bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nonoverlap proportion and the representation of point-biserial variation
Authors: Luck Stanley
Published: December 2020

We consider the problem of constructing a complete set of parameters that account for all of the degrees of freedom for point-biserial variation. We devise an algorithm where sort as an intrinsic property of both numbers and labels, is used to generate the parameters. Algebraically, point-biserial variation is represented by a Cartesian product of statistical parameters for two sets of R 1 data, and the difference between mean values (δ) corresponds to the representation of variation in the center of mass coordinates, (δ, μ). The existence of alternative effect size measures is explained by the fact that mathematical considerations alone do not specify a preferred coordinate system for the representation of point-biserial variation. We develop a novel algorithm for estimating the nonoverlap proportion (ρpb) of two sets of R 1 data. ρpb is obtained by sorting the labeled R 1 data and analyzing the induced order in the categorical data using a diagonally symmetric 2 × 2 contingency table. We examine the correspondence between ρpb and point-biserial correlation (rpb) for uniform and normal distributions. We identify the R 2, P 1, and S + 1 representations for Pearson product-moment correlation, Cohen’s d, and rpb. We compare the performance of rpb versus ρpb and the sample size proportion corrected correlation (rpbd), confirm that invariance with respect to the sample size proportion is important in the formulation of the effect size, and give an example where three parameters (rpbd, μ, ρpb) are needed to distinguish different forms of point-biserial variation in CART regression tree analysis. We discuss the importance of providing an assessment of cost-benefit trade-offs between relevant system parameters because ‘substantive significance’ is specified by mapping functional or engineering requirements into the effect size coordinates. Distributions and confidence intervals for the statistical parameters are obtained using Monte Carlo methods.
Demographic and socio-economic factors, and healthcare resource indicators associated with the rapid spread of COVID-19 in Northern Italy: An ecological study
Authors: Buja Alessandra , Paganini Matteo , Cocchio Silvia , Scioni Manuela , Rebba Vincenzo , Baldo Vincenzo
Published: December 2020

Background

COVID-19 rapidly escalated into a pandemic, threatening 213 countries, areas, and territories the world over. We aimed to identify potential province-level socioeconomic determinants of the virus’s dissemination, and explain between-province differences in the speed of its spread, based on data from 36 provinces of Northern Italy.

Methods

This is an ecological study. We included all confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2 reported between February 24th and March 30th, 2020. For each province, we calculated the trend of contagion as the relative increase in the number of individuals infected between two time endpoints, assuming an exponential growth. Pearson’s test was used to correlate the trend of contagion with a set of healthcare-associated, economic, and demographic parameters by province. The virus’s spread was input as a dependent variable in a stepwise OLS regression model to test the association between rate of spread and province-level indicators.

Results

Multivariate analysis showed that the spread of COVID-19 was correlated negatively with aging index (p-value = 0.003), and positively with public transportation per capita (p-value = 0.012), the % of private long-term care hospital beds and, to a lesser extent (p-value = 0.070), the % of private acute care hospital beds (p-value = 0.006).

Conclusion

Demographic and socioeconomic factors, and healthcare organization variables were found associated with a significant difference in the rate of COVID-19 spread in 36 provinces of Northern Italy. An aging population seemed to naturally contain social contacts. The availability of healthcare resources and their coordination could play an important part in spreading infection.
Understanding the use of patient-reported data by health care insurers: A scoping review
Authors: Neubert Anne , Brito Fernandes Óscar , Lucevic Armin , Pavlova Milena , Gulácsi László , Baji Petra , Klazinga Niek , Kringos Dionne
Published: December 2020

Background

Patient-reported data are widely used for many purposes by different actors within a health system. However, little is known about the use of such data by health insurers. Our study aims to map the evidence on the use of patient-reported data by health insurers; to explore how collected patient-reported data are utilized; and to elucidate the motives of why patient-reported data are collected by health insurers.

Methods

The study design is that of a scoping review. In total, 11 databases were searched on. Relevant grey literature was identified through online searches, reference mining and recommendations from experts. Forty-two documents were included. We synthesized the evidence on the uses of patient-reported data by insurers following a structure-process-outcome approach; we also mapped the use and function of those data by a health insurer.

Results

Health insurers use patient-reported data for assurance and improvement of quality of care and value-based health care. The patient-reported data most often collected are those of outcomes, experiences and satisfaction measures; structure indicators are used to a lesser extent and often combined with process indicators. These data are mainly used for the purposes of procurement and purchasing of services, quality assurance, improvement and reporting, and strengthening the involvement of insured people.

Conclusions

The breadth to which insurers use patient-reported data in their business models varies greatly. Some hindering factors to the uptake of such data are the varying and overlapping terminology in use in the field and the limited involvement of insured people in a health insurer’s business. Health insurers are advised to be more explicit in regard to the role they want to play within the health system and society at large, and accommodate implications for the use of patient-reported data accordingly.
Service quality, satisfaction and intention to use Union Digital Center in Bangladesh: The moderating effect of citizen participation
Authors: Biswas Bikram , Roy Sajib Kumar
Published: December 2020

This paper examines the service quality, satisfaction and intention to use Union Digital Center (UDC) in Bangladesh: The moderating effect of citizen participation. The study intends to measure the quality of service on the basis of satisfaction by adopting citizen participation as a moderator. Theoretically this study has used DeLone & McLean Information Systems (D&M IS) Success Model. The existing studies of Bangladesh are mostly qualitative and the correlation between the quality of service, satisfaction, and desire for using UDC has not verified. This research has adopted the D&M IS model while measuring and verifying the service quality based on satisfaction and use intention. A structured questionnaire method was used and data collected from 499 respondents from 10 UDC of 10 upazila under 8 divisions in Bangladesh. Partial Least Square (PLS), a statistical method that emerged on the basis of Structure Equation Modeling (SEM), technique has been used while analyzing the data. The result of this study has showed the quality (p<0.05) of information, system and service of UDC affects citizen satisfaction effectively where the moderator of citizen participation is also significant. This paper has constructed on the basis of a model and empirical data to verify the moderating effects of citizen participation. To ensure the improvement of service quality of UDC all of the dimensions related to the quality of service should be modified, develop the administrative system and citizen should be encouraging to participate in all aspects of services.
Comparison of in-hospital mortality risk prediction models from COVID-19
Authors: El-Solh Ali A. , Lawson Yolanda , Carter Michael , El-Solh Daniel A. , Mergenhagen Kari A.
Published: December 2020

Objective

Our objective is to compare the predictive accuracy of four recently established outcome models of patients hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) published between January 1st and May 1st 2020.

Methods

We used data obtained from the Veterans Affairs Corporate Data Warehouse (CDW) between January 1st, 2020, and May 1st 2020 as an external validation cohort. The outcome measure was hospital mortality. Areas under the ROC (AUC) curves were used to evaluate discrimination of the four predictive models. The Hosmer–Lemeshow (HL) goodness-of-fit test and calibration curves assessed applicability of the models to individual cases.

Results

During the study period, 1634 unique patients were identified. The mean age of the study cohort was 68.8±13.4 years. Hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and heart disease were the most common comorbidities. The crude hospital mortality was 29% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.27–0.31). Evaluation of the predictive models showed an AUC range from 0.63 (95% CI 0.60–0.66) to 0.72 (95% CI 0.69–0.74) indicating fair to poor discrimination across all models. There were no significant differences among the AUC values of the four prognostic systems. All models calibrated poorly by either overestimated or underestimated hospital mortality.

Conclusions

All the four prognostic models examined in this study portend high-risk bias. The performance of these scores needs to be interpreted with caution in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.
The axonal sorting activity of pseudorabies virus Us9 protein depends on the state of neuronal maturation
Authors: Tanneti Nikhila S. , Federspiel Joel D. , Cristea Ileana M. , Enquist Lynn W.
Published: December 2020

Alpha-herpesviruses establish a life-long infection in the nervous system of the affected host; while this infection is restricted to peripheral neurons in a healthy host, the reactivated virus can spread within the neuronal circuitry, such as to the brain, in compromised individuals and lead to adverse health outcomes. Pseudorabies virus (PRV), an alpha-herpesvirus, requires the viral protein Us9 to sort virus particles into axons and facilitate neuronal spread. Us9 sorts virus particles by mediating the interaction of virus particles with neuronal transport machinery. Here, we report that Us9-mediated regulation of axonal sorting also depends on the state of neuronal maturation. Specifically, the development of dendrites and axons is accompanied with proteomic changes that influence neuronal processes. Immature superior cervical ganglionic neurons (SCGs) have rudimentary neurites that lack markers of mature axons. Immature SCGs can be infected by PRV, but they show markedly reduced Us9-dependent regulation of sorting, and increased Us9-independent transport of particles into neurites. Mature SCGs have relatively higher abundances of proteins characteristic of vesicle-transport machinery. We also identify Us9-associated neuronal proteins that can contribute to axonal sorting and subsequent anterograde spread of virus particles in axons. We show that SMPD4/nsMase3, a sphingomyelinase abundant in lipid-rafts, associates with Us9 and is a negative regulator of PRV sorting into axons and neuronal spread, a potential antiviral function.
Memory like NK cells display stem cell like properties after Zika virus infection
Authors: Kujur Weshely , Murillo Oscar , Adduri Raju S. R. , Vankayalapati Ramakrishna , Konduru Nagarjun V. , Mulik Sachin
Published: December 2020

NK cells have been shown to display adaptive traits such as memory formation akin to T and B lymphocytes. Here we show that Zika virus infection induces memory like NK cells that express CD27. Strikingly, these cells exhibit stem-like features that include expansion capacity, self-renewal pathway, differentiation into effector cells, longer telomeres and gene signature associated with hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) progenitors. This subset shared transcriptional and epigenetic changes with memory CD8 T cells, stem cells and stem like T cells. These NK cells with memory and stem cell features, which we term “NK memory stem cells”, demonstrated greater antiviral potential than CD27- or naïve CD27+ NK when adoptively transferred to Zika infected mice. Our results also suggest a role for the transcription factor TCF-1 in memory and stemness features of this NK subset. This study defines a unique TCF1hi CD27+ NK subset with memory capacity and stem cell features that play a role in antiviral immunity.
Rationally designed Human Cytomegalovirus gB nanoparticle vaccine with improved immunogenicity
Authors: Perotti Michela , Marcandalli Jessica , Demurtas Davide , Sallusto Federica , Perez Laurent
Published: December 2020

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the primary viral cause of congenital birth defects and causes significant morbidity and mortality in immune-suppressed transplant recipients. Despite considerable efforts in vaccine development, HCMV infection still represents an unmet clinical need. In recent phase II trials, a MF59-adjuvanted gB vaccine showed only modest efficacy in preventing infection. These findings might be attributed to low level of antibodies (Abs) with a neutralizing activity induced by this vaccine. Here, we analyzed the immunogenicity of each gB antigenic domain (AD) and demonstrated that domain I of gB (AD5) is the main target of HCMV neutralizing antibodies. Furthermore, we designed, characterized and evaluated immunogenic responses to two different nanoparticles displaying a trimeric AD5 antigen. We showed that mice immunization with nanoparticles induces sera neutralization titers up to 100-fold higher compared to those obtained with the gB extracellular domain (gBECD). Collectively, these results illustrate with a medically relevant example the advantages of using a general approach combining antigen discovery, protein engineering and scaffold presentation for modern development of subunit vaccines against complex pathogens.
T-cell responses to sequentially emerging viral escape mutants shape long-term HIV-1 population dynamics
Authors: Akahoshi Tomohiro , Gatanaga Hiroyuki , Kuse Nozomi , Chikata Takayuki , Koyanagi Madoka , Ishizuka Naoki , Brumme Chanson J. , Murakoshi Hayato , Brumme Zabrina L. , Oka Shinichi , Takiguchi Masafumi
Published: December 2020

HIV-1 strains harboring immune escape mutations can persist in circulation, but the impact of selection by multiple HLA alleles on population HIV-1 dynamics remains unclear. In Japan, HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase codon 135 (RT135) is under strong immune pressure by HLA-B*51:01-restricted and HLA-B*52:01-restricted T cells that target a key epitope in this region (TI8; spanning RT codons 128–135). Major population-level shifts have occurred at HIV-1 RT135 during the Japanese epidemic, which first affected hemophiliacs (via imported contaminated blood products) and subsequently non-hemophiliacs (via domestic transmission). Specifically, threonine accumulated at RT135 (RT135T) in hemophiliac and non-hemophiliac HLA-B*51:01+individuals diagnosed before 1997, but since then RT135T has markedly declined while RT135L has increased among non-hemophiliac individuals. We demonstrated that RT135V selection by HLA-B*52:01-restricted TI8-specific T-cells led to the creation of a new HLA-C*12:02-restricted epitope TN9-8V. We further showed that TN9-8V-specific HLA-C*12:02-restricted T cells selected RT135L while TN9-8T-specific HLA-C*12:02-restricted T cells suppressed replication of the RT135T variant. Thus, population-level accumulation of the RT135L mutation over time in Japan can be explained by initial targeting of the TI8 epitope by HLA-B*52:01-restricted T-cells, followed by targeting of the resulting escape mutant by HLA-C*12:02-restricted T-cells. We further demonstrate that this phenomenon is particular to Japan, where the HLA-B*52:01-C*12:02 haplotype is common: RT135L did not accumulate over a 15-year longitudinal analysis of HIV sequences in British Columbia, Canada, where this haplotype is rare. Together, our observations reveal that T-cell responses to sequentially emerging viral escape mutants can shape long-term HIV-1 population dynamics in a host population-specific manner.
Ley 20.606: Efectos en el conocimiento de etiquetado nutricional en consumidores de un supermercado en Valparaíso de Chile: estudio descriptivo, cuanticualitativo, antes y después de 5 meses de la implementación de la ley
Authors: Crovetto Mirta , Acosta Mytzi , Rocco Yuliza
Published: December 2020

Introducción: El objetivo fue describir los cambios en la lectura, conocimientos e interpretación de los rótulos del etiquetado nutricional de los alimentos en los consumidores de un supermercado de Valparaíso, antes y después de la entrada en vigencia de la ley 20.606, entre junio y diciembre del año 2016. Material y métodos: Estudio descriptivo, no experimental, enfoque cuanti-cualitativo. Muestra por conveniencia de 200 consumidores del mismo supermercado a los cuales se les aplicó un cuestionario antes y después de la puesta en marcha de la ley con preguntas sobre conocimiento e interpretación de los rótulos “ALTO EN”. Las respuestas se ordenaron en: i) contienen gran cantidad del nutriente/alto en el nutriente; ii) cantidad riesgosa para la salud; iii) más de lo necesario/sobre el nivel permitido; iv) tiene añadido el nutriente; v) no sé/no entiendo vi) otros. Los cambios se evaluaron con diferencia de proporciones con un 95% de intervalo de confianza. Resultados:El incremento en la lectura del etiquetado nutricional (11%) no fue significativo. Respecto al conocimiento e interpretación de los rótulos por los consumidores fue significativopara “ALTO EN CALORÍAS” en i y iii; para “ALTO EN SODIO” en i, ii y v; para “ALTO EN AZÚCAR” en ii y iii; y para “ALTO EN GRASAS SATURADAS” en i. Un 62% dejó de elegir algún alimento por la cantidad de rótulos del envase. El 34% señaló la necesidad de mayor educación sobre el nuevo etiquetado.Conclusiones: Se generan cambios en la comprensión de los sellos “ALTOS EN” en el nuevo etiquetado, la lectura y la elección de los alimentos. Los consumidores indican que falta educación alimentaria y nutricional. A nivel de política de salud se requieren estudios cualitativos e indicadores para la evaluación de la comprensión e interpretación de los sellos a mediano y largo plazo y educación alimentaria y nutricional.
The development of Graves' disease after long-term hypothyroidism due to Hashimoto's disease
Authors: Panfilova E. A. , Kruk L. P. , Isaeva M. P. , Osmanova P. O. , Bostanova F. A. , Troshina E. A.
Published: December 2020

The main autoimmune thyroid diseases are Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and Graves' disease (GD). Despite the significant differences in a pathogenesis and a clinical picture between HT and GD, the literature describes the cases of the conversion of one autoimmune disease to another, which, according to one version, is associated with a change in the balance between the levels of a stimulating and blocking antibodies to the thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor. At the same time, there are more frequent observations of the transition of GD to HT, and much less often describe, on the contrary, the development of GD against the background of HT. The article presents a clinical case of the conversion of HT to GD. A detailed algorithm of the conservative management according to the «block-replace» scheme is described, indicating the results of laboratory and instrumental examination. At the time of describing the clinical case, the result of the treatment can be considered successful. The predictors such as a low level of the thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor and thyroid volume before discontinuation of the thyrostatic therapy suggest a low risk of the recrudescence of GD.According to the authors, the phenomenon of the conversion of one autoimmune thyroid disease to another, in addition to the scientific interest, is important for the practitioners, since a timely change in the diagnostic paradigm can significantly change the treatment strategy and the favorably affect the prognosis of disease, preventing the development of complications.
Full transcriptome analysis of gene expression in liver of mice in a comparative study of quercetin efficiency on two obesity models
Authors: Trusov N. V. , Apryatin S. A. , Shipelin V. A. , Gmoshinski I. V.
Published: December 2020

BACKGROUND: Quercetin (Q; 3,3',4',5,7 - pentahydroxyflavone) can help alleviate the pathological effects of nutritional obesity and metabolic syndrome when taken as part of products for special dietary needs and food supplements. The mechanisms of action of Q at the genetic level are not well understood.AIMS: To study gene expression in liver tissue of mice with alimentary and genetically determined obesity upon intake of Q with diet.MATERIALS AND METHODS: During 46 days of the experiment on 32 male C57Bl/6J mice fed a diet with an excess of fat and fructose and 24 male genetically obese db/db mice the effect of Q in dose of 25 or 100 mg/kg of body weight was studied on differential expression of 39430 genes in mice livers by full transcriptome profiling on microchip according to the Agilent One-Color Microarray-Based Gene Expression Analysis Low Input Quick Amp Labeling protocol (version 6.8). To identify metabolic pathways (KEGGs) that were targets of Q exposure, transcriptomic data were analyzed using bioinformatics methods in an “R” environment.RESULTS: Differences were revealed in the nature of Q supplementation action in animals with dietary induced and genetically determined obesity on a number of key metabolic pathways, including the metabolism of lipids and steroids (Saa3, Cidec, Scd1, Apoa4, Acss2, Fabp5, Car3, Acacb, Insig2 genes), amino acids and nitrogen bases (Ngef, Gls2), carbohydrates (G6pdx, Pdk4), regulation of cell growth, apoptosis and proliferation (Btg3, Cgref1, Fst, Nrep Tuba8), neurotransmission (Grin2d, Camk2b), immune system reactions (CD14i, Jchain, Ifi27l2b).CONCLUSIONS: The data obtained help to explain the ambiguous effectiveness of Q, like other polyphenols, in the dietary treatment of various forms of obesity in humans, as well as to form a set of sensitive biomarkers that allow us to elucidate the effectiveness of minor biologically active food substances in preclinical trials of new means of metabolic correction of obesity and metabolic syndrome.
Esboços tropicais do Brasil: arte e política antiescravagista britânica
Authors: Gomes de Oliveira Emerson Dionisio
Published: December 2020

Em 1840, o jornal The African Colonizer enviou o artista dinamarquês Paul Harro-Harring para o Rio de Janeiro. A viagem reverteu-se na série de pinturas intitulada Tropical sketches from Brazil. Autor de biografia controversa, Harro-Harring confeccionou um importante conjunto de obras que revelam aspectos do cotidiano da escravidão no litoral fluminense. O artigo busca compreender como os trabalhos de Esboços tropicais do Brasil estão relacionados às produções literária e polemista de Harring e às políticas antiescravistas britânicas, nos oferecendo condições de compreender o olhar anedótico, pontuado entre uma perspectiva lírica, o estranhamento e o registro documental. Para tanto, realizamos um levantamento documental e revisões biográficas desse artista pouco debatido, bem como, delineamos em qual projeto visual ele estava inserido.
Gonçalves de Magalhães em Defesa dos Povos Indígenas no Brasil:
Authors: Azevedo Paulo de Almeida Helena
Published: December 2020

No presente artigo, abordaremos o que se entendia pela identidade indígena a partir de autores românticos, aqui exemplificados por Gonçalves de Magalhães. Este autor, atuante desde a primeira geração dos românticos no Brasil, escreve o texto “Os indígenas do Brasil perante a História”, o qual se dedica a defender os povos indígenas contra abordagens maximamente excludentes, como a que propunha Adolfo de Varnhagen. A partir da análise de Marcelo de Mello Rangel, conseguiremos nos debruçar sobre a proposta de positivação em favor do indígena brasileiro aos olhos de Magalhães, em uma sociedade que permanecia em uma visão estereotipada sobre os grupos étnicos.
A Cidade como um Arquivo Aberto para o Ensino de História
Authors: Viana Cibele Aparecida
Published: December 2020

Geralmente, ao pensarmos em arquivo, de imediato nos reportamos à história registrada em documentos (muitos dos quais “oficiais”, chancelados pelas instituições), mas cabe ressaltar que o patrimônio histórico de uma cidade “guarda” por trás de papeis e edificações inúmeras vivências e memórias. O propósito deste trabalho é  discutir  as possibilidades de utilização dos arquivos  para o ensino de História  considerando tanto a literatura como a cidade como  arquivos enunciadores de memórias individuais e coletivas de extrema importância para a sociedade, seja no âmbito local ou em mediações culturais que extrapolam suas fronteiras em diálogos transversais com a pluralidade de histórias de toda humanidade. Como um exemplo do recurso à literatura e à cidade para interpretação do patrimônio e das memórias no ensino de História, reconstituo um projeto pedagógico interdisciplinar que conduzi, junto com a professora de Literatura, com as turmas do ensino fundamental e médio da Escola Municipal de Águas Claras (distrito de Mariana-MG). Seu objetivo era interpretar o patrimônio e as memórias da cidade de Itabira, onde nasceu Carlos Drummond de Andrade, através de uma visita guiada à sede urbana desse município, com leitura de seus poemas que encontram-se dispostos em  placas em diversas ruas da cidade, em uma iniciativa do Museu de Território “Caminhos Drummondianos”.
Agenciamentos na História do Brasil Escravista:
Authors: Antunes Andressa
Published: December 2020

Neste artigo buscamos identificar na historiografia da escravidão africana situações de agenciamento de africanos e afrodescendentes sobre suas condições de liberdade ou de cativeiro. Após breve balanço historiográfico das produções da segunda metade do século 20, indicamos a abordagem da História Global como promissora para os estudos atuais, já que pretende considerar os eventos numa perspectiva ampliada. Por fim, apresentamos dois eventos histórico nos quais é possível identificar agenciamento de africanos e afrodescendentes sem que se incorra numa abordagem tradicional e corriqueira produzida após os anos 80. Sugerimos o estudo destes eventos em perspectivas conectadas, correspondentes aos contextos nos quais estavam inseridos, para além das abordagens locais. Assim, pretendemos entender os africanos e afrodescendentes agentes como operacionalizadores dos seus contextos locais, e com ressonâncias globais.
Uma Abordagem Histórico-Sonora do Gualaxo do Norte:
Authors: Buarque Virginia , Buscacio Cesar Maia
Published: December 2020

Este artigo introduz questões que vêm sendo desenvolvidas pelos autores na pesquisa de pós-doutorado em História em curso neste ano de 2020, relativa à interpretação histórico-sonora do entorno do rio Gualaxo do Norte, estado de Minas Gerais. Esta espacialidade ganhou projeção mundial devido às funestas consequências da queda da Barragem de Fundão, ocorrida em novembro de 2015, evento que suscitou intensas mobilizações por reparações às comunidades e ao meio ambiente, inclusive no âmbito da memória e do patrimônio. Iniciamos o artigo analisando os inventários patrimoniais realizados pelas prefeituras dos municípios de Mariana e Barra Longa no início do século XXI, os quais abarcam áreas e construções próximas ao Gualaxo do Norte que tenham sido consideradas bens culturais; a seguir, apresentamos material didático que elaboramos em versão QRCode acerca das sonoridades que, ecoando nessa mesma região, foram mencionadas em memórias e relatos de viajantes produzidos nos séculos XVIII e XIX, vindo a cotejá-lo com os silenciamentos daqueles inventários quanto à diversidade de percepções sensoriais ali vivenciadas.
O uso de transmídia na indústria de jogos digitais:
Authors: Iuama Tadeu Rodrigues , Postali Thífani
Published: December 2020

O presente artigo tem por tema a presença de narrativas transmidiáticas por parte da indústria dos jogos digitais. O objetivo é interpretar as idiossincrasias que essa indústria possui no que diz respeito às estratégias de desenvolvimento de tais narrativas. Para isso, utiliza-se da hermenêutica de profundidade, conforme Thompson, para observar a franquia The Last of Us, composta de narrativas em diversas plataformas midiáticas, desde 2012 até 2020, momento em que esse artigo é escrito – mas que também aponta possíveis desdobramentos futuros. O aporte teórico envolve Jenkins, Prensky, Sheldon e Field. Dentre os achados, destaca-se a fluidez com que uma indústria nativa digital lida com as narrativas transmidiáticas, a ponto de desenvolvê-la em três patamares distintos – transmídia inter-midiática, transmídia extra-midiática e transmídia intra-midiática.
Da gênese às metodologias:
Authors: Cunha Elaide Martins da , CARDOSO ROMULO MATHEUS NUNES
Published: December 2020

O objetivo deste trabalho é identificar e compreender os procedimentos metodológicos usados em pesquisas sobre transmídia no jornalismo, a fim de perceber suas regularidades e possíveis categorias analíticas. Visando construir um Estado da Arte (FERREIRA, 2002) sobre essas pesquisas no período de 2000-2019, observou-se a origem, gênero, ano de produção e tipos de plataformas e suportes em foco. O levantamento bibliográfico foi feito na plataforma Google Acadêmico e resultou em 79 trabalhos, dos quais 50 foram analisados com base na Análise de Conteúdo (BARDIN, 1977). Como principais resultados, indica-se a Análise de Conteúdo e o Estudo de Caso como procedimentos metodológicos mais usados, apontando-se, ainda, o caráter expansivo e multiplataforma da narrativa jornalística transmídia como importantes elementos na construção de categorias analíticas sobre o tema.
Social Efficiency Indicators of Public Investment: The Case of the Far Eastern Regions
Authors:   Economic Research Institute FEB RAS, Isaev Artyom
Published: December 2020

The article provides estimates of the social discount rate and regional welfare weights for the Russian Far East territories. The key parameter for their calculations is the elasticity of the marginal utility of consumption, estimated for the Russian Federation as a whole on the basis of the consumer demand function for food products. It’s revealed that for different territories should be applied different social discount rates for to assess the social effects of projects with state participation. The reason is that territories differ in the quality of life, which can be traced through interregional differences in the level and dynamic of the domestic consumer market as well as the size and structure of household income and expenditure. The social discount rate is sensitive to the future annual growth rate of household consumption in the region. If we take the actual average annual rates for 2000–2018 as forecast values, the Sakhalin Oblast has the highest social discount rate (12 per cent), and the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug has the lowest rate (7.6 per cent). Regional welfare weights show how the regions of the Far East are ranked according to the degree of impact of public investment on marginal changes in the welfare of their households. Thus, the lowest marginal increase in welfare in the Far Eastern Federal District will be observed in the Sakhalin Region, followed by the Khabarovsk Territory. From the social efficiency point this casts doubt on the choice of these regions as priority locations for large-scale public projects. On the other hand the largest effect of public projects for the improving of welfare will be observed in the Jewish Autonomous Oblast and the Zabaikalsky Krai. These regions are characterized by the highest values of regional welfare weights in the Far East for 2018, and consequently the highest marginal welfare growth for households due to public investment. It is worth noting that in 2010 the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug and Kamchatsky Krai were characterized by the highest values of the regional welfare weights in the Far East. By 2018 these two regions significantly improved their positions. Despite the fact that the regional welfare weights for most of the Far Eastern regions decreased significantly, for the Jewish Autonomous Oblast and the Zabaikalsky Krai this decrease was minimal (2 per cent and 5 per cent respectively)
Inequality of Opportunities: The Role of the Spatial Factor
Authors:   Bashkir State University, Ibragimova Zulfiya , Frants Marina ,   Ufa State Aviation Technical University
Published: December 2020

The concept of equal opportunities was shaped on the back of western social philosophy at the end of the XX century as a result of the development of egalitarian theory of social justice. According to it, the determinants of individual achievements should be divided into two categories: ‘circumstances’, which individual has no control on, and ‘efforts’, which individuals should be responsible for. Our research deals with measuring opportunity inequality in the Russian Federation and its regions. The regions of the Russian Federation are well known to be very heterogeneous, consequently, the variation of their social and economic indicators is significant. As a result, the level of opportunity inequality may fluctuate significantly among the regions. Our research is designed to test the hypothesis. The analysis is based on the data from the survey ‘Survey of Income and Participation in Social Programs’ conducted by the Federal state statistics service of the Russian Federation. The estimation technique is parametric and based on the ex-ante definition of equality of opportunity. The mean logarithmic deviation is used as inequality index. According to our calculations, the contribution of opportunity inequality to the labor income inequality in Russia is approximately 30%. Spatial factors (region of residence and type of settlement) are responsible for nearly 70% of opportunity inequality. Absolute level of opportunity inequality varies widely among regions – from 0,0117 to 0,0547 in 2017. The contribution of opportunity inequality to inequality of labor income ranges from 7,24 to 27,35% in 2017 across regions. The growth of opportunity inequality is shown to be correlated with the decrease of the economic development rate and the increase of labor income inequality
Territorial Clusters in the System of Spacial Development: Foreign Experience
Authors:   National Research University ‘Higher School of Economics’, Fonotov Andrey , Bergal’ Olga ,   National Research University ‘Higher School of Economics’
Published: December 2020

The article considers foreign experience in the state spatial development strategy in concord with regional clusters, as well as the impact of clusters on the growth of economies of the states and the regions therein. The study sets the goal of identifying the opportunity to implement foreign experience in support of territorial clusters at realization of the Strategy of Spatial Development of Russia. The research is based on conceptual approaches of foreign and Russian scientists in the sphere. Particular stress is made on the specifics of strategic planning systems in the European Union member states; explicitation of the notion of ‘clusters’ and ‘cluster initiatives’; specific nature of operations of specialized cluster organizations and agencies of regional development; experience of support and development of cluster entities in the USA and Canada; actual cluster policies under the strategy of spatial development; defining the role of observatories of spatial development and the cluster observatories in Europe and the USA. The conclusion is made that the implementation of foreign experience in Russia is viable with allowance for national economic policy and with regard of ‘smart specialization’ when every Russian region with its unique resource capacity employs its own development potential. For that end it is necessary to update the regional strategies of socio-economic development, territorial planning patterns, cluster policies in line with the new Strategy of Spatial Development of Russia for the period as far as 2025; invigorate the formation of centers of cluster development in all RF member territories to interact with the regional authorities, develop regional infrastructure for cluster support and start monitoring of cluster support policies; regard the opportunities to build a network of regional observatories of spatial development at Russian flagship universities; initiate the databases integration process; proceed with forming the Russian interactive cluster map
CLUSTERING OF EARTHQUAKE RISK IN INDONESIA USING K-MEDOIDS AND K-MEANS ALGORITHMS
Authors: Rifa Isna Hidayatur , Pratiwi Hasih , Respatiwulan Respatiwulan
Published: December 2020

Earthquake is the shaking of the earth's surface due to the shift in the earth's plates. This disaster often happens in Indonesia due to the location of the country on the three largest plates in the world and nine small others which meet at an area to form a complex plate arrangement. An earthquake has several impacts which depend on the magnitude and depth. This research was, therefore, conducted to classify earthquake data in Indonesia based on the magnitudes and depths using one of the data mining techniques which is known as clustering through the application of k-medoids and k-means algorithms. However, k-medoids group data into clusters with medoid as the centroid and it involves using clustering large application (CLARA) algorithm while k-means divide data into k clusters where each object belongs to the cluster with the closest average. The results showed the best clustering for earthquake data in Indonesia based on magnitude and depth is the CLARA algorithm and five clusters were found to have total members of 2231, 1359, 914, 2392, and 199 objects for cluster 1 to cluster 5 respectively.
A layered genetic algorithm with iterative diversification for optimization of flexible job shop scheduling problems
Authors: Amjad M.K. , Butt S.I. , Anjum N. , Chaudhry I.A. , Faping Z. , Khan M.
Published: December 2020

Flexible job shop scheduling problem (FJSSP) is a further expansion of the classical job shop scheduling problem (JSSP). FJSSP is known to be NP-hard with regards to optimization and hence poses a challenge in finding acceptable solutions. Genetic algorithm (GA) has successfully been applied in this regard since last two decades. This paper provides an insight into the actual complexity of selected benchmark problems through quantitative evaluation of the search space owing to their NP-hard nature. A four-layered genetic algorithm is then proposed and implemented with adaptive parameters of population initialization and operator probabilities to manage intensification and diversification intelligently. The concept of reinitialization is introduced whenever the algorithm is trapped in local minima till predefined number of generations. Results are then compared with various other standalone evolutionary algorithms for selected benchmark problems. It is found that the proposed GA finds better solutions with this technique as compared to solutions produced without this technique. Moreover, the technique helps to overcome the local minima trap. Further comparison and analysis indicate that the proposed algorithm produces comparative and improved solutions with respect to other analogous methodologies owing to the diversification technique.
Effect of glass and carbon fibres on the compressive and flexural strength of the polymer concrete composite
Authors: Petruska O. , Zajac J. , Duplakova D. , Simkulet V. , Duplak J. , Botko F.
Published: December 2020

This article is focused on testing the mechanical properties of polymer concrete testing samples. After a thorough literature search, the basic conditions of the research were determined and under the standards, three types of samples of special new concrete mixtures were created as a building element for special CNC machines. The samples were subjected to the research of the influence of used fillers, binders and additives on their properties. Testing was carried out in a certified laboratory and included checking the dimensions of the test bodies, weighing on the calibrated weight, determining the volumetric weight, determining the maximum load of the testing samples using special devices and then determining the compressive strength, or flexural tensile strength according to the relevant formulas. The final part of the testing also examined the morphology and mapping of the chemical composition with a focus on carbon, oxygen and aluminum using an electron microscope. The obtained results clearly show an increase in tensile and compressive strength using dispersed carbon fibre reinforcement of approximately 4 MPa. The conclusion of the article provides an overall summary of the results obtained and a summary of the features.
Przetwarzanie i ochrona danych dotyczących zdrowia przez organizatora systemu opieki zdrowotnej
Authors: Lach Daniel Eryk
Published: December 2020

The protection of individuals regarding to the processing of personal data is one of the fundamental rights. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) lays down rules relating to the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and rules relating to the free movement of personal data. Data concerning health is one of the areas the GDPR defines as special personal data, the so-called sensitive data. With regard to these data, the GDPR allows their processing only on an exceptional basis, in certain situations. According to Art. 6 sec. 1 let. e GDPR and art. 9 sec. 2 let. b GDPR, data processing is allowed, inter alia, when such processing is necessary for the purposes of meeting the obligations and exercising specific rights of the controller or of the data subject in the field of employment and social security and social protection law. In turn, Art. 9 sec. 2 let. h GDPR permits the processing of health data that is necessary for the purposes of providing health or social care or treatment, or for managing health or social care systems and services on the basis of European Union or Member State law. The article discusses the national legal regulations regarding the collection and processing of personal data concerning health in the light of the organization of the health care system and the tasks of the National Health Fund (NFZ) as a placeholder, whose task is only to manage financial resources and conclude health care contracts on its own behalf with independent healthcare providers and their accounting. Against the background of the GDPR, the author discusses the provisions of the acts on health care services financed from public funds and on the information system in health care. Finally, specific regulation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic are presented.
Raport o stanie gminy i debata nad nim w świetle niemieckiej koncepcji demokracji kooperacyjnej
Authors: Biniasz-Celka Danuta
Published: December 2020

Under the Act of 11th January 2018 amending certain acts in order to increase the participation of citizens in the process of selecting, functioning and controlling certain public authorities, the legislator has amended the provisions of all three constitutional acts, i.e. on local community self-government, district self-government and voivodeship self-government. The amendments concern, inter alia, the introduction of a mandatory institution, which is the report on the condition of the local community. Although the institution of the report refers to all levels of local self-government, this study concerns the local community, i.e. the self-government which is closest to its inhabitants, and which deals with the greatest number of issues affecting the quality of their life. The report on the condition of the local community is a form of presenting the issues listed in Article 28 aa section 2 of the Act on the Local Community Self-government, i.e. “the report shall include the summary of the activities implemented by the local community administrator in the previous year, in particular the implementationof policies, programmes and strategies, resolutions of the local community council and the citizens’ budget”. In addition to the obligation of presenting the annual report on the condition of the local community, there is a need for a debate with the participation of both councillors and local residents. This debate certainly provides an opportunity for direct communication between executive authorities and society. Moreover, a constructive and meaningful debate boosts the effectiveness of the actions undertaken by the local community administrator, which as a result may contribute to positive changes in how the local community functions, i.e. an increase in the effectiveness of the economy and in citizens’ quality of life. Following the ideas of German solutions in responding to local issues, the study attempts to present the institution of the report as a concept of cooperative democracy. The current proliferation of local democracy and the accompanying mechanisms of the new institutions may lead to broadly understood improvements in the conditions of local self-government residents.
Altered Fast Synaptic Transmission in a Mouse Model of DNM1-Associated Developmental Epileptic Encephalopathy
Authors: McCabe Matthew P. , Shore Amy N. , Frankel Wayne N. , Weston Matthew C.
Published: December 2020

Developmental epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs) are severe seizure disorders that occur in infants and young children, characterized by developmental delay, cognitive decline, and early mortality. Recent efforts have identified a wide variety of genetic variants that cause DEEs. Among these, variants in theDNM1gene have emerged as definitive causes of DEEs, including infantile spasms and Lennox–Gastaut syndrome. A mouse model ofDnm1-associated DEE, known as “Fitful” (Dnm1Ftfl), recapitulates key features of the disease, including spontaneous seizures, early lethality, and neuronal degeneration. Previous work showed that DNM1 is a key regulator of synaptic vesicle (SV) endocytosis and synaptic transmission and suggested that inhibitory neurotransmission may be more reliant on DNM1 function than excitatory transmission. TheDnm1Ftflvariant is thought to encode a dominant negative DNM1 protein; however, the effects of theDnm1Ftflvariant on synaptic transmission are largely unknown. To understand these synaptic effects, we recorded from pairs of cultured mouse cortical neurons and characterized all four major connection types [excitation of excitation (E-E), inhibition of inhibition (I-I), E-I, I-E]. Miniature and spontaneous EPSCs and IPSCs were larger, but less frequent, at allDnm1Ftflsynaptic types, andDnm1Ftflneurons had reduced expression of excitatory and inhibitory SV markers. Baseline evoked transmission, however, was reduced only at inhibitory synapses onto excitatory neurons, because of a smaller pool of releasable SVs. In addition to these synaptic alterations,Dnm1Ftflneurons degenerated later in development, although their activity levels were reduced, suggesting thatDnm1Ftflmay impair synaptic transmission and neuronal health through distinct mechanisms.
Is There a Cure for Vaccine Nationalism?
Authors: Rutschman Ana Santos
Published: December 2020

The scramble among nations for limited supplies of COVID-19 vaccines has drawn attention to long-standing inequities in public health between the global North and South. The COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility (COVAX) is one of several initiatives to pool resources to acquire vaccines for lower-income countries and coordinate distribution. But months before any vaccine had been approved, high-income countries accounting for only a fraction of the global population had already placed orders for more than half of the projected early supply of vaccine doses. The new mechanisms may not be an instant cure for vaccine nationalism, but they may prove to be an incremental step toward more effective and more equitable collaboration.