bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Corticosteroid therapy in critically ill patients with COVID-19: a multicenter, retrospective study
Authors: Li Yiming , Meng Qinghe , Rao Xin , Wang Binbin , Zhang Xingguo , Dong Fang , Yu Tao , Li Zhongyi , Feng Huibin , Zhang Jinpeng , Chen Xiangyang , Li Hunian , Cheng Yi , Hong Xiaoyang , Wang Xiang , Yin Yimei , Zhang Zhongheng , Wang Dawei
Published: December 2020

Background

Corticoid therapy has been recommended in the treatment of critically ill patients with COVID-19, yet its efficacy is currently still under evaluation. We investigated the effect of corticosteroid treatment on 90-day mortality and SARS-CoV-2 RNA clearance in severe patients with COVID-19.

Methods

294 critically ill patients with COVID-19 were recruited between December 30, 2019 and February 19, 2020. Logistic regression, Cox proportional-hazards model and marginal structural modeling (MSM) were applied to evaluate the associations between corticosteroid use and corresponding outcome variables.

Results

Out of the 294 critically ill patients affected by COVID-19, 183 (62.2%) received corticosteroids, with methylprednisolone as the most frequently administered corticosteroid (175 accounting for 96%). Of those treated with corticosteroids, 69.4% received corticosteroid prior to ICU admission. When adjustments and subgroup analysis were not performed, no significant associations between corticosteroids use and 90-day mortality or SARS-CoV-2 RNA clearance were found. However, when stratified analysis based on corticosteroid initiation time was performed, there was a significant correlation between corticosteroid use (≤ 3 day after ICU admission) and 90-day mortality (logistic regression adjusted for baseline: OR 4.49, 95% CI 1.17–17.25, p = 0.025; Cox adjusted for baseline and time varying variables: HR 3.89, 95% CI 1.94–7.82, p < 0.001; MSM adjusted for baseline and time-dependent variants: OR 2.32, 95% CI 1.16–4.65, p = 0.017). No association was found between corticosteroid use and SARS-CoV-2 RNA clearance even after stratification by initiation time of corticosteroids and adjustments for confounding factors (corticosteroids use ≤ 3 days initiation vs no corticosteroids use) using MSM were performed.

Conclusions

Early initiation of corticosteroid use (≤ 3 days after ICU admission) was associated with an increased 90-day mortality. Early use of methylprednisolone in the ICU is therefore not recommended in patients with severe COVID-19.
Retraction Note: Psychometric properties of the self-report version of the strengths and difficulties questionnaire in the Ecuadorian context: an evaluation of four models
Authors: Arias-Medina Paúl
Published: December 2020

This article has been retracted. Please see the Retraction Notice for more detail: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-020-00487-1.
Comparative effects of flow vs. volume-controlled one-lung ventilation on gas exchange and respiratory system mechanics in pigs
Authors: Wittenstein Jakob , Scharffenberg Martin , Ran Xi , Keller Diana , Michler Pia , Tauer Sebastian , Theilen Raphael , Kiss Thomas , Bluth Thomas , Koch Thea , Gama de Abreu Marcelo , Huhle Robert
Published: December 2020

Background

Flow-controlled ventilation (FCV) allows expiratory flow control, reducing the collapse of the airways during expiration. The performance of FCV during one-lung ventilation (OLV) under intravascular normo- and hypovolaemia is currently unknown. In this explorative study, we hypothesised that OLV with FCV improves PaO2 and reduces mechanical power compared to volume-controlled ventilation (VCV). Sixteen juvenile pigs were randomly assigned to one of two groups: (1) intravascular normovolaemia (n = 8) and (2) intravascular hypovolaemia (n = 8). To mimic inflammation due to major thoracic surgery, a thoracotomy was performed, and 0.5 μg/kg/h lipopolysaccharides from Escherichia coli continuously administered intravenously. Animals were randomly assigned to OLV with one of two sequences (60 min per mode): (1) VCV–FCV or (2) FCV–VCV. Variables of gas exchange, haemodynamics and respiratory signals were collected 20, 40 and 60 min after initiation of OLV with each mechanical ventilation mode. The distribution of ventilation was determined using electrical impedance tomography (EIT).

Results

Oxygenation did not differ significantly between modes (P = 0.881). In the normovolaemia group, the corrected expired minute volume (P = 0.022) and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) were lower during FCV than VCV. The minute volume (P ≤ 0.001), respiratory rate (P ≤ 0.001), total PEEP (P ≤ 0.001), resistance of the respiratory system (P ≤ 0.001), mechanical power (P ≤ 0.001) and resistive mechanical power (P ≤ 0.001) were lower during FCV than VCV irrespective of the volaemia status. The distribution of ventilation did not differ between both ventilation modes (P = 0.103).

Conclusions

In a model of OLV in normo- and hypovolemic pigs, mechanical power was lower during FCV compared to VCV, without significant differences in oxygenation. Furthermore, the efficacy of ventilation was higher during FCV compared to VCV during normovolaemia.
Effects of higher PEEP and recruitment manoeuvres on mortality in patients with ARDS: a systematic review, meta-analysis, meta-regression and trial sequential analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors:   For the PROVE Network: PROtective Ventilation Network, Ball Lorenzo , Serpa Neto Ary , Trifiletti Valeria , Mandelli Maura , Firpo Iacopo , Robba Chiara , Gama de Abreu Marcelo , Schultz Marcus J. , Patroniti Nicolò , Rocco Patricia R. M. , Pelosi Paolo
Published: December 2020

Purpose

In patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), lung recruitment could be maximised with the use of recruitment manoeuvres (RM) or applying a positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) higher than what is necessary to maintain minimal adequate oxygenation. We aimed to determine whether ventilation strategies using higher PEEP and/or RMs could decrease mortality in patients with ARDS.

Methods

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and CENTRAL from 1996 to December 2019, included randomized controlled trials comparing ventilation with higher PEEP and/or RMs to strategies with lower PEEP and no RMs in patients with ARDS. We computed pooled estimates with a DerSimonian-Laird mixed-effects model, assessing mortality and incidence of barotrauma, population characteristics, physiologic variables and ventilator settings. We performed a trial sequential analysis (TSA) and a meta-regression.

Results

Excluding two studies that used tidal volume (VT) reduction as co-intervention, we included 3870 patients from 10 trials using higher PEEP alone (n = 3), combined with RMs (n = 6) or RMs alone (n = 1). We did not observe differences in mortality (relative risk, RR 0.96, 95% confidence interval, CI [0.84–1.09], p = 0.50) nor in incidence of barotrauma (RR 1.22, 95% CI [0.93–1.61], p = 0.16). In the meta-regression, the PEEP difference between intervention and control group at day 1 and the use of RMs were not associated with increased risk of barotrauma. The TSA reached the required information size for mortality (n = 2928), and the z-line surpassed the futility boundary.

Conclusions

At low VT, the routine use of higher PEEP and/or RMs did not reduce mortality in unselected patients with ARDS.

Trial registration

PROSPERO CRD42017082035.
Therapeutic application of recombinant human ADAMTS-13 improves shock reversal and coagulation status in a trauma hemorrhage and transfusion rat model
Authors: Wirtz Mathijs R. , van den Brink Daan P. , Roelofs Joris J. T. H. , Goslings J. Carel , Juffermans Nicole P.
Published: December 2020

Introduction

In hemorrhaging trauma patients, the endothelium is activated, resulting in excessive endothelial synthesis of von Willebrand Factor (vWF), which may enhance micro-thrombi formation, resulting in obstruction of the microcirculation and endothelial injury, aggravating bleeding, as well as contributing to organ failure. Under normal conditions, vWF is cleaved by the metalloprotease ADAMTS-13. After trauma, ADAMTS-13 levels are reduced.

Objectives

To assess whether recombinant human ADAMTS-13 inhibits endothelial injury and organ failure in a rat trauma-transfusion model.

Methods

Blood products were prepared from syngeneic rat blood according to blood bank standards. Polytrauma was induced in rats by crush injury to the intestines and liver and by fracture of the femur. The rats were hemorrhaged until a mean arterial pressure (MAP) of 40 mmHg was reached. Rats were randomized to receive transfusion of RBCs, FFPs, and platelets in a 1:1:1 ratio to achieve a MAP of 70 mmHg, with or without the addition of ADAMTS-13 (50 μg/kg). Blood samples were assessed for biochemistry and rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM). Syndecan-1 and VE-cadherin levels were measured as a reflection of endothelial integrity. The amount of leakage of dextran-FITC from the vascular system to the parenchyma in lungs was quantified. To assess inflammation, IL-6 and IL-8 levels were determined. Organ damage was assessed by histopathology.

Results

All rats were severely shocked, with no significant differences in shock parameters between groups. Rats treated with ADAMTS-13 showed signs of a more effective shock reversal (higher blood pressure, lower lactate levels) compared to controls. Also, ROTEM parameters of clot formation in rats receiving ADAMTS-13 improved compared to controls, which was mainly platelet-dependent. Syndecan-1 levels relative to baseline trended to be lower in ADAMTS-13 treated rats compared to controls (107 vs 149%, p = 0.08). ADAMTS-13 reduced albuminuria (1.7 vs 4.4 g/L, p < 0.01) and organ-specific inflammation (pulmonary IL-6 243 vs 369 pg/mL, p = 0.08; splenic IL-6 253 vs 307, p = 0.03) compared to controls, but did not improve histopathological scores.

Conclusions

The use of ADAMTS-13 in a rat trauma-transfusion model improves parameters of shock, platelet-driven coagulation, endothelial damage, and organ inflammation. These results suggest that ADAMTS-13 is important in mediating outcome of trauma. Whether ADAMTS-13 can be used as a therapeutic adjunct to treat bleeding trauma patients remains to be determined.
Prognostic classification based on P/F and PEEP in invasively ventilated ICU patients with hypoxemia—insights from the MARS study
Authors:   for the MARS consortium, Simonis Fabienne D. , Schouten Laura R. A. , Cremer Olaf L. , Ong David S. Y. , Amoruso Gabriele , Cinella Gilda , Schultz Marcus J. , Bos Lieuwe D.
Published: December 2020

Background

Outcome prediction in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) greatly improves when patients are reclassified based on predefined arterial oxygen partial pressure to fractional inspired oxygen ratios (PaO2/FiO2) and positive end–expiratory pressure (PEEP) cutoffs 24 h after the initial ARDS diagnosis. The aim of this study was to test whether outcome prediction improves when patients are reclassified based on predefined PaO2/FiO2 and PEEP cutoffs 24 h after development of mild hypoxemia while not having ARDS.

Methods

Post hoc analysis of a large prospective, multicenter, observational study that ran in the ICUs of two academic hospitals in the Netherlands between January 2011 and December 2013. Patients were classified into four groups using predefined cutoffs for PaO2/FiO2 (250 mmHg) and PEEP (5 cm H2O), both at onset of hypoxemia and after 24 h: PaO2/FiO2 ≥ 250 mmHg and PEEP < 6 cm H2O (group I), PaO2/FiO2 ≥ 250 mmHg and PEEP ≥ 6 cm H2O (group II), PaO2/FiO2 < 250 mmHg and PEEP < 6 cm H2O (group III), and PaO2/FiO2 < 250 mmHg and PEEP ≥ 6 cm H2O (group IV), to look for trend association with all-cause in-hospital mortality, the primary outcome. Secondary outcome were ICU- and 90-day mortality, and the number of ventilator-free days or ICU-free days and alive at day 28.

Results

The analysis included 689 consecutive patients. All-cause in-hospital mortality was 35%. There was minimal variation in mortality between the four groups at onset of hypoxemia (33, 36, 38, and 34% in groups I to IV, respectively; P = 0.65). Reclassification after 24 h resulted in a strong trend with increasing mortality from group I to group IV (31, 31, 37, and 48% in groups I to IV, respectively; P < 0.01). Similar trends were found for the secondary endpoints.

Conclusions

Reclassification using PaO2/FiO2 and PEEP cutoffs after 24 h improved classification for outcome in invasively ventilated ICU patients with hypoxemia not explained by ARDS, compared to classification at onset of hypoxemia.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01905033. Registered on July 11, 2013. Retrospectively registered.
A quasi-qualitative analysis of flipped classroom implementation in an engineering course: from theory to practice
Authors: Hussain Shahid , Jamwal Prashant K. , Munir Muhammad T. , Zuyeva Aigerim
Published: December 2020

Students have different learning approaches and acquire knowledge in different ways owing to their varied perceptions and grasping abilities. Treating students equally, following the traditional teacher-cantered approach, may not be effective and calls for innovations in knowledge dissemination. This article takes a student-centric approach to implement a ‘flipped classroom’ model in an engineering course for constructivism (i.e. experience-based learning), and students’ personalized learning. The performance of the flipped classroom approach is compared with the traditional lecturing approach using four lenses: students’ grades, students’ reflection using three surveys at different stages during the semester, teacher’s observation, and peer observation. In most of the existing approaches, analysis of the qualitative survey data is performed manually without computer assistance, and therefore these are criticized for being primeval and instinctive. In this research, a novel approach, based on fuzzy logic, is devised to evaluate the qualitative survey responses from the students. It is shown in this research, that the linguistic survey responses can be summarized in an index more meaningfully using a fuzzy logic-based approach. The results further showed that the flipped classroom model helped students to improve their grades and enhance engagements with their teacher and their peers. Increased interaction, during interactive class activities, was instrumental in evolving students’ problem-solving and critical analysis skills towards better learning experiences. Furthermore, students’ survey results, analyzed using the novel fuzzy indexing and a non-parametric statistical test showed that the intervention in the form of flipped classes was effective and found to be statistically significant. The findings of this study may help other academics, endeavoring for experience-based, and students’ personalized learning.
The association between toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) genotyping and the risk of epilepsy in children
Authors: Abdelsalam Maha , Abd Elmagid Dina Salama , Magdy Hend , El-Sabbagh Amr Mohamed , Mostafa Maged
Published: December 2020

Background

Epilepsy is one of the most widely recognized neurological disorders; unfortunately, twenty to thirty percent of patients do not get cured from epilepsy, despite many trials of antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy. Immunotherapy may be a viable treatment strategy in a subset of epileptic patients. The association between Toll-like receptor polymorphisms and epilepsy clarifies the role of the immune system in epilepsy and its response to the drug. Thus, this study will focus on the relation between TLR4 rs1927914, rs11536858, rs1927911SNPs, and epilepsy in an Egyptian case-control study to assess their link to antiepileptic drug response.

Results

According to TLR4 rs1927914, there is a significant association between the SNP and the development of epilepsy, as CC genotype is 15.3 times more at risk for developing epilepsy than TT genotype, and CT is 11.1 times more at risk for developing epilepsy than TT. Also, patients with CC genotypes are 6.3 times more at risk for developing primary epilepsy than TT genotype.

According to rs11536858, there is a significant association between cases and control groups, as AA genotypes are found to be more at risk for developing epilepsy than GG genotypes. Also, there is a statistically significant association between clonazepam resistance and rs11536858, as p value < 0.001* with the highest frequency of TT genotypes at 4.3%.

According to rs1927911, there are no significant results between the cases and the control groups or between drug-responsive and drug resistance.

Conclusion

Possible involvement of the Toll-like receptor clarifies the importance of innate immunity in initiating seizures and making neuronal hyperexcitability. In this work, multiple significant associations between TLR SNPs and epilepsy, epileptic phenotype, and drug-resistant epilepsy have been found. More studies with bigger sample sizes and different techniques with different SNPs are recommended to find the proper immunotherapy for epilepsy instead of the treatment by antiepileptic drugs.
Type 1 Diabetes: Management in Women From Preconception to Postpartum
Authors: Buschur Elizabeth O , Polsky Sarit
Published: December 2020

Context

This review presents an up-to-date summary on management of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) among women of reproductive age and covers the following time periods: preconception, gestation, and postpartum.

Evidence acquisition

A systematic search and review of the literature for randomized controlled trials and other studies evaluating management of T1DM before pregnancy, during pregnancy, and postpartum was performed.

Evidence synthesis

Preconception planning should begin early in the reproductive years for young women with T1DM. Preconception and during pregnancy, it is recommended to have near-normal glucose values to prevent adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes, including fetal demise, congenital anomaly, pre-eclampsia, macrosomia, neonatal respiratory distress, neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, and neonatal hypoglycemia.

Conclusion

Women with T1DM can have healthy, safe pregnancies with preconception planning, optimal glycemic control, and multidisciplinary care.
Norway’s Democratic Challenge
Authors: Honey Michael
Published: December 2020

This article provides an overview of Norwegian labor history and social democracy, which challenges American capitalism and the labor movement to consider Martin Luther King, Jr.’s call for a “third way,” a more humane system mixing highly regulated and taxed capitalism with a strong social system powered by strong unions and a truce between workers and capitalists. The Nordic model flies in the face of American avaricious capitalism and challenges us to consider how a better society might exist even within capitalism. The author, a specialist in southern labor and civil rights history and Martin Luther King studies, urges historians to explore Norwegian and Scandinavian labor history and social democracy to see what it can teach us.
A Review on Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease with a Special Reference to Egyptian Situation
Authors: ABD EL-GHANY WAFAA A
Published: December 2020

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease (RHD) is considered as one of the most important viral diseases that affects and threatens rabbit’s flocks. This disease has affected rabbits since mid-1980. Two epidemics of RHD had been discovered; the first was in mid-1980 and known as classical RHD virus (RHDV), while the second was in 2011 and described as variant virus (RHDVb/RHDV2). Domestic and wild rabbits are susceptible to RHD. All ages can be affected, but adults are more susceptible to young kitten. RHD is presented in three forms; per-acute, acute and subacute or chronic form. Mortality rate is usually high especially in per-acute and acute stages and it is associated with disseminated intravascular coagulopathy and necrotic hepatitis. The main lesions have been observed in the liver, lungs and spleen. Diagnosis of RHD is based on the clinical picture and detection of RHDV or specific antibodies. The prevention and control strategies depend mainly on using of preventive inactivated vaccine together with adoptionof hygienic measures. However, there is no specific treatment of RHDV infection. So, this review article puts a spot light on RHD regarding the epidemiology, the clinical and laboratory diagnosis as well as the prevention and control strategies with a special reference to Egyptian situation.
Malignant fibrous histiocytoma in a budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus)
Authors: ÖZEN Η. , DAĞ S. , KARAKURT E. , BÜYÜK E.
Published: December 2020

In this report, a case of malignant fibrous histiocytoma in a budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus) is described. At necropsy, a tumorous subcutaneous mass was noted to be located under the right wing at the level of humerus in a budgerigar. On microscopic examination, the tumor was composed of pleomorphic cells having mostly round to oval large nucleus. Presence of occasional bands composed of fibroblastoid cells were noted. Occasional giant cells and mitotic figures were also observed. Based on the microscopic findings, a diagnosis of malignant fibrous histiocytoma was made. The present case in an exotic bird was found to be interesting, since malignant fibrous histiocytomas are rare tumors of domestic animals and mostly seen in dogs.
The new trajectory of social policy in Greece: An ambulance service or a sustainable pathway to social policy improvement at the local level?
Authors: Spyridopoulos Kyrillos
Published: December 2020

This paper examines whether the EU cofinanced project “structures for the provision of essential goods: social grocery, common meals, social pharmacy” that is implemented horizontally in Greece since 2014, can navigate its beneficiaries out of the risk of poverty and social exclusion (AROPE). To this end, the paper surveys, through in-depth semi-structured interviews, beneficaries of the project in the municipality of Pavlos Melas. The findings of the case study suggest that the project constitutes an important safety net, helping beneficiaries experiencing severe material deprivation address manifold needs, including social and psychological. However, at the same time, the project is limited in scope, fails to meet demand and rarely addresses the root causes of poverty. While the project is suggestive of the advantages that a local approach to social policy has to offer, its implications are not far-reaching
Genome-wide association study of vegetarianism in UK Biobank identifies association with VRK2
Authors: Fensom Georgina K. , Smith-Byrne Karl , Andrews Colm D. , Key Tim J. , Travis Ruth C.
Published: December 2020

Prospective studies have observed differences in risks for several health outcomes when comparing meat-eaters and vegetarians, but the mechanisms underlying these differences remain uncertain. Identifying genetic factors related to vegetarianism may be valuable for assessing causality. We report a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of vegetarianism in 367,198 participants from UK Biobank. We identified one locus, rs10189138, near the vaccinia related kinase 2 (VRK2) gene, significantly associated with vegetarianism (β=0.153, p=3x10-8). The associations between rs10189138 and 40 traits were calculated, and the rs10189138 T allele (MAF=0.12) was found to be significantly associated with greater height, after controlling the false discovery rate (FDR). Correlations between genetically predicted vegetarianism and 855 other genetically predicted traits were also calculated, and vegetarianism had significant positive genetic correlations with fluid intelligence and age at menarche, after controlling the FDR. Future research on an independent sample is needed to see if this GWAS result can be replicated.
Autocracy in the digital universe: prospects and threats of political legitimation
Authors: Fedorchenko Sergey
Published: December 2020

The purpose of the article is to analyze the specific features of an autocratic regime in the modern digital environment, to determine the prospects and risks of its legitimation. The main methods were the comparative political science method and the Case Study. The Swedish model Regimes of the World was chosen as the working one. For a comparative analysis of different types of political regimes (closed, electoral autocracy, electoral and liberal democracy) forty 40 countries were selected. The analysis showed that the introduction of various technologies for digital control over citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic no longer makes it possible to clearly distinguish between autocratic and democratic political regimes. Different modes use in a pandemic a whole range of techniques that control the movement and activity of citizens: control through drones, face recognition, video surveillance, restricting access to information, surveillance through government services, control of Internet communications, control via mobile phones, disconnecting the Internet, etc. The emerging ratchet effect, when political regimes are in no hurry to remove restrictions on control over citizens, makes one think about a serious revision of the theory of democracy and the theory of autocracy.
Do trecento ao cinquecento: história da língua italiana na perspectiva do contato e das políticas linguísticas
Authors: Silva-Alves Jefferson Evaristo do Nascimento
Published: December 2020

O território italiano é um campo fértil de investigação sociolinguística e histórica. Os muitos eventos sócio-históricos que formaram a Itália são atravessados, a todo momento, por questões linguísticas. A unificação do país, por exemplo, resultou na eleição de uma dentre as diferentes línguas do território, o fiorentino, escolhida para ser a língua italiana standard. O fiorentino, entretanto, vinha desde o século XIV, o trecento italiano, despontado como língua de uso comum, quer escrita, quer falada, no território da península italiana. Assim, no período entre o trecento e o cinquecento italiano, séculos XIV a XVI, começa um processo de consolidação e expansão do fiorentino, volgare ou toscano por todos os reinos do território que viria a ser chamado de Itália. Cooperaram para tanto a atuação dos literatos – como Dante, Petrarca e Boccaccio –, da Igreja Católica e da imprensa, cada qual a seu modo dando o impulso que o fiorentino precisava para expandir-se. Nossa investigação concentrou-se na hipótese de serem os eventos descritos o início de uma unificação linguística da Itália, aqui discutida não na perspectiva habitual dos linguistas italianos, dialetológica e sistêmica, mas na perspectiva do contato linguístico e das políticas linguísticas. Nossos resultados apontam para um processo gradual e permanente que faria do fiorentino, já desde o século XIV, a língua italiana de uso amplo e comum.
Práticas de leitura: o uso das redes sociais como recurso de ensino-aprendizagem no ensino médio
Authors: Santos Laís Costa , Cayres Pamponét Vanessa De Carvalho , Cerqueira Ingrid Bomfim
Published: December 2020

No presente artigo, buscamos investigar de que maneira podem acontecer as práticas de leitura através do uso das redes sociais bem como apresentamos uma proposta interdisciplinar de sequência didática. Tal investigação se justifica dada a urgência em se compreender processos de ensino-aprendizagem que auxiliem o aluno a construir um conhecimento mais próximo de sua realidade. Visando corresponder a este propósito, realizamos uma pesquisa de natureza bibliográfica, baseada na pesquisa-ação no Instituto Federal Baiano. Espera-se, com este estudo, apontar um trabalho interdisciplinar com o gênero “Memes” como alternativa, ao mesmo tempo em que se reconhece o amplo viés de possibilidades de outras propostas, as quais se mostram mais efetivas e motivadoras para os discentes, quando estas priorizam os multiletramentos
Espaços digitais e a comunicação intercultural no ensino de inglês como língua adicional
Authors: Machado Fátima De França , Caldas Viviana
Published: December 2020

O ensino da língua inglesa vem ganhando novos propósitos  e dimensões que reforçam a importância de uma abordagem intercultural (CORBETT, 2010), uma vez que esse idioma alcançou o status de língua global e os avanços da tecnologia facilitam cada dia mais a comunicação e a interação em redes de trocas plurais e multiculturais em espaços digitais. O objetivo central deste artigo é investigar o potencial de interações on-line em práticas interativas (SILVA, 2012) que contribuam para a formação integral do aluno como falante competente de uma língua internacional, como cidadão global.
“Imagens” políticas do Brasil: uma sequência didática com meme da internet nas aulas de Língua Portuguesa
Authors: Souza Maria Alice de , De Barros Marcelo Diniz Monteiro , Siman Lana Mara Castro
Published: December 2020

Na era digital, as práticas de comunicação compreendem gêneros que combinam elementos verbais, visuais e audiovisuais. Desse modo, com o objetivo de ampliar a significação da leitura, que está associada não apenas às palavras, mas às imagens e aos sons, este artigo apresenta um relato reflexivo sobre uma sequência didática desenvolvida com alunos do ensino médio de uma escola pública da rede estadual de Belo Horizonte na disciplina Língua Portuguesa, utilizando meme da internet. Quanto ao referencial teórico este estudo recorre a autores como Belmiro (2000-2012); Recuero (2007); Euzébio e Cerutti-Rizzatti (2013); Barreto (2015); Escalante (2016); Chagas (2016). O trabalho mostrou que o uso de materiais extraídos de sites, blogs e redes sociais pode contribuir para que os alunos compreendam as práticas de uso e reflexão da língua.
Apresentação
Authors: Ribeiro Nunes Gabriela , Santos Brigida Marcela , Verçosa Thayane
Published: December 2020

Apresentação da edição 34.
SALINE STRESS AND EXOGENOUS APPLICATION OF PROLINE IN CASHEW ROOTSTCK
Authors: Souza Leandro de Pádua , Nobre Reginaldo Gomes , Gheyi Hans Raj , Fatima Reynaldo Teodoro de , Barbosa Joicy Lima
Published: December 2020

The scarcity of good quality water and the occurrence of long dry periods are limiting factors for irrigated agriculture, especially in semiarid regions, which induces the use of saline water and technologies that enable its use in agriculture. In this context, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of exogenous application of proline on growth and phytomass of BRS 226 Planalto precocious dwarf cashew rootstock irrigated with water of different levels of salinity. The study was performed in a greenhouse, in the municipality of Pombal - PB, in a protected environment, using a randomized block design in a 5 x 4 factorial scheme. The treatments consisted of different levels of electrical conductivities of irrigation water – ECw (0.3; 1.0; 1.7; 2.4 and 3.1 dS m-1) associated with foliar application of proline - P (0, 4, 8 and 12 mM), with three repetitions and two plants per plot. The irrigation with saline water of up to 0.85 dS m-1 can be used for the production of BRS 266 cashew rootstck. Proline concentration of 8 mM promoted largest dry phytomass of the BRS 226 Planalto cashew rootstock. The increase in proline concentration up to 12 mM applied via leaf does not attenuate the deleterious effects of salinity on the absolute growth rate of plant height and on the fresh and dry leaf phytomass of the BRS 226 Planalto cashew rootstock.
Diffraction properties of cylindrically bent KAP crystals in energy
range of 2.3–7.5  keV using synchrotron radiation
Authors: Wu Ming , Kruschwitz Craig A. , Lake Pat , Loisel Guillaume P. , Bailey Jim E. , Stolte W. C.
Published: December 2020

Verification of physics models and computer simulations are heavily
reliant upon the accuracy of experimental measurements. Calibration of
instrument responses becomes an important step to achieve this goal.
This paper presents systematic studies of bent potassium acid
phthalate (KAP) crystals using Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratories, Advanced Light Source, beamline 9.3.1 in the energy
range of 2.3 to 7.5 keV. A set of KAP crystals, gradually bent from
flat up to a 50.8 mm cylindrical curvature. The measured integrated
reflectivity for this set of KAP crystals shows good agreement with
the X-ray Oriented Program (XOP) calculations when adjusting the
Debye–Waller temperature factor and using the multilamellar model in
the calculations. Significant differences in rocking curve profiles
were observed between experimental measurements and theory. A forward
convolution model and software code were developed to include
experimental parameters, allowing the investigation of the difference
between measurements and calculations. After considering the
experimental parameters, good agreements were obtained for the rocking
curve profiles for all bending radii with a unique set of parameters.
Our results show that XOP can be a useful and reliable tool to predict
performance of cylindrically bent KAP crystals in this energy
range.
Temperature-compensated fiber directional-bend sensor based on a sandwiched MMF–PMPCF structure
Authors: Feng Dingyi , Jiang Biqiang , Jiang Yajun , Zhao Jianlin
Published: December 2020

An optical fiber directional-bend sensor based on an inline Mach–Zehnder interferometer is proposed and demonstrated. The device consists of a piece of a multimode fiber (MMF) splicing with a polarization-maintaining photonic crystal fiber (PMPCF) and sandwiched by lead in/out single-mode fibers (SMFs). Owing to the larger diameter of the MMF, some high-order modes in fiber are efficiently coupled and transmitted through the PMPCF, and finally interfere with each other in the output SMFs. The experimental results show that a well-defined interference fringe envelope can be obtained in the transmitted spectrum and, when the fiber is bent, both the intensity and the fringe visibility of the interference pattern are changed with the bending curvature. Meanwhile, the bend sensitivities are varied with different bending directions, and the maximum sensitivity is achieved up to

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/

m

−
1

within the bend range from 0 to

1.7

m

−
1

. The proposed device also demonstrates a very low-intensity cross-talk of environment temperature.
Graphite/graphene disk stack-based metal-free wideband terahertz absorber
Authors: Varshney Gaurav , Rani Neha , Pandey V. S. , Yaduvanshi R. S. , Singh Dharmendra
Published: December 2020

A wideband terahertz metal-free absorber is designed and numerically analyzed. The graphite/graphene disks supported by low permittivity dielectric disks are stacked. The stacked graphite disks are placed above a dielectric substrate acting as resonant cavity. The resonance of dielectric cavity is merged with the resonance of a graphite and graphene disk for obtaining the wide absorption band. The obtained response from numerical simulation is verified with the response obtained by an equivalent circuit model based on the transmission line method. The proposed absorber provides a simple and compact geometry with polarization insensitivity. The proposed absorber maintains high absorption over a wide range of variation in the incident angle

θ
≈

70
∘

in all the polarization planes. The utilization of the graphene disk allows the tuning of absorber response by varying its chemical potential

(

μ
c

)

. For

0
<

μ
c

<
0.2

e
V

, the absorber provides broadband response. The narrowband response is obtained for

μ
c

>
0.2

e
V

by suppressing the lower-order modes generated by the stack of graphite disk resonators. Moreover, the proposed technique enables implementation of metal-free wideband absorbers.
Generation of distortion-free scaled holograms using light field data conversion
Authors: Park Dae-Youl , Park Jae-Hyeung
Published: December 2020

A novel method to convert holograms for their scaled three-dimensional image reconstructions is proposed. Conventional methods that directly scale the hologram itself or simulate the optical imaging have a limitation that axial magnification of the reconstruction is different from the transverse magnification, causing distortion. In order to achieve constant transverse and axial magnifications, the proposed method performs the scaling in the light field data domain. The proposed method first extracts the light field from a hologram and performs the scaling to the light field data. The modified light field is then used to synthesize a new hologram. For the transformation between the hologram domain and the light field domain, angular spectrum bandpass filtering and non-hogel based computer generated hologram techniques are utilized. The linear nature of the light field data ensures the distortion free scaling with the same transverse and axial magnification of the reconstruction. The proposed method is verified by optical experiments.
Compact in-line floating display system using a dihedral corner reflector array
Authors: Min Dabin , Choi Myeong-Ho , Park Jae-Hyeung
Published: December 2020

We propose a compact type floating display system using a dihedral corner reflector array. Conventional floating displays using the dihedral corner reflector array usually have a folded configuration which makes the system bulky. The proposed technique achieves the compact in-line configuration using a pair of decentered lenses. The decentered lenses make the effective incident angle to the dihedral corner reflector array be tilted while maintaining the display panel and the dihedral corner reflector array in parallel. The ghost images are also refracted largely by the decentered lenses, being separated from the desired floating images. The proposed technique is verified by optical experiments.
Diode-side-pumped, intracavity Nd:YLF/KGW/LBO Raman laser at 573  nm for retinal photocoagulation
Authors: Ferreira Merilyn S. , Wetter Niklaus U.
Published: December 2020

Wavelengths in the yellow-orange range are of significant interest for retinal photocoagulation and are especially important in the case of diabetic retinopathy, which can cause blindness and affects 3.3% of all working-age adults. This work presents a highly-efficient, compact, and cost-efficient side-pumped, intracavity Raman configuration to achieve this objective. A side-pumped Nd:YLF/KGW/LBO frequency-doubled Raman laser producing 11.7 W of output power at 1147 nm with 21% of slope efficiency and 6 W of output power at 573.5 nm with 12% slope efficiency is demonstrated.
Evolutionary model discovery of causal factors behind the socio-agricultural behavior of the Ancestral Pueblo
Authors: Gunaratne Chathika , Garibay Ivan
Published: December 2020

Agent-based modeling of artificial societies allows for the validation and analysis of human-interpretable, causal explanations of human behavior that generate society-scale phenomena. However, parameter calibration is insufficient to conduct data-driven explorations that are adequate in evaluating the importance of causal factors that constitute agent rules that match real-world individual-scale generative behaviors. We introduce evolutionary model discovery, a framework that combines genetic programming and random forest regression to evaluate the importance of a set of causal factors hypothesized to affect the individual’s decision-making process. With evolutionary model discovery, we investigated the farm plot seeking behavior of the Ancestral Pueblo of the Long House Valley simulated in the Artificial Anasazi model. We evaluated the importance of causal factors unconsidered in the original model, which we hypothesized to have affected the decision-making process. Our findings, concur with other archaeological studies on the Ancestral Pueblo communities during the Pueblo II period, which indicate the existence of cross-village polities, hierarchical organization, and dependence on the viability of the agricultural niche. Contrary to the original Artificial Anasazi model, where closeness was the sole factor driving farm plot selection, selection of higher quality land, distancing from failed farm plots, and desire for social presence are found to be more important. Finally, models updated with farm selection strategies designed by incorporating these insights showed significant improvements in accuracy and robustness over the original Artificial Anasazi model.
Nutritional quality of retail food purchases is not associated with participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for nutrition-oriented households
Authors: Chen Yu , Lin Biing‐Hwan , Mancino Lisa , Ver Ploeg Michele , Zhen Chen
Published: December 2020

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides millions of low-income Americans food benefits and other forms of nutrition assistance. Evidence indicates that SNAP reduces food insecurity. However, there is a concern that the food benefit may increase the demand for less healthy foods more than healthier foods, thereby reducing the overall nutritional quality of the participant’s food basket. This paper aims to examine the association of SNAP participation with the nutritional quality of food-at-home purchases of low-income households and to investigate the potential heterogeneity among consumers with different levels of nutrition attitude. This analysis used food purchase data from the USDA National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey (FoodAPS). Our study sample included 2,218 low-income households, of which 1,184 are SNAP participants, and 1,034 are income-eligible nonparticipants. Multivariate regressions were performed to explore the SNAP-nutritional quality association. A household’s nutrition attitude was measured using its response to a question on whether the household searched for nutrition information online in the last 2 months. Households that affirmed they had an online nutrition search were treated as nutrition-oriented households (21.2% of the low-income sample), and households that did not were considered less nutrition-oriented households (78.8%). For robustness, we also created an alternative nutrition attitude measure based on reported use of the nutrition facts label. We found that among less nutrition-oriented households, SNAP participants had a statistically significant 0.097 points (p = 0.018) lower Guiding Stars rating than low-income nonparticipants. However, there was no significant SNAP-nutritional quality association among nutrition-oriented households. In conclusion, SNAP participation was associated with lower nutritional quality of food purchases among less nutrition-oriented households, but not among nutrition-oriented households. The results suggest that the intended nutritional benefits of restrictions on purchases of healthy foods may not reach the subgroup of nutrition-oriented SNAP participants.
Effects of 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging exposure on the behavior and orientation of homing pigeons Columba livia domestica
Authors: Párraga Daniel García , Tyack Peter L. , Marco-Cabedo Vicente , Crespo-Picazo José Luis , Manteca Xavier , Martí-Bonmatí Luis
Published: December 2020

Homing pigeons (Columba livia domestica) were used to test whether clinical magnetic resonance (MR) imaging disrupts orientation of animals that sense the earth’s magnetic field. Thirty young pigeons were randomly separated into three groups (n = 10/group). Two groups were anaesthetized and exposed to either a constant (no sequence) or a varying (gradient echo and echo planar sequences) magnetic field within a 3 Tesla MR unit for 15 minutes. The control group was not exposed to the MR field but shared all other aspects of the procedure. One day later, animals were released from a site they had never visited, 15 km from the home loft. Three weeks after the procedure, animals were released from a different unfamiliar site 30 km from the loft. Measured variables included the time to disappear from sight (seconds), vanishing bearing (angle), and the time interval from release to entering the home loft (hours). On first release, the group exposed to varying field gradients during image acquisition using 2 different standard sequences showed more variability in the vanishing bearing compared to the other groups (p = 0.0003 compared to control group), suggesting interference with orientation. Other measures did not show significant differences between groups. On second release, there were no significant differences between groups. Our results on homing pigeons show that regular clinical MR imaging exposure may temporarily affect the orientation of species that have magnetoreception capabilities. If exposure to MR imaging disrupted processes that are not specific to magnetoreception, then it may affect other species and other capabilities as well.
Coupling of autism genes to tissue-wide expression and dysfunction of synapse, calcium signalling and transcriptional regulation
Authors: Reilly Jamie , Gallagher Louise , Leader Geraldine , Shen Sanbing
Published: December 2020

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous disorder that is often accompanied with many co-morbidities. Recent genetic studies have identified various pathways from hundreds of candidate risk genes with varying levels of association to ASD. However, it is unknown which pathways are specific to the core symptoms or which are shared by the co-morbidities. We hypothesised that critical ASD candidates should appear widely across different scoring systems, and that comorbidity pathways should be constituted by genes expressed in the relevant tissues. We analysed the Simons Foundation for Autism Research Initiative (SFARI) database and four independently published scoring systems and identified 292 overlapping genes. We examined their mRNA expression using the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) database and validated protein expression levels using the human protein atlas (HPA) dataset. This led to clustering of the overlapping ASD genes into 2 groups; one with 91 genes primarily expressed in the central nervous system (CNS geneset) and another with 201 genes expressed in both CNS and peripheral tissues (CNS+PT geneset). Bioinformatic analyses showed a high enrichment of CNS development and synaptic transmission in the CNS geneset, and an enrichment of synapse, chromatin remodelling, gene regulation and endocrine signalling in the CNS+PT geneset. Calcium signalling and the glutamatergic synapse were found to be highly interconnected among pathways in the combined geneset. Our analyses demonstrate that 2/3 of ASD genes are expressed beyond the brain, which may impact peripheral function and involve in ASD co-morbidities, and relevant pathways may be explored for the treatment of ASD co-morbidities.
Population structure and genetic diversity analyses of common bean germplasm collections of East and Southern Africa using morphological traits and high-density SNP markers
Authors: Nkhata Wilson , Shimelis Hussein , Melis Rob , Chirwa Rowland , Mzengeza Tenyson , Mathew Isack , Shayanowako Admire
Published: December 2020

Knowledge of genetic diversity in plant germplasm and the relationship between genetic factors and phenotypic expression is vital for crop improvement. This study's objectives were to understand the extent of genetic diversity and population structure in 60 common bean genotypes from East and Southern Africa. The common bean genotypes exhibited significant (p<0.05) levels of variability for traits such as days to flowering (DTF), days to maturity (DTM), number of pods per plant (NPP), number of seeds per pod (NSP), and grain yield per hectare in kilograms (GYD). About 47.82 per cent of the variation among the genotypes was explained by seven principal components (PC) associated with the following agronomic traits: NPP, NFF (nodes to first flower), DTF, GH (growth habit) and GYD. The SNP markers revealed mean gene diversity and polymorphic information content values of 0.38 and 0.25, respectively, which suggested the presence of considerable genetic variation among the assessed genotypes. Analysis of molecular variance showed that 51% of the genetic variation were between the gene pools, while 49% of the variation were within the gene pools. The genotypes were delineated into two distinct groups through the population structure, cluster and phylogenetic analyses. Genetically divergent genotypes such as DRK57, MW3915, NUA59, and VTTT924/4-4 with high yield and agronomic potential were identified, which may be useful for common bean improvement.