bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Las alianzas multisectoriales en educación: Una mirada desde América Latina y el Caribe
Authors: Cardini Alejandra , Bergamaschi Andrea , Weyrauch Vanesa , Matovich Iván
Published: June 2021

Las alianzas multisectoriales en educación surgen como arreglos colaborativos con variados grados de formalización institucional e involucran a distintos actores (gobiernos, sector privado y la sociedad civil) y a una vasta cantidad de actores. La Declaración de Incheon (2015) reconoce la participación de actores no estatales a la vez que remarca la ineludible obligación de los Estados como principales garantes del derecho a la educación para alcanzar el Objetivo de Desarrollo Sostenible 4. El desarrollo de estas alianzas comprende propósitos diversos, tales como instalar una causa educativa en la agenda pública de un país, brindar apoyo técnico en la implementación de una política o construir sistemas de monitoreo de resultados. Con la mirada puesta en el largo plazo y en la colaboración entre sectores, esta investigación ofrece una lente analítica que surge del estudio de experiencias concretas. Esta lente permite abordar los principales factores contextuales y endógenos que hacen a su funcionamiento, sus desafíos y oportunidades, así como también sus desafíos y oportunidades. Se espera que tomadores de decisiones en gobiernos, organizaciones de la sociedad civil, sector privado y otros sectores encuentren inspiración y herramientas para fortalecer las políticas educativas de la región y colaborar de forma estratégica y lograr una mayor justicia educativa.
Becoming More Culturally Aware in the University Classroom: Advice from a faculty member teaching in the Gulf Region
Authors: McBride Dawn
Published: June 2021

This article will outline my experiences and offer practical recommendations when teaching in a university classroom when the professor and the students come from vastly different cultural backgrounds. I recently relocated from Canada to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to teach female Muslim post secondary students - many of whom are the first in their family to receive higher education. Since it was difficult to find material on how to adapt one’s teaching style to be more culturally sensitive in the university classroom, the intention of this article is to provide specific tips and strategies on how to adapt one’s teaching style when immersed in an unfamiliar culture.
Learner-Centered Outcomes in Subject-Centered Institutions: Metaphors for Muggle Learning
Authors: Fulcher Leon
Published: June 2021

Learner-centered education faces many challenges when introduced to university centers where faculty socialization into subject-centered teaching is the dominant ethos. Three warning metaphors drawn from the literature of J K Rowling are used to illuminate challenges associated with learner-centered education. The first metaphor focuses attention on ways in which institutional structures in disciplinary education are frequently altered confronting faculty and students with organizational turbulence. The second metaphor warns that individual learners easily distracted from family and personal career goals. The final metaphor highlights ways in which learning – to be of value to students – requires personal ownership and fit.
Teaching, technology, and the modern classroom
Authors: Walters Tim , Lydiatt Steve
Published: June 2021

One of Zayed University’s publicly articulated missions is to lead higher education in the United Arab Emirates through teaching, learning, research, and outreach and to achieve this leadership in a technologically advanced environment. In fulfilling this goal, the university actively promotes laptop computer use among faculty, staff, and students; delivery (and completion) of lessons though advanced technology; use of sophisticated software; and information gathering via the Internet. (See Moore, Moore, Bodwen, Coasdale, 2003.)

Though the hope is that information technology can add a powerful punch to the modern educational environment, many educators in the United Arab Emirates have found that it is the proper use of available modern technology rather than the presence of that technology that advances learning. Even longtime favorites pencil and paper and the overhead projector still have a place in the well-rounded modern classroom. Whether old or new, each technology has unique qualities (or “affordances”) of which advantage can be taken.
Student satisfaction with advising systems in higher education: an empirical study in Muscat
Authors: Al-Asmi Khalfan , Thumiki Venkat Ram Raj
Published: June 2021

Advising systems play an important role not only in the student development process but also in student retention. Academic scholars across the world have been emphasising the presence of an effective student advising system as one of the requirements of a standard educational set up. To ensure student satisfaction with the advising system, institutions conduct satisfaction studies to monitor the effectiveness of their system and to understand key issues such as influencing factors and the association between demographic and influencing variables. The current paper addresses these key issues. A survey was conducted during Fall 2012 with students from across the GCC at three colleges in Muscat, Oman, to identify the factors influencing student satisfaction with advising system. In our study twenty-six variables were formed into five factors. The results show that student satisfaction with the advising systems is highly influenced by ‘feel good’, ‘critical situations’ and ‘IT’ factors. It was also found that satisfaction is independent of gender but not of the education level: lower level students were found to be more satisfied with advising systems than the students at the higher level. Student satisfaction has a significant positive correlation with training/orientation on advising and perceived quickness in solving students’ problems.
A comparative study of the lifelong learning propensities of English language learners: nationality, gender and length of study
Authors: Deveci Tanju
Published: June 2021

Acquiring a foreign language may be a lifelong endeavor, and this requires one to approach it from a lifelong learning perspective. However, learners may not always be ready for such an approach. It is important to know where learners stand in their orientations toward learning and consider this when planning educational activities. Therefore, it is necessary to determine language learners’ readiness for lifelong learning (LLL) in order to support their language development. This paper reports the findings of a study conducted to identify the LLL propensities of some Turkish and Emirati university students learning English as a foreign language in their local contexts. The study included 61 Emirati and 47 Turkish students, with a mean age of 19. Data were collected using a research tool with three sections: Demographics, the Lifelong Learning Tendency Scale (LLLTS – developed by Coskun & Demirel (2012)), and a survey with six open-ended questions. Student’s t-test, the Kruskal-Wallis test and the Mann-Whitney U-test were used to compare the quantitative data in terms of the participants’ nationalities, gender and length of study. The results showed that both Turkish and Emirati students had a moderate level of propensity for LLL. However, the Turkish students’ overall LLLTS scores as well as certain sub-skills were found to be higher than those of the Emirati students. Gender was not found to make a significant difference in the students’ LLL orientations, while motivation was found to be lower at a statistically significant level for those learning English for more than a year. Suggestions are offered for the development of language learners’ LLL skills.
An Investigation into Learners’ Motivation in an Online Environment
Authors: Patronis Marielle
Published: June 2021

This case study aims to investigate the forces and barriers to learners’ motivation in a blended learning environment. This study uses an online forum as a vehicle for useful interaction among learners and as an extension of traditional classroom face-to-face meetings. 48 first-year students in a UAE university participated in this study. A series of data were obtained through questionnaires and feedback from the students, which were subsequently analyzed and compared to the existing literature. The results revealed that online interaction can enhance learners’ motivation and engagement in the learning process.
A Correlation Analysis of English Language Proficiency and Content-Area Cognitive Skills: A Gulf Region Perspective
Authors: O’Neill Kate , Theuri Peter
Published: June 2021

Literature is replete with studies indicating the need to develop students’ language skills; however, little research has emphasized the importance of language proficiency in enhancing learning or performance in specific content-area courses. This study investigates whether a student’s English language proficiency can be associated with her performance in specific cognitive skills (knowledge, comprehension, application, and analysis) in an introductory accounting course. Data is summarized from students’ performance on their first financial accounting examination as well as from students’ academic history records as maintained by the university. A correlation analysis of the cognitive skills score with student language proficiency is used to identify initial relationships; and multiple regression analysis is subsequently used to identify interrelations between combined multiple dependent variables and the language proficiency variables. While the results show no association between TOEFL and overall performance, the mean of the English composition courses do show a significant association with knowledge and comprehension cognitive skills scores on the first financial accounting course. No associations are attached to the application and analysis cognitive skills. The results are meaningful to faculty in balancing language proficiency with quality instruction in content-area courses.
Research Note: Using Text-based Focus Groups with Middle Eastern University Students
Authors: Barrell Ann , McBride Dawn
Published: June 2021

This paper shows how informative qualitative research into student perceptions and values can be carried out by studying how small groups of students (focus groups) respond to a text (such as a literary text or newspaper article), within a ‘semi-structured’ framework. The discussions are prompted and structured by the researchers’ questions and prompts to elicit students’ attitudes and experience, but the structure is flexible enough to give space for unforeseen answers and questions. The paper explains the role of the researcher/moderator and research assistant, and gives some suggestions for conducting focus groups based on this technique.
Teaching English as Discourse in Sultan Qaboos University
Authors: Al-Balushi Khalid Mohammed
Published: June 2021

In this paper, I argue that English could be of more relevance to the Arabian Gulf if we conceptualized it as an educational forum for familiarizing students with socio-linguistic conventions relating to a wide variety of text types and for sharpening their critical awareness of the political implications of the uses of English. I make my case against the backdrop of a particular local context in the Arabian Gulf: the current BA programme in English at the College of Arts and Social Science, Sultan Qaboos University, the Sultanate of Oman. I maintain that the programme is predicated upon conceiving of English as a field (or rather fields) of knowledge, as academic disciplines of English literature, linguistics and translation, each with its own sets of concepts and frames of reference. As such, the programme both falls short of being fully theoretically coherent and fails to take into account the recent educational developments in Oman. Drawing upon the theoretical construct of discourse, I propose an outline of an alternative BA programme in English that revolves around the uses of English and their political implications.
Psychological Strengths Contributing to Rural Student’s Academic Performance in Kadazandusun
Authors: Ah Gang Grace Getrude C.
Published: June 2021

Achieving academic success is a shared dream among students. To achieve academic success, psychological strengths, such as psychological well-being, academic self-efficacy, and motivation, are predictors of students’ academic achievement. To examine these factors, a study was conducted on rural students from the Kadazandusun community residing in the interior Sabah division. It is predicted that each of these psychological factors may contribute to the academic achievement of these rural students. There were 668 Kadazandusun rural students from 17 rural schools in Sabah who participated in this study. A set of questionnaires comprising four parts was used to measure all the variables based on the following sequence: Section A measured demographic variables, Section B measured psychological well-being, Section C measured achievement motivation, and Section D measured academic self-efficacy. The simple regression analysis showed that each psychological factor moderately affected academic achievement. Psychological well-being, achievement motivation, and academic self-efficacy contributed 4.4%, 2.2%, and 5.1% of the variance in students’ academic achievement, respectively. This study’s results may give the Ministry of Education, schools, and parents a glimpse of hope that despite educational limitations, such as lack of infrastructure and geographical location, students’ psychological strengths can enhance rural students’ academic performance. Therefore, the educational authorities can provide more programmes regarding works that increase psychological well-being, motivation, and academic efficacy, which may contribute to the academic success of rural students.
An integrative approach to vocational identity and of the prevention of school adaptation difficulties
Authors:   Universitatea Pedagogica de Stat ", Adascalitei Cristian ,   Ion Creanga",   , Chisinau
Published: June 2021

The present paper aims to present an integrative model of the development of vocational identity in the prevention of the school adaptation difficulties. The transition to another level of education, regardless of age, implies new obstacles and question marks. The essential dimensions of personal orientation in vocational development (psychological, pedagogical and social) are interconditioned and interrelated with each other. Research has indicated that student career exploration can have a positive effect on school engagement. Also, research has confirmed that students who are engaged in their education, consider school as a valuable experience, and want to participate in school activities are more likely to demonstrate high academic achievement (Klem & Connell, 2004; Want & Halcombe, 2010) and are less likely to drop out of school (Finn & Rock, 1997). Educational counseling / vocational education facilitates, through the steps it involves, the emergence of new cognitions, attitudes and effective behaviors. Also, the various practices promoted in school focus on the prevention of problems that may hinder the development and harmonious functioning of the person.
Transforming the Possible intoAction in Colson Whitehead’s Novel “The Intuitionist”
Authors:   Aurel Vlaicu University of Arad, Romania, Mihăilescu Clementina Alexandra
Published: June 2021

The XXIst century, known among others as a “culture of empiricism,” is a time of accelerated technology and engineering feats, on the one hand and of controversial race problems, on the other. For approaching Colson Whitehead’s novel “The Intuitionist,” where the writer is travelling back and forth between “the naturalist novel of race” and “the imaginative novel of ideas,” George Kelly’s Personal Construct Theory will be employed as a methodological device to decode its intricate meaning. Kelly’s socio-psychological theory incorporates vectors of action and perception meant to reveal how the individual construes the world, in Whitehead’s case, how Lila Mae Watson, the city’s first black female elevator inspector, construes herself as the follower of James Fulton, another black person, father of Intuitionism and promoter of vertical thought, meant to give rise to the perfect, new generation elevator in a city marked by pain and the stoicism of black people who look for the ultimate elevator that will take them “up and out.” Kelly’s concept of motivation will be also turned into account through his argument that people act not because of “motive forces,” but because of alternative perspectives that better suit them. Motivation will also grant to Lila MaeWatson the ability “to transform the possible into action and create values” (Alfred Whitehead, qtd in Lavelle, 1997: 146) and it will be commented upon as a prestigious educational device meant to ensure a greater understanding of the communication context present in Whitehead’s novel.
REVIEW OF THE BOOK “ELEMENTE DE COMUNICARE SIMBOLICĂ” [ELEMENTS OF SYMBOLIC COMMUNICATION], AUTHOR: ANDREEA RALUCA PURCARU, LUMEN PUBLISHING HOUSE, 2017
Authors:   “Ștefan cel Mare” University of Suceava, Romania, TEREC-VLAD Loredana
Published: June 2021

We are human beings, and what distinguishes us from other beings is the anguish of finitude, the reason, the articulate language, and so on. Associating and forming groups are the characteristics specific to the human beings, because since the antiquity as it has been said that we were social beings. Communication occupies an important place nowadays. Whether written, oral, internal or external, the communication is essential nowadays. In this context, Anca Raluca Purcaru brings to the fore a new perspective in terms of communication, through her work ”Elemente de comunicare simbolică” (“Elements of symbolic communication”), published by the Lumen Publishing House of Iasi.
Picosatélite diseñado para medir concentración de gases de efecto invernadero y registrar imágenes en vuelo
Authors: Osorio Henao Juan David , Botina Monsalve Johan Jabrini , Díaz Álvarez David Andrés , Galeano Ruiz Melissa , Higuita Echavarría Juan Pablo , Burbano Mosquera Luis Felipe
Published: June 2021

El equipo VoltaX, conformado por estudiantes del programa de Ingeniería Aeroespacial de la Universidad de Antioquia, desarrolló un CanSat —sistema satelital del tamaño de una lata de refresco— para la competencia Retos de Innovación CanSat Colombia 2020, evento organizado por la Sociedad de Sistemas Electrónicos y Aeroespaciales (AESS por sus siglas en inglés) del capítulo colombiano de IEEE (Instituto de Ingenieros Eléctricos y Electrónicos). El satélite fue diseñado para cumplir con los requerimientos de misión dados por la organización, los cuales incluían la transmisión constante de los datos a la estación terrena a 1000 m de distancia, la medición de temperatura, la aceleración lineal, los campos magnéticos y la presión atmosférica para determinar la altitud. Adicionalmente, se utilizó un sensor de gas para la medición de metano y una cámara GoPro para tomar imágenes de alta calidad, con el fin de hacer un monitoreo de los gases de efecto invernadero y utilizar las imágenes aplicadas a la agricultura de precisión. En la fabricación del prototipo se emplearon la manufactura aditiva y los componentes electrónicos Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS por sus siglas en inglés, que traduce “productos comerciales estándar”) para minimizar los costos. Por último, se realizaron pruebas funcionales de todos los subsistemas, con las cuales se corroboró el correcto funcionamiento del CanSat. Cabe agregar que el picosatélite, identificado con las placas VOLT4201 consiguió en la competencia el segundo puesto en su categoría.
An evaluation of the opinions of students enrolled in Sesotho modules at the University of the Free State
Authors: Khetoa Soyiso , Motsei Sara
Published: June 2021

The lack of equivalence between African languages on the one hand and Afrikaans and English on the other hand under the governments that ruled South Africa until the collapse of apartheid has seriously undermined the status of African languages. Indigenous South Africans experienced decades of marginalisation – so much, in fact, that many, including African scholars, have come to view the study and use of African languages in education in an unfavourable light. Even more astounding is the view that Africans who study African languages beyond secondary school are regarded as “academically weak”. The perception that scholars studying African languages do not meet the requirements has resulted in fewer Africans studying their indigenous languages in school. This article aims to explore students’ attitudes towards Sesotho and probe the factors linked to students’ attitudes. The study employs a mix-methods research approach for data elicitation. Methodological triangulation (questionnaire and interviews) was used to maximise the validity and credibility of the findings. The conclusion of this study is that most of the students have a positive attitude towards Sesotho at the University of the Free State. Students feel that Sesotho should be developed meaningfully so that it can be used as a medium of instruction in classes. Students overwhelmingly support the notion of meaningful development of indigenous languages (such as Sesotho) so that they can contribute to the development of South Africa. The data in this study also suggest that indigenous languages should not be allowed to die out.
Exploring Therapists’ Experiences of Applying EMDR Therapy With Clients Experiencing Psychosis
Authors: Phillips Rebecca , McSherry Pamela , Pinto Cathryn , Maguire Tess
Published: June 2021

Little is known of the usability of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) as an intervention for those experiencing psychosis. This study aimed to explore therapists’ experience of using EMDR with this population. A qualitative design was employed using an inductive approach and a thematic analysis. Twenty therapists, who had used EMDR with this client group, took part in a semi-structured interview to explore their experiences of the intervention. Key themes were generated from the data: (a) familiarity with psychosis and EMDR, (b) acceptability of EMDR, (c) the importance of systemic factors, and (d) keeping key therapy principles in mind. Findings highlighted the importance of supervision to build therapist confidence, the value of the multidisciplinary team, and the need for a shift in beliefs surrounding the usefulness of EMDR to the wider system. Recommendations for individuals and services are provided.
High-sensitivity cardiac troponin I and D-dimer are risk factors for in-hospital mortality of adult patients with COVID-19: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: ALICI Gökhan , HARBALIOĞLU Hazar , GENÇ Ömer , ALLAHVERDİYEV Samir , YILDIRIM Abdullah , ER Fahri , KURT İbrahim Halil , QUİSİ Alaa
Published: June 2021

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (Hs-cTnI) and D-dimer on in-hospital mortality of adult patients with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Materials and Methods: The COVID-19 outbreak, a global health disaster, has resulted in significant morbidity and mortality around the world since it emerged in December 2019. The outbreak has gradually spread nationwide. COVID-19 is associated with hemostatic abnormalities and cardiac injury. This retrospective cohort study included a total of 221 adult inpatients. The diagnosis of COVID-19 was made according to the World Health Organization's interim guideline and confirmed by RNA detection of SARS-CoV-2. Participants were divided into 2 groups, survivors and non-survivors.
Results: Hs-cTnI and D-dimer levels on admission were significantly higher in non-survivors COVID-19 patients (p<0.05 for each). Forward stepwise logistic regression analysis demonstrated that age (OR=1.140, 95% CI: 1.045-1.244, p=0.003), baseline hs-cTnI level (OR=1.022, 95% CI: 1.004-1.041, p=0.018), and baseline D-dimer level (OR=1.790, 95% CI: 1.078-2.972, p=0.024) were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality of adult patients with COVID-19. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis provided a cut-off value of >18.6 ng/L for hs-cTnI to predict in-hospital mortality of adult patients with COVID-19 with 100% sensitivity and 74% specificity, and a cut-off value of > 1.41 mg/L for D-dimer with 93.3% sensitivity and 71.5% specificity.
Conclusion: High-sensitivity cardiac troponin I and D-dimer levels on admission predict in-hospital mortality of adult patients with COVID-19.
BIOAVAILABLE AND TOTAL COPPER AND LEAD IN TERRIGENOUS SEDIMENTS IN THE INNER CONTINENTAL SHELF OFF VERACRUZ, SOUTHERN GULF OF MEXICO
Authors: Horta-Puga Guillermo , Cabral-Tena Rafael Andrés , Córdova Alejandro , Gutiérrez-Martínez Jhoan , López-Galindo Francisco , Morales-Aranda Aura Aletse , Soler-Aburto Alfonso
Published: June 2021

The inner continental shelf adjacent to the city and port of Veracruz (ICSV) in the southern Gulf of Mexico, which is influenced by the Jamapa River, has been considered to be polluted. Moderate to high Cu and Pb concentrations have previously been reported in the shelf’s terrigenous sediments. These elements are derived from deposition of materials from mainland sources via river transport and may threaten marine life in the coastal area. Because Cu and Pb bioavailability has not been previously assessed in the region, the aim of this study was to determine (i) bioavailability and total concentrations of these elements in the terrigenous sediments of the ICSV, (ii) if concentrations of these elements in sediments are associated with distances from primary sources, and (iii) if concentrations differ during dry and rainy seasons. Bioavailable general average concentrations were 0.21 µg/g for Cu, and 0.24 µg/g for Pb, which accounted for 4.4-4.9 % of the total content. The bioavailable concentrations were higher during the rainy season, and in the fluvial plume of the Jamapa River. The total content of Cu and Pb was significantly associated with fine sediments and exhibited high concentrations in the new port facilities area. Hence, it is concluded that the Jamapa River is a primary source of trace metals to the ICSV. Finally, as concentrations of trace metals are lower than previous records for sediments in the southern Gulf of Mexico and lower than background levels and maximum permissible limits, the ICSV is presently not contaminated by Cu or Pb.
A likely breeding record of Brown Quail Synoicus ypsilophorus at St Peter Island, Nuyts Archipelago, South Australia
Authors:   Parks Victoria, Level 10, 535 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia, Antos Mark , Steele William
Published: June 2021

This note reports observations of birds and other vertebrates during a short stay at St Peter Island, Nuyts Archipelago, South Australia, during November 2019. Of most interest was a sighting of juvenile Brown Quail Synoicus ypsilophorus, outside the generally reported range of this species and representing the first breeding record of which we are aware for this species at St Peter Island. This is one of a series of relatively recent sightings in the west of South Australia, which indicates an ongoing range expansion for this species. Further fauna surveys on the Nuyts Archipelago, with documentation of observations, are encouraged.
RhoA Signaling in Immune Cell Response and Cardiac Disease
Authors: Kilian Lucia Sophie , Frank Derk , Rangrez Ashraf Yusuf
Published: June 2021

Chronic inflammation, the activation of immune cells and their cross-talk with cardiomyocytes in the pathogenesis and progression of heart diseases has long been overlooked. However, with the latest research developments, it is increasingly accepted that a vicious cycle exists where cardiomyocytes release cardiocrine signaling molecules that spirals down to immune cell activation and chronic state of low‐level inflammation. For example, cardiocrine molecules released from injured or stressed cardiomyocytes can stimulate macrophages, dendritic cells, neutrophils and even T-cells, which then subsequently increase cardiac inflammation by co-stimulation and positive feedback-loops. One of the key proteins involved in stress-mediated cardiomyocyte signal transduction is a small GTPase RhoA. Importantly, the regulation of RhoA activation is critical for effective immune cell response and is being considered as one of the potential therapeutic targets in many immune-cell-mediated inflammatory diseases. In this review we provide an update on the role of RhoA at the juncture of immune cell activation, inflammation and cardiac disease.
Emerging Threats to Human Rights
Authors: Soderstrom Kelly
Published: June 2021

Emerging Threats to Human Rights: Resources, Violence, and Deprivation of Citizenship, edited by Heather Smith-Cannoy. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2019. 288 pages. ISBN-10: 1439917191; ISBN-13: 978-1439917190. RRP: A$93.00, paperback.

Reviewed by Kelly Soderstrom, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
Cultural Rights as Human Rights and the Impact on the Expression of Arts Practices
Authors: Caust Josephine
Published: June 2021

Cultural rights are becoming an increasingly important area of human rights discussion given the association between culture, identity and social equity. The subject is considered here in the context of how the absence of cultural rights influences both the recognition of the diversity of cultures and the capacity of some to access and practice art. Culture and arts practices are intertwined but certain arts practices are prioritised over others by funding bodies, governments and institutions. Recent examples from Australia are highlighted, in which changes to the cultural makeup of the country are occurring at a rapid rate without adequate responses from governments to address funding inequities. It is argued here that unless cultural rights are seen as a basic human right and embedded in the legal national framework, then sectors of the broader community are disenfranchised.
Design and optimization of a wideband metasurface for utilization in a highly efficient terahertz reflectarray antenna
Authors: Sharifi Raziyeh , Basiri Raheleh , Zareian-Jahromi Ehsan
Published: June 2021

In this manuscript, two wideband single layer reflectarray antennas are designed utilizing an optimization-based metasurface in terahertz (THz) regime. It is demanded to design a metasurface with wide phase variation range in a broad frequency region of terahertz band. The proposed metasurface is designed based on Random Hill Climbing optimization algorithm whereas a multiobjective fitness function is defined to consider the desired characteristics. A provided link between Matlab and HFSS softwares is utilized to define and simulate various metasurfaces. The finalized cell has considerable wide phase variation (≥ 600˚) and notable bandwidth of 30.76% (1.1–1.5 THz) whereas the mean value of magnitude variation of reflection coefficient is -0.42dB. Two square and circular metasurfaces are designed based on the optimized cell and illuminated using a THz feeding horn antenna. The angles of incident and reflected waves are considered equal to zero. The simulation results confirm 3-dB gain bandwidths of 20.3% and 20.4% for square and circular reflectors, respectively. Moreover, the considerable efficiencies of 45.67% and 46.27% are achieved for square and circular arrays, consequently. The maximum gain of square array with 361 elements is 25.9dB whereas it is equal to 24.9dB for circular metasurface including 277 unit cells.
Viability And Effectiveness of Mindfulness State Measurement Methodology Using Internet of Things: Proof of Concept
Authors: Chiovato André Godoi , Demarzo Marcelo , Notargiacomo Pollyana
Published: June 2021

Purpose: This proof-of-concept study aimed to develop and evaluate the feasibility and preliminary efficiency of a methodology to measure the mindfulness state using a wearable device (“Cap”) capable of monitoring students’ levels of full attention by means of real-time measured heart rate variability (HRV). Methods: The device was developed to export the data to the user’s cell phone via Bluetooth, which in turn stores the securely accessible data in the cloud. The autonomous wearable device consists of electronic boards of the Arduino platform that, in addition to the HRV, detect the heartbeat, the external temperature of the skull surface, and head/neck movements. Results: Preliminary statistical data using rMSSD (root mean squared successive differences), the Poincare map, the Toronto Mindfulness Scale, the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) and the Philadelphia Mindfulness Scale (PMS) show that increased HRV values converge to high values for the mindfulness state when the time difference between R and RN+1 sample is greater than 88 ms. Conclusion: The device proved to be viable and potentially effective for measuring the state of mindfulness. Thus, further studies should be conducted to test it on a large scale as well as in real classroom situations.
Mental Health Burden of Patients With Diabetes Before And After The Outbreak of COVID-19: Predictors of Mental Health Impairment
Authors: Moradian Sheila , Teufel Martin , Jahre Lisa , Musche Venja , Fink Madeleine , Kohler Hannah , Schweda Adam , Weismüller Benjamin , Dörrie Nora , Tan Susanne , Skoda Eva-Maria , Bäuerle Alexander
Published: June 2021

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting people’s mental health worldwide. Patients with diabetes are at risk for a severe course when infected with SARS-CoV-2. The present study aims to retrospectively examine mental health changes in patients with diabetes in Germany before and after the COVID-19 outbreak, and to furthermore explore potential predictors of such changes.Methods: Over the course of eight weeks in early summer 2020, 253 individuals diagnosed with diabetes participated in an online cross-sectional study. Participants completed an anonymous survey including demographics, depression (PHQ-2) and generalized anxiety symptoms (GAD-2), distress (DT), and health status (EQ-5D-3L). In addition, all instruments used were adjusted to measure participants’ mental health and health status before the COVID-19 outbreak. Additionally examined factors were COVID-19-related fear, trust in governmental actions to face the pandemic, and the subjective level of information about COVID-19.Results: This study shows a significant increase in prevalence of depression symptoms, generalized anxiety symptoms and distress, as well as significantly decreased health statuses in diabetes patients after the COVID-19 outbreak. Increased depression symptoms, generalized anxiety symptoms and distress were predicted by COVID-19-related fear, whereas trust in governmental actions to face COVID-19 predicted higher depression symptoms.Conclusions: The results indicate a negative impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on mental health and health status in patients with diabetes. In order to improve the efficacy of psychological support strategies for diabetes patients during the pandemic, possible predictors of mental health impairment such as the aforementioned should be examined more thoroughly and addressed more openly.
The Effect of ARHGEF15 Knockout and Forebrain-Specific Human ARHGEF15 Knock-In on Seizure Susceptibility in Mice
Authors: Liu Yi-Dan , Ma Meng-Yu , Wang Yan-Ling , Ding Mei-Juan , Yang Yu , Feng Jing-Hui , Zhang Yan-Ke , Liu Zi-Chao , Hao Yan-Lei , Wu Yi-Li , Kong Qing-Xia
Published: June 2021

Background

The ARHGEF15 gene encodes the Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor 15. Although multiple evidence indicates that ARHGEF15 may be related to epilepsy, it is not clear what role it plays.
Methods

Subjects were homozygous ARHGEF15 knockout (E5−/−) mice, wild-type (WT) mice, Cre-positive homozygous human ARHGEF15 conditional knock-in (E5CKI/CKI•Cre+) mice which can overexpress human Ephexin5 in the forebrain, and Cre-positive (E5WT/WT•Cre+) mice. Models with epileptic seizures were established by intraperitoneal injection of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) in 60 mg/kg, and seizures were recorded by video. Then 7 indexes were counted, including “maximum seizure level”, “seizure level classification”, “tonic-clonic seizure or not”, “latency of tonic-clonic seizure”, “number of times of tonic-clonic seizure”, “total duration of tonic-clonic seizure”, and “dead or not”. Western blot was used to detect Ephexin5, RhoA, p-RhoA, ROCK2, and p-ROCK2 in WT mice and E5−/− mice.
Results

Compared with WT mice, E5−/− mice had a shorter “total duration of tonic-clonic seizure”. For levels of RhoA, p-RhoA, ROCK2 and p-ROCK2 in the adult hippocampus, there was no significant difference between WT and E5−/−. The level of Ephexin5 was high in the whole brain tissue of 2-day-old WT mice, and an extremely low expression of Ephexin5 was detected in the brain tissue of E5−/− mice of the same age. There was no significant difference between E5CKI/CKI•Cre + mice and E5WT/WT•Cre + mice in seizures.
Conclusions

ARHGEF15 knockout can decrease the “duration of tonic-clonic seizure” in adult mice with epileptic seizures induced by PTZ. ARHGEF15 knockout did not affect the expression of the RhoA-ROCK2 pathway in the hippocampus of adult mice, which probably attributed to no expression of Ephexin5 in the hippocampus of adult mice. The overexpression of human Ephexin5 in the forebrain has no significant effect on the behavior of epileptic seizures induced by PTZ in adult mice.
Phomopsis Liquidambaris Contributes to the Decease of Ethylene Biosynthesis in Rice under Salt Stress via Inhibiting the Activity of 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylate Deaminase
Authors: Siddikee M. A. , Zereen M.I. , Wu Mei , Zhang Wei , Dai Chuan Chao
Published: June 2021

The endophytic fungus Phomopsis liquidambaris is characterized as a plant growth-promoting agent under salt stress, but its mechanism is unknown. Herein, 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylate Deaminase (ACCD) from the strain was confirmed that it had the ability of utilizing 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylate as the sole nitrogen source. The full-length ACCD gene was 1,152 bp, which encodes a mature protein of 384 amino acids with a molecular mass of 41.53 kDa. The ACCD activity was 3.9-fold in 3 mmol L− 1 ACC by qRT-PCR under salt stress comparing with no salt tress. Ethylene production was increased to 34.55–70.60% and reduced the growth of rice by 23–69.73% under salt stress. Inoculation of P. liquidambaris increased root-shoot length, fresh and dry weight, and overall growth of stressed rice seedlings. ACC accumulation, ACC synthase and ACC oxidase activities increased in salt-treated rice seedlings, while they were significantly reduced when P. liquidambaris was inoculated into Rice by qRT-PCR. It therefore can be concluded that P. liquidambaris can be used as a plant growth promoting fungus against salt stress and other biotic or abiotic stresses.
Reflection on the utilization of microplastics as experiment material in laboratory
Authors: Chai Yanchao
Published: June 2021

More and more researches about microplastics (MPs) have been emerging, as the environmental MPs are detected ubiquitously. Various kinds of MPs have been added heavily as exogenous pollution in toxicological experiments. This perspective is intended to figure out utilization situation of MPs in laboratory and discrepancies between the choice of experiment material and environmental composition of MPs. Here we show, the total number of MPs utilized in 204 articles could be equivalent to that contained in 1015 kg dry wastewater treatment sludge, or comparable to the total existing mass in 600 km− 2 South Pacific subtropical gyre. This means that laboratory could be becoming a potential hotspot of MPs pollution as there is no criterion aiming at treatment of MPs-rich experiment waste. In addition, commercial Polystyrene (PS) microsphere with size less 1 µm was one popular experiment material, which is inconsistent with predominant composition of environmental MPs. That probably overestimate the adverse outcome of MPs as these purchased plastic sphere lack representativeness for actual environmental MPs. This work would shed light on the control and calibration of choice of MPs material in the future research.
Two Different Subcortical Networks of Language System: Morphogram and Phonogram, Through the Analysis of Unique Japanese Characters
Authors: Tamai Sho , Kinoshita Masashi , Nakajima Riho , Okita Hirokazu , Nakada Mitsutoshi
Published: June 2021

Language systems worldwide are based on morphograms or phonograms, and Japanese is a unique language that uses a complicated combination of kanji (morphogram) and kana (phonogram) characters. The white matter networks associated with reading have been investigated previously but remain unclear. In this study, we performed intraoperative language mapping under local anesthesia and postoperative language assessments of 65 consecutive patients who underwent surgical resection for cerebral glioma within the dominant temporal or parietal lobe. The cases showing intraoperative dyslexia elicited by direct electrical stimulation (DES) or postoperative kanji and/or kana dyslexia were extracted. Five patients showed transient kanji or kana dyslexia intraoperatively, and 8 patients showed kanji or kana dyslexia postoperatively. During intraoperative mapping, kanji or kana dyslexia were indeed reproduced by DES. We investigated the maximal overlapping lesions of the resection cavity that were associated with kanji or kana dyslexia, and then determined the subcortical elicited points that evoked kanji or kana dyslexia. These areas were localized near three white matter bundles: the arcuate fascicle, posterior superior longitudinal fascicle, and inferior longitudinal fascicle (ILF). The intraoperative DES distributions for kanji dyslexia were especially associated with the anterior-inferior side of the ILF. On the other hand, the DES point associated with kana dyslexia was localized on the posterior-superior side of the complex of these three tracts. These results suggested the presence of specific non-interfering networks that subserved the reading process for morphograms and phonograms.
Loss of Neuroligin 4X Induces an Intrinsic Innate Immune Response in TNBC
Authors: Yirsaw Alehegne , Omar Muhammad G , Elhussin Isra A , King Dequarius , Henderson Henry J , Sandhey Maninder , White Jason , Samuel Temesgen , Karanam Balusubramanyam , Yates Clayton , Bedi Deepa
Published: June 2021

BackgroundImmune checkpoint blockade therapies, which act on T cell inhibitory receptors, including CTLA-4 and PD-1, induce durable responses across diverse cancers. However, most patients do not respond to these therapies, and initially responsive cancers may relapse. Identifying molecular mechanisms that influence therapeutic responses and resistance is critical to realize the full therapeutic potential of immune checkpoint inhibitors. The presence of immune infiltrates in the tumor microenvironment is associated with positive outcomes in breast cancer, specifically in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). The underlying mechanisms driving this response are unclear. We have previously identified Neuroligin 4X (NLGN4X) as a protein expressed in TNBC.MethodsBioinformatic analysis was used for pathway analysis of TCGA TNBC patient dataset. Immunohistochemistry was performed on breast cancer tissue microarray for NLGN4X protein expression. RNA-seq was performed on MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells for differential gene expression upon gene knockdown. Cytokine array, western blot, cell adhesion array and Nanostring was performed to determine the role of NLGN4X in TNBC.ResultsIn this study, we report that NLGN4X expression is lost in breast cancer with lymph node metastasis. Its expression negatively correlates with immune markers in vitro, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) TNBC patient dataset, and metastatic breast cancer tissues. RNA-seq analysis of the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line, silenced for NLGN4X by siRNA showed more than 500 differentially regulated genes. GSEA analysis of these genes revealed upregulation of interferon signaling pathway, cytokine signaling, and downregulation of cholesterol metabolism and lipid metabolism pathways. NLGN4X knockdown induced loss of cell adhesion, epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), and MAVS-IRF7 signaling in breast cancer cells. Interestingly, analysis of the TCGA dataset of 104 TNBC patients also showed interferon signaling (IFN) as one of the significant pathways downregulated in TNBC patients expressing NLGN4X.ConclusionLoss of NLGN4X leads to innate immune activation in breast cancer and coincides with an aggressive phenotype of cancer. This study identifies the role of NLGN4X in regulating interferon signaling and immune microenvironment in TNBC.
Interaction with Pediatric Healthcare Providers Prior to Admission for Pediatric Critical Illness Due to Respiratory Failure
Authors: Pfarr Marie A , Odetola Fola O , Yagiela Lauren M
Published: June 2021

Objective: To describe pre-hospital healthcare provider contact and the impact of a child’s medical complexity on patterns of contact in the 7 days prior to admission for pediatric critical illness due to respiratory failure.Study Design: Retrospective analysis of data on patients ≤18 years with respiratory failure admitted to a quaternary pediatric intensive care unit between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2014. Pre-hospitalization provider contact was compared to the child’s medical complexity using Chi square and Kruskal-Wallis tests for categorical and continuous data, respectively.Results: Of 163 patients, the median age was 2.1 years, 59.5% were male, and 33.1% had medical complexity. In the 7 days prior to hospitalization, 68 families (41.7%) had 71 encounters with providers including primary care provider telephone call/office visit (66.2%), telephone contact/office visit with a specialist provider (31%), or urgent care visit (2.8%). Children without medical complexity were more likely than children with medical complexity to have a primary care provider telephone call/ office visit (36.7% vs 13.0%, p=0.004). In contrast, children with medical complexity were more likely to have a telephone call or office visit with a specialist (29.6% vs 5.5%, p<0.001).Conclusions: In the 7 days before hospitalization for pediatric respiratory failure, nearly 1 in 2 families contacted a healthcare provider with illness-related concerns. During acute medical crisis, children without medical complexity were more likely to contact their primary care provider, while children with medical complexity were more likely to contact a specialist. These findings have important implications for pediatric care delivery.
Deciphering Biochemical Responses, Metabolome Analysis and Key Genes Controlling Sorghum [Sorghum Bicolor (L.) Moench] Ion Transport in Responses to Salt Stress
Authors: Punia Himani , Tokas Jayanti , Malik Anurag , Satpal  , Kharor Neeraj , Yashveer Shikha
Published: June 2021

Background: Crops usually encounter several abiotic stresses, and salt stress is one of the major constraints affecting plant growth and agricultural productivity globally. Sorghum is not only a valuable source of food but also a potential model for studying and better understanding the salt stress mechanics in the cereals and obtain a better knowledge of their cellular mechanism. Herein, we examined the effects of salt stress on physio-biochemical and molecular responses of sorghum genotypes to determine their tolerance.