bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing the health status and mortality of older people over 65 with HIV
Authors: Turrini Gina , Chan Stephanie S. , Klein Pamela W. , Cohen Stacy M. , Dempsey Antigone , Hauck Heather , Cheever Laura W. , Chappel Andre R.
Published: November 2020

Background

Nearly half of people with HIV in the United States are 50 years or older, and this proportion is growing. Between 2012 and 2016, the largest percent increase in the prevalence rate of HIV was among people aged 65 and older, the eligibility age for Medicare coverage for individuals without a disability or other qualifying condition. Previous work suggests that older people with HIV may have higher rates of chronic conditions and develop them more rapidly than older people who do not have HIV. This study compared the health status of older people with HIV with the older US population not living with HIV by comparing: (1) mortality; (2) prevalence of certain conditions, and (3) incidence of these conditions with increasing age.

Methods and findings

We used a sample of Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 and older from the Medicare Master Beneficiary Summary File for the years 2011 to 2016, including 100% of individuals with HIV (N = 43,708), as well as a random 1% sample of individuals without diagnosed HIV (N = 1,029,518). We conducted a survival analysis using a Cox proportional hazards model to assess mortality and to determine the need to adjust for differential mortality in our analyses of the incidence of certain chronic conditions. These results showed that Medicare beneficiaries living with HIV have a significantly higher hazard of mortality compared to older people without diagnosed HIV (3.6 times the hazard). We examined the prevalence of these conditions using logistic regression analysis and found that people with HIV have a statistically significant higher odds of depression, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), osteoporosis, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, diabetes, chronic hepatitis, end-stage liver disease, lung cancer, and colorectal cancer. To look at the rate at which older people are diagnosed with conditions as they age, we used a Fine-Gray competing risk model and showed that for individuals without diagnosis of a given condition at age 65, the future incidence of that condition over the remaining study period was higher for people with HIV even after adjusting for differential hazard of mortality and for other demographic characteristics. Many of these results also varied by personal characteristics including Medicaid dual enrollment, sex, and race and ethnicity, as well as by condition.

Conclusions

Increasing access to care and improving health outcomes for people with HIV is a critical goal of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy 2020. It is important for clinicians and policymakers to be aware that despite significant advances in the treatment and care of people with HIV, older people with HIV have a higher odds of having multiple chronic conditions at any point in time, a higher incidence of new diagnoses of these conditions over time, and a higher hazard of mortality than Medicare beneficiaries without HIV.
Comparison of clinical outcomes of intravascular ultrasound-calcified nodule between percutaneous coronary intervention with versus without rotational atherectomy in a propensity-score matched analysis
Authors: Watanabe Yusuke , Sakakura Kenichi , Taniguchi Yousuke , Yamamoto Kei , Seguchi Masaru , Tsukui Takunori , Jinnouchi Hiroyuki , Wada Hiroshi , Momomura Shin-ichi , Fujita Hideo
Published: November 2020

Objectives

This study aimed to compare the mid-term clinical outcomes of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-calcified nodules between percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with and without rotational atherectomy (RA).

Background

There has been a debate whether to use RA for the revascularization of calcified nodule. Although RA can ablate the calcified structure within calcified nodule and may facilitate adequate stent expansion, RA may provoke severe coronary perforation, because calcified nodule typically shows eccentric calcification.

Methods

We included 204 lesions with IVUS-calcified nodule, and divided into 73 lesions treated with RA (RA group) and 131 lesions without RA (non-RA group). After propensity-score matching, 42 lesions with RA (matched RA group) and 42 lesions without RA (matched non-RA group) were selected. We compared the clinical characteristics and outcomes between the 2 groups before and after propensity-score matching. The primary endpoint was ischemia-driven target vessel revascularization (TVR) within 1 year.

Results

Acute lumen area gain on IVUS was comparable between the matched RA group and matched non-RA group (3.9 ± 2.1 mm2 vs. 3.4 ± 1.6 mm2, p = 0.18). The stent malapposition at calcified nodules was frequently observed in both groups. The ischemia-driven TVR was not different between the 2 groups before (p = 0.82) and after propensity score-matching (p = 0.87).

Conclusions

The use of RA could not reduce the incidence of ischemia-driven TVR in lesions with IVUS-calcified nodule. Our results do not support the routine use of RA for lesions with IVUS-calcified nodule.
Cross-sectional relationship among different anthropometric parameters and cardio-metabolic risk factors in a cohort of patients with overweight or obesity
Authors: Lampignano Luisa , Zupo Roberta , Donghia Rossella , Guerra Vito , Castellana Fabio , Murro Isanna , Di Noia Carmen , Sardone Rodolfo , Giannelli Gianluigi , De Pergola Giovanni
Published: November 2020

Background

Body fat distribution influences the risk of cardio-metabolic disease in people with overweight. This study was aimed at identifying the anthropometric parameters more strongly associated with the majority of cardio-metabolic risk factors.

Methods

This study included 1214 subjects (840 women), with a body-mass-index (BMI) ≥ 25 Kg/m2, aged 39.2 ± 13 years. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), triglycerides (TG), total, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol, uric acid, vitamin D, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), white blood cells (WBC), platelets, insulin and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), smoking habit and snoring were evaluated as cardio-metabolic risk factors.We also included the Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) to estimate cardiovascular risk in our study population. BMI, waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height-ratio (WHtR) and neck circumference (NC) were evaluated as anthropometric parameters.

Results

All four anthropometric parameters were positively associated to SBP, DBP, TG, FBG, insulin, HOMA-IR, WBC, and snoring (p<0.001), and negatively associated with HDL-cholesterol (p<0.001). NC showed a positive association with LDL-cholesterol (β = 0.76; p = 0.01; 95% C.I. 0.19 to 1.32), while vitamin D was negatively associated to WC (β = -0.16; p<0.001; 95% C.I. -0.24 to -0.09), BMI (β = 0.42); p<0.001; 95% C.I. -0.56 to -0.28) and WHtR (β = -24.46; p<0.001; 95% C.I. -37 to -11.9). Hs-CRP was positively correlated with WC (β = 0.003; p = 0.003; 95% C.I. 0.001 to 0.006), BMI (β = 0.01; p = 0.02; 95% C.I. 0.001 to 0.012) and WHtR (β = 0.55; p = 0.01; 95% C.I. 0.14 to 0.96). SCORE was associated to NC (β = 0.15; 95% CI 0.12 to 0.18; p<0.001), BMI (β = -0.18; 95% CI -0.22 to 0.14; p<0.001) and WHtR (β = 7.56; 95% CI 5.30 to 9.82; p<0.001).

Conclusions

NC, combined with BMI and WC or WHtR could represent an essential tool for use in clinical practice to define the cardio-metabolic risk in individuals with excess body weight.
Cost-effectiveness of targeted screening for active pulmonary tuberculosis among asylum-seekers: A modelling study with screening data from a German federal state (2002-2015)
Authors: Wahedi Katharina , Biddle Louise , Bozorgmehr Kayvan
Published: November 2020

Screening asylum-seekers for active pulmonary tuberculosis is common practice among many European countries with low incidence of tuberculosis. The reported yields vary substantially, partly due to the heterogeneous and dynamic nature of asylum-seeking populations. Rather than screening all new arrivals (indiscriminate screening), a few countries apply targeted screening based on incidence of tuberculosis in asylum-seekers’ country of origin. However, evaluations of its cost-effectiveness have been scarce. The aim of this modelling study was to assess whether the introduction of a screening threshold based on the tuberculosis incidence in the country of origin is sensible from an economic perspective. To this end, we compare the current, indiscriminate screening policy for pulmonary tuberculosis in Germany with a hypothetical targeted screening programme using several potential screening thresholds based on WHO-reported incidence of tuberculosis in countries of origin. Screening data is taken from a large German federal state over 14 years (2002–2015). Incremental cost-effectiveness is measured as cost per case found and cost per case prevented. Our analysis shows that incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) of screening asylum-seekers from countries with an incidence of 50 to 250/100,000 range between 15,000€ and 17,000€ per additional case found when compared to lower thresholds. The ICER for screening asylum-seekers from countries with an incidence <50/100,000 is 112,000€ per additional case found. Costs per case prevented show a similar increase in costs. The high cost per case found and per case prevented at the <50/100,000 threshold scenario suggests this threshold to be a sensible cut-off for targeted screening. Acknowledging that no screening measure can find all cases of tuberculosis, and that reactivation of latent infections makes up a large proportion of foreign-born cases, targeting asylum-seekers from countries with an incidence above 50/100,000 is likely to be a more reasonable screening measure for the prevention and control of tuberculosis than indiscriminate screening measures.
First do no harm: An exploration of researchers’ ethics of conduct in Big Data behavioral studies
Authors: Favaretto Maddalena , De Clercq Eva , Gaab Jens , Elger Bernice Simone
Published: November 2020

Research ethics has traditionally been guided by well-established documents such as the Belmont Report and the Declaration of Helsinki. At the same time, the introduction of Big Data methods, that is having a great impact in behavioral research, is raising complex ethical issues that make protection of research participants an increasingly difficult challenge. By conducting 39 semi-structured interviews with academic scholars in both Switzerland and United States, our research aims at exploring the code of ethics and research practices of academic scholars involved in Big Data studies in the fields of psychology and sociology to understand if the principles set by the Belmont Report are still considered relevant in Big Data research. Our study shows how scholars generally find traditional principles to be a suitable guide to perform ethical data research but, at the same time, they recognized and elaborated on the challenges embedded in their practical application. In addition, due to the growing introduction of new actors in scholarly research, such as data holders and owners, it was also questioned whether responsibility to protect research participants should fall solely on investigators. In order to appropriately address ethics issues in Big Data research projects, education in ethics, exchange and dialogue between research teams and scholars from different disciplines should be enhanced. In addition, models of consultancy and shared responsibility between investigators, data owners and review boards should be implemented in order to ensure better protection of research participants.
Double yolk eggs detection using fuzzy logic
Authors: Intarakumthornchai Thanasan , Kesvarakul Ramil
Published: November 2020

Chicken egg products increased by 60% worldwide resulting in the farmers or traders egg industry. The double yolk (DY) eggs are priced higher than single yolk (SY) eggs around 35% at the same size. Although, separating DY from SY will increase more revenue but it has to be replaced at the higher cost from skilled labor for sorting. Normally, the separation of double yolk eggs required the expertise person by weigh and shape of egg but it is still high error. The purpose of this research is to detect double-yolked (DY) chicken eggs with weight and ratio of the egg’s size using fuzzy logic and developing a low cost prototype to reduce the cost of separation. The K-means clustering is used for separating DY and SY, firstly. However, the error from this technique is still high as 15.05% because of its hard clustering. Therefore, the intersection zone scattering from using the weight and ratio of the egg’s size to input of DY and SY is taken into consider with fuzzy logic algorithm, to improve the error. The results of errors from fuzzy logic are depended with input membership functions (MF). This research selects triangular MF of weight as low = 65 g, medium = 75 g and high = 85 g, while ratio of the egg is triangular MF as low = 1.30, medium = 1.40 and high = 1.50. This algorithm is not provide the minimum total error but it gives the low error to detect a double yolk while the real egg is SY as 1.43% of total eggs. This algorithm is applied to develop a double yolk egg detection prototype with Mbed platform by a load cell and OpenMV CAM, to measure the weight and ratio of the egg respectively.
A machine learning approach to predict pancreatic islet grafts rejection versus tolerance
Authors: Ceballos Gerardo A. , Hernandez Luis F. , Paredes Daniel , Betancourt Luis R. , Abdulreda Midhat H.
Published: November 2020

The application of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in biomedical research promises to unlock new information from the vast amounts of data being generated through the delivery of healthcare and the expanding high-throughput research applications. Such information can aid medical diagnoses and reveal various unique patterns of biochemical and immune features that can serve as early disease biomarkers. In this report, we demonstrate the feasibility of using an AI/ML approach in a relatively small dataset to discriminate among three categories of samples obtained from mice that either rejected or tolerated their pancreatic islet allografts following transplant in the anterior chamber of the eye, and from naïve controls. We created a locked software based on a support vector machine (SVM) technique for pattern recognition in electropherograms (EPGs) generated by micellar electrokinetic chromatography and laser induced fluorescence detection (MEKC-LIFD). Predictions were made based only on the aligned EPGs obtained in microliter-size aqueous humor samples representative of the immediate local microenvironment of the islet allografts. The analysis identified discriminative peaks in the EPGs of the three sample categories. Our classifier software was tested with targeted and untargeted peaks. Working with the patterns of untargeted peaks (i.e., based on the whole pattern of EPGs), it was able to achieve a 21 out of 22 positive classification score with a corresponding 95.45% prediction accuracy among the three sample categories, and 100% accuracy between the rejecting and tolerant recipients. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of AI/ML approaches to classify small numbers of samples and they warrant further studies to identify the analytes/biochemicals corresponding to discriminative features as potential biomarkers of islet allograft immune rejection and tolerance.
Monitoring life expectancy levels during the COVID-19 pandemic: Example of the unequal impact of the first wave on Spanish regions
Authors: Trias-Llimós Sergi , Riffe Tim , Bilal Usama
Published: November 2020

Background

To provide an interpretable summary of the impact on mortality of the COVID-19 pandemic we estimate weekly and annual life expectancies at birth in Spain and its regions.

Methods

We used daily death count data from the Spanish Daily Mortality Monitoring System (MoMo), and death counts from 2018, and population on July 1st, 2019 by region (CCAA), age groups, and sex from the Spanish National Statistics Institute. We estimated weekly and annual (2019 and 2020*, the shifted annual calendar period up to 5 July 2020) life expectancies at birth as well as their differences with respect to 2019.

Results

Weekly life expectancies at birth in Spain were lower in weeks 11–20, 2020 compared to the same weeks in 2019. This drop in weekly life expectancy was especially strong in weeks 13 and 14 (March 23rd to April 5th), with national declines ranging between 6.1 and 7.6 years and maximum regional weekly declines of up to 15 years in Madrid. Annual life expectancy differences between 2019 and 2020 also reflected an overall drop in annual life expectancy of 0.9 years for both men and women. These drops ranged between 0 years in several regions (e.g. Canary and Balearic Islands) to 2.8 years among men in Madrid.

Conclusions

Life expectancy is an easy to interpret measure for understanding the heterogeneity of mortality patterns across Spanish regions. Weekly and annual life expectancy are sensitive and useful indicators for understanding disparities and communicating the gravity of the situation because differences are expressed in intuitive year units.
Aspectos da crítica straussiana a São Tomás
Authors: Loureiro João Diogo
Published: November 2020

São várias as críticas que Leo Strauss e os seus discípulos dirigem contra São Tomás, sujo ensinamento jusnaturalista abertamente desconsideram. Acusam-no de conceber o direito natural em termos maximanente universalistas, com o resultado de que todos os códigos de leis que se pretendam justos terão de convergir no seu desenho fundamental, o que nitidamente incomoda os straussianos. Partindo dessa crítica, o presente texto analisa qual a relação estabelecida na Suma teológica entre o direito natural e o ius gentium, esse corpo básico de institutos jurídicos tido precisamente por comum aos vários povos.
La función de la universidad. De la estrategia política a la política estratégica
Authors: Touriñán López José Manuel , Santos Rego Miguel Anxo , Rodríguez Martínez Antonio , Lorenzo Moledo María do Mar
Published: November 2020

RESUMEN: En este artículo examinamos la compleja relación entre política y universidad, dos conceptos con significado propio y que sólo en parte se fusionan respecto de la función de la universidad, que es el objeto principal de este estudio.Una vez delimitado el sentido de la contribución abordamos el marco de la coordinación competencial en nuestro país, junto con las directrices de la educación superior en el marco europeo y el énfasis actual en la búsqueda de la calidad universitaria como vía de desarrollo estratégico. Es justamente la cultura de la evaluación en la educación superior la que favorece un renovado análisis de la calidad en el contexto de una universidad de masas.Acorde con el notable reto derivado del Tratado de Maastricht, nos ocupamos del desarrollo de sistemas universitarios regionales y las políticas estratégicas asociadas a la definición de perfiles en las universidades. Finalmente, referimos algunos elementos importantes para una articulación de funciones que la universidad tendrá que plantearse en el nuevo siglo.ABSTRACT: The main objective of this article is to examine the complex relationship between policies and the university, two concepts, each with their own meanings that fuse only in part, with respect to the function of the universities themselves.Once the sense of this article has been established, we will analyse the framework given to the co-ordination of what should be done, why and by whom at the different Spanish universities. We will also analyse the guidelines for higher education within the European framework and the current emphasis given to the search for quality in universities, as a means to achieving a strategic development. It is precisely the «culture» of evaluation in higher education that helps towards a renewed analysis of this quality within the context of mass universities.In correlation with the important challenge derived from the Maastricht Treaty, we will deal with the development of regional university systems, as well as the strategic policies related to the definition of university profiles. Finally, we make reference to some important elements for the articulation of functions which universities will have to face in the next millennium.
Antecedentes de la construcción teórica en Antropología de la educación
Authors: Pérez Alonso-geta Petra María
Published: November 2020

RESUMEN: El estudio sobre el hombre surge en el ámbito filosófico. La teoría de la evolución al situar lo humano en el ámbito de la naturaleza da un nuevo sentido al saber antropológico inaugurando las antropologías de corte empírico-positivas. En el campo de la antropología cultural, en las últimas décadas, con la desaparición del «exotismo» y la necesaria incorporación al estudio de las sociedades complejas, ha sufrido profundas transformaciones. En este sentido, si los datos antropológicos han de generalizarse a nivel global, deben combinar el uso de técnicas cualitativas y cuantitativas.En el campo conocido como «Antropología y Educación» el uso de técnicas etnográficas para el estudio del aula y la escuela es bastante unánime, pero si sus datos han de servir a la toma de decisiones educativas de ámbito general es necesario avanzar por los caminos de los análisis antropológico-sociales, en las llamadas sociedades complejas.ABSTRACT: The study of mankind occurs within a philosophical environment. The theory of evolution places all chat is human in a natural environment and such gives a new meaning of anthropological knowledge by creativy anthropologies of an empirically positive nature. As far as social sciences are concerned, the Antropology has had important transformations in the last decades when the «exotism» disappeared and there has been a necessary study of the complex societies. In this way if the antropological data has to be generalised to a global level, the use of qualitative and quantitative tecniques has to be combined.In the field known as «Antropology and Education» the use of Etnographic tecniques to study the school is used by most people, but if their information has to be used to take important decisions in Education, it's necessary to make progress in the antropological-social anaiisis, in the well-knowh complex societies.
Bases antropológicas para una tecnología de la dimensión educativa de la conducta imitativa humana
Authors: Pérez Alonso-geta Petra María
Published: November 2020

Los problemas más complejos de la conducta imitativa, al igual que de otras conductas, se dan en la especie humana. Las conductas de imitación humana poseen, no obstante, una serie de precedentes filogenéticos, a la vez que precisan de un específico desarrollo ontogenético.Pretendemos determinar aquí, bajo qué condiciones y fases de desarrollo han surgido los mecanísmos funcionales que hace posible el fenómeno de la Imitación, a fin de concretar las bases antropológicas que sirvan a una tecnología educativa de la conducta imitativa humano.
El cuerpo como valor educativo: la postmodernidad frente al cristianismo
Authors: Gervilla Castillo Enrique
Published: November 2020

RESUMEN: El cuerpo ha recibido diversos sentidos y valoraciones a través de la historia de la filosofía. En este artículo se analizan los valores del cuerpo desde el cristianismo y la postmodernidad, ambos vigentes en la actualidad con orientaciones antagónicas. La educación, que siempre se fundamenta en el valor/valoración, ha de optar por uno u otro modelo: el de los catecismos o el de los medios de comunicación.ABSTRACT: The body has received several senses and valuations throughout the history of the filosofy. In this article, it is analized the values of the body from the Christianity and the postmodernity, both prevailing nowadays with antagonistic positions. The education, wich is always based on the value/valuation, must choose one or another model: the catecisms one or the reporting mediums pattern.
Bases bioantropológicas del curriculum
Authors: Pérez Alonso-geta Petra María
Published: November 2020

No hay fenómeno psicológico sin un soporte biológico. Lo orgànicobiològico comprende una de las dimensiones básicas de la existencia humana, presente por tanto, en todos sus fenómenos —y por supuesto en el educativo—. En este marco los conocimientos biológico-humanos son de gran interés para la pedagogía, porque el proceso enseñanza-aprendizaje, nueclear, en la teoría curricular es posible por la existencia de un soporte neurobiológico preciso y especializado, cuya relevancia para la teoría curricular queremos dejar patente en estas páginas.
Por un análisis semiotico del curriculum
Authors: Rodríguez Illera José Luis
Published: November 2020

La idea de que el currículum puede ser efectivamente estudiado, de que constituye uno de los principales temas de estudio de la pedagogía (desde la propia teoría de la educación, hasta especialmente la didáctica) conlleva algún tipo de presuposición sobre el tipo de concepto, objeto, sistema o constructo que el curriculum sea. Pues es obvio que no cualquier tema ocupa ese lugar central que el curriculum va cada día adquiriendo, y es obvio también que su realidad dista mucho de esa epistemología ingenua que asocia realidad sólo a lo más estrictamente empírico. Al contrario, el curriculum es siempre una realidad construida, y ello en el doble sentido siguiente: construida en cuanto a su elaboración, pues constituye una selección de la cultura, aquella que se considera que debe ser transmitida; realidad construida también como objeto de la teoría, como tema de reflexión, como realidad que se nos hace a través del discurso teórico.
Respuestas docentes sobre el cine como propuesta pedagógica. Análisis de la situación en Educación Secundaria
Authors: Pereira Domínguez María del Carmen , Marín Valle María Victoria
Published: November 2020

RESUMEN: Esta investigación analiza los recursos audiovisuales y el uso que hace el profesorado del primer ciclo de Enseñanza Secundaria Obligatoria de los medios audiovisuales, en especial del cine, dentro de sus tareas educativas.En este sentido, se estudian las razones por las cuales se utiliza o no el cine en las aulas, así como la percepción de los docentes con respecto al tema y el uso, el dominio y la disposición ante el cine forum, como estrategia de intervención pedagógica.De las conclusiones principales extraídas del estudio, resaltamos la positiva predisposición del profesorado ante este tipo de medios, a pesar de las dificultades detectadas para su uso, así como la necesidad de establecer vías de formación permanente y de elaborar materiales adecuados que faciliten la inclusión de estos medios en los procesos de aprendizaje.ABSTRACT: This investigation analyses the audiovisual resources and the use that he/she makes the faculty of the first cycle of Obligatory Secondary Education of the aiidiovisual means, especially of the cinema, inside its edLicational tasks.In this way, the reasons are studied by which it is used or not the cinema in the classrooms, as well as the perception of the educational ones with regard to the topic and the use, the domain and the disposition before the cinema forum, as strategy of pedagogic intervention.Of the extracted main conclusions of the study, we stand out the faculty's positive bias before this type of means, in spite of the difficulties detected for their use, as well as the necessity to establish roads of permanent formation and of elaborating appropriate materials that facilítate the inclusión of these means in the learning processes.
Antropología narrativa y educación
Authors: MÈlich Joan-Carles
Published: November 2020

RESUMEN: Tomando como telón de fondo la noción de «excentricidad» de Helmuth Plessner se presentan en este artículo las líneas generales de una antropología narrativa. Según ésta, los seres humanos, además de naturaleza biológica y cultural (en muchos aspectos compartida con otros animales), poseemos también condición, esto es, somos capaces de poner en cuestión nuestra naturaleza. De ahí que no sea posible hallar un fundamento «firme y seguro» que oriente de manera definitiva nuestra existencia. Desde esta perspectiva, la gran pregunta pedagógica no es ¿qué somos?, sino ¿cómo podemos orientar nuestras vidas? ¿Qué sentido darles? Para una antropología narrativa este interrogante jamás puede responderse definitivamente. En consecuencia, una pedagogía que tuviese la pretensión de transmitir «el sentido pleno de la vida» tendría unos inquietantes aspectos dogmáticos y totalitarios.ABSTRACT: Set within the backdrop of Helmuth Plessner’s notion of «eccentricity», this article presents the main lines of a narrative anthropology. According to this, human beings, besides our biological and cultural nature (in many aspects shared by other animals), also possess condition; that is, we are capable of questioning our nature. For this reason it is not possible to find a «firm and safe» basis that directs our existence in a definitive way. The great pedagogical question, therefore, is not «What are we?» but rather «How can we orientate our life?»; «What meaning do we imbue it with?» In narrative anthropology this question can never be definitively answered. Consequently, a pedagogy that has as its aim the transmission of «the full meaning of life» would have disquieting dogmatic and totalitarian aspects. Key words: pedagogical anthropology, narration, human nature, human condition, situation, desire, meaning of life.SOMMAIRE: Prenant comme toile de fond la notion d’«excentricité» de Helmuth Plessner, cet article présente les lignes générales d’une anthropologie narrative. Selon celle-ci, les êtres humains, en plus d’une nature biologique et culturelle (partagée avec d’autres animaux), ont aussi une condition, c’est à dire qu’ils sont capables de remettre en question leur nature. Pour cette raison, il n’est pas possible de trouver un fondement «ferme et sûr» qui puisse orienter de manière définitive notre existence. Depuis cette perspective, la grande question pédagogique n’est pas «Que sommes-nous?» sinon «Comment pouvons-nous orienter nos vies?», «Quel sens leur donner?». Pour une anthropologie narrative, cette question n’a jamais de réponse définitive. En conséquence, une pédagogie qui ait la prétention de transmettre «le sens plein de la vie», aurait d’inquiétants aspects dogmatiques et totalitaires.
Televisión y educación: del entretenimiento al aprendizaje
Authors: Medrano Concepción
Published: November 2020

RESUMEN: en este trabajo se han planteado dos objetivos. En primer lugar se pretende demostrar la capacidad formativa del medio televisivo más allá de su capacidad de entretenimiento. Se recogen los resultados contradictorios de las investigaciones que han estudiado las relaciones entre televisión y educación y a partir de los resultados de algunos trabajos realizados en nuestro contexto, tanto por nosotros como por otros investigadores, se defiende la idea de que la televisión ni es tan perjudicial, ni desplaza a otras actividades, ni fomenta un consumo tan alto como en ocasiones se prejuzga. En segundo lugar, se presentan distintas propuestas y estrategias metodológicas para utilizar este medio como un recurso educativo. En las conclusiones se insiste en la posibilidad que tiene la institución escolar de utilizar los contenidos y narraciones televisivas como fuente de aprendizaje.ABSTRACT: This article has two aims. The first is to show the formative capacity of television beyond its capacity to entertain. The contradictory research results relating television and education are presented and based on some studies done in our context, by us as well as by other researchers, it is defended that television is neither as harmful, nor displaces other activities, nor favours as high a use as sometimes is said. The second is to present some proposals and methodological strategies to use television as an educational resource. The conclusions emphasize the possibility that schools as an instititution should use TV contents and stories/narratives as a means of learning.SOMMAIRE: Deux sont les objectifs de ce travail. Le premier est de démontrer la capacité formative que la télévision possède au-delà de sa capacité de divertir. Dans ce sens, on y présente les résultats contradictoires des études menées sur les relations qui existent entre la télévision et l’éducation et, à partir des résultats fournis par certains travaux réalisés soit par nous-mêmes soit par d’autres chercheurs, on défend l’idée que la télévision n’est pas si préjudiciable, qu’elle ne nuit pas forcément à d’autres activités et qu’elle n’encourage pas une consommation si élevée que ce que l’on veut parfois laisser supposer. Le second objectif est de présenter diverses propositions et stratégies méthodologiques pour utiliser ce média comme une ressource en matière d’éducation. Dans les conclusions, on insiste sur la possibilité d’utilisation des contenus et des narrations télévisuelles par l’institution écolière comme source d’apprentissage.
Personnel Issues in the Omsk Diocese in the Late 19th — Early 20th Centuries and Mechanisms of Its Solution by the Diocesan Authorities
Authors: Dikova N.V.
Published: November 2020

This article analyzes the reasons for the shortage of clergy in the Omsk diocese and the mechanisms for resolving this problem by the diocesan authorities from its formation in 1895 to 1917. It is noted that as a result of the annexation of the territory of South Kazakhstan and Northern Kyrgyzstan to the Russian Empire, the formation was completed administrative-territorial structure of the Steppe territory. The Steppe Governorate-General was formed in 1882, established by decree of Emperor Alexander III. On the basis of the decree, the Akmola, Semipalatan and Semirechensk districts were included in the composition of the Steppe Governorate-General. The Russian Orthodox Church, which was one of the main political institutions of the state, was given an important place in the system of spiritual management of the region and the implementation of the policy of Russification. Therefore, by the end of the 19th century, the formation of the institutional system of the Omsk diocese began there. One of the important aspects of the formation of the Omsk diocese was the solution of the personnel issue. The author explains the lack of personnel in the parishes and deaneries of the Omsk diocese by a number of factors — the territorial remoteness of the Steppe Territory from the European center of the country, the lack of educational institutions in Western Siberia that trained clergy, ethnoreligious heterogeneity of the Steppe Territory and the need for work among the Old Believers, sectarian and Muslim populations. Nevertheless, the diocesan authorities managed, although not to the full extent, to solve the personnel issue using various mechanisms: administrative appointment, transfers from other dioceses, and recruiting priests from other social sectors of Russian society.
Anti-Splinter Brotherhood of Saint Demetrius, Metropolitan of Rostov in the Fight Against the Old Believers in the Tomsk Diocese
Authors: Ilyin V.N.
Published: November 2020

he question of the missionary activity of the antisplinter Brotherhood of St. Demetrius, Metropolitan of Rostov in the fight against the Old Believers in the territory of the Tomsk Diocese is considered. The author has studied a complex of rich and diverse archival sources, as well as activity reports of both the Brotherhood itself and its individual members, presented in official provincial and diocesan publications. Based on this, it was possible to recreate the overall «picture» of the Brotherhood and show its regional specificity. In particular, the purpose, composition of the Brotherhood, as well as the main directions of its missionary "anti-splinter" activity were determined. In order to combat the «schism» and the so-called «prevention of the avoidance of the schism», the brothers actively held religious disputes and interviews, both with the Old Believers themselves and the parishioners of the official Orthodox Church. Another missionary way to solve the tasks of the anti-splinter Brotherhood was to create and develop a network of «anti-splinter libraries» and parish schools. In general, despite the specific and concrete results of their anti-Old Believer missionary activities, the Brotherhood was not able to achieve its goals, including due to the regional specifics of the diocese.
China and India in the Beginning of the 21st Century: Between Rivalry and Cooperation
Authors: Muratshina K.G.
Published: November 2020

The relationship between such Asia-Pacific powers, as India and China, has recently become a significant factor of how regional security is being maintained and how efficient the regional multilateral cooperation can be. The two states are close neighbours, possessing a long border, and both are presented in high-profile international institutions, e. g. the BRICS. At the same time, they are involved in a long-term border controversy, which sometimes pushes the relations to the verge of war. In addition, India and China are diverged by contradictions in other areas, primarily in economic aspects, and their competition for influence at the international level and in various regions of the Global South.

The aim of this paper is to trace, how the Sino-Indian conflict, on the one hand, and their cooperation, on the other hand, developed throughout the recent 20 years, and try to answer the question, how it all shaped their status for each other, namely, the one of a partner, a rival or an enemy. The author consequently studies the landmark events in border conflict since the beginning of the 21st century, the political exchanges between China and India meanwhile, and the basic trends of economic and military cooperation and competition between the two countries. In conclusion, the results of the research are presented, and the possible impact of Sino-Indian ambivalent relationship on Russian policy towards them and on the work of international institutions involving both countries, is discussed.
Experimental Investigation of Diopside Melt Viscosity at High Pressure
Authors: Banushkina S.V. , Chepurov A.I.
Published: November 2020

This paper presents the experimental evaluation of viscosity of the diopside-based model composition conducted at high P-T parameters (at the pressure of 4 GPa and in the temperature range of 1750°C - 1800°C) in the presence of olivine crystals. The experiments are carried out using the multi-anvil high-pressure apparatus of the “split-sphere” type (Russian acronym — BARS) according to the falling sphere method. The traveling time of a platinum (Pt) sphere in a melt is one of the parameters measured in experiments. Measurement of this parameter starts when the given P-T values are attained and stops when the electric current is turned off. There are three main positions of the Pt sphere observed in the experiments. Viscosity is calculated using the Stokes’ Law. It is found out that the Pt sphere velocity decreases expectedly as the relative viscosity of such heterogeneous compositions (liquid + solid phase) increases (in contrast to homogeneous melts). Viscosity values remain low when there is up to 7-10 wt-% of solid phase crystals in magma. The increase of olivine xenocrysts in magma leads to the progressive increase of viscosity values of the melt: by 1.5-2 orders of magnitude at 20-25 wt-%, by 3-3.5 orders of magnitude at 35-40 wt-%. The obtained experimental results allow concluding that the amount of solid phase in magma should be sufficiently low (less than 20-30 wt-%), otherwise, melts of the investigated composition can be moved only by explosive processes.
Effect of Trigonella Foenum against Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetic Acid induced Nephrotoxicity in Male Albino Rats
Authors: Barakat A I , Radwan EH
Published: November 2020

Background Nephrotoxicity is a complication due to the effect of some toxic chemicals on kidney. Current study planned to screen the effect of Trigonella foenumaqueous seeds extracts on EDTA induced nephrotoxicity. Trigonella foenum known for its various medicinal properties is also a natural antioxidant and a free radical scavenger with no documented evidence as a nephron-protective agent. Objective To investigate the protective effects of aqueous seed extracts of Trigonella foenum. Material and Methods The present study was used 40 male albino rats (Rattus albinus) with weight of (150 ± 10) g with divided into four groups: control gp; EDTA gp (95 mg/kg); Trigonella foenum gp (500 mg/kg) and EDTA + Trigonella f oenum gp by gastric tube daily for 4 weeks. Blood urea, creatinine, GFR, creatinine clearance, MDA and GPx analyses and microscopic examination of kidney were performed. Results In the present study, Blood samples were taken from all groups and concentration of serum urea, creatinine, GFR, Creatinine clearance, MDA and GPx were determined. Histopathological observations were observed in kidney tissue. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). EDTA induced an increase in urea and creatinine as well as there was a decrease in the concentration of GFR and creatinine clearance. The level of MDA was increase while the concentration of GPx was decrease in the serum of EDTA group. The aqueous extracts of Trigonella seeds significantly prevented renal damage by normalizing increased levels of renal markers. The correction of oxidative stress biomarkers was consistent with amelioration of the histopathological changes induced by EDTA. Hence, it is suggested that ameliorative effect of aqueous extract of Trigonella foenumagainst EDTA induced nephrotoxicity. Conclusion The present data suggest that aqueous extract of Trigonella foenum exhibits reno-protective effect in EDTA induced renal damage.
ESTIMATION OF SWELLING PRESSURE OF EXPANSIVE SOILS REINFORCED WITH GRANULAR PILE
Authors: Meshram Kundan , Jain P. K.
Published: November 2020

Constructing over expansive soils often severely damage the structure due to high swell-shrinkage behaviour and loss of strength owing to fluctuating water content. Due to the above reasons construction on or using expansive soils is considered to be unsafe. The technique of such soil, improvement by installation of granular piles (also known as stone columns) is popular to marshy lands, marine clays, loose sand, silty or clayey sand, and compressible soils. Granular piles improve swelling properties of expansive soil. In the present study six expansive soils were used. The one of them was the naturally available black cotton soil and others were derived from it by mixing bentonite in different proportions. Test beds of these soils were prepared at different initial moisture contents and the granular pile of sand was installed in these beds by the method of removal. Besides initial moisture content, properties of expansive soils, the spacing between the piles (expressed by s/d ratio; s = spacing between the piles and d = diameter of a pile) and the relative density of granular pile forming material were the variables of the study. Multiple linear regression analysis on the test data has been performed and equations for predicting swelling pressure of soil bed without pile and inclusion with granular pile have been developed.
COHESION TEST OF A SINGLE IMPREGNATED AR-GLASS ROVING IN HIGH-PERFORMANCE CONCRETE
Authors: Vlach Tomáš , Řepka Jakub , Hájek Jakub , Fürst Richard , Jirkalová Zuzana , Hájek Petr
Published: November 2020

The development of light and very thin concrete building structures and demand for extremely thin elements in design are inter alia reasons for the development of composite materials as non-traditional reinforcement. Composite materials are currently used as reinforcement mostly in the form of fiber reinforced polymer bars similar to traditional steel reinforcement bars, but the last decade sees also rise in the use of technical textiles. This article is focused on the interaction between impregnated textile reinforcement and high-performance concrete matrix and its easy determination using originally modified pullout test. The second aim of this article is improvement of interaction conditions between reinforcement and cementitious matrix using fine-grained silica sand applied on the surface of the composite reinforcement similarly to the traditional fiber reinforced polymer reinforcement with commonly used diameters. To investigate an effect of this modification a bending test was performed on small thin concrete slabs with different amounts of reinforcement.
Theories of the "Savage": The Material Varek (Seagrass) As a Bearer of Meaning in Psychiatry around 1900
Authors: Luchsinger Katrin
Published: November 2020

Katrin Luchsinger untersucht in ihrem Beitrag die vielschichtigen Bedeutungen des unspektakulären Materials Seegras. In psychiatrischen Einrichtungen wurde um 1900 das «Varek zupfen» als jene monotone Tätigkeit erwähnt, die man Patientinnen der «unruhigen» Abteilung, den kränksten oder am wenigsten angepassten, auftrug. Lisette H., (*1857) verbrachte 23 Jahre in der Pflegeanstalt Rheinau im Kanton Zürich in einer solchen Abteilung. Sie zupfte nicht nur Berge von Varek sondern strickte daraus auch Handtaschen, Damenhüte, feine Strümpfe und Jäckchen für Babies. Die Objekte stehen für die Pflichten und den Status einer Ehefrau und Mutter. Lisette H. hatte beides verloren und spricht durch ihre Arbeiten von ihrer Trauer darüber. Die Objekte zeugen von schier unglaublichem Geschick.
Artistic Research on Things in/of Psychiatry: An Interdisciplinary Teaching Project
Authors: Kaiser Céline
Published: November 2020

Das Thema des Bandes aufgreifend, fand unter der Leitung von Monika Ankele und Céline Kaiser ein künstlerisch forschendes Projekt mit Studierenden der Hochschule für Künste im Sozialen, Ottersberg, statt, das sich den Transformationen der Dinge im Kontext der Psychiatrie widmete. Der Beitrag skizziert Grundgedanken und Arbeitsweisen des Projekts und reflektiert die künstlerischen Arbeiten der Studierenden vor dem Hintergrund der Forschungsfragen des Sammelbands.
From Post-Yugoslavia to the Female Continent
Authors: Matijevic Tijana
Published: November 2020

This study of contemporary literature from the former Yugoslavia (Post-Yugoslavia) follows the ways in which the feminist writing of gender, body, sexuality, and social and cultural hierarchies brings to light the past of socialist Yugoslavia, its cultural and literary itineraries and its dissolution in the Yugoslav wars. The analysis also focuses on the particularities of different feminist writings, together with their picturing of possible futures. The title of the book suggests an attempt to interpret post-Yugoslav literature as feminist writing, but also a process of conceptualizing a post-Yugoslav literary field, in this study represented by contemporary fiction from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Serbia.
Lebendige Produkte
Authors: Kleinert Johanna
Published: November 2020

Nicht nur Dinge des täglichen Gebrauchs, Gebäude oder Kampagnen werden designt - auch Obst und Gemüse unterliegen mittlerweile einer immer ausgefeilteren aktiven Gestaltung. Als erste designwissenschaftliche Untersuchung zur Gestaltung von gewachsenen Lebensmitteln analysiert Johanna Kleinert das Handeln der am Produktionsprozess beteiligten Akteur*innen im Hinblick auf die Bedingungen und Zielsetzungen dieser Art des Food-Designs: Welche Vorstellungen von Produktqualität dominieren die Herstellung? Und wie bedingt die Lebendigkeit der gestalteten Dinge den Gestaltungsprozess selbst? Mit diesen Perspektiven regt sie dazu an, die Werte und Ziele, die Grundlage der Gestaltung unserer pflanzlichen Lebensmittel sind, offen zu legen und neu zu verhandeln.