bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Epistemik Merakın Eğitimdeki Rolü
Authors: YAZICI Tuğçe , KARTAL Osman
Published: July 2020

Öğrenenin öğrenme isteği, bilinçli veya bilinçsiz bir şekilde gerçekleşebilmektedir. Bu süreçte öğrenenin özellikle belli bir içeriğe yoğunlaşarak öğrenme çabasına girmesi ve öğrenme çabasının arkasındaki nedenlerin alan yazınında farklı bakış açılarla incelendiği anlaşılmaktadır. Psikolojik çerçevede öğrenenin öğrenme çabası merak olarak incelenmiştir ve meraka yönelik yönelik çeşitli tanımlamalarla birlikte birtakım teoriler öne sürülmüştür. Bu çalışma, epistemik merakın öğrenme açısından kavramsal ve teorik arka planının öğretme ve öğrenme süreçleri açısından açıklanmayı amaçlamaktadır. Bu amaç doğrultusunda, epistemik merak konusunda gerçekleştirilecek bilimsel araştırmalar ve eğitim programı geliştirme çalışmaları için araştırmacılara, uzmanlara ve uygulayıcılara eleştirel bir teorik çerçeve sunmaktadır. Ayrıca, epistemik merakın öğrenme ve öğretme süreçlerine ne gibi katkılarının olabileceğini sunma açısından çalışmanın önemli olduğu düşünülmektedir. Sonuç olarak, epistemik merak, insanın bilişsel yapısı ve kişilik faktörleriyle birlikte öğrenme ve öğretme sürecine birçok açıdan bağlantılı olduğu anlaşılmaktadır. Ayrıca, epistemik merakın öğrenme sürecine bağlı değişkenlerle arabulucu bir rol üstlendiği ve öğrenme- öğretme sürecini kapsayan bir yapı haline geldiği anlaşılmaktadır. Epistemik merakın öğrenme sürecindeki rolüne aracılık eden değişkenlerin neler olabileceğinin, gerçekleştirilecek araştırmalarla, sorgulanması önerilmektedir.
THE RESULTS OF THE DIAGNOSIS AND COMPLEX TREATMENT OF DENTOALVEOLAR
ANOMALIES IN CHILDREN DURING THE EARLY SHIFT BITE
Authors: Voskanyan A.R. , Ayupova F.S. , Alekseenko S.N.
Published: July 2020

The results of diagnostics and complex treatment of dentoalveolar anomalies during the early shift bite in children living in the city of Krasnodar and the territories of the Krasnodar Territory with different levels of socio-economic development and the effectiveness of the health care system were studied. The prevalence and structure of dentoalveolar anomalies is established, the risk factors for their occurrence and progression are specified. Comprehensive rehabilitation and correction of the functional state of the dentoalveolar apparatus led to a noticeable change in the structure of the RFA in children who turned during the period of an early shift bite.
STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF THE CRIMEAN TATAR PEOPLE'S INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
Authors: Mambetova Gulshen Rustemovna
Published: July 2020

The study of Crimean Tatar musical folklore is one of the urgent scientific tasks of modern musicology, because, despite some existing studies, the musical culture of the Crimean Tatars is still poorly understood. The purpose of the article is to identify the belonging of the analyzed work to the genre of poppies. In the musical culture of the Crimean Tatars, a structural analysis of the Crimean Tatar folk instrumental music from the collection of F. Aliyev “Anthology of the Crimean folk music” has not yet been made, so the choice of topic is due to the need to fill in a significant gap. This study will provide an idea of the Crimean Tatar folk instrumental music.
Long-Term, All-Day Exposure to Circadian-Effective Light Improves Sleep, Mood, and Behavior in Persons with Dementia
Authors: Figueiro Mariana G. , Sahin Levent , Kalsher Michael , Plitnick Barbara , Rea Mark S.
Published: July 2020

Background:

Persons with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) frequently experience sleep–wake (circadian) cycle disturbances that lead them to remain awake at night, causing stress and fatigue for families and caregivers. Light therapy shows promise as a nonpharmacological treatment for regulating sleep in this population.

Objective:

We investigated the long-term impact of a circadian-effective lighting intervention on sleep, mood, and behavior problems in persons with ADRD.

Methods:

This 25-week clinical trial administered an all-day lighting intervention to 47 patients with ADRD in 9 senior-care facilities, employing wrist-worn actigraphy measures and standardized measures of sleep quality, mood, and behavior.

Results:

The intervention significantly improved Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores, from an estimated mean±SEM of 11.89±0.53 at baseline to 5.36±0.63 at the end of the intervention. Additional improvements were noted for sleep efficiency data from actigraph measurements. The intervention significantly reduced Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia scores (mean±SEM of 11.36±0.74 at baseline and 4.18±0.88 at the end of the intervention) and Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory scores (mean±SEM of 47.10±1.98 at baseline and 35.33±2.23 at the end of the intervention).

Conclusion:

A regular circadian-effective daytime lighting intervention can improve sleep at night and reduce depression and agitation in patients with dementia living in controlled environments. More importantly, the positive effects of the tailored lighting intervention on these outcomes appear to be cumulative over time.
Prognostic value of post-radiation serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen and primary tumor regression for cervical squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Wan Quan , Yan Wangxiang , Liu Yonghong , Lin Yanzhu , Lu Zhiyuan
Published: July 2020

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we determined the prognostic values of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based primary tumor regression and serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SSCC-Ag) levels 4 weeks after definitive radiotherapy (RT) in cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) patients. METHODS: This was a retrospective study involving 218 patients with histologically confirmed CSCC (stages IB-IVA). All the patients received definitive RT. Pre- and post-RT pelvic MRI and SSCC-Ag levels were measured. Locoregional control (LRC), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) were evaluated, and possible OS prognostic factors were analyzed. RESULTS: The median follow-up time was 25.57 (1.73–58.93) months. Thirty-six and 68 patients died and experienced recurrence, respectively, and the primary tumors of 130 (59.6%) and 88 (40.4%) patients exhibited complete response (CR) and non-CR, respectively. The 3-year OS, DFS, LRC, and DMFS rates were significantly higher in the CR than in the non-CR patients (85.2% vs. 67.9%, 78.9% vs. 39.0%, 93.4% vs. 63.8%, and 83.4% vs. 54.5%, respectively; p< 0.05). The 3-year OS, DFS, LRC, and DMFS rates were significantly lower in the patients with high post-RT SSCC-Ag levels than in those with low post-RT SSCC-Ag levels (38.0% vs. 83.9%, 21.2% vs. 66.3%, 73.0% vs. 84.9%, and 26.5% vs. 79.0%, respectively; p<0.05). Multivariate analyses indicated that SSCC-Ag levels were an independent OS predictor (HR: 5.749, 95% CI: 2.598–12.723, p< 0.001). CONCLUSION: Post-RT SSCC-Ag levels are OS independent prognostic factors in CSCC patients receiving RT. Timely and optimized treatment plans for CSCC patients after 4 weeks of RT are necessary when patients with persistent tumor and/or positive SSCC-Ag.
Pre-surgical level of von Willebrand factor as an evident indicator of breast cancer recurrence
Authors: Rhone Piotr , Zarychta Elżbieta , Bielawski Kornel , Ruszkowska-Ciastek Barbara
Published: July 2020

BACKGROUND: Endothelial and platelet activation as well as a disruption of haemostatic balance are crucial in cancer-dependent venous thromboembolism development. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of von Willebrand factor (VWF), sE-selectin, sP-selectin as well as VWF/sE-selectin and sP-selectin/sE-selectin ratios on the probability of disease relapse in invasive breast carcinoma (IBrC) cases. METHODS: Eighty-four patients with IA-IIB stage of IBrC who passed a comprehensive clinicopathologic evaluation were included in the study. Follow-up was completed in all patients with a 15.48 % recurrence rate. An immunoassay of VWF antigen, sE-selectin, sP-selectin, as well as an immunohistochemistry of oestrogen and progesterone receptors, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and Ki67 was performed in all cases. RESULTS: The VWF/sE-selectin ratio was significantly higher in patients with poorly differentiated tumours than in those with high-differentiated tumours. A positive correlation between VWF concentration and tumour grade was noted. Eleven of 13 events happened in patients with VWF value below 600 mU/mL with recurrence rate of 25%, but only two events occurred in subject with VWF values above the 600 mU/mL (5%; P= 0.0028). CONCLUSIONS: Our study show that VWF could be considered as a suitable biomarker of breast cancer relapse.
TRIB3 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma growth and predicts poor prognosis
Authors: Wang Xiao-Jun , Li Fei-Fei , Zhang Yi-Jing , Jiang Man , Ren Wan-Hua
Published: July 2020

BACKGROUND: Tribbles pseudokinase 3 (TRIB3) is a member of the tribbles-related family, which is involved a lot of cellular processes and multiple cancers, such as breast cancer, colorectal cancer, renal cell carcinomas, and lung cancer. However, the expression pattern and biological function of TRIB3 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not yet been completely elucidated. METHODS: The expression of TRIB3 and clinicopathological characteristics were evaluated by HCC tissue microarray and qPCR analysis. Lentivirus packaging and transfection were employed to establish cell lines with TRIB3 overexpression or knockdown. The biological functions of TRIB3 in the growth of HCC were determined using MTT and crystal violet assays. Tumor growth was monitored in a xenograft model in vivo. RESULTS: The expression of TRIB3 was upregulated in HCC tissue samples compared to paired normal tissues in 45 patients examined by qPCR assay. TRIB3 expression was significantly correlated with HCC tumor size and prognosis in postoperative patients by analysis of the TRIB3 expression data and HCC clinical features. Forced expression of TRIB3 significantly promoted HCC growth in vitro. In contrast, downregulation of TRIB3 inhibited cell growth in vitro. Moreover, knockdown of TRIB3 suppressed tumorigenesis of HCC cells in vivo. CONCLUSION: TRIB3 promotes growth abilities of HCC cells both in vitro and in vivo and predicts poor prognosis of HCC patients, which serves as a prognostic marker and might provide a potential therapeutic candidate for patients with HCC.
Isolation of extracellular vesicle with different precipitation-based methods exerts a tremendous impact on the biomarker analysis for clinical plasma samples
Authors: Peng Cheng , Wang Jizhuang , Bao Qiyuan , Wang Jun , Liu Zhuochao , Wen Junxiang , Zhang Weibin , Shen Yuhui
Published: July 2020

BACKGROUND: Extracellular vesicles(EVs) is an emerging approach of cancer liquid biopsy. Although the precipitation-based method with commercial kits has gained popularity as the second most commonly used technique, these protocols vary tremendously with many included reagents still unknown to the community. METHODS: In this study, we assigned each of the 3 clinical plasma samples into 6 aliquots to assess five commercial EV isolation kits, in comparison with ultracentrifugation(UC). We implemented a standardized EV preparation and transcriptome analysis workflow except the EV isolation methods used. The metrics of EVs and its RNA cargo (evRNA) were compared to assess the technical variations versus the biological variations in the clinical setting. RESULTS: Although the size range of the isolated EVs demonstrated a similar distribution, we found significant technical variability among these methods, in terms of EV amount, purity, subpopulations and RNA integrity. Such variabilities were further relayed to a drastic divergence of evRNA expression on a transcriptome-wide fashion. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated a highly variable result from polymeric precipitation-based EV isolation methods, making EVs based biomarker analysis difficult to interpret and reproduce. We highlighted the importance of benchmarking and transparent reporting of the precipitation-based protocols in the liquid biopsy research.
Combining Visual Rating Scales for Medial Temporal Lobe Atrophy and Posterior Atrophy to Identify Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment from Cognitively Normal Older Adults: Evidence Based on Two Cohorts
Authors: Sheng Can , Sun Yu , Wang Min , Wang Xiaoni , Liu Yi , Pang Dongqing , Liu Jiaqi , Bi Xiaoxia , Du Wenying , Zhao Mingyan , Li Yuxia , Li Xiaobo , Jiang Jiehui , Han Ying
Published: July 2020

Background: Visual rating scales for medial temporal lobe atrophy (MTA) and posterior atrophy (PA) have been reported to be useful for Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis in routine clinical practice. Objective: To investigate the efficacy of combined MTA and PA visual rating scales to discriminate amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) patients from healthy controls. Methods: This study included T1-weighted MRI images from two different cohorts. In the first cohort, we recruited 73 patients with aMCI and 48 group-matched cognitively normal controls for training and validation. Visual assessments of MTA and PA were carried out for each participant. Global gray matter volume and density were estimated using voxel-based morphometry analysis as the objective reference. We investigated the discriminative power of a single visual rating scale and the combination of the MTA and PA rating scales for identifying aMCI. The second cohort, consisting of 33 aMCI patients and 45 controls, was used to verify the reliability of the visual assessments. Results: Compared with the single visual rating scale, the combination of the MTA and PA exhibited the best discriminative power, with an AUC of 0.818±0.041, which was similar to the diagnostic accuracy of the gray matter volumetric measures. The discriminative power of the combined MTA and PA was verified in the second cohort (AUC 0.824±0.058). Conclusion: The combined MTA and PA rating scales demonstrated practical diagnostic value for distinguishing aMCI patients from controls, suggesting its potential to serve as a convenient and reproducible method to assess the degree of atrophy in clinical settings.
Baseline Prevalence of Polypharmacy in Older Hypertensive Study Subjects with Elevated Dementia Risk: Findings from the Risk Reduction for Alzheimer’s Disease Study (rrAD)
Authors: Vidoni Eric D. , Kamat Ashwini , Gahan William P. , Ourso Victoria , Woodard Kaylee , Kerwin Diana R. , Binder Ellen F. , Burns Jeffrey M. , Cullum Munro , Hynan Linda S. , Vongpatanasin Wanpen , Zhu David C. , Zhang Rong , Keller Jeffrey N.
Published: July 2020

Background: Little is known about the prevalence of polypharmacy, the taking of five or more medications a day, in older adults with specific dementia risk factors. Objective: To examine the prevalence of polypharmacy in participants at baseline in a vascular risk reduction focused Alzheimer’s disease (rrAD) trial targeting older patients with hypertension and elevated dementia risk. Methods: We conducted a detailed review of medications in a cross-sectional study of community-dwelling older adults with hypertension and elevated dementia risk. Medications were identified in a structured interview process with an onsite pharmacist or qualified designee. Polypharmacy was defined as use of five or more medications on a regular basis. Descriptive analyses were conducted on the sample as well as direct comparisons of subgroups of individuals with hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. Results: The 514 rrAD participants, mean age 68.8 (standard deviation [sd] 6), reported taking different combinations of 472 unique medications at their baseline visit. The median number of medications taken by participants was eight [Range 0–21], with 79.2% exhibiting polypharmacy (n = 407). Sites differed in their prevalence of polypharmacy, χ2(3) = 56.0, p < 0.001. A nearly identical percentage of the 2,077 prescribed (51.8%) and over the counter (48.2%) medications were present in the overall medication profile. The presence of diabetes (87.5%), hyperlipidemia (88.2%), or both (97.7%) was associated with a higher prevalence of polypharmacy than participants who exhibited hypertension in the absence of either of these conditions (63.2%), χ2(3) = 35.8, p < 0.001. Conclusion: Participants in a dementia risk study had high levels of polypharmacy, with the co-existence of diabetes or hyperlipidemia associated with a greater prevalence of polypharmacy as compared to having hypertension alone.
Cerebral Vasomotor Reactivity in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Tomoto Tsubasa , Tarumi Takashi , Chen Jason , Pasha Evan P. , Cullum C. Munro , Zhang Rong
Published: July 2020

Background: Cerebral blood flow (CBF) is sensitive to changes in arterial CO2, referred to as cerebral vasomotor reactivity (CVMR). Whether CVMR is altered in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), a prodromal stage of Alzheimer disease (AD), is unclear. Objective: To determine whether CVMR is altered in aMCI and is associated with cognitive performance. Methods: Fifty-three aMCI patients aged 55 to 80 and 22 cognitively normal subjects (CN) of similar age, sex, and education underwent measurements of CBF velocity (CBFV) with transcranial Doppler and end-tidal CO2 (EtCO2) with capnography during hypocapnia (hyperventilation) and hypercapnia (rebreathing). Arterial pressure (BP) was measured to calculate cerebrovascular conductance (CVCi) to normalize the effect of changes in BP on CVMR assessment. Cognitive function was assessed with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and neuropsychological tests focused on memory (Logical Memory, California Verbal Learning Test) and executive function (Delis-Kaplan Executive Function Scale; DKEFS). Results: At rest, CBFV and MMSE did not differ between groups. CVMR was reduced by 13% in CBFV% and 21% in CVCi% during hypocapnia and increased by 22% in CBFV% and 20% in CVCi% during hypercapnia in aMCI when compared to CN (all p < 0.05). Logical Memory recall scores were positively correlated with hypocapnia (r = 0.283, r = 0.322, p < 0.05) and negatively correlated with hypercapnic CVMR measured in CVCi% (r = –0.347, r = –0.446, p < 0.01). Similar correlations were observed in D-KEFS Trail Making scores. Conclusion: Altered CVMR in aMCI and its associations with cognitive performance suggests the presence of cerebrovascular dysfunction in older adults who have high risks for AD.
A Coordinated Approach by Public Domain Bioinformatics Resources to Aid the Fight Against Alzheimer’s Disease Through Expert Curation of Key Protein Targets
Authors: Breuza Lionel ,   IMEx Consortium, UniProt Consortium, Arighi Cecilia N. , Argoud-Puy Ghislaine , Casals-Casas Cristina , Estreicher Anne , Famiglietti Maria Livia , Georghiou George , Gos Arnaud , Gruaz-Gumowski Nadine , Hinz Ursula , Hyka-Nouspikel Nevila , Kramarz Barbara , Lovering Ruth C. , Lussi Yvonne , Magrane Michele , Masson Patrick , Perfetto Livia , Poux Sylvain , Rodriguez-Lopez Milagros , Stoeckert Christian , Sundaram Shyamala , Wang Li-San , Wu Elizabeth , Orchard Sandra
Published: July 2020

Background: The analysis and interpretation of data generated from patient-derived clinical samples relies on access to high-quality bioinformatics resources. These are maintained and updated by expert curators extracting knowledge from unstructured biological data described in free-text journal articles and converting this into more structured, computationally-accessible forms. This enables analyses such as functional enrichment of sets of genes/proteins using the Gene Ontology, and makes the searching of data more productive by managing issues such as gene/protein name synonyms, identifier mapping, and data quality. Objective: To undertake a coordinated annotation update of key public-domain resources to better support Alzheimer’s disease research. Methods: We have systematically identified target proteins critical to disease process, in part by accessing informed input from the clinical research community. Results: Data from 954 papers have been added to the UniProtKB, Gene Ontology, and the International Molecular Exchange Consortium (IMEx) databases, with 299 human proteins and 279 orthologs updated in UniProtKB. 745 binary interactions were added to the IMEx human molecular interaction dataset. Conclusion: This represents a significant enhancement in the expert curated data pertinent to Alzheimer’s disease available in a number of biomedical databases. Relevant protein entries have been updated in UniProtKB and concomitantly in the Gene Ontology. Molecular interaction networks have been significantly extended in the IMEx Consortium dataset and a set of reference protein complexes created. All the resources described are open-source and freely available to the research community and we provide examples of how these data could be exploited by researchers.
Composite material terahertz image fusion based on PCNN and RGEDIM under non-subsampled shearlet transform
Authors: Liu Fu , Liao Yifan
Published: July 2020

In order to solve the problem that defects of different scales have different terahertz imaging characteristics in fiber reinforced composites, the fusion processing method of two terahertz images with complementary defect information was studied. To reduce the Gibbs phenomenon, Non-subsampled Shearlet Transform (NSST) with the property of shift- invariance was used to decompose source images and get their low-frequency subband and high frequency subband coefficients. Regional variance was used as connection strength factor of the Pulse Coupled Neural Network (PCNN) in the low frequency coefficient fusion, which is more according with human visual characteristics. In the fusion of high frequency coefficients, the Regional Gradient Energy of Direction Information Measure (RGEDIM) was introduced to extract the edge, texture and other details of the image and integrated them into the final image, the impact of noise on image fusion was reduced better. Finally, the fusion image was obtained through NSST inverse transform. The experimental results show that this method is superior to wavelet, Non-subsampled Contourlet Transform (NSCT) and traditional PCNN method, the fusion image has more mutual information and contains more original image information, all the defects of the source image can be clearly seen on the fusion image.
Indoor mobile robot navigation using deep convolutional neural network
Authors: Sleaman Walead Kaled , Yavuz Sırma
Published: July 2020

Robot can help human in their everyday life and routine. These are not an indoor robot which was designed to perform desired task, but they can adapt to our environment by themselves and to learn from their own experiences. In this research we focus on high degree of autonomy, which is a must for social robots. For training purpose autonomous exploration and unknown environments is used along with proper algorithm so that robot can adapt to unknown environments. For testing purpose, simulation is carried with sensor fusion method, so that real world noise can be reduced and accuracy can be increased. This dissertation focuses on the intelligent robot control in autonomous navigation tasks and investigates the robot learning in following aspects. This method is based on human instinct of imitation. In this standard real time data set is provided to the robot for training purpose, it gets train from these data and generalize over all unseen potential situations and environments. Convolutional Neural Network is used to determine the probability and based on that robot can act. After acceptable number of demonstrations, robot can predict output with high accuracy and hence can acquire the independent navigation skills. State-of-the-art reinforcement learning techniques is used to train the robot via interaction with the robots. Convolutional Neural Network is also incorporated for fast generalization. Robot is train based on all past state-action pairs collected during interaction. This training model can predict output which helps robot for autonomous navigation.
Dynamic statistical evaluation of safety emergency management in coal enterprises based on neural network algorithms
Authors: Liu Ying , Fan Zhongqi , Qi Hongliang
Published: July 2020

By establishing the evaluation system of emergency management capability for coal mine enterprises, we can identify the problems and shortcomings in coal mine emergency management, improve and improve its emergency management capability for coal mine emergencies. In this paper, the authors analyze the dynamic statistical evaluation of safety emergency management in coal enterprises based on neural network algorithms. Neural networks can form any form of topological structure through neurons, so they can directly simulate fuzzy reasoning in structure, that is to say, the equivalent structure of neural networks and fuzzy systems can be formed. This paper constructs the index system based on accident causes, and verifies the scientific rationality of the system. On this basis, according to the specific situation of coal mine emergency management, we design the evaluation criteria of coal mine emergency management capability evaluation index. Because coal mine accidents have the characteristics of complexity, variability and sudden dynamic, it is necessary to adjust and improve the accidents dynamically at any time. The model combines qualitative and quantitative indicators, and can make an overall evaluation of coal mine emergency management capability. It has the characteristics of clear results and strong fitting of simulation results.
Research on badminton action feature recognition based on improved HMM model
Authors: Qi Yue
Published: July 2020

The badminton movement speed is fast, and the movement is complicated. Therefore, it is difficult to effectively recognize the athlete’s movement through the monitoring level in the competition and training, which makes it difficult for the athlete to effectively improve his skill. In order to effectively improve the training effect and the quality of the athletes, this study uses badminton as the research object, analyzes the sports characteristics research algorithm through literature review, and finds the shortcomings of traditional algorithms. At the same time, this paper combines the actual situation to improve the algorithm and combines GMM and HMM to builds the GMM-HMM model. In addition, this paper uses the Baum-Welch unsupervised learning algorithm for data processing, and based on the learning machine training, the recognition results are obtained. Finally, in order to verify the validity of the model, this study uses the mobile phone badminton action as the data foundation and performs training recognition in the model to summarize the recognition results. The research shows that the algorithm has good performance and can meet the actual needs and can be used as a reference for the subsequent related research corporal punishment theory.
Fuzzy mathematics and machine learning algorithms application in educational quality evaluation model
Authors: Wang Jian , Zhang Weizhong
Published: July 2020

Teaching quality evaluation is a complex non-linear system fitting problem under the influence of many factors. The establishment of teaching quality evaluation is to construct a functional relationship between teaching quality evaluation index and teaching effect. In this paper, the authors analyze the fuzzy mathematics and machine learning algorithms application in educational quality evaluation model. Machine learning method has been well applied in complex problems such as classification, fitting, pattern recognition and so on. It can be used to realize a more comprehensive, reasonable and effective evaluation of the classroom teaching quality of university teachers. The simulation results show that the model can well express the complex relationship between the teaching quality evaluation index and the evaluation results. The theoretical values of the evaluation results are in the corresponding confidence interval, which proves that the machine learning algorithm has good reliability for different teaching quality evaluation problems.
Modeling α-Synucleinopathy in Organotypic Brain Slice Culture with Preformed α-Synuclein Amyloid Fibrils
Authors: Roux Amandine , Wang Xinhe , Becker Katelyn , Ma Jiyan
Published: July 2020

Background: Synucleinopathy is a group of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by neurodegeneration and accumulation of alpha-synuclein (α-syn) aggregates in various brain regions. The detailed mechanism of α-syn-caused neurotoxicity remains obscure, which is partly due to the lack of a suitable model that retains the in vivo three-dimensional cellular network and allows a convenient dissection of the neurotoxic pathways. Recent studies revealed that the pre-formed recombinant α-syn amyloid fibrils (PFFs) induce a robust accumulation of pathogenic α-syn species in cultured cells and animals. Objective: Our goal is to determine whether PFFs are able to induce the pathogenic α-syn accumulation and neurotoxicity in organotypic brain slice culture, an ex vivo system that retains the in vivo three-dimensional cell-cell connections. Methods/Results: Adding PFFs to cultured wild-type rat or mouse brain slices induced a time-dependent accumulation of pathogenic α-syn species, which was indicated by α-syn phosphorylated at serine 129 (pα-syn). The PFF-induced pα-syn was abolished in brain slices prepared from α-syn null mice, suggesting that the pα-syn is from the phosphorylation of endogenous α-syn. Human PFFs also induced pα-syn in brain slices prepared from mice expressing human α-syn on a mouse α-syn-null background. Furthermore, the synaptophysin immunoreactivity was inversely associated with pα-syn accumulation and an increase of neuronal loss was detected. Conclusion: PFF-treatment of brain slices is able to induce key pathological features of synucleinopathy: pα-syn accumulation and neurotoxicity. This model will be useful for investigating the neurotoxic mechanism and evaluating efficacy of therapeutic approaches.
High IQ in Early Adulthood Is Associated with Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Fardell Camilla , Torén Kjell , Schiöler Linus , Nissbrandt Hans , Åberg Maria
Published: July 2020

Background: High education level and high occupational complexity have been implicated as risk factors for Parkinson’s disease (PD). Objective: The objective was to determine whether cognitive capacity, measured as IQ, in early adulthood is associated with the subsequent development of PD. Method: Data on IQ were retrieved from the Swedish Military Service Conscription Registry, comprising Swedish males who enlisted for military service in the period 1968–1993 (N = 1,319,235). After exclusion, 1,189,134 subjects in total were included in the present study. Individuals who later developed PD (N = 1,724) were identified using the Swedish National Patient Register and the Swedish Cause of Death Register. Results: High education level was associated with PD. High IQ was associated with PD (p < 0.0001), both when analyzed as a continuous variable and when divided into three categories. The hazard ratio for the high IQ category compared to the low IQ category was 1.35 (95% confidence interval 1.17–1.55). Strong test results on the subtests, measuring verbal, logic, visuospatial and technical abilities, were also associated with PD. In a subgroup, smoking was inversely associated with PD, as well as with IQ. Conclusions: This study identifies high IQ to be a risk factor for PD.
Neurocognitive outcomes in adults following cerebral hypoxia: A systematic literature review
Authors: Brownlee Naomi N. M. , Wilson F. Colin , Curran David B. , Lyttle Nigel , McCann John P.
Published: July 2020

BACKGROUND: Hypoxic ischemic brain injury (HIBI) occurs as a result of complete or partial disruption of cerebral oxygen supply. The physical and cognitive sequelae of adults following hypoxia varies widely. OBJECTIVE: To systematically review studies exploring the neuropsychological outcomes following hypoxic brain insult in adults. METHODS: Data was sourced using six databases (CINAHL, Cochrane, Embase, Medline, PsycInfo and Web of Science). Initial MESH terms identified 2,962 articles. After a three-stage independent review process, 18 articles, 9 case studies and 9 group studies were available for data synthesis from 1990-2012. Case study data was converted to standardised scores and compared to available test norms. Cohen’s d was calculated to permit group data interpretation. RESULTS: Intellectual decrement was observed in some studies although difficult to delineate given the lack of use of measures of premorbid ability. Cognitive sequelae varied albeit with predominant disturbance in verbal memory, learning ability and executive function observed across studies. Wechsler Memory Scale Revised (WMS-R) visual memory was comparable to normative data. Impaired Rey Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCFT) performance was found among group studies. Across visuo-constructional and attention domains, performance varied, although no significant difference relative to reported means was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Future studies should consider the use of standardised assessment protocols, which include measures of premorbid functioning and performance validity.
Development and validation of the Standing Balance Assessment for Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury (SBASCI) - A new outcome measure
Authors: Singh Meenakshi , Sarkar Aparna , Kataria Chitra
Published: July 2020

BACKGROUND: Injury to the spinal cord results in standing balance impairment following variable sensorimotor loss. Standing balance training is a realistic goal for the majority of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) for which therapists need valid measures to assess standing ability in people with SCI that are relevant to functionality. Objective: The objective of the study was to develop an all inclusive Standing Balance Assessment for Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury (SBASCI) measure and to establish its initial psychometric properties. Methods: The study was carried out in three phases: Item development, scale development and scale evaluation. Literature review, focus group discussions and evaluation by experts resulted in the development of a 22-item SBASCI scale. The scale was administered on 120 participants with SCI. Exploratory factor analysis and item analysis were used to determine construct validity and internal consistency of the scale. Results: Content validity was established qualitatively and quantitatively. The scale shows high internal consistency reliability (Cronbach’s alpha 0.96). The results of the exploratory factor analysis suggested a four factor structure retaining all the 22 items. Conclusion: SBASCI is a valid and reliable scale to measure the standing balance of individuals with SCI. Further studies are required to establish other psychometric properties.
Effect of lidocaine iontophoresis combined with exercise intervention on gait and spasticity in children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Hegazy Fatma A. , Aboelnasr Emad A. , Salem Yasser T.
Published: July 2020

BACKGROUND: Gait deviations and spasticity are common impairments seen in children with cerebral palsy (CP) and may interfere with functional performance and effective walking pattern. Lidocaine iontophoresis is effective for reducing muscle spasticity in adults. PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of lidocaine epinephrine iontophoresis combined with exercises on gait and spasticity in children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy (HCP). METHODS: Thirty children with spastic HCP aged 4–6 (5.20±0.32) years were randomly assigned to the experimental group (n = 15) and control group (n = 15). Children in both groups received one hour of exercises, three times a week for three months. Children in the experimental group received 2% lidocaine iontophoresis immediately before the exercises. The lidocaine iontophoresis was delivered for 20 minutes (1mA/min). Spatio-temporal gait parameters were assessed within one week before and after the intervention using 3D motion analysis. Surface electromyography was used to assess muscle tone using H/M ratio of the soleus muscle. ANOVA was used to investigate the differences between experimental and control groups. Statistical significance was set at P value less than 0.05. RESULTS: There was no difference between groups at baseline. Post-intervention, the experimental group showed significant improvements when compared to the control group for gait speed (p = 0.03), stride length (p = 0.04), cadence (p = 0.0001), cycle time (p = 0.0001), and H/M ratio (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Lidocaine iontophoresis combined with exercises was effective in improving gait spatiotemporal parameters and reducing spasticity in children with CP.
Benefits of emotion-based training for the rehabilitation of stroke patients: A scoping review
Authors: Yoo I. G.
Published: July 2020

BACKGROUND: The application of emotional stimuli is beneficial when practicing tasks that must be learned. OBJECTIVE: This scoping review examined related literature to identify the applicability of emotion-based training for therapeutic activities. METHOD: All relevant literature published as of April 1, 2020 in four prominent databases was searched (CINAHL, Embase, PubMed, and PsycINFO) using the five-stage review framework proposed by Arksey and O’Malley. RESULTS: After sophisticated searches and exclusions, ten publications were included for further review. Our results revealed three types of emotion-based stimulation methods that can influence therapeutic effects on stroke patients. However, the research did not compare the difference between the pros, cons, and effectiveness of each type of sensory stimulation. CONCLUSION: Rehabilitation specialists are encouraged to obtain a broad understanding of therapeutic situations and their possible impacts on a given environment.
Early intervention physical therapy using “Parent Empowerment Program” for children with Down syndrome in Pakistan: A feasibility study
Authors: Habib-Hasan Zehra , Sheikh Memoona Salman , Hoodbhoy Zahra , Azam Iqbal , O’Neil Margaret
Published: July 2020

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of the Parent Empowerment Program (PEP) to help caretakers deliver a home program to promote developmental activities and gross motor function in their children with Down syndrome. METHODS: Parents attended a 14-month program with training sessions 1–4 times a month. Outcomes were measured using a change in the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-88) at baseline and assessment one. RESULTS: Forty-eight families participated in the PEP. Children’s mean age was 16.2 ± 10.8 months. There were significant changes in GMFM-88 scores between baseline and assessment one; t (30) =-9.158, p< 0.001; 95% CI -14.6 – -22.9. Previous hospitalization significantly affected GMFM scores. CONCLUSION: This study describes a clinically applied research that focuses on program design, development and evaluation. Findings indicate that the PEP is effective in improving gross motor function in children with Down’s syndrome in Pakistan. Parents were satisfied with the program outcomes and were able to cope with the requirements at home. The PEP had favorable outcomes and may be an effective method to support PT services in resource poor countries.
Multidisciplinary rehabilitation of a post-stroke pediatric patient considering the ICF perspective
Authors: Gilardone Giulia , Fumagalli Francesca Maria , Monti Alessia , Pintavalle Giuseppe , Troletti Isabella Derada , Gilardone Marco , Corbo Massimo
Published: July 2020

PURPOSE: There is a general lack of evidence on the efficacy of rehabilitation training methods after childhood stroke. The aim of the current paper is to provide an example of a multidisciplinary assessment and intensive patient-centered rehabilitation program that was devised following the Clinical Guidelines for Childhood Stroke Diagnosis, Management and Rehabilitation, based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. METHOD: The case of a 13-year-old teenager with physical, linguistic, cognitive and emotional impairments after acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in left middle cerebral artery territories is presented and his neurorehabilitation program is described. RESULTS: After an intensive and comprehensive rehabilitation period, the patient showed significant improvement involving language abilities, cognitive flexibility, logical reasoning and motor independence. A 6-month post-stroke follow-up evaluation showed further gains in spontaneous language, improved motivation and collaboration, reduction of impulsiveness and better general motor stability. CONCLUSION: This case highlights how an intensive, patient-centered, interdisciplinary rehabilitation approach can lead to good improvement across different domains, maximizing the spontaneous recovery in children and adolescents after AIS.
Exploring a knowledge-based approach to predicting NACE codes of enterprises based on web page texts
Authors: Kühnemann Heidi , van Delden Arnout , Windmeijer Dick
Published: July 2020

Classification of enterprises by main economic activity according to NACE codes is a challenging but important task for national statistical institutes. Since manual editing is time-consuming, we investigated the automatic prediction from dedicated website texts using a knowledge-based approach. To that end, concept features were derived from a set of domain-specific keywords. Furthermore, we compared flat classification to a specific two-level hierarchy which was based on an approach used by manual editors. We limited ourselves to Naïve Bayes and Support Vector Machines models and only used texts from the main web pages. As a first step, we trained a filter model that classifies whether websites contain information about economic activity. The resulting filtered data set was subsequently used to predict 111 NACE classes. We found that using concept features did not improve the model performance compared to a model with character n-grams, i.e. non-informative features. Neither did the two-level hierarchy improve the performance relative to a flat classification. Nonetheless, prediction of the best three NACE classes clearly improved the overall prediction performance compared to a top-one prediction. We conclude that more effort is needed in order to achieve good results with a knowledge-based approach and discuss ideas for improvement.
Analysis of hot metal desulfurization methods efficiency during titanomagnetite processing
Authors: Panteleev V. V. , Pykhteeva K. B. , Polovets M. V. , Mironov K. V. , Zagainov S. A.
Published: July 2020

To make high-quality steel, it is necessary to ensure low sulfur content in the hot metal entering a steelmaking shop. The task to obtain low sulfur metal can be solved either during blast furnace smelting or its ladle desulfurization immediately after tapping out of blast furnace. Under conditions of JSC EVRAZ NTMK, the ladle desulfurization of vanadium hot metal is not applied, since it leads to a loss of vanadium. Is explained by the fat, that calcium oxide forms with V2O5 a strong calcium vanadate (3СаО·V2O5), which makes the process of vanadium recovery during further slag processing more complicated. Therefore the ladle desulfurization is accomplished after devanadation of hot metal. After the devanadation the semi-product has ions of oxygen, which makes it impossible to arrange an effective desulfurization and males it necessary to smelt the hot metal with limited sulfur content. The factors, effecting the process of hot metal desulfurization in a blast furnace, including slag basicity, MgO content in it, temperature of smelting products and slag viscosity, are presented. Dependence of distribution coefficient of sulfur on slag basicity has been shown. Research goal is pig iron desulphurization efficiency estimation by means of MgO increasing in slag. Data analysis findings about smelting products composition over 500 tappings for each of two investigated JSC EVRAZ NTMK blast furnaces have been reported. The aim of the study was comparison of hot metal desulphurization efficiency due to both slag basicity increase and MgO increase in slag. Results of data analysis on smelting products composition of over 500 heats for each of two investigated JSC EVRAZ NTMK blast furnaces have been presented. It was established that a sulfur content decrease in hot metal is achieved more effectively by MgO increase in slag. It has been shown that MgO has better desulfurizing properties, and with an increase of its content in the blast furnace slag, the overall technology for running the blast furnace process improves. It was recommended to increase the consumption of materials containing MgO while maintaining basicity at a constant level. Such a technology will allow to decrease sulfur content in hot metal, as well as will result in the process stabilization providing other conditions being equal.
Development of steel continuous casting at the Nizhny Tagil steel-works
Authors: Saveliev М. V. , Chiglintsev А. V. , Sushnikov D. V. , Ekkert P. V. , Elin V. Yu.
Published: July 2020

Steel continuous casting is one of fundamentals of modern steel industry. Specialists of Nizhny Tagil steel-works (NTMK) made an important contribution to the process perfection. The one-strand slab CCM of curvilinear type with radial mold and slab straightening by multipoint curve, designed and manufactured at Uralmashzavod, became a prototype for many machines, which were later manufactured at domestic and foreign steel-works in the end of 60th of the previous century. In the process of mastering of CCMs, which were put into operation within the programs of the plant modernization and transferring to BOF production with steel continuous casting, the CCMs were significantly modernized and technology of casting was perfected. To bring down the impact on the solidifying billet peel and decrease a billet swell, the scheme of the supporting rollers location was changed, which enabled to increase the length of the supported zone. A principally new scheme of billets cooling was implemented, which ensured a softer and uniform secondary cooling due to water-air “fog”. To create optimal conditions of axis zone forming during production of round billets of 430 mm diameter, a technology of protective heat screens application was used. The protective screens were installed in the end of ingot solidification zone. A large work was done on determination of optimal technological casting parameters – temperature and speed modes, types of slag forming mixtures, types of heat-insulating mixtures, methods of metal protection in the process of casting. As a result of the work done, at EVRAZ NTMK a complex of steel continuous casting was created, which enables to be flexible depending on the varying situation at the market and to produce continuously casted billets of various dimensions and wide range of steel grades.