bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EFFECT OF CRUSHED DOUM PALM SHELL AS PARTIAL REPLACEMENT OF COARSE AGGREGATE IN CONCRETE
Authors: Liman A. Z. , Adagba T. , Umar H. A.
Published: June 2021

The use of alternative materials in place of natural aggregate in concrete production has been getting attention all around the globe; this makes concrete a sustainable and environmentally friendly construction material. In this study the use of crushed doum palm shell (CDPS) as partial replacement for coarse aggregate in concrete production was investigated. The concrete grade 30 was used for the research with a water /cement ratio of 0.45. The control sample contained normal concrete ingredient cement, fine aggregate and coarse aggregate. The CDPS replacement by weight was varied at 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25% respectively for the test sample. The 28-day compressive strength of the concrete using Doum palm shell aggregate was found to be 28.0 and 20.2 MPa at 5 and 10% replacement under full water curing and it satisfies the requirement for structural lightweight concrete which was more than 17MPa. The study recommended replacement of coarse aggregate up to a maximum of 10 % crushed doum palm shell for structural light weight concrete and it encourage the use of agricultural wastes in construction as an environmental protection and cost reduction measure. However, results from laboratory investigations indicated that crushed doum palm shell (CDPS) has good potential as a coarse aggregate for production of structural lightweight concrete, especially for low-cost housing and also for use in earthquake prone areas.
Az idősek foglalkoztatottsága és az élettel való elégedettsége. Az Európai Életminőség-felmérések adatainak elemzése
Authors: Berde Éva , Tőkés László
Published: June 2021

Az Európai Életminőség-felmérés eddig publikált négy hulláma közül az utolsó három együttes adatait vizsgáltuk az idősebb munkavállalók élettel való elégedettségének feltárására. A legkisebb négyzetek elvét, valamint az ún. ordinális eredményváltozójú logisztikus modellt alkalmazva rámutattunk, hogy a foglalkoztatottak élettel való elégedettsége, számos más karakterisztikára kontrollálva, magasabb, mint a munkanélkülieké. A pozitív hatás azonban az idős foglalkoztatottak esetében alacsonyabb. We used the last three waves of the European Quality of Life Surveys to analyze grey-haired employed persons’ satisfaction with their life. Applying ordinary least squares and ordered logit models we showed that employed persons have greater life satisfaction on average than unemployed ones, ceteris paribus. Although this positive effect is smaller in the case of older employed persons.
BUSINESS PROCESS RE-ENGINEERING THROUGH 3 HARD Ss McKINSEY FRAMEWORK AS WORKING CAPITAL MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (CASE STUDY: PT. XYZ – 2020/2021)
Authors: Prasetyo Wibisono Adhi , Yudoko Gatot
Published: June 2021

Due to the negative operating cash flow, working capital's unsatisfactory performance indicates that internal business processes exist. Meanwhile, the COVID-19 pandemic urges the management to be wiser in making decisions, primarily to support better working capital management. They cannot rely forever on its aggressive capital structure. Accordingly, the management committed to carrying out operation improvement related to working capital management. This decision is the background of this research to identify and analyze the root cause problems and improvement plan issues. Further investigations regarding the business issue are conducted, and business process re-engineering through the 3 hard Ss framework is selected as the research design. These frameworks are approached due to their capability to map the thorough process and link them to one another. These combination improvement ideas over the ineffective and inefficient activities could be blended while organized to be aligned with the organizational directions. This research is conducted through a semi-structured interview to explore the company conditions and uses secondary data to gather the information and strengthen the evidence. At least 14 ineffective and inefficient activities were then carried out a root-cause analysis to determine the source of the problem that had to be eliminated. Based on these findings, four management improvements are suggested: Production management, Receivable Management, Payable management, and Cash flow control and monitoring translated into action plan strategies, procedures, and tools which are equipped structurally and systems.
From Secular Muslim Feminisim to Islamic Feminism(s) and New Generation Islamic Feminists in Egypt, Iran and Turkey
Authors: DALAMAN Zeynep Banu
Published: June 2021

In dominantly Muslim societies, there have been two major feminist paradigms referred to as “secular Muslim feminism” emerging at late nineteenth century and “Islamic feminism(s)” arising after the 4th women world congress in Beijing in 1995. They evolved in historical contexts where new subjects and identities were being re/fashioned out of shifting combinations of religious, class, ethnic, and national affiliations. On the one hand, secular Muslim feminism joined the western oriented first wave of liberal feminism including secular nationalists, Islamic modernists, humanitarian/human rightists, and democrats. Islamic feminism, on the other hand, is expressed in a single or dominantly religiously grounded discourse taking the Qur'an as its core text. In this article, I reflect on the roots of feminism in the Middle East with a particular emphasis on Egypt, Iran and Turkey. I discuss secular feminism and Islamic feminism, and what makes them distinct. Finally, I discuss whether a new wave of Islamic feminism has been formed with the criticisms of a new generation of Islamic feminists.
Dual-Function Germicidal Recirculators for Air Disinfection and Erythema Irradiation or Room Lighting
Authors: Wasserman Alexander L. , Skopin Anton Yu.
Published: June 2021

This paper discusses different types of UV germicidal irradiators (UVIs), including (probably, for the first time) dual-function germicidal recirculators (producing germicidal irradiation together with erythema irradiation or illumination) and their characteristics. Methodological indications illustrated with examples, as well as some necessary information for public health officers in charge of epidemiological surveillance, are useful for relevant engineering calculations.
CRITICAL THINKING DEVELOPMENT OF CADETS DURING LEARNING
Authors:   The National academy of the National Guard of Ukraine, Bohdanova O.
Published: June 2021

The article aims to the critical thinking development of cadets. In today's world there is an excess of information and it is necessary to be able to thoughtfully perceive and analyze it. It contributes to both the competent use and skillful use of the information provided, especially nowadays when there are information wars. Media literacy is considered as one of the key skills of modern education and how media content can influence the choice of products of general consumption by higher education seekers. In the article the author has analyzed how to find information through the prism of critical thinking in such a way as to make rational decisions based on it. A media-literate cadet is able to carry out effective and rational selection of information. Obviously, media literacy is a necessary condition for critical understanding and interpretation of the phenomena of foreign culture, which is represented in media texts. Under these conditions, the education system must meet the needs of society in critical media literacy professionals who can effectively use the media environment to solve various professional, social and personal problems. Obviously, media literacy is a necessary condition for critical understanding and interpretation of the phenomena of foreign culture, which is represented in media texts. Media literacy skills are extremely important for cadets in terms of continuing education: throughout their lives, the media will be one of the sources of relevant information about the language, the country of the studied language and foreign language culture necessary for effective professional activity. In our study, we divided advertising into three types of perceptions: ethos, logos, and pathos, the so-called compelling advertising techniques used by advertisers who want you to buy their product. We considered the information war in the context of today, and methods of counteracting this war. It`s necessary to teach cadets to evaluate the reliability of web sources and to identify bias, logical errors and misleading arguments so that cadets do not fall victim to false or biased information and so that they can build sound arguments to avoid misinformation.
MATHEMATICAL MODEL OF IMPLEMENTATION OF FIRE TASKS BY TANK CREW ON THE BATTLEFIELD
Authors:   National Academy of Land Forces named after Hetman Petro Sagaidachny, Khaustov D. , Khaustov Ya. ,   National Academy of Land Forces named after Hetman Petro Sagaidachny, Sokolovskij V. ,   The National academy of the National Guard of Ukraine
Published: June 2021

Reconnaissance and defeat of enemy targets on the battlefield depends on the technical characteristics of surveillance and sighting devices, and it is important to ensure their effective operation, during both the day and night, especially in adverse weather conditions. Therefore, in the field of modernization and development of surveillance and sighting devices, by both domestic and foreign manufacturers, in recent years there has been a major trend towards the development of multi-channel sighting systems on armored vehicles. To determine the optimal parameters of the sighting systems of armored vehicle samples, it is necessary to develop a mathematical model that would take into account the entire process of target reconnaissance, including the impact of full range of natural and man-made obstacles, to determine the ways for the improvement of combat effectiveness of weapons samples. In this work, a mathematical model is developed for description of fire tasks execution on the battlefield by a tank crew, which is equipped with a multi-channel sight-monitoring system, to assess the work of the sighting system as whole as well as of each of its channels. The analysis of the functional scheme of solving the combat task shows that the stage of data acquisition should be divided into, at least three, separate states, namely: detection, recognition and identification such that the transitions between these states will be described by the corresponding probabilities. The developed model describes the sequence of events that in terms of probability theory form a Markov chain. The proposed analytical Markov model allows for modeling the solution of fire tasks by the tank crew equipped with a multi-channel sighting and observation system with separate consideration of the stages of target reconnaissance, its recognition and identification, which in turn are considered as separate states of the Markov chain. The model opens a possibility for the development of an extended model to determine a quantitative indicator to assess the effectiveness of a given sighting system in comparison with its analogs.
Utilização da farinha de castanha de caju na elaboração de biscoito integral tipo cookie
Authors: Silva Ysabele Yngrydh Valente , Amaral Sheyla Maria Barreto , Moura Séfura Maria Assis
Published: June 2021

O presente trabalhou objetivou elaborar biscoitos integrais tipo cookie, utilizando a farinha da castanha de caju (FCC) em substituição parcial à farinha de trigo, e avaliar as características microbiológicas, centesimal e sensorial. Foram elaboradas três formulações: C0: controle, produzida sem a FCC; C50 e C75, com 50% e 75% de adição da FCC, respectivamente. Os biscoitos foram submetidos a análises microbiológicas, de composição centesimal, análise sensorial por escala hedônica e intenção de compra. Os resultados das análises microbiológicas asseguraram a qualidade higiênico-sanitária na elaboração dos cookies, confirmando que se encontravam aptos para o consumo, estando de acordo com a legislação. Na análise centesimal, as formulações C0 e as adicionadas da farinha da castanha de caju, não apresentaram diferenças significativas em relação ao teor de proteínas e cinzas; a C0 apresentou o maior percentual de lipídios, porém, as amostras C50 e C75 apresentaram os maiores teores de fibras. Quanto ao teste sensorial, os maiores percentuais de aprovação obtidos foram para a formulação C75, com índice de aceitabilidade (IA) em torno de 80% para todos os atributos analisados. Para os atributos textura e sabor, as amostras C50 e C75 obtiveram as maiores notas. Os resultados indicam que os cookies produzidos com adição da farinha da castanha de caju apresentam importantes benefícios nutricionais e ótima aceitabilidade, constituindo um produto com importante potencial de mercado.
Comportamento ingestivo de novilhos Nelore em fases da terminação distintas, recebendo dietas de alto grão com ureia encapsulada ou não
Authors: Pazdiora Raul Dirceu , Faria Marcelo Henrique de , Pazdiora Bruna Rafaela Caetano Nunes , Santos José Keoma Salles , Silva Marcus Vinicius da , Dib Vanessa , Carmo Felipe Oliveira do , Souza José Eduardo dos Santos Melo de , Rivas Ricardo , Ferreira Luiz Henrique , Rodrigues Antônio Rafael Camargo , Castro João Moreira , Resende Flávio Dutra de
Published: June 2021

Objetivou-se avaliar o comportamento ingestivo de novilhos Nelores alimentados com dietas contendo ureia encapsulada ou não, em quatro períodos da terminação dos animais confinados. Foram utilizados 32 e 28; 24 e 21; 16 e 14; 8 e 7 animais para as dietas sem e com ureia encapsulada nos 1º; 2º; 3º e 4º períodos, respectivamente. Cada período foi composto por 50 dias, com exceção do último que teve 45 dias. Os animais foram confinados em baias individuais. Cada avaliação, dentro do período, foi de 48 h consecutivas, com intervalos de observação de 10 minutos. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado em arranjo fatorial 2 x 4 e, para a comparação das médias, foi utilizado o teste “t” de student. Houve interação entre dietas e as avaliações nos períodos para o consumo e eficiência de ruminação da matéria seca, e para as demais variáveis estudadas não ocorreu interação. O tempo de ócio foi maior e o de ruminação foi menor para os animais que receberam a dieta sem ureia encapsulada em relação à dieta com ureia encapsulada. O tempo de alimentação dos animais foi maior para a avaliação do segundo período, porém não diferem do primeiro e quarto períodos. O tempo de ócio foi maior na avaliação do segundo período e semelhante com a avaliação no terceiro período. O comportamento ingestivo é alterado em diferentes períodos do confinamento e pela composição da dieta.
Avaliação da qualidade da água subterrânea na região dos Bancários em João Pessoa – PB
Authors: Medeiros Laísa Thayse Gomes de , Farto Cindy Deina , Athayde Júnior Gilson Barbosa
Published: June 2021

As águas subterrâneas são as fontes alternativas mais procuradas para suprir a demanda do abastecimento humano, pois possuem geralmente uma boa qualidade, devido ao solo funcionar como um filtro natural para sua purificação. Nesse sentido, este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a qualidade das águas subterrâneas nas proximidades do bairro Bancários em João Pessoa – PB, tendo como referência a Portaria de Consolidação nº 05/2017 do Ministério da Saúde acerca dos padrões de potabilidade da água, assim como na Resolução nº 396/2008 do CONAMA, que trata da classificação e diretrizes ambientais para o enquadramento das águas subterrâneas de acordo com os seus usos preponderantes. A pesquisa desenvolvida utilizou informações de 26 análises físico-químicas e bacteriológicas de água fornecidas por cinco condomínios residenciais, abrangendo o período de 2012 a 2018. Os resultados são apresentados através de gráficos para os parâmetros físico-químicos avaliados (cloreto, acidez, pH, cor, dureza total, turbidez, sólidos totais dissolvidos), enquanto a análise de variância foi realizada pelo método GT-2, com nível de significância de 5%. A pesquisa também abordou análises bacteriológicas dos referidos poços. Os resultados evidenciaram que não existe diferença significativa do ponto de vista estatístico entre as médias dos poços, estando as amostras dentro dos padrões estabelecidos pelas legislações supracitadas, com exceção de algumas amostras para o parâmetro pH.
Depressão como fator de risco para suicídio: Uma revisão sistemática
Authors: Furtado Igor Mendes , Medeiros Filho Osman Batista de
Published: June 2021

Objetivo: Analisar a relação existente entre a depressão como fator de risco para o suicídio. Metodologia: Foi adotado o método de Revisão Sistemática da Literatura, cuja questão norteadora foi “Como a depressão influencia diretamente para o aumento das taxas de suicídio”?  A temática da pesquisa foi buscada nas bases de dados Scientific Electronic Library Online (SCIELO) e na U. S. National Library of Medicine (PUBMED), da implantação dos Descritores em Ciências da Saúde (DeCS): (“suicide” AND “depression”). Os critérios de inclusão utilizados foram: presença dos DeCS, idioma português ou espanhol, texto completo disponível, estudos em humanos e estudos transversais. Após a aplicação dos filtros, apenas sete artigos se encaixaram nos critérios de elegibilidade. Resultados: Foi evidenciado através dos autores que as taxas da prática suicida relacionados à depressão têm aumentado de forma significativa, configurando-se em uma das principais causas de morte e problemas de saúde pública enfrentados na atualidade. Conclusão:  Através desse estudo, foi revelado que as taxas de práticas suicidas relacionados a transtornos depressivos são notoriamente elevadas e que é necessário a existência de ferramentas científicas e econômicas para haver a prevenção dos casos de suicídios na esfera global.
Size at sexual maturity and seasonal reproductive activity of the Caribbean spiny lobster Panulirus argus
Authors: Atherley NAM , Dennis MM , Behringer DC , Freeman MA
Published: June 2021

The Caribbean spiny lobster Panulirus argus, a long-lived decapod crustacean, is fished throughout its geographical range and generates close to 1 billion US dollars annually. Fisheries across this range are fully- or over-exploited, spurring management strategies such as closed seasons and minimum size limitations. The objective of this study was to determine the minimum legal size and appropriate closed season for the lobster population of Saint Kitts and Nevis by assessing and comparing the functional, physiological and morphological determinants of sexual maturity. Such a comparison has never been attempted for this species. Females did not reach functional maturity until 87.8 mm carapace length (CL) based on the presence of a spermatophore and eggs, but reached morphological maturity based on the presence of ovigerous setae at 72.5 mm CL. Physiological maturity was intermediate at 82.8 mm CL. Determinants of functional maturity overestimate the size at sexual maturity, while the presence of ovigerous setae underestimates it. The gonadosomatic index, a reliable method of assessing physiological maturity in female P. argus, can be used to monitor changes in reproductive activity in both males and females. Gross assessment of the ovary may be used to determine size at physiological maturity, and functional maturity can be used to calculate peak periods of reproduction. The peak physiological and functional maturity for P. argus occurs from March to May. As a result, we propose a closed season from March to June and suggest assessment of reproductive dynamics in order to determine minimum legal size for harvesting P. argus.
Automatic Graph Generation for E-learning Systems
Authors: Zainullina R.
Published: June 2021

The subject of the research is one of the ways of updating modern training systems for solving problems of graph theory, namely, automatic generation of graphs. This approach will reduce the load on the training system database and generate tasks for the user in real-time without updating the bank of tasks. In the course of the work, the advantages and disadvantages of this approach were identified. The most suitable method for the implementation of the research was chosen to represent graphs in electronic computers. The requirements for generated graphs and possible ways of implementing these requirements are identified and substantiated. Namely: in the implemented program, simple connected undirected graphs will be generated. We considered an important detail in working with graphs — graph traversal using the “Depth (width) search” algorithm, which in this task is used to check the graph for connectivity. The result of the work is presented — a software implementation of the graph generation algorithm in the C# programming language. In it, graphs are represented by an adjacency list, generated randomly, and checked for connectivity using the DFS (Depth First Search) function. DFS is a software implementation of the Depth First Search algorithm.
IBS‑like syndromes in clinic of internal diseases: current state of problem
Authors: Osadchuk A. M. , Loranskaya I. D. , Osadchuk M. A.
Published: June 2021

IBS-like syndromes are one of the most important problems in gastroenterology. The clinical picture is identical to that of irritable bowel syndrome can be associated with inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer, celiac disease, food allergy, lactase deficiency enteropathy, non-celiac sensitivity, gluten and other diseases. In this regard, irritable bowel syndrome is a diagnosis of exclusion and always requires a rather complex differential diagnosis to establish the true cause of the disease, conduct adequate therapy and achieve a stable remission. The purpose of the review was to obtain scientific knowledge about IBS-like syndromes and to develop optimal management tactics for these patients. The review demonstrates that the clinical manifestations of IBS are largely nonspecific due to the frequent transition of one form of the disease to another, which creates certain difficulties in making a diagnosis. Timely diagnosis of IBS-like syndromes, often superimposed on the already existing IBS pathology, significantly improves the results of treatment of patients with intestinal symptoms and ensures long-term preservation of remission of the disease.
Multitarget therapy in patients with GERD and obesity
Authors: Tikhonov S. V. , Simanenkov V. I. , Bakulina N. V. , Vorzheinova V. A. , Papin K. V. , Rodionova N. V. , Korzhilova T. M.
Published: June 2021

The article presents the results of a clinical study involving 59 overweight or obese patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease. Non-erosive reflux diseasewas diagnosed in 30 (51%), erosive esophagitis A (Los Angeles endoscopic classification) in 29 (49%) patients. The severity of the main symptoms of GERDwas assessed, physical examination, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, daily pH impedance monitoring of the upper gastrointestinal tract, psychometrictesting were performed. The body mass index correlated with age (0.35); the presence of a diaphragmatic hernia (0.32); cough (0.35); pH in the stomach(0.30); the number of slightly alkaline gastroesophageal refluxes (0.32); slightly alkaline time in the esophagus in minutes (0.30) and percent (0.32); reactiveanxiety (0.30), number of points of FF scale (–0.26) and MH scale of the SF-36 questionnaire (–0.25). Waist circumference correlated with the presence oferosive esophagitis (0.25); male sex (0.32); diaphragm hernia of (0.40); duodenogastric reflux (0.42); DeMeester index (0.31), the duration of the longest acidgastroesophageal reflux (0.25). Patients with erosive esophagitis compared with patients with non-erosive reflux disease more often consumed alcohol;had higher BMI; more often had epigastric pain and oral bitterness, longer bolus time in the esophagus and poorer quality of life according to the MHscale of the SF-36 questionnaire. Taking into account the revealed features of pathogenesis, the drugs of choice in the treatment of GERD in overweightand obese patients may be multitarget molecules of itopride hydrochloride (Itomed®), ursodeoxycholic acid (Ursosan®) and rebamipid (Rebagit®).
PENERAPAN METODE MEASUREMENT SYSTEM ANALYSIS GAGE R&R PADA PENGUKURAN PRODUK BASE PLATE MAGAZINE
Authors: Setyabudhi Albertus Laurensius , Veza Okta , Meldra Delia , Abdurahman Nandar Cundara , Reza Saputra Muhammad Rizki
Published: June 2021

In the current era of globalization, the perceived quality competition globally is manufacturing. Manufacture industry competition makes companies must concentrate on product quality. and the quality of the factors affecting the product is wrong, such as human resources, tools / machines, and the environment can also cause product quality. And one of the companies engaged in the manufacturing industry, namely PT. APT has a problem with the quality measurement of the dimensions of size on one of the products made, where the product can’t be accepted by the customer and declared reject on all the number of products sent. There are indications of QC checking errors within the company so that reject products are accepted as acceptable. The purpose of this research is to find out what are the main causes of goods declared acceptable internally within the company and when it arrives at the customer is declared reject. And find solutions to how such mistakes do not happen again. To solve this problem, this study uses the MSA (Measurement System Analysis Gage R&R) method which has the advantage of knowing the cause of quality problems in detail whether from the people, tools, or supporting factors in a measurement. So that mistakes that occur before do not happen again and the company can run more effectively, efficiently and consistently in measuring and checking.
ANALISIS POTENSI RISIKO POSTUR KERJA PEMBATIK PADA UMKM MURIA BATIK KUDUS
Authors: Alifiana Mia Ajeng , Sokhibi Akh. , Lusianti Dina
Published: June 2021

One of the non-object cultural heritages owned by the Indonesian people is batik. Batik is a typical Indonesian cloth spread throughout the archipelago. The process of making batik is mostly still traditional, starting from the process of making patterns on the mori cloth to the process of preparing the cloth, giving patterns, nglowong / canting, isen-isen, nembok, first coloring / medel, ngerok, mbironi stage, second coloring / greeting , nglorod and washing batik. In this batik-making process, the batik workers work continuously with a detailed type of work and the work posture of the batik is on a chair that is not designed with the dimensions of the body of the batik maker. This is if the work posture is not improved, it creates a potential risk of muscle fatigue or musculoskeletal disorder. The method used in this research is quantative. The data taken in this study is the data on the size of the batik work posture when sitting on a chair. Then the data is analyzed using the REBA (Rapid Entire Body Assessment) method using ergofellow software to determine the risk of work posture. The result of this research is the potential risk of the work position of Muria Batik Kudus UMKM batik makers with the REBA method resulting in a score of 9 (Nine), which means that they have risk criteria at a high level. The potential risk that is at a high level should immediately improve the work posture of the batik which is supported by changes in work facilities. Batik makers who have the potential for high levels of risk can result in muscle fatigue in certain parts of the body and decreased levels of productivity.
Application of Ethanol Extracts From Alnus sibirica Fisch. ex Turcz in Hair Growth Promotion
Authors: Ha Eun Ju , Yun Jang-Hyuk , Si Chuanling , Bae Young Soo , Jeong Young-Hwan , Park Kwang-Hyun , Choi Sun-Eun
Published: June 2021

Alnus sibirica Fisch. ex Turcz (ASFT), belonging to the family of Betulaceae, grows naturally in Asia, Europe, and America. The aims of this study are determining the efficacy of various biomarkers related to hair loss, evaluated by extracting the branch with 60% alcohol, and purely separating diarylheptanoid oregonin, an indicator and active substance, from 60% alcohol extract of the tree. To determine the preventive effects on hair loss, we investigated the anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic effects on hydrogen peroxide-induced cytotoxicity on human hair dermal papilla cells using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and Western blotting analysis for proving of apoptosis-related marker alteration, respectively. Moreover, we examined the ameliorative effects of 60% alcohol extract of the tree and oregonin against changes of oxidative stress-induced cytokine and testosterone-induced dihydrotestosterone production as crucial pathways of the hair loss mechanism. These results suggest that 60% alcohol extract of the tree and oregonin were available as novel natural materials for maintaining hair health in mammals.
The CoronaSurveys System for COVID-19 Incidence Data Collection and Processing
Authors: Baquero Carlos , Casari Paolo , Fernandez Anta Antonio , García-García Amanda , Frey Davide , Garcia-Agundez Augusto , Georgiou Chryssis , Girault Benjamin , Ortega Antonio , Goessens Mathieu , Hernández-Roig Harold A. , Nicolaou Nicolas , Stavrakis Efstathios , Ojo Oluwasegun , Roberts Julian C. , Sanchez Ignacio
Published: June 2021

CoronaSurveys is an ongoing interdisciplinary project developing a system to infer the incidence of COVID-19 around the world using anonymous open surveys. The surveys have been translated into 60 languages and are continuously collecting participant responses from any country in the world. The responses collected are pre-processed, organized, and stored in a version-controlled repository, which is publicly available to the scientific community. In addition, the CoronaSurveys team has devised several estimates computed on the basis of survey responses and other data, and makes them available on the project’s website in the form of tables, as well as interactive plots and maps. In this paper, we describe the computational system developed for the CoronaSurveys project. The system includes multiple components and processes, including the web survey, the mobile apps, the cleaning and aggregation process of the survey responses, the process of storage and publication of the data, the processing of the data and the computation of estimates, and the visualization of the results. In this paper we describe the system architecture and the major challenges we faced in designing and deploying it.
Efficacy and Safety of Colchicine in Post–acute Myocardial Infarction Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Diaz-Arocutipa Carlos , Benites-Meza Jerry K. , Chambergo-Michilot Diego , Barboza Joshuan J. , Pasupuleti Vinay , Bueno Héctor , Sambola Antonia , Hernandez Adrian V.
Published: June 2021

Background: Inflammation plays a key role in atherosclerotic plaque destabilization and adverse cardiac remodeling. Recent evidence has shown a promising role of colchicine in patients with coronary artery disease. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of colchicine in post–acute myocardial infarction (MI) patients.

Methods: We searched five electronic databases from inception to January 18, 2021, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating colchicine in post–acute MI patients. Primary outcomes were cardiovascular mortality and recurrent MI. Secondary outcomes were all-cause mortality, stroke, urgent coronary revascularization, levels of follow-up high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and drug-related adverse events. All meta-analyses used inverse-variance random-effects models.

Results: Six RCTs involving 6,005 patients were included. Colchicine did not significantly reduce cardiovascular mortality [risk ratio (RR), 0.91; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.52–1.61; p = 0.64], recurrent MI (RR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.62–1.22; p = 0.28), all-cause mortality (RR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.61–1.85; p = 0.78), stroke (RR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.07–1.09; p = 0.05), urgent coronary revascularization (RR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.02–8.89; p = 0.19), or decreased levels of follow-up hs-CRP (mean difference, −1.95 mg/L; 95% CI, −12.88 to 8.98; p = 0.61) compared to the control group. There was no increase in any adverse events (RR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.89–1.07; p = 0.34) or gastrointestinal adverse events (RR, 2.49; 95% CI, 0.48–12.99; p = 0.20). Subgroup analyses by colchicine dose (0.5 vs. 1 mg/day), time of follow-up (<1 vs. ≥1 year), and treatment duration (≤30 vs. >30 days) showed no changes in the overall findings.

Conclusion: In post–acute MI patients, colchicine does not reduce cardiovascular or all-cause mortality, recurrent MI, or other cardiovascular outcomes. Also, colchicine did not increase drug-related adverse events.
Spatial Patterns and Scaling Distributions of Earthquake-Induced Landslides—A Case Study of Landslides in Watersheds Along Dujiangyan–Wenchuan Highway
Authors: Liu Xuemei , Su Pengcheng , Li Yong , Xu Rui , Zhang Jun , Yang Taiqiang , Guo Xiaojun , Jiang Ning
Published: June 2021

Earthquake-induced landslide has various spatial characteristics that can be effectively described with the frequency–area curve. Nevertheless, the widely used power-law curve does not reflect well the spatial features of the distribution, and the power exponent does not show the association with the background factors. There is a lack of standards for building the relationship, and its implication on the spatial distribution of landslides has never been analyzed. In this study, we propose a new form of frequency distribution and explore the parameters in the typical watersheds along the highway from Dujiangyan to Wenchuan in the Wenchuan earthquake region. The obtained parameters are related to the landslide density and proportions of the large-scale landslides. Furthermore, a hot spot analysis of landslides in the watersheds is conducted to assess the relationship between the parameters and the spatial cluster patterns of landslides. The hot spots highlight the size and distance of landslide areas that cluster together, whereas the distribution parameters reflect the density and proportions of landslides. This research introduces a new method to analyze the distribution of landslides and their association with the spatial features, which can be applied to the landslide distribution in relation to other influential factors.
Unhealthy Lifestyle and Gut Dysbiosis: A Better Understanding of the Effects of Poor Diet and Nicotine on the Intestinal Microbiome
Authors: Martinez Jason E. , Kahana Doron D. , Ghuman Simran , Wilson Haley P. , Wilson Julian , Kim Samuel C. J. , Lagishetty Venu , Jacobs Jonathan P. , Sinha-Hikim Amiya P. , Friedman Theodore C.
Published: June 2021

The study of the intestinal or gut microbiome is a newer field that is rapidly gaining attention. Bidirectional communication between gut microbes and the host can impact numerous biological systems regulating immunity and metabolism to either promote or negatively impact the host’s health. Habitual routines, dietary choices, socioeconomic status, education, host genetics, medical care and environmental factors can all contribute to the composition of an individual’s microbiome. A key environmental factor that may cause negative outcomes is the consumption of nicotine products. The effects of nicotine on the host can be exacerbated by poor dietary choices and together can impact the composition of the gut microbiota to promote the development of metabolic disease including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This review explores the contribution of nicotine, poor dietary choices and other unhealthy lifestyle factors to gut dysbiosis.
Plastic Pollution Research in Indonesia: State of Science and Future Research Directions to Reduce Impacts
Authors: Vriend Paul , Hidayat H. , van Leeuwen J. , Cordova M. R. , Purba N. P. , Löhr A. J. , Faizal I. , Ningsih N. S. , Agustina K. , Husrin S. , Suryono D. D. , Hantoro I. , Widianarko B. , Lestari P. , Vermeulen B. , van Emmerik Tim
Published: June 2021

Several studies have suggested Indonesia to be among the top plastic polluting countries globally. Data on the presence and amounts of plastic pollution are required to help design effective plastic reduction and mitigation strategies. Research quantifying plastic pollution in Indonesia has picked up in recent years. However, a lack of central coordination in this research has led to research output with different goals, methods, and data formats. In this study we present a meta-analysis of studies published on plastic pollution in Indonesia to uncover gaps and biases in current research, and to use these insights to suggest ways to improve future research to fill these gaps. Research gaps and biases identified include a clear preference for marine research, and a bias toward certain environmental compartments within the marine, riverine, and terrestrial systems that have easy to apply methods. Units of measurement used to express results vary greatly between studies, making it difficult to compare data effectively. Nevertheless, we identify polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene variants (PE, HDPE, LDPE) to be among the most frequently found polymers in both macro- and microplastic pollution in Indonesia, though polymer identification is lacking in a large part of the studies. Plastic research is mostly done on Java (59% of the studies). We recommend research methods used to quantify plastic pollution to be harmonized. Moreover, we recommend a shift in focus of research toward the riverine and terrestrial environments and a shift of focus of environmental compartments analyzed within these systems, an increase in spatial coverage of research across Indonesia, and lastly, a larger focus on polymer characterization. With these changes we envision future research which can aid with the design of more effective and targeted reduction and mitigation strategies.
The Invasive Macroalga Rugulopteryx okamurae: Substrata Plasticity and Spatial Colonization Pressure on Resident Macroalgae
Authors: García-Gómez José Carlos , Florido Marta , Olaya-Ponzone Liliana , Sempere-Valverde Juan , Megina César
Published: June 2021

The present study constitutes the first evaluation of the space colonization strategies performed by Rugulopteryx okamurae when co-occurring with the resident macroalgal community in the introduced areas. Since the first apparition of the nonindigenous macroalga in the Strait of Gibraltar, its high propagation capacity together with its colonization ability has enhanced the establishment success of the species in detriment of the resident biota. In this study, we carried out observational surveys during 2017–2020 in order to assess the coverage levels of R. okamurae on different lighting conditions, surface orientations, and substrata types (artificial and natural). Results revealed that, beyond the high percent coverages already reported at illuminated and semi-illuminated natural rocky habitats, R. okamurae is able to settle on a wide variety of artificial substrata. The settlement performance of the species was also investigated and different mechanisms underlying the space colonization were proposed. Thus, R. okamurae was observed interacting with 43 resident macroalgal species at generally illuminated rocky habitats of the northern Strait coasts. Six colonization mechanisms were proposed for spatial growth scenarios. Overall, results pointed out that, in most of the cases where the invasive species co-occur with the resident community, R. okamurae would be favored as regards spatial growth success. Competitive interactions and environmental factors which influence results obtained must be addressed in order to fully predict impacts on resident communities. Moreover, together with previous scientific works, overall data provided in this study highlight the need to urgent implement management measures focused on habitats susceptible to be invaded, as well as studies on the ecology and dispersal vectors of R. okamurae in the Strait of Gibraltar and adjacent areas.
SLC15A4 Serves as a Novel Prognostic Biomarker and Target for Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Huang Hui , Wang Junwei , Chen Shibin , He HongJiang , Shang Yu , Guo Xiaorong , Lou Ge , Ji Jingjing , Guo Mian , Chen Hong , Yu Shan
Published: June 2021

Background

SLC15A family members are known as electrogenic transporters that take up peptides into cells through the proton-motive force. Accumulating evidence indicates that aberrant expression of SLC15A family members may play crucial roles in tumorigenesis and tumor progression in various cancers, as they participate in tumor metabolism. However, the exact prognostic role of each member of the SLC15A family in human lung cancer has not yet been elucidated.

Materials and Methods

We investigated the SLC15A family members in lung cancer through accumulated data from TCGA and other available online databases by integrated bioinformatics analysis to reveal the prognostic value, potential clinical application and underlying molecular mechanisms of SLC15A family members in lung cancer.

Results

Although all family members exhibited an association with the clinical outcomes of patients with NSCLC, we found that none of them could be used for squamous cell carcinoma of the lung and that SLC15A2 and SLC15A4 could serve as biomarkers for lung adenocarcinoma. In addition, we further investigated SLC15A4-related genes and regulatory networks, revealing its core molecular pathways in lung adenocarcinoma. Moreover, the IHC staining pattern of SLC15A4 in lung adenocarcinoma may help clinicians predict clinical outcomes.

Conclusion

SLC15A4 could be used as a survival prediction biomarker for lung adenocarcinoma due to its potential role in cell division regulation. However, more studies including large patient cohorts are required to validate the clinical utility of SLC15A4 in lung adenocarcinoma.
Crotalus Durissus Ruruima: Current Knowledge on Natural History, Medical Importance, and Clinical Toxinology
Authors: Pucca Manuela B. , Bernarde Paulo Sérgio , Rocha Anderson Maciel , Viana Patrik F. , Farias Raimundo Erasmo Souza , Cerni Felipe A. , Oliveira Isadora S. , Ferreira Isabela G. , Sandri Eliseu A. , Sachett Jacqueline , Wen Fan Hui , Sampaio Vanderson , Laustsen Andreas H. , Sartim Marco A. , Monteiro Wuelton M.
Published: June 2021

Crotalus durissus ruruima is a rattlesnake subspecies mainly found in Roraima, the northernmost state of Brazil. Envenomings caused by this subspecies lead to severe clinical manifestations (e.g. respiratory muscle paralysis, rhabdomyolysis, and acute renal failure) that can lead to the victim’s death. In this review, we comprehensively describe C. d. ruruima biology and the challenges this subspecies poses for human health, including morphology, distribution, epidemiology, venom cocktail, clinical envenoming, and the current and future specific treatment of envenomings by this snake. Moreover, this review presents maps of the distribution of the snake subspecies and evidence that this species is responsible for some of the most severe envenomings in the country and causes the highest lethality rates. Finally, we also discuss the efficacy of the Brazilian horse-derived antivenoms to treat C. d. ruruima envenomings in Roraima state.
CD27-CD38lowCD21low B-Cells Are Increased in Axial Spondyloarthritis
Authors: Wilbrink Rick , Spoorenberg Anneke , Arends Suzanne , van der Geest Kornelis S. M. , Brouwer Elisabeth , Bootsma Hendrika , Kroese Frans G. M. , Verstappen Gwenny M.
Published: June 2021

B-cells have received little attention in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and for this reason their role in pathogenesis remains unclear. However, there are indications that B-cells may be involved in the disease process. Our objective was to obtain insights into the composition of the peripheral B-cell compartment of axSpA patients compared to healthy donors (HD) and patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS), a typical B-cell-associated autoimmune disease. Special emphasis was given to CD27-negative B-cells expressing low levels of CD21 (CD21low B-cells), since this subset is implicated in autoimmune diseases with strong involvement of B-cells. Transitional B-cells (CD38hi) were excluded from the analysis of the CD27-CD21low B-cell compartment. This study included 45 axSpA patients, 20 pSS patients and 30 HDs. Intriguingly, compared to HDs the frequency of CD27-CD38lowCD21low B-cells was significantly elevated in both axSpA and pSS patients (P<0.0001 for both comparisons). The frequency of CD27-CD38lowCD21low B-cells expressing the activation-induced immune markers T-bet and CD11c was decreased in axSpA patients compared to HDs. A higher proportion of CD27-CD38lowCD21low B-cells expressed the chemokine receptor CXCR3 in axSpA compared to HDs, suggestive for active involvement of these cells in an inflammatory process. The frequency of CD27-CD38lowCD21low B-cells in axSpA patients correlated positively with age and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Furthermore, axSpA patients with extra-skeletal manifestations (ESM) showed increased frequencies of CD27-CD38lowCD21low B-cells compared to patients without ESM. In conclusion, our findings are suggestive of active B-cell involvement in the pathogenesis of axSpA, against prevailing dogma.
Efficient Secretion of Murine IL-2 From an Attenuated Strain of Clostridium sporogenes, a Novel Delivery Vehicle for Cancer Immunotherapy
Authors: Kubiak Aleksandra M. , Bailey Tom S. , Dubois Ludwig J. , Theys Jan , Lambin Philippe
Published: June 2021

Despite a history dating back to the 1800s, using Clostridium bacteria to treat cancer has not advanced beyond the observation that they can colonise and partially destroy solid tumours. Progress has been hampered by their inability to eradicate the viable portion of tumours, and an instinctive anxiety around injecting patients with a bacterium whose close relatives cause tetanus and botulism. However, recent advances in techniques to genetically engineer Clostridium species gives cause to revisit this concept. This paper illustrates these developments through the attenuation of C. sporogenes to enhance its clinical safety, and through the expression and secretion of an immunotherapeutic. An 8.6 kb sequence, corresponding to a haemolysin operon, was deleted from the genome and replaced with a short non-coding sequence. The resultant phenotype of this strain, named C. sporogenes-NT, showed a reduction of haemolysis to levels similar to the probiotic strain, C. butyricum M588. Comparison to the parental strain showed no change in growth or sporulation. Following injection of tumour-bearing mice with purified spores of the attenuated strain, high levels of germination were detected in all tumours. Very low levels of spores and vegetative cells were detected in the spleen and lymph nodes. The new strain was transformed with four different murine IL-2-expressing plasmids, differentiated by promoter and signal peptide sequences. Biologically active mIL-2, recovered from the extracellular fraction of bacterial cultures, was shown to stimulate proliferation of T cells. With this investigation we propose a new, safer candidate for intratumoral delivery of cancer immunotherapeutics.