bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transformer Based Multi-model Fusion for Medical Image Segmentation
Authors: Dong Bo , Wang Wenhai , Li Jinpeng
Published: November 2021

We present our solutions to the MedAI for all three tasks: polyp segmentation task, instrument segmentation task, and transparency task. We use the same framework to process the two segmentation tasks of polyps and instruments. The key improvement over last year is new state-of-the-art vision architectures, especially transformers which significantly outperform ConvNets for the medical image segmentation tasks. Our solution consists of multiple segmentation models, and each model uses a transformer as the backbone network. we get the best IoU score of 0.915 on the instrument segmentation task and 0.836 on polyp segmentation task after submitting. Meanwhile, we provide complete solutions in https://github.com/dongbo811/MedAI-2021.
Fake News
Authors: Preuß Tamina
Published: November 2021

Fake news as a danger to society have been in the focus of public and scientific interest since the election of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the USA. The media report on fake news every day. Currently, there are the false report that 600 baby corpses have been washed ashore in the German flood areas and deliberately circulated fake news about the candidate for chancellorship Armin Laschet. The study highlights the potential danger of fake news. It shows that the current protection under criminal law covers only a small section of the cases of fake news that are worthy of punishment. To improve the protection under criminal law, the author makes a reform proposal.
„Ich habe nur eine Zeit, die Weltzeit.“
Authors: Donyai Zahra
Published: November 2021

It is a widespread belief that Husserl’s conception of time obstructs the way to understanding world-time in a heideggerian sense. Unfolding world-time as one of the main topics of the last phases of Husserl’s analyses of time shall refute this criticism. The process of concretization of the transcendental ego also expresses the silent concretization of the world of phenomenology, and these concretizations lead to the topic of world-time. The study assumes that Husserl’s phenomenology undergoes a process of concretization with its peak in the theme of world-time.
Surgical Treatment of Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Authors: Margarita Fernández-Ávila Cristina , García-Baquero Rodrigo , Victoria Ojeda Claro Ana , Madurga Patuel Blanca , Luis Álvarez-Ossorio José
Published: November 2021

The human being is the only mammal capable of walking and simultaneously maintaining an upright position. This fact, implies somewhat unfavorable repercussions for the pelvic region that must support the weight of the abdominal organs. A prime example of the aforementioned adverse effects of the standing position are pelvic organ prolapses (POP). POP surgery is an increasingly important therapeutic aspect in clinical practice due to the aging of our population, and is increasingly prevalent as a therapeutic option. Surgical techniques can be performed using an abdominal or vaginal approach, depending on the medical history, physical examination, and experience of the surgeon. Laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy is an adequate therapeutic option with a high success rate in 80–100% of cases. However, this technique is not always appropriate, especially for patients who are at high risk for anesthesia, a multi-operated abdomen, or in recurrent prolapse. In these cases, a vaginal approach offers an interesting surgical alternative. In this review, we added our experience with transvaginal single-incision mesh under locoregional anesthesia for correction of female POP. We retrospectively analyzed 78 patients showing a success rate of 92% after more than 12 months of follow up. Transvaginal mesh was developed to maintain the advantage of a vaginal procedure, while reducing the risk of recurrent prolapse compared to native tissue repair and simplifying the surgery compared to sacrocolpopexy.
Endoscopy in Neurosurgery
Authors: Ali Kawsar Khandkar
Published: November 2021

Introduction of endoscope was undoubtedly a great advancement in neurosurgery. It minimises trauma to the brain tissue and maximises the vision around the remote areas. The access to the ventricle and cisterns has become much easier. Development in optics, lenses, long and angled instruments made the endoscopy in neurosurgery very versatile. In this chapter, the introduction of the endoscopy in neurosurgery has been described along with its use in different branches of neurosurgery like neuro-oncology, hydrocephalus, skullbase, aneurysms, craniosynostosis etc. The details of some common and important operation have been described. Some relevant anatomy, which can be encountered in endoscopic approach, has been described which will be helpful to the readers. This chapter will also act as an eye-opener to the vast use of neuroendoscopy and will help broaden the horizon of trainee neurosurgeons, following which the further details can be sought in relevant books and literature. In brief, this chapter will tell us about the evolution to revolution of the neuroendoscopy.
Consequences of COVID-19 Pandemic Including Endocrine and Metabolic Impacts
Authors: M. Heshmati Hassan
Published: November 2021

A pandemic is an epidemic that spreads globally. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused a major pandemic that affected human health and activities around the world since the beginning of 2020 and became a major international emergency. Through multiple paths, COVID-19 pandemic influenced life at individual, familial, societal, and environmental levels and led to a global economic recession. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the virus responsible for the disease. It invades the target cells by binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Endocrine and metabolic systems can be implicated in COVID-19 infection. Subjects with several comorbidities (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, and obesity) are more likely to be infected and are at a higher risk for complications and death from COVID-19. Wearing mask, social distancing, home confinement, and isolation have been recommended and implemented in several countries to curb the spread of the outbreak. Vaccination remains the best protective measure. Different vaccines are now available and have been used. The worldwide impact of COVID-19 pandemic may last several years.
CD4+ T Cell Responses to Pathogens in Cattle
Authors: Kandel Anmol , Masello Magdalena , Xiao Zhengguo
Published: November 2021

Helper CD4+ T cells are essential in shaping effective antibody response and cytotoxic T cell response against pathogen invasion. There are two subtypes of pathogen-specific helper T cells in mice and humans; type 1 (Th1) and type 2 (Th2), with Th1 producing interferon-gamma (IFNγ) and Th2 producing interleukin-4 (IL-4). While effective Th1 controls intracellular pathogens like viruses, efficient Th2 controls extracellular pathogens like most parasites. However, the most predominant CD4+ T cell subtype in cattle is Th0, which produces both IFNγ and IL-4, and only exists in small amounts in mice and humans. Moreover, in many bovine infections, both IFNγ and IL-4 were detected in the blood and both antigen-specific IgG2 (Th1 associated bovine antibody) and antigen-specific IgG1 (Th2 associated bovine antibody) were upregulated in the serum, suggesting bovine CD4+ T cell responses may vary from those in mice and humans. How bovine CD4+ T cell differentiation differs from that in mice and humans and how some critical bovine pathogens regulate immunity to establish chronic infections are largely unknown. This chapter summarizes current literature and identifies the knowledge gaps to provide insights into future research in the field.
The Role of Complementary and Alternative Medicines in the Treatment and Management of COVID-19
Authors: Saxena Bhagawati
Published: November 2021

Interception of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) into our life and its rapid global expansion, humanity has succumbed to a vulnerable position. COVID-19 is proclaiming millions of lives, underscores the urgent need for more effective therapeutic interventions. This disease created catastrophe and developments of new drugs and vaccines take a long duration. Hence, scientists and medical society turned their heads towards different approaches of treatment, referred to as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for eradicating the deadly virus. Ayurveda, herbal medicines, nutritional supplements, naturopathy, and yoga are some of the CAMs which have emerged as a ray of hope in these times. The understanding of the COVID-19 pathogenesis and its impact on immunity will progress the effective management of this lethal infectious disease. The host immune response has an elementary function of defense against the majority of infectious diseases including COVID-19. This chapter focuses on the utilization of various CAMs (Ayurveda, yoga, herbs, phytochemicals and nutritional supplements) in COVID-19 treatment. An additional attempt has been made in this chapter on the potential of CAMs to assist in improving immunological reactions against infections and thus may be an efficient approach in the prevention and/or management of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infections.
Thrust Force Generated by Heaving Motion of a Plate: The Role of Vortex-Induced Force
Authors: Matsuuchi Kazuo
Published: November 2021

To understand the force acting on birds, insects, and fish, we take heaving motion as a simple example. This motion might deviate from the real one. However, since the mechanism of force generation is the vortex shedding due to the motion of an object, the heaving motion is important for understanding the force generated by unsteady motion. The vortices released from the object are closely related to the motion characteristics. To understand the force acting on an object, information about momentum change is necessary. However, in vortex systems, it is impossible to estimate the usual momentum. Instead of the momentum, the “virtual momentum,” or the impulse, is needed to generate the force. For calculating the virtual momentum, we traced all vortices over a whole period, which was carried out by using the vortex-element method. The force was then calculated based on the information on the vortices. We derived the thrust coefficient as a function of the ratio of the heaving to travelling velocity.
Outdoor Performance of Perovskite Photovoltaic Technology
Authors: Velilla Hernández Esteban , Bernardo Cano Quintero Juan , Felipe Montoya Juan , Mora-Seró Iván , Jaramillo Isaza Franklin
Published: November 2021

In the case of emerging photovoltaic technologies such as perovskite, most published works have focused on laboratory-scale cells, indoor conditions and no international standards have been fully established and adopted. Accordingly, this chapter shows a brief introduction on the standards and evaluation methods for perovskite solar minimodules under natural sunlight conditions. Therefore, we propose evaluating the outdoor performance in terms of power, following the international standard IEC 61853–1 to obtain the performance according to the power rating conditions. After some rigorous experimental evaluations, results shown that the maximum power (Pmax) evolution for the analyzed minimodules could be correlated with one of the three patterns commonly described for degradation processes in the literature, named convex, linear, and concave. These patterns were used to estimate the degradation rate and lifetime (T80). Moreover, ideality factor (nID) was estimated from the open-circuit voltage (Voc) dependence on irradiance and ambient temperature (outdoor data) to provide physical insight into the recombination mechanism dominating the performance during the exposure. In this context, it was observed that the three different degradation patterns identified for Pmax can also be identified by nID. Finally, based on the linear relationship between T80 and the time to first reach nID = 2 (TnID2), is demonstrated that nID analysis could offer important complementary information with important implications for this technology outdoor development, due that the changes in nID could be correlated with the recombination mechanisms and degradation processes occurring in the device.
Inflammatory Complication of Diverticular Disease
Authors: Dias de Oliveira Reis Luciano , Ricardo da Silva Rodrigues Marcos , Augusto Milani Cardoso Filho Celso , Franco Dias dos Reis Cassiana , Antonio de Paula Costa Alex
Published: November 2021

Diverticular disease is the most common morphological abnormality of the colon. It is increasing in prevalence proportionally to progressive aging and modern alimentary diet. The majority of the diverticular disease affects the sigmoid colon and the segmental inflammatory process can have different outcomes, from self-limited, low-grade inflammation to severe cases evolving to complications such as abscess, fistulas to different organs, free perforation and peritonitis, sepsis, intestinal obstruction, and hemorrhage. In this chapter, we will focus on a few of these complications—focal low-grade inflammation, intra-abdominal abscess, and fistulas.
Pattern Formation in a RD-MCNN with Locally Active Memristors
Authors: Samil Demirkol Ahmet , Ascoli Alon , Messaris Ioannis , Tetzlaff Ronald
Published: November 2021

This chapter presents the mathematical investigation of the emergence of static patterns in a Reaction–Diffusion Memristor Cellular Nonlinear Network (RD-MCNN) structure via the application of the theory of local activity. The proposed RD-MCNN has a planar grid structure, which consists of identical memristive cells, and the couplings are established in a purely resistive fashion. The single cell has a compact design being composed of a locally active memristor in parallel with a capacitor, besides the bias circuitry, namely a DC voltage source and its series resistor. We first introduce the mathematical model of the locally active memristor and then study the main characteristics of its AC equivalent circuit. Later on, we perform a stability analysis to obtain the stability criteria for the single cell. Consequently, we apply the theory of local activity to extract the parameter space associated with locally active, edge-of-chaos, and sharp-edge-of-chaos domains, performing all the necessary calculations parametrically. The corresponding parameter space domains are represented in terms of intrinsic cell characteristics such as the DC operating point, the capacitance, and the coupling resistance. Finally, we simulate the proposed RD-MCNN structure where we demonstrate the emergence of pattern formation for various values of the design parameters.
Selection of Optimal Material from Stir Cast Aluminum Graphene Nano Platelets Composites for Aerospace Applications
Authors: Prakash Palampalle Bhanu , Dharmalingam Babu , Royal Devika
Published: November 2021

Qualitative and quantitative requirements when selecting materials for different properties can be difficult and ambiguous. An insufficient variety of materials can lead to component malfunction and failure at any point during their service. Owing to the vast availability of dissimilar materials, material selection in the engineering design phase is difficult and elusive. This study presents an EDAS (Evaluation based on Distance from Average Solution) and VIKOR (VIse Kriterijumska Optimizacijakompromisno Resenje) techniques for effective material selection for aviation applications. In this research, the selection index value was calculated using the EDAS and VIKOR entropy-based weight techniques. The MADM (multi-attribute decision making) procedure also selects the best weight per cent combination among pure aluminum reinforced with GNPs (graphene nanoplatelets) for aircraft applications based on its physical and mechanical properties. The results demonstrate that 0.5 wt% GNPs reinforced in pure aluminum has the best combination of both physical and mechanical qualities, according to the EDAS and VIKOR multi-criteria decision-making methodologies. The composites were made using the stir casting technique. MATLAB R2020a is used to grade and compare the composite materials.
Transcranial Red LED Therapy: A Promising Non-Invasive Treatment to Prevent Age-Related Hippocampal Memory Impairment
Authors: Jara Claudia , Buendía Débora , Ardiles Alvaro , Muñoz Pablo , Tapia-Rojas Cheril
Published: November 2021

The hippocampus is an integral portion of the limbic system and executes a critical role in spatial and recognition learning, memory encoding, and memory consolidation. Hippocampal aging showed neurobiological alterations, including increased oxidative stress, altered intracellular signaling pathways, synaptic impairment, and organelle deterioration such as mitochondrial dysfunction. These alterations lead to hippocampal cognitive decline during aging. Therefore, the search for new non-invasive therapies focused on preserving or attenuating age-related hippocampal memory impairment could have of great impact on aging, considering the increasing life expectancy in the world. Red light Transcranial LED therapy (RL-TCLT) is a promising but little explored strategy, which involves red light LED irradiation without surgical procedures, safe and at a low cost. Nevertheless, the precise mechanism involved and its real impact on age-related cognitive impairment is unclear, due to differences in protocol, wavelength applied, and time. Therefore, in this chapter, we will discuss the evidence about RL-TCLT and its effects on the hippocampal structure and function, and how this therapy could be used as a promising treatment for memory loss during aging and in age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Finally, we will mention our advances in Red 630-light-Transcranial LED therapy on the hippocampus in aging and AD.
Corticosteroids in Neuro-Oncology: Management of Intracranial Tumors and Peritumoral Edema
Authors: S. Ahmed Sunbul
Published: November 2021

Corticosteroids have been in use for decades and are one of the most prescribed drugs in all specialties of medicine. Jerome Posner, in his classic textbook “Neurological Complications of Cancer,” refers to corticosteroids as widely used drugs in neuro-oncology leading to a remarkable decline in perioperative mortality and morbidity rates. Being the most powerful class of tumor-induced-edema reducing agents, they are adjuvant to chemotherapy and are also known to reduce the risk of encephalopathy and other associated neurological deficits in patients undergoing radiation therapy. They have been widely used in higher-than-normal doses in the management of pathologic, immunological, and inflammatory conditions and various other diseases. Novel insights into the mechanisms of action of corticosteroids and their effects on cancer patients are extensively being studied. While substantial clinical improvements can be seen in cancer patients, corticosteroids are also associated with adverse and well-characterized side effects leading to immediate as well as long-term complications in patients. This chapter reviews the clinical aspects of corticosteroid therapy used in neuro-oncological conditions and its effects on peritumoral edema. Although there is currently insufficient information on appropriate use, in most cases, corticosteroids are used in a supraphysiological and pharmacological manner to minimize the symptoms of cerebral edema. Due to limited clinical studies and evident side effects presenting synonymously with corticosteroid therapy, the emerging role of steroid-sparing drugs such as corticotrophin-releasing factors, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and VEGF inhibitors will also be discussed.
Impact of IoT on Renewable Energy
Authors: Ponnalagarsamy Sivagami , Geetha V. , Pushpavalli M. , Abirami P.
Published: November 2021

The emerging computing technology in this era is the Internet of Things. The network of intelligence that bridges various devices, systems located in remote locations together by means of cloud portal. IoT maybe equipped with millions or billions of devices. IoT handles large volume of data, process the huge data and performs useful control actions to make our life safe and simple. IoT evolves Human-human communication with thing-thing communication. IoT applications are not confined to a particular sector. In the fields such as health care, smart homes, industries, transportation, etc., the technology which is more influential is IoT. Energy sectors are now undergoing transformation. The transformation is driven by IOT. Green energy without IoT cannot be imagined in this energy sector. Renewable energy sources will be the major power producers among all the other sources due to the depletion of conventional energy sources. Among the renewable energy sources, Solar and Wind contributes more when compared to geothermal, biomass, etc. Renewable energy power production depends on environmental factors such as temperature, wind speed, light intensity etc. These factors affect the performance of energy conversion in renewable energy sources. Since our future generation will depend only on renewable energy, it becomes necessary for the researchers to integrate IOT to provide reliable and affordable energy. Renewable power generation helps in reducing the toxic level of gases which may be produced by thermal power stations during power generation. IoT brings about changes from generation to transmission to distribution. For example, let us compare the traditional grid with that of the smart grid. In the case of traditional one-way communication exists that is power produced from the power station is transmitted to the customer. The customer has to pay for the energy consumed. But smart grid has two-way communication. The customer has the capability to pay for the energy consumed only and if excess power produced can be transmitted to the grid. IoT helps in analyzing the demand as well the wastage of energy, helps in scheduling the load in order to reduce the cost. The sensors and data sciences with IOT helps in achieving the automation and intelligent operation of renewable energy farms, increases the efficiency and reliability of the farms to meet our future power demand.
Progress and Prospects of Two Line Rice Breeding in India
Authors: Swaminathan Manonmani
Published: November 2021

Increasing the yield potential through hybrid rice technology was very well proved in nearby countries. Three line hybrid rice technology is encounted with some of the difficulties in seed production. Identification of Environmentally influenced male sterility overcomes the problem encountered in seed production since it is regulated by the temperature it is called temperature regulated male sterility and hybrids produced using this line is called two line rice hybrids. Types of male sterility and methods to identify the new TGMS lines and breeding methods employed for producing the tgms lines were described. Characterization of tgms lines by both conventional method and molecular tools has been enumerated. Seed multiplication of tgms under fertility inducing environment and seed production of two line hybrids has been explained. Seed production location was exclusively identified for seed multiplication of tgms lines. Heterotic potential of two line rice hybrids has been studied. Future prospectes in tgms research and two line heterotic potential was explained for increasing the yield potential in rice.
Entoptični pojavi, fotopsije in fosfeni
Authors: Sevšek Miha , Lumi Xhevat
Published: November 2021

Entoptični pojavi v medicini pomenijo zaznavanje struktur in vidnih pojavov v lastnem očesu ob izpolnjenih določenih pogojih osvetlitve ali dražljaja. Ker teh pogojev v vsakdanjih normalnih razmerah ni, ne povzročajo zaznave optične slike. Entoptični pojavi so lahko povezani z lastnostmi optičnih medijev ali s strukturnimi in fiziološkimi lastnostmi mrežnice ter vidne poti. Entoptični pojavi, ki so povezani z lastnostmi optičnih medijev, nastanejo zaradi refraktivnih ali difraktivnih vzrokov. Skupna lastnost vseh entoptičnih pojavov je, da je njihovo dojemanje subjektivno in odvisno od preiskovančeve pozornosti ter sodelovanja. Entoptični pojavi se razlikujejo od optičnih iluzij, ki nimajo osnove v resničnem okolju.

Posebna skupina vidnih pojavov so fotopsije in fosfeni. Fotopsija je subjektivno zaznavanje svetlobe brez dejanskega fotonskega ali svetlobnega dražljaja in se pojavlja v obliki strukturiranih slik oz. geometričnih vzorcev ali kot enostavne ponavljajoče se slike. Fosfeni so fotopsije, ki jih bolniki zaznavajo kot nestrukturirane statične ali premikajoče se svetlobne vzorce različnih barv, bliske svetlobe, iskre ali t.i. cik-cakaste črte. Fotopsije v večji meri nastajajo v očesu, redkeje v centralnem živčnem sistemu, ali pa so znak sistemskih okvar, zato je ob njihovem pojavu potreben natančen pregled.
School's Out
Authors: Power Charlie
Published: November 2021

The debate over the future direction of elementary and secondary education in the United States is fractious and contentious. Many of these are rooted in concerns over disparities in financial circumstances and race. While the full extent of the gaps, in addition to the United States' mediocre education system relative to other industrialized nations, has been a subject of frequent research and heated debate, one crucial component of this divide has yet to be analyzed: summer learning loss.

This paper will closely analyze published literature in order to analyze the impact of summer education loss. Additionally, this paper will argue that summer learning varies by socioeconomic status (SES), with low-income populations gradually regressing over the years. This phenomenon has ramifications on students' achievement and explains the disparities that accumulate over a student's educational career. Finally, based on current evidence, this paper will make policy recommendations on how to change the current education system to better address summer's inherent inequities.
NIST Special Database 302 :
Authors: Fiumara Gregory , Schwarz Matthew , Heising Jessica , Peterson Jennifer , Flanagan Patricia , Marshall Karen
Published: November 2021

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) released a collection of latent fingerprint images as part of Special Database (SD) 302 in December 2019. While the dataset included 10 000 never-before-seen operational quality images from 200 study participants, SD 302 has been of somewhat limited usability, in part due to the omission of study participant finger position ground truth. To help make SD 302 as robust and useful to the community as possible, NIST has funded certified latent print examiners to annotate and determine the source of the latent fingerprint images distributed as part of SD 302.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR 3D MODELING PROJECTS OF PLASTIC MATERIALS MANUFACTURED BY FUSED DEPOSITION: GUIDANCE AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Authors: MORENO NIETO DANIEL , ZARA ARAGÓN JUAN DIEGO , BALADÉS RUIZ NURIA , SALES LERIDA DAVID
Published: November 2021

Industry 4.0 is being progressively implemented in the contemporary production model, and its establishment is associated with applying different enabling technologies in different industrial sectors. Additive manufacturing, commonly known as 3D printing, has become one of the main pillars shaping this new industrial model. The emergence of this new production model is associated with a growing demand for new products manufactured using non-conventional techniques. However, this change in the production process requires specific documentation that, subject to the new standards, defines and regulates all the aspects and restrictions necessary for creating and developing products obtained through enabling technologies. By specifying the requirements necessary for the proper development of projects using additive manufacturing, the aim of these documents is to ensure that materials, products, and processes fulfil their purpose, reducing production costs and increasing effectiveness. These documents, known as technical specifications, are drawn up freely by each designer, as there are no specific regulations implemented to regulate them in a unified way.

A guide is presented to prepare the technical specifications that must accompany all projects involving additive manufacturing processes. Specifically, the proposed guide contemplates the most relevant aspects and recommendations that streamline the preparation and drafting of the technical specifications in projects that use 3D modelling techniques for plastic materials manufactured by fused deposition. The recommendations included herein will serve as a guide for all agents involved in the production process, both current and future, thus contributing to an increase in the success rate and quality of the parts developed in projects based on applying this enabling technology.

Keywords: Additive manufacturing, Industry 4.0, fused deposition modelling, technical specifications, standards.
MODELLING A BLOCKCHAIN SOLUTION FOR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT IN DIGITISED INDUSTRIAL ENVIRONMENTS
Authors: GARCÍA PASTOR IMANOL , SANCHEZ  FUENTE FRANCISCO , OTEGI OLASO JOSE RAMON
Published: November 2021

In the industry 4.0 vision, the competitiveness of companies is based on innovation, business-to-business collaboration and digitalisation. In such collaborative frameworks, the sharing of trade secrets depends to a greater or lesser extent on the degree of trust between the parties involved in the collaboration. This paper proposes an application model for trade secret protection based on blockchain, using the smart contracts support and tokenization capabilities available in the Ethereum network. The application of the model along the value chain of the collaborative industrial environment promotes the sharing of industrial secrets with the guarantee provided by blockchain technology, increasing trust and added value in the relationship.
Keywords: Industry 4.0, blockchain, innovation, intellectual property, knowledge management
WHAT DO FIRST YEAR ENGINEERING STUDENTS REALLY LEARN?
Authors: SIERRA URIA EGOITZ , LIZUNDIA FERNANDEZ ERLANTZ , BARRENETXEA APRAIZ LANDER
Published: November 2021

For decades, the focus of education has shifted from teaching to learning, i.e. the main focus is on the needs and abilities of the students who learn, and not on the teacher who teaches.
IDENTIFIKACIJA I ANALIZA ONLINE PORTALA KOJI PROMOVIŠU MEDIJSKU PISMENOST PUTEM FACEBOOKA
Authors: Jusić Seid
Published: November 2021

Vodeći se europskim trendom afirmacije medijske pismenosti u obrazovnom sistemu, zemlje okruženja su izgradile institucionalni okvir putem kojeg afirmišu medijsku pismenost. Tako Slovenija i Hrvatska imaju usvojenu nacionalnu strategiju za medijsko opismenjavanje publike, dok Srbija i Bosna i Hercegovina zaostaju u tom procesu. Činjenica je da su određeni autori na području Bosne i Hercegovine uvidjeli važnost bavljenja ovom tematikom i problematikom pa su se pojavile određene organizacije koje afirmišu medijsku pismenost. Uočava se i to da ne postoji institucionalna volja kada je u pitanju rješavanje ovog problema. Ne postoji ni jedan vladin sektor koji je aktivni kreator, a ni afirmator medijske pismenosti. Organizovanje seminara i obuke u vezi medijske pismenosti prema posljednjim istraživanjima je na veoma niskom nivou. Isto tako razumijevanje pojma i definicija medijske pismenosti kod publike u Bosni i Hercegovini je veoma nisko. Cilj ovog rada je identifikovati i analizirati online portale koji se na određeni bave afirmacijom medijske pismenosti (analiziraj.ba, raskrinkavanje.ba). Analizom djelovanja ovih portala omogućit će se bolji uvid u stvarnu potrebu institucionalnog rješavanja problema medijskog opismenjavanja publike u Bosni i Hercegovini.
OBRAZOVANJE U FUNKCIJI ODRŽIVOG RAZVOJA
Authors: Đukić Veljko , Đukić Ognjen , Đukić Biljana
Published: November 2021

Dugo se društveni razvoj sagledavao isključivo kroz ekonomski rast.Stvaranje profita predstavljalo je glavni vid društvene odgovornosti u oblasti poslovanja. Sve do sedamdesetih godina prošlog vijeka dominirala je paradigma ,,industrijskog društva“ koja je u prvi plan isticala materijalne vrijednosti – profit i zarade zaposlenih. Manje se pažnje posvećivalo posljedicama industrijskog razvoja koje su se u drugoj polovini XX vijeka počele ispoljavati na različite načine: preko prekomjernog trošenja prirodnih resursa, degradacije pojedinih prirodnih resursa, do zagađenja najvažnijih resursa kao što su vazduh, voda i zemljište. U prevazilaženju sve većeg nesklada između zdravije životne sredine i potrebe budućeg ekonomskog rasta, uvođenje i primjena koncepta održivog (usklađenog, ili uravnoteženog) razvoja predstavlja jedino ispravno rješenje. Ekološki sadržaji su vremenom postali nezaobilazni dio savremenih obrazovnih sistema, jer smatra se da obrazovanje – ne samo formalno već i neformalno – predstavlja temelj za tranformaciju globalnog društva, odnosno država po modelu održivog razvoja. Opsežno empirijsko ispitivanje sprovedeno na uzorku od 250 ispitanika potvrdilo je osnovnu hipotezu ovog rada: Što je veći nivo ekološke svijesti, to je veća mogućnost primjene koncepta održivog razvoja.
EKONOMSKA OPRAVDANOST ANALIZE CRP-a U ODNOSU NA ANALIZU LEUKOCITA KOD AKUTNIH UPALNIH PROCESA GORNJEG RESPIRATORNOG SISTEMA
Authors: Galijašević Kenan , Slijepčević Vitomir , Tešanović Sanja , Tešanović Sreten , Jahić Mirza
Published: November 2021

Akutne respiratorne infekcije (ARI), odnosno akutne upalne bolesti respiratornog sistema najčešće su infekcije savremenog čovjeka, jer čine dvije trećine svih infekcija. Time su respiratorne infekcije i najučestalije bolesti čovjeka uopšte. Odrasli u prosjeku obole 3 do 5 puta na godinu, djeca obolijevaju češće, u prosjeku 4 do 7 puta, a ona s boravkom u kolektivu, vrtići, škole i slično još češće – i do 10 puta na godinu. Nakon fizikalnog pregleda, laboratorijska dijagnostika zauzima jako važno mjesto u konačnoj detekciji oboljenja. Danas je to najčešće CRP (C-reaktivni protein) i vrijednost leukocita. Povišene vrijednosti oba parametra govore o postojanju infekcije, dok snižene vrijednosti leukocita govore o virusnoj infekciji, koja isključuje propisivanje antibiotika, te na taj način spriječava njihovu zloupotrebu i rezistenciju. Cjenovnik zdravstvenih usluga na dan 1. 4. 2019 godine, pri Fondu zdravstvenog osiguranja Republike Srpske navodi da analiza Leukocita u krvi košta 3,70 KM, a analiza CRP-a, 7,30 KM. Ciljevi rada: uporediti vrijednosti CRP-a i leukocita u krvi kod pacijenata sa akutnom upalom gornjeg respiratornog sistema, te na osnovu toga ispitati opravdanost određivanja istih sa ekonomskog stanovišta. Metod: studija presjeka, retrospektivnog karaktera, provedana u Dom zdravlja Banja Luka, u periodu 1. 1. 2019 – 31. 1. 2019 godine, obuhvatila je metodom slučajnog uzorka 100 ispitanika različitog pola i životnog doba sa dijagnozom akutne respiratnorne infekcije. Svim ispitanicima nakon fizikalanog pregleda, urađena laboratorijska dijagnostika (CRP i Le) kao upalni indikatori, nakon čega je postavljena konačna dijagnoza i ordinirana terapija. Rezultati: Bez statistički značajne razlike u odnosu na pol i dob prema polu (p˃0,05). U istraživanju je bio dominantan ženski pol (60%). Najdominatnije životno doba pacijenata je između 51 – 60 godina. Najčešće postavljena dijagnoza je upala ždrijela (J02), kod 36% pacijenata. Bez statistički značajne razlike između normalnih i povišenih vrijednosti CRP-a i Le (p˃0,05). Na osnovu vrijednosti Leukocita utvrđeno prisustvo 36 bakterijskih i 5 virusnih infekcija, dok je na osnovu CRP-a utvrđeno prisutvo 49 uplanih procesa. Zaključak: Povišena vrijednost leukocita daje podatak da se radi o bakterijskoj infekciji na osnovu koje ljekar ordinira određeni antibiotik da li širokog spektra, ili radi antibiogram, pa ciljano propisuje antibiotik. Snižena vrijednost leukocita govori o virusnoj infekciji. Povišena vrijednost CRP-a ukazuje na blagu upalu, virusnu infekciju, a može se naći i kod trudnica, te kardiovaskularnih bolesnika. CRP je dobar opšti marker, te povišene vrijednosti ukazuju na upalni proces, ali ne i odakle upala potiče. Na osnovu dobijenih rezultata možemo slobodno zaključiti da je vrijednost leukocita sasvim dovoljan pokazatelj jednostavnog uplanog procesa, na osnovu kojeg se ordinira terapija, te je mnogo ekonomičniji u odnosu na CRP.
Mitochondrial respiration contributes to the interferon gamma response in antigen-presenting cells
Authors: Kiritsy Michael C , McCann Katelyn , Mott Daniel , Holland Steven M , Behar Samuel M , Sassetti Christopher M , Olive Andrew J
Published: November 2021

The immunological synapse allows antigen-presenting cells (APCs) to convey a wide array of functionally distinct signals to T cells, which ultimately shape the immune response. The relative effect of stimulatory and inhibitory signals is influenced by the activation state of the APC, which is determined by an interplay between signal transduction and metabolic pathways. While pathways downstream of toll-like receptors rely on glycolytic metabolism for the proper expression of inflammatory mediators, little is known about the metabolic dependencies of other critical signals such as interferon gamma (IFNγ). Using CRISPR-Cas9, we performed a series of genome-wide knockout screens in murine macrophages to identify the regulators of IFNγ-inducible T cell stimulatory or inhibitory proteins MHCII, CD40, and PD-L1. Our multiscreen approach enabled us to identify novel pathways that preferentially control functionally distinct proteins. Further integration of these screening data implicated complex I of the mitochondrial respiratory chain in the expression of all three markers, and by extension the IFNγ signaling pathway. We report that the IFNγ response requires mitochondrial respiration, and APCs are unable to activate T cells upon genetic or chemical inhibition of complex I. These findings suggest a dichotomous metabolic dependency between IFNγ and toll-like receptor signaling, implicating mitochondrial function as a fulcrum of innate immunity.
Proximal and distal spinal neurons innervating multiple synergist and antagonist motor pools
Authors: Ronzano Remi , Lancelin Camille , Bhumbra Gardave Singh , Brownstone Robert M , Beato Marco
Published: November 2021

Motoneurons (MNs) control muscle contractions, and their recruitment by premotor circuits is tuned to produce accurate motor behaviours. To understand how these circuits coordinate movement across and between joints, it is necessary to understand whether spinal neurons pre-synaptic to motor pools have divergent projections to more than one MN population. Here, we used modified rabies virus tracing in mice to investigate premotor interneurons projecting to synergist flexor or extensor MNs, as well as those projecting to antagonist pairs of muscles controlling the ankle joint. We show that similar proportions of premotor neurons diverge to synergist and antagonist motor pools. Divergent premotor neurons were seen throughout the spinal cord, with decreasing numbers but increasing proportion with distance from the hindlimb enlargement. In the cervical cord, divergent long descending propriospinal neurons were found in contralateral lamina VIII, had large somata, were neither glycinergic, nor cholinergic, and projected to both lumbar and cervical MNs. We conclude that distributed spinal premotor neurons coordinate activity across multiple motor pools and that there are spinal neurons mediating co-contraction of antagonist muscles.
Adult body size measurement redundancies in Osmia lignaria and Megachile rotundata (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)
Authors: McCabe Lindsie M. , Boyle Natalie K. , Scalici Morgan B. , Pitts-Singer Theresa L.
Published: November 2021

Metrics to assess relative adult bee body size have included both mass and morphometrics, but these metrics may not equally or reliably estimate body size for all bee species and in all situations, due to bee age, diet, and/or environment. Understanding the relationships between different metrics and possible redundancies in the information they afford is important but not always known. Body size measurements provide valuable data for interpreting research outcomes for managed solitary bees, including Osmia lignaria Say and Megachile rotundata F. (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae). Applied studies of these important and readily available U.S. crop pollinators focus on refining commercial management practices, and basic empirical studies in various scientific disciplines (from genomics to ecology) employ them as model systems to study solitary bees. To examine common metrics of body size, we measured head capsule width (HCW), intertegular distance (ITD), and fresh and dry weights of newly emerged adults of both species. Using linear and exponential models, we determined relationships between these body size metrics. For M. rotundata, linear models best described relationships between ITD and all other metrics, and between HCW and fresh and dry weights. For O. lignaria, linear models best fit relationships between all metrics except for fresh weight with both ITD and HCW, which were fitted better with exponential models. For both species, model fits were strongest when males and females were pooled. Depending on the study question, knowing that only one metric may reliably measure body size can simplify evaluations of O. lignaria and M. rotundata responses to artificial or environmental variables.
Differential p16 expression levels in the liver, hepatocytes and hepatocellular cell lines
Authors: Kramar Barbara , Šuput Dušan , Milisav Irina
Published: November 2021

Background

One of the most frequently deleted genes in cancer is CDKN2A encoding p16. This protein is often overexpressed in senescent cells, while its suppression can bypass the oncogene-induced senescence to enable transformation and tumorigenesis. The roles of the protein p16 are recently being expanded from the cell cycle progression regulator to the cellular regulator interacting in several different pathways. Yet data on its liver and liver cells’ expression are inconclusive.

Methods

The expression of the p16 gene in liver and liver cells was determined by RT-qPCR and compared to its protein amounts by western blotting.

Results

p16 is expressed at low levels in the liver and rat hepatocytes. Its expression varies from none to the considerable levels in the examined hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines (FaO and HepG2) and in immortalized mouse hepatocytes. Such significant expression differences of an important cellular regulator warrant the need to closely examine the differences in biochemical pathways correlated with the p16 expression when using hepatocytes and hepatoma liver models.
Integrated bioinformatics analysis reveals dynamic candidate genes and signaling pathways involved in the progression and prognosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
Authors: Charwudzi Alice , Meng Ye , Hu Linhui , Ding Chen , Pu Lianfang , Li Qian , Xu Mengling , Zhai Zhimin , Xiong Shudao
Published: November 2021

Background

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a highly heterogeneous malignancy with varied outcomes. However, the fundamental mechanisms remain to be fully defined.

Aim

We aimed to identify core differentially co-expressed hub genes and perturbed pathways relevant to the pathogenesis and prognosis of DLBCL.

Methods

We retrieved the raw gene expression profile and clinical information of GSE12453 from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. We used integrated bioinformatics analysis to identify differentially co-expressed genes. The CIBERSORT analysis was also applied to predict tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs) in the GSE12453 dataset. We performed survival and ssGSEA (single-sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis) (for TIICs) analyses and validated the hub genes using GEPIA2 and an independent GSE31312 dataset.

Results

We identified 46 differentially co-expressed hub genes in the GSE12453 dataset. Gene expression levels and survival analysis found 15 differentially co-expressed core hub genes. The core genes prognostic values and expression levels were further validated in the GEPIA2 database and GSE31312 dataset to be reliable (p < 0.01). The core genes’ main KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathway enrichments were Ribosome and Coronavirus disease-COVID-19. High expressions of the 15 core hub genes had prognostic value in DLBCL. The core genes showed significant predictive accuracy in distinguishing DLBCL cases from non-tumor controls, with the area under the curve (AUC) ranging from 0.992 to 1.00. Finally, CIBERSORT analysis on GSE12453 revealed immune cells, including activated memory CD4+ T cells and M0, M1, and M2-macrophages as the infiltrates in the DLBCL microenvironment.

Conclusion

Our study found differentially co-expressed core hub genes and relevant pathways involved in ribosome and COVID-19 disease that may be potential targets for prognosis and novel therapeutic intervention in DLBCL.
Distribution of clones among hosts for the lizard malaria parasite Plasmodium mexicanum
Authors: Neal Allison T.
Published: November 2021

Background

Malaria parasites reproduce asexually, leading to the production of large numbers of genetically identical parasites, here termed a clonal line or clone. Infected hosts may harbor one or more clones, and the number of clones in a host is termed multiplicity of infection (MOI). Understanding the distribution of parasite clones among hosts can shed light on the processes shaping this distribution and is important for modeling MOI. Here, I determine whether the distribution of clones of the lizard malaria parasite Plasmodium mexicanum differ significantly from statistical distributions commonly used to model MOI and logical extensions of these models.

Methods

The number of clones per infection was assessed using four microsatellite loci with the maximum number of alleles at any one locus used as a simple estimate of MOI for each infection. I fit statistical models (Poisson, negative binomial, zero-inflated models) to data from four individual sites to determine a best fit model. I also simulated the number of alleles per locus using an unbiased estimate of MOI to determine whether the simple (but potentially biased) method I used to estimate MOI influenced model fit.

Results

The distribution of clones among hosts at individual sites differed significantly from traditional Poisson and negative binomial distributions, but not from zero-inflated modifications of these distributions. A consistent excess of two-clone infections and shortage of one-clone infections relative to all fit distributions was also observed. Any bias introduced by the simple method for estimating of MOI did not appear to qualitatively alter the results.

Conclusions

The statistical distributions used to model MOI are typically zero-truncated; truncating the Poisson or zero-inflated Poisson yield the same distribution, so the reasonable fit of the zero-inflated Poisson to the data suggests that the use of the zero-truncated Poisson in modeling is adequate. The improved fit of zero-inflated distributions relative to standard distributions may suggest that only a portion of the host population is located in areas suitable for transmission even at small sites (<1 ha). Collective transmission of clones and premunition may also contribute to deviations from standard distributions.