bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
monstruo en la obra de José María Merino
Authors: Noyaret Natalie
Published: April 2021

“Cronista de lo inquietante, narrador de ciertas sombras invisibles”, Merino no podía dejar de recurrir al monstruo. Se dedica a ello no tanto en sus novelas como en sus cuentos y microrrelatos. En muchos textos, el monstruo está al servicio de una interrogación acerca de la identidad del sujeto contemporáneo. En otros, viene a alertarnos sobre ciertos aspectos deplorables de nuestra sociedad. En determinadas obras, Merino se encarga más particularmente de decirnos que el monstruo está en nosotros. El territorio de los sueños y del insomnio se revela también muy fértil para la aparición de monstruos, siendo estos la expresión en este caso de los temores profundos del escritor. En su último libro, El libro de las horas contadas, aparecen monstruos de los más pintorescos, y también de los más temibles, por eso mismo innombrables.
impostura del avatar: la belleza intelijente de Arturo Vallejo
Authors: Escadell Montiel Daniel
Published: April 2021

El avatar como personificación del narrador en la blogoficción establece un modelo de comunicación con el conjunto de los lectores. El modelo impone, asimismo, un componente diegético vinculado a la máscara del personaje asumido por el autor. En este artículo analizamos el origen del avatar en la blogoficción a partir de los casos fundacionales del hoax digital en la sociedad-red y la posterior aplicación de los cánones de simulacro en la creación de Diario de una miss intelijente, blogonovela escrita por el autor español Arturo Vallejo.
"All the web is a stage": twittoperas o Shakespeare más abreviado que nunca
Authors: Abuín González Anxo
Published: April 2021

En este artículo se examina la incidencia de las redes sociales en la creación de nuevas formas teatrales, a partir del estudio de dos ejemplos de twittoperas multimediales que toman como origen el drama shakesperiano de Romeo y Julieta: la producción de la Royal Shakespeare Company (Such Sweet Sorrow, 2010) y la de la compañía de teatro Chévere (Amores prohibidos 2.0, 2012). Ambos intentan explicarse desde una posible “Script acts theory”, que pretende abordar este tipo de experiencias desde la tensión entre un guion previo y un alto grado de imprevisibilidad.
Ética y estética en la novela realista contemporánea: de "Miau" (1888) a "Animales domésticos" (2003)
Authors: Simó Marta
Published: April 2021

Tras varias décadas en las que en la narrativa peninsular se ha evitado la representación de los aspectos más conflictivos de la historia coetánea, ha cristalizado en los últimos años una forma de realismo testimonial y comprometido, claro deudor del realismo de la segunda mitad del XIX, orientado hacia la tarea de plasmar la dialéctica entre el sujeto y las problemáticas circunstancias sociales que atraviesa España en el momento presente. Tomando como paradigma Animales domésticos (2003), de Marta Sanz, y la obra que le sirvió de inspiración, Miau (1888), de Benito Pérez Galdós, este artículo explora los aspectos fundamentales de esta nueva tendencia, tanto en el plano ético como en el estético, y establece las líneas de continuidad y ruptura entre la misma y el paradigma decimonónico.
Cine y globalización en Iberoamérica: El papel de las coproducciones
Authors: Juan-Navarro Santiago
Published: April 2021

El artículo estudia el fenómeno de las coproducciones cinematográficas en Iberoamérica dentro del contexto de la globalización. Para ello se explora, en primer lugar, el marco político, económico y cultural en el que surgen, así como sus orígenes y precedentes en las relaciones culturales entre España y Latinoamérica. El ensayo se centra en los últimos intentos por crear un espacio audiovisual iberoamericano al margen de las exaltaciones identitarias de antaño. Las coproducciones internacionales, que empezaron a acaparar los mercados durante los 90 y que terminaron por imponerse a fines de la década, aprovecharon el vacío resultante del desmantelamiento de las industrias locales como resultado de las políticas neoliberales, retomando además una tradición de intercambios desiguales con Europa y los Estados Unidos. Tales coproducciones, omnipresentes en el audiovisual iberoamericano del siglo XXI, son productos emblemáticos de la globalización: sus múltiples referentes culturales, complejos sistemas de financiación transnacional, repartos artísticos, equipos técnicos y locaciones multinacionales, subrayan su condición intercultural, migrante y posnacional. El resultado son filmes híbridos en los que las identidades se diluyen y se transforman en narrativas globales que, tanto en la forma como en el contenido, adquieren una naturaleza supranacional. Este tipo de mutaciones en las industrias audiovisuales debe ser entendido dentro de los procesos de desterritorialización con que se caracteriza el mundo de la cultura en la era de la globalización.
"Aprende el difícil": Junot Díaz, Josefina Báez y las lecturas nacionales
Authors: De Maeseneer Rita
Published: April 2021

El propósito consiste en averiguar hasta qué punto el inglés ha influido en las literaturas (trans)nacionales del Caribe hispano en el marco de las discusiones sobre la globalización. Mientras que las instancias literarias cubana y puertorriqueña siguen adhiriendo esencialmente al monolingüismo, las autoridades dominicanas parecen más abiertas a acoger a escritores como Junot Díaz o Josefina Báez que combinan de un modo particular las variantes del inglés y del español. Sus textos presentan además una suerte de indefinición que desafía muchas clasificaciones de índole geográfica, lingüística y cultural. No solo desdibujan los bordes/borders entre lo anglo y lo hispano, sino que proponen también un modo de cuestionar el concepto de literatura latinoamericana en el contexto de la globalización.
Violento mundo nuevo: hibridez contacto y espejeos de la frontera norte en la literatura mexicana
Authors: Olivier Florence
Published: April 2021

Si bien el imaginario literario ligado a la frontera norte mexicana se remonta al menos a la novela de la revolución y aparece en cuentos de Juan Rulfo y José Revueltas a mediados del siglo xx, se ha ampliado y metamorfoseado en la reciente creación literaria en el contexto de la globalización, específicamente tras la firma del Tratado de Libre Comercio de América del Norte, la crecida importancia del narcotráfico en México, el acelerado proceso de la migración. Desde principios de los noventa, la velocidad de los cambios económicos, sociales, demográficos, la hibridez cultural de las regiones fronterizas ha propiciado, junto a estudios de ciencias sociales, la escritura de relatos asimismo híbridos que intentan responder a los desafíos de una dinámica, compleja y violenta realidad contemporánea: cuentos a modo de guiones televisivos o de obras teatrales (Luis Humberto Crosthwaite), cuentos armados a modo de novela calidoscópica (Carlos Fuentes), crónica elegiaca del crimen (Sergio González Rodríguez), novela rítmica del horror (Roberto Bolaño), fábula de iniciación (Yuri Herrera). La frontera, terra incognita y mapa del futuro, condensa los rasgos de un nuevo espacio literario, mítico y poético aunque no desprovisto de visos realistas. Llega a ser la misma metáfora del territorio de la exploración literaria.
Nomadismo, literatura y globalización: Las trayectorias paralelas de Roberto Bolaño y Rodrigo Rey Rosa
Authors: Guerrero Gustavo
Published: April 2021

En este artículo se estudia el proceso de construcción de una identidad alternativa a la identidad nacional en dos escritores latinoamericanos contemporáneos: el chileno Roberto Bolaño (1953-2003) y el guatemalteco Rodrigo Rey Rosa (1958). En las dos últimas décadas del siglo xx, ambos escritores desarrollaron sus trabajos fuera de sus países de origen, integrando la condición nómada como un componente esencial de sus ficciones, sus relatos (auto) biográficos e imágenes públicas. Es cierto que en los dos escritores la influencia del modernismo y la poesía de vanguardia es evidente, pero también parece claro que los nuevos contextos producidos por la postmodernidad y la globalización han dado su actitud nómada una forma distinta y particular que acaso pueda permitirnos entender diversamente la situación de un sector importante de la literatura contemporánea de América Latina y la nueva posición de algunos escritores de esta región en nuestro mundo global.
Las dos caras de la autoficción en "La novela luminosa" de Mario Levrero
Authors: García Mariano
Published: April 2021

El lugar que la autoficción ha ocupado en las últimas décadas en la literatura latinoamericana puede deducirse por la importancia y la significación de propuestas tan distintas y personales como la del colombiano Fernando Vallejo, el mexicano Mario Bellatin o el argentino César Aira. Una obra con algo de descubrimiento póstumo en el siglo XXI es también la del uruguayo Mario Levrero, que organiza en su opus magnum, La novela luminosa (2005), un desafiante y complejo juego que pone en primer plano su propia figura de autor. Tras un repaso histórico de ciertos elementos de retórica, será el objeto de este trabajo determinar si La novela luminosa de Mario Levrero es un título susceptible de figurar en el canon de autoficción que se inaugura con el siglo XXI.
UV-Licht gegen VOC
Authors: Kratt Lothar , Münz Johannes
Published: April 2021

Die regenerative Fotooxidation einer Berliner Firma bietet einen kostengünstigen Weg, um flüchtige organische Substanzen, „volatile organic compounds“ (VOC), aus Abluft zu entfernen.
Weniger Flüge, weniger Partikel
Authors: Rose Diana
Published: April 2021

Die Luft am und rund um den Frankfurter Flughafen enthält sehr viele ultrafeine Partikel. Weil während der Corona-Pandemie die Anzahl der Flüge drastisch zurückgegangen ist, sank auch die durch den Flughafen und die Flugzeuge verursachte Belastung mit diesen Partikel um bis zu 80 Prozent.
Simulation als Planungswerkzeug
Authors: Madjidi Madjid , Hirth Stephan , Frisch Jerome
Published: April 2021

Im Rahmen des Verbundvorhabens „SimQuality“ entwickeln Forschende der TU Dresden, der RWTH Aachen und der Hochschule München gemeinsam mit zwei Planungsbüros und einem Softwarehersteller einheitliche Qualitätsstandards für die energetische Gebäude- und Quartierssimulation. Das Ziel: eine anforderungsgerechte Integration der Simulation in den Planungsprozess.
Das Wesentliche im Auge behalten
Authors: Waluga Christian , Hollenbeck Peter
Published: April 2021

In der integralen Planung mit BIM werden erste mehrskalige Ansätze bereits erfolgreich praktiziert. Mithilfe vereinbarter Modellentwicklungsgrade wird beispielsweise bei der Aufstellung des BIM-Abwicklungsplans (BAP) eine Informationsbedarfstiefe spezifiziert, dass heißt es wird festgelegt, welchen Ausarbeitungs- oder Fertigstellungsgrad (engl. „Level of Development“, kurz: LoD) ein bestimmter Modellinhalt in einer bestimmten Planungsphase besitzen soll. Hierbei unterscheidet man zwischen den messbaren Kriterien zum benötigten Modellinhalt sowie der erforderlichen Modellqualität und Abstimmung.
Beschaffenheitsvereinbarung im Planervertrag
Authors: Voppel Reinhard
Published: April 2021

Der Ingenieur haftet wegen Mängeln seiner Leistung, wenn diese nicht der vereinbarten Beschaffenheit entspricht oder sich nicht für den vereinbarten oder nach dem Vertrag vorausgesetzten Zweck eignet (§ 633 Abs. 1 BGB). Wann liegt eine Beschaffenheitsvereinbarung vor?
Abrazív vízvágás numerikus modellezése
Authors: Hervai Dominik Dávid , Safranyik Ferenc
Published: April 2021

Vizsgálatunk során az ipar számos területén alkalmazott abrazív vízvágással foglalkoztunk. A vizsgálat az említett megmunkálási eljárás során fellépő hibajelenségek tanulmányozására irányult. A munkánk célja az volt, hogy a megmunkálás során fellépő elhajlás jelenségét numerikus módszer segítségével modellezük, majd a modellt összehasonlítsuk egy valós vágaton végzett mérések eredményeivel. A megmunkálás során nagy sebességek és elmozdulások lépnek fel, ezért explicit dinamikai modellt készítettünk, amelyben az abrazív sugarat SPH-, míg a lemezt hagyományos Lagrange-testként írtunk le. A szimulációt értékelve a modellen megfigyelhető a valóságban is fellépő vágórés ferdesége, miszerint a belépő oldalon nagyobb átmérőjű vágórés, mint a kilépő oldalon.
3D nyomtatott rétegek közötti adhézió kísérleti vizsgálata
Authors: Magyarics Norbert , Safranyik Ferenc , Andó Mátyás
Published: April 2021

A gyorsprototípus gyártással kialakított alkatrészek gyakorlati alkalmazása alapján azok réteges felépítés befolyásolja mechanikai tulajdonságaikat. Ahhoz, hogy a műszaki számítások során figyelembe tudjuk venni ezt a heterogén felépítést, elengedhetetlen a rétegekre-, és azok összekapcsolódására jellemző mechanikai tulajdonságok ismerete. A rétegek közt kialakuló adhézió kísérleti vizsgálatához különböző szabványos nyíró próbatesteken hajtottunk végre kísérleteket, végül egyedi készülék gyártása mellett döntöttünk. A fejlesztéshez végeselem analízist alkalmaztunk a számunkra ideális kialakítás érdekében. A készülék működőképességét a kontúrvonalszám teherbírásra gyakorolt hatását vizsgáló mintakísérlettel bizonyítottuk. Ez alapján megállapítottuk a rétegek közti adhézió nagyságát, illetve megvizsgáltuk, hogy adott kitöltési mód esetén hogyan kell figyelembe venni a próbatest keresztmetszetét.
Monocyte/HDL ratio in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and healthy controls
Authors: GÜRBÜZ Tuğba , TANRIDAN OKÇU Nefise , DOKUZEYLÜL GÜNGÖR Nur
Published: April 2021

Aim: to examine and compare various variables, especially monocyte / high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) ratio (MHR), in women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and healthy controls.

Materials and Methods: Data of patients who applied to Adana City Training & Research Hospital Gynecology and Obstetrics Outpatient Clinic were analyzed retrospectively from the hospital database. The records of a total of 259 cases, including 194 with PCOS and 65 without PCOS who had normal menstrual cycles between the ages of 18-38, were examined.

Results: When compared with the control group, the overweight/obese PCOS group was found to have higher triglyceride value. Age and neutrophil values were significantly higher, whereas red blood cell distribution width was lower in the control group compared to both PCOS groups. Weight and BMI values were significantly different for all three groups. The HDL value was detected to be significantly higher in the normoweight PCOS group compared to the overweight/obese PCOS group. Total cholesterol value was significantly higher in the overweight/obese PCOS group compared to the normoweight PCOS group. The MHR values was found to be similar in all groups.

Conclusions: In previous studies, although the importance of MHR was emphasized in predicting and preventing obesity in PCOS cases, it was concluded that this relationship was not significant in our study. Although the present study has various limitations, there are few studies on this subject and our findings represent an important difference from available results, suggesting the presence of underlying variations that necessitate further studies on this subject.
Tilting Uranus: Collisions versus Spin–Orbit Resonance
Authors: Rogoszinski Zeeve , Hamilton Douglas P.
Published: April 2021

In this paper, we investigate whether Uranus’s 98° obliquity was a by-product of a secular spin–orbit resonance assuming that the planet originated closer to the Sun. In this position, Uranus’s spin precession frequency is fast enough to resonate with another planet located beyond Saturn. Using numerical integration, we show that resonance capture is possible in a variety of past solar system configurations but that the timescale required to tilt the planet to 90° is of the order ∼108 yr—a time span that is uncomfortably long. A resonance kick could tilt the planet to a significant 40° in ∼107 yr only if conditions were ideal. We also revisit the collisional hypothesis for the origin of Uranus’s large obliquity. We consider multiple impacts with a new collisional code that builds up a planet by summing the angular momentum imparted from impactors. Because gas accretion imparts an unknown but likely large part of the planet’s spin angular momentum, we compare different collisional models for tilted, untilted, spinning, and nonspinning planets. We find that a 1 M
⊕ strike is sufficient to explain the planet’s current spin state, but that two 0.5 M
⊕ collisions produce better likelihoods. Finally, we investigate hybrid models and show that resonances must produce a tilt of at least ∼40° for any noticeable improvements to the collision model. Because it is difficult for spin–orbit resonances to drive Uranus’s obliquity to 98° even under these ideal conditions, giant impacts seem inescapable.
Integration Model between Heterogeneous Data Services in a Cloud
Authors: Vieira Marcelo Aires , Ribeiro Elivaldo Lozer Fracalossi , Claro Daniela Barreiro , Mane Babacar
Published: April 2021

With the growth of cloud services, many companies have begun to persist and make their data available through services such as Data as a Service (DaaS) and Database as a Service (DBaaS). The DaaS model provides on-demand data through an Application Programming Inter- face (API), while DBaaS model provides on-demand database management systems. Different data sources require efforts to integrate data from different models. These model types include unstructured, semi-structured, and structured data. Heterogeneity from DaaS and DBaaS makes it challenging to integrate data from different services. In response to this problem, we developed the Data Join (DJ) method to integrate heterogeneous DaaS and DBaaS sources. DJ was described through canonical models and incorporated into a middleware as a proof-of-concept. A test case and three experiments were performed to validate our DJ method: the first experiment tackles data from DaaS and DBaaS in isolation; the second experiment associates data from different DaaS and DBaaS through one join clause; and the third experiment integrates data from three sources (one DaaS and two DBaaS) based on different data type (relational, NoSQL, and NewSQL) through two join clauses. Our experiments evaluated the viability, functionality, integration, and performance of the DJ method. Results demonstrate that DJ method outperforms most of the related work on selecting and integrating data in a cloud environment.
Le démenti, la covid-Méduse et le camp : une guerre au langage ?
Authors: Meynard André
Published: April 2021

En revenant à la Verleugnung en ses effets sur notre texte culturel du moment et en faisant lettres des détails négligés par les experts, se dévoile combien la guerre déclarée permet d’en négliger une autre. Celle, sous-jacente mais effective, qui chosifie l’humain et tend à effacer les traces de son avancée en imposant comme seule issue la poursuite des mêmes pentes délétères. Ainsi paraît, avec le surgissement de cet événement inédit, que le processus habituel d’effacement des traces de cette chosification de l’humain propre à ces logiques s’est interrompu. Il n’a pu rester voilé ni par les circuits technico-gestionnaires, ni par les éléments de langage institués dominants. Confusément, dans les failles, caviardages, aberrations multiples de ce texte expert, un certain vernis se craquelle, mettant soudain à nu la structure de ce qui généralement reste dissimulé : un tel univers sanitaire pousse à supprimer les conditions d’un véritable prendre soin puisque affilié aux idéaux d’une technoscience réglée en fait sur des logiques inverses. En restant attentif aux lueurs du pulsionnel qui seules nous font parlêtres, peuvent s’interroger les logiques discursives poussant à une telle mutation. Mutation qui, en radicalisant toujours plus une guerre au langage, fait flamber l’éclat du mauvais œil, de ses puissances panoptiques comme de ses incidences surmoïques.
L’innovation sociale au sein d’une entreprise de la silver economy
Authors: Le Fustec Benjamin
Published: April 2021

L’entreprise ReSanté-Vous est positionnée sur le secteur de la santé, à destination des personnes âgées. Elle a élaboré une proposition de valeur fondée sur l’innovation sociale. L’étude du cas de ce business model permet de discuter des critères permettant de définir un tel métier, et dans quelle mesure les modèles existants sont bien adaptés à ses dimensions sociales et solidaires, ou de création de valeur sociétale. L’exposé du cas débouche sur l’identification d’une série de forces et faiblesses du modèle économique, et la nécessité de mieux appréhender le concept d’impact social.
ReSanté-Vous
Authors: Le Fustec Benjamin
Published: April 2021

Cet article présente le cas de l’entreprise solidaire d’utilité sociale ReSanté-Vous et a pour objectif de démontrer les mécanismes d’innovation sociale qu’elle met en œuvre. Dans un contexte de vieillissement de la population, l’entreprise met à disposition une équipe pluridisciplinaire de professionnels du champ de l’aide et de l’action sociale au service de l’accompagnement des personnes âgées à domicile et hébergées en établissements. Animée d’une ambition sociétale, elle emploie des méthodes basées sur les thérapies non médicamenteuses dans le but d’innover en permanence dans le sens d’un accompagnement plus humain des ainés. Cette politique d’innovation sociale influence son business model au regard des ressources ordinaires qu’elle mobilise et qu’elle fait évoluer en ressources stratégiques, notamment par le biais d’un programme de recherche associant l’ensemble des salariés.
La municipalité tunisienne
Authors: Amara-Fadhel Elyssa , Ben Moussa-Jerbi Aïda , Hendaoui-Ben Tanfous Feyrouz
Published: April 2021

This case study concerns municipalities in Tunisia. It provides an opportunity, in a context of constitutional, institutional and legislative reforms and municipal elections, to examine local governance. In particular, this case deals with the power games and actors through a conflict between a municipality and a coalition of stakeholders since 2016. Starting from an act of violation of local and urban legislation, the case highlights the shortcomings of the authorities in the management of local affairs and the positions taken by the various stakeholders over a period of almost three years. The study of the conflict at the local level makes it possible to follow the stages of the constitution of a coalition of stake-holders as a counter-power, and the evolution of the position of the municipality in its management of its stakeholders. This positioning of the various stakeholders thus influences the implementation of a new participative governance build on openness and transparency.
Effect of Increasing Physical Activity on Cognitive Function in Individuals With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Knowledge Translation to Practice Pilot Project
Authors: Nickerson Gasong Yun , Shade Kate
Published: April 2021

The purpose of the current pilot study was to determine if 12 weeks of increased physical activity improved cognitive function in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Participants used commercial wearable technology to objectively measure daily steps. Participants wore an activity tracker for approximately 12 hours per day and received telephone support every 2 weeks. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was used to measure pre/posttest cognitive function. Increased step count was positively correlated with improvement in cognitive function with a moderate effect size (Pearson's
r
= 0.55;
p
= 0.04); 5,396 steps per day was the decision boundary for MoCA score improvement. Increased physical activity over 12 weeks improved cognitive function in individuals with MCI. It is feasible for individuals with MCI to wear an activity tracker on a daily basis. [
Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 47
(5), 14–18.]
UTJECAJ RELIGIOZNOSTI I DUHOVNOSTI NA SVAKODNEVNU PRAKSU SOCIJALNIH RADNIKA
Authors: Kin Kwan Chi , Yeung Jerf W. K. , Kong Chris Y. W.
Published: April 2021

THE IMPACT OF RELIGION/SPIRITUALITY ON SOCIAL WORKERS’ DAILY PRACTICE Although social work can trace the roots of its establishment as a profession to religion/spirituality, the relationship between social work and religion/spirituality has deteriorated due to the former’s professionalisation and secularisation. Nevertheless, religious/spiritual values are important for many social work services and for the practice of the profession. It is, hence, worth demarcating the role of religion/spirituality for frontline social workers. In the current qualitative study, repeated interviews were conducted with 11 Chinese social workers from diverse social work settings. It was noted that Eastern and Western religion/spirituality can instilmeaning and value in the profession’s nature.
The Bright and Dark Sides of Online Learning in Palestine During the Pandemic
Authors: Affouneh Saida , Salha Soheil , Khlaif Zuheir
Published: April 2021

The shutdown of schools and universities due to the pandemic has impacted the global education system as well as Palestine's education system. The future of education is unpredictable now, but new features have emerged. The education system in Palestine responded to the pandemic in different ways, and the current experience in schools and universities with eLearning has two sides. One is bright and the other is dark. In this chapter the challenges that faced teachers and students will be discussed, and the best practices will be analyzed, according to the framework of eLearning developed by Khan. uture insights will be presented on reshaping education in the future under new morals, values, and quality standards.
Development of eLearning in the Commonwealth Countries
Authors: Misra Pradeep Kumar , Mishra Sanjaya
Published: April 2021

The Commonwealth is home to 2.4 billion people (almost one-third of the world population). The countries of Commonwealth, 54 in number, are spread across Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe, and the Pacific. The Commonwealth countries are amongst the world's biggest and smallest states in terms of population and size, with about 32 of them having less than 1.5 million people. Over the years, the Commonwealth countries have emphasized using distance education and technologies to improve access to quality learning opportunities. In this pursuit, online learning or eLearning has been adapted in many Commonwealth countries, although in varying degrees. This chapter provides an overview of eLearning in Commonwealth countries by looking into the developments that emerged as various policies, projects, and practices in the four regions of the Commonwealth (i.e., Commonwealth Africa, Commonwealth Asia, Commonwealth Caribbean, and Commonwealth Pacific).
Opportunities and Challenges of E-Learning in Spanish Institutions of Higher Education
Authors: Izquierdo-Álvarez Vanessa , Pinto-Llorente Ana María
Published: April 2021

The global health crisis caused by COVID-19 led to the confinement of millions of people all over the world and generated an unprecedented global alarm. A consequence of the confinement was the suspension of face-to-face educational activity in all centres and levels of education, and the adoption of online modality. The aim of the chapter is to facilitate the understanding of the learning framework in online contexts and to explains some of the e-learning practices carried out by the University of Salamanca along the 2019-2020 academic year. It also offers a compilation of the strategies and lines of actions adopted by the university for the next academic year to guarantee the quality of the teaching learning process, to reinforce the technological equipment and telematic networks, to carry out a strong digital transformation of the institution, to bridge the digital divide, and to implement a training programme for teachers and students.
Examining Social, Personal, and Technological Factors Influencing Student's ICT Usage
Authors: Dar Wahid Ahmad , Jan Kounsar
Published: April 2021

The study examines the influence various social, psychological, and technological factors on student ICT usage motives in general and in particular e-learning using a Kashmiri university student sample (n=704). Based on the correlation analysis, it was revealed that three components of digital access (physical access, autonomy and support, and use efficacy) are positively correlated with ICT usage. Moreover, student alienation was negatively correlated with educational and capital enhancing use of ICT. Influence of gender, socio-economic status, and residential background was also analysed. The findings highlight that student ICT usage motives are significantly influenced by underlying social, personal, and technological factors. The chapter highlights that various forms of digital divides need to be seriously mitigated for successful implementation of e-learning framework in the context of higher education.
True Color Image Segmentation Using Quantum-Induced Modified-Genetic-Algorithm-Based FCM Algorithm
Authors: Das Sunanda , De Sourav , Bhattacharyya Siddhartha
Published: April 2021

In this chapter, a quantum-induced modified-genetic-algorithm-based FCM clustering approach is proposed for true color image segmentation. This approach brings down the early convergence problem of FCM to local minima point, increases efficacy of conventional genetic algorithm, and decreases the computational cost and execution time. Effectiveness of genetic algorithm is tumid by modifying some features in population initialization and crossover section. To speed up the execution time as well as make it cost effective and also to get more optimized class levels some quantum computing phenomena like qubit, superposition, entanglement, quantum rotation gate are induced to modified genetic algorithm. Class levels which are yield now fed to FCM as initial input class levels; thus, the ultimate segmented results are formed. Efficiency of proposed method are compared with classical modified-genetic-algorithm-based FCM and conventional FCM based on some standard statistical measures.
A Quantum Secure Entity Authentication Protocol Design for Network Security
Authors: Paul Surjit , Kumar Sanjay , Suman Rajiv Ranjan
Published: April 2021

Authentication is one of the significant issues for all kinds of network communications. Most of the authentication protocols designed and implemented so far for entity authentication are based on classical cryptographic techniques to prevent themselves from different types of attacks. These protocols use either password or challenge for authentication. In this article, the design of the proposed quantum secure entity authentication protocol is shown. The proposed protocol is based on the challenge response method. Due to quantum computer capability to break mathematical complexity-based cryptographic techniques, the proposed protocol uses the one-time pad (OTP) to secure itself from attacks, i.e., eavesdropping, reply attack, password guessing attack, man-in-the-middle attack, brute-force attack, quantum computer attack, etc. Security of the proposed protocol was analyzed, and it shows that the proposed protocol may prevent itself from different types of attacks. Further, analysis for quantum Secure was carried out. From the analysis, it is found that if the OTP key is truly random and cannot be reused, then a computer with infinite capacity or quantum computer cannot break the encrypted challenge and response. The proposed protocol may be used for entity authentication for the client, server, process, and user.
A Quantum NeuroIS Data Analytics Architecture for the Usability Evaluation of Learning Management Systems
Authors: Valverde Raul , Torres Beatriz , Motaghi Hamed
Published: April 2021

NeuroIS uses tools such as electroencephalogram (EEG) that can be used to measure high brainwave frequencies that can be linked to human anxiety. Past research showed that computer anxiety influences how users perceive ease of use of a learning management system (LMS). Although computer anxiety has been used successfully to evaluate the usability of LMS, the main data collection mechanisms proposed for its evaluation have been questionnaires. Questionnaires suffer from possible problems such as being inadequate to understand some forms of information such as emotions and honesty in the responses. Quantum-based approaches to consciousness have been very popular in the last years including the quantum model reduction in microtubules of Penrose and Hameroff (1995). The objective of the chapter is to propose an architecture based on a NeuroIS that collects data by using EEG from users and then use the collected data to perform analytics by using a quantum consciousness model proposed for computer anxiety measurements for the usability testing of a LMS.
Influence of the Catalyst Supporting Material on the Growth of Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Khattab Mohammed A. , El-Deeb Heba A. , El-Maghraby Azza
Published: April 2021

Catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CCVD) is considered as the most suitable technique for the large scale and low-cost production of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Catalytic activity of Fe-Co, Fe-Ni and Co-Ni mixture supported on Al2O3 has been investigated in the production of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Absolute ethanol was used as a source of carbon and nitrogen as the carrier gas. The Carbon nanotubes prepared by the catalytic decomposition of ethanol at 1173°K over iron supported alumina or silica catalysts with 5Wt% iron loading in a horizontal tube furnace under flow of nitrogen. The morphological structure of deposits CNTs were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results showed that the alumina supported catalysts more active towards CNTs formation than silica supported catalysts even with changing the percentage of metal loading (2.5% - 10%). Further investigation for alumina support with other metals and their binary metals heve been done to see for how far the alumina is suitable as a support. The yield of the carbon deposit obtained varied from 11.2 to 34.9% of the initial weight of the catalyst. The results revealed that CNTs prepared by Fe-Ni/Al2O3 catalyst has high length/diameter ratio and small tube diameter ≈ 17 nm.
Development of Bi-Functional Heterogeneous Catalyst for Transesterification of Waste Cooking Oil to Biodiesel: Optimization Studies
Authors: Aderibigbe Fatai Alade , Saka Harvis Bamidele , Ajala Elijah Olawale , Mustapha Sherif Ishola , Mohammed Ishaq Alhassan , Amosa Mutiu Kolade , Tijani Idowu Abdulfatai , Babatunde Esther Olubunmi , Solomon Bamidele Ogbe
Published: April 2021

Biodiesel production waste cooking oil is usually limited by its high free fatty acid and moisture content. The synergetic effect of both base and acid source from biomass was employed to proffer way out to this challenge. This study shows the coupled development of sulfonated carbonized corn cob (S-CCC) and calcined cow-bone (C-CB) catalysts for transesterification of waste cooking oil. The catalyst was prepared by physically mixing several mass percentages of S-CCC and C-CB (fluorapatite) in strategic proportions. The maximum biodiesel yield of 96.2 % was attained for catalyst mixture of 60 wt% and 40 wt%. The developed catalyst mixture was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Ray (FTIR), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), Brunauer–Emmett-Teller (BET). The surface area (472.3 m2/g), pore size (2.4330 nm) and volume (0.1380 cc/g) were obtained for the catalyst. The XRD shows that the crystallized structure of the bifunctional catalyst was formed majorly between 2 theta 10 and 65.Also the SEM shows a well dispersive pattern of the particles of the catalyst. The developed catalyst was employed for biodiesel optimization studies by varying factors such as time, temperature, catalyst loading and methanol: oil using optimal design under the response surface methodology. Maximum yield of 98.98 % was attained at time 6 h, temperature 65 °C, catalyst loading 6 %wt/ wt of oil and methanol to oil ratio of 11.75:1. It was observed that time and temperature had notable effect on the biodiesel yield.
ATP Release Drives Inflammation with Lysophosphatidylcholine
Authors: Ismaeel Sana , Qadri Ayub
Published: April 2021

Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), a dominant lipid component of oxidized low-density lipoprotein, plays a major role in inflammation associated with atherosclerosis and neurodegenerative disorders. It activates inflammatory responses from macrophages, neuronal cells, and endothelial cells. However, the exact mechanism by which LPC promotes inflammation remains incompletely understood. In this study, we show that the production of inflammatory cytokines and cytotoxicity with LPC are both critically dependent on its ability to bring about release of ATP from cells. The induction of caspase-1–mediated IL-1β release with LPC from TLR-primed mouse and human macrophages and mouse neuronal cells is reduced in the presence of ATP-hydrolyzing enzyme, apyrase, and the inhibitors of purinergic signaling. ATP released from LPC-treated cells also promotes an IL-12p70hi, low phagocytic, and poorly costimulatory phenotype in macrophages in a caspase-1–independent manner. Treatment with apyrase reduces production of inflammatory cytokines with LPC in vivo. These findings reveal a previously unappreciated pathway for the generation of inflammatory responses with LPC, and these have significant implications for therapeutic intervention in chronic inflammatory disorders promoted by this lipid.
Natural Killer Cell Group 7 Sequence in Cytotoxic Cells Optimizes Exocytosis of Lytic Granules Essential for the Perforin-Dependent, but Not Fas Ligand–Dependent, Cytolytic Pathway
Authors: Morikawa Yuhki , Murakami Minami , Kondo Hitoshi , Nemoto Noriko , Iwabuchi Kazuya , Eshima Koji
Published: April 2021

Cytotoxic cells, such as CD8+ T cells or NK cells, have been shown to eliminate virus-infected cells or transformed cells primarily via two pathways: the perforin/granzyme-dependent pathway and the Fas ligand–Fas pathway; however, the precise cytolytic mechanisms have not been clarified thoroughly. In our previous study, we demonstrated that a T-box transcription factor, Eomesodermin (Eomes), may play important roles in activating the perforin pathway besides inducing perforin and granzyme B mRNA expression. In this study, we identified natural killer cell group 7 sequence (Nkg7), a molecule induced by Eomes, to be found critical for perforin-dependent cytolysis. Nkg7 mRNA expression in leukocytes from normal mice was mainly restricted to cells with cytotoxicity such as NK cells, NKT cells, and activated CD8+ T cells. The cytolytic activity of NK cells or CD8+ CTLs from Nkg7-deficient mice against Fas-negative target cells was reduced significantly, whereas Fas ligand–mediated cytolysis by Nkg7-deficient CTLs was not impaired. Further, translocation of granule membrane protein CD107a to the cell surface upon CD3 stimulation was defective in CD8+ CTLs from Nkg7 knockout, whereas surface induction of another granule membrane protein, CD63, was almost normal. In addition, analyses of lytic granules in CTLs by electron microscopy revealed that the number of lytic granules with dense cores was significantly reduced in Nkg7-knockout CTLs. These results indicate that Nkg7 may specifically contribute to efficient cytolysis via the perforin/granzyme pathway by enhancing the exocytosis of a particular type of lytic granules.
Protection of the neurovascular unit from calcium-related ischemic injury by linalyl acetate
Authors: Hsieh Yu Shan , Shin You Kyoung , Seol Geun Hee
Published: April 2021

Calcium-related ischemic injury (CRII) can damage cells of the neurovascular unit (NVU). Here, we investigate the protective effects of linalyl acetate (LA) against CRII-induced NVU damage and evaluate the underlying mechanisms. The protective effects of LA in cell lines representative of NVU components (BEND, SH-SY5Y, BV2, and U373 cells) were evaluated following exposure to oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation alone (OGD/R-only) or OGD/R in the presence of 5 mM extracellular calcium ([Ca2+]o) to mimic CRII. LA reversed damage under OGD/R-only conditions by blocking p47phox/NADPH oxidase (NOX) 2 expression, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, nitric oxide (NO) abnormality, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release only in the BEND cells. However, under CRII-mimicking conditions, LA reversed NO abnormality and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 activation in the BEND murine brain endothelial cells; inhibited p47phox expression in the human SH-SY5Y neural-like cells; decreased NOX2 expression and ROS generation in the BV2 murine microglial cells; and reduced p47phox expression in the U373 human astrocyte-like cells. Importantly, LA protected against impairment of the neural cells, astrocytes, and microglia, all of which are cellular components of the NVU induced by exposure to CRII-mimicking conditions, by reducing LDH release. We found that LA exerted a protective effect in the BEND cells that may differ from its protective effects in other NVU cell types, following OGD/R-induced damage in the context of elevated [Ca2+]o.
Prevalence and Risk Factors of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Hypertensive Emergency
Authors: Khamsai Sittichai , Kachenchart Sitthan , Sawunyavisuth Bundit , Limpawattana Panita , Chindaprasirt Jarin , Senthong Vichai , Chotmongkol Verajit , Pongkulkiat Patnarin , Sawanyawisuth Kittisak
Published: April 2021

Introduction:

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common factor associated with hypertensive crises. There is limited evidence of prevalence and risk factors of OSA in hypertensive emergency.

Methods:

This study recruited adult patients who diagnosed as hypertensive emergency and tested for OSA. The study period was between July 2019 and January 2020. The patients were categorized as OSA and non-OSA groups by the evidence from polysomnography. Prevalence and risk factors for OSA were executed.

Results:

During the study, there were 52 eligible patients. Of those, 30 patients (57.69%) were diagnosed with OSA. The stepwise logistic regression analysis for predicting OSA had two remaining factors: body mass index and diastolic blood pressure. Only body mass index was independently associated with OSA with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.166 (95% confidence interval of 1.033, 1.316). The body mass index of 25.02 kg/m2 gave sensitivity and specificity of 80.00% and 59.09%, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 70.98%.

Conclusion:

OSA had high incidence rate in patients with hypertensive emergency. High body mass index was a predictor for OSA associated with hypertensive emergency.
Association of serum calprotectin with peripheral neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Velayutham Ramanathan , Nair Pradeep Pankajakshan , Adole Prashant S. , Mehalingam Vadivelan
Published: April 2021

Introduction:

Peripheral neuropathy is a common microvascular complication in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with a prevalence of around 50%.

Objectives:

This prospective observational cross-sectional study was done to assess serum calprotectin levels among diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy as compared to those without neuropathy.

Methods:

This cross-sectional study was conducted in 126 diabetic patients attending the out-patient department of JIPMER Hospital, Pondicherry from July 2017 to January 2019. The subjects were divided into two groups (with and without peripheral neuropathy) and underwent nerve conduction study of both the lower limbs. Blood samples were collected and stored at −80°C for estimation of serum calprotectin. Serum calprotectin levels were compared between diabetic patients with and without peripheral neuropathy.

Results:

Serum calprotectin levels were increased in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) as compared to those without DPN. However, there was no significant difference in the mean value of serum calprotectin among the various sub-groups of DPN.

Conclusion:

Serum calprotectin, an inflammatory biomarker is elevated in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy as compared to those without neuropathy.
Managing mental health problems in a family and community setting
Authors: Balasubramanian Swaathi , Anand Ashoojit K. , Sawant Prathamesh S. , Rao Badakere C. , Prasad Ramakrishna
Published: April 2021

Family Medicine is unique in that it recognizes the central role of the patient's context and the interplay of family dynamics, social relationships, cultural background, and economics in the causation and presentation of any illness and the response to any given treatment. While this is true across the board, it is particularly true of mental health.[3] In this article, using a selection of stories from our daily practices as family physicians, we: (1) reflect on the role of family physicians in addressing mental health needs in the community; (2) contrast between a disease-oriented (specialist approach) and a person-oriented (family physician approach); and (3) suggest a course correction to the existing model of mental health education for both generalists (such a family physicians) and specialists (such as psychiatrists). We conclude that Family Physicians have an extremely important role to play in the promotion of mental well-being and the management of mental illness in the community. Additionally, we highlight several unique facets of the family physician approach that tends to be less disease oriented and more patient-centric. Lastly, we suggest the need for mental health training to occur in the family practice context in the community. Mandatory representation of practicing family physicians on the National Medical Commission (NMC) will facilitate the above.
Evaluation through outbreak simulation exercise points to the need for considerable improvement in the capacity of peripheral health workers for outbreak detection and response, South India, 2018
Authors: Kurup Karishma K. , Manickam P. , Prakash M.
Published: April 2021

Background:

Outbreaks are emergencies, requiring skilled peripheral health workers in the health system. Given the lack of evaluation of the knowledge and practices of peripheral health workers regarding outbreak investigation and response, we surveyed to estimate the performance level of health workers in outbreak detection and response.

Methods:

We developed a simulation exercise based on hepatitis and fever outbreak to ascertain knowledge and skills in outbreak detection and response. Following a pilot test and with inputs from public health experts, we finalized the instrument in the local language. The simulation exercise was self-administered among all health inspectors (HI) (n = 39) from a district in South India responsible for outbreak investigation. We collected sociodemographic factors, training, education level, awareness about the surveillance program, outbreak triggers, and prior experience with an outbreak. We assigned a score of 0.25 for each correct response (range 0 to 10.75). We categorized a score of <75% as poor performance. The academic ethics committee of ICMR-National Institute of Epidemiology approved the protocol.

Results:

All the HIs were male except one. Median age is 51 years (Range: 37.5–54). The median years of service is 12 (range 5.3 to 23). Twenty-two received training, and fifteen had prior exposure to an outbreak in the previous year. The overall performance of HIs was poor, with the highest mark being below 40%. The median score in the section of history taking was 0.25 [interquartile range (IQR) 0–0.5], 31% (n = 12) scored zero. The median score in the section of data entry, analysis, and outbreak detection was 0.25 (0–0.25), 28% (n = 11) scored zero. The median score in the section of outbreak response was 0.75 (IQR 0.75–1.13), 5% (n = 2) scored zero.

Conclusion:

The HIs performed poorly in outbreak preparedness and response. We recommend improving their performance through field-epidemiology training and regular field or facility-based evaluations.