bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transfusion-Transmitted Infections and associated risk factors at the Northern Zone Blood Transfusion Center in Tanzania: A study of blood donors between 2017 and 2019
Authors: Mremi Alex , Yahaya James J. , Nyindo Mramba , Mollel Edson
Published: March 2021

Background

Blood transfusion saves many people every year that would otherwise have died. The present study aimed to provide an update and insightful information regarding prevalence of the common Transfusion-Transmitted Infections (TTIs) and associated factors among blood donors in Tanzania.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study involving retrospectively collected data of blood donors from the Tanzania Northern Zone Blood Transfusion Center between 2017 and 2019. Descriptive statistics were performed to describe characteristics of the blood donors. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to determine association between prevalence of TTIs and socio-demographic factors. P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

A total of 101, 616 blood donors were included in the present study of which 85,053(83.7%) were males while 16,563 (16.3%) were females. Of all participants, the majority 45,400 (44.7%) were aged between 18 and 25 years; 79,582 (78.3%) were voluntary non-remunerated donors while 22,034 (21.7%) were replacement donors. The vast majority of them 99,626 (98%) were first time blood donors while 1990 (2%) were multiple donors. The overall prevalence of TTIs was 10.1% (10,226 out of 101,616) of which the leading was HBV accounting for 5.1% (5,264 out of 101,616). Being a replacement donor was associated with all the four types of TTIs: HIV (AOR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.10–1.35), HBV (AOR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.27–1.44), HCV (AOR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.12–1.46), and syphilis (AOR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.20–1.48).

Conclusions

Our study has demonstrated that Tanzania has relatively high prevalence of TTIs compared to some countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. HBV infection seems to be the most common infection among blood donors and replacement blood donors are at a higher risk of harboring the commonest TTIs among blood donors.
Comparative analysis reveals the species-specific genetic determinants of ACE2 required for SARS-CoV-2 entry
Authors: Ren Wenlin , Zhu Yunkai , Wang Yuyan , Shi Hongyang , Yu Yin , Hu Gaowei , Feng Fei , Zhao Xiaomin , Lan Jun , Wu Jianping , Kenney Devin J. , Douam Florian , Tong Yimin , Zhong Jin , Xie Youhua , Wang Xinquan , Yuan Zhenghong , Zhou Dongming , Zhang Rong , Ding Qiang
Published: March 2021

Coronavirus interaction with its viral receptor is a primary genetic determinant of host range and tissue tropism. SARS-CoV-2 utilizes ACE2 as the receptor to enter host cell in a species-specific manner. We and others have previously shown that ACE2 orthologs from New World monkey, koala and mouse cannot interact with SARS-CoV-2 to mediate viral entry, and this defect can be restored by humanization of the restrictive residues in New World monkey ACE2. To better understand the genetic determinants behind the ability of ACE2 orthologs to support viral entry, we compared koala and mouse ACE2 sequences with that of human and identified the key residues in koala and mouse ACE2 that restrict viral receptor activity. Humanization of these critical residues rendered both koala and mouse ACE2 capable of binding the spike protein and facilitating viral entry. Our study shed more lights into the genetic determinants of ACE2 as the functional receptor of SARS-CoV-2, which facilitates our understanding of viral entry.
Legionella hijacks the host Golgi-to-ER retrograde pathway for the association of Legionella-containing vacuole with the ER
Authors: Kawabata Mio , Matsuo Honoka , Koito Takumi , Murata Misaki , Kubori Tomoko , Nagai Hiroki , Tagaya Mitsuo , Arasaki Kohei
Published: March 2021

Legionella pneumophila (L. pneumophila) is a gram-negative bacterium that replicates in a compartment that resembles the host endoplasmic reticulum (ER). To create its replicative niche, L. pneumophila manipulates host membrane traffic and fusion machineries. Bacterial proteins called Legionella effectors are translocated into the host cytosol and play a crucial role in these processes. In an early stage of infection, Legionella subverts ER-derived vesicles (ERDVs) by manipulating GTPase Rab1 to facilitate remodeling of the Legionella-containing vacuole (LCV). Subsequently, the LCV associates with the ER in a mechanism that remains elusive. In this study, we show that L. pneumophila recruits GTPases Rab33B and Rab6A, which regulate vesicle trafficking from the Golgi to the ER, to the LCV to promote the association of LCV with the ER. We found that recruitment of Rab6A to the LCV depends on Rab33B. Legionella effector SidE family proteins, which phosphoribosyl-ubiquitinate Rab33B, were found to be necessary for the recruitment of Rab33B to the LCV. Immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that L. pneumophila facilitates the interaction of Rab6 with ER-resident SNAREs comprising syntaxin 18, p31, and BNIP1, but not tethering factors including NAG, RINT-1, and ZW10, which are normally required for syntaxin 18-mediated fusion of Golgi-derived vesicles with the ER. Our results identified a Rab33B-Rab6A cascade on the LCV and the interaction of Rab6 with ER-resident SNARE proteins for the association of LCV with the ER and disclosed the unidentified physiological role of SidE family proteins.
Impact of paramedical counseling on infertile male patients’ coping strategies and care satisfaction
Authors: Szatmári Angelika
Published: March 2021

Célok A tanulmány célja a Magyarországon eddig alig, vagy nem használt betegvezetési technikák alkalmazása meddőségi zavarokkal küzdő férfi betegek körében. A kezelés időszakában ¬az információk nyújtása mellett – az egyéni támogatás keretében hozzájárulni a keletkező hatások, tapasztalatok, ismeretek feldolgozásához, továbbá a stresszel való adaptív megküzdési stratégiák kialakításához, valamint a reproduktivitást befolyásoló egészségmagatartás változók közvetlen vagy közvetett módosításához. Közvetett célként tekintjük a kezelések, valamint a biztonságos betegellátás hatékonyságának támogatását az ellátottak ismereteinek bővítésével, továbbá a betegelégedettségi mutatók kedvező irányú változásának elősegítését. A rendelkezésre álló pszichológiai vizsgálóeszközök segítségével felmérni az általunk kidolgozott betegvezetési program hatékonyságát. Módszerek A vizsgálatot kizárólag férfi faktoros meddőséggel küzdők körében, kísérleti (N=57) és kontrollcsoport (N=51) keretében végeztük. A betegek részletes kivizsgálását, valamint a veszteségre adott válaszreakcióinak és a betegségükkel kapcsolatos tájékozottság felmérését követően a kísérleti csoport tagjai 5 alkalommal betegvezetésben részesültek. A kontrollcsoportnál a pszichológiai önjellemző diagnosztikai kérdőívek felvételére a kutatás elején és végén, a célcsoportoknál a foglalkozásokat megelőzően, majd azt követően került sor. Eredmények Az intervenciós csoport nagyfokú tudatossággal rendelkezett a diagnózisokról, valamint a javasolt kezelések természetéről és céljairól. Az intervenciós csoport szignifikánsan célirányos probléma fókuszú megküzdési stratégát alkalmazott a meddőségi kezelés során. A betegek a beavatkozással szembeni elégedettségről számoltak be, ami a kísérleti csoport BDI és STAI pontszámainak csökkenésében is tükröződik. Következtetés: A fertilitásproblémákkal küzdők számára paramedikális tanácsadással kedvezőbb pszichés jóllét biztosítható a professzionális segítők aktív közreműködésével. A páciensek hatékony, célzott és problémaspecifikus segítségnyújtásban részesülhetnek. A férfi-meddőség ellátásában kiemelt szerepet kell biztosítani az egészségügyi ellátók; az ápolók, a reproduktív orvoslás, a mentálhigiénés szakember által nyújtott paramedikális tanácsadásnak.
Vitamin D and SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Authors: Boretti Alberto
Published: March 2021

The review about the influence of vitamin D (Vit D) on the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection is
presented in this article. It has then been suggested that according to its potential impact on immune
response and more particularly on the ACE2 pathway Vit D works as a prevention of severe cases, or in
combination with other treatments as necessary supplement to improve recovery. While no benefit has
been evidenced in having excess Vit D levels, still Vit D levels very likely affect the severity of SARSCoV-
2 infection and it is, therefore recommended to secure Vit D levels up to suggested values.
Role of Undergraduate Medical Students in Designing Teaching Module in Anatomy for Effective Learning
Authors: Thute Preeti Prabhakarrao , Vagha Sunita Jayant
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND The importance of the students in the development of the medical curriculum has been very well known. The valuable perspective and insight of the medical students is very essential in the development of new student-centred teaching modules with student friendly methodology, tools and learning resource materials to increase students’ interest improving their understanding and competence in anatomy and eventually create better doctors and for better patient outcomes. In view of this, an interventional study was carried out to study the role of undergraduate medical students in designing teaching module in anatomy for effective learning. METHODS An interventional study was carried out from October 2019 to March 2020 in the Department of Anatomy, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Sawangi (Meghe), Wardha. 230 first MBBS students and 50 students i.e., 25 students from each 2nd MBBS and 3rd MBBS participated voluntarily. A routine didactic lecture was conducted for first year MBBS students. Perception was taken with the structured proforma (using Likert scale) from all the students and data analysis was done. A panel was formed with 50 volunteered students from 2nd MBBS and 3rd MBBS who were given responsibility to form module (instructions for the teacher). Then lecture was again conducted for the first year MBBS students incorporating the instructions from the module framed after considering input from data analysis of perception of first MBBS students and from panel of second MBBS and third MBBS students. The data was analysed statistically, using descriptive and inferential statistics using chisquare test. Software used in the analysis were Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 24.0 version and GraphPad Prism 7.0 version. RESULTS After data analysis, it was observed that after implementation of instructions from module there was improvement in all parameters of teaching learning methodology, tools used and learning resource material. The difference was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS It is evident from the present study that when the teaching learning methodology, teaching learning tools and learning resource materials are designed considering the inputs from the techno savvy students, it is accepted and beneficial for effective learning while still keeping a tinge of the traditional methodology. KEY WORDS Challenges, Criticism, Inputs, Teaching Learning Methodology
Az osztalékpolitika ágazati vizsgálata Magyarországon
Authors: Dolog Anett , Fazakas Gergely , Karacs Katalin
Published: March 2021

Tökéletes piacon – ez már Modigliani és Miller 1961-es cikke óta ismert – az osztalékpolitika érdektelen. Ez másképp azt jelenti, hogy a vállalatok nem tudnak többletértéket teremteni részvényeseik számára az eredmény felosztásának megváltoztatásával: az újrabefektetés vagy az osztalékként való kifizetés optimalizálásával. Nem tökéletes piacon azonban számtalan tényező befolyásolja a részvényesek, és emiatt a vállalatok viszonyulását a kifizetendő osztalékról: az árfolyamnyereség és az osztalék adókulcsa, a pénz ki- és beáramlások tranzakciós költsége, a vállalati növekedési lehetőségek, a befektetők információs és pszichológiai különbségei mind-mind meghatározóak lehetnek. A szerzők jelen cikkükben nem az egyes magyarázó tényezők explicit hatását kívánják elemezni, hanem azt, hogy összességében tapasztalható-e különbség az egyes ágazatok osztalékfizetési szokásai között. Kérdésfeltevésük kettős: egyrészt azonosnak tekinthetőek az egyes ágazatokon belül a vállalatok osztalékhozama és osztalékkifizetési rátája, másrészt a különböző ágazatokhoz tartozó vállalatok osztalékpolitikája szignifikánsan eltér-e egymástól.
Reducing Time for the Product Development Process by Evaluation in the Phase of Solution Searching
Authors: Jokele B. , Fuchs D. K.
Published: March 2021

Less and less time is available for product development process. To prevent product failures and the resulting time intensive and cost intensive iteration steps, some preventive measures must be taken. Within the scope of quality management, FMEA anticipates possible problems concerning product and process properties. Nevertheless, in industrial practice designed products can have failures which were not considered within FMEA. The time pressure is immense, and efforts which do not make a contribution to a successful solution are regarded as lost time.This paper introduces a systematic approach to troubleshooting, with the aim of reducing the time for solution searching by considering the feasibility of ideas at an early stage.
Simulation in Quality Management – An Approach to Improve Inspection Planning
Authors: Crostack H.-A. , Höfling M. , Liangsiri J.
Published: March 2021

Production is a multi-step process involving many different articles produced in different jobs by various machining stations. Quality inspection has to be integrated in the production sequence in order to ensure the conformance of the products. The interactions between manufacturing processes and inspections are very complex since three aspects (quality, cost, and time) should all be considered at the same time while determining the suitable inspection strategy. Therefore, a simulation approach was introduced to solve this problem.The simulator called QUINTE [the QUINTE simulator has been developed at the University of Dortmund in the course of two research projects funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Labour (BMWA: Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Arbeit), the Arbeitsgemeinschaft industrieller Forschungsvereinigungen (AiF), Cologne/Germany and the Forschungsgemeinschaft Qualität, Frankfurt a.M./Germany] was developed to simulate the machining as well as the inspection. It can be used to investigate and evaluate the inspection strategies in manufacturing processes. The investigation into the application of QUINTE simulator in industry was carried out at two pilot companies. The results show the validity of this simulator. An attempt to run QUINTE in a user-friendly environment, i.e., the commercial simulation software – Arena® is also described in this paper.NOTATION: QUINTE Qualität in der Teilefertigung  (Quality in  the manufacturing process)
Physical and Numerical Difficulties in Computer Modelling of Pellet-Cladding Contact Problems for Burned-Up Fuel
Authors: Dostál M. , Zymák J. , Valach M.
Published: March 2021

The importance of fuel reliability is growing due to the deregulated electricity market and the demands on operability and availability to the electricity grid of nuclear units. Under these conditions of fuel exploitation, the problems of PCMI (Pellet-Cladding Mechanical Interaction) are very important from the point of view of fuel rod integrity and reliability. Severe loading is thermophysically and mechanically expressed as a greater probability of cladding failure especially during power maneuvering. We have to be able to make a realistic prediction of safety margins, which is very difficult by using computer simulation methods. NRI (Nuclear Research Institute) has recently been engaged in developing 2D and 3D FEM (Finite Element Method) based models dealing with this problem. The latest effort in this field has been to validate 2D r-z models developed in the COSMOS/M system against calculations using the FEMAXI-V code. This paper presents a preliminary comparison between classical FEM based integral code calculations and new models that are still under development. The problem has not been definitely solved. The presented data is of a preliminary nature, and several difficult problems remain to be solved.
Various Properties of Sturmian Words
Authors: Baláži P.
Published: March 2021

This overview paper is devoted to Sturmian words. The first part summarizes different characterizations of Sturmian words. Besides the well known theorem of Hedlund and Morse it also includes recent results on the characterization of Sturmian words using return words or palindromes. The second part deals with substitution invariant Sturmian words, where we present our recent results. We generalize one-sided Sturmian words using the cut-and-project scheme and give a full characterization of substitution invariant Sturmian words.
Nanocellulose from agricultural waste as an emerging material for nanotechnology applications – an overview
Authors: Abdullah Nur Athirah , Rani Mohd Saiful Asmal , Mohammad Masita , Sainorudin Muhammad Hanif , Asim Nilofar , Yaakob Zahira , Razali Halim , Emdadi Zeynab
Published: March 2021

It has been shown that in the last decades nanotechnology plays a key role not only in science but more and more often in industry as well. Recent research has shown that agricultural waste is a possible feedstock to produce  nanocellulose  which can be used for different applications, such as a biosensor, semiconductor and reinforcing agent. The use of agro-waste as a precursor not only offers advantages for raw material costs, but also for the climate, low processing costs, availability and convenience. It also helps to address environmental issues, such as illness, foul odor and concerns with indoor use. Different processes, such as chemical treatment, mechanical treatment and chemo-mechanical treatment, have been used to extract nanocellulose from agro-waste. This article highlights the latest technologies used to acquire agro-waste nanocellulose, as well as existing advances in and applications of nanocellulose technologies.
Structural, morphological and thermal properties of microcrystalline cellulose extracted from coconut husk fiber
Authors: Abdullah Nur Athirah , Sainorudin Muhammad Hanif , Rani Mohd Saiful Asmal , Mohammad Masita , Kadir Nurul Huda Abd , Asim Nilofar
Published: March 2021

In this work, chemically treated microcrystalline cellulose (MCC-C) was extracted from coconut husk fiber. In order to extract hemicellulose, the sieved coconut husk fiber was treated with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) for dewaxing and acidified using sodium chlorite (NaClO2) to extract the residual lignin (bleaching process). The obtained lignin-free cellulose was then treated with potassium hydroxide (KOH). The characterizations used to equate the MCC-C with commercial grade microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) are solubility test, X-ray diffractogram (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The XRD showed that the crystallinity of MCC and MCC-C increased significantly by 80.15% and 71.8% by chemical treatments. TGA found that the active removal of lignin-hemicelluloses and the thermal stability of the material were about 350–500°C and 300–500°C. The morphology of the fiber confirmed that there is an irregular cross-section, non-uniform surface, a large amount of short microfibrils and some impurities on the surface of the coconut husk fiber. The findings showed that microcrystalline cellulose has been successfully extracted from coconut husk fiber and that it can be used further.
Case report of toxic multinodular goiter with neck compression
Authors: Grigoryev Eugene G. , Ilyicheva Elena A. , Bersenev Gleb A. , Makhutov Valeriy N. , Serebrennikova Tatyana Yu.
Published: March 2021

We present a case of a 62-year-old patient with multinodular substernal goiter and tracheal compression (up to 5 mm). The multinodular goiter was initially diagnosed 3 years before by a local endocrinologist. The patient had been suffering from difficulty of breathing and exertional dyspnea for two years. He consulted specialists in therapy, pulmonology, cardiology more than once. However, none of the clinicians was able to identify the cause of labored respiration. Eventually an endocrine surgeon diagnosed a case of the complicated multinodular goiter with the development of cervical compression syndrome and tracheal narrowing.

Ultrasound study showed the diffuse enlargement of the thyroid gland mainly due to the large left lobe with a total volume of 132,5 cm3. Computed tomography showed the shift of trachea to the right because of its compression by the left lobe and the luminal narrowing up to 5 mm. The patient needed surgical intervention by life-saving indications. He underwent thyroidectomy. The postoperative period was uneventful, the patient did not complain about labored respiration and reported the improvement of physical activity. It is important to keep in mind that patients with multinodular goiter have the potential risk of developing cervical compression syndrome. Current case demonstrates that such patients should be examined by an endocrine surgeon as early as possible in order to perform timely elective surgery.
¿Progresan las concepciones sobre la ciencia de futuros maestros/as tras la implementación de propuestas constructivistas para la alfabetización científica?
Authors: Aragón Lourdes , Jiménez-Tenorio Natalia , Vicente Martorell Juan José , Eugenio Gozalbo Marcia
Published: March 2021

Enseñar ciencias desde una visión constructivista implica atender las concepciones previas de quien aprende. En este sentido, en el presente trabajo se analizan las concepciones que mantienen estudiantes de los Programas en Educación Primaria e Infantil sobre tres aspectos: la imagen de la ciencia, su aprendizaje y su enseñanza. Para explorarlas se utilizó el instrumento denominado Inventario de Creencias Pedagógicas y Científicas de Profesores, de tipo Likert, constituido por 56 declaraciones y que fue completado por 142 estudiantes de dos universidades españolas, ambos al inicio y al final de asignaturas cuatrimestrales diseñadas desde una perspectiva constructivista y de promoción de la alfabetización científica. Los datos se analizaron estadísticamente, entre otros, mediante análisis multivariante Traza de Pillai, univariante, y correlación de Pearson. Los resultados muestran que las concepciones iniciales de estos estudiantes evolucionaron hacia posiciones constructivistas tras implementar las propuestas didácticas, particularmente en los del Grado en Educación Primaria, quienes partieron de posiciones más tradicionales. Se evidencian además relaciones entre las distintas dimensiones consideradas, excepto entre la imagen de la ciencia y su aprendizaje. Se concluye que la implementación de propuestas didácticas de corte constructivista y enfocadas a promover la alfabetización científica permite que los futuros docentes evolucionen hacia modelos de aprendizaje y enseñanza de las ciencias adecuados, a la vez que se diagnostica una mayor dificultad a la hora de abordar aspectos relacionados con la imagen de la ciencia.
Título: Didáctica de la Física. Reseña elaborada por: Gloria Patricia Ramirez Lopez
Authors: Ramirez López Gloria Patricia
Published: March 2021

En este libro se desarrolla una Perspectiva Dimensional de la Didáctica de la Física, especialmente pensada para formación de profesores. El libro se compone de tres partes con siete capítulos que incluyen referencias y tablas de resumen. En la primera parte se presenta un estado del arte de la literatura sobre investigación en enseñanza de la física, a partir de lo cual se resaltan preguntas como ¿Qué es enseñar ciencias?, ¿Qué es formar profesores en esta área?, ¿Qué contenidos enseñar en didáctica de las ciencias? ¿Qué contenidos enseñar en física?, ¿Cómo explicar ciencias?, ¿Cómo innovar en estrategias de enseñanza y aprendizaje?,¿Cómo detectar concepciones previas o modelos explicativos en los estudiantes? Preguntas que han estado a la base de las investigaciones en el áre desde hace al menos seis décadas.
Development of Hot Equal Channel Angular Processing (ECAP) Consolidation Technique in the Production of Boron Carbide(B4C)-Reinforced Aluminium Chip (AA6061)-Based Composite
Authors: Al-Alimi Sami , Lajis Mohd Amri , Shamsudin Shazarel , Yusuf Nur Kamilah , Chan Boon Loong , Didane Djamal Hissein , Rady Mohammed H. , Sabbar Huda M. , Msebawi Munthader S.
Published: March 2021

The production of metal matrix composites (MMCs) through recycled materials is a cost-saving process. However, the improvement of the mechanical and physical properties is another challenge to be concerned. In this study, recycled aluminium 6061 (AA6061) chips reinforced with different volumetric fractions of boron carbide (B4C) were produced through hot equal channel angular processing (ECAP). Response surface methodology (RSM) was carried out to investigate the dependent response (compressive strength) with independent parameters such as different volumetric fractions (5-15%) of added contents of B4C and  preheating temperature (450 – 550°C). Also, the number of passes were examined to check the effect on the mechanical and physical properties of the developed recycled AA6061/B4C composite. The results show that maximum compressive strength and hardness of recycled AA6061/B4C were 59.2 MPa and 69 HV respectively at 5% of B4C contents. Likewise, the density and number of pores increased, which were confirmed through scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscopes (AFM) analysis. However, the number of passes enhanced the mechanical and physical properties of the recycled AA6061/B4C composite. Therefore, the maximum compressive strength and hardness achieved were 158 MPa and 74.95 HV for the 4th pass. Moreover, the physical properties of recycled AA6061/B4C composite become denser of 2.62 g/cm3 at the 1st pass and 2.67 g/cm3 for the 4th pass. Thus, it can be concluded that the B4C volumetric fraction and number of passes have a significant effect on recycled AA6061 chips.
Pogrzeb i grób w tradycjach o patriarchach zawartych w Księdze Rodzaju. Stan badań
Authors: Basiuk Maciej
Published: March 2021

In the sanctuary dedicated to the patriarchs in Hebron, according to tradition, there are graves of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their wives, Sarah, Rebekah and Leah. The roots of this tradition go back to the Book of Genesis, however, today there are some people who call into question the credibility of this message. On the grounds of analysis of the text describing the circumstances of Jacob’s death, some state that actually his grave has a diff erent location. Others, in turn, will point out that the story of Abraham purchasing a fi eld with the cave of Machpelah for the grave of Sarah (cf. Gen 23) is a very late tradition, which was attached to the pre-existing text. Therefore, in this article, we will analyze existing studies referring to the issue of the patriarchs’ death and its accom-panying events (funeral, mourning, grave) in order to check how they discuss it and to what extent they approach this practice globally.
Independent and combined effects of biotin and hemolysis on high-sensitivity cardiac troponin assays
Authors: Harley Kellisha , Bissonnette Sarah , Inzitari Rosanna , Schulz Karen , Apple Fred S. , Kavsak Peter A. , Gunsolus Ian L.
Published: March 2021

Objectives

This study compared the independent and combined effects of hemolysis and biotin on cardiac troponin measurements across nine high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) assays.

Methods

Parallel cTn measurements were made in pooled lithium heparin plasma spiked with hemolysate and/or biotin using nine hs-cTn assays: Abbott Alinity, Abbott ARCHITECT i2000, Beckman Access 2, Ortho VITROS XT 7600, Siemens Atellica, Siemens Centaur, Siemens Dimension EXL cTnI, and two Roche Cobas e 411 Elecsys Troponin T-hs cTnT assays (outside US versions, with and without increased biotin tolerance). Absolute and percent cTn recovery relative to two baseline concentrations were determined in spiked samples and compared to manufacturer’s claims.

Results

All assays except the Ortho VITROS XT 7600 showed hemolysis and biotin interference thresholds equivalent to or greater than manufacturer’s claims. While imprecision confounded analysis of Ortho VITROS XT 7600 data, evidence of biotin interference was lacking. Increasing biotin concentration led to decreasing cTn recovery in three assays, specifically both Roche Cobas e 411 Elecsys Troponin T-hs assays and the Siemens Dimension EXL. While one of the Roche assays was the most susceptible to biotin among the nine studied, a new version showed reduced biotin interference by approximately 100-fold compared to its predecessor. Increasing hemolysis also generally led to decreasing cTn recovery for susceptible assays, specifically the Beckman Access 2, Ortho VITROS XT 7600, and both Roche Cobas e 411 Elecsys assays. Equivalent biotin and hemolysis interference thresholds were observed at the two cTn concentrations considered for all but two assays (Beckman Access 2 and Ortho VITROS XT 7600). When biotin and hemolysis were present in combination, biotin interference thresholds decreased with increasing hemolysis for two susceptible assays (Roche Cobas e 411 Elecsys and Siemens Dimension EXL).

Conclusions

Both Roche Cobas e 411 Elecsys as well as Ortho VITROS XT assays were susceptible to interference from in vitro hemolysis at levels routinely encountered in clinical laboratory samples (0–3 g/L free hemoglobin), leading to falsely low cTn recovery up to 3 ng/L or 13%. While most assays are not susceptible to biotin at levels expected with over-the-counter supplementation, severely reduced cTn recovery is possible at biotin levels of 10–2000 ng/mL (41–8,180 nmol/L) for some assays. Due to potential additive effects, analytical interferences should not be considered in isolation.
Lessons in clinical reasoning – pitfalls, myths, and pearls: the contribution of faulty data gathering and synthesis to diagnostic error
Authors: Schaller-Paule Martin A. , Steinmetz Helmuth , Vollmer Friederike S. , Plesac Melissa , Wicke Felix , Foerch Christian
Published: March 2021

Objectives

Errors in clinical reasoning are a major factor for delayed or flawed diagnoses and put patient safety at risk. The diagnostic process is highly dependent on dynamic team factors, local hospital organization structure and culture, and cognitive factors. In everyday decision-making, physicians engage that challenge partly by relying on heuristics – subconscious mental short-cuts that are based on intuition and experience. Without structural corrective mechanisms, clinical judgement under time pressure creates space for harms resulting from systems and cognitive errors. Based on a case-example, we outline different pitfalls and provide strategies aimed at reducing diagnostic errors in health care.

Case presentation

A 67-year-old male patient was referred to the neurology department by his primary-care physician with the diagnosis of exacerbation of known myasthenia gravis. He reported shortness of breath and generalized weakness, but no other symptoms. Diagnosis of respiratory distress due to a myasthenic crisis was made and immunosuppressive therapy and pyridostigmine were given and plasmapheresis was performed without clinical improvement. Two weeks into the hospital stay, the patient’s dyspnea worsened. A CT scan revealed extensive segmental and subsegmental pulmonary emboli.

Conclusions

Faulty data gathering and flawed data synthesis are major drivers of diagnostic errors. While there is limited evidence for individual debiasing strategies, improving team factors and structural conditions can have substantial impact on the extent of diagnostic errors. Healthcare organizations should provide the structural supports to address errors and promote a constructive culture of patient safety.
Model-based imputation of sound level data at thoroughfare using computational intelligence
Authors: Kekez Michał
Published: March 2021

The aim of the paper was to present the methodology of imputation of the missing sound level data, for a period of several months, in many noise monitoring stations located at thoroughfares by applying one model which describes variability of sound level within the tested period. To build the model, at first the proper set of input attributes was elaborated, and training dataset was prepared using recorded equivalent sound levels at one of thoroughfares. Sound level values in the training data were calculated separately for the following 24-hour sub-intervals: day (6–18), evening (18–22) and night (22–6). Next, a computational intelligence approach, called Random Forest was applied to build the model with the aid of Weka software. Later, the scaling functions were elaborated, and the obtained Random Forest model was used to impute data at two other locations in the same city, using these scaling functions. The statistical analysis of the sound levels at the abovementioned locations during the whole year, before and after imputation, was carried out.
Antibody display technologies: selecting the cream of the crop
Authors: Valldorf Bernhard , Hinz Steffen C. , Russo Giulio , Pekar Lukas , Mohr Laura , Klemm Janina , Doerner Achim , Krah Simon , Hust Michael , Zielonka Stefan
Published: March 2021

Antibody display technologies enable the successful isolation of antigen-specific antibodies with therapeutic potential. The key feature that facilitates the selection of an antibody with prescribed properties is the coupling of the protein variant to its genetic information and is referred to as genotype phenotype coupling. There are several different platform technologies based on prokaryotic organisms as well as strategies employing higher eukaryotes. Among those, phage display is the most established system with more than a dozen of therapeutic antibodies approved for therapy that have been discovered or engineered using this approach. In recent years several other technologies gained a certain level of maturity, most strikingly mammalian display. In this review, we delineate the most important selection systems with respect to antibody generation with an emphasis on recent developments.
Super-rapid race for saving lives by developing COVID-19 vaccines
Authors: Uttarilli Anusha , Amalakanti Sridhar , Kommoju Phaneeswara-Rao , Sharma Srihari , Goyal Pankaj , Manjunath Gowrang Kasaba , Upadhayay Vineet , Parveen Alisha , Tandon Ravi , Prasad Kumar Suranjit , Dakal Tikam Chand , Ben Shlomo Izhar , Yousef Malik , Neerathilingam Muniasamy , Kumar Abhishek
Published: March 2021

The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has affected millions of people and claimed thousands of lives. Starting in China, it is arguably the most precipitous global health calamity of modern times. The entire world has rocked back to fight against the disease and the COVID-19 vaccine is the prime weapon. Even though the conventional vaccine development pipeline usually takes more than a decade, the escalating daily death rates due to COVID-19 infections have resulted in the development of fast-track strategies to bring in the vaccine under a year’s time. Governments, companies, and universities have networked to pool resources and have come up with a number of vaccine candidates. Also, international consortia have emerged to address the distribution of successful candidates. Herein, we summarize these unprecedented developments in vaccine science and discuss the types of COVID-19 vaccines, their developmental strategies, and their roles as well as their limitations.
Adult-onset citrullinaemia type II with liver cirrhosis: A rare cause of hyperammonaemia
Authors: Chen Pingrun , Gao Xin , Chen Bin , Zhang Yan
Published: March 2021

Adult-onset citrullinaemia type II (CTLN2) is a rare disease in Chinese patients. As a subtype of citrin deficiency (CD), it is an autosomal recessive disease related to the SLC25A13 mutation on chromosome 7q21.3. In this study, we report a case of CTLN2 presenting with paroxysmal altered consciousness and refractory hyperammonaemia. The diagnosis was finally confirmed by gene analysis. The patient recovered after liver transplantation. It can be learned from this case that CD should be considered in patients with refractory hyperammonaemia and paroxysmal mental disorder without a history of liver disease.
Nuove ricerche sull’Attila Flagellum Dei di Nicolò da Càsola
Authors: Beretta Andrea
Published: March 2021

My article focuses on the Franco-Italian poem Attila Flagellum Dei, composed by Nicolò da Càsola, an Italian notary, in the second half of the XIV century for the Estensi in Ferrara, in order to celebrate the heroic origins of the family: actually, it is the first encomiastic poem dedicated to them, before the major works by Boiardo and Ariosto. The poem is witnessed by a single manuscript (divided into two tomes), supposedly in the hand of the author himself. My study provides a new biographic profile of Nicolò and his family, also through an overview of some archival documents from the Archivio di Stato in Bologna. The article also presents a brief summary of the narration, and outlines the principal characters, the positive ones (Forest and Gilius in particular) as well as the negative ones (Attila), seen as prototypes alluding to other fictional or historical figures (Forest = Hector of Troy; Attila = the entire Visconti’s family). At last, my paper offers a sample (the proem) of the critical and commented edition I am working at. The text is preceded by an analysis that illustrates its peculiar linguistic features, with a particular regard on the rhymes: indeed, far from being representative of the generic class of Franco-italian works composed by Italo-Romance authors, the poem Attila Flagellum Dei shows a combination of hypercharacterized French and Italo-Romance dialects of Northern Italy.
Transformative copper metallurgy in Chalcolithic Cyprus: a reappraisal
Authors: Düring Bleda S. , De Ceuster Sarah , Degryse Patrick , Kassianidou Vasiliki
Published: March 2021

The extraction and smelting of the rich copper ore deposits of Cyprus and the manufacture of copper objects on the island are thought to have begun during the Philia phase (c. 2400–2200 BC). Here, the authors present the results of lead isotope analysis undertaken on Late Chalcolithic (2900–2400 BC) metal objects from the site of Chlorakas-Palloures. The results facilitate a reassessment of the timing of the start of transformative copper technologies on Cyprus and the re-evaluation of contemporaneous copper artefacts from Jordan and Crete previously suggested to have been consistent with Cypriot ores. They conclude that there is no compelling evidence for transformative metallurgy in Chalcolithic Cyprus.
Positive Controls in Adults and Children Support That Very Few, If Any, New Neurons Are Born in the Adult Human Hippocampus
Authors: Sorrells Shawn F. , Paredes Mercedes F. , Zhang Zhuangzhi , Kang Gugene , Pastor-Alonso Oier , Biagiotti Sean , Page Chloe E. , Sandoval Kadellyn , Knox Anthony , Connolly Andrew , Huang Eric J. , Garcia-Verdugo Jose Manuel , Oldham Michael C. , Yang Zhengang , Alvarez-Buylla Arturo
Published: March 2021

Adult hippocampal neurogenesis was originally discovered in rodents. Subsequent studies identified the adult neural stem cells and found important links between adult neurogenesis and plasticity, behavior, and disease. However, whether new neurons are produced in the human dentate gyrus (DG) during healthy aging is still debated. We and others readily observe proliferating neural progenitors in the infant hippocampus near immature cells expressing doublecortin (DCX), but the number of such cells decreases in children and few, if any, are present in adults. Recent investigations using dual antigen retrieval find many cells stained by DCX antibodies in adult human DG. This has been interpreted as evidence for high rates of adult neurogenesis, even at older ages. However, most of these DCX-labeled cells have mature morphology. Furthermore, studies in the adult human DG have not found a germinal region containing dividing progenitor cells. In this Dual Perspectives article, we show that dual antigen retrieval is not required for the detection of DCX in multiple human brain regions of infants or adults. We review prior studies and present new data showing that DCX is not uniquely expressed by newly born neurons: DCX is present in adult amygdala, entorhinal and parahippocampal cortex neurons despite being absent in the neighboring DG. Analysis of available RNA-sequencing datasets supports the view that DG neurogenesis is rare or absent in the adult human brain. To resolve the conflicting interpretations in humans, it is necessary to identify and visualize dividing neuronal precursors or develop new methods to evaluate the age of a neuron at the single-cell level.
Neural Development of Speech Sensorimotor Learning
Authors: Ohashi Hiroki , Ostry David J.
Published: March 2021

The development of the human brain continues through to early adulthood. It has been suggested that cortical plasticity during this protracted period of development shapes circuits in associative transmodal regions of the brain. Here we considered how cortical plasticity during development might contribute to the coordinated brain activity required for speech motor learning. Specifically, we examined patterns of brain functional connectivity (FC), whose strength covaried with the capacity for speech audio-motor adaptation in children ages 5–12 and in young adults of both sexes. Children and adults showed distinct patterns of the encoding of learning in the brain. Adult performance was associated with connectivity in transmodal regions that integrate auditory and somatosensory information, whereas children rely on basic somatosensory and motor circuits. A progressive reliance on transmodal regions is consistent with human cortical development and suggests that human speech motor adaptation abilities are built on cortical remodeling, which is observable in late childhood and is stabilized in adults.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTA protracted period of neuro plasticity during human development is associated with extensive reorganization of associative cortex. We examined how the relationship between FC and speech motor learning capacity are reconfigured in conjunction with this cortical reorganization. Young adults and children aged 5–12 years showed distinctly different patterns. Mature brain networks related to learning included associative cortex, which integrates auditory and somatosensory feedback in speech, whereas the immature networks in children included motor regions of the brain. These patterns are consistent with the cortical reorganization that is initiated in late childhood. The result provides insights into the human biology of speech as well as to the mature neural mechanisms for multisensory integration in motor learning.
DISTRIBUCIÓN DO INGRESO RURAL EN COLOMBIA E LIÑA DE POBREZA: 2004-2014
Authors: BARON ORTEGON Brayan Alexander
Published: March 2021

Neste traballo respóndese á seguinte pregunta Por que no período: 2004-2014,reduciuse a pobreza rural en Colombia, se a concentración do ingreso rural non baixou?Para respondela, faise unha análise das taxas de crecemento das series de crecemento doingreso rural, distribución do ingreso rural, pobreza rural, o coeficiente de Gini do ingresoe poboación rural. Logo de responder á anterior pregunta, faise unha descrición doimpacto da diminución da pobreza rural no período estudado, sobre algunhas dasvariables de calidade de vida da poboación rural, para concluír que estas foron febles.Analízase ademais a influencia do desenvolvemento económico sobre a diminución dapobreza.Abstract. In this paper, the following question is answered: Why in the study period2004-2014, Colombian rural poverty decreased, even if rural income shares did notchange? In order to do so, an analysis of growth rates of some economic series is done,such as: rural income growth, rural income shares, rural poverty, Gini coefficient ofincome and rural population. After, possible impacts of the decreasing rural poverty onsome quality of life variables of Colombian rural population are described, finallyconcluding them to be feeble. Besides, the influence of economic development on povertyreduction is analyzed.
GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS, NEOINDUSTRIALIZATION AND INNOVATIVE CLUSTERS: INTERNATIONAL INDICATORS AND TRENDS OF RUSSIAN FEDERATION
Authors: LARIONOVA Nina I. , YALYALIEVA Tatyana V. , NAPOLSKIKH Dmitry L.
Published: March 2021

The purpose of the study is to identify trends and future models for the innovativedevelopment of Russian Federation. Paper deals with the innovative development of theleading countries of world economic growth. Particular attention is given to«neoindustrialization» of economically developed countries and innovative nature ofclustering of economic space. The modern factors of global competitiveness and economiccontent of the innovative transformation of the economy is specified. Theoreticalapproaches and tendencies of innovative transformation of economy are proved. Theauthors identified scientific, technological, production, spatial-territorial and institutionalmarketaspects of innovative transformation. Paper includes the differentiation of theStates-leaders of industrial production in the context of key indicators of globalcompetitiveness. The transformation model of innovative economy formation ispresented, the indicators of global competitiveness of the Russian Federation areconsidered. The authors propose structural and logical scheme of innovativetransformation of the national economic system of the Russian Federation is developed. Agraphic interpretation of the transformation of the economic system of the territory underthe influence of innovative development is proposed.
TEORÍA FINANCIERA E CRISE: UNHA REVISIÓN DA RACIONALIDADE DO INDIVIDUO DENDE A TEORÍA DO COMPORTAMENTO
Authors: REDONDO LÓPEZ José Antonio , FERNÁNDEZ FERNÁNDEZ Loreto
Published: March 2021

Estamos perante unha crise que estoupa nun marco globalizado a nivel de operadoreseconómicos, con regulacións moi permisivas e relaxación por parte dos supervisores dosistema. Pero, ademais, e ao contrario que con outras crises, o risco sistémico, o risco decontaxio, tivo consecuencias demoledoras sobre as economías. A cuestión é se fallou omercado ou os mecanismos de regulación. Resulta claro que os mercados fracasaron, pero,indubidablemente, alimentados por políticas regulatorias que, en nome da “sacrosanta”liberdade de mercado, permitiron actuar impunemente aos operadores. E non podemosesquecer o fracaso de modelos teóricos que, alimentados por hipóteses non contrastadas eunha capacidade de cálculo quasi-ilimitada, pretenderon dominar a irracionalidade dosmercados. Os erros do pasado non nos poden desalentar na procura dun sistemafinanceiro estable. Cómpre mirar cara adiante e tentar mellorar os sistemas de regulacióndos mercados financeiros, evitando así crises de gran virulencia como a que vimossoportando ao longo da última década. Debemos afastarnos das visións catastrofistas que,sen achegar nada, procuran o aniquilamento dun sistema financeiro, non perfecto, peroesencial para manter os logros acadados ao longo das últimas décadas.
Research on applications and problem of control of swarm intelligence and robotics
Authors:   Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, A.S. Baraniuk
Published: March 2021

This article provides overview of the swarm intelligence and robotics fields, main characteristics of such systems provided, their advantages and disadvantages as well as differences from other multi-agent systems. Also, main fields of application for swarm systems with examples provided apart from short information on swarm optimizations. The problem of swarms’ control described and possible solutions for it such as algorithm replacement, parameters change, control through environment and leaders. Apart from that fields for possible future research noted.