bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Wpływ teorii pestalozziańskich na teorię i praktyki filozofii edukacji Josiah Warrena – geneza systemu
Authors: Modrzejewska Magdalena
Published: December 2021

The Influence of Pestalozzian Theories on the Theory and Practice of Josiah Warren's Philosophy of Education – The Genesis of the System
Josiah Warren is portrayed as the father of American individualist anarchism and the first American anarchist. This paper investigates his contribution to the development of educational theories and his educational practices, since for Warren, as many anarchists, education is the main path to create a new society. Warren’s educational theories and experiments originated mainly from his stay in New Harmony between 1825 and 1827, where he encountered innovative method of teaching that nurtured children’s independence, invented by Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi. Therefore, the aim of this text is to trace how Warren’s philosophy of education was shaped to become an essential element of his theory of stateless political and legal order and how Warren combined concepts of extreme individualism with his economic theories, such as equitable commerce and cost the limit of price. The knowledge of Warren’s New Harmony experience where he encountered William Maclure and Pestalozzian social reformers will enable the reader to better understand the framework of his own concept of education that he practiced at the Spring Hill School in Ohio.
Agendy partii politycznych i telewizyjnych serwisów informacyjnych w mediach społecznościowych w kampanii wyborczej do parlamentu w 2019 r.
Authors: Żurawski Jakub
Published: December 2021

Social Media Agendas of Political Parties Versus Social Media Agendas of TV News Services in the Parliamentary Election Campaign in 2019
The presented article concerns the convergence of symbolic political agendas of selected political entities (coalitions) (PiS-ZP, PO-KO) and agendas of selected broadcasters (Wiadomości TVP, Fakty TVN), in social media, in the parliamentary campaign in 2019. Theses concerning the overlapping of the media and political agendas of PiS-ZP and TVP and PO-KO and TVN in the thematic aspect were formulated, as well as the thesis about the affective orientation of media agendas towards specific political entities: TVN towards PiS-ZP and TVN towards PO-KO. The theoretical framework of the research was the agenda-setting theory, the concept of mediatization of politics and the evolution of the roles of political and media actors. The work also presents empirical research on the agendas of the above-mentioned entities on Twitter. The hypotheses were verified on the basis of quantitative and qualitative analysis.
Feasibility of the basic movements of Azeri dance in the balance and posture of a person with Parkinson's disease: ABA single-subject design
Authors: Shams Amir Samadi , Rezaei Mandana , Havaei Naser , Mohammadi Ahmad
Published: December 2021

Background/aims

Basic movements of Azeri dance as an intervention may have an impact on the physical and mental status of people with Parkinson's disease. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and efficacy of basic movements of Azeri dance on the balance and static posture of a person with Parkinson's disease. The effects of basic movements of Azeri dance on quality of life, quality of sleep and the performance in activities of daily living were reported before and after the intervention.

Methods

In this single-subject experimental ABA design, a 64-year-old man with a 4-year history of Parkinson's disease was selected. The outcome measures consisted of the Functional Reach Test, Timed Up and Go Test, qualitative static posture analysis, Short Form Health Survey, Modified Barthel Index and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.

Results

An increasing trend in balance from the initial baseline stage through to the end of the intervention stage was found. Static posture analysis showed that the patient's posture improved qualitatively. His quality of life score changed after the intervention; however, his sleep quality and activites of daily living scores did not change.

Conclusions

Basic movements of Azeri dance are useful in the rehabilitation of patients with Parkinson's disease who have balance issues and postural instability, but further research is warranted.
Book Review
Authors: Hargrave Claire
Published: December 2021

This Book Review from Claire Hargrave discusses the recently released second edition of Practical Canine Behaviour For Veterinary Nurses and Technicians by Stephanie Hedges, a UK-based veterinary nurse and Certified Clinical Animal Behaviorist with over 20 years' experience working in the veterinary industry
Exploring the Challenges of Tertiary Students in Non-Laboratory Courses After the First Year of Emergency Remote Teaching
Authors: Bulusan Ferdinand , Codamon-Dugyon Eva Marie , Bolintao Jeng Jeng M.
Published: December 2021

Shortly after the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic began, studies on the challenges faced by tertiary students during Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT) became available. However, the data sets were harvested early, as many countries began implementing ERT in response to the pandemic in March 2020. Many recent studies have failed to distinguish between the challenges faced by students enrolled in the laboratory and non-laboratory courses. There is still a dearth of literature on the difficulties encountered by students enrolled in non-laboratory courses following the first year of ERT implementation. The purpose of this paper was to examine the various challenges faced by tertiary students enrolled in non-laboratory courses following the conclusion of the first year of ERT implementation. Contextualized in two state-owned higher education institutions in northern Luzon, this study employed a fundamental qualitative approach, with focus group discussions (FGDs) serving as the primary data collection technique. Five major themes emerged from the FGDs with 42 purposively selected tertiary students. These themes presented in the spider web illustration include (1) student-focused challenges, (2) instructional material-related challenges, (3) instructor-emanating challenges, (4) technology-related challenges, and (5) student support-related challenges. This article concludes that these issues must be dealt with immediately to facilitate the implementation of ERT in non-laboratory courses. These difficulties may also be dimensions of concerns about distance education, particularly in non-urban areas of the Philippines. The themes also provide some actual pictures of the student challenges in the initial year of ERT in college. This paper highlighted some implications for pedagogy and educational management, as well as future research directions.
The Relationship Between School Principals' Cultural Intelligence Level and Teachers' Job Satisfaction and Intention to Leave the Job
Authors: Gokalp Serkan
Published: December 2021

This research aims to determine the relationship between school principals' cultural intelligence level and teachers' job satisfaction and intention to leave. The relational survey model was used in this study. The data of the research were collected from 800 teachers working in public middle schools in the central districts of Mersin Province in the 2020-2021 academic year. The data were collected through Personal Information Form, Cultural Intelligence Scale, Job Satisfaction Scale, and Intention to Leave Scale. The data were analyzed through correlation analysis, Structural Equation Modeling and Sobel Test. According to the results of the research, a strong, positive and significant relationship was found between the cultural intelligence level of school principals and the job satisfaction of teachers. A strong, negative, and significant relationship was determined between the cultural intelligence level of school principals and teachers' intention to leave. A strong, negative, and significant relationship was determined between teachers' job satisfaction and their intention to leave. It was found that the cultural intelligence level of school principals negatively predicted teachers' intention to leave. It was also determined that cultural intelligence levels of school principals negatively predicted teachers' intention to leave through job satisfaction, and teachers’ job satisfaction was a partial mediator of the relationship between the cultural intelligence levels of school principals and teachers' intention to leave. It was suggested that candidates with high cultural intelligence levels should be given priority in the appointment process of school principals.
Learning of Biographical Writing for Coping with Ethnic Prejudice in a Culturally Diverse Society
Authors: Thoyibi Muhammad , Haryanti Dwi , Susiati Yeny Prastiwi
Published: December 2021

The purpose of this paper is to explore if the learning of biographical writing contributes to the positive views and attitudes towards others of different groups. The paper used the Research and Development approach by designing and implementing a learning model of biographical writing. The subjects of this study were 200 seventh-grade students having different ethnic and religious backgrounds from nine junior high schools. The data-collecting method was pretest-posttest. The results of the study demonstrated that the average scores of the aspects of student empathy, student positive attitudes towards ethnic differences, and student positive attitudes towards religious differences increased in all the schools investigated. The increase of average score in the aspect of student empathy, positive attitudes towards ethnic differences, and positive attitudes towards religious differences could be classified into three categories: high, medium, and low. Most of the schools under study experienced medium and low increases of average score in all aspects.
Maneuverability of Wheeled Poly-Articulated Agricultural Vehicles: Modeling and Field Testing
Authors: Yatskul Andrii , Cointault Frederic , Lemiere Jean-Pierre
Published: December 2021

Highlights

Modeling provides the relationships between path, kinematics, geometry, and towed implements.

Linear interpolation allows trajectories to be compared if data recording is random.

Correction coefficients can be a solution to compensate for soil resistance.

Abstract. Automatic guidance systems and autonomous vehicles require tested methods of path generation to ensure successful maneuvers (such as automatic trajectory correction and headland turn management). In this study, an evolution of Zakin’s kinematic modeling, as applied in the automobile industry, is proposed for an agricultural poly-articulated vehicle (representing a tractor or other type of towing vehicle with one or more towed implements attached with an articulated hitch). Geometry, vehicle ground speed, and angular steering velocity are considered in the generation of maneuvering paths. Based on the specifics of real field conditions (slope, plant residue, resistance due to soil compaction, etc.), the initial model was improved by introducing correction coefficients. An experimental setup is proposed using a tractor with two towed implements and a testing method involving point-to-point path comparison. The modeling method has potential for integrating more complex procedures (such as path generation, geolocation, and following) into the design of a maneuvering management system for agricultural machines, which can contribute to the efficiency of field operations. Keywords: Agricultural vehicle, Headland turn automation, Maneuverability, Modeling, Path generation, Path planning, Poly-articulated vehicle.
Ammonia Concentrations and Emissions at Two Commercial Manure-Belt Layer Houses with Mixed Tunnel and Cross Ventilation
Authors: Tong Xinjie , Zhao Lingying , Manuzon Roderick B. , Darr Matthew J , Knight Reyna M , Wang Chaoyuan , Heber Albert J , Ni Ji Qin
Published: December 2021

Highlights

Annual average NH3 concentrations in two retrofitted manure-belt layer houses were 4.0 ±3.3 and 5.2 ±3.0 ppmv.

Seasonal and diurnal variations were observed for NH3 concentrations (higher in colder seasons and early morning).

Annual average NH3 emission rates from the two layer houses were 0.081 ±0.004 and 0.099 ±0.004 g d-1 hen-1.

No consistent pattern was found for either seasonal or diurnal variations in NH3 emission rates.

Abstract. Ammonia emission measurements at poultry houses are necessary to assess air quality and emission factors associated with poultry operations, but no data have been reported for manure-belt layer houses retrofitted from high-rise layer houses. Two commercial retrofitted manure-belt layer houses (both 121.9 m long, 19.5 m wide, and 7.7 m high; 170,000 bird nominal capacity each) in Ohio with mixed usage of tunnel and cross ventilation systems were continuously monitored for one year. The daily averages of the exhaust NH3 concentrations varied from 0.03 to 17.7 ppmv in house 1 and 0.37 to 14.4 ppmv in house 2 with annual means (±SD) of 4.0 ±3.3 and 5.2 ±3.0 ppmv, respectively. The NH3 emission factors based on the full year of data for houses 1 and 2 were 0.081 ±0.004 and 0.099 ±0.004 g d-1 hen-1 (12.5 ±10.1 and 15.2 ±10.6 kg d-1 house-1 or 24.9 ±20.0 and 31.1 ±23.4 g d-1 AU-1), respectively. Seasonal variations were observed for NH3 concentrations, with higher concentrations in winter and lower concentrations in summer. Within a day, NH3 concentrations were highest from 4:00 to 8:00 and lowest from 16:00 to 20:00. No consistent pattern was observed for seasonal or diurnal variations of NH3 emission rates. Higher NH3 concentrations and emissions were observed at the east and west exhaust air streams of the houses compared to the north and south exhaust air streams due to the unique configuration of the ventilation systems. NH3 emission was correlated with exhaust absolute humidity, hen caloric intake, feed consumption, and protein percentage of feed. Keywords: Ammonia emission factor, Diurnal variation, High-rise, Retrofitted poultry house, Seasonal variation, Spatial variation.
Research in International Transfer of Vocational Education and Training – A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Toepper Miriam , Zlatkin-Troitschanskaia Olga , Kühling-Thees Carla
Published: December 2021

Context: The transfer of vocational education and training (VET) has a long tradition and can be based on various conceptual and methodical approaches. Transfer process and success can be influenced by numerous factors at different levels (systemic, institutional and individual). However, the existing research on the challenges and success factors of VET transfer is very heterogenous and fragmented. Method: To provide a comprehensive and structured overview of the current state of the international research on transfer in the context of VET, we conducted a literature review, which is presented here. Using the method of systematic literature review, a total of 231 studies were found and 41 studies were selected based on the defined criteria for full text analysis. Findings: Various specific research foci and analytical approaches used on the included studies were identified and documented. The transfer of a dual VET system or its elements is based on different approaches and perspectives of the recipient country and the transferee. Major challenges for the transfer of dual VET systems include the social reputation of VET in the recipient countries and (language- and culture-related) communication difficulties between the involved parties. For a successful transfer of VET, a deeper knowledge of the contextual conditions in the recipient country are of particular importance, as well as a close, longstanding cooperation between the involved parties. Conclusion: The generated knowledge about key contextual conditions at the individual, company and systemic level in the context of VET transfer can provide a valuable basis for future VET cooperation.
Affective meanings and social relations: identities and positions in the social space
Authors: Ambrasat Jens , von Scheve Christian
Published: December 2021

Ever since Georg Simmel’s seminal works, social relations have been a central building block of sociological theory. In relational sociology, social identities are an essential concept and supposed to emerge in close interaction with other identities, discourses and objects. To assess this kind of relationality, existing research capitalises on patterns of meaning making that are constitutive for identities. These patterns are often understood as forms of declarative knowledge and are reconstructed, using qualitative methods, from denotative meanings as they surface: for example, in stories and narratives. We argue that this approach to some extent privileges explicit and conceptual knowledge over tacit and non-conceptual forms of knowledge. We suggest that affect is a concept that can adequately account for such implicit and bodily meanings, even when measured on the level of linguistic concepts. We draw on affect control theory (ACT) and related methods to investigate the affective meanings of concepts (lexemes) denoting identities in a large survey. We demonstrate that even though these meanings are widely shared across respondents, they nevertheless show systematic variation reflecting respondents’ positions within the social space and the typical interaction experiences associated with their identities. In line with ACT, we show, first, that the affective relations between exemplary identities mirror their prototypical, culturally circumscribed and institutionalised relations (for example, between role identities). Second, we show that there are systematic differences in these affective relations across gender, occupational status and regional culture, which we interpret as reflecting respondents’ subjective positioning and experience vis-à-vis a shared cultural reality.
1.7  µm gain-switched and mode-locked hybrid Tm–Ho codoped fiber laser signal generation and optimization
Authors: Li Qi , Zhang Peng , Fan Yunlong , Ning Yuzhu , Wei Jia , Tong Shoufeng
Published: December 2021

We propose and experimentally demonstrate 1.7 µm gain-switched and mode-locked hybrid laser signal generation using a modulated pump and the nonlinear polarization rotation (NPR) effect. In the laser scheme, a 1.55 µm amplified modulated optical signal was used as a homemade pump. A bidirectional pumping configuration was adopted by splitting the homemade pump. A 1 m long thulium–holmium (Tm–Ho) codoped fiber was used as the gain medium. A fiber Bragg grating was employed as a spectral filter. The mode-locked laser pulse was obtained with a central wavelength of 1724 nm. The repetition rate was 11.81 MHz and the pulse width was 65.27 ps. Additionally, the gain-switched pulse sequences with a repetition rate from 50 kHz to 200 kHz were obtained by the modulated pump. Moreover, the mode-locked pulse train was filtered and modulated by the shape of the gain-switched pulse, and the hybrid pulse train was then obtained. Furthermore, the hybrid laser signals were analyzed and optimized by applying different waveforms of the modulated pump. The experimental results showed that the generated laser pulse driven by the sinusoidal signal has a better SNR (49.39 dB).
Quantum cascade laser absorption spectrometer with a low temperature multipass cell for precision clumped CO2 measurement
Authors: Nataraj Akshay , Gianella Michele , Prokhorov Ivan , Tuzson Béla , Bertrand Mathieu , Mohn Joachim , Faist Jérôme , Emmenegger Lukas
Published: December 2021

We present a quantum cascade laser-based absorption spectrometer deploying a compact (145 mL volume) segmented circular multipass cell (SC-MPC) with 6 m optical path length. This SC-MPC is embedded into an effective cooling system to facilitate operation at cryogenic temperatures. For CO2, the sample is cooled to 153 K, i.e. close to the sublimation point at 10 mbar. This enables efficient suppression of interfering hot-band transitions of the more abundant isotopic species and thereby enhances analytical precision. As a demonstration, the amount fractions of all three CO2 isotopologues involved in the kinetic isotope exchange reaction of 12C16O2 + 12C18O2

⇌

2·12C16O18O are measured. The precision in the ratios [12C18O2]/[12C16O2] and [12C16O18O]/[12C16O2] is 0.05 ‰ with 25 s integration time. In addition, we determine the variation of the equilibrium constant, K, of the above exchange reaction for carbon-dioxide samples equilibrated at 300 K and 1273 K, respectively.
Development and optimization of Laser Shock Repeated Dense Peening (LSRDP) using most advanced laser architectures
Authors: Rondepierre Alexandre , Casagrande Olivier , Rouchausse Yann , Castelnau Olivier , Berthe Laurent
Published: December 2021

The laser shock peening process (LSP), used to reinforce metals, currently has two major configurations with limitations. (1) Laser irradiation with large spot sizes, but with the need to use a thermal protective coating to avoid detrimental thermal damage (which increases the overall cost of the process) or (2) laser irradiation without thermal coating but with very small spot sizes and high overlap ratios, thus increasing the amount of time required to treat a given surface. In this study, we develop a new faster configuration for the LSP process, which can be applied without a thermal coating, but is still effective regarding surface treatment time. A new laser system has been developed for this faster configuration and has been used to perform the LSP treatment of aluminum alloys at a high-repetition rate. This new DPSS Q-switched Nd:YAG laser, delivers 1 J of energy with a pulse duration from 7 to 21 ns at a very high frequency of 200 Hz. We also studied the laser/matter interaction, according to the laser pulse duration, energy, and its wavelength. The water confinement (ejection and renewing) was monitored while an air-blowing system was implemented to manage water issues identified with this new configuration. Altogether, we demonstrated that such a configuration is fully operational.
Bidirectional nanoprinting based on bilayer metasurfaces
Authors: Deng Juan , Gao Fan , Yuan Peicheng , Li Yun , Yan Bo
Published: December 2021

Bidirectional nanoprinting, has received significant attention in image display and on-chip integration, due to its superior advantages. By manipulating the amplitude in a narrow- or broad-band wavelength range of forward and backward incident light, different spatially varied intensities or color distributions can be generated on the structure plane. However, the current scheme cannot fully decouple the bidirectional light intensity due to the limitation of design degree of freedom, and it would hinder the development of asymmetric photonic devices. In this paper, we propose and demonstrate bidirectional nanoprinting based on an all-dielectric bilayer metasurface, which can independently control the intensity of forward and backward incident light, resulting in two different continuous grayscale meta-image displaying in the visible region. This asymmetric but still bidirectional optical response is introduced by stacking two layers of nanostructures with different functionality in space, in which the first- and second-layer nanostructures act as a half-wave plate and a polarizer, respectively. Interestingly, these bidirectional nanoprinting metasurfaces have flexible working modes and may bring great convenience for practical applications. Specifically, two different meta-images generated by a bidirectional nanoprinting metasurface can be displayed not only on two sides of the metasurface (working mode in transmission or reflection), but on the same side due to the forward transmitted light and backward reflected light also having asymmetric optical properties. Similar phenomena also exist for forward reflected light and backward transmitted light. Our work extremely expands the design freedom for metasurface devices and may play a significant role in the field of optical display, information multiplexing, etc.
Demonstration of real-time structured-light depth sensing based on a solid-state VCSEL beam scanner
Authors: Ruixiao Li , Shanting Hu , Xiaodong Gu , Koyama Fumio
Published: December 2021

We demonstrated a real-time scanning structured-light depth sensing system based on a solid-state vertical cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) beam scanner integrated with an electro-thermally tunable VCSEL. Through a swept voltage added to the tunable VCSEL, a field of view of 6°×12° could be scanned with a scanning speed of 100 kHz by the beam scanner. Adopting the beam scanner, the real-time depth image with a lateral resolution of 10,000 (20×500) was obtained by measuring a step target placed at 35cm. The frame rate could be >10Hz even if sunlight shot noise is artificially added to the experimental data. By using a higher-speed camera, a potential lateral resolution could be reached at 50,000 (100×500) with a frame rate of > 20Hz. By using flat optics, a compact scanning module offering line pattern with FoV of >40°×20° was also demonstrated. It could help to realize high-resolution and high-accuracy structured-light sensing with a compact module.
Kollaboration mit Extended-Reality-Systemen – eine Kategorisierung
Authors: Schopf Peter , Jonas Julia M.
Published: December 2021

Die Technologien Augmented Reality (AR) und Virtual Reality (VR), die mit dem Überbegriff Extended Reality (XR) zusammengefasst werden, beeinflussen die Möglichkeiten der Kommunikation und Kollaboration grundlegend. Sie können intuitiv als Schnittstelle diverser Informationsquellen genutzt werden und bieten neue Arten der Informationsdarstellung. Extended-Reality-Systeme (XRS) bauen auf diesen beiden Technologien, AR und VR, auf und haben großes Potenzial für ein breites Spektrum an Anwendungsfällen, insbesondere für Kollaborationen.

Trotz dieses Potenzials ist bisher oft nicht klar, wann, wo und wie XRS sinnvoll eingesetzt werden können. Dies verzögert Innovationen und die Einführung in Arbeitsprozesse. Bei Entscheidern ist die Abgrenzung zwischen AR und VR teilweise unzureichend bekannt bzw. es fehlt die Terminologie, um die unterschiedlichen Systeme adäquat zu beschreiben. An dieser Stelle setzt diese konzeptuelle Arbeit an. Sie hat zum Ziel, das Verständnis der Anwendungsmöglichkeiten von XRS für Kollaborationen zu erleichtern sowie bei der Terminologie zu unterstützen. Aufbauend auf einer zentralen Taxonomie aus dem Bereich ‚Computer-Supported Cooperative Work‘ (CSCW) wird eine Kategorisierung von XRS für Kollaborationen entwickelt. Ein Vergleich mit bereits bestehenden Taxonomien zeigt die Notwendigkeit einer praktisch anwendbaren und unkompliziert handhabbaren Kategorisierung für die Praxis.

Diese Arbeit trägt durch Kategorisierung, Terminologie und Illustrationen, zu einem besseren Verständnis von XRS-Einsatzmöglichkeiten bei. Dazu werden Illustrationen aus dem Umfeld von industriellen Baustellen genutzt.
Subjective optimality in finite sequential decision-making
Authors: Sin Yeonju , Seon HeeYoung , Shin Yun Kyoung , Kwon Oh-Sang , Chung Dongil
Published: December 2021

Many decisions in life are sequential and constrained by a time window. Although mathematically derived optimal solutions exist, it has been reported that humans often deviate from making optimal choices. Here, we used a secretary problem, a classic example of finite sequential decision-making, and investigated the mechanisms underlying individuals’ suboptimal choices. Across three independent experiments, we found that a dynamic programming model comprising subjective value function explains individuals’ deviations from optimality and predicts the choice behaviors under fewer and more opportunities. We further identified that pupil dilation reflected the levels of decision difficulty and subsequent choices to accept or reject the stimulus at each opportunity. The value sensitivity, a model-based estimate that characterizes each individual’s subjective valuation, correlated with the extent to which individuals’ physiological responses tracked stimuli information. Our results provide model-based and physiological evidence for subjective valuation in finite sequential decision-making, rediscovering human suboptimality in subjectively optimal decision-making processes.
Sequencing of Argonaute-bound microRNA/mRNA hybrids reveals regulation of the unfolded protein response by microRNA-320a
Authors: Fields Christopher J. , Li Lu , Hiers Nicholas M. , Li Tianqi , Sheng Peike , Huda Taha , Shan Jixiu , Gay Lauren , Gu Tongjun , Bian Jiang , Kilberg Michael S. , Renne Rolf , Xie Mingyi
Published: December 2021

MicroRNAs (miRNA) are short non-coding RNAs widely implicated in gene regulation. Most metazoan miRNAs utilize the RNase III enzymes Drosha and Dicer for biogenesis. One notable exception is the RNA polymerase II transcription start sites (TSS) miRNAs whose biogenesis does not require Drosha. The functional importance of the TSS-miRNA biogenesis is uncertain. To better understand the function of TSS-miRNAs, we applied a modifiedCrosslinking,Ligation,andSequencing ofHybrids on Argonaute (AGO-qCLASH) to identify the targets for TSS-miRNAs in HCT116 colorectal cancer cells with or withoutDROSHAknockout. We observed that miR-320a hybrids dominate in TSS-miRNA hybrids identified by AGO-qCLASH. Targets for miR-320a are enriched for the eIF2 signaling pathway, a downstream component of the unfolded protein response. Consistently, in miR-320a mimic- and antagomir- transfected cells, differentially expressed gene products are associated with eIF2 signaling. Within the AGO-qCLASH data, we identified the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperone calnexin as a direct miR-320a down-regulated target, thus connecting miR-320a to the unfolded protein response. During ER stress, but not amino acid deprivation, miR-320a up-regulates ATF4, a critical transcription factor for resolving ER stress. In summary, our study investigates the targetome of the TSS-miRNAs in colorectal cancer cells and establishes miR-320a as a regulator of unfolded protein response.
How to attract and retain health workers in rural areas of a fragile state: Findings from a labour market survey in Guinea
Authors: Witter Sophie , Herbst Christopher H. , Smitz Marc , Balde Mamadou Dioulde , Magazi Ibrahim , Zaman Rashid U.
Published: December 2021

Most countries face challenges attracting and retaining health staff in remote areas but this is especially acute in fragile and shock-prone contexts, like Guinea, where imbalances in staffing are high and financial and governance arrangements to address rural shortfalls are weak. The objective of this study was to understand how health staff could be better motivated to work and remain in rural, under-served areas in Guinea. In order to inform the policy dialogue on strengthening human resources for health, we conducted three nationally representative cross-sectional surveys, adapted from tools used in other fragile contexts. This article focuses on the health worker survey. We found that the locational job preferences of health workers in Guinea are particularly influenced by opportunities for training, working conditions, and housing. Most staff are satisfied with their work and with supervision, however, financial aspects and working conditions are considered least satisfactory, and worrying findings include the high proportion of staff favouring emigration, their high tolerance of informal user payments, as well as their limited exposure to rural areas during training. Based on our findings, we highlight measures which could improve rural recruitment and retention in Guinea and similar settings. These include offering upgrading and specialization in return for rural service; providing greater exposure to rural areas during training; increasing recruitment from rural areas; experimenting with fixed term contracts in rural areas; and improving working conditions in rural posts. The development of incentive packages should be accompanied by action to tackle wider issues, such as reforms to training and staff management.
Foot shape and radiographs of free-ranging Nubian giraffe in Uganda
Authors: Dadone Liza , Foxworth Steve , Aruho Robert , Schilz Amy , Joyet Andrea , Barrett Myra , Morkel Peter , Crooks Garrett , Fennessy Julian , Johnston Matthew S.
Published: December 2021

Foot health in zoo giraffe has been a topic of recent research, although little is known about the foot health of free-ranging giraffe. This study describes the foot shape and radiographic pathological changes in 27 young adult Nubian giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis camelopardalis) from a translocation in Uganda (August 2017). Giraffe feet were observed to have a concave sole, the hoof wall was longest by the toe tip, and the weight-bearing surface of the foot was primarily along the periphery of the foot including hoof wall, parts of the heel, and the edge of the sole. Radiographs showed that pedal osteitis and sesamoid bone cysts were relatively uncommon (3/24 giraffe with osteitis, 1/24 giraffe with sesamoid cysts), and that no giraffe in the study had P3 joint osteoarthritis, P3 rotation, or P3 fractures. Radiographs consistently demonstrated a positive palmar/plantar angle with the sole of the hoof thicker at the heel than by the toe tip, with the non weight-bearing palmar/plantar angle measuring 1.6°- 4.3°. This is the first systematic review of foot shape and radiographs in free-ranging giraffe and demonstrates a low prevalence of foot pathologies. This study suggests qualitative differences in foot shape, foot health, radiographic anatomy, and foot pathologies when comparing free-ranging and zoo giraffe. Further research is needed to identify why these differences occur and whether husbandry modifications could help improve zoo giraffe foot health and prevent associated lameness.
Care for critically and terminally ill patients and moral distress of physicians and nurses in tertiary hospitals in South Korea: A qualitative study
Authors: Kang Jiyeon , Choi Eun Kyung , Seo Minjeong , Ahn Grace S. , Park Hye Youn , Hong Jinui , Kim Min Sun , Keam Bhumsuk , Park Hye Yoon
Published: December 2021

Physicians and nurses working in acute care settings, such as tertiary hospitals, are involved in various stages of critical and terminal care, ranging from diagnosis of life-threatening diseases to care for the dying. It is well known that critical and terminal care causes moral distress to healthcare professionals. This study aimed to explore moral distress in critical and terminal care in acute hospital settings by analyzing the experiences of physicians and nurses from various departments. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted in two tertiary hospitals in South Korea. The collected data were analyzed using grounded theory. A total of 22 physicians and nurses who had experienced moral difficulties regarding critical and terminal care were recruited via purposive maximum variation sampling, and 21 reported moral distress. The following points were what participants believed to be right for the patients: minimizing meaningless interventions during the terminal stage, letting patients know of their poor prognosis, saving lives, offering palliative care, and providing care with compassion. However, family dominance, hierarchy, the clinical culture of avoiding the discussion of death, lack of support for the surviving patients, and intensive workload challenged what the participants were pursuing and frustrated them. As a result, the participants experienced stress, lack of enthusiasm, guilt, depression, and skepticism. This study revealed that healthcare professionals working in tertiary hospitals in South Korea experienced moral distress when taking care of critically and terminally ill patients, in similar ways to the medical staff working in other settings. On the other hand, the present study uniquely identified that the aspects of saving lives and the necessity of palliative care were reported as those valued by healthcare professionals. This study contributes to the literature by adding data collected from two tertiary hospitals in South Korea.
Association between salt intake and long-term mortality in hemodialysis patients: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Suzuki Naoki , Hitomi Yasumasa , Takata Hiroya , Ushiya Shinji , Yamada Masahiro , Sakai Yusuke , Konishi Takahiro , Takeda Yuuki , Sumino Yuuki , Mizo Masaya , Tsuji Yoshihiro , Nishimura Masato , Hashimoto Tetsuya , Kobayashi Hiroyuki
Published: December 2021

Background

The association between salt intake and clinical outcomes in hemodialysis patients has been controversial. This study aimed to clarify the association between salt intake and mortality in hemodialysis patients.

Method

The present study included patients who underwent hemodialysis from June 1st 2016 to May 31st 2020. Corrected salt intake by ideal body weight was the main predictor of outcomes. Ideal body weight was calculated assuming that the ideal body mass index is 22 kg/m2 for the Japanese population. The multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine the association between corrected salt intake and mortality, adjusting for potential confounders. The outcomes considered were all-cause mortality and cumulative incidence of cardiovascular events at year 4.

Result

A total of 492 adult patients were enrolled in the study. The mean daily salt intake and corrected salt intake at baseline were 9.5 g/day and 0.17 g/kg/day, respectively. The low corrected salt intake group (< 0.13 g/kg/day) demonstrated the highest 4-year all-cause mortality. No association was observed between corrected salt intake and the cumulative incidence of cardiovascular events. In multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis, only the group with corrected salt intake of 0.16–0.20 g/kg/day was associated with a decreased hazard risk for all-cause death compared with the low corrected salt intake group.

Conclusion

The present study found that a low salt intake was associated with high all-cause mortality in hemodialysis patients. Reduced long-term survival may be attributed to malnutrition resulting from excessive salt restriction.
An absence of equipoise: Examining surgeons’ decision talk during encounters with women considering breast cancer surgery
Authors: Politi Mary C. , Saunders Catherine H. , Grabinski Victoria F. , Yen Renata W. , Cyr Amy E. , Durand Marie-Anne , Elwyn Glyn
Published: December 2021

Shared decision-making is recommended for decisions with multiple reasonable options, yet clinicians often subtly or explicitly guide choices. Using purposive sampling, we performed a secondary analysis of 142 audio-recorded encounters between 13 surgeons and women eligible for breast-conserving surgery with radiation or mastectomy. We trained 9 surgeons in shared decision-making and provided them one of two conversation aids; 4 surgeons practiced as usual. Based on a published taxonomy of treatment recommendations (pronouncements, suggestions, proposals, offers, assertions), we examined how surgeons framed choices with patients. Many surgeons made assertions providing information and advice (usual care 71% vs. intervention 66%; p = 0.54). Some made strong pronouncements (usual care 51% vs. intervention 36%; p = .09). Few made proposals and offers, leaving the door open for deliberation (proposals usual care 21% vs. intervention 26%; p = 0.51; offers usual care 40% vs. intervention 40%; p = 0.98). Surgeons were significantly more likely to describe options as comparable when using a conversation aid, mentioning this in all intervention group encounters (usual care 64% vs. intervention 100%; p<0.001). Conversation aids can facilitate offers of comparable options, but other conversational actions can inhibit aspects of shared decision-making.
Novel feature extraction method for signal analysis based on independent component analysis and wavelet transform
Authors: Topolski Mariusz , Kozal Jędrzej
Published: December 2021

Feature extraction is an important part of data processing that provides a basis for more complicated tasks such as classification or clustering. Recently many approaches for signal feature extraction were created. However, plenty of proposed methods are based on convolutional neural networks. This class of models requires a high amount of computational power to train and deploy and large dataset. Our work introduces a novel feature extraction method that uses wavelet transform to provide additional information in the Independent Component Analysis mixing matrix. The goal of our work is to combine good performance with a low inference cost. We used the task of Electrocardiography (ECG) heartbeat classification to evaluate the usefulness of the proposed approach. Experiments were carried out with an MIT-BIH database with four target classes (Normal, Vestibular ectopic beats, Ventricular ectopic beats, and Fusion strikes). Several base wavelet functions with different classifiers were used in experiments. Best was selected with 5-fold cross-validation and Wilcoxon test with significance level 0.05. With the proposed method for feature extraction and multi-layer perceptron classifier, we obtained 95.81% BAC-score. Compared to other literature methods, our approach was better than most feature extraction methods except for convolutional neural networks. Further analysis indicates that our method performance is close to convolutional neural networks for classes with a limited number of learning examples. We also analyze the number of required operations at test time and argue that our method enables easy deployment in environments with limited computing power.
Seroprevalence and risk factors for hepatitis B and hepatitis C in three large regions of Kazakhstan
Authors: Nersesov Alexander , Gusmanov Arnur , Crape Byron , Junusbekova Gulnara , Berkinbayev Salim , Jumabayeva Almagul , Kaibullayeva Jamilya , Madenova Saltanat , Novitskaya Mariya , Nazarova Margarita , Gaipov Abduzhappar , Ashimkhanova Aiymkul , Kadyrzhanuly Kainar , Atageldiyeva Kuralay , Vento Sandro , Issanov Alpamys
Published: December 2021

Background & aims

Kazakhstan has implemented comprehensive programs to reduce the incidence of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C. This study aims to assess seroprevalence and risk factors for HBsAg and anti-HCV positivity in three large regions of Kazakhstan.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in three regions geographically remote from each other. Participants were randomly selected using a two-stage stratified cluster sampling and were surveyed by a questionnaire based on the WHO STEP survey instrument. Blood samples were collected for HBsAg and anti-HCV testing.

Results

A total of 4,620 participants were enrolled. The seroprevalence was 5.5% (95%CI: 3.6%-8.4%) for HBsAg and 5.1% (95%CI: 3.5%-7.5%) for anti-HCV antibodies. Both were more prevalent in the western and northern regions than in the southern. A history of blood transfusion was significantly associated with anti-HCV presence, with odds ratios (ORs) of 2.10 (95%CI: 1.37–3.21) and was borderline associated with HBsAg 1.39 (95%CI: 0.92–2.10), respectively. Having a family member with viral hepatitis was also borderline associated (2.09 (95%CI: 0.97–4.50)) with anti-HCV positivity.

Conclusions

This study found a high-intermediate level of endemicity for HBsAg and a high level of endemicity for anti-HCV antibodies in three large regions of Kazakhstan. We found that history of surgery was not associated with HbsAg neither with anti-HCV seropositivity rates. Blood transfusion was associated with anti-HCV seropositivity, however, to investigate effectiveness of the introduced comprehensive preventive measures in health care settings, there is a need to conduct further epidemiological studies.
Association between statin use and clinical course, microbiologic characteristics, and long-term outcome of early Lyme borreliosis. A post hoc analysis of prospective clinical trials of adult patients with erythema migrans
Authors: Stupica Daša , Bajrović Fajko F. , Blagus Rok , Cerar Kišek Tjaša , Collinet-Adler Stefan , Ružić-Sabljić Eva , Velušček Maša
Published: December 2021

Background

Statins were shown to inhibit borrelial growth in vitro and promote clearance of spirochetes in a murine model of Lyme borreliosis (LB). We investigated the impact of statin use in patients with early LB.

Methods

In this post-hoc analysis, the association between statin use and clinical and microbiologic characteristics was investigated in 1520 adult patients with early LB manifesting as erythema migrans (EM), enrolled prospectively in several clinical trials between June 2006 and October 2019 at a single-center university hospital. Patients were assessed at enrollment and followed for 12 months.

Results

Statin users were older than patients not using statins, but statin use was not associated with Borrelia seropositivity rate, Borrelia skin culture positivity rate, or disease severity as assessed by erythema size or the presence of LB-associated symptoms. The time to resolution of EM was comparable in both groups. The odds for incomplete recovery decreased with time from enrollment, were higher in women, in patients with multiple EM, and in those reporting LB-associated symptoms at enrollment, but were unaffected by statin use.

Conclusion

Statin use was not associated with clinical and microbiologic characteristics or long-term outcome in early LB.
Genome-wide promoter analysis, homology modeling and protein interaction network of Dehydration Responsive Element Binding (DREB) gene family in Solanum tuberosum
Authors: ain-Ali Qurat-ul , Mushtaq Nida , Amir Rabia , Gul Alvina , Tahir Muhammad , Munir Faiza
Published: December 2021

Dehydration Responsive Element Binding (DREB) regulates the expression of numerous stress-responsive genes, and hence plays a pivotal role in abiotic stress responses and tolerance in plants. The study aimed to develop a complete overview of the cis-acting regulatory elements (CAREs) present in S. tuberosum DREB gene promoters. A total of one hundred and four (104) cis-regulatory elements (CREs) were identified from 2.5kbp upstream of the start codon (ATG). The in-silico promoter analysis revealed variable sets of cis-elements and functional diversity with the predominance of light-responsive (30%), development-related (20%), abiotic stress-responsive (14%), and hormone-responsive (12%) elements in StDREBs. Among them, two light-responsive elements (Box-4 and G-box) were predicted in 64 and 61 StDREB genes, respectively. Two development-related motifs (AAGAA-motif and as-1) were abundant in StDREB gene promoters. Most of the DREB genes contained one or more Myeloblastosis (MYB) and Myelocytometosis (MYC) elements associated with abiotic stress responses. Hormone-responsive element i.e. ABRE was found in 59 out of 66 StDREB genes, which implied their role in dehydration and salinity stress. Moreover, six proteins were chosen corresponding to A1-A6 StDREB subgroups for secondary structure analysis and three-dimensional protein modeling followed by model validation through PROCHECK server by Ramachandran Plot. The predicted models demonstrated >90% of the residues in the favorable region, which further ensured their reliability. The present study also anticipated pocket binding sites and disordered regions (DRs) to gain insights into the structural flexibility and functional annotation of StDREB proteins. The protein association network determined the interaction of six selected StDREB proteins with potato proteins encoded by other gene families such as MYB and NAC, suggesting their similar functional roles in biological and molecular pathways. Overall, our results provide fundamental information for future functional analysis to understand the precise molecular mechanisms of the DREB gene family in S. tuberosum.