bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
BA.2.12.1, BA.4 and BA.5 escape antibodies elicited by Omicron BA.1 infection
Authors: Xie Xiaoliang , Cao Yunlong , Yisimayi Ayijiang , Jian Fanchong , Song Weiliang , Xiao Tianhe , Wang Lei , Du Shuo , wang jing , Li Qianqian , Chen Xiaosu , Wang Peng , Zhang Zhiying , Liu Pulan , An Ran , Hao Xiaohua , Wang Yao , Wang Jing , Feng Rui , Sun Haiyan , Zhao Lijuan , Zhang Wen , Zhao Dong , Zheng Jiang , Yu Lingling , Li Can , Zhang Na , Wang Rui , Niu Xiao , Yang Sijie , Song Xuetao , Zheng Linlin , Li Zhiqiang , Gu Qingqing , Shao Fei , Huang Weijin , ronghua Jin , Shen Zhongyang , Wang Youchun , Wang Xiangxi , Xiao Junyu
Published: May 2022

Recent emergence of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sublineages BA.2.12.1, BA.2.13, BA.4 and BA.5 all contain L452 mutations and show potential higher transmissibility over BA.2. The new variants’ receptor binding and immune evasion capability require immediate investigation, especially on the role of L452 substitutions. Herein, coupled with structural comparisons, we showed that BA.2 sublineages, including BA.2.12.1 and BA.2.13, exhibit increased ACE2-binding affinities compared to BA.1; while BA.4/BA.5 shows the weakest receptor-binding activity due to F486V and R493Q reversion. Importantly, compared to BA.2, BA.2.12.1 and BA.4/BA.5 exhibit stronger neutralization escape from the plasma of 3-dose vaccinees and, most strikingly, from vaccinated BA.1 convalescents. To delineate the underlying evasion mechanism, we determined the escaping mutation profiles, epitope distribution and Omicron sub-lineage neutralization efficacy of 1640 RBD-directed neutralizing antibodies (NAbs), including 614 isolated from BA.1 convalescents. Interestingly, post-vaccination BA.1 infection mainly recalls wildtype-induced humoral memory and elicits antibodies that neutralize both wild-type and BA.1. These cross-reactive NAbs are significantly enriched on non-ACE2-competing epitopes; and surprisingly, the majority are undermined by R346 and L452 substitutions, namely R346K (BA.1.1), L452M (BA.2.13), L452Q (BA.2.12.1) and L452R (BA.4/BA.5), suggesting that R346K and L452 mutations appeared under the immune pressure of Omicron convalescents. Nevertheless, BA.1 infection can also induce new clones of BA.1-specific antibodies that potently neutralize BA.1 but do not respond to wild-type SARS-CoV-2, due to the high susceptibility to N501, N440, K417 and E484. However, these NAbs are largely escaped by BA.2 sublineages and BA.4/BA.5 due to D405N and F486V, exhibiting poor neutralization breadths. As for therapeutic NAbs, LY-CoV1404 (Bamlanivimab) and COV2-2130 (Cilgavimab) can still effectively neutralize BA.2.12.1 and BA.4/BA.5, while the S371F, D405N and R408S mutations carried by BA.2/BA.4/BA.5 sublineages would undermine most broad sarbecovirus NAbs. Together, our results indicate that Omicron can evolve mutations to specifically evade humoral immunity elicited by BA.1 infection. The continuous evolution of Omicron poses great challenges to SARS-CoV-2 herd immunity and suggests that BA.1-derived vaccine boosters may not be ideal for achieving broad-spectrum protection.
The role of cannabinoids in CNS development: Focus on proliferation and cell death
Authors: Bockmann Eduardo Cosendey , Brito Rafael , Madeira Lucianne Fragel , Sampaio Luzia da Silva , Reis Ricardo Augusto de Melo , França Guilherme Rapozeiro , Calaza Karin da Costa
Published: May 2022

The active principles of Cannabis sativa are potential treatments for several diseases, such as pain, seizures and anorexia. With the increase in the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes, a more careful assessment of the possible impacts on embryonic development becomes necessary. Surveys indicate that approximately 3.9% of pregnant women use cannabis in a recreational and/or medicinal manner. However, although the literature has already described the presence of endocannabinoid system components since the early stages of CNS development, many of their physiological effects during this stage have not yet been established. Moreover, it is still uncertain how the endocannabinoid system can be altered in terms of cell proliferation and cell fate, neural migration, neural differentiation, synaptogenesis and particularly cell death. In relation to cell death in the CNS, knowledge about the effects of cannabinoids is scarce. Thus, the present work aims to review the role of the endocannabinoid system in different aspects of CNS development and discuss possible side effects or even opportunities for treating some conditions in the development of this tissue.
The inhibitory effect of KIAA1456 on the proliferation and metastasis of epithelial ovarian cancer through SSX1 and AKT signaling pathway
Authors: Zhang Yingfeng , Gao Yanhong , Sun Congcong , Mao Yanhua , Wu Benyuan , Li Changjiang , Zhang Wenwen , Wang Jia
Published: May 2022

Background
KIAA1456 is effective in the inhibition of tumorigenesis. We previously confirmed that KIAA1456 inhibits cell proliferation and metastasis in EOC. In the current study, the specific molecular mechanisms and clinical significance of KIAA1456 underlying the repression of EOC were investigated.
Methods
Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate the protein expression of KIAA1456 and SSX1 in EOC and normal ovarian tissues. The relationship of KIAA1456 and SSX1 with overall survival of patients with EOC was analysed with Kaplan–Meier survival curve and log-rank tests. KIAA1456 was overexpressed and silenced in HO8910PM cells with lentivirus. Anticancer activities of KIAA1456 was tested by CCK8, plate clone formation assay, flow cytometry, wound healing assay and Transwell invasion assay. Xenograft tumour models were used to investigate the effects of KIAA1456 on tumour growth in vivo. Bioinformatics analyses of microarray profiling indicated that SSX1 and the PI3K/AKT were differentially expressed in KIAA1456-overexpressing and control cells. The downstream factors of PI3K/AKT that are related to cell growth and apoptosis.
Results
KIAA1456 expression was lower in EOC than in normal ovarian tissues. Its expression negatively correlated with pathological grade. Pearson’s correlation analysis showed that KIAA1456 negatively correlated with SSX1 expression. The overexpression of KIAA1456 in HO8910PM cells inhibited proliferation, migration and invasion and promoted apoptosis. The silencing of KIAA1456 resulted in the opposite behaviour. A xenograft tumour experiment showed that KIAA1456 overexpression inhibited tumour growth in vivo. The overexpression of KIAA1456 inhibited SSX1 and AKT phosphorylation in HO8910PM cells, causing the inactivation of the AKT pathway and eventually reducing the expression of PCNA, CyclinD1, MMP9 and Bcl2. The silencing of KIAA1456 resulted in the opposite behaviour. SSX1 overexpression could partially reverse the KIAA1456-induced biological effect.
Conclusion
KIAA1456 may serve as a tumour suppressor via the inactivation of SSX1 and the AKT pathway, providing a promising therapeutic target for EOC.
Online-LEERprozesse? Von den Bildungs(un)möglichkeiten des digitalen Studierens aus Lehrenden- und Studierendenperspektive
Authors: Ketter Verena , Brauch Celine , Elser Pia , Freier Isabell , Roob Yasmin
Published: May 2022

In dem vorliegenden Theaterstück werden die aufgrund der COVID-19-Pandemie und zum Schutz gesellschaftlich vulnerabler Menschen notwendigen drei Semester im Online-Format analysiert und theoretisch verortet. Entsprechend der klassischen 3-Akt-Struktur werden im ersten Akt, dem Sommersemester 2020, die Hintergrundgeschichte, der Handlungsort und die wichtigsten Charaktere vorgestellt. So sind der Ausgangspunkt und das Vorgehen der Hochschule Esslingen zur Aufrechterhaltung von Lehr-Lernprozessen Bestandteil des Prologs; der Hauptkonflikt des ersten Online-Semesters, der im Fachdiskurs als „Emergency-Remote-Teachin“ (Hodges et al. 2020) bezeichnet wird, schimmert in mehreren Szenen auf. Von digitalen Ungleichheiten über aus- und eingeschaltete Kameras bis zum ersten Wendepunkt, dem experimentellen Entkommen des Notfall-Fern-Unterrichts handeln diese kleineren Einheiten des ersten Aktes.Der zweite Akt, das Wintersemester 2020/21, stellt – dramaturgisch gesehen – den Hauptteil dar, in dem – wieder in fiktiven Dialogen zwischen den Hauptakteuren, den Lehrenden und Studierenden – die Digitalisierung der Hochschulbildung thematisiert wird. Den Protagonist*innen begegnen die durch ihren Widersacher verursachten Hindernisse einer ausschließlich online verlaufenden Hochschulbildung wie z. B. „Zoom Fatigue“ (Bailenson 2021), das Fehlen des Lebensortes Hochschule (vgl. Traus et al. 2020) u.a.m. Wie aus einem 3-Akt-Theaterstück bekannt, erhalten die Hauptakteure einen Hinweis von richtungsweisender Bedeutung zur Lösung des Hauptkonfliktes und der dritte Akt beginnt.Im Sommersemester 2021 setzen sich die krisenhaften Situationen fort, doch besteht aufgrund von Schnelltest, Impfungen und den Erkenntnissen über die Grenzen und Potentiale der Online-Lehre Aussicht auf zukünftige Lehrveranstaltungen im Präsenz-, Online- und Hybrid-Format, die wiederum für eine vielfältige Hochschulbildung in digital geprägten Welten stehen.Der Epilog bildet die in den einzelnen Szenen implizit beschriebene Ermöglichung und Verunmöglichung von Bildungsprozessen sowie die beim digitalen Studieren entstandene Leere und Lehre zusammenfassend ab.
Lehrassistenz geht online
Authors: Schönbeck Martin , Hornung Gabriele
Published: May 2022

Ziel des Konzepts Lehrassistenz ist es, durch Fremdreflexion der eigenen Lehrleitung die Selbstreflexionskompetenz der angehenden Lehrkräfte zu steigern und so schon in der ersten Phase der Lehrerbildung mit der Bearbeitung der Entwicklungsaufgaben zu beginnen, aus denen sich laut Hericks eine gelingende Professionalisierung im Lehrberuf zusammensetzt (vgl. Hericks 2006).Das Lehrkonzept Lehrassistenz zeichnet sich durch seine Verzahnung von Bachelor (Ba)- und Master (Ma)- Lehrveranstaltungen aus. Die Studierenden nehmen dabei unterschiedliche Funktionen ein und erbringen komplementäre Studienleistungen. Die Master-Studierenden betreuen als Lehrassistenten experimentierende Kleingruppen von Bachelor-Studierenden. Diese wiederum nehmen am Ausbildungsunterricht der Ma-Studierenden die Rolle von Schüler*innen ein und reflektieren die Lehrleistung dieser.Aktuell wurde das Lehrkonzept pandemiebedingt in Hybridform durchgeführt. Nur das Trainieren von Experimentiertechniken und Prüfungen fanden live statt. Seminar und Reflexionsphasen liefen digital ab. Die Besonderheit dieses Vorgehens ist eine didaktische Strukturierung des Selbststudiums: Die Studierenden analysierten und bewerteten videogestützt und kriteriengeleitet die Ergebnis- und Prozessqualität der Performanzen der jeweils anderen Studierendengruppe.Durch die Einführung der digitalen Elemente und die damit verbundene Schaffung einer Hybridstruktur ergaben sich zahlreiche organisatorische als auch inhaltliche Verbesserungen des Konzepts. Dies führte dazu, dass diese Hybridstruktur in weiten Teilen auch in Zukunft beibehalten werden soll. Die Struktur des Konzepts Lehrassistenz sowie die Einbeziehung digitaler Elemente in diese Struktur und die damit einhergehenden Verbesserungen sollen in diesem Artikel beschrieben werden.
Ich packe meinen Koffer und nehme mit...
Authors: Wawrzynek Jan
Published: May 2022

Die Corona-Pandemie sorgte an deutschen Schulen für einen technologisch-methodischen Entwicklungsschub. Doch nicht alles, was an Methoden während des Fernlernens etabliert wurde, kann und soll in einen Präsenzunterricht der Post-Corona-Zeit übernommen werden. Im Beitrag werden mögliche Prüfsteine für den Einsatz digitaler Tools im Präsenzunterricht vorgestellt und konkrete Überlegungen zu zukunftsfähigen Arbeitsweisen unternommen.
Pandemiebedingte Herausforderungen und Chancen der Digitalisierung standortübergreifender Lehre und Forschung am Beispiel einer Seminarkonzeption aus dem geographiebezogenen Sachunterricht
Authors: Haltenberger Melanie , Böschl Florian , Asen-Molz Katharina
Published: May 2022

Durch die Pandemie und die damit verbundenen Maßnahmen wurden sowohl Forschung als auch Lehre vor diverse Herausforderungen gestellt. Unter Zeitdruck mussten passgenaue Lösungen gefunden werden – wie dies bei einer Seminarkonzeption gelang, die im Rahmen einer Interventionsstudie entwickelt und standortübergreifend durchgeführt wurde, wird im folgenden Erfahrungsbericht expliziert. Kontext ist hierbei eine Studie zur Förderung professioneller Handlungskompetenz bei angehenden Grundschullehrpersonen im Bereich der geographischen Perspektive des Sachunterrichts. Es werden sowohl die Herausforderungen als auch die Chancen, die sich bei der Umstellung von Forschung und Lehre auf eine digitale Durchführung ergeben haben, diskutiert. Als gewinnbringend hat sich beispielsweise eine durch synchrone und asynchrone Seminarsitzungen rhythmisierte Struktur gezeigt. Der Einsatz von Erklärvideos in Forschung und Lehre sowie die intensivierte standortübergreifende Kooperation der teilnehmenden Dozierenden stellten eine weitere Bereicherung für das Projekt dar.
Reflections on the history of Germany V.I. Guerrier: A Researcher’s motivation
Authors: Ростиславлева Н.В.
Published: May 2022

В статье рассматриваются особенности восприятия истории Германии выдающимся российским историком конца ХIX – начала XX в. В.И. Герье. Охарактеризованы ракурсы его рецепции в современной России и отмечены существующие лакуны, одна из которых – его роль в становлении отечественной исторической германистики. В.И. Герье, будучи по происхождению немцем, имел довольно устойчивые связи с немецкой общиной Москвы, что подтверждают документы НИОР РГБ. Его интерес к истории Германии определили и стажировки в немецких университетах.Неслучайно его диссертация была посвящена Лейбницу, в которой обнаруживаются прекрасные зарисовки по истории Германии и проявляется интерес ученого к религиозному вопросу. В статье много внимания уделено анализу неопубликованных лекций В.И. Герье по истории Реформации, конспектам лекций о древних германцах и становлении Священной римской империи. История Германии нашла отражение в частично неопубликованных публичных лекциях ученого по истории культурных идей. В целом свои размышления о Германии историк вписывал в общей контекст Новой истории, стремясь показать, как были разрушены основания средневековой жизни, какие тенденции возобладали в научном и политическом дискурсах Нового времени и какую роль в этом сыграла Германия.

The article considers the peculiarities of the perception of the German history by the outstanding Russian historian of the late 19th - early 20th centuries V.I. Guerrier. The perspectives of its reception in modern Russia are characterized and the existing gaps are noted, one of which is its role in the formation of Russian historical Germanic studies. V.I. Guerrier, being a German by birth, had fairly stable ties with the German community of Moscow, which is confirmed by the documents from the Research Department of Manuscripts of the RSL. His interest in German history was also determined by internships at German universities. This is no coincidence that his dissertation was devoted to Leibniz, which reveals excellent sketches on the history of Germany and shows the scientist's interest in the religious problem. The Author gives one’s attention to the analysis of the unpublished lectures of V.I. Guerrier on the history of the Reformation, lecture notes on the ancient Germans and the formation of the Holy Roman Empire. The history of Germany is reflected in the partially unpublished lectures on the history of cultural ideas. In general, the historian introduced his reflections on Germany into the general context of World history, trying to show how the foundations of medieval life were destroyed, what tendencies prevailed in research and political discourses of the new history, and what role Germany played in it.
Magnetic properties of a capped kagome molecule with 60 quantum spins
Authors: Rausch Roman , Peschke Matthias , Plorin Cassian , Karrasch Christoph
Published: May 2022

We compute ground-state properties of the isotropic,
antiferromagnetic Heisenberg model on the sodalite cage geometry. This
is a 60-spin spherical molecule with 24 vertex-sharing tetrahedra which
can be regarded as a molecular analogue of a capped kagome lattice and
which has been synthesized with high-spin rare-earth atoms. Here, we
focus on the S=1/2S=1/2
case where quantum effects are strongest. We employ the SU(2)-symmetric
density-matrix renormalization group (DMRG). We find a threefold
degenerate ground state that breaks the spatial symmetry and that splits
up the molecule into three large parts which are almost decoupled from
each other. This stands in sharp contrast to the behaviour of most known
spherical molecules. On a methodological level, the disconnection leads
to ``glassy dynamics’’ within the DMRG that cannot be targeted via
standard techniques. In the presence of finite magnetic fields, we find
broad magnetization plateaus at 4/5, 3/5, and 1/5 of the saturation,
which one can understand in terms of localized magnons, singlets, and
doublets which are again nearly decoupled from each other. At the
saturation field, the zero-point entropy is
S=\ln(182)\approx 5.2S=ln(182)≈5.2
in units of the Boltzmann constant.
Effectiveness of biochar filters vegetated with Echinochloa pyramidalis in domestic wastewater treatment
Authors: Visiy Edna Buhnyuy , Djousse Boris Merlain Kanouo , Martin Lekeufack , Zangue Cyrille Nanfaak , Sangodoyin Abimbola , Gbadegesin Adeniyi Sulaiman , Fonkou Theophile
Published: May 2022

The use of biochar in constructed wetlands for domestic wastewater treatment is gradually being acclaimed by environmentalists due to its high specific surface area and porosity. In this study, the effectiveness of corn cob biochar (CCB) and rice husk biochar (RHB) in vertical flow constructed wetlands vegetated with Echinochloa pyramidalis was studied with sand as common reference material. The filters were fed with primarily treated domestic wastewater at a hydraulic loading rate of about 350 L/m2/day for 6 months. Water samples were collected monthly for physicochemical and bacteriological analysis and plant growth assessed every two weeks throughout the study. Biochar filters were highly performant in wastewater improvement with no significant differences between the biochar types. Both biochars were more efficient than sand in the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), true colour, total suspended solids (TSS) and total dissolved solids (TDS). However, sand filters performed better in the reduction of nutrients. All wetlands showed positive plant growth though the plants did not significantly affect the performance of the different filters for most parameters. However, a better plant growth was observed in the CCB filters. The study shows that CCB and RHB can effectively replace sand as substrates in constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment.
Clinical features of methods for collecting hematopoietic stem cells in patients with malignant neoplasms weighing up to 15 kg and early age
Authors: Stepanyan N. G. , Matinyan N. V. , Slinin A. S. , Sagoyan G. B. , Palladina A. D. , Rubanskaya M. V. , Sidorova N. V. , Machneva E. B. , Kirgizov K. I. , Varfolomeeva S. R.
Published: May 2022

Relevance. Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) is an integral part of the treatment of patients with high-risk malignancies. However, carrying out the mobilization and collection of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) for patients weighing up to 15 kg is a complex task that requires a special approach and multidisciplinary interaction.

The purpose of the studyis to present the experience of collecting HSC in young children weighing up to 15 kg at the Research Institute of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology of the Federal State Budgetary Institution N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Centre of Oncology, Ministry of Health of Russia.

Materials and methods. The study included 30 patients weighing up to 15 kg who received treatment from January 2020 to May 2021 at the Research Institute of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology of the Federal State Budgetary Institution N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Centre of Oncology, Ministry of Health of Russia. Median age was 30.6 (12–48) months, median body weight was 12.2 (7.8–15) kg. Apheresis in children weighing up to 15 kg was performed in the resuscitation and intensive care unit with the condition of pre-filling the cell separator circuit with a donor irradiated erythrocyte suspension to prevent hypovolemic complications. Thirty two apheresis was performed on a cell separator of the “Spectra Optia” type. To mobilize HSC, preparations of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor with the main active ingredient filgrastim were used.

Results. Twenty eight HSC apheresis procedures were successful on the first attempt, 2 patients underwent repeated apheresis (a total of 32 procedures were performed). The median number of CD34+cells obtained was 13.9 × 106/kg (0.04–92.0 × 106/kg), and the median apheresis duration was 251 (160–415) min. In 2 children during the procedure, an immediate organization of repeated venous access was required.

Conclusions. Performing HSC apheresis in children weighing up to 15 kg and young children is a safe and effective technique with the participation of a multidisciplinary team. The apheresis algorithm proposed by us makes it possible to carry out a high-quality collection of CD34+cells, sufficient for auto-HSCT.
A spectrum of overgrowth syndromes associated with the PIK3CA mutation. Literature review
Authors: Sagoyan G. B. , Kletskaya I. S. , Imyanitov E. N. , Mareeva Yu. M. , Zhukov N. V. , Khagurov R. A. , Suleymanova A. M.
Published: May 2022

PIK3CA-Related Overgrowth Spectrum (PROS) refers to rare syndromes, which are characterized by malformations and excessive tissue growth and caused by somatic mutations in the PIK3CA gene occurring during embryogenesis. This article discusses the pathogenesis, clinical picture, diagnosis and treatment of these syndromes.

Some of the illustrations used in this article are copied from other resources, the rights of the authors are respected and not violated. The appropriate permissions from the journals have been obtained.
Post-thrombotic syndrome in children (review)
Authors: Yafoshkina T. Yu. , Zharkov P. A.
Published: May 2022

Post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) is a long-term consequence of deep vein thrombosis. The development of PTS leads to the loss of venous access, cosmetic defects and poor quality of life due to restrictions in physical and/or daily activities. The review contains data on the prevalence, pathogenesis, prognostic factors and evaluation of PTS. Understanding the occurrence and prevention is very serious because if PTS develops after deep vein thrombosis, children can suffer from various physical and social consequences that may last for many years. The review contains data on the prevalence, pathogenesis, risk factors and diagnosis of PTS.
Mortality in the Volgograd Region Against the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Alpatov A. V.
Published: May 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic, which began in Russia in March 2020, had a huge impact on socio-economic processes. In numerous studies analyzing mortality caused by coronavirus infection, it is concluded that the number of deaths is underestimated. The high morbidity and mortality caused by coronavirus infection has far-reaching consequences for the economy of the regions and the country as a whole: deterioration in health, a decrease in the working-age population, a change in the structure of consumption of goods and services, etc. In this regard, it is relevant to analyze the processes associated with mortality from coronavirus infection.The purpose of the study is to identify the main trends in the nosological and age-sex structure of mortality in the Volgograd region in the years preceding the COVID-19 pandemic, to assess the contribution of mortality from coronavirus infection to total mortality in 2020. Estimation of excess mortality was carried out taking into account the dynamics of age-specific mortality rates.Materials and methods. The main sources of information for the study of mortality were the Russian database on fertility and mortality and Rosstat data. In the work, when analyzing mortality from COVID-19, data from the operational headquarters were also used. The analysis of the mortality dynamics was carried out using such indicators as the average life expectancy at birth, the crude death-rate, age-specific mortality rates in absolute and  relative (per 1000 people) terms. The processing of statistical data was carried out using the Microsoft Excel application package and matplotlib, pandas, numpy (Python programming language), pyramid (R programming language) libraries.Results. In 2020, the number of deaths in the Volgograd region turned out to be more than in 2019 by 6647 people. If the trends in the dynamics of the intensity of mortality would persist in the year of the pandemic, then the total number of deaths in the Volgograd region would be equal to 32044 people. In this case, the excess mortality would have amounted to 7368 people.Conclusion. As a result of the study, it was revealed that a significant increase in the number of deaths in the Volgograd region during the pandemic is explained by Rosstat as the cause of coronavirus infection by only 33.2%. This discrepancy may be the result of incorrect accounting of deaths from coronavirus infection. Another factor in the increase in mortality during a pandemic may be a decrease in the quality of medical care. There has been a reorientation of the work of medical institutions to the treatment of patients with coronavirus infection; the burden on emergency medical care has increased.
Assessment of the Proportion of Men in the Number of Teaching Staﬀ in Schools
Authors: Pinkovetskaya Yu. S.
Published: May 2022

The purpose of the study. One of the urgent problems of the development of the regions of Russia is to increase the efficiency of regional systems of general secondary education. At the same time, it is necessary to take measures to reduce the gender gap in the personnel of modern schools. In order to understand the gender gap that has developed in the regions, it is advisable to conduct a comparative analysis of differences between regions based on specific indicators. At the same time, it is necessary to take into account the existing differentiation of the proportion of male teaching staff by age. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the indicators characterizing the share of male teachers of different age groups in the total number of teaching staff of schools in the regions of Russia. These indicators were the shares of the number of men of five age groups in the total number of school-teachers in these age categories in 2020.Materials and methods. The study used the methodological approach proposed by the author, based on the consideration of specific indicators describing the proportion of male teachers of different ages working in general education schools in the total number of teaching staff of such schools. The study included five stages. The study used official statistical information for all regions of Russia. This information reflects the results of a federal statistical survey conducted by the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation. The density functions of the normal distribution were used as models. The study used methods of statistical analysis and, in particular, ANOVA. The study carried out mathematical modeling of the distribution of the considered indicators by regions of Russia.Results. The study proved that there is currently a significant feminization of secondary education in our country. The conducted modeling of empirical data demonstrated that the values of indicators characterizing the share of male teachers in the total number of teaching staff of schools depend on the age of teachers. The maximum value of the indicator was noted in the age group up to thirty years. With increasing age, the values of indicators decrease and reach a minimum in the age group from forty to forty-nine years. At an older age, the proportion of male teachers increases. The article discusses the regional features of the formation of the teaching staff of schools. Regions with minimum and maximum values of each of the five indicators were identified.Conclusion. The proposed methodological approach and the results obtained have a scientific novelty, since the assessment of the territorial features of the gender structure of school-teachers in the regions of Russia has not been carried out before. The methodological approach presented in the article to the assessment of the gender structure of the teaching staff of secondary schools based on the proposed methodology can be used in further research.
COVID-19 em Portugal: a estratégia
Authors: Duarte Raquel , Lopes Felisbela , Alves Filipe , Aguiar Ana , Monteiro Hugo , Pinto Marta , Felgueiras Óscar
Published: May 2022

Não é fácil convencer um país a permanecer em casa durante semanas. Também não é simples desconfiná-lo, mas foi esse o desafio que recebemos no início de 2021, um ano após o SARS-CoV-2 ter surgido à escala global e ainda a atravessar um dos piores picos da doença. Abraçamo-lo como um serviço público que procurámos cumprir da melhor forma. Feito esse trabalho, que reflete uma estratégia minuciosamente construída, quisemos explicar tudo em livro. Por vários motivos. Porque precisamos de estabelecer uma linha diacrónica da realidade internacional para, a partir daí, melhor conhecermos o que se viveu em Portugal. Porque, em tempos pandémicos, este país se apresentou como o pior e o melhor cenário e isso merece uma reflexão e uma sistematização do que aconteceu. Porque, de certa forma, também fomos parte de um processo de decisão que ajudou a combater este terrível vírus. Os planos que fomos tecendo dentro de um grupo pequeno contaram com o apoio de muitas pessoas. Nesta obra, encontramos uma Estratégia. A nossa. E também a do país. E aquela que outros países seguiram. Tudo contra um vírus que nos transformou a vida. Sem nos derrotar. Neste percurso, guardámos uma lição para a vida: o caminho faz-se com todos. Se, neste tempo que o livro reflete, o país conseguiu controlar o vírus, isso deveu-se aos decisores políticos a quem coube tomar medidas, aos especialistas que procuraram ajudar a partir dos seus domínios de saber e, acima de tudo, aos cidadãos. A eles se deve tudo.
The impact of foreign exchange rate on a balance of payments: Issues from Vietnam
Authors:   School of Banking and Finance, National Economics University, Hanoi, Vietnam, Nguyen Chi Dieu Thi , Dang Hong Thuy Thi ,   School of Trade and International Economics, National Economics University, Hanoi, Vietnam
Published: May 2022

The foreign exchange rate always changes and impacts many economic issues. One of these issues is the impact of the foreign exchange rate on the balance of payments. Our research focuses on the impact of the exchange rate on Vietnam’s balance of payments. All data was collected from the Vietnamese State Bank in the period from 2000 to 2020. We applied the model with the unit root, Auto-Regressive Distributed Lag (ARDL), and Granger Causality Test to evaluate the impact of the foreign exchange rate on the balance of payments. The findings indicated that Vietnam’s foreign exchange rate has a significant positive impact on the balance of payment. The result implied that when the foreign exchange rate is stable, it seems to create a developed and effective economic environment. All these contributions are an important base for improving Vietnam’s balance of payments as well as Vietnam’s economy. By deeply analyzing issues of Vietnam’s foreign exchange rate and its effect, we propose some orientations and solutions for Vietnam’s government and managers in issuing suitable economic policies in the future.
Особенности интерференции пучков Куммера для задач оптических измерений
Authors: Шостка (Ляхович) Н.В. , Соколенко Б.В. , Войтицкий В.И. , Присяжнюк А.В.
Published: May 2022

Представлена модель оптической вихревой интерферометрии на основе пучков Куммера с целочисленным топологическим зарядом. Предложенный подход позволяет усовершенствовать этап извлечения информации о фазовом сдвиге предметного пучка, внесенном исследуемым объектом, непосредственно путем регистрации углового положения локальных минимумов интенсивности поля суперпозиции пучков Куммера и Гаусса с разным соотношением амплитуд. Ключевые слова: пучок Куммера, интерференция, оптическая метрология.
Development of a Mobile Assessment Tool for Understanding Social Comparison Processes Among Individuals With Schizophrenia: Two-Phase Survey Study
Authors: Arigo Danielle , Torous John
Published: May 2022

Background

Digital tools may help to address social deficits in schizophrenia, particularly those that engage social comparison processes (ie, evaluating oneself relative to others). Yet, little is known about social comparison processes in schizophrenia or how best to capture between- versus within-person variability, which is critical to engaging comparisons in digital interventions.

Objective

The goals of this pilot study were to (1) better understand affective responses to social comparisons among individuals with schizophrenia, relative to healthy controls, using a validated global self-report measure; and (2) test a new brief, mobile assessment of affective responses to social comparison among individuals with schizophrenia, relative to the full measure. This study was conducted in 2 phases.

Methods

We first compared self-reported affective responses to social comparisons between individuals with schizophrenia (n=39) and healthy controls (n=38) using a traditional self-report measure, at 2 time points. We examined the temporal stability in responses and differences between groups. We then evaluated the performance of brief, mobile assessment of comparison responses among individuals with schizophrenia, completed over 12 weeks (n=31).

Results

Individuals with schizophrenia showed greater variability in affective responses to social comparison than controls on traditional measures and completed an average of 7.46 mobile assessments over 12 weeks. Mobile assessments captured within-person variability in affective responses in the natural environment (intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.40-0.60). Average scores for mobile assessments were positively correlated with responses to traditional measures.

Conclusions

Affective responses to social comparison vary both between and within individuals with schizophrenia and capturing this variability via smartphone surveys shows some evidence of feasibility. As affective variability is a potential indicator of poor outcomes among individuals with mental health conditions, in the future, a brief, mobile assessment of affective responses to social comparisons may be useful for screening among individuals with schizophrenia. Further research on this process is needed to identify when specific comparison messaging may be most effective in digital interventions and could suggest new therapeutic targets for illnesses such as schizophrenia.
Self-efficacy and Use of Digital Health Care and Social Welfare Services Among Incarcerated People: Cross-sectional Survey Study
Authors: Rantanen Teemu , Järveläinen Eeva , Leppälahti Teppo
Published: May 2022

Background

The digitization of health care and social welfare services creates many opportunities for the rehabilitation of incarcerated people and their preparation for release from prison. A range of digital platforms and technology solutions have been developed that offer multiple opportunities to handle private matters either by video conference, email, or some other digital format during imprisonment. However, incarcerated people have limited access to digital health care and social welfare services, and face challenges related to shortcomings in their digital skills and self-efficacy.

Objective

This article assessed the significance of incarcerated people’s self-efficacy in terms of their sense of control over the use of digital health care and social welfare services.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted using a questionnaire. Research data were collected from 11 prisons in different parts of Finland, and a total of 225 incarcerated people responded to the survey. Statistical analyses were conducted using the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient, 2-tailed t test, linear regression analysis, and Hayes bootstrapping method.

Results

The results showed the significance of both general and internet-specific self-efficacy, which appear to be more important for the use of digital health care and social welfare services than factors related to a person’s socioeconomic background or sentence. Age was negatively correlated with perceived control over the use of digital health care and social welfare services. Furthermore, the study emphasized the importance of support from family and friends, as well as prison employees.

Conclusions

The digitalization of prisons offers many opportunities, but special consideration should be given to how the digitization of health care and social welfare services responds to the needs of incarcerated people in terms of their integration into society and the prevention of recidivism. During imprisonment, attention should be paid to strengthening the digital skills of incarcerated people, with support provided by prison employees. In addition to providing guidance on the use of individual digital services, the study recommends strengthening the general digital skills of incarcerated people, as well as developing their life management skills.
Triage Capability of Laypersons: Retrospective, Exploratory Analysis (Preprint)
Authors: Kopka Marvin , Feufel Markus A. , Balzer Felix , Schmieding Malte L.
Published: May 2022

BACKGROUND

Though medical decision making is ostensibly only a task of health professionals, many – if not most – and also critical health related decisions are made by laypersons. For example, the first step to receiving the right health care requires the patient to determine whether and where too seek health care (triage). Overcautious self-assessments (ie, overtriaging) may lead to overutilization of health care facilities (eg, overcrowded emergency departments) while imprudent decisions (ie, undertriaging) constitute a risk to the patient’s health. Patient-facing decision support system providing guidance in patients’ self-appraisal of their complaints, commonly known as symptom checkers, might mitigate both dangers. Their use might, however, also constitute a hazard on its own.

OBJECTIVE

To provide evidence on where symptom checkers might prove beneficial, we assessed the capability to triage of laypersons, and explored where triage errors commonly occur.

METHODS

We analyzed publicly available data on 91 laypersons appraising 45 short fictitious patient descriptions (case vignettes;n = 4095 appraisals). Applying signal detection theory and descriptive statistics, we explore whether the type of decision, laypersons’ confidence in their decision, and sociodemographic factors influence their triage accuracy and the type of error they make.

RESULTS

Sensitivity for detecting emergencies was lower (M = 67.5%, SD = 16.4%) than the specificity (M = 89.6%, SD = 8.6%). Sensitivity for deciding whether medical care is required was higher (M = 90.5%, SD = 8.3%) than the specificity (M = 46.7%, SD = 15.95%). Sociodemographic variables were not associated with risk-averseness despite female participants overtriaging more often than male ones. Participants’ triage accuracy was higher when they were certain about their appraisal (62.5%, 2114/3381) than when being uncertain (52.9%, 378/714). However, most errors occurred when participants were fond of their decision (79%, 1267/1603).

CONCLUSIONS

Laypersons’ confidence in their own triage assessment might prove an inadequate criterion to judge whether decision support would benefit them. While they seem overcautious in deciding whether they require medical care, they miss a considerable portion of emergencies. Symptom checkers able to correct laypersons’ stand-alone triage errors may therefore aid the patient by avoiding unsafe urgency assessments. Concerning potential benefits to the health care system, symptom checkers might facilitate disburdenment of low-acuity care more than that of emergency care facilities.
Title:
Kids Online Aotearoa: An Objective Protocol to Study the Nature and Extent of Children’s Online World (Preprint)
Authors: Gurtner Marcus , Smith Moira , Gage Ryan , Howey-Brown Anna , Wang Xinyi , Latavao Tevita , Deng Jeremiah , Zwanenburg Sander , Stanley James , Signal Louise
Published: May 2022

BACKGROUND

Children under 18 account for approximately one in three internet users worldwide. Largely unregulated, the online world is evolving rapidly and becoming increasingly intrusive. There is a dearth of objective research globally on children’s real-time experiences of the online world.

OBJECTIVE

This paper reports on an objective methodology to study the nature and extent of children’s online world, their engagement with it, and how this impacts their health and wellbeing.

METHODS

A total of 180 Year 8 students from 12 schools will be recruited into the study within the Wellington region of Aotearoa New Zealand. Children use Zoom video teleconferencing software to record real-time, screen-shared online content, for four consecutive days. Data on demographics; health and wellbeing; and attitudes and perceived behaviors in relation to the online world are collected. Phone screen-time balances are retrieved. Data collection commenced June 2021 and is ongoing.

RESULTS

Recordings show children exploring diverse web-based settings and content, including personalized content curated by algorithms on platforms such as: TikTok, YouTube and Instagram. Preliminary analysis shows that the data can be used to study a wide range of topics. BORIS software is being used to manually code recordings. Artificial Intelligence techniques are also being applied.

CONCLUSIONS

This novel methodology reveals the unique online experiences of children underpinned by a commitment to ensuring their rights are protected. It seeks to provide concrete evidence on internet usage in this group and facilitate appropriate political, and societal action, to effectively regulate the online world to prevent harm to children.
Knowledge, Practice and Factors affecting sunlight exposure of infants among mothers at governmental health facilities in Dessie town, Ethiopia, 2021. (Preprint)
Authors: Goshiye Debrnesh , biset gebeyaw , abegaz zinet , birrie endalk
Published: May 2022

BACKGROUND

Background: Human being needs sunlight for physical and mental well-being. Sunlight helps the body to produce vitamin D, an important vitamin for skeletal development, immune function, and blood cell formation. So, the community should be counseled to get sufficient sun exposure and vitamin D supplementation to uphold the serum 25 (OH) D levels.

OBJECTIVE

This study designed to assess the mothers’ knowledge, practice and factors affecting the sunlight exposure of their infants.

METHODS

Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted at governmental health facilities in Dessie town, 2021. A total of 398 mothers were interviewed using semi structured questionnaires. Data were entered into the EPI data and analyzed using SPSS. Binary and multivariate logistic regression analyses were also performed. In multivariate analysis, a significant association was considered at p-value of < 0.05.

RESULTS

Results: Response rate was 98.9%. About 76.6% and 58.9% of the mothers had poor knowledge and poor practice regarding sunlight exposure of infants respectively. Mothers’ occupation, mothers’ source of information and attitude had showed a significant association with mothers’ knowledge and mothers’ age, mothers occupation, and baby age had a significant association with their practice about sunlight exposure of infants.

CONCLUSIONS

Conclusion: Mothers’ knowledge and practice of sunlight exposure of infant are poor. Hence measures should be taken to increase mothers’ awareness of sunlight exposure of infants.
A STUDY OF PATTERN OF ONYCHOMYCOSIS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL OF CENTRAL INDIA
Authors: SAXENA GAURAV , SADAWARTE KALPANA , KULMI MOHIT , MEHTA ABHISHEK
Published: May 2022

Objective: This study was undertaken to study the clinico-mycological profile of clinically suspected cases of onychomycosis in the region.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 65non-repetitive, clinically diagnosed cases of onychomycosis visiting Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy OPD of People’s Hospital, Bhopal were included. Nail clippings and scraping beneath the nails were taken from the affected sites. Collected specimens were subjected to standard mycological procedures.
Results: Males were more affected than females. The male to female ratio was 1.4:1. Distal and lateral subungual onychomycosis (DLSO) was the commonest clinical pattern. Out of the total 35 fungal culture isolates, dermatophytes (71.43%) were the most common. Among dermatophytes, Trichophyton rubrum and among non-dermatophytes, Candida spp. was the most common isolate.
Conclusion: Dermatophytes were the most common aetiological agent of onychomycosis in our study with Trichophyton rubrum as the most common isolate. This study also reveals the fact that nowadays, non, dermatophytes are increasingly isolated from cases of onychomycosis.
Elementos para la cooperación financiera regional
Authors: Ugarteche Galarza Oscar
Published: May 2022

En esta obra se presentan algunos elementos de la reforma de la arquitectura financiera internacional y la idea de regionalización económica en América del Sur proveniente de observar la dinámica europea, asiática y de los emiratos. Es la suma de contribuciones teóricas y técnicas a esa discusión entre 23077 y 2014 que propone una reforma a la arquitectura financiera internacional y sugiere caminos, entre ellos, la arquitectura financiera regional sudamericana. Se presentan las discusiones sobre los componentes de la nueva arquitectura que llevaron a la elaboración de una cesta monetaria, que luego se llamaría peso sudamericano y sus efectos, como el lanzamiento de una idea que se transformó en una propuesta de reforma de la arquitectura financiera internacional, cuyo eje fue la construcción de una arquitectura financiera regional, inspirada en la europea ya existente, con sus pros y contras; y en la asiática en construcción. Entre las lecciones que resume el autor se encuentra que no puede haber cooperación financiera regional sin iniciativas políticas y no puede haber iniciativas políticas sin sustento teórico y técnico; no hay cooperación financiera regional posible sin esquemas de comercio vitales y fluidos que lo requieren.