bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictors of mortality in COVID-19 patients treated with convalescent plasma therapy
Authors: Rahimi-Levene Naomi , Shapira Jonathan , Tzur Irma , Shiloah Eli , Peer Victoria , Levin Ella , Izak Marina , Shinar Eilat , Ziv-Baran Tomer , Weinberger Miriam , Zimhony Oren , Chen Jacob , Maor Yasmin
Published: July 2022

Several options to treat hospitalized severe COVID-19 patients have been suggested. The study aimed to describe survival in patients treated with convalescent COVID plasma (CCP) and to identify in-hospital mortality predictors. This prospective cohort study examined data from 112 severe COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the Corona Departments in an acute care hospital who received two units of CCP (at least one of them high-titer). Demographic and medical data was retrieved from the patients’ electronic health records (EHR). Possible predictors for in-hospital mortality were analyzed in a univariate analysis and those found to be clinically significant were further analyzed in a multivariable analysis. Median age was 67 years (IQR 55–74) and 66 (58.9%) of them were males. Of them, 20 (17.9%) died in hospital. On multivariable analysis diabetes mellitus (p = 0.004, OR 91.54), mechanical ventilation (p = 0.001, OR 59.07) and lower albumin levels at treatment (p = 0.027, OR 0.74) were significantly associated with increased in-hospital mortality. In our study, in-hospital mortality in patients receiving CCP is similar to that reported for the general population, however certain variables mentioned above were associated with increased in-hospital mortality. In the literature, these variables were also associated with a worse outcome in patients with COVID-19 who did not receive CCP. As evidence points toward a benefit from CCP treatment in immunocompromised patients, we believe the above risk factors can further define COVID-19 patients at increased risk for mortality, enabling the selection of candidates for early treatment in an outpatient setting if possible.
Influence of geographic access and socioeconomic characteristics on breast cancer outcomes: A systematic review
Authors: Conti Benoit , Bochaton Audrey , Charreire Hélène , Kitzis-Bonsang Hélène , Desprès Caroline , Baffert Sandrine , Ngô Charlotte
Published: July 2022

Socio-economic and geographical inequalities in breast cancer mortality have been widely described in European countries and the United States. To investigate the combined effects of geographic access and socio-economic characteristics on breast cancer outcomes, a systematic review was conducted exploring the relationships between: (i) geographic access to healthcare facilities (oncology services, mammography screening), defined as travel time and/or travel distance; (ii) breast cancer-related outcomes (mammography screening, stage of cancer at diagnosis, type of treatment and rate of mortality); (iii) socioeconomic status (SES) at individuals and residential context levels. In total, n = 25 studies (29 relationships tested) were included in our systematic review. The four main results are: The statistical significance of the relationship between geographic access and breast cancer-related outcomes is heterogeneous: 15 were identified as significant and 14 as non-significant. Women with better geographic access to healthcare facilities had a statistically significant fewer mastectomy (n = 4/6) than women with poorer geographic access. The relationship with the stage of the cancer is more balanced (n = 8/17) and the relationship with cancer screening rate is not observed (n = 1/4). The type of measures of geographic access (distance, time or geographical capacity) does not seem to have any influence on the results. For example, studies which compared two different measures (travel distance and travel time) of geographic access obtained similar results. The relationship between SES characteristics and breast cancer-related outcomes is significant for several variables: at individual level, age and health insurance status; at contextual level, poverty rate and deprivation index. Of the 25 papers included in the review, the large majority (n = 24) tested the independent effect of geographic access. Only one study explored the combined effect of geographic access to breast cancer facilities and SES characteristics by developing stratified models.
Developmental exposure to the brominated flame retardant DE-71 reduces serum thyroid hormones in rats without hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis activation or neurobehavioral changes in offspring
Authors: Ramhøj Louise , Svingen Terje , Mandrup Karen , Hass Ulla , Lund Søren Peter , Vinggaard Anne Marie , Hougaard Karin Sørig , Axelstad Marta
Published: July 2022

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are legacy flame retardants for which human exposure remains ubiquitous. This is of concern since these chemicals can perturb development and cause adverse health effects. For instance, DE-71, a technical mixture of PBDEs, can induce liver toxicity as well as reproductive and developmental toxicity. DE-71 can also disrupt the thyroid hormone (TH) system which may induce developmental neurotoxicity indirectly. However, in developmental toxicity studies, it remains unclear how DE-71 exposure affects the offspring’s thyroid hormone system and if this dose-dependently relates to neurodevelopmental effects. To address this, we performed a rat toxicity study by exposing pregnant dams to DE-71 at 0, 40 or 60 mg/kg/day during perinatal development from gestational day 7 to postnatal day 16. We assessed the TH system in both dams and their offspring, as well as potential hearing and neurodevelopmental effects in prepubertal and adult offspring. DE-71 significantly reduced serum T4 and T3 levels in both dams and offspring without a concomitant upregulation of TSH, thus inducing a hypothyroxinemia-like effect. No discernible effects were observed on the offspring’s brain function when assessed in motor activity boxes and in the Morris water maze, or on offspring hearing function. Our results, together with a thorough review of the literature, suggest that DE-71 does not elicit a clear dose-dependent relationship between low serum thyroxine (T4) and effects on the rat brain in standard behavioral assays. However, low serum TH levels are in themselves believed to be detrimental to human brain development, thus we propose that we lack assays to identify developmental neurotoxicity caused by chemicals disrupting the TH system through various mechanisms.
Identification and phylogenetic analysis of the genus Syringa based on chloroplast genomic DNA barcoding
Authors: Yao Ruihong , Guo Runfang , Liu Yuguang , Kou Ziqian , Shi Baosheng
Published: July 2022

DNA barcoding is a supplementary tool in plant systematics that is extensively used to resolve species-level controversies. This study assesses the significance of using two DNA barcoding loci (e.g., psbA-trnH and trnC-petN) in distinguishing 33 plant samples of the genus Syringa. Results showed that the average genetic distance K2P of psbA-trnH DNA marker was 0.0521, which is much higher than that of trnC-petN, which is 0.0171. A neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree based on psbA-trnH and trnC-petN indicated that the identification rate of psbA-trnH and trnC-petN alone were 75% and 62.5%, respectively. The barcode combination of psbA-trnH+trnC-petN could identify 33 samples of the genus Syringa accurately and effectively with an identification rate of 87.5%. The 33 Syringa samples were divided into four groups: Group I is series Syringa represented by Syringa oblata; Group II is series Villosae represented by Syringa villosa; Group III is series Pubescentes represented by Syringa meyeri; and Group IV is section Ligustrina represented by Syringa reticulata subsp. pekinensis. These research results provided strong evidence that the combinatorial barcode of psbA-trnH+trnC-petN had high-efficiency identification ability and application prospects in species of the genus Syringa.
Analytical methods for assessing retinal cell coupling using cut-loading
Authors: Myles William E. , McFadden Sally A.
Published: July 2022

Electrical coupling between retinal neurons contributes to the functional complexity of visual circuits. “Cut-loading” methods allow simultaneous assessment of cell-coupling between multiple retinal cell-types, but existing analysis methods impede direct comparison with gold standard direct dye injection techniques. In the current study, we both improved an existing method and developed two new approaches to address observed limitations. Each method of analysis was applied to cut-loaded dark-adapted Guinea pig retinae (n = 29) to assess coupling strength in the axonless horizontal cell type (‘a-type’, aHCs). Method 1 was an improved version of the standard protocol and described the distance of dye-diffusion (space constant). Method 2 adjusted for the geometric path of dye-transfer through cut-loaded cells and extracted the rate of dye-transfer across gap-junctions in terms of the coupling coefficient (kj). Method 3 measured the diffusion coefficient (De) perpendicular to the cut-axis. Dye transfer was measured after one of five diffusion times (1–20 mins), or with a coupling inhibitor, meclofenamic acid (MFA) (50–500μM after 20 mins diffusion). The standard protocol fits an exponential decay function to the fluorescence profile of a specified retina layer but includes non-specific background fluorescence. This was improved by measuring the fluorescence of individual cell soma and excluding from the fit non-horizontal cells located at the cut-edge (p<0.001) (Method 1). The space constant (Method 1) increased with diffusion time (p<0.01), whereas Methods 2 (p = 0.54) and 3 (p = 0.63) produced consistent results across all diffusion times. Adjusting distance by the mean cell-cell spacing within each tissue reduced the incidence of outliers across all three methods. Method 1 was less sensitive to detecting changes induced by MFA than Methods 2 (p<0.01) and 3 (p<0.01). Although the standard protocol was easily improved (Method 1), Methods 2 and 3 proved more sensitive and generalisable; allowing for detailed assessment of the tracer kinetics between different populations of gap-junction linked cell networks and direct comparison to dye-injection techniques.
SssP1, a Fimbria-like component of Streptococcus suis, binds to the vimentin of host cells and contributes to bacterial meningitis
Authors: Pan Zihao , He Peijuan , Zhang Yue , Gu Qibing , Chen Shengsheng , Yu Yong , Shao Jing , Wang Kaicheng , Wu Zongfu , Yao Huochun , Ma Jiale
Published: July 2022

Streptococcus suis(S.suis) is one of the important pathogens that cause bacterial meningitis in pigs and humans. Evading host immune defences and penetrating the blood-brain barrier (BBB) are the preconditions forS.suisto cause meningitis, while the underlying mechanisms during these pathogenic processes are not fully understood. By detecting the red blood and white blood cells counts, IL-8 expression, and the pathological injury of brain in a mouse infection model, a serine-rich repeat (SRR) glycoprotein, designated as SssP1, was identified as a critical facilitator in the process of causing meningitis in this study. SssP1 was exported to assemble a fimbria-like component, thus contributed to the bacterial adhesion to and invasion into human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs), and activates the host inflammatory response during meningitis but is not involved in the actin cytoskeleton rearrangement and the disruption of tight junctions. Furthermore, the deletion ofsssP1significantly attenuates the ability ofS.suisto traverse the BBBin vivoandin vitro. A pull-down analysis identified vimentin as the potential receptors of SssP1 during meningitis and following Far-Western blot results confirmed this ligand-receptor binding mediated by the NR2 (the second nonrepeat region) region of SssP1. The co-localisation of vimentin andS.suisobserved by laser scanning confocal microscopy with multiplex fluorescence indicated that vimentin significantly enhances the interaction between SssP1 and BBB. Further study identified that the NR216-781and NR1711-2214fragments of SssP1 play critical roles to bind to the BBB depending on the sialylation of vimentin, and this binding is significantly attenuated when the antiserum of NR216-781or NR1711-2214blocked the bacterial cells, or the vimentin antibody blocked the BBB. Similar binding attenuations are observed when the bacterial cells were preincubated with the vimentin, or the BBB was preincubated with the recombinant protein NR216-781, NR1711-2214or sialidase. In conclusion, these results reveal a novel receptor-ligand interaction that enhances adhesion to and penetration of the BBB to cause bacterial meningitis in theS.suisinfection and highlight the importance of vimentin in host-pathogen interactions.
Albadejo García, M. D. (2020). Aprovechamiento didáctico de textos narrativos en el aula de español como lengua extranjera. Editorial Universidad de Jaén
Authors: Gimeno Gimeno Neus
Published: July 2022

Reseña del libro: Albadejo García, Mª Dolores (2020). Aprovechamiento didáctico de textos narrativos en el aula de español como lengua extranjera. Jaén: Editorial Universidad de Jaén. (272 páginas, ISBN 978-84-9159-349-2).
Rojo, Guillermo (2021): Introducción a la lingüística de corpus. Londres: Routledge. 380 páginas
Authors: Conde Noguerol María Eugenia
Published: July 2022

Reseña del libro: Rojo, Guillermo (2021): Introducción a la lingüística de corpus. Londres: Routledge. 380 páginas.
A corpus-based study of 4-grams in the research article genre
Authors: Jiménez-Navarro Eva Lucía
Published: July 2022

The analysis of phraseology in the specialized discourse of science has sparked researchers’ interest in the last few decades, probably because the use of word groupings in specific registers can provide information about certain typical features of the genre. For instance, Gledhill (2009) explores colligations of tenses in scientific articles and discovers that the present tense is used for qualitative and empirical expressions, while the past tense provides quantitative and research-oriented descriptions; Pérez-Llantada (2014) investigates 4-word lexical bundles in research articles, finding that these multiword combinations express referential meaning and organize the text; finally, Jiménez-Navarro (2019) analyzes adjective + noun collocations in a corpus of scientific papers and concludes that these phraseological units convey specific meanings when used in this genre, since they represent the contents of research articles. The aim of the current study is to contribute to the analysis of 4-grams in the language of science. To this end, two specific objectives are defined: first, to ascertain the structure of 4-grams; second, to analyze the function they perform. The methodology was based on a corpus and entailed five major steps: (1) a specialized corpus of research articles was built, (2) a list of 4-grams was automatically extracted using the software Sketch Engine, (3) the resulting list was manually verified in order to suppress inaccurate candidates, (4) the selected units were classified depending on their structural framework, and (5) the selected units were categorized according to their function in the text. The findings show that, in terms of the first objective, the most typical 4-grams were noun phrases; and as for the second objective, the sequences examined mostly concerned the research conducted and the authorship of the texts. All in all, the 4-grams identified were structures that were specific to the genre under study but could also be used in other domains.
Los marcadores del discurso en la narrativa financiera: análisis de las cartas a los accionistas
Authors: García Toro Ana
Published: July 2022

Los marcadores del discurso (MD) son elementos de cohesión textual que guían las inferencias del discurso a nivel intra y extraoracional. Entre sus inferencias se registran la adición, la contraargumentación, el refuerzo, la atenuación o la reformulación, que intervienen constantemente en la argumentación y en la construcción del discurso. Por su parte, las cartas a los accionistas, redactadas por el primer ejecutivo de la empresa, son un resumen y evaluación del ejercicio anual de la compañía, donde se exponen los principales datos u objetivos conseguidos en ese año, con el propósito de mantener la confianza de sus accionistas y/o atraer potenciales inversores. En este trabajo se combinan un estudio cuantitativo, con la obtención de las frecuencias de los marcadores; un estudio cualitativo, porque se presenta un análisis de casos donde se podrán observar ejemplos que extrapolen los datos al texto; y un estudio contrastivo entre dos corpus de carácter financiero: los textos de empresas con ganancias y los de empresas con pérdidas. Así, se pretende exponer la distribución de los marcadores del discurso en un corpus financiero con el fin de determinar si el empleo y la frecuencia de algunas partículas discursivas en las cartas están condicionadas por los resultados de la empresa. Los principales hallazgos tras este análisis pueden resumirse en que en las ganancias van a primar las inferencias de adición de la información y de refuerzo argumentativo, mientras que, en las pérdidas se utilizan marcadores contraargumentativos y operadores de modalidad emotiva. Además, la apariencia de seguridad y esperanza se busca a través de los operadores modales, y encontramos un uso generalizado de la partícula adicionalmente, potencialmente por la influencia anglosajona. La originalidad de este trabajo recae en que se realiza en un campo inexplorado como es la narrativa financiera en español. En esencia, nuestro estudio combina herramientas propias de la lingüística computacional, con una metodología empírica de lingüística de corpus, para acercarnos un poco más al estudio de la argumentación y de las estrategias utilizadas en el discurso financiero.
El corpus Iberia como fuente para el estudio del léxico especializado
Authors: Pablo Núñez Luis
Published: July 2022

Este texto expone las posibilidades de búsqueda y recuperación de información del corpus IBERIA, el corpus sincrónico del español creado por el Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas para el estudio del léxico técnico del español. Tras describir sus características, realizamos búsquedas de un número cerrado de términos de los ámbitos astronómico y médico con mayor y menor grado de especialización; posteriormente buscamos esos mismos términos en los corpus de la Real Academia Española y del IULA y comparamos sus resultados. De acuerdo con ellos, mostramos el alcance y posibles limitaciones de estos corpus para el estudio del léxico especializado.
Jorge Fernández Jaén (2019). El abecé de la lingüística cognitiva. Arco Libros. 96 páginas. ISBN: 978-84-7635-996-9
Authors: Arance Rusillo Irene
Published: July 2022

Reseña del libro: Jorge Fernández Jaén (2019). El abecé de la lingüística cognitiva. Arco Libros. 96 páginas. ISBN: 978-84-7635-996-9.
Popularizing economics
Authors: Ceccarelli Giovanni
Published: July 2022

This article explores pre-modern moral economy from an unconventional perspective. Instead of focusing on major thinkers and celebrated texts, it addresses lesser known sources and unoriginal authors, shifting the analysis from the production of economic ideas to their transmission and reception. Two specific domains are targeted. On the one side, an exemplary set of minor and unedited works made of short compositions, abridgments, and collations; on the other, texts deviating from academic canons by writing about moral economy in vernacular instead of Latin. These sources provide insights on how economic vocabularies and conceptualizations developed within the intellectual sphere, when coming into contact with a larger public, were reworked and adapted.
Determination of multidrug-resistant populations and molecular characterization of complex Klebsiella spp. in wild animals by multilocus sequence typing
Authors: de Sousa Alessandra Tammy Hayakawa Ito , Costa Marco Túlio dos Santos , Cândido Stefhano Luis , Makino Herica , Morgado Thais Oliveira , Pavelegini Lucas Avelino Dandolini , Colodel Edson Moleta , Nakazato Luciano , Dutra Valéria
Published: July 2022

Background and Aim: One of the most significant public health concerns is multidrug-resistant (MDR) microorganisms. Klebsiella spp. have been at the forefront of causing different types of infections such as bacteremia, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, enteritis, and sepsis in humans as well as animals. This study aimed to determine the genomic similarity between Klebsiella spp. isolated from wild animal samples and those described in the Institut Pasteur genomic database to verify the spread of resistant clones regionally in the state of Mato Grosso, and to compare the epidemiological data in different regions of Brazil and the world.

Materials and Methods: Isolates from various sites of injury in wild animals were identified by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the disk diffusion method to verify the resistance profile, and then, multilocus sequence typing was performed to verify the population structure and compare the isolates from other regions of Brazil and the world.

Results: Twenty-three sequence types (STs) were observed; of these, 11 were new STs, as new alleles were detected. There was no predominant ST among the isolates. All isolates were MDR, with high rates of resistance to sulfonamides, ampicillin, amoxicillin, and nitrofurantoin and low resistance to meropenem, imipenem, and amikacin.

Conclusion: Improving our understanding of the population structure of Klebsiella spp. in wild animals may help determine the source of infection during outbreaks in humans or animals, as the One Health concept emphasizes the interlinks between humans, animals, and environmental health.
The Impact of E-Procurement Implementation on Public Procurement’s Corruption Cases; Evidence from Indonesia and India
Authors: Kartika Desi
Published: July 2022

The huge spending on public procurement makes public procurement is very vulnerable to corruption. Many governments around the world have adopted Electronic Procurement (E-Procurement) to increase transparency, improve accountability, and reduce corruption with variable success. Government of Indonesia adopted E-Procurement in 2008, while Government of India introduced E-Procurement in 2012. Even though E-Procurement has been implemented for quite a long time in those two emerging countries, only limited research exist on the impact of E-Procurement in reducing procurement corruption. By using the combination between quantitative and qualitative methods, this study attempts to assess the extent to which the impact of E-Procurement implementation on procurement corruption cases in Indonesia and India. The findings suggest that Indonesian provinces with high capital expenditure ratio, are more vulnerable to corruption and implementation of E-Procurement was impactful on reducing the number of procurement corruption cases in such provinces. Meanwhile in India, the effect of E-Procurement was not impactful enough to reduce a notably large number of procurement corruption at the state governments because E-Procurement implementation at the state level in some degree was bothered by low competency and professionalization staff and also high political interference in state administrations. The study contributes to limited empirical research on the effect of E-Procurement on corruption.
Design of O-Ring with Inner Sided Restrained Arrangement
Authors: Muzakkir S M
Published: July 2022

The O-rings are the very commonly employed solution for creating sealing to prevent the loss of pressurized fluid or gases. In the present work the design of an O-ring with inner sided restrained arrangement is presented.
Water Pollution from Agriculture and Industry
Authors: Sial Jehangir K. , Mahmood Sajid , Kılıç Zeyneb , Saeed Muhammad Mazhar , Iqbal Mudassar , Rehman Hafiz Abdur
Published: July 2022

Continued water quality impairment has introduced serious environmental concerns for health, stream life, agriculture, and industry. In general, water pollution is a resultant of agricultural and industrial activities. We handpicked 150 samples of drinkable water from various parts of the Faisalabad City. The findings revealed that locations fed by industrial waste matter had higher nitrate level, whereas places with superior drainage had lower nitrate content. Almost all the factors in general produced major effects on the leaching of fertilizer (NO3-N) into the soil outline. The current research found that nitrogenous fertilizer in the form of NO3-N was leached up to 150 cm into the soil. In Pakistan, the water table was within 150 cm of the ground surface on 30 percent of the 41 million acres examined. The municipal and industrial wastes of Faisalabad cannot be separated, as industries are situated in residential areas. The mixture is discharged into open land or into drains. None of the samples contained Zn in the tolerance limit (TL refers to the concentration higher than maximum permissible limit). MPL decrease with an increase in distance of the source from the sullage carrier. Fe, Cu and Mn, the results indicate that the sullage carrier has contaminated the ground water up to 300 meters and no water sample was found within TL within 300 meters distance. The results indicate that Fe, Cu, and Mn concentration in ground water has reached to problematic level along unlined section of the sullage carrier. Thus, in this zone a severe Fe, Cu and Mn toxicity has been identified. Pb however, the situation was somewhat different because none of the samples was found within TL after 50 meters distance of source from such sullage carrier. The result of Fe indicates problem in some water samples collected along lined section of sullage carrier. The same situation prevailed for Cu and Mn. Both the metals have contaminated the ground water up to 150 meters. The results of Pb were similar as in case of unlined section of the sullage carrier but it has some problem up to 25 meters. This paper describes some aspects of surface and subsurface water pollution, in addition to best management practices and remedial measures required for minimization environmental hazards.
Role of insulin resistance and the gut microbiome on urine oxalate excretion in ob/ob mice
Authors: Xiang Hong , Chen Haoqing , Liu Yuanyuan , Dodd Dylan , Pao Alan C.
Published: July 2022

Ob/ob mice have recently emerged as a model for obesity‐related hyperoxaluria as they are obese and excrete more urine oxalate compared to wild type mice. Ob/ob mice are deficient of leptin and develop obesity with hyperphagia and hyperinsulinemia. We hypothesized that insulin resistance and the gut microbiome contribute to hyperoxaluria in ob/ob mice. We developed a new liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry assay for urine oxalate and first compared urine oxalate excretion in ob/ob mice before and after ablation of intestinal bacteria with a standard antibiotic cocktail. We then compared urine oxalate excretion in ob/ob mice before and after leptin replacement or pioglitazone treatment, two maneuvers that reduce insulin resistance in ob/ob mice. Ob/ob mice excreted more oxalate into the urine in a 24‐h period compared to wild type mice, but antibiotic, leptin, or pioglitazone treatment did not change urine oxalate excretion in ob/ob mice. Unexpectedly, we found that when food intake was carefully matched between ob/ob and wild type mice, the amount of 24‐h urine oxalate excretion did not differ between the two mouse strains, suggesting that ob/ob mice excrete more urine oxalate because of hyperphagia. Since the level of urine oxalate excretion in wild type mice in our study was higher than those reported in prior studies, future work will be needed to standardize the measurement of urine oxalate and to define the range of urine oxalate excretion in wild type mice so that accurate and valid comparisons can be made between wild type mice and ob/ob mice or other mouse models.
Robo-Advice as a Digital Finance Platform
Authors: Zunzunegui Fernando
Published: July 2022

This paper is about automated financial advice, known as Robo-Advice. Its origin and development are analysed as a prominent Fintech activity. After tackling its legal nature as a service platform and showing how it is different from traditional human advice, its legal framework is addressed, particularly in the European Union, to conclude with some legislative policy proposalsto regulate it as a digital finance platform.
Enhancement of visual perception by combining transcranial electrical stimulation and visual perceptual training
Authors: He Qing , Yang Xin-Yue , Zhao Daiqing , Fang Fang
Published: July 2022

The visual system remains highly malleable even after its maturity or impairment. Our visual function can be enhanced through many ways, such as transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) and visual perceptual learning (VPL). TES can change visual function rapidly, but its modulation effect is short-lived and unstable. By contrast, VPL can lead to a substantial and long-lasting improvement in visual function, but extensive training is typically required. Theoretically, visual function could be further improved in a shorter time frame by combining tES and VPL than by solely using tES or VPL. Vision enhancement by combining these two methods concurrently is both theoretically and practically significant. In this review, we firstly introduced the basic concept and possible mechanisms of VPL and tES; then we reviewed the current research progress of visual enhancement using the combination of two methods in both general and clinical population; finally, we discussed the limitations and future directions in this field. Our review provides a guide for future research and application of vision enhancement and restoration by combining VPL and tES.
Copper ternary oxides as photocathodes for solar-driven CO2reduction
Authors: Gonzaga Ian Lorenzo E. , Mercado Candy C.
Published: July 2022

The sun’s energy, though free and virtually limitless, is a largely unexploited resource, as its conversion into a storable form presents several technological challenges. A promising way of capturing and storing solar energy is in the form of “solar fuels,” in a process termed artificial photosynthesis. In a photoelectrochemical (PEC) system, the reduction of CO2to carbon-based fuels is driven on the surface of an illuminated semiconductor electrode. Through the decades, many different classes of semiconducting materials have been studied for this purpose, to varying successes. Because of their cheap and abundant nature, semiconducting transition metal oxides are good candidates to realize this technology in an economic scale and have thus attracted considerable research attention. In this review article, the progress achieved with a specific class of metal oxides, namely, the copper ternary oxides such as copper iron oxide and copper bismuth oxide, for PEC CO2reduction is examined. Although there have been significant advances in terms of strategies to improve the efficiency and stability of these materials, further studies are warranted to address the many challenges to PEC CO2reduction and solar fuel production.
Was bei Vereinsbeteiligungen beharrlich übersehen wird
Authors: Beuthien Volker
Published: July 2022

In Frage steht, ob und inwieweit sich ein eingetragener Verein an erwerbswirtschaftlich tätigen Gesellschaft beteiligen darf, ohne schon dadurch seinen nichtwirtschaftlichen Charakter zu verlieren. Anzuknüpfen ist dabei an die Regel, dass sich ein nichtwirtschaftlicher Verein die für die Erreichung seines Idealzwecks erforderlichen Mittel nicht nur durch Beiträge und Umlagen, sondern auch dadurch verschaffen kann, dass er ein Nebengewerbe betreibt oder einen Zweckausführungsbetrieb unterhält (sog. Kostendeckungsprivileg).
Determinants of Chinese Provincial Governments’ Responses to the 2018 Vaccine Scandal
Authors: Tai Yuehong Cassandra
Published: July 2022

Scholars who study governance in authoritarian countries have long highlighted the importance of fiscal capacity and pressure from the central government in determining the responsiveness and policy changes of subnational governments. However, policy orientation is also important in shaping how subnational governments react to a crisis. Using provincial governments’ responses during the 2018 Chinese vaccine scandal, I find strong evidence that an emphasis on public health, as well as early responses by neighboring provinces, increased the likelihood of a quick response. Moreover, issue salience minimized the direct effect of pressure from the national government. An additional paired case study of the provinces of Hubei and Hunan shows that the importance accorded by the provincial government to public health policy was implemented at the sub-provincial level through China’s one-level-down cadre management system; it also may explain Hubei’s delay in responding to COVID-19 at an early stage.
Processo cicatricial de úlceras venosas de difícil cicatrização em tratamento com bota de Unna
Authors: Sousa Érica do Nascimento , Alexandre Solange Gurgel , Silva Renan Alves , Araújo Thiago Moura de , Martins Marina Guerra , Caetano Joselany Áfio
Published: July 2022

Objetivo: analisar o processo cicatricial de úlceras venosas tratadas com bota de Unna. Métodos: estudo longitudinal, prospectivo, com 14 indivíduos acometidos de úlcera venosa crônica, acompanhados em quatro momentos distintos. A coleta de dados foi realizada com base no perfil clínico, sociodemográfico e avaliação clínica das lesões. Dados analisados por meio dos testes de Friedman. Para a comparação das médias, utilizou-se o teste dos postos assinalados de Wilcoxon e, para as comparações múltiplas, utilizou-se a correção de Bonferroni (p<0,05). Resultados: o teste post hoc de Bonferroni revelou redução nos escores de dor (p=0,038), quantidade de exsudato (p=0,005) e borda seca (p=0,044). Observou-se melhora da cicatrização por meio da escala Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing (p=0,004) após uso da bota de Unna entre o primeiro e quarto momento. Conclusão: houve redução dos indicadores da Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing, dor, quantidade de exsudato e borda seca da lesão em paciente em uso de bota de Unna depois de quatro semanas. Contribuições para a prática: evidencia-se a necessidade de manejar indicadores como classificação de Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing, dor, quantidade de exsudato e borda seca com base na Bota de Unna.
Cortisol-producing adenoma-related somatic mutations in unilateral primary aldosteronism with concurrent autonomous cortisol secretion: their prevalence and clinical characteristics
Authors: Wu Wan-Chen , Peng Kang-Yung , Lu Jin-Ying , Chan Chieh-Kai , Wang Chih-Yuan , Tseng Fen-Yu , Yang Wei-Shiung , Lin Yen-Hung , Lin Po-Chih , Chen Ting-Chu , Huang Kuo-How , Chueh Jeff S , Wu Vin-Cent
Published: July 2022

Objective

Concurrent autonomous cortisol secretion (ACS) in patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) is being reported more frequently. Several somatic mutations including PRKACA, GNAS, and CTNNB1 were identified in cortisol-producing adenomas (CPAs). The presence of these mutations in unilateral PA (uPA) patients concurrent with ACS (uPA/ACS) is not well known. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of these mutations and their clinical vs pathological characteristics in uPA/ACS.

Design

This is a retrospective cohort study.

Methods

Totally 98 uPA patients from the Taiwan Primary Aldosteronism Investigation registry having overnight 1-mg dexamethasone suppression test (DST) and adrenalectomy from 2016 to 2018 were enrolled. Their adrenal tumors were tested for PRKACA, GNAS, and CTNNB1 mutations.

Results

11 patients had CPA-related mutations (7 PRKACA and 4 GNAS). The patients carrying these mutations had higher post-DST cortisol (5.6 vs 2.6 μg/dL, P = 0.003) and larger adenoma (2.2 ± 0.3 vs 1.9 ± 0.7 cm, P = 0.025). Adenomas with these mutations had a higher prevalence of non-classical uPA (72.7% vs 26.3%, P = 0.014). Numerically, slightly more complete clinical success of uPA patients with these mutations was noticed after adrenalectomy, although it was statistically non-significant. Post-DST cortisol levels, adenoma size >1.9 cm, and the interaction of adenoma size >1.9 cm with potassium level were found to be associated with the presence of these mutations.

Conclusion

Our study showed that CPA-related mutations were detected in 36.7% of uPA/ACS adenomas. The presence of these mutations was associated with higher post-DST cortisol levels, larger adenoma sizes, and a high percentage of non-classical uPA. However, these mutations did not significantly affect the clinical and biochemical outcomes after adrenalectomy of uPA/ACS patients but they showed a better trend.
Maternal hypothyroidism is associated with M-opsin developmental delay
Authors: Saito Kazuma , Horiguchi Kazuhiko , Yamada Sayaka , Buyandalai Battsetseg , Ishida Emi , Matsumoto Shunichi , Yoshino Satoshi , Nakajima Yasuyo , Yamada Eijiro , Saito Tsugumichi , Ozawa Atsushi , Tajika Yuki , Akiyama Hideo , Yamada Masanobu
Published: July 2022

Thyroid hormones are critical for the development of opsins involved in color vision. Hypothyroid mice show delayed M-opsin development and expanded distribution of S-opsin on the retina. However, the effects of maternal hypothyroidism on opsin development remain unknown. This study investigates the effects of congenital central hypothyroidism and maternal hypothyroidism on opsin development in thyrotropin-releasing hormone knockout (TRH−/−) mice. We examined the mRNA expression and protein distribution of S/M-opsin on postnatal days (P)12 and 17, as well as mRNA expression of type 2 and 3 iodothyronine deiodinase (DIO2 and DIO3, respectively) in the retina and type 1 iodothyronine deiodinase (DIO1) in the liver at P12 in TRH+/− mice born to TRH+/− or TRH−/− dams, and conducted S/M-opsin analysis in TRH+/+ or TRH−/− mice born to TRH+/− dams at P12, P17, and P30. M-opsin expression was lower in TRH+/− mice born to TRH−/− dams than in those born to TRH+/− dams, whereas S-opsin expression did not significantly differ between them. DIO1, DIO2, and DIO3 mRNA expression levels were not significantly different between the two groups; therefore, thyroid function in peripheral tissues in the pups was similar. S/M-opsin expression did not significantly differ between the TRH+/+ and TRH−/− mice born to TRH+/− dams on any postnatal day. These results demonstrate that maternal hypothyroidism causes M-opsin developmental delay during the early developmental stages of neonatal mice, and TRH−/− mice, a model of congenital central hypothyroidism, born to a euthyroid dam do not have delayed opsin development.
Stress Distribution in Occlusal Veneers with Different Finish Lines When Applying Vertical and Tangential Forces
Authors: Aliaga Jimmy , Caro M. Rosa S. , Hermoza N. Mónica
Published: July 2022

To evaluate stress distribution when applying vertical and tangential forces to 1mm thick occlusal veneers with different finish lines preparations, using the finite element method. One extracted third molar was prepared for occlusal veneers, firstly without any bevel. It was scanned in order to design two groups of lithium disilicate (G1A, G2A) and composite resin (G1B, G2B) occlusal veneers. Then, the third molar preparation was modified, beveling the finish line and it was subsequently scanned again to design the occlusal veneer groups with bevel (LD: G3A, G4A and CR: G3B, G4B). The four groups were subjected to different forces (400 N vertical and 900 N tangential). At 400 N, the non-beveled veneers showed slightly higher Von Mises stress values (G1A: 783 MPa and G1B 736.5 MPa) than the beveled veneers (G3A: 685.7 MPa and G3B: 675.8 MPa). However, when 900 N tangential forces were applied, the beveled occlusal veneers showed higher Von Mises stress values (G4A: 4297 MPa and G4B: 4133 MPa) than the non-beveled occlusal veneers (G2A: 2581.1 MPa and G2B: 3519.1 MPa). Furthermore, it was observed that the tissue under the occlusal veneers with bevel showed higher Von Mises stress values than the models without any bevel. Beveled and non-beveled occlusal veneers of lithium disilicate and composite resin presented similar stress distribution values when vertical forces of 400 N were applied; whereas with tangential forces of 900 N applied near to the finish line, the beveled groups presented notably higher stress values than the non-beveled groups. However, both finish line preparations presented adequate values for possible clinical performance.
Actividad física, tiempo frente al ordenador, horas de sueño e índice de masa corporal en adolescentes en tiempos de pandemia
Authors: Flores Paredes Alcides , Coila Pancca Daniel
Published: July 2022

La pandemia del COVID-19 ha producido enormes cambios en las actividades de la vida diaria de las personas. Los niveles de actividad física han disminuido, el tiempo frente al ordenador se ha incrementado produciendo inactividad física y sedentarismo en los escolares. Se planteó como objetivo determinar la asociación directa entre la actividad física, tiempo frente al ordenador y horas de sueño con el índice de masa corporal en adolescentes de 12 a 17 años de la región de Puno, Perú. El enfoque utilizado es cuantitativo, el tipo de investigación que se asumió es no experimental con diseño transversal. Se aplicó una muestra no probabilística intencionada de 465 adolescentes (241 mujeres y 224 varones) con promedio de edad de (14.14 ± 1.34). Los instrumentos utilizados fueron el cuestionario de actividad física, el tiempo frente al ordenador con un análisis de fiabilidad de Alfa de Cronbach de 0.918 y 0.862, se tuvo el auto reporte de las medidas del peso corporal y estatura de pie. Resultados el 20.65% de mujeres presentan un nivel de actividad física baja, el 9.87% de varones predominan en la actividad física alta. El 14.19 % de mujeres pasan más tiempo frente al ordenador durante la semana de 6 a 7 horas diarias, a diferencia de los varones 12.26%. El 23.66% de mujeres presentan sobrepeso y el 5.81% obesidad, frente a los varones 20% y 3.23%. Existe correlación Rho de Spearman inversamente proporcional de -0.167 y p< 0.01. Concluyendo que a menor actividad física el índice de masa corporal se incrementa.
Editorial
Authors: Brodbeck Simon , Killingley Dermot , King Anna
Published: July 2022

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Monks, Money, and Morality: The Balancing Act of Contemporary Buddhism, edited by Christoph Brumann, Saskia Abrahms-Kavunenko and Beata Switek
Authors: Kawanami Hiroko
Published: July 2022

Monks, Money, and Morality: The Balancing Act of Contemporary Buddhism, edited by Christoph Brumann, Saskia Abrahms-Kavunenko and Beata SwitekNew York: Bloomsbury Academic, 2021. 255 pp. £65 (hb), £21.99 (pb), £19.79 (ebook). ISBN 9781350213753 (hb), 9781350213760 (pb), 9781350213777 (ebook).
Estimation on the Spin${}^c$ twisted Dirac operators
Authors: EKER Serhan
Published: July 2022

We generalize the lower bound estimates for eigenvalues of the twisted Dirac operator on compact Riemannian Spinc−c−submanifold obtained by Roger Nakad and Julien Roth in (Archiv der Mathematik 104(5), 453-461, 2015).
Стратегічне управління витратами спеціалізованих птахівничих підприємств в умовах мінливого економічного середовища
Authors: Ніколюк О. В.
Published: July 2022

Запропоновано багаторівневу модель стратегічного управління витратами спеціалізованихптахівничих підприємств в умовах мінливого економічного середовища, як синтезовану і спрямовануна довгострокову перспективу сукупність взаємозалежних учасників і об'єктів управління, які певнимчином взаємодіють з метою коректування параметрів діяльності спеціалізованих птахівничих підпри-ємств у відповідь на зміни соціально-економічного середовища, проявів ризиків і можливостей й за-безпечує підвищення результативності управління витратами спеціалізованих птахівничих підпри-ємств. Запропонована модель є допоміжним інструментом для розробки напрямків удосконаленнястратегічного управління витратами спеціалізованих птахівничих підприємств з урахуванням мінливо-сті економічного середовища в країні. Визначено, що запорукою ефективності управління стратегічно-го управління витратами спеціалізованих птахівничих підприємств в умовах мінливого економічногосередовища є здійснення комплексу організаційно-економічних заходів, та узгодження взаємодії міжними, орієнтованих на забезпечення ефективного функціонування стратегії розвитку ресурсного поте-нціалу спеціалізованих птахівничих підприємств в умовах мінливого економічного середовища.
Реформування системи публічного управління в умовах децентралізації влади
Authors: Ніколюк О. В. , Мироненко Б. В. , Кирилова В. П.
Published: July 2022

Стратегічні напрямки розвитку України в умовах євроінтеграції потребує нового концептуаль-ного базису інституалізації влади, імплементації інноваційної моделі публічного управління. Узагаль-нено нормативно-правові умови, які є актуальними для проведення модернізації діючої в Україні сис-теми публічного управління у контексті проведення імплементації засад публічного управління. Пред-ставлено перспективні напрямки проведення децентралізації в Україні: 1) організація деконцентраціївладних повноважень й ресурсів, їх законодавчо визначена передача від певних центральних органівпублічного управління до необхідних місцевих органів публічного управління; 2) імплементація засадщодо деволюції влади; 3) визначені владні повноваження й ресурси певним чином розподілятимутьсяміж державними органами публічної влади, самоврядними організаціями та ринковими й громадськи-ми структурами; 4) забезпечення дотримання новітніх моделей щодо публічного управління, сформо-ваних на засадах концепції Нового публічного управління.
Perspectives from Local Media Specialists and ELA Instructors on Graphic Novels in the Middle Grades Curriculum
Authors: Higginbotham Jo Ann , Anderson Laura , Brown Shane
Published: July 2022

Given the notion that graphic novels have the potential for instruction, this study examines the questions: In what ways do local media specialists and English Language Arts (ELA) instructors use them in their classrooms or other educational settings? If instructors use graphic novels, how do their students respond to them? Have they experienced criticisms concerning the use of graphic novels as texts worthy of analysis and exploration in the classroom? Finally, what is the connection between research and the use of graphic novels in the classroom? In this qualitative study, the authors examined 14 responses from media specialists and ELA instructors working in schools in southeastern Tennessee. Additionally, they reviewed literature related to each of these questions.
Graphic Narratives as Opportunities for Professional Learning
Authors: Lopez Kershen Julianna E.
Published: July 2022

In the graphic narrative Queen of the Sea, protagonist Margaret tells the story of her youth on a secret island. Multimodal texts can be used as a platform for academic inquiry, enticing the reader to closely engage with the visual images, text, and the interplay between the two. Studying the sociocognitive complexity of a text invites the reader to utilize theory-of-mind thinking to identify the mental states communicated in the narrative, as well as narratological constructs such as temporality and narrative empathy. As an opportunity for professional learning, this study analyzed the sociocognitive complexity of Dylan Meconis’s graphic narrative Queen of the Sea, using theory-of-mind thinking as an analytic frame for reading and exploring. Findings of this investigation highlight the complexity of graphic narratives and argue for their use as instructional texts in the English classroom.
Book Review of Children’s and Young Adult Comics by Gwen Athene Tarbox
Authors: Suico Terri
Published: July 2022

Terri Suico provides insight and overview for Children's and Young Adult Comics written by Gwen Athene Tarbox.