bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Combustor Turbulence on Turbine Loss Mechanisms
Authors: Folk Masha , Miller Robert J. , Coull John D.
Published: June 2020

A blade row that is located downstream of a combustor has an extremely high turbulence intensity at the inlet, typically above 10%. The peak turbulent length scale is also high, at around 20% of the chord of the downstream blade row. In a combustor, the turbulence is created by impinging jets in crossflow. This may result in the turbulence being anisotropic in nature. The aim of this paper is to investigate the effect of combustor turbulence on the loss mechanisms which occur in a turbine blade row. The paper has a number of important findings. The combustor turbulence is characterized and is shown to be isotropic in nature. It shows that, when no pressure gradient is present, combustor turbulence increases the loss of a turbulent boundary layer by 22%. The mechanism responsible for this change is shown to be a deep penetration of the turbulence into the boundary layer. It shows that the presence of combustor turbulence increases the profile loss and endwall loss in the turbine cascade studied by 37% and 47%, respectively. The presence of combustor turbulence also introduces a freestream loss resulting in the total loss of the turbine cascade rising by 47%. When these loss mechanisms were applied to the vane alone, of an engine representative high-pressure turbine, it was found to result in a 1.3% reduction in stage efficiency.
A numerical study of acoustic scattering by Janus spheres
Authors: Hawkins Stuart C. , Rother Tom , Wauer Jochen
Published: June 2020

Recently Janus particles have become important in several technological fields because they have interesting properties compared with homogeneous particles. The interaction of Janus particles with sound waves is of particular interest for diagnostic purposes, and also in applications in micro- and nanotechnology. In this paper the authors demonstrate that a method of fundamental solution combined with a T-matrix that is computed from far-field information can be applied with benefit to analyse the scattering of sound waves by a particular type of Janus sphere. Moreover, it is shown that this method converges faster than the conventional T-matrix method introduced by Waterman [(1969). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 45, 1417–1429]. This is of special importance if orientation averaged scattering quantities are required, or if multiple scattering processes on Janus spheres are considered. This method is used to demonstrate the interesting phenomenon of an enhanced side scattering intensity that is larger than the forward scattering intensity, and that this effect can be strengthened using a particular configuration of two identical Janus spheres. Finally, the authors discuss a useful approximation that can be readily applied for two or more Janus spheres.
Topical Sodium Bicarbonate: No Improvement in Blood Buffering Capacity or Exercise Performance
Authors: McKay Alannah K.A. , Peeling Peter , Binnie Martyn J. , Goods Paul S.R. , Sim Marc , Cross Rebecca , Siegler Jason
Published: June 2020

Purpose: To assess the efficacy of a topical sodium bicarbonate (0.3 g/kg body weight NaHCO3) application (PR lotion; Amp Human) on blood buffering capacity and performance in recreationally active participants (study A) and moderately trained athletes (study B). Methods: In Study A, 10 participants completed 2 experimental trials: oral NaHCO3 (0.3 g/kg body weight + placebo lotion) or PR lotion (0.9036 g/kg body weight + oral placebo) applied 90 minutes prior to a cycling task to exhaustion (30-s sprints at 120% peak power output with 30-s rest). Capillary blood was collected and analyzed for pH, bicarbonate, and lactate every 10 minutes throughout the 90-minute loading period and postexercise at 5, 10, and 15 minutes. In Study B, 10 cyclists/triathletes completed 2 experimental trials, applying either PR or placebo lotion 30 minutes prior to a cycling performance task (3 × 30-s maximal sprints with 90-s recovery). Capillary blood samples were collected at baseline, preexercise, and postexercise and analyzed as per study A. Results: In Study A, pH and bicarbonate were significantly elevated from baseline after 10 minutes in the oral NaHCO3 condition and throughout recovery compared with no elevation in the PR lotion condition (P < .001). No differences in cycling time occurred between PR lotion (349 [119] s) and oral NaHCO3 (363 [80] s; P = .697). In Study B, no differences in blood parameters, mean power (P = .108), or peak power (P = .448) were observed between conditions. Conclusions: PR lotion was ineffective in altering blood buffering capacity or enhancing performance in either trained or untrained individuals.
A Retrospective Controlled Cohort Study of the Impact of Glucocorticoid Treatment in SARS-CoV-2 Infection Mortality
Authors: Fernández-Cruz Ana , Ruiz-Antorán Belén , Muñoz-Gómez Ana , Sancho-López Aránzazu , Mills-Sánchez Patricia , Centeno-Soto Gustavo Adolfo , Blanco-Alonso Silvia , Javaloyes-Garachana Laura , Galán-Gómez Amy , Valencia-Alijo Ángela , Gómez-Irusta Javier , Payares-Herrera Concepción , Morrás-Torre Ignacio , Sánchez-Chica Enrique , Delgado-Téllez-de-Cepeda Laura , Callejas-Díaz Alejandro , Ramos-Martínez Antonio , Múñez-Rubio Elena , Avendaño-Solá Cristina
Published: June 2020

Evidence to support the use of steroids in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia is lacking. We aim to determine the impact of steroid use for COVID-19 pneumonia on hospital mortality. We performed a single-center retrospective cohort study in a university hospital in Madrid, Spain, during March of 2020. To determine the role of steroids in in-hospital mortality, patients admitted with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pneumonia and treated with steroids were compared to patients not treated with steroids, and we adjusted with a propensity score for patients on steroid treatment.
Revealing Differentially Expressed Genes and Identifying Effector Proteins of Puccinia striiformis f. sp.
tritici
in Response to High-Temperature Seedling Plant Resistance of Wheat Based on Transcriptome Sequencing
Authors: Tao Fei , Hu Yangshan , Su Chang , Li Juan , Guo Lili , Xu Xiangming , Chen Xianming , Shang Hongsheng , Hu Xiaoping
Published: June 2020

In the present study, we performed transcriptomic analysis to identify differentially expressed genes and effector proteins of
Puccinia striiformis
f. sp.
tritici
(
Pst
) in response to the high-temperature seedling-plant (HTSP) resistance in wheat. Experimental validation confirmed the function of the highest upregulated effector protein, PstCEP1. This study provides a key resource for understanding the biology and molecular basis of
Pst
responses to wheat HTSP resistance, and PstCEP1 may be used in future studies to understand pathogen-associated molecular pattern-triggered immunity and effector-triggered immunity processes in the
Pst
-wheat interaction system.
Teenage boy with bullous rash
Authors: Boyd McKenna Elizabeth , Yusuf Shabana
Published: June 2020

­

A 14-year-old boy with recent antibiotic treatment for
tonsillitis, presented to the emergency department with 1-week
history of worsening rash and haemorrhagic bullae involving the
bilateral legs, trunk and hands (figures 1 and 2). Laboratory
results were significant for proteinuria (2+protein) and haematuria
(1+, 5–10 red blood cells/high power field); 24 hours urinary
protein and renal function were within normal limits. The patient
had an inconclusive skin biopsy.

Figure 1

Left and right images show palpable purpura with some
overlying bullae and vesiculation coalescing into plaques on
both lower extremities.

Figure 2

Left image shows rash on abdominal wall and right image
shows coalesced haemorrhagic bullae on hands.

Questions

What is the most probable diagnosis?

Bullous Ig A vasculitis

Meningococcemia

Bullous impetigo

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with
polyangiitis

Cryoglobulinemia

What is the best test which will establish the diagnosis in
this patient?

Renal ultrasound

Renal biopsy

Abdominal ultrasound

Creatinine clearance

What is first line of treatment in this patient?

Antibiotics

Steroids

Surgical debridement

Multispecialty consultation

Immunosuppressants such as azothioprine

What other systems can this condition affect besides the
skin?

Lungs

Kidneys

Spleen

Nervous system

A, B and D

Answers can be found on page 02.
Deep learning for natural language processing of free-text pathology reports: a comparison of learning curves
Authors: Senders Joeky T , Cote David J , Mehrtash Alireza , Wiemann Robert , Gormley William B , Smith Timothy R , Broekman Marike L D , Arnaout Omar
Published: June 2020

Introduction

Although clinically derived information could improve patient care, its full potential remains unrealised because most of it is stored in a format unsuitable for traditional methods of analysis, free-text clinical reports. Various studies have already demonstrated the utility of natural language processing algorithms for medical text analysis. Yet, evidence on their learning efficiency is still lacking. This study aimed to compare the learning curves of various algorithms and develop an open-source framework for text mining in healthcare.

Methods

Deep learning and regressions-based models were developed to determine the histopathological diagnosis of patients with brain tumour based on free-text pathology reports. For each model, we characterised the learning curve and the minimal required training examples to reach the area under the curve (AUC) performance thresholds of 0.95 and 0.98.

Results

In total, we retrieved 7000 reports on 5242 patients with brain tumour (2316 with glioma, 1412 with meningioma and 1514 with cerebral metastasis). Conventional regression and deep learning-based models required 200–400 and 800–1500 training examples to reach the AUC performance thresholds of 0.95 and 0.98, respectively. The deep learning architecture utilised in the current study required 100 and 200 examples, respectively, corresponding to a learning capacity that is two to eight times more efficient.

Conclusions

This open-source framework enables the development of high-performing and fast learning natural language processing models. The steep learning curve can be valuable for contexts with limited training examples (eg, rare diseases and events or institutions with lower patient volumes). The resultant models could accelerate retrospective chart review, assemble clinical registries and facilitate a rapid learning healthcare system.
Co-occurrence of germline BRCA1 and CDH1 pathogenic variants
Authors: Villy Marie-Charlotte , Mouret-Fourme Emmanuelle , Golmard Lisa , Becette Véronique , Callet Nasrine , Marx Gilles , Colas Chrystelle , Lamarque Dominique , Rouleau Etienne , Stoppa-Lyonnet Dominique
Published: June 2020

Introduction: We report a very rare case of familial breast cancer and diffuse gastric cancer, with germline pathogenic variants in both BRCA1 and CDH1 genes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of such an association.

Family description: The proband is a woman diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 52 years. She requested genetic counselling in 2012, at the age of 91 years, because of a history of breast cancer in her daughter, her sister, her niece and her paternal grandmother and was therefore concerned about her relatives. Her sister and maternal aunt also had gastric cancer. She was tested for several genes associated with hereditary breast cancer.

Results: A large deletion of BRCA1 from exons 1 to 7 and two CDH1 pathogenic cis variants were identified.

Conclusion: This complex situation is challenging for genetic counselling and management of at-risk individuals.
Valid consent to medical treatment
Authors: Cave Emma
Published: June 2020

When consent to medical treatment is described as ‘valid’, it might simply mean that it has a sound basis, or it could mean that it is legally valid. Where the two meanings are regularly interchanged, however, it can lead to aspects of the sound basis or the legal requirements being neglected. This article looks at how the term is used in a range of guidance on consent to treatment and argues for consistency.
The Kähler-Ricci mean curvature flow of a strictly area decreasing map Between Riemann Surfaces
Authors: Pan Shujing
Published: June 2020

Suppose that [Formula: see text] is a product of compact Riemann surfaces [Formula: see text],[Formula: see text], i.e. [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] is a graph in [Formula: see text] of a strictly area dereasing map [Formula: see text]. Let [Formula: see text] evolve along the Kähler–Ricci flow, and [Formula: see text] in [Formula: see text] evolve along the mean curvature flow. We show that [Formula: see text] remains to be a graph of a strictly area decreasing map along the Kähler–Ricci mean curvature flow and exists for all time. In the positive scalar curvature case, we prove the convergence of the flow and the curvature decay along the flow at infinity.
Orthogonal exponentials of self-affine measures on ℝn
Authors: Su Juan , Chen Ming-Liang
Published: June 2020

Let the self-affine measure [Formula: see text] be generated by an expanding matrix [Formula: see text] and a finite integer digit set [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we show that if [Formula: see text] for an integer [Formula: see text], then [Formula: see text] admits an infinite orthogonal set of exponential functions if and only if there exists [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text] for some [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text].
The Jacobi morphism and the Hessian in higher order field theory; with applications to a Yang–Mills theory on a Minkowskian background
Authors: Accornero Luca , Palese Marcella
Published: June 2020

We characterize the second variation of an higher order Lagrangian by a Jacobi morphism and by currents strictly related to the geometric structure of the variational problem. We discuss the relation between the Jacobi morphism and the Hessian at an arbitrary order. Furthermore, we prove that a pair of Jacobi fields always generates a (weakly) conserved current. An explicit example is provided for a Yang–Mills theory on a Minkowskian background.
Recombinant Human Brain Natriuretic Peptide Attenuates Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury by Inhibiting CD4+ T Cell Proliferation via PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway Activation
Authors: Li Kun-Peng , Zhang Hai-Yan , Xu Xiao-Dong , Ming-Yang  , Li Tie-Jun , Song Shu-Tian
Published: June 2020

Inflammation plays a major role in the development of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. Recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide (rhBNP), a man-made version of a peptide that is elevated in heart failure, exhibits anti-inflammatory effects in various tissues. However, its role in myocardial IR injury remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that treatment with rhBNP provided protection for mice against myocardial IR injury as manifested by reduced infarct size and well-preserved myocardial, attenuated inflammatory infiltration and CD4+ T cell proliferation function, and inhibited expression of proinflammatory related genes. Furthermore, mechanistic studies revealed that rhBNP inhibited Jurkat T proliferation by promoting PI3K/AKT/mTOR phosphorylation. Collectively, our data suggest that the administration of rhBNP during IR injury could expand our understanding of the cardioprotective effects of rhBNP.
Modeling and Numerical Analysis in 3D of Anisotropic and Nonlinear Mechanical Behavior of Tournemire Argillite under High Temperatures and Dynamic Loading
Authors: Marius Foguieng Wembe , Luc Leroy Mambou Ngueyep , François Ngapgue
Published: June 2020

This work proposes a model that takes into account the anisotropy of material with its inhomogeneity and geometrical and material nonlinearities. According to Newton’s second law, the investigations were carried out on the simultaneous effects of mechanical load and thermal treatment on the Tournemire argillite material. The finite difference method was used for the numerical resolution of the problem by the MATLAB 2015a software in order to determine the peak stress and strain of argillite as a function of material nonlinearity and demonstrated the inhomogeneity parameter Ω. The critical temperature from which the material damage was pronounced is 500°C. Indeed, above this temperature, the loss of rigidity of argillite reduced significantly the mechanical performance of this rock. Therefore, after 2.9 min, the stress reduction in X or Y direction was 75.5% with a peak stress value of 2500 MPa, whereas in Z direction, the stress reduction was 74.1% with a peak stress value of 1998 MPa. Meanwhile, knowing that the material inhomogeneity was between 2995 and 3256.010, there was an increase in peak stress of about 75%. However, the influence of the material nonlinearity was almost negligible. Thus, the geometrical nonlinearity allows having the maximal constant strain of about 1.25 in the direction of the applied dynamic mechanical force.
Pavement Management Utilizing Mobile Crowd Sensing
Authors: Tian Boquan , Yuan Yongbo , Zhou Hengyu , Yang Zhen
Published: June 2020

Pavement management, which is vital in road transportation and maintenance, is facing some troubles, such as high costs of labors and machineries, low detecting efficiency, and low update rate of pavement conditions by means of traditional detection ways. Benefiting from the development of mobile communication, mobile computing, and mobile sensing techniques, the intelligence of mobile crowd sensing (MCS), which mainly relies on ubiquitous mobile smart devices in people’s daily lives, has overcome the above drawbacks to a large extent as one new effective and simple measure for pavement management. As a platform for data collection, processing, and visualization, a common smart device can utilize inertial sensor data, photos, videos, subjective reports, and location information to involve the public in pavement anomalies detection. This paper systematically reviewed the studies in this field from 2008 to 2018 to establish an overall knowledge. Through literature collection and screening, a database of studies was set up for analysis. As a result, the year profile of publications and distribution of research areas indicate that there has been a constant attention from researchers in various disciplines. Meanwhile, the distribution of research topic shows that inertial sensors embedded in smartphones have been the most popular data source. Therefore, the process of pavement anomalies detection based on inertial data was reviewed in detail, including preparatory, data collection, and processing phases of the previous experiments. However, some of the key issues in the experimental phases were investigated by previous studies, while some other challenges were not tackled or noticed. Hence, the challenges in both experiment and implementation stages were discussed to improve the studies and practice. Furthermore, several directions for future research are summarized from the main issues and challenges to offer potential opportunities for more relevant research studies and applications in pavement management.
Biosynthesis of Gold Nanoparticles Using Litsea cubeba Fruit Extract for Catalytic Reduction of 4-Nitrophenol
Authors: Doan Van-Dat , Thieu Anh Tai , Nguyen Thanh-Danh , Nguyen Van-Cuong , Cao Xuan-Thang , Nguyen Thi Lan-Huong , Le Van Thuan
Published: June 2020

This work describes a simple single-step method for green synthesis of colloidal gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using Litsea cubeba (LC) fruit extract as a reducing as well as stabilizing agent simultaneously. Major parameters affecting the formation of LC-AuNPs, including gold ion concentration, reaction time, and reaction temperature were optimized using ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) measurements at a characteristic maximum absorbance of 535 nm. The functional groups responsible for reducing gold ions and capping AuNPs were examined by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed the crystalline nature of AuNPs. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) measurements showed that the biosynthesized LC-AuNPs were mostly spherical with an average size of 8-18 nm. The nanoparticles also demonstrated excellent ultrarapid catalytic activity for the complete reduction of 4-nitrophenol to p-aminophenol in the presence of NaBH4 within 10 min with a reaction rate constant of 0.348 min-1.
Bacteriological Study of Electronic Devices Used by Healthcare Workers at Ruhengeri Referral Hospital
Authors: Habyarimana Thierry , Uwizeye Christelle , Munyeshyaka Emmanuel , Izere Cedrick , Mucumbitsi Joseph , Yadufashije Callixte
Published: June 2020

Electronic devices have become one of the most essential accessories being used in hospitals. Those devices increase the communication and contact making healthcare delivery more efficient and quality service oriented. The study was designed to collect reliable information about the spreading of pathogens through electronic devices especially in sensitive departments. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the bacterial colonization of electronic devices and determine the effectiveness of disinfection with alcohol 70% (w/v) to reduce the bacterial colonization of electronic devices. It was a cross‐sectional study where samples were collected by means of moistened swabs in sterile saline solution from 30 electronic devices used by healthcare workers at Ruhengeri Referral Hospital within four different units: maternity, neonathology, intensive care, and theater room. To evaluate the effects of disinfection using 70% isopropyl alcohol, the second sample collection was carried out after decontamination with 70% isopropyl alcohol. Samples were analyzed in the microbiology lab of INES‐Ruhengeri. The result showed that Staphylococcus aureus was the most predominant with 22.5%. Lactobacillus and Citrobacter spp. were 12.5%; Pseudomonas aeruginosa, coagulase‐negative Staphylococci, and Serratia marcescens were 10%; Escherichia coli was 7.5%; Klebsiella spp. and Providencia spp. were at 5%. The lowest prevalence was 2.5% of Enterobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. The threat of dissemination of isolated microorganisms is valid, since all devices evaluated in this study showed bacterial contamination of species associated to hospital‐acquired infections. Special care should be taken when using electronic devices in healthcare settings in addition to disinfection to reduce the risk of transmission of bacterial agents. Further studies should evaluate the antibiotic susceptibility for better conclusive results since all isolated bacteria in this study were subjected to high resistance and were associated with nosocomial infections.
Seismic Vulnerability Analysis of Multispan Continuous Bridges Subjected to Mainshock‐Aftershock Earthquake Sequences
Authors: Liang Yan , Cui Yukun , Ren Chao
Published: June 2020

A multispan continuous 3D bridge model is established on the basis of OpenSees platform, and 160 mainshock‐aftershock (MA) sequences are constructed in accordance with the bridge site to study their influence on the seismic vulnerability of bridges. The seismic vulnerability of bridge piers, bearings, and abutments subjected to MA sequences is investigated. The influence of MA sequences on the seismic vulnerability of the bridge system is also analysed using first‐ and second‐order boundary estimation methods. Results show that the seismic response and exceedance probability of the bridge components and system subjected to MA sequences are significantly increased compared with those under the consideration of mainshock only. The second‐order boundary estimation method based on component correlation coefficient can significantly reduce the upper and lower limit widths of the vulnerability curves and improve the accuracy. Under the same peak ground acceleration (PGA) and damage state, the exceedance probability of the bridge system is higher than that of any component in the system. The exceedance probability under different damage states of the bridge components and system increases with the PGA. For any given PGA, the exceedance probability decreases with the increase in severity of damage state.
Association of Biomarker Level with Cardiovascular Events: Results of a 4-Year Follow-Up Study
Authors: Turgunova L. , Baidildina B. , Laryushina Y. , Koichubekov B. , Turmukhambetova A. , Akhmaltdinova L.
Published: June 2020

Background. Given the high rates of morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD), the primary and secondary CVD prevention is one of the public health priority. Inflammation and endothelial dysfunction are the major drivers of atherosclerosis development and progression. In this regard, the study of the biomarker application as a tool to better identify high-risk individuals is an up-to-date sector of modern cardiology. The simultaneous measurement of multiple biomarkers can increase the risk stratification for people who are not known to have cardiovascular events in their history. The study aimed to investigate the predictive value of chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 16 (CXCL16), endocan, and heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) in the cardiovascular event development in people who are not known to have cardiovascular events in their history. Method. We examined 363 people aged 30 to 65 who have been living permanently in the city of Saran, Karaganda region. The selected participants were people registered at a clinic at the city of Saran, who were screened between August and September 2014. Results. The follow-up period was 48 months (from August-September 2014 to November 2018). The results showed that CXCL16 (p<0.001), endocan (p<0.001), and H-FABP (p=0.002) biomarker levels are significantly higher in outcome groups compared with those of the no-outcome group. Univariate regression analysis proved the prognostic significance of all biomarkers in cardiovascular events development. The multivariate regression analysis after the adjustment confirmed that the CXCL16 increase was associated with the “composite endpoint” (CE) development (p<0.001) while the endocan increased due to the development of major cardiovascular events (MACE) (p=0.008); we did not find the association of the risks of event development with the H-FABP level increase (p=0.83).
Exploring the Adoption of Nike+ Run Club App: An Application of the Theory of Reasoned Action
Authors: Lin Chih-Wei , Mao Tso-Yen , Huang Ya-Chiu , Sia Wei Yeng , Yang Chin-Cheng
Published: June 2020

The purpose of this study was to explore the influencing factors of users using Nike + Run Club App by Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) as the theoretical basis and add the perceived playfulness into the research framework. This study took the users of the Nike + Run Club App as the research subject and distributed 360 questionnaires by snowballing sampling, a total of 351 valid questionnaires. All data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation models. Overall, the results reveal that extending TRA could be a well-explained users’ behavior in the mobile application. The study found that the less the efforts spent in learning, the more positive the influence on attitude, thus affecting users’ behavior. Therefore, this study proposed the following suggestions: People are pursuing a clearer and simple interactive function, a simplistic design; or adding instructions next to the new features will make the Nike + Run Club App more perfect. Emphasize the user’s entertainment needs, develop interesting tasks, or games to make users feel interesting, and then be willing to continue to use the Nike + Run Club App.
Branched-Chain Amino Acids Depletion during Hemodialysis Is Associated with Fatigue
Authors: Debnath Subrata , Lorenzo Carlos , Bansal Shweta , Morales Juan , Rueda Rain O. , Kasinath Balakuntalam S. , Sharma Kumar , O’Connor Jason C.
Published: June 2020

Background: Fatigue is one of the most debilitating symptoms reported by maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. Hemodialysis causes marked depletion in plasma essential amino acids. We studied the cross-sectional relationship of pre- and post-hemodialysis branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) concentrations with fatigue in MHD patients. Methods: MHD patients self-reported fatigue during a dialysis session using the Brief Fatigue Inventory. Pre- and post-dialysis plasma levels of BCAAs (valine, leucine, and isoleucine) were measured using HPLC-mass spectrometry. Results: The mean age of study participants (n = 114) was 54.8 ± 12.8 years. Plasma levels of BCAAs decreased significantly post-dialysis compared to pre-dialysis (303.8 ± 9.4 vs. 392.1 ± 9.4 μM/L, p < 0.0001). Fatigue score increased as a function of age (p = 0.015). There was no association between pre-dialysis plasma levels of BCAAs and fatigue. A significant negative correlation was found between post-dialysis plasma levels of BCAAs and fatigue (p < 0.05). Conclusions: These preliminary findings suggest that disruption in BCAAs homeostasis may play a role in precipitating fatigue.
Vitamin D Levels in Young Adult Cataract Patients: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Öktem Çağlar , Aslan Fatih
Published: June 2020

Objective: We aimed to investigate whether a relationship is present between early cataract formation and vitamin D in young adults. Methods: A total of 37 cataract patients (18 males and 19 females) and 53 healthy participants (27 males and 26 females) under the age of 60 years were included in this study. The 25-OH vitamin D values were measured in all subjects and the mean vitamin D levels compared between the 2 groups. Additionally, the differences between the vitamin D levels of the genders in both groups were investigated. Results: The mean age of the study group was 48.1 ± 8.5 (range 33–59) years, and the mean age of the control group was 49.3 ± 7.8 (range 31–59) years (p = 0.48 and p = 0.83). The mean vitamin D level was 15.6 ± 8.4 ng/mL in the study group and 20.8 ± 7.1 ng/mL in the healthy subjects (p = 0.002). Among the females, the vitamin D level was 10.6 ± 4.7 ng/mL in the study group and 18.1 ± 6.4 ng/mL in the control group (p = 0.0001). No significant difference was found between the groups among the males (p = 0.24). Conclusion: We found vitamin D deficiency to be associated with early age-related cataract in a statistically significant manner. We believe it is worth investigating the reason for this concurrence with large longitudinal studies.
ANALYSIS OF THE RESULTS OF STUDYING VOCATIONAL TRAINING OF FUTURE JUNIOR SPECIALISTS IN NURSING IN COLLEGES
Authors: Demianchuk М. R.
Published: June 2020

The article reproduces the results of theoretical analysis of scientific studies which have been conducted to improve various aspects of vocational training of future junior specialists in nursing. The expediency of conducting a scientific and research work in the process of students’ study in medical colleges. It has been generalized that scholars studied problems of formation of professional competence, identity, readiness to different types of activities (research, project, promotion and implementation of healthy lifestyle ideas) in students of medical colleges.

It has been argued that in order to prove the effectiveness of the author’s methodic of vocational training of future junior specialists in nursing in medical colleges is necessary to organize experimental research and make analysis of its results. Comparative analysis of results at different stages of the scientific and research work contributed to establishing the effectiveness of the author’s methodic for organizing educational process.

The methods of questionnaire, testing, interviewing, observation, evaluation of students’ participation in solving professional-situational and simulation problems, etc. have been used to examine readiness of medical colleges students to professional work. In order to determine the formation of students’ motives and valuable orientations, to establish the level of knowledge, practical abilities, skills, readiness to professional development at all stages of research students from seven medical colleges have been involved.

The structure of readiness to professional activity of future junior specialists in nursing is presented. The results of the incoming and final controls to determine the levels of formation of all four components and readiness to professional work of students from control and experimental groups in general have been compared. The results of comparative analysis have stated that organization of training of students from experimental groups led to better results in vocational training of future junior specialists in nursing than in the case of traditional training in control groups.
MEDICAL STUDENTS’ FOREIGN LANGUAGE COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE AS A COMPONENT OF PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
Authors: Kichula M. Ya. , Shemprukh Jolanta
Published: June 2020

The relevance of the topic is due to the entry of the world community into the era of information civilization, acceleration and intensification of information processes, improvement of communication means, which entails the need to overcome communication barriers, which are foreign languages. The current stage of society development requires medical specialists to speak a foreign language as a means of communication to solve professional and social problems, and to successfully cooperate internationally. The theory and practice of modern education require the development of employees’ communication skills. In order to effectively interact in science and practice, in the field of interpersonal relations, a medical specialist needs to have communicative qualities that represent an integrative connection of value orientations, moral positions and aspirations, knowledge, skills, and professional medical ethics. Mastering a foreign language requires a certain orientation of the student’s personality at a medical university and the formation of cognitive activity. The value orientations act as an energizer of this orientation of the medical students. The formation of value orientations for learning a foreign language is necessary from the first day of training at a medical university. In contrast to speech activity, communication activity involves not only the ability to express thoughts in a foreign language, but also a certain communicative behavior of the doctor. The communicative orientation of training should be an interactive learning goal that focuses on achieving foreign-language medical professional communicative competence in the unity of all communication functions: cognitive, regulatory, value-oriented, label, pragmatic. The aim and tasks of the research are a need to clarify the essence of communication, the ratio of communication and types of communication, determining the location of foreign speech as a means of medical communication.
THE FIRST EXPERIENCE OF USING THE BODY INTERACT SIMULATION INTERACTIVE TRAINING PLATFORM AS A PART OF INTERNS’ ATTESTATION
Authors: Kolesnyk M. Yu.
Published: June 2020

The article presents the first experience of using the Body Interact simulation interactive training system as a stage of interns’ attestation. Descriptions and principles of operation with “virtual patient” system are given. The exam procedure with individual workstations installed on laptops is described. The grading criteria and evaluation principles for work with Body Interact system are defined. Examination results of 47 interns in the specialty “Internal Diseases” and “General Practice – Family Medicine” are analyzed according to virtual clinical scenarios “Acute coronary syndrome with ST segment elevation”, “Pulmonary embolism”, “Acute left ventricular insufficiency”, “Hypoglycemia” and ”Acute disorders of cerebral circulation”. The main mistakes are identified and systematized on the basis of the analysis of individual step-by-step reports of work results on the simulation training system Body Interact. Steps for optimizing the system and expanding the experience of its usage in order to make the attestation of final courses students are suggested.
Relações de poder e ciberdocilidade
Authors: Generoso Isaura Mourão , Vinhola Bruno , Morás Nicole
Published: June 2020

Buscamos provocar reflexões acerca da sofisticação dos processos de vigilância e controle organizacionais sobre os indivíduos, na ambiência digital. Para isso, acionamos noções de poder e vigilância (FOUCAULT, 1996; DELEUZE, 1992; CASTELLS, 2010; HAN, 2018), com vistas a cotejá-las com suas reconfigurações na sociedade hodierna. Elencamos comportamentos organizacionais que revelam o refinamento desses processos e, concomitantemente, dilemas éticos infocomunicacionais dessa ambiência digital. Entendemos, com essas articulações, a emergência de um fenômeno que denominamos ciberdocilidade, orquestrado pelas relações organizacionais.
Em busca da interdisciplinaridade
Authors: Ferraz Maria Aparecida Viviani , Soares Rodrigo Maurício Freire , Paim Zilda Fátima Da Silva
Published: June 2020

Apresentamos o relato da experiência de construção de um projeto interdisciplinar no âmbito do Curso de Relações Públicas da Universidade do Estado da Bahia (Uneb). Na proposta, toma-se como fenômeno e campo empírico a cidade de Salvador (BA). Compreende-se que as relações públicas têm uma indiscutível vocação interdisciplinar, cujas práticas estão diretamente relacionadas ao contexto mais amplo de transformações que afetam os processos de comunicação, implicando mudanças paradigmáticas no âmbito da formação acadêmica e profissional.
As digitais da cultura percebidas na comunicação da reitoria de um instituto federal
Authors: Júnior Francisco Gilson Rebouças  Pôrto , Theodoro Luciana Santos Almeida
Published: June 2020

Para compreender que marcas a cultura da reitoria do Instituto Federal do Tocantins (IFTO) pode imprimir em sua comunicação, foi realizada uma pesquisa de campo, com aplicação de um questionário qualiquantitativo junto a servidores e gestores, e a construção de um mapeamento da comunicação. Após análise dos aspectos culturais manifestados nesse mapeamento e posterior desvelamento da cultura organizacional, observou-se que a comunicação reflete aspectos culturais da reitoria do IFTO, uma organização que oscila entre os paradigmas funcionalista e interpretativista.
Pelo prisma de violência
Authors: Vinha Márcia , Vassina Elena
Published: June 2020

Objetiva-se identificar e analisar a imagem artística da violência criada pelo escritor russo Ivan Búnin, prêmio Nobel de literatura, em três contos. Apoiados nas perspectivas de G. Bataille, H. Arendt, J. Derrida, I. Tiniánov e I. Lotman com relação à violência e à criação da imagem da violência no texto artístico, buscamos compreender a relação entre a mesma e a escritura, bem como a imagem artística por ela construída. Com o apoio de fatos da vida do escritor e do contexto histórico, buscamos identificar a sistemática da violência.
Duration of Inducible Ventricular Tachycardia Early After ST‐Segment–Elevation Myocardial Infarction and Its Impact on Mortality and Ventricular Tachycardia Recurrence
Authors: Deshmukh Tejas , Zaman Sarah , Narayan Arun , Kovoor Pramesh
Published: June 2020

Background

The clinical significance of the duration of inducible ventricular tachycardia (
VT
) at electrophysiology study (
EPS
) in patients soon after
ST
‐segment–elevation myocardial infarction and its predictive utility for
VT
recurrence are not known.

Methods and Results

Consecutive
ST
‐segment–elevation myocardial infarction patients with day 3 to 5 left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40% underwent
EPS
. A positive
EPS
was defined as sustained monomorphic
VT
with cycle length ≥200 ms. The induced
VT
was terminated by overdrive pacing or direct current shock at 30 s or earlier if hemodynamic decompensation occurred. Patients with inducible
VT
duration 2 to 10 s were compared with patients with inducible
VT
>10 s. The primary end point was survival free of
VT
or cardiac mortality. From 384 consecutive
ST
‐segment–elevation myocardial infarction patients who underwent
EPS
, 29% had inducible
VT
(n=112, 87% men). After mean follow‐up of 5.9±3.9 years, primary end point occurred in 35% of patients with induced
VT
2 to 10 s duration (n=68) and in 22% of patients with induced
VT
>10 s (n=41) (
P
=0.61). This was significantly different from the noninducible
VT
group, in which primary end point occurred in 3% of patients (n=272) (
P
=0.001).

Conclusions

This study is the first to show that in patients who undergo
EPS
early after myocardial infarction, inducible
VT
of short duration (2–10 s) has similar predictive utility for ventricular tachyarrhythmia as longer duration (>10 s) inducible
VT
, which was significantly different to those without inducible
VT
. It is possible that immediate cardioversion of rapid
VT
might have contributed to some of the short durations of inducible
VT
.
Involuntary Orienting and Conflict Resolution during Auditory Attention: The Role of Ventral and Dorsal Streams
Authors: Stewart Hannah J. , Shen Dawei , Sham Nasim , Alain Claude
Published: June 2020

Selective attention to sound object features such as pitch and location is associated with enhanced brain activity in ventral and dorsal streams, respectively. We examined the role of these pathways in involuntary orienting and conflict resolution using fMRI. Participants were presented with two tones that may, or may not, share the same nonspatial (frequency) or spatial (location) auditory features. In separate blocks of trials, participants were asked to attend to sound frequency or sound location and ignore the change in the task-irrelevant feature. In both attend-frequency and attend-location tasks, RTs were slower when the task-irrelevant feature changed than when it stayed the same (involuntary orienting). This behavioral cost coincided with enhanced activity in the pFC and superior temporal gyrus. Conflict resolution was examined by comparing situations where the change in stimulus features was congruent (both features changed) and incongruent (only one feature changed). Participants were slower and less accurate for incongruent than congruent sound features. This congruency effect was associated with enhanced activity in the pFC and was greater in the right superior temporal gyrus and medial frontal cortex during the attend-location task than during the attend-frequency task. Together, these findings do not support a strict division of “labor” into ventral and dorsal streams but rather suggest interactions between these pathways in situations involving changes in task-irrelevant sound feature and conflict resolution. These findings also validate the Test of Attention in Listening task by revealing distinct neural correlates for involuntary orienting and conflict resolution.
Beckett the Spiritist
Authors: Rapcsak Balazs
Published: June 2020

Most of the critical attention devoted to Breath has been focused on its adaptations and the affinities between its theatrical realization and the visual arts. Tracing Beckett’s ambivalent attitude towards the staging of the play, this article offers a closer analysis of Breath as a textual artefact. It discusses various published and unpublished versions of the script and their relation to the sketch’s infamous ‘appropriation’ in its first production as part of the revue Oh! Calcutta!, in an attempt to reconstruct three episodes of a media drama that unfolds in and around the play.
The non-monophyly of Dasymaschalon dasymaschalum (Annonaceae) revealed by a plastid DNA phylogeny, with D. halabalanum sp. nov. from Thailand and D. argenteum comb. nov.

Authors: JONGSOOK HATHAICHANOK , SAMERPITAK KITTIPAN , DAMTHONGDEE ANISSARA , Chaowasku Tanawat
Published: June 2020

An extended molecular phylogeny of the genus Dasymaschalon (Annonaceae) has been reconstructed using up to six plastid DNA regions (matK, ndhF, rbcL exons; trnL intron; psbA-trnH, trnL-trnF intergenic spacers). The results unraveled the non-monophyly of a widely distributed D. dasymaschalum. A lineage of D. dasymaschalum native to Java and cultivated at Bogor Botanical Garden represents the true D. dasymaschalum, whereas the name Pelticalyx argentea is applicable to a distantly related clade of D. dasymaschalum from mainland Asia. Dasymaschalon argenteum comb. nov. is accordingly made. Additionally, the true D. dasymaschalum has been retrieved as the sister group of D. halabalanum, a new species from Narathiwat Province, southern Thailand herein described. Pedicel length, petal size and color, and the number of stamens per flower principally distinguish the new species from its sister group.
Taxonomy and nomenclature of the recently published chlamydomonad genera Ostravamonas and Paludistella (Volvocales, Chlorophyceae)

Authors: NAKADA TAKASHI , SUSANTI HANI
Published: June 2020

A recently published chlamydomonad green algal genus, Paludistella H. Susanti, Mas. Yoshida, Tak. Nakayama, Nakada & M.M. Watanabe (2020: 72), was found to be superfluous as it originally included the type of Ostravamonas Barcytë & Hodač in Barcytë et al. (2020: 214). Here, the taxonomic and nomenclatural status under these generic names were examined based on morphological, phylogenetic, and ITS-2 secondary structure analyses, proposing two new combinations for P. asymmetrica H. Susanti, Mas. Yoshida, Tak. Nakayama, Nakada & M.M. Watanabe (2020: 76) and P. trianguloculus H. Susanti, Mas. Yoshida, Tak. Nakayama, Nakada & M.M. Watanabe (2020: 76) under Ostravamonas.
A review of the genus Apophysius Cushman (Ichneumonidae: Phygadeuontinae), with descriptions of six new species
Authors: PHAM NHI THI , MATSUMOTO RIKIO , KONISHI KAZUHIKO , SHENG MAO-LING , BROAD GAVIN R.
Published: June 2020

The phygadeuontine genus Apophysius (Ichneumonidae) is reviewed for the first time. Six new species are described, A. baolocensis Pham, Matsumoto & Broad sp. nov., A. constrictus Pham, Matsumoto & Broad sp. nov. and A. taynguyenensis Pham, Matsumoto & Broad sp. nov. from the Central Highlands of Vietnam, A. latus Pham, Matsumoto, Konishi, Sheng & Broad sp. nov. from China and Vietnam, A. takasukai Pham, Konishi & Broad sp. nov. from the Cameron Highlands, Malaysia, and A. pentaceratops Broad sp. nov. from Sarawak, Malaysia. A key to the nine known species of the genus Apophysius is included.
Accumulation Characteristics, Tolerance Differences and Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Sugarcane
Authors: Xu Guiping , Deng Chaobing , Guo Wei , Zhu Hongxiang , Wang Xiaofei , Zhu Kaixian , Yin Juan , Sun Zhuo
Published: June 2020

Seven varieties of sugarcane were grown on soil polluted with heavy metals, including Pb, Cd, and As. Sugarcane growth, the heavy metal contents in different sugarcane tissues, and the subcellular distributions of the heavy metals in the roots and leaves were analyzed. The purpose of
this investigation was to study sugarcane growth tolerance, the accumulation of heavy metals and the mechanism of sugarcane tolerance to heavy metals at the subcellular level. Health risk assessments were performed according to the models recommended by the United States Environmental Protection
Agency (US EPA). The patterns of heavy metal storage were demonstrated to differ among different tissues in all sugarcane varieties investigated. Most of the heavy metals that were absorbed accumulated in the roots of the sugarcane, and the heavy metals in the root cells were mostly located
in the cell wall. The health risk index was used to analyze the juice and indicated that the consumption of sugarcane juice by adults and children posed no significant health risks. This study shows that sugarcane grown on heavy metal-contaminated farmland is safe for consumption. The results
of this study revealed an important and positive implication regarding the cultivation of sugarcane on farmland that is polluted by heavy metals and the potential to simultaneously achieve sustainable economic output and potential environmental restoration.