bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Toward Personalizing Alzheimer’s Disease Therapy Using an Intelligent Cognitive Control System
Authors: Ben Abdessalem Hamdi , Frasson Claude
Published: September 2021

Subjective cognitive decline is an early state of Alzheimer’s Disease which affects almost 10 million people every year. It results from negative emotions such as frustration which are more present than healthy adults. For this reason, our work focuses on relaxing subjective cognitive decline patients using virtual reality environments to improve their memory performance. We proposed in our previous work a neurofeedback approach which adapts the virtual environment to each patient according to their emotions using a Neural Agent. We found that the Neural Agent can adapt the environment to each participant but have limitations. This work is a continuation of our approach in which we propose a Limbic Agent able to monitor the interactions between the Neural Agent and patients’ emotional reactions, learn from these interactions, and modify the Neural Agent in order to enhance the adaptation to each patient with an Intelligent Cognitive Control System. Our goal is to create a system able to support the Limbic System which is the main area in charge of controlling emotions and creating memory in the human brain. We used data collected form our previous work to train the Limbic Agent and results showed that the agent is capable of modifying the weight of existing rules, generating new intervention rules, and predicting if they will work or not.
Evaluating the Usefulness of Unsupervised Monitoring in Cultural Heritage Monuments
Authors: Zafeiropoulos Charalampos , Tzortzis Ioannis N. , Rallis Ioannis , Protopapadakis Eftychios , Doulamis Nikolaos , Doulamis Anastasios
Published: September 2021

In this paper, we scrutinize the effectiveness of various clustering techniques, investigating their applicability in Cultural Heritage monitoring applications. In the context of this paper, we detect the level of decomposition and corrosion on the walls of Saint Nicholas fort in Rhodes utilizing hyperspectral images. A total of 6 different clustering approaches have been evaluated over a set of 14 different orthorectified hyperspectral images. Experimental setup in this study involves K-means, Spectral, Meanshift, DBSCAN, Birch and Optics algorithms. For each of these techniques we evaluate its performance by the use of performance metrics such as Calinski-Harabasz, Davies-Bouldin indexes and Silhouette value. In this approach, we evaluate the outcomes of the clustering methods by comparing them with a set of annotated images which denotes the ground truth regarding the decomposition and/or corrosion area of the original images. The results depict that a few clustering techniques applied on the given dataset succeeded decent accuracy, precision, recall and f1 scores. Eventually, it was observed that the deterioration was detected quite accurately.
A Fuzzy C-Means-Based Algorithm for the Surveillance of Dengue Cases Distribution in Local Communities
Authors: Addawe Jozelle C. , Caro Jaime D.L. , Juayong Richelle Ann B.
Published: September 2021

The analysis of disease occurrence over the smallest unit of a region is critical in designing data-driven and targeted intervention plans to reduce health impacts in the population and prevent spread of disease. This study aims to characterize groups of local communities that exhibit the same temporal patterns in dengue occurrence using the Fuzzy C-means (FCM) algorithm for clustering spatiotemporal data and investigate its performance in clustering data on dengue cases aggregated yearly, monthly and weekly. In particular, this study investigates similar patterns of Dengue cases in 129 barangays of Baguio City, Philippines recorded over a period of 9 years. Results have shown that the FCM has promising results in grouping together time series data of barangays when using data that is aggregated weekly.
Assessing the Lockdown Effects on Air Quality During COVID-19 Era
Authors: Kavouras Ioannis , Protopapadakis Eftychios , Kaselimi Maria , Sardis Emmanuel , Doulamis Nikolaos
Published: September 2021

In this work we investigate the short-term variations in air quality emissions, attributed to the prevention measures, applied in different cities, to mitigate the COVID-19 spread. In particular, we emphasize on the concentration effects regarding specific pollutant gases, such as carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulphur dioxide (SO2). The assessment of the impact of lockdown on air quality focused on four European Cities (Athens, Gladsaxe, Lodz and Rome). Available data on pollutant factors were obtained using global satellite observations. The level of the employed prevention measures is employed using the Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker. The second part of the analysis employed a variety of machine learning tools, utilized for estimating the concentration of each pollutant, two days ahead. The results showed that a weak to moderate correlation exists between the corresponding measures and the pollutant factors and that it is possible to create models which can predict the behaviour of the pollutant gases under daily human activities.
Using Optical Coherence Tomography to Screen for Cognitive Impairment and Dementia
Authors: Galvin James E. , Kleiman Michael J. , Walker Marcia
Published: September 2021

Background: Screening for Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders (ADRD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) could increase case identification, enhance clinical trial enrollment, and enable early intervention. MCI and ADRD screening would be most beneficial if detection measures reflect neurodegenerative changes. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) could be a marker of neurodegeneration (part of the amyloid-tau-neurodegeneration (ATN) framework). Objective: To determine whether OCT measurements can be used as a screening measure to detect individuals with MCI and ADRD. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed on 136 participants with comprehensive clinical, cognitive, functional, and behavioral evaluations including OCT with a subset (n = 76) completing volumetric MRI. Pearson correlation coefficients tested strength of association between OCT and outcome measures. Receiver operator characteristic curves assessed the ability of OCT, patient-reported outcomes, and cognitive performance measures to discriminate between individuals with and without cognitive impairment. Results: After controlling for age, of the 6 OCT measurements collected, granular cell layer-inner plexiform layer (GCL + IPL) thickness best correlated with memory, global cognitive performance, Clinical Dementia Rating, and hippocampal atrophy. GCL + IPL thickness provided good discrimination in cognitive status with a cut-off score of 75μm. Combining GCL + IPL thickness as a proxy marker for hippocampal atrophy with a brief patient-reported outcome and performance measure correctly classified 87%of MCI and ADRD participants. Conclusion: Multimodal approaches may improve recognition of MCI and ADRD. OCT has the potential to be a practical, non-invasive biomarker for ADRD providing a screening platform to quickly identify at-risk individuals for further clinical evaluation or research enrollment.
Relation of Literacy and Music Literacy to Dementia in Older Black and White Brazilians1
Authors: Capuano Ana W. , Wilson Robert S. , Leurgans Sue E. , Sampaio Carolina , Farfel Jose M. , Barnes Lisa L. , Bennett David A.
Published: September 2021

Background: Literacy is more consistently reported than education as protective against dementia in developing regions. Objective: To study the association of verbal literacy, numeracy, and music literacy with dementia in older Black and White Brazilians with a broad spectrum of education. Methods: We studied 1,818 Black, Mixed-race, and White deceased Brazilians 65 years or older at death (mean = 79.64). Data were retrospectively obtained within 36 hours after death in a face-to-face interview with an informant, usually a family member. Dementia was classified using the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale. Three forms of literacy were ascertained: verbal literacy (10 questions: reading and writing), numeracy (3 questions: multiplication, percentages, and use of a calculator), and music literacy (1 question: reading music). Black (11%) and Mixed-race (23%) older adults were combined in analyses. Models adjusted for age and sex. Results: Dementia was identified in 531 people. Participants had 0 to 25 years of education (median = 4). More literacy was associated with lower odds of dementia (all p≤0.039). Participants that read music had about half the odds of having dementia. Participants in the highest quartile of numeracy and verbal literacy had respectively 27%and 15%lower odds of having dementia compared to the lowest quartile. Literacy was lower in Blacks (p < 0.001, except music p = 0.894) but the effect of literacy on dementia was similar (interaction p > 0.237). In secondary analyses, playing instruments without reading music was not associated with dementia (p = 0.887). Conclusion: In a large sample of Brazilians, verbal literacy, numeracy, and music literacy were associated with lower odds of dementia. The effect was similar across races.
Flavonoids with Potential Anti-Amyloidogenic Effects as Therapeutic Drugs for Treating Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Wang Qixin , Dong Xiaofang , Zhang Ran , Zhao Changqi
Published: September 2021

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a central neurodegenerative disease generally among the elderly; it accounts for approximately 50–75%of total cases of dementia patients and poses a serious threat to physical and mental health. Currently available treatments for AD mainly relieves its symptoms, and effective therapy is urgently needed. Deposition of amyloid-β protein in the brain is an early and invariant neuropathological feature of AD. Currently the main efforts in developing anti-AD drugs focus on anti-amyloidogenic therapeutics that prevent amyloid-β production or aggregation and decrease the occurrence of neurotoxic events. The results of an increasing number of studies suggest that natural extracts and phytochemicals have a positive impact on brain aging. Flavonoids belong to the broad group of polyphenols and recent data indicate a favorable effect of flavonoids on brain aging. In this review, we collect relevant discoveries from 1999 to 2021, discuss 75 flavonoids that effectively influence AD pathogenesis, and summarize their functional mechanisms in detail. The data we have reviewed show that, these flavonoids belong to various subclasses, including flavone, flavanone, biflavone, etc. Our results provide a reference for further study of the effects of flavonoids on AD and the progress of anti-AD therapy.
The Use of Standardized Diesel Exhaust Particles in Alzheimer’s Disease Research
Authors: Block Michelle L. , Kodavanti Urmila P.
Published: September 2021

The mechanisms underlying how urban air pollution exposure conveys Alzheimer’s disease risk and affects plaque pathology is largely unknown. Because particulate matter, the particle component of urban air pollution, varies across location, pollution source, and time, a single model representative of all ambient particulate matter is unfeasible for research investigating the role of ar pollution in central nervous system diseases. More specifically, the investigation of several models of particulate matter with enrichment of source-specific components are essential to employ, in order to more fully understand what characteristics of particulate matter affects Alzheimer’s disease, including standardized diesel exhaust particles.
Evaluation of morphological traits of flowers and crossing possibility of haskap (Lonicera L.) cultivars depending on their origin
Authors: Bieniasz Monika , Dziedzic Ewa , Kusibab Tadeusz
Published: September 2021

BACKGROUND:

Haskap ( Lonicera L.) is as a new perspective berry species for growing in temperate region climate. According to nowadays knowledge haskap is absolutely self-sterile species hence the studies on pollination mode are required.

OBJECTIVE:

The aim was to evaluate new haskap cultivars of Canadian and Russian origin in terms of their matching for cross-pollination.

METHODS:

The overlapping of flowering time of cultivars for mutual cross pollination was selected. The effectiveness of pollination was assessed: in terms of pollen tube overgrowth through the pistil tissue and the quality of set fruit.

RESULTS:

The Russian cultivars bloomed much earlier than the Canadian cultivars. The stigma is most receptive in the freshly open flower stage and directly after the anther burst. The minimum qualitatively acceptable weight of a berry is 1 g, which corresponds to the formation of about 6 seeds in the fruit. The most compatible pairs of cultivars were: ‘Aurora’×‘Jugana’, ‘Aurora’×‘Sinij Utes’ and ‘Aurora’×‘Vostorg’.

CONCLUSION:

The Russian cultivars bloomed much earlier than the Canadian cultivars, the stigma is most receptive in the freshly open flower, minimum qualitatively acceptable weight of berry is 1 g (what represents 6 seeds in fruit), best mutual pollinating cultivars are the cultivars within the same breeding group (Russian x Russian and Canadian x Canadian)
Effect of “Productive Acid SE” on microbiological parameters of turkey meat
Authors: Petrova Yu. V. , Lugovaya I. S. , Vasilchenko V. D. , Antipov A. A. , Agrinskaya E. P.
Published: September 2021

In modern Russia turkey breeding is developing at a significant rate. Turkey meat belongs to dietary products and is very popular among the population. The tasks of turkey breeding include, first of all, ensuring the safety of livestock, preventing feed stresses and reducing the level of microbial contamination. To create the required acidity in the digestive tract, in order to reduce the microbial contamination of feed and water, various feed additives are used based on organic acids or their salts with antimicrobial and probiotic properties, called acidifiers. The studies presented in the article were carried out according to generally accepted methods. As a result, it was found that the use of “Prodaktiv Acid SE” in growing turkeys in order to reduce the microbial contamination of feed and water contributes to an increase in the shelf life of meat and also improves the organoleptic characteristics of meat relatively to the control group.
Gambaran Aktivitas Fisik Dan Pola Hidup Sehat Siswa Sekolah Menengah Atas Di Kota Surabaya
Authors: Pratama Tomy Putra , Hartoto Setiyo , Prakoso Bayu Budi
Published: September 2021

Penelitian deskriptif ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui deskripsi aktivitas fisik dan pola hidup sehat para siswa SMA di kota Surabaya selama masa pandemi Covid-19. Sebanyak 30 siswa kelas XI di sebuah sekolah swasta menjadi subjek penelitian yang dipilih menggunakan teknik quota random sampling. Pengumpulan data menggunakan wawancara terstruktur melalui google meet. Sebanyak 14 pertanyaan diajukan kepada siswa saat wawancara. Fokus pertanyaan tersebut untuk mengeksplorasi kebiasaan aktivitas fisik dan pola hidup sehat para siswa. Analisis data dilakukan melalui empat langkah, yaitu: transkip wawancara, reduksi data, penyajian data, dan simpulan. Pertanyaan yang mengandung informasi kuantitatif selanjutnya dianalisis menggunakan persentase. Hasil analisis informasi kuantitatif dapat dijelaskan bahwa mayoritas siswa (90%) sudah menerapkan pola hidup sehat dan aktif; semua siswa (100%) menyatakan bahwa pandemi Covid-19 tidak mengurangi efektivitas pelaksanaan pola hidup sehat dan aktif; hanya sebanyak 23% siswa yang melakukan aktivitas fisik sesuai rekomendasi WHO yaitu beraktivitas fisik lebih dari 1 jam sehari. Kombinasi hasil analisis kuantitatif dan kualitatif menunjukkan bahwa para siswa cenderung memiliki keaktifan yang berbeda sebelum dan saat pandemi (80%), mereka menyebutkan bahwa aktivitas fisik saat pandemi lebih tinggi dibandingkan dengan sebelum pandemi. Selain itu, jenis aktivitas fisik yang dilakukan semakin variatif dan banyak.
MODEL MIND MAPPING TERHADAP HASIL BELAJAR SISWA MATA PELAJARAN AKIDAH AKHLAK
Authors: M. Iqbal Al-Afghany, Gunawan Ikhtiono, Syarifah
Published: September 2021

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh Model Mind Mapping terhadap hasil belajar siswa pada mata pelajaran Akidah Akhlak kelas VIII di MTsN Kota Bogor. Pada mata pelajaran Matematika di SDIT Al-Madinah Cibinong, dengan memiliki rata-rata prestasi belajar  kelas eksperimen 90 dan kelas kontrol 80,5 dan karakter peduli sosial memiliki rata-rata kelas eksperimen sebesar 12,75 dan kelas kontrol memiliki rata-rata 11,8.  Pendekatan yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah penelitian kuantitatif dengan jenis penelitian eksperimen semu, pada penelitian ini pemilihan sampel pada quasi experimental tipe Non Equivalent Control Group Design tidak dilakukan pemilihan sampel secara random melainkan dipilih dengan sengaja oleh peneliti yaitu dengan masing-masing sampel kelas eksperimen 28 siswa dan kelas kontrol 28 siswa. Instrumen yang digunakan pada penelitian ini yaitu: tes, observasi .  Jadi pendekatan Matematika Realistik dapat mempengaruhi Prestasi dan karakter peduli sosial siswa pada mata pelajaran matematika dikatakan efektif dan terdapat perubahan dan peningkatan yang signifikan.
PEMBINAAN ANAK DIDIK PEMASYARAKATAN KASUS NARKOTIKA DI LEMBAGA PEMBINAAN KHUSUS ANAK BERDASARKAN UNDANG-UNDANG NOMOR 11 TAHUN 2012 TENTANG SISTEM PERADILAN PIDANA ANAK
Authors: Rizki Hamonangan Simanjuntak
Published: September 2021

Masalah penyalahgunaan narkoba telah menjadi masalah nasional dan internasional yang tidak pernah berakhir untuk dibahas. Hampir setiap hari ada berita tentang. Kesadaran narkoba dapat menyebabkan kerusakan fisik, mental, emosional dan sikap di masyarakat. Perlindungan anak adalah seluruh kegiatan untuk menjamin dan melindungi anak-anak dan hak-hak mereka untuk dapat hidup, tumbuh dan berkembang dan mengambil bagian secara optimal sesuai dengan harga diri dan martabat manusia, dan mendapatkan perlindungan terhadap kekerasan dan diskriminasi. Undang-Undang Nomor 11 Tahun 2012 tentang Sistem Peradilan Pidana Anak benar-benar menjamin perlindungan kepentingan terbaik Anak-anak yang berurusan dengan hukum sebagai penerus bangsa. Kepadatan, sarana dan prasarana menjadi salah satu faktor penghambat pelaksanaan program pembinaan siswa di bidang narkotika di pusat perawatan remaja.
Osmanlı’da Turizmin Doğuşu ve Gelişimi
Authors: YILMAZ İbrahim
Published: September 2021

Dünyada turizm faaliyetleri sanayinin gelişmesine paralel olarak başlamıştır. Gelişen sanayi, ulaşım sektörünün önünü açarak insanların birçok yere daha hızlı ve kolay gidebilmesini sağlamıştır. Sanayinin turizme bir diğer olumlu katkısı ise üretilen mallara yeni pazarlar bulmak adına fuarların düzenlenmeye başlaması olmuştur. Merkezi şehirlerde düzenlenen bu fuarlar iş insanlarını bir araya getirirken, bir taraftan da şehirlerin, doğal, tarihi ve mimari güzelliklerini, kültürel değerlerini, ziyaretçilere sunmalarına fırsat vermiştir. Dünyadaki bu gelişme Osmanlıyı da benzer şekilde etkileyerek turizm faaliyetlerinin başlamasını sağlamıştır. Başta İstanbul olmak üzere Osmanlı şehirlerinin deniz veya demir yoluyla Avrupa ve dünyanın önemli merkezlerine bağlanmış olması bu süreci hızlandırmıştır. Bu çalışma XIX. yüzyılın ikinci yarısı ile XX. yüzyıl başlarını kapsamakta olup Osmanlı ülkesindeki turizm faaliyetleri incelenmiştir. Yabancı turistlerin ülkede rağbet ettikleri merkezler, bu süreçte yeni bir meslek olarak ortaya çıkan turist rehberliği, otel ve misafirhaneler gibi turizmin ana unsurları üzerinde durulmuştur. İkinci el kaynaklar ile Cumhurbaşkanlığı Devlet Arşivleri Başkanlığı Osmanlı Arşivi belgelerinden faydalanılan çalışmanın sonunda, Osmanlı’ya Batı dünyasının birçok ülkesinden turist geldiği, bu turistlerin başta İstanbul olmak üzere ülkenin coğrafi, tarihi, dini açılardan önemli merkezlerine yoğunlaştıkları, bunlara ilaveten kültürel değerlerini de mutlaka görmek istedikleri ortaya konulmuştur. Ayrıca devletin, yeni gelişen bu sektörün önemini fark ederek ortaya çıkan sorunların çözümü adına bir takım hukuki düzenlemeler yaptığı da anlaşılmıştır.
İtibarın Yönetilememesi ve Yıkıma Götüren Süreç: Soma Maden Kazası Örneği
Authors: AYDEMİR Aslı
Published: September 2021

Teknolojik gelişmelerin çok hızlı bir şekilde ilerlediği günümüz koşullarında bilgi paylaşımı ve dolaşımı, kişilerin kurumların sorumluluklarını yerine getirip getirmediklerini sorgulamalarını kolaylaştırmaktadır. Bu durumda yaşanan olumsuz bir durum karşısında ya da bir kriz anında kurumların itibarları zarar görebilmektedir. Kriz anında “kriz tepki stratejileri”nin doğru bir şekilde uygulanması kurumların itibarlarının zarar görmemesi açısından hayati bir öneme sahiptir. Bu kapsamda örnek olay olarak 2014 yılında Soma’da yaşanan maden faciasında maden ocağı sahibi Soma Holding’in kriz iletişimi ve yönetimi süreci ele alınarak Durumsal Kriz İletişimi Kuramı çerçevesinde krizin ilk anında geliştirilen kriz tepki stratejisinin kurumların itibarı için ne denli önemli olduğunu ortaya kayabilmek amaçlanmıştır. Bu amaç çerçevesinde yapılan analiz, Coombs’un “kriz yönetiminin evreleri” varsayımları, önerileri dâhilinde ve Harrison’un “Krizi İletişiminin Temel Koşulları” prensibinden faydalanılarak gerçekleştirilmiştir. Çalışmada Coombs’un kriz yönetimi evlerinden biri olan “kriz öncesi evrede” Soma Holding’in hazırlamış olduğu herhangi bir kriz yönetimi planı olmadığı gibi kriz tepki evresinde de “kriz tepki stratejileri”nden “reddetme (inkar)” stratejisini kullanarak krizin varlığını ve sorumluluğunu kabul etmediği görülmüştür. Aynı zamanda kriz döneminde kendini iletişime kapatan Soma Holding’in kriz anı iletişim araçlarını kullanmadaki başarısızlığı ve iletişimsizliğin de krizin daha da büyümesine yol açtığı bunun sonucu olarak da kriz sonrası dönemde itibar kaybının kaçınılmaz olduğu ortaya konulmuştur.
Epidemiological characterization of cases of Congenital Syphilis in northern Brazil, from 2014 to 2019
Authors: Almeida Carolina Gomes , Ávila Gabriel Pereira , Teixeira Isabelly Montenegro , Rodrigues Raíza Júlia Viana , Dias Claudio Alberto Gellis de Mattos , Oliveira Euzébio de , Dendasck Carla Viana , Araújo Maria Helena Mendonça de , Fecury Amanda Alves
Published: September 2021

Syphilis is a disease caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum, acquired, in large part, by sexual transmission. Congenital syphilis is a contagious disease of vertical transmission (from mother to fetus). This study aimed to present the number of reported cases of congenital syphilis in northern Brazil, between 2014 and 2019, and to characterize the epidemiological profile of the cases. Descriptive, cross-sectional and retrospective research was carried out using DATASUS database. There was an increase in the number of cases in the period evaluated, especially the State of Amazonas, which presented the highest number of notifications. Regarding prenatal care, an average of four times more women perform than those who did not. Women with maternal school grade from the 5th to 8th incomplete elementary school had a higher number of cases of the disease. Although the northern region had a high prenatal performance, most cases of congenital syphilis were diagnosed only after delivery, indicating erroneous interpretations regarding the tests and consequent error in diagnosis and treatment. Since the early form (emergence until the 2nd year of life) is the majority of the number of cases, there is a favorable evolution of the disease.Schooling and income seem to be factors that influence the late diagnosis of the disease. There is a need for increased treated partners, reducing the transmission of syphilis and, consequently, congenital syphilis.
cláusulas de sostenibilidad medioambiental en los acuerdos comerciales de la UE
Authors: Pérez-Ardá Carbonell José Enrique
Published: September 2021

Las cláusulas de sostenibilidad medioambiental se han convertido en una constante en los acuerdos comerciales de la Unión Europea. Son el resultado de la regionalización en la gobernanza medioambiental y en la comercial. Las cláusulas medioambientales pueden clasificarse en distintas categorías, en función del objetivo perseguido y de su grado de concreción. Estas provisiones son solo un caso concreto de la creciente interrelación entre la política comercial y el medioambiente. El presente artículo, tras revisar el concepto de sostenibilidad ambiental y estudiar las formas en que las relaciones comerciales afectan al medioambiente, realiza una descripción de las cláusulas medioambientales para los acuerdos en los que la UE es una de las partes, comparándolas con las cláusulas medioambientales incluidas en los acuerdos comerciales en los que EE. UU.  y China son parte, con el objetivo de sentar las bases para futuros estudios en los que se evalúe la incidencia de dichas cláusulas sobre el desarrollo sostenible de los socios comerciales de la UE.
Digital Divide and Online Instruction Delivery Readiness Among Nigerian Universities in an Era of COVID-19
Authors: Omorobi Omorobi Garieth , Clement Eton Idorenyin , Onyinye Chuktu
Published: September 2021

This study on the digital divide and online instructional delivery readiness among universities in Nigeria employed the descriptive survey research design. Six universities were selected in South-South, Nigeria. These include two federal, two-state, and two privately-owned universities. The selected universities are the University of Calabar, University of Benin, (federally owned), River State University of Science and Technology; Cross River University of Technology (state universities) and Arthur Jarvis University, Akpabuyo and Benson Idahosa University Benin City (private universities) all in South-South Zone, Nigeria. Three faculties were selected from each university. These include Education, Science and Social Sciences. Different departments were randomly selected within each of the selected faculties. The population of the study was 10,274 undergraduate students during the 2020 academic session. A random sampling procedure was employed to choose undergraduates from all levels in the selected departments using a sampling percentage of 20% to give a sample size of 2,596. The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire. The questionnaire collected data on demography, availability of ICT infrastructure, staff and students ICT skills, factors deepening the divide, and online instruction readiness of universities. Data collected were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science version 23 (SPSS) to get frequency and percentages. The results from the analyses reveal that a greater percentage of the students are highly proficient in ICT skills, private universities had more ICTs than public universities, and it was also though private universities were ready, the sampled public universities were not technically ready for online instructional delivery.
Correlation of Composite Indices and COPD Assessment Test in Thai COPD Patients
Authors: Khiawwan Supattra , Kawamatawong Theerasuk
Published: September 2021

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common preventable and treatable chronic respiratory diseases. The BODE, ADO, DOSE are the composite indices taking into consideration for prognostication. In addition, COPD assessment test (CAT) score is associated with quality of life, taken for assessing symptoms severity and for personalizing treatments.

Objective: To investigate the CAT score in Thai COPD patients according to their BODE, ADO, and DOSE in the influence of clinical parameters and outcomes.

Methods: Medical records were reviewed between January 2016 and December 2016. BODE, ADO and DOSE was calculated based on their individual components.

Results: Total 125 consecutive COPD patients were recruited. There was difference between CAT score among the GOLD stages classified (P = .02). There was significant difference of CAT between 4 BODE quartiles in cohort (P = .001).Thai COPD patients had the higher ADO index exhibit the higher CAT score than those with the lower ADO index (P = .001). There was no difference in CAT score between COPD with the higher and the lower DOSE index (P = .05).

Conclusions: The higher CAT score found in Thai COPD patients with the higher composite indices of BODE and ADO. However, there was no difference in the DOSE index.
Cryogenic treatment of tool steels: A brief review and a case report
Authors: Chowwanonthapunya Thee , Peeratatsuwan Chaiyawat , Rithinyo Manote
Published: September 2021

Tool steels used in marine industries demand for the effective approach to enhance their properties. Normally, conventional heat treatment is widely used to increase the performance of tool steels. However, this method cannot fully enhance the tool steel performance. On the other hand, cryogenic treatment is a supplementary process to the conventional heat treatment, which can promote the conversion of retained austenite to martensite and accelerate the precipitation of fine carbides. In this paper, a systematic review of cryogenic treatment of tool steels was presented. A wide range of useful investigations was reviewed, particularly in the details of the transformation of retained austenite to martensite and the precipitation of the fine carbides. A case study on a tool steel subjected to conventional heat treatment, conventional cold treatment, and deep cryogenic treatment was also given and discussed to give an insight in the cryogenic treatment of tool steels.
“Railroad of Death”: History and Archaeology of the German-built Second World War Hyrynsalmi–Kuusamo Railway 1942–1944
Authors: Seitsonen Oula , Lundemo Mari Olafson
Published: September 2021

During the Second World War the frontal responsibility of northern Finland was held by German troops, who carried out large building projects to enhance the poor infrastructure of this peripheral region. This paper focuses on one of the biggest infrastructure projects performed by the Wehrmacht and Organisation Todt in Finland during the Second World War. The Hyrynsalmi-Kuusamo railway was to be built through a challenging landscape, by people who constantly overestimated their own abilities, and at the great expense and suffering of the workers who were mostly prisoners-of-war and forced labourers. Besides their own contemporary memories and experiences from this event, this construction project and its physical traces live in the local memories and have become part of the transgenerational heritage and remembrance of the war years. Using the wartime construction of the track as a starting point, this study goes on to map the heritage value, archaeological potential, and the state of research related to this German wartime project.
Taksi tiettömällä taipaleella ja olematon moottoripyörä – Tarinan merkityksestä kulttuuriperinnön säilymisessä.
Authors: Nurmi Risto
Published: September 2021

Käytöstä poistettu modernin ajan massatuotettu esineistö tulkitaan yleisesti romuksi. Maastoon hylätty käytöstä poistettu romu on erityisesti viimeisen parinkymmen vuoden aikana herättänyt enenevässä määrin keskustelua ja paheksuntaa. Metsiin tai muualle luontoon hylätty esineistö nähdään yhä voimakkaammin ympäristön pilaamisena. Keskustelun keskiössä ovat olleet hyvin usein juuri vanhat autonromut. Keskustelu on myös herättänyt pohdintaa siitä, milloin romusta tulee kulttuuriperintöä, ja mikä tekee toisesta hävitettävää romua ja toisesta arvokasta kulttuuriperintöä. Yksi säilyttämistä selkeästi puoltava yhteinen tekijä on kohteeseen liittyvä, sen selkeästi yksilöivä tarina. Tarina luo esineelle merkityksen ja toimii siten suojelevana tekijänä.
FREE SPEECH AND EXTRINSICALLY UNJUST LAWS IN THE THEORY OF JOHN FINNIS
Authors: Osina Petr
Published: September 2021

The article deals with the concept of free speach in New Natural Law theory in the conception of its main representative John Finnis. At the beginning it concentrates on the description of free speach in the context of the Finnis’s theory of extrinsically unjust laws. The article continues with the analysis of criminal case from the beginning of the USA and the application of Finnis’s theory on this problem. The weak aspects of the concept of common good in Finnis’s theory are analyzed at the end of the article.
Нестационарные задачи теории С. П. Тимошенко для стержней конечной длины
Authors: ЗОНЕНБЕРГ Александр Леонидович
Published: September 2021

На основе теории С. П. Тимошенко рассматриваются нестационарные задачи для стержня конечной длины при поперечных динамических воздействиях, приложенных лишь на короткий промежуток времени или быстро изменяющихся. В работе использованы операционное исчисление на основе интегрального преобразования Лапласа-Карсона; методы динамики сооружений; программа Mathcad; разработанное автором построение решения в пространстве изображений в форме метода начальных параметров. Так как исследуется поведение стержня в начальные моменты времени, распространение волн и их отражение от концов стержня, то решение находим по отдельным этапам, в виде бегущих волн. Рассматривается консольный стержень, для которого построение такого решения представляет достаточно трудную задачу. Для определения оригиналов используется общая формула обращения. Получение численных результатов показано на примере вычисления значений изгибающих моментов при воздействии специального вида. Для вычисления интегралов по формуле обращения потребовалось большое количество подробных исследований и выявление важных закономерностей. Результаты при воздействии специального вида использованы для получения численных результатов в задаче о движении опоры консольного стержня по гармоническому закону, решенной автором ранее другим методом. Разработана программа в среде Mathcad. Выполнено сравнение результатов расчета, полученных двумя методами. Результаты работы можно использовать в практике расчета зданий и сооружений на действие ударных и взрывных нагрузок, при уточненной оценке параметров колебаний, возбуждаемых промышленными предприятиями, транспортными средствами и т. д.
Локализация решения краевой задачи для уравнения Пуассона на основе B-сплайнов
Authors: АКИМОВ Павел Алексеевич , МОЗГАЛЕВА Марина Леонидовна , КАЙТУКОВ Таймураз Батразович
Published: September 2021

Рассматривается известная краевая задача для уравнения Пуассона. Для ее решения применяется одна из возможных вейвлет-реализаций дискретно-континуального метода конечных элементов, основанная на использовании B-сплайнов. Следует уточнить, что объектом исследования являются конструкции с постоянными физико-математическими характеристиками по одному из направлений (далее это так называемое основное направление). В статье приводится континуальная постановка соответствующей задачи с выделением основного направления - имеем дифференциальное уравнение с операторными коэффициентами с соответствующими краевыми условиями. Рассматриваются некоторые вопросы, связанные с построением нормализованных базисных функций B-сплайна, приводится дискретно-континуальная постановка задачи, сформированная с использованием техники конечно-элементной аппроксимации. Здесь соответственно имеем результирующую систему обыкновенных дифференциальных уравнений с постоянными коэффициентами. В заключительной части статьи описан пример численной реализации предложенного подхода, а также пример расчета.
Ecological reasoning of regulation the phytopathogenic mycobioma in agrocenoses of spring barley under ecologically safe technologies
Authors: Mosiychuk I. , Beznosko І. , Turovnik Y. , Gorgan Т.
Published: September 2021

The article shows the economically valuable features the spring barley and analyzes the most relevant varieties for growing on the farm. It is studied that many varieties of the spring barley with competitive genetic potential of productivity have been created in Ukraine, which in 2021 makes 181 varieties. It is shown that the use the best varieties and high quality  seeds is one the most effective means of economic growth in the agro-industrial sector. In recent years, there has been an increase in the spread various diseases of plants spring barley, leading to significant yield losses. We analyzed modern methods of plant selection which allows faster searching new markers with partial resistance to diseases. It is shown that one the strategic direction of modern agriculture development is its biologization — the use of biological means to obtain quality products crop and the reproduction of fertility soils. Modern views on the effective use of biological preparations of different spectrum of action in the technologies of growing crops were presented. It is established that the use ecologycally safe technologies for growing spring barley is relevant. This does not only increase resistance to adverse conditions and phytopathogens, but increases yields and improves grain quality. We analyzed liquid microfertilizer Oracle and complex natural-synthetic preparation Vimpel 2, products of Dolyna company. These preparations have an inhibitory effect on plant diseases and building stimuli of natural plant immunity. Analysis of scientific and technical literature allows us to conclude that the urgent task is to find ways to regulate phytopathogenic microorganisms to ensure the harmonious flow of biological processes in the soil, improve plant nutrition, and the formation of full-fledged plant-microbial associations, which allows controlling the development and spread of pathogens.
Successful Intravenous Thrombolysis in Ischemic Stroke Caused by Tuberculous Meningitis: A Case Report
Authors: Peng Xinke , Wu Xiaomei , Lv Lingling , Xiao Qile , Zhan Yajing , Wang Chunyu , Zhang Hainan
Published: September 2021

Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) has a variety of clinical manifestations and complications, and ischemic stroke is a common complication of TBM. However, there is no established prevention or treatment for stroke associated with TBM, and the safety and efficiency of thrombolysis in acute stroke caused by TBM remain unknown. Herein, we present a case of successful intravenous thrombolysis in ischemic stroke caused by TBM. A 50-year-old male patient with cerebral infarction had substantially improved neurological function after intravenous thrombolysis, and he was subsequently found to have TBM. Our findings suggest that intravenous thrombolysis might be an effective acute treatment method for infectious stroke.
Directional Decoding From EEG in a Center-Out Motor Imagery Task With Visual and Vibrotactile Guidance
Authors: Hehenberger Lea , Batistic Luka , Sburlea Andreea I. , Müller-Putz Gernot R.
Published: September 2021

Motor imagery is a popular technique employed as a motor rehabilitation tool, or to control assistive devices to substitute lost motor function. In both said areas of application, artificial somatosensory input helps to mirror the sensorimotor loop by providing kinesthetic feedback or guidance in a more intuitive fashion than via visual input. In this work, we study directional and movement-related information in electroencephalographic signals acquired during a visually guided center-out motor imagery task in two conditions, i.e., with and without additional somatosensory input in the form of vibrotactile guidance. Imagined movements to the right and forward could be discriminated in low-frequency electroencephalographic amplitudes with group level peak accuracies of 70% with vibrotactile guidance, and 67% without vibrotactile guidance. The peak accuracies with and without vibrotactile guidance were not significantly different. Furthermore, the motor imagery could be classified against a resting baseline with group level accuracies between 76 and 83%, using either low-frequency amplitude features or μ and β power spectral features. On average, accuracies were higher with vibrotactile guidance, while this difference was only significant in the latter set of features. Our findings suggest that directional information in low-frequency electroencephalographic amplitudes is retained in the presence of vibrotactile guidance. Moreover, they hint at an enhancing effect on motor-related μ and β spectral features when vibrotactile guidance is provided.
Bedtime Procrastination Partially Mediates the Impact of Personality Characteristics on Daytime Fatigue Resulting From Sleep Deficiency
Authors: Herzog-Krzywoszanska Radoslawa , Jewula Beata , Krzywoszanski Lukasz
Published: September 2021

Getting good and sufficiently long sleep at night is important for health, effective functioning, and well-being. However, insufficient or delayed sleep are important and growing social problems that can lead to fatigue, poor performance, deterioration of well-being, circadian rhythm disturbances, and health problems. One of the significant determinants of sleep deprivation is bedtime procrastination, which is understood as the individual tendency to postpone going to bed in the absence of any external circumstances that force one to do so. Nowadays, this phenomenon is widespread in various social groups, especially among students. Despite the high prevalence of bedtime procrastination, its relationship with personality characteristics has not yet been thoroughly studied. The presented research aimed to identify the possible impact of the basic dispositional personality traits and trait-like personality characteristics on bedtime procrastination and daytime fatigue resulting from a deficiency of sleep at night. The responses from 399 university students who voluntarily took part in an internet survey were analyzed. The severity of bedtime procrastination was assessed using the Bedtime Procrastination Scale. Five basic dispositional personality traits (extraversion, neuroticism, conscientiousness, agreeableness, and openness/intellect) and their components (aspects) were measured using the International Personality Item Pool – Big Five Aspects Scale. Self-esteem and general self-efficacy were assessed using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the General Self-Efficacy Scale. Perceived locus of control was measured using the Delta Questionnaire. The direct and indirect relationships between personality variables and daytime fatigue were investigated using linear regression models with bedtime procrastination as a mediator variable. Industriousness and orderliness, both of which are aspects of conscientiousness, were found to be indirectly associated with daytime fatigue as a consequence of their impact on bedtime procrastination. Volatility and withdrawal, both of which are aspects of neuroticism, were found to be directly related to daytime fatigue without the intermediary impact of bedtime procrastination. Self-esteem was shown to be associated with experiencing daytime fatigue, both directly and indirectly through bedtime procrastination. General self-efficacy and external locus of control were associated with daytime fatigue only directly, without the intermediary role of bedtime procrastination. The results of our research indicate that personality factors may not only play an important role in shaping sleep-related health behaviors, but they also affect well-being during the day.
Follicle Rescue From Prepubertal Ovaries After Recent Treatment With Cyclophosphamide—An Experimental Culture System Using Mice to Achieve Mature Oocytes for Fertility Preservation
Authors: Hao Xia , Anastácio Amandine , Viñals-Ribé Laia , Santamaria Lacuesta Ana , Diakaki Christina , Alonso de Mena Sara , Liu Kui , Rodriguez-Wallberg Kenny A.
Published: September 2021

Ovarian tissue cryopreservation is the only feasible method for fertility preservation in prepubertal girls that will undergo gonadotoxic chemotherapy. To date, the only clinical use of cryopreserved tissue is by a later tissue retransplantation to the patient. Clinical challenges in fertility preservation of very young patients with cancer include time constraints that do not allow to retrieve the tissue for cryopreservation before starting chemotherapy and the preclusion of future ovarian tissue transplantation due to the risk of reintroduction of malignant cells in patients with systemic diseases. To overcome these two challenges, we investigated using an experimental model the feasibility of retrieving secondary follicles from ovaries of prepubertal mice after cyclophosphamide (CPA) treatment in increasing doses of 50, 75, and 100 mg/kg. The follicles were thereafter cultured and matured in vitro. The main outcomes included the efficiency of the method in terms of obtained matured oocytes and the safety of these potentially fertility preservative procedures in terms of analyses of oocyte competence regarding normality of the spindle and chromosome configurations. Our findings demonstrated that it was feasible to isolate and culture secondary follicles and to obtain mature oocytes from prepubertal mice ovaries recently treated with CPA. The efficiency of this method was highly demonstrated in the 100 mg/kg CPA group, with near 90% follicle survival rate after 12 days’ culture, similarly to control. Around 80% of the follicles met the criteria to put into maturation, and more than 40% of them achieved metaphase II, with normal spindle and chromosome configurations observed. Suboptimal results were obtained in the 50 and 75 mg/kg CPA groups. These paradoxical findings towards CPA dose might probably reflect a more difficult selection of damaged growing follicles from ovaries recently treated with lower doses of CPA and a hampered ability to identify and discard those with reduced viability for the culture.
Enamel Defects Associated With Dentin Sialophosphoprotein Mutation in Mice
Authors: Liang Tian , Xu Qian , Zhang Hua , Wang Suzhen , Diekwisch Thomas G. H. , Qin Chunlin , Lu Yongbo
Published: September 2021

Dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) is an extracellular matrix protein that is highly expressed in odontoblasts, but only transiently expressed in presecretory ameloblasts during tooth development. We previously generated a knockin mouse model expressing a mouse equivalent (DSPP, p.P19L) of human mutant DSPP (p.P17L; referred to as “DsppP19L/+”), and reported that DsppP19L/+ and DsppP19L/P19L mice manifested a dentin phenotype resembling human dentinogenesis imperfecta (DGI). In this study, we analyzed pathogenic effects of mutant P19L-DSPP on enamel development in DsppP19L/+ and DsppP19L/P19L mice. Micro-Computed Tomography (μCT) analyses of 7-week-old mouse mandibular incisors showed that DsppP19L/P19L mice had significantly decreased enamel volume and/or enamel density at different stages of amelogenesis examined. Acid-etched scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses of mouse incisors demonstrated that, at the mid-late maturation stage of amelogenesis, the enamel of wild-type mice already had apparent decussating pattern of enamel rods, whereas only minute particulates were found in DsppP19L/+ mice, and no discernible structures in DsppP19L/P19L mouse enamel. However, by the time that incisor enamel was about to erupt into oral cavity, distinct decussating enamel rods were evident in DsppP19L/+ mice, but only poorly-defined enamel rods were revealed in DsppP19L/P19L mice. Moreover, μCT analyses of the mandibular first molars showed that DsppP19L/+ and DsppP19L/P19L mice had a significant reduction in enamel volume and enamel density at the ages of 2, 3, and 24weeks after birth. Backscattered and acid-etched SEM analyses revealed that while 3-week-old DsppP19L/+ mice had similar pattern of enamel rods in the mandibular first molars as age-matched wild-type mice, no distinct enamel rods were observed in DsppP19L/P19L mice. Yet neither DsppP19L/+ nor DsppP19L/P19L mice showed well-defined enamel rods in the mandibular first molars by the age of 24weeks, as judged by backscattered and acid-etched SEM. In situ hybridization showed that DSPP mRNA level was markedly reduced in the presecretory ameloblasts, but immunohistochemistry revealed that DSP/DSPP immunostaining signals were much stronger within the presecretory ameloblasts in Dspp mutant mice than in wild-type mice. These results suggest that mutant P19L-DSPP protein caused developmental enamel defects in mice, which may be associated with intracellular retention of mutant DSPP in the presecretory ameloblasts.