bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Minding the adolescent in family-based inpatient treatment for anorexia nervosa: a qualitative study of former inpatients’ views on treatment collaboration and staff behaviors
Authors: Nilsen Jan-Vegard , Hage Trine Wiig , Rø Øyvind , Halvorsen Inger , Oddli Hanne Weie
Published: November 2019

Background

For some young persons diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, treatment will inevitably involve phases where hospitalization is required. Inspired by the encouraging evidence-base for outpatient family-based treatment for adolescent anorexia nervosa, clinicians and program developers have started to incorporate outpatient family-based treatment principles into higher levels of care. During family-based inpatient treatment, collaborative efforts are largely directed toward the parents of the adolescent. Consequently, the therapeutic focus on the young person is more of an indirect one. With this study we aimed to understand how young persons with lived experience from a family-based inpatient treatment setting, where the adolescents were admitted together with their parents, viewed therapeutic aspects related to staff-patient collaboration and staff-related behaviors.

Methods

Thirty-seven semi-structured interviews of former adolescent inpatients were conducted. Participants’ post-treatment reflections were inductively analyzed by applying a thematic analytic framework.

Results

Based upon user perspectives from a treatment setting highly influenced by a family therapeutic approach, findings revealed that former inpatients prefer tailored treatment and a collaborative approach. Eight subthemes constituting two main themes emerged: 1)There are no ready-made solutions. Staff should facilitate collaboration by tailoring treatment toward the young person’s perspectives, and 2) Emphasizing skills that matter. Staff should display a non-judgmental stance, educate patients, stimulate motivation, enable activities and prevent iatrogenic effects during the stay.

Conclusions

This study adds valuable user perspectives to the ongoing work with adapting family-based frameworks into higher levels of care. Clinicians could benefit from viewing their practice from the standpoint of the young person’s post-treatment reflections. From their unique perspectives as having lived experience and hence, “insider knowledge” with a specific treatment situation, clinicians are reminded of the importance of being mindful on the young persons’ views.
Reply to comment by Vallée et al. on “Earthquake-induced prompt gravity signals identified in dense array data in Japan”
Authors: Kimura Masaya , Kame Nobuki , Watada Shingo , Ohtani Makiko , Araya Akito , Imanishi Yuichi , Ando Masaki , Kunugi Takashi
Published: November 2019

Density perturbations accompanying seismic waves are expected to generate prompt gravity perturbations preceding the arrival of P-waves. Vallée et al. (Science 358:1164–1168, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aao0746) reported the detection of such pre-P-wave signals in broadband seismograms during the 2011 Tohoku-oki earthquake. Kimura et al. (Earth Planets Space 71:27, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-019-1006-x) considered that their detection involved some uncertain points, including a concern regarding their signal processing procedure. Specifically, to remove the instrumental response, Vallée et al. (2017) applied acausal deconvolution to the seismograms truncated at the P-wave arrivals. Generally, acausal deconvolution produces artifacts at the edge of the time window. However, they did not present quantitative assessment whether the detected signals were artifacts due to the signal processing. To avoid this concern, Kimura et al. (2019) employed another procedure that eliminated acausal processes, resulting in the detection of a pre-P-wave signal with a statistical significance of 7σ in stacked broadband seismograms. Subsequently, Vallée et al. (Earth Planets Space 71:51, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1186/s40623-019-1030-x) commented that the procedure employed by Kimura et al. (2019) for the signal detection was inappropriate because it dismissed the low-frequency components of data. Although we admit the loss of low-frequency components in the data in Kimura et al. (2019), Vallée et al. (2019) have not yet provided a full account of the validity of their own procedure. Here, we assessed the validity of the procedure employed by Vallée et al. (2017) by quantitatively evaluating the magnitude of the acausal artifacts. First, we investigated how the input acceleration waveform, having an ideal signal-like shape, was distorted by their procedure. Their acausal deconvolution indeed generated a large-amplitude terminal artifact; however, it was removed by the causal band-pass filtering performed after the deconvolution and consequently became negligible. Next, we constrained the maximum amplitude of the artifact due to the noise in a seismogram and showed that it was sufficiently small compared to the reported signal amplitudes. These results suggest that the signal waveforms seen after their procedure were not artifacts but were representing the input acceleration with sufficient accuracy. Namely, their procedure well functions as a detection method for pre-P-wave signals. In the context of this validation, we replied to the comments of Vallée et al. (2019).
Surface deformation of Asama volcano, Japan, detected by time series InSAR combining persistent and distributed scatterers, 2014‒2018
Authors: Wang Xiaowen , Aoki Yosuke , Chen Jie
Published: November 2019

Asama volcano is one of the most active volcanoes in Japan. Spatially dense surface deformation at Asama volcano has rarely been documented because of its high topography and snow cover around the summit. This study presents the first interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) observation of ground deformation at Asama volcano with 120 Sentinel-1 SAR images from both ascending and descending tracks and 20 descending ALOS-2 images acquired between 2014 and 2018. We exploited both persistent and distributed scatterers to overcome decorrelation of SAR signals and applied a three-dimensional unwrapping method to retrieve the displacement time series efficiently. Our observations reveal an asymmetric deformation around the volcano with two main deformation regions on the northeast and southeast flanks, respectively. The northeast flank (NEF) exhibits line-of-sight (LOS) extensions in all the three SAR datasets with maximum velocities of − 14, − 10, and − 12 mm/year for the descending ALOS-2, ascending, and descending Sentinel-1 measurements, respectively. The southeast flank (SEF) shows LOS extensions in the ascending observations and LOS shortening in the descending observations with velocities between − 12 and 9 mm/year. Decomposition of the LOS displacements reveals nearly pure subsidence at the NEF, while the SEF exhibits a substantial eastward component as well as subsidence. Comparisons of the vertical subsidence at two continuous GNSS stations near the summit crater with our InSAR observations indicate small discrepancies smaller than 4 mm/year. We interpreted that the subsidence at the NEF of Asama is primarily due to the hydrothermal activity, while the deformation at SEF is plausibly due to flank instability. We highlight that efforts should be taken to monitor the slope instability at Asama volcano in the future.
A review of the protection for the multi-terminal VSC-HVDC grid
Authors: Li Bin , He Jiawei , Li Ye , Li Botong
Published: November 2019

The multi-terminal VSC-HVDC grid is believed to be widely applied in the future power system. The dc line protection is the key technique for operation security and power supply reliability of the dc grid. In this paper, the single-ended protections, namely, the traveling-wave based protection and transient-variable based protection, as well as the pilot protections, mainly including the directional pilot protection and current differential protection, are discussed in detail. With the analyzed protections, the effective main and back-up protection strategy can be configured for the dc line in multi-terminal VSC-HVDC grid.
Capital inflows, exchange rate and agricultural output in Nigeria
Authors: Ikpesu Fredrick , Okpe Abraham Emmanuel
Published: November 2019

The study applied the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) technique in investigating the effect of capital inflows and exchange rate on agricultural output in Nigeria between the periods 1981 and 2016. The technique was selected because the variables are integrated at both 1(1) and 1(0) and the sample size is considerably small. Variables used in the study are agricultural output (AO), private capital inflow (PRCI), public capital inflow (PUBCI), investment (INV), labor (L) and real effective exchange rate. Findings from the empirical research revealed that the variables are cointegrated. The research outcome also indicates that in the short run and long run, private capital inflow and public capital inflow positively affect the country agricultural output. The study also revealed that exchange rate depreciation would cause agricultural output to decline in the short and long run. Based on the research findings, it is recommended that the government should create an enabling and conducive environment to attract more inflows of foreign capital into the country to boost the agricultural output. Also, monetary authority should ensure the stability of the country’s exchange rate (Naira) since exchange rate depreciation affects agricultural output negatively. Furthermore, there is the need for the harmonization of foreign capital inflow policy and monetary policy by the government, taking into consideration the optimal level of capital inflow that will not have a detrimental effect on exchange rate so as to ensure sustainable growth in agricultural output.
Dimensional anhedonia and the adolescent brain: reward and aversion anticipation, effort and consummation
Authors: Rzepa Ewelina , McCabe Ciara
Published: November 2019

Background

Given the heterogeneity of depression the Research Domain Criteria Framework suggests a dimensional approach to understanding the nature of mental illness. Neural reward function has been suggested as underpinning the symptom of anhedonia in depression but how anhedonia is related to aversion processing is unclear.

Aims

To assess how the dimensional experience of anhedonia and depression severity relate to reward and aversion processing in the human brain.

Method

We examined adolescents and emerging adults (n = 84) in the age range 13–21 years. Using a dimensional approach we examined how anhedonia and depression related to physical effort to gain reward or avoid aversion and neural activity during the anticipation, motivation/effort and consummation of reward and aversion.

Results

As anhedonia increased physical effort to gain reward decreased. As anhedonia increased neural activity decreased during effort to avoid in the precuneus and insula (trend) and increased in the caudate during aversive consummation. We found participants with depression symptoms invested less physical effort than controls and had blunted neural anticipation of reward and aversion in the precuneus, insula and prefrontal cortex and blunted neural activity during effort for reward in the putamen.

Conclusions

We show for the first time that both physical effort and neural activity during effort correlate with anhedonia in adolescents and that amotivation might be a specific deficit of anhedonia irrespective of valence. Future work will assess if these neural mechanisms can be used to predict blunted approach and avoidance in adolescents at risk of depression.
Phase II Open-Label Study of Pembrolizumab in Treatment-Refractory, Microsatellite Instability–High/Mismatch Repair–Deficient Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: KEYNOTE-164
Authors: Le Dung T. , Kim Tae Won , Van Cutsem Eric , Geva Ravit , Jäger Dirk , Hara Hiroki , Burge Matthew , O’Neil Bert , Kavan Petr , Yoshino Takayuki , Guimbaud Rosine , Taniguchi Hiroya , Elez Elena , Al-Batran Salah-Eddin , Boland Patrick M. , Crocenzi Todd , Atreya Chloe E. , Cui Yi , Dai Tong , Marinello Patricia , Diaz Jr Luis A. , André Thierry
Published: November 2019

PURPOSE

KEYNOTE-164 (NCT02460198) evaluated the antitumor activity of pembrolizumab in previously treated, metastatic, microsatellite instability–high/mismatch repair–deficient (MSI-H/dMMR) colorectal cancer (CRC).

METHODS

This phase II open-label study involved 128 centers worldwide. Eligible patients were age ≥ 18 years and had metastatic MSI-H/dMMR CRC treated with ≥ 2 prior lines of standard therapy, including fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan with or without anti–vascular endothelial growth factor/epidermal growth factor receptor monoclonal antibody (cohort A) or ≥ 1 prior line of therapy (cohort B). MSI-H/dMMR status was assessed locally. Patients received pembrolizumab 200 mg every 3 weeks for up to 2 years until progression, unacceptable toxicity, or withdrawal. The primary end point was objective response rate by RECIST version 1.1 by independent central review. Secondary end points were duration of response, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival, safety, and tolerability.

RESULTS

A total of 124 patients with MSI-H/dMMR CRC (61 in cohort A, 63 in cohort B) enrolled. At data cutoff, median follow-up was 31.3 months (range, 0.2-35.6 months) for cohort A and 24.2 months (range, 0.1-27.1 months) for cohort B. Objective response rate was 33% (95% CI, 21% to 46%) and 33% (95% CI, 22% to 46%), respectively, with median duration of response not reached in either cohort. Median PFS was 2.3 months (95% CI, 2.1 to 8.1 months) and 4.1 months (95% CI, 2.1 to 18.9 months). Median overall survival was 31.4 months (95% CI, 21.4 months to not reached) and not reached (95% CI, 19.2 months to not reached). Treatment-related grade 3-4 adverse events occurred in 10 patients (16%) in cohort A and 8 (13%) in cohort B, with the most common occurring in ≥ 2 patients being pancreatitis, fatigue, increased alanine aminotransferase, and increased lipase (2 patients each; 3%) in cohort A.

CONCLUSION

Pembrolizumab is effective with a manageable safety profile in patients with MSI-H/dMMR CRC.
Disparate responses to salinity across species and organizational levels in anchialine shrimps
Authors: Havird Justin C. , Meyer Eli , Fujita Yoshihisa , Vaught Rebecca C. , Henry Raymond P. , Santos Scott R.
Published: November 2019

Environmentally-induced plasticity in gene expression is one of the underlying mechanisms of adaptation to habitats with variable environments. For example, euryhaline crustaceans show predictable changes in the expression of ion-transporter genes during salinity transfers, although studies have typically been limited to specific genes, taxa, and ecosystems of interest. Here, we investigated responses to salinity change at multiple organizational levels in five species of shrimps representing at least three independent invasions of the anchialine ecosystem, defined as habitats with marine and freshwater influences with spatial and temporal fluctuations in salinity. Although all five species were generally strong osmoregulators, salinity-induced changes in gill physiology and gene expression were highly species-specific. While some species exhibited patterns similar to previously studied euryhaline crustaceans, instances of distinct and atypical patterns were recovered from closely related species. Species-specific patterns were found when examining: 1) numbers and identities of differentially expressed genes, 2) salinity-induced expression of genes predicted a priori to play a role in osmoregulation, and 3) salinity-induced expression of orthologs shared among all species. Notably, ion transport genes were unchanged in the atyid Halocaridina rubra while ones normally associated with vision and light perception were among those most highly upregulated. Potential reasons for species-specific patterns are discussed, including variation among anchialine habitats in salinity regimes and divergent evolution in anchialine taxa. Underexplored mechanisms of osmoregulation in crustaceans revealed here by the application of transcriptomic approaches to ecologically and taxonomically understudied systems are also explored.
Photoresponses in the radiolar eyes of the fan worm, Acromegalomma vesiculosum (Montagu)
Authors: Bok Michael J. , Nilsson Dan-Eric , Garm Anders
Published: November 2019

Fan worms (Annelida: Sabellidae) possess compound eyes and other photoreceptors on their radiolar feeding tentacles. These eyes putatively serve as an alarm system that alerts the worm to encroaching threats, eliciting a rapid defensive retraction into their protective tube. The structure and independent evolutionary derivation of these radiolar eyes make them a fascinating target for exploring the emergence of new sensory systems and visually guided behaviours. However, little is known about their physiology and how this impacts their function. Here we present electroretinogram recordings from the radiolar eyes of the fan worm Acromegalomma vesiculosum (Montagu, 1813). We examine their spectral sensitivity along with their dynamic range and temporal resolution. Our results show that they possess one class of photoreceptors with a single visual pigment peaking in the blue-green part of the spectrum around 510 nm, which matches the dominant wavelengths in their shallow coastal habitats. We found the eyes to have a rather high temporal resolution with a critical flicker fusion frequency around 35 Hz. The high temporal resolution of this response is ideally suited for detecting rapidly moving predators but also necessitates downstream signal processing to filter out caustic wave flicker. This study provides a fundamental understanding of how these eyes function. Furthermore, these findings emphasise a set of dynamic physiological principles that are well-suited for governing a multi-eyed startle response in coastal aquatic habitats.
Reeling in the prey: Fishing behaviour in an orb web spider
Authors: Rao Dinesh , Tapia-McClung Horacio , Narendra Ajay
Published: November 2019

When an insect is intercepted by a spider web, spiders quickly locate the prey, and run towards it. Once they make contact with the prey, they immobilise the prey and retrieve it to the centre of the web or the retreat for consumption. However, in rare circumstances, the spider can also pull the prey towards itself either while running to the prey or from a stationary position, a behaviour termed as ‘reeling’. Reeling is paradoxical since it can lead to web deformation or damage, thereby jeopardising future foraging success. Reeling may lead to increased retention time for heavier prey or for information acquisition with respect to the prey's identity, especially when these prey can cause damage to either the web or the spider itself. We explored the function of reeling behaviour in a neotropical orb web spider Verrucosa arenata. We show that spiders performed reeling behaviour irrespective whether they were approaching heavy or light prey, but they changed their trajectories of approach. Spiders approached heavier prey slower than light prey and they showed significantly higher frequencies of changes in velocities. We discuss these findings in the context of prey capture strategies and prey recognition.
Cancer in Kenya: types and infection-attributable. Data from the adult population of two National referral hospitals (2008-2012)
Authors: Macharia Lucy Wanjiku , Mureithi Marianne Wanjiru , Anzala Omu
Published: November 2019

Background: Cancer in Africa is an emerging health problem. In Kenya it ranks third as a cause of death after infectious and cardiovascular diseases. Nearly 31% of the total cancer burden in sub-Saharan Africa is attributable to infectious agents. Information on cancer burden is scanty in Kenya and this study aimed to provide comprehensive hospital based data to inform policies.

Method: A cross-sectional retrospective survey was conducted at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH) from January 2008 to December 2012.  Data was obtained from the patients files and the study was approved by the KNH/University of Nairobi and MTRH Ethics and Research Committees.  

Results: In KNH, the top five cancers were: cervical (62, 12.4%), breast (59, 11.8%), colorectal (31, 6.2%), chronic leukemia (27, 5.4%) and stomach cancer (26, 5.2%). Some 154 (30.8%) of these cancers were associated with infectious agents, while an estimated 138 (27.6%) were attributable to infections. Cancers of the cervix (62, 12.4%), stomach (26, 5.2%) and nasopharynx (17, 3.4%) were the commonest infection-associated cancers. In MTRH, the five common types of cancers were Kaposi’s sarcoma (93, 18.6%), breast (77, 15.4%), cervical (41, 8.2%), non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (37, 7.4%) and colorectal, chronic leukemia and esophageal cancer all with 27 (5.4%). Some 241 (48.2%) of these cancers were associated with infectious agents, while an estimated 222 (44.4%) were attributable to infections. Kaposi’s sarcoma (93, 18.6%), cancer of the cervix (41, 8.2%) and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (37, 7.4%) were the commonest infection-associated cancers.

Conclusion: Our results suggest that 30.8% and 48.2% of the total cancer cases sampled in KNH and MTRH respectively were associated with infectious agents, while 27.6% and 44.4% were attributable to infections in the two hospitals respectively. Reducing the burden of infection-attributable cancers can translate to a reduction of the overall cancer burden.
Humanistic burden and economic impact of heart failure – a systematic review of the literature
Authors: Giles Lucia , Freeman Caroline , Field Polly , Sörstadius Elisabeth , Kartman Bernt
Published: November 2019

Background: Heart failure (HF) is increasing in prevalence worldwide. This systematic review was conducted to inform understanding of its humanistic and economic burden.

Methods: Electronic databases (Embase, MEDLINE®, and Cochrane Library) were searched in May 2017. Data were extracted from studies reporting health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in 200 patients or more (published 2007–2017), or costs and resource use in 100 patients or more (published 2012–2017). Relevant HRQoL studies were those that used the 12- or 36-item Short-Form Health Surveys, EuroQol Group 5-dimensions measure of health status, Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire or Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire.

Results: In total, 124 studies were identified: 54 for HRQoL and 71 for costs and resource use (Europe: 25/15; North America: 24/50; rest of world/multinational: 5/6). Overall, individuals with HF reported worse HRQoL than the general population and patients with other chronic diseases. Some evidence identified supports a correlation between increasing disease severity and worse HRQoL. Patients with HF incurred higher costs and resource use than the general population and patients with other chronic conditions. Inpatient care and hospitalizations were identified as major cost drivers in HF.

Conclusions: Our findings indicate that patients with HF experience worse HRQoL and incur higher costs than individuals without HF or patients with other chronic diseases. Early treatment of HF and careful disease management to slow progression and to limit the requirement for hospital admission are likely to reduce both the humanistic burden and economic impact of HF.
Controlled Human Malaria Infection in Semi-Immune Kenyan Adults (CHMI-SIKA): a study protocol to investigate in vivo Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasite growth in the context of pre-existing immunity
Authors: Kapulu Melissa C. , Njuguna Patricia , Hamaluba Mainga M. ,   CHMI-SIKA Study Team
Published: November 2019

Malaria remains a major public health burden despite approval for implementation of a partially effective pre-erythrocytic malaria vaccine. There is an urgent need to accelerate development of a more effective multi-stage vaccine. Adults in malaria endemic areas may have substantial immunity provided by responses to the blood stages of malaria parasites, but field trials conducted on several blood-stage vaccines have not shown high levels of efficacy.  We will use the controlled human malaria infection (CHMI) models with malaria-exposed volunteers to identify correlations between immune responses and parasite growth rates in vivo.  Immune responses more strongly associated with control of parasite growth should be prioritized to accelerate malaria vaccine development. We aim to recruit up to 200 healthy adult volunteers from areas of differing malaria transmission in Kenya, and after confirming their health status through clinical examination and routine haematology and biochemistry, we will comprehensively characterize immunity to malaria using >100 blood-stage antigens. We will administer 3,200 aseptic, purified, cryopreserved Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites (PfSPZ Challenge) by direct venous inoculation. Serial quantitative polymerase chain reaction to measure parasite growth rate in vivo will be undertaken. Clinical and laboratory monitoring will be undertaken to ensure volunteer safety. In addition, we will also explore the perceptions and experiences of volunteers and other stakeholders in participating in a malaria volunteer infection study. Serum, plasma, peripheral blood mononuclear cells and whole blood will be stored to allow a comprehensive assessment of adaptive and innate host immunity. We will use CHMI in semi-immune adult volunteers to relate parasite growth outcomes with antibody responses and other markers of host immunity.

Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02739763.
Investigating the Validity and Reliability of Survey Attitude towards Statistics Instrument among Rural Secondary School Students
Authors: Saidi Siti Shahirah , Siew Nyet Moi
Published: November 2019

Positive attitude towards statistics is a desirable aspect in developing statistical thinking and understanding statistical concept. The attitude towards statistics instrument in previous study on rural school students lacked evidence in the validity analysis. Therefore, there is a need to provide a valid instrument that can assess rural secondary school students’ attitude toward statistics. For this purpose, this study was carried out to investigate the validity and reliability analysis of the Survey Attitude towards Statistics (SATS-36) instrument from a sample of rural secondary school students. The SATS-36 is a 7-point Likert type scale questionnaire, used to measure students’ attitude towards statistics. The SATS-36 instrument was distributed to 217 Tenth grade science stream students from a rural district in Sabah, Malaysia, which comprised of 66 (30.4%) boys and 151 (69.6%) girls. A second order Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was carried out to analyze the validity of the SATS-36 instrument as well as to confirm the 6-factor model of SATS-36. The reliability of SATS-36 instrument was assessed through the Cronbach’s Alpha value. Overall, the analysis showed that the SATS-36 instrument shows favorable indices for both its validity and reliability. Thus, it can be concluded that the SATS-36 was a valid and reliable instrument for measuring students’ attitude towards statistics among rural science stream secondary school students.
Policy on Teacher Employment Model in Turkey: Contracted Teachers
Authors: Topsakal Cem
Published: November 2019

The aim this qualitative study is to determine current situation of policy on teacher employment model in Turkey from the perspectives of contracted teachers. The sample of the study consisted of 24 forms and branch teachers who were determined with the method of convenience sampling. The inclusion criterion for the sample was being contracted teachers who were employed in the provinces of Erzurum and Sanliurfa in Turkey in the academic year of 2017-2018. The data of the study was collected by using a semi-structured interview form consisting of open-ended questions. The data was analyzed by using the qualitative research method of content analysis. The findings of the study were discussed under the themes of the objective of contracted teaching, its negative aspects, and the future of the practice and solution recommendations. According to the results of the study, the vast majority of the participants were aware of the objectives of the practice of contracted teaching. The participants thought that the practice provided continuity in instruction-teaching and teachers at the schools they were appointed to. The vast majority of the participants were of the opinion that the practice of contracted teaching led to status discrimination as tenured-contracted teachers, and this reduced their motivations and organizational commitment. They stated that this practice carried negative aspects in terms of postgraduate education and being prospective teachers.
Los procesos participativos en aprendizaje-servicio
Authors: Folgueiras Bertomeu Pilar , Gezuraga Monike , Aramburuzabala Higuera Pilar
Published: November 2019

INTRODUCCIÓN. El presente estudio se centra en los procesos participativos (tipologías, niveles, condicionantes, etc.) de estudiantes universitarios que participan en proyectos de aprendizaje-servicio. El objetivo general es analizar el ejercicio de participación de los estudiantes universitarios que realizan actividades de aprendizaje-servicio. MÉTODO. Para alcanzar esta meta se ha empleado la metodología cualitativa. Los informantes han sido los estudiantes, el profesorado y representantes de entidades sociales. Las técnicas de recogida de información han sido la entrevista en profundidad (al profesorado y a representantes de entidades sociales) y el grupo de discusión (con estudiantes). La técnica de análisis de la información recogida ha sido el análisis de contenido y se ha utilizado la estrategia de la triangulación de técnicas y de informantes. RESULTADOS. Los resultados y la discusión se han organizado en torno a las siguientes dimensiones y subdimensiones: maneras de entender la participación; niveles de participación (participación simple, participación consultiva, participación proyectiva, metaparticipación); condicionantes de la participación de los estudiantes (características de los estudiantes, características de los proyectos, falta de apoyo institucional, comprensión de la metodología, tiempo/distancia, seguimiento, implicación de los otros y tipología de estudios). Entre los resultados destaca que la mayoría de los estudiantes se implica —aunque desde diferentes niveles y momentos— en los proyectos de aprendizaje-servicio seleccionados. DISCUSIÓN. Con respecto a la discusión, destacan los aportes teóricos en torno a las maneras de incrementar y mejorar la participación de los estudiantes en los
Design of a pre-service teacher training unit to promote scientific practices. Is a chickpea a living being?
Authors: Martínez-Chico  Maria , Jiménez-Liso  Maria Rut , Evagorou Maria
Published: November 2019

In this paper, we present the design of a teacher training sequence, emphasizing supporting pre-service teachers to reflect on their knowledge, skills, and emotions experienced when engaging in scientific practices. We consider such reflections being crucial in initial teacher training because they can make pre-service teachers aware of the cognitive, procedural and emotional process that their students are bound to experience in the class. The importance of this work lies in the fact that emotions, even though important, are relatively underexplored. Furthermore, the way the sequence is developed can be used with students, both to promote scientific practices and explore their emotions, to give evidence to pre-service teachers of the effectiveness of this, and make them reflect on how scientific practices work, and the advantages of learning science implementing scientific practices.
Design Challenges for Science Games:
Authors: Anupam Aditya , Gupta Ridhima , Gupta Shubhangi , Li Zhendong , Hong Nora , Naeemi Azad , Parvin Nassim
Published: November 2019

The abstract nature of quantum mechanics makes it difficult to visualize. This is one of the reasons it is taught in the language of mathematics. Without an opportunity to directly observe or interact with quantum phenomena, students struggle to develop conceptual understandings of its theories and formulas. In this paper we present the process of designing a digital game that supplements introductory quantum mechanics curricula. We present our design process anchored on three key challenges: 1) drawing upon students’ past experiences and knowledge of classical mechanics while at the same time helping them break free of it to understand the unique qualities and characteristics of quantum mechanics; 2) creating an environment that is accurate in its depiction of the mathematical formulations of quantum mechanics while also playful and engaging for students; and 3) developing characters that are relatable to players but also do not reinforce gender stereotypes. Our design process can serve as a useful resource for educational game designers by providing a model for addressing these challenges.
Anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic, and antioxidant activities of Haloxylon salicornicum aqueous fraction
Authors: Ullah Riaz , Alsaid Mansour S. , Alqahtani Ali S. , Shahat Abdelaaty A. , Naser Almoqbil A. , Mahmood Hafiz Majid , Ahamad Syed Rizwan , Al-Mishari Abdullah A. , Ahmad Shabir
Published: November 2019

The medicinal plantHaloxylon salicornicumis utilized for therapeutic purposes. We previously reported the antioxidant potential of hexane fraction and methanol extracts of the same species. However, since these solvents could be clinically toxic, the current findings investigated the pharmacological effects of the water fraction. The pain relieving, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic potential ofH. salicornicumwater extract (HEW) were studied at two concentrations (250 and 500 mg/kg) in rodents. The carrageenan stimulated rat paw edema assay was exercised to assess anti inflammatory potential in rats; yeast-stimulated hyperthermia was utilized to test antipyretic activity in mice; analgesic properties were assessed based on acetic acid-induced writhing, tail flicking, and hot-plate test; and antioxidant potential was examined with the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay. We found that 500 mg/kg HEW inhibited edema by 44.03%. Yeast-induced hyperthermia in mice was reduced by 250 and 500 mg/kg HEW after 30, 60, and 120 min with significant level of (P < 0.001) compared to rectal temperature of yeast administered group. The high dose of HEW (500 mg/kg) improved the reaction time of mice in the hot-plate test from 6.66 ± 0.33 to 11.33 ± 0.49 s after 120 min. In the acetic acid-stimulated writhing test, 250 and 500 mg/kg HEW decreased writhing by 32.71% and 51.40%, respectively, after 20 min. HEW also showed antioxidant effects. These results demonstrate that HEW is bioactive and has therapeutic potential for treating a variety of ailments.
Human health risk assessment of potential toxic elements in paddy soil and rice (Oryza sativa) from Ugbawka fields, Enugu, Nigeria
Authors: Ezeofor Chidinma C. , Ihedioha Janefrances N. , T.Ujam Oguejiofo , Ekere Nwachukwu R. , Nwuche Charles O.
Published: November 2019

The potential toxic elements (Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, Fe, Cr, Cd, Mn and Hg) were accumulated from rice grains and soil from an Ugbawka farm, Enugu State, Nigeria, which were determined to evaluate the potential health risk to rice consumers. The mean levels of metals found in soil (mg/kg) were as follows: Ni (0.57±0.24), Pb (2.44±0.17), Zn (3.35±2.05), Cu (0.71±0.33), Mn (37.72±10.97), Fe (13 856.6±31.43), Cr (2.51±0.98), Cd (0.51±1.36), and Hg (0.02±0.38); however metals found in rice grains (mg/ kg) were: Ni (0.81±0.72), Pb (0.94±0.70), Zn (8.22±2.97), Cu (0.59±0.42), Mn (13.30±4.56), Fe (13.28±0.73), Cr (15.00±10.00), Cd (0.36±0.07), and Hg (0.002±0.23). A small percentage (2.5%) of the soil samples were above the Chinese Maximum Allowable Concentration for cadmium in soil while cadmium and lead levels in the rice grains were above WHO permissible limit. Pearson’s correlations showed significant correlations amongst some metal pairs in soil and grains showing similarity in origin. The estimated daily intake of Pb was higher than the safety levels given by JECFA. Hazard Quotient for Pb and Total Hazard Index of all the metals were above one. This indicates possible potential health risk and adverse effect resulting from consumption of rice from Ugbawka farm.
Forschungsdatenmanagement schulen – ein Train-the-Trainer Programm zur Kompetenzvermittlung
Authors: Biernacka Katarzyna , Helbig Kerstin , Buchholz Petra , Dolzycka Dominika
Published: November 2019

Forschungsdatenmanagement bedarf in den kommenden Jahren einer Vielzahl an qualifiziertem Personal, um Aufgaben in Instituten, Forschungsprojekten und im Rahmen der zu schaffenden Nationalen Forschungsdateninfrastruktur zu erfüllen. Im Hinblick auf fehlende Aus- und Fortbildungswege zum entsprechenden Kompetenzerwerb erscheint ein Fachkräftemangel kaum vermeidbar. Um Forschende und Infrastrukturpersonal schnell und umfassend für die Wissensvermittlung zu qualifizieren, wurde im Rahmen des Projekts FDMentor ein Train-the-Trainer Programm entwickelt.
Persistent homeothermy in large domestic mammals maintained under standard farming conditions
Authors: Piccione Giuseppe , Giannetto Claudia , Giudice Elisabetta , Refinetti Roberto
Published: November 2019

Background

Mammals, particularly large domestic ones, are considered to be year-round homeotherms. Surprisingly, however, very few long-term studies of the stability of core temperature of large domestic mammals have been conducted.

Methods

We monitored the auricular temperature and rectal temperature of goats, sheep, cows, and donkeys monthly for 2 years and compared their annual variation with their daily and day-to-day variations.

Results

Although ambient temperature varied from 8 °C in the winter to 30 °C in the summer, auricular temperature varied less than 0.5 °C, and rectal temperature varied less than 0.3 °C. We found that the daily oscillation in body temperature was up to three times as large as the day-to-day and month-to-month variations and that month-to-month variation was negligibly larger than day-to-day variation.

Conclusion

Our results confirm persistent homeothermy in large domestic mammals with unrestricted access to food and water and provide a quantitative measure of the relationship between long-term homeothermy and the wider range of daily/circadian oscillation.
Redox modulating effects of grape juice during aging
Authors: Kumar Raushan , Bhoumik Sukanya , Rizvi Syed Ibrahim
Published: November 2019

Background

Polyphenols are known because of their phytochemical constituents having antioxidative properties. In this regard, grape juice is highly enriched with polyphenolic constituents, and its supplementation has been known to improve many health and age-associated diseases and risk factors. Our study was entirely dedicated to evaluating the positive effects of grape juice on young and old rats’ erythrocytes and plasma.

Methods

Young (4 months) and old (24 months) male Wistar rats were given an oral dose of grape juice for 28 days. They were grouped into four categories (n = 6): Group I: young control rats; Group II: young grape juice treated rats; Group III: old control rats; Group IV: old treated rats. The treated groups were administered with 10 μL/g of grape juice according to body weight. The following biomarkers of antioxidant defense were measured: ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), reactive oxygen species (ROS), plasma membrane redox system (PMRS), glutathione (GSH), osmotic fragility, and the decrease in lipid peroxidation measured in terms of malondialdehyde (MDA) levels.

Results

A significant increase (p<0.05) in antioxidant levels of FRAP, PMRS, and GSH and a significant decrease (p<0.05) in oxidized products such as ROS and MDA were seen in the treated rats in comparison to the controls. The decrease in ROS and rise in FRAP and PMRS levels suggest the ability of grape juice to combat oxidative stress effectively.

Conclusion

We propose the role of grape juice as a potent antioxidant because of its easy bioavailability and its role in combating stress. Our results also approve grape juice as a possible antiaging agent.
3-Methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase deficiency newborn screening in a population of 536,008: is routine screening necessary?
Authors: Wang Huaiyan , Liu Shuang , Wang Benjing , Yang Yuqi , Yu Bin , Wang Leilei , Wang Ting
Published: November 2019

Objective

To evaluate whether 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase deficiency (3-MCCD) should be routinely screened in newborns.

Methods

Dried blood spots (DBS) were collected and analyzed by tandem mass spectrometry (TMS). Blood samples were collected from infants with positive 3-MCCD results. Targeted sequencing was performed using the extended panel for inherited metabolic diseases to detect 306 genes. The sequencing libraries were quantified and used for massively parallel sequencing on the Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform.

Results

A total of 536,008 infants underwent newborn screening (NBS) and 14 cases of 3-MCCD were diagnosed. The incidence of 3-MCCD in Jiangsu province was 1:38,286. During the last 3 years of follow-up, none of the subjects with 3-MCCD exhibited obvious clinical symptoms. Only two children had mild feeding difficulties and vomiting. Eleven patients had complex variants of the MCCC1 gene, and three patients had mutations in MCCC2. In total, 17 types of MCCC1 or MCCC2 variants were found, and c.639 + 2t > a was the most common mutation.

Conclusions

As far as the current results are concerned, 3-MCCD may be benign in Jiangsu province. However, additional investigations and a longer follow-up period are necessary to decide whether NBS of 3-MCCD is necessary or not.
Climacus’ Miracle: Another Look at “the Wonder” in Philosophical Fragments through a Spinozist Lens
Authors: Marcar G.P.
Published: November 2019

In Chapter 2 of the Philosophical Fragments, Søren Kierkegaard’s pseudonym Johannes Climacus poetises about a “king who loved a maiden.” Climacus concludes this venture with a bold claim: what he has just described is “so different from any human poem” that it should not be regarded as a poem at all, but as “the wonder” [Vidunderet] which leads one to exclaim in adoration that “[t]his thought did not arise in my own heart!” In the subsequent chapter of Philosophical Fragments, Climacus proceeds to offer a number of arguments against demonstrations of God’s existence, leading many scholars to conclude that he represents an unequivocally anti-rationalist perspective. Against such interpretations, this paper will seek to highlight how Climacus’ claims track those of the seventeenth century Dutch lens-grinder and rationalist philosopher, Baruch Spinoza. From this, it will be argued that “the wonder” in Climacus’ thought takes the form of an indirect, ethico-existentialist argument for the truth of Christianity’s incarnate God.
Defiance Before the Law: Kierkegaard, Kafka, Coetzee
Authors: Conway Daniel
Published: November 2019

Kierkegaard’s analysis of despair in The Sickness unto Death receives welcome, complementary illustrations in the novelistic efforts, respectively, of Franz Kafka (The Trial) and J.M. Coetzee (Elizabeth Costello). Both Kafka and Coetzee succeed in fashioning dramatic settings in which their protagonists may be seen and understood to suffer from the sickness unto death. In both cases, moreover, the distinctly spiritual character of despair is on display, as the protagonists in question slowly come to the realization that their cognitive faculties and resources will afford them no protection against, or immunity from, the despair they (correctly) see in others. Finally, both Kafka and Coetzee succeed in depicting the first-personal experience of despair as that of a progressively suffocating claustrophobia.
Existence Philosophy as a Humanism?
Authors: Fox-Muraton Mélissa
Published: November 2019

This article examines the challenges for understanding Kierkegaard’s philosophy from the perspective of our modern, heterogeneous societies, and seeks to define a humanism or existential ethics within Kierkegaard’s existential anthropology. After examining the problems inherent in Kierkegaard’s account of neighbor-love and human equality, we question the possibility of separating Kierkegaard’s existential anthropology from his Christian ontology. Suggesting that Kierkegaard’s philosophy does not leave us empty-handed, as political and social critiques claim, we sketch out the premises for a Kierkegaardian understanding of existential ethics which is not merely an ethics of self-accomplishment, but which places concern for others at the fore.
Unplug Your Life: Digital Detox Through a Kierkegaardian Lens
Authors: Bauwens Joke , Thorbjornsson Gudmundur Bjorn , Verstrynge Karl
Published: November 2019

Our engagement with social media, smart and mobile technologies is ambiguous and raises existential questions about the naturalness and desirability of hyper-connectivity. On the one hand, we benefit from using these technologies in organizing and socializing our everyday life. On the other hand, they further complicate our lives. Hence, in recent years, more and more people choose to abstain from digital media by taking on a so-called ‘digital detox,’ a period of living without these technologies. In this article, we look at ‘digital detoxing’ from an existential perspective by introducing Kierkegaard’s existential categories of repetition and recollection to tackle the question whether ‘dropping out’ is a meaningful act or a temporary respite. What would it mean, so we ask, to find a proper balance in a world that demands constant connectivity?
Research advancements in sulfide scavengers for oil and gas sectors
Authors: Saji Viswanathan S.
Published: November 2019

Sulfide species (inorganic and organic sulfides) are well known for their toxicity and corrosiveness. Several industries, including oil and gas, are prone to corrosive damage due to sulfides that necessitate their timely removal using appropriate methods. Employing chemical scavengers is the most suitable method where the scavenger combine with dissolved sulfides in aqueous/hydrocarbon phase and convert them to a nontoxic and less corrosive form that can be easily removed from the stream. Instead of direct chemical scavenger addition, different approaches, including absorption and adsorption methods, are employed in eliminating sulfide species from gas streams in different industrial applications. This review provides a detailed account of various sulfide scavengers used in oil and gas sweetening. Most recent research advancements in this area are highlighted. A brief account of the latest reported works on novel adsorbents for the desulfurization process for refinery fuels is also provided. The review ends with a short discussion on catalytic hydrodesulfurization.
›Fremdheit‹ und ›Eigensinn‹
Authors: Jäger Ludwig
Published: November 2019

The following analysis of the relationship between Verstehen (understanding) and Übersetzen (translation) continues reflections that Schleiermacher and Humboldt developed in the horizon of their hermeneutic program. In particular, this article examines concepts starting with Fremdheit (otherness), Hemmung (inhibition), Nichtverstehen (non-understanding), and Unübertragbarkeit (non-transferability). These terms mark the core theoretical problem of Schleiermacher’s and Humboldt’s idea of understanding and translation, which already conceptualizes understanding as a form of translation. A moment of inhibition is always already constitutively inscribed in the process of inner-language understanding. It repeatedly interrupts processes of understanding through moments of non-transferability, which triggers transcriptive processing procedures. Nontransferability does not refer to the restriction of a normally undisturbed transfer of meaning (i.e., to a communication defect), but rather to a condition of possibility of understanding meaning itself. Meaning is less built upon languagetranscendent resources than results from genuine linguistic procedures in which non-transferability is constitutively operative.