bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Decision-Making Processes Among Potential Dropouts in Vocational Education and Training and Adult Learning
Authors: Aarkrog Vibe , Wahlgren Bjarne , Larsen Christian Hougaard , Mariager-Anderson Kristina , Gottlieb Susanne
Published: March 2020

Context: Aiming at gaining knowledge about students' thoughts and actions in deciding to stay in or drop out of an educational programme, an empirical study was conducted on dropout among 18-24-year-old students in VET and basic general adult learning. Approach: In order to pursue this aim, the study combined two sets of data: weekly student surveys and interviews with these same students. While the surveys provide a weekly snapshot of the students' thoughts regarding the probability of them continuing in the programme, their satisfaction with the educational programme as a whole, the specific lessons they attend, and the atmosphere at the school, the interviews contribute with detailed descriptions of the students' thoughts on the same matters.Findings: Based on the students' answers over an eight-week period, it was possible to trace a graph illustrating changes in the students' attitudes. These graphs can be placed within four categories of development: the stable, the positive, the unstable, and the negative. The latter can furthermore be differentiated as reflecting a stable decline, a fluctuating decline, or a sudden decline. In the interviews, the aim was to elicit the individual students' thoughts and actions at the points when their graphs took a turn. Conclusions: The findings show that the students' thoughts and actions concern matters both inside and outside the school. Furthermore, seemingly trivial matters in the students' lives are shown to have a potentially decisive influence on the students' thoughts about staying in or dropping out of a programme. These findings confirm the importance of focusing on students' decision-making processes in research on dropout. However, further research is needed to increase understanding of processes leading to decisions to drop out of education, including the qualification of methods to capture these processes.
Crossing Boundaries: VET, the Labour Market and Social Justice
Authors: Avis James
Published: March 2020

Purpose: The paper explores the relationship between vocational education and training (VET), the labour market and social justice in the current conjuncture.Approach: The paper adopts an approach rooted in critical policy analysis. It consequently sets the discussion within the wider socio-economic and political context. Such an approach enables an exploration of the changing nature of waged labour in current conditions.Results: A critical policy analysis facilitates a discussion of the labour process, waged labour and its intensification. At the same time these processes are allied to the effective expulsion and marginalisation of particular groups of workers from employment.  Importantly, such processes need to be placed in their localised and spatial context within particular social formations.Conclusion: Equity models of social justice that emphasise equal opportunities, are restrictive and can be contrasted with equality models which have a more expansive and philosophically rooted understanding of justice. The paper through its examination of the salience of VET in the current conjuncture as well as its significance for a post austerity democratic and radical politics, argues for a relational analysis that seeks to interrupt the patterns of inequality precipitated by neo-liberalism.
Book Review: Collective Skill Formation in Liberal Market Economies? The Politics of Training Reforms in Australia, Ireland and the United Kingdom
Authors: Baumann Fabienne-Agnes
Published: March 2020

The book was published as the 16th volume of the series Studies in Vocational and Continuing Education. Series Editors-in-Chief are Philipp Gonon and Anja Heikkinen. Janis Vossiek is a post-doctoral researcher at the School of Educational and Cultural Studies of the University of Osnabrück, Germany.
Job satisfaction, work engagement, and turnover intention of CTE health science teachers
Authors: Park Kathleen A. , Johnson Karen R.
Published: March 2020

Context: The healthcare profession is one of the largest growing occupations in the United States. Yet, there is a shortage of healthcare professionals and the situation is further compounded by insufficient instructors to prepare individuals to provide safe and quality care. A number of teachers leave the profession within 3 to 5 years of work in the classroom. It is important to ensure that teachers are satisfied and engaged at work because of the positive impact these job attitudes contribute to performance. Considering the importance of Career and Technical Education (CTE) health science teachers to the health sector, there is need to examine teacher job satisfaction and work engagement and the impact this may have on turnover intention. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationships between job satisfaction, work engagement, and turnover intention of CTE health science teachers in the United States (US).Approach: In this study, hierarchical multiple regression was used to analyze a total of 249 responses from CTE health science teachers in the State of Texas in the US.Findings: The results showed positive correlations between job satisfaction and work engagement. Additionally, job satisfaction and work engagement were negatively correlated with turnover intention. The finding also indicated that work engagement did not moderate the relationship between job satisfaction and turnover intention.Conclusions: This study builds on the work of previous researchers by further supporting the links between job satisfaction, work engagement, and turnover intention specifically in the context of teachers in CTE health science. Leaders in academic settings play a role in ensuring that strategies are in place to satisfy and engage teachers as practical ways to reduce turnover intention. In particular, administrative leaders should recognize teachers’ contributions, provide development opportunities, and promote challenging responsibilities and autonomy within the classroom. It is critical to have adequate and qualified teachers to prepare individuals to deliver safe and quality healthcare.
Life course partnership and employment trajectories and parental caregiving at age 55: prospective findings from a British Birth Cohort Study
Authors: McMunn Anne , Lacey Rebecca , Webb Elizabeth
Published: March 2020

We investigate whether work and partnership life courses between ages 16 and 54 predict the likelihood of providing care to a parent or parent-in-law at age 55, and whether these associations differ by gender or early life socio-economic circumstances. In the National Child Development Study (NCDS), fully adjusted models showed that strong life course ties to marriage were linked with a greater likelihood to provide parental care for both men and women. The longer women spent in part-time employment the more likely they were to provide care to a parent, while stronger life course ties to full-time employment were linked with a greater likelihood of providing care to a parent for men. The importance of part-time employment among women and long-term marriage for both men and women for uptake of parental care may imply a reduced pool of potential informal caregivers among subsequent generations for whom women have much stronger life course labour-market ties and life course partnerships have become more diverse.
Spectral clustering-based resting-state network detection approach for functional near-infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Duan Lian , Mai Xiaoqin
Published: March 2020

In recent years, studying the resting-state network (RSN) by using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) has received increased attention. The previous resting-state fNIRS studies mainly adopted the seed-based correlation and the independent component analysis to detect RSN. However, these methods have several inherent problems. For example, the seed-based correlation method relies on seed region selection and neglects the interactions among multiple regions. The ICA method usually relies on manual component selection, which requires rich experience from the experimenter. In the present study, we developed a new approach for fNIRS-RSN detection based on spectral clustering. It consists of two steps. First, it calculates the individual-level partition of the fNIRS measurement region by using spectral clustering with an automatically determined cluster number. Second, the individual-level partitioning results are further clustered. Those clusters with high group consistency are determined as RSN clusters. We validated the method by using simulated data and in vivo fNIRS data. The results showed that the proposed method was effective and robust for fNIRS-RSN detection.
Si3N4 photonic integration platform at 1 µm for optical interconnects
Authors: Hu Xiaonan , Girardi Marcello , Ye Zhichao , Muñoz Pascual , Larsson Anders , Torres-Company Victor
Published: March 2020

Vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) are the predominant technology for high-speed short-range interconnects in data centers. Most short-range interconnects rely on GaAs-based multi-mode VCSELs and multi-mode fiber links operating at 850 nm. Recently, GaAs-based high-speed single-mode VCSELs at wavelengths > 1 µm have been demonstrated, which increases the interconnect reach using a single-mode fiber while maintaining low energy dissipation. If a suitable platform for passive wavelength- and space-multiplexing were developed in this wavelength range, this single-mode technology could deliver the multi-Tb/s interconnect capacity that will be required in future data centers. In this work, we show the first passive Si3N4 platform in the 1-µm band (1030-1075 nm) with an equivalent loss < 0.3 dB/cm, which is compatible with the system requirements of high-capacity interconnects. The waveguide structure is optimized to achieve simultaneously single-mode operation and low bending radius, and we demonstrate a wide range of high-performance building blocks, including arrayed waveguide gratings, Mach-Zehnder interferometers, splitters and low-loss fiber interfaces. This technology could be instrumental in scaling up the capacity and reducing the footprint of VCSEL-based optical interconnects and, thanks to the broad transparency in the near-infrared and compatibility with the Yb fiber amplifier window, enabling new applications in other domains as optical microscopy and nonlinear optics.
Theory and algorithm of the homeomorphic Fourier transform for optical simulations
Authors: Wang Zongzhao , Baladron-Zorita Olga , Hellmann Christian , Wyrowski Frank
Published: March 2020

The introduction of the fast Fourier transform (FFT) constituted a crucial step towards a faster and more efficient physio-optics modeling and design, since it is a faster version of the Discrete Fourier transform. However, the numerical effort of the operation explodes in the case of field components presenting strong wavefront phases—very typical occurrences in optics— due to the requirement of the FFT that the wrapped phase be well sampled. In this paper, we propose an approximated algorithm to compute the Fourier transform in such a situation. We show that the Fourier transform of fields with strong wavefront phases exhibits a behavior that can be described as a bijective mapping of the amplitude distribution, which is why we name this operation “homeomorphic Fourier transform." We use precisely this characteristic behavior in the mathematical approximation that simplifies the Fourier integral. We present the full theoretical derivation and several numerical applications to demonstrate its advantages in the computing process.
High-efficiency GeSn/Ge multiple-quantum-well photodetectors with photon-trapping microstructures operating at 2 µm
Authors: Zhou Hao , Xu Shengqiang , Lin Yiding , Huang Yi-Chiau , Son Bongkwon , Chen Qimiao , Guo Xin , Lee Kwang Hong , Goh Simon Chun-Kiat , Gong Xiao , Tan Chuan Seng
Published: March 2020

We introduced photon-trapping microstructures into GeSn-based photodetectors for the first time, and achieved high-efficiency photo detection at 2 µm with a responsivity of 0.11 A/W. The demonstration was realized by a GeSn/Ge multiple-quantum-well (MQW) p-i-n photodiode on a GeOI architecture. Compared with the non-photon-trapping counterparts, the patterning and etching of photon-trapping microstructure can be processed in the same step with mesa structure at no additional cost. A four-fold enhancement of photo response was achieved at 2 µm. Although the incorporation of photo-trapping microstructure degrades the dark current density which increases from 31.5 to 45.2 mA/cm2 at −1 V, it benefits an improved 3-dB bandwidth of 2.7 GHz at bias voltage at −5 V. The optical performance of GeSn/Ge MQW photon-trapping photodetector manifests its great potential as a candidate for efficient 2 µm communication. Additionally, the underlying GeOI platform enables its feasibility of monolithic integration with other photonic components such as waveguide, modulator and (de)multiplexer for optoelectronic integrated circuits (OEICs) operating at 2 µm.
Tunable mid-wave infrared Fabry-Perot bandpass filters using phase-change GeSbTe
Authors: Williams Calum , Hong Nina , Julian Matthew , Borg Stephen , Kim Hyun Jung
Published: March 2020

We demonstrate spectrally-tunable Fabry-Perot bandpass filters operating across the MWIR by utilizing the phase-change material GeSbTe (GST) as a tunable cavity medium between two (Ge:Si) distributed Bragg reflectors. The induced refractive index modulation of GST increases the cavity’s optical path length, red-shifting the passband. Our filters have spectral-tunability of ∼300 nm, transmission efficiencies of 60-75% and narrowband FWHMs of 50-65 nm (Q-factor ∼70-90). We further show multispectral thermal imaging and gas sensing. By matching the filter’s initial passband to a CO2 vibrational-absorption mode (∼4.25 µm), tunable atmospheric CO2 sensing and dynamic plume visualization of added CO2 is realized.
Enhancing terahertz molecular fingerprint detection by a dielectric metagrating
Authors: Zhu Jinfeng , Jiang Shan , Xie Yinong , Li Fajun , Du Lianghui , Meng Kun , Zhu Liguo , Zhou Jun
Published: March 2020

Terahertz (THz) sensing of molecular fingerprint enables wide applications in biomedicine and security detection. Conventional detection approaches face big barriers in trace analysis of analyte due to the difficulties of enhancing the broadband molecular absorption. In order to achieve strong broadband wave–matter interaction for the analyte, we propose a method based on THz wave angular scanning on a dielectric metagrating. In virtue of the guided-mode resonance, one can strengthen the local electric field in various trace-amount analytes by tuning the polarization and incident angle, which leads to significant enhancement on the broadband signal of molecular fingerprint. The study paves the way for more applications of THz trace-amount detection.
Poynting singularities in the transverse flow-field of random vector waves
Authors: van Gogh M. A. , Bauer T. , De Angelis L. , Kuipers L.
Published: March 2020

In order to utilize the full potential of tailored flows of electromagnetic energy at the nanoscale, we need to understand its general behavior given by its generic representation of interfering random waves. For applications in on-chip photonics as well as particle trapping, it is important to discern between the topological features in the flow-field of the commonly investigated cases of fully vectorial light fields and their 2D equivalents. We demonstrate the distinct difference between these cases in both the allowed topology of the flow-field and the spatial distribution of its singularities, given by their pair correlation function

g
(
r
)

. Specifically, we show that a random field confined to a 2D plane has a divergence-free flow-field and exhibits a liquid-like correlation, whereas its freely propagating counterpart has no clear correlation and features a transverse flow-field with the full range of possible 2D topologies around its singularities.
Tunable narrow-linewidth 226  nm laser for hypersonic flow velocimetry
Authors: Dai Shutao , Jiang Tao , Wu Hongchun , Zhang Zhi , Wu Lixia , Gong Hongming , Weng Wen , Deng Jing , Zheng Hui , Lin Wenxiong
Published: March 2020

We report on the development and application of a novel, to the best of our knowledge, all-solid-state tunable narrow-linewidth 226 nm UV laser system. The laser system consists of three parts: a tunable single-frequency Ti:sapphire 787 nm laser, a single-frequency long-pulse-width flattop-shaped 532 nm laser, and a nonlinear frequency transformation system. The 532 nm laser is a sum-frequency mixed with the second harmonic of the 787 nm laser to produce the 226 nm laser. The maximum output pulse energy at 226 nm is 3 mJ. Nitric oxide planar laser-induced fluorescence velocimetry is demonstrated in the China Aerodynamics Research and Development Center’s FD14 hypersonic shock tunnel using this 226 nm laser system. It is proven that this laser is convenient for high-resolution molecular tagging fluorescence spectroscopy.
Polarization insensitive all-dielectric metasurfaces for the ultraviolet domain
Authors: Ahmed Hammad , Rahim Arbab Abdur , Maab Husnul , Ali Muhammad Mahmood , Naureen Sadia
Published: March 2020

In recent years, metasurfaces have provided a tempting path to replace conventional optical components where an abrupt phase change is imposed on an incident wave using a periodic array of unit cells. Till date, highly efficient dielectric metasurfaces have been demonstrated in infrared and visible domains. However, due to the lower bandgap of typical dielectric materials, such metasurfaces present strong absorption in the ultraviolet (UV) domain, and thus, hamper their realization at shorter wavelengths. In this paper, we utilize a large bandgap dielectric material, niobium pentoxide (Nb2O5), to construct an ultra-thin and compact transmission-type metasurface that manipulates the phase of an incident wave using an array of Nb2O5 nano-cylinder. By the virtue of numerical optimization, complete 2π phase coverage along with the high transmission efficiency (around 88.5%) is achieved at 355nm. Such efficient control over the phase of the incident wave enabled us to realize the polarisation insensitive self-accelerating parabolic, reciprocal, and logarithmic Airy beams (ABs) generating metasurfaces with the efficiency of 70%, 72% and 77%, respectively. In addition to this, we also demonstrate auto focusing Airy optical vortex (AFAOV) generators where the metasurfaces are designed to combine the phase profiles of an abruptly focusing Airy (AFA) beam and that of spiral phase plate (SPP). The AFAOV is generated with efficiency of 70% (for l = 3) and 72% (for l = 5).
Nota de Abertura
Authors: Paiva José Pedro
Published: March 2020

http://dx.doi.org/10.14195/0870-4112_3-1
Accountability e transparência na mídia
Authors: Christofoletti Rogério , Suárez Villegas Juan Carlos , Ramon Vegas Xavier
Published: March 2020

Alguns dos desafios mais emergentes para a ética jornalística estão relacionados à capacidade de profissionais e meios de comunicação adotarem boas práticas de prestação de contas e de transparência de seus métodos e procedimentos. Para além da criação de instrumentos que facilitem uma maior aproximação entre os produtores da informação e seus públicos, é necessário ainda desafiar culturas profissionais locais. Na comunidade global em língua portuguesa, os países mais avançados em termos de transparência e accountability jornalística são Portugal e Brasil, mas essa condição não os exime de aperfeiçoar seus sistemas e desenvolver soluções mais efetivas que fortaleçam a ética nos meios. Neste artigo, apresentamos resultados parciais da pesquisa “Accountability y culturas periodísticas en España. Impacto y propuesta de buenas prácticas en los medios de comunicación españoles”, a partir de grupos focais com especialistas em deontologia e ética da comunicação. Percebemos que a realidade espanhola – embora complexa, dinâmica e específica – não se distancia tanto do que já conhecemos nos países lusófonos, e as considerações dos especialistas consultados oferecem contribuições potencialmente implementáveis em nosso contexto.
Direct and Maternal Genetic Trends for Some Productive and Reproductive Traits in Egyptian Buffaloes
Authors: Abu El- Naser Ibrahim
Published: March 2020

This study was done to determine the direct and maternal genetic and phenotypic trends for productive traits such as first lactation milk yield (FLMY, kg), first lactation period (FLP, d) and first lactation daily milk (FLDM, kg), and reproductive traits such as age at first calving (AFC, mo), First days open (FDO, d) and first calving interval (FCI, d). Data were collected over consecutive 25 years (1991 to 2015) of 1104 first lactation of 135 sires and 482 dams maintained at Mahallet Mousa farms of Animal Production Research Institute. Data were analyzed by Animal model to determine genetic parameters for studied traits. Means of FLMY, FLP, FLDM, AFC, FDO and FCI were 1546.5kg, 189d, 7.9kg, 37.9mo, 120.8d and 428d, respectively. The direct heritability (h2a) for same traits were 0.25, 0.18, 0.24, 0.45, 0.18 and 0.19, respectively. Corresponding maternal heritability (h2m) for mentioned traits was 0.12, 0.19, 0.22, 0.25, 0.12 and 0.12, respectively. Genetic correlations (rg) among studied traits were varied between -0.19 to 0.38. Accuracy of predicted breeding value varied between 69 to 94, 0.37 to 94 and 42 to 91% for FLMY, FLP, FLDM, AFC, FDO and FCI of sires, cows and dams, respectively that revealed the genetic improvement could be actualized through each of cows or sires or dams. Additive and maternal genetic, permanent environmental and phenotypic trends were not significant for all studied traits. It indicated that it is important to set up a plan to improve genetic and environmental conditions thus, increasing productivity and realization of high profitability.
The Prevalence of Absolute and Functional Iron Deficiency Anemia in New Cases of Smear-positive Pulmonary Tuberculosis and Their Sputum Conversion Rate at the End of Intensive Tuberculosis Treatment Phase
Authors: Metanat Maliheh , Mashhadi Mohammad Ali , Alavi-Naini Roya , Rezaie-Kahkhaie Leli , Sepehri-Rad Nahid , Afshari Mahdi
Published: March 2020

About one third of the population is infected with tuberculosis (TB). On the other hand, iron deficiency is the most common micronutrient deficiency in the world. A number of studies have documented anemia in patients with TB, however, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in patients with acid-fast bacilli (AFB) sputum smear-positive, and sputum conversion in these two groups of patients with absolute and functional IDA at the end of the second month of anti-TB therapy in Zahedan, Iran. The results of this study revealed that 91 out of 198 (45.9%) sputum positive pulmonary TB patients were anemic, and among those 72 (79.1%) had iron deficiency anemia. The overall prevalence of IDA in this study was 36.3%. In 72 patients with IDA, 54 (75%) had functional while the remainder had absolute IDA 18 (25%). Twenty-one out of 72 (29.2%) of patients with IDA remained sputum positive and among 126 non IDA patients 47 (37.3%) had positive sputum smear at the end of intensive TB treatment phase (p=0.278). Approximately, less than half of patients with tuberculosis had anemia among them 79% had iron deficiency anemia. The frequency of functional IDA was three times more than absolute IDA. There was no statistically significant difference in sputum conversion between two groups of IDA and non-IDA patients after intensive phase of anti-TB therapy.
Wstęp
Authors: Voloshchuk Ievgeniia , Kupidura Ryszard , Brzechczyn Krzysztof
Published: March 2020

Wstęp
STERNE/YORICK JAKO SENTYMENTALNY PODRÓŻNIK I WSPÓŁ- CZESNE STUDIA LITERATURY PODRÓŻNICZEJ: PROBLEMATYZACJA KRYTYCZNEGO ŻYCIA W “PODRÓŻY SENTYMENTALNEJ”.
Authors: Jakub Lipski Jakub Lipski
Published: March 2020

Artykuł podejmuje problematykę wkładu twórczości Laurence’a Sterne’a, a w szczególności jego Podróży sentymentalnej (1768), w rozwój literatury podróżniczej. Krytyce poddane zostają dwa toposy badawcze: wkład Sterne’a w tzw. przeformułowanie paradygma-tu, z podróżopisarstwa „naukowego” na „subiektywne”, oraz koncepcja „maniery sternowskiej”, często pochopnie stosowana w odniesieniu do różnorodnych przemian stylistycznych w literaturze podróżniczej po 1768 roku. Topos pierwszy potraktowany jest jako przykład stylu odbioru niepotrzebnie dążącego do ustanowienia mitu początku, często kosztem rzetelności historyczno-literackiej. Topos drugi, analizowany w odniesieniu do współczesnych zastosowań pojęcia sternizmu, stanowi ilustrację braku ciągłości pomiędzy koncepcją badawczą a pierwotnym punktemodniesienia.
TRANSFORMACJA PRZYWILEJÓW WŁADZY CZY TRANSFORMACJA TYPÓW DOMINACJI KLASOWEJ?
Authors: Krzysztof Brzechczyn Krzysztof Brzechczyn
Published: March 2020

Artykuł jest krytycznym komentarzem do książki Aviezera Tuckera The Legacies of Totalitarianism: A Theoretical Framework, która przedstawia koncepcję ewolucji totalitarnego komunizmu i jego transformacji oraz wynikającą stąd analizę problemów posttotalitarnych społeczeństw Europy Środkowo-Wschodniej. Zdaniem autora tekstu, choć omawiana książka jest nader rzadką próbą syntetycznego wyjaśnienia zarówno genezy systemu realnego socjalizmu, jak i jego transformacji, to Tucker przyjmuje zbyt wąskie pojmowanie klasy i interesu klasowego, co prowadzi do idealistycznej interpretacji czystek stalinowskich i wyłącznie instytucjonalistycznego pojmowania transformacji. Takie spojrzenie na transformację ustrojową nie pozwala osadzić jej ekonomicznych wymiarów w szerszej społecznej perspektywie.
Segurança alimentar e riscos associados à temperatura de preparações quentes em restaurantes comerciais
Authors: Da Silva Cardozo Estela Geovana , Gottardo Franciele Maria , Sartor Kátia Bitencourt , Peixoto Caroline dos Santos , Alves Ana Luisa Sant'Anna , Rodrigues Laura Beatriz , Rushel dos Santos Luciana
Published: March 2020

O ritmo de vida acelerado ampliou o interesse em refeições práticas, aumentando a procura por Unidades de Alimentação e Nutrição (UAN). A qualidade e segurança do alimento fornecido está interligada com parâmetros como tempo e temperatura de exposição da refeição, pois a interação desses fatores influencia na multiplicação microbiana. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o tempo e temperatura de preparações quentes de UANs para estimar os riscos correlacionados com a inadequação destes parâmetros e percentual de não conformidades conforme as Boas Práticas de Manipulação de Alimentos. Para tanto, foram aferidas as temperaturas de pratos quentes no período de 10 dias, em três UANs, com noventa minutos de intervalo entre cada aferição, totalizando 540 amostras. Os resultados indicaram temperaturas não conformes na UAN 1 (58,6%), UAN 2 (46%) e UAN 3 (67,8%). Em relação às Boas Práticas de Manipulação de Alimentos, a UAN 1 apresentou 35,8% de conformidade e as unidades 2 e 3 32,1% de conformidade. Nas unidades avaliadas identificou-se falhas na manutenção das temperaturas preconizadas, indicando a necessidade do estabelecimento de processos que minimizem ou eliminem estas não conformidades. As preparações de carnes, seguido pelas guarnições e massas, apresentaram os maiores índices de não conformidades, com diminuição das temperaturas conforme o tempo de exposição. Conclui-se que esses fatores apresentaram altas porcentagens de não conformidades e para saná-las, cada UAN deve ser analisada individualmente, verificando-se os fatores causadores destas não conformidades, como equipamentos, quantidade exposta no buffet, número de comensais e período de reposição, visando assim realizar ações corretivas nos pontos críticos identificados.
Absorção de água em argamassa leve com a incorporação de poliestireno expandido
Authors: Da Silva Max Weverton Moreira , Azevedo Caroline Menezes , Farias Lucas Sousa , Gomes Elizangela Mayara da Rosa , Cordeiro Luciana de Nazaré Pinheiro
Published: March 2020

Este artigo apresenta o efeito da incorporação do poliestireno expandido (EPS) na resistência e durabilidade de argamassas leves. Foram investigadas as propriedades de durabilidade, por meio dos ensaios de absorção por capilaridade e absorção de água por imersão. No estado endurecido, analisou-se também a resistência à compressão e a densidade de massa. Para isso, produziu-se argamassas com traços de cimento/areia de 1:4,5, 1:5 e 1:6 e com teores de incorporação de EPS 0%, 20% e 30%, em volume. Os resultados demonstram que as argamassas leves com EPS apresentam melhores propriedades de durabilidade que as argamassas convencionais, uma vez que obtiveram menor absorção de água comparadas as de referência.  Por outro lado, essas argamassas possuem resistência à compressão inferior as tradicionais.
Anisotropic liquid drop models
Authors: Choksi Rustum , Neumayer Robin , Topaloglu Ihsan
Published: March 2020

We introduce and study certain variants of Gamow’s liquid drop model in which an anisotropic surface energy replaces the perimeter.
After existence and nonexistence results are established, the shape of minimizers is analyzed.
Under suitable regularity and ellipticity assumptions on the surface tension, Wulff shapes are minimizers in this problem if and only if the surface energy is isotropic.
In sharp contrast, Wulff shapes are the unique minimizers for certain crystalline surface tensions.
We also introduce and study several related liquid drop models with anisotropic repulsion for which the Wulff shape is the minimizer in the small mass regime.
IgG4-related disease: a case report
Authors: de las Heras Flórez Silvia , Pérez Mercedes Carretero , Sanz Díaz Carmen Teresa , Medina García José Alejandro
Published: March 2020

IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a condition that was first described recently, and is capable of affecting any organ of the body. Diagnosis is based on the correlation of clinical findings with histopathological findings and elevated serum IgG4. Treatment involves corticosteroids and rituximab for the most severe cases. We report the case of a symptomatic patient diagnosed of IgG4-RD whose diagnosed was guided by elevated serum IgG4 levels.
Improved Interpolation Inequalities and Stability
Authors: Dolbeault Jean , Esteban Maria J.
Published: March 2020

For exponents in the subcritical range, we revisit some optimal interpolation inequalities on the sphere with carré du champ methods and use the remainder terms to produce improved inequalities. The method provides us with lower estimates of the optimal constants in the symmetry breaking range and stability estimates for the optimal functions. Some of these results can be reformulated in the Euclidean space using the stereographic projection.
The critical role of laboratory medicine during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and other viral outbreaks
Authors: Lippi Giuseppe , Plebani Mario
Published: March 2020

Coronavirus disease 2019, abbreviated to COVID-19 and sustained by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is the latest biological hazard to assume the relevance of insidious worldwide threat. One obvious question that is now engaging the minds of many scientists and healthcare professionals is whether and eventually how laboratory medicine could efficiently contribute to counteract this and other (future) viral outbreaks. Despite there being evidence that laboratory tests are vital throughout many clinical pathways, there are at least three major areas where in vitro diagnostics can also provide essential contributions to diagnostic reasoning and managed care of patients with suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. These include etiological diagnosis, patient monitoring, as well as epidemiologic surveillance. Nonetheless, some structural and practical aspects may generate substantial hurdles in providing timely and efficient response to this infectious emergency, which basically include inadequate (insufficient) environment and shortage of technical and human resources for facing enhanced volume of tests on many infected patients, some of whom are with severe disease. Some proactive and reactive strategies may hence be identified to confront this serious healthcare challenge, which entail major investments on conventional laboratory resources, reinforcement of regional networks of clinical laboratories, installation of mobile laboratories, as well as being proactive in establishing laboratory emergency plans.
Hård sentimentalisme og seksualiseret middelalder i Tom Kristensens En Kavaler i Spanien
Authors: Vangshardt Rasmus
Published: March 2020

Tom Kristensen’s travel book En Kavaler i Spanien (1926) was the result of a stay at the Danish explorer Knud Rasmussen’s house, where Kristensen not only met his physical and psychological superior, he also began his artistic development and personal breakdown towards the novel Hærværk (1930). The article argues that with a departure from this context, En Kavaler i Spanien can be read as an original and complex subgenre of the sentimental novel and it suggests that the work might best be categorized as ‘hard sentimentalism’. This subgenre of the travel novel can be identified in the intertwinement of the core thematic of the book — eroticism, medieval Spain and identity loss — with style and form. The paradoxical generic notion of ‘hard sentimentalism’ is used to connect medieval Spain with the erotic, but in an increasingly dangerous way, which threatens the traveler’s identity by increasing homosexual attraction and opening an abyss of degeneration and distorted emptiness behind the flirt.
Enhanced Recovery after Surgery for Lung Cancer Patients
Authors: Chen Feng , Wang Gongchao
Published: March 2020

Background

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) is a perioperative treatment intended to speed up recovery of surgical patients. Pulmonary lobectomy is a high-risk procedure, which ERAS is intended to address.

Objective

We evaluated the application of ERAS to patients with lung cancer.

Interventions/Methods

Of 337 patients who underwent pulmonary lobectomies for lung cancer at our hospital, 168 received traditional perioperative nursing, and 169 received ERAS. Their complication rates, numerical rating scale of pain (NRS), satisfaction with care, demographics and some inpatient indices before and after surgery were compared.

Results

The two groups did not significantly differ in general data or NRS score at 6 post-operative hours (P = 0.214) and 1 post-operative day (POD; P = 0.027). The ERAS group had lower incidence of postoperative lung complication (P = 0.008), shorter length of stay (P < 0.001), shorter enterokinesia recovery times (P < 0.001), lower hospitalization costs (P < 0.001), lower NRS scores at POD 2–5 (P < 0.001), higher nursing satisfaction (P < 0.001), and higher postoperative pulmonary function indices of maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV; P < 0.001), forced vital capacity (FVC; P = 0.002), and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1; P = 0.002) than did the traditional group.

Conclusion

ERAS is applicable to lung surgery patients.

Implications for Practice

Applying ERAS to thoracic surgery patients can alleviate their postoperative pain, shorten enterokinesia recovery, lower postoperative complication incidence, reduce hospitalization expenses, and raise nursing satisfaction, thereby expediting recovery.
Preparation and characterization of chitosan grafted poly(lactic acid) films for biomedical composites
Authors: Debnath Tonmoy , Islam Md. Sazedul , Hoque Sirajul , Haque Papia , Rahman Mohammed Mizanur
Published: March 2020

Polymer composites offer a great advantage in biomedical field over the traditional materials used like, metal, ceramics, or polymer alone. Polymer composites provide tailor-made facilities to design required physiological and mechanical properties in biomedical products. Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is a popular aliphatic polyester used in various biomedical products because they have a renewable source and after resorption they enter well into the Krebs cycle of the human body. However, PLA suffers from hydrolysis and subsequent weight loss in aqueous environment. To improve the hydrolytic properties of hydrophobic PLA and to incorporate the biocompatibility from chitosan (CS) into it, in this study CS has been grafted onto PLA film. CS with 78% of degree of deacetylation and viscosity average molecular weight of about 8,31,760 Da was grafted onto hydrolyzed PLA film surface. Kjeldahl analysis confirmed the attachment of CS onto the PLA films. From thermal stability analysis, it was observed that percentage of weight retention at 600°C of the CS-g-PLA was around 15% higher than that of pure PLA. The mechanical properties of final CS-grafted-PLA composites showed more resistance to hydrolytic degradation than that of pure PLA film.
In situ Raman Spectroscopic Observation of Polymer Chains in Semi-Crystalline Polyethylene Solids
Authors: Hiejima Yusuke , Kida Takumitsu , Nitta Koh-hei
Published: March 2020

In situ Raman spectroscopy is applied for polyethylene solid under various environments to elucidate the morphological and conformational changes. The trans conformation retains up to higher temperature for high-density polyethylene, reflecting higher stability of the orthorhombic crystals composed of stacked trans chains. It is suggested that the conversion of the non-crystalline trans chains to the crystalline phase is the microscopic origin of thermal history in the crystallinity, whereas the transformation between the trans and gauche conformers is practically in thermal equilibrium. Microscopic and dynamic mechanism of deformation during uniaxial stretching is investigated for the molecular orientation and the microscopic load sharing on the crystalline and amorphous chains. Lower crystallinity results in smoother and higher orientation toward the stretching direction, as well as higher load on the amorphous chains, during tensile elongation.
Resting State BOLD Variability of the Posterior Medial Temporal Lobe Correlates with Cognitive Performance in Older Adults with and without Risk for Cognitive Decline
Authors: Good Tyler J. , Villafuerte Joshua , Ryan Jennifer D. , Grady Cheryl L. , Barense Morgan D.
Published: March 2020

Local brain signal variability [SD of the BOLD signal (SDBOLD]] correlates with age and cognitive performance, and recently differentiated Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients from healthy controls. However, it is unknown whether changes to SDBOLDprecede diagnosis of AD or mild cognitive impairment. We compared ostensibly healthy older adult humans who scored below the recommended threshold on the Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) and who showed reduced medial temporal lobe (MTL) volume in a previous study (“at-risk” group,n = 20), with healthy older adults who scored within the normal range on the MoCA (“control” group,n = 20). Using multivariate partial least-squares analysis we assessed the correlations between SDBOLDand age, MoCA score, global fractional anisotropy, global mean diffusivity, and four cognitive factors. Greater SDBOLDin the MTL and occipital cortex positively correlated with performance on cognitive control/speed tasks but negatively correlated with memory scores in the control group. These relations were weaker in the at-risk group. Apost hocanalysis assessed associations between MTL volumes and SDBOLDin both groups. This revealed a negative correlation, most robust in the at-risk group, between MTL SDBOLDand MTL subregion volumetry, particularly the entorhinal and parahippocampal regions. Together, these results suggest that the association between SDBOLDand cognition differs between the at-risk and control groups, which may be because of lower MTL volumes in the at-risk group. Our data indicate relations between MTL SDBOLDand cognition may be helpful in understanding brain differences in individuals who may be at risk for further cognitive decline.
Zinc supports transcription and improves meiotic competence of growing bovine oocytes
Authors: Lodde Valentina , Garcia Barros Rodrigo , Dall’Acqua Priscila Chediek , Dieci Cecilia , Robert Claude , Bastien Alexandre , Sirard Marc-André , Franciosi Federica , Luciano Alberto Maria
Published: March 2020

In the last years, many studies focused on the understanding of the possible role of zinc in the control of mammalian oogenesis, mainly on oocyte maturation and fertilization. However, little is known about the role of zinc at earlier stages, when the growing oocyte is actively transcribing molecules that will regulate and sustain subsequent stages of oocyte and embryonic development. In this study, we used the bovine model to gain insights into the possible involvement of zinc in oocyte development. We first mined the EmbryoGENE transcriptomic dataset, which revealed that several zinc transporters and methallothionein are impacted by physiological conditions throughout the final phase of oocyte growth and differentiation. We then observed that zinc supplementation during in vitro culture of growing oocytes is beneficial to the acquisition of meiotic competence when subsequently subjected to standard in vitro maturation. Furthermore, we tested the hypothesis that zinc supplementation might support transcription in growing oocytes. This hypothesis was indirectly confirmed by the experimental evidence that the content of labile zinc in the oocyte decreases when a major drop in transcription occurs in vivo. Accordingly, we observed that zinc sequestration with a zinc chelator rapidly reduced global transcription in growing oocytes, which was reversed by zinc supplementation in the culture medium. Finally, zinc supplementation impacted the chromatin state by reducing the level of global DNA methylation, which is consistent with the increased transcription. In conclusion, our study suggests that altering zinc availability by culture-medium supplementation supports global transcription, ultimately enhancing meiotic competence.
Muscular atrophy, impaired epithelial autophagy and UCHL1 increase in androgen-deficient cauda epididymis
Authors: de Santi Fabiane , Lunardi Isadora Dantas , Beltrame Flávia Luciana , Cerri Paulo Sérgio , Sasso-Cerri Estela
Published: March 2020

In epididymis, cimetidine induces androgenic failure due to reduced sex hormone-binding globulin stromal levels and blockade of androgen receptor (AR) nuclear import. UCHL1, a hydrolase of ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), seems to play a role in autophagy and apoptotic pathway. However, the role of UPS and autophagy in epididymis has not been clarified. We evaluated UCHL1 and autophagy in epididymal cauda epithelium under androgenic deficiency induced by cimetidine, focusing on the interplay among these processes and apoptosis. The integrity of epididymal muscular layer was also evaluated. Male rats received cimetidine (CMTG) or saline (CG). Seminal vesicles were weighed, the expression of androgen-responsive genes Crisp1 and connexin 43 (Cx43) in cauda epididymis was evaluated, and cauda fragments were processed for light and transmission electron microscopy. The epithelium height and muscular thickness were measured. TUNEL, immunohistochemistry for caspase-3 and Cx43, and immunofluorescence for AR, Bcl-2, UCHL1, MAP LC3A, and p62/SQSTM1 (autophagic markers) were performed. Bcl-2, UCHL1, and Cx43 were detected by Western blot. In CMTG, the reduction in seminal vesicles weight accompanied by downregulation of Crisp1 and Cx43 confirmed epididymal androgenic failure. These results were associated with muscular atrophy, apoptosis and weak Cx43 and AR immunoexpression, supporting the androgenic dependence of muscular integrity. The high UCHL1 levels and reduction in Bcl-2 reinforce UCHL1 role in epithelial cells death. The intense immunoexpression of LC3A and p62/SQSTM1 indicates autophagic disturb, which in association with high UCHL1 levels, points to a role of UPS and autophagy in the regulation of epididymal epithelial cells viability under androgenic control.
Performance measurement of a solution for the travelling salesman problem for routing through the incorporation of service time variability
Authors: Lagos Dafne Consuelo , Mancilla Rodrigo Andrés , Leal Paola Elizabeth , Fox Franco Esteban
Published: March 2020

This work assessed the performance of a solution to the problem of assigning service squads, incorporating the variability of service times. The initial problem was modelled as a Travelling Salesman Problem (TSP), whose solution was obtained by the ant colony algorithm, showing the efficient route to be followed by the squad. Assessment of the performance of the solution by discrete event simulation (DES) included the travel time and added the service time. The TSP solution indicated that up to six customer visits could be carried out in an 8hour working day. Validation by DES presented a stable behavior of the variance, regardless of the number of visit sites assigned along the route.
Estructura factorial y fiabilidad del Cyberbullying Questionnaire (CBQ) y su complemento (CBQ-V) en adolescentes ecuatorianos
Authors: Ramos-Noboa Isabel , Larzabal-Fernández Aitor , Moreta-Herrera Rodrigo
Published: March 2020

Objetivo. Analizar la estructura factorial y la fiabilidad del Cyberbullying Questionnaire (CBQ), que mide la perpetración del cyberbullying, y además medir su complemento, la victimización (CBQ-V) en una muestra de adolescentes tungurahuenses. Método. El estudio es de carácter instrumental para constatar la construcción factorial y la consistencia interna de las pruebas en una muestra de 998 estudiantes de bachillerato de seis centros educativos de Tungurahua. Resultados. Se encontró que el CBQ explica el 58.5% de la varianza con tres factores con valores de S-B c2 = 29.5; gl = 24; p > .05; S-B c2/gl = 1.2; NNFI = .95; CFI = .96; GFI = .90 y RMSEA = .08 IC 90% [.10 – .05]. Mientras que el CBQ-V igualmente con tres factores explica el 52.6% de la varianza con S-B c2 = 29.5; gl = 24; p > .05; S-B c2/gl = 1.2; NNFI = .95; CFI = .96; GFI = .90 y RMSEA = .08 IC 90% [.10 – .05]. En cuanto a la fiabilidad, los puntajes alcanzados para el CBQ es α(ordinal) = .903 y CBQ-V es α(ordinal) = .879. Se concluye que las pruebas bajo análisis son válidas como constructo y fiables en estudiantes de bachillerato de Tungurahua.
The Effect of Spin-Orbit Interaction On Structural and Electronic Properties of ScIr2
Authors: UZUNOK Huseyin Yasin
Published: March 2020

The structural and electronic properties of face-centred cubic ScIr2 compound is investigated by using a generalised gradient approximation scheme of density functional theory with and without spin-orbit interaction. The structural results show that the spin-orbit interaction has a negligible effect for the crystallizing of ScIr2 compound. The Fermi surface calculations suggest considerable nesting along Γ-X direction that could affect the vibrational properties.
Acercamiento empírico a las equivalencias de los verbos de desplazamiento en español y alemán
Authors: Cuartero Otal Juan
Published: March 2020

With bilingual lexicography, there are some difficulties in dealing with motion verbs of German and Spanish. Some authors relate these difficulties to different lexicalization patterns in both languages. However, it is possible to show that these difficulties are specially related to different grammatical properties of motion verbs, to different usage preferences of speakers and to different lexical elements available in each language. This paper deals with a general perspective of these phenomena and an approach to the possibilities of bilingual lexicographic presentation of motion verbs on the basis of Contrastive Grammar, Lexicography and Corpus Linguistics.