bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Traсking changes to the stylistic behaviour of Tony Blair as Prime Minister and former Prime Minister
Authors: Mukhortov Denis S. , Dyment Anna R.
Published: November 2020

This article features the communicative behaviour of Tony Blair in his premier and post-premier years. It puts forward and corroborates the hypothesis that about two years after his landslide victory in the parliamentary election, Blair switched his strategy from that of an ardent reformer and a pacifist to a hawk, opportunist and conformist, and stuck to it to the end of his legislatures. The charges against Blair in 2016 on the nation’s involvement in the Iraqi military campaign in 2003 caused him to change his stylistic behaviour. Special emphasis is laid on how Blair had long exploited a series of communicative tactics with the intent to manipulate mass consciousness. These include epithets, syntactic repetitions and rhetorical questions; they become frequent in post-premier years. Blair’s selected discourses in 2003, when he was campaigning for Britain’s military involvement in Iraq, and in 2016, when he was trying to justify his actions in court, reveal deception markers, specifically a distribution of I / we pronouns in text, which point to Blair’s evasion strategy. A meaningful part of Blair’s manipulative strategy was to create and sustain several political myths, including ‘appeal for unity’, ‘creation of the Evil opposition’, and ‘appeal to democratic countries as a legitimate source of power’. These were drawn on ungrounded and unverifiable statements.
Specific character of planning responses in dialogues of 10–12 years old native Russian speaking children
Authors: Slabodkina Tatiana A.
Published: November 2020

The paper reviews speech behavior of Russian-speaking children aged 10–12 years. There are relatively few studies on speech development of this age group, nevertheless, in our work we attempt to identify some features of discursive and communicative skills built during this period. For this purpose, we used two corpora compiled of the dialogues of children and the dialogs of adults respectively. Namely, we paid attention to the duration of latency in the responses of the participants. A detailed analysis revealed that children need significantly more time to formulate a response than adults do in a similar situation.
On the possibility of measuring the level of articulatory skills in a foreign language
Authors: Vasilevich Alexander P.
Published: November 2020

The article dwells upon the possibility to assess quantitative evaluation of the level of articulatory skills. A formula is offered which allows to estimate individual indices Rphon. The index takes account of reading rapidity and correct pronunciation of letter combinations, as well as the placement of verbal accents in the course of reading a coherent text. The procedure includes reading aloud a standard text, and then a text, which contains a number of unfamiliar words (quasi-words). The validity of the proposed procedure is checked by testing about 100 subjects with varying levels of English language training, both on English and Russian material. Recommendations are given on the use of the procedure described. Index Rphon is claimed to be productive in dealing with some investigational items.
Pelatihan Pembuatan Blog Sebagai Media Pembelajaran Dan Sarana Literasi Digital Guru
Authors:   Politeknik Negeri Bali, Mubaroh Sari , Fujiyanti Linda ,   Politeknik Negeri Bali, Pratiwi Indah Riezky ,   Politeknik Negeri Bali
Published: November 2020

Masa pandemi ini guru tidak lagi sebagai sumber utama pembelajaran tetapi lebih kepada fasilitator yang dituntut dapat melakukan proses pembelajaran jarak jauh dengan perangkat teknologi yang berkembang. Dengan tujuan membantu mitra dalam hal ini guru SMAN 1 Sungailiat, maka diselenggarakan pelatihan pembuatan blog sebagai salah satu alternatif media pembelajaran sekaligus sarana literasi digital guru. Platform yang digunakan adalah edublogs yang khusus ditujukan untuk para pendidik maupun siswa. Metode yang digunakan berupa pelatihan mulai dari pembahasan teori literasi digital, media pembelajaran, cara membuat, manfaat blog sampai mempraktekan langsung bagaimana merancang, mendesain dan mengaplikasikan blog. Hasil yang dicapai yaitu para guru dapat membuat blog sendiri dengan desain menarik untuk keperluan di lingkungan sekolah maupun kebutuhan pribadinya. Guru berhasil menggunakan beberapa fitur dalam blog seperti ganti profil, ubah tema, buka kelas, memberikan materi melalui ketikan, tautan video YouTube, tautan Google, dan menyajikan ujian.
Peningkatan Kompetensi Guru SD No.1 Kesiut Tabanan Melalui Pelatihan Media Pembelajaran
Authors:   Politeknik Negeri Bali, Saputra I Gusti Ngurah Agung Dwijaya , Indrayanti Anak Agung Putri ,   Politeknik Negeri Bali, Sugirianta Ida Bagus Ketut ,   Politeknik Negeri Bali
Published: November 2020

Media pembelajaran merupakan bagian yang sangat penting dalam dunia pendidikan khususnya bagi guru. Salah satunya adalah overhead projector (OHP) yang merupakan alat bantu yang banyak digunakan dengan Ms. PowerPoint sebagai perangkat lunaknya. Dengan cara ini guru akan dapat lebih mudah memberikan materi pelajaran kepada siswa. Namun tidak semua guru dapat mengoperasikan OHP dan membuat presentasi menggunakan Ms. PowerPoint, termasuk guru-guru di SDN 1 Kesiut. Untuk itu melalui program pengabdian kepada masyarakat, guru-guru tersebut diberikan pelatihan penggunaan OHP dan pembuatan slide PowerPoint yang efektif. Hasilnya adalah adanya peningkatan pengetahuan (mean normalized gain) rata-rata para guru sebesar 74% dengan rata-rata pemahaman materi pelatihan sebesar 8,33 dari nilai maksimum 10. Jadi setelah mengikuti pelatihan ini, pengetahuan para guru bertambah secara nyata.
De la synthèse géographique à l'approche territoriale : l’évolution des définitions de la géographie dans les manuels québécois contemporains (1957–2005)
Authors: Pelletier Raphaël
Published: November 2020

Cet article propose d’étudier le manuel de géographie québécois dans ses configurations internes. Étudiées dans une perspective diachronique, soit de 1957 (moment de leur modernisation) à 2005 (moment de la dernière réforme curriculaire d’envergure au Québec), ces « configurations » font entre autres référence aux définitions, explicites ou non, de la discipline. Conséquemment, notre démarche s’inscrit dans une conception du manuel en tant que mise en forme de la discipline et des connaissances. Pour mener à bien une telle analyse, il sera question de s’attarder au contenu explicite du manuel, mais également, dans certains cas, à son sous-texte. À plusieurs égards, les résultats obtenus à la suite de l’analyse des définitions disciplinaires contenues dans les manuels de géographie québécois mettent en relief la prégnance d’une histoire en trois temps, soit 1) d’une géographie « encore » classique (1957–1980), 2) d’une géographie intégrant de front une démarche dite expérimentale (1980–2005) et 3) d’une formalisation de l’approche par enjeux territoriaux (depuis 2005).
“Breathe in… breathe out”: Contextualizing the Rise of Mindfulness in Canadian Schools
Authors: Gidney Catherine
Published: November 2020

Mindfulness practices have exploded onto the mainstream North American cultural landscape. Not surprisingly, proponents of mindfulness can also be found within education systems in North America and the western world more generally. In Canada, mindfulness-based programs have filtered into faculties of education as well as public school classrooms. Yet, despite the rapid spread of the mindfulness movement, relatively little is known about it historically. This article pieces together some of the key intellectual and cultural developments that have enabled the growth of this phenomenon: North Americans’ encounters with Buddhist perspectives since the 1950s and 1960s, the intersection of psychology and Buddhist practice, the flourishing of progressive educational ideals, and the growth of school psychology. It then briefly explores the kinds of citizenship ideals promoted by mindfulness practices as well as educators’ rationales for their implementation. Tracing this history demonstrates that, despite its relatively recent entry into schools and its promotion as a scientifically-based physiological practice, mindfulness is a phenomenon with deep historical roots within a particular British and North American social and cultural context. Exploring this context and the reasons for educators’ turn to mindfulness will help us better understand our modern education system and the kinds of students it aims to produce.
Appréhender le monde selon la théologie naturelle : l’enseignement des sciences au pensionnat des Ursulines de Québec (1830–1910)
Authors: Lafrance Mélanie
Published: November 2020

Dans les années 1830, les Ursulines de Québec cherchaient à donner un nouvel essor à leur maison d’éducation. Parmi les nouvelles matières ajoutées à leur curriculum figuraient des leçons d’astronomie, de physique, de chimie, de botanique, de zoologie, de minéralogie et de géologie. Cet enseignement s’est perpétué jusqu’au XXe siècle. Pourquoi enseigner les sciences à des filles que l’on souhaitait « plus dévotes et vertueuses, que savantes »? Quatre finalités émergent de l’analyse : attirer les pensionnaires, leur révéler l’œuvre du Créateur, développer leur sens pratique et les instruire. Les leçons de sciences des Ursulines, ancrées dans la théologie de la nature et fondées sur des exercices pratiques, apparaissent conformes au modèle d’éducation des filles promu à l’époque. Elles s’en distinguent néanmoins par la valeur accordée à l’instruction des demoiselles.
Pengaruh komitmen organisasi dan budaya organisasi terhadap kinerja Organisasi Perangkat Daerah Kota Tidore Kepulauan
Authors: Dahlan Fadli
Published: November 2020

An implementation of local government performance accountability is an accountability that begins from the planning, preparation, and implementation of the government's duties and functions in realizing the vision, mission, and objectives that have been set so that they can be accounted for to the public. This study aims to analyze and understand the influence of organizational commitment and organizational culture on the performance of Regional Instrument Work Unit of Local Government (or called OPD) of the City of Tidore Islands. This study will explain the relationship between several variables through hypothesis testing or explanatory research. The population for this study is 32 OPD which gives 160 respondents as the sample after applies the probability sampling. The result of multiple linear regressions shows that the organizational commitment has positive and significant effect on the OPD’s performance which means that with organizational commitment then the employees of OPD are able to give positive contributions to the OPD’s performance. This study also finds that the organizational culture has positive and significant effect on the OPD’s performance which means that the organizational culture has the ability to improve the OPD’s performance.
Comparison of Breastfeeding Self-efficacy in Mothers with Different Ages
Authors: Eslami Elham , Pakseresht Sedigheh , Niknami Maryam , Atrkar Roshan Zahra
Published: November 2020

Introduction: Breastfeeding is one of the most important health-promoting behaviors and one of the main goals of the World Health Organization. Breastfeeding self-efficacy is an important variable in predicting the duration of breastfeeding and its continuation. Breastfeeding self-efficacy is a modifiable parameter that is affected by various individual and social factors. Objective: This study aimed to compare breastfeeding self-efficacy levels of mothers with different ages referred to comprehensive health centers. Methods and Materials: This is a correlational study with a cross-sectional design. Study samples were 460 breastfeeding mothers of different ages referred to comprehensive health centers in Rasht City, Iran in 2019. The data collection tool was a two-part questionnaire: a demographic form and a breastfeeding self-efficacy scale-short form (BSES-SF). Data analysis was performed using the independent t test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and regression. Results: The mean ± SD scores of breastfeeding self-efficacy were as follows: 43.69 ± 12.48 in mothers under 19 years old, 50.26 ± 10.93 years in mothers aged 19-35 years, and 58.35 ± 8.53 years in mothers over 35 years old. There were statistically significant relationships between breastfeeding self-efficacy and maternal age (P= 0.0001), housing status (P= 0.0001), monthly income (P= 0.0001), breastfeeding history (P= 0.0001) and source of breastfeeding education (P=0.014), number of pregnancies (P= 0.0001) and number of deliveries (P = 0.0001). The variables of maternal age (b= 4.130, P= 0.0001, 95% CI; 2.165-6.051), monthly income (b = 1.735, P = 0.002, 95% CI; 1.239-3.922), breastfeeding history (b= 5.505, P = 0.0001, 95%CI; 4.598-9.183) and number of pregnancies (b= 3.553, P =0.0001, 95% CI; 1.278-4.098) were predictors of breastfeeding self-efficacy. Conclusion: Breastfeeding self-efficacy increases with the older age and its level is lower in mothers aged < 19 years than in other age groups. Counseling support for mothers at this age is more necessary, and the need-based educational program should be designed for them.
PEMBENTUKAN KARAKTER ANAK MELALUI KEGIATAN PASRAMAN LASCARYA PARAMA SEVA DI DESA TIANYAR KECAMATAN KUBU KABUPATEN KARANGASEM
Authors: Siryadana I Made
Published: November 2020

Memperhatikan perkembangan kepribadian anak-anak dan remaja dewasa ini, membuat para orang tua dan para pendidik harus mengubah pola pendidikan yang selama ini diterapkan. Pemerintah menanggapi keadaan ini dengan segera mencanangkan penanaman kembali nilai-nilai karakter. Pendidikan karakter ini tidak hanya dilakukan melalui pendidikan formal, melainkan juga dapat dilakukan melalui pendidikan nonformal, salah satunya adalah pasraman. Pasraman adalah sebuah kegiatan pendidikan nonformal yang berlandaskan Agama Hindu. Pasraman Lascarya Parama Seva di Desa Tianyar membentuk karakter peserta didik melalui kegiatan-kegiatan agama dan kebudayaan, seperti misalnya mesatua, sampai pada belajar Yoga. Proses implementasi pendidikan karakter melalui pasraman lebih banyak menyentuh domain afektif dan psikomotor dari pada domain kognitif. Bentuk pembelajarannya berlangsung secara klasikal, kelompok dan individu.
HUBUNGAN ANTARA TINGKAT PENDAPATAN DENGAN PEMANFAATAN PELAYANAN KESEHATAN OLEH PASIEN JAMINAN KESEHATAN NASIONAL
Authors: Riyanti Fitri Fajar , Fadhila Della Azzah , Fauziah Nurul Aini , Amirudin Amirudin , Suripto Yusuf , Wattimena Like
Published: November 2020

Pemanfaatan pelayanan kesehatan di Puskesmas Kecamatan Sukmajaya mengalami kenaikan. Faktor tingkat pendapatan mempengaruhi pemanfaatan pelayanan kesehatan. Tujuan penelitian ini yaitu untuk mengetahui hubungan antara tingkat pendapatan dengan pemanfaatan pelayanan kesehatan oleh pasien BPJS di Wilayah Kerja UPT Puskesmas Kecamatan Sukmajaya. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian survei analitik dengan rancangan Cross Sectional Study yang dilaksanakan pada bulan Juli 2019. Instrumen penelitian menggunakan kuesioner. Populasi dalam penelitian ini merupakan pasien BPJS yang berobat dalam satu hari di Puskesmas Kecamatan Sukmajaya yaitu 50 pasien. Sampel dalam penelitian ini sebanyak sebanyak 30 responden dan diambil menggunakan teknik quota sampling. Uji chi square digunakan untuk menganalisis hubungan antar variabel dengan CI= 95% dan nilai α=0,05. Hasil dari penelitian ini adalah terdapat hubungan antara tingkat pendapatan (p= 0,000), dengan pemanfaatan pelayanan kesehatan oleh pasien BPJS Di Wilayah Kerja UPT Puskesmas Kecamatan Sukmajaya. Kesimpulan dari penilitian ini, pendapatan merupakan salah satu faktor yang berhubungan dengan pemanfaatan pelayanan kesehatan Di Wilayah Kerja UPT Puskesmas Kecamatan Sukmajaya.
Pembuatan Fukosantin Nanospare dengan Metode Gelasi Ionik dan Uji Efektivitas Antioksidan
Authors: Aisyah Rizka , Rachmat Rachmaniar , Rahmat Deni , Noviendri Dedi
Published: November 2020

Fukosantin merupakan pigmen dari golongan karetenoid yang terdapat pada rumput laut coklat. Fukosantin memiliki sifat sebagai antioksidan, karena fukosantin mudah terdegredasi oleh pH, suhu dan cahaya. Untuk melindungi fukosantin dari degradasi tersebut maka dibuat menjadi sediaan nanospare. Penelitian ini bertujuan mendapakan senyawa fukosantin yang mempunyai efektivitas antioksidan yang baik dan stabil. Ekstraksi dengan metode maserasi dan mengisolasi fukosantin dengan menggunakan metode kromatografi kolom, fukosantin dianalisis menggunakan metode kromatografi cair kinerja tinggi dengan metode elusi gradien. Pembuatan fukosantin nanospare dengan metode gelasi ionic, metode ini dipilih karena tidak menggunakan energi panas yang bisa merusak efektivitas antioksidan fukosantin. Rendemen ekstrak kasar dan fukosantin, masing-masing 4,98 % dan 1,48 %, Fukosantin teridentifikasi dengan nilai Rf yaitu 0,5. Total kandungan fukosantin sebesar 0,919 mg/g. Gugus fungsi fukosantin terdiri dari alcohol, alkana, alkena, ester, metil dan alkena aromatik. Ukuran nanospare fukosantin yaitu 28,25 dan zeta potensial -5,76. Nilai IC50  nanospare fukosantin yaitu 98,24 masuk kategori kuat.
Pengetahuan Ibu Hamil tentang Buku Kesehatan Ibu dan Anak (KIA) (Study Kasus di BPM Noor Naini Kelurahan Podorejo Kota Semarang)
Authors: Erawati Ambar Dwi , Alfiani Novita , Kurniasih Dewi
Published: November 2020

Buku KIA merupakan buku catatan kesehatan untuk ibu mulai dari hamil, bersalin, nifas, dan kesehatan anak mulai dari bayi baru lahir hingga balita, juga terdapat informasi cara merawat kesehatan ibu dan anak. Manfaatannya tidak saja sebagai alat komunikasi, Konseling, akan tetapi juga sebagai instrumen pencatatan pelayanan kesehatan yang diterima sejak ibu hamil sampai anak usia 6 tahun. Hasil survey pendahuluan di BPM Noo Aini banyak ibu hamil yang dating ke bidan dengan keluhan yang sebenarnya merupakan keluhan yang wajar akan tetapi pasien tersebut merasa cemas. Tujuan dilakukan penelitian adalah untuk mengetahui pengetahuan ibu hamil tentang buku kesehatan ibu dan anak (KIA).                                                                                    Jenis penelitian yang digunakan adalah penelitian deskriptif dengan metode survei. Populasi dalam penelitian ini sebanyak 115 ibu hamil di BPM Noor Naini, sampel ditentukan dengan rumus Solvin diperoleh 54 responden. Teknik sampling yang digunakan Teknik Accidental. Instrumen yang digunakan adalah wawancara dengan kuesioner. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa dari 54 responden jumlah terbanyak kategori pengetahuan cukup sebanyak 32 ibu hamil (59,3%). Harapan  peneliti selanjutnya dapat mengembangkan penelitian lebih lanjut terkait tentang buku kesehatan ibu dan anak (KIA).
Super Environmental Adaptability of SARS CoV2
Authors: Zeba Zebunnesa
Published: November 2020

Abstract not available.

Bangladesh Journal of Infectious Diseases, October 2020;7(suppl_2):S1-S2
Demographic Characteristics of 1082 Positive Cases of COVID-19 Patients: Experience at National Referral Laboratory of Bangladesh
Authors: Akram Arifa , Yeasmin Mahmuda , Khan THM Enayet Ullah , Khan Mohammad Abdullah Az Zubayer , Monir Md Bayzid Bin , Tarana Mst Naznin , Arina Sunzida , Molla Md Maruf Ahmed , Nafisa Tasnim , Yusuf Md Abdullah , Badiuzzaman Shaikh , Ali Md Khan Zahan , Mamun Abu Ahammad Al , Shamsuzzaman AKM
Published: November 2020

Background: COVID-19 has now become a pandemic.

Objective: The aim of this study was to characterize the demographic features with infection rate of SARS-CoV-2 in 4/5 divisions of Bangladesh.

Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted at National institute of Laboratory Medicine and Referral Center, Dhaka, Bangladesh from 15th April to 30th April, 2020. It was performed RT-PCR for 2462 cases within the time frame and 1082 samples were positive for SARS CoV-2. Patient demographic characteristics including age, gender, occupation and blood group was investigated.

Results: The mean age of positive cases was 40.2 ± 15.33 years, 426 (39%) cases were 25-39 years of age. The majority of cases were male (71%) and the predominant blood group was B positive (37%).

Conclusions: In conclusion male gender, younger age and blood group B positive are more commonly suffering from COVID-19 infection.

Bangladesh Journal of Infectious Diseases, October 2020;7(suppl_2):S22-S26
Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention Strategies of Human Coronavirus: A Review
Authors: Shaukat Ayisha , Javed Muhammad Saqib
Published: November 2020

Coronaviruses is a group of virus which infects many species of animals, including humans. The rapid outbreak of COVID-19 raised serious attention at national and international levels and it was recognized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization. The disease model comprised of three different phases: replication of virus, hyperactivity of immune system and pulmonary cells destruction. For the diagnosis of asymptomatic carriers, viral nucleic acid (RNA) can be detected by using pharyngeal swab. Isolation of infected persons prevents the transmission and spread risk of the disease. Therapy includes use of oxygen therapy, high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) and methylprednisolone (IV) and in severe cases adrenaline (IV). Anti-viral drugs such as ritonavir plus lopinavir per-orally and antibiotics (moxifloxacin or any antibiotic) were administered by IM/IV route to prevent secondary bacterial infection. Education campaigns are launched to promote different precautionary measures to avoid disease transmission.

Bangladesh Journal of Infectious Diseases, October 2020;7(suppl_2):S34-S37
Cytokine Storm in COVID-19 in Diabetic Patients: A Review
Authors: Mazumder Arpita , Roy Nilanjan
Published: November 2020

COVID-19, a global pandemic has created a worldwide disaster since its first outbreak in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. Studies based in China have reported that people with diabetes and infected with COVID-19 showed higher hospital admission rates, serious pneumonia development, and higher mortality rates. SARS-CoV-2 can increase the metabolism of glucose by fueling immune cell overproduction - a phenomenon known as a 'cytokine storm'. Glucose metabolism is said to contribute to diverse COVID-19 outcomes. In this study, we are overviewing the linkage among SARS-CoV-2, diabetes, and cytokine storm for a better understanding of aggravating health conditions in diabetic patients due to this SARS-CoV-2 virus. In conclusion, this review will contribute to understanding complications that is rising among diabetic patients due to SARS-CoV-2 induced cytokine storm.

Bangladesh Journal of Infectious Diseases, October 2020;7(suppl_2):S46-S49
Spider diversity of Kerala University Campus, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
Authors: Asima A. , Prasad G. , Sudhikumar A.V.
Published: November 2020

A study of spider diversity of Kerala University Campus, conducted for a period of four months revealed a total of 116 species of spiders belonging to 20 families. Among the families, Salticidae was found as the most common family and among the species Hersilia savignyi and Hippasa agelenoides were found as the most common species. Plexipus petersi, Plexipus pykulli, Xysticus minutes and Tibellus elongates were also noted as the commonly found spider species.
Identification of redgram resistant genotypes and morphological bases of resistance to pod fly, Melanagromyza obtusa (Malloch)
Authors: Kavitha Zadda , Vijayaraghavan C.
Published: November 2020

Screening of 49 redgram genotypes conducted to identify pod fly resistant genotypes and morphological basis of resistance to pod fly revealed consistently resistance reaction of ICP 8864 (mean PSI 3.0) and VRG–59-1(mean PSI 3.3) to redgram pod fly. Pod length of various redgram germplasm ranged between 3.55 and 4.84 cm. Pod width ranged from 0.64 to 1.28 cm. Pod wall thickness ranged from 0.21 to 0.43 mm. Trichome density ranged between 302 and 375 per 9 mm2. Redgram pod width was the important morphological factor that influenced the redgram pod fly seed damage to a tune of 34.2 per cent. Pod length and width were positively correlated with the redgram pod fly seed damage while pod wall thickness and trichome density were negatively correlated. However, relationship between pod width and seed damage only was found to be significantly positive and rest of the morphological factors were not significant.
Difficulties Encountered in the Education of the Syrian Refugees in Lebanon: Culture and other Issues
Authors: Ezzedine Maya
Published: November 2020

The purpose of the study is to examine the difficulties encountered in the education of Syrian refugees in Lebanon, particularly those related to classroom management and cultural differences between teachers and students. The sudden migration of Syrian students to Lebanon has necessitated great changes, and Lebanese schools have been facing the challenge of catering for the refugees’ educational needs. Interviews were conducted with twelve teachers in the elementary level at three official schools in the Shouf area.An interview guide was prepared by the researcher to direct the interviews towards the needed targets. The outcomes revealed that Instructional and management strategies are likely to fall short of achieving their aim if not planned in a way to respond to the cultural factors which characterize the parties involved in the educational process. In addition, ensuring that students possess the academic capabilities needed to grasp the material explained in class is a priority in the educational mission.Curriculum reformation has to take into consideration the needs of all learners since the system, as it is now, is not fair for Syrian students.
Teacher Coaching Program – the Idea Linea B3 Project
Authors: Salis Carole , Zedda Davide , Brunetti Giuliana , Florence Wilson Marie
Published: November 2020

IDEA Line B3 is a two-year coaching program for teachers who wish to be updated on how to enhance their capacity to effectively implement specific technologies in their teaching practice. The project is a natural extension of a previous three-year project aiming at fighting students’ disengagement through the implementation of extracurricular technological activities. Activities resulted attractive to students and participating school teachers expressed the need to be coached and supported in using critically technologies in educational contexts, with special attention to their implementation to didactics. Technology is not only useful in delivering lessons, but it also is useful for course preparation. In this paper we shall illustrate the project organization, its objectives, the target group, the training activities. We shall also describe the platform developed to store and share educational material and scenarios produced during the training period, the communication activities carried out, the methodology adopted, the organizational procedures as well as the monitoring activities. We shall illustrate the 3 themes object of this year’s program and their related technologies: School Without Walls (with the use of Augmented Reality – AR); Computational Thinking (with coding, educational robotics, and Internet of Things – IoT); Interdisciplinarity (with Artificial Intelligence – AI).
Gesture Recognition & Chanting Assessment For Byzantine Music Learning
Authors: Kokkinidis Kostas , Mastoras Theodoros , Stergiaki Athanasia , Kritopoulou Paraskevi
Published: November 2020

Recent works related to digital self-instruction environments, present scarce efforts to provide combined instruction for gestural and vocal skills. Based upon a recently introduced learning and teaching method of vocal music, this research utilizes existing technologies to achieve the development of such a learning environment. The presented system administers the learning experience in order to improve the motion, sound and rhythm related skills of the student. Student performance is compared with a pre-recorded instructor performance in order to provide customized feedback that bespeaks the flaws of the former performance. Motion and sound-capturing technologies are combined, and related feature extraction algorithms are applied. The gestural and vocal features of the instructor performance are compared off-line to those of the student performance, in order to detect the differences, while the tempo is indicated through gestures. The system evaluates constantly the performances in order to provide visual feedback based on their differences. The aim is for the student to reproduce the instructor performance in an approximate manner. An assessment formula for the student performance is proposed and tested for its validity and accuracy. The selected musical genre on which this system was applied is Byzantine music, since its complexity and variety tests the existing sound recognition algorithms.
Comparison of Selected Physical and Performance Characteristics in University-Level Male Basketball, Football and Volleyball Players
Authors: Koç Meltem , İpek Dongaz Özge , Bayar Banu , Bayar Kılıçhan
Published: November 2020

The purpose of the present study was to compare the selected physical and performance variables of university-level basketball, football and volleyball players. The present study was conducted by 23 students studying in the faculty of health sciences and playing in their school's Football (n = 7), Volleyball (n = 8), Basketball (n = 8) teams and the age ranged from 18-23 years. Several physical and physiological characteristics of the students were evaluated. These characteristics are weight, height, BKI, flexibility, isometric muscle strength, muscular endurance, aerobic and anaerobic performance. While comparing between sports disciplines, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for data with normal distribution, and Kruskal Wallis test was used for non-distributed data. The results of the study indicate that there was a significant difference among Basketball, Volleyball and Football in relation to VO2 Max, muscle strength, anaerobic power. The aerobic performance test was significantly better in volleyball (p ≤ 0.05). However, there was no statistically significant difference in the results of physical properties, muscle endurance and flexibility among teams (p>0.05). These results will provide useful information for university level athletes to be selected according to sports-specific physical fitness criteria and that they should receive training by team coaches accordingly.
BUDAYA RELIGIUS: IMPLIKASINYA DALAM MENINGKATKAN KARAKTER KEAGAMAAN SISWA DI MIN KOTA MALANG
Authors: Rahmawati Fitriah , Afifulloh Mohammad , Sulistiono Muhammad
Published: November 2020

This research was conducted to find out how the implementation of cultures that are generally implemented in various elementary schools, especially those in MIN 2 Kota Malang, which is about increasing religious character through the application of religious culture. The research was conducted using observations, interviews and documentation. In this research researchers use interview instruments arranged to get interviews. At this time many children are less concerned about the education of religious characters, the main cause is a poor community environment and the lack of religious character education in every educational institution. In this case researchers will discuss about the religious character of students in MIN 2 Kota Malang , the forms of implementation of religious culture, and the application of religious culture in improving religious character in MIN 2 Kota Malang. Related to this, researchers found its uniqueness in MIN 2 Kota Malang, namely religious character education started early and religious character education is applied through religious cultures that exist in Madrasah.
Securing Machine Learning in the Cloud: A Systematic Review of Cloud Machine Learning Security
Authors: Qayyum Adnan , Ijaz Aneeqa , Usama Muhammad , Iqbal Waleed , Qadir Junaid , Elkhatib Yehia , Al-Fuqaha Ala
Published: November 2020

With the advances in machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) techniques, and the potency of cloud computing in offering services efficiently and cost-effectively, Machine Learning as a Service (MLaaS) cloud platforms have become popular. In addition, there is increasing adoption of third-party cloud services for outsourcing training of DL models, which requires substantial costly computational resources (e.g., high-performance graphics processing units (GPUs)). Such widespread usage of cloud-hosted ML/DL services opens a wide range of attack surfaces for adversaries to exploit the ML/DL system to achieve malicious goals. In this article, we conduct a systematic evaluation of literature of cloud-hosted ML/DL models along both the important dimensions—attacks and defenses—related to their security. Our systematic review identified a total of 31 related articles out of which 19 focused on attack, six focused on defense, and six focused on both attack and defense. Our evaluation reveals that there is an increasing interest from the research community on the perspective of attacking and defending different attacks on Machine Learning as a Service platforms. In addition, we identify the limitations and pitfalls of the analyzed articles and highlight open research issues that require further investigation.
Evolving Consciousness: Insights From Turing, and the Shaping of Experience
Authors: Lacalli Thurston
Published: November 2020

A number of conceptual difficulties arise when considering the evolutionary origin of consciousness from the pre-conscious condition. There are parallels here with biological pattern formation, where, according to Alan Turing’s original formulation of the problem, the statistical properties of molecular-level processes serve as a source of incipient pattern. By analogy, the evolution of consciousness can be thought of as depending in part on a competition between alternative variants in the microstructure of synaptic networks and/or the activity patterns they generate, some of which then serve as neural correlates of consciousness (NCCs). Assuming that NCCs perform this function only if reliably ordered in a particular and precise way, Turing’s formulation provides a useful conceptual framework for thinking about how this is achieved developmentally, and how changes in neural structure might correlate with change at the level of conscious experience. The analysis is largely silent concerning the nature and ultimate source of conscious experience, but shows that achieving sentience is sufficient to begin the process by which evolution elaborates and shapes that first experience. By implication, much of what evolved consciousness achieves in adaptive terms can in principle be investigated irrespective of whether or not the ultimate source of real-time experience is known or understood. This includes the important issue of how precisely NCCs must be structured to ensure that each evokes a particular experience as opposed to any other. Some terminological issues are clarified, including that of “noise,” which here refers to the statistical variations in neural structure that arise during development, not to sensory noise as experienced in real time.
Moringa oleifera Alkaloids Inhibited PC3 Cells Growth and Migration Through the COX-2 Mediated Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway
Authors: Xie Jing , Luo Feng-xian , Shi Chong-ying , Jiang Wei-wei , Qian Ying-yan , Yang Ming-rong , Song Shuang , Dai Tian-yi , Peng Lei , Gao Xiao-yu , Tao Liang , Tian Yang , Sheng Jun
Published: November 2020

Moringa oleifera Lam. (M. oleifera) is valuable plant distributed in many tropical and subtropical countries. It has a number of medicinal uses and is highly nutritious. M. oleifera has been shown to inhibit tumor cell growth, but this effect has not been demonstrated on prostate cancer cells. In this study, we evaluated the inhibitory effect of M. oleifera alkaloids (MOA) on proliferation and migration of PC3 human prostate cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we elucidated the mechanism of these effects. The results showed that MOA inhibited proliferation of PC3 cells and induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Furthermore, MOA suppressed PC3 cell migration and inhibited the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-9. In addition, MOA significantly downregulated the expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), β-catenin, phosphorylated glycogen synthase 3β, and vascular endothelial growth factor, and suppressed production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Furthermore, FH535 (β-catenin inhibitor) and MOA reversed PGE2-induced PC3 cell proliferation and migration, and the effects of MOA and FH535 were not additive. In vivo experiments showed that MOA (150 mg/kg) significantly inhibited growth of xenograft tumors in mice, and significantly reduced the protein expression levels of COX-2 and β-catenin in tumor tissues. These results indicate that MOA inhibits the proliferation and migration, and induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest of PC3 cells. Additionally, MOA inhibits the proliferation and migration of PC3 cells through suppression of the COX-2 mediated Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
Pharmacoeconomic Evaluation of Cancer Biosimilars Worldwide: A Systematic Review
Authors: Huang Hui-Yao , Liu Cheng-Cheng , Yu Yue , Wang Le , Wu Da-Wei , Guo Lan-Wei , Wang Shu-Hang , Fang Hong , Bai Ying , Fang Yuan , Fan Qi , Sun Chao , Wu Ying , Shi Ju-Fang , Ma Fei , Tang Yu , Dai Min , Li Ning
Published: November 2020

Background and Purpose: The availability of oncology biosimilars is deemed as a fundamental strategy to achieve sustainable health care. However, there is scarce systematic evidence on economic effectiveness of cancer biosimilars. We aimed to synthesize evidence from pharmacoeconomic evaluation of oncology biosimilars globally, provide essential data and methodological reference for involved stakeholders.

Materials and Methods: This systematic review was conducted in PubMed, embase, the Cochrane library, CRD, ISPOR and NICE utill December 31, 2019. Information on basic characteristics, evaluation methodology and results were extracted. Quality of included studies was assessed using the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards Checklist.

Results: For 17 studies identified (13 from Europe and four from United States), the overall quality was generally acceptable. A total of seven biological molecules involved with filgrastim, EPOETIN α, and trastuzumab leading the three. The mostly common evaluation perspective was payer, but the time horizon varied greatly. There were ten studies which adopted cost minimization analysis to evaluate efficiency while seven studies adopted budget impact analysis to address affordability, with cost ratio and cost saving being its corresponding primary endpoint. Although the comparability of included studies was limited and specific results were largely affected by uptake and price discount rates of the oncology biosimilar, the comprehensive results consistently favored its promotion.

Conclusion: Globally, the economic evaluation of cancer biosimilars is in its initial phase. However, limited evidence from developed countries consistently supported both cost-effectiveness of efficiency and affordability of oncology biosimilars, while they were largely affected by uptake and price discount rate.
Piperlongumine Alleviates Mouse Colitis and Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Huang Jia-Rong , Wang Sheng-Te , Wei Meng-Ning , Liu Kun , Fu Jing-Wen , Xing Zi-Hao , Shi Zhi
Published: November 2020

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common and lethal cancers in the world. An important causative factor of colorectal cancer is ulcerative colitis. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of piperlongumine (PL) on the dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced acute colitis and azoxymethane (AOM)/DSS-induced colorectal cancer mouse models. Our results showed that PL could inhibit the inflammation of DSS-induced mouse colitis and reduce the number of large neoplasms (diameter >2 mm) of AOM/DSS-induced mouse colorectal cancer by downregulation of proinflammatory cytokines cyclooxygenase-2 and interleukin-6 and epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related factors, β-catenin, and snail expressions, but fail to improve the colitis symptoms and to decrease the incidence of colonic neoplasms and the number of small neoplasms (diameter <2 mm). These data suggested that PL might be an effective agent in treating colitis and colorectal cancer.
Safety and Efficacy of Adjunctive Therapy With Artesunate in the Treatment of Severe Malaria: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Zou Yuanyuan , Tuo Fei , Zhang Zhiqi , Guo Jiawen , Yuan Yueming , Zhang Hongying , Xu Zhiyong , Pan Ziyi , Tang Yexiao , Deng Changsheng , Julie Nadia , Wu Wanting , Guo Wenfeng , Li Changqing , Huang Xinan , Xu Qin , Song Jianping , Wang Qi
Published: November 2020

Objective: The purpose of this meta-analysis of longitudinal studies is to determine the safety and efficacy of artesunate combined with other forms of adjunctive therapies for severe malaria.

Methods: Following the PRISMA guidelines, we searched multiple databases with the search terms “artesunate” and “adjunctive therapy” and “severe malaria” in July 2020. If the search showed a randomized controlled trial, the study was included in this meta-analysis. The random-effects model was used to calculate the combined incidence rate and relative risk or risk difference.

Results: This meta-analysis included nine longitudinal studies with 724 participants. We found that the mortality rates in the artesunate monotherapy group and the artesunate + adjuvant therapy group are similar (RD = −0.02, 95% confidence interval: −0.06–0.02). The incidence of adverse reactions in the artesunate monotherapy group and the artesunate + adjuvant therapy group was also similar.

Conclusion: No significant differences in safety and efficacy were observed between the artesunate monotherapy group and the artesunate + adjuvant therapy group. Higher quality and rigorously designed randomized controlled studies are needed to validate our findings.
Editorial for the Special Issue on “Algorithms for Graphs and Networks”
Authors: Lewis Rhyd
Published: November 2020

This Special Issue of Algorithms presents recent advances in the area of graphs and networks, focusing particularly on optimisation problems and their associated algorithms [...]
Computing Maximal Lyndon Substrings of a String
Authors: Franek Frantisek , Liut Michael
Published: November 2020

There are two reasons to have an efficient algorithm for identifying all right-maximal Lyndon substrings of a string: firstly, Bannai et al. introduced in 2015 a linear algorithm to compute all runs of a string that relies on knowing all right-maximal Lyndon substrings of the input string, and secondly, Franek et al. showed in 2017 a linear equivalence of sorting suffixes and sorting right-maximal Lyndon substrings of a string, inspired by a novel suffix sorting algorithm of Baier. In 2016, Franek et al. presented a brief overview of algorithms for computing the Lyndon array that encodes the knowledge of right-maximal Lyndon substrings of the input string. Among those presented were two well-known algorithms for computing the Lyndon array: a quadratic in-place algorithm based on the iterated Duval algorithm for Lyndon factorization and a linear algorithmic scheme based on linear suffix sorting, computing the inverse suffix array, and applying to it the next smaller value algorithm. Duval’s algorithm works for strings over any ordered alphabet, while for linear suffix sorting, a constant or an integer alphabet is required. The authors at that time were not aware of Baier’s algorithm. In 2017, our research group proposed a novel algorithm for the Lyndon array. Though the proposed algorithm is linear in the average case and has O(nlog(n)) worst-case complexity, it is interesting as it emulates the fast Fourier algorithm’s recursive approach and introduces τ-reduction, which might be of independent interest. In 2018, we presented a linear algorithm to compute the Lyndon array of a string inspired by Phase I of Baier’s algorithm for suffix sorting. This paper presents the theoretical analysis of these two algorithms and provides empirical comparisons of both of their C++ implementations with respect to the iterated Duval algorithm.
Increased PARP Activity and DNA Damage in NSCLC Patients: The Influence of COPD
Authors: Tang Jun , Curull Víctor , Wang Xuejie , Ampurdanés Coral , Duran Xavier , Pijuan Lara , Rodríguez-Fuster Alberto , Aguiló Rafael , Yélamos José , Barreiro Esther
Published: November 2020

(1) Background: Lung cancer (LC) is a major leading cause of death worldwide. Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP)-1 and PARP-2 are key players in cancer. We aimed to assess PARP-1 and PARP-2 expression and activity and DNA damage in tumors and non-tumor lungs from patients with/without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). (2) Methods: Lung tumor and non-tumor specimens were obtained through video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in LC patients with/without underlying COPD (two groups of patients, n = 15/group). PARP-1 and PARP-2 expression (ELISA), PARP activity (PARP colorimetric assay kit) and DNA damage (immunohistochemistry) levels were identified in all samples. (3) Results: Both PARP-1 and PARP-2 expression levels were significantly lower in lung tumors (irrespective of COPD)compared to non-tumor specimens, while DNA damage and PARP activity levels significantly increased in lung tumors compared to non-tumor specimens only in LC-COPD patients. PARP-2 expression was positively correlated with smoking burden in LC-COPD patients. (4) Conclusions: In lung tumors of COPD patients, an overactivation of PARP enzyme was observed. A decline in PARP-1 and PARP-2 protein expression was seen in lung tumors irrespective of COPD. Other phenotypic features (airway obstruction) beyond cancer may account for the increase in PARP activity seen in the tumors of patients with underlying COPD.
Hydrogen Sulfide-Evoked Intracellular Ca2+ Signals in Primary Cultures of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Cells
Authors: Faris Pawan , Ferulli Federica , Vismara Mauro , Tanzi Matteo , Negri Sharon , Rumolo Agnese , Lefkimmiatis Kostantinos , Maestri Marcello , Shekha Mudhir , Pedrazzoli Paolo , Guidetti Gianni Francesco , Montagna Daniela , Moccia Francesco
Published: November 2020

Exogenous administration of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is emerging as an alternative anticancer treatment. H2S-releasing compounds have been shown to exert a strong anticancer effect by suppressing proliferation and/or inducing apoptosis in several cancer cell types, including colorectal carcinoma (CRC). The mechanism whereby exogenous H2S affects CRC cell proliferation is yet to be clearly elucidated, but it could involve an increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). Herein, we sought to assess for the first time whether (and how) sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), one of the most widely employed H2S donors, induced intracellular Ca2+ signals in primary cultures of human metastatic CRC (mCRC) cells. We provided the evidence that NaHS induced extracellular Ca2+ entry in mCRC cells by activating the Ca2+-permeable channel Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) followed by the Na+-dependent recruitment of the reverse-mode of the Na+/Ca2+ (NCX) exchanger. In agreement with these observations, TRPV1 protein was expressed and capsaicin, a selective TRPV1 agonist, induced Ca2+ influx by engaging both TRPV1 and NCX in mCRC cells. Finally, NaHS reduced mCRC cell proliferation, but did not promote apoptosis or aberrant mitochondrial depolarization. These data support the notion that exogenous administration of H2S may prevent mCRC cell proliferation through an increase in [Ca2+]i, which is triggered by TRPV1.