bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effectiveness of explicit or Implicit pronunciation teaching to Greek learners of english
Authors: Παπαχρήστου Βάϊα
Published: August 2021

Previous research on second language phonological acquisition has shown that mastery of the L2 phonological system constitutes a challenging task for L2 learners. Several parametres have been suggested to constrain pronunciation accuracy, such as, interference from speakers’ mother tongue, learners’ age, quality and quantity of exposure to the target language, as well as motivation, attitude and other social and psychological factors. However, research on pronunciation teaching and its potential effectiveness on learners’ L2 phonological development has been quite limited, especially in foreign language contexts.The main aim of the present thesis is to investigate the production of English vowels by Greek learners of English and the effectiveness of explicit vs. implicit pronunciation instruction within a foreign language setting. To this end, three groups of speakers aged 9 and 15 years old were examined; i.e. two experimental groups, one which received explicit pronunciation tuition and one which was taught the pronunciation of the English vowels implicitly, via the use of recasts, and a control one which did not get any pronunciation tuition. Both experimental groups received 43 mini pronunciation interventions embedded in the regular English classes at school. The methodology adopted was the one proposed by Celce-Murcia, Brinton and Goodwin (1996) moving from controlled and guided activities to more communicative ones. Additionally, L1 Greek and L1 English data were obtained in order to compare the vowel inventories of the two languages.The results showed that after teaching, explicit pronunciation instruction can selectively bring about a change in both young and older students’ L2 vowel production, while no improvement was reported for the implicit and control groups9for either age group. Generally, considerable intra- and inter-speaker variability was revealed after tuition and despite the small changes observed, systematic native-like production was difficult to attain. Moreover, no clear effect of learners’ age was documented. A thorough examination of the factors hindering pronunciation accuracy is presented and the findings are discussed on the basis of current theories of L2 phonological acquisition.
Η δοκιμασία της εκπνεόμενης καφεΐνης (caffeine breath test) ως προγνωστικός δείκτης σε ηπατοπαθείς ασθενείς
Authors: Κωνσταντίνου Δημήτριος
Published: August 2021

Η κίρρωση του ήπατος αποτελεί μία μη αναστρέψιμη, διάχυτη, χρόνια ηπατικήνόσο πολλαπλής αιτιολογίας που χαρακτηρίζεται από ίνωση, σχηματισμόαναγεννητικών όζων και καταστροφή της αρχιτεκτονικής του οργάνου. Στηναντιμετώπιση μίας τέτοιας χρονίας νόσου είναι σημαντικό ο κλινικός γιατρόςνα έχει στην διάθεση του εργαλεία και μεθόδους με τα οποία να μπορεί ναεκτιμήσει τη βαρύτητα και την πρόγνωση του ασθενούς.Μεταξύ αυτών ιδιαίτερο ενδιαφέρον παρουσιάζει η δοκιμασία της 13C-καφεΐνης (CBT). Η δοκιμασία συνίσταται στην χορήγηση 13C- καφεΐνης και ουπολογισμός του κλάσματος που μεταβολίστηκε επιτρέπει την εκτίμηση τηςέκπτωσης της ηπατικής λειτουργίας σε χρονίως ηπατοπαθείς.Συνολικά συμπεριλήφθησαν 47 άτομα στη μελέτη: 29 ασθενείς με κίρρωση,10 ασθενείς με χρόνια ηπατίτιδα διάφορης αιτιολογίας και 8 υγιείς εθελοντέςως μάρτυρες.ΑποτελέσματαΗ μέση τιμή 1-hour CBT (CBT-1h) ήταν σημαντικά χαμηλότερη στους 29ασθενείς με κίρρωση (1.69±2.52) σε σχέση με τους 10 ασθενείς με χρόνιαηπατική νόσο (3.56±2.80, p=0.01) ή με τους 8 υγιείς μάρτυρες (3.22±1.06,p=0.004). Δεν υπήρχε, όμως, σημαντική διαφορά μεταξύ των υγιών μαρτύρωνκαι των ασθενών με χρόνια ηπατική βλάβη (p=0.73). Ο αποκλεισμός τωνκαπνιστών δε μετέβαλε τα αποτελέσματα των παραπάνω συγκρίσεων. ΤαChild Pugh και Meld σκορ δε βρέθηκαν να συσχετίζονται με τα αποτελέσματατης CBT δοκιμασίας.
Εναπόθεση και χαρακτηρισμός νανοδομημένου πυριτίου για οπτοηλεκτρονικές εφαρμογές
Authors: Φαρσάρη Εργίνα
Published: August 2021

Το νανοδομημένο υδρογονωμένο πυρίτιο αποτελεί ένα από τα βασικότερα υλικάτων οπτοηλεκτρονικών διατάξεων λεπτών υμενίων (φωτοβολταϊκά κελιά λεπτώνυμενίων, TFT, αισθητήρες). Η κύρια τεχνική που χρησιμοποιείται βιομηχανικά γιατην παραγωγή υμενίων υδρογονωμένου πυριτίου, είναι η χημική εναπόθεση ατμώνυποβοηθούμενη με πλάσμα (PECVD). Η διεργασία λαμβάνει χώρα σε χωρητικάσυζευγμένους αντιδραστήρες (CCP) χρησιμοποιώντας ως πρόδρομο αέριο το σιλάνιοή μίγματά του με υδρογόνο. Το κύριο πλεονέκτημα της τεχνική αυτής είναι ότι μεμικρές μεταβολές στις παραμέτρους της διεργασίας, είναι δυνατή η εναπόθεση τόσοάμορφων όσο και μικροκρυσταλλικών υμενίων. Ωστόσο, ένα από τα κύριαπροβλήματα που παρουσιάζονται στη χρήση των CCP πηγών, είναι ο ιδιαίτεραχαμηλός ρυθμός εναπόθεσης των μικροκρυσταλλικών υλικών, ο οποίος δενυπερβαίνει τα 5 Å/sec.Στόχος της παρούσας εργασίας είναι η διερεύνηση της δυνατότητας χρήσης πηγώνπλάσματος υψηλής πυκνότητας ηλεκτρονίων για την ενίσχυση του ρυθμούεναπόθεσης λεπτών υμενίων μικροκρυσταλλικού πυριτίου, κατάλληλων για τηνενσωμάτωσή τους σε οπτοηλεκτρονικές διατάξεις. Συγκεκριμένα, η διεργασίαεξετάζεται σε δύο πηγές πλάσματος συντονισμού κύματος ηλεκτρονιακού κυκλότρου(ECWR) και σε μια επαγωγικά συζευγμένη πηγή (ICP). Σε κάθε περίπτωση,μελετάται η επίδραση των παραμέτρων της διεργασίας στον ρυθμό εναπόθεσης καιστις φυσικοχημικές ιδιότητες των υλικών, αναζητώντας συνθήκες που εξασφαλίζουνρυθμούς μεγαλύτερους των 5 Å/sec, αλλά και υλικά των οποίων οι ιδιότητες πληρούντις προδιαγραφές για την ενσωμάτωσή τους σε οπτοηλεκτρονικές διατάξεις.Βάσει των αποτελεσμάτων προκύπτει ότι και οι τρεις πηγές παρέχουν ένα μεγάλοεύρος συνθηκών στις οποίες ο ρυθμός εναπόθεσης μικροκρυσταλλικών υλικών είναιπολλαπλάσιος του βιομηχανικού ρυθμού. Ο φυσικοχημικό χαρακτηρισμό των υλικώνκαταδεικνύει ότι υλικά που εναποτίθενται με ρυθμούς υψηλότερους των 13 Å/secπαρουσιάζουν αυξημένο αριθμό νανο-πόρων με αποτέλεσμα να οξειδώνονται τάχιστακατά την έκθεσή τους στην ατμόσφαιρα. Η μελέτη της διεργασίας στην ICP πηγήυποδεικνύει ότι ο περιορισμός του ρυθμού εναπόθεσης στα 12 Å/sec οδηγεί σεπερισσότερο συνεκτικά υλικά τα οποία οξειδώνονται βραδύτερα και παρουσιάζουνυψηλή φωτοευαισθησία για μακρά χρονικά διαστήματα.
Teaching english as a foreign language through a data - driven learning perspective using an annotated pedagogic corpus of english text books in a greek high school class
Authors: Παπαϊωάννου Βασιλική
Published: August 2021

H παρούσα διατριβή εξετάζει την ενσωμάτωση της μεθοδολογίας, η οποία αποκαλείται ‘κατευθυνόμενη από τα δεδομένα μάθηση’ (στο εξής ΚΔΜ) στο μαθησιακό περιβάλλον ενός δημόσιου Ελληνικού Γενικού Λυκείου. Στόχος της είναι να διερευνήσει τη χρησιμότητα αυτής της μεθόδου για την εκμάθηση των ελλειπτικών ρημάτων. Η ΚΔΜ, μια επαγωγική μεθοδολογία διδασκαλίας βασιζόμενη στην αξιοποίηση των γλωσσικών δεδομένων ανακτηθέντων από ενα σώμα κειμένων, έχει τραβήξει την προσοχή της ερευνητικής κοινότητας τα τελευταία 30 χρόνια. Ο όγκος της έρευνας όμως που να εστιάζει σε πραγματικές εφαρμογές της ΚΔΜ με στόχο την εκμάθηση της Αγγλικής ως ξένης γλώσσας στη Δευτεροβάθμια εκπαίδευση είναι ακόμη περιορισμένος. Στόχος της παρούσας έρευνας είναι να καλύψει το κενό αυτό διερευνώντας την εφαρμογή μιας κατευθυνόμενης από τα δεδομένα μάθησης μικτής μορφής για τη διδασκαλία των ελλειπτικών ρημάτων, ειδικά προσαρμοσμένη στις μαθησιακές ανάγκες των μαθητών ενός Ελληνικού Λυκείου. Την ονομάζουμε μικτής μορφής διότι περιλαμβάνει τη χρήση γλωσσικού υλικού από διάφορες πηγες, και συγκεκριμένα από α) ένα παιδαγωγικό σώμα κειμένων) αποτελούμενο από κείμενα που περιέχονται σε βιβλία εκμάθησης της Αγγλικής, το οποίο δημιουργήθηκε ειδικά για τους σκοπούς της παρούσας έρευνας, β) δεδομένα από το διαδίκτυο και γ) ένα γενικό σώμα κειμένων το οποίο διατίθεται ελεύθερα στο διαδίκτυο. Η προτεινόμενη μεθοδολογία αποκαλείται μικτής μορφής για έναν ακόμη λόγο- περιλαμβάνει τη χρήση τοσο έντυπου υλικού που περιλαμβάνει παραδείγματα μιας γλωσσικής χρήσης με τη μορφή συμφραστικών πινάκων, όσο και διαδικτυακού λογισμικού παραγωγής συμφραστικών πινάκων. Η προτεινόμενη μεθοδολογία ΚΔΜ εφαρμόστηκε σε μια πειραματική ομάδα, ενώ το διδακτικό εγχειρίδιο που χρησιμοποιείται για τη διδασκαλία της Αγγλικής στο Λυκειο επιλέχθηκε για την ομάδα ελέγχου. Τα αποτελέσματα των δύο διδακτικών προσεγγίσεων αξιολογήθηκαν με διανομή και συμπλήρωση από τους μαθητές ενός αρχικού τεστ, ενός τελικού τεστ αμέσως μετά την εκτέλεση των πειραματικών δραστηριοτήτων, καθώς και ενός τεστ διατήρησης. Τα δεδομένα που συλλέχθηκαν υποβλήθηκαν σε στατιστικές αναλύσεις (SPSS 20.) οι οποίες στόχευαν στην αξιολόγηση της επίδοσης των μαθητών. Τα συνολικά αποτελέσματα της έρευνας υπέδειξαν ότι (α) κατάλληλο μαθησιακό υλικό ΚΔΜ, το οποίο εναρμονίζεται με το αναλυτικό πρόγραμμα για τη διδασκαλίa της Αγγλικής στα σχολεία, μπορεί να δημιουργηθεί από εκπαιδευτικούς που διδάσκουν την Αγγλική ως ξένη γλώσσα, (β) μια μεθοδολογία ΚΔΜ μπορεί να επηρεάσει θετικά την εκμάθηση της Αγγλικής γραμματικής, (γ) η βελτίωση στα αποτελέσματα του τελικού τέστ, καθώς και στο τεστ διατήρησης είναι στατιστικά σημαντική, και (δ) η μεθοδολογία ΚΔΜ είναι ιδιαίτερα ωφέλιμη για εκείνους τους μαθητές που είχαν λάβει το χαμηλότερο σκορ στο αρχικό τεστ. Η μελέτη συμπληρώνει τη γραμματεία σχετικά με την εκμάθηση της Αγγλική ως ξένης γλώσσας εστιάζοντας στη διδασκαλία με τη χρήση σωμάτων κειμένων στη Δευτεροβάθμια Εκπαίδευση.
Genome-wide regulation of CpG methylation by ecCEBPα in acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Ogunleye Adewale J. , Romanova Ekaterina , Medvedeva Yulia A.
Published: August 2021

Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a hematopoietic malignancy characterized by genetic and epigenetic aberrations that alter the differentiation capacity of myeloid progenitor cells. The transcription factor CEBPα is frequently mutated in AML patients leading to an increase in DNA methylation in many genomic locations. Previously, it has been shown that ecCEBPα (extra coding CEBPα) - a lncRNA transcribed in the same direction as CEBPα gene - regulates DNA methylation of CEBPα promoter in cis. Here, we hypothesize that ecCEBPα could participate in the regulation of DNA methylation in trans.

Method: First, we retrieved the methylation profile of AML patients with mutated CEBPα locus from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). We then predicted the ecCEBPα secondary structure in order to check the potential of ecCEBPα to form triplexes around CpG loci and checked if triplex formation influenced CpG methylation, genome-wide.

Results: Using DNA methylation profiles of AML patients with a mutated CEBPα locus, we show that ecCEBPα could interact with DNA by forming DNA:RNA triple helices and protect regions near its binding sites from global DNA methylation. Further analysis revealed that triplex-forming oligonucleotides in ecCEBPα are structurally unpaired supporting the DNA-binding potential of these regions. ecCEBPα triplexes supported with the RNA-chromatin co-localization data are located in the promoters of leukemia-linked transcriptional factors such as MLF2.

Discussion: Overall, these results suggest a novel regulatory mechanism for ecCEBPα as a genome-wide epigenetic modulator through triple-helix formation which may provide a foundation for sequence-specific engineering of RNA for regulating methylation of specific genes.
Das internationale Autorenliedfestival „Lehesaju Muusika“ in Tartu als spezifische Form der Kulturvermittlung und Analyseobjekt für Mehrsprachigkeitsforschung
Authors: Shakhova Anastasia
Published: August 2021

The Lehesaju Muusika International Music and Poetry Festival in Tartu as a Specific Form of Cultural Mediation and Object of Analysis for Research on Multilingualism. The paper focuses on the multilingual discourse of the Lehesaju Muusika international music and poetry festival, which takes place annually in Tartu, Estonia. Being an international cultural event organised by ethnic minorities, Lehesaju Muusika represents a unique source of empirical data for research on multilingualism. The festival attracts songwriters and performers of the so-called ‘author song’ or ‘bard song’ not only from Estonia, but also from all over the world. The key feature of this genre is the dominance of the text over the music.

The spatial organisation of a concert hall represents a specific power constellation within a microsocial structure. Performing artists have the power to decide in which language they perform and address the multilingual audience, while the audience itself has an indirect effect on this decision. The artist’s dialogue with the audience represents a peculiar discursive entity within the discourse of the festival. Code-switching appears to be one of the inherent characteristics of this discursive entity.

The present paper summarises some key features of international music and poetry festivals as multilingual cultural events, focusing on the discourse of the Lehesaju Muusika festival. It offers a brief analysis of the audience’s language profile based on the results of a microsociological case study carried out during the latest festival, in 2019. To illustrate the complexity of the multilingual communication during the festival, three situations of code-switching during the performance of an Estonian native speaker in front of the multilingual audience are described and analysed.
Train of Language, Train of Thought: Notes on an Exophonic Anomaly
Authors: Rangøy Øyvind
Published: August 2021

The creation of poetry with literary value in a non-native language often invites questions about how this is possible to achieve. This question, however, can be turned around: is there something in being an exophonic poet that, rather than being an obstacle, could make the development and maturing of a poetic language possible? Adam Zagajewski writes that ardor, not irony, can be primary building blocks, and about the ideal of being ‘in between’. Ben Lerner writes about the sources of Hatred of Poetry and sees poetry as a potential that can never be completely realised. Being between languages causes the reality of language as one of many possibilities to be always present. The result can be construed as a poetic of time and light, but also of a reconciliation at depth warranted by the poetic ethos. Language becomes aware of itself, its autonomy and inherent lack of objectivity, and this becomes less naive and prone to cliches, but this awareness need not spiral into self-dissolving irony. Rather, it may seek to reconcile the possible ways of seeing the world into a new sense of sincerity. It inspires creative and playful use of language, gives heightened awareness of possible metaphors even where the sense of the transferred image is absent within the framework of one language. This has the potential to change perception of language and reality in a way that makes poetry almost possible.
Vom historischen Erbe zur selbstbestimmten Sprach(en)politik? Literarische Mehrsprachigkeit in Litauen und Lettland
Authors: Blum-Barth Natalia
Published: August 2021

From Historical Legacy to Self-Determined Language(s) Policy? Literary Multilingualism in Lithuania and Latvia. The first part of this article looks at Soviet language(s) policy. Two further parts discuss language(s) policy and literary multilingualism in Lithuania and Latvia. The aim is not to provide a differentiated investigation, but to show similarities and differences as well as tendencies in the language(s) politics of the two states from the 19th century to the present in the mirror of literature and to explain them using case studies. In the fourth, concluding part, literary translation is highlighted as one of the formats for implementing multilingualism outside the text with particular focus on the consultative function of the Russian language.
Literatur – grundsätzlich mehrsprachig!? Das politische Potenzial literarischer Mehrsprachigkeit heute, am Beispiel von Barbi Marković’ Superheldinnen
Authors: Vlasta Sandra
Published: August 2021

Literature – Multilingual on Principle?! The Political Potential of Literary Multilingualism Today, using the Example of Barbi Marković’s Superheldinnen. Research on literary multilingualism is increasingly based on the assumption that literature per se is multilingual. This is true for concepts such as Mikhail Bakhtin’s ‘polyphony’, in which multilingualism occurs in the form of social, regional and historical variants within one major language. Similarly, it applies to Rainier Grutman’s concept of hétérolinguisme, which expands Bakhtin’s notion and includes actual language changes. Recently, Till Dembeck has even called for a philology of multilingualism that would accommodate literary multilingualism in literary criticism. Using Barbi Marković’s novel Superheldinnen (2016) as an example, I discuss this recent development in multilingual literary studies and analyse concepts, forms and function of literary multilingualism. In so doing, I underline the transcending character of literary multilingualism that expresses itself on various levels: linguistically, formally, medially and with respect to culture. Thus, I aim to illustrate the enormous political potential of literary multilingualism. In fact, multilingualism in literature, as opposed to literature in times of a “monolingual paradigm” (Yasemin Yildiz), poses a political challenge on various levels. Concepts, such as national literature, literary field, but also literary studies and their institutions (i.e. language departments) reach their limits if literature is understood as being multilingual. In the second part of this article, I discuss the difficulties that come with literary prizes, literary studies and the access to the literary field. These often express themselves as concrete problems for individuals who, for instance, have difficulties accessing the literary field.
MicroRNA-183attenuates osteoarthritic pain by inhibiting theTGFα-mediatedCCL2/CCR2signalling axis
Authors: Tao Zirong , Zhou Yang , Zeng Biyun , Yang Xucheng , Su Manman
Published: August 2021

Aims

MicroRNA-183 ( miR-183) is known to play important roles in osteoarthritis (OA) pain. The aims of this study were to explore the specific functions of miR-183 in OA pain and to investigate the underlying mechanisms.

Methods

Clinical samples were collected from patients with OA, and a mouse model of OA pain was constructed by surgically induced destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM). Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction was employed to measure the expression of miR-183, transforming growth factor α (TGFα), C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 ( CCL2), proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and tumour necrosis factor-α ( TNF-α)), and pain-related factors (transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype-1 ( TRPV1), voltage-gated sodium 1.3, 1.7, and 1.8 ( Nav1.3, Nav1.7, and Nav1.8)). Expression of miR-183 in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of mice was evaluated by in situ hybridization. TGFα, CCL2, and C-C chemokine receptor type 2 ( CCR2) levels were examined by immunoblot analysis and interaction between miR-183 and TGFα, determined by luciferase reporter assay. The extent of pain in mice was measured using a behavioural assay, and OA severity assessed by Safranin O and Fast Green staining. Immunofluorescent staining was conducted to examine the infiltration of macrophages in mouse DRG.

Results

miR-183 was downregulated in tissue samples from patients and mice with OA. In DMM mice, overexpression of miR-183 inhibited the expression of proinflammatory cytokines ( IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α) and pain-related factors ( TRPV1, Nav1.3, Nav1.7, Nav1.8) in DRG. OA pain was relieved by miR-183-mediated inhibition of macrophage infiltration, and dual luciferase reporter assay demonstrated that miR-183 directly targeted TGFα.

Conclusion

Our data demonstrate that miR-183 can ameliorate OA pain by inhibiting the TGFα- CCL2/ CCR2 signalling axis, providing an excellent therapeutic target for OA treatment. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2021;10(8):548–557.
Sexual assault in surgery: a painful truth
Authors: Fleming S , Fisher RA
Published: August 2021

Uncomfortable conversations are necessary for a safe work environment.
Influence of specific weight and wall friction coefficient on normal pressures in silos using the Finite Element Method
Authors: Gandia Rômulo Marçal , Gomes Francisco Carlos , Paula Wisner Coimbra de , Aguado Pedro José Rodriguez
Published: August 2021

The objective of this work was to develop models using the Finite Element Method (FEM) to assess the maximum normal pressures in the static condition in silos using different wall friction coefficient and specific weight of the stored product compared to the pressures obtained by the Eurocode 1, part 4. The geometries of the silos models were developed based on the dimensions of the experimental station at the Universidad de Leon (Spain). The material properties were obtained by Jenike shear cell tests and were used to generate the models by the MEF. 3D models were generated varying the friction coefficient (0.2, 0.4, and 0.6) and the specific weight (6; 7.5 and 9 kN / m3). It was verified that the models by FEM follow the theory of pressures in silos: normal pressures increase due to the increase in specific weight and decrease due to the increase in the friction coefficient. Moreover, the maximum normal pressure occurs at the hopper silo transition. The experimental pressures (FEM models) compared with Eurocode 1, part 4 allowed to validate the models developed, presenting trends of similar values to those found by the MEF. The experimental models demonstrated that the influence of the wall friction coefficient and specific weight significantly interferes with the pressures in slender silos.
Putting gender and capabilities into the equation: transformative evaluation for enhancing social justice
Authors: Moral-Espín Lucía del , Espinosa Fajardo Julia
Published: August 2021

Evaluation is currently regarded as a central tool for learning and improving accountability in relation to public policies and social programmes. It is also understood as a process for boosting human development and social justice. Capability and feminist approaches have both been explored, separately, in evaluation theory, methodology and practice. This article explores the potentials, complementarities and limitations of mixing the two approaches. To this end, we present an evaluation design for the ‘Programme Against Child Poverty’ of Save the Children Andalucia (Spain). Our aim is to contribute to the development of transformative approaches and methodologies within the evaluation discipline.
Propositions for Race-Based Research in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Authors: Johnson Khalilah Robinson , Bogenschutz Matthew , Peak Kierra
Published: August 2021

A nuanced understanding of disparities impacting racialized people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) requires scholars employ research methods that make visible the structural factors that influence outcomes. Following the work of Tukufu Zuberi and Eduardo Bonilla-Silva, we explore race-based methodological considerations for disparities research with Black people with IDD. Specifically, we discuss (a) structural racism in research methods, employing disability critical race theory as a framework, (b) the absence of Black voices and Black scholarship, (c) the abstraction and misuse of race as a variable, and (d) mapping race as a point of discussion in the IDD discourse. Implications for research are discussed and recommendations for contextualizing race, ensuring equity in representation and dissemination, and amplifying the voices of Black scholars are provided.
I'm Trying to Make Myself Happy: Black Students With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Families on Promoting Self-Determination During Transition
Authors: Scott LaRon A. , Thoma Colleen A. , Gokita Tonya , Bruno Lauren , Ruiz Amber Brown , Brendli Katherine , Taylor Joshua P. , Vitullo Vivian
Published: August 2021

Promoting self-determination for students with disabilities has proven to be a critical component of effective transition planning. However, researchers seldom consider race when promoting self-determination for people with disabilities. The purpose of the current phenomenological research investigation was to explore how Black youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families explain transition planning experiences that promote and hinder self-determination. We found that participants in the current study experienced some hurdles during their transition experiences that they perceive are rooted in systemic and structural racism and ableism that prompted advocacy, family engagement, inclusion, building knowledge of rights, and other emergent strategies to promote self-determination. Findings from the current preliminary investigation have implications for transition and self-determination research, as well as improving the quality of services and support for Black youth with IDD and their families.
Radially self-accelerating Stokes vortices in nondiffracting Bessel–Poincaré beams
Authors: Liang Chunjuan , Yuan Zheng , Yan Wenxiang , Gao Yuan , Wang Xinglin , Ren Zhi-Cheng , Wang Xi-Lin , Ding Jianping , Wang Hui-Tian
Published: August 2021

We theoretically propose and experimentally generate the nondiffracting Bessel–Poincaré beams whose Stokes vortices radially accelerate during propagation. To this end, we design the Bessel beams whose intensity is specified to be uniformly distributed along the longitudinal direction. By superposing two such Bessel beams having different helical phases and mutually orthogonal polarizations, the synthesized vector beam is endowed with the polarization singularity that can rotate about the optical axis, while the total intensities maintain their profiles. Radially self-accelerating Stokes vortices in the resulting beam can be manipulated by adjusting the predefined parameters in the constituent beams.
Super-efficient control of angular momentum and mode conversion in snake-type fiber resonators
Authors: Alexeyev C. N. , Aliyeva S. S. , Barshak E. V. , Lapin B. P. , Yavorsky M. A.
Published: August 2021

In this paper, we have theoretically studied transformations of higher-order modes and angular momentum of light in the optical snake, a coil resonator composed of two evanescently coupled coils of a multimode fiber. To this end, we have developed a full-vectorial theory of normal modes of coupled parallel multimode fibers that allows for the spin–orbit interaction and goes beyond the limits of weak orthogonality approximation. We have studied the evolution of optical vortices and circularly polarized scalar-approximation fiber modes in a two-coil optical snake. We have shown that this system allows a parametric control over the topological charge of the outcoming optical field, as well as its orbital and spin angular momenta.
Polarization singularities in the self-focusing of an elliptically polarized laser beam in the isotropic phase of a cholesteric liquid crystal close to the temperature of mesophase transition
Authors: Shishkov G. M. , Grigoriev K. S. , Makarov V. A.
Published: August 2021

Self-action of an initially elliptically polarized Gaussian beam in the isotropic phase of a cholesteric liquid crystal near the temperature of phase transition is studied. It is shown that nonlocality of the optical properties of the crystal leads to significantly different self-action behavior of light beams with right-hand and left-hand elliptical polarization. Numerous lines of circular polarization singularity (C-lines) can appear in beam cross sections during its self-focusing. These lines are circumferences of various radii with centers located on the beam axis and lying in planes perpendicular to the direction of its propagation. The position and contrast of the lines is subject to the total beam power and initial polarization state, and in certain cases some of the singleC-lines split into multiple lines, and vice versa.
Giant dual-band asymmetric transmission based on all-dielectric metamaterial in the near-infrared band
Authors: Chen Bingyu , Zhang Kun , Xie Qun , Zhang Xingrun , Guo Lijun , Yun Maojin , Kong Weijin
Published: August 2021

We propose an all-dielectric metamaterial composed of bi-layered silicon structures orthogonally arranged on the sandwiched silica substrate, which exhibits giant dual-band asymmetric transmission of linearly polarized wave in the near-infrared regime, with one band working for the x-polarization and the other one for y-polarization. The dual-band AT phenomenon is explained by the distributions of electric field. In addition, the affection of the geometric parameters and incident angles to the AT parameters has been analyzed. Such an AT metamaterial has potential applications in polarization converters, switches and integrated photonic circuits.
Autonomous on-chip interferometry for reconfigurable optical waveform generation
Authors: Fischer Bennet , Chemnitz Mario , MacLellan Benjamin , Roztocki Piotr , Helsten Robin , Wetzel Benjamin , Little Brent E. , Chu Sai T. , Moss David J. , Azaña José , Morandotti Roberto
Published: August 2021

The generation of user-defined optical temporal waveforms with picosecond resolution is an essential task for many applications, ranging from telecommunications to laser engineering. Realizing this functionality in an on-chip reconfigurable platform remains a significant challenge. Towards this goal, autonomous optimization methods are fundamental to counter fabrication imperfections and environmental variations, as well as to enable a wider range of accessible waveform shapes and durations. In this work, we introduce and demonstrate a self-adjusting on-chip optical pulse-shaper based on the concept of temporal coherence synthesis. The scheme enables on-the-fly reconfigurability of output optical waveforms by using an all-optical sampling technique in combination with an evolutionary optimization algorithm. We further show that particle-swarm optimization can outperform more commonly used algorithms in terms of convergence time. Hence, our system combines all key ingredients for realizing fully on-chip smart optical waveform generators for next-generation applications in telecommunications, laser engineering, and nonlinear optics.
Improvement in Double Staining With Fluoro-Jade C and Fluorescent Immunostaining: FJC Staining Is Not Specific to Degenerating Mature Neurons
Authors: Ikenari Takuya , Kawaguchi Tatsuya , Ota Rei , Matsui Miki , Yoshida Ryota , Mori Tetsuji
Published: August 2021

Fluoro-Jade C (FJC) staining has been used to detect degenerating neurons in tissue sections. It is a simple and easy staining procedure and does not depend on the manner of cell death. In some experiments, double staining with FJC and fluorescent immunostaining (FI) is required to identify cell types. However, pretreatment for FJC staining contains some processes that are harsh to fluorophores, and the FI signal is greatly reduced. To overcome this issue, we improved the double staining protocol to acquire clear double-stained images by introducing the labeled streptavidin–biotin system. In addition, several studies indicate that FJC can label non-degenerating glial cells, including resting/reactive astrocytes and activated microglia. Moreover, our previous study indicated that degenerating mesenchymal cells were also labeled by FJC, but it is still unclear whether FJC can label degenerating glial cells. Acute encephalopathy model mice contained damaged astrocytes with clasmatodendrosis, and 6-aminonicotinamide-injected mice contained necrotic astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. Using our improved double staining protocol with FJC and FI, we detected FJC-labeled degenerating astrocytes and oligodendrocytes with pyknotic nuclei. These results indicate that FJC is not specific to degenerating neurons in some experimental conditions:
Risk of a permanent work-related disability pension after incident venous thromboembolism in Denmark: A population-based cohort study
Authors: Jørgensen Helle , Horváth-Puhó Erzsébet , Laugesen Kristina , Brækkan Sigrid , Hansen John-Bjarne , Sørensen Henrik Toft
Published: August 2021

Background

Long-term complications of venous thromboembolism (VTE) hamper physical function and impair quality of life; still, it remains unclear whether VTE is associated with risk of permanent work-related disability. We aimed to assess the association between VTE and the risk of receiving a permanent work-related disability pension and to assess whether this association was explained by comorbidities such as cancer and arterial cardiovascular disease.

Methods and findings

A Danish nationwide population-based cohort study consisting of 43,769 individuals aged 25 to 66 years with incident VTE during 1995 to 2016 and 218,845 birth year-, sex-, and calendar year-matched individuals from the general population, among whom 45.9% (N = 120,540) were women, was established using Danish national registries. The cohorts were followed throughout 2016, with permanent work-related disability pension as the outcome. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for disability pension were computed and stratified by sex and age groups (25 to 34, 35 to 44, 45 to 54, and 55 to 66 years of age) and adjusted for comorbidities and socioeconomic variables.

Permanent work-related disability pensions were granted to 4,415 individuals with VTE and 9,237 comparison cohort members (incidence rates = 17.8 and 6.2 per 1,000 person-years, respectively). VTE was associated with a 3-fold (HR 3.0, 95% CI: 2.8 to 3.1) higher risk of receiving a disability pension. Adjustments for socioeconomic status and comorbidities such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases reduced the estimate (HR 2.3, 95% CI: 2.2 to 2.4). The risk of disability pension receipt was slightly higher in men than in women (HR 2.5, 95% CI: 2.3 to 2.6 versus HR 2.1, 95% CI: 2.0 to 2.3). As this study is based on medical and administrative registers, information on post-VTE care, individual health behavior, and workplace factors linked to disability pension in the general population are lacking. Furthermore, as disability pension schemes vary, our results might not be directly generalizable to other countries or time periods.

Conclusions

In this study, incident VTE was associated with increased risk of subsequent permanent work-related disability, and this association was still observed after accounting for comorbidities such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Our results emphasize the social consequences of VTE and may help occupational and healthcare professionals to identify vulnerable individuals at risk of permanent exclusion from the labor market after a VTE event.
Efficacy and safety of a combined treatment of sodium stibogluconate at 20mg/kg/day with upper maximum daily dose limit of 850mg and Paromomycin 15mg/kg/day in HIV negative visceral leishmaniasis patients. A retrospective study, northwest Ethiopia
Authors: Tamiru Aschalew , Mohammed Rezika , Atnafu Saba , Medhin Girmay , Hailu Asrat
Published: August 2021

Background

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is one of the most neglected tropical infectious diseases. It is fatal if left untreated. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of 17-day injections of combined regimen of sodium stibogluconate and paromomycin (SSG/PM) in HIV-negative VL patients.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of medical records of VL patients treated in the University of Gondar Hospital during period 2012–2019 was carried out.

Results

A total of 2836 patients were treated for VL from 2012 to 2019. Of these 1233 were treated with SSG-PM, and 1000 of them were included in the study. Initial cure was achieved in 922 (92.2%) patients. The frequency of treatment failure, treatment interruptions, default and deaths respectively were 30 (3%), 20 (2%), 13 (1.3%) and 15 (1.5%). Among 280 patients who completed 6-month follow up, the final cure was 93.9% (263/280), 4 (1.4%) relapsed and 13 (4.6%) developed post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL). The most common adverse events (AEs) were raised liver transaminases (35.1%; 351 patients), injection site pain (29.1%, 291 patients) and raised serum alpha-amylase (29.1%, 291 patients). Factors associated with poor treatment outcomes were sepsis, pneumonia, and adverse events.

Conclusion

A combination of SSG at 20mg/kg with upper daily maximum dose of 850mg and PM was effective for achieving initial cure at end of treatment and safe for treatment of HIV negative VL patients in northwestern Ethiopia. Our data are consistent with previous reports and confirms effectiveness of SSG/PM treatment regimen in the Eastern African countries. Efficacy at 6-months (93.9%) was estimated on data derived from patients who completed follow up and needs to be interrogated by future studies.
Student’s experiences with online teaching following COVID-19 lockdown: A mixed methods explorative study
Authors: Almendingen Kari , Morseth Marianne Sandsmark , Gjølstad Eli , Brevik Asgeir , Tørris Christine
Published: August 2021

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic lead to a sudden shift to online teaching and restricted campus access.

Aim

To assess how university students experienced the sudden shift to online teaching after closure of campus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Material and methods

Students in Public Health Nutrition answered questionnaires two and 12 weeks (N = 79: response rate 20.3% and 26.6%, respectively) after the lockdown in Norway on 12 March 2020 and participated in digital focus group interviews in May 2020 (mixed methods study).

Findings and discussion

Two weeks into the lockdown, 75% of students reported that their life had become more difficult and 50% felt that learning outcomes would be harder to achieve due to the sudden shift to online education. Twelve weeks into the lockdown, the corresponding numbers were 57% and 71%, respectively. The most pressing concerns among students were a lack of social interaction, housing situations that were unfit for home office purposes, including insufficient data bandwidth, and an overall sense of reduced motivation and effort. The students collaborated well in digital groups but wanted smaller groups with students they knew rather than being randomly assigned to groups. Most students agreed that pre-recorded and streamed lectures, frequent virtual meetings and student response systems could improve learning outcomes in future digital courses. The preference for written home exams over online versions of previous on-campus exams was likely influenced by student’s familiarity with the former. The dropout rate remained unchanged compared to previous years.

Conclusion

The sudden shift to digital teaching was challenging for students, but it appears that they adapted quickly to the new situation. Although the concerns described by students in this study may only be representative for the period right after campus lockdown, the study provide the student perspective on a unique period of time in higher education.
Heterogeneity in proline hydroxylation of fibrillar collagens observed by mass spectrometry
Authors: Kirchner Michele , Deng Haiteng , Xu Yujia
Published: August 2021

Collagen is the major protein in the extracellular matrix and plays vital roles in tissue development and function. Collagen is also one of the most processed proteins in its biosynthesis. The most prominent post-translational modification (PTM) of collagen is the hydroxylation of Pro residues in the Y-position of the characteristic (Gly-Xaa-Yaa) repeating amino acid sequence of a collagen triple helix. Recent studies using mass spectrometry (MS) and tandem MS sequencing (MS/MS) have revealed unexpected hydroxylation of Pro residues in the X-positions (X-Hyp). The newly identified X-Hyp residues appear to be highly heterogeneous in location and percent occupancy. In order to understand the dynamic nature of the new X-Hyps and their potential impact on applications of MS and MS/MS for collagen research, we sampled four different collagen samples using standard MS and MS/MS techniques. We found considerable variations in the degree of PTMs of the same collagen from different organisms and/or tissues. The rat tail tendon type I collagen is particularly variable in terms of both over-hydroxylation of Pro in the X-position and under-hydroxylation of Pro in the Y-position. In contrast, only a few unexpected PTMs in collagens type I and type III from human placenta were observed. Some observations are not reproducible between different sequencing efforts of the same sample, presumably due to a low population and/or the unpredictable nature of the ionization process. Additionally, despite the heterogeneous preparation and sourcing, collagen samples from commercial sources do not show elevated variations in PTMs compared to samples prepared from a single tissue and/or organism. These findings will contribute to the growing body of information regarding the PTMs of collagen by MS technology, and culminate to a more comprehensive understanding of the extent and the functional roles of the PTMs of collagen.
Socio-demographic and psychosocial characteristics of male and female perpetrators in intimate partner homicide: A case-control study from Region Västra Götaland, Sweden
Authors: Carlsson Linnea , Lysell Henrik , Enander Viveka , Örmon Karin , Lövestad Solveig , Krantz Gunilla
Published: August 2021

Risk factor studies on male-perpetrated intimate partner homicide (IPH) are often compared with studies on intimate partner violence (IPV) or non-partner homicide perpetrators. This not only excludes female perpetrators, but also fails to take socio-demographic and psychosocial differences between perpetrators and the general population into consideration. The aim of this study was to examine male- and female-perpetrated IPH cases, and to compare socio-demographic factors in IPH perpetrators and in matched controls from the general population. Data were retrieved from preliminary inquiries, court records and national registers for 48 men and 10 women, who were perpetrators of IPH committed in 2000–2016 and residing in Region Västra Götaland, Sweden. The control group consisted of 480 men and 100 women matched for age, sex and residence parish. Logistic regression, yielding odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), was performed for male perpetrators and male controls to investigate associations for selected socio-demographic and psychosocial characteristics. This was not performed for females due to the small sample size. Female perpetrators were convicted of murder to a lesser extent than male perpetrators. No woman was sentenced to life imprisonment while five men were. Jealousy and separation were the most common motivational factors for male perpetration while the predominant factor for female perpetrators was subjection to IPV. Statistically significant differences were found between male perpetrators and male controls in unemployment rate (n = 47.9%/20.6%; OR 4.4; 95% CI 2.2–8.6), receiving benefits (n = 20.8%/4.8%; OR 5.2; 95% CI 2.3–11.7) and annual disposable income (n = 43.8%/23.3% low income; OR 5.2; 95% CI 1.9–14.2) one year prior to the crime. Female IPH perpetrators were less educated than female controls (≤ 9-year education 30%/12%) and were more often unemployed (70%/23%) one year before the crime. Male and female IPH perpetrators were socio-economically disadvantaged, compared with controls from the general population.
Virtual reality environment using a dome screen for procedural pain in young children during intravenous placement: A pilot randomized controlled trial
Authors: Lee Ha Ni , Bae Woori , Park Joong Wan , Jung Jae Yun , Hwang Soyun , Kim Do Kyun , Kwak Young Ho
Published: August 2021

We assessed the feasibility and potential efficacy of a virtual reality (VR) environment using a dome screen as a distraction method in young children during intravenous (IV) placement in the pediatric emergency department. This randomized controlled pilot study enrolled children aged 2 to 6 years who underwent IV placement into either the intervention group or the control group. Children in the intervention group experienced VR using a dome screen during IV placement. The child’s pain intensity was measured using the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, and Consolability (FLACC) scale at four time points of IV placement: immediately after arrival to the blood collection room (base); immediately after the child laid down on the bed (preparation); when the tourniquet was applied (tourniquet); and the moment at which the needle penetrated the skin (venipuncture). The guardian’s satisfaction and rating of the child’s distress were assessed using a 5-point Likert-type questionnaire. We recruited 19 children (9 in the intervention group and 10 in the control group). Five children in the control group were excluded from the analysis because of missing video recordings (n = 3), failed first attempt at IV placement (n = 1), and the child’s refusal to lie on the bed during the procedure (n = 1). No side effects of VR were reported during the study period. Although the average FLACC scale score at each time point (preparation, tourniquet, venipuncture) was lower in the intervention group than the control group, the difference was not statistically significant (2.3, interquartile range [IQR]: 2.0–3.0; vs. 3.3, IQR: 2.7–6.7,P= 0.255). There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in the guardian’s satisfaction and anxiety or his/her rating of the child’s pain and anxiety. The guardians and emergency medical technicians reported satisfaction with the use of VR with a dome screen and considered it a useful distraction during the procedure. VR using a dome screen is a feasible distraction method for young children during IV placement. A larger clinical trial with further development of the VR environment and study process is required to adequately evaluate the efficacy of VR using a dome screen.
Is there an inflammatory stimulus to human term labour?
Authors: Singh Natasha , Herbert Bronwen , Sooranna Garvin , Shah Nishel M. , Das Ananya , Sooranna Suren R. , Johnson Mark R.
Published: August 2021

Inflammation is thought to play a pivotal role in the onset of term and some forms of preterm labour. Although, we recently found that myometrial inflammation is a consequence rather than a cause of term labour, there are several other reproductive tissues, including amnion, choriodecidua parietalis and decidua basalis, where the inflammatory stimulus to labour may occur. To investigate this, we have obtained amnion, choriodecidual parietalis and decidua basalis samples from women at various stages of pregnancy and spontaneous labour. The inflammatory cytokine profile in each tissue was determine by Bio-Plex Pro® cytokine multiplex assays and quantitative RT-PCR. Active motif assay was used to study transcription activation in the choriodecidua parietalis. Quantitative RT-PCR was use to study the pro-labour genes (PGHS-2,PGDH,OTR and CX43) in all of the tissues at the onset of labour andoxytocin (OT)mRNA expression in the choriodecidual parietalis and decidua basalis. Statistical significance was ascribed to a P value <0.05. In the amnion and choriodecidua parietalis, the mRNA levels of various cytokines decreased from preterm no labour to term no labour samples, but the protein levels were unchanged. The choriodecidua parietalis showed increase in the protein levels of IL-1β and IL-6 in the term early labour samples. In the amnion and decidua basalis, the protein levels of several cytokines rose in term established labour. The multiples of the median derived from the 19-plex cytokine assay were greater in term early labour and term established labour samples from the choriodecidua parietalis, but only in term established labour for myometrium. These data suggest that the inflammatory stimulus to labour may begin in the choriodecidua parietalis, but the absence of any change in prolabour factor mRNA levels suggests that the cytokines may act on the myometrium where we observed changes in transcription factor activation and increases in prolabour gene expression in earlier studies.