bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Overview of host miRNA properties and their association with epigenetics, long non-coding RNAs, and Xeno-infectious factors
Authors: Heydarzadeh Samaneh , Ranjbar Maryam , Karimi Farokh , Seif Farhad , Alivand Mohammad Reza
Published: February 2021

MicroRNA-derived structures play impressive roles in various biological processes. So dysregulation of miRNAs can lead to different human diseases. Recent studies have extended our comprehension of the control of miRNA function and features. Here, we overview some remarkable miRNA properties that have potential implications for the miRNA functions, including different variants of a miRNA called isomiRs, miRNA arm selection/arm switching, and the effect of these factors on miRNA target selection. Besides, we review some aspects of miRNA interactions such as the interaction between epigenetics and miRNA (different miRNAs and their related processing enzymes are epigenetically regulated by multiple DNA methylation enzymes. moreover, DNA methylation could be controlled by diverse mechanisms related to miRNAs), direct and indirect crosstalk between miRNA and lnc (Long Non-Coding) RNAs as a further approach to conduct intercellular regulation called “competing endogenous RNA” (ceRNA) that is involved in the pathogenesis of different diseases, and the interaction of miRNA activities and some Xeno-infectious (virus/bacteria/parasite) factors, which result in modulation of the pathogenesis of infections. This review provides some related studies to a better understanding of miRNA involvement mechanisms and overcoming the complexity of related diseases that may be applicable and useful to prognostic, diagnostic, therapeutic purposes and personalized medicine in the future.
Deep factor analysis for weather varied sense-through-foliage target detection
Authors: Xue Wenling , Jiang Ting , Sun Xuebin , Zheng Xiaokun , Ding Xue
Published: February 2021

In this paper, the influence of seasonal variation on target detection accuracy and the effectiveness of deep factor analysis (DFA) in signal denoising are studied. To extensively verify the universality of the DFA_based approach, a variety of target objects, including no target, human, wood board and iron cabinet targets, are measured in foliage environment under four different weather conditions. Then, after removing background noise from the collected data, deep factor analysis is carried out to reduce the impact of noise. The experimental results show that the influence of weather variation on target detection can be effectively eliminated by DFA_based algorithm, which can improve the average classification accuracy in all seasons. Finally, by means of cross validation, the effectiveness of DFA_based algorithm on signal denoising and the influence on target detection accuracy are further studied. The method is stable and universal in any weather conditions, even in hazy and snowy days, which can be stable at about 93%.
A new medium access control mechanism for energy optimization in WSN: traffic control and data priority scheme
Authors: Bouazzi Imen , Zaidi Monji , Usman Mohammed , Shamim Mohammed Zubair M.
Published: February 2021

Over the last few years, energy optimization in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) has drawn the attention of both the research community and actual users. Sensor nodes are powered by attached batteries that are considered as a critical aspect of sensor nodes design. Besides, the constraint of the limited battery capacity is associated with the concern on how to reduce the energy consumption of nodes to extend the network lifetime. In this context, the purpose of this study is to implement an adaptive medium access control (MAC) for energy saving and traffic control enhancement. This program was designed to arrange nodes into two priority groups according to their traffic rate and data transmission packet delay. This fuzzy algorithm depends on their queue length where it is implemented into the carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) algorithm. However, other types of nodes should send their data during the contention-free period with a GTS reallocation scheme. Those nodes are classified as low priority access to the medium, and their data transmission is scheduled using time division multiple access methods. Moreover, this proposed scheme dynamically adjusts the contention access period length to ensure that nodes can complete their data transmission during the same super-frame. Simulation results are done using the network simulator tool (NS-2), and it has improved efficiency regarding the IEEE-802.15.4 standard.
Approximation theorems of a solution of amperometric enzymatic reactions based on Green’s fixed point normal-S iteration
Authors: Muangchoo-in Khanitin , Sitthithakerngkiet Kanokwan , Sa-Ngiamsunthorn Parinya , Kumam Poom
Published: February 2021

In this paper, the authors present a strategy based on fixed point iterative methods to solve a nonlinear dynamical problem in a form of Green’s function with boundary value problems. First, the authors construct the sequence named Green’s normal-S iteration to show that the sequence converges strongly to a fixed point, this sequence was constructed based on the kinetics of the amperometric enzyme problem. Finally, the authors show numerical examples to analyze the solution of that problem.
A survey on bandwidth-aware geo-distributed frameworks for big-data analytics
Authors: Bergui Mohammed , Najah Said , Nikolov Nikola S.
Published: February 2021

In the era of global-scale services, organisations produce huge volumes of data, often distributed across multiple data centres, separated by vast geographical distances. While cluster computing applications, such as MapReduce and Spark, have been widely deployed in data centres to support commercial applications and scientific research, they are not designed for running jobs across geo-distributed data centres. The necessity to utilise such infrastructure introduces new challenges in the data analytics process due to bandwidth limitations of the inter-data-centre communication. In this article, we discuss challenges and survey the latest geo-distributed big-data analytics frameworks and schedulers (based on MapReduce and Spark) with WAN-bandwidth awareness.
Reducing glucoamylase usage for commercial-scale ethanol production from starch using glucoamylase expressing Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Wang Xin , Liao Bei , Li Zhijun , Liu Guangxin , Diao Liuyang , Qian Fenghui , Yang Junjie , Jiang Yu , Zhao Shumiao , Li Youguo , Yang Sheng
Published: February 2021

The development of yeast that converts raw corn or cassava starch to ethanol without adding the exogenous α-amylase and/or glucoamylase would reduce the overall ethanol production cost. In this study, two copies of codon-optimized Saccharomycopsis fibuligera glucoamylase genes were integrated into the genome of the industrial Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain CCTCC M94055, and the resulting strain CIBTS1522 showed comparable basic growth characters with the parental strain. We systemically evaluated the fermentation performance of the CIBTS1522 strain using the raw corn or cassava starch at small and commercial-scale, and observed that a reduction of at least 40% of the dose of glucoamylase was possible when using the CIBTS1522 yeast under real ethanol production condition. Next, we measured the effect of the nitrogen source, the phosphorous source, metal ions, and industrial microbial enzymes on the strain’s cell wet weight and ethanol content, the nitrogen source and acid protease showed a positive effect on these parameters. Finally, orthogonal tests for some other factors including urea, acid protease, inoculum size, and glucoamylase addition were conducted to further optimize the ethanol production. Taken together, the CIBTS1522 strain was identified as an ideal candidate for the bioethanol industry and a better fermentation performance could be achieved by modifying the industrial culture media and condition.
Effect of stem cell treatment on functional recovery of spinocerebellar ataxia: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Appelt Pablo Andrei , Comella Kristin , de Souza Luciane Aparecida Pascucci Sande , Luvizutto Gustavo José
Published: February 2021

Background

Spinocerebellar ataxia is a hereditary neurodegenerative disease characterized by changes in balance, locomotion and motor coordination. Stem cell therapies are currently being investigated as an alternative to delay the evolution of the disease, and some experimental studies have investigated the effect of stem cell treatment on spinocerebellar ataxia.

Objectives

The aim of this review was to investigate whether the application of stem cells produced an effect on functional recovery in individuals with spinocerebellar ataxia.

Methods

The studies included in this review investigated the efficacy and safety of a protocol for the application of mesenchymal stem cells extracted from umbilical cord and adipose tissue. Two studies used intrathecal route for application and one study used intravenous route.

Results

Studies have shown clinical improvement in the scores of the ICARS (International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale), ADL (Activities of Daily Living Scale), BBS (Berg Balance Scale) and SARA (Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia), but lacked statistical significance.

Conclusions

There was low evidence for recommending stem cell therapy in individuals with spinocerebellar ataxia, and no statistical difference was observed for improving functional recovery of patients. Further studies are needed with different designs, largest sample sizes and placebo control, to fully understand anticipated outcomes of cellular therapy for spinocerebellar ataxia.
Do fur coats symbolize status or stigma? Examining the effect of perceived stigma on female consumers’ purchase intentions toward fur coats
Authors: Shin Daeun Chloe , Jin Byoungho Ellie
Published: February 2021

Animal fur garments have historically served as a status symbol. However, the fur fashion market has recently undergone two noteworthy transformations. Firstly, the anti-fur consumption movements have heavily stigmatized wearing fur for fashion. Secondly, due to technological advancements, fake alternatives made from synthetic fibers, referred to as faux fur, can be now made to look authentic. Through a survey, this study examined the effects of growing stigma around wearing fur on consumer behaviors. It investigated the moderating effects of perceived stigma on the relationship between the need for status and purchase intentions toward genuine fur coats as well as faux fur coats that look real. Two-hundred and twenty usable data were collected from 353 female participants recruited from an online panel. Results revealed that status-seeking consumers had higher purchase intentions toward both genuine fur coats and faux fur alternatives that look real. The moderating effects of perceived stigma were found only for genuine fur coats, indicating that perceived stigma can hurt the demand for genuine fur coats, but not necessarily for faux fur coats that look real. By incorporating stigma theory, this study goes beyond previous focus on the determinants of status consumption by demonstrating the transformation of a status symbol through perceived stigma’s effects on consumer purchasing decisions.
Correction to: A randomized, open-label, multicentre, comparative study of therapeutic efficacy, preventive potential and tolerability of BNO 1030 extract, containing Althea root, Chamomile flowers, horsetail herb, walnut leaves, yarrow herb, oak bark, dandelion herb in the treatment of acute non-bacterial tonsillitis in children aged 6 to 18 years
Authors: Popovych Vasyl , Koshel Ivana , Malofiichuk Oleksandr , Pyletska Lubov , Semenyuk Oleksandr , Martynnyk Oksana , Orlovska Ruslana
Published: February 2021

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.
Drug prices in Latin American countries: the case of rheumatoid arthritis Biosimilars
Authors: Mosegui Gabriela Bittencourt Gonzalez , Antõnanzas Fernando , de Mello Vianna Cid Manso , Rojas Paula
Published: February 2021

Background

The objective of this paper is to analyze the prices of biological drugs in the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) in three Latin American countries (Brazil, Colombia and Mexico), as well as in Spain and the United States of America (US), from the point of market entry of biosimilars.

Methods

We analyzed products authorized for commercialization in the last 20 years, in Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico, comparing them to the United States of America (USA) and Spain. For this analysis, we sought the prices and registries of drugs marketed between 1999 and October 1, 2019, in the regulatory agencies’ databases. The pricing between countries was based on purchasing power parity (PPP).

Results

The US authorized the commercialization of 13 distinct biologicals and four biosimilars in the period. Spain and Brazil marketed 14 biopharmaceuticals for RA, ten original, four biosimilars. Colombia and Mexico have authorized three biosimilars in addition to the ten biological ones. For biological drug prices, the US is the most expensive country. Spain’s price behavior seems intermediate when compared to the three LA countries. Brazil has the highest LA prices, followed by Mexico and Colombia, which has the lowest prices. Spain has the lowest values in PPP, compared to LA countries, while the US has the highest prices.

Conclusion

The economic effort that LA countries make to access these medicines is much higher than the US and Spain. The use of the PPP ensured a better understanding of the actual access to these inputs in the countries analyzed.
The untapped industrial crop, Cucumeropsis mannii: dry oil extraction, characterization and potential use as biodiesel feedstock and heavy metal sink
Authors: Okwundu Onyeka Stanislaus , Chiama Chimezie John , Chiama Chinedu James , Ucheagwu Pius Charles , Uzoma Ekene Kingsley , Okaro Chukwujekwu Augustine , Muojama Obiora Ebuka
Published: February 2021

Due to the quest to meet a basic need – food, vast potentials of numerous African crops have remained unexplored. Cucumeropsis mannii, an invaluable West African melon, is cultivated for its edible proteinous oil-rich seeds. Here, we report for the first time, its potential use for biodiesel production over an uncommon heterogeneous nanocatalyst, and for wastewater treatment. An identification of the untapped species’ seed was made, for disambiguation. Oil (CMO) was expressed from the C. mannii seeds (CMS) and characterized. The CMS was found composed of 53.5% lipids, while 46.1% of the full-fat CMS flour was recovered as vegetable oil. Transesterification experiments were performed using a specially-prepared heterogeneous nanocatalyst derived from Eobania vermiculata shells, by varying successively: methanol/oil ratio, temperature, and reaction time. Maximum biodiesel (CMOME) yield of 86.2% was achieved at catalyst concentration of 5.4%, methanol to oil molar ratio of 9:1, reaction temperature of 60 °C, after 3 h of reaction. Furthermore, part of the polyunsaturated CMO was sulphur-functionalized and utilized at different dosage levels for extraction of Ag+ from 600 to 1500 ppm simulated water. The modified CMO exhibited desirable sorption properties – sinking 100% of Ag+ from 900 ppm water, after 7-h-phase-contact at 6.9 g (20 mL)− 1 dosage. Stagewise operation (multi-staging) was found capable of improving the extraction efficiency in highly concentrated wastewater. Although CMOME conformed to EN-14214 and ASTM D-6751 standards, it had low oxidation stability; making wastewater treatment a more faithful application. Regarding the crop’s food value, residual CMS cake remained edible, even with longer shelf-life (relative to the full-fat flour) – encouraging commercial flour-defattening and consequent availability of CMO for industrial applications. Lastly, it was concluded (with some relevant recommendations) that CMO has great potentials for use as biodiesel feedstock and as heavy metal removal agent.
Phytochemical comparison and evaluation of anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic activity of three source plants of Jivanti-an important Ayurvedic drug
Authors: C. T. Sulaiman , C. K. Jyothi , G. Jinu Krishnan Unnithan , K. M. Prabhukumar , Balachandran Indira
Published: February 2021

Background

In Ayurveda, Jivanti is an important Rasayana drug that increases the energy level of the body. The botanical source of Jivanti is in a situation of controversy. The root ofLeptadenia reticulatais the genuine source plant for Jivanti as per Ayurvedic Pharmacopeia of India. However, other species such asHolostemma ada-kodienandFlickingeria nodosaare also used as source plants for Jivanti in various parts of the country. The objective of this study is to identify a scientifically validated alternative source plant for Jivanti by phytochemical and pharmacological evaluation.

Results

In this study, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic activities of various source plants for Jivanti were evaluated along with their phytochemical comparison.H. ada-kodienshowed significant anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic activity when compared toL. reticulata.

Conclusion

The study concluded the possibility of usingHolostemma ada-kodienas a substitute for Jivanti in the Ayurvedic drug industry.

Graphical abstract
Acute Talar Cartilage Deformation in Those with and without Chronic Ankle Instability
Authors: SONG KYEONGTAK , PIETROSIMONE BRIAN , BLACKBURN J. TROY , PADUA DARIN A. , TENNANT JOSHUA N. , WIKSTROM ERIK A.
Published: February 2021

Purpose

This study aimed 1) to determine whether talar cartilage deformation measured via ultrasonography (US) after standing and hopping loading protocols differs between chronic ankle instability (CAI) patients and healthy controls and 2) to determine whether the US measurement of cartilage deformation reflects viscoelasticity between standing and hopping protocols.

Methods

A total of 30 CAI and 30 controls participated. After a 60-min off-loading period, US images of the talar cartilage were acquired before and after static (2-min single-leg standing) and dynamic (60 single-leg forward hops) loading conditions. We calculated cartilage deformation by assessing the change in average thickness (mm) for overall, medial, and lateral talar cartilage. The independent variables include time (Pre60 and postloading), condition (standing and dynamic loading), and group (CAI and control). A three-way mixed-model repeated-measures ANCOVA and appropriate post hoc tests were used to compare cartilage deformation between the groups after static and dynamic loading.

Results

After the static loading condition, those with CAI had greater talar cartilage deformation compared with healthy individuals for overall (−10.87% vs −6.84%, P = 0.032) and medial (−12.98% vs −5.80%, P = 0.006) talar cartilage. Similarly, the CAI group had greater deformation relative to the control group for overall (−8.59% vs −3.46%, P = 0.038) and medial (−8.51% vs −3.31%, P = 0.043) talar cartilage after the dynamic loading condition. In the combined cohort, cartilage deformation was greater after static loading compared with dynamic in overall (−8.85% vs −6.03%, P = 0.003), medial (−9.38% vs −5.91%, P = 0.043), and lateral (−7.90% vs −5.65%, P = 0.009) cartilage.

Conclusion

US is capable of detecting differences in cartilage deformation between those with CAI and uninjured controls after standardized physiologic loads. Across both groups, our results demonstrate that static loading results in greater cartilage deformation compared with dynamic loading.
La Tirana. Culto Mariano en el Desierto de Atacama del Norte Grande de Chile.
Authors: Guerrero Bernardo
Published: February 2021

En este trabajo reflexionamos sobre las relaciones que se establecen entre la religiosidad popular y el desierto de Atacama en el Norte Grande de Chile. Para ello vemos como ese inmenso territorio que es el desierto es percibido por las elites políticas, militares y eclesiales. Primero como un lugar carente de vida y segundo como fuentes de riquezas sobre todo minerales. La fiesta de La Tirana y su vasto peregrinaje ha provocado la sacralización de algunas de sus partes. Lo que era un no-lugar se transformó en un lugar lleno de sentido. La religiosidad popular es como veremos más adelante una inscripción territorial. En términos metodológicos hemos realizado desde hace más de una década de viajes prolongados a esta fiesta, una observación e interpretación desde el punto de vista de los peregrinos. Largas conversaciones, análisis del cancionero religioso, entre otros, constituyen nuestras fuentes empíricas. Concluimos que gracias al peregrinaje el desierto de ser concebido, como algo vacío, se llena de vida.
Psychometrics of Tourism: A (de)Builder of Quality of Life? Evidence from the Model of Happiness in Dominican Republic.
Authors: Puig Cabrera Miguel
Published: February 2021

For small island developing states (SIDS), tourism is often seen as a passport to development and wellbeing. The happiness phenomenon among residents of tourism destinations is usually linked to the concept of quality of life (QoL). The happiness literature suggests that there is a positive correlation between happiness and income of residents in SIDS, but there is not a clear directionality. In this correlation a large impact of non-income factors linked to wellbeing, such as own feelings and attitudes, belonging feeling to a community, identification with cultural and natural heritage, or a fair government that fulfills residents´ needs. Thus, the goal of this research is to uncover the Caribbean model of happiness according to the relationship between tourism and wellbeing in a SIDS. To test this hypothetical-conceptual model of this work, a questionnaire was administered to obtain suitable data for measuring the quality of life based on a total of five constructs and 27 indicators among residents directly involved in the tourism activity. Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Model (PLS-SEM) was the technique used to test this hypothetical conceptual model. This work bring empirical evidence to the happiness literature deepening in the model of wellbeing Dominican Republic characterized by three maxims: 1) the Dominican model of individual happiness is not based on material goods but emotions, and thus, greed is considered a poverty condition among rich people; 2) having more is having more to share with and 3) the public sector continues to be the object of mistrust among Dominican population, without covering their expectations in terms of justice administration or reliability on political leaders, despite perceiving the political environment as stable.
Mallows-Smoothed Distribution over Rankings Approach for Modeling Choice
Authors: Désir Antoine , Goyal Vineet , Jagabathula Srikanth , Segev Danny
Published: February 2021

Mallows-Smoothed Distribution over Rankings Approach for Modeling Choice
Seeing What Others Miss: A Competition Network Lens on Product Innovation
Authors: Thatchenkery Sruthi , Katila Riitta
Published: February 2021

How a firm views its competitors affects its performance. We extend the networks literature to examine how a firm’s positioning in competition networks—networks of perceived competitive relations between firms—relates to a significant organizational outcome, namely, product innovation. We find that when firms position themselves in ways that allow them to see differently than rivals, new product ideas emerge. Simply put, firms with an unusual view of competition are more innovative. We situate our analysis in the U.S. enterprise infrastructure software industry, examining the relationship between the firm’s position in competition networks and its innovation over the period of 1995–2012. Using both archival and in-depth field data, we find that two factors—the focal firm’s spanning of structural holes in the network and the perception of peripheral firms as competitors—are positively associated with its product innovation. At the same time, turnover in firms perceived as competitors has an unexpected negative association with innovation. Overall, the findings suggest that firms benefit when they see the competitive landscape differently than their competitors. The findings also show that what we know about innovation-enhancing positioning in collaboration networks does not necessarily hold in competition networks.
Designing project schedule using crashing method to compress the fiber to the home project schedule
Authors: Anugerah Zha Sha Putri , Pratami Devi , Akbar Mohammad Deni
Published: February 2021

ABC Company is an agent of network construction, operation, and maintenance. ABC Company is currently implementing the STTF (Shit to the Front) project, which is the project to add FTTH (Fiber to the Home) networks in areas that can have high customer demand. One of the STTF project construction sites is the Indra Prahasta II housing location. However, the project is currently experiencing work delays due to the Covid-19 disaster in Indonesia. Delays in project execution can result in potential prospects choosing another company that provides similar services. The project schedule can be accelerated using the crashing method and TCTO (Time Cost Trade-Off) analysis to solve this problem. This research's acceleration will be carried out with alternatives for adding 3 hours, 2 hours, 1 hour, and an alternative to increasing workers' number. This project has an average duration of 55 working days with a total cost of Rp 604,124,460. The results obtained from data processing, on the alternative of adding 1 hour of overtime work, the total duration becomes 54 working days with total project cost is Rp 605,734,138. In addition to 2 hours of overtime work, the project's total duration can be reduced to 54 days with a total project cost Rp 606,803,619. And for the addition of 3 hours overtime, the total duration can be shortened to 54 days with a total cost of Rp 606,803,619. As for increasing the number of workers, project work duration can be shortened to 54 working days with a total project cost Rp 604,556,748
a experiência de pensar conceitos e o filosofar na infância na perspectiva de matthew lipman
Authors: Alves Sandra Dos santos , Muraro Darcísio Natal
Published: February 2021

This research seeks to understand the relationship between philosophy and the formation of concepts in childhood from the perspective of Matthew Lipman. As our own research in the area of philosophy of education, we pose the following question as a problem to be analyzed: how can philosophy contribute to the concept formation process in childhood according to Lipman? The development of this problem was organized in five stages. A first seeks to understand and deepen Lipman's conception of Philosophy for Children, especially the idea of thinking skills and philosophical dialogue in the research community; the second stage consisted of planning philosophical practice with the children at school, in a class with 32 students from the 3rd year of elementary school in a public school in the city of Londrina / PR, in the period of one semester; the third was to carry out the classroom experience with the students and the teacher from the previous stages; the fourth step was the evaluation of the practice and the planning of the following classes after each meeting; and the fifth stage was concerned with the registration, analysis and systematization of the observed. In order to investigate the contribution of philosophy to the concept formation process in childhood, according to Lipman, part of the research methodology was qualitative, analyzing the concepts of philosophy, thinking and the research community of this philosopher. For this, his main works and those of his commentators were consulted. Action research procedures were also employed through the practice of students from Elementary School I, in order to carry out an experience of the analyzed concepts. As a result of the research, it is possible to highlight the fundamental role of Lipman’s Philosophy for Children in the formation of concepts, because, through philosophical practices, the children were more reflective in approaching concepts that in their daily lives could go unnoticed. The work of questioning and dialogue in the research community made it possible to highlight the difficulty of conceptualizing at the beginning of the work, the progress along their approach and the need to seek more in-depth answers. With that, it can be highlighted that the Philosophy classes contributed to such advances and that without them the skills would remain stagnant. This study is added to the philosophical educational movement of teaching philosophy from childhood, which is considered essential for the formation of more reasonable subjects, and most importantly, with the acquisition of skills that will facilitate life in and out of school.
Research Roundup
Authors: Heggs Karen
Published: February 2021

Synopses of a selection of recently published research articles of relevance to palliative care
Becoming a good citizen: non-governmental organisation social work with ‘unaccompanied’ young people in kinship care
Authors: Stephenson Maria Moberg
Published: February 2021

The aim of this article is to examine how establishment in Swedish society is interpreted and what values are considered important from the perspective of a non-governmental organisation mentoring programme, and how the non-governmental organisation’s work towards establishment among ‘unaccompanied’ young people is carried out. The results are based on analysis of the non-governmental organisation’s policy documents, conversations and semi-structured interviews with the employed mentors. Bridget Anderson’s concept of a ‘community of value’ is used to critically analyse the data. The results show how the mentoring programme supports establishment, as well as the importance of mobility within the city and of building networks and knowledge about everyday life in Swedish society, all of which highlight certain values as more important than others for establishment in Sweden. The mentoring work is intended to overcome boundaries but risks reproducing boundaries whereby the young people need to create a belonging based on an idealised notion of ‘Swedishness’.
Health professionals, support workers and the precariat
Authors: Saks Mike , Zagrodney Katherine
Published: February 2021

Following a neo-Weberian theoretical perspective, with reference to neo-Marxist analyses, this chapter considers the position of health support workers in the market in neo-liberal societies – with a particular focus empirically on a cross-country comparison between the United Kingdom and Canada. It discusses the role of health support workers holistically in the context of the wider range of health professionals with whom they work. Health professions themselves have been claimed in recent years to have been deprofessionalised or proletarianised. However, it is argued here that such trends are overstated and there is still typically a large gulf between the working conditions of this group of health professional occupations and those of health support workers. The latter are critically considered in terms of the recent interest in depicting such groups as the new precariat. It is argued that there is little doubt that in the United Kingdom and Canada most health support workers can be described as operating in precarious conditions. Nonetheless, doubts are raised as to whether this group will become the self-conscious and cohesive class as envisaged in neo-Marxist theory. The conclusion to the chapter highlights the policy implications of the analysis in light of current debates.
The interface of health support workers with the allied health professions
Authors: Nancarrow Susan
Published: February 2021

The chapter begins by describing the allied health workforce, before exploring from a neo-Weberian perspective the development of the support workforce associated with the allied health professions with a focus on the United Kingdom and Australia – not least by considering the reasons for introducing a support workforce, the contexts in which it is used, the negotiation of its boundaries, and the challenges and opportunities for allied health professions and its support workforce. In particular, this chapter claims that the heterogeneous allied health support workforce has evolved through two models, with different types of workers. The first is the profession-led model, which supports the neo-Weberian idea of the professional project, in which allied health professions developed support roles to expand and maintain their market monopoly and autonomy in niche areas. The second is the managerial model, which instead privileges the ‘patient-centred’ goals of increasing role flexibility by recognising and rewarding individuals’ skills and competencies and working across traditional professional and organisational boundaries. The chapter finally outlines some of the key challenges to allied health support workforce going forward.
The role of health support workers in the ageing crisis
Authors: Hosoda Miwako
Published: February 2021

Preparing for an adequate support and care system and for health support workers to meet the needs of the elderly in an ageing world is an urgent issue. Japan has a population with the longest life expectancy. Previously family members took care of the elderly and the disabled. However, today care is more often provided by non-family members. As a result, the long-term care insurance system was implemented. Under the system, certain services are provided by qualified professional health care staff as defined in classic neo-Weberian terms. However, to realise an appropriate quality of life for the elderly and disabled, more services are often required. This results in additional services being performed by non-professional health support workers and home helpers, which raises concerns about low-waged female labour and the practice of health and medical care by unqualified persons. However, such personalised care helps bring about a higher quality of life for the elderly and disabled, especially since educational programmes are now being provided. In this chapter, the roles of qualified and non-qualified health support workers are examined and relevant issues and their solutions are explored in a Japanese and wider global context.
Time for Family
Authors: Mullan Killian
Published: February 2021

This chapter investigates the context of children's daily life linked to family, in particular concentrating on the time children spend at home and with parents. Mirroring the stability of time at school over the past several decades, children's waking time at home with their parents on school days changed remarkably little over four decades between 1975 and 2015. Days when children are not at school, in contrast, have witnessed significant changes in the time children are at home with their parents. In 2000, children spent less time at home with parents than children in 1975. The examination of changes in children's activities in context revealed that children in 2000 were spending more time in screen-based activities and substantially more time in domestic activities (primarily shopping) outside the home than children in 1975, the latter of which likely includes time when children are with their parents. Between 2000 and 2015, there was a subsequent reversal of this trend, with a significant increase in the time children spent at home with their parents, which accounts for an overall increase in this period in the time children spend at the same location as their parents. This increase in time at home with parents on non-school days coincides with children spending more time doing activities such as homework, study, and screen-based activities, and less time in active travel and out-of-home play.
Time for Technology
Authors: Mullan Killian
Published: February 2021

This chapter evaluates children's time using technology. Technological change has dramatically altered not only the overall amount of time children spend in screen-based activities, but also the composition of this time. The time children spend watching TV decreased substantially and they are spending more time using computers and playing video games. In addition, children are now spending a substantial amount of time using devices such as smartphones and tablets. Children can use these devices at various locations and during times also spent doing various screen-based and non-screen activities. Children's time using devices appears to have had little impact on the time they spend in other activities, including physical activities. There has been, however, dramatic change in elements of the social context of children's daily lives that may be connected to the time they spend using mobile devices.
Conclusion
Authors: Mullan Killian
Published: February 2021

This concluding chapter surveys the key findings and issues raised in the previous chapters. This study of a child's day provides the most extensive picture currently available in the UK, and elsewhere in the world, into how children's time use has changed over the past several decades. It identifies areas of expected change as well as other areas of surprising stability. It reveals how change and stability in children's time use blend together to comprise a child's day, uncovering also the multi-layered contexts of a child's day. Aspects of children's time use, and how this may have changed, will no doubt continue to surface in public debate in connection with their well-being. While welcoming this, it is necessary to always question and seek to understand how supposed changes actually fit within a child's day, the types of days where these changes are concentrated, among whom, and to seek out evidence on how such changes relate to other activities and the social contexts of daily life.
The Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction: Promoting Implementation Fidelity
Authors: Shogren Karrie A. , Raley Sheida K. , Rifenbark Graham G. , Lane Kathleen Lynne , Bojanek Erin K. , Karpur Arun , Quirk Carol
Published: February 2021

There has been an increased focus on the tenets of implementation science in special education research, namely on the degree to which interventions are implemented as intended (i.e., fidelity of implementation) and factors that influence fidelity of implementation. For complex interventions, such as the Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction (SDLMI), there is an ongoing need to refine conceptualizations of fidelity of implementation and the factors that influence it in inclusive educational contexts. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is two-fold: (1) to describe a framework for conceptualizing fidelity of implementation factors that influence fidelity when evaluating a complex intervention like the SDLMI and (2) to present initial content validity and internal consistency of a new measure designed to assess specific aspects of fidelity of implementation of the SDLMI in inclusive, general education classrooms. Implications and future directions for research in implementation science, special education, and self-determination interventions are described.
Machine-learning informed macro-meteorological models for the near-maritime environment
Authors: Jellen Christopher , Oakley Miles , Nelson Charles , Burkhardt John , Brownell Cody
Published: February 2021

Macro-meteorological models predict optical turbulence as a function of weather data. Existing models often struggle to accurately predict the rapid fluctuations in

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in near-maritime environments. Seven months of

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field measurements were collected along an 890 m scintillometer link over the Severn River in Annapolis, Maryland. This time series was augmented with local meteorological measurements to capture bulk-atmospheric weather measurements. The prediction accuracy of existing macro-meteorological models was analyzed in a range of conditions. Next, machine-learning techniques were applied to train new macro-meteorological models using the measured

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and measured environmental parameters. Finally, the

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predictions generated by the existing macro-meteorological models and new machine-learning informed models were compared for four representative days from the data set. These new models, under most conditions, demonstrated a higher overall

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prediction accuracy, and were better able to track optical turbulence. Further tuning and machine-learning architectural changes could further improve model performance.
Megahertz-rate digital holography system
Authors: Mansoor M. M. , Trolinger J. D. , George J.
Published: February 2021

Given the need for a simple and fieldable diagnostic that can enable
the study of ultrahigh-speed phenomena in three dimensions, this work
presents experiments and simulations to optimize and demonstrate a
digital in-line holography system with an acquisition rate of 1
million frames per second. The system is used to study the collision
of a supersonic projectile and its bow shock with 1 mm diameter water
droplets. The holograms acquired are three-dimensionally reconstructed
and de-twinned to analyze shock wave phenomena in these supersonic
impact events and demonstrate the potential of ultrahigh-speed digital
holography as a robust technique to probe complex shock wave dynamics
and droplet breakup.
Numerical investigation into the output performance of a silicon Raman laser based on a silicon-on-insulator waveguide pumped by 2  µm lasers
Authors: Shao Zhenhua , Li Xuanxi , Wang Haotian , Zhu Heyuan , Shen Deyuan
Published: February 2021

We numerically analyze the characteristics of a mid-infrared continuous-wave (CW) Raman laser in silicon-on-insulator (SOI) photonics circuits including standing-cavity and ring resonator configurations, which are pumped by lasers at 2 µm. The dependence of cascaded Raman laser performance on the cavity length, effective free carrier lifetime, and the power transmission is investigated for the optimization of CW Raman silicon standing-cavity lasers. In addition, the mid-infrared Raman laser in the ring resonator is also presented under different parameters; in particular, the coupling strengths between the bus waveguide and the ring resonator for both the pump and Raman lasers are crucial to the laser performance. The numerical simulation results also reveal that the position of the coupler for extracting the Raman light from the ring resonator plays an important role in optimizing the structures of such Raman lasers.
Diffuser screen with flat-top angular distribution of scattered light realized by a dual-beam holographic speckle
Authors: Yang Chaoxiong , Jiang Haibo , Wang Jinyu , Sun Xiuhui , Yang Zheng , Chen Jianjun , Lv Yongmo , Yin Shaoyun
Published: February 2021

Holographic speckle screens with the Gaussian type distribution of scattered light, which are used to increase the viewing angle of the image in projection display systems, result in nonuniform image brightness in different observing positions. In this study, based on Helmholtz-Kirchhoff theory, a dual-beam scattering theory of rough surface is derived. By analyzing the spatial frequency spectrum of the scattered light, it is found that when two laser beams irradiated the ground glass at a certain angle, the resulting speckles recorded on the photoresist can generate a flat-top angular distribution of the scattered light. Speckle screens are fabricated by two light beams at different angles, and the angular intensity distribution of scattered light is measured. The results are in good agreement with the theory. Compared with the Gaussian type diffuser, the energy efficiency of the speckle screen proposed has a 46% increase when the angular luminance uniformity is set to be 80%, which effectively improves the brightness when used in a head up display system.
Hippocampal transcriptome-wide association study and neurobiological pathway analysis for Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Liu Nana , Xu Jiayuan , Liu Huaigui , Zhang Shijie , Li Miaoxin , Zhou Yao , Qin Wen , Li Mulin Jun , Yu Chunshui ,   for the Alzheimer’s disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: February 2021

Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified multiple susceptibility loci for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which is characterized by early and progressive damage to the hippocampus. However, the association of hippocampal gene expression with AD and the underlying neurobiological pathways remain largely unknown. Based on the genomic and transcriptomic data of 111 hippocampal samples and the summary data of two large-scale meta-analyses of GWASs, a transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) was performed to identify genes with significant associations between hippocampal expression and AD. We identified 54 significantly associated genes using an AD-GWAS meta-analysis of 455,258 individuals; 36 of the genes were confirmed in another AD-GWAS meta-analysis of 63,926 individuals. Fine-mapping models further prioritized 24 AD-related genes whose effects on AD were mediated by hippocampal expression, including APOE and two novel genes (PTPN9 and PCDHA4). These genes are functionally related to amyloid-beta formation, phosphorylation/dephosphorylation, neuronal apoptosis, neurogenesis and telomerase-related processes. By integrating the predicted hippocampal expression and neuroimaging data, we found that the hippocampal expression of QPCTL and ERCC2 showed significant difference between AD patients and cognitively normal elderly individuals as well as correlated with hippocampal volume. Mediation analysis further demonstrated that hippocampal volume mediated the effect of hippocampal gene expression (QPCTL and ERCC2) on AD. This study identifies two novel genes associated with AD by integrating hippocampal gene expression and genome-wide association data and reveals candidate hippocampus-mediated neurobiological pathways from gene expression to AD.
Gaussian smoothing and modified histogram normalization methods to improve neural-biomarker interpretations for dyslexia classification mechanism
Authors: Usman Opeyemi Lateef , Muniyandi Ravie Chandren , Omar Khairuddin , Mohamad Mazlyfarina
Published: February 2021

Achieving biologically interpretable neural-biomarkers and features from neuroimaging datasets is a challenging task in an MRI-based dyslexia study. This challenge becomes more pronounced when the needed MRI datasets are collected from multiple heterogeneous sources with inconsistent scanner settings. This study presents a method of improving the biological interpretation of dyslexia’s neural-biomarkers from MRI datasets sourced from publicly available open databases. The proposed system utilized a modified histogram normalization (MHN) method to improve dyslexia neural-biomarker interpretations by mapping the pixels’ intensities of low-quality input neuroimages to range between the low-intensity region of interest (ROIlow) and high-intensity region of interest (ROIhigh) of the high-quality image. This was achieved after initial image smoothing using the Gaussian filter method with an isotropic kernel of size 4mm. The performance of the proposed smoothing and normalization methods was evaluated based on three image post-processing experiments: ROI segmentation, gray matter (GM) tissues volume estimations, and deep learning (DL) classifications using Computational Anatomy Toolbox (CAT12) and pre-trained models in a MATLAB working environment. The three experiments were preceded by some pre-processing tasks such as image resizing, labelling, patching, and non-rigid registration. Our results showed that the best smoothing was achieved at a scale value, σ = 1.25 with a 0.9% increment in the peak-signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR). Results from the three image post-processing experiments confirmed the efficacy of the proposed methods. Evidence emanating from our analysis showed that using the proposed MHN and Gaussian smoothing methods can improve comparability of image features and neural-biomarkers of dyslexia with a statistically significantly high disc similarity coefficient (DSC) index, low mean square error (MSE), and improved tissue volume estimations. After 10 repeated 10-fold cross-validation, the highest accuracy achieved by DL models is 94.7% at a 95% confidence interval (CI) level. Finally, our finding confirmed that the proposed MHN method significantly outperformed the normalization method of the state-of-the-art histogram matching.