bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Estimation of stature from hand and handprint measurements in a sample of Sri Lankan Sinhalese population
Authors: Ekanayake S. D. , Nandasena T. , Nawarathna L. S. , Alahakoon S. , Ariyasinghe S. , Arambawatta A. K. S. , Nanayakkara C. D.
Published: February 2020

No abstract available
Anatomical variations of Peroneus tertius and extensor digitorum longus muscles: cadaveric study
Authors: Kosgallana E. W. , Eshwara J. M. , Dissanayake J. K.
Published: February 2020

No abstract available
Analysis of foot and footprint measurements to determine the sex of an individual
Authors: Jayaweera A. S. , Nandasena T. , Nawarathna L. S. , Alahakoon S. , Ariyasinghe S. , Nanayakkara C. D.
Published: February 2020

No abstract available
Protocol for harvesting adult human hippocampus
Authors: Mathangasinghe Y. , Handunnetti S. M. , Warawitage D. H. , Dissanayake D. N.
Published: February 2020

No abstract available
Anatomical variations of the cephalic vein at its termination in a Group of Sri Lankan Subjects: a cadaveric study
Authors: Samarawickrama M. B. , Rodrigo P. M.
Published: February 2020

No abstract available
Variations of the Subclavius Muscle: a preliminary study
Authors: Wahalawatte Y. R. , Abeywardhana U. N. Y. , Ekanayaka E. A. D. A. , Dissanayaka J. K.
Published: February 2020

No abstract available
Development and implementation of a tool to assess anatomy knowledge retention
Authors: Amaratunga H. A. , Dissabandara D. L. O. , Adikari S. B. , Marambe K.
Published: February 2020

No abstract available
Chronic cypermethrin exposure alters mouse embryonic stem cell growth kinetics, induces Phase II detoxification response and affects pluripotency and differentiation gene expression
Authors: Rebuzzini Paola , Civello Cinzia , Nantia Akono Edouard , Fassina Lorenzo , Zuccotti Maurizio , Garagna Silvia
Published: February 2020

Worldwide uncontrolled use of synthetic pyrethroids contaminates water and soil leading to health hazards. Cypermethrin (CYP), the most used pyrethroid, induces detrimental effects on adults and embryos at different stages of development of several vertebrate species. In Mammals, CYP-induced alterations have been previously described in adult somatic cells and in post-implantation embryos. It remains unknown whether CYP has effects during pre-implantation development. Studies to access pre-implantation embryo toxicity are complicated by the restricted number of blastocysts that may be obtained, either in vivo or in vitro. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are an in vitro model study that overcomes these limitations, as millions of pluripotent cells are available to the analysis. Also, ESCs maintain the same pluripotency characteristics and differentiation capacity of the inner cell mass (ICM) present in the blastocyst, from which they derive. In this work, using mouse R1 ESCs, we studied CYP-induced cell death, ROS production, the activation of oxidative stress-related and detoxification responses and the population growth kinetics following 72 h exposure at the 0.3 mM LD50 dose. Also, the expression levels of pluripotency genes in exposed ESCs and of markers of the three germ layers after their differentiation into embryoid bodies (EBs) were determined. Two apoptotic waves were observed at 12-24 h and at 72 h. The increase of ROS production, at 24 h until the end of the culture period, was accompanied by the induction, at 48 h, of redox-related Cat, Sod1, Sod2, Gpx1 and Gpx4 genes. Up-regulation of Cyp1b1, but not of Cyp1a1, phase I gene was detected at 72 h and induction of Nqo1, Gsta1 and Ugt1a6 phase II genes began at 24 h exposure. The results show that exposed R1 ESCs activate oxidative stress-related and detoxification responses, although not sufficient, during the culture period tested, to warrant recovery of the growth rate observed in untreated cells. Also, CYP exposure altered the expression of Oct-4 and Nanog pluripotency genes in ESCs and, when differentiated into EBs, the expression of Fgf5, Brachyury and Foxa2, early markers of the ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm germ layers, respectively. NIH/3T3 cells, a differentiated cell line of embryonic origin, were used for comparison.
Anti-inflammatory effect of an eye drops solution based on liposomal ozonated oil in different corneal and anterior segment human diseases
Authors: Basile Andrea Attilio , Cendali Magda , Mandelli Giulia , Fioretto Gaetano
Published: February 2020

The gaseous ozone can be effectively stabilized – for topical use – as ozonated oil, an organic analog of ozone, that has the same properties; the tolerability on the ocular surface has been further improved by means a specific formulation, developed for ophthalmic use, based on liposomal sunflower ozonated oil plus hypromellose (Ozodrop®, FB Vision, Ascoli Piceno, Italy), which is extremely biocompatible with the delicate ocular surface tissue. The use of ozone in certain eye anterior segment pathologies could be providential due to its anti-inflammatory and bactericidal activity, in addition to promoting tissue repair properties. Nowadays, the overuse of antibiotics in the treatment of infectious diseases, and the appearance of multidrug-resistant bacterial strains, has driven research towards the study of new resistance-free antimicrobial agents. In our experience, this new liposomal ozonated oil formulation was used to promote wound healing and treat some inflammatory and infectious pathologies of the anterior segment, such as vernal conjunctivities, granulomatous conjunctivities, persistent dystrophic corneal ulcer, i.e. diseases necessitating adequate anti-inflammatory and regenerative therapy. In these conditions, a topical dosage of one or two drops of collyrium every 4 h over 3-7 days is generally recommended, even though multiple and frequent instillations are often required to achieve clinical resolution. The use of ozone-based eye drops gave a faster resolution of the inflammatory and/or infectious process, healing of the wounded area, improvement of corneal deepithelization and resolution of the symptomatology (itching, soreness) and clinical sign. In conclusion, from our preliminary results, ozone-based eye drops represent a valid and suitable alternative therapy for the management of external ocular pathologies, both inflammatory and/or infective and traumatic.
Rational approach, technique and selection criteria for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation with Regenerative Selective Disc therapy
Authors: Buscemi Calogero Riccardo , Licata Andrea
Published: February 2020

Low back pain is one of the most common and important clinical, social, economic, and public health problems affecting the human population worldwide. The mechanism of radicular pain in the lumbar region is multifactorial but is likely due to mechanical and/or inflammatory factors. The natural history of disc herniation tends to be favourable. The Italian Society for Oxygen-Ozone Therapy (SIOOT) and the Italian Society for Spinal Surgery (SICV) guidelines recommend a conservative therapeutic approach. The biological action of medical ozone is still under investigation but some mechanisms of action have been proposed to explain its efficacy in disc herniation treatment: i) reduction of the inflammatory components; ii) hyper-oxygenation of the area of interest; iii) diminishing the size of the herniation; iv) stimulation of the repair process. The primary objective of this pilot study was to compare pain and function scores from patients before and after the treatment with Regenerative Selective Disc. The metrics that were established to define significant improvement were: i) improvement >1.8 on the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score; ii) improvement of 1 level or more on the modified Macnab criteria; iii) improvement >15% on the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Primary endpoints of this study were changes in the pretreatment and 1 month post treatment VAS, ODI and Macnab scores of the patients. After treatment results show that the patient population’s mean VAS, ODI and modified Macnab scores improved beyond the significant improvement scores. In fact, results showed that the mean patient’s population improvement scores were 2.9 for VAS, 22 for ODI and 1.4 for modified Macnab. Additionally, significant improvements were shown for 87% of the patients for VAS scale (>2.0), 80% of the patients for the ODI scale (>15 points) and 80% patients for the modified Macnab criteria (>1 point).
H.A.R.O.T. Human assisted reproduction ozone therapy: the use of Oxygen-Ozone therapy as an adjunct in the therapy of couple sterility
Authors: Irollo Alfonso Maria , Gangale Maria Francesca , Calabrese Gennaro , Stortini Ezio , Zanconi Sara , Aiello Raffaele , Criscuolo Catella , Infante Vincenzo , Tartaglione Antonella , Pizzinelli Simona , De Simone Maria Laura
Published: February 2020

The increase in couple sterility and the average increase in the age of women seeking pregnancy has placed the scientific community in front of the need to improve the quality of oocytes and the percentage of the embryonic implantation. The oxygen- ozone therapy seems to be able to help in this research thanks to its modes of action. A therapeutic protocol, identified with the acronym H.A.R.O.T (Human assisted reproduction ozone therapy) has been developed, the first results of which seem to be considerably encouraging in order to obtain a greater number and quality of oocytes and improve the percentage of embryonic implantation.
Evaluation of the cytotoxic and genotoxic effect of Allium cepa L. (Amaryllidaceae) root cells after exposure in water samples of five lakes of Alta Floresta, State of Mato Grosso
Authors: Ramos Leila Pereira Neves , Leite Douglas Machado , Macedo Weslaine De Almeida , Farias Cyntia Beatriz Magalhães , Oliveira Ademilso Sampaio de , Dahmer Nair , Karsburg Isane Vera
Published: February 2020

This study evaluated genotoxic and cytotoxic potential of water samples through the analysis of Allium cepa root cells exposed to samples from five urban lakes of Alta Floresta, state of Mato Grosso. The samples were obtained in the dry and rainy periods, October 2014 and April 2015, respectively, at five distinct points. The collection points were as follows: Lake 01, located in MT 206; Lake 02, in Avenida Perimetral Rogério Silva; Lake 03, in Sector C; Lake 04 on Teles Pires Avenue; and Lake 05, in the Cidade Bela District. Bioassays using Allium cepa bulbs were taken from the water at each point, and comparisons were made with the negative and positive controls. The results found the presence of genotoxic and cytotoxic activities on the roots of A. cepa, indicating high potential in cell cycle inhibition. This result may also be caused by the influences of seasonal periods, taking into account that in the rainy season there is a greater transport of cytotoxic substances by rainwater, and in the dry season, a higher concentration of pollutants due to the reduction of water volume, resulting in a greater interaction of the concentrators as well as a greater concentration of the elements found in the water of these lagoons.
Peer Coaching as a Faculty Development Tool: A Mixed Methods Evaluation
Authors: Carlson Kristy , Ashford Allison , Hegagi Marwa , Vokoun Chad
Published: February 2020

Background

In the era of competency-based assessment, medical education faculty are frequently challenged to develop unique teaching approaches. One method to address faculty development needs in a real-time clinical learning environment is peer coaching.

Objective

We implemented and evaluated a faculty development program involving peer observation and feedback for attending physicians.

Methods

Hospital internal medicine faculty assigned to a teaching service were recruited for the study. Participants voluntarily agreed to observe and be observed by a peer attending physician during a 2-week block of teaching rounds. When serving in the coaching role, faculty were asked to observe 4 separate occasions using an observation tool based on the Stanford Faculty Development Program framework to guide feedback. An outside consultant facilitated a focus group and completed a qualitative content analysis to categorize all participants' experiences during the faculty development activity.

Results

Of the 22 eligible faculty, 14 (64%) agreed to participate by committing to 6 to 8 hours observing another faculty member during rounds, 2 feedback sessions, and 90 minutes to provide program feedback during a focus group. The analysis of the focus group revealed favorable reactions to the faculty development program, including (1) observed attending awareness of unrecognized habits; (2) personalized teaching tips for the observed attending to improve teaching quality based on individual style/preferences; and (3) exposure to new teaching techniques.

Conclusions

An inpatient-based peer-coaching faculty development program was acceptable and feasible for a majority of faculty and may improve individual teaching effectiveness among conventionally trained physicians.
Becoming Critical Consumers of Evidence in Occupational Therapy for Children and Youth
Authors: Grajo Lenin C. , Laverdure Patricia , Weaver Lindy L. , Kingsley Karrie
Published: February 2020

This special issue of the American Journal of Occupational Therapy on interventions for children and youth highlights the current developments in and evidence for the effectiveness of occupational therapy interventions and psychometric properties of assessments for children and youth. In this guest editorial, we identify various factors that challenge the implementation of evidence-based strategies in daily clinical practice. We assert that scholars, educators, and practitioners need to address several strategic steps. To facilitate critical consumption of evidence in practice, efforts need to be made to build capacity for evidence production and evidence use through implementation science and to ensure that evidence-based practice is not only taught but also reflectively applied across the educational curriculum and that clinicians are given more access to resources that are easy to translate to daily clinical practice.
The audit expectation gap: A review of the academic literature
Authors: Quick Reiner
Published: February 2020

The audit expectation gap is a phenomenon that exists for many years. In particular, the audited financial statements beneficiaries’ expectations exceed what auditors can reasonably be expected to accomplish. This paper reviews the extensive body of academic literature which has investigated the audit expectation gap for many years. The focus lies on survey-based research which is the dominating research method applied. The objective is to provide an overview of the existing literature and to summarize its findings and implications. The most frequently identified gaps refer to fraud detection. Education and the expansion of the auditor report are two response strategies often analysed by prior research.
Pollutant emission reductions deliver decreased PM2.5-caused
mortality across China during 2015–2017
Authors: Silver Ben , Conibear Luke , Reddington Carly L. , Knote Christoph , Arnold Steve R. , Spracklen Dominick V.
Published: February 2020

Abstract. Air pollution is a serious environmental issue and leading contributor to the disease burden in China. Rapid reductions in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations and increased ozone concentrations have occurred across China, during 2015 to 2017. We used measurements of particulate matter with a diameter  1000 stations across China along with Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) regional air quality simulations, to explore the drivers and impacts of observed trends. The measured nationwide median PM2.5 trend of −3.4 µg m−3 year−1, was well simulated by the model (−3.5 µg m−3 year−1). With anthropogenic emissions fixed at 2015-levels, the simulated trend was much weaker (−0.6 µg m−3 year−1), demonstrating interannual variability in meteorology played a minor role in the observed PM2.5 trend. The model simulated increased ozone concentrations in line with the measurements, but underestimated the magnitude of the observed absolute trend by a factor of 2. We combined simulated trends in PM2.5 concentrations with an exposure-response function to estimate that reductions in PM2.5 concentrations over this period have reduced PM2.5-attribrutable premature morality across China by 150 000  deaths year−1.
Concerted measurements of free amino acids at the Cape Verde
Islands: High enrichments in submicron sea spray aerosol particles
and cloud droplets
Authors: Triesch Nadja , van Pinxteren Manuela , Engel Anja , Herrmann Hartmut
Published: February 2020

Abstract. This study presents measurements of free amino acids (FAA) in the marine environment to elucidate their transfer from the ocean into the atmosphere to marine aerosol particles and to clouds. FAA were investigated in seawater (underline water (ULW), sea surface microlayer (SML)), in ambient marine size-segregated aerosol particle samples at two heights (ground based at the Cape Verde Atmospheric Observatory (CVAO) and at the Mt. Verde, 744 m height) and in cloud water using concerted measurements. The ∑FAA concentration in the SML varied between 0.13–3.64 µmol L−1, in the ULW between 0.01–1.10 µmol L−1 and a strong enrichment of ∑FAA in the SML (EFSML: 1.1–298.4, average of 57.2) was observed. In the submicron (0.05–1.2 µm) aerosol particles at the CVAO, the composition of FAA was more complex and higher atmospheric concentration of ∑FAA (up to 6.3 ng m−3) compared to the supermicron (1.2–10 µm) aerosol particles (maxima of 0.5 ng m−3) were observed. The total ∑FAA concentration (PM10) was between 1.8–6.8 ng m−3 and tended to increase during the campaign. Averaged ∑FAA concentrations on the aerosol particles at the Mt. Verde were lower (submicron: 1.5 ng m−3, supermicron: 1.2 ng m−3) compared to the CVAO. A similar percentage contribution of ∑FAA to dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the seawater (up to 7.6&tinsp;%) and to water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) on the submicron aerosol particles (up to 5.3 %) indicated a related transfer process of FAA and DOC in the marine environment. The FAA were strongly enriched in the submicron aerosol particles (EFaer(∑FAA) 4∙102–3∙104, EFaer(WSOC) 2∙103–1∙104), possibly resulting from film droplet formation. The enrichment in supermicron aerosol particles was several orders of magnitude lower compared to supermicron size range with EFaer(∑FAA) 1∙101–2∙101, EFaer(WSOC) 3∙102–4∙102. A case study showed that several amino acids were transported from the ocean up to cloud level (e.g. aspartic acid, glutamic acid, proline) while other amino acids might not be transferred or quickly degraded (e.g. phenylalanine, tyrosine) or produced (e.g. GABA). The cloud water samples exhibited a similar composition of FAA compared to the SML but a strong variation of the atmospheric concentration of ∑FAA during the campaign (11.2–489.9 ng m−3). FAA in cloud water samples showed a strong enrichment by a factor of 4∙103 compared to the SML. The presence of high concentrations of FAA in general and of biologically produced FAA (aspartic acid) in particular together with the presence of inorganic marine tracers (sodium, methane sulfonic acid) demonstrates the influence of oceanic sources on marine clouds.
A national dataset of 30 m annual urban extent dynamics (1985–2015) in the conterminous United States
Authors: Li Xuecao , Zhou Yuyu , Zhu Zhengyuan , Cao Wenting
Published: February 2020

Abstract. Dynamics of the urban extent at fine spatial and temporal
resolutions over large areas are crucial for developing urban growth models
and achieving sustainable development goals. However, there are limited
practices of mapping urban dynamics with these two merits combined. In this
study, we proposed a new method to map urban dynamics from Landsat time
series data using the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform and developed a
national dataset of annual urban extent (1985–2015) at a fine spatial
resolution (30 m) in the conterminous United States (US). First, we derived
the change information of urbanized years in four periods that were
determined from the National Land Cover Database (NLCD), using a temporal
segmentation approach. Then, we classified urban extents in the beginning (1985) and ending (2015) years at the cluster level through the implementation of a
change vector analysis (CVA)-based approach. We also developed a
hierarchical strategy to apply the CVA-based approach due to the spatially
explicit urban sprawl over large areas. The overall accuracy of mapped
urbanized years is around 90 % with the 1-year tolerance strategy. The
mapped urbanized areas in the beginning and ending years are reliable, with
overall accuracies of 96 % and 88 %, respectively. Our results reveal
that the total urban area increased by about 20 % during the period
of 1985–2015 in the US, and the annual urban area growth is not linear over the years. Overall, the growth pattern of urban extent in most coastal states is
plateaued over the past three decades while the states in the Midwestern US
show an accelerated growth pattern. The derived annual urban extents are of
great use for relevant urban studies such as urban area projection and urban
sprawl modeling over large areas. Moreover, the proposed mapping framework
is transferable for developing annual dynamics of urban extent in other
regions and even globally. The data are available at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.8190920.v2 (Li et al.,
2019c).
Coalescence of bacterial groups originating from urban runoffs and artificial infiltration systems among aquifer microbiomes
Authors: Colin Yannick , Bouchali Rayan , Marjolet Laurence , Marti Romain , Vautrin Florian , Voisin Jérémy , Bourgeois Emilie , Rodriguez-Nava Veronica , Blaha Didier , Winiarski Thierry , Mermillod-Blondin Florian , Cournoyer Benoit
Published: February 2020

Abstract. The invasion of aquifer microbial communities by aboveground micro-organisms, a phenomenon known as community coalescence, is likely to be exacerbated in groundwaters fed by stormwater infiltration systems (SIS). Here, the incidence of this increased connectivity with upslope soils and impermeabilized surfaces was assessed through a meta-analysis of 16S rRNA gene libraries. Specifically, free-living and attached aquifer bacteria (i.e., water and biofilm samples) were characterized upstream and downstream a SIS, and compared with bacterial communities from watershed runoffs, detention and infiltration basins. A significant bacterial transfer was observed, with aquifer bacterial biofilms being largely made up of taxa occurring in aboveground sediments and urban runoffs (44 to 67 % of the total reads). This coalesced biofilm community was rich in hydrocarbon degraders such as Sphingobium and Nocardia. The bacterial community of the downstream SIS aquifer waters showed similar coalescence with aboveground taxa (26.7–66.5 %) but a higher number of taxa involved in the N- and S-cycles was observed. A DNA marker named tpm enabled a tracking of bacterial species from 24 genera including the Pseudomonas, Aeromonas and Xanthomonas among these communities. Reads related to the Pseudomonas were allocated to 50 species, of which 16 were found in the aquifer samples. P. umsongensis and P. chengduensis were inferred to be in higher proportions among the tpm-harboring bacteria, respectively, of the aquifer biofilms, and waters. Several of these aquifer species were found involved in denitrification but also hydrocarbon degradation (P. aeruginosa, P. putida, and P. fluorescens). Reads related to Aeromonas were allocated to 11 species but only those from A. caviae were recovered in the aquifer samples. DNA imprints allocated to the X. axonopodis phytopathogen were recorded in higher proportions among the tpm-harboring bacteria of the aquifer waters than aboveground samples. A coalescence of microbial communities from an urban watershed with those of an aquifer was thus observed, and recent aquifer biofilms were found dominated by runoff opportunistic taxa able to use urban C-sources from aboveground compartments.
“Pointless, Ridiculous Monster”: Monstrous Abjection and Event in “The House of Asterion” and Grendel
Authors: Woltmann Suzy
Published: February 2020

In this article, I examine reimaginings of myth and legend that subversively address the confrontation between hero and monster by recreating the villainous monster as protagonist. These adaptations disrupt the Self/Other binary, which consequently positions us in a state of empathetic abjection with the monster. Jorge Luis Borges's “The House of Asterion” and John Gardner's Grendel take notions of the monstrous abject in the popular imagination and recreate the myth of the Minotaur and the epic of Beowulf, respectively, from the point of view of the monstrous Other. Borges and Gardner rely on mythic and folkloric profanation to (re)write abject monsters. They intertextually invoke their parent texts and explore the monster's own maternal parentage, which leads to their eventual (and Evental) demise.
Agency in the Ricean Vampire's Compulsion to Feed
Authors: Davidel Laura
Published: February 2020

This essay aims to provide a conceptualization of monstrosity in the case of Anne Rice's vampire archetype, not as effaced or eroded by humanity but performed under the pressure of a so-called morality compass. Through the treatment of agency in contrast with a determinist compulsive thirst, we can understand the vampire as a social creature that needs humanity both as an antithetical point of reference for its otherness, and as a goal in order to achieve reaggregation in the mortal world. By relying on Judith Butler's model of agency presented in her theories of gender identity as performative, on Sigmund Freud's theories regarding the compulsion to repeat, and finally on Brooke Kroeger's concept of passing, I propose an analysis of Rice's vampires as creatures endowed with an agentic power that stems from the struggle of performing the compulsive monstrous acts in a way that would somehow appease their guilty consciousness. I will explore the various modes in which vampires present their agentic power, namely the alternative modes of feeding, the choice of humans to transform, or the vampires' struggle to pass for humans as acts that, although monstrous, bypass the vampires' moral compass.
Investigation of the Learning Strategies of Pedagogical Formation Certificate Program Students in Terms of Some Variables
Authors: Şahin Harun , Özkan Muhammed Ali
Published: February 2020

The purpose of the current study is to investigate the use of learning strategies by students enrolled at the education faculty pedagogical formation program in their education life in relation to some variables such as gender, age, mother and father’s education level and graduated undergraduate program. The study group of the current research is comprised of a total of 217 students attending the pedagogical formation certificate program in the Education Faculty of Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University in the 2015-2016 academic year. In order to determine the students’ learning strategies, the 32-item Learning Strategies Scale developed by Açıkgöz (1996) and revised by Güvenç (2009) was used. In the analysis of the collected data, SPSS 24 program package was employed and frequencies, percentages, arithmetic means, t-test ve Kruskal Wallis test were used. It was concluded that the students’ learning strategies do not vary significantly depending on gender, age, mother and father’s education level and the undergraduate program they graduated from.
Moderating Effect of Employee Engagement on the Relationship between Personality Traits and Team Performance: A Study of Employees in Private Colleges in Oman
Authors: Amir Ms. Faiza , Ahmed Khan Zaheer
Published: February 2020

This study examines the impact of the five-factor model of personality on team performance of teaching and administration staff in private colleges in Oman. The five-factor model consists of extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, openness to experience and neuroticism. A field study had been conducted using a sample size of 130 employees in private colleges in Oman. Data was collected through a 36-item questionnaire through convenience sampling. As anticipated, the results are consistent with many previous searches presenting the relationship between agreeableness, conscientiousness, extroversion, and openness to experience on team performance is positive and significant while neuroticism has a negative relationship with team performance. Employee engagement does moderate the relationship between extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism and team performance. Employee engagement has a minor moderating effect on the relationship between openness to experience and team performance. The study has enlightened the reality of the relationship between personality traits and team performance with a clear understanding of the academic administration of colleges in Oman. Therefore, organizations should consider the personality traits of employees to improve the overall performance of teams. The sampling from a similar type of organization and exclusion of some of the contextual variables are limitations of this study that hinder generalization to other industries and contexts. This research recommends to include other variables such as gender difference and organizational culture through a cluster of organizations with a large sample that may add more to the validity of results for generalization.
Renesaissance wind instruments with a double reed, part 1
Authors: Szwajgier Agnieszka
Published: February 2020

The present article is aimed at collecting and arranging information about the Renaissance wind instruments with a double reed, which never before or after that period in the history of music presented as many tone colours. The author pays attention to the great importance of the sound of a wind ensemble as without these instruments – as Lorenz Walker claimed – neither a prince nor any wealthy city would have been able to fully show their significance.

The first part of the article in this issue of the magazine presents the shawm, rackett, dulcian and bassanello – the instruments in which the reed was fully outside or partially enclosed by a pirouette – a small wooden part on which a musician could rest their lips and prevent fatigue. The author discusses the history and construction of these instruments, their use, scales, varieties and ways of playing. An addition to the text are the illustrations presenting construction details and circumstances in which these instruments were used.

New concepts and ideas of instrument makers from the turn of the 16th century, such as the extended range of the bassanello, the piruet, or the “twist” of the bore of the over 2-metre-long bass shawm and thus creating a shorter instrument yet still remaining in the same register – the dulcian, are still admired by modern restorers of historical instruments. The article is meant both for people playing early music and modern performers interested in the topics connected with historical performance using old wind instruments.
Performance topics in harpsichord music in the second half of the 18th century – Part 2. Arpeggio
Authors: Pilch Marek
Published: February 2020

The article on the rendering of the arpeggio is a continuation of the cycle devoted to performance topics in harpsichord music in the second half of the 18th century, the first part of which was published in “Notes Muzyczny” no. 2(10)2019. The author’s assumption is that the condition necessary for acquiring a convincing interpretation of works from the period of Classicism on the harpsichord is following the arpeggio mannerism in compliance with the performance style shaped in the 17th century called style brisé (luthé) and characteristic of the forms such as the allemande, tombeau or préludes non mesuré.
Despite the arpeggio’s diversity, unlike ornaments, this mannerism has not been thoroughly described. That is why doubts often occur as to whether or to what extent it can be used in instances when it is not explicitly required. In the context of classical music performance on the harpsichord the arpeggio is of special significance as it is a very important mean of expression. In its many shades it is one of the mannerisms the use of which is a performer’s decision.
The modern trend of historical performance has updated the approach towards this mannerism for keyboard music from the classical period, allowing the use of performance traditions of the 17th and the first half of the 18th centuries. While performing arpeggios, one should be guided by the awareness of the historical context, musical sense, but also the instrument’s idiom, and apply them wherever they enhance the sound of the harpsichord and affections of a given fragment of a composition.
The article discusses the guidelines on the ways of rendering of arpeggios, mainly based on the Klavierschule oder Anweisung zum Klavierspielen für Lehrer und Lernende by Daniel Gottlob Türk (1789) and its use options in harpsichord music of the second half of the 18th century exemplified by works by W. A. Mozart.
Spółdzielnia Marii Skłodowskiej-Curie a uniwersytety dziecięce
Authors: Litwin-Sondej Elżbieta
Published: February 2020

The article discusses the idea of universities for children, particularly its foundation by Maria Skłodowska-Curie and the current condition of this initiative. Maria Skłodowska-Curie was not only an excellent scientist, but also a great teacher and an educational innovator. She was the first to show that university may be a great place for children to learn. She emphasised that universities should be responsible not only for teaching but also for students’ flourishing. Modern universities seem to draw on this inspiring idea developed by Skłodowska-Curie. The author describes how the Maria Skłodowska-Curie cooperative changed as well as how the idea evolved into the university for children as it is recognised today.
Turystyka przygodowa jako kierunek kształcenia kadr dla turystyki
Authors: Swędzioł Wojciech
Published: February 2020

The article addresses an important issue from the point of view of the allegations formulated by the employers’ circles towards higher education regarding the incompatibility of educational programmes with the needs of the labour market. The author shows the shape of the adventure tourism brought to life at the Academy of Physical Education in Kraków. In the article the author presents the results of research in an attempt to answer the question whether such a profile creates a better chance for a career in the tourism industry. The research is a survey of preferences of employers during recruitment for a position related to tourism in companies organising tourist events. Results of this study indicate that in most companies experience is the strongest asset of candidates for a job. Adventure tourism major, however, is welcomed by the vast majority of respondents. The method used in this study refers to a small trial – this is due to the limited number of Polish companies organising adventure tourism or events with its elements. Among the few companies for which education is particularly important, a degree with a major in adventure tourism is an asset. Even those respondents for whom education is not a priority positively perceive the obtaining a degree in adventure tourism, as students of such major gain experience, acquire the skills needed to organise various tourist events and develop passions and interests which are also important in the tourism industry.
Phenomenology in Pedagogical Settings. Overview of the current discourse on phenomenological pedagogy
Authors: Breil Patrizia
Published: February 2020

Phenomenology has been well-received in pedagogy from the very beginning. With direct reference to Husserl, Aloys Fischer calls for a Descriptive Pedagogy. Only on the basis of a close description of educational processes similar to the phenomenological reduction can the educational sciences rediscover their actual subject matter. In this article the author traces the development of phenomenological thought in educational theory with a special focus on the notions of corporeality and negativity. As a necessary condition of perception in general, corporeality constitutes an important factor in the structural being-to-the-world of the human being. Apart from being able to sense its surroundings the body can also be perceived as part of these surroundings. Due to this double role, the subject opens up to foreign influences and negativity. Thus, the other plays an important role in the constitution of the identity of the subject. Through corporeality, a sphere of intersubjectivity is opened up. A recapitulation of Käte Meyer-Drawe’s Pedagogy of Inter-Subjectivity and Wilfried Lippitz’ Theory of Bildung and Alterity shows how these thoughts can be made useful for pedagogical discussion. Hereby, sociality and alterity prove to be foundational categories for educational settings in general. Finally, the author gives an outlook on current developments in phenomenological pedagogy.
Profile kompetencji społecznych studentów przygotowujących się do sprawowania opieki nad osobami starszymi – badania polsko-niemieckie
Authors: Kanios Anna , Bocheńska-Brandt Anna
Published: February 2020

The ageing of people is one of the most important social issues of the modern world. This is a global phenomenon, concerning all regions and almost all countries. This problem pertains also to Poland and Germany. The following article is based on empirical studies whose subject were the social competencies profiles of Polish and German students preparing for caregiving of the elderly people. The method of the study was a diagnostic survey, whereas the research instruments used in the study were PROKOS. Social Competencies Profile by A. Matczak and K. Martowska and The questionnaire for the analysis of motivation to work with elderly people for students of social wellbeing majors (self-constructed questionnaire). Research studies were carried out between October and December 2018. In Poland, they involved students from Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin and the University of Rzeszów, while in Germany, students from universities of Münster, Osnabrück, Bielefeld and Wolfsburg. German students (200 people) constituted the main group, whereas the comparative group consisted of 167 Polish students. The results of the research demonstrated significant statistic differences in the range of all distinguished types of social competencies between the examined Polish and German groups of students (p < 0,001).
PERFORMANCE EVALUATION AND SUSTAINABILITY ANALYSIS OF AN IMPROVED CHARCOAL COOKSTOVE BY WBT AND CCT METHODS. APPLICATION IN BANDUNDU (D.R.CONGO)
Authors: MULUMBA ILUNGA OSCAR , HURTADO ELIAS , PEÑALVO LOPEZ ELISA , CARCEL CARRASCO FRANCISCO JAVIER
Published: February 2020

More than 80% of the population of developing countries use wood to cook food. Cooking is carried out using traditional stoves (TCS) of low energy efficiency, which leads to excessive fuel consumption with direct consequences on deforestation and local ecosystems. This work consists in the analysis of the operation and performance of the necessary tests of an improved stove (ICS) for the replacement of the TCS model. Two methods of laboratory tests were used, the boiling water test (WBT 4.3.2) and the controlled cooking test (CCT v.02). The results show a clear improvement in terms of fuel savings of 40.7% compared to the TCS model, and a reduction in pollutant emissions between 24.8 and 27.5% for CO and between 18.8 and 28.3% for PM, in the phases of high and low power, respectively. The reduction in CO2 emissions of the ICS is estimated at 1.4 t CO2 per year per family and household economic savings, due to the reduction in fuel consumption, represents US $ 193.7 per year, per household.

Key Words: charcoal, cookstove, emissions, wood, biomass, sub-Saharan, energy
Museos en nuestro país
Authors: Berni Piero , Carreras César , Báscones Pere
Published: February 2020

El mundo del patrimonio es uno de los que va incorporando paso a paso las TIC, tecnologías de la información y la comunicación. A falta de un observatorio nacional que pueda dar una visión transversal, Cèsar Carreras (UOC), Pere Bàscones (UOC) i Piero Berni (UB) nos ofrecen su punto de vista general de las aplicaciones TIC en el mundo del patrimonio en nuestro país, basándose en su experiencia y recorrido personal.
Attribute based honey encryption algorithm for securing big data: Hadoop distributed file system perspective
Authors: Kapil Gayatri , Agrawal Alka , Attaallah Abdulaziz , Algarni Abdullah , Kumar Rajeev , Khan Raees Ahmad
Published: February 2020

Hadoop has become a promising platform to reliably process and store big data. It provides flexible and low cost services to huge data through Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS) storage. Unfortunately, absence of any inherent security mechanism in Hadoop increases the possibility of malicious attacks on the data processed or stored through Hadoop. In this scenario, securing the data stored in HDFS becomes a challenging task. Hence, researchers and practitioners have intensified their efforts in working on mechanisms that would protect user’s information collated in HDFS. This has led to the development of numerous encryption-decryption algorithms but their performance decreases as the file size increases. In the present study, the authors have enlisted a methodology to solve the issue of data security in Hadoop storage. The authors have integrated Attribute Based Encryption with the honey encryption on Hadoop, i.e., Attribute Based Honey Encryption (ABHE). This approach works on files that are encoded inside the HDFS and decoded inside the Mapper. In addition, the authors have evaluated the proposed ABHE algorithm by performing encryption-decryption on different sizes of files and have compared the same with existing ones including AES and AES with OTP algorithms. The ABHE algorithm shows considerable improvement in performance during the encryption-decryption of files.
Molecular phylogeny and intraspecific differentiation of the Trapelus agilis species complex in Iran (Squamata: Agamidae) inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequences
Authors: Shahamat Ali-Asghar , Rastegarpouyani Eskandar , Rastegar-Pouyani Nasrullah , Hosseinian Yousefkhani Seyyed Saeed , Wink Michael
Published: February 2020

Background

Trapelus agilis consists of different morphotypes with restricted distributions in the Iranian Plateau. The phylogeny of the species complex has not been resolved so far, but recently Trapelus sanguinolentus were elevated from this complex into a full species. Other populations of the species complex need to be evaluated taxonomically.

Methods

In the present study, several populations of this species complex along with specimens of its closely related taxa in Iran, T. sanguinolentus, T. ruderatus and T. persicus, were examined using partial nucleotide sequences of two mitochondrial genes (cytb and ND2) (total length 1,322 bp).

Result

Populations of T. sanguinolentus clustered within the T. agilis species complex, thus indicating its paraphyly, but T. sanguinolentus was previously determined to be a species based on morphological features. The T. agilis species complex forms two distinct major clades, each of which is represented by several local populations on the Iranian Plateau. At least five distinct taxa can be identified within this traditional group. Our biogeographic evaluation of the molecular dataset suggested that the Trapelus complex originated in the Late Oligocene (30 mya) and subsequently diversified during the early to middle Miocene (22–13 mya). At first, the predominantly western clade of Trapelus ruderatus diverged from the other clades (22 mya). Afterward, Trapelus persicus diverged around 18 mya ago. The broader T. agilis complex started to diverge about 16 mya, forming several clades on the Iranian Plateau and in Central Asia. The different lineages within this species complex appear to be the result of vicariance events and dispersal waives. The corresponding vicariance events are the formation of the Zagros and Kopet Dagh basins (16–14 mya), and consequently, the aridification of the Iranian Plateau in the late Miocene (11–6 Mya).
Crocodylus acutus (American crocodile) bite marks on a nest data logger
Authors: Drumheller Stephanie K. , Nestler Jennifer H. , Hackett Farris Caitlin E. , Farris Seth C. , Mazzotti Frank J.
Published: February 2020

Several data loggers deployed to monitor temperature and humidity of Crocodylus acutus (American crocodile) nests in South Florida could not be located after hatching. One badly damaged data logger was retrieved, providing insight into the possible fate of the others. Using a taphonomic approach, we identified numerous indentations, consistent with crocodylian bite marks, and inconsistent with potential mammalian or squamate bites. It seems most likely that the data logger was damaged by the nesting C. acutus rather than during attempted nest predation. Estimated bite forces for reproductive age, female C. acutus exceed the predicted material properties of the data logger’s housing, suggesting that the bites were exploratory in nature. We suggest that data loggers be removed prior to hatching or permit remote data storage.
DISNET: a framework for extracting phenotypic disease information from public sources
Authors: Lagunes-García Gerardo , Rodríguez-González Alejandro , Prieto-Santamaría Lucía , García del Valle Eduardo P. , Zanin Massimiliano , Menasalvas-Ruiz Ernestina
Published: February 2020

Background

Within the global endeavour of improving population health, one major challenge is the identification and integration of medical knowledge spread through several information sources. The creation of a comprehensive dataset of diseases and their clinical manifestations based on information from public sources is an interesting approach that allows one not only to complement and merge medical knowledge but also to increase it and thereby to interconnect existing data and analyse and relate diseases to each other. In this paper, we present DISNET (http://disnet.ctb.upm.es/), a web-based system designed to periodically extract the knowledge from signs and symptoms retrieved from medical databases, and to enable the creation of customisable disease networks.

Methods

We here present the main features of the DISNET system. We describe how information on diseases and their phenotypic manifestations is extracted from Wikipedia and PubMed websites; specifically, texts from these sources are processed through a combination of text mining and natural language processing techniques.

Results

We further present the validation of our system on Wikipedia and PubMed texts, obtaining the relevant accuracy. The final output includes the creation of a comprehensive symptoms-disease dataset, shared (free access) through the system’s API. We finally describe, with some simple use cases, how a user can interact with it and extract information that could be used for subsequent analyses.

Discussion

DISNET allows retrieving knowledge about the signs, symptoms and diagnostic tests associated with a disease. It is not limited to a specific category (all the categories that the selected sources of information offer us) and clinical diagnosis terms. It further allows to track the evolution of those terms through time, being thus an opportunity to analyse and observe the progress of human knowledge on diseases. We further discussed the validation of the system, suggesting that it is good enough to be used to extract diseases and diagnostically-relevant terms. At the same time, the evaluation also revealed that improvements could be introduced to enhance the system’s reliability.