bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Validation of an Eastern Armenian breast cancer health belief survey
Authors: Tupper Haley , Ghukasyan Razmik , Bayburtyan Armine , Balalian Arin , Kolanjian Arsine , Hovhanissyan Marine , Shekherdimian Shant
Published: May 2023

With the fourth highest breast cancer mortality rate in the world, breast cancer prevention and early detection is a priority for Armenia. The Ministry of Health recently initiated efforts to expand access to breast cancer screening. However, little is known about the population’s understanding and perception of breast cancer screening programs. This cross-sectional telephone-based study sought to develop and validate an Eastern Armenian language version of the Champion’s Health Belief Model Scale (CHBMS) for future use. The English-language CHBMS survey was first rigorously translated by two Armenian nationals and evaluated for face validity. Telephone surveys were then administered to randomly-selected women of approximately screening age (35–65 years) with no prior history of breast cancer living in Armenia’s capital between 2019–2020 (n = 103). The translated survey’s psychometric properties were evaluated, examining (1) content equivalence, (2) test-retest reliability and (3) internal consistency. Content equivalence and test-retest reliability of the Armenian CHBMS were characterized using correlational analysis with Pearson’s coefficient ranging from 0.76–0.97 (p<0.001) and 0.72–0.97 (p<0.001), respectively, for all five CHBMS domains. The translated survey’s internal consistency was comparable to the original English-language CHBMS with a Cronbach’s alpha greater than 0.7 for all five domains (0.75–0.94 (p<0.001). The translated Eastern Armenian version of CHBMS is a valid, internally-consistent, and reliable research tool that is ready for imminent use among screening-age women to investigate breast cancer perceptions and beliefs as the Armenian government seeks to expand screening access.
Machine-supported decision-making to improve agricultural training participation and gender inclusivity
Authors: Reeves Norman Peter , Ramadan Ahmed , Sal y Rosas Celi Victor Giancarlo , Medendorp John William , Ar-Rashid Harun , Krupnik Timothy Joseph , Lutomia Anne Namatsi , Bello-Bravo Julia Maria , Pittendrigh Barry Robert
Published: May 2023

Women comprise a significant portion of the agricultural workforce in developing countries but are often less likely to attend government sponsored training events. The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of using machine-supported decision-making to increase overall training turnout while enhancing gender inclusivity. Using data obtained from 1,067 agricultural extension training events in Bangladesh (130,690 farmers), models were created to assess gender-based training patterns (e.g., preferences and availability for training). Using these models, simulations were performed to predict the top (most attended) training events for increasing total attendance (male and female combined) and female attendance, based on gender of the trainer, and when and where training took place. By selecting a mixture of the top training events for total attendance and female attendance, simulations indicate that total and female attendance can be concurrently increased. However, strongly emphasizing female participation can have negative consequences by reducing overall turnout, thus creating an ethical dilemma for policy makers. In addition to balancing the need for increasing overall training turnout with increased female representation, a balance between model performance and machine learning is needed. Model performance can be enhanced by reducing training variety to a few of the top training events. But given that models are early in development, more training variety is recommended to provide a larger solution space to find more optimal solutions that will lead to better future performance. Simulations show that selecting the top 25 training events for total attendance and the top 25 training events for female attendance can increase female participation by over 82% while at the same time increasing total turnout by 14%. In conclusion, this study supports the use of machine-supported decision-making when developing gender inclusivity policies in agriculture extension services and lays the foundation for future applications of machine learning in this area.
The combined effect of gaze stability and balance exercises using telerehabilitation in individuals with vestibular disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic: A pilot study
Authors: Aldawsary Nada , Almarwani Maha
Published: May 2023

Background

Vestibular rehabilitation is recognized as the most effective intervention to relieve symptoms of dizziness and imbalance related to vestibular disorders.

Objective

This study aimed to examine the combined effect of gaze stability and balance exercises using telerehabilitation in individuals with vestibular disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

This pilot study was a quasi-experimental, single-group design pre- to post-telerehabilitation intervention. Individuals with vestibular disorders between the ages of 25–60 participated in this study (n = 10). Participants underwent four weeks of combined gaze stability and balance exercises using telerehabilitation at their homes. The Arabic version of the Activities-Specific Balance Confidence scale (A-ABC), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and the Arabic version of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (A-DHI) were assessed pre- and post-vestibular telerehabilitation. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to examine the magnitude of difference pre- and post-intervention scores of outcome measures. The effect size (r) for the Wilcoxon signed rank was calculated.

Results

After four weeks of vestibular telerehabilitation, there was an improvement in BBS and A-DHI outcome measures (p < .001), with moderate effect size for both scales (r = 0.6). However, A-ABC showed no significant improvement among participants.

Conclusion

This pilot study found that the combined effect of gaze stability and balance exercises using telerehabilitation appear to be effective in improving balance and activities of daily living in individuals with vestibular disorders.
Identification of stably expressed Internal Control Genes (ICGs) for normalization of expression data in liver of C57BL/6 mice injected with beta casomorphins
Authors: Kumar Anurag , Sodhi Monika , Mukesh Manishi , Kaur Amandeep , Bhakri Gaurav , Chaudhary Vipul , Swami Preeti , Sharma Vishal , Mohanty Ashok Kumar , Kataria Ranjit S.
Published: May 2023

In recent years, beta-casomorphin peptides (BCM7/BCM9) derived from the digestion of cow milk have drawn a lot of attention world over because of their proposed impact on human health. In order to evaluate the transcriptional modulation of target genes through RT-qPCR in response to these peptides, availability of appropriate reference or internal control genes (ICGs) will be the key. The present study was planned to identify a panel of stable ICGs in the liver tissue of C57BL/6 mice injected with BCM7/BCM9 cow milk peptides for 3 weeks. A total of ten candidate genes were evaluated as potential ICGs by assessing their expression stability using software suites; geNorm, NormFinder and BestKeeper. The suitability of the identified ICGs was validated by assessing the relative expression levels of target genes, HP and Cu/Zn SOD. Based on geNorm, PPIA and SDHA gene pair was identified to be most stably expressed in liver tissue during the animal trials. Similarly, NormFinder analysis also identified PPIA as the most stable gene. BestKeeper analysis showed crossing point SD value for all the genes in the acceptable range that is closer to 1. Overall, the study identified a panel of stable ICGs for reliable normalization of target genes expression data in mice liver tissues during BCM7/9 peptides trial.
Practice, governance, and culture characteristics of lived experience organisations, and evidence of efficacy: A scoping review protocol
Authors: Opie Jessica E. , Vuong An , Macafee Alexandra , Khalil Hanan , Pearce Natalie , Jayakody Erandathie , Maylea Christropher , McIntosh Jennifer E.
Published: May 2023

Background

Mental health policy and service design is increasingly recognizing the importance of the lived experience voice and its inclusion in all aspects of work. Effective inclusion requires a deeper understanding of how best to support lived experience workforce and community members to meaningfully participate in the system.

Objectives

This scoping review aims to identify key features of organizational practice and governance that facilitate the safe inclusion of lived experience in decision-making and practice within mental health sector contexts. Specifically, the review focuses on mental health organizations devoted to lived experience advocacy or peer support or those in which lived experience membership (paid or voluntary) is central to advocacy and peer support operations.

Methods

This review protocol was prepared with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols and registered with the Open Science Framework. The review will be guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology framework and is being conducted by a multidisciplinary team including lived experience research fellows. It will include published and grey literature, including government reports, organizational online documents, and theses. Included studies will be identified through comprehensive searches of five databases: PsycINFO (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCO), EMBASE (Ovid), MEDLINE (Ovid), and ProQuest Central. Studies published in English from 2000 onwards will be included. Data extraction will be guided by pre-determined extraction instruments. Results will be presented in a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews flow chart. Results will be presented in tabular form and narratively synthesized. The planned commencement and completion dates for this review were July 1, 2022 and April 1, 2023.

Discussion

It is anticipated that this scoping review will map the current evidence base underpinning organizational practices in which lived experience workers are involved, specifically in the mental health system. It will also inform future mental health policy and research.

Trial registration

Registration: Open Science Framework (registered: July 26, 2022; registration DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/NB3S5).
Strategies of property developers in the context of carbon tax
Authors: Yao Qingzhen , Shao Liangshan , Yin Zimin , Wang Zhen , Chen Zhen
Published: May 2023

China needs to guide property developers in actively reducing emissions to reach carbon emission reduction targets and respond to global climate change. A carbon tax is an important policy tool. Still, to establish successful rules to steer property developers’ reasonable carbon emission reduction behavior, we must first explore property developers’ decision-making mechanisms. This study develops an emission reduction and price game model for property developers under the constraint of a carbon tax. It then applies reverse order induction and optimization methods to identify the game equilibrium solution for property developers. Using the game equilibria, we explore the carbon tax mechanism on emission reduction and property developer pricing strategies. We can derive the following conclusions if the carbon tax policy is not implemented: 1.House prices are related to the substitutability of the two types of competitive property developers. 2.The greater the substitutability, the greater the cost of emission reduction paid by consumers. 3.The game equilibrium carbon emission intensity is the average carbon emission intensity of the housing business. In the situation of enacting a carbon tax, we arrive at the following conclusions: 1.The profits of real estate developers who do not have the advantage of emission reduction continue to decline with the increase of carbon tax. 2. For real estate developers who have the advantage of decreasing emissions, profits declined initially and then increased as the carbon tax rate increased, and only when the carbon tax rate reaches Tm1* can they fully leverage the cost advantage and obtain ever-increasing profits. 3.Low tax rates should be adopted by the government at the start of the implementation of the carbon tax policy to provide a buffer time for real estate developers who do not have the advantage of emission reduction costs.
Micro-targeting consumers to reduce consumptive externalities
Authors: Sheldon Tamara L. , DeShazo J. R. , Friscia Bronwyn Lewis
Published: May 2023

When correcting for consumption externalities policymakers may employ economic incentives, a uniform moral suasion intervention, or various micro-targeted moral suasion interventions. To assess the relative effectiveness of these policy interventions, we randomly assign consumers to different moral suasion treatments designed to increase their willingness to pay for energy efficient light bulbs. Both economic incentives and single moral suasion interventions have similar modest effects on household willingness to pay for this durable good. However, we find that optimally targeting moral suasion messages increases consumers’ choice of the most efficient light bulbs even more than large subsidies.
Evaluation of serum VIP and aCGRP during pulmonary exacerbation in cystic fibrosis: A longitudinal pilot study of patients undergoing antibiotic therapy
Authors: Al-Keilani Maha S. , Awad Samah , Hammouri Hanan M. , Al Shalakhti Tala , Almomani Basima A. , Dahabreh Muna M. , Ajlony Mohammad-Jaafar
Published: May 2023

Background

Objective monitoring of improvement during treatment of pulmonary exacerbation can be difficulty in children when pulmonary function testing cannot be obtained. Thus, the identification of predictive biomarkers to determine the efficacy of drug treatments is of high priority. The major aim of the current study was to investigate the serum levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and alpha calcitonin gene related peptide (aCGRP) of cystic fibrosis pediatric patients during pulmonary exacerbation and post-antibiotic therapy, and possible associations of their levels with different clinicopathological parameters.

Methods

21 patients with cystic fibrosis were recruited at onset of pulmonary exacerbation. Serum was collected at time of admission, three days post-antibiotic therapy, and two weeks post-antibiotic therapy (end of antibiotic therapy). Serum VIP and aCGRP levels were measured using ELISA.

Results

Overall least square means of serum aCGRP level but not VIP changed from time of exacerbation to completion of antibiotic therapy (p = 0.005). Serum VIP was significantly associated with the presence of diabetes mellitus (p = 0.026) and other comorbidities (p = 0.013), and with type of antibiotic therapy (p = 0.019). Serum aCGRP level was significantly associated with type of antibiotic therapy (p = 0.012) and positive Staphylococcus aureus microbiology test (p = 0.046).

Conclusion

This study could only show significant changes in serum aCGRP levels following treatment of pulmonary exacerbations. Future studies with larger sample size are required to investigate the clinical importance of VIP and aCGRP in cystic fibrosis patients.
Publication bias in simulation model studies: The case of ethanol literature
Authors: Thompson Wyatt , Hoang Hoa , Whistance Jarrett , Johansson Robert
Published: May 2023

In this study, we explore the potential for publication bias using market simulation results that estimate the effect of US ethanol expansion on corn prices. We provide a new test of whether the publication process routes market simulation results into one of the following two narratives: food-versus-fuel or greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Our research question is whether model results with either high price or large land impact are favored for publication in one body of literature or the other. In other words, a model that generates larger price effects might be more readily published in the food-versus-fuel literature while a model that generates larger land use change and GHG emissions might find a home in the GHG emission literature. We develop a test for publication bias based on matching narrative and normalized price effects from simulated market models. As such, our approach differs from past studies of publication bias that typically focus on statistically estimated parameters. This focus could have broad implications: if in the future more studies assess publication bias of quantitative results that are not statistically estimated parameters, then important inferences about publication bias could be drawn. More specifically, such a body of literature could explore the potential that practices common in either statistical methods or other methods tend to encourage or deter publication bias. Turning back to the present case, our findings in this study do not detect a relationship between food-versus-fuel or GHG narrative orientation and corn price effects. The results are relevant to debates about biofuel impacts and our approach can inform the publication bias literature more generally.
Definition and surgical timing in cauda equina syndrome–An updated systematic review
Authors: Mustafa Mohammad A. , Richardson George E. , Gillespie Conor S. , Islim Abdurrahman I. , Wilby Martin , Clark Simon , Srikandarajah Nisaharan
Published: May 2023

Study design

Systematic review.

Objectives

To conduct a systematic review identifying existing definitions of cauda equina syndrome (CES) and time to surgery in the literature for patients with CES.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA statement. Ovid Medline, Embase, CINAHL Plus, and trial registries were searched from October 1st, 2016, to 30th December 2022, and combined with articles identified from a previous systematic review by the same authors (studies published 1990–2016).

Results

A total of 110 studies (52,008 patients) were included. Of these only 16 (14.5%) used established definitions in defining CES, including Fraser criteria (n = 6), British Association of Spine Surgeons (BASS) (n = 5), Gleave and MacFarlane (n = 2), and other (n = 3). Most reported symptoms were urinary dysfunction (n = 44, 40%%), altered sensation in the perianal region (n = 28, 25.5%) and bowel dysfunction (n = 20, 18.2%). Sixty-eight (61.8%) studies included details on time to surgery. There was an increase in percentage of studies defining CES published in the last 5 years compared to ones from 1990–2016 (58.6% vs 77.5.%, P = .045).

Conclusions

Despite Fraser recommendations, substantial heterogeneity exists in reporting of CES definitions, and a start point for time to surgery, with most authors using self-defined criteria. A consensus is required to define CES and time to surgery, to allow consistency in reporting and study analysis.
Laboratory evaluation of open source and commercial electrical conductivity sensor precision and accuracy: How do they compare?
Authors: Fulton Stephanie G. , Stegen James C. , Kaufman Matthew H. , Dowd John , Thompson Aaron
Published: May 2023

Variation in the electrical conductivity (EC) of water can reveal environmental disturbance and natural dynamics, including factors such as anthropogenic salinization. Broader application of open source (OS) EC sensors could provide an inexpensive method to measure water quality. While studies show that other water quality parameters can be robustly measured with sensors, a similar effort is needed to evaluate the performance of OS EC sensors. To address this need, we evaluated the accuracy (mean error, %) and precision (sample standard deviation) of OS EC sensors in the laboratory via comparison to EC calibration standards using three different OS and OS/commercial-hybrid (OS/C) EC sensors and data logger configurations and two commercial (C) EC sensors and data logger configurations. We also evaluated the effect of cable length (7.5 m and 30 m) and sensor calibration on OS sensor accuracy and precision. We found a significant difference between OS sensor mean accuracy (3.08%) and all other sensors combined (9.23%). Our study also found that EC sensor precision decreased across all sensor configurations with increasing calibration standard EC. There was also a significant difference between OS sensor mean precision (2.85 μS/cm) and the mean precision of all other sensors combined (9.12 μS/cm). Cable length did not affect OS sensor precision. Furthermore, our results suggest that future research should include evaluating how performance is impacted by combining OS sensors with commercial data loggers as this study found significantly decreased performance in OS/commercial-hybrid sensor configurations. To increase confidence in the reliability of OS sensor data, more studies such as ours are needed to further quantify OS sensor performance in terms of accuracy and precision across different settings and OS sensor and data collection platform configurations.
In silico design and validation of a novel multi-epitope vaccine candidate against structural proteins of Chikungunya virus using comprehensive immunoinformatics analyses
Authors: Mahmoodi Shirin , Amirzakaria Javad Zamani , Ghasemian Abdolmajid
Published: May 2023

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an emerging viral infectious agent with the potential of causing pandemic. There is neither a protective vaccine nor an approved drug against the virus. The aim of this study was design of a novel multi-epitope vaccine (MEV) candidate against the CHIKV structural proteins using comprehensive immunoinformatics and immune simulation analyses. In this study, using comprehensive immunoinformatics approaches, we developed a novel MEV candidate using the CHIKV structural proteins (E1, E2, 6 K, and E3). The polyprotein sequence was obtained from the UniProt Knowledgebase and saved in FASTA format. The helper and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (HTLs and CTLs respectively) and B cell epitopes were predicted. The toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) agonist RS09 and PADRE epitope were employed as promising immunostimulatory adjuvant proteins. All vaccine components were fused using proper linkers. The MEV construct was checked in terms of antigenicity, allergenicity, immunogenicity, and physicochemical features. The docking of the MEV construct and the TLR4 and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation were also performed to assess the binding stability. The designed construct was non-allergen and was immunogen which efficiently stimulated immune responses using the proper synthetic adjuvant. The MEV candidate exhibited acceptable physicochemical features. Immune provocation included prediction of HTL, B cell, and CTL epitopes. The docking and MD simulation confirmed the stability of the docked TLR4-MEV complex. The high-level protein expression in the Escherichia coli (E. coli) host was observed through in silico cloning. The in vitro, in vivo, and clinical trial investigations are required to verify the findings of the current study.
Role of intrapulmonary lymph nodes in patients with NSCLC and visceral pleural invasion. The VPI 1314 multicenter registry study protocol
Authors: Minervini Fabrizio , Kestenholz Peter , Bertoglio Pietro , Li Allen , Nilius Henning
Published: May 2023

Background

In the lung cancer classification (TNM), the involvement of thoracic lymph nodes is relevant from a diagnostic and prognostic point of view. Even if imaging modality could help in selecting patients who should undergo surgery, a systematic lymph node dissection during lung surgery is mandatory to identify the subgroup of patients who can benefit from an adjuvant treatment.

Methods

Patients undergoing elective lobectomy/bilobectomy/segmentectomy) for non-small cell lung cancer and lymphadenectomy with lymph nodes station 10-11-12-13-14 sampling that meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria will be recorded in a multicenter prospective database. The overall incidence of N1 patients (subclassified in: Hilar Lymph nodes, Lobar Lymph nodes and Sublobar Lymph nodes) will be examined as well as the incidence of visceral pleural invasion.

Discussion

The aim of this multicenter prospective study is to evaluate the incidence of intrapulmonary lymph nodes metastases and the possible relation with visceral pleural invasion. Identifying patients with lymph node station 13 and 14 metastases and/or a link between visceral pleural invasion and presence of micro/macro metastases in intrapulmonary lymph nodes may have an impact on decision-making process.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05596578.
Transcriptome and proteome analysis of dogs with precursor targeted immune-mediated anemia treated with splenectomy
Authors: Sugawara-Suda Mei , Morishita Keitaro , Ichii Osamu , Namba Takashi , Aoshima Keisuke , Kagawa Yumiko , Kim Sangho , Hosoya Kenji , Yokoyama Nozomu , Sasaki Noboru , Nakamura Kensuke , Yamazaki Jumpei , Takiguchi Mitsuyoshi
Published: May 2023

Precursor-targeted immune-mediated anemia (PIMA) in dogs is characterized by persistent non-regenerative anemia and ineffective erythropoiesis, and it is suspected to be an immune-mediated disease. Most affected dogs respond to immunosuppressive therapies; however, some are resistant. In this study, we carried out splenectomy as an alternative therapy for refractory PIMA in dogs, and analyzed gene expression levels in the spleen of dogs with or without PIMA and in serum before and after splenectomy. A total of 1,385 genes were found to express differentially in the spleens from dogs with PIMA compared with healthy dogs by transcriptome analysis, of which 707 genes were up-regulated, including S100A12, S100A8, and S100A9 that are linked directly to the innate immune system and have been characterized as endogenous damage-associated molecular patterns. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry confirmed that S100A8/A9 protein expression levels were significantly higher in dogs with PIMA compared with those in healthy dogs. A total of 22 proteins were found to express differentially between the serum samples collected before and after splenectomy by proteome analysis, of which 12 proteins were up-regulated in the samples before. The lectin pathway of complement activation was identified by pathway analysis in pre-splenectomy samples. We speculated that S100A8/9 expression may be increased in the spleen of dogs with PIMA, resulting in activation of the lectin pathway before splenectomy. These findings further our understanding of the pathology and mechanisms of splenectomy for PIMA.
Determinants of breastfeeding attitudes of mothers in Jordan: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Alkhaldi Sireen M. , Al-Kuran Oqba , AlAdwan Mai M. , Dabbah Tala A. , Dalky Heyam F. , Badran Eiman
Published: May 2023

Breastfeeding provides the optimal nutrition for an infant. However, breastfeeding practice is on decline globally. Attitude toward breastfeeding may determine the practice. This study aimed to examine postnatal mothers’ attitude to breastfeeding and its determinants. A cross-sectional study was conducted, and data on attitude were collected using the Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale (IIFAS). A convenience sample of 301 postnatal women were recruited from a major referral hospital in Jordan. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, pregnancy and delivery outcomes were collected. SPSS was used to analyze the data and identify the determinants of attitudes to breastfeeding. The mean total attitude score for participants was 65.0 ±7.15, which is close to the upper limit of the neutral attitude range. Factors associated with attitude that is positive to breastfeeding were high income (p = 0.048), pregnancy complications (p = 0.049), delivery complications (p = 0.008), prematurity (p = 0.042), intention to breastfeed (p = 0.002) and willingness to breastfeed (p = 0.005). With binary logistic regression modelling, determinants of attitude positive to breastfeeding were highest income level and willingness to breastfeed exclusively (OR = 14.77, 95%CI = 2.25–99.64 and OR = 3.41, 95%CI = 1.35–8.63 respectively). We conclude that mothers in Jordan have neutral attitude to breastfeeding. Breastfeeding promotion programs and initiatives should target low-income mothers and the general population. Policymakers and health care professionals can use the results of this study to encourage breastfeeding and improve breastfeeding rate in Jordan.
CpG dinucleotide enrichment in the influenza A virus genome as a live attenuated vaccine development strategy
Authors: Sharp Colin P. , Thompson Beth H. , Nash Tessa J. , Diebold Ola , Pinto Rute M. , Thorley Luke , Lin Yao-Tang , Sives Samantha , Wise Helen , Clohisey Hendry Sara , Grey Finn , Vervelde Lonneke , Simmonds Peter , Digard Paul , Gaunt Eleanor R.
Published: May 2023

Synonymous recoding of RNA virus genomes is a promising approach for generating attenuated viruses to use as vaccines. Problematically, recoding typically hinders virus growth, but this may be rectified using CpG dinucleotide enrichment. CpGs are recognised by cellular zinc-finger antiviral protein (ZAP), and so in principle, removing ZAP sensing from a virus propagation system will reverse attenuation of a CpG-enriched virus, enabling high titre yield of a vaccine virus. We tested this using a vaccine strain of influenza A virus (IAV) engineered for increased CpG content in genome segment 1. Virus attenuation was mediated by the short isoform of ZAP, correlated with the number of CpGs added, and was enacted via turnover of viral transcripts. The CpG-enriched virus was strongly attenuated in mice, yet conveyed protection from a potentially lethal challenge dose of wildtype virus. Importantly for vaccine development, CpG-enriched viruses were genetically stable during serial passage. Unexpectedly, in both MDCK cells and embryonated hens’ eggs that are used to propagate live attenuated influenza vaccines, the ZAP-sensitive virus was fully replication competent. Thus, ZAP-sensitive CpG enriched viruses that are defective in human systems can yield high titre in vaccine propagation systems, providing a realistic, economically viable platform to augment existing live attenuated vaccines.
New Universities for a New Nation: American Architects Redesign Higher Education for a Modern Pakistan
Authors: Leslie Stuart W.
Published: May 2023

Indian Partition in 1947 left Pakistan without an educational infrastructure sufficient to transform itself into a modern nation. Pakistan inherited several universities from the British Raj that had been intended to train civil servants for a colonial territory, not leaders for an independent country. The predominantly Hindu faculty subsequently left for India. Seeking to build new universities on the American model, Pakistan turned to a number of prominent United States-based architects who, in collaboration with their Pakistani colleagues and with funding from US foreign aid programmes and international agencies, designed new universities for science, technology, and medicine. The University of Islamabad (later Quaid-i-Azam University), the East Pakistan Agricultural University (later Bangladesh Agricultural University), five polytechnics in East Pakistan, and the Aga Khan Hospital and Medical College in Karachi were all planned in the 1960s and early 1970s and completed by the 1980s. Each architect sought to design universities appropriate for a post-Partition and post-colonial state that would be at once Muslim and modern in their curricula and in their architectural designs. However, the universities could not heal the rupture that created them, and in some ways contributed to furthering it.
Building the Caliphate: Construction, Destruction, and Sectarian Identity in Early Fatimid Architecture, Jennifer Pruitt (2020)
Authors: Milwright Marcus
Published: May 2023

Review of: Building the Caliphate: Construction, Destruction, and Sectarian Identity in Early Fatimid Architecture, Jennifer Pruitt (2020)

New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 216 pp., 19 b&w and 77 colour illus.,

ISBN: 9780300246827, $65 (cloth)
Shifting the Paradigm: New Studies in Islamic Art and Architecture in Honor of Professor Gülru Necipoğlu, Conference, Boston College and Harvard University, Boston, September 8–9, 2022
Authors: Harrington Lydia
Published: May 2023

Written of: Shifting the Paradigm: New Studies in Islamic Art and Architecture in Honor of Professor Gülru Necipoğlu, Conference, Boston College and Harvard University, Boston, September 8–9, 2022
Argiaren bidezko 3D inprimaketarako tinten garapena
Authors: Pérez Claudia , Veloso Fernández Antonio , Pérez-Álvarez Leyre
Published: May 2023

3D inprimaketa edo fabrikazio gehigarria azkar ari da hedatzen produktuen diseinu eta fabrikazio modu desberdinak ahalbidetzen dituelako. Izan ere, teknologia honi esker propietate pertsonalizagarriak, diseinu-askatasuna eta geometria konplexuak sor daitezke. Hala ere, 3D inprimaketarako tinta gehienek disolbatzaile organikoak erabiltzen dituzte, eta horregatik, ingurumena errespetatzen duten materialen formulazio berriak garatzeko beharra dago. Lan honetan argiaren bidezko 3D inprimaketarako tinta akriliko desberdinak garatu dira, azido akrilikoa, polietilen glikol diakrilatua eta fenilbis(2,4,6-trimetilbenzoil)fosfina oxidoa (BAPO) edo difenil(2,4,6-trimetilbenzoil)fosfina oxidoa (TPO) fotohastarazleak erabiliz.
Hortzetako txantxarra: etiopatogeniaren garapena eta osasun publikoaren erronka
Authors: Fernández-Bonet Jon , Marichalar-Mendia Xabier , Lertxundi Aitana
Published: May 2023

Hortzetako txantxarraren etiopatogeniari buruzko ezagutzak asko aurreratu dira azken hamarkadetan, baina gaixotasunak osasun publikoarentzat erronka handia izaten jarraitzen du. Beharrezkoa da ikerketarekin jarraitzea eta prebentzio-estrategia berriak ezartzea, batez ere komunitate ahulenetan, gaixotasuna sorrarazten duten faktore soziodemografikoak kontuan hartuta. Gaur egun jarraitzen den estrategia prebentibo indibiduala ez da eragikorra txantxarrak sortzen dituen desberdintasunei aurre egiteko. Azken hamarkadetan aho-hortzetako txantxarren indizeak jaitsi egin dira Euskal Autonomia Erkidegoan, PADI programari eta uren fluorizazioari esker; gaur egun Europako onenen artean daude. Hala ere, klase sozial baxuenek besteek baino indize askoz handiagoak dituzte. Hori dela eta, oso garrantzitsua da Eusko Jaurlaritzak, azkenean uraren fluorizazioa bertan behera uzten badu, azterketa metodologiko zorrotzak egitea erabaki horren eragina neurtzeko, bereziki talde ahuletan.
Ausentes e inconstantes: paternidad y crisis del cuidado en Río de Janeiro
Authors: Sento-Sé Isadora Vianna
Published: May 2023

Este artículo analiza tipos de paternidad a partir de las prácticas y valores de los hombres en Río de Janeiro. En esta perspectiva, este estudio analiza esos resultados, a la luz de las teorías sobre la crisis del cuidado, con base en las declaraciones sobre actividades de cuidado realizadas por hombres de bajos ingresos que viven en las favelas de Río de Janeiro. El método para definir los tipos de paternidad fue el análisis factorial, basado en la extracción de componentes principales y el análisis de conglomerados.
The influence of cities and their environmental management on life satisfaction: urban and rural perspectives
Authors: Guevara Carolina , Salazar Yasmín
Published: May 2023

This study analyses the influence of city size on life satisfaction among the Ecuadorian population. It distinguishes rural from urban residents and looks at the effect of environmental management. Using individual and canton-level variables, an ordinal logit model is estimated. Results suggest that individuals living in the most populated cantons report a lower level of life satisfaction. This effect varies for urban and rural residents. Environmental management is positive for life satisfaction.
Remote Teaching of Requirements Elicitation Techniques in a Pandemic Scenario: A Practical Approach
Authors: Rocha Marina , Dias Gabriela , Andrade Mateus , Luiz Sousa Jorge , C. Chaaban Pedro , Silva Thiago , Rabelo Jacilane
Published: May 2023

ABSTRACTThe market is increasingly diversified and offers opportunities forprofessionals in the technological field. This study presents theimplementation of a course offered as part of the projectLearningLab, based on the elicitation of requirements for collegestudents at Federal University of Ceará from Russas Campus usingreal examples from software development companies. Thedevelopment of the course took place in two main phases: duringthe implementation of distance learning and later during theimplementation of the practical exercise. The Grounded Theorymethod was used to analyze the qualitative data using the Atlas.titool, and the quantitative data was also analyzed using the IntrinsicMotivation Inventory method - IMI. 100% of the students definedthe methodology as easy to understand, indicating a great level ofsatisfaction, leading the students to participate in a new courseoffered by the college. The analysis of the data set allowed us todiscuss new actions and effects obtained with the implementationof the experiment.
A Hybrid Evaluation of Emotional Responses to Interactive Systems
Authors: Santos Picoli Helen , Santos dos Santos Suzane , Elias Cardoso Verhalen Aline , Rios da Hora Rodrigues Kamila
Published: May 2023

ABSTRACTWith the use of sensors to monitor the physical processes that correlateto particular behaviors and sensations, technological advancementsand resources supplied by neuroscience began to provide thecapacity to interact with the study of the brain directly. This allowsus to experiment with as many sensory channels as feasible whilestill applying computational solutions. Brain-Computer Interfaces(BCI) can infer information about a user’s state and intentions byobserving his/her physiology, behavior in the work environment,and authority relationship. Using this data, it is possible to determinethe efficacy of the computer tools used to respond to theemotions evoked by the user when interacting with the solutionand adjust the tool’s goals. In this work, to analyze these interactions,we adopted a hybrid approach using user responses via thedigital SAM questionnaire and data collected using electrocardiogramand electroencephalogram sensors to check for any changesin the participants’ mood during their interaction with an End-UserDevelopment interface for authoring of serious games. The resultsof this round of evaluation were positive, demonstrating not onlythe good use of the tools but also motivating us to continue developingimprovements and conducting new tests on the prototypecreated to collect the physiological data.
RIT: uma Biblioteca para Análise da Relevância Temática dos Comentários Postados no Issue Tracking do GitHub
Authors: Miranda Batista Estela , Araújo Melissa , Trindade Ramos Fábio , Braga e Silva Gláucia , Eugênio Coelho Neto Luiz , De Oliveira Souza Santiago
Published: May 2023

ABSTRACTThe mining of software repositories generates useful and relevantknowledge for project management with direct application in effortestimates, task distribution and resource allocation. This workpresents the RIT Library, which mines communication data fromissue tracking repositories on GitHub, in order to calculate thethematic relevance of issue comments. To validate the library, atwo-step validation procedure was applied: a validation of the resultsby comparing them with the opinion of business experts; and aproof of concept, which exemplifies the use of the library in a clientapplication, highlighting how the different views of the generateddata can be useful for future analyzes in external tools.
Heurística de Busca de Vizinhança Variável para Otimização do Problema de Roteamento de Veículos
Authors: Silva Pedro , Resendo Leandro
Published: May 2023

ABSTRACTThis work investigates a computational method for theoptimization of the Enabled Vehicle Routing Problem. To proposethe method, the variable neighborhood search meta-heuristic(Variable Neighborhood Search-VNS) was used. The proposedheuristic contains the implements of 5 neighborhood structures, 4of them built with deterministic methods, to explore the searchspace in order to obtain local minima. In addition to thesestrategies, a search with random factors is also presented, to try toescape from local minima. For the computational tests, 4 groupsof instances were used, with different characteristics, seeking toevaluate the heuristic in different scenarios. In the results it wasfound that the heuristic was able to obtain good results, with anerror of up to 8% of the solution.
Meninas High-Tech Em busca do Empoderamento e da Valorização de Meninas nas Áreas de Ciência e Tecnologia
Authors: Hadres Mendes Isabela , De Oliveira Puccio Taiane , Hahn Melo Camila , Petró Vanessa
Published: May 2023

ABSTRACTAo longo da história estamos vivenciando uma importante econstante luta contra a desigualdade e a discriminação degênero em diferentes ambientes e áreas do conhecimento, lutaesta que ainda se mostra necessária nos dias atuais: ainda háinúmeras barreiras no mundo acadêmico e do trabalho no quese refere à participação feminina das mulheres na ciência e natecnologia. Este artigo traz um relato de experiência sobre umprojeto que atua no âmbito dessa temática. O projeto surgecomo um canal de reflexão e combate às desigualdades ediscriminações de gênero, promovendo ações de incentivo àparticipação e valorização feminina nas áreas de ciência etecnologia. Atuando no âmbito do Campus Feliz do InstitutoFederal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Rio Grande do Sul(IFRS) e de escolas da região, o projeto, entre os anos de 2020e 2022, realizou diferentes atividades. As ações vêmproporcionando à comunidade contato com conhecimentosrelacionados à Informática, com meninas que estudam etrabalham nesta área e com histórias de mulheres quecontribuíram de forma ativa e importante para a história daTecnologia e da Ciência.
ePAGe: Sistematização do Plano de Atenção Gerontológica (PAGe)
Authors: Santos dos Santos Suzane , Do Monte Paixão Rafael , Della Maggiori Orlandi Brunela , Pereira Mota Marcelle a , Rios da Hora Rodrigues Kamila
Published: May 2023

ABSTRACTThe Gerontological Care Plan, originally “Plano de Atenção Gerontológica(PAGe, in Portuguese)”, is an instrument used to assistGerontology professionals in the multidimensional assessment ofthe elderly. Since its creation, the instrument has undergone a seriesof changes and in this study, we adopted the most currentversion, which has 104 questions. Taking into account the numberof questions present in the instrument, it is possible to infer thatthe manual application of the PAGe on paper demands time andattention from the professional. This paper presents a systematizedversion of the PAGe, whose main objective is to optimize the processof application and analysis of the instrument. The design andevaluation of the systematized version took place in partnershipwith Gerontology professionals, those who created the PAGe orwho frequently apply it. The results point to a positive evaluationby the specialists, especially concerning the application time andthe practicality of generating, visualizing, and analyzing the results.
Implementação de FFT de 1600 pontos em microcontrolador ARM Cortex-M7 para cálculo de harmônicas em sistema elétrico trifásico
Authors: Souza Gustavo , Ferreira Abrahão , Nunes Flávio , Castro Adalbery , Ramalho Leonardo , Klautau Aldebaro
Published: May 2023

RESUMOO monitoramento contínuo da qualidade da energia elétrica (QEE)é essencial para fornecedores e consumidores de energia elétrica.Dentre as métricas avaliadas, as distorções harmônicas são distúrbiosem frequência indesejados nos sistemas elétricos e, por isso,são importantes parâmetros de QEE. O cálculo da Transformada Rápidade Fourier (FFT) é uma das maneiras de estimar as harmônicase pode exigir um hardware relativamente sofisticado quando implementadoem tempo real e com número de pontos relativamentealto. Buscando equipamentos de relativo baixo custo, este artigoapresenta estratégias de processamento de sinais e de implementaçãodo cálculo de uma FFT de 1600 pontos para estimativa dasdistorções harmônicas. O algoritmo desenvolvido foi embarcado emum equipamento para monitorar sistemas de alimentação elétricade corrente alternada trifásicos, que deve ser de classe S e atenderàs normas IEC 61000-4-7 e IEC 61000-4-30. Serão mostradas, emdiferentes implementações, quais foram as otimizações realizadasem software e hardware para a realização do cálculo desta FFT,utilizando um microcontrolador ARM Cortex-M7. Foram avaliadosas quantidades de memória flash e RAM requeridas, o númerode operações complexas realizadas e o tempo necessário para aexecução da transformada, levando em consideração a utilizaçãoou não das memórias cache e da TCM (Memória Altamente Acoplada)presentes no microcontrolador empregado no projeto. Osresultados mostraram uma diminuição significativa do custo computacional,especialmente quando se utilizou as memórias cache eimplementou-se a FFT com decimação no tempo.
A Prefeitura Está nas Redes- Uma Análise de Conteúdo Sobre as Redes Sociais da Prefeitura de Porto Alegre no Ano de 2021
Authors: Marcos Paes Luciano , Hartmann Ferreira Vinicius
Published: May 2023

ABSTRACTAs redes sociais digitais ocupam papel importante na dinâmicadas relações cotidianas entre pessoas, empresas e instituições.Quando estas tecnologias são utilizadas para promover aparticipação cidadã na sociedade são intituladas de tecnologiascívicas. Partindo disso, este artigo apresenta uma pesquisa queteve como objetivo compreender como foram utilizadas as redessociais (Twitter, Instagram e Facebook) da Prefeitura Municipalde Porto Alegre no ano de 2021 sob a prerrogativa dacomunicação com os cidadãos. Para isso foi empregada a técnicade análise de conteúdo sobre as 10 postagens mais popularesrealizadas pelos perfis oficiais da prefeitura em cada uma dasplataformas. Com a pesquisa foi possível observar apredominância de postagens com assuntos ligados ao esporte eidentificar a diferença de interesse entre as pessoas em cada umadas redes.
Desenvolvimento e avaliação da plataforma web TAEP4.0 para apoiar projetos educacionais baseados na Educação 4.0
Authors: Carneiro Alexandre , Santos Lucas , Silva Deivid , Valentim Natasha
Published: May 2023

ABSTRACTEducation 4.0 is considered a learning paradigm that seeks toadapt and transform the ways of teaching and learning throughtechnological resources. In order to bring Education 4.0 closer toschools, the web platform TAEP4.0 was proposed, which has a setof steps and resources to support teaching and learning processesaimed at the challenges of the 21st Century. Therefore, this paperpresents the development and evaluation of this web platform.The evaluation was carried out by a specialist in Informatics inEducation. As part of the results, it was identified that theplatform could help document teachers' decisions and support theprocess of monitoring and evaluating the activities carried out bystudents.
Construção de Sites Acessíveis para Pessoas Cegas ou com Baixa Visão Utilizando Sistemas de Gerenciamento de Conteúdo: um Estudo de Caso comWordpress e Joomla
Authors: Da Silva Menezes Nicoly , Águila Rocha Thayssa , Pereira Mota Marcelle
Published: May 2023

ABSTRACTEnsuring accessibility on the websites and e-government portals isa duty that public and private entities need to fulfill to enable pluralityin access to content available on the internet. Due to simpleinterfaces, many people have started to use Content ManagementSystems (CMS) to create their blogs or online store. These systemsbegan to be widely used for allowing people without programmingknowledge to create and make their websites available on the internet.Therefore, it becomes essential to assess whether these toolsprovide resources that help the development of accessible websites.Thus, this paper aims to analyze websites developed through a CMSto collect and identify problems related to the criteria that guaranteevirtual accessibility (Accessibility Guidelines for Web Content -WCAG and Model Accessibility in Electronic Government - eMAG)of accessibility for blind or low vision persons.