bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Desflorestamento e legislações ambientais em diferentes modalidades de assentamentos rurais no Sudoeste da Amazônia Legal
Authors: Leal Matheus Lucas Maciel , Maniesi Vanderlei
Published: September 2021

Esta pesquisa buscou comparar o desflorestamento em diferentes modalidades de assentamentos rurais em uma área de avanço da fronteira agropecuária do sudoeste da Amazônia legal (municípios de Porto Velho/RO, Humaitá/AM e Manicoré/AM), no período de surgimento de intensas ações governamentais de combate ao desmatamento (2000 a 2014), relacionando valores de desflorestamento com medidas legislativas. Os resultados mostraram que a maior intensidade do desflorestamento ocorreu nos assentamentos do município de Porto Velho, devido a sua modalidade convencional e a inexistência de políticas específicas de desmatamento. Por outro lado, os valores de Humaitá e Manicoré são justificados por sua base extrativista, ausência de estradas e criação em meio a programas de governo importantes na contenção do uso da terra desenfreado. As políticas agrárias, legislações federais e programas de governo foram importantes na redução do desflorestamento que, embora não apresente continuidade, mostra a influência de ações do governo sobre essas taxas. Essa discussão proporciona uma compreensão complexa e possibilita a formulação de ações conjuntas de novas políticas de ordenamento territorial construída levando em consideração os aspectos homem/natureza para áreas como unidades de conservação, terra indígenas, assentamentos rurais, reserva extrativista ou de desenvolvimento sustentável, proporcionando a construção de um ambiente com desenvolvimento e qualidade ambiental.
Análise histórica da contaminação de solo no município de Itabira/MG
Authors: Dias Cristhian Filgueira , Belotti Fernanda Maria
Published: September 2021

Em decorrência do significativo avanço tecnológico nos últimos tempos, o processo de urbanização tem sido cada vez mais intenso. O aumento das atividades acentuou a geração de compostos químicos, que descartados de maneira incorreta podem contaminar o meio ambiente, incluindo os solos. O objetivo deste  trabalho foi avaliar, através do inventário de áreas contaminadas, disponibilizado pela Fundação Estadual do Meio Ambiente (FEAM), o processo de contaminação do solo no município de Itabira-MG, no período de 2009 a 2019, identificando as fontes de contaminação e os tipos de contaminantes, sendo observados seus comportamentos em decorrência da geologia e da pedologia do município. Através da utilização de dados espaciais fornecidos pelo IDE-Sisema, foram elaborados mapas temáticos sobre a geologia e pedologia da área de estudo e calculado a velocidade do fluxo da água subterrânea por meio do cálculo do gradiente hidráulico. Os tipos de contaminantes encontrados foram os hidrocarbonetos (80%) e metais pesados (20%) oriundos de postos de combustíveis, atividades de mineração e da deposição de resíduos dentro de Itabira-MG. Atualmente há quatro áreas no cadastro de áreas contaminadas da FEAM. A velocidade de propagação de contaminantes é relativamente baixa, visto que o valor do gradiente hidráulico, responsável pela velocidade do fluxo da água subterrânea, foi de **. Foi constatado que a geologia e a pedologia das áreas de estudo não favorecem a propagação de contaminantes.
Accessibility of Tables in PDF Documents
Authors: Fayyaz Nosheen , Khusro Shah , Ullah Shakir
Published: September 2021

People access and share information over the web and in other digital environments, including digital libraries, in the form of documents such as books, articles, technical reports, etc. These documents are in a variety of formats, of which the Portable Document Format (PDF) is most widely used because of its emphasis on preserving the layout of the original material. The retrieval of relevant material from these derivative documents is challenging for information retrieval (IR) because the rich semantic structure of these documents is lost. The retrieval of important units such as images, figures, algorithms, mathematical formulas, and tables becomes a challenge. Among these elements, tables are particularly important because they can add value to the resource description, discovery, and accessibility of documents not only on the web but also in libraries if they are made retrievable and presentable to readers. Sighted users comprehend tables for sensemaking using visual cues, but blind and visually impaired users must rely on assistive technologies, including text-to-speech and screen readers, to comprehend tables. However, these technologies do not pay sufficient attention to tables in order to effectively present tables to visually impaired individuals. Therefore, ways must be found to make tables in PDF documents not only retrievable but also comprehensible. Before developing such solutions, it is necessary to review the available assistive technologies, tools, and frameworks for their capabilities, strengths, and limitations from the comprehension perspective of blind and visually impaired people, along with suitable environments like digital libraries. We found no such review article that critically and analytically presents and evaluates these technologies. To fill this gap in the literature, this review paper reports on the current state of the accessibility of PDF documents, digital libraries, assistive technologies, tools, and frameworks that make PDF tables comprehensible and accessible to blind and visually impaired people. The study findings have implications for libraries, information sciences, and information retrieval.
Effekter av økt legefaglig kompetanse i akuttmottak
Authors: Ofstad Eirik Hugaas , Stoknes Benedikte Dyrhaug , Dale Jostein , Bjørnsen Lars Petter Bache-Wiig , Sørslett Beate
Published: September 2021

Bakgrunn: Fokus på høyere legefaglig kompetanse i akuttmottakene har økt de siste årene, og i mange norske akuttmottak er det nå fast ansatte leger i klinisk virksomhet. Det finnes ingen norske studier som viser effekter av akuttleger i akuttmottak. Vi ønsket å evaluere effekter av å introdusere akuttlege ved et mellomstort norsk akuttmottak.

Materiale og metode: Vi har samlet logistiske pasientdata fra 22 ukedager (i perioden kl 8-15) med akuttlege tilstede i akuttmottaket og sammenliknet med tilsvarende antall ukedager før og etter perioden. I tillegg ble det gjennomført spørreundersøkelse for vaktgående leger og sykepleiere. 

Resultater: Gjennomsnittlig oppholdstid for pasienter gikk ned med 57 minutter i akuttlegeperioden sammenliknet med perioden før (3t 21min versus 2t 24min, 28 %, p<0.001). Maksimalt antall pasienter samtidig i akuttmottaket ble redusert med 23% i perioden med høyest belegg. 84% av vaktgående leger og sykepleiere mente ordningen førte til en generell bedring i mottaksarbeidet og 95% svarte at den bør innføres permanent.

Fortolkning: I vår studie viste vi at tilstedeværelse av akuttlege reduserer oppholdstid og opphopning av pasienter i akuttmottaket. Like viktig er det at de mindre erfarne legene rapporterte økt trygghet i sin arbeidssituasjon i akuttmottaket. Videre undersøkelser er nødvendig for å kunne si noe om økt legefaglig kompetanse i akuttmottak påvirker diagnostisk presisjon, behandlingskvalitet, varighet av sykehusinnleggelser og kost-nytteeffekt.
Entrepreneurial Marketing Skills and Small-Scale Business Performance: The Case of Ghana
Authors: Ayiku Andrews , Grant E. Stephen
Published: September 2021

The development of SMEs serves as a tool for creating employment opportunities in developing countries. SME growth can be attributed to how owners and managers use entrepreneurial marketing skills in their day-to-day operations. A quantitative study was used to gain an understanding of the application of marketing skills in SMEs and the development of SMEs in Ghana. Findings indicate that entrepreneurs acquire marketing skills during their years of operation, however, these skills are not in tune with modern business trends and market competition. Establishing marketing departments and equipping business owners with marketing skills enables their ability to deal with volatile consumer demands. Likewise, requisite marketing skills enable market understanding, new marketing approaches, and the design of demand driven products and services
An Examination of Business Applications and Implications of Emerging Technologies
Authors: Yeganeh Hamid
Published: September 2021

This paper aims at offering a review and assessment of various emerging technologies and their business applications and implications. The study focuses on nineteen emerging technologies categorized under five major themes: (1) automation and robotics; (2) data and connectivity; (3) interfaces and visualization; (4) materials; (5) energy and resources. For each theme, the associated technologies are examined, their business applications and implications are assessed, and some examples are provided. In the end, an integrative table of nineteen emerging technologies is offered, and some avenues for future research are discussed.
CREATING A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE: NEW CHALLENGES AHEAD
Authors: Bilas Vlatka , Sopta Martina
Published: September 2021

Competitiveness is a central issue of a growing open, interconnected and integrated global economy, but it is not yet uniquely defined. There are many factors that determine competitiveness, and they change with the development of globalization, and even today, under the conditions of Industry 4.0. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has also provoked a situation in which both policies to foster competitiveness need to be adapted. In order to achieve competitiveness, countries must create factors and develop policies that will create the conditions for better positioning in the global market. In order to successfully integrate into new markets, but at the same time highlight and continue economic development, reevaluation of competitiveness determinants, as well as past positioning strategies, is necessary. The paper analyses the theoretical settings and determinants of competitiveness, as well as the challenges of today that economies should respond to. Understanding new features of the competitiveness can help policymakers develop approaches for enhancing their economic performance.
Accuracy Assessment of a Variety of GPS Data Processing, Online Services and Software
Authors: Mohammed Israa H. , Ataiwe Tariq N. , Al Sharaa Hisham
Published: September 2021

The processing of GPS observations in precise positioning is complex and requires professional surveyors since it must be carried out after each static measurement. In GPS network adjustment, the obtaining of the correct coordinates of the determined point is possible after determining the components of GPS vectors and aligning the networks of these vectors, while PPP requires the availability of precise products for the reference satellites orbits and clock. For that reason, surveyors can take advantage of free online GPS data processing. In this paper, the authors compare the results obtained from different sources of free online GPS data processing (AUSPOS, OPUS, CenterPoint RTX, APPS, MagicGNSS, CSRS-PPP, GAPS, and SCOUT) in terms of their accuracy, availability, and operation. This is then compared with free GPS processing software (gLAB and RTKLIB), and finally with commercial software (TBC Trimble Business Center). The results show that online processing services are more accurate than offline processing software, which indicates the strength of their algorithms and processes. The CSRS-PPP online service had the best results. The difference between the relative solution of AUSPOS and OPUS, and CSRS-PPP is insignificant.
Living with Robots
Authors: Aylett Ruth , Vargas Patricia A.
Published: September 2021

The truth about robots: two experts look beyond the hype, offering a lively and accessible guide to what robots can (and can't) do.

There's a lot of hype about robots; some of it is scary and some of it utopian. In this accessible book, two robotics experts reveal the truth about what robots can and can't do, how they work, and what we can reasonably expect their future capabilities to be. It will not only make you think differently about the capabilities of robots; it will make you think differently about the capabilities of humans.

Ruth Aylett and Patricia Vargas discuss the history of our fascination with robots—from chatbots and prosthetics to autonomous cars and robot swarms. They show us the ways in which robots outperform humans and the ways they fall woefully short of our superior talents. They explain how robots see, feel, hear, think, and learn; describe how robots can cooperate; and consider robots as pets, butlers, and companions. Finally, they look at robots that raise ethical and social issues: killer robots, sexbots, and robots that might be gunning for your job. Living with Robots equips readers to look at robots concretely—as human-made artifacts rather than placeholders for our anxieties.

Find out:

•Why robots can swim and fly but find it difficult to walk 

•Which robot features are inspired by animals and insects

•Why we develop feelings for robots

•Which human abilities are hard for robots to emulate
Stretching of the retinal pigment epithelium contributes to zebrafish optic cup morphogenesis
Authors: Moreno-Mármol Tania , Ledesma-Terrón Mario , Tabanera Noemi , Martin-Bermejo Maria Jesús , Cardozo Marcos J , Cavodeassi Florencia , Bovolenta Paola
Published: September 2021

The vertebrate eye primordium consists of a pseudostratified neuroepithelium, the optic vesicle (OV), in which cells acquire neural retina or retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) fates. As these fates arise, the OV assumes a cup shape, influenced by mechanical forces generated within the neural retina. Whether the RPE passively adapts to retinal changes or actively contributes to OV morphogenesis remains unexplored. We generated a zebrafish Tg(E1-bhlhe40:GFP) line to track RPE morphogenesis and interrogate its participation in OV folding. We show that, in virtual absence of proliferation, RPE cells stretch and flatten, thereby matching the retinal curvature and promoting OV folding. Localized interference with the RPE cytoskeleton disrupts tissue stretching and OV folding. Thus, extreme RPE flattening and accelerated differentiation are efficient solutions adopted by fast-developing species to enable timely optic cup formation. This mechanism differs in amniotes, in which proliferation drives RPE expansion with a much-reduced need of cell flattening.
Fine-tuned repression of Drp1-driven mitochondrial fission primes a ‘stem/progenitor-like state’ to support neoplastic transformation
Authors: Spurlock Brian , Parker Danitra , Basu Malay Kumar , Hjelmeland Anita , GC Sajina , Liu Shanrun , Siegal Gene P , Gunter Alan , Moran Aida , Mitra Kasturi
Published: September 2021

Gene knockout of the master regulator of mitochondrial fission, Drp1, prevents neoplastic transformation. Also, mitochondrial fission and its opposing process of mitochondrial fusion are emerging as crucial regulators of stemness. Intriguingly, stem/progenitor cells maintaining repressed mitochondrial fission are primed for self-renewal and proliferation. Using our newly derived carcinogen transformed human cell model, we demonstrate that fine-tuned Drp1 repression primes a slow cycling ‘stem/progenitor-like state’, which is characterized by small networks of fused mitochondria and a gene-expression profile with elevated functional stem/progenitor markers (Krt15, Sox2 etc) and their regulators (Cyclin E). Fine tuning Drp1 protein by reducing its activating phosphorylation sustains the neoplastic stem/progenitor cell markers. Whereas, fine-tuned reduction of Drp1 protein maintains the characteristic mitochondrial shape and gene-expression of the primed ‘stem/progenitor-like state’ to accelerate neoplastic transformation, and more complete reduction of Drp1 protein prevents it. Therefore, our data highlights a ‘goldilocks’ level of Drp1 repression supporting stem/progenitor state dependent neoplastic transformation.
Evolution of pathogen tolerance and emerging infections: A missing experimental paradigm
Authors: Seal Srijan , Dharmarajan Guha , Khan Imroze
Published: September 2021

Researchers worldwide are repeatedly warning us against future zoonotic diseases resulting from humankind’s insurgence into natural ecosystems. The same zoonotic pathogens that cause severe infections in a human host frequently fail to produce any disease outcome in their natural hosts. What precise features of the immune system enable natural reservoirs to carry these pathogens so efficiently? To understand these effects, we highlight the importance of tracing the evolutionary basis of pathogen tolerance in reservoir hosts, while drawing implications from their diverse physiological and life-history traits, and ecological contexts of host-pathogen interactions. Long-term co-evolution might allow reservoir hosts to modulate immunity and evolve tolerance to zoonotic pathogens, increasing their circulation and infectious period. Such processes can also create a genetically diverse pathogen pool by allowing more mutations and genetic exchanges between circulating strains, thereby harboring rare alive-on-arrival variants with extended infectivity to new hosts (i.e., spillover). Finally, we end by underscoring the indispensability of a large multidisciplinary empirical framework to explore the proposed link between evolved tolerance, pathogen prevalence, and spillover in the wild.
Activity-dependent Golgi satellite formation in dendrites reshapes the neuronal surface glycoproteome
Authors: Govind Anitha P , Jeyifous Okunola , Russell Theron A , Yi Zola , Weigel Aubrey V , Ramaprasad Abhijit , Newell Luke , Ramos William , Valbuena Fernando M , Casler Jason C , Yan Jing-Zhi , Glick Benjamin S , Swanson Geoffrey T , Lippincott-Schwartz Jennifer , Green William N
Published: September 2021

Activity-driven changes in the neuronal surface glycoproteome are known to occur with synapse formation, plasticity, and related diseases, but their mechanistic basis and significance are unclear. Here, we observed that N-glycans on surface glycoproteins of dendrites shift from immature to mature forms containing sialic acid in response to increased neuronal activation. In exploring the basis of these N-glycosylation alterations, we discovered that they result from the growth and proliferation of Golgi satellites scattered throughout the dendrite. Golgi satellites that formed during neuronal excitation were in close association with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) exit sites and early endosomes and contained glycosylation machinery without the Golgi structural protein, GM130. They functioned as distal glycosylation stations in dendrites, terminally modifying sugars either on newly synthesized glycoproteins passing through the secretory pathway or on surface glycoproteins taken up from the endocytic pathway. These activities led to major changes in the dendritic surface of excited neurons, impacting binding and uptake of lectins, as well as causing functional changes in neurotransmitter receptors such as nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Neural activity thus boosts the activity of the dendrite’s satellite micro-secretory system by redistributing Golgi enzymes involved in glycan modifications into peripheral Golgi satellites. This remodeling of the neuronal surface has potential significance for synaptic plasticity, addiction, and disease.
Percepción del consumo de noticias en línea y de las prácticas relacionadas a ellas por parte de los jóvenes de la Comunidad de Madrid (España)
Authors:   Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Catalina-García Beatriz , García-Jimenez Antonio ,   Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (España), Paniagua-Santamaría Pedro ,   Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Published: September 2021

Este artículo analiza los hábitos de consumo de noticias de los jóvenes de la Comunidad de Madrid, su percepción sobre estas y las prácticas relacionadas. Conocer su comportamiento en línea es relevante y tiene consecuencias en la actividad periodística. A partir de una encuesta estadísticamente representativa, aplicada entre junio y julio de 2019, se obtuvo el punto de vista de 533 participantes (17-24 años), estudiando la influencia de la edad y el nivel de estudios. La investigación confirma el bajo consumo de noticias por parte de los jóvenes. Además de la presencia general del consumo en línea, se corrobora el acceso incidental como característica en este sector de la población, modulado por la edad. También se profundiza en las temáticas con mayor preferencia, las vías de mayor prevalencia para consumir noticias en línea, los mecanismos empleados para compartirlas, y las prácticas relacionadas con la verificación. Finalmente, se observa la importancia de la comunicación presencial en el consumo de noticias y las diferencias existentes entre consumo y confianza en el medio de acceso a la noticia.
YouTube y emprendimiento en América de habla hispana
Authors:   Universidad Simón Bolívar, Cuberos María Antonia , Vivas-García Marisela ,   Universidad Simón Bolívar, Mazuera-Arias Rina ,   Universidad Simón Bolívar, Albornoz-Arias Neida ,   Universidad Simón Bolívar, Carreño-Paredes Myriam-Teresa ,   Universidad Simón Bolívar
Published: September 2021

El objetivo del estudio fue revelar el rol de la plataforma YouTube con respecto al emprendimiento en la América de habla hispana, considerando los fundamentos teóricos sobre contenidos, usuarios de YouTube y los componentes del emprendimiento: empresa y emprendedor. Se siguió el paradigma interpretativo con metodología cualitativa para analizar 44 videos sobre emprendimiento en español. Los resultados indican que YouTube es soporte para ambos componentes del emprendimiento con mensajes que motivan, transfieren conocimientos o realizan marketing. Además, es sede de emprendimientos, constituyendo un espacio intermediario para esta iniciativa hacia el desarrollo económico, humano y social.
Periodismo colombiano en Twitter: usos de la herramienta en el ejercicio de la profesión
Authors:   Universidad de La Sabana (Bogotá, Colombia), Gutiérrez-Coba Liliana , Silva-Gómez Laura ,   Universidad de La Sabana (Colombia)
Published: September 2021

Esta investigación busca establecer cómo los periodistas colombianos utilizan Twitter para buscar información, construir los mensajes y crear comunidades. En el estudio 300 periodistas de 120 medios participaron en una encuesta, se realizaron 20 entrevistas a profesionales y un análisis de contenido a publicaciones en Twitter durante 2018 y 2019. Los resultados permiten establecer que, pese a las variadas posibilidades que ofrece esta plataforma para elaborar mensajes informativos innovadores y multimediales, la mayoría de los periodistas participantes en el estudio no las utiliza, ni busca generar interactividad y comunicación bidireccional con sus audiencias.
El framing sobre la pandemia de Covid-19 y sus factores indicadores organizacionales
Authors:   Universidad de Guadalajara (México), Rodelo Frida V.
Published: September 2021

La manera en la que los medios informativos encuadran la información puede influenciar las percepciones sobre los asuntos públicos de las audiencias y, por ende, el desarrollo de los debates públicos sobre los asuntos. Este efecto puede magnificarse ante crisis sanitarias como las pandemias, debido a que las personas acuden más a los medios ante asuntos desconocidos, relacionados con su seguridad y en donde coexisten múltiples perspectivas. El estudio da cuenta de los encuadres informativos de la cobertura informativa de la pandemia de Covid-19 durante la etapa de incremento de transmisión comunitaria con base en un análisis de contenido de periódicos impresos y telenoticiarios de alcance nacional en México. Los resultados muestran que en el flujo de información sobre Covid-19 predominó la atribución de responsabilidad, el interés humano y la información política, y fueron mantenidos al mínimo la información científica y la información para la autoeficacia. El análisis sugiere que el sector de medios y la orientación política fueron determinantes para construir la crisis sanitaria en los medios, así como elementos asociados a rutinas periodísticas, como las secciones y los personajes principales de las piezas informativas.
Difficulties in reading English words: How do Japanese learners perform on a test of phonological deficit?
Authors: Coulson David , Ariiso Mayumi , Kojima Rina , Tanaka Masami
Published: September 2021

The motivation for this research is the observation of frequent read-aloud miscues among Japanese university students, and the slow rate of reading on simplified graded readers by many post-secondary learners. We investigate what components of the second-language reading complex may remain undeveloped. Word recognition in different languages employs different phonological processes, so inadequately developed skill in the foreign language processes may lead to poor decoding. This situation requires formal assessment. However, practical tests of wordrecognition skill for second-language learners are not well developed. Therefore, we adapted a test from Wydell and Kondo, replicating their methodology to test the phonological skill of a Japanese-English bilingual diagnosed with dyslexia. We do not assume dyslexia among Japanese English learners. Rather, the use of this test format aims to elucidate the state of phonological skill of word-recognition ability in ordinary learners. The subjects were university students at discrete proficiency levels. The results show that this skill can be remarkably underdeveloped. The average skill of subjects with lower proficiency was similar to the objective standard of Wydell and Kondo’s English-reading disabled subject. Higher-proficiency subjects performed much better. The results do not imply dyslexia, although some lower-proficiency students may, in fact, be English-dyslexic. Instead, they focus attention on the lack of appropriate reading skills development in English education in Japan, and its possible effect on overall proficiency. This situation principally indicates a need for prolonged phonics training and more extensive L2 reading.
Validating a pictorial vocabulary size test via the 3PL-IRT model
Authors: Tseng Wen-Ta
Published: September 2021

The paper presented a newly conceived vocabulary size test based on pictorial cues: Pictorial Vocabulary Size Test (PVST). A model-based (1-2-3 parameter logistic item response theory model comparisons) approach was taken to check which model could absorb the most information from the data. Junior high school and primary school students participated in the study (N 1,354). Subjects’ ability estimates and item parameter estimates were computed based on expected a posteriori (EAP) method, one type of Bayesian method. BILOG-MG 3 was adopted to execute parameter estimates and model comparisons. The results showed that the 3PL-IRT model best fit the empirical data. It was then argued that test takers’ English vocabulary size could be best captured under the 3PL-IRT model, as not only the discrimination parameter, but also the guessing parameter has a fundamental role to play in consideration of the test format adopted in the PVST. The article concluded that the PVST could have positive washback effects on test development and English vocabulary instruction.
Reaction time methodologies and lexical access in applied linguistics
Authors: Racine John P.
Published: September 2021

The first issue of this journal featured a paper by Iso (2012) in which the author described research conducted to validate his Lexical Access Time Test (LEXATT2). While the details of the test procedure are scant in the write-up, it appears that there are a number of methodological issues that require thorough examination before this test can be considered a valid measure of lexical access. Notable among these issues are the accuracy of the reaction time (RT) measurements and the manner in which the RTss are interpreted. Other aspects of the study–including its relation to prior research and theory–also deserve scrutiny. As pointed out by Mochizuki (2012) in a discussion of four vocabulary test studies which included Iso’s, very few researchers in applied linguistics are conducting research on lexical access. Indeed, lexical research involving RT measurement of any kind is particularly rare in our field, despite the abundance of such studies in cognitive psychology and psycholinguistics circles. The comments below are thus not intended as criticism of Iso’s paper in particular. Rather, this commentary is intended to highlight some of the general principles central to cognitive approaches to the mental lexicon, particularly where RT is to be measured. It is hoped that the issues raised below will serve as an introduction to some key elements of this kind of research and encourage lexical researchers who wish to undertake further studies in this area.
A review of four studies on measuring vocabulary knowledge
Authors: Hirai Akiyo
Published: September 2021

The purpose of this paper is to review each of the following four vocabulary studies: (1) Estimations of Japanese University Learners’ English Vocabulary Sizes Using the Vocabulary Size Test (VST), by Stuart McLean, Nicholas Hogg, and Brandon Kramer, (2) Local Item Dependence on the Vocabulary Levels Test (VLT) Revisited, by Tadamitsu Kamimoto, (3) Test Taking and DK Use on the VST, by Dawn Lucovich, (4) Estimating Learners’ Vocabulary Size under Item Response Theory (IRT), by Aaron Gibson.
Effects of glosses and reviewing of glossed words on L2 vocabulary learning through reading
Authors: Yoshii Makoto
Published: September 2021

This study is an attempt to integrate incidental and intentional vocabulary learning in a reading activity without sacrificing the enjoyment of reading. The paper reports on a study which examined the effectiveness of a reading program on the web. The program contained glosses in a text and a reviewing component at the end of reading. The learners read the text for comprehension purposes on computers and were able to look up certain words by clicking on them. At the end of the reading the learners were also able to review the words they had looked up during the reading. This study examines how well learners can pick up words through this reading program. This study also examines the effectiveness of a reviewing activity by comparing the words reviewed and the words not reviewed. The study investigates if there are any differences in immediate and medium-term effects for vocabulary learning. Data from a pretest one week prior to the experiment, an immediate test right after the reading, and a delayed test were used for the analysis. Lookup behaviors of glosses and reviewing behaviors were also taken into account for analyzing the data.
Measuring knowledge of words with multiple meanings
Authors: Hoshino, Yuko
Published: September 2021

When reading or listening to English, we encounter many words, most of which are high-frequency, polysemous words. Due to their polysemous nature, not knowing one particular meaning of a high-frequency word may prevent learners from understanding the wider contexts. Therefore, it is necessary to know whether learners have knowledge of multiple meanings of one word, however, there is no universally accepted way to measure knowledge of words with multiple meanings. With this in mind, the current paper looks at the difficulties of measuring learners’ knowledge of polysemous words and describes ongoing research on this topic.
"I don't know" use and guessing on the bilingual Japanese vocabulary size test: A preliminary report
Authors: McDonald Kurtis , Asaba Mayumi
Published: September 2021

This preliminary report outlines an investigation into ”I don’t know” use and guessing on the 14,000-word family, 140-item bilingual Japanese Vocabulary Size Test (VST) translated by Sasao and Nakata from the original monolingual English version. Four first-year Japanese university students completed the modified Japanese VST in two passes: without guesses on unknown items and with guesses on these items. Individual semi-structured retrospective interviews were then conducted to identify how the guesses were determined. Findings suggest that ”I don’t know” use was largely consistent with learner proficiency and word family frequency levels and that guesses were more likely to be informed than uniformed. Using the classification of reasoning behind the guesses made, various vocabulary size estimates can be determined for each learner, with much greater differences between the more strict and more sensitive estimates found among the lower proficiency learners.
An empirical examination of the effect of guessing on vocabulary size test scores
Authors: McLean Stuart , Stewart Jeffrey , Kramer Brandon
Published: September 2021

The Vocabulary Size Test (VST) was created to provide a reliable estimate of a second language learner’s written receptive vocabulary size, measuring from the most frequent fourteen 1,000 word families of the spoken subsection of the British National Corpus. While some have recommended that users should limit the amount of the test taken to only slightly above a student’s level, others argue that learners should take every level of the test. However, this raises concerns that correct responses on lower frequency levels could largely be attributed to guesses rather than vocabulary knowledge. In this paper we analyze a data set of 3,373 Japanese university students’ responses to the first eight levels of the original VST under the 3PL model, in order to determine the minimum expected score on the test for learners of low ability, examine the proportion of low-level students’ scores on the lowest frequency level tested that can be attributed to guessing under the 3PL model, and conduct a model fit comparison to determine whether the 3PL model offers a significantly better description of the data than the Rasch model. The results indicate that a substantial portion of lower level learners’ scores on items testing low-frequency words can be attributed to guessing and support the position that students should not sit every level of the test. The authors recommend using the results of the 3PL analysis in order to determine which sections of the test learners of different proficiency levels should sit.
A Japanese word association database of English
Authors: Higginbotham George , Munby Ian , Racine John P.
Published: September 2021

In this paper, two word association (WA) studies are presented in support of recent arguments against the use of native-speaker (NS) norms in WA research. In Study 1, first-language (L1) and second-language (L2) WA norms lists were developed and compared to learner responses as a means of measuring L2 proficiency. The results showed that L2 norms provided a more sensitive measure of L2 lexical development than did traditional NS norms. Study 2 was designed to test the utility of native norms databases in predicting the primary WA responses of Japanese learners to high-frequency English cues. With the exception of only extremely frequent cues, it was shown that native norms were not successful in predicting learner responses. The results of both studies are discussed in terms of cultural and linguistic differences, geographic distance, and dissimilarities in word knowledge between respondent populations. Finally, a proposal is made for the construction of a Japanese WA database of English responses (J-WADE). The methods by which it will be developed, key features, and employment in future research are outlined.
On using corpus frequency, dispersion, and chronological data to help identify useful collocations
Authors: Rogers James , Brizzarda Chris , Daulton Frank , Florescu Cosmin , MacLean Ian , Mimura Kayo , O'Donoghue John , Okamoto Masaya , Reid Gordon , Shimada Yoshiaki
Published: September 2021

This study analyzed corpus data to determine the extent to which frequency, dispersion, and chronological data can help identify useful collocations for second language learners who aim to master general English. The findings indicated that although various analysis levels of frequency and dispersion data are largely effective, the analyses could not identify useful collocations reliably. The findings also indicated that chronological data analysis is not as useful as dispersion analysis due to the amount of time it took versus the improvements that resulted from it. Ultimately, it was found that a manual analysis of data using native speaker intuition is unavoidable. This study highlighted the value and reliability of certain types of corpus data analysis, and also the necessity of labor-intensive, native speaker analysis for identifying useful collocations。
Breast Self-examination: Knowledge, Attitude and Practice among Female College Students
Authors: Paulsamy Premalatha , Alshahrani Shadia Hamoud , Qureshi Absar Ahmed , Sampayan Eva Lobelle E. , Venkatesan Krishnaraju , Sethuraj Pranave
Published: September 2021

In low–middle-income countries, breast self-examination (BSE) is a simple, practicable, and appropriate tool for breast cancer screening. The goal of this study was to analyze female college students' knowledge and practice of BSE. A cross-sectional study of 200 female students was done using a convenient sampling technique. The self administered questionnaire with the socio-demographic data, questions about knowledge, attitudes and practice regarding BSE was used to collect the data among the female college students of an educational institution. The descriptive and inferential statistics was used to analyse the data. The results show that the level of knowledge on BSE among 77% of the girls was inadequate and 61% of them had negative practice towards BSE. Despite the good attitude (69%) about BSE, there was inadequate knowledge and practice. The participants' age and family history of breast cancer was positively associated with their attitude (p = 0.01) and knowledge (p= 0.05) respectively. The study recommends the mass awareness campaigns related to BSE and early detection of breast cancer to be given to improve the knowledge, attitude and practice of the women and thereby reduce the related morbidity and mortality.
Ovarian Cysts Management Following Laparoscopic Surgery
Authors: Atta Jabeen , Yousfani Zubair Ahmad , Das Khenpal , Maryam Tahseen , Rind Ghulamullah , Bai Geeta
Published: September 2021

Objective: To analyze diagnostic and surgical outcomes in patients with extremely large ovarian cysts treated by laparoscopic surgery.

Methods: A total of 120 cases of large adnexal masses and suspected for malignancy were treated laparoscopically at the at general surgery department of Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences. Under endotracheal anesthesia, all surgeries were performed using nasogastric tubes in the stomach. An incision of approximately 1.5 centimeter was made at the supraumbilical or umbilical region and peritoneal cavity was approached. The intra-abdominal approach in all cases was cautiously standardized. The resection of the adnexal mass was performed as per routine method.

Results: 12 females were premenopausal and 8 were postmenopausal. 12 women presented with the signs of urinary retention, urinary urgency and abdominal pain. Incidental sonography detected cysts in 8 patients which were asymptomatic. The average volume of the resected cystic fluid was 3000ml (range 900 to 9000 ml). The specimens of frozen section were obtained within the surgical procedure in all patients except 2 patients having para-ovarian cysts. The histopathology presented mucinous benign cystadenoma. There was no blood loss and related other complications reported in all operations.

Conclusion: Laparoscopic management of large ovarian cyst observed to a effective, feasible and less complicated surgical option. However accurate selection and diagnosis of the patients, the any ovarian cyst size can be treated easily via laparoscopic surgery.
Graphene/Hexagonal Boron Nitride Composite Nanoparticles for 2D Printing Technologies
Authors: Antonova Irina V. , Shavelkina Marina B. , Poteryaev Dmitriy A. , Nebogatikova Nadezhda A. , Ivanov Artem I. , Soots Regina A. , Gutakovskii Anton K. , Kurkina Irina I. , Volodin Vladimir A. , Katarzhis Vladimir A. , Ivanov Peter P. , Bocharov Alexey N.
Published: September 2021

A new approach for creating composite nanoparticles with various morphology and electric properties, based on uniform‐sized small boron nitride (h‐BN) nanosheets and graphene flakes, is suggested. For the first time, the structures from h‐BN and graphene flakes synthesized in the helium direct current plasma jet are used to fabricate composite nanoparticles and films using 2D printing technology. A method for preparing a suspension based on these composite particles is developed. The morphology of graphene decoration with small h‐BN flakes depends on the composite content. It includes, for instance, graphene flakes covered with vertically arranged h‐BN flakes, graphene flakes encapsulated with a monolayer of h‐BN flakes. The electric properties of films and printed structures from composite nanoparticles are strongly varied (especially for the printed compositions). However, the graphene content in all cases is higher than the percolation threshold. Some composites demonstrate nonlinear current–voltage characteristics with the switching up to four orders of magnitude. In combination with the cheap printed technologies, the composite material is expected to be a perspective for electronic applications (informative processing, logic elements, tunneling graphene electronics, memristors, etc.).
Nanoengineering Approaches to Tune Thermal and Electrical Conductivity of a BiSbTe Thermoelectric Alloy
Authors: Masoumi Saeed , Pakdel Amir
Published: September 2021

Nanoengineering of thermoelectric (TE) materials is an effective approach to decouple their electronic and thermal transport properties, hence enhancing their TE efficiency. Nanoengineering strategies can significantly reduce the thermal conductivity through the corporation of different phonon scattering mechanisms, whereas the electrical conductivity may not be affected considerably. Herein, the effects of three nanoengineering approaches on the structural, electrical, and thermal properties of Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 (BST) alloy are compared: (a) nanohybridization of the alloy by adding Sb2O3 nanoparticles, (b) severe plastic deformation via high‐pressure torsion, and (c) grain refinement by sonication of BST powders before sintering. It is shown that among these methods, severe plastic deformation induces ultrafine grains and a high density of dislocations, resulting in a large reduction of the total thermal conductivity (32.8%) and a moderate decline in the electrical conductivity of (15.7%) at 300 K. A notable decrease in the lattice thermal conductivity (56.8% at 300 K) is attributed to midfrequency phonon scattering by the dislocations together with low and high frequency scatterings through grain boundaries and point defects, respectively. A new pathway is opened for designing highly efficient TE materials through nanoengineering approaches, particularly severe plastic deformation.
Low‐Work‐Function PEDOT Formula as a Stable Interlayer and Cathode for Organic Solar Cells
Authors: Liu Tiefeng , Sun Lulu , Dong Xinyun , Jiang Youyu , Wang Wen , Xie Cong , Zeng Wenwu , Liu Yang , Qin Fei , Hu Lu , Zhou Yinhua
Published: September 2021

Cathode with low work‐function (WF) is a vital unit in optoelectronic devices. Yet, the stable cathode is still a big challenge. Here, PEDOT:PSS‐TBA is reported among series of PEDOT:PSS‐M, where PEDOT:PSS denotes poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate), M refers to monovalent cation and TBA is tetrabutylammonium specifically, as a stable cathode. The PEDOT:PSS‐TBA is synthesized via ion exchange with WF of 4.1–4.2 eV and its conductivity can be improved to 300 S cm−1 by the additive. Meanwhile, PEDOT:PSS‐TBA is stable even under plasma, heat, or isopropanol sonication. Organic solar cells (OSCs) are fabricated with indium tin oxide (ITO)/PEDOT:PSS‐TBA and highly conductive PEDOT:PSS‐TBA (with additive, hc‐PEDOT:PSS) electrodes respectively. The OSCs display superior stability than the reference with ITO/ZnO as the cathode. As a proof of concept, solution‐processed OSCs are demonstrated with a three‐layered structure (hc‐PEDOT:PSS‐TBA/active layer/PEDOT:PSS), which proves PEDOT:PSS‐TBA as a promising cathode for printable optoelectronic with a simplified structure.
3D Printing of Hydrogels for Stretchable Ionotronic Devices
Authors: Ge Gang , Wang Qian , Zhang Yi‐Zhou , Alshareef Husam N. , Dong Xiaochen
Published: September 2021

In the booming development of flexible electronics represented by electronic skins, soft robots, and human–machine interfaces, 3D printing of hydrogels, an approach used by the biofabrication community, is drawing attention from researchers working on hydrogel‐based stretchable ionotronic devices. Such devices can greatly benefit from the excellent patterning capability of 3D printing in three dimensions, as well as the free design complexity and easy upscale potential. Compared to the advanced stage of 3D bioprinting, 3D printing of hydrogel ionotronic devices is in its infancy due to the difficulty in balancing printability, ionic conductivity, shape fidelity, stretchability, and other functionalities. In this review, a guideline is provided on how to utilize the power of 3D printing in building high‐performance hydrogel‐based stretchable ionotronic devices mainly from a materials’ point of view, highlighting the systematic approach to balancing the printability, printing quality, and performance of printed devices. Various 3D printing methods for hydrogels are introduced, and then the ink design principles, balancing printing quality, printed functions, such as elastic conductivity, self‐healing ability, and device (e.g., flexible sensors, shape‐morphing actuators, soft robots, electroluminescent devices, and electrochemical biosensors) performances are discussed. In conclusion, perspectives on the future directions of this exciting field are presented.
Pesticide exposure and the physical and economic health of US crop workers
Authors: Pena Anita Alves , Dixon Bryanna
Published: September 2021

We examine the impact of pesticide exposure on crop worker health and earnings using 2002 through 2016 data from the US Department of Labor, Employment, and Training Administration's National Agricultural Workers Survey. Our findings show that pesticide exposure is positively related to certain health conditions and that wage patterns are consistent with compensating wage differentials. The offsetting impacts of these equilibrium aspects are limited by how wage premia for assumed health risks depend on worker bargaining power and agency. We document differences for undocumented versus documented workers with implications for compensation and occupational health policies in this labor‐intensive, essential sector.
The Unusual Conductivity of Na+in PEO‐Based Statistical Copolymer Solid Electrolytes: When Less Means More
Authors: St‐Onge Vincent , Rochon Sylviane , Daigle Jean‐Christophe , Soldera Armand , Claverie Jerome P.
Published: September 2021

The low conductivity of Na+electrolytes in solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) curtails the development of Na polymer batteries. In this study, NaClO4(3–24 wt %, 90–9:1 O:Na) is dissolved in statistical copolymers of ethylene oxide (EO) and propylene oxide (PO) (0–20 mol %). Remarkably, the conductivity of these SPEs increases as the concentration of Na+decreases, thus departing from the usual Nernstian behavior. Using a combination of calorimetric measurements and molecular dynamic simulations, this unusual phenomenon is attributed to the presence of physical cross‐links generated by Na+. As a result, polymers containing a low salt concentration (3 wt %) display a drastically enhanced ionic conductivity (up to 0.2 10−4 S cm−1at 25 °C), thus paving the way for the design of all‐solid‐state PEO‐based sodium batteries operational at room temperature.