bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The value of the patient and public contribution to cancer research UK’s review of covid-19 impact on its clinical research portfolio
Authors: Croudass Anne , Stephens Richard
Published: June 2021

Background

In July 2020 Cancer Research UK undertook a rapid review of the studies in its clinical research portfolio to assess the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The review examined over 160 research studies funded by the charity, and in keeping with its usual practice, the charity involved patient/public contributors in the review process.

Main body

Cancer Research UK (CRUK) spends over £450 million pa on research, including clinical trials, tissue collections, laboratory science and biomarker studies. It has involved patient/public contributors in clinical research funding decisions for ten years, recruiting volunteers from the National Cancer Research Institute’s (NCRI) Consumer Forum. The NCRI is a partnership of funders, including the 4 UK governments and major charities such as CRUK. Its Consumer Forum is a group of volunteers with personal experience of cancer as patients or carers, who are trained for and experienced in working on national strategic bodies as well as on individual research studies.

The CRUK whole-portfolio review was held over a two-week period in a series of online meetings. A pair from the team of patient/public contributors was included in each meeting, and they made comments on every application reviewed as well as participating in reaching decisions.

Conclusions

The process not only demonstrated CRUK’s continued commitment to involving patient/public contributors in their funding decisions, but also provided an opportunity for these contributors to take a holistic view of processes to inform future patient/public contribution in the charity’s work, as well as to influence the decisions about the individual studies being reviewed.
Endovascular revascularization of heavily calcified occlusion in superior mesenteric artery using Transcollateral approach
Authors: Horie Kazunori , Tanaka Akiko , Tada Norio
Published: June 2021

Background

Mesenteric ischaemia is often a manifestation of severe vascular disease involving the superior mesenteric artery (SMA). Endovascular revascularization is challenging in a chronic total occlusion (CTO) of SMA.

Case presentation

A-73-year-old male patient was referred to our hospital because of a 2-year history of post prandial abdominal angina. Computed tomography (CT) images revealed a heavily calcified CTO in the ostium of SMA and three-dimensional CT (3D-CT) detected pancreaticoduodenal arcade with filling from the celiac artery. Then, endovascular procedure was attempted; however, angiography did not show the collateral route suitable for transcollateral approach. As demonstrated on the CT, we were successful in passing a guidewire through the SMA-CTO via the celiac trunk transcollateral route. After pull-through of the guidewire, two balloon-expandable stents were deployed in the ostium of SMA. During 3 months after stent implantation, the patient had no further episodes of abdominal angina on dual-anti-platelet therapy.

Conclusion

We demonstrate a case of a heavily calcified SMA occlusion successfully treated with endovascular stenting employing a transcollateral approach, guided by 3D-CT.
Predictors of cannabis and tobacco co-use in youth: exploring the mediating role of age at first use in the population assessment of tobacco health (PATH) study
Authors: Smith Crystal Lederhos , Cooper Brittany Rhoades , Miguel Andre , Hill Laura , Roll John , McPherson Sterling
Published: June 2021

Background

Adolescents often use substances such as tobacco and cannabis. Co-use of these substances can lead to physical, mental, and psychosocial difficulties beyond that which would be anticipated by simple additivity of their individual effects.

Methods

We aimed to examine the mediating role of age at first use of cannabis or tobacco (AU) between youth factors of internalizing, externalizing, and sensation seeking and two co-use outcomes (lifetime; last 30 days). Path analytic modeling using data from youth age 12–17 who had tried cannabis or tobacco at least once in their lives and participated in the Population Assessment of Tobacco Health (PATH) waves one and two (collected 2013–2015; n=3,847; approximately 46% female) study allowed us to examine these relationships.

Results

The lifetime use model indicated significant direct (internalizing (B = 0.18), externalizing (B = 0.30), sensation seeking (B = 0.15)) and indirect relationships (internalizing (B = 0.18), externalizing (B = 0.33), sensation seeking (B = 0.10)) between each of the three youth factors, the mediator (AU) and the lifetime co-use outcome (p < 0.05 for all). A direct relationship between AU and lifetime co-use was also observed (B = − 1.54). In the past 30-day use model, significant direct paths from AU (B = − 0.49) and sensation seeking (B = 0.06) to past 30-day use were present (p < 0.05 for all).

Discussion

Examination of mediation by AU in the relationships between youth factors and youth co-use of cannabis and tobacco is an important step in understanding these complex relationships. This study is strengthened by the use of a large, nationally representative sample, yet is limited by several factors, such as the use of a secondary dataset and the use of youth self-report.

Conclusions

Based on the findings, programs or interventions targeting youth factors of internalizing, externalizing, and sensation seeking as well as interventions aiming to stave off AU should promote decreased tobacco and cannabis co-use. Sensation seeking and AU appear to be the most influential factors and should be considered when developing and promoting prevention policies/programs for higher risk youth populations.
Use of termitarium soil as a viable source for biofertilizer and biocontrol
Authors: Adebajo Seun Owolabi , Akintokun Pius Olugbenga , Ezaka Emmanuel , Ojo Abidemi Esther , Olannye Donald Uzowulu , Ayodeji Oluwaseun Deborah
Published: June 2021

Background

Environmental deterioration arising from the misuse of pesticides and chemical fertilizers in agriculture has resulted in the pursuit of eco-friendly means of growing crop. Evidence has shown that biofertilizers and biocontrol can boost soil fertility and suppress soil pathogens without compromising the safety of the environment. Hence, the study investigated the use of termitarium soil as a viable source for biofertilizer and biocontrol.

Results

Twenty-seven soil samples were collected from nine different mound soil (household, farm and water bodies in a sterile sample bag). Aliquots of serially diluted samples were plated on nutrient agar, plate count agar, eosin methylene blue agar and MacConkey agar plates. Isolates were identified using standard microbiological techniques. Identified isolates were screened for plant growth-promoting properties using phosphate solubilization test, potassium solubilization test and indole acetic acid production test. Activities of the plant growth-promoting bacteria were carried out using antagonism by diffusible substance method and antagonistic activity of cell-free culture filtrate of bacterial isolates against Ralstonia solanacearum and Fusarium oxysporum. Two hundred bacterial isolates were recovered from the 27 soil samples. The most predominant isolate was Bacillus spp. Out of the 200 bacterial isolates, 57 were positive for phosphate solubilization test, potassium solubilization test and indole acetic acid production test. Out of the 57 isolates, six bacterial isolates had antagonistic activities against Fusarium oxysporum, while seven bacterial isolates antagonized Ralstonia solanacearum.

Conclusion

The result showed that termite mound soil contains some useful bacteria that are capable of solubilizing phosphate and potassium and producing indole acetic acid which are the plant growth-promoting potentials and as well suppressing plant soil pathogen.
Impact of sustained remission on quality of life among women with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus: a prospective observational study
Authors: Elnady Basant , Taha Azza , Desouky Dalia E. , Abd-Elmakoud Shorouk F. , Rageh Elsayed M. , Algethami Abdulmajeed M. , Algethami Mohamed , ten Klooster Peter M. , Rasker Johannes J.
Published: June 2021

Background

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) as a patient reported outcome plays important roles in the life of patients with RA (rheumatoid arthritis) and SLE (Systemic lupus erythematosus) as well as their families. Evaluating the impact of sustained remission on HRQOL is important and could be of potential help in daily practice. Thus, we aimed to assess and compare prospectively the impact of sustained remission on HRQOL in Saudi RA and SLE female cohorts.

Results

Sixty-two female patients with active RA and 34 female patients with active SLE fulfilled the inclusion-, entry- and follow-up criteria. At baseline, the SLE patients had significantly better SF-36 scores than the RA patients. In both groups, significant correlations were found between disease activity and physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) components summary of the SF-36 (all p’s ≤ 0.001). In sustained remission, both SLE and RA patients showed significant improvements of the SF-36 scores (p < 0.001) compared to baseline. RA patients in sustained remission had a significantly better general health, bodily pain and physical functioning, and total PCS scores (p < 0.001) than those with SLE.

Conclusions

Both SLE and RA patients in sustained remission showed strongly improved HRQOL. In sustained remission, RA patients had comparable or better HRQOL than SLE patients.
CO2 messes with rock physics
Authors: Prasad Manika , Glubokovskikh Stanislav , Daley Thomas , Oduwole Similoluwa , Harbert William
Published: June 2021

Seismic techniques are the main monitoring tools for CO2 storage projects, especially in saline aquifers with good porosity. The majority of existing commercial and pilot CO2 injections have resulted in clear time-lapse seismic anomalies that can be used for leakage detection as well as refinement of the reservoir models to conform with the monitoring observations. Both tasks are legal requirements imposed on site operators. This paper revisits the rock-physics effects that may play an important role in the quantitative interpretation of seismic data. First, we briefly describe a standard approach to the rock-physics modeling of CO2 injections: Gassmann-type fluid substitution accounts for the presence of compressible CO2 in the pore space, and dissolution/precipitation of the minerals changes the pore volume. For many geologic conditions and injection scenarios, this approach is inadequate. For example, dissolution of the carbonate cement may weaken the rock frame, wave-induced fluid flow between CO2 patches can vary the magnitude of the seismic response significantly for the same saturation, the fluid itself might undergo change, and the seal might act as a sink for CO2. Hence, we critically review the effects of some recent advances in understanding CO2 behavior in the subsurface and associated rock-physics effects. Such a review should help researchers and practitioners navigate through the abundance of published work and design a rock-physics modeling workflow for their particular projects.
Time-lapse electromagnetic and gravity methods in carbon storage monitoring
Authors: Gasperikova Erika , Li Yaoguo
Published: June 2021

For geologic carbon storage (GCS), monitoring of the storage reservoir and detection of secondary plumes if they accumulate outside of the reservoir are important to confirm that the injected CO2 stays where intended. Seismic methods are most often applied but are expensive. Due to cost considerations, especially for long-term monitoring, less expensive techniques play a role when designing monitoring networks. In this article, the merits of gravity and electromagnetic (EM) methods as monitoring tools for GCS are presented. Many of the technologies are well established, and several new technologies are on the horizon. EM and gravity techniques are complementary to seismic methods and together provide better subsurface monitoring. Time-lapse multiphysics joint inversion, including seismic, EM, and gravity, could be a game changer for carbon storage monitoring. The trade-off between the sensitivity or resolution to a given plume size and the associated costs will be an important factor in selecting efficient and reliable monitoring arrays at GCS sites. Complex digital models representing geology encountered at storage sites can be used for this purpose and present another cost savings.
Uptake of COVID-19 vaccination in a medium secure psychiatric hospital population
Authors: Gibbon Simon , McPhail Emma , Mills Georgina , McBride Martin , Storer Rebekah , Taylor Nicholas , McCarthy Lucy
Published: June 2021

Patients in medium secure hospitals may be at particularly increased risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection and complications. We undertook a service evaluation involving all current in-patients within a single, English medium secure hospital to describe the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine among this population. Data regarding capacity to consent to the vaccine, acceptance/refusal of this (and reasons for refusal) and demographics was retrospectively collected from the patients’ clinical records and analysed. In total, 85 patients (92.4% of eligible patients) had capacity to decide if they wanted the COVID-19 vaccine. Of these 68 (80.0%) consented and 17 (20.0%) declined to consent. A similar proportion of patients aged under and over 40 years old consented to have the vaccine. Those from a Black Asian minority ethnic background were more likely to decline the vaccine than White British patients. The reasons for capacitous refusal appeared similar to those seen in the general population.
Current Challenges in Access to Melanoma Care: A Multidisciplinary Perspective
Authors: Khushalani Nikhil I. , Truong Thach-Giao , Thompson John F.
Published: June 2021

A diagnosis of melanoma requires multidisciplinary specialized care across all stages of disease. Although many important advances have been made for the treatment of melanoma for local and advanced disease, barriers to optimal care remain for many patients who live in areas without ready access to the expertise of a specialized melanoma center. In this article, we review some of the recent advances in the treatment of melanoma and the persistent challenges around the world that prevent the delivery of the best standard of care to patients living in the community. With the therapeutic landscape continuing to evolve and newer more complex drug therapies soon to be approved, it is important to recognize the many challenges that patients face and attempt to identify tools and policies that will help to improve treatment outcomes for their melanoma.
Assessment and Management of Cognitive Symptoms in Patients With Brain Tumors
Authors: Parsons Michael W. , Dietrich Jörg
Published: June 2021

Cognitive symptoms occur in almost all patients with brain tumors at varying points in the disease course. Deficits in neurocognitive function may be caused by the tumor itself, treatment (surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy), or other complicating factors (e.g., seizures, fatigue, mood disturbance) and can have a profound effect on functional independence and quality of life. Assessment of neurocognitive function is an important part of comprehensive care of patients with brain tumors. In the neuro-oncology clinic, assessment may include cognitive screening tools and inquiry into subjective cognitive function. Neuropsychological assessment is an important adjunct to identify cognitive symptoms and can be used as an opportunity to intervene through transformative feedback and treatment planning. Preventative measures can be taken to reduce cognitive side effects of treatment, such as awake craniotomies with intraoperative mapping during neurosurgery or prophylactic measures during radiation therapy (e.g., hippocampal avoidance, neuroprotectant treatment with memantine). Rehabilitative therapies, including cognitive rehabilitation and computerized cognitive exercise, are options for managing cognitive problems in an individualized manner. Pharmacotherapy, including use of stimulant medications and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, has shown benefits for patients with brain tumors when tailored to an individual’s cognitive profile. Identification and management of co-occurring issues, such as sleep disturbance, fatigue, and depression, can also improve neurocognitive function. There are promising therapies under development that may provide new options for treatment in the future. Integrating careful assessment and treatment of cognition throughout the disease course for patients with brain tumors can improve functional outcomes and quality of life.
High Sensitivity of Plasma Cell-Free DNA Genotyping in Cases With Evidence of Adequate Tumor Content
Authors: Meador Catherine B. , Milan Marina S. D. , Hu Emmy Y. , Awad Mark M. , Rabin Michael S. , Paweletz Cloud P. , Hartmaier Ryan , Laus Gianluca , Oxnard Geoffrey R.
Published: June 2021

PURPOSE

Plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) sequencing is a compelling diagnostic tool in solid tumors and has been shown to have high positive predictive value. However, limited assay sensitivity means that negative plasma genotyping, or the absence of detection of mutation of interest, still requires reflex tumor biopsy.

METHODS

We analyzed two independent cohorts of patients with advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with known canonical driver and resistance mutations who underwent plasma cfDNA genotyping. We measured quantitative features, such as maximum allelic frequency (mAF), as clinically available measures of cfDNA tumor content, and studied their relationship with assay sensitivity.

RESULTS

In patients with EGFR-mutant NSCLC harboring EGFR T790M, detection of driver mutation at > 1% AF conferred a sensitivity of 97% (368/380) for detection of T790M across three cfDNA genotyping platforms. Similarly, in a second cohort of patients with EGFR or KRAS driver mutations, when the mAF of nontarget mutations was > 1%, sensitivity for driver mutation detection was 100% (43/43). Combining the two NSCLC patient cohorts, the presence of nontarget mutations at mAF > 1% predicts for high sensitivity (> 95%) for identifying the presence of the known driver mutation, whereas mAF of ≤ 1% confers sensitivity of only 26%-54% across platforms. Focusing on 21 false-negative cases where the driver mutation was not detected on plasma next-generation sequencing, other mutations (presumably clonal hematopoiesis) were detected at ≤ 1% AF in 14 (67%).

CONCLUSION

Plasma cfDNA genotyping is highly sensitive when adequate tumor DNA content is present. The likelihood of a false-negative cfDNA genotyping result is low in a sample with evidence of > 1% tumor content. Bioinformatic approaches are needed to further optimize the assessment of cfDNA tumor content in plasma genotyping assays.
The Role of Thyroid in Renovascular Function: Independent Association of Serum TSH With Renal Plasma Flow
Authors: Pappa Theodora , Heydarpour Mahyar , Williams Jonathan , Hopkins Paul N , Adler Gail K , Alexander Erik K , Williams Gordon
Published: June 2021

Context

There are well-established interactions between the thyroid and the kidney. Thyroid hypofunction is associated with reduced renal plasma flow (RPF), and hypothyroidism is highly prevalent in chronic kidney disease; however, less is known about the thyroid-kidney axis in the euthyroid state.

Objective

This work aimed to study the association of thyroid function with renovascular parameters in a well-phenotyped cohort of euthyroid normotensive and hypertensive individuals.

Methods

This cross-sectional, multicenter study of the HyperPATH Consortium took place in 5 US and European academic institutions. A total of 789 individuals, aged 18 to 65 years, with serum thyrotropin (TSH) 0.4 to 5.5 mIU/L, participated; individuals with uncontrolled or secondary hypertension or on medication affecting the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis were excluded. Hemodynamic parameters including RPF, thyroid function testing, and the Thr92Ala deiodinase 2 (D2) polymorphism were assessed in the setting of a liberal and restricted salt diet. We searched for associations between thyroid function and renovascular parameters and accounted for confounding factors, such as older age, hypertension, and diabetes.

Results

Serum TSH was inversely associated with RPF assessed in the setting both of liberal and restricted salt diets. This association remained significant and independent when accounting for confounding factors, whereas free thyroxine index (fTI) and the Thr92Ala polymorphism, associated with lower D2 catalytic activity and disrupted thyroid hormone tissue availability, were not independently associated with RPF. Serum TSH remained an independent predictor of RPF on a liberal salt diet when the analysis was restricted to healthy young individuals.

Conclusion

Serum TSH levels, but not fTI nor the Thr92Ala D2 polymorphism, were independently inversely associated with RPF in individuals of the HyperPATH Consortium. These findings suggest a direct interconnection between TSH and renovascular dynamics even with TSH within reference range, warranting further investigation.
Insulin-like Growth Factor 2 mRNA-Binding Protein 2—a Potential Link Between Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Cancer
Authors: Cao Junguo , Yan Weijia , Ma Xiujian , Huang Haiyan , Yan Hong
Published: June 2021

Context

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cancer share a variety of risk factors and pathophysiological features. It is becoming increasingly accepted that the 2 diseases are related, and that T2DM increases the risk of certain malignancies.

Objective

This review summarizes recent advancements in the elucidation of functions of insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF-2) messenger RNA (mRNA)-binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2) in T2DM and cancer.

Methods

A PubMed review of the literature was conducted, and search terms included IGF2BP2, IMP2, or p62 in combination with cancer or T2DM. Additional sources were identified through manual searches of reference lists. The increased risk of multiple malignancies and cancer-associated mortality in patients with T2DM is believed to be driven by insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia, chronic inflammation, and dysregulation of adipokines and sex hormones. Furthermore, IGF-2 is oncogenic, and its loss-of-function splice variant is protective against T2DM, which highlights the pivotal role of this growth factor in the pathogenesis of these 2 diseases. IGF-2 mRNA-binding proteins, particularly IGF2BP2, are also involved in T2DM and cancer, and single-nucleotide variations (formerly single-nucleotide polymorphisms) of IGF2BP2 are associated with both diseases. Deletion of the IGF2BP2 gene in mice improves their glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, and mice with transgenic p62, a splice variant of IGF2BP2, are prone to diet-induced fatty liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma, suggesting the biological significance of IGF2BP2 in T2DM and cancer.

Conclusion

Accumulating evidence has revealed that IGF2BP2 mediates the pathogenesis of T2DM and cancer by regulating glucose metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and tumorigenesis. This review provides insight into the potential involvement of this RNA binding protein in the link between T2DM and cancer.
Diabetes Increases Severe COVID-19 Outcomes Primarily in Younger Adults
Authors: Diedisheim Marc , Dancoisne Etienne , Gautier Jean-François , Larger Etienne , Cosson Emmanuel , Fève Bruno , Chanson Philippe , Czernichow Sébastien , Tatulashvili Sopio , Raffin-Sanson Marie-Laure , Sallah Kankoé , Bourgeon Muriel , Ajzenberg Christiane , Hartemann Agnès , Daniel Christel , Moreau Thomas , Roussel Ronan , Potier Louis
Published: June 2021

Context

Diabetes is reported as a risk factor for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but whether this risk is similar in all categories of age remains unclear.

Objective

To investigate the risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes in hospitalized patients with and without diabetes according to age categories.

Design Setting and Participants

We conducted a retrospective observational cohort study of 6314 consecutive patients hospitalized for COVID-19 between February and 30 June 2020 in the Paris metropolitan area, France; follow-up was recorded until 30 September 2020.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

The main outcome was a composite outcome of mortality and orotracheal intubation in subjects with diabetes compared with subjects without diabetes, after adjustment for confounding variables and according to age categories.

Results

Diabetes was recorded in 39% of subjects. Main outcome was higher in patients with diabetes, independently of confounding variables (hazard ratio [HR] 1.13 [1.03-1.24]) and increased with age in individuals without diabetes, from 23% for those <50 to 35% for those >80 years but reached a plateau after 70 years in those with diabetes. In direct comparison between patients with and without diabetes, diabetes-associated risk was inversely proportional to age, highest in <50 years and similar after 70 years. Similarly, mortality was higher in patients with diabetes (26%) than in those without diabetes (22%, P < 0.001), but adjusted HR for diabetes was significant only in patients younger than age 50 years (HR 1.81 [1.14-2.87]).

Conclusions

Diabetes should be considered as an independent risk factor for the severity of COVID-19 in young adults more so than in older adults, especially for individuals younger than 70 years.
Thyroid Hormone Receptor Beta Inhibits PI3K-Akt-mTOR Signaling Axis in Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer via Genomic Mechanisms
Authors: Davidson Cole D , Bolf Eric L , Gillis Noelle E , Cozzens Lauren M , Tomczak Jennifer A , Carr Frances E
Published: June 2021

Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy, and the global incidence has increased rapidly over the past few decades. Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is highly aggressive, dedifferentiated, and patients have a median survival of fewer than 6 months. Oncogenic alterations in ATC include aberrant phosphoinositide 3 kinase (PI3K) signaling through receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) amplification, loss of phosphoinositide phosphatase expression and function, and protein kinase B (Akt) amplification. Furthermore, the loss of expression of the tumor suppressor thyroid hormone receptor beta (TRβ) is strongly associated with ATC. TRβ is known to suppress PI3K in follicular thyroid cancer and breast cancer by binding to the PI3K regulatory subunit p85α. However, the role of TRβ in suppressing PI3K signaling in ATC is not completely delineated. Here we report that TRβ indeed suppresses PI3K signaling in ATC cell lines through unreported genomic mechanisms, including a decrease in RTK expression and an increase in phosphoinositide and Akt phosphatase expression. Furthermore, the reintroduction and activation of TRβ in ATC cell lines enables an increase in the efficacy of the competitive PI3K inhibitors LY294002 and buparlisib on cell viability, migration, and suppression of PI3K signaling. These findings not only uncover additional tumor suppressor mechanisms of TRβ but shed light on the implication of TRβ status and activation on inhibitor efficacy in ATC tumors.
Chosen Peoples
Authors: Tounsel Christopher
Published: June 2021

On July 9, 2011, South Sudan celebrated its independence as the world's newest nation, an occasion that the country's Christian leaders claimed had been foretold in the Book of Isaiah. The Bible provided a foundation through which the South Sudanese could distinguish themselves from the Arab and Muslim Sudanese to the north and understand themselves as a spiritual community now freed from their oppressors. Less than three years later, however, new conflicts emerged along ethnic lines within South Sudan, belying the liberation theology that had supposedly reached its climactic conclusion with independence. In Chosen Peoples, Christopher Tounsel investigates the centrality of Christian worldviews to the ideological construction of South Sudan and the inability of shared religion to prevent conflict. Exploring the creation of a colonial-era mission school to halt Islam's spread up the Nile, the centrality of biblical language in South Sudanese propaganda during the Second Civil War (1983--2005), and postindependence transformations of religious thought in the face of ethnic warfare, Tounsel highlights the potential and limitations of deploying race and Christian theology to unify South Sudan.
Effects of 12 weeks of resistance training on rat gut microbiota composition
Authors: Castro Alinne P. , Silva Keemilyn K. S. , Medeiros Claudia S. A. , Alves Fernanda , Araujo Ronaldo C. , Almeida Jeeser A.
Published: June 2021

In addition to its health benefits, exercise training has been noted as a modulator of the gut microbiota. However, the effects of resistance training (RT) on gut microbiota composition remain unknown. Wistar rats underwent 12 weeks of RT. Body mass, glucose tolerance, visceral body fat, triglyceride concentration and food consumption were evaluated. The gut microbiota was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Rats that underwent RT showed lower body mass (P=0.0005), lower fat content (P=0.02) and better glucose kinetics (P=0.047) when compared with the control. Improvements in the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota were identified in the RT group. The relative abundance of Pseudomonas, Serratia and Comamonas decreased significantly after 12 weeks of RT (P<0.001). These results suggest that RT has the potential to enhance the diversity of the gut microbiota and improve its biological functions.
Οι νταλίκες και τα γυναικάκια τους
Authors: Σιμάτη Ανδριαννή
Published: June 2021

Μέσα από ιστορίες για το χτες και το σήμερα, για την έμφυλη διαφορά μεταξύ αντρών και γυναικών, μεταξύ γυναικών, για την επιθυμία και τα όρια της ξεδιπλώνεται η σχέση του ανδρισμού με τα σύγχρονα ελληνικά εθνικά, ταξικά και πολιτισμικά ιδανικά. Πιο συγκεκριμένα, κεντρικό ενδιαφέρον αυτής της έρευνας, αποτελεί μια έκφραση αυτού του ανδρισμού, η «νταλίκα», η ανδροπρεπής λεσβία. Οι συνομιλήτριες, τα αγοροκόριτσα κατά την παιδική και εφηβική τους ηλικία, αφηγούνται, μέσα από τις ιστορίες ζωής τους, τη βιωμένη σχέση με το φύλο και τη σεξουαλικότητά τους. Μια οδυνηρή και ηδονική συνθήκη, που άλλοτε αμβλύνει τα όρια μεταξύ αρσενικού και θηλυκού, άλλοτε ορίζεται και περιορίζεται από αυτά. Άλλοτε διακριτικά άλλοτε με περισσότερη ένταση, οι συνομιλήτριες κρατάνε τις αποστάσεις τους από τη νταλίκα. Με στέλνουν στα μπαρ, εκεί όπου, κατάλοιπο του παρελθόντος, η νταλίκα, πίνει, μεθάει, μπλέκει σε καυγάδες, ακούει μη ποιοτική ελληνική μουσική. Η λαϊκή, ανδροπρεπής και για αυτό ξεπερασμένη και οπισθοδρομική Ελληνίδα λεσβία, απέκτησε το όνομα αυτό, σύμφωνα με το πεδίο της έρευνας, στα μέσα της δεκαετίας του 1990. Μια δεκαετία μετά τη μεταπολίτευση κατά την οποία οι πολιτικές, οι συμπεριφορές και οι αξίες της ελληνικής κοινωνίας αποκτούν πιο έντονο ευρωπαϊκό προσανατολισμό και εμπνέονται από το Αμερικάνικο Όνειρο. Η λαϊκή, εργατικής τάξης εμφάνιση λεσβία, συνδέεται με τη βαλκανική/ανατολίτικη κληρονομιά της χώρας, γίνεται συνώνυμο της φτώχειας και τροχοπέδη στην επικράτηση της κοινωνικής προόδου. Τη δεκαετία αυτή, στον mainstreamτύπο, η φερόμενη ως αμφισεξουαλική Αμερικάνα Cindy Crawford παίρνει τη σκυτάλη από την νευρασθενική καλλιτέχνιδα Virginia Woolf, του 1980, για να προτείνει μια νέα εικόνα γυναικείας ομοφυλοφιλίας. Η νταλίκα δεν αποτελεί μέρος αυτής εικόνας. Τί σημαίνει τελικά νταλίκα; Πώς σχετίζεται με την ταυτότητα της λεσβίας; Εντέλει, πώς οι τρόποι με τους οποίους τα υποκείμενα συγκροτούνται έμφυλα, διαμορφώνουν την ψυχοσύνθεση τους, βιώνουν το σώμα τους και απολαμβάνουν σχετίζονται με τις κοινωνικές και πολιτισμικές αλλαγές στην ελληνική κοινωνία;
Η ανάπτυξη των τυπικών ορισμών λέξεων δίγλωσσων μαθητών Γυμνασίου: Μελέτη μίας διδακτικής παρέμβασης
Authors: Δόση Ιφιγένεια
Published: June 2021

Ο στόχος της παρούσας έρευνας είναι να εξετάσει την επίδραση της διδακτικής παρέμβασης στην ικανότητα ανάπτυξης τυπικών (formal) ορισμών λέξεων δίγλωσσων μαθητών Γυμνασίου, λαμβάνοντας υπόψιν συγκεκριμένες γραμματικές κατηγορίες (ουσιαστικά, ρήματα και επίθετα). Προηγούμενες έρευνες έχουν δείξει ότι η βελτίωση της ικανότητας ορισμού λέξεων και η χρήση τυπικών ορισμών σχετίζεται άμεσα με την οργάνωση του νοητικού λεξικού και την ανάπτυξη μεταγλωσσικών ικανοτήτων. Επίσης, η ανάπτυξη των τυπικών ορισμών λέξεων συμβάλλει θετικά στη γενικότερη ανάπτυξη του γραμματισμού και στη ευρύτερη σχολική επιτυχία των μαθητών. Ωστόσο, η ανάπτυξη της ικανότητας απόδοσης τυπικών ορισμών επηρεάζεται και από παράγοντες, όπως η γραμματική κατηγορία της λέξης (ουσιαστικό, ρήμα, επίθετο). Έτσι, τα ουσιαστικά ορίζονται καλύτερα από τα ρήματα και τα επίθετα. Η εκπαίδευση και, κυρίως, οι στοχευμένες διδακτικές παρεμβάσεις διαδραματίζουν έναν καθοριστικό ρόλο στη βελτίωση της ικανότητας ορισμού λέξεων. Πρέπει να σημειωθεί, ότι η σχετική έρευνα σε δίγλωσσους μαθητές είναι εξαιρετικά περιορισμένη. Η παρούσα έρευνα αξιοποιώντας αυτό το βιβλιογραφικό κενό μελετά τον ρόλο της διδακτικής παρέμβασης σε 20 δίγλωσσους ελληνο-αλβανόφωνους μαθητές Γυμνασίου. Η μεθοδολογία που ακολουθεί είναι αυτή της ημι-πειραματικής μελέτης παρέμβασης που εφαρμόζει μετρήσεις αρχικής και τελικής εξέτασης σε δύο ομάδες μελέτης. Η μία ομάδα  (πειραματική ομάδα) παρακολούθησε μια τρίμηνη παρέμβαση, ενώ η άλλη ομάδα (ομάδα ελέγχου) δεν εντάχθηκε στο πρόγραμμα παρέμβασης. Και οι δύο ομάδες ελέγχθηκαν ως προς την ικανότητα ορισμού λέξεων (ουσιαστικών, ρημάτων και επιθέτων) πριν από την παρέμβαση, αλλά και μετά από αυτήν, με στόχο να αξιολογηθούν οι πιθανές θετικές επιπτώσεις της παρέμβασης. Η παρέμβαση έδωσε έμφαση στην εξάσκηση των τυπικών ορισμών λέξεων (ουσιαστικών, ρημάτων και επιθέτων) αναφορικά και με τις τέσσερις γλωσσικές δεξιότητες (κατανόηση και παραγωγή προφορικού και γραπτού λόγου). Τα αποτελέσματα έδειξαν ότι οι δύο ομάδες δεν διέφεραν ως προς τις επιδόσεις τους στις δοκιμασίες πριν την παρέμβαση. Αντίθετα, μετά από αυτήν, η πειραματική ομάδα σημείωσε σημαντικές διαφορές έναντι της ομάδας ελέγχου, κυρίως ως προς τις επιδόσεις της στον ορισμό των ουσιαστικών. Τα ευρήματα της έρευνας καταδεικνύουν τον καθοριστικό ρόλο των στοχευμένων διδακτικών παρεμβάσεων στην ανάπτυξη της ικανότητας ορισμού λέξεων δίγλωσσων ομιλητών.
The linguistic Proposals of Juan de Valdés, their Contribution to Translation and Influence on the Spanish Version of the ‘Bear’s Bible’ (Biblia del Oso)
Authors: Monreal Pérez Juan Luis
Published: June 2021

Juan de Valdés should be included in the list of significant Spanish humanists, in that his development both at a personal level and as a man of letters are clearly marked by Humanism, cultivating all the values pertinent to this movement. Language and literature were always permanent features in the humanistic culture of Valdés, especially in his contribution to the development of the Spanish language through his main work Dialogue of Language in which he formulates important Linguistic Proposals. The knowledge of language shown by Valdés in this work and the academic training received in Latin, Greek and Hebrew at Alcalá University show him fit to carry out translation tasks by which he continued the humanist tradition in this field and joined the list of humanist reformers who also undertook this difficult role. Specifically, his work in the field of translation and his Linguistic Proposals influenced the first complete version of the Bible in Spanish (1569) of Casiodoro de la Reina, known as the Bear’s Bible (Biblia del Oso), because of the printer’s seal. This was a milestone, not only because it was the first complete version of the Bible in Castilian, but also because it established linguistic and hermeneutic canons that passed into the humanistic translation tradition and were also supported by the majority of reformers of the sixteenth century exile, The Casiodoro de la Reina translation of the Biblewas particularly influenced by the work and translations of Juan de Valdés.
The ‘Opinions of Religion and Divine Worship’ in the Seventeenth Century Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth from an English and Scottish Perspective
Authors: Bajer Peter P.
Published: June 2021

The ‘Opinions of Religion and Divine Worship’ in the Seventeenth Century Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth from an English and Scottish Perspective The article analyses English and Scottish travellers’ accounts of interdenominational relations, and specifically religious toleration, as observed in the seventeenth century Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth. It traces the changing British perception of these matters over time, from when toleration was a subject of admiration until it began to be seen as a sign of anarchic religious liberty, a weakness; something to be, as Gilbert instigated, ‘abolished and removed from the body and the bounds’ of the English monarchy.
An Englishman in-between Two Worlds: Robert Bargrave’s Travel through East-Central Europe, 1652-1653
Authors: Kalinowska Anna
Published: June 2021

An Englishman in-between Two Worlds: Robert Bargrave’s Travel through East-Central Europe, 1652-1653
The article discusses a journey of a young Englishman Robert Bargrave (1628-1661), who in the early 1650s travelled from Constantinople to England. The travel diary recording this journey reflects Bargrave’s keen interest in the customs, everyday life and languages as well as natural conditions and economy of the places he visited and shows that he tried to place it in a wider context. As a result, closer analysis of this text gives us an excellent opportunity to examine the picture of East -Central Europe as seen by a mid-seventeenth century Englishman and the way he perceived it in relation to both the Ottoman Empire and Western Europe.
Valoración sociojurídica del cuidador de la persona mayor
Authors: Pérez Nájera Celin
Published: June 2021

Proporcionar un material bibliográfico actualizado sobre el tema del cuidador del adulto mayor desde las ópticas criminológica y victimocriminológica es el objetivo esencial de este artículo. Con énfasis en la atención de este grupo etáreo en Cuba y su proyección para enfrentar la pandemia del Coronavirus. Utilizamos como Metódica Investigativa un enfoque dialéctico-materialista de la realidad, que posibilitó el engranaje de toda la investigación, teniendo en cuenta el carácter teórico-doctrinal del texto, lo que determinó que la metódica se enmarcara en torno a los métodos: histórico-lógico, analítico-sintético, inductivo-deductivo, teórico- jurídico y sociológico. Concibiendo como resultados esenciales una fundamentación teórica desde la Criminología sobre la conceptualización de esta figura, la determinación de los elementos configurativos del cuidador del adulto mayor, valoramos también la atención del Estado a este grupo etáreo ante la introducción y propagación de la COVID-19 con una mirada desde Cuba y dentro de ello proponemos juicios organizativos de las variantes en que puede presentarse, así como el análisis de su regulación jurídica en las legislaciones nacionales.
Stochastic Superiority Equilibrium in Game Theory
Authors: Yekkehkhany Ali , Murray Timothy , Nagi Rakesh
Published: June 2021

The definition of best response for a player in the Nash equilibrium is based on maximizing the expected utility given the strategy of the rest of the players in a game. In this work, we consider stochastic games, that is, games with random payoffs, in which a finite number of players engage only once or at most a limited number of times. In such games, players may choose to deviate from maximizing their expected utility. This is because maximizing expected utility strategy does not address the uncertainty in payoffs. We instead define a new notion of a stochastic superiority best response. This notion of best response results in a stochastic superiority equilibrium in which players choose to play the strategy that maximizes the probability of them being rewarded the most in a single round of the game rather than maximizing the expected received reward, subject to the actions of other players. We prove the stochastic superiority equilibrium to exist in all finite games, that is, games with a finite number of players and actions, and numerically compare its performance to Nash equilibrium in finite-time stochastic games. In certain cases, we show the payoff under the stochastic superiority equilibrium is 70% likely to be higher than the payoff under Nash equilibrium.
Winning by Learning? Effect of Knowledge Sharing in Crowdsourcing Contests
Authors: Jin Yuan , Lee Ho Cheung Brian , Ba Sulin , Stallaert Jan
Published: June 2021

Crowdsourcing is a new way for online crowds to get involved in a company’s research and development process. Businesses can host public contests on online platforms (such as Kaggle, Topcoder, and Tongal) to seek new product ideas and technological solutions. In the contest communities, members usually have a “coopetitive” relationship: they compete against each other for the contest prize, while at the same time also cooperate with each other by sharing information and knowledge. This work investigates the effect of knowledge sharing in such crowdsourcing contests. Surprisingly, we find that the knowledge sharing process may not always help improve crowdsourcing contestants’ performance. The effectiveness of knowledge sharing is influenced by the volume, quality, and generativity of shared knowledge. Shared knowledge is only beneficial when it is of high quality or when it has high potential of being further developed collectively by the community. Meanwhile, the development process has to be diverging; narrowing the development process in one direction can restrict the community creativity and negatively influence crowdsourcing performance. Our work informs the crowdsourcing practitioners to be more cautious when they enable collaboration such as knowledge sharing for the contest community.
Methods of Development of Physical Qualities in Primary School Students by Means of Moving Games
Authors:   National University ", Rybalko Lina ,   Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic"
Published: June 2021

The article is devoted to the research of the problem of development of physical qualities in pupils of primary school age by means of mobile games. The aim of the article is to analyze the scientific literature on the researched problem and to reveal the methods of development of physical qualities in primary school students by means of moving games. Physical, or motor, qualities are explained as indicators of the child's mobility. Their development occurs continuously during the growth and development of the child, but unevenly. Active motor activity promotes faster, and most importantly – more harmonious maturation of morphological structures and functional systems of the student's body. With the help of physical exercises and moving games, you can actively influence the process of development of physical qualities of the student, to manage their development. Carrying out a comprehensive approach to the formation of physical qualities of primary school children, it is necessary to pay attention to the development of speed, agility, endurance and flexibility, ie those qualities that are most actively developed in primary school students. A significant place in the child's play activities are occupied by games in which various motor actions in the form of walking, running, jumping, etc. are performed. Moving game is defined as one of the main means and methods of physical education and is used mainly at the stage of consolidation and improvement of motor skills. Its value lies in the fact that the mobile game evokes positive emotions, feelings of satisfaction, cheerfulness, activity, has a positive effect on the mental and physical development of the preschooler, contributes to the enrichment of motor experience of students. The purpose of moving games is to develop physical perfection in the form of physical qualities, strengthen health and shape the personality of students. A method of developing physical qualities in primary school students based on the use of moving games has been developed.
Diagnostic Tools for Health Status of Physical Education Students
Authors:   V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Litvinova Anastasiia , Pienov Vadym ,   Odessa I. I. Mechnikov National University, Tymchenko Hanna ,   V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University
Published: June 2021

The article is devoted to the study of the problem of using available diagnostic tools for the health status of students who are engaged in physical education on the basis of a classical university using the LMS Moodle system. The goal of the study is to create diagnostic tools for the health status of the students which are in physical education using available innovative technologies. The study involved 46 students of the Kharkov National University named after V. N. Karazin aged 19-21 years who are engaged in sections of the sport games at the Department of Physical Culture (26 girls and 20 boys). Students performed health diagnostics using an open distance course based on LMS Moodle during the fall semester in the classroom and at home. The analysis of the results using innovative technologies was carried out by agreement and personal will of the participants. To solve the above goal, we set the following tasks: to analyze the available innovative technologies in the higher education system on the basis of a classical university; create an affordable system for diagnosing the health status of students involved in physical education on the basis of a classical university; introduce a system for diagnosing the health status of the students which are in physical education on the basis of a classical university in the educational process of physical education; make recommendations for the correction of the health status of students which are in physical education using available innovative technologies. The work used electronic methods for diagnosing health; methods of index assessment of health status; methods of mathematical statistics. The analysis of available innovative technologies in the higher education system on the basis of the classical university was carried out; an affordable system for diagnosing the health status of the students involved in physical education on the basis of a classical university has been created; a system for diagnosing the health status of students involved in physical education on the basis of a classical university was accomplished into the educational process of physical education; recommendations for the health status correction of the of students involved in physical education using available innovative technologies were selected. The created electronic «Health Passport», that concerns of all components of human health for monitoring the health of a classical university students’, is located in the open distance course «Fundamentals of Health and Rehabilitation», which is an interactive tool for studying the basic components of a healthy lifestyle: state of physical activity, biorhythms, features of daily energy consumption and diet analysis, diagnosis and health monitoring for all comers.