bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Active synthesis of a gyroscopic-nonreciprocal acoustic metamaterial
Authors: Baz A.
Published: September 2020

A class of active nonreciprocal metamaterials is developed to control the flow and distribution of energy along periodic dynamical systems. Such a development constitutes a radical departure from the currently available approaches where the non-reciprocities are generated either by utilizing various physical sources of passive nonlinearities, gyroscopic circulators, spatiotemporal modulation, or active control of nonlinear systems. The proposed active Nonreciprocal Gyroscopic Meta-Material (NGMM) cell consists of a one-dimensional acoustic duct provided with linear dynamic control capabilities that virtually synthesize a gyroscopic control action that generates non-reciprocal characteristics of tunable magnitude and direction. The controller is designed in order to enable the spatial control and redistribution of the wave propagation energy flow along the acoustic duct. During this entire process, the system behaves in a linear fashion. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the basic features, non-reciprocal behavior, as well as the energy flow characteristics. The presented concept and controller design of the NGMM can be extended to various critical structures to achieve realistic acoustic diode configurations in a simple and programmable manner.
Two-dimensional Newtonized orthogonal matching pursuit compressive beamforming
Authors: Yang Yongxin , Chu Zhigang , Yang Yang , Yin Shijia
Published: September 2020

Conventional compressive beamforming assumes that the acoustic sources fall on the discretized grid points. The performance degrades when the acoustic source lies off the discretized grid point, that is, when the basis mismatch occurs. This paper proposes a two-dimensional Newtonized orthogonal matching pursuit compressive beamforming, including single and multiple snapshot versions, which constructs the maximum likelihood estimation model, taking the position and strength of sources on a two-dimensional continuous plane as parameters. This method first captures the grid point near the source based on the discrete grid. Then it optimizes the coordinate estimation within the local continuous plane by a combination of the two-dimensional Newton optimization and a feedback mechanism to converge to the actual source position. It allows acoustic source identification in the near field utilizing arbitrary geometry planar array and works without the prior knowledge of signal-to-noise ratio and/or regularization parameters. Simulations and experiments show that the proposed method can overcome the basis mismatch issue and provide high spatial resolution, obtaining an accurate estimation for the position and strength of the acoustic source. Moreover, the multiple snapshot version outperforms the single snapshot version, especially under low signal-to-noise ratio. The larger the number of snapshots, the better the performance.
Generation of Genetically RGD σ1-Modified Oncolytic Reovirus That Enhances JAM-A-Independent Infection of Tumor Cells
Authors: Kawagishi Takahiro , Kanai Yuta , Nouda Ryotaro , Fukui Ichika , Nurdin Jeffery A. , Matsuura Yoshiharu , Kobayashi Takeshi
Published: September 2020

Oncolytic viruses kill tumors without affecting normal cells. A variety of oncolytic viruses are used as cancer therapeutics. Mammalian reovirus (MRV), which belongs to the genus
Orthoreovirus
, family
Reoviridae
, is one such natural oncolytic virus. The anticancer effects of MRV are being evaluated in clinical trials. Unlike other oncolytic viruses, MRV has not been genetically modified for use as a cancer therapeutic in clinical trials. Here, we used a reverse genetic approach to introduce an integrin-affinity peptide sequence into the MRV cell attachment protein σ1 to alter the natural tropism of the virus. The recombinant viruses were able to infect cancer cell lines expressing very low levels of the MRV entry receptor, junctional adhesion molecule A (JAM-A), and cause tumor cell death while maintaining its original tropism via JAM-A. This is a novel report of a genetically modified oncolytic MRV by introducing a peptide sequence into σ1.
Draft Genome Sequence of Lactobacillus helveticus Lh 23, Isolated from Natural Whey Starter
Authors: Bertani Gaia , Bassi Daniela , Cortimiglia Claudia , Gatti Monica , Cocconcelli Pier Sandro , Neviani Erasmo
Published: September 2020

Lactobacillus helveticus
is a thermophilic lactic acid bacterium that is widely employed as a starter culture for manufacturing several Swiss and Italian hard-cooked cheeses. The sequencing of
L. helveticus
Lh 23, which consists of 2,100,230 bp with a GC content of 36.5%, reveals industrially useful traits and interesting metabolic pathways.
Complete Genome Sequence of the Carotenoid-Producing Strain Gordonia ajoucoccus A2
Authors: Kwon Soon Jae , Choi Yong Jin , Kim Ju Min , Lee Pyung Cheon
Published: September 2020

Gordonia ajoucoccus
strain A2, isolated from crude oil-contaminated soils, synthesizes yellow keto-γ-carotene from various
n
-alkanes as the sole carbon source. Its complete genome sequence consists of a single circular chromosome (5,090,254 bp, 67.3% G+C content). Seven putative genes were identified supporting the proposed keto-γ-carotene pathway of
G. ajoucoccus
A2.
Supplemental Material: Lithologic, geomorphic, and permafrost controls on recent landsliding in the Alaska Range
Authors: Patton A.I. , al. et
Published: September 2020

Plate S1: 1:24,000 scale map of the surficial geology of the Denali National Park road corridor. Table S1: Landslide inventory data, including coordinates of the initiation site and slope characteristics of the landslides evaluated.
Can smoking duration alone replace pack-years to predict the risk of smoking-related oncogenic mutations in non-small cell lung cancer? A cross-sectional study in Japan
Authors: Ogawa Koichi , Koh Yasuhiro , Kaneda Hiroyasu , Izumi Motohiro , Matsumoto Yoshiya , Sawa Kenji , Fukui Mitsuru , Taniguchi Yoshihiko , Yoshimoto Naoki , Tamiya Akihiro , Ando Masahiko , Kubo Akihito , Isa Shun-ichi , Saka Hideo , Matsumura Akihide , Kawaguchi Tomoya
Published: September 2020

Objective

To investigate whether smoking duration alone can replace pack-years to predict the risk of oncogenic mutations in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Design

A cross-sectional study using the baseline dataset from the Japan Molecular Epidemiology for Lung Cancer Study.

Setting

Forty-three medical institutions nationwide in Japan.

Participants

From July 2012 to December 2013, 957 patients with newly diagnosed stage I–IIIB NSCLC who underwent surgery were enrolled, and molecular analyses were performed on 876 samples (from 441 ever-smokers and 435 never-smokers).

Main outcomes measured

We calculated the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values using logistic regression to compare between the predictive values of smoking duration and pack-years for mutational frequencies in the v-Ki-ras2 Kirsten rat sarcoma (KRAS), tumour suppressor p53 (TP53), and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) genes and for cytosine-to-adenine base substitution (C>A).

Results

For predicting KRAS mutations, the AUC values for smoking duration and pack-years were 0.746 (95% CI 0.682 to 0.800) and 0.759 (95% CI 0.700 to 0.810), respectively (p=0.058). For predicting KRAS mutations in smokers, the AUC values for smoking duration and pack-years were 0.772 (95% CI 0.697 to 0.833) and 0.787 (95% CI 0.714 to 0.845), respectively (p=0.036). There were no significant differences between the AUC values for smoking duration and pack-years in terms of predicting TP53 and EGFR mutations and C>A. Pack-years was a significantly better predictor of KRAS mutations than smoking duration.

Conclusion

Smoking duration was not significantly different from pack-years in predicting the likelihood of smoking-related gene mutations. Given the recall bias in obtaining smoking information, smoking duration alone should be considered for further investigation as a simpler alternative to pack-years.
Individual-level and community-level factors associated with the family planning use among pastoralist community of Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Alemayehu Mussie , Medhanyie Araya Abrha , Reed Elizabeth , Mulugeta Afework
Published: September 2020

Objective

The study aimed to identify the effects of the individual-level and community-level factors on the use of family planning (FP) among married women in the pastoralist community of Ethiopia.

Design

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in September 2018. Data were analysed using R software. To determine the fixed effect of individual-level and community-level factors of FP use, a two-level mixed-effects logistic regression was used. The result was described using the Adjusted OR (AOR), and the variance partition coefficient.

Setting and participants

Afar, Ethiopia (2018; n=891) married women of reproductive age (15–49) years.

Primary outcome measures

FP use or non-use.

Results

The current use of FP was 18.7% (16.31%–21.43%). Women who need to walk 1 hour and more to the nearest health facility (AOR 0.14, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.3), have ANC visit of 4 and above (AOR 6.02, 95% CI 1.74 to 20.8), had their last birth at a health facility (AOR 2.71 95% CI 1.27 to 5.81), have five and more children (AOR 4.71, 95% CI 1.86 to 11.9), have high knowledge on FP (AOR 2.74, 95% CI 1.11 to 6.74) and had high intentions to use FP (AOR 10.3, 95% CI 3.85 to 27.6) were more likely to report FP use. The magnitude of the effect of for FP use was smaller than that of 9 of the 13 individual factors. Apart from this 19.4% of the total variance in the odds of using FP attributed to between community difference (intraclass correlation coefficient=0.194). Regarding the community-level characteristics, clusters of having higher electronic media possession (AOR 2.84, 95% CI 1.2 to 6.72) and higher women decision making on FP (AOR 8.35, 95% CI 2.7 to 27.1) were significantly associated with increased FP use compared with clusters with lower reports of these aspects.

Conclusion

FP use among the pastoralist community is influenced by both individual cluster/community-level characteristics or factors. Even though the effect of clustering in FP use was large in comparison with the unexplained between-cluster variation, it was lower than the individual-level factors.

Trail registrtion number

NCT03450564
Adaptation of an exercise intervention for pregnant women to community-based delivery: a study protocol
Authors: Swindle Taren , Martinez Audrey , Børsheim Elisabet , Andres Aline
Published: September 2020

Introduction

Despite well-established guidelines and benefits to exercise, the majority of pregnant women in the USA fail to meet recommended activity levels. Studies need to determine feasible ways to translate clinical interventions to community settings by engaging pregnant women in widely accessible locations to ensure benefits to more women. The aim of this study is to adapt and determine feasibility, acceptability and fidelity of the research clinic-based Expecting intervention (NCT02125149) with pregnant women with obesity in community settings.

Methods and analysis

We will use the Replicating Effective Programs (REP) to guide the adaptation and implementation of the research clinic-based intervention into the community. REP provides a four-phase process for implementing evidence-based interventions including collection of feedback from community stakeholders, iterative piloting of the intervention in the community and a process for standardising the intervention across community settings. Following adaptation, the updated intervention will be piloted. The pilot study will include 60 expecting women. We will randomise half to receive the community-adapted Expecting intervention (intervention, N=30) and half to receive standard of care (control, N=30). Feasibility and Acceptability of Intervention Measures are primary outcomes as key indicators of feasibility. Secondary outcomes will include the number of intervention sessions completed, the change in the number of minutes of physical activity as measured by accelerometer, as well as change in health indicators from enrolment to time of delivery and 6 months post-delivery (ie, body mass index, blood pressure and total cholesterol).

Ethics and dissemination

This study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board (#260132). Findings will be shared with study participants and stakeholder advisors through written summaries and in-person presentations; results will also be shared through presentations at scientific conferences and publications in peer-reviewed journals.

Trial registration number

NCT04298125; Pre-results.
Preliminary data on an affordable UAV system to survey for freshwater turtles: advantages and disadvantages of low-cost drones
Authors: Escobar Javier E. Canahuati , Rollins Mark , Unger Shem
Published: September 2020

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are established, valuable tools for wildlife surveys in marine and terrestrial environments; however, they are seldom utilized in freshwater ecosystems. Therefore, baseline data on the use of UAVs in lotic environments are needed that balances flight parameters (e.g., altitude and noise level) with image quality, while minimizing disturbance to individuals. Moreover, the traditional high-cost UAVs may present challenges to researchers conducting rapid assessments on species presence with limited funding. However, emerging, affordable UAV systems can provide this preliminary data to researchers, albeit with caveats on reliability of data. We tested a low-cost UAV system to document freshwater turtle presence, species distribution, and habitat use in a small North Carolina wetland. We observed minimal instances of turtles fleeing basking sites (∼0.7%), as this UAV system was only ∼2.1 dB above ambient noise levels at an altitude of 20 m. Freshwater turtles were found primarily in algal mat basking habitats with highly variable numbers observed across locations and flights, likely due to image quality reliability and altitude. Our affordable UAV system was successful in providing baseline information on species presence, size distribution, and habitat preference of turtles in freshwater ecosystems.
Intrinsic Synchronization Analysis of Brain Activity in Obsessive–compulsive Disorders
Authors: Ozel Pinar , Karaca Ali , Olamat Ali , Akan Aydin , Ozcoban Mehmet Akif , Tan Oguz
Published: September 2020

Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is one of the neuropsychiatric disorders qualified by intrusive and iterative annoying thoughts and mental attitudes that are activated by these thoughts. In recent studies, advanced signal processing techniques have been favored to diagnose OCD. This research suggests four different measurements; intrinsic phase-locked value, intrinsic coherence, intrinsic synchronization likelihood, and intrinsic visibility graph similarity that quantifies the synchronization level and complexity in electroencephalography (EEG) signals. This intrinsic synchronization is achieved by utilizing Multivariate Empirical Mode Decomposition (MEMD), a data-driven method that resolves nonlinear and nonstationary data into their intrinsic mode functions. Our intrinsic technique in this study demonstrates that MEMD-based synchronization analysis gives us much more detailed knowledge rather than utilizing the synchronization method alone. Furthermore, the nonlinear synchronization method presents more consistent results considering OCD heterogeneity. Statistical evaluation using sample [Formula: see text]-test and [Formula: see text]-test has shown the significance of such new methodology.
Inequalities for acceptable noncommutative random variables
Authors: Moslehian Mohammad Sal , Sadeghi Ghadir , Pliev Marat
Published: September 2020

We introduce the notion of acceptable noncommutative random variables and investigate their essential properties. More precisely, we provide several efficient estimation of tail probabilities of sums of noncommutative random variables under some mild conditions. Moreover, we investigate the complete convergence of a sequence of the form [Formula: see text] in which [Formula: see text] is a sequence of acceptable noncommutative random variables. Our results extend some classical inequalities as well.
Noncommutative weighted individual ergodic theorems with continuous time
Authors: Chilin Vladimir , Litvinov Semyon
Published: September 2020

We show that ergodic flows in the noncommutative [Formula: see text]-space (associated with a semifinite von Neumann algebra) generated by continuous semigroups of positive Dunford–Schwartz operators and modulated by bounded Besicovitch almost periodic functions converge almost uniformly. The corresponding local ergodic theorem is also proved. We then extend these results to arbitrary noncommutative fully symmetric spaces and present applications to noncommutative Orlicz (in particular, noncommutative [Formula: see text]-spaces), Lorentz, and Marcinkiewicz spaces. The commutative counterparts of the results are derived.
Some characterizations for the CIR model with Markov switching
Authors: Tong Jinying , Sun Yaqin , Zhang Zhenzhong , Zhou Tiandao , Qin Zhenjiang
Published: September 2020

Recently, the Cox–Ingersoll–Ross (CIR) model with Markov switching has been discussed extensively. However, the covariance function and the [Formula: see text]th moment for this model are still open. In this paper, we consider some characterizations for the CIR model with Markov switching. First, the conditional moment generating functions for CIR model with Markov switching are given. Then, explicit expressions for the covariance function and moments of the CIR model with Markov switching are obtained. Finally, several examples have been presented to illustrate our results.
Facilitating Industrialization in Africa: China’s Aid and African Industrial Capacity Building
Authors: Wei Song
Published: September 2020

Industrialization has long been the focus of national development plans in many African countries. Yet, Africa today is less industrialized than it was four decades ago. Industrial capacity building has recently been prioritized in Beijing’s aid policy as a prerequisite for a thriving manufacturing sector in Africa. As a result, China’s aid and investment in Africa focus on three areas: manufacture, infrastructure, and economic zone development. The choices reflect Beijing’s four decades of experience in its own industrialization process. The two cases of Angola and Zambia presented in this article illustrate the constraining factors in Africa’s industrialization: a business-unfriendly financial environment, vast untapped labor and resource potentials, an imbalanced growth model, and cumbersome bureaucratic procedures. To help Africa achieve higher levels of integration and industrialization, Beijing ought to do more and better along five lines of effort: first, by delineating the role of development cooperation in China-Africa capacity building cooperation; second, upgrading African industrial capacity both at the macro- and micro-levels; third, supporting infrastructure and agricultural modernization across Africa; fourth, working with African subregional institutions to stimulate regional integration and industrialization; and fifth, building greater complementarities with international organizations in Africa.
Public Responses to the Novel 2019 Coronavirus (COVID-19) in China: Mental Health Consequences
Authors: Wang Jia-Li , Zheng Xian-Hui , Lan Yu , Zhang Xiao-Wen , Xu Yin-Yin , Shen Jian
Published: September 2020

Based on the current domestic and foreign research reports on COVID-19, this paper makes a prospective summary. While focusing on the health of the public, it analyzes the common psychological stress response of the public in response to sudden infectious diseases, including three stages of typical stress response, emotional, mental, physical and behavioral changes in response to psychological stress. And put forward the appropriate psychological adjustment suggestions, which is conducive to the adjustment of people’s mentality, to face the changes of the epidemic situation with a positive attitude.
Physical and Psychological Protection for Medical Staff During COVID-19
Authors: Zhang Xiaowen , Lan Yu , Shen Jian
Published: September 2020

This paper summarizes the personal protection and psychological health treatment measures for medical staff in response to various infectious diseases at home and abroad in recent years, and finds out the deficiencies of physical and psychological protection measures for medical staff, thus providing corresponding measures for further improving physical and mental protection for medical staff thus providing corresponding measures for further improving physical and psychological protection for medical staff so as to provide reference for medical staff to effectively cope with Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
New radiometric data from the South Maradi Pan-African formations, southern Niger
Authors: Baraou Idi Souley , Konaté Moussa
Published: September 2020

The Pan-African Province (PAP) of South Maradi (Niger) corresponds to the northeastern part of the Benin–Nigerian Shield. In this framework, schist belts outcrop in NE–SW bands of mylonitic gneiss, associated with granitoid intrusions. This study focuses on geochronological dating of the South Maradi PAP formations. Four samples were dated by K–Ar on a MI-1201 IG mass spectrometer and two of them were re-dated by U–Pb on a inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. The Dan Issa porphyritic gneiss indicated two weighted average U–Pb zircon ages: 638.3 ± 3.0 Ma (MSWD = 5.4) and 589.6 ± 1.9 Ma (MSWD = 0.39). Dating of the Maraka schist using the U–Pb on zircon method gave a weighted average age of 617.9 ± 2.8 Ma (MSWD = 2.3), while the same sample recorded a K–Ar age (whole rock) of 505 ± 15 Ma. The Rourouka porphyroid granite gave a K–Ar (whole-rock) age of 508 ± 10 Ma. The Fiawa-Garin Wali mylonitic gneiss indicated ages of 491 ± 10 Ma (K–Ar on feldspar) and 475 ± 10 Ma (K–Ar on whole rock). These preliminary radiometric data reveal the polycyclic character of the Pan-African remobilization which ranges from the Neoproterozoic to the early Paleozoic.
Predictions for 2005
Authors: Neal Lisa
Published: September 2020

Where will e-learning take us in 2005? How will learning be impacted by the use of portable devices, blogs, and search engines? Will we better understand and have metrics for quality e-learning? Read on for predictions from some of the most thoughtful and opinionated people in the e-learning field.
Testing... One, Two, Three: Can Online Multiple-Choice Exams Make the Grade?
Authors: Neal Lisa
Published: September 2020

Common sense and good test-taking skills shouldn't be enough to get course credit. Instructors should create multiple choice questions that demonstrate a deep understanding or use open text questions and put the effort into making sure that students actually know something about the topic for which they are receiving credit.
Using the Synthesizer-Generator to teach principles of programming language semantics
Authors: Kurtz B. L. , Johnston J. B.
Published: September 2020

The Synthesizer-Generator (or simply Syn-Gen) is a software tool for building context sensitive editors. It has been applied to a wide variety of applications, ranging from programing language editors to editors that insure balanced chemical equations. The context sensitivity is provided by using attribute grammars. We provide an introduction to Syn-Gen and illustrate how it can be used to build programming language editors that only allow input of source code that compiles successfully. We then discuss use of Syn-Gen in two classes:

We found that assignments involving the details of Syn-Gen implementation were challenging due to the syntactic complexity of the Syn-Gen system. For such assignments to be successful, it was necessary to keep a tight rein on this complexity. Using Syn-Gen as a context sensitive editor without worrying about implementation was quite successful. In the future, we plan to explore the use of Syn-Gen to develop editors for mini-languages to help teach introductory students about the various programming paradigms: imperative, functional and logical.
Steve Jobs and the user psyche
Authors: Denning Peter
Published: September 2020

Much has been said about Steve Jobs's ability to anticipate what users would want. No one quite knows how he did it. Ubiquity's Peter Denning reflects on an interview with the Apple co-founder, which offers a glimpse into Jobs's process for understanding the user.
Learning at the Speed of Links and Conversations
Authors: Husband Jon
Published: September 2020

Virtually all of us now live and work in a world of constant and rapid networked information flows. The learning necessary to adapt effectively to these new conditions requires us to remain conscious and choose for ourselves what kind of learning and at what rhythm, so as to improve and grow our personal capability to adapt.
Getting Out from Under the Contract: The risk of over relying on third parties for eLearning
Authors: Jennings Chris
Published: September 2020

eLearning requires a specific set of development skills and specialized technologies to support learning goals and program needs. To offer a dynamic program that evolves to meet the needs of users, try to use internal talent and systems that allow you to control as much of the content creation and supporting technologies as possible. This will create a program independent of third parties and keep your program relevant for years to come.
The Fundamentals for Successful Program Design
Authors: Knight Susan
Published: September 2020

In the second edition of “E-Learning by Design,” William Horton provides a comprehensive, engaging, and practical guide for designing eLearning programs confidently and effectively. Horton explains what to do, the rationale behind it, and the benefit to learners. Readers will find a wealth of information, based on sound instructional design principles, which can be applied to any eLearning project.
A Look at Web-based Instruction Today: An interview with Badrul Khan, Part 1
Authors: Taylor Ann
Published: September 2020

In the first of this two-part series, Ann Taylor and Badrul Khan discuss how Web-based instruction has grown since its inception and explore the particular case of MOOCs.
Managing in Complexity: A book review of Flat Army
Authors: Quinn Clark
Published: September 2020

Dan Pontefract's "Flat Army" lays out how to manage people in an organization in ways that jointly maximize the employee engagement and the organizational outcomes. If making work more meaningful and empowering employees is the wave of the future, the old ways won't work. This book lays out how to act, lead, and decide in the new organization.
Evaluating Interactive Learning Content in an eLearning Environment
Authors: Ajami Khalil , Suleiman Maher
Published: September 2020

The interaction between teacher and learner, as well as the interaction between learner and content, has a significant impact on the effectiveness of any learning process. In this paper, we discuss interactivity in the context of eLearning and we focus on the interaction between the learner and the content. The objective is to provide clear metrics to measure learner-content interactivity from the design perspective and at the level of learning objects. A series of tests is performed using our metrics on a set of different learning objects from various university curricula.The article presents suggested metrics, and summarizes findings concerning their interest and applicability.
Alarmingly Shallow: The effects of Internet on our culture, community, and social well being
Authors: Seckman David
Published: September 2020

In "The Shallows. What the Internet is doing to our Brains," Nicholas Carr investigates the various ways technology is becoming both enlightening and disturbingly influential in the learning, neurological, and decision-making ethos of the human race. He offers insights into side effects of the Internet on our ability to focus and think critically about the things we read, see, and discuss. This review challenges the notion that historical effects of the book and the Internet are disparate in nature, and argues for a more balanced approach to the way we view technology fitting into society and learning as we continue to change over time. In addition, the relationship between technology and higher education and the ways they are becoming more reliant upon one another for continued change and increased effectiveness is discussed.
eLearn COIL Podcast
Authors: Carr-Chellman Alison
Published: September 2020

In a first for eLearn Magazine, EIC Alison Carr-Chelmann leads off a podcast exploring the Center for Online Innovation in Learning housed at Penn State University. Drs. Kyle Peck and Larry Ragan, co founders and co-directors of the center talk about the advantages of having a true R&D center on campus.
Engagement Techniques for Online Education
Authors: Craig Linda
Published: September 2020

Sometimes educators face a serious challenge: How do they elevate the degree of interest, attention and involvement of their students toward learning? We will try to answer this tricky question. What follows is a discussion of available strategies for educators to boost student engagement.
Using Video Games to Crowdsource Scientific and Intellectual Work
Authors: Hein Robert
Published: September 2020

This review examines Karen Schrier's new book, Knowledge Games, which forwards a platform and a rhetoric for thinking about, discussing, and developing a new breed a video games. These emerging "knowledge" games promise to enculturate players into scientific and intellectual communities, using their gameplay to actually help solve real-world problems and to generate knowledge. Schrier's infectious passion and easy-to-read style make her book an excellent point for teachers, students, researchers, and designers to learn about affordances and constraints of these potentially world-changing games.
Innovation. Inspiration. Connection.
Authors: Samuel Anita
Published: September 2020

The Distance Teaching and Learning Conference 2017 brought together distance educators, instructional designers, and administrators for three days of innovation, inspiration, and connection. Take a look at what happened at DTL 2017. You might want to include this in your 2018 schedule.
CFISD: A school district banking on technology to forge academic success
Authors: Jackson Frankie , Loffreda Daniele
Published: September 2020

With the proliferation of digital learning technology in the classroom, combined with the bandwidth needs of today's tech dependent Gen Z student, educational networks, which provide the backbone for critical campus Wi-Fi services, are strained all over the country. In order to access bandwidth-intensive digital learning tools and multimedia content that help students reach their full potential, reliable and robust connectivity is required.
Planning your Educational Podcast for an Online Course: Four genres to consider
Authors: Drew Christopher
Published: September 2020

Podcasting for education has become increasingly popular in the past decade. This article explores four genres of podcast and how they can be used in online courses. The genres include: The Chat Show, The Narrative, The Tutorial and The Quick Burst. Each genre has its own strengths and weaknesses for supporting student learning, but each can also be employed for different learning tasks. Educators can seek out podcasts from each genre to incorporate in their teaching, or similarly inspire students to create their own podcasts after exploring the features of each genre.
Blended Learning Research: Components critical to student learning from a meta-analysis
Authors: Cordie Leslie , Lin Xi , Fowler William , Wooten Michael
Published: September 2020

This meta-analysis study examined two broad categories related to student satisfaction: course content and instruction format. A systematic review of the literature using meta-analysis was conducted to both analyze and synthesize data across a large number of studies. The results show that in the higher-education environment, it is essential that both the method of interaction and the content be given purposeful attention during course development and presentation of course curricula. Future research should be aimed at identifying the critical subcomponents of these two categories. Additional research on course design factors in both the online and blended learning environments related to instruction should be conducted. In addition, the hybrid approach of blended learning seems to integrate the instructor more fully into positive student perceptions of overall learning outcomes. Overall, this study demonstrated that this type of meta-analysis can provide valuable insight in educational research that is worthy of additional study for higher education.
SO3 Treatment of Lithium- and Manganese-Rich NCMs for Li-Ion Batteries: Enhanced Robustness towards Humid Ambient Air and Improved Full-Cell Performance
Authors: Sicklinger Johannes , Beyer Hans , Hartmann Louis , Riewald Felix , Sedlmeier Christian , Gasteiger Hubert A.
Published: September 2020

To increase the specific capacity of layered transition metal oxide based cathode active materials (CAMs) for Li-ion batteries such as NCMs (Li(NixCoyMnz)O2, with x + y + z = 1), two major strategies are pursued: (i) increasing the Ni content (beyond, e.g., NCM811 with x = 0.8 and y = z = 0.1) or (ii) using Li- and Mn-rich NCMs (LMR-NCMs) which can be represented by the formula x Li2MnO3 · (1−x) LiNixCoyMnzO2. Unfortunately, these materials strongly react with CO2 and moisture in the ambient: Ni-rich NCMs due to the high reactivity of nickel, and LMR-NCMs due to their ≈10-fold higher specific surface area. Here we present a novel surface stabilization approach via SO3 thermal treatment of LMR-NCM suitable to be implemented in CAM manufacturing. Infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy prove that SO3 treatment results in a sulfate surface layer, which reduces the formation of surface carbonates and hydroxides during ambient air storage. In contrast to untreated LMR-NCM, the SO3-treated material is very robust towards exposure to ambient air at high relative humidity, as demonstrated by its lower reactivity with ethylene carbonate based electrolyte (determined via on-line mass spectrometry) and by its reduced impedance build-up and improved rate capability in full-cell cycling experiments.
Early life interaction between the microbiota and the enteric nervous system
Authors: Foong Jaime P. P. , Hung Lin Y. , Poon Sabrina , Savidge Tor C. , Bornstein Joel C.
Published: September 2020

Recent studies on humans and their key experimental model, the mouse, have begun to uncover the importance of gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota and enteric nervous system (ENS) interactions during developmental windows spanning from conception to adolescence. Disruptions in GI microbiota and ENS during these windows by environmental factors, particularly antibiotic exposure, have been linked to increased susceptibility of the host to several diseases. Mouse models have provided new insights to potential signaling factors between the microbiota and ENS. We review very recent work on maturation of GI microbiota and ENS during three key developmental windows: embryogenesis, early postnatal, and postweaning periods. We discuss advances in understanding of interactions between the two systems and highlight research avenues for future studies.
Intratracheal budesonide/surfactant attenuates hyperoxia-induced lung injury in preterm rabbits
Authors: Gie Andre G. , Regin Yannick , Salaets Thomas , Casiraghi Costanza , Salomone Fabrizio , Deprest Jan , Vanoirbeek Jeroen , Toelen Jaan
Published: September 2020

Recent clinical trials have shown improvements in neonatal outcomes after intratracheal administration of a combination of budesonide/surfactant (ITBS) in infants at risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. However, the effect of ITBS on lung function and alveolar structure is not known. We aimed to determine the effect of ITBS on lung function, parenchymal structure, and inflammatory cytokine expression in a relevant preterm animal model for bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Premature neonatal rabbits were administered a single dose of ITBS on the day of delivery and exposed to 95% oxygen. Following 7 days of hyperoxia, in vivo forced oscillation and pressure-volume maneuvers were performed to examine pulmonary function. Histological and molecular analysis was performed to assess alveolar and extracellular matrix (ECM) morphology, along with gene expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), IL-8, and CCL-2. ITBS attenuated the functional effect of hyperoxia-induced lung injury and limited the change to respiratory system impedance, measured using the forced oscillation technique. Treatment effects were most obvious in the small airways, with significant effects on small airway resistance and small airway reactance. In addition, ITBS mitigated the decrease in inspiratory capacity and static compliance. ITBS restricted alveolar septal thickening without altering the mean linear intercept and mitigated hyperoxia-induced remodeling of the ECM. These structural changes were associated with improved inspiratory capacity and lung compliance. Gene expression of CTGF, IL-8, and CCL-2 was significantly downregulated in the lung. Treatment with ITBS shortly after delivery attenuated the functional and structural consequences of hyperoxia-induced lung injury to day 7 of life in the preterm rabbit.
Differential effects of the cystic fibrosis lung inflammatory environment on mesenchymal stromal cells
Authors: Abreu Soraia C. , Hampton Thomas H. , Hoffman Evan , Dearborn Jacob , Ashare Alix , Singh Sidhu Karatatiwant , Matthews Dwight E. , McKenna David H. , Amiel Eyal , Barua Jayita , Krasnodembskaya Anna , English Karen , Mahon Bernard , Dos Santos Claudia , Cruz Fernanda F. , Chambers Daniel C. , Liu Kathleen D. , Matthay Michael A. , Cramer Robert A. , Stanton Bruce A. , Rocco Patricia R. M. , Wargo Matthew J. , Weiss Daniel J. , Rolandsson Enes Sara
Published: September 2020

Growing evidence demonstrates that human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) modify their in vivo anti-inflammatory actions depending on the specific inflammatory environment encountered. Understanding this better is crucial to refine MSC-based cell therapies for lung and other diseases. Using acute exacerbations of cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease as a model, the effects of ex vivo MSC exposure to clinical bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples, as a surrogate for the in vivo clinical lung environment, on MSC viability, gene expression, secreted cytokines, and mitochondrial function were compared with effects of BALF collected from healthy volunteers. CF BALF samples that cultured positive for Aspergillus sp. (Asp) induced rapid MSC death, usually within several hours of exposure. Further analyses suggested the fungal toxin gliotoxin as a potential mediator contributing to CF BALF-induced MSC death. RNA sequencing analyses of MSCs exposed to either Asp+ or Asp− CF BALF samples identified a number of differentially expressed transcripts, including those involved in interferon signaling, antimicrobial gene expression, and cell death. Toxicity did not correlate with bacterial lung infections. These results suggest that the potential use of MSC-based cell therapies for CF or other lung diseases may not be warranted in the presence of Aspergillus.
Pericytes as novel targets for HIV/SIV infection in the lung
Authors: Stephenson Sarah E. , Wilson Carole L. , Bond Nell G. , Kaur Amitinder , Alvarez Xavier , Midkiff Cecily C. , Schnapp Lynn M.
Published: September 2020

Antiretroviral therapy in HIV patients has lengthened lifespan but led to an increased risk for secondary comorbidities, such as pulmonary complications characterized by vascular dysfunction. In the lung, PDGFRβ+ mesenchymal cells known as pericytes intimately associate with endothelial cells and are key for their survival both structurally and through the secretion of prosurvival factors. We hypothesize that in HIV infection there are functional changes in pericytes that may lead to destabilization of the microvasculature and ultimately to pulmonary abnormalities. Our objective in this study was to determine whether lung pericytes could be directly infected with HIV. We leveraged lung samples from macaque lungs with or without SIV infection and normal human lung for in vitro experiments. Pericytes were isolated based on the marker platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β (PDGFRβ). We determined that lung PDGFRβ-positive (PDGFRβ+) pericytes from both macaques and humans express CD4, the primary receptor for SIV/HIV, as well as the major coreceptors CXCR4 and CCR5. We found cells positive for both PDGFRβ and SIV in lungs from infected macaques. Lung pericytes isolated from these animals also harbored detectable SIV. To confirm relevance to human disease, we demonstrated that human lung pericytes are capable of being productively infected by HIV in vitro, with the time course of infection suggesting development of viral latency. In summary, we show for the first time that SIV/HIV directly infects lung pericytes, implicating these cells as a novel target and potential reservoir for the virus in vivo.
Effects of allergic airway inflammation and chronic intermittent hypoxia on systemic blood pressure
Authors: Chaddha Ashish , Broytman Oleg , Teodorescu Mihaela
Published: September 2020

Asthma and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are highly prevalent chronic conditions, and both are associated with systemic hypertension. Additionally, asthma and OSA reciprocally interact, mutually exacerbating each other. In this study, we tested the effect of allergen-induced lower airway inflammation and concurrent chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) on systemic blood pressure (BP), pulmonary function, and proinflammatory cytokines, in a rat model. Brown Norway rats were exposed to 43 days of normoxia (NORM) or CIH, concurrent with weekly house dust mite (HDM) challenges. BP was measured 1 day after the last HDM challenge. On day 44, pulmonary function was tested, and blood for Th-2 and Th-1 cytokine levels was collected. HDM significantly increased mean ( P = 0.002), systolic ( P = 0.003), and diastolic ( P = 0.004) BP compared with saline-challenged controls. Higher mean BP significantly correlated to increased total respiratory system resistance ( R2 = 0.266, P = 0.002), driven by an association with parenchymal tissue dampening ( R2 = 0.166, P = 0.016). HDM relative to saline-challenged controls increased the expression of serum IL-6 ( P = 0.008), but no relationships of systemic BP with IL-6 or any other cytokines were found. CIH did not alter the allergen-induced responses on BP, although it tended to increase the expression of serum IL-6 ( P = 0.06) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1, P = 0.09), regardless of HDM challenge. Chronic allergen-induced airway inflammation results in systemic hypertension that is correlated to the degree of distal airway obstruction induced by the allergen. These effects do not appear to be explained by the associated systemic inflammation.
Distinct mechanisms of face representation by enhancive and suppressive neurons of the inferior temporal cortex
Authors: Salehi Sina , A. Dehaqani Mohammad Reza , Noudoost Behrad , Esteky Hossein
Published: September 2020

Electrophysiological and imaging studies have suggested that face information is encoded by a network of clusters of enhancive face-selective neurons in the visual cortex of man and monkey. We show that nearly half of face-selective neurons are suppressed by face stimulation. The suppressive neurons form spatial clusters and convey more face identity information than the enhancive face neurons. Our results suggest the presence of two neuronal subsystems for coarse and fine face information processing.
Clinical, Histopathological, and Management Challenges of Multiple Familial Trichoepithelioma: A Case Report of a Patient Presenting with Multiple Facial Papules
Authors: Dissanayaka D. W. V. N. , Dassanayaka D. K. B. , Jayasooriya P. R.
Published: September 2020

Trichoepitheliomas (TE) are benign skin tumours of the pilosebaceous apocrine unit with follicular differentiation. Multiple familial trichoepithelioma (MFT) is a considerably rare condition inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern. We present a case of a 15-year-old male who presented with multiple papulo-nodular lesions in the central face and a family history of a similar type of lesions from his mother. Significance of consideration of various clinical differential diagnoses with serious pathological outcomes, strategies followed in the diagnosis including histopathological evaluation aided by immunohistochemical investigations, and subsequent challenges that may be faced in the management of MFT in light of the presentation with multiple facial papules are documented in this case report.
Assessing the Adsorptive and Photodegradative Efficiencies of ZSM-11 Synthesized from Rice Husk Ash
Authors: Anang Michael Akrofi , Zugle Ruphino , Sefa-Ntiri Baah
Published: September 2020

Rice husk was used to synthesize zeolite (ZSM-11). FTIR and X-ray diffraction methods were used to characterize the product. The synthesized zeolite was used to treat underground water from some communities in Cape Coast considering parameters such as total dissolved solids, total hardness, conductivity, nitrate, and phosphate. The percentage reduction in PO43− was 96.1% in Ebubonko and 92.5% in Apewosika. Similarly, the NO3− levels also decreased significantly in Kwaprow. The adsorption capability was also determined by using it to remove Pb2+ and Zn2+ from laboratory prepared solutions with varying masses. The percentage reduction recorded 90.57% and 86.61% for the 1.0 g whilst the 1.5 g showed 93.26% and 89.36%, respectively. It was also realized that the adsorption process followed a pseudo-first-order rather than the pseudo-second-order process with their R2 values of 0.9929 and 0.8503 for the pseudo-first-order and 0.9662 and 0.6912 for the second-order for Pb2+ and Zn2+, respectively. The adsorption capacity also favored the Freundlich isotherm with R2 values of 0.7578 and 0.642 rather than Langmuir isotherm with R2 values of 0.1742 and 0.3856 for Pb2+ and Zn2+, respectively. The photodegradation ability of the synthesized zeolite was analyzed using rhodamine blue (RhB) and methyl orange (MO). The process was realized to favor the pseudo-second-order with R2 values of 0.9986 and 0.0007 and a constant K2 of 0.035 and 0.021 for RhB and MO, respectively, whereas the pseudo-first-order showed an R2 value of 0.9376 and 0.9757 with K1 values of 0.03 and 0.02.
Determination of Antioxidant 264 in the Butyl Rubber Stopper and the Compatibility with Recombinant Potent Antitumor and Antivirus Protein Injection
Authors: Zhao Min , Li Xianhui , Zhang Di , Zhao Longshan
Published: September 2020

Objective. To establish a method for extraction and determination of antioxidant 264 (2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol) in the brominated butyl rubber stopper for injection and migration study in recombinant potent antitumor and antivirus protein injection (Novaferon). Methods. Dichloromethane-ethanol was adopted as the extraction solvent during the process of reflux extraction of antioxidant 264 in the brominated butyl rubber stopper. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used for the determination of the migration of antioxidant 264 to Novaferon. The mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile-water (80 : 20, v/v). The flow rate was 1.5 mL/min. The detection wavelength was 280 nm. Results. The linearity range was from 4.003 to 200.150 μg/mL (r2 = 0.99996), and the average recovery of antioxidant 264 was 97.8%. The applicability of the methodology was good, which can be used for the determination of antioxidant 264. The results indicated that antioxidant 264 was not detected in Novaferon after the accelerated test and three months of long-term test. Conclusion. The established validated method in this study can be used for the determination of antioxidant 264 in the rubber stopper, and the brominated butyl rubber stopper has good compatibility with Novaferon.