bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differential expression of apelin in human epithelial ovarian cancer.
Authors: Mamoor Shahan
Published: July 2021

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the most lethal gynecologic cancer (1). We performed discovery of genes associated with epithelial ovarian cancer and of the high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC) subtype, using published and public microarray data (2, 3) to compare global gene expression profiles of normal ovary or fallopian tube with that of primary tumors from women diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer or HGSC. We identified the gene encoding apelin, APLN, as among the genes whose expression was most different in epithelial ovarian cancer as compared to the normal fallopian tube. APLN expression was significantly higher in high-grade serous ovarian tumors relative to normal fallopian tube. These data indicate that expression of APLN is perturbed in epithelial ovarian cancers broadly and in ovarian cancers of the HGSC subtype. APLN may be relevant to pathways underlying ovarian cancer initiation (transformation) or progression.
Laporan Small Project
Authors: Subroto Muhammad Azmi Badali
Published: July 2021

Penggunaan google drive sebagai tempat penyimpanan berbasis cloud dinilai mampu meningkatkan kinerja kerja. Teknologi ini diperkenalkan di sekolah MTsS Mon Malem di wilayah Aceh Besar, guna melihat pengaruh penggunaan teknologi cloud terhadap kinerja guru. Setelah melakukan beberapa tes, termasuk pre-test dan post-test, kami menganalisis data menggunakan SPSS untuk mendapatkan nilai R yang mewakili pengaruh penggunaan google drive terhadap kinerja guru. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa dengan menggunakan google drive kinerja guru meningkat
The need for economics education in Vietnam high school curriculum: A preliminary observation
Authors: Vuong Quan-Hoang , Ho Manh-Toan
Published: July 2021

Vietnam is a fast-growing economy with a population of more than 100 million people. Along with the stable development of the country’s economy, a mindset focusing on making money is also growing in Vietnam. Nonetheless, there has been a noticeable lack of formal education in economics for young people, especially in high school curriculum. Thus, this paper provides a quick look at the issue from the perspective of influential journal articles and books on Vietnam economy. Currently, as the high school curriculum does not include economics, the high school students do not have a formal source of information. Even when they can easily find documents on the Internet, the quick survey suggested a scarcity of trustworthy documents for students. The findings suggest that economics education in Vietnam is currently behind the economic development of the country.
Pitches that Wire Together Fire Together: Scale Degree Associations Across Time Predict Melodic Expectations
Authors: Verosky Niels , Morgan Emily
Published: July 2021

The ongoing generation of expectations is fundamental to listeners’ experience of music, but research into types of statistical information that listeners extract from musical melodies has tended to emphasize transition probabilities and n-grams, with limited consideration given to other types of statistical learning that may be relevant. Temporal associations between scale degrees represent a different type of information present in musical melodies that can be learned from musical corpora using expectation networks, a computationally simple method based on activation and decay. Expectation networks infer the expectation of encountering one scale degree followed in the near (but not necessarily immediate) future by another given scale degree, with previous work suggesting that scale degree associations learned by expectation networks better predict listener ratings of pitch similarity than transition probabilities. The current work outlines how these learned scale degree associations can be combined to predict melodic continuations and tests the resulting predictions on a dataset of listener responses to a musical cloze task previously used to compare two other models of melodic expectation, a variable-order Markov model (IDyOM) and Temperley’s music-theoretically motivated model. Under multinomial logistic regression, all three models explain significant unique variance in human melodic expectations, with coefficient estimates highest for expectation networks. These results suggest that generalized scale degree associations informed by both adjacent and non-adjacent relationships between melodic notes influence listeners’ melodic predictions above and beyond n-gram context, highlighting the need to consider a broader range of statistical learning processes that may underlie listeners’ expectations for upcoming musical events.
Effect of health warning labels on motivation towards energy-dense snack foods: Two experimental studies
Authors: Ventsel Minna , Pechey Emily , De-loyde Katie , Pilling Mark Andrew , Morris Richard , Maistrello Giulia , Ziauddeen Hisham , Marteau Theresa , Hollands Gareth J , Fletcher Paul
Published: July 2021

Health warning labels (HWLs) show promise in reducing motivation towards energy-dense snack foods. Understanding the underlying mechanisms could optimise their effectiveness. In two experimental studies in general population samples (Study 1 n=90; Study 2 n=1382), we compared the effects of HWLs and irrelevant aversive labels (IALs) on implicit (approach) motivation towards unhealthy snacks, using an approach-avoidance task (Study 1), and a manikin task (Study 2). We also assessed explicit motivation towards unhealthy snacks using food selection tasks. We examined whether labelling effects on motivation arose from the creation of outcome-dependent associations between the food and its health consequences or from simple, non-specific aversive associations. Both label types reduced motivation towards snack foods but only when the label was physically present. HWLs and IALs showed similar effects on implicit motivation, although HWLs reduced explicit motivation more than IALs. Thus, aversive HWLs appear to act both through low level associative mechanisms affecting implicit motivation, and by additionally emphasizing explicit causal links to health outcomes thereby affecting explicitly motivated choice behaviours.
Self-Adapting The Success Rate When Practicing Math
Authors: Jansen Brenda , Hofman Abe Dirk , Savi Alexander Olof , Visser Ingmar , van der Maas Han
Published: July 2021

Use and benefits of the possibility to choose a success rate are studied in a math-practice application that is used by a considerable percentage of Dutch primary school children. Study 1 uses data that were collected with the application, using children's practice data (N = 40329; grades 1-6). Children differed in their preference for a high, medium, or low success rate. Preferences were associated with gender, age, and ability, matching expectations that follow from the literature. Study 2 is an experimental study with 192 children from grades 3-6, using a pretest, training phase, and posttest. The possibility to choose a success rate was manipulated. Unexpectedly, beneficial effects for math practice, improvement of math skills, and self-belief concerning math were absent. Results suggest an appreciation of the possibility to choose, although beneficial effects of choosing were not observed for motivation to practice, skill improvement, and self-belief concerning math.
Semantic relatedness retroactively boosts memory and promotes memory interdependence across episodes
Authors: Antony James , Romero America , Vierra Anthony , Luenser Rebecca , Hawkins Robert , Bennion Kelly
Published: July 2021

Two fundamental issues in memory research concern when later experiences strengthen or weaken initial memories and when the two memories become linked or remain independent. A promising candidate for explaining these issues is semantic relatedness. Here, across five paired associate learning experiments (N=1000), we systematically varied the semantic relatedness between initial and later cues, initial and later targets, or both. We found that learning retroactively benefited long-term memory performance for semantically related words (versus unshown control words), and these benefits increased as a function of relatedness. Critically, memory dependence between initial and later pairs also increased with relatedness, suggesting that pre-existing semantic relationships promote interdependence for memories formed across episodes. We also found that modest retroactive benefits, but not interdependencies, emerged when subjects learned via studying rather than practice testing. These findings demonstrate that semantic relatedness during new learning retroactively strengthens old associations while scaffolding new ones into well-fortified memory traces.
A novel approach to the assessment of curiosity
Authors: Jansen Brenda , Dekkers Tycho , van Schijndel Tessa J.P.
Published: July 2021

The general consensus is that a curious mind is essential for learning, or at the very least facilitates learning. Assessment of curiosity, however, is challenging. We developed a practical, objective, behavioural measure for the assessment of epistemic curiosity for middle childhood, the Connect-the-Dots (CTD) task. The operationalization centres around the concept of an information gap: The experience of missing information may urge to search for information to close this gap and it is assumed that children differ in the strength of the urge to do so. The CTD task was administered to children (6-12 years; N = 328), and was administered again after about 11 weeks (N = 220). Internal consistency was good to excellent, test-retest reliability ranged from poor to sufficient. Correlations with teacher ratings of curiosity, and indicators of knowledge acquisition were positive and significant, indicating convergent validity. Directions for future studies with the CTD task are proposed.
Impacts of brick kiln emission on agricultural soil around brick kiln areas
Authors: Saha Mrinal Kanti , Sarkar Rakhi Rani , Ahmed Syed Jamal , Sheikh Abu Hanif , Mostafa Md Golam
Published: July 2021

The study attempted to assess the impacts of the brick kilns emissions on the farm soil in and around the kiln areas. A total of 72 representative farm soil samples were collected from 12 selected brick kiln clusters in Rajshahi and Gazipur Districts of Bangladesh, covering two years (September 2015 to August 2017). The collected samples were analyzed using standard methods. The pH and organic matter content in the farm soil samples were found to be very low. The farm soil parameters such as pH, organic matter, and soil texture were found in critical conditions. Among all of the heavy metals, only Cr exceeded the permissible standard of some soil samples. The concentration of Cr ion varied from 9.50 to 52.77 and 16.54 to 70.13 ppm in Rajshahi and Gazipur Districts, respectively indicated the chance of metal contamination in plants. The study results showed that the values of contamination factor (Cif) and ecological risk factor (Eir) in the selected farm soil of Rajshahi and Gazipur Districts existed in the order of Cd > As > Cr > Pb > Zn and Cd > As > Pb > Cr > Zn, respectively. The study results also showed that the pollution load index and risk index values were lower than 1 and 150, respectively, at all sampling locations indicating lower pollution and risk from heavy metals in the areas. The study observed that continuous brick production over the periods degraded topsoil fertility and reduced agricultural productivity.
Solid waste management practices and challenges in seven cities of Nepal before and during lockdown against COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Adhikari Bikash , Koirala Saroj , Khadka Nitesh , Koirala Nitesh
Published: July 2021

The nationwide lockdown imposed to control the spread of novel coronavirus induced dramatic alterations in different sectors of the Nepalese governance, including Solid Waste Management (SWM) practices. The study identifies SW collection gaps in seven major cities of Nepal and highlights the municipal and public households on SW management practices before and during the lockdown to emphasize the linkage between COVID-19 and SWM. It includes information on solid waste status, collection frequency and coverage, workers' safety practices, types of vehicles operated for collection and alternative methods adopted by households to manage SW during the lockdown. For this, 1329 households survey and key informant interviews were conducted in seven cities of Nepal during the lockdown. It was found that although the coverage of the collection service was similar during the pandemic in surveyed households, there was a drastic decrease in the collection frequency leading to a collection gap of around 570 tons/day. More than 50% of the surveyed households adopted no proper alternative measures as they claimed that they stored solid waste with proper management so that municipal authorities can take it. While other 50% adopted practices such as open burning, throwing in streets or composting. The study reveals poor occupational health and safety practices among solid waste workers due to the unavailability of safety gear and equipment despite being aware of the modes of transmission of the virus. The pandemic exacerbated the challenges of smooth SWM as it is an essential and needy service. This study highlights the need for a timely strategic management framework to be developed by the government to continue the smooth SWM practices during the lockdown.
Efecto de la aplicación de vacunas contra COVID-19 sobre la nueva incidencia de los índices de mortalidad por SARS-COV-2 en Colombia
Authors: Díaz Pinzón Jorge Enrique
Published: July 2021

Introducción: la rápida propagación del síndrome respiratorio agudo severo coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) en todo el mundo y la enfermedad originada por el coronavirus 19 (COVID-19), ha provocado una pandemia mundial con demoledoras consecuencias sociales y económicas. Objetivo: mostrar si hay alguna correlación de los fallecidos por COVID-19 y la vacunación contra el SARS-COV-2 en el periodo comprendido entre el 17 de febrero al 27 de mayo de 2021.  Metodología: el trabajo de investigación se desarrolló mediante un tipo experimental, la información se obtuvo de la página web del Ministerio de Salud y Protección Social de los informes diarios de fallecidos y vacunación contra el COVID-19, en el periodo mencionado. Resultados: el p-valor de las pruebas para las variables contagio y vacunación para COVID-19 es de 0,000 siendo menor de  α =0.01, de esta manera se acepta Ha, es decir la prueba de correlación de Pearson nos indica que existe relación entre el número de fallecidos por COVID-19 y la vacunación contra el SARS-COV-2 en Colombia. Conclusión: a partir de la vacunación de la vacuna contra COVID-19 a mediados de febrero de 2021 en Colombia, no se ha evidenciado un registro de la disminución del número de fallecidos por COVID-19. Si bien se observó un aumento en el total de vacunados de febrero a mayo 2021, no hubo reducción de los casos de fallecidos en el mismo lapso.  Ante los aspectos descritos, es posible plantear que la vacunación en Colombia en 2021 aún no ha llegado a ser una medida del todo efectiva.
The Difference of Political Participation of Inland Communities and Coastal Communities in Responding to Local Election: Synergy in Combating Covid-19 and Money Politic
Authors: Aneta Asna , Podungge Abdul Wahab , Hunawa Robby , Nuna Muten
Published: July 2021

This study is aimed at analyzing the difference in political participation of inland communities and coastal communities in addressing local elections as an embodiment of synergy in combating Covid-19 and money politics. In this qualitative research, the data were analyzed using an interactive model comprising three analysis components: (1) data reduction, (2) data display, and (3) data verification and conclusion drawing. According to the results, the way the coastal communities respond to the local election differs from that of the inland communities regarding sociological perspective. The coastal communities are not so keen on the election as they concentrate more on their fishing activities. On top of that, people in coastal areas spend most of their time at sea; thus, issues regarding the election are not that impactful for them. The inland communities, on the other hand, has different views thanks to their gregarious characteristic. All their activities and work-life are centralized in a workgroup, enabling the people to have ample time to find out their local leader candidates. This aspect underlines the reason for pluralism among inland communities’ political views, confirming the characteristic of individualism among people in coastal areas.
PERAN GANDA DAN KONTRIBUSI EKONOMI PEREMPUAN BURUH TANI HORTIKULTURA DALAM MENINGKATKAN KESEJAHTERAAN KELUARGA
Authors:   Program Studi Agribisnis, Fakultas Bioindustri, Universitas Trilogi, Gintiyani Sri , Lenggono P. Setia ,   Program Studi Agribisnis, Fakultas Bioindustri, Universitas Trilogi
Published: July 2021

The results of research on women's involvement in supporting agricultural household economic activities in rural areas have encouraged women to perform multiple functions. This dual role is a quite complex problem for women. On the one hand, they have to carry out their functions as wives and mothers, on the other hand, women have to earn a living helping their husbands support the family economy. The objectives of this study were: (1) To describe the allocation of female working time as farm laborers and as housewives; (2) Describing the size of women's income contributions; and (3) Describe how big the family of women agricultural workers has achieved family welfare. The research location was chosen deliberately and using snowball techniques involving 30 respondents as farm laborers with the criteria coming from a complete family (having a husband and income). The main motivation of housewives in rural areas is to leave their domestic sphere, to work as horticultural farm laborers because their husband's income is still insufficient to meet family needs, so he follows the invitation of his colleagues to work. Part-time from their activities as agricultural laborers, the contribution to the total family income reaches 46 percent (not deducted from food allowance) and 45 percent (deducted by food allowance). The percentage of working time spent on productive activities is around 4.21 hours/day, while for reproductive activities it reaches 19.79 hours/day. Meanwhile, from the results of this study, it was also revealed that 78 percent of the families of female agricultural laborers were still in the underprivileged category.
ANALISIS MARJIN PEMASARAN PENGECER AYAM POTONG DI PD PASAR JAYA PASAR MINGGU
Authors:   Program Studi Agribisnis, Fakultas Bioindustri, Universitas Trilogi, Oktavia Putri Oki , Yodfiatfinda Yodfiatfinda ,   ªProgram Studi Agribisnis, Fakultas Bioindustri, Universitas Trilogi
Published: July 2021

This research was about broiler chicken business in PD Pasar Jaya, Pasar Minggu, Jakarta Selatan by focussed on its market margin. The research objective was to identify marketing channels for broiler chicken, analyze the marketing margins of broiler retailers, and providing recommendation for broiler marketing channel management. The analysis method used was descriptive, marketing marjin, and marketing efficiency. There were four patterns of marketing channels and five marketing agencies. The most efficient marketing channel for broiler chickens was Channel 1 in the domestic chickens. Farmers distribute it directly to the retailers. Channel 1 had the lowest marketing marjin of IDR 16,000. The highest farmer's share value was 78%, meaning that the farmers received 78% of the price paid by the consumer. Marketing cost in the channel 1 was the smallest amounting to Rp 943. Marketing channel was efficient if the value was less than 5%, therefore channel 1 was the most efficient due to the value is the lowest at 1%. Chicken price fluctuations influenced by supply-demand which was subject to particular moments. An effective management recommendation define an effective and efficient marketing channel to set margins on the raw product so that the fair distribution of the margins between marketing channels. The fluctuation of chicken prices in breeders can be overcome by determining the period of raising chickens according to the demand data during particular moment.
Antropološko–folkloristički i vjerski aspekti usmenoknjiževnih zapisa Marice Križe
Authors: Baran Tanja
Published: July 2021

Kontekstualizacijom i analizom usmenoknjiževnih zapisa Marice Križe u križevačkom selu Dubovcu dobiva se uvid u obilje antropološko–folklorističkih i vjerskih sadržaja koji su u 19. stoljeću bili izuzetno bogati i snažni u identitetu hrvatskoga čovjeka. Ovim se radom želi istražiti žanrovski raznolik sadržaj dvaju rukopisa Marice Križe s kraja 19. i početka 20. stoljeća, kako bi se prikazala praktična, življena vjera, i u običajima i u sakramentalnom životu seljaka u potkalničkom Prigorju. Marica Križe jedina je zapisivačica usmene književnosti u križevačkom kraju i jedna od desetak žena u Hrvatskoj koje su bilježile narodni život i običaje prema knjizi Osnova za sabiranje i proučavanje građe o narodnom životu Antuna Radića pri Akademijinu Odboru na narodni život i običaje. Iako ona Radićeve naputke o zapisivanju gradiva nije usvojila cjelovito kao normu, nego više kao predložak, prema njima je zapisala tradicijske i usmenoknjiževne stvarnosti te time zabilježila življenu kulturu i vjerske sadržaje na jednom lokalitetu.
Zastupljenost nasilja nad nastavnicima
Authors: Müller Mirela , Debak Daria
Published: July 2021

Cilj je rada istražiti zastupljenost, učestalost i oblike nasilja s kojima se susreću nastavnici zaposleni u osnovnim i srednjim školama (gimnazijama i strukovnim školama). U istraživanju je sudjelovalo 197 nastavnika iz osnovnih i srednjih škola u Hrvatskoj. Rad ukazuje na nužnost razvoja preventivnih programa, na suradnju između roditelja, učenika, nastavnika, sportskih klubova i ostalih udruga i grupa koji bi mogli pomoći u prevenciji nasilja u školama.
Sandpaper Gallbladder in Children
Authors:   N.I. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University (a Federal Government Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education), Russian Federation Ministry of Health, Kharitonova L.A. ,   Moscow, Russian Federation
Published: July 2021

Objective of the Review: To enhance knowledge by clinicians, mostly paediatricians, therapeutists and gastroenterologists, of a common disease — sandpaper gallbladder (SPB). Key Points. Recently there has been a steady upward trend in prevalence of gall bladder and biliary tract disorders. A topical issue for paediatricians is metabolic inflammatory diseases of the biliary tract — cholelithiasis and SPB. The latter is the least investigated disease both in paediatrics and general medicine. Therefore, SPB therapy is extrapolated from cholelithiasis management. The knowledge of SPB aetiopathogenesis and outcomes will allow objectifying management, thus improving the quality of life for patients with SPB. Conclusion. SPB is a new paediatric problem, and very often paediatricians fail to diagnose it. The condition is asymptomatic and resembles other GIT conditions. High efficiency and no recurrences favour conservative management as an alternative in SPB management. Keywords: Children, sandpaper gallbladder, clinical findings, conservative therapy, cholecystectomy.
A new genus of Caliscelidae from Northern India (Homoptera, Fulgoroidea)
Authors: Emeljanov A.F.
Published: July 2021

Bolbonaso gen. n. is described for Afronaso tapirifacies Parshad, 1981.
On the distribution and biology of Edwardsiana iranicola Zachvatkin in Krasnodar Territory (Homoptera: Cicadellidae, Typhlocybinae)
Authors: Kotenev E.S. , Gnezdilov V.M. , Golub V.B.
Published: July 2021

The species status and distribution of Edwardsiana iranicola Zachvatkin and E. tshinari Zachvatkin are discussed. Terms of development, number of generations and seasonal population dynamics of E. iranicola in Krasnodar Territory are described.
The etymology of Fabrician generic names in Hemiptera
Authors: Kerzhner I.M.
Published: July 2021

The etymology is clarified or assumed for the majority of Fabrician generic names in Hemiptera.
The Birth of a Social Movement: A Case Study of Pashtun Tehfuz (Protection Movement)
Authors: Mehsud Javed , Baha Ul Haq  , Badshah Ikram
Published: July 2021

Social movements emerge in all parts of the world due to feelings of discrimination, oppression, and exploitation by any dominated or powerful group. These movements are directed, purposeful, dimensional and sometimes spontaneous towards achieving the social, political and economic cause[s]. Pashtun Protection Movement emerged from miseries, atrocities, humiliation on the hands of combating groups, unnecessary checking at security check posts, bloodshed spreading in the area during sixteen years of militancy, and security operations in North and South Waziristan. The movement is both present physically on the ground and as well in cyberspace in the form of a social media campaign. Methodologically, the research was designed to collect data from extensive fieldwork during the protest movement organized under the title of Pashtun Protection Movement across the country. Data was enriched through participant observation, and analysis was done through content analysis via poetic expression in Pashtu and other movement legacies.
Gender, Marital Status and Disease Profile: A Case Study of Older's Wellbeing
Authors: Ahmed Aftab , Chaudhry Abid Ghafoor
Published: July 2021

Pakistan's aging population is increasing daily. This paper uncovered the comparative relationship between marital status and disease manifestation among older persons. Maximum participation of older persons was in category 66-70 years. Data reveals; widowed women were suffering more as compared to older men of same age. The percentile reflects that 68.8 percent of women were hypertensive, 57.1 percent had heart problems, 70.6 percent suffered diabetes, 66.7 percent were affected by arthritis, 62.5 percent faced asthma issues and 40.9 percent were caught by other diseases. The study concludes that women in older age need more attention and care for their wellbeing.
Normative Orders in Everyday-Life: Being Expatriate in Times of COVID-19 Pandemic and Crisis in Frankfurt am Main
Authors: Haider Syed Imran , Alam Homayun , Ali Muhammad
Published: July 2021

In the contemporary world of a strong digital order, yesterday's political borders give the impression of being not that more important. The old world was determined through its concepts of borders, frontiers, statehood, institutions, or the membership of its citizens. The strongholds of a state are its physical borders, politics (process), polity (structures/institutions) and policy (content/normative). This article analyzes how social orders pass on to normative orders in everyday life in times of COVID-19 and crisis for expatriates in Germany's most international city Frankfurt am Main. It tries to reflect how physical borders are influencing still people and to what extent sources of borders are shaping everyday life.
Retrograde ejaculation following anterior lumbar surgery: a systematic review and pooled analysis
Authors: Body Alaina M. , Plummer Zachary J. , Krueger Bryan M. , Virojanapa Justin , Nasser Rani , Cheng Joseph S. , Prestigiacomo Charles J.
Published: July 2021

OBJECTIVE

The present systematic review and pooled analysis aims to assess the incidence and risk factors for the development of retrograde ejaculation (RE) following first-time open anterior lumbar surgery.

METHODS

A systematic MEDLINE review via PubMed was performed, identifying 130 clinical papers relating to the topic. Eighteen publications were selected according to predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria and were used to determine the incidence of RE. Only the publications that provided data on surgical risk factors present specifically in the men in the study were included in the analysis of risk factors.

RESULTS

Of the 2503 men included, there were 57 reported events of RE (2.3%). Of the cases for which long-term data were provided, 45.8% had resolved by final follow-up. There was a statistically significant increased risk associated with a transperitoneal as opposed to a retroperitoneal approach (8.6% vs 3.2%), as well as with the use of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein–2 (rhBMP-2) in anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) as opposed to ALIF with bone graft or arthroplasty in controls (5.0% vs 1.8%). However, when excluding from analysis the patients operated on prior to the FDA’s 2008 warning that commented on the drug’s neuroinflammatory properties, there was no significant difference in rates of RE in patients receiving rhBMP-2 versus the control group (2.4% vs 2.5%). There was no significant difference in risk based on single- versus multilevel procedure or on ALIF versus arthroplasty.

CONCLUSIONS

In a pooled analysis of currently published data on men undergoing first-time open anterior lumbar surgery, this study found an overall incidence of RE of 2.3%. Nearly half of these patients recovered, reporting resolution of symptoms anywhere between 3 months and 48 months. Analysis of risk factors was limited by a paucity of published literature segregating data by sex. However, there was an increased risk associated with rhBMP-2 only when including data collected prior to the FDA warning on its detrimental properties. The authors therefore posit that the risk of RE is probably overestimated in the literature, given that the vast majority of the data available were collected prior to this warning and given the subsequent implementation of precautions when handling rhBMP-2.
Infrastructure development in Africa (East African Transport)
Authors: Barinov Andrey K.
Published: July 2021

In the article, the authors analyze the current state and prospects for the development of the transport infrastructure in the countries of East Africa. They provide latest data on projects in pipeline. Today, Africa is a dynamically developing continent with powerful economic, demographic and resource potential that will have a tangible impact on world development in the 21st century. The large-scale transformations that are taking place on the continent require an outstripping pace of infrastructure development, which, despite the success achieved, still does not meet its needs. While total capital investment in infrastructure projects in African countries in 2018 reached record level, the lack of funding remains one of the key obstacles for the development of African infrastructure. The COVID-19 pandemic that swept the world in 2020 will further exacerbate the existing gap between investment needed and investment required. The economic potential of many infrastructure projects will decline. However, according to the authors, the negative impact will not be so large-scale due to the long-term nature of the contracts, as well as the socio-economic significance of the projects.
The authors of the article come to the conclusion that in the context of an epidemiological crisis, both national and foreign investors who invest in the development of regional infrastructure seek to share their risks by attracting new financial partners. This situation opens up additional opportunities for Russian companies and enterprises to enter long-term and capital-intensive infrastructure projects in East Africa, which can become a solid basis for building Russian-African economic relations.
High Technologies in Central Africa’s Countries: Distant Future or a New Reality?
Authors: Kalinichenko Liudmila N.
Published: July 2021

The article emphasizes the strengthening of the Central African states leadership position in the need to develop the latest technologies. The focus is on the ICT development as a digital platform for economic and social transformations. The realization of Central African Backbone project, which aims to expand the fiber optic cable network within the CEMAC countries, is of particular importance. Its implementation led to the emergence of 3G/4G networks, significantly increasing the population access to broadband services and penetration rate of high-speed Internet and mobile telephony. The unified telecommunications network will make an important contribution to the countries’ integration.
The startup system development contributes to solving the problem of young population employment, by realizing the latest technological advances, using digital technologies in such important areas as medicine, finance, trade, farming, education. There is a gradual reduction in the gap between the digital market needs and the level of training for employees working in high technologies sphere. The impact of COVID-19 recession on the digital sector in the countries of the region is inevitable. Overall progress towards expanding 3G/4G networks could be slowed down and the cost for telecommunication services is possible to rise. However, the governments of most countries are striving to ensure that the citizens can make the best use of the digitalization advancements by developing subsidy schemes and promoting projects for telemedicine, education, financial and banking services.
Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections among men who have sex with men and injecting drug users and validation of audio computer-assisted self interview (ACASI) technique in Abuja, Lagos, and Ibadan, Nigeria: Report Fact Sheet
Authors:   Enhancing Nigeria's HIV/AIDS Response (ENR) Programme
Published: July 2021

Most-at-risk populations (MARPS), including men who have sex with men (MSM) and injecting drug users (IDUs), represent only 1 percent of Nigeria’s population yet account for 38 percent of new HIV infections. Despite their elevated risk, MSM and IDUs are less likely than the general population to access HIV prevention and sexual health services because of stigmatization. There is a dearth of data on prevalence of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among MSM and IDUs because their behaviors make them difficult to be reached programmatically and engaged in research. While the need for HIV and STI prevalence data is clear, there is also a need to improve the quality and reliability of behavioral data collected for national surveillance, where these stigmatized subpopulations may underreport sensitive behaviors that put them most at risk. As noted in this fact sheet, computer-based interviewing systems are becoming an accepted alternative to face-to-face interviews, providing an efficient and replicable research tool for collecting sensitive behavioral data.
Cartographie sociale des espaces de rencontres des adolescentes mariées ou non dans la zone d'intervention du projet
Authors: Kaboré Gisele , Semde Abdoulaye , Some Lanko
Published: July 2021

L’étude sur la cartographie sociale des espaces de rencontres des adolescentes mariées ou non dans les zones d’intervention du projet « Éliminer le mariage des enfants au Burkina : un plan pour la protection, le renforcement et l’action communautaire » s’est déroulée dans les 24 sites du projet. Elle a permis de recenser dans les différentes localités en plus des structures publiques, des groupements, des associations, des ONG et projets, des radios, et des espaces de rencontre des adolescents. Des recommendations formulées pour l’atteinte des objectifs du projet comprennent: la création des espaces de rencontre des adolescent(e)s, la promotion des activités socio-économiques des adolescentes, la collaboration avec les radios, la collaboration avec les structures intervenant sur le terrain, et l’engagement de tous les acteurs impliqués.
Predicting and Characterizing Neurodegenerative Subtypes with Multimodal Neurocognitive Signatures of Social and Cognitive Processes
Authors: Ibañez Agustín , Fittipaldi Sol , Trujillo Catalina , Jaramillo Tania , Torres Alejandra , Cardona Juan F. , Rivera Rodrigo , Slachevsky Andrea , García Adolfo , Bertoux Maxime , Baez Sandra
Published: July 2021

Background: Social cognition is critically compromised across neurodegenerative diseases, including the behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, no previous study has used social cognition and other cognitive tasks to predict diagnoses of these conditions, let alone reporting the brain correlates of prediction outcomes. Objective: We performed a diagnostic classification analysis using social cognition, cognitive screening (CS), and executive function (EF) measures, and explored which anatomical and functional networks were associated with main predictors. Methods: Multiple group discriminant function analyses (MDAs) and ROC analyses of social cognition (facial emotional recognition, theory of mind), CS, and EF were implemented in 223 participants (bvFTD, AD, PD, controls). Gray matter volume and functional connectivity correlates of top discriminant scores were investigated. Results: Although all patient groups revealed deficits in social cognition, CS, and EF, our classification approach provided robust discriminatory characterizations. Regarding controls, probabilistic social cognition outcomes provided the best characterization for bvFTD (together with CS) and PD, but not AD (for which CS alone was the best predictor). Within patient groups, the best MDA probabilities scores yielded high classification rates for bvFTD versus PD (98.3%, social cognition), AD versus PD (98.6%, social cognition + CS), and bvFTD versus AD (71.7%, social cognition + CS). Top MDA scores were associated with specific patterns of atrophy and functional networks across neurodegenerative conditions. Conclusion: Standardized validated measures of social cognition, in combination with CS, can provide a dimensional classification with specific pathophysiological markers of neurodegeneration diagnoses.
Validation of the Cognitive Telephone Screening Instruments COGTEL and COGTEL+ in Identifying Clinically Diagnosed Neurocognitive Disorder Due to Alzheimer’s Disease in a Naturalistic Clinical Setting
Authors: Alexopoulos Panagiotis , Skondra Maria , Kontogianni Evagellia , Vratsista Aikaterini , Frounta Maria , Konstantopoulou Georgia , Aligianni Suzana Ioanna , Charalampopoulou Marina , Lentzari Iliana , Gourzis Philippos , Kliegel Matthias , Economou Polychronis , Politis Antonios
Published: July 2021

Background: Telephone-based neurocognitive instruments embody valuable tools in identifying cognitive impairment in research settings and lately also in clinical contexts due to the pandemic crisis. The accuracy of the Cognitive Telephone Screening Instrument (COGTEL) in detecting mild- (MiND) and major (MaND) neurocognitive disorder has not been studied yet. Objective: Comparison of the utility of COGTEL and COGTEL+, which is enriched with orientation items, with the modified Mini-Mental State Examination (3MS) in detecting MiND and MaND due to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and assessment of the impact of COGTEL face-to-face-versus telephone administration on individual performance. Methods: The study included 197 cognitively intact individuals (CI), being at least 45 years old, 95 and 65 patients with MiND and MaND due to AD, respectively. In 20 individuals COGTEL was administered both in face-to-face and telephone sessions. Statistical analyses included proportional odds logistic regression models, stratified repeated random subsampling used to recursive partitioning to training and validation set (70/30 ratio), and an appropriate F-test. Results: All studied instruments were significant predictors of diagnostic outcome, but COGTEL+ and 3MS explained more variance relative to the original COGTEL. Except for the validation regression models including COGTEL in which the average misclassification error slightly exceeded 15%, in all other cases the average misclassification errors (%) were lower than 15%. COGTEL administration modality was not related to systematic over- or underestimation of performance on COGTEL. Conclusion: COGTEL+ is a valuable instrument in detecting MiND and MaND and can be administered in face-to-face or telephone sessions.
A new integrated modelling architecture based on the concept of the fuzzy logic for the turning process
Authors: AlAlaween Wafa’ H. , AlAlawin Abdallah H. , Al-Durgham Lamees , Albashabsheh Nibal T.
Published: July 2021

A new integrated modelling architecture based on the concept of the fuzzy logic is presented to represent the turning process. Such an architecture consists of two stages. In the first stage, fuzzy logic systems (FLSs) having various topologies are employed to extract rule bases using perhaps limited amount of sparse data. In the second stage, the fuzzy rules extracted are assessed and integrated using the singular value decomposition-QR factorization (SVD-QR) paradigm in order to minimize the computational efforts. Such a step leads to reducing the number of fuzzy rules and results in a reduced FLS model. Such a reduced model is then employed to represent the turning process and predict both the cutting force and the surface roughness. In addition, it provides a comprehensive understanding of the turning process presented linguistically in the form of If/Then rules. The proposed structure has been validated using a set of laboratory experiments. It has been noticed that it can predict both the cutting force and the surface roughness successfully. In addition, such an integrated architecture outperforms the artificial neural network, the well-known FLS, the radial basis functions and the multilinear regression model, where the overall improvement is of approximately 19%, 13%, 14% and 270%, respectively.
An integrated FMEA approach using Best-Worst and MARCOS methods based on D numbers for prioritization of failures
Authors: Fan Jianping , Wang Shuting , Wu Meiqin
Published: July 2021

Failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) is a useful reliability analysis technique to identify potential failure modes in a wide range of industries. However, the conventional FMEA method is deficient in dealing with the risk evaluation and prioritization method. To overcome the shortcomings, this paper presents a new risk priority model using Best-Worst Method based on D numbers (D-BWM) and the Measurement of Alternatives and Ranking according to COmpromise Solution based on D numbers (D-MARCOS). First, D numbers are used to deal with the uncertainty of FMEA team members’ subjective judgment. Second, the distance-based method is proposed to determine the objective weight of each team member. Then, the D-BWM was used to determine the weight of risk factors. The combination rule of D number theory combined the evaluation information of multiple members into group opinions. Finally, D-MARCOS method is proposed to obtain the risk priority of the failure modes. An example and the results of comparative analysis show the method is effective.
Stability in measure for uncertain delay differential equations based on new Lipschitz conditions
Authors: Gao Yin , Jia Lifen
Published: July 2021

Uncertain delay differential equations (UDDEs) charactered by Liu process can be employed to model an uncertain control system with a delay time. The stability of its solution always be a significant matter. At present, the stability in measure for UDDEs has been proposed and investigated based on the strong Lipschitz condition. In reality, the strong Lipschitz condition is so strictly and hardly applied to judge the stability in measure for UDDEs. For the sake of solving the above issue, the stability in measure based on new Lipschitz condition as a larger scale of applications is verified in this paper. In other words, if it satisfies the strong Lipschitz condition, it must satisfy the new Lipschitz conditions. Conversely, it may not be established. An example is provided to show that it is stable in measure based on the new Lipschitz conditions, but it becomes invalid based on the strong Lipschitz condition. Moreover, a special class of UDDEs is verified to be stable in measure without any limited condition. Besides, some examples are investigated in this paper.
Multi-scale deep coupling convolutional neural network with heterogeneous sensor data for intelligent fault diagnosis
Authors: Tian Jinghui , Han Dongying , Xiao Lifeng , Shi Peiming
Published: July 2021

With the innovation and development of detection technology, various types of sensors are installed to monitor the operating status of equipment in modern industry. Compared with the same type of sensors for monitoring, heterogeneous sensors can collect more comprehensive complementary fault information. Due to the large distribution differences and serious noise pollution of heterogeneous sensor data collected in industrial sites, this brings certain challenges to the development of heterogeneous data fusion strategies. In view of the large distribution difference in the feature spatial of heterogeneous data and the difficulty of effective fusion of fault information, this paper presents a multi-scale deep coupling convolutional neural network (MDCN), which is used to map the heterogeneous fault information from different feature spaces to the common spaces for full fusion. Specifically, a multi-scale convolution module (MSC) with multiple filters of different sizes is adopted to extract multi-scale fault features of heterogeneous sensor data. Then, the maximum mean discrepancy (MMD) is applied to measure the distance between different spatial features in the coupling layer, and the common failure information in the heterogeneous data is mined by minimizing MMD to fuse effectively in order to identify the failure state of the device. The validity of this method is verified by the data collected on a first-level parallel gearbox mixed fault experiment platform.
On double edge-domination and total domination of trees
Authors: Şahin Bünyamin , Şahin Abdulgani
Published: July 2021

In a graph G, a vertex v is dominated by an edge e, if e is incident with v or e is incident with a vertex which is a neighbor of v. An edge-vertex dominating set D is a subset of the edge set of G such that every vertex of G is edge-vertex dominated by an edge of D. The ev-domination number equals to the number of an edge-vertex dominating set of G which has minimum cardinality and it is denoted by γev (G). We here analyze double edge-vertex domination such that a double edge-vertex dominating set D is a subset of the edge set of G, provided that all vertices in G are ev-dominated by at least two edges of D. The double ev-domination number equals to the number of an double edge-vertex dominating set of G which has minimum cardinality and it is denoted by γdev (G). We demonstrate that the enumeration of the double ev-domination number of chordal graphs is NP-complete. Moreover several results about total domination number and double ev-domination number are obtained for trees.
Intuitionistic fuzzy two-factor variance analysis of movie ticket sales
Authors: Traneva Velichka , Tranev Stoyan
Published: July 2021

Analysis of variance (ANOVA) is an important method in data analysis, which was developed by Fisher. There are situations when there is impreciseness in data In order to analyze such data, the aim of this paper is to introduce for the first time an intuitionistic fuzzy two-factor ANOVA (2-D IFANOVA) without replication as an extension of the classical ANOVA and the one-way IFANOVA for a case where the data are intuitionistic fuzzy rather than real numbers. The proposed approach employs the apparatus of intuitionistic fuzzy sets (IFSs) and index matrices (IMs). The paper also analyzes a unique set of data on daily ticket sales for a year in a multiplex of Cinema City Bulgaria, part of Cineworld PLC Group, applying the two-factor ANOVA and the proposed 2-D IFANOVA to study the influence of “ season ” and “ ticket price ” factors. A comparative analysis of the results, obtained after the application of ANOVA and 2-D IFANOVA over the real data set, is also presented.