bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
JSOM: Jointly-evolving self-organizing maps for alignment of biological datasets and identification of related clusters
Authors: Lim Hong Seo , Qiu Peng
Published: March 2021

With the rapid advances of various single-cell technologies, an increasing number of single-cell datasets are being generated, and the computational tools for aligning the datasets which make subsequent integration or meta-analysis possible have become critical. Typically, single-cell datasets from different technologies cannot be directly combined or concatenated, due to the innate difference in the data, such as the number of measured parameters and the distributions. Even datasets generated by the same technology are often affected by the batch effect. A computational approach for aligning different datasets and hence identifying related clusters will be useful for data integration and interpretation in large scale single-cell experiments. Our proposed algorithm called JSOM, a variation of the Self-organizing map, aligns two related datasets that contain similar clusters, by constructing two maps—low-dimensional discretized representation of datasets–that jointly evolve according to both datasets. Here we applied the JSOM algorithm to flow cytometry, mass cytometry, and single-cell RNA sequencing datasets. The resulting JSOM maps not only align the related clusters in the two datasets but also preserve the topology of the datasets so that the maps could be used for further analysis, such as clustering.
Predictors of infection, symptoms development, and mortality in people with SARS-CoV-2 living in retirement nursing homes
Authors: De Vito Andrea , Fiore Vito , Princic Elija , Geremia Nicholas , Panu Napodano Catello Mario , Muredda Alberto Augusto , Maida Ivana , Madeddu Giordano , Babudieri Sergio
Published: March 2021

Introduction

Since the start of the pandemic, millions of people have been infected, with thousands of deaths. Many foci worldwide have been identified in retirement nursing homes, with a high number of deaths. Our study aims were to evaluate the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the retirement nursing homes, the predictors to develop symptoms, and death.

Methods and findings

We conducted a retrospective study enrolling all people living in retirement nursing homes (PLRNH), where at least one SARS-CoV-2 infected person was present. Medical and clinical data were collected. Variables were compared with Student’s t-test or Pearson chi-square test as appropriate. Uni- and multivariate analyses were conducted to evaluate variables’ influence on infection and symptoms development. Cox proportional-hazards model was used to evaluate 30 days mortality predictors, considering death as the dependent variable. We enrolled 382 subjects. The mean age was 81.15±10.97 years, and males were 140(36.7%). At the multivariate analysis, mental disorders, malignancies, and angiotensin II receptor blockers were predictors of SARS-CoV-2 infection while having a neurological syndrome was associated with a lower risk. Only half of the people with SARS-CoV-2 infection developed symptoms. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and neurological syndrome were correlated with an increased risk of developing SARS-CoV-2 related symptoms. Fifty-six (21.2%) people with SARS-CoV-2 infection died; of these, 53 died in the first 30 days after the swab’s positivity. Significant factors associated with 30-days mortality were male gender, hypokinetic disease, and the presence of fever and dyspnea. Patients’ autonomy and early heparin treatment were related to lower mortality risk.

Conclusions

We evidenced factors associated with infection’s risk and death in a setting with high mortality such as retirement nursing homes, that should be carefully considered in the management of PLRNH.
Does contingent biofeedback improve cardiac interoception? A preregistered replication of Meyerholz, Irzinger, Withöft, Gerlach, and Pohl (2019) using the heartbeat discrimination task in a randomised control trial
Authors: Rominger Christian , Graßmann Thilo Michael , Weber Bernhard , Schwerdtfeger Andreas R.
Published: March 2021

Meyerholz, Irzinger, Withöft, Gerlach, and Pohl (2019) reported on a comparably large effect (d= 1.21) of a contingent biofeedback procedure on cardiac accuracy as assessed by the heartbeat tracking task. However, this task has recently been criticized as a measure of interoceptive accuracy. We aimed to replicate this finding by using the well-validated heartbeat discrimination task and to compare the biofeedback with a deep breathing and a control condition (viewing a film clip). The trial was preregistered at open science framework (https://osf.io/9fxn6). Overall, 93 participants were randomized to one of the three conditions and the heartbeat discrimination task was presented prior and after the 20-minutes training sessions. The study had a power of .86 to detect a medium-sized effect in the biofeedback group and a power of .96 to detect a medium-sized interaction of intervention group and time. A general tendency for improvement in heartbeat detection accuracy was found across intervention groups (d= 0.19,p= .08); however, groups did not differ significantly. In particular, there was no significant interaction of intervention group and time (f= .00,p= .98) and no reliable effect for the biofeedback group (d= 0.15,p= .42). One limitation is that a different, but well-validated task was used to quantify interoceptive accuracy. This study suggests that biofeedback might not improve interoceptive accuracy in the cardiac domain, but effects seem to depend on the specific task applied.
Taking account of asymptomatic infections: A modeling study of the COVID-19 outbreak on the Diamond Princess cruise ship
Authors: Huang Li-Shan , Li Li , Dunn Lucia , He Mai
Published: March 2021

The COVID-19 outbreak on the Diamond Princess (DP) cruise ship has provided empirical data to study the transmission potential of COVID-19 with the presence of pre/asymptomatic cases. We studied the changes in R0 on DP from January 21 to February 19, 2020 based on chain binomial models under two scenarios: no quarantine assuming a random mixing condition, and quarantine of passengers in cabins—passengers may get infected either by an infectious case in a shared cabin or by pre/asymptomatic crew who continued to work. Estimates of R0 at the beginning of the epidemic were 3.27 (95% CI, 3.02–3.54) and 3.78 (95% CI, 3.49–4.09) respectively for serial intervals of 5 and 6 days; and when quarantine started, with the reported asymptomatic ratio 0.505, R0 rose to 4.18 (95%CI, 3.86–4.52) and 4.73 (95%CI, 4.37–5.12) respectively for passengers who might be exposed to the virus due to pre/asymptomatic crew. Results confirm that the higher the asymptomatic ratio is, the more infectious contacts would happen. We find evidence to support a US CDC report that “a high proportion of asymptomatic infections could partially explain the high attack rate among cruise ship passengers and crew.” Our study suggests that if the asymptomatic ratio is high, the conventional quarantine procedure may not be effective to stop the spread of virus.
Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of dirigent-jacalin genes from plant chimeric lectins in Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis)
Authors: Ma Ruifang , Huang Bin , Chen Jialu , Huang Zhinuo , Yu Peiyao , Ruan Shiyu , Zhang Zhijun
Published: March 2021

Dirigent-jacalin (D-J) genes belong to the plant chimeric lectin family, and play vital roles in plant growth and resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses. To explore the functions of the D-J family in the growth and development of Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis), their physicochemical properties, phylogenetic relationships, gene and protein structures, and expression patterns were analyzed in detail. Four putative PeD-J genes were identified in the Moso bamboo genome, and microsynteny and phylogenetic analyses indicated that they represent a new branch in the evolution of plant lectins. PeD-J proteins were found to be composed of a dirigent domain and a jacalin-related lectin domain, each of which contained two different motifs. Multiple sequence alignment and homologous modeling analysis indicated that the three-dimensional structure of the PeD-J proteins was significantly different compared to other plant lectins, primarily due to the tandem dirigent and jacalin domains. We surveyed the upstream putative promoter regions of the PeD-Js and found that they mainly contained cis-acting elements related to hormone and abiotic stress response. An analysis of the expression patterns of root, leaf, rhizome and panicle revealed that four PeD-J genes were highly expressed in the panicle, indicating that they may be required during the formation and development of several different tissue types in Moso bamboo. Moreover, PeD-J genes were shown to be involved in the rapid growth and development of bamboo shoots. Quantitative Real-time PCR (qRT PCR) assays further verified that D-J family genes were responsive to hormones and stresses. The results of this study will help to elucidate the biological functions of PeD-Js during bamboo growth, development and stress response.
Higher albumin levels on admission predict better prognosis in patients with confirmed COVID-19
Authors: Kheir Matthew , Saleem Farah , Wang Christy , Mann Amardeep , Chua Jimmy
Published: March 2021

Background

Research surrounding COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) is rapidly increasing, including the study of biomarkers for predicting outcomes. There is little data examining the correlation between serum albumin levels and COVID-19 disease severity. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether admission albumin levels reliably predict outcomes in COVID-19 patients.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 181 patients from two hospitals who had COVID-19 pneumonia confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing and radiologic imaging, who were hospitalized between March and July 2020. We recorded demographics, COVID-19 testing techniques, and day of admission labs. The outcomes recorded included the following: venous thromboembolism (VTE), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), intensive care unit (ICU) admission, discharge with new or higher home oxygen supplementation, readmission within 90 days, in-hospital mortality, and total adverse events. A multivariate modified Poisson regression analysis was then performed to determine significant predictors for increased adverse events in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.

Results

A total of 109 patients (60.2%) had hypoalbuminemia (albumin level < 3.3 g/dL). Patients with higher albumin levels on admission had a 72% decreased risk of developing venous thromboembolism (adjusted relative risk [RR]:0.28, 95% confidence interval [CI]:0.14–0.53, p<0.001) for every 1 g/dL increase of albumin. Moreover, higher albumin levels on admission were associated with a lower risk of developing ARDS (adjusted RR:0.73, 95% CI:0.55–0.98, p = 0.033), admission to the ICU (adjusted RR:0.64, 95% CI:0.45–0.93, p = 0.019), and were less likely to be readmitted within 90 days (adjusted RR:0.37, 95% CI:0.17–0.81, p = 0.012). Furthermore, higher albumin levels were associated with fewer total adverse events (adjusted RR:0.65, 95% CI:0.52–0.80, p<0.001).

Conclusions

Admission serum albumin levels appear to be a predictive biomarker for outcomes in COVID-19 patients. We found that higher albumin levels on admission were associated with significantly fewer adverse outcomes, including less VTE events, ARDS development, ICU admissions, and readmissions within 90 days. Screening patients may lead to early identification of patients at risk for developing in-hospital complications and improve optimization and preventative efforts in this cohort.
Methyl gallate, gallic acid-derived compound, inhibit cell proliferation through increasing ROS production and apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells
Authors: Huang Chien-Yu , Chang Yu-Jia , Wei Po-Li , Hung Chin-Sheng , Wang Weu
Published: March 2021

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a global health problem. Currently, there is no effective therapeutic strategy for HCC. Methyl gallate (MG), from plant-derived phenolic gallic acid, has exhibited antitumor efficacy. However, the effect of MG on HCC is unclear. In vitro growth activity was detected by a sulforhodamine assay. A zebrafish xenotransplantation was applied to evaluate the inhibitory effect of MG. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, autophagy, and lysosome formation were detected by specific dyes. Finally, apoptosis was examined using annexin V-FITC/PI staining and western blot was performed to determine the molecular mechanism. It was demonstrated that MG treatment inhibited the proliferation of Hep3B, Mahlavu, and HepJ5 cells. Xenotransplantation also showed that MG inhibited the growth of Hep3B and HepJ5 cells. MG treatment increased cellular levels of superoxide and oxidative stress. Increases in autophagy and lysosome formation were found after MG treatment. The western blot analysis showed that MG activated cleavage of caspase-3 and poly (SDP ribose) polymerase (PARP), modulated levels of the Bcl2, Bax, and Bad ligands, and induced apoptosis. MG induced autophagy with notable activation of beclin-1, autophagy related 5+12 (ATG5+12), and conversion of light chain 3-I (LC3-I) to II. Our study showed that MG exposure inhibited HCC proliferation both in vitro and in vivo. And blocking autophagy enhanced MG-induced cytotoxicity in HCC cells. These findings suggested MG might serve as a powerful therapeutic supplement for human HCC patients.
Variability in digestive and respiratory tract Ace2 expression is associated with the microbiome
Authors: Koester Sean T. , Li Naisi , Lachance Daniel M. , Morella Norma M. , Dey Neelendu
Published: March 2021

COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) patients exhibiting gastrointestinal symptoms are reported to have worse prognosis. Ace2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2), the gene encoding the host protein to which SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins bind, is expressed in the gut and therefore may be a target for preventing or reducing severity of COVID-19. Here we test the hypothesis that Ace2 expression in the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts is modulated by the microbiome. We used quantitative PCR to profile Ace2 expression in germ-free mice, conventional raised specific pathogen-free mice, and gnotobiotic mice colonized with different microbiota. Intestinal Ace2 expression levels were significantly higher in germ-free mice compared to conventional mice. A similar trend was observed in the respiratory tract. Intriguingly, microbiota depletion via antibiotics partially recapitulated the germ-free phenotype, suggesting potential for microbiome-mediated regulation of Ace2 expression. Variability in intestinal Ace2 expression was observed in gnotobiotic mice colonized with different microbiota, partially attributable to differences in microbiome-encoded proteases and peptidases. Together, these data suggest that the microbiome may be one modifiable factor determining COVID-19 infection risk and disease severity.
The collection of a toy: Production history and collection value of the Matchbox regarding the consumer behaviours
Authors: Özgen Ceyda
Published: March 2021

Metal casting technology reached at a very advanced point after the Second World War. When the war was over, many companies producing metal castings suffered a huge market loss and tried to create new markets and develop new products. Some companies, inspired by the rapid development of automobile production, started to produce toy model cars with the casting technique, which were generally made with sheet metal bending until then, using the moulding techniques they had advanced. In this study, the history of Lesney company, established after the Second World War, and the development of Matchbox’s product range will be discussed in the context of collecting and a collection object. Matchbox collections are the most common model car collections in the world. The status of the designed objects as collectible objects was investigated together with the history and development process of Matchbox cars production and collecting behaviour of consumer.
Soundtracking Germany: Popular Music and National Identity, Melanie Schiller (2018)
Authors: Hall Mirko M.
Published: March 2021

Review of: Soundtracking Germany: Popular Music and National Identity, Melanie Schiller (2018)

London: Rowman & Littlefield International, 288 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-78660-622-8, h/bk, £85/$125

ISBN 978-1-78661-596-1, p/bk, £29.95/$44.95
ESTUDOS DO CORPO NA BASE NACIONAL COMUM CURRICULAR DO ENSINO MÉDIO
Authors: Cruvinel Tiago De Brito
Published: March 2021

Este artigo tem por objetivo analisar como a Base Nacional ComumCurricular (BNCC) tem estruturado as práticas corporais na área de Linguagens esuas Tecnologias, especificamente no que diz respeito ao ensino de Arte (ArtesVisuais, Dança, Música e Teatro) no Ensino Médio. Buscou-se verificar se as práticascorporais apresentadas no documento – estruturadas por meio de competências ehabilidades específicas – abordam o corpo na perspectiva da inclusão, da diversidade, da diferença e da emancipação dos sujeitos. Além disso, é apresentado como a BNCC do Ensino Médio pode auxiliar o corpo docente da escola a impedir o retrocesso causado pela extrema direita no poder.
An in-depth survey of the factors causing dissatisfaction within the group of elderly workers in South Transdanubia
Authors: Hoványi Gábor , Tésits Róbert , Alpek B. Levente
Published: March 2021

The currently still active age group (aged 50–64) faces a number of difficulties with the approaching retirement age, as their ability to work and adapt quickly to changing situations are constantly losing their effectiveness. With this, of course, we do not claim that an older worker will carry out his or her work less effectively than a younger worker, as the experience gained in a particular job can balance out the performance differences stemming from age. However, as we approach the retirement age, losing your job at an older age would pose serious challenges for those who would want to return to the group of economically active workers. It is unlikely that they will find a job that matches their qualifications, as their knowledge is less up-to-date and employers would prefer young people who could be relied on in the longer term, as opposed to those who need to be replaced within a few years. These potential difficulties are revealed by the widely distributed questionnaire, which seeks to identify the motivations and preparedness of different social strata for the changing challenges of a precarious age, based on the current economic situation and living conditions of the workers. Results: Through the questionnaire survey, we were able to gain insight into how aging workers are preparing for their approaching retirement years and what steps they can take to preserve their current labour market position, as well as what opportunities they might have for returning to the labour market after losing their jobs as a result of possible redundancies. Conclusion: Due to the aging national age structure, the situation of the aging workers is becoming an increasingly widespread problem, which, if we are not able to remedy in time, then will have to count on the degradation of the employability for the examined group in the near future. This will be mainly due to the constantly deteriorating health status of the individuals and the overwhelmed health care system that needs to provide for all age groups.
New pricing models in the era of industry 4.0
Authors: Rekettye Gábor
Published: March 2021

This conceptual study would like to draw attention to the effects of industry 4.0 on the pricing policies of the disruptor companies. The study concludes that the zone of pricing decisions is growing due to the impact of Industry 4.0. The different technologies offered by the digitalization makes it possible for the disruptor companies to use new pricing methods or use the old ones differently. Pricing has become, in most cases, the core element of the new business models the disruptors have created and practised. The study points out that besides new products and technologies, even new pricing models can be the primary constituents of the disruption. The study tries to categorize and describe the most exciting new pricing policies used by disruptor companies.
Quantitative and qualitative methods in economic research in the 21st century
Authors: Balog Ilona Ida
Published: March 2021

Economic research has always applied both quantitative and qualitative methods ever since it came into being. However, the emphasis and the dynamics of interaction between these methods have been constantly changing, following the dominant approach in social and economic sciences. From time to time either quantitative or qualitative perspectives became more accepted meanwhile few attempts were made to truly join and reconcile their results. In this study I summarize the most important features of the quantitative qualitative debate and survey some good examples of application of quantitative and qualitative methods together. The aim of this paper is exploring opportunities and possible scientific advancement in their joint usage in macroeconomic research. The development of scientific research needs the appreciation and co-operative application of both methods.
A közbeszerzés jogi és hatékonysági aspektusai (The legal and efficiency aspects of public procurement)
Authors: Tátrai Tünde
Published: March 2021

A közpénzelköltés hatékonyságát hazai viszonylatban az éves közpénzköltés nagyságával és az alkalmazott eljárástípusok, beszerzési tárgyak számával, értékével kapcsolatosan van lehetősége a hivatalos statisztikák elemzése során az érdeklődőnek vizsgálni. A törvény preambulumában található „a közpénzek ésszerű felhasználása átláthatóságának és széles körű nyilvános ellenőrizhetőségének megteremtése, továbbá a közbeszerzések során a verseny tisztaságának biztosítása” célrendszer csak részben érvényesül. A tanulmány arra kíván rávilágítani, hogy a hazai közbeszerzés-kutatás eredményei alapján milyen elképzelés van a GDP közel 5%-án hatékony elköltéséről Magyarországon. Vajon valódi akadálya-e a közbeszerzés a tisztességtelen versenynek, s elősegíti-e a piaci folyamatok érvényesülését annak szabályozása. A szerző válaszai rávilágítanak a közbeszerzési piaci folyamatok, gyengeségek, kevésbé hatékony megnyilvánulások és kritikus vélemények okaira, melyek közvetlen kapcsolatban vannak a közbeszerzés válságos helyzetével, s azonosítják azokat a kritikus pontokat, melyeken érdemes változtatni egy reménybeli hatékonyabb állapot, piaci egyensúlyi helyzet kialakítása érdekében. _______ The analysis of public spending can be based on official statistics showing the figures of annual public spending and the value and number of different procedures and purchased items. However, public procurement spending an annual amount of 1600-1800 billion HUF of public money in an ever changing legal environment, are intended to ensure not only some efficiency in public spending, but to reach several other aims as well. Although the preamble of the public procurement law states, that “a legal environment ought to be created, where the transparency and public accountability of spending public money and fair competition regarding public procurement procedures is ensured”, these requirements are only partially met. This study, based on the results of recent analyses concerning public procurement, wishes to represent our ideas about how to spend efficiently nearly 5% of the Hungarian GDP. Is it really true, that public procurement can be regarded as a genuine means against unfair competition, and can we really foster market processes by regulating public procurement? The author answers highlight the causes of the weaknesses of public procurement procedures, inefficient practices and critical opinions, which are closely connected to the present dire state of public procurement. This study also identifies the crucial elements to be changed in order to achieve a hopefully more efficient state and a preferable market balance.
Hatékony vállalat, hatékony társadalom
Authors: Boda György
Published: March 2021

Lehet-e a társadalomban kibontakozó konfliktusoktól vállalati keretek között megszabadulni? Mivel a vállalat termelési függvénye túlmutat a vállalat határain, ez illúzió, és az igazi vállalati hatékonyság csak a társadalmi folyamatok hatékonyabbá tételével alakulhat ki.
Status and Perspectives of the Mini-MegaTORTORA Wide-field Monitoring System with High Temporal Resolution
Authors: Karpov Sergey , Beskin Grigory , Bondar Sergey , Perkov Alexey , Ivanov Evgeny , Guarnieri Adriano , Bartolini Corrado , Greco Giuseppe , Shearer Andy , Sasyuk Vyacheslav
Published: March 2021

Here we briefly summarize our long-term experience of constructing and operating wide-field monitoring cameras with sub-second temporal resolution to look for optical components of GRBs, fast-moving satellites and meteors. The general hardware requirements for these systems are discussed, along with algorithms for real-time detection and classification of various kinds of short optical transients. We also give a status report on the next generation, the MegaTORTORA multi-objective and transforming monitoring system, whose 6-channel (Mini-MegaTORTORA-Spain) and 9-channel prototypes (Mini-MegaTORTORA-Kazan) we have been building at SAO RAS. This system combines a wide field of view with subsecond temporal resolution in monitoring regime, and is able, within fractions of a second, to reconfigure itself to follow-up mode, which has better sensitivity and simultaneously provides multi-color and polarimetric information on detected transients.
Development of the PETAL Laser Facility and its Diagnostic Tools
Authors: Batani Dimitri , Hulin Sebastien , Ducret Jean Eric , D’Humieres Emmanuel , Tikhonchuk  et al. Vladimir
Published: March 2021

The PETAL system (PETawatt Aquitaine Laser) is a high-energy short-pulse laser, currently in an advanced construction phase, to be combined with the French Mega-Joule Laser (LMJ). In a first operational phase (beginning in 2015 and 2016) PETAL will provide 1 kJ in 1 ps and will be coupled to the first four LMJ quads. The ultimate performance goal to reach 7PW (3.5 kJ with 0.5 ps pulses). Once in operation, LMJ and PETAL will form a unique facility in Europe for High Energy Density Physics (HEDP). PETAL is aiming at providing secondary sources of particles and radiation to diagnose the HED plasmas generated by the LMJ beams. It also will be used to create HED states by short-pulse heating of matter. Petal+ is an auxiliary project addressed to design and build diagnostics for experiments with PETAL. Within this project, three types of diagnostics are planned: a proton spectrometer, an electronspectrometer and a large-range X-ray spectrometer.
Systems of Electronic Overcurrent Protection in Pulse Power Generator Operating on Plasma Load
Authors: Godun Dmitriy V. , Bordusov Sergey. V. , Dostanko Anatoliy P.
Published: March 2021

Schematic peculiarities of pulsed power source and modulator-shaper for working on high instability plasma load are discussed. In its construction should be provided for several levels of overcurrent protection. First of all modules of electronic protection should be integrated into the control driver system of IGBT modules and must provide a quick disconnect power switches in excess of the allowable values of pulse current. The next level of overcurrent protection in pulse power generator is a protection against overcurrent in the load circuit. Operating threshold of current protection in this case must be set to the maximum value of current in the secondary circuit. In order to limit the emission of stray voltage on the power pulses in a moment of switching of power switches a restrictive RC snubbers parallel to the collectors and the emitters of transistors must be installed. It is also appropriate application of software-controlled configurating of electrical power at the outputof a pulsed power supply.
Instability Growth Rate Dependence on Input Parameters During the Beam–Target Plasma Interaction
Authors: Horký Miroslav
Published: March 2021

The two-stream instability without magnetic field is described by the well-known Buneman dispersion relation. For more complicated situations we need to use the Generalized Buneman Dispersion Relation derived by Kulhánek, Bren, and Bohata in 2011, which is a polynomial equation of 8th order. The maximal value of the imaginary part of the individual dispersion branches ?n(k) is very interesting from the physical point of view. It represents the instability growth rate which is responsible for the turbulence mode onset and subsequent reconnection on the ion radius scale accompanied by strong plasma thermalization. The paper presented here is focused on the instability growth rate dependence on various input parameters, such as magnitude of a magnetic field and sound velocity. The results are presented in well-arranged plots and can be used for a survey of the plasma parameters close to which the strong energy transfer and thermalization between the beam and the target occurs.
Intervals in Generalized Effect Algebras and their Sub-generalized Effect Algebras
Authors: Riečanová Zdenka , Zajac Michal
Published: March 2021

We consider subsets G of a generalized effect algebra E with 0∈G and such that every interval [0, q]G = [0, q]E ∩ G of G (q ∈ G , q ≠ 0) is a sub-effect algebra of the effect algebra [0, q]E. We give a condition on E and G under which every such G is a sub-generalized effect algebra of E.
Die Welt im Meer
Authors: Schröder Iris , Schürmann Felix , Theis Frederic , Weigel Petra
Published: March 2021

Using the example of four maps, this essay discusses how the cartography of the oceans enabled perceptions of the earth as a whole and as a continuous realm of possibilities during the nineteenth century. Nautical charts, produced for practical navigation and committed to the precision ethics of physical geography, facilitated the participation of ports such as Bremen in overseas trade. Ocean maps, aiming at providing an overview and filling sea areas with scientific, political, or travel-related information, visualized thinking in global contexts and positioned marine and terrestrial spaces in new relations. Finally, maps of island colonies show the problems that accompanied the overseas communication of knowledge and how cartographers, by overwriting uncertainties, also inscribed ignorance into maps. All in all, from the perspective of the cartography of the oceans, a specific globality emerges that can be regarded as a distinctive cartographic reality.
Методы машинного обучения в социологическом исследовании: предсказание частичного неответа с использованием наивного байесовского классификатора
Authors: Александрова Марина Юрьевна
Published: March 2021

Пропущенные данные в социологических исследованиях могут быть связаны с различными причинами, и в данной статье рассматриваются те из них, что появляются в результате незнания, нежелания или затруднения с поиском ответа на отдельные вопросы анкеты у респондента, — частичные неответы (item nonresponse). Остро стоит вопрос о предсказании частичных неответов, решение которого позволило бы сократить вероятность появления пропусков в собираемых данных.
В статье показано, как возникновение частичного неответа можно прогнозировать с помощью современных методов текст-майнинга и машинного обучения на примере данных Европейского социального исследования (European Social Survey) по Великобритании. Для решения поставленной задачи использовался метод наивного байесовского классификатора (Naive Bayes Classifier) — популярный метод предсказания класса зависимой переменной на основе текстовых данных. С опорой на научную литературу показываем, как работает этот метод. Мы подготовили базу данных, объединяющую полные формулировки вопросов, ответов, инструкций и результатов опросов исследования European Social Survey по Великобритании. Нами показано, как отдельные модели для предсказания появления частичных неответов были обучены с помощью метода наивного байесовского классификатора на основе частот слов и метрики важности слов TF-IDF, процессу расчета которых мы также приводим подробное описание. Каждая из моделей предсказания частичного неответа оценивалась нами с точки зрения частоты возникновения ошибок при получении прогнозов с их помощью. Мы получили списки слов, наличие в вопросах которых статистически чаще сопровождается или не сопровождается частичными неответами. Наши результаты показали, что респонденты менее охотно отвечают на сенситивные вопросы, а некоторые слова, имеющие отношение к процедуре получения ответа на вопрос, статистически чаще пропускаются респондентами.
Цифровое общество: теоретическая модель и российская действительность
Authors: Смирнов Андрей Владимирович
Published: March 2021

В статье рассмотрена теоретическая модель цифрового общества, основанная на четырех концептах: сверхсвязность, платформизация, датификация и алгоритмическое управление. С помощью модели описан механизм углубления цифровизации общества — от переноса в цифровую среду отдельных практик и социальных взаимодействий до создания социального порядка на основе больших данных. Анализ панельных данных лонгитюдного обследования РМЭЗ НИУ ВШЭ за 2003-2018 гг. и географически привязанных данных проекта «Виртуальное население России» показал, что, несмотря на впечатляющий рост некоторых показателей, цифровизация российского общества носит фрагментарный характер как в разрезе социальных групп и территорий, так и по сферам общественной жизни. Препятствует устранению этого неравенства в первую очередь низкая устойчивость интернет-практик индивидов. Изучение содержания паспортов национальных проектов, утвержденных в 2018 г., позволило оценить перспективы формирования в России цифрового общества и выявить барьеры адаптации населения к изменяющимся условиям.
Благодарность. Исследование выполнено при финансовой поддержке РФФИ и БРФФИ в рамках научного проекта № 20-510-00007.
Research Design for an Integrated Artificial Intelligence Ethical Framework
Authors: Караджоянни Афина
Published: March 2021

Artificial Intelligence (AI) regulatory and other governance mechanisms have only started to emerge and consolidate. Therefore, AI regulation, legislation, frameworks, and guidelines are presently fragmented, isolated, or co-exist in an opaque space between national governments, international bodies, corporations, practitioners, think-tanks, and civil society organisations. This article proposes a research design set up to address this problem by directly collaborating with targeted actors to identify principles for AI that are trustworthy, accountable, safe, fair, non-discriminatory, and which puts human rights and the social good at the centre of its approach. It proposes 21 interlinked substudies, focusing on the ethical judgements, empirical statements, and practical guidelines, which manufacture ethicopolitical visions and AI policies across four domains: seven tech corporations, seven governments, seven civil society actors, together with the analysis of online public debates. The proposed research design uses multiple research techniques: extensive mapping and studies of AI ethics policy documents and 120 interviews of key individuals, as well as assorted analyses of public feedback discussion loops on AI, employing digital methods on online communities specialising in AI debates. It considers novel conceptual interactions communicated across the globe, expands the regulatory, ethics, and technological foresight, both at the individual level (autonomy, identity, dignity, privacy, and data protection) and the societal level (fairness/equality, responsibility, accountability and transparency, surveillance/datafication, democracy and trust, collective humanity and the common good). By producing an innovative, intercontinental, multidisciplinary research design for an Ethical AI Standard, this article offers a concrete plan to search for the Holy Grail of Artificial Intelligence: Its Ethics.
Foreword
Authors: Godwin-Jones Robert
Published: March 2021

The rich variety of innovative approaches to language learning
represented here points to one of the main characteristics of the learning
environment today, namely the ever-expanding choice in strategies and
resources that fit particular contexts. The contributions in this collection
are, in that sense, tremendously helpful as they lay out what the innovation
is and how it is used, but also are forthright about both the benefits and
potential issues. While many of the innovations discussed here involve the
use of technology, we should keep in mind that the newest and greatest
technologies are not necessarily those most compatible with pedagogical
needs and best practices.
Introduction
Authors: Beaven Tita , Rosell-Aguilar Fernando
Published: March 2021

Colleagues at the Institute of Educational Technology at the Open
University produce an annual report, Innovating pedagogy, now in its 9th
edition, which looks at new and emerging approaches to teaching, learning,
and assessment in a wide range of settings and subject areas. They highlight
ten innovative pedagogies, and provide a research-informed summary of each
one, as well as a list of further resources for those who want to find out
more. Over the past few years, this has become an influential publication
and we have long thought that it would be very useful to have a similar
report that focused specifically on language teaching, learning, and
assessment.
Virtual exchange: connecting language learners in online intercultural
collaborative learning
Authors: Gutiérrez Begoña F. , O’Dowd Robert
Published: March 2021

What is it? Virtual exchange is an umbrella term used to refer to the
engagement of groups of learners in online language and intercultural
interaction and collaboration with partners from other cultural contexts or
geographical locations as an integrated part of course work, and under the
guidance of educators and/or expert facilitators (O’Dowd, 2018).
LMOOCs: free, self-access language learning on a global scale
Authors: Gimeno-Sanz Ana
Published: March 2021

What is it? Massive Open Online Language Courses, also commonly known as
Language MOOCs or LMOOCs, are online courses offered for a limited period of
time by higher education institutions worldwide for anybody wishing to learn
a foreign language. The average duration of these courses is between four
and six weeks, and approximately three to five weekly study hours are
required. Because of their duration, LMOOCs often focus on specific aspects
of the target language, e.g. academic writing, improving pronunciation,
written communication for the workplace, preparation for specific language
examinations, survival language skills, etc. There are also abundant
introductory courses focusing on basic language performance. Enrolment is
free but these courses are usually not eligible for credit; however,
learners may purchase a certification, which is normally moderately priced.
Enrolment is not restricted by age, qualifications, or geographic location,
conditions that nurture their ‘massiveness’. MOOCs are delivered through
online platforms which are based on the template approach to software
authoring, that is, multimedia content is inserted into templates by
materials writers. MOOCs that follow a course format are known as xMOOCs (x
stands for eXtended). They include a syllabus and are organised according to
a set schedule; moreover, learners usually have access to some instructor
guidance. On occasions, after the first edition of the scheduled course,
some LMOOCs are made available on a self-access basis. This means that
learners are free to set their own pace and organise their study at will.
The onus of learning is therefore on the student. Most MOOCs are based on
micro-lessons delivered through short audio or video clips followed by
exercises, activities, and reading material. Most LMOOCs also include
assignments, tests, or quizzes that are either automatically assessed or
peer-assessed by means of rubrics. Grading is also provided, and students
can oversee their performance through an automatic scoring system.
The translation turn: a communicative approach to translation in the
language classroom
Authors: Carreres Ángeles , Noriega-Sánchez María
Published: March 2021

What is it? Translation, explicitly or implicitly, has been a constant
presence in the teaching and learning of languages throughout the ages. It
may therefore seem surprising that it should find a place in a report on
innovative pedagogies. While translation has indeed been used for centuries
for the purpose of language learning, there is no doubt that recent
approaches in the area of language and translation pedagogy have helped
re-conceptualise – and re-operationalise – translation in radically new
ways. For decades, translation had been identified with the grammar
translation method, and decried as incompatible with a communicative
approach. In the last two decades, however, we have seen a thorough
re-examination of the role of translation in language teaching and learning.
A range of factors have contributed to this trend, among them, the
questioning of the monolingual principle in language pedagogy, extensive
developments in the area of audiovisual translation, exciting innovations in
the field of professional translation didactics, the huge success of
translation-based digital platforms such as Duolingo, and, crucially, the
introduction of the notion of mediation in the Common European Framework of
Reference for languages (CEFR, 2001), later expanded in the Companion volume
(CEFR, 2018).
Speaking with machines: interacting with bots for language teaching and
learning
Authors: Satar Müge
Published: March 2021

What is it? This piece explores technologies for freer communication
with machines, i.e. bots (chatbots or conversational agents), rather than
the concept of speaking to machines, such as Intelligent Assistants (IA)
like Alexa. Bots are computer programmes which simulate natural intelligent
communication using text or speech technologies. The first chatbot claimed
to pass the Turing Test (a test to identify whether a computer is
intelligent), ELIZA, was created by Joseph Weizenbaum in 1966 to imitate a
psychotherapist. More recently, interest in chatbots appears to have shifted
from whether they can be perceived as human to their ability to imitate
natural conversations to achieve specific purposes and provide efficient
customer services.
School Managers Perceptions towards Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Sources
Authors: Drosos Dimitrios , Kyriakopoulos Grigorios L. , Ntanos Stamatios , Parissi Androniki
Published: March 2021

Global economic growth is accompanied by increased energy demand, thus conventional fuels such as coal, oil and gas, which are the primary energy sources, are gradually being depleted. At the same time, the combustion of conventional fuel for energy production causes serious adverse effects on the environment and contributes to climate change due to the emitted greenhouse gases. For the above reasons, most of the developed and developing countries especially during the last decades, have introduced various incentives for the greater penetration of renewable energy sources (RES) in all sectors of the economy. Concerning the building sector, several measures have been adopted, including the promotion of energy efficiency and energy saving. A significant proportion of the building stock are the school buildings where students and teachers spend a significant proportion of their daily time. Teachers' attitudes and views, especially the school unit managers concerning the use of RES in schools, are important in the effort to rationalize and control energy use. This study was conducted through a structured questionnaire applied to a sample of 510 school managers in Greece's primary and secondary education. The school unit managerial role for the case of Greek schools is performed by the school principal who has both administrative and educational duties.  Statistical analysis included the application of Friedman's test and hypothesis test on questions concerning school manager environmental perceptions and energy-saving habits. According to the results, Greek school managers have a high degree of environmental sensitivity, since 97.6 % agreed or strongly agreed that the main concern should focus on energy saving. Furthermore, 71% of the respondent reported to have good knowledge on solar energy, followed by 64% on wind energy while only 34% are knowledgeable on biomass. Almost all the respondents (99%) agreed that it is important to provide more RES-orientated education through the taught curricula. Concerning energy saving behaviour, around 90% reported that they switch off the lights when leaving the classroom and they close the windows when the air-condition is operating. Hypothesis tests revealed a relationship between the school managers' ecological beliefs, the energy saving habits in the school environment, and the recognition of the importance of environmental education. Conclusions highlighted the need to intensify environmental education programs in the school environment concerning RES in schools. This will lead to a higher level of environmental awareness of both teachers and students and therefore to a more dynamic behaviour towards the effort to “greenify” the school environment.
Inhibitory Effect of Active Substances of Lollyfish (Holothuria atra) Against the Development of Plasmodium falciparum Based on In Silico Study
Authors: Moelyadi Felly , Utami Prawesty Diah , Dikman Irmawati M.
Published: March 2021

The high level of artemisinin resistance as the antimalarial drug makes the active substances found of lollyfish (Holothuria atra) become a very useful discovery as a new antimalarial drug. The purpose of this research is to find out the inhibitory effect of the active substances of lollyfish against the development of Plasmodium falciparum with in silico method. This is a one-shot experimental study research. Based on the test of potentially active substances of lollyfish through PubChem (https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/), there are pyrogallol and catechin that have potential as the antimalarial drug. Pyrogallol, chlorogenic acid, catechin dan ascorbic acid have indirect inhibition to P. falciparum Orotidine 5-Monophosphate Decarboxylase (PfOMPDC) through carbon dioxide (CO2) and it is visualized by STITCH DB Version 5.0 (http://stitch.embl.de/). The binding affinity score of catechin, obtained from molecular docking, is higher than other substances and artemisinin. The Physicochemical and pharmacokinetic activity of the substance was predicted through SWISS ADME (http://www.swissadme.ch/index.php), while the toxicity was predicted through Pro-Tox (http://tox.charite.de/protox_II/). Catechin is a substance in lollyfish that is the safest because its lowest toxicity and very effective to be used as the antimalarial drug because of its high lethal dose 50 (LD50). Therefore, active substances in lollyfish have inhibitory effects against the development of P. falciparum based on in silico study.
Hajdamaky e Zamek kaniowski: due visioni della Kolijivščyna
Authors: Taudul Anna
Published: March 2021

The article aims to analyse the theme of the Cossacks and the haidamaky, which was very present in the works of the great Ukrainian romantics, starting with Taras Shevchenko and Pantelejmon Kulish. It also became the object of poetic elaboration by various Polish poets including Juliusz Słowacki, and the lesser-known, but still interesting, Seweryn Goszczyński and Bohdan Zaleski. They became part of the so-called “Ukrainian school” of Polish Romanticism. In Poland, however, the poets did not interpret in a univocal way neither the historical role of the Sich of the Zaporozhye nor that of the haidamaky who sometimes appear as defenders of the faith and fighters for the independence of Ukraine, while in others they simply come into view as rebels and brigands, cruel and ruthless, who received for theiractions the cruellest punishments. The author compares Haydamaky (Haidamaky, 1841) by Shevchenko and Zamek kaniowski (Kaniów Castle, 1828) byGoszczyński, because they describe the same story from 1768, the so-called Massacre of Humań, i.e. Koliyivshchyna, but with two different visions.