bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Large-scale Debloating of Binary Shared Libraries
Authors: Agadakos Ioannis , Demarinis Nicholas , Jin Di , Williams-King Kent , Alfajardo Jearson , Shteinfeld Benjamin , Williams-King David , Kemerlis Vasileios P. , Portokalidis Georgios
Published: December 2020

Developers nowadays have access to an arsenal of toolkits and libraries for rapid application prototyping. However, when an application loads a library, the entirety of that library’s code is mapped into the process address space, even if only a single function is actually needed. The unused portion is
bloat
that can negatively impact software defenses by unnecessarily inflating their overhead or increasing the attack surface. In this article, we investigate whether debloating is possible and practical at the binary level. To this end, we present
Nibbler
: a system that identifies and erases unused functions within dynamic shared libraries. Nibbler works in tandem with defenses such as continuous code re-randomization and control-flow integrity, enhancing them without incurring additional run-time overhead. We developed and tested a prototype of Nibbler on x86-64 Linux; Nibbler reduces the size of shared libraries and the number of available functions, for real-world binaries and the SPEC CINT2006 suite, by up to 56% and 82%, respectively. We also demonstrate that Nibbler benefits defenses by showing that: (i) it improves the deployability of a continuous re-randomization system for binaries, namely, Shuffler, by increasing its efficiency by 20%, and (ii) it improves certain fast but coarse and context-insensitive control-flow integrity schemes by reducing the number of gadgets reachable through indirect branch instructions by 75% and 49%, on average. Last, we apply Nibbler on ≈30K C/C++ binaries and ≈5K unique dynamic shared libraries (i.e., almost the complete set of the Debian sid distribution), as well as on nine official Docker images (with millions of downloads in Docker Hub), reporting entrancing findings regarding code bloat at large.
A Novel (
t
,
s
,
k
,
n
)-Threshold Visual Secret Sharing Scheme Based on Access Structure Partition
Authors: Liu Zuquan , Zhu Guopu , Wang Yuan-Gen , Yang Jianquan , Kwong Sam
Published: December 2020

Visual secret sharing (VSS) is a new technique for sharing a binary image into multiple shadows. For VSS, the original image can be reconstructed from the shadows in any qualified set, but cannot be reconstructed from those in any forbidden set. In most traditional VSS schemes, the shadows held by participants have the same importance. However, in practice, a certain number of shadows are given a higher importance due to the privileges of their owners. In this article, a novel (
t
,
s
,
k
,
n
)-threshold VSS scheme is proposed based on access structure partition. First, we construct the basis matrix of the proposed (
t
,
s
,
k
,
n
)-threshold VSS scheme by utilizing a new access structure partition method and sub-access structure merging method. Then, the secret image is shared by the basis matrix as
n
shadows, which are divided into
s
essential shadows and
n
-
s
non-essential shadows. To reconstruct the secret image,
k
or more shadows should be collected, which include at least
t
essential shadows; otherwise, no information about the secret image can be obtained. Compared with related schemes, our scheme achieves a smaller shadow size and a higher visual quality of the reconstructed image. Theoretical analysis and experiments indicate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.
Logic Diagnosis with Hybrid Fail Data
Authors: Pomeranz Irith , Amyeen M. Enamul
Published: December 2020

Yield improvement requires information about the defects present in faulty units. This information is derived by applying a logic diagnosis procedure to the fail data collected by a tester from faulty units. It is typical in the early stages of yield learning to find faulty units that produce excessive volumes of fail data. The current practice is to terminate the fail data collection and possibly discard the fail data already collected for the unit. An earlier study shows that a faulty unit may produce excessive volumes of fail data for some tests but not for others. Based on this observation, a possible solution is to collect full fail data only for tests where this is feasible and pass/fail information for other tests. For this approach to be practical, it is necessary to be able to perform logic diagnosis with hybrid fail data that consists of full fail data for some tests and only pass/fail information for other tests. The main challenge in designing such a procedure is to balance the use of the two types of data to produce accurate logic diagnosis results. This article describes a logic diagnosis procedure, from the class of procedures used by commercial tools, that addresses this challenge. Experimental results for benchmark circuits demonstrate the importance of pass/fail information in this scenario.
Geometric deep learning advances data science
Authors: Greengard Samuel
Published: December 2020

Researchers are pushing beyond the limitations of convolutional neural networks using geometric deep learning techniques.
Goetz Graefe Speaks Out on (Not Only) Query Optimization
Authors: Winslett Marianne , Braganholo Vanessa
Published: December 2020

Welcome to ACM SIGMOD Record's series of interviews with distinguished members of the database community. I'm Marianne Winslett, and today we are at the 2017 SIGMOD and PODS conference in Chicago. I have here with me Goetz Graefe, who is the recipient of the SIGMOD Innovations Award, the SIGMOD Test of Time Award, the ICDE Distinguished Paper Award, and the ACM Software System Award, all for his work on query processing. His Ph.D. is from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Goetz was an HP Fellow and he currently works for Google. So, Goetz, welcome!
Poly'19 Workshop Summary
Authors: Stonebraker Michael , Mattson Timothy , Kraska Tim , Gadepally Vijay
Published: December 2020

Data privacy within the context of heterogenous data and data management systems continues to be an important issue. At the Poly?19 workshop, held in conjunction with VLDB 2019 in Los Angeles, CA, one of the major themes explored was the implication of data privacy regulations such as GDPR to systems composed of multiple heterogenous databases. This summary outlines some of the major approaches and directions presented by various presenters during the privacy portion of the Poly?19 workshop.
Electrochemical Dilatometry of Si-Bearing Electrodes: Dimensional Changes and Experiment Design
Authors: Prado Andressa Y. R. , Rodrigues Marco-Tulio F. , Trask Stephen E. , Shaw Leon , Abraham Daniel P.
Published: December 2020

The severe volumetric changes in Si particles during the Li (de)alloying process cause expansion and contraction of the electrodes, which along with excessive electrolyte reduction and solid electrolyte interphase formation brings about rapid decay in cell capacity. In this work, we use operando electrochemical dilatometry to quantify the (de)lithiation-induced expansion/contraction of Si-based and graphite-rich electrodes during electrochemical cycling. We evaluate the relationship between electrode capacity and dilation and observe that by increasing the Si contribution to the electrode capacity, the swelling is aggravated upon lithiation. For silicon-rich anodes, the electrode dilation can be higher than 300%, and the expansion profile consists of a combination of slow swelling at low lithiation followed by an accelerated increase at higher lithium contents. We investigate how electrode properties, such as porosity, affect the dilation profile and quantify the irreversible expansion of the electrodes. Finally, we discuss some of the challenges associated with the dilatometry technique and suggest experimental approaches for obtaining consistent and reliable data.
Review—Recent Progress in Portable Fluorescence Sensors
Authors: Shin Young-Ho , Teresa Gutierrez-Wing M. , Choi Jin-Woo
Published: December 2020

Portable fluorescence sensors have been developed for biochemical detection, water quality monitoring, biomedical sensing, and many other applications. With help of advancement in modern electronics, conventional fluorescence-based instrumentations are now integrated into portable sensing devices for remote and resource-limited settings. In this work, fluorescence sensing technology is introduced and different applications of portable fluorescence sensors and their characteristics are reviewed. Current issues, technological challenges, and future direction of the portable fluorescence sensor development are discussed. The goal is to provide a comprehensive survey on the recent advancements in optics, semiconductors, smartphones, and many other manufacturing technologies that increased the portability, miniaturization, and sensitivity of portable fluorescence sensor devices.
Urea-Assisted Synthesis of Nanospherical and Plate-Like Magnesium Oxides for Efficient Removal of Reactive Dye Wastes
Authors: Randiligama H. M. S. P. , Mantilaka M. M. M. G. P. G. , Palihawadana T. C.
Published: December 2020

Nanospherical and plate-like magnesium oxide has been successfully synthesized by urea precipitation method for the first time. A magnesium oxide precursor was prepared by heating MgCl2 solution with urea for 12 hours at 90°C. Then the calcined precursor was analysed by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). In the presence of the nonionic surfactant Triton X-100 in the system, the reaction yielded in nanospheres of MgO contrast to the plate-like MgO in the absence of the surfactant. The precursor and the calcined product appeared in similar morphologies under SEM in both cases with a slight reduction of size upon calcination. The final product was confirmed as MgO using XRD and FT-IR spectroscopic methods. In TGA, both samples showed similar mass loss values upon elimination of adsorbed water molecules and decomposition of the precursor into MgO; however, the nanospherical MgO sample showed an additional weight loss due to elimination of the associated surfactant molecules. The efficiency of removing reactive dye wastes was quantified by UV-visible spectroscopy using reactive yellow dye. Plate-like MgO showed a porous structure under HR-TEM analysis in the dye adsorption study, and both plate-like and nanospherical MgO showed good dye adsorption capability. MgO nanospheres showed higher capacity of dye adsorption compared to plate-like MgO, explained by its higher surface are-to-volume ratio, while the plate-like MgO also performed well due to having a nanoporous structure. These nanomaterials will offer high potential in purifying waste water and as well in recovering expensive dye products.
The Mechanism and Management of Adverse Cardiac Reactions Induced by Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Therapy
Authors: Rong Fangning , Ji Kangting , Weng Yingpei , Peng Yangpei
Published: December 2020

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) therapy has recently been introduced to all kinds of cancers. The adverse reactions associated with this therapy have attracted much attention. The heart-related adverse reactions are mainly the immune-related myocarditis and heart failure. Cases of adverse cardiac reactions caused by ICIs therapy have been clearly reported. However, the pathogenesis of the adverse cardiac reactions remains unclear. Therefore, this article briefly reviews the mechanism and management of adverse cardiac reactions caused by ICIs therapy.
Hypoxia-Preconditioned Wharton’s Jelly-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Mitigate Stress-Induced Apoptosis and Ameliorate Human Islet Survival and Function in Direct Contact Coculture System
Authors: Keshtkar Somayeh , Kaviani Maryam , Jabbarpour Zahra , Sabet Sarvestani Fatemeh , Ghahremani Mohammad Hossein , Esfandiari Elaheh , Hossein Aghdaei Mahdokht , Nikeghbalian Saman , Shamsaeefar Alireza , Geramizadeh Bita , Azarpira Negar
Published: December 2020

Protection of isolated pancreatic islets against hypoxic and oxidative damage-induced apoptosis is essential during a pretransplantation culture period. A beneficial approach to maintain viable and functional islets is the coculture period with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Hypoxia preconditioning of MSCs (Hpc-MSCs) for a short time stimulates the expression and secretion of antiapoptotic, antioxidant, and prosurvival factors. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the survival and function of human islets cocultured with Hpc-MSCs. Wharton’s jelly-derived MSCs were subjected to hypoxia (5% O2: Hpc) or normoxia (20% O2: Nc) for 24 hours and then cocultured with isolated human islets in direct and indirect systems. Assays of viability and apoptosis, along with the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α), apoptotic pathway markers, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the islets, were performed. Insulin and C-peptide secretions as islet function were also evaluated. Hpc-MSCs and Nc-MSCs significantly reduced the ROS production and HIF-1α protein aggregation, as well as downregulation of proapoptotic proteins and upregulation of antiapoptotic marker along with increment of VEGF secretion in the cocultured islet. However, the Hpc-MSCs groups were better than Nc-MSCs cocultured islets. Hpc-MSCs in both direct and indirect coculture systems improved the islet survival, while promotion of function was only significant in the direct cocultured cells. Hpc potentiated the cytoprotective and insulinotropic effects of MSCs on human islets through reducing stressful markers, inhibiting apoptosis pathway, enhancing prosurvival factors, and promoting insulin secretion, especially in direct coculture system, suggesting the effective strategy to ameliorate the islet quality for better transplantation outcomes.
Effectiveness of a Geriatric Emergency Medicine Unit for the Management of Neurocognitive Disorders in Older Patients: Results of the MUPACog Study
Authors: Bosetti Anaïs , Gayot Caroline , Preux Pierre-Marie , Tchalla Achille
Published: December 2020

Introduction: The prevalence of neurocognitive disorders (NCDs) increases with age and is associated with cognitive impairment. Older patients with NCD admitted to the emergency department (ED) are readmitted after discharge to home more often than those without NCD. Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is effective for improving clinical outcomes in older patients; however, the usefulness of CGA for older patients with NCD admitted to the ED has not been investigated. The main objective of our study is to assess the effectiveness of a geriatric emergency medicine unit (GEMU) for elderly patients with NCD admitted to the ED. Methods: This historical cohort study included patients aged 75 years and older with NCD admitted to the ED of Limoges University Hospital in France over a 4-year period. We compared patients treated in our hospital’s GEMU, the MUPA unit (exposed group), and patients who received standard care by emergency physicians (control group). The primary end point was the incidence of 30-day readmissions. Results: The study included 801 patients admitted to the ED between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2018 (400 in the exposed group). Of those, 72.5% were female, and the mean age was 87 ± 5 years. After adjusting for confounding factors, the 30-day readmission rate was significantly associated with the MUPA unit intervention. Conclusion: CGA in a GEMU improved health outcomes in elderly patients with NCD in the ED. We recommend that all EDs include a geriatric team, such as the MUPA unit, to treat all patients with NCD admitted to the ED.
Bilateral Encrusted Metallic Stent Successfully Removed by Ureteroscopic Lithotripsy Using a Ho:YAG Laser in a Patient with Malignant Myeloma
Authors: Hanai Takahiro , Kawahara Takashi , Ishida Hiroaki , Kuroda Shinnosuke , Miyai Toshitaka , Yasui Masato , Aoki Shuntaro , Uemura Hiroji
Published: December 2020

Ureteral stent encrustation is sometimes encountered, especially in cases in which a ureteral stent has been forgotten. An 84-year-old female patient with malignant myeloma underwent metallic ureteral stent insertion to treat malignant ureteral obstruction. At the time of scheduled ureteral stent exchange, the stent was heavily encrusted and could not be removed on either side. We performed endoscopic lithotripsy to remove the encrusted ureteral stents. The bilaterally encrusted metallic ureteral stents were successfully removed using Ho:YAG laser lithotripsy after inserting another ureteral stent placement besides the encrusted metallic ureteral stents.
Treatment of Large Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer: The Potential Role of Neoadjuvant Intravesical Chemotherapy
Authors: Raber Marco , Buchholz Noor , Vercesi Augusto , Hendawi Nashaat A. , Inneo Vincenzo , Di Paola Giuseppe , Tessa Lorenzo , Gazzano Giacomo , Viglio Alessandra , Hasan Ismail M.
Published: December 2020

Introduction: The endoscopic resection of large and bulky bladder cancers represents a challenge. To reduce the tumor and make it more easy to resect, we used neoadjuvant short and intensive intravesical mitomycin (MMC) therapy. Methods: Patients with large bladder tumors were evaluated for this study. At cystoscopy, the surgeon evaluated the feasibility of complete resection. In patients where this was not possible, biopsies from the tumor, bladder mucosa, and prostatic urethra were taken. These patients then underwent a short and intensive cytoreductive schedule of intravesical MMC. This was then followed by TUR-BT. Results: Fifteen patients were included in our study. The mean age was 74 years (range: 56–82; SD ±6 years). Mean tumor size was 51 mm (range: 35–65; SD ±8 mm). After neoadjuvant treatment, complete resection was then feasible in all patients. The mean tumor volume after the chemo-resection had reduced to 34 mm (range: 10–50; SD ±13 mm). No adverse effects were reported. Conclusion: Intravesical cytoreductive neoadjuvant MMC as an initial treatment of large NMIBC can be considered safe, effective, and feasible.
An Association Rule Analysis of Combined Acupoints for the Treatment of Patients with Dry Eye Disease
Authors: Lin Ya-Hsuan , Wu Hsein-Chang , Hsieh Po-Chun , Tzeng I-Shiang , Wu Shu-Ya , Kuo Chan-Yen
Published: December 2020

Background: Dry eye disease (DED) has a higher incidence in old age and is seen predominantly in females worldwide. Neurosensory abnormalities, ocular surface inflammation and damage, film instability, and hyperosmolarity are major and proven pathologies responsible for a poor quality of life. Tear breakup time and Schirmer’s I test are predominantly used for the evaluation of primary outcomes in patients undergoing conventional treatment. A previous meta-analysis of some relevant studies proved that combination of acupoints could be more effective than single acupoint treatment. Objectives: The present study aimed to undertake association rule mining and examined the potential kernel acupoint combination in DED treatment constructed from the extracted randomized controlled trials (RCTs) based on a previous meta-analysis. Methods: We summarized 32 acupoints as binary data from the 12 eligible RCTs and analyzed them based on the Apriori algorithm. Results: TE23, BL2, ST2, ST1, EX-HN5, BL1, LI4, ST36, SP6, and KI3 were the 10 most frequently selected acupoints. The major associated rules in combination of acupoints were {TE23, LI4} ≥ {ST1} and {TE23, ST1} ≥ {LI4}, as inferred from 23 association rules. Conclusions: For acupuncture treatment of DED, combined TE23, LI4, and ST1 acupoints could be settled as the kernel of acupoint combination.
Sin cuarentena: necropolítica y acción colectiva juvenil en Colombia (2020)
Authors: Aguilar Forero Nicolás Juan
Published: December 2020

Resumen (analítico)La necropolítica se fortaleció en Colombia en medio de la cuarentena causada por el nuevo coronavirus. Como respuesta surgieron diversas formas de protesta, dos de las cuales se analizan en este artículo: la movilización derivada del caso de abuso sexual a una niña emberá por parte de siete militares y la acción colectiva juvenil del movimiento estudiantil, en especial de la Asociación Colombiana de Representantes Estudiantiles de la Educación Superior. El estudio se basa en una aproximación sociocrítica y cualitativa que articula tres técnicas: revisión documental, análisis de contenidos publicados en Twitter y entrevista semiestructurada. Entre los resultados se evidencia que, frente a la necropolítica, la acción colectiva juvenil reaccionó desplegando su potencial transformador por medio de la combinación del ciberactivismo y la movilización «desobediente» en las calles.
A filosofia da evolução em "The ecology of freedom": Potencialidades e cautelas no ensino de biologia e educação ambiental
Authors: Valdanha Neto Diógenes
Published: December 2020

A teoria da evolução biológica é uma das bases requisitadas interdisciplinarmente para melhor tratar de temas ambientais emergentes. Este artigo tem por objetivo discutir sobre as leituras filosóficas acerca da evolução biológica expressas em The ecology of freedom (“A ecologia da liberdade”) de autoria de Murray Bookchin publicado em 1982. O livro repercutiu fortemente nos movimentos de militância e também na discussão acadêmica sobre o ambientalismo, e é considerado a base da corrente da ecologia social. Foi desenvolvida uma análise de conteúdo da obra a partir da unidade de registro “evolução”, que permitiu a codificação em categorias e a explicitação de dados e realização de inferências sobre o objeto estudado. A análise mostrou que o autor constrói chaves filosóficas para a compreensão da evolução biológica tecendo considerações sobre o lugar do ser humano nela. As categorias de agrupamento “hierarquia” e “teleologia” permitiram a explicitação de componentes filosóficos com potência para ações educativas, explicitando as denúncias feitas acerca da naturalizada antropomorfização da natureza e dos anúncios de possibilidades de se pautar os temas ambientais a partir da interdependência entre os seres vivos. Os elementos e conexões presentes na obra indicam caminhos para uma melhor inclusão da ecologia social na esfera educacional com uma proposta filosófica acerca da evolução biológica que aproxima aspectos naturais e sociais da ecologia.
Teleology and Biology: a defense of teleological thinking in biology
Authors: Santis Marcelo Domingos de
Published: December 2020

Teleological language refers to a forward-looking discourse, and various biologists are troubled with this issue. In this paper, I will discuss the misunderstandings that both philosophers of science and biologists have made against teleology. Among these misunderstandings, I can mention its relationship to anthropomorphism (i.e., a planning agent external to the world reference) and reference to a force immanent to the organisms (“vitalism”) beyond the reach of empirical investigation. I will argue that they are misconceptions and that teleology has shifted its meaning and focus from its pre-evolutionary form. Now it is in the position that it can be used and maintained without violating the principles of modern science. Using an example of the adaptation and function debate, I will discuss how the teleological language is the best interpretation of these issues.
School-based obesity prevention interventions in Latin America
Authors: Chavez Rosemary Cosme , Nam Eun Woo
Published: December 2020

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of school-based interventions to prevent obesity conducted in Latin America and provide suggestions for future prevention efforts in countries of the region. METHODS: Articles published in English, Spanish, and Portuguese between 2000 and 2017 were searched in four online databases (Google Scholar, PubMed, LILACS, and REDALYC). Inclusion criteria were: studies targeting school-aged children and adolescents (6–18 years old), focusing on preventing obesity in a Latin American country using at least one school-based component, reporting at least one obesity-related outcome, comprising controlled or before-and-after design, and including information on intervention components and/or process. RESULTS: Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Most effective interventions (n = 3) had moderate quality and included multi-component school-based programs to promote health education and parental involvement focused on healthy eating and physical activity behaviors. These studies also presented a better study designs, few limitations for execution, and a minimum duration of six months. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence-based prevention experiences are important guides for future strategies implemented in the region. Alongside gender differences, an adequate duration, and the combined use of quantitative and qualitative evaluation methods, evidence-based prevention should be considered to provide a clearer and deeper understanding of the true effects of school-based interventions.
Violências por parceiro íntimo na gestação
Authors: Silva Ranielle de Paula , Leite Franciéle Marabotti Costa
Published: December 2020

OBJETIVO: Identificar a prevalência das violências durante a gestação e verificar a associação com as características socioeconômicas, comportamentais e clínicas da gestante. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal em uma maternidade de baixo risco do município de Cariacica, Espírito Santo. Foram entrevistadas 330 puérperas de agosto a outubro de 2017. Informações sobre as características socioeconômicas, comportamentais, reprodutivas e clínicas, assim como experiências de vida, foram coletadas por meio de questionário. Para identificar os tipos de violência, foi utilizado o instrumento da Organização Mundial da Saúde. Foi realizada análise bivariada e multivariada bruta e ajustada por regressão de Poisson com variância robusta. RESULTADOS: As prevalências foram 16,1% (IC95% 2,5–20,4) para violência psicológica, 7,6% (IC95% 5,1–11,0) para a física e 2,7% (IC95% 1,4–5,2) para a sexual. A violência psicológica manteve-se associada a idade, renda familiar, início da vida sexual, doença na gravidez, desejo de interromper a gestação e número de parceiros. A violência física esteve associada a escolaridade, início da vida sexual e doença na gravidez. Já a violência sexual manteve-se associada a situação conjugal e desejo de interromper a gestação (p < 0,05). CONCLUSÕES: A violência psicológica perpetrada pelo parceiro íntimo foi a de maior prevalência entre as gestantes. Mulheres mais jovens, com menor renda e escolaridade, que iniciaram a vida sexual até os 14 anos e que desejaram interromper a gravidez vivenciaram com maior frequência a violência durante a gestação.
Classificação Internacional das Doenças - 11ª revisão
Authors: Almeida Manuella Santos Carneiro , Sousa Filho Luis Ferreira de , Rabello Patrícia Moreira , Santiago Bianca Marques
Published: December 2020

A Organização Mundial da Saúde lançou em maio de 2019 a nova Classificação Internacional de Doenças (CID), 11ª revisão. Como contribuição a essa transição, o objetivo deste texto é apresentar as principais mudanças da versão revisada da classificação e indicar os desafios mais prementes. Após 30 anos da publicação da CID-10, identificam-se desafios importantes quanto à nova classificação, que foi apresentada para adoção dos Estados-membros e entrará em vigor em janeiro de 2022. A finalidade da pré-visualização é permitir aos países planejar o uso e treinar seus profissionais. A nova versão é completamente digital, diminuindo assim os erros de notificação e facilitando a divulgação e consolidação da nova versão. A atualização deixa transparecer os avanços da compreensão cientifica e exige dos governos ações estruturantes e eficiência na implementação, para que todos que tratam da assistência possam se comunicar numa mesma linguagem, em escala mundial.
Neural Progenitor Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Enhance Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity by NF-κB (Nuclear Factor-κB)-Dependent Regulation of ABCB1 (ATP-Binding Cassette Transporter B1) in Stroke Mice
Authors: Zhang Lin , Graf Irina , Kuang Yaoyun , Zheng Xuan , Haupt Matteo , Majid Arshad , Kilic Ertugrul , Hermann Dirk M. , Psychogios Marios-Nikos , Weber Martin S. , Ochs Jasmin , Bähr Mathias , Doeppner Thorsten R.
Published: December 2020

Objective:

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from neural progenitor cells enhance poststroke neurological recovery, albeit the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Since previous research described an enhanced poststroke integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) upon systemic transplantation of neural progenitor cells, we examined if neural progenitor cell-derived EVs affect BBB integrity and which cellular mechanisms are involved in the process.

Approach and Results:

Using in vitro models of primary brain endothelial cell (EC) cultures as well as co-cultures of brain ECs (ECs) and astrocytes exposed to oxygen glucose deprivation, we examined the effects of EVs or vehicle on microvascular integrity. In vitro data were confirmed using a mouse transient middle cerebral artery occlusion model. Cultured ECs displayed increased ABCB1 (ATP-binding cassette transporter B1) levels when exposed to oxygen glucose deprivation, which was reversed by treatment with EVs. The latter was due to an EV-induced inhibition of the NF-κB (nuclear factor-κB) pathway. Using a BBB co-culture model of ECs and astrocytes exposed to oxygen glucose deprivation, EVs stabilized the BBB and ABCB1 levels without affecting the transcellular electrical resistance of ECs. Likewise, EVs yielded reduced Evans blue extravasation, decreased ABCB1 expression as well as an inhibition of the NF-κB pathway, and downstream matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) activity in stroke mice. The EV-induced inhibition of the NF-κB pathway resulted in a poststroke modulation of immune responses.

Conclusions:

Our findings suggest that EVs enhance poststroke BBB integrity via ABCB1 and MMP-9 regulation, attenuating inflammatory cell recruitment by inhibition of the NF-κB pathway.

Graphic Abstract:

A graphic abstract is available for this article.
ŞEHİR HASTANELERİ’NİN GELİŞİMİ SÜRECİNDE SAĞLIK BAKANLIĞI’NIN YAPISAL VE İŞLEVSEL DÖNÜŞÜMÜ
Authors: FEDAİ Recep
Published: December 2020

Bu
çalışma Sağlıkta Dönüşüm Programı ile birlikte Sağlık Bakanlığı’nın geçirdiği
yapısal ve işlevsel dönüşümü konu edinmektedir. Çalışma Sağlıkta Dönüşüm
Programı’nın yeni uygulamaları olarak şehir hastanelerine odaklanmakta; devlet
ve özel sektörün arasındaki ilişki biçimi ise hastanelerdeki dönüşüm
çerçevesinde ele alınmaktadır. Sağlıkta dönüşüm ile Sağlık Bakanlığı yapısal ve
işlevsel bir dönüşüm geçirmektedir. Dönüşümün yapısal ayağı Kamu Özel Ortaklığı
modeli üzerinden gerçekleştirilmekte şehir hastaneleri ise bu modelin
uygulaması olarak karşımıza çıkmaktadır. İşlevsel dönüşüm ise Sağlık
Bakanlığı’nın planlama, düzenleme ve denetleme rollerinin dönüşümü üzerinden
gerçekleşmektedir. Çalışmada Kamu Özel Ortaklığı modeli ile devletin tek
taraflı olmaktansa özel sektörün yanına konumlanarak ilişki biçimini sürdürdüğü
ve hizmet alanlarını özel sektör üzerinden finanse ederek Sağlıkta Dönüşüm
Programı’nı uygulamak istediği ileri sürülmektedir.
SIMPLE REGULARITIES ACQUISITION IN THE STUDIES OF IMPLICIT LEARNING
Authors: Deeva Tatiana M.
Published: December 2020

Background. According to modern empirical data, unconsciously processed information can have a significant impact on human behavior in all spheres of activity. Information about the unconscious information processing is fragmented and often contradictory. For the study of implicit learning different approaches are traditionally used, but none of them are effective for the clear results about the consciousness and abstractness degree of the knowledge obtained. We could more carefully inquire into the matter of unconscious knowledge and its influence on the cognitive problems solving with information about implicit learning of simple rules. This methodology makes it possible to apply more strong criteria for explicit knowledge and assumes purer experimental effects of implicit learning. Objective. To consider and analyze the experience of use experimental techniques with simple regularities acquisition in the studies of implicit learning. Methods. Review and analysis of studies using simple regularities in the field of implicit learning. Results. In the article researches within the experimental paradigms “invariant learning” and “hidden covariation detection” are considered. The most significant experiments, their results and the criticism has led to an improvement of experimental procedures are presented. The problems of using different types of tasks in the training and test stages are described. The main possibilities and limitations of using these paradigms for revealing the effect of implicit learning are outlined. Further perspectives for the application of these techniques are considered. But one needs for a more rigorous approach to measuring the level of awareness. Conclusion. Experimental paradigms with simple regularities acquisition may be promising for the study of implicit association learning mechanisms.
PSYCHOLOGY OF DIFFICULT CHILDHOOD TO THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF V.P. KASHCHENKO (1870–1943)
Authors: Stepanova Marina A.
Published: December 2020

The subject of this publication is the psychological analysis of the system of pedagogical correction (therapeutic pedagogy) developed by the famous Russian educator Vsevolod Petrovich Kashchenko, specialist in the field of education of difficult children. The author concentrates on some data of V.P. Kashchenko’s scientific biography that are directly related to the opening of a unique medical and pedagogical institution in 1908 — a sanatorium-school for disabled children. It led to the emergence of a network of special institutions for children with developmental disabilities in the years to follow, especially in the Soviet period. Methods. The article analyzes the terms used by V.P. Kashchenko: “defective child”, “difficult child”, “special childhood”. The concept of “difficult child” was introduced by V.P. Kashchenko to denote a group of children with marked behavioral disorders and character traits that disrupt their successful socialization, and in particular cause problems in learning the curriculum, and often lead to asocial behavior in school years. Subsequently, the meaning of this term changed, but now it is used in a sense close to how it was regarded by V.P. Kashchenko. Results. General characteristics of V.P. Kashchenko’s effective and practically proven system of education for children with behavioral disorders are given. An attempt is made to identify the psychological foundations of V.P. Kashchenko’s pedagogical correction. The main principle is social conditioning of children’s exclusivity, in particular difficult character traits, that are corrected by the complex system of methods developed by V.P. Kashchenko. The psychological analysis of V.P. Kashchenko’s pedagogical system is based on the ideas of Russian scientists on the unity of education and development, the commonality of the laws of mental development of normal children and those with developmental disorders. It is concluded that it is reasonable to refer to V.P. Kashchenko’s scientific heritage as a source of psychological and pedagogical information in the field of raising children with developmental disorders. The article is dedicated to V.P. Kashchenko 150th anniversary celebrated this year
The Face of the Nonhuman: Human-Animal Encounters in Pu Songling’s Liaozhai Zhiyi
Authors: Whyke Thomas William , Brown Melissa Shani
Published: December 2020

In this article, we expand the scholarly investigation of the representation of nonhuman animals (henceforth, “animals”) in historic literature, specifically focusing upon Pu Songling’s Liaozhai Zhiyi [Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio]. This is partially a response to other scholars who argue that blurred boundaries between human and nonhuman in this genre challenge anthropocentrism by rendering humans and animals as basically the same. This point is often contextualized with reference to traditional Chinese philosophies including Daoism. Drawing upon various tales within Liaozhai, we explore the forms of ethical reciprocity that are enabled through shapeshifting; however, we trouble the assertion that blurred physical boundaries necessarily de-center the human. We argue that despite the fact that animals can become human and vice versa, Liaozhai depicts a natural world which privileges “becoming-human” and naturalizes “human virtues.”
A l’envers: Setting the Stage for a Protective Environment to Deal with ‘Climate Refugees’ in Europe
Authors: Fornalé Elisa
Published: December 2020

The inventory of climate-related disasters is emblematic of the increasing impact of climate change and the concomitant rise in climate migration risk. It is becoming clear that, in the words of Ban Ki-moon, “no country or city—rich or poor—is immune”. At the same time, the design of normative measures is undergoing a radical redefinition, towards assuming a “preventive” role dictated by the imminent need to give a legal meaning to the uncertainty of this new epoch. The article starts from the recent adoption by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe of a resolution on “A legal status for ‘climate refugees’” to explore the potential role an anticipatory approach may play in shaping disaster-affected mobility regimes. It is timely to reflect on its legal implications by discussing emerging practices and the challenges of a normative evolution, that even if fragile, can be understood as part of an effort to reframe the international legal order towards balancing sovereign and common concerns. By considering Italy’s contribution to the debate, the article sheds light on the role of domestic actors, such as courts and local authorities, as agents for legal development in multilevel environmental migration governance.
The Currency of Innocence: Children’s ‘Emotional Capital’ in the Japanese Empire
Authors: Frühstück Sabine
Published: December 2020

In early twentieth-century Japan, a large body of pictures and narratives connected children with soldiers and war-making, producing a multi-sensory emotional register. An operationalised ‘emotional capital’ was employed primarily through the unapologetic insinuation of sentiments, such as Japanese children’s admiration for and affinity with soldiers, those children’s empathy for other children in Japanese-occupied territory, and ‘occupied’ children’s gratitude for the protection soldiers supposedly provided. Altogether, children’s supposed vulnerability and innocence were enlisted, until 1945, to legitimise Japan’s imperialist war – offering a sense of redemption in the wake of extreme mass violence; and, after the defeat, to embody peace as ‘icons of humanitarianism’.
Friendship and Trust between Medieval Princes: Affective Strategies for Navigating Intercultural Difference across the Mediterranean
Authors: Colwell Tania M.
Published: December 2020

This essay analyses the rhetoric of friendship in John of Sulṭāniyya’s translation of a Persian letter from the Mongol-Turkic leader Temür (Tamerlaine) to the French king Charles VI in 1402/3. It examines how the discourse of political friendship was an effective strategy for navigating intercultural difference between princely rulers across the Mediterranean in the later Middle Ages. Friendship language and practices functioned as a diplomatic paradigm for cultivating an affective attitude of trust between secular and spiritual leaders. Central to eliciting trust were performances of goodwill and the demonstrable commitment of individual parties to engage in a reciprocal exchange of benefits and obligations. Negotiating intercultural friendships enabled European elites to effect political change while adopting models of masculine authority independent of the hegemonic warrior tradition of medieval leadership.
Halal Industry of Ukraine in the Period of Independence
Authors: Brylov Denys
Published: December 2020

This article analyzes how the halal industry in Ukraine began. One of the characteristic features in the development of Ukraine’s halal industry is a confrontation between the main halal market players. These represent the transnational Sufi network al-Ahbash and the global Muslim Brotherhood, respectively. The first part of this article discusses the history of the halal industry in Ukraine and of the organizations that carry out halal certification. The second part is dedicated to one of the oldest halal certification centers – the Religious Administration of Muslims of Ukraine (dumu – Dukhovne upravlinnia musul’man Ukraïny), associated with al-Ahbash. I reveal that for dumu, the development of halal certification is primarily considered a part of the discourse on orthodoxy (i.e. practices of ‘traditional’ Islam) and how certification is undertaken is considered to bear on the religious status of dumu in the eyes of Muslims. The economic aspect of halal is considered of secondary importance. In a third part of the article, I consider another halal operator, the Alraid Association, which is associated with the global Muslim Brotherhood. For this organization, halal certification is an important tool to promote the association’s influence in business and the public sphere. In conclusion, I show that the halal industry in Ukraine is present and promising, but at present it aims mainly at large producers. Ordinary Muslims face certain troubles due to the underdevelopment of this sphere.
Catholic Slaveowners and the Development of Georgetown University’s Slave Hiring System, 1792–1862
Authors: Mendoza Elsa Barraza
Published: December 2020

This article examines the place of enslaved laborers in the founding and operations of Georgetown University. It draws evidence from the school’s administrative and financial records; the archives of the Maryland Province of the Society of Jesus; and manuscript collections in Maryland and Washington, DC. The school generally rented rather than bought and owned enslaved people to work on campus. The school used its position as a provider of education and religious services to obtain enslaved laborers from two types of Catholic slaveowners: priests and parents—women in particular—who sent their children to Georgetown. Enslaved laborers worked at the school from its earliest days until the abolition of slavery in Washington, DC, in 1862. Indeed, the school’s last enslaved worker, Aaron Edmonson, left campus in March of 1862, only a month before the passage of the Compensated Emancipation Act of the District of Columbia.
Science and Language Instructional Shifts with Second-Language Learners
Authors: Lee Okhee
Published: December 2020

In the United States, A Framework for K-12 Science Education (National Research Council, 2012) and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) offer a vision of rigorous science standards for all students across K-12 classrooms. As science and engineering practices (e.g., develop models, argue from evidence, construct explanations) are language intensive, engagement in these practices presents both language learning opportunities and demands to all students, especially second language learners. The purpose of this article is to describe science instructional shifts, spurred by the Framework and the NGSS, and language instructional shifts, informed by contemporary views in second language acquisition described in English Learners in STEM Subjects (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, 2018). The article describes a yearlong fifth-grade science curriculum to illustrate how science and language instructional shifts are mutually supportive of each other to promote rigorous science learning and rich language use with a focus on second language learners.
Teacher Competency in Competency-Focused Science Teaching in the South Korean Context: Teacher Self-Assessment Instrument Development and Application
Authors: Kang Nam-Hwa , Kang Hunsik , Maeng Seungho , Park Jongwon , Jeong Eunyoung
Published: December 2020

The purpose of this study was to examine teachers’ competency in teaching for student competence in science. Drawing on literature on competence and science teacher education, we identified 44 indicators of science teaching competence in relation to the current Korean National Science Curriculum, from which 54 items for teachers’ self-assessment were developed and validated. Through online administration of the self-assessment instrument, responses from 210 primary and secondary teachers were collected. Factor analysis resulted in nine factors across three competence areas. Teacher competence differed across factors. One-way ANOVA analysis revealed that primary teachers indicated significantly higher competence in most aspects of teaching than secondary teachers and that years of teaching was related to professional development methods utilized by teachers. Suggestions for professional development program design and further research topics were discussed.
Al-Ghazālī’s Heart as a Medium of Light: Illumination and the Soteriological Process
Authors: Ferhat Loumia
Published: December 2020

This article focuses on the centrality of the heart in al-Ghazālī’s (d. 505/1111) thought. More specifically, it shifts the focus from al-Ghazālī’s doctrinal position, at stake when he defines the heart—which has already received much attention—to the practical aspect of the heart, namely its role within al-Ghazālī’s reformative project. In doing so, it brings to the fore the entanglement between knowledge acquisition, character refinement, and illumination at the end of the soteriological path, that is, the path leading to the soul’s salvation. Paying particular attention to the heart as a medium of light, this article seeks to extend the recent interrogation of philosophy as a way of life, expanding philosophy’s perceived boundaries in contemporary thought. In al-Ghazālī’s writings, the heart serves not only as the essence of man, but also as a synecdoche for the individual, that is, for the very essence of human subjectivity. As a medium of light, through proper training and spiritual practices, the heart becomes the locus of knowledge acquisition, character refinement, and the final conversion of the gaze. Al-Ghazālī’s conception of the heart, then, stands at the crossroads of Sufism and philosophy, where a conception of knowledge that is inseparable from ethics and aesthetics emerges. By examining this merging of ethics and aesthetics in al-Ghazālī’s thought, this article argues for the significance of aesthetics to al-Ghazālī, despite his ambivalence towards analogies and sense-perception.