bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of Monte Carlo Algorithms to Cardiac Imaging Reconstruction
Authors: Zhou J. , Leja A. G. , Salvatori M. , Latta D. Della , Di Fulvio A.
Published: December 2020

Monte Carlo algorithms have a growing impact on nuclear medicine reconstruction processes. One of
the main limitations of myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) is the effective mitigation of the scattering component,
which is particularly challenging in Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT). In SPECT,
no timing information can be retrieved to locate the primary source photons. Monte Carlo methods allow an
event-by-event simulation of the scattering kinematics, which can be incorporated into a model of the imaging
system response. This approach was adopted in the late Nineties by several authors, and recently took advantage
of the increased computational power made available by high-performance CPUs and GPUs. These recent developments
enable a fast image reconstruction with improved image quality, compared to deterministic approaches.
Deterministic approaches are based on energy-windowing of the detector response, and on the cumulative estimate
and subtraction of the scattering component. In this paper, we review the main strategies and algorithms to
correct the scattering effect in SPECT and focus on Monte Carlo developments, which nowadays allow the threedimensional
reconstruction of SPECT cardiac images in a few seconds.
Hairy Root Culture an Alternative for Bioactive Compound Production from Medicinal Plants
Authors: Roy Arpita
Published: December 2020

:

Medicinal plants produce a diverse group of phytocompounds like anthraquinones, alkaloids,
anthocyanins, flavonoids, saponins, and terpenes which are used in pharmaceutical, perfume,
cosmetics, dye and flavor industries. Commercial source of these metabolites is field-grown plants,
which are generally influenced by seasonal changes. Biotechnology possesses a significant role in production
of high-value secondary metabolites. By incorporating biotechnological methods, it is feasible
to manage biosynthetic pathways of the plant to enhance phytocompound production that is of pharmaceutical
interest. Plant cell suspension, shoot, adventitious root and hairy root culture are considered
as alternative methods for important bioactive compound production. These methods are controllable,
sustainable and overcome several inconveniences for large scale secondary metabolites production. At
present research on hairy root culture for valuable bioactive compound production has gained a lot of
attention. Agrobacterium rhizogenes is an agent which causes hairy root disease in a plant and this
leads to the neoplastic growth of root which is characterized by higher growth rate and genetic stability.
Various studies explore the hairy root culture for production of a wide range of bioactive compounds.
Scale-up of hairy root culture using bioreactors has provided an opportunity to enhance bioactive
compound production at the commercial level. The present review discusses the role of hairy root
culture in the production of valuable bioactive compounds, the effect of culture parameters on bioactive
compound production and bioreactor applications.
The Role of Nitro (NO2-), Chloro (Cl), and Fluoro (F) Substitution in the Design of Antileishmanial and Antichagasic Compounds
Authors: Kamdem Boniface P. , Elizabeth Ferreira I.
Published: December 2020

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are responsible for over 500,000 deaths annually and
are characterized by multiple disabilities. Leishmaniasis and Chagas diseases are among the most
severe NTDs, and are caused by the Leishmania sp and Trypanosoma cruzi, respectively. Glucantime,
pentamidine, and miltefosine are commonly used to treat leishmaniasis, whereas nifurtimox, benznidazole
are current treatments for Chagas disease. However, these treatments are associated with drug
resistance and severe side effects. Hence, the development of synthetic products, especially those
containing N02, F, or Cl, are known to improve biological activity. The present work summarizes the
information on the antileishmanial and antitrypanosomal activity of nitro-, chloro-, and fluorosynthetic
derivatives. Scientific publications referring to halogenated derivatives in relation to antileishmanial
and antitrypanosomal activities were hand-searched in databases such as SciFinder,
Wiley, Science Direct, PubMed, ACS, Springer, Scielo, and so on. According to the literature information,
more than 90 compounds were predicted as lead molecules with reference to their IC50/EC50
values in in vitro studies. It is worth mentioning that only active compounds with known cytotoxic
effects against mammalian cells were considered in the present study. The observed activity was attributed
to the presence of nitro-, fluoro-, and chloro-groups in the compound backbone. All in all,
nitro and halogenated derivatives are active antileishmanial and antitrypanosomal compounds and can
serve as the baseline for the development of new drugs against leishmaniasis and Chagas disease.
However, efforts in in vitro and in vivo toxicity studies of the active synthetic compounds is still
needed. Pharmacokinetic studies and the mechanism of action of the promising compounds need to be
explored. The use of new catalysts and chemical transformation can afford unexplored halogenated
compounds with improved antileishmanial and antitrypanosomal activity.
Novel Strategies to Combat the Emerging Drug Resistance in Human Pathogenic Microbes
Authors: Qadri Hafsa , Shah Abdul H. , Mir Manzoor
Published: December 2020

The major health-care burden for the developing world are infectious diseases where antimicrobial
agents prove to be the magical drugs to combat this. But the phenomenon of antimicrobial
resistance (AMR) represents a challenging global issue, which requires to be addressed effectively.
The antimicrobial treatment for the emerging multidrug-resistant bacterial (e.g. TB, Cholera) and
fungal (e.g. Candidiasis) infections is very limited, and there are multiple causes and reasons responsible
for the evolution of such resistance. Considering the critical issues of increasing AMR, there is
an urgent requirement of the identification, development, validation, and progression of novel strategies
and approaches that can easily be utilized for overcoming this serious issue. Immunotherapy
represents a significant way to improve host defenses and combat the issue of antimicrobial drug
resistance. Similarly, drug combination therapy represents another promising approach for reducing
the evolution of resistance and enhancing the longevity of the antimicrobial agents. Bacteriophage
therapy also acts as a novel therapeutic option to control the development of the multidrug resistance
(MDR) phenomenon. Besides, CRISPR, an innovative genome editing technology, offers multiple
applications to safeguard host defenses to overcome different resistance challenges. The novel approaches/
strategies like combination therapy, bacteriophage therapy, immunotherapy, and
CRISPR/Cas discussed here presents an overview of some of the novel strategies/approaches to be
adopted against the pathogenic microbes/microbial invasions along with advanced knowledge of different
drug resistance mechanisms adopted by the microbial pathogens to gain resistance against different
antimicrobial agents. Therefore, understanding the novel control plans/approaches and different
drug resistance mechanisms will help achieve the goals of the successful development of potential
antimicrobial drugs and their respective targets and eventually help curtail the problem of increasing
antimicrobial drug resistance menace in various human pathogenic microbes.
Recent Advances in Metal-Catalyzed Heterocyclic C-P Bond Formation
Authors: Xu Feng , Hui Yu
Published: December 2020

The phosphorus-containing heterocycles are an important class of compounds in organic chemistry.
Because of their potential application in many fields, especially, the synthetic pesticides, medicine and catalyst,
the phosphorus-containing heterocycles have attracted continuous attention from organic synthesis scientists. The
development of efficient and low-cost catalytic systems is of great interest for the construction of heterocycles
C-P bond. Usually, the phosphorus-containing heterocycles is prepared via direct carbon–hydrogen (C-H) bond
activation or pre-functionalized of heterocycles with phosphorus-hydrogen (P-H) bond of phosphorus compounds
reaction by metal-catalyzed. This review summarizes recent progress in the heterocycles C-P bond formation reactions
by metal-catalyzed, which mainly focus on the discussion of the reaction mechanism. It aims to provide
efficient methods for the future synthesis and application in this field.
The Effect of Stress Management Program on Perceived Stress in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Ehasanbakhsh Hadi , Mirzaei Amin , Bakhtiyari Salar , Zavare Mohammad Sadegh Abedzade , Jalilian Mohsen
Published: December 2020

Introduction:

Stress management plays an important role in improving metabolic control in type 2 diabetes
patients. The aim of this study was to find the effect of educational intervention on improving stress management in type 2
diabetic patients in Dezful, Iran.

Methods:

In an experimental study, 92 patients with Type 2 Diabetes, who referred to the Diabetes Clinic of Ganjavian
Hospital of Dezful were selected by available sampling method. Then, they were randomly divided into two groups: 46 as
intervention and 46 as control. For the intervention group, a stress management training program was designed for one
month (8 sessions), while there was no training for the control group. All participants filled the Cohen Perceived Stress
Questionnaire (PSQ) in baseline and follow up (3 months) phases. All the data were analyzed using SPSS software by
conducting independent t- test, and paired sample t- test, and Chi-square test at a significant level of 0.05.

Results:

The mean age of participants was 52.70 ± 10.91 years. Pre-test data revealed that there was no significant
difference between the stresses of the two groups (P> 0.05); however, the results of the independent t-test, 3 months after
educational intervention, demonstrated a significant decrease in stress level in the intervention group compared to the
control group (P <0.05).

Conclusion:

Based on the findings of this study, it is concluded that the design and implementation of health education
interventions can be useful to improve the stress management in people with Type 2 Diabetes.
A Multicenter Prospective Hospital-based Cohort Study on the Efficacy and Safety of Pitavastatin
Authors: Shehab Abdullah , Elnour Asim Ahmed , Bhagavathula Akshaya Srikanth , Kurian Joseph Pulavelil , Hassan Gazi , AlZaabi Shareen , Gilbert Huburt , Al-Rasadi Khalid
Published: December 2020

Aims:

We aim to investigate the efficacy and safety of pitavastatin 4 mg in a population
of people living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Background:

Pitavastatin is a member of the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors family which was approved
for use in adult subjects with primary hyperlipidemia or mixed dyslipidemia. To date, no
published studies have assessed the efficacy and safety of pitavastatin in the United Arab Emirates.

Objective:

The main objective of the current study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of pitavastatin
in subjects with dyslipidemia for the primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases based
on total cardiovascular risk.

Methods:

This was a multicentre (four private hospitals) prospective cohort study to analyze data
on the use of pitavastatin for dyslipidemia in adult outpatients in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, United
Arab Emirates. We have followed up the clinical profiles of subjects in four hospitals for six-weeks
during the period from June 2015 to June 2017. Efficacy was based on the evaluation of the mean
(± standard deviation) change in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol between baseline and week six
after the initiation of pitavastatin therapy. Safety was reported with respect to the incidence of adverse
events occurring with the use of pitavastatin and the development of new-onset diabetes.

Results:

A total of 400 subjects who were receiving pitavastatin 4 mg were included. The mean
age of subjects was 50.7 ±10.8 years; of these, 79.0% were males. At the baseline, the mean level
of total cholesterol was 185.4 ±41.5 mg/dL, low density lipoprotein was 154.9 ±48.55 mg/dL, high-
-density lipoprotein cholesterol was 40.5 ±11.23 mg/dL and fasting blood glucose was 115.0
(±16.63) mg/dl. At the end of six weeks, low density lipoprotein levels significantly decreased to
112.09 ±41.90 mg/dl (standard mean difference (SMD) (-42.8%), 95% CI: -42.88 [-49.17 to
-36.58] mg/dl, P <0.001), while high density lipoprotein levels improved (SMD, 95% CI: 1.77%
[0.25 to 3.28] mg/dl, P <0.022). There were 55 subjects (13.7%) who reported various adverse
events such as myalgia (7.5%), sleep disorders (2.5%), and myopathy (2.2%). Furthermore, 4
(1.0%) have had developed new-onset diabetes post-six-weeks of initiation of pitavastatin therapy.

Conclusion:

Pitavastatin 4 mg showed robust efficacy in reducing LDL-C levels and improving
HDL-C levels in subjects with dyslipidemia. The use of pitavastatin was associated with a low discontinuation
rate, fewer adverse events, and very limited cases of new-onset diabetes.
A Systematic Review on Pharmaceutical Diabetic Care Services in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Authors: Gillani Syed Wasif , Kaka Khan Khanda Kareem , Ladouani Douaa , Salama Nour Alaa
Published: December 2020

Objective::

The aim of this systematic review study is to evaluate the current services and pharmaceutical care practices for diabetic patients in UAE.

Methods::

Systematic review coverage conforms to the guidelines of the PRISMA; the search was limited to primary research articles, which describe the term ‘’ pharmaceutical diabetes care services in UAE’’. The search strategy was developed in collaboration with a health database librarian and a predetermined protocol was developed in conjunction with the authors for search methods.

Results::

The findings showed the affect on a prescription treatment system on disease prevention and health related quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes in United Arab Emirates. Implementing a retrospective interventional health evaluation to evaluate existing health procedure and the impact of conventional treatment on type 2 diabetes treatment (T2DM). The findings of this interventional evaluation were largely favorable, and the viability of changing the existing clinical procedure was stressed. The individualized strategy has helped clinicians reach a great result of terms of glycemic and BP, as well as patient satisfaction. The need of more work to clarify the long-term effect of organized strategy in enhancing the consistency of T2DM treatment in the UAE. The findings also showed increase community pharmacy services may further change the opinions of patients on the level of care provided from such pharmacies. The patients’ quality of life would improve by drug treatment efficacy and pharmacist services to mitigate diabetes complications.
The findings showed the effect on a prescription treatment system on disease prevention and health-related quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes in the United Arab Emirates. Implementing a retrospective interventional health evaluation to evaluate existing health procedure and the impact of conventional treatment on type 2 diabetes treatment (T2DM). The findings of this interventional evaluation were largely favorable, and the viability of changing the existing clinical procedure was stressed. The individualized strategy has helped clinicians reach a great result of terms of glycemic and BP, as well as patient satisfaction. The need for more work to clarify the long-term effect of organized strategy in enhancing the consistency of T2DM treatment in the UAE. The findings also showed increase community pharmacy services may further change the opinions of patients on the level of care provided from such pharmacies. The patients’ quality of life would improve by drug treatment efficacy and pharmacist services to mitigate diabetes complications.

Conclusion::

This systematic review reported beneficial pharmacist-led diabetic management services in UAE. Several care strategies also highlighted to improve service for type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.
Refractory Behçet’s Disease with Multi-organ Involvement - Learning from Failure
Authors: Santos Christiana Sieiro , Morales Clara Moriano , Álvarez Elvira Díez , Sandoval Trinidad Pérez
Published: December 2020

Background:

Behçet’s disease (BD) is a rare systemic vasculitis of unknown etiology
with relapsing and remitting course, characterized by triple-symptom complex of recurrent attacks
of oral aphthous ulcers, genital ulcers and ocular lesions and other clinical features that include dermatological,
cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and neurological manifestations. The main goal of management
is to prevent relapses and suppress inflammation rapidly for major organ involvement
that may cause damage and even be fatal.

Case Presentation:

We hereby describe a case of a patient with Behçet’s disease followed in our
rheumatology consultation over the course of 15 years with multi-organ involvement resistant to
several treatments and showed partial results with IL-1 inhibitors, particularly anakinra and canakinumab,
while also discussing the current treatments of refractory BD and how early implementation
of treatments could make a difference.
An Overview of Phytochemical and Pharmacological Profile of Morus alba Linn
Authors: Paul Arpita , Rajiung Monami , Zaman Kamaruz , Chaudhary Sushil K. , Bhat Hans R. , Shakya Anshul
Published: December 2020

Background:

Morus alba Linn. commonly known as white mulberry, belongs to the family Moraceae, and is a promising traditional medicine. In Asia, besides its use in the preparation of delicacies, every part of this plant is utilized in traditional medicine. Over the past decade, studies related to the identification and isolation of biologically active compounds, with flavonoids as the major class of phytoconstituents, from this plant have been reported. These phytoconstituents are not only found to be beneficial for the maintenance of general health but also are associated with a range of potential pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti- diabetic, anticancer, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, neuroprotective to name a few.

Objective:

This review aims to provide upgraded and comprehensive information regarding the phytochemical, ethnomedicinal use and pharmacological profile of the plant Morus alba Linn.

Method:

The significant information has been collected through various databases viz. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct based on the recent findings, using different terms of Morus alba.

Results:

The outcome of the study suggests that Morus alba is a multifunctional plant with numerous phytochemicals, and possesses a range of pharmacological activities.

Conclusion:

The data assembled on Morus alba will be beneficial to trigger research in various fields of pharmaceutical and allied sciences to explore the medicinal importance of this unique plant.
Phenolic Content, Antioxidant Properties, Key Enzyme Inhibitory Potential and Photoprotective Activity of Lawsonia inermis L.
Authors: Goudjil Rima , Mekhaldi Abdelkader , Benamar Houari , Bensouici Chawki , Kahoul Mohamed A.
Published: December 2020

Background:

Lawsonia inermis Linn (Lythraceae), commonly known as "Henna" is a medicinal plant widely
used as a folk remedy and for its cosmetic properties.

Objective:

The objective of this present work was to evaluate biological activities and to quantify phenolics in extracts.

Methods:

The extracts were obtained from seeds of L. inermis by increasing the polarity of the solvent.
The content of total phenolics, flavonoids, flavonols and tannins was determined using colorimetric
methods. Also, to evaluate the antioxidant activity, six different assays, DPPH, ABTS, superoxide
radical scavenging, inhibition of β-carotene bleaching, ferric reducing antioxidant power
and phenanthroline assays were used. Enzyme inhibition activity was evaluated by acetylcholinesterase,
butyrylcholinesterase and tyrosinase inhibition assays. Furthermore, photoprotective activity
was determined by measuring sun protection factor.

Results:

The extraction efficiency of phenolics, as well as the biological activities of plant extracts,
were affected by solvent polarity. The highest content of phenolics was determined in methanol extract
(786.54 ± 0.00 mg GAEg-1 DW), followed by the aqueous and ethyl acetate extracts (526.48 ±
0.40 and 331.25 ± 0.00 GAEg-1 DW, respectively).The above extracts also exhibited the highest antioxidant
activity, while low polar extracts were characterized with the lowest content of phenolics,
as well as the lowest antioxidant capacity. The highest enzyme inhibition activities were found in
ethyl acetate extract. Moreover, the methanol extract showed the best photoprotective activity with
sun protection factor of 43.05 ± 0.37.

Conclusion:

These findings suggest a possible use of Henna seeds as a potential source of bioactive molecules with
antioxidant, enzyme inhibition and skin protection properties.
Selective and Sensitive Determination of Folic Acid Based on Molecularly Imprinted Poly (o-aminophenol) and Reduced Graphene Oxide Decorated with Au Nanoparticles
Authors: Peng Youyuan , Zhang Xiaojing
Published: December 2020

Background:

Folic acid (pteroylglutamic acid, FA), known as a water soluble vitamin of B complex family,
plays an important role in the human body. However, excess intake of FA would mask the vitamin B12 deficiency
symptoms which may lead to other health risks. Therefore, it is very important to develop a method for the sensitive and
selective determination of FA in natural sources, fortified foods and multivitamin preparations.

Methods:

An electrochemical sensor was fabricated for the analysis of FA, which was based on
electropolymerized molecularly imprinted poly (o-aminophenol) film and reduced graphene oxide
decorated with Au nanoparticles composites (rGO-AuNPs). The transmission electron microscope,
cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and differential pulse voltammetry
were utilized for the characterization of the imprinted polymer film.

Results:

Under the optimized experimental conditions, the proposed sensor exhibited two distinct
linear responses ranging from 0.02 to 0.8 μmol L-1 and 0.8 to 10 μmol L-1 towards the concentrations
of FA, and the detection limit was found to be 2.8 nmol L-1 (S/N=3). The molecularly imprinted
film proposed was also found to exhibit comparatively high selectivity toward folic acid
against structurally similar analogues, and the preparation of the sensor was simple and reproducible.

Conclusions:

In this work, a molecularly imprinted film fabricated on an rGO-AuNPs modified
electrode was developed for the sensitive and selective determination of FA. Furthermore, the
method was applied to the detection of FA in infant formula milk, multivitamin tablets and blood
serum sample with satisfactory results.
New Method for Determination of Trans-resveratrol for Quality Evaluation of Red Wines by Multivariate Calibration Associated with UVVIS Spectroscopy
Authors: Mota Milleno D. , Meira Marilena , David Juceni P. , de Oliveira Ribeiro Erika M. , Brandão Hugo N. , do Vale Ademir E. , David Jorge M.
Published: December 2020

Background:

This work describes a fast, simple, sensitive, and low-cost method for the
identification of resveratrol in different brands and varieties of red wines.

Methods:

It was developed based on a comparison of the UV-VIS spectra of the samples and samples
enriched with different concentrations of the trans-resveratrol standard. The spectra were analyzed
by chemometric principal component analysis (PCA) and multivariate calibration.

Results:

The PCA data indicated that only 4 main components made possible group samples based
on the grape variety characteristics and/or production region.

Conclusion:

From the construction of partial least squares (PLS) and multiple linear regression
(RLM) models, it was possible to predict the sample trans-resveratrol content with that sample
showing similarities between the groups observed in the PCA and the samples used in the model
constructions. The predicted trans-resveratrol present in these samples ranged from 0.29 to 23.3 mg L-1.
This multivariate method suggested a good predictive capacity of determination of resveratrol concentrations
in commercial red wines.
Stem Cell Behavior at Hypothermia: A Review Article
Authors: Farashi Sajjad , Sharifi Esmaeel
Published: December 2020

Temperature is a fundamental factor that affects many functions and structural aspects
of physiological systems. Despite its importance, few studies have been performed so far for investigating
the compartments and mechanisms engaged in the response of cellular systems to temperature
perturbation.

In this review, focusing on stem cells, we tried to perform a literature review for investigating the
possible ways through which the temperature reduction (hypothermia) affects stem cell function
and behavior. Besides, using the obtained results of this investigation, the possible mechanisms are
proposed.

The survey indicates that profound hypothermia enhances cell adhesion by increasing the stability
of E-cadherins. Furthermore, mild hypothermia increases stem cell survival by reducing oxidative
stress and prevents apoptosis via the overexpression of anti-apoptotic heat shock proteins. Mild-hypothermia
also promotes cell proliferation by affecting gene expression in several ways. Even
though it seems that hypothermia generally reduced stem cell differentiation, some inconsistencies
are observed between obtained results from the literature.

Based on the obtained results, mechanisms responsible for the temperature effect of hypothermia in
profound and mild ranges are given that might help the researcher in real experiments.
Use of Medications for the Treatment of Alcohol Dependence: A Retrospective Study Conducted in 2011-2012
Authors: Agabio Roberta , Balia Silvia , Gessa Gian Luigi , Pani Pier Paolo
Published: December 2020

Background:

Pharmacotherapy for Alcohol Dependence (AD) is underutilized. Barriers
preventing the use of AD medications include high prices, lack of access to prescribing physicians,
and a limited number of available medications.

Objective:

The study evaluated the use of AD medications in a sample of Italian outpatients who received
these medications free of charge, had access to physicians during office hours, and for
whom substitution therapy [gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB)] was available. We also evaluated the
rate of patients who received a combination of non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatments
among participants who were still drinking.

Methods:

SCID for AD and questionnaire were filled by to AD outpatients during a face-to-face interview.

Results & Discussion:

345 AD outpatients were interviewed: 58.8% were currently receiving at
least one AD medication (GHB: 34.3%, disulfiram: 29.6%, acamprosate: 5.9%; naltrexone: 2.5%;
more than one medication: 16.7%). Less than 30% of participants who were still drinking, received
a combination of non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatments. Nonetheless, we found
higher use of AD medications compared to previous studies conducted in other countries. This
higher use of AD medications may be due to access to free medications, prescribing physicians’
style, and a larger number of available medications.

Conclusion:

Our results confirm the underutilization of AD medications, as less than 60% of AD
outpatients received medications, and less than 30% of those who were still drinking, received a
combination of non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatments. These findings may be useful
in improving our knowledge of the barriers that prevent the use of AD medications in clinical
practice.
The Geometric Accuracy of Complex Surface Using 5-Axis Turn-mill Machine
Authors:   Agency for the Assessment and Application Technology (BPPT), Jauhari Khairul , Al Huda Mahfudz ,   Agency for the Assessment and Application Technology (BPPT)
Published: December 2020

This paper presents an analysis model for geometric accuracy measurement of marine propeller blades. Geometric accuracy of marine propeller models, which has been finished by machining processes are measured and analyzed using GOM 3D photo-scanning peripheral and software. The methods we used are firstly, marine propeller blades are scanned by GOM Scanner and then the effects of cutting parameters, that is step-over variation on the geometric accuracy are investigated. Inspection of geometric accuracy is performed by comparing the result of 3D scanning measurement of finished propeller with CAD design data using GOM Inspect 2016 software. The results showed that greater step-over value, the deviation value tends to be smaller. Finally, this method is proven effective in measuring by producing similar trends at two measurement position points.
Diseño narrativo. Las ciencias del diseño como teoría narrativa
Authors: Feijóo Jacobo
Published: December 2020

Actualmente no hay una teoría narrativa predominante. Este hecho se agrava con la aparición de las nuevas narrativas transmedia. Mediante la teoría del Diseño Narrativo basada en los tres pilares pretendemos establecer un punto de partida que permita cientificar la narrativa y que sea considerada como un paradigma en el sentido dado por Kuhn.
Educação física escolar e cibercultura: Construção colaborativa de Exergames na educação básica
Authors: Renan Everton , Anecleto Úrsula , Xavier Raimundo
Published: December 2020

Com o desenvolvimento das Tecnologias Digitais, surgem novas experiências interativas, como os Exergames (EXG), possibilitando o movimento corporal, ampliando o desafio para o ensino da Educação Física. Nesse sentido, baseado na Teoria Ator-Rede (TAR), este estudo apresenta o percurso de associações deixadas pelos estudantes na rede, objetivando apresentar as ações de navegação desses sujeitos no momento da construção dos EXG. Os resultados apontam que os estudantes se fizeram sujeitos actantes-mediadores ao refletirem criticamente sobre as informações adquiridas, transformando-as, colaborativamente, em conhecimento.
Aprender léxico através das TIC: Aplicações informáticas para PLE
Authors: Oliveira Dias Sofia
Published: December 2020

No processo de aprendizagem de uma língua estrangeira espera-se que o aluno desenvolva as competências linguísticas com o fim de aprender a comunicar. Este mesmo processo envolve numerosos aspetos, entre os quais o estudo do léxico é considerado um dos mais importantes. A aprendizagem do léxico de uma língua estrangeira, no nosso caso, do português como língua estrangeira, requer perseverança, motivação e memorização. Desta forma, com o objetivo de fomentar o desenvolvimento da competência lexical dos nossos alunos de forma autónoma, realizamos uma seleção de aplicações informáticas específicas para a aprendizagem do léxico do português como língua estrangeira. Para a constituição do corpus final, partimos dos pressupostos teóricos sobre o papel da memória, sobre a aprendizagem espaçada no tempo e sobre a importância da repetição e revisão de léxico. Partindo desta base, foi possível elaborar um corpus constituído por dez apps, duas específicas para a variante do português europeu e oito da variante do português do Brasil.
Actividad de simulación del sistema democrático a través de un videojuego comercial
Authors: Gállego-Franco Elisabet , Hurtado-Torres Daniel
Published: December 2020

Este trabajo presenta una propuesta de actividad didáctica orientada a la formación ciudadana y, de manera más concreta, a instruir sobre el funcionamiento del sistema democrático a través del uso de un videojuego comercial de simulación: Democracy 3, de la compañía británica Positech Games. La exigencia por parte del currículum de garantizar conocimientos que permitan al alumnado el ejercicio de la ciudadanía democrática y la dificultad de los jóvenes para entender determinados conceptos relacionados con la participación política y el funcionamiento del sistema democrático han sido, en algunos casos, resueltos con buenos resultados mediante el uso de las simulaciones educativas y la metodología del aprendizaje por descubrimiento. Considerando las ventajas que el componente lúdico y el uso de videojuegos con intenciones educativas pueden ofrecer a nivel de motivación, desarrollo de habilidades y alfabetización digital entre el alumnado, se realiza esta propuesta de actividades articuladas alrededor de sesiones grupales y guiadas de juego. El trabajo nace de las actividades formativas de la asignatura «Didáctica de la Historia» del Máster de Formación del Profesorado de la Universidad de Barcelona en su especialidad de Ciencias Sociales, y está orientada a alumnado de ciclo final de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria.
Percursos metodológicos digitais aplicados na educação literária
Authors: Ribeiro Ana Luísa da Mota Antunes , Iriarte Ana Martins , Dias Inês de Jesus Amorim , Mendes Fátima Cabo , Gonçalves Nancy Amaral
Published: December 2020

De forma a melhorar e a ajudar os alunos do 3.º ciclo do ensino básico na interpretação dos textos literários no Novo Programa e Metas Curriculares do Português, no domínio da Educação Literária, foi desenvolvida uma interface digital, constituída por dois percursos metodológicos digitais que auxiliam a análise de textos no período de pré-leitura. O primeiro percurso foca-se na escolha do livro opcional de leitura por parte do aluno, por um método de atividades de ligação, centrado na leitura e na conotação sentimental das sinopses e títulos das obras. O segundo percurso foca-se em ajudar na realização de uma atividade de análise de um excerto e consequente título, mediante a criação de nuvens de palavras. Esta interface digital ajuda os alunos na preparação do exame nacional do 9.º ano, como também na interpretação das obras e no incentivo à leitura através de um processo diversificado.
“You are Dead, but You are Not”: Social medium (Facebook) is the message in grieving and continuing bonds
Authors: Tan Huey Pyng
Published: December 2020

Today, one may no longer alive but his social networking sites (SNS) account will still live on. Empirical studies on death and SNS started since 2004 covering issues on grief, bereavement, mourning, relational continuity functions of SNS, and digital legacy. Majority of them applied content and discourse analyses on SNS messages directed to or related to the deceased. Applying McLuhan’s aphorism medium is the message, researcher focused on the interplay among forms and functions of Facebook (FB) as a medium and message that mediates grief and the bereaved persons who are communicators that decided to grieve on FB. This research adopts grounded theory approach where in- depth interviews with 10 bereaved persons who maintain relational continuity with their deceased loved ones through FB were conducted. The conclusions are drawn to prove that bereaved users preferred to engage in a transcoporeal mediated communication with deceased for continuing bonds due to four main reasons – the deceased are perceived “dead but they are not”; maintaining relational continuity via FB is essential to “finish their unfinished business”; they felt aided and embraced when adopting “FB the Public Platform for Private Grief”, and they imagined a mutual communication based on “past experience and religious belief”. The mediated transcopereal communication (TcC) is enabled because the social medium (FB) is the message.
Exploring Private Finance Initiative Implementation Issues in Malaysia Construction Projects: A Way Forward
Authors: Lop Nor Suzila , Ismail Kharizam , Mohd Isa Haryati , Khalil Natasha
Published: December 2020

Private Finance Initiative (PFI) was introduced in 2006 aimed at achieving value for money. Nevertheless, most of the PFI projects in Malaysia are currently facing difficulties in meeting the expectation. Therefore, a brainstorming workshop involving 69 PFI practitioners from diverse backgrounds was conducted to investigate the implementation issues at the operational level and strategies towards achieving the project goals. The results showed that skills and knowledge, procedures and implementation, challenges in project management, and conflict on documentation were among the issues debated among workshop participants.  “Loopholes” were identified to facilitate the improvement of the PFI project implementation in Malaysia.
Keywords: Operational Performance; Private Finance Initiative (PFI); Issues; Strategies.
eISSN: 2398-4287© 2020. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bsby e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v5iSI3.2531
What are the key roles of education?
Authors: Rogošić Silvia , Maskalan Ana , Jurki Aleta
Published: December 2020

The position of education in society depends to a certain degree on the public opinion about what education should provide to an individual and the social community.1 In fact, in addition to the humanistic aim of education implying a versatile (complete, harmonious) or self-actualising development of an individual,2 the scientists often emphasise the social, political, and economic purpose of education. Thus, education, for example, has a very important role in ensuring economic and social progress and improving the distribution of income.3 In addition, the educational system is also viewed as a social agent that transfers the norms and values important for the preservation of a stable political system.4 Although there is abundant theoretical literature exploring these approaches and analysing them in detail, there is a lack of empirical research on how individuals perceive the importance of certain educational roles and what factors determine their points of view. It is particularly important to examine the opinion of preschool teachers and teachers on educational roles because they have an impact on the shaping of educational policies and pedagogical practices. Therefore, quantitative research was conducted on a sample of preschool teachers in the City of Zagreb (N = 481). The aim of this research is to examine which educational goals are prioritised by preschool teachers in terms of the main purpose of education and to provide empirical insights into the correlation of certain characteristics of the respondents (socio-demographic characteristics and religious affiliation) and their perception of the purpose of education. Thefindings show that the majority of respondents agree that education should primarily serve the development of a free and independent individual. Apart from the mentioned purpose of education, the respondents believe that the achievement of other goals through education (e.g., ensuring a healthy and stable family) is also important, while the meeting of economic and political interests (e.g. interests pertaining to capital and the European Union) is a less important educational goal. The results of the ANOVA test show that the respondents from smaller towns believe to a greater extent that education should serve the development of human resources of the local community and labour market interests, whereas the nonreligious and religiously unaffiliated respondents emphasise the role of education in the development of a free and independent individual and the emancipation of individuals from discriminated social groups slightly more than the religious respondents. Older respondents believe, to a greater extent than the younger ones, that education should primarily serve the interests of capital.
Electrochemical Oxidation of Perfluorooctanesulfonate by Magnéli Phase Ti4O7 Electrode in the Presence of Trichloroethylene
Authors: Yang Peizeng , Wang Yaye , Lu Junhe ,   Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China, Tishchenko Viktor , Huang Qingguo ,   Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, University of Georgia, Griffin, GA 30223, USA
Published: December 2020

This study examined the degradation of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) in electrochemical oxidation (EO) processes in the presence of trichloroethylene (TCE). The EO experiment was performed in a gas-tight reactor using Magnéli phase titanium suboxide (Ti4O7) as the anode. The experimental data demonstrated that 75% of PFOS (2 μM) was degraded at 10 mA/cm2 current density in 30 min without TCE present in the solution, while the presence of 76 μM TCE apparently inhibited the degradation of PFOS, reducing its removal down to 53%. Defluorination ratio suggested that PFOS was significantly mineralized upon EO treatment, and it appeared to be not influenced by the presence of TCE. The respective pseudo-first order rate constants (kobs) of PFOS removal were 0.0471 and 0.0254 min-1 in the absence and presence of TCE. The degradation rates of both PFOS and TCE increased with current density rising from 2.5 to 20 mA/cm2. In the presence of TCE, chloride, chlorate, and perchlorate were formed that accounted for 79.7 %, 5.53%, and 1.51% of the total chlorine at 60 min. This work illustrates the promise of the Magnéli phase Ti4O7 electrode based electrochemical oxidation technology for degrading per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and co-contaminants in groundwaters.
Peripheral Nerve Dysfunction after Spinal Cord Injury
Authors:   Department of Medicine (Royal Melbourne Hospital), The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia, Galea Mary P ,   Victorian Spinal Cord Service, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC 3084, Australia, Zyl Natasha van , Messina Aurora
Published: December 2020

Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to an immediate loss of sensory and motor function below the level of injury mostly affecting people in the prime of life. In addition to the primary injury there is accumulating neurophysiological and histological evidence of dysfunction in the peripheral nerves, not related to direct damage from the primary injury, which exacerbates muscle wasting, and contributes to further functional loss and poor recovery. Among the potential contributing factors are systemic inflammation, and motor neuron and myelin abnormalities that result from a lack of neural traffic. The reversibility of these factors, and prevention strategies and possible therapies that may be of benefit to the peripheral nerves in spinal cord injury require further investigation. Preventing or reversing peripheral nerve dysfunction after SCI is essential to maintain this critical component of the nervous system in readiness for the application of other emerging interventions focused on spinal cord repair.
The Digital Therapeutic Alliance and Human-Computer Interaction
Authors: D'Alfonso Simon , Lederman Reeva , Bucci Sandra , Berry Katherine
Published: December 2020

The therapeutic alliance (TA), the relationship that develops between a therapist and a client/patient, is a critical factor in the outcome of psychological therapy. As mental health care is increasingly adopting digital technologies and offering therapeutic interventions that may not involve human therapists, the notion of a TA in digital mental health care requires exploration. To date, there has been some incipient work on developing measures to assess the conceptualization of a digital TA for mental health apps. However, the few measures that have been proposed have more or less been derivatives of measures from psychology used to assess the TA in traditional face-to-face therapy. This conceptual paper explores one such instrument that has been proposed in the literature, the Mobile Agnew Relationship Measure, and examines it through a human-computer interaction (HCI) lens. Through this process, we show how theories from HCI can play a role in shaping or generating a more suitable, purpose-built measure of the digital therapeutic alliance (DTA), and we contribute suggestions on how HCI methods and knowledge can be used to foster the DTA in mental health apps.
Adequacy of Web-Based Activities as a Substitute for In-Person Activities for Older Persons During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Survey Study
Authors: Cohen-Mansfield Jiska , Muff Aline , Meschiany Guy , Lev-Ari Shahar
Published: December 2020

Background

Senior centers and other types of clubs provide activities for older adults to address boredom, social isolation, and loneliness. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most of these activities have been cancelled. A limited range of web-based activities have been offered as alternatives. However, the effectiveness of these web-based group activities for older adults has scarcely been researched.

Objective

We aimed to understand the extent to which web-based activities for older adults provide an adequate substitute for in-person activities.

Methods

In this telephone survey, we interviewed 105 older adults in Israel who had been offered the opportunity to participate in web-based activities after routine activities closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the total sample, 49/105 (46.7%) participated in the activities and 56/105 (53.3%) did not. We inquired about the respondents’ background characteristics, satisfaction with the activities, and reasons for participation or nonparticipation.

Results

The respondents who participated in the web-based activities tended to be highly satisfied with at least some of them. They rated the enjoyment derived from the content of the activity as the most important motivator, followed by maintaining a routine and by enjoying the group and the presence of others. Over 50% of the participants (28/49, 57%) wished to continue with the exercise programming after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, and 41% (20/49) wished to continue with the web-based lectures. Participants were more likely to report partaking in alternative activities than nonparticipants (P=.04). The most common reasons cited by nonparticipants were being unaware of the web-based program (24/56, 43%) despite a notification having been sent to the entire sample, lack of interest in the content (18/56, 32%), and technical issues (13/56, 23%), such as not owning or being able to fully use a computer. Both participants and nonparticipants were interested in a wide range of topics, with many being very particular about the topics they wished to access. Approximately half expressed willingness to pay for access; those who were willing to pay tended to have more years of education (P=.03).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest a need for web-based activities for countering boredom and feelings of isolation. The main factors that influence the use, efficacy, and sustainability of online activities are access, motivational and need-fulfilling factors, and whether the activities are sufficiently tailored to individuals’ preferences and abilities. Challenges in substituting in-person services are promoting social relationships that are currently not sufficiently incorporated into most web-based programs, accommodating a wider range of topics, and increasing the accessibility of current programs to older adults, especially those who are homebound, both during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.