bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of dyslipidaemia among HIV-infected patients receiving combination antiretroviral therapy in North Shewa, Ethiopia
Authors: Fiseha Temesgen , Alemu Worku , Dereje Henok , Tamir Zemenu , Gebreweld Angesom
Published: April 2021

Background

Data on the burden of dyslipidaemia among people with HIV undergoing antiretroviral therapy (ART) in sub-Saharan Africa are limited and little is known about the factors contributing for poor lipid profiles. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of dyslipidaemia and factors associated with lipid levels among HIV-infected patients receiving first-line combination ART in North Shewa, Ethiopia.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted between April and December 2018 among 392 HIV-infected adults receiving first-line ART for at least six months at the ART clinic of Mehal Meda Hospital in North Shewa, Ethiopia. Blood samples were collected for determination of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), and CD4 counts. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine factors associated with lipid abnormalities.

Results

The prevalence of dyslipidaemia was 59.9% (95% CI 55.0–64.7%). High TC, high TG, low HDL-c, and high LDL-c were obtained in 47.3%, 30.9%, 19.4% and 29.6%, respectively. Fifty-four participants (13.8%) had high ratio of TC/HDL-c (TC/HDL-c ratio ≥ 5). Older age was independently associated with high TC (AOR = 2.51, 95% CI 1.64–3.84), high TG (AOR = 2.95, 95% CI 1.85–4.71), low HDL–c (AOR = 2.02, 95% CI 1.17–3.50), and high LDL–c (AOR = 3.37, 95% CI 2.08–5.47). Living in an urban area (AOR = 2.61, 95% CI 1.16–6.14) and smoking (AOR = 3.61, 95% CI 1.06–12.34) were associated with low HDL–c. Participants with longer duration of ART use were more likely to have high TG (AOR = 1.86, 95% CI: 1.13–3.07), low HDL–c (AOR = 3.47, 95% CI: 1.75–6.80), and high LDL–c (AOR = 2.20, 95% CI 1.30–3.71). High BMI was independently associated with higher TC (AOR = 2.43, 95% CI 1.19–4.97), high TG (AOR = 4.17, 95% CI 2.01–8.67) and high LDL–c (AOR = 6.53, 95% CI 3.05–13.98).

Conclusions

We found a high prevalence of dyslipidaemia among HIV-infected patients receiving first-line ART in North Shewa, Ethiopia. There is a need for monitoring of blood lipid levels in patients with HIV on long term first-line ART with a special attention to be focused on older age, urban residents, longer duration of ART use, high BMI and smokers.
Increasing prediction accuracy of pathogenic staging by sample augmentation with a GAN
Authors: Kwon ChangHyuk , Park Sangjin , Ko Soohyun , Ahn Jaegyoon
Published: April 2021

Accurate prediction of cancer stage is important in that it enables more appropriate treatment for patients with cancer. Many measures or methods have been proposed for more accurate prediction of cancer stage, but recently, machine learning, especially deep learning-based methods have been receiving increasing attention, mostly owing to their good prediction accuracy in many applications. Machine learning methods can be applied to high throughput DNA mutation or RNA expression data to predict cancer stage. However, because the number of genes or markers generally exceeds 10,000, a considerable number of data samples is required to guarantee high prediction accuracy. To solve this problem of a small number of clinical samples, we used a Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) to augment the samples. Because GANs are not effective with whole genes, we first selected significant genes using DNA mutation data and random forest feature ranking. Next, RNA expression data for selected genes were expanded using GANs. We compared the classification accuracies using original dataset and expanded datasets generated by proposed and existing methods, using random forest, Deep Neural Networks (DNNs), and 1-Dimensional Convolutional Neural Networks (1DCNN). When using the 1DCNN, the F1 score of GAN5 (a 5-fold increase in data) was improved by 39% in relation to the original data. Moreover, the results using only 30% of the data were better than those using all of the data. Our attempt is the first to use GAN for augmentation using numeric data for both DNA and RNA. The augmented datasets obtained using the proposed method demonstrated significantly increased classification accuracy for most cases. By using GAN and 1DCNN in the prediction of cancer stage, we confirmed that good results can be obtained even with small amounts of samples, and it is expected that a great deal of the cost and time required to obtain clinical samples will be reduced. The proposed sample augmentation method could also be applied for other purposes, such as prognostic prediction or cancer classification.
Understanding the nature and dimensions of litigation crowdfunding: A visual analytics approach
Authors: Raghupathi Viju , Ren Jie , Raghupathi Wullianallur
Published: April 2021

The escalating cost of civil litigation is leaving many defendants and plaintiffs unable to meet legal expenses such as attorney fees, court charges and others. This significantly impacts their ability to sue or defend themselves effectively. Related to this phenomenon is the ethics discussion around access to justice and crowdfunding. This article explores the dimensions that explain the phenomenon of litigation crowdfunding. Using data from CrowdJustice, a popular Internet fundraising platform used to assist in turning legal cases into publicly funded social cases, we study litigation crowdfunding through the lenses of the number of pledges, goal achievement, target amount, length of description, country, case category, and others. Overall, we see a higher number of cases seeking funding in the categories of human rights, environment, and judicial review. Meanwhile, the platform offers access to funding for other less prominent categories, such as voting rights, personal injury, intellectual property, and data & privacy. At the same time, donors are willing to donate more to cases related to health, politics, and public services. Also noteworthy is that while donors are willing to donate to education, animal welfare, data & privacy, and inquest-related cases, they are not willing to donate large sums to these causes. In terms of lawyer/law firm status, donors are more willing to donate to cases assisted by experienced lawyers. Furthermore, we also note that the higher the number of successful cases an attorney presents, the greater the amount raised. We analyzed valence, arousal, and dominance in case description and found they have a positive relationship with funds raised. Also, when a case description is updated on a crowdsourcing site, it ends up being more successful in funding—at least in the categories of health, immigration, and judicial review. This is not the case, however, for categories such as public service, human rights, and environment. Our research addresses whether litigation crowdfunding, in particular, levels the playing field in terms of opening up financing opportunities for those individuals who cannot afford the costs of litigation. While it may support social justice, ethical concerns with regards to the kinds of campaigns must also be addressed. Most of the ethical concerns center around issues relating to both the fundraisers and donors. Our findings have ethical and social justice implications for crowdfunding platform design.
Serum N-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen as a biomarker for predicting bone density loss in patients with Crohn disease
Authors: Ishida Natsuki , Higuchi Tomohiro , Miyazu Takahiro , Tamura Satoshi , Suzuki Satoshi , Tani Shinya , Yamade Mihoko , Iwaizumi Moriya , Hamaya Yasushi , Osawa Satoshi , Furuta Takahisa , Sugimoto Ken
Published: April 2021

Background

The serum N-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (NTx) is significantly higher in patients with Crohn disease (CD) than in healthy individuals and patients with ulcerative colitis. This study aimed to investigate whether an elevated serum NTx level is a risk predictor of osteoporosis in patients with CD.

Methods

Based on whether the femoral Z-score decreased over a 2-year period, 41 CD patients were divided into the ΔZ-score <0 group (Z-score decreased) and the ΔZ-score ≥0 group (Z-score did not decrease). The risk predictors of a femoral Z-score decrease were examined. Furthermore, we investigated the correlations between the ΔZ-score (which represents the change in the Z-score over a 2-year period) and the mean levels of biomarkers, including the Crohn Disease Activity Index (CDAI), serum albumin, C-reactive protein, and bone metabolism markers (including NTx) measured initially (i.e., in our previous study) and 2 years later (present study). The relationships between anti-tumor necrosis factor α (anti-TNF-α) therapy and serum NTx levels were also examined.

Results

Although there was no correlation between the mean CDAI and the ΔZ-score, the mean serum NTx and albumin levels were significantly correlated with the ΔZ-score (P<0.01 and P = 0.02, respectively). Furthermore, the femoral Z-score tended to be lower in the anti-TNF-α administration group than in the non-administration group.

Conclusions

These observations indicated that an elevated serum NTx could be a useful marker for predicting a decrease in the femoral bone mineral density in CD patients. Anti-TNF-α therapy maintained an elevated serum NTx level, suggesting that treatment with anti-TNF-α may help control increased bone resorption in CD patients.
Extract of Scutellaria baicalensis induces semaphorin 3A production in human epidermal keratinocytes
Authors: Yoshioka Yasuko , Kamata Yayoi , Tominaga Mitsutoshi , Umehara Yoshie , Yoshida Ikuyo , Matsuoka Nobuya , Takamori Kenji
Published: April 2021

In a disease-state-dependent manner, the histamine-resistant itch in dry skin-based skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis (AD) and xerosis is mainly due to hyperinnervation in the epidermis. Semaphorin 3A (Sema3A) is a nerve repulsion factor expressed in keratinocytes and it suppresses nerve fiber elongation in the epidermis. Our previous studies have shown that Sema3A ointment inhibits epidermal hyperinnervation and scratching behavior and improves dermatitis scores in AD model mice. Therefore, we consider Sema3A as a key therapeutic target for improving histamine-resistant itch in AD and xerosis. This study was designed to screen a library of herbal plant extracts to discover compounds with potential to induce Sema3A in normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs) using a reporter gene assay, so that positive samples were found. Among the positive samples, only the extract of S. baicalensis was found to consistently increase Sema3A levels in cultured NHEKs in assays using quantitative real-time PCR and ELISA. In evaluation of reconstituted human epidermis models, the level of Sema3A protein in culture supernatants significantly increased by application of the extract of S. baicalensis. In addition, we investigated which components in the extract of S. baicalensis contributed to Sema3A induction and found that baicalin and baicalein markedly increased the relative luciferase activity, and that baicalein had higher induction activity than baicalin. Thus, these findings suggest that S. baicalensis extract and its compounds, baicalin and baicalein, may be promising candidates for improving histamine-resistant itch via the induction of Sema3A expression in epidermal keratinocytes.
Person–environment fit and medical professionals’ job satisfaction, turnover intention, and professional efficacy: A cross-sectional study in Shanghai
Authors: Xiao Yuyin , Dong Minye , Shi Chenshu , Zeng Wu , Shao Zhenyi , Xie Hua , Li Guohong
Published: April 2021

Objectives

Using the person-environment (PE) fit theory, this study aims to explore factors affecting medical professionals’ job satisfaction, turnover intention, and professional efficacy, and to examine individual characters associated with PE fit.

Design and methods

This study used data from the sixth National Health Service Survey conducted in 2018, with a focus on job outcomes among medical professionals in Shanghai. The reliability and validity of the tools for measuring PE and job outcomes were calculated. A structural equation model was used to examine the relationship among person-job (PJ) fit and person-group (PG) fit, job satisfaction, turnover intention, and professional efficacy. Finally, a hierarchical regression model was used to analyze the association between demographic variables and the PJ and PG fit.

Results

PG fit was directly and positively associated with job satisfaction and professional efficacy. PJ fit had a direct and positive association with job satisfaction but had a direct and negative association with turnover intention. The indirect association of PJ fit with turnover intention was statistically significant. The results from the hierarchical regression analysis showed that younger physicians generally had a lower level of PJ fit and older physicians with higher education tended to have a lower level of PG fit.

Conclusions

Medical professionals with higher PJ or PG fit have higher job satisfaction, and those with higher PG fit have higher professional efficacy. The impact of PJ fit on turnover intention was mediated by job satisfaction. Healthcare managers should take actions to effectively promote medical professionals’ PJ and PG fit to improve their retention and efficiency.
Delusion progression process from the perspective of patients with psychoses: A descriptive study based on the primary delusion concept of Karl Jaspers
Authors: Hayashi Naoki , Igarashi Yoshito , Harima Hirohiko
Published: April 2021

Background

Delusion occupies an important position in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with psychoses. Although Karl Jaspers’ concept of the primary delusion (PD) is a key hypothesis in descriptive phenomenology concerning the primordial experience of delusion, to our knowledge it has not been verified in empirical studies of patients with psychosis, and the relationship between PDs and fully developed delusions remains unclear.

Methods

The subjects were 108 psychiatric patients diagnosed with DSM-IV schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who had persisting delusions. This investigation used a newly devised semi-structured interview, the Delusion and its Origin Assessment Interview (DOAI), and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. PDs enquired about in the DOAI were delusional perception, delusional memory, delusional mood, and delusional intuition. Associations of PDs with delusion themes and delusion features extracted from DOAI items by factor analysis were examined using correlational and MANCOVA regression analyses. Reliability studies of the DOAI were also conducted.

Results

The reliability and correlation analyses suggested robust psychometric properties of the DOAI. The percentages of subjects reporting PD phenomena as delusion origins and currently present were 93% and 84%, respectively. MANCOVA revealed several significant associations, including between delusional perception and delusional mood and persecutory themes, between delusional intuition and grandiose delusions, and between delusional perception and intuition and systematization of delusions.

Discussion

This study demonstrates that PDs can be considered as principal origins of delusions by subjects with psychosis, and have meaningful connections with the characteristics of their fully developed delusions. The associations between PDs and delusion characteristics can be interpreted in terms of progression processes of delusions, which are seen as intensification and generalization of cognitive and affective pathologies in PDs. The findings are also consistent with the neurobiological hypothesis that aberrant salience attribution to stimuli, as in PDs, is the primary phenomenon caused by abnormal dopamine system regulation. Further studies are needed to clarify delusion progression processes relating to PDs and to substantiate their clinical meanings.
Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 infects Langerhans cells and the novel epidermal dendritic cell, Epi-cDC2s, via different entry pathways
Authors: Bertram Kirstie M. , Truong Naomi R. , Smith Jacinta B. , Kim Min , Sandgren Kerrie J. , Feng Konrad L. , Herbert Jason J. , Rana Hafsa , Danastas Kevin , Miranda-Saksena Monica , Rhodes Jake W. , Patrick Ellis , Cohen Ralph C. , Lim Jake , Merten Steven L. , Harman Andrew N. , Cunningham Anthony L.
Published: April 2021

Skin mononuclear phagocytes (MNPs) provide the first interactions of invading viruses with the immune system. In addition to Langerhans cells (LCs), we recently described a second epidermal MNP population, Epi-cDC2s, in human anogenital epidermis that is closely related to dermal conventional dendritic cells type 2 (cDC2) and can be preferentially infected by HIV. Here we show that in epidermal explants topically infected with herpes simplex virus (HSV-1), both LCs and Epi-cDC2s interact with HSV-1 particles and infected keratinocytes. Isolated Epi-cDC2s support higher levels of infection than LCs in vitro, inhibited by acyclovir, but both MNP subtypes express similar levels of the HSV entry receptors nectin-1 and HVEM, and show similar levels of initial uptake. Using inhibitors of endosomal acidification, actin and cholesterol, we found that HSV-1 utilises different entry pathways in each cell type. HSV-1 predominantly infects LCs, and monocyte-derived MNPs, via a pH-dependent pathway. In contrast, Epi-cDC2s are mainly infected via a pH-independent pathway which may contribute to the enhanced infection of Epi-cDC2s. Both cells underwent apoptosis suggesting that Epi-cDC2s may follow the same dermal migration and uptake by dermal MNPs that we have previously shown for LCs. Thus, we hypothesize that the uptake of HSV and infection of Epi-cDC2s will stimulate immune responses via a different pathway to LCs, which in future may help guide HSV vaccine development and adjuvant targeting.
Genetic and biological properties of H7N9 avian influenza viruses detected after application of the H7N9 poultry vaccine in China
Authors: Yin Xin , Deng Guohua , Zeng Xianying , Cui Pengfei , Hou Yujie , Liu Yanjing , Fang Jingzhen , Pan Shuxin , Wang Dongxue , Chen Xiaohan , Zhang Yaping , Wang Xiurong , Tian Guobin , Li Yanbing , Chen Yan , Liu Liling , Suzuki Yasuo , Guan Yuntao , Li Chengjun , Shi Jianzhong , Chen Hualan
Published: April 2021

The H7N9 avian influenza virus (AIV) that emerged in China have caused five waves of human infection. Further human cases have been successfully prevented since September 2017 through the use of an H7N9 vaccine in poultry. However, the H7N9 AIV has not been eradicated from poultry in China, and its evolution remains largely unexplored. In this study, we isolated 19 H7N9 AIVs during surveillance and diagnosis from February 2018 to December 2019, and genetic analysis showed that these viruses have formed two different genotypes. Animal studies indicated that the H7N9 viruses are highly lethal to chicken, cause mild infection in ducks, but have distinct pathotypes in mice. The viruses bound to avian-type receptors with high affinity, but gradually lost their ability to bind to human-type receptors. Importantly, we found that H7N9 AIVs isolated in 2019 were antigenically different from the H7N9 vaccine strain that was used for H7N9 influenza control in poultry, and that replication of these viruses cannot, therefore, be completely prevented in vaccinated chickens. We further revealed that two amino acid mutations at positions 135 and 160 in the HA protein added two glycosylation sites and facilitated the escape of the H7N9 viruses from the vaccine-induced immunity. Our study provides important insights into H7N9 virus evolution and control.
Vasodilatory shock in 15 years old girl in Bulgaria
Authors: Hadzhieva Adriana , Boyadzhiev Martin , Ganeva Kalina , Dyankova Yoana , Karamfilova Teodora , Tsochev Kaloyan , Ivanov Georgi , Drenakova Plamena , Krumova Darina , Shivachev Petar , Iotova Violeta
Published: April 2021

Background

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in children related to COVID-19 (MIS-C) is a new condition the aftermath of which is yet to be studied both in Bulgaria and globally. Up to mid December 2020, world COVID-19 fatalities are put at 1 582 674, according WHO statistics.

Case Presentation Summary

We present a 15 years old patient with MIS-C, diagnosed with acute abdomen, operated andtreated for septic shock syndrome. The current situation represents a major clinical challenge in part due to the complex differential diagnosis involved: acute abdomen, septic shock, autoimmune diseases (Lupus erythematosus, Juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Kawasaki disease, Acquired immune deficiency, Crohn`s disease, Ulcer colitis), acute myocarditis. At the same time, other symptoms observed in children with COVID-19 such as skin rashes, lymphadenopathy, conjunctivitis are not presented inour patient. We did not observe any myocardial injury, however she went into an acute vasodilatory shock with tachycardia, reduced kidney perfusion pressure and oliguria.

Learning Points/Discussion

Effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on patients will be a subject of analysis and clinical research. Differential diagnosis of the multisystem inflammation syndrome in children, clinical experience and new therapeutic strategies are the key to reducing mortality and long-term complications in the affected patients.
Design of a Data Acquisition System for a Flying Laboratory
Authors: Millar M. , Smrček L.
Published: April 2021

The University of Glasgow, Department of Aerospace Engineering has been in possession of a Czech manufactured Remotely Piloted Vehicle (RPV) airframe 1 since 1996. Significant modifications have been made and will continue to be made in order to render the design functional and airworthy. The name ‘Condor’ was chosen as the moniker for the new aircraft. The latest phase of these modifications is the design and implementation of the Condor’s in-flight data acquisition (DAQ) system. The paper will outline the various processes involved and decisions made in the design and implementation of a simple data acquisition system for a RPV. The requirements of the system were first identified, such as those quantities that were deemed essential to the effective operation of the RPV. For example, airspeed, angle of attack, angle of sideslip etc. and the necessary instrumentation for measuring such values chosen and the subsequent signal conditioning needed for the signals to be intelligible to the DAQ Card and computer.
NUMERICAL COMPARISON OF TRANSGINGIVAL AND SUBGINGIVAL DENTAL IMPLANTS IN REGARD TO THEIR STRESS DISTRIBUTIONS
Authors: Řehounek Luboš , Jíra Aleš , Javorská Gabriela , Bodlák Daniel
Published: April 2021

Most modern dental implants differentiate in regard to the fixation of the abutment into two main categories - the external or internal hexagon or octagon. We performed mechanical tests according to the ČSN EN ISO 14801 standard on a dental implant variant using the external hex. We found that failure of all implant specimens occured below the screw head. To improve the current geometry, we performed numerical analysis of an alternative variant (internal hex) and compared it with analysis of the current geometry (external hex). It was found that the stress distribution of the variant with internal hex is preferable to the old variant. Although extreme values of shear stress in the corresponding plane of loading are higher, they do not concentrate below the screw head, where the screw itself is thinner and more prone to breaking. Therefore, it seems that the new variant of the dental implant is stronger, which is still to be proven by mechanical tests.
THERMO-MECHANICAL MODEL FOR CONCRETE PAVEMENT
Authors: Veselý Jakub , Šmilauer Vít
Published: April 2021

This paper describes a numerical thermo-mechanical model for concrete pavement, implemented in OOFEM software. The thermal part is a heat transfer problem with appropriate initial and boundary conditions (sun irradiation, radiation and convection), calibrated from experimental data. Heat release from cement hydration is also included, calibrated for commonly used cements to demonstrate the difference that can be achieved with the binder selection. The mechanical part of the problem is composed of a 3D elastic concrete slab, subsoil Winkler-Pasternak elements and 1D interface elements, allowing separation in tension. The Winkler-Pasternak constants C1 and C2 were firstly determined from TP170 document and refined later from static load tests on the highway. The model validates well temperature field, static load test and provide several useful insight such as feasible time for summer casting, stress/strain fields and slab separation from the base.
El acceso al agua potable en las comunidades indígenas del Perú en el marco de estado de emergencia nacional
Authors: Cacñahuaray Mitma Ruth Nadhiesda
Published: April 2021

En este artículo se presenta la situación del acceso al agua en un grupo de comunidades indígenas de la región Loreto, en el marco del estado de emergencia nacional a causa de la propagación del Covid-19. En la primera sección se describen las condiciones de acceso al agua; seguidamente, se expone el régimen normativo del agua para a partir de ello determinar si las condiciones con las que se presta en dichas comunidades son las adecuadas. Por último, se realiza una breve reflexión sobre los aspectos que requieren ser evaluados e implementados para hacer frente a situaciones de emergencia.
Perception and Modification: A Pragmatic Study of Irai Hyougen by Japanese Learners
Authors: Indraswari Thamita Islami , Meisa Wistri , Rachmawati Dian , Ariyani Lintang Putri
Published: April 2021

This research focused on describing how perceptions about the degree of imposition are manifested in requests in Japanese used by learners and how these perceptions are translated into choices of pragmatic modification. Through qualitative methods using the discourse completion test, it is known that perceptions of the degree of an imposition when requesting something are not manifested into the choice of request type used by learners. Instead, it is more visible from the variation in the choice of syntactic patterns used in request expression. The perception of the degree of imposition translated into a choice of external and internal pragmatic modifications. Although learners have varying perceptions of the degree of imposition for the same request, it does not appear that learners differentiate the choice of pragmatic modification based on the heaviness of the request’s imposition.
Understanding Learning Analytics Indicators for Predicting Study Success
Authors: Ifenthaler Dirk , Yau Jane Yin-Kim
Published: April 2021

Common factors, which are related to study success include students’ sociodemographic factors, cognitive capacity, or prior academic performance, and individual attributes as well as course related factors such as active learning and attention or environmental factors related to supportive academic and social embeddedness. The aim of this research is to gain a deeper understanding of not only if learning analytics can support study success, but which aspects of a learner’s learning journey can benefit from the utilisation of learning analytics. We, therefore, examined different learning analytics indicators to show which aspect of the learning journey they were successfully supporting. Key indicators may include GPA, learning history, and clickstream data. Depending on the type of higher education institution, and the mode of education (face-to-face and/or distance), the chosen indicators may be different due to them having different importance in predicting the learning out-comes and study success.
Making engaging online videos: What can higher education teachers learn from YouTubers?
Authors: Cowie Neil , Sakui Keiko
Published: April 2021

Videos are an indispensable part of most online courses and are a key device for teachers to develop a personal link with their learners. There are a number of technical principles which can guide teachers to make videos that will best enhance learning and engagement. However, not many teachers have expertise in creating videos and it is not always clear how students perceive the educational value of such videos. In this preliminary study, the authors, who are both English as a Foreign Language teachers at university in Japan, shared clips from popular YouTube language teachers with student participants in order to find out what features of the videos were most appealing. Results show a number of principles to follow especially concerning voice speed, clarity and friendliness. But above all teachers need to show an authenticity and passion about their subject.
Assessing esport candidacy for critical thinking education
Authors: Post Ger , Birt James
Published: April 2021

Critical thinking in education is mainstream with ever increasing industry support for soft skills and capacity for graduates to solve problems, plan strategy, make decisions and communicate creatively. However, teaching and assessing critical thinking is resource intensive especially when scaling to large remote or online classes. Often, the solutions are bespoke, custom outcomes for a single classroom that are expensive to scale. Commercial computer games and esports may offer a solution. In this paper we aim to define critical thinking in education and how this relates to skills in esports, including decision making, problem solving, making a game plan, developing strategy and communication. To achieve this, we propose a conceptual framework to assess effectiveness of esports in teaching critical thinking using an adapted digital game-based learning framework and the learning goals of critical thinking. We support the framework with an esport case example of Rocket League with a lesson plan.
Investigating the characteristics of MOOCs according to eight critical dimensions: A case study
Authors: Lai Jennifer W.M. , Bower Matt , Breyer Yvonne , De Nobile John
Published: April 2021

Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) have been a popular trend in the online learning landscape. However, MOOC learners have expressed their dissatisfaction with the courses or problems with course management. To develop a widely accepted MOOC, the main aim of this study is to investigate the characteristics of MOOCs by using eight themes: learning outcomes, affective elements, behaviours, design, technology elements, pedagogy, presence and institutional environment. Using the case study approach, we explored the practices of four MOOCs in an Excel specialisation by using student unsolicited feedback, the literature and the analysis of the MOOCs by researchers. We analysed the learners’ posts on the official forums with auto-code sentiment and text search functions in Nvivo 12 Plus. The results of this study showed that high-rated MOOCs had approximately 74.7% of positive sentiments on discussion forums, with 1.2% negative and 24.1% neutral. The results indicated that MOOCs helped learners improve their level of knowledge in the subject area. Teachers/instructors also play a very significant role, and they have to provide clear explanations in different concepts. To conclude, this study intends to offer guidelines to researchers, educators, and MOOC designers to create successful MOOCs by focusing on the eight dimensions.
A spectrum of assessments
Authors: Shvartsman Rina , Abblitt Stephen
Published: April 2021

Different methods of assessment are used to measure learning outcomes in different academic disciplines. Many learning designers, despite being predisposed to certain assessment methods as they draw on their own specific academic background, work with a broad range of academic disciplines. This can result in difficulties advising academics from a discipline with which they are less familiar on best-practice teaching, learning, and assessment. This paper offers a tool for learning designers and subject matter experts to use when working together to design assessments in various academic courses, based on the characteristics of subject matter within the relevant disciplines. Specifically, we map a set of disciplines and a set of assessment methods on two axes: Pure vs. Applied and Hard vs. Soft (PAHS). For the set of disciplines, we can justify our choice of map locations based on attributes required by relevant accreditation organisations. The scattering of the assessment methods on the map is based on a proposed taxonomy of assessment design and common practice as observed by the authors. Learning designers are encouraged to refer to this paper as a guide when designing assessments for courses outside their knowledge domain.
Should we care about what the students do? Challenging how we design for online learning
Authors: Schwenger Bettina
Published: April 2021

Rapidly responding in the times of a pandemic, tertiary courses in New Zealand have implemented emergency remote learning and teaching by increasing learning online. Many staff require support though to purposeful redesign and facilitate online as part of blended or hybrid learning and teaching. This article reports about a study of redesign for such a purpose. The course demands were identified to then consider how to use online features to support the assessment for Māori and non-Māori students. Research instruments with students included questionnaires and focus groups; conversations and reflections were used with staff. The paper includes key findings, firstly how online features can contribute to active learning and secondly, considerations and tools to enhance a course design with increased online learning, for example an explicit plan of how and when certain affordances support students learning.
Stress at the teacher’s workplace – chosen factors
Authors: Szczygieł Magdalena
Published: April 2021

Stress aspects still remain as an existing problem, which requires further interdisciplinary studies. Considering the strong impact of chronic exposure to psychosocial stressors at a workplace in relational and incentives contexts of undertaking professional duties, those aspects gain in importance in teachers’ work. A person stays in a continuouscontact with a student, parent or another teacher, and their motivation seems to be a key aspect for the entire education process. The presented article is an attempt to capturestress indicators in a teachers’ work, as well as ways of dealing with them in a school reality. The article begins by highlighting the most important stress definitions, followed by a brief methodology of self-research. Then the author describes stressors present in teacher’s work, which were identified in empirical studies, and ways of dealing with stress used by tested teachers. The article ends with conclusions and recommendations for further representative studies.
Potencjał badań edukacyjnych bazy danych Internetowej Rejestracji Kandydatów – metoda analityczna desk research
Authors: Nalaskowski Filip , Dejna Dagna
Published: April 2021

The text presents and describes the desk research analytical method. As an example of the practical application of the described method and a little-known data source, a short analysis of the database of Online Registration of andidates is presented. The components of the base are presented step by step, along with its information potential. A separate part is the presentation of the possible potential of IRK for educational research – in this case 11 years of candidates for archaeological studies at the Nicolaus Copernicus University. Analysis of the candidates’ origin, study potential, determination to take a specific major, etc.
Polityczne wybory młodych do Parlamentu Europejskiego jako egzemplifikacja obywatelskości młodzieży – kontekst kształcenia formalnego
Authors: Kanclerz Bożena
Published: April 2021

The main axis of the narration in this article is the analysis of the electoral activity of young Poles from the perspective of the formal program of Citizenship Education in the area of shaping the attitudes of young people as active voters. The first part of the article presents the context of Polish civil society and the electoral activity of young Poles. The Author connects the analyses of youth electoral patterns to with the assessment of effectiveness of formal education, including textbook messages, in shaping and developing civic engagement in youth. The article presents the analysis of textbooks for civic education, as well as indicates some non-textual contexts for implementing civic education in Poland. The analysis of citizenship education textbooks becomes an opportunity to approximate multi-faceted challenge of shaping civil attitudes among young people in Poland.
Friedel-Crafts alkylation of benzene with benzyl alcohol over H-MCM-22
Authors: Karabulut Deniz , Akyalcin Sema
Published: April 2021

MCM-22 was synthesized by using silicic acid powder as a silica source under the static hydrothermal condition and characterized by X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms, scanning electron microscopy, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry, and temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia. The liquid phase benzylation of benzene with benzyl alcohol to diphenylmethane was investigated over H-MCM-22. The effects of reaction parameters on the conversion of benzyl alcohol and product distribution were determined. Under optimal reaction conditions, diphenylmethane yield of 92.1% was achieved for 99.3% conversion of benzyl alcohol in 3 h of reaction period. The reusability of the catalyst was also investigated after calcination of the catalyst in stagnant air at 500 °C for 4 h. The results show that the organic species produced during the reaction deposited in the catalyst lead to the deactivation of the catalyst and the calcination of the deactivated catalyst causes catalyst dealumination.
Taxonomy of Ctenomys (Rodentia: Ctenomyidae) in northwestern Patagonia, Argentina: the occurrence of the “mendocinus” lineage
Authors: Tammone Mauro N. , Pardiñas Ulyses F.J.
Published: April 2021

Subterranean rodents Ctenomys are iconic representatives of the mammalian fauna from southern South America. Based on molecular data, eight lineages have been identified within the genus, although species-level identifications and relationships are still debated. Until now, the “magellanicus” clade has been the only lineage mentioned from arid, extra-Andean portions of Patagonia. Here, we report the presence of a Ctenomys population from northern Patagonia that is unambiguously associated with the Central Argentinean “mendocinus” lineage. Most of the 160,000 km2 comprising the northern portion of Patagonia – an area consisting primarily of Monte Desert shrub-land – are inhabited by Ctenomys populations of unknown taxonomy.
Nach der Krise ist vor der Krise – für eine rasche Konsolidierung der öffentlichen Haushalte
Authors: Schmidt Christoph M. , Schmidt Torsten
Published: April 2021

Public debt has increased significantly in the wake of the Corona crisis. In order to remain able to act, public budgets must be consolidated in the coming years. However, no special measures are necessary for this, especially no new taxes. Due to the consolidation of the past years, the debt-to-GDP ratio will probably not exceed the level it reached during the financial crisis. Current policy impulses have been set on the expenditure side. Correspondingly, consolidation should emphasize the reduction of expenditures. An increase of revenues should only be considered, if the measures initially taken prove insufficient.
BIOCONCRETO: A PRÓXIMA GERAÇÃO DE CONCRETO AUTO-REPARÁVEL
Authors: Martins Fabiano Battemarco Da Silva , Gonçalves Jose Roberto Moreira Ribeiro , Paula Liliane Da Silva
Published: April 2021

O bioconcreto é uma tecnologia que vem sendo muito estudada devido a sua peculiaridade e seus benefícios, pois o crescimento da população mundial e as economias em expansão são duas das principais razões para uma crescente demanda por edifícios e infraestrutura. Em maior parte dos casos, o concreto é o principal elemento de construção dessas estruturas que atendem essas necessidades. A falta de qualidade desses materiais resulta em manutenção e reparo prematuros ou mesmo em desativação e demolição de estruturas, sendo necessária a aplicação de um produto que pudesse reparar essas estruturas de forma segura.  Este artigo será uma pesquisa bibliográfica que objetiva introduzir o conceito do Bioconcreto, um material que possui características que permitem a interrupção de fissuras e porosidades interligadas, por meio da precipitação de carbonato de cálcio metabolizada por bactérias. Mas mesmo estruturas de boa qualidade sofrem com o envelhecimento dos materiais dos quais essas estruturas foram construídas. Diante desse fato, considera-se um grande desafio para projetar materiais com um potencial inerente para se reparar uma vez iniciado quaisquer espécimes de deterioração ou envelhecimento.
ORÇAMENTO DE OBRAS PÚBLICAS: APLICAÇÃO DE METODOLOGIA PARA PROCESSO DE ORÇAMENTAÇÃO.
Authors: Viana Deivid Reis , Cunha Rayanne Nunes Oliveira , Teixeira Teilor Rodrigues Silva , Aguiar Luiz Eduardo Amâncio , Menegotto José Luis
Published: April 2021

As obras públicas seguem um processo administrativo e técnico definido por lei e deve esclarecer com precisão todas as informações do objeto de contratação para que não haja prejuízo à Administração Pública. O planejamento de uma obra ou reforma pública envolvem fases bem definidas, que devem ser seguidas, sob pema de nulidade processual ou prejuízos futuros, por isso é de fundamental importância a elaboração de um processo de orçamentação correto do ponto de vista técnico, legal e processual, para a aplicação eficiente de recursos financeiros. A Lei Federal 8.666/1993 define requisitos indispensáveis para licitação de qualquer obra pública, tendo sua aplicação iniciada desde a concepção processual até a fase contratual, tornando o processo mais exato e seguro a cada detalhamento dos projetos. Buscou-se elucidar a aplicação das metodologias e os dispositivos legais e processuais na formulação de um processo licitatório, considerando a fase interna.
Mutually Repulsive EphA7–EfnA5 Organize Region-to-Region Corticopontine Projection by Inhibiting Collateral Extension
Authors: Iguchi Tokuichi , Oka Yuichiro , Yasumura Misato , Omi Minoru , Kuroda Kazuki , Yagi Hideshi , Xie Min-Jue , Taniguchi Manabu , Bastmeyer Martin , Sato Makoto
Published: April 2021

Coordination of skilled movements and motor planning relies on the formation of regionally restricted brain circuits that connect cortex with subcortical areas during embryonic development. Layer 5 neurons that are distributed across most cortical areas innervate the pontine nuclei (basilar pons) by protrusion and extension of collateral branches interstitially along their corticospinal extending axons. Pons-derived chemotropic cues are known to attract extending axons, but molecules that regulate collateral extension to create regionally segregated targeting patterns have not been identified. Here, we discovered thatEphA7andEfnA5are expressed in the cortex and the basilar pons in a region-specific and mutually exclusive manner, and that their repulsive activities are essential for segregating collateral extensions from corticospinal axonal tracts in mice. Specifically,EphA7andEfnA5forward and reverse inhibitory signals direct collateral extension such thatEphA7-positive frontal and occipital cortical areas extend their axon collaterals into theEfnA5-negative rostral part of the basilar pons, whereasEfnA5-positive parietal cortical areas extend their collaterals into theEphA7-negative caudal part of the basilar pons. Together, our results provide a molecular basis that explains how the corticopontine projection connects multimodal cortical outputs to their subcortical targets.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTOur findings put forward a model in which region-to-region connections between cortex and subcortical areas are shaped by mutually exclusive molecules to ensure the fidelity of regionally restricted circuitry. This model is distinct from earlier work showing that neuronal circuits within individual cortical modalities form in a topographical manner controlled by a gradient of axon guidance molecules. The principle that a shared molecular program of mutually repulsive signaling instructs regional organization—both within each brain region and between connected brain regions—may well be applicable to other contexts in which information is sorted by converging and diverging neuronal circuits.
Experience-Dependent Inhibitory Plasticity Is Mediated by CCK+ Basket Cells in the Developing Dentate Gyrus
Authors: Feng Ting , Alicea Christian , Pham Vincent , Kirk Amanda , Pieraut Simon
Published: April 2021

Early postnatal experience shapes both inhibitory and excitatory networks in the hippocampus. However, the underlying circuit plasticity is unclear. Using an enriched environment (EE) paradigm during the preweaning period in mice of either sex, we assessed the circuit plasticity of inhibitory cell types in the hippocampus. We found that cholecystokinin (CCK)-expressing basket cells strongly increased somatic inhibition on the excitatory granular cells (GCs) following EE, whereas another pivotal inhibitory cell type, parvalbumin (PV)-expressing cells, did not show changes. Using electrophysiological analysis and the use of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R) agonist WIN 55 212–2, we demonstrate that the change in somatic inhibition from CCK+ neurons increases CB1R-mediated inhibition in the circuit. By inhibiting activity of the entorhinal cortex (EC) using a chemogenetic approach, we further demonstrate that the activity of the projections from the EC mediates the developmental assembly of CCK+ basket cell network. Altogether, our study places the experience-dependent remodeling of CCK+ basket cell innervation as a central process to adjust inhibition in the dentate gyrus and shows that cortical inputs to the hippocampus play an instructional role in controlling the refinement of the synaptic connections during the preweaning period.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTBrain plasticity is triggered by experience during postnatal brain development and shapes the maturing neural circuits. In humans, altered experience-dependent plasticity can have long-lasting detrimental effects on circuit function and lead to psychiatric disorders. Yet, the cellular mechanisms governing how early experience fine-tunes the maturing synaptic network is not fully understood. Here, taking advantage of an enrichment-housing paradigm, we unravel a new plasticity mechanism involved in the maintenance of the inhibitory to excitatory balance in the hippocampus. Our findings demonstrate that cortical activity instructs the assembly of the CCK+ basket cell network. Considering the importance of this specific cell type for learning and memory, experience-dependent remodeling of CCK+ cells may be a critical determinant for establishing appropriate neural networks.
The Influence of the Mastery of Function Words on Students’ Reading Ability
Authors: Irmawati Monica Ratna , Farida Alief Noor
Published: April 2021

This study is an ex-post facto research which aims to find out the influence of the mastery of function words on reading ability of the seventh grade students of secondary school and to find out how the reading ability between students with adequate function words’ mastery and students with inadequate function words’ mastery is. The samples used in this research were two groups of students who have adequate and inadequate function words’ mastery. Each group consists of 30 students that is chosen by using stratified random sampling. In analysing the data, researcher used Independent Sample t-Test. The result shows that the mastery of function words significantly influences students’ reading ability. It is found that there is significant difference of students’ reading ability between students with adequate mastery in function words with those having inadequate mastery in function words. It is found that students with adequate function words’ mastery have better and higher ability in reading than students having inadequate function words’ mastery.