bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multiscale modeling of tumor growth and angiogenesis: Evaluation of tumor-targeted therapy
Authors: Jafari Nivlouei Sahar , Soltani M. , Carvalho João , Travasso Rui , Salimpour Mohammad Reza , Shirani Ebrahim
Published: June 2021

The dynamics of tumor growth and associated events cover multiple time and spatial scales, generally including extracellular, cellular and intracellular modifications. The main goal of this study is to model the biological and physical behavior of tumor evolution in presence of normal healthy tissue, considering a variety of events involved in the process. These include hyper and hypoactivation of signaling pathways during tumor growth, vessels’ growth, intratumoral vascularization and competition of cancer cells with healthy host tissue. The work addresses two distinctive phases in tumor development—the avascular and vascular phases—and in each stage two cases are considered—with and without normal healthy cells. The tumor growth rate increases considerably as closed vessel loops (anastomoses) form around the tumor cells resulting from tumor induced vascularization. When taking into account the host tissue around the tumor, the results show that competition between normal cells and cancer cells leads to the formation of a hypoxic tumor core within a relatively short period of time. Moreover, a dense intratumoral vascular network is formed throughout the entire lesion as a sign of a high malignancy grade, which is consistent with reported experimental data for several types of solid carcinomas. In comparison with other mathematical models of tumor development, in this work we introduce a multiscale simulation that models the cellular interactions and cell behavior as a consequence of the activation of oncogenes and deactivation of gene signaling pathways within each cell. Simulating a therapy that blocks relevant signaling pathways results in the prevention of further tumor growth and leads to an expressive decrease in its size (82% in the simulation).
A combinatorial cis-regulatory logic restricts color-sensing Rhodopsins to specific photoreceptor subsets in Drosophila
Authors: Poupault Clara , Choi Diane , Lam-Kamath Khanh , Dewett Deepshe , Razzaq Ansa , Bunker Joseph , Perry Alexis , Cho Irene , Rister Jens
Published: June 2021

Color vision in Drosophila melanogaster is based on the expression of five different color-sensing Rhodopsin proteins in distinct subtypes of photoreceptor neurons. Promoter regions of less than 300 base pairs are sufficient to reproduce the unique, photoreceptor subtype-specific rhodopsin expression patterns. The underlying cis-regulatory logic remains poorly understood, but it has been proposed that the rhodopsin promoters have a bipartite structure: the distal promoter region directs the highly restricted expression in a specific photoreceptor subtype, while the proximal core promoter region provides general activation in all photoreceptors. Here, we investigate whether the rhodopsin promoters exhibit a strict specialization of their distal (subtype specificity) and proximal (general activation) promoter regions, or if both promoter regions contribute to generating the photoreceptor subtype-specific expression pattern. To distinguish between these two models, we analyze the expression patterns of a set of hybrid promoters that combine the distal promoter region of one rhodopsin with the proximal core promoter region of another rhodopsin. We find that the function of the proximal core promoter regions extends beyond providing general activation: these regions play a previously underappreciated role in generating the non-overlapping expression patterns of the different rhodopsins. Therefore, cis-regulatory motifs in both the distal and the proximal core promoter regions recruit transcription factors that generate the unique rhodopsin patterns in a combinatorial manner. We compare this combinatorial regulatory logic to the regulatory logic of olfactory receptor genes and discuss potential implications for the evolution of rhodopsins.
Long-term assessment of ecosystem services at ecological restoration sites using Landsat time series
Authors: del Río-Mena Trinidad , Willemen Louise , Vrieling Anton , Snoeys Andy , Nelson Andy
Published: June 2021

Reversing ecological degradation through restoration activities is a key societal challenge of the upcoming decade. However, lack of evidence on the effectiveness of restoration interventions leads to inconsistent, delayed, or poorly informed statements of success, hindering the wise allocation of resources, representing a missed opportunity to learn from previous experiences. This study contributes to a better understanding of spatial and temporal dynamics of ecosystem services at ecological restoration sites. We developed a method using Landsat satellite images combined with a Before-After-Control-Impact (BACI) design, and applied this to an arid rural landscape, the Baviaanskloof in South Africa. Since 1990, various restoration projects have been implemented to halt and reverse degradation. We applied the BACI approach at pixel-level comparing the conditions of each intervened pixel (impact) with 20 similar control pixels. By evaluating the conditions before and after the restoration intervention, we assessed the effectiveness of long-term restoration interventions distinguishing their impact from environmental temporal changes. The BACI approach was implemented with Landsat images that cover a 30-year period at a spatial resolution of 30 meter. We evaluated the impact of three interventions (revegetation, livestock exclusion, and the combination of both) on three ecosystem services; forage provision, erosion prevention, and presence of iconic vegetation. We also evaluated whether terrain characteristics could partially explain the variation in impact of interventions. The resulting maps showed spatial patterns of positive and negative effects of interventions on ecosystem services. Intervention effectiveness differed across vegetation conditions, terrain aspect, and soil parent material. Our method allows for spatially explicit quantification of the long-term restoration impact on ecosystem service supply, and for the detailed visualization of impact across an area. This pixel-level analysis is specifically suited for heterogeneous landscapes, where restoration impact not only varies between but also within restoration sites.
Social survival: Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) use social structure to partition ecological niches within proposed critical habitat
Authors: Wray Janie , Keen Eric , O’Mahony Éadin N.
Published: June 2021

Animal culture and social bonds are relevant to wildlife conservation because they influence patterns of geography, behavior, and strategies of survival. Numerous examples of socially-driven habitat partitioning and ecological-niche specialization can be found among vertebrates, including toothed whales. But such social-ecological dynamics, described here as ‘social niche partitioning’, are not known among baleen whales, whose societies—particularly on foraging grounds—are largely perceived as unstructured and incidental to matters of habitat use and conservation. However, through 16 years of behavioral observations and photo-identifications of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) feeding within a fjord system in the Canadian Pacific (primarily within Gitga’at First Nation waters), we have documented long-term pair bonds (up to 12 years) as well as a complex societal structure, which corresponds closely to persistent patterns in feeding strategy, long-term site fidelity (extended occupancy and annual rate of return up to 75%), specific geographic preferences within the fjord system, and other forms of habitat use. Randomization tests of network congruency and clustering algorithms were used to test for overlap in patterns of social structure and habitat use, which confirmed the occurrence of social niche partitioning on the feeding grounds of this baleen whale species. In addition, we document the extensive practice of group bubble net feeding in Pacific Canada. This coordinated feeding behavior was found to strongly mediate the social structure and habitat use within this humpback whale society. Additionally, during our 2004–2019 study, we observed a shift in social network structure in 2010–2012, which corresponded with environmental and demographic shifts including a sudden decline in the population’s calving rate. Our findings indicate that the social lives of humpback whales, and perhaps baleen whales generally, are more complex than previously supposed and should be a primary consideration in the assessment of potential impacts to important habitat.
Revealing nuclear receptor hub modules from Basal-like breast cancer expression networks
Authors: Hsu Sharon Nienyun , Hui Erika Wong En , Liu Mengzhen , Wu Di , Hughes Thomas A. , Smith James
Published: June 2021

Nuclear receptors are a class of transcriptional factors. Together with their co-regulators, they regulate development, homeostasis, and metabolism in a ligand-dependent manner. Their ability to respond to environmental stimuli rapidly makes them versatile cellular components. Their coordinated activities regulate essential pathways in normal physiology and in disease. Due to their complexity, the challenge remains in understanding their direct associations in cancer development. Basal-like breast cancer is an aggressive form of breast cancer that often lacks ER, PR and Her2. The absence of these receptors limits the treatment for patients to the non-selective cytotoxic and cytostatic drugs. To identify potential drug targets it is essential to identify the most important nuclear receptor association network motifs in Basal-like subtype progression. This research aimed to reveal the transcriptional network patterns, in the hope to capture the underlying molecular state driving Basal-like oncogenesis. In this work, we illustrate a multidisciplinary approach of integrating an unsupervised machine learning clustering method with network modelling to reveal unique transcriptional patterns (network motifs) underlying Basal-like breast cancer. The unsupervised clustering method provides a natural stratification of breast cancer patients, revealing the underlying heterogeneity in Basal-like. Identification of gene correlation networks (GCNs) from Basal-like patients in both the TCGA and METABRIC databases revealed three critical transcriptional regulatory constellations that are enriched in Basal-like. These represent critical NR components implicated in Basal-like breast cancer transcription. This approach is easily adaptable and applicable to reveal critical signalling relationships in other diseases.
Perceived discrimination during the childbirth hospitalization and postpartum visit attendance and content: Evidence from the Listening to Mothers in California survey
Authors: Attanasio Laura B. , Ranchoff Brittany L. , Geissler Kimberley H.
Published: June 2021

Objective

Postpartum visits are an important opportunity to address ongoing maternal health. Experiences of discrimination in healthcare can impact healthcare use, including postpartum visits. However, it is unknown whether discrimination is associated with postpartum visit content. This study aimed to examine the relationship between perceived discrimination during the childbirth hospitalization and postpartum visit attendance and content.

Research design

Data were from Listening to Mothers in California, a population-based survey of people with a singleton hospital birth in California in 2016. Adjusted logistic regression models estimated the association between perceived discrimination during the childbirth hospitalization and 1) postpartum visit attendance, and 2) topics addressed at the postpartum visit (birth control, depression and breastfeeding) for those who attended.

Results

90.6% of women attended a postpartum visit, and 8.6% reported discrimination during the childbirth hospitalization. In adjusted models, any discrimination and insurance-based discrimination were associated with 7 and 10 percentage point (pp) lower predicted probabilities of attending a postpartum visit, respectively. There was a 7pp lower predicted probability of discussing birth control for women who had experienced discrimination (81% vs. 88%), a 15pp lower predicted probability of being asked about depression (64% vs. 79%), and a 9 pp lower predicted probability of being asked about breastfeeding (57% vs. 66%).

Conclusions

Amid heightened attention to the importance of postpartum care, there is a need to better understand determinants of postpartum care quality. Our findings highlight the potential consequences of healthcare discrimination in the perinatal period, including lower quality of postpartum care.
Lockdowns, lethality, and laissez-faire politics. Public discourses on political authorities in high-trust countries during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Perlstein Sara Grøn , Verboord Marc
Published: June 2021

This study looks at population response to government containment strategies during initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in four high-trust Northern European countries–Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden–with special emphasis on expressions of governmental trust. Sentiment analysis and topic modeling analysis were performed using Twitter data from three phases during the initial European lockdown, and results were compared over time and between countries. Findings show that, in line with existing theory, assertive crisis responses and proactive communication were generally well-received, whereas tentative crisis responses or indications by the authorities that the crisis was manageable were generally met with suspicion. In addition, while government support was high in all countries during the height of the crisis, messages critical of the government as well as conspiracy theories were nevertheless widely circulated. Importantly, countries with the least assertive strategies, rather than clear negative responses, saw heightened polarization of sentiment in the population. Furthermore, in the case of Sweden, a laissez-faire strategy was generally accepted by the population, despite strong criticism from other countries, until mortality rates started to rise. Possible explanations for these findings are discussed with an emphasis of prior trust as a potential explanatory factor. Future research should seek to replicate these findings in other countries with different levels of prior governmental trust or with a different severity of the COVID-19 outbreak than the countries in this study as well as triangulate the findings of this study using alternative methods.
Ultra-widefield retinal imaging for adjunctive resident training in retinal break detection
Authors: Lin I-Hung , Chien Chien-Cheng , Chen Yi-Hao , Pao Shu-i , Chen Jiann-Torng , Chen Ching-Long
Published: June 2021

We evaluated the clinical utility of ultra-widefield imaging as an adjunctive tool for training resident ophthalmologists in the detection of retinal breaks. This was a prospective study conducted at a secondary health care center (Tri-Service General Hospital) in Taiwan. Participants were 44 patients (53 eyes) who were referred to our hospital after being diagnosed with retinal breaks. Patients first underwent an indirect ophthalmoscopy examination of the total fundus without scleral depression by our junior (first and second year) or senior (third and fourth year) resident ophthalmologist and then underwent an ultra-widefield imaging examination with a central image and four gaze-steered (up, down, nasal, and temporal) images to determine the number of retinal breaks in the total fundus and the four quadrants. Of the total 53 eyes, 31 were examined by junior residents and 22 were examined by senior residents. In the group of junior residents, ultra-widefield imaging was significantly better at detecting retinal breaks of the total fundus (49 vs. 33 retinal breaks, p < 0.001) and the temporal quadrant (17 vs. 10 retinal breaks, p = 0.018) than indirect ophthalmoscopy. In the group of senior residents, there was no significant difference in the ability to detect retinal breaks in the total fundus or each of the four quadrants with ultra-widefield imaging or indirect ophthalmoscopy. Our results indicate that, compared to indirect ophthalmoscopy, ultra-widefield imaging with a central image and four gaze-steered images has a better performance and is a useful adjunct tool for the detection of retinal breaks in junior resident training. Additionally, it could be a useful method for teaching indirect ophthalmoscopy examination to junior residents.
Measuring the conservation attitudes of local communities towards the African elephant Loxodonta africana, a flagship species in the Mara ecosystem
Authors: Tobias Ochieng Nyumba , Elizabeth Kimongo Nankini , Nigel Leader-Williams
Published: June 2021

Gaining insights into local people’s views, values and preferences for different conservation management options are increasingly gaining importance among conservationists and decision-makers. This can be achieved through the assessment and understanding of conservation attitudes and perceptions of rural communities including demographic characteristics predicting the attitudes to design and implement conservation policies in a more socially acceptable manner. In this study, we developed and validated user-friendly indices to measure attitudes towards the African elephant, a flagship species and its conservation in Trans Mara District. An iterative item reliability analysis was executed on household data from a random sample of 367 respondents using Cronbach’s Alpha in SPSS. Results yielded two indices; (i) Elephant Attitude Index (EAI); and (ii) Maasai Mara National Reserve Attitude Index (MAI). The EAI had a Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient of 0.73 while the MAI had a Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient of 0.77. Data analysis revealed that (i) location of residence; (ii) age of respondent; (iii) number of income sources; (iv) gender of the respondent; and (v) benefit reception were the main determinants of EAI and MAI in TM. Our attitude indices can assist conservation practitioners and decision-makers to prioritise resources, on the assumption that high-scoring individuals are more likely to participate in conservation initiatives. We encourage making available different sources of income for residents and working towards improving the involvement of younger people and women in conservation activities in TM.
The Science for Profit Model—How and why corporations influence science and the use of science in policy and practice
Authors: Legg Tess , Hatchard Jenny , Gilmore Anna B.
Published: June 2021

Science has been at the centre of attempts by major industries, including tobacco, chemical, and pharmaceutical, to delay progress in tackling threats to human and planetary health by, inter alia, obscuring industry harms, and opposing regulation. Some aspects of this influence are well documented, others remain poorly understood, and similarities between industries remain underexplored. This study, therefore, aims to synthesise the literature to develop an evidence-based typology and model of corporate influence on science in order to provide an overview of this multi-faceted phenomenon. We obtained literature examining corporate attempts to influence science and the use of science in policy and practice from: database searches, bibliographies, expert recommendations, and web alerts; using a modified scoping review methodology (n = 68). Through interpretive analysis we developed the Science for Profit Typology and Model. We identified eight corporate sectors repeatedly engaging in activities to influence science, including: manipulation of scientific methods; reshaping of criteria for establishing scientific “proof”; threats against scientists; and clandestine promotion of policy reforms that increase reliance on industry evidence. The typology identifies five macro-level strategies used consistently across the eight industries, comprising 19 meso-level strategies. The model shows how these strategies work to maximise the volume, credibility, reach, and use of industry-favourable science, while minimising these same aspects of industry-unfavourable science. This creates doubt about harms of industry products/practices or efficacy of policies affecting industry; promotes industry-favoured policy responses and industry products as solutions; and legitimises industry’s role as scientific stakeholder. These efforts ultimately serve to weaken policy, prevent litigation, and maximise use of industry products/practices—maximising corporate profitability. We provide an accessible way to understand how and why corporations influence science, demonstrate the need for collective solutions, and discuss changes needed to ensure science works in the public interest.
The human microbiome and COVID-19: A systematic review
Authors: Yamamoto Shinya , Saito Makoto , Tamura Azumi , Prawisuda Diki , Mizutani Taketoshi , Yotsuyanagi Hiroshi
Published: June 2021

Background

Human microbiotas are communities of microorganisms living in symbiosis with humans. They play an important role in the host immune response to respiratory viral infection. However, evidence on the human microbiome and coronavirus disease (COVID-19) relationship is insufficient. The aim of this systematic literature review was to evaluate existing evidence on the association between the microbiome and COVID-19 in humans and summarize these data in the pandemic era.

Methods

We conducted a systematic literature review on the association between the microbiome and COVID-19 in humans by searching PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases for articles in English published up to October 31, 2020. The results were analyzed qualitatively. This study is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020195982).

Results

Of the 543 articles identified by searching databases, 16 in line with the research objectives were eligible for qualitative review: eight sampled the microbiome using stool, four using nasopharyngeal or throat swab, three using bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and one using lung tissue. Fecal microbiome dysbiosis and increased opportunistic pathogens were reported in COVID-19 patients. Several studies suggested the dysbiosis in the lung microbiome of COVID-19 patients with an abundance of opportunistic pathogens using lower respiratory tract samples. The association between COVID-19 severity and the human microbiome remains uncertain.

Conclusion

The human fecal and respiratory tract microbiome changed in COVID-19 patients with opportunistic pathogen abundance. Further research to elucidate the effect of alternation of the human microbiome in disease pathogenesis is warranted.
3D printed rodent skin-skull-brain model: A novel animal-free approach for neurosurgical training
Authors: Bainier Marie , Su Arel , Redondo Roger L.
Published: June 2021

In neuroscience, stereotactic brain surgery is a standard yet challenging technique for which laboratory and veterinary personnel must be sufficiently and properly trained. There is currently no animal-free training option for neurosurgeries; stereotactic techniques are learned and practiced on dead animals. Here we have used three-dimensional (3D) printing technologies to create rat and mouse skin-skull-brain models, specifically conceived for rodent stereotaxic surgery training. We used 3D models obtained from microCT pictures and printed them using materials that would provide the most accurate haptic feedback for each model—PC-ABS material for the rat and Durable resin for the mouse. We filled the skulls with Polyurethane expanding foam to mimic the brain. In order to simulate rodent skin, we added a rectangular 1mm thick clear silicone sheet on the skull. Ten qualified rodent neurosurgeons then performed a variety of stereotaxic surgeries on these rat and mouse 3D printed models. Participants evaluated models fidelity compared to cadaveric skulls and their appropriateness for educational use. The 3D printed rat and mouse skin-skull-brain models received an overwhelmingly positive response. They were perceived as very realistic, and considered an excellent alternative to cadaveric skulls for training purposes. They can be made rapidly and at low cost. Our real-size 3D printed replicas could enable cost- and time-efficient, animal-free neurosurgery training. They can be absolute replacements for stereotaxic surgery techniques practice including but not limited to craniotomies, screw placement, brain injections, implantations and cement applications. This project is a significant step forward in implementing the replacement, reduction, and refinement (3Rs) principles to animal experimentation. These 3D printed models could lead the way to the complete replacement of live animals for stereotaxic surgery training in laboratories and veterinary studies.
Novel aspects of iron homeostasis in pathogenic bloodstream form Trypanosoma brucei
Authors: Gilabert Carbajo Carla , Cornell Lucy J. , Madbouly Youssef , Lai Zhihao , Yates Phillip A. , Tinti Michele , Tiengwe Calvin
Published: June 2021

Iron is an essential regulatory signal for virulence factors in many pathogens. Mammals and bloodstream form (BSF) Trypanosoma brucei obtain iron by receptor-mediated endocytosis of transferrin bound to receptors (TfR) but the mechanisms by which T. brucei subsequently handles iron remains enigmatic. Here, we analyse the transcriptome of T. brucei cultured in iron-rich and iron-poor conditions. We show that adaptation to iron-deprivation induces upregulation of TfR, a cohort of parasite-specific genes (ESAG3, PAGS), genes involved in glucose uptake and glycolysis (THT1 and hexokinase), endocytosis (Phosphatidic Acid Phosphatase, PAP2), and most notably a divergent RNA binding protein RBP5, indicative of a non-canonical mechanism for regulating intracellular iron levels. We show that cells depleted of TfR by RNA silencing import free iron as a compensatory survival strategy. The TfR and RBP5 iron response are reversible by genetic complementation, the response kinetics are similar, but the regulatory mechanisms are distinct. Increased TfR protein is due to increased mRNA. Increased RBP5 expression, however, occurs by a post-transcriptional feedback mechanism whereby RBP5 interacts with its own, and with PAP2 mRNAs. Further observations suggest that increased RBP5 expression in iron-deprived cells has a maximum threshold as ectopic overexpression above this threshold disrupts normal cell cycle progression resulting in an accumulation of anucleate cells and cells in G2/M phase. This phenotype is not observed with overexpression of RPB5 containing a point mutation (F61A) in its single RNA Recognition Motif. Our experiments shed new light on how T. brucei BSFs reorganise their transcriptome to deal with iron stress revealing the first iron responsive RNA binding protein that is co-regulated with TfR, is important for cell viability and iron homeostasis; two essential processes for successful proliferation.
Early Iron Age ‘black’ glass in Southwestern Iberia: typology, distribution, and context
Authors: Gomes Francisco B.
Published: June 2021

In the past few years, deeply colored black-appearing glass has garnered a growing interest in the context of research on Iron Age glass technology and trade. The numerous ‘black’ glass beads found in Early Iron Age contexts of Southern Portugal have not however been considered in this discussion, and they remain largely unsystematized. In this contribution, a typological survey of these objects is presented which highlights their unusual concentration in a well-delimited area of Southern Portugal and their relatively circumscribed chronological setting. This is particularly striking when compared with other groups of beads, namely blue beads of various types, which are much more widespread and long-lasting. The global position of these beads is also considered, with typological comparisons and the few available compositional data suggesting that they may be the product of Punic, and perhaps specifically Carthaginian trade with the Western Iberian Peninsula. Finally, the possible specific historic context in which these beads arrived in Southern Portugal is considered.
¿Quién fue enterrado en el sarcófago fenicio antropoide masculino de Gadir (Cádiz)?
Authors: Macías López M.ª Milagros , Niveau-de-Villedary y Mariñas Ana M.ª , López Sánchez Natalia , Sicre González Pablo
Published: June 2021

El descubrimiento casual del sarcófago antropomorfo sidonio en 1887 despertó una gran expectación tanto entre la población y las autoridades gaditanas como en los especialistas contemporáneos, hasta el punto de que fueron muchos los investigadores que se interesaron por su estudio, así como por el del esqueleto hallado en su interior, aunque nunca se dudó que correspondiera a un varón como presagiaba la representación esculpida en su tapa. Nuestro objetivo con este trabajo es demostrar, por una parte, que la exhibición del esqueleto y los continuos traslados de la pieza provocaron el deterioro irremediable de los restos –del que dan cuenta los estudiosos del momento– y la sustitución de los huesos originales por otros. En segundo lugar, intentaremos determinar el sexo del individuo inhumado mediante el análisis de las fotografías tomadas durante la apertura del féretro y de los primeros estudios antropológicos llevados a cabo en los años inmediatamente posteriores a su hallazgo, antes del reemplazo del esqueleto. A pesar de las dificultades, creemos que contamos con datos suficientes para proponer que, frente a la idea generalizada, los restos originales podrían corresponder a un individuo de sexo femenino.
El uso de esteras vegetales como material constructivo: evidencias en el sureste de la Península Ibérica durante la Prehistoria reciente
Authors: Pastor Quiles María
Published: June 2021

En este artículo presentamos diversas evidencias arqueológicas de un aspecto de las prácticas arquitectónicas no abordado hasta ahora en la investigación acerca de la Prehistoria Reciente de la Península Ibérica y muy poco conocido en general: el empleo de esteras vegetales integradas en las edificaciones como un material constructivo más. Estas proceden de distintos yacimientos prehistóricos del SE peninsular y han sido obtenidas a partir del estudio de fragmentos constructivos de barro endurecido. Las principales evidencias proceden del núcleo calcolítico de Les Moreres (Crevillente, Alicante), a lo que se unen los indicios pertenecientes a otros cinco enclaves, el neolítico de Los Limoneros II (Elche, Alicante) y los de la Edad del Bronce de Caramoro I (Elche, Alicante), Cabezo del Polovar y Terlinques (Villena, Alicante), así como la Lloma de Betxí (Paterna, Valencia). Dichos hallazgos ponen de manifiesto el gran potencial informativo de este tipo de materialidad y la necesidad de ampliar el abanico de los elementos considerados como susceptibles de ser utilizados para construir desde cronologías prehistóricas.
Súri Orvos Pál heidelbergi magyar peregrinus köszöntője a későbbi „Téli Király és Királyné” esküvőjére (1613)
Authors: Máté Ágnes
Published: June 2021

A tanulmány Súri Orvos Pál heidelbergi egyetemi hallgató epithalamiumát helyezi el a Pfalzi Frigyes és Stuart Erzsébet esküvőjére készült irodalmi alkotások mezőnyében. Súri Orvos munkája mellett a szintén heidelbergi hallgató Johann Philip Pareus művéből is párhuzamokat hoz az esküvői propaganda legfontosabb toposzaira. Súri Orvos művének különlegessége a pápaellenes retorikában használt (képzeletbeli) állatmetaforák sora, amelyekkel a Protestáns Unió és a Római Kúria konfliktusát ábrázolja. E metaforák között helyet kapott egy, állítólag a Garda-tóban élő szörny említése is. A szörny legendája a 16. század végétől adatolható, a 21. század elején pedig saját állatrendszertani nevet is kapott (Benacosaurus Lacustris), és Thomas Brenner gyermekkönyv-sorozatának főszereplőjévé vált.
Megalázó lakoma
Authors: Gellérfi Gergő
Published: June 2021

A Iuvenalis első könyvét záró, a kliens–patrónus-viszony eltorzulását fókuszba állító szatíra jegyzetelt prózai fordítása olvasható az alábbiakban.
VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OF THE POLISH VERSION OF THE TILBURG FRAILTY INDICATOR (TFI)
Authors: UCHMANOWICZ I. , JANKOWSKA-POLAŃSKA B. , UCHMANOWICZ B. , KOWALCZUK K. , GOBBENS R.J.J.
Published: June 2021

Background: In the last decade, studies on frailty have become increasingly frequent in the literature on aging, and also the number of available questionnaires regarding frailty has increased over the years. Therefore, the choice of which questionnaire to use is becoming more difficult. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Polish version of the Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI), an instrument that identifies frailty in the elderly population. Design: Setting, and Participants. The study was carried out in a community-based setting in Wrocław, Poland. Nurses and doctors (general practitioners) administered the TFI in primary care facilities. Participants included a sample of 212 community dwelling elderly aged 60 or older (mean age:70.6 SD≥7.16). Measurements: The validation (assessment of face validity, content validity) was carried out in accordance with the literature. The Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI) consists of two different parts. One part addresses the potential determinants of frailty and the other specifically addresses the components of frailty, covering its physical, psychological and social domains. Scale reliability was estimated using two methods: Cronbach’s alpha, measuring the scale’s internal consistency, and the test-retest method, determining the scale’s absolute stability. To assess test-retest reliability, the same group was re-interviewed by the same observer within 10-14 days of the first interview. Results: The test-retest reliability showed a high level of agreement for all items of the instrument, with values ranging from 96 to 100%. The Cronbach’s Alpha internal consistency was 0.74. Conclusion: The Polish version of the TFI proved to be a valid and reproducible tool for assessment of Frailty Syndrome for the Polish population. We would recommend to be used as the screening tool to assess frailty.
ASSOCIATION BETWEEN CHRONIC PAIN AND FRAILTY IN MEXICAN ELDERS
Authors: CASTAÑEDA MORALES V.M. , JIMÉNEZ GARDUÑO A.M. , ESCÁRCEGA M.V. , SÁNCHEZ VELÁZQUEZ L.D. , BECERRA LAPARRA I.
Published: June 2021

Chronic pain is defined as pain lasting longer than six weeks and is one of the main complaints in elderly subjects. Frailty is a pathological condition that increases an individual’s vulnerability by diminishing their homeostatic reserve, and it is considered a mortality risk factor. We examined the association between chronic pain and frailty in subjects who were recruited from a check-up clinic in Mexico City. Chronic pain and frailty were evaluated in 131 subjects through validated questionnaires. Descriptive and analytical statistics were performed. Of the participants, 41.9% presented with chronic pain, and 12.2% were frail. The unadjusted OR for the presence of frailty in subjects with chronic pain was 14.3 (95%CI 3.0-67.8), and the phi coefficient showed a weak positive correlation between the variables (φ=0.352, p<0.001). In conclusion, chronic pain is associated with a higher risk of frailty. Well-timed diagnosis and treatment of chronic pain can help prevent dependency in these individuals.
GENETIC MODERATORS OF THE IMPACT OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ON DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS
Authors: DOTSON V.M. , HSU F.C. , LANGAEE T.Y. , MCDONOUGH C.W. , KING A.C. , COHEN R.A. , NEWMAN A.B. , KRITCHEVSKY S.B. , MYERS V. , MANINI T.M. , PAHOR M.
Published: June 2021

Background: Converging evidence suggests that physical activity is an effective intervention for both clinical depression and sub-threshold depressive symptoms; however, findings are not always consistent. These mixed results might reflect heterogeneity in response to physical activity, with some subgroups of individuals responding positively, but not others. Objectives: 1) To examine the impact of genetic variation and sex on changes in depressive symptoms in older adults after a physical activity (PA) intervention, and 2) to determine if PA differentially improves particular symptom dimensions of depression. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Setting: Four field centers (Cooper Institute, Stanford University, University of Pittsburgh, and Wake Forest University). Participants: 396 community-dwelling adults aged 70–89 years who participated in the Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders Pilot Study (LIFE-P). Intervention: 12-month PA intervention compared to an education control. Measurements: Polymorphisms in the serotonin transporter (5-HTT), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and apolipoprotein E (APOE) genes; 12-month change in the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale total score, as well as scores on the depressed affect, somatic symptoms, and lack of positive affect subscales. Results: Men randomized to the PA arm showed the greatest decreases in somatic symptoms, with a preferential benefit in male carriers of the BDNF Met allele. Symptoms of lack of positive affect decreased more in men compared to women, particularly in those possessing the 5-HTT L allele, but the effect did not differ by intervention arm. APOE status did not affect change in depressive symptoms. Conclusions: Results of this study suggest that the impact of PA on depressive symptoms varies by genotype and sex, and that PA may mitigate somatic symptoms of depression more than other symptoms. The results suggest that a targeted approach to recommending PA therapy for treatment of depression is viable.
MUSCLE DISUSE AS A PIVOTAL PROBLEM IN SARCOPENIA-RELATED MUSCLE LOSS AND DYSFUNCTION
Authors: BELL K.E. , VON ALLMEN M.T. , DEVRIES M.C. , PHILLIPS S.M.
Published: June 2021

An age-associated loss of muscle mass and strength – sarcopenia – begins at around the fifth decade of life, with mass being lost at ~0.5-1.2% per year and strength at ~3% per year. Sarcopenia can contribute to a variety of negative health outcomes, including an increased risk for falls and fractures, the development of metabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes mellitus, and increase the chance of requiring assisted living. Linear sarcopenic declines in muscle mass and strength are, however, punctuated by transient periods of muscle disuse that can accelerate losses of muscle and strength, which could result in increased risk for the aforementioned conditions. Muscle disuse is recognizable with bed rest or immobilization (for example, due to surgery or acute illness requiring hospitalization); however, recent work has shown that even a relative reduction in ambulation (reduced daily steps) results in significant reductions in muscle mass, strength and possibly an increase in disease risk. Although reduced ambulation is a seemingly “benign” form of disuse, compared to bed rest and immobilization, reports have documented that 2-3 weeks of reduced daily steps may induce: negative changes in body composition, reductions in muscle strength and quality, anabolic resistance, and decrements in glycemic control in older adults. Importantly, periods of reduced ambulation likely occur fairly frequently and appear more difficult to fully recover from, in older adults. Here we explore the consequences of muscle disuse due to reduced ambulatory activity in older adults, with frequent comparisons to established models of disuse: bed rest and immobilization.
Subyacencia de la noción de desarrollo en la formulación de normativa urbana de Villa Gesell (1999-2020)
Authors: Stramigioli Julián
Published: June 2021

La noción de desarrollo ha dado lugar en las últimas décadas a la construcción de discursos con los cuales se validan y legitiman (o deslegitiman) determinadas políticas públicas. En el ámbito de lo urbano, esta construcción cobra una especial fuerza a partir de la preponderancia de la producción del espacio como locus preferencial de la reproducción del capital a partir de la reestructuración económica mundial comenzada en 1970. Por ello, aquí se buscará analizar en qué forma se manifiesta (o no) esta noción en la producción de normativa urbana del Partido de Villa Gesell, tomando como casos de estudio las dos principales instancias en que se intentó plasmar más o menos integralmente en un documento una serie de intenciones relativas a la planificación urbana por parte del municipio, desde su creación en 1978.
Representación gráfica de la temporalidad en manuales de especies vegetales
Authors: Folga Bekavac Alejandro Roman , Espinosa Alpuy Claudia Beatriz
Published: June 2021

Ya sea que hablemos de un proyecto de paisaje, de arquitectura o de urbanismo, los vegetales son uno de los principales componentes en el diseño de los espacios exteriores. La incorporación de vegetales en una propuesta implica proyectar con un material vivo, cuya morfología y apariencia cambian sustancialmente con el tiempo. En este artículo se presenta un proyecto de investigación que analiza los gráficos utilizados en una serie de publicaciones de divulgación o manuales sobre especies vegetales. Estas publicaciones estaban dirigidas fundamentalmente a arquitectos y fueron realizadas por el Instituto de Diseño (IDD) de la Facultad de Arquitectura (FADU) entre 1963 y 1993. Para ello se analizan de forma sistemática la forma en que los recursos gráficos adoptados en las ilustraciones de diferentes especies vegetales permiten considerar la dimensión tiempo.
Undergraduate Research Communities for Transfer Students
Authors: Chamely-Wiik Donna , Frazier Evelyn , Meeroff Daniel , Merritt Jordan , Kwochka William R , Morrison-Shetlar Alison I , Aldarondo-Jeffries Michael , Schneider Kimberly R , Johnson Jodiene
Published: June 2021

Transfer students face many challenges integrating into a 4-year college that affect their retention and success, yet very little research has documented how to create wraparound programming to support them. There remains a need to establish retention models that are adaptable and can serve a variety of students and institutions. The Learning Environment and Academic Research Network (LEARN) Consortium, a partnership of Florida Atlantic University, University of Central Florida, and Western Carolina University whose focus is on engagement in undergraduate research, addressed this need by developing and testing T-LEARN, a new model for a sustainable science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) retention program specifically for transfer students who have transitioned to a university setting after receiving their associate’s degree at a community college. The new model was developed by adapting a successful retention model for 1st-year students at the University of Central Florida centered around three main pillars: (1) academics/research, (2) mentoring, and (3) community building. In this paper, we describe the development of the T-LEARN model, outline the adaptations made to accommodate the specific needs of transfer students, and present 3 years of implementation data we analyzed to determine what factor(s) most impact transfer student retention and success. Our findings indicate that T-LEARN students’ involvement in research during their 1st year was the most significant factor within the T-LEARN program that contributed to their academic success. Additionally, the majority of these students had continued to do research with the same LEARN program faculty mentor 1 year after the program ended.
Undergraduate Research Across the Psychology Curriculum
Authors: Clark Kevin M. , Davis Rosalyn , Holcomb Kathryn , Morgan Gin
Published: June 2021

Over the past 10 years, the Psychology Department at Indiana University Kokomo has worked to incorporate more opportunities for students to engage in undergraduate research throughout the psychology curriculum. Our previous requirements included a lower level methods course that most students took prior to statistics, with the result that students did not have the opportunity to practice the use of statistics in research contexts unless they completed an independent research project during their senior year. We made several curricular changes to enhance these opportunities to apply statistical knowledge, to increase research literacy and critical analysis, and to better prepare students who go on to complete an independent research project. The lower level methods course was redesigned to explore psychology as a major and career, introduce research concepts, and help students develop critical thinking skills. We also reinstated an upper level methods course with statistics as a prerequisite, allowing better integration of statistics with research methods. Most recently, in fall 2018, we added a lab to the upper level methods course, in which students use computer-based statistical software for data analysis. In addition to these curricular changes, the department has recently been promoting and facilitating more student travel to research conferences throughout the undergraduate program. In this article, we describe the program we designed to scaffold student research and present a six-level framework applicable across a broad range of disciplines. We also present data collected from current students and alumni in psychology to assess their perceptions of the impact of these changes on their research confidence and competence as well as limited results from assessment of student learning. Finally, we provide recommendations for other programs interested in increasing opportunities for student research in their disciplines.
Application of a Supervised Learning Model to Analyze the Behavior of Environmental Variables in a Coffee Crop
Authors: Ruiz Martinez William , Ferro Escobar Roberto , Moncada Javier
Published: June 2021

Context: The collection and storage of data on environmental variables in a coffee crop, through wireless sensor networks allow the transformation of said data and the application of a supervised learning model to establish its behavior.
Method: For the present work, an architecture of 3 wireless sensor nodes was developed. Each node consists of a Lucy3 programmable card, to which the temperature, environmental humidity, and soil moisture sensors were connected. The measurement terrain is located in El Cortijo coffee farm. Measurements were made over a period of two weeks, three hours a day, sending the information from the nodes described above to a gateway that then transmitted the information to a base station. Finally, the data was loaded on an online platform for transformation and predictive analytics through a supervised learning model.
Results: The tests allowed demonstrating the effectiveness of the design of the wireless network in the collection and transmission of data. It was later found that the application of the supervised learning model through the analysis of classification with decision trees allowed predicting the behavior of the variables, which were evaluated in specific time frames and conditions.
Conclusions: By applying predictive models, the conditions of the crop can be improved, allowing the yield of the analyzed variables to be optimized, thus minimizing the loss of resources and improving the efficiency of processes such as sowing and harvesting the grain.