bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design framework for metasurface optics-based convolutional neural networks
Authors: Burgos Carlos Mauricio Villegas , Yang Tianqi , Zhu Yuhao , Vamivakas A. Nickolas
Published: April 2021

Deep learning using convolutional neural networks (CNNs) has been shown to significantly outperform many conventional vision algorithms. Despite efforts to increase the CNN efficiency both algorithmically and with specialized hardware, deep learning remains difficult to deploy in resource-constrained environments. In this paper, we propose an end-to-end framework to explore how to optically compute the CNNs in free-space, much like a computational camera. Compared to existing free-space optics-based approaches that are limited to processing single-channel (i.e., gray scale) inputs, we propose the first general approach, based on nanoscale metasurface optics, that can process RGB input data. Our system achieves up to an order of magnitude energy savings and simplifies the sensor design, all the while sacrificing little network accuracy.
Silicon nitride polarization beam splitter based on polarization-independent MMIs and apodized Bragg gratings
Authors: Zhan Jiahao , Brock Joseph , Veilleux Sylvain , Dagenais Mario
Published: April 2021

We present the design and experimental results of a novel polarization beam splitter (PBS) with a high polarization extinction ratio (PER) made on a Si3N4 platform. The PBS is composed of two identical polarization-independent multi-mode interferometers and two identical apodized Bragg gratings. The operating principle of this device is based on the fact that the TE and TM stopbands of the grating are centered at different wavelengths. The reflected and transmitted light from the gratings are routed to separate output ports by the two-MMI configuration. The experimental results show that a PER of > 30 dB is achieved over a bandwidth of 22 nm, with an insertion loss of ∼ 1.1 dB. The total length of the device is ∼ 820 µm.
Transmission delays and frequency detuning can regulate information flow between brain regions
Authors: Pariz Aref , Fischer Ingo , Valizadeh Alireza , Mirasso Claudio
Published: April 2021

Brain networks exhibit very variable and dynamical functional connectivity and flexible configurations of information exchange despite their overall fixed structure. Brain oscillations are hypothesized to underlie time-dependent functional connectivity by periodically changing the excitability of neural populations. In this paper, we investigate the role of the connection delay and the detuning between the natural frequencies of neural populations in the transmission of signals. Based on numerical simulations and analytical arguments, we show that the amount of information transfer between two oscillating neural populations could be determined by their connection delay and the mismatch in their oscillation frequencies. Our results highlight the role of the collective phase response curve of the oscillating neural populations for the efficacy of signal transmission and the quality of the information transfer in brain networks.
Optogenetic delivery of trophic signals in a genetic model of Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Ingles-Prieto Alvaro , Furthmann Nikolas , Crossman Samuel H. , Tichy Alexandra-Madelaine , Hoyer Nina , Petersen Meike , Zheden Vanessa , Biebl Julia , Reichhart Eva , Gyoergy Attila , Siekhaus Daria E. , Soba Peter , Winklhofer Konstanze F. , Janovjak Harald
Published: April 2021

Optogenetics has been harnessed to shed new mechanistic light on current and future therapeutic strategies. This has been to date achieved by the regulation of ion flow and electrical signals in neuronal cells and neural circuits that are known to be affected by disease. In contrast, the optogenetic delivery of trophic biochemical signals, which support cell survival and are implicated in degenerative disorders, has never been demonstrated in an animal model of disease. Here, we reengineered the human andDrosophila melanogasterREarranged during Transfection (hRET and dRET) receptors to be activated by light, creating one-component optogenetic tools termed Opto-hRET and Opto-dRET. Upon blue light stimulation, these receptors robustly induced the MAPK/ERK proliferative signaling pathway in cultured cells. In PINK1B9flies that exhibit loss of PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1), a kinase associated with familial Parkinson’s disease (PD), light activation of Opto-dRET suppressed mitochondrial defects, tissue degeneration and behavioral deficits. In human cells with PINK1 loss-of-function, mitochondrial fragmentation was rescued using Opto-dRETviathe PI3K/NF-кB pathway. Our results demonstrate that a light-activated receptor can ameliorate disease hallmarks in a genetic model of PD. The optogenetic delivery of trophic signals is cell type-specific and reversible and thus has the potential to inspire novel strategies towards a spatio-temporal regulation of tissue repair.
Influence of tropical upright pasture structural and chemical characteristics on lamb grazing time
Authors: Tontini Jalise Fabíola , Poli Cesar Henrique Espírito Candal , Hampel Viviane da Silva , Farias Mariana de Souza , Fajardo Neuza Maria , Silva Joseane Anjos da , Farinatti Luis Henrique Ebling , Muir James Pierre
Published: April 2021

Tropical pasture canopy characteristics can alter lamb ingestive behavior. Our study evaluated the ingestive behavior of young lambs in different tropical pastures to identify which variables interfere in their grazing activity. Two years of study were carried out with 54 weaned lambs distributed in three different pasture canopies: 1) monoculture of an upright grass, guinea grass (Panicum maximum; GG); 2) monoculture of a shrubby legume pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan; PP) and 3) contiguous paddock with half GG and half PP (GP). The experiment was set out in a randomized complete block design (3 blocks). Lamb ingestive behavior was observed from sunrise to sunset with records every 5 minutes. To identify the main variables that affected lamb grazing activity, a multivariate analysis of the Decision Tree was performed. Our results showed that there was no difference in the ingestive behavior parameters of young lambs in different canopies (P> 0.05). There was interaction among the canopies and the experimental periods for the variables idleness time and biting rate (P≤ 0.05). Lambs in all canopies showed more idleness time in the first evaluation period. Lambs in canopies containing grass (GG and GP) exhibited greater bites per minute throughout the experimental period. Lamb grazing time increased 40% as experimental period progressed and plants matured. The Decision Tree identified leaf:stem ratio as the variable that most influenced lamb grazing time in GG and GP canopies while in the PP, grazing time was directly related to canopy height. The behavior of young lambs on tropical pasture is variable as there is a change in the behavioral response to canopy characteristics over time. In addition, the grazing time of these animals can be estimated by means of variables related to canopy structural characteristics (leaf:stem ratio and height) together with chemical variables.
Ancient DNA analysis of archaeological specimens extends Chinook salmon’s known historic range to San Francisco Bay’s tributaries and southernmost watershed
Authors: Lanman Richard B. , Hylkema Linda , Boone Cristie M. , Allée Brian , Castillo Roger O. , Moreno Stephanie A. , Flores Mary Faith , DeSilva Upuli , Bingham Brittany , Kemp Brian M.
Published: April 2021

Understanding a species’ historic range guides contemporary management and habitat restoration. Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) are an important commercial and recreational gamefish, but nine Chinook subspecies are federally threatened or endangered due to anthropogenic impacts. Several San Francisco Bay Area streams and rivers currently host spawning Chinook populations, but government agencies consider these non-native hatchery strays. Through the morphology-based analysis of 17,288 fish specimens excavated from Native American middens at Mission Santa Clara (CA-SCL-30H), Santa Clara County, circa 1781–1834 CE, 88 salmonid vertebrae were identified. Ancient DNA sequencing identified three separate individuals as Chinook salmon and the remainder as steelhead/rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). These findings comprise the first physical evidence of the nativity of salmon to the Guadalupe River in San Jose, California, extending their documented historic range to include San Francisco Bay’s southernmost tributary watershed.
Development and validation of a cellular host response test as an early diagnostic for sepsis
Authors: Guillou Lionel , Sheybani Roya , Jensen Anne E. , Di Carlo Dino , Caffery Terrell S. , Thomas Christopher B. , Shah Ajay M. , Tse Henry T. K. , O’Neal Hollis R.
Published: April 2021

Sepsis must be diagnosed quickly to avoid morbidity and mortality. However, the clinical manifestations of sepsis are highly variable and emergency department (ED) clinicians often must make rapid, impactful decisions before laboratory results are known. We previously developed a technique that allows the measurement of the biophysical properties of white blood cells as they are stretched through a microfluidic channel. In this study we describe and validate the resultant output as a model and score—the IntelliSep Index (ISI)—that aids in the diagnosis of sepsis in patients with suspected or confirmed infection from a single blood draw performed at the time of ED presentation. By applying this technique to a high acuity cohort with a 23.5% sepsis incidence (n = 307), we defined specific metrics—the aspect ratio and visco-elastic inertial response—that are more sensitive than cell size or cell count in predicting disease severity. The final model was trained and cross-validated on the high acuity cohort, and the performance and generalizability of the model was evaluated on a separate low acuity cohort with a 6.4% sepsis incidence (n = 94) and healthy donors (n = 72). For easier clinical interpretation, the ISI is divided into three interpretation bands of Green, Yellow, and Red that correspond to increasing disease severity. The ISI agreed with the diagnosis established by retrospective physician adjudication, and accurately identified subjects with severe illness as measured by SOFA, APACHE-II, hospital-free days, and intensive care unit admission. Measured using routinely collected blood samples, with a short run-time and no requirement for patient or laboratory information, the ISI is well suited to aid ED clinicians in rapidly diagnosing sepsis.
Knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards COVID-19 among Venezuelans during the 2020 epidemic: An online cross-sectional survey
Authors: Bates Benjamin R. , Tami Adriana , Carvajal Ana , Grijalva Mario J.
Published: April 2021

Background

COVID-19 threatens health systems worldwide, but Venezuela’s system is particularly vulnerable. To prevent the spread of COVID-19, individuals must adopt preventive behaviors. However, to encourage behavior change, we must first understand current knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) that inform response to this health threat.

Methods

We explored KAPs among Venezuelans using a cross-sectional, internet-based questionnaire. The questionnaire explored individuals’ knowledge about COVID-19; their attitudes toward the world’s and the Venezuelan authorities’ abilities to control it; and their self-reported practices. We also collected demographic data. Binomial logistic regression analyses were used to predict the adoption of preventive behaviors based on demographic variables, individual knowledge level, and individual attitudes.

Results

3122 individuals completed the questionnaire. Participants had a high level of knowledge about COVID-19. They expressed high levels of optimism that the world would eventually control COVID-19, but they were very pessimistic about the public authorities in Venezuela. Most participants adopted preventive practices. Binomial regression suggests younger people, less educated people, and manual laborers hold lower levels of knowledge, and these groups, as well as men, were less likely to adopt preventive practices. Knowledge, by itself, had no association with optimism and little association with self-reported practices.

Conclusions

As other KAP studies in Latin America found, knowledge is not sufficient to prompt behavior change. Venezuelans’ pessimism about their own country’s ability should be explored in greater depth. Health promotion in Venezuela may wish to target the most at risk groups: men, younger people, less educated people, and manual laborers.
Distinct community structures of soil nematodes from three ecologically different sites revealed by high-throughput amplicon sequencing of four 18S ribosomal RNA gene regions
Authors: Kenmotsu Harutaro , Ishikawa Masahiro , Nitta Tomokazu , Hirose Yuu , Eki Toshihiko
Published: April 2021

Quantitative taxonomic compositions of nematode communities help to assess soil environments due to their rich abundance and various feeding habitats. DNA metabarcoding by the 18S ribosomal RNA gene (SSU) regions were preferentially used for analyses of soil nematode communities, but the optimal regions for high-throughput amplicon sequencing have not previously been well investigated. In this work, we performed Illumina-based amplicon sequencing of four SSU regions (regions 1–4) to identify suitable regions for nematode metabarcoding using the taxonomic structures of nematodes from uncultivated field, copse, and cultivated house garden soils. The fewest nematode-derived sequence variants (SVs) were detected in region 3, and the total nematode-derived SVs were comparable in regions 1 and 4. The relative abundances of reads in regions 1 and 4 were consistent in both orders and feeding groups with prior studies, thus suggesting that region 4 is a suitable target for the DNA barcoding of nematode communities. Distinct community structures of nematodes were detected in the taxon, feeding habitat, and life-history strategy of each sample; i.e., Dorylamida- and Rhabditida-derived plant feeders were most abundant in the copse soil, Rhabditida-derived bacteria feeders in the house garden soil, and Mononchida- and Dorylamida-derived omnivores and predators and Rhabditida-derived bacteria feeders in the field soil. Additionally, low- and high-colonizer–persister (cp) groups of nematodes dominated in the house garden and copse soils, respectively, whereas both groups were found in the field soil, suggesting bacteria-rich garden soil, undisturbed and plant-rich copse soil, and a transient status of nematode communities in the field soil. These results were also supported by the maturity indices of the three sampling sites. Finally, the influence of the primer tail sequences was demonstrated to be insignificant on amplification. These findings will be useful for DNA metabarcoding of soil nematode communities by amplicon sequencing.
Development of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay combined with a nanoparticle-based lateral flow biosensor for rapid detection of plasmid-mediated colistin resistance gene mcr-1
Authors: Gong Lin , Tang Fei , Liu Ernan , Liu Xiaoli , Xu Huiqiong , Wang Yimei , Song Yadong , Liang Jiansheng
Published: April 2021

A loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay combined with a nanoparticle-based lateral flow biosensor (LAMP-LFB) was established for the rapid and accurate detection of the mobilized colistin resistance gene (mcr-1), which causes the loss of colistin antibacterial efficacy in clinical treatments. The amplification stage of the assay was completed in 60 min at 63°C, and the reaction products could be visually detected by employing the LFB, which provided a fast (within 2 min) and objective method to evaluate the amplification results. The LAMP assay amplified the target sequences ofmcr-1with high specificity. In pure strains, the detection limit of the LAMP-LFB assay was 360 fg plasmid DNA/reaction, and in spiked feces samples the value was approximately 6.3×103CFU/mL (~6.3 CFU/reaction), which was tenfold more sensitive than the PCR assay. The results show that the developed LAMP-LFB assay will be a worthy tool for the simple, rapid, specific, and sensitive detection ofmcr-1gene in clinical settings and resource-limited areas.
A qualitative study of the first batch of medical assistance team’s first-hand experience in supporting the nursing homes in Wuhan against COVID-19
Authors: Yang Xiu-Fen , Li Meng-qi , Liao Lu-lu , Feng Hui , Zhao Si , Wu Shuang , Yin Ping
Published: April 2021

Background

The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has global impact, Wuhan in Hubei province is a high-risk area. And the older people in nursing homes are the most susceptible group to COVID-19. The aim of this study was to describe the practice and experience of the first-line medical team, to provide insights of coping with COVID-19 in China.

Method

This qualitative study used a descriptive phenomenological design to describe the experience of medical staff supported the nursing homes in Wuhan fighting against COVID-19. Unstructured interviews via online video were conducted with seven medical staffs who supported the nursing homes in Wuhan. Data were analyzed using content analysis in five main themes: for nursing homes, we interviewed the difficulties faced at the most difficult time, services for the older people, and prevention and management strategies, for the medical staff, the psychological experience were interviewed, and the implications for public health emergencies were also reported.

Conclusions

It is imperative that effective preventive and response measures be implemented to face the outbreak of COVID-19 and meet the care needs of older people in the context of COVID-19.

Implications

Findings will inform managers of some reasonable instructional strategies for implementing effective infection management. Nursing homes need to provide targeted services to help alleviating their bad psychology for residents.
Repeated intermittent hypoxic stimuli to operative lung reduce hypoxemia during subsequent one-lung ventilation for thoracoscopic surgery: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Yoon Susie , Kim Bo Rim , Min Se-Hee , Lee Jaehun , Bahk Jae-Hyon , Seo Jeong-Hwa
Published: April 2021

Background

An intervention to potentiate hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction may reduce intrapulmonary shunt and hypoxemia during one-lung ventilation. Previous animal studies reported that repeated intermittent hypoxic stimuli potentiated hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, but no clinical study has examined the effects of this intervention on hypoxemia during one-lung ventilation. We thus performed a single-center, parallel-group, double-blind, randomized controlled trial to investigate whether repeated intermittent hypoxic stimuli to the operative lung reduce hypoxemia during the subsequent one-lung ventilation for thoracoscopic surgery.

Methods

Patients undergoing one-lung ventilation were randomized into two groups (n = 68 each). Before one-lung ventilation, in the intermittent hypoxia group, the nondependent lung was not ventilated for 2 min and then ventilated for 2 min while the dependent lung was continuously ventilated. This was repeated five times. In the continuous normoxia group, both lungs were ventilated for 20 min. We measured SpO2, PaO2, FiO2, PaCO2, SaO2, and central venous oxygen saturation during one-lung ventilation. The primary outcome was the number of patients with hypoxemia defined as a SpO2 <95% during one-lung ventilation, which was analyzed with a chi-squared test.

Results

Hypoxemia was less frequent in the intermittent hypoxia group than in the continuous normoxia group during OLV [6/68 (8.8%) vs 17/68 (25.0%), risk ratio (95% CI) 0.35 (0.15–0.84), p = 0.012]. The PaO2 (p = 0.008 for 30 min and 0.007 for 60 min) and PaO2/FiO2 (p = 0.008 for both) were higher 30 and 60 min after starting one-lung ventilation, and the alveolar-arterial pressure gradient (p = 0.010) and shunt index (p = 0.008) were lower 30 min after starting one-lung ventilation in the intermittent hypoxia group than in the continuous normoxia group. Postoperative adverse events did not differ significantly between groups.

Conclusions

Repeated intermittent hypoxic stimuli to the operative lung seemed to potentiate hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, and thus reduced hypoxemia during the subsequent one-lung ventilation.
Dimensions of pathological narcissism and intention to vote for Donald Trump
Authors: Yalch Matthew M.
Published: April 2021

Pathological narcissism is a term often applied to former President Donald Trump, but it has been less examined as a potential predictor of voting for him. Trump projects a grandiose and omnipotent self-image during press conferences and rallies, and his followers at these events often respond with both effusive admiration and an inflated sense of their own self-regard, all of which are aspects of narcissism. However, while Trump’s personal narcissism has been well documented, there is little research on the narcissism of his supporters. In this study we conducted an exploratory analysis examining the hierarchical structure of pathological narcissism and which aspects of narcissism within that structure were associated with intended voting for Trump in the 2020 U.S. presidential election in a sample of U.S. residents collected online (N= 495) using Amazon’s Mechanical Turk. Results indicated that an eight-echelon hierarchy best fit the data. Within this hierarchy, antagonistic and indifferent aspects of narcissism within the fifth echelon best predicted intended voting for Trump over and above relevant demographic variables. These results have implications for the study of narcissism and, especially given the results of the 2020 election, the degree to which one can make use of narcissistic aspects of personality in political contests.
CpG content-dependent associations between transcription factors and histone modifications
Authors: Fischer Jonas , Ardakani Fatemeh Behjati , Kattler Kathrin , Walter Jörn , Schulz Marcel H.
Published: April 2021

Understanding the factors that underlie the epigenetic regulation of genes is crucial to understand the gene regulatory machinery as a whole. Several experimental and computational studies examined the relationship between different factors involved. Here we investigate the relationship between transcription factors (TFs) and histone modifications (HMs), based on ChIP-seq data in cell lines. As it was shown that gene regulation by TFs differs depending on the CpG class of a promoter, we study the impact of the CpG content in promoters on the associations between TFs and HMs. We suggest an approach based on sparse linear regression models to infer associations between TFs and HMs with respect to CpG content. A study of the partial correlation of HMs for the two classes of high and low CpG content reveals possible CpG dependence and potential candidates for confounding factors in our models. We show that the models are accurate, inferred associations reflect known biological relationships, and we give new insight into associations with respect to CpG content. Moreover, analysis of a ChIP-seq dataset in HepG2 cells of the HM H3K122ac, an HM about little is known, reveals novel TF associations and supports a previously established link to active transcription.
Supervised extraction of near-complete genomes from metagenomic samples: A new service in PATRIC
Authors: Parrello Bruce , Butler Rory , Chlenski Philippe , Pusch Gordon D. , Overbeek Ross
Published: April 2021

Large amounts of metagenomically-derived data are submitted to PATRIC for analysis. In the future, we expect even more jobs submitted to PATRIC will use metagenomic data. One in-demand use case is the extraction of near-complete draft genomes from assembled contigs of metagenomic origin. The PATRIC metagenome binning service utilizes the PATRIC database to furnish a large, diverse set of reference genomes. We provide a new service for supervised extraction and annotation of high-quality, near-complete genomes from metagenomically-derived contigs. Reference genomes are assigned to putative draft genome bins based on the presence of single-copy universal marker roles in the sample, and contigs are sorted into these bins by their similarity to reference genomes in PATRIC. Each set of binned contigs represents a draft genome that will be annotated by RASTtk in PATRIC. A structured-language binning report is provided containing quality measurements and taxonomic information about the contig bins. The PATRIC metagenome binning service emphasizes extraction of high-quality genomes for downstream analysis using other PATRIC tools and services. Due to its supervised nature, the binning service is not appropriate for mining novel or extremely low-coverage genomes from metagenomic samples.
Media representation and gender bias in science
Authors: Macdonald Catherine
Published: April 2021

Research on gender bias in science has often focused on the effects of gender stereotypes or a lack of female role models on the recruitment and retention of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields, or on the discrimination women scientists face. Systemic bias fuels, and is cyclically reinforced by, media representations of scientists (who are most often presented as white men). While many proposed interventions to address gender inequality in science focus on changing women’s beliefs or behaviour to help them succeed, more inclusive representation of scientists could meaningfully contribute to reshaping the cultural beliefs that act on both genders to deny women opportunities and produce inhospitable learning and working environments.
Topic modelling of public Twitter discourses, part bot, part active human user, on climate change and global warming
Authors: Al-Rawi Ahmed , Kane Oumar , Bizimana Aimé-Jules
Published: April 2021

Twitter is a key site for understanding the highly polarized and politicized debate around climate change. We examined large datasets comprising about 15 million tweets from different parts of the world referencing climate change and global warming. Our examination of the twenty most active users employing the term ‘global warming’ are likely to be automated accounts or bots than the most active users employing the term ‘climate change’. We used a mixed method approach including topic modelling, which is a digital method that automatedly identifies the top topics using an algorithm to understand how Twitter users engage with discussions on ‘climate change’ and ‘global warming’. The percentage of the top 400 users who use the term ‘climate change’ and believe it is human-made or anthropogenic (82.5%) is much higher than users who use the term ‘global warming’ and believe in human causation (25.5%). Similarly, the percentage of active users who use the term ‘global warming’ were much more likely to believe it is a results of natural cycles (18%) than active users who use the term ‘climate change’ (5%). We also identified and qualitatively analysed the positions of the most active users. Our findings reveal clear politically polarized views, with many politicians cited and trolled in online discussions, and significant differences reflected in terminology.
Beyond frame analysis: Formal analysis and genre typology in the communication study of short-form environmental video messaging
Authors: Vaughan Hunter , Johns Lisa
Published: April 2021

As connected platforms such as Twitter, Instagram and TikTok rise in popular use, communication strategies are forced to grow more condensed and to be transmitted primarily across digital screens. Online short-form video has consequently become a primary format for environmental communication, though research on digital communication remains largely limited to frame analysis and discussions of print and still images. Filling a need in current scholarship on environmental media and aiming to further bridge humanities and communication research, this article offers a model for assessing environmentally themed short-form videos that complements communication studies’ focus on messaging rhetoric with humanities-based film and visual culture analytic tools for assessing the connotative aspect of aesthetic and narrative elements. Intending to offer an applicable framework for environmental messengers, we develop a genre system of short-form videos along cognitive and emotional axes that can be quantitatively identified according to formal practices, demonstrated through an examination of four environmental short-form videos.
A fabricação de Alexandre Magno: habilidade política e genialidade militar nas fontes antigas (336-331 AEC)
Authors: Sant’Anna Henrique Modanez de
Published: April 2021

Este livro propõe uma crítica às formulações narrativas que enaltecem a habilidade política e a genialidade militar de Alexandre Magno, com destaque para os relatos antigos sobre os eventos ocorridos entre 336 e 331 A.E.C. e para as biografias escritas em língua inglesa entre a década de 1970 e os anos 2000. Optou-se pela análise das narrativas historiográficas e biográficas antigas (Diodoro Sículo, Quinto Cúrcio, Plutarco, Arriano e, ocasionalmente, o epítome de Pompeu Trogo escrito por Justino) que, ora com aparência de crueza objetiva, ora de discurso hiperbólico, trazem percepção similar de Alexandre e relatos contraditórios sobre os eventos narrados. Espera-se, com isso, que se possa pensar especialmente a dinâmica de apresentação dos feitos do macedônio considerado como um dos grandes líderes da Antiguidade.
Dietary polyvinyl alcohol and alginate nanofibers ameliorate hyperglycemia by reducing insulin and glucose-metabolizing enzyme levels in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes
Authors: Suryadiningrat Muhammad , Kurniawati Devia Yoanita , Mujiburrahman Agung , Purnama Muhammad Thohawi Elziyad
Published: April 2021

Background and Aim: Dietary management and antidiabetic drugs are used as therapies for diabetic patients worldwide. Alginate nanofibers were developed as a digestible food product that provides sufficient calories. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and alginate nanofibers on weight gain, blood glucose levels, and insulin and other serum parameters in diabetic rats.

Materials and Methods: A total of 24 male Wistar rats were divided into six groups: (C–) Control group, (C+) diabetic rats, (T1) diabetic rats + fasting treatment for 12 h, (T2) diabetic rats + nanofibers ad libitum, (T3) diabetic rats + metformin + nanofibers ad libitum, and (T4) diabetic rats + metformin. All groups were treated for 21 days. Weight gain was evaluated by comparing initial and final weights. Blood glucose levels were evaluated weekly. Serum parameters were also evaluated at the end of the study. All variables were analyzed statistically using analysis of variance followed by Tukey's post hoc test (p<0.05).

Results: The T2, T3, and T4 groups showed a significant increase in weight compared to that of the C+ and T1 groups. The T3 group had the lowest blood glucose level of all groups at the end of the study. In the serum evaluation, the T2 and T3 groups showed a significant decrease compared to the C+ group for the following variables: Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), creatinine, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). In contrast, the T2 group showed a significant decrease compared to the T3 group for aspartate aminotransferase and insulin levels.

Conclusion: PVA and alginate nanofibers can modulate obesity, reduce blood glucose levels, and reduce serum levels of insulin, ALT, ALP, GGT, creatinine, TNF-α, and IL-1β in diabetic rats.
Effect of dietary stevia-based sweetener on body weight and humoral immune response of broiler chickens
Authors: Molina-Barrios Ramón Miguel , Avilés-Trejo Cielo Rubí , Puentes-Mercado María Esthela , Cedillo-Cobián Jesús Raymundo , Hernández-Chavez Juan Francisco
Published: April 2021

Background and Aim: Steviol glycosides extracted from the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni have been of much consideration recently because of their beneficial effects on health, raising the possibilities for improving farm animals' health. Although some studies on stevia's dietary effect on body weight gain are available, few studies have been conducted to evaluate stevioside supplementation on immune response in broilers. This experiment aimed to analyze how a stevia-based sweetener can affect broiler chickens' growth performance and humoral response.

Materials and Methods: In this experiment, one hundred and twenty 1-day-old Cobb-line broiler chicks fed with commercial starter/grower diets were included in three groups and supplemented with stevia-based sweetener at levels 0, 80, and 160 ppm, respectively. Chickens were weighed on day 0 and every 7 days for the next 6 weeks. Chicks were then immunized on days 10 and 24 with a Newcastle and infectious bronchitis vaccine and blood sampled on days 7, 24, and 35. Serologic assays were performed to detect specific antibody levels.

Results: The body weight means and body weight gain on day 42 were found to be significantly higher in birds from the group fed with 80 ppm of stevia-based sweetener than those in the control group and slightly higher than those in the group supplemented with 160 ppm of stevia-based sweetener. Likewise, on day 35, antibodies against the Newcastle disease virus were higher in the treatment groups. Immune response to infectious bronchitis virus vaccination was not statistically different among the three groups through the experiment.

Conclusion: Stevia-based sweetener at 80 ppm in commercial-based diets improved body weight gain and immune response in broiler chickens at the market age.
Válalkozói környezet és vállalkozásoktatás - nyolc magyar egyetemen, nemzetközi összehasonlításban, hallgatói vélemények alapján
Authors: Szerb László , Márkus Gábor
Published: April 2021

A 2000-es években a felsőoktatásnak számos kihívással kellett és kell szembenéznie úgy, mint bemeneti oldalon az oktatás tömegessé válása, a BA képzések elindítása, míg kimeneti oldalon a munkaerő-piaci elvárások felértékelődése. Mi a helyzet a vállalkozói ismeretek oktatásával a hazai felsőfokú intézményekben? Egy svájci vezetéssel folyó, a „Collegiate Entrepreneurship 2006” néven futó, 14 országra és több mint 37000 – köztük 3346 magyar – hallgatóra kiterjedő nemzetközi felmérés adatait felhasználva ez a cikk a vállalkozói környezet és a vállalkozásoktatás összefüggéseire világít rá, vizsgálva mind az egyetemek kínálta lehetőségeket, mind a hallgatói elvárásokat. A vizsgálat eredményei alapján az egyetemek vállalkozói légkörét tekintve a magyar intézmények közötti különbségek nagyobbak, mint az országok közötti eltérések. A hallgatók szerint a hazai egyetemek meglehetősen nagy százaléka nem kínál vállalkozói kurzusokat, különösen hiányoznak az ilyen órák a nem gazdasági-gazdálkodási szakok eseteiben. Ugyanakkor a magyar hallgatók igen jó arányban használják ki az egyetemek szűkös kínálatát, és – összhangban a nemzetközi adatokkal – elsősorban vállalkozásindítással kapcsolatos kurzusokat és konkrét segítséget, cégalapítási tanácsadást preferálnak. Összességében azonban a magyar felsőoktatásnak, összhangban a Bolognai Alapelvek, a Lisszaboni Stratégia és a Kisvállalkozások Európai Chartája megfogalmazásaival, sokkal inkább preferálnia kellene a vállalkozói ismeretek oktatását a mérnöki, a természettudományos és a humán szakoknál, a gazdasági-gazdálkodási képzés területén pedig a szerzők javasolják az önálló szakirány indítási lehetőségét.
Az európai vállalat (Societas Europea) kialakulása
Authors: Meisel Sándor
Published: April 2021

A Societas Europaea olyan nyilvánosan működő európai részvénytársaság, amely működésének bizonyos előírásait, valójában inkább alapításának fő szabályait a nemzetek feletti jellegű közösségi jog hatálya alá helyezik, kivonva e néhány terület szabályozását a nemzeti hatáskör alól. Ez a forma lehetővé teszi, hogy az Európai Unió több tagállamában jelen lévő vállalatcsoportok csökkentsék vagy elkerüljék a leányvállalataik, fiókjaik, részlegeik működését befolyásoló tagállami előírások sokszínűségéből fakadó korlátokat és költségeket. A megnövelt mozgástérnek köszönhetően az ilyen cégek uniós szinten optimalizálhatják tagállami határokon átívelő üzleti tevékenységüket és a vállalati felépítésüket. Ez lehetővé teszi az egységes belső piac kínálta elméleti előnyök gyakorlati haszonra váltását. Olyan szervezeti újítás, amely kitágítja az európai dimenziójú cégek mozgásterét és növelheti nemzetközi versenyképességüket, de e kereteket az integráció további bővítésének és a cégeknek maguknak kell innovatív tartalommal megtölteniük.
A vállalaton belüli verseny – A munkahelyi rivalizálás empirikus vizsgálata
Authors: Hámori Balázs , Szabó Katalin , Hurta Hilda , Tóth László
Published: April 2021

A vállalaton belüli verseny pozitív és negatív hatásainak a vizsgálata különösen érdekes lehet olyan közegben, amelyben a versenykultúra most formálódik, és nyilvánvalóan számos sajátosságot mutat a fejlett országokban tapasztalhatóhoz képest. A szerzők kutatási célja az volt, hogy képet kapjanak arról, hogy milyen erős a verseny a hazai közegben vállalatokon belül, milyen versenystratégiákat alkalmaznak a vállalatban dolgozók (elsősorban a vezetők) a jövedelemért, pozíciókért és presztízsért folyó versenyben, és milyen hatással van mindez a vállatok működésére és hatékonyságára. A tanulmány hátterét képező empirikus kutatás gerincét 67 vállalatnál készült 72 mélyinterjú adta.
Amerikai vállalkozásoktatási példák adaptációjának lehetősége Magyarországon
Authors: Csapó Krisztián
Published: April 2021

Az elmúlt időszakban számos hazai tanulmány, cikk számolt be külföldi (elsősorban nyugati) vállalkozásoktatási tapasztalatokról (ld. Mihályi, 2001; Kiss, 2005). Az olyan publikációk azonban, melyek a külföldi tapasztalatok bemutatásán túl a hazai adaptálásról, illetve annak lehetőségéről számolnak be, hiányoznak. A szerző dolgozatában három amerikai egyetem vállalkozásoktatási módszereiről számol be; majd a vállalkozásoktatás helyzetének hazai felsőoktatási intézményekben való rövid bemutatását követően azzal foglalkozik, hogyan tudják ezeket a módszereket az oktatásban hasznosítani a Budapesti Corvinus Egyetemen.
Projekttervezés: múlt, jelen és jövő
Authors: Hajdu Miklós
Published: April 2021

A szerző a projekttervezés történetének ötvenéves évfordulója, s talán mondhatjuk, hogy a projektmenedzsment- tudomány/szakma születésének ötvenéves évfordulója alkalmából visszatekint a kezdetekre. A projektek tervezésének fejlődési folyamatait elemezve megkísérli a tapasztalható trendek figyelembevételével a jövő fejlődési irányait megbecsülni.
Α Case of Severe Thyroid Eye Disease Treated with Tocilizumab
Authors: Mehmet Aysel , Panagiotopoulou Eirini Kanella , Konstantinidis Aristeidis , Papagoras Charalampos , Skendros Panagiotis , Dardabounis Doukas , Mikropoulou Athanasia Maria , Labiris Georgios
Published: April 2021

This is a case report describing a patient with severe thyroid eye disease complicated with dysthyroid optic neuropathy that was unresponsive to intravenous steroids and orbital radiotherapy but responded well to intravenous tocilizumab.
A Case Series of Malignant Otitis Externa Mimicking Malignancy
Authors: Selvamalar Vengathajalam , Othman Nik Adilah Nik , Daud Mohd Khairi
Published: April 2021

Malignant otitis externa is an inflammation of the external auditory canal with preceding osteomyelitis of the temporal bone and the adjacent structures that could be potentially lethal. Malignant otitis externa may present with cranial nerve involvements and massive spread of disease mimicking nasopharyngeal carcinoma or any other malignancies on imaging. Two elderly patients who presented with severe otalgia and significant facial nerve palsy and lower cranial nerve palsies showing extensive spread of disease are reported in this case series. They both had resolution of disease after a prolonged course of antibiotics and cortical mastoidectomy for disease clearance in one of them.
Ovotesticular Disorder of Sexual Development and Non-Palpable Testis
Authors: Štichhauer Radek , Šafus Antonín , Neumann David , Novák Ivo , Skutilová Vladana , Laco Jan
Published: April 2021

Disorders of sexual development (DSD) refers to a group of diseases that links the mismatch between an individual’s genetic and gonadal development and its phenotype. Ovotesticular DSD (true hermaphroditism) is one such disease, in which both male and female gonads are present. A 15-year-old boy with a history of surgery for non-palpable testis was examined due to bilateral gynecomastia and known gonosomal mosaic of Klinefelter syndrome. The external genital was matured as male and, in the left half of the scrotum, there was a testicle of normal size. Despite uncertain resistance on the right side, however, the right testis was not palpable. Revision of the right groin revealed a surprising finding in the form of an ovary with a dilated fallopian tube, both of which were completely removed. Surgical revision of the left testis with biopsy was performed. The surgery was completed with a bilateral mastectomy. The postoperative course was uncomplicated, and the boy is content and fully integrated into his peer group. True hermaphroditism is a rare type of DSD. In the case described, DSD was not exhibited until puberty, after an examination for gynecomastia. The case also confirms the necessity of clarification and long-term follow-up of patients with unclear findings during surgery for non-palpable testis. Diagnostic laparoscopy is clearly indicated in these situations.
Rare Complication of Necrotizing Pancreatitis: Extension of Retroperitoneal Abscess into Femoral Region
Authors: Karin Maja , Bogut Ante , Romic Ivan , Silovski Hrvoje , Figl Josip , Pravdic Danijel , Volaric Mile , Babic Emil , Bakula Branko , Romic Renata
Published: April 2021

Distant abscesses are uncommon during the episode of acute pancreatitis (AP). However, these are possible sequalae of necrotizing pancreatitis and should be treated appropriately to prevent serious septic complications. We demonstrate a case of a 56-year-old male patient who presented with severe necrotizing pancreatitis and distant retroperitoneal abscess that reached femoral region and was detected on diagnostic imaging scans. Combination of surgical and supportive therapy was employed, and the patient recovered well with no permanent consequences. Our article highlights the importance of quick and accurate diagnosis and timely intervention in this rare type of pancreatitis complication.
Hirata’s Disease: Rare Cause of Hypoglycaemia in Caucasian Male
Authors: Žibřidová Kateřina , Havlínová Barbora , Svobodová Eliška , Žák Pavel , Čáp Jan , Gabalec Filip
Published: April 2021

Insulin autoimmune syndrome or Hirata’s disease is an extremely rare condition leading to hypoglycaemia of variable severity due to autoantibodies against insulin. We present the first case documented in the Czech Republic.
The macroeconomic aspects of sport in Europe: a cross-country comparison
Authors: Mamcarczyk Mariola , Szyszko Magdalena
Published: April 2021

In this paper we aim to investigate the importance of the sports sector of the economy for macrolevel performance in the European Union Member States. The problem that we address is worthy of research focus as sport is a dynamically  expanding and important sector of the economy. The increasing importance of sport in national economies cannot be fully analysed due to the lack of sufficient statistical data. In this paper, we provide a comparison of the Eurostat sports collections results and Sport Satellite Account-based examination of the contribution of sport to the GDP and value added. The analysis of statistical data is preceded by a description of the sports sector measurement. We establish that the contribution of sport is more remarkable for developed economies, however it has also been increasing over time in other EU Member States. This can be observed for employment, changes in enterprises’ statistics, and international trade. Household spending on sports goods and services also increases even if the Great Recession led to a downturn in sport consumption in some countries. The frequency and coherence of sports data collections related to its economic significance is not satisfactory. The issue needs to be given a higher priority by public authorities.
Proces legitymizacji Trybunału Konstytucyjnego: podejście relacyjne
Authors: Dębska Hanna , Warczok Tomasz
Published: April 2021

Celem artykułu jest ukazanie procesu legitymizacji Trybunału Konstytucyjnego. Perspektywa relacyjna, którą proponujemy, jest odmienna od prawniczej, dominującej w rozważaniach na ten temat. Traktujemy Trybunał jako rodzaj przestrzeni, usytuowany na przecięciu kilku światów społecznych (prawo, nauka, polityka, administracja), które na niego oddziałują. Badanie przeprowadziliśmy, analizując biografie wszystkich sędziów wybranych w latach 1985–2018. Sędziowie zostali potraktowani jako posiadacze znaczących społecznie zasobów – kapitałów (tytuł naukowy, zawód prawniczy, funkcja w administracji rządowej, mandat poselski itp.). Wykorzystując wieloraką analizę korespondencji, odtworzyliśmy przestrzeń Trybunału. Tym samym uchwyciliśmy nie tylko złożoność i wielowymiarowość legitymizacji polskiego sądu konstytucyjnego, lecz także zmiany tego procesu w czasie.
Ochrona zdrowia dziecka i jego rodziny a realizacja obowiązku nauki w sytuacji stanu epidemii
Authors: Michałowska Kinga
Published: April 2021

Celem niniejszego artykułu jest analiza praw i obowiązków rodziców wynikających z pieczy nad osobą dziecka, ograniczonych na potrzeby prowadzonych badań do kwestii ochrony zdrowia dziecka i zapewnienia mu bezpieczeństwa. Tak zawężony obowiązek pieczy analizowany jest w kontekście realizacji obowiązku szkolnego w sytuacji stanu epidemii spowodowanej wirusem SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). Poruszana problematyka wpisuje się w dyskusję nad ustaleniem granic ingerencji rodziców w konieczność realizacji przez dziecko obowiązku szkolnego w sytuacji stanu epidemii, gdy bezpośredni kontakt dziecka uczęszczającego do szkoły może powodować znaczne ryzyko zakażenia. W ujęciu szerszym rozważania podejmują problem bezpieczeństwa zdrowotnego dziecka i mniej odpornych na zachorowanie członków jego rodziny ocenianych pod kątem dwóch klauzul generalnych: zasady dobra dziecka i zasady dobra rodziny.
Implantacja zarodków utworzonych z komórek rozrodczych samotnych kobiet – propozycje przepisów przejściowych
Authors: Łukasiewicz Rafał
Published: April 2021

Zgodnie z ustawą o leczeniu niepłodności samotne kobiety nie mają dostępu do medycznie wspomaganej prokreacji. Niemniej jednak wiele samotnych kobiet wzięło udział w procedurach dawstwa heterologicznego zanim ustawa o leczeniu niepłodności weszła w życie. Zgodnie z obowiązującymi regulacjami prawnymi nie są one uprawnione do implantacji zarodków, które zostały utworzone z ich komórek rozrodczych oraz z nasienia anonimowych dawców. Mając na względzie, że prawo polskie zakazuje niszczenia zarodków, podlegają one przechowaniu przez dwadzieścia lat, a następnie są przekazywane do dawstwa innej parze bez zgody, a nawet wiedzy samotnej kobiety. Oznacza to, że dziecko poczęte w tych procedurach będzie wychowywanie przez parę, która nie jest z nim genetycznie spokrewniona, zamiast przez samotną matkę, która jest rodzicem genetycznym i chce urodzić oraz wychować dziecko. Celem niniejszego artykułu jest analiza zagrożeń związanych z powyższym problemem. Propozycja Trybunału Konstytucyjnego (postanowienie TK z 18 kwietnia 2018 r., S 2/18) zakłada zgodę sądu opiekuńczego na implantację zarodków w sytuacjach kobiet, które wzięły udział w procedurach MAR zanim stało się to nielegalne. W artykule przedstawione zostają wady takiego rozwiązania oraz zaprezentowana zostaje propozycja, która daje szansę na ochronę interesów zaangażowanych podmiotów oraz spójność z aktualnymi regulacjami prawnymi.