bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Causal Evidence for the Multiple Demand Network in Change Detection: Auditory Mismatch Magnetoencephalography across Focal Neurodegenerative Diseases
Authors: Cope Thomas E. , Hughes Laura E. , Phillips Holly N. , Adams Natalie E. , Jafarian Amirhossein , Nesbitt David , Assem Moataz , Woolgar Alexandra , Duncan John , Rowe James B.
Published: March 2022

The multiple demand (MD) system is a network of fronto-parietal brain regions active during the organization and control of diverse cognitive operations. It has been argued that this activation may be a nonspecific signal of task difficulty. However, here we provide convergent evidence for a causal role for the MD network in the “simple task” of automatic auditory change detection, through the impairment of top-down control mechanisms. We employ independent structure-function mapping, dynamic causal modeling (DCM), and frequency-resolved functional connectivity analyses of MRI and magnetoencephalography (MEG) from 75 mixed-sex human patients across four neurodegenerative syndromes [behavioral variant fronto-temporal dementia (bvFTD), nonfluent variant primary progressive aphasia (nfvPPA), posterior cortical atrophy (PCA), and Alzheimer's disease mild cognitive impairment with positive amyloid imaging (ADMCI)] and 48 age-matched controls. We show that atrophy of any MD node is sufficient to impair auditory neurophysiological response to change in frequency, location, intensity, continuity, or duration. There was no similar association with atrophy of the cingulo-opercular, salience or language networks, or with global atrophy. MD regions displayed increased functional but decreased effective connectivity as a function of neurodegeneration, suggesting partially effective compensation. Overall, we show that damage to any of the nodes of the MD network is sufficient to impair top-down control of sensation, providing a common mechanism for impaired change detection across dementia syndromes.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTPrevious evidence for fronto-parietal networks controlling perception is largely associative and may be confounded by task difficulty. Here, we use a preattentive measure of automatic auditory change detection [mismatch negativity (MMN) magnetoencephalography (MEG)] to show that neurodegeneration in any frontal or parietal multiple demand (MD) node impairs primary auditory cortex (A1) neurophysiological response to change through top-down mechanisms. This explains why the impaired ability to respond to change is a core feature across dementias, and other conditions driven by brain network dysfunction, such as schizophrenia. It validates theoretical frameworks in which neurodegenerating networks upregulate connectivity as partially effective compensation. The significance extends beyond network science and dementia, in its construct validation of dynamic causal modeling (DCM), and human confirmation of frequency-resolved analyses of animal neurodegeneration models.
Structural, optical and electrical characterization of MoS2/TiO2 heterostructured thin films by chemical bath deposition technique
Authors:   Department of Physics, The University of Lahore, Pakistan, Khana M. I. , Noumana H. ,   Department of Physics, The University of Lahore, Pakistan, Ul Hassan M. ,   Department of Physics, The University of Lahore, Pakistan, Ul Hasan S. ,   Department of Physics, The University of Lahore, Pakistan, Nazneena A. ,   Department of Physics, The University of Lahore, Pakistan, Abdelmohsen A. M. ,   Department of Physics, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman university. P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11681, Saudi Arabia
Published: March 2022

MoS2/TiO2 heterostructures thin films are successfully deposited by chemical bath deposition (CBD) technique. The structural, optical and electrical properties of prepared films are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, UV-vis spectrophotometry, photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), and Four point probe technique, respectively. Raman Spectra and XRD confirmed the formation of hexagonal MoS2 and anatase TiO2. UV-Vis spectrophotometry confirmed the band gap energy (Eg) of MoS2 and TiO2 thin films are 1.14 eV and 3.44 eV, respectively. The Eg of films is changed according to the material deposited onto them i.e. it increased by depositing TiO2 onto the MoS2 and decreased the other way round. MT (Titania on Molybdenum disulfide) and TM (Vice Versa) have band gaps of 2.81 eV and 1.5 eV, respectively. The photoluminescence spectra showed that photoluminescence emission increased for TiO2 in the MoS2/TiO2 and TiO2/MoS2 heterostructures films. The exchange of trion to neutral excitons by charges transfer from MoS2 to TiO2 in heterostructures leads to increase the PL intensity. The average sheet resistivity of TiO2, MoS2, glass/MoS2/TiO2 and glass/TiO2/MoS2 films are 2.41 × 107 (Ω-m), 6.44 × 104 (Ω-m), 1.93 × 106 (Ω-m) and 2.35 × 104 (Ω-m), respectively. CBD is low cost, simple, and large area deposition technique and by this research the heterostructures films can easily be deposited for industrial purpose.
Untreated thyroid autoantibody-negative SCH increases the risk of spontaneous abortions
Authors: Yuan Ning , Sun Jianbin , Zhao Xin , Du Jing , Nan Min , Zhang Qiaoling , Zhang Xiaomei
Published: March 2022

Background

Numerous studies have found that subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) may increase adverse pregnancy outcomes; however, the benefit of levothyroxine (LT4) treatment remains controversial. The 2017 guidelines of the American Thyroid Association weakly recommended LT4 therapy for serum antithyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb)-negative women with thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations greater than the pregnancy-specific reference range and below 10.0 mU/L. Therefore, the primary goal of this study was to investigate the correlation between thyroid autoantibody-negative SCH with or without LT4 treatment and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Methods

We prospectively enrolled 1868 consecutive pregnant women. Finally, 1344 women were involved in the study according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Assays for TSH, free thyroxine (FT4), TPOAb, anti-thyroglobulin antibody, and laboratory indicators were performed. The participants were divided into the euthyroid (ET) group (n  = 1250) and the SCH group(n  = 94). The SCH group was further divided into LT4 group (n  = 40) and non-LT4 group(n  = 54). The laboratory indicators and pregnancy outcomes were evaluated during follow-ups.

Results

Maternal age, BMI, parity, and the history of spontaneous abortion did not differ significantly between the ET group and the different SCH groups. There were no significant differences in lipid profile and homocysteine levels between ET and SCH group in the first and third trimester of pregnancy. After adjusting the confounding factors, the non-LT4 group was a risk factor for spontaneous abortion (odds ratio: 3.141, 95% CI: 1.060–9.302). Survival analysis showed that the time of abortion was different between the ET group and SCH group (log-rank P= 0.042). The spontaneous abortion in SCH, especially in non-LT4, group mainly occurred in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Conclusions

Thyroid autoantibody negative-SCH seems to be associated with increased risk of spontaneous abortions during the first trimester of pregnancy. LT4 therapy in this patient population might be beneficial to reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Serum irisin levels increase in girls with central precocious puberty not dependent on BMI: a pilot study
Authors: Chen Yanfei , Li Mei , Liao Binrong , Zhong Jingzi , Lan Dan
Published: March 2022

Objective

The objective of this study is to investigate the role of serum irisin level in diagnosis of central precocious puberty (CPP) in girls and its major determinants.

Methods

This study was conducted in 67 girls with CPP, 19 girls with premature thelarche (PT) and 59 normal controls. The major determinants of irisin were assessed by multivariate linear regression (MLR) analysis. Propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was performed to minimize the bias that can result from BMI. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to obtain the optimal threshold value of irisin.

Results

The girls with CPP and PT had higher irisin levels than controls (P  < 0.05). The optimal cutoff value of irisin levels for predicting CPP was 91.88 ng/mL, with a sensitivity of 70.1% and a specificity of 72.9%. MLR analysis showed that BMI was a predictor of irisin (P  < 0.05). Serum irisin levels remained higher in the CPP girls than the controls with adjustment for BMI (P  < 0.05).

Conclusions

Increased serum irisin levels with CPP suggest that irisin is involved in puberty. However, due to low sensitivity and specificity, irisin level can only be used as an auxiliary indicator rather than a single diagnostic indicator of CPP.
Influence of cleaned granite dust on the properties of silicone pressure-sensitive adhesives
Authors: Antosik Adrian Krzysztof , Musik Marlena , Mozelewska Karolina , Miądlicki Piotr
Published: March 2022

The influence of addition cleaned granite dust on self-adhesive products, such as self-adhesive tapes based on silicone pressure-sensitive adhesives was presented. The new way of waste management, is a very important issue in the modern world. The obtained self-adhesive materials were tested both in terms of the properties of adhesive compositions (pot-life test) as well as the influence on the operational parameters of the obtained self-adhesive tapes, such as adhesion, cohesion, stickiness or shrinkage. The obtained results are presented in the paper below.
Impact of COVID-19 on Admissions and Outcomes for Children With Complex Chronic Conditions
Authors: Markham Jessica L. , Richardson Troy , Teufel Ronald J. , Hersh Adam L. , DePorre Adrienne , Fleegler Eric W. , Antiel Ryan M. , Williams Daniel C. , Hotz Arda , Wilder Jayme L. , Shah Samir S.
Published: March 2022

BACKGROUND

Although pediatric health care use declined during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the impact on children with complex chronic conditions (CCCs) has not been well reported.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the impact of the pandemic on inpatient use and outcomes for children with CCCs.

METHODS

This multicenter cross-sectional study used data from the Pediatric Health Information System. We examined trends in admissions between January 2020 through March 2021, comparing them to the same timeframe in the previous 3 years (pre-COVID-19). We used generalized linear mixed models to examine the association of the COVID-19 period and outcomes for children with CCCs presenting between March 16, 2020 to March 15, 2021 (COVID-19 period) to the same timeframe in the previous 3 years (pre-COVID-19).

RESULTS

Children with CCCs experienced a 19.5% overall decline in admissions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Declines began in the second week of March of 2020, reaching a nadir in early April 2020. Changes in admissions varied over time and by admission indication. Children with CCCs hospitalized for pneumonia and bronchiolitis experienced overall declines in admissions of 49.7% to 57.7%, whereas children with CCCs hospitalized for diabetes experienced overall increases in admissions of 21.2%. Total and index length of stay, costs, and ICU use, although statistically higher during the COVID-19 period, were similar overall to the pre-COVID-19 period.

CONCLUSIONS

Total admissions for children with CCCs declined nearly 20% during the pandemic. Among prevalent conditions, the greatest declines were observed for children with CCCs hospitalized with respiratory illnesses. Despite declines in admissions, overall hospital-level outcomes remained similar.
Merengue en Costa Rica: desarrollo de las características de estilo en la ejecución del saxofón en este género musical
Authors: Sandí Angeliny Juan Pablo
Published: March 2022

En este estudio se analiza el desarrollo de las características estilísticas de ejecución del saxofón en el merengue adquiridas en Costa Rica a partir de 1990. Se realiza una revisión de documentos y entrevistas para contextualizar y analizar la inserción del merengue en la escena musical y los estudios de grabación costarricense. Se concluye que las características de estilo del saxofón en este género son determinadas por influencias del jazz, solución de deficiencias acústicas y eventos políticos.
La frontera, esa herida abierta entre México y Estados Unidos
Authors: Molina-Espinoza Ileana
Published: March 2022

El presente artículo es un análisis comparativo entre el poema “La frontera” (1987) de la escritora chicana Gloria Anzaldúa y dos textos fotográficos de autor desconocido en el abordaje que ambos hacen de la problemática de frontera entre México y los Estados Unidos. La frontera ha sido representada, desde sus muchas aristas, como un espacio de tensión que divide y paradójicamente une geografías, culturas, idiomas, identidades y realidades. Se identificaron cinco clases de frontera en el texto poético: una geográfica, natural, simbólica, lingüística y cultural mientas que en las fotografías analizadas se identificaron dos clases de frontera: una geográfica y otra simbólica. Parte del marco conceptual utilizado incluye las nociones teóricas de Gloria Anzaldúa quien transforma este espacio divisorio en un lugar de resistencia, sobrevivencia y negociación.
Gestión de un Entorno Virtual de Aprendizaje: El Caso del Curso Composición Inglesa II de la Universidad de Costa Rica
Authors: Navas Brenes César Alberto
Published: March 2022

El presente artículo tiene como propósito presentar los resultados de la gestión de un entorno virtual de aprendizaje (EVA) en dos grupos del curso Composición Inglesa II de la Universidad de Costa Rica a lo largo de un año. Se trata del segundo curso de expresión escrita de la carrera de Bachillerato en Inglés, el cual tiene un alto nivel de dificultad debido a la transición entre el desarrollo del párrafo académico a ensayos con tres principales patrones retóricos. Se gestionó un EVA con interacción asincrónica por medio de herramientas Web 2.0 y recursos varios en la plataforma institucional Mediación Virtual (Moodle). Por último, el autor analiza los resultados de dos cuestionarios que evalúan la percepción de los(as) estudiantes antes y después de trabajar con el EVA de dicho curso. También se incluye una secuencia didáctica usada en el EVA del curso.
Social and moral relevance of memory
Authors: Hamann Magnus , Nielsen Jørgen Feldbæk
Published: March 2022

Background: Previous research has discussed how remembering is a sociopsychological phenomenon; that is, a phenomenon that happens as an interplay between internal cognitive processes as well as external social factors. This article examines remembering from this perspective in conversations between a father and his son, who has suffered traumatic brain injury and has problems with his short-term memory as a result. Method: We examined 82 known-answer questions using conversation analysis. Each question, as well as the interaction it was part of, was transcribed and analyzed as single instances (single cases), and then compared and analyzed as a joint collection. Results: In both first, second, and third position, the father formulated his utterances in such a way that the son was treated as someone who had access to the knowledge. In addition, when the son claimed to not know something, the father challenged this and constructed his son as someone who was responsible for remembering the information. Conclusion: We show how knowing and remembering are social phenomena that carry their own moral rules and practices in interaction. By challenging his son's claims of not knowing and designing turns that make the son accountable for knowing information, the father makes his son answer questions he initially claimed not to know the answers to.
Las representaciones artísticas de los «Cuetos Pardos» (Cabrales, Asturias): identificación, estudio preliminar, y planteamientos para resolver un enigma
Authors: Rodríguez-del-Cueto Fernando , Carrera-Ramírez Fernando , López-García Ángela , Menéndez-Granda Alfonso , Sánchez-Hidalgo Estefanía
Published: March 2022

El presente texto da noticia detallada de la localización de un conjunto de motivos pintados y grabados en una formación rocosa de la zona oriental de Asturias. El estudio preliminar del panel permite conocer en detalle las características de las muestras artísticas que, de momento, carecen de referencias cronológicas absolutas. Acompañando el análisis del panel se incluye una contextualización prehistórica y paisajística que permite entender no solo el paraje en el que se encuentran las figuras, sino también el largo anclaje prehistórico al lugar.
Diasporic Archives and Hauntological Accretions
Authors: Chew May
Published: March 2022

Centering on two recent participatory archive projects, Jacqueline Hoàng Nguyễn’s The Making of An Archive (2014-present), and Regent Park Film Festival’s Home Made Visible (2017-2019), this essay examines how diasporic archives “densify” authoritative records, and allow us to think generatively about archival movements and accretions. Both projects gathered and digitised archives from members of diasporic and racialised communities. Through public calls and workshops soliciting amateur archivists’ personal and familial still and moving image troves, these projects prioritised excavating and inscribing quotidian and ephemeral records as a response to Canadian multiculturalism’s imposed silences. The essay approaches diaspora – and diasporic archives – not (just) through rubrics of loss and obsolescence, but through the concept of hauntological thickening, arguing that these two projects intervene on authoritative and singular archival narratives by densifying the latter with occluded histories, affects, and textural traces of transfer. It also examines how quotidian visual records offer hauntological refractions of official narratives, and become vehicles for imbrications of personal, familial, and national histories and discourses. Finally, the essay concludes with an exploration of how the archives engage audiences through affective and sensorial registers.
M(t)/M(t)/m(t)/C(t) and non-stationary hypercube models
Authors: Siqueira Regiane Máximo
Published: March 2022

Purpose – Verify the effect of the variation of the arrival and service rate during the day in detriment of the equilibrium analysis of the system.Design/methodology/approach – The models M(t)/M(t)/m(t)/C(t) and the non-stationary hypercube were approached considering the change in the number of servers over time.Findings – The study showed how the dynamic approach is more realistic than the equilibrium approach in systems where the variation of parameters is an important factor to be considered.Originality/value – Most studies involving queue systems are based on steady-state analysis of the operation of these systems. However, for certain queuing systems, variations in customer arrival rates, service times and other operating conditions occur within very short time intervals, which makes it difficult to effectively analyze the performance of these systems.Keywords - Queuing theory, M(t)/M(t)/m(t)/C(t) Model, Non-stationary models.M(t)/M(t)/m(t)/C(t) and non-stationary hypercube models.
The ocean twilight zone’s role in climate change
Authors: Buesseler Ken O. , Jin Di , Kourantidou Melina , Levin David S. , Ramakrishna Kilaparti , Renaud Philip
Published: March 2022

The ocean twilight zone (more formally known as the mesopelagic zone) plays a fundamental role in global climate. It is the mid-ocean region roughly 100 to 1000 meters below the surface, encompassing a half-mile deep belt of water that spans more than two-thirds of our planet. The top of the ocean twilight zone only receives 1% of incident sunlight and the bottom level is void of sunlight. Life in the ocean twilight zone helps to transport billions of metric tons (gigatonnes) of carbon annually from the upper ocean into the deep sea, due in part to processes known as the biological carbon pump. Once carbon moves below roughly 1000 meters depth in the ocean, it can remain out of the atmosphere for centuries to millennia. Without the benefits of the biological carbon pump, the atmospheric CO 2 concentration would increase by approximately 200 ppm 1 which would significantly amplify the negative effects of climate change that the world is currently trying to curtail and reverse. Unfortunately, existing scientific knowledge about this vast zone of the ocean, such as how chemical elements flow through its living systems and the physical environment, is extremely limited, jeopardizing the efforts to improve climate predictions and to inform fisheries management and ocean policy development.
Efeitos provenientes da aplicação de iluminação LED em um modelo de plantio vertical para cultivo de alface crespa
Authors: França Marcos Tiago Araújo de , Luchese Augusto Vaghetti , Filho Pedro Luiz de Paula , Schutz Fabiana Costa de Araújo
Published: March 2022

Este trabalho teve como objetivo a análise da aplicação de iluminação artificial sobre cultivares de alface crespa, através do uso de LEDs, aplicados a uma nova metodologia de plantio conhecida como Fazendas Verticais. Para este fim foi realizada a construção de um modelo de plantio vertical protótipo, composto por 21 unidades de produção isoladas, dotadas de sensores para recolhimento de dados ambientais e atuadores para controle de iluminação intermitente RGB e irrigação hidropônica. Com o modelo construído, foram realizados dois ensaios experimentais: avaliação da aplicação de diferentes tratamentos de luz (vermelho, azul, roxo, branco) e aplicação de diferentes intensidades de luz branca (36 LEDs, 54 LEDs e 72 LEDs). Em ambos os experimentos, de duração de 30 dias, foram feitas as análises do peso total da massa fresca, peso da massa seca, área foliar e número de folhas. No primeiro experimento, realizado durante o verão e com uso de climatização, a aplicação do espectro branco (combinação entre vermelho, azul e verde), apresentou os melhores resultados em todas as variáveis analisadas, seguida pelo espectro roxo (combinação entre vermelho e azul), em contrapartida o tratamento vermelho apresentou os piores resultados, considerando que as amostras referentes ao mesmo pereceram após 15 DAT (dias após transporte). No segundo experimento, após uma análise de regressão linear, observou-se que a intensidade de luz apresentou influência em todos os parâmetros morfológicos analisados, com exceção do número de folhas (comprimento indiscriminado).
Influence of the composition of high-strength concrete and mortar on the compressive fatigue behaviour
Authors: Oneschkow Nadja , Timmermann Tim
Published: March 2022

The results of compressive fatigue investigations on four high-strength concretes and their corresponding mortars are presented. The influences of coarse aggregates generally, the substitution of basalt coarse aggregate by granite, the addition of silica fume and the variation of the water to cement (w/c) ratio are investigated systematically. The numbers of cycles to failure, the developments of strain, stiffness, dissipated energy and acoustic emission hits are focused on in the analyses. The results clearly show that coarse aggregates can influence the fatigue behaviour of concretes in a negative way at higher stress levels and in a positive way at lower stress levels compared to mortars. The granite coarse aggregate decreases the adverse effect at higher stress levels due to its lower modulus of elasticity compared to that of the basalt aggregate. Silica fume improves the fatigue behaviour of concrete and mortar strongly. The increase of the w/c ratio and, thus, the increase in porosity reduces the fatigue resistance of concrete and mortar significantly, due to the weakening of the mortar matrix and of the interfacial transition zone. The results demonstrate the interaction of the coarse aggregates and the mortar matrix with their specific properties, which leads to a certain fatigue behaviour. The acoustic emission gives additional valuable strain-independent information of the damage processes occurring, possibly also on micro- and nanoscales.
Influence of spatially variable material properties on the resistance of masonry walls under compression
Authors: Müller Dominik , Bujotzek Lukas , Proske Tilo , Graubner Carl-Alexander
Published: March 2022

During their assessment, existing masonry structures often reveal a high variability of their material properties. Since this variability is also present within a single wall, the influence of this spatial variability of the material properties on the wall resistance is of major interest. First, experimental investigations on clay brick masonry walls with local weaknesses under compression loading are presented. The results of these experiments serve to validate a finite element model developed to study the influence of spatially variable material properties on the resistance of masonry walls under compression. The model follows the simplified micro-modelling approach and allows for a unit-to-unit variability of the compressive strength and the elastic modulus of masonry. The finite element model is then utilised within Monte Carlo simulations to investigate the resulting probability distribution of the wall resistance for given distributions of the material properties. Finally, parameter studies are conducted to examine the influence of the coefficient of variation of the material properties, the spatial correlation of the material properties, wall length, and wall slenderness on the resulting distribution of the resistance. The studies demonstrate that spatial variability leads to a decrease in the mean value of the wall resistance. However, the resulting variability of the resistance is much smaller than the input variability of the material properties. Considering the spatial nature of the variability can thus lead to higher design/assessment values of the wall resistance and, hence, a positive effect on structural reliability.
Experiments with Megastuctures and Building Systems. University Building in the Federal Republic of Germany in the 1960s and 1970s
Authors: Hnilica Sonja
Published: March 2022

This article outlines the phenomenon of West Germany’s new universities for the masses. Seldom have so many universities of such size been built so quickly as in the Federal Republic of Germany in the 1960s and 1970s. Nearly 40 new universities were established across the country.It is a known fact that, from a political point of view, the priority was to provide as much space as possible quickly and cheaply. Following the concept of the functional city and the logic of increased efficiency by concentration, the vast majority of the new university complexes were constructed as large-scale structures outside of historic city centers. Architects seized the opportunity and designed the publicly financed large-scale complexes as urban utopias on a small scale, as I am going to show drawing mainly on examples in Bochum, Marburg, Berlin, Bielefeld and Constance. A key consideration – beyond efficiency – was the issue of flexibility. Inspired by systems theory, architects developed megastructures and building systems that would allow the academic communities to modify its buildings according to their needs in the future. However, the expectations that these New Universities might, due to their size and complexity, develop the same dynamism as historic towns, that were perceived to have ‘grown organically’, were fulfilled to a very limited extent only. Nonetheless, the mass universities are impressive testimony to the political, technical and urban planning spirit of the 1960s.
Augmented Reality (AR) in Language Learning: A Principled Review of 2017-2021
Authors: PUNAR ÖZÇELİK Nermin , EKŞİ Gonca , BATURAY Meltem Huri
Published: March 2022

With the changing and developing technology, numerous new systems that cannot be given up and have a great impact are becoming a part of our lives. Augmented reality (AR) is one of these systems which can be claimed as magic. AR has been gaining considerable interest in the field of education, and language learning since Pokémon Go, the most well-known AR location-based game, was launched. There has been much evidence to support the effectiveness of AR in education. The present study set out to review in detail the current research studies published in SSCI/ESCI/ERIC indexed privileged journals in the field of language education and technology within the last five years, on the topic of augmented reality in language learning. The selection of articles was made on the basis of empirical studies on the use of AR in language education. Surprisingly, only seventeen studies seem to fall into the said category in these selected, SSCI/ESCI/ERIC journals. On the grounds that there emerges a lack of such studies and complying with the nature of the present study, all these articles have been reviewed in detail, in terms of three aspects: (1) research features, such as research focus, design, data collection tools, study, and educational context; (2) the use of AR, such as theory behind AR use, and AR applications used in the studies; (3) results of the studies. The results showed that much emphasis has been on vocabulary learning, the learning effectiveness, attitudes, and motivations of language learners with scant attention given to language skills. There is a current paucity of empirical research focusing specifically on different language skills. Hence, it is desirable to examine the effects of AR on different language skills of language learners.
A Blockchain-based privacy preserving mechanism for mobile crowdsensing
Authors: Hilmand Khan , Hajra Khan , Ayesha Shauqat , Sibgha Tahir , Sarmad Hanif , Hafiz Hamza
Published: March 2022

In blockchain-based mobile crowdsensing, reporting of real-time data is stored on a public blockchain in which the address of every user/node is public. Now, the problem lies in the fact that if their addresses get shown to adversaries, all their transactions history is also going to be revealed. Therefore, crowdsensing demands a little privacy preservation strategy in which the identity of a user is unable to be revealed to an adversary or we can say that crowd sensors while reporting the real-time data must provide some level of anonymity to crowdsensing users/nodes [1]. The current crowdsensing architecture is not secure because of its centralized nature and the reason is a single point of failure also numerous kinds of attacks are possible by adversaries such as linkage attacks, Sybil attacks, and DDOS attacks to get the identity or any other valuable information about the nodes. The location of crowd sensors is also a threat that could lead to adversarial attacks. Consequently, some blockchain-based models must be proposed to attain privacy on the blockchain ledger. The solution can either be made up crowdsensing environment on a private blockchain or smart contracts may be the answer to this problem by which we can make the users secure from several attacks conducted by adversaries on the blockchain.
PBMC isolation v1
Authors: Morgan Michael
Published: March 2022

Isolation of PBMCs from fresh whole human blood in Lithium Heparin blood tubes.
Emigration and the Transnationalization of Sending States’ Welfare Regimes
Authors: Lafleur Jean-Michel , Yener‐Roderburg Inci Öykü
Published: March 2022

How does emigration affect sending states’ welfare policies? Existing migration literature has identified numerous political, economic, and institutional variables that influence sending states’ approaches towards emigrants’ welfare. However, this literature has neglected broader processes of social transformation in sending states. Using the concept of welfare regime transnationalization, we show more precisely how emigration transforms welfare regimes in their functional, distributive, normative, and politico‐institutional dimensions. This process is nonetheless strongly constrained by domestic politics. To illustrate our analytical framework, we discuss the transnationalization of health policies in Turkey and Mexico.
The Ecotoxicological Evaluations of Fe3O4, HAp, and Fe3O4-HAp Nanocomposite on Wheat: Impact on Chlorophyll Content
Authors: DOĞAROĞLU Zeynep Görkem , UYSAL Yağmur
Published: March 2022

Nanoparticles have an increasing accumulation and effect as day to day in aquatic, terrestrial and atmospheric environments, and one of the most basic factors determining these effects is their sizes. As the material size decreases, the distribution and accumulation of particles are facilitated and accelerated. In this study, the possible nanotoxicological effects of nanomagnetite (Fe3O4 NPs), hydroxyapatite (HAp) (synthesized by the recovery of waste eggshells) and Fe3O4-HAp nanocomposite on wheat germination percentage and chlorophyll production were evaluated. It was determined with SEM images that the Fe3O4 nanoparticles was in the size of 22-30 nm, while the Fe3O4-HAp was 90-350 nm. The presence of HAp particles caused a decreasing in the germination percentage compared to presence of only Fe3O4 nanoparticles, as like in the root elongation (20-27 %). The chlorophyll content was determined in the both aged and young leaves on second, third and fourth weeks of wheat plants. Results showed that wheat plants were sensitive in the early stage of plant growth (second week) to the all test chemicals. The presence of HAp in the growth media decreased the chlorophyll content of wheat because of their sizes. The maximum decreasing of chlorophyll content in wheat was observed at the 40 mg L-1 HAp treatment as 86 %. All the test chemicals used in this study uses in many areas, thus it should be detailed evaluated ecotoxicological aspect.
KONVEKTİF LİMON KURUTMADA OHMİK VE GELENEKSEL HAŞLAMA ÖN İŞLEM TEKNİKLERİNİN KARŞILAŞTIRILMASI
Authors: GÜLER Pınar , DOĞAN İnci
Published: March 2022

Çalışmada ohmik ve suda haşlama ön işlemlerinin limon dilimlerinin konvektif kurutulmasındaki potansiyeli kıyaslamalı olarak araştırılmıştır. Limon numuneleri ohmik (60, 130, 200V/cm, 80°C) ve suda (95°C) olmak üzere iki farklı teknikle haşlanarak konvektif kurutucuda 60°C’de kurutulmuştur. Ön işlemlerin başarısı örneklerin renk, su aktivitesi, yığın yoğunluğu ve rehidrasyon kapasitesi ile değerlendirilmiştir. Ohmik haşlamanın suda haşlamaya kıyasla haşlama süresini önemli ölçüde azalttığı, kurutma hızını arttırdığı ve ohmik haşlanan örneklerin suda haşlamaya kıyasla daha düşük su aktivitesine sahip olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Voltaj artışı örneklerin L* değerinin artmasına ve b* değerinin azalmasına sebep olmuştur. Ohmik haşlamanın yığın yoğunluğunu azalttığı ve rehidrasyon kapasitesini arttırdığı ayrıca yüksek voltaj değerinin (200V/cm) büzülmeye sebep olduğu belirlenmiştir.
Lung injury aggravated in Streptozotocin-induced diabetes: an experimental study
Authors: BOLAT Demet , ÜLGER Menekşe , BARAN Münevver , TURAN Işıl Tuğçe , YAY Arzu
Published: March 2022

Purpose: The aim of the study explores the impact and potential mechanisms on the STZ (Streptozotocin)-induced diabetes model histopathologically and immunohistochemically on diabetic lung fibrosis.

Materials and Methods: In this study, 14 adult female Wistar albino rats were divided into groups of seven random animals: the control and STZ induced diabetic groups. In the study, a blood glucose level above 200 mg/dl was accepted as diabetes. Nine days after the experiment, the rats were sacrificed under anesthesia and lung samples were taken from each. The histopathological appearance of the samples was evaluated and histopathologic damage score was performed. Apoptosis and inflammation in tissues were evaluated with caspase-3 and IL-1β immunohistochemically.

Results: In the histopathological examination, the STZ group had a higher histopathologic damage score than the control group, and there were findings such as vascular congestion, thickened alveolar wall, and inflammatory cell infiltration. In the caspase-3 immunohistochemistry, staining of the lung tissues of the STZ group was higher than the control group. This difference was also significant in terms of IL-1β immunoreactivity intensity.

Conclusion: This study determined that lung complications and damage due to diabetes-induced by STZ occurred.
Timokinon’un sıçanların pankreas dokusunda valproik asidin neden olduğu hasarı iyileştirmeye etkisi
Authors: AZİRAK Sebile , BİLGİÇ Sedat , TAŞTEMİR KORKMAZ Deniz , SEVİMLİ Murat , ÖZER Mehmet Kaya
Published: March 2022

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı timokinonun (TQ) valproik asit (VPA) kaynaklı pankreas hasarını önleme veya tedavi etmedeki potansiyel etkisinin, sıçanların pankreas dokusundaki gen ekspresyonlarının ve histopatolojik değişikliklerin değerlendirilmesidir.

Gereç ve Yöntem: 21 erkek Spraque-Dawley sıçanı 3 gruba ayrıldı (n = 7): Kontrol, VPA, VPA + TQ. Sıçanlar, 14 gün boyunca oral yoldan VPA (500 mg/kg/gün) ve TQ (50 mg/kg/gün) ile muamele edildi. Muamelenin 15. gününde, histon deasetilaz (HDAC1 ve HDAC2) genlerinin ekspresyon seviyelerinin analizi için pankreas dokusu çıkarıldı. Pankreas dokularındaki yapısal değişiklikler incelendi.

Bulgular: VPA + TQ grubunun, VPA grubuna göre anlamlı derecede daha yüksek HDAC1 ve HDAC2 gen ekspresyonuna sahip olduğu görüldü. Ayrıca bulgularımız, TQ tedavisinin pankreas dokusunu VPA'nın HDAC1 ve HDAC2 gen ekspresyonu üzerindeki olumsuz etkilerine karşı koruyabildiğini göstermektedir. Ayrıca TQ NADPH oksidaz-4 (NOX-4) ve kaspaz-3 (CAS-3) düzeylerini de düşürdü. VPA+TQ grubunda VPA grubuna göre oksidatif stres azaldı, antioksidan aktivite arttı ve histopatolojik değişiklikler azaldı. VPA'nın neden olduğu pankreas hasarı, TQ'nun antioksidatif ve antiapoptotik etkileri nedeniyle hafifletildi.

Sonuç: TQ, VPA'nın neden olduğu pankreas hasarının şiddetini azaltmada faydalı olabilir.
Quantitative computerized tomography evaluation of the effects of COVID-19 pneumonia on lung volume
Authors: BALIK Ayşe Özlem , YAĞCI Buket
Published: March 2022

Purpose: The aim of this study was o assess the relationship between lung volume decrease and computed tomography (CT) findings in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia in early period.

Materials and Methods: Fifty-four patients were included in the study. The lung volume (LV) was calculated separately for each lung by software-based quantitative CT (QCT). Patient demographics, comorbidity and smoking status, CT findings, visual semi-quantitative CT severity scoring (CT-SS), and decrease of LV were analyzed.

Results: The rate of volume decrease was not statistically related to, age, gender, smoking, or hospitalization status. When the correlation between follow-up CT (FUCT) LV and CT-SS was examined there were good inverse correlation on the right lung (r = -0.583; p = 0.001) and left lung (r = -0.478; p = 0.001). The rate of decrease in the right LV was significantly higher in patients with comorbidities compared to other patients. There was a statistically moderate inverse correlation between decrease of LV and CT-SS in the right lung (r = -0.294; p = 0.031), and no significant correlation was found between the decrease of LV and CT-SS in the left lung (r = -0.096; p = 0.489).

Conclusion: The rate of lung damage and associated volume decrease both increase with the amount of parenchymal involvement in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. This change is more frequent in patients with multiple comorbidities. Accurate interpretation of CT findings with quantitative data can help physicians to manage the disease.
Effect of tacrolimus in the inner ear of rats
Authors: UYSAL Fatmanur , ERBEK Selim , ERBEK Seyra , ÇULHAOĞLU Belde
Published: March 2022

Purpose: Tacrolimus, an immunosuppressive agent, is used especially after organ transplantation. It has been asserted that tacrolimus has protective effects on the auditory system in some studies while it has negative effects in other studies. The purpose of our study is to investigate the effect of tacrolimus on the inner ear of the rats.

Materials and Methods: 20 healthy Sprague Downey male rats weighing 250-350 grams were included in our study. The first group of rats were given 1mg/kg tacrolimus (n:7), the second group of rats were given 0.1 mg/kg tacrolimus (n:7), and the third group (n:6) was the non-administered control group. The first measurements of all rats were taken with distortion-product otoacoustic emission before starting the experiment. Then, tacrolimus drug was administered by gavage method to the 1st and 2nd groups along 30 days. The last measurement was repeated on the 30th day.

Results: According to the results of the first measurements, emission was obtained in all rats and the responses were found to have similar characteristics. Similarly, the difference between the signal noise rate values in the last measurements taken from the groups did not show any statistical significance.

Conclusions: Based on the distortion-product otoacoustic emission measurements, it can be said that Tacrolimus does not have ototoxic effects on the auditory system of rats considering the administered dosage and time.
Analysis of multiple-dose methotrexate therapy in tubal ectopic pregnancies
Authors: ÇETİN Furkan , BAYRAMOĞLU TEPE Neslihan , SUCU Seyhun , BADEMKIRAN Muhammed Hanifi , KUTLAR İrfan
Published: March 2022

Purpose: The study aimed at determining the success rate of sequential multi-dose methotrexate treatment in tubal ectopic pregnancy (EP) patients and the prognostic factors affecting the treatment success.

Materials and Methods: Clinical, laboratory, and demographic data of 63 patients -hospitalized with the diagnosis of EP in our tertiary center between 2017-2020 and administered sequential multiple-dose methotrexate treatment protocol- were analyzed in this retrospective study.

Results: Based on research findings, medical treatment was successful in 45 of the patients. It was found that 16 out of 18-patient, 88.8% of the patients in the failed group with methotrexate treatment, were operated on due to tubal rupture during follow-up. The mean of sonographic free fluid in Douglas of the successful group with methotrexate treatment was found to be 2.40±0.70 mm (Mean±SE), while it was 10.38±3.05 mm (Mean±SE) in the failed group at the first consultation. The initial β-hCG value of the successful group with methotrexate treatment was measured 3668.55±440.55 IU/L (Mean±SE), while it was 4929.72±752.65 IU/L (Mean±SE) in the failed group.

Conclusion: The success rate of the sequential multiple dose methotrexate protocol was 71.4%. Both the initial serum β-hCG level and the amount of sonographic free fluid in the pouch of Douglas were found high in the failed group with medical treatment at the first consultation.
Relationship between headache, corpus callosum, and deep white matter lesions in patients with migraine
Authors: ONAY Mehmet , YILDOĞAN Aydın Talip , EREN Fettah
Published: March 2022

Purpose: The aim of the study was to examine the relationship of white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) and measurements of corpus callosum (CC) with migraine characteristics.

Materials and Methods: This study was conducted as a case-control and prospective study that included 50 migraine patients and 40 individuals in the control group. The severity and frequency of headaches and headache pain characteristics were questioned. The effects of the disease were determined using the migraine disability rating scale (MIDAS). WMH lesions were evaluated with the FAZEKAS scale. Morphometric measurements of CC were performed. The relationship between pain characteristics and measurements was examined.

Results: There were 50 migraine patients (44 women, 6 men) with a mean age of 30,86±8,64 (18-51) years. The frequency of multi-point WMHs was higher in migraine patients compared to the control group. There were no differences in the measured values of CC between the two groups. WMHs were more common in patients with nausea complaints. Measured CC genu values were lower in patients with phonophobia and visual aura symptoms.

Conclusion: This study has revealed that patients with migraines have a high rate of WMHs, and this rate is even higher when nausea accompanies attacks. No relationships were found between the measured values of CC and migraines.
Anestezi pratiğinde bifid epiglot
Authors: BALİ Çağla Etike
Published: March 2022

Bifid epiglot, genellikle izole bir anomali olmayıp sıklıkla bir sendromun parçası olarak izlenir. Hastalarda hipofizer ve hipotalamik bozukluklara bağlı primer/sekonder hipotroidizm, growth hormon eksikliği, hipoglisemi gibi endokrinolojik anormalliklerin yanısıra havayolu problemleri olabilir. Anestezi yönetimi hem olası havayolu problemleri hem de endokrin yetmezliklerle komplike olabilir.
Is the diagnosis of lung cancer effective in decision of smoking cessation period?
Authors: BULUT Hülya , YALNIZ Enver , ÇİMEN Pınar
Published: March 2022

Purpose: Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide and smoking plays an important role in the development of lung cancer. The study aims to determine the impact of a lung cancer diagnosis on the period of smoking habits. Also, we aimed to find out the factors affecting smoking cessation in patients after being diagnosed with lung cancer.

Materials and Methods: Our study is a descriptive study with 410 patients diagnosed with lung cancer and who had a history of smoking in a training and research hospital in Izmir between April and December 2018. The socio-demographic characteristics of the patients, smoking history, smoking status after the diagnosis, the duration of smoking cessation after the diagnosis, the relationship between smoking and lung cancer disease were investigated.

Results: The mean age of the participants was 60.41±14.85 and 62.7% of the patients were male. Quitting smoking rate was significantly increased and the number of cigarettes smoked daily was decreased after the diagnosis of lung cancer. The rate of quitting smoking after the diagnosis was higher in male patients compared to female patients and the smoking cessation rate was found to be higher in employees. The smoking cessation rate of those who do not use alcohol is significantly higher. The smoking cessation rate was higher in the first year after the diagnosis of lung cancer.

Conclusions: This study showed that the majority of the patients had quit smoking after the diagnosis of lung cancer.
Protective effect of daidzein on ovarian ischemia‑reperfusion injury in rats
Authors: TOKTAY Erdem , GÜRBÜZ Muhammet Ali , BAL Tuğba , ÖZGÜL Özlem , ERBAŞ Elif , UGAN Rüstem Anıl , SELLİ Jale
Published: March 2022

Purpose: In this study, our aim was to investigate the potential effects of strong antioxidant daidzein (DZ) on ovarian ischemia and reperfusion injury.

Materials and Methods: A total of 42 female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into seven groups. For the experimental model, the clamps were removed after 3 hours of ischemia, and blood flow was provided again. Then, reperfusion process was terminated for 3 hours. Daidzein was orally administered to animals at doses of 35 and 70 mg/kg 30 minutes before ischemia (I) and ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) procedures.

Results: Severe immunoreactivity of the IL-1β, IL-6 and Caspase-3 were detected in I and I/R groups. Moderate immunoreactivity of IL-1β, IL-6 and Caspase-3 was detected in I+DZ35 and I/R+DZ35 groups, and slightly positivity was detected in I+DZ70 and I/R+DZ70 groups. The SOD activity level increased in the groups treated with Daidzein, while MDA levels decreased. In addition, hemorrhage areas and inflammatory cell migration decreased in I/R+DZ70 and I/R+DZ35 groups, when compared to I/R group in a dose dependent manner.

Conclusion: Daidzein has a strong protective role in the treatment of ovarian ischemia-reperfusion injury and can be used as a therapeutic agent.