bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Psychological well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic: Combining a web survey with experience sampling methodology
Authors: Shevchenko Yury , Huber Noemi , Reips Ulf-Dietrich
Published: March 2023

COVID-19-related regulations have impacted the economy and people’s well-being, highlighting the long-standing problem of inequality. This research explored how COVID-19-related restrictive policies, such as a lockdown or social distancing, affected people’s well-being. In Study 1, a cross-sectional online survey (N= 685), we examined the associations between socio-economic characteristics, the number of resources, their relative change, people’s stress levels, and their support of restrictive policies. We found that financial loss due to COVID-19, the number of children at home, and the intensity of restrictive measures were associated with higher stress by restrictive measures. The lower support for restrictive measures was observed among those who experienced financial loss due to COVID-19, had more children at home, less frequently accessed COVID-19-related information in the media, and did not perform self-isolation. Men were generally less supportive of restrictions than women, and the number of new COVID-19 cases was negatively related to the support. Lower stress and higher support for restrictive measures were positively associated with life satisfaction. In Study 2, an experience-sampling survey (Nparticipants= 46,Nresponses= 1112), the participants rated their well-being and level of available resources daily for one month. We observed that daily increases in well-being, characterized by higher life satisfaction and lower levels of stress and boredom, were positively associated with more social communication and being outdoors. In summary, the findings support the resource and demand framework, which states that people with access to resources can better cope with the demands of restrictive policies. Implications for policies and interventions to improve well-being are discussed.
Medical students’ perceptions towards distance e-Learning in gynecology ward during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Rokhgireh Samaneh , Sabet Babak , Chaichian Shahla , Derakhshan Farzaneh , Haghighi Ladan , Derakhshan Roya , Kohan Noushin
Published: March 2023

Introduction

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused serious public health problems and compromised the health of individuals and communities. This study aimed to evaluate a Distance e-Learning from the perspective of medical students in the Gynecology ward during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Material and methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Iran University of Medical from the September 2020 to September 2021. The study sample included 130 medical students who participated in distance training courses in the gynecology ward during the COVID-19 pandemic. All medical students were included for the study. Medical students (externs and interns), who received Distance eLearning in the gynecology ward during the study, were included. The self-administered questionnaire was used in this study. Questionnaires was developed through literature review and consultation with gynecology and eLearning experts. Face and content validity was established by eight experts. Internal consistency was assessed with Cronbach’s alpha.

Results

The questionnaire was sent to 170 medical students. Of the 130 respondents 65% were female and 35% were male. There were 57 (43.8%) externs and 73 (56.2) interns. Most students agreed that mobile devices increase their learning and home is the preferred place for participation in DE. Most students (66.9%) either strongly disagreed or disagreed that Distance e-Learning was an appropriate method for learning basic clinical skills.72.3% of respondents strongly disagreed or disagreed that Distance e-Learning provided them an opportunity to practice clinical skills effectively. Most medical students (69.3%) strongly agreed or agreed that Distance e-Learning created more opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge directly to medical practice.

Discussion

The results of the online survey suggest that medical students have found both positive and negative aspects of clinical learning by DEL format in Gynecology ward.
Anemia prevalence and associated factors among school-children of Kersa Woreda in eastern Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Gemechu Kabtamu , Asmerom Haftu , Gedefaw Lealem , Arkew Mesay , Bete Tilahun , Adissu Wondimagegn
Published: March 2023

Background

Anemia in school children is a worldwide public health problem, affecting about a quarter of this population. It also remains a significant problem in developing countries, with multifactorial causes. Anemia in school children has adverse effects on the development of the physical, cognitive, immunity of affected children, and subsequently their educational achievement which may lead to loss of productivity at a later age in life. Regular surveillance that could provide evidence-based local data is required to intervene in the problems. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of anemia among school children in primary schools of eastern Ethiopia.

Methods

School-based cross-sectional study was conducted by recruiting 482 school- children. Data on socio-demographic and dietary habits were collected from parents/legal guardians. Capillary blood for blood film preparation and hemoglobin measurement and stool sample for the diagnosis of intestinal parasites infection was collected. Hemoglobin concentration was measured using a hemoglobinometer HemoCue®301+, and stool examination by direct wet mount and concentration technique. Data were entered into epi-data and exported into SPSS for analysis. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was run to identify associated factors. Association was described using adjusted OR (AOR) along with 95% CI and variables with a p-value<0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results

The overall prevalence of anemia was 24.5%. Being female (AOR = 2.88, 95% CI: 1.69, 4.92), family size of more than 5 (AOR = 2.78, 95% CI: 1.60, 4.81), not consuming green leafy vegetables (AOR = 4.09, 95% CI: 2.42, 6.94), consumption of milk (AOR = 2.22, 95% CI: 1.27, 3.88), being stunting (AOR = 3.17, 95% CI: 1.70, 5.91) and parasite infections (AOR = 5.23, 95% CI: 2.77, 9.85) were significantly associated with anemia.

Conclusion

In this study nearly one-fourth of children were anemic. Anemia was a moderate public health problem among schoolchildren in the study area. Thus, school-based interventions targeting nutritional factors and intestinal parasite infection need to be implemented.
Immunogenicity of a spike protein subunit-based COVID-19 vaccine with broad protection against various SARS-CoV-2 variants in animal studies
Authors: Yang Ming-Chen , Wang Chun-Chung , Tang Wei-Chien , Chen Kuan-Ming , Chen Chu-Ying , Lin Hsiao-Han , Hsieh Yin-Cheng , Wang Nan-Hsuan , Kuo Yin-Chieh , Chu Ping-Tzu , Tung Hsin-Yi , Wu Yi-Chen , Sun Juo-Ling , Liu Sheng-Yu , Li Wan-Fen , Lee Wei-Han , Lai Jiann-Shiun , Chang Michael , Lai Ming-Tain
Published: March 2023

SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has profound impacts on human life and global economy since the outbreak in 2019. With the new variants continue to emerge with greater immune escaping capability, the protectivity of the available vaccines is compromised. Therefore, development a vaccine that is capable of inducing immunity against variants including omicron strains is in urgent need. In this study, we developed a protein-based vaccine BCVax that is consisted of antigen delta strain spike protein and QS21-based adjuvant AB801 in nanoparticle immune stimulation complex format (AB801-ISCOM). Results from animal studies showed that high level of anti-S protein IgG was induced after two doses of BCVax and the IgG was capable of neutralizing multiple variants of pseudovirus including omicron BA.1 or BA.2 strains. In addition, strong Th1 response was stimulated after BCVax immunization. Furthermore, BCvax with AB801-ISCOM as the adjuvant showed significant stronger immunity compared with the vaccine using aluminum hydroxide plus CpG 1018 as the adjuvant. BCVax was also evaluated as a booster after two prior vaccinations, the IgG titers and pseudovirus neutralization activities against BA.2 or BA.4/BA.5 were further enhanced suggesting BCVax is a promising candidate as booster. Taken together, the pre-clinical data warrant BCVax for further development in clinic.
External validation of geriatric influenza death score: A multicenter study
Authors: Kao Yuan , Lee Wei-Jing , Tsai Kang-Ting , Liu Chung-Feng , Hsu Chien-Chin , Lin Hung-Jung , Huang Chien-Cheng , Guo How-Ran
Published: March 2023

The Geriatric Influenza Death (GID) score was developed to help decision making in older patients with influenza in the emergency department (ED), but external validation is unavailable. Thus, we conducted a study was to fill the data gap. We recruited all older patients (≥65 years) who visited the ED of three hospitals between 2009 and 2018. Demographic data and clinical characteristics were retrospectively collected. Discrimination, goodness of fit, and performance of the GID score were evaluated. Of the 5,508 patients (121 died) with influenza, the mean age was 76.6±7.4 (standard deviation) years, and 49.3% were males. The GID score was higher in the mortality group (1.7±1.1 vs. 0.8±0.8, p <0.01). With 0 as the reference, the odds ratio for morality with score of 1, 2 and ≥3 was 3.08 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.66–5.71), 6.69 (95% CI: 3.52–12.71), and 23.68 (95% CI: 11.95–46.93), respectively. The area under the curve was 0.722 (95% CI: 0.677–0.766), and the Hosmer–Lemeshow goodness of fit test was 1.000. The GID score had excellent negative predictive values with different cut-offs. The GID score had good external validity, and further studies are warranted for wider application.
Loss of biased signaling at a G protein-coupled receptor in overexpressed systems
Authors: Li Angus , Liu Samuel , Huang Rennica , Ahn Seungkirl , Lefkowitz Robert J.
Published: March 2023

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) regulate cellular signaling pathways by coupling to two classes of transducers: heterotrimeric G proteins and β-arrestins. [Sarcosine1Ile4Ile8]-angiotensin II (SII), an analog of the endogenous ligand angiotensin II (AngII) for the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R), fails to activate G protein in physiologically relevant models. Despite this, SII and several derivatives induce cellular signaling outcomes through β-arrestin-2-dependent mechanisms. However, studies reliant on exogenous AT1R overexpression indicate that SII is a partial agonist for G protein signaling and lacks β-arrestin-exclusive functional specificity. We investigated this apparent discrepancy by profiling changes in functional specificity at increasing expression levels of AT1R using a stably integrated tetracycline-titratable expression system stimulated with AngII, SII, and four other AngII analogs displaying different signaling biases. Unbiased and G protein-biased ligands activated dose-dependent calcium responses at all tested receptor concentrations. In contrast, β-arrestin-biased ligands induced dose-dependent calcium signaling only at higher AT1R overexpression levels. Using inhibitors of G proteins, we demonstrated that both Gi and Gq/11 mediated overexpression-dependent calcium signaling by β-arrestin-biased ligands. Regarding β-arrestin-mediated cellular events, the β-arrestin-biased ligand TRV026 induced receptor internalization at low physiological receptor levels insufficient for it to initiate calcium signaling. In contrast, unbiased AngII exhibited no relative preference between these outcomes under such low receptor conditions. However, with high receptor overexpression, TRV026 lost its functional selectivity. These results suggest receptor overexpression misleadingly distorts the bias of AT1R ligands and highlight the risks of using overexpressed systems to infer the signaling bias of GPCR ligands in physiologically relevant contexts.
Presence and severity of migraine is associated with development of primary open angle glaucoma: A population-based longitudinal cohort study
Authors: Ohn Kyoung , Han Kyungdo , Moon Jung Il , Jung Younhea
Published: March 2023

Purpose

To examine the association between the presence and severity of migraine and development of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) using a nationwide population-based longitudinal cohort data.

Methods

Data were retrieved from the Korean National Health Insurance Service for 2,716,562 individuals aged ≥ 40 years and assessed for the development of POAG from 2009 through 2018. Subjects were classified into the following 3 groups: healthy control subjects, subjects with mild migraine, and those with severe migraine. Hazard ratios (HR) of glaucoma development were calculated for each group. Subgroup analyses of subjects stratified by age, sex, lifestyle factors (smoking, drinking, and body mass index (BMI)), and comorbidities (diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia).

Results

During the 9-year follow-up period, the incidence rate of POAG per 1000 person-years was 2.41 and 3.25 in subjects without and with migraine, respectively. Among the migraine group, the incidence rate was 3.14 and 3.89 in mild and severe subgroups, respectively. The HR was 1.355 (95% CI, 1.300–1.412) and 1.188 (95% CI, 1.140–1.239) before and after adjusting for potential confounding factors in the migraine group per se. Regarding the severity of migraine, the adjusted HRs were 1.169 (95% CI, 1.117–1.224) in the mild migraine group, and 1.285 (95% CI, 1.166–1.415) in the severe migraine group compared to the control group. The results were consistent in subgroup analyses after stratifying by age, sex, lifestyle factors, and comorbidities.

Conclusions

Migraine is associated with increased risk of POAG development. Furthermore, chronic and severe migraine is associated with greater risk of POAG development.
Characteristics and clinical outcome in 312 patients with moderate to severe pneumonia due to SARS-COV-2 and hyperinflammation treated with anakinra and corticosteroids: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Aomar-Millán Ismael Francisco , de Victoria-Carazo Javier Martínez , Fernández Reyes Daniel , Torres-Parejo Úrsula , Pérez Fernández Laura , Martínez-Diz Silvia , Ceballos Torres Angel , López Gómez Jairo , Bizzarri Francesco , Raya Álvarez Enrique , Salvatierra Juan
Published: March 2023

Objective

To assess the clinical outcome (death and/or Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission) based on the time from hospital admission to the administration of anakinra and the possible usefulness of a “simplified” SCOPE score to stratify the risk of worse prognosis in our cohort of patients with moderate/severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, that received anakinra and corticosteroids. In addition, the clinical, analytical, and imaging characteristics of patients at admission are described.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study of 312 patients admitted to Hospital Clínico San Cecilio in Granada for moderate/severe pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2 that received anakinra and corticosteroids between March 2020 and January 2022. Clinical and analytical data were collected as well as the patient outcome at 30 and 60 days after admission. Three treatment groups were established according to the time from hospital admission to administration of anakinra: early (1st–2nd day), intermediate (3rd–5th day), and late (after the 5th day).

Results

The median age was 67.4 years (IQR 22–97 years) and 204 (65.4%) were male. The most common comorbidity was hypertension (58%). The median time from the start of symptoms to anakinra administration was 6 days (IQR 5–10) and the SaFi (SaO2/FiO2) was 228 (IQR 71–471). The cure rate was higher in the early-onset anakinra group versus the late-onset group (73% vs 56.6%). The latter had a higher percentage of deaths (27.4%) and a greater number of patients remained hospitalized for a month (16%). On admission, the patients had elevated C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin, and D-dimer values and decreased total lymphocytes. Analytical improvement was observed at both 72 hours and one month after treatment. 42 (13.5%) required ICU admission, and 23 (7.3%) orotracheal intubation. At 60 days, 221 (70.8%) were discharged, 87 (27.8%) had died and 4 (1.4%) remained hospitalized. The mean dose of anakinra was 1000 mg (100–2600 mg) with differences found between the dose administered and the clinical outcome. There were no differences in the primary outcome based on vaccination.

A simplified SCOPE score at the start of anakinra administration was lower in patients with better clinical evolution.

Conclusions

Early treatment with anakinra and corticosteroids was associated with a better outcome regardless of vaccination status. A simplified SCOPE was found to be a good prognostic tool.
Purpureocillium lilacinum for plant growth promotion and biocontrol against root-knot nematodes infecting eggplant
Authors: Khan Masudulla , Tanaka Kiwamu
Published: March 2023

Purpureocillium lilacinum is a biocontrol Ascomycota fungus against various plant pathogens. In the present study, the efficacy of P. lilacinum was evaluated against a root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita that infects eggplants. We performed an in vitro experiment in which the direct effects of P. lilacinum on the second-stage juvenile survival and egg hatching of M. incognita were tested at different exposure times. The results showed that P. lilacinum significantly reduced the rates of egg hatching and juvenile survival in a dose-dependent manner. Microscopic observation demonstrated that P. lilacinum directly penetrated the eggs and contacted the juveniles, indicating how P. lilacinum parasitizes M. incognita. We also performed a pot assay in which soil-grown eggplants were treated with P. lilacinum followed by inoculation with M. incognita. The results indicated that P. lilacinum effectively reduced the nematode population and the number of galls in plant roots. Interestingly, application of P. lilacinum resulted in significant enhancements in plant growth and biomass, even under nematode infection, while it improved plant photosynthetic pigments, i.e., chlorophyll and carotenoids. Taken together, our study suggested that P. lilacinum can be used as a plant growth-promoting fungus and a biological nematicide for disease management of root-knot nematodes in eggplants.
Neuroimaging findings and neurological manifestations in hospitalized COVID-19 patients: Impact of cancer and ventilatory support status
Authors: McCarthy Lily , Khegai Oleksandr , Goldstein Jonathan , Belani Puneet , Pawha Puneet , Kihira Shingo , Mathew Brian , Gururangan Kapil , Hao Qing , Singh Anuradha , Navis Allison , Delman Bradley N. , Jette Nathalie , Balchandani Priti
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) is known to affect the central nervous system. Neurologic morbidity associated with COVID-19 is commonly attributed to sequelae of some combination of thrombotic and inflammatory processes. The aim of this retrospective observational study was to evaluate neuroimaging findings in hospitalized COVID-19 patients with neurological manifestations in cancer versus non-cancer patients, and in patients with versus without ventilatory support (with ventilatory support defined as including patients with intubation and noninvasive ventilation). Cancer patients are frequently in an immunocompromised or prothrombotic state with side effects from chemotherapy and radiation that may cause neurological issues and increase vulnerability to systemic illness. We wanted to determine whether neurological and/or neuroimaging findings differed between patients with and without cancer.

Methods

Eighty adults (44 male, 36 female, 64.5 ±14 years) hospitalized in the Mount Sinai Health System in New York City between March 2020 and April 2021 with reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction-confirmed COVID-19 underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during their admissions. The cohort consisted of four equal subgroups based on cancer and ventilatory support status. Clinical and imaging data were acquired and analyzed.

Results

Neuroimaging findings included non-ischemic parenchymal T2/FLAIR signal hyperintensities (36.3%), acute/subacute infarcts (26.3%), chronic infarcts (25.0%), microhemorrhages (23.8%), chronic macrohemorrhages (10.0%), acute macrohemorrhages (7.5%), and encephalitis-like findings (7.5%). There were no significant differences in neuroimaging findings between cancer and non-cancer subgroups. Clinical neurological manifestations varied. The most common was encephalopathy (77.5%), followed by impaired responsiveness/coma (38.8%) and stroke (26.3%). There were significant differences between patients with versus without ventilatory support. Encephalopathy and impaired responsiveness/coma were more prevalent in patients with ventilatory support (p = 0.02). Focal weakness was more frequently seen in patients without ventilatory support (p = 0.01).

Discussion

This study suggests COVID-19 is associated with neurological manifestations that may be visible with brain imaging techniques such as MRI. In our COVID-19 cohort, there was no association between cancer status and neuroimaging findings. Future studies might include more prospectively enrolled systematically characterized patients, allowing for more rigorous statistical analysis.
The relationship between health literacy and internet addiction among middle school students in Chongqing, China: A cross-sectional survey study
Authors: Liu Yang , Wu Nannan , Yan Jie , Yu Junjie , Liao Liping , Wang Hong
Published: March 2023

Background

Internet addiction has emerged as a major global concern as a potential adverse impact of internet exposure on adolescents. Internet addiction is associated with many demographic variables; however, there is a lack of consensus on its relationship with health literacy. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess the rates of internet addiction and health literacy level among middle school students (grades 7 to 12) in Chongqing, China, as well as to investigate the association between them.

Methods

A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted among 8971 students who were randomly selected by using stratified cluster sampling between November and December 2019. The Internet Addiction Diagnostic Questionnaire, Adolescent Health Literacy Scale and a self-designed basic information questionnaire were used to collect data. Chi-square tests were performed to compare the differences in the distribution of internet addiction across health literacy levels as well as some sociodemographic characteristics. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the association between health literacy and internet addiction.

Results

The prevalence of internet addiction among middle school students in Chongqing was 6.1%. The percentage of the students who spent more than 4 hours online every day in the past week was 14.3%. In addition, 26.7%, 26.0%, 28.3% and 26.3% of the participants reported low functional, interactive, critical and total health literacy, respectively. After adjusting for the confounding effects of demographics, multivariate regression analysis showed that critical health literacy was a protective variable for internet addiction, while functional, and interactive health literacy were the risk variable (P<0.05). Furthermore, the internet addiction rates were higher among boys, students with good peer relationships, and students without parental supervision, whereas internet addiction rates were lowest among students in grade 12.

Conclusions

The prevalence of internet addiction among middle school students in Chongqing is relatively high. Internet addiction is strongly negatively associated with critical health literacy, but it is positively associated with functional and interactive health literacy but not total health literacy. This study provides preliminary evidence for the predictive role of health literacy in internet addiction of adolescents.
Netflix and Streaming Video: The Business of Subscriber-Funded Video on Demand, Amanda D. Lotz (2022)
Authors: Lynch Andrew
Published: March 2023

Review of: Netflix and Streaming Video: The Business of Subscriber-Funded Video on Demand, Amanda D. Lotz (2022)

Cambridge: Polity, 176 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-50955-294-8, p/bk, AUD 32.95
Jubilación, una mirada amable en El médico de Budapest (2020)
Authors: Moreta-Velayos Francisco Ignacio , Moreta-Montero Carolina , Montero-Sánchez Nieves , Sánchez-de-la-Mano Flori , Ramírez-Oribe Carmen , Sica-Sica Manuela Alina
Published: March 2023

Contrariamente al significado etimológico de la palabra, la jubilación no siempre representa un periodo de alegría. Hasta una tercera parte de los trabajadores encuentran dificultades para adaptarse a esta nueva situación. La profesión y los antecedentes laborales, el grado de identificación y satisfacción con las tareas desarrolladas, así como una adecuada anticipación y expectativas de futuro condicionarán el éxito en el tránsito a la nueva situación, así como el pleno disfrute de la nueva etapa.

El relato que de la jubilación hacemos parte, por supuesto, de nuestro punto de vista como trabajadores de la sanidad con las peculiaridades que ello pueda representar.
Consideraciones sobre integrantes del acto médico tomadas de la literatura
Authors: González-Rodríguez Sara , González-García María , Bordallo-Landa Javier , Hidalgo Agustín
Published: March 2023

Se acepta que la literatura puede ser útil para la enseñanza de la medicina porque ambas disciplinas trabajan con sentimientos de personas y consideran la relación interpersonal como el marco de referencia de su actividad profesional. En este trabajo se aportan una serie de ejemplos integrados por fragmentos de textos narrativos tomados de diferentes obras literarias que inciden en el valor de las descripciones y percepciones de diversos autores sobre aspectos de la interacción entre diferentes actores del acto médico. En síntesis, se refleja la imagen cambiante de la medicina y los médicos, del médico como persona, del efecto curativo de la interacción médico-enfermo, y de la interacción con el sistema sanitario. Si bien se aprecia el carácter altruista y abnegado de la práctica médica, los testimonios vertidos en algunos textos literarios dejan constancia de la necesidad de prestar más atención a la formación en empatía no sólo de los profesionales sanitarios, sino también de cuantas personas realizan su trabajo en el ámbito sanitario.
Modeling sustainable mobility: Impact assessment of policy measures
Authors: Weyer Johannes , Adelt Fabian , Philipp Marlon
Published: March 2023

Sociologically based models of complex systems can help to estimate the impact of policy measures on individuals and explain the resulting system dynamics. Using the example of the Ruhr region and the mobility of the people living there, the article demonstrates the concept of agent-based modeling, which draws on assumptions from analytical sociology and distinguishes between different types of actors. Simulation experiments conducted as part of the InnaMoRuhr project show significant differences in the behavior of these types, especially in their response to policy interventions. Policymakers should take this into account when planning and designing measures aimed at sustainable transformation.
‚Nützliches‘ Wissen in der wissenschaftlichen Politikberatung?: Ein linguistisch-erkenntnistheoretisches Projekt
Authors: Gondolf Janine , Grunwald Armin , Jahaj Dorothee , Janich Nina
Published: March 2023

Scientific policy advice is a special, hybrid type of scientific activity: science in its advisory function faces the conflict of having to present content in a scientifically credible, unbiased, and value-free form and, at the same time, to prepare it in a politically effective way, i.e., in a way that guides action and is publicly comprehensible. The resulting texts are therefore particularly interesting for approaching scientific research practices with regard to the question of how the struggle for epistemic quality and social legitimacy is reflected in their language and content in the (co-)construction of knowledge. Using exemplary cases, a current interdisciplinary DFG project investigates the practice of scientific policy advice in Germany in terms of form, content, and function from a linguistic and epistemological perspective.
Iniciální konsonantické fonestémy v češtině
Authors: Sláma Jakub
Published: March 2023

Příspěvek představuje koncept tzv. fonestému a poukazuje na jeho relevanci pro jazykovědnou teorii, pročež se snaží identifikovat iniciální konsonantické fonestémy v češtině. Prototypickým fonestémem v češtině je patrně /chr-/, a jelikož jediným dalším spolehlivě identifikovatelným fonestémem je /hň-/, zdá se, že fonestémy nejsou v češtině tak časté jako například v angličtině. Pokud bychom nicméně přijali inkluzivnější vymezení fonestémů, je možné, že by tento závěr bylo vhodné přehodnotit. Závěr příspěvku zdůrazňuje důležitost dalšího výzkumu fonestémů v češti- ně především v kontextu problematiky zvukového symbolismu a ikonicity, kterým nebylo v bohemistice – na rozdíl od (nedávné) zahraniční lingvistiky – věnováno příliš pozornosti.
Make-in-India: Moving from a Monocentric to a Polycentric Response to the COVID-19 Crisis!
Authors: Bose Feler
Published: March 2023

The paper will look at the initial and subsequent Indian government’s response to the COVID-19 focusing event. The strategy used to tackle the initial Covid-19 wave in India was copied from resource-rich countries and authoritarian countries and due to centralization bias in India’s institutions, a monocentric response to the crisis was the default instead of cooperative solutions. However, the response to the pandemic should have been by multiple decision centers and based on local and institutional knowledge, considering India’s institutions, culture, and state capacity, for a “Make-in-India” polycentric response. Solving large-scale health externalities requires coproduction to deal with nested externalities more effectively instead of monocentric global responses. I propose policy considering previous epidemic responses focusing on polycentric governance where civil society is incentivized.
Quantity and quality of literacy instruction for English language learners in Indiana elementary schools
Authors: Li Haiyan , Wright Wayne E. , Morita-Mullaney Trish
Published: March 2023

This research adopts a collective case study to explore the quantity (time allocations for key literacy components and group configurations) and the quality of English language arts (ELA) instruction for Grade 1 English language learners (ELLs) across six classrooms in three Indiana elementary school districts during the 2019–2020 school year. Three teachers (treatment group) were participants in a year-long professional development (PD) program consisting of ELL teacher licensure coursework (plus instructional coaching for two of the treatment teachers). The other three teachers (control group) did not participate in the PD program. Analysis of video-recordings of teachers’ ELA instruction, coded video instances, and time allocations reveal that overall treatment teachers allocated more time for the ELA block, more time for vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency instruction, and in general provided higher quality instruction. The findings provide evidence of the effectiveness of the PD program for improving ELA instruction for ELLs. However, both control and treatment teachers have some discrepancies in the quality and quantity of their literacy instruction compared to evidence-based research. This study holds important implications for literacy educators as they identify and employ strategies best suited for ELLs.
Synthesis, characterization, and antibacterial activity of a new poly azo compound containing N-arylsuccinimid and dibenzobarrelene moieties
Authors: Salamou Njoya Abdou , Jean-de-Dieu Tamokou , Emmanuel Sopbué Fondjo , Germaine Matsuete Takongmo , Gabin Bitchagno Mbahbou T. , Simon Peter F. W. , Tsopmo Apollinaire , Jules-Roger Kuiate
Published: March 2023

The present work describes the synthesis, characterization, and evaluation of the antibacterial activity of a new poly azo compound resulting from the coupling of a previously reported N-arylsuccinimid precursor 5 with the diazonium ion of aniline. This azo compound was characterized using its physical, elemental, and 1D and 2D spectroscopic data. The novel azo compound 7 (minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] = 16–32 μg/mL) showed higher antibacterial activity than its precursor 5 (MIC = 32–64 μg/mL), although it was low compared to the reference drug ciprofloxacin (MIC = 0.5–4 μg/mL).
Improving practicing nurses’ knowledge of the cognitive impairment, continence, and mobility needs of older people
Authors: Dahlke Sherry , Butler Jeffrey I. , Hunter Kathleen F. , Law Joanna , Martin Lori Schindel , Pietrosanu Matthew
Published: March 2023

Objectives

To test if two e-learning modules – one on cognitive impairment, and one on continence and mobility – in older people would improve the knowledge of nurse members from the Canadian Gerontological Nurses Association and College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta.

Methods

A pre-post-test design was used to test 88 nurses’ knowledge of cognitive impairment and 105 nurses’ knowledge of continence and mobility and their perceptions of how the modules contributed to their learning.

Results

There was a statistically significant increase in practicing nurses’ knowledge about cognitive impairment (0.68 increase), continence (2.30 increase), and its relationship to mobility. Nurses’ self-report on the feedback survey demonstrated increases in knowledge, confidence, and perceptions about older people.

Conclusion

These results suggest the modules have strong potential to enhance practicing nurses’ knowledge about cognitive impairment, continence, and mobility.
Algebraic groups over finite fields: Connections between subgroups and isogenies
Authors: Sclosa Davide
Published: March 2023

Let 𝐺 be a linear algebraic group defined over a finite field

F
q

\mathbb{F}_{q}

.
We present several connections between the isogenies of 𝐺 and the finite groups of rational points

(

G
⁢

(

F

q
n

)

)

n
≥
1

(G(\mathbb{F}_{\smash{q^{n}}}))_{n\geq 1}

.
We show that an isogeny

ϕ
:

G
′

→
G

\phi\colon G^{\prime}\to G

over

F
q

\mathbb{F}_{q}

gives rise to a subgroup of fixed index in

G
⁢

(

F

q
n

)

G(\mathbb{F}_{\smash{q^{n}}})

for infinitely many 𝑛.
Conversely, we show that if 𝐺 is reductive, the existence of a subgroup

H
n

H_{n}

of fixed index 𝑘 for infinitely many 𝑛 implies the existence of an isogeny of order 𝑘.
In particular, we show that the infinite sequence

H
n

H_{n}

is covered by a finite number of isogenies.
This result applies to classical groups

GL
m

\mathrm{GL}_{m}

,

SL
m

\mathrm{SL}_{m}

,

SO
m

\mathrm{SO}_{m}

,

SU
m

\mathrm{SU}_{m}

,

Sp

2
⁢
m

\mathrm{Sp}_{2m}

and can be extended to non-reductive groups if 𝑘 is prime to the characteristic.
As a special case, we see that if 𝐺 is simply connected, the minimal indices of proper subgroups of

G
⁢

(

F

q
n

)

G(\mathbb{F}_{\smash{q^{n}}})

diverge to infinity.
Similar results are investigated regarding the sequence

(

G
⁢

(

F
p

)

)

p

(G(\mathbb{F}_{p}))_{p}

by varying the characteristic 𝑝.
A case report of pseudoleukopenia: playing hide-and-seek
Authors: Wang Sixuan , Wang Xiaoxi , Shu Lingbin
Published: March 2023

Objectives

Routine blood examination, one of the most commonly performed tests in clinical laboratories, directly reflects the overall state of the body such as inflammation, anemia, and thrombocytopenia. The accuracy of these indicators by tests may be perturbed by various factors including anticoagulants, antibodies, and temperatures. Pseudoleukopenia caused by leukoagglutination was rarely described in the literature.

Case presentation

We report a rare and unusual pseudo-leukopenia case of a 75-year-old female with a stroke. Blood samples from the patient were collected using different anticoagulants and determined the hematologic parameters and blood smears. We observed the extent of leukocyte aggregation at different anticoagulants or temperatures. The intensity of leukoagglutination was attenuated after incubating at 37 °C for 30 min. After anti-infection treatment and symptomatic treatment, the leukoagglutination of the patient gradually weakened.

Conclusions

We have found the reason for the pseudo-leukopenia and the leukocyte aggregation phenomenon may vary with disease progression.
Lucas non-Wieferich primes in arithmetic progressions and the abc conjecture
Authors: Anitha K. , Fathima I. Mumtaj , Vijayalakshmi A. R.
Published: March 2023

We prove the lower bound for the number of Lucas non-Wieferich primes in arithmetic progressions. More precisely, for any given integer

k
≥
2

k\ge 2

, there are

≫

log
x

\gg \hspace{0.25em}\log x

Lucas non-Wieferich primes

p
≤
x

p\le x

such that

p
≡
±
1

(

mod

k

)

p\equiv \pm 1\hspace{0.25em}\left({\rm{mod}}\hspace{0.33em}k)

, assuming the

a
b
c

abc

conjecture for number fields.
Between the Void and Emptiness: Ontological Paradox and Spectres of Nihilism in Alain Badiou’sBeing and Eventand Graham Priest’sOne
Authors: Newson Georgie
Published: March 2023

In this study, I reconstruct and compare Alain Badiou’sBeing and Event(2005) and Graham Priest’sOne(2014), arguing that the ontologies pursued within the two texts are intriguingly analogous in a number of ways. Both Badiou and Priest are committed to thinking through classically ontological problems without denying the validity of the paradoxes they raise; both regard Plato’sParmenidesas an early and formative account of these paradoxes; both establish conclusions to the effect that unity – or “oneness” – is indeed a contradictory phenomenon; and both, as a corollary of this conclusion, develop frameworks which confer ontological prominence uponthe voidandemptinessrespectively, thereby arriving at what appears to be a shared ontological nihilism. In this comparative study, I not only enquire whether the frameworks adopted by Badiou and Priest really do lead to nihilist conclusions, but also attempt to clearly outline their trajectories of thought for the benefit of those who might be tempted to dismiss their seemingly outlandish theses out of hand.
Histological tumor response predicts clinical outcome in patients with colorectal peritoneal metastasis treated with preoperative chemotherapy followed by cytoreduction and HIPEC
Authors: Sousa Isa Valéria Ferreira de , Lopes Joanne M.D. , Nogueiro Jorge P.M. , Costa Teresa R. , Barbosa Laura E.R. , Aral Marisa M.M.
Published: March 2023

Objectives

Up to one quarter of the patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) develop peritoneal carcinomatosis (PM). The aims of this retrospective study were to characterize the histological response of the PM of CRC to preoperative chemotherapy and evaluate the potential prognostic value, in terms of survival.

Methods

This retrospective unicentric study evaluated a group of 30 patients treated between 2010 and 2020 at the São João University Hospital Center with preoperative chemotherapy, followed by cytoreduction surgery plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy. The evaluation of the histological response was done using two scores: the tumor regression grading (TRG) and the peritoneal regression grading score (PRGS).

Results

Mean post-procedure survival is higher in the PRGS 1–2 group (74.19 months) vs. the PRGS 3–4 group (25.27 months) (p=0.045), as well as in the TRG 1–2 group (74.58 months) vs. TRG 4–5 (25.27 months) (p=0.032). As for progression-free survival (PFS), the PRGS 1–2 group had a mean value of 58.03 months vs. PRGS 3–4 which had 11.67 months (p=0.002). Similar was observed with the TRG 1–2 group, which had a mean PFS of 61.68 months vs. TRG 4–5 with 11.67 months (p=0.003).

Conclusions

A better histological response to preoperative chemotherapy, represented as a lower PRGS and TRG value, is associated with longer post-procedure survival and progression-free survival in this group of patients. That is, these two scores have prognostic value.
Tensiometric and rheological investigations of single and mixed systems consisting of cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) in aqueous solutions
Authors: Abdel-Rahem Rami A. , Al-Akayleh Faisal , Al-Remawi Mayyas
Published: March 2023

The surface tension (σ), critical micelle concentration (CMC), surface excess (Γ), minimum area occupied by a surfactant molecule (A
min), the viscosity and oscillatory rheological studies of aqueous solutions containing cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) and sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) at molar fractions of 0.00, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00 and 25 °C were presented. CAPB and SDBS were not found to interact synergistically in water at any of the molar fractions studied. This is due to the fact that the critical micelle concentrations of these mixtures were higher than those predicted by Clint’s equation, indicating an antagonism that rarely occurs in mixed amphoteric/anionic surfactant systems. The minimum area occupied by a surfactant molecule (A
min) was reduced in CAPB/SDBS mixtures compared to unmixed surfactants. In contrast, the viscosity of the mixed CAPB/SDBS system increased significantly from 1.0 mPa s to a maximum of 36.0 Pa s at higher CAPB mole fractions (0.5–0.8). The rheograms obtained from the oscillation measurements of the viscous CAPB/SDBS solutions are characteristic of wormlike micelles (WLMs) according to the Maxwell model. The results of this surprising binary CAPB/SDBS surfactant mixing system are presented and discussed.
Essential oil composition, anti-tyrosinase activity, and molecular docking studies of Knema intermedia Warb. (Myristicaceae)
Authors: Salihu Abubakar Siddiq , Salleh Wan Mohd Nuzul Hakimi Wan , Setzer William N.
Published: March 2023

Knema is one of the genera in the Myristicaceae family. The genus includes 60 species in Southeast Asia and is traditionally used for treating skin disorders. Here, for the first time, the essential oil, anti-tyrosinase, and molecular docking studies of Knema intermedia were evaluated. The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation and fully characterized by gas chromatography (GC-FID) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Anti-tyrosinase activity was evaluated against mushroom tyrosinase, whereas molecular docking studies were performed using Autodock vina embedded in PyRx to evaluate the binding interactions of major components. A total of 37 components (97.3%) were successfully identified in the essential oil, which was characterized by high amounts of t-muurolol (20.1%), α-copaene (14.4%), δ-cadinene (13.9%), germacrene B (9.5%), and δ-selinene (7.0%). The essential oil displayed moderate inhibitory activity towards tyrosinase with an IC50 value of 70.2 μg/mL. The best docking energy was observed with δ-selinene (−7.8 kcal/mol), and it also forms interactions with His85, His263, and His244 which are important amino acid residues of the tyrosinase receptor. Hence, this study provides valuable scientific data on K. intermedia as potential candidate for the development of natural antiaging formulations.
FOREIGN TRADE OF THE FAROE ISLANDS IN 2014–2022: A TURN TO RUSSIA
Authors:   Institute of Europe, Russian Academy of Sciences, Plyusnin Roman
Published: March 2023

This article is devoted to the analysis of the development of foreign trade activities of the autonomous territory of the Danish Kingdom the Faroe Islands in 2014–2022. This period of time is in focus because, on the one hand, in 2014, this territory, which is a part of the WTO and aspiring to join the EFTA by itself, managed to get out from under EU sanctions that had been in effect against it for about a year, and, on the other hand, sanctions against Russia began to take effect this year. As a result, the foreign trade orientation of the Faroe Islands has undergone serious changes: our country has become the leading trading partner of this territory. And this situation has not changed, even when, under external pressure, the autonomy government partially joined the sanctions against Russia, which they strenuously avoided for more than 8 years. The article presents an analysis of the export and import flows of the Faroe Islands in recent years. As a result, it is concluded that this Territory has significantly increased the volume of its foreign trade activities, which contributed to an increase in its actual autonomy relative to Denmark. In particular, because this increase was mainly due to other states, among which Russia stood out especially, in the import of which the Faroes took the place that Norway had occupied for many years. Thus, the case of this autonomous territory can serve as an example of conducting a sovereign economic policy in the context of the sanctions war that has been unfolding between Russia and most European countries for more than 8 years.
RESULTS OF GERMANY’S CHAIRMANSHIP IN G7: ECONOMIC ASPECT
Authors:   Institute of Europe, Russian Academy of Sciences, Kotov Aleksandr
Published: March 2023

A new coalition government in Germany came into power at the end of 2021. The paper describes Germany’s 2022 G7 Presidency as a first major foreign policy priority and test. The article considers that this period gave the German government the opportunity to test diverse political initiatives. These include proposals in the economic and climate sphere, in the regulation of the labor market, the prospects for the global agro-industrial complex, and overcoming the consequences of the pandemic. The creation of the Climate Club has become the most ambitious project. In this regard the G7 will unify their environmental standards within the club. It will stimulate the entry into the club of countries that are also taking action to combat climate change. Additionally, we examine the of sectoral communiqués. Analysis showed that Olaf Scholz’s government did not propose any truly breakthrough initiatives. Many key ideas were duplicated from the Elmau summit in 2015. In each sectoral area, financial and military support for the Ukrainian regime was noted in the documents. In the author’s opinion, the strategic move of the German Presidency was to invite the leaders of India and South Africa to a key meeting, as well as to coordinate with the Indonesian G20 Presidency. The author comes to the conclusion that the results of the German presidency are twofold. On the one hand, despite the Ukrainian conflict, attempts have been made to develop the climate agenda. It is emphasized that main issue was the modernization of the WTO. Was put on the other hand, these topics constantly disappeared due to the topics of support for Ukraine. Most likely, the G7 once again demonstrated the soft nature of the organizational structure. The author concludes that main decisions to put pressure on Russia remained in the shadow of the sanctions packages of the European Union.