bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Hirlas Horn of Henry Tudor – Which One?
Authors: Lewis David T. R.
Published: August 2020

This article explores one significant aspect of the historiography of the tradition surrounding Henry Tudor's march through Wales to Bosworth and how a Carmarthenshire family, the Vaughans of Golden Grove, enhanced and promoted their gentry status, image and loyalty to the Crown by
acquiring and displaying and then later replicating what became known as the Hirlas Horn. The Vaughans thereby engaged with the history of Wales to their own advantage by retrospectively inventing their family's involvement in the Bosworth legends and traditions associated with this important
part of Welsh history.
Sampling and analyses of polychlorinated dibenzo dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzo furans (PCDFs) emissions in South Africa: A practitioner’s guide
Authors: Posthumus D.L. , Woollatt G.B.
Published: August 2020

Dioxins and furans are toxic chemicals. A draft report released for public comment in September 1994 by the US Environmental Protection Agency clearly describes dioxin as a serious public health threat. The public health impact of dioxins may rival the impact that dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) had on public health in the 1960’s. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency(USEPA) report, not only does there appear to be no “safe” level of exposure to dioxin, but levels of dioxin and dioxin-like chemicals have been found in the general US population that are “at or near levels associated with adverse health effects.”  With this in mind the purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the current dioxin and furan emissions from industry in South Africa, in terms of compliance with the relevant emission limit values (ELVs) and the current challenges faced with the monitoring and analysis thereof.
A Vasculitis, Caused by Neurocysticercosis, Can Mimic Moyamoya Disease
Authors: Park Jaehong , Choi Eun-Hyeok , Chung Yeon Hak , Kim Jae Rim , Seo Woo-Keun
Published: August 2020

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is the most common central nervous system parasite infection, frequently produces seizure, headache, or hydrocephalus as clinical manifestations. Cerebral vasculitis is an infrequent complication of the clinical phenotype of NCC. Moreover, NCC involving basal cerebral arteries, including distal internal carotid artery or middle cerebral artery, has rarely been reported. Therefore, we present a case of NCC with moyamoya-like basal cerebral arterial steno-occlusive disease with an emphasis on the differential diagnosis.
Bivalent binding of a fully human IgG to the SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins reveals mechanisms of potent neutralization v1
Authors: Wang Bei , Asarnow Daniel , Lee Wen-Hsin , Huang Ching-Wen , Faust Bryan , Miang Lon Ng Patricia , Zi Xian Ngoh Eve , Bohn Markus , Bulkley David , Pizzorno Andrés , Ching Tan Hwee , Lee Chia-Yin , Adawiyah Minhat Rabiatul , Terrier Olivier , Kuen Soh Mun , Jiuyi Teo Frannie , Yee Chin Yeap Yvonne , Hu Yuanyu , Gek Kheng Seah Shirley , Maurer-Stroh Sebastian , Renia Laurent , John Hanson Brendon , Rosa-Calatrava Manuel , Manglik Aashish , Cheng Yifan , S. Craik Charles , Wang Cheng-I
Published: August 2020

In vitro antibody selection against pathogens from naïve combinatorial libraries can yield various classes of antigen-specific binders that are distinct from those evolved from natural infection. Also, rapid neutralizing antibody discovery can be made possible by a strategy that selects for those interfering with pathogen and host interaction. Here we report the discovery of antibodies that neutralize SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, from a highly diverse naïve human Fab library. Lead antibody 5A6 blocks the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the viral spike from binding to the host receptor angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 infection of Vero E6 cells, and reduces viral replication in reconstituted human nasal and bronchial epithelium models. 5A6 has a high occupancy on the viral surface and exerts its neutralization activity via a bivalent binding mode to the tip of two neighbouring RBDs at the ACE2 interaction interface, one in the “up” and the other in the “down” position, explaining its superior neutralization capacity. Furthermore, 5A6 is insensitive to several spike mutations identified in clinical isolates, including the D614G mutant that has become dominant worldwide. Our results suggest that 5A6 could be an effective prophylactic and therapeutic treatment of COVID-19.
Entre la teoría del desarrollo y la teoría alternativa en América Latina. Algunas tensiones, retos y propuestas
Authors: Martínez Jiménez Karina Johana
Published: August 2020

Este artículo realiza una reflexión acerca del discurso de desarrollo hegemónico partiendo de elementos de algunas teorías alternativas. Se exponen algunas claves para entender las críticas y propuestas a partir de teorías como el desarrollo humano y el enfoque latinoamericano. El objetivo es, por un lado, llamar la atención sobre las deficiencias en materia social que sobrevienen con las prácticas de desarrollo puramente economicistas, sobre todo para los denominados países del Sur; por el otro, destacar la descentralización del discurso hegemónico. Se recurre al análisis documental en torno a la teoría crítica del desarrollo y los derechos humanos. En la lectura realizada se observa que, si bien las teorías expuestas no necesariamente pertenecen a una misma línea, plantean la necesidad de promover propuestas con enfoque en el bienestar social y el desarrollo humano de la población, cuestión obligatoria para pensar América Latina a propósito de las sombras del paradigma hegemónico en la región.
Stages of Behavior Change for Physical Activity in Airport Staff: a quasi-experimental study
Authors: Mahmoudi Khalil , Taghipoor Ali , Tehrani Hadi , Zomorodi Niat Hadi , Vahedian-Shahroodi Mohammad
Published: August 2020

Objective. This work sought to determine the effect of an educational intervention based on the stages of change in promoting physical activity in employees in the Mashhad airport in Iran. Methods. This was a quasi-experimental study conducted with the participation of 60 volunteers (30 in the intervention group and 30 in the control group) who were in the stages of contemplating or preparing for change in physical activity. The intervention consisted in educational activities provided during home visits, telephone calls, group training sessions, and delivery of printed material. To gather the information, the study used five questions on the stage in which they were for behavioral change in physical activity, according to the Theoretical Model by Marcus et al., (1. pre-contemplation, 2. contemplation, 3. preparation, 4. action, and 5. maintenance), and the International Questionnaire on Physical Activity. Changes in the stages were evaluated during three moments: upon entering the study, at the end of the intervention (8th month), and two months after the second evaluation (10th month). Results. During the 10th month evaluation, it was noted that 26.7% of the subjects from the intervention group versus 3.3% from the control group improved their physical activity and were in the action stage (p<0.01). Conclusion. Theeducational intervention based on stages of change is effective in promoting physical activity in the participants and may be used in educational programs that seek to improve physical activity in the employees studied.How to cite this article: Mahmoudi K, Taghipoor A, Tehrani H, Zomorodi Niat H, Vahedian-Shahroodi M. Stages of Behavior Change for Physical Activity in Airport Staff: a quasi-experimental study. Invest. Educ. Enferm. 2020; 38(1):e02
Evaluation of female factors in infertility by diagnostic laparohysteroscopy in a tertiary health care centre
Authors: Garg Kashish , Paul Dhruba Prasad , Ray Jayanta
Published: August 2020

Background: The inability to conceive is one of the most distressing conditions for a couple. It not only makes the female incomplete but also the social taboos attached are phenomenal. The problem of infertility as long as the recorded history of mankind. Fertility in our culture stands for reproductivity, growth and continuity. Reproduction is one of the basic essential for the survival of a species.  Diagnostic laparoscopy & hysteroscopy have emerged as an accurate method of assessing, evaluating and treating infertility. Direct visualization of the abdominal and pelvic organs in laparohysteroscopy allows a definitive diagnosis to be made in many conditions where clinical examination and less invasive techniques such as ultrasound and hysterosalpingography fail to identify the problem.Methods: A prospective study was conducted in Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, AGMC& GBP Hospital Agartala. 50 infertile women suspected with pelvic (tubal, peritoneal, adnexal) and intrauterine (uterine polyp, septa, submucous fibroid, intrauterine adhesions) pathologies were included in the study for further evaluation and correlation of clinical findings with Laparohysteroscopy observations.Results: Out of 50 cases, 27 (54%) patients had primary infertility. While laparoscopy detected abnormalities in 60% of the cases, significant hysteroscopy findings were noted in 66% of cases. The most common laparoscopic abnormality was tubal (22%) ovarian and peritoneal (16%) in primary and secondary infertile patients respectively. On hysteroscopy, endometrial polyp (30%) was found as the commonest abnormality in both the groups.Conclusions: Laparoscopy and hysteroscopy are both diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. If pathology is discovered, it can often be treated simultaneously. Laparoscopy combined with hysteroscopy is the sole technique to have a direct view of the female reproductive tract and to find out the various causes of infertility.
Laparoscopic management of a small bowel obstruction: paraduodenal hernia
Authors: Govindaraj Shrenik , Govindaraj Sridar , Newton Mario Victor , Prakash Clement
Published: August 2020

Paraduodenal hernia are very rare but the commonest internal hernia. Left paraduodenal hernia is due to herniation of the small bowel into the fossa of Landzert. The fossa results from a combination of failure of fusion of the small bowel mesentery with the retro peritoneum and malrotation of the midgut. Here we present a 27 years lady who saw multiple consultants with varied presentations and underwent extensive investigations over a one-year period, with one consultant referring her to a psychiatrist for malingering. CT scan revealed a foramen of Winslow hernia. The radiologist has to be aware of the CT findings of this unusual hernia. At laparoscopy, it was a left paraduodenal containing small bowel. We reduced the contents and plicated the sac with closure of the mouth. Patient did well and was discharged on 3rd post-operative day. On follow up she is doing well.
Incidence of double cystic artery: a clinical study
Authors: Akay Tamer , Leblebici Metin
Published: August 2020

Background: A successful laparoscopic cholecystectomy is associated with the knowledge about anatomic structures and the congenital anomaly of the biliary tract. The aim of this study was to become familiar with vascular variations in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.Methods: This was a retrospective clinical study. The files of patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy due to benign gallbladder diseases were analyzed. The characteristics and complications of the patients with double cystic artery were recorded and examined.Results: A total of 360 patients, 76 males and 284 females were included in the study. The mean age was 51.2 (25-81). When the files of the patients were examined, it was found that double cystic arteries were detected during the operation in two male (2.63%) and nine female patients (3.16%). Gall bladder polyp was found as an indication for operation in one of 11 patients, while multiple gallbladder stones were found as an indication for operation in the other patients. The laparoscopic cholecystectomy was converted to conventional cholecystectomy in two from 11 patients (18.1%) with double cystic arteries due to bleeding. The mean duration of hospital stay in the patients with double cystic artery is 5.2 (3-11) days, and (2.7 days) longer compared to the patients without a double cystic artery.Conclusions: Cystic artery variations and other variations can coexist. Awareness of cystic artery variations can reduce the possibility of uncontrolled intraoperative bleeding, extrahepatic biliary injury, and switching to conventional cholecystectomy.
COVID-19 prevention in a settlement colony in Kolkata
Authors: Mukhopadhyay J
Published: August 2020

: The scourge of ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is a matter of public health concern. COVID-19 spreads via aerosolised respiratory droplets ejected during coughing, sneezing and even loud speaking. Transmission through contaminated hand or personal objects is also possible. In absence of explicit anti-viral medicines and vaccine, humans needed to resort to preventive life-style like use of mask, repeated hand washing, social distancing and hygienic way of coughing-sneezing. Considering a possible upsurge of COVID-19 in India, it was decided to study the knowledge and awareness on COVID-19 prevention and its practice among the residents in a settlement colony in Kolkata.

: 277 adult residents of a settlement colony in Kolkata were studied during 2-3 week of March 2020. Approval from local authority and consent of head of the family were obtained. A pretested structured questionnaire was introduced including demographic attributes and knowledge-awareness-practice (KAP) traits of COVID-19 prevention. The data obtained was tabulated and statistically analysed.

The community had 380 members including 125 children having sex ratio 948.7 and 1.3 children per family. All adult members were literate and majority (47.3%) belonged to lower socio-economic group. Awareness of respondents on COVID-19 was remarkable. More than 93% subjects knew about COVID-19 illness besides 85% and above about common preventive measures. Around 93-95% subjects knew the value of hand washing, wearing mask and social distancing. However, there was mixed response to acceptance of preventive behaviour. While daily bath (100%), avoidance of public spitting (77.6%), cough hygiene (92.4%) and shunning hand-shake/hugging (92.7%) were followed by higher proportion of residents; hand washing (55.2%), wearing mask (52.3%) and social distancing (52.3%) got limited no. of acceptors. Significantly high proportion of matriculates belonging to lower middle socio-economic class displayed desirable practices of hand washing 2-3 times a day, using mask amid avoiding spitting in public.

: Further research is recommended to enrich this effort to explore facts that may play vital role in COVID-19 prevention in future.
LEGAL REGULATION OF PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS IN THE FIELD OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES
Authors: Babich A. A.
Published: August 2020

Environmental protection is an important concern for society. One of the most relevant topics of recent times is the solution of the issue related to attracting private investment in solving environmental problems in Russia. The use of public-private partnership mechanisms is seen as the most promising tool for this. Herewith, the fruitful application of this institution in the field of environmental protection largely depends on the effectiveness of its legal regulation. Meanwhile, it seems that the existing approach in the Russian legislation does not meet this condition yet. There is no special legal regulation of PPPs in the environmental sphere, and the current Federal Law of July 13, 2015 No. 224-FZ contains norms restricting its application for different reasons, posing to scientists and practitioners as a whole the question of the effectiveness of this specified legal act in environmental sphere. In order to determine the most optimal model of legal regulation of PPP in the fi eld of environmental protection in the Russian Federation, among other things, it is necessary to study the experience of such legal regulation in foreign countries. This article is devoted to the study of this particular issue. The article considers the main models of legal regulation and forms of public-private partnerships in foreign countries, and also analyzes a number of specifi c PPP projects aimed at protecting the environment and their legal regulation. According to the results of the study, the author comes to the conclusion that there is no special legal regulation of these relations. However, this fact is not an obstacle to the use of PPP in the field of environmental protection. The author concludes that artificially limiting the use of PPP to solve environmental problems is not justified.
COVID-19: The Biggest Medical and Pharmaceutical Challenge of the 21st Century
Authors: Sadeghi Kourosh
Published: August 2020

This article is an Editorial and does not include an Abstract.
Vancomycin Utilization Evaluation in a Major Teaching Hospital in West of Iran
Authors: Khiali Sajad , Eskandari Samira , Hamishehkar Hadi , Maroufi Parham , Rezaee Haleh
Published: August 2020

Background: Vancomycin is a potent antibiotic and has central role in the managing of infections with known resistance to other antibiotics or in patients with allergy to beta-lactams. Irrational use of vancomycin is associated with increased morbidity and mortality as well as the antibiotic resistant.
Methods: The DUE was done in Imam Reza Hospital, Tabriz, Iran. A total of 100 patients were included during a 6‐month period. We aimed to evaluate vancomycin administration pattern and assess its compliance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) protocols as the primary outcome and its adverse effects as the secondary outcome.
Results: The mean duration of hospitalization and antibiotic therapy were 22.11 ± 1.76 and 19.08 ± 1.51 respectively (mean ± SD).  The most causes of vancomycin administration (51%) were for surgery prophylaxis. In 38% of patients, vancomycin administration was not in accordance to standard guidelines. Dose and duration of vancomycin therapy was according to ASHP and CDC guidelines in 74% and 59% of patients. Dose readjustments of antibiotics were necessary in 28 patients which were done in 12 of them. A total of 140 samples were collected from 60 patients. In 30% of patients, vancomycin use was continued without considering the culture results.
Discussion: It is important to set practical pharmaceutical and therapeutic infection control committees in hospitals under the clinical pharmacists’ observation. Furthermore, educational programs for health care professionals regarding rational use of antibiotics can be helpful in improving antimicrobial medications utilization and monitoring.
Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation Induced by Ciprofloxacin: A Rare Adverse Effect
Authors: Hammami Fatma , Koubaa Makram , Ben Kahla Sahar , Chakroun Amal , Rekik Khaoula , Smaoui Fatma , Ben Jemaa Mounir
Published: August 2020

Despite their adverse effects, fluoroquinolones continue to be commonly prescribed antibiotics. Ciprofloxacin remains the safest with remarkably few adverse effects of all fluoroquinolones. Here, we present a rare case of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation induced by ciprofloxacin intake in a 72-year-old woman. She was treated with ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone for urinary tract infection caused by Klebsiella pneumonia and complicated with liver abscess. On the fifth day of ciprofloxacin intake, she suddenly complained of heart palpitations and epigastric pain. An electrocardiogram revealed supraventricular tachycardia type atrial fibrillation at 130 beats per minute. No QT interval prolongation was noted. Ciprofloxacin was stopped as it was the most incriminated to induce arrhythmia. A control electrocardiogram showed normal sinus rhythm. We continued ceftriaxone use solely for 3 weeks until the resolution of the liver abscess. Although rare, early detection of atrial fibrillation induced by ciprofloxacin may decrease the severity of complications and prevent death.
Environment Friendly Agricultural Brand “Cool Vege” Through Carbon Sequestration by Biochar for Sustainable Management of Food and Water
Authors: Shibata Akira , Kanegai Hidehiko
Published: August 2020

The reduction of of greenhouse gas to mitigate or adapt to drastic climate change are one of the most important issues for human beings. On the other hand, rural development is also important issue for sustainable rural natural resources to secure food and water. Then, we propose the new socio-economic scheme to solve these issues at the same time through biochar carbon capture and sequestration. This scheme contains 4 measure factors that 1) Carbon Capture & Storage(CCS) via biochar, 2) Biochar CCS should be carried out at agricultural  lands  for  rural  development,  3)  Biochar  CCS  should  be  monitored  and measured to generate carbon credits and social creditability, 4) The ECO-brand “Cool Vege” for agricultural products derived from biochar CCS. And, it consists of  many stake holders and actors that local community, compost center, farmers, CCS local committee consisted by local governments and universities as scientific authority, companies, retailers and normal citizen as consumers. Therefore, when proceeding this scheme, it is needed to have holistic aspect like bird view.
Removal Natural Organic Matter (NOM) in Peat Water from Wetland Area by Coagulation-Ultrafiltration Hybrid Process with Pretreatment Two-Stage Coagulation
Authors: Mahmud Mahmud , Abdi Chairul , Mu'min Badaruddin
Published: August 2020

The primary problem encountered in the application of membrane technology was membrane fouling. During this time, hybrid process by coagulation-ultrafiltration in drinking water treatment that has been conducted by some research, using by one-stage coagulation. The goal of this research was to investigate the effect of two-stage coagulation as a pretreatment towards performance of the coagulation-ultrafiltration hybrid process for removal NOM in the peat water. Coagulation process, either with the one-stage or two-stage coagulation was very good in removing charge hydrophilic fraction, i.e. more than 98%. NOM fractions of the peat water, from the most easily removed by the two-stage coagulation and one-stage coagulation process was charged hydrophilic>strongly hydrophobic>weakly hydrophobic>neutral hydrophilic. The two-stage coagulation process could removed UV254 and colors with a little better than the one-stage coagulation at the optimum coagulant dose. Neutral hydrophilic fraction of peat water NOM was the most influential fraction of UF membrane fouling. The two-stage coagulation process better in removing the neutral hidrophilic fraction, while removing of the charged hydrophilic, strongly hydrophobic and weakly hydrophobic similar to the one-stage coagulation. Hybrid process by pretreatment with two-stage coagulation, beside can increased removal efficiency of UV254 and color, also can reduced fouling rate of the ultrafiltration membraneIt must not exceed 250 words, contains a brief summary of the text, covering the whole manuscript without being too elaborate on every section. Avoid any abbreviation, unless it is a common knowledge or has been previously stated.
Spatial Mapping for Managing Oxidized Pyrite (FeS2) in South Sumatra Wetlands, Indonesia
Authors: Armanto M. Edi
Published: August 2020

The research aimed to analyze spatial mapping for managing oxidized pyrite (FeS2) in South Sumatra wetlands, Indonesia. The field observations are done by exploring several transect on land units. The field description refers to Soil Survey Staff (2014). Water and soil samples were taken from selected key areas for laboratory analysis. The vegetation data was collected by making sample plots (squares method) placed on each vegetation type with plot sizes depending on the vegetation type, namely 10 x 10 m for secondary forests and 5 x 5 m for shrubs and grass. The observations of surface water level were done during the river receding with units of m above sea level (m asl). The research results showed that pyrite formation is largely determined by the availability of natural vegetation as Sulfur (S) donors, climate and uncontrolled water balance and supporting fauna such as crabs and mud shrimp.  Climate and water balance as well as supporting faunas is the main supporting factors to accelerate the process of pyrite formation. Oxidized pyrite serves to increase soil acidity, becomes toxic to fish ponds and arable soils, plant growth and disturbing the water and soil nutrient balances. Oxidized pyrite is predominantly accelerated by the dynamics of river water and disturbed natural vegetation by human activities.  The pyrite oxidation management approach is divided into three main components of technologies, namely water management, land management and commodity management.
Quality Advantage? Provider Quality and Networks in Medicare Advantage
Authors: Haeder Simon F.
Published: August 2020

Medicare Advantage plans have grown significantly over the past decade and the potential for their future growth seems unabated. Astonishingly, however, we know little about how Medicare beneficiaries access services, particularly whether those services are of high quality. This study explores access to cardiac surgeons for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and heart valve surgery in California and New York. It is one of the first studies to analyze Medicare Advantage networks and interactions between provider networks and provider quality. Results of the study show that for large metropolitan areas, access is rather similar for traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries. Limitations, however, exist for the latter. Important concerns emerge for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries outside of metropolitan areas where healthcare market challenges appear to be exacerbated by carrier restrictions. Results indicate no evidence that carriers selectively contract to improve quality. There is, however, significant diversity with regard to network breadth; and, this breadth does not stay static across distances. These results hold important implications for the future of the Medicare program, network adequacy regulations, and how consumers make choices about their insurance coverage.
City on the Line: How Baltimore Transformed its Budget to Beat the Great Recession and Deliver Outcomes by Andrew Kleine
Authors: Reitano Vincent
Published: August 2020

Kleine, A (2019). City on the line: How Baltimore transformed its budget to beat the Great Recession and deliver outcomes. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. $35.00 (Paperback), ISBN: 978-1538121887.
Characterization of the Relationship between the Chaperone and Lipid-Binding Functions of the 70-Kda Heat-Shock Protein, HspA1A
Authors: Smulders Larissa , Daniels Amanda J. , Plescia Caroline P. , Berger Devon , Stahelin Robert V. , Nikolaidis Nikolas
Published: August 2020

HspA1A, a molecular chaperone, translocates to the plasma membrane (PM) of stressed and cancer cells. This translocation results in HspA1A’s cell-surface presentation, which renders tumors radiation insensitive. To specifically inhibit the lipid-driven HspA1A’s PM translocation and devise new therapeutics it is imperative to characterize the unknown HspA1A’s lipid-binding regions and determine the relationship between the chaperone and lipid-binding functions. To elucidate this relationship, we determined the effect of phosphatidylserine (PS)-binding on the secondary structure and chaperone functions of HspA1A. Circular dichroism revealed that binding to PS resulted in minimal modification on HspA1A’s secondary structure. Measuring the release of inorganic phosphate revealed that PS-binding had no effect on HspA1A’s ATPase activity. In contrast, PS-binding showed subtle but consistent increases in HspA1A’s refolding activities. Furthermore, using a Lysine-71-Arginine mutation (K71A; a null-ATPase mutant) of HspA1A we show that although K71A binds to PS with affinities similar to the WT, the kinetics of the binding are significantly different, probably because of the mutant’s inability to achieve specific conformations. These observations suggest a two-step binding model that includes conformational changes and strongly support the notion that the chaperone and lipid-binding activities of HspA1A are dependent but the regions mediating these functions do not overlap. These findings provide the basis for future interventions to inhibit HspA1A’s PM-translocation in tumor cells, making them sensitive to radiation therapy.
Brief Report: Rapid Clinical Recovery from Critical COVID-19 with Respiratory Failure in a Lung Transplant Patient Treated with Intravenous Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide
Authors: Youssef Jihad Georges , Zahiruddin Faisal , Al-Saadi Mukhtar , Yau Simon , Goodarzi Ahmad , Huang Howard J. , Javitt Jonathan C.
Published: August 2020

RLF-100 (Aviptadil), a synthetic form of Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP) is shown to block replication of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and has been granted Fast Track Designation by the US FDA for the treatment of Critical COVID-19 with Respiratory Failure. We describe the clinical course of the first patient treated with this investigational medication in an open label manner -- a 54 year old patient suffering antibody-mediated rejection of his double lung transplant who contracted COVID-19 with respiratory failure refractory to all currently available therapies. He received three infusions of RLF-100 under an FDA-approved emergency use IND. Within 24 hours of the third infusion, substantial improvement in oxygen saturation and radiographic improvement in characteristic COVID-19 pneumonitis was noted. He was discharged from intensive care at that point and scheduled for discharge to home at 1 week on room air. Despite an intervening hospitalization for trauma, he remains alive and free of respiratory failure at 28 days post treatment.
Gold Nanoparticles Radio-sensitize and Reduce Cell Survival in Lewis Lung Carcinoma
Authors: Pandey Arvind , Vighetto Veronica , Di Marzio Nicola , Hirsch Matteo , Ferrante Nicola , Mitra Sankar , Grattoni Alessandro , Filgueira Carly S.
Published: August 2020

It has been suggested that particle size plays an important role in determining the genotoxicity of gold nanoparticles (GNPs). The purpose of this study was to compare the potential radio-sensitization effects of two different sized GNPs (3.9 and 37.4 nm) fabricated and examined in vitro in Lewis Lung carcinoma (LLC) as a model of non-small cell lung cancer through use of comet and clonogenic assays. After the treatment of 2Gy X-ray irradiation, both particle sizes demonstrated increased DNA damage when compared to treatment with particles only and radiation alone. This radio-sensitization was further translated into a reduction in cell survival demonstrated by clonogenicity. This work indicates that GNPs of both sizes induce DNA damage in LLC cells at the tested concentrations, whereas the 37.4 nm particle size treatment group demonstrated greater significance in vitro. The presented data aids in the evaluation of the radiobiological response of Lewis Lung carcinoma cells treated with gold nanoparticles.
Habitual Exercise Attenuates the Aging Associated Muscle Atrophy and Muscle Strength Decline in SAMP8
Authors: Aoki Kai , Konno Masaki , Honda Katsunari , Abe Takuya , Nagata Takeshi , Takehara Masaaki , Sugasawa Takehito , Takekoshi Kazuhiro , Ohmori Hajime
Published: August 2020

Loss of muscle mass and strength are progressing with aging. Exercise is a beneficial method to prevent physical disfunction and habitual exercise improve the muscle quality. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of a long-term habitual exercise on the senescence-accelerated mice prone8 (SAMP8). 27wk SAMP8 were used in this study. Mice were classified into 28 (28w) and 44 weeks old. The 44-week group was divided into the sedentary group (44w) and a group exercising for 16 weeks (44w+Ex). The 44w+Ex performed habitual exercise from 28 to 44 weeks. Additionally, grip strength tests were performed with mice aged 28 and 44 weeks. Mice were dissected and collected muscle samples and measured muscle weight at 44w. Gastrocnemius was decreased in 44w but were unchanged in 44w+Ex. Grip strength in 44w was lower trend, but there was no change in 44w+Ex. The phosphorylation levels of Akt and p70S6K as a protein synthesis marker were decreased in 44w. Cytochrome c oxidase subunit IV(COXIV) mRNA and protein levels decreased in 44w. These results suggested that long-term habitual exercise attenuated muscle mass and strength decline through improving muscle protein synthesis and mitochondrial function. In conclusion, long-term habitual exercise attenuated muscle mass and strength decline.
The Self-etching Two-bottled Dental Adhesive System Containing 10-methacryloyloxidecyl Dihydrogen Phosphate Monomer
Authors: Roh Jiyeon , Hong Min-Ho
Published: August 2020

Dentin bonding is a key in restorative dentistry. Herein, we developed self-etching two-bottle adhesive system containing 10-methacryloyloxidecyl dihydrogen phosphate monomer (MDP) and the physical, mechanical, and biocompatible properties were evaluated. The characteristics of MDP were analyzed using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The water sorption and solubility, the shear-bond strengths to dentin and enamel, and cytotoxicity tests were performed. The newly blended experimental group showed the lowest thickness and water sorption and solubility values. The shear bond strength to enamel and dentin were comparable to control groups (the three other products) all test groups showed 60% of cell viability. In this study, the properties of the newly synthesized adhesive are comparable with the others. The fundamental goal of this study is to get the MDP patent released, as it is intended for domestic production. For this purpose, this dentin adhesive was developed and compared with the commercial product.
Is the Diet of a Middle Income Country Sustainable ? An Exploratory Study from Malaysia
Authors: Moy Foong Ming , Eng Jui Yee , Zulkefli Nur Fadzlina , Ng Lee Luan , Ismail Muhamad Azzam
Published: August 2020

A sustainable diet which is healthy and environmental friendly is a climate change mitigation option in addition to being a health promoting diet. However, there is a scarcity of information if the Asian diets are sustainable. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate if the diet of the Malaysian population is healthy and sustainable. This is a cross sectional study using dietary data generated from food frequency questionnaires (FFQ). The carbon footprint data were linked with the food items/ food groups in the FFQ. The nutrients of the participants’ diet were computed and the proportions of those who met the recommended nutrients intake were established. Contribution of carbon footprint for different food groups and total carbon footprint for each participant’s diet were computed and expressed as kgCO2eq. Comparison of carbon footprint from participants’ diets between age, sex and ethnicity were carried out. A total of 4825 participants were included in the analysis. Majority were Malays (66.4 %), females (84.0%), married (80.0%) and in the age groups of 30s to 40s (68.8%). The mean total energy intake was 2485+1000 kcal/day. Only 40 to 60% of all participants achieved the Malaysia Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) for calcium and less than half of the female participants who were aged 50 years and below fulfilled the RNI for iron. The most commonly consumed food groups were vegetables (270g/day), wheat, rice, fruits, sugar, seafood, poultry, legumes, snacks, milk and beef (46g/day). Total carbon footprint from the participants’ diets were 2.96 kgCO2eq/day, with the highest contributions of carbon footprint from rice, vegetables, beef, sugar, other cereals, poultry, seafood, wheat, milk, fruits, legume and snacks. Subgroups such as males, Malays and younger participants were more likely to consume diets with higher carbon footprint, compared to their counterparts. The participants’ diet was low in carbon footprint and environmentally friendly, however the quality of diet may need to be improved. Education measures should be targeted for all population and specifically for the sub-groups that consumed diets with higher carbon footprint.
Mechanical and Thermal Analyses of Metal-PLA Components Fabricated by Metal Material Extrusion
Authors: Mohammadizadeh Mahdi , Lu Hao , Fidan Ismail , Tantawi Khalid , Gupta Ankit , Hasanov Seymur , Zhang Zhicheng , Alifui-Segbaya Frank , Rennie Allan
Published: August 2020

Metal additive manufacturing (AM) has gained much attentions in recent years due to its advantages including geometric freedom and design complexity, appropriate to a wide range of potential industrial applications. However, conventional metal AM methods have high-cost barriers due to the initial cost of the capital equipment, support and maintenance, etc. This study presents a unique low-cost metal material extrusion (MME) technology. The filaments used have polylactic acid (PLA) as the matrix and metal powders (copper, bronze, stainless steel, high carbon iron, and aluminum) as reinforcements. Using the proposed fabrication technology, test specimens were built by extruding polymer/metal composite filaments, which were then sintered in an open-air furnace to produce solid metallic parts. In this research, the mechanical and thermal properties of the built parts are examined using tensile tests, thermogravimetric-, thermomechanical- and microstructural analysis.
Safe Fieldwork Strategies for At-Risk Individuals
Authors: Demery Amelia-Juliette , Pipkin Monique
Published: August 2020

As a result of identity prejudice, certain individuals are at higher risk for conflict and violence when they are in the field. At-risk individuals include minority identities of the following: race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, and/or religion. Everyone deserves to conduct fieldwork as safely as possible; therefore, it is paramount for anyone conducting fieldwork to be informed of the increased risk certain populations face when conducting field research and to define informed strategies. Research groups should adhere to best practices to minimize risk for all individuals who go into the field. Here we provide strategies that 1) acknowledge that some individuals encounter dangerous situations in the field due to their identity(ies), and 2) minimize the chance of conflict between and among researchers and other communities present at field sites. The inclusion of this document as a key resource in a research lab, a university department, or any active research or work environment sends a positive signal to at-risk individuals that their professional community acknowledges their risk and is willing to implement actions to ensure their safety. We suggest that this document be made freely available to anyone who is directly or indirectly involved in fieldwork. Supervisors who support the information in this document should publicly commit to promote a diverse and inclusive environment in order to maintain the safety of their researchers.
Similarity in Symmetry Groups of Ornaments as a Measure for Cultural Interactions in Medieval Times
Authors: Erbudak Mehmet , Onat Selim
Published: August 2020

The symmetry properties of an ornament contain information about its civilisation and its interactions with other cultural sources. Two-dimensional periodic ornaments can be strictly classified into mathematical wallpaper groups. The collection of ornaments thus classified for a civilisation is characteristic of the cultural group and serves as a fingerprint to identify that group. If the distribution of wallpaper groups is available for several societies, multi-dimensional scaling algorithms can be applied to determine similarities and differences between the art practices of these communities. This method allows a systematic approach to the general ornamental practices within a culture and their interactions in the form of similarity of fingerprints. We test the feasibility of the method on examples of medieval Armenians, Byzantium, Seljuks first in Persia and then in Anatolia and among Arabs in the Middle East. For this purpose we present the distribution of the planar ornaments and calculate the corresponding Pearson correlation coefficients in pairs. The results suggest an intense interaction between the Seljuk Turks and Arab craftsmen, as well as between Armenian and Byzantine artisans who made the ornaments.
Detecting Suspicious Texts Using Machine Learning Techniques
Authors: Sharif Omar , Hoque Mohammed Moshiul , Kayes A. S. M. , Nowrozy Raza , Sarker Iqbal H.
Published: August 2020

Due to the substantial growth of internet users and its spontaneous access via electronic devices, the amount of electronic contents is growing enormously in recent years through instant messaging, social networking posts, blogs, online portals, and other digital platforms. Unfortunately, the misapplication of technologies has boosted with this rapid growth of online content which leads to the rise in suspicious activities. People misuse the web media to disseminate malicious activity, perform the illegal movement, abuse other people, and publicize suspicious contents on the web. The suspicious contents usually available in the form of text, audio or video, whereas text contents have been used in most of the cases to perform suspicious activities. Thus, one of the most challenging issues for NLP researchers is to develop a system that can identify suspicious text efficiently from the specific contents. In this paper, a Machine Learning (ML)-based classification model is proposed (hereafter called STD) to classify Bengali text into non-suspicious and suspicious categories based on its original contents. A set of ML classifiers with various features has been used on our developed corpus, consisting of 7000 Bengali text documents where 5600 documents used for training and 1400 documents used for testing. The performance of the proposed system is compared with the human baseline and existing ML techniques. The SGD classifier `tf-idf’ with the combination of unigram and bigram features are used to achieve the highest accuracy of 84.57%.
Cosmology with Relativistically Varying Physical Constants
Authors: Gupta Rajendra
Published: August 2020

We have shown that our varying physical constant model is consistent with the recently published variational approach wherein Einstein equations are modified to include the variation of the speed of light c, gravitational constant G and cosmological constant Λ using the Einstein-Hilbert action. The general constraint resulting from satisfying the local conservation laws and contracted Bianchi identities provides the freedom to choose the form of the variation of the constants as well as how their variations are related. When we choose dG/Gdt=3dc/cdt, ̇the same as in our quasi-phenomenological model, c=c0 exp⁡(aα-1), G=G0 exp⁡[3(aα-1)] and Λ=Λ0 exp⁡[(a-α-1)], where a is the scale factor and α=1.8, we are able to confirm the success of our the model in explaining three astrometric anomalies and the null results on the variation of G and the fine structure constant. We show that the model: (a) fits the supernovae 1a observational data better than the ΛCDM model; (b) determines the first peak in the power spectrum of the cosmic microwave background temperature anisotropies at multipole value of l=217.3; (c) calculates the age of the universe as 14.1 Gyr; and (d) finds the BAO acoustic scale to be 145.2 Mpc. These numbers are within less than 3% percent of the observed values and the values obtained by the ΛCDM model. Surprisingly we find that the dark-energy density is negative in a universe that has significant negative curvature and whose expansion is accelerating at a faster rate than predicted by the ΛCDM model.
Antimicrobial Compounds from the Mucus of Garden Snail Cornu aspersa
Authors: Dolashki Aleksandar , Velkova Lyudmila , Daskalova Elmira , Zheleva N. , Topalova Yana , Atanasov Ventseslav , Voelter Wolfgang , Dolashka Pavlina
Published: August 2020

Natural products have long played a major role in medicine and science. The garden snail Cornu aspersa is a rich source of biologically active natural substances which might be an important source for new drugs to treat human disease. Based on our previous studies seven fractions containing compounds with Mw <3 kDa, <10 kDa, <20 kDa, >20 kDa, and between 3-5 kDa, 5-10 kDa, and 10-30 kDa were purified from the mucus of C. aspersa and analyzed by tandem mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF). Seventeen novel peptides with potential antibacterial activity have been identified by de novo MS/MS sequencing using tandem mass spectrometry. The different fractions were tested for antibacterial activity against Gram─ (Pseudomonas aureofaciens and Escherichia coli) and Gram+ (Brevibacillus laterosporus) bacterial strains as well anaerobic bacterium Clostridium perfringens. These results revealed that the peptide fractions exhibit a predominant antibacterial activity against B. laterosporus, the fraction with Mw 10 – 30 kDa against E. coli, another peptide fraction <20 kDa against P. aureofaciens, and the protein fraction >20 kDa against the bacterial strain C. perfringens. The discovery of new antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) from natural sources is of great importance for public health due to their effective antimicrobial activities and low resistance rates.
Problem Penyidikan Tindak Pidana Pencucian Uang yang Berasal dari Predicate Crime Perbankan
Authors: Nuryanto Ahmad Dwi
Published: August 2020

The problem of investigating criminal acts of laundering from criminal origin of banking crime has several problems including synergy between investigators not yet integrated, between investigators of the Indonesian National Police, Financial Services Authority, and Attorney General, there is still overlap in authority of the three investigating institutions. Investigations can be conducted at each stage, at the placement, layering, and integration stages. Investigations can be carried out by each investigating institution, this really depends on the case of the case. First: Corruption case, then, then the money was laundered, it turns out that the predicate credit is the act of banking crime then the KPK Investigation Commission and the Financial Services Authority are involved. The second money laundry then prediakate the origin of banking crime then the police and the Financial Services Authority. Third, if a banking crime is first discovered and then conducted a money laundering, the initial investigator is the new Police Financial Services Authority. Money Laundering can also have an impact on the loss of state revenues from the tax sector, distrust of the market and the international world to the Indonesian state, the climate of investors being unwilling to invest in Indonesia.

 

Keywords: Predicate Crime; Economic Law; Money Laundering.