bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of constructive-technological decisions of regulation of working capacitance of cables of industrial networks
Authors: Bezprozvannych G.V. , Kostiukov I.A. , Pushkar O.A.
Published: April 2021

Introduction. Over the past 10 years, the number of industrial networks has more than doubled. At the physical level, all industrial technology networks are based on twisted pair. Purpose. Synthesis of constructive-technological decisions of regulation of electric capacitance of the insulated conductor at a stage of manufacturing of twisted pair of cables of industrial networks. Methodology. The method of secondary charges to determine the capacitance of the insulated conductor by varying the thickness of the solid and foamed polyethylene insulation. Practical value. Effective regulation is provided on the basis of the obtained dependencies of the effective dielectric constant, the tangent of the dielectric loss angle and the capacitance of the insulated conductor on the degree of foaming and the thickness of the protective film of two-layer insulation. At a degree of porosity of 40 %, the dielectric constant decreases by 25 %, the tangent of the dielectric loss angle – by 33 %, the electrical capacitance of the insulated conductor – by 20 %.
Chaotic-based particle swarm optimization algorithm for optimal PID tuning in automatic voltage regulator systems
Authors: Anwar N. , Hanif A. , Ali M.U. , Zafar A.
Published: April 2021

Introduction. In an electrical power system, the output of the synchronous generators varies due to disturbances or sudden load changes. These variations in output severely affect power system stability and power quality. The synchronous generator is equipped with an automatic voltage regulator to maintain its terminal voltage at rated voltage. Several control techniques utilized to improve the response of the automatic voltage regulator system, however, proportional integral derivative (PID) controller is the most frequently used controller but its parameters require optimization. Novelty. In this paper, the chaotic sequence based on the logistic map is hybridized with particle swarm optimization to find the optimal parameters of the PID for the automatic voltage regulator system. The logistic map chaotic sequence-based initialization and global best selection enable the algorithm to escape from local minima stagnation and improve its convergence rate resulting in best optimal parameters. Purpose. The main objective of the proposed approach is to improve the transient response of the automatic voltage regulator system by minimizing the maximum overshoot, settling time, rise time, and peak time values of the terminal voltage, and eliminating the steady-state error. Methods. In the process of parameter tuning, the Chaotic particle swarm optimization technique was run several times through the proposed hybrid objective function, which accommodates the advantages of the two most commonly used objective functions with a minimum number of iterations, and an optimal PID gain value was found. The proposed algorithm is compared with current metaheuristic algorithms including conventional particle swarm optimization, improved kidney algorithm, and others. Results. For performance evaluation, the characteristics of the integral of time multiplied squared error and Zwe-Lee Gaing objective functions are combined. Furthermore, the time-domain analysis, frequency-domain analysis, and robustness analysis are carried out to show the better performance of the proposed algorithm. The result shows that automatic voltage regulator tuned with the chaotic particle swarm optimization based PID yield improvement in overshoot, settling time, and function value of 14.41 %, 37.91 %, 1.73 % over recently proposed IKA, and 43.55 %, 44.5 %, 16.67 % over conventional particle swarm optimization algorithms. The improvement in transient response further improves the automatic voltage regulator system stability for electrical power systems.
Fuzzy maximum power point tracking compared to sliding mode technique for photovoltaic systems based on DC-DC boost converter
Authors: Nebti K. , Lebied R.
Published: April 2021

Aim. This paper presents the amelioration of maximum power point tracking using fuzzy logic methods for photovoltaic system supplying a standalone system. Method. The main role of the maximum power tracking is to force the system for working at the maximum point for each change of meteorological conditions. The classic technique Perturb and Observe is more attractive due to its simple and high efficiency. Sliding mode is a non-linear control technique; characterised by robustness against the parameters change or disturbances, it gives a good maximum power operation under different conditions such as changing solar radiation and photovoltaic cell temperature. Novelty. Fuzzy logic tracking technique is treated. Fuzzy rules construction is based on Perturb and Observe behaviour when the appropriate disturbance step is produced in order to obtain a fast system with an acceptable precision. We use in our study 60 W photovoltaic panel associated to boost chopper converter in order to supply a standalone system. Results. As show in results figures using fuzzy maximum power point tracking the ameliorate performances especially the very low oscillation rate (nearly 0.6 W), and very acceptable response time 0.1 s.
Mathematical modelling of transients in the electric drive of the turnout of the mono-sleeper type with switched-inductor motor
Authors: Buriakovskyi S. G. , Maslii A. S. , Asmolova L. V. , Goncharuk N. T.
Published: April 2021

Introduction. The study is devoted to the development of the functionality of a railway track switch by introducing a switched-inductor electric drive. This solution justifies simplifying the mechanical part of the switches by changing the gearbox to a ball-screw and locating the all kinematic line of the switches on the mono-sleeper type. Goal. A study of the mono-sleeper turnout type behaviour to meet modern traffic safety requirements and improve operational reliability factors. Methodology. Based on electric drive theory, a kinematic line of a mono-switch turnout type with nonlinear friction characteristic is presented. Using differential equation theory and Laplace transformation, a mathematic description of a four-phase switched-inductor motor with ball-screw in a mechanical line of a single-mass electromechanical system has been made. A simulation mathematical model of the electric drive of mono-sleeper turnout type as the control system with a switched-inductor motor and nonlinear friction characteristic was built in MATLAB. Results. Simulation modelling of a mathematical model of a mono-sleeper turnout type with a switched-inductor motor and ball-screw gear has been developed and implemented. Studies of dynamics of turnout point movement have shown that, in contrast to the motors used today, the switched-inductor motor makes it possible to simplify the mechanical part of the drive, which leads to reduced time spent on laying and maintenance of turnout points, and therefore makes the design more reliable. The application of PID controller and fuzzy speed controller has shown improved dynamics of turnout point, while the fuzzy PID controller provides better performance of the set values and turnout point movements. Originality. First developed a mathematical model of the electric drive of the mono-sleeper turnout type, taking into account nonlinear friction characteristic, as an object of speed control of turnout point movement, is developed. Practical value. The developed mathematical model of a railway track turnout of the mono-sleeper type with a switched-inductor motor and ball-screw gear enables more efficient use of a microprocessor control system, creation of promising electric motor protection means and control of a turnout point.
Management of power consumption in a photovoltaic system with a storage battery connected to the network with multi-zone electricity pricing to supply the local facility own needs
Authors: Shavelkin A. A. , Gerlici J. , Shvedchykova I. O. , Kravchenko K. , Kruhliak H. V.
Published: April 2021

Purpose. Improving the principles of management of photovoltaic system with storage battery and with autonomous functioning during daylight hours for a local object, connected to the grid with multi-zone payment when excluding the generation of energy into the grid. Methodology. Modeling and analysis of energy processes in the photovoltaic system was performed using the Matlab software package. The simulation model of energy processes is based on calculated expressions taking into account the characteristics of the battery. Operability of the proposed solutions are confirmed on an experimental setup based on a standard hybrid inverter. Results. It’s shown, that due to the battery energy during the most loaded peak hours and part of the daytime the system operates autonomously and does not depend on possible violations of the quality of electricity in the grid. Scenarios of the recommended load schedule are proposed in accordance with the ratio of the predicted value of the daily energy generation of the photovoltaic battery to its possible maximum value. A simulation model of energy processes in the system with the correction of the recommended load value was developed. Originality. A method of the recommended load calculation with current correction for the actual generation and degree of battery charge is proposed, which allows taking into account differences the actual generation of the photovoltaic battery from its predicted value and the actual load from the recommended one. Practical value. The obtained solutions are the basis for the design of new and modernization of existing photovoltaic systems of local objects using software and hardware complexes for power consumption management.
Penetration of non-uniform electromagnetic field into conducting body
Authors: Vasetsky Yu. M.
Published: April 2021

The study is based on the exact analytical solution for the general conjugation problem of three-dimensional quasi-stationary field at a flat interface between dielectric and conducting media. It is determined that non-uniform electromagnetic field always decreases in depth faster than uniform field. The theoretical conclusion is confirmed by comparing the results of analytical and numerical calculations. The concept of strong skin effect is extended to the case when penetration depth is small not only compare to the characteristic body size, but also when the ratio of the penetration depth to the distance from the surface of body to the sources of the external field is small parameter. For strong skin effect in its extended interpretation, the influence of external field non-uniformity to electromagnetic field formation both at the interface between dielectric and conducting media and to the law of decrease field in conducting half-space is analyzed. It is shown, at the interface the expressions for the electric and magnetic intensities in the form of asymptotic series in addition to local field values of external sources contain their derivatives with respect to the coordinate perpendicular to the interface. The found expressions made it possible to generalize the approximate Leontovich impedance boundary condition for diffusion of non-uniform field into conducting half-space. The difference between the penetration law for the non-uniform field and the uniform one takes place in the terms of the asymptotic series proportional to the small parameter to the second power and to the second derivative with respect to the vertical coordinate from the external magnetic field intensity at the interface.
Dynamic economic emission dispatch using whale optimization algorithm for multi-objective function
Authors: Mehdi M. F. , Ahmad A. , Ul Haq S. S. , Saqib M. , Ullah M. F.
Published: April 2021

Introduction. Dynamic Economic Emission Dispatch is the extended version of the traditional economic emission dispatch problem in which ramp rate is taken into account for the limit of generators in a power network. Purpose. Dynamic Economic Emission Dispatch considered the treats of economy and emissions as competitive targets for optimal dispatch problems, and to reach a solution it requires some conflict resolution. Novelty. The decision-making method to solve the Dynamic Economic Emission Dispatch problem has a goal for each objective function, for this purpose, the multi-objective problem is transformed into single goal optimization by using the weighted sum method and then control/solve by Whale Optimization Algorithm. Methodology. This paper presents a newly developed metaheuristic technique based on Whale Optimization Algorithm to solve the Dynamic Economic Emission Dispatch problem. The main inspiration for this optimization technique is the fact that metaheuristic algorithms are becoming popular day by day because of their simplicity, no gradient information requirement, easily bypass local optima, and can be used for a variety of other problems. This algorithm includes all possible factors that will yield the minimum cost and emissions of a Dynamic Economic Emission Dispatch problem for the efficient operation of generators in a power network. The proposed approach performs well to perform in diverse problem and converge the solution to near best optimal solution. Results. The proposed strategy is validated by simulating on MATLAB® for 5 IEEE standard test system. Numerical results show the capabilities of the proposed algorithm to establish an optimal solution of the Dynamic Economic Emission Dispatch problem in a several runs. The proposed algorithm shows good performance over the recently proposed algorithms such as Multi-Objective Neural Network trained with Differential Evolution, Particle swarm optimization, evolutionary programming, simulated annealing, Pattern search, multi-objective differential evolution, and multi-objective hybrid differential evolution with simulated annealing technique.
Allelopathic Potentiality of Euphorbia hypericifolia L. on Germination and Seedling Development of Sympatric Crops and Weeds
Authors: Ndam Lawrence Monah , Ngone Abwe Mercy , Nkongho Raymond Ndip , Fongod Augustina Genla Nwana , Fujii Yoshiharu
Published: April 2021

Euphorbia hypericifolia, a non-native herbaceous weedy plant was found to often form disproportionately dense, virtually monospecific stands in the Mount Bambouto Caldera, Cameroon. This observation is within the purview of allelopathy and is attributed to the release of botanicals by non native plants that harm naïve native flora, creating significant problems for agriculture and the environment. We investigated if the invasiveness of E. hypericifolia could be explained by its allelopathic potential at varying concentrations on five indicator plants. The results showed that the leaf, root and stem aqueous extracts of the plant exhibited significant inhibitory effects on the germination, radicle and plumule lengths of Biden pilosa, Amaranthus spinosus, Lactuca sativa, Zea mays and Lycopersicon esculentum at 100 % by 75.0, 69.4, 95.6, 28.0 and 97.2 %, respectively.  The leaf extract was the most potent, while the stem extract was the least. The extract of E. hypericifolia was stimulatory (Lower concentrations) and inhibitory to the germination and growth of the test plants and its effect was concentration-dependent with the roots of target plants being more sensitive to the extracts than the plumule. L. esculentum was the most susceptible species to E. hypericifolia extracts while Z.  mays was more tolerant than any of the tested plants. Results of total chlorophyll pigment accretion showed declining levels of chlorophyll detected in the leaves of tomato transplants cultivated in the augmented soils with rising dosage of the leaf residue of E. hypericifolia. B. pilosa planted on E. hypericifolia infested soil (EIS) showed very poor emergence recording only 7.5 % after 6 weeks as compared to 83.0 % in non E. hypericifolia infested soil (NIS). Qualitative phytochemical screening indicates E. hypericifolia is rich in secondary metabolites including alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, phenolics, tanins, Steriods and saponins. Acetone was the best extractant amongst the solvents used. This study has proven the allelopathic potential of E. hypericifolia and revealed some allelochemicals that may be exploited for the development of bioherbicides and plant growth promotion from natural products.
ULUSLARARASI İNSAN HAKLARI HUKUKUNDA ÜÇÜNCÜ DÜNYA YAKLAŞIMLARI
Authors: ZABUNOĞLU Hamdi Gökçe , SÖNMEZ Esma Yağmur
Published: April 2021

Uluslararası Hukukta Üçüncü Dünya Yaklaşımları (TWAIL), politik ve entelektüel bir hareket olarak eleştirel uluslararası hukuk literatüründe öne çıkmaktadır. Bu yaklaşıma göre Avrupa merkezli uluslararası hukuk kurallarının Avrupalı olmayan milletlere dikte edilmesi ile bu kurallar, Avrupalı devletlerin emperyalist ideallerini gerçekleştirmelerinin aracı haline gelmektedir. Uluslararası hukukun tarihini, yapısını ve sürecini Üçüncü Dünya devletleri açısından anlama çabasını temsil ettiği ileri sürülen TWAIL, çok sayıda perspektife sahip olan politik ve entelektüel bir hareket olarak dikkat çekmektedir. Sömürgeci ve egemen birinci dünya ile uluslararası hukukun mevcut yapısı arasındaki ilişkiye meydan okumak TWAIL'in belkemiğini oluşturmaktadır. TWAIL düşüncesine göre insan hakları tek bir kültürün ya da insanın ayrıcalığı değildir. Bu nedenle Avrupa merkezci yaklaşıma ciddi eleştiriler getirir. Evrensellik düşüncesine karşı çıkmayan TWAIL’in itirazı, bu evrenselliğin Avrupa merkezli olmasınadır Bu çalışmada, TWAIL’i tanımlayarak onun temel prensiplerini ortaya koymak amacı güdülmüş, uluslararası insan hakları hukuku TWAIL prensipleri dikkate alınarak yeniden kurgulanmaya çalışılmış, yaklaşımın insan haklarını ele alış̧ biçimi ile uluslararası insan hakları hukukun nasıl yeniden üretilebileceği incelenmiş ve birbiriyle ilişkili olan üç çözüm listelenmiştir. Bu çözümlerin insan hakları hukukunun kapsayıcılığının arttırılması, iktidar mantığı ile hareket etmenin dışlanması ve insan hakları alanında tepeden inmeci yaklaşımların değiştirilmesi olduğu belirlenmiştir.
Buffer Zone Management Impact on Birds Assemblage in the High Nature Value Farmland (HNVf) : a study case on Meru Betiri National Park
Authors: Dewi Nilasari , Sih Kurnianto Agung
Published: April 2021

The study aims to analyze the vertical and horizontal distribution of bird communities in agricultural areas and their interactions with the conservation area in MBNP. Research is carried out in agricultural areas in the Buffer zone, Rehabilitation Zone, and on the edge of the plantation. The research location was determined at 37 points: Rajekwesi (4), Sukamade (12), Bandealit (8), Wonoasri (5), Andongrejo (3), Sanenrejo (5). We applied the point count method (r = 17.5 m) in this study, where each point is at least 100-150 meters apart. In the study, 74.6% of records were birds with agricultural specialties and 71.30% of individuals using tree habitats. Birds with specialization in agriculture were found in large numbers related to the protection provided by the TNMB conservation area to bird habitat. Sukamade is the area with the highest number of records. As many as 40.10% were found in tree habitats. Followed by Seedling (16.28%), Pole (15.93%), Flying over (15.76%), and Sapling (11.90%).
Educación popular y formación para el empleo
Authors: Caraballo-Román Rosario , González-Monteagudo José , Hernández-Carrera Rafael M.
Published: April 2021

Este artigo trata da educação popular a partir de uma perspectiva bem específica: a formação para o emprego de alunos em situação de vulnerabilidade, com baixo nível educacional e oriundos de meios sociais modestos e com poucas oportunidades educativas. Nossa contibuição toma como ponto de partida a escola técnica Parque Miraflores, em Sevilha (Espanha). Trata-se de uma iniciativa dos movimentos sociais que tem funcionado durante duas décadas. Discutimos os princípios da educação popular e participativa, aplicando-os às escolas técnicas que surgiram na Espanha em momento posterior à ditadura de Franco. Apresentamos o marco atual da formação para o emprego, destacando a necessidade de combinar preparação profissional e desenvolvimento social e pessoal. Finalmente, ressaltamos as dimensões de educação popular e participativa presentes no caso analisado, comentando suas implicações para a formação socioeconômica, cultural, sindical, acadêmica e laboral.
Ações educativas desenvolvidas por prostitutas organizadas
Authors: Sousa Fabiana Rodrigues de
Published: April 2021

O presente artigo é elaborado com base em reflexões tecidas ao longo de pesquisa de pós-doutoramento realizada com prostitutas que fazem parte de associações da categoria localizadas nas cidades de Belo Horizonte (MG), Campina Grande (PB), João Pessoa (PB) e Recife (PE), com intuito de desvelar processos educativos consolidados no exercício do trabalho sexual e na trajetória de militância dessas mulheres na busca por seus direitos. Com base no referencial da Educação Popular, ao longo do percurso metodológico desta investigação buscamos – pesquisadora e prostitutas – identificar e analisar saberes de experiência construídos nas ações educativas e culturais desenvolvidas por essas mulheres. Os resultados da investigação engendram o entendimento de que o processo de organização de prostitutas em associações tem sido relevante para fortalecer a leitura crítica da realidade, possibilitando o desenvolvimento da autoestima e autoconfiança necessárias capazes de impulsioná-las ao engajamento na busca por seus direitos. As ações educativas realizadas por essas mulheres funcionam como círculos de cultura, nos quais elas vêm apresentando seus anseios, sua estética e afirmando sua condição de sujeito.
observatóriode educaçãode Jovens e adultos e a educação popular no territóriodo sisal –Bahia
Authors: Nunes Eduardo José Fernandes , Santos Marcos César Guimarães dos , Barreto Maria Raidalva Nery
Published: April 2021

Este artigo analisa a participação do Observatório de Educação de Jovens e Adultos do Território de Identidade do Sisal (OBEJA-TIS/UNEB/CAPES) na construção de uma rede que visa consolidar ações na Educação de Jovens e Adultos, desde a perspectiva dos debates atuais sobre educação popular, movimentos sociais e desenvolvimento local. O Território de Identidade do Sisal fica situado na região Nordeste do estado da Bahia, atravessou períodos distintos em sua história, mas a chegada da cultura do sisal, a manutenção das grandes propriedades e a falta de investimentos públicos na educação transformaram a realidade desse território, gerando o sucateamento do sistema escolar, demonstrado pelos índices elevados de pessoas não alfabetizadas. Em uma perspectiva analítica, utilizando-se do pensamento de autores como Freire e Nogueira (2005), Brandão (1998), Werthein (1985), Beisiegel (1989), entre outros, com base em pesquisas quanti-qualitativas, observamos que variadas formas associativas alternativas de produção e ocupação da terra estão surgindo no Território de Identidade do Sisal e apresentando novos desafios. A rede de educação popular realizada pelos diferentes movimentos sociais imprime uma possibilidade de mudança na falta de uma política mais incisiva de investimentos educacionais, para que haja uma transformação social mais justa no território.
Leituras de jovens de camadas populares
Authors: Novais Carlos Augusto , Carvalho Gilcinei Teodoro , Machado Maria Zélia Versiani
Published: April 2021

Este trabalho apresenta resultados da pesquisa “Letramentos em contextos do campo: práticas escolares e não escolares em comunidades rurais”. A investigação objetiva compreender práticas de leitura e escrita de jovens do campo realizadas na escola e nas suas comunidades. Esta análise considerou dados levantados por meio de questionários aplicados aos alunos de duas Escolas Família Agrícola (EFA), de ensino secundário técnico em agropecuária. Contou-se, ainda, com depoimentos gravados em vídeos, observações in locoe registros fotográficos. Em razão do regime de alternância praticado nessas escolas, considerou-se propício o fato de os alunos vivenciarem um projeto pedagógico que preconiza vínculos mais estreitos entre conhecimentos escolares e não escolares. Os dados coletados indicam a heterogeneidade de repertórios de leitura e de escrita nas práticas de letramento na escola e no ambiente familiar e sinalizam ora a presença de uma visão pragmática relativa ao mundo do trabalho, previsto para um contexto de formação em que um conhecimento técnico é exigido, ora a influência de referências culturais e de leituras valorizadas socialmente. Esse hibridismo aponta a maleabilidade das fronteiras, relativizando uma hipótese de caracterização homogênea de práticas de leitura e de escrita vivenciada pelos jovens em contextos rurais.
discurso sobre a institucionalidade da educação de jovens e adultos na perspectiva da educação popular
Authors: Alcantara Marcos Angelus Miranda de , Carlos Erenildo João
Published: April 2021

Este texto decorre do projeto de pesquisa intitulado “O enunciado da Educação de Jovens e Adultos (EJA) no Curso de Pedagogia da Universidade Federal da Paraíba/campus I”. Trata-se de uma dissertação de mestrado, situada teórica e metodologicamente a partir da Análise Arqueológica do Discurso, que toma algumas contribuições de Michel Foucault (2008). Este artigo explica como se dão as relações entre a EJA e a instituição escolar na ordem do discurso que está presente na formação de pedagogos(as) na universidade mencionada. O trabalho sinaliza a existência de um discurso que transita pela dicotomia entre o modelo escolar existente – ao menos desde o surgimento da modernidade – e a EJA, marcada por uma trajetória política de lutas sociais e por uma identidade militante forjada pelo paradigma da Educação Popular. Portanto, o discurso investigado propõe uma síntese entre a instituição escolar e a EJA, para se respeitar o direito à educação dos jovens e adultos que não tiveram esse acesso em suas trajetórias de vida.
Formação do professor-pesquisador
Authors: Matos Sônia Regina Luz , Schuler Betina , Corazza Sandra Mara
Published: April 2021

O Programa Observatório da Educação (OBEDUC) faz parte da política nacional de formação continuada de professores. Por meio desta macropolítica, o Projeto Escrileituras: um modo de ler-escrever em meio à vida (PPGEDU/UFRGS) participa desse espaço político articulando a pesquisa entre a escola e a universidade. Tal articulação efetiva-se num dos recortes do funcionamento do Projeto. O presente texto apresenta a experiência da entrada do Projeto numa escola; o professor titular de uma das turmas desta escola ocupa o espaço de professor-pesquisador no grupo da universidade. Este professor-pesquisador elaborou o seu projeto de pesquisa, executando-o por meio de ateliers na escola. O projeto do professor foi composto pelos conceitos nietzscheanos da vontade criadora, que dispara a necessidade de produção de uma criação pedagógica. A partir deste território conceitual nos foi possível efetuar a perspectiva do “aprendizado que afirma a vida”. Então, mostraremos a produção da criação pedagógica que o professor-pesquisador denominou de didática genealógica. Essa didática foi experimentada nos ateliers, junto aos alunos de ensino fundamental em uma escola municipal de Porto Alegre–RS.
Simón Rodríguez
Authors: Durán Maximiliano
Published: April 2021

Propõe-se apresentar neste texto o conceito de educação popular criado por Simón Rodríguez, além de analisar em que medida é possível pensar uma nova escola a partir do mesmo. A partir da descrição do conceito de Scholéproposto por Rancière, realizou-se uma análise crítica da forma da escola. Como base nesta análise, procurouse mostrar que a escola, tal como é definida, não é uma invenção grega, mas sim uma invenção latino-americana. Mais especificamente pretende-se mostrar que o conceito de educação popular proposto por Rodríguez é a condição de possibilidade de uma forma inédita de escola.
Educação popular e movimentos sociais contemporâneos
Authors: Tavares Maria Tereza Goudard
Published: April 2021

O artigo resulta de um esforço de delimitação de um campo teórico-conceitual que possa corporificar com alguma propriedade política e epistêmica algumas das tendências hegemônicas de Educação Popular (EP). Reconhecemos que, embora a palavra hegemonia possa estar na atualidade sob forte suspeição, o seu uso em nosso artigo não significa uma “vontade de verdade” e/ou de “poder”, e sim uma predisposição visceral para a dialogicidade, para a aventura de pensamento que, sem abrir mão do rigor e dos seus compromissos éticos e políticos, vem apostando em conexões epistêmicas mais transversais. Assim, abrindo mão de toda e qualquer tentativa de explicação mais totalizadora dos caminhos da EP na atual conjuntura educacional brasileira, afirmo que a EP é um campo teórico-prático que escolhemos trilhar, em função de escolhas políticas e ideológicas. Por isso, a EP expressa afinidades eletivas de nossas trajetórias, dado o longo convívio com o cotidiano da escola, tanto como professora de crianças, como formadora de professores(as) na Universidade. Deste modo, embora nos preocupemos com questões mais epistemológicas da Educação Popular, questões relacionadas à travessia da Educação Popular junto aos movimentos sociais em nosso país e na América Latina, o que nos move, nos identifica e qualifica essa nossa ação compartilhada é o “mundo da escola”.
A State-of-the-Art Review on Machine Learning-based Methods for Prostate Cancer Diagnosis
Authors: Ahmed Ari Mohammed ali , Mohammed Aree Ali
Published: April 2021

Prostate cancer can be viewed as the second most dangerous and diagnosed cancer of men all over the world. In the past decade, machine and deep learning methods play a significant role in improving the accuracy of classification for both binary and multi classifications. This review is aimed at providing a comprehensive survey of the state of the art in the past 5 years from 2015 to 2020, focusing on different datasets and machine learning techniques. Moreover, a comparison between studies and a discussion about the potential future researches is described. First, an investigation about the datasets used by the researchers and the number of samples associated with each patient is performed. Then, the accurate detection of each research study based on various machine learning methods is given. Finally, an evaluation of five techniques based on the receiver operating characteristic curve has been presented to show the accuracy of the best technique according to the area under curve (AUC) value. Conducted results indicate that the inception-v3 classifier has the highest score for AUC, which is 0.91.
Efficacy of a Web-Based Intervention (Smart Choices 4 Teens) for Facilitating Parent-Adolescent Communication About Relationships and Sexuality: Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Bourdeau Beth , Miller Brenda A , Byrnes Hilary F , Woodall W Gill , Buller David B , Grube Joel W
Published: April 2021

Background

There is a need for interventions that promote healthy decision making among adolescents and leverage the ongoing impact of parental relationships through older adolescence and young adulthood. These interventions should maximize adolescent engagement and be easily accessible to families in terms of cost, duration, and logistics related to participation.

Objective

This study aims to test the efficacy of the healthy relationships and sexual decision-making component of a web-based intervention for older adolescents and their parents, ascertain whether the efficacy varies by gender, and assess its efficacy over time.

Methods

A randomized controlled trial was conducted for the web-based, self-paced intervention Smart Choices 4 Teens from 2014 to 2015. Families (N=411) with adolescents aged 16-17 years were randomly assigned to the intervention or control condition. Surveys assessing aspects of sexual communication were administered at baseline and at 6, 12, and 18 months. Generalized estimating equations were used to determine the impact of exposure to the relationships component of the intervention on sexual communication by parents, as reported by adolescents.

Results

Less than half (88/206, 42.7%) of the intervention group participated in the third and final intervention component, which was focused on relationships and sexual decision making. Participation in the relationships component increased the frequency of parental sexual communication and increased the number of dating rules after accounting for other significant adolescent characteristics. The impact of the intervention varied little by gender, although it did demonstrate an impact on communication reports over the follow-up survey administrations.

Conclusions

Smart Choices 4 Teens demonstrated efficacy in increasing the frequency of sexual communication between parents and adolescents in the long term.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03521115; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03521115
Does Wearing a Face Mask During the COVID-19 Pandemic Increase the Incidence of Dermatological Conditions in Health Care Workers? Narrative Literature Review
Authors: Wilcha Robyn-Jenia
Published: April 2021

Background

COVID-19 is a health emergency. SARS-CoV-2 was discovered in Wuhan (Hubei Province, China) and has rapidly spread worldwide, leaving no country untouched. COVID-19 is a respiratory infection characterized by a pneumonia of unknown etiology. It is transmitted through respiratory droplets; for example: through breathing, talking, and coughing. Transmission of the virus is high. Health care workers play important roles in helping those affected by COVID-19; this could not be done without the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). PPE involves the use of goggles, masks, gloves, and gowns and is known to reduce COVID-19 transmission; however, multiple reports of skin disease and damage associated with occupational mask-wearing have emerged.

Objective

The objective of this study is to review the literature for newly emerging dermatological conditions as a result of occupational mask-wearing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

A narrative review of new reports of dermatological conditions associated with occupational mask-wearing was carried out in May 2020 by referencing keywords including: “covid mask dermatology,” “covid dermatological damage,” “covid mask skin,” “covid N95 mask damage,” and “covid mask skin damage” from PubMed, supplemented by searches on both Google Scholar and ResearchGate. A total of 287 articles were found, of which 40 were successfully included in this study, and an additional 7 were selected from the reference lists of these 40 articles. The findings were tabulated and analyzed under the following headings: dermatological diagnosis, causes, and management.

Results

Qualitative analysis of the reviewed data was carried out. A number of dermatological conditions were found to increasingly occur owing to prolonged and frequent use of face masks. Pressure-related injuries were often the most serious complaint; recommendations to reduce this type of injury include the use of hydrocolloid dressings, plastic handles, education, and regular moisturization. Innovation in PPE as well as services, such as virtual clinics, need to be advanced to protect the welfare of health care staff.

Conclusions

In these unprecedented times, PPE has been an effective barrier to the transmission of COVID-19 among health care workers. This has allowed health care workers to provide care to patients, with minimal risk. However, our findings suggest that despite the obvious benefits of using face masks to protect the respiratory system, there are also considerable health consequences to the skin. Future research studies are required to focus on improving face masks to ensure both the protection of the respiratory system as well as skin care, which, according to our study, has been overlooked.
Development of the Czech Childhood Cancer Information System: Data Analysis and Interactive Visualization
Authors: Krejčí Denisa , Karolyi Matěj , Pehalová Lucie , Ščavnický Jakub , Zapletalová Michaela , Katinová Ivana , Štěrba Jaroslav , Starý Jan , Šnajdrová Lenka , Komenda Martin , Dušek Ladislav
Published: April 2021

Background

The knowledge of cancer burden in the population, its time trends, and the possibility of international comparison is an important starting point for cancer programs. A reliable interactive tool describing cancer epidemiology in children and adolescents has been nonexistent in the Czech Republic until recently.

Objective

The goal of this study is to develop a new web portal entitled the Czech Childhood Cancer Information System (CCCIS), which would provide information on childhood cancer epidemiology in the Czech Republic.

Methods

Data on childhood cancers have been obtained from the Czech National Cancer Registry. These data were validated using the clinical database of childhood cancer patients and subsequently combined with data from the National Register of Hospitalised Patients and with data from death certificates. These validated data were then used to determine the incidence and survival rates of childhood cancer patients aged 0 to 19 years who were diagnosed in the period 1994 to 2016 (N=9435). Data from death certificates were used to monitor long-term mortality trends. The technical solution is based on the robust PHP development Symfony framework, with the PostgreSQL system used to accommodate the data basis.

Results

The web portal has been available for anyone since November 2019, providing basic information for experts (ie, analyses and publications) on individual diagnostic groups of childhood cancers. It involves an interactive tool for analytical reporting, which provides information on the following basic topics in the form of graphs or tables: incidence, mortality, and overall survival. Feedback was obtained and the accuracy of outputs published on the CCCIS portal was verified using the following methods: the validation of the theoretical background and the user testing.

Conclusions

We developed software capable of processing data from multiple sources, which is freely available to all users and makes it possible to carry out automated analyses even for users without mathematical background; a simple selection of a topic to be analyzed is required from the user.
Application of the Inverted Classroom Model for Teaching Pathophysiology to Chinese Undergraduate Medical Students: Usability Study
Authors: Lin Hui , Zeng Xiaoping , Zhu Jun , Hu Zhenzhen , Ying Ying , Huang Yonghong , Wang Hongmei
Published: April 2021

Background

The inverted classroom model differs from the traditional teaching model as it reverses the pattern of knowledge transfer and internalization. In recent years, this new teaching model has received much attention in undergraduate medical education. Pathophysiology is a course in the undergraduate Chinese medical curriculum that is critical in bridging basic medical science and clinical medicine.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to investigate the application of inverted classroom in delivering the course on pathophysiology to Chinese undergraduate medical students.

Methods

In the spring semester of 2018, inverted classroom teaching was implemented for second-year clinical medicine students at the College of Medicine at Nanchang University. The topics of hypoxia and respiratory failure were selected for the inverted classroom study. The effect of the inverted classroom on teaching pathophysiology was evaluated using classroom performance metrics, a final examination, and questionnaires.

Results

This study found that students in the inverted classroom group achieved higher scores in their in-course assessments (82.35 [SD 11.45] vs 81.33 [SD 9.51], respectively) and in their final exams (73.41 [SD 10.37] vs 71.13 [SD 11.22], respectively) than those in the traditional lecture-based group, but the scores were not significantly different (P=.13, unpaired two-tailed t test). There was also no significant difference in the distribution of the score segments in the class quiz (P=.09, chi-square test) and in the final exams (P=.25, chi-square test) between the 2 groups. Further, most of the students reported that the inverted classroom increased their learning motivation, made them more confident, and helped them understand the content on pathophysiology better. The students in the inverted classroom also improved in their problem-solving skills and teamwork abilities. However, some students from the inverted classroom group also reported that the self-learning and preparatory work before class increased their learning burden.

Conclusions

This study shows the feasibility and promise of inverted classroom for teaching pathophysiology to undergraduate Chinese medical students. The inverted classroom improves students’ learning interests and attitudes toward learning. However, further studies are required to assess the benefits of broader acceptance and implementation of the inverted classroom among Chinese undergraduate medical students.
Remote Rating of Atopic Dermatitis Severity Using Photo-Based Assessments: Proof-of-Concept and Reliability Evaluation
Authors: Ali Zarqa , Joergensen Kristina Melbardis , Andersen Anders Daniel , Chiriac Andrei , Bjerre-Christensen Theis , Manole Ionela , Dutei Ana-Maria , Deaconescu Irina , Suru Alina , Serban Adina , Isberg Ari Pall , Dahiya Priyanka , Thomsen Simon Francis , Zibert John Robert
Published: April 2021

Background

Digital imaging of dermatological patients is a novel approach to remote assessment and has recently become more relevant since telehealth and remote decentralized clinical trials are gaining ground.

Objective

We aimed to investigate whether photographs taken by a smartphone are of adequate quality to allow severity assessments to be made and to explore the usefulness of an established atopic dermatitis severity assessment instrument on photograph evaluation.

Methods

During scheduled visits in a previously published study, the investigating doctor evaluated the severity of atopic dermatitis using the Scoring AD (SCORAD) index and took photographs of the most representative lesions (target lesions) with both a smartphone and a digital single-lens reflex camera (DSLR). The photographs were then assessed by 5 dermatologists using the intensity items of the SCORAD (iSCORAD), which consists of erythema, oedema/papulation, excoriations, lichenification, oozing/crusts, and dryness (scale 0-3, maximum score 18). The mean iSCORAD of the photographs was calculated and compared with in-person assessments using Pearson correlation and Bland-Altman plots. Intraclass correlation coefficients were used for interrater reliability.

Results

A total of 942 photographs from 95 patients were assessed. The iSCORAD based on smartphone photographs correlated strongly with the evaluations performed in person (iSCORAD: r=0.78, P<.001; objective SCORAD: r=0.81, P<.001; and total SCORAD: r=0.78, P<.001). For iSCORAD specifically, a Bland-Altman plot showed a difference in mean score of 1.31 for in-person and remote iSCORAD. In addition, the interrater agreement between the 5 rating dermatologists was 0.93 (95% CI 0.911-0.939). A total of 170 lesions were photographed, and the difference in mean scores was 1.32, 1.13, and 1.43 between in-person and remote evaluations based on photographs taken by a DSLR camera, a smartphone without flash, and a smartphone with flash, respectively.

Conclusions

In terms of quality, remote atopic dermatitis severity assessments based on photographs are comparable to in-person assessments, and smartphone photos can be used to assess atopic dermatitis severity to a similar degree as photographs from a DSLR camera. Further, the variation in how the dermatologists in this study rated the iSCORAD based on the photographs was very low.
Zero-Effort Ambient Heart Rate Monitoring Using Ballistocardiography Detected Through a Seat Cushion: Prototype Development and Preliminary Study
Authors: Malik Ahmed Raza , Boger Jennifer
Published: April 2021

Background

Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of death worldwide and result in significant economic costs to health care systems. The prevalence of cardiovascular conditions that require monitoring is expected to increase as the average age of the global population continues to rise. Although an accurate cardiac assessment can be performed at medical centers, frequent visits for assessment are not feasible for most people, especially those with limited mobility. Monitoring of vital signs at home is becoming an increasingly desirable, accessible, and practical alternative. As wearable devices are not the ideal solution for everyone, it is necessary to develop parallel and complementary approaches.

Objective

This research aims to develop a zero-effort, unobtrusive, cost-effective, and portable option for home-based ambient heart rate monitoring.

Methods

The prototype seat cushion uses load cells to acquire a user’s ballistocardiogram (BCG). The analog signal from the load cells is amplified and filtered by a signal-conditioning circuit before being digitally recorded. A pilot study with 20 participants was conducted to analyze the prototype’s ability to capture the BCG during five real-world tasks: sitting still, watching a video on a computer screen, reading, using a computer, and having a conversation. A novel algorithm based on the continuous wavelet transform was developed to extract the heart rate by detecting the largest amplitude values (J-peaks) in the BCG signal.

Results

The pilot study data showed that the BCG signals from all five tasks had sufficiently large portions to extract heart rate. The continuous wavelet transform–based algorithm for J-peak detection demonstrated an overall accuracy of 91.4% compared with electrocardiography. Excluding three outliers that had significantly noisy BCG data, the algorithm achieved 94.6% accuracy, which was aligned with that of wearable devices.

Conclusions

This study suggests that BCG acquired through a seat cushion is a viable alternative to wearable technologies. The prototype seat cushion presented in this study is an example of a relatively accessible, affordable, portable, and unobtrusive zero-effort approach to achieve frequent home-based ambient heart rate monitoring.