bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
E3 Ubiquitin Ligase ASB17 Promotes Apoptosis by Ubiquitylating and Degrading BCLW and MCL1
Authors: Yang Ge , Wan Pin , Xiang Qi , Huang Shanyu , Huang Siyu , Wang Jun , Wu Kailang , Wu Jianguo
Published: March 2021

Apoptosis is a very important process of cell death controlled by multiple genes during which cells undergo certain events before dying. Apoptosis helps to clean the unnecessary cells and has critical physiological significance. Altered apoptosis results in a disorder of cell death and is associated with many diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases and cancers. Here, we reported that the ankyrin repeat and SOCS box protein 17 (ASB17) was mainly expressed in the testis and promoted apoptosis both in vivo and in vitro. Analyzing ASB17-deficient mice generated by using the CRISPR/Cas9 system, we demonstrated that ASB17 deficiency resulted in the reduction of apoptosis in spermatogenic cells, but it did not affect the development of spermatozoa or normal fertility. Next, in an in vivo model, ASB17 deficiency prevented the apoptosis of spermatogonia induced by etoposide in male mice. We noted that ASB17 promoted apoptosis in a caspase-dependent manner in vitro. Moreover, ASB17 interacted with the members of the BCL2 family, including BCL2, BCLX, BCLW, and MCL1. Interestingly, ASB17 specifically degraded the two anti-apoptotic factors, BCLW and MCL1, in a ubiquitylation-dependent fashion. Collectively, our findings suggested that ASB17 acted as a distinct positive regulator of cell apoptosis.
The Biological Significance of Targeting Acetylation-Mediated Gene Regulation for Designing New Mechanistic Tools and Potential Therapeutics
Authors: O’Garro Chenise , Igbineweka Loveth , Ali Zonaira , Mezei Mihaly , Mujtaba Shiraz
Published: March 2021

The molecular interplay between nucleosomal packaging and the chromatin landscape regulates the transcriptional programming and biological outcomes of downstream genes. An array of epigenetic modifications plays a pivotal role in shaping the chromatin architecture, which controls DNA access to the transcriptional machinery. Acetylation of the amino acid lysine is a widespread epigenetic modification that serves as a marker for gene activation, which intertwines the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and the regulation of signaling during stress. The biochemical horizon of acetylation ranges from orchestrating the stability and cellular localization of proteins that engage in the cell cycle to DNA repair and metabolism. Furthermore, lysine acetyltransferases (KATs) modulate the functions of transcription factors that govern cellular response to microbial infections, genotoxic stress, and inflammation. Due to their central role in many biological processes, mutations in KATs cause developmental and intellectual challenges and metabolic disorders. Despite the availability of tools for detecting acetylation, the mechanistic knowledge of acetylation-mediated cellular processes remains limited. This review aims to integrate molecular and structural bases of KAT functions, which would help design highly selective tools for understanding the biology of KATs toward developing new disease treatments.
Tower Crane Location Optimization for Heavy Unit Lifting in High-Rise Modular Construction
Authors: Hyun Hosang , Park Moonseo , Lee Dowan , Lee Jeonghoon
Published: March 2021

Modular construction, which involves unit production in factories and on-site work, has benefits such as low cost, high quality, and short duration, resulting from the controlled factory environment utilized. An efficient tower crane lifting plan ensures successful high-rise modular project completion. For improved efficiency, the lifting plan should minimize the reaching distance of the tower crane, because this distance directly affects the tower crane capacity, which is directly related to crane operation cost. In situations where units are lifted from trailers, the trailer-to-tower crane distance can have a significant impact on the tower crane operation efficiency. However, optimization of this distance to improve efficiency has not been sufficiently considered. This research proposes a genetic algorithm optimization model that suggests optimized tower crane and trailer locations. The case study results show that through the proposed model, the project manager can reflect the optimal location selection and optimal tower crane selection options with minimal cost.
Integrated Metabolomics and Transcriptomics Analysis of Monolayer and Neurospheres from Established Glioblastoma Cell Lines
Authors: Peixoto Joana , Janaki-Raman Sudha , Schlicker Lisa , Schmitz Werner , Walz Susanne , Winkelkotte Alina M. , Herold-Mende Christel , Soares Paula , Schulze Almut , Lima Jorge
Published: March 2021

Altered metabolic processes contribute to carcinogenesis by modulating proliferation, survival and differentiation. Tumours are composed of different cell populations, with cancer stem-like cells being one of the most prominent examples. This specific pool of cells is thought to be responsible for cancer growth and recurrence and plays a particularly relevant role in glioblastoma (GBM), the most lethal form of primary brain tumours. Here, we have analysed the transcriptome and metabolome of an established GBM cell line (U87) and a patient-derived GBM stem-like cell line (NCH644) exposed to neurosphere or monolayer culture conditions. By integrating transcriptome and metabolome data, we identified key metabolic pathways and gene signatures that are associated with stem-like and differentiated states in GBM cells, and demonstrated that neurospheres and monolayer cells differ substantially in their metabolism and gene regulation. Furthermore, arginine biosynthesis was identified as the most significantly regulated pathway in neurospheres, although individual nodes of this pathway were distinctly regulated in the two cellular systems. Neurosphere conditions, as opposed to monolayer conditions, cause a transcriptomic and metabolic rewiring that may be crucial for the regulation of stem-like features, where arginine biosynthesis may be a key metabolic pathway. Additionally, TCGA data from GBM patients showed significant regulation of specific components of the arginine biosynthesis pathway, providing further evidence for the importance of this metabolic pathway in GBM.
The Extracellular Small Leucine-Rich Proteoglycan Biglycan Is a Key Player in Gastric Cancer Aggressiveness
Authors: Pinto Filipe , Santos-Ferreira Liliana , Pinto Marta , Gomes Catarina , Reis Celso
Published: March 2021

Biglycan (BGN gene), an extracellular proteoglycan, has been described to be associated with cancer aggressiveness. The purpose of this study was to clarify the clinical value of biglycan as a biomarker in multiple independent GC cohorts and determine the in vitro and in vivo role of biglycan in GC malignant features. We found that BGN is commonly over-expressed in all analyzed cohorts, being associated with disease relapse and poor prognosis in patients with advanced stages of disease. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that biglycan knock-out GC cells display major phenotypic changes with a lower cell survival, migration, and angiogenic potential when compared with biglycan expressing cells. Biglycan KO GC cells present increased levels of PARP1 and caspase-3 cleavage and a decreased expression of mesenchymal markers. Importantly, biglycan deficient GC cells that were supplemented with exogenous biglycan were able to restore biological features, such as survival, clonogenic and migratory capacities. Our in vitro and in vivo findings were validated in human GC samples, where BGN expression was associated with several oncogenic gene signatures that were associated with apoptosis, cell migration, invasion, and angiogenesis. This study provided new insights on biglycan role in GC that should be taken in consideration as a key cellular regulator with major impact in tumor progression and patients’ clinical outcome.
Early, On-Treatment Levels and Dynamic Changes of Genomic Instability in Circulating Tumor DNA Predict Response to Treatment and Outcome in Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients
Authors: Aguilar-Mahecha Adriana , Lafleur Josiane , Brousse Susie , Savichtcheva Olga , Holden Kimberly A. , Faulkner Nathan , McLennan Graham , Jensen Taylor J. , Basik Mark
Published: March 2021

Background: Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) offers high sensitivity and specificity in metastatic cancer. However, many ctDNA assays rely on specific mutations in recurrent genes or require the sequencing of tumor tissue, difficult to do in a metastatic disease. The purpose of this study was to define the predictive and prognostic values of the whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of ctDNA in metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Methods: Plasma from 25 patients with MBC were taken at the baseline, prior to treatment (T0), one week (T1) and two weeks (T2) after treatment initiation and subjected to low-pass WGS. DNA copy number changes were used to calculate a Genomic Instability Number (GIN). A minimum predefined GIN value of 170 indicated detectable ctDNA. GIN values were correlated with the treatment response at three and six months by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours assessed by imaging (RECIST) criteria and with overall survival (OS). Results: GIN values were detectable (>170) in 64% of patients at the baseline and were significantly prognostic (41 vs. 18 months OS for nondetectable vs. detectable GIN). Detectable GIN values at T1 and T2 were significantly associated with poor OS. Declines in GIN at T1 and T2 of > 50% compared to the baseline were associated with three-month response and, in the case of T1, with OS. On the other hand, a rise in GIN at T2 was associated with a poor response at three months. Conclusions: Very early measurements using WGS of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from the plasma of MBC patients provided a tumor biopsy-free approach to ctDNA measurement that was both predictive of the early tumor response at three months and prognostic.
Advance Approval of Outpatient Chemotherapy via Phone Call Optimizes Healthcare Delivery without Compromising Patient Satisfaction with Care
Authors: Marino Patricia , Touzani Rajae , Seguin Lorène , Moulin Jean Francois , Palomares Myriam , Cappiello Maria-Antonietta , Provansal Magali , Vittot Martine , Dermeche Slimane , Launay Simon , Goncalves Anthony , Bouhnik Anne Deborah , Gravis Gwenaelle
Published: March 2021

Patient satisfaction is linked to the amount of time spent with the physician. At the same time, long waiting times in hospitals are a major source of patient dissatisfaction. The aim of this study was to determine whether advance approval of outpatient chemotherapy (CT) via phone call can optimize healthcare delivery without compromising patient satisfaction with care. Between 2013 and 2016, 343 patients with breast/gynecological cancer scheduled to undergo CT on day 8 and/or day 15 of the CT cycle were enrolled in a before–after study conducted in a French comprehensive cancer center. In the control group, 168 patients received a face-to-face consultation with an oncologist on the day of CT for approval of the upcoming CT session. In the intervention group, 175 patients received a phone call from a healthcare provider the day before CT, where assessment of toxicity from the previous CT session was recorded and submitted to an oncologist for approval of the upcoming CT session. At the end of the 6th CT cycle, patient satisfaction was evaluated using EORTC IN-PATSAT32. A total of 233 questionnaires were analyzed (response rate: 77.7%). Satisfaction with care was similar between the two groups. No differences in perceived health status were observed, but self-reported time in hospital was lower in the intervention group than in the control group (p = 0.007). Advance approval of outpatient CT via phone call is feasible and particularly relevant in the current context of immunotherapy development.
Tumour Evolution and Seed and Soil Mechanism in Pancreatic Metastases of Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Sellner Franz , Thalhammer Sabine , Klimpfinger Martin
Published: March 2021

In metastatic renal cell carcinoma, pancreatic metastases can appear in two clinical manifestations: (a) very rarely as isolated pancreatic metastases and (b) in the context with multi-organ metastatic disease. Both courses are characterised by rare, unusual clinical features. For isolated pancreatic metastases, the literature shows no effect on survival in all 11 publications that examined the effect of singular versus multiple pancreatic metastases; a lack of effect on survival time was also present in all 8 studies on pancreatic metastases size, in 7 of 8 studies on the influence of disease-free interval (DFI), and in 6 of 7 studies on the influence of synchronous versus metachronous metastases. In multi-organ site metastases observations, on the other hand, all five available references showed significantly better results in patients with concurrent pancreatic metastases compared to those without pancreatic metastases, although the total number of affected organs in the pancreatic metastases cohort was larger. Tumour volume-dependent risk factors thus remain surprisingly ineffective in both groups, which contradicts the usual behaviour of solid tumours. The reasons for this unusual behaviour and possible relations to tumour evolution and the hypothesis of an influence of a seed and soil mechanism in the occurrence of pancreatic metastases in metastatic renal cell carcinoma are discussed.
Functional Genetic Variants in ATG10 Are Associated with Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Castro Isabel , Sampaio-Marques Belém , C. Areias Anabela , Sousa Hugo , Fernandes Ângela , Sanchez-Maldonado José Manuel , Cunha Cristina , Carvalho Agostinho , Sainz Juan , Ludovico Paula
Published: March 2021

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common acute leukemia, characterized by a heterogeneous genetic landscape contributing, among others, to the occurrence of metabolic reprogramming. Autophagy, a key player on metabolism, plays an essential role in AML. Here, we examined the association of three potentially functional genetic polymorphisms in the ATG10 gene, central for the autophagosome formation. We screened a multicenter cohort involving 309 AML patients and 356 healthy subjects for three ATG10 SNPs: rs1864182T>G, rs1864183C>T and rs3734114T>C. The functional consequences of the ATG10 SNPs in its canonical function were investigated in vitro using peripheral blood mononuclear cells from a cohort of 46 healthy individuals. Logistic regression analysis adjusted for age and gender revealed that patients carrying the ATG10rs1864182G allele showed a significantly decreased risk of developing AML (OR [odds ratio] = 0.58, p = 0.001), whereas patients carrying the homozygous ATG10rs3734114C allele had a significantly increased risk of developing AML (OR = 2.70, p = 0.004). Functional analysis showed that individuals carrying the ATG10rs1864182G allele had decreased autophagy when compared to homozygous major allele carriers. Our results uncover the potential of screening for ATG10 genetic variants in AML prevention strategies, in particular for subjects carrying other AML risk factors such as elderly individuals with clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential.
Evolution of a Multiple Sex-Chromosome System by Three-Sequential Translocations among Potential Sex-Chromosomes in the Taiwanese Frog Odorrana swinhoana
Authors: Miura Ikuo , Shams Foyez , Lin Si-Min , de Bello Cioffi Marcelo , Liehr Thomas , Al-Rikabi Ahmed , Kuwana Chiao , Srikulnath Kornsorn , Higaki Yuya , Ezaz Tariq
Published: March 2021

Translocation between sex-chromosomes and autosomes generates multiple sex-chromosome systems. It happens unexpectedly, and therefore, the evolutionary meaning is not clear. The current study shows a multiple sex chromosome system comprising three different chromosome pairs in a Taiwanese brown frog (Odorrana swinhoana). The male-specific three translocations created a system of six sex-chromosomes, ♂X1Y1X2Y2X3Y3-♀X1X1X2X2X3X3. It is unique in that the translocations occurred among three out of the six members of potential sex-determining chromosomes, which are known to be involved in sex-chromosome turnover in frogs, and the two out of three include orthologs of the sex-determining genes in mammals, birds and fishes. This rare case suggests sex-specific, nonrandom translocations and thus provides a new viewpoint for the evolutionary meaning of the multiple sex chromosome system.
Collagen Assembly at the Cell Surface: Dogmas Revisited
Authors: Musiime Moses , Chang Joan , Hansen Uwe , Kadler Karl E. , Zeltz Cédric , Gullberg Donald
Published: March 2021

With the increased awareness about the importance of the composition, organization, and stiffness of the extracellular matrix (ECM) for tissue homeostasis, there is a renewed need to understand the details of how cells recognize, assemble and remodel the ECM during dynamic tissue reorganization events. Fibronectin (FN) and fibrillar collagens are major proteins in the ECM of interstitial matrices. Whereas FN is abundant in cell culture studies, it is often only transiently expressed in the acute phase of wound healing and tissue regeneration, by contrast fibrillar collagens form a persistent robust scaffold in healing and regenerating tissues. Historically fibrillar collagens in interstitial matrices were seen merely as structural building blocks. Cell anchorage to the collagen matrix was thought to be indirect and occurring via proteins like FN and cell surface-mediated collagen fibrillogenesis was believed to require a FN matrix. The isolation of four collagen-binding integrins have challenged this dogma, and we now know that cells anchor directly to monomeric forms of fibrillar collagens via the α1β1, α2β1, α10β1 and α11β1 integrins. The binding of these integrins to the mature fibrous collagen matrices is more controversial and depends on availability of integrin-binding sites. With increased awareness about the importance of characterizing the total integrin repertoire on cells, including the integrin collagen receptors, the idea of an absolute dependence on FN for cell-mediated collagen fibrillogenesis needs to be re-evaluated. We will summarize data suggesting that collagen-binding integrins in vitro and in vivo are perfectly well suited for nucleating and supporting collagen fibrillogenesis, independent of FN.
A Systematic Review of MicroRNAs Involved in Cervical Cancer Progression
Authors: Causin Rhafaela Lima , Freitas Ana Julia Aguiar de , Trovo Hidalgo Filho Cassio Murilo , Reis Ricardo dos , Reis Rui Manuel , Marques Márcia Maria Chiquitelli
Published: March 2021

To obtain a better understanding on the role of microRNAs in the progression of cervical cancer, a systematic review was performed to analyze cervical cancer microRNA studies. We provide an overview of the studies investigating microRNA expression in relation to cervical cancer (CC) progression, highlighting their common outcomes and target gene interactions according to the regulatory pathways. To achieve this, we systematically searched through PubMed MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Google Scholar for all articles between April 2010 and April 2020, in accordance with the PICO acronym (participants, interventions, comparisons, outcomes). From 27 published reports, totaling 1721 cases and 1361 noncancerous control tissue samples, 26 differentially expressed microRNAs (DEmiRNAs) were identified in different International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stages of cervical cancer development. It was identified that some of the dysregulated microRNAs were associated with specific stages of cervical cancer development. The results indicated that DEmiRNAs in different stages of cervical cancer were functionally involved in several key hallmarks of cancer, such as evading growth suppressors, enabling replicative immortality, activation of invasion and metastasis, resisting cell death, and sustained proliferative signaling. These dysregulated microRNAs could play an important role in cervical cancer’s development. Some of the stage-specific microRNAs can also be used as biomarkers for cancer classification and monitoring the progression of cervical cancer.
Synthesis and Structure-Chirality Relationship Analysis of Steroidal Quinoxalines to Design and Develop New Chiral Drugs
Authors: Mehmood Rashid , Rashid Naghmana , Ullah Shakir , Amaldoss Maria John Newton , Sorrell Charles Christopher
Published: March 2021

Of the utmost importance of chirality in organic compounds and drugs, the present work reports structure-chirality relationship of three steroidal quinoxalines, which were synthesised by condensing diaminobenzenes with cholestenone. All the compounds were purified and characterised by varying analytical tools prior to their chiroptical analysis by circular dichroism (CD) technique. The substituent groups on quinoxalines contributed to determining the chiroptical properties of the compounds. The positive Cotton effects have been observed in the CD spectra of unsubstituted and methyl-substituted quinoxalines, which indicated their P helicity. Importantly, chloro-substituent on quinoxalines produced different CD behaviour, which can be attributed to the presence of three lone pairs of electrons on Cl atom. The present work provides guidelines for determining the chiral properties of steroidal quinoxalines, which can be useful to design and develop potential molecules of biological importance.
New Syntheses, Analytic Spin Hamiltonians, Structural and Computational Characterization for a Series of Tri-, Hexa- and Hepta-Nuclear Copper (II) Complexes with Prototypic Patterns
Authors: Toader Ana Maria , Buta Maria Cristina , Cimpoesu Fanica , Toma Andrei-Iulian , Zalaru Christina Marie , Cinteza Ludmila Otilia , Ferbinteanu Marilena
Published: March 2021

We present a series of pyrazolato-bridged copper complexes with interesting structures that can be considered prototypic patterns for tri-, hexa- and hepta- nuclear systems. The trinuclear shows an almost regular triangle with a μ3-OH central group. The hexanuclear has identical monomer units, the Cu6 system forming a regular hexagon. The heptanuclear can be described as two trinuclear moieties sandwiching a central copper ion via carboxylate bridges. In the heptanuclear system, the pyrazolate bridges are consolidating the triangular faces, which are sketching an elongated trigonal antiprism. The magnetic properties of these systems, dominated by the strong antiferromagnetism along the pyrazolate bridges, were described transparently, outlining the energy levels formulas in terms of Heisenberg exchange parameters J, within the specific topologies. We succeeded in finding a simple Kambe-type resolution of the Heisenberg spin Hamiltonian for the rather complex case of the heptanuclear. In a similar manner, the weak intermolecular coupling of two trimer units (aside from the strong exchange inside triangles) was resolved by closed energy formulas. The hexanuclear can be legitimately proposed as a case of coordination-based aromaticity, since the phenomenology of the six-spins problem resembles the bonding in benzene. The Broken-Symmetry Density Functional Theory (BS-DFT) calculations are non-trivial results, being intrinsically difficult at high nuclearities.
Screening for Melanoma and Other Skin Cancer Shows a Higher Early Melanoma Incidence: Social Educational Program “Life Fear-Free”
Authors: Demidov Lev , Samoylenko Igor , Vand Nina , Utyashev Igor , Shubina Irina , Sinelnikov Igor
Published: March 2021

Background: The screening program Life Fear-Free (LFF) aimed at early diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma (CM) was introduced in Samara, Chelyabinsk, Yekaterinburg, and Krasnodar (Russia) in 2019. Objectives: To analyze the impact of the program on early CM and non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) detection. Methods: According to the social educational campaign, people were informed about CM risk factors and symptoms and were invited for skin examination. The program planned to involve 3200 participants in total. Participants with suspicious lesions were invited for excisional biopsy. Results: 3143 participants, including 75.4% women, were examined for skin lesions. The average age of the participants was 43.7 years. Mostly skin phototypes II and III were registered (48.2% and 41.0%, respectively); 3 patients had CM, 15 had basal cell carcinoma, and 1 had Bowen’s disease, which were confirmed histologically. All detected melanomas had Breslow’s thickness of 1 mm. Conclusion: The participants showed high interest in early skin cancer detection programs. The incidence rate of CM and NMSCs among the program participants was higher than in general public. The early disease grade was proven for the detected CMs and NMSCs. The study has shown that it is important to continue such programs.
Relationship between Axial Length and Corneo-Scleral Topography: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Bataille Laurent , Molina-Martín Ainhoa , Piñero David P.
Published: March 2021

The main objective of the current study was to investigate further the relationship of the overall length of the eye with a great variety of anterior segment parameters, including scleral geometry. A total of 64 eyes of 32 participants with ages from 12 to 52 years were included in this prospective non-randomized single-center study. All participants underwent a complete eye examination, including an analysis of corneo-scleral shape with a Fourier-domain profilometer. A strong negative correlation was found between axial length and temporal-nasal ocular sagittal height difference for different chord lengths. For the right eye, a consistent and stable linear model was obtained to predict the axial length from the spherical equivalent, the corneal diameter, the high-order aberrations root mean square, and the minimum sagittal height for 13- and 14-mm chord. For the left eye, a model was obtained to predict the axial length from the spherical equivalent and the mean corneal curvature, including other parameters such as corneal diameter or high-order aberrations, depending on the chord length, considered for estimating the sagittal height values. More studies with larger samples are needed to confirm these preliminary outcomes.
Simulating Finite-Time Isothermal Processes with Superconducting Quantum Circuits
Authors: Chen Jin-Fu , Li Ying , Dong Hui
Published: March 2021

Finite-time isothermal processes are ubiquitous in quantum-heat-engine cycles, yet complicated due to the coexistence of the changing Hamiltonian and the interaction with the thermal bath. Such complexity prevents classical thermodynamic measurements of a performed work. In this paper, the isothermal process is decomposed into piecewise adiabatic and isochoric processes to measure the performed work as the internal energy change in adiabatic processes. The piecewise control scheme allows the direct simulation of the whole process on a universal quantum computer, which provides a new experimental platform to study quantum thermodynamics. We implement the simulation on ibmqx2 to show the 1/τ scaling of the extra work in finite-time isothermal processes.
Computation and Learning Partnerships: Lessons from Wood Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Integration
Authors: Riggio Mariapaola , Cheng Nancy Yen-wen
Published: March 2021

Examining an interdisciplinary university course for architecture, wood science, and engineering students, this paper studies how the students’ ability to master digital workflows influenced their success in learning collaborative design skills. It highlights potential challenges and opportunities posed by the introduction of new digital tools to support emerging integrated building design in both education and professional practice. The particular course focuses on the wood industry, which is rapidly changing from a very traditional to a highly innovative sector and increasingly embracing the latest technological developments in computational design, simulation, and digital fabrication. This study explores the influence of parametric design on collaboration dynamics and workflow within an interdisciplinary group of students embodying the roles of manufacturer, engineer, and architect. Student-generated data of the first three years of the class is analyzed thematically to find correlations with productive collaborations. Focusing on a stage of an evolving teaching and learning process, this analysis allows identifications of common themes and patterns, suggesting implications for practice and future research. The course highlights the need to integrate data interoperability, collaboration skill-building, and material awareness in contemporary digitally enabled architecture, engineering, and construction education. The lessons learned in this course can be of value to academic programs and professional firms involved in incorporating digital design and interdisciplinary collaboration.
On the Concept of Learning Transfer for Continuous and Online Training: A Literature Review
Authors: Fauth Fernanda , González-Martínez Juan
Published: March 2021

This work presents a bibliographic review of research related to the subject of learning transfer. Here, we seek to understand its concept, its dimensions, and the factors that influence its achievement. The review allowed us to verify empirical studies carried out that show which variables can facilitate or hinder transference, as well as the most suitable methodology to favor it and indicate considerations that should be taken into account in order to research learning transference in a continuous teacher training. The purpose of this review was to discuss the concept of learning transfer in order to propose a research on this subject in a context of continuous online training, once a lack of studies focused on this modality was detected. In order to analyze learning transfer in this context, we considered it necessary to confirm if the competences, skills, and knowledge acquired through e-learning could be applied in a pedagogical practice of participating teachers; this, in turn, would allow for the obtainment of guidelines for future educational strategies of continuous online training.
Relationship between Plasticity and Cognitive Performance: the Potential of Learning in Cognitively Impaired Elderly
Authors: Navarro-González Elena , Calero Dolores
Published: March 2021

Old age is an extended period of life characterized by major inter-individual differences and different life trajectories which have been synthesized in three modalities of ageing: usual, pathological and successful (Rowe and Khan, 1997). Analysis of the variables associated with these patterns and with cognitive evolution in old age has generated a large number of studies, many of which involve the analysis of learning potential or cognitive plasticity as an assessment tool which enables us to establish differences between old adults with greater precision than static assessments (Schreiber and Schneider, 2006). The present study analysed the performance of an initial sample of 312 old adults with different cognitive profiles in the AVLT-PA learning potential assessment task, with the objective of determining which components of the task may be used to classify participants most correctly, and which may be used to predict the long-term cognitive evolution of old adults. Results indicate that the most appropriate marker of the AVLT-PA task for classifying old adults and determining their cognitive evolution is the Delayed Recall measure.
The Teacher of Hearing and Language: an Analysis of Their Itinerant Model
Authors: Luque Antonio , Carrión José J.
Published: March 2021

Spain is currently in the process of reform of university curricula to meet the demands of the European Higher Education Area. In this context, the question remains the professional profile professionals have developed as the teacher of speech and hearing itinerant schools, noting those factors could hinder the development of a role tailored to the curricular and collaborative proposals that were attempted promote the Organic Law on the Education System of the nineties (LOGSE). The new college plans do not consider this title, having disappeared from academic contexts, although their professional profile continues in schools. It is therefore the time to face the type of training (path undergraduate or graduate) to train these professionals, having the opportunity to learn from the errors found in the previous figure and enhanced quality educational work in schools that feed into inclusiveness.
Cognitive Mechanisms Underlying Risky Decision-Making. A Study of Patients with Alzheimer’s Dementia
Authors: Moreno Aurora , Alameda José Ramón
Published: March 2021

Patients with mild dementia of Alzheimer’s type (DAT) use to present problems in decision making. Several studies have analyzed the cognitive functions in the process of decision making, especially in situations under ambiguity. One approach is the somatic marker hypothesis from the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) and the Gambling Index (IG). One problem is the lack of specificity from IGT indicators, for this reason some hypotheses have been proposed in order to solve these deficiencies, i.e. the Prospective Valence Learning (PVL). In this study, we apply the IGT to 10 patients and 10 control subjects. We analyze the PVL parameter: loss aversion parameter (λ), shape parameter (α), recency parameter (A), consistency (c) and task development in function of advantageous choices. Our results show that control subjects’ performance is better than DAT´, nevertheless, in the first stages there are not differences, these appear in the two last blocks. Whit the PVL parameters we obtain differences in α and c, and, to a lesser extent, in λ. According to PVL parameters, DAT patients can be described as sensible at loss subjects who are more influenced by immediate choice and a very low level of consistence, what implies the use of random choice strategies.
Socialization Styles Victims of Bullying
Authors: Polo del Río Mª Isabel , del Barco Benito León , Gómez Carroza Teresa , Palacios García Virginia , Bullón Fernando Fajardo
Published: March 2021

An important area of study in bullying remains the analysis of the causes of the phenomenon and the factors that act as protective / risk in the cultural, social, personal, school and family. Socialization can be key protective factor or risk in the occurrence of school violence situations. With this research, using discriminant analysis we analyze that socialization variables have a higher discriminatory or better quantify the differences between the different levels of bullying victimization. The total sample consisted of 700 students adolescents, 43% males and 57% females with an average age of 13.98 years. We used the School Coexistence Questionnaire (Ombudsman, 2006) and BAS-3 (Battery socialization, self-assessment format) de Silva and Martorell (1989), consisting of 5 scales of socialization: Consideration for others, self in social relations, social withdrawal, social anxiety / shyness, and leadership. Our results confirm that high levels of victimization in bullying, would be characterized by high scores on social anxiety / shyness and social withdrawal.
Perception of family social climate and attitudes towards bullying in adolescents
Authors: Jiménez María de la Villa Moral , Ovejero Bernal Anastasio
Published: March 2021

The involvement of family factors in the problem of bullying is well documented, not only in terms of the various differential profiles presented by bullies and their victims in terms of parental socialization styles, but the implications are derived from the perception of family climate. Specifically, this study provides an analysis of the relationship between psychosocial perception of family social climate by a group of 550 adolescents of the Principality of Asturias (Spain) (278 girls and 272 boys 50.5%, 49.5%) and their attitudes to bullying according to a three-dimensional assessment model (planes cognitive, affective and dispositional) measures through Attitudes toward Social Aggression Scale constructed ad hoc by the authors (Moral, 2005). It has been confirmed that adolescents with more favorable attitudes to violence perceived peer more conflictual family climate, feel less affection in family relationships, express greater difficulty communicating with them, and less respect for their opinions and paternal highest demands and declared to be subject to physical and psychological punishment by their parents compared to those adolescents with more negative attitudes towards bullying violence.
Family Typology and Dynamic Bullying/Cyberbullying in Secondary Education
Authors: Palacios García Virginia , Polo del Río Mª Isabel , Castaño Elena Felipe , del Barco Benito León , Bullón Fernando Fajardo
Published: March 2021

The situations of bullying and cyberbullying are, sadly, increasingly present events in the school community, especially favored in the case of cyberbullying, by the boom of social networking taking place in our society. The factors that attempt to explain these peer violence situations have revealed aspects of the individuals involved in them, but we must not forget other variables, such as family type, are crucial at this stage of the life cycle and thus may play also an important role. The aim of this paper is to analyze whether belonging to some of the different family groups existing in our society could be related to the incidence of bullying situations and cyberbullying. Participants were 1684 students from 22 secondary schools (IES and IESO) of the Autonomous Community of Extremadura being 50.9% of the sample women and 49.1% men. The results confirm that there are more victims and aggressors among non-nuclear families (single parent families, blended families, parenting by grandparents,...) than nuclear families, however this relationship was not found among observers.
Body Self-Esteem, Virtual Image in Social Networks And Sexuality in Adolescent
Authors: Peris Montserrat , Maganto Carmen , Kortabarria Lorea
Published: March 2021

Adolescence is characterized by concerns about body self-esteem, as well as sexual arousal. Social Networks (SN) have become the way to express the sex interests in adolescents and the place where they publish more virtual photographs. Objectives: a) Analyze the sex and age differences in body self-esteem, virtual images and sexual advance strategies; b) Carry out correlations among variables studied. Participants: 200 adolescents from 14 to 17 years, 98 boys (49%), selected randomly from the Basque country. Assessment instruments: Body Self-Esteem Scale (Maganto & Kortabarria, 2011), Questionnaire of Virtual Image on Social Network (Maganto & Peris, 2011), Sexual Advance Strategies (Roman, 2009). Results: Statistically significant differences in sex and age were obtained. The boys obtained higher scores than girls in body self-esteem, erotic publications and coercive sexual strategies. Youth of 16-17 years have more strategies of sexual advances and positive emotions to sexuality than adolescents of 14-15 years. Social and erotic body self-esteem correlates positively with aesthetic, erotic publications and physical and verbal sexual advance strategies. Conclusions: Adolescents with higher body self esteem, both aesthetic and erotic, more virtual images on social networks publish, and they are those who carry out more strategies of sexual advance, specifically physical and verbal strategies.
Shall we quarrel or deal? The argumentation processes of parents and adolescents during family conflicts
Authors: Correa Rodríguez Nieves , Rodríguez Juan , Ceballos Esperanza , Álvarez Miriam
Published: March 2021

The polarization of postures in conflicts among parents and adolescents involve a threat for family harmony. Skills for argumentation and perspective taking are required to enable the achievement of satisfactory agreements during the processes of negotiation. The purpose of this paper has been to analyze the skills of parents and adolescents to adopt other perspectives when discussing a conflict by means of observational methodology. The study was carried out with 29 families (constituted by father, mother and an adolescent son or daughter) who were recorded while they argued about a real conflict. Frequency and duration of five levels of perspective-taking were registered (Myself; Reasoned myself; the other like an obstacle; the other adding to me; and us) in the discourse of the family, and also in the different members of the triad, considering their interrelations. The results were showing a moderated level of perspective-taking in family discussions, predominating the levels Reasoned myself, focused on explaining own perspective, and The other like an obstacle, focused on reasons to contest the perspective of the other. In general parents showed more perspective-taking. Particularly the mothers exhibited more sensitivity with her adolescent son or daughter, providing higher levels of perspective-taking and argumentation.
Relationships between video-gaming habits, parental monitoring and school performance
Authors: Lloret Irles Daniel , Cabrera Perona Víctor , Sanz Baños Yolanda
Published: March 2021

Children spend an average of 1.3 hours per day on video game and problematic video gaming prevalence is set between 2% and 8%. High levels of intensity and frequency of video gaming are associated with lower school achievement. Home is the most preferred place to play. Therefore parental monitoring is crucial. Objective: To analyse gaming patterns and to identify significant relationships between parental monitoring and academic performance. Method: Participants: 610 students of Secondary Education mean age 13.84 years (SD=1.27; range 12-16). Ad hoc scales were developed to analyse gaming frequency and intensity, school performance and parental monitoring. Results: Children, whose parents control gaming time and show interest in the contents continuously, play significantly fewer days, fewer hours and with adjusted contents to their age. Those with discontinuous parental control ("sometimes"), show a higher gaming frequency and intensity, and the proportion of unadjusted content, and do not differ from those without parental control. In addition, a greater number of hours of play are related to lower academic achievement. Discussion/ conclusions: This work helps in defining gambling problem behaviour. Results indicate that parental control is effective, on condition that it must be continuous and consistent.
The daily climate in the classroom. Relational context of socialization
Authors: Jesús Comellas i Carbó María
Published: March 2021

Socialization occurs not consciously through a complex process of interactions where emotions, values, attitudes, feelings and own context cultural patterns are integrated. This process generates a relational climate that should be conducive to learning and well-being for all people in the group. The school, educational institution, favors the relationships within the group framework and reconstructs previous learning with a variety of models and the educational action led by the faculty. The amplitude of the classroom group creates situations of great complexity and offers many opportunities to prevent the violence from the knowledge of situations that may involve risks and relational vulnerability and relational difficulties especially for some people. The factors that can hinder relations and create an improper relational climate include the social and learning difficulties and cultural differences. The climate cannot be changed individually but it is modified from the dynamics led by the adult person who has the responsibility to help the group learn to relate and that each individual has their space of belonging. We present data from a population of 10891 students in primary and secondary education and the analysis of some factors affecting the climate of the group.
Relation between parental Educational Style and level of adaptation of minors at social risk
Authors: Rodríguez Góngora Josefina , del Carmen Pérez-Fuentes María , Jesús Gázquez Linares José
Published: March 2021

As a result of the growing number of minors with disruptive behavior and adaptation problems, more research is being published focusing on the analysis of aspects that influence the onset of these problems. Thus, the main goal of this work is to analyze the relation between parental Educational Style and the Level of Adaptation (Personal, Family, and Social) in minors at social risk. For this purpose, a descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out, with a sample made up of 17 families, selected as a function of the children's age (between 11 and 15 years), with a total of 31 fathers/mothers and 17 minors. The results show low levels of personal and school adaptation, dissatisfaction with the family environment, and educational discrepancies, both in the minors' perception and in the parents' styles. Minors' school maladjustment is related to a Permissive Educational Style in the mother, whereas the minors were dissatisfied with their siblings and displayed Personal Maladjustment when the mother employed a Democratic Educational Style. However, when the parents employ an Authoritarian Educational Style, a greater presence of Personal and Social Maladjustment is observed in their children.
Effectiveness of an Exercise Program Designed for Persons with Osteoporosis and Osteopenia on Pain Management and Quality of Life
Authors: Ponce Darós María José , Sempere Rubio Nuria , Cortés Amador Sara
Published: March 2021

Objective: To study if an exercise program designed for patients with osteoporosis and osteopenia can be decrease the pain and improve quality of life. Method: 84 patients between 50 and 83 years old was participated at the study, 42 persons in the experimental group and 42 persons in the control group. The study was made in Puçol CEAM (Valencia) for 9 months on the experimental group was performed exercises supervised by the physical therapist 2 days a week for 1 hour. In this period of time, pain, quality of life, support and service satisfaction was measured. Results: After performing paired samples t test, shows how the experimental group decreased their pain and improve their quality of life from the initial to the final score. By contrast, the control group worsened. After testing regression is statistically significant relationship between pain, quality of life and assistance exercises. The perceived satisfaction by patients in the experimental group was very good, and 100% of them would like to continue doing the exercise program. Conclusions: The implementation of a specific exercise program for patients with osteoporosis and osteopenia reduces pain and improves quality of life of participants.
The Effect of Two Exercise Regimens with Older People
Authors: Román Yolanda Marcen , López Bernués Ricardo , Sieso Sevil Ana Isabel
Published: March 2021

Among older people, the health is one of the most important aspects of the quality of life, especially emphasizing the important of the physical condition as the ability to attain and maintain their maximum independence. The general objective is to quantify the effect on the dynamic and static balance, strength and flexibility of the extremities for a period of 3 months and then, the consequences of another three months without exercises. Methodology: Study pre- and post-training with a random sample with 36 institutionalized old men, people over 65 years old with normal-mild cognitive impairment, divided into three groups: vestibular exercises, power exercises, and a non-intervention control group. Results: A significant improvement with balance, flexibility and muscle strength of the lower limbs in each of the group in relation to the control group. The decline of functional capacities measured by a battery of tests after three months without intervention. Conclusions: Balance, muscle strength and flexibility of the lower and upper extremities in institutionalized people over 65 of this study improve following the treatment protocols designed from the lower-limbs power exercises and vestibular exercises in relation to the control group. The functional capacity goes down unless they exercise regularly to improve results.