bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of a coordinated strategy for containment of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria carriage in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in the context of an active surveillance program
Authors: Saporito Laura , Graziano Giorgio , Mescolo Federica , Amodio Emanuele , Insinga Vincenzo , Rinaudo Grazia , Aleo Aurora , Bonura Celestino , Vitaliti Marcello , Corsello Giovanni , Vitale Francesco , Maida Carmelo Massimo , Giuffrè Mario
Published: January 2021

Background: Antimicrobial resistance in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) patients is a threat, due to the frequent use of antimicrobial treatment and invasive devices in fragile babies.Since 2014 an active surveillance program of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (MDR-GNB) carriage has been in place in the five NICUs of Palermo, Italy. In 2017 an increase in the prevalence of MDR-GNB, and in particular of extended-spectrum β-lactamases-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (ESBL-KP), was observed in “Civico” hospital NICU. Aim: To assess the impact of a coordinated intervention strategy in achieving long-lasting reduction of MDR-GNB prevalence in the NICU.Methods: Rectal swabs were obtained monthly and processed to detect MDR-GNB using standard methods. MDR-GNB were characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Since November 2017 the following intervention measures were applied: a) two-months intensification of sample collection; b) stakeholders meetings; c) improvement of prevention measures and antimicrobial policies. Findings: During the intensified microbiological surveillance MDR-GNB and ESBL-KP were detected in rectal swabs (34.8%; 23.2%), nasal swabs (24.6%; 14.5%), oral swabs (14.5%; 5.4%), milk samples (32.1%; 17.9%), pacifiers swabs (30.8%; 17.9%) and from sub-intensive room surfaces. Thirteen ESBL-KP strains isolated from clinical and environmental samples showed identical PFGE patterns. The prevalence of MDR-GNB and ESBL-KP carriage significantly decreased in the year after intervention compared to the previous year (20.6% vs 62.2 %; p<0.001 and 11.1% vs 57.8%; p<0.001). MDR-GNB were not detected at all for three months and ESBL-KP for five months. Multivariate analysis of the principal exposure variables showed that admission in the post-intervention period significantly reduced the risk of MDR-GNB carriage (adj-OR=0.21, 95% CI=0.076-0.629; p<0.001). Conclusions: MDR-GNB broadly circulate in NICU setting, they can colonize different body sites and spread through various vehicles. A coordinated strategy of multiple interventions with active cooperation between epidemiologists and clinicians in the NICU can effectively reduce their circulation and in particular the carriage of the most dangerous ESBL-KP strains.
Performance of Model-Based Multifactor Dimensionality Reduction Methods for Epistasis Detection by Controlling Population Structure
Authors: Abegaz Fentaw , Lishout Francois van , John Jestinah M. Mahachie , Chiachoompu Kridsadakorn , Bhjardwa Archana , Duroux Diane , Gusareva Elena S. , Wei Zhi , Hakonarson Hakon , Steen Kristel Van
Published: January 2021

Background: In genome-wide association studies the extent and impact of confounding due to population structure have been well recognized. Inadequate handling of such confounding is likely to lead to spurious associations, hampering replication, and the identification of causal variants. Several strategies have been developed for protecting associations against confounding, the most popular one is based on Principal Component Analysis. In contrast, the extent and impact of confounding due to population structure in gene-gene interaction association epistasis studies are much less investigated and understood. In particular, the role of nonlinear genetic population substructure in epistasis detection is largely under-investigated, especially outside a regression framework. Methods: To identify causal variants in synergy, to improve interpretability and replicability of epistasis results, we introduce three strategies based on a model-based multifactor dimensionality reduction approach for structured populations, namely MBMDR-PC, MBMDR-PG, and MBMDR-GC. Results: Simulation results comparing the performance of various approaches show that in the presence of population structure MBMDR-PC and MBMDR-PG consistently better control type I error rate at the nominal level than MBMDR-GC. Moreover, our proposed three methods of population structure correction outperform MDR-SP in terms of statistical power.Conclusion: We demonstrate through extensive simulation studies the effect of various degrees of genetic population structure and relatedness on epistasis detection and propose appropriate remedial measures based on linear and nonlinear sample genetic similarity.
Postnatal growth of preterm infants during the first two years of life: catch-up growth accompanied by risk of overweight
Authors: Han Junyan , Jiang Yuan , Huang Jun , Zhang Yue , Zhang Ying , Zhang Yi , Chen Xiaotian , Li Yun , Yan Weili
Published: January 2021

Background: Early postanal growth of preterm infants has many effects on early and late health. However, evidence on growth pattern in Chinese preterm infant population during early life is insufficient. This study aims to describe the growth trajectory, catch-up growth, and risk of overweight of preterm infants during the first two years of life in a Chinese community population. Methods: All preterm infants (n=10624) received routine childcare in one primary maternal and child healthcare network in eight years were included. Body weight and length/height at corrected age (CA) 40 weeks, CA 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 18 months, and 24 months were extracted and converted to z-scores based on the World Health Organization (WHO) standards. According to the intrauterine growth status, infants were divided into small for gestational age (SGA), appropriate for gestational age (AGA), and large for gestational age (LGA) infants. Changes of z-score were used to describe the growth velocity. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) model was used to analyze growth trajectory trends over time. Results: Body weight and length/height were overall above the WHO standards during the first two years of life. Z-score increased significantly by 0.08 (95% CI: 0.06-0.10) in weight and 0.07 (95% CI: 0.04-0.09) in length/height from CA 40 weeks to 3 months and then levelled off until CA 24 months after adjustment. Almost 90% of AGA and LGA infants achieved growth targets (≥25th percentile of WHO standards), and over 85% of SGA infants achieved catch-up growth (≥10th percentile of WHO standards) before CA 24 months. However, the risk of overweight appeared during this period, with the proportion of infants with the risk of overweight being at the peak at CA 3 months (25.6% of all preterm infants and 39.4% of LGA infants). Growth trajectories of SGA showed increasing trends, but those of LGA showed decreasing trends during the first two years.Conclusions: Body weight and length/height of preterm infants are above the WHO standards in the Chinese community population during the first two years of life. Catch-up growth is accompanied by risk of overweight as early as CA 3 months.
Physiological and transcriptional response to drought stress among bioenergy grass Miscanthus species
Authors: De Vega Jose J. , Teshome Abel , Klaas Manfred , Grant Jim , Finnan John , Barth Susanne
Published: January 2021

Background: Miscanthus is a commercial lignocellulosic biomass crop owing to its high biomass productivity, resilience and photosynthetic capacity at low temperature. These qualities make Miscanthus a particularly good candidate for temperate marginal land, where yields can be limited by insufficient or excessive water supply. Differences in response to water stress have been observed among Miscanthus species, which correlated to origin. In this study, we compared the physiological and molecular responses among Miscanthus species under excessive (flooded) and insufficient (drought) water supply in glasshouse conditions. Results: A significant biomass loss was observed under drought conditions in all genotypes. M. x giganteus showed a lower reduction in biomass yield under drought conditions compared to the control than the other species. Under flooded conditions, biomass yield was as good as or better than control conditions in all species. 4,389 of the 67,789 genes (6.4%) in the reference genome were differentially expressed during drought among four Miscanthus genotypes from different species. We observed the same biological processes were regulated across Miscanthus species during drought stress despite the DEGs were not similar. Upregulated differentially expressed genes were significantly involved in sucrose and starch metabolism, redox, and water and glycerol homeostasis and channel activity. Multiple copies of the starch metabolic enzymes BAM and waxy GBSS-I were strongly up-regulated in drought stress in all Miscanthus genotypes, and twelve aquaporins (PIP1, PIP2 and NIP2) were also up-regulated in drought stress across genotypes. Conclusions: Different phenotypic responses were observed during drought stress among Miscanthus genotypes from different species, supporting differences in genetic adaption. The low number of DEGs and higher biomass yield in flooded conditions supported Miscanthus use in flooded land. The molecular processes regulated during drought were shared among Miscanthus species and consistent with functional categories known to be critical during drought stress in model organisms. However, differences in the regulated genes, likely associated with ploidy and heterosis, highlighted the value of exploring its diversity for breeding.
Pore texture analysis in automated 3D breast ultrasound images for implanted lightweight hernia mesh identification: a preliminary study
Authors: Yang Jiting , Li Haiyan , Wu Jun , Sun Liang , Xu Dan , Wang Yuanyuan , Zhang Yufeng , Chen Yue , Chen Lin
Published: January 2021

Background

Precise visualization of meshes and their position would greatly aid in mesh shrinkage evaluation, hernia recurrence risk assessment, and the preoperative planning of salvage repair. Lightweight (LW) meshes are able to preserve abdominal wall compliance by generating less post-implant fibrosis and rigidity. However, conventional 3D imaging techniques such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) cannot visualize the LW meshes. Patients sometimes have to undergo a second-look operation for visualizing the mesh implants. The goal of this work is to investigate the potential advantages of Automated 3D breast ultrasound (ABUS) pore texture analysis for implanted LW hernia mesh identification.

Methods

In vitro, the appearances of four different flat meshes in both ABUS and 2D hand-held ultrasound (HHUS) images were evaluated and compared. In vivo, pore texture patterns of 87 hernia regions were analyzed both in ABUS images and their corresponding HHUS images.

Results

In vitro studies, the imaging results of ABUS for implanted LW meshes are much more visualized and effective in comparison to HHUS. In vivo, the inter-class distance of 40 texture features was calculated. The texture features of 2D sectional plans (axial and sagittal plane) have no significant contribution to implanted LW mesh identification. Significant contribution was observed in coronal plane. However, since the mesh may have spatial variation such as shrinkage after implant surgery, the inter-class distance of 3D coronal plane pore texture features are bigger than 2D coronal plane, so the contribution of 3D coronal plane pore texture features are more valuable than 2D coronal plane for implanted LW mesh identification. The use of 3D pore texture features significantly improved the robustness of the identification method in distinguishing the LW mesh and fascia.

Conclusions

An innovative new automated 3D breast ultrasound (ABUS) provides additional pore texture visualization, by separating the LW mesh from the fascia tissues. Therefore, ABUS having the potential to provide more accurate features to characterize pore texture patterns, and ultimately provide more accurate measures for implanted LW mesh identification.
Rationale and Study Design of an Early Care, Therapeutic Education, and Psychological Intervention for the Management of Post-intensive Care Syndrome and Chronic Pain After Coronavirus Disease 2019 (PAIN-COVID): Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Ojeda Antonio , Calvo Andrea , Cuñat Tomas , Artigas Ricard Mellado , Comino-Trinidad Oscar , Aliaga Jorge , Arias Marilyn , Ahuir Maribel , Ferrando Carlos , Dürsteler Christian
Published: January 2021

Background: Critically ill patients with COVID-19 disease are an especially susceptible population to develop Post-intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) due to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Patients can suffer acute severe pain and may have long-term deterioration in mental, cognitive, and functional health after discharge. However, few controlled trials are evaluating interventions for the prevention and treatment of PICS. The study hypothesis is that a specific care program based on early therapeutic education and a psychological intervention improves the quality of life of patients at risk of developing PICS and chronic pain after COVID-19 disease. The primary objective is to determine if the program is superior to standard-of-care on health-related life quality at six months after hospital discharge. The secondary objectives are to determine if the intervention is superior to standard care, evaluating the health-related life quality, the incidence of chronic pain and the degree of functional limitation, the incidence of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress syndrome at 3 and 6 months after hospital discharge.Methods: The PAINCOVID trial is a unicentric randomized, controlled, patient blinded superiority trial with two parallel groups. The primary endpoint is the health-related quality of life at six months after hospital discharge, and randomization will be performed with a 1:1 allocation. This paper details the methodology and statistical analysis plan of the trial and was submitted before outcome data were available.The sample size calculated is 84 patients, 42 for each arm. Estimating a loss of follow up of 20%, a sample size of 102 patients is necessary (51 each group). Discussion: This is the first randomized clinical trial assessing the effectiveness of an early care therapeutic education, and psychological intervention for the management of PICS and Chronic Pain after COVID-19. The intervention will serve as a sample of the need to implement early care programs on early stages, having an incalculable impact given the current scenario of the pandemic.Trial registration: This study is being in accordance with the tenets of the Helsinki Declaration, and has been approved by the authors’ institutional review board Comité Ético de Investigación Clínica del Hospital Clinic de Barcelona (approval number: HCB/2020/0549) and was registered on May 9, 2020 at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04394169).
Immune infiltrating cells in cholangiocarcinoma may become clinical diagnostic markers: based on bioinformatics analysis.
Authors: Zhang yongwei , Chen Sihan , Li Jun , Dai Wei , Qian yeben
Published: January 2021

Background: intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is a malignant tumor originating from the secondary bile duct and its branch epithelium. Among primary liver tumors, the incidence of ICC is second only to hepatocellular carcinoma. tumor microenvironment can regulate the occurrence and development of tumors. This study is dedicated to finding more markers that can diagnose ICC by finding the differential tumor microenvironment cells between ICC and normal tissues. Methods: We wanted to study the infiltration of immune cells between the cholangiocarcinoma of the same patient and its paired non-tumor tissues, to explore the difference of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment and adjacent non-tumor tissues in the same organism. So, we searched the relevant data of patients with ICC from the GEO database and found that the GSE45001 data set meets our research needs. CIBERSORT database is used to calculate immune cell composition. Finally, perform visual analysis and data statistics to find out the differentially expressed immune cells. Results: we found that the expression levels of Dendritic cells activated, Macrophages M2 and T cells regulatory (Tregs) in ICC were higher than normal tissues and the expression levels of Macrophages M1, Monocytes and T cells follicular helper in ICC were lower than normal tissues. Conclusion: These 6 types of immune cells are expected to become molecular markers for clinical diagnosis of ICC.
Selecting an anti-malarial clinical candidate from two potent dihydroisoquinolones
Authors: Chen Yizhe , Zhu Fangyi , Hammill Jared , Holbrook Gloria , Yang Lei , Freeman Burgess , White Karen L , Shackleford David M , O’Loughlin Kathleen G , Tang Liang , Charman Susan A , Mirsalis Jon C , Guy R Kiplin
Published: January 2021

Background: The ongoing global malaria eradication campaign requires development of potent, safe, and cost-effective drugs lacking cross-resistance with existing chemotherapies. One critical step in drug development is selecting a suitable clinical candidate from late leads. Herein we present the process used to select the clinical candidate SJ733 from two potent dihydroisoquinolone (DHIQ) late leads, SJ733 and SJ311, based on their physicochemical, pharmacokinetic (PK), and toxicity profiles. Methods: The compounds were tested to define their physicochemical properties including kinetic and thermodynamic solubility, partition coefficient, permeability, ionization constant, and binding to plasma proteins. Metabolic stability was assessed in both microsomes and hepatocytes derived from mice, rats, dogs, and humans. Cytochrome P450 inhibition was assessed using recombinant human cytochrome enzymes. The pharmacokinetic profiles of single intravenous or oral doses were investigated in mice, rats, and dogs. Results: Although both compounds displayed similar physicochemical properties, SJ733 was more permeable but metabolically less stable than SJ311 in vitro. Single dose PK studies of SJ733 in mice, rats, and dogs demonstrated appreciable oral bioavailability (60-100%), whereas SJ311 had lower oral bioavailability (mice 23%, rats 40%) and higher renal clearance (10-30 fold higher than SJ733 in rats and dogs), suggesting less favorable exposure in humans. SJ311 also displayed a narrower range of dose-proportional exposure, with plasma exposure flattening at doses above 200 mg/kg. Conclusion: SJ733 was chosen as the candidate based on a more favorable dose proportionality of exposure and stronger expectation of the ability to justify a strong therapeutic index to regulators.
Just like fireworks in my brain – a Swedish interview study on experiences of emotions in female patients with eating disorders
Authors: Petersson Suzanne , Gullbing Lydia , Perseius Kent-Inge
Published: January 2021

Background: Patients with eating disorders have reported poorer emotional awareness, more emotional suppression, less use of adaptive emotional regulation strategies, and more use of maladaptive emotional regulation strategies compared to people in healthy control groups. Aim: To explore experiences of emotions by a transdiagnostic sample of patients with eating disorders. Method: Nine patients with different eating disorder diagnoses at an eating disorder outpatient clinic in Sweden were interviewed for their thoughts on emotions. The interviews were analyzed with Thematic Analysis. Result: Four themes were constructed: "Not knowing what one feels", "Switch off, run away, or hide behind a mask", "Emotions in a lifelong perspective", and "Using eating behaviours to regulate emotions". The patients described uncertainty regarding whether they experienced emotions correctly. They described how they tried to avoid difficult emotions through suppressive strategies and eating disorder behaviour. All described strategies were inefficient and all emotions were experienced as problematic, even joy. Since joy was used as a mask, the real experience of happiness was lost and mourned. Conclusion: All kinds of emotions were considered problematic to experience, but shame, fear, and sadness were considered worst. It is difficult to know if the emotional difficulties preceded an eating disorder, however such difficulties may have increased as a result of the eating disorder.
Sex and nest type influence avian blood parasite prevalence in a high elevation bird community
Authors: Rodriguez Marina D. , Doherty Paul F. , Piaggio Antoinette J. , Huyvaert Kathryn P.
Published: January 2021

Background - Prevalence of avian haemosporidian parasites and the factors influencing infection in the Colorado Rocky Mountains are largely unknown. With climate change expected to promote the expansion of vector and avian blood parasite distributions, baseline knowledge and continued monitoring of the prevalence and diversity of these parasites is needed. Methods - Using an occupancy modeling framework, we conducted a survey of haemosporidian parasite species infecting an avian community in the Colorado Rocky Mountains in order to estimate prevalence and diversity of blood parasites and to investigate species-level and individual-level characteristics that may influence infection. Results - We estimated prevalence and diversity of avian haemosporidia across 24 bird species, detecting 39 parasite haplotypes. We found that open cup nesters have higher Haemoproteus prevalence than cavity or ground nesters. Additionally, we found that male Ruby-crowned Kinglets, White-crowned Sparrows, and Wilson’s Warblers have higher Haemoproteus prevalence compared to other host species. Conclusions - Our study presents baseline knowledge of haemosporidian parasite presence, prevalence, and diversity among avian species in the Colorado Rocky Mountains and adds to our knowledge of host-parasite relationships of blood parasites and their avian hosts.
Working short and working long: can primary healthcare be protected as a public good in Lebanon today?
Authors: Hamadeh Randa Sami , Kdouh Ola Ali , Hammoud Rawan , Leresche Enrica , Leaning Jennifer
Published: January 2021

In this commentary we propose four questions to be addressed while building a meaningful public primary healthcare response in Lebanon today. These questions emerge from two imperatives: the necessity to consider both short- and longer-term struggles in a context of protracted conflict and the need to protect public health as a public good whilst the public Primary Healthcare Network (PHCN) is facing the Covid19 pandemic. In order to identify how these questions are related to the need to be working short and long, we look at the imprints left by past and present shocks. Profound shocks of the past include the Lebanese civil war and the Syrian refugee crisis. We analyse how these shocks have resulted in the PHCN developing resilience mechanisms in order to ensure a space for healthcare provision that stands public in Lebanon today. Then, we consider how two present shocks -- the economic breakdown and the blast of ammonium nitrate in Beirut port -- are affecting and threatening the progress made by the PHCN to ensure that primary healthcare remains a public good, a fragile space acquired with difficulty in the past half century. We identify what questions emerge from the combined consequences of such traumas, when the immediate constraints of the present meet the impediments of the past. We consider what such questions mean more broadly, for the people living in Lebanon today, and for the PHCN ability to respond to the Covid 19 pandemic in a relevant way. Our hypothesis is that in a protracted conflict, such as the one defining the circumstances of Lebanon now, public access to primary healthcare might persist for the people as one safeguard, in which social and moral continuity can be anchored to protect a sense of public good.
Predictors of maternal and neonatal complications in patients with severe valve heart disease during pregnancy: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Hammami Rania , Hadj Mohamed Ali Ibn , Mejdoub Yosra , Bahloul Amine , Charfeddine Selma , Abid Leila , Kammoun Samir , Dammak Abdallah , Chaabene Kais
Published: January 2021

Background: The severe valve disease especially stenosis is a contraindication to conception according to World Health Organization. This situation is still encountered in countries with a high rheumatic fever prevalence. The objective of this study is to determine the predictors of maternal cardiac, obstetric and neonatal complications.Methods: This is an observational study of all pregnant women with severe valvulopathy, delivered between 2010 and 2017.Results: We included 60 pregnancies in 54 women. Cardiac complications occurred in 37 patients (61%). In multivariate analysis, the predictors of these complications were parity (OR = 2.41, p = 0.023), revelation of valvulopathy by pregnancy (OR = 6.34, p = 0.025), severe mitral stenosis (OR= 6.84, p= 0.035) and systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (OR = 1.08, p= 0.01). Obstetrical complications were noted in 19 women (31.8%). The predictors of these complications were primiparity (OR = 5.22, p = 0.032), multiple valve disease (OR = 5.26, p = 0.028), systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (OR = 1.04, p = 0.04) and treatment with vitamin K antagonist (OR = 8.71, p = 0.04). Neonatal complications were noted in 39% of new-borns. The predictors of these complications were the occurrence of obstetric complications (OR = 15.48, p = 0.001) and the revelation of valvulopathy by pregnancy (OR = 6.95, p = 0.017).Conclusions: The revelation of valve disease by pregnancy is a predictor not only of cardiac complication but also of neonatal complications, thus valve disease screening during pre-conceptional counselling is so crucial.
Siirt İli Deprem Tehlike Analizi
Authors: DOĞRUYOL Murat
Published: January 2021

Siirt Güneydoğu Anadolu Bölgesinin önemli şehirlerinden biridir. Güneydoğu Anadolu ve çevresindeki diri faylar geçmişte ciddi depremler oluşturmuştur. Bu çalışmada Doğu Anadolu Fay Zonu (DAFZ) ve Güneydoğu Anadolu Bindirmesi (GAB)'ne bağlı diri fay hatlarının etkilediği bölgede yer alan Şehir merkezi 37.55 kuzey ve 41.56 doğu koordinatlarına sahip Siirt ili merkezinin 200 km yarıçapındaki dairesel alanı çalışma alanı olarak seçilmiştir. Gutenberg-Richter bağıntısı dikkate alınarak bölgenin deprem riski istatistiksel olarak ortaya konulmuştur. Boğaziçi Üniversitesi Kandilli Rasathanesi ve Deprem Araştırma Enstitüsü deprem kataloğundan Gutenberg-Richter bağıntısına en uygun olanı moment magnitüdü (Mw) seçilerek depremlerin aletsel olarak kaydedilmeye başlandığı 1900 yılından 2020 yılına kadar Mw ≥ 4 gerçekleşen deprem verileri kullanılmıştır. Çalışmada bölgenin magnitüd-frekans ilişkisi, sismik risk ve dönüş periyotları hesaplanmıştır. Buna göre R2 = 0.99, a sabiti 7.0994, b sabiti ise 1.0257 hesaplanmıştır. Yapılan deprem risk analizine göre bölgede 50 yıl içerisinde 6.0 ve 6.5 magnitüdde deprem görülme riski sırası ile %79 ve %38 olarak; tekrarlanma periyodları ise sırası ile 32 ile 105 yıl olarak hesaplanmıştır. Çalışmanın amacı Siirt ilindeki deprem gerçeğini hatırlatmak, mühendislik yapılarının yeri ve tasarımı yapılırken deprem gerçeğinin unutulmamasıdır.
Trafik Kaynaklı Ağır Metal Kirliliklerinin İzlenmesinde Zeytin Ağacının (Olea europaea L.) Biyomonitör Olarak Değerlendirilmesi: Artvin Örneği
Authors: KONANC Mustafa Umut
Published: January 2021

Bu çalışmada trafik yoğunluğundan kaynaklanan ağır metal konsantrasyonunun izlenmesinde zeytin ağacının (Olea eurpaea L.) biyomonitör olarak kullanılma potansiyeli araştırılmıştır. Bu amaçla Artvin ili kent merkezinde trafik yoğunluğunun farklı olduğu altı farklı istasyondan toplanan toprak, yaprak, meyve ve kabuk örneklerindeki % kükürt miktarı, elementel analiz cihazı ile Cr, Ti, Fe, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn, Pb ve Al içerikleri ise ICP-OES ile belirlenmiştir. Analiz ölçümlerinin doğruluğu toprak örnekleri için LGC 6187 ve bitki örnekleri için ERM-CD 281 standart referans madde kullanılarak test edilmiştir. Elde edilen ölçüm sonuçlarındaki farklılıklar ise ANOVA testi kullanılarak belirlenmiştir. Elde edilen sonuçlara göre; toprak, yaprak, meyve ve kabukta yüzdesel olarak en yüksek kükürt değeri trafik yoğunluğunun en fazla olduğu noktalarda tespit edilmiştir. Bitki ve toprak örneklerindeki Cr, Ti, Fe, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn, Pb ve Al elementleri için ağır metal konsantrasyonları yapılan diğer çalışmalar ve yönetmeliklerle karşılaştırılmış ve tüm metallerin sınır değeler içerisinde bulunduğu gözlenmiştir. Yapılan istatiksel çalışmalarda; noktalar arasında %95 güven düzeyinde anlamlı bir fark olduğu belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca trafiğin yoğun olduğu alanlardan uzaklaştıkça toprak, yaprak, meyve ve kabuğun metal konsantrasyonlarında azalma olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Bu durum zeytinin trafik kaynaklı kirliliğin belirlenmesinde biyomonitör olarak kullanılabileceğini göstermektedir.
Geometry on plane and optimal linear prognosis
Authors: Pavlov Andrei Valerianovich
Published: January 2021

In the article we consider a new scalar production in the linear subspace of
n vectors (by analogy with the geometry of Lobachevsky, all two vectors are
orthogonal as projections of the third vector). With help of the production we
obtain a new form of linear projection of the additional vector to the subspace.
The rapid algorithm of finding of optimum linear estimation of additional vector
on the known vectors ensues from the projection.
Um estudo dos dispositivos do apagamento indígena no Uruguai
Authors: Galan de Paula Camila
Published: January 2021

Resenha de REPETTO, Francesca. Uma arqueologia do apagamento: narrativas de desaparecimento Charrúa no Uruguai. São Paulo: Hucitec: ANPOCS, 2019
O seleto clube da humanidade e algumas ideias para adiar o fim do mundo
Authors: Dalfré Liz , Prodócimo Mikael
Published: January 2021

Resenha da obra: KRENAK, Ailton. 2019. Ideias para adiar o fim do mundo. São Paulo: Companhia das Letras.
Memórias da plantação: episódios de racismo cotidiano: resenha
Authors: Raposo Patricia Lorena , Souza Maciana de Freitas e
Published: January 2021

The present work is a review of the book “Plantation memories: episodes of daily racism” by Grada Kilomba. Throughout the text, elements of colonialism and the overlapping of knowledge and language, fields of dispute for colonial action, are presented. The work also presents considerations about the importance of the daily anti-racist struggle.
Planos Plurianuais Estaduais (2016-2019).Uma proposta de avaliação de sua adequação ao planejamento estratégico
Authors: Bachiller Juan Vicente
Published: January 2021

O presente artigo busca elaborar um diagnóstico da implantação do planejamento estratégiconos governos estaduais. Para isso, centra-se na análise dos Planos Plurianuais (PPAs) dos estados,durante o período de 2016-2019, elaborando um índice para medir o grau em que esses planosatingem as pautas necessárias para auxiliar o ciclo de gestão. O objetivo é analisar a adequaçãodos PPAs estaduais aos atributos do planejamento estratégico, descrevendo em que medida sãoum simples documento formal para cumprir o procedimento legal, ou se, de fato, trata-se deferramentas que possam auxiliar em uma gestão pública focada na provisão eficaz e eficiente de bense serviços públicos. Para isso, são avaliadas as dimensões estratégica, operativa, programática ede integração orçamentária, estabelecendo indicadores para comparar o grau de evolução dessatécnica de administração. Os resultados mostram um insuficiente desenvolvimento do planejamentoestratégico, sendo que os PPAs, em sua maioria, têm sido concebidos como orçamentos para umperíodo de quatro anos, e não como uma ferramenta de gestão.
Avaliação de desempenho de docentes em estágio probatório:
Authors: De Souza Rafaella Braga , Barbosa Milka Alves Correia , Cassundé Fernanda Roda de Souza Araújo , Loreto Myrna Suely Silva
Published: January 2021

Esta pesquisa investigou a contribuição do sistema de avaliação especial de desempenho docenteadotado pelo Instituto Federal do Sertão Pernambucano para o desenvolvimento profissionaldos seus professores e das práticas e políticas de gestão de pessoas da instituição. Os dadosdemonstraram que o sistema se encontra obsoleto e não atende a diretrizes teóricas e metodológicaspara a sua efetividade. A análise revelou que não existe alinhamento entre as atividades do planode capacitação anual e os resultados das avaliações, e que inexistem práticas que incentivem autilização de políticas relacionadas ao feedback da avaliação, demonstrando que ela possui poucoou nenhum reflexo em outras práticas de gestão de pessoas. Sem o intuito de esgotar as reflexõesrelacionadas ao tema, este trabalho revalida a importância das pessoas que compõem o corpofuncional das Ifes, evidenciando a necessidade da promoção de seu desenvolvimento profissionale do papel da área de gestão neste processo.
Editorial
Authors: Coutinho Diana , Shikida Cláudio Djissey
Published: January 2021

A equipe editorial da Revista do Serviço Público (RSP) apresenta ao leitor o quartonúmero de seu septuagésimo primeiro volume, encerrando o ciclo de publicações da RSPneste atípico ano de 2020.
Governança judicial: uma análise dos desafios para a prestação do serviço jurisdicional
Authors: Silveira Raquel Maria da Costa , Clementino Maria do Livramento Miranda , Almeida Lindijane de Souza Bento
Published: January 2021

As dificuldades enfrentadas pelo cidadão no acesso à justiça são multifacetadas, superando a perspectiva estritamente jurídica. Nesse sentido, o estudo da prestação jurisdicional efetiva deve revestir-se de uma abordagem multidisciplinar. Partindo dos pressupostos que embasam as teorias da agência e dos custos de transação, Akutsu e Guimarães (2015) destacaram a necessidade da realização de estudos que analisem a governança judicial a partir da accountability, da acessibilidade, da independência, dos recursos e estrutura, das práticas de governança, e do ambiente institucional e desempenho. Considerando as categorias elencadas por esse modelo teórico-metodológico, realizou-se estudo que objetivou investigar a governança judicial a partir de pesquisa realizada na Justiça Federal, no Tribunal Regional Eleitoral e no Tribunal Regional do Trabalho do Rio Grande do Norte. Para tanto, foram aplicados questionários com servidores públicos dessas instituições, os quais atribuíram pontuações aos itens que compõem a governança judicial, conforme Akutsu e Guimarães (2015). Ao final, foi possível estudar o nível de governança e analisar os desafios presentes na prestação do serviço jurisdicional. Concluiu-se que os tribunais pesquisados ainda enfrentam desafios diversos no que tange à construção da governança. Os aspectos mais frequentes foram o acesso à justiça e o ambiente institucional.
Governança do setor espacial brasileiro: a AEB no exercício do centro estratégico do Sindae
Authors: Vellasco Fabiany Maria Made e , Nascimento Henrique Fernandes
Published: January 2021

O objetivo principal deste artigo foi analisar, à luz da teoria institucionalista, o arranjo institucional do Programa Nacional de Atividades Espaciais (Pnae), no período de 1996 a 2018, examinando o papel da Agência Espacial Brasileira (AEB) enquanto centro estratégico do Sistema Nacional de Desenvolvimento das Atividades Espaciais (Sindae). Para desenvolver a pesquisa, optou-se pela abordagem de estudo de caso, com a triangulação de diferentes fontes de dados, tais como: leis e normas gerais; publicações acadêmicas e técnicas; e entrevistas formais. Os principais resultados encontrados apontam para: uma concentração de poder nos institutos de pesquisa; uma inversão de papéis entre institutos de pesquisa e empresas dentro do Pnae; e a necessidade de fortalecer o papel da AEB como centro estratégico do Sindae. O centro estratégico de governança do Sindae tem papel fundamental na promoção de incentivos para a participação dos diferentes atores que o compõem. Assim, é preciso que a AEB coordene os esforços entre organizações para propiciar a adequada atuação de cada uma delas e uma implementação bem-sucedida do Pnae.
Serious Games for Improving Technical Skills in Medicine: Scoping Review
Authors: Olgers Tycho Joan , bij de Weg Anne Akke , ter Maaten Jan Cornelis
Published: January 2021

Background

Serious games are being used to train specific technical skills in medicine, and most research has been done for surgical skills. It is not known if these games improve technical skills in real life as most games have not been completely validated.

Objective

This scoping review aimed to evaluate the current use of serious games for improving technical skills in medicine and to determine their current validation state using a validation framework specifically designed for serious games.

Methods

We used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. A multidatabase search strategy was adopted, after which a total of 17 publications were included in this review.

Results

These 17 publications described five different serious games for improving technical skills. We discuss these games in detail and report about their current validation status. Only one game was almost fully validated. We also discuss the different frameworks that can be used for validation of serious games.

Conclusions

Serious games are not extensively used for improving technical skills in medicine, although they may represent an attractive alternative way of learning. The validation of these games is mostly incomplete. Additionally, several frameworks for validation exist, but it is unknown which one is the best. This review may assist game developers or educators in validating serious games.
One Digital Health: A Unified Framework for Future Health Ecosystems (Preprint)
Authors: Benis Arriel , Tamburis Oscar , Chronaki Catherine , Moen Anne
Published: January 2021

UNSTRUCTURED

One Digital Health is a proposed unified structure. The conceptual framework of the One Digital Health Steering Wheel is built around two keys (ie, One Health and digital health), three perspectives (ie, individual health and well-being, population and society, and ecosystem), and five dimensions (ie, citizens’ engagement, education, environment, human and veterinary health care, and Healthcare Industry 4.0). One Digital Health aims to digitally transform future health ecosystems, by implementing a systemic health and life sciences approach that takes into account broad digital technology perspectives on human health, animal health, and the management of the surrounding environment. This approach allows for the examination of how future generations of health informaticians can address the intrinsic complexity of novel health and care scenarios in digitally transformed health ecosystems. In the emerging hybrid landscape, citizens and their health data have been called to play a central role in the management of individual-level and population-level perspective data. The main challenges of One Digital Health include facilitating and improving interactions between One Health and digital health communities, to allow for efficient interactions and the delivery of near–real-time, data-driven contributions in systems medicine and systems ecology. However, digital health literacy; the capacity to understand and engage in health prevention activities; self-management; and collaboration in the prevention, control, and alleviation of potential problems are necessary in systemic, ecosystem-driven public health and data science research. Therefore, people in a healthy One Digital Health ecosystem must use an active and forceful approach to prevent and manage health crises and disasters, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Use of Head-Worn Displays for Vital Sign Monitoring in Critical and Acute Care: Systematic Review (Preprint)
Authors: Elrose Francine , Hill Andrew , Liu David , Salisbury Isaac , LeCong Thien , Loeb Robert G , Sanderson Penelope
Published: January 2021

BACKGROUND

Continuous monitoring of patient vital signs may improve patient outcomes. Head-worn displays (HWDs) can provide hands-free access to continuous vital sign information of patients in critical and acute care contexts and thus may reduce instances of unrecognized patient deterioration.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of the study is to conduct a systematic review of the literature to evaluate clinical, surrogate, and process outcomes when clinicians use HWDs for continuous patient vital sign monitoring.

METHODS

The review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42019119875) and followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) guidelines. A literature search was conducted for articles published between January 1995 and June 2020 using the following databases: PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Web of Science. Overall, 2 reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts and then assessed the full text of the articles. Original research articles that evaluated the clinical, surrogate, or process outcomes of head-mounted displays for continuous vital sign monitoring in critical care or acute care contexts were included.

RESULTS

Of the 214 records obtained, 15 (7%) articles met the predefined criteria and were included in this review. Of the 15 studies, 7 (47%) took place in a clinical context, whereas the remainder took place in a simulation environment. In 100% (7/7) of the studies that evaluated gaze behavior, changes were found in gaze direction with HWDs. Change detection improvements were found in 67% (2/3) of the studies evaluating changes in the participants’ ability to detect changes in vital signs. Of the 10 studies assessing the ease of use of the HWD, most participants of 7 (70%) studies reported that the HWD was easy to use. In all 6 studies in which participants were asked if they would consider using the HWD in their practice, most participants responded positively, but they often suggested improvements on the HWD hardware or display design. Of the 7 studies conducted in clinical contexts, none reported any clinical outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Although there is limited and sometimes conflicting evidence about the benefits of HWDs from certain surrogate and process outcomes, evidence for clinical outcomes is lacking. Recommendations are to employ user-centered design when developing HWDs, perform longitudinal studies, and seek clinical outcomes.

CLINICALTRIAL

PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews CRD42019119875; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=119875
Infant Safe Sleep Practices as Portrayed on Instagram: Observational Study (Preprint)
Authors: Chin Samuel , Carlin Rebecca , Mathews Anita , Moon Rachel
Published: January 2021

BACKGROUND

Parenting practices are highly influenced by perceived social norms. Social norms and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines for infant safe sleep practices are often inconsistent. Instagram has become one of the most popular social media websites among young adults (including many expectant and new parents). We hypothesized that the majority of Instagram images of infant sleep and sleep environments are inconsistent with AAP guidelines, and that the number of “likes” for each image would not correlate with adherence of the image to these guidelines.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to determine the extent of adherence of Instagram images of infant sleep and sleep environments to safe infant sleep guidelines.

METHODS

We searched Instagram using hashtags that were relevant to infant sleeping practices and environments. We then used an open-source web scraper to collect images and the number of “likes” for each image from 27 hashtags. Images were analyzed for adherence to AAP safe sleep guidelines.

RESULTS

A total of 1563 images (1134 of sleeping infant; 429 of infant sleep environment without sleeping infant) met inclusion criteria and were analyzed. Only 117 (7.49%) of the 1563 images were consistent with AAP guidelines. The most common reasons for inconsistency with AAP guidelines were presence of bedding (1173/1563, 75.05%) and nonrecommended sleep position (479/1134, 42.24%). The number of “likes” was not correlated with adherence of the image to AAP guidelines.

CONCLUSIONS

Although individuals who use Instagram and post pictures of sleeping infants or infant sleep environments may not actually use these practices regularly, the consistent portrayal of images inconsistent with AAP guidelines reinforces that these practices are normative and may influence the practice of young parents.
Brain Mechanisms of Virtual Reality Breathing Versus Traditional Mindful Breathing in Pain Modulation: Observational Functional Near-infrared Spectroscopy Study (Preprint)
Authors: Hu Xiao-Su , Beard Katherine , Sherbel Mary Catherine , Nascimento Thiago D , Petty Sean , Pantzlaff Eddie , Schwitzer David , Kaciroti Niko , Maslowski Eric , Ashman Lawrence M , Feinberg Stephen E , DaSilva Alexandre F
Published: January 2021

BACKGROUND

Pain is a complex experience that involves sensory-discriminative and cognitive-emotional neuronal processes. It has long been known across cultures that pain can be relieved by mindful breathing (MB). There is a common assumption that MB exerts its analgesic effect through interoception. Interoception refers to consciously refocusing the mind’s attention to the physical sensation of internal organ function.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we dissect the cortical analgesic processes by imaging the brains of healthy subjects exposed to traditional MB (TMB) and compare them with another group for which we augmented MB to an outside sensory experience via virtual reality breathing (VRB).

METHODS

The VRB protocol involved in-house–developed virtual reality 3D lungs that synchronized with the participants’ breathing cycles in real time, providing them with an immersive visual-auditory exteroception of their breathing.

RESULTS

We found that both breathing interventions led to a significant increase in pain thresholds after week-long practices, as measured by a thermal quantitative sensory test. However, the underlying analgesic brain mechanisms were opposite, as revealed by functional near-infrared spectroscopy data. In the TMB practice, the anterior prefrontal cortex uniquely modulated the premotor cortex. This increased its functional connection with the primary somatosensory cortex (S1), thereby facilitating the S1-based sensory-interoceptive processing of breathing but inhibiting its other role in sensory-discriminative pain processing. In contrast, virtual reality induced an immersive 3D exteroception with augmented visual-auditory cortical activations, which diminished the functional connection with the S1 and consequently weakened the pain processing function of the S1.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, our study suggested two analgesic neuromechanisms of VRB and TMB practices—exteroception and interoception—that distinctively modulated the S1 processing of the ascending noxious inputs. This is in line with the concept of dualism (Yin and Yang).