Penetration of COVID-19 Related Terminology into Legal, Medical, and Journalistic Discourses

March 2020 has become a moment of change in communication mode and quality. Previously, the media paid attention to the current affairs, however, never earlier the journalistic discourse has been so influentially affected by the ongoing phenomenon as in the case of COVID-19. Almost overnight the new terminological phenomena with specific legal or medical reference were introduced into everyday language mainly via mass media and become an important part of a pandemic related narration. The strong influence on the shape of the mentioned linguistic changes has mainly the adoption of new legal regulations due to the unexpected outbreak of the pandemic. The aim of the following paper is to investigate how COVID-19 pandemic affected the specialisation of the journalistic discourse and how different domains (law, medicine) are being influenced by new terminology and in other way round, how for example law and medicine influence new “COVID language”. In order to take the interdisciplinary nature of the issue into account, the degree of hybridity of the selected texts will be examined by means of selected material analysis. The methodology applied in the paper uses an empirical approach and comparative analysis. The material used for the analysis comes from the selected Polish quality and boulevard press. The paper concerns the linguistic influence of the “invisible enemy” on the language presented in press. The main findings reveal the intense use of neologisms, borrowings, and it shows that the discourse was changed linguistically thanks to Student’s t-test.

Vitamin D levels in Greek patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Objectives Vitamin D deficiency has been observed in autoimmune rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis. The aim was to study vitamin D in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its relationship with disease activity. Methods In a cohort of 45 patients with SLE, 41 females and 4 males, aged 47.07 ± 2.17 years (mean ± SEM), and range = 21–79 years, 25(OH)D3 levels were determined by electrochemiluminescence. C3 and C4 levels were also analyzed. SLE disease activity was estimated by SLEDAI-2K. Observations were also performed in a control group matched for age and sex. Results In this cohort of SLE patients, 25(OH)D3 levels were 40.36 ± 2.41 nmol/L (mean ± SEM) as opposed to 60.98 ± 4.28 nmol/L in the control group ( p < 0.001, Student’s t test). Vitamin D levels were related to C3 ( p < 0.001, linear regression analysis), correlation coefficient 0.106, r2 = 0.011, and C4 ( p < 0.001); correlation coefficient 0.316 and r2 = 0.100; and inversely related to disease activity ( p < 0.001), correlation coefficient −0.572 and r2 = 0.327. 25(OH)D3 levels were 17.73 ± 1.20 nmol/L and 12.24 ± 0.93 nmol/L, in the groups without and with renal involvement, respectively ( p = 0.001, Student’s t test). Conclusions Vitamin D levels are low in SLE patients and are inversely related to disease activity. Routine screening for vitamin D levels should be performed in SLE patients.

Some economically useful signs of the pigs of a Large White breed in OOO “Rossyia”

The researches were carried out in ООО “Rossyia” of the Mozhginsky district of the Udmurt Republic. The object of the research was the sows of the main herd of a Large White pig breed. The reproductive qualities of the sows were studied according to such indicators as: the multiple births, the milkness, the mass of a nest in 2 months. The study of reproductive qualities was carried out using breeding cards of the sows and a book for registering farrowing and offspring of the pigs. The evaluation of the reproductive qualities of sows was carried out by calculating the indicators of a variational statistics: the arithmetic mean, the mean quadrate deviation, the coefficients of the variation, the heritability, the correlation. The indicator of a variational statistics was calculated according to the method of N.A. Plokhinsky. The reliability of the coefficients of the heritability and the correlation was determined using Student's t-test. Then studying the reproductive qualities of the sows of the main herd it was established that the multiple births in the average was 10.61 heads, the milkness — 51.34 kg, and the mass of a nest in 2 months — 156.72 kg. Hereat the coefficient of the variability on the multiple births was 12.95%, on the milkness — 8.41%, and on the mass of a nest in 2 months — 10.02%. The coefficient of heritability on the multiple births was 15.00%, on the milkness — 20.00%, and on the mass of a nest in 2 months — 25.00% (P > 0.999). The coefficients of the correlation between the multiple births and the milkness and the multiple births and the mass of a nest in 2 months, respectively, were r = +0.769 and r = + 0.474, and the coefficient of the correlation between the milkness and the mass of a nest in 2 months — r = + 0.754 under the probability of the infallible prognoses P > 0.999.

Otolaryngology residency program websites in a socially distanced application cycle

Objective To provide an updated evaluation of otolaryngology residency program websites during a socially distanced application cycle. Criteria were selected to evaluate for level of comprehensiveness, new content accommodating a virtual interview cycle, and stated commitment to diversity and inclusion. Study design Review of otolaryngology residency program websites. Setting Online websites between December 2020 and January 2021. Methods Otolaryngology residency program websites were evaluated for selected criteria. Programs were categorized by geographic location, size, and Doximity rankings. Differences between groups were analyzed using Student’s t-test and analysis of variance with a significance level of P < .05. Results 118 otolaryngology residency program websites contained a mean (SD) of 16.3 (4.7) of 31 criteria (52.6%). Fewer than one third included virtual/video tours of facilities or the surrounding area. Only 33% had a stated commitment to diversity and inclusion. There was no difference in number of criteria included when categorized by geographic location ( P = .22). Larger programs (17.9 vs 14.5, P < .001) and programs ranked in the top 50 by Doximity (17.7 vs 15.2, P = .003) included a significantly greater number of criteria. Conclusion While the comprehensiveness of otolaryngology residency program websites has improved, considerable room for improvement remains. Programs should strive to maintain updated websites that highlight training opportunities, program culture, and commitment to diversity and inclusion. Programs also should consider prioritizing the development of new online resources that may be especially useful to applicants during a virtual interview cycle.

Evaluación formativa en EVEA Moodle para mejorar la eficacia y la eficiencia de los estudiantes

This work reflects on the formative assessment in virtual teaching and learning environments (EVEA) Moodle, to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of students, allowing to assess through the student t test, if there is a significant difference between the measures of two independent samples. In order to verify if the result of the activities is more efficient through feedback in the formative evaluation processes, as well as to verify if the student's academic performance is increased through more efficient feedback. The research was quantitative and for the statistical analysis the student t test, using the questionnaire tool, having as a study the group of the Engineering in Information and Communication Technologies career of the eighth semester, in the field of Electronic Business I, from the Higher Technological Institute of Mulegé in Mexico. As a representative sample, 9 students participated and 6 modules were designed where different activities that the same participant would develop were placed. The results indicate that there is a significant difference before without a rubric and afterwards with a rubric in the training processes in the EVEA Moodle platform, where the student's academic performance is increased and improved over time, since the result of the application of Student's t test validates the hypothesis.

Assessment of the differences in the short-term clinical outcomes of superotemporal and inferonasal Baerveldt glaucoma implantation surgeries performed via the pars plana route

AIM: To investigate and discover whether different insertion areas for Baerveldt glaucoma implant (BGI) surgery produce different outcomes in terms of the reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP). METHODS: This retrospective study involved the review of cases of patients admitted at Toho University Sakura Medical Center, who underwent BGI surgery via the pars plana route for the treatment of neovascular glaucoma. The patients were divided into two groups: the superotemporal insertion group [18 eyes in 16 subjects (13 males, 3 females; mean age 62.9±14.4y)] and the inferonasal insertion group [17 eyes in 15 subjects (11 males, 4 females; mean age 56.9±10.7y)]. The patients were followed up and re-evaluated at 12mo. The IOP reduction rate 12mo after surgery relative to preoperative IOP was compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The mean preoperative IOP was 31.1±10.0 mm Hg and postoperative IOP was 14.4±4.5 mm Hg in the superotemporal group, whereas for the inferonasal group, the mean preoperative IOP was 34.9±9.7 mm Hg and postoperative IOP was 15.9±3.7 mm Hg. The IOP reduction rate of the superotemporal group was 50.0%±19.0% and that of the inferonasal group was 51.2%±16.3%. There was no significant correlation between the two groups (Student’s t-test, P=0.590). CONCLUSION: There was no difference in the short-term clinical outcomes between superotemporal and inferonasal BGI performed via the pars plana route.

Wirsungectomy for pancreatic hypertension in chronic pancreatitis

Background. Pain in chronic pancreatitis (CP) can occur as a consequence of mechanical factors — pancreatic ductal hypertension, interstitial pressure, inflammatory and neuropathic pathological changes in the pancreas. The purpose was to evaluate a novel modification of the classic Partington-Rochelle procedure via comparing functional results of conventional surgery group and wirsungectomy group. Materials and methods. A retrospective analysis of the case histories of patients with CP and an enlarged (≥ 4 mm) main pancreatic duct was carried out for the period from 2003 to 2009, which underwent surgical treatment of CP. The SF-36 and EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaires, and visual analogue scale of pain were used for the assessment. The first group included five patients with wirsungectomy with lateral pancreaticojejunostomy (PEA + WE); the second group consisted of 20 patients after the lateral pancreaticojejunostomy (PEA) only. Cross-tabulation analyses were performed to compare PEA and PEA + WE groups as well as those groups in different time points using a two-sided Student’s t-test. The significance level was set to p < 0.05. Results. The groups were compared in terms of VAS and the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire before and 2 years after surgery using Student’s t-test for unrelated values: statistically significant differences between the groups according to VAS as before (p = 0.757) and after surgery (p = 0.696) were not obtained. There were no significant differen­ces (p > 0.05) between the PEA and PEA + WE groups before and after surgery according to the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaires, except for some items (p < 0.05) Within the groups according to VAS and EORTC QLQ-C30 (pain severity), in the PEA group (p = 0.000001, p = 0.000109) and the PEA + WE group (p = 0.018, p = 0.017) after surgery, there was a statistically significant decrease in pain. Conclusions. Longitudinal pancreaticojejunostomy with wirsungectomy is justified in patients with long-term CP, severe fibrosis of the pancreas with multiple calcifications of the periphery pancreatic ducts to decompress pancreatic ducts, and parenchyma. In the long-term period after 2 years, the proposed method of longitudinal pancreaticojejunostomy with wirsungectomy in patients with CP with dilation of main pancreatic duct according to the VAS scale and EORTC QLQ questionnaires C30 and SF-36 is accompanied by a significant reduction in pain.

Identification of upstream transcription factor binding sites in orthologous genes using mixed Student's t-test statistics

Background: Transcription factor (TF) regulates the transcription of DNA to messenger RNA by binding to upstream sequence motifs. Identifying the locations of known motifs in whole genomes is computationally intensive. Methodology/Principal Findings: This study presents a computational tool, named "Grit", for screening TF-binding sites (TFBS) by coordinating transcription factors to their promoter sequences in orthologous genes. This tool employs a newly developed mixed Student's t-test statistical method that detects high-scoring conserved and non-conserved binding sites among species. The program performs sequence scanning at a rate of 3.2 Mb/s on a quad-core Amazon server and has been benchmarked by the well-established ChIP-Seq datasets, putting Grit amongst the top-ranked TFBS predictors. It marginally outperforms the well-known transcription factor motif scanning tools, Pscan (4.8%) and FIMO (17.8%), in analyzing well-documented ChIP-Atlas human genome Chip-Seq datasets. Significance: Grit is a good alternative to current available motif scanning tools and is publicly available at http://www.thua45.cn/grit under an academic free license.

Effect of Chloramphenicol on Reproductive Function in Female Wistar Rats

This study was designed to investigate the effect of chloramphenicol on reproductive function in female Wistar rats. Fifteen female rats (120 – 160 g) were used for the estrous cycle and histopathological studies. Chloramphenicol (7.14 mg/kg) was administered orally on daily basis for 21 and 50 days respectively for the estrous cycle and histological studies. Estrous cycle was carried out using the technique of Marcondes et al., histologies of the ovaries and uteri were also carried out. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and student’s t-test at p=0.05. Treatment of rats for 21 days with chloramphenicol (7.14 mg/kg) produced significant (p<0.05) reductions in the proestrous and diestrous phases as well as a significant (p<0.05) increment in the estrous phase of the estrous cycle relative to their respective controls. The histopathological study presented with no visible lesions on the ovaries and uteri, but few endometrial glands have expanded lumen. It can therefore be concluded that chloramphenicol probably has pro-fertility as well as exhibits non-deleterious effects on the reproductive tissues of female Wistar rats.

Efficacy and tolerability of methotrexate at a dose of 15 mg/week and 10 mg/week in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis

The objective of this study is to conduct a comparative study of the efficacy and safety of methotrexate (MT) at a dose of 10 mg/week and 15 mg/week in patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis having contraindications to GCS therapy. Material and Methods. The study involved 44 patients with stage II pulmonary sarcoidosis (26 females and 18 males aged 24 to 70) with contraindications to the appointment of therapy glucocorticosteroid (GCS). In group 1 (28 patients), methotrexate was prescribed at a dose of 10 mg/week, in group 2 (16 patients), methotrexate was prescribed at a dose of 15 mg/week. The diagnosis and assessment of the dynamics of sarcoidosis were carried out taking into account clinical symptoms based on the results of high-resolution computed tomography and body plethysmography. The significance of differences in indicators was determined using the Student's t-test and Fisher's exact test. The number of cases of clinical treatment without residual changes of a fibrous nature in the lung parenchyma in patients after treatment with methotrexate at a dose of 15 mg/week significantly increased compared to the same indicator in the group of patients after treatment at a dose of 10 mg/week (81.3% and 42.4% respectively, p=0.025). An increase in the therapeutic dose of methotrexate from 10 mg/week to 15 mg/week leads to a decrease in the time to achieve a clinical cure (10.1±0.5 months and 12.8±0.8 months respectively, р˂0.02), indicating an accelerating rate of regression of sarcoidosis. Immunosuppressive therapy of patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis using the drug at doses of 10 and 15 mg/week is characterized by satisfactory tolerability.