bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Geometry of Microwave Antennas
Authors: Parzynski William R.
Published: January 2021

Parabolic antennas have become a common sight. Home television antennas can receive more than a hundred channels. Parabolic reflectors are as commonplace as an automobile headlight and as exotic as the solar reflector in the James Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun.
Sharing teaching ideas: The Calculator, Math Magic, and Algebra
Authors: Carman Brian
Published: January 2021

“Sharing Teaching Ideas” offers practical tips on the teaching of topics related to the secondary school curriculum. We hope to include classroom-tested approaches that offer new slants on familiar subjects for the beginning and the experienced teacher. See the masthead page for details on submitting manuscripts for review.
Mathematical Aspects of a Lunar Shuttle Landing Revisited
Authors: Anderson Bill D. , Grantham Dennis P. , Lamb John F.
Published: January 2021

In our earlier article (1981) on the mathematical aspects of a lunar shuttle landing simulation, we tried to find the amount of fuel that we could constantly burn each second and achieve a safe landing. Since then, we have investigated some ways to burn variable amounts according to some mathematical function. Some simplifications in the model have been made to make it more accessible to students. For example, we assumed that the altitude is decreased by the amount of the velocity for that second, and we further assumed that we had massless fuel.
Visual Thinking with Translations, Half-Turns, and Dilations
Authors: Brieske Tom
Published: January 2021

Geometry is too important to be confined to one year of the high school curriculum. It should be used whenever it can provide visual imagery to help students understand analytical definitions and formal reasoning. In many instances, geometric intuition should precede or parallel analytic formulation of mathematical ideas. This approach is certainly true in vector geometry, which deserves an important place in the last two years of the high school curriculum.
Introducing the Concept of Probability
Authors: Ernest Paul
Published: January 2021

All too often mathematics is considered to be the study of certainties: certain truth and certain falsity. We need to overcome this misleading impression and to show that mathematics can describe the uncertainties of everyday life. Much of our daily life is unpredictable and uncertain. A branch of mathematics, probability theory, can help us cope with this aspect of life. However, if the theory of probability is taught formally, then students may not make the connection between the theory and its usefulness in daily life. The following introduction helps ensure that this connection is made.
SoundOFF: The New Math—An Opportunity Lost
Authors: Allen Frank B.
Published: January 2021

The views expressed in the “Soundoff” editorials do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Panel of the Mathematics Teacher or the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Readers are encouraged to react to these editorials by writing to the author with copies to the Mathematics Teacher for consideration in “Reader Reflections.” Please double-space all letters that are to be considered for publication. Editorials from readers are welcomed.
Mathematics Processes and Computers in the Junior High School
Authors: Kulm Gerald
Published: January 2021

As computer literacy and programming ability increase at the elementary and junior high school levels, more thought must be given to the role of computers in mathematics learning. One step to be taken at the high school level is to accept Gerald Rising's (1983) suggestion to separate computer science and mathematics. This proposal is an excellent one and would help us to focus on ways to improve mathematics learning through the use of computers.
A Heuristic Method for Solving Polynomial Equations
Authors: Small R D.
Published: January 2021

“When you can see an approximate solution the battle is half over.” This statement is the theme of the following method for solving polynomial equations. When the quadratic formula generates solutions of quadratic equations, we gain little insight into the solution process. A little more insight can be gained by using numerical techniques such as those reviewed by Snover and Spikell (1979). since the convergence to the solution can be observed.
Mastery Learning and Peer Tutoring in a Special Program
Authors: Grossman Anne S.
Published: January 2021

The College Discovery and Development Program (CDDP), a City University of New York and Board of Education Consortium, has existed since 1966. With the long-range goal of improving students’ skills in high school to enable them to succeed in college, CDDP's more immediate objectives are the following: (1) identification of junior high school students with undeveloped potential and (2) provision of an educational sequence (including remediation in mathematics and language arts) that contributes to students’ advancement and success in completing all academic coursework in high school required for entrance into college.
Sharing teaching ideas
Authors: Csongor Julianna
Published: January 2021

“Sharing Teaching Ideas” offers practical tips on the teaching of topics related to the secondary school curriculum. We hope to include classroom tested approaches that offer new slants on familiar subjects for the beginning and the experienced teacher. See the masthead page for details on submitting manuscripts for review.
The Benefits of Computer Programming in Developing Algorithmic Thinking
Authors: Petosa Rita L.
Published: January 2021

Our school has not adopted a computer literacy course. Instead, we have opted to direct students’ interest in computers toward the study of mathematics. That is, we have infused an ongoing component of instruction in computer programming into our mathematics curriculum with interesting results.
Applied Measurement—Using Problem Solving
Authors: Clemens Stanley R.
Published: January 2021

Working several recent summers in construction gave me firsthand experience in applied measurement. In applied measurement the “stakes” are high; an error can cost thousands of dollars. For example, on one occasion I had responsibility for locating the vertices of a 132-foot-by- 135-foot rectangle that were to mark the foundation for a $1.5 million building.
A Matrix Application Technique for Secondary Level Mathematics
Authors: Alexander Daniel C.
Published: January 2021

Imagine how often we need the equation of a line through two points. Or perhaps it is the equation for a parabola through three noncollinear points that we seek. A single method will allow us to determine these linear and quadratic functions and those of degrees greater than 2! Based on matrices and their inverses, the mechanics of the method are often developed in secondary level mathematics classes.
Geometry in the Junior High School
Authors: Prevost Fernand J.
Published: January 2021

The van Hiele model of the learning of geometry currently enjoys both popular and research interest. Hoffer (1981) provides an overview of the model and identifies problems that are appropriate for students at each of the five van Hiele levels, the first three of which will be considered in this paper.
Visual Thinking, Algebraic Thinking, and a Full Unit-Circle Diagram
Authors: Shear Jonathan
Published: January 2021

The Chinese epigram A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words vividly reflects the different, often complementary roles of two cognitive styles with which we are all familiar. One of these is visual—spatial and holistic in nature; the other is verbal— linear or sequential in nature. It is well accepted among psychologists and researchers in creativity that creative thinking is most effective when both of these styles of functioning are active in a coordinated manner. Since Jacques Hadamard's ground-breaking work The Psychology of Invention in the Mathematical Field (1945), it has been widely recognized that mathematical thinking is no exception to this general rule.
Soundoff: Will Mathematics Education Rise to the Challenge of Computers?
Authors: Moursund David
Published: January 2021

Our mathematics education system has nearly achieved a local maximum in quality. Years of efforts in teacher training, materials development, curriculum design, and so on, have optimized the system. The optimization that has occurred takes into consideration the amount of school time we devote to mathematics, the capabilities of teachers, the capabilities of students, and the support available in the home. The system is quite stable; it is highly resistant to change.
Manipulating Percentages
Authors: Wiebe James H.
Published: January 2021

Percentages are everywhere—in the food we eat (cornflakes contain 25% of our recommended daily allowance of vitamin A), in the clothes we wear (35% cotton), in our favorite television programs (watched by 55% of the television audience). and in the money we earn (27% tax bracket) and spend (5 1/2% sales tax). In modern society, people who do not understand percentages will have difficulty reading articles and advertisements that appear in newspapers, determining if they are being cheated by financial institutions or retail establishments, or knowing if they are being misled by politicians.
The Analytical Connection: Problem Solving across the Curriculum
Authors: Chisko Ann M. , Davis Lynn K.
Published: January 2021

“My students can't think!” This lament is heard echoing through the halls of academia. Our growing dissatisfaction with our students' apparent inability to reason in mathematics and programming classes seems to mirror the concerns of colleagues in other disciplines. We were prompted to design and run an interdisciplinary course to give students practice in analytical or general problem-solving skills.
ADAPTAÇÃO E VALIDAÇÃO SEMÂNTICA DO THINKING STYLES INVENTORY – REVISED II (TSI-R2) PARA AS LICENCIATURAS EM MÚSICA NO BRASIL
Authors:   Universidade Estadual Paulista UNESP, Torres Sérgio Inácio , Bortz Graziela , Oliveira Katya Luciane de
Published: January 2021

Nesta pesquisa, adaptamos e buscamos validação semântica do Inventário de Estilos de Pensamento-Revisado 2 (STERNBERG; WAGNER; ZHANG, 2007) – o TSI-R2 –, a fim de medir diferentes estágios e meios que são utilizados para solucionar problemas, executar tarefas ou projetos e tomar decisões, tendo como objetivos específicos: a) adaptar o instrumento para a área de Música; b) avaliar o instrumento adaptado por juízes das áreas envolvidas; e c) investigar a compreensão pelo público-alvo. Metodologicamente, são os procedimentos necessários segundo as normas da International Test Commission (2010), a saber: a concordância pelos juízes das áreas de Linguística, Música e Cognição musical, e a confiança com evidência robusta do entendimento pelo público-alvo. Os resultados de validação semântica mostram que o TSI-R2 pode ser utilizado com licenciandos em Música, pois tem seu construto preservado a despeito da eliminação de alguns itens durante a pesquisa.
PETE SEEGER: 100 ANOS
Authors:   Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina - UDESC, Oliveira Márcia Ramos de , Dunaway David King , Roberge Lívia Bernardes , Moreira Igor Lemos
Published: January 2021

A conferência apresentada, transcrita e traduzida tem como abordagem principal a trajetória de Pete Seeger, como parte das efemérides relacionadas aos 100 anos de nascimento do artista. Músico, cantor e, especialmente, ativista político, Seeger desenvolveu uma sólida carreira musical dando destaque ao gênero folk estadunidense, porém dimensionado sob distintas formas de mobilização pelos direitos trabalhistas, liberdades individuais e coletivas, como destaque as mobilizações em prol dos direitos civis nos Estados Unidos, além de causas ambientalistas. Atuou política e musicalmente desde os anos 1930 e destacou-se internacionalmente no século XX. David Dunaway dedicou-se ao estudo de sua trajetória em boa parte de sua vida como pesquisador, com publicações destacando sua importância histórica e musical, envolvendo o gênero biográfico associado a linguagens sonoras e de radiodifusão. Na Conferência apresentada, destaca a biografia de Pete Seeger imersa em sua própria relação de aproximação e identidade com o músico, destacando a experiência pessoal e profissional no desenvolvimento da pesquisa realizada sobre ele, descrita no percurso como biógrafo, nas ações do artista, na documentação utilizada e percalços enfrentados para que seu trabalho investigativo pudesse ser conhecido do público ampliado.
Artifícios da invenção melódica segundo Johann Mattheson (1739)
Authors:   Universidade de São Paulo, Lucas Monica Isabel
Published: January 2021

Entre os séculos XVI e XVIII, o mundo reformado luterano produziu textos que têm em comum o fato de emprestarem sistematicamente a terminologia derivada de retóricas e de poéticas clássicas para descrever fenômenos musicais. Certamente, a mais abrangente e detalhada dentre estas obras é aquela escrita por Johann Mattheson, intitulada Der vollkommene Capellmeister (“O mestre de capela perfeito”), publicada em 1739. O presente artigo aborda o capítulo da obra de Mattheson dedicado à invenção melódica. Ele a descreve como a primeira parte de construção do discurso musical, discorre sobre suas partes e finalmente discute os lugares-comuns, fontes de argumentos para a invenção temática. Ao apresentar as ideias de Mattheson sobre a invenção, nossos objetivos, além de dar a conhecer o conteúdo do texto, são evidenciar a base retórica de seus escritos e defender a utilidade dos lugares-comuns como ferramentas para a composição musical nos séculos XVII e XVIII.
La historiografía musical como producción activa de ausencias. Para una historia popular de la música
Authors:   Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Eckmeyer Martín
Published: January 2021

La historiografía musical afirmativa, conformada básicamente por la musicología y el folklore, han producido como inexistente la dimensión histórica de la música popular, mediante la propia aplicación de una epistemología objetual/personalista basada en la concepción occidentalocéntrica de la música como objeto (de cambio). Si bien esta es una historiografía zombie, a todas luces vetusta, sigue habitando la porción mayoritaria de los imaginarios sobre la música, y en especial, está presente en los cursos universitarios de historia de la música. El presente trabajo intentará problematizar esta concepción hegemónica con el fin de contribuir a la (re)integración conceptual, en una historia popular de la música, de las prácticas del mundo popular subalterno presentes en todo el desarrollo histórico de Occidente y en especial, de Latinoamérica. Dado que para ello es necesaria una aproximación conceptual divergente, propondremos una serie de conceptos-otros que puedan dar cuenta de la especificidad musical del mundo popular subalterno: su aspecto localizado y performativo, su condición dinámica de musicar, y su carácter nómada, mestizo, transcultural y transmoderno.
Querelas e aquarelas do Brasil: o jazz na mira do nacionalismo musical (anos 1920-1960)
Authors:   UFU/CNPq, Paranhos Adalberto
Published: January 2021

É comum estabelecer-se uma associação imediata entre a propalada “influência do jazz” e a emergência e consolidação da Bossa Nova. Este artigo, no entanto, empreende uma viagem de volta no tempo e pretende documentar, de forma analítica, como as lutas de representações travadas entre setores que cultuavam a tradição e a brasilidade e outros que se apresentavam como modernizantes antecederam em muito aquela época. Para tanto, num apanhado geral, retrocede ao período pós-Primeira Guerra Mundial a fim de flagrar a eclosão das jazz bands, que na “era do jazz”, nos anos 1920, estenderam seu raio de alcance a diferentes pontos do Brasil, incluindo cidades interioranas. Em sua marcha ascendente, a penetração de elementos musicais estadunidenses prosseguiu, especialmente na década de 1930, num momento em que o fox-trot se converteu no gênero de música estrangeira mais gravado no país. Na esteira desse fenômeno, este texto objetiva, então, capturar as reações ao que foi entendido como um processo de desnacionalização da música popular brasileira, que culminaria com a preparação de terreno para a “desfiguração” do samba “autêntico” promovida pelo samba-canção e pela Bossa Nova.
Sinfonia nº 4 de Villa-Lobos: a vitória, a derrota e a volta por cima
Authors:   Universidade de São Paulo, Escola de Comunicações e Artes, Salles Paulo de Tarso
Published: January 2021

O propósito deste trabalho é apresentar uma análise da Sinfonia no 4 (“A Vitória”) de Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959) a partir de sua estrutura formal e narrativa. A obra foi composta em 1919 para celebrar o final da primeira guerra mundial, e sua estreia foi programada para um concerto dedicado ao casal real belga que visitava o Brasil em 1920. Originalmente estruturada como um poema sinfônico em três partes, a obra se baseia em texto escrito por Luís Gastão d’Escragnolle Dória (1869-1948). A narrativa literária é recoberta por outra, de caráter musical, estruturada em forma cíclica segundo o método de Vincent d’Indy. A análise irá buscar pontos de aproximação e afastamento entre as narrativas literária e musical, segundo teorias de narratividade propostas por Eero Tarasti (1994) e Byron Almén (2008), além de análises tópicas, segundo Leonard Ratner (1980), Wye Allanbrook (1983), Raymond Monelle (2000; 2006) e outros. O objetivo é interpretar os aspectos musicalmente significativos resultantes da intertextualidade entre música e texto.
Lindembergue e o Navio: pelos mares da musicopedagogia
Authors:   Universidade Federal da Bahia, Nunes Helena de Souza , Nunes Leonardo de Assis , Leite Jaqueline Câmara
Published: January 2021

No campo de estudo do repertório infantil, sob um olhar histórico e teórico musical, o objetivo deste artigo é lançar luz sobre o universo brasileiro, com vistas a enunciar fundamentos pertinentes ao que sejam obras para, por e com crianças. A pesquisa é qualitativa, aplicada e exploratória, e seu procedimento predominante é estudo de caso, incluindo revisão bibliográfica, análise documental textual e análise musical. A peça O Navio Pirata (CARDOSO, 1981), contextualizada e analisada por meio da Ficha de Análise CDG (NUNES, 2012) é, aqui, considerada a mais representativa do assunto investigado, dentre as publicadas na coleção Música Brasileira para Coro Infantil, da Funarte (BRASIL, 1979). Os resultados evidenciaram nela componentes teórico-musicais abertos e indicações expressivas de caráter performático, subjacentes, inspiradoras, transgressoras e passíveis de ampliações por parte dos intérpretes. Conclui-se que peças musicais infantis precisam prever e acolher coautorias caleidoscópicas, por parte das crianças, em suas partituras.
Differential Typology of Burnout in the Ukrainian Sample
Authors: Irkhin Yurii B. , Chystovska Yuliia , Pits Iryna I. , Ryk Hanna S. , Shyrokoradiuk Liliia A.
Published: January 2021

Aim of study is a qualitative classification of manifestations of professional burnout based on quantitative indicators of exhaustion, cynicism and inefficiency. The paper substantiates the need to differentiate the symptoms of burnout from similar manifestations of professional maladjustment and personality disorders. The study involved 355 specialists of socionomic professions from different regions of Ukraine with work experience from 1 to 39 years (50.15% of men, 49.85% of women). Based on the cluster analysis of the three basic symptoms of burnout (exhaustion, cynicism, and depersonalisation), the groups of engaged and burned-out employees were identified, as well as qualitative and quantitative differences were showed. A comparative analysis of the groups was carried out for a number of additional diagnostic parameters: emotional attitude to work, the ratio of losses and gains of personal resources, the scale of psychological well-being, loyalty to the organisation. Typological profiles of 8 professional groups were created: effective employees ("engaged", "growing" and "taking" type), ineffective employees ("dependent" and "disengaged-relaxed" type), and three groups representing successive stages of burnout (accumulation of job stress, burnout itself and severe degree, accompanied by psychological distress in all spheres of life). The results allow us to conclude that particular symptoms of depersonalisation and reduction in personal achievements are not a sufficient basis for diagnosing burnout syndrome. The symptom of depersonalisation may be a manifestation of other professional deformations, not caused by burnout. Without combination with other parameters, the professional inefficiency is not a symptom of burnout; this is a common sign of insufficient development of competencies or an erroneous choice of the type of activity. Appropriate ways of organisational and psychological support are proposed.
Pedagogical Foundations of the Technology of Vocational Guidance for Students
Authors: Zhaina Beisenbayeva , Ospan Sangilbayev , Elmira Mukazhanova , Gulnar Kassymova , Tolganay Bersugirova
Published: January 2021

Today, considering professional specialists' needs, the content and technology of training in career counseling from the perspective of practice are not sufficiently developed. Thus, a search for new forms, methods, and means of conducting career guidance with students is necessary.
This article offers a broad range of technologies and their optimal combination in career guidance work with pupils in the integrated system “School – University.”
A leading approach to the study of this problem is an integrative approach that leads to the necessity to use traditional and innovative technologies that contribute not only to effective assimilation of knowledge but also an early social adaptation of the prospective adolescents to university conditions.
The present study consists of a needs assessment of students' career guidance and career counseling programs in the university. The research is based on a survey developed on a sample of 120 students from the Almaty schools. The collected data has been both qualitative and quantitative. The students have been inquired about their professional path, about their career decisions, personal and professional values, abilities and competencies, intentions for the future, etc. The study's most relevant results show that: students are poorly informed about job opportunities, their expectations for the future are not connected with their own knowledge and abilities, they do not have a coherent career plan, and they encounter major barriers in the career decision process. The results are important for career counselors as they can be used to develop career guidance programs in the university environment.
Purpose of the research: to theoretically substantiate and experimentally test the pedagogical conditions of vocational guidance for senior schoolchildren in the context of specialized education.
The article is valuable for teachers and faculty of educational and vocational institutions to organize and conduct career guidance with students, applicants, and students.
Discourse Analysis as a Qualitative Methodology
Authors: Zajda Joseph
Published: January 2021

The article analyses the term discourse and discourse analysis with reference to Foucault and other critics. Foucault used the role of discourses in wider social processes of legitimating power, and emphasizing the construction of current truths. The article argues that discourse analysis,
as employed by Foucault, concentrated on analysing power relationships in society, as expressed through language and social practices. The article examines the use of genealogy, where Foucault attempted to trace the beginnings of internalised moral behaviour, or a reflexive relation to the
self in human beings. Examples are presented of various approaches to discourse analysis, including deconstruction and preferred reading and interpretation of the text. The article concludes with the evaluation of discourse analysis as a qualitative methodology.
Comparative Assessment of Livelihood Vulnerability of Climate Induced Migrants: A Micro Level Study on Sagar Island, India
Authors: Kumar Singh Dr Suraj , Bera Aparna
Published: January 2021

The effects of climate change are causing large scale human displacements over the past few decades. Climate refugees are putting the biggest challenges to the geophysical biological and social system all over the world. This paper attempts to assess and compare the vulnerability of the climate-induced migrants and regular settlers of selected mouzas of Sagar Island, south 24parganas, India. People are witnessing their lands vanishing under their feet in these constantly sinking and shrinking deltaic estuaries of Sundarban. Findings of LVI and LVI-IPCC analysis indicate that the climate-induced migrant communities are more exposed to climatic variability due to the poor adaptive capacity. Moreover, poor access to food, water, health facilities is making them extremely vulnerable with lower resilience as these mouzas are facing frequent flooding, severe coastal erosion, embankment breaching and higher storm surge on annual basis. The outcomes of this study could be beneficial ineffective on-site risk management and planning propositions.
Parasites on parasites: hyper‐, epi‐, and autoparasitism among flowering plants
Authors: Krasylenko Yuliya , Těšitel Jakub , Ceccantini Gregorio , Oliveira‐da‐Silva Mariana , Dvořák Václav , Steele Daniel , Sosnovsky Yevhen , Piwowarczyk Renata , Watson David M. , Teixeira‐Costa Luiza
Published: January 2021

All organisms engage in parasitic relations, as either parasites or hosts. Some species may even play both roles simultaneously. Among flowering plants, the most widespread form of parasitism is characterized by the development of an intrusive organ called the haustorium, which absorbs water and nutrients from the host. Despite this functionally unifying feature of parasitic plants, haustoria are not homologous structures; they have evolved 12 times independently. These plants represent ca. 1% of all extant flowering species and show a wide diversity of life histories. A great variety of plants may also serve as hosts, including other parasitic plants. This phenomenon of parasitic exploitation of another parasite, broadly known as hyper‐ or epiparasitism, is well described among bacteria, fungi, and animals, but remains poorly understood among plants. Here, we review empirical evidence of plant hyperparasitism, including variations of self‐parasitism, discuss the diversity and ecological importance of these interactions, and suggest possible evolutionary mechanisms. Hyperparasitism may provide benefits in terms of improved nutrition and enhanced host–parasite compatibility if partners are related. Different forms of self‐parasitism may facilitate nutrient sharing among and within parasitic plant individuals, while also offering potential for the evolution of hyperparasitism. Cases of hyperparasitic interactions between parasitic plants may affect the ecology of individual species and modulate their ecosystem impacts. Parasitic plant phenology and disperser feeding behavior are considered to play a major role in the occurrence of hyperparasitism, especially among mistletoes. There is also potential for hyperparasites to act as biological control agents of invasive primary parasitic host species.
Schiff base complexes with different metals incorporating derivatives of 3,6‐di‐tert‐butylcarbazole
Authors: Gruzdev Matvey S. , Chervonova Ulyana V. , Ksenofontov Alexander A. , Krestianinov Mikhail A. , Alexandrov Anatoly I. , Pashkova Tamara V.
Published: January 2021

Four new mononuclear complexes formed by the asymmetric azomethine ligand have been synthesized and characterized. Fe (III), Ga (III), Cu (II), and Co (II) ions were used as a central metal ion. The chelating ligand contains derivatives of 3,6‐di‐tert‐butylcarbazole as a chromophor. The data of far FT‐IR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry confirmed the formation of HCN bond and the coordination of metal ion through deprotonated oxygen and azomethine nitrogen. The X‐ray powder analysis of polycrystalline complexes showed that the crystal cells of all complexes are triclinic, with unit cells containing four molecules each. The counter‐ions are regularly embedded into the crystalline lattice. The conformation of the molecules of all complexes is elongated and symmetric. The thermal gravimetric analysis showed a high stability of all complexes above 200°C. The UV–Vis and fluorescence spectral data of the synthesized compounds were obtained in acetone, benzene, dichloromethane, chloroform, DMA, DMF, DMSO, and THF. The complexes show intensive π–π*, n–π*, and charge‐transfer (CT) bands in the range from 200 to 400 nm in all solvents, whereas the ligand shows intensive π–π*, n–π* bands only. A strong red shift (21–31 nm) of the emission band maximum of the complexes is observed upon transition from nonpolar to polar solvents.
The effect of “should” and “would” instructions on delay discounting of rewards for self and others
Authors: Neff Mary Beth , Macaskill Anne C.
Published: January 2021

Would you prefer $50 now or $100 in 6 months? What if you made this decision for someone else—would you be more impulsive or more self‐controlled? Some studies suggest we are more impulsive when deciding for ourselves, whereas others suggest the reverse. This might be because some researchers ask participants what they would do whereas others ask what they should do. We investigated the impact of should/would decision type on delay discounting rate in choices for the self and for another person. We also examined the effect of condition order. In Experiment 1 (using a student sample), discounting rates were affected by the combination of decision frame and condition order. Decision frame had a bigger effect on choices in the second condition, perhaps because instructions became clearer when they could be contrasted with the previous set. Experiment 2 (using a Mechanical Turk sample) investigated this possibility by including all possible frames at the beginning of the session; this produced a more consistent would/should difference for choices for the self, but an order effect remained. Experiment 3 isolated task order by having participants complete the same choice task twice. Decisions were significantly more self‐controlled for the second iteration. Together, these results suggest that people are more self‐controlled when making should decisions and (less consistently) decisions for others and that having recently made delay‐amount trade‐off decisions also promotes self‐control. Rates of unsystematic data were unexpectedly high in Experiment 2, particularly among nonmaster Turk workers and those located in India.
Roles of metformin‐mediated girdin expression in metastasis of epithelial ovarian cancer
Authors: Dang Jianhong , Gao Jinghai , Ma Fang , Luo Yan , Wang Jing , Wang Dan , Li Weiqing , Sun Hao , Li Lingling , Liu Xiaojun , Hu Dian , Jin Zhijun
Published: January 2021

Antimetastatic effect of Metformin has been documented in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Presently, we investigated the regulatory mechanism of Metformin in EOC metastasis. First, Girdin was significantly enhanced in EOC tumorous tissues and cell lines. Seconded, knockdown of Girdin significantly suppressed EOC cell viability, migration, and invasion, while upregulation of Girdin produced the opposite effects in vitro and facilitated lung metastasis in EOC cell xenograft in vivo. In addition, we confirmed that the inhibitory effect of Metformin on Girdin expression. Mechanistically, the oncogenic effects of Girdin could be reversed by LY294002 (an AKT pathway inhibitor) and Metformin. These results suggested that Metformin attenuated EOC metastasis through Girdin and targeting Girdin may be a promising therapeutic strategy for EOC in the future.
COVID‐19 in a case with Kikuchi‐Fujimoto disease
Authors: Jaseb Kaveh , Nameh Goshay Fard Najmeh , Rezaei Nima , Sadeghian Siavash , Sadeghian Saeid
Published: January 2021

Key Clinical Message

The accurate diagnosis of Kikuchi‐Fujimoto disease can protect children from unnecessary diagnostic procedures and treatments. Also, the co‐occurrence of rare diseases with other diseases can improve or worsen the symptoms of the patients.
Synthesis of Lattice‐Contracted Cobalt Disulfide as an Outstanding Oxygen Reduction Reaction Catalyst via Self‐assembly Arrangement
Authors: Zhang Hao , Wang Zhiqiang , Ma Chenglong , Zhou Zhenhua , Cao Limei , Gong Xueqing , Dong Chunxiao , Yang Ji
Published: January 2021

Identifying high‐performance non‐precious metal‐based catalysts at the cathode is a major challenge for future practical applications. Herein, a soft‐template route through a self‐assembly arrangement of sulfur sources was successfully developed, facilitating the anion exchange. In addition, compared with pristine cobalt disulfide synthesized without templates, the cobalt disulfide prepared using the new method presented a lattice shrinking phenomenon due to the hindrance of cobalt hydroxide crystal cell. Based on X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and density functional theory (DFT) calculation, increased occupancy of eg orbitals was verified for the cobalt disulfide after shrinkage, which was the main factor for enhancing the intrinsic activity of the catalyst. Besides the microscopic morphologic structure, elementary composition, and the valence state of the elements, the possible growth process of the cobalt disulfide was also discussed in detail. As catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction, CoS2 showed a similar half‐wave potential (0.81 vs. 0.84 V for Pt/C) and higher diffusion‐limiting current density (reaching 5.33 vs. 5.19 mA cm−2 for Pt/C) than a commercial Pt/C catalyst. Hence, our results provide a rational design direction for this type of catalysts.
A 12‐Gb/s serial link transceiver using dual‐mode pulse amplitude modulation scheme in a 0.18‐μm CMOS process
Authors: Mohabbatian Neda , Hadidi Khayrollah
Published: January 2021

A 12‐Gb/s 0.18‐μm complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) serial link transceiver with embedded clock signal in data stream using dual‐mode pulse amplitude modulation is presented. The 6‐bit data and the clock signal are both transferred through the same transmission channel. In the proposed modulation technique, the clock signal is easily recovered using a conventional phase‐locked loop without any complex encoders in the transmitter circuit. The transmitter includes multiplexers, an output driver, and pre‐emphasis circuitry with 127‐mW power consumption. The receiver is composed of a phase‐locked loop for clock recovery and demodulator blocks for data recovery, and it dissipates 45 mW of power.
Plasma proteoglycan prolargin in diagnosis and differentiation of pulmonary arterial hypertension
Authors: Arvidsson Mattias , Ahmed Abdulla , Bouzina Habib , Rådegran Göran
Published: January 2021

Aims

Right ventricular dysfunction may arise because of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Development of new diagnostic methods able to identify PAH and allow for earlier treatment initiation, before the development of vascular remodelling and manifest right heart failure (HF), could potentially improve prognosis. Proteoglycans and inflammatory proteins are involved in vascular remodelling. We aimed to investigate their potential as biomarkers to differentiate PAH in a dyspnoeic population.

Methods and results

Plasma from 152 patients with PAH (n = 48), chronic thrombo‐embolic pulmonary hypertension (n = 20), pulmonary hypertension due to HF with reduced (n = 36) or preserved (n = 33) ejection fraction, and HF without pulmonary hypertension (n = 15) and 20 healthy controls were analysed with proximity extension assays. Haemodynamics were assessed in the patients with right heart catheterization. Plasma prolargin levels in PAH were lower compared with all the other studied disease groups (P < 0.001) but higher than the controls' levels (P = 0.003). Receiver operating characteristic curve of prolargin as a PAH‐differentiating marker in a pooled population, encompassing all the other studied disease groups, had a sensitivity of 74% and a specificity of 83.3% (area under the curve = 0.84, P < 0.001). Prolargin correlated with the mean right atrial pressure (rs = 0.65, P < 0.001), N‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic peptide (rs = 0.64, P < 0.001), cardiac index (rs = −0.31, P = 0.029), stroke volume index (rs = −0.41, P = 0.004), right ventricular stroke work index (rs = −0.31, P = 0.032), six‐minute walking distance (rs = −0.41, P = 0.005), and mixed venous blood oxygen saturation (rs = −0.42, P = 0.003).

Conclusions

Plasma prolargin levels differentiate PAH patients from controls and the other investigated dyspnoea groups including HF. Its potential in PAH differentiation may be enhanced by inclusion in a multi‐marker panel. Larger studies are needed to evaluate its discriminative ability of PAH in relation to other dyspnoea aetiologies and its potential role in PAH risk stratification and pathobiology.
Study on Thermal Simulation of LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4/Li4Ti5O12 Battery
Authors: Yang Kai , Shan Zhongqiang , Liu Xuesheng , Tan Lizhi , Wang Shirong
Published: January 2021

A thermal simulation model is developed to analyze the thermal behavior of the lithium‐ion battery. This model precisely considers the thermal properties of battery materials, including cathode, anode, and electrolyte. The LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (LNMO)/Li4Ti5O12 (LTO) battery is modeled for the first time, and the accuracy is verified by an experimental battery test. The results demonstrate that the thermal runaway of the battery is mainly caused by the decomposition of LNMO. Little heat absorbed by the gasification of electrolyte solvent and highly thermal stable LTO account for a relatively small proportion of the factors leading to the battery temperature rise. The similar results of simulation and accelerating rate calorimeter (ARC) testing under the adiabatic condition indicate that the thermal simulation model utilized in this work is a good guidance for safety design of the LNMO/LTO battery.
Evaluating soil water routing approaches in watershed‐scale, ecohydrologic modelling
Authors: Pignotti Garett , Chaubey Indrajeet , Cherkauer Keith , Williams Mark , Crawford Melba
Published: January 2021

Soil water dynamics are central in linking and regulating natural cycles in ecohydrology, however, mathematical representation of soil water processes in models is challenging given the complexity of these interactions. To assess the impacts of soil water simulation approaches on various model outputs, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool was modified to accommodate an alternative soil water percolation method and tested at two geographically and climatically distinct, instrumented watersheds in the United States. Soil water was evaluated at the site scale via measured observations, and hydrologic and biophysical outputs were analysed at the watershed scale. Results demonstrated an improved Kling–Gupta Efficiency of up to 0.3 and a reduction in percent bias from 5 to 25% at the site scale, when soil water percolation was changed from a threshold, bucket‐based approach to an alternative approach based on variable hydraulic conductivity. The primary difference between the approaches was attributed to the ability to simulate soil water content above field capacity for successive days; however, regardless of the approach, a lack of site‐specific characterization of soil properties by the soils database at the site scale was found to severely limit the analysis. Differences in approach led to a regime shift in percolation from a few, high magnitude events to frequent, low magnitude events. At the watershed scale, the variable hydraulic conductivity‐based approach reduced average annual percolation by 20–50 mm, directly impacting the water balance and subsequently biophysical predictions. For instance, annual denitrification increased by 14–24 kg/ha for the new approach. Overall, the study demonstrates the need for continued efforts to enhance soil water model representation for improving biophysical process simulations.
Stock exchange volatility forecasting under market stress with MIDAS regression
Authors: Körs Murat , Karan Mehmet Baha
Published: January 2021

This paper presents two different approaches of volatility forecasting. One is based on option‐implied volatility (IV), the other involves conducting time series methods using historical volatility. With that purpose, we study eight developed stock markets, offering implied volatility indexes for the 2008 financial crisis. We evaluated the 1 month out‐of‐sample volatility forecast performance of two statistical‐based models, Mixed Data Sampling (MIDAS) and GARCH, and compared the results with option‐implied volatility indexes. Our results suggest that MIDAS produce superior forecast performance compared to GARCH model and IV method. While options are not available for all assets, we believe that MIDAS model can be a sophisticated tool for researchers and analysts to forecast future volatility with its ability to process high‐frequency data.
Synthesis and characterization of polystyrene/poly(ethyl acrylate) mushroom‐like Janus particles
Authors: Alavi Seyyedeh Fatemeh , Abasian Payam , Eslami Hormoz
Published: January 2021

Favorable though isotropic polymeric structures are in many applications, they are not optimized in some others. Janus particles, having two sides with completely different properties, are optimizing the use for these applications, from industrial emulsifiers to biomedicine. In this work, mushroom‐like Janus particles made of PS as the seed and PEA as the semispherical centers through (seeded) dispersion polymerization were synthesized. Afterward, the effects of the initiator, monomer, and stabilizer amount as well as polymerization temperature were studied. It is shown that, in the PS synthesis stage, an increase in polymerization temperature, initiator amount, and monomer amount, as well as a decrease in stabilizer amount, lead to an increase in particles' size and in PDI percentage. In addition, in the next stage, the synthesis of mushroom‐like particles with the PEA sites, an increase in initiator amount, monomer amount, and polymerization temperature, as well as a decrease in stabilizer amount lead to bigger PEA centers and in excessive amount. It is also shown that above the breakthrough, three‐part particles increase in number with the changes mentioned. It is concluded that with the determined optimized conditions in this work mushroom‐like Janus particles of PS/PEA can be synthesized.
Experimental and finite element simulated box compression tests on paperboard packages at different moisture levels
Authors: Marin Gustav , Srinivasa Prashanth , Nygårds Mikael , Östlund Sören
Published: January 2021

Finite element (FE) analyses can be used as a powerful tool in the package design process to study for instance stress and strain fields that arise during loading. An orthotropic linear elastic material model with a stress‐based failure criterion was used to simulate box compression tests (BCTs) of a paperboard package in the FE solver LS‐Dyna. Physical experiments were performed at 50%, 70%, and 90% relative humidity (RH). The input parameters required for the simulations were calculated based on material characterization at standard climate (50% RH and 23°C) and a linear relation between mechanical material properties and moisture ratio established in earlier studies. The result showed that it was possible to accurately predict the load–compression curve of a BCT when moisture was accounted for. Furthermore, it was found that modelling of the mechanical properties of the creases are important for capturing the stiffness response of the package. To conclude, it was possible to predict the box compression strength and the linear stiffness response prior to the peak in the load–compression response at relevant moisture levels, by using the previously established linear relationship between moisture ratio and material properties. In addition to the moisture ratio at the preferred moisture level, the only material properties required were the in‐plane strengths and stiffnesses, and the out‐of‐plane shear moduli at standard climate.
Diagnostic analysis of a regional heavy snowfall event over the Tibetan Plateau using NCEP reanalysis data and WRF
Authors: Liu Lian , Ma Yaoming , Yao Nan , Ma Weiqiang
Published: January 2021

Snowstorms frequently occur in spring over the heterogeneous underlying surface of the Tibetan Plateau, causing both economic and societal damage. What the intensity of factors triggering snowstorms remains poorly understood. This study quantitatively diagnoses water vapor, the thermodynamic and dynamic conditions of a large-scale heavy snowfall event over the Tibetan Plateau using reanalysis data. Here we show, a cold vortex, the Southern Branch Trough and a meridional shear line are favorable synoptic systems. The snowfall is characterized by low-layer (− 8.3 × 10−7 g s−1 hPa−1 cm−2) and whole-layer (− 4.5 × 10−4 g s−1 cm−2) moisture convergence, low-level atmospheric convergence and high-level divergence (± 3 × 10−4 s−1), low-level positive vorticity (4.8 × 10−4 s−1) and strong vertical velocity (− 4 Pa s−1). Although the convectively-stable stratification acted to suppress snowfall, the abundant water vapor and strong orographic uplift of Himalayas and the downhill wind speed convergence overcome this to trigger the heavy snowfall event witnessed in March 2017. These diagnostic results are well consistent with those from WRF simulation. Our study acknowledges the importance of WRF in diagnostic analysis, deepens the understanding of evolution mechanisms and provides theoretical references for accurate forecasting of such events over the Tibetan Plateau. It would aid the development of effective strategies for sustainable livestock, and the mitigation and prevention of snow disasters in this region.
Predictive factors for dental inflammation with exacerbation during cancer therapy with FDG-PET/CT imaging
Authors: Kim Mai , Dam Trang Thuy , Ogawa Masaru , Shimizu Takahiro , Yamaguchi Takahiro , Suzuki Keisuke , Asami Takuya , Kurihara Jun , Yokoo Satoshi
Published: January 2021

Purpose

Oral adverse events, such as dental inflammation with exacerbation, are stressful and lead to poor nutrition in patients undergoing cancer therapy. Thus, the prediction of risk factors for dental inflammation with exacerbation is important before cancer therapy is initiated. We hypothesized that, during cancer therapy (DIECT), fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) imaging could be useful to predict dental inflammation with exacerbation.

Methods

We enrolled 124 patients who underwent FDG-PET/CT for diagnostic staging before cancer treatment. We then assessed DIECT outcomes after basic perioperative oral treatment. Moreover, we evaluated clinical parameters, therapeutic strategies, periodontal examination (probing depth (PD) and bleeding on probing (BOP)), dental imaging, and FDG-PET/CT imaging results of patients with and without DIECT. Furthermore, PET/CT images were assessed as per the FDG accumulation of the dental lesion (PAD) grading system.

Results

Univariate analysis demonstrated significant differences in age, periodontal examination (PD and BOP), and PAD grade between patients with and without DIECT. Furthermore, multivariate logistic regression analysis identified independent predictive factors for a positive periodontal examination (PD) (odds ratio (OR) 5.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.8–19.7; P = 0.004) and PAD grade (OR 11.6, 95% CI 3.2–41.2; P = 0.0002). In patients with cancer, PAD grade using FDG-PET/CT imaging was an independent and informative risk factor for DIECT.

Conclusion

Our results suggested that, for patients with DIECT, periodontal examination and PAD grade were independent predictive factors. Hence, regardless of the presence or absence of any lesion on dental imaging, PAD grade might be an additional tool, in addition to periodontal examination that potentially improves oral care management.