bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
THE STRUCTURE OF “FATHER” IN THE NOVEL “GOOD NIGHT” BY A. TERTS (A. D. SINYAVSKY)
Authors:   Yaroslavl state pedagogical university named after K. D. Ushinsky, Egorov Mikhail Yu.
Published: January 2021

The article demonstrates how the chapter of the “Father” of the novel by A. Terts (A. D. Sinyavsky) “Good Night” is structured, shows how the image of the protagonist's father is built. The storylines of the son and father in the chapter are made in such a way that they rely on typologically similar elements, which largely determine the behavior, characters. In the fate of both, a bicycle and a gun play an important role; at the same time, they acquire new acquaintances of children; their fates were influenced by books; both are prone to invention; revolutionary, arrested. The father seems to help his son to penetrate the secrets of literary skill. The chapter “Father” is presented in such a way as to reflect judgments about literary work that Sinyavsky had a conversation with his father. The author refuses a linear, consistent narrative (for example, within several lines, events that fall on several decades may collide). The concept of mystery plays an important role in the narrative. At the same time, such a secret is important in the chapter, which will be exposed by its carriers. The original narrative in “Good Night” allows you to control both the narrator's awareness of the father and the degree of awareness of the reader. Avoiding a linear, consistent, “rational” narrative, A. D. Sinyavsky postulates the failure of such a story about human fate, where it is thought of as organically whole.
Estimativa numérica, memória de trabalho e raciocínio quantitativo
Authors: Nogues Camila Peres , Dorneles Beatriz Vargas
Published: January 2021

Há evidências de que tanto a estimativa numérica quanto a memória de trabalho são habilidades importantes para o desempenho em matemática, porém pouco se sabe sobre a relação entre estimativa numérica e memória de trabalho. Assim, pretendeu-se neste estudo verificar as relações entre as capacidades de: estimativa numérica, memória de trabalho e raciocínio quantitativo. Para isso, 143 crianças de 3.º e 4.º anos do Ensino Fundamental de duas escolas municipais de Porto Alegre/RS foram avaliadas. Verificaram-se relações significativas entre as três medidas, sendo que os maiores níveis de correlação foram entre raciocínio quantitativo e estimativa numérica e entre os componentes executivo central e buffer episódico da memória de trabalho com o raciocínio aditivo. Os resultados indicam associação direta entre as medidas avaliadas.
Device Classification-based Context Management for Ubiquitous Computing using Machine Learning
Authors: Mhetre Nalini , Deshpande Arvind , Mahalle Parikshit
Published: January 2021

Ubiquitous computing comprises scenarios where networks, devices within the network, and software components change frequently. Market demand and cost-effectiveness are forcing device manufacturers to introduce new-age devices. Also, the Internet of Things (IoT) is transitioning rapidly from the IoT to the Internet of Everything (IoE). Due to this enormous scale, effective management of these devices becomes vital to support trustworthy and high-quality applications. One of the key challenges of IoT device management is automatic device classification with the logically semantic type and using that as a parameter for device context management. This would enable smart security solutions. In this paper, a device classification approach is proposed for the context management of ubiquitous devices based on unsupervised machine learning. To classify unknown devices and to label them logically, a proactive device classification model is framed using a k-Means clustering algorithm. To group devices, it uses the information of network parameters such as Received Signal Strength Indicator (rssi), packet_size, number_of_nodes in the network, throughput, etc. Experimental analysis suggests that the well-formedness of clusters can be used to derive cluster labels as a logically semantic device type which would be a context for resource management and authorization of resources. This paper fulfills an identified need of proactive device classification for device management.
Influence of Ascorbic Acid against Salt stress on the Germination, Biochemicals and Micronutrients Concentrations of Solanum melongena (L.)
Authors: Irfan Muhammad , Jan Gul , Gul Jan Farzana , Murad Waheed
Published: January 2021

The experiments were designed to know the function of ascorbic acid against salinity on germination, different biochemical and micronutrients concentrations of Solanum melongena. Ascorbic acid was applied as foliar spray on leaves and given in roots through irrigation at 100 and 200 ppm to the plants growed in non saline, 60mM and 100mM salt stress conditions. Different biochemical parameters i.e. chlorophyll, carotenoids, carbohydratrates, protein and micro nutrients concentrations of Solanum melongena were observed under different salt stress concentrations from control (non-saline), 60mM NaCl and 100mM NaCl solutions. The rates of different biochemical parameters and micro nutrients concentrations exhibited decrease in saline media in comparison with their respective control while ascorbic acid used as a foliar spray and through irrigation in roots at the concentration of 100 ppm and 200 ppm resulted promotion in non saline control as compared with salt concentrations media. It was determined that chlorophyll concentration was decreased considerably under salt stress. Amongst micro nutrients ionic composition of Na, K and Na/K ratio resulted that plants treated with different NaCl concentrations at 60mM NaCl and 100mM salt concentrations showed increase in Na and K ions and ascorbic acid were used as a foliar spray and in roots showed decrease in Na and K ions. Overall from the outcomes of the study it was observed that salinity stress significantly decrease vegetative and reproductive parameters that could be improved with the using of ascorbic acid. Best concentration found were 200 ppm ascorbic acid contributed towards an increase in growth irrespective of non-saline and saline conditions. Based on these findings, ascorbic acid treatment helps in alleviating the negative effects of salinity.
Hagia Sophia dan Kebangkitan Politik Islam di Turki?
Authors: Qodarsasi Umi , Khofifah Melina Nurul
Published: January 2021

Hagia Sophia and the rise of Islamic politics in Turkey. Erdogan’s decision to take over Hagia Sophia as a mosque has received any responses from various parties both those who supported and critized it, from the government officials to the general public. Some of Muslim-majority countries generally support the Turkish government policy. However, domestically, the debate over this decision devide Turkish people into religious and secular parties. This paper aims to identifies why the shifted of Hagia Sophia as a mosque has become a monumental event and how its impact toward the growing of Islamic movements in Turkey.
Pemberlakuan Perda Syari’ah dalam Perspektif Sosiologi Hukum Islam (Studi Kasus Penanggulangan Eksploitasi Seks Komersial di Surakarta)
Authors: Mundakir Mundakir
Published: January 2021

This paper raises the issue of whether the enactment of Islamic Sharia in Indonesia should be a form of law and/or local regulation that binds the community (formalization of Islamic law) or is sufficiently enforced persuasively. This research takes the object of surakarta people who have enacted Regional Regulation No. 3 of 2006 on Tackling Commercial Sexual Exploitation. Formil the regulation of this area does not mention the word sharia but the substance of the material stipulated in the regulation is entirely sharia material or fiqh. The existence of this government is acceptable to all elements of Surakarta people who have a background and a hiterogen religion. With grounded research and participatory observational data collection techniques, researchers found evidence that Surakarta people fail to cope with the rise of prostitution and commercial sexual exploitation persuasively, they require government involvement (formalization of Islamic law). By looking at the religious characteristics of Surakarta people whose religion is not so strong, the formalization of Islamic law into local regulations finds its significance. For areas where religion is strong enough, the enactment of Islamic Sharia is sufficient with a persuasive pattern based on the religious awareness of the community.

Abstrak

Paper ini mengangkat permasalahan apakah pemberlakuan Syari’ah Islam di Indonesia perlu menjadi suatu bentuk undang-undangdan/atau peraturan daerah yang mengikat masyarakat (formalisasi hukum Islam) atau cukup diberlakukan secara persuasif. Penelitian ini mengambil obyek masyarakat Kota Surakarta yang telah memberlakukan Peraturan Daerah Nomor 3 Tahun 2006 tentang Penanggulangan Eksploitasi Seksual Komersial. Secara formil peraturan daerah ini tidak menyebut kata syari’ah tetapi substansi materi yang diatur dalam perda tersebut sepenuhnya materi syari’ah atau fiqh. Keberadaan perda ini dapat diterima oleh seluruh elemen masyarakat Kota Surakarta yang memiliki latarbelakang dan pemeluk agama yang hiterogen. Dengan grounded research dan teknik pengumpulan data observasi partisipatoris, peneliti menemukan bukti bahwa masyarakat Kota Surakarta gagal menanggulangi maraknya prostitusi dan eksploitasi seks komersial secara persuasif, mereka membutuhkan keterlibatan pemerintah (formalisasi hukum Islam). Dengan mencermati karakteristik keberagamaan masyarakat Kota Surakarta yang  keberagamaannya tidak begitu kuat, formalisasi hukum Islam menjadi peraturan daerah menemukan signifikansinya. Untuk wilayah-wilayah yang keberagamaannya cukup kuat, pemberlakuan syari’ah Islam pada cukup dengan pola persuasif yang didasarkan atas kesadaran beragama masyarakat.
Ríos y ciudades: análisis de los usos del suelo en el espacio fluvial de las áreas urbanas españolas
Authors: Durán Vian Francisco , Pons Izquierdo Juan José
Published: January 2021

En el presente artículo se analizan los usos del suelo existentes en las zonas de inundación frecuente de las áreas urbanas españolas. Estos se clasifican en grupos, distinguiendo las coberturas naturales de las antrópicas y, dentro de ellas, los usos compatibles y no compatibles con las inundaciones fluviales. El análisis realizado determina y compara el reparto de usos en el espacio fluvial y en las áreas urbanas, estudiando la ocupación de los ríos según la región biogeográfica a la que pertenecen y su temporalidad de flujo. Los resultados muestran que (1) los ríos en las ciudades son potenciales infraestructuras verdes donde abundan las coberturas naturales, espacios ajardinados, agrícolas y ganaderos; (2) se ha ocupado casi tres cuartas partes del espacio fluvial en las áreas urbanas; y (3) la presión antrópica es mayor en los ríos de la región mediterránea y, sobre todo, en los cursos de caudal intermitente. Este trabajo, pone de manifiesto la falta de una ordenación territorial coherente con los espacios fluviales y puede ser útil para contribuir a una sistematización metodológica que permita ampliar y contrastar el conocimiento de esta línea científica.
Consumo de agua, bebidas azucaradas y uso de bebederos en secundarias del Programa Nacional de Bebederos Escolares de la Ciudad de México
Authors: Jiménez-Aguilar Alejandra , Muñoz-Espinosa Alicia , Rodríguez-Ramírez Sonia , Maya-Hernández Cynthya , Méndez Gómez-Humarán Ignacio , Uribe-Carvajal Rebeca , Salazar-Coronel Araceli , Sachse-Aguilera Matthías , Veliz Paula , Shamah-Levy Teresa
Published: January 2021

Objetivo. Describir prácticas de consumo de bebidas y uso de bebederos escolares en estudiantes de secundarias del Programa Nacional de Bebederos Escolares (PNBE). Material y métodos. Estudio transversal descriptivo, con enfoque mixto en secundarias públicas (turnos matutino y vespertino). Se indagó el consumo de agua y bebidas azucaradas, utilización de bebederos escolares y barreras-facilitadores para el consumo de agua. Resultados. Se entrevistaron 617 estudiantes (11 a 16 años); 51.5% fueron hombres. El consumo promedio de agua (568.9 ml; IC95%: 470.7-667.1) y bebidas azucaradas (143.4 ml; IC95%:124.0-162.7) fue similar entre hombres y mujeres. En el turno matutino las mujeres presentaron una menor probabilidad de hacer uso de los bebederos en comparación con los hombres (p=0.032). Hombres y mujeres desconfían del agua de los bebederos. Conclusiones. Se requieren acciones integrales para favorecer el consumo de agua y el uso de los bebederos en las secundarias del PNBE.
Innovación pedagógica para mejorar la calidad del trato en la atención de la salud de mujeres indígenas
Authors: Meneses-Navarro Sergio , Pelcastre-Villafuerte Blanca Estela , Bautista-Ruiz Óscar Arturo , Toledo-Cruz Rafael Josaphat , De la Rosa-Cruz Sergio Aarón , Alcalde-Rabanal Jaqueline , Mejía-Marenco Juana de los Ángeles
Published: January 2021

Objetivo. Presentar los resultados de una intervención pedagógica para mejorar la calidad en el trato que brindan los prestadores de servicios de salud en regiones indígenas. Material y métodos. Se diseñó una metodología didáctica con enfoque crítico-constructivista dirigida a personal de salud que atiende a población indígena en cinco entidades de México. Resultados. Entre 09/2016 a 01/2020 se capacitó a 1 825 trabajadores de la salud que deconstruyeron las creencias que determinan prácticas de discriminación y maltrato durante la atención a la salud de los usuarios indígenas. La intervención logró un aprendizaje significativo transformador de las valoraciones y prácticas sociales, con propuestas para evitar cualquier forma de maltrato y garantizar el trato digno. Conclusiones. Para la construcción de un sistema de salud universal y equitativo, es necesario incluir intervenciones que actúen sobre las creencias determinantes de las prácticas de discriminación y maltrato en los servicios de salud hacia grupos sociales vulnerables.
In Memoriam
Authors: Frenk Julio
Published: January 2021

No disponible
Technology as the Key to Women’s Empowerment: A Scoping Review
Authors: Mackey April , Petrucka Pammla
Published: January 2021

Background: With women’s empowerment and information and communication technologies (ICTs) being the subject of global discussions for many decades, there is a need for a clearer and deeper understanding of existing gender gaps. Despite these prolonged discussions, there remains limited in-depth understanding of the use of ICTs for women’s empowerment. ICTs having made communication and networking a possibility between and among people on a global scale, a digital divide has emerged. Research Objectives: To determine how the concept of empowerment is defined, utilized, and measured in research studies; explore existing evidence regarding the use of ICTs as interventions towards achieving women’s empowerment; and explore the gaps in knowledge and research on this topic from an individual, community, and global perspectives. Methods: We conducted a scoping review using the Arksey and O’Malley methodology. The search identified papers from ten databases, including Scopus, Embase, ABI Inform, Soc Index, Sociological Abstracts, Gender Studies, Springer Link, PsychInfo, Science Direct, and Academic Search Complete over the period of 2012-2018. Search criteria included articles that focused on women’s empowerment and utilized technologies as interventions. Out of a total of 4481 articles that were initially identified, 51were included in the final review. Results: Technology played a variety of roles in supporting the development of women’s capacities and resources. Results revealed the use of ICT interventions in the following areas: outreach, education, lifestyle, prevention, health challenges, perceptions of barriers. However, despite the positive use of technology to support women in their daily lives, there was a lack of consensus regarding the definition and use of the term empowerment. The concept of empowerment was also inconsistently and poorly measured among individual studies which led to issues in measuring whether or not empowerment was achieved. Conclusion: This scoping review provides a comprehensive review of current and emerging efforts to use ICTs to empower women, as well as highlighting opportunities for collaborative efforts between researchers, program implementers and policy makers to address the persistent gender disparities with respect to ICTs.
Bacterial inhibition of CD8+ T-cells mediated cell death promotes neuroinvasion and within-host persistence
Authors: Lecuit Marc , Maudet Claire , Kheloufi Marouane , Levallois Sylvain , Gaillard Julien , Huang Lei , Gaultier Charlotte , Tsai Yu-Huan , Disson Olivier
Published: January 2021

Central nervous system infections are amongst the most severe, yet the mechanisms by which pathogens access the brain remain poorly understood. The model microorganism Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) is a major foodborne pathogen that causes neurolisteriosis, one of the deadliest central nervous system infections. While immunosuppression is a well-established host risk factor for neurolisteriosis, little is known regarding the bacterial factors underlying Lm neuroinvasion. We have developed a clinically-relevant experimental model of neurolisteriosis, using hypervirulent neuroinvasive strains inoculated in a humanized mouse model of infection, and we show that the bacterial protein InlB protects infected monocytes from CD8+ T-cells Fas-mediated cell death, in a c-Met/PI3-kinase/FLIP-dependent manner. This blockade of anti-Lm specific cellular immune response lengthens infected monocytes lifespan, favoring Lm transfer from infected monocytes to the brain. The intracellular niche created by InlB-mediated cell-autonomous immunosuppression also promotes Lm fecal shedding, accounting for its selection as a Lm core virulence gene. Here, we have uncovered an unanticipated specific mechanism by which a bacterial pathogen confers to the cells it infects an increased lifespan by rendering them resistant to cell-mediated immunity. This promotes Lm within-host persistence and dissemination to the central nervous system, and transmission.
Evaluation of Anticancer Activity of Neolamarckia Cadamba Leaves and Its Metabolite Profile
Authors: Razali Shakirah , Khan Al’aina Firus , Khatib Alfi , Ahmed Qamar Uddin , Hassan Habibah , Murugesu Suganya , Jalal Tara , Ichwan Muhammad , Selamat Jinap , Khalifa Shaden , Abdel-Daim Mohamed , El-Seedi Hesham , Wahab Ridhwan Abdul
Published: January 2021

Neolamarckia cadamba (NC) leaf is traditionally used for the treatment of breast cancer, however this claim is unverified. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-cancer activities of NC leaf ethanol extract on breast cancer cell line (MCF-7 cells) using in vitro cell viability, cytotoxicity and gene expression assays followed by gas chromatography analysis. Results revealed inhibition concentration (IC50) against MCF-7 at 0.2 mg/mL. The extract exerted a dose and time dependent inhibitory effect against MCF-7 cells. The cell cycle assay showed that the extract arrested MCF-7 cells in G0/G1 phase, and apoptosis were observed after 72 hours by Annexin-V assay. The gene expression assay revealed that the cell cycle arrest was associated with the down-regulation of CDK2 and subsequent up-regulation of p21 and cyclin E. The extract induced apoptosis via mediation of the mitochondrial cell death pathways. Chromatography analysis revealed the contribution of d-pinitol and myo-inositol to the activity observed as the two major bioactive compounds. Overall, the study demonstrated that NC exerts anti-cancer effect on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells through induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest thus justifying its traditional use for breast cancer treatment in Malaysia.
Impacts of GHG emissions abatement measures on agricultural market and food security
Authors: Fujimori Shinichiro , Wu Wenchao , Doelman Jonathan , Frank Stefan , Hristov Jordan , Kyle Page , Sands Ronald , Zeist Willem-Jan van , Havlík Petr , Domínguez Ignacio Pérez , Sahoo Amarendra , Stehfest Elke , Tabeau Andrzej , Valin Hugo , Meijl Hans van , Hasegawa Tomoko , Takahashi Kiyoshi
Published: January 2021

Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land-use (AFOLU) are thought to play a vital role in long-term GHG emissions reduction, especially for their importance in non-CO2 emissions, bioenergy supply and carbon sequestration realized by afforestation. Several studies have noted potential adverse impacts of land-related emissions mitigation on food security, due to food price increases, but these studies have not disaggregated the individual aspects of land-related emissions mitigation that impact food security. Here, we show the extent to which three factors—non-CO2 emissions reduction, bioenergy production, and afforestation—change the food security and agricultural market conditions under 2 °C climate stabilization scenarios, using six global agro-economic models. The results show that afforestation, often implemented in the models by imposing carbon prices on land carbon stocks, causes the largest impacts on food security, followed by non-CO2 emissions policies, generally implemented as emissions taxes. Respectively, these measures put an additional 41.9 and 26.7 million people at risk of hunger in 2050. This study highlights the need for better coordination of emissions reduction and agricultural market management policy.
Applying a Novel Approach to Scoping Review Incorporating Artificial Intelligence: Mapping the Natural History of Gonorrhoea
Authors: Whelan Jane , Ghoniem Mohammad , Médoc Nicolas , Apicella Mike , Beck Ekkehard
Published: January 2021

BackgroundThis scoping review presents the results of three distinct search strategies combined to identify and map the range of conditions (clinical presentations, complications, coinfections and health problems) associated with gonorrhoea infection. We also report use of a novel artificial-intelligence-(AI)-assisted Medline search tool. MethodsTo fully characterize the range of health outcomes associated with gonorrhoea, we combined a structured preliminary search with a traditional systematic search, then supplemented with the output of a novel AI-assisted Medline search to identify eligible literature. ResultsWe identified 189 health conditions associated with gonorrhoea infection from107 unique references and 21 International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems Ninth and Tenth Revision (ICD 9/10) or Read codes. Pathogenic processes relating to these outcomes were also briefly summarized. The 189 identified health conditions were related to infection of the urogenital tract (n=86), anorectal tract (n=6) oropharyngeal tract (n=5) and the eye (n=14); and other conditions such as systemic (n=61) and neonatal conditions (n=7), psychosocial associations (n=3), and co-infections (n=7). The 107 unique references attained a Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) score of ≥2++ (n=2), 2+ (14 [13%]), 2- (30 [28%]) and 3 (45 [42%]), respectively. Remaining papers (n=16) were reviews. ConclusionsThrough AI screening of Medline, we captured – titles, abstracts, case reports and case series related to rare but serious health conditions. These outcomes might otherwise have been missed during a systematic search. The AI-assisted search provided a useful addition to traditional/manual literature searches especially when rapid results are required.
The Psychometric Properties of the Persian of Miss Nursing Care Tool among Iranian Nurses
Authors: Rahimi Shoeleh , Ebadi Abbas , Khankeh Hamid Reza , Lotfi Mohammad Sajjad
Published: January 2021

Background: Miss nursing care, as an important hidden problem, can disrupt nursing function. Hence, it has been identified as a quality index for nursing care and patient safety recently. Therefore, amounts and types of miss nursing care as well as its reasons have to be explored using a quantitative tool. The present study aimed to investigate the features of the localized miss nursing care tool in 2020.Methods: In this methodological study, miss nursing care tool was translated and back-translated and its face and content validity was assessed by a panel of experts. Then, the tool was distributed electronically among 300 nurses with various experiences working in healthcare centers. The construct validity was evaluated via exploratory factor analysis. Its reliability was also explored using Cronbach’s alpha and Intra-class Correlation Coefficient (ICC).Results: This study was conducted on 300 nurses. The exploratory factor analysis, which resulted in the identification of three factors in the second part of the tool, namely relations, financial resources, and human resources, explaining 79.6% of the total variance. The reliability of the first and second parts of the tool was 0.912 and 0.901, respectively. Additionally, the ICC was found to be 0.687 for the first part and 0.706 for the second part of the tool.Conclusion: The Persian version of the miss care tool benefitted from appropriate validity and reliability. Thus, it could be used as an index for evaluation of clinical nursing care.
Relevance of Connexin 26 (GJB2) Gene Mutations With Congenital Nonsyndromic Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Lraqi Deafness Patients.
Authors: Al-janabi Anwar Madlool , Ahmmed Habeeb Shuhaib , Alkhafaji Salih Mahdi
Published: January 2021

Objective: This study aimed to detect the frequency of the three most common mutations of GJB2 in nonsyndromic sensorineural deafness for Iraqi population.Method: The current case-control study was conducted from January 2018 to November 2019 at ENT Departments from middle Euphrates region of Iraq. The study was included 95 deaf patients group (55 males and 40 females) their age range between 11-40 years old and 21.5 ± 6.3 year (mean ± SD). and 110 healthy control group, their ages range between 10-40 years old and 20.1 ± 5.9 year (mean ± SD), these two groups were matched in age and gender. In order to detect c.35delG, 235delC and 167delT mutations in GJB2 gene, we were employed the polymerase chain reaction – restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique.Results: From 95 deaf patients with non syndromic hearing loss (NSHL), were participated in this study. The c.35delG was the main frequent mutation encountered with GJB2 gene, of the 95 patients, 38(40%) were heterozygous and the others 57(60%) were homozygous genotypes. The second degree mutation in GJB2 gene was c.235delC mutation. Which from the 95 deaf patients, 35 (36.8%) were carried out homozygous, 5 (5.3%) were carried out heterozygous and 55(57.9) of the study individuals were appeared wild genotypes. None of the 95 deaf patients were showed the c.167delT mutation, while Connexin 26 studied mutations were not detected in healthy control group.Conclusion: Our data conclude that the GJB2 c.35delG and c.235delC gene mutations were the main cause of congenital hearing loss in Iraqi deaf population.
Deficiency of GDF8 Protects Skeletal Muscle Cells from Ischemia Reperfusion Injury
Authors: Wallner Christoph , Drysch Marius , Becerikli Mustafa , Schmidt Sonja , Hahn Stephan , Wagner Johannes , Reinkemeier Felix , Dadras Mehran , Sogorski Alexander , Glinksi Maxi von , Lehnhardt Marcus , Behr Björn
Published: January 2021

Ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury plays a pivotal role in many diseases and leads to collateral damage during surgical interventions. While most studies focus on alleviating its severity in the context of brain, liver, kidney, and cardiac tissue, research as regards to skeletal muscle has not been conducted to the same extent. In the past, GDF8 (myostatin), primarily known for supressing muscle growth, has been implicated in inflammatory circuits, and research provided promising results for cardiac IR injury mitigation by inhibiting GDF8 cell surface receptor ACVR2B. This generated the question if interrupting GDF8 signaling could temper IR injury in skeletal muscle. Examining human specimens from free myocutaneous flap transfer demonstrated increased GDF8 signaling and tissue damage in terms of apoptotic activity, cell death, tissue edema, and lipid peroxidation. In subsequent in vivo MstnLn/Ln IR injury models, we identified potential mechanisms linking GDF8 deficiency to protective effects, among others, inhibition of p38 MAPK signaling and SERCA2a modulation. Furthermore, transcriptional profiling revealed a putative involvement of NK cells. Collectively, this work establishes a protective role of GDF8 deficiency in skeletal muscle IR injury.
Spatiotemporal Patterns and Determinants of Undernutrition Among Late Adolescent Girls in Ethiopia Using Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys 2000 to 2016: Spatiotemporal and Multilevel Approach.
Authors: Derseh Nebiyu , Gelaye Kassahun , Muluneh Atalay
Published: January 2021

Introduction: Under-nutrition of late adolescent girls in Ethiopia is the highest among Southern and Eastern African countries. However, the spatial and temporal variations of under-nutrition as a national context is not well understood. This study aimed the spatiotemporal patterns and determinants of under-nutrition among Late Adolescent Girls in Ethiopia.Methods: An in-depth secondary data analysis was conducted from women’s data of four consecutive Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys (EDHS) 2000 to 2016. A total of 12,056 late adolescent girls were included in this study. The global spatial autocorrelation was assessed using the Global Moran’s I statistic to evaluate the presence of geographical clustering and variability of undernutrition. The significant cluster scan statistics using Bernoulli model to detect local clusters of significant high rate and low rates of under-nutrition was explored. Multilevel binary logistic regression model with cluster level random effects was fitted to determine factors associated with under-nutrition among Late Adolescent girls in Ethiopia. Results: undernutrition was clustered nationally during each survey (Global Moran’s I=0.009-0.045, Z-score= 5.55-27.24, p value < 0.001). In the final model, individual and community level factors accounted about 31.67% of the variations for under-nutrition. The odds of being under-nourished girls in the age groups of 18 -19 years were 57 % (AOR = 0.43; 95 % CI: 0.35 - 0.53) less likely than those from 15-17 years old. Being in higher educational status was 4.50 times (AOR= 4.50; 95% CI: 2.33–8.69) more likely to be under-nourished compared with no educational status. Undernutrition with occupation of sales was 40% (AOR=0.60; 95% CI: 0.43 – 0.84) lower than those with not working. The odds of being undernourished adolescents were 1.77 times (AOR=1.77; 95% CI: 1.24 - 2.53) higher than participants with unimproved latrine type. Rural residents were 2. 35 times (AOR=2.35; 95% CI: 1.41 - 3.92) more likely to be under nourish compared with urban residents. Conclusion: undernutrition among late adolescent girls was spatially clustered in Ethiopia. The significant high rate of undernutrition was observed in Northern and Eastern Ethiopia. Those regions with high rates of under-nutrition should design interventions to combat under-nutrition.
Acute Care Nurses’ Perceptions of Leadership, Teamwork, Turnover Intention and Patient Safety – A Mixed Methods Study
Authors: Zaheer Shahram , Ginsburg Liane , Wong Hannah , Thomson Kelly , Bain Lorna , Wulffhart Zaev
Published: January 2021

Background This study contributes to a small but growing body of literature on how context influences perceptions of patient safety in healthcare settings. We examine the impact of senior leadership support for safety, supervisory leadership support for safety, teamwork, and turnover intention on overall patient safety grade. Interaction effects of predictors on perceptions of patient safety are also examined.Methods Cross-sectional survey data (N = 185) were collected from nurses and non-physician healthcare professionals. Semi-structured interview data (N = 15) were collected from nurses. The study participants worked in intensive care, general medicine, mental health, or the emergency department of a large community hospital in Southern Ontario.Results Hierarchical regression analyses showed that staff perceptions of senior leadership (p < 0.001), teamwork (p < 0.01), and turnover intention (p < 0.01) were significantly associated with overall patient safety grade. The interactive effect of teamwork and turnover intention on overall patient safety grade was also found to be significant (p < 0.05). The qualitative findings corroborated the survey results but also helped expand the characteristics of the study’s key concepts (e.g., teamwork within and across professional boundaries) and why certain statistical relationships were found to be non-significant (e.g., nurse interviewees perceived the safety specific responsibilities of frontline supervisors much more broadly compared to the narrower conceptualization of the construct in the survey).Conclusions The results of the current study suggest that senior leadership, teamwork, and turnover intention significantly impact nursing staff perceptions of patient safety. Leadership is a modifiable contextual factor and resources should be dedicated to strengthen relational competencies of healthcare leaders. Healthcare organizations must also proactively foster inter and intra-professional collaboration by providing teamwork educational workshops or other on-site learning opportunities (e.g., simulation training). Healthcare organizations would benefit by considering the interactive effect of contextual factors as another lever for patient safety improvement, e.g., lowering staff turnover intentions would maximize the positive impact of teamwork improvement initiatives on patient safety.
A Research on Stress-Induced Deformation of Thin Copper Substrate in Double-Sided Lapping
Authors: Guo Jiang , He Zeng-Xu , Wang Bin , Pan Bo , Bai Qian , Kong Jin-Xing , Kang Ren-Ke
Published: January 2021

Double-sided lapping is an ultra-precision machining method capable of obtaining high-precision surface. However, during the lapping process of thin pure copper substrate, the workpiece will be warped due to the influence of residual stress-related, including the processing stress and initial residual stress, which will deteriorate the flatness of the workpiece and ultimately affect the performance of components. In this study, finite element method (FEM) was adopted to study the effect of residual stress-related on the deformation of pure copper substrate during double-sided lapping. Considering the initial residual stress of the workpiece, the stress caused by the lapping and their distribution characteristics, a prediction model was proposed for simulating workpiece machining deformation in lapping process by measuring the material removal rate of the upper and lower surfaces of the workpiece under the corresponding parameters. The results showed that the primary cause of the warping deformation of the workpiece in the double-sided lapping is the redistribution of initial residual stress caused by uneven removal of double-sided material. The finite element simulation results were in good agreement with the experimental results.
Precipitation and Soil Moisture Datasets Show Severe Droughts in the MENA Region
Authors: Bitar Ahmad Al , Najem Sami , Jarlan Lionel , Zribi Mehrez , Faour Ghaleb
Published: January 2021

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is facing the challenge of lingering droughts. Precipitation and soil moisture are two Essential Climate Variables (ECVs) that are relevant for drought monitoring. We assessed the discrepancies in drought monitoring using remote sensing data from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) and European Space Agency Climate Change Initiative (ESA-CCI) and European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) reanalysis data (ERA5). A standardized index approach is applied to the four datasets. The indices are spatially and temporally consistent except for the ESA-CCI soil moisture (SM) dataset. The indices depict drought events over the North-West Africa region and show that the TRMM standardized precipitation index (SPI), ERA5 SPI and standardized soil moisture index (SMI) detect drought events in the Near East. A binary classification analysis showed that the indices can accurately and precisely identify drought events across the MENA region except for North East Africa. The indices show that the MENA region was recently under severe to extreme drought conditions, which are driving the exploitation of available water resources in an unsustainable manner. A focus on the Haouz Plain, Morocco, and Aleppo, Syria, shows the critical situation, while the conditions over Al Jazirah, Sudan, are less critical.
As Strong as We Are United: Effects of Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Emotion Regulation on Quality of Life in Women with Breast Cancer
Authors: Moura Rita , Camilo Cristina , Luís Sílvia
Published: January 2021

Background: Women diagnosed with breast cancer are often subjected to negative emotions, resulting in higher levels of emotional burden and decreased levels of well-being and quality of life. The present study aims to compare the implementation of two regulatory levels, intrapersonal and interpersonal (as social sharing of emotions) and explore their impact on breast cancer patients’ perception of quality of life. Methods: Sixty-eight women previously diagnosed with the disease participated in this study, with a mean age of 63 years old (SD = 11.58). Data was collected through a self-report questionnaire to assess emotional experience, intrapersonal regulation, social sharing of emotions and breast cancer-related well-being and quality of life. Results: Data yielded that most of the participants regulated their negative emotions within social interactions and used more antecedent-focused strategies to cognitively reformulate the emotional episode. Moreover, interpersonal regulation had a greater impact on well-being and quality of life than intrapersonal regulation. In particular, the occurrence of sharing episodes and social interactions played an important and beneficial role on patients’ emotion regulation. Conclusions: These findings suggest that social sharing of emotions is an efficient process to help breast cancer patients better cope with the psychological and emotional burden of the disease, thus positively influencing the way they perceive their well-being and quality of life.
Verifying Feeding Tube Placement in Canine and Feline Neonates
Authors: Furthner Etienne , Kowalewski Mariusz , Torgerson Paul , Reichler Iris
Published: January 2021

Background: Tube feeding is a common procedure neonatology. In humans, tube misplacement is reported to occur up to 59% and may lead to perforation in 1.1% of preterm intubated neonates. While numerous studies on optimal tube placement have been performed in human neonates, the current recommendations on tube feeding in canine and feline neonatology are based, at best, on studies made in adults. Our aim is to test ultrasonography as a tool, and to compare different anatomical predictive markers used in human, canine and feline neonates.Results: Predictive tube length when held bent between the last rib to the mouth may induce trauma compared to when held straight. A strong positive linear correlation was found between the birthweight and the localization of the gastric cardia. Ultrasonography, compared to coeliotomy findings were similar. Stomach volume was less than 2 ml per 100 g in the less than one-day-old studied puppies (n= 25) and kittens (n=28).Conclusion: A weight-based equation is proposed to help predicting appropriate tube placement. Ultrasonography can be used as tube placement control. Less than one-day-old neonates have a lower stomach capacity. Further studies are required to evaluate whether older growing animals follow the same correlation compared to the weight. Further in vivo studies are warranted to determine a gold standard procedure for tube feeding in neonatal puppies and kittens.
“We Are Taking Every Precaution to Do Our Part...”: A Comparative Analysis of Nursing, Palliative and Hospice Care Facilities’ Websites During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Ölcer Sabahat , Idris Mohamed , Yilmaz-Aslan Yüce , Brzoska Patrick
Published: January 2021

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has a significant impact on health care processes. Precautions such as restrictions imposed on visitors and social distancing have led to multiple challenges, particularly in terms of communication. Using the case of nursing, palliative and hospice care facilities in Germany and drawing on agenda-setting theory, the present study aims to shed light on how health care facilities use their websites to inform (potential) health care users about changes in regulations, new protective measures implemented and about recommendations in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The websites of nursing, palliative and hospice care facilities in Germany were examined using qualitative document analysis and qualitative content analysis. A total of 138 websites was analysed in the study. The data gathered includes all the information about COVID-19 on these websites published from the beginning of March until August 15, 2020. Results: Facilities show similarities in adhering to the measures taken by the authorities to restrict the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and to protect vulnerable patients and employees. The message of avoiding to pay visits to patients in facilities unless there was an emergency was shared between facilities; however, visiting procedures in practice varied by types of facilities. For optimal communication, telephone and especially video calls were the options preferred by healthcare providers and health care users. Facilities made great efforts to prevent emotional stress and to strengthen resilience among all stakeholders. Transparency was adopted by many facilities in order to build the public’s trust. Conclusion: The agenda of health care facilities has been seriously affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The study sheds light on the strategies developed by facilities, their efforts to increase emotional resilience among health care staff and health care users, the ethical guidelines they have adopted regarding privacy policies as well as how these themes are communicated via the facilities’ websites. The results can inform other health care facilities about how websites can be used as essential communication tools in times of public health crises.
Characterizing the Role of Glycogen Synthase Kinase (GSK)-3α/β in Macrophage Polarization and the Regulation of Pro-Atherogenic Pathways
Authors: Patel Sarvatit , Werstuck Geoff
Published: January 2021

The molecular and cellular mechanisms that link cardiovascular risk factors to the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis are not understood. Recent findings from our laboratory indicate that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress signaling through glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3α/β induces pro-atherosclerotic pathways. The objective of this study was to define the specific roles of GSK3α and GSK3β in the activation of pro-atherogenic processes in macrophages. Bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDM) were isolated from low-density lipoprotein receptor knockout (Ldlr-/-) mice and Ldlr-/- mice with myeloid deficiency of GSK3α and/or GSK3β. M1 and M2 macrophages were used to examine functions relevant to the development of atherosclerosis, including polarization, inflammatory response, cell viability, lipid accumulation, migration, and metabolism. GSK3α deficiency impairs M1 macrophage polarization, and reduces the inflammatory response and lipid accumulation, but increases macrophage mobility/migration. GSK3β deficiency promotes M1 macrophage polarization, which further increases the inflammatory response and lipid accumulation, but decreases macrophage migration. Macrophages deficient in both GSK3α and GSK3β exhibit increased cell viability, proliferation, and metabolism. These studies begin to delineate the specific roles of GSK3α and GSK3β in macrophage polarization and function. These data suggest that myeloid cell GSK3α signaling regulates M1 macrophage polarization and pro-atherogenic functions to promote atherosclerosis development.
Whole Brain 3D MR Fingerprinting in Multiple Sclerosis: A Pilot Investigation
Authors: Mostardeiro Thomaz R. , Panda Ananya , Campeau Norbert G. , Witte Robert J. , Sui Yi , Lu Aiming , McGee Kiaran P.
Published: January 2021

Background: MR fingerprinting (MRF) is a novel imaging method proposed for the diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). This study aims to determine if MR Fingerprinting (MRF) relaxometry can differentiate frontal normal appearing white matter (F-NAWM) and splenium in patients diagnosed with MS as compared to controls and to characterize the relaxometry of demyelinating plaques relative to the time of diagnosis.Methods: Three-dimensional (3D) MRF data were acquired on a 3.0T MRI system resulting in isotropic voxels (1x1x1mm3) and a total acquisition time of 4min 38s. Data were collected on 18 subjects paired with 18 controls. Regions of interested were drawn over MRF-derived T1 relaxometry maps encompassing selected MS lesions, F-NAWM and splenium. T1 and T2 relaxometry features from those segmented areas were used to classify MS lesions from F-NAWM and splenium with T-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding algorithms (T-SNE). Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) was performed to discriminate NAWM and Splenium in MS compared with controls. Results: Mean out-of-fold machine learning prediction accuracy for discriminant results between MS patients and controls for F-NAWM was 65% and approached 90% for the splenium. There was significant positive correlation between time since diagnosis and MS lesions mean T2 (p=0.015), minimum T1 (p=0.03) and negative correlation with splenium uniformity (p=0.04). Perfect discrimination (AUC=1) was achieved between selected features from MS lesions and F-NAWM.Conclusions: 3D-MRF has the ability to differentiate between MS and controls based on relaxometry properties from the F-NAWM and splenium. Whole brain coverage allows the assessment of quantitative properties within lesions that provide chronological assessment of the time from MS diagnosis.
Integrated Small RNA Sequencing, Transcriptome, and GWAS Data Reveal miRNA Regulation in Response to Milk Protein Traits in Chinese Holstein Cattle
Authors: Cai Wentao , Li Cong , Li Junya , Song Jiuzhou , Zhang Shengli
Published: January 2021

BackgroundMilk protein is one of the most important economic traits in the milk industry. Our previous study has revealed some functional genes responsible for milk protein synthesis in mammals. Yet, the miRNA-mediated gene regulatory network for the synthesis of milk protein in mammary is poorly understood. Results12 samples from Chinese Holstein Cows with three too high and three low phenotypic values for milk protein percentage in lactation and non-lactating were examined through deep small RNA sequencing. By bioinformatics analysis, we characterized 387 known and 212 novel miRNAs in the mammary gland. Differentially expressed analysis detected 28 miRNAs in lactation and 52 miRNAs in the non-lactating period with a highly significant correlation with milk protein concentration. Target prediction and correlation analysis identified some key miRNAs and their targets potentially involved in the synthesis of milk protein. Using genome-wide association signal (GWAS) enrichment analysis among five milk production traits, we found the differentially expressed targets were significantly related to milk protein traits.ConclusionsThis integrated study on the transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulatory profiles between significantly differential phenotype of milk protein concentration provides new insights into the mechanism of milk protein synthesis, which should reveal the regulatory mechanisms of milk secretion.