bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The calcium-binding protein S100B reduces IL6 production in malignant melanoma via inhibition of RSK cellular signaling
Authors: Alasady Milad J. , Terry Alexander R. , Pierce Adam D. , Cavalier Michael C. , Blaha Catherine S. , Adipietro Kaylin A. , Wilder Paul T. , Weber David J. , Hay Nissim
Published: August 2021

S100B is frequently elevated in malignant melanoma. A regulatory mechanism was uncovered here in which elevated S100B lowers mRNA and secreted protein levels of interleukin-6 (IL6) and inhibits an autocrine loop whereby IL6 activates STAT3 signaling. Our results showed that S100B affects IL6 expression transcriptionally. S100B was shown to form a calcium-dependent protein complex with the p90 ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK), which in turn sequesters RSK into the cytoplasm. Consistently, S100B inhibition was found to restore phosphorylation of a nuclear located RSK substrate, CREB, which is a potent transcription factor for IL6 expression. Thus, elevated S100B reduces IL6-STAT3 signaling via RSK signaling pathway in malignant melanoma. Indeed, the elevated S100B levels in malignant melanoma cell lines correspond to low levels of IL6 and p-STAT3.
Who falls between the cracks? Identifying eligible PrEP users among people with Sub-Saharan African migration background living in Antwerp, Belgium
Authors: Buffel Veerle , Masquillier Caroline , Reyniers Thijs , Van Landeghem Ella , Wouters Edwin , Vuylsteke Bea , Nöstlinger Christiana
Published: August 2021

Introduction

This study produces an estimate of the proportion of eligible PrEP users among people of Sub-Saharan African background based on the Belgian PrEP eligibility criteria and examines associations with socio-economic and demographic characteristics.

Methods

We performed logistic regression analysis on data of a representative community-based survey conducted among Sub-Saharan African communities (n = 685) living in Antwerp.

Results

Almost a third (30.3%) of the respondents were eligible to use PrEP. Those who were male, single, lower educated, undocumented, and had experienced forced sex were more likely to be eligible for PrEP use. The findings highlight the importance of taking intra-, interpersonal and structural HIV risk factors into account.

Conclusions

The study shows high unmet PrEP needs in this population, especially among those with high vulnerability for HIV acquisition. A better understanding of barriers to PrEP use in this population group is needed to allow for equitable access.
Identifying fungal-host associations in an amphibian host system
Authors: Alexiev Alexandra , Chen Melissa Y. , McKenzie Valerie J.
Published: August 2021

Host-associated microbes can interact with macro-organisms in a number of ways that affect host health. Few studies of host-associated microbiomes, however, focus on fungi. In addition, it is difficult to discern whether a fungal organism found in or on an ectotherm host is associating with it in a durable, symbiotic interaction versus a transient one, and to what extent the habitat and host share microbes. We seek to identify these host-microbe interactions on an amphibian, the Colorado boreal toad (Anaxyrus boreas boreas). We sequenced the ITS1 region of the fungal community on the skin of wild toads (n = 124) from four sites in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, across its physiologically dynamic developmental life stages. We also sampled the common habitats used by boreal toads: water from their natal wetland and aquatic pond sediment. We then examined diversity patterns within different life stages, between host and habitat, and identified fungal taxa that could be putatively host-associated with toads by using an indicator species analysis on toad versus environmental samples. Host and habitat were strikingly similar, with the exception of toad eggs. Post-hatching toad life stages were distinct in their various fungal diversity measures. We identified eight fungal taxa that were significantly associated with eggs, but no other fungal taxa were associated with other toad life stages compared with their environmental habitat. This suggests that although pre- and post-metamorphic toad life stages differ from each other, the habitat and host fungal communities are so similar that identifying obligate host symbionts is difficult with the techniques used here. This approach does, however, leverage sequence data from host and habitat samples to predict which microbial taxa are host-associated versus transient microbes, thereby condensing a large set of sequence data into a smaller list of potential targets for further consideration.
Depletion of skeletal muscle mass adversely affects long-term outcomes for men undergoing gastrectomy for gastric cancer
Authors: Sakurai Katsunobu , Kubo Naoshi , Tamamori Yutaka , Aomatsu Naoki , Nishii Takafumi , Tachimori Akiko , Nishiguchi Yukio , Maeda Kiyoshi
Published: August 2021

Background

Although low skeletal muscle mass has an adverse impact on the treatment outcomes of cancer patients, whether the relationship between preoperative skeletal muscle mass and gastrectomy outcomes in gastric cancer (GC) differs between men and women is unclear. The study aimed to clarify this relationship based on gender.

Methods

Between January 2007 and December 2015, 1054 patients who underwent gastrectomy for GC at Osaka City General Hospital were enrolled in this study. We evaluated sarcopenia by the skeletal muscle index (SMI), which was measured by computed tomography (CT) using areas of muscle in the third lumbar vertebral body (L3). Male and female patients were each divided into two groups (low skeletal muscle and high skeletal muscle).

Results

The SMI emerged as an independent predictor of 5-year overall survival (OS) in male GC patients (Hazard ratio 2.51; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.73–3.63, p < 0.001) based on multivariate analysis. However, this index was not an independent predictive determinant of 5-year cancer-specific survival (CSS). The SMI was not an independent predictor of either OS or CSS in female GC patients. The incidence of leakage and major complication (Clavien Dindo grade ≧ 3) did not differ significantly across groups.

Conclusions

Preoperative skeletal muscle mass is a valuable prognostic predictor of OS in male GC patients.
Machine learning for manually-measured water quality prediction in fish farming
Authors: Zambrano Andres Felipe , Giraldo Luis Felipe , Quimbayo Julian , Medina Brayan , Castillo Eduardo
Published: August 2021

Monitoring variables such as dissolved oxygen, pH, and pond temperature is a key aspect of high-quality fish farming. Machine learning (ML) techniques have been proposed to model the dynamics of such variables to improve the fish farmer’s decision-making. Most of the research on ML in aquaculture has focused on scenarios where devices for real-time data acquisition, storage, and remote monitoring are available, making it easy to develop accurate ML techniques. However, fish farmers do not necessarily have access to such devices. Many of them prefer to use equipment to manually measure these variables limiting the amount of available data to process. In this work, we study the use of random forests, multivariate linear regression, and artificial neural networks in scenarios with limited amount of measurements to analyze data from water-quality variables that are commonly measured in fish farming. We propose a methodology to build models in two scenarios: i) estimation of unobserved variables based on the observed ones, and ii) forecasting when a low amount of data is available for training. We show that random forests can be used to forecast dissolved oxygen, pond temperature, pH, ammonia, and ammonium when the water pond variables are measured only twice per day. Moreover, we showed that these prediction models can be implemented on a mobile-based information system and run in an average smartphone that fish farmers can afford.
Health extension service utilization and associated factors in East Gojjam zone, Northwest Ethiopia: A community-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Aynalem Bewket Yeserah , Melesse Misganaw Fikrie
Published: August 2021

Introduction

Health Extension Program is a preventive, promotive, and basic curative service targeting households to improve the health status of families with the effective implementation of 16 health extension packages. We, therefore, did this study to assess health extension package utilization and associated factors in the East Gojjam zone, Northwest Ethiopia.

Methods

A community-based mixed cross-sectional study was conducted on households of East Gojjam Zone, from January 1 to April 30, 2020. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select 806 study participants in this study. We used EPI info version 7 for data entry and SPSS version 24 software for cleaning and analysis. Variables having a P-value of less than 0.25 in the bivariate logistic regression analysis were fitted into the multivariable logistic regression model. The 95% confidence interval of odds ratio was computed and a variable having P-value less than 0.05 in the multivariable logistic regression analysis was considered as statistically significant.

Results

The study showed that 119 (14.8%) respondents have utilized health extension packages. Knowledge health extension package (AOR = 1.84, 95% CI: 1.22, 2.79), residence (AOR = 3.55, 95% CI: 1.99,6.33),visited health post(AOR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.054,2.50), home visited by health extension worker (AOR = 1,68, 95% CI: 1.025,2.74) and involving in model family training(AOR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.38,3.215) were significant factors for health extension service utilization.

Conclusion

The magnitude of health extension service utilization was low since the Ethiopian government recommends 100% health extension service utilization coverage. Knowledge of health extension package, residence, health post-visit, home visit, and model family training were significant factors for health extension service utilization. So expanding the model family training and strict home-to-home visit especially in rural areas may increase the health extension package utilization.
INTERNACIONALIZAÇÃO NA EDUCAÇÃO SUPERIOR: RELATO DE MOBILIDADE ACADÊMICA E EXPERIÊNCIA FORMATIVA A PARTIR DO DIÁRIO DE REGISTROS
Authors: Fernanda Seidel Vorpagel  , Cláudia da Silva Cousin  , Leidy Gabriela Ariza Ariza
Published: August 2021

O texto apresenta uma discussão sobre os fenômenos da Internacionalização na Educação Superior, a partir de revisão bibliográfica em periódicos da área de educação e relato de experiência de mobilidade acadêmica internacional, realizado na Colômbia, na Universidade “Y”[1]. A mobilidade discente foi oportunizada por meio do edital de seleção interna do Programa de Pós-Graduação “Z”, da Universidade “X”, Brasil. O intercâmbio teve a duração de um mês e foi realizado no primeiro ano do mestrado. A vivência dessa mobilidade possibilita a articulação com o problema de pesquisa da mestranda, a saber, “o que é isso que se mostra de Educação Ambiental crítica e transformadora nas escolas da educação básica?” - para com outro lugar socioespacial, oportunizando adensar a discussão dos aspectos intrínsecos à pesquisa. Como modo de re(significar) a experiência se aposta no diário de registros, que evidencia que para além da academia, a mobilidade promove a formação pessoal. Espera-se, a partir do texto, estimular e intensificar a mobilidade internacional, especialmente na graduação e na Pós-Graduação.
CONCEPÇÃO DE EMOÇÃO NOS PROGRAMAS DE EDUCAÇÃO SOCIOEMOCIONAL
Authors: Ramirez Albuquerque Barbosa Carla , Vieira Santos Soraya , De Castro Balduino Paranahyba Jordana
Published: August 2021

As emoções nem sempre foram um foco da Psicologia, foi necessário um longo processo para que adentrassem esse campo e passassem a ser estudadas a partir de uma perspectiva científica. Henri Wallon se tornou uma referência nesse aspecto, por seu estudo acerca da afetividade e sua função na concepção de uma pessoa completa, com ênfase para a ligação com a aprendizagem, compreendendo as emoções em uma relação intrínseca com a cognição. As emoções têm ganhado espaço no ambiente escolar e no processo de desenvolvimento do aluno e é crescente o número de materiais de educação socioemocional que têm surgido e sido utilizados na Educação Básica. Assim, a pesquisa tem como objetivo compreender qual a concepção de emoção adotada nesses materiais e buscar assimilar quais são as possíveis consequências dessa concepção para a subjetividade do aluno. A metodologia utilizada foi o estudo documental, tendo sido construída uma Ficha de Análise para identificação de dados em programas de educação emocional. Identificou-se falta de clareza nos materiais quanto ao conceito de emoção e de educação socioemocional, sendo que estes são associados a temas específicos. Analisou-se como aparece nos materiais a ideia de controle das emoções, de sucesso profissional e certo discurso positivo e prescritivo. Foram ressaltados os pontos favoráveis dos materiais: compreende o aluno como um sujeito integral e torna a atividade pedagógica mais prática. Indica-se a necessidade de continuar os estudos em torno da temática da educação socioemocional, pois se trata de questão que carece de aprofundamento conceitual.
PERCEPCIÓN DE NIÑOS DEL GRADO QUINTO DE PRIMARIA ACERCA DE SU VIVENCIA DE DEMOCRACIA
Authors: Nayibe Bonilla Mendoza Yaquelín , Garzón Barragán Isabel
Published: August 2021

En el presente artículo se asume la importancia de propiciar la formación en capacidades ecociudadanas en la educación básica primaria, en el marco de la educación en ciencias, para que los niños puedan actuar como ciudadanos responsables en su territorio de vida. En este sentido, se presenta el análisis de las respuestas de niños de grado quinto de primaria de la IED Tabora, a un cuestionario diseñado con el objetivo de determinar su percepción acerca de su vivencia de democracia; aplicado antes y después de implementar una unidad didáctica, basada en el enfoque de enseñanza por indagación de la cuestión socioambiental vinculada a la urbanización creciente de varios humedales de Bogotá, Colombia. Algunos de los resultados relevantes de las respuestas de los niños, muestran que hubo avance en el reconocimiento de un mayor número de derechos y deberes consignados en la Constitución; además, se avanzó en el empoderamiento de los niños al reconocerse a sí mismos como ecociudadanos, con la posibilidad de transformar las injusticias ambientales del contexto, en procura del derecho a un ambiente sano. Así mismo, los espacios generados por el abordaje de la cuestión socioambiental, dieron la posibilidad a los niños de aprender de democracia “haciendo democracia”.
Palabras clave: Capacidades de eco-ciudadanía, aspectos socioambientales, educación científica, educación primaria básica, democracia.
EDUCAÇÃO PARA AS RELAÇÕES ÉTNICO-RACIAIS
Authors: SANTANA ELIDA ROBERTA SOARES DE , Ferraz Bruna Tarcília
Published: August 2021

Para o Movimento Negro, a educação foi espaço de atenção especial para a promoção da luta antirracista culminando na Lei 10.639/03. Objetivamos aqui, dialogar sobre a dinâmica político-pedagógica da UFRPE-Sede, em relação à sua mobilização para o cumprimento da referida lei, no âmbito dos cursos de licenciatura. Através da realização de entrevistas com professores e representantes administrativos de algumas esferas da UFRPE, percebemos que a disciplinarização foi uma conquista ocorrida após uma série de movimentos, embates e diálogos internos entre três principais esferas NEAB, PREG e o Fórum das Licenciaturas. Concluímos que, a discussão inicial que resultou na disciplina ERER deu-se inicialmente de forma estratégica para a adequação as normativas, todavia, a articulação de alguns espaços com as lutas dos movimentos sociais, impulsionou a instituição para um processo consciente de que a educação tem o poder de contribuir para a transformação de uma sociedade racista.
About Hermeneutics Origin, History and its Relationship with Art and Music
Authors: Holguín Tovar Pilar Jovanna , Ávila Vásquez Manuel Oswaldo
Published: August 2021

Nuestro objetivo es explicitar la historia de la hermenéutica desde sus orígenes míticos hasta el modo como esta fue acogida en el ámbito de la música como método de análisis con el fin de revelar el contenido y el significado de las obras. Se diserta sobre los diferentes ámbitos asignados al término “hermenéutica” en la filosofía y las artes. Para llevar a cabo estas consideraciones, en la primera parte se expone el origen mítico, se realiza una sucinta historia del término y se presenta el puente establecido por H.G. Gadamer entre la hermenéutica y el arte. En la segunda parte se muestra la conformación de la hermenéutica musical, su desarrollo en el campo de la música a través del análisis musical y sus fines. Por último, se enuncian los puntos de encuentro entre la hermenéutica filosófica y aquella adoptada en el campo de la música.
Paul De Man Reader of Fr. Schlegel.Romanticism and Irony in Demanian Texts (1960-1980)
Authors: Garnica Naim
Published: August 2021

El trabajo reconstruye la recepción del pensamiento de Fr. Schlegel en la obra temprana de Paul De Man. Nuestra hipótesis sostiene que si analizamos los ensayos gestados antes de los años 80 se puede visibilizar que De Man inscribe al romanticismo a partir de algunos de los críticos del romanticismo, pero, al mismo tiempo, modifica la imagen orgánica y totalizadora del romanticismo que una parte de la crítica literaria sostenía en relación con la poesía romántica. A tales efectos, examinamos de qué modo se presenta esta recepción en dos textos previos a 1980: Retórica de la temporalidad y Alegorías de la lectura.
Human Rights and Capitalism.A Relation Crossed by Ideology
Authors: Gómez Betancur Milany Andrea , Polo Blanco Jorge
Published: August 2021

Este trabajo pretende analizar el papel jugado por la ideología en lo que respecta al despliegue histórico de los derechos humanos, interrogándose sobre si dicho despliegue ha cumplido con una función eminentemente ideológica. La reflexión transcurrirá a través de la visión de dos pensadores que han sostenido una de las discusiones filosóficas contemporáneas más interesantes: Louis Althusser y Michel Foucault. En un primer momento, se esbozará la teoría althusseriana de la ideología, con el fin de sostener que los derechos humanos han operado como un “aparato ideológico”, interpelando al individuo desde un contexto inmanentemente capitalista. En un segundo momento, comprobaremos que Michel Foucault fue muy crítico con los planteamientos althusserianos. La noción de sujeto trascendental será crucial en dicha crítica, puesto que en la perspectiva foucaultiana nunca existen sujetos constituidos con anterioridad a las tramas de poder efectivas. En el análisis foucaultiano, la ideología dejará de ocupar un lugar esencial. Las aportaciones de Slavoj Žižek también resultarán, por cierto, determinantes en toda esta discusión. Finalmente, se trazarán algunas reflexiones críticas para pensar la posibilidad emancipadora de los derechos humanos en el mundo contemporáneo.
Review Hidrolisis Biomasa Lignoselulosa Untuk Xilitol
Authors: Purnawan Awan , Thontowi Ahmad , Kholida Lutfi Nia , Perwitasari Urip
Published: August 2021

Xilitol adalah gula alkohol dengan lima atom karbon. Gula ini digunakan sebagai pemanis industri pangan dan makanan, karena memiliki karakter yang menguntungkan. Meskipun xilitol diproduksi secara industri oleh reduksi kimia D-xilosa yang berasal dari hidrolisat hemiselulosa, metode produksi ini tidak ekonomis karena persyaratan untuk D-xilosa murni, suhu tinggi, dan tekanan tinggi. Oleh karena itu, produksi xilitol melalui pendekatan bioteknologi dengan bantuan mikroorganisme menjadi fokus sebagai metode yang ekonomis dan ramah lingkungan. Selain itu, untuk meningkatkan produksi bio-xilitol, strain mikroorganisme telah mengalami strategi modifikasi genetik. Review ini menjelaskan upaya produksi xilitol dari biomasa lignoselulasa, proses perlakuan biomasa, dan mikroorganisme yang berperan dalam fermentasi xilitolAbstractXylitol is a sugar alcohol with five atoms of C. This sugar is used as a sweetener in the food industry and confectionary, because it has a favorable character. Although xylitol is produced industrially by the chemical reduction of D-xylose derived from hemicellulose hydrolyzate, this production method is not economical because of the requirements for pure D-xylose, high temperature, and high pressure. Therefore, the production of xylitol with a biotechnological approach with the help of microorganisms becomes the focus as an economical and environmentally friendly method. In addition, to increase bio-xylitol production, strains of microorganisms have undergone genetic modification strategies. This review article describes the latest advances made in the production of xylitol from lignocellulase biomass, biomass treatment processes, and microorganisms that play a role in xylitol fermentation.
Dimensiones de la ideología política. Un abordaje operativo desde la Teoría de Respuesta al Ítem
Authors: Brussino Silvina , Alonso Daniela , Cupani Marcos , Imhoff Débora , Paz García Pamela , Rabbia Hugo H.
Published: August 2021

A pesar de que la ideología política es un constructo central para la psicología política contemporánea, en la literatura persisten desacuerdos respecto de su estructura y operacionalización. Teniendo esto en cuenta, el presente trabajo evalúa las propiedades psicométricas de la Escala de Ideología Política de forma operativa, es decir, contemplando los posicionamientos de las personas sobre temas políticos. Para ello, se tomó una muestra probabilística de la población de Córdoba, Argentina (N = 444) y se testearon las propiedades psicométricas de esta escala por medio de la teoría de respuesta al ítem. Como resultado, se encontró una estructura bidimensional con dos ejes independientes —conservadurismo y progresismo—, cada uno con propiedades de intervalo y ajuste del modelo satisfactorio. Como indicador de validez predictiva, los resultados de la relación de las dimensiones de ideología política con los valores sociales fueron consistentes con la evidencia empírica antecedente. En suma, si bien las propiedades psicométricas de la Escala de Ideología Política se seguirán estudiando, esta es un aporte significativo por la escasez de instrumentos de evaluación que la comprendan de un modo operativo, multidimensional y ecológicamente válido.
Od spekulatywnego humoryzmu do eksperymentalnego fizjologizmu
Authors: Drozdowicz Zbigniew
Published: August 2021

Pointing out the boundary after crossing which physiology of man stops being pseudoscience and becomes true science had been a task undertaken for a long time. Some of those attempts caused a greater and some a lesser reservation. Relatively limited ways of recognizing life processes, including the preveiling for centuries ban of doing autopsy, on many occasions opened widely a door for various pseudo and quasi scientific speculations. Numerous of them had survived through the centuries. Although with time passing by it had been proved that some of them a scientifically groundless they had been replaced with new ones. In my remarks I recall the example of speculative humourism as well several examples of experimental physiologism, including behaviorism which is still popular in science. Certainly, more of such examples can be given at any time. We cannot say however that diverse pseudoscientific speculations in physiology have been eradicated. We might say that today we are given a much smaller space for speculativism in that or other areas of biological research.
Absence of bubbling phenomena for non-convex anisotropic nearly umbilical and quasi-Einstein hypersurfaces
Authors: De Rosa Antonio , Gioffrè Stefano
Published: August 2021

We prove that, for every closed (not necessarily convex) hypersurface Σ in

ℝ

n
+
1

{\mathbb{R}^{n+1}}

and every

p
>
n

{p>n}

, the

L
p

{L^{p}}

-norm of the trace-free part of the anisotropic second fundamental form controls from above the

W

2
,
p

{W^{2,p}}

-closeness of Σ to the Wulff shape. In the isotropic setting, we provide a simpler proof. This result is sharp since in the subcritical regime

p
≤
n

{p\leq n}

, the lack of convexity assumptions may lead in general to bubbling phenomena.
Moreover, we obtain a stability theorem for quasi-Einstein (not necessarily convex) hypersurfaces and we improve the quantitative estimates in the convex setting.
Die Anschlussfähigkeit verloren
Authors: Knaup Horand
Published: August 2021

Wenige Monate vor der Bundestagswahl hat sich die Union in den Umfragekeller manövriert – und die SPD kann in keiner Weise davon profitieren. Wie konnte es dazu kommen? Für seine Kampagne hat Spitzenkandidat Olaf Scholz die Aufbruchs- und Wechselstimmung im Elektorat unterschätzt. In ihren früheren Hochburgen hat die Partei dramatisch an Rückhalt verloren, zentrale Zielgruppen – Jungwähler*innen, Gewerkschafter, urbanes Publikum – haben sich verabschiedet. Die Partei hat ein massives Imageproblem, gilt nach 19 Regierungsjahren nicht mehr als Motor gesellschaftlichen Fortschritts und hat obendrein den Anschluss an neue soziale Bewegungen verloren. Noch immer steht der klassische Industriearbeiter im Mittelpunkt der sozialdemokratischen politischen Ansprache. Nur schwerfällig realisiert die Partei, dass sich die Arbeitswelt dramatisch verändert hat und immer mehr dienstleistungs- und wissensbasierte Branchen zur Wertschöpfung beitragen. Ein bezeichnendes Detail: Das aktuell gültige Grundsatzprogramm stammt aus dem Jahr 2007 – in bewegten Zeiten zu alt für eine Partei der Postmoderne.
Die AfD vor der Bundestagswahl 2021
Authors: Ruhose Fedor
Published: August 2021

Auch für die AfD ist die Bundestagswahl 2021 eine „kritische Wahl“. Sie tritt an, zum zweiten Mal in den Bundestag einzuziehen. Dies wäre für die Alternative für Deutschland ein Erfolg, unabhängig vom Wahlergebnis. Der Wiedereinzug würde sie noch stärker im Parteiensystem etablieren. Dabei setzt die AfD auf eine Wahlkampagne, die Querverbindungen zwischen ihrem Markenkern und den übrigen, für die Wählerschaft wichtigen Themen zieht. Die AfD ist dabei eine von tiefen Konflikten gezeichnete Partei, die zwar bei der Wahlentscheidung für oder gegen sie keine Rolle spielen, deren Auflösung aber eine bedeutende Rolle bei der Entwicklung der Partei in der Zeit nach der Bundestagswahl 2021 spielen wird. Auch darauf müssen die anderen politischen Akteure im Wahlkampf und später im Bundestag eine Antwort finden müssen.
Demokratie und Islam. Die Beteiligung von Muslim*innen in Deutschland
Authors: Maisenbacher Jan
Published: August 2021

Demokratie und Islam. Die Beteiligung von Muslim*innen in Deutschland. Sogenannte Islamkritiker*innen behaupten, „der Islam“ und die Demokratie seien unvereinbar. Ablehnung und Vorbehalte gegenüber Muslim*innen und somit weit verbreitete Islamfeindlichkeit werden dadurch befördert. Infolgedessen kann eine Beteiligung von Menschen muslimischen Glaubens an der Gesellschaft und Demokratie erschwert sein. Jan Maisenbacher geht in seinem Beitrag der Frage nach, wie demokratische Beteiligung von Muslim*innen unter diesen Umständen ausgeübt wird. Welche förderlichen Faktoren können identifiziert werden und was hat das Engagement mit dem islamischen Glauben zu tun? Nach der Darstellung und Diskussion der Erkenntnisse aus der dem Beitrag zugrundeliegenden Interviewstudie kommt er zu dem Schluss, dass Muslim*innen gestärkt und sichtbarer werden sollten durch die Anerkennung ihres Engagements und die Einbeziehung von Moscheegemeinden in lokale zivilgesellschaftliche Zusammenschlüsse.
Typological explanations in synchrony and diachrony: on the origins of third person zeroes in bound person paradigms
Authors: Cristofaro Sonia
Published: August 2021

A well-known cross-linguistic pattern in bound person paradigms is for zero marking to be restricted to third person forms, particularly third person singular subjects. This has been explained in terms of general language preferences for third person zeroes, possibly determined by principles of iconicity or economy. This paper discusses several diachronic phenomena that result in third person zeroes cross-linguistically, and argues that these phenomena pose two challenges for this type of explanations. First, several phenomena do not appear to be related to general language preferences for third person zeroes. Second, different phenomena are a result of different causal factors, meaning that third person zeroes are not amenable to a unified explanation. This calls for a source-oriented approach to third person zeroes and recurrent cross-linguistic patterns in general, one where these patterns are accounted for in terms of the properties of different diachronic phenomena that shape the pattern over time, rather than synchronic properties of the pattern in itself.
How to restructure a grammatical category: the innovative person system of Chamacoco (Zamucoan, northern Paraguay)
Authors: Ciucci Luca
Published: August 2021

Chamacoco is a Zamucoan language of northern Paraguay that has considerably restructured its person reference system. Starting from the existing reconstruction of Proto-Zamucoan, I will analyze the evolution of person marking in free pronouns, verbs and possessable nouns. The verb lost the realis/irrealis distinction in speech act participants, while the third person underwent some allomorphic changes and introduced a distinction between third singular and plural, dependent on an innovative animacy hierarchy. The first person proved overall particularly unstable. In possessable nouns, it was replaced by a form for unspecified possessor, while a new exponent was created for the latter. In free pronouns, the first plural shifted to the first singular and then grammaticalized to the new verb prefix for the first singular. The most significant changes concern the introduction of clusivity in verbs and free pronouns, which was combined with an unusual number term: the greater plural. Besides, the verbal first-person exclusive is typologically unexpected, since it derives from the inclusive. I will discuss the reasons for these and other minor changes, which involve internal factors and language contact. Finally, I will show how recent contact with Spanish has affected the Chamacoco person system.
Are more humorous children more intelligent? A case from Turkish culture
Authors: Arslan Deniz , Sak Ugur , Atesgoz Nazmiye Nazli
Published: August 2021

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between intelligence and humor ability in a Turkish sample. The sample included 217 middle-school students with a wide range of intelligence measured by a Turkish intelligence test (ASIS). Humor ability was measured using the Humor Ability Assessment Form. Students were instructed to write captions for 10 cartoons that were as funny and relevant as possible. Seven experts rated the funniness of the captions and their relevance to the cartoons, yielding a total of 30,380 ratings (217 students × 10 cartoons × two criteria × seven experts). The findings showed that both general intelligence and the second-level components (verbal ability, visual-spatial ability, and memory) had high correlations with humor ability. Intelligence explained 68% of the variance in humor ability. Among the third-level factors, verbal analogical reasoning was the primary predictor of humor ability (β = 0.325, p < 0.001). Humor ability scores significantly differed across intelligence clusters, implying that highly humorous children may be highly intelligent.
Potential of a mixed culture of microalgae for accumulation of beta-carotene under different stress conditions
Authors: Ghorbani Azita , Rafiee Poorya , Hosseini Maryam , Ebrahimi Sirous
Published: August 2021

Beta-carotene, a pigment found in plants, is mainly produced by microalgae. Nevertheless, this production has only been investigated in pure cultures. Beta-carotene production through mixed culture eliminates the costly procedure of sterilization and contamination prevention needed for pure cultures. In this study, for the first time, the growth, beta-carotene, and chlorophyll production of a mixed culture of microalgae from Caspian Sea was investiagted under different stress conditions. At the condition of tripled light intensity and nitrogen starvation, beta-carotene content increased from 18.03 to 43.8 and 46.5 mol beta-carotene g−1 protein, respectively. However, the salinity of 4 mol L−1 caused the beta-carotene content to fall to zero. The blank sample reached a constant value of 23 mol beta-carotene g−1protein. The comparable results with the specific monoculture species exhibit the high potential of a mixed culture of microalgae for beta-carotene production without need of the high sterilization cost. Nevertheless, more research is needed for where it can be a good substitute for pure culture.
Development of an accelerated test for pitting corrosion of CUSTOM 450 by rDHM
Authors: Pedram Omid , Poursaeidi Esmaeil , Khamedi Ramin , Shayani-jam Hassan , Mollapour Yousef
Published: August 2021

A key application of CUSTOM 450 alloy is in the construction of gas turbine compressor blades. The study of pitting corrosion can prevent the failure of many gas turbine compressor blades. In this study, a reflective digital holography microscopy method was employed to investigate the growth of pitting corrosion in depth. To this end, a constant potential of 350 mVSCE in a 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution was applied to the specimen. The generated pits were simulated in three dimensions, and it was indicated that pitting corrosion rate was decreased as time passed. Comparing the obtained experimental data with the data gathered from the real industrial environment surrounding a compressor installation, an accelerated test was proposed. By the proposed accelerated test, it is possible to produce a pit similar to the one that will be initiated and propagated at any time in the future in real conditions.
Synthesis and characterizations of metal ions doped barium strontium titanate (BST) nanomaterials for photocatalytic and electrical applications: A mini review
Authors: Kelele Kiflom Gebremedhn , Tadesse Aschalew , Desalegn Tegene , Ghotekar Suresh , Balachandran Ruthramurthy , Murthy Hanabe Chowdappa Ananda
Published: August 2021

The ferroelectric barium strontium titanate (Ba1-xSrxTiO3) is a homogeneous solid solution prepared from the mixture of barium titanate (BaTiO3), strontium titanate (SrTiO3) and titanium (IV) isopropoxide. Barium strontium titanate (BST) nanomaterials with improved permittivity and dielectric properties due to their nano-properties have attracted great interest for extensive and versatile applications as super capacitors, dielectrics, ceramics and catalysts. Introduction of metal ion dopants into the parent system of BST significantly alters its structural, morphological, electrical, optical and dielectric characteristics. This review is aimed at addressing synthesis, characterization methods, photocatalytic and electrical applications of metal ions doped BST nanomaterials. The effect of doping BST, through metal ions, on its properties and application with most probable reasons have been thoroughly discussed.
Osteopathic interventions via telehealth in a pediatric population: a retrospective case series
Authors: Kramer Joanna L. , De Asis Kathleen
Published: August 2021

Context

Healthcare delivery was dramatically affected during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Many outpatient visits were cancelled or forgone for fear of exposure to the virus, allowing telemedicine to take on a much larger role in healthcare. The delivery of manual therapies, such as osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), via telehealth posed a unique challenge as these are typically provided in-person by a trained osteopathic physician. This study provides a description of one osteopathic pediatrician’s experience in delivering osteopathic interventions to pediatric patients via telehealth. To our knowledge, these techniques have not previously been described in the literature.

Objectives

To detail the experience of one osteopathic pediatrician’s experience in delivering osteopathic interventions via telehealth.

Methods

Patients were offered the option of converting their existing OMT appointment to a telehealth visit. Prior to the appointment, instructions were emailed to the patient’s parent or guardian along with a voluntary survey to provide feedback. Thirty-minute telehealth visits were conducted during which the provider gave verbal and visual instructions to a parent or guardian over a video platform to guide them in providing treatment to the patient based on osteopathic principles. Patients aged 3 and older rated their pain before and after the appointment using the Wong-Baker FACES scale. Deidentified patient demographics, chief complaints, treatments, anatomic locations, and pain scores were recorded in a REDcap database. Descriptive statistics were analyzed and paired samples t-tests were used with a p-value of <0.05 used to determine significance.

Results

Eighteen patients ranging from 6 months to 19 years of age were treated utilizing osteopathic interventions via telehealth during 54 distinct visits. The most common chief complaints treated were back (n=31; 26.3%) and neck (n=28; 23.7%) pain. The most common osteopathic techniques upon which instruction was based were inhibition (n=131; 29.7%) soft tissue (n=127; 28.8%) and counterstrain (n=78; 17.7%). The average post-treatment pain score (2.57) was significantly lower than the average pre-treatment pain score (6.77) p<0.01. No serious complications were observed.

Conclusions

In our small retrospective case series, osteopathic interventions via telehealth resulted in decreased average pain scores following treatment while minimizing risk of viral exposure and transmission. Further study is needed to determine if such treatment methods could be effective on a larger scale when distance or illness preclude an in-person OMT visit.
Growth hormone replacement therapy: is it safe to use in children with asymptomatic pituitary lesions?
Authors: Sheldon Breanna L. , O’Brien Michael W. , Adamo Matthew A.
Published: August 2021

Objectives

Small pituitary cysts are commonly discovered on pediatric brain magnetic resonance imagings (MRIs), particularly in patients with growth hormone deficiency (GHD). We examined the need for operative management in children with these masses as well as the effect of growth hormone replacement (GHR) on these lesions.

Methods

This was a retrospective review of pituitary protocol MRIs conducted in children 0–19 at a single center between April 2010–November 2020. Sex, indication for initial MRI, volume, and whether surgery was performed was determined. Records were reviewed to determine whether GHD was present and treatment with GHR documented. For patients with subsequent MRIs, volume on most recent scan was calculated.

Results

Of the 101 children with cysts, 25 had laboratory-confirmed GHD and 76 did not. GHD patients had a higher mean age compared to no growth hormone deficiency (NGHD) cohort (11.2 and 8.4 years, respectively; p=0.02) and a larger proportion of males (p<0.001). The mean cyst volume on initial MRI was not significantly smaller in patients with GHD (0.063 ± 0.012 cm3) vs. those without GHD (0.171 ± 0.039 cm3, p=0.11). Of the 21 GHD patients who received GHR and had follow-up MRIs, 10 had no change in pituitary cyst size, two had cysts that shrank, and seven disappeared. The remaining two cysts enlarged an average of 0.061 ± 0.033 cm3. Zero GHR recipients required surgical intervention.

Conclusions

Small sellar cysts discovered incidentally on imaging in children are unlikely to require surgical intervention. GHR does not appear to significantly enlarge these pediatric pituitary lesions and is safe for use.
Higher order TN
approximation for the neutron diffusion problem in a slab reactor
Authors: Öztürk H. , Durmaz B.
Published: August 2021

Higher order approximations of the Chebyshev polynomials of first kind (TN) are used for the first time in calculation of the diffusion lengths of monoenergetic neutrons in a homogeneous slab. In the method, the diffusion lengths of the neutrons are calculated using various values of the c, the number of secondary neutrons per collision. First, the traditional Legendre polynomials (PN) approximation and then the present TN method are used separately. The numerical results for the diffusion lengths are tabulated in the tables up to an order of N = 9. A brief comparison is also done between the results obtained from the present method and the ones in literature. The advantages of the present method can easily be observed from the good accordance between results given in the tables for comparison and its easily executable equations. For many of the c values, the results obtained from TN method are better than the results obtained from PN method.
The Rule of Law as an Emergent Social Norm: Evidence from Qualitative Research in Russia
Authors: Borodina Svetlana , Deakin Simon , Hamilton John
Published: August 2021

We study attitudes to legality and the rule of law in Russia through analysis of interviews with legal and business professionals conducted in 2013–14, the high point of the stabilisation of the Russian economy and polity following the transition of the 1990s. The annexation of Crimea occurred during the course of our fieldwork but the effects of the cooling of relations with the west and the introduction of sanctions were yet to be felt. We observed a perception that the administration of civil justice was not uniformly corrupt, but that in ‘political’ cases, that is, those involving state officials or powerful private interests, judicial decisions could in effect be bought and sold. This commodification of civil justice was the result of an empowered but predatory state. While the state was strong enough to engage in predation, however, it was seen as lacking the capacity to manage the economy in an effective way or to deliver essential public goods. We consider the implications of our findings for a conception of the rule of law as an emergent social norm. We conclude that the 1990s policy of weakening the state through privatisation and the removal of regulatory controls, a policy designed to ensure that the command economy did not return, has left Russia with a dysfunctional public order, under which the ‘normality’ envisaged by the reforms of the 1990s is a distant prospect.
Effect of Bi dopant on morphological and optical properties of ZnO semiconductor films produced by the sol-gel spin coating process
Authors: Yıldız Tülay , Katı Nida , Yalçın Kadriye
Published: August 2021

In this study, undoped semiconductor ZnO thin film and Bi-doped ZnO thin films were produced using the sol-gel spin coating method. By changing each parameter of the spin coating method, the best conditions for the formation of the film were determined via the trial and error method. When the appropriate parameter was found, the specified parameter was applied for each film. The structural, superficial, and optical properties of the films produced were characterized via atomic force microscope (AFM), UV-visible spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and the effects of Bi dopant on these properties were investigated. When the morphological properties of the undoped and Bi-doped ZnO films were examined, it was observed that they had a structure in a micro-fiber shape consisting of nanoparticles. When the surface roughness was examined, it was observed that the surface roughness values became larger as the rate of Bi dopant increased. By examining the optical properties of the films, it was determined that they were direct band transition materials and Bi-doped thin films were involved in the semiconductor range. In addition, optical properties changed positively with Bi dopant. Since Bi-doped ZnO thin film has a wide bandgap and good optical properties, it is a material that can be used in optoelectronic applications.
Abortion Laws in Muslim Countries: Modern Reconfiguration of Pre-modern Logic
Authors: Osman Amr
Published: August 2021

In most countries where Islam is acknowledged as a, or the, source of legislation, abortion is permitted under certain conditions and at certain stages of pregnancy. This article examines some of these laws and argue that they represent a continuation of the logic that governed the views of pre-modern Muslim jurists on abortion, that is, harm aversion. However, these laws also add a ‘modernist’ twist to that logic – rather than repealing that logic altogether, modernist views on ‘rights’ and the advancement of medical knowledge and technology have influenced the priorities of Muslim jurists and lawmakers as far as abortion and the issues associated with it are concerned. This influence has furthermore been possible by a conscious selection and blending of pre-modern views to serve modern concerns. In all this, however, harm aversion remains the centrifugal principle, even when the abortion discourse in Muslim countries appears couched in the modernist discourse of rights.
A high-performance TE modulator/TM-pass polarizer using selective mode shaping in a VO2-based side-polished fiber
Authors: Heidari Mohsen , Faramarzi Vahid , Sharifi Zohreh , Hashemi Mahdieh , Bahadori-Haghighi Shahram , Janjan Babak , Abbott Derek
Published: August 2021

The reversible insulating-to-conducting phase transition (ICPT) of vanadium dioxide (VO2) makes it a versatile candidate for the implementation of integrated optical devices. In this paper, a bi-functional in-line optical device based on a four-layer stack of PMMA/graphene/VO2/graphene deposited on a side-polished fiber (SPF) is proposed. The structure can be employed as an ultra-compact TE modulator or a TM-pass polarizer, operating at 1.55 μm. We show that the ICPT characteristic can be used for polarization-selective mode shaping (PSMS) to manipulate orthogonal modes separately. On the one hand, as an optical modulator, the PSMS is used to modify mode profiles so that the TE mode attenuation is maximized in the off-state (and IL is minimized in the on-state), while the power carried by the TM mode remains unchanged. As a result, a TE modulator with an ultrahigh extinction ratio (ER) of about ER = 165 dB/mm and a very low insertion loss (IL) of IL = 2.3 dB/mm is achieved. On the other hand, the structure can act as a TM-pass polarizer featuring an extremely high polarization extinction ratio (PER) of about PER = 164 dB/mm and a low TM insertion of IL = 3.86 dB/mm. The three-dimensional heat transfer calculation for the ICPT process reveals that the response time of the modulator is in the order of few nanoseconds. Moreover, the required bias voltage of the proposed device is calculated to be as low as 1.1 V. The presented results are promising a key step towards the realization of an integrated high-performance in-line modulator/polarizer.
Exploiting space-time duality in the synthesis of impedance transformers via temporal metamaterials
Authors: Castaldi Giuseppe , Pacheco-Peña Victor , Moccia Massimo , Engheta Nader , Galdi Vincenzo
Published: August 2021

Multisection quarter-wave impedance transformers are widely applied in microwave engineering and optics to attain impedance-matching networks and antireflection coatings. These structures are mostly designed in the spatial domain (time harmonic) by using geometries of different materials. Here, we exploit such concepts in the time domain by using time-varying metamaterials. We derive a formal analogy between the spectral responses of these structures and their temporal analogs, i.e., time-varying stepped refractive-index profiles. We show that such space-time duality grants access to the vast arsenal of synthesis approaches available in microwave engineering and optics. This allows, for instance, the synthesis of temporal impedance transformers for broadband impedance matching with maximally flat or equi-ripple responses, which extend and generalize the recently proposed quarter-wave design as an antireflection temporal coating. Our results, validated via full-wave numerical simulations, provide new insights and deeper understanding of the wave dynamics in time-varying media, and may find important applications in space-time metastructures for broadband frequency conversion and analog signal processing.