bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors in chronic kidney disease - a review of the literature
Authors: Sosnowski Jakub , Panek Eliasz , Jasłowski Damian , Rzeszutko Mateusz , Raczkiewicz Przemysław , Panasiuk Dominika , Skrętowicz Mateusz , Szponarowicz Patrycja , Snopkowski Bartosz , Korzec Tomasz
Published: April 2023

Introduction: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) has become one of the most common chronic diseases of the XXI century and affects around 16% of the world's population. Despite the advancements of contemporary science and a range of therapeutic methods it considered a progressive and irreversible process. Nevertheless, use of ACEI halts the progression of the disease and postpones the necessity of renal replacement therapy and is the method of choice for this group of patients. 

Purpose of the work: The article reviews current literature and writing regarding Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and the impact of ACEI on the progression of this condition. 

Materials and methods: The sources available in the PubMed database have been analyzed using the keywords: “ACEI”, “angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors”, ”chronic kidney disease”, “CKD”. Related publications to the topic of the work have been selected and utilized. 

Description of the state of knowledge: Pharmacological therapy using ACEI is the main method of treatment for patients with CKD and should primarily serve to reduce proteinuria and control blood pressure. It inhibits the progression of the disease and delays the development of end-stage renal failure. However, the treatment of CKD using ACEI is controversial in cases of advanced stages of the disease. 

Summary: ACEI inhibitors are one of the major advances in the treatment of patients dealing with CKD. Due to the increasing number of cases of the disease being observed, further research will be needed regarding the use of these drugs. Particularly ambiguous is the therapy for patients with advanced, just before end-stage renal failure, which will require a more in-depth analysis of these cases.
MOEDUM: QUEM (F)(S)OMOS O MACACO?
Authors: Cerqueira Correa Carolina , Vermelho Malandro
Published: April 2023

o a(u)toretrato nos torna um y 3. singulares y plurais, humanos y não-humanos  (co(auto))criamos. no fogo do Monkey, múltiplo afronorteamericano de Exu, transsignificamos o animal-mundo-nós.experimentamos com palavras, chaves, abstracts, imagens, resumos, words y keys. destruímos pra nos refazer. desobedientes y libertados.prestamos respeito ao fogo que nos transforma. girando y cruzando com mon-key
‘Sinta-se em casa mas lembre-se que não está’
Authors: Casagrande Mariana Ferreira
Published: April 2023

O ensaio parte do conceito Das Unheimlich (o infamiliar), de Sigmund Freud, para  analisar a relação sujeito-casa ao longo da pandemia de 2020. Utilizando como referência o texto psicanalítico, investigamos como a arte contemporânea brasileira e as manifestações oníricas podem simbolizar o angustiante convívio com espaço doméstico durante o enfrentamento do coronavírus.
Formações do sujeito colonial: suplemento, dependência, cosmopolitismo
Authors: Penna João Camillo
Published: April 2023

O artigo parte da cena paradigmática da etnologia “brasileira” vista a partir da Europa, que reivindica a sua parte na constituição de um modelo de descentramento no interior da mesma Europa. Essa cena servirá de base para estudar os ensaios matriciais de Silviano Santiago, em que se trata precisamente de estabelecer os fundamentos de uma crítica colonial do sujeito cultural brasileiro.
Feminismo para os 99%: um manifesto
Authors: COSTA PEREIRA DA SILVA PATRICIA
Published: April 2023

Resenha do livro "Feminismo para os 99%: um manifesto".ARRUZZA, Cinzia. BHATTACHARYA, Tithi. FRASER, Nancy. Feminismo para os 99%: um manifesto. São Paulo: Boitempo, 2019. 128p.
Measuring spiritual uncertainty for hospice and palliative care providers
Authors: Stephenson Pam , Sheehan Denice , Petrinec Amy , Hansen Dana , Mayo Murray
Published: April 2023

Background:

Spiritual uncertainty is a new construct for end-of-life care that focuses on the questions, worries and doubts people have with end-of-life spirituality. Spiritual uncertainty can contribute to spiritual distress for patients and families dealing with the end of life, as well as lead healthcare providers to avoid spiritual care methods.

Aims:

This article reports on the item construction of a new survey design to measure the spiritual uncertainty of healthcare providers.

Methods:

Items were constructed from qualitative data gathered from five focus groups (with a total of 23 interdisciplinary hospice and palliative care providers being surveyed). Data were developed through three rounds of item construction, selection/refinement and assessment.

Findings:

A final pool of 42 items was constructed to measure the spiritual uncertainty of healthcare providers. Expert validity was obtained by 16 interdisciplinary hospice and palliative care providers.

Conclusion:

This survey is the first to measure spiritual uncertainty of healthcare providers. Additional research is needed to assess the psychometric properties of survey items.
Research Roundup
Authors: Green Laura
Published: April 2023

Synopses of a selection of recently published research articles of relevance to palliative care
Development of a core outcome set for open lower limb fracture
Authors: Aquilina Alexander L. , Claireaux Henry , Aquilina Christian O. , Tutton Elizabeth , Fitzpatrick Ray , Costa Matthew L. , Griffin Xavier L.
Published: April 2023

Aims

Open lower limb fracture is life-changing, resulting in substantial morbidity and resource demand, while inconsistent outcome-reporting hampers systematic review and meta-analysis. A core outcome set establishes consensus among key stakeholders for the recommendation of a minimum set of outcomes. This study aims to define a core outcome set for adult open lower limb fracture.

Methods

Candidate outcomes were identified from a previously published systematic review and a secondary thematic analysis of 25 patient interviews exploring the lived experience of recovery from open lower limb fracture. Outcomes were categorized and sequentially refined using healthcare professional and patient structured discussion groups. Consensus methods included a multi-stakeholder two-round online Delphi survey and a consensus meeting attended by a purposive sample of stakeholders, facilitated discussion, and voting using a nominal group technique.

Results

Thematic analysis and systematic review identified 121 unique outcomes, reduced to 68 outcomes following structured discussion groups. Outcomes were presented to 136 participants who completed a two-round online Delphi survey. The Delphi survey resulted in 11 outcomes identified as consensus ‘in’ only. All outcomes were discussed at a consensus meeting attended by 15 patients, 14 healthcare professionals, 11 researchers, and one patient-carer. Consensus was achieved for a four-core outcome set: ‘Walking, gait and mobility’, ‘Being able to return to life roles’, ‘Pain or discomfort’, and ‘Quality of life’.

Conclusion

This study used robust consensus methods to establish a core outcome set that should be measured in all future research studies and audits of clinical practice without precluding the measurement of additional outcomes.

Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2023;12(4):294–305.
Municipal officials’ perspectives on policymaking for addressing obesity and health equity
Authors: Parks Renee G. , Thomas Fanice , Morshed Alexandra B. , Dodson Elizabeth A. , Tian Ruiyi , Politi Mary C. , Eyler Amy A. , Thomas Ian , Brownson Ross C.
Published: April 2023

Background:

Obesity evidence-based policies (EBPs) can make a lasting, positive impact on community health; however, policy development and enactment is complex and dependent on multiple forces.

Aims and objectives:

This study investigated key factors affecting municipal officials’ policymaking for obesity and related health disparities.

Methods:

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 local officials from a selection of municipalities with high obesity or related health disparities across the United States between December 2020 and April 2021.

Findings:

Policymakers follow a general decision-making process with limited distinction between health and other policy areas. Factors affecting policymaking included: being informed about other local, state, and federal policy, conducting their own research using trustworthy sources, and seeking constituent and stakeholder perspectives. Key facilitators included the need for timely, relevant local data, and seeing or hearing from those impacted. Key local policymaking barriers included constituent opposition, misinformation, controversial issues with contentious solutions, and limited understanding of the connection between issues and obesity/health. Policymakers had a range of understanding about causes of health disparities, including views of individual choices, environmental influences on behaviours, and structural factors impacting health. To address health disparities, municipal officials described: a variety of roles policymakers can take; limitations based on the scope of government; challenges with intergovernmental collaboration or across government levels; ability of policymakers and government employees to understand the problem; and the challenge of framing health disparities given the social-political context.

Discussion and conclusion:

Understanding factors affecting the uptake of EBPs can inform local-level interventions that encourage EBP adoption.
A time for adaptation and reflection: the experience of Admiral Nurses during COVID-19
Authors: Madden Gayle , Harrison Dening Karen , de Vries Kay
Published: April 2023

COVID-19 has meant that, globally, people, organisations and governments have had to make huge changes in life and work. The aim of this study is to explore the impact of working during the first wave of COVID-19 on Admiral Nurse practice (specialists in dementia care who support families affected by dementia). Semi-structured interviews were used to gather data from 19 Admiral Nurses. Themes drawn from the data show that Admiral Nurses experienced an immediate sense of impotence and helplessness, and, from there, moved through a process of adaptation to reach a new level of competence. This research provides insight into the experiences of Admiral Nurses and their adaptability in extraordinary circumstances.
biblioteques escolars a Catalunya (2020-2021): un retrocés preocupant
Authors: Baena Júlia
Published: April 2023

La situació de les biblioteques escolars el bienni 2018-2019 ja era preocupant i no mostrava cap avenç; l’impacte negatiu de la pandèmia global de la covid ha estat considerable en tots els àmbits i les biblioteques escolars no n’han estat l’excepció. L’article ofereix una panoràmica de la situació de les biblioteques escolars en el bienni 2020-2021 a partir de les dades estadístiques públiques i detalla les publicacions, activitats i formacions que s’han dut a terme, sovint marcades pels canvis que ha ocasionat la situació sanitària. Per acabar, es revisen els articles, monografies i tesis doctorals i es comenten les perspectives de futur de les biblioteques escolars a Catalunya.
Análisis del género discursivo aplicado a la clasificación automática de la polaridad en comentarios sobre productos
Authors: Roberto John A.
Published: April 2023

Esta tesis trata sobre el análisis de la polaridad en comentarios sobre productos, más exactamente, sobre la clasificación de comentarios como positivos o negativos a partir del uso de información lingüística. En la tesis presento un enfoque al análisis de la polaridad basado en el género discursivo de los comentarios. Según este enfoque, primero se identifican los segmentos que caracterizan el género discursivo de los comentarios y, posteriormente, se evalúa la utilidad que cada tipo de segmento tiene para determinar la polaridad de los comentarios. La tesis se divide en dos partes. En la primera parte, caracterizo los comentarios como un género mediante el análisis de su estructura discursiva y su registro lingüístico. Sobre la base de ambos análisis postulo que los comentarios se componen de tres tipos principales de segmentos: valorativo, narrativo y descriptivo. En la segunda parte de la tesis, utilizo estos segmentos para calcular la polaridad de los comentarios. La hipótesis de partida es que no todos los segmentos que forman parte del género discursivo de los comentarios contribuyen de la misma manera a expresar la polaridad. Para validar esta hipótesis evalúo tres métodos complementarios que tienen como objetivo detectar y determinar de forma automática la utilidad que tienen los tipos de segmentos para predecir la polaridad de los comentarios. El primer método utiliza información léxica y morfosintáctica para identificar el tipo de segmento que expresa mejor la polaridad del comentario. El segundo método analiza la función que desempeñan las secuencias narrativas en el cálculo de la polaridad. El tercer método se basa en el cálculo de la complejidad sintáctica para identificar y eliminar las oraciones que tienen una polaridad opuesta a la del comentario (oraciones asimétricas) como paso previo a la identificación de los comentarios positivos y negativos.La conclusión principal que se desprende de estos análisis es que existe una relación directa entre el tipo de segmento y la polaridad expresada en el comentario: los usuarios suelen emplear de manera diferente los segmentos según se trate de un comentario positivo o uno negativo. Estas diferencias en el uso de los segmentos me ha llevado a plantear la existencia de dos (sub)géneros discursivos asociados a la expresión de opiniones sobre productos en la Web: el (sub)género de los comentarios positivos y el (sub)género de los comentarios negativos.
De l'ensinistrament del gènere a l'empoderament del discurs
Authors: Junyent M. Carme
Published: April 2023

Editorial n. 13
Desarrollo de la competencia argumentativa a través de la propuesta "Wonder Ponder. Filosofía visual para niños"
Authors: Aparicio Ibarreche Maite , Tabernero Sala Rosa , Calvo Valios Virginia
Published: April 2023

Es necesario fomentar la competencia argumentativa (CA) en la sociedad actual, siendo positivo comenzar en las primeras etapas educativas. Así, interesa conocer cómo distintas propuestas ayudarían a desarrollar la CA del alumnado. En este estudio se analizan las respuestas orales de 23 estudiantes de 1.º de Educación Primaria en un taller de conversaciones filosóficas con la propuesta Wonder Ponder. Filosofía visual para niños (Duthie y Martagón, 2016), para identificar empíricamente las claves de este libro-objeto (Samperiz et al., 2020; Tabernero, 2017) en el desarrollo de la CA. Se escogió un diseño de investigación cualitativo de corte etnográfico, de acuerdo con el objeto de estudio. Partiendo de los resultados obtenidos del análisis categorial con el software NVivo, se deduce que el estudiantado desarrolla su CA gracias al discurso gráfico y objetual que apela a su experiencia vital y le permite organizar sus ideas mediante la manipulación, y al input lingüístico de la propuesta y la mediadora. Así, la comunicación oral del alumnado evoluciona del pensamiento narrativo a la apropiación del lenguaje argumentativo, que se va construyendo en la interacción del lector con el libro-objeto y en la conversación con sus iguales al compartir pensamientos y emociones suscitadas por la lectura.
Spectral focusing-based stimulated Raman scattering microscopy using compact glass blocks for adjustable dispersion
Authors: Gagnon Justin R. , Allen Christian Harry , Trudel Dominique , Leblond Frederic , Stys Peter K. , Brideau Craig , Murugkar Sangeeta
Published: April 2023

Spectral focusing is a well-established technique for increasing
spectral resolution in coherent Raman scattering microscopy. However,
current methods for tuning optical chirp in setups using spectral
focusing, such as glass rods, gratings, and prisms, are very
cumbersome, time-consuming to use, and difficult to align, all of
which limit more widespread use of the spectral focusing technique.
Here, we report a stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) configuration
which can rapidly tune optical chirp by utilizing compact
adjustable-dispersion TIH53 glass blocks. By varying the height of the
blocks, the number of bounces in the blocks and therefore path length
of the pulses through the glass can be quickly modulated, allowing for
a convenient method of adjusting chirp with almost no necessary
realignment. To demonstrate the flexibility of this configuration, we
characterize our system’s signal-to-noise ratio and spectral
resolution at different chirp values and perform imaging in both the
carbon-hydrogen stretching region (MCF-7 cells) and fingerprint region
(prostate cores). Our findings show that adjustable-dispersion glass
blocks allow the user to effortlessly modify their optical system to
suit their imaging requirements. These blocks can be used to
significantly simplify and miniaturize experimental configurations
utilizing spectral focusing.
Phylogenetic trees of closely related bacterial species and subspecies based on frequencies of short nucleotide sequences
Authors: Nakano Yoshio , Domon Yusaku , Yamagishi Kenji
Published: April 2023

Bacterial phylogenetic analyses are commonly performed to explore the evolutionary relationships among various bacterial species and genera based on their 16S rRNA gene sequences; however, these results are limited by mosaicism, intragenomic heterogeneity, and difficulties in distinguishing between related species. In this study, we aimed to perform genome-wide comparisons of different bacterial species, namely Escherichia coli, Shigella, Yersinia, Klebsiella, and Neisseria spp., based on their K-mer profiles to construct phylogenetic trees. Pentanucleotide frequency analyses (512 patterns of 5 nucleotides each) were performed to distinguish between highly similar species. Moreover, Escherichia albertii strains were clearly distinguished from E. coli and Shigella, despite being closely related to enterohemorrhagic E. coli in the phylogenetic tree. In addition, our phylogenetic tree of Ipomoea species based on pentamer frequency in chloroplast genomes was correlated with previously reported morphological similarities. Furthermore, a support vector machine clearly classified E. coli and Shigella genomes based on their pentanucleotide profiles. These results suggest that phylogenetic analyses based on penta- or hexamer profiles are a useful methodology for microbial phylogenetic studies. In addition, we introduced an R application, Phy5, which generates a phylogenetic tree based on genome-wide comparisons of pentamer profiles. The online version of Phy5 can be accessed at https://phy5.shinyapps.io/Phy5R/ and its command line version Phy5cli can be downloaded at https://github.com/YoshioNakano2021/phy5.
Rare CIDEC coding variants enriched in age-related macular degeneration patients with small low-luminance deficit cause lipid droplet and fat storage defects
Authors: Kim Sehyun , Stockwell Amy , Qin Han , Gao Simon S. , Sagolla Meredith , Stoilov Ivaylo , Wuster Arthur , Lai Phillip , Yaspan Brian L. , Jeanne Marion
Published: April 2023

Background

The basis of Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) genetic risk has been well documented; however, few studies have looked at genetic biomarkers of disease progression or treatment response within advanced AMD patients. Here we report the first genome-wide analysis of genetic determinants of low-luminance vision deficit (LLD), which is seen as predictive of visual acuity loss and anti-VEGF treatment response in neovascular AMD patients.

Methods

AMD patients were separated into small- and large-LLD groups for comparison and whole genome sequencing was performed. Genetic determinants of LLD were assessed by common and rare variant genetic analysis. Follow-up functional analysis of rare coding variants identified by the burden test was then performed in vitro.

Results

We identified four coding variants in the CIDEC gene. These rare variants were only present in patients with a small LLD, which has been previously shown to indicate better prognosis and better anti-VEGF treatment response. Our in vitro functional characterization of these CIDEC alleles revealed that all decrease the binding affinity between CIDEC and the lipid droplet fusion effectors PLIN1, RAB8A and AS160. The rare CIDEC alleles all cause a hypomorphic defect in lipid droplet fusion and enlargement, resulting in a decreased fat storage capability in adipocytes.

Conclusions

As we did not detect CIDEC expression in the ocular tissue affected by AMD, our results suggest that the CIDEC variants do not play a direct role in the eye and influence low-luminance vision deficit via an indirect and systemic effect related to fat storage capacity.
Serotype distribution, trend of multidrug resistance and prevalence of β-lactamase resistance genes in human Salmonella isolates from clinical specimens in Guizhou, China
Authors: Wei Xiaoyu , Long Li , You Lv , Wang Ming , Wang Dan , Liu Chunting , Li Shijun , Wang Junhua
Published: April 2023

Salmonella, one of the major causes of foodborne infections, can cause bacterial foodborne illness. We investigated the serotype distribution, multidrug resistance (MDR), and β-lactamase resistance genes of human Salmonella isolates collected from clinical specimens in Guizhou, China, between 2013 and 2018. A total of 363 Salmonella isolates were collected from clinical specimens at 17 surveillance hospitals. Twenty-four serotypes were identified by sliding agglutination test. S. Enteritidis (33.9%), Salmonella 4,[5],12:i:- (24.0%), S. Typhimurium (16.3%), S. London (6.3%), and S. Derby (3.9%) were the top five serotypes. In 2018, the most common serotype changed from S. Enteritidis to S. Typhimurium. Among the 363 Salmonella isolates, 97.5% of isolates were resistant to at least one class of antimicrobial agents. For cephalosporins, ceftriaxone had the highest resistance rate of 10.5%, and cefepime and cefoxitin were 8.0% and 2.2%, respectively. Three hundred and one (82.9%) Salmonella isolates showed MDR. Salmonella 4,[5],12:i:- had the highest MDR rate with 94.2%, followed by S. London (91.3%) and S. Typhimurium (88.1%). Multidrug resistance rates of Salmonella isolates in Guizhou from 2013 to 2017 increased from 75.8% to 86.7%. Sixteen isolates (4.4%) showed extensive drug resistance. One hundred thirty-four antimicrobial resistance patterns were found. Two hundred and forty-one (66.4%) isolates carried at least one β-lactamase resistance gene. The blaTEM gene (61.2%) was the most prevalent resistant gene in all Salmonella isolates, followed by the blaCTX-M gene (6.1%) and blaOXA-1 gene (4.1%). Our findings showed that the MDR rate of Salmonella isolates from Guizhou province increased year by year. Therefore, systematic and long-term surveillance on MDR Salmonella isolates from clinical patients should be further strengthened.
Extrauterine growth restriction in very low birth weight infants according to different growth charts: A retrospective 10 years observational study
Authors: Starc Meta , Giangreco Manuela , Centomo Giacomo , Travan Laura , Bua Jenny
Published: April 2023

Background

Extrauterine growth restriction (EUGR) is common among very low birth weight (VLBW) infants and associated with poor neurodevelopmental outcomes. There are two types of EUGR definitions (cross-sectional and longitudinal) and many growth charts for monitoring postnatal growth. Aims of our study were 1) to compare the rate of small for gestational rate (SGA) and EUGR in a population of VLBW infants, both according to different growth charts (Fenton, INeS charts and Intergrowth-21) and different definitions; 2) to identify risk factors for EUGR.

Methods

This is a single centre retrospective observational study, including all VLBW infants born between January 2009 and December 2018. Anthropometric measures were obtained at birth and at discharge and presented as z-scores according to three growth charts (Fenton, INeS charts, Intergrowth-21). Maternal, clinical and nutritional data were retrieved from clinical records.

Results

228 VLBW were included. Percentage of SGA did not change significantly according to the three different growth charts (Fenton 22.4%, INeS charts 22.8%, Intergrowth 28.2%, p 0.27). Prevalence of EUGR was significantly higher when INeS and Fenton charts were used, compared to Intergrowth charts regardless of EUGR-definition (cross sectional-EUGR: Fenton 33.5%, INeS charts 40.9%, Intergrowth-21 23.8%, p 0.001;longitudinal-EUGR (loss of 1SDS): Fenton 15%, INeS charts 20.4%, Intergrowth 4%, p <0.001). In our population a longer time to reach 100 ml/kg/day of enteral feeding increased of 18% the risk of longitudinal EUGR. Late onset sepsis and retinopathy of prematurity were associated with an increased risk of longitudinal EUGR, although not significantly, while having a preeclamptic mother was associated with a reduced risk.

Conclusions

We confirmed a wide variability of EUGR rates when using different charts and definitions, highlighting that Intergrowth-21 charts identify less EUGR when compared to INeS and Fenton charts. Standardized criteria for defining EUGR are warranted in order to facilitate comparisons between studies and to improve the nutritional management of VLBW infants.
Pharmacogenomic profile of a central European urban random population-Czech population
Authors: Proietti Riccardo , Maranho Neto Geraldo A. , Kunzova Sarka , Lo Re Oriana , Ahola-Olli Ari , Heliste Juho , Gonzalez-Rivas Juan Pablo , Vinciguerra Manlio
Published: April 2023

The genetic basis of variability in drug response is at the core of pharmacogenomics (PGx) studies, aiming at reducing adverse drug reaction (ADR), which have interethnic variability. This study used the Kardiovize Brno 2030 random urban Czech sample population to analyze polymorphisms in a wide spectrum of genes coding for liver enzymes involved in drug metabolism. We aimed at correlating real life drug consumption with pharmacogenomic profile, and at comparing these data with the SUPER-Finland Finnish PGx database. A total of 250 individuals representative of the Kardiovize Brno 2030 cohort were included in an observational study. Blood DNA was extracted and 59 single nucleotide polymorphisms within 13 genes (BCHE, CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP3A5, F2, F5, IFNL3, SLCO1B1, TPMT, UGT1A1, VKORC1), associated to different drug metabolizing rates, were characterized by genotyping using a genome wide commercial array. Widely used drugs such as anti-coagulant warfarin and lipid lowering agent atorvastatin were associated to an alarmingly high percentage of users with intermediate/poor metabolism for them. Significant differences in the frequency of normal/intermediate/poor/ultrarapid/rapid metabolizers were observed for CYPD26 (p<0.001), CYP2C19 (p<0.001) and UGT1A1 (p<0.001) between the Czech and the Finnish study populations. Our study demonstrated that administration of some popular drugs to a Czech random sample population is associated with different drug metabolizing rates and therefore exposing to risk for ADRs. We also highlight interethnic differentiation of some common pharmacogenetics variants between Central (Czech) and North European (Finnish) population studies, suggesting the utility of PGx-informed prescription based on variant genotyping.
Towards designing of a potential new HIV-1 protease inhibitor using QSAR study in combination with Molecular docking and Molecular dynamics simulations
Authors: Baassi Mouna , Moussaoui Mohamed , Soufi Hatim , Rajkhowa Sanchaita , Sharma Ashwani , Sinha Subrata , Belaaouad Said
Published: April 2023

Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 protease (HIV-1 PR) is one of the most challenging targets of antiretroviral therapy used in the treatment of AIDS-infected people. The performance of protease inhibitors (PIs) is limited by the development of protease mutations that can promote resistance to the treatment. The current study was carried out using statistics and bioinformatics tools. A series of thirty-three compounds with known enzymatic inhibitory activities against HIV-1 protease was used in this paper to build a mathematical model relating the structure to the biological activity. These compounds were designed by software; their descriptors were computed using various tools, such as Gaussian, Chem3D, ChemSketch and MarvinSketch. Computational methods generated the best model based on its statistical parameters. The model’s applicability domain (AD) was elaborated. Furthermore, one compound has been proposed as efficient against HIV-1 protease with comparable biological activity to the existing ones; this drug candidate was evaluated using ADMET properties and Lipinski’s rule. Molecular Docking performed on Wild Type, and Mutant Type HIV-1 proteases allowed the investigation of the interaction types displayed between the proteases and the ligands, Darunavir (DRV) and the new drug (ND). Molecular dynamics simulation was also used in order to investigate the complexes’ stability allowing a comparative study on the performance of both ligands (DRV & ND). Our study suggested that the new molecule showed comparable results to that of darunavir and maybe used for further experimental studies. Our study may also be used as pipeline to search and design new potential inhibitors of HIV-1 proteases.
Treatment outcome of patients with prosthetic stuck valves at the Cardiac Center of Ethiopia
Authors: Tadesse Kefelegn Dejene , Gebru Meron , Tekleab Atnafu Mekonnen
Published: April 2023

Background

Prosthetic Valve Thrombosis (PVT) is rare but life threatening condition which requires urgent intervention. Patient treatment outcome is not well studied in resource limited settings and the current study aims to explore the treatment outcome of patients with PVT at the Cardiac Center of Ethiopia.

Methods

The study was conducted at the Cardiac Center of Ethiopia which provides heart valve surgery. All patients who were diagnosed and managed for PVT in the center during the period July 2017 to March 2022 were included in the study. Data were collected through chart abstraction by using a structured questionnaire. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 20.0 for windows software.

Result

Eleven patients (13 episodes of stuck valve) with PVT were included in the study and nine of them were female. The median age was 28 years old (IQR 22.5–34.0) with the youngest and oldest patients being 18 and 46 years old respectively. All the patients had bi-leaflet prosthetic mechanical valves (10 at mitral valve, two at aortic and mitral and one at aortic positions). The median duration of valve replacement before having PVT was 36 months (IQR 5–72). All patients reported good adherence to anticoagulant therapy; yet only five had optimal INR value. Nine patients presented with failure symptoms. Eleven patients received thrombolytic therapy and nine of them responded to it. One patient operated for failed thrombolytic therapy. Two patients responded to heparinization and optimization of anticoagulant therapy. Of the ten patients who received streptokinase, two of them developed fever and one patient developed bleeding as a complication of the treatment. All the patients survived hospital discharge.

Conclusion

Prosthetic valve thrombosis was accompanied by sub-optimal anticoagulant therapy. Most patients responded to medical therapy alone.
The large Gunnera’s (G. tinctoria and G. manicata) in Europe in relation to EU regulation 1143/2014
Authors: van Valkenburg Johan L. C. H. , Osborne Bruce A. , Westenberg Marcel
Published: April 2023

Incorrect labelling of plants in the horticultural trade and misidentification is widespread. For the inspection services of the EU member states, correct identification of G. tinctoria has become important since the species was added to the List of Union concern in accordance with EU regulation 1143/2014 in August 2017. In the horticultural trade Gunnera plants are generally of modest dimensions and rarely flowering, so that the major distinguishing morphological characters for the identification of the two large species, G. tinctoria and G. manicata, are missing. As G. tinctoria is included in the EU regulation, its trade is prohibited, although the closely related species, G. manicata is not included on the list. Given that it is often difficult to distinguish between these two large herbaceous species using morphological attributes we used standard chloroplast DNA barcode markers, supplemented at a later stage by ITS markers. Plant material of putative G. tinctoria or G. manicata was obtained from the native and introduced range, both from “wild” sources, botanical gardens, and the horticultural trade. In western Europe plants circulating in the horticultural trade turned out to be predominantly G. tinctoria, with only one plant in cultivation identified as true G. manicata and the G. manicata found in botanical gardens was a hybrid recently described as G. x cryptica.
The effect of prolonged closed-loop management on athletes’ sleep and mood during COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from the 2022 Shanghai Omicron Wave
Authors: Tan Chenhao , Wang Jinhao , Yin Jun , Cao Guohuan , Cao Lu , Chen Chao , Qiu Jun
Published: April 2023

Closed-loop management of athletes at the training base is a compromise approach that balanced epidemic prevention and sports training during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study investigated the impact of prolonged closed-loop management on athletes’ sleep and mood during the 2022 Shanghai Omicron wave. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Profile of Mood States were used to assess the sleep and mood states of 110 professional athletes in "closed-loop management" at the training base after 1 and 2 months of closed-loop management, respectively, to characterize changes in sleep and mood with prolonged closed-loop management. After two months of control, the sleep and mood of 69 athletes and students of the same age were measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Perceptual Stress Scale, as well as the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale, to compare the differences in sleep and mood between athletes undergoing closed-loop management and the general population who were managed in the community. Paired sample t-tests and independent sample t-tests were used for comparisons across different time intervals and different management approaches. Results showed that with the time of closed-loop management increased, athletes woke up earlier (p = 0.002), slept less (p = 0.024), and became angrier (p = 0.014); athletes had poorer overall sleep quality (p < 0.001) but lower stress level (p = 0.004) than those who were outside the base. In closed-loop management, the athletes were able to maintain a stable sleep and mood state. Sports team administrators must be aware of the need to improve athletes’ sleep quality and help athletes to agree with this approach of management.
The Co-Poem Project: Didactic Resources and Pedagogical Projection for Musical Education in Primary School
Authors: Sánchez-Jara Javier Merchán , González-Gutiérrez Sara , Navarro-Cáceres María , Olarte-Martínez Matilde María , Pedrero-Muñoz Concepción
Published: April 2023

Orally transmitted traditional music constitutes an invaluable intangible legacy for understanding the development of local cultures and observing social dynamics over time. The Co-Poem project aims to make a significant corpus of these musical cultures available to any user in the Mediterranean basin by creating the I-Folk database, which allows access and consultation through semantic technologies and artificial intelligence, to promote knowledge of this cultural reality and perpetuate its intergenerational transmission. The conceptualization of both resources is oriented to the practice of music teaching in primary education. From this point of view, the structure of metadata that musically describes each work and the implementation of access resources to the corpus under study are analyzed from the point of view of the pedagogical function. All these issues are materialized in creation of various educational resources based on the possibilities of the I-Folk database to promote meaningful and interactive learning of musical content (melody, rhythm, dance, etc.) based on the defining characteristics of this type of repertoire. Recent interventions and didactic activities in primary schools show that both the I-Folk database and the associated resources and the search and comparative analysis functionalities between repertoires from different territories constitute a tool highly appreciated by teachers and arouses great interest among students.
T. S. Eliot’s Genealogical Exploration of Leibniz’s Monadism and Problems of Substance
Authors:   The T. S. Eliot Society Of Korea, LEE Hongseop
Published: April 2023

The main aim of this article is to examine the significance of T. S. Eliot’s genealogical exploration of Leibniz’s monadology in his “The Development of Leibniz’s Monadism” published in 1916. Critical of the contemporary Bertrand Russsel’s purely logical approach toward Leibniz’s metaphysics, Eliot pays keen attention to the theoretical and, especially, theological backgrounds from which Leibniz’s monadology emerges. As an origin of Leibniz’s thought of the monad, Eliot pinpoints Aristotle’s concept of the substance. Merging Aristotle’s concept of the substance with a modern theory of atomism, the monad of Leibniz is immaterial, individable, and eternal. Yet, Eliot makes conclusions that there exist unresolvable gaps between Leibniz’s scientific and theological orientation that underlies his monadology, and that he ultimately fails to accomplish his “ambitious” project to restore Christian belief in the immortality of the soul.
Morphology of Dəstgah. By Faik Ibrahim oglu Chelebi. Translated by Polina Dessiatnitchenko.
Authors: Dessiatnitchenko Polina
Published: April 2023

Faik Chelebi, ethnomusicologist and distinguished tar performer, provides a detailed theoretical analysis of mugham, a branch of Azerbaijani traditional music. Relying on a vast number of sound recordings and his performance expertise, he presents a morphology of the main cyclical genre of mugham known as dəstgah. All the constituents of dəstgah and their internal cyclical connections are analyzed, making this study an entry point into the entire complex of genres belonging to Azerbaijani mugham.
Citation: Chelebi, Faik Ibrahim oglu. The Morphology of Dəstgah. Translated by Polina Dessiatnitchenko. Ethnomusicology Translations, no. 13. Bloomington, IN: Society for Ethnomusicology, 2023. DOI: 10.14434/emt.No.13.36036
Originally published in Russian as Morfologiya Dastgyaha. Dissertation conspectus. Russian Institute of Art History, 2009.
Dlaczego jest tak źle, skoro jest tak dobrze? O demokracji w Polsce w opiniach respondentów i pewnej tendencji do wyrazistej władzy
Authors: Scheffs Łukasz
Published: April 2023

Refleksja nad demokracją w ogóle, jak i konkretnym jej przypadkiem, zawsze nastręcza wielu problemów. Rozpoczynają się one już na etapie próby odpowiedzi na pytanie: o jakiej w zasadzie demokracji myślimy? Jaki fundament aksjo-normatywny znajduje się u podstaw systemu, który w naszej (zapewne subiektywnej) ocenie spełnia kryteria demokracji sui generis?

Każda z intelektualnych prób uchwycenia fenomenu demokratycznego tylko w jakiejś mierze odpowiada na nurtujące nas pytania o: sens, znaczenie, przyszłość i potencjalny upadek systemu. Przedłożony tu szkic jest jedynie próbą prezentacji opinii badanych grup respondentów nt. systemu i determinant ustroju demokratycznego w Polsce oraz konfrontacji występujących w przywoływanych tu analizach opinii z ogólną koncepcją dekapilaryzacji władzy.

Zawarte w tym opracowaniu spostrzeżenia pozostają efektem rekonstrukcji dokonanej na podstawie dostępnej literatury przedmiotu i danych wtórnych, pochodzących z badań prowadzonych przez innych autorów, najczęściej w ramach szerszych programów (projektów) badawczych. W tym znaczeniu praca ma charakter przyczynkarski, deskryptywny, a same jej rozważania mieszczą się w nurcie konstruktywistycznym współczesnych nauk społecznych, ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem nauk o polityce i administracji.
Impact of the Pandemic on Damaging the Democratic Process in a Hybrid Regime in Georgia
Authors: Chedia Beka
Published: April 2023

In hybrid political system of Georgia, in condition of COVID-19, the population obeyed control and strict regulations. Concepts such as the Iron Curtain, curfew, etc., have returned to the country’s political vocabulary. How can these symbols of a totalitarian (Soviet) past fit into the process of democratization? What is the reaction of society, other political actors? Why and how pandemic damaged democracy in Georgia? Does this threaten to revise the concept of a democratic political system, which will be especially difficult for post-totalitarian society?

This research paper examines case of Georgia: how political institutions, political elite, society, Media, the country’s legislative base was ready for new reality and what political consequences this crisis would have in the process of democratization and nation-building. Unfair political competition during the elections, the growth of populism, the partial abandonment of certain rights, the deepening of polarization, etc. – are these challenges related only to the pandemic or have they also threatened Georgian democracy in “normal” times?
‘Bhí,’ Arsa Mise, ‘Agus Tá Go Fóill’: Fiannaíocht in the Writings of the Mac Grianna Family
Authors: Long Duane
Published: April 2023

Clann Mhic Grianna (the Greene family) are a famous family of writers, poets, storytellers, composers, and performers of traditional songs from Rann na Feirste in northwest Donegal. Their works are widely studied and discussed to this day. Saturated in Gaelic culture, their works draw from a well of language and heritage and they frequently refer to history, pseudohistory, myth, and legends. Among that discussed are traditions around saints and references to the mythological cycles of Ireland. This paper looks at how various members of the family used the tales and poetry of one such cycle, Fiannaíocht (translated as Fenian, Ossianic, or Finn-Cycle tales), in their novels, short stories, and autobiographies. They also spoke about the folklore of their area on various occasions and some tales have been recorded by Roinn Bhéaloidis Éireann. Some of this material was later published, Amhráin Hiúdaí Fheilímí agus Laoithe Fianaíochta as Rann na Feirste (Ó Baoighill 2001) for one example. The multi-faceted nature of their legacy results in several Ossianic tales being discussed in different genres by various combinations of the siblings and these varied viewpoints allow us to raise and discuss a number of questions regarding Fiannaíocht. This paper compares sources from a number of these siblings and question what their works tell us about when and why people told Fiannaíocht tales.
The role of serotonin inhibition within the treatment of carcinoid syndrome
Authors: George Joel , Ramage John , White Benjamin , Srirajaskanthan Rajaventhan
Published: April 2023

Carcinoid syndrome is the most frequent hormonal complication associated with neuroendocrine neoplasms. It was first reported in 1954, and the classical symptoms are diarrhoea, flushing and abdominal pain. It is caused by the secretion of several vasoactive substances, the most prominent being serotonin, which play a pathophysiological role in the clinical symptoms which characterise carcinoid syndrome. Therefore, the focus of carcinoid syndrome treatment is to reduce serotonin production and hence improve the patient’s quality of life. There are a variety of management options for carcinoid syndrome including medical, surgical and loco-regional interventional radiological procedures. The most widely used are somatostatin analogues with three clinically approved drugs: lanreotide and octreotide (first-generation) and pasireotide (second-generation). Both everolimus and interferon used in combination with octreotide have shown significant reduction in urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid compared to octreotide alone. Telotristat ethyl has been increasingly utilised for patients with symptoms despite taking somatostatin analogues. It has also been shown to have a significant improvement in bowel movement frequency which was associated with a significant improvement in quality of life. Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy has proven symptomatic improvement in patients with uncontrolled symptoms. Chemotherapy is primarily reserved for patients with high proliferation tumours, with limited research on the efficacy in reducing symptoms. Surgical resection remains the optimal treatment due to being the only one that can achieve a cure. Liver-directed therapies are considered in patients where curative resection is not possible. There are therefore numerous different therapies. This paper describes the pathophysiology and therapy of carcinoid syndrome.
COLPI. Compilation of an Indigenous Brazilian Portuguese L2 corpus
Authors: De Mello Gláucia Buratto Rodrigues , Mello Heliana
Published: April 2023

COLPI stands for "Corpus Oral de Língua Portuguesa Indígena" or Indigenous Portuguese Language Oral Corpus. It is a small sized oral corpus which documents Brazilian Portuguese as a second language as spoken by Brazilian Indigenous peoples.  In this paper we describe its compilation process and its main characteristics. This corpus represents a first step in the attempt to document and make available data that so far has been scattered and not accessible to researchers. The recordings were carried by an anthropologist in her fieldwork and mostly document narratives, therefore portraying monologic texts. COLPI is part of a larger project aimed at documenting Brazilian Portuguese spontaneous speech, the C-ORAL-BRASIL corpus.
Sociolinguistic Effects in Consonant Prevocalization in Maxakalí
Authors: Silva Mário André Coelho
Published: April 2023

Maxakalí is a Macro-Jê language, from the Maxakalí family, spoken by about 2000 people in Mucuri River Valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil. One phenomenon regarding its phonology is the prevocalization of all its consonants when in coda position. Although common in world languages (OPERSTEIN, 2010), prevocalization usually applies in liquid consonants, but as Maxakalí has neither rhotics nor laterals, this becomes a typologically interesting fact. Another thing about the lenition of consonants in Maxakalí is that one same speaker may vary between a complete consonantal realization up to a complete vocalic allophone of coda, forming a continuum. By collecting data from 18 subjects from one Maxakalí village, stratified for both age and gender, we were able to verify to which extent these two factors were active in this variation. It seems that both factors are, in fact, statistically relevant for this variation. On the one hand, age reveals that it is a variation in apparent time – added to 19th and 20th centuries historical wordlists, it seems that this is a change in progress. On the other hand, gender reveals us, at least partially, that the configuration of the Maxakalí society and the different gender functions are reflected in each gender’s speech.
Competing influences: the impact of mode and language on verb type and density in French and English scientific discourse
Authors: Hamilton Clive , Carter-Thomas Shirley
Published: April 2023

This paper proposes a contrastive analysis of lexical verbs in English and French academic discourse. The EIIDA corpus enables us to adopt a doubly contrastive viewpoint, comparing the frequency and types of verbs used both in research articles and oral presentations in the two languages. The results indicate that mode differences are less distinct in French and that overall lexical and verbal density is higher in English (46% the English oral mode and 61% in the written mode, whereas it is 42% and 47% in the French oral and written mode). In contrast, the French articles and presentations sub-corpora display greater lexical variation, suggesting that information is densely packed in English and the same lexical items are often reused, whereas information is less dense in French but is accompanied by greater lexical diversity and less reuse.Keywords: written and oral academic discourse, lexical density, lexical variation, verbal density