bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Makroekonomik Faktörlerin Vadeli İşlem Sözleşmelerine Etkileri: Dolar ve Euro Sözleşmeleri Üzerine Bir İnceleme
Authors: Karataş Elçiçek Yasemin , Kayalıdere Koray
Published: December 2020

Bu çalışmanın amacı Ocak2013-Aralık2017 döneminde Vadeli İşlem ve Opsiyon Piyasasında işlem gören Dolar ve Euro vadeli işlem sözleşme getirisini, işlem hacmini ve volatilitesini etkileyen makroekonomik faktörlerin ileriye geriye dönük adımsal regresyon analizi ile incelenmesidir. Bu bağlamda çalışmada ilgili literatürden hareketle getiri, işlem hacmi ve volatiliteye etki etmesi beklenen 11 makroekonomik değişkenin aylık frekansta verileri kullanılmıştır. Analiz sonuçlarında, bazı makroekonomik değişkenler ile Dolar ve Euro vadeli işlem sözleşme getirileri, işlem hacimleri ve volatiliteleri arasında anlamlı ilişkiler bulgulanırken, bazı değişkenlerle anlamlı sonuçlar elde edilememiştir. Çalışma sonuçlarının literatüre katkıda bulunacağı düşünülmektedir
ACESSIBILIDADE E AUDIODESCRIÇÃO: UM OLHAR PARA A APRENDIZAGEM DOS ESTUDANTES COM DEFICIÊNCIA VISUAL
Authors: Santos Silas Nascimento dos , Cavalcante Ticia Cassiany Ferro
Published: December 2020

O texto em tela tem como objetivo apresentar a audiodescrição de imagens estáticas de um livro didático como ferramenta de adequação pedagógica contributiva para o acesso às imagens por estudantes com deficiência visual. Enquanto escolha metodológica, trata-se de um ensaio teórico, pois traz, de forma dialógica, uma proposta de reflexão acerca do objeto de conhecimento elencado. Assim, a audiodescrição, como recurso de tecnologia assistiva pode ser um aporte para que professores, no ambiente escolar, garantam que estudantes cegos e com baixa visão tenham autonomia e empoderamento em atividades, exercícios e afins. Esse recurso de acessibilidade comunicacional pode ser compreendido como a descrição de toda e qualquer informação pertinente e essencial para que as pessoas com deficiência visual, ao mesmo tempo que as pessoas videntes, tenham acesso ao evento visual. Conclui-se que presença da audiodescrição nas imagens estáticas como ferramenta de adequação pode garantir a acessibilidade visual dos estudantes com deficiência visual, posto que promove equiparação de oportunidades para a erradicação do silêncio entre o texto e a imagem, tão comum nas escolas ao se tratar do estudante cego e com baixa visão.
Propiedades fisicoquímicas y funcionales del almidón obtenido de dos variedades de batata (Ipomoea batatas)
Authors: Arrazola Guillermo
Published: December 2020

O cultivo e a produção de batata-doce na Colômbia registram poucos excedentes para o mercado nacional, sua produção é de aproximadamente 6 t / ha, disse que a produção está centrada na região do Caribe colombiano, nos departamentos de Córdoba e Sucre; No entanto, o cultivo da batata-doce pode vir a ocupar um lugar importante para a indústria alimentícia, devido às suas contribuições nutricionais e ao seu alto teor de amido, considerado ideal para a produção industrial de farinhas e amidos. Esta investigação estudou as propriedades físico-químicas e funcionais do amido obtidas de duas variedades de batata-doce, onde foram analisadas a capacidade de absorção de água, viscosidade máxima, temperatura de gelatinização, sedimentação e estabilidade. Antes das determinações, as amostras foram secas com peso constante. Verificou-se que o amido de batata-doce amarelo resultou em melhor qualidade devido à sua menor solubilidade, maior absorção de água, maior poder de intumescimento e maior temperatura de gelatinização que o amido de batata-doce roxo, mostrando valores encorajadores para a indústria de alimentos como espessantes, estabilizadores e gelificantes em alimentos refrigerados e congelados.s en alimentos refrigerados y congelados.
Development of expanded matrix elaborated from starch and cassava flour by extrusion
Authors: LUCIO-IDROBO YERALDIN , ARBOLEDA GERMAN , DELGADO-MUÑOZ KAREN , VILLADA-CASTILLO HECTOR
Published: December 2020

An expanded matrix was obtained from the simple screw extrusion process using a mixture of starch and cassava flour. Two experimental designs were made: the first design included two factors, cassava flour content and moisture percentage and the second design used two factors, temperature profile and screw speed. The respective combinations of the experimental designs that presented outstanding mechanical properties were the mixture with 15 % flour and 22 % humidity, at process conditions of 100 rpm and 125 °C. Under these conditions, an expanded material was obtained, which, presented a high density, low expansion index and high resistance to compression.
Extracto de taninos del fruto piñón de oreja (Enterolobium cyclocarpum) como curtiente para piel de conejo común (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
Authors: Paz Díaz Héctor Julio , Agudelo Beltrán Astrid Yeritza , Plata Pastor Dayanna Angélica , Pacheco Valderrama Mónica María , Salazar Beleño Ana Milena , Murillo Méndez Cristian Jahir
Published: December 2020

Los taninos son metabolitos secundarios producidos por el fruto piñón de oreja que pueden formar complejos con otras macromoléculas e incrementar la preservación de las pieles animales posterior al proceso de curtido. Este trabajo se enfocó en la extracción y cuantificación de taninos vegetales en el fruto piñón de oreja (Enterolobium cyclocarpum) para su potencial aplicación como curtiente en la piel de conejo raza Nueva Zelanda (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Para ello, se realizaron extracciones utilizando soluciones acuosas de etanol, metanol y acetona al 70% y se cuantificó por el método Folin Ciocalteu modificado utilizando ácido tánico como patrón. Se evaluó la capacidad de curtido en la piel de conejo mediante las propiedades físicas del cuero. Se encontró que la mayor concentración de equivalentes de ácido tánico (TAE) se obtuvo para la extracción con etanol al 70% (1,42 g TAE /L) y acetona al 70% (1,49 g TAE /L), respectivamente. Estos extractos fueron utilizados para obtener los cueros conforme las normas de estandarización para estos productos, superando solo 3 de 5 pruebas de estabilidad y resistencia bajo las normas oficiales. Estos extractos son un potencial sustituto de las sales de cromo, permitiendo procesos de curtido con menor impacto ambiental.
Efecto crioprotector de la yema de huevo en semen de Prochilodus mariae (Characiformes: Prochilodontidae)
Authors: Duarte-Trujillo Astrid Stefanía , Ardila Artunduaga Michelle Brigitte , Guaje Ramírez Diana Nathalie , Medina Robles Víctor Mauricio
Published: December 2020

Prochilodus mariae es una especie endémica del río Orinoco, de gran importancia ecológica, cultural y económica, cuyo protocolo de crioconservación seminal aún no ha sido establecido. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el efecto del uso y la exclusión de la yema de huevo en el diluyente de crioconservación, sobre la calidad seminal de P. mariae. Para ello, el semen fresco de cinco machos sanos y sexualmente maduros fue diluido (1:6), empacado en pajillas (0,5 mL), congelado y almacenado en nitrógeno líquido. Se emplearon dos tratamientos: diluyente con yema de huevo (YH) y sin yema de huevo (SYH). Se evaluó motilidad, duración de la motilidad, morfología, integridad de membrana plasmática y fertilidad del semen descongelado, usando como control semen fresco. Los datos fueron tratados con estadística descriptiva y paramétrica, con un nivel de confianza del 95%. Los resultados demostraron que la exclusión de la yema de huevo mejoró significativamente la motilidad y la duración de la motilidad, aunque no presentó una influencia estadísticamente significativa sobre la integridad de membrana plasmática, la anormalidad morfológica y la fertilidad. La adición de la yema de huevo al diluyente de crioconservación no presentó el efecto crioprotector esperado, siendo necesario evaluar diferentes concentraciones e interacciones con otros componentes del diluyente.
EFFECTIVE APPROACH TO WATER PURIFICATION FROM MICROBIOLOGICAL CONTAMINATION BASED ON NOVEL SURFACE-MODIFIED ADSORBENTS
Authors: Plotnikov E. , Martemianova I. , Tin H.L. , Martemianov D. , Duong H.H.
Published: December 2020

In this work, we provide a literature review of water treatment techniques and propose a novel resource-efficient solution for the purification of aqueous media from microbiological contamination. Methods: Combined filter sorbents were developed and studied based on novel modified nanostructured filter materials. Synthetic and natural zeolite were used as the mineral base. The production technique was optimized to coat minerals with aluminum oxyhydroxide by means of a sol–gel process. Additional treatment with fine zinc particles obtained by electrospark dispersion was applied to modify the sorbent surface and obtain the surface charge required. Results: The antibacterial, sorption and physicochemical properties of the samples as well as their surface structures were investigated. According to broad microbiological tests, the possibility of purifying bacterial-contaminated water was demonstrated to an acceptable level by means of adsorption filtration. Conclusion: The proposed novel approach for water treatment against bacterial contamination can be considered an alternative to the currently available water treatment technologies.
Propagation Studies in Sapodilla [Manilkara zapota (L.) P. Royen]: A Review
Authors: Kaur Satinder , Boora Rajbir Singh , Singh Daljinder
Published: December 2020

Sapota [Manilkara zapota (L) P. Royen] is an important commercial fruit crop of Sapotaceae family grown for fresh fruits and chicle production. Sapota when propagated by vegetative means, produce true to type plant material and reduces juvenile period and result in early commercial production. Various propagation techniques on different rootstocks were tried for the purpose. Among different rootstocks, khirni (Manilkara hexandra) was found most successful and is used for commercial plant propagation as it possesses high graft compatibility with sapota and plants produce fruits of excellent quality with high yield. Various vegetative propagation techniques have been standardized and used on large scale depending upon season and region. The general techniques used for sapota propagation are softwood grafting, veneer grafting, side grafting, inarching and air layering. Softwood grafting is employed in regions with moderate temperature and high relative humidity which prevent desiccation of scion stick. Veneer and side grafting using mature scion stick is also found effective in regions with variable climates. Inarching technique possess high graft survival rate and is practiced by private nurseries. Propagation through cuttings is not successful in sapota even when treated with rooting hormones. Micro-propagation in sapota by tissue culture techniques have been tried but application remains limited to academics only. This may be due to high phenolic contents and sap exudation in explant. Special protocols for successful root and shoot regeneration are required to be standardized for commercial scale plant propagation.
High-temperature Stress and the Fate of Pollen Germination and Yield in Lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus)
Authors: Baidya Ananya , Pal Anjan Kumar , Ali Mohammed Anwar , Nath Rajib
Published: December 2020

Background: High temperatures adversely affect the growth and development of plants at vegetative, reproductive and maturity stages of their life cycle. The maximum air temperature of higher than 25oC frequently encountered in lentil at the reproductive stage mainly in West Bengal rice-lentil cropping pattern. Such high temperatures in rabi season impair the crop growth and productivity. Added to this, future climate predictions are indicating 27-28oC during this period. Methods: The field-laboratory experiment was conducted during 2014, with 20 genotypes of lentil. The field experiment was laid in split plot design with 3 different windows of sowing, while the laboratory investigation was carried out in completely randomized design with pollen collected from the field experiment. Result: The present investigation reveals that high air temperature greater than 25oC resulted in the failure of pollen germination, increase in abnormal pollen tube and aborted pollen. A drastic effect in seed filling and pod development in lentil was observed. Out of 20 lentil genotypes studied, ILL-10893 and L-13-113 emerged as tolerant genotypes while, BM-6 and L-4076 as susceptible with special emphasis on physiological characters.
Ritualistic Nudity. Dressing and Undressing in Ovid’s Fasti
Authors: Di-Giusto Tammy
Published: December 2020

Los Fasti de ovidio son una obra de gran importancia para analizar la relación existente entre la identidad religiosa y la vestimenta. este artículo examina la interacción entre el vestir y lo divino y aborda el papel clave que desempeña la vestimenta, el desvestirse, y la desnudez en el culto de ciertas deidades en los Fasti. la ropa y la desnudez están íntimamente ligadas a la naturaleza cambiante del panorama sociopolítico en el culto de estas divinidades. los rituales con temporáneos en la Roma del primer siglo se relacionan con la fertilidad, difuminan los límites sociales y recuerdan a los antiguos pueblos preliterarios anteriores a la agricultura, proporcionando continuidad histórica a las prácticas cultuales.
Reconceptualizing Anti-Oppressive Pedagogy: A Lesson from the Other
Authors: Heringer Rebeca
Published: December 2020

Two decades after Kumashiro’s (2000) groundbreaking work, the postulates of anti-oppressive pedagogy are still in urgent need. Despite the contributions made by Kumashiro, this paper outlines how even attempts of anti-oppressive pedagogies can fall short of welcoming the Other–which can be clearly observed when focusing on Black refugee students in Canada. In the pursuit of an anti-racism pedagogy, I revisit Kumashiro’s revision of anti-oppressive tenets through the lenses of post-structural philosophy and psychoanalytical input and propose the ethics of hospitality, as articulated by Derrida (2000a, 2000b) and Ruitenberg (2016), not only as a necessary complement to that earlier work but also a pressing reconceptualization of modern education.
Práticas sociais de fabricação da memória
Authors: Orlandi Eni Puccinelli
Published: December 2020

A partir da noção de texto expográfico (MARGARITO, 2015) desenvolvemos uma análise de textos que museus e exposições produzem sobre a arte. No caso específico de nossa análise estendemos a noção de texto expográfico para textos que apresentam artistas e obras de uma exposição. Procuramos mostrar a textualização da arte no jogo entre memória e esquecimento que fundamenta os efeitos-leitor produzidos por eles na constituição de um sujeito apreciador de arte, e que se constitui, por relações de sentidos, a partir das maneiras contraditórias de ler. Concluimos pela metaforização de sujeitos e sentidos, pelo discurso da arte.
Islam dalam Merespons Era Digital
Authors: Baihaki Egi Sukma
Published: December 2020

Studi ini akan membahas bagaimana tantangan yang dihadapi umat beragama dalam membangun dan memelihara komunikasi dan interaksi yang telah ada selama ini. Kehadiran era digital telah membawa banyak pengaruh terhadap sudut pandang hubungan keagamaan, di antaranya dapat memengaruhi hubungan yang telah dibangun dengan baik. Kehadiran hoax, ujaran kebencian, dan ajaran radikal telah berkembang banyak berkat kehadiran teknologi digital. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan tinjauan literatur, dapat dijelaskan bahwa para pemimpin agama harus mampu beradaptasi dengan perkembangan teknologi. Penguasaan konten dan sikap dalam menanggapi era digital akan sangat membantu dalam menjaga hubungan antaragama. Islam memiliki banyak ajaran untuk terus memelihara dan membangun komunikasi antaragama.
PROBLEMATIKA EKSEKUSI PUTUSAN HARTA BERSAMA DI ATAS TANAH ADAT (STUDI DI DESA LEBAH SEMPAGA KECAMATAN NARMADA KABUPATEN LOMBOK BARAT)
Authors: Sulistiorini Baiq Santi
Published: December 2020

This study aims to determine the customary provisions of the Village of Lebah Sempaga regarding the mastery of buildings on customary land, know the legal considerations of the judges and the barriers to execution of shared property on customary land. This research is a field research using normative and sociological juridical approaches and involves judges and litigants, community leaders and traditional leaders of Lebah Sempaga Village. Data mining is done by observation, indepth interviews and documentation studies. The results of this study indicate that the customary provisions of the Lebah Sempaga Village regarding the mastery of buildings on "pauman land" are that the community only has ownership rights to the house building and does not have ownership rights to the land where the house was built. Legal considerations applied by the Panel of Judges of the Giri Menang Religion Court in deciding joint property disputes on customary land include, among others: (a) Consideration of evidence (b) Consideration of factual events (3) Consideration of legal facts. The legal basis used is Article 37 paragraph 1 of Law Number 1 of 1974 in conjunction with Article 97 of the Compilation of Islamic Law and Jurisprudence of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Indonesia Number 58 K / AG / 2015 dated January 27, 2015, that a claim for joint property on customary land can only just sued value. The obstacle in the execution of the object of joint property disputes on customary land is the difficulty to sell the disputed object because no one wants to buy the house because only the house is purchased, not the land because the land is customary land.
The medical profession must urgently act on caste-based discrimination and harassment in their midst
Authors: Kumbhar Kiran
Published: December 2020

Abuse and bullying during medical residency are common experiences of most doctors in India, but do not seem to have invited any major corrective action from the leaders of the medical profession. This kind of abuse is also on many occasions fuelled by prevalent misconceptions around caste hierarchies and the supposed non-deserving nature of students who enter the profession using reservations. The professional leadership has similarly turned a blind eye to the dominance of such damaging ideas and myths on college and hospital campuses, which in unfortunate instances have led to agonising mental torture and deaths by suicide of harassed students. The medical profession needs to collectively act on workplace abuse as well as casteist harassment before it is too late.
Problem of International Information Security in the UN
Authors: Romashkina N.
Published: December 2020

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have transformed society and the economy and expanded opportunities for international cooperation. However, the unique capabilities of ICTs are used not only for the common good of humanity. Today, we are talking about an accelerated increase in threats in the information and cyberspace. Many states consider them as additional, but often these are the main spaces for military-political confrontation. Thus, the issues of inadmissibility of application of ICTs with military and political purposes for realization of hostile actions and acts of aggression are critically urgent acute. For this reason, the task of ensuring international information security has become part of the agenda for one of the six main committees of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) – the First Committee, where states investigate threats to peace, seek for ways to promote global security and disarmament. Discussion on international information security issues within this Committee plays a crucial role and requires a deep analysis by the scientific and expert community. The article presents the results of this analysis, starting from 1998, when the problem of international information security was first discussed at the UN on the initiative of Russia. The study identifies and investigates the possibilities and prospects of implementing the main goal in the process of ensuring international information security: namely, the creation of an international legal regime to ban the development, production and use of information and cyber weapons. In addition, this paper includes the results of a study on the UN work and prospects for its success in maintaining international information security in a new format: within the framework of the Open Ended Working Group (OEWG) organized in 2019 at the suggestion of Russia, and the UN Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) proposed by the United States. The output of both groups is going to have a significant impact on information security trends and policies on a global scale. Therefore, a timely scientific analysis of the issue, current challenges and threats, as well as the forecast of trends and prospects for enhancing international information security, presented in the article, are currently among the most relevant tasks.
Oncological and reproductive outcomes of organ-sparing treatment of patients of reproductive age with gynaecological malignancies
Authors:   I.M.Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russian Federation, Silkina М.О. , Sosnova E.A. ,   I.M.Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russian Federation
Published: December 2020

In the past decade, the clinical practice of treatment of malignant gynaecological tumours has undergone cardinal changes towards introduction of organ-sparing technologies. In many respects, this is due to the fact that women want their reproductive function to be preserved. This approach is widely discussed among medical doctors and: can organ-sparing techniques influence the outcomes of treatment with respect to tumour recurrence and a woman’s reproductive potential and her ability to bear a baby. As has been found, the survival after successful comprehensive treatment of cervical, endometrial and ovarian cancer is high, and the conception and birth of a healthy child is possible in more than 50% of cases, most often with the help of assisted reproductive technologies. Key words: oncological outcomes, tumours, organ-sparing treatment, reproductive outcomes
The Impact of Family Conflicts on Children Education.
Authors: Ndayambaje Edmond , Umwari Yvette , Yulia Ayriza
Published: December 2020

The current study aims at (1) identifying the factors leading to family conflicts and (2) determining the impacts of family conflict and children education in order to improve family well-being. The study involves qualitative approach with case study design. The targeted group consisted of ten participants: five females and five males. Purposive sampling technique was adapted in selecting the subjects. Concerning with the size of the sample, the researcher preferred using convenience sampling, due to the situation on the field it was absolutely difficulty to firmly fix the respondents. An open-ended questionnaire with eight components was used to develop questions connected to the scope of the study. The collected data were analysed through thematic analysis. The findings indicated that the prevailing factors of family conflicts in the region are miscommunication, mismanagement of family property, irresponsibility, and infidelity. Moreover, the majority of children of the respondents are swiftly heading to very low academic performance compared to their school achievements prior to facing the issue.
Academic librarian collaborations in inquiry based learning: A case study, reflections and strategies
Authors: Murphy James E , Koltutsky Laura , Lenart Bartlomiej , McClurg Caitlin , Stoeckle Marc
Published: December 2020

Five academic librarians at the University of Calgary were invited to collaborate on an inquiry-based learning course. Each librarian represented different liaison responsibilities and expertise and was paired with a course section of primarily first-year students, an instructor, and a teaching assistant. The range of experiences among the librarians provided insights into issues of library partnerships, embedded librarianship, and information literacy instruction. Benefits of the collaboration included opportunities for instruction, positive student perceptions, skill building, and teaching innovations, while areas for further development included sustainability and role definition. Proposed areas of future growth include quantitative exploration of librarian involvement in inquiry- based learning.
A Laboratory Study of Coinjection of Water and CO2 to Improve Oil Recovery and CO2 Storage: Effect of Fraction of CO2 Injected
Authors: Ajoma Emmanuel , Sungkachart Thanarat , Saira - , Yin Hang , Le-Hussain Furqan
Published: December 2020

To determine the effect on oil recovery and carbon dioxide (CO2) storage, laboratory experiments are run with various fractions of CO2 injected (FCI): pure CO2 injection (FCI = 1), water-saturated CO2 (wsCO2) injection (FCI = 0.993), simultaneous water and gas (SWAG) (CO2) injection (FCI = 0.75), carbonated water injection (CWI) (FCI = 0.007), and water injection (FCI = 0). All experiments are performed on Bentheimer sandstone cores at 70°C and 11.7 MPa (1,700 psia). The oil phase is composed of 65% hexane and 35% decane by molar fraction. Before any fluid is injected, the core is filled with oil and irreducible water. Pressure difference across the core and production rate of gas are measured during the experiment. The collected produced fluids are analyzed in a gas chromatograph to determine their composition. Cumulative oil recovery after injection is found to be 78 to 83% for wsCO2, 78% for SWAG, 74% for pure CO2, 53% for CWI, and 35% for water. Net CO2 stored is also found to be the highest for wsCO2 (59 to 65% of the pore volume), followed by that for CO2 injection (56%) and that for SWAG (42%). These results suggest that wsCO2 injection might outperform pure CO2 injection at both oil recovery and net CO2 stored.
Type I Error Control for Cluster Randomized Trials Under Varying Small Sample Structures
Authors: Nugent Joshua , Kleinman Ken
Published: December 2020

Background: Linear mixed models (LMM) are a common approach to analyzing data from cluster randomized trials (CRTs). Inference on parameters can be performed via Wald tests or likelihood ratio tests (LRT), but both approaches may give incorrect Type I error rates in common finite sample settings. The impact of different combinations of cluster size, number of clusters, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and analysis approach on Type I error rates has not been well studied. Reviews of published CRTs nd that small sample sizes are not uncommon, so the performance of different inferential approaches in these settings can guide data analysts to the best choices.Methods: Using a random-intercept LMM stucture, we use simulations to study Type I error rates with the LRT and Wald test with different degrees of freedom (DF) choices across different combinations of cluster size, number of clusters, and ICC.Results: Our simulations show that the LRT can be anti-conservative when the ICC is large and the number of clusters is small, with the effect most pronounced when the cluster size is relatively large. Wald tests with the between-within DF method or the Satterthwaite DF approximation maintain Type I error control at the stated level, though they are conservative when the number of clusters, the cluster size, and the ICC are small.Conclusions: Depending on the structure of the CRT, analysts should choose a hypothesis testing approach that will maintain the appropriate Type I error rate for their data. Wald tests with the Satterthwaite DF approximation work well in many circumstances, but in other cases the LRT may have Type I error rates closer to the nominal level.
Physical activity and 4-year changes in body weight in 52,498 non-obese people: The Lifelines Cohort
Authors: Byambasukh Oyuntugs , Vinke Petra , Kromhout Daan , Navis Gerjan , Corpeleijn Eva
Published: December 2020

Objectives: We investigated associations between leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) at different intensities (moderate and vigorous or moderate-to-vigorous) and prospective weight gain in non-obese people. We also examined whether these associations were independent of other lifestyle factors and changes in muscle mass and whether they were age-dependent and changed over a person’s life course.Methods: The data were extracted from the Lifelines cohort study (N=52,498; 43.5% men) and excluded obese individuals (BMI>30kg/m2). We used the validated SQUASH questionnaire to estimate moderate-to-vigorous (MVPA; MET≥4), moderate (MPA; MET between 4 and 6.5) and vigorous PA (VPA; MET≥6.5). Body weight was objectively measured, and changes were standardized to a 4-year period. Separate analyses, adjusted for age, educational level, diet, smoking, alcohol consumption and changes in creatinine excretion (a marker of muscle mass), were performed for men and women.Results: The average weight gain was +0.45±0.03 kg in women. Relative to each reference groups (No-MVPA, No-MPA and No-VPA), MVPA (Beta (95%CI): -0.34 kg (-0.56;-0.13)), MPA (-0.32 kg (-0.54;-0.10)) and VPA (-0.30 kg (-0.43;-0.18)) were associated with less gain in body weight in women after adjusting for potential confounders, described above. These associations were dose-dependent when physically active individuals were divided in tertiles. Beta-coefficients (95%CI) for the lowest, middle, and highest MVPA tertiles relative to the ‘No-MVPA’ were, respectively, -0.24 (-0.47;-0.02), -0.31 (-0.53;-0.08), and -0.38 (-0.61;-0.16) kg. The average weight gain in men was +0.13±0.03 kg, and only VPA, not MPA was associated with less body weight gain. Beta-coefficients (95%CI) for the VPA tertiles relative to the ‘No-VPA’ group were, respectively, -0.25 (-0.42;-0.09), -0.19 (-0.38;-0.01) and -0.20 (-0.38;-0.02) kg. However, after adjusting for potential confounders, the association was no longer significant in men. The potential benefits of leisure-time PA were age-stratified and mainly observed in younger adults (men: <35 years; women: <55 years). Moreover, occupational MVPA was not associated with favourable changes in body weight in males and females.Conclusion: Higher leisure-time MVPA, MPA, and VPA were associated with less weight gain in women <55 years. In younger men (<35 years), only VPA was associated with less weight gain.
Comparison of muscle activation of the transversus abdominis and muscle strength between individuals with low back pain, herniated disc and healthy individuals: a cross-sectional study.
Authors: Souza Clecio , Assis Sanderson , Costa Karinna , Medeiros Yago , Macedo Liane
Published: December 2020

BACKGROUND: Low back pain and disc herniation are common problems in the world population, being characterized by discomfort in the region of the spine, resulting in functional capacity and quality of life reduced. Some of the causes of these conditions seem to be associated with the biomechanical imbalance of the muscles that act in the spine. There are methods to assess the level of activation and strength of the stabilizing muscles of the spine, such as the Pressure Biofeedback Unit (PBU). This study aims to compare the level of activation of the transverse abdomen muscle and back strength in healthy, low back pain and herniated disc individuals. METHODOS: a cross-sectional study was carried out with 30 men that were homogeneously distributed in three groups: healthy (HG), with low back pain (LBPG) and with herniated disc (HDG). The primary outcomes were the level of activation of the transversus abdominis, assessed by PBU, and back strength, assessed by dynamometry. Pain, flexibility and disability were evaluated as secondary outcomes.RESULTS: The mean age of the participants in this study was 30.47 ± 9.74 years. Regarding the activation of the transversus abdominis, no differences were found between groups (p = 0.155). For strength, LBPG and HDG were different compared to HG (p = 0.028 and p = 0.045, respectively). Pain was different between the HG and both LBPG and HDG (all p < 0.001). Regarding flexibility, no differences (p > 0.05) were found. The HDG had the highest disability score and was statistically different of the HG (p = 0.005), but with no difference from LBPG (p = 0.087).CONCLUSION: the activation of the tranversus abdominis is similar between healthy, non-specific back pain and herniated disc individuals; however, the latter presents a reduced level of strength and more disability.
Hypersonic Impact Properties of Pristine and Hybrid Single and Multi-layer C3N and BC3 Nanosheets
Authors: Sadeghzadeh Sadegh , Eshkalak Kasra Einalipour , Molaei Fatemeh , Siavoshi Hossein
Published: December 2020

Two-dimensional (2D) materials are competitive candidates replacing or supplementing conventional semiconductors due to their atomically uniform thickness. To observe and exploit the unique properties of two-dimensional (2D) materials, it is therefore vital to obtain clean and repeatable interfaces. Also, carbon, nitrogen, and boron nanostructures are promising ballistic protection materials due to their low density and excellent mechanical properties. In this study, we evaluated the ballistic properties of C3N and BC3 nanosheets against the hypersonic bullets with Mach number greater than 6. Besides, we created a hybrid sheet using van der Waals bonds between them based on the hypervelocity impacts of fullerene (C60) molecules utilizing molecular dynamics simulation. In the following, the ballistic properties of different structures were examined, and it was shown that C3N nanosheets have higher absorption energy than BC3 after C60 penetration. In contrast, in lower impact speeds and before penetration, single-layers exhibited almost similar behavior. Our findings also reveal that in hybrid structures, the C3N layers will improve the ballistic properties of BC3. The energy absorption values with a variable number of layers and interlayer distance are investigated, for homogeneous or hybrid configurations (stacking of C3N and BC3). In this work, we have discussed two interlayer distances of X = 3.4Å and 4X = 13.6Å for different configurations. These results provide a fundamental understanding of ultra-light multilayered armors' design using nanocomposites based on advanced 2D materials. It can also be used to select and make 2D membranes and allotropes for DNA sequencing and filtration.
Surface constrained electron-hole rich species active in the electrocatalytic water splitting
Authors: Velasco-Vélez Juan , Carbonio Emilia , Chuang Cheng-Hao , Hsu Cheng-Jhih , Lee Jyh-Fu , Arrigo Rosa , Hävecker Michael , Wang Ruizhi , Plodinec Milivoj , Centeno Alba , Zurutuza Amaia , Falling Lorenz , Mom Rik , Hofmann Stephan , Schlögl Robert , Knop-Gericke Axel , Jones Travis
Published: December 2020

Iridium and its oxides/hydroxides are the best candidates for the oxygen evolution reaction under harsh acidic conditions owing to the low overpotential and the high corrosion resistance observed for Ir-based anodes. Herein, by means of cutting edge operando surface and bulk sensitive X-ray spectroscopy techniques, specifically designed electrode nano-fabrication and ab initio DFT calculations, we were able to reveal the electronic structure of the active IrOx centers (i.e. oxidation state) during electrocatalytic oxidation of water in the surface and bulk of high-performance Ir-based catalysts. We found the oxygen evolution reaction is controlled by the formation of empty Ir 5d states in the surface ascribed to the formation of formally IrV species leading to the appearance of electron-deficient oxygen species bound to single iridium atoms (µ1-O and µ1-OH) that are responsible for water activation and oxidation, due to the bound oxygen’s transformation into an oxyl susceptible to nucleophilic attack water. Oxygen bound to three iridium centers (µ3-O) remains the dominant species in the bulk but do not participate directly in the electrocatalytic reaction, suggesting bulk oxidation is limited. In addition a high coverage of a µ1-OO (peroxo) species during the OER is excluded. Moreover, we provide the first photoelectron spectroscopic evidence in bulk electrolyte that the higher surface to bulk ratio in thinner electrodes enhances the material usage involving the precipitation of a significant part of the electrode surface and near-surface active species.
Basal IL-6 and S100b levels predict infarct volume in acute ischaemic stroke patients
Authors: Purroy Francisco , Farre-Rodriguez Joan , Mauri-Capdevila Gerard , Vicente-Pascual Mikel , Farre Joan
Published: December 2020

Background: The study of biomarkers related to the infarct volume of acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) is a valuable clinical strategy. We conducted a prospective study to evaluate the relationship between a wide panel of biomarkers involved in different biochemical pathways and lesion volume. Methods: We studied 332 patients with AIS. Infarct volume was calculated from diffusion weighted imaging (DWI). Blood samples were drawn within 24 h of symptom onset to test a panel of biomarkers that included high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), IL-6, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-ProBNP), S100b, troponin and IL-10. Results: The median lesion volume was 2.5 cc (IQR: 0.6-15.3). Patients with previous atrial fibrillation, cardioembolic aetiology and total anterior circulation infarct TACI classification had higher lesion volumes than those without them. Patients with previous recent TIA had smaller ischemic lesions than those without it. Age and NIHSS were significantly correlated with lesion volume. In a lineal regression analysis adjusted by aetiology, S100b and IL-6 emerged as the only biomarkers that could independently predict infarct volume. In contrast, previous recent TIA and small vessel disease were inversely related to infarct volume. Conclusion: The correlation between the two blood marker levels and ischemic lesion volume would support the use of these biomarkers as a surrogate endpoint in AIS, especially in centres without DWI 24/7. Our findings should be further explored in larger, preferably multicentre studies.
Pars Plana Vitrectomy with Internal Limiting Membrane Peeling and Intravitreal Bevacizumab Injection for Refractory Diffuse Diabetic Macular Edema
Authors: Alishiri Aliagha , Torabi Hamidreza , Jadidi Khosrow , Mosavi Seyed Aliasghar
Published: December 2020

Purpose: Evaluating the impact of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling and intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) injection to manage refractory diffuse diabetic macular edema (DME).Methods: In the current prospective interventional clinical study, eyes with refractory diffuse DME with no response to a minimum of three times IVB injections, and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of equal or more than 20/200 and equal or lower than 20/60 were subjected to PPV with ILM peeling and intravitreal avastin injection. Pre- and post-operative assessments were a comprehensive ophthalmologic evaluation, fluorescein angiography, and optical coherence tomography (OCT). BCVA, central macular thickness (CMT) and contrast sensitivity (CS) were major outcomes. Results: Fifteen eyes of 13 cases (mean age: 63±5.19 (range, 54-70) years) were subjected to operation and a follow-up of 3 months. Average BCVA at last test was 0.74 ± 0.19 LogMAR that showed no improvement compared with its value before intervention (0.84 ± 0.14 LogMAR) (P=0.073). Average CMT at last test was 328.26±129 µm that was significantly lower compared with its value before operation (450.8±114 µm) (P=0.002) and a significant improvement in CS was found (from 16.66 ± 8.99 mm to 18.13 ±1.22mm;p=0.003). CMT and BCVA (correlation coefficient =0.419,p=0.120), BCVA and CS (correlation coefficient =-0.336,p=0.221) , and CS and CMT (correlation coefficient =-0.07,p=0.979) were found with no significant correlation. Conclusion: PPV with ILM peeling and IVB regarding refractory diffuse DME reduced macular width along with CS improvement, but does not significantly improve visual acuity.
Asthmatic children and their mothers in COVID-19 pandemic: psychosocial impact of the virus outbreak in a post lockdown scenario
Authors: Riso Daniela Di , Spaggiari Silvia , Cambrisi Elena , Ferraro Valentina , Carraro Silvia , Zanconato Stefania
Published: December 2020

Italy has been the first country outside Asia to struggle with the COVID-19 outbreak. To contain the transmission of the virus, by March 10th, 2020, the Italian Government imposed strict domestic quarantine policies and temporary closure of non-essential businesses and schools. Although growing literature explored the impact of the pandemic on non-referred children and families, few studies focused on the psychosocial impact of Covid-19 in chronically ill children and their caregivers. Methods. The present study investigated asthma control and children and mothers’ psychological functioning (i.e.: psychological well-being, fear of contagion, and mothers’ Covid-19 related fears) in 45 asthmatic children aged 7-to-14, compared to a control sample. They were administered an online survey after the lockdown (from the 28th May to 23rd August 2020). Results. Results showed higher levels of concern for contagion for asthmatic children, but no difference in psychosocial functioning. Mothers reported more Covid-19 related fears, and greater worries according to the resumption of their children’s activities. Moreover, they indicated a global worsening in their psychological well-being during the lockdown. Furthermore, as to the clinical sample, the multivariate regression model showed that a worsening of mothers' psychological and children’s physical well-being was associated with a worsening of children’s psychological well-being during the lockdown. Conclusions. The results of this study indicate that mothers of asthmatic children can be more prone to experience psychological fatigue in a pandemic scenario. Special programs should be scheduled to sustain caregivers of chronically ill children.
Ising Model Optimization Problems on a FPGA Accelerated Restricted Boltzmann Machine
Authors: Patel Saavan , Chen Lili , Canoza Philip , Salahuddin Sayeef
Published: December 2020

In this work we demonstrate usage of the Restricted Boltzmann Machine (RBM) as a stochastic neural network capable of solving NP-Hard Combinatorial Optimization problems efficiently. By mapping the RBM onto a reconfigurable Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), we can effectively hardware accelerate the RBM's stochastic sampling algorithm. We benchmark the RBM against the DWave 2000Q Quantum Adiabatic Computer and the Optical Coherent Ising Machine on two such optimization problems: the MAX-CUT problem and the Sherrington-Kirkpatrick (SK) spin glass. The hardware accelerated RBM shows asymptotic scaling either similar or better than these other accelerators. This leads to 107x and 105x time to solution improvement compared to the DWave 2000Q on the MAX-CUT and SK problems respectively, along with a 150x and 1000x improvement compared to the Coherent Ising Machine annealer on those problems. By utilizing commodity hardware running at room temperature, the RBM shows potential for immediate and scalable use.
Catechol-Containing Compounds are a Broad Class of Protein Aggregation Inhibitors: Redox State is a Key Determinant of the Inhibitory Activities
Authors: Velander Paul , Wu Ling , Hildreth Sherry B. , Vogelaar Nancy J. , Mukhopadhyay Biswarup , Zhang Shijun , Helm Richard F. , Xu Bin
Published: December 2020

Background: A range of neurodegenerative and related aging diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and type 2 diabetes, are linked to toxic protein aggregation. Yet the mechanisms of protein aggregation inhibition by small molecule inhibitors remain poorly understood, in part because most protein targets of aggregation assembly are partially unfolded or intrinsically disordered, which hinders detailed structural characterization of protein-inhibitor complexes and structural-based mechanistic elucidation. Methods: Herein we employed a small molecule screening approach to identify inhibitors against three prototype amyloidogenic proteins in neurodegeneration and related proteinopathies: amylin, Ab and tau. We further systematically investigated selected class of inhibitors under aerobic and anaerobic conditions to uncover a key determinant of the inhibitory activities.Results: One remarkable class of inhibitors identified from all three parallel screenings against different amyloidogenic proteins was catechol-containing compounds and redox-related quinones/anthraquinones. Further mechanistic studies determined that the redox state of the broad class of catechol-containing compounds is a key determinant of the amyloid inhibitor activities. Conclusion: Our small molecule library screening platform was able to identify a broad class of amyloid inhibitors. Redox was found to be a key factor not only regulating the inhibitory activities but also involving the mechanism of inhibition. The molecular insights we gained not only explain why a large number of catechol-containing natural compounds, often enriched in healthy diet, have anti-neurodegeneration and anti-aging activities, but also could guide the rational design of therapeutic or nutraceutical strategies to target a broad range of neurodegenerative and related aging diseases.
Cross-species Behavior Analysis with Attention-based Domain-adversarial Deep Neural Networks
Authors: Maekawa Takuya , Higashide Daiki , Hara Takahiro , Matsumura Kentarou , Ide Kaoru , Miyatake Takahisa , Kimura Koutarou , Takahashi Susumu
Published: December 2020

Since the variables inherent to various diseases cannot be controlled directly in humans, behavioral dysfunctions have been examined in model organisms, leading to better understanding their underlying mechanisms. However, because the spatial and temporal scales of animal locomotion vary widely among species, conventional statistical analyses cannot be used to discover knowledge from the locomotion data. We propose a new procedure to automatically discover locomotion features shared among animal species by means of domain-adversarial deep neural networks. Our neural network is equipped with a function which explains the meaning of segments of locomotion where the cross-species features are hidden by incorporating an attention mechanism into the neural network, regarded as a black box. It enables us to formulate a human-interpretable rule about the cross-species locomotion feature and validate it using statistical tests. We demonstrate the versatility of this procedure by identifying locomotion features shared across different species with dopamine-deficiency, namely humans, mice, and worms, despite their evolutionary differences.
High Blood Pressure Confirmed with 24-Hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring in Tanzanian Adolescents Enrolling in a Cohort Study
Authors: Nsanya Mussa , Ayieko Philip , Hashim Ramadhan , Mgema Ezekiel , Fitzgerald Daniel , Kapiga Saidi , Peck Robert
Published: December 2020

Prevalence estimates for high blood pressure (BP) among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa vary widely and most studies have relied on attended automated office BP (AOBP) measurements. We aimed to estimate prevalence of high BP using unattended AOBP followed by 24-Hour ambulatory BP monitoring (24-Hour ABPM) for confirmation and to determine factors associated with confirmed high BP. Between April and August 2018, 500 adolescents aged 11 to 15 years were enrolled from three randomly selected public schools in Mwanza city (Tanzania) to participate in a 2-year prospective cohort study. We obtained three consecutive unattended AOBP measurements. Follow-up AOBP measurements were obtained in participants with high BP at initial measurements. Participants whose follow-up measurements remained high underwent 24-Hour ABPM. Of all 500 participants, 36.6% had high BP using first AOBP measurement; 25.6% using average of the second and third AOBP measurements and 10.2% using average of follow-up AOBP measurements and were eligible for 24-Hour ABPM. Only 13(2.6%) had confirmed high BP and they had no unique distinguishing characteristic. White coat hypertension is common among adolescents in Africa. Cardiovascular health promotion in Africa can be done through school-based screening for high BP among adolescents using one unattended AOBP