bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical Oncology Workload in Sri Lanka: Infrastructure, Supports, and Delivery of Clinical Care
Authors: Gunasekera Sanjeeva , Seneviratne Sanjeewa , Jalink Matthew , Joseph Nuradh , Ariyarathna Yasantha , Booth Christopher M. , Wijeratne Don Thiwanka
Published: December 2021

PURPOSE

Sri Lanka is a lower middle-income country undergoing a demographic transition with an increasing aging population. This has given rise to a higher burden of noncommunicable diseases including cancer. A well-trained oncology workforce is essential to address this growing public health challenge. Understanding the baseline status of the clinical oncology workforce is an essential step to improving cancer care delivery in Sri Lanka.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, we distributed a web-based survey to all clinical oncologists in Sri Lanka. The survey captured data regarding clinical workload, demographic details, practice setting, and perceived barriers to quality patient care.

RESULTS

A total of 41 of 54 oncologists responded to the survey, and all participants had training in clinical oncology. Thirty-seven (90%) of 41 oncologists treated both solid and hematologic malignancies, and the median duration of independent practice was 5 years. Almost two thirds of the oncologists (26 of 41, 63%) work at an academic center, and two thirds of the oncologists (27 of 41, 66%) work in both public and private sectors. A majority of the oncologists (26 of 41, 63%) were on-call 7 days per week. More than half of the oncologists saw over 400 new patient consults per year. With regard to barriers to quality patient care, most of the concerns relate to the scarcity of resources.

CONCLUSION

This study sheds significant light about the clinical oncology workload landscape in Sri Lanka. Compared with other low- and middle-income countries, Sri Lankan clinical oncologists are faced with a very high workload, which may affect delivery or care.
Positive Association Between Location of Melanoma, Ultraviolet Signature, Tumor Mutational Burden, and Response to Anti–PD-1 Therapy
Authors: Dousset Léa , Poizeau Florence , Robert Caroline , Mansard Sandrine , Mortier Laurent , Caumont Charline , Routier Émilie , Dupuy Alain , Rouanet Jacques , Battistella Maxime , Greliak Anna , Cappellen David , Galibert Marie-Dominique , Allayous Clara , Lespagnol Alexandra , Gerard Émilie , Kerneuzet Inès , Roy Séverine , Dutriaux Caroline , Merlio Jean-Philippe , Vergier Beatrice , Schrock Alexa B. , Lee Jessica , Ali Siraj M. , Kammerer-Jacquet Solène-Florence , Lebbé Céleste , Beylot-Barry Marie , Boussemart Lise
Published: December 2021

PURPOSE

Emerging evidence suggests a correlation between the tumor mutational burden (TMB) and the response to programmed cell death-1 protein (PD-1) monotherapy across multiple cancer types. In skin cancers, as high TMB is mostly because of ultraviolet (UV) exposure, we hypothesized a correlation between the primary melanoma cutaneous location according to sun exposure and response to anti–PD-1 monotherapy.

METHODS

The aim of this study was to analyze, in advanced melanoma, the relationship between TMB, locations according to sun exposure, and response to PD-1 inhibitors. We conducted a prospective multicentric analysis, by sequencing the most recent metastatic sample before PD-1 inhibitors using FoundationOne assay.

RESULTS

One hundred two patients were included, with TMB available for 94 cases. In univariate and multivariate linear regression, TMB was significantly associated with sun-exposed areas of the primary melanoma location and with age (coefficients of the association with log-TMB: non-UV location, –1.05; chronic sun-exposed area, 1.12; P value for the location, < 10–5; age, 0.021 per year, P value for age, .002). Molecular UV signature present on the metastatic site was associated with higher TMB ( P = .003). Melanomas bearing a high TMB had a higher probability of response to PD-1 inhibitors compared with melanomas with a low TMB, with a dose-dependent effect following an exponential curve and a negative odds ratio of 0.40 (95% CI, 0.20 to 0.72, P = .004) between log-TMB and 6-month progression.

CONCLUSION

Cumulative sun exposure related to skin location and molecular UV signature present on the metastatic site appear to be relevant biomarkers directly linked to TMB. Because TMB is not yet available to all for routine clinical use, the location of the primary melanoma in a sun-exposed area may play an important role in clinical decisions regarding therapeutic choice.
Procedure-Related Outcomes Including Readmission Following Spinal Cord Stimulator Implant Procedures: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Goel Vasudha , Kumar Varun , Patwardhan Amol M. , Ibrahim Mohab , Sivanesan Eellan , Darrow David , Shankar Hariharan
Published: December 2021

BACKGROUND:

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has been shown to reduce opioid consumption, reduce pain, improve quality of life compared to conventional therapy, and be more effective than spine reoperation in carefully selected patients. In this study, we evaluate readmissions after SCS implantation procedures, costs, predictors, and etiologies for readmission following implantation procedures.

METHODS:

The study was a retrospective cohort using the National Readmissions Database from 2013 to 2017. Administrative billing codes were used to identify patients undergoing SCS implantation procedures. The primary outcome of our study was 30-day readmission following the SCS implantation procedure. Continuous outcomes were compared between groups using the Student t test or Wilcoxon rank sum test. In addition, multivariable predictors of 30-day readmission were assessed by hierarchical logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS:

A total of 3737 (26.7% open surgical SCS implants [OS-SCS]) individuals admitted to the hospital for SCS implantation were included in the final cohort analysis. The cohort consisted of predominantly female patients (58.71%) and in the 50- to 64-year age group (35.46%). Patients who underwent open surgical SCS implantation had a longer length of stay during the initial admission and a higher 30-day readmission rate (9.4% vs 7% P = .01). OS-SCS, older age, lower socioeconomic status, patients with specific comorbidities (ie, hypertension or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD]), and home discharge are associated with readmission.

CONCLUSIONS:

Readmission rates after SCS implantation are around 7.7% in the United States. Infection and postoperative complications remain the top etiologies for readmission. Open surgical SCS implantation is associated with more extended initial hospitalization and a higher rate of readmission when compared to percutaneous SCS implantation procedures.
The zebrafish issue: 25 years on
Authors: Mullins Mary C. , Acedo Joaquín Navajas , Priya Rashmi , Solnica-Krezel Lilianna , Wilson Stephen W.
Published: December 2021

In the 1990s, labs on both sides of the Atlantic performed the largest genetic mutagenesis screen at that time using an emerging model organism: the zebrafish. Led by Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard in Tübingen, Germany, and Wolfgang Driever in Boston, USA, these colossal screens culminated in 1996 with the publication of 37 articles in a special issue of Development, which remains the journal's largest issue to this day. To celebrate the anniversary of the zebrafish issue and reflect on the 25 years since its publication, five zebrafish researchers share what the issue means to them, how it has contributed to their career and its impact on the zebrafish community.
Novel preclinical model for CDKL5 deficiency disorder
Authors: Serrano Rita J. , Lee Clara , Douek Alon M. , Kaslin Jan , Bryson-Richardson Robert J. , Sztal Tamar E.
Published: December 2021

Cyclin-dependent kinase-like-5 (CDKL5) deficiency disorder (CDD) is a severe X-linked neurodegenerative disease characterised by early-onset epileptic seizures, low muscle tone, progressive intellectual disability and severe motor function. CDD affects ∼1 in 60,000 live births, with many patients experiencing a reduced quality of life due to the severity of their neurological symptoms and functional impairment. There are no effective therapies for CDD, with current treatments focusing on improving symptoms rather than addressing the underlying causes of the disorder. Zebrafish offer many unique advantages for high-throughput preclinical evaluation of potential therapies for neurological diseases, including CDD. In particular, the large number of offspring produced, together with the possibilities for in vivo imaging and genetic manipulation, allows for the detailed assessment of disease pathogenesis and therapeutic discovery. We have characterised a loss-of-function zebrafish model for CDD, containing a nonsense mutation in cdkl5. cdkl5 mutant zebrafish display defects in neuronal patterning, seizures, microcephaly, and reduced muscle function caused by impaired muscle innervation. This study provides a powerful vertebrate model for investigating CDD disease pathophysiology and allowing high-throughput screening for effective therapies.

This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
Combining Non-invasive Ventilation with timed position change in the Emergency Department to improve oxygenation and outcomes in patients with COVID-19: A prospective analysis from a low resource setup
Authors: Ali Saima , Khatri Adeel , Ghouri Nida , Mukhtar Sama , Zawawi Suha , Saleem Syed Ghazanfar
Published: December 2021

Background: Moving away from invasive ventilation towards timed position change and non-invasive ventilation is especially of benefit in low and middle income countries, where judicious use of the available healthcare resources is the need of the day. Our study was conducted prospectively to develop strategies for non-invasive ventilation in combination with timed position change of patients to see its impact on their outcome.Objectives: Non-invasive ventilation has proven to be of benefit in COVID-19 related acute lung injury. The objective of this prospective, cross sectional study was to develop a protocol for the use of non-invasive ventilation with timed position change to improve COVID-19 patients’ outcomes in the Emergency Department (ED).

Methods: All patients presenting with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 were enrolled in the study from March 2020 to October 2020. Data was collected to see the effect of timed position change and non-invasive ventilation on these patients and its effect on delaying or avoiding invasive ventilation.

Results: Of the 207 COVID-19 patients presenting to the IHHN ED, 109(52.7%) had oxygen saturation in the nineties in supine position followed by right lateral in 37(17.9%), sitting up in 30(14.5%), left lateral in 29(14%) and prone position in 2(1%). Maximal oxygenation was achieved with non rebreather mask (NRM) and nasal prongs in 87(42%) of the patients, followed by the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in 29(14%).

Conclusion: Most of the patients preferred to stay in the supine position and described it as the position of comfort. When used in combination supine position, patients on NRM with nasal prongs and on CPAP, had oxygen saturation in the nineties. Central obesity was found to be the prime reason for the inability to prone our patients. This needs to be followed up in the current fourth wave of COVID-19 to see the effectiveness of the said modalities.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.ICON-2022.5772

How to cite this:Ali S, Khatri A, Ghouri N, Mukhtar S, Zawawi S, Saleem SG. Combining Non-invasive Ventilation with timed position change in the Emergency Department to improve oxygenation and outcomes in patients with COVID-19: A prospective analysis from a low resource setup. Pak J Med Sci. 2022;38(2):375-379. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.ICON-2022.5772

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
The Obstructive Lung Diseases Program: Integrated obstructive lung disease services within primary care in Pakistan
Authors: Saeed Saima , Siddiqui Madiha , Altaf Rahma
Published: December 2021

Objective: To assess the learning impact of e-curriculums on healthcare professionals (HCPs). The second objective was to report the screening, detection and clinical features of patients with obstructive lung diseases (OLD) through an integrated care program at The Indus Hospital & Health Network (IHHN), Karachi, Pakistan.

Methods: A retrospective, observational study was conducted in the Family Medicine outpatient department from January 2019 till July 2021. HCPs were trained on the diagnosis and management of OLD through e-learning. Patients were screened clinically for OLD and had spirometry performed if suspect. Baseline characteristics, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), spirometry and treatment modalities were collected. Univariate analysis was done on Excel and paired t-testing was performed on Stata 16. 

Results: Online training on clinical aspects of OLD was completed by 33 HCPs, amongst whom 77.9% demonstrated improved post-test evaluations of 26.8% (p=0.000). Of 1896 patients screened, 60.8% were diagnosed as OLD. Asthmatics accounted for 66.5% (60.9% females, median age 39 years). In 84.5% of patients who completed PROMs, poor control of symptoms was reported. Inhaler technique was taught in 66.5%. Breathless patients, with a high modified Medical Research Council score (mMRC ≥ 2, n=234), were referred for pulmonary rehabilitation in 92% of cases. Tobacco cessation advice was delivered to 61.1% of all current users (n=229).

Conclusion: The OLD program uses capacity building, gold standard diagnostics and updated management strategies in primary care, allowing earlier diagnosis of suspected patients and implementation of evidence-based interventions, aiming to improve their morbidity and mortality.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.ICON-2022.5781

How to cite this:Saeed S, Siddiqui M, Altaf R. The Obstructive Lung Diseases Program: Integrated obstructive lung disease services within primary care in Pakistan. Pak J Med Sci. 2022;38(2):334-339. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.ICON-2022.5781

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
To determine the association between asthma severity and hospital admission measured by Pediatric Respiratory Assessment Measure (PRAM) score at Indus Hospital and Health Network, Karachi, Pakistan, 2020-2021
Authors: Kazi Unaisa , Gul Rukh Saira , Zawawi Suha , Laila Saba , Fareeduddin Mohammad , Saleem Syed Ghazanfar
Published: December 2021

Objectives: To determine the association between asthma severity and the likelihood of hospitalization by using Pediatric Respiratory Assessment Measure (PRAM) score for pediatric patients who present to the emergency department (ED) with mild, moderate or severe asthma exacerbations and those who received standard intensive asthma therapy.

Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted in children aged between 2 to 14 years. The data was entered and analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. To be included in the study, the children must have received “intensive asthma therapy” defined as administration of systemic corticosteroids with three albuterol treatments and ipratropium.

Results: A total of 437 patients were enrolled in the study out of which 250 were male and 187 were female. The mean age was 6.1 ± 3.4 years with a minimum age of two and a maximum age of 14 years. The 4-hour PRAM score (AUC = 0.88) overall significantly improved the predictive value of admission (p value <0.001) as compared to the PRAM score calculated at triage (AUC = 0.81).

Conclusion: The 4-hour PRAM score is the best predictor for the need of hospitalization. It is suggested that these results are applied clinically in the pediatric ED to improve patient flow and to better facilitate intensive therapy of patients at triage to decrease the need for hospitalization.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.ICON-2022.5783

How to cite this:Kazi U, Gul Rukh S, Zawawi S, Laila S, Fareeduddin M, Saleem SG. To determine the association between asthma severity and hospital admission measured by Pediatric Respiratory Assessment Measure (PRAM) score at Indus Hospital and Health Network, Karachi, Pakistan, 2020-2021. Pak J Med Sci. 2022;38(2):345-350. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.ICON-2022.5783

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Essays on human capital and regional economics
Authors: Τσίτου Σοφία
Published: December 2021

Οι εμπειρικές μελέτες για το ανθρώπινο κεφάλαιο και την περιφερειακή οικονομία προσπαθούν να ελέγξουν εμπειρικά τους καθοριστικούς παράγοντες και τις επιπτώσεις του ανθρωπίνου κεφαλαίου στα οικονομικά αποτελέσματα σε συγκεκριμένες περιοχές. Παλαιότερες μελέτες προσπάθησαν να εξηγήσουν τους παράγοντες που επηρεάζουν τη διαμόρφωση του ανθρώπινου κεφαλαίου. Η αναγκαστική μετανάστευση, η ιδιοκτησία γης, η θρησκεία, ο πολιτισμός, η αστικοποίηση, οι κλιματικοί παράγοντες και οι γεωγραφικοί παράγοντες έχουν σημαντικές επιπτώσεις στη δημιουργία ανθρωπίνου κεφαλαίου, ενώ με τη σειρά του ο σχηματισμός ανθρωπίνου κεφαλαίου επηρεάζει την οικονομική ανάπτυξη συγκεκριμένων περιοχών. Η παρούσα διατριβή σχετίζεται με την ανάλυση του ανθρωπίνου κεφαλαίου και της περιφερειακής οικονομίας, καθώς εξετάζει με ποιον τρόπο οι πτυχές της αναγκαστικής μετανάστευσης, της ιδιοκτησίας γης, της αστικοποίησης, του πολιτισμού και της γεωγραφίας καθορίζουν την ποσότητα και την ποιότητα του σχηματισμού ανθρωπίνου κεφαλαίου σε μια συγκεκριμένη γεωγραφικά καθορισμένη περιοχή. Επιπλέον, διερευνά πώς ο σχηματισμός ανθρωπίνου κεφαλαίου επηρεάζει την οικονομική ανάπτυξη όσον αφορά την έναρξη νέων επιχειρήσεων. Συνολικά, η παρούσα διατριβή σχετίζεται με τη βιβλιογραφία που εξετάζει τους ιστορικούς καθοριστικούς παράγοντες του ανθρωπίνου κεφαλαίου και παρέχει στοιχεία για την αιτιώδη σχέση μεταξύ ανθρωπίνου κεφαλαίου και οικονομικής ανάπτυξης.
An outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis food poisoning following consumption of chicken shawarma: A brief epidemiological investigation
Authors: Deepanjali Surendran , Jharna Mandal , Chanaveerappa Bammigatti , Sarumathi Dhandapani , Gopichand Pallam , Anupriya Kaliyappan
Published: December 2021

Background: Shawarma, a popular meat-based fast food could be a source of foodborne outbreak due to non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS). A clustering of acute gastrointestinal (GI) illness following intake of chicken shawarma occurred primarily among the staff and students of a tertiary care hospital in southern India.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted among 348 undergraduate medical students (33 cases, 315 controls).  Data was collected using direct interviews and a simple online questionnaire. Epidemiological associations of GI illness were evaluated at three levels of exposure namely-eating food from any restaurant, eating food from the implicated food outlet, eating chicken shawarma from the implicated outlet.

Results: Of 33 cases, 26 had consumed food from a particular food outlet, 4 from other outlets, and 3 did not report eating out. Consumption of food from the suspected food outlet was significantly associated with GI illness (odds ratio 121.8 [95% CI 28.41 to 522.66]; P<0.001); all the 26 cases who had eaten from the particular outlet had eaten chicken shawarma. By comparison, only one of the 315 controls had eaten this dish. Of the 27 persons (cases as well as controls) who had consumed chicken shawarma from the outlet, 26 were ill. Culture of stool samples from 10 affected individuals and implicated food item yielded Salmonella Enteritidis.

Conclusions: Meat-based shawarma is a potential source of NTS infection. Food safety authorities should enforce guidelines for safe preparation and sale of shawarmas and similar products.
A narrative inquiry into the resettlement of armed forces personnel in the Arabian Gulf: a model for successful transition and positive mental well-being
Authors: Mottershead Richard , Alonaizi Nafi
Published: December 2021

Background: The study sought to explore the lived experiences of individuals having served in the Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia, as they made the transition to civilian life and sought new employment opportunities.    

Methods: Researchers carried out qualitative research in the form of narrative inquiry. Narratives were collected from eleven in-depth interviews conducted in Saudi Arabia in 2021, allowed for insight into participant experiences. Existing literature on military retirement was also investigated.

Results: Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed concurrently using thematic analysis to identify patterns or themes. The researchers adopted thematic synthesis as an analytical framework though which descriptive themes from the literature on military retirement were generated. Overall, this approach allowed for the comparison of themes in literature with those of narrative interviews.

Conclusion: The study identified challenges encountered by veterans during the resettlement and transitional phase from military to civilian life. There was a general consensus, however, that military life equips individuals with valuable skills that are transferrable to successful post-military employment, known as Positive Transferable Adaptability for Employability (PTAE), (Mottershead, 2019), which can greatly empower those making the transition. These findings led the researchers to develop a new model for veteran career paths that meet the contemporary employment needs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: the REVERE Transition Model, which identifies six career paths.
New records of lichens and lichenicolous fungi from Murmansk Region, Russia
Authors: Urbanavichus Gennadii , Urbanavichene Irina
Published: December 2021

As a contribution to the lichen flora of the Murmansk Region, eight taxa of lichens and lichenicolous fungi collected from the biogeographic province Kuusamo, are reported for the first time, including two species new to Russia: Roselliniella nephromatis and Scytinium aquale. Arthonia granitophila is new to European Russia, and Sclerophora amabilis – for North European Russia. Comments on habitats, substrates, key anatomical features and distribution of new records are provided.
Parmelia barrenoae and P. pinnatifida, two lichen species new to some European countries and Turkey
Authors: Ossowska Emilia A.
Published: December 2021

The first records of Parmelia barrenoae from Hungary, Slovakia and Sweden and P. pinnatifida from Denmark, Estonia and Turkey are presented.
Placolecis kashmirensis sp. nov. (Lichenized Ascomycota, Catillariaceae) from Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan
Authors: Kousar Robina , Zulfiqar Rizwana , Khalid Abdul Nasir
Published: December 2021

Placolecis kashmirensis sp. nov. is described from Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. It is characterized by a yellowish-brown thallus, hyaline, broadly ellipsoid ascospores, a relatively taller hymenium and pear-shaped pycnidia. The generic position is confirmed by a phylogenetic analysis based on nrITS sequences. Description, a phylogenetic tree, and identification key for all the known Placolecis species are provided.
New assessment of Least Concern lichens in the Red List of Estonia: are common species still common?
Authors: Randlane Tiina , Jüriado Inga , Degtjarenko Polina , Saag Andres
Published: December 2021

The threat status of 161 lichenized species that were considered common in Estonia was assessed in 2021. For most of these species, it was the second Red List assessment using the IUCN system (the first such evaluation was performed in 2008). The main data sources for species occurrence were the records reported in 100 study sites located throughout the country during 2020, and the PlutoF biodiversity database. 125 species remained, according to the new assessment, in the category Least Concern (LC) and their populations are not under threat in Estonia at present. Two species were placed in the category Not Applicable (NA) because of systematic revisions while 33 species were assigned to the categories Endangered (EN), Vulnerable (VU) or Near Threatened (NT); one further species received the status Data Deficient (DD). Thus, the threat status has changed for 22% of the studied species that had generally been considered common in Estonia. The reasons for this change are variable but there is clear evidence that 26 species have become more threatened during last 12 years.
Development of the Concept of “Labor” in the Process of Intercultural Communication (on the Example of Precedent Fable Texts)
Authors: Nikolaidi M.
Published: December 2021

In connection with the actualization of the processes of globalization in modern science, the question of literary texts in the process of intercultural communication is acute, as well as how the values and experience of one culture are transmitted and perceived by another culture. In this article, there is attempt, using the example of fable texts by Aesop, La Fontaine and I. A. Krylov as precedent texts not only of their own, but also of world culture, to analyze the place occupied by the concept of "labor" in Greek, French and Russian linguocultures, respectively. Also, the purpose of the article is to demonstrate what are the similarities and differences of this concept in the linguistic cultures of different countries.
Name of Russian Podcasts: Semantics and Pragmatics
Authors: Gaputina Violetta
Published: December 2021

This article addresses the issues of organizing the communicative space of modern media. The main focus is on considering the names of podcasts - audio blogs on the Internet - in terms of the various language techniques used in them. The material for the study was podcasts operating on the platforms of the Internet site YouTube and the social network Vkontakte in Russia. 9 groups of podcast titles were identified by the type of reception underlying each name. It has been established that the corpus of titles in the podcasting industry is characterized by a wide variety. Among them, original names predominate, built on the basis of a language game, precedent texts, borrowings from other languages, stylistically marked words or implicit meaning, metaphorical, symbolic, ironic component embedded in them, which work on the implementation of a contact-establishing strategy for subsequent communication between mediators and the audience listeners.
Interpreting Alexander Chayanov’s Peasant Utopia since 1991
Authors: George Lucian
Published: December 2021

Composed in 1919 as a rebuke to Bolshevik rule, Alexander Chayanov’s utopian story about a future, peasant-dominated Russia has fascinated scholars from a wide variety of disciplines. This article provides a critical overview of the Russian- and English-language scholarship on Chayanov’s peasant utopia that has emerged over the last three decades. The intellectual and ideological contexts in which the text has been situated are explored and compared. The article also discusses how the utopia has been understood in ideological and political terms, and how scholars have wrestled with ambiguities arising from its relativism, parodic qualities and potentially dystopian elements.
Reproduction of Artworks in the Lippmannian-Frankfurtian Debates During Advanced Technology Era
Authors: Binnatli Azer
Published: December 2021

The development of technology leads to mechanical reproduction of artworks. This tendency brings the paradox whether mechanical reproduction of artworks enlightens or blinds society. Optimistic perspective of Walter Benjamin and Lippmannian school on reproducibility faces pessimistic view of Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer. Thus, the main aim of this paper is to compare W. Lippmann, W. Benjamin, T. Adorno and M. Horkheimer’s views and summarize by checking suitability of two schools’ perspectives in advanced technological century.
Uwarunkowania prawne udziału społeczeństwa w procesie planowania energii odnawialnej w Polsce
Authors: Chludziński Bartłomiej , Rokicka-Murszewska Karolina
Published: December 2021

Przejście od energetyki węglowej do niskoemisyjnej to proces stanowiący prawdziwe wyzwanie dla polskiego społeczeństwa. Na poziomie krajowym w sporze tym widoczna jest zasadnicza ambiwalencja polegająca na przywiązaniu do energetyki węglowej i pilnej potrzebie dekarbonizacji energetyki. Te przeciwstawne postawy rodzą konflikt interesów grup społecznych, z których jedne opowiadają się za dalszym wytwarzaniem energii z węgla, a inne popierają rozwój wykorzystania odnawialnych źródeł energii. Polityka rozwoju sektora energetycznego w Polsce zdaje się uwzględniać to zjawisko, proponując ewolucyjny model dywersyfikacji źródeł energii oraz rozwiązania mające na celu neutralizację napięć społecznych w tym obszarze.
Raíces que asoman en la Universidad de Ottawa: acciones artísticas desde la autobiografía de una arteducadora afro para profesorado de educación secundaria.
Authors: López-Ganet Tiffany
Published: December 2021

El presente trabajo de Investigación Educativa Basada en las Artes pretende mostrar las posibilidades metodológicas de la autobiografía en el campo de la Educación Artística con vistas a hallar un vínculo entre el profesorado y su propia realidad y hacer partícipe de toda esa búsqueda al alumnado. A través de mi autobiografía como arteducadora —que creo a partir de una introspección personal utilizando metodologías artísticas e instrumentos de investigación como archivos fotográficos y audiovisuales de mi álbum familiar— genero una reflexión en torno a mi realidad como mujer negra, bubi y gallega en un entorno mayoritariamente blanco de la diáspora. Extrapolo esos recuerdos en forma de estrategias artísticas que pongo en práctica en distintos lugares del mundo como A Coruña (España), Ottawa (Canadá), Anantapur (India) y Malabo (Guinea Ecuatorial). Comparto en este artículo las acciones llevadas a cabo en la Universidad de Ottawa con profesorado de educación secundaria como muestra de las posibilidades de cambio al llegar a docentes que a su vez pueden transmitir sus conocimientos a su alumnado
De maceta a rizoma: las artes visuales como mediación pedagógica para la transformación e inclusión social de las personas con Trastorno del Espectro Autista (TEA).
Authors: Sánchez-Ríos Darlyn
Published: December 2021

La propuesta de investigación-acción se presenta como una investigación principalmente de acción social en la praxis reflexiva-teórica, la cual se concreta en una intervención de talleres artísticos durante 4 años en un centro de educación especial del sistema educativo público costarricense, y está enmarcada en el trabajo multidisciplinar que comprende la enseñanza del arte y la comunicación visual, la educación inclusiva y el contexto educativo de la discapacidad, donde los participantes estuvieron involucrados directamente en el trabajo con las artes visuales. La docente investigadora y educadora de arte y comunicación visual se posiciona en este proceso como docente en un centro de enseñanza especial donde promueve el derecho de las personas con el Trastorno del Espectro Autista a recibir una educación inclusiva e integral desde la óptica de las artes visuales. La finalidad de la investigación fue la de proponer un cambio de paradigma en la educación de estas personas desde su contexto educativo inmediato a través de mediación pedagógica desde las artes visuales, como mejoramiento para su bienestar humano. Valorando aspectos de la practica como brindarles calidad de vida, su autodeterminación, identificando sus necesidades e intereses y valorando el hecho de desarrollar su creatividad, habilidades cognitivas, motoras y sociales, y promover una mayor autonomía, comunicación y expresión a través de procesos artísticos como vehículos de construcción del conocimiento.
Rozmowa a kształcenie we współczesnym uniwersytecie
Authors: Godoń Rafał
Published: December 2021

Conversation and Teaching at the Contemporary University
This paper examines the contemporary condition of teaching at universities. It argues that university is endangered by losing its identity. The difference between school and university is introduced as a representative example of the problem. The main argument refers to the Gadamerian concept of conversation and it suggests that high quality education is dialogical in its tenor. Unfortunately, tertiary educational quite often differs in practice from what we understand in current European pedagogy as an educational experience. In the first part of this paper, the question on the pedagogical potential of conversation is raised. The second and third parts provide a description of university as a place where education as a dialogical experience still prevails, particularly in lecturing as a form of teaching.
Innovación social: un análisis bibliométrico del concepto y sus tendencias actuales
Authors: Maestre Leydis , Páez Cabas Andrea , Lombana Jahir , Vega Jaider
Published: December 2021

El concepto de innovación social se ha desarrollado desde el año 2006, por lo que es considerado un término novedoso que se encuentra en etapa de construcción. Este artículo tiene como objetivo dar a conocer el inicio, evolución y tendencias actuales de la innovación social, además de mostrar los autores seminales y con mayor número de publicaciones, las revistas con tendencias de publicación del tema, las metodologías utilizadas y los países que apoyan estas investigaciones. La metodología empleada consistió en una revisión sistemática de la literatura a través del análisis bibliométrico con aplicación de la teoría de grafos. Dentro de los hallazgos más sobresalientes, se encontró que el concepto de innovación social es heterogéneo y sin límites definidos, y que su análisis se está generando en cuatro niveles: general, macro, meso y micro, cada uno con sus tendencias internas. Sin embargo, se presentan aún deficiencias metodológicas, relacionadas con marcos teóricos para la investigación del concepto y ausencia de estudios sectoriales con casos específicos que evidencien la aplicación de la innovación social.
Periodic Event Scheduling for Automated Production Systems
Authors: Helmberg Christoph , Hofmann Tobias , Wenzel David
Published: December 2021

Consider optimizing a periodic schedule for an automated production plant as a last step of a more comprehensive design process. In our scenario, each robot’s cyclic sequence of operations and trajectories between potential waiting points have already been fully specified. Further given are those precedences that fix sequence requirements on operations between different robots. It remains to determine the starting time for each operation or movement of each robot within a common cyclic time period so as to avoid collisions of robots that operate in the same space simultaneously. So the task is to find a conflict-resolving schedule that minimizes this common periodic cycle time while observing all precedence relations and collision avoidance constraints. The proposed cycle time minimization problem for robot coordination has, to the best of our knowledge, not been studied before. We develop an approach for solving it by employing binary search for determining the smallest feasible period time of an iso-periodic event scheduling problem (IPESP). This is a variant of the periodic event scheduling problem in which the objects that have to be scheduled need to obey exactly the same period time. The possibility to wait arbitrarily long at waiting points turns out to be essential to justify the use of binary search for identifying the minimum cycle time, thereby avoiding bilinear mixed integer formulations. Special properties of the given scenario admit bounds on the periodic tension variables of an integer programming formulation. Although the IPESP subproblems remain NP-complete in general, these bounds allow solving real-world instances sufficiently fast for the approach to be applicable in practice. Numerical experiments on real-world and randomly generated data are supplied to illustrate the potential and limitations of this approach.

Summary of Contribution: When designing automated production plants, a crucial step is to identify the smallest possible per unit period time for the production processes. Based on periodic event scheduling ideas, we develop and analyze mathematical methods for this purpose. We show that the algorithmic implementation of our approach provides an answer to current real-world designs in reasonable time.
Teacher Competences for Teaching English as a Foreign Language in the First Educational Cycle of Primary Education
Authors: Dagarin-Fojkar Mateja , Grahut Mirjam , Skubic Darija
Published: December 2021

Foreign language teaching in the Slovenian educational context begins in the first grade (age 6). Many studies report a lack of qualified teachers at this stage of learning around the world and numerous authors emphasise the misconception that basic linguistic and didactic knowledge of teachers is sufficient for teaching children. All three Slovenian public universities are aware of this problem and offer pre-service and in-service programmes for (student) teachers who want to specialise in teaching English to young learners. In the present article, we focus on the subject-specific teacher competences for teaching English in the first three years of primary education; namely, linguistic, subject didactic and intercultural competences. We explore teachers’ self-assessment of these competences and their perception of certain elements pertaining to them. The study seeks to answer the following research questions: (1) What subject-specific competences do teachers consider essential for teaching English in the first cycle of primary education? (2) To what extent do teachers believe they have developed certain subject-specific competences? (3) What are teachers’ attitudes toward certain subject-specific competences that the teacher needs for teaching English in the first cycle of primary education? The results of the quantitative survey, in which 100 teachers participated, show that teachers perceive their subject didactic competence to be the most developed and their intercultural competence to be the least developed. Moreover, they consider that a basic level of English is not sufficient for teaching English in the first grades.
Teacher Competences for Teaching English as a Foreign Language in the First Educational Cycle of Primary Education
Authors: Dagarin-Fojkar Mateja , Grahut Mirjam , Skubic Darija
Published: December 2021

Foreign language teaching in the Slovenian educational context begins in the first grade (age 6). Many studies report a lack of qualified teachers at this stage of learning around the world and numerous authors emphasise the misconception that basic linguistic and didactic knowledge of teachers is sufficient for teaching children. All three Slovenian public universities are aware of this problem and offer pre-service and in-service programmes for (student) teachers who want to specialise in teaching English to young learners. In the present article, we focus on the subject-specific teacher competences for teaching English in the first three years of primary education; namely, linguistic, subject didactic and intercultural competences. We explore teachers’ self-assessment of these competences and their perception of certain elements pertaining to them. The study seeks to answer the following research questions: (1) What subject-specific competences do teachers consider essential for teaching English in the first cycle of primary education? (2) To what extent do teachers believe they have developed certain subject-specific competences? (3) What are teachers’ attitudes toward certain subject-specific competences that the teacher needs for teaching English in the first cycle of primary education? The results of the quantitative survey, in which 100 teachers participated, show that teachers perceive their subject didactic competence to be the most developed and their intercultural competence to be the least developed. Moreover, they consider that a basic level of English is not sufficient for teaching English in the first grades.
Numerical Analysis to Predict Temperature Distribution of Passion Fruit Seeds During Drying
Authors: Azis Atri Dewi
Published: December 2021

Highlights

A temperature distribution occurred due to temperature differences between the surface and inside passion fruit seeds.

The temperature distribution occurred simultaneously in all directions.

The temperature distribution decreased at greater depths inside the seeds.

The same temperature distribution pattern occurred in the vertical and horizontal directions.

Abstract. Optimization of the drying process can be determined based on temperature distribution patterns using numerical analysis with the finite element method (FEM). This study compiled a numerical analysis using FEM to predict the temperature distribution in passion fruit seeds during drying. The study was conducted using a circulating-air tray dryer. Temperature distribution data on passion fruit seeds were measured using a data logger. The results showed that numerical analysis using FEM quickly and accurately simulated the temperature distribution in passion fruit seeds during drying. The model was validated by comparing the temperature distribution data measured in the drying chamber with the simulation results, with a relative error of 0.45% to 1.27%. Numerical analysis using FEM provides an useful reference for controlling temperature distribution during drying because this method is easy to implement and results in low errors. Keywords: Drying, Finite element methods, Numerical analysis, Passion fruit seeds, Temperature distribution.
Direct-writing of cladding waveguide in PMNPT crystal by femtosecond laser micromachining
Authors: Liu Hongliang , Chen Zhixiang , Ren Yingying
Published: December 2021

In this work, the depressed cladding waveguide in PMN-PT crystal is fabricated by using a femtosecond laser with a central wavelength of 800 nm for the first time. The result of the confocal micro-Raman shows the change of Raman signal in each region. When coupling a laser at 980 nm into the depressed cladding waveguide in the PMN-PT sample, the output characteristics with temperatures under TM and TE polarizations are also explored, and the result shows that the insertion loss under TM polarization is only 1.33 dB at 50 °C.
Temperature dependent Raman spectroscopic study of Fano resonance in perovskite ferroelectric KTa1-xNbxO3 single crystal
Authors: Wu Yabo , Liang Fei , Wang Xuping , Wang Jiyang , Yu Haohai , Zhang Huaijin
Published: December 2021

Fano resonance arises from the interference of a localized discrete state coupled to the continuum states, which has become an indispensable probe in physical and chemical sciences. Compared with plenty of studies in the artificial meta-structures, Fano resonances in single crystals were rarely reported. Herein, we performed a comprehensive study on Fano resonances of KTa1-xNbxO3 (KTN) ferroelectric single crystals using temperature dependent Raman spectroscopy. The Fano asymmetric q factors were fitted for KTN crystals with various Nb concentrations. We found that the q factors were strongly correlated to Curie temperature Tc and ferroelectric polarization arrangement in different phase regions. In addition, the regulation of dopant transition metals on the Fano effect was also investigated in Cu:KTN and Fe:KTN crystals.
Anforderungen sicherheitskritischer Dienste an Augmented Reality-Lösungen – Wassertiefenmessung in einem Seehafen
Authors: Bräker Julia , Osterbrink Anna , Wiesche Manuel , Semmann Martin
Published: December 2021

Augmented Reality ist eine zunehmend weiter verbreitete Technologie. Die Potenziale in Bereichen außergewöhnlich hoher kognitiver Anforderungen in sicherheitskritischen Kontexten sind bisher allerdings wenig untersucht. Insbesondere Dienstleistungen, die umfassendes Fachwissen voraussetzen, sicherheitskritisch sind und parallel auszuführende Aufgaben erfordern, können durch den Einsatz von Augmented Reality in ihrer Ausführung unterstützt werden. In solchen Dienstleistungen ermöglicht Augmented Reality eine nahtlose Integration wesentlicher Informationen in das Sichtfeld der Nutzenden. Beim Einsatz von Head-Mounted Displays kann zudem eine freihändige Interaktion erfolgen. Diese Arbeit untersucht die nutzerzentrierten Anforderungen an Augmented Reality-Lösungen in einem sicherheitskritischen Bereich im Betrieb eines großen europäischen Seehafens. Konkret geht es um Wassertiefenmessung des gesamten Hafengebiets zur Instandhaltung der Hafeninfrastruktur. Basierend auf elf Think-Aloud-Sitzungen während der Messfahrten, zwei Experteninterviews und zwei Expertenworkshops, wurden fünf Anforderungen an Augmented Reality bei der Wassertiefenmessung abgeleitet, die eine Lösung zur Unterstützung der Dienstleistung erfüllen sollte. Unseres Wissens nach präsentieren wir damit die erste Studie zur Anwendbarkeit und Umsetzbarkeit von Augmented Reality in der maritimen Industrie und identifizieren Anforderungen, die sich auf die weitere Forschung zum Einsatz von Augmented Reality in sicherheitskritischen Umgebungen übertragen lassen.
Decreased glutamate transport in acivicin resistant Leishmania tarentolae
Authors: Roy Gaétan , Bhattacharya Arijit , Leprohon Philippe , Ouellette Marc
Published: December 2021

Studies of drug resistance in the protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania have been helpful in revealing biochemical pathways as potential drug targets. The chlorinated glutamine analogue acivicin has shown good activity against Leishmania cells and was shown to target several enzymes containing amidotransferase domains. We selected a Leishmania tarentolae clone for acivicin resistance. The genome of this resistant strain was sequenced and the gene coding for the amidotransferase domain-containing GMP synthase was found to be amplified. Episomal expression of this gene in wild-type L. tarentolae revealed a modest role in acivicin resistance. The most prominent defect observed in the resistant mutant was reduced uptake of glutamate, and through competition experiments we determined that glutamate and acivicin, but not glutamine, share the same transporter. Several amino acid transporters (AATs) were either deleted or mutated in the resistant cells. Some contributed to the acivicin resistance phenotype although none corresponded to the main glutamate transporter. Through sequence analysis one AAT on chromosome 22 corresponded to the main glutamate transporter. Episomal expression of the gene coding for this transporter in the resistant mutant restored glutamate transport and acivicin susceptibility. Its genetic knockout led to reduced glutamate transport and acivicin resistance. We propose that acivicin binds covalently to this transporter and as such leads to decreased transport of glutamate and acivicin thus leading to acivicin resistance.