bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reformar ou alienar-se
Authors: Cavalcante José Antônio Parente
Published: November 2020

O momento nacional caracteriza–se por frequentes transformações de natureza política, social e econômica. Convivemos com um clima social onde avultam indefinições em assuntos que irão moldar o futuro do País. O debate da Constituinte, as reformas do Governo Federal, a Reforma Tributária, a reivindicação de maior descentralização político administrativa, a Política Econômica, a dívida externa e a dívida interna, o combate à inflação, a Política Salarial, a Reforma Partidária, estes e outros temas faz em parte do cotidiano da nossa população.
Previdência social e assistência médica no Brasil: estrutura e ação
Authors: Cabral João Batista Pinheiro
Published: November 2020

O assunto interessa e afeta diretamente a todos os brasileiros natos, naturalizados e estrangeiros residentes no Brasil que aqui exerçam atividades remuneradas, assim como seus dependentes. Isto quer dizer, mais de 110 milhões de pessoas, que são abrangidos pela Previdência Social e pela Assistência Medica no Brasil. E assunto que vem, desde há muito, chamando a atenção do povo brasileiro, atingido e afetado pela qualidade de seu funcionamento. Infelizmente, e também assunto que tem ganhou notoriedade no noticiário dos meios de comunicação, devido a série de escândalos financeiros e outras irregularidades que, inexoravelmente, já deixaram marcas e cicatrizes e abalaram a confiança do público nessas instituições, que, por sua natureza, devem e precisam ficar sempre isentas de qualquer suspeita de ineficiência ou corrupção métodos os seus níveis.
Forma de governo de acordo com realidade
Authors: Coelho João Gilberto Lucas
Published: November 2020

Alinho-me entre os que em tese são favoráveis à forma, ao regime Parlamentar de governo considerando mais eficiente e menos crítico de que o regime presidencial. Enquanto na forma presidencialista o conflito entre poderes é insolúvel e em geral conduz à tentativa de desestabilização incondicional de um dos poderes, na forma parlamentar o conflito entre poderes que não possa ser mediado por eles mesmos é devolvido ao voto popular para ser resolvido através de nova eleição. Além disso, a forma parlamentar, o sistema parlamentarista é um sistema de co-responsabilidade entre Executivo e Legislativo enquanto regra quase geral nas formas presidencialistas o Legislativo fica desprovido de poderes mas também de responsabilidades.
Perfil do administrador público no Brasil
Authors: Freitas Filho Floriano
Published: November 2020

A sociedade é a síntese final das organizações que a compõem. O Estado, expressão formal da sociedade, é, pois, realidade historicamente constituída que se modifica com a evolução cultural de cada um de seus cidadãos. Nesse sentido, a organização Estado, por si só e pelas organizações que o compõem, é uma realidade cultural. Traçar o perfil do administrador público brasileiro é, pois, adentrar o campo da cultura. É pôr em evidência a ação criadora do homem, subordinando a natureza a seus fins, partindo da própria natureza.
A Comparative Morphological Approach to Class Maintaining Derivational Affixes in English and Kurdish
Authors: Qadir Muhsin Hama Saeed , Fakhry Abdulla Saza Ahmed
Published: November 2020

This paper is a comparative morphological study of some class maintaining derivational affixes that do not alter the grammatical categories lexemes in Standard English and Central Kurdish from the standpoints of Generative Morphology. For the comparative analysis of the two languages, some of the derivational affixes that form new meanings from the existing lexemes and retain the grammatical categories of the newly derived lexemes have been classified. The main aim of the study is to identify the points of similarity and difference of class maintaining derivational affixes in both languages. The findings indicate that in the addition of nominal affixes, English and Kurdish are similar in that ‘concrete nouns’ could remain concrete nouns, as well as could convert into abstract nouns by adding certain affixes. In English, a prefix can also be added to a concrete noun to derive a new concrete noun, whereas in Kurdish, only a prefix can be added to an abstract noun to form a concrete noun. In the addition of adjectival affixes, both languages are similar in that adjectives can derive new adjectives by attaching some prefixes and some suffixes to the existing lexemes. In English, the cardinal numbers remain cardinals when the suffixes –teen and –ty are attached to them, whereas in Kurdish the only rare case can be seen when the suffix –a is attached to the two cardinal numerals hawt/ haft ‘seven’ and hašt ‘eight’. The suffixes –th in English and -(h)am and -(h)amin  in Kurdish can be attached to the cardinal numbers to form the ordinal numbers.
The race for a coronavirus vaccine
Authors: Ferbeyre Gerardo , Santiago Vispo Nelson
Published: November 2020

The international race to find a preventive vaccine and effective treatments against COVID 19 has been influenced by two fundamental factors. Firstly, by the molecular characterization of the causative virus and the pathology it produces, and secondly, by access to this information, mostly free of charge by the international scientific community causing a synergy to obtain results in such a short time.
Several vaccines preparations against Covid19 have entered Phase 3 clinical trials. Although it is uncertain the degree of protection that they will achieve, preliminary data from Phase 1 and 2 trials and studies in animals indicate that they trigger an antiviral immune response without serious side effects. The current formulations include viral vectors, RNA vaccines, inactivated viruses, and recombinant proteins particles. They all have advantages and disadvantages, but only the results of Phase 3 clinical trials will ultimately decide the best candidates for vaccination campaigns.
The tremendous impact of the SARS-CoV-2 in our society has triggered an unprecedented effort to find a vaccine to control the pandemic. Billions of dollars have already been invested in multiple vaccination schemes. According to the WHO, more than 170 vaccines were in different phases of development in August 2020. Here is a summary of the advantages and disadvantages of the front runner strategies categorized according to their delivery method.
Successful in-vivo treatment of mice infected with Candida glabrata using silver nanoparticles
Authors: Mohammad Teeba H. , Risan Mohsen H. , El-Hiti Gamal A. , Ahmed Dina S. , Yousif Emad
Published: November 2020

The current study describes the production of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to treat Candida glabrata infections. The method involved incubation of silver nitrate (AgNO3) with Aspergillus terreus using a green and straightforward route. The production of AgNPs was confirmed through a color change from transparent yellow to brown as well as by ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) spectroscopy. The surface morphology of AgNPs was assessed using a scanning electron microscope. The antifungal activity of AgNPs against C. glabrata was investigated in the serum of 20 infected mice. The mice were divided into four groups, and the level of cytokines: IL-4 and IFN-γ were examined after 21 days. The atomic force microscopy confirmed that the average diameter of AgNPs was 25.1 nm, which is appropriate for delivering silver nanoparticles to treat animals' infection. The concentration of cytokines IL-4 and IFN-γ were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the C. glabrata-infected group than in the control group. While the cytokines level remained close to average concentration in mice administrated with AgNPs, such a result was comparable with the fourth group of mice (Candida-treated Aspergillus) after treatment with AgNPs.
Antimicrobial Activity of Herbal Mixture Extract Combination on Microorganisms Isolated from Urinary Tract infection
Authors: Allami Risala H , Mouhamad Raghad S. , Abdulateef Sura A. , abedalelah al-Khafaji Khlood
Published: November 2020

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is the second most common infection after respiratory tract infection. Its prevalence is more in women as compared to men. Approximately 50% of women have an infection of the Urinary tract in their life-time. The bacterial infection is one of the most important bioactivity; using their ability to imitate evanish then distributes international fitness problems into the 21st centenary. Thus a recent study was undertaken to investigate the antibacterial activity of a mixture of three medicinal plants against UTI infectious isolates. The three considered plants were (Aloe vera, Artemisia herba alba and Teucrium polium), which were used in Iraqi medicine for many centuries. The effectiveness of this combination was investigated using in vitro well diffusion method. The extract was tested against four isolated pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella spp, and Proteus spp). The aqueous extract exhibited antibacterial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The mixture extract had the highest effect against S. aureus and Proteus spp, followed by a lower effect on Klebsiella spp. In conclusion, the antibacterial effect of the tested plant extracts confirmed a higher impact on Gram-positive bacteria as compared to Gram-negative bacteria. Therefore, it can be concluded that the usage of these plants as a traditional medicine form can be considered as a strong assistant to regular medicine drugs and treatments.
Comparative study between ECL and ELISA to determine the reliable range of Estradiol in the treatment of infertility
Authors: Sadeghitabar Ali , Maleki Narges , Armand Maryam , Reza Nasiri
Published: November 2020

Estradiol is one factor that can alter the outcome of the treatment of infertile couples following the application of in vitro fertilization techniques. Currently, the estradiol level is measured by two diagnostic methods Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and Electrochemiluminescence (ECL). Accordingly, this study determines ELISA and ECL's sensitivity and consistency to measure different levels of estradiol and determine its reliable range and provide this information to laboratories and gynecologists. This study is performed on 250 patients of the Avicenna Fertility Center. The data of the study are analyzed in SPSS18 and MiniTab. Consent was obtained for experimentation with human subjects. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to investigate the relationship between these two methods. The results indicated a strong correlation between the two variables ECL and ELISA ( r= 0.735, P-value<0.001). High numbers indicate that the decrease and increase of one variable are proportional to the other variable's fluctuation.
This study shows that the results of estradiol obtained from both ECL and ELISA are similar. In the ELISA method, due to the linear values' limitation, samples with estradiol concentration above the highest standard level should be diluted and the dilution coefficient should then be applied.
Composition and Occurrence of Fish Fauna from Thanbyuzayat Township, Mon Coastal Area
Authors: Ko Ko Zarni
Published: November 2020

A total of 48 species of fish fauna were identified during the present study period. The dominant species of fish were found under order Perciformes in all study areas. The most species composition (40) was recorded in Setse fish landing area. The commercially important fish species were mostly found in Kyaikkhami area. Moreover, 17 species of fish were exported to other regions and foreign countries. Among the fish species, species such as Threadfin (Polynemidae), Croaker (Sciaenidae), Hilsa (Clupeidae), Bombay duck (Harpadontidae), Anchovy (Engraulidae), and Pomfret fish (Stomateidae) were the most economically important species. Bombay duck and Anchovy (especially Coilia dussumieri) were more abundant (70%) at the present study sites. Harpodon nehereus and Coilia species were the leading food employed as fresh and dried for local people in the present study areas.
Key words: Ichthyology, Taxonomy, Compositions, Occurrence, fish landing centers, Thanbyuzayat Township, Mon Coastal Areas.
Combinaciones estables en morfología y polaridad de las ondas electrocardiográficas P, QR y T en bovino, como referencia para el diagnóstico.
Authors: Pompa Núñez Alberto , Pompa Rodríguez Dania Yusimí
Published: November 2020

El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar las combinaciones más estables en morfología y polaridad de las ondas electrocardiográficas P, QR y T obtenidas en varias derivaciones en el bovino, para su utilización diagnóstica. Se emplearon registros correspondientes a 100 bovinos Holstein, en 17 derivaciones, 7 bipolares y 10 monopolares. Las áreas donde se conectaron los electrodos fueron depiladas, frotadas con alcohol y se les aplicó pasta conductora de electricidad. El electrocardiógrafo fue calibrado con una señal de 1 mV/cm y una velocidad de corrida del papel de 25 mm/s. Como resultado, se encontró que los puntos de derivación que se sitúan hacia la base del corazón o hacia el ápice originan patrones de combinación P-QR-T con una gran constancia en la polaridad y poca diversidad morfológica. Las ondas R son positivas en la base y negativas en el ápice y las ondas P y T son en ambas regiones discordantes con la R, excepto en la derivación VH3, en la que P es concordante Se concluye que en las porciones de la superficie corporal del bovino situadas por encima o por debajo de la línea que pasa por la derivación V3 en la que se obtienen registros nulos para QR, existe una elevada estabilidad en las características morfológicas y de polaridad de las combinaciones de las ondas P-QR-T, por lo que las derivaciones monopolares en cada una de estas áreas o las bipolares registradas entre una y otra, son muy útiles para diagnosticar las alteraciones cardíacas.
Palabras Claves. Morfología, polaridad, ondas electrocardiográficas, bovino.
Evaluación de la calidad del agua en el río Alambrado utilizando macroinvertebrados bentónicos como bioindicadores en la zona del embalse de la Laguna de la Mica
Authors: García Rengifo Christian , Endara González Alexandra
Published: November 2020

Se evaluó la calidad del agua del río Alambrado usando macroinvertebrados bentónicos y parámetros físico-químicos. Se midieron los índices: Índice Multimétrico de estado ecológico de Ríos Altoandinos (IMEERA), Índice Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera y Trichoptera (EPT), Índice Biótico Andino (ABI) y el índice piloto Biological Monitoring Working Party / Ecuador (BMWP/ECU), Análisis de Componentes Principales (ACP) y Análisis de Correspondencia Canónica (ACC), durante tres meses (enero a marzo, 2019). Se colectaron 1993 individuos; la familia Chironomidae fue la más abundante (80%) y las menos abundantes fueron: Gerridae, Simulidae y Leptoceridae (0,05%). Más del 90% fueron macroinvertebrados colectores. El ACP y ACC determinó que los sólidos suspendidos totales tuvieron una mayor relación con la gran mayoría de taxones. Se determinó que la calidad del agua se encuentra en un rango de malo a moderado y los resultados de los índices biológicos son sensibles a los parámetros físico-químicos de oxígeno disuelto, Demanda Bioquímica de Oxígeno 5 (DBO5), Demanda Química de Oxígeno (DQO); los cuales varían según la temporada climática.
Estudios “Solidaridad” a la medida de Latinoamérica
Authors: Pecho-Silva Samuel , Navarro-Solsol Ana Claudia , Panduro-Correa Vicky , Rodriguez-Morales Alfonso J. , Arteaga-Livias Kovy
Published: November 2020

Desde que los primeros casos de la infección con el coronavirus del síndrome Respiratorio agudo severo por coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) fueron descritos en Wuhan, provincia de Hubei en China, comenzó una carrera contra reloj por la búsqueda de un tratamiento efectivo, que pueda disminuir la carga de morbimortalidad ocasionada por la enfermedad por coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). Muchos estudios fueron planteados para probar la conveniencia de múltiples drogas, tanto conocidas, como otras de reciente fabricación 1,2.

Uno de los hitos más importantes en este contexto fue el anuncio del estudio “Solidarity” por parte de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS), el cual se llevaría a cabo en algunos países de Europa. Debido a la importancia de este estudio muchos países que no fueron inicialmente considerados, fueron sumándose en el resto del mundo. El objetivo de este estudio era valorar distintos tratamientos propuestos y utilizados contra el COVID-19. Del mismo modo la Universidad de Oxford y los sistemas de salud del Reino Unido dieron inicio al estudio RECOVERY (Randomized Evaluation of COVid-19 Therapy) también con varios tratamientos a ser probados.
Síndrome de Sweet asociado a Neoplasias. Reporte de un caso.
Authors: Nieto Jiménez Adrian Isacc
Published: November 2020

El Síndrome de Sweet es una entidad que se manifiesta clínicamente por la presencia de placas eritematosas, pústulas y/o ampollas. En la histología se evidencia un denso infiltrado de neutrófilos. Al igual que otras dermatosis neutrofílicas, se caracteriza por una buena respuesta al tratamiento con esteroides y dapsona. En el 20% de los casos se asocia a enfermedades malignas, representando las hematológicas el 85% y los tumores sólidos el 15% restante. Se presenta una paciente de 46 años de edad con antecedentes de Leucemia Linfoblàstica, que consultó por la aparición de placas eritematosas, violáceas en el dorso de las manos con un estudio histopatológico que evidenció un Síndrome de Sweet.
Palabras claves: Neutrofilia, vasculitis, Síndrome de Sweet.
Coexistencia de hemorragia subaracnoidea aneurismática accidentada y tromboembolia pulmonar en paciente con COVID-19. Reporte de un caso.
Authors: Vélez Páez Jorge Luis , Aguayo Moscoso Santiago Xavier , Mora Coello Christian Leonardo , Alava Muñoz Wilson Daniel , Proaño Constante María José , Sananay Auquilla Erika Lizeth
Published: November 2020

El COVID-19 es causado por el SARS-CoV2, un coronavirus beta, que actualmente es responsable de una pandemia con alta tasa de contagiosidad y mortalidad a nivel mundial. Este virus, a más de su impacto a nivel pulmonar, puede desencadenar una tormenta de citocinas proinflamatorias que dañan el endotelio vascular generando endotelitis, disfunción endotelial y alta prevalencia de eventos trombóticos. Clínica y analíticamente la expresión de este fenómeno se evidencia con niveles elevados de dímero D, trombosis venosa y/o arterial, embolia pulmonar, enfermedades cerebrovasculares y cardiovasculares y trombosis microvascular difusa. Dado que el endotelio es un órgano vital en la regulación del tono vascular y la homeostasis, su afectación conduce a vasoconstricción, isquemia, infarto e inflamación y esto posiblemente cause debilitamiento de su estructura. En él siguiente reporte de caso, narramos la historia de un paciente con neumonía por SARS-CoV2, que presentó concomitancia de alteraciones endoteliales hemorrágicas y trombóticas, expresadas por una hemorragia subaracnoidea aneurismática accidentada y una tromboembolia pulmonar submasiva.
Scientifically unproven treatments for COVID-19
Authors: Marcial-Coba Martín S.
Published: November 2020

Detected for the first time in late December 2019, a novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is the causative agent of an international outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In late August 2020, approx. 24 000 000 cases, including 815 038 deaths, have been confirmed worldwide1. The WHO declared the outbreak of COVID-19 as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, and it has been proposed that its spread may be interrupted by early detection, isolation, the implementation of a robust system to trace contacts, and a prompt treatment2. Nevertheless, there has not yet been any vaccine or effective treatment that has received approval3. Despite this, the FDA has recently issued an emergency use authorization for the investigational antiviral drug Remdesivir to treat COVID-19 in patients with severe disease4. Although there is still limited information regarding the safety and efficacy of this novel prodrug, it has shown potent in vitro antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 isolates, and therapeutic efficacy in animal models5.
Comparative Pilot Study Between a Tomographic Score and RT-PCR to Determine Diagnostic Prediction in Patients with COVID 19
Authors: Vélez-Paez Jorge Luis , Salazar-Montesdeoca Rafael , Echeverría Juan Pablo , Reinthaller-Subía Steffy , Vásquez-Barzallo Sebastián , Villegas-Polanco Andrea , Aguayo-Moscoso Santiago Xavier
Published: November 2020

In today's COVID-19 pandemic, application of RT-PCR is the diagnostic standard; however, such factors as the delayed availability of its results and the false negatives that are stemming from technical-dependent factors, the anatomical site of sampling, the time of the evolution of the symptoms and the viral load, make it possible to fail. Therefore, finding a diagnostic alternative becomes crucial, and pulmonary computed tomography (CT), using characteristic COVID-19 patterns, can fulfill this function by building tomographic scores. A prospective and observational cohort study was conducted in March-July 2020 in 30 patients with suspicion of SARS COV-2, admitted to the emergency department (ED) at Pablo Arturo Suárez Hospital. The purpose of the study was to compare the diagnostic correlation of a tomographic score and biomarkers, such as ferritin and D-dimer, with the standard RT-PCR diagnostic test. The score has a maximum value of 11 points, made up of bilateral involvement (2 points), peripheral distribution (2 points), posterior distribution (2 points), multilobar involvement (2 points), ground-glass opacification (2 points), and consolidation (1 point). The ROC curve was used to determine positive PCR predictors for COVID-19 by determining cut-off points and calculating the parameters corresponding to the diagnostic tests. At the multivariate level, the logistic regression approach was applied. The average age of the participants was 52 years, being higher in the positive ones (57 vs. 46, p: 0.045); there was no difference in gender, comorbidities, and prognostic scales. With the ROC curve, the cut-off points were established for positive or negative diagnoses: for the CT score it was 7 (AUC: 0.77 S: 93.33% and NPV: 88.89%), and it presented an adjusted OR of 53.51 (95% CI: 3-1036, p: 0.008), while for ferritin it was 883 ng/ml (AUC: 0.74 S: 93.33% and NPV: 90.91%) and had an adjusted OR of 80.18 (95% CI: 4-1475, p: 0.003), the AUC for D-dimer was not significant. The tomographic score, created for this pilot study, yielded promising results, giving an excellent diagnostic correlation with RT-PCR, being augmented with the ferritin biomarker, and reaching a predictive diagnostic level.
Treatment of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) cases by the oral administration of montelukast tablets
Authors: Norouzi Ameneh
Published: November 2020

According to the hypothesis, montelukast may have therapeutic action against severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) occurred by coronavirus 2 (CoV-19). The research was aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of montelukast tablet on coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19) patients. A total of 20 COVID-19 confirmed patients were included in this study. The presence of COVID-19 infections in all patients was confirmed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and computerized tomography (CT) scan. Confirmed cases were treated with oral administration of montelukast (10 mg) tablet for 10 days. The study population was included 18 to 82 years old patients (10 males and 10 females). The mean age of studied men and women individuals were 44.7±17 and 41±17.45 years, respectively. Frequency of respiratory distress, cough, abdominal cramps/diarrhea, fever, and odor disorder clinical signs amongst the examined patients were 85%, 90%, 20%, 70%, and 65%, respectively. Our findings revealed that all patients who were received 10 days of oral administration of montelukast tablets (10 mg) were recovered from the COVID-19 disease.
Additionally, all of the clinical signs of COVID-19 patients, including respiratory distress, cough, and odor disorder, were gradually disappeared. Our findings revealed that widespread oral administration of montelukast tablets (10 mg) is a potential treatment for COVID-19 disease. However, several double-blind and multifactorial clinical trials should perform to determine the other clinical aspects of the treatment of COVID-19 patients by oral administration of montelukast.
Asociación entre la hipertensión arterial y factores de riesgo modificables en sujetos de la población de “La bota” Quito, 2017
Authors: Pilataxi Yadira , Fors Martha
Published: November 2020

En el Ecuador la hipertensión arterial ocupa el cuarto lugar de mortalidad por enfermedades conocidas con una tasa del 22,09%. Este estudio es de tipo observacional, descriptivo y transversal, y tuvo como objetivo de cuantificar la prevalencia y estudiar la asociación entre la hipertensión arterial y los diferentes factores de riesgo: índice de masa corporal (IMC), frecuencia de actividad física, consumo de alcohol y tabaquismo. Para estudiar esta asociación se realizó una regresión logística bivariada. Se calcularon los odds ratios y sus IC al 95% de confianza. Se incluyeron 208 individuos, el 22,6% con Hipertensión arterial y el 55,8% de ellos con sobrepeso u obesidad. Existen más posibilidades de que se presente HTA a mayor edad del sujeto y una probabilidad 4.56 veces mayor de presentar HTA si el paciente tiene sobrepeso/obesidad con respecto al que no lo presenta. El perímetro de cadera igualmente esta correlacionado significativamente con todas las variables de una forma escasa con edad y presión diastólica y moderadas con peso e IMC. El sobrepeso u obesidad y la edad mayor a 40 años constituyen factores de riego para desarrollar HTA y la modifican en función exponencial, en la medida que aumenta el sobrepeso y la edad aumenta el riesgo de HTA
mRNA level of genes related to apoptosis in a colitis model in rats treated with epidermal growth factor
Authors: Roca Juan , Camacho Hanlet , Aguilera Ana , Guillen Isabel , Delgado Yuneisy , Bermudez Yiliam , Bacardí Dania , Suarez Alba José , Palenzuela Daniel .
Published: November 2020

The deregulation of cell death pathways in intestinal epithelial cells could involve the pathogenesis of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. An increase in apoptosis has been observed in patients who have Ulcerative Colitis. Previous experiments have demonstrated the efficacy of EGF in the healing of ulcerative Colitis and other gastrointestinal mucosa lesions. However, there are not many reports on the molecular characterization of EGF's positive effect on the gastrointestinal mucosa. This work aims to deepen the transcriptional changes induced by EGF in the intestinal epithelium in a colitis model in rats. Samples from the distal colon of an EGF-treated colitis model were collect, followed by an analysis by quantitative PCR of the mRNA of 23 genes related to apoptosis. 57% of the genes analyzed presented statistically significant changes in their mRNA level. Of these, two anti-apoptotic genes increased their mRNA level, while the genes that decreased their mRNA level were pro-apoptotic genes and genes related to the TNFα signal transmission path. Changes in the transcription profile of the genes analyzed could suggest a reduction of apoptosis, which could favor the integrity of the Intestinal Epithelium
Exploración de la actividad antibacteriana de Metformina frente a Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus y Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Marcos-Carbajal Pool , Allca-Muñoz Christian , Urbano-Niño Ángel , Salazar-Granara Alberto
Published: November 2020

El objetivo del estudio es determinar la actividad antibacteriana de Metformina frente a Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus y Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Se evaluó la actividad antibacteriana mediante la técnica de Kirby Bauer. Se utilizó cepas de Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923) y Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), las cuales se expusieron a Metformina en concentraciones de 250 mg y 500 mg, Ciprofloxacino (CIP) 5 µg, Imipenem (IPM) 10 µg, y Cefoxitin (FOX) 30 µg. Frente a Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus y Pseudomonas aeruginosa se presentó un halo de inhibición de 6 mm. para Metformina 250 mg, 6 mm. para Metformina 500 mg, y un halo de inhibición >25 mm. con el uso de Ciprofloxacino 5 µg, Cefoxitin 30 µg, e Imipenem 10 µg respectivamente. En conclusion, In vitro Metformina a dosis de 250 y 500 mg, no presentó efecto antibacteriano frente a Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus y Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Characterizing Emotional State Transitions During Prolonged Use of a Mindfulness and Meditation App: Observational Study
Authors: Athanas Argus , McCorrison Jamison , Campistron Julie , Bender Nick , Price Jamie , Smalley Susan , Schork Nicholas J
Published: November 2020

Background

The increasing demand for mental health care, a lack of mental health care providers, and unequal access to mental health care services have created a need for innovative approaches to mental health care. Digital device apps, including digital therapeutics, that provide recommendations and feedback for dealing with stress, depression, and other mental health issues can be used to adjust mood and ultimately show promise to help meet this demand. In addition, the recommendations delivered through such apps can also be tailored to an individual’s needs (ie, personalized) and thereby potentially provide greater benefits than traditional “one-size-fits-all” recommendations.

Objective

This study aims to characterize individual transitions from one emotional state to another during the prolonged use of a digital app designed to provide a user with guided meditations based on their initial, potentially negative, emotional state. Understanding the factors that mediate such transitions can lead to improved recommendations for specific mindfulness and meditation interventions or activities (MMAs) provided in mental health apps.

Methods

We analyzed data collected during the use of the Stop, Breathe & Think (SBT) mindfulness app. The SBT app prompts users to input their emotional state before and immediately after engaging with MMAs recommended by the app. Data were collected from more than 650,000 SBT users engaging in nearly 5 million MMAs. We limited the scope of our analysis to users with 10 or more MMA sessions that included at least 6 basal emotional state evaluations. Using clustering techniques, we grouped emotions recorded by individual users and then applied longitudinal mixed effect models to assess the associations between individual recommended MMAs and transitions from one group of emotions to another.

Results

We found that basal emotional states have a strong influence on transitions from one emotional state to another after MMA engagement. We also found that different MMAs impact these transitions, and many were effective in eliciting a healthy transition but only under certain conditions. In addition, we observed gender and age effects on these transitions.

Conclusions

We found that the initial emotional state of an SBT app user determines the type of SBT MMAs that will have a favorable effect on their transition from one emotional state to another. Our results have implications for the design and use of guided mental health recommendations for digital device apps.
The Impact of COVID-19 Management Policies Tailored to Airborne SARS-CoV-2 Transmission: Policy Analysis
Authors: Telles Charles Roberto , Roy Archisman , Ajmal Mohammad Rehan , Mustafa Syed Khalid , Ahmad Mohammad Ayaz , de la Serna Juan Moises , Frigo Elisandro Pires , Rosales Manuel Hernández
Published: November 2020

Background

Daily new COVID-19 cases from January to April 2020 demonstrate varying patterns of SARS-CoV-2 transmission across different geographical regions. Constant infection rates were observed in some countries, whereas China and South Korea had a very low number of daily new cases. In fact, China and South Korea successfully and quickly flattened their COVID-19 curve. To understand why this was the case, this paper investigated possible aerosol-forming patterns in the atmosphere and their relationship to the policy measures adopted by select countries.

Objective

The main research objective was to compare the outcomes of policies adopted by countries between January and April 2020. Policies included physical distancing measures that in some cases were associated with mask use and city disinfection. We investigated whether the type of social distancing framework adopted by some countries (ie, without mask use and city disinfection) led to the continual dissemination of SARS-CoV-2 (daily new cases) in the community during the study period.

Methods

We examined the policies used as a preventive framework for virus community transmission in some countries and compared them to the policies adopted by China and South Korea. Countries that used a policy of social distancing by 1-2 m were divided into two groups. The first group consisted of countries that implemented social distancing (1-2 m) only, and the second comprised China and South Korea, which implemented distancing with additional transmission/isolation measures using masks and city disinfection. Global daily case maps from Johns Hopkins University were used to provide time-series data for the analysis.

Results

The results showed that virus transmission was reduced due to policies affecting SARS-CoV-2 propagation over time. Remarkably, China and South Korea obtained substantially better results than other countries at the beginning of the epidemic due to their adoption of social distancing (1-2 m) with the additional use of masks and sanitization (city disinfection). These measures proved to be effective due to the atmosphere carrier potential of SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

Conclusions

Our findings confirm that social distancing by 1-2 m with mask use and city disinfection yields positive outcomes. These strategies should be incorporated into prevention and control policies and be adopted both globally and by individuals as a method to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
A Decision Aid Intervention for Family Building After Cancer: Developmental Study on the Initial Steps to Consider When Designing a Web-Based Prototype
Authors: Benedict Catherine , Dauber-Decker Katherine L , King D'Arcy , Hahn Alexandria , Ford Jennifer S , Diefenbach Michael
Published: November 2020

Background

An important aspect of patient-centered care involves ensuring that patient-directed resources are usable, understandable, and responsive to patients’ needs. A user-centered design refers to an empathy-based framework and an iterative design approach for developing a product or solution that is based on an in-depth understanding of users’ needs, values, abilities, and limitations.

Objective

This study presents the steps taken to develop a prototype for a patient resource for young women who have completed treatment for gonadotoxic cancer to support their decision making about follow-up fertility care and family building.

Methods

User-centered design practices were used to develop Roadmap to Parenthood, a decision aid (DA) website for family building after cancer. A multidisciplinary steering group was assembled and input was provided. Guidelines from the International Patient DA Society and the Ottawa Decision Support Framework were used throughout the development process. In addition, guidelines for developing health DAs with respect to patient diversity and health literacy were also followed.

Results

The Roadmap to Parenthood DA website prototype was systematically and iteratively developed. An extensive process of designing and developing solutions from the perspective of the end user was followed. The steps taken included formative work to identify user needs; determining goals, format, and delivery; design processes (eg, personas, storyboards, information architecture, user journey mapping, and wireframing); and content development. Additional design considerations addressed the unique needs of this patient population, including the emotional experiences related to this topic and decision-making context wherein decisions could be considered iteratively while involving a multistep process.

Conclusions

The design strategies presented in this study describe important steps in the early phases of developing a user-centered resource, which will enhance the starting point for usability testing and further design modifications. Future research will pilot test the DA and a planning tool, and evaluate improvement in the decisional conflict regarding family building after cancer. Consistent with a patient-centered approach to health care, the strategies described here may be generalized and applied to the development of other patient resources and clinical contexts to optimize usability, empathy, and user engagement.
Evolution of Bystander Intention to Perform Resuscitation Since Last Training: Web-Based Survey
Authors: Regard Simon , Rosa Django , Suppan Mélanie , Giangaspero Chiara , Larribau Robert , Niquille Marc , Sarasin François , Suppan Laurent
Published: November 2020

Background

Victims of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) have higher survival rates and more favorable neurological outcomes when basic life support (BLS) maneuvers are initiated quickly after collapse. Although more than half of OHCAs are witnessed, BLS is infrequently provided, thereby worsening the survival and neurological prognoses of OHCA victims. According to the theory of planned behavior, the probability of executing an action is strongly linked to the intention of performing it. This intention is determined by three distinct dimensions: attitude, subjective normative beliefs, and control beliefs. We hypothesized that there could be a decrease in one or more of these dimensions even shortly after the last BLS training session.

Objective

The aim of this study was to measure the variation of the three dimensions of the intention to perform resuscitation according to the time elapsed since the last first-aid course.

Methods

Between January and April 2019, the two largest companies delivering first-aid courses in the region of Geneva, Switzerland sent invitation emails on our behalf to people who had followed a first-aid course between January 2014 and December 2018. Participants were asked to answer a set of 17 psychometric questions based on a 4-point Likert scale (“I don’t agree,” “I partially agree,” “I agree,” and “I totally agree”) designed to assess the three dimensions of the intention to perform resuscitation. The primary outcome was the difference in each of these dimensions between participants who had followed a first-aid course less than 6 months before taking the questionnaire and those who took the questionnaire more than 6 months and up to 5 years after following such a course. Secondary outcomes were the change in each dimension using cutoffs at 1 year and 2 years, and the change regarding each individual question using cutoffs at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years. Univariate and multivariable linear regression were used for analyses.

Results

A total of 204 surveys (76%) were analyzed. After adjustment, control beliefs was the only dimension that was significantly lower in participants who took the questionnaire more than 6 months after their last BLS course (P<.001). Resisting diffusion of responsibility, a key element of subjective normative beliefs, was also less likely in this group (P=.001). By contrast, members of this group were less afraid of disease transmission (P=.03). However, fear of legal action was higher in this group (P=.02).

Conclusions

Control beliefs already show a significant decrease 6 months after the last first-aid course. Short interventions should be designed to restore this dimension to its immediate postcourse state. This could enhance the provision of BLS maneuvers in cases of OHCA.
Medical Students’ Corner: Barriers to Communication During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Ogunbiyi M Olabisi , Obiri-Darko Emma
Published: November 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has inspired us, as medical students, to reflect upon the communication training we have received in medical school and the obstacles we have faced in the clinic due to COVID-19. We hold the view that our communication training is inadequate; this view is driven by our limited exposure to patients, a situation that is currently being exacerbated by the pandemic. The medical curriculum must be inclusive of all groups and take into account the new challenges arising during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Clasificación de informantes bilingües precoces según su lengua materna y lengua de reproducción
Authors: De Pablo Delgado Irati , Eguskiza Sanchez Naia , Gaminde Terraza Iñaki
Published: November 2020

La finalidad de este trabajo es clasificar a jóvenes bilingües precoces en función del tiempo de reacción empleado desde la visualización de un estímulo mostrado hasta la emisión léxica correspondiente para observar las diferencias según su lengua materna (LM) y la lengua de reproducción (LR) empleada. Para ello, se han obtenido los datos de las emisiones léxicas de 40 alumnas de la Facultad de Educación de Bilbao a partir de un cuestionario de 34 estímulos habilitado en una secuencia de diapositivas, al que las informantes debían responder en el menor tiempo posible. Se ha realizado la clasificación de las informantes según los datos obtenidos mediante los siguientes métodos cuantitativos de conglomeración: método de conglomeración jerárquico, K-medias y el algoritmo FCM basado en la lógica difusa. En los resultados obtenidos se observa la clasificación de las informantes en grupos heterogéneos y diferencias significativas en las emisiones léxicas según la LM y la LR.
A volumetric framework for quantum computer benchmarks
Authors: Blume-Kohout Robin , Young Kevin C.
Published: November 2020

We propose a very large family of benchmarks for probing the performance of quantum computers. We call them {volumetric benchmarks} (VBs) because they generalize IBM's benchmark for measuring quantum volume \cite{Cross18}. The quantum volume benchmark defines a family of {square} circuits whose depth d and width w are the same. A volumetric benchmark defines a family of {rectangular} quantum circuits, for which d and w are uncoupled to allow the study of time/space performance trade-offs. Each VB defines a mapping from circuit shapes -- (w,d) pairs -- to test suites C(w,d). A test suite is an ensemble of test circuits that share a common structure. The test suite C for a given circuit shape may be a single circuit C, a specific list of circuits {C1…CN} that must all be run, or a large set of possible circuits equipped with a distribution Pr(C). The circuits in a given VB share a structure, which is limited only by designers' creativity. We list some known benchmarks, and other circuit families, that fit into the VB framework: several families of random circuits, periodic circuits, and algorithm-inspired circuits. The last ingredient defining a benchmark is a success criterion that defines when a processor is judged to have ``passed'' a given test circuit. We discuss several options. Benchmark data can be analyzed in many ways to extract many properties, but we propose a simple, universal graphical summary of results that illustrates the Pareto frontier of the d vs w trade-off for the processor being benchmarked.
Impacto del entrenamiento en resiliencia y manejo del estrés: estudio de caso en la Policía Nacional de Colombia
Authors:   Policía Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia, Moreno Daza Jonatan , Cárdenas Quijano Catalina ,   Policía Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia, Cárdenas Beltrán Jesús María ,   Policía Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia, Nieto Aldana Juan Carlos ,   Policía Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia, Lopera Sánchez Juan José ,   Policía Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
Published: November 2020

A diario los profesionales de policía deben servir y proteger a su comunidad en un ambiente sociocultural, económico, político y familiar cambiante, caracterizado por ciudadanos cada vez más exigentes con sus necesidades, el buen trato y varios aspectos relacionados con su seguridad. Esta dinámica incide en los niveles de estrés, los factores de riesgo personal y laboral de los profesionales de policía. Este estudio centró su objetivo en analizar el impacto de la estrategia de formación implementada en 76 uniformados dedicados a las labores de prevención del delito y convivencia ciudadana, empleando las técnicas de respiración enfocadas en el corazón y coherencia rápida, equipos de biorretroalimentación y medición del Instituto HeartMath. Los resultados dejan en evidencia que los uniformados lograron reducir de manera significativa su frecuencia cardíaca promedio, mejorando su capacidad para respirar controladamente durante sus actividades rutinarias. Esta menor reactividad de la frecuencia cardiaca revela un mejor desempeño policial
The image of Judas in the new and the newest fiction
Authors: Romenskikh Polina V. , Meskin Vladimir A.
Published: November 2020

The purpose of the article is to answer the question: why did the uncompromising condemnation of the traitor disciple become a thing of the past, and why did writers begin to understand and then justify the actions of Judas in their own manner in the second half of the 19th century? To solve the problems, caused by this goal, the authors refer to the ideas of philosophers of the new time, who significantly influenced the worldview of artists of the word, especially G. Hegel, A. Schopenhauer, S. Kierkegaard, and in more detail - F. Nietzsche. Special attention was paid to the writers, who lived at the end of the new time and at the beginning of the modern time and who created the most striking works on this biblical theme. The philosophy and poetics of the Swede - T. Gedberg and the Russian - L. Andreev are analyzed in detail. This is the first such a detailed appeal to the famous Swede in a detailed comparison of his story about Judas with Andreevs story about this character from the New Testament in Russian literary studies. It is proved that both writers reacted to the crisis of consciousness that was revealed at that time and that Nietzsche had the strongest attention on both prose writers, while in Andreevs case Judas appears as a type of the superman.
Literary searches of the poets of the Far East emigration: versification poetics of Larissa Andersen
Authors: Tsmykal Olga E.
Published: November 2020

The article analyses the versification features of the poetess of Russian Harbin Larissa Andersen in the general context of the literary process of the Far Eastern branch of Russian emigration. The novelty of this study is determined by the fact that the versification poetics of Larissa Andersens works for the first time becomes the subject of independent and systematic study. The object of the study is the lyrics of L. Andersen of the Far Eastern period (1920-1940s). The purpose of the article is a holistic study of the poetics of L. Andersen versification of 1920-1940-ies on the material of her Harbin works, the collection of poems Through the Earths Meadows (1942) and the collective collection The Island (1946). The author of the article concludes that the technical, formal side of the verse is not a dominant for Larissa Andersen, which reflects the general immediacy of the poetess lyrics. However, if the concept of the work requires it, Andersen resorts to unusual means of versioning (including meter, rhyme and rhythm searches). Larissa Andersen doesnt ignore experiments, which result in poems resembling childrens poetry, folk poetry, Chinese classical poetry, futurist lyrics, etc.