bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Business Intelligence on Strategic Performance in Commercial Banks Operating in the Sate of Kuwait
Authors: Al-Merri Hamad Salem
Published: July 2020

This study aimed to identify the impact of business intelligence on strategic performance in commercial banks operating in the State of Kuwait the researcher used the descriptive analytical approach to introduce both business intelligence and strategic performance. The study population consisted of employees working in top and middle management in commercial banks operating in State of Kuwait. Stratified random sample amounting 363 subjects was used. 270 questionnaires were collected representing 74.3% of the total sample.

The study concluded that business intelligence system ensures data processing using data storage techniques and data extraction to obtain consistent and qualified information, thus providing the required knowledge to achieve the strategic goals and objectives by end users and executives in the future. The researcher recommends that Kuwaiti banks should keep pace with developments in the field of business intelligence to be employed in a better way in enhancing its strategic performance, in addition to conduct future studies that follow the analytical approach to deepen its utilization in Kuwaiti commercial banking sector.
Autonomiebewegungen im Spiegel der Globalisierung
Authors: Goossens Melissa
Published: July 2020

This research is an important contribution to the discussion about the influence of globalization processes on autonomy movements, since it shows the connection between autonomy efforts in South Tyrol, Flanders and Quebec and the influence of globalization processes on the respective states. On the three levels international, national and regional, the author shows how a new globalization conflict arises between proponents and opponents of globalization, which can affect domestic processes. This phenomenon is reflected in the rise of the various populist parties on both sides of the spectrum and the withdrawal into the national or regional level. With a view to regions with an autonomous movement, regional homogeneity and identity in contrast to the state are growing at the same time. If those regions show additionally a kind of quasi-state-configuration, globalization processes lead to increasing autonomy-movements or even to secession.
Has the Yield Curve Accurately Predicted the Malaysian Economy in the Previous Two Decades?
Authors: Puspa Rahman Maya
Published: July 2020

Previous researchers have argued that yield curve contains information for future growth, and to a certain extent, was accurate in predicting recessions through the signal of yield curve inversion. This paper provides new evidence on the long- and short-run relationship between economic growth and yield spread in Malaysia, based on a 20-year span of data ranging from January 1996 to December 2016. By using the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) framework, the sample data are divided into three samples after taking into consideration the two major crises occurred in Malaysia over the last two decades. We find strong evidence of cointegration between the yield spread and growth, concurring on the long-run and short-run dynamics between them. Though significant, the instability of the yield spread to affect the movement of growth does not support the priori expectation on the predictive ability of the yield curve in Malaysia.
Parkinsonism and Potential of Mucuna Beans
Authors: S. Suryawanshi Suresh , P. Kamble Prajakta , A. Bapat Vishwas , P. Jadhav Jyoti
Published: July 2020

Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative disease, which is common all over the world. Various aspect like damages of reactive oxygen species, excitotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammation-facilitated cell damages are included in the etiology of disease. Good-balanced nutrition is an important part involved in the body health maintenance and reduction in the risk of chronic diseases. Genus Mucuna falls under family Fabaceae, containing high contents of L-DOPA (commonly used as an anti-Parkinson drug). Plant-based medicines are the superfluous source of polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, antioxidants (ROS and RNS), terpenoids, isoflavonoids, and other biologically active phytochemicals. All these molecules have health beneficial effects with superlative pharmaceutical values. The existing chapter summaries to determine the influence of different nutritional, anti-nutritional, and medicinal potential of the Mucuna species present in India and its significance in the management of Parkinson’s disease (Shaking Palsy) as well as other medicinal values. It also covers various treatment models used in studying the Parkinson’s disease like Drosophila melanogaster, zebrafish, mice, rat, and humans. This chapter also focuses light on the neurosurgical treatments used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. This study concluded that the use of Mucuna seeds for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease is the best choice besides chemical drugs and other therapies.
Modeling of the Two-Dimensional Thawing of Logs in an Air Environment
Authors: Deliiski Nencho , Dzurenda Ladislav , Tumbarkova Natalia
Published: July 2020

A two-dimensional mathematical model has been created, solved, and verified for the transient nonlinear heat conduction in logs during their thawing in an air environment. For the numerical solution of the model, an explicit form of the finite-difference method in the computing medium of Visual FORTRAN Professional has been used. The chapter presents solutions of the model and its validation towards own experimental studies. During the validation of the model, the inverse task of the heat transfer has been solved for the determination of the logs’ heat transfer coefficients in radial and longitudinal directions. This task has been solved also in regard to the logs’ surface temperature, which depends on the mentioned coefficients. The results from the experimental and simulative investigation of 2D nonstationary temperature distribution in the longitudinal section of poplar logs with a diameter of 0.24 m, length of 0.48 m, and an initial temperature of approximately –30°C during their many hours thawing in an air environment at room temperature are presented, visualized, and analyzed.
Cross-Correlation-Based Fisheries Stock Assessment Technique: Utilization of Standard Deviation of Cross-Correlation Function as Estimation Parameter with Four Acoustic Sensors
Authors: Asif Hossain Shaik , Hossen Monir
Published: July 2020

In the past, cross-correlation-based fisheries stock assessment technique utilized the mean and the ratio of standard deviation to the mean of cross-correlation function (CCF) as estimation parameter. However, in this paper, we have utilized only standard deviation of CCF as estimation parameter to estimate the population size. We utilized four acoustic sensors and considered chirp sound which is commonly generated by damselfish (Dascyllus aruanus), humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), dugongs (Dugong dugon), etc., species to accomplish the simulations. We found that a robust estimation can be obtained using standard deviation of CCF as estimation parameter even when the distances between acoustic sensors are small.
Estatutos del Partido de Acción Democrática
Authors: - -
Published: July 2020

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Elecciones en Hesse, voto de censura constructivo y elecciones en Baviera
Authors: Beneyto José María
Published: July 2020

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I Congreso Nacional del Partido Demócrata Popular
Authors: Beneyto José María
Published: July 2020

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Jurisprudencia electoral
Authors: Bassols Coma Martín
Published: July 2020

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Repertorio bibliográfico sobre los órganos de control previstos por la Convención Europea de Derechos y Libertades Fundamentales del Hombre: la Comisión, el Comité de Ministros y el Tribunal Europeo de Derechos Humanos
Authors: Mellado Prado Pilar , Lestourneaud Alain
Published: July 2020

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Dogmática y teoría jurídica de los derechos fundamentales en la interpretación de éstos por el Tribunal Constitucional español
Authors: Aguiar de Luque Luis
Published: July 2020

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La regulación jurídica de los defensores del pueblo regionales: ¿cooperación o conflicto?
Authors: Bar Cendón Antonio
Published: July 2020

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Derecho electoral y ley orgánica: comentario al artículo 81.1 de la Constitución de 1978
Authors: Vallés Josep Maria
Published: July 2020

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Análisis de las divergencias entre la Constitución y la Ley Orgánica de Financiación de las Comunidades Autónomas (LOFCA) y el Proyecto de Ley del Fondo de Compensación Interterritorial
Authors: López Nieto Antonio , Fernández Rodríguez Fernando
Published: July 2020

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Sobre constituciones y revoluciones burguesas
Authors: Pérez-Prendes Muñoz de Arraco José Manuel
Published: July 2020

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Elecciones para el Senado en Francia : 25 de septiembre de 1983
Authors: García-Atance María Victora
Published: July 2020

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Las elecciones argentinas de 1983
Authors: Gómez Sánchez Yolanda
Published: July 2020

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II Congreso Federal del Partido Demócrata Liberal
Authors: Gómez Sánchez Yolanda
Published: July 2020

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Locoregional Management of Early-Stage Breast Cancer
Authors: Anderson Benjamin O. , Lyons Janice A.
Published: July 2020

Locoregional management of early-stage breast cancer has been trending toward less-extensive axillary resections, based on increasing evidence showing that patients with 1 or 2 positive sentinel nodes and/or micrometastases can safely be managed with sentinel node biopsy alone, thereby avoiding complete axillary lymph node dissection (cALND) in the significant majority of patients. Because of the 15% to 20% lymphedema risk associated with cALND, increasing efforts are being made to avoid the procedure when evidence suggests that more limited procedures are safe, as reflected by acceptable locoregional recurrence rates. Axillary radiotherapy (RT) has been shown to be an effective alternative to ALND for patients fitting criteria from the pivotal AMAROS trial: patients with T1/T2 disease and are clinically node-negative, who undergo either breast-conserving therapy or mastectomy. Considerations for RT begin with the question of nodal involvement, with treatment planned accordingly. With more neoadjuvant therapy being used, there are nuances in locoregional management that clinicians must now appreciate, both in terms of ALND and axillary RT.
Optimizing Treatment for Head and Neck Cancers: Recurrent/Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Haddad Robert I.
Published: July 2020

Immunotherapy has changed the game in the treatment of head and neck cancer (HNC). Practice-changing results from the phase III KEYNOTE-048 trial led to the approval of pembrolizumab immunotherapy alone or in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of recurrent/metastatic HNC in the first-line setting. Testing for combined positive score (CPS) is now part of routine practice, because patients with CPS ≥1 can be started on single-agent immunotherapy in the first-line. Pembrolizumab replaces the “old” standard of care established by the EXTREME study, as trials looking at targets besides immunotherapy have proved “disappointing.” Additionally, nivolumab and pembrolizumab are both approved for use in the second-line.
Sequencing Therapy for Patients With Lung Cancer
Authors: Riely Gregory J.
Published: July 2020

Non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) can no longer be considered as one disease, nor can it be treated as one. Understanding tumor histology in NSCLC is critical to understanding optimal biomarker evaluation and initial therapy. Proper biomarker evaluation includes both evaluation of PD-L1 status, as well as testing for actionable oncogenic drivers such as EGFR, ALK, ROS1, BRAF, Met Exon 14, RET, and NTRK. For patients with NSCLC and a driver oncogene, preferred treatment is targeted therapy. Conversely, for those without an oncogenic driver, preferred initial treatment is pembrolizumab in combination with chemotherapy for patients with low PD-L1 expression (1%–49%) or as a single-agent for high PD-L1 expression (≥50%). For small cell lung cancer (SCLC), the first major NCCN Guideline changes occurred in 2019, with the addition of either atezolizumab or durvalumab to platinum-based chemotherapy and etoposide as first-line therapy for patients with extensive-stage SCLC.
Debate: What Is Optimal First-Line Therapy for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia?
Authors: Shadman Mazyar , Stephens Deborah M.
Published: July 2020

In the era of newer, highly effective targeted therapies for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), experts debated whether there is still a role for chemoimmunotherapy in the first-line setting for the treatment of this disease. In general, targeted therapies are preferred as first-line treatment for all patients, with the exception of low-risk patients [younger, fit patients with mutated IGHV who are candidates for fludarabine/cyclophosphamide/rituximab (FCR)]. About 37% of low-risk patients experience long-term durable remissions and remain stable after treatment with FCR for many years. Advantages of FCR over small molecule inhibitors include cost, fixed duration treatment, and long-term survival benefit. Disadvantages are an etimated 5% risk of developing myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myeloid leukemia. Advantages of small molecule inhibitors are improvements in progression-free and overall survival and quality of life when compared with chemoimmunotherapy. Disadvantages of small molecule inhibitors are high cost and the need for continuous treatment. However, studies are underway to develop fixed duration regimens with combinations of small molecule inhibitors that aim to deepen remissions.
Current Insights: Evolving Principles and Controversies of Cancer Risk Assessment and Management of Hereditary Cancers
Authors: Pilarski Robert , Weiss Jennifer M. , Domchek Susan M. , Tuya Pal Moderated by
Published: July 2020

With the introduction of panel and direct-to-consumer testing, genetic testing has become commonplace in recent years, paving the way for both increased awareness around prevalent genetic cancer risks, and also an onslaught of misinformation. At the NCCN 2020 Virtual Annual Conference, Dr. Tuya Pal led a panel of experts in discussing the utility and difficulties associated with multigene testing, the emerging role of moderate-penetrance genes in defining risks for hereditary cancer, and the controversies associated with direct-to-consumer genetic testing services.
Advances in the Management of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
Authors: O’Reilly Eileen M.
Published: July 2020

Outcomes in pancreatic cancer are improving. The beneficial effects being achieved with adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapies, and the recent application of molecular profiling, both germline and somatic, are collectively impacting survival. The NCCN Guidelines for Pancreatic Cancer urge clinicians to undertake “agnostic” germline testing for all persons with pancreatic cancer. Fit patients should also be considered for adjuvant therapy with modified FOLFIRINOX (leucovorin, 5-FU, irinotecan, oxaliplatin). Novel therapies that focus on DNA damage repair strategies are proving to be important, but notably several late-stage trials of several other approaches, reported in the last year, proved disappointing.
Trimodal Therapy Approaches for Localized Rectal Cancer
Authors: Willett Christopher G.
Published: July 2020

Excellent long-term outcomes and manageable toxicity are being achieved with contemporary treatment strategies for rectal cancer. Short-course radiotherapy is now an acceptable standard. Total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT), which incorporates induction or consolidation chemotherapy, has improved the delivery of treatment regiments. TNT is now a standard of care, although the sequencing of radiation and chemotherapy in TNT, appropriate amount of chemotherapy in TNT, and addition of irinotecan to the regimen are still being debated. Nonoperative management of rectal cancer appears to be a safe option for select patients, but it is not yet an NCCN recommendation. In addition, the omission of radiation is being evaluated as a treatment option in some cases.
TRADUZIONE: IL LIBRO DELLA CERTEZZA (KITĀB AL-YAQĪN) DI IBN ʿARABĪ
Authors: Marconi Maurizio
Published: July 2020

Traducción anotada al italiano del Libro de la certeza (Kitāb al-yaqīn) de Ibn ʿArabī.
Experiencias de Docencia Virtual en Facultades de Medicina Españolas durante la pandemia COVID-19 (I): Anatomía, Fisiología, Fisiopatología, Oncología
Authors: Pericacho Miguel , Rosado Juan Antonio , Pons de Villanueva Juan , Arbea Leire
Published: July 2020

Presentamos un resumen de las actividades que algunos profesores de Facultades de Medicina españolas han llevado a cabo durante las 3 semanas previas a las vacaciones de primavera. En éstas, la docencia presencial tuvo que ser sustituída por actividades en línea o virtuales, a causa de la implantación del estado de alarma en España, que motivó el cierre completo de las Universidades desde el 13 de marzo de 2020.

We present a summary of the activities that some professors of Schools of Medicine of Spain have carried out during the 3 weeks prior to spring break. In these, face-to-face teaching had to be replaced by online or virtual activities, due to the implementation of the state of alarm in Spain, which led to the complete closure of the Universities since March 13, 2020.
Decline of Empathy after the First Internship: Towards a More Functional Empathy?
Authors: Givron Hélène , Desseilles Martin
Published: July 2020

Research has shown a decline in empathy as medical studies progress. Among various hypotheses, an explanation track evoked is the first contact with the internship.

ObjectivesThis quasi-experimental study was designed to examine the impact of the first internship in medical students. Our research question was: “to what extent the first internship may decreased the empathy’s scores of our 3d year medical students?”

MethodsWe measured the empathy of 220 third year medical students before and after their first internship (3 weeks) in family medicine. Using online surveys methodology, we collected data about empathy (“Interpersonal Reactivity Index”: IRI), epidemiology, professional orientation choices.

ResultsStatistical analyses revealed a small but significant decrease in IRI’s “fantasy,” “empathic concern” and “personal distress” subscales.

ConclusionThese results suggest a potential impact of the first internship on empathic skills. The fact that the students’ score for the “personal distress” subscale (which characterizes a difficulty in managing their emotions) decreases is actually a rather good thing. These data raise the question of the “function” of this loss of empathy. The fact that this score decreases after first internship, may indicate a positive change for these medical students: towards better emotional regulation and more functional affective empathy.
Creative AI: From Expressive Mimicry to Critical Inquiry
Authors: Forbes Angus
Published: July 2020

The nascent field of what has come to be known as “creative AI” consists of a range of activities at the intersections of new media arts, human-computer interaction, and artificial intelligence. This article provides an overview of recent projects that emphasise the use of machine learning algorithms as a means to identify, replicate, and modify features in existing media, to facilitate new multimodal mappings between user inputs and media outputs, to push the boundaries of generative art experiences, and to critically investigate the role of feature detection and pattern identification technologies in contemporary life. Despite the proliferation of such projects, recent advances in applied machine learning have not yet been incorporated into or interrogated by creative AI projects, and this article also highlights opportunities for computational artists working in this area. The article concludes by envisioning how creative AI practice could include delineating the boundaries of what can and cannot be learned by extracting features from artefacts and experiences, exploring how new forms of interpretation can be encoded into neural networks, and articulating how the interaction of multiple machine learning algorithms can be used to generate new insight into the intertwining sociotechnical systems that encompass our lives.
The Self-Driving Car: A Media Machine for Posthumans?
Authors: Huhtamo Erkki
Published: July 2020

This article discusses the self-driving car as a media machine, thinking about its character and broader implications from media archaeological and posthumanist perspectives. Self-driving or autonomous vehicles challenge traditional ideas about agency. Car culture has usually been considered human-centered. While there have been concerns about the “human factor” and the consequences of poor and distracted driving, the human behind the steering wheel has also been considered a guarantee of safety. The introduction of the self-driving car displaces the human from an active role as an agent and introduces forms of material agency as a replacement. This shift has huge consequences, which will be explored from various perspectives. The study will also situate the self-driving car historically within plans about automated highways, also discussing their discursive manifestations within popular media culture. The study introduces the idea of “traffic dispositive”, which it applies on multiple levels. One of the basic points underlying the discussion is that the autonomous car can never be fully autonomous. It is linked with data networks and other frameworks of factors that affect its uses and also its potential passengers. We must ask: How will the potential adoption of self-driving cars affect the human/posthuman relationship?
Editorial. AI, Arts & Design: Questioning Learning Machines
Authors: West Ruth , Burbano Andrés
Published: July 2020

Explorations of the relationship between Artificial Intelligence (AI), the arts, and design have existed throughout the historical development of AI. We are currently witnessing exponential growth in the application of Machine Learning (ML) and AI in all domains of art (visual, sonic, performing, spatial, transmedia, audiovisual, and narrative) in parallel with activity in the field that is so rapid that publication can not keep pace. In dialogue with our contemplation about this development in the arts, authors in this issue answer with questions of their own. Through questioning authorship and ethics, autonomy and automation, exploring the contribution of art to AI, algorithmic bias, control structures, machine intelligence in public art, formalization of aesthetics, the production of culture, socio-technical dimensions, relationships to games and aesthetics, and democratization of machine-based creative tools the contributors provide a multifaceted view into crucial dimensions of the present and future of creative AI. In this Artnodes special issue, we pose the question: Does generative and machine creativity in the arts and design represent an evolution of “artistic intelligence,” or is it a metamorphosis of creative practice yielding fundamentally distinct forms and modes of authorship?
Lexical and stylistic means of the texts of election debates as one of the ways of communicative impact upon electorate
Authors: Lagutina Anna , Lalova Tat'yana
Published: July 2020

This article is dedicated to the description of results acquired in the course of conducting lexical-semantic analysis of the texts of televised election debates. Speech of the candidates of the head of the Fifth Republic in the course of election campaigns of 2012 and 2017 served as the material for this study. The goal lies in examination of the ways of influencing the potential voters using the linguistic means. The authors carried out e lexical-semantic-stylistic analysis of research material, as well as explored substantive structure of the selected texts. The article also analyzes content of the speech of televised election debates, presented by the combination of the conveyed explicit and implicit information. The work also includes a summary table that demonstrates nuclear lexemes of the juxtaposed semantic complexes of texts. The results obtained in the course of lexical-semantic-stylistic analysis confirm the authors’ assumption that the texts of televised election debates contain semantic dichotomies that are one of the ways of influencing the electorate.
Sensory restoration by epidural stimulation of the lateral spinal cord in upper-limb amputees
Authors: Chandrasekaran Santosh , Nanivadekar Ameya C , McKernan Gina , Helm Eric R , Boninger Michael L , Collinger Jennifer L , Gaunt Robert A , Fisher Lee E
Published: July 2020

Restoring somatosensory feedback to people with limb amputations is crucial to improve prosthetic control. Multiple studies have demonstrated that peripheral nerve stimulation and targeted reinnervation can provide somatotopically relevant sensory feedback. While effective, the surgical procedures required for these techniques remain a major barrier to translatability. Here, we demonstrate in four people with upper-limb amputation that epidural spinal cord stimulation (SCS), a common clinical technique to treat pain, evoked somatosensory percepts that were perceived as emanating from the missing arm and hand. Over up to 29 days, stimulation evoked sensory percepts in consistent locations in the missing hand regardless of time since amputation or level of amputation. Evoked sensations were occasionally described as naturalistic (e.g. touch or pressure), but were often paresthesias. Increasing stimulus amplitude increased the perceived intensity linearly, without increasing area of the sensations. These results demonstrate the potential of SCS as a tool to restore somatosensation after amputations.
Doing nothing and what it looks like: inactivity in fattening cattle
Authors: Hintze Sara , Maulbetsch Freija , Asher Lucy , Winckler Christoph
Published: July 2020

Background

Animals kept in barren environments often show increased levels of inactivity and first studies indicate that inactive behaviour may reflect boredom or depression-like states. However, to date, knowledge of what inactivity looks like in different species is scarce and methods to precisely describe and analyse inactive behaviour are thus warranted.

Methods

We developed an Inactivity Ethogram including detailed information on the postures of different body parts (Standing/Lying, Head, Ears, Eyes, Tail) for fattening cattle, a farm animal category often kept in barren environments. The Inactivity Ethogram was applied to Austrian Fleckvieh heifers kept in intensive, semi-intensive and pasture-based husbandry systems to record inactive behaviour in a range of different contexts. Three farms per husbandry system were visited twice; once in the morning and once in the afternoon to cover most of the daylight hours. During each visit, 16 focal animals were continuously observed for 15 minutes each (96 heifers per husbandry system, 288 in total). Moreover, the focal animals’ groups were video recorded to later determine inactivity on the group level. Since our study was explorative in nature, we refrained from statistical hypothesis testing, but analysed both the individual- and group-level data descriptively. Moreover, simultaneous occurrences of postures of different body parts (Standing/Lying, Head, Ears and Eyes) were analysed using the machine learning algorithm cspade to provide insight into co-occurring postures of inactivity.

Results

Inspection of graphs indicated that with increasing intensity of the husbandry system, more animals were inactive (group-level data) and the time the focal animals were inactive increased (individual-level data). Frequently co-occurring postures were generally similar between husbandry systems, but with subtle differences. The most frequently observed combination on farms with intensive and semi-intensive systems was lying with head up, ears backwards and eyes open whereas on pasture it was standing with head up, ears forwards and eyes open.

Conclusion

Our study is the first to explore inactive behaviour in cattle by applying a detailed description of postures from an Inactivity Ethogram and by using the machine learning algorithm cspade to identify frequently co-occurring posture combinations. Both the ethogram created in this study and the cspade algorithm may be valuable tools in future studies aiming to better understand different forms of inactivity and how they are associated with different affective states.
An RNA-sequencing-based transcriptome for a significantly prognostic novel driver signature identification in bladder urothelial carcinoma
Authors: Liu Danqi , Zhou Boting , Liu Rangru
Published: July 2020

Bladder cancer (BC) is the ninth most common malignancy worldwide. Bladder urothelial carcinoma (BLCA) constitutes more than 90% of bladder cancer (BC). The five-year survival rate is 5–70%, and patients with BLCA have a poor clinical outcome. The identification of novel clinical molecular markers in BLCA is still urgent to allow for predicting clinical outcomes. This study aimed to identify a novel signature integrating the three-dimension transcriptome of protein coding genes, long non-coding RNAs, microRNAs that is related to the overall survival of patients with BLCA, contributing to earlier prediction and effective treatment selection, as well as to the verification of the established model in the subtypes identified. Gene expression profiling and the clinical information of 400 patients diagnosed with BLCA were retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. A univariate Cox regression analysis, robust likelihood-based survival modelling analysis and random forests for survival regression and classification algorithms were used to identify the critical biomarkers. A multivariate Cox regression analysis was utilized to construct a risk score formula with a maximum area under the curve (AUC = 0.7669 in the training set). The significant signature could classify patients into high-risk and low-risk groups with significant differences in overall survival time. Similar results were confirmed in the test set (AUC = 0.645) and in the entire set (AUC = 0.710). The multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that the five-RNA signature was an independent predictive factor for patients with BLCA. Non-negative matrix factorization and a similarity network fusion algorithm were applied for identifying three molecular subtypes. The signature could separate patients in every subtype into high- and low- groups with a distinct difference. Gene set variation analysis of protein-coding genes associated with the five prognostic RNAs demonstrated that the co-expressed protein-coding genes were involved in the pathways and biological process of tumourigenesis. The five-RNA signature could serve as to some degree a reliable independent signature for predicting outcome in patients with BLCA.
Microbial and chemical dynamics of a toxic dinoflagellate bloom
Authors: Patin Nastassia V. , Brown Emily , Chebli Gabriella , Garfield Claire , Kubanek Julia , Stewart Frank J.
Published: July 2020

Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) exert considerable ecological and economic damage and are becoming increasingly frequent worldwide. However, the biological factors underlying HABs remain uncertain. Relationships between algae and bacteria may contribute to bloom formation, strength, and duration. We investigated the microbial communities and metabolomes associated with a HAB of the toxic dinoflagellate Karenia brevis off the west coast of Florida in June 2018. Microbial communities and intracellular metabolite pools differed based on both bacterial lifestyle and bloom level, suggesting a complex role for blooms in reshaping microbial processes. Network analysis identified K. brevis as an ecological hub in the planktonic ecosystem, with significant connections to diverse microbial taxa. These included four flavobacteria and one sequence variant unidentified past the domain level, suggesting uncharacterized diversity in phytoplankton-associated microbial communities. Additionally, intracellular metabolomic analyses associated high K. brevis levels with higher levels of aromatic compounds and lipids. These findings reveal water column microbial and chemical characteristics with potentially important implications for understanding HAB onset and duration.
Identification and expression pattern of chemosensory genes in the transcriptome of Propsilocerus akamusi
Authors: Yan Chuncai , Sun Xiaoya , Cao Wei , Li Ruoqun , Zhao Cong , Sun Zeyang , Liu Wenbin , Pan Lina
Published: July 2020

Chironomidae is the most ecologically diverse insects in aquatic and semi-aquatic habitats. Propsilocerus akamusi (Tokunaga) is a dominant and ubiquitous chironomid species in Eastern Asia and its morphologically unique larvae are also considered as indicator organisms to detect water contamination, potential toxicity and waterborne pathogens. Since few studies to date have focused on the olfactory system of P. akamusi, our study aims to elucidate the potential functions of chemosensory genes in P. akamusi. In our study, we found that although signals released from male groups might attract female swarmers, it was a completely male-dominated mating process. Sequencing the transcriptome of P. akamusi on an Illumina HiSeq platform generated 4.42, 4.46 and 4.53 Gb of clean reads for heads, legs, and antennae, respectively. 27,609 unigenes, 20,379 coding sequences (CDSs), and 8,073 simple sequence repeats were finally obtained. The gene-level differential expression analysis demonstrated variants among three different tissues, including 2,019 genes specifically expressed in heads, 1,540 genes in legs, and 2,071 genes in antennae. Additionally, we identified an assortment of putative olfactory genes consisting of 34 odorant binding proteins, 17 odorant receptors, 32 gustatory receptors, 22 ionotropic receptors, six chemosensory proteins as well as 3 sensory neuron membrane proteins; their relative abundances in the above three tissues were also determined by RT-qPCR. Our finding could allow a more plausible understanding of certain olfaction-mediated behaviors in groups of this macroinvertebrate.
RdRp mutations are associated with SARS-CoV-2 genome evolution
Authors: Eskier Doğa , Karakülah Gökhan , Suner Aslı , Oktay Yavuz
Published: July 2020

COVID-19, caused by the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus, started in China in late 2019, and soon became a global pandemic. With the help of thousands of viral genome sequences that have been accumulating, it has become possible to track the evolution of the viral genome over time as it spread across the world. An important question that still needs to be answered is whether any of the common mutations affect the viral properties, and therefore the disease characteristics. Therefore, we sought to understand the effects of mutations in RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), particularly the common 14408C>T mutation, on mutation rate and viral spread. By focusing on mutations in the slowly evolving M or E genes, we aimed to minimize the effects of selective pressure. Our results indicate that 14408C>T mutation increases the mutation rate, while the third-most common RdRp mutation, 15324C>T, has the opposite effect. It is possible that 14408C>T mutation may have contributed to the dominance of its co-mutations in Europe and elsewhere.
Os guardiões de pedra da cidade dos mortos: escultura tumular na Manaus da Belle Époque
Authors: Farias Reis Páscoa Márcio Leonel , Matos Aires Martins Carla Mara
Published: July 2020

Este artigo é parte de uma investigação maior que busca, por meio do método analítico de Erwin Panofsky (1892-1968), estudar aspectos iconográficos e iconológicos de um grupo selecionado de esculturas tumulares do período da belle époque, presentes no Cemitério Municipal de São João, na cidade de Manaus. Para a seleção das esculturas consideramos o aspecto temporal e o tipológico, que possuem a figura antropomórfica em comum. Entre essas, imagem mais presente é a do anjo, comumente entendida, como guardiã dos túmulos. Entre fins do século XIX e inícios do XX, sua representação passa por transformações, que lhe conferem aspectos cada vez mais humanizados. No atual momento da pesquisa, é possível confirmar a presença de um programa estético vinculado a valores socialmente vigentes no século XIX e a adesão ao projeto de modernidade daquela época.
Ética e humanização na comunicação sobre a morte: um projeto educativo na área da saúde
Authors: Fontoura Jara Lourenço da , Barbosa Cássia Martins , Alves Brenda Jacintho
Published: July 2020

Este artigo nasce da narrativa sobre a vivência da construção de um folder informativo / humanizado / educativo junto ao curso de Licenciatura em Enfermagem da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (FURG), através da disciplina “Didática Aplicada à Enfermagem”. Tem como eixo orientador a importância da ética do cuidado na comunicação diante da morte. Trata também do modo como a Enfermagem e as áreas da saúde em geral podem e devem contribuir de modo prático e significativo com a sociedade, no que se refere à comunicação/notícia do morrer e às primeiras medidas adotadas pelas pessoas diante da morte e dos encaminhamentos fúnebres necessários.
Editorial: v.05, n.09, jan./jun.2020
Authors: Rodrigues Claudia , Nascimento Mara Regina do , Almeida Marcelina das Graças de
Published: July 2020

Editorial: v. 05, n. 09, jan./jun. 2020.
Experiencia y finitud, un abordaje fenomenológico en mujeres que transitan cáncer de mama en el Área Metropolitana de Buenos Aires (Argentina)
Authors: Passerino Leila Martina
Published: July 2020

El objetivo de este artículo es repensar la conciencia de finitud que arroja la experiencia del cáncer de mama en mujeres que han sido diagnosticadas. Desde una perspectiva fenomenológica, se asume el quiebre biográfico que significa para la vida de las mujeres este tránsito por la enfermedad y el esfuerzo constitutivo de narrar(se) y comprenderla en una globalidad biográfica. A partir de un abordaje cualitativo, sostenido a partir de entrevistas a mujeres que transitaron cáncer de mama en el período 2012-2016, en el Área Metropolitana de Buenos Aires (AMBA), se indaga acerca de la pregunta por la muerte y la finitud humana. Para ello, se parte de una primera distinción en el tratamiento discursivo del cáncer. Ante una perspectiva denominada fatídica, anclada al dato, se propone una mirada de índole fenomenal que recupera al sujeto percipiente y el lugar de la finitud.
The Interaction of Point Defects with Stress Fields Generated by Persistent Slip Bands in Face‐Centered Cubic Nickel
Authors: Mushongera Leslie T. , Kumar Pankaj , Sangid Michael D.
Published: July 2020

Using the phase‐field modeling approach, the evolution of persistent slip bands (PSBs) in nominally defect‐free pure nickel (Ni) single crystals is described. The PSB–matrix model is based on the analysis of steady‐state cyclic deformation, involving point defects. The PSBs are regarded as a result of spontaneous evolution of localized dissipative structures in the form of solitary static regions and therefore modeled with eigenstrains. The transport of vacancies accounts for the overall change in dimensions of the PSBs, as the PSB thickens resulting from the outward flux of vacancies. The large vacancy concentration and eigenstrains in the PSB lead to increased stresses at the PSB–matrix interface and subsequent formation of incoherency strains to relieve the stress concentrations. From these observations of the PSB structure evolution and the resulting micromechanical fields, a possible mechanism of local damage at the PSB/matrix interface is observed during cyclic deformation, which can facilitate the formation of a fatigue crack.
Ultrastrong Hierarchical Porous Materials via Colloidal Assembly and Oxidation of Metal Particles
Authors: Huo Wenlong , Zhang Xiaoyan , Tervoort Elena , Gantenbein Silvan , Yang Jinlong , Studart André R.
Published: July 2020

Porous materials are useful as lightweight structures, bone substitutes, and thermal insulators, but exhibit poor mechanical properties compared to their dense counterparts. Biological materials such as bone and bamboo are able to circumvent this trade‐off between porosity and mechanical performance by combining pores at multiple length scales. Inspired by these biological architectures, a manufacturing platform that allows for the fabrication of Al2O3 foams and Al2O3/Al composites with hierarchical porosity and enhanced mechanical properties is developed. Macroscale pores are formed through the assembly of aluminum particles around templating air bubbles in wet foams, whereas the thermal oxidation of the metal particles above 800 °C generates porosity at the micrometer scale. After elucidating the mechanism of pore formation under different sintering conditions at the microscale, the mechanical performance of the resulting hierarchical foams using compression experiments and finite element simulations is evaluated. Porous materials manufactured via this simple approach are found to reach unparalleled mechanical properties with near‐zero sintering shrinkage and minimum loss in mechanical strength. The ability to produce macroscopic objects with ultrahigh strength at porosities up to 95% makes this an attractive manufacturing technology for the fabrication of high‐performance lightweight structures or advanced thermal and acoustic insulators.
Sponges with Janus Character from Nanocellulose: Preparation and Applications in the Treatment of Hemorrhagic Wounds
Authors: Cheng Huan , Xiao Dongdong , Tang Yujing , Wang Bijia , Feng Xueling , Lu Mujun , Vancso G. Julius , Sui Xiaofeng
Published: July 2020

The development of a rapid and effective hemostatic dressing is highly desired in the treatment of hemorrhagic wounds. In this study, sponges with Janus character are developed using cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) that exhibit materials facets of different wettability characteristics using heterogeneous mixing and freeze−drying. The bonding of the interface between the hydrophilic and hydrophobic facets is achieved by using interpenetrating chemical cross‐linking between CNFs and organosilanes. The hydrophilic layer absorbs water from blood and works synergistically with the inherent hemostatic chitosan‐rich complementary layer to accelerate blood clotting, displaying both active and passive hemostatic mechanisms. The hydrophobic layer prevents blood penetration into the construct and exerts proper pressure on the wound. Compared with the hydrophilic control samples and commercial gauzes, the Janus sponges can achieve effective bleeding control with nearly 50% less blood loss in a femoral artery injury model and prolong the survival time in a carotid artery injury model. Compared with the only hydrophilic layer, the time to hemostasis of Janus sponge are reduced from 165 ± 20 to 131 ± 26 s in femoral artery injury model and from 102 ± 21 to 83 ± 15 s in liver femoral artery injury model.
Biomaterials Regulating Bone Hematoma for Osteogenesis
Authors: Yang Ying , Xiao Yin
Published: July 2020

Blood coagulation in tissue healing not only prevents blood loss, but also forms a natural scaffold for tissue repair and regeneration. As blood clot formation is the initial and foremost phase upon bone injury, and the quality of blood clot (hematoma) orchestrates the following inflammatory and cellular processes as well as the subsequent callus formation and bone remodeling process. Inspired by the natural healing hematoma, tissue‐engineered biomimic scaffold/hydrogels and blood prefabrication strategies attract significant interests in developing functional bone substitutes. The alteration of the fracture hematoma ca significantly accelerate or impair the overall bone healing process. This review summarizes the impact of biomaterials on blood coagulation and provides evidence on fibrin network structure, growth factors, and biomolecules that contribute to bone healing within the hematoma. The aim is to provide insights into the development of novel implant and bone biomaterials for enhanced osteogenesis. Advances in the understanding of biomaterial characteristics (e.g., morphology, chemistry, wettability, and protein adsorption) and their effect on hematoma properties are highlighted. Emphasizing the importance of the initial healing phase of the hematoma endows the design of advanced biomaterials with the desired regulatory properties for optimal coagulation and hematoma properties, thereby facilitating enhanced osteogenesis and ideal therapeutic effects.
Organic Bioelectronics: From Functional Materials to Next‐Generation Devices and Power Sources
Authors: Ohayon David , Inal Sahika
Published: July 2020

Conjugated polymers (CPs) possess a unique set of features setting them apart from other materials. These properties make them ideal when interfacing the biological world electronically. Their mixed electronic and ionic conductivity can be used to detect weak biological signals, deliver charged bioactive molecules, and mechanically or electrically stimulate tissues. CPs can be functionalized with various (bio)chemical moieties and blend with other functional materials, with the aim of modulating biological responses or endow specificity toward analytes of interest. They can absorb photons and generate electronic charges that are then used to stimulate cells or produce fuels. These polymers also have catalytic properties allowing them to harvest ambient energy and, along with their high capacitances, are promising materials for next‐generation power sources integrated with bioelectronic devices. In this perspective, an overview of the key properties of CPs and examination of operational mechanism of electronic devices that leverage these properties for specific applications in bioelectronics is provided. In addition to discussing the chemical structure–functionality relationships of CPs applied at the biological interface, the development of new chemistries and form factors that would bring forth next‐generation sensors, actuators, and their power sources, and, hence, advances in the field of organic bioelectronics is described.
Economic and agrometeorological modeling of sugarcane productivity in São Paulo state, Brazil
Authors: Figueira Sérgio Rangel Fernandes , Rolim Glauco de Souza
Published: July 2020

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) productivity is dependent on climatic and economic conditions. The goal of this research is to combine economic and agrometeorological modeling on sugarcane productivity in the 18 important sugarcane production microregions of the São Paulo state in Brazil from 1995 to 2012. Cluster analysis was used to identify two groups of microregions with similar sugarcane actual productivity (PR) within each group. Group 1 presented higher values compared to group 2 in all years. However, the sugarcane attainable productivity (PA), estimated by the agrometeorological model, of group 2 was higher than group 1 in 17 of the 18 years analyzed. Finally, a statistical model was used to quantify the influence of sugarcane price, rural credit concession and PA on PR in all microregions and in the two groups. For all microregions, sugarcane price was the most important explanatory variable for PR, followed by PA and the rural credit concession in third. PR of Group 1 was mainly affected by sugarcane prices and PR of group 2 was mainly affected by PA. Therefore, the group 1 sugarcane producers were able to respond to price changes regardless of PA in this group. This can occur due to a better management, bigger investments or smaller metereological adversity of group 1. In conclusion, the agrometereological (PA) and the economic (sugarcane price and rural credit concession) variables affected the PR in the analyzed regions. However, crop pathogens, meteorological adversities or human management have led to this situation (limiting and reducing factors).