bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aspirin Use Is Associated With Decreased Mechanical Ventilation, Intensive Care Unit Admission, and In-Hospital Mortality in Hospitalized Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019
Authors: Chow Jonathan H. , Khanna Ashish K. , Kethireddy Shravan , Yamane David , Levine Andrea , Jackson Amanda M. , McCurdy Michael T. , Tabatabai Ali , Kumar Gagan , Park Paul , Benjenk Ivy , Menaker Jay , Ahmed Nayab , Glidewell Evan , Presutto Elizabeth , Cain Shannon , Haridasa Naeha , Field Wesley , Fowler Jacob G. , Trinh Duy , Johnson Kathleen N. , Kaur Aman , Lee Amanda , Sebastian Kyle , Ulrich Allison , Peña Salvador , Carpenter Ross , Sudhakar Shruti , Uppal Pushpinder , Fedeles Benjamin T. , Sachs Aaron , Dahbour Layth , Teeter William , Tanaka Kenichi , Galvagno Samuel M. , Herr Daniel L. , Scalea Thomas M. , Mazzeffi Michael A.
Published: October 2020

BACKGROUND:

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is associated with hypercoagulability and increased thrombotic risk in critically ill patients. To our knowledge, no studies have evaluated whether aspirin use is associated with reduced risk of mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and in-hospital mortality.

METHODS:

A retrospective, observational cohort study of adult patients admitted with COVID-19 to multiple hospitals in the United States between March 2020 and July 2020 was performed. The primary outcome was the need for mechanical ventilation. Secondary outcomes were ICU admission and in-hospital mortality. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for study outcomes were calculated using Cox-proportional hazards models after adjustment for the effects of demographics and comorbid conditions.

RESULTS:

Four hundred twelve patients were included in the study. Three hundred fourteen patients (76.3%) did not receive aspirin, while 98 patients (23.7%) received aspirin within 24 hours of admission or 7 days before admission. Aspirin use had a crude association with less mechanical ventilation (35.7% aspirin versus 48.4% nonaspirin, P = .03) and ICU admission (38.8% aspirin versus 51.0% nonaspirin, P = .04), but no crude association with in-hospital mortality (26.5% aspirin versus 23.2% nonaspirin, P = .51). After adjusting for 8 confounding variables, aspirin use was independently associated with decreased risk of mechanical ventilation (adjusted HR, 0.56, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.37-0.85, P = .007), ICU admission (adjusted HR, 0.57, 95% CI, 0.38-0.85, P = .005), and in-hospital mortality (adjusted HR, 0.53, 95% CI, 0.31-0.90, P = .02). There were no differences in major bleeding (P = .69) or overt thrombosis (P = .82) between aspirin users and nonaspirin users.

CONCLUSIONS:

Aspirin use may be associated with improved outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. However, a sufficiently powered randomized controlled trial is needed to assess whether a causal relationship exists between aspirin use and reduced lung injury and mortality in COVID-19 patients.
Applicability of European Union Competition Law to Health Care Providers: The Dividing Line between Economic and Noneconomic Activities
Authors: Nikolić Bruno
Published: October 2020

Ever-increasing health spending, which, according to future projections, continues to outpace economic growth, will further endanger the financial sustainability of health systems. In a quest to improve the efficacy and efficiency of the health system and thus strengthen its financial sustainability, member states are employing market-based mechanisms to finance, manage, and provide health care. However, the introduction of elements of competition is constrained by the application of EU competition law, which raises significant concerns regarding the applicability of competition law and its limits in the field of health care. Due to the lack of a clear definition in EU legislation, the applicability and scope of competition law are determined on a case-by-case basis, which reveals an inconsistent approach by the European Commission and the CJEU regarding the application of competition law to health care providers and has created legal uncertainty. The aim of this article is to analyze relevant decisions by the commission and the CJEU case law in the pursuit of “boundaries” that may trigger the applicability of competition law with regard to health care providers. Based on the findings of the analysis, the article proposes a set of principles or guidelines for determining whether a health care provider should be considered as an undertaking and, as such, subject to EU competition law.
Health Technology Assessment and Health Care Reimbursement in the European Union: Permissive Dissensus and the Limits of Harmonization through the Backdoor
Authors: Löblová Olga
Published: October 2020

Member states have consistently limited the European Union's competences in the area of health care reimbursement. Despite these efforts, there has been a slow but steady tendency toward harmonization of a key tool in reimbursement decision-making: health technology assessment (HTA), a multidisciplinary evaluation of “value for money” of medicines, devices, diagnostics, and interventions, which provides expert advice for reimbursement decisions. This article examines the origins of this paradoxical appetite for harmonization as well as of the dissensus that has, at the moment, somewhat stalled further integration in HTA. It finds that the prointegration neofunctionalist “permissive dissensus” is still present in decision making on HTA but potentially offset by dissensus or outright opposition from key actors, including member states and the medical device industry. These actors are able to decipher the potential consequences of highly technical issues, such as HTA, for national systems of social protection. Despite that, they have little interest in politicizing the issue, potentially opening the door to integrative policy solutions in the future.
A second riboswitch class for the enzyme cofactor NAD+
Authors: Panchapakesan Shanker S.S. , Corey Lukas , Malkowski Sarah N. , Higgs Gadareth , Breaker Ronald R.
Published: October 2020

A bacterial noncoding RNA motif almost exclusively associated with pnuC genes was uncovered using comparative sequence analysis. Some PnuC proteins are known to transport nicotinamide riboside (NR), which is a component of the ubiquitous and abundant enzyme cofactor nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+). Thus, we speculated that the newly found “pnuC motif” RNAs might function as aptamers for a novel class of NAD+-sensing riboswitches. RNA constructs that encompass the conserved nucleotides and secondary structure features that define the motif indeed selectively bind NAD+, nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), and NR. Mutations that disrupt strictly conserved nucleotides of the aptamer also disrupt ligand binding. These bioinformatic and biochemical findings indicate that pnuC motif RNAs are likely members of a second riboswitch class that regulates gene expression in response to NAD+ binding.
Self-reported disability in rural Malawi: prevalence, incidence, and relationship to chronic conditions
Authors: Prynn Josephine E. , Dube Albert , Mwaiyeghele Elenaus , Mwiba Oddie , Geis Steffen , Koole Olivier , Nyirenda Moffat , Kuper Hannah , Crampin Amelia C.
Published: October 2020

Background: Disability is a complex concept involving physical impairment, activity limitation, and participation restriction. The Washington Group developed a set of questions on six functional domains (seeing, hearing, walking, remembering, self-care, and communicating) to allow collection of comparable data on disability. We aimed to improve understanding of prevalence and correlates of disability in this low-income setting in Malawi.

Methods: This study is nested in the Karonga Health and Demographic Surveillance Site in Malawi; the Washington Group questions were added to the annual survey in 2014. We used cross-sectional data from the 2014 survey to estimate the current prevalence of disability and examine associations of disability with certain chronic conditions. We then reviewed the incidence and resolution of disability over time using panel data from the 2015 survey.

Results: Of 10,863 participants, 9.6% (95% CI 9.0-10.1%) reported disability in at least one domain. Prevalence was higher among women and increased with age. Diabetes and obesity were associated with disability among women, and diabetes was also associated with disability among men. Neither hypertension nor HIV were associated with disability. Participants reporting “no difficulty” or “can’t do at all” for any domain were likely to report the same status one year later, whereas there was considerable movement between people describing “some difficulty” and “a lot of difficulty”.

Conclusions: Disability prevalence is high and likely to increase over time. Further research into the situation of this population is crucial to ensure inclusive policies are created and sustainable development goals are met.
A blueprint for the implementation of a validated approach for the detection of SARS-Cov2 in clinical samples in academic facilities
Authors: Sridhar Sushmita , Forrest Sally , Kean Iain , Young Jamie , Bartholdson Scott Josefin , Maes Mailis , Pereira-Dias Joana , Parmar Surendra , Routledge Matthew , Sparkes Dominic , Rivett Lucy , Dougan Gordon , Weekes Michael , Curran Martin , Goodfellow Ian , Baker Stephen
Published: October 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic is expanding at an unprecedented rate. As a result, diagnostic services are stretched to their limit, and there is a clear need for the provision of additional diagnostic capacity. Academic laboratories, many of which are closed due to governmental lockdowns, may be in a position to support local screening capacity by adapting their current laboratory practices. Here, we describe the process of developing a SARS-Cov2 diagnostic workflow in a conventional academic Containment Level 2 laboratory. Our outline includes simple SARS-Cov2 deactivation upon contact, the method for a quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase PCR detecting SARS-Cov2, a description of process establishment and validation, and some considerations for establishing a similar workflow elsewhere. This was achieved under challenging circumstances through the collaborative efforts of scientists, clinical staff, and diagnostic staff to mitigate to the ongoing crisis. Within 14 days, we created a validated COVID-19 diagnostics service for healthcare workers in our local hospital. The described methods are not exhaustive, but we hope may offer support to other academic groups aiming to set up something comparable in a short time frame.
The NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950 inhibits IL-1β production in PBMC from 19 patients with Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndrome and in 2 patients with Schnitzler’s Syndrome
Authors: Corcoran Sarah E. , Hafner-Bratkovič Iva , Halai Reena , Domingo-Fernandez Raquel , O'Leary Daire , Banahan Kathy , Jerala Roman , Conlon Niall , Jung Thomas , O'Neill Luke A.J. , Cooper Matthew A. , Irvine Alan D.
Published: October 2020

Background: The cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS) are a group of inherited disorders associated with systemic auto-inflammation. CAPS result from gain-of-function mutations in NLRP3, which result in formation of an intracellular protein complex known as the NLRP3 inflammasome. This leads to overproduction of IL-1β and other pro-inflammatory signals, resulting in inflammatory symptoms. Treatments for NLRP3-related diseases are biologic agents that directly target IL-1β. We sought to determine if the orally available small molecule NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950 could inhibit IL-1β ex vivo in a cohort of patients with autoinflammatory disease.

Methods: Patients were recruited to donate blood, from which PBMCs were isolated and assayed in the presence of MCC950 to determine inhibitory efficacy.

Results: We found that apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC) and mature IL-1β was higher in ex vivo PBMCs from CAPS patients than healthy donors. MCC950 inhibited production of mature IL-1β in PBMC from CAPS patients with a range of mutations and blocked NLRP3 activity in an in vitro mutation reconstitution assay. Similar results were observed with PBMC from two patients with Schnitzler’s Syndrome, another auto-inflammatory disease.

Conclusions: The NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor MCC950 blocked constitutive activation of NLRP3 observed in the PBMCs of CAPS patients. This study highlights the potential utility of NLRP3 inhibition by a small molecule for rare autoinflammatory diseases that are driven by NLRP3.
Main Priorities of the Russian Chemistry Diversification
Authors: Lomovcev D. , Kizimov M. , Shevarin P.
Published: October 2020

There foreign economic activities of domestic chemical industry are considering in the article. There the prerequisites of the industry diversification are revealed, the enhancement priorities of the industry structure are marked. The authors outline main phases of the chemistry diversification in Russian present-day conditions.
Conceptual Aspects of Strategic Planning of Sustainable Territory Development with Special Economic Regime
Authors: Levin Yuriy , Pavlov A.
Published: October 2020

The purpose of the article is a conceptual analysis of the development of strategies for the territory development with a special economic regime. The main provisions for determining the competitive advantages of territory development are argued. The authors proceed from the hypothesis that the sustainable development of the territory is based on a single, interrelated and mutually dependent consideration of its economic, environmental and social subsystems. A schematic relationship between the territory's competitiveness, development strategy, and the competitive advantage of preferential treatment is presented. The author analyzes the choice of instruments for preferential regimes and measures to support economic activity, taking into account the peculiarities of the territory. The article considers the composition of territories with a special economic regime in the Russian Federation. The article analyzes the Russian experience of forming special economic zones with preferential regimes in the context of applying situational fragmented management. It is concluded that it is necessary to switch to strategic planning of preferential regimes in order to assess the competitiveness of territories and the possibility of achieving socio-economic goals under constantly changing external and internal conditions. The author substantiates the importance of combining the developed strategies for the development of special economic zones with regional strategies.
‘Creating a Buzz’
Authors: Hempsall James
Published: October 2020

James Hempsall reports on important lessons learned from establishing speech, language and communication project Talk Derby. Funded by DfE Opportunity Areas, it has laid the foundations for an ongoing strategy which fuels networking and training, supported by local authority involvement.
Bringing Literacy to Life
Authors: Yates David
Published: October 2020

Since introducing REAL in 2015, Tinsley Meadows Primary school in Sheffield has strengthened its events and home visits to support key aspects of early literacy. Teacher David Yates explains exactly how these work and explains why it is so important to maintain the momentum.
‘I Like Thinking on My Feet’
Authors: Hart Karen
Published: October 2020

As a speech and language therapist, Helen Pearson has had to find innovative ways to offer her services remotely during the pandemic. Karen Hart finds out what drives her busy working life and what she likes to do in her spare time.
Fantastic beasts
Authors: Hart Karen
Published: October 2020

Channel children's fascination with imaginary creatures such as dragons, unicorns and mermaids into creating characterful artworks, including finger puppets and 2D artworks that they will be proud of.
Evaluation of Semanotus bifasciatus (Motschulsky) Infestation in Platycladus orientalis Plants Using E-Nose and GC-MS
Authors: Wang Zhenhe , Sun Yubing , Wang Jun , Wang Yongwei
Published: October 2020

Highlights

E-nose was employed for evaluation of Semanotus bifasciatus infestation based on four time-domain features.

Plant VOCs were analyzed by GC-MS, and the results proved the feasibility of E-nose detection.

PNN, BPNN, SVM, and PLSR were introduced to classify and predict Semanotus bifasciatus infestation numbers.

Abstract. Trunk-boring insects such as Semanotus bifasciatus (Motschulsky) are difficult to detect because the larvae are hidden inside the trunks. In this study, the variation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in Platycladus orientalis after S. bifasciatus infestation was evaluated using an electronic nose (E-nose). VOCs from sample plants were observed with gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and the results indicated that uninfected and infected groups differed both qualitatively and quantitatively, which proves the feasibility of E-nose evaluation. To extract features of the E-nose response signals, four feature extraction methods were applied, and their performances were compared based on linear discriminant analysis (LDA). Three classification models, including back-propagation neural network (BPNN), support vector machine (SVM), and probabilistic neural network (PNN), were established to identify the severity of infestation based on the optimal feature extraction method (75th second value). The classification results of BPNN, PNN, and SVM based on the calibration set were 96.43%, 91.07%, and 100%, respectively, and the results based on the validation set were 91.67%, 91.67%, and 100%, respectively. In addition, partial least squares regression (PLSR) and BPNN were used to predict the larvae density and achieved highly reliable results. It can be concluded that combining E-nose with GC-MS is a potential technique for evaluating trunk-borer infestation and can be used for pest management. Keywords: Electronic nose, Feature extraction, Pest evaluation, Semanotus bifasciatus, Volatile organic compounds.
Frequency Response Curves and Dynamic Characteristics of a Ginkgo Tree in Different Growth Periods
Authors: Zhou Jie , Xu Linyun , Liu Guanhua , Xuan Yan , Zhou Hongping , Jiang Hongzhe
Published: October 2020

Highlights

The frequency domain modal parameters identification method was applied to a ginkgo tree.

Dynamic characteristics of the ginkgo tree were tested during five phenological periods.

Almost all resonance frequencies were near the peaks of the frequency response curves.

Leaves caused the number of natural frequencies of the ginkgo tree to be greatly reduced.

Abstract. Understanding the dynamic characteristics of fruit trees is the premise of effective mechanized harvesting. This study performed a tracking test on a ginkgo tree in five phenological periods from the dormant period to the leaf-unfolding period. The frequency domain modal parameters identification method was applied to the ginkgo tree, and the relationship between the natural frequencies and resonance frequencies of the ginkgo tree was obtained. The main factors affecting the fundamental frequency and damping ratio of the ginkgo tree were not the elastic modulus and moisture content but rather the growth of the leaves. The growth of leaves caused the number of natural frequencies in the low-frequency band to be greatly reduced, and the value of the natural frequencies exhibited a slightly decreasing tendency. The damping caused by leaves had a significant weakening effect on the transmission of vibrational energy on the lateral branches. The resonance frequencies that caused strong response of the ginkgo tree were mostly near the peak frequencies of the frequency response curves (natural frequencies), but eccentric motor excitation could not effectively stimulate all the natural frequencies of the ginkgo tree to reach resonance. In the frequency response curves of the ginkgo tree, the main natural frequency with the maximum energy might not cause the maximum vibration response of the ginkgo tree, even if this excitation frequency could induce resonance. Resonance could be used to maximize the transfer of excitation energy, but each position of the tree had its own independent frequency spectrum characteristics. A single excitation frequency could not cause all positions of the ginkgo tree to resonate simultaneously. Changing the excitation frequency of harvesting equipment within a small frequency range could achieve the maximum resonance response of most positions on fruit trees. Keywords: Dynamic characteristics, Growth periods, Leaves, Natural frequencies, Resonance.
Effects of Membrane Concentration Processes on Flux, Nutrient Recovery, and Antibiotic Isolation for Anaerobically Digested Slurry from Swine Manure
Authors: Yue Caide , Dong Hongmin , Zhang Wanqin , Zhu Zhiping , Yin Fubin , Wang Shunli
Published: October 2020

Highlights

Three membrane concentration processes for anaerobically digested (AD) slurry were investigated.

With regard to processing stability and efficiency, NF-RO was recommended for AD slurry concentration.

Membrane concentration enables the synchronous recovery of nutrients and removal of antibiotics in AD slurry.

Abstract. Membrane concentration processes have been used to treat anaerobically digested (AD) slurry for nutrient recovery and pollutant removal; however, these methods often face the challenges of low processing stability and efficiency. In this study, the performance (processing stability and efficiency) of three membrane concentration processes, including nanofiltration (NF), reverse osmosis (RO1) and two-stage NF-RO (NF-RO2), in treating ceramic membrane-pretreated swine manure AD slurry was evaluated and compared. Nutrient and antibiotic redistribution in the concentrate and permeate was also investigated. Results show that NF-RO2 had higher processing stability and efficiency than the other two processes. High nutrient recoveries of 61.9% for total nitrogen, 56.3% for total phosphorus, and 67.0% for potassium in the concentrates were observed in NF-RO2. The removal rates for antibiotics sulfamethazine and oxytetracycline in NF-RO2 were 99.3% and 81.9%, respectively. Therefore, NF-RO is an effective way to recover nutrients and remove pollutants from AD slurry. Keywords: Antibiotic flow, Nanofiltration, Nutrient flow, Reverse osmosis, Swine manure.
Learning Styles in Business Management students: An empirical study in Portuguese Higher Education
Authors: Carvalho Luísa Margarida Cagica , Pereira João Manuel do Freixo , Dias Rui Manuel Teixeira Santos , Noronha Adriana Backx
Published: October 2020

This research aims to identify the learning styles of Portuguese higher education students in business administration, and in return to enable the identification of effective ways to foster the teaching-learning process. The research is divided into two parts: a theoretical approach and the analysis and discussion of the results obtained in light of the learning style of these students as characterized by the Felder-Silvernman model. The data were collected from 3 Portuguese Higher Education Institutions and seek to contribute to the improvement of the learning process in business management courses and to provide for adequate planning of learning strategies aimed at educational success. The statistical analysis of the data was performed with SPSS version 25.0 for Windows and included both descriptive and inferential statistics. The results of the study are consistent with the findings in the literature in similar contexts, suggesting that learning styles vary according to the individual. Regarding gender, a variable that has been studied relatively little to date, there is also evidence in the study that female students seem to use cognitive strategies significantly more than their male counterparts.
Editorial: Imaging TU Dres­den
Authors: Vollbrecht Ralf
Published: October 2020

Das Thema dieser Ausgabe von Medienwelten – Imaging TU Dres­den – ist angelehnt an ein gleichnamiges Seminar von Ralf Voll­brecht im Sommersemester 2018, in dem Studie­ren­de image­bildende Maßnahmen der Technischen Universität Dres­den analy­sieren und aus medienpädagogischer Sicht einschätzen sollten. Die­­ses weite Untersuchungsfeld wurde dann beschränkt auf Image-Filme, wobei in dieser Medienwelten-Ausgabe nicht die ge­samte Fülle an Filmen einbezogen werden kann, die sich bei­spiels­weise auf dem YouTube-Kanal der TU Dresden finden lässt, son­dern nur einige derjenigen Filme diskutiert werden, die von der TU Dresden selbst in besonderer Weise herausgestellt werden.
Spatial frequency-based angular behavior of a short-range flicker-free MIMO–OCC link
Authors: Teli Shivani Rajendra , Zvanovec Stanislav , Perez-Jimenez Rafael , Ghassemlooy Zabih
Published: October 2020

In this paper, we provide a solution based on spatial frequency

f

sf

to study the angular behavior of a flicker-free, short-range indoor multiple–input multiple–output (MIMO) optical camera communications (OCC) link. We focus on the experimental investigation of OCC’s performance for the transmitters (Txs) [i.e., light-emitting diode (LED) based arrays] located at the same and different distances from the receiver (Rx) with the off-axis rotation angle

θ

. We have used two

8

×

8

distributed LED arrays and a commercial low-cost complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) Raspberry Pi camera with the rolling-shutter capturing mode as the Tx and Rx, respectively. The image and the respective communications link quality metrics are measured in terms of the peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) and the rate of successfully received bits with respect to

f

sf

  for different camera shutter speeds (SS). A CMOS image sensor noise characterization is carried in terms of the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and PSNR. The proposed study provides a 100% success rate in data reception at the optimum

θ

of 50° at lower captured values of

f

sf

, which is projected onto the image sensor in the form of pixels. Moreover, the effect of channel saturation over

f

sf

is studied with respect to

θ

and SS and we show that, for

θ

exceeding the optimum value along transmission range, the

f

sf

area of the Txs reduces to less than

∼

50

%

of the captured Tx units at

θ

of 0°, where no data can be fully recovered.
Generating large field of view en-face projection images from intra-acquisition motion compensated volumetric optical coherence tomography data
Authors: Schwarzhans Florian , Desissaire Sylvia , Steiner Stefan , Pircher Michael , Hitzenberger Christoph K. , Resch Hemma , Vass Clemens , Fischer Georg
Published: October 2020

A technique to generate large field of view projection maps of arbitrary optical coherence tomography (OCT) data is described. The technique is divided into two stages - an image acquisition stage that features a simple to use fast and robust retinal tracker to get motion free retinal OCT volume scans - and a stitching stage where OCT data from different retinal locations is first registered against a reference image using a custom pyramid-based approach and finally stitched together into one seamless large field of view (FOV) image. The method is applied to data recorded with a polarization sensitive OCT instrument in healthy subjects and glaucoma patients. The tracking and stitching accuracies are quantified, and finally, large FOV images of retinal nerve fiber layer retardation that contain the arcuate nerve fiber bundles from the optic nerve head to the raphe are demonstrated.
Compensation method for projector calibration based on homography and bundle adjustments
Authors: Lin Junyi , Zhang Xuefeng , Wang Yushu , Wu Lei , Jiang Kaiyong
Published: October 2020

Projector calibration is one of the most essential steps for structured light systems. Some methods have high precision but require a complicated calibration procedure, such as the method based on phase-shifting. Other methods take advantage of simple implementation but cannot meet the accuracy requirement, for example, the method based on homography. In this paper, we proposed a compensation method for flexible and accurate projector calibration. To make the calibration procedure easy to operate, the homographic matrix between the projector and camera is established through feature points projected. Then, the 2D image points compensation method based on the re-projection error iteration algorithm was carried out, and a modified bundle adjustment (BA) algorithm is put forward to refine the calibration parameters of the system. Finally, the feature point reconstruction experiment is implemented to verify the high flexibility and accuracy performance of the proposed method.
Przodkowie w tradycyjnej religii Aszantow
Authors: WITA GRZEGORZ
Published: October 2020

Tradycyjne religie Afryki postrzegane są nierzadko jako systemy wierzeń, w których podstawową funkcję pełnią przodkowie. Czasem bywają one wprost nazywane kultem przodków. Nie jest to stwierdzenie adekwatne wobec rzeczywistości. Dowodem tego jest pozycja i rola przodków w rodzimej religii Aszantów z Ghany. Choć ma ona charakter wyraźnie ancestralny, to jednak wysoki status przodków wynika z ich powiązania z Istotą Najwyższą, a cześć i rytuały przodkowskie do niej w ostateczności odsyłają. Artykuł prezentuje ideę przodkostwa, rolę duchów zmarłych w społeczności Aszantów, warunki, jakie muszą być spełnione, aby zmarły osiągnął status przodka oraz formy religijnego i społecznego szacunki, jakim przez Aszantów są otaczani „żywi-zmarli”. Przedstawia także zarys aszanckiej eschatologii oraz wpływ, jaki przodkowie wywierają na tę zachodnioafrykańską społeczność.
Aktualność encykliki Populorum progressio Pawła VI odczytana w kluczu misyjnych wyzwań Kościoła
Authors: PIOTROWSKI JAN
Published: October 2020

Aktualność encykliki Populorum progressio Pawła VI odczytana w kluczu misyjnych wyzwań Kościoła
Aktualność encykliki Fidei donum
Authors: CZERMAK KRZYSZTOF
Published: October 2020

Aktualność encykliki Fidei donum
Dokumenty episkopatów europejskich o sytuacji kobiet w małżeństwie katolicko-muzułmańskim
Authors: ŚWIĄTEK ANNA
Published: October 2020

Dokumenty episkopatów europejskich o sytuacji kobiet w małżeństwie katolicko-muzułmańskim
Obraz kobiety na polskojęzycznych portalach internetowych o tematyce muzułmańsko-arabskiej
Authors: KWIATKOWSKA WIKTORIA
Published: October 2020

Obraz kobiety na polskojęzycznych portalach internetowych o tematyce muzułmańsko-arabskiej
Wkład polskiego duchowieństwa w rozwój Kościoła katolickiego w Kazachstanie
Authors: KURKOWIAK ANNA
Published: October 2020

Wkład polskiego duchowieństwa w rozwój Kościoła katolickiego w Kazachstanie
Autobiographisches Schreiben in Alfred Anderschs Prosa der 50er Jahre
Authors: Jabłkowska Joanna
Published: October 2020

Alfred Andersch´s autobiographical texts from the 1950s have been heavily criticized in recent literature on the topic. W.G. Sebald´s essay about Andersch was of crucial importance. The details of Andersch´s stay in the Dachau concentration camp as well as the writer´s motivation to desert at the end of the war were questioned. The article aims at a new reading of Andersch´s autobiographical texts with regard to their credibility. It compares the early short story Flucht in Eturien with the autobiography Die Kirschen der Freiheit and a few less known texts. The analysis leads to the conclusion that Andersch “re-wrote” his biography as a creation that fulfils unconscious wishes of a whole generation. His intention was to adapt the image of decent young men of antifascist beliefs whose only guilt was the loyalty to their comrades.
Kriegsliteratur aus der DDR und die Zensur in der Volksrepublik Polen in den ersten Nachkriegsjahren
Authors: Rajch Marek
Published: October 2020

From all of the German literature distributed in Poland during the first half of the nineteen fifties, that of the GDR was the most strongly represented, because like the People's Republic, it was part of the Eastern Bloc. A substantial part of this literature touched upon the themes of the Second World War. As some prominent Eastern German authors had taken part in the Spanish Civil War in 1936-1939, this subject also couldn't be ignored.The introduction in 1949 of socialist realism as the most important criterion of art, and particulary strong political pressure, led to a great deal of confusion and insecurity, not only for Polish publishing houses, but also among the censors, whose task was to take decisions about what literature could be printed. Censors’ opinions in this period often differed, not only in terms of detailed matter, but also in the final decisions about the eventual fate of the title submitted for evaluation.
Schnittstellen von Erfahrung und Erwartung. Ein Plädoyer für Storys im interkulturellen Literaturunterricht
Authors: Wojtczak Maria
Published: October 2020

The specific situation of a German academic working outside of Germany emerges via the differential and non­-simultaneous absorption (or incorporation) of methodological schools and traditions. This article shows a possible means of executing the balancing act between the learned "third culture" and your own tradition. It is about the interfaces between experience and expectation which one can find them through understanding the narrative structures. One can glean profound understanding via: narrative structure, deep structure of the text, on the basis of stories and cultural tropes, and through to structured narrative itself and to the story than the way the literature appropriation in the foreign language­ specific perspective. We only know as much as we are able to express. The language cultural identity exists because of the language and it is equal as narrative identity.
Beobachtungen zu den Neologismen der Politik – demonstiert am Projekt „Wortwarte“
Authors: Dubiec-Stach Joanna
Published: October 2020

Formative specifics of the German language creates particular conditions for forming neologisms and the related linguistic creativity. The degree to which neologisms are formed in contemporary German can be for instance easily observed upon the ‘Wortwarte’ project. Some of the neologisms considered as such by the authors of the ‘Wortwarte’ project shall be discussed in this article. The object of the linguistic analysis are neologisms from the world of politics. During analysis some interesting aspects referring to the form and specifics of contemporary neologisms have been pointed out i.e. word class presented by the analysed neologisms, their construction (i.e formative models upon which they have been formed), their components (i.e. native or foreign elements constituting them) as well as their semantics.
Zur Rolle der Zweisprachigkeit in ausgewählten Textsorten
Authors: Jarosz Józef
Published: October 2020

The paper deals with the role of multilingualism in selected text types. The reflections on forms of multilingualism and occasions for using multiple languages in a text lead to the creation of a typologythat distinguishes between obligatory and optional use of multiple languages in text types. The obligatory multilingualism is constitutive in dictionaries, textbooks and teaching materials. Optional multilingualism, which was examined using the example of German advertising texts and grave inscriptions from Germany and Denmark, reinforces the main function of the text.
βOHB Protective Pathways in Aralar-KO Neurons and Brain: An Alternative to Ketogenic Diet
Authors: Pérez-Liébana Irene , Casarejos María José , Alcaide Andrea , Herrada-Soler Eduardo , Llorente-Folch Irene , Contreras Laura , Satrústegui Jorgina , Pardo Beatriz
Published: October 2020

Aralar/AGC1/Slc25a12, the mitochondrial aspartate-glutamate carrier expressed in neurons, is the regulatory component of the NADH malate-aspartate shuttle. AGC1 deficiency is a neuropediatric rare disease characterized by hypomyelination, hypotonia, developmental arrest, and epilepsy. We have investigated whether β-hydroxybutyrate (βOHB), the main ketone body (KB) produced in ketogenic diet (KD), is neuroprotective inaralar-knock-out (KO) neurons and mice. We report that βOHB efficiently recoversaralar-KO neurons from deficits in basal-stimulated and glutamate-stimulated respiration, effects requiring βOHB entry into the neuron, and protects from glutamate excitotoxicity.Aralar-deficient mice were fed a KD to investigate its therapeutic potential early in development, but this approach was unfeasible. Therefore,aralar-KO pups were treated without distinction of gender with daily intraperitoneal injections of βOHB during 5 d. This treatment resulted in a recovery of striatal markers of the dopaminergic system including dopamine (DA), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC)/DA ratio, and vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT2) protein. Regarding postnatal myelination, myelin basic protein (MBP) and myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) myelin proteins were markedly increased in the cortices of βOHB-treatedaralar-KO mice. Although brain Asp and NAA levels did not change by βOHB administration, a 4-d βOHB treatment toaralar-KO, but not to control, neurons led to a substantial increase in Asp (3-fold) and NAA (4-fold) levels. These results suggest that the lack of increase in brain Asp and NAA is possibly because of its active utilization by thearalar-KO brain and the likely involvement of neuronal NAA in postnatal myelination in these mice. The effectiveness of βOHB as a therapeutic treatment in AGC1 deficiency deserves further investigation.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTAralardeficiency induces a fatal phenotype in humans and mice and is associated with impaired neurodevelopment, epilepsy, and hypomyelination. In neurons, highly expressingaralar, its deficiency causes a metabolic blockade hampering mitochondrial energetics and respiration. Here, we find that βOHB, the main metabolic product in KD, recovers defective mitochondrial respiration bypassing the metabolic failure inaralar-deficient neurons. βOHB oxidation in mitochondria boosts the synthesis of cytosolic aspartate (Asp) and NAA, which is impeded byaralardeficiency, presumably through citrate-malate shuttle. Inaralar-knock-out (KO) mice, βOHB recovers from the drastic drop in specific dopaminergic and myelin markers. The βOHB-induced myelin synthesis occurring together with the marked increment in neuronal NAA synthesis supports the role of NAA as a lipid precursor during postnatal myelination.
Epistemologies of Resistance: Knowledge in the Peruvian Amazon
Authors: Reinert Lorena
Published: October 2020

Epistemologies of resistance are knowledge frameworks that challenge oppressive structures and the ideologies that sustain them. In this paper, I analyze three weeks of ethnographic eldwork among the Asháninka of the Peruvian Amazon to demonstrate the ways in which the epistemologies that I encountered challenge oppressive structures and their underlying ideologies. My ndings consider the use of social and environmental context as epistemic indicators. I contrast these context-dependent epistemologies with the context-independent epistemologies that dominate contemporary “Western” thought, where the goal is to separate knowledge from context. I then consider how, as hybrid epistemologies that have emerged out of interaction and exchange in a globalized world, indigenous knowledge frameworks resist the notion of a binary di erence between indigenous and “Western” itself. These epistemologies of resistance critique the double binds created and sustained through the colonial model.
“You can’t forget our roots anyway”: French College Students’ views on a Racially and Religiously Pluralistic France
Authors: Tabachnick Mariel Elyssa
Published: October 2020

Despite the longstanding presence of Islam in the territory of France, Muslim French must still claim and justify their belonging in the context of widespread public skepticism over Islam’s compatibility with “French” social and cultural values, such as laïcité, or secularism. The general public’s skepticism is also, in part, due to the historical and ongoing racialization of Muslim populations. Many French sub-populations, including those who are perceived as more “liberal” such as college students, are a part of this skeptical public. Therefore, how have these students speci cally been shaped by contemporary French discourses and understandings of laïcité? There is a lack of scholarly research on French college students in particular and their understandings of French identity, laïcité, and Muslims in France. To ll this gap, I conducted nine semi-structured interviews and drew on informal participant observation. In this article, I discuss French college students’ opinions on French identity as well as the desire for widespread assimilation, speci cally regarding Muslim women and their choice to wear a hijab in France. I examine these viewpoints within the framework of dominant French discourse, which often perpetuates the idea of a racialized Islam that is inherently incompatible with French culture. I argue that students on both the left and right sides of the political spectrum still reiterate opinions that t within this dominant French discourse.
Editor’s Welcome
Authors: Radice Martha
Published: October 2020

This article introduces the issue and welcomes the new co-editor, Dr. Karen McGarry.
A Linear Programming Model for Product Mix Profit Maximization in A Small Medium Enterprise Company
Authors: Mohd Baki S , Cheng Jack Kie
Published: October 2020

Production planning is often challenging for small medium enterprises (SMEs) company. Most of the SMEs are having difficulty in determining the optimal level of the production output which can affect their business performance. Product mix optimization is one of the main key for production planning. Many company have used linear programming model in determining the optimal combination of various products that need to be produced in order to maximize profit. Thus, this study aims for profit maximization of a SME company in Malaysia by using linear programming model. The purposes of this study are to identify the current process in the production line and to formulate a linear programming model that would suggest a viable product mix to ensure optimum profitability for the company. ABC Sdn Bhd is selected as a case study company for product mix profit maximization study. Some conclusive observations have been drawn and recommendations have been suggested. This study will provide the company and other companies, particularly in Malaysia, an exposure of linear programming method in making decisions to determine the maximum profit for different product mix.
A Case Study on the Un-Used Capacity Assessment Using Time Driven Activity Based Costing for Magnetic Components
Authors: Zaini Areena , Kamil Haryantie , Abu Mohd Yazid
Published: October 2020

The Electrical & Electronic (E&E) company is one of Malaysia’s leading industries that has 24.5% in manufacturing sector production. With a continuous innovation of E&E company, the current costing being used is hardly to access the complete activities with variations required for each workstation to measure the un-used capacity in term of resources and cost. The objective of this work is to develop a new costing structure using time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC) at . This data collection was obtained at E&E company located at Kuantan, Pahang that focusing on magnetic component. The historical data was considered in 2018. TDABC is used to measure the un-used capacity by constructing the time equation and capacity cost rate. This work found three conditions of un-used capacity. Type I is pessimistic situation whereby according to winding toroid core, the un-used capacity of time and cost are -14820 hours and -MYR2.60 respectively. It means the system must sacrifice the time and cost more than actual apportionment. Type II is most likely situation whereby according to assembly process, the un-used capacity of time and cost are 7400 hours and MYR201575.45 respectively. It means the system minimize the time and cost which close to fully utilize from the actual apportionment. Type III is optimistic situation whereby according to alignment process, the un-used capacity of time and cost are 4120 hours and MYR289217.15 respectively. It means the system used small amount of cost and time from the actual apportionment.
EXAMINING FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO UNETHICAL BEHAVIOUR IN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING
Authors: Ishak Nurul Khair , Haron Hasnah , Ismail Ishak
Published: October 2020

Issues related to unethical behaviour is also evident in institutions of higher learning. This paper will discuss some of the factors that have been shown to have an influence on unethical behaviour in the specific context in higher learning institutions in Malaysia. Ethical leadership and ethical climate are identified to be the variables that might influence the intention to perform such behaviour. It then discusses the importance of ethical leadership and ethical climate in shaping the ethical conduct in higher learning institutions.
The MicroRNA-210/Casp8ap2 Pathway Alleviates Hypoxia-Induced Injury in Myocardial Cells by Regulating Apoptosis and Autophagy
Authors: Li Kunsheng , Pan Jun , Li Qiuchang , Li Shiliang , Li Kai , Cheng Yongqing , Chai Lin , Li Chao , Li Junling , Fu Zhikun , Wang Dongjin , Bai Yang
Published: October 2020

Aim: This study was conducted to investigate the role of the miR-210/Caspase8ap2 pathway in apoptosis and autophagy in hypoxic myocardial cells.
Methods: The miR-control, miR-210 mimic, and miR-210 inhibitor were transfected into rat myocardial H9C2 cells. The transfection efficiency of exogenous miR-210 was determined by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). H9C2 cells were then treated with CoCl2 for 24, 48, and 72 h to generate a myocardial injury model. The apoptosis of H9C2 cells was assessed by flow cytometry. Additionally, a western blot assay was used to determine the expression of the autophagy-associated proteins light chain 3 (LC3), p62 and Beclin-1, and apoptosis-associated proteins Caspase8ap2, cleaved caspase 8, and cleaved caspase 3.
Results: We determined that a 48 h hypoxia treatment duration in H9C2 cardiomyocytes induced myocardial injury. Additionally, the overexpression of miR-210 significantly inhibited cell apoptosis. MiR-210 suppressed autophagy by upregulating p62 and downregulating LC3II/I in hypoxic H9C2 cells. Caspase8ap2 was a putative target of miR-210, miR-210 mediated apoptosis, and autophagy of H9C2 cells via suppressing Caspase8ap2. Furthermore, the expression of caspase 8, caspase 3, and Beclin-1 were decreased in response to miR-210.
Conclusion: miR-210 exhibits anti-apoptosis and anti-autophagy effects, which alleviate myocardial injury in response to hypoxia.
Inferring the Allelic Series at QTL in Multiparental Populations
Authors: Crouse Wesley L , Kelada Samir N P , Valdar William
Published: October 2020

Multiparent populations are experimental populations generated by breeding together a genetically diverse set of inbred founder strains to produce individuals whose genomes are random mosaics of the founder haplotypes.....
Entre el sueño de construir un hogar y las pesadillas previas a la casa propia: Nuestra ciudad y su exclusión social
Authors: Masís Morales Adriana
Published: October 2020

One of the greatest material aspirations of the human being is to take emotional and legal ownership of a decent space in which to live.  However, not only is there a broad network of difficulties to face before becoming the creditor of said asset, but also a vast number of urban issues that directly affect the experience of home-living because the city is the context and main connection that reinforces the relationship between the human being and his home.Current problems encompassing territory management require to go much further from the historiographical discourse on cities, the study of the real estate market and the creation of laws that guarantee rights, which in practice do not seem to be so rigorously protected.  The present research points out the main forms of social exclusion faced in Costa Rica when defending the right to housing and seeking to build citizenship.  As a result of this analysis, a discussion agenda proposal arises, where the urgent issues to be addressed are pointed out in order to provide comprehensive solutions that really appeal to coexistence and the dynamization of the city, which, in conclusion, translates into a higher quality of life.