bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Core Components of Infection Prevention and Control Programs at the Facility Level in Georgia: Key Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Deryabina Anna , Lyman Meghan , Yee Daiva , Gelieshvilli Marika , Sanodze Lia , Madzgarashvili Lali , Weiss Jamine , Kilpatrick Claire , Rabkin Miriam , Skaggs Beth , Kolwaite Amy
Published: June 2020

Background

The Georgia Ministry of Labor, Health, and Social Affairs (MoLHSA) is working to strengthen its Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Program, but until recently has lacked an assessment of performance gaps and implementation challenges faced by hospital staff.
Methods

In 2017, health care hospitals were assessed using a World Health Organization (WHO) adapted tool aimed at implementing the WHO’s IPC Core Components. The study included site assessments at 41 of Georgia’s 273 hospitals, followed by structured interviews with 109 hospital staff, validation observations of IPC practices, and follow up document reviews.
Results

IPC programs for all hospitals were not comprehensive, with many lacking defined objectives, workplans, targets, and budget. All hospitals had at least one dedicated IPC staff member, 66% of hospitals had IPC staff with some formal IPC training; 78% of hospitals had IPC guidelines; and 55% had facility-specific standard operating procedures. None of the hospitals conducted structured monitoring of IPC compliance and only 44% of hospitals used IPC monitoring results to make unit/facility-specific IPC improvement plans. 54% of hospitals had clearly defined priority healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), standard case definitions and data collection methods in their HAI surveillance systems. 85% hospitals had access to a microbiology laboratory. All reported having posters or other tools to promote hand hygiene, 29% had them for injection safety. 68% of hospitals had functioning hand-hygiene stations available at all points of care. 88% had single patient isolation rooms; 15% also had rooms for cohorting patients. 71% reported having appropriate waste management system.
Conclusions

Among the recommended WHO IPC core components, existing programs, infrastructure, IPC staffing, workload and supplies present within Georgian healthcare hospitals should allow for implementation of effective IPC. Development and dissemination of IPC Guidelines, implementation of an effective IPC training system and systematic monitoring of IPC practices will be an important first step towards implementing targeted IPC improvement plans in hospitals.
Insights into the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 pandemicvia Shannon-Fisher causality plane
Authors: Fernandes Leonardo H.S. , Araújo Fernando H.A. de , Silva Maria A.R.
Published: June 2020

This paper performs a systematic investigation into the temporal evolution of severe acute respiratory disease coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic considering 15 diverse countries. Based on the foundations of Information Theory, we apply the Shannon-Fisher causality plane (SFCP), to map the dynamics behavior inherent to SARS-CoV-2 and their respective locations along the (SFCP). Our results show that this dynamics varies widely along the SFCP from the lower-right region, characterized by high entropy and low degree of reliability in relation to the information extracted from the analyzed data set to the top-right region, characterized by the less entropic and high degree of reliability in relation to the information extracted from the analyzed data set. It reveals that we have three different groups of countries in controlling the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. A country that was proactive in implementing measures such as social distancing, quarantine, orders to stay at home, testing symptomatic and asymptomatic loads and hygienic measures to limit the impacts of SARS-Cov-2 (China) and that today is clearly in the decay phase with the number of cases tending to zero and is no longer in a pandemic situation (efficient). Moderately proactive countries, ie, implemented measures only when the spread of SARS-Cov-2 was already reaching the country (France, Germany, United Kingdom, Spain, Sweden, Italy, Ireland, USA, Austria, and Canada) (moderately efficient) and the reactive countries, which took a long time to implement the measures and/or the infection came later and as a result are not managing to reduce the number of daily cases of SARS-CoV-2 (Russia, Iran, Brazil, and India) (inefficient) and are the new epicenters of the SARS-COV-2 pandemic. Besides, we applied the Bandt Pompe permutation entropy (H) and the Fisher Information (F) to obtain the rank of the most efficient countries to the fight against the SARS-CoV-2. To the best of our knowledge, no researches have been ranking the most proactive countries in the fight against the SARS-CoV-2 dissemination. We truly believe that the empirical results showed in this research draws new perspectives that can collaborate in the formulation of more efficient healthy public policies to combat SARS-CoV-2 spread.
MCCMF: Collaborative matrix factorization based on matrix completion for predicting miRNA-disease associations
Authors: Wu Tian-Ru , Yin Meng-Meng , Jiao Cui-Na , Liu Jin-Xing , Gao Ying-Lian , Kong Xiang-Zhen
Published: June 2020

Background: MicroRNAs (MiRNAs) are non-coding RNAs with regulatory functions. Many studies have shown that miRNAs are closely associated with human diseases. Among the methods to explore the relationship between the miRNA and the disease, traditional methods are time-consuming and the accuracy needs to be improved. In view of the shortcoming of previous models, a collaborative matrix factorization based on matrix completion (MCCMF) is proposed to predict the unknown miRNA-disease associations. Results: The complete matrix of the miRNA and the disease is obtained by matrix completion. Moreover, Gaussian Interaction Profile (GIP) kernel is added to the miRNA functional similarity matrix and the disease semantic similarity matrix to form the GIP kernel similarity matrix. Then the Weight K Nearest Known Neighbors (WKNKN) method is used to pretreat the association matrix, so the model is close to the reality. Finally, collaborative matrix factorization (CMF) method is applied to obtain the prediction results. Therefore, the MCCMF obtains a satisfactory result in the five-fold cross-validation, with an AUC of 0.9569(0.0005). Conclusions: The AUC value of MCCMF is higher than other advanced methods in the 5-fold cross validation experiment. In order to comprehensively evaluate the performance of MCCMF, f-measure and other evaluation indexes are also added. The final experimental results demonstrate that MCCMF outperforms other methods in prediction miRNA-disease associations. In the end, the effectiveness and practicability of MCCMF are further verified by researching three specific diseases.
Splenectomy is Associated with Altered Leukocyte Kinetics after Severe Trauma
Authors: Teuben Michel , Hollman Arne , Blokhuis Taco J. , Pfeifer Roman , Spijkerman Roy , Teuber Henrik , Pape Hans-Christoph , Leenen Luke P.H.
Published: June 2020

Background Inadequate activation of the innate immune system after trauma can lead to severe complications such as Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome. The spleen is thought to modulate the cellular immune system. Furthermore, splenectomy is associated with improved outcome in severely injured trauma patients. We hypothesized that a splenectomy alters the cellular immune response in polytrauma.Methods All adult patients with an ISS ≥ 16 and suffering from splenic or hepatic injuries were selected from our prospective trauma database. Absolute leukocyte numbers in peripheral blood were measured. White blood cell kinetics during the first 14 days were compared between splenectomized patients, patients treated surgically for liver trauma and nonoperatively treated individuals.Results A total of 129 patients with a mean ISS of 29 were included. Admission characteristics and leukocyte numbers were similar in all groups, except for slightly impaired hemodynamic status in patients with operatively treated liver injuries. On admission, leukocytosis occurred in all groups. During the first 24 hours, leukopenia developed gradually, although significantly faster in the operatively treated patients. Thereafter, leukocyte levels normalized in all nonoperatively treated cases whereas leukocytosis persisted in operatively treated patients. This effect was significantly more prominent in splenectomized patients than all other conditions. Conclusions This study demonstrates that surgery for intra-abdominal injuries is associated with an early drop in leucocyte numbers in peripheral blood. Moreover, splenectomy in severely injured patients is associated with an altered cellular immune response reflected by a persistent state of prominent leukocytosis after trauma.
EvoMol: a flexible and interpretable evolutionary algorithm for unbiased de novo molecular generation
Authors: Leguy Jules , Cauchy Thomas , Glavatskikh Marta , Duval Béatrice , Mota Benoit Da
Published: June 2020

The objective of this work is to design a molecular generator capable of exploring known as well as unfamiliar areas of the chemical space. Our method must be flexible to adapt to very different problems. Therefore, it has to be able to work with or without the influence of prior data and knowledge. Moreover, regardless of the success, it should be as interpretable as possible to allow for diagnosis and improvement. We propose here a new open source generation method using an evolutionary algorithm to sequentially build molecular graphs. It is independent of starting data and can generate totally unseen compounds. To be able to search a large part of the chemical space, we define an original set of 7 generic mutations close to the atomic level. Our method achieves excellent performances and even records on the QED, penalised logP, SAscore, CLscore as well as the set of goal-directed functions defined in GuacaMol. To demonstrate its flexibility, we tackle a very different objective issued from the organic molecular materials domain. We show that EvoMol can generate sets of optimised molecules having high energy HOMO or low energy LUMO, starting only from methane. We can also set constraints on a synthesizability score and structural features. Finally, the interpretability of EvoMol allows for the visualisation of its exploration process as a chemically relevant tree.
A proof-of-concept study on the use of prostate artery embolization prior to definitive radiotherapy in prostate cancer
Authors: Peacock Jeffrey , Sikaria Dhiraj , Maun-Garcia Laura , Javedan Khosrow , Yamoah Kosj , Parikh Nainesh
Published: June 2020

Backgrounds: Prostatic artery embolization (PAE) has been well studied as a clinically effective therapy for alleviating lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). We demonstrate a proof of concept for PAE prior to definitive radiotherapy in patients with prostate cancer.Methods: From 12/2017 to 07/2019, 57 patients underwent PAE for LUTS and BPH. Nine of these patients had PAE for LUTS in the setting of localized prostate cancer prior to receiving radiation. Five of the nine patients received their entire radiotherapy course at our institution and had clinical follow up were included in the analysis. Median follow up was 18 months from the time of PAE. LUTS improvement quantified by IPSS was the primary endpoint and a two tail students T test was used to compare statistical significance. Side effects during radiation were quantified using the CTCAE scoring system. Pre- and post- PAE plans were compared in the five patients that by performing an isovolumetric expansion of the post PAE plan (treated plan) equivalent to the measured volume reduction after PAE. Patient 1 and 2 had prostate and seminal vesicle RT alone while patients 3-5 had prostate with elective nodal coverage. Mean doses to organs at risk were compared between the two plans.Results: The average IPSS score pre-PAE was 17.40 compared to post-PAE of 3.6 (p=0.02). The average IPSS score reduction after PAE was 13.8 (5-30). The average prostatic volume reduction after PAE was 23.14% (7.2% - 47.7%). There were no CTCAE grade 3 (severe) or higher during radiation treatment. Post-PAE plans in patient 1 and 2 had on average 16.7% and 39.8% decrease in mean dose across the bladder, rectum, and penile bulb compared to the pre-PAE plans. There were no appreciable differences in dosimetry in the patients 3-5 who had nodal coverage. There was no biochemical failure in any of the patients.Conclusion: We demonstrate a proof of concept that prostate artery embolization is useful as an adjunctive procedure to alleviate LUTS, achieve significant volume reduction prior to radiation therapy, and decrease radiation related toxicity in the treatment of prostate cancer.
Comparison of Different Anthropometric Indices to Predict Prediabetes in North China, Beijing: a 7-year Prospective Study
Authors: Gu Yulin , Zhao Changming , An Ping , Chen Kang , Li Yijun , Zang Li , Gu Weijun , Dou Jingtao , Lyu Zhaohui , Ba Jianming , Mu Yiming
Published: June 2020

Background

Obesity is an increasing problem worldwide and is one of the underlying risk factors for prediabetes. Although WHtR, BMI, WC and WHR were found to be associated with dysglycemia, in view of significant differences in basic characteristics, glycemic metabolism, and ethnicity, it is of practical value to investigate which indicators are the most useful measures to predict the incidence of prediabetes in Chinese population. The aim of this study was to compare the value of different anthropometric measures of obesity in the detection of prediabetes in a cohort study in China and to identify the best cut-off point of predicting prediabetes in this population.
Methods

The present study was a part of the ongoing Risk Evaluation of cAncers in Chinese diabetic Individuals: an IONgitudinal (REACTION) study. After 7 years of follow-up, a total of 2568 individuals in Beijing were analyzed. Waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were measured at baseline and during follow-up. These four values were divided into tertiles. Fast blood glucose and postprandial blood glucose were tested. The association of these four anthropometric values with blood glucose were tested using multiple logistic analysis.
Results

A total of 2568 normoglycemic participants (810 males and 1758 females) were recruited, with an average age of 62.68 ± 6.97 years. After 7 years of follow-up, 52 subjects had developed newly diagnosed diabetes, and 423 individuals had developed prediabetes. Among those with prediabetes, 278 had IGT, 105 had IFG, and 40 had IGT + IFG. The incidences of prediabetes and diabetes were calculated to be 115.3 per 1000 person-years and 14.2 per 1000 person-years, respectively. Multivariable regression analysis revealed that there was no significant difference in the WHtR, BMI, WC, WHR among those with diabetes and nondiabets. In the general population and the group of females with prediabetes, we found that WHtR was the best value to predict prediabetes, and with an increase in the WHtR, the possibility of prediabetes increased by 90% or 102%, respectively. In the group of males, WHR was the most associated with prediabetes, and people in Tertile 2 was 2.62 times more likely to suffer from prediabetes than those in Tertile 1. For females, the optimal cut-off points of WHtR, BMI, WC and WHR were 0.48, 23.5 kg/m2, 75.6 cm and 0.84, respectively. For males, the optimal cut-off points of the WHtR, BMI, WC and WHR were 0.50, 25.5 kg/m2, 88.9 cm and 0.93, respectively.
Conclusion

In a Chinese study population, WHtR was the best predictor of the development of prediabetes in the general population and in females 7 years in advance, while WHR could predict the development of prediabetes in males. Early identification of prediabetes can better prevent diabetes.
Interleukin 17 Receptor a Haplotype Analysis in Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria
Authors: Nada Hesham , Hassan Ranya , Ibrahim Rasha Abd El-Hamed , Abdelsalam Omnia Emad , Fathy Amal , Toraih Eman A , Atwa Mona
Published: June 2020

Background: Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a distressing skin disease. Family clustering and heterogeneity in the onset and progression indicate that susceptibility to CSU is a complex trait. In this study, we performed haplotype analysis for one of the key player gene, IL17RA, for CSU to test the association with disease susceptibility and severity.MethodsThe study included 70 CSU patients and 30 healthy controls. The severity of the disease was evaluated by autologous serum skin test (ASST) and urticaria activity score (UAS). ASST test was done and quality of life was assessed using a questionnaire. Allelic discrimination analysis for rs4819554 and rs879577 was performed using Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction technology.Results: Carriers of rs4819554*G were more prone to develop CSU than its counterpart (p = 0.039), while rs4819554*A allele displayed more severe phenotype in the form of more prolonged disease duration (p = 0.040), concurrent angioedema (p < 0.001), higher level of treatment (p < 0.001), and higher score of quality of life (p < 0.001). Additionally, homozygote patients with rs879577*CC were associated with angioedema (p < 0.001). Haplotype analysis revealed that cohorts with both rs4819554*A and rs879577*T conferred protection against developing CSU (OR = 0.07, 95%CI = 0.01 - 0.32, p = 0.001).Conclusions: Our results showed that IL17RA gene polymorphisms might contribute to the increased susceptibility to CSU.
Association of genetic variants in Sirt1 and Nrf2 gene with metabolic syndrome risk in a Chinese Han population
Authors: Tao Tingting , Lin Xihua , Tang Shengjie , Gui Weiwei , Zhu Weifen , Li Hong
Published: June 2020

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a complex of interrelated risk factors including central adiposity, raised blood pressure, hyperglycemia, elevated triglyceride levels and low high-density lipoprotein. Association studies have reported several genetic variants in Sirt1 gene and Nrf2 gene (Sirt1 rs7895833 A>G, Sirt1 rs2273773 C>T and Nrf2 rs6721961 C>A ) with contributions to T2DM susceptibility as well as some glycemic and metabolic traits. However, little is known about contributions of these three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to above phenotypes in Chinese. Our study recruited 141 individuals with MetS and 549 individuals without MetS to investigate association between three SNPs of Sirt1, Nrf2 gene and MetS risk in a Chinese Han population using PCR-CTPP method. The result showed that the AA genotype of Sirt1 rs7895833was 2.41 times higher in MetS group than those of AG genotype（P=0.038）and 1.94 times higher than those of GG genotype（P=0.016）. he serum level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and HOMA-IR were significantly higher (P<0.05) in AA genotype of Sirt1 rs7895833 compared with AG and GG genotype in general population. And the serum level of total cholesterol in AA genotype was lower (P=0.033) than other two genotypes. However, the genotype frequency of Sirt1 rs2273773 and Nrf2 rs6721961 in MetS group were not significantly different from that in the control subjects, and those two genetic variants were not correlated with metabolic traits. These results underscore the contributions of SNPs of Sirt1 rs7895833 to MetS susceptibility in Chinese as well as glycemic and metabolic traits.
Early Leucine Programming on Protein Utilization and mTOR Signaling by DNA Methylation in Zebrafish (Danio Rerio)
Authors: Zhu Qiang-Sheng , Wang Jie , he shan , Liang Xu-Fang , Xie Shuang , Xiao Qian-Qian
Published: June 2020

Background: Early nutritional programming affects a series of metabolism, growth and development in mammals. Fish also exhibit the developmental plasticity by early nutritional programming. However, little is known about the effect of early amino acid programming on growth and metabolism. Methods: In the present study, zebrafish (Danio rerio) was used as the experimental animal to study whether early leucine stimulation can programmatically affect the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway, growth and metabolism in the later life, and to undercover the mechanism of epigenetic regulation. Zebrafish larvas at 3 days post hatching (dph) were raised with 1.0% leucine from 3 to 13 dph during the critical developmental stage, then back to normal water for 70 days (83 dph). Results: The growth performance and crude protein content of zebrafish in the early leucine programming group were increased, and consistent with the activation of the mTOR signaling pathway and the high expression of genes involved in the metabolism of amino acid and glycolipid. Furthermore, we compared the DNA methylation profiles between the control and leucine-stimulated zebrafish, and found that the methylation levels of CG-differentially methylated regions (DMGs) and CHH-DMGs of genes involved in mTOR signaling pathway were different between the two groups. With quantitative PCR analysis, the decreased methylation levels of CG type of Growth factor receptor-bound protein 10 (Grb10), eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) and mTOR genes of mTOR signaling pathway in the leucine programming group, might contribute to the enhanced gene expression. Conclusions: The early leucine programming could improve the protein synthesis and growth, which might be attributed to the methylation of genes in mTOR pathway and the expression of genes involved in protein synthesis and glycolipid metabolism in zebrafish. These results could be beneficial for better understanding of the epigenetic regulatory mechanism of early nutritional programming.
The Free Flap Based on a Single Proximal Perforator of Radial Artery: the Ultrasonography Study and Clinical Applications in Reconstruction of Digital Defect
Authors: Wu Guangzhi , Zhang Zhan , Zhang Fan , Zhang Yiqun , Yu Wei
Published: June 2020

Objectives: To locate the anastomosable constant perforator of radial artery on the proximal forarm using ultrasonography, and describe the application of free radial artery flap based on a single proximal perforator in the reconstruction of digital soft tissue defects.Methods: In 20 forarms (10 right and 10 left) from 10 volunteers, the perforators in the proximal half of forarm from radial artery were visualized by ultrasonography. Then the free radial artery perforator flaps based on the single perforator were used for reconstruction of small digital soft tissue defects in 4 cases between October 2017 and May 2018.Results: Of the 20 forarms, anastomosable perforator was constantly detected from the radial artery in the proximal half of forarm. The diameter of the perforator was 0.7±0.1 mm, the pedicle length is 12±3 mm by ultrasonography. Ther location of the perforator is far from elbow crease 8.8±1.4 cm, and the relative distance of the perforator location from elbow crease to wrist crease is 37.2% ± 4.8%. In clinical cases, all the flaps were complete survival. Flap size ranged from 3.5 to 6.5 cm in length and 2.3 to 3.0 cm in width. Donor sites of forearm were closed primarily in all cases. During a mean period of 12 months (8-14 months) follow-up, the mean Brief Michigan Hand Questionnaire (BMHQ) score was 72.9 (60.4-85.4) in the affected hand.Conclusions: There is an anastomosable perforator consistent located on the radial artery in the proximal half of forarm. The free radial artery small flap based on this single perforator provides acceptable functional and cosmetic outcomes for the reconsturction of digital soft tissue defects . With the preservation of the main vessel (radial artery) of forearm, this flap provides another reliable option for handsurgery surgeon to reconstruct small digital defects.
Simulated sunlight decreases the viability of SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Sloan Angela , Cutts Todd , Griffin Bryan D , Kasloff Samantha , Schiffman Zachary , Chan Mable , Audet Jonathan , Leung Anders , Kobasa Darwyn , Stein Derek , Poliquin Guillaume
Published: June 2020

The novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has spread into a pandemic since its emergence in Wuhan, China in December of 2019. This has been facilitated by its high transmissibility within the human population and its ability to remain viable on inanimate surfaces for an extended period. To address the latter, we examined the ability of sunlight to degrade SARS-CoV-2 on stainless steel. All assays were performed using a solar simulator at the equivalent of one air mass (i.e. equatorial sun at its Zenith). Heat-controlled experiments were conducted at approximately 34% relative humidity (RH); otherwise, RH decreased with sunlight exposure until a constant temperature was maintained. When initially suspended in tissue culture medium, the virus was rendered non-viable after two hours of sunlight exposure. However, when suspended in an organic matrix designed to mimic bodily secretions, three hours of continuous sunlight was required for complete degradation. From this work, we demonstrate that sunlight represents an effective decontamination method but the speed of decontamination is variable based on the underlying matrix. This information has an important impact on the development of infection prevention and control protocols to reduce the spread of this deadly pathogen.
Using Physical Education to Promote Leisure-Time Physical Activity in Lower Secondary School Students: The PETALS Trial
Authors: Schneider Jekaterina , Polet Juho , Hassandra Mary , Lintunen Taru , Laukkanen Arto , Hankonen Nelli , Hirvensalo Mirja , Tammelin Tuija H. , Törmäkangas Timo , Hagger Martin S.
Published: June 2020

Background
Inadequate physical activity in young people is associated with several physical and mental health concerns. Physical education (PE) is a potentially viable existing network for promoting physical activity in this population. However, little research has been conducted on whether PE teachers can influence students’ engagement in leisure-time physical activity. The present study therefore examined the efficacy of an intervention aimed at increasing PE teachers’ autonomy support on students’ leisure-time physical activity (the PETALS trial). The intervention was guided by the trans-contextual model (TCM) explaining the processes by which PE teachers’ provision of autonomy support during PE promotes students’ motivation and engagement in physical activity in their leisure time.
Methods
The study adopted a cluster-randomized, waitlist control intervention design with randomization by school. Participants were PE teachers (N = 29, 44.83%female; M age = 42.83, SD = 9.53yrs) and their lower secondary school students (N = 502, 43.82%female; M age = 14.52, SD = 0.71yrs). We measured TCM constructs, including perceived autonomy support, autonomous motivation in PE and leisure time, beliefs and intentions towards leisure-time physical activity, and physical activity behavior at baseline, post-intervention, and at one-, three-, and six-months. Study hypotheses were tested through a series of ANOVAs and structural equation models using post-intervention and one-month follow-up data.
Results
We found no changes in TCM constructs or physical activity behavior in either group at post-intervention or at one month. Path analyses supported two propositions of the TCM as change variables: perceived autonomy support had a significant effect on autonomous motivation in PE and autonomous motivation in PE had a significant effect on autonomous motivation in leisure time. Although we found a direct effect of autonomous motivation in leisure time on physical activity, we did not find support for the third premise of the TCM that autonomous motivation in leisure time indirectly affects physical activity through beliefs and intentions.
Conclusions
Current findings did not support the efficacy of the PETALS intervention at changing physical activity behavior and TCM constructs. More research is required to determine whether the TCM predictive validity is supported when other model variables are manipulated through experimental and intervention studies.
Trial registration:
ISRCTN, ISRCTN39374060. Registered 19 July 2018, https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN39374060
Myostatin and Markers of Bone Metabolism in Dermatomyositis
Authors: Kerschan-Schindl Katharina , Gruther Wolfgang , Föger-Samwald Ursula , Bangert Christine , Kudlacek Stefan , Pietschmann Peter
Published: June 2020

Background: In dermatomyostis (DM) patients, inflammation, reduced activity, and medication have a negative impact on the musculoskeletal system. Several endocrine factors are involved in muscle growth and bone turnover.Objective: We aimed to investigate factors regulating myogenesis and bone metabolism and to evaluate possible associations between these endocrine factors, muscle strength, and functional tests in DM patients.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in 18 dermatomyositis patients. Serum levels of myostatin (MSTN), follistatin (FSTN), dickkopf 1 (Dkk1), sclerostin (SOST), periostin (PSTN), the receptor activator nuclear factor kB ligand (RANKL):osteoprotegerin (OPG) ratio and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) were determined. Physical function was evaluated by hand-held strength measurement, chair rising test, timed up and go test and the 3-minute walking test. Results: Serum MSTN and FGF23 levels were significantly higher in DM patients than in controls. Dkk1 was significantly lower. Muscle strength and physical function tests correlated with each other.Conclusion: In DM patients, biochemical musculo-skeletal markers are altered and physical function shows deficits. All these tests reflect independent of each other different deficits in long-term DM patients which is important to know for the assessment of DM patients as well as planning of therapeutic interventions in clinical routine.
The Effect of Extracorporeal Shock Wave on Osteonecrosis of Femoral Head: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Mei Jin , Pang Lili , Gong Yu , Jiang Zhongchao
Published: June 2020

Background: This study aimed to determine whether ESWT (extracorporeal shock wave therapy) has an efficient effect on ONFH (osteonecrosis of femoral head) in clinical outcomes and radiography outcomes.Method: Two authors independently searched the papers on the treatment of femoral head necrosis with extracorporeal shock wave in CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure), VIP (China Science and Technology Journal Database), CSPD (China Science Periodical Database) , Pubmed, Embase and Springer databases. Search period from the inception dates to June 2, 2020 and have no limitations in language; Two authors independently conducted Quality evaluation and data extraction for included studies and preformed a meta-analysis with data extracted and calculated by using review manager 5.3.Result: Nine articles with 409 patients were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled results of HHS (Harris hip score) in eight studies with 337 hips show that ESWT achieved higher Harris scores compared to before treatment (MD= -19.95;95% CI: -26.27, -13.64;). The differences were statistically significant (p<0.01). The pooled results of VAS (visual analogue score) in seven studies with 253 hips show that ESWT achieved lower VAS compared to baseline (MD= 2.77;95%CI: 1.88, 3.65;), the differences were statistically significant (p<0.01). the pooled results of lesion of MRI with 164 hips show that ESWT decrease the lesion area of MRI (SMD=1.03,CI: 0.75,1.30,),the differences were statistically significant (p<0.01).Conclusion: ESWT have an effect in pain relief and can improve motion function. It's effect better than surgical groups (core decompression and core decompression with bone grafting). But it may not decrease the lesion area of the femoral head on MRI.
Homicide Incidents Involving Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder as Victims Reported in US News Media, 2000-2019
Authors: Guan Joseph , Blanchard Ashley , DiGuiseppi Carolyn , Chihuri Stanford , Li Guohua
Published: June 2020

Background
The reported prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has increased markedly in the past two decades and children with autism are at increased risk of unintentional injury and self-inflicted injury. The risk of assaultive injury in children with autism, however, has not been well described. Our objective was to examine the characteristics of homicide incidents involving children with ASD as victims reported in US news media.
Methods
The Lexis Uni® database was searched to identify news media reports on homicide incidents involving autistic victims under 21 years of age in the United States from January 2000 through December 2019. Information related to the victim, perpetrator, and means of homicide in each incident was ascertained from news media reports and analyzed using descriptive statistics.
Findings:
During the 20-year period, US news media reported on 52 incidents (47 males and 5 females) in which a child with ASD died from homicide. Age of victims at death ranged from 2 to 20 years (mean = 10.4 ± 5.3 years). Parents, other caregivers, and siblings accounted respectively for 63.5%, 13.5%, and 7.7% of the perpetrators. The most commonly cited contributing factor (47.1%) was overwhelming stress from caring for the autistic child. Almost a quarter (23.1%) of the victims died from gunshot wounds, followed by drowning (19.2%), and suffocation, strangulation, or asphyxiation (19.2%).
Conclusions
Of cases reported in news media, homicide victims in children with ASD are predominantly male. Nearly 85% of the perpetrators were family members or other caregivers. Intervention programs for children with ASD should include social and mental health support for parents and other caregivers to prevent burnouts.
JOGO LÚDICO COMO FERRAMENTA PEDAGÓGICA NA APRENDIZAGEM DE CONCEITOS QUÍMICOS
Authors: Nascimento Cristiane Alves do , Santos Francisco Giovanni Ferreira dos , Freire Rafaela Oliveira , Sousa Paulo Gardel Torres de , Silva Dráulio Sales da
Published: June 2020

As atividades lúdicas são consideradas educativas, por desenvolverem habilidades cognitivas e auxiliarem no método para o processo de aprendizagem, resolução de problemas, percepção, criatividade, raciocínio rápido, dentre outras habilidades. Pensando nisso, o presente artigo tem o objetivo de expor a utilização de um jogo lúdico como recurso metodológico para facilitar a aprendizagem e analisar o desenvolvimento do raciocínio e a construção do conhecimento de discentes no processo de ensino e aprendizado para alunos de 1º ano do ensino médio sobre o conteúdo de distribuição eletrônica. Utilizou-se como meio de avaliar os alunos um questionário com questões objetivas e subjetivas que revelaram através de dados estatísticos que 94,50% dos alunos conseguiram atingir os objetos propostos pelos bolsistas. Os resultados obtidos sugerem a importância da utilização dos jogos lúdicos pedagógicos no ensino.
UM ESTUDO SOBRE A DEMANDA DO CURSO TÉCNICO DE NÍVEL MÉDIO SUBSEQUENTE EM PESCA DO INSTITUTO FEDERAL DO CEARÁ, CAMPUS ACARAÚ
Authors: VARGAS JULIANE
Published: June 2020

O presente trabalho se propôs a estudar a demanda do Curso Técnico de Nível Médio Subsequente em Pesca do Instituto Federal do Ceará, campus Acaraú. Desde a implantação do curso a demanda foi baixa, apesar da vocação histórica do município voltada à atividade da pesca. Nesse sentido, o objetivo central foi investigar em que medida os alunos do 3º ano do ensino médio das escolas públicas de Acaraú e seus Distritos, principal público alvo do curso, se interessam por cursos técnicos, em especial pelo curso de pesca. A perspectiva utilizada foi o estudo de campo. Como suporte teórico traçou-se o panorama legal da pesca e as políticas públicas destinadas a esse segmento. A pesquisa de abordagem mista, quantitativa e qualitativa, utilizou como instrumento de coleta de dados a aplicação de questionário estruturado aos alunos do 3º ano do ensino médio das escolas públicas de Acaraú e Distritos. Os resultados obtidos apontaram o interesse maior dos concluintes do ensino médio por cursos em nível de graduação. A falta de informação sobre o curso e sua proposta foram outros fatores que levaram à baixa demanda do curso.
Kemal Özer’in Şiirlerinde Ölüm Teması
Authors: ÖKSÜZ GÜNEŞ Elif
Published: June 2020

Edebiyat, yaşamı, kişisel ve toplumsal ilişkileri, bu ilişkilerin farklı boyutlarını estetik olarak sunan bir araçtır. Sanatçı toplumsal olaylara, değişimlere, gelişmelere kayıtsız kalamaz. Toplumdaki çatışmaları ve bağları edebiyatın kendine has yöntemleriyle dile getirir. Kişi ile toplumun çıkarları arasındaki uzlaşmazlığı ortadan kaldırmak için mevcut durumu algılama, anlama ve saptama olanağı sunar. Edebî hayatına öykü denemeleriyle başlayan, şiire ilgisi öyküye yöneliminden sonra devreye giren Kemal Özer, İkinci Yeni şiir anlayışından edindiği dilsel deneyimi toplumcu içerikle bütünleştirir. Özer’in şiir kitaplarında ölüm teması önemli bir yer tutar. Ölümle iç içe yaşamak durumunda kalan insan, bu kavramı tıbbî, dinî, felsefî, psikolojik ve sosyolojik açıdan farklı şekillerde algılar. Anlamı olayın yaşanmasına değil, daha çok olgu karşısındaki yorumlara bağlı olan ölüm, Özer’in şiirlerinde yas evresindeki analar için sevilen bir kişiye kavuşma ve onunla buluşmayı/ birleşmeyi ifade eder. Bazı şiir özneleri ve nesneleri içinse fiziksel ölüm fikirle, eserle, eylemle dünyadaki varlığını devam ettirmeye açılan kapıdır. Çalışmada Kemal Özer’in şiirlerinde fiziksel ölüm, ölen kişinin ardında bıraktığı kişiler tarafından tutulan yas ya da içinde bulunulan melankolik durumla açıklanmaya çalışıldı. Kişilerin psikolojik ve sosyolojik bakımdan yaşadığı ölüm ya da ölümsüzlük değerlendirildi.
Ahmet Gazioğlu’nun Kıbrıs’ta Aşk ve Savaş Adlı Romanına 1974 Kıbrıs Türk Barış Harekâtı’nın Yansıması
Authors: YENİASIR Mustafa , GÖKBULUT Burak , TAMER İsmail
Published: June 2020

1931 yılında Kıbrıs’ta doğan Ahmet Gazioğlu, 1954-1962 yılları arasında öğretmenlik yapmış, gazetelerde özellikle Kıbrıs sorunu üzerine kaleme aldığı yazılarla tanınmıştır. Ahmet Gazioğlu, 1975 yılında 260 sayfa olarak yayınladığı Kıbrıs’ta Aşk ve Savaş adlı romanında Kıbrıs Barış Harekâtı’nı gerçekçi bir bakış açısıyla yansıtmıştır. Yazar, eserde tarihçi bir bakış açısıyla sözü edilen yıllarda yaşananları tarafsız bir şekilde değerlendirerek, okuyucuya bir roman havası içerisinde sunmuştur. Kıbrıs’ta Aşk ve Savaş romanında Gazioğlu, Tanya adlı kızla, genç bir Türk doktorun aşkını anlattığı kadar, adada Yunanlıların ve Rumların Kıbrıs Türklerine uygulamış oldukları baskıyı ve bu baskı karşısında Kıbrıs Türklerinin gösterdiği varoluş mücadelesini ele almaktadır. Çalışmada 1974 yılında ana vatan Türkiye tarafından gerçekleştirilen Kıbrıs Türk Barış Harekâtı’nın sözü edilen romana yansıması ele alınarak değerlendirilmiştir. Kıbrıs Türk Barış Harekâtı’nın romana yansıyan motifleri tespit edilerek, adada Türk varlığının ve Kıbrıs Türk kimliğinin o yıllarda hangi şartlar altında güvenceye alındığı ortaya konmuştur.
Yayık: Gökhöyük Bağları Höyüğünde Süt ve Süt Ürünleri Üretimine Dair Bir Ön Değerlendirme
Authors: GÜNDÜZ Ramazan
Published: June 2020

Bu çalışmada, Orta Anadolu’nun güneyinde Konya il sınırları içerisinde yer alan, Gökhöyük Bağları Höyüğünde yapılan kazılarda açığa çıkarılan bir grup pişmiş toprak çanak çömlek ele alınmıştır. Bu grup içinde değerlendirilen parçaların iç kısımlarında bulunan kazımalar ve muhtemelen kap pişirilmeden önce, üretilme aşamasındayken eklenen parmak kalınlığındaki eklentiler bunların diğer seramiklerden ayrı bir grup içerisinde değerlendirilmesine neden olmuştur. Yapılan inceleme ve araştırmalar sonunda çalışmaya konu seramik parçaların pişmiş toprak yayık parçaları olduğu anlaşılmıştır. Yayıklar günümüzde otomatik makinelerin icat edilmesiyle elde yapımı giderek terk edilmeye başlanan sütten yağ elde etmede veya ayran yapımında kullanılan pişmiş toprak ya da ahşap kaplardır. Bu kap formunun en erken örnekleri Orta Anadolu’nun kuzeyinden Yarıkkaya’dan bilinmektedir. 2002 – 2005 yılları arasında Gökhöyük Bağları Höyüğü’nde yapılan kazılarda açığa çıkarılan seramikler arasında 60 adet yayık parçası saptanmıştır. Söz konusu eserlerin koyu yüzlü, çark yapımı kaba mallar olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Anolojik yöntemleri (benzetim sistemi) kullanılarak yapılan incelemeler sonucunda bunların Demir Çağı’na tarihlendirilmesi uygun bulunmuştur.
Aşiret Yapılarında Boşanma Deneyimi: Van Örneği
Authors: ÇİÇEKLİ Aylin , PARİN Suvat
Published: June 2020

Bu çalışmanın amacı, bir yanda modern çağın kaçınılmaz döngüsü diğer yanda ise gelenek, kültür ve aşiret dokusuyla oluşturduğu toplumsal desene sahip olan Van’da aşiret mensupları arasında gerçekleşen ve bir tabu olarak görülen boşanmaları sosyolojik açıdan irdelemektir. Karakteristik özelliği itibariyle dominant bir eril yapı özelliği sergileyen aşiret yapılarında, modernleşmeyle birlikte, birey ve bireyciliğin etken bir söylem olarak yankı bulduğu günümüzde, gelenekten uzaklaşma, kitle iletişim ve rasyonelleşme hareketleri beraberinde aile ve evlilik kurumunu temelinden sarsmıştır. Türkiye’de 2000’li yıllarla birlikte yükselen bir trend olan boşanma yalnızca modern toplumları değil dirençli bir yapıya sahip olan aşiret örgütlenmelerini de etkilemiştir. Van’daki boşanmış aşiret üyelerini odağına alan bu çalışmada, Van’daki boşanmaları geniş bir açıdan değerlendirmeyi hedeflediğinden 2001-2016 TÜİK boşanma istatistikleri ile birlikte Van’da aşiret üyesi boşanmış 5 kadın, 5 erkek ve boşanma davalarına bakan 5 avukat ile gerçekleştirilen nitel görüşmelerden edinilen geniş veri seti üzerinden çalışıldı. Geleneğin baskın karakteri ile bir tabu olarak görülen boşanmanın, günümüzde Van’da aşiret üyelerinde günlük hayatın pratikleri arasında yer edinmeye başladığı görülmektedir. Boşanmaların gerçekleşmesinde ise kentin sosyolojik dokusu yanında evlilik şekli, ailelerin rolü, aile içi şiddet ve aldatmanın baskın olduğu ortaya çıkmaktadır.
Memleketini Anlatan Seyyahlar: Trabzonlu Seyyahların Metinlerinde Trabzon
Authors: ÜSTÜN DEMİRKAYA Fulya , KIRCI Oğuz
Published: June 2020

Coğrafik ve stratejik konumunun sağladığı, doğu ve batı arasında ticari ve askeri, kara ve deniz bağlantısının merkezi olma rolü ile Trabzon, merak duygusuyla hareket eden birçok seyyahın gezi güzergâhında yerini almıştır. Bu metin, Trabzon kentini, yabancı bir ziyaretçinin gözlemlerinden daha fazlasını içeren, kendileri de Trabzonlu olmaları nedeniyle aynı zamanda deneyimleyen seyyahların gözünden anlamayı hedeflemektedir. Trabzon doğumlu olan Aşık Mehmed (16.yy), Minas Bıjışkyan (19.yy) ve Şakir Şevket (19.yy) ile babası Trabzonlu olan İsmail Safa’nın (19.yy), kentin tarihi, yapıları, kitabeleri, sokakları, pazar ve mahalleleri, demografik yapısı ve halkın gündelik yaşamına ilişkin aktardıkları, zaman zaman birbiri ile çelişip zaman zaman örtüşen ve/veya birbirini tamamlayan bilgiler karşılaştırılarak değerlendirilmiştir. İsmail Safa’nın manzum eseri kentin fiziksel dokusu konusunda net bilgiler vermediği için çalışma kapsamında kullanılamamıştır. Seyahatnamelerde yer alan bilgilerin değerlendirilmesi temelde kentin fiziki dokusunu anlamaya yöneliktir. Bu nedenle seyyahların metinleri, kentin tarihsel olarak bulunduğu yer-topografyası ile fiziki dokusunun parçası olan liman, dini-askeri-ticari-sivil yapılar ve bu dokunun tamamlayıcısı mahalleler üzerine odaklanarak ele alınmıştır. Üç seyyahın verdiği bilgiler toplu olarak değerlendirildiğinde; Aşık Mehmed ve Şakir Şevket, ağırlıklı olarak kentin Osmanlı Dönemi dokusuna dikkat çekerken, Şakir Şevket ile aynı dönemi anlatmasına karşın Bıjışkyan ağırlıklı olarak Osmanlı öncesi veya Osmanlı dönemi gayrimüslim yapılarına vurgu yapar. Seyyahların yaşadıkları dönem ve sahip oldukları kimliklerinin (dini, siyasi, mesleki vb.) izleri metinlerde takip edilebilmektedir. Bu bağlamda seyyahlar memleketlerini kendi yaşam perspektifinden anlatırken, farklı hikâyelere ulaşmamıza, doğru bilinenlerin sorgulanmasına olanak tanımış, pek çok kaynakta bahsedilmeyen, varlığını bildiğimiz ancak takibini yapamadığımız, fiziki tanımlamanın mümkün olmadığı pek çok yapı/yere ilişkin betimlemeler ile önemli bilgi eksikliğinin tamamlanmasını sağlanmıştır.
Parameter estimation of soil hydraulic characteristics by inverse modeling of the analytical equation for unsaturated subsurface water flow
Authors: Coutinho de Oliveira Luiz Fernando , Rezende de Souza Gabriela , Vilela Corrêa Flávia , Ribeiro Mota e Silva Jaíza
Published: June 2020

In drip-irrigated systems, the understanding of the soil wetting pattern is essential in defining the area effectively irrigated, the spacing between the emitters and their installation depth, and the irrigation rate. Thus, this study aims to estimate soil hydraulic characteristics through inverse modeling of an analytical equation used in wetting bulb simulation based on soil moisture measurements obtained in the field. The parameters of the Gardner model, which describes the unsaturated soil hydraulic conductivity, and the van Genuchten model that describes the soil moisture retention curve, were estimated by inverse modeling techniques. The following options were considered: (A) estimating parameter β while considering the other parameters, Ko, θr, θs, α, n, and m, as known and obtained experimentally; (B) estimating parameters Ko and β while considering the experimental retention curve as known; (C) estimating parameters Ko, β, α, n, and m while considering the values of the θr and θs volumetric moisture as known; (D) estimating all the parameters of Gardner and van Genuchten models (Ko, θr, θs, α, n, and m). The results indicate that option D showed better concordance between the estimated and observed moisture values. Thus, the inverse modeling of the analytical equation is an important tool for irrigation design and management.
Sanitary quality (bacteriological and physical-chemical) of drinking water in urban slums in Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
Authors: Handam Natasha Berendonk , Santos José Augusto Albuquerque dos , Moraes Neto Antonio Henrique Almeida de , Leal Alencar Maria de Fátima , Ignacio Caroline Ferraz , Sotero-Martins Adriana
Published: June 2020

Water must meet the drinking water standards in order not to cause disease. In urban slums the infrastructure (water supply, sewage) is more precarious, leaving the population susceptible to health problems. The objective was to analyze drinking water consumed by the population in Manguinhos slums, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, based on the standards established in the Brazilian Regulation, and based on socioenvironmental indicators related to the health of the slums population. Bacteriological and physicochemical parameters were analyzed according to Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, compared with socioenvironmental data through spatial statistics. The results revealed that water, for the most part, exceeded the limits of drinking water quality standards, which places the population's health at risk and reinforces the urgency of public policies. Spatial and drinking water analysis indicated that the regions with the highest population density were the regions with the highest socioenvironmental vulnerability. These areas are priorities for government action to reduce health inequities, such as education, access to health services and access to sewer and water treatment.
O efeito da instrução explícita de sândis externos do inglês no desenvolvimento da percepção auditiva de aprendizes brasileiros
Authors: Mangueira Lima Júnior Ronaldo , Ribeiro Mendes Thiago
Published: June 2020

Esta pesquisa teve por objetivo analisar o efeito do ensino explícito de sândis externos do inglês para aprendizes brasileiros de inglês como língua estrangeira no desenvolvimento da percepção auditiva. O estudo toma como perspectiva o ensino de sândis à luz do Ensino Explícito e das Teorias de Percepção (ALVES, 2004; BYBEE, 2001; ELLIS, 2008; JOHNSON, 1997).  Foi realizada uma pesquisa com aprendizes de nível iniciante e intermediário, subdivididos em grupos controle e experimental. Todos os alunos passaram por um pré-teste de compreensão auditiva; os alunos dos grupos experimentais tiveram instrução explícita sobre sândis externos em inglês; e todos os alunos foram novamente testados em compreensão auditiva. Os resultados apontam que o ensino explícito de sândis permitiu aos alunos uma melhor percepção auditiva.