bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Teachers’ Strategies for Decreasing Students’ Anxiety Levels to Improve Their Communicative Skills
Authors: Inada Takako
Published: February 2021

Students’ high levels of foreign-language classroom anxiety (FLCA) are reported to have a negative impact on their target language performance in classrooms. There are some anxiety studies from the students' perspective in the existing literature, but few from the teachers' perspective, particularly in Japan. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate how teachers managed students' levels of anxiety, which may lead to an improvement in their communication skills. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with six teachers. Various strategies that teachers could use to decrease students’ levels of anxiety were introduced. In communicative lessons, students need to practice speaking and listening in class as much as possible to improve these skills in an English as a foreign language (EFL) context. Therefore, teachers should use various methods to increase the opportunities for students to speak a target language in class, and to create an unthreatening classroom environment in which students can speak without hesitation. In addition, teachers could use group dynamics effectively to ensure seamless classroom management.
The body as a brand in social media: Analyzing Digital Fitness Influencers as Product Endorsers
Authors: Silva Marianny Jessica de Brito , Farias Salomão Alencar de , Grigg Michelle Helena Kovacs , Barbosa Maria de Lourdes de Azevedo
Published: February 2021

New social actors have emerged with the social media. Among them, we highlighted the digital influencers, people who have millions of online followers, and induce them in favor or against products and brands to be consumed. Therefore, we aimed to analyze this endorsement process carried out by digital influencers in their online profiles, having as research field the fitness market that encourages people to evaluate and work tirelessly in their bodies. We used the Semiotic Image Analysis to investigate the postings of three Brazilian digital fitness influencers and identified four categories that configure the post format: body exposure, body extension, interaction between influencer and brand/product, and interaction between influencer and followers. By means of these categories, we identified that these influencers act as brand avatars, creating an intense link with these products, exposing their bodies in advertisements and extending the meanings of their good shape to endorsed goods and services.
The issue of the correct use of probiotics in the absence of recommendations
Authors: Tomczak Hanna , Wrońska Marta , Pecyna Paulina , Hampelska Katarzyna
Published: February 2021

Antibiotics are important for saving both human health and life. Antibiotics destroy all bacteria within their spectrum, because they do not distinguish between good and bad bacteria. Even if an antibiotic therapy lasts only a few days, it may cause diarrhoea and mycosis. Antibiotics destroy most bacterial species in the intestines. These changes may affect one’s whole life. Today it is a challenge for medicine to be able to manipulate the microbiome so as to restore normal relations between microorganisms. At present, when antibiotics are abused, probiotics are very often applied. However, as there are no recommendations, a lot of mistakes can be made when using them. Both drugs and dietary supplements can be classified as probiotics. Medicinal probiotics are subject to very strict registration requirements and their use is associated with a specific disease or ailment. Probiotic microorganisms must be classified according to their genus, species and strain. These preparations may contain one or more probiotic strains depending on its application. At present there are no established schemes or rules concerning the dosage of probiotic preparations. This issue arouses numerous controversies. It is assumed that the probiotic should be applied at a dose which proved to have a beneficial effect in tests conducted on humans. Patients usually make decisions on the choice and dosage of preparations themselves. Individualised probiotic therapy is the key to success. There is no universal preparation – a specific probiotic should be used in a particular clinical case.
Desempenho da comunicação MPI Shared Memory no Modelo Meteorológico BRAMS
Authors: Souza Carlos R. de , Panetta Jairo , Stephany Stephan
Published: February 2021

O modelo meteorológico regional BRAMS é executado operacionalmente no CPTEC/INPE num supercomputador composto por nós com processadores multicore. Sua programação paralela é feita com a biblioteca de comunicação por troca de mensagens MPI, sendo o domínio do modelo dividido entre nós e também internamente a cada nó, geralmente com uso da comunicação convencional bilateral assíncrona e sem bloqueio. Entretanto, a recente versão 3.0 do MPI disponibiliza a nova comunicação unilateral de memória compartilhada para otimizar a comunicação entre processos executados num mesmo nó computacional. Este trabalho avalia o desempenho de comunicação dessa nova funcionalidade na execução paralela do modelo BRAMS.
Otimização Computacional do Modelo BRASIL-SR
Authors: Souza Jefferson , Mendes Celso , Santos Rodrigo
Published: February 2021

Este artigo apresenta a melhoria de desempenho computacional do modelo BRASIL-SR. Este código computacional, utilizado para a estimativa da irradiação solar incidente na superficie, foi otimizado com a aplicação de diretivas de OpenMP e modificações do código para implementação de operações de entrada e saída de dados (I/O) utilizando arquivos em formato NetCDF. Após estas implementações, verificou-se que o speedup do código foi ainda maior com um novo tratamento de I/O, gerando uma eficiência mais estável, o que mostra uma melhor utilização do supercomputador Santos Dumont.
Técnicas de Alto Desempenho aplicadas à Sistemas de Visão Computacional para navegação autônoma de VANTs
Authors: Nagata Ronaldo , Fazenda Álvaro
Published: February 2021

O uso de VANT (Veículo Aéreo não Tripulado) tem sido objeto de estudo e pesquisa, já que possui inúmeras aplicações e vantagens em relação a equipamentos tripulados de maior porte. Entretanto, ainda existe uma preocupação em relação ao sistema de navegação autônomo do VANT. A navegação, apenas utilizando-se de orientação espacial por GPS, pode ocasionar erros, devido a ruídos ou ataques no sistema de transmissão/recepção. A navegação alternativa utilizada neste trabalho consiste no uso da técnica de visão computacional, que inclui a aquisição de imagens em tempo real pelo equipamento, permitindo o controle de voô sobre uma trajetória pré-definida. Uma vez que o processamento de imagens utilizado para visão apresenta significativa demanda por computação numérica, este trabalho demonstra uma melhoria de desempenho do algoritmo utilizando-se de uma placa GPGPU de baixo consumo, e que possa ser embarcada no VANT.
Iranian Medical Tourism Industry and Selected Countries in 2020: A Comparative Study
Authors: Momeni Khalil , Jannati Ali , Khodayari-Zarnaq Rahim , Ghasemyani Shabnam , Havasian Mohamadreza
Published: February 2021

Background: Today, medical tourism is a growing phenomenon in the healthcare industry, especially among developing countries. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the Iranian medical tourism industry with selected countries. Methods: This comparative study was conducted in 2020. Data were gathered from databases, including PubMed, Web of Knowledge, Scopus, Magiran, SID, and websites of the World Tourism Association, the Ministry of Tourism, and the Ministry of Health of the selected countries from 2000 to 2020. A researcher-made checklist was used to collect data. Selected countries were compared in terms of the status of tourism and travel competitiveness, governance and policy-making status, the status of the medical tourism industry, and medical tourism infrastructure Results: The main difference between the selected countries and Iran lies in the organizational structure of the main stakeholders of the tourism industry. In other countries, this industry is organized and supervised by specific coordination bodies. In terms of tourism and travel competitiveness, Singapore, with a global rank of 17, was better than other countries. Based on the status of the medical tourism industry, Costa Rica ranked 7th in the world, and Singapore, the UAE (Dubai), Turkey, UAE (Abu Dhabi), Jordan, and Iran ranked 15, 22, 27, 31 35, and 41, respectively. In Iran, all indicators of medical tourism infrastructure were lower than those of other countries except for competitive prices. Conclusions: Considering a low rank of Iran in all the studied components, the organizational integration structure of the medical tourism industry and increasing competitiveness can help the development of this industry in Iran.
Multinational corporate relations in Japanese company Toyota with overlook on cooperation with Philippines
Authors: Jotov Milica
Published: February 2021

This paper aim is to consider the issue of the special management and production model developed at Toyota, and its contribution to the development of other economies in the world, with special reference to production in the Philippines. Japan was the first country in Asia to embark on a path of modernization and as such, became a model for the surrounding countries. The Philippines is one of the countries in the Asia-Pacific region that followed the path of change and adopted the Kaizen philosophy. Japan has influenced more widely, globally, all companies in the world that strive to conduct this way of doing business in their own environment. Toyota's business philosophy and the application of kaizen as a new model of corporate governance has become synonymous with quality corporate governance around the world and has influenced the establishment of new laws in the field of economy, culture and society, in a global context.
Eutrofização e mudanças no regime hidrológico: um risco na bacia do Rio Urupá, Amazônia brasileira
Authors: Pereira Edilene da Silva , Souza Ranieli dos Anjosn de , Silva Nairo Rafael da , Webler Alberto Dresch , Hurtado Fernanda Bay
Published: February 2021

O uso e ocupação do solo em uma bacia hidrográfica reflete diretamente na qualidade da água de seus rios. Assim, considerando o expressivo desenvolvimento de atividades agropecuárias, agroindustriais, minerárias, piscícolas e as inerentes a zona urbana na bacia hidrográfica do rio Urupá nos últimos anos, objetivou-se avaliar a potencial eutrofização do rio Urupá, sob a influência do uso e ocupação e do regime hidrológico da bacia considerando mudanças observadas no sudoeste da Amazônia Brasileira. Para tanto, determinou-se a concentração de Clorofila a e Fósforo Total presentes na zona superficial do rio, em 10 pontos amostrais ao longo de seu eixo longitudinal, com periodicidade bimestral, no período de maio/2018 a abril/2019, com avaliação da influência da precipitação pluviométrica no período. O índice de estado trófico pelo parâmetro de clorofila a (IETChl a) apresentou características de baixa produtividade, enquanto o índice de estado trófico pelo parâmetro de fósforo total (IETPT), do P2 ao P10 apontou potencial à eutrofização, em níveis intermediários. Para tanto, a disponibilidade de fósforo total (PT) na coluna líquida aliada as mudanças no regime de precipitação pluviométrica no sudoeste da Amazônia, põe em risco a qualidade da água da bacia e acendem uma alerta a adoção de medidas à manutenção.
Qualidade da água de córregos sob influência da ocupação antrópica: o caso das águas urbanas e periurbanas de Santarém-PA
Authors: Melo Sérgio Gouvêa de , Moura Lucinewton Silva , Lopes Ruy Bessa , Santos Zaqueu dos , Almeida Rodolfo Maduro , Silva Júlio Tota da
Published: February 2021

Os recursos hídricos próximos à área urbana de Santarém/PA vêm sofrendo grandes impactos, podendo ser alterados por diversos fatores, seja por elementos naturais (geologia, vegetação, solos e clima) e principalmente pelo conjunto de atividades antrópicas, alterando sensivelmente os processos biológicos, físicos e químicos dos recursos hídricos. Devido à perda de quantidade e qualidade das águas com ocupação solo, disposição inadequada de resíduos e a destruição de sua vegetação ripária. Alguns estudos sobre a água feita em áreas urbanas mostram interferência antrópica de forma qualitativa e quantitativa nas suas características químicas, físicas e biológicas dos sistemas hídricos. Um dos principais tipos de poluição aquática é a que caracteriza-se pela presença de matéria orgânica na água, com isso, quanto maior a quantidade de material orgânico disponível, maior será a população de organismos que a decompõe, portanto, maior será a quantidade de oxigênio consumido. O estudo tem como objetivo determinar os parâmetros-físico químico e bacteriológicos indicadores de qualidade da água do canal principal de onze microbacias hidrográficas da área urbana e periurbana do Município de Santarém.
Análise espacial de perdas no sistema de distribuição de água dos municípios do estado do Paraná
Authors: Sesso Patrícia Pompermayer , Zapparoli Irene Domenes , Sesso Filho Umberto Antonio , Brene Paulo Rogério Alves , Rangel Ronaldo Raemy
Published: February 2021

Os sistemas de distribuição de água podem apresentar perdas que comprometem o abastecimento dos consumidores em quantidade (interrupção) e qualidade do produto. Considerando a escassez deste bem para consumo humano e atividades econômicas, o objetivo do estudo foi realizar a análise exploratória de dados espaciais das perdas dos sistemas de distribuição de água dos municípios do estado do Paraná. Os resultados mostraram a existência de agrupamentos Alto-Alto para dos municípios das mesorregiões Metropolitana de Curitiba e Norte Central e Pioneiro. Os índices apresentados para os clusters Alto-Alto implicam em perdas de faturamento, possível ruptura do abastecimento e diminuição da qualidade da água. Estas localidades devem ter prioridade de investimentos para manutenção e reabilitação das redes com a identificação de vazamentos e substituição de tubulações. Os dados indicaram a existência de cidades de maior porte mais eficientes e cidades relativamente pequenas mais ineficientes em seu sistema de distribuição de água. Estudos de caso podem ser realizados para analisar estes municípios e identificar diferentes situações e suas causas.
As contribuições dos conselhos municipais de meio ambiente para a conservação dos recursos hídricos
Authors: Lahmann Daiane Fernandes Pereira , Fonseca Letícia Rodrigues da , Silva Sheldon William , Silva Marcelo Ribeiro
Published: February 2021

O presente estudo se propôs a compreender as contribuições dos Conselhos Municipais de Meio Ambiente- CODEMAs na conservação dos recursos hídricos. Para isso, realizou-se uma pesquisa de abordagem qualitativa do tipo estudo de caso único em um CODEMA da Região Sul de Minas Gerais. Utilizou-se como método de coleta de dados a entrevista semiestruturada e a análise documental. Para coleta de dados, realizou-se entre 2018 e 2019 entrevistas semiestruturadas com integrantes deste CODEMA com o intuito de identificar e compreender as suas ações voltadas para a conservação dos recursos hídricos e conhecer a posição de um membro do Ministério Público com relação a esta temática. As análises foram realizadas por meio da técnica de codificação que permitiu o estabelecimento de categorias analíticas. Ao final, foi possível perceber a importância das deliberações do CODEMA na conservação dos recursos hídricos, principalmente no exercício de suas competências como na análise da viabilidade locacional e ambiental de loteamentos, de alvará de localização e autorização em APP urbana, o que a teoria e a legislação que regula o seu funcionamento não evidenciava até o momento. Quanto às limitações, não se pode generalizar os dados adquiridos para outros CODEMAs, já que cada um possui suas próprias competências delimitadas na lei de sua criação.
Ecological and environmental indicators of Brazil Nut Tree (Bertholletia excelsa Bonpl.) in Flona do Jamari, Rondônia
Authors: Santos Júnior Nilson Reinaldo Fernandes dos , Rosa Diogo Martins , Rocha José das Dores de Sá , Sccoti Marta Silvana Volpato , Biazatti Scheila Cristina , Rocha Karen Janones da
Published: February 2021

Mapping Brazil nut trees in the Amazon is essential for indicating its distribution patterns within different ecosystems, while also being useful to estimate the species productive potential. This study aimed to evaluate the spatial distribution of Brazil nut trees in Flona do Jamari – RO, considering its environmental and topographic conditions. A census was performed for all individual trees sized ≥ 35 cm in diameter at 1.30 m breast height (DBH) above the ground of six Annual Production Units (APU) in Forest Management Unit III (FMU-III), a 11,011.2 ha area of Flona do Jamari, RO. DBH and geographic location (GPS) were collected for each tree. Structure and diameter distribution were evaluated by abundance, density, dominance, and frequency. The Morisita index was used to identify the spatial distribution pattern. The environment was defined by the local relative height found along the drainage network, by the digital model Height Above the Nearest Drainage (HAND). Most trees were among DBH intermediate classes (60 to 140 cm), and only a few were young trees (DBH < 50 cm). Brazil nut trees present a random spatial distribution and a predominant distribution pattern of 'terra-firme (solid ground)'. Such information on the species structural, spatial, and ecological patterns serve as key elements for further studies on production potential.
Simulação hidráulico-hidrológica de dispositivos de baixo impacto na rede de drenagem da bacia do córrego Brejo Comprido em PALMAS/TO
Authors: Mendes Alesi Teixeira
Published: February 2021

O desenvolvimento proposto pela Low Impact Development (LID) envolve transformações profundas nos sistemas de drenagem. Palmas, a capital do Tocantins, tem enfrentado alagamentos ao longo dos anos por consequência da impermeabilização do solo decorrente da urbanização acelerada e das obras de ocupação que saturam o potencial de escoamento dos corpos hídricos. Dessa maneira, o objetivo deste trabalho foi simular a implantação de dispositivos LID relacionadas à drenagem urbana na bacia do Córrego Brejo Comprido, em Palmas – TO. A natureza da pesquisa é computacional com uso majoritário do SWMM. Os dispositivos de LID implantados nas simulações foram células de biorretenção e trincheiras de infiltração. A simulação de implantação das trincheiras e das células de biorretenção na microbacia do Brejo Comprido resultou em reduções nos volumes de escoamento do sistema de drenagem, houve redução de 48% na vazão na rede e de 50% no escoamento superficial.
Manufacturing USA 2019-2020 highlights report
Authors: Gayle Frank W , Molnar Michael F , Roth John , Brunner Zahraha
Published: February 2021

Manufacturing USA is a network of public-private partnerships united to secure U.S. global leadership in advanced manufacturing through large scale collaboration on technology, supply chain, and workforce development. The network includes the U.S. Departments of Commerce (DOC), Defense (DoD), and Energy (DOE), their sponsored manufacturing institutes and six other federal partner agencies - NASA, NSF, HHS, and the Departments of Agriculture, Education and Labor. Together, they work towards accomplishing national manufacturing objectives to secure America's future through manufacturing innovation, education, and collaboration. This report provides a summary of the technology innovation and workforce development projects involving the institutes and their 1,900 member organizations.
Identité régionale et entrepreneurs créatifs en périphérie : le cas de la Corse
Authors: Bourbousson Céline , Furt Jean-Marie , Iglesias Anne
Published: February 2021

Cette recherche vise à identifier les différentes formes d’interaction de l’identité régionale et des entrepreneurs créatifs ruraux dans un projet de structuration collective. Un cadrage théorique par l’économie territoriale nous permet dans cette optique d’appréhender la création comme un actif générique et la structuration collective des créateurs comme processus de spécification de cet actif. Au niveau empirique, ce questionnement sera investi par une étude de cas sur la création corse dans la mode et le design. Le secteur fait actuellement l’objet d’un projet de structuration collective qui convoque explicitement l’identité régionale. Nous proposons un certain nombre d’apports empiriques, qui révèlent une corrélation entre caractéristiques individuelles des entrepreneurs et formes de mobilisation de l’identité régionale, venant complexifier le projet de structuration collective. Au niveau théorique, nous discutons la notion d’identité régionale dans une acception structurationniste et enrichissons la littérature sur la caractérisation des entrepreneurs créatifs ruraux, notamment au regard de leur relation aux logiques commerciale et artistique.
Conciliation des missions scientifique, culturelle et économique de l’entreprise Semitour par l’orientation entrepreneuriale de son business model
Authors: Antonaglia Federica , Verstraete Thierry , Néraudau Gérard
Published: February 2021

Semitour est une société d’économie mixte gérant, pour le compte du conseil départemental de la Dordogne, en France, des sites culturels et touristiques, dont l’extraordinaire grotte de Lascaux, emblématique de l’art pariétal. La réussite de cette entreprise a conduit les chercheurs à souhaiter l’étudier pour son intérêt intrinsèque (Stake, 1994). Chemin faisant, il est apparu que le concept d’orientation entrepreneuriale lui offrait également un statut instrumental, en permettant de comprendre comment se concilient, dans son business model, ses trois missions fondamentales (scientifique, culturelle et économique). Notre recherche est ainsi de nature qualitative, démarche peu fréquente sur l’objet de l’orientation entrepreneuriale, laquelle n’est pas mobilisée jusqu’à ce jour pour les entreprises de l’entrepreneuriat culturel. Le business model, concept également très peu utilisé à ce jour par les recherches dans le champ de l’entrepreneuriat culturel, sert de support pour comprendre ce modèle participant à la réussite du projet entrepreneurial.
Ce qui se cache derrière la spectacularisation du travail artistique des femmes : réflexion sur le chantier féministe du Théâtre Espace Go
Authors: Garneau Marie-Claude
Published: February 2021

Revenant sur le chantier féministe du Théâtre Espace Go qui s’est tenu en avril 2019, l’autrice réfléchit au travail artistique des femmes dans le milieu théâtral, en prenant comme point focal les notions d’événement et de quotidienneté telles que théorisées par les philosophes Françoise Collin et Hannah Arendt. Elle soutient que la semaine de conférences et de midi-causeries aurait peut-être dû s’inspirer davantage des situations d’inégalité et d’oppression vécues par les femmes du milieu théâtral, cequotidienoù il se vit des choses, plutôt que de les effacer derrière l’événement, c’est-à-dire la monstration de ce qui est déjà là, acquis. En conclusion, l’autrice soutient que le chantier féministe du Théâtre Espace Go doit être le point de départ vers une discussion plus large sur de nouvelles façons de travailler ou, à tout le moins, de nouvelles façons de reconnaître le travail que représente la création artistique des femmes.
Las bibliotecas sociales, ¿un valor de futuro?
Authors: Sanz Martos Sandra
Published: February 2021

La utilidad y el futuro de las bibliotecas están en entredicho para algunos. Y ahora que, por culpa de la crisis, los recursos escasean aún más si cabe, ¿para qué invertir en hacer una biblioteca si existe Internet?, ¿realmente son útiles?, ¿para qué sirven? Estas cuestiones, por disparatadas que nos puedan parecer, están en la mente de más de un político y de más de un ciudadano de a pie. Pero sin detenernos a rebatir con sólidos y obvios argumentos el valor que tienen las bibliotecas para la sociedad, dedicaremos este artículo a uno quizás menos reconocido pero que, desgraciadamente, y por las circunstancias que atraviesa nuestro país, está en auge: el valor social.
Recelos de la vida digital
Authors: Cobarsí-Morales Josep , Ortoll Eva
Published: February 2021

De una manera u otra todo el mundo tiene construida una vida digital. Para unos el mundo digital es una extensión de la propia existencia: residen, participan, construyen, están inmersos, absortos. Para otros el mundo digital es un lugar de visita, pasean, lo observan, lo utilizan, se desprenden, lo olvidan. Ya seamos residentes o visitantes, y como en el juego de vida, todos tenemos recelos digitales: saturación informativa, privacidad, pérdida de tiempo, superficialidad. Ahora bien, ¿hasta qué punto nuestras dudas son compartidas por otras personas? Una visión conjunta, ¿nos puede ayudar a gestionar mejor nuestras individualidades y tomar mejores decisiones al respecto?
¿Matarías por un iPhone?
Authors: Lalueza Ferran
Published: February 2021

Apple es una marca que enamora a muchos. Sin embargo, ni siquiera aquellos que metafóricamente matarían por un iPhone podrán permanecer indiferentes a la realidad que acaba de desvelar Amnistía Internacional: decenas de personas mueren cada año extrayendo el mineral empleado en la fabricación de las baterías de estos adorados smartphones.
Yo 'wasapeo', tu 'wasapeas'… ¿los medios 'wasapean'?
Authors: Martínez Martínez Silvia
Published: February 2021

WhatsApp, servicio líder de mensajería instantánea, suma cientos de millones de usuarios y suscita enorme interés. La reciente eliminación de la cuota de suscripción genera curiosidad sobre una estrategia que acentuará su papel de intermediario entre empresas y usuarios sin recurrir a inserciones publicitarias. Un cambio que reabre la reflexión sobre la presencia de medios de comunicación en esta plataforma y las formas de wasapear experimentadas y que podrían desarrollar.
Las emociones y el uso de sistemas de información
Authors: Ortoll Eva , Platero Marta
Published: February 2021

La felicidad está de moda. En Harvard, una de las universidades más prestigiosas del mundo, se ha hecho popular un curso impartido por Tal Bien Shahar que enseña precisamente como ser más feliz. Las emociones, sean positivas o negativas, influyen en la felicidad y en nuestro comportamiento. Joshua Freedman, empresario de NexusEQ no lo duda: “no sólo somos racionales, tenemos emociones. Estamos enviando mensajes emocionales constantemente y de forma automática. Las emociones, sin que digamos nada, afectan como pensamos y como actuamos”. En este sentido, la investigación en neurociencia es clara: si se quiere entender a las personas, e influir sobre ellas, hay que comprender sus emociones. Sobre la inteligencia emocional hace mucho tiempo que se escriben cosas. Sobre las emociones en los negocios, también. Sobre las emociones en la satisfacción de los clientes y de los usuarios (de los sistemas de información), cada vez más.
Realidad virtual y terror: una pareja con futuro
Authors: Sánchez-Navarro Jordi
Published: February 2021

En el mundo de los dispositivos móviles, máquinas, aplicaciones y usos no siempre evolucionan de igual modo. En el reciente Mobile World Congress, entre nuevos modelos de máquinas cada vez más avanzadas y nuevas aplicaciones cada vez más sofisticadas, el visitante interesado en la innovación en la comunicación audiovisual pudo ser testigo de avances en nuevos usos del teléfono móvil. Uno de estos nuevos usos, muy prometedor, es el de la aplicación de la realidad virtual al entretenimiento.
Ei, cuidado con la resivión... y la mano del Creador
Authors: López-Borrull Alexandre
Published: February 2021

Sí, sí, es un error tipográfico hecho intencionadamente. Con él también queremos tener en cuenta que, a menudo, para que la comunicación científica sea efectiva, ha habido alguien que ha revisado la forma de los artículos, la ortografía, la sintaxis y otros aspectos. Empezando por este artículo. Gracias por este trabajo demasiadas veces poco reconocido. Pero hoy, en este artículo, quisiéramos reflexionar sobre uno de los pilares de la comunicación científica, la revisión de los contenidos. Y lo haremos a partir de una polémica que tuvo lugar, curiosamente, alrededor de Sant Medir (3 de marzo). Y tuvo lugar, quizá no casualmente, en una revista en acceso abierto. Vayamos por partes.
Snapchat, líder entre los adolescentes
Authors: Montaña Blasco Mireia
Published: February 2021

Snapchat ya se ha postulado como la red social preferida de los adolescentes. Así lo concluye un estudio llevado a cabo por Edison Research entre más de 2.000 individuos estadounidenses de 12 a 24 años. De esta manera Snapchat está desbancando a redes tan conocidas como Instagram y Facebook en el consumo que realiza este colectivo. Aunque los adolescentes suelen utilizar varias redes sociales, los jóvenes usuarios de Facebook en Estados Unidos han pasado del 80% en 2014 a un 68% en 2016.
Publicidad de temporada
Authors: Sivera Sílvia
Published: February 2021

El sol de verano empieza a entrar en las casas por los televisores. Broncea los cuerpos de los modelos que lucen la ropa de baño que compraremos e ilumina los yogures que nos tienen que ayudar a caber, de momento, en los bañadores de la temporada pasada. La publicidad que está de moda, sin embargo, no es esta. Ponemos el termómetro a un tipo de publicidad alternativa.
The SWELL1-LRRC8 complex regulates endothelial AKT-eNOS signaling and vascular function
Authors: Alghanem Ahmad F , Abello Javier , Maurer Joshua M , Kumar Ashutosh , Ta Chau My , Gunasekar Susheel K , Fatima Urooj , Kang Chen , Xie Litao , Adeola Oluwaseun , Riker Megan , Elliot-Hudson Macaulay , Minerath Rachel A , Grueter Chad E , Mullins Robert F , Stratman Amber N , Sah Rajan
Published: February 2021

The endothelium responds to numerous chemical and mechanical factors in regulating vascular tone, blood pressure, and blood flow. The endothelial volume-regulated anion channel (VRAC) has been proposed to be mechanosensitive and thereby sense fluid flow and hydrostatic pressure to regulate vascular function. Here, we show that the leucine-rich repeat-containing protein 8a, LRRC8A (SWELL1), is required for VRAC in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Endothelial LRRC8A regulates AKT-endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) signaling under basal, stretch, and shear-flow stimulation, forms a GRB2-Cav1-eNOS signaling complex, and is required for endothelial cell alignment to laminar shear flow. Endothelium-restricted Lrrc8a KO mice develop hypertension in response to chronic angiotensin-II infusion and exhibit impaired retinal blood flow with both diffuse and focal blood vessel narrowing in the setting of type 2 diabetes (T2D). These data demonstrate that LRRC8A regulates AKT-eNOS in endothelium and is required for maintaining vascular function, particularly in the setting of T2D.
An analysis of the factors affecting open access to research output in institutional repositories in selected universities in East Africa
Authors: Kakai Miriam
Published: February 2021

INTRODUCTION Institutional repositories (IRs) present universities with an opportunity to provide global open access (OA) to their scholarship, however, this avenue was underutilised in two of the three universities in this study. This study aimed at proposing interventions to improve access to research output in IRs in universities in East Africa, and it adds to the depth of knowledge on IRs by pointing out the factors that limit OA in IRs, some of which include lack of government and funder support for OA and mediated content collection workflows that hardly involved seeking author permission to self-archive. METHODS A mixed methods approach, following a concurrent strategy was used to investigate the low level of OA in IRs. Data was collected from three purposively selected IRs in universities in East Africa, using self-administered questionnaires from 183 researchers and face-to-face interviews from six librarians. results The findings revealed that content was collected on a voluntary basis, with most of the research output deposited in the IR without the authors’ knowledge. The respondents in this study were, however, supportive of the activities of the IR, and would participate in providing research output in the IR as OA if required to do so. CONCLUSION The low level of OA in IRs in universities in East Africa could be increased by improving the IR workflow, collection development, and marketing processes. Self-archiving could be improved by increasing the researchers’ awareness and knowledge of OA and importance of IRs, while addressing their concerns about copyright infringement.
ETDplus Toolkit [Tool Review]
Authors: Harmon Ian
Published: February 2021

Electronic theses and dissertations (ETDs) have traditionally taken the form of PDFs and ETD programs and their submission and curation procedures have been built around this format. However, graduate students are increasingly creating non-PDF files during their research, and in some cases these files are just as or more important than the PDFs that must be submitted to satisfy degree requirements. As a result, both graduate students and ETD administrators need training and resources to support the handling of a wide variety of complex digital objects. The Educopia Institute's ETDplus Toolkit provides a highly usable set of modules to address this need, openly licensed to allow for reuse and adaption to a variety of potential use cases.
Study of Ischemia-Modified Albumin as Marker of Vascular Injury in Diabetic Nephropathy
Authors: Abd-Elaziz Asmaa Hassan , Hodeib Hossam Abd-Elmohsein , Shahba Abeer Abd-El Moneim , Selim Amal
Published: February 2021

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is strongly correlated to ischemia caused by stress that is involved in dysfunction of endothelium leading to angiopathy, particularly diabetic nephropathy (DN). Immediately after occlusion of an artery, free radical production paired with reduced antioxidant defensive response and related ischemia in DM result in changes in the tertiary structure of human serum albumin; therefore, it is called ischemia-modified albumin (IMA). The aim of our work was to evaluate IMA as marker of vascular injury in DN.

Patients and Methods: This trial was conducted on 25 normal individuals as a control group (I) and 75 cases with type II DM. Cases have been subdivided into Group II: 25 diabetic cases with normal albumin in urine, Group III: 25 diabetic cases with albumin in urine and glomerular filtration rate >60 ml/min/1.73m2 and Group IV: 25 diabetic cases with albuminuria and glomerular filtration rate <60ml/min/1.73m2. Medical history, clinical features and laboratory investigations which include the serum IMA have been carried out to all cases.

Results: Compared to the control group, considerably greater serum levels of IMA have been reported in Diabetic cases there had been a wide variation in IMA among the 4 groups. There were considerable +ve correlations among serum IMA and DM duration, blood urea, serum creatinine, UACR, FBS, PPBS and HBA1c. A considerable -ve correlation among serum IMA and eGFR was observed. IMA had an optimal cutoff value≥90 ng/ml with 0.92 area under ROC curve, 96% sensitivity and 92% specificity (p-value<0.001).

Conclusion: IMA could function as a glycemic control marker and a sensitive indicator for DN.
Pharmacotherapy for Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease during the COVID-19: A Narrative Review
Authors: Mahmoud Mansour Adam
Published: February 2021

Background: COVID-19 is considered the most challenging global pandemic. Patients with COVID-19 are more vulnerable to renal impairment especially those admitted to the Intensive Care Units (ICUs).

Objective: In this review we discuss the epidemiology, the pathophysiology, the clinical implications and specific COVID-19 therapy in CKD patients.

Results: The prevalence of CKD patients with COVID-19 varies between 0.7 to 47.6%. Patients with CKD ought to be encouraged to take extra precautions (isolation, distancing, wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)) to limit the risk of exposure to the virus. Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS) and SARS-CoV-2 interactions, through the binding of the virus to ACE-2, have  produced speculations of both likely damage and advantage of RAS inhibitor use during the pandemic. Remidisivir should be avoided in CKD patients (Cr Cl<30ml/min) with COVID-19. In addition, the doses of nephrotoxic medications (chloroquine phosphate and dexamethasone) that are recommended to be used in the management of COVID-19 should be adjusted according to creatinine clearance and dialysis.

Conclusion: COVID-19 may worsen the impaired kidney function and increase mortality.                Care givers should pay especial attention to medications dosing in COVID-19 patient with CKD history.
Understanding Package Delamination through Package Deformation Modeling at Different Thermal Conditions
Authors: Talledo Jefferson
Published: March 2021

Package delamination is one of the problems in semiconductor packaging. Understanding the delamination mechanism in a specific situation is very important to identify the root cause and implement robust solution. In this study, package deformation modeling was done to analyze the deformation of the substrate or package at different thermal conditions. The modeling result was compared with the actual package deformation of the package with delamination problem. It was found out that the observed deformation through actual cross-section analysis matched with the modeling result at reflow temperature condition. Thus, it could be concluded that the delamination happens during package reflow and not after post mold cure or the preceding processes.
Sex Differences in Cognitive Decline Among US Adults
Authors: Levine Deborah A. , Gross Alden L. , Briceño Emily M. , Tilton Nicholas , Giordani Bruno J. , Sussman Jeremy B. , Hayward Rodney A. , Burke James F. , Hingtgen Stephanie , Elkind Mitchell S. V. , Manly Jennifer J. , Gottesman Rebecca F. , Gaskin Darrell J. , Sidney Stephen , Sacco Ralph L. , Tom Sarah E. , Wright Clinton B. , Yaffe Kristine , Galecki Andrzej T.
Published: February 2021

Importance

Sex differences in dementia risk are unclear, but some studies have found greater risk for women.

Objective

To determine associations between sex and cognitive decline in order to better understand sex differences in dementia risk.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study used pooled analysis of individual participant data from 5 cohort studies for years 1971 to 2017: Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study, Cardiovascular Health Study, Framingham Offspring Study, and Northern Manhattan Study. Linear mixed-effects models were used to estimate changes in each continuous cognitive outcome over time by sex. Data analysis was completed from March 2019 to October 2020.

Exposure

Sex.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was change in global cognition. Secondary outcomes were change in memory and executive function. Outcomes were standardized as t scores (mean [SD], 50 [10]); a 1-point difference represents a 0.1-SD difference in cognition.

Results

Among 34 349 participants, 26 088 who self-reported Black or White race, were free of stroke and dementia, and had covariate data at or before the first cognitive assessment were included for analysis. Median (interquartile range) follow-up was 7.9 (5.3-20.5) years. There were 11 775 (44.7%) men (median [interquartile range] age, 58 [51-66] years at first cognitive assessment; 2229 [18.9%] Black) and 14 313 women (median [interquartile range] age, 58 [51-67] years at first cognitive assessment; 3636 [25.4%] Black). Women had significantly higher baseline performance than men in global cognition (2.20 points higher; 95% CI, 2.04 to 2.35 points; P < .001), executive function (2.13 points higher; 95% CI, 1.98 to 2.29 points; P < .001), and memory (1.89 points higher; 95% CI, 1.72 to 2.06 points; P < .001). Compared with men, women had significantly faster declines in global cognition (−0.07 points/y faster; 95% CI, −0.08 to −0.05 points/y; P < .001) and executive function (−0.06 points/y faster; 95% CI, −0.07 to −0.05 points/y; P < .001). Men and women had similar declines in memory (−0.004 points/y faster; 95% CI, −0.023 to 0.014; P = .61).

Conclusions and Relevance

The results of this cohort study suggest that women may have greater cognitive reserve but faster cognitive decline than men, which could contribute to sex differences in late-life dementia.
Neuropeptide B promotes proliferation and differentiation of rat brown primary preadipocytes
Authors: Wojciechowicz Tatiana , Billert Maria , Dhandapani Priyavathi , Szczepankiewicz Dawid , Wasielewski Oskar , Strowski Mathias Z. , Nowak Krzysztof W. , Skrzypski Marek
Published: February 2021

Neuropeptide B (NPB) is reported to regulate energy homeostasis and metabolism via the NPBWR1 and NPBWR2 receptors in various tissues. However, the molecular mechanisms triggered from their interaction are not well investigated in brown adipose tissue. In this study, we specifically analyzed the role of NPB in controlling brown adipogenesis in rat brown preadipocytes. We first detected the expression of NPBWR1 and NPB on mRNA and protein level in brown preadipocytes and observed that NPB increased viability and proliferation of preadipocytes. Moreover, NPB stimulated expression of adipogenic genes (Prdm16, Ucp1) and suppressed the expression of antiadipogenic preadipocyte factor 1 (Pref1) during the differentiation process. Altogether, this led to an increase in intracellular lipid accumulation during preadipocyte differentiation, coupled with an increase in adrenaline‐induced oxygen consumption mediated by NPB. Furthermore, Ucp1 expression stimulated by NPB was attenuated by blockade of p38 kinase. In summary, we conclude that NPB promotes proliferation and differentiation of rat brown preadipocytes via p38‐dependent mechanism and plays an important role in controlling brown adipose tissue formation.
Omnidirectional Control of Large Electrical Output in a Topological Antiferromagnet
Authors: Higo Tomoya , Li Yufan , Kondou Kouta , Qu Danru , Ikhlas Muhammad , Uesugi Ryota , Nishio‐Hamane Daisuke , Chien C. L. , Otani YoshiChika , Nakatsuji Satoru
Published: February 2021

Control of magnetization direction is essential for the wide application of ferromagnets; it defines the signal size of memory and sensor. However, the magnetization itself causes a dilemma. While its size matters to obtain strong responses upon its reversal, the large magnetization concomitantly suppresses the range of its directional control because of the demagnetizing field. On the other hand, realization of the desired magnetic anisotropy requires careful engineering of crystalline and interfacial effects to overcome the demagnetization barrier. Thus, it would be ideal if one could find alternative magnets that carry no magnetization but strong responses. The discovery of a topological metallic state in the antiferromagnet Mn3Sn is significant; they host a large Berry curvature in momentum space, enabling the observation of disproportionately large transverse responses such as anomalous Hall and Nernst effects, the key functionalities for replacing ferromagnets in the magnetic devices. Here, the experimental realization of omnidirectional control of the large responses in an antiferromagnet is reported. In particular, it is demonstrated that the absence of shape anisotropy enables the omnidirectional control, and lifts the shape constraint in designing the magnetic devices. This work lays the technological foundation for developing simple‐structured high‐performance devices including multi‐level memory and heat flux sensor.
Skin Electronics: Next‐Generation Device Platform for Virtual and Augmented Reality
Authors: Kim Jae Joon , Wang Yan , Wang Haoyang , Lee Sunghoon , Yokota Tomoyuki , Someya Takao
Published: February 2021

Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are overcoming the physical limits of real‐life using advances in devices and software. In particular, the recent restrictions in transportation from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic are making people more interested in these virtual experiences. However, to minimize the differences between artificial and natural perception, more human‐interactive and human‐like devices are necessary. The skin is the largest organ of the human body and interacts with the environment as the site of interfacing and sensing. Recent progress in skin electronics has enabled the use of the skin as the mounting object of functional devices and the signal pathway bridging humans and computers, with opening its potential in future VR and AR applications. In this review, the current skin electronics are summarized as one of the most promising device solutions for future VR/AR devices, especially focusing on the recent materials and structures. After defining and explaining VR/AR systems and the components, the advantages of skin electronics for VR/AR applications are emphasized. Next, the detailed functionalities of skin electronic devices, including the input, output, energy devices, and integrated systems, are reviewed for future VR/AR applications.
Flexible Protective Film: Ultrahard, Yet Flexible Hybrid Nanocomposite Reinforced by 3D Inorganic Nanoshell Structures
Authors: Bae Gwangmin , Choi Gwang‐Mun , Ahn Changui , Kim Sang‐Min , Kim Wonsik , Choi Youngjun , Park Dawon , Jang Dongchan , Hong Jung‐Wuk , Han Seung Min , Bae Byeong‐Soo , Jeon Seokwoo
Published: February 2021

Emerging flexible optoelectronics requires a new type of protective material that is not only hard but also flexible. Organic–inorganic (O–I) hybrid materials have been used as a flexible cover window to increase wear resistance and polymer‐like flexibility. However, the hardness of O–I hybrid materials is much lower than that of metals and ceramics due to the low intrinsic hardness of the organic matrix and limited volume fraction of inorganic reinforcement. Herein, a new type of hybrid nanocomposite combining an O–I hybrid material with continuous and ordered 3D inorganic nanoshell as an additional reinforcement is proposed. The 3D alumina nanoshell uniformly embedded in the epoxy‐siloxane molecular hybrid (ESMH) enables a rule of mixture without a loss in flexibility. Two types of reinforcements comprising siloxane molecules and 3D alumina shell ensure a metal‐like hardness (1.3 GPa), which is significantly higher than that of the typical polymers and polymer nanocomposites. The 3D hybrid nanocomposite films show superb impact resistance due to the 3D alumina nanoshell that effectively suppresses crack propagation. Inch‐scale 3D hybrid nanocomposite films also endure 20 000 bending cycles without failure and maintain high transparency (>82.0% at 550 nm) in the visible regions.