bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
JORNALISMO UNIVERSITÁRIO NO INTERIOR DA AMAZÔNIA ORIENTAL: O CASO EXPERIMENTAL DO RONDON NOTÍCIAS
Authors: JAVORSKI ELAINE , Moreira Barroso Livia , Alves Jussara
Published: January 2021

Este artigo pretende discorrer sobre o portal Rondon Notícias, produto de mídia desenvolvido por alunos e professores do curso de Jornalismo da Universidade Federal do Sul e Sudeste do Pará (Unifesspa). Criado em 2018 com o objetivo primeiro de suprir as necessidades informativas de Rondon do Pará, cidade do sudeste do Pará, próxima à divisa dos estados do Tocantins e Maranhão, na Amazônia Oriental, funciona também como um laboratório de experiências em jornalismo comunitário, auxiliando os alunos a terem um contato mais imediato com a prática profissional e com a comunidade local. As reflexões teóricas versam sobre questões inerentes ao jornalismo no interior do Brasil, jornalismo comunitário e digital para se compreender a experiência empírica desse produto midiático.

 

PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Rondon Notícias; Jornalismo Comunitário; Portal de Notícias; Jornalismo no Interior; Jornalismo Digital.

 

 

ABSTRACT

This paper aims to discuss the Rondon Notícias site, a media product developed by students and teachers of the Journalism course at the Federal University of South and Southeast Pará (Unifesspa). Created in 2018 with the primary purpose of meeting the information needs of Rondon do Pará, a city in southeastern Pará, near the border of the states of Tocantins and Maranhão, in the Eastern Amazon, it also serves as a laboratory for experiences in community journalism, helping the students to have more immediate contact with professional practice and the local community. The theoretical reflections deal with issues inherent to journalism in the interior of Brazil, community and digital journalism to understand the empirical experience of this media product.

 

KEYWORDS: Rondon Notícias; Community Journalism; News site; Journalism in the Country Interior; Digital journalism.

 

 

RESUMEN

Este artículo pretende discutir el portal Rondon Notícias, un producto desarrollado por estudiantes y profesores del curso de Periodismo en la Universidad Federal del Sur y Sudeste de Pará (Unifesspa). Creado en 2018 con el objetivo principal de satisfacer las necesidades de información de Rondon do Pará, una ciudad en el sureste de Pará, cerca de la frontera de los estados de Tocantins y Maranhão, en el este de la Amazonía, también sirve como laboratorio de experiencias en periodismo comunitario, ayudando a estudiantes para tener un contacto más inmediato con la práctica profesional y la comunidad local. Las reflexiones teóricas abordan cuestiones inherentes al periodismo en el interior de Brasil, el periodismo comunitario y digital para comprender la experiencia empírica de este producto mediático.

 

PALABRAS CLAVE: Rondon Notícias; Periodismo comunitario; Portal de noticias; Periodismo en el interior; Periodismo digital.
DEPRESSÃO: PROCESSOS EDUCOMUNICACIONAIS ESTABELECIDOS A PARTIR DA PRODUÇÃO DE UM CURTA-METRAGEM
Authors: Silva Rafaella Luiza Antunes da , Monteiro Iasmynne dos Santos , Baptaglin Leila Adriana
Published: January 2021

Este estudo objetiva problematizar a construção de um curta-metragem como processo educomunicativo para o entendimento/conscientização da depressão. Nesta construção apresentamos os conceitos de educomunicação (FREITAS, 2015 e SOARES, 2006) e, os conceitos, causas e sintomas da depressão a partir dos estudos de Furegato (2008) e Teodoro (2009). Como proposta metodológica trabalhamos na perspectiva de uma pesquisa qualitativa a qual iniciamos com uma investigação bibliográfica no sentido de estudar/investigar estratégias de recepção do espectador ao curta-metragem bem como estratégias de execução da proposta. Diante do processo de realização do curta-metragem e, depois, com o convite para expor o trabalho em diferentes locais pudemos perceber os processos educomunicativos viabilizados pelo curta-metragem no ambiente universitário e, nos mais distintos espaços da sociedade.

PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Depressão; Educomunicação, Curta-metragem.

ABSTRACT

This study aims to problematize the construction of a short film as an educommunicative process for the understanding/awareness of depression. In this construction we present the concepts of educommunication (FREITAS, 2015 and SOARES, 2006) and the concepts, causes and symptoms of depression from the studies by Furegato (2008) and Teodoro (2009). As a methodological proposal we work from the perspective of a qualitative research which we start with a bibliographic investigation in order to study/investigate strategies of reception of the viewer to the short film as well as strategies of execution of the proposal. Given the process of making the short film and then, with the invitation to expose the work in different places, we could understand the educational and communication processes made possible by the short film in the university environment and in the most different spaces of society.

KEYWORDS: Depression; Educommunication, Short film.

 

RESUMEN

Este estudio tiene como objetivo problematizar la construcción de un corto metraje como un proceso educomunicativo para la comprensión/conciencia de la depresión. En esta construcción presentamos los conceptos de educomunicación (FREITAS, 2015 y SOARES, 2006) y los conceptos, causas y síntomas de depresión de los estudios de Furegato (2008) y Teodoro (2009). Como propuesta metodológica, trabajamos desde la perspectiva de una investigación cualitativa que comenzamos con una investigación bibliográfica para estudiar/investigar estrategias de recepción del espectador al cortometraje, así como estrategias de ejecución de la propuesta. Dado el proceso de realización del cortometraje y luego, con la invitación a exponer el trabajo en diferentes lugares, pudimos comprender los procesos educativos y de comunicación que el cortometraje hizo posible en el entorno universitario y en los espacios más diferentes de la sociedad.

PALABRAS CLAVE: Depresión; Educommunication, Corto metraje.
CONCEPÇÕES DO JORNALISMO TRANSMÍDIA – EM BUSCA DE UM CONCEITO
Authors: Martins Elaide , Duarte Glenda Suelem Magno
Published: January 2021

O objetivo deste trabalho é compreender o conceito de jornalismo transmídia a partir das seguintes vertentes: narrativa, linguagem e estratégia, partindo-se de pesquisadores que adotam o termo jornalismo transmídia, como Ford (2007), Moloney (2011), Martins (2012, 2015), Canavilhas (2013), Tárcia (2013), Martins, Castro e Fecury Vinagre (2017, 2018), dentre outros. A escolha metodológica é de caráter qualitativo por meio de revisão bibliográfica e análise de dois produtos jornalísticos autodenominados transmidiáticos: o Especial Transmídia do Portal “O Dia”, do Piauí; e o “Projeto 100”, da Agência Pública. Os principais resultados apontam para a compreensão do conceito a partir das regularidades presentes nessas distintas concepções, a fim de elucidar esse novo modo de jornalismo.

 

PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Jornalismo transmídia; narrativa, linguagem e estratégia; “O Dia”; “Projeto 100”.

 

ABSTRACT

The objective of this work is to understand the concept of transmedia journalism from the following aspects: narrative, language and strategy, starting from researchers who adopt the term transmedia journalism, such as Ford (2007), Moloney (2011), Martins (2012, 2015), Canavilhas (2013), Tárcia (2013), Martins, Castro and Fecury Vinagre (2017, 2018), among others. The methodological choice is qualitative in nature through a literature review and analysis of two self-styled transmedia journalistic products: the Transmedia Special of the Portal "O Dia", from Piauí; and the "Project 100", from the Public Agency. The main results point to the understanding of the concept from the regularities present in these different conceptions, in order to elucidate this new mode of journalism.  

KEYWORDS: Transmedia journalism; narrative, language and strategy; "The Day"; "Project 100".

 

RESUMEN

El objetivo de este trabajo es entender el concepto de periodismo transmedia desde los siguientes aspectos: narrativa, lenguaje y estrategia, a partir de investigadores que adoptan el término periodismo transmedia, como Ford (2007), Moloney (2011), Martins (2012, 2015), Canavilhas (2013), Tárcia (2013), Martins, Castro y Fecury Vinagre (2017, 2018), entre otros. La elección metodológica es de carácter cualitativo a través de la revisión de la literatura y el análisis de dos productos periodísticos autodenominados transmedia: el Especial Transmedia del Portal "O Dia", de Piauí; y el "Proyecto 100", de la Agencia Pública. Los principales resultados apuntan a la comprensión del concepto a partir de las regularidades presentes en estas diferentes concepciones, con el fin de dilucidar esta nueva forma de periodismo.  

PALABRAS CLAVE: Periodismo transmedia; narrativa, lenguaje y estrategia; "El Día"; "Proyecto 100".
Evaluation of cost-effective thin modified binder seals on Nano-Modified Emulsion (NME) stabilised base layers using Accelerated Pavement Testing (APT)
Authors: Jordaan Gerrit J , Steyn Wynand J VdM , Broekman Andre
Published: January 2021

Emulsion stabilisation of base layers surfaced with chip seals often proves problematic with chips punching into the base and early distress. This can be aggravated by the use of modified binders that restricts the evaporation of moisture from pavement layers. The introduction of New-age (Nano) Modified Emulsion (NME) stabilisation has the advantage that water is chemically repelled from the stabilised layer resulting in an accelerated development of strength. A need was identified to evaluate the early life performance of selected chip seals, together with identified binders. Three different chip seal surfacings with unconventional modified binders were constructed and evaluated using Accelerated Pavement Testing (APT) with the MMLS3. The objectives of the experimental design and testing were to evaluate binder performance, early loss of chips before chip orientation at low temperatures, punching of the chips into the NME stabilised base, deformation characteristics of a Cape seal and the effect of the use of a standard normal modified binder. This paper contains details of the NME base layer, the binder and seal selection and the test results. It is shown that a cost-effective thin chip seal in combination with a suitable binder can be used on a NME stabilised base with confidence.
Research on Life Cycle Risk Assessment of Public-Private Partnerships Project Project of Comprehensive Environmental Governance Based on PCA
Authors: Hu Qiliang , Su Bowen
Published: January 2021

China's implementation of public-private partnerships projects has been quite effective, involving infrastructure and other livelihood projects, a total of 19 industries, and an investment of nearly 1.5 trillion yuan. The characteristics of PPP projects such as long construction period and large investment amount determine the risks of PPP projects are also great, and the PPP projects of comprehensive environmental governance are also the same. The government and social capital use the PPP model to cooperate, and use the principal component analysis method to assess the risks of the entire life cycle of the comprehensive environmental governance PPP project. Therefore, it plays an important role in ensuring the smooth implementation of projects and reducing the losses caused by risks. According to the risk factors of the whole life cycle of the comprehensive environmental governance PPP project, an indicator system of 5 first-level indicators, 18 second-level indicators, and 43 third-level indicators has been established. Principal component analysis is used to analyze the influence weight of risk factors at each stage. The analysis shows that among the four stages, environmental pollution risk, project approval delay risk, completion risk, interest rate and financial fluctuation risk, and franchise life risk are the most influential risks in the implementation of PPP projects. Therefore, suggestions are made through the risk factors of each stage in the comprehensive environmental governance PPP project. For example, strengthen the response to the external environment risks of the comprehensive environmental governance PPP project, standardize the bidding and procurement of the comprehensive environmental governance PPP project, and strengthen the subsequent management of the transfer of the comprehensive environmental governance PPP project. In this way, the ability to resist risks of comprehensive environmental governance PPP projects is improved; the smooth implementation of the project is guaranteed, and the long-term development of comprehensive environmental governance PPP projects is promoted.
Urban Child Labour in Bangladesh: Determinants and It’s Possible Impacts on Health and Education
Authors: Ahad Md Abdul , Chowdhury Mitu , Parry Yvonne K , Willis Eileen
Published: January 2021

1) Background: A significant proportion of child laborers are compelled to work in exploitative environments, experience both deteriorating health and financial loss. The present study sought to determine the factors affecting child labour and the characteristics of their working environment. 2) Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted with 80 child labourers aged 5 to 17 years. Alongside descriptive statistics, a newly devised technique known as Influencing Causes Index (ICI) was administered and tested. 3) Results: The startling demographic findings reveal that peak share of child labourers are young children (12-14 years) and 32.5% child laborers had never attended school. The thorough assessment of determinants reflects that not only poverty, but schooling expenses and lack of access opportunity to primary schools are also the top-ranked push factors to trigger children towards labour. Around 72.5% of children work for over 8 hours a day. A significant proportion of participants received no leave, training, or access to hygiene facilities. The existing pattern of employment and working conditions resulted in musculoskeletal pain and dermatological infections among child labourers (p<0.05). 4) Conclusion: This research suggests that income measures for households, and an education programme for both children and parents would expedite the abolition of child labour.
Improved Slice Method for Slope Stability Analysis under Load
Authors: Sun Yanjie
Published: January 2021

The load on the top of a slope is an important cause of slope failure, and it is of great significance to study the relationship between the load and the stability of the slope. This paper uses elastic theory and Moore Coulomb's theory as transformation conditions to obtain the slope stability coefficient expression under slope top load based on the Swedish slice method. In view of the actual engineering, the corresponding slope model structure was established, and 5 sliding surfaces were set with the crack on the top of the slope as the shear outlet. According to the slope stability coefficient expression, the stability coefficient of the set sliding surface is solved. The result shows that the slope is unstable under the load. The judgment result is consistent with the GEO-STUDIO check calculation result. This method can provide reference for theory and engineering practice.
Sources of ROS Species an Its Harmful and Benefical Effects on Human Health
Authors: Munir Sidra
Published: January 2021

When the antioxidants in our immune system cannot neutralize or convert Reactive oxygen species into safe molecules at the rate at which it is produced then this imbalance is termed as “oxidative stress”. It is related with a wide array of diseases that includes cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension etc. These ROS species however are utmost essential for the proper functioning of human body which are produced as a consequence of partial oxidation of cellular metabolism performing essential functions such as protein phosphorylation, activation of several transcriptional factors, apoptosis, immunity, and differentiation. The sources by which these are produced can be broadly classified are intrinsic and extrinsic sources. There are variety of natural antioxidant enzymes of human body that combat against this oxidative stress. The extrinsic sources of ROS include the use of natural plants, extracted flavonoids and vitamins. In this review we will briefly explain how the sources of ROS, its essential function in human body, its elevation and associated damage to organs and effect on various diseases, and a hope of finding a way of how this oxidative stress can be exploited for therapeutic potential.
Optimal Algorithm Selection in Multimodal Medical Image Registration
Authors: Elkeshreu Husein , Basir Otman
Published: January 2021

Many medical applications benefit from the diversity inherent in imaging technologies to obtain more reliable diagnoses and assessments. Typically, the images obtained from multiple sources are acquired at distinct times and from different viewpoints, rendering a multitude of challenges for the registration process. Furthermore, different areas of the human body require disparate registration functional capabilities and degrees of accuracy. Thus, the benefit attained from the image multiplicity hinges heavily on the imaging modalities employed as well as the accuracy of the alignment process.  It is no surprise then that a wide range of registration techniques has emerged in the last two decades. Nevertheless, it is widely acknowledged that despite the many attempts, no registration technique has been able to deliver the required accuracy consistently under diverse operating conditions.  This paper introduces a novel method for achieving multimodal medical image registration based on exploiting the complementary and competitive nature of the algorithmic approaches behind a wide range of registration techniques. First, a thorough investigation of a wide range of registration algorithms is conducted for the purpose of understanding and quantifying their registration capabilities as well as the influence of their control parameters. Subsequently, a supervised randomized machine learning strategy is proposed for selecting the best registration algorithm for a given registration instance, and for determining the optimal control parameters for such algorithm. Several experiments have been conducted to verify the capabilities of the proposed selection strategy with respect to registration reliability, accuracy, and robustness.
Weighted determination algoritm of boundary pixels
Authors: Zaerko D. V. , Lipnitski V. A.
Published: January 2021

While working with digital noise reduction techniques, which are based on theory of convolution matrix and used convolution operation, it necessary to use algorithms to bypass boundary pixels in the image pixel matrix. The problem exists because convolution itself algorithm have peculiarity, it mean that peculiarity convolution kernel used to each element of pixel matrix. That feature characterize a lot of classes of methods which used idea of convolution matrix. There are a lot of primitive ways to solve it, but none of these ways made a consensus between economical use of resources and filling border pixels with colour coding, which is not so far from colours of corresponding pixels. The object of research is pixel matrix of image. The subject of study is algorithms for filling boundary pixels when superimposing a convolution matrix on a pixel matrix of an image. The main target is creating of effective filled algorithm for border pixels which are close to code colour to relation pixels for used in convolution matrix. Filled border pixels will use to operation convolution for each pixels original image. Algorithm of filled border pixels by step of applied convolution kernel anchors to the pixel, when pixel accessing in convolution algorithm goes beyond the pixel matrix of the original image. Algorithm takes into account the «special» cases of overstepping and allows to do fast calculation to determine the colour code of the missing pixel. The algorithm is simple to program and easily integrates with the basic convolution matrix algorithm in digital image defects.
Standard and singular wavelet analysis
Authors: Romanchak V. M. , Hundzina M. A.
Published: January 2021

The paper suggests that the use of classical wavelets may be auxiliary in the analysis of a periodic signal. This is because the intuitive interpretation of the wavelet transform is not obvious. It is proposed to consider the Fourier transform as the main tool in applied research of periodic signals. An example is provided to support this point of view. To isolate the periodic component of the signal, along with wavelet analysis, it is proposed to perform spectral analysis. To do this, pre-filtering is performed using singular wavelets. This approach can significantly complement classical wavelet analysis.
Theology and politico-legal popularization of martyrdom in the catholic universal monarchy
Authors: Sandoval Parra Victoria
Published: January 2021

The choice of the doctrine of St. Thomas Aquinas to formulate a theory of martyrdom present in the Hispanic Modern Age corresponds to the evident fact of its value as foundation of the Second Scholasticism theology, in the quality of builder of the philosophical and theological tendency that laid the foundations for the renovation of natural Law: an intellectualist iusnaturalism, contrary to voluntarism, which meant the Catholic orthodoxy and constituted, under the counter-reformist spirit, the basis of a reinterpretative and original thinking embodied by the modern jurists and theologians in their treatises and commentaries in order to acquire a political and legal connotation with regard to the legitimation of the nature and aims of Universal Monarchy
Parliamentary speakership: from individual speakership to the collective direction of parliamentary work
Authors: Urquijo Goitia Mikel
Published: January 2021

The article explains the evolution of the parliamentary speakership in different countries of continental Europe in the XIX and XX centuries. The text focuses on three questions in order to define how the speakership was shaped in the parliaments that emerged from the liberal revolution: the procedure by which the speaker was elected, the duration of his mandate and his functions. Starting from the definition of the initial model, it analyzes how after the II World War the direction of parliamentary work evolved towards a shared model involving three bodies. These were the speakership itself, the bureau of the chamber and the conference of presidents of the parliamentary groups, with functions delimited among the three bodies and the speakership maintaining those competencies that had necessarily to be performed by a unipersonal body.
Continuous use of glycomacropeptide in the nutritional management of patients with phenylketonuria: a clinical perspective
Authors: Pena Maria João , Pinto Alex , de Almeida Manuela Ferreira , Barbosa Catarina de Sousa , Ramos Paula Cristina , Rocha Sara , Guimas Arlindo , Ribeiro Rosa , Martins Esmeralda , Bandeira Anabela , Dias Cláudia Camila , MacDonald Anita , Borges Nuno , Rocha Júlio César
Published: January 2021

Background: In phenylketonuria (PKU), modified casein glycomacropeptide supplements (CGMP-AA) are used as an alternative to the traditional phenylalanine (Phe)-free L-amino acid supplements (L-AA). However, studies focusing on the long-term nutritional status of CGMP-AA are lacking. This retrospective study evaluated the long-term impact of CGMP-AA over a mean of 29 months in 11 patients with a mean age at CGMP-AA onset of 28 years (range 15 to 43) [8 females; 2 hyperphenylalaninaemia (HPA), 3 mild PKU, 3 classical PKU and 3 late-diagnosed]. Outcome measures included metabolic control, anthropometry, body composition and biochemical parameters. Results: CGMP-AA, providing 66% of protein substitute intake, was associated with no significant change in blood Phe with CGMP-AA compared with baseline (562 ± 289 µmol/L vs 628 ± 317 µmol/L; p=0.065). In contrast, blood tyrosine significantly increased on CGMP-AA (52.0 ± 19.2 μmol/L vs 61.4 ± 23.8 μmol/L; p=0.027). Conclusions: Biochemical nutritional markers remained unchanged which is an encouraging finding in adults with PKU, many of whom are unable to maintain full adherence with nutritionally fortified protein substitutes. Longitudinal, prospective studies with larger sample sizes are necessary to fully understand the metabolic impact of using CGMP-AA in PKU.
Primate Speciation Links to Massive and Directional Shrinkage of the Dinucleotide Short Tandem Repeat Compartment.
Authors: Arabfard Masoud , Salesi Mahmood , Arabipour Iman , Najafipour Reza , Delbari Ahmad , Khorshid Hamid Reza Khorram , Ohadi Mina
Published: January 2021

The evolutionary trend of short tandem repeats (STRs) at the crossroads of speciation remains largely elusive and attributed to random evolution for the most part. Here we investigated the dinucleotide STR compartment in primate speciation. We selected six species, which shared sequential chronological ancestors, including mouse, macaque, gorilla, chimpanzee, bonobo, and human, and collected three sets of data on the abundance of all classes of dinucleotide STRs (≥6-repeats) for three regions of every chromosome, each region spanning 10 Mb of DNA. In all three datasets, we found consistent directional shrinkage of the dinucleotide STR compartment in all the primate species selected vs. mouse, as follows: mouse>macaque>great apes. The >20-repeat STRs were the most significantly affected as a result of this shrinkage. We propose that massive and directional shrinkage of the dinucleotide STR compartment had a decisive link with primate speciation. This is a prime instane of massive directional STR trend in multiple speciation.
Comparison of early clinical results for the femoral neck system and cannulated screws in the treatment of unstable femoral neck fractures
Authors: Zhou Xiaoqiang , Li Zhiqiang , Xu Renjie , She Yuanshi , Zhang Xiangxin , Chen Guangxiang , Yu Xiao
Published: January 2021

Objective: To compare early clinical effects of the femoral neck system (FNS) and three cannulated screws for the treatment of patients with unstable femoral neck fractures.
Methods: A retrospective analysis with pair matching of 81 patients who received FNS or cannulated screw internal fixation for Pauwels type-3 femoral neck fracture in our hospital from January 2019 to December 2019 was conducted. Patients who received FNS were the test group, and those who received cannulated screws comprised the control group. Matching requirements were as follows: same sex, similar age and similar body mass index (BMI). A total of 30 pairs were successfully matched, and the average age was 53.84 years. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay, hospitalization cost, postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score, time to walking without crutches, Harris score, femoral head necrosis rate and complication rate were compared between the groups.
Results: Postoperative re-examination of radiographs showed satisfactory reduction in all patients, and all patients were followed up for 10-22 months. Those in the FNS group had lower postoperative VAS scores, earlier times to walking without crutches, higher Harris scores at the last follow-up and lower complication rates (P<0.05). However, intraoperative blood loss and hospitalization costs were greater in the FNS group (P<0.05). No statistically significant difference in operation time, hospital stay or femoral head necrosis rate was observed between the two groups (P>0.05).
Conclusion: For patients with unstable femoral neck fractures, FNS has better clinical efficacy than cannulated screws, though it is also more expensive. The excellent biomechanical performance and clinical efficacy of FNS make it a new choice for the treatment of unstable femoral neck fractures.
Interfacial electrostatic interaction-enhanced photomultiplication for ultra-high external quantum efficiency of organic photodiodes
Authors: Kim Juhee , Kang Mingyun , Lee Sangjun , So Chan , Chung Dae Sung
Published: January 2021

A photomultiplication-type organic photodiode (PM-OPD), where an electric double layer (EDL) is strategically embedded, is demonstrated with an exceptionally high external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 2,210,000%, responsivity of 11,200 A W− 1, specific detectivity of 2.82 × 1014 Jones, and gain-bandwidth product of 1.92 × 107 Hz as well as high reproducibility. A metal-semiconductor Schottky interface consisting of an EDL enables the stabilization of trapped electron states within the acceptor domains of the photoactive layer by electrostatic interactions, boosting the PM-OPD gain generation. The effects of the EDL on the energetics of trapped electron states are confirmed by numerical simulations based on the drift-diffusion approximation of charge carriers. The feasibility of the fabricated high-EQE PM-OPD is demonstrated via a pixelated prototype image sensor. We believe that this new OPD platform opens up the possibility for the ultra-high-sensitivity organic image sensors, while maintaining the advantageous properties of organics.
Order–Disorder Transition of a Rigid Cage Cation Embedded in a Cubic Perovskite
Authors: Shi Zhifang , Fang Zheng , Wu Jingshu , Chen Yi , Mi Qixi
Published: January 2021

The structure and properties of organic–inorganic hybrid perovskites are impacted by the order–disorder transition, whose driving forces from the organic cation and the inorganic framework cannot easily be disentangled. Herein, we report the design, synthesis and properties of a cage-in-framework perovskite AthMn(N3)3, where Ath+ is an organic cation 4-azatricyclo[2.2.1.02,6]heptanium. Ath+ features a rigid and spheroidal profile, such that its molecular reorientation does not alter the cubic lattice symmetry of the Mn(N3)3− host framework. This pure order–disorder transition is well characterized by NMR, crystallography, and calorimetry, and associated with the realignment of Ath+ dipole from antiferroelectric to paraelectric. As a result, an abrupt rise in the dielectric constant was observed during the transition. Our work introduces a new family of perovskite structures and provides direct insights to the order–disorder transition of hybrid materials.
The effects of WeChat-based educational intervention in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: a randomized controlled trail
Authors: Song Yuqing , Xie Xia , Chen Yanlin , Wang Ying , Yang Hui , Nie Anliu , Chen Hong
Published: January 2021

Background: Ankylosing spondylitis(AS), as a common inflammatory rheumatic disease, often causes depression and impaired health-related quality of life(QoL). Although positive effects of patient education have been demonstrated, limited studies explored the benefits of education via mobile applications for AS patients. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the WeChat-based educational intervention on depression, health-related QoL, and other clinical outcomes in AS patients.Methods: We conducted a single-blind randomized controlled trial from March to December 2017. Patients were recruited and randomized into the intervention group who received a 12-week WeChat-based educational intervention (consisting of four individual online educational sessions, online educational materials) or the control group receiving standard care. Data was collected at baseline and 12 weeks after the intervention. Outcomes were measured by Beck Depression Inventory-Ⅱ, the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36-item Health Survey, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Patient Global Score, visual analogue scales. Results: A total of 118 patients with AS were included and analyzed. Measures at baseline were comparable between groups. After the intervention, the intervention group reported significant higher scores of all domains of QoL except for physical function and validity, compared with the control group. Additionally, patients in the intervention group had lower depressive symptoms than the control group. No significant difference in other outcomes was observed at 12 weeks. Conclusions: This study found that the 12-week educational intervention via WeChat had positive effects on reducing depressive symptoms and improving health related QoL in Chinese patients with AS. We suggest that this intervention can be integrated into current routine care of AS patients.
Genetic Polymorphisms, LDL-C and sdLDL-C Help Optimize Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) Therapy
Authors: Dai Ruozhu , Zhuo Huilin , Wang Wei , Wang Xinjun , Zhao Xiaoyu
Published: January 2021

Background: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and small, dense LDL-C (sdLDL-C) are important risk indicator of coronary heart disease (CHD), but their application in therapy monitoring of CHD is still far from being elucidated. Following the concept of precision medicine, we investigated whether the scientific medication based on medication-sensitive genes can reverse the LDL-C and sdLDL-C status in human bloodstream, so as to reveal the possibility of them as a monitoring indicator of CHD efficacy.Methods: A prospective study of CHD cohort containing 208 Chinese CHD patients (158 males and 50 females) and 20 healthy people (14 males and 6 females) was recruited. LDL-C and its subfractions were detected before and after treatment. Polymorphism of medication-sensitive genes, including SLCO1B1 (rs4149056, 521T>C), CYP2C19*2 (rs4244285, c.681G>A), and CYP2C19*3 (rs4986893, c.636G>A) were detected for medication guidance.Results: Nearly half of Chinese CHD patients (47.60%, 99/208) had genetic polymorphisms with homozygous or heterozygous mutations within these three genes. LDL-1 and LDL-2, subfractions of LDL-C, had a 100% positive rate in CHD patients and healthy people. However, sdLDL-C components of LDL-5 to LDL-7 were only enrichment in CHD patients. Moreover, the mean amount of sdLDL-C subfractions in CHD patients was significantly higher than that in healthy people. Among 180 patients with treatment remission, 81.67% (n=147) of CHD patients had decreased LDL-C, while 61.67% (n=111) of patients had decreased sdLDL-C.Conclusion: sdLDL-C has better accuracy on CHD screening than LDL-C, while LDL-C was more suitable for CHD therapy monitoring. Combined medication-sensitive genes polymorphism, LDL-C and sdLDL-C detection would optimize the treatment strategy for CHD patients.
Interacting With Virtual Objects via Embodied Avatar Hands Increases the Illusion of Presence, Increases Distraction, and Modulates VR Analgesia Effectiveness: A Randomized Crossover Trial.
Authors: Hoffman Hunter
Published: January 2021

The current study introduces a new experimental environment and apparatus for exploring cognitive factors in pain. Interacting with virtual objects via embodied avatar hands increased the illusion of “being there” in the virtual world, increased VR analgesia for acute pain, and reduced accuracy on an attention demanding task. Twenty-four healthy volunteer college students participated in this within-subject randomized crossover design study. During Phase 1, each participant received brief thermal pain stimuli during interactive embodied avatar VR vs. passive VR (no avatar and no interactivity), VR treatment order randomized. After each pain stimulus, participants provided subjective 0-10 ratings of pain. Compared to the passive VR condition, during the interactive avatar VR, participants reported significant reductions in 1). worst pain, 2). pain unpleasantness, 3). time thinking about pain and 4). they had significantly more fun during the pain stimulus (p = .000 for each). During Phase 2, participants performed a divided attention task in each VR condition. Participants made significantly more errors on the divided attention task during the interactive avatar VR condition, compared to passive VR, implicating an attention mechanism for how virtual reality reduces pain and helping understand how VR influences pain perception.
Correlation between SCAP Genetic Polymorphism and Coronary Artery Disease in a Han population in Xinjiang, China
Authors: He Xiao-Dong , Fu Zhen-Yan , Adi Dilare , Ma Yi-Tong , Wang Ying-Hong , Wang Yong-Tao , Abudesimu Asiya , Chen Bang-Dang , Liu Fen
Published: January 2021

SREBP cleavage-activating protein (SCAP) plays a vital role in the modulation of cholesterol homeostasis, and cholesterol dysregulation is tightly associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). To investigate the correlation of the genetic polymorphism of SCAP with CAD, we conducted a case-control study of 528 CAD patients (case group) and 483 age- and sex- matched subjects from whom CAD was excluded (control group). Three tagSNPs (rs147215799, rs17079634 and rs59586735) in SCAP gene were genotyped in all participants, the genotype and allele frequencies of which were compared between two groups to determine their associations with CAD. We found rs17079634 showed significant difference in genotype distribution between the case and control group (P=0.016). The difference was most prominent in a dominant model (TT vs. CT + CC, P=0.004). After adjustment for confounding factors, the difference remained statistically significant (OR =1.363, 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.022~1.818, P=0.035). Whereas no significant associations of the other two SNPs with CAD were observed (P=0.393 for rs147215799 and 0.303 for rs59586735, respectively）. We drew conclusion that the SCAP genetic polymorphism rs17079634 was associated with CAD.
Differential expression of microRNA-7188-5p and miR-7235 regulates Multiple Sclerosis in an experimental mouse model- an Biomarker approach
Authors: ibrahim hairul islam Mohamed , abdullah  , hanieh hamza , ahmed emad a , thirugnansambantham k
Published: January 2021

The short non-coding microRNAs (miRNAs), have emerged as reliable modulators of various pathological conditions including autoimmune diseases in mammals. The current study, aims to identify new potential differential expressed miRNAs and their downstream mRNA targets of the autoimmune disease, Multiple sclerosis (MS). First, we used a computational tool to identify a new set of miRNA(s) that are probably implicated in MS. Preliminary, computational screening reveals that miR-659-3p, miR-659-5p, miR- 684, miR-3607-3p, miR-3607-5p, miR-3682-3p, miR-3682-5p miR-4647, miR-7188-3p, miR-7188-5p and miR-7235 are specifically elevated in the secondary lymphoid cells of EAE mice. In addition, expression of the downstream target genes of these miRNAs such as FXBO33, SGMS-1, ZDHHC-9, GABRA-3, NRXN-2 were reciprocal to miRNA expression in lymphoid cells. These confirmed by applying the mimic and silencing miRNA models, these data suggesting new inflammatory target genes of these promising miRNA biomarkers. The in vivo adoptive transfer model revealed that the suppression of miRNA-7188-5p and miR-7235 changed the pattern of astrocytes and CNSpathophysiology. The current study identified set of miRNAs and their mRNA targets as reciprocal regulator in MS disease. The absence of miRNA-7188-5p and miR-7235 enhanced the disease alleviation. These optimized results highlight new set of miRNA’s based biomarkers with therapeutic potential in experimental MS.
Detecting Myocardial Infarction by Electrocardiogram Machine Learning Models With Greater Accuracy; A Technical Advance Article
Authors: Sudaraka M.D.S. , Abeyagunawardena I. , Silva E. S. De , Abeyagunawardena S
Published: January 2021

BackgroundElectrocardiogram (ECG) is a key diagnostic test in cardiac investigation. Interpretation of ECG is based on the understanding of normal electrical patterns produced by the heart and alterations of those patterns in specific disease conditions. With machine learning techniques, it is possible to interpret ECGs with increased accuracy. However, there is a lacuna in machine learning models to detect myocardial infarction (MI) coupled with the affected territories of the heart. MethodsThe dataset was obtained from the University of California, Irvine, Machine Learning Repository. It was filtered to obtain observations categorized as Normal, Ischemic changes, Old Anterior MI and Old Inferior MI. The dataset was randomly split into a training set (70%) and a test set (30%). 73 out of the 270 ECG features were selected based on the changes observed following MI, after excluding predictors that had near zero variance across the observations. Three machine learning classification models (Bootstrap Aggregation Decision Trees, Random Forest, Multi-layer Perceptron) were trained using the training dataset, optimizing for the Kappa statistic and the parameter tuning was achieved with repeated 10-fold cross validation. Accuracy and Kappa of the samples were used to evaluate performance between the models. ResultsThe Random Forest model identified old anterior and old inferior MIs with 100% sensitivity and specificity and all 4 categorized observations with an overall accuracy of 0.9167 (95% CI 0.8424 - 0.9633). Both the Bootstrap Aggregation Decision Trees and the Multi-layer Perceptron models identified old anterior MIs with 100% sensitivity and specificity and their overall accuracies for all 4 observations were 0.8958 (95% CI 0.8168 - 0.9489) and 0.8542 (95% CI 0.7674 - 0.9179) respectively.Conclusion With a medically informed feature selection we were able to identify old anterior MI with 100% sensitivity and specificity by all three models in this study, and old inferior MI with 100% sensitivity and specificity by Random Forest Model. If the data set can be improved it is possible to utilize these machine learning models in hospital setting to identify cardiac emergencies by incorporating them into cardiac monitors, until trained personnel become available.
Learning interpretable cellular and gene signature embeddings from single-cell transcriptomic data
Authors: Zhao Yifan , Cai Huiyu , Zhang Zuobai , Tang Jian , Li Yue
Published: January 2021

The advent of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technologies has revolutionized transcriptomic studies. However, integrative analysis of scRNA-seq data remains a challenge largely due to batch effects. We present single-cell Embedded Topic Model (scETM), an unsupervised deep generative model that recapitulates known cell types by inferring the latent cell topic mixtures via a variational autoencoder. scETM is scalable to over 10^6 cells and enables effective knowledge transfer across datasets. scETM also offers high interpretability and allows the incorporation of prior pathway knowledge into the gene embeddings. The scETM-inferred topics show enrichment in cell-type-specific and disease-related pathways.
Observation of laser-assisted electron scattering in superfluid helium
Authors: Treiber Leonhard , Thaler Bernhard , Heim Pascal , Stadlhofer Michael , Kitzler-Zeiler Markus , Koch Markus
Published: January 2021

Laser-assisted electron scattering (LAES), a light-matter interaction process that facilitates energy transfer between strong light fields and free electrons, has so far been observed only in gas phase. Here we report on the observation of LAES at condensed phase particle densities, for which we create nano-structured systems consisting of a single atom or molecule surrounded by a superfluid He shell of variable thickness (32-340 Å). We observe that free electrons, generated by femtosecond strong-field ionization of the core particle, can gain several tens of photon energies due to multiple LAES processes within the liquid He shell. Supported by 3D scattering simulations, these results provide the first insight into the interplay of LAES energy gain/loss and dissipative electron movement in a liquid. Our results reveal that LAES could significantly increase the temporal resolution of ultrafast electron microscopy, potentially to the attosecond regime.
Assessing and Improving Fitness to Drive in the Elderly People: a Scoping Review of Policies and Guidelines
Authors: Mohammaddokht Salar , Saadati Mohammad , Kashefimehr Babak , Azami-Aghdash Saber
Published: January 2021

Background: Several countries in the world have distinct policies and frameworks to assessment and promote fitness to drive in the elderly. Accordingly, this study has been conducted to analyze the processes, models, and policies to assessment fitness to drive and improving driving in the elderly in the world.Method: Expected data were collected using keywords older, old, elderly, aging, ageing, senior, polic*, process, programme, plan, guideline, framework, driving capacity, driving eligibility, safe drive, fitness to drive, renewal driving license, commercial driver, driving qualification, driving ability, driving evaluation, driving assessment and their Persian equivalents from various English-language databases included: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, and Persian-language databases Included: IranDoc, SID, and MagIran. In this study, the Arkesy and O’Malley frameworks were employed.Results: Eventually, 24 papers and reports were included in the study. Vision assessment was the main item to judge the fitness to drive in the elderly, followed by driving assessment, cognitive assessment, and motor assessment. The in-person, postal, and online renewal of license were the most common method of renewal. General practitioners were the principal performers to measure driving fitness. In most all reports and papers, there were policies on empowering the elderly driver, including providing safe driving tips, optional driving skills tests, holding retraining courses, and so on. The most significant supporting policies included introducing alternative transportation to preserve the independence of the elderly. This study explained that clinical assessment is normally performed in drivers older than 75 years old to diagnose disorders and treat and prevent them in distinct time periods.Conclusion: Most high-income countries have worthwhile experience in measuring and improving the fitness to drive in the elderly and enforce different laws according to environmental, social, and political conditions. Utilizing these experiences by considering economic and social differences can be useful and practical for middle and low-income countries.
Validation of the German Version of the Work and Social Adjustment Scale in a Sample of Depressed Patients
Authors: Heissel Andreas , Bollmann Julian , Kangas Maria , Abula Kahar , Rapp Michael , Sanchez Alba
Published: January 2021

Background: Depression is one of the key factors contributing to difficulties in one’s ability to work, and serves as one of the major reasons why employees apply for psychotherapy and receive insurance subsidization of treatments. Hence, an increasing and growing number of studies rely on workability assessment scales as their primary outcome measure. The Work and Social Assessment Scale (WSAS) has been documented as one of the most psychometrically reliable and valid tools to serve that purpose. Yet, the application of the WSAS in Germany has been limited due to the paucity of a valid questionnaire in the German language. The objective of the present study was to translate the WSAS into German and test its psychometric properties in a sample of adults with depression. Methods: 277 patients (M = 48.3 years, SD =11.1) with mild to moderately severe depression were recruited. A multistep translation from English into the German language was performed and the factorial validity, criterion validity, convergent validity, internal consistency, and floor and ceiling effects were examined. Results: The confirmatory factor analysis results confirmed the one-factor structure of the WSAS. Significant correlations with the WHODAS 2-0 questionnaire, a measure of functionality, demonstrated good convergent validity. Significant correlations with depression and quality of life demonstrated good criterion validity. The WSAS also demonstrated strong internal consistency (α = .89), and the absence of floor and ceiling effects indicated good sensitivity of the instrument. Conclusions: The results of the present study demonstrated that the German version of the WSAS has good psychometric properties comparable to other international versions of this scale. The findings recommend a global assessment of psychosocial functioning with the sum score of the WSAS, but also suggest the interpretation of the individual items to improve treatment and the concomitant research.Trial registration ISRCTN identifier: ISRCTN28972230. Date of registration June 26th 2018.