bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Women in academic surgery over the last four decades
Authors: Linscheid Laura J. , Holliday Emma B. , Ahmed Awad , Somerson Jeremy S. , Hanson Summer , Jagsi Reshma , Deville Curtiland
Published: December 2020

Objective

As the number of female medical students and surgical residents increases, the increasing number of female academic surgeons has been disproportionate. The purpose of this brief report is to evaluate the AAMC data from 1969 to 2018 to compare the level of female academic faculty representation for surgical specialties over the past four decades.

Design

The number of women as a percentage of the total surgeons per year were recorded for each year from 1969–2018, the most recent year available. Descriptive statistics were performed. Poisson regression examined the percentage of women in each field as the outcome of interest with the year and specialty (using general surgery as a reference) as two predictor variables.

Setting

Data from the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC).

Participants

All full-time academic faculty physicians in the specialties of obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN), general surgery, ophthalmology, otolaryngology (ENT), plastic surgery, plastic surgery, urology, neurosurgery, orthopaedic surgery and cardiothoracic surgery as per AAMC records.

Results

The percentage of women in surgery for all specialties evaluated increased from 1969 to 2018 (OR 1.04, p<0.001). Compared with general surgery, the rate of yearly percentage change increased more slowly in neurosurgery (OR 0.84; P = .004), orthopaedic surgery (OR 0.82; P = .002), urology (OR 0.59; P < .001), and cardiothoracic surgery (OR 0.38; P < .001). There was no significant difference in the rate of yearly percentage change for plastic surgery (OR 1.01; P = .840). The rate of yearly percentage change increased more rapidly in OB/GYN (OR 2.86; P < .001), ophthalmology (OR 1.79; P < .001) and ENT (OR 1.70; P < .001).

Conclusions

Representation of women in academic surgery is increasing overall but is increasing more slowly in orthopaedic surgery, neurosurgery, cardiothoracic surgery and urology compared with that in general surgery. These data may be used to inform and further the discussion of how mentorship and sponsorship of female students and trainees interested in surgical careers may improve gender equity in the future.
D-LL-31 enhances biofilm-eradicating effect of currently used antibiotics for chronic rhinosinusitis and its immunomodulatory activity on human lung epithelial cells
Authors: Wongkaewkhiaw Saharut , Taweechaisupapong Suwimol , Thanaviratananich Sanguansak , Bolscher Jan G. M. , Nazmi Kamran , Anutrakunchai Chitchanok , Chareonsudjai Sorujsiri , Kanthawong Sakawrat
Published: December 2020

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a chronic disease that involves long-term inflammation of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. Bacterial biofilms present on the sinus mucosa of certain patients reportedly exhibit resistance against traditional antibiotics, as evidenced by relapse, resulting in severe disease. The aim of this study was to determine the killing activity of human cathelicidin antimicrobial peptides (LL-37, LL-31) and their D-enantiomers (D-LL-37, D-LL-31), alone and in combination with conventional antibiotics (amoxicillin; AMX and tobramycin; TOB), against bacteria grown as biofilm, and to investigate the biological activities of the peptides on human lung epithelial cells. D-LL-31 was the most effective peptide against bacteria under biofilm-stimulating conditions based on IC50 values. The synergistic effect of D-LL-31 with AMX and TOB decreased the IC50 values of antibiotics by 16-fold and could eliminate the biofilm matrix in all tested bacterial strains. D-LL-31 did not cause cytotoxic effects in A549 cells at 25 μM after 24 h of incubation. Moreover, a cytokine array indicated that there was no significant induction of the cytokines involving in immunopathogenesis of CRS in the presence of D-LL-31. However, a tissue-remodeling-associated protein was observed that may prevent the progression of nasal polyposis in CRS patients. Therefore, a combination of D-LL-31 with AMX or TOB may improve the efficacy of currently used antibiotics to kill biofilm-embedded bacteria and eliminate the biofilm matrix. This combination might be clinically applicable for treatment of patients with biofilm-associated CRS.
Social participation and physical prefrailty in older Japanese adults: The Shimane CoHRE study
Authors: Abe Takafumi , Okuyama Kenta , Kamada Masamitsu , Yano Shozo , Toyama Yuta , Isomura Minoru , Nabika Toru , Sakane Naoki , Ando Hitoshi , Miyazaki Ryo
Published: December 2020

As older adults in an early stage (prefrailty) of frailty may return to a healthy state, it is necessary to examine the prevention of prefrailty. In this context, the number and types of social participation activities associated with physical prefrailty in community-dwelling older adults have remained relatively unexplored. This cross-sectional study investigates this issue by analyzing 616 participants living in Okinoshima, Shimane, a rural area of Japan, in 2019. Frailty was assessed using the 5-item frailty phenotype (unintentional weight loss, self-reported exhaustion, weakness, slow walking speed, and low physical activity). Data on social participation were obtained using a questionnaire based on participants’ level of involvement with volunteer groups, sports clubs/groups, neighborhood associations, religious organizations/groups, and community elderly salons; their answers were categorized as “yes” if they answered “several times per year or more” and “no” if they answered “never.” Binominal logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of prefrailty by the number or types of social participation activities, adjusted for gender, age, body mass index, smoking, medication-taking, educational attainment, working status, and living arrangement. Of the 616 participants, 273 (44.3%) and 28 (4.5%) had prefrailty and frailty, respectively. The analysis showed that the number of social participation activities was significantly associated with lower odds of prefrailty (OR = 0.83; 95% CI, 0.74–0.94). Regarding the types of social participation, sports clubs/groups were associated with lower odds of prefrailty (OR = 0.47; 95% CI, 0.31–0.73). Participation in neighborhood associations was associated with prefrailty/frailty (OR = 0.57; 95% CI, 0.37–0.86). These results suggest that increasing the number of social participation activities or involvement in sports clubs/groups and neighborhood associations may be important to prevent physical prefrailty in the older population.
Hepatic lipase (LIPC) sequencing in individuals with extremely high and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels
Authors: Pirim Dilek , Bunker Clareann H. , Hokanson John E. , Hamman Richard F. , Demirci F. Yesim , Kamboh M. Ilyas
Published: December 2020

Common variants in the hepatic lipase (LIPC) gene have been shown to be associated with plasma lipid levels; however, the distribution and functional features of rare and regulatoryLIPCvariants contributing to the extreme lipid phenotypes are not well known. This study was aimed to catalogueLIPCvariants by resequencing the entireLIPCgene in 95 non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs) and 95 African blacks (ABs) with extreme HDL-C levels followed byin silicofunctional analyses. A total of 412 variants, including 43 novel variants were identified; 56 were unique to NHWs and 234 were unique to ABs. Seventy-eight variants in NHWs and 89 variants in ABs were present either in high HDL-C group or low HDL-C group. Two non-synonymous variants (p.S289F, p.T405M), found in NHWs with high HDL-C group were predicted to have damaging effect on LIPC protein by SIFT, MT2 and PP2. We also found several non-coding variants that possibly reside in the circRNA and lncRNA binding sites and may have regulatory potential, as identified in rSNPbase and RegulomeDB databases. Our results shed light on the regulatory nature of rare and non-codingLIPCvariants as well as suggest their important contributions in affecting the extreme HDL-C phenotypes.
Socio-demographic determinants of motorcycle speeding in Maha Sarakham, Thailand
Authors: Hong Vennis , Iwamoto Sage K. , Goto Rei , Young Sean , Chomduangthip Sukhawadee , Weeranakin Natirath , Nishi Akihiro
Published: December 2020

Thailand has the highest road traffic fatality rate in Southeast Asia, making road safety a critical public health concern. A 2015 World Health Organization (WHO) Report showed that speeding behavior was the most important determinant for road traffic crashes in Thailand. Here, we aimed to examine associations of socio-demographic factors (gender, age, socioeconomic status) with self-reported motorcycle speeding behavior. Additionally, we examined a potential role of time discounting and risk preference as mediators in the association of socio-demographic factors with speeding. We used data obtained from the Mahasarakham University Social Network Survey 2018 (MSUSSS) (N = 150). We ran linear network autocorrelation models (lnam) to account for the data's social network structure. We found that males are more likely than females to engage in speeding behavior (β = 0.140, p = 0.001) and to discount the future (β = 5.175, p = 0.017). However, further causal mediation analysis showed that time discounting does not mediate the gender-speeding association (p for mediation = 0.540). Although socioeconomic status (subjective social class) was not associated with speeding (β = 0.039, p = 0.177), age was marginally associated with speeding (β = 0.005, p = 0.093). Future studies may consider using a larger sample.
Activation of neuronal adenosine A1 receptors causes hypothermia through central and peripheral mechanisms
Authors: Province Haley S. , Xiao Cuiying , Mogul Allison S. , Sahoo Ankita , Jacobson Kenneth A. , Piñol Ramón A. , Gavrilova Oksana , Reitman Marc L.
Published: December 2020

Extracellular adenosine, a danger signal, can cause hypothermia. We generated mice lacking neuronal adenosine A1 receptors (A1AR, encoded by the Adora1 gene) to examine the contribution of these receptors to hypothermia. Intracerebroventricular injection of the selective A1AR agonist (Cl-ENBA, 5'-chloro-5'-deoxy-N6-endo-norbornyladenosine) produced hypothermia, which was reduced in mice with deletion of A1AR in neurons. A non-brain penetrant A1AR agonist [SPA, N6-(p-sulfophenyl) adenosine] also caused hypothermia, in wild type but not mice lacking neuronal A1AR, suggesting that peripheral neuronal A1AR can also cause hypothermia. Mice expressing Cre recombinase from the Adora1 locus were generated to investigate the role of specific cell populations in body temperature regulation. Chemogenetic activation of Adora1-Cre-expressing cells in the preoptic area did not change body temperature. In contrast, activation of Adora1-Cre-expressing dorsomedial hypothalamus cells increased core body temperature, concordant with agonism at the endogenous inhibitory A1AR causing hypothermia. These results suggest that A1AR agonism causes hypothermia via two distinct mechanisms: brain neuronal A1AR and A1AR on neurons outside the blood-brain barrier. The variety of mechanisms that adenosine can use to induce hypothermia underscores the importance of hypothermia in the mouse response to major metabolic stress or injury.
Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) in captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes): The effects of sex, age, and rearing
Authors: Neal Webb Sarah J. , Schapiro Steven J. , Sherwood Chet C. , Raghanti Mary Ann , Hopkins William D.
Published: December 2020

In humans, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been used as a clinical tool in diagnosis and/or prognosis of a variety of cancers and medical conditions, as well as in measuring physiological stress over time. Given the close phylogenetic relationship and physical similarities between humans and apes, NLR may similarly be a useful diagnostic tool in assessing chimpanzee health. Only one study has examined NLR in apes, reporting that NLR increased with age and was affected by body-mass index and sex. In the current study, we examined changes in NLR data from longitudinal health records for 443 chimpanzees in two captive chimpanzee populations. Using these data, we analyzed intra-individual changes and inter-individual differences in NLR as a function of age, rearing history, and sex. Contrary to previous studies in humans and the one previous study in chimpanzees, NLR values did not change over a 10-year timespan within individual chimpanzees. However, cross-sectional comparisons revealed a significant quadratic relationship between age and NLR, with the highest values during mid-life (20–30 years of age) and the lowest values in younger and older individuals. Additionally, males and mother-reared individuals had higher NLR than females and nursery-reared chimpanzees, respectively. Lastly, males and those with higher NLR values died at younger ages. These findings suggest that NLR may be useful as a predictor of longevity in chimpanzees. However, given the complexities of these relationships, more research is needed to determine the utility of NLR as a diagnostic health tool for chimpanzees.
Disabled consumers in solidary private law
Authors: Souza d'Aquino Lúcia , Mucelin Guilherme
Published: December 2020

This work analyzes the evolution of private law, centered on individualism and totalizing codification, towards private law of solidarity, centered on solidarism, which valorizes the person before his particularities and his laws of protection. Thus, with the strengthening of constitutional principles and human rights, the disabled person is described, as a consumer, as hypervulnerable, worthy of specific protection, which will only be effective with the dialogue between the Consumer Protection Code and the Status of the Disabled Person. The research problem centers on how to protect the disabled person as a consumer from the plurality of standards that affect this relationship, in particular the Consumer Protection Code and the Status of Persons with Disabilities. Using a hypothetical methodology, it is assumed that the dialogue of sources method is the appropriate means to effectively protect people with disabilities in the consumer market
Diálogos entre a justiça restaurativa e o direito juvenil brasileiro com enfoque em adolescentes autores de atos infracionais
Authors: De Souza Neves Natália
Published: December 2020

Buscou-se nesse trabalho estabelecer uma interface entre o direito juvenil brasileiro e a justiça restaurativa a partir da análise bibliográfica da doutrina e legislação referentes a ambas as temáticas, com enfoque nos direitos dos adolescentes autores de atos infracionais. Enquanto meio de solução de conflitos, que resultem ou não em crimes e atos infracionais, a abordagem da justiça restaurativa se contrapõe à abordagem dos sistemas penais convencionais, cujo enfoque, baseado no paradigma retributivo, reside na culpabilização e punição do infrator. Isso porque a proposta da abordagem restaurativa fundamenta-se na criação de um espaço para que a reparação, à medida do possível, do dano ocasionado à vítima pelo infrator, possa ocorrer. Esse processo se dá por meio do diálogo, fundado na alteridade e na horizontalidade dos participantes das práticas restaurativas. Assim, buscou-se compreender a temática da justiça restaurativa e do direito juvenil, com enfoque na legislação aplicável ao adolescente autor de ato infracional, separadamente, para que posteriormente uma interface entre eles pudesse ser realizada. Concluiu-se que o sistema de justiça juvenil se relaciona com a proposta da justiça restaurativa, ao oferecer uma gama de institutos jurídicos e aporte teórico para que essa forma de solução de conflitos possa ser aplicada em adolescentes autores de atos infracionais.
Alfabetización audiovisual: un análisis de materiales didácticos en producción
Authors: RAMIREZ MARTINA
Published: December 2020

El presente trabajo es el avance de una investigación que realizamos en el marco de la tesina correspondiente a la Licenciatura en Letras (FHUC-UNL).Nuestro corpus está conformado por dos materialesdidácticos sobre alfabetización audiovisual. El primero(Caso I) fue realizado por el Ministerio de Educación,Ciencia y Tecnología de la Nación Argentina (2007).El segundo (Caso II) fue desarrollado por el Ministerio de Educación de la Provincia de Santa Fe (2017).Ambos textos fueron seleccionados por fundamentarsu propuesta en los estudios visuales (Mitchell, 1994;Mirzoeff, 1999). El concepto de tradición selectiva(Williams, 1977) y la teoría de los discursos sociales(Verón, 1987) nos permitieron comparar ambos textosconsiderando las siguientes variables: 1) marco teórico,2) políticas educativas referidas a la democratizaciónde dispositivos tecnológicos, 3) actualización del discurso pedagógico sobre alfabetización audiovisual. ElCaso I inscribe el efecto de sentido de cientificidad(Verón, 1987) ya que realiza una reinvención categorial situada (Gerbaudo, 2011) de los desarrollosteóricos que actualiza. El Caso II manifiesta un usoaplicacionista (Gerbaudo, 2011) de la teoría e inscriberegulaciones para el trabajo con lo audiovisual que lovinculan con el discurso pedagógico de principios delsiglo XX en Argentina (Serra, 2011).
La escuela privada en Entre Ríos: análisis de los motivos de las familias en la elección de escuela secundaria
Authors: KUMMER VIRGINIA
Published: December 2020

Este artículo analiza los motivos de las familias que envían sus hijos a la escuela secundaria públicade gestión privada. El estudio se focaliza en la ciudad deParaná, capital de la provincia de Entre Ríos. La relevancia del tema es ciertamente alta, dado que se trata deuna problemática que ha atravesado en toda su historiael sistema educativo argentino y continúa teniendo hoy,plena actualidad. La realidad muestra que, al menos,un número importante de provincias argentinas, estácaracterizado por el éxodo de los sectores medios haciala oferta privada, no siendo una particularidad exclusivade la escuela secundaria, sino también de otros nivelesdel sistema educativo. Metodológicamente, el análisis sebasa en un conjunto de entrevistas semi-estructuradasa padres con hijos en escuelas privadas secundarias.A tal fin, fueron seleccionadas mediante un muestreointencional, cuatro escuelas privadas de la ciudad deParaná, consideradas representativas a nivel teórico ydefinidas por su singularidad y carácter idiosincrático.Los resultados indican que la escuela privada ofertauna educación diferenciada, que es considerada por lasfamilias una estrategia adecuada para proyectar el futurode sus hijos. Motivos como la tradición familiar, la disciplina y contención social, la laicidad y
Anxiety, Depression, Impulsivity, and Mindfulness among Higher Education Faculty during COVID-19
Authors:   University of Rhode Island, Weyandt Lisa , Francis Alyssa , Shepard Emily , Gumundsdottir Bergljot , Channell Isabella , Beatty Avery , DuPaul George
Published: December 2020

Objective: In this paper, we examine the relationships among symptoms of anxiety and depression, impulsivity, and mindfulness among university faculty members during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a unique focus on whether these symptoms and practices of mindfulness differed with age, gender, ethnicity, and location. Methods: Participants (N = 302) from 2 universities completed online questionnaires pertaining to anxiety, depression, mindfulness, demographics, and impulsivity. Results: Lower mindfulness and greater impulsivity were associated with higher rates of anxiety and depression. Gender differences emerged; female participants experienced greater anxiety, less mindfulness, and worsened eating and sleeping habits compared to males. Individuals with direct COVID-19 experience (self-and/or family) did not report significantly different levels of anxiety, depression, mindfulness, or impulsivity. Ethnicity differences also emerged; relative to white participants, non-white participants had significantly worsened exercise habits, and non- Latinx/Hispanic participants endorsed worsened alcohol and marijuana use than Latinx/Hispanic participants. Finally, participants who reported having at least one mental health diagnosis (N = 41) reported significantly higher anxiety, depression, impulsivity, and marijuana use, lower levels of mindfulness, and worsened eating habits. Conclusions: The findings highlight the relationship between college faculty mental health and lifestyle habits, differences based on gender and ethnicity, and elucidate the ongoing challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On disadvantages of the classification of Queuing system
Authors: Likhttsinder Boris Y.
Published: December 2020

The features of the existing classification of queuing systems are considered, its disadvantages are shown. The main disadvantage is the lack of information about the correlation and cross-correlation properties of flows. The disadvantage of Kendall's designations is also the lack of the possibility of classifying systems by the nature of the change in the input load.
Some features of an interaction of electromagnetic radiation quantums with a gravitational field and a problem of graviton
Authors: Volobuev Andrey N. , Shterenberg Aleksandr M. , Kuznetsov Pavel K.
Published: December 2020

The problems connected to propagation of a gravitational field are considered. The law of electromagnetic radiation frequency change in gravitational field is shown. The problem of a gravitational field quantization is investigated. Energy of a graviton is found by two ways. First, on the basis of use quantum gravitational eikonal and Lagrangian of a gravitational field the energy of a solitary graviton is found. It is shown that graviton has the mass proportional to its frequency. Second, due to refusal from symmetric stresses tensor in structure of an energy-impulse tensor the quantum form of the energy-impulse tensor in Einstein's equation is found. It has allowed found the energy of a solitary graviton. Both ways of an energy graviton finding has given the identical result. It is shown that the solution of the Einsteins equation with use of the quantum form of an energy-impulse tensor for the certain direction represents the sum of a gravitational wave and a graviton. It is found out that at approach of a graviton to the massive bodies (double stars) radiating gravitational waves there is a resonant pumping of the gravitational field energy of these bodies to the gravitons with increase in their mass and frequency. It enables registration of the gravitons with the help of the detector located near to massive bodies. The assumption is made that dark energy of a gravitational field is all set of the graviton energies of a space.
Assessment of Curing Exposures Effect on the Long-term Engineering Properties of Novel Lightweight Aggregate Concrete
Authors: Jannaty Mohammad H. , Atrushi Dawood
Published: December 2020

At present, most of the generated waste expanded polystyrene (EPS) in developed countries are transported to landfill and in some developing and/or less-developed countries such as Iraq are sent to open landscapes; consequently, this inadequate waste disposal can be very dangerous to our health and environment. This study describes engineering properties of sustainable lightweight aggregate concrete (LWAC) incorporating novel aggregates of waste EPS produced by a unique recycling technique of densifying. The new recycling technique significantly improved the segregation resistance of EPS beads in concrete as these beads are ultra-light material. The novel LWA of densified EPS (DEPS) was used as partial natural aggregate replacement in the mixes. Three water/cement (W/C) ratios were used. Three different types of curing conditions of indoor full water curing, outdoor weathering exposure, and heating exposure were employed during this study to represent different conditions which concrete may be subject to. The engineering properties of concrete investigated were consistency, dry density, compressive strength, and ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) for long-term performance of more than one-year age. It was indicated that the properties of concrete were not only primarily influenced by the employed curing conditions but the content of DEPS in the mixtures and additionally the W/C ratio had effect on the properties of concrete. However, adequate engineering properties can be achieved using an appropriate amount of DEPS with proper W/C and curing conditions.
Mapping of Sub-Optimal Land Based on NDVI Sentinel 2a Value: Preliminary Study
Authors: Indarto Indarto , Nadzirah Rufiani , Reksa Belagama Hadrian
Published: December 2020

Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) is one of the vegetation indices used to analyse vegetation density. This study presents the potential use of NDVI to map dry-marginal-agricultural land (Dry-MAL). The study conducted in the eastern part of Situbondo, which includes three districts, namely, Arjasa, Asembagus and Jangkar. Sentinel-2A (recorded in 2018) and 450 Control points (GCPs) are used as the primary input. The region is an area with distinctive climate characteristics, where the dry season is longer than the rainy season. Analysis using "SNAP plug-ins" and "QGIS". Research procedures include (1) data inventory, (2) data pre-processing, (3) data processing and (4) accuracy testing. The NDVI classification can distinguish six (6) classes of land-use, i.e., water bodies, residential areas, dry MAL, non-irrigated rural area, irrigated paddy fields, forest-plantations. The NDVI classification produces Overall and Kappa accuracy values =  66,9% and 61,6%. Although the overall and kappa accuracy is below the standard, however, the result will benefit for further research of index vegetation or soil more applied for the identification of Dry-MAL
Образ писателя-художника как коммуникативный феномен
Authors: Kushida Maria
Published: December 2020

The article analyzes the illustrative work of Russian writers of the first quarter of the 19th century. Special attention is paid to the definition of the term "writer-artist", as well as to techniques for creating the image of a writer-Illustrator in a work of fiction. In conclusion, we draw a conclusion about the relationship between literature and painting (on the example of interpreting the creativity of word masters who create illustrations for their works), as well as about the unique communicative nature of the image of the writer-artist.
Mathematical modeling of flow in vertical slot fishways
Authors: Bombač Martin , Rak Gašer , Novak Gorazd
Published: December 2020

River dams interrupt essential migration routes of fish and other aquatic organisms. One of the most important mitigation measures that enable aquatic fauna to migrate, especially during spawning, are fishways. The paper presents all the main results of the numerical model PCFLOW2D, which proved to be a useful tool in designing a vertical slot fishway (VSF). The presented analysis includes the quantification of the effect of various numerical and geometrical parameters. Extensive field measurements of flow characteristics in the operating fishway at the hydro power plant Arto-Blanca, which are employed for the model's validation, are discussed as well. The results of simulations for various longitudinal slopes of the VSF are presented. In addition to maximum flow velocities and discharge, other important hydraulic parameters affecting fishway efficiency were analyzed, such as velocity field and distribution of turbulent kinetic energy dissipation.
Study the structure and thermal properties of carboxymethylated-β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex with bifonazole
Authors:   Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry NAS of Ukraine, 48, Kharkivske shose, Kyiv, 02160, Ukraine, Kobrina L. , Sinelnikov S. ,   Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry NAS of Ukraine, 48, Kharkivske shose, Kyiv, 02160, Ukraine, Shtompel V. ,   Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry NAS of Ukraine, 48, Kharkivske shose, Kyiv, 02160, Ukraine, Bandurina D. ,   Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry NAS of Ukraine, 48, Kharkivske shose, Kyiv, 02160, Ukraine, Riabov S. ,   Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry NAS of Ukraine, 48, Kharkivske shose, Kyiv, 02160, Ukraine
Published: December 2020

Recently, many technological methods of enhancing the solubility and dissolution characteristics of poorly water soluble drugs have been reported in the literature. Сyclodextrins are able to form water-soluble non-covalent inclusion complexes with many poorly soluble lipophilic drugs. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the possibility of interaction of the antifungal drug Bifonazole (BFZ) through complexation with carboxymethylated-β-cyclodextrin (КМ-β-CD). Based on the data obtained, we can conclude that the presence of KM-β-CD improves solubilization of BFZ more than 50 times. Кеуwords: cyclodextrins, solubility, poorly-water soluble drugs, bifonazole.
Thermophysical features of nanostructured polymer system based on polyurethane
Authors:   Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry NAS of Ukraine, 48, Kharkivs’ke shosse, Kyiv, 02160, Ukraine, Davydenko V.V. , Syrovetz G.P. ,   Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry NAS of Ukraine, 48, Kharkivs’ke shosse, Kyiv, 02160, Ukraine
Published: December 2020

Polymer systems containing nanoparticles are new class of polymer composite materials. Polymer matrix filling influences on network polymer structure forming mechanism. The filler influence appears in formation features of the network structure both near the filler surface and in polymer matrix volume. Polymer solid surface (filler, substrate, etc.) interaction results in polymer chains movement restriction, that in fact is equivalent of additional polymer network physical knots formation. The polymer – filler interface presence may lead to both increasing of physical polymer knots average amount and decreasing it because of decreasing the polymer –polymer type physical bonds amount. This in turn determines strength of the polymer composite value. Polyurethane composite filled with different type of gypsum has been studied. The semi-aquatic gypsum (water suspension and dry powder) and two-aquatic gypsum water suspension were used as the filler. The polyurethane oligomer was used as reactive polymer matrix. Thermal-and-physical properties of polymer composites were studied by differential scanning calorimetry. It is found that the semi-aquatic gypsum does not transform in two-aquatic gypsum within polymer matrix during observation time. Evidently, the first – the polymer matrix doesn’t have continues pores and the second – the polymer matrix forms dense surface layer that hinders the diffusion of water vapor to the filler. Obtained polymer compositions glass temperature shows weak dependence on gypsum concentration and method of gypsum filling, but shows strong dependence on heating multiplicity. Polymer composition change in heat capacity upon glass transition value ∆Cp decreases with filler concentration increases and strongly depends on filling process. To obtain stable material properties the annealing of internal strength is needed to carry out. Key words: polyurethane composite, gypsum, thermal-and-physical properties.
Glial cytotoxicity of low doses of cadmium as a model of heavy metal pollution influence on vertebrates
Authors: Nedzvetsky V. S. , Gasso V. Ya. , Hahut A. M. , Hasso I. A.
Published: December 2020

Cadmium is a common transition metal that entails an extremely wide range of toxic effects in humans and animals. The cytotoxicity of cadmium ions and its compounds is due to various genotoxic effects, including both DNA damage and chromosomal aberrations. Some bone diseases, kidney and digestive system diseases are determined as pathologies that are closely associated with cadmium intoxication. In addition, cadmium is included in the list of carcinogens because of its ability to initiate the development of tumors of several forms of cancer under conditions of chronic or acute intoxication. Despite many studies of the effects of cadmium in animal models and cohorts of patients, in which cadmium effects has occurred, its molecular mechanisms of action are not fully understood. The genotoxic effects of cadmium and the induction of programmed cell death have attracted the attention of researchers in the last decade. In recent years, the results obtained for in vivo and in vitro experimental models have shown extremely high cytotoxicity of sublethal concentrations of cadmium and its compounds in various tissues. One of the most studied causes of cadmium cytotoxicity is the development of oxidative stress and associated oxidative damage to macromolecules of lipids, proteins and nucleic acids. Brain cells are most sensitive to oxidative damage and can be a critical target of cadmium cytotoxicity. Thus, oxidative damage caused by cadmium can initiate genotoxicity, programmed cell death and inhibit their viability in the human and animal brains. To test our hypothesis, cadmium cytotoxicity was assessed in vivo in U251 glioma cells through viability determinants and markers of oxidative stress and apoptosis. The result of the cell viability analysis showed the dose-dependent action of cadmium chloride in glioma cells, as well as the generation of oxidative stress (p <0.05). Calculated for 48 hours of exposure, the LD50 was 3.1 μg×ml-1. The rates of apoptotic death of glioma cells also progressively increased depending on the dose of cadmium ions. A high correlation between cadmium concentration and apoptotic response (p <0.01) was found for cells exposed to 3–4 μg×ml-1 cadmium chloride. Moreover, a significant correlation was found between oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation) and induction of apoptosis. The results indicate a strong relationship between the generation of oxidative damage by macromolecules and the initiation of programmed cell death in glial cells under conditions of low doses of cadmium chloride. The presented results show that cadmium ions can induce oxidative damage in brain cells and inhibit their viability through the induction of programmed death. Such effects of cadmium intoxication can be considered as a model of the impact of heavy metal pollution on vertebrates.
Fracture Resistance of Teeth Restored with Bulk-Fill and Fiber-Reinforced Composites in Class II Cavities
Authors: Keskin Gül , Uçar Gündoğar Zübeyde , Tek Gün Burak
Published: December 2020

This study aimed to evaluate the fracture resistance of teeth restored with conventional, bulk-fill, and fiber-reinforced composite materials regarding intact teeth. Standard cavities were prepared on 70 sound third molar teeth. The teeth were randomly divided into six groups: intact teeth, conventional Bis-GMA based composite, fiber-reinforced composite, Bis-GMA based bulk-fill composite, ormocer based bulk-fill composite, glass containing resin-based bulk-fill composite. The data was obtained by a Universal Testing Machine and analyzed statistically. Fracture resistance of the teeth restored with conventional composite was significantly lower than the other groups (p<0.05). The teeth restored with fiber-reinforced composite showed the highest fracture resistance; however, there were no statistically significant differences between intact teeth and teeth restored with fiber-reinforced composite, Bis-GMA based bulk-fill composite, and glass containing resin-based bulk-fill composite (p>0.05). The obtained data showed that restoring teeth with bulk-fill and fiber-reinforced composites could be recommended in Class II cavities.
Antibacterial effect of silver nanoparticles on antibiotic resistant E. coli O157:H7 isolated from some dairy products
Authors: Elsherif W. , Ali D.
Published: December 2020

Food safety is a worldwide health goal so foodborne diseases are a main health concern. A total 150 of dairy products samples (locally made yoghurt, ice cream and Talaga cheese) (50 for each type) were examined for E.coli O157:H7 detection and PCR confirmation using fliCH7 gene. E. coli O157:H7 was detected at 18%, 4%, 8% respectively, in samples. The isolates showed broad antibiotic resistance against vancomycin (84.6%), penicillin G (76.9%), cloxacillin (69.2%) and tetracycline (61.5%). Because of increasing number of microorganisms that are resistant to multiple antibiotics causing continuing economic losses in dairy manufacturing, there is an urgent need for development of alternative, cost-effective, and efficient antimicrobial agents to overcome antimicrobial resistance. Here, silver nanoparticle (AgNPs) solution was prepared, identified by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with an average size 26.5 nm and examined for bactericidal activity against E. coli O157:H7 by using well diffusion assay. The mean inhibition zones of 25 and 50 µg/ml concentrations of Ag-NPs were 15.0±1.2 and 20.9±1.4 mm, respectively. In addition, the statistical analysis showed highly significant differences in the bactericidal effect of different Ag-NPs concentrations on E. coli O157:H7 strains. Bacterial sensitivity to nanoparticles is a key factor in manufacture, so nanoparticles were considered suitable for long life application in food packaging and food safety.
The Late Hallstatt Age Burials of Southern Transdanubia and A Missing Link
Authors: Soós Bence
Published: December 2020

For almost four decades our knowledge about the Late Hallstatt Age in southern Transdanubia has been fundamentally shaped by two significant sites: the burial ground near Beremend and Szentlőrinc. New discoveries in today’s Tolna County, however, lead us to revise some of conclusions drawn based on these sites as well as to realise the complex ways how the burial grounds and the communities using them were integrated into different cultural and social relationships of various scales. One of the main questions is how to interpret the differences and similarities between the two sites. In my view, the recently discovered sites near Alsónyék, Paks and Tolna-Mözs provide new insight how to evaluate the above question and what the mortuary practices of the Middle Iron Age population of southern Transdanubia can tell us about the cultural relations of the region’s communities.
The Celtic Cemetery at Ménfőcsanak. The Excavation Before the Construction of Road No. 83 in 1993–94
Authors: Vaday Andrea , Tankó Károly
Published: December 2020

One of the important cemetery and settlement of the Celts lies in a plateau on the southern side of the the Öreg Rába river, in the vicinity of Győr-Ménfőcsanak. The first burials were found in 1967 during a short rescue excavation, however it made Ménfőcsanak a key La Tène site in the Carpathian Basin. Excavations investigated on a larger scale in the area of previously known cemetery in 1993–94. The burial rite of the necropolis was mainly inhumation and only two graves were cremated and two biritual graves. Celtic warriors with swords and richly furnished female with fibulae, coral, amber, and glass beads jewelry were also buried in this part of cemetery. Few graves were limited by rectangular enclosing trenches. According to find analyzing this part of the cemetery dates to the LT B period, and that is why Ménfőcsanak became an important archaeological site in terms of burials in the history of the Celtic “migrations” in the fourth century BC.
The Archaeology of Power in Lombard Female Burials in Central-Northern Italy. •
Authors: de Vingo P.
Published: December 2020

This paper highlights several unusual aspects of the socio-political structure of Lombard society in the years following the conquest of Italy, bearing in mind that Germanic society consisted unequivocally of both men and women with complementary roles and the possibility of action, including intervention in the economic sphere, which could be expressed in various ways. As well as the capacity of foreigners to integrate with the local community, traditionally recognised in the two cemeteries of Nocera Umbra and Castel Trosino, the archaeological evidence shows a second form of integration with a process that took place exclusively within individual Germanic communities. The Collegno cemetery reveals the presence of women belonging to the Merovingian culture, probably from Transalpine territories and of high social status, who integrated with the Germanic community without losing the prerogatives of their rank during the transitional period. Lastly, the case of the Spilamberto cemetery shows how the formation of grave goods, and thus the investment capacity of individual families, corresponded to requirements that exceeded any other necessity including the state of health of female individuals. By placing all these elements on an ideal hypothetical level of reflection, it can be suggested that a funeral, at least until the mid-seventh century, was not just a religious ceremony but the moment when the family of the deceased displayed their economic capacity to absorb the roles, prerogatives and property of the dead person through the permanent loss of material goods, sometimes of significant value, when they were placed in the burial.
Corpus fractum
Authors: Loftin Mac
Published: December 2020

Recent work on political theology – most notably that of J. Kameron Carter – has turned to eucharistic theology and its notion of the ‘corpus mysticum’ to explain the political theology undergirding nationalism, white supremacy, and fascism. This article builds on this approach to articulate an anti-fascist sacramental theology through a reading of Georges Bataille’s Summa Atheologica. Against fascism’s fantasy of a pure and purifying sovereign body that can secure the redemption of the threatened body of the nation, Bataille’s Summa risked a ‘new theology’ of the irremediably lacerated body of Christ which might ground a non-sovereign community of fragmentation, dispossession, and vulnerability. By rethinking the Summa’s relationship to one of its main influences – the eucharistic theology of St Angela of Foligno – I argue that it is possible to rethink sacramental theology in a Bataillean key, against political theology and its eucharistic structure.
Pick up plan in the case of a shuttle racks warehouse – an optimization approach
Authors: Kansy Dawid
Published: December 2020

The shuttle racks system is dedicated to storing fast-moving goods on homogeneous pallets, while ensuring high efficiency in the use of storage space. The radioshuttle system consist of shuttle channels and a remote controlled transfer trolley. The research problem considered scientifically is to develop the tools to plan collecting products from the location of shuttle racks that guarantee a minimum number of blockages. The linear programming model ensures that the goods are picked up from the shuttle location which minimizes the number of blockages or completely eliminates them. The main aim is to present a method and an algorithm of the shuttle racks system that will plan storage location before storing goods on the racks based on backorders. As a result, goods are located lengthwise in the shuttle tunnel according to the order in linear, discrete programming models. The work presents the model and verifies the basic characteristics of the problems analysed and the solution obtained
Economic viability of a crop-livestock integration system
Authors: Vinholis Marcela de Mello Brandão , Souza Filho Hildo Meirelles de , Shimata Isabela , Oliveira Patricia Perondi Anchão , Pedroso André de Faria
Published: December 2020

ABSTRACT: Crop monoculture and single conventional cattle raising were designed for a rapid increase in productivity and food supply. However, some of these production systems have shown signs of saturation and negative environmental impacts. Crop-livestock integration systems have been developed as an alternative that delivers increased productivity and greater environmental sustainability. This article presents an evaluation of the economic viability and the financial risk associated with an investment in crop-livestock integration with a focus on the production of beef cattle in São Carlos, SP, Brazil. Results showed that the investment is economically viable and has an Internal Rate of Return higher than that of a conventional system. Monte Carlo simulations showed that the integrated system presents lower market risks when compared to the conventional system.
Salmonellosis in a young Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis)
Authors: Correa Neto José de Jesus , Cardoso Rosekelly de Jesus , Sarmento Natalia Maxine Ferreira Pinheiro , Riet-Correa Gabriela , Bezerra Júnior Pedro Soares , Moraes Carina Martins de , Costa Alexandra Fernandes , Emin-Lima Renata , Cerqueira Valiria Duarte
Published: December 2020

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to describe a case of salmonellosis in an Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis). The animal was rescued from a tributary of the Capim River, in the municipality of Goianésia do Pará, Pará, Brazil, kept in a pool, and died approximately five months after being rescued. The main changes observed at necropsy were that the cecum and colon had serosal hyperemia, wall edema, thickened mucosa with ulcerated areas and covered by a thin layer of fibrin, and a yellowish liquid content. Histologically, there was moderate multifocal fibrinonecrotic typhlocolitis associated with intense bacterial colonization. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica (rough) was isolated in cecum and colon fragments. This is the first report of salmonellosis in an Amazonian manatee.
Formulation of fishburgers with the addition of different protein sources and taro flour
Authors: Maciel Christiane Neves , Seller Luiz Fernando Florêncio , Souza Agnaldo Borge de , Almeida Poliana Fernandes de
Published: December 2020

ABSTRACT: The present study aims to develop Nile tilapia hamburger with incorporation of whey, collagen from chicken feet and taro flour. A complete factorial design 2³ was performed to investigate the influence of the variables on weight loss, shrinkage, color and shear force, that were used to propose mathematical models. Proximate composition, microbiological characteristics and sensory properties were also evaluated. Factors such as taro flour and whey were significant and contributed to a higher yield for fish burgers, with negative effects on shrinkage and weight loss. The fishburgers had a soft texture, although collagen and its interaction with taro flour contributed to the increase in shear force. The factors had influence only on the b* value with yellowish hue. The protein and ash values obtained were higher than those of the control formulation. The sensory characteristics of the hamburgers were not affected by the factors, being all classified with high acceptability. The formulation represented by the central point (F9) containing 3.0% of taro flour, 0.5% chicken feet collagen and 3.0% powdered whey, obtained greater purchase intention. Therefore, the addition of taro flour, collagen from chicken feet and whey is an alternative in the use of industrial by-products to add value to fish burgers with market potential.