bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rabies post-exposure healthcare-seeking behaviors and perceptions: Results from a knowledge, attitudes, and practices survey, Uganda, 2013
Authors: Bonaparte Sarah C. , Adams Laura , Bakamutumaho Barnabas , Barbosa Costa Galileu , Cleaton Julie M. , Gilbert Amy T. , Osinubi Modupe , Pieracci Emily G. , Recuenco Sergio , Tugumizemu Victor , Wamala Joseph , Wallace Ryan M.
Published: June 2021

Background

Rabies is a viral disease of animals and people causing fatal encephalomyelitis if left untreated. Although effective pre- and post-exposure vaccines exist, they are not widely available in many endemic countries within Africa. Since many individuals in these countries remain at risk of infection, post-exposure healthcare-seeking behaviors are crucial in preventing infection and warrant examination.

Methodology

A rabies knowledge, attitudes, and practices survey was conducted at 24 geographically diverse sites in Uganda during 2013 to capture information on knowledge concerning the disease, response to potential exposure events, and vaccination practices. Characteristics of the surveyed population and of the canine-bite victim sub-population were described. Post-exposure healthcare-seeking behaviors of canine-bite victims were examined and compared to the related healthcare-seeking attitudes of non-bite victim respondents. Wealth scores were calculated for each household, rabies knowledge was scored for each non-bitten survey respondent, and rabies exposure risk was scored for each bite victim. Logistic regression was used to determine the independent associations between different variables and healthcare-seeking behaviors among canine-bite victims as well as attitudes of non-bitten study respondents.

Results

A total of 798 households were interviewed, capturing 100 canine-bite victims and a bite incidence of 2.3 per 100 person-years. Over half of bite victims actively sought medical treatment (56%), though very few received rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (3%). Bite victims who did not know or report the closest location where PEP could be received were less likely to seek medical care (p = 0.05). Respondents who did not report having been bitten by a dog with higher knowledge scores were more likely to respond that they would both seek medical care (p = 0.00) and receive PEP (p = 0.06) after a potential rabies exposure event.

Conclusions

There was varying discordance between what respondents who did not report having been bitten by a dog said they would do if bitten by a dog when compared to the behaviors exhibited by canine-bite victims captured in the KAP survey. Bite victims seldom elected to wash their wound or receive PEP. Having lower rabies knowledge was a barrier to theoretically seeking care and receiving PEP among not bitten respondents, indicating a need for effective and robust educational programs in the country.
Reliability, validity and discriminability of patient reported outcomes for non-specific low back pain in a nationwide physical therapy registry: A retrospective observational cohort study
Authors: Meerhoff Guus A. , Verburg Arie C. , Schapendonk Renske M. , Cruijsberg Juliette , Nijhuis-van der Sanden Maria W. G. , van Dulmen Simone A. , Van der Wees Philip J.
Published: June 2021

Background

A national clinical registry was established in the Netherlands containing data directly sampled from electronic health record systems of physical therapists (PTs). This registry aims to evaluate the potential of patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) to develop quality indicators (QIs) in physical therapy care.

Purpose

To test to what extent the collected PROM data are reliable, valid and discriminatory between practices in measuring outcomes of patients with non-specific low back pain (NSLBP).

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study 865 PT practices with 6,560 PTs voluntarily collected PROM data of patients with NSLBP, using the Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale (QBPDS), the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and the Patient Specific Functioning Scale (PSFS). Reliability was determined by analysing the completeness of the dataset, the comparability by using national reference data, and through checking selection bias in the included patients. Validity was tested using the known-groups contrast between patients with (sub)acute vs. chronic NSLBP. To determine discriminative ability of outcomes between PT practices, case-mix corrected hierarchical multilevel analyses were performed.

Results

Reliability was sufficient by confirming fifteen of the sixteen hypotheses: 59% of all patients opted in for data analysis, 42% of these included patients showed repeated measurement, comparing with reference data and potential selection bias showed < 5% between group differences, while differences between (sub)acute and chronic NSLB-groups were significantly larger than 5% (less treatment sessions, lager differences in outcomes in (sub)acute NSLB patients). In addition, all nine adjusted hierarchical multilevel models confirm that the collected dataset on outcomes in PT care is able to discriminate between practices using PROM results of patients with NSLBP (ICC-scores range 0.11–0.21).

Limitations

Although we have shown the reliability, validity and discriminative ability of the dataset in the quest to develop QIs, we are aware that reducing missing values in patient records and the selective participation of PTs that belong to the innovators needs attention in the next stages of implementation to avoid bias in the results.

Conclusion

PROMs of patients with NSLBP collected in the national clinical registry of KNGF are reliable, valid and able to discriminate between primary care PT practices.
An observational study of the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in treatment-experienced people living with HIV in Singapore
Authors: Ang Li Wei , Ng Oon Tek , Boudville Irving Charles , Leo Yee Sin , Wong Chen Seong
Published: June 2021

Background

While the use of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has conferred significant reduction in morbidity and mortality, there are growing concerns about the metabolic complications of antiretroviral regimens in HIV-infected patients. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Singapore.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study using the clinical database maintained by the Clinical HIV Programme at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases, Singapore. Treatment-experienced PLHIV on follow-up during 2015–2017 were included. MetS was defined as having three or more of the following five abnormalities: hypertriglyceridemia, HDL hypocholesterolemia, hypertension, obesity, and diabetes.

Results

A total of 2,231 PLHIV were included in this study. 93.9% were men, and the median age at latest follow-up was 48 years. The median duration of HIV infection and duration of exposure to cART was 6.8 years and 5.7 years, respectively. All had been exposed to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) as the first line of treatment, 93.9% to non-NRTIs, 28.6% to protease inhibitors (PIs) and 12.8% to integrase strand transfer inhibitors. The most common metabolic abnormality among PLHIV was HDL hypocholesterolemia (60.2%) followed by hypertriglyceridemia (45.5%). Of all the 2,231 individuals, 68.8% had at least one component of MetS. The overall prevalence of MetS was 23.6% (95% confidence interval 21.9%–25.4%). Of the 526 with MetS, the most common combination was HDL hypocholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia and hypertension (51.0%), followed by HDL hypocholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hypertension and diabetes (25.1%). Compared with PLHIV without MetS, a significantly higher proportion of those with MetS were ever on protease inhibitors (33.5% vs. 27.1%).

Conclusion

MetS is common in PLHIV. In view of the progressive aging of HIV-infected population and long-term use of cART, regular monitoring for metabolic abnormalities, surveillance of drug effects and behavioural interventions are needed to optimize management and prevention of metabolic disorders in PLHIV.
Two turtles with soft tissue preservation from the platy limestones of Germany provide evidence for marine flipper adaptations in Late Jurassic thalassochelydians
Authors: Joyce Walter G. , Mäuser Matthias , Evers Serjoscha W.
Published: June 2021

Late Jurassic deposits across Europe have yielded a rich fauna of extinct turtles. Although many of these turtles are recovered from marine deposits, it is unclear which of these taxa are habitually marine and which may be riverine species washed into nearby basins, as adaptations to open marine conditions are yet to be found. Two new fossils from the Late Jurassic of Germany provide unusually strong evidence for open marine adaptations. The first specimen is a partial shell and articulated hind limb from the Late Jurassic (early Tithonian) platy limestones of Schernfeld near Eichstätt, which preserves the integument of the hind limb as an imprint. The skin is fully covered by flat, polygonal scales, which stiffen the pes into a paddle. Although taxonomic attribution is not possible, similarities are apparent withThalassemys. The second specimen is a large, articulated skeleton with hypertrophied limbs referable toThalassemys bruntrutanafrom the Late Jurassic (early Late Kimmeridgian) platy limestone of Wattendorf, near Bamberg. Even though the skin is preserved as a phosphatic film, the scales are not preserved. This specimen can nevertheless be inferred to have had paddles stiffened by scales based on the pose in which they are preserved, the presence of epibionts between the digits, and by full morphological correspondence to the specimen from Schernfeld. An analysis of scalation in extant turtles demonstrated that elongate flippers stiffed by scales are a marine adaptation, in contrast to the elongate but flexible flippers of riverine turtles. Phylogenetic analysis suggests thatThalassemys bruntrutanais referable to the mostly Late Jurassic turtle cladeThalassochelydia. The marine adapted flippers of this taxon therefore evolved convergently with those of later clades of marine turtles. Although thalassochelydian fossils are restricted to Europe, with one notable exception from Argentina, their open marine adaptations combined with the interconnectivity of Jurassic oceans predict that the clade must have been even more wide-spread during that time.
Neglect of publication bias compromises meta-analyses of educational research
Authors: Ropovik Ivan , Adamkovic Matus , Greger David
Published: June 2021

Because negative findings have less chance of getting published, available studies tend to be a biased sample. This leads to an inflation of effect size estimates to an unknown degree. To see how meta-analyses in education account for publication bias, we surveyed all meta-analyses published in the last five years in the Review of Educational Research and Educational Research Review. The results show that meta-analyses usually neglect publication bias adjustment. In the minority of meta-analyses adjusting for bias, mostly non-principled adjustment methods were used, and only rarely were the conclusions based on corrected estimates, rendering the adjustment inconsequential. It is argued that appropriate state-of-the-art adjustment (e.g., selection models) should be attempted by default, yet one needs to take into account the uncertainty inherent in any meta-analytic inference under bias. We conclude by providing practical recommendations on dealing with publication bias.
Compulsive and compensative buying among online shoppers: An empirical study
Authors: Adamczyk Grzegorz
Published: June 2021

The present study examines the phenomenon of compensative and compulsive buying among online shoppers. Firstly, the obtained empirical data make it possible to estimate the prevalence of compensative and compulsive buying among the general population of Poles aged 15 years old and over, with the sample split into users and non-users of the e-commerce market offer. Secondly, the conducted analysis shows to what extent the prevalence of compulsive and compensative buying is differentiated by the frequency of online shopping, by the extent of the expenditures on online shopping compared with offline shopping, by attitudes towards online shopping, and by sociodemographic conditions (gender, age, monthly net income of household). The findings come from a survey conducted in 2019 based on a nationwide statistically representative sample of 1,000 Poles aged 15 years old and over. Drawing on this survey based on the German Compulsive Buying Indicator (GCBI), the prevalence of compulsive buying is observed at about 3% and compensative buying at about 12%. Dividing the general population into online and offline shoppers, one can see serious differences between both target groups; the share of compulsive and compensative buyers in the segment of online shoppers amounts to 3.6% and 16.9%, while among non-online shoppers– 3.3% and 10.1%. The strongest susceptibility to compulsive buying is characteristic of female online shoppers having very positive attitudes towards online shopping and doing online shopping very frequently.
Serological profiles of pan-coronavirus-specific responses in COVID-19 patients using a multiplexed electro-chemiluminescence-based testing platform
Authors: Chaudhury Sidhartha , Hutter Jack , Bolton Jessica S. , Hakre Shilpa , Mose Evelyn , Wooten Amy , O’Connell William , Hudak Joseph , Krebs Shelly J. , Darden Janice M. , Regules Jason A. , Murray Clinton K. , Modjarrad Kayvon , Scott Paul , Peel Sheila , Bergmann-Leitner Elke S.
Published: June 2021

Serological assessment of SARS-CoV-2 specific responses are an essential tool for determining the prevalence of past SARS-CoV-2 infections in the population especially when testing occurs after symptoms have developed and limited contact tracing is in place. The goal of our study was to test a new 10-plex electro-chemiluminescence-based assay to measure IgM and IgG responses to the spike proteins from multiple human coronaviruses including SARS-CoV-2, assess the epitope specificity of the SARS-CoV-2 antibody response against full-length spike protein, receptor-binding domain and N-terminal domain of the spike protein, and the nucleocapsid protein. We carried out the assay on samples collected from three sample groups: subjects diagnosed with COVID-19 from the U.S. Army hospital at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, South Korea; healthcare administrators from the same hospital but with no reported diagnosis of COVID-19; and pre-pandemic samples. We found that the new CoV-specific multiplex assay was highly sensitive allowing plasma samples to be diluted 1:30,000 with a robust signal. The reactivity of IgG responses to SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein and IgM responses to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein could distinguish COVID-19 samples from non-COVID-19 and pre-pandemic samples. The data from the three sample groups also revealed a unique pattern of cross-reactivity between SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV-1, MERS-CoV, and seasonal coronaviruses HKU1 and OC43. Our findings show that the CoV-2 IgM response is highly specific while the CoV-2 IgG response is more cross-reactive across a range of human CoVs and also showed that IgM and IgG responses show distinct patterns of epitope specificity. In summary, this multiplex assay was able to distinguish samples by COVID-19 status and characterize distinct trends in terms of cross-reactivity and fine-specificity in antibody responses, underscoring its potential value in diagnostic or serosurveillance efforts.
Effect of elbow joint angles on electromyographic activity versus force relationships of synergistic muscles of the triceps brachii
Authors: Akima Hiroshi , Maeda Hisashi , Koike Teruhiko , Ishida Koji
Published: June 2021

The electromyographic (EMG) activity and force relationship, i.e. EMG-force relationship, is a valuable indicator of the degree of the neuromuscular activation during isometric force production. However, there is minimal information available regarding the EMG-force relationship of individual triceps brachii (TB) muscles at different elbow joint angles. This study aimed to compare the EMG-force relationships of the medial (TB-Med), lateral (TB-Lat), and long heads (TB-Long) of the TB. 7 men and 10 women performed force matching isometric tasks at 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80%maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) at 60°, 90°, and 120° of extension. During the submaximal force matching tasks, the surface EMG signals of the TB-Med, TB-Lat, and TB-Long were recorded and calculated the root mean square (RMS). RMS of each force level were then normalized by RMS at 100%MVC. For the TB-Med, ultrasonography was used to determine the superficial region of the muscle that faced the skin surface to minimize cross-talk. The joint angle was monitored using an electrogoniometer. The elbow extension force, elbow joint angle, and surface EMG signals were simultaneously sampled at 2 kHz and stored on a personal computer. The RMS did not significantly differ between the three muscles, except between the TB-Med and TB-Lat during 20%MVC at 60°. The RMS during force levels of ≥ 60%MVC at 120° was significantly lower than that at 60° or 90° for each muscle. The sum of difference, which represents the difference in RMS from the identical line, did not significantly differ in any of the assessed muscles in the present study. This suggests that a relatively smaller neuromuscular activation could be required when the elbow joint angle was extended. However, neuromuscular activation levels and relative force levels were matched in all three TB synergists when the elbow joint angle was at 90° or a more flexed position.
Phase II trial of cisplatin, gemcitabine and pembrolizumab for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer
Authors: Walsh Christine S. , Kamrava Mitchell , Rogatko Andre , Kim Sungjin , Li Andrew , Cass Ilana , Karlan Beth , Rimel Bobbie J.
Published: June 2021

Objective

To evaluate the combination of pembrolizumab, cisplatin and gemcitabine in recurrent platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.

Methods

Patients received six cycles of chemotherapy with gemcitabine and cisplatin on day 1 and day 8 of a 21-day treatment cycle. Pembrolizumab was administered on day 1 of cycles 3–6 and as maintenance monotherapy in cycles 7–34. Palliative radiation to a non-target symptomatic lesion was allowed. The primary objective was overall response rate by RECIST 1.1 criteria. Secondary objectives included safety, progression-free survival, time to progression, duration of response and overall survival.

Results

An interim analysis for futility was performed at 18 evaluable patients. Overall response rate was 60%, duration of response was 4.9 months and time to progression was 5.2 months. Progression-free survival at 6 and 12 months was 43% and 5%. Median progression-free survival was 6.2 months and median overall survival was 11.3 months. In all patients, CA125 levels reflected response and progression. There were no pseudoprogression events. After receiving palliative radiation during pembrolizumab maintenance, a patient with recurrent ovarian clear cell carcinoma had an exceptional and durable response that is ongoing for greater than 2 years. After consultation with the sponsor, based on the modest duration of response observed at the interim analysis for futility, the decision was made to close the trial to further accrual.

Conclusions

The addition of pembrolizumab to cisplatin and gemcitabine did not appear to provide benefit beyond chemotherapy alone in patients with recurrent platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.
Are fashion sketchbooks racist?
Authors: Ahmed Tanveer
Published: June 2021

Drawing on scholar Marc Augé’s concept of non-place, this article contributes to growing studies that focus on the ways in which fashion produces racism. Recent years have shown a rise in the scrutiny by social media of racist fashion garments and campaigns that problematically stereotype, appropriate and Other marginalized cultures. However, less attention has been given to how racism is constructed through design practices in education and curricula, such as through the different activities and techniques that constitute the fashion ideation process. Indeed, few studies to date have examined how commonplace design tools such as sketchbooks, measuring tapes or mannequins reinscribe forms of Othering. This article sets out to critically examine representations of Othering in fashion design sketchbooks and discuss the role this ubiquitous fashion tool might play in encouraging racist fashion representations. The sketchbooks of undergraduate fashion design students were chosen for this study due to the importance of fashion education as a catalyst for future fashion cultures. From an initial sample of seventy sketchbooks, twelve sketchbooks showed representations of cultural difference through an over-reliance on excessive imagery, with limited text. These strategies showed a pattern of reproducing ahistorical static ideas which reinforce cultural hierarchies. Marc Augé’s concept of non-place is used in this study to refer to how time and space are mobilized using various design techniques and employed within sketchbooks. Such techniques show paradoxical representations of cultural differences, which lack context-specific histories and identities. The study identifies two key strategies used within fashion sketchbooks: firstly, the de-contextualization of cultural difference, and then the re-contextualization of cultural difference. Combined, these strategies show how using collaging techniques in sketchbooks in the fashion design process erases meaning by compressing time and space.
‘A quintessentially English designer’ from Durban: Victor Stiebel’s South African Childhood (1968)
Authors: Stiebel Lindy
Published: June 2021

Victor Stiebel (1907–76), in his obituary in The Times, was described as a well known and highly esteemed British couturier. Yet, for the first eighteen years of his life, Stiebel lived unremarkably in Durban, South Africa, with his middle-class colonial family. In an article written by a fashion historian who appraised his importance within the British fashion industry, Stiebel is described as the quintessential English designer. How did this ‘Englishness’ develop and what evidence do we see of this quality in his autobiography South African Childhood () that covers his childhood years? The leap from Durban to London and his subsequent career as a court dressmaker and couturier, plus designer for Hollywood stars including Vivien Leigh and Katherine Hepburn, is vast, but it is one that Stiebel eagerly made. The bridge, this article argues, is the very ‘Englishness’ that Stiebel encountered in his home and the colonial society of Durban in the Edwardian era in which he grew up. Life in the colonies concentrated this quality in its settlers probably because of their distance from the metropole rather than their proximity. This article sets out to examine what form this ‘Englishness’ took in Stiebel’s life and work, evident visually in his dress designs according to fashion historians, but also, from a literary historian’s point of view, in his autobiographical writing and written correspondence, particularly that with the actress Vivien Leigh.
Luis Michelena (Koldo Mitxelena) y la creación del Seminario de Filología Vasca "Julio de Urquijo" (1947-1956) / Luis Michelena (Koldo Mitxelena) and the founding of the "Julio de Urquijo" Basque Philology Seminar (1947-1956)
Authors: Ugarte Muñoz Antón
Published: June 2021

We are presenting below the history of the founding of the ‘Julio de Urquijo’ Basque Philology Seminar, created by the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa in 1953, whose technical adviser and unofficial director was the eminent linguist Luis Michelena.
Las relaciones públicas, la comunicación visual y el mito del capitalismo transnacional (1943-1950)
Authors: Goyeneche-Gómez Edward
Published: June 2021

El artículo estudia las transformaciones de las relaciones públicas (PR) internacionales, entre 1943 y 1950, en el contexto de la industria privada norteamericana, vinculado al desarrollo del Proyecto Fotográfico de la Standard Oil Company (New Jersey), que buscaba la construcción de un nuevo mito sobre el capitalismo transnacional, que conectara la economía, la sociedad y la cultura, más allá de los estados nacionales, en medio de una crisis discursiva generada por la Segunda Guerra Mundial y las ideologías populistas y folcloristas dominantes. Se demuestra que esa multinacional, buscando enfrentar una crisis de imagen, revolucionó el campo de las relaciones públicas, a partir del uso de un aparato de comunicación visual, denominado fotografía documental industrial, que permitiría conectar de manera inédita y contradictoria, en torno a la historia del petróleo, a Estados Unidos con sociedades de todo el globo, principalmente con América Latina.
First molecular confirmation of Coenurus cerebralis in sheep and goats with neurological behaviors in Iraq
Authors: Ajaj Eva Aisser , Mohammad Hadeel Asim , Gharban Hasanain A. J.
Published: June 2021

Background and Aim: Coenurus cerebralis is the intermediate stage of the canine cestode, which infect sheep and goats, resulting mainly in neurological signs and causing direct and indirect economic losses. This study aimed to demonstrate the existence of C. cerebralis and to elucidate the role of this parasite in inducing neurological behaviors in sheep and goats.

Materials and Methods: On the basis of historical data on neurological signs, we subjected 76 animals (49 sheep and 27 goats) of different ages, sexes, and geographical areas for molecular examination of their blood samples using the polymerase chain reaction assay.

Results: Of the 76 animals, 23.68% tested positive for C. cerebralis infection. We found significant increases in infection (p<0.05) in sheep (26.53%) more than in goats (18.52%). Circling movement was prevalent significantly among both C. cerebralis-positive sheep and goats. The Nineveh region had a significant (p<0.05) increase in positive sheep and goats, and the sheep of all study regions were infected significantly (p<0.05) more than were the goats. We found no significant (p>0.05) variation between sheep ages ≥1-3 years and ≥3 years; however, both groups had a significantly (p≤0.043) higher positivity rate than did sheep ages <1 year. The findings of sheep ages <1 year and ≥1-3 years were significantly higher than those of the goats, but not for goats ages ≥3 years. Female sheep and goats showed a significant increase in positivity versus that for the males.

Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first report in Iraq targeting detection of C. cerebralis in sheep and goats with neurological behaviors; therefore, additional studies involving different animals in other regions using molecular techniques are needed.
User's Need in Architectural Spaces Development, Existing Kitchen Design in Northern Cyprus
Authors: Tarboush Rasha Moree , Erçin Çilen
Published: June 2021

This paper examines the kitchens' evolution throughout history and the increasing interest of architects in the kitchen space to meet user needs. The method of studying this paper is part of a research project that reviews a series of changes in the architecture of kitchen spaces in the past 100 years, with a focus on the types of kitchen that have been used and how to develop them over time according to the dimensions of the space and the needs of the user. This paper shows the importance of user needs in architectural kitchen design development. The study focuses on modern kitchens and their types according to the available kitchen dimensions. The case study is centered on how the user needs to influence the design of an existing kitchen, Northern Cyprus.
Comparative Analysis of the Changes of Socioeconomic Risks Caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine and the EU Countries
Authors: Novikova Olga , Khandii Olena , Shamileva Larisa
Published: June 2021

The unwillingness of the health care system of different countries to counteract the spread of the COVID-19 virus in 2020 caused the introduction of quarantine restrictions by many countries, which had both positive and negative socioeconomic consequences. The economic consequences include the decrease in production and income of enterprises of almost all types of economic activity, increase in the number of unprofitable enterprises, closure and temporary suspension of small and medium-sized businesses, decline in real GDP. The economic consequences have led to the increase in intensity and manifestation of negative social consequences, including the increase in unemployment and social insecurity, scale and level of citizen poverty, decline in incomes and loss of working time. Influenced by the social and economic negative factors hindering sustainable development, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, socioeconomic risks in the social and labor sphere have intensified. The article suggests the methodological support for assessing the change of socioeconomic risks in the system of social and labor relations in Ukraine and the EU countries using quantitative assessment methods. The comparison of risks in the social and labor sphere of different countries allows to choose the prioritized directions of influence and effective tools to control and counteract the manifestation of risks, taking into account the experience of other countries.
S-LCA Indicators as Employee Motivation Factors
Authors: Vavra Jan , Patak Michal , Kostalova Jana , Bednarikova Marie
Published: June 2021

There are a lot of factors affecting employee motivation in the company. Some of them are supported by law, while others result from voluntary activities of the company, and the way to some of them still have not been found. Our research dealt with one of the possibilities, the S-LCA indicators as employee motivation factors. The attention is usually paid to companies and their system of employee stimulation. This research is supported by in-depth literature review in the field of S-LCA. Our research addressed employees of one medium-sized company to find out what they think of the activities of their management in the area of stimulation of their employees. Using a factor analysis, we found seven basic motivation factors, i.e. Safety at Work, Fair Remuneration, Social Security and Benefits, Work Climate, Basic Rights and Freedoms, Corporate Image, and Equal Opportunity. In the context of social impacts of manufacturing on employees, individual employee groups are motivated to work in different ways.
Purification of surfactin compounds produced by a Bacillus subtilis strain
Authors: Bartal Attila , Hunkár Henriett , Endre Gábor , Vörös Mónika , Vágvölgyi Csaba , Szekeres András
Published: June 2021

Surfactins are lipopeptide-type biosurfactants produced mainly by Bacillus species containing a peptide loop of seven amino acids and a hydrophobic fatty acid chain. These molecules exhibit various biological activities; therefore, their therapeutic and environmental applications are in the focus worldwide. In our work, a multi-step purification and separation process was developed to isolate surfactins from the ferment broth of B. subtilis SZMC 6179J strain. The process incorporates normal phase flash chromatography for pre-purifying the crude extract and two consecutive reverse phase HPLC separations for the isolation of the various surfactin molecules. The determination of the relative amounts of lipopeptides both in the crude extract and in each fraction of every separation step were carried out by HPLC-HESI-MS examinations. The ratio of surfactins in the crude extract was 21.35%, but after the preparative flash chromatographic separation the relative amount of surfactins was observed to be 30.44%. The preparative HPLC purification step resulted 85.39% purity of the surfactins. Nine different surfactin variants were isolated and identified from the fractions of this final semi-preparative HPLC purification, out of which three compounds were completely purified, and three others were detected in relative amounts of more than 95% in some fractions.
Bioprospecting and biodiversity investigations of endophytic fungi isolated from Juniperus communis
Authors: Vigneshwari Aruna , Škrbić Biljana D. , Kredics László , Abbas Lubna , Bakacsy László , Vágvölgyi Csaba , Szekeres András
Published: June 2021

Endophytes are a group of highly diverse microorganisms that reside within plant tissues without causing obvious symptoms on the host. In our study, Juniperus communis samples were collected from Hungary and used for the isolation of endophytic fungal strains. From 240 plant samples, 76 fungal isolates were recovered and subcultured for homogeneity. The isolates were identified using molecular taxonomical tools at the genus level and their biodiversity parameters were determined. The taxonomic diversity of the isolates was remarkably high, and the most abundant genera were Fusarium, Alternaria and Trichoderma. The secondary metabolites produced by the isolated endophytic fungi were extracted both from their mycelia and their ferment broth and their antimicrobial activities were tested against bacteria, yeasts, and filamentous fungi. In the antimicrobial tests, a total of 58 strains showed antimicrobial activity against at least one test organism. Altogether, 6.67% of the isolates have antibacterial effects with wide spectrum, and 10 strains showed remarkably high inhibitory percentage against yeast, while the extracts of 11 isolates proved to be active against filamentous fungi.
Structure-based assortment of herbal analogues against spike protein to restrict COVID-19 entry through hACE2 receptor: An in-silico approach
Authors: Santra Sourav , Das Sasti Gopal , Halder Suman Kumar , Ghosh Kuntal , Banerjee Amrita , Panda Amiya Kumar , Mondal Keshab Chandra
Published: June 2021

On-going global pandemic COVID-19 has spread all over the world and has led to more than 1.97 million deaths till date. Natural compounds may be useful to protecting health in this perilous condition. Mechanism of shuttle entry of SARS-COV-2 virus is by interaction with viral spike protein with human angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) receptor. To explore potential natural therapeutics, 213 important phytochemi-cals of nine medicinal plants Aconitum heterophyllum, Cassia angustifolia, Cymbopogon flexuosus, Cymbopogon martinii, Nux vomica, Phyllanthus urinaria, Swertia chirayita, Justicia adhatoda, Vetiveria zizanioides were selected for in-silico molecular docking against the spike protein of SARS-COV-2 and compared with recently prescribed drug chloroquine, ramdesivir, lopinavir and hydroxychloroquine. Results revealed that rhamnocitrin of P. urinaria, 1,5-dihydroxy-3,8-dimethoxyxanthone of S. chirayita and laevojunenol of V. zizanioides potentially binds with the receptor binding site of SARS-COV-2 spike glycoprotein and more robustly destabilized the RBD-ACE-2 binding over chloroquine, ramdesivir, lopinavir and hydroxychloroquine. It was also found that laevojunenol, rhamnocitrin, and 1,5-dihydroxy-3,8-dimethoxyxanthone qualiﬁed the criteria for drug-likeness as per Lipinski rule. After attachment of the selected phytochemical with the spike protein the aﬃnity of the later towards ACE-2 was minimized and the eﬀect of 1,5-dihydroxy-3,8-dimethoxyxanthone and laevojunenol was superior. Hence, rhamnocitrin of P. urinaria, 1,5-dihydroxy-3,8-dimethoxyxanthone of S. chirayita and laevojunenol of V. zizanioides, are potential therapeutic molecules for SARS-COV-2, which upon binding with spike protein changes the aﬃnity of the spike towards ACE-2 and therefore restrict the entry of the virus into a human cell. Subsequent clinical validation is needed to conﬁrm these phytochemicals as drugs to combat COVID-19.
Pollen morphology of the genus Impatiens L. (Balsaminaceae) and its systematic implications
Authors: Pechimuthu Muthulakshmipechiammal , Arumugam Rajendran , Ponnusamy Samydurai
Published: June 2021

Pollen morphology of 18 species from the genus Impatiens collected from diﬀerent localities in Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) during the period of February 2017 to November 2019. From the observation of pollen it was found to be structurally monad; prolate, sub-prolate and prolate-spheroidal in equatorial view; and circular, rectangular, triangular, quinquangular, elliptic and quadrangular in polar view. The apertures varied from dicolpate, tricolpate to tetracolpate. The main ornamentation type was reticulate in most of the species except Impatiens fruticosa which showed echinate ornamentation. The variations in pollen structure within the species were useful for the identiﬁcation and classiﬁcation of the genus Impatiens. The high structural diversity renders important taxonomic value for species diﬀerentiation.
Potentials of synthesised Lessertia montana zinc oxide nanoparticles on free radicals-mediated oxidative stress and carbohydrate-hydrolysing enzymes
Authors: Balogun Fatai O. , Ashafa Anoﬁ O.T.
Published: June 2021

The study evaluated the effects of green absorbed zinc oxide nanostructures on oxidative stress-mediated free radicals and carbohydrate-hydrolysing enzymes. The synthesised Lessertia montana zinc oxide nanoparticles were characterised using different spectroscopic, microscopic, and diffraction techniques. The activity of L. montana ZnONPs against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), metal chelating assay, alpha-amylase and alphaglucosidase were determined using standard methods. L. montana ZnONPs were stable nanoparticles (NPs), appeared cubical (predominantly) in shape, and in nanometre range sizes. The synthesised NPs are very active (p < 0.05) against DPPH and alpha-glucosidase (0.120 and 0.037 g/L, respectively) when compared with other samples and controls, quercetin (0.349 g/L) and acarbose (0.065 g/L). However, their interaction with quercetin revealed a good ABTS (0.093 g/L) scavenging and an excellent metal chelating (0.027 g/L) effect compared to other samples. The mode of inhibition of alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase enzymes by L. montana ZnONPs was competitive and non-competitive, respectively. The study outcomes revealed that the synthesised ZnONPs possessed the potential to mitigate oxidative stress and diabetes in vitro.
Lipid biomarker-based verification of TB infection in mother’s and daughter’s mummified human remains (Vác Mummy Collection, 18th century, CE, Hungary)
Authors: Váradi Orsolya A. , Szikossy Ildikó , Spekker Olga , Rakk Dávid , Terhes Gabriella , Urbán Edit , Berthon William , Pap Ildikó , Maixner Frank , Zink Albert , Vágvölgyi Csaba , Donoghue Helen D. , Minnikin David E. , Pálfi György , Szekeres András
Published: June 2021

The perpetual burden of tuberculosis (TB) keeps drawing the focus of research on this disease. Among other risk factors (e.g., poor living conditions, malnutrition, smoking, HIV infection, etc.), being in close contact with a TB infected person requires special attention. For a better understanding of the disease, paleopathological investigations concerning TB have been carried out with various techniques for a long a time; nevertheless, analysis of incidence among family members is hardly possible in past populations. An exceptional group of naturally mummified individuals, the collection of the Vác mummies (Hungary, 18th century CE), is known about the large TB incidence rate, which has been revealed by aDNA analysis. Besides the high rate of TB infection, another interesting aspect of the collection is that in some cases, the family connections could be reconstructed. In this paper, we present the mycocerosic acid profiles gained by HPLC-HESI-MS measurements of two Vác mummies, who were mother and daughter according to the personal records. Earlier metagenomic analysis already revealed mixed M. tuberculosis infection with the same bacterial strains in both individuals; moreover, the same bacterial strains were recorded in both cases.
FRAILTY IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH MISTREATMENT
Authors: Piña-Escudero S.D. , García-Lara J.M.A. , Avila-Funes J.A.
Published: June 2021

Muscle Frailty has been previously associated with increased vulnerability for adverse health-related outcomes that could lead to social consequences such as mistreatment. The aim of this cross-sectional study is to determine the association between frailty and mistreatment in 852 community-dwelling persons aged 70 or older. Mistreatment was defined as one positive answer in the Geriatric Mistreatment Scale and frailty was used as a continuum where the greater number of positive criteria according to Fried et al. indicates a higher frailty score. Multivariate logistic regression models were run to establish this association. The mean age of participants was 77.7 years (SD=6.1). Prevalence of frailty phenotype and mistreatment were 13.9% and 20% respectively. Unadjusted analysis showed frailty score was associated with mistreatment (OR = 1.16; 95% CI 1.02 to 1.3, p=0.022). However, after adjustment, the association was no longer present. The results showed that in the presence of other geriatric syndromes such as disability or depression, frailty did not show association with mistreatment in this population.
REFERENCE VALUES FOR KNEE EXTENSION STRENGTH OBTAINED BY HAND-HELD DYNAMOMETRY FROM APPARENTLY HEALTHY OLDER ADULTS: A META-ANALYSIS
Authors: Bohannon R.W.
Published: June 2021

Normative reference values for knee extension strength obtained by hand-held dynamometry from adults 60 to 79 years were derived using summary data from 3 studies. The studies, which were identified through PubMed and a hand-search, contributed data from between 3 and 29 individuals for each age, gender, and side stratum. Meta-analysis was employed to consolidate knee extension strength data. Strength, normalized against body weight, ranged 35.6% for the nondominant side of 70 to 79 year old women to 48.8% for the nondominant side of 60 to 69 year old men. These values are more informative than those previously published in individual studies. However, reference values derived from a large population-based sample are needed.
PREVENTION OF FRAILTY IN AGING
Authors: Vellas B. , Sourdet S.
Published: June 2021

Worldwide, the number of people age 60 and older is expected to grow from nearly 900 million in 2015 to over 1.3 trillion in 2030 (1). Increased age is associated with gradual increases in molecular and cellular damage; impairment of bodily functions; decreased muscle mass and strength; loss of bone density; declining vision, hearing and cognition; multimorbidity; and frailty (2). Frailty has been conceptualized as a physiological syndrome of decreased reserve and resilience, resulting in progressive functional decline, increased vulnerability to many stressors, and an increase in negative health outcomes and dependence (3, 4). It has been recognized by the World Health Organization (2) and the U.S. National Academy of Sciences (5) as a major public health concern among the elderly, although consensus on a definition of frailty remains elusive (6). Nonetheless, research suggests that disability and dependence in the elderly may be preventable by targeting frail and pre-frail older adults (3, 7, 8).
«Fratelli tutti» interpela a Europa
Authors: Martínez Julio L.
Published: June 2021

Este artículo revisa los frentes de conflicto más agudos que afronta la Unión Europea a la luz del magisterio social del papa Francisco, sobre todo de su última encíclica Fratelli tutti y de los cinco discursos dirigidos al Viejo Continente en esos ocho años de pontificado. La realidad europea hoy sufre los duros impactos de la pandemia, del terrorismo yihadista, de la inmigración, así como de la multicrisis de las instituciones, frecuentemente dominadas por lógicas tecnocráticas, y está siendo campo abonado para populismos, nacionalismos y propuestas neoliberales. El papa Bergoglio se ha dirigido varias veces en sus ocho años de pontificado a unas sociedades en proceso de integración política, en tiempos de grandes turbulencias, pidiéndoles que tengan muy presentes los valores comunitarios, la dignidad trascendente del ser humano, la cultura del encuentro y la multipolaridad/transversalidad en el abordaje de los problemas. Asimismo, les pide también que no olviden la memoria integradora del pasado, para afrontar el presente y abrir camino a un futuro de esperanza, con responsabilidad hacia el conjunto del mundo.
On pecularities of Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome
Authors: Astashina S
Published: June 2021

Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) is an emergency pediatric pathology, a rare and severe manifestation of staphyloderma. SSSS most often affects children younger than 5 years of age, and has an approximately 5% mortality rate due to complications: sepsis, superinfection, and the occurrence of electrolyte imbalance [1]. Given the rarity of this syndrome, doctors are not always able to immediately make the correct diagnosis. The article describes and illustrates cases of SSSS from practice, with a detailed description of the features of the clinical picture, the examination, the prescribed treatment and the differential diagnosis of the disease.
Experience of using tocilizumab in the research unit of infectious hospital for patients with coronavirus infection (CoVID-19)
Authors: Petrushin M , Leontyeva V , Malygin A , Demidova M
Published: June 2021

The objective of the study was the evaluation of the effectiveness of tocilizumab in patients with coronavirus infection COVID-19 who were treated in the intensive care unit of an infectious diseases hospital. Material and methods. There was carried out a retrospective analysis of the case histories of 40 patients with confirmed severe and extremely severe coronavirus infection COVID-19. The average age of the patients was 58.3 ± 1.8 years, the total lung lesion volume was 83.2 ± 2.0%. Results: The survival rate of patients who received immunosuppressive therapy with tocilizumab in combination with pulse therapy of glucocorticosteroids was 55%, and 44% of patients with 100% lung involvement. The use of tocilizumab (4-8 mg / kg) led to a statistically significant decrease in the level of C-reactive protein in the blood, which was an indicator of adequate pharmacotherapy of the "cytokine storm" in the ICU.
Implementasi Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) Pada Fasilitas Parkir Sepeda Motor (Studi Kasus: Kampus Fakultas Ilmu Budaya USU)
Authors: Affif Aulia Malik , Novrial N
Published: June 2021

Most often crime that occurs on the USU campus is motorcycle theft. In fact, several motorcycle theft on the USU campus is covered by electronic media. So there is a need to make a motorcycle parking model to reducing and preventing the opportunity for crime to occur. This research aims to make a model of Faculty of Cultural Studies USU campus motorcycle parking with the CPTED concept. This research using the descriptive qualitative method. This research started with a physical analysis of existing conditions in the motorcycle parking area, then the author developing a motorcycle parking model with the CPTED concept.  The result of this research is motorcycle parking model in Faculty of Cultural Studies USU campus is focusing on six ways, i.e: (1) using hedge as fence; (2) using automated system parking portal and pedestrian way from/to parking area; (3) construct parking lot roofing; (4) construct students gathering space; (5) using speed bump; (6) using signage. By applying this six ways, the Faculty of Cultural Studies USU campus motorcycle parking is expected to free from any crime.