of the symbolic spaces of the movies mentioned above are two groups of contexts connected with ideas stemming from contradictory bases: the idea of cosmopolitism and the idea of Nazism.
Social heterogeneity and the COVID-19 lockdown in a multi-group SEIR model
Authors: Dolbeault Jean , Turinici Gabriel
Published: March 2021

The goal of the lockdown is to mitigate and if possible prevent the spread of an epidemic. It consists in reducing social interactions. This is taken into account by the introduction of a factor of reduction of social interactions q, and by decreasing the transmission coefficient of the disease accordingly. Evaluating q is a difficult question and one can ask if it makes sense to compute an average coefficient q for a given population, in order to make predictions on the basic reproduction rate ℛ0, the dynamics of the epidemic or the fraction of the population that will have been infected by the end of the epidemic. On a very simple example, we show that the computation of ℛ0 in a heterogeneous population is not reduced to the computation of an average q but rather to the direct computation of an average coefficient ℛ0. Even more interesting is the fact that, in a range of data compatible with the Covid-19 outbreak, the size of the epidemic is deeply modified by social heterogeneity, as is the height of the epidemic peak, while the date at which it is reached mainly depends on the average ℛ0 coefficient. This paper illustrates more technical results that can be found in [4], with new numerical computations. It is intended to draw the attention on the role of heterogeneities in a population in a very simple case, which might be difficult to apprehend in more realistic but also more complex models.
Spectral Theory For Strongly Continuous Cosine
Authors: Boua Hamid
Published: March 2021

Let (C(t))
t∈ℝ be a strongly continuous cosine family and A be its infinitesimal generator. In this work, we prove that, if C(t) – cosh λt is semi-Fredholm (resp. semi-Browder, Drazin inversible, left essentially Drazin and right essentially Drazin invertible) operator and λt ∉ iπℤ, then A – λ
2 is also. We show by counterexample that the converse is false in general.
Dissipativity analysis of delayed stochastic generalized neural networks with Markovian jump parameters
Authors: Rajchakit Grienggrai , Sriraman Ramalingam , Samidurai Rajendran
Published: March 2021

This article discusses the dissipativity analysis of stochastic generalized neural network (NN) models with Markovian jump parameters and time-varying delays. In practical applications, most of the systems are subject to stochastic perturbations. As such, this study takes a class of stochastic NN models into account. To undertake this problem, we first construct an appropriate Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional with more system information. Then, by employing effective integral inequalities, we derive several dissipativity and stability criteria in the form of linear matrix inequalities that can be checked by the MATLAB LMI toolbox. Finally, we also present numerical examples to validate the usefulness of the results.