bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preliminary report of the mutation status of KRAS and BRAF-V600E in an Argentinean population of primary colorectal tumors
Authors: Perazzo F. , Denninghoff V. , Pasccon G. , Pallotta M. G. , Tatangelo M. , Cuartero V. , Kirchuck R. , Chacón M. , Gennari L. , Vera K. , Avagnina A.
Published: August 2020

e22183

Background: Several studies have suggested that KRAS somatic mutations predict resistance to Cetuximab treatment in colorectal cancers. The aim of this report is to present the mutational status of KRAS, BRAF and epidemiological data of an Argentinean population of CR tumors which may have future clinical practice implications. Methods: Patients were prospectively selected from the databases of 8 Argentinean public and private hospitals with colorectal cancer between January and December 2008. We analyzed the presence of KRAS point mutations in codons 12 and 13, and the BRAF-V600E from formalin fixed sections with Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplification-sequencing. Results: A total of 146 patients, 41.8% (61) F and 57.2% (85) M, with a median age of 58.1 years (range, 17–88), 45.2% (66) were current smokers, 50% (73) never smoke. 41.4% (60) have family history of cancer and 9.6% (14) have personal history of a previous tumor. 63.2% were European Caucasian, 30.3% American Caucasian and 0.7% of Asian origin. The media BMI was 25.9 (range, 16- 47). The primary tumor site was 21.9% (32) right colon, 5.5% (8) transverse colon, 45.2% (66) left colon and 27.4%(40) rectal cancer. Adenocarcinoma was the unique histotype and mucinous differentiation was observed in 14.7% (21). The Pathological Stage at diagnosis was Stage I 3.42% (5), II 24% (35), III 33.6% (49) and IV 39% (57). 60.3% (88) where found to be wild type, while the other 39.7% (58) showed the KRAS mutation in the following amino acids: GLY12ALA 5.2% (3), GLY12ASP 25.9% (15), GLY12CYS 3.4% (2), GLY12SER 1.7% (1), GLY12VAL 62.1 % (36), GLY13ARG 1.7% (1). We analyzed in 49 patients the mutational status of BRAF-V600E, only 2 patients showed the presence of both mutations, 23 presented BRAF and KRAS wild type, 20 had a KRAS mutation while the BRAF was wild type, only 4 patients reveled a mutation of BRAF in the presence of a KRAS wild type. Conclusions: This is the first Argentinean collaborative study of the mutational status of KRAS and BRAF. Our preliminary report based in 146 patients, revealed similar mutational KRAS results in codon 12 and 13 than the reports of Europe. This is probably due to the ethnic origin of Argentinean population.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.
Triple-negative breast cancer: Epidemiology, characteristics, and survival in a Lebanese cohort
Authors: Ghosn M. , Hajj C. , Nasr F. , El Karak F. , Abadjian G. , Kattan J. , Chahine G.
Published: August 2020

e22228

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy in women in Lebanon. Triple negative (TN) phenotype is known to be associated with an increased likelihood of recurrence and death. The purpose of this study is to determine the incidence, characteristics and survival of TN BC patients in a Medical Oncology department in a University Hospital in Lebanon. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the pathology of all women with breast cancer that were seen in our institution between 1997 and 2008. TN BC patients (pts) were defined as those that were negative for all 3 receptors (estrogen, progesterone and HER2neu on immunohistochemistry). Pts' characteristics and survival of TN women were analyzed. Results: Of the 1599 breast cancer pts, 155 (9.7%) had a triple negative phenotype. Median age was 52 years. A positive family history of breast/ovarian cancer was found in 15 pts (10%). Pathology studies showed: invasive ductal carcinoma component in 138 pts (89%), pure medullary carcinoma in 7 pts (5%), pure invasive lobular carcinoma in 6 pts (4%), pure mucinous carcinoma in 3 pts (2%) and epidermoid carcinoma in 1 pt (1%). A grade III was found in 98 of specimens (63%). Twenty-six pts (17%) presented with stage I, 73 (47%) with stage II, 37 (24%) with stage III and 19 (12%) with stage IV. Twelve percent had inflammatory breast cancer. After a median follow up of 17 months (mths), 43 pts had relapsed (5 stage I, 18 stage II and 20 stage III). The most common sites of relapse were brain (in 20 % of cases), lungs (in 20% of cases) and bone (in 11% of cases). Five- year disease free survival and 5-year overall survival were respectively 75% and 88% for stage I, 58% and 72% for stage II and 40% and 63% for stage III. Adjuvant therapy was administered to 96% of pts among which a taxane-based regimen was used in 38% of cases . Median survival for stage IV was 19 mths with a first line taxane-based regimen used in 50% of cases. Conclusions: The incidence of TN BC in Lebanon is similar to that described in the literature. It has an aggressive course. Focus on understanding the biology of this particular BC subtype is essential for determining targets for future therapeutic options.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase IIIb trial (ATLAS) comparing bevacizumab (B) therapy with or without erlotinib (E) after completion of chemotherapy with B for first-line treatment of locally advanced, recurrent, or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
Authors: Miller V. A. , Das A. , Rossi M.
Published: August 2020

LBA8002

The full, final text of this abstract will be available in Part II of the 2009 ASCO Annual Meeting Proceedings, distributed onsite at the Meeting on May 30, 2009, and as a supplement to the June 20, 2009, issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

[Table: see text]
Phase III, randomized, double-blind study of elesclomol and paclitaxel versus paclitaxel alone in stage IV metastatic melanoma (MM)
Authors: Hauschild A. , Eggermont A. M. , Jacobson E. , O'Day S. J.
Published: August 2020

LBA9012

The full, final text of this abstract will be available in Part II of the 2009 ASCO Annual Meeting Proceedings, distributed onsite at the Meeting on May 30, 2009, and as a supplement to the June 20, 2009, issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

[Table: see text]
Resistência de união de primers/silanos em superfície de cêramica vítrea
Authors: Lanza Marcos Daniel Septímio , Silveira Renata Assis , Costa Hoany Vieira , De Souza Eduardo Lemos , Peixoto Rogeli Tibúrcio Ribeiro da Cunha , Lanza Lincoln Dias
Published: August 2020

Objetivo: investigar a resistência de união por cisalhamento de diferentes soluções contendo silano e primer na superfície de Dissilicato de Lítio (IPS e.maxCAD, Ivoclar-Vivadent). Metodologia: 78 blocos cerâmicos foram incluídos em resina acrílica, polidos e lavados em ultra-som por 10 minutos. Os espécimes foram divididos em dois grupos de acordo com tratamento de superfície: Superfície Polida (PS); Ácido Hidro-Fluorídrico 9,5% - 20s (HF). Cada grupo foi dividido em três subgrupos (n = 13), de acordo com o tipo de silano: silano tradicional (Porcelain Prime, Inc. Bisco); mistura de silano e resina (KerrSilane, Kerr); mistura de silano e adesivo universal (Single-bond Universal, 3M Espe). Os espécimes foram montados em um dispositivo padrão para teste de cisalhamento (UltradentBonding Assembly), cimentados com cimento resinoso dual (Duolink Universal™, Bisco Inc.) e foto-polimerizados por 20s. As amostras foram testadas após 24 horas e 90 dias de armazenamento em água destilada a 47°C. Os dados foram analisados por 2-Way Anova e Teste de Tukey (α=5%). Resultados: em geral, os valores de resistência adesiva do silano tradicional foram, estatisticamente, mais elevados do que os outros tipos de silanos. O armazenamento afetou, significativamente, a força de adesão para a maioria dos grupos (p <0,001). O grupo PS apresentou menores valores de resistência adesiva, independentemente da variável (silano vs armazenamento). Conclusões: adequada resistência adesiva pode ser obtida com silanos tradicionais após o pré-tratamento de superfície com ácido HF.
One-year test-retest reliability of ten vision tests in Canadian athletes
Authors: Aloosh Mehdi , Leclerc Suzanne , Long Stephanie , Zhong Guowei , Brophy James M. , Schuster Tibor , Steele Russell , Shrier Ian
Published: August 2020

Background: Vision tests are used in concussion management and baseline testing. Concussions, however, often occur months after baseline testing and reliability studies generally examine intervals limited to days or one week. Our objective was to determine the one-year test-retest reliability of these tests.

Methods: We assessed one-year test-retest reliability of ten vision tests in elite Canadian athletes followed by the Institut National du Sport du Quebec. We included athletes who completed two baseline (preseason) annual evaluations by one clinician within 365±30 days. We excluded athletes with any concussion or vision training in between the annual evaluations or presented with any factor that is believed to affect the tests (e.g. migraines). Data were collected from clinical charts. We evaluated test-retest reliability using Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) and 95% limits of agreement (LoA).

Results: We examined nine female and seven male athletes with a mean age of 22.7 (SD 4.5) years. Among the vision tests, we observed excellent test-retest reliability in Positive Fusional Vergence at 30cm (ICC=0.93) but this dropped to 0.53 when an outlier was excluded in a sensitivity analysis. There was good to moderate reliability in Negative Fusional Vergence at 30cm (ICC=0.78), Phoria at 30cm (ICC=0.68), Near Point of Convergence break (ICC=0.65) and Saccades (ICC=0.61). The ICC for Positive Fusional Vergence at 3m (ICC=0.56) also decreased to 0.21 after removing one outlier. We found poor reliability in Near Point of Convergence (ICC=0.47), Gross Stereoscopic Acuity (ICC=0.03) and Negative Fusional Vergence at 3m (ICC=0.0). ICC for Phoria at 3m was not appropriate because scores were identical in 14/16 athletes. 95% LoA of the majority of tests were ±40% to ±90%.

Conclusions: Five tests had good to moderate one-year test-retest reliability. The remaining tests had poor reliability. The tests would therefore be useful only if concussion has a moderate-large effect on scores.
Post-stroke fatigue: a scoping review
Authors: Aali Ghazaleh , Drummond Avril , das Nair Roshan , Shokraneh Farhad
Published: August 2020

Background: Post-stroke fatigue (PSF) is one of the most common and frustrating outcomes of stroke. It has a high prevalence and it can persist for many years after stroke. PSF itself contributes to a wider range of undesirable outcomes that affect all aspects of daily life. The aim of this review was to identify and summarise the most recent research on PSF, in order to update the evidence base.

Methods: We updated an existing review (Hinkleet al. 2017) systematically searching CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and PubMed to cover new research studies between 1stMarch 2016 and the search date (19thJanuary 2020). We included interventional and observational research, and clinical practice guidelines that were not covered in the original review. After duplicate removal in EndNote, two reviewers screened the search results in Rayyan, and data from eligible full texts were extracted onto an Excel spreadsheet. Finally, we used RobotReviewer and a human reviewer to assess the risk of bias of randomised trials for this scoping review.

Results: We identified 45 records for 30 studies (14 observational, 10 interventional studies, and 6 guidelines). Apart from one, the interventional studies were single-centred, had high risk of bias and small sample size (median 50). They investigated exercise, pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, education, and light therapy. Observational studies mainly reported the factors related to PSF including co-morbidities, depression and anxiety, quality of life, activities of daily living, stroke severity, medication use and polypharmacy, polymorphism, pain, apathy, limb heaviness, neuroticism, mobility, and thyroid-stimulating hormone. Guidelines either did not report on PSF or, when reported, their recommendations were supported by little or low level of evidence.

Conclusion: Although we identified a number of recent studies which have added to our current knowledge on PSF, none are robust enough to change current clinical practice.
Citations and metrics of journals discontinued from Scopus for publication concerns: the GhoS(t)copus Project
Authors: Cortegiani Andrea , Ippolito Mariachiara , Ingoglia Giulia , Manca Andrea , Cugusi Lucia , Severin Anna , Strinzel Michaela , Panzarella Vera , Campisi Giuseppina , Manoj Lalu , Gregoretti Cesare , Einav Sharon , Moher David , Giarratano Antonino
Published: August 2020

Background: Scopus is a leading bibliometric database. It contains a large part of the articles cited in peer-reviewed publications. The journals included in Scopus are periodically re-evaluated to ensure they meet indexing criteria and some journals might be discontinued for 'publication concerns'. Previously published articles may remain indexed and can be cited. Their metrics have yet to be studied. This study aimed to evaluate the main features and metrics of journals discontinued from Scopus for publication concerns, before and after their discontinuation, and to determine the extent of predatory journals among the discontinued journals.

Methods: We surveyed the list of discontinued journals from Scopus (July 2019). Data regarding metrics, citations and indexing were extracted from Scopus or other scientific databases, for the journals discontinued for publication concerns. 

Results: A total of 317 journals were evaluated. Ninety-three percent of the journals (294/317) declared they published using an Open Access model. The subject areas with the greatest number of discontinued journals were Medicine (52/317; 16%), Agriculture and Biological Science (34/317; 11%), and Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics (31/317; 10%). The mean number of citations per year after discontinuation was significantly higher than before (median of difference 16.89 citations, p<0.0001), and so was the number of citations per document (median of difference 0.42 citations, p<0.0001). Twenty-two percent (72/317) were included in the Cabell’s blacklist. The DOAJ currently included only 9 journals while 61 were previously included and discontinued, most for 'suspected editorial misconduct by the publisher'.

Conclusions: Journals discontinued for 'publication concerns' continue to be cited despite discontinuation and predatory behaviour seemed common. These citations may influence scholars’ metrics prompting artificial career advancements, bonus systems and promotion. Countermeasures should be taken urgently to ensure the reliability of Scopus metrics for the purpose of scientific assessment of scholarly publishing at both journal- and author-level.
Prediction of repurposed drugs for treating lung injury in COVID-19
Authors: He Bing , Garmire Lana
Published: August 2020

Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease discovered in 2019 and currently in outbreak across the world. Lung injury with severe respiratory failure is the leading cause of death in COVID-19, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, there still lacks efficient treatment for COVID-19 induced lung injury and acute respiratory failure.

Methods: Inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) caused by the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 is the most plausible mechanism of lung injury in COVID-19. We performed drug repositioning analysis to identify drug candidates that reverse gene expression pattern in L1000 lung cell line HCC515 treated with ACE2 inhibitor. We confirmed these drug candidates by similar bioinformatics analysis using lung tissues from patients deceased from COVID-19. We further investigated deregulated genes and pathways related to lung injury, as well as the gene-pathway-drug candidate relationships.

Results: We propose two candidate drugs, COL-3 (a chemically modified tetracycline) and CGP-60474 (a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor), for treating lung injuries in COVID-19. Further bioinformatics analysis shows that 12 significantly enriched pathways (P-value <0.05) overlap between HCC515 cells treated with ACE2 inhibitor and human COVID-19 patient lung tissues. These include signaling pathways known to be associated with lung injury such as TNF signaling, MAPK signaling and chemokine signaling pathways. All 12 pathways are targeted in COL-3 treated HCC515 cells, in which genes such as RHOA, RAC2, FAS, CDC42 have reduced expression. CGP-60474 shares 11 of 12 pathways with COL-3 and common target genes such as RHOA. It also uniquely targets other genes related to lung injury, such as CALR and MMP14.

Conclusions: This study shows that ACE2 inhibition is likely part of the mechanisms leading to lung injury in COVID-19, and that compounds such as COL-3 and CGP-60474 have potential as repurposed drugs for its treatment.
The factor structure of the Center for Epidemiological Study - Depression Scale in people with multiple sclerosis
Authors: Kneebone Ian I. , Fife-Schaw Chris , Lam Lawrence T. , das Nair Roshan
Published: August 2020

Background: Depression is common in multiple sclerosis (MS); however, its assessment is complicated by biological processes. In this context it is important to consider the performance of depression screening measures including that their factor structure is consistent with expectation.  This study sought to identify the factor structure of the Center for Epidemiological Study - Depression Scale (CES-D) in people with MS (PwMS).

Methods: Participants (N = 493) were those who had consented to take part in a large three-phase longitudinal study of depression in PwMS. CES-D questionnaires completed at phase 1 of the study were utilised. An error in the questionnaire meant it was most appropriate to consider data for 19 of the 20 CES-D questionnaire items. The data was split into two samples by a random selection process to create an exploratory, model development sample and a validation sample. The first sample was subject to confirmatory factor analysis. Following examination of model fit and specification errors, the original model was modified. The revised model was tested in the confirmation sample to assess reproducibility.

Results: The analysis results supported the original four factor solution for the CES-D, that is: Depressed Affect, Positive Affect, Somatic Complaints/Activity Inhibition, and Interpersonal Difficulties.

Conclusions: The CES-D appears to have a coherent structure with which to examine depression in PwMS.
Case Report: Pediatric pharmacobezoar with subacute intestinal obstruction
Authors: Hakeem Mahnaz , Lohana Heeramani , Urooj Sarwat , Ahmed Sheraz
Published: August 2020

Bezoars are an undigested mass causing an intraluminal obstruction in children.  Pharmacobezoars are formed from medicines or their vehicle, considered as a less frequent type observed in children. Our objective is to report a relatively rare entity as a potential cause of intestinal obstruction in children.  Here we report a case of 13-year-old girl with a history of herbal medicine intake who presented with persistent vomiting and abdominal distension. She was diagnosed with acute intestinal obstruction and managed conservatively without any complications. The patient became stable within two days so was discharged home. We found that ineffective history could lead to a delay in diagnosis and management. Clinicians should have a high index of suspicion for pica and psychiatric disorders, especially in adolescent children.
Evidence for side effects of cannabidiol (CBD) products and their non-conformity on the European food market – response to the European Industrial Hemp Association
Authors: Lachenmeier Dirk W. , Walch Stephan G.
Published: August 2020

An interesting and valuable discussion has arisen from our recent article (Lachenmeier et al., 2020) and we are pleased to have the opportunity to expand on the various points we made. Equally important, we wish to correct several important misunderstandings that were made by Kruse and Beitzke (2020) on behalf of the European Industrial Hemp Association (EIHA) that possibly contributed to their concerns about the validity of our data, toxicological assessment and conclusions regarding regulatory status of cannabidiol (CBD) products. First and foremost, our study did only assess the risk of psychotropic Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) without inclusion of non-psychotropic Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA). Secondly, as this article will discuss in more detail, there is ample evidence for side effects of CBD products, not only in paediatric patients, but also in adult users of over-the-counter CBD products (including inadvertent “high” effects). Thirdly, the exposure and risk assessment was conducted using up-to-date guidelines according to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR). And finally, the current legal situation in the European Union, without approval of any hemp extract-containing product according to the Novel Food regulation, actually allows blanket statements that all such products are illegal on the market, and this indeed would imply a general ban on the use and marketing of such products as food or food ingredients until such an approval has been granted. We hope that this reassures the F1000Research readership regarding the validity of our results and conclusions. We are pleased, though, that the EIHA has acknowledged the fact that there are non-compliant CBD products available, but according to our data these are a substantial fraction of the market.
High SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in health care workers but relatively low numbers of deaths in urban Malawi
Authors: Chibwana Marah G. , Jere Khuzwayo C. , Kamng'ona Raphael , Mandolo Jonathan , Katunga-Phiri Vincent , Tembo Dumizulu , Mitole Ndaona , Musasa Samantha , Sichone Simon , Lakudzala Agness , Sibale Lusako , Matambo Prisca , Kadwala Innocent , Byrne Rachel L. , Mbewe Alice , Henrion Marc Y. R. , Morton Ben , Phiri Chimota , Mallewa Jane , Mwandumba Henry C. , Adams Emily R. , Gordon Stephen B. , Jambo Kondwani C.
Published: August 2020

Background: In low-income countries, like Malawi, important public health measures including social distancing or a lockdown have been challenging to implement owing to socioeconomic constraints, leading to predictions that the COVID-19 pandemic would progress rapidly. However, due to limited capacity to test for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, there are no reliable estimates of the true burden of infection and death.  We, therefore, conducted a SARS-CoV-2 serosurvey amongst health care workers (HCWs) in Blantyre city to estimate the cumulative incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in urban Malawi.

Methods: We recruited 500 otherwise asymptomatic HCWs from Blantyre City (Malawi) from 22nd May 2020 to 19th June 2020 and serum samples were collected from all participants. A commercial ELISA was used to measure SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in serum.

Results: A total of 84 participants tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The HCWs with positive SARS-CoV-2 antibody results came from different parts of the city. The adjusted seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was 12.3% [CI 8.2 - 16.5]. Using age-stratified infection fatality estimates reported from elsewhere, we found that at the observed adjusted seroprevalence, the number of predicted deaths was eight times the number of reported deaths.

Conclusions: The high seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among HCWs and the discrepancy in the predicted versus reported deaths suggests that there was early exposure but slow progression of COVID-19 epidemic in urban Malawi. This highlights the urgent need for development of locally parameterised mathematical models to more accurately predict the trajectory of the epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa for better evidence-based policy decisions and public health response planning.
Dysphagia: promoting nutrition and hydration
Authors: Nazarko Linda
Published: August 2020

The UK population is ageing, and increasing numbers of adults are living with swallowing difficulties. In this article, Linda Nazarko provides a brief overview on dysphagia and how to support individuals with dysphagia to remain well-nourished and hydrated
Multiple sclerosis and the forgotten many: overlooked again
Authors: Thomas Sue
Published: August 2020

Patient benefit, unfortunately, often comes after financial considerations when new treatments are being assessed by wider health services. Recent developments see those diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and its subtypes pushed to the back of the queue. Sue Thomas explains
Confidentiality in professional practice
Authors: Finch John
Published: August 2020

Practitioners of neuroscience nursing are likely to come by knowledge of a delicate nature concerning their patients, and having such knowledge may play an essential part in treatment. It is critical to disentangle confidentiality from the related notions of privacy, secrecy and tact in professional practice. John Finch provides his analysis
Is a coaching leadership style the answer to better innovation in care?
Authors: Coulthard Sophie
Published: August 2020

The adult social care sector can often be risk-averse, as client safety and compliance are the top priorities. How can providers be more creative and innovative, without compromising their high operating standards? Sophie Coulthard believes the answer may lie in the management leadership style
Spain Must be Defended: Explaining the Criminalization of Political Dissent in Catalonia
Authors: Bernat Ignasi , Whyte David
Published: August 2020

This paper asks how we can explain the remarkable punitive turn against the political opponents of a liberal democratic state in twenty-first-century Europe. It uses Michel Foucault's analysis as a point of departure for understanding how the form of state power witnessed in Catalonia is entirely consistent with a Westphalian fixation with the indissoluble unity of statehood. Moreover, we identify a classic dual strategy of criminalization and depoliticization that will be familiar to critical students of the criminal justice system. The form of justice resorted to by the postfascist Spanish state is one that seeks to replace politics with law; to impose a kind of legalized violence that is at the same time a proxy for waranda proxy for politics. yet, in the process of presenting state repression as having only legal – rather than social or political content – all the Spanish state can do is repack age this political struggle in a form that reflects the war-making origins of the state. We argue, therefore, that in the Catalan case, as in countless other political conflicts, the autonomy of the political realm is a fallacy: the political realm cannot hide its violent origins.
Dispersive microwave electrometry using Zeeman frequency modulation spectroscopy of electromagnetically induced transparency in Rydberg atoms
Authors: Jia Fengdong , Yu Yonghong , Liu Xiubin , Zhang Xi , Zhang Lei , Wang Fei , Mei Jiong , Zhang Jian , Xie Feng , Zhong Zhiping
Published: August 2020

We herein developed and demonstrated a Zeeman frequency modulation scheme for improving the signal-to-noise ratio of microwave electric field measurement using Rydberg atoms. The spectra of the electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and Autler-Townes splitting of Rydberg atoms is frequency modulated by an alternating current magnetic field. The signal-to-noise ratio of the corresponding dispersive error signal is enhanced more than 10 times than that of the original spectrum. Furthermore, we show that the slope of the dispersive error signal near the resonance of the Rydberg EIT can be used to characterize the weak microwave electric field amplitudes. The more intuitive and simpler structure compared with other existing frequency modulation technologies greatly reduces the difficulties of experiments and experimental data analysis.
Deep learning model for ultrafast quantification of blood flow in diffuse correlation spectroscopy
Authors: Poon Chien-Sing , Long Feixiao , Sunar Ulas
Published: August 2020

Diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS) is increasingly used in the optical imaging field to assess blood flow in humans due to its non-invasive, real-time characteristics and its ability to provide label-free, bedside monitoring of blood flow changes. Previous DCS studies have utilized a traditional curve fitting of the analytical or Monte Carlo models to extract the blood flow changes, which are computationally demanding and less accurate when the signal to noise ratio decreases. Here, we present a deep learning model that eliminates this bottleneck by solving the inverse problem more than 2300% faster, with equivalent or improved accuracy compared to the nonlinear fitting with an analytical method. The proposed deep learning inverse model will enable real-time and accurate tissue blood flow quantification with the DCS technique.
How Australian online news frames domestic violence homicides
Authors: Uibu Katri
Published: August 2020

This article investigates how Australian online news covers domestic violence and its homicides by examining the content of 2324 domestic violence articles published online between 2014 and 2016 by ABC News Digital, The Sydney Morning Herald and news.com.au. While content analysis is used to examine the messages in the articles, twelve interviews with reporters and editors were conducted to investigate decision-making behind the coverage. Results show Australian online news coverage is murder-oriented, with reporters and editors regarding such reporting as most effective in growing readership and influencing audiences, therefore deliberately producing coverage that risks being sensational. The article investigates how these media navigate the speed and accuracy balance when covering domestic violence that, as studies indicate, emerges as homicides and breaking news.
Does the Media Fail Aboriginal Political Aspirations? 45 Years of News Media Reporting, Amy Thomas, Andrew Jakubowicz and Heidi Norman (2020)
Authors: Waller Lisa
Published: August 2020

Review of: Does the Media Fail Aboriginal Political Aspirations? 45 Years of News Media Reporting, Amy Thomas, Andrew Jakubowicz and Heidi Norman (2020)

Canberra, ACT: Aboriginal Studies Press, 267 pp.,

ISBN 978-0-85575-084-8, p/bk, $39.95
On the secretive ustād: Pride among musicians and patrons in North India
Authors: Scarimbolo Justin
Published: August 2020

Why did Muslim masters of Hindustani music or ustāds of the past century sometimes refuse to record, perform or teach? These acts appear to justify a common depiction of ustāds, propagated by their detractors and defenders alike as jealously guarding their hereditary knowledge. A deeper look, however, reveals that ustāds withheld their music for fear that it would be played in lowly places, consumed by ill-mannered audiences or taught to disloyal students. Drawing on the oral history of one aristocratic family’s relationship with their Muslim teachers, I argue that the pride that prevented some ustāds from playing to the masses reflected an elitism learned from their patrons and students among the gentry, many of whom were Hindu. This argument develops two existing narratives: one in which ustāds adopted the manners and pursuits of their patrons, and another in which patrons risked losing prestige by performing. Stories of both ustāds and their patrons shunning the public, read together, not only decouple secretiveness from its association with Muslims, but also reveal discipleship as a transformative space in which musicians and their patrons learned from one another, cultivating shared attitudes, morals and dispositions.
Akram Khan: Dancing New Interculturalism, Royona Mitra (2015)
Authors: Madhavan Arya
Published: August 2020

Review of: Akram Khan: Dancing New Interculturalism, Royona Mitra (2015)

London: Palgrave Macmillan, 197 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-34948-363-1, p/bk, £44.58
Virtual gardening: Identifying problems and potential directions for ‘ecological awareness’ through soil management and plant recognition gaming
Authors: Lelièvre Edwige , Rubino Giovanni , Summerley Rory , Phillips Tim
Published: August 2020

Games are increasingly proven to be effective learning tools through a multitude of methodologies and approaches and this is no different for issues relating to the environment and the place of humans within it. We collaborated with the Eden Project to create a mobile game addressing some concerns on the ecological awareness of visitors that they raised with us: a mobile garden management game with a plant recognition technology. Such a project proved a valuable opportunity to understand how a game for smart devices might promote short-term ecological awareness for a general audience. Using a research creation methodology, we analyse, document and run a limited empirical study through user experience testing on players to investigate if the game had an effect on their ecological awareness.
Overexpression of OsHox-6 Gene Enhanced Tiller Number in Rice But Induced Yield Penalty
Authors: Rahmawati Syamsidah , Chairunnisa Chairunnisa , Erdayani Eva , Nugroho Satya , Estiati Amy
Published: August 2020

OsHox-6, belongs to the transcription factor homeodomain leucine zipper (HD-Zip) protein sub-family I, has unknown function. This study was aimed to characterize the phenotypes of two homozygous transgenic rice lines (S29-62-2 and S.40.4-158-1) containing an extra copy of OsHox-6 gene under the control of a rice constitutive promoter, OsLEA3, and to evaluate their tolerance to water stress. A real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) showed that the transcript expression of OsHox-6 gene in the transgenic lines increased 5-10 folds under a normal irrigation and 10-20 folds after exposure to water stress conditions as compared to its wild type control. Transgenic plants overexpressing OsHox-6 exhibited phenotypic alteration at the normal irrigation by inducing tiller formation, suggesting a decrease in the apical dominance. Transgenic plants also showed significant enhancement in the total grain number, however, the number of empty grains  also increased significantly (~16-22%).  After imposed to the water stress, the number of empty grains in the transgenic lines was even higher (up to 83% in average). Furthermore, observations on the water loss rates, relative water contents and drought resistance indices (DRI) suggested that the overexpression of OsHox-6 did not significantly increase tolerance to water stress.  Further research is required to reveal the detailed mechanisms of OsHox-6 in response to water and other abiotic stresses.
Challenges and Solutions for Organizational Design in Urban Digitalization
Authors: Csukás Máté Szilárd , Bukovszki Viktor , Reith András
Published: August 2020

Digitalization in cities – often branded as smart city (SC) transition – carry the potential for highly inclusive, evidence-based decision making in urban planning, responding to the increasing pressures cities face. However, investments have thus far been slower to deliver the expected impacts. Thus, the attention of the discourse is turning towards organizational structures addressing complexity, scalability, and procedural challenges of SC transition. Given such turn has regime-challenging implications, there is a need for practice-based research in the niches of SC transition, supporting policymaking inductively. This study outlines the barriers inherent in conventional organizational models (public sector, private-supplier, and academic-professional) to SC transition, and makes a case for alternative models. The barriers are retrieved through an extensive literature review, and a series of focus groups with key stakeholders involved in SC transition, and processed as a design problem for a new organizational model. The final design is a nested platform model based on open innovation and a lean approach to urban planning. The paper concludes with a proof of concept to overcome organizational barriers, validated by the stakeholder focus groups. Keywords: urban planning, platform, open innovation, assessment, smart city, organizational models
Graph Coloring based Heuristic for Crew Rostering
Authors: Hajdu László , Tóth Attila , Krész Miklós
Published: August 2020

In the last years personnel cost became a huge factor in the financial management of many companies and institutions.The firms are obligated to employ their workers in accordance with the law prescribing labour rules. The companies can save costs with minimizing the differences between the real and the expected worktimes. Crew rostering is assigning the workers to the previously determined shifts, which has been widely studied in the literature. In this paper, a mathematical model of the problem is presented and a two-phase graph coloring method for the crew rostering problem is introduced. Our method has been tested on artificially generated and real life input data. The results of the new algorithm have been compared to the solutions of the integer programming model for moderate-sized problems instances.
Qualidade da Democracia no Brasil e Confiança nas Instituições Políticas
Authors: Santos Everton Rodrigo , Hoffmann Fábio
Published: August 2020

Este trabalho analisa a acentuação do paradoxo entre a adesão ao regime democrático brasileiro e a baixa satisfaçãoe confiança institucional. O apoio ao sistema político nesse trabalho é compreendido dentro da estrutura teórica eastoniana, que percebeu nas dinâmicas do apoio difuso e específico um importante ingrediente para a estabilidade do sistema político. A partir desse apontamento conceitual mostramos, através de dados temporais do Latinobarômetro, que o apoio ao regime democrático brasileiro cresceu desde quando foi iniciada essa medição para o Brasil, em 1995, enquanto que a satisfação com seu desempenho e a confiança dos brasileiros em relação às instituições centrais do modelo de democracia representativa como os partidos políticos, Congresso Nacional e Justiça tem diminuído, consistentemente, ao longo do tempo. Examinadas algumas literaturas que procuraram explicar as causas desse fenômeno, procuramos, nesse trabalho, fugir da monocausalidade, buscando enfocar a existência de outros elementos que ajudam a justificar os motivos do aumento do paradoxo existente dentro do apoio ao sistema político brasileiro e, dentre elas, a capacidade do Estado e a mudança para valores pós-materialistas. Esse trabalho aponta para a presença desses elementos em situações variadas, e muitas vezes incompletas, o que acaba por travar o desenvolvimento da qualidade da democracia brasileira.
Dignidade e liberdade para viver: provocações teóricas sobre as políticas públicas de transferência de renda
Authors: Pase Hemerson Luiz , Corbo Cláudio , Patella Ana Paula Dupuy
Published: August 2020

O trabalho discute a potencialidade de uma política pública redistributiva de transferência de renda condicionada e focalizada incorporar os segmentos sociais excluídos da cidadania e da justiça. A hipótese de trabalho afirma que o Programa Bolsa Família contribui com a diminuição da pobreza, além de estimular os beneficiários para a busca do mercado de trabalho que, contudo, indica exatamente sua insuficiência para incorporar os mais pobres à cidadania. Entendemos que a Renda Básica de Cidadania é uma proposta de política pública que carrega a possibilidade de incorporar os mais pobres e excluídos à cidadania. A metodologia adotada opta pela discussão teoria de conceitos como ética, trabalho, tempo livre e liberdade de tomar decisão, além de algumas referências a dados secundários.
A transposição das águas do rio São Francisco na resposta à seca do Nordeste brasileiro. Cronologia da transformação da ideia em obra
Authors: Ferreira José Gomes
Published: August 2020

O artigo sintetiza o histórico do Projeto de Integração do Rio São Francisco com Bacias Hidrográficas do Nordeste Setentrional brasileiro, desde a primeira vez que foi apresentado em 1818 até à inauguração da primeira fase da obra com a chegada da água aos estados de Pernambuco e Paraíba. Tem como objetivo debater as várias dimensões do tema colocando em pauta diferentes posicionamentos. Para tal, procede à coleta e análise de documentos e notícias da mídia, de entrevistas, questionários e observação de campo. Os primeiros resultados mostram que a obra tem sido encarada como a principal saída no combate à seca e como infraestrutura capaz de fomentar o desenvolvimento da região. Ainda assim, o projeto motiva discussão quanto aos fins a que se destina, à segregação de comunidades, aos prazos de conclusão, à transparência dos processos e sua adequação à resposta às mudanças climáticas.
Sobre o sentimento de inautenticidade da vida cultural brasileira na Primeira República: uma leitura de Oliveira Vianna e Manoel Bomfim
Authors: Leonídio Adalmir
Published: August 2020

Este texto analisa o sentimento de desconcerto e inautenticidade das ideias modernas no contexto atrasado da Primeira República no Brasil. Está baseado nas concepções de dois importantes e diferentes autores do período, Oliveira Vianna e Manoel Bomfim. Busca, especificamente, mostrar em que medida e de que modo esses autores expressaram aquela sensação de desconforto, bem como seu significado.
A censura através dos tempos: teatro e autoritarismo no Brasil
Authors: De Sales Silva Thiago
Published: August 2020

No ano passado, no Brasil, diversos veículos de comunicação denunciaram como ato censório uma série de medidas tomadas por instâncias do Executivo, Legislativo e do Judiciário. Dentre os casos com maior notoriedade, a proibição, por parte do prefeito carioca Marcelo Crivella, da venda de uma história em quadrinhos dos Vingadores, na Bienal do Livro do Rio de Janeiro, em setembro de 2019. Segundo comunicado oficial, a decisão se justificava em virtude da reprodução de um beijo entre personagens do mesmo sexo, nas páginas do impresso. Já em 2020, noticiou-se a tentativa de censura de mais de quarenta títulos de literatura nacional e estrangeira por meio de portaria emitida pelo governo de Rondônia. Entraram na lista obras supostamente inapropriadas para alunos do ensino médio, livros de autores clássicos como Euclides da Cunha, Franz Kafka e Machado de Assis. Os impulsos censórios registrados recentemente no país guardam relação direta com o fortalecimento de grupos e políticas de caráter conservador vinculados à direita e à extremadireita, mas também ao forte imaginário autoritário que tanto marca as relações sociais por aqui.
Dispositivos Normalizadores da Instrução Pública no Brasil e em Sergipe
Authors: Minatel Martha Morais , Souza Verônica dos Reis Mariano
Published: August 2020

O objetivo foi discutir a relação entre os saberes biomédicos e a educação, por meio da construção de dispositivos normalizadores da infância na instrução pública. Os objetivos específicos norteadores do trabalho foram: compreender o processo de aproximação dos saberes biomédicos da educação; discutir a influência da Psicologia experimental no pensamento escolanovista no discurso de Lourenço Filho; e apresentar dispositivos disciplinares usados para normalização da educação e da infância no Brasil e em Sergipe nas primeiras décadas do século XX. Pautado na História Cultural e no paradigma indiciário foram usadas fontes bibliográficas e documentais. Em vários estados brasileiros foram identificadas estratégias e dispositivos instituídos para a normalização da infância e da sociedade, com destaque no território sergipano para a instituição do Serviço de Assistência aos Psicopatas e o Gabinete de Biologia Criminal que marcaram a vida de muitos sergipanos quanto às possibilidades de estar ou não na escola e na vida social.
Circulação de modelos para o ensino de Ciências Naturais: o método de ensino intuitivo na transição entre Império e República
Authors: Valdemarin Vera Teresa
Published: August 2020

Este artigo adota a perspectiva histórica (décadas finais do século XIX) para analisar a circulação de prescrições vinculadas ao método de ensino intuitivo. As fontes documentais são dois manuais didáticos dedicados a orientar as práticas pedagógicas de professores primários: Primeiras Lições de Coisas, de N. A. Calkins, publicado em  língua portuguesa em 1886 e A Eschola Publica, organizado por Oscar Thompson e outros autores, publicado em 1895. A difusão do método intuitivo ou lições de coisas esteve aliada a transformações pedagógicas que incluem aspectos metodológicos e formação de professores, bem como desenvolvimento social e econômico, tornando-se um símbolo de modernização no estado de São Paulo. Focalizando o ensino de Ciências Naturais, o artigo evidencia diferentes interpretações e sentidos adquiridos pela inovação pedagógica no contexto brasileiro. Essas diferenças explicitam, por sua vez, diferentes concepções sobre a ciência e sobre seu ensino, uma vez que estão assentadas em diferentes formas de raciocínio e hábitos mentais que procuram sedimentar. Um deles, priorizou os passos lógicos para ensinar; o outro foi delimitado às prescrições do currículo escolar.
A invenção da Paulistanidade: a emergência de uma cultura histórica, política e escolar/educativa paulista (Século XX)
Authors: Moraes Felipe Tavares de
Published: August 2020

Vinte e três de maio e nove de julho de 1932 são duas datas importantes na história política de São Paulo. Ambas representam manifestações de descontentamento da elite paulista com os rumos centralizadores que a Aliança Liberal tomara, sob a liderança de Getúlio Vargas, após a chamada “Revolução de 1930”. Desferiu-se, a um só tempo, um duro golpe contra a autonomia estadual e a interrupção da hegemonia paulista no governo federal durante a Primeira República (1889-1930). Em 23 de maio, em meio a uma manifestação na Praça da República, que pedia uma nova constituição ao país, houve a repressão de tropas getulistas e foram mortos quatro jovens – Martins, Miragaia, Dráusio e Camargo –, transformados instantaneamente em mártires, cujas iniciais deram nome ao movimento clandestino MMDC. No acirramento dos ânimos políticos, em 9 de julho a elite paulista sublevou-se em armas contra a “tirania” de Getúlio Vargas, ocasionando uma grande mobilização econômica, militar e cultural para o esforço de guerra, vindo a encerrar, com a derrota paulista, em outubro de 1932 (ABREU, 2010; CAPELATO, 1981; HILTON, 1982; SKIDMORE, 1982). Atualmente, em São Paulo, em 23 de maio é comemorado o Dia do Soldado Constitucionalista; e em 9 de julho, por sua vez, é celebrada a Revolução Constitucionalista. Daquela derrota político-militar ficaram as efemérides cívicas e uma persistente memória e ideologia política, a Paulistanidade, que foi particularmente articulada e mobilizada durante a guerra civil de 1932. Nesse sentido, esta publicação se faz profundamente relevante ao despontar como uma História Social de São Paulo, com importantes apontamentos para a História da Educação Brasileira e competentes contribuições para a História Regional no Brasil. Ressalto, sobretudo, pensar São Paulo do ponto de vista regional, de modo similar aos estudos realizados por Neide Gondim (2007), Durval Muniz Albuquerque Jr. (2009), e Jocelito Zalla e Carla Menegat (2011), que, em relação a formação e consolidação do Estado Nacional Brasileiro, estabeleceram, respectivamente, a invenção da Amazônia, a invenção do Nordeste e a invenção do Gaúcho. Assim, a presente publicação também assinala para a invenção da Paulistanidade.