bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Guest Editor: Raffaella Origa THYROID DISORDERS IN HOMOZYGOUS β-THALASSEMIA: CURRENT KNOWLEDGE, EMERGING ISSUES AND OPEN PROBLEMS
Authors: De Sanctis Vincenzo
Published: April 2019

Abstract. Changes in thyroid function and thyroid function tests occur in patients with β-thalassemia major (TM). The frequency of hypothyroidism in TM patients ranges from 4% to 29 % in different reports. The wide variation has been attributed to several factors such as patients' genotype, age, ethnic variations, treatment protocols of transfusions and chelation, and varying compliance to treatment. Hypothyroidism is the result of primary gland failure or insufficient thy­roid gland stimulation by the hypothalamus or pituitary gland. The main laboratory parameters of thyroid function are the assessments of serum thyroid-stimulating hor­mone (TSH) and serum free thyroxine (FT4). It is of primary importance to interpret these measure­ments within the context of the laboratory-specific normative range for each test. An ele­vated serum TSH level with a normal range of serum FT4 level is consistent with subclinical hypothyroidism. A low serum FT4 level with a low, or inappropriately normal, serum TSH level is consistent with secondary hypothyroidism. Doctors caring for TM patients most commonly encounter subjects with subclinical primary hypothy­roidism in the second decade of life. Several aspects remain to be elucidated as the frequency of thyroid cancer and the possible existence of a relationship between thyroid dysfunction on one hand, cardiovascular diseases, components of metabolic syndrome (insulin resistance) and hypercoagulable state on the other hand. Further studies are needed to explain these emerging issues. Following a brief description of thyroid hormone regulation, production and actions, this article is conceptually divided into two parts; the first reports the spectrum of thyroid disease occurring in patients with TM, and the second part focuses on the emerging issues and the open problems in TM patients with thyroid disorders.
Guest Editor: Raffaella Origa IRON TOXICITY AND HEMOPOIETIC CELL TRANSPLANTATION: TIME TO CHANGE THE PARADIGM.
Authors: Pilo Federica
Published: April 2019

The issue of iron overload in hemopoietic cell transplantation has been first discussed in the field of transplantation for thalassemia. Thalassemia major is characterized by ineffective erythropoiesis and hemolysis leading to anemia in the majority of patients. Patients require regular blood transfusion therefore they develop iron overload causing organ damage and hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is a consolidated reliably curative option. In this category of patients an important issue for transplant outcome is the iron burden before transplant and in the long-life post-transplant. Nevertheless, today the concept of the impact of iron overload / toxicity on the outcome of HCT) has been extended to other diseases characterized by periods of variable duration of transfusion dependence Recent preclinical data has shown how increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) resulting under iron overload condition, could impair the stem cells clonality capacity, proliferation and maturation. Also, microenvironment cells could be affected through this mechanism. For this reason, iron overload is becoming an important issue also in the engraftment period post-transplantThe aim of this review is to update consolidated knowledge about the role of iron overload/iron toxicity in the HCT setting in non-malignant and in malignant diseases introducing the concept of exposition of free toxic iron forms and related cellular damage in the different stage of transplant.
West Nile virus encephalitis in haematological setting: report of two cases and brief review of the literature
Authors: Ferrarini Isacco , Rigo Antonella , Gandini Alberto , Vinante Fabrizio
Published: April 2019

West Nile virus is a zoonotic agent causing life-threatening encephalitis in a proportion of infected patients. Older age, immunosuppression and mutations in specific host genes (e.g. CCR5 delta-32 mutation) predispose to neuroinvasive infection. We report on two cases of severe West Nile encephalitis in recently-treated, different-aged, chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients. Both patients developed high-grade fever associated with severe neurological impairment. The younger one harboured germ-line CCR5 delta-32 mutation, which might have played a role in the pathogenesis of its neuroinvasive manifestations.
DIRECT ACTING ANTIVIRAL TREATMENT FOR PATIENTS WITH END STAGE KIDNEY DISEASE WITH ACUTE HCV INFECTION
Authors: Hussein Nawfal R , Saleem Zana , Abd Kais
Published: April 2019

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a public health problem. Such an infection is prevalent and aggressive in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). The efficacy and the safety of direct acting antivirus (DAA) in patients with acute HCV and ESKD is under investigation. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of sofosbuvir containing regimens in this difficult-to-treat population.

Methods: A prospective and observational study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of sofosbuvir containing regimen in patient with ESKD who were undergoing haemodialysis and were acutely infected with HCV. Subjects either received sofosbuvir 200 mg and daclatasvir 60 mg daily or sofosbuvir 400mg/ledipasvir 60mg daily for 12 weeks.  

Results: 19 Patients were recruited in this study who were infected with HCV genotype 1a. All subjects achieved sustained virologic response (SVR) twelve weeks after finishing the treatment course. No major adverse effects were reported and the treatment course was well tolerated.

Conclusions: sofosbuvir containing regimens were effective and safe for the treatment of acute HCV in patients with ESKD who were on haemodialysis.
Precursors and formation of secondary organic aerosols from wildfires in the Euro-Mediterranean region
Authors: Majdi Marwa , Sartelet Karine , Lanzafame Grazia Maria , Couvidat Florian , Kim Youngseob , Chrit Mounir , Turquety Solene
Published: April 2019

Abstract. This work
aims at quantifying the relative contribution of secondary organic aerosol
(SOA) precursors emitted by wildfires to organic aerosol (OA) formation
during summer of 2007 over the Euro-Mediterranean region, where intense
wildfires occurred. A new SOA formation mechanism, H2Oaro,
including recently identified aromatic volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
emitted from wildfires, is developed based on smog chamber experiment
measurements under low- and high-NOx regimes. The aromatic
VOCs included in the mechanism are toluene, xylene, benzene, phenol, cresol,
catechol, furan, naphthalene, methylnaphthalene, syringol, guaiacol, and
structurally assigned and unassigned compounds with at least six carbon atoms
per molecule (USC>6). This mechanism
H2Oaro is an extension of the H2O
(hydrophilic–hydrophobic organic) aerosol mechanism: the oxidation of the
precursor forms surrogate species with specific thermodynamic properties
(volatility, oxidation degree and affinity to water). The SOA concentrations
over the Euro-Mediterranean region in summer of 2007 are simulated using the
chemistry transport model (CTM) Polair3D of the air-quality platform
Polyphemus, where the mechanism H2Oaro was implemented. To
estimate the relative contribution of the aromatic VOCs, intermediate
volatility, semi-volatile and low-volatility organic compounds (I/S/L-VOCs),
to wildfires OA concentrations, different estimations of the gaseous
I/S/L-VOC emissions (from primary organic aerosol – POA – using a factor of
1.5 or from non-methanic organic gas – NMOG – using a factor of 0.36) and
their ageing (one-step oxidation vs. multi-generational oxidation) are also
tested in the CTM. Most of the particle OA concentrations are formed from
I/S/L-VOCs. On average during the summer of 2007 and over the Euro-Mediterranean
domain, they are about 10 times higher than the OA concentrations formed from
VOCs. However, locally, the OA concentrations formed from VOCs can represent
up to 30 % of the OA concentrations from biomass burning. Amongst the VOCs,
the main contributors to SOA formation are phenol, benzene and catechol (CAT; 47 %); USC>6 compounds (23 %); and toluene and xylene (12 %). Sensitivity
studies of the influence of the VOCs and the I/S/L-VOC emissions and
chemical ageing mechanisms on PM2.5 concentrations show that surface
PM2.5 concentrations are more sensitive to the parameterization used for
gaseous I/S/L-VOC emissions than for ageing. Estimating the gaseous I/S/L-VOC emissions from POA or from NMOG has a high
impact on local surface PM2.5 concentrations (reaching −30 % in the Balkans,
−8 % to −16 % in the fire plume and +8 % to +16 % in Greece). Considering the VOC
as SOA precursors results in a moderate increase in PM2.5 concentrations
mainly in the Balkans (up to 24 %) and in the fire plume (+10 %).
Enhanced sulfate formation through SO2+NO2 heterogeneous
reactions during heavy winter haze in the Yangtze River Delta
region, China
Authors: Huang Ling , An Jingyu , Koo Bonyoung , Yarwood Greg , Yan Rusha , Wang Yangjun , Huang Cheng , Li Li
Published: April 2019

Abstract. Rapid sulfate formation is recognized as key characteristics of severe winter haze in China. However, air quality models tend to underestimate sulfate formation during heavy haze periods and heterogeneous formation pathways have been proposed as promising mechanisms to reduce gaps between observation and model simulation. In this study, we implemented a reactive SO2 uptake mechanism through the SO2+NO2 heterogeneous reactions in the Comprehensive Air Quality Model with extensions (CAMx) to improve simulation of sulfate formation in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region for the first time. Parameterization of the SO2+NO2 heterogeneous reactions is based on observations in Beijing and considered both impact of relative humidity and aerosol pH on sulfate formation. Ammonia is reported to be critical for the formation of secondary inorganic aerosols and estimation of ammonia emissions is usually associated with large uncertainties. Sensitivity tests were conducted to evaluate the importance of the SO2+NO2 heterogeneous reactions as well as ammonia emissions on modelled sulfate concentrations during a period with several heavy haze episodes in the YRD region. Base case model results show large underestimation of sulfate concentrations by 36 % under polluted conditions in the YRD region. Adding the SO2+NO2 heterogeneous reactions or doubling ammonia emissions alone leads to slight model improvement (~ 6 %) on simulated sulfate concentrations in the YRD region. However, model performance significantly improved when both the SO2+NO2 heterogeneous reactions and doubled ammonia emissions were included in the simulation: predicted sulfate concentrations during polluted periods increased from 23.1 µg m−3 in the base scenario to 29.1 µg m−3 (representing an increase of 26 %). Aerosol pH is crucial for the SO2+NO2 heterogeneous reactions and our calculated aerosol pH is always acidic and increased by 0.7 with doubled ammonia emissions. Modelling results also show that this reactive SO2 uptake mechanism enhanced sulfate simulations by 1 to 5 µg m−3 for the majority of eastern and central part of China, with more than 20 µg m−3 increase of sulfate concentrations over the north-eastern plateau. These findings suggest that the SO2+NO2 heterogeneous reactions could be important for sulfate formation in the YRD region as well as other parts of China. In addition, ammonia emissions need to be carefully estimated. More studies are needed to improve the parameterization of the SO2+NO2 heterogeneous reactions based on local data further evaluate this mechanism in other regions. Substantial efforts are needed to improve the accuracy of ammonia emissions inventory.
Project and Community Management in Polar Sciences – Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Werner Kirstin , Zaika Yulia , Pavlov Alexey K. , Lidström Sven , Pope Allen , Badhe Renuka , Brückner Marlen , Cristini Luisa
Published: April 2019

Abstract. Because geoscientific research often occurs via community-instigated bursts of activity with multi-investigator collaborations variously labelled as e.g., years (The International Polar Year IPY), experiments (World Ocean Circulation Experiment WOCE), programs (International Ocean Discovery Program), missions (CRYOSAT spacecraft), or decades (The International Decade of Ocean Exploration IDOE), successful attainment of research goals generally requires skilful scientific project management. In addition to the usual challenges of matching scientific ambitions to limited resources, on-going coordination and specifically project management, planning and implementation of polar science projects often involve many uncertainties caused by, for example, unpredictable weather or ocean and sea ice conditions, large-scale logistical juggling; and often these collaborations are spatially distributed and take place virtually. Large amounts of funding are needed to procure the considerable infrastructure and technical equipment required for polar expeditions; permissions to enter certain regions must be requested; and potential risks for expedition members as well as technical issues in extreme environments need to be considered. All these aspects are challenging for polar science projects, which therefore need a well thought-through program including a realistic alternative “plan B” and possibly also a “plan C” and “plan D”. The four most challenging overarching themes in polar science project management have been identified: international cooperation, interdisciplinarity, infrastructure, and community management. In this paper, we address ongoing challenges and opportunities in polar science project management based on a survey among 199 project and community managers and an additional of 85 project team members active in the field of polar sciences. Case studies and survey results are discussed with the conclusive goal to provide recommendations on how to fully reach the potential of polar sciences project and community management.
Comparing high-latitude thermospheric winds from FPI and CHAMP accelerometer measurements
Authors: Aruliah Anasuya , Förster Matthias , Hood Rosie , McWhirter Ian , Doornbos Eelco
Published: April 2019

Abstract. It is generally assumed that horizontal wind velocities are independent of height above the F1-region (> 300 km) due to the large viscosity of the upper thermosphere. This assumption is used to compare two completely different methods of thermospheric neutral wind observation, using two distinct locations in the high-latitude Northern Hemisphere. The measurements are from ground-based Fabry-Perot Interferometers (FPI), and from in-situ accelerometer measurements onboard the CHAMP satellite, which was in a near polar orbit. The UCL KEOPS FPI is located in the vicinity of the auroral oval at the ESRANGE site near Kiruna, Sweden (67.8° N, 20.4° E). The UCL Longyearbyen FPI is a polar cap site, located at the Kjell Henriksen Observatory on Svalbard (78.1° N, 16.0° E). The comparison is done in a statistical sense, comparing a longer time series obtained during nighttime hours in the winter months (November to January); with overflights of the CHAMP satellite between 2001 and 2007 over the observational sites, within ±2° (±220 km horizontal range). The FPI is assumed to measure the Doppler shift along the line-of-sight of winds at ~ 240 km height, i.e. the peak emission height of the atomic oxygen 630.0 nm emission. The components of winds at right angles to the CHAMP orbit are derived from state-of-the-art precision accelerometer measurements at altitudes. CHAMP was at altitudes between 450 km (in 2001) to 330 km (in 2007); i.e. 100–200 km above the FPI wind observations. We show that CHAMP winds at high latitudes are systematically 1.5–2 times larger than FPI winds. In addition to testing the consistency of the different measurement approaches, the study aims to clarify the effects of viscosity on the height dependence of thermospheric winds.
The ISC Bulletin as a comprehensive source of earthquake source mechanisms
Authors: Lentas Konstantinos , Di Giacomo Domenico , Harris James , Storchak Dmitry A.
Published: April 2019

Abstract. In this article we summarize the availability of earthquake
source mechanisms in the Bulletin of the International Seismological
Centre (ISC). The bulletin in its current status contains ∼81 000
seismic events with only one associated mechanism solution and ∼25 000
events with at least two associated source mechanisms. The main sources of
earthquake mechanisms in the ISC Bulletin are reported solutions provided by
data contributors and ISC-computed focal mechanisms based on first motion
polarities. Given the importance of using pre-determined fault plane
solutions in different types of studies, here we briefly discuss the methodologies adopted by major data
providers to the ISC and investigate the intra-event variability of the
source mechanisms. We conclude that the overall agreement among different
earthquake mechanisms for the same event as reported by different sources can
show a similarity coefficient as high as 80 %, based on the rotation angles
of their best-fitting double couple solutions, for the majority of the cases.
The earthquake source mechanisms discussed in this work are freely available
within the ISC Bulletin websearch at http://doi.org/10.31905/D808B830.
Development of a distributed hybrid seismic-electrical data acquisition system based on NB-IoT technology
Authors: Li Wenhao , Zhang Qisheng , Zhang Qimao , Guo Feng , Qiao Shuaiqing , Liu Shiyang , Luo Yueyun , Niu Yuefeng , Heng Xing
Published: April 2019

Abstract. The non-uniqueness of geophysical inversions, which is based on a single geophysical method, is a long-standing problem in geophysical exploration. Therefore, multi-method geophysical prospecting has become a popular topic. In multi-method geophysical prospecting, the joint inversion of seismic and electric data has been extensively researched for decades. However, the methods used for hybrid seismic-electric data acquisition that form the base for multi-method geophysical prospecting techniques, have not yet been explored in detail. In this work, we developed a distributed, high-precision, and hybrid seismic-electrical data acquisition system using advanced Narrow Band-Internet of Things (NB-IoT) technology. The system was equipped with hybrid data acquisition board, a high-performance embedded motherboard based on field-programmable gate array and advanced RISC machine, and host software. The data acquisition board used an ADS1278 24-bit analog-to-digital converter and FPGA-based digital filtering techniques to perform high-precision data acquisition. The equivalent input noise of the data acquisition board was only 0.5 µV with a sampling rate of 1000 samples-per-second and front-end gain of 40 dB. The multiple data acquisition stations of our system were synchronized using oven-controlled crystal oscillators and global positioning system technologies. Consequently, the clock frequency error of the system was less than 10−9 Hz @ 1 Hz after calibration, and the synchronization accuracy of the data acquisition stations was ±200 ns. The use of sophisticated NB-IoT technologies allowed the long-distance wireless communication between control center and data acquisition stations. In validation experiments, it was found that our system was operationally stable and reliable, produced highly accurate data, and functionally flexible and convenient. Furthermore, using this system, it is also possible to monitor the real-time quality of data acquisition processes. We believe that the results obtained in this study will drive the advancement of prospective integrated seismic-electrical technologies and promote the use of IoT technologies in geophysical instrumentation.
Fast domain-aware neural network emulation of a planetary boundary layer parameterization in a numerical weather forecast model
Authors: Wang Jiali , Balaprakash Prasanna , Kotamarthi Rao
Published: April 2019

Abstract. Parameterizations for physical processes in weather and climate models are computationally expensive. We use model output from a set of simulations performed using the Weather Research Forecast (WRF) model to train deep neural networks and evaluate whether trained models can provide an accurate alternative to the physics-based parameterizations. Specifically, we develop an emulator using deep neural networks for a planetary boundary layer (PBL) parameterization in the WRF model. PBL parameterizations are commonly used in atmospheric models to represent the diurnal variation of the formation and collapse of the atmospheric boundary layer – the lowest part of the atmosphere. The dynamics of the atmospheric boundary layer, mixing and turbulence within the boundary layer, velocity, temperature, and humidity profiles are all critical for determining many of the physical processes in the atmosphere. PBL parameterizations are used to represent these processes that are usually unresolved in a typical numerical weather model that operates at horizontal spatial scales in the tens of kilometers. We demonstrate that a domain-aware deep neural network, which takes account of underlying domain structure that are locality specific (e.g., terrain, spatial dependence vertically), can successfully simulate the vertical profiles within the boundary layer of velocities, temperature, and water vapor over the entire diurnal cycle. We then assess the spatial transferability of the domain-aware neural networks by using a trained model from one location to nearby locations. Results show that a single trained model from a location over the midwestern United States produces predictions of wind components, temperature, and water vapor profiles over the entire diurnal cycle and all nearby locations with errors less than a few percent when compared with the WRF simulations used as the training dataset.
The cross-dip correction as a tool to improve imaging of crooked-line seismic data: a case study from the post-glacial Burträsk fault, Sweden
Authors: Beckel Ruth A. , Juhlin Christopher
Published: April 2019

Abstract. Understanding the development of post-glacial faults and their associated
seismic activity is crucial for risk assessment in Scandinavia. However,
imaging these features and their geological environment is complicated due to
special challenges of their hardrock setting, such as weak impedance
contrasts, often high noise levels and crooked acquisition lines. A
crooked-line geometry can cause time shifts that seriously de-focus and
deform reflections containing a cross-dip component. Advanced processing
methods like swath 3-D processing and 3-D pre-stack migration can, in
principle, handle the crooked-line geometry but may fail when the noise level
is too high. For these cases, the effects of reflector cross-dip can be compensated for by introducing a linear
correction term into the standard processing flow. However, existing
implementations of the cross-dip correction rely on a slant stack approach
which can, for some geometries, lead to a duplication of reflections. Here,
we present a module for the cross-dip correction that avoids the reflection
duplication problem by shifting the reflections prior to stacking. Based on
tests with synthetic data, we developed an iterative processing scheme where
a sequence consisting of cross-dip correction, velocity analysis and
dip-moveout (DMO) correction is repeated until the stacked image converges.
Using our new module to reprocess a reflection seismic profile over the
post-glacial Burträsk fault in northern Sweden increased the image
quality significantly. Strike and dip information extracted from the
cross-dip analysis helped to interpret a set of southeast-dipping reflections
as shear zones belonging to the regional-scale Burträsk Shear Zone (BSZ),
implying that the BSZ itself is not a vertical but a southeast-dipping
feature. Our results demonstrate that the cross-dip correction is a highly
useful alternative to more sophisticated processing methods for noisy
datasets. This highlights the often underestimated potential of rather simple
but noise-tolerant methods in processing hardrock seismic data.
“The First Real Indians That I Have Seen”: Franz Boas and the Disentanglement of the Entangled
Authors: Hatoum Rainer
Published: April 2019

Franz Boas is known for his role in professionalizing the scholarly outlook of native North America, which in turn has strongly influenced the general perception of them by its “products“—its collections, museum displays, and academic output—even if only by critically dealing with these. In that connection, Boas the scholar and ethnographer has received increased attention, too. His shorthand field notes fall into this category. My analysis of these notes, which I decipher here for the first time, sheds new light on Boas, the field-person, and reveals new aspects of his encounters. This article will show that whereas Boas tried to seek a deeper understanding of Indigenous peoples, he did so by ignoring much of the reality of his encounters with them. In my analysis, I not only shed light on Boas's attempts to “disentangle” the “entangled” in the name of science but also revisit the original contexts of interaction.
Taking the Temperature of Hydrothermal Ore Deposits Using Clumped Isotope Thermometry
Authors: Mering John A. , Barker Shaun L.L. , Huntington Katharine W. , Simmons Stuart , Dipple Gregory , Andrew Benjamin , Schauer Andrew
Published: April 2019

Better tools are needed to map the thermal structure of ore deposits. Here, carbonate clumped isotope thermometry is applied for the first time in epithermal, skarn, and carbonate-hosted deposits to identify the conditions involved in metal transport and deposition. Clumped isotope temperature calibrations were tested by measurement of carbonates from three geothermal fields in the Taupo volcanic zone, New Zealand, that record growth temperatures between 130° and 310°C. Results for modern Taupo volcanic zone calcites were paired with known fluid δ18O values and these indicate precipitation in equilibrium with produced geothermal waters. Measurements carried out at the Waihi low sulfidation deposit in New Zealand, the Antamina polymetallic skarn in Peru, and the Mount Isa sediment hosted Pb-Zn and Cu deposit in Queensland, Australia, demonstrate that clumped isotope values are sensitive to temperature gradients defined using other methods. At Waihi, an andesite-hosted deposit, temperature controls the majority of variation in carbonate mineral δ18O. At Mount Isa, ~300° to 400°C temperatures were recorded in a 1.5 Ga orebody, which are consistent with fluid inclusion values, highlighting the longevity of clumped isotope archives in dolomite minerals. Collectively, these results demonstrate the potential for clumped isotopes to delineate the heat footprint around deposits that contain carbonates, and to more effectively disentangle magmatic and meteoric fluid δ18O signals.
The relationship between math personality, math anxiety, test preparation strategy and medication dose calculations in first year nursing students
Authors: Osahor Kelechi , Woodend Kirsten , Mackie Jane
Published: April 2019

The objectives of this study were twofold: (1) To determine the predictors of performance on a medication dose calculation test in first year baccalaureate nursing students. The variables studied were: level of math anxiety; math personality; arithmetic ability; program of study; age; and the number of strategies used to prepare for a medication dose calculation test. (2) To determine the factors that affect math anxiety. The variables studied were: arithmetic ability, program of study, math personality, the number of test preparation strategies used and age. Participants consisted of a convenience sample (n = 163) from the first year of a Canadian baccalaureate nursing program. Participants completed a mathematics test, which served as a baseline measure of arithmetic ability. They also completed a series of online questionnaires on math anxiety and math personality, age and program of study (compressed program vs. collaborative program).  Participants then completed a medication dose calculation test after which they were asked how many different strategies that they had used in preparation for the test. Performance on the medication dose calculation test was regressed on arithmetic ability, mathematics anxiety, program of study, mathematics personality, the number of test preparation strategies and age. Math anxiety was regressed on pretest score, program of study, math personality, the number of test preparation strategies used and age. The variables found to predict performance on the medication dose calculation test were anxiety and program of study. Of the predictors investigated, only the “Inchworm” math personality and number of test preparation strategies used by students significantly predicted anxiety. Strategies to improve nursing students’ ability to perform dosage calculations should incorporate anxiety-reducing tactics as anxiety was found to be a key predictor of performance on the medication dose calculation test. These strategies should focus on supporting students who possess an “inchworm” math personality.
The Relationship between Physical Conditions of School Buildings and Organizational Commitment According to Teachers’ Perceptions
Authors: Dağlı Abidin , Gençdal Gülsen
Published: April 2019

The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between the physical conditions of school buildings andorganizational commitment according to the perceptions of teachers in public primary schools. The researchpopulation consists of 2450 teachers from 92 primary schools in the central district of Diyarbakır/Turkey in theacademic year of 2017-2018. The data collection instrument was applied to randomly selected 534 teachers from 27schools. “School Buildings Scale" developed by Çağlayan and Yılmaz (2011) and “Organizational CommitmentScale" developed by Meyer, Allen and Smith (1993), and adapted into Turkish by Dağlı, Elçiçek and Han (2017)were used in this study.Some important findings of the study are listed below: According to teachers' perceptions, the highest item that isassociated with the school buildings was found in the dimension of “General view (M=3,58; Quite adequate), theitem with the lowest level was found in the dimension of “Fields reserved for students” (M=2,44; insufficient). Themean of the whole scale was found as (M=2.99) “Partially adequate”. It was determined that the highest mean ofteachers' perceptions about organizational commitment (M=3.50; Agree) was in “affective commitment” dimensionand the lowest mean (M=2,94; Undecided) in the dimension of “normative commitment”. Teachers participated inthe total mean of the organizational commitment scale at the level of (M=3.19; Undecided). Generally, it was foundthat there was a moderate and positive relationship between the school building scale and organizational commitmentscale (r=,561, p <0.01). This shows that, as the physical conditions of the school buildings are improved, theorganizational commitment of the teachers is increased.
Mirada sociológica al "software" lúdico la dramaturgia de Erving Goffman en los videojuegos
Authors: Puente Bienvenido Héctor , Costán Sequeiros Bruna
Published: April 2019

Desde las sensibilidades metafóricas desarrolladas por Erving Goffman, proponemos una aproximación a las problemáticas del juego a través de una genealogía que rastrea las conexiones goffmanianas con los dispositivos videolúdicos. De este modo, entendemos las interacciones y la vida social como un espacio performativo donde se interpretan roles y operan simultáneamente cuatro metáforas descritas por el autor (teatral, rito, marco y juego). Aplicando una metodología de análisis cualitativo basada en entrevistas y observación participante (virtual y cara a cara) aspiramos a aprehender la cultura de juego mientras profundizamos en los rasgos más sutiles y subyacentes de la interacción lúdica. Para ello, proponemos un recorrido por los escenarios, interacciones, performatividades y mecanismos de socialización, presentes en los videojuegos, que progresivamente son más ubicuos y relevantes en la preocupación y quehacer sociológico.
Emprendedores por necesidad. Factores determinantes
Authors: Antonio Alvarez-Sousa
Published: April 2019

El objetivo de esta investigación es analizar los factores que llevan a las personas a convertirse en emprendedores por necesidad. Partimos de la teoría de la lógica de la acción emprendedora, según la cual existen condicionantes individuales y contextuales que llevan a ciertas personas a convertirse en emprendedores por necesidad y a otras no. Los datos están tomados del Eurobarómetro. Aplicamos la técnica de las Generalized Structural Equation Modeling (GSEM) con Stata. El resultado es que existen diferencias significativas entre la población de la Unión Europea para convertirse en emprendedores por necesidad según factores individuales —espíritu emprendedor, imagen de los empresarios, propensión al riesgo, género, edad, formación, percepción de la situación económica del hogar— y contextuales —porcentaje del desempleo, sistema de relaciones laborales y desarrollo del país donde viven.
Exclusión social de los vecinos en una perspectiva comparada mundial
Authors: Juan Díez-Nicolás  , López-Narbona Ana María
Published: April 2019

El objetivo de esta investigación es describir la exclusión social en una perspectiva comparada internacional. Grupos no deseables como vecinos se utilizan frecuentemente como aproximación para responder a tres preguntas: quiénes son los grupos sociales más excluidos, quiénes son los excluyentes y cuáles son las principales variables explicativas de la exclusión social. La exclusión social, como fenómeno multidimensional, se define en relación a conceptos como estigma, discriminación y prejuicio.

Se han construido tres índices para medir la exclusión social y analizado cuatro variables para explicar la exclusión social: posición social, exposición a la información, valores postmaterialistas y percepción de seguridad. Asimismo se han añadido otras variables al análisis. Las bases de datos utilizadas han sido EVS y WVS (de 1981 a 2014).
School Engagement for Avoiding Dropout in Middle School Education
Authors: Hennig Manzuoli Cristina , Pineda-Báez Clelia , Vargas Sánchez Ana D.
Published: April 2019

School engagement is a key factor in maintaining school attendance and in diminishing dropout rates. In this study, four dimensions that compose school engagement—cognitive, affective, behavioral, and agentic—were evaluated with a self-report questionnaire (Veiga, 2013), and comparisons between rural and urban schools were made. A total of 802 seventh-graders (51.2% boys and 48.8% girls), the majority of the studied children were between the ages of 12 and 13 (71.7%), attending public schools in Colombia, responded the questionnaire. The research responds to the need to examine engagement in developing countries. Findings indicate that the cognitive and agentic dimensions obtained the lowest means. This result suggests that students should engage in activities that help them recognize their metacognitive abilities and strengthen their classroom participation. Each of the four identified dimensions is analyzed, and strategies are proposed for developing them appropriately.
Jordanian Students’ Barriers of Utilizing Online Learning: A Survey Study
Authors: Aljaraideh Yousef , Al Bataineh Khaleel
Published: April 2019

This study aims at finding out the main barriers preventing students in Jordan from using online learning from their perspective. To achieve this objective, a questionnaire was developed and the validity and reliability of the questionnaire were checked. A simple random sampling was used forming a sample of 400 students. The results indicate that the online learning infrastructure is an immense barrier that obstructs the utilization of online learning in Jerash University. Also, there are statistically significant differences in the barriers that faced students while they are using online learning based on gender and studying year variables in favor of female and students of first year respectively. Moreover, the results of the study revealed that there is an interaction between gender and teaching year variables. Finally, in light of the results, the study recommended that additional efforts from decision makers and teachers should be taken into consideration for the sake of online learning process improvement.
Tautomeric Equilibrium Modeling: Stability and Reactivity of Benzothiazole and Derivatives
Authors: Bédé Lucie A. , Koné Mawa , Koné Guy R. M. , Ouattara Simplice C. S. , Ouattara Lamoussa , Bamba El Hadji S.
Published: April 2019

Benzothiazoles are organic compounds with multiple biological activities. Due to their biological interests, these are synthesized on a large scale at the industrial level and used in various fields. Their release into waters causes environmental problems which leads to public health problems. Finding solution which can help for their degradation become necessary.

That is the reason why a theoretical study of the reactivity of five benzothiazole derivatives has been initiated in order to understand some aspect of their biodegradation.

The calculations were carried out in gaseous and aqueous phase with B3LYP functional associated with bases 6-311G(d) and 6-31+G(d).

The results revealed that the thione tautomer of the MBT derivative is more stable than the thiol form. These results are in agreement with previous experimental work which showed that the thiones forms in MBT metal complexes are the most stable. Moreover, the study of the reactivity based on the computation of the global indices of reactivity reveals that the benzothiazoles BT, OBT and MBT are the most reactive. The most electrophilic is BT and the least electrophilic is MTBT. In addition, the thermodynamic parameters and the energy barriers predict a possibility of coexistence of tautomers ol and one of OBT derivative. Fukui dual descriptors have shown that the carbon C2 of BT is the most electrophilic. In substituted derivatives, it is the C6 carbon that is the most electrophilic. N3 nitrogen remains the most nucleophilic site in all the studied molecules.
Biomass of Microalgae via Root Under the Production of Yellow Passionfruit Seedlings
Authors: Dias George Alves , Araújo Railene Hérica Carlos Rocha , Alves Wellington Guedes , Oliveira Agda Malany Forte de , Sousa Diogenes Damarsio Andrade de , Lima José Franciraldo de , Santos Izabela de Moraes , Alves Kalinny de Araújo , Sousa Diogenes Damarsio Andrade de , Araújo Josinaldo Lopes
Published: April 2019

Seedlings production is one of the most important stages of the production system and directly influences the performance of the plant in the field. In this sense, the present work aims to evaluate the use of biomass doses of Spirulina platensis and Scenedesmus sp. via root system on the production of yellow passion fruit seedlings. A greenhouse experiment was carried out using a randomized block design in a 2 × 5 factorial scheme (Spirulina platensis and Scenedesmus sp., at the doses 0.0%, 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.8 % and 1% m/v), with four blocks and two experimental units per plot. At 60 days, leaf number, total seedling length, shoot diameter, root system length, shoot length, shoot and root fresh mass, dry mass, root dry mass and total chlorophyll were measured. Spirulina platensis showed superior performance compared to Scenedesmus sp., for the variables stem diameter, shoot length, fresh shoot mass, fresh root mass, dry shoot mass and root dry mass. The doses influenced the number of leaves, root fresh mass, root dry mass, shoot length and fresh shoot mass significantly. The best dose of microalga applied was 0.8% in passion fruit seedlings at 60 days.
Crown Efficiency and Pine Cones Production for Brazilian Pine (Araucaria angustifolia (Bertol.) Kuntze) in South Brazil
Authors: Hess André Felipe , Atanazio Kemely Alves , Borsoi Geedre Adriano , Schorr Luis Paulo Baldissera , Souza Isadora de Arruda , Costa Emanuel Arnoni , Klein Danieli Regina , Krefta Sandra Mara , Stepka Thiago Floriani , Abatti Roberta , Ricken Polliny , Rosa Gabriel Teixeira da
Published: April 2019

Crown efficiency is a relation of growth with the area tree occupies (available area efficiency). Efficiency is associated with the vertical and lateral expansion capacity of the tree and crown, increase, density and light absorption. Thus, our study aimed to evaluate crown efficiency with pine cones∙tree-1 production and dendro/morphometric variables of individual araucaria trees in three forest sites in south Brazil. In each site of each tree, dendrometric and morphometric variables were measured and increment rolls were taken at the breast height diameter level. Together with these data, the morphometric indexes, annual periodic increment in diameter of the last ten years (APId) and efficiency of the crown as a function of APId by the horizontal projection area of the crown (hpac) and number of pine cones∙tree-1 (np) by hpac were calculated. Crown efficiency was modeled as a function of the independent variables hpac, APId, crown length (cl), crown ratio (cr) and np. The accuracy of the adjustment was evaluated by the statistics of the deviance, Akaike’s information criterion and graph of the residuals. The results show that the number of pine cones∙tree-1 increases with annual periodic increment in diameter and diameter. Crown efficiency decreases with increasing hpac, cl and cr, indicating silvicultural treatments should be performed with the removal of trees of larger diameter and crown size. A higher pine cones production and efficiency correlates with forest growth, shape, competition, sociological position (stratum tree occupies) and density.
Plasma Lipid Peroxidation as a Marker for Seminal Oxidative Stress in Stallion
Authors: Wolkmer Patricia , Stumm Andressa M. G. , Borges Luiz F. K. , Ferreira Eduarda P. T. , Favaretto Bruna , Siqueira Lucas C.
Published: April 2019

This experiment aims to evaluate the correlation between lipid peroxidation levels in serum and seminal plasma in equines. Also, it investigates the lipid peroxidation in extended semen samples and its effects and sperm motility during a 72 hr refrigeration period. Blood and semen were collected from fertile Crioulo stallions. Serum and seminal plasma lipid peroxidation levels were analyzed by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) immediately after semen collection. After addition of extender (hour = 0), diluted semen was refrigerated and stored at 5 °C. Semen analyses, TBARS and catalase activity were performed in extended semen at 0, 24, 48, and 72 hours. We noted that levels of plasma lipid peroxidation can be used as an indicative of seminal oxidative stress. Also, lipid peroxidation does not increase substantially during semen storage. Lipid peroxidation and the antioxidant enzyme catalase do not seem to be the major cause of loss and motility and consequently reduction in fertility in stallion semen during storage for 72 h at 5 °C.
Flavonoid Biosynthesis Pathway Participating in Salt Resistance in a Landrace Sweet Sorghum Revealed by RNA-Sequencing Comparison With Grain Sorghum
Authors: Genzeng Ren , Jianghui Cui , Xiaodong Xiang , Yukun Gao , Shilin Wei , Jinhua Chang , Hao Xu
Published: April 2019

Abiotic stresses affect crop productivity worldwide. Plants have developed defense mechanisms against environmental stresses by altering the gene expression pattern which leads to regulation of certain metabolic and defensive pathways. Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is an important crop in those regions irrigated by salty water. Sweet sorghum is a variant of common grain sorghum and is relatively more adapted to marginal growing conditions. Here, we compared the different response to salt stress of sweet and grain sorghum. We investigated six traits related with seed germination under salt-stress and normal conditions, conducted a genome-wide research on the salt effect on the gene expression of a landrace sweet and two grain sorghum by RNA-sequencing at seedling stage. The results showed that salt stress had significant inhibition to sorghum seed germination capability, and the inhibition to grain sorghum was greater. By comparing sweet and grain sorghum and the KEGG pathway analysis based on the DEGs, six genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis pathway to tannins and anthocyanins from phenylalanine were identified in the landrace sweet sorghum, which expression was significant different with that in grain sorghum. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) data were closely in accordance with the transcript patterns estimated from the RNA-seq data. Tannins accumulation changes were associated with the genes expression under salt stress and control. These suggested that flavonoid biosynthesis pathway was involved in the sorghum resistance to salt stress. The present results suggested that flavonoid biosynthesis plays an important role in the sweet sorghum capacity for salt tolerance.
Because We Love
Authors: Bleiler-Baxter Sarah K. , Wanner Sister Cecilia Anne , Strayer Jeremy F.
Published: April 2019

Explore what it means to balance love for mathematics with love for students.
Board Games in Lithuania in the First Half of the Twentieth Century
Authors: Blaževičius Povilas
Published: April 2019

This article is dedicated to board games as museums exhibits that so far have not received due attention. Research on board games manufactured in Lithuania or adopted for its market at the beginning of the twentieth century is based on the objects kept at nine museum and private collections in Lithuania. Information from contemporaneous literature, commercials, periodicals, and bookstore catalogues was used as the source of contextual data. The analysed information suggests that during the period discussed the main distributors of board games were bookstores, but these games could also be purchased at toy shops or general stores. The distribution of board games started only after the lifting of the ban on the Lithuanian press, in the second half of the first decade. However, the amount of locally manufactured games significantly increased only in the 1920s. During the 1920s and the 1930s, the amount of advertising in the press noticeably grew thus showing an active competition among the manufacturers. In some cases, the competition even resulted in legal disputes and lawsuits related to board games. Compared to the diversity of the supply in Western Europe, the variety of locally manufactured board games during the discussed period is relatively poor. Available information suggests that in the first half of the twentieth century only eight different board games, sometimes in different versions, were manufactured by different Lithuanian companies.
ANALYSIS OF CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPOSITE MATERIALS BUILT ON ABS CORES PREPARED BY ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
Authors: ROSEL SOLIS MANUEL JAVIER , MOLINA SALAZAR JAVIER , DAVALOS RAMIREZ JOSE OMAR , PIMENTEL MENDOZA ALEX BERNARDO , VEGA YURIDIA
Published: April 2019

Additive manufacturing represents an alternative that offers great advantages in small-scale production, high level of customization and ease of building complex geometries. However, rapid prototyping parts present mechanical limitations that prevent their use in applications that require greater resistance.
In the present work an experimental analysis was carried out where the processes of Resin Infusion and Hand Lay-Up were compared, performing tests with specimens constructed according to the ASTM D790-17 standard, for laminated material of carbon fiber with plastic nuclei by prototyping fast and tested with two orientations of fibers "3k", (-45? +45? and 0? 90?).
The tests and the statistical analysis of the data were made based on a factorial design, generating results that offer acceptable levels of stiffness and deflection without causing delamination failures, obtaining a combination that allows the manufacture of a piece without the need for a mold. The material constructed by Hand Lay-Up offered the best performance, by not failing by delamination.

Key Words: additive manufacturing, composite materials, bending tests, fused deposition modeling, ABS, delamination.