bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characteristics of self-assessment in children prone to aggression in school
Authors: Δούβλος Χρίστος
Published: November 2021

Σκοπός της παρούσας μελέτης είναι να εκτιμηθεί το επίπεδο αυτοεκτίμησης και επιθετικότητας στους Έλληνες εφήβους και να εξεταστεί εάν οι δύο δομές σχετίζονται. Επίσης, στοχεύει να διερευνήσει τον ρόλο της οικογενειακής δομής στην αυτοεκτίμηση και την εμπλοκή των εφήβων στην επιθετικότητα και την επίδραση του φύλου σε επιθετικές συμπεριφορές. Το δείγμα της έρευνας αποτελείται από 124 μαθητές Γυμνασίου που κατοικούν στην Αθήνα, την πρωτεύουσα της Ελλάδας. Για τη συλλογή των δεδομένων χρησιμοποιήθηκε ερωτηματολόγιο αποτελούμενο από έγκυρες και αξιόπιστες κλίμακες. Η κλίμακα αυτοεκτίμησης Rosenberg (Rosenberg, 1965) και το ερωτηματολόγιο αυτο-αποτελεσματικότητας για παιδιά (Muris, 2001) χρησιμοποιήθηκαν για τη μέτρηση της αυτοεκτίμησης των μαθητών, ενώ η επιθετικότητα μετρήθηκε με την κλίμακα επιθετικότητας (Orpinas and Frankowski, 2001), την Τροποποιημένη Κλίμακα Επιθετικότητας (Bosworth, Espelage & Simon, 1993) και την Κλίμακα Εκφοβισμού Gatehouse (Bond, Wolfe, Tollit, Butler & Patton, 2007). Η θυματοποίηση μετρήθηκε με την Πολυδιάστατη Κλίμακα Θυματοποίησης (Mynard & Joseph, 2000) και την Κλίμακα Θυματοποίησης (Orpinas, 1993). Σύμφωνα με τα αποτελέσματα της μελέτης, οι Έλληνες έφηβοι έχουν ικανοποιητικά επίπεδα αυτοεκτίμησης και παρουσιάζουν χαμηλά επίπεδα επιθετικότητας. Επιπλέον, τα έφηβα αγόρια βρέθηκαν να παρουσιάζουν σε μεγαλύτερο βαθμό σωματική επιθετικότητα, ενώ τα κορίτσια βρέθηκαν να επιδίδονται περισσότερο σε λεκτική επιθετικότητα. Η σχέση αυτοεκτίμησης και επιθετικότητας επιβεβαιώθηκε, καθώς αποκαλύφθηκε ότι οι δύο δομές συσχετίζονται με θετικό τρόπο σε σημαντικό βαθμό.
Information professionals and the implementation of information systems in small and medium-sized enterprises
Authors: Σταθούλια Θεοδώρα
Published: November 2021

Η εργασία μελέτησε την σχέση μεταξύ των επιστημόνων πληροφόρησης και της εφαρμογής των πληροφοριακών συστημάτων στις Μικρομεσαίες επιχειρήσεις στο ειδικό περιβάλλον της Ελλάδας. Η κύρια ερευνητική υπόθεση ήταν ότι οι επιστήμονες πληροφόρησης είναι ο κύριος παράγοντας για την επιτυχή εφαρμογή των πληροφοριακών συστημάτων στις μικρομεσαίες επιχειρήσεις. Ποσοτική και ποιοτική έρευνα διεξήχθη σε μικρομεσαίες επιχειρήσεις στην Ελλάδα. Δυο ερωτηματολόγια στάλθηκαν σε διευθυντές και επιστήμονες πληροφόρησης σε 750 επιχειρήσεις που επιλέχθηκαν τυχαία και συνεντεύξεις πραγματοποιήθηκαν με διευθυντές και πληροφοριακούς επιστήμονες σε 10 επιλεγμένες επιχειρήσεις. Δεδομένα συγκεντρώθηκαν από 98 ερωτηματολόγια που συμπληρώθηκαν. Η ποσοτική μέτρηση στηρίχθηκε σε συχνότητες, περιγραφική στατιστική, διασταυρωμένη πινακοποίηση και μη-παραμετρικά τεστ. Πέντε μελέτες περίπτωσης συμπεριελήφθησαν στην έρευνα που οργανώθηκαν πάνω στο θέμα της σχέσης αιτίας-αιτιατού. H μηδενική υπόθεση της μελέτης δεν απορρίφθηκε, συνεπώς η κύρια υπόθεση της μελέτης δεν αποδείχθηκε. Επιπρόσθετα, οι συνεντεύξεις στηριγμένες σε ανοικτού τύπου ερωτήσεις έδειξαν ότι τα τεχνικά προβλήματα στην εφαρμογή των πληροφοριακών συστημάτων αντιμετωπίστηκαν τελικά, ενώ τα δομικά προβλήματα στην διαχείριση και την εφαρμογή της πληροφοριακής τεχνολογίας στις μικρομεσαίες επιχειρήσεις παραμένει ένα κρίσιμο θέμα.
COMPETITIVENESS OF RUSSIAN TRANSPORT CORRIDORS IN THE SYSTEM OF INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT CORRIDORS
Authors: Rocheva Olga A. , Zaripova Rimma S. , Morozova Irina G. , Khamidullina Fania R.
Published: November 2021

The overall economic situation in the state is also important for the development of the NSR. First of all, it is necessary to note the negative impact of the decline in production volumes. A significant part of the production facilities were closed. The total volume of cargo traffic along the Northern Sea Route has decreased by four times.

Arctic ports are a weak link of the Northern Sea Route that does not meet modern requirements. These properties have been placed in trust by a number of owners who are currently unable to ensure the normal operation of these properties.

The purpose of the work: to study the general economic situation in the state is also important for the development of the NSR. To study the volume of cargo traffic along the Northern Sea Route.

The methodology of the work: a systematic approach and generalization; the authors ‘ own scientific and pedagogical experience; analytical and statistical methods of analysis.

Results: The Northern Sea Route is characterized by an increased importance for modern Russia. The interest of the whole world in the Northern Sea Route is connected with the fact that it is the most important transport route that ensures the development of the resources of the Arctic region, including fuel and energy, carrying out high-yield transit transportation, etc.

Scope of application of the results: it is advisable to apply the results obtained at the state level, there should be an awareness that one of the key tasks of our country at the present stage is the development of navigation in the Arctic Ocean.
Disputas en torno al desarrollo y el territorio: el caso de Yasuní-ITT durante el Ecuador de la Revolución Ciudadana
Authors: Stoessel Soledad , Scarpacci Martín
Published: November 2021

Este artículo analiza la disputa en torno al desarrollo y territorio a partir del estudio de unapolítica gubernamental conocida como Iniciativa Yasuní-ITT, implementada en 2007 por elproyecto de la Revolución Ciudadana en Ecuador. La Iniciativa fue abandonada en 2013, locual significó comenzar a explotar el petróleo de parte del territorio ITT ubicado en el ParqueNacional Yasuní. Esto provocó la activación de un conflicto social y territorial en el que participaron diversos colectivos ambientalistas, ong, comunidades indígenas y el gobierno. El textoreconstruye la dinámica social de esta contienda e identifica los distintos discursos esgrimidosen torno a la problemática del desarrollo y del territorio. Se parte de una perspectiva teórica quecombina el enfoque estratégico-relacional de Bob Jessop y un análisis espacial que entiende alterritorio como un campo conflictivo de poder. El artículo concluye que la disputa en torno alextractivismo no puede abordarse sin considerar la dinámica procesual de la lógica de acumulación capitalista, ni de las estrategias que se dan los actores para apropiarse de los territorios.
An Economic Analysis of Rebates Conditional on Positive Reviews
Authors: Chen Jianqing , Guo Zhiling , Huang Jian
Published: November 2021

In the prevailing e-commerce environment, conditional rebates have emerged as a common business practice on leading online platforms such as Taobao. Because rebates are only offered to purchasing consumers who post positive online reviews, a key concern is that it can easily induce fake reviews that might harm consumers. We theoretically analyze the seller’s optimal conditional-rebate strategies based on heterogeneous consumers’ online-review-posting behavior and derive three practically important findings. First, it is not always profitable for strategic sellers to pursue the conditional-rebate strategy. Blindly offering incentives may not help achieve the goal of review manipulation. Second, the conditional-rebate strategy does not necessarily result in fake reviews. Fake reviews occur only if consumers’ moral cost is low and the review-posting cost is not too high. Third, under certain conditions, offering conditional rebates can even increase consumer surplus and social welfare. Platform owners or policy designers can help reduce social losses by offering transparent sales information and by appropriately controlling the platform review-posting cost to induce quality reviews. Our study offers new insights into the fake-review phenomenon induced by conditional rebates and sheds new light on the policy debate about whether platforms should completely ban incentivized reviews.
Multiplayer Bandits Without Observing Collision Information
Authors: Lugosi Gábor , Mehrabian Abbas
Published: November 2021

We study multiplayer stochastic multiarmed bandit problems in which the players cannot communicate, and if two or more players pull the same arm, a collision occurs and the involved players receive zero reward. We consider two feedback models: a model in which the players can observe whether a collision has occurred and a more difficult setup in which no collision information is available. We give the first theoretical guarantees for the second model: an algorithm with a logarithmic regret and an algorithm with a square-root regret that does not depend on the gaps between the means. For the first model, we give the first square-root regret bounds that do not depend on the gaps. Building on these ideas, we also give an algorithm for reaching approximate Nash equilibria quickly in stochastic anticoordination games.
Socio-Pedagogical Aspects of Diagnostics of Family Problems of a Specialist in the Security and Defense Sector
Authors:   National Academy of the National Guard of Ukraine, Trubavina Iryna , Boyko Svitlana ,   Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs
Published: November 2021

The article is focused on the problems of diagnostics of the security and defense specialists by a specialist of social and socio-pedagogical work in family problems. It is determined that the problems of families of Ukraine security and defense specialists under the hybrid war and military conflict in the East of Ukraine conditions are both general and special in the context of creating social conditions addressing issues of concern to the family. They may be subject to the work of military and social specialists in their departments and social work in the community with families, if they are in difficult life circumstances. The social diagnosis criterion is the quality of life of the family, which is an objective and subjective criterion, implemented through a system of indicators at the level of a particular family and its member and the family at the level of society. These criteria include quality of life such as physical health, emotional health (eg, satisfaction, self-esteem, happiness), material well-being, work, creativity, relationships, security, direct involvement in a particular society, which we revealed through indicators for families of security and defense specialists. Socio-pedagogical methods of determining the family life quality for making a family social diagnosis are generalized. When using them, we have to keep in mind that the family should be studied in statics and dynamics. Prospects for further research are the development of methods for studying the family in psychology, law and social sciences.
Personal Orientation of the Use of Health Technologies in General Secondary Education
Authors:   V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Zhukova Oksana , Shukatka Oksana ,   Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Savchuk Svitlana ,   MHEI "Lutsk Pedagogical College" of the Volyn Regional Council
Published: November 2021

The article is devoted to the acquisition of personality-oriented health competencies in leading a healthy lifestyle for students of general secondary education. The purpose of this article is to analyze the problem of forming a healthy lifestyle of students of general secondary education in Ukraine. Object of research: educational process in general secondary education institutions of Ukraine. Subject of research: the process of forming a healthy lifestyle of students of general secondary education in Ukraine. The article analyzes the conditions that will help preserve the health of students: the optimal load of new information, as they harm the health of both overload and intellectual emptiness; providing a logical presentation of educational information; ensuring a positive emotional state of students, which is a prerequisite for overall positive health. Conclusions. For more successful formation of a healthy lifestyle of students of general secondary education, important components are: 1. Increasing the quantity and quality of social advertising, the content of which is the promotion of a healthy lifestyle. 2. Promoting the awareness of students of general secondary education about the negative consequences of smoking, alcohol and drug use. 3. The use of innovative educational technologies in the process of preserving the health of students of general secondary education. 4. Expansion of cultural, artistic and physical culture and health-improving actions for students of general secondary education, aimed at forming a culture of health and a healthy lifestyle. 5. Improving the health competence of teachers of general secondary education.
Relationship Between Health-Preserving Technologies and Formation of Civic Maturity of Students of General Secondary Education
Authors:   Taras Shevchenko National University ", Imeridze Maksym ,   Chernihiv Collegium", Buzhina Iryna ,   SI "South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University named after K. D. Ushynsky", Hryshchenko Svitlana ,   Taras Shevchenko National University "Chernihiv Collegium"
Published: November 2021

The article analyzes that the traditionally organized process of forming civic maturity of general secondary school students does not provide this process entirely on the basis of national traditions, but requires a combination with health care by increasing bad habits and reducing physical activity of young people. The purpose of this article is to analyze the problem of the relationship between health and civic maturity of students of general secondary education in Ukraine. Object of research: educational process in general secondary education institutions of Ukraine. Subject of research: formation of the process of combining health care and civic maturity of high school students in general secondary education institutions of Ukraine. Conclusions. In the national pedagogical science, research on health care and at the same time the formation of civic maturity of students of general secondary education is carried out. Monitoring the physical fitness of civic maturity and health of high school students requires the development of a methodological system for their application. The role of mutual complementarity of health technologies and formation of civic maturity of students of general secondary education is growing. There is a need for an interdisciplinary approach to the development of the content of national educational programs using health technologies and ensuring academic mobility, which is a kind of platform for the creation of a single European educational space.
The Speciality of the Appliance of Museum Pedagogy in the Art’s Lessons in Secondary School
Authors:   Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Karamanov Oleksii , Kliuchynska Marta ,   Ivan Franko National University of Lviv
Published: November 2021

The possibility of organisation the museum pedagogical activities in the musical art and art lessons are reviewed in the article by its authors. The important role of museums as dynamic, cultural and educational, as well as scientific impulse and focus in the educational process is implied. Also, the term «interactivity» in the training process is explained on the examples of different methods of museum pedagogy in the practice of the many educational institutions. The importance of the appliance of museum pedagogy is underlined, especially such approaches as comparison, localisation of the events, auditions, performance, commenting and reconstruction. The functions of these approaches are specified, that is, to develop the interdisciplinary art competency of students and to enrich their experience in analysis of musical compositions. As a consequence, the important role of museum pedagogy in musical art and art lessons as an interdisciplinary method is confirmed.
Didactic Potential of Bookstagram as a Kind of Creolized Text
Authors:   Kremenchuk Mykhailo Ostrohradskyi National University, Sizova Kseniia , Soshenko Svitlana ,   Kremenchuk Mykhailo Ostrohradskyi National University
Published: November 2021

The article investigates the method of working with a bookstagram in lessons of Ukrainian literature. bookstagram is considered as an element of modern educational discourse. The peculiarities of the bookstagram as a kind of creolized text that promotes creative comprehension of a work of art are analyzed. Creolized texts are now considered as an effective didactic tool, because they are easier to accept by modern pupils. The role of bookstagram in the development of creative thinking of pupils is traced, in particular, bookstagram is considered as a form of co-creation of the reader with the author of the work, a tool for modernizing Ukrainian literary classics and the school study of literature. The methodical bases of bookstagram application as a means of formation of reading culture and activation of interest of pupils to reading of the Ukrainian fiction are defined. The main functions of the book are the popularization of reading and the formation of reading competence of pupils, attracting attention to Ukrainian fiction, involving students in the constant use of library resources, the implementation of innovative forms of teaching Ukrainian literature at school. The article analyzes samples of bookstagrams created by pupils under the guidance of future teachers of Ukrainian language and literature during internships in secondary schools. Such joint activities of pupils and students-practitioners proved to be useful, because it helped to create an atmosphere of trust and increase motivation to read.
Description of the Components and Levels of Socialization of Schoolchildren in Conditions of Normotypical Development and Mental Dysontogenesis
Authors:   H. S. Skovoroda Kharkiv National Pedagogical University, Kovalenko Viktoriia
Published: November 2021

The article presents a description of the components and levels of socialization of schoolchildren with normotypical development and intellectual disabilities. Based on the analysis of general and specific patterns of social development, were identified stages of socialization and stages of social development, the cognitive-conscious, motivational-value, emotional-regulatory and activity-behavioral components of socialization. It has been established that the indicators of the cognitively conscious component are knowledge and understanding of social and moral norms, rules of social behavior, awareness of their significance at the level of interaction with society; indicators of motivational-value – the manifestation of the motivational-need-sphere of the individual, the peculiarities of the student's attitude to social and moral norms; indicators of the emotional-regulatory component of socialization are the degree of personality adaptation, perception, understanding and assessment of one's own personality, the ability to emotional regulation; indicators of the activity-behavioral component are the degree of independence and social activity of the individual, adherence to generally accepted moral and social norms, moral and ethical aspects of behavior in relations with «others», the ability to avoid conflict situations, the communicative activity of the individual. Taking into account the peculiarities of social development in ontogenesis, a description of the high, medium and low levels of socialization is given for each of the indicators in accordance with the stages of adaptation, individualization and integration.
Scientific Path and Scientific Achievements of Serhiy Viktorovych Savchenko
Authors:   State Institution Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University, Kurylo Vitalii , Savchenko Olha ,   State Institution Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University, Vakhovsky Leonid ,   State Institution Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University
Published: November 2021

The article traces the scientific path and analyzes the results of the scientific activities of S. V. Savchenko – Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, Professor, Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of Ukraine, a well-known in Ukraine and abroad scholar and educator, Rector of Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University. It is shown that in the center of scientific searches of the scholar always were the most actual problems, the study of which he began as one of the first. His Ph.D. thesis, defended in 1990, was at that time a bold attempt to study the activities of informal associations of students. The most important and complex issues related to the socialization of student youth in extracurricular activities was addressed in his doctoral dissertation (2004), which developed, substantiated and experimentally verified socio-pedagogical model of student socialization process. A number of scientific works, prepared in co-authorship, reflect the philosophical aspects of modern educational activity. A special place in the scientific and pedagogical heritage of S. V. Savchenko is occupied by the research of the problems of personality socialization in the conditions of hybrid war in the east of Ukraine. The subject of scientific study was little-studied processes that are denoted by the terms «aberrational socialization», «media socialization», «cybersocialization». The peculiarities of the content and technologies of students’ patriotic education as a factor of socialization are defined.
Social Work with Military Servants – Participants of Anti-Terroristic Operation Released for Reserve
Authors:   Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy, Arkhypova Svitlana , Bik Olesia ,   Lviv Polytechnic National University
Published: November 2021

In today's conditions, the issue of providing social (including educational) services to demobilized ATO soldiers is extremely important.The study of the issue in socio-pedagogical theory and practice led to the choice of the purpose, which is to analyse modern approaches and theoretical and methodological foundations of the organization of social work with servicemen-participants of the anti-terrorist operation.To solve this purpose, a set of methods was used: study and analysis of scientific and special literature and practical experience on the research problem; pedagogical observation, conversation.The understanding of social work with servicemen-participants of anti-terrorist operation as an integral complex of social services is presented, in particular: informing, counseling, mediation, rendering of various educational services, socio-psychological rehabilitation.The general approaches to social work with servicemen of participants of anti-terrorist operation are opened. It was found that social work is associated with adaptation, socialization, psychological, legal, social assistance and other social services, which was demonstrated by the example of specific projects.The study does not cover all the issues of social work with servicemen participating in the anti-terrorist operation. Topical issues include moral-ethical and pedagogical aspects of social work with members of the ATO and their families. It is promising to study the areas of socio-pedagogical work with servicemen-participants of the anti-terrorist operation, which can be carried out by educational institutions, non-governmental organizations and public organizations.
The immune system
Authors: Peate Ian
Published: November 2021

This article considers the immune system. The reader is introduced to the immune system and how the body defends itself against infectious organisms, foreign cells and self-cells that have gone awry (such as, cancer cells). The article focuses on the organs of the immune system, and vaccination is briefly discussed.

The healthcare assistant (HCA) and assistant practitioner (AP) must have an understanding of the immune system if they are to offer person-centred, safe and effective care and support to people.

The article concludes with a glossary of terms and a set of questions intended to reinforce learning.
Critical thinking and diagnostic reasoning of the heart and cardiovascular system
Authors: Byrne Jill
Published: November 2021

This is the second of two articles exploring assessment and clinical reasoning of conditions relating to the heart and cardiovascular system in the context of emergency care. In the last article, the structure and function of the heart was reviewed, and reference made to many of the conditions that may affect the heart. In addition, the common presenting complaints of cardiac conditions were highlighted, together with important aspects of the history for each symptom. The full cardiac examination was outlined. In this article, some of the common cardiac conditions will be discussed. These will be linked to common findings in the history, examination, and investigations.
Implementing a surgical first assistant role into that of a clinical nurse specialist at an orthopaedic specialist hospital
Authors: Denton Amanda
Published: November 2021

Background:

Clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) are experienced senior nurses with advanced clinical knowledge, communication and leadership skills and commonly take on extended roles to optimise care delivery within health and social care.

Aim:

To critically explore the experience of one clinical nurse specialist who undertook an enhanced qualification to become a surgical first assistant.

Methods:

A case-study approach based on Gibbs' reflective model is used to reflect on the experience, its benefits to patient care and the challenges and facilitators related to taking on advanced surgical roles.

Findings:

Long-term benefits can be achieved by investing in CNSs educated to hold the enhanced surgical first assistant qualification. Advanced roles enhance evidence-based service delivery, while also benefitting the clinical nurse specialist, the patient and the trust.
Overseas recruitment
Authors: Foster Sam
Published: November 2021

Sam Foster, Chief Nurse, Oxford University Hospitals, reflects on the continued role for overseas recruitment of nurses in NHS staffing
Ramanujan Summation for Powers of Triangular and Pronic Numbers
Authors: Sivaraman Dr. R.
Published: November 2021

The numbers which are sum of first n natural numbers are called Triangular numbers and numbers which are product of two consecutive positive integers are called Pronic numbers. The concept of Ramanujan summation has been dealt by Srinivasa Ramanujan for divergent series of real numbers. In this paper, I will determine the Ramanujan summation for positive integral powers of triangular and Pronic numbers and derive a new compact formula for general case.
Third sector provision of dementia support in the community: results from a scoping exercise of charity involvement in the UK
Authors: Mayrhofer Andrea M. , Goodman Claire , Lafortune Louise , Smeeton Nigel , Littlechild Brian , Shora Shaheen , Bunn Frances
Published: November 2021

Third sector dementia support is characterised by wide variation and a heavy reliance on volunteer engagement. While there has been a growth in the reach and diversity of different schemes, their short-term funding results in a loss of networks, collaborations and local knowledge. This practice paper reflects on strengthening community-based dementia support and care via public and third sector partnerships. National and local data sources could help charities and commissioners begin to identify inequalities of provision.
Optical hysteresis shape transformation using linear polarization components
Authors: Al Graiti Saif A. , Maywar Drew N.
Published: November 2021

We provide a mathematical model to elucidate how a linear polarizer can be used to transform the shape of an optical-power hysteresis curve into the canonical counterclockwise (CCW) shape, clockwise (CW) shape, and upward-switching and downward-switching butterfly shapes. This transformation is possible for optical signals whose states of polarization also exhibit hysteresis. Critical to our model is a generalized Malus' law that accounts for elliptical input polarization as well as insertion loss, finite extinction ratio, and pass-axis orientation angle of the linear polarizer. The generalized Malus' law reveals that the transmittivity of the polarizer itself exhibits a bistable hysteresis curve, and this transmittivity acts on the input-power hysteresis curve to produce the variety of output-power shapes. Additionally, we model the optimization of the hysteresis contrast of the CCW and CW shapes, achieving 20 dB or more by using a polarization controller placed upstream of the polarizer. Modeling and experimental validation are carried out using a polarization-varying bistable signal generated by an anisotropic Fabry–Perot semiconductor optical amplifier, and the results are applicable to other nonlinear resonators and means of polarization-varying signal generation. This model can be used for the study, design, and optimization of a variety of sequential and combinational all-optical signal processing applications.
Ten simple rules on writing clean and reliable open-source scientific software
Authors: Hunter-Zinck Haley , de Siqueira Alexandre Fioravante , Vásquez Váleri N. , Barnes Richard , Martinez Ciera C.
Published: November 2021

Functional, usable, and maintainable open-source software is increasingly essential to scientific research, but there is a large variation in formal training for software development and maintainability. Here, we propose 10 “rules” centered on 2 best practice components: clean code and testing. These 2 areas are relatively straightforward and provide substantial utility relative to the learning investment. Adopting clean code practices helps to standardize and organize software code in order to enhance readability and reduce cognitive load for both the initial developer and subsequent contributors; this allows developers to concentrate on core functionality and reduce errors. Clean coding styles make software code more amenable to testing, including unit tests that work best with modular and consistent software code. Unit tests interrogate specific and isolated coding behavior to reduce coding errors and ensure intended functionality, especially as code increases in complexity; unit tests also implicitly provide example usages of code. Other forms of testing are geared to discover erroneous behavior arising from unexpected inputs or emerging from the interaction of complex codebases. Although conforming to coding styles and designing tests can add time to the software development project in the short term, these foundational tools can help to improve the correctness, quality, usability, and maintainability of open-source scientific software code. They also advance the principal point of scientific research: producing accurate results in a reproducible way. In addition to suggesting several tips for getting started with clean code and testing practices, we recommend numerous tools for the popular open-source scientific software languages Python, R, and Julia.
DNA methylation-based classifier and gene expression signatures detect BRCAness in osteosarcoma
Authors: Barenboim Maxim , Kovac Michal , Ameline Baptiste , Jones David T. W. , Witt Olaf , Bielack Stefan , Burdach Stefan , Baumhoer Daniel , Nathrath Michaela
Published: November 2021

Although osteosarcoma (OS) is a rare cancer, it is the most common primary malignant bone tumor in children and adolescents. BRCAness is a phenotypical trait in tumors with a defect in homologous recombination repair, resembling tumors with inactivation of BRCA1/2, rendering these tumors sensitive to poly (ADP)-ribose polymerase inhibitors (PARPi). Recently, OS was shown to exhibit molecular features of BRCAness. Our goal was to develop a method complementing existing genomic methods to aid clinical decision making on administering PARPi in OS patients. OS samples with DNA-methylation data were divided to BRCAness-positive and negative groups based on the degree of their genomic instability (n = 41). Methylation probes were ranked according to decreasing variance difference between two groups. The top 2000 probes were selected for training and cross-validation of the random forest algorithm. Two-thirds of available OS RNA-Seq samples (n = 17) from the top and bottom of the sample list ranked according to genome instability score were subjected to differential expression and, subsequently, to gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). The combined accuracy of trained random forest was 85% and the average area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.95. There were 449 upregulated and 1,079 downregulated genes in the BRCAness-positive group (fdr < 0.05). GSEA of upregulated genes detected enrichment of DNA replication and mismatch repair and homologous recombination signatures (FWER < 0.05). Validation of the BRCAness classifier with an independent OS set (n = 20) collected later in the course of study showed AUC of 0.87 with an accuracy of 90%. GSEA signatures computed for this test set were matching the ones observed in the training set enrichment analysis. In conclusion, we developed a new classifier based on DNA-methylation patterns that detects BRCAness in OS samples with high accuracy. GSEA identified genome instability signatures. Machine-learning and gene expression approaches add new epigenomic and transcriptomic aspects to already established genomic methods for evaluation of BRCAness in osteosarcoma and can be extended to cancers characterized by genome instability.
MitoScape: A big-data, machine-learning platform for obtaining mitochondrial DNA from next-generation sequencing data
Authors: Singh Larry N. , Ennis Brian , Loneragan Bryn , Tsao Noah L. , Lopez Sanchez M. Isabel G. , Li Jianping , Acheampong Patrick , Tran Oanh , Trounce Ian A. , Zhu Yuankun , Potluri Prasanth ,   Regeneron Genetics Center, Emanuel Beverly S. , Rader Daniel J. , Arany Zoltan , Damrauer Scott M. , Resnick Adam C. , Anderson Stewart A. , Wallace Douglas C.
Published: November 2021

The growing number of next-generation sequencing (NGS) data presents a unique opportunity to study the combined impact of mitochondrial and nuclear-encoded genetic variation in complex disease. Mitochondrial DNA variants and in particular, heteroplasmic variants, are critical for determining human disease severity. While there are approaches for obtaining mitochondrial DNA variants from NGS data, these software do not account for the unique characteristics of mitochondrial genetics and can be inaccurate even for homoplasmic variants. We introduce MitoScape, a novel, big-data, software for extracting mitochondrial DNA sequences from NGS. MitoScape adopts a novel departure from other algorithms by using machine learning to model the unique characteristics of mitochondrial genetics. We also employ a novel approach of using rho-zero (mitochondrial DNA-depleted) data to model nuclear-encoded mitochondrial sequences. We showed that MitoScape produces accurate heteroplasmy estimates using gold-standard mitochondrial DNA data. We provide a comprehensive comparison of the most common tools for obtaining mtDNA variants from NGS and showed that MitoScape had superior performance to compared tools in every statistically category we compared, including false positives and false negatives. By applying MitoScape to common disease examples, we illustrate how MitoScape facilitates important heteroplasmy-disease association discoveries by expanding upon a reported association between hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and mitochondrial haplogroup T in men (adjusted p-value = 0.003). The improved accuracy of mitochondrial DNA variants produced by MitoScape will be instrumental in diagnosing disease in the context of personalized medicine and clinical diagnostics.
Microarray profiling predicts early neurological and immune phenotypic traits in advance of CNS disease during disease progression in Trypanosoma. b. brucei infected CD1 mouse brains
Authors: Montague Paul , Bradley Barbara , Rodgers Jean , Kennedy Peter G. E.
Published: November 2021

Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), also known as sleeping sickness, is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in sub-Saharan Africa. We hypothesised that recent findings of neurological features and parasite brain infiltration occurring at much earlier stages in HAT than previously thought could be explained by early activation of host genetic programmes controlling CNS disease. Accordingly, a transcriptomal analysis was performed on brain tissue at 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28dpi from the HAT CD1/GVR35 mouse model. Up to 21dpi, most parasites are restricted to the blood and lymphatic system. Thereafter the trypanosomes enter the brain initiating the encephalitic stage. Analysis of ten different time pointComparisonpairings, revealed a dynamic transcriptome comprising four message populations. All 7dpiComparisonshad by far more differentially expressed genes compared to all others. Prior to invasion of the parenchyma, by 7dpi, ~2,000 genes were up-regulated, denoted[7dpi↑]in contrast to a down regulated population[7dpi↓]also numbering ~2,000. However, by 14dpi both patterns had returned to around the pre-infected levels. The third,[28dpi↑]featured over three hundred transcripts which had increased modestly up to14dpi, thereafter were significantly up-regulated and peaked at 28dpi. The fourth, a minor population,[7dpi↑-28dpi↑], had similar elevated levels at 7dpi and 28dpi. KEGG and GO enrichment analysis predicted a diverse phenotype by 7dpi with changes to innate and adaptive immunity, a Type I interferon response, neurotransmission, synaptic plasticity, pleiotropic signalling, circadian activity and vascular permeability without disruption of the blood brain barrier. This key observation is consistent with recent rodent model neuroinvasion studies and clinical reports of Stage 1 HAT patients exhibiting CNS symptoms. Together, these findings challenge the strict Stage1/Stage2 phenotypic demarcation in HAT and show that that significant neurological, and immune changes can be detected prior to the onset of CNS disease.
Diet impacts on the biological aspects of pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) under controlled laboratory conditions
Authors: Ihsan Arbab , Khan Khalid Ali , Sagir Muhammad , Nawaz Ahmad , Fiaz Sajid , Yasmin Farkhanda , Rasheed Majeeda , Ali Habib , Shaheen Musarrat , Mahmoud Samy F. , Sayed Samy , Ur Rahman Shafeeq , Bilal Yasir , Ramzan Muhammad , Nazir Talha , Khan Shumaila , Waqas Muhammad Mohsin , Tayyib Muhammad , Hussain Fiaz , Ali Muhammad Yousaf
Published: November 2021

Background

Pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is a native pest of Asia and preferably invasion on cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) crop as a commendatory host plant. Commercially, G. hirsutum is known as white gold and is an important cash crop all over the globe. Limited studies were published to focus on certain dietary compositions against different cotton pests. Therefore, the present study was undertaken in the laboratory under controlled conditions (temperature: 27 ± 2°C and relative humidity: 60 ± 10%) to determine the impact of three different treatment diets (wheat germ meal, okra, and chickpea) on the biological aspects (lifetime, developmental period) of P. gossypiella.

Results

Results revealed that the shortest larval time of P. gossypiella was observed on the okra feed diet while the longest period was recorded on the wheat germ diet. Meanwhile, the pupation delay was noted on the wheat germ diet. The dietary influence was also observed on adult stages of female and male P. gossypiella (43.00 and 37.50 days respectively) and compared with a standard diet (56.50 and 52.50 days respectively). Furthermore, larval weighed more on the okra and chickpea diet followed by the wheat germ diet, whereas highest pupal weight was observed on the standard diet followed by the chickpea diet and okra diet.

Conclusion

Developmental parameters were significantly variant across all treatment diets, whereas the higher significant difference was reported on the okra diet. Therefore, the existing data of this study offers fruitful interventions for the future as a modified diet for large-scale and rapid mass production of P. gossypiella larvae.
Association of professional pre-qualifications, study success in medical school and the eligibility for becoming a physician: A scoping review
Authors: Erschens Rebecca , Herrmann-Werner Anne , Schaffland Tim Fabian , Kelava Augustin , Ambiel David , Zipfel Stephan , Loda Teresa
Published: November 2021

Background

Literature, individual experiences and common considerations suggest that prior professional qualification can be an advantage for later career development. For instance, in Germany, professional pre-qualification has been honored by medical faculties in selection procedures for several years. However, a systematic evaluation of this relationship lacks. This scoping review summarizes existing literature and addresses the role of prior professional pre-qualifications on objective or subjective study success and the choice of a specialization.

Methods

The scoping review was performed oriented on the PRISMA guidelines. PsycINFO and PubMed databases were searched for relevant studies that included data of medical students with and without professional pre-qualifications. To answer the underlying research questions, this scoping review also includes studies that examine professional pre-qualifications in association with non-cognitive "soft" criteria.

Results and further directions

1055 items were identified and reviewed by two independent reviewers with final 11 studies were included for this scoping review. The results of identified studies that report possible effects of prior pre-professional qualifications are inconclusive but suggest that prior professional qualifications tend not to have rather an advantage on study success. Medical school success for students with prior professional qualifications tended to be below average in the preclinical setting, and there were no differences in the clinical setting compared with students without prior professional qualifications. The influence of professional pre-qualifications has not yet been adequately studied without the moderator variable “waiting time” and “A-levels grade”. The scoping review indicates insufficient number of articles stating a co-relation of prior pre-qualifications and subjective data. Again, the results found are not sufficient to state a clear relationship between professional pre-qualifications and the choice of a specific speciality preference. However, professional pre-qualifications, both in medicine and as "practical experience in rural areas", tend to be beneficial for the choice of becoming a rural physician. Large-scale cross-sectional and longitudinal studies are needed to investigate the influence of professional pre-qualifications on different study trajectory parameters.
A data fusion approach to the estimation of temporary populations: An application to Australia
Authors: Charles-Edwards Elin , Corcoran Jonathan , Loginova Julia , Panczak Radoslaw , White Gentry , Whitehead Alexander
Published: November 2021

This study establishes a new method for estimating the monthly Average Population Present (APP) in Australian regions. Conventional population statistics, which enumerate people where they usually live, ignore the significant spatial mobility driving short term shifts in population numbers. Estimates of the temporary or ambient population of a region have several important applications including the provision of goods and services, emergency preparedness and serve as more appropriate denominators for a range of social statistics. This paper develops a flexible modelling framework to generate APP estimates from an integrated suite of conventional and novel data sources. The resultant APP estimates reveal the considerable seasonality in small area populations across Australia’s regions alongside the contribution of domestic and international visitors as well as absent residents to the observed monthly variations. The modelling framework developed in the paper is conceived in a manner such that it can be adapted and re-deployed both for use with alternative data sources as well as other situational contexts for the estimation of temporary populations.
Clinical impact of implementing a rapid-response team based on the Modified Early Warning Score in wards that offer emergency department support
Authors: Alves Silva Lorena Micheline , Moroço Diego Marques , Pintya José Paulo , Miranda Carlos Henrique
Published: November 2021

Background

Emergency department (ED) crowding is a frequent situation. To decrease this overload, patients without a life-threating condition are transferred to wards that offer ED support. This study aimed to evaluate if implementing a rapid response team (RRT) triggered by the modified early warning score (MEWS) in high-risk wards offering ED support is associated with decreased in-hospital mortality rate.

Methods

A before-and-after cross-sectional study compared in-hospital mortality rates before and after implementation of an RRT triggered by the MEWS ≥4 in two wards of a tertiary hospital that offer ED support.

Results

We included 6863 patients hospitalized in these wards before RRT implementation from July 2015 through June 2017 and 6944 patients hospitalized in these same wards after RRT implementation from July 2018 through June 2020. We observed a statistically significant decrease in the in-hospital mortality rate after intervention, 449 deaths/6944 hospitalizations [6.47% (95% confidence interval (CI) 5.91%– 7.07%)] compared to 534 deaths/6863 hospitalizations [7.78% (95% CI 7.17–8.44)] before intervention; with an absolute risk reduction of -1.31% (95% CI -2.20 –-0.50).

Conclusion

RRT trigged by the MEWS≥4 in high-risk wards that offer ED support was found to be associated with a decreased in-hospital mortality rate. A further cluster-randomized trial should evaluate the impact of this intervention in this setting.
Effects of a school-based intervention to reduce cardiovascular disease risk factors among secondary school students: A cluster-randomized, controlled trial
Authors: Amoah John , Said Salmiah , Rampal Lekhraj , Manaf Rosliza , Ibrahim Normala , Owusu-Agyei Seth , Poku Asante Kwaku
Published: November 2021

Background

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the number cause of death worldwide. In Ghana CVD has been the leading cause of death since 2001. The prevalence of CVD risk factors among adolescents in Ghana has been increasing. This study seeks to develop, implement and evaluate the effects of a behavioral modification intervention program to reduce CVD risk factors among secondary school students in Brong Ahafo, Ghana.

Methods

A cluster-randomized controlled trial was conducted with schools as clusters over a period of six-months with pre and post intervention evaluations. Participants were public secondary school students (14–19 years) from four schools in Brong Ahafo, Ghana. Students in the intervention group were trained by the researchers whereas those of the control group received no intervention. The intervention included health education and physical activity modules. Follow-up data using same questionnaire were collected within two weeks after the intervention was completed. Intention-to-treat analysis was performed after replacing missing values using the multiple imputation method. The generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) was used to assess the effects of the intervention study.

Results

The GLMM analyses showed the intervention was effective in attaining 0.77(p<0.001), 0.72(p<0.001), 0.47(p<0.001), 0.56(p<0.001), and 0.39(p = 0.045) higher total physical activity, fruits, vegetables, seafood, and water scores respectively for the intervention group over the control group. The intervention was also significant in reducing -0.15(p<0.001),-0.23(p<0.001),-0.50(p<0.001),-0.32(p<0.001),-0.90(p<0.001),-0.87(p<0.001),-0.38(p<0.001), -0.63(p<0.001), -1.63(p<0.001), 0.61(p<0.001), and -1.53(p = 0.005) carbohydrates, fats and oils, fried eggs, fried chicken, carbonated drinks, sugar, sweet snacks, salted fish, weight, BMI, and diastolic BP. The odds of quitting alcohol use in the intervention group were 1.06 times more than the control group. There was no significant effect on reducing smoking and systolic BP.

Conclusion

There is an urgent need for the intervention program to be integrated into the existing curriculum structure of secondary school schools. Implementing the intervention will allow for longer and more consistent impact on the reduction of CVD risk factors among secondary school students.