bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hospital admissions for skin and soft tissue infections in a population with endemic scabies: A prospective study in Fiji, 2018–2019
Authors: Thean Li Jun , Jenney Adam , Engelman Daniel , Romani Lucia , Wand Handan , Mudaliar Jyotishna , Paka Jessica , Cua Tuliana , Taole Sera , Sahukhan Aalisha , Kama Mike , Tuicakau Meciusela , Kado Joseph , Carvalho Natalie , Whitfeld Margot , Kaldor John , Steer Andrew C.
Published: December 2020

Scabies is an important predisposing factor for impetigo but its role in more serious skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) is not well understood. Information is limited on incidence of SSTIs in the presence of endemic scabies. We conducted a prospective study of hospital admissions for SSTIs in the Northern Division of Fiji (population: 131,914). Prospective surveillance for admissions with impetigo, abscess, cellulitis, wound infection, pyomyositis, necrotizing fasciitis, infected scabies, and crusted scabies was conducted at the Division’s referral hospital between 2018 to 2019. Information was collected on demographic characteristics, clinical features, microbiology, treatment and outcomes. Over the study period, 788 SSTI admissions were recorded corresponding to a population incidence 647 per 100,000 person-years (95%CI 571–660). Incidence was highest at the extremes of age with peak incidence in children aged <5 years (908 per 100,000) and those aged ≥65 years (1127 per 100,000). Incidence was 1.7 times higher among the Indigenous Fijian population (753 per 100,000) compared to other ethnicities (442 per 100,000). Overall case fatality rate was 3.3%, and 10.8% for those aged ≥65 years. Scabies was diagnosed concurrently in 7.6% of all patients and in 24.6% of admitted children <5 years. There is a very high burden of hospital admissions for SSTIs in Fiji compared to high-income settings especially among the youngest, oldest and indigenous population which is concordant with scabies and impetigo distribution in this population. Our findings highlight the need for strategies to reduce the burden of SSTIs in Fiji and similar settings.
Developing and validating the Psychosocial Burden among people Seeking Abortion Scale (PB-SAS)
Authors: Biggs M. Antonia , Neilands Torsten B. , Kaller Shelly , Wingo Erin , Ralph Lauren J.
Published: December 2020

While there is a large body of research demonstrating that having an abortion is not associated with adverse mental health outcomes, less research has examined which factors may contribute to elevated levels of mental health symptoms at the time of abortion seeking. This study aims to develop and validate a new tool to measure dimensions of psychosocial burden experienced by people seeking abortion in the United States. To develop scale items, we reviewed the literature including existing measures of stress and anxiety and conducted interviews with experts in abortion care and with patients seeking abortion. Thirty-five items were administered to 784 people seeking abortion at four facilities located in three U.S. states. We used exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to reduce items and identify key domains of psychosocial burden. We assessed the predictive validity of the overall scale and each sub-scale, by assessing their associations with validated measures of perceived stress, anxiety, and depression using multivariable linear regression models. Factor analyses revealed a 12-item factor solution measuring psychosocial burden seeking abortion, with four subdomains: structural challenges, pregnancy decision-making, lack of autonomy, and others’ reactions to the pregnancy. The alpha reliability coefficients were acceptable for the overall scale (α = 0.83) and each subscale (ranging from α = 0.82–0.85). In adjusted analyses, the overall scale was significantly associated with stress, anxiety and depression; each subscale was also significantly associated with each mental health outcome. This new scale offers a practical tool for providers and researchers to empirically document the factors associated with people’s psychological well-being at the time of seeking an abortion. Findings suggest that the same restrictions that claim to protect people from mental health harm may be increasing people’s psychosocial burden and contributing to adverse psychological outcomes at the time of seeking abortion.
False-negative results of initial RT-PCR assays for COVID-19: A systematic review
Authors: Arevalo-Rodriguez Ingrid , Buitrago-Garcia Diana , Simancas-Racines Daniel , Zambrano-Achig Paula , Del Campo Rosa , Ciapponi Agustin , Sued Omar , Martinez-García Laura , Rutjes Anne W. , Low Nicola , Bossuyt Patrick M. , Perez-Molina Jose A. , Zamora Javier
Published: December 2020

Background

A false-negative case of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is defined as a person with suspected infection and an initial negative result by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test, with a positive result on a subsequent test. False-negative cases have important implications for isolation and risk of transmission of infected people and for the management of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We aimed to review and critically appraise evidence about the rate of RT-PCR false-negatives at initial testing for COVID-19.

Methods

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, as well as COVID-19 repositories, including the EPPI-Centre living systematic map of evidence about COVID-19 and the Coronavirus Open Access Project living evidence database. Two authors independently screened and selected studies according to the eligibility criteria and collected data from the included studies. The risk of bias was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) tool. We calculated the proportion of false-negative test results using a multilevel mixed-effect logistic regression model. The certainty of the evidence about false-negative cases was rated using the GRADE approach for tests and strategies. All information in this article is current up to July 17, 2020.

Results

We included 34 studies enrolling 12,057 COVID-19 confirmed cases. All studies were affected by several risks of bias and applicability concerns. The pooled estimate of false-negative proportion was highly affected by unexplained heterogeneity (tau-squared = 1.39; 90% prediction interval from 0.02 to 0.54). The certainty of the evidence was judged as very low due to the risk of bias, indirectness, and inconsistency issues.

Conclusions

There is substantial and largely unexplained heterogeneity in the proportion of false-negative RT-PCR results. The collected evidence has several limitations, including risk of bias issues, high heterogeneity, and concerns about its applicability. Nonetheless, our findings reinforce the need for repeated testing in patients with suspicion of SARS-Cov-2 infection given that up to 54% of COVID-19 patients may have an initial false-negative RT-PCR (very low certainty of evidence).

Systematic review registration

Protocol available on the OSF website:https://tinyurl.com/vvbgqya.
Effects of Fe and Mn cations on Cd uptake by rice plant in hydroponic culture experiment
Authors: Hussain Babar , Li Jumei , Ma Yibing , Tahir Nazia , Ullah Aman
Published: December 2020

Iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) are nutritional components of rice, plays an important role in its physiological processes and can minimize absorption of cadmium (Cd) in rice. Fe, Mn, and Cd transporters such as CAL1, OsNRAMP5, OsNRAMP1, OsIRT1, OsHMA3, and OsNAAT1 regulate uptake of Cd in rice. However, the effect of exogenous application of Fe, and Mn on the accumulation of Cd and relative expression (RE) of these transporters in rice has not been investigated. Therefore, a hydroponic culture experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of Fe and Mn on Cd uptake and RE of these transporters in rice. The results showed that the Fe and Mn application significantly decreased Cd in the roots and shoots of rice. Whereas, Cd concentration in the rice significantly increased with increasing Cd concentration in the solution. The addition of manganese in the culture medium can reduce the cadmium content of rice roots by 11.9–82.3% and shoots by 11.6–85.0%, while the addition of iron in the culture medium can reduce the cadmium content of rice roots and shoots by 26–65% and 9–683% respectively. Meanwhile, application of sufficient doses of Fe and Cd in solution culture increased RE of CAL1, OsNRAMP5, OsNRAMP1, OsIRT1, and OsNAAT1 in roots, whereas expression level of OsHMA3 was decreased. Similarly, expression level of CAL1, OsNRAMP5, and OsNRAMP1 significantly increased in roots in high Cd and Mn deficient treatments. This may be concluded that the Cd increases expression of CAL1, OsNRAMP5, OsNRAMP1, OsIRT1, and OsNAAT1 but decreases OsHMA3 expression in rice roots, which resulted in increased Cd uptake in hydroponically grown rice.
Individual differences in emotion regulation and face recognition
Authors: Megreya Ahmed M. , Latzman Robert D.
Published: December 2020

Face recognition ability is highly variable among neurologically intact populations. Across three experiments, this study examined for the first time associations between individual differences in a range of adaptive versus maladaptive emotion regulation strategies and face recognition. Using an immediate face-memory paradigm, in which observers had to identify a self-paced learned unfamiliar face from a 10-face target-present/ target-absent line-up, Experiment 1 (N = 42) found high levels of expressive suppression (the ongoing efforts to inhibit emotion-expressive behaviors), but not cognitive reappraisal (the cognitive re-evaluation of emotional events to change their emotional consequences), were associated with a lower level of overall face-memory accuracy and higher rates of misidentifications and false positives. Experiment 2 (N = 53) replicated these finding using a range of face-matching tasks, where observers were asked to match pairs of same-race or different-race face images taken on the same day or during different times. Once again, high levels of expressive suppression were associated with a lower level of overall face-matching performance and higher rates of false positives, but cognitive reappraisal did not correlate with any face-matching measure. Finally, Experiment 3 (N = 52) revealed that the higher use of maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies, especially catastrophizing, was associated with lower levels of overall face-matching performances and higher rates of false positives. All told, the current research provides new evidence concerning the important associations between emotion and cognition.
A practical guide to unbiased quantitative morphological analyses of the gills of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in ecotoxicological studies
Authors: Fiedler Sonja , Wünnemann Hannah , Hofmann Isabel , Theobalt Natalie , Feuchtinger Annette , Walch Axel , Schwaiger Julia , Wanke Rüdiger , Blutke Andreas
Published: December 2020

Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) are frequently used as experimental animals in ecotoxicological studies, in which they are experimentally exposed to defined concentrations of test substances, such as heavy metals, pesticides, or pharmaceuticals. Following exposure to a broad variety of aquatic pollutants, early morphologically detectable toxic effects often manifest in alterations of the gills. Suitable methods for an accurate and unbiased quantitative characterization of the type and the extent of morphological gill alterations are therefore essential prerequisites for recognition, objective evaluation and comparison of the severity of gill lesions. The aim of the present guidelines is to provide practicable, standardized and detailed protocols for the application of unbiased quantitative stereological analyses of relevant morphological parameters of the gills of rainbow trout. These gill parametersinter aliainclude the total volume of the primary and secondary gill lamellae, the surface area of the secondary gill lamellae epithelium (i.e., the respiratory surface) and the thickness of the diffusion barrier. The featured protocols are adapted to fish of frequently used body size classes (300–2000 g). They include well-established, conventional sampling methods, probes and test systems for unbiased quantitative stereological analyses of light- and electron microscopic 2-D gill sections, as well as the application of modern 3-D light sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) of optically cleared gill samples as an innovative, fast and efficient quantitative morphological analysis approach. The methods shown here provide a basis for standardized and representative state-of-the-art quantitative morphological analyses of trout gills, ensuring the unbiasedness and reproducibility, as well as the intra- and inter-study comparability of analyses results. Their broad implementation will therefore significantly contribute to the reliable identification of no observed effect concentration (NOEC) limits in ecotoxicological studies and, moreover, to limit the number of experimental animals by reduction of unnecessary repetition of experiments.
Analyzing changes in respiratory rate to predict the risk of COVID-19 infection
Authors: Miller Dean J. , Capodilupo John V. , Lastella Michele , Sargent Charli , Roach Gregory D. , Lee Victoria H. , Capodilupo Emily R.
Published: December 2020

COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, can cause shortness of breath, lung damage, and impaired respiratory function. Containing the virus has proven difficult, in large part due to its high transmissibility during the pre-symptomatic incubation. The study’s aim was to determine if changes in respiratory rate could serve as a leading indicator of SARS-CoV-2 infections. A total of 271 individuals (age = 37.3 ± 9.5, 190 male, 81 female) who experienced symptoms consistent with COVID-19 were included– 81 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and 190 tested negative; these 271 individuals collectively contributed 2672 samples (days) of data (1856 healthy days, 231 while infected with COVID-19 and 585 while negative for COVID-19 but experiencing symptoms). To train a novel algorithm, individuals were segmented as follows; (1) a training dataset of individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 (n = 57 people, 537 samples); (2) a validation dataset of individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 (n = 24 people, 320 samples); (3) a validation dataset of individuals who tested negative for COVID-19 (n = 190 people, 1815 samples). All data was extracted from the WHOOP system, which uses data from a wrist-worn strap to produce validated estimates of respiratory rate and other physiological measures. Using the training dataset, a model was developed to estimate the probability of SARS-CoV-2 infection based on changes in respiratory rate during night-time sleep. The model’s ability to identify COVID-positive individuals not used in training and robustness against COVID-negative individuals with similar symptoms were examined for a critical six-day period spanning the onset of symptoms. The model identified 20% of COVID-19 positive individuals in the validation dataset in the two days prior to symptom onset, and 80% of COVID-19 positive cases by the third day of symptoms.
Impact of chronic liver disease upon admission on COVID-19 in-hospital mortality: Findings from COVOCA study
Authors: Galiero Raffaele , Pafundi Pia Clara , Simeon Vittorio , Rinaldi Luca , Perrella Alessandro , Vetrano Erica , Caturano Alfredo , Alfano Maria , Beccia Domenico , Nevola Riccardo , Marfella Raffaele , Sardu Celestino , Coppola Carmine , Scarano Ferdinando , Maggi Paolo , De Lucia Sposito Pellegrino , Vocciante Laura , Rescigno Carolina , Sbreglia Costanza , Fraganza Fiorentino , Parrella Roberto , Romano Annamaria , Calabria Giosuele , Polverino Benedetto , Pagano Antonio , Bologna Carolina , Amitrano Maria , Esposito Vincenzo , Coppola Nicola , Maturo Nicola , Adinolfi Luigi Elio , Chiodini Paolo , Sasso Ferdinando Carlo ,   on behalf of COVOCA Study Group
Published: December 2020

Background

Italy has been the first Western country to be heavily affected by the spread of SARS-COV-2 infection and among the pioneers of the clinical management of pandemic. To improve the outcome, identification of patients at the highest risk seems mandatory.

Objectives

Aim of this study is to identify comorbidities and clinical conditions upon admission associated with in-hospital mortality in several COVID Centers in Campania Region (Italy).

Methods

COVOCA is a multicentre retrospective observational cohort study, which involved 18 COVID Centers throughout Campania Region, Italy. Data were collected from patients who completed their hospitalization between March-June 2020. The endpoint was in-hospital mortality, assessed either from data at discharge or death certificate, whilst all exposure variables were collected at hospital admission.

Results

Among 618 COVID-19 hospitalized patients included in the study, 143 in-hospital mortality events were recorded, with a cumulative incidence of about 23%. At multivariable logistic analysis, male sex (OR 2.63, 95%CI 1.42–4.90; p = 0.001), Chronic Liver Disease (OR 5.88, 95%CI 2.39–14.46; p<0.001) and malignancies (OR 2.62, 95%CI 1.21–5.68; p = 0.015) disclosed an independent association with a poor prognosis, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and Respiratory Severity Scale allowed to identify at higher mortality risk. Sensitivity analysis further enhanced these findings.

Conclusion

Mortality of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 appears strongly affected by both clinical conditions on admission and comorbidities. Originally, we observed a very poor outcome in subjects with a chronic liver disease, alongside with an increase of hepatic damage.
Self-efficacy and fatigue among non-frontline health care workers during COVID-19 outbreak: A moderated mediation model of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and negative coping
Authors: Hou Tianya , Zhang Ruike , Song Xiangrui , Zhang Fan , Cai Wenpeng , Liu Ying , Dong Wei , Deng Guanghui
Published: December 2020

Purposes

Since a considerable number of health care workers (HCWs) were sent to Wuhan to aid COVID-19 control during the epidemic, non-frontline HCWs who stayed in local hospitals had to work overload to provide daily health care services for other health issues, which makes them more vulnerable to experience fatigue. Self-efficacy is suggested as a protective factor for fatigue. Nonetheless, less is known regarding the underlying mechanisms. This research aimed to explore the prevalence of fatigue among non-frontline HCWs during the pandemic, investigate the mediating effect of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and moderating effect of negative coping in the association between self-efficacy and fatigue.

Methods

General Self-Efficacy Scale, PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version, Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire and 14-item Fatigue Scale were administrated to 527 non-frontline HCWs from Anhui Province, China. The mediating effect was examined by Mackinnon’s four-step procedure, while Hayes PROCESS macro was used to test the moderated mediation model.

Results

The prevalence of fatigue among non-frontline HCWs was 56.7%. The effect of self-efficacy on fatigue was partially mediated by PTSD symptoms (ab = -0.146, SE = 0.030, 95% CI = [-0.207, -0.095]). Additionally, negative coping moderated both the direct effect of self-efficacy on fatigue (β = -0.158, P<0.001) and the mediating effect of PTSD symptoms (β = 0.077, P = 0.008). When the standard score of negative coping increased to 1.49 and over, the direct association between self-efficacy and fatigue became insignificant. Likewise, the effect of self-efficacy on PTSD symptoms had no statistical significance when the standard score of negative coping was -1.40 and lower.

Conclusions

More than half non-frontline HCWs suffered from fatigue during COVID-19. For those who tend to use negative coping, it might be crucial to design programs combining the enhancement of self-efficacy, preventions for PTSD symptoms and interventions for fatigue.
Sucessão e Descontinuidade na Constituição do Aparecimento segundo o Filebo de Platão
Authors: Oliveira Samuel José
Published: December 2020

Neste artigo foca-se um dos problemas discutidos no Filebo 33c-41a. Esse problema prende-se a) com o significado das noções de aisthesis, mneme, anamnesis, logismos e doxazein, b) com a especificidade das perspectivas sc. do tipo de apresentação que, em cada caso, corresponde a tais noções, c) com a relação entre essas diferentes perspectivas e, ainda, d) com a questão de saber como está constituída ou “montada” a nossa própria perspectiva sc. a apresentação que temos. Metodologicamente, tomamos o Filebo 33c-41a como uma espécie de desafio à compreensão habitual do “aparecimento” – dominada pela ideia de que este é algo constituído “em bloco” e de forma imediata, que se dá pura e simplesmente por “abrirmos os olhos” – e consideramos a compreensão alternativa que se desenha neste passo. Com efeito, resulta da nossa leitura do Filebo que o “aparecimento” tem, na verdade, um carácter composto e corresponde ao efeito acumulado de sucessivos passos de desvendamento que se ultrapassam e modificam uns aos outros. É esta multiplicidade de formas de aparecer irredutíveis umas às outras e separadas por saltos ou descontinuidades que justamente está em causa nas análises da aisthesis, da mneme, da anamnesis, do logismos e do doxazein (representado pela figura do escriba). Finalmente, tais análises acabam por vincar que toda a nossa apresentação radica no doxazein – de sorte que (para usar a imagem de 38e) as nossas aistheseis, as nossas mnemai, etc. são intrinsecamente relativas a esse “escriba” em nós, que, com a ajuda de um “pintor”, escreve continuamente o “livro” da nossa própria vida.
Cicero’s corpus and Petrarch’s ankle. The theory of imitation and its practices
Authors: Marnoto Rita Maria
Published: December 2020

This article focuses on the centrality provided to auctores and texts as corpora, in the framework of Francesco Petrarch and the theory of imitation by the humanists. Initially, animal images from Petrarch and the humanists are analysed, as well as the paths of their diffusion. These were used to express the role of the model, the involvement of the writer, variatio, the election of stilus, and the questions sustained by Ciceronianism. Then, tree main methodological ways to study the relationship between texts as corpora are presented: semiosphere, intertextuality, and reception theory. A critic view point regards static methodologies. Conclusively, the dialogue between Petrarch and Cicero, as text and corpus, is recalled in order to incorporate the auctores contamination.
Trasmundo, sueño y profecía en los Cantos de la batalla ausonia de Pedro de Acosta Perestrello
Authors: Jiménez del Castillo Juan Carlos
Published: December 2020

En este artículo analizamos una escena de descensus ad Inferos de los desconocidos Cantos de la batalla ausonia, una epopeya lepantina compuesta por el portugués Pedro de Acosta Perestrello a finales del siglo XVI. Nos proponemos demostrar la filiación virgiliana de este episodio y observar en qué medida han sido adaptados por el poeta algunos conceptos literarios y morales. Para ello tomamos como referencia las escenas de catábasis de la Odisea y de la Eneida y prestamos atención a los elementos tradicionales e innovadores introducidos por Acosta.
Note sulla struttura metrico-ritmica della traduzione della prima Pitica pindarica di P. Baffi
Authors: Bellucci Nikola D.
Published: December 2020

Partendo dalle indagini circa la riscoperta traduzione della prima Pitica pindarica di P. Baffi, il presente contributo fornisce, dopo una sommaria introduzione, un breve status quaestionis circa tale soggetto (Cap. 1.1) ed offre un primo studio analitico e ragionato circa le caratteristiche metriche della versione di Baffi presentandone un prospetto della ratio metrica (Cap. 1.2). Per favorirne poi una più corretta contestualizzazione si procederà ad indagare gli schemi metrico-ritmici e la versificazione delle altre traduzioni italiane nel periodo compreso tra il 1631 ed il 1824, ovvero degli autori ad egli precedenti (Cap. 2.1) e successivi (sino al 1824) (Cap. 2.2), al fine di porre in rilievo canonicità, variazioni ed evoluzioni metriche, compositive ed ideali circa la resa di questo noto componimento pindarico attraverso dei sommari appunti conclusivi (Cap. 3). In appendice, a conclusione del contributo sarà fornita la trascrizione integrale della versione baffiana corredata da apparato critico e successivamente la bibliografia generale.
Antioxidant and Antidiabetic Activities of Flavonoid Derivative
Compounds Isolated from Sclerocarya birrea Leaves
Authors: Ndwandwe Sithembiso L. , Olivier Mutendela T. , Gololo Sechene S.
Published: December 2020

Sclerocarya birrea is one of many medicinal plants used in African traditional medicine for treatment
of diabetes. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the ethanolic crude extract of the leaves of the plant
species led to the isolation of a pure compound (CMP-1). The pure compound showed antioxidant
and antidiabetic activities with average IC50 values of 1.04 mg/mL and 46 μg/mL, respectively that
were well comparable to the crude extract and known standards compounds, ascorbic acid and quercetin.
The spectroscopic profiling of the purified compound revealed a flavonoid derivative structural skeleton.
The findings of the study suggested that the flavonoid derivative compounds play a major role towards
the medicinal value of Sclerocarya birrea.
Optimization of Fenton's Process for the Treatment of Cotton
Textile Wastewater using Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Mulgund Sangeetha Parashuram , Kalburgi P.B. , Rakaraddi P.G.
Published: December 2020

Degradation of cotton textile wastewater using Fenton’s process was investigated. The effect of
individual and interactive operating parameters on the response was analyzed using central composite
design (CCD), a commonly used form of response surface methodology (RSM). The operating
parameters selected were pH, dosage of hydrogen peroxide, dosage of iron and the responses (dependent
parameters) were chemical oxygen demand (COD) and colour. The model derived correlation
coefficients R2 and R2
adj for COD were 0.982 and 0.966, respectively and the values were almost
similar for colour also. The optimum values for various operating parameters namely pH, H2O2 and
Fe2+ dosage were found to be 3.33, 60.57 and 1.56 mM, respectively for electrolysis time of 60 min.
By performing the experiments with these values of operating parameters, the COD and colour removal
efficiencies were found to be 83.5% and 98.1%, respectively.
Fractionation of Rare Earth Elements in Surface
Sediment of Peninsular Malaysia Coastal Waters
Authors: Fuad M.M. , Fikriah F. , Kamaruzzaman B.Y. , Rahman M.M. , Nik Nurizni N.A.
Published: December 2020

The environmental fate of rare earth elements (REEs) in the Malaysian environment is limitedly known;
however, industrial emission is increasing. This study focused on the REE assessment of the surface
sediments obtained from rocky shore ecosystems along the Peninsular Malaysia coastal waters, on
deliberating interspatial variability, and on describing their partitioning. Samples were treated with
the Teflon Bomb technique, and the concentration of 14 natural REEs was measured through inductively
coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Through quality control practices, the results were
verified by employing a standard reference material BCR 667. The tendency of REE distribution was
the most mutual property of particular places worldwide and in Malaysia. Among REEs present in
sediment, strong correlations were observed, which indicated REEs they behave coherently to each
other in different processes of geochemical fractionation. The contaminant metals, namely manganese,
arsenic, cadmium and copper, were strongly correlated with REEs (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05); hence,
these metals may be nonanthropogenic in origin because REEs are geogenic in origin. The enrichment
factor (EF) values of the comparative results were divided by the region-specified deficiency to minimal
enrichment in all the regions, except in the east coast region, which presented considerable enrichment,
suggesting a probability of discharge of the anthropogenic effluent. The results of the analysis
normalized to chondrite presented patterns of low atomic weight rare earth elements (LREEs)
enrichment, gradual downward pattern and depletion through high atomic weight rare earth elements
(HREEs) concentrations.
Synthesis, Characterization of Ceftibuten-Copper(II)
Complex and Prediction of Its Biological Activity
Authors: Dey Shuchismita , Sultan Md. Zakir , Salam Md. Abdus
Published: December 2020

Ceftibuten dihydrate, one of the third-generation cephalosporin antibiotic is effectively used in curing
several infectious diseases. The complexation of drug with metal may enhance the antibacterial activity.
In this work, a new complex of ceftibuten dihydrate with Cu(II) was synthesized, characterized and
antibacterial activity is reported. The in vitro test showed that the antibacterial activity of complex of
ceftibuten was greatly enhanced against Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhi.
Synthesis of PEG-Fe3O4/ZnO Magnetic Nanocomposites by Ultrasound
Assisted Co-Precipitation Process and their Antibacterial Activity
Authors: Huong Nguyen Thi , Nam Dao The , Nhan Nguyen Thi , Son Nguyen Ngoc , Tri Le Minh , Thanh Vu Minh
Published: December 2020

In this study, PEG-Fe3O4/ZnO magetic nanocomposties were synthesized by a ultrasound assisted
co-precipitation method. The magnetic nanocomposites were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, FESEM
and VSM techniques. The effect of Fe3O4:ZnO ratio on the crystallite size and the lattice parameter of
the nanoparticles was also studied using XRD. Magetic nanoparticles of PEG-Fe3O4/ZnO
nanocomposites exhibit the particles size in the range of 20-30 nm. The VSM measurements at room
temperature showed that PEG-Fe3O4/ZnO nanocomposites had superparamagnetic properties. These
results indicated that ultrasonication time and ration (Fe3O4/ZnO) greatly affect the characteristics of
the nanoparticles. The antibacterial efficiency of PEG-Fe3O4/ZnO nanoparticles was tested against
Sacharomyces cerevisiae, Bacillus subtilis and E. coli bacteria using disc diffusion method.
Utility of Routine Esophageal Biopsies in Patients With Refractory Reflux Symptoms
Authors: Oude Nijhuis Renske A.B. , Curvers Wouter L. , van der Ende Mirjam , Herregods Thomas V.K. , Schuitenmaker Jeroen M. , Smout Andreas J.P.M. , Bredenoord Albert J.
Published: December 2020

INTRODUCTION:

This study aimed to assess the diagnostic yield of routine esophageal biopsies in patients with refractory reflux symptoms.

METHODS:

We prospectively enrolled consecutive patients referred for upper endoscopy and collected histological, clinical, and endoscopic data.

RESULTS:

Of the 301 included patients, 14 (4.7%) patients met the clinicopathological diagnostic definition of eosinophilic esophagitis. Presence of dysphagia, food bolus impaction, atopic background, and typical endoscopic features were the factors with the strongest association and diagnostic accuracy for eosinophilic esophagitis. The diagnostic yield in patients lacking symptoms of dysphagia or endoscopic features was negligible (0% and 1.9%, respectively).

DISCUSSION:

Routine esophageal biopsy sampling in patients with refractory reflux symptoms has a low diagnostic yield. Esophageal biopsies should only be obtained in patients with refractory reflux symptoms who also present with dysphagia (see Visual abstract, Supplementary Digital Content 2, http://links.lww.com/AJG/B792).
Depressed Colorectal Cancer: A New Paradigm in Early Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Kudo Shin-ei , Kouyama Yuta , Ogawa Yushi , Ichimasa Katsuro , Hamada Tsuyoshi , Kato Kazuki , Kudo Koki , Masuda Takaaki , Otsu Hajime , Misawa Masashi , Mori Yuichi , Kudo Toyoki , Hayashi Takemasa , Wakamura Kunihiko , Miyachi Hideyuki , Sawada Naruhiko , Sato Toshiro , Shibata Tatsuhiro , Hamatani Shigeharu , Nemoto Tetsuo , Ishida Fumio , Niida Atsushi , Miyano Satoru , Oshima Masanobu , Ogino Shuji , Mimori Koshi
Published: December 2020

INTRODUCTION:

In contrast to most colorectal carcinomas arising from pedunculated or sessile protruded adenomas, submucosal-invasive (pT1) colorectal carcinoma exhibiting a depressed surface (hereinafter, “depressed colorectal carcinoma,” identified by means of high-definition endoscopy) is considered to be derived from depressed precursors. We hypothesized that depressed colorectal neoplasms have unique clinicopathological features different that are different from those of protruded and flat colorectal neoplasms.

METHODS:

We classified 27,129 colorectal neoplasms (909 pT1 carcinomas and 26,220 adenomas) resected between 2001 and 2017 into depressed (211 carcinomas and 109 adenomas), flat (304 carcinomas and 11,246 adenomas), and protruded subtypes (394 carcinomas and 14,865 adenomas) and compared their clinicopathological features. As exploratory analyses of pT1 carcinomas, we conducted whole-exome sequencing for 19 depressed and 8 protruded subtypes and RNA sequencing for 8 depressed and 8 protruded subtypes.

RESULTS:

pT1 carcinomas were more common in depressed lesions (66%) than in protruded (2.6%) and flat lesions (2.6%) (P < 0.001). Compared with nondepressed pT1 carcinomas, depressed pT1 carcinomas were positively correlated with lymphovascular invasion, tumor budding, and massive submucosal invasion and inversely correlated with the presence of an adenoma component (all P < 0.001). Depressed adenomas were more likely to contain high-grade dysplasia than nondepressed adenomas (49% vs 11%, P < 0.001). A KRAS mutation was observed only in one of the 19 depressed pT1 carcinomas. Relative to protruded carcinomas, depressed carcinomas generally exhibited higher expression of genes related to angiogenesis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

DISCUSSION:

Depressed colorectal neoplasms may harbor a unique combination of malignant histopathological phenotypes and molecular features.
Investigation on the Role of PALB2 Gene in CDH1-Negative Patients With Hereditary Diffuse Gastric Cancer
Authors: Carreño Marta , Pena-Couso Laura , Mercadillo Fátima , Perea José , Urioste Miguel
Published: December 2020

INTRODUCTION:

Not all patients with hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC) are found to carry germline pathogenic variants in the associated gene CDH1, which translates into a challenging clinical management and poor cancer prevention. Thus, several studies have searched for other candidate genes, among which stands PALB2. Our work explores the implication of this known cancer gene in HDGC.

METHODS:

We searched for germline PALB2 variants by Sanger sequencing in a series of 58 patients with HDGC who tested negative for CDH1 alterations.

RESULTS:

No clearly pathogenic variants in PALB2 were found in these patients. Only 5 rare genetic variants were identified, 3 of which were classified as variants of uncertain significance.

DISCUSSION:

Despite the promising association between PALB2 and HDGC suggested by certain works in the literature, our findings do not support PALB2 as a high predisposition gene for HDGC. Larger studies are needed to define its role in this disease and therefore improve cancer prevention.
FORMAT PEMILU SERENTAK PASCA PUTUSAN MK NO. 55/2019: Kajian dan Analisis Sosiologi Politik
Authors: Jurdi Syarifuddin
Published: December 2020

In the practice of the Indonesian presidential system, the presidential elections held after the legislative elections do not strengthen the presidential system, checks and balances mechanism  between the government and the People’s Representative Council have not run according to the mandate of the constitution yet. By using hermeneutic and verstehen approaches, as well as political sociology perspective, this paper considers that strengthen checks and balances mechanism between the government and People’s Representative Council is by carrying out regional and national simultaneous elections. The merging of legislative elections (People’s Representative Council and Regional representative Council) and presidential elections at national level also merging legislative and executive elections at  regional level have several functions:  first, the merging will result an effective and efficient governance in running the government; second, an easier and lighter electoral unification model, both for organizers in preparing stages of elections or for voters in channeling their voting rights; third, political issues that are programmed by candidate pairs and legislative candidates will be more focused and directed so that the public is clearer in determining their political choices. Dalam praktik sistem presidensial Indonesia, pemilu presiden yang diselenggarakan setelah pemilu legislatif tidak memperkuat sistem presidensial, mekanisme saling mengawasi (checks and balances) antara pemerintah dan DPR belum berjalan sesuai konstitusi. Dengan menggunakan pendekatan hermeneutik dan verstehen serta perspektif sosiologi politik dan kelembagaan, tulisan ini memandang bahwa memperkuat checks and balances antara pemerintah dan parlemen melalui penyelenggaraan pemilu serentak nasional dan lokal. Penggabungan pemilu legislatif (DPR dan DPD) dan pemilu presiden pada level nasional serta penggabungan pemilu legislatif (DPRD Provinsi dan DPRD kabupaten/kota) dan eksekutif (gubernur, bupati, walikota) pada level daerah menjadi pilihan; pertama, penyatuan tersebut akan menghasilkan pemerintahan yang efektif dan efisien dalam menjalankan kekuasaannya; kedua, model penyatuan level pemilu lebih mudah dan ringan, baik bagi penyelenggara dalam menyiapkan tahapan maupun bagi pemilih dalam menyalurkan hak pilihnya; ketiga, isu politik yang diprogramkan pasangan calon maupun calon legislatif akan lebih fokus dan terarah sehingga masyarakat lebih jelas dalam menentukan pilihan politiknya.
Reading the Margins: Juan Pablo Viscardo y Guzmán and Francisco de Miranda (1801)
Authors: Téllez Jorge
Published: December 2020

In this essay, I study the connection between the act of reading and the circulation of Juan Pablo Viscardo y Guzmán’s Carta dirigida a los españoles americanos (1801). Drawing from a perspective that regards materiality as a central element to understanding the relationship between readers and texts, I explore Francisco de Miranda’s intervention as editor of the letter in relation to notions of authenticity, authority, identity, and culture in the context of colonial discourse. Specifically, I argue that Miranda’s additions to the text provide an opportunity to trace his reading of the text, showing the complicated history of how Viscardo’s letter has been constructed as a text while positing reading as a creative and productive act.
The Taming of Matter: Jalmari Finne and the Typewriter
Authors: Pulkkinen Veijo
Published: December 2020

This article examines the role of the typewriter in the genetic process of the novel Vuosisatain vaatimus (1918) by the Finnish novelist Jalmari Finne (1874–1939). Finne is a rare example of an early twentieth-century author who mastered touch typing and composed directly on a typewriter. He claimed that he used the typewriter because it enabled him to keep up with his thinking, a claim that challenges Friedrich Kittler’s (1990, 193) thesis that the most remarkable feature of the typewriter is not its speed but its “spatially and discrete signs”. A genetic examination of Finne’s typescripts suggests that he had developed generative typing into a kind of  “blind revision” in that he did not read and correct previous drafts but rather inserted a blank paper in the machine and typed an altogether new version of the text without copying the previous version.
Estudo das representações sociais sobre a Herpetofauna no ensino fundamental a partir do teste de evocação livre (EVOC)
Authors: Simões Leonardo Airton Ressel , Nobre Suelen Bomfim
Published: December 2020

Anfíbios e répteis desempenham um importante papel ecológico nos ecossistemas, porém, a escassez de informações e as superstições, fazem com que eles sofram maus tratos e corram risco de extinção. Nesta perspectiva, a etnoherpetologia pode tecer contribuições, já que é uma ciência que se dedica a estudar as interações do ser humano com os anfíbios e répteis. Diante deste cenário, o objetivo desta investigação foi analisar os conhecimentos e as percepções de estudantes sobre a herpetofauna. Para tanto, os dados foram coletados através do Teste de Evocação Livre (EVOC), no período de agosto de 2017. O público participante foi composto por 42 alunos, sendo 21 do 7º e 21 do 8º ano do Ensino Fundamental de uma escola pública, localizada no município de Taquara, RS. Através do EVOC foi possível observar associações bem definidas para os animais representantes da herpetofauna, predominando um sentimento de medo e perigo associado aos répteis e de repulsão aos anfíbios. Por meio dos resultados, é possível concluir que ainda há a necessidade de fomentar estudos sobre a herpetofauna nativa, no âmbito da Educação Básica, para que ela seja respeitada e valorizada.
La evaluación educativa como tecnología
Authors: Moreno Olivos Tiburcio
Published: December 2020

Estamos viviendo una época en que la evaluación ha adquirido un gran protagonismo en los sistemas educativos de todo el mundo; algunos consideran que este interés responde sobre todo a la necesidad de rendición de cuentas de la forma en que se administran los recursos públicos que la sociedad destina para la operación de los sistemas escolares y su relación con los resultados obtenidos de acuerdo con los objetivos esperados. Las recientes crisis económicas no han hecho más que enfatizar este interés por una mayor vigilancia y control de la escuela. Esta obsesión por la racionalización es de vieja data; su génesis se podría situar en el advenimiento de la sociedad industrial del siglo XIX en los países occidentales, donde el énfasis estaba puesto –y continúa estando– en lograr la máxima eficiencia y eficacia de los sistemas educativos.
Literasi Privasi di Sosial Media: Analisis Kesadaran Privasi pada Grup Facebook Komunitas Peduli HBV (Hepatitis B Virus) di Indonesia
Authors: Saufa Arina Faila , Yusuf Shofwan
Published: December 2020

Hepatitis merupakan virus yang menyerang hati dan menyebabkan sirosis atau peradangan hati hingga menyebabkan kasus meninggal dunia. Didasari oleh kekhawatiran akan penularan, beberapa penderita hepatitis mendapatkan diskriminasi dalam berbagai bentuk. Hal itu membuat sebagian penderita hepatitis memilih menyembunyikan kasus penyakitnya agar tidak diketahui orang lain. Berbeda dengan dunia fisik, sosial media menyediakan kesempatan anonimitas bagi penggunanya sehingga membuka peluang untuk lebih mudah menyembunyikan identitas beserta privasinya terkait penyakit. Namun bagaimanakah jika pengguna sosial media tersebut adalah penderita hepatitis yang cenderung menyembunyikan identitasnya karena kekhwatiran akan diskriminasi, mungkinkah mereka sepenuhnya memiliki literasi akan privasi di media sosial. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui sejauh mana kesadaran privasi pengguna grup Facebook “Komunitas Peduli HBV (Hepatitis B virus)” di Indonesia. Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan menganalisis konten media sosial yang menjadi obyek dari study ini. Analisis dilakukan terhadap postingan berupa foto pada grup facebook Peduli HBV mulai bulan Mei 2019 hingga bulan April 2020 untuk mengetahui kesadaran privasi pengguna media tersebut. Hasil analisis data menunjukkan bahwa dari 281 postingan gambar terdapat 151 gambar yang tidak memiliki relevansi dengan kesadaran privasi, 91 gambar yang menunjukkan kesadaran privasi, serta 39 gambar yang menunjukkan ketidaksadaran privasi. Jika hanya mengamati gambar yang memiliki relevansi dengan kesadaran privasi, maka terdapat 130 gambar dengan 70% menunjukkan kesadaran privasi dan 30 menunjukkan ketidaksadaran privasi. Peneliti menyimpulkan bahwa masih terdapat 30% pengguna Facebook menunjukkan ketidaksadaran privasi. Hal ini membuka kesempatan untuk dilakukan penelitian lanjutan terkait literasi privasi dalam konteks yang lebih luas dan mendalam.
The Influence of Countermovement Strategy and External Load on Amortization Forces During Jump Squats
Authors: Barker Leland , Siedlik Jake , Mercer John
Published: December 2020

Barker, L, Siedlik, J, and Mercer, J. The influence of countermovement strategy and external load on amortization forces during jump squats. J Strength Cond Res 35(2): 332–339, 2021—The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of countermovement strategy on amortization forces when performing jump squats. To gather a range of deceleration demands, jump squats were performed across a range of external loads (0, 15, 30, 45, and 60% of repetition maximum [1RM]) and verbally cued countermovement depths (preferred: PREF; quarter: QTR; and full: FULL). Dual force platform ground reaction force data were collected from 12 subjects. Amortization Fz, amortization time, and countermovement depth were analyzed using a 3 × 5 (technique × load) repeated measures analysis of variance. To assess countermovement strategy and amortization Fz, correlations and regression analysis were used to assess relationships among system mass, countermovement kinetic energy and depth, and amortization Fz. Amortization Fz was greater with QTR than PREF (p < 0.05), but similar between PREF and FULL (p > 0.05), and between QTR and FULL (p > 0.05). Amortization Fz was different between 0 and 15% 1RM (p < 0.05) and between 0 and 30% 1RM (p < 0.05). All loaded conditions (15–60% 1-RM) were similar (p > 0.05). As a group, countermovement kinetic energy and system mass were significantly, but weakly, correlated (r = 0.29, p < 0.01). Regression analysis revealed amortization Fz did not change in relation to countermovement kinetic energy but did change in relation to depth. These results suggest that preferred countermovement depths were associated with lesser amortization Fz (strain energy) during maximal effort unloaded and loaded countermovement jumps. Strength and conditioning professionals selecting exercises to maximize amortization Fz should consider the jump squat with light loads (or no load) and short countermovement depths.
Relationship Between Preseason Training Load, Match Performance, and Match Activities in Professional Rugby League
Authors: Crang Zachary L. , Hewitt Adam , Scott Tannath J. , Kelly Vincent G. , Johnston Rich D.
Published: December 2020

Crang, ZL, Hewitt, A, Scott, TJ, Kelly, VG, and Johnston, RD. Relationship between pre-season training load, match performance and match activities in professional rugby league. J Strength Cond Res 36(9): 2581–2588, 2022—This study aimed to establish the relationship between preseason training loads, technical match performance, and physical match activities in rugby league. Twenty-two professional rugby league players (age: 24.7 ± 4.0 years; height: 184.3 ± 4.7 cm; and body mass: 101.1 ± 9.9 kg) participated in the study. Training loads and physical match activities were monitored using global positioning systems. Total distance (m), high-speed running distance (VT1IFT; distance covered above estimated first ventilatory threshold [≥68% of 30–15 intermittent fitness test]) and total session rating of perceived exertion from all field-based (32.5 ± 8.5) and gym-based sessions (39.1 ± 12.5) were used to quantify preseason loads. Physical match activities were measured as total and high-speed running distance relative to individual playing time, whereas technical match activities and performance scores were used to evaluate individual match performance. To examine the relationship between physical match activities, technical performance, and preseason load, Pearson's correlation coefficients were quantified for each in-season game before performing a Fisher Z Transformation. Preseason high-speed running distance was positively associated with high-speed match activities (r = 0.34–0.51), whereas negatively associated with technical performance scores (r = −0.51 to −0.35) and hit up m·min−1 of match-play (r = −0.30 to −0.17). It seems high speed running performed in the preseason period positively influences in-season physical match activity profiles, however, are unlikely to positively impact technical match performance.