bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Realizing transmitted metasurface cloak by a tandem neural network
Authors: Zhen Zheng , Qian Chao , Jia Yuetian , Fan Zhixiang , Hao Ran , Cai Tong , Zheng Bin , Chen Hongsheng , Li Erping
Published: March 2021

Being invisible at will has been a long-standing dream for centuries, epitomized by numerous legends; humans have never stopped their exploration steps to realize this dream. Recent years have witnessed a breakthrough in this search due to the advent of transformation optics, metamaterials, and metasurfaces. However, the previous metasurface cloaks typically work in a reflection manner that relies on a high-reflection background, thus limiting the applications. Here, we propose an easy yet viable approach to realize the transmitted metasurface cloak, just composed of two planar metasurfaces to hide an object inside, such as a cat. To tackle the hard-to-converge issue caused by the nonuniqueness phenomenon, we deploy a tandem neural network (T-NN) to efficiently streamline the inverse design. Once pretrained, the T-NN can work for a customer-desired electromagnetic response in one single forward computation, saving a great amount of time. Our work opens a new avenue to realize a transparent invisibility cloak, and the tandem-NN can also inspire the inverse design of other metamaterials and photonics.
Zika virus-like particle vaccine protects AG129 mice and rhesus macaques against Zika virus
Authors: Vang Lo , Morello Christopher S. , Mendy Jason , Thompson Danielle , Manayani Darly , Guenther Ben , Julander Justin , Sanford Daniel , Jain Amit , Patel Amish , Shabram Paul , Smith Jonathan , Alexander Jeff
Published: March 2021

Background

Zika virus (ZIKV), a mosquito-borne flavivirus, is a re-emerging virus that constitutes a public health threat due to its recent global spread, recurrent outbreaks, and infections that are associated with neurological abnormalities in developing fetuses and Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults. To date, there are no approved vaccines against ZIKV infection. Various preclinical and clinical development programs are currently ongoing in an effort to bring forward a vaccine for ZIKV.

Methodology/Principle findings

We have developed a ZIKV vaccine candidate based on Virus-Like-Particles (VLPs) produced in HEK293 mammalian cells using the prM (a precursor to M protein) and envelope (E) structural protein genes from ZIKV. Transient transfection of cells via plasmid and electroporation produced VLPs which were subsequently purified by column chromatography yielding approximately 2mg/L. Initially, immunogenicity and efficacy were evaluated in AG129 mice using a dose titration of VLP with and without Alhydrogel 2% (alum) adjuvant. We found that VLP with and without alum elicited ZIKV-specific serum neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) and that titers correlated with protection. A follow-up immunogenicity and efficacy study in rhesus macaques was performed using VLP formulated with alum. Multiple neutralization assay methods were performed on immune sera including a plaque reduction neutralization test, a microneutralization assay, and a Zika virus Renilla luciferase neutralization assay. All of these assays indicate that following immunization, VLP induces high titer nAbs which correlate with protection against ZIKV challenge.

Conclusions/Significance

These studies confirm that ZIKV VLPs could be efficiently generated and purified. Upon VLP immunization, in both mice and NHPs, nAb was induced that correlate with protection against ZIKV challenge. These studies support translational efforts in developing a ZIKV VLP vaccine for evaluation in human clinical trials.
Defining levels of dengue virus serotype-specific neutralizing antibodies induced by a live attenuated tetravalent dengue vaccine (TAK-003)
Authors: White Laura J. , Young Ellen F. , Stoops Mark J. , Henein Sandra R. , Adams Elizabeth C. , Baric Ralph S. , de Silva Aravinda M.
Published: March 2021

The four dengue virus serotypes (DENV1-4) infect several hundred million people each year living in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Clinical development of DENV vaccines is difficult because immunity to a single serotype increases risk of severe disease during a second infection with a new serotype. Leading vaccines are based on tetravalent formulations to induce simultaneous and balanced protective immunity to all 4 serotypes. TAK-003 is a tetravalent live attenuated dengue vaccine candidate developed by Takeda Vaccines Inc, which is currently being evaluated in phase 3 efficacy trials. Here, we use antibody depletion methods and chimeric, epitope transplant DENVs to characterize the specificity of neutralizing antibodies in dengue-naïve adults and non-human primates immunized with TAK-003. Our results demonstrate that TAK-003 induced high levels of DENV2 neutralizing antibodies that recognized unique (type-specific) epitopes on DENV2. In contrast, most vaccinated subjects developed lower levels of DENV1, DENV3 and DENV4 neutralizing antibodies that mainly targeted epitopes that were conserved (cross-reactive) between serotypes.

Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02425098.
Was facial width-to-height ratio subject to sexual selection pressures? A life course approach
Authors: Hodges-Simeon Carolyn R. , Albert Graham , Richardson George B. , McHale Timothy S. , Weinberg Seth M. , Gurven Michael , Gaulin Steven J. C.
Published: March 2021

Sexual selection researchers have traditionally focused on adult sex differences; however, the schedule and pattern of sex-specific ontogeny can provide insights unobtainable from an exclusive focus on adults. Recently, it has been debated whether facial width-to-height ratio (fWHR; bi-zygomatic breadth divided by midface height) is a human secondary sexual characteristic (SSC). Here, we review current evidence, then address this debate using ontogenetic evidence, which has been under-explored in fWHR research. Facial measurements were collected from 3D surface images of males and females aged 3 to 40 (Study 1; US European-descent,n =2449), and from 2D photographs of males and females aged 7 to 21 (Study 2; Bolivian Tsimane,n= 179), which were used to calculate three fWHR variants (which we call fWHRnasion, fWHRstomion, and fWHRbrow) and two other common facial masculinity ratios (facial width-to-lower-face-height ratio, fWHRlower, and cheekbone prominence). We test whether the observed pattern of facial development exhibits patterns indicative of SSCs, i.e., differential adolescent growth in either male or female facial morphology leading to an adult sex difference. Results showed that only fWHRlowerexhibited both adult sex differences as well as the classic pattern of ontogeny for SSCs—greater lower-face growth in male adolescents relative to females. fWHRbrowwas significantly wider among both pre- and post-pubertal males in the Bolivian Tsimane sample; post-hoc analyses revealed that the effect was driven by large sex differences in brow height, with females having higher placed brows than males across ages. In both samples, all fWHR measures were inversely associated with age; that is, human facial growth is characterized by greater relative elongation in the mid-face and lower face relative to facial width. This trend continues even into middle adulthood. BMI was also a positive predictor of most of the ratios across ages, with greater BMI associated with wider faces. Researchers collecting data on fWHR should target fWHRlowerand fWHRbrowand should control for both age and BMI. Researchers should also compare ratio approaches with multivariate techniques, such as geometric morphometrics, to examine whether the latter have greater utility for understanding the evolution of facial sexual dimorphism.
Medical disinformation and the unviable nature of COVID-19 conspiracy theories
Authors: Grimes David Robert
Published: March 2021

The coronavirus pandemic has seen a marked rise in medical disinformation across social media. A variety of claims have garnered considerable traction, including the assertion that COVID is a hoax or deliberately manufactured, that 5G frequency radiation causes coronavirus, and that the pandemic is a ruse by big pharmaceutical companies to profiteer off a vaccine. An estimated 30% of some populations subscribe some form of COVID medico-scientific conspiracy narratives, with detrimental impacts for themselves and others. Consequently, exposing the lack of veracity of these claims is of considerable importance. Previous work has demonstrated that historical medical and scientific conspiracies are highly unlikely to be sustainable. In this article, an expanded model for a hypothetical en masse COVID conspiracy is derived. Analysis suggests that even under ideal circumstances for conspirators, commonly encountered conspiratorial claims are highly unlikely to endure, and would quickly be exposed. This work also explores the spectrum of medico-scientific acceptance, motivations behind propagation of falsehoods, and the urgent need for the medical and scientific community to anticipate and counter the emergence of falsehoods.
Association between a complex community intervention and quality of health extension workers’ performance to correctly classify common childhood illnesses in four regions of Ethiopia
Authors: Getachew Theodros , Abebe Solomon Mekonnen , Yitayal Mezgebu , Persson Lars Åke , Berhanu Della
Published: March 2021

Background

Due to low care utilization, a complex intervention was done for two years to optimize the Ethiopian Health Extension Program. Improved quality of the integrated community case management services was an intermediate outcome of this intervention through community education and mobilization, capacity building of health workers, and strengthening of district ownership and accountability of sick child services. We evaluated the association between the intervention and the health extension workers’ ability to correctly classify common childhood illnesses in four regions of Ethiopia.

Methods

Baseline and endline assessments were done in 2016 and 2018 in intervention and comparison areas in four regions of Ethiopia. Ill children aged 2 to 59 months were mobilized to visit health posts for an assessment that was followed by re-examination. We analyzed sensitivity, specificity, and difference-in-difference of correct classification with multilevel mixed logistic regression in intervention and comparison areas at baseline and endline.

Results

Health extensions workers’ consultations with ill children were observed in intervention (n = 710) and comparison areas (n = 615). At baseline, re-examination of the children showed that in intervention areas, health extension workers’ sensitivity for fever or malaria was 54%, 68% for respiratory infections, 90% for diarrheal diseases, and 34% for malnutrition. At endline, it was 40% for fever or malaria, 49% for respiratory infections, 85% for diarrheal diseases, and 48% for malnutrition. Specificity was higher (89–100%) for all childhood illnesses. Difference-in-differences was 6% for correct classification of fever or malaria [aOR = 1.45 95% CI: 0.81–2.60], 4% for respiratory tract infection [aOR = 1.49 95% CI: 0.81–2.74], and 5% for diarrheal diseases [aOR = 1.74 95% CI: 0.77–3.92].

Conclusion

This study revealed that the Optimization of Health Extension Program intervention, which included training, supportive supervision, and performance reviews of health extension workers, was not associated with an improved classification of childhood illnesses by these Ethiopian primary health care workers.

Trial registration

ISRCTN12040912, http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN12040912.
The contribution of social participation to differences in life expectancy and healthy years among the older population: A comparison between Chile, Costa Rica and Spain
Authors: Rueda-Salazar Sarahí , Spijker Jeroen , Devolder Daniel , Albala Cecilia
Published: March 2021

We study the health trajectories of the population aged over 60, comparing between one European and two Latin American countries (Spain, Chile and Costa Rica) which have similar longevity patterns. Our focus is on functional limitation and mortality risks, considering differences by gender, education and social participation. Data come from national panel surveys (EPS, CRELES, SHARE). Multistate modelling is used to estimate transition probabilities between two health states: healthy to unhealthy, unhealthy to healthy as well as the transition to death from healthy or unhealthy states, to estimate the duration of stay in a specific state (computing healthy and unhealthy life expectancies) and the effect of the selected covariates. Results show that older Costa Ricans have the smallest gender gap in life expectancy but women have a lower healthy life expectancy compared to those in Chile and Spain. Participation in social activities leads to higher healthy life expectancy among the elderly in Costa Rica and Spain, whilst there were no relevant educational differences observed in longevity in the analysed countries. To conclude: despite the different patterns observed in health transitions and survival across the three countries, social participation is associated with greater health and longevity among people of old age, with little effect coming from educational attainment. Public policies should therefore be aimed at reducing unhealthy life years and dependency at advanced ages by promoting more engagement in social activities, especially among vulnerable groups who are more likely to experience impairment from a younger age.
Determinants of abortion among youth 15–24 in Ethiopia: A multilevel analysis based on EDHS 2016
Authors: Gilano Girma , Hailegebreal Samuel
Published: March 2021

Introduction

Determinants of the magnitude of abortion among women of diverse social and economic status, particularly in Africa poorly understood because of the missing information in most countries. In this study, we addressed abortion and its determinants among youth women of 15–24 ages to provide clear direction for policymaking in Ethiopia.

Methods

We examined the 2016 Ethiopian demographic health survey data downloaded from the EDHS website after obtaining permission on abortion among 15–24 age women. We applied bivariate and multilevel binary logistic regression. Community and Individual level abortion predictors passed through a three-level binary logistic regression analysis where we used p-value <0.05 and adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Result

The abortion among the youth population in this study was 2.5%. Factors associated with pregnancy were age group 20–24 2.5(1.6–3.8), youth with one birth 0.65(0.44–0.96), youth with 2–5 births 0.31(0.18–0.55), age ≥18 0.50(0.33–0.76), married 38(17–84), divorced 20(7–55), birth in the last five years 0.65(0.44–0.96), middle wealth youth 1.7(1.0.4–2.8), being in Amhara0.31(0.11–0.85), and 0.30(0.12–0.77).

Conclusion

Less abortion occurred in economically poor youths. It is a noble finding; however, the access problem might lead to the result. We observed more abortions in age <18years; those have not given birth until the data collection date. It portrays forth clear policy direction for politicians and all other stakeholders to intervene in the problem. The analysis also showed abortion increased with age. It shows that as age increased, youths disclose abortion which is rare at an early age, and again given an essential clue for the next interventions. The fact in this study is both age and marriage affected abortion similarly. It might be because of various culture-related perceptions where it is not appropriate for an unmarried woman to appear with any pregnancy outcome as the reason behind the decreased number of abortions at a younger age. Thus, more attention is required during implementation for unmarried and lower age youth regardless of the magnitude of the abortion.
Multidrug-resistant enterobacteria in newborn dairy calves in Germany
Authors: Waade Jil , Seibt Uwe , Honscha Walther , Rachidi Fanny , Starke Alexander , Speck Stephanie , Truyen Uwe
Published: March 2021

We studied the prevalence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producingEnterobacteriaceaein dairy calves as part of a routine health check protocol. In addition, data regarding antimicrobial use (AMU), farm hygiene, and farm management were collected in order to identify possible risks for ESBL occurrence. Ten farms participated in the study with a median of 781 milking cows (319–1701). All calves investigated were younger than two weeks with an average age of 6.8 (±3.9) days. The farms were visited and samples were collected twice at an interval of 7–11 months. Faecal samples diluted 1:10, were plated ontoBrillianceTMESBL agar in duplicates. After 24 hours at 37°C, colonies were counted and total colony forming units (cfu)/ml calculated. Bacteria species were identified biochemically. ESBL-production was phenotypically confirmed using the MICRONAUT-S β-Lactamases system. Additionally, antimicrobial susceptibility was tested using VITEK®2 technology. Phylotyping ofE.coliisolates and screening forblagenes was performed by PCR. ESBL-producing enterobacteria were detected on all farms and 96.5% of calves investigated shed ESBL-positive bacteria. Of all ESBL-producing isolates, the majority wereE.coli(92.9%), followed byEnterobacter cloacae(5.1%) andKlebsiella pneumoniaesubsp.pneumoniae(2.0%). The majority ofE.coliisolates was clearly assigned to phylogroup C (25.0%), followed by phylogroups A (15.2%) and E (14.1%). CTX-M group 1 was most frequently detected (80.4%).E.cloacaecontainedblaCTX-MandblaTEMorblaSHV.K.pneumoniaeharbouredblaSHVonly. Besides resistance to penicillins and cephalosporins, the majority of isolates was also resistant to one or more antibiotic classes, with a high proportion being resistant against fluoroqinolones. 52.5% of isolates were further characterised as threefold multidrug resistant gram-negative bacteria (3MDR-GNB) according to the German Commission for Hospital Hygiene and Infection Prevention. None of the isolates were 4MDR-GNB, i.e. none revealed carbapenem-resistance. Penicillins were the most frequently administered antibiotics to calves on most farms and were the predominant substance class at herd level on all farms. Overall, the number of calves treated prior to sampling was rather low (11.7%). Analyses of data regarding the farm management identified weaknesses in biosecurity and cleaning and disinfection. Besides beta-lactam antibiotics being the most commonly used antibiotics no other risk factors could be identified. In summary, the prevalence of ESBL-carriers in dairy calves was exceptionally high and should be motivation to develop strategies for the reduction of multidrug-resistant bacteria in farm animals.
Extra base hits: Widespread empirical support for instantaneous multiple-nucleotide changes
Authors: Lucaci Alexander G. , Wisotsky Sadie R. , Shank Stephen D. , Weaver Steven , Kosakovsky Pond Sergei L.
Published: March 2021

Despite many attempts to introduce evolutionary models that permit substitutions to instantly alter more than one nucleotide in a codon, the prevailing wisdom remains that such changes are rare and generally negligible or are reflective of non-biological artifacts, such as alignment errors. Codon models continue to posit that only single nucleotide change have non-zero rates. Here, we develop and test a simple hierarchy of codon-substitution models with non-zero evolutionary rates for only one-nucleotide (1H), one- and two-nucleotide (2H), or any (3H) codon substitutions. Using over 42, 000 empirical alignments, we find widespread statistical support for multiple hits: 61% of alignments prefer models with 2H allowed, and 23%—with 3H allowed. Analyses of simulated data suggest that these results are not likely to be due to simple artifacts such as model misspecification or alignment errors. Further modeling reveals that synonymous codon island jumping among codons encoding serine, especially along short branches, contributes significantly to this 3H signal. While serine codons were prominently involved in multiple-hit substitutions, there were other common exchanges contributing to better model fit. It appears that a small subset of sites in most alignments have unusual evolutionary dynamics not well explained by existing model formalisms, and that commonly estimated quantities, such as dN/dS ratios may be biased by model misspecification. Our findings highlight the need for continued evaluation of assumptions underlying workhorse evolutionary models and subsequent evolutionary inference techniques. We provide a software implementation for evolutionary biologists to assess the potential impact of extra base hits in their data in the HyPhy package and in the Datamonkey.org server.
Anti-asthmatic effect of nitric oxide metallo-donor FOR811A [cis-[Ru(bpy)2(2-MIM)(NO)](PF6)3] in the respiratory mechanics of Swiss mice
Authors: Costa Paula Priscila Correia , Waller Stefanie Bressan , dos Santos Gilvan Ribeiro , Gondim Fladimir de Lima , Serra Daniel Silveira , Cavalcante Francisco Sales Ávila , Gouveia Júnior Florêncio Sousa , de Paula Júnior Valdir Ferreira , Sousa Eduardo Henrique Silva , Lopes Luiz Gonzaga de França , Ribeiro Wesley Lyeverton Correia , Monteiro Helena Serra Azul
Published: March 2021

We aimed at evaluating the anti-asthmatic effect of cis-[Ru(bpy)2(2-MIM)(NO)](PF6)3 (FOR811A), a nitrosyl-ruthenium compound, in a murine model of allergic asthma. The anti-asthmatic effects were analyzed by measuring the mechanical lung and morphometrical parameters in female Swiss mice allocated in the following groups: untreated control (Ctl+Sal) and control treated with FOR811A (Ctl+FOR), along asthmatic groups untreated (Ast+Sal) and treated with FOR811A (Ast+FOR). The drug-protein interaction was evaluated by in-silico assay using molecular docking. The results showed that the use of FOR811A in experimental asthma (Ast+FOR) decreased the pressure-volume curve, hysteresis, tissue elastance, tissue resistance, and airway resistance, similar to the control groups (Ctl+Sal; Ctl+FOR). However, it differed from the untreated asthmatic group (Ast+Sal, p<0.05), indicating that FOR811A corrected the lung parenchyma and relaxed the smooth muscles of the bronchi. Similar to control groups (Ctl+Sal; Ctl+FOR), FOR811A increased the inspiratory capacity and static compliance in asthmatic animals (Ast+Sal, p<0.05), showing that this metallodrug improved the capacity of inspiration during asthma. The morphometric parameters showed that FOR811A decreased the alveolar collapse and kept the bronchoconstriction during asthma. Beyond that, the molecular docking using FOR811A showed a strong interaction in the distal portion of the heme group of the soluble guanylate cyclase, particularly with cysteine residue (Cys141). In summary, FOR811A relaxed bronchial smooth muscles and improved respiratory mechanics during asthma, providing a protective effect and promising use for the development of an anti-asthmatic drug.
Comparison of the clinical impact of 2-[18F]FDG-PET and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers in patients suspected of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Gjerum Le , Andersen Birgitte Bo , Bruun Marie , Simonsen Anja Hviid , Henriksen Otto Mølby , Law Ian , Hasselbalch Steen Gregers , Frederiksen Kristian Steen
Published: March 2021

Background

The two biomarkers 2-[18F]FDG-PET and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers are both recommended to support the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. However, there is a lack of knowledge for the comparison of the two biomarkers in a routine clinical setting.

Objective

The aim was to compare the clinical impact of 2-[18F]FDG-PET and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers on diagnosis, prognosis, and patient management in patients suspected of Alzheimer’s disease.

Methods

Eighty-one patients clinically suspected of Alzheimer’s disease were retrospectively included from the Copenhagen Memory Clinic. As part of the clinical work-up all patients had a standard diagnostic program examination including MRI and ancillary investigations with 2-[18F]FDG-PET and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers. An incremental study design was used to evaluate the clinical impact of the biomarkers. First, the diagnostic evaluation was based on the standard diagnostic program, then the diagnostic evaluation was revised after addition of either cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers or 2-[18F]FDG-PET. At each diagnostic evaluation, two blinded dementia specialists made a consensus decision on diagnosis, prediction of disease course, and change in patient management. Confidence in the decision was measured on a visual analogue scale (0–100). After 6 months, the diagnostic evaluation was performed with addition of the other biomarker. A clinical follow-up after 12 months was used as reference for diagnosis and disease course.

Results

The two biomarkers had a similar clinical value across all diagnosis when added individually to the standard diagnostic program. However, for the correctly diagnosed patient with Alzheimer’s disease cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers had a significantly higher impact on diagnostic confidence (mean scores±SD: 88±11 vs. 82±11, p = 0.046) and a significant reduction in the need for ancillary investigations (23 vs. 18 patients, p = 0.049) compared to 2-[18F]FDG-PET.

Conclusion

The two biomarkers had similar clinical impact on diagnosis, but cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers had a more significant value in corroborating the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease compared to 2-[18F]FDG-PET.
A Phytophthora sojae CRN effector mediates phosphorylation and degradation of plant aquaporin proteins to suppress host immune signaling
Authors: Ai Gan , Xia Qingyue , Song Tianqiao , Li Tianli , Zhu Hai , Peng Hao , Liu Jin , Fu Xiaowei , Zhang Ming , Jing Maofeng , Xia Ai , Dou Daolong
Published: March 2021

Phytophthora genomes encode a myriad of Crinkler (CRN) effectors, some of which contain putative kinase domains. Little is known about the host targets of these kinase-domain-containing CRNs and their infection-promoting mechanisms. Here, we report the host target and functional mechanism of a conserved kinase CRN effector named CRN78 in a notorious oomycete pathogen, Phytophthora sojae. CRN78 promotes Phytophthora capsici infection in Nicotiana benthamiana and enhances P. sojae virulence on the host plant Glycine max by inhibiting plant H2O2 accumulation and immunity-related gene expression. Further investigation reveals that CRN78 interacts with PIP2-family aquaporin proteins including NbPIP2;2 from N. benthamiana and GmPIP2-13 from soybean on the plant plasma membrane, and membrane localization is necessary for virulence of CRN78. Next, CRN78 promotes phosphorylation of NbPIP2;2 or GmPIP2-13 using its kinase domain in vivo, leading to their subsequent protein degradation in a 26S-dependent pathway. Our data also demonstrates that NbPIP2;2 acts as a H2O2 transporter to positively regulate plant immunity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that the phosphorylation sites of PIP2 proteins and the kinase domains of CRN78 homologs are highly conserved among higher plants and oomycete pathogens, respectively. Therefore, this study elucidates a conserved and novel pathway used by effector proteins to inhibit host cellular defenses by targeting and hijacking phosphorylation of plant aquaporin proteins.
Molecular detection and identification of Babesia bovis and Trypanosoma spp. in one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius) breeds in Egypt
Authors: El-Sayed Shimaa Abd El-Salam , El-Adl Mohamed A. , Ali Mayar O. , Al-Araby Mostafa , Omar Mosaab A. , El-Beskawy Mohamed , Sorour Shimaa Sobhy , Rizk Mohamed Abdo , Elgioushy Magdy
Published: March 2021

Background and Aim: Camels are a unique source of milk and meat, which helps recover from several diseases that affect humans worldwide. In Egypt, one of the great obstacles for this industry is tick-borne diseases. This study aimed to characterize blood parasite infections, such as Babesia (B.) bovis and Trypanosoma (T.) spp. in one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius) (n=142) breeds in Halayeb and Shalateen, Egypt, through phylogenetic analysis.

Materials and Methods: The prevalence of B. bovis and Trypanosoma spp. was identified in camels using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays targeting the Rhoptry-Associated Protein-1 and internal transcribed spacer 1 genes, respectively. A nested PCR technique was conducted to detect B. bovis. At the same time, KIN multispecies PCR assay was employed to diagnose and classify trypanosome DNA in camels.

Results: B. bovis was detected in 4/142 camels with an infection rate of 2.81%. Sequencing and phylogenetic analyses revealed that the strain of B. bovis isolated from this population was closely related to strains isolated from Argentine, the United States, and Brazil. Moreover, Trypanosoma evansi was detected in 8/142 camels with an infection rate of 5.63%. Sequencing and phylogenetic analyses revealed that this isolated strain T. evansi was closely related to Trypanosoma theileri detected from cattle in Brazil.

Conclusion: The obtained data indicated the existence of B. bovis and T. evansi in camels from two provinces of Egypt. The obtained findings have economic significance and reflect the importance of implementing effective prevention and control methods across Egypt to reduce the incidence of B. bovis and T. evansi in camels.
Pénzelméleti kihívások a modern gazdaságban
Authors: Botos Katalin
Published: March 2021

A tanulmány összefoglalja néhány hagyományos tételt megkérdőjelezését a pénzelméletben. A pénzteremtés nem a betétek, a„loanable funds” rendelkezésre állásától függ, vagyis a bankok nem pénzt közvetítenek, hanem teremtenek. A kereskedelmi bankok pénzteremtését nem szabályozza a jegybank, hanem utána megy annak, a szükséges mértékig. A kereskedelmi bankok egyre kevésbé a reálgazdasági termelést finanszírozzák, hanem az ingatlanpiacot és a befektetéseket. Beruházás helyett a fogyasztást. Nemcsak az állam deficitje és eladósodása, de a túlzott magán eladósodás is válságot okozhat. Nem az infláció a jelen időszak a fő problémája, hanem a defláció. Napjainkban a FED is, a ECB is, a kormányzat kötvényeinek szinte vásárlásával monetizálja a deficiteket. A központi bankok felhagytak korábbi tételeikkel, és a bankokon kívül, a magánszektort is közvetlenül is finanszírozzák. Megjelentek a kriptovaluták, és szabályozásuk nem megoldott. Felmerült az elektronikus jegybankpénz gondolata. A MMT, a modern monetáris teória, a Positive Money mozgalom és a szuverén pénz elmélete igyekszik választ keresni a fenti jelenségekre.
Vállalat és egyetem kutatás-fejlesztési együttműködése az Ipar 4.0 korszakában
Authors: Inzelt Annamária
Published: March 2021

A közel múltban az üzleti finanszírozású kutatás-fejlesztési kiadások döntő hányada a teljesen, vagy döntő mértékben külföldi tulajdonban lévő vállalatok finanszírozták Magyarországon. Ez a magas hányad azt jelzi, hogy külföldi vállalatoknak jelentős szerepe van a kutatási programok formálásában és a vállalkozások és az egyetemek együttműködéseiben. Ez a fejezet arra koncentrál, hogyan alakítják a külföldi vállalatok kutatási- és kísérleti fejlesztési együttműködéseket a vállalakozások és az egyetemek között, és érinti a kormányzat szerepét ebben. A kutatás-fejlesztési együttműködések tárgya nagymértékben függ a gazdasági és jogi környezettől, valamint a potenciális partnerektől. Ez az írás a multik fogadó országa perspektívájából arra keresi a választ, hogy a vállalatok milyen K+F keresletet generálnak az egyetemeken? Az együttműködésekben mennyire jelentős az Ipar 4.0- hoz köthető kutatások szerepe? Az egyetemekkel szerződő külföldi tulajdonú vállalatok hogyan formálják az egyetemek K+F tevékenységét és azoknak mi a hatása az egyetemekre az ipar 4.0 korszakában? Módszer: az elérhető adatállományok elemzése, vállalati és egyetemi weboldalakról való tájékozódás és interjúk az együttműködések kulcsszereplőivel.
A digitalizáció az Óperencián és az üveghegyen is túl
Authors: Majó-Petri Zoltán
Published: March 2021

A felsőoktatási piacokon belül nem csak az oktatási portfólió és az intézményrendszer van mozgásban 2010 óta, de átalakulóban van a tartalom fogyasztása is. A tanteremmel és a tanári jelenléttel leírható elsődleges fogyasztási mintázatok a digitális transzformáció mentén, a tömeges személyre szabás eszközrendszerével üzemszerűen működtethetők az online térben is: több tíz millió hallgatója van az online kurzusoknak világszerte. A cikkben egy generalista megközelítés mentén azt mutatom be, hogyan alakult ki ennek platform gazdasági modellje, kik ennek legnagyobb üzleti szereplői, milyen jellemző volumenekkel találkozhatunk. A magyarázó változók feltárása mellett bemutatásra kerül, hogy miért lehet sikeres egy MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) alapú képzési portfólió hosszabbtávon, és milyen átmeneti hibrid megoldások állnak előttünk annak érdekében, hogy az Ipar 4.0 megvalósításához szükséges oktatási transzformáció mozgásba lendüljön Magyarországon is.
Nem fiatalnak való vidék?
Authors: Farkas Tamás , Honti Tamás
Published: March 2021

A munkáltatói márka (employer brand) viszonylag új keletű kifejezés Magyarországon, célja elsősorban az új munkaerő megszerzése és a jelenlegi munkatársak megtartása. Szinte közhelyes megállapításnak tűnik már, hogy az utóbbi években Magyarországon a legtöbb szervezet munkaerőhiánnyal küzd, ezért újabb és átgondoltabb akciókra van szükség a tehetségek megtartásához. Kérdőíves kutatásunk során megvizsgáltuk, hogy a Csongrád megyei fiatalok hogyan vélekednek a megyében található foglalkoztatókról. Mitől vonzó egy munkáltató? Milyen tényezők játszanak szerepet az elhelyezkedésükben? Ha elköltöznének a megyéből, azt miért tennék? Azt találtuk, hogy a Csongrád megyei fiatalok számára a legfontosabb tényezők egy munkahely kiválasztásakor a fizetés és juttatás, a munka-magánélet egyensúlya és a kellemes munkakörnyezet.
KPI-tree modell fejlesztése predikciós eljárások alkalmazásával
Authors: Gáspár Sándor , Thalmeiner Gergő
Published: March 2021

A controlling fejlődése az elmúlt években a big data, mesterséges intelligencia, a különböző matematikai statisztikai módszertanok fejlődése és a digitalizáció által olyan modelleket hozott létre a menedzsment számára, amelyek hatékonyabb döntéshozást és tervezési folyamatot tettek lehetővé. A különböző predikciós illetve ok-okozati controlling modellek a döntéshozáshoz szükséges információtartalmat nagymértékben növelték. Számos új, különböző operatív mérési lehetőség és adatszerzési forrás jelent meg a gépészet és az informatika által létrehozott innovációk által. Ezen adatok önmagukban nagyon kevésszer hordoznak információ tartalmat. Összességében egy strukturált rendszerben, illetve modellben viszont olyan információ halmazzá válhatnak ezek az adatok, amelyek akár képesek egy teljes szervezet működési modelljének ok-okozati összefüggéseit elemezni és a különböző menedzsment funkciókat a tervezéstől egészen az ellenőrzésig támogatni.
A kompozit mutatók és helyettesítő változók problémái
Authors: Dusek Tamás
Published: March 2021

Napjaink statisztikai mutatókat felhasználó gazdasági-társadalmi elemzéseinek
egyik jellegzetessége a konkrét, kézzelfogható eredeti adatok helyettesítése
kevésbé megfogható kompozit indikátorokkal, amik a megfigyelési egységeket
rangsorolják vagy valamilyen mérőszámmal írják le. Néhány közismert példát
megnevezve, oktatási intézmények minőségi rangsorai, világvárosok
élhetősége, városok biztonsága, városok okossága, országok innovativitása,
kórházi teljesítmény rangsorolása, emberi fejlettség indexe, országok
versenyképessége általában sok (ami a néhánytól a sokszázig terjed) változó
figyelembe vételével képzett mutatókkal történik. Az ilyen elemzések egy
részében ráadásul közvetlenül nem mérhető, sokszor bizonytalan koncepciókat
írnak le, a közvetlen mérhetőség hiányában helyettesítő (proxy) változókkal,
amelyek alkalmassága sokszor megkérdőjelezhető, és amelyek eltávolítják
egymástól a koncepciót és az adatot. A tanulmány a kompozit mutatók és
helyettesítő változók elterjedésének okaival, következményeivel,
problémáival foglalkozik.
Békés megye turizmusának elemzése 2008–2018 közötti időszakban
Authors: Glózik Klára
Published: March 2021

Békés megye turizmusa az elmúlt közel egy évtized alatt nagy változáson esett át. Egyre több turista érkezik a dél-alföldi régió legkeletibb megyéjébe. Mindez köszönhető az elmúlt évek turisztikai fejlesztéseinek, a TDM-ek létrejöttének és nem utolsó sorban a nagyarányú marketing munkának. Ugyanakkor a megye lakosságának száma csökken, a megélhetési mutatók az országos átlagnál jóval alacsonyabbak. Mi okozhatja ezt az ellentétet, hiszen a turisták többnyire azokat a helyeket keresik fel, ahol a helyiek is jól érzik magukat. Erre a kérdésre igyekszem válaszokat keresni tanulmányomban.
A felsőfokú számviteles képzésben zajló oktatás fejlesztés értékelése hallgatói megkérdezések alapján
Authors: Mikáczó Éva
Published: March 2021

A felsőfokú oktatás modernizálása és az erre a célra kapott Uniós források hatékony felhasználása, alapvető elvárás. Célom értékelni az elvégzett fejlesztési munkát és kijelölni a további feladatokat a több irányból megfogalmazódó követelmények, a fejlesztési módszerek, a hatékonyság mérésére szolgáló eszközök elméleti áttekintésére alapozva. Saját kutatásom az alapképzés, számvitel szakirányos hallgatói számára oktatott, a képzést záró gyakorlati esettanulmányt feldolgozó tárgy oktatási gyakorlatával kapcsolatos. A hallgatói vélemények alapján értékelem a hallgatói elvárások és az oktatás gyakorlatának kapcsolatát, a hallgatók bemeneti paramétereit (előképzettség – megalapozottság; tanulás stílus) a félév során a hallgatók bevonódását, az elért eredmények, és a kialakult vélemények kapcsolatát.
Para Infectious Guillain–Barre Syndrome (GBS) in Covid-19 – A Case Report
Authors: Lahole Swapnil , Acharya Sourya , Raisinghani Nitin , Kumar Sunil , Ghule Aishwarya
Published: March 2021

Covid-19 is a disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). SARS-CoV-2 which affects respiratory, gastrointestinal and neurological systems. It not only causes atypical pneumonia with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), but also, acute cardiac damage, acute renal failure and gastrointestinal complications.1 It is a disorder that not only presents with fever and respiratory symptoms but can involve the nervous system with varied presentations in form of cerebrovascular accident, loss of taste, loss of smell, myelopathy, neuropathy, meningitis and encephalitis.2 Some cases of Guillain–Barre syndrome (GBS) associated with SARS-CoV-2 have been reported in the literature. GBS is acute immune mediated inflammatory polyradiculopathy.3 GBS presents as limb weakness or cranial nerve weakness, loss of deep tendon reflex, autonomic dysfunction due to peripheral nerve demyelination and sensory root demyelination.
The Ideology of Late Imperialism
Authors: Xu Zhun
Published: March 2021

In 1990, when renowned Indian Marxian economist Prabhat Patnaik asked "Whatever Happened to Imperialism?," once vibrant and influential schools of theories on imperialism were at a postwar historic low. When he left the West to return to India in 1974, imperialism was at the center of all Marxist discussions. But when, he came back to the West merely fifteen years later, however, imperialism already seemed out of fashion. The retreat from the question of imperialism has marked a return of what we can call Second International politics.
Personnel potential of CPI in 1976—1985: problems of formation and functioning
Authors: Komlev P.
Published: March 2021

Personnel potential is the most important indicator of the efficiency of each university. The relevance of the issue of the quality of training and work of scientific and pedagogical personnel is confirmed by the new challenges faced by the higher education system during the pandemic and the associated transition to a distance learning format. Thanks to the faculty, most Russian universities were able to timely restructure their training courses, adapt to new conditions, and prepare students for intermediate and final certification. Teachers of SUSU showed a high result in mastering new ways of organizing work, demonstrating professionalism and competence in a crisis situation. The remote format of work, the transition to which was unscheduled and forced, revealed new qualitative characteristics of the personnel potential of Russian universities. For the state, criteria for determining the quality of higher school workers were formed back in the Soviet era. Among the universities of Chelyabinsk that were actively engaged in research activities during the study period, the Chelyabinsk Polytechnic Institute should be distinguished. The article analyzes the main directions of formation and functioning of personnel potential of PSI. Contradictions of the specified period in the work of the teaching staff of the higher school are revealed. The effectiveness of the state policy for the development of university science is analyzed, imbalances in the functioning of the personnel potential of technical departments and the peculiarities of the work of structural divisions of the university related to the teaching of social sciences are characterized.
A lei 13.415/2017 e algumas implicações no currÃ­culo do ensino médio no que tange ao ensino de artes
Authors: Mourão Srilis Leonel
Published: March 2021

Esse texto busca trazer para o debate a Lei 13.415 de 2017 e suas implicações no currÃ­culo do ensino médio no que tange ao ensino de artes (Música; Dança; Teatro), mais especificamente os artigos 26 e 36 que são os direcionados a tal nÃ­vel educacional. O ensino de artes na última década obteve grandes conquistas diante de conteúdos especÃ­ficos direcionados a formação para o mercado de trabalho com a inclusão da música como componente obrigatório na matriz curricular, ampliação das escolas de tempo integral e criação dos Institutos Federais através da Lei 11.892/2008, porém a Lei 13.415 dá indÃ­cios de estar havendo um retrocesso nas conquistas, um alargamento para menos. Enquanto se busca ampliar o tempo do estudante em sala de aula com o ensino médio em tempo integral não se prevê uma estrutura, ou seja, busca-se mudar a conjuntura sem mexer na estrutura, ou melhor, encurtando a estrutura no que tange a professores de certas disciplinas consideradas â€œsupérfluasâ€, ocasionando uma ruptura no processo educativo do ensino fundamental para o ensino médio. Este texto tem a intenção de trazer alguns pontos especÃ­ficos para reflexão, buscando criar um dialogo entre trechos da LDB 9394/96, com a Lei 13.415 e autores que estudam o currÃ­culo do ensino médio, e assim permitir uma troca de informações com o objetivo de trazer um esclarecimento Ã s implicações de tais reformas.
Magic forest, a game about digestion
Authors: Pescke Ismael Krüger , Montanari Tatiana
Published: March 2021

The making of knowledge is based on the interaction between the subject and the object, and the digital educational games guarantee a multimedia interactivity, because visual and sound stimuli and action resources are conjoined. A game was developed to support the teaching about the digestive system in Science and Biology classes at the elementary and high school level. Magic forest, a game about digestion was created by Adobe Captivate software, using photographs of histological sections under a light microscope, and illustrations and animations made by Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and After Effects software. The cells of the stomach were personified and inserted in a storyboard about their functional role. Puzzles and memory exercises promoted playfulness and interactivity. Audio was added. The game was published in learning environment Virtual museum of the human body learning environment (www.ufrgs.br/museuvirtual/jogos) with free access. Because visual language and interactivity features of the game, we hope to promote in a dynamic and playful way the understanding about the structure and the physiology of the digestive system.
A iniciação Ã improvisação no piano popular: análise de métodos e elaboração de proposta didática
Authors: Pereira Eliton Perpetuo Rosa , Gomes Otoniel Pereira
Published: March 2021

A temática desta pesquisa tem foco na iniciação Ã  improvisação no piano popular, enquanto uma ação educativa musical de introdução dos estudantes desse instrumento no universo da improvisação, enquanto atividade de ensino de música, mas principalmente como atividade de vivência musical relacionada Ã  música popular. O estudo objetivou realizar uma análise comparativa das publicações mais usadas pelos músicos populares brasileiros sobre harmonia e improvisação, em edições impressas em português ou traduções impressas no Brasil. Foram encontradas nove publicações com este perfil e a análise se deu por meio de cinco categorias principais: 1) iniciação musical; 2) conceitos de improvisação; 3) aspectos rÃ­tmicos, melódicos e harmônicos; 4) exercÃ­cios práticos (técnica e repertório); e 5) aspectos didáticos. Os resultados apontam regularidades, especificidades e lacunas dessas publicações mais circuladas no Brasil entre os professores de piano popular e entre os músicos improvisadores. Concernente ao processo de iniciação Ã  improvisação no piano popular, destacamos os aspectos relacionados ao planejamento, Ã  sequência de conteúdos e atividades práticas.
Brazilian high school students conceptions about alcoholic beverages
Authors: Schmitz Gabriela Luisa , Dalcin Saulo Roth , Oliveira Cláudia Sirlene , Rocha João Batista Teixeira
Published: March 2021

Alcohol consumption is high among adolescents. It is important to implement preventive policies to avoid alcohol consumption by adolescents. We assessed the preconceptions of 171 Brazilian adolescents (15 to 18 years) from high school, on the use of alcohol. We compared studentsâ€™ view with the scientific information to inform educators about the potential social and biological hazards of ethanol consumption that could be used as support material in the classroom. Studentsâ€™ approval of alcohol consumption was high. However, the knowledge about chronic toxicological risks of alcohol consumption was almost absent. These results indicate that, in the students' conception, the neurobiological reward provided by alcohol outweighs the negative impacts of this substance. Thus, we strongly suggest that basic school curricula must cover the socio-toxicological effects of ethanol consumption as a strategy to increase the visibility and perceptions about the negative impact of alcohol consumption.
Ejercicio físico regular y variables cognitivas y emocionales en mujeres
Authors: León Zarceño Eva , Serrano Rosa Miguel Ángel
Published: March 2021

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo conocer el efecto del tiempo de práctica de ejercicio físico y las horas semanales de práctica sobre algunos aspectos cognitivos, emocionales y antropométricos (peso). 250 mujeres (edad media= 49.08 años) completaron cuestionarios de salud psicológica y datos sociodemográficos. Los análisis estadísticos mostraron que las horas semanales de práctica predicen parte de la varianza del peso, estabilidad emocional, autoconcepto y autoestima. Por otro lado, el tiempo de práctica (meses) predice significativamente las variables control cognitivo, estabilidad emocional, autoconcepto y autoestima. Los resultados obtenidos apoyan el hecho de que la actividad física favorece las variables cognitivas y afectivas, y que la variable relevante es el tiempo que llevan practicando ejercicio físico y no las horas semanales de práctica deportiva. En definitiva, en mujeres a más tiempo de práctica mayor control cognitivo, estabilidad emocional, autoconcepto y autoestima.