bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identifying and Segmenting Commuting Behavior Patterns Based on Smart Card Data and Travel Survey Data
Authors: Lin Pengfei , Weng Jiancheng , Alivanistos Dimitrios , Ma Siyong , Yin Baocai
Published: June 2020

Understanding commuting patterns could provide effective support for the planning and operation of public transport systems. One-month smart card data and travel behavior survey data in Beijing were integrated to complement the socioeconomic attributes of cardholders. The light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM) was introduced to identify the commuting patterns considering the spatiotemporal regularity of travel behavior. Commuters were further divided into fine-grained clusters according to their departure time using the latent Dirichlet allocation model. To enhance the interpretation of the behavior patterns in each cluster, we investigated the relationship between the socioeconomic characteristics of the residence locations and commuter cluster distributions. Approximately 3.1 million cardholders were identified as commuters, accounting for 67.39% of daily passenger volume. Their commuting routes indicated the existence of job–house imbalance and excess commuting in Beijing. We further segmented commuters into six clusters with different temporal patterns, including two-peak, staggered shifts, flexible departure time, and single-peak. The residences of commuters are mainly concentrated in the low housing price and high or medium population density areas; subway facilities will promote people to commute using public transport. This study will help stakeholders optimize the public transport networks, scheduling scheme, and policy accordingly, thus ameliorating commuting within cities.
Diversity Management as a Tool of Sustainability of Competitive Advantage
Authors: Urbancová Hana , Hudáková Monika , Fajčíková Adéla
Published: June 2020

Diversity is a phenomenon that, due to increasing globalization, appears ever more frequently in all areas of human activity and performance, including the labor market and working teams. In light of these changes, this article aims to identify and evaluate the practice of diversity management as a factor of the sustainability of competitive advantage with regard to the examined factors of diversity. The results were obtained through primary analysis via a questionnaire survey at 549 Czech companies. The results indicate that there is a statistical dependence between the application of diversity management and the commercial sector in which the organization operates and the size of the organization. Organizations identified the following as the most significant benefits of the application of diversity management: retention of key employees (43.9%), improved motivation and performance of existing employees (39.3%), and improvement to the actual atmosphere in the workplace (33.9%). One recommendation for organizations is to focus more on this current topic, as the lack of a qualified workforce is becoming more pronounced. In this regard, it will also be necessary to devote sufficient attention to groups of potential workers who have hitherto been overlooked. The application of diversity management can be a successful tool to gain a competitive advantage in managing human resources.
Reviewing Value Creation in Agriculture—A Conceptual Analysis and a New Framework
Authors: Sadovska Vera , Ekelund Axelson Lena , Mark-Herbert Cecilia
Published: June 2020

Creation of business value is a major objective of any enterprise, but the way in which value is created and its consequences call for re-evaluation in response to current sustainability goals. The agricultural sector serves basic human needs, but its systems and methods for production, processing, and consumption often pose challenges to sustainable development. To address these challenges, this study consolidated value-creating factors identified in a systematic literature review into nine clusters: collaboration, communication, knowledge, production, diversification, entrepreneurism, funding, policies, and inclusiveness. These clusters were analyzed with a Triple Bottom Line framework where financial, environmental, and social dimensions are part of sustainable development. The analysis revealed that agricultural enterprises pursue business activities in a near-term perspective, with few having strategies for long-term activities such as innovativeness, knowledge acquisition, and collaboration with external stakeholders. These findings highlight the complexity in creation of sustainable business value and call for further investigation of how value is conceptualized in the agricultural sector. Re-thinking value creation in the sector should consider why value is created, for whom, the time perspective in which value is assessed, and the aspects given weight in the assessment.
The Concept of Safety and Security Education in the Context of Sustainability
Authors: Wysokińska-Senkus Aneta
Published: June 2020

The emergence of safety and security risks is a huge threat to the implementation of sustainability; therefore, safety and security education allows one to detect the symptoms of emerging crises, helps in the appropriate response to that and helps in a quick return to the path of sustainability after crisis conditions would disappear. The development of the concept of safety and security education in the context of sustainability is very important from both a scientific and practical point of view due to the fact that schools play a key role in society constituting the basic source of education for future generations of citizens, shaping awareness, competence and skills of future generations and thus creating a society that is able to analyse the opportunities and threats arising from the changing economic, social, environmental, technological, political and legal environment. The aim of the paper is to indicate the key factors for improving the security and safety education in the context of sustainability and to prepare the recommendations for preparing the security and safety courses. To complete that objective studies, Computer-Assisted Web Interview either with students or with security and safety experts were used in the study. The survey was conducted among two representative samples of high school students in Poland—one sample 418 high school students from regular high schools, and 100 from solitaire classes. The results from the CAWI were discussed with 20 security and safety experts to indicate the learning methods and tools to improve safety and security education. The main finding from the study was that safety and security education must be improved because respondents saw gaps in their knowledge on several issues in the area of safety and security. Modern training methods should be included in safety education, e.g., e-learning platforms, Serious games, social media, virtual worlds, simulators, integrated systems using e.g., kinect, VR goggles, accessories, mobile technologies.
Spatial Knowledge: A Potential to Enhance Public Participation?
Authors: Akbar Aulia , Flacke Johannes , Martinez Javier , van Maarseveen Martin F.A.M.
Published: June 2020

Spatial knowledge, i.e., knowledge about space and place, is commonly used by stakeholders during the deliberative process of public participation practice. The goal of this article is to examine to what extent spatial knowledge exists and is used in a formal public participation practice, as well as its potential to enhance the public participation practice. We used an annual public participation practice in Indonesia called Musrenbang as the case study. Using a three-dimensional framework, we identified the types, levels, and socio-spatial relationships of spatial knowledge used in the Musrenbang practice. Our study finds that villagers had and used spatial knowledge during Musrenbang. However, the knowledge was not properly used due to three main impediments: The stakeholders were not aware of their spatial knowledge, spatial data was not available, which can help to better utilize knowledge while supporting the participatory process, and power gaps among stakeholders. It can be concluded that the development of suitable methods, which can help stakeholders use their spatial knowledge, is needed to enhance the current Musrenbang practice.
Circular Economy in Home Textiles: Motivations of IKEA Consumers in Sweden
Authors: Lehner Matthias , Mont Oksana , Mariani Giulia , Mundaca Luis
Published: June 2020

(1) If policy-makers and businesses are to encourage consumers to participate in circular consumption systems, knowledge is needed about what motivates consumers to choose different disposal options. This paper aims to shed light on what motivates consumers to engage in circular home textile disposal practices. (2) Quantitative data was collected through a survey of members of the IKEA Family programme (N = 238), and logistic regressions were carried out to complement the quantitative analysis. Qualitative data was collected in semi-structured interviews with a total of 24 Swedish consumers. (3) Our findings show that donating and discarding are the most common options for handling home textiles, followed by reusing/storing, repairing, and reselling. Regression results indicate that environmental concerns, convenience, and economic reasons are the dominant motivations in choosing a disposal option. Prosocial behaviour and normative issues play a lesser role. (4) We recommend that policy-makers and businesses work to increase convenience of consumers’ participation in circular product practices, and continually communicate environmental benefits of circular disposal options. Businesses and policy-makers aiming to make circular consumption more attractive also need to ensure economic benefits for consumers.
Influence of Increasing Electrification of Passenger Vehicle Fleet on Carbon Dioxide Emissions in Finland
Authors: Lajunen Antti , Kivekäs Klaus , Vepsäläinen Jari , Tammi Kari
Published: June 2020

Different estimations have been presented for the amount of electric vehicles in the future. These estimations rarely take into account any realistic dynamics of the vehicle fleet. The objective of this paper is to analyze recently presented future scenarios about the passenger vehicle fleet estimations and create a foundation for the development of a fleet estimation model for passenger cars dedicated to the Finnish vehicle market conditions. The specific conditions of the Finnish light-duty vehicle fleet are taken into account as boundary conditions for the model development. The fleet model can be used for the estimation of emissions-optimal future vehicle fleets and the evaluation of the carbon dioxide emissions of transportation. The emission analysis was done for four different scenarios of the passenger vehicle fleet development in Finland. The results show that the high average age of the fleet and high number of older gasoline vehicles will slow down the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions during the next five to ten years even with a high adoption rate of electric vehicles. It can be concluded that lowering the average age, increasing biofuel mixing ratios, and increasing the amount of rechargeable electric vehicles are the most effective measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions of the Finnish passenger vehicle fleet in the future.
Management of Postindustrial Heritage in Urban Revitalization Processes
Authors: Konior Agnieszka , Pokojska Weronika
Published: June 2020

The paper presents the results of original research on the use of heritage in revitalization processes. The study was conducted on selected postindustrial areas in Poland. The analysis is based on research conducted mainly with qualitative methods, including desk research, field query, participating observation, and in-depth interviews with selected stakeholders of postindustrial heritage. The purpose of the article is to indicate that cultural heritage is used in the regeneration processes of postindustrial areas. We prove that cultural heritage is not a separate category present in the revitalization process, but it is visible in spatial, social, and economic aspects of this process. To illustrate this, we provide numerous examples that we identified during research. In summary, we present the benefits of using cultural heritage in the revitalization process.
Italian Social Farming: the Network of Coldiretti and Campagna Amica
Authors: Moruzzo Roberta , Riccioli Francesco , Galasso Angela , Troccoli Carmelo , Espinosa Diaz Salomon , Di Iacovo Francesco
Published: June 2020

For the last ten years, Social farming (SF) has become an innovative practice able to connect multifunctional agriculture and novel social services for urban and rural areas in Italy and the EU. By looking at the experience from Italy, it is possible to note that SF has not developed homogeneously along the national territory. It is characterized by a wide range of practices and activities related to the development of a welfare in which several topics such as subsidiarity, the value of relationship, and co-production find multiple meanings and applications. This paper provides a further contribution to the knowledge on this type of activity and opens the way to deeper considerations on the topic. The information reported in this study refers to a project born in 2018 and carried out by Fondazione Campagna Amica, a foundation promoted by Coldiretti, the main organization of agricultural entrepreneurs in Italy. This paper focuses on the analysis of data collected during this project, through in-depth interviews carried out from July 2018 to March 2019 among 229 agricultural enterprises, as well as meetings with representatives of the regional offices of Coldiretti that are involved in SF. This study aims to reach a better understanding of the development of SF in Italy through the perspective of a national network of farmers and to compare SF practices across regions in order to examine their similarities and differences. The most important results show big individual farms with a great variety of agricultural activities and livestock systems, with a clear predominance of horticulture. These SF farms mainly provide direct sales and educational activities and are involved in training and job placement services.
A Sustainable Deep Learning Framework for Object Recognition Using Multi-Layers Deep Features Fusion and Selection
Authors: Rashid Muhammad , Khan Muhammad Attique , Alhaisoni Majed , Wang Shui-Hua , Naqvi Syed Rameez , Rehman Amjad , Saba Tanzila
Published: June 2020

With an overwhelming increase in the demand of autonomous systems, especially in the applications related to intelligent robotics and visual surveillance, come stringent accuracy requirements for complex object recognition. A system that maintains its performance against a change in the object’s nature is said to be sustainable and it has become a major area of research for the computer vision research community in the past few years. In this work, we present a sustainable deep learning architecture, which utilizes multi-layer deep features fusion and selection, for accurate object classification. The proposed approach comprises three steps: (1) By utilizing two deep learning architectures, Very Deep Convolutional Networks for Large-Scale Image Recognition and Inception V3, it extracts features based on transfer learning, (2) Fusion of all the extracted feature vectors is performed by means of a parallel maximum covariance approach, and (3) The best features are selected using Multi Logistic Regression controlled Entropy-Variances method. For verification of the robust selected features, the Ensemble Learning method named Subspace Discriminant Analysis is utilized as a fitness function. The experimental process is conducted using four publicly available datasets, including Caltech-101, Birds database, Butterflies database and CIFAR-100, and a ten-fold validation process which yields the best accuracies of 95.5%, 100%, 98%, and 68.80% for the datasets respectively. Based on the detailed statistical analysis and comparison with the existing methods, the proposed selection method gives significantly more accuracy. Moreover, the computational time of the proposed selection method is better for real-time implementation.
Changes in Cognitive Function and in the Levels of Glycosylated Haemoglobin (HbA1c) in Older Women with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Subjected to a Cardiorespiratory Exercise Programme
Authors: Molina-Sotomayor Edgardo , Onetti-Onetti Wanesa , Castillo-Rodríguez Alfonso , González-Jurado Jose Antonio
Published: June 2020

Ageing and diabetes are recognised as important risk factors for the development of cognitive deterioration. The aim was to analyse the effects of a walking-based training programme on cognitive deterioration and glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) in older women with type 2 diabetes. This was a six-month experimental and longitudinal study with an experimental group (EG) (n = 57) and a control group (CG) (n = 52). All participants were diabetic with hypoglycaemic treatment. EG carried out a walking-based training program. After the training, we evaluated the diabetic state (HbA1c), cognitive functioning with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max) and body mass index (BMI). Results: EG obtained better results than CG in all the analysed variables. EG showed a significant improvement in the levels of HbA1c (−4.5%; p < 0.001), VO2max (+5.9%; p < 0.001) and BMI (−5.4%; p < 0.001); it also obtained increases in the scores of cognitive functioning, which were statistically significant in all dimensions, except for calculation (p = 0.384) and language (p = 0.168). Conclusion: The aerobic treatment produced significant improvements in the diabetic state and cognitive functioning in older women with type 2 diabetes.
Towards Urban Mining—Estimating the Potential Environmental Benefits by Applying an Alternative Construction Practice. A Case Study from Switzerland
Authors: Kakkos Efstathios , Heisel Felix , Hebel Dirk E. , Hischier Roland
Published: June 2020

Modern cities emerged as the main accumulator for primary and waste materials. Recovery of both types from buildings after demolition/disassembly creates a secondary material stream that could relieve pressure from primary resources. Urban mining represents this circular approach, and its application depends on redefining current construction practice. Through the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology and assuming primary resources as step zero of urban mining, this study estimates the impacts and benefits of conventional versus a circular construction practice applied to various buildings with different parameters and the country-level environmental potential savings that could be achieved through this switch in construction practice—using the increase of the residential building stock in Switzerland between 2012 and 2016 as a case study and key values from the experimental unit “Urban Mining and Recycling”, designed by Werner Sobek with Dirk E. Hebel and Felix Heisel and installed inside the NEST (Next Evolution in Sustainable Building Technologies) research building on the Empa campus in Switzerland. The results exhibit lower total impacts (at least 16% in each examined impact category) at building level and resulting benefits (i.e., 68–117 kt CO2-Eq) at country level over five years, which can be further reduced/increased respectively by using existing or recycled components, instead of virgin materials.
Fabrication and Characterization of Zein/Hydroxyapatite Composite Coatings for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Ahmed Yusra , Yasir Muhammad , Ur Rehman Muhammad Atiq
Published: June 2020

Stainless steel is renowned for its wide use as a biomaterial, but its relatively high corrosion rate in physiological environments restricts many of its clinical applications. To overcome the corrosion resistance of stainless steel bio-implants in physiological environments and to improve its osseointegration behavior, we have developed a unique zein/hydroxyapatite (HA) composite coating on a stainless steel substrate by Electrophoretic Deposition (EPD). The EPD parameters were optimized using the Taguchi Design of experiments (DoE) approach. The EPD parameters, such as the concentration of bio-ceramic particles in the polymer solution, applied voltage and deposition time were optimized on stainless steel substrates by applying a mixed design orthogonal Taguchi array. The coatings were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and wettability studies. SEM images and EDX results indicated that the zein/HA coating was successfully deposited onto the stainless steel substrates. The wettability and roughness studies elucidated the mildly hydrophilic nature of the zein/HA coatings, which confirmed the suitability of the developed coatings for biomedical applications. Zein/HA coatings improved the corrosion resistance of bare 316L stainless steel. Moreover, zein/HA coatings showed strong adhesion with the 316L SS substrate for biomedical applications. Zein/HA developed dense HA crystals upon immersion in simulated body fluid, which confirmed the bone binding ability of the coatings. Thus the zein/HA coatings presented in this study have a strong potential to be considered for orthopedic applications.
Existence Results of Mild Solutions for the Fractional Stochastic Evolution Equations of Sobolev Type
Authors: Yang He
Published: June 2020

In this paper, by utilizing the resolvent operator theory, the stochastic analysis method and Picard type iterative technique, we first investigate the existence as well as the uniqueness of mild solutions for a class of α ∈ ( 1 , 2 ) -order Riemann–Liouville fractional stochastic evolution equations of Sobolev type in abstract spaces. Then the symmetrical technique is used to deal with the α ∈ ( 1 , 2 ) -order Caputo fractional stochastic evolution equations of Sobolev type in abstract spaces. Two examples are given as applications to the obtained results.
Bioactive Metabolites and Potential Mycotoxins Produced by Cordyceps Fungi: A Review of Safety
Authors: Chen Bo , Sun Yanlei , Luo Feifei , Wang Chengshu
Published: June 2020

Ascomycete Cordyceps fungi such as C. militaris, C. cicadae, and C. guangdongensis have been mass produced on artificial media either as food supplements or health additives while the byproducts of culture substrates are largely used as animal feed. The safety concerns associated with the daily consumption of Cordyceps fungi or related products are still being debated. On the one hand, the known compounds from these fungi such as adenosine analogs cordycepin and pentostatin have demonstrated different beneficial or pharmaceutical activities but also dose-dependent cytotoxicities, neurological toxicities and or toxicological effects in humans and animals. On the other hand, the possibility of mycotoxin production by Cordyceps fungi has not been completely ruled out. In contrast to a few metabolites identified, an array of biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) are encoded in each genome of these fungi with the potential to produce a plethora of as yet unknown secondary metabolites. Conservation analysis of BGCs suggests that mycotoxin analogs of PR-toxin and trichothecenes might be produced by Cordyceps fungi. Future elucidation of the compounds produced by these functionally unknown BGCs, and in-depth assessments of metabolite bioactivity and chemical safety, will not only facilitate the safe use of Cordyceps fungi as human food or alternative medicine, but will also benefit the use of mass production byproducts as animal feed. To corroborate the long record of use as a traditional medicine, future efforts will also benefit the exploration of Cordyceps fungi for pharmaceutical purposes.
A Low Fidelity Virus Shows Increased Recombination during the Removal of an Alphavirus Reporter Gene
Authors: Kautz Tiffany F. , Jaworski Elizabeth , Routh Andrew , Forrester Naomi L.
Published: June 2020

Reporter genes for RNA viruses are well-known to be unstable due to putative RNA recombination events that excise inserted nucleic acids. RNA recombination has been demonstrated to be co-regulated with replication fidelity in alphaviruses, but it is unknown how recombination events at the minority variant level act, which is important for vaccine and trans-gene delivery design. Therefore, we sought to characterize the removal of a reporter gene by a low-fidelity alphavirus mutant over multiple replication cycles. To examine this, GFP was inserted into TC-83, a live-attenuated vaccine for the alphavirus Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, as well as a low-fidelity variant of TC-83, and passaged until fluorescence was no longer observed. Short-read RNA sequencing using ClickSeq was performed to determine which regions of the viral genome underwent recombination and how this changed over multiple replication cycles. A rapid removal of the GFP gene was observed, where minority variants in the virus population accumulated small deletions that increased in size over the course of passaging. Eventually, these small deletions merged to fully remove the GFP gene. The removal was significantly enhanced during the passaging of low-fidelity TC-83, suggesting that increased levels of recombination are a defining characteristic of this mutant.
The Interplay between Adeno-Associated Virus and Its Helper Viruses
Authors: Meier Anita F. , Fraefel Cornel , Seyffert Michael
Published: June 2020

The adeno-associated virus (AAV) is a small, nonpathogenic parvovirus, which depends on helper factors to replicate. Those helper factors can be provided by coinfecting helper viruses such as adenoviruses, herpesviruses, or papillomaviruses. We review the basic biology of AAV and its most-studied helper viruses, adenovirus type 5 (AdV5) and herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). We further outline the direct and indirect interactions of AAV with those and additional helper viruses.
Merit of an Ursodeoxycholic Acid Clinical Trial in COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Subramanian Subbaya , Iles Tinen , Ikramuddin Sayeed , Steer Clifford
Published: June 2020

Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected over 8 million people worldwide. We underscore the potential benefits of conducting a randomized open-label unblinded clinical trial to evaluate the role of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in the treatment of COVID-19. Some COVID-19 patients are characterized with cytokine storm syndrome that can cause severe and irreversible damage to organs leading to multi-organ failure and death. Therefore, it is critical to control both programmed cell death (apoptosis) and the hyper-immune inflammatory response in COVID-19 patients to reduce the rising morbidity and mortality. UDCA is an existing drug with proven safety profiles that can reduce inflammation and prevent cell death. National Geographic reported that, “China Promotes Bear Bile as Coronavirus Treatment”. Bear bile is rich in UDCA, comprising up to 40–50% of the total bile acid. UDCA is a logical and attainable replacement for bear bile that is available in pill form and merits clinical trial consideration.
Overcoming Tumor Resistance to Oncolyticvaccinia Virus with Anti-PD-1-Based Combination Therapy by Inducing Antitumor Immunity in the Tumor Microenvironment
Authors: Yoo So Young , Badrinath Narayanasamy , Jeong Su-Nam , Woo Hyun Young , Heo Jeong
Published: June 2020

The tumor microenvironment (TME) comprises different types of immune cells, which limit the therapeutic efficacy of most drugs. Although oncolytic virotherapy (OVT) boosts antitumor immunity via enhanced infiltration of tumor-infiltrated lymphocytes (TILs), immune checkpoints on the surface of tumors and TILs protect tumor cells from TIL recognition and apoptosis. OVT and immune checkpoint blockade (ICB)-based combination therapy might overcome this issue. Therefore, combination immunotherapies to modify the immunosuppressive nature of TME and block immune checkpoints of immune cells and tumors are considered. In this study, cancer-favoring oncolytic vaccinia virus (CVV) and anti–programmed cell death protein-1 (anti-PD-1) were used to treat mouse colorectal cancer. Weekly-based intratumoral CVV and intraperitoneal anti-PD-1 injections were performed on Balb/c mice with subcutaneous CT26 tumors. Tumor volume, survival curve, and immunohistochemistry-based analysis demonstrated the benefit of co-treatment, especially simultaneous treatment with CVV and anti-PD-1. Infiltration of CD8+PD-1+ T-cells showed correlation with these results. Splenocytes enumeration also suggested CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell upregulation. In addition, upregulated CD8, PD-1, and CD86 messenger RNA expression was observed in this combination therapy. Therefore, CVV+anti-PD-1 combination therapy induces antitumor immunity in the TME, overcoming the rigidity and resistance of the TME in refractory cancers.
Livestock and Poultry Production in Nepal and Current Status of Vaccine Development
Authors: Poudel Uddab , Dahal Umesh , Upadhyaya Nabin , Chaudhari Saroj , Dhakal Santosh
Published: June 2020

The livestock and poultry sectors are an integral part of Nepalese economy and lifestyle. Livestock and poultry populations have continuously been increasing in the last decade in Nepal and are likely to follow that trend as the interests in this field is growing. Infectious diseases such as Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), hemorrhagic septicemia (HS), black quarter (BQ), swine fever, avian influenza, and Newcastle disease (ND) constitute one of the major health challenges to the Nepalese livestock and poultry industry. Vaccinations are an efficient means of preventing the occurrence and spread of several diseases in animals and birds. Considering this fact, the government of Nepal began the production of veterinary vaccines in the 1960s. Nepal is self-reliant in producing several vaccines for cattle and buffaloes, sheep and goats, pigs, and poultry. Despite these efforts, the demand for vaccines is not met, especially in the commercial poultry sector, as Nepal spends billions of rupees in vaccine imports each year. There is a need of strengthening laboratory facilities for the isolation and characterization of field strains of pathogens and capacity building for the production of different types of vaccines using the latest technologies to be self-reliant in veterinary vaccine production in the future in Nepal.
Liver Stiffness Hinders Normalization of Systemic Inflammation and Endothelial Activation after Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Eradication in HIV/HCV Coinfected Patients
Authors: Álvarez Beatriz , Restrepo Clara , García Marcial , Navarrete-Muñoz María A. , Jiménez-Sousa María A. , Prieto Laura , Cabello Alfonso , Nistal Sara , Resino Salvador , Górgolas Miguel , Rallón Norma , Benito José M.
Published: June 2020

Systemic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction and coagulopathy are of high clinical relevance in the management of people living with HIV (PLWH), and even more in patients coinfected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). It has been suggested a significant impact of HCV coinfection on these conditions. However, HCV can be eradicated in most patients with the new direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) therapy. We have analyzed the effect of HCV on systemic inflammation, endothelial activation and coagulopathy in PLWH and its evolution after HCV eradication with DAAs. Twenty-five HIV/HCV coinfected (HIV/HCV group), 25 HIV monoinfected (HIV group) and 20 healthy controls (HC) were included in the study. All patients were on ART and HIV suppressed. Levels of fourteen markers of systemic inflammation, endothelial activation and coagulopathy (IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-12p70, IL-8, TNFα, D-dimer, Eotaxin, IL-18, IP-10, monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), TNFα receptor 1 (TNFR1), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1)) were measured on plasma at baseline and after DAAs-mediated HCV eradication. Non-parametric tests were used to establish inter/intra-group differences. At baseline, the HIV/HCV group showed increased levels of IL-18 (p = 0.028), IP-10 (p < 0.0001), VCAM-1 (p < 0.0001) and ICAM-1 (p = 0.045), compared to the HC and HIV groups, with the highest levels for IL18 and IP10 observed in HIV/HCV patients with increased liver stiffness (≥7.1 KPa). Eradication of HCV with DAAs-based therapy restored some but not all the evaluated parameters. VCAM-1 remained significantly increased compared to HC (p = 0.001), regardless of the level of basal liver stiffness in the HIV/HCV group, and IP-10 remained significantly increased only in the HIV/HCV group, with increased level of basal liver stiffness compared to the HC and to the HIV groups (p = 0.006 and p = 0.049, respectively). These data indicate that DAAs therapy in HIV/HCV co-infected patients and HCV eradication does not always lead to the normalization of systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction conditions, especially in cases with increased liver stiffness.
Trends, Coverage and Influencing Determinants of Influenza Vaccination in the Elderly: A Population-Based National Survey in Spain (2006–2017)
Authors: Portero de la Cruz Silvia , Cebrino Jesús
Published: June 2020

Influenza is a significant public health problem and the elderly are at a greater risk of contracting the disease. The vaccination coverage of the elderly is below the Spanish target of 65% for each influenza season. The aims of this study were to report the coverage of influenza vaccination in Spain among the population aged ≥65 years and high-risk groups for suffering chronic diseases, to analyze the time trends from 2006 to 2017 and to identify the factors which affect vaccination coverage. A nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted including 20,753 non-institutionalized individuals aged ≥65 years who had participated in the Spanish National Health Surveys in 2006, 2011/2012, and 2017. Sociodemographic, health-related variables, and influenza vaccination data were used. A logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the variables associated with influenza vaccination. Influenza vaccination coverage was 60%. By chronic condition, older people with high cholesterol levels and cancer had the lowest vaccination coverage (62.41% and 60.73%, respectively). This coverage declined from 2006 to 2017 in both groups. Higher influenza vaccination was associated with males, Spanish nationality, normal social support perceived, polypharmacy, worse perceived health, participation in other preventive measures, and increasing age and the number of chronic diseases.
Indirect Impact Assessment of Pluvial Flooding in Urban Areas Using a Graph-Based Approach: The Mexico City Case Study
Authors: Arosio Marcello , Martina Mario L. V. , Creaco Enrico , Figueiredo Rui
Published: June 2020

This paper presents the application of a graph-based methodology for the assessment of flood impacts in an urban context. In this methodology, exposed elements are organized as nodes on a graph, which is used to propagate impacts from directly affected nodes to other nodes across graph links. Compared to traditional approaches, the main advantage of the adopted methodology lies in the possibility of identifying and understanding indirect impacts and cascading effects. The application case concerns floods numerically reconstructed in Mexico City in response to rainfall events of increasing return periods. The hazard reconstruction was carried out by using a simplified hydrological/hydraulic model of the urban drainage system, implemented in EPASWMM, the Storm Water Management Model developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The paper shows how the impacts are propagated along different orders of the impact chain for each return period and compares the risk curves between direct and indirect impact. It also highlights the extent to which the reduction in demand of services from consumers and the loss of services from suppliers are respectively contributing to the final indirect impacts. Finally, it illustrates how different impact mitigation measures can be formulated based on systemic information provided by the analysis of graph properties and taking into account indirect impacts.
Patients’, healthcare providers’, and health insurance employees’ preferences for knee and hip osteoarthritis care: a discrete choice experiment
Authors: Arslan Ilgin , Huls Samare , de Bekker-Grob Esther , Rozendaal Rianne , Bierma-Zeinstra Sita , Schiphof Dieuwke
Published: June 2020

Background

Despite the wide range of treatment options for knee and hip osteoarthritis (KHOA), suboptimal care, low uptake and low adherence to treatment is widely seen. We need to gain insight into preferences for KHOA treatment.

Aim

To determine patients’, healthcare providers’ and healthcare insurance employees’ preferences for existing health care for KHOA.

Method

A survey containing a discrete choice experiment (DCE) was conducted. Patients with KHOA, healthcare providers (orthopaedists and GPs), and insurance employees had to choose scenarios that differed in six attributes: waiting times, out of pocket costs, travel distance, involved healthcare providers during consultation, length of consultation and access to specialist equipment. A (panel latent class) conditional logit model was used to determine the relative importance of the attributes and trade-offs that responders made, and to explore preference heterogeneity.

Results

A total of 648 patients completed the DCE. All six attributes played a significant role in patients’ choices. On average, out of pocket costs were deemed undesirable by patients. A GP with an orthopaedist during the consultation was preferred compared to a GP alone. Healthcare providers (n = 76) and insurance employees (n = 150) showed similar preferences, with respect to out of pockets costs being valued less important. Latent class analysis identified four classes of patients varying in their preferences.

Conclusion

Patients prefer less out of pocket costs and a GP with an orthopedists during consultation for KHOA care. Four subgroups of patients were identified that vary in preferences for KHOA care. These subgroups could provide opportunities to improve uptake, adherence and effectiveness of KHOA care.
A qualitative evaluation of a prescribing e-learning package for general practice
Authors: Knox Richard , Salema Nde-Eshimuni , Clement Naomi , Bell Brian , Gookey Gill , Swanick Glen , Avery Anthony
Published: June 2020

Background

The GMC PRACtiCe study identified a 1 in 20 error rate in prescriptions issued in general practice and identified a need for further training in prescribing. As a result, an e-Learning prescribing package was designed and launched to healthcare professionals through the Royal College of General Practitioners in January 2014.

Aim

This part of the study explored the longer-term impact on prescribing knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of practitioners completing the eLearning prescribing package.

Method

On completion of the e-Learning package, participants were asked to indicate their willingness to be contacted for a telephone interview. Semi-structured interviews were conducted which were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis, aided by NVivo. Interviewees were invited to enter a prize draw to win Stockley’s Drug Interaction textbook (provided courtesy of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society).

Results

Of the 120 participants who expressed an interest in being followed up for interview, seven prescribers were interviewed in 2014 and 2015. Reasons for completing the course were explored, and interviewees gave examples of changes made to their prescribing practice as a result of completing the e-Learning. This included the adoption of specific strategies to enhance safe practice, and enacting enhanced vigilance in key areas such as renal function monitoring. Some changes to the course content and presentation were also recommended.

Conclusion

These interviews have highlighted the potential for using e-Learning for prescribing training and to achieve long-term changes in prescribing practice. However, further work is needed to generate substantive evidence of its impact on prescribing.
How do you diagnose asthma? A multiple case study design to understand and explain current use of national guidelines by primary care clinicians
Authors: Hares Fiona , Menzies Daniel , Brocklehurst Paul , Williams Sion
Published: June 2020

Background

Clinical guidelines for asthma are available to UK clinicians but implementation is not straightforward. Diagnostic and treatment inadequacy contribute to patient morbidity and mortality and lack of adherence to guidelines is a component of this.

Aim

This qualitative study sought to explore and understand the use of asthma guidelines by primary care clinicians in two geographically bounded regions of Wales.

Method

Multiple case study design was used. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews with a purposively sampled group of clinical staff from GP practices. Interview transcripts were thematically analysed to produce a detailed picture of practice.

Results

Asthma care in the studied areas operated as a social network of clinicians who often used guidelines as boundary objects. Practice and local service design was influenced and dependent on regular input from local secondary care providers. Clinicians looked to British Thoracic Society and Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network (BTS/SIGN) 2016 guidelines. There was limited use of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) 2017 guidelines. Barriers to guideline recommended diagnostic asthma care included: lack of acceptability, financial costs and disempowerment of nursing staff.

Conclusion

The findings from this study replicate and reinforce the findings of previous work. It is striking and concerning that the thematic outcomes of this study bear a strong resemblance to that which was demonstrated over a decade ago. The guideline-implementation gap in asthma diagnostics will likely persist unless there is significant restructuring, financial investment and greater empowerment of nursing staff in primary care.
Association between screen-time and school performance of secondary school children in Karachi, Pakistan
Authors: Niazi Kashan
Published: June 2020

Background

Electronic media are playing a negative role in people’s lives and yet people are unaware of the hazardous effect.

Aim

To show that screen-time of >1 hour had detrimental associations with school performance.

Method

A population-based, cross-sectional survey of 363 students, mean age 14.2 years (grades 5–8), from both government and private-sector schools in Karachi was conducted. A total of 363 students (210 males [57.9%] and 153 females [42.1%]) were included in the study. Of these students, 193 (53.2%) belonged to government schools and 173 (46.8%) to private schools. A questionnaire form was filled in. Weekday, weekend television, and video game screen-time was looked at. The main outcome was self-report of school performance (grades A, B, and C). Ordinal logistic regression analysis was used to test the independent effects of each variable, adjusting for demographics, child personality, and parenting style.

Results

Television content measurement showed that 69 (19%) students watched sports channels regularly while 30 (8.3%) and 3 (0.8%) watched educational and action programmes, respectively. The viewers of entertainment TV programmes (268 [73.8%]) and news programmes (159 [43.8%]) were in the majority. In terms of school grades, 154 students (42.4%) attained grade A, 180 students (49.6%) scored grade B, and 29 (8%) obtained grade C. Data showed no association between increased screen-time of ≤1 hour (weekdays as well as weekends) with poor school performance (P=0.46 and P=0.58, respectively).

Conclusion

Screen-time of ≤1 hour does not have any detrimental associations with poor school performance.
Variações em torno das pesquisas em educação e arte com imagens
Authors: Mossi Cristian Poletti , Oliveira Marilda Oliveira de
Published: June 2020

O artigo trata da produção de pesquisas, sobretudo em educação, que, ao buscar outros parâmetros de produção/validação, se envolvem em alguma medida com arte. Entendendo que as facetas da produção artística são inúmeras e não necessariamente visuais, o recorte mais preciso que foi escolhido para se debruçar é o do uso de materiais visuais em geral nessas investigações. Nesse sentido, após transitar por algumas concepções de arte com as quais os autores têm trabalhado e de discutir sob o ponto de vista teórico a gênese de metodologias artísticas no campo das investigações em educação, uma cena será, ao final do texto, mais especificamente tratada: a da utilização que o autor fez em sua tese de doutorado (orientada pela coautora deste artigo), das imagens de algumas obras da artista visual Shannon Rankin, como disparador visual para constituir o que na pesquisa foi nomeado de ‘sobrejustaposições’ enquanto estratégia metodológica.
Uma professora visitante na Faculdade de Educação da Unicamp
Authors: Teles Maria Amélia de Almeida
Published: June 2020

Este ensaio traz experiências, impressões e reflexões sobre minha atuação como professora visitante da Faculdade de Educação da Unicamp, no primeiro semestre de 2017, quando então ministrei a disciplina “Direito à Educação e à Infância: Educação Infantil em creches, uma história das mulheres”. Falo da minha surpresa ao participar de um edital aberto para ativistas, especialistas, o que para mim é algo inédito, e a emoção de uma ativista se transformar em professora visitante. Isto me fez voltar no tempo em que trabalhei numa creche municipal em São Paulo. Conto também dos impactos vividos todas as segundas-feiras, ao entrar na sala e ver o interesse de alunas e alunos em conhecer os feminismos, a história das lutas por creche e a história das lutas das mulheres, em particular, sobre guerrilheiras que resistiram aos desmandos da ditadura em nosso país, sendo que muitas delas foram assassinadas pelos agentes da repressão. Em resumo, abordo aspectos que mais me impactaram sem deixar de apontar as dificuldades minhas e da própria vida acadêmica.
Natação como metáfora da leitura
Authors: Kempinska Olga Donata Guerizoli
Published: June 2020

O artigo debruça-se sobre a imagem da natação enquanto uma metáfora da leitura. Partindo das representações da navegação marítima caras à hermenêutica, tais como, por exemplo, o naufrágio com espectador, e nas quais a distância estética se vê afirmada, o texto propõe contemplar alguns dos efeitos emocionais da fruição, tais como o humor, em meios aos quais a distância não mais pode ser mantida.
Mafalda e a escola: representações da educação argentina em cinco tirinhas de Quino
Authors: Piacenti Raquel Cardonha , Martins Maria Do Carmo
Published: June 2020

Ainda que, na atualidade, a história em quadrinho seja reconhecida tanto pelo seu alcance quanto por ser veiculadora de ideologias e conflitos, as HQs são uma fonte ainda pouco explorada pelos pesquisadores de um modo geral. Somente nos anos 1970 surgiram trabalhos que questionaram a ausência dos quadrinhos nos discursos acadêmicos e sua classificação como gênero menor. Este artigo entende os quadrinhos como uma importante forma de manifestação cultural e de representação de uma determinada época e contexto. Nesse cenário, analisa o impacto visual e constrói relações entre Mafalda – ícone das historietas – e o cenário educacional argentino da época em que a personagem foi produzida. Além das representações do ambiente escolar, o diálogo com essa fonte documental se faz articulando estudos históricos e estudos sobre a cultura visual, reconhecendo as especificidades da fonte em suas características estéticas e como produção cultural e artística, para propor leituras e interpretações.
In-vestir
Authors: Marques Davina
Published: June 2020

In-vestir