Comparison of Reference Management Systems

The document offers a comparison of five literature management programmes - Zotero, Citavi, Mendeley, EndNote and JabRef. Versions as of 10/2021 were tested. The following criteria are taken into account: General and installation, import / export variants, data entry and editing, display and search, citation and bibliography, cooperation, knowledge organisation, special features and support. The comparison concludes with an overall assessment of strengths and weaknesses and provides target group-specific selection recommendations

Postoperative Heparin-Mediated Extracorporeal Low-Density Lipoprotein Fibrinogen Precipitation Aphaeresis Prevents Early Graft Occlusion after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Background Early graft occlusion due to thromboembolic events is a well-known complication after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Fibrinogen, the coagulation factor I, is a glycoprotein that is transformed by thrombin into fibrin. It plays amajor role in thrombus formation and is highly elevated after CABG. Our aim was to determine if postoperative lowering of fibrinogen levels by H.E.L.P. (heparin-mediated extracorporeal low-density lipoprotein [LDL] fibrinogen precipitation) aphaeresis could reduce the rate of early graft occlusion in patients with hypercholesterolemia undergoing CABG. Methods Between December 2004 and September 2009, 36 male patients with hypercholesterolemia (mean LDL cholesterol 128 +/- 12 mg/dL), mean age 58 +/- 9 years, underwent CABG. Mean preoperative fibrinogen level was 387 +/- 17 mg/dL. H.E.L.P. aphaeresis was postoperatively performed when fibrinogen levels exceeded 350 mg/dL on day 1 and 250 mg/dL every consecutive day up to day 8. Pre- and postaphaeresis blood samples were obtained and plasma fibrinogen level reduction was calculated. Early graft occlusion was evaluated by means of coronary angiography or multislice computed tomography before discharge. Results A total of 128 distal anastomoses were performed in 36 patients (mean 3.6/patient). Postoperatively, 191 H.E.L.P. aphaeresis sessions were performed (mean 5.3/patient). Fibrinogen levels were lowered from 391 +/- 10 mg/dL (preaphaeresis) to 171 +/- 5 mg/dL (postaphaeresis;p < 0.001). Coronary angiography (multislice computed tomography in 7 patients) revealed graft patency in 125 of 128 grafts (98% patency) with three occluded venous grafts to target vessels of 1.5 mm. H.E.L.P. aphaeresis-related complications were limited to hypotensive episodes in two patients and bacteremia in one patient. Conclusions H.E.L.P. apheresis offers an easy, save, and efficient method to decrease fibrinogen postoperatively in patients having CABG. Showing excellent graft patency rates in comparison to the literature, this method is a promising tool to reduce early graft occlusion after CABG

Postoperative Heparin-Mediated Extracorporeal Low-Density Lipoprotein Fibrinogen Precipitation Aphaeresis Prevents Early Graft Occlusion after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Background Early graft occlusion due to thromboembolic events is a well-known complication after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Fibrinogen, the coagulation factor I, is a glycoprotein that is transformed by thrombin into fibrin. It plays amajor role in thrombus formation and is highly elevated after CABG. Our aim was to determine if postoperative lowering of fibrinogen levels by H.E.L.P. (heparin-mediated extracorporeal low-density lipoprotein [LDL] fibrinogen precipitation) aphaeresis could reduce the rate of early graft occlusion in patients with hypercholesterolemia undergoing CABG. Methods Between December 2004 and September 2009, 36 male patients with hypercholesterolemia (mean LDL cholesterol 128 +/- 12 mg/dL), mean age 58 +/- 9 years, underwent CABG. Mean preoperative fibrinogen level was 387 +/- 17 mg/dL. H.E.L.P. aphaeresis was postoperatively performed when fibrinogen levels exceeded 350 mg/dL on day 1 and 250 mg/dL every consecutive day up to day 8. Pre- and postaphaeresis blood samples were obtained and plasma fibrinogen level reduction was calculated. Early graft occlusion was evaluated by means of coronary angiography or multislice computed tomography before discharge. Results A total of 128 distal anastomoses were performed in 36 patients (mean 3.6/patient). Postoperatively, 191 H.E.L.P. aphaeresis sessions were performed (mean 5.3/patient). Fibrinogen levels were lowered from 391 +/- 10 mg/dL (preaphaeresis) to 171 +/- 5 mg/dL (postaphaeresis;p < 0.001). Coronary angiography (multislice computed tomography in 7 patients) revealed graft patency in 125 of 128 grafts (98% patency) with three occluded venous grafts to target vessels of 1.5 mm. H.E.L.P. aphaeresis-related complications were limited to hypotensive episodes in two patients and bacteremia in one patient. Conclusions H.E.L.P. apheresis offers an easy, save, and efficient method to decrease fibrinogen postoperatively in patients having CABG. Showing excellent graft patency rates in comparison to the literature, this method is a promising tool to reduce early graft occlusion after CABG

Nucleosomes in serum of patients with early cerebral stroke

Background: Nucleosomes are cell death products that are elevated in serum of patients with diseases that are associated with massive cell destruction. We investigated the kinetics of circulating nucleosomes after cerebral stroke and their correlation with the clinical status. Methods: In total, we analyzed nucleosomes by ELISA in sera of 63 patients with early stroke daily during the first week after onset. For correlation with the clinical pathology, patients were grouped into those with medium to slight functional impairment (Barthel Index BI >= 50) and those with severe functional impairment (BI = 50 showed a continuous increase in nucleosomes until day 5 (median: 523 arbitrary units, AU) followed by a slow decline. In contrast, patients with BI = 50 (497 AU; p = 0.031). Concerning the infarction volume, nucleosomes showed significant correlations for the concentrations on day 3 (r = 0.43; p = 0.001) and for the area under the curve (r = 0.34; p = 0.016). Conclusion: Even if nucleosomes are nonspecific cell death markers, their release into serum after cerebral stroke correlates with the gross functional status as well as with the infarction volume and can be considered as biochemical correlative to the severity of stroke. Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel

ARTES PLÁSTICAS E EDUCAÇÃO AMBIENTAL: UMA REFLEXÃO E SENSIBILIZAÇÃO INTERDISCIPLINAR.

Este artigo apresenta algumas noções teóricas trabalhadas em Artes e Educação Ambiental, além do desenvolvimento de atividades práticas e plásticas no processo educativo, considerando o papel do educador frente às aceleradas mudanças da sociedade, as relações pedagógicas e competências da situação de estudo, as quais exigem tanto dos educandos quanto dos professores mais dedicação e comprometimento. Trata-se de um projeto interdisciplinar que contempla as diferentes áreas do conhecimento: Artes, Educação Ambiental, Informática Educativa, Literatura e Ciências. Deste modo, ao iniciar o ano letivo, houve discussão sobre a mensagem “A lição da borboleta”, a qual despertou enorme curiosidade sobre o desenvolvimento e a vida desta. A partir desse interesse elaborou-se o projeto e consequentemente diversas atividades nas diferentes áreas do saber. Dessa forma, um dos objetivos é buscar caminhos que possibilitem uma formação consistente e adequada aos discentes no processo educativo, a fim de que possam vislumbrar novas alternativas e possibilidades de conquistas no seu cotidiano.

Long-term longitudinal evaluation of the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in healthcare and university workers.

peer reviewedAsymptomatic and pauci-symptomatic cases contribute to underestimating the prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections. Moreover, we have few studies available on the longitudinal follow-up of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies after natural infection. We tested staff members of a Belgian tertiary academic hospital for SARS-CoV-2 IgG, IgM, and IgA antibodies. We analyzed the evolution of IgM and IgG after 6 weeks, and the persistence of IgG after 3 and 10 months. At the first evaluation, 409/3776 (10.8%) participants had a positive SARS-CoV-2 serology. Among initially seropositive participants who completed phases 2 and 3, IgM were still detected after 6 weeks in 53.1% and IgG persisted at 12 weeks in 82.0% (97.5% of those with more than borderline titers). IgG levels were higher and increased over time in symptomatic but were lower and stable in asymptomatic participants. After 10 months, 88.5% of participants had sustained IgG levels (97.0% of those with more than borderline titers)

Predictive factors for the presence and long-term persistence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in healthcare and university workers

peer reviewedWhile patient groups at risk for severe COVID-19 infections are now well identified, the risk factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) transmission and immunization are still poorly understood. In a cohort of staff members of a Belgian tertiary academic hospital tested for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies during the early phase of the pandemic and followed-up after 6 weeks, 3 months and 10 months, we collected personal, occupational and medical data, as well as symptoms based on which we constructed a COVID-19 score. Seroprevalence was higher among participants in contact with patients or with COVID-19 confirmed subjects or, to a lesser extent, among those handling respiratory specimens, as well as among participants reporting an immunodeficiency or a previous or active hematological malignancy, and correlated with several symptoms. In multivariate analysis, variables associated with seropositivity were: contact with COVID-19 patients, immunodeficiency, previous or active hematological malignancy, anosmia, cough, nasal symptoms, myalgia, and fever. At 10 months, participants in contact with patients and those with higher initial COVID-19 scores were more likely to have sustained antibodies, whereas those with solid tumors or taking chronic medications were at higher risk to become seronegative

Do student perceptions of teaching predict the development of representational competence and biological knowledge?

Dealing with representations is a crucial skill for students and such representational competence is essential for learning science. This study analysed the relationship between representational competence and content knowledge, student perceptions of teaching practices concerning the use of different representations, and their impact on students’ outcome over a teaching unit. Participants were 931 students in 51 secondary school classes. Representational competence and content knowledge were interactively related. Representational aspects were only moderately included in teaching and students did not develop rich representational competence although content knowledge increased significantly. Multilevel regression showed that student perceptions of interpreting and constructing visual-graphical representations and active social construction of knowledge predicted students’ outcome at class level, whereas the individually perceived amount of terms and use of symbolic representations influenced the students’ achievement at individual level. Methodological and practical implications of these findings are discussed in relation to the development of representational competence in classrooms