bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Avaliação da drenabilidade de pavimentos asfálticos em Barra do Garças, Mato Grosso, Brasil
Authors: Ferreira Raul Tadeu Lobato , Guerra Kassia Bianca Ferreira , Moura Cristopher Antonio Martins
Published: November 2020

No que se refere às condições de segurança dos pavimentos, a drenabilidade merece atenção pois expressa a facilidade ou a dificuldade da ocorrência do fenômeno de hidroplanagem. Na presente pesquisa buscou-se estudar a drenabilidade de pavimentos urbanos avaliando a capacidade drenante de uma superfície pavimentada com concreto betuminoso usinado a quente (CBUQ) e outra em tratamento superficial duplo com capa selante (TSD), com um drenômetro construído seguindo as orientações de Lima e Dalla Riva (2014). Com os dados de vazão média para cada estação avaliados juntamente com os dados do ensaio de mancha de areia obtidos por Domingues (2018), foi possível obter uma equação que relaciona os resultados de drenabilidade com a textura do pavimento. Ao correlacionar essa equação ajustada, com os intervalos definidos por Pasquet (1968 apud CUBAR; DALLA ROZA, 2015), a Rua Coronel Elias Galvão recapeada com CBUQ, apresentou uma textura superficial média, indicada para vias com velocidade no intervalo de 80 a 120 km/h e o revestimento com TSD da Rua Presidente Kennedy foi classificado como muito grosseiro ou muito aberto, indicado para casos especiais que consistem em áreas com alto risco de hidroplanagem. Apesar de não apresentarem valores de drenabilidade (macrotextura) ideais segundo o Departamento Nacional de Infraestrutura de Transportes (DNIT), as condições das pistas avaliadas não oferecem risco à segurança do usuário, uma vez que são destinadas ao tráfego urbano.
Desafios Enfrentados por Estudantes de um Curso Técnico a Distância Frente à Pandemia COVID-19
Authors: Kuhn Nuvea , Lopes Luis Felipe Dias
Published: November 2020

O presente artigo tem como finalidade identificar os principais desafios enfrentados por estudantes de um curso técnico a distância frente à pandemia COVID-19 no acesso ao curso/disciplinas. Assim, pela emissão de relatórios de acesso no Moodle, verificou-se uma queda significativa de participação dos estudantes no Ambiente Virtual de Aprendizagem (AVA), considerando-se as semanas subsequentes à suspensão das atividades presenciais, conforme determinação do Ministério da Educação (MEC). O curso é ofertado por uma instituição pública federal de ensino, em dois polos de apoio presencial em municípios localizados na região noroeste do estado do Rio Grande do Sul (RS). Além dos relatórios, realizou-se a aplicação de um questionário estruturado a 132 estudantes do curso. Os resultados demonstraram que o distanciamento social e a suspensão das atividades presenciais têm influenciado de forma substancial na dinâmica de estudo e dedicação ao curso. Aspectos como desemprego, não possuir computador e acesso à internet, bem como o fechamento do polo de apoio presencial, mostraram-se fatores determinantes na queda de acessos. Assim, 86,4% (polo 1) e 84,8% (polo 2) dos estudantes estão sentindo a influência direta da COVID-19 em seu desempenho escolar.
Palavras-chave: Distanciamento social. Desempenho escolar. Vírus.
AGRONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF MAIZE UNDER Azospirillum brasilense INOCULATION AND TOP-DRESSING NITROGEN FERTILIZATION
Authors: FERNANDES VINÍCIUS BALEIRO , MINGOTTE FABIO LUIZ CHECCHIO , MORELLO ORLANDO FERREIRA , COELHO ANDERSON PRATES , LEMOS LEANDRO BORGES
Published: November 2020

Maize inoculation with bacteria of the genus Azospirillum can reduce the consumption of nitrogen fertilizers to obtain maximum grain yield. In this context, the aim was to evaluate the effect of inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense associated with nitrogen fertilization on the maize agronomic performance. A randomized block design was used in a split-plot scheme with four replicates. Four inoculation managements with Azospirillum brasilense (T0 - control without inoculation; TC2 - seed box inoculation, 200x108 viable cells ha-1; TC3 - seed box inoculation, 400x108 viable cells ha-1; TS1 - previous inoculation of the seeds, 600x108 viable cells ha-1) associated with four top-dressing N doses (0, 60, 120 and 180 kg ha-1), applied at maize stage V6 by urea. Inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense associated with top-dressing nitrogen fertilization increases the number of grain rows per ear, number of grains per row, number of grains per ear and grain yield of maize, mainly due to its positive effects on plant nutrition. Managements with seed box inoculation with 400x108 viable cells per ha (TC3) and inoculation in seed pre-treatment (TS1) are the most recommended for maize.
The Means and the End Teaching Digital Literacy to Nonprofit Students
Authors: Schatteman Alicia , Liu Li-Yin
Published: November 2020

For their future career, nonprofit students need to attain the necessary skills and knowledge to leverage the power of technology appropriately to serve their communities. As faculty, we need to design our courses to improve the digital literacy of our students and therefore improve their ability to effectively communicate, manage, and lead public service organizations. This article examines an undergraduate course called Community Organizations in a Digital World that responds to the new demands for innovations in nonprofit organizations. We present the overall course design, including assignments, and the findings of a pretest and a posttest of individual student digital literacy and student reflections on their digital literacy. Based on the two-stage survey, students’ digital literacy significantly improved when they completed the course. Moreover, students appreciated the importance and the difficulty of using social media in their future career. They also recognized the effect of algorithms and social justice issues of accessing technology. This evidence demonstrates the active learning exercises used in this course successfully improved students’ digital literacy.
Free Competition and Fiscal Policy in European Union
Authors: do Rosário Anjos Maria
Published: November 2020

Fiscal policy and the harmonization of tax laws are extremely important in order to prevent distortions of free competition in UE. The process of European Union construction is based on integration and liberalization of markets in order a loyal and free competition. This issue is really important in order to crisis superaction. In this context the fiscal policy has a very significant impact on countries economics in EU and on company’s management, especially for those most exposed to globalization. The impact of taxes on free competition, economic growth and employment is quite evident since the EU foundation. So, it would be expected a more significant progress towards fiscal harmonization among EU countries. However, until now the question of tax harmonization had no results. It remains a sensitive question in EU. Almost two decades after the entry of the Euro, after a deep economic crisis that endangered the European project, face to BREXIT, we raised some questions as base to this work: what are the political and institutional limitations to tax harmonization in EU? Why there are no further progress was made in the field of tax harmonization, at least, in company’s income? How does this affect social cohesion? What are the effects on economic and social cohesion? This study intends to reflect on the political and institutional constraints of the tax harmonization, quite necessary to the effective process of economic and social integration within the EU. As methodology, we will use a comparative study about income taxes in several EU countries and the relation to GDP, as well the deductive method to analyze the results we find and some reference studies on the subject. In conclusion, we will present the analyze the results and try to answer to these questions. With this study we pretend give a contribution in order to find an answer to the investigation questions.
Cultural Care of Pregnancy and Home Birth: An Application of the Sunrise Model
Authors: Andina-Díaz Elena , Siles-González José
Published: November 2020

Background and Purpose

The role of older women close to the pregnant woman may be relevant when conveying information. The use of theories/models can guide the development of nursing practice. Purpose: To explore beliefs and practices related to pregnancy and childbirth from the perspective of older women who gave birth at home, applying Leininger's Sunrise Model.

Methods

Qualitative approach, using semi-structured interviews with 24 older women who gave birth at home (rural area, Spain). Manual content analysis of the data was used, and Sunrise Model guided to explore the role of culture and the factors affecting maternity care.

Results

Two main categories emerged: beliefs/practices related to physiological aspects (subcategories: minimal intervention, hygiene, pain control, rest, feeding) and to psychosocial aspects (subcategories: spiritual well-being, company).

Implications for Practice

The experiences of older women who gave birth at home helped us to understand some beliefs that survive in some pregnant women, similar in different cultures, and divided into physiological and psychosocial aspects. Older women have a relevant role as transmitters of information, and can provide some keys to plan health interventions, as companions or counselors. Applying the Sunrise Model, we verified the weight that culture has in maternal health care, and the multiple factors that interfere with the way of caring. The application of models helps us to improve nursing practice: not only should we focus on knowing the physical aspects, but also the social and cultural circumstances surrounding the pregnant woman.
Understanding Adolescent Expressions of Sadness: A Qualitative Exploration
Authors: Terrizzi Daniela A. , Khan Huma A. , Paulson Allison , Abuwalla Zach , Solis Nitza , Bolotin Megan , Burke Brendan , Toner Emma , de Forest Sarah A. , Lee Miae , Goodwin Brady , Fogel Joshua , Gladstone Tracy R. G. , Van Voorhees Benjamin W.
Published: November 2020

Purpose

Primary care providers are positioned to identify adolescents at risk for depression and prevent major depressive disorder. To identify subthreshold depression, we examined the language adolescents use to describe their symptoms.

Methods

Adolescents ages 13–18 with elevated levels on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale and/or a history of depression who were part of a large randomized clinical trial to prevent depressive disorder were included. We used content analysis to analyze transcripts of semi-structured interviews.

Results

Saturation was reached at 37 interviews. Adolescents self-identified as African American (N = 15), Hispanic (N = 10), and White (N = 21). Three domains were revealed; external sources of stress, adolescent expressions of sadness, and seeking help and care. Within these domains, 12 distinct themes emerged contextualizing these domains. No variations in the expression of the themes identified for subthreshold depression were found between the three ethno-cultural groups.

Implications for Practice

Our study identifies, in adolescents' own words, how adolescents with subthreshold depression express feelings and cope with symptoms, and may guide primary care providers to recognize subthreshold depression early. These findings are a step toward filling the gap in the empirical literature needed to improve identification of adolescents at risk for depression in nonspecialist settings.
Organizational values perceived by successors of rural properties at cooperative system: Collectivists or individualists?
Authors: Teston Sayonara de Fátima , Zawadzki Patrick , Lizote Suzete Antonieta , Gupta Sandeep Kumar , Reznik Nadiia
Published: November 2020

The objective was to evaluate the profile of the organizational values perceived by the successors in the decision process on continuity in agribusiness in a cooperative system. The design of the method followed a quantitative, descriptive, survey, and cross-sectional approach. One hundred nineteen successors participated in the study. Descriptive statistics and tests were applied to compare groups and relate dimensions. Successors realize that there is a relationship between collectivist and individualist values in rural property. The undecided ones do not perceive significant differences in values in most of the values. The article demonstrates the need to adapt to the regional cooperative system and rural properties to the associated successors' values.
KONSTRUKSI HUKUM EKONOMI ISLAM KONTEMPORER (ANALISIS "TEORI SISTEM JASSER AUDA" TERHADAP KOMPILASI HUKUM EKONOMI SYARIAH)
Authors: Ulum Fahrur
Published: November 2020

Penelitian ini menjawab permasalahan tentang upaya konstruksi keilmuan hukum ekonomi Islam dengan pendekatan teori system yang dicetuskanoleh Jasser Auda. Metode yang digunakan adalah deskriptif kualitatif, jenis literature. dengan konstruksi tersebut diharapkan mampu memenuhi tujuan keilmuan itu sendiri yaitu terciptanya keilmuan hukum ekonomi Islam yang lebih holistic dan tidak reduksionis, lebih bersifat moral dan tidak bersifat harfiah, lebih menekankan multidimensi dan tidak satu dimensi, lebih multi-nilai dan tidak sekedar membandingkan, lebih rekonstruksionis dan tidak dekonstruksionis, dan lebih teleologis, bukan sekedar kausal. Konstruksi keilmuan hukum ekonomi Islam tersebut dilakukan dengan memfungsikan system pada basic prinsip validating all cognitions, openness, holism, multidimensionality, and purposefulness.
REVIEW: SINTESIS TURUNAN ANDROGRAFOLID PADA GUGUS HIDROKSIL C-3 DAN C-19
Authors: Indrayani Sri , Megantara Sandra , Saputri Febrina Amelia
Published: November 2020

Andrografolid merupakan senyawa diterpenoid utama dari tanaman Andrographis paniculata dan telah dikenal memiliki berbagai aktivitas farmakologi. Andrografolid memiliki struktur menarik yang terdiri dari α-alkiliden γ-butirolakton, dua ikatan olefin pada C-8 and C-12 dan tiga gugus hidroksil. Dari ketiga gugus hidroksil tersebut, salah satunya adalah gugus hidroksil alilik pada C-14 dan yang lainnya adalah gugus hidroksil sekunder dan primer pada C-3 dan C-19. Gugus hidroksil C-3 dan C-19 merupakan gugus yang potensial untuk dimodifikasi. Review ini menjelaskan tentang pentingnya gugus hidroksil andrografolid pada C-3 dan C-19 dan pengaruhnya terhadap aktivitas biologis yang ditimbulkannya. Modifikasi andrografolid pada gugus tersebut dengan menambahkan gugus hidroksibenzaldehid dapat meningkatkan efek farmakologis sebagai anti-HIV. Esterifikasi yang terjadi pada C-3 dan C-19 dapat meningkatkan aktivitas sebagai antitumor. Penambahan ester aromatik baik di C-3 dan C-19 dapat mengurangi aktivitas senyawa sebagai antitumor. Modifikasi pada gugus tersebut dapat dilakukan dengan mekanisme reaksi substitusi nukleofilik dengan penambahakn katalis dan pemanasan. Pemanasan dengan metode iradiasi microwave memberikan hasil sintesis dengan nilai rendemen yang paling tinggi.  Andrographolide is a diterpenoid lactone isolated from the herb of Andrographis paniculata and known for its multiple pharmacological activities. Andrographolide has an interesting architecture consisting of an α-alkylidene γ-butyrolactone moiety, two olefin bond (C-8 and C-12), and three hydroxyls groups. Of the three hydroxyl groups, one is allylic at C-14, and the others are secondary and primary at C-3 and C-19, respectively. Hydroxyl groups C-3 and C-19 are the potential groups to be modified. The review describes the importance of the hydroxyl groups of andrographolide located at C-3 and C-19 and its effect toward its biological activity. Modification by adding hydroxyl-benzaldehyde moiety to the hydroxyl groups could increase the activity of the compound as anti-HIV. Esteriﬁcation at C-3 and C-19 could also enhance the activity of the compund as antitumor. The addition of aromatic esters both at C-3 and C-19 could lose the compound’s activity as antitumor. Modification of the hydroxyl groups of andrographolide located at C-3 and C-19 could be carried out by the mechanism of nucleophilic substitution reactions with the addition of catalysts and heating. Heating by using microwave irradiation method gives the highest synthesis yield.Keywords: Andrographolide, Andrographis paniculata, hydroxyl groups
A STUDY OF PM2.5 ELEMENTAL COMPOSITION IN SOUTHWEST MEXICO CITY AND DEVELOPMENT OF RECEPTOR MODELS WITH POSITIVE MATRIX FACTORIZATION
Authors: Hernández-López Alfonso Enrique , Miranda Martín del Campo Javier , Mugica-Álvarez Violeta , Hernández-Valle Brenda Liz , Mejía-Ponce Lourdes Verónica , Pineda-Santamaría Juan Carlos , Reynoso-Cruces Salvador , Mendoza-Flores Juan Antonio , Rozanes-Valenzuela Daniel
Published: November 2020

A study of elemental composition of PM2.5 samples collected at the main campus of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, comprising data from 2015, 2016, and 2019, is described. X-ray fluorescence analysis was employed to measure concentrations of up to 19 elements, complemented with ion chromatography for eight ionic species (for samples of 2015 and 2016), and thermo-optical analysis for organic and elemental carbon (for samples of 2015). Positive matrix factorization (PMF) was applied to develop receptor models for each year, to identify polluting sources and their contributions to total mass. Five sources were identified in every case. With the aid of PMF, the influence of biomass burning on a major episode in May, 2019, was recognized. Comparisons with previous studies in this or nearby sites are also presented. It should be noted that only limited compositional data in this site are available since 2005 for the aerosol fine fraction.
An alternative View on Entropic Measures Applied to the Nervous System
Authors: Diego Mateos M. , Perez Velazquez Jose Luis
Published: November 2020

In the same manner that there are several statements of the second law of thermodynamics but all of them are equivalent, it is possible that most of the entropic methods applied to the nervous system and brain in particular share a similar outcome, or essence, that helps understand some aspects of the fundamentals of basic neurodynamics. In this short review focused on certain aspects of the entropic metrics some results are examined that indicate the fundamental importance of the natural tendency towards a maximal energy distribution for healthy brain activity and thus cognition to emerge.
Analysis of the Local Health-Enhancing Physical Activity Policies on the French Riviera
Authors: Racine Antoine Noël , Garbarino Jean-Marie , Massiera Bernard , Vuillemin Anne
Published: November 2020

Policy is a lever for initiating the structural and environmental changes that foster health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA) promotion. However, little is known about the evidence in support of local governments regarding their HEPA-promoting policies. This study collected comprehensive information on municipal HEPA policies on the French Riviera to gain an overview of HEPA policy development in this territory. Mid-sized cities from the two counties constituting the French Riviera were targeted (n = 17). In each city, a local tool for HEPA policy analysis, CAPLA-Santé, was used to gain information from key informants heading the departments of sports, health services and social services. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and document analysis. Ten mid-sized cities volunteered to participate. Key informants from the sports (n = 10), health services (n = 5) and social services (n = 6) departments were interviewed. Written HEPA policy documents were formalized in six cities. These documents (n = 14) were mainly from the sports (n = 8) and health services (n = 4) sectors. The key informants reported that support from that national policy, the commitment of elected officials, and large local stakeholder networks facilitated HEPA promotion, whereas the lack of intersectoral collaboration and limited resources were limitations. The results provide insight into the development of municipal HEPA policies, highlighting some of the barriers, facilitators and perspectives. These findings could be valuable to scale up HEPA promotion at the local level.
Understanding the Strategies of Creating Fake News in Social Media
Authors: Vatsalan Dinusha , Tharani Jeyakumar Samantha , Arachchilage Nalin A.G.
Published: November 2020

Social media giants like Facebook are struggling to keep up with fake news, in the light of the fact that disinformation diffuses at lightning speed. For example, the COVID-19 (i.e. Coronavirus) pandemic is testing the citizens' ability to distinguish real news from falsifying facts (i.e. disinformation). Cyber-criminals take advantage of the inability to cope with fake news diffusion on social media platforms. Fake news, crafted as a means to manipulate readers to perform various malicious IT activities. However, no previous study has investigated the strategies used to create fake news on social media. Therefore, we have analysed five data-sets that contain online news articles (i.e. both fake and legitimate news) to investigate strategies of crafting fake news on social media platforms. Our study findings revealed a threat model understanding strategies of crafting fake news which may highly likely diffuse on social media platforms.
Transport of Au(III) from HCl medium across a liquid membrane using R3NH+Cl-/toluene immobilized on a microporous hydrophobic support: optimization and modelling
Authors: Alguacil Francisco J. , Alcaraz Lorena , Rodríguez Largo Olga , López Félix A.
Published: November 2020

By the use of the tertiary amine A327 and 1 M HCl solution as precursors, the ionic liquid A327H+Cl- was generated and used to investigate its performance in the transport of Au(III) form hydrochloric acid medium. The influence of the stirring speed (600-1800 min-1), ionic liquid concentration (1.25-50% v/v) in the membrane phase and gold concentration (0.01-0.15 g/L) in the feed phase on metal transport have been investigated. An equation which included both equilibrium and kinetics parameters was derived, and the membrane diffusional resistance (Δm) and feed phase diffusional resistance (Δf) was estimated as 9.5x106 s/cm and 307 s/cm, respectively. At carrier concentrations in the 5-50% v/v range and gold concentrations in the 0.01-0.15 g/L range, metal transport is controlled by diffusion of metal species through the feed boundary layer, whereas at the lowest carrier concentrations, membrane diffusion is predominant. From the receiving solutions, gold can be recovered as gold nanoparticles.
Effectiveness of Current Treatments for Covid-19
Authors: Rahman Abidur
Published: November 2020

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2) is the virus that caused COVID-19 around the world. The disease starts off as a flu-like symptom and then eventually spreads in the human body.Infections are easily transmitted from human to human which makes it more severe among individuals. SARS-CoV-2 virus is in the same family of viruses SARS and MERS.As of today, there is no approved vaccine that can cure COVID-19. However, potential treatments showing promising improvement results among affected COVID-19 patients. In this review, the effectiveness of the current treatments for COVID-19 has been explored.
Biodiversity of Cyanobacteria in Fresh Water Ponds of Pudukkottai District, Tamilnadu, India
Authors: Dhanalakshmi J. , Jeevan P. , Angel Jemima E.
Published: November 2020

Cyanobacterial species (blue-green algae) constitute the major part of the phytoplanktonic biomass during the summer in freshwater ponds. The aim of the research work was to study the biodiversity of cyanobacteria among 20 different freshwater ponds of the Pudukkottai district of Tamil Nadu, India. The morphological identification of cyanobacterial species was carried out using a trinocular microscope. The results showed that the maximum number of cyanobacterial species belonged to Oscillatoriaceae, Nostocaceae, Microcystaceae, Scenedesmaceae, and Desmidiaceae families. Among 25 different families of Cyanobacteria about 42 distinct species were identified. These results showed that the freshwater ponds of the Pudukkottai district have an abundance of cyanobacteria species.
The Effect of Empirical Log Yield Observations on Carbon Storage Economics
Authors: Kärenlampi Petri P.
Published: November 2020

An empirical model for log yield from trees is established and applied in microeconomics of carbon storage in a boreal spruce estate. The transition from pulpwood to sawlogs is a smoother function of stem diameter in the empirical data, in comparison to literature values. Correspondingly, the value transition of trees along with increasing size is gentler. Due to price premium of sawlogs from clearcuttings, all economically feasible treatment schedules terminate in clearcutting. Best capital return rates are gained with two heavy thinnings from above before clearcutting. Present carbon emission prices allow moderate carbon storage increment if the increment is compensated by proportional carbon rent. Doubling the present carbon prices would allow strong carbon storage increments if compensated by carbon rent. Application of nonproportional carbon rent is proposed.
Giant Intracranial Xanthoma with Blurred Vision as the First Symptom: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Wang Xueting , Li Xuejiao , Liu XuHui , Yin Yizhe , Dang Yalong , Lei Fang
Published: November 2020

A 31-year-old male noticed blurred vision in his right eye for five days with no obvious predisposing causes, accompanied by mild dizziness. No obvious nodular lesions were found in the body. The patient’s binocular visual acuity was 20/20. Fundus photography showed the optic nerve swelling and radial superficial retinal hemorrhage of both eyes. Blood panel, urine routine, liver, and kidney function were all normal. Total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein were all in the normal limits. Head MRI showed a mass in the right temporal lobe, clear boundary, and multiple separations, which thinned and disappeared closer to the skull. The right temporal lobe and lateral ventricle were all compressed, with the midline structure shifted to the left. The patient was then transferred to Neurosurgery. During the operation, we observed the tumor had invaded the skull. The actual size of the tumor was 5.6 cm × 7.5 cm × 10.1 cm. Histology revealed foam cell accumulation in the mucous connective tissue of the right temporal lobe. The immunohistochemistry showed: CD34 (+), CD99 (+), EMA (−), GFAP (−), IDH-1 (−), Ki-67 (+) index about 10%, Oliga-2 (−), PR (−), S-100 (−), Vim (+), β-Catenin (+), CD1a (−), CD68 (+). Three months after the removal of the tumor, the visual acuity of both eyes was 20/20; The visual fields were normal, the optic disc edema and retinal hemorrhages had disappeared. MRI indicated the midline structure was back to normal.
From m6A to Cap-Adjacent m6Am and Their Effects on mRNAs
Authors: Tat Trinh , Kiss Daniel
Published: November 2020

Although RNA modifications were discovered decades ago, the identification of enzymes that write, read, and erase RNA modifications enabled their functional study and spawned the field of epitranscriptomics. Coupling that knowledge to new methods has enabled the precise pinpointing of epitranscriptomic modifications across the transcriptome plus the elucidation of their functional consequences. PCIF1 (Phosphorylated CTD Interacting Factor 1) was shown to add N6, 2’-O-dimethyladenosine (m6Am) marks at the first nucleotide after the 5’ N7-methylguanosine (m7G) cap. In this review, we discuss the epitranscriptomic regulation of mRNA in general, and focus on m7G cap-adjacent m6Am in particular. m6Am positions can now be distinguished from N6-methyladenosine (m6A) using new techniques leveraging PCIF1-knockout cells. Although m6Am modification sites can be detected precisely, conflicting data have been published regarding how cap-adjacent m6Am marks affect their host mRNA. Discrepancies in the data mean that the effects of cap-adjacent m6Am on mRNA stability, decapping, and translation continue to be debated. Finally, while PCIF1 is predominantly nuclear, a subset of results suggest a possible cytoplasmic role as well. Taken together, these contradictory results which employed different methodologies and cell lines means that further experiments are required to determine the ultimate biological function(s) of m7G cap-adjacent m6Am.
Organic Codes: A Unifying Concept to Life?
Authors: Farias Savio , Prosdocimi Francisco , Caponi Gustavo
Published: November 2020

Although increasing knowledge about biological systems has advanced exponentially in recent decades, it is surprising to realize that the very definition of Life keeps presenting theoretical challenges. Even if several lines of reasoning seek to identify the essence of life phenomenon, most of these thoughts contain fundamental problem in their basic conceptual structure. Most concepts fail to identify necessary and sufficient features to define life. Here, we analyzed the main conceptual framework regarding theoretical aspects supporting life concepts, such as (i) the physical, (ii) the cellular and (iii) the molecular approaches. Based on ontological analysis, we propose that Life should not be positioned under the ontological category of Matter. Yet, life should be better understood under the top-level ontology of “Process”. Exercising an epistemological approach, we propose that the essential characteristic pervading each and every living being is the presence of organic codes. Therefore, we explore theories in biosemiotics in order to propose a clear concept of life as a macrocode composed by multiple inter-related coding layers. Therefore, we suggest a clear distinction between the concept of life and living beings, a distinction that is not evident in theoretical terms. From the proposed concept, we suggest that the evolutionary process is a fundamental characteristic for life’s maintenance but not to its definition. The current proposition opens a fertile field of debate in astrobiology, biosemiotics and robotics.
Тестовые задачи на сжатие сферических слоистых систем ударными волнами
Authors: Шестаков Александр Александрович , Shestakov Aleksandr Aleksandrovich
Published: November 2020

В настоящее время численное моделирование является основным, а зачастую и
единственным инструментом для детального описания некоторых физических явлений при исследовании процессов сжатия веществ ударными волнами. Изучение
поведения ударных волн и волн разряжения на простейших модельных тестах помогает при анализе более сложных расчетов на лазерных установках. В работе
предложены тестовые задачи, моделирующие сжатие ударными волнами сферической слоистой системы, состоящей из нескольких веществ. Рассмотрены режимы
сжатия, когда максимальная плотность в центральной области достигается после
прохождения второй или третьей ударных волн.
Турбулентность и модель мультипликативного каскада волатильности
Authors: ​Никулин Эдвард Евгеньевич , Nikulin Edward Evgen'evich , Пехтерев Алексей Александрович , Pekhterev Alexey A.
Published: November 2020

Разработана модель волатильности для нескольких временных горизонтов с учетом
распределения частот колебаний цены. Суть модели заключается в способности
выявления и использования «несущих частот» рыночных цен для получения более
точной оценки текущей волатильности. Наше внимание сосредоточено на определении структуры рынка, учтенной в динамике цены и отражающей наличие рыночных агентов, работающих на разных временных горизонтах. Чтобы оценить предлагаемую модель, мы решили сравнить оценки волатильности, рассчитанные для
индекса S&P 500, с индексом VIX, выбранным в качестве основного объективного
индикатора волатильности рынка. Сравнение исторической волатильности, модели
мультипликативного каскада и предложенной модели показало преимущество последней с точки зрения средней абсолютной процентной ошибки.
O aprendizado à mesa: alguns apontamentos sobre o ensino de história e a história da alimentação no ensino básico
Authors: Antunes Junior Guilherme
Published: November 2020

O objetivo deste artigo é analisar as relações entre ensino de história e alguns conteúdos específicos do ensino básico, mais precisamente o período conhecido como Idade Média. A partir dos temas encontrados nos livros didáticos e nos currículos básicos do 7º ano do ensino fundamental, verifica-se que ainda há predominância de conteúdos referentes ao medievo voltados para a história política. Entretanto, os objetos com os quais os alunos entram em contato são contextualizados em uma perspectiva que ainda considera a política como elemento intrínseco ao Estado, aos grupos dominantes e às organizações institucionalizadas. Com isso, faz-se necessário sugerir projetos que inter-relacionem as práticas políticas aos sujeitos históricos, demonstrando que as relações de poder estão em todos os campos da sociedade. É por meio da história da alimentação, da organização social à mesa e dos discursos de poder que esta proposta de intervenção pretende (re)pensar os conteúdos escolares estabelecidos.
Direitos humanos e conteúdos de História: relações possíveis a partir das perspectivas de professores
Authors: Araújo Fabrícia Vieira de
Published: November 2020

Os direitos humanos representam um tema candente nos dias atuais. Foram colocados em pauta no Brasil, de alguma forma, ainda com a Declaração da ONU de 1948, e se tornaram, posteriormente, objeto de políticas públicas, de debates em torno da sua afirmação ou violação, sendo incorporados e deixando suas marcas inclusive nos documentos normativos curriculares. O presente artigo objetiva discutir as relações possíveis entre os conteúdos do ensino de História e o tema dos direitos humanos, a partir das falas de três professores que atuam em escolas públicas na cidade de Campos dos Goytacazes, no norte fluminense. A discussão apresentada nesse texto faz parte de reflexões concretizadas no bojo de uma pesquisa em andamento no curso de doutorado em História Social, pela Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro.
What do we know about the impact of sexual violence on health and health behaviour of women in Estonia?  
Authors: Lippus Hedda , Laanpere Made , Part Kai , Ringmets Inge , Karro Helle
Published: November 2020

Background: Sexual violence against women is a major public health issue and a breach of human rights. Although various consequences of sexual violence on health have been described in a large number of scientific publications, very little is known about this topic in Estonia. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of sexual violence and associations between exposure to sexual violence and risky health and sexual behaviours among women in Estonia.Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study was carried out in Estonia in 2014. Self-reported data regarding selected indicators of risky health and sexual behaviours were collected from 1670 women, aged 18–44 years, via a self-administered questionnaire. To measure the prevalence of sexual violence, questions from the NorVold Abuse Questionnaire were included. Chi-square and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyse the data.Results: Of the respondents, 22.7% (n=379) reported being exposed to sexual violence during their lifetime, and over half of these women had had these experiences before the age of 18. Statistically significant associations were found between sexual violence and smoking (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.32, 95% CI 1.03–1.70), alcohol consumption (AOR 1.52, 95% CI 1.18–1.95), illicit drug use (AOR 2.21, 95% CI 1.70–2.89), sexual intercourse for money or other material reward (AOR 3.51, 95% CI 1.62–7.61), concurrent sexual relationships (AOR 2.64; 95% CI 1.80–3.86), and being diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections (AOR 1.48, 95% CI 1.09–2.01).Conclusions: In Estonia, sexual violence against women is widespread and is associated with several risky health and sexual behaviours. Efforts should be made, both among the general public and professionals, to raise awareness regarding the prevalence and negative impact of sexual violence. Women who have been exposed to sexual violence are in need of professional medical, legal and psychological help free from prejudice to help them recover from such traumatic events.
Accounting for regional transmission variability and the impact of malaria control interventions in Ghana: A population level mathematical modelling approach
Authors: Awine Timothy , Silal Sheetal P
Published: November 2020

Background This paper investigates the impact of malaria preventive interventions in Ghana and the prospects of achieving programme goals using mathematical models based on regionally diverse climatic zones of the country. Methods Using data from the District Health Information Management System of the Ghana Health Service from 2008 to 2017, and historical intervention coverage levels, ordinary non-linear differential equations models were developed. These models incorporated transitions amongst various disease compartments for the three main ecological zones in Ghana. The Approximate Bayesian Computational sampling approach, with a distance based rejection criteria, was adopted for calibration. A leave-one-out approach was used to validate model parameters and the most sensitive parameters were evaluated using a multivariate regression analysis. The impact of insecticide-treated bed nets and their usage, and indoor residual spraying, as well as their protective efficacy on the incidence of malaria, was simulated at various levels of coverage and protective effectiveness in each ecological zone to investigate the prospects of achieving goals of the Ghana malaria control strategy for 2014-2020. Results Increasing the coverage levels of both long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets and indoor residual spraying activities, without a corresponding increase in their recommended utilization, does not impact highly on averting predicted incidence of malaria. Improving proper usage of long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets could lead to substantial reductions in the predicted incidence of malaria. Similar results were obtained with indoor residual spraying across all ecological zones of Ghana. Conclusions Projected goals set in the national strategic plan for malaria control 2014-2020, as well as World Health Organization targets for malaria pre-elimination by 2030, are only likely to be achieved if a substantial improvement in treated bed net usage is achieved, coupled with targeted deployment of indoor residual spraying with high community acceptability and efficacy.
From Plasmodium vivax outbreak to elimination: lessons learnt from a retrospective analysis of data from Guantang
Authors: Yang Guo-Jing , Liu Ying , Shang Le-Yuan , Zhang Hong-Wei , Zhou Xiao-Nong , Penny Melissa A. , Smith Thomas A.
Published: November 2020

Background Malaria was once a serious public health problem in China, with Plasmodium vivax the major species responsible for more than 90% of local transmission. Following significant integrated malaria control and elimination programmes, malaria burden declined, and since 2017 China has not recorded any indigenous case. To understand the historical malaria transmission patterns and epidemic characteristics in China and insights useful to guide P. vivax malaria control and elimination elsewhere, a retrospective study was carried out. Methods Historical data from a pilot study conducted in Guantang, Luyi in central China from 1971-1995, were digitized. The data included monthly numbers of reported cases, febrile cases, parasite carriage rates, the neonatal infection rate, and entomological data regarding Anopheles sinensis. Results Following 25 years of continuous integrated malaria control activities, malaria incidence in Guantang decreased from 4,333 cases per 10,000 in 1970 before integrated implementation to 0.23 cases per 10,000 in 1991, and no cases in 1992-1995. Some fluctuations in incidence were observed between 1977 and 1981. During the period parasite rates, antibody levels and the neonatal infection rate also decreased. The pattern of seasonality confirmed that P. vivax in Henan Province was primarily of the long incubation type (temperate) during non-transmission period. The findings retrospectively provide a scientific basis for the implementation of mass campaigns of liver stage hypnozoite clearance. Entomological studies indicated that An. sinensis was the only vector, and it preferred bovine to human hosts, predominantly biting and resting outdoors. Mosquito densities declined between 1971 and 1984.Conclusion The integrated malaria control approach in Guantang effectively controlled malaria and achieved elimination. Analysis of the effectiveness of the programme can provide guidance to other regions or countries with similar ecological settings aiming to move from malaria control to elimination. There is a potential challenge in the maintenance of non-transmission status owing to imported cases and the long dormancy of liver stage hypnozoites.
Extreme fluid dynamic simulations reveal environmentally-driven morphological features of Euplectella aspergillum
Authors: Falcucci Giacomo , Amati Giorgio , Fanelli Pierluigi , Krastev Vesselin , Succi Sauro
Published: November 2020

Due to its remarkable structural properties as
well as its tantalising beauty, silica depth sponge Euplectella aspergillum has attracted the interest of scientists all over the world since
its discovery [1, 2].
Its skeletal system, in fact, is composed of amorphous hydrated silica and it is arranged in a
highly regular and hierarchical cylindrical lattice, endowing the whole structure with an
amazing flexibility and resilience to damage, [3-7].
In contrast with the major interest in the mechanical properties of the skeletal structure of these hexatinellida, the
study of the hydrodynamic fields which surround and penetrate the glassy sponge has remained largely unexplored to date, leaving
an open question as to the impact of fluid dynamic patterns on Euplectella's environmental physiology.
A particularly outstanding question in this respect is whether, besides boosting its tribological characteristics, the structural
motifs of Euplectella may also respond to an optimisation design
in terms of minimising the hydrodynamic stress experienced by the structure.
This is precisely the question addressed in the present work.
To this purpose, we resort to extreme fluid dynamic simulations based on the Lattice Boltzmann Method [8], featuring of the order of one hundred billion grid points and
spanning four spatial decades, from the micro-scale details of the skeleton, all the way
up to the full structure of Euplectella.
Such in-silico experiments reproduce the actual living conditions of Euplectella [9-11], and prove that the sponge structural elements, not only reduce the overall hydrodynamic stress experienced
by the skeletal structure, but also support coherent internal recirculation patterns,
arguably feeding the sponge and its host organisms.
The present results open the path towards a new class of numerical investigations at the intersection between fluid mechanics, computational biology and environmental physiology.
Hematopoietic mosaic chromosomal alterations and risk for infection among 767,891 individuals without blood cancer
Authors: Natarajan Pradeep , Zekavat Seyedeh , Lin Shu-Hong , Bick Alexander , Liu Aoxing , Paruchuri Kaavya , Uddin Md Mesbah , Ye Yixuan , Yu Zhaolong , Liu Xiaoxi , Kamatani Yoichiro , Pirruccello James , Pampana Akhil , Loh Po-Ru , Kohli Puja , McCarroll Steven , Neale Benjamin , Engels Eric , Brown Derek , Smoller Jordan , Green Robert , Karlson Elizabeth , Lebo Matthew , Ellinor Patrick , Weiss Scott , Daly Mark , Terao Chikashi , Zhao Hongyu , Ebert Benjamin , Machiela Mitchell , Genovese Giulio
Published: November 2020

Age is the dominant risk factor for infectious diseases, but the mechanisms linking the two are incompletely understood1,2. Age-related mosaic chromosomal alterations (mCAs) detected from blood-derived DNA genotyping, are structural somatic variants associated with aberrant leukocyte cell counts, hematological malignancy, and mortality3-11. Whether mCAs represent independent risk factors for infection is unknown. Here we use genome-wide genotyping of blood DNA to show that mCAs predispose to diverse infectious diseases. We analyzed mCAs from 767,891 individuals without hematological cancer at DNA acquisition across four countries. Expanded mCA (cell fraction >10%) prevalence approached 4% by 60 years of age and was associated with diverse incident infections, including sepsis, pneumonia, and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hospitalization. A genome-wide association study of expanded mCAs identified 63 significant loci. Germline genetic alleles associated with expanded mCAs were enriched at transcriptional regulatory sites for immune cells. Our results link mCAs with impaired immunity and predisposition to infections. Furthermore, these findings may also have important implications for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in prioritizing individual preventive strategies and evaluating immunization responses.
Predictive attenuation of touch and tactile gating
are distinct perceptual phenomena
Authors: Kilteni Konstantina , Ehrsson H. Henrik
Published: November 2020

In recent decades, research on somatosensory perception has led to two important observations. First, self-generated touches that are predicted by voluntary movements become attenuated compared to externally generated touches of the same intensity (attenuation). Second, externally generated touches feel weaker and are more difficult to detect during movement compared to rest (gating). Researchers today often consider gating and attenuation to be the same suppression process; however, this assumption is unwarranted because, despite more than forty years of research, no study has combined them in a single paradigm. We quantified how people perceive self-generated and externally generated touches during movement and rest. We demonstrate that whereas voluntary movement gates the precision of both self-generated and externally generated touch, the amplitude of self-generated touch is selectively attenuated compared to externally generated touch. We further show that attenuation and gating neither interact nor correlate, and we conclude that they represent distinct perceptual phenomena.
High-performance freestanding thermoelectric membrane by intact exfoliation of van der Waals epitaxial bismuth antimony telluride film
Authors: Fu Liangwei , Park Kwansu , Lee Kyu Hyoung , Kim Bongju , Choi Wooseon , Kim Young-Min , Kim Sang-il , Hwang Jae-Yeol , Kim Sung Wng
Published: November 2020

Separation of epitaxial thin films on growth substrate and transferring onto other materials for functional heterostructures have boosted the transformative impact on science and technology. However, this scheme has proved challenging in thin film thermoelectrics, but promised a vast range of applications beyond the limited device configurations of bulk thermoelectrics. Here, we demonstrate that the Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 (BST) epitaxial thin film on sapphire substrate grown by spontaneous van der Waals epitaxy (vdWE) is exfoliated and transferred onto versatile materials, creating the high-quality freestanding thermoelectric membranes. Unprecedented millimeter-size vdWE BST membranes are produced by etching pseudomorphic Te monolayer on the surface of sapphire substrate in dilute HF solution. The intact exfoliation and direct transfer for vdWE BST membranes ensures a high thermoelectric performance, maintaining the high-quality crystallinity and subsequently showing the remarkable zT value (~0.9 at 300 K) in thin film thermoelectrics. These results represent the realization of long pursued but yet to be demonstrated high-performance thin film thermoelectrics, paving the way for design and fabrication of arbitrary shaped thermoelectric devices.