bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Embedding Formative Assessment in Blended Learning Environment: The Case of Secondary Chinese Language Teaching in Singapore
Authors: Chan Kwong Tung
Published: July 2021

The fast global spread of COVID-19 has resulted in the mass disruption of teaching, learning, as well as assessment, in mainstream schools in Singapore. Teachers were caught unprepared and this jeopardised the quality of classroom delivery and assessment. The Ministry of Education has since shifted to an online asynchronous mode of teaching whilst attempting to keep the face-to-face method of lesson delivery, to which it is called ‘blended learning’ (BL) in the local context. Besides being propelled to learn and use new technology tools for online lessons, teachers also need to quickly explore to embed formative assessment (FA) in the new BL environment to substitute traditional classroom assessment. In this context, I argue that teachers’ language assessment literacy (LAL), pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) and e-pedagogy are vital to the success of embedding FA in BL. Following, I also describe some tentative predictions for future challenges and opportunities of embedding FA in the BL environment of secondary Chinese Language (CL) teaching in Singapore. On this basis, I discuss the ways in which current conceptualisations of language assessment literacy will need to shift in response to these challenges. Finally, I make some recommendations for practice based on this argument.
Learning, Student Digital Capabilities and Academic Performance over the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Limniou Maria , Varga-Atkins Tunde , Hands Caroline , Elshamaa Marie
Published: July 2021

During the time of COVID-19 lockdown over spring 2020, universities shifted teaching from on-campus blended learning to an emergency remote fully online approach. The aim of this study was to compare Psychology and Veterinary Science undergraduate students’ academic performance with their responses on a self-reported questionnaire regarding their digital capabilities, individual’s characteristics, and the role of environment on their independent learning process over the first COVID-19 lockdown period. Social-Cognitive Theory was adopted to conceptualise students’ behaviour, individuals’ characteristics, and learning environment with their academic performance to a learning framework. A total of 303 students from both disciplines (133 Psychology and 170 Veterinary Science undergraduate students) participated in this study by completing an online questionnaire after following the teaching shift from blended learning to full remote online approach at a UK University during the 2019–2020 academic year. Differences between students’ responses were identified due to their discipline’s curricular structure, students’ study behaviours (i.e., being exposed to unrelated learning activities), and students’ cognitive effort to think critically in the search, evaluation and managing of digital information. Students with high level of self-regulation and digital capabilities were able to keep focused and engaged during the lockdown. Although universities and teachers were “forced” to shift their teaching approach due to the unfortunate disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, most students have coped with the changed teaching delivery mode relatively easy with minimum guidance. However, teachers should further consider how digital technologies could enhance students’ learning flexibility promoting critical thinking.
Special and Inclusive Education: Perspectives, Challenges and Prospects
Authors: Hornby Garry , Kauffman James M.
Published: July 2021

For around 40 years, there has been intense debate about how to best educate learners with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) [...]
Inferential Statistical Reasoning of Math Teachers: Experiences in Virtual Contexts Generated by the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Lugo-Armenta Jesús Guadalupe , Pino-Fan Luis Roberto
Published: July 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic generated a new scenario in education, where technological resources mediate teaching and learning processes. This paper presents the development of a virtual teacher training experience aimed at promoting inferential reasoning in practicing and prospective mathematics teachers using inference problems on the Chi-square statistic. The objective of this article is to assess the implemented or intended institutional meanings and the degree of availability and adequacy of the material and temporal resources necessary for the development of the training experience. For this purpose, we use theoretical and methodological notions introduced by the Ontosemiotic Approach to Mathematical Knowledge and Instruction (OSA), among which are the notions of practice and suitability criteria. The participants of this experience were divided into three groups; one of them was comprised of practicing teachers and the other two of prospective teachers. The intervention used different virtual modalities that enabled the development of the participants’ inferential reasoning in a similar way.
Emergency Distance Education in the Conditions of COVID-19 Pandemic: Experience of Ukrainian Universities
Authors: Bakhov Ivan , Opolska Natalia , Bogus Mira , Anishchenko Viktoriia , Biryukova Yulia
Published: July 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought significant changes in education worldwide throughout 2020. In Ukraine, the preparedness for this process was different. There were various technical problems such as the absence of Internet connection, computers, or educational materials on the network, and most importantly, the unpreparedness of teachers to perform distance learning. From 28 April to 8 May 2020 at the Oles Honchar Dnipro National University (Dnipro, Ukraine), students were surveyed on the quality of distance learning organized during the quarantine period. A total of 1224 students from almost all faculties and centers took part in the survey and answered 19 questions in an online form developed in Office 365 (Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA, USA). The survey algorithm is based on the principle of cross-validation. According to the survey, the most important opportunities of distance (digital) learning are as follows: the opportunity to study in a convenient place, in a comfortable and familiar environment—28.57%; the opportunity to combine work with study—16.97%; the development of self-control skills and motivation to self-educate—16.43%; and the technical level of the learning process (use of information technologies)—13.83%. The aspects that negatively affect the organization of full-scale distance learning are as follows: the large volume of tasks—16.80%; the rapid fatigue due to prolonged work in front of a computer—16.35%; the absence of necessary equipment and/or constant (stable) access to the Internet—15.33%. In conclusion, ways to overcome the difficulties of distance learning, both by universities and by the government, are suggested.
Has the Stereotype of the Scientist Changed in Early Primary School–Aged Students Due to COVID-19?
Authors: Quílez-Cervero César , Diez-Ojeda María , López Gallego Altamira Alicia , Queiruga-Dios Miguel Ángel
Published: July 2021

The image that students have of scientists and their context appears distorted by multiple factors. The detection and modification of this image is important because this is related to scientific vocations. This research analyzes the drawings made by 128 early primary school–aged students (58 girls and 70 boys) from 6 to 8 years to determine the image they have regarding the scientist, their activity, and their environment, and how the current situation due to COVID-19 may affect this image. The analysis rubric defined in the modified Draw A Scientific Test-prompt was used. Results indicate that the image that the students have, in general, is far from the traditional one. Thus, the students draw both young women and men working in science, the girls being the ones who most habitually represent scenes broader than traditional. In addition, the influence of the COVID-19 crisis is perceived in some of the illustrations.
Generative Unit Assessment: Authenticity in Mathematics Classroom Assessment Practices
Authors: McFeetors P. Janelle , Marynowski Richelle , Candler Alexandra
Published: July 2021

In our pursuit to broaden and deepen understandings of what it means to engage in an assessment activity, we explored the designing and implementing of a geometry performance task as an instantiation of authentic assessment to assess elementary school students’ mathematics learning. Using participatory action research, we incorporated a performance task as an end-of-unit assessment with grade 4/5 students. We found that the authenticity within what we are calling a generative unit assessment, is understood as a process that is dynamic in contrast to conventional unit tests. We established an innovative assessment practice that emerged from the student and teacher data and is illustrated through four features applicable to any content area. Through collaborative discussions and the ensuing creation of a generative unit assessment, we found spaces to authentically understand ontological growth and continual learning through assessment.
Dirt Loss Estimator for Photovoltaic Modules Using Model Predictive Control
Authors: Santos Ricardo R. , Batista Edson A. , Brito Moacyr A. G. de , Quinelato David D. D.
Published: July 2021

The central problem tackled in this article is the susceptibility of the solar modules to dirt that culminates in losses in energy generation or even physical damage. In this context, a solution is presented to enable the estimates of dirt losses in photovoltaic generation units. The proposed solution is based on the mathematical modeling of the solar cells and predictive modeling concepts. A device was designed and developed to acquire data from the photovoltaic unit; process them based on a predictive model, and send loss estimates in the generation unit to a web server to help in decision-making support. The results demonstrated the real applicability of the system to estimate losses due to dirt or electrical mismatches in photovoltaic plants.
A Novel Multifunctional Negative Group Delay Circuit for Realizing Band-Pass, High-Pass and Low-Pass
Authors: Yuan Aixia , Fang Shaojun , Wang Zhongbao , Liu Hongmei
Published: July 2021

A novel multifunctional negative group delay circuit is proposed. The circuit can realize three different negative group delay functions, including band-pass, high-pass and low-pass, which meet different conditions with capacitance, inductance and resistance. Analytical design equations are provided. The effects of different element values on the bandwidth, cut-off frequency and the minimum negative group delay of the circuit are analyzed. According to this design method, the negative group delay circuit is designed and fabricated. Simulation and measurement results are in agreement. It has good negative group delay characteristics. The feasibility of the design method is verified.
The Effects of Transglutaminase and Refrigerated Storage on the Physicochemical Properties of Whole Wheat Dough and Noodles
Authors: Kang Min Jeong , Chung Seo-Jin , Kim Sang Sook
Published: July 2021

This study investigated the effects of transglutaminase (TG) concentrations (0, 0.1% and 1%) on the physicochemical properties of whole wheat dough (WWD) and noodles (WWN) during refrigerated storage (0, 1, 2, and 3 days). The yield, ferulic acid (FA) content, molecular weight (Mw), and apparent viscosity (AV) of water extractable arabinoxylan (WEAX) from refrigerated WWDs were analysed. The WEAX yield and FA tended to increase with refrigerated storage, while the Mw decreased. WEAX FA of from WWD with TG tended to be smaller than the control during refrigeration. The AV for all WEAXs gradually decreased during refrigeration. The TG concentration effects on WWD resistance to extension and extensibility and the WWN cooking properties and texture profile analysis (TPA) were studied. The water absorption and swelling index tended to decrease in WWNs with TG depending on refrigeration time compared to the control samples. The TPA results showed that WWNs with TG were significantly harder than the control after two days of refrigeration. This study demonstrated that TG affected not only WWD composition but also WWN physical properties during refrigerated storage.
Athletes Drive Distinctive Trends of COVID-19 Infection in a College Campus Environment
Authors: Hertel Austin T. , Heeter Madison M. , Wirfel Olivia M. , Bestram Mara J. , Mauro Steven A.
Published: July 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic forced most institutions of higher education to offer instruction and activities offsite, impacting millions of people. As universities consider resuming normal operations on campus, evidence-based guidance is needed to enhance safety protocols to reduce the spread of infectious disease in their campus environments. During the 2020/2021 academic year, Gannon University in Erie, PA, USA, was able to maintain most of its operations on campus. Part of Gannon’s disease mitigation strategy involved the development of a novel in-house, real-time RT-PCR-based surveillance program, which tested 23,227 samples to monitor the presence of COVID-19 on campus. Temporal trends of COVID-19 infection at Gannon were distinct from statewide data. A significant portion of this variance involved student athletes and associated staff, which identified as a higher incidence risk group compared with non-athletes. Rapid identification of athlete driven outbreaks allowed for swift action to limit the spread of COVID-19 among teammates and to the rest of the campus community. This allowed for successful completion of instruction and a modified season for all sports at Gannon. Our findings provide insights that could prove useful to the thousands of institutions seeking to resume a more traditional presence on campus.
A Set of Integral Grid-Coding Algebraic Operations Based on GeoSOT-3D
Authors: Hou Kaihua , Cheng Chengqi , Chen Bo , Zhang Chi , He Liesong , Meng Li , Li Shuang
Published: July 2021

As the amount of collected spatial information (2D/3D) increases, the real-time processing of these massive data is among the urgent issues that need to be dealt with. Discretizing the physical earth into a digital gridded earth and assigning an integral computable code to each grid has become an effective way to accelerate real-time processing. Researchers have proposed optimization algorithms for spatial calculations in specific scenarios. However, a complete set of algorithms for real-time processing using grid coding is still lacking. To address this issue, a carefully designed, integral grid-coding algebraic operation framework for GeoSOT-3D (a multilayer latitude and longitude grid model) is proposed. By converting traditional floating-point calculations based on latitude and longitude into binary operations, the complexity of the algorithm is greatly reduced. We then present the detailed algorithms that were designed, including basic operations, vector operations, code conversion operations, spatial operations, metric operations, topological relation operations, and set operations. To verify the feasibility and efficiency of the above algorithms, we developed an experimental platform using C++ language (including major algorithms, and more algorithms may be expanded in the future). Then, we generated random data and conducted experiments. The experimental results show that the computing framework is feasible and can significantly improve the efficiency of spatial processing. The algebraic operation framework is expected to support large geospatial data retrieval and analysis, and experience a revival, on top of parallel and distributed computing, in an era of large geospatial data.
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Clinical Patterns, Outcomes, and Prognostic Factors for Overall Survival—A Retrospective Analysis of a Slovak Cohort
Authors: Safcak Dominik , Drazilova Sylvia , Gazda Jakub , Andrasina Igor , Adamcova-Selcanova Svetlana , Barila Radovan , Mego Michal , Rac Marek , Skladany Lubomir , Zigrai Miroslav , Janicko Martin , Jarcuska Peter
Published: July 2021

Objective: To compare NAFLD-related HCC and other etiology-related HCC and to describe predictive factors for survival in patients with NAFLD-related HCC independent of the BCLC staging system. Methods: We performed a multicenter longitudinal retrospective observational study of patients diagnosed with HCC during the period from 2010 through 2016. Results: 12.59% of patients had NAFLD-related HCC, and 21.91% had either NAFLD or cryptogenic etiology. NAFLD-related HCC patients were younger (p = 0.0007), with a higher proportion of women (p < 0.001) compared to other etiology-related HCC patients. The NAFLD group had a significantly lower proportion of patients with liver cirrhosis at the time of HCC diagnosis (p < 0.0001), and they were more frequently diagnosed with both diabetes and metabolic syndrome when compared to other etiology-related HCC (p < 0.0001). We did not find any difference in the overall survival or in the progression-free survival between NAFLD-related and other etiology-related HCC patients staged as BCLC B and BCLC C. NAFLD-related HCC patients with three or more liver lesions had a shorter overall survival when compared to patients with one or two liver lesions (p = 0.0097), while patients with baseline CRP values of ≥5 mg/L or with PLR ≥ 150 had worse overall survival (p = 0.012 and p = 0.0028, respectively). ALBI Grade 3 predicted worse overall survival compared to ALBI Grade 1 or 2 (p = 0.00021). In NAFLD-related HCC patients, PLR and ALBI remained significant predictors of overall survival even after adjusting for BCLC. Conclusion: NAFLD-related HCC patients have a similar prognosis when compared to other etiology-related HCC. In NAFLD-related HCC patients, ALBI and PLR are significant predictors of the overall survival independent of the BCLC staging system.
Impact of Obesity on Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) Levels in Women of Reproductive Age
Authors: Oldfield Alexis L. , Kazemi Maryam , Lujan Marla E.
Published: July 2021

Obesity negatively impacts reproductive health, including ovarian function. Obesity has been posited to alter Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) production. Understanding biological factors that could impact AMH levels is necessary given the increasing use of AMH for predicting reproductive health outcomes in response to controlled ovarian stimulation, diagnosing ovulatory disorders, onset of menopause, and natural conception. In this narrative review, we evaluated the impact of obesity on AMH levels in healthy, regularly cycling reproductive-age women (18–48 years). Thirteen studies (n = 1214 women; (811, non-obese (body mass index; BMI < 30 kg/m2); 403, obese (BMI > 30 kg/m2))) were included, of which five reported decreased AMH levels with obesity, whereas eight showed comparable AMH levels between groups. Inclusion of women with higher obesity classes (Class 3 versus Class 1) may have been a factor in studies reporting lower AMH levels. Together, studies reporting AMH levels in otherwise healthy women remain limited by small sample sizes, cross-sectional designs, and lack of representation across the entire adiposity spectrum. Ultimately, the degree to which obesity may negatively impact AMH levels, and possibly ovarian reserve, in otherwise healthy women with regular menstrual cycles should be deemed uncertain at this time. This conclusion is prudent considering that the biological basis for an impact of obesity on AMH production is unknown.
The Effect of High Flow Nasal Cannula Therapy in Exercised-Induced Asthma of Children
Authors: ter Wee René D. , Thio Bernardus J.
Published: July 2021

High flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy is a non-invasive oxygen delivery mode which is safe and well tolerated by adults and children with respiratory distress. HFNC is increasingly used in children with respiratory distress due to mucus retention, such as bronchiolitis and acute asthma. However, he effectiveness of this therapy in acute asthma has not been well researched. To evaluate HFNC for acute childhood asthma, we designed a randomized prospective crossover trial. In the trial, children aged 6–18 years, with a forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) lability of ≥30% during an exercise challenge test (ECT) are included. The time of fully recovered lung function within 10% of the baseline after peak fall of FEV1 is compared with and without HFNC therapy. A 50% reduction of recovery time during HFNC therapy compared to recovery time without HFNC is considered clinically relevant, with a power of 80% and a significance level of 5%. Secondly, the pressure used by the HFNC device to deliver the constant present flow is evaluated. A relationship between the measured pressure and the degree of recovery may reveal a working mechanism behind HFNC.
Evaluation of Cytokines as Robust Diagnostic Biomarkers for COVID-19 Detection
Authors: Tamayo-Velasco Álvaro , Peñarrubia-Ponce María Jesús , Álvarez Francisco Javier , Gonzalo-Benito Hugo , de la Fuente Ignacio , Martín-Fernández Marta , Eiros José María , Martínez-Paz Pedro , Miramontes-González José Pablo , Fiz-López Aida , Arribas-Rodríguez Elisa , Cal-Sabater Paloma , Aller Rocío , Dueñas Carlos , Heredia-Rodríguez María , Tamayo Eduardo , Bernardo David , Gómez-Sánchez Esther
Published: July 2021

Antigen tests or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification are currently COVID-19 diagnostic tools. However, developing complementary diagnosis tools is mandatory. Thus, we performed a plasma cytokine array in COVID-19 patients to identify novel diagnostic biomarkers. A discovery–validation study in two independent prospective cohorts was performed. The discovery cohort included 136 COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients recruited consecutively from 24 March to 11 April 2020. Forty-five cytokines’ quantification by the MAGPIX system (Luminex Corp., Austin, TX, USA) was performed in plasma samples. The validation cohort included 117 patients recruited consecutively from 15 to 25 April 2020 for validating results by ELISA. COVID-19 patients showed different levels of multiple cytokines compared to non-COVID-19 patients. A single chemokine, IP-10, accurately identified COVID-19 patients who required hospital admission (AUC: 0.962; 95%CI (0.933–0.992); p < 0.001)). The results were validated in an independent cohort by multivariable analysis (OR: 25.573; 95%CI (8.127–80.469); p < 0.001) and AUROC (AUC: 0.900; 95%CI (0.846–0.954); p < 0.001). Moreover, showing IP-10 plasma levels over 173.35 pg/mL identified COVID-19 with higher sensitivity (86.20%) than the first SARS-CoV-2 PCR. Our discover–validation study identified IP-10 as a robust biomarker in clinical practice for COVID-19 diagnosis at hospital. Therefore, IP-10 could be used as a complementary tool in clinical practice, especially in emergency departments.
Study on Land Consolidation Zoning in Hubei Province Based on the Coupling of Neural Network and Cluster Analysis
Authors: Xiao Pengnan , Zhao Chong , Zhou Yong , Feng Haoyu , Li Xigui , Jiang Jinhui
Published: July 2021

Land consolidation zoning is the basis of land reclamation planning and provides a precondition for land management work. Zoning is beneficial to scientific decision-making regarding the use of cultivated land resources, and helps to ensure the quality and production level of cultivated land. Hence, land consolidation zoning is of national significance in terms of safeguarding food security. In this paper, an indicator system for land evaluation and zoning is described based on indicators of natural ecological conditions, socioeconomic conditions, land-use conditions, and the land consolidation potential of Hubei province. The application of self-organizing maps and Hierarchical clustering results in 11 and 12 categories, respectively. After comparing and adjusting these results according to the real situation and key points in the land consolidation of each zone, seven integrated categories are determined. Finally, the land consolidation zoning scheme for these seven integrated partitions is shown to be suitable for Hubei province and in line with the real situation. The proposed scheme offers support for land remediation in a coordinated and orderly way, and provides a scientific basis for improving land utilization efficiency and grain production capacity in Hubei province.
Assessing Ecological Disturbance in Neotropical Forest Landscapes Using High-Level Diversity and High-Level Functionality: Surprising Outcomes from a Case Study with Spider Assemblages
Authors: Gonzalez Darinka Costa , Cajaiba Reinaldo Lucas , Périco Eduardo , da Silva Wully Barreto , Brescovite Antônio Domingos , Crespi António Maria Luis , Santos Mário
Published: July 2021

Spiders have been increasingly used as environmental and ecological indicators in conservation and ecosystem management. In the Neotropics, there is a shortage of information regarding spiders’ taxonomies and ecological responses to anthropogenic disturbances. To unravel these hitches, we tested the possibility of using high-level diversity and high-level functionality indicators to evaluate spider assemblages’ sensitivity to landscape changes. This approach, if proven informative, might overcome the relevant limitations of taxonomic derived indexes, which are considered time-consuming, cost-demanding and dependent on the (few) expert taxonomists’ availability. Our results highlight the pertinence of both indicators’ responses to the structural changes induced by increasing anthropogenic disturbance, and are associated with reductions in ecosystem complexity, microclimates, and microhabitats. Overall, both indicators were sensitive to structural changes induced by anthropogenic disturbance and should be considered a useful resource for assessing the extent of ecosystems’ disruptions in the Neotropics, and also to guide managers in landscapes’ restoration.
Does Livelihood Capital Influence the Livelihood Strategy of Herdsmen? Evidence from Western China
Authors: Wang Manyu , Li Min , Jin Bei , Yao Lan , Ji Hao
Published: July 2021

The deterioration of grassland ecology is threatening the livelihood of herdsmen and increasing their rates of poverty. This study aims to explore the characteristics of herdsmen’s livelihood and the impact of livelihood capital and environmental perception on livelihood strategy selection. Based on 453 herdsmen households in the Province of Gansu and Qinghai, five types of livelihood capital were measured under the sustainable livelihoods framework. The influence of herdsmen’s livelihood capital on their decisions regarding their livelihood strategies was evaluated in multiple logistic functions. Meanwhile, hierarchical regression analysis and grouping regression methods were used to explore the moderating effects of two dimensions of environmental perception: ecological consciousness and sense of responsibility. The following results were obtained: First, all types of livelihood capital have a significant influence on the livelihood diversification of herdsmen; second, the direction and strength of these effects differ among types of livelihood capital. Moreover, environmental perception played a negative moderating role in the relationship between herdsmen’s livelihood capital and livelihood strategies. Therefore, it is expected to introduce policies ensuring the development of herdsmen’s livelihood capital and improve their environmental cognition, which can help realize the coordinated economic and ecological development of grassland.
Development of a Land Use Carbon Inventory for Agricultural Soils in the Canadian Province of Ontario
Authors: Laamrani Ahmed , Voroney Paul R. , Gillespie Adam W. , Chehbouni Abdelghani
Published: July 2021

Globally, agricultural soils are being evaluated for their role in climate change regulation as a potential sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) through sequestration of organic carbon as soil organic matter. Scientists and policy analysts increasingly seek to develop programs and policies which recognize the importance of mitigation of climate change and insurance of ecological sustainability when managing agricultural soils. In response, many countries are exploring options to develop local land-use carbon inventories to better understand the flow of carbon in agriculture to estimate its contribution to greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting. For instance, the Canadian province of Ontario does not currently have its own GHG inventory and relies on the Canada’s National Inventory Report (NIR). To address this, the province explored options to develop its own land-use carbon inventory to better understand the carbon resource in agricultural soils. As part of this undertaking, a gap analysis was conducted to identify the critical information gaps and limitations in estimating soil organic carbon (SOC) monitoring to develop a land-use carbon inventory (LUCI) for the cropland sector in Ontario. We conducted a review of analytical and modeling methods used to quantify GHG emissions and reporting for the cropland sectors in Canada, and compared them with the methods used in seven other countries (i.e., France, United Kingdom; Germany; United States of America, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan). From this comparison, four target areas of research were identified to consider in the development of a cropland sector LUCI in Ontario. First, there needs to be a refinement of the modelling approach used for SOC accounting. The Century model, which is used for Ontario’s cropland sector, can benefit from updates to the crop growth model and from the inclusion of manure management and other amendments. Secondly, a raster-based spatially explicit modelling approach is recommended as an alternative to using polygon-based inputs for soil data and census information for land management. This approach can leverage readily available Earth Observation (EO) data (e.g., remote sensing maps, digital soil maps). Thirdly, the contributions from soil erosion need to be included in inventory estimates of SOC emissions and removals from cropland. Fourth, establishment of an extensive network of long-term experimental sites to calibrate and validate the SOC models (i.e., CENTURY) is required. This can be done by putting in place a ground-truth program, through farmer-led research initiatives and collaboration, to deal with uncertainties due to spatial variability and regional climates. This approach would provide opportunities for farmers to collaborate on data collection by keeping detailed records of their cropping and soil management practices, and crop yields.
Concept of Soil Moisture Ratio for Determining the Spatial Distribution of Soil Moisture Using Physiographic Parameters of a Basin and Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs)
Authors: Kruk Edyta , Fudała Wioletta
Published: July 2021

The results of investigations on shaping the soil moisture ratio in the mountain basin of the Mątny stream located in the Gorce region, Poland, are presented. A soil moisture ratio was defined as a ratio of soil moisture in a given point in a basin to the one located in a base point located on a watershed. Investigations were carried out, using a TDR device, for 379 measuring points located in an irregular network, in the 0–25 cm soil layer. Values of the soil moisture ratio fluctuated between 0.75 and 1.85. Based on measurements, an artificial neural network (ANN) model of the MLP type was constructed, with nine neurons in the input layer, four neurons in the hidden layer and one neuron in the output layer. Input parameters influencing the soil moisture ratio were chosen based on physiographic parameters: altitude, flow direction, height a.s.l., clay content, land use, exposition, slope shape, soil hydrologic group and place on a slope. The ANN model was generated in the module data mining in the program Statistica 12. Physiographic parameters were generated using a database, digital elevation model and the program ArcGIS. The value of the network learning parameter obtained, 0.722, was satisfactory. Comparison of experimental data with values obtained using the ANN model showed a good fit; the determination coefficient was 0.581. The ANN model showed a minimal tendency to overestimate values. Global network sensitivity analysis showed that the highest influence on the wetness coefficient were provided by the parameters place on slope, exposition, and land use, while the parameters with the lowest influence were slope, clay fraction and hydrological group. The chosen physiographic parameters explained the values of the relative wetness ratio a satisfactory degree.
TCA Cycle Replenishing Pathways in Photosynthetic Purple Non-Sulfur Bacteria Growing with Acetate
Authors: Petushkova Ekaterina , Mayorova Ekaterina , Tsygankov Anatoly
Published: July 2021

Purple non-sulfur bacteria (PNSB) are anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria harnessing simple organic acids as electron donors. PNSB produce a-aminolevulinic acid, polyhydroxyalcanoates, bacteriochlorophylls a and b, ubiquinones, and other valuable compounds. They are highly promising producers of molecular hydrogen. PNSB can be cultivated in organic waste waters, such as wastes after fermentation. In most cases, wastes mainly contain acetic acid. Therefore, understanding the anaplerotic pathways in PNSB is crucial for their potential application as producers of biofuels. The present review addresses the recent data on presence and diversity of anaplerotic pathways in PNSB and describes different classifications of these pathways.
Microbiota Gut–Brain Axis in Ischemic Stroke: A Narrative Review with a Focus about the Relationship with Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Sinagra Emanuele , Pellegatta Gaia , Guarnotta Valentina , Maida Marcello , Rossi Francesca , Conoscenti Giuseppe , Pallio Socrate , Alloro Rita , Raimondo Dario , Pace Fabio , Anderloni Andrea
Published: July 2021

The gut microbiota is emerging as an important player in neurodevelopment and aging as well as in brain diseases including stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. The complex interplay between gut microbiota and the brain, and vice versa, has recently become not only the focus of neuroscience, but also the starting point for research regarding many diseases such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). The bi-directional interaction between gut microbiota and the brain is not completely understood. The aim of this review is to sum up the evidencesconcerningthe role of the gut–brain microbiota axis in ischemic stroke and to highlight the more recent evidences about the potential role of the gut–brain microbiota axis in the interaction between inflammatory bowel disease and ischemic stroke.
Neutrophil Recruitment and Participation in Severe Diseases Caused by Flavivirus Infection
Authors: Fontoura Marina Alves , Rocha Rebeca Fróes , Marques Rafael Elias
Published: July 2021

Neutrophils are first-line responders to infections and are recruited to target tissues through the action of chemoattractant molecules, such as chemokines. Neutrophils are crucial for the control of bacterial and fungal infections, but their role in the context of viral infections has been understudied. Flaviviruses are important human viral pathogens transmitted by arthropods. Infection with a flavivirus may result in a variety of complex disease manifestations, including hemorrhagic fever, encephalitis or congenital malformations. Our understanding of flaviviral diseases is incomplete, and so is the role of neutrophils in such diseases. Here we present a comprehensive overview on the participation of neutrophils in severe disease forms evolving from flavivirus infection, focusing on the role of chemokines and their receptors as main drivers of neutrophil function. Neutrophil activation during viral infection was shown to interfere in viral replication through effector functions, but the resulting inflammation is significant and may be detrimental to the host. For congenital infections in humans, neutrophil recruitment mediated by CXCL8 would be catastrophic. Evidence suggests that control of neutrophil recruitment to flavivirus-infected tissues may reduce immunopathology in experimental models and patients, with minimal loss to viral clearance. Further investigation on the roles of neutrophils in flaviviral infections may reveal unappreciated functions of this leukocyte population while increasing our understanding of flaviviral disease pathogenesis in its multiple forms.
Awareness, Diagnosis and Management of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension
Authors: Jensen Rigmor , Vukovic-Cvetkovic Vlasta , Korsbaek Johanne , Wegener Marianne , Hamann Steffen , Beier Dagmar
Published: July 2021

The diagnosis and management of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) can be difficult and multiple medical subspecialities are often involved. Several national and international guidelines regarding the investigations and management of IIH have been published in recent years but still there is no consensus about the optimal organization of IIH-care. The objective of this review was to propose and describe a referral pathway and an organization scheme for diagnosis and management of IIH. An extensive search of existing literature was conducted and summarized. In total, 237 IIH-articles were identified and hereof 43 included. The clinical practice in our specialized IIH-clinic is characterized and described. We conclude that an educational campaign involving medical care providers and patients with chronic headaches is necessary. A detailed organizational proposal for a referral pathway and management of IIH patients based on the literature search and our clinical experience from a highly specialized IIH outpatient clinic is suggested and discussed.
Efficacy of a Graphene Oxide/Chitosan Sponge for Removal of Radioactive Iodine-131 from Aqueous Solutions
Authors: Suksompong Tanate , Thongmee Sirikanjana , Sudprasert Wanwisa
Published: July 2021

Iodine-131 is increasingly used for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. The excretion of radioactive iodine is primarily through the urine. The safe disposal of radioactive waste is an important component of overall hospital waste management. This study investigated the feasibility of using graphene oxide/chitosan (GO/CS) sponges as an adsorbent for the removal of iodine-131 from aqueous solutions. The adsorption efficiency was investigated using iodine-131 radioisotopes to confirm the results in conjunction with stable isotopes. The results revealed that the synthetic structure consists of randomly connected GO sheets without overlapping layers. The equilibrium adsorption data fitted well with the Langmuir model. The separation factor (RL) value was in the range of 0–1, confirming the favorable uptake of the iodide on the GO/CS sponge. The maximum adsorption capacity of iodine-131 by GO/CS sponges was 0.263 MBq/mg. The highest removal efficiency was 92.6% at pH 7.2 ± 0.2. Due to its attractive characteristics, including its low cost, the ease of obtaining it, and its eco-friendly properties, the developed GO/CS sponge could be used as an alternative adsorbent for removing radioiodine from wastewater.
Para-Ricci-Like Solitons on Riemannian Manifolds with Almost Paracontact Structure and Almost Paracomplex Structure
Authors: Manev Hristo , Manev Mancho
Published: July 2021

We introduce and study a new type of soliton with a potential Reeb vector field on Riemannian manifolds with an almost paracontact structure corresponding to an almost paracomplex structure. The special cases of para-Einstein-like, para-Sasaki-like and having a torse-forming Reeb vector field were considered. It was proved a necessary and sufficient condition for the manifold to admit a para-Ricci-like soliton, which is the structure that is para-Einstein-like. Explicit examples are provided in support of the proven statements.
A Certain Subclass of Multivalent Analytic Functions Defined by the q-Difference Operator Related to the Janowski Functions
Authors: Wang Bo , Srivastava Rekha , Liu Jin-Lin
Published: July 2021

A class of p-valent analytic functions is introduced using the q-difference operator and the familiar Janowski functions. Several properties of functions in the class, such as the Fekete–Szegö inequality, coefficient estimates, necessary and sufficient conditions, distortion and growth theorems, radii of convexity and starlikeness, closure theorems and partial sums, are discussed in this paper.
A Simple Analytical Method for Estimation of the Five-Parameter Model: Second-Order with Zero Plus Time Delay
Authors: Kos Tomaž , Vrančić Damir
Published: July 2021

Process models play an important role in the process industry. They are used for simulation purposes, quality control, fault detection, and control design. Many researchers have been engaged in model identification. However, it is difficult to find an analytical identification method that provides a good model and requires a relatively simple experiment. This is the advantage of the method of moments. In this paper, an analytical method based on the measurement of the process moments (characteristic areas) is proposed, to identify the five-parameter model (second-order process with zero plus time delay) from either the closed-loop or open-loop time responses of the process (in the time-domain), or the general-order transfer function with time delay (in the frequency-domain). The only parameter required by the user is the type of process (minimum phase or non-minimum phase process), which in practice can be easily determined from the time response of the process. The method can also be used to reduce the higher-order process model. The proposed identification method was tested on several illustrative examples, and compared to other identification methods. The comparison with existing methods showed the superiority of the proposed method. Moreover, the tests confirmed that the algorithm of the proposed method works properly for a wide family of process models, even in the presence of moderate process noise.
Structure and Properties of Ti-Al-Ta and Ti-Al-Cr Cladding Layers Fabricated on Titanium
Authors: Lazurenko Daria V. , Golkovsky Mikhail G. , Stark Andreas , Pyczak Florian , Bataev Ivan A. , Ruktuev Alexey A. , Petrov Ivan Yu. , Laptev Ilia S.
Published: July 2021

Being one of the most high-demand structural materials, titanium has several disadvantages, including low resistance to high-temperature oxidation and wear. The properties of titanium and its alloys can be improved by applying protective intermetallic coatings. In this study, 2 mm thick Ti-Al-Ta and Ti-Al-Cr layers were obtained on titanium workpieces by a non-vacuum electron-beam cladding. The microstructure and phase compositions of the samples were different for various alloying elements. The Cr-containing layer consisted of α2, γ, and B2 phases, while the Ta-containing layer additionally consisted of ω′ phase (P3¯m1). At the same atomic concentrations of aluminum and an alloying element in both layers, the volume fraction of the B2/ω phase in the Ti-41Al-7Ta alloy was significantly lower than in the Ti-41Al-7Cr alloy, and the amount of γ phase was higher. The Ti-41Al-7Cr layer had the highest wear resistance (2.1 times higher than that of titanium). The maximum oxidation resistance (8 times higher compared to titanium) was observed for the Ti-41Al-7Ta layer.
Influence of Cooling Process Routes after Intercritical Annealing on Impact Toughness of Duplex Type Medium Mn Steel
Authors: Sugimoto Koh-ichi , Tanino Hikaru
Published: July 2021

To apply the duplex type low-carbon medium-manganese steel to the hot/warm-forging and -stamping products, the influence of cooling process routes immediately after intercritical annealing such as air-cooling (AC) and isothermal transformation (IT) processes on the impact toughness of 0.2%C-1.5%Si-5%Mn (in mass %) duplex type medium-Mn (D-MMn) steel was investigated. Moreover the microstructural and tensile properties were also investigated. The AC process increased the volume fraction of reverted austenite but decreased the thermal and mechanical stability in the D-MMn steel, compared to the IT process. The AC process increased the tensile strength but decreased the total elongation. The Charpy V-notch impact value and ductile-brittle transition temperature were deteriorated by the AC process, compared to the IT process. This deterioration of the impact toughness was mainly related to the reverted austenite characteristics and fracture mode.
Reduction of Warping in Kinematic L-Profile Bending Using Local Heating
Authors: Hoffmann Eike , Meya Rickmer , Tekkaya A. Erman
Published: July 2021

Kinematic bending of profiles allows to manufacture parts with high flexibility concerning the geometry. Still, the production of profiles with asymmetric cross-sections regarding the force application axis using kinematic bending processes offers challenges regarding springback and warping. These geometric deviations can be reduced by partial, cross-sectional heating during the process as it lowers the flow stress locally. In this work, the influence of partial, cross-sectional heating during a three-roll push-bending process on the warping and springback of L-profiles is investigated. Numerical and experimental methods reveal the influence of temperature on warping and springback. A newly developed analytical model predicts the warping and bending moment in the design phase and assists to understand the effect of warping reduction through partial heating during plastic bending. With increasing temperature of the heated profile area, the warping is reduced up to 76% and the springback of the bend profiles is decreased up to 44%. The warping reduction is attributed to a shift in stress free fiber due to the temperature gradient between heated and room temperature areas. The shift of stress-free fiber leads to an adapted shear center position, resulting in an approximated “quasi-symmetric” bending case.
Base-Mediated Claisen Rearrangement of CF3-Containing Bisallyl Ethers
Authors: Hamada Yoko , Matsunaga Rio , Kawasaki-Takasuka Tomoko , Yamazaki Takashi
Published: July 2021

We have previously clarified that the strongly electron-withdrawing CF3 group nicely affected the base-mediated proton shift of CF3-containing propargylic or allylic alcohols to afford the corresponding α,β-unsaturated or saturated ketones, respectively, which was applied this time to the Claisen rearrangement after O-allylation of the allylic alcohols with a CF3 group, followed by isomerization to the corresponding allyl vinyl ethers via the proton shift, enabling the desired rearrangement in a tandem fashion, or in a stepwise manner, the latter of which was proved to have attained an excellent diastereoselectivity with the aid of a palladium catalyst.