bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Innovative analysis methods of the Perinatal pedagogy
Authors: Egorova Elena , Neydorf Anna , Davydova Ekaterina
Published: June 2021

The scientific discourse does not consider the possibilities of preparing pregnant women for interaction with medical personnel during childbirth by means of perinatal pedagogy. Purpose of the study: To determine the key problems of interaction between women in labor and the staff of medical institutions (maternity hospitals) and their causes, the elimination of which could be facilitated by perinatal pedagogy. The study was conducted by the method of content-analysis of interviews of 24 women. The main topics were identified that describe the negative experience of women in childbirth: neglect of medical personnel, ignoring requests for information on the state of the mother and child, psychological pressure and manipulation, compulsion to medical intervention, corruption, extortion. Also, 4 types of women’s emotional reaction to the situation were identified: positive, unemotional, negative (low and high intensity). Analysis gives reason to believe that the main cause of psychological trauma is not the experienced events, but the attitude towards them. Perinatal pedagogy can reduce the trauma of birth experience by increasing medical literacy and legal awareness of pregnant women, through training and practical training, irradiating the methods of communication with medical personnel. Psychological birth trauma in women is largely determined by negative experience of interaction with the staff of medical institutions. More detailed statistical studies of the factors that enhance the negative emotional reaction to this experience and the development of methods for preparing pregnant women for it are needed.
Reflection of foreign language students in higher education: metatextual level
Authors: Bobykina Irina , Mikheeva Tatiana , Prikhoda Irina
Published: June 2021

The article deals with the concept of linguistic reflection in the field of foreign language education and its verbalization on metatextual level. The ability for linguistic reflection is an indicator of a developed linguistic personality. The purpose of this research is to study the reflection of foreign language students in higher school. Definitions of the key concepts for this work are given: linguistic personality and linguistic reflection. Linguistic reflection can be verbalized through metatextual inclusions: metatextual elements and metatext. The definitions of these concepts, a brief typology and characteristics are given. The material for the study was the texts of foreign language messages (oral, written) of Chelyabinsk State University students. Metatextual inclusions that students use in their foreign language statements are analyzed and classified. The importance of using metatextual inclusions for the statement as a whole is considered. The importance of the ability for linguistic reflection is emphasized not only for the development of a student’s linguistic personality, but also for the full functioning of the educational foreign language activity itself. Conclusions are made about the relationship between the ability for linguistic reflection and the common reference level. Students who are capable of reflecting on their linguistic behavior demonstrate a higher level of proficiency in a foreign language.
The usage of authentic video materials for the formation of cross-cultural competence of students in foreign language classes
Authors: Kopaneva Tatiana , Pervil Tatiana
Published: June 2021

To learn a foreign language effectively and to be fluent in it, anyone should know the main features of the mindset of foreign language native speakers. The article considers the process of forming the cross-cultural competence of students. It is stressed that authentic video materials that have more potential than printed and oral texts should be used as a basis for the formation of cross-cultural competencies in teaching a foreign language. The objective of the study is to substantiate, develop and theoretically test a scientifically reasoned teaching methodology. To reach the objective, we used a pedagogical experiment, pedagogical observation of the educational process, methods of statistical data processing. We have obtained the following results. The analysis of the idea of cross-cultural competence gave us the possibility to explain it as the ability of individual to come productively into a contact with people from other cultures using the language you are learning; during the process of analyzing various models of cross-cultural competence, its main components are determined. The process of forming students’ cross-cultural competence will be efficient if the created exercises are based on the methodology of using authentic video materials.
Acoustic synthesis of feed proteins under conditions of a complex ultrasonic field
Authors: Kochetov Andrei , Minakov Valentin , Fisunova Elena , Lavrenova Tatyana , Filonenko Luybov
Published: June 2021

Liquid waste of food industry enterprises contains various valuable organic substances of natural origin, which can be rationally used to obtain feed proteins. The problem of using valuable substances from food waste solves the problem of using biotechnological methods in order to use methods of accumulating biomass, enzymes, vitamins, etc. The biomass of unicellular microorganisms formed in the process of cultivation can be a raw material for obtaining feed additives and other biologically active substances.
Comparison of passive design strategies to improve living conditions: a study in Ondjiva, Southern Angola
Authors: Aleixo Joana , Araújo Gonçalo Roque , Correia Guedes Manuel
Published: June 2021

Passive design strategies aim at creating comfortable buildings while reducing their energy consumption. Simple strategies such as the correct orientation of the building, the correct design of the building's openings, or the correct sizing of the building's constituent parts (such as walls, ceilings, etc.) according to their material specificities (regarding the region's climate) would greatly improve the performance of a building. This paper intends to show how the application of simple passive techniques in housing design can reduce the energy loads spent annually and improve the house's interior comfort. It translates the results of interior comfort computer simulations into suggestions for the application of passive strategies in housing design, to improve the living conditions in Southern Angola.
Molecular Landscape for Malignant Transformation in Diffuse Astrocytoma
Authors: Tunthanathip Thara , Sangkhathat Surasak , Kanjanapradit Kanet
Published: June 2021

Background Malignant transformation (MT) of low-grade gliomas changes dramatically the natural history to poor prognosis. Currently, factors associated with MT of gliomas have been inconclusive, in particular, diffuse astrocytoma (DA).

Objective The present study aimed to explore the molecular abnormalities related to MT in the same patients with different MT stages.

Methods Twelve specimens from five DA patients with MT were genotyped using next-generation sequencing (NGS) to identify somatic variants in different stages of MT. We used cross-tabulated categorical biological variables and compared the mean of continuous variables to assess for association with MT.

Results Ten samples succussed to perform NGS from one male and four females, with ages ranging from 28 to 58 years. The extent of resection was commonly a partial resection following postoperative temozolomide with radiotherapy in 25% of cases. For molecular findings, poly-T-nucleotide insertion in isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) was significantly related to MT as a dose–response relationship (Mann–Whitney's U test, p = 0.02). Also, mutations of KMT2C and GGT1 were frequently found in the present cohort, but those did not significantly differ between the two groups using Fisher's exact test.

Conclusion In summary, we identified a novel relationship between poly-T insertion polymorphisms that established the pathogenesis of MT in DA. A further study should be performed to confirm the molecular alteration with more patients.
Dual-purpose crops: the potential to increase cattle liveweight gains in winter across southern Australia
Authors: McCormick J. I. , Paulet J. W. , Bell L. W. , Seymour M. , Ryan M. P. , McGrath S. R.
Published: June 2021

Context Dual-purpose wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and canola (Brassica napus L.) crops have been extensively researched for grazing in Australian farming systems, with a focus on grazing by sheep. In some regions, dual-purpose crops have been grazed by cattle, but there have been reports of animal health problems. Aims This paper sought to collate all known experiments conducted throughout Australia of cattle grazing dual-purpose crops, in order to evaluate grazing management options for cattle on dual-purpose crops that result in high growth rates and good animal health outcomes. Methods There were six experiments. In Expts 1–3, cattle were grazed on wheat crops with and without available mineral supplementation of NaCl and MgO in a 1:1 ratio. In Expt 3, lime was also added to the mineral mix. In Expts 4 and 5, dual-purpose crops were grazed in combination with annual pastures to determine whether strategic use of dual-purpose crops could increase whole farm livestock productivity. In Expt 6, cattle were introduced to dual-purpose canola with different periods of adaptation (0, 4 and 7 days). Liveweight gain was monitored regularly to assess differences between adaptation treatments. Key results Liveweight gain was increased by 0–27% when cattle grazing high quality, dual-purpose wheat were provided with mineral supplement. Cattle had an initial lag in growth rate when introduced to dual-purpose canola for grazing and this was not affected by the adaptation strategy used. Cattle that experienced a shorter adaptation period achieved higher weight gains more quickly. After the lag phase, average daily gain (ADG) was ≥2 kg/head.day, with an ADG over the entire grazing period for all treatments of 1.75 kg/head.day. The effect on the farm system was determined by extending the length of the grazing period on the dual-purpose crops. Grazing periods of shorter duration did not increase overall liveweight gains compared with grazing only pasture, whereas extending the period of dual-purpose crop grazing resulted in increased cattle weights. Conclusions Cattle benefit from the addition of mineral supplements when grazing a dual-purpose wheat crop, with a response similar to that previously demonstrated in sheep. Cattle can safely graze dual-purpose canola and achieve high ADG. Inclusion of dual-purpose crops can improve overall cattle performance in the farming system. Implications The potential area for production of dual-purpose crops within the Australian mixed farming zone is large and there may be insufficient livestock numbers within the zone to utilise the potential forage production. Cattle from other regions could be introduced during autumn and winter to realise this large forage potential during a period that is commonly a feed deficit on grazing-only properties. Estimates suggest that up to two million young cattle could be supported for 60 days, increasing liveweight by 90 kg/head.
Physicochemical properties and sensory evaluation of green and red spinach crackers
Authors: Nurhanan A R , Wen Xin Daphane Teo , Tham L
Published: June 2021

Green and red spinach are leafy vegetables prepared in varieties of Malaysian dishes. Utilisation of vegetables or fruits in baked foods such as crackers could increase nutritional values besides creating new flavor of the food. The objectives of this study were to determine the physicochemical properties and sensory acceptability of crackers incorporated with green spinach (Spinacia oleracea) and red spinach (Amaranthus dubius). The crackers were prepared by substituting 5%, 10% and 15% of green or red spinach with flour in the formulations. The formulated crackers were analysed for proximate compositions according to AOAC Methods, hardness and colour properties were determined using Texture Analyzer and chromameter respectively. Descriptive sensory evaluation was performed using 7-scale hedonic method to determine products preferences. The results showed that flour substitution with green or red spinach powder had decreased the moisture (3.35 to 10.48%) but increased the ash (2.34 to 3.23%), fat (11.2 to 13.93%) and protein (8.61 to 9.79%) content of crackers. Hardness values of both crackers were increased (4500 N to 5461 N) with increasing percentage of spinach powder used. The hardness decreased as longer time of storage applied. Lightness, redness and yellowness of crackers decreased with increased percentage of spinach used. Similarly, the colour intensities were decreased during four weeks of storage. In sensory evaluation, the lowest percentage of spinach in crakers (5%) received higher sensory acceptabilities than control and other formulations. In conclusion, the incorporation of green or red spinach in crakers at all percentages had increased nutritional values. The incorporation of 5% of green or red spinach received higher consumers’ acceptability among all formulations. It is recommended that green or red spinach powder could be incorporated in crackers up to 5% level for commercialization.
Big Data Brain Image Data Repair and Diagnosis Technology Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Wang Yunhong , Liang Luxu , Qu Zhijie
Published: June 2021

In this paper, we propose an automatic tumor detection algorithm in MRI brain images based on significance modeling based on directional features.Firstly, the MRI brain image is preprocessed to remove the interference of the skull region in the image.Then, directional-feature-based saliency detection is used to increase the contrast of the lesion area to achieve more accurate extraction of the tumor image area.A large number of experiments have been carried out on the brain image data sets, and compared with the mainstream automatic tumor detection methods, the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm has been proved.
An Automatic Pointer Meter Reading Method based on Deep Learning in Gas Gathering Station
Authors: Zhou Tao , Wei HaiKun , Zhang Kanjian
Published: June 2021

pointer meters are widely used in gas gathering stations, and manual meter reading is time-consuming and laborious. This paper proposes an automatic reading method of pointer meters in gas gathering stations based on deep learning and image processing algorithm. Firstly, the input image is detected by YOLO neural network algorithm to quickly locate the position of the pointer meter in the image; then, the meter image is segmented from the background image, and after filtering and binarization preprocessing, the meter border is preliminarily detected by Hough transform. After further removing the background interference, the pointer area and scale value area are segmented by connected domain detection to detect. After measuring the center of mass of the scale value area, the center of the dial is corrected again by RANSAC fitting circle, and the pointer angle is identified by index table thinning algorithm, and finally the meter indication is calculated. The results show that this method can quickly locate the pointer meters in the gas gathering station under complex background and reduce the light interference.
Strategy Research on Accelerating Green and Low-Carbon Development under the Guidance of Carbon Peak and Carbon Neutral Targets
Authors: Li Yinan , Chen Keren , Zheng Nan , Cai Qiyuan , Li Yuanfei , Lin Changyong
Published: June 2021

Since September 2020, General Secretary Xi Jinping has made seven solemn promises to the world that China will achieve “carbon peak” by 2030 and “carbon neutral” by 2060. Under the guidance of carbon peak and carbon neutral targets, it has become an inevitable choice for China to accelerate green and low-carbon development. Developed countries started earlier on the road of emission reduction and have accumulated rich experience with relatively sound relevant laws and regulations. This paper studies and analyzes the emission reduction status of developed countries, and summarizes and summarizes the practical experience that can be used for reference from five aspects: scientific planning of emission reduction path, establishment and improvement of institutional system, gradual improvement of carbon price mechanism, breakthrough in energy conservation and emission reduction technology, and comprehensive implementation of circular economy. On this basis, combining with the current situation of economic and social development in China, Suggestions are put forward from four aspects: policy guidance, market mechanism, technological innovation and circular economy.
Research on Sponge City Planning Based on Resilient City Concept
Authors: Chao Wang
Published: June 2021

In recent years, China has made great efforts to promote the planning and construction of sponge cities. The State Council also pointed out that the low-impact development mode should be actively carried out to promote the construction of sponge cities in the approval of the overall planning of the pilot cities of sponge city construction. With the intensification of climate and environmental problems such as global warming, sponge city is gradually adopted for urban planning and construction in the development of modern cities, so as to improve the utilization rate of urban water resources. But still exist in the process of urban planning integration, the problem of the relative lack of systematic and consistent, so we need resilience thinking, introduced on the basis of the sponge city, in the city the top-level design from multidimensional perspectives of using toughness thinking mode for planning and construction, to further improve city heat island effect, and the ability of severe weather. Based on the current advanced concept of resilient city, this paper puts forward the conception of sponge city planning in view of the problems in the planning and construction of sponge cities in China, in order to provide a reference model for the pilot city construction.
Assessment of Current Situation of Aquaculture Pollution in Tianjin and Its Prevention and Control Measures
Authors: Liu Jiahong , Wei Daiyan , Yang Jidong , Yi Xiaojuan , Sun Meng
Published: June 2021

In order to grasp the current situation of aquaculture pollution in Tianjin, the situation of Tianjin aquaculture and the characteristics of tail water discharge were studied. The results showed that Tianjin’s aquaculture area in 2019 was 398, 000 mu, of which 384, 000 mu was freshwater aquaculture; the tail water discharge was 448 million cubic meters, of which freshwater aquaculture emissions were 384 million cubic meters; the main pollution factor for freshwater aquaculture was chemical oxygen demand (CODCr
) and total phosphorus, chemical oxygen demand (CODCr
) all exceed the standard, the total phosphorus compliance rate is 18.8%, ammonia nitrogen and total nitrogen are both up to the standard; the main pollution factors of pond aquaculture in marine aquaculture are chemical oxygen demand (CODCr
) and reactive phosphate and total phosphorus. The main pollution factors of factory-aquaculture are inorganic nitrogen, reactive phosphate and total nitrogen. The concentration of inorganic nitrogen, reactive phosphate, total nitrogen and total phosphorus in factory-aquaculture using circulating water is higher than that using non-circulating water; Tianjin’s annual aquaculture chemical oxygen demand discharges 32, 700 t, ammonia nitrogen 348.0 t, total phosphorus 367.3 t, and total nitrogen 2025.6 t; countermeasures and suggestions are put forward for the pollution of aquaculture.
Design of Heat Pump Drying Device for Livestock and Human Feces
Authors: Liu Hao , Si Huiping , Yu Yibiao , Shen Zheng , Zhang Yalei
Published: June 2021

The composition of livestock and human feces are relatively complex. In addition to being rich in organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, there are also a large number of pathogenic bacteria, parasite eggs, antibiotics, and large doses of heavy metal additives. Livestock and human feces are good organic fertilizers, but if they are used without effective treatment, they will cause great damage to the environment. Because heat pumps have the advantages of low power consumption, environmental friendliness, easy automatic control, good quality of dried products, and saving drying time, heat pumps have been used to dry seafood, grains, and other materials. This paper set chicken manure as the research object, designed a set of heat pump drying devices to reduce and harmlessly treat the chicken manure, and used FLUENT software to simulate the drying oven, and drew the conclusion that the chicken manure can be dried evenly according to the set conditions in the drying oven.
Numerical Modelling of Round Bars Rolling Process in Three-High Skew Rolling Mill HDQT-R 30-12
Authors: Peković M , Benešová S
Published: June 2021

In the 21 st century, numerical analysis is a proven tool for research and development of manufacturing processes. Mathematical modelling provides information about the behaviour of various materials during forming processes, for instance. The real-world process is therefore represented by an abstract mathematical model, on which calculations are performed. Three-roll skew rolling can be used for various grades of steel. This paper presents the results of a theoretical analysis of skew rolling of bars with an initial diameter of 30 mm for three different carbon steels, S235JRC, C45 and C60, and austenitic stainless steel AISI 321. The final diameter of the rolled bars was 22 mm and was achieved in a single pass. Several different rolling speeds were used for the stainless steel. The simulations were carried out using DEFORM 2D/3D software. The behaviour of the materials during rolling was analysed, including the values of effective strain and stress.
HFBD: a biomarker knowledge database for heart failure heterogeneity and personalized applications
Authors: He Hongxin , Shi Manhong , Lin Yuxin , Zhan Chaoying , Wu Rongrong , Bi Cheng , Liu Xingyun , Ren Shumin , Shen Bairong
Published: June 2021

Motivation

Heart failure (HF) is a cardiovascular disease with a high incidence around the world. Accumulating studies have focused on the identification of biomarkers for HF precision medicine. To understand the HF heterogeneity and provide biomarker information for the personalized diagnosis and treatment of HF, a knowledge database collecting the distributed and multiple-level biomarker information is necessary.

Results

In this study, the HF biomarker knowledge database (HFBD) was established by manually collecting the data and knowledge from literature in PubMed. HFBD contains 2618 records and 868 HF biomarkers (731 single and 137 combined) extracted from 1237 original articles. The biomarkers were classified into proteins, RNAs, DNAs and the others at molecular, image, cellular and physiological levels. The biomarkers were annotated with biological, clinical and article information as well as the experimental methods used for the biomarker discovery. With its user-friendly interface, this knowledge database provides a unique resource for the systematic understanding of HF heterogeneity and personalized diagnosis and treatment of HF in the era of precision medicine.

Availability and implementation

The platform is openly available at http://sysbio.org.cn/HFBD/.
A simplified wall-based model for regional innervation/perfusion mismatch assessed by cardiac 123I-mIBG and rest 99mTc-tetrofosmin SPECT to predict arrhythmic events in ischaemic heart failure
Authors: Verschure Derk O , Poel Edwin , Travin Mark I , Henzlova Milena J , Jain Diwakar , Jacobson Arnold F , Verberne Hein J
Published: June 2021

Aims

Cardiac 123iodine-meta-iodobenzylguanidine (123I-mIBG) single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging provides information on regional myocardial innervation. However, the value of the commonly used 17-segment summed defect score (SDS) as a prognostic marker is uncertain. The present study examined whether a simpler regional scoring approach for evaluation of 123I-mIBG SPECT combined with rest 99mTc-tetrofosmin SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging could improve prediction of arrhythmic events (AEs) in patients with ischaemic heart failure (HF).

Methods and Results

Five hundred and two ischaemic HF subjects of the ADMIRE-HF study with complete cardiac 123I-mIBG and rest 99mTc-tetrofosmin SPECT studies were included. Both SPECT image sets were read together by two experienced nuclear imagers and scored by consensus. In addition to standard 17-segment scoring, the readers classified walls (i.e. anterior, lateral, inferior, septum and apex) as normal, matched defect, mismatched (innervation defect > perfusion defect), or reverse mismatched (perfusion defect > innervation defect). Cox proportional hazards ratios (HRs) were used to determine if age, body mass index, functional class, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), norepinephrine, 123I-mIBG SDS, 99mTc-tetrofosmin SDS, innervation/perfusion mismatch SDS, and our simplified visual innervation/perfusion wall classification were associated with occurrence of AEs (i.e. sudden cardiac death, sustained ventricular tachycardia, resuscitated cardiac arrest, appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy). At 2-year median follow-up, 52 subjects (10.4%) had AEs. Subjects with 1 or 2 mismatched walls were twice as likely to have AEs compared with subjects with either 0 or 3–5 mismatched walls (16.3% vs. 8.3%, P = 0.010). Cox regression analyses showed that patients with a visual mismatch in 1-2 walls had an almost two times higher risk of AEs [HR 2.084 (1.109–3.914), P = 0.001]. None of the other innervation, perfusion and mismatch scores using standard 17 segments were associated with AEs. BNP (ng/L) was the only non-imaging parameter associated with AEs.

Conclusion

A visual left ventricular wall-level based scoring method identified highest AE risk in ischaemic HF subjects with intermediate levels of innervation/perfusion mismatches. This simple technique for the evaluation of SPECT studies, which are often challenging in HF subjects, seems to be superior to the 17-segment scoring method.
Preventing the Bad from Getting Worse: The End of the World (Trade Organization) As We Know It?
Authors: Hoekman Bernard M , Mavroidis Petros C
Published: June 2021

Recent survey evidence illustrates that many World Trade Organization (WTO) members and trade practitioners believe that the WTO dispute settlement system needs improvement. We make several proposals to improve the operation of WTO conflict resolution, drawing on proposals made by WTO members in the long-running negotiations to improve WTO dispute settlement procedures. We argue that a focus on technical dimensions of dispute settlement is insufficient to prevent a steady decline in the salience of the organization. Revitalizing the WTO as a forum for rule-making is needed both to address the cross-border policy spillovers driving trade conflicts between the major trading powers and to improve WTO conflict resolution. Principals – WTO members – should accept that negotiations to clarify and extend existing rules must be an element of a robust system of dispute settlement and that bolstering WTO dispute settlement is a necessary condition for nascent efforts at plurilateral rule-making to be successful.
The Symbiotic Relationship Between Scientific Quality and Animal Research Ethics
Authors: Brill Samuel A , Guerrero-Martin Selena M , Metcalf Pate Kelly A
Published: June 2021

Researchers have worked with animals as models for decades to expand our knowledge of basic biological processes and to systematically study the physiology of disease. In general, the public has an expectation that work with animals has a purpose and will ultimately reap benefits. The likelihood of such an outcome is directly dependent on the quality of the science being conducted with those animals. However, not all frameworks for consideration of the ethics around animal research overtly consider scientific quality. In the following review, we explore the complex relationship between scientific quality and animal research ethics. We advocate for the development of a detailed “Harm-Yield Analysis” for the evaluation of biomedical animal research that emphasizes scientific quality along with societal benefit in the ethical justification of the research. We reflect on the lost opportunity to establish best practices in animal research early in the career of scientists by introducing in the curriculum and encouraging the use of a paradigm of the iterative consideration of the ethics of animal research alongside other aspects of experimental design.
A computational method for direct imputation of cell type-specific expression profiles and cellular compositions from bulk-tissue RNA-Seq in brain disorders
Authors: Doostparast Torshizi Abolfazl , Duan Jubao , Wang Kai
Published: June 2021

The importance of cell type-specific gene expression in disease-relevant tissues is increasingly recognized in genetic studies of complex diseases. However, most gene expression studies are conducted on bulk tissues, without examining cell type-specific expression profiles. Several computational methods are available for cell type deconvolution (i.e. inference of cellular composition) from bulk RNA-Seq data, but few of them impute cell type-specific expression profiles. We hypothesize that with external prior information such as single cell RNA-seq and population-wide expression profiles, it can be computationally tractable to estimate both cellular composition and cell type-specific expression from bulk RNA-Seq data. Here we introduce CellR, which addresses cross-individual gene expression variations to adjust the weights of cell-specific gene markers. It then transforms the deconvolution problem into a linear programming model while taking into account inter/intra cellular correlations and uses a multi-variate stochastic search algorithm to estimate the cell type-specific expression profiles. Analyses on several complex diseases such as schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease and type 2 diabetes validated the efficiency of CellR, while revealing how specific cell types contribute to different diseases. In summary, CellR compares favorably against competing approaches, enabling cell type-specific re-analysis of gene expression data on bulk tissues in complex diseases.
Organic semiconductor-incorporated two-dimensional halide perovskites
Authors: Gao Yao , Dou Letian
Published: June 2021

Organic semiconductor-incorporated halide perovskites (OSiP) have emerged as a promising new family of 2D hybrid materials with exceptional structural tunability, optical and electronic properties, and environmental stability.
Clinical Outcomes With Definitive Treatment of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia With Retained Daptomycin and Ceftaroline Combination Therapy vs De-escalation to Monotherapy With Vancomycin, Daptomycin, or Ceftaroline
Authors: Nichols Courtney N , Wardlow Lynn C , Coe Kelci E , Sobhanie Mohammad Mahdee E
Published: June 2021

Background

Lower mortality has been observed with combination therapy compared to monotherapy for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia; however, there is a lack of evidence for continued combination therapy over de-escalation to monotherapy following bacteremia clearance.

Methods

This was a single-center, retrospective study evaluating patients with MRSA bacteremia hospitalized from November 1, 2011, through July 31, 2019. Patients who received three to ten days of combination therapy followed by de-escalation to monotherapy were directly compared to patients retained on combination therapy. The primary composite outcome included inpatient infection-related mortality, 60-day readmission, and 60-day bacteremia recurrence.

Results

A total of 286 patients with MRSA bacteremia were identified, with 146 patients omitted based on exclusion criteria. The study population included 66 in the combination therapy group and 74 in the monotherapy group. Study population was 51% female (n = 71) and 78% white (n = 109) with median age of 46 years (IQR 34.5–61). No significant difference was observed in the primary composite outcome (21% combination therapy group vs 24% monotherapy group; P =.66), with retained observations after controlling for confounders. Within this outcome, there was no significant difference in 60-day readmission (20% combination therapy group vs 18% monotherapy group; P =.75), bacteremia recurrence (3% combination therapy group vs 7% monotherapy group; P =.45), or inpatient infection-related mortality (2% combination therapy group vs 5% monotherapy group; P = 1.00).

Conclusions

No difference was found in the composite outcome of 60-day bacteremia recurrence, readmission, or inpatient infection-related mortality for patients with MRSA bacteremia retained on combination therapy versus those de-escalated to monotherapy.
Feminist Philosophy of Language in the Analytic Tradition
Authors: McGowan Mary Kate
Published: June 2021

This chapter offers an overview of some central themes and issues in analytic feminist philosophy of language. Ways in which parts of language, language as a whole, or our study of it involve assumptions about gender are discussed. More recent feminist applications of the tools of analytic philosophy of language to social phenomena are also explored. This includes slurs, generics, silencing, and the speech act approach to both pornography and hate racist hate speech. Ways in which extent feminist work has changed or entered the mainstream of the field, and current and future directions in analytic feminist philosophy of language are also briefly discussed.
The psychological impact of threat and lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic: exacerbating factors and mitigating actions
Authors: van Mulukom Valerie , Muzzulini Barbara , Rutjens Bastiaan T , van Lissa Caspar J , Farias Miguel
Published: June 2021

In spring 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic was declared. The threat the pandemic poses as well as associated lockdown measures created challenging times for many. This study aimed to investigate the individual and social factors associated with low mental health, particularly perceived threat and lockdown measures, and factors associated with psychological well-being, particularly sense of control. An online survey was completed by participants (N = 8,229) recruited from 79 countries. In line with pre-registered hypotheses, participants showed elevated levels of anxiety and depression worldwide. This poor mental health was predicted by perceived threat. The effect of threat on depression was further moderated by social isolation, but there was no effect of sense of control. Sense of control was low overall, and was predicted negatively by maladaptive coping, but positively by adaptive coping and the perception that the government is dealing with the outbreak. Social isolation increased with quarantine duration, but was mitigated by frequent communication with close ones. Engaging in individual actions to avoid contracting the virus was associated with higher anxiety, except when done professionally. We suggest that early lockdown of the pandemic may have had detrimental psychological effects, which may be alleviated by individual actions such as maintaining frequent social contact and adaptive coping, and by governmental actions which demonstrate support in a public health crisis. Citizens and governments can work together to adapt better to restrictive but necessary measures during the current and future pandemics.
Talaromyces funiculosus, a Novel Causal Agent of Maize Ear Rot and Its Sensitivity to Fungicides
Authors: Liu Shusen , Wang Jinhui , Guo Ning , Sun Hua , Ma Hongxia , Zhang Haijian , Shi Jie
Published: June 2021

Ear rot is one of the most prevalent and destructive diseases of maize. During field surveys, it was found that a Penicillium ear rot broke out in some areas of Shanxi, Shaanxi, Hebei, and Tianjin in China, with an incidence of 3 to 90%. A Penicillium sp. was isolated from diseased kernels covered with greyish green mold, and three isolates were identified by morphologic and molecular characteristics. The pathogenicity of isolate ZBS205 to maize ears was further determined by artificial inoculation in a field. Furthermore, the sensitivity of isolate ZBS205 against six commonly used fungicides was also evaluated. According to macro- and micromorphologic characteristics, isolate ZBS205 was generally identical to Talaromyces funiculosus (teleomorph of Penicillium funiculosum). The partial gene sequences of the nuclear ribosomal ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS) region, β-tubulin, putative ribosome biogenesis protein (Tsr1), and the second largest subunit of the RNA polymerase II (RPB2) from isolates ZBS205, D49-1, and S73-1 showed the highest nucleotide identity to T. funiculosus strain X33, and the phylogenetic analysis conducted by the neighbor-joining method with the combined data of the four genes demonstrated that these three isolates clustered with T. funiculosus strain X33. These results suggested that the fungus isolated from diseased maize kernels was T. funiculosus. Pathogenicity testing showed that the T. funiculosus isolate ZBS205 was pathogenic to maize ears, which showed symptoms of rotted cob and deteriorated kernels. This is the first report of T. funiculosus as the definitive pathogen causing maize ear rot. The result of fungal sensitivity against fungicides showed that pyraclostrobin exhibited the highest toxicity to mycelial growth and could be used as a candidate agent for the prevention and control of T. funiculosus ear rot. The results of the present study provide a basis for understanding ear rot caused by T. funiculosus, and they should play an important role in disease management.
Developmental horizons in quadrupedal and leaping primates
Authors: Rader Hannah M , Violi Dominic A , Llera Catherine J , Young Jesse W , Vinyard Christopher J , DeLeon Valerie B , Smith Timothy D
Published: June 2021

Recent work on development of primates indicates the body develops in a highly modular manner; that is, different systems (e.g., neural versus muscular) have different rates of growth and may be influenced by independent selective pressures. Here, we investigate age‐related changes in limb muscle mass, limb bone length, as well as the relative status of skeletal ossification and tooth mineralization at birth in two species of primates. Cheirogaleus medius, an arboreal quadruped, and Galago moholi, a vertical clinger/leaper, were studied. Both neonatal and adult primates were dissected from both species and analyzed for potential similarities and differences in developmental schedules. Limb muscle mass and limb bone lengths were measured in all specimens. Cranial and dental development of neonates was assessed using computed tomographic reconstructions and histology. In hindlimb (thigh vs. leg) muscle mass distribution, Galago had a drastic change from neonate to adult via differentially more growth in the thigh (increasing from 57 to 83 % of total hindlimb muscle mass). Alternatively, muscle mass distribution in the forelimb remains stable across age in both species postnatally. More tarsals (3) and ankle epiphyses (1 to 3) have commenced ossification in newborn Galago compared to Cheirogaleus (2 tarsals, 0 epiphyses), but the lack of ossification in carpals and wrist epiphyses is similar. Intermembral index (IMI) ‐ (Humerus+Radius)*100/(Femur+Tibia) ‐ decreases postnatally in both species. Limb muscle mass index (forelimb muscle mass*100/hindlimb muscle mass) decreases postnatally in both species, more drastically than IMI; the overall index is much lower in Galago compared to Cheirogaleus already at birth. Neonatal Galago is relatively more advanced in cranial ossification. For example, the nasal capsule is more ossified (e.g., mesethmoid center has appeared at birth). The mineralization of deciduous teeth reached similar levels at birth in the two species. However, Cheirogaleus has more mineralized replacement teeth as a neonate than Galago. Results support the hypothesis of highly modular development across age in primates, and suggest that muscular, skeletal, and dental structures can respond differentially to selection pressures. In addition, though both primates are initially nest‐bound, advanced hindlimb development in Galago suggests that adaptations for an upright lifestyle (vertical clinging and leaping) are apparent in development well before infants can locomote independently.

Support or Funding Information

BCS‐0959438, BCS‐1231350, BCS‐1231717, BCS‐1728263, BCS‐1830894, and BCS‐1830919.

This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Healthy Primary Epithelial Cells Show an Elevated Inflammatory Response to Bacterial Stimulus Compared to COPD Cells
Authors: Carson Stephen A , Reihill James A , Fulton Catherine R , McGarvey Lorcan P , Lundy Fionnuala T , Crilly Anne , Thornbury Keith D
Published: June 2021

Exacerbations are frequently occurring events in the progression of COPD and are characterised by a sudden reduction in lung function associated with increased airway inflammation and sputum production. Triggers such as bacterial infection can lead to hospitalisation and increased mortality.

The aim of this study was to investigate differences in the response of COPD and healthy airway cells to bacterial stimulus by measuring levels of host inflammatory mediators.

Two clinically relevant strains of bacteria (Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae) were heat‐inactivated and co‐cultured at an established non‐toxic multiplicity of infection (MOI) 25:1 for 24 hours with primary human airway epithelial cells obtained from a healthy and COPD donor, grown at air‐liquid interface. Cell‐conditioned media was removed and analysed using the Bio‐Plex Pro™ Human Inflammation Panel 1, 37‐Plex assay (Bio‐Rad)

Cytokines and other pro‐inflammatory proteins, as previously established, were generally stimulated in response to heat‐inactivated pathogens. However, on assessment of the Bioplex panel as a whole, H. influenzae showed increased potential to induce the production of cytokines/proteins to a greater level than S. pneumoniae. The greatest overall increases were seen with the healthy cells (28/37 analytes), indicating that they are potentially more capable of mounting an acute inflammatory response than COPD cells.

Support or Funding Information

BREATH (Border and REgions Airways Training Hub) is funded by the EU's INTERREG Va programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Using Facebook as a Learning Medium in Undergraduate Anatomy and Physiology (A&P) Courses
Authors: Azim Homaira M , Byram Jessica N
Published: June 2021

Social networking sites such as Facebook have recently been shown to have great pedagogical potential especially for undergraduate students whose time is typically spent more online rather than in their physical persons. Even so, in most A&P courses the use of online technologies is limited to learning management systems (LMS). This mixed‐method study aimed to examine the impact of using a Facebook group page in addition to LMS in undergraduate A&P courses at one community college. Research participants consisted of all students enrolled in two A&P 101 courses (N=39) that were offered over two successive semesters. The experimental group consisted of N=19 students enrolled in Spring 2017, whereas control group consisted of N=20 students enrolled in Fall 2016. Both courses were taught by the same instructor (author, HA) using identical instructional and assessment materials – except for the Facebook platform which was introduced only to the experimental group as an independent variable. Student achievements between two groups were measured using both qualitative and quantitative methods. Qualitative methods included direct observation, document analysis, and student‐filled questionnaires collected from all participants. Quantitative data consisted of individual student demographic and dropout (yes/no) data as well as formal course gradebooks. Each of the four unit‐exam scores, final course grade (%), and student dropouts were selected as the main study variables. Statistical methods including independent t‐tests, chi‐square tests, and multiple regression analysis were performed to test the hypotheses suggesting that use of Facebook had a positive impact on students' academic achievements as well as reducing student dropouts. Both hypotheses were confirmed by statistical analyses (p<.05 and p<.001, respectively). Moreover, results from the thematic analysis of the qualitative data suggested that students who used Facebook were able to more easily connect with other students and make better use of peer‐learning study circles. They also engaged with class materials more actively, deeply, and playfully which helped them become more intrinsically motivated to learn. Therefore, the findings of this study indicate that using Facebook as an additional learning platform can provide undergraduate A&P students with more opportunities for active learning. Furthermore, using Facebook can enhance students' academic gain and reduce the student dropout rates.

Support or Funding Information

none.

This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.