bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mitochondria transfer enhances bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell functions and promotes bone defect healing
Authors: Guo Yusi , Chi Xiaopei , Wang Yifan , Heng Boon Chin , Wei Yan , Zhang Xuehui , Zhao Han , Yin Ying , Deng Xuliang
Published: February 2020

Background: Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) transplantation is considered a promising therapeutic approach for bone defect repair. However, during the transplantation procedure, the functions and viability of BMSCs may be impaired due to extended durations of in vitro culture, aging and disease conditions of patients. Inspired by spontaneous intercellular mitochondria transfer that naturally occurs within injured tissues to rescue cellular or tissue function, we investigated whether artificial mitochondria transfer into pre-transplant BMSCs in vitro could improve cellular function and enhance their therapeutic effects on bone defect repair in situ. Methods: First, mitochondria were isolated from donor BMSCs and transferred into recipient BMSCs of the same passage. Afterwards, changes in proliferative capability was evaluated by Cell Counting Kit-8, Ki67 staining, etc., while Transwell, wound scratch healing and cell motility tests were conducted to determine migration ability. Then, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining, Alizarin Red staining, combined with qPCR and Western Blot experiments of Runx2 and BMP2 were performed to elucidate the effect of mitochondria transfer on the osteogenic potential of BMSCs in vitro. After that, the in vivo experiments were completed by transplanting mitochondria-recipient BMSCs into a rat cranial critical-size bone defect model. Micro CT scanning and histological analysis were conducted 4 weeks and 8 weeks after transplantation to evaluate the osteogenesis effect in situ. Finally, in order to discover the potential connection between cellular behavioral changes and aerobic metabolism, OXPHOS (oxidative phosphorylation) and ATP production were assessed and inhibition of aerobic respiration by oligomycin was proceeded. Results: Mitochondria-recipient BMSCs exhibited significantly enhanced proliferation and migration, and increased osteogenic differentiation upon osteogenic induction. The in vivo results showed more new bone formation after transplantation of mitochondria-recipient BMSCs in situ. Increased OXPHOS activity and ATP production were further observed, whereas the inhibition of which impaired the enhancement of proliferation, migration and osteogenic differentiation induced by mitochondria transfer. Conclusions: Mitochondria transfer is a feasible technique to enhance BMSCs function in vitro and promote bone defect repair in situ through the up-regulation of aerobic metabolism. The results indicated that mitochondria transfer may be a novel promising technique for optimizing stem cell function.
Colony-forming cells reduced the lung injury induced by cardiopulmonary bypass
Authors: sun haibin , Zhao Xiaoqing , Tai Qihang , Xu Guangxiao , Ju Yingnan , Gao Wei
Published: February 2020

Background Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) results in severe lung injury via inflammation and endothelial injury. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) on lung injury in rats subjected to CPB. Methods Thirty-two rats were randomized into the sham, CPB, CPB/ECFC and CPB/ECFC/L-NIO groups. The rats in the sham group received anaesthesia, and the rats in the other groups received CPB. The rats also received PBS, ECFCs and L-NIO-pretreated ECFCs. After 24 hours of CPB, pulmonary capillary permeability, including the PaO 2 /FiO 2 ratio, protein levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue wet/dry weight, was evaluated. The cell numbers and cytokines in BALF and peripheral blood were tested. Endothelial injury, lung histological injury and apoptosis were assessed. The oxidative stress response and apoptosis-related proteins were analysed. Results After CPB, all the data deteriorated compared with those obtained in the S group. Compared to the CPB treatment, ECFCs significantly improved pulmonary capillary permeability and PaO 2 /FiO 2 . Similarly, ECFCs also decreased the inflammatory cell number and pro-inflammatory factors in BALF and peripheral blood, as well as the oxidative stress response in the lung tissue. ECFCs reduced the lung histological injury score and apoptosis and regulated apoptosis-related proteins in the lung tissue. Conclusions ECFCs significantly reduced lung injury induced by inflammation after CPB.
Children Learning About Second-hand Smoke (CLASS II): a mixed methods process evaluation of a school-based intervention
Authors: Jackson Cath , Huque Rumana , Ahmed Farid , Nasreen Shammi , Shah Sarwat , Ahluwalia Jasjit S , Kanaan Mona , Sheikh Aziz , Siddiqi Kamran
Published: February 2020

Background Children are vulnerable to the effects of second-hand smoke exposure. Creating smoke-free homes is an effective strategy to limit exposure. We developed a smoke free intervention (SFI) to use children as a catalyst for change and teach skills to negotiate a smoke-free home. In this paper we present the process evaluation conducted within a pilot trial. Methods This was a mixed-methods study comprising qualitative interviews and quantitative fidelity assessment of SFI delivery. Interviews in the six intervention schools were conducted with six headteachers and 12 teachers. These explored experiences of delivering the SFI, perceived impact, barriers and facilitators to success, ideas for improvement and for scaling up. The data were analysed using framework analysis. Delivery of the SFI was observed and fidelity scores calculated. Results The SFI was acceptable to headteachers and teachers. It was generally well delivered, with teachers adapting some components for their students. Time to complete the sessions, timing in the school day and school calendar were key challenges. Embedding the SFI into the curriculum was a potential solution. Conclusions These findings provide useful information to finalise the content, delivery, and to inform the scale-up of the SFI for our definitive trial, which is now underway.
Long-Term Effectiveness and Safety of Infliximab, Golimumab and Golimumab-IV in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients from a Canadian Prospective Observational Registry
Authors: Rahman Proton , Baer Philip , Keystone Ed , Choquette Denis , Thorne Carter , Haraoui Boulos , Chow Andrew , Faraawi Rafat , Olszynski Wojciech , Kelsall John , Rampakakis Emmanouil , Lehman Allen J. , Nantel Francois
Published: February 2020

Background Long-term clinical registries are essential tools to evaluate new therapies in a patient population that differs from those in randomized clinical trials. The objectives are to describe the profile of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with anti-TNF agents in Canadian routine care. Methods RA patients eligible for treatment with Infliximab (IFX), golimumab (GLM) or intravenous golimumab (GLM-IV) as per their respective Canadian product monographs were enrolled into the BioTRAC registry between 2002 and 2017. Study visits occurred at baseline and every 6 months thereafter. Effectiveness was assessed by changes in disease activity. Safety was evaluated by the incidence of adverse events (AEs) and drug survival. Results Of the 890 IFX-, 530 GLM-SC- and 157 GLM-IV-treated patients, the proportion of females ranged from 77.0-86.6%, the mean ages from 55.8-57.7 and the mean disease duration from 6.5-8.6 years. A significant decrease in baseline disease duration and disease activity parameters (DAS, TJC, SJC, HAQ, AM stiffness, MDGA, PtGA, CRP, ESR) was observed over time. Treatment with IFX, GLM-SC and GLM-IV significantly improved all disease parameters over time. The incidence of AEs was 105, 113 and 82.6 /100 PYs and the incidence of SAEs was 11.7, 11.2 and 4.68 /100 PYs for IFX, GLM-SC and GLM-IV-treated patients, respectively. Conclusion Differences in baseline characteristics between patients treated with an anti-TNFs over time shows the evolution of treatment modalities over time. All treatments significantly reduced disease activity and improved functionality in a similar fashion. The incidence of adverse events was consistent with the safety profiles of IFX and GLM.
Circular RNA hsa_circ_102209 promotes the growth and metastasis of colorectal cancer through miR-761-mediated Ras and Rab interactor 1 signaling
Authors: LI CHI , Zhou Hong
Published: February 2020

Background: The levels of hsa_circ_102209 in colorectal cancer (CRC) specimens and cells, as well as its effects on CRC cells were investigated. Methods: The expression of hsa_circ_102209 in CRC and paired non-cancerous samples, human CRC and normal colonic epithelial cells were examined using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Cells with hsa_circ_102209 knockdown were established using lentiviral vectors. Cell proliferative ability was evaluated using CCK-8 assay; cell migration and invasion were assessed by wound healing and Transwell assay. Cell cycle arrest and apoptosis were determined; apoptosis and EMT markers were examined using RT-qPCR and western blotting. Tumour development and levels of associated proteins were determined in hsa_circ_102209 knockdown mice. Results: Our results revealed that expression of hsa_circ_102209 was remarkably increased in CRC tissues, where the levels of miR-761 were notably reduced (p<0.05). Additionally, the levels of hsa_circ_102209 was associated with histology grade and occurrence of liver metastasis in CRC patients, and the expression of hsa_circ_102209 and miR-761 were negatively correlated (p<0.05). Moreover, hsa_circ_102209 was upregulated in CRC cells compared with normal colonic epithelial cells. Knockdown of hsa_circ_102209 notably inhibited the proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT of CRC cells (p<0.05), whereas enhanced cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase and apoptosis (p<0.05). Furthermore, miR-761/Ras and Rab interactor 1 (RIN1) axis was the putative target of hsa_circ_102209 in CRC and involved in hsa_circ_102209-modulated growth and metastasis in CRC cells (p<0.05). Knockdown of hsa_circ_102209 also remarkably suppressed tumor growth in vivo (p<0.05). Conclusions: our data revealed that the expression of hsa_circ_102209 was elevated in CRC samples and cells. Furthermore, hsa_circ_102209 could promote the progression of CRC through miR-761/RIN1 axis. More importantly, hsa_circ_102209/miR-761/RIN1 signaling may be a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of CRC patients.
Serum ErbB2 concentration positively correlated to the glycemic variations in newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetic patients
Authors: Huang Yan , Han Xia , Li Feng-fei , Liu Yan-mei , Liu Zelong , She Yu-qing
Published: February 2020

Background Accumulated evidences indicate that elevated levels of circulating ErbB2 are closely associated with increased incidence of diabetes. However, the relationship between ErbB2 concentration and glycemic variations (GV) in type 2 diabetic (T2D) patients remains elucidated. The aim of this study was to assess whether there is an association between serum ErbB2 concentration and GV in newly diagnosed T2D patients. Methods This was a three-center, and observational study. Between April 2019 and July 2019, a total of 106 newly diagnosed T2D patients were recruited. All recruited subjects were admitted as inpatients and received anti-diabetes agents free during the study period. At baseline, fasting serum was collected for ErbB2 measurement and all recruited patients were subjected a prospective CGM for at least 3 days. The primary endpoint was the relationships between ErbB2 concentrations and GV in T2D patients. Results Data of a total of 95 subjects who met the inclusion criteria were analyzed at the endpoint. Subjects were divided into quartiles according to their serum ErbB2 concentrations. We observed that subjects with an elevated level of ErbB2 had a higher value of GV in terms of mean amplitude of glucose excursion (MAGE), standard deviation of mean glucose (SDMG), and the coefficient of variation (CV%) than those with lower levels (all P<0.05). Multiple linear regression analyzes after adjusting for confounder factors indicate that serum ErbB2 levels were significantly positively correlated with the MAGE (β=0.664, t=7.218, P<0.01), SD (β=0.469, t=5.125, P<0.01) and CV% (β=0.337, t=4.442, P<0.01), respectively. Conclusion Serum ErbB2 concentration was positively correlated to the glycemic variations in newly diagnosed T2D patients. Our data indicating that ErbB2 may be a potential treatment target for diabetic patients for improvement in glycemic control. Keywords Type 2 Diabetes, glycemic control, ErbB2
Improved technology for new-generation Kazakh national meat products
Authors: Uzakov Yasin , Kaldarbekova Madina , Kuznetsova Olga
Published: February 2020

Introduction. Extract of goji berries (Lycium Barbarum L.) and buckwheat flour (Fagopýrum esculéntum L.) possess antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. As a result, they can be used to improve traditional Kazakh horse-meat formulations to obtain functional cooked and smoked meat products. These natural biologically active substances can improve the oxidative stability of pigments, lipids, and proteins of finished products. The research objective was to assess the potential of goji extract and buckwheat flour as additives that can improve the oxidative stability and general quality of Kanagat, a national Kazakh cooked and smoked horse-meat product. Goji extract and buckwheat flour were used in two concentrations – 0.5% and 1.0%.

Study objects and methods. The research featured sensory evaluation of taste, smell, color, determination of color parameters (L*, a*, b*), pH, free amine nitrogen, total carbonyl proteins, acid value, peroxide value and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), as well as a histological analysis.

Results and discussion. When 1.0% of goji extract and 1.0% of buckwheat flour were added to the traditional formulation, it improved the oxidative stability and quality of the modified horse-meat product while preserving its sensory properties and colour parameters. A set of microstructural studies showed that the processing of meat products with 1.0% of goji extract and 1.0% of buckwheat flour had a destructive effect on most fibers. The affected fibers showed multiple decays of myofibrillar substance, which turned into a finegrained protein mass. The abovementioned concentration caused effective inhibition of hydrolytic changes, as well as oxidation of proteins and lipids.

Conclusion. The new technology made it possible to produce a new national horse-meat product fortified with 1.0% of goji extract and 1.0% of buckwheat flour. The specified amount of biologically active additives improved the oxidative stability and quality of the product, while maintaining its sensory and color characteristics.
A CFD strategy to retrofit an anaerobic digester to improve mixing performance in wastewater treatment
Authors: Dapelo D. , Bridgeman J.
Published: February 2020

To date, mixing design practice in anaerobic digestion has focussed on biogas production, but no adequate consideration has been given to energy efficiency. A coherent, comprehensive and generalized strategy based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling is proposed to improve mixing efficiency of a full-scale, unconfined gas-mixed digester for wastewater treatment. The model consists of an Euler–Lagrange (EL) model where biogas bubbles are modelled as the Eulerian dispersed phase, and non-Newtonian sludge as the Lagrangian continuous phase. Robustness tests show that mixing predictions are independent of bubble size. The CFD strategy comprises the assessment of different mixing geometries and a range of input gas flow rates. Quantitative results show that simple retrofitting measures are able to achieve a significant improvement in the degree of mixing with reduced mixing times, and consequently recommendations for best mixing geometry and gas flow rate are given. A generalization to a generic digester is discussed in a form that is readily usable by professionals and consultants.
Dementagogy: Non-pharmacological Forms of Support for People with Dementia
Authors: Banasiak Małgorzata , Wołowska Agata
Published: February 2020

The article presents quite a new part of pedagogical sciences – dementagogy. The exploratory goal of the article is to indicate new areas of research within special pedagogy that refer to dementagogy and new challenges that aging societies pose to educators. Facilitation strategies directed at people with dementia is one of the challenges but also a great option for non- pharmacological forms of support. The main objective of dementagogy is accompanying a person with dementia in the process of painful parting with oneself and supporting this person in the difficult process of the disease. In the article you will find selected methods of non-pharmacological support for patients with dementia such as Cognitive therapy – RehaCom, Reminiscence therapy, Music therapy, Relaxation, Validation therapy, Occupational and movement therapy, Environmental therapy. Art therapy, Self Maintenance Therapy.
Lignans and Neolignans Anti-tuberculosis Identified by QSAR and Molecular Modeling
Authors: S. Maia Mayara , de Sousa Natália F. , Rodrigues Gabriela C.S. , Monteiro Alex F.M. , Scotti Marcus T. , Scotti Luciana
Published: February 2020

Background:

Tuberculosis is a disease with high incidence and high mortality rate,
especially in Brazil. Although there are several medications available for treatment, in cases of
resistance, there is a need to use more than one medication.

Objective:

Therefore, cases of toxicity increase and reports of resistance have been worrying the
population. In addition, some medications have a short period of effectiveness. To achieve the
goal, ligand-based and structure-based approaches were used.

Methods:

Thus, in an attempt to discover potent inhibitors against Mycobacterium tuberculosis
enzymes, we sought to identify natural products with high therapeutic potential for the treatment of
Tuberculosis through QSAR, Molecular Modeling and ADMET studies.

Results:

The results showed that the models generated from two sets of molecules with known
activity against M. tuberculosis enzymes InhA and PS were able to select 11 and 8 compounds,
respectively, between Lignans and Neolignans with 50 to 60% activity probability. In addition,
molecular docking contributed to confirm the mechanism of action of compounds and increase the
accuracy of methodologies. All molecules showed higher binding energy values for the drug
Isoniazid. We conclude that compounds 33, 34, 110, 114 and 133 are promising for InhA target
and compounds 07, 08, 19, 21, 42, 48, 75 and 141 for target PS. In addition, most molecules did
not show any toxicity according to the evaluated parameters.

Conclusions:

Therefore, Lignans and Neolignans may be an alternative for the treatment of
Tuberculosis.
Biological Activities and Phenolic Compound Content of Astilboides tabularis (Hemsl.) Engler Extracts
Authors: Yang Jinfeng , Chanok Lee , Heekyu Kim , Kwon Yong S. , Kim Myong J.
Published: February 2020

Introduction:

The plant, Astilboides tabularis (Hemsl.) Engler, is used in Chinese and Korean medicine to regulate blood sugar levels; however, little is known about its precise effects.

Materials and Methods:

In this study, we aimed to measure the composition as well as the antioxidant, and anti-proliferative capacities of A. tabularis. Various extracts were generated using different organic solvents, and in vitro antioxidant activities were evaluated using DPPH free radical-scavenging and reducing power assays. The extracts were also evaluated based on their ability to inhibit lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced Nitric Oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 cells.

Results:

Research shows that the A. tabularis ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract showed significant antioxidant activity. Additionally, this extract could inhibit the LPS-induced expression of inflammatory mediators and pro-inflammatory cytokines in RAW 264.7 cells, including inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß). Notably, the A. tabularis EtOAc extract also displayed potent cytotoxic effects against MCF-7 and HeLa cancer cell lines, as determined by MTT assays. Lastly, total phenol and flavonoid content was measured for all extracts, and four flavonoid compounds-catechin, kaempferol, quercitrin, and isoquercetin were isolated from the EtOAc extract. Their structures were confirmed using mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance, and these isolated compounds were found to display potent DPPH free radical-scavenging activity.

Conclusion:

Thus, our data suggest that phenolic compounds in A. tabularis extracts promote antioxidant activity, and furthermore, these extracts show numerous features that indicate potential for therapeutic development.
Towards a Better Understanding of Computational Models for Predicting DNA Methylation Effects at the Molecular Level
Authors: Proctor Nathanael K. , Ertan-Bolelli Tugba , Bolelli Kayhan , Taylor Ethan W. , Chiu Norman H.L. , Bowen J. Phillip
Published: February 2020

Human DNA is a very sensitive macromolecule and slight changes in the structure of DNA
can have disastrous effects on the organism. When nucleotides are modified, or changed, the resulting
DNA sequence can lose its information, if it is part of a gene, or it can become a problem for replication
and repair. Human cells can regulate themselves by using a process known as DNA methylation. This
methylation is vitally important in cell differentiation and expression of genes. When the methylation is
uncontrolled, however, or does not occur in the right place, serious pathophysiological consequences
may result. Excess methylation causes changes in the conformation of the DNA double helix. The secondary
structure of DNA is highly dependent upon the sequence. Therefore, if the sequence changes
slightly the secondary structure can change as well. These slight changes will then cause the doublestranded
DNA to be more open and available in some places where large adductions can come in and
react with the DNA base pairs. Computer models have been used to simulate a variety of biological
processes including protein function and binding, and there is a growing body of evidence that in silico
methods can shed light on DNA methylation. Understanding the anomeric effect that contributes to the
structural and conformational flexibility of furanose rings through a combination of quantum mechanical
and experimental studies is critical for successful molecular dynamic simulations.
Efficient Methods for the Synthesis of Novel Arylazothiazoles Based on Acetylferrocene or Adamantane
Authors: Sayed Abdelwahed R. , Ahmed Mohamed S.M. , Gomha Sobhi M.
Published: February 2020

Background:

Hydrazonoyl halides are convenient for the synthesis of arylazothiazoles.

Materials and Methods:

A series of novel arylazothiazoles were efficiently synthesized from the reaction of hydrazonoyl chlorides with 2-(adamantan-2-ylidene)hydrazinecarbothioamide or 2-(ferrocenyl-1-ylidene)hydrazinecarbo-- thioamide in dioxane used as an aprotic solvent because of its lower toxicity and higher boiling point (101 °C) and triethylamine at reflux. The reaction mechanistic pathway proceeded by the nucleophilic substitution reaction by the elimination of hydrogen chloride to give thiohydrazonates as intermediate, which in situ undergo intramolecular cyclization and loss of water molecule to afford the final product of novel arylazothiazoles. This method is simple with good yield and excellent purities.

Results and Discussion:

The synthetic schemes for the final products are proposed and discussed. The chemical structures of the final products were identified by different techniques, such as elemental analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and mass spectrometry (MS).

Conclusion:

In this article, we prepared arylazothiazoles from the reaction of 2-(adamantan-2-ylidene)hydrazinecarbothioamide or 2-(ferrocenyl-1-ylidene)hydrazinecarbothioamide with hydrazonoyl halides.
Microwave Assisted Catalyst-free Synthesis of Bioactive Heterocycles
Authors: Banerjee Bubun , Kaur Gurpreet
Published: February 2020

This review deals with the recent advances on the microwave-assisted synthesis of bioactive heterocycles without using any catalyst under various reaction conditions. Synthesis of various biologically promising N-heterocycles, O-heterocycles, S-heterocycles, N as well as O- or S-heterocycles reported so far under catalyst-free microwave-irradiated conditions are discussed in this review.
α-Ketophosphonates in the Synthesis of α-iminophosphonates
Authors: Ony`sko Petro P. , Chudakova Tetyana I. , Pirozhenko Vladimir V. , Rozhenko Alexandr B.
Published: February 2020

The potentialities of condensation of α-ketophosphonates with primary amines for direct
synthesis of α-iminophosphonates have been revealed. Diesters of α-ketophosphonic acids react with
the primary amines by two competitive pathways: with a formation of α-iminophosphonates or a C-P
bond cleavage resulting in a hydrogen phosphonate and an acylated amine. In many cases, the latter
undesirable pathway is dominant, especially for more nucleophilic alkyl amines. Using metallic salts
of α-ketophosphonates avoids the C-P bond cleavage, allowing direct preparation of α-phosphorylated
imines by the reaction with primary amines. This strategy provides an atom economy single-stage synthesis
of iminophosphonates – precursors of bio relevant phosphorus analogs of α-amino acids. Methyl
sodium iminophosphonates, bearing aryl or heteryl substituents at the imino carbon atom exist in
solutions at room temperature as an equilibrium mixture of Z- and E-isomers. A configuration of the
C=N bond can be controlled by the solvent: changing the aprotic dipolar solvent DMSO-d6 by water
or alcohols leads to the change from a predominant Z-isomer to almost an exclusive E-form. In contrast,
diesters of the respective iminophosphonates exist in non-protic solvents predominantly in Econfiguration.
The solvent effect on E-Z stereochemistry is demonstrated by DFT calculations.
Structures and Absorption Spectrum of 1D and 2D ZnS Nanoparticles
Authors: Papantzikos Spyros , Chronis Alexandos G. , Michos Fotios I. , Sigalas Mihail M.
Published: February 2020

Background:

ZnS nanoparticles (NPs) are attractive for quantum dots
applications because they consist of abundant and non-toxic elements. Their major
drawback is that they absorb in the UV region, ultimately limiting their
applications.

Objective:

In the present study, 1D and 2D ZnS NPs have been found. The goal of
this study is to find NPs that have absorption in the visible spectrum.

Methods:

Calculations based on the Density Functional Theory (DFT) have been
used to find the optimized geometries. Their absorption spectra have been
calculated with the Time-Dependent DFT.

Results:

Several shapes were examined, such as nanorod, and it is observed that
these shapes move the absorption spectra in lower energies, into the visible
spectrum, while the 3D NPs have absorption edges in the UV region.

Conclusion:

NPs with the shape of nanorod in different directions showed that their
absorption spectra moved to lower energies well inside the visible spectrum with
significantly high oscillator strength. In contrast with the mostly used CdSe NPs,
the ZnS NPs are made from more abundant and less toxic elements. Therefore, by
making them absorb in the visible region, they may find significant applications in
solar cells and other photonic applications.
Low-Cost Consumer-Based Trackers to Measure Physical Activity and Sleep Duration Among Adults in Free-Living Conditions: Validation Study
Authors: Degroote Laurent , Hamerlinck Gilles , Poels Karolien , Maher Carol , Crombez Geert , De Bourdeaudhuij Ilse , Vandendriessche Ann , Curtis Rachel G , DeSmet Ann
Published: February 2020

Background

Wearable trackers for monitoring physical activity (PA) and total sleep time (TST) are increasingly popular. These devices are used not only by consumers to monitor their behavior but also by researchers to track the behavior of large samples and by health professionals to implement interventions aimed at health promotion and to remotely monitor patients. However, high costs and accuracy concerns may be barriers to widespread adoption.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the concurrent validity of 6 low-cost activity trackers for measuring steps, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and TST: Geonaut On Coach, iWown i5 Plus, MyKronoz ZeFit4, Nokia GO, VeryFit 2.0, and Xiaomi MiBand 2.

Methods

A free-living protocol was used in which 20 adults engaged in their usual daily activities and sleep. For 3 days and 3 nights, they simultaneously wore a low-cost tracker and a high-cost tracker (Fitbit Charge HR) on the nondominant wrist. Participants wore an ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometer on the hip at daytime and a BodyMedia SenseWear device on the nondominant upper arm at nighttime. Validity was assessed by comparing each tracker with the ActiGraph GT3X+ and BodyMedia SenseWear using mean absolute percentage error scores, correlations, and Bland-Altman plots in IBM SPSS 24.0.

Results

Large variations were shown between trackers. Low-cost trackers showed moderate-to-strong correlations (Spearman r=0.53-0.91) and low-to-good agreement (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC]=0.51-0.90) for measuring steps. Weak-to-moderate correlations (Spearman r=0.24-0.56) and low agreement (ICC=0.18-0.56) were shown for measuring MVPA. For measuring TST, the low-cost trackers showed weak-to-strong correlations (Spearman r=0.04-0.73) and low agreement (ICC=0.05-0.52). The Bland-Altman plot revealed a variation between overcounting and undercounting for measuring steps, MVPA, and TST, depending on the used low-cost tracker. None of the trackers, including Fitbit (a high-cost tracker), showed high validity to measure MVPA.

Conclusions

This study was the first to examine the concurrent validity of low-cost trackers. Validity was strongest for the measurement of steps; there was evidence of validity for measurement of sleep in some trackers, and validity for measurement of MVPA time was weak throughout all devices. Validity ranged between devices, with Xiaomi having the highest validity for measurement of steps and VeryFit performing relatively strong across both sleep and steps domains. Low-cost trackers hold promise for monitoring and measurement of movement and sleep behaviors, both for consumers and researchers.
Wearable Device Heart Rate and Activity Data in an Unsupervised Approach to Personalized Sleep Monitoring: Algorithm Validation (Preprint)
Authors: Liu Jiaxing , Zhao Yang , Lai Boya , Wang Hailiang , Tsui Kwok Leung
Published: February 2020

BACKGROUND

The proliferation of wearable devices that collect activity and heart rate data has facilitated new ways to measure sleeping and waking durations unobtrusively and longitudinally. Most existing sleep/wake identification algorithms are based on activity only and are trained on expensive and laboriously annotated polysomnography (PSG). Heart rate can also be reflective of sleep/wake transitions, which has motivated its investigation herein in an unsupervised algorithm. Moreover, it is necessary to develop a personalized approach to deal with interindividual variance in sleep/wake patterns.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to develop an unsupervised personalized sleep/wake identification algorithm using multifaceted data to explore the benefits of incorporating both heart rate and activity level in these types of algorithms and to compare this approach’s output with that of an existing commercial wearable device’s algorithms.

METHODS

In this study, a total of 14 community-dwelling older adults wore wearable devices (Fitbit Alta; Fitbit Inc) 24 hours a day and 7 days a week over period of 3 months during which their heart rate and activity data were collected. After preprocessing the data, a model was developed to distinguish sleep/wake states based on each individual’s data. We proposed the use of hidden Markov models and compared different modeling schemes. With the best model selected, sleep/wake patterns were characterized by estimated parameters in hidden Markov models, and sleep/wake states were identified.

RESULTS

When applying our proposed algorithm on a daily basis, we found there were significant differences in estimated parameters between weekday models and weekend models for some participants.

CONCLUSIONS

Our unsupervised approach can be effectively implemented based on an individual’s multifaceted sleep-related data from a commercial wearable device. A personalized model is shown to be necessary given the interindividual variability in estimated parameters.
Artificial Intelligence and the Sales Process: How to Help Sales Students Develop an Analytics Skill Set
Authors: Rodriguez Michael , Boyer Stefanie L.
Published: February 2020

The following learning protocol provides an opportunity for professors to help students apply artificial intelligence and analytics in a pipeline management exercise. The activity allows advanced sales students to build a predictive sales model in Salesforce.com’s Einstein Analytics Platform. The following innovation walks the educator through the process of accessing the platform, building a model and analyzing outcomes. The exercise provides the opportunity to improve outcomes and act on sales opportunities, simulating the work environment. The article provides teaching tips for success to help professors stay current in the digital age and prepare students for early career success.
Announcement of Retraction
Authors: Petty Wanda
Published: February 2020

None
Penguatan Pendidikan Karakter Berbasis Nilai-Nilai Kearifan Lokal di Sekolah
Authors: Iswatiningsih Daroe
Published: February 2020

Pendidikan karakter sampai saat ini masih perlu ditanamkan pada siswa dalam pembelajaran. Pendidikan karakter diharapkan mampu menguatkan lima nilai utama karakter, yakni nilai religius, nasionalis, mandiri, gotong royong, dan integritas. Dalam penguatan pendidikan karakter di sekolah dapat dilakukan melalui pendidikan budaya berkearifan lokal. Budaya kearifan lokal perlu dikenalkan dan diajarkan di sekolah agar menumbuhkan sikap cinta budaya.  Para siswa saat ini kurang memiliki sikap peduli dan mencintai budaya. Untuk itu, paparan berikut menjelaskan bagaimana mengimplementasikan pendidika karakter berbasis kearifan lokal.
Small Area Estimation on Zero-Inflated Data Using Frequentist and Bayesian Approach
Authors: Sadik Kusman , Anisa Rahma , Aqmaliyah Euis
Published: February 2020

The most commonly used method of small area estimation (SAE) is the empirical best linear unbiased prediction method based on a linear mixed model. However, it is not appropriate in the case of the zero-inflated target variable with a mixture of zeros and continuously distributed positive values. Therefore, various model-based SAE methods for zero-inflated data are developed, such as the Frequentist approach and the Bayesian approach. Both approaches are compared with the survey regression (SR) method which ignores the presence of zero-inflation in the data. The results show that the two SAE approaches for zero-inflated data are capable to yield more accurate area mean estimates than the SR method.
Local development initiatives in the Lake Ladoga Region: Reasons for success and approaches to funding
Authors: Nikula J. , Kopoteva I.
Published: February 2020

The peripheral (rural) regions in most countries face four vicious circles that contribute to their low level of development and inability to achieve the sustainable level of development. The first vicious circle is related to demography and is caused by the vulnerable population; very few young people and imbalance of women and men lead to poor economy, i.e. dominance of subsistence economy over production or trade; unfavorable age structure combined with poor services lead to very low birth rate and high levels of migration. The second vicious circle of remoteness is related to the fact that poor infrastructure does not attract businesses or new residents in the area, which contributes to high levels of migration as young and working-age population, especially families with young children, move out. The third vicious circle is related to education: the low level of education and skills mean that there is no labor force available in the region, which prevents business from entering the local market. Lack of employment means high poverty risk, which again accelerates migration from the rural areas. All these processes undermine the possibilities for local development simply because there is not enough human or economic capital to sustain rural development. These negative trends are not only typical for rural areas of Russia but have a strong impact on peripheral areas of many other post-socialist and European countries. The governments in Russia and European Union introduced various programs and measures to promote local development so that to overcome the negative consequences of all the mentioned vicious circles. In the first part of the article, the authors evaluate some local development efforts funded by the Ladoga Initiative project, successful and failed projects aimed at overcoming the vicious circles. In the second part of the article, the authors describe grant and priority programs introduced in Russia to support local development.
The ‘duplex’ perspective as an attempt to resolve the key sociological dilemma
Authors: Šulc I.
Published: February 2020

This article is a review of the books by the famous Czech sociologist, head of the Historical Sociology Chair of the Faculty for Humanities at the Charles University (Prague), Jiří Šubrt Historical Processes, Social Changes, and Modernization in the Sociological Perspective (Moscow: RUDN; 2017. 248 p.), Antinomies, Dilemmas, and Discussions in the Contemporary Sociological Thought: Essays on Social Theory (Moscow: RUDN; 2018. 280 p.), and Individualism, Holism and the Central Dilemma of Sociological Theory (Bingley: Emerald Publishig; 2019. 184 p.). All three works focus on the key sociological dilemma - individualism versus holism, which has been the main scientific interest of J. Šubrt in recent years. The relevance of this dilemma is obvious: individualism declares the subjectivity of the person, while holism insists on the objectivity of the supra-individual social reality, and this contradiction hinders the development of theoretical knowledge. Therefore, it is necessary to try to resolve this contradiction, which Šubrt does by critically analyzing the previous attempts to resolve this dilemma and by considering it in the ‘duplex’ perspective that reflects both voluntarist and social principles.
The soviet version of modernity and its historical legacy: New theoretical approaches
Authors: Maslovskaya E. V. , Maslovskiy M. V.
Published: February 2020

The article considers some approaches to the analysis of post-communist transformations in Russia and Central and Eastern Europe. In the studies of social-political changes in post-communist societies, there is a new turn towards the analysis of long-term historical processes and the cultural context of contemporary social transformations. The authors emphasize that the ‘new historicism’ in the studies of post-communist transformations follows the sociological theory of multiple modernities, although its importance is not always recognized by researchers. Its original version developed by Shmuel Eisenstadt in the 1990s was not free from certain limitations due to the concept of ‘cultural program’ that presupposes a high degree of path dependence; however, these limitations were overcome in the works of Johann Arnason and Peter Wagner. The studies of post-communist transformations are often based on the early versions of modernization theory which presupposed a smooth transition to the market economy and liberal democracy. However, this approach encountered difficulties under the reversal of economic and political liberalization. The multiple modernities theory overcomes the limitations of this approach, it is relevant for the analysis of transformation processes in contemporary Russia and other post-communist states. In the recent studies of the historical legacies of communism, they are not considered as a ‘cultural program’ determining the trajectory of social development. The article describes some contemporary conservative ideologies in Russia as an example of the Soviet historical legacy’s influence, and argues that various ‘ideological ecosystems’ present their own interpretations of modernity.
Algunas recomendaciones a tener en cuenta para la formación de profesionales en ingeniería que se ofertan en la Escuela de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales de la uNEd
Authors: Azze PAvón Aida
Published: February 2020

Se presentan algunos aspectos de interés, que facilitan la formación de capacidades y competencias en los profesionales en ingeniería, entre los que se destacan la solución de problemas reales, niveles de asimilación, profundidad y sistematicidad en un plan de estudios.
Consideraciones en las estrategias didácticas de las giras de campo en un modelo de educación a distancia
Authors: Ulate Sánchez. Rosita
Published: February 2020

Uno de los resultados de la primera fase cualitativa de la investigación Mixta, Valoración Participativa de las Características Técnico Pedagógicas y Usos Académicos de un Material Multimedial para las Giras de Campo, se vinculó a la recuperación de la importancia de las actividades vivenciales en el proceso de enseñanza y aprendizaje de un modelo de educación a distancia. Ellas promueven el desarrollo de habilidades y competencias a través de la práctica de los conocimientos teóricos adquiridos. De allí que las giras de campo, en carreras en el área de los recursosnaturales, permita desarrollar en los estudiantes las competencias requeridas como futuros profesionales. La ponencia Consideraciones en las Estrategias Didácticas de las Giras de Campo en un Modelo de Educación a Distancia evidenciala necesidad de planificar las giras de campo bajo un modelo de estrategia didáctica, asegurando la calidad y el cumplimiento de los objetivos académicos y de seguridad de una actividad vivencial dentro de un modelo a distancia.
El Gandul (Cajanus cajan (L.) Mill sp.) una excelente alternativa para Sistemas Agrosilvopastoriles
Authors: González Luis Alonso , Rey Alfonso , Fallas Solano Aarón a.
Published: February 2020

El gandul (Cajanus cajan (l.) Millsp.) es una leguminosa (Fabaceae) que puede ser parte de los modelos productivos de fincas integrales bajo el esquema de sistemas agrosilvopastoriles, que además de proporcionar una opción para mejorar la dieta familiar incorporando un producto nuevo y rico en nutrientes, proporcionan también una oportunidad para generar ingresos extras al núcleo familiar, además decontribuir con la seguridad alimentaria y nutricional, así como a la recuperación y protección del recurso hídrico. El arbusto de gandul es muy resistente a las inclemencias del tiempo y una especie con muchas variedades, de las cuales en Costa Rica se han trabajado al menos seis. Se utiliza para descompactar el suelo, para alimentación humana y animal, agente de control biológico y posee un alto valor nutritivo. Se concluye que esta leguminosa es de gran potencial para uso en suelos, en cuencas hidrográficas y en alimentación humana o animal. El proyecto busca incorporar en la economía y la dieta familiar, en la zona de Peñas Blancas, San Carlos, un producto que mejora no solo las condiciones actuales de los grupos familiares productores de cultivos, sino además una especie que contribuya a mejorar las condiciones ambientales. Este objetivo se ha logrado alcanzar con la aclimatación en la zona de al menos 6 variedades de Gandul, con resultados importantes en lo concerniente a producción y mejoramiento de suelos.
Perfil del usuario y propuesta de zonificación para el manejo de visitantes: el caso de la reserva privada Juanilama, Costa Rica
Authors: Guerrero July , Ruiz Rodríguez Adrián
Published: February 2020

Se investigaron las prioridades de manejo de la reserva en cuanto al perfil y gestión de visitantes, las zonas de uso público y las problemáticas presentes por la ausencia de unidades de zonificación. Se obtuvo que el visitante es predominantemente extranjero, joven estudiante y que visita la Reserva por primera vez. Por la vulnerabilidad de los ecosistemas y sus recursos, así como por las prioridades de uso del sitio de la administración, se establecieron cuatro zonas en la propuesta de zonificación: Zona Restringida; Zona de Uso Extensivo, Zona de Uso Intensivo y la Zona de Uso Especial. Se recomienda la aplicación de normas y políticas para el manejo de visitantes con el fin de proteger la dinámica natural de los ecosistemas.
Nota de retractación
Authors: Nino-Munoz Diana
Published: February 2020

Retractación de:  Neuroaprendizaje, una propuesta educativa: herramientas para mejorar la praxis del docente. Pherez, G., Vargas, S., y Jerez, J. (Vol. 18 No. 34, 2018, pp. 149-166).  doi: 10.22518/usergioa/jour/ccsh/2018.1/a10
ANALYSIS OF NOVEL FEATURE SELECTION CRITERION BASED ON INTERACTIONS OF HIGHER ORDER IN CASE OF PRODUCTION PLANT DATA
Authors: Pawluk Mateusz , Wierzba Dariusz
Published: February 2020

Feature selection plays vital role in the processing pipeline of today’s data science applications and is a crucial step of the overall modeling process. Due to multitude of possibilities for extracting large and highly structured data in various fields, this is a serious issue in the area of machine learning without any optimal solution proposed so far. In recent years, methods based on concepts derived from information theory attracted particular attention, introducing eventually general framework to follow. The criterion developed by author et al., namely IIFS (Interaction Information Feature Selection), extended state-of-the-art methods by adopting interactions of higher order, both 3-way and 4-way. In this article, careful selection of data from industrial site was made in order to benchmark such approach with others. Results clearly show that including side effects in IIFS can reorder output set of features significantly and improve overall estimate of error for the selected classifier.
COST ESTIMATION USING ECONOMETRIC MODEL FOR RESTAURANT BUSINESS
Authors: Singh Uma Shankar
Published: February 2020

Study is aimed to develop an econometric model to estimate the cost of the restaurant business in Erbil city of Kurdistan. Restaurant food is costly in Erbil city as a common opinion of consumers. Restaurants are also struggling to make the business sustainable. A basic assumption considered to evaluate all cost factors and to establish an equation to get the clarity of cost estimation and check it with sales of the business. So the research questions formulated as what are different cost factors involve with the restaurant business, which cost is the most important to consider having the significant impact on the business, and what can be the standard econometric model to incorporate cost factors? A sample of 215 restaurants has been taken as the representative of industry. Variables and data get feed in the SPSS software for the analysis. Five dimensions of cost structure from cost namely Prime Cost, Works Cost, Cost of Production, Cost of Sales and Sales has been taken in study. Conclusion of the research based on the data analysis shoes that Prime Cost is the least important, Works Cost has the negative trend shows that there is increase in Sales will have the huge fall in Works Cost, increasing Sales has the small increase in Cost of Production, Cost of Sales is under question. Finally an econometric equation model is presented assuming the standardized equation for this specific case.