bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Serratia marcescens as a cause of unfavorable outcome in the twin pregnancy
Authors: Kljakić Duško , Milosavljević Miloš Z. , Jovanović Milan , Popović Vesna Čolaković , Raičević Saša 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Several Serratia species are widely distributed in nature, but Serratia marcescens is the only species frequently isolated in hospitals. This pathogen is mainly responsible for nosocomial infection, mostly in immunocompromised hosts. A 26-year-old woman with a twin pregnancy, regularly controlled, was hospitalized at 24 + 5 weeks of gestation due to scant vaginal bleeding, lower abdominal pain, and body temperature up to 37.5°C. Gynecological examination revealed bleeding accompanied by dilatation of the cervix. The laboratory analyses revealed leukocytosis with elevated C-reactive protein (CRP). Treatment was initiated with intravenous antibiotic administration. After admission, fetal membranes spontaneously ruptured, and an extremely preterm dichorionic female twin birth occurred at 25 + 0 weeks of gestation. Both infants died two days after labor. Pathological and microbiological analyses revealed chorioamnionitis caused by S. marcescens. According to the antibiogram, antibiotic treatment was continued for the next 7 days. The examination of cervical and vaginal discharge samples was negative three days and two weeks after therapy. S. marcescens may cause spontaneous miscarriages and, in this important case, caused loss of discordant twins in an extremely preterm birth by an immunocompetent patient. Infection by S. marcescens cannot be excluded as a cause of discordant growth and needs to be confirmed by further research.
Strong convergence of the functional nonparametric relative error regression estimator under right censoring
Authors: Fetitah Omar , Almanjahie Ibrahim M. , Attouch Mohammed Kadi , Righi Ali 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
In this paper, we investigate the asymptotic properties of a nonparametric estimator of the relative error regression given a functional explanatory variable, in the case of a scalar censored response, we use the mean squared relative error as a loss function to construct a nonparametric estimator of the regression operator of these functional censored data. We establish the strong almost complete convergence rate and asymptotic normality of these estimators. A simulation study is performed to illustrate and compare the higher predictive performances of our proposed method to those obtained with standard estimators.
Influence of land development on the ecological status of small water bodies
Authors: Dudzińska Anna , Szpakowska Barbara , Pajchrowska Maria 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Small water bodies play a specific role in the landscape, as they increase the mosaic pattern of a given area, retain water and affect hydrological regime in adjacent soils. These water bodies are the most important in landscapes that have been largely transformed by man, such as agricultural and urban landscapes. The author of this study assessed the ecological status of small water bodies using the Q index and determined the impact of the development of adjacent areas on their ecological status. The analysis of the Q index referring to water bodies showed that its values changed considerably not only during the whole study period but also during one year (from 1.74 to 4.28). The land use analysis in the designated buffer zones stretching within 500 m and 1000 m from the water bodies showed that arable land occupied the largest area. This fact determines the ecological status of these water bodies. Ecotones that develop around ponds can function as biogeochemical barriers reducing pollution in the area. A total of 116 species of vascular plants were identified in the water bodies under study. Herbaceous plants constituted the largest group – 87 species. Trees and shrubs were represented by 16 species and macrophytes by 16 taxa.
Phosphorus forms in the sediment of seagrass meadows affected mainly by fungi rather than bacteria: a preliminary study based on 31P-NMR and high-throughput sequencing
Authors: Zhao Muqiu , Wang Hui , Wang Shuai , Han Qiuying , Shi Yunfeng 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Microorganisms play an important role in the circulation of phosphorus (P) in the sediment of coastal wetland ecosystems. In this study, solution 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) was used to determine different forms of P in the sediments of four different seagrass meadows and a bare tidal flat, while high-throughput 16S and ITS rRNA gene sequencing was used to determine the microbial community composition. The solution 31P-NMR spectra revealed six forms of the P compounds detected by the NaOH-EDTA extraction of sediments, where Ortho-P was the most dominant P compound, followed by Mono-P. The Po compounds were more varied in the seagrass meadow sediments and more abundant compared to the bare tidal flat. Bacterial communities in the sediments collected from E. acoroides and fungal communities in the bare tidal flat were relatively different from those at the other sites. The relative abundance of P-cycling-related fungi belonging to the phylum Ascomycota was 26.20% and was much higher than that of bacteria (only 0.29%) belonging to the class Bacilli. Mono-P was the major factor determining the distribution of P-cycling-related fungi and negatively correlated with the relative abundance of Aspergillus and Trichoderma. We believe that fungi can affect P forms in the sediment of seagrass meadows more than bacteria.
Zambian farm blocks: A vehicle for increased private sector investments
Authors: Middelberg Susanna L. , van der Zwan Pieter , Oberholster Cobus 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe Zambian government has introduced the farm block development programme (FBDP) to facilitate agricultural land and rural development and encourage private sector investment. This study assessed whether the FBDP achieves these goals. Key obstacles and possible opportunities were also identified and, where appropriate, specific corrective actions were recommended. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews conducted in Lusaka with various stakeholders of the FBDP. The FBDP is designed to facilitate agricultural land development and encourage private sector investment. However, the programme falls far short in terms of implementation, amidst policy uncertainty and lack of support. This is evident by the insecurity of land tenure which negatively affects small- and medium-scale producers’ access to financing, lack of infrastructure development of these farm blocks, and constraints in the agricultural sector such as low labour productivity and poor access to service expertise. It is recommended that innovative policy interventions should be created to support agricultural development. This can be achieved by following a multistakeholder approach through involving private, public and non-profit sectors such as non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and donors.
Antimicrobial magnetic poly(GMA) microparticles: synthesis, characterization and lysozyme immobilization
Authors: Erol Kadir , Tatar Demet , Veyisoğlu Aysel , Tokatlı Ali 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Micron-sized magnetic particles currently find a wide range of applications in many areas including biotechnology, biochemistry, colloid sciences and medicine. In this study, magnetic poly(glycidyl methacrylate) microparticles were synthesized by providing a polymerization around Fe(II)-Ni(II) magnetic double salt. Adsorption of lysozyme protein from aqueous systems was studied with these particles. Adsorption studies were performed with changing pH values, variable amount of adsorbent, different interaction times and lysozyme amounts. The adsorption capacity of the particles was investigated, and a value of about 95.6 mg lysozyme/g microparticle was obtained. The enzyme activity of the immobilized lysozyme was examined and found to be more stable and reusable compared to the free enzyme. The immobilized enzyme still showed 80% activity after five runs and managed to maintain 78% of its initial activity at the end of 60 days. Besides, in the antimicrobial analysis study for six different microorganisms, the minimum inhibitory concentration value of lysozyme immobilized particles was calculated as 125 μg/mL like free lysozyme. Finally, the adsorption interaction was found to be compatible with the Langmuir isotherm model. Accordingly, it can be said that magnetic poly(GMA) microparticles are suitable materials for lysozyme immobilization and immobilized lysozyme can be used in biotechnological studies.
Smartphone-Sucht – Ursachen, Folgen und Prävention der exzessiven Nutzung
Authors: Scherenberg Viviane 
Published: December 2020

Zusammenfassung
Angesichts der hohen Verbreitung von Smartphones in der Bevölkerung, aber auch der Zunahme an Apps, gerät das Thema Smartphone-Sucht immer mehr in den Blickwinkel der Forschung sowie der Prävention und Gesundheitsförderung. Auf Basis vorliegender Studien gibt der Beitrag einen Überblick über die gesundheitlichen Folgen sowie psychologischen Ursachen des exzessiven Smartphone Gebrauchs, um mögliche präventive Maßnahmen abzuleiten.
Association of bisphenol A with puberty timing: a meta-analysis
Authors: Meng Hui , Zhou Yunping , Jiang Yunxia 
Published: December 2020

Abstract

Objectives
The results of existing studies on bisphenol A (BPA) and puberty timing did not reach a consensus. Thereby we performed this meta-analytic study to explore the association between BPA exposure in urine and puberty timing.

Methods
Meta-analysis of the pooled odds ratios (OR), prevalence ratios (PR) or hazards ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated and estimated using fixed-effects or random-effects models based on between-study heterogeneity.

Results
A total of 10 studies involving 5621 subjects were finally included. The meta-analysis showed that BPA exposure was weakly associated with thelarche (PR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.93–0.99), while no association was found between BPA exposure and menarche (HR: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.89–1.12; OR: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.73–1.43), and pubarche (OR: 1.00, 95% CI: 0.79–1.26; PR: 1.00, 95% CI: 0.95–1.05).

Conclusions
There was no strong correlation between BPA exposure and puberty timing. Further studies with large sample sizes are needed to verify the relationship between BPA and puberty timing.
The therapeutic potential of mitochondrial transplantation for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders
Authors: Espino De la Fuente-Muñoz César , Arias Clorinda 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Mitochondrial activity is essential to support neural functions, and changes in the integrity and activity of the mitochondria can contribute to synaptic damage and neuronal death, especially in degenerative diseases associated with age, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Currently, different approaches are used to treat these conditions, and one strategy under research is mitochondrial transplantation. For years, mitochondria have been shown to be transferred between cells of different tissues. This process has allowed several attempts to develop transplantation schemes by isolating functional mitochondria and introducing them into damaged tissue in particular to counteract the harmful effects of myocardial ischemia. Recently, mitochondrial transfer between brain cells has also been reported, and thus, mitochondrial transplantation for disorders of the nervous system has begun to be investigated. In this review, we focus on the relevance of mitochondria in the nervous system, as well as some mitochondrial alterations that occur in neurodegenerative diseases associated with age. In addition, we describe studies that have performed mitochondrial transplantation in various tissues, and we emphasize the advances in mitochondrial transplantation aimed at treating diseases of the nervous system.
The soundscape as the transformatrice in some Dene songs and stories
Authors: Spencer Jasmine 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
In this article, I theorize the soundscape of Dene “myth”—stories and songs that are both philosophically and literally true—by defining an interpretive template for listening actively to these ecologically and spiritually powerful expressions. I offer two central and interlinked concepts for figuring the soundscape: (1) narrative revitalization and (2) animal grammar. Together these concepts describe the power of animal stories to live: and to enable life. As a key premise of my analysis, I accept Dene “myth” as true.
The misleading nature of flow charts and diagrams in organizational communication: The case of performance management of preschools in Sweden
Authors: Ledin Per , Machin David 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
It has become common to find diagrams and flow-charts used in our organizations to illustrate the nature of processes, what is involved and how it happens, or to show how parts of the organization interrelate to each other and work together. Such diagrams are used as they are thought to help visualization and simplify things in order to represent the essence of a particular situation, the core features. In this paper, using a social semiotic approach, we show that we need to develop a much more critical sense of how these diagrams and flowcharts can easily abstract, conceal and substitute actual causalities, work roles and relationships. We demonstrate this using the example of a series of interrelated flows-charts used to implement a new system of target-based learning in preschool/kindergartens in Sweden – a system which works highly in favor of a rapidly privatizing education sector. Here, the flow charts shape how school processes and learning are presented to devalue the former system and value the new.
Croatia’s Presidency of the European Union and the Western Balkans . A New Momentum or a Missed Opportunity?
Authors: Cipek Tihomir 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThis text will reconstruct the main determinants of Croatia’s foreign policy to the European Union (EU) and the Western Balkans. It will demonstrate why, after joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and the EU, Croatia needs a new foreign policy goal. I will advocate a thesis that Croatia is looking for a place of its own within the EU, but that it has not yet managed to find it due to its dual foreign policies approach—the government’s, which was pro-European, and that of the previous president of the country, which was pro-American. The election of the new president and the presidency of the EU has given Croatia a chance to set a new goal for its foreign policy. Specifically, in its focus on Europe, could Croatia’s new role be found in guiding the enlargement process in the Western Balkans?
In vitro antimicrobial, antioxidant, cytotoxic activities, and wound healing potential of Thymbra capitata ethanolic extract
Authors: Hepokur Ceylan , Misir Sema , Tunç Tutku , Tutar Ugur , Hepokur Ali Ihsan , Çiçek Mehmet 
Published: December 2020

Abstract

Objectives
In this study, we aimed to detect the chemical compounds of Thymbra capitata ethanolic extract (TC-EtOH) as well as to evaluated its antimicrobial, antioxidant, cytotoxic activities, and in vivo wound healing effects.

Methods
The chemical composition of TC-EtOH was analyzed by Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Antioxidant and antimicrobial properties were determined with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), disc diffusion test and broth micro-dilution (minimal inhibitory concentration [MIC]) methods, respectively. Cytotoxic activity was tested on MG63 (human osteosarcoma) and MCF-7 (human breast carcinoma) cells by 2,3-bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide (XTT) assay. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) protein levels were determined by ELISA.

Results
The major components of TC-EtOH were tetratria contane (14.92%), camphor (12.50%), and terpineol (10.77%). TC-EtOH showed powerful antimicrobial activity in C. Tropicalis (0.03 mg/mL). The IC50 values of the TC-EtOH of the DPPH were determined 21.5 μg/mL. The IC50 values were calculated 37.28 and 44.40 μg/mL on the MG63 and MCF-7 cell lines, respectively. It was observed that the wounds treated with TC-EtOH showed a faster healing.

Conclusions
According to results, T. capitata species are thought to be natural antioxidants and a novel pharmaceutical compound for the pharmaceutical industry.
Providing Opportunities for Meaningful Activities for Covid-19 Patients: A Community Response
Authors: Knowles Emily , O'Donnell Casey , Lynch Amy , Snethen Gretchen 
Published: December 2020

Context: Patients hospitalized for Covid-19 are at high risk for experiencing isolation, boredom, anxiety, and depression. These psychosocial issues can contribute to poorer health outcomes.
Objective: The purpose of this project was to bridge the gap between patient needs and available resources: bringing supplies to the patients, such that they could participate in meaningful activities in the isolation of their rooms, with hopes of mitigating aspects of loneliness and boredom.
Case Report: This case study describes the activities of the occupational and recreational therapy academic programs initiated in order to resource supplies from the community in response to a request from the hospital. A carload of technology and non-technology activity resources were delivered to the hospital and distributed to patients. A treating physician provided an overview of the patient response.
Patient Experience: Staff reported fewer complaints of isolation and boredom following the delivery of resources. This also increased staff morale.
Conclusion: Providing resources patients can independently utilize may reduce feelings of isolation and boredom, which may improve health outcomes.
Risk Factors of Collateralized Loan Obligations and Corporate Bonds
Authors: Wahrenburg Mark , Barth Andreas , Izadi Mohammad , Rahhal Anas 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Structured products like collateralized loan obligations (CLOs) tend to offer significantly higher yield spreads than corporate bonds (CBs) with the same rating. At the same time, empirical evidence does not indicate that this higher yield is reduced by higher default losses of CLOs. The evidence thus suggests that CLOs offer higher expected returns compared to CB with similar credit risk. This study aims to analyze whether this return difference is captured by asset pricing factors. We show that market risk is the predominant risk factor for both CBs and CLOs. CLO investors, however, additionally demand a premium for their risk exposure towards systemic risk. This premium is inversely related to the rating class of the CLO.
O nacionalismo nas matrizes ideológicas do discurso político
Authors: Santos Frederico Rios C. dos 
Published: December 2020

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo verificar a veiculação de valores e de aspectos dóxicos no discurso político, especificamente no que diz respeito ao problema do nacionalismo. Servindo-se do corpus de apoio representado pela votação do impeachment de Dilma Rousseff na Câmara dos Deputados, pergunta-se se a introdução no discurso de uma cena nacionalista é acompanhada, por atração isotópica, de outros elementos afeitos ao discurso conservador ou progressista, segundo os parâmetros de Bobbio (2011) e Charaudeau (2016). A pesquisa apontou para o fato de que a maioria dos votantes que apresentaram um discurso nacionalista empregou estratégias retóricas próprias da direita política conservadora, que votou massivamente pela saída da ex-presidente.
Multilingualism and the heteroglossia of ideologies in Lower Fungom (Cameroon)
Authors: Di Carlo Pierpaolo , Esene Agwara Angiachi Demetris , Ojong Diba Rachel 
Published: December 2020

Located at the northwestern edge of the Cameroonian Grassfields, Lower Fungom is a rural, linguistically highly diverse region (pop. ca. 12,000) where individual multilingualism in three local languages plus Cameroonian Pidgin English (henceforth CPE) is the norm, with a minority also speaking Cameroonian English. This article focuses on the different types of identity that can be projected via the use of English, CPE, and the local languages. Data come from language documentation projects and include self-reports, ethnographic observations, and analysis of language use. Such a diverse dataset allows us to uncover and discuss a number of aspects of the local language ideologies. Key here is the recognition that only exoglossic languages allow the representation of different identities qua membership in stereotypical categories – such as the case of English, which calls up stereotypes connected with authority and prestige – whereas the use of local languages is associated with village affiliation and, hence, relational rather than categorical identities. This ideological layer is not regimented by any form of prestige- or domain-based compartmentalization and, therefore, can hardly be captured by classical theories such as Fishman’s (1967) extended diglossia theory, whose limits in doing research on African rural settings are highlighted. Also, inspired by Jenks and Lee (2016), this article suggests the existence of a heteroglossia of ideologies of personal identity (relational vs. categorical) most likely determined by the relatively recent entry of English in the local language ecology.
Експериментальне моделювання теплообміну в апараті з ротаційним шнековим термосифоном
Authors: Безбах Ігор Віталійович , Шишов Сергій Володимирович 
Published: December 2020

Представлено результати експериментальних досліджень процесу теплообміну в апараті з ротаційним шнековим термосифоном. Проведено аналіз роботи роторних теплообмінників для термообробки сировини, апаратів на базі теплових труб, що обертаються. Виявлені достоїнства й недоліки обладнання. Пропонується для термообробки харчових рідин використовувати апарати на базі ротаційних термосифонів. З точки зору надійності ці апарати більш ефективні, так як є автономними конструкціями. Поверхня термосифону, що обертається дозволяє реалізувати локальний енергетичний вплив безпосередньо на прикордонний тепловий шар в продукті. Показано, що доцільним є проведення дослідження процесів теплообміну в таких апаратах.
Розроблено експериментальні стенди і методики досліджень. Розроблено експериментальну установку для моделювання руху конденсату всередині конденсатора шнекового ротаційного термосифону. Розроблено експериментальну установку для дослідження процесу теплообміну в системі «термосифон-продукт».
Проведено моделювання внутрішньої і зовнішньої задачі теплообміну для шнекового ротаційного термосифону. Зовнішня задача враховує гідродинаміку і тепломасообмін при обтіканні конденсатора термосифона продуктом, внутрішня задача – гідродинаміку руху конденсату всередині конденсатора. Застосування шнекового конденсатора дає ряд переваг – одночасне перемішування, нагрівання, транспортування продукту. Також, на відміну від розгалуженого конденсатора, в шнековому не відбувається запирання конденсату під дією відцентрової сили. Проведені дослідження по моделюванню гідродинаміки показали, що для шнекового термосифону повернення конденсату в випарник, внутрішній теплообмін буде найбільш ефективним при кутах нахилу конденсатора 37...45 град. Виявлено, що кут нахилу ротаційного термосифону впливає на динаміку розігріву продукту. Чим більше кут нахилу, тим швидше розігрівається продукт. Це пов'язано з ефективним поверненням конденсату і зменшенням термічного опору. Отримані результати будуть використані для розробки методів розрахунку і оптимізації апаратів на базі ротаційних термосифонів.