bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mitigating State-Drift in Memristor Crossbar Arrays for Vector Matrix Multiplication
Authors: Amirsoleimani Amirali , Liu Tony , Alibart Fabien , Eccofey Serge , Chang Yao-Feng , Drouin Dominique , Genov Roman
Published: October 2021

In this Chapter, we review the recent progress on resistance drift mitigation techniques for resistive switching memory devices (specifically memristors) and its impact on the accuracy in deep neural network applications. In the first section of the chapter, we investigate the importance of soft errors and their detrimental impact on memristor-based vector–matrix multiplication (VMM) platforms performance specially the memristance state-drift induced by long-term recurring inference operations with sub-threshold stress voltage. Also, we briefly review some currently developed state-drift mitigation methods. In the next section of the chapter, we will discuss an adaptive inference technique with low hardware overhead to mitigate the memristance drift in memristive VMM platform by using optimization techniques to adjust the inference voltage characteristic associated with different network layers. Also, we present simulation results and performance improvements achieved by applying the proposed inference technique by considering non-idealities for various deep network applications on memristor crossbar arrays. This chapter suggests that a simple low overhead inference technique can revive the functionality, enhance the performance of memristor-based VMM arrays and significantly increases their lifetime which can be a very important factor toward making this technology as a main stream player in future in-memory computing platforms.
Approach to Writing from Readers’ Perspectives: Incorporating Self-Evaluation, Peer Feedback, and Self-Reflection into Academic Writing
Authors: Ono Masumi
Published: October 2021

In teaching academic writing, it is important that teachers encourage students to consider the expectations of readers, which vary depending on the genre and context of writing. Peer feedback, a collaborative learning method, provides students with opportunities to read peers’ writing and give and receive feedback. This study investigated the perceptions of first-year university students’ writing and revising academic essays through self-evaluation, peer feedback, and self-reflection. A total of 122 students wrote and evaluated the first drafts of their essays, read their peers’ essays to evaluate good and problematic areas, revised the drafts, and reflected on the peer feedback. The results indicated that self-evaluation enhanced students’ attention to readers’ expectations and that peer feedback was considered useful by the majority of them. While their essay scores and views on peer feedback did not correlate, the high-graded essay group appreciated peers’ comments on the essay organization. In contrast, the medium-graded group valued comments on the content, whereas the low-graded group viewed citation-related comments as useful. The results suggest that clear, specific, and critical feedback comments were received positively. Self-evaluation and peer feedback enhance students’ collaborative learning, analytical skills, and awareness of readers and their own writing.
Immunopathogenesis of Aspergillosis
Authors: Singh Shreya , Kanaujia Rimjhim , M. Rudramurthy Shivaprakash
Published: October 2021

Aspergillus species are ubiquitous saprophytes and opportunistic pathogens causing wide spectrum of diseases in humans depending on the host immune status. Following pathogen entry, various soluble bronchopulmonary factors enhance conidial clearance. However, due to virulence factors and poor host immune response Aspergillus conidia bind and damage the airway epithelium. The host immune cells like neutrophils and macrophages recognise Aspergillus spp. through various pathogen recognition receptors and form reactive oxygen species which mediate conidial killing. Neutrophils also attack extracellular hyphae by oxidative attack, non-oxidative granule proteins and neutrophil extracellular traps. In case of adaptive immunity, Th1 cells are crucial sources of IFN-γ mediated protective immunity. The Th17 also display a highly pro-inflammatory which is counterbalanced by a Treg cell. B cells and antibodies also enhance fungal clearance although excessive IgE production may result in atopy. The immune responses are influenced by changes in production of short-chain fatty acids by the gut microbiome which primes cells toward Th2 responses, and this is synchronized by the Innate lymphoid cells. This review provides comprehensive knowledge of various virulence factors of Aspergillus, antifungal host defences including innate and humoral immune response and regulation of host immunity by microbiome.
On Average Distance of Neighborhood Graphs and Its Applications
Authors: Mwakilama Elias , Ali Patrick , Chidzalo Patrick , Mtonga Kambombo , Eneya Levis
Published: October 2021

Graph invariants such as distance have a wide application in life, in particular when networks represent scenarios in form of either a bipartite or non-bipartite graph. Average distance μ of a graph G is one of the well-studied graph invariants. The graph invariants are often used in studying efficiency and stability of networks. However, the concept of average distance in a neighborhood graph G′ and its application has been less studied. In this chapter, we have studied properties of neighborhood graph and its invariants and deduced propositions and proofs to compare radius and average distance measures between G and G′. Our results show that if G is a connected bipartite graph and G′ its neighborhood, then radG1′≤radG and radG2′≤radG whenever G1′ and G2′ are components of G′. In addition, we showed that radG′≤radG for all r≥1 whenever G is a connected non-bipartite graph and G′ its neighborhood. Further, we also proved that if G is a connected graph and G′ its neighborhood, then and μG1′≤μG and μG2′≤μG whenever G1′ and G2′ are components of G′. In order to make our claims substantial and determine graphs for which the bounds are best possible, we performed some experiments in MATLAB software. Simulation results agree very well with the propositions and proofs. Finally, we have described how our results may be applied in socio-epidemiology and ecology and then concluded with other proposed further research questions.
Elaboration of Whey Protein-Based Films in Food Products: Emphasis on the Addition of Natural Edible Bio-nanocomposites with Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity
Authors: Hossaeini Marashi Sayed Mahdi , Hashemi Mohammad , Berizi Enayat , Raeisi Mojtaba , Noori Seyyed Mohammad Ali
Published: October 2021

: Food spoilage is one of the major elements of food insecurity that has acquired significant attention over recent decades due to global human population growth. Several studies have investigated increasing shelf life of food products using natural and environmentally friendly compounds. Whey protein (WP) can be an important additive material because it is well-known for its high value of nutrition and well characteristics for the formation of edible films. Furthermore, natural bioactive compounds have been incorporated with WP-based films to confer their antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Herein, nanotechnology has been effectively potentiated the antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of WP films. A wide range of bioactive agents has been embedded in the WP films, such as essential oils (EOs), TiO2, nano-clay, and even lactic acid bacteria. The current paper reviews the antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of different types of WP films and their applications in food products. This study also discussed the impact of WP films on shelf life, chemical and microbiological quality indices of meats, processed meats, poultry meat products, and fish.
The first outdoor find of an American snail Zonitoides arboreus (Say, 1816) from the Czech Republic
Authors: Dvořák Libor , Kupka Jiří
Published: October 2021

The first outdoor record of the pulmonate land snail Zonitoides arboreus in the Czech Republic is presented. Our living population has survived the complete destruction of greenhouses and has been living in the open at the locality for several years.The Czech Republic is the fourth European mainland country with outdoor occurrence of this species.
Online Platforms and "Depending Work" After Uber
Authors: Lattová Silvia
Published: October 2021

Digitalization is bringing new challenges, including the way how people used to work. The future of work is uncertain. Technology driven innovations are changing the way, how society react to such development by creating different types of jobs and workplaces. What is important today can be redundant tomorrow. Having said that the labour law and civil law will most probably need to react in certain way. The main aim of this paper is to focus on the specific types of activities – such as virtual work or crowd work as well as on relationships between digital platforms, workers, employers and clients while offering and providing services via online platforms. Further the paper will outline the responsibility of online platforms if considered to be in a position of an employer. Due to the lack of compliance with labour laws related duties the online platforms are gaining the unfair competition advantage comparing with "traditional" employer. When it comes to the virtual workers, they can potentially suffer from inadequate or limited access to the certain kind of protection (when compared to the "traditional" employees).
Considerações Sobre o Tema do Ateísmo em Locke
Authors: dos Santos Antônio Carlos ,   Philosophy Documentation Center
Published: October 2021

John Locke was one of the first modern thinkers to publish a work devoted entirely to the theme of tolerance in the late seventeenth century. In his work, however, Locke presents limits: atheists are not tolerated. Thus, the aim of this article is to think about this tension in the Lockean political thought.
Sobre o Significado de uma Genealogia de si no Livro Aurora de Nietzsche (‘Si’ como o próprio Nietzsche e como Filósofo)
Authors: Viesenteiner Jorge Luiz ,   Philosophy Documentation Center
Published: October 2021

This paper aims to analyze one of Nietzsche’s first successful attempts to genealogically understand himself and himself as a philosopher, in the book Morgenröthe published in 1881, based on the notions of distancing and questioning. The strategy of distancing, understood as differentiation of differentiation, consists of placing the ‘question of why?, what for?’, directed to the ‘confidence in the moral’, to the readers as well as, indirectly, to the whole of Nietzsche’s own questioning. Thus, the critical distancing is, simultaneously, the attempt of a genealogical understanding of himself. This critical procedure is conducted by the argumentative strategy of distancing from the ‘errors of reason’, inasmuch this confrontation plays the role of a magnifier to Nietzsche himself, whose confront in Morgenröthe can be understood through the aphorism 563, entitled “The illusion of the moral order of the world”. A figure of thought to this important genealogy was referred by Nietzsche as Don Juan of knowledge, which performs the function of a magnifier for Nietzsche as well.
How Philosophy of Nature Needs Philosophy of Chemistry
Authors: Llored Jean-Pierre ,   Philosophy Documentation Center
Published: October 2021

This paper aims to highlight how the philosophy of chemistry could be of help for rethinking Nature today. To do so, we will point out: (1) the co-definition of chemical relations (transformations) and chemical relata (bodies) within chemical activities; (2) the constitutive role of the modes of intervention in the definition, always open and provisional, of “active” chemical bodies; and (3) the mutual dependence of the levels of organization in chemistry. We will insist on the way chemists tailor networks of interdependencies within which chemical bodies and properties are context-sensitive and mutually determined by means of particular chemical operations or transformations. To conclude, we will show how the specific action of bodies upon the Earth at different scales of space and time, and how the relational definition of a chemical body, pave the way for a new understanding of Nature.
The Unity of Physis
Authors: Ramalho Croca José Nunes ,   Philosophy Documentation Center
Published: October 2021

A complex global nonlinear physics, eurhythmic physics, promotes not only the epistemic unification of the known branches of physics but also establishes a deep interconnection with complex human sciences.
Echinoderes xiphophorus sp. nov. – the first deep-water representative of Echinoderidae in the Sea of Japan (Kinorhyncha: Cyclorhagida)
Authors: Adrianov Andrey V. , Maiorova Anastassya S.
Published: October 2021

A new species of echinoderid kinorhynchs, Echinoderes xiphophorus sp. nov. collected from oxidized brown silt at the deepest depression in the Sea of Japan, North-West Pacific, is described and illustrated using light and electron microscopy. This new representative of the most speciose kinorhynch genus is characterized by the unique set of spines and tubes and can easily be distinguished from most of its congeners. The second trunk segment bears three pairs of tubes in subdorsal, midlateral and ventrolateral position in both sexes; one pair of tubes on trunk segment 5 in lateroventral position and on trunk segment 8 in sublateral position; aciculate lateroventral spines on trunk segments 6–9; aciculate middorsal spines on trunk segments 4, 6, 8. This species is well recognized by very long tergal extensions of the posteriormost segment, some of the longest within the family Echinoderidae. Males of Echinoderes xiphophorus sp. nov. are well distinguished from all the congeners by extremely long sword-like appendages dorsally to three pairs of penile spines. The species constitutes the first deep-sea representative of the Echinoderidae in the Sea of Japan and the deepest representative of the Kinorhyncha in this sea.
DoMi-BEBÊ: instrumento de observação das expressões musicais de bebês e crianças pequenas em contextos de aprendizagem
Authors: Mariano Fabiana Leite Rabello , Freire Ricardo José Dourado , Freire Sandra Ferraz de Castilho Dourado
Published: October 2021

Apresenta-se nesse artigo o percurso de reelaboração e descrição de um instrumento pedagógico para a observação e acompanhamento das expressões musicais de bebês e crianças pequenas denominado na atual versão: DoMi-bebê (Evidências do domínio musical dos bebês e crianças pequenas). A sua primeira versão foi elaborada para ser utilizada em contextos de aprendizagem musical com base na Teoria da Aprendizagem Musical de Edwin Gordon. A proposta pretende contribuir para o aprimoramento dos professores relativamente à observação e reflexão sobre os aspectos musicais e interacionais presentes nos processos de aprendizagem musical. Considera-se a avaliação como meio de promover a aprendizagem da criança, e para além, como parte de um processo que envolve aspectos como a qualidade dos ambientes, das propostas pedagógicas e da formação dos professores. Os resultados se referem à revisão e ampliação teórica que embasou a primeira versão do instrumento, com vista ao seu aprimoramento. Sobre o desenvolvimento musical dos bebês foram analisadas e categorizadas três obras da Teoria da Aprendizagem Musical (TAM) de Edwin Gordon com o uso do programa de análise de conteúdo Atlas.TI8. Orientam a reestruturação do instrumento aspectos da TAM, assim como os processos da comunicação inicial nos bebês e a discussão sobre avaliação na educação infantil, sobretudo, ao que se refere às metodologias em participação. As abordagens teóricas se mostraram adequadas para a construção de critérios e para a estruturação do instrumento. A próxima etapa do estudo será a realização da pesquisa empírica para a validação dessa versão.
Som, luzes, câmera, audiodescrição: modos de audiodescrever em sala de aula
Authors: Makino Jéssica Mami
Published: October 2021

Este ensaio foi elaborado com o intuito de contribuir à discussão a respeito da importância da interpretação audiodescritiva para a fruição de obra visual, seja ela um vídeo, um espetáculo de dança ou teatro. O trabalho é destinado a docentes que lidam com essas linguagens e dialogam com estudantes cegos ou com baixa visão, mas pode vir a ajudar na reflexão sobre a audiodescrição em outras áreas de atuação profissional. Para que haja efetividade no uso dessa ferramenta de mediação, como deve se dar a realização da audiodescrição, com a expressão de emoções do/a audiodescritor/a? Com uma leitura não pessoal da imagem? Para responder a essas perguntas, são realizadas reflexões a partir de uma experiência com a audiodescrição vivida pelo autor, dialogando com referenciais teóricos (BRAUN, 2008, COSTA, 2012, FRANCO, 2010, POZZOBON, 2010) e normas de realização da audiodescrição (Audio Description Coalition, American Council Of The Blind’s Audio Description Project, ABNT). Conclui-se que a audiodescrição, como modo de tradução, é realizada por sujeitos intérpretes imbuídos de experiências e características que podem ser os diferenciais de valorização de seu trabalho.
Base Nacional Comum Curricular de Educação Física: tensionamentos e demarcações
Authors: Loro Alexandre Paulo , Nunes Meire Aparecida Lóde
Published: October 2021

A Base Nacional Comum Curricular de Educação Física (BNCC-EF) tem provocado a formulação de inúmeras críticas por parte dos profissionais da área. O objetivo central deste ensaio consiste em identificar os discursos que permeiam o campo da Educação Física, os quais pretendem obter legitimidade por meio da sua inserção no mencionado documento. A Análise do Discurso (AD) foucaultiano foi a ferramenta teórico-metodológica utilizada, com a intenção de compreender as formas pelas quais diferentes agentes ligam-se a determinados discursos, na tentativa de produzir efeitos de verdade. A política educacional em curso no Brasil colocou em prática um projeto de poder, com vistas a inculcar e consolidar determinado discurso-prática (habilidades e competências), o que transparece na estruturação do documento. Diante do jogo de forças existentes, avaliamos que a BNCC-EF não gerou apenas uma crise capaz de catalisar a corrente crítica, mas colocou em evidência um campo que ainda permanece em constante disputa.
O discurso da comodificação da Educação na relação universidade acadêmica e universidade corporativa
Authors: Silva Anicleide Pereira da , Freitas Florence Cavalcanti Heber Pedreira de
Published: October 2021

Para contribuir com estudos que visam apreender determinantes das dinâmicas das práticas discursivas e sociais contemporâneas, identificando relações permeadas por ideologias gerencialistas, características dos discursos da educação corporativa (EC), na educação acadêmica; este  ensaio teórico tem o objetivo de contextualizar o fenômeno da comodificação da educação superior, sob a ótica de Norman Fairclough e da teoria social do discurso. Explora construções discursivas em estudos que representam reflexões sobre esse fenômeno na educação superior.  Discute como argumentos e formas de concepção sobre universidades corporativas cruzaram o discurso da educação corporativa com a educação acadêmica e como defensores da primeira começaram a argumentar a possibilidade desses centros de treinamento corporativos representarem um modelo alternativo, com fins lucrativos, baseado no mercado e em parcerias entre as instituições de ensino superior,  empresas e governos. Conclui com indicação da formação de indústria de produção e difusão de práticas discursivas e sociais da EC; o que faz da EC também um negócio com a comercialização de cursos e outros produtos de gestão, incluindo políticas públicas direcionadas a inovação educacional.
Educação em Direitos Humanos e Educação Intercultural: apontamentos e aproximações freireanas
Authors: Uchôa Márcia Maria Rodrigues
Published: October 2021

O artigo tem como objetivo delinear as peculiaridades da Educação em Direitos Humanos e da Educação Intercultural, ao tempo em que busca estabelecer suas convergências através da pedagogia freireana. Trata-se de uma pesquisa de cunho bibliográfico, com aporte teórico em documentos da Organização das Nações Unidas – ONU (1948, 1966a, 1966b, 1993) e da Organização das Nações Unidas para a Educação, Ciência e Cultura – Unesco (2002, 2006), dos teóricos Boaventura de Sousa Santos (2014), Vera Maria Candau (2013), Paulo Freire (1987, 1999, 2011), entre outros. A Educação em Direitos Humanos e a Educação Intercultural constituem-se em um projeto educacional democrático, includente e libertador, que materializado no currículo aponta perspectivas para a equidade social. Espera-se que o trabalho possa contribuir para a ampliação do debate acerca de uma educação cidadã, que reconheça e valorize as diferenças e a diversidade.
Spatio-temporal analysis of the development of the COVID-19 epidemic (pandemic) in Poland: First phase of development
Authors: Parysek Jerzy , Mierzejewska Lidia
Published: October 2021

The purpose of this study is to present a description of the course of the COVID-19 epidemic in Poland in the space-time dimension in the period from March 15th to August 8th 2020. The result of the conducted research is a presentation of the regional differentiation of the course of the epidemic in Poland, the comparison of the intensity of SARS-CoV-2 infections in particular voivodeships, the determination of the degree of similarity in the course of the pandemic development process in individual regions (voivodeships) of the country, and also the indication of the factors which could be taken into account when attempting to explain the interregional differences in the course of the epidemic. The conducted research shows, among other things, that: (1) in terms of time, the development of the epidemic was generally monotonic, however the increase in new infections was rather cyclical, (2) in the spatial dimension, the development of the epidemic was rather random, although the greatest number of infections was characteristic of the most populated regions of the country, (3) the level of infections in Poland was mainly positively influenced by: population density, working in industry, people beyond retirement, age as well as a poorly developed material base of inpatient care.
Temporal variation of spatial autocorrelation of COVID-19 cases identified in Poland during the year from the beginning of the pandemic
Authors: Stach Alfred
Published: October 2021

The spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has a simultaneous temporal and spatial component. This pattern results from a complex combination of factors, including social ones, that lead to significant differences in the evolution of space-time distributions, both between and within countries. The aim of this study was to assess changes in the regularity of the spatial distribution of the number of diagnosed COVID-19 cases in Poland over more than a year of the pandemic. The analysis utilized daily and weekly data for 380 counties (poviats), using the local – Poisson risk semivariogram – measure of spatial autocorrelation. Despite the heterogeneity and errors in the source data, it was possible to identify clear patterns of temporal changes in the spatial distribution of COVID-19 cases, manifested by differences in the nature and extent of their autocorrelation.
Les paratextes d’oeuvres traduites de sciences humaines et sociales : un espace à explorer
:
Regard posé sur les premières traductions en langue française de An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations d’Adam Smith
Authors: Celotti Nadine
Published: October 2021

Existe-t-il une spécificité des paratextes des oeuvres traduites de sciences humaines et sociales? Ce questionnement, qui s’insère dans les études qui ont, récemment, reconnu la spécificité de la traduction des oeuvres des sciences humaines et sociales, représente la toile de fond de cet article. Ici, ce sont les paratextes d’An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations d’Adam Smith traduit en langue française qui feront l’objet de réflexion. L’ouvrage de Smith, qui a représenté un tournant dans la pensée de l’économie en ayant marqué la naissance de l’économie politique, a provoqué en France une véritable « effervescence traductive » dès sa parution en 1776 et jusqu’en 1802, période historique de transformations radicales pour la France. Il en ressort une vaste activité paratextuelle qui révèle, d’une part, de vives polémiques entre les traducteurs et, d’autre part, leur engagement pour la diffusion, voire la transformation des idées smithiennes pour le bon gouvernement de la société.
Écrire en images1. Le regard de Pierre Bost sur le cinéma de l’entre-deux-guerres
Authors: Ouellet François
Published: October 2021

Écrivain de premier plan et journaliste fécond de l’entre-deux-guerres, Pierre Bost a notamment tenu les chroniques cinématographiques des Annales politiques et littéraires à partir de 1930 (jusqu’à la guerre) et de l’hebdomadaire Vendredi depuis le premier jusqu’à son dernier numéro (novembre 1935 à décembre 1938). Bost a immédiatement été un spectateur et un critique sensible à l’émancipation du médium filmique et à ses qualités intrinsèques. Il s’agit ici de montrer quelle est l’approche de Bost du cinéma, sa conception des films, et sa volonté à en rappeler les caractéristiques qui en font un art parfaitement autonome. Au coeur de cette approche, le traitement des images joue un rôle déterminant.
Dans le viseur d’un metteur en scène‑dramaturge : Jacques Copeau et l’image scénique (Vieux‑Colombier, 1919-1924)
Authors: Debard Clara
Published: October 2021

Directeur du Vieux-Colombier à Paris, Jacques Copeau y a mis en scène dix-sept nouvelles pièces françaises entre 1919 et 1924. Selon quels choix visuels ? Archives et manuscrits conservés à la Bibliothèque nationale de France permettent de cerner les créations scéniques du Paquebot Tenacity et de Michel Auclair par Charles Vildrac, de L’oeuvre des athlètes par Georges Duhamel, des Plaisirs du hasard par René Benjamin, de Bastos le hardi par Léon Régis et de L’imbécile par Pierre Bost. Si les références au cinéma – jugé inférieur au théâtre par Copeau – sont totalement absentes de ses décors, accessoires et costumes, il construit un savant réseau d’images fixes, peintures et photographies, à l’intérieur de ses spectacles. Avec La maison natale, pour la première fois, Copeau dramaturge associe texte et mise en scène en se donnant le rôle d’un vieillard à moitié fou, métaphorique du créateur, qui, retranché dans une mansarde, au sein d’une famille qui se déchire, manipule un petit théâtre miniature. Par cette création particulière, il illustre sa conviction que les jeux avec les images et les objets offrent un point commun entre les enfants, les acteurs, les dramaturges et les metteurs en scène, créant, dès lors, des liens de complicité essentiels avec le public.
Myogenin controls via AKAP6 non-centrosomal microtubule-organizing center formation at the nuclear envelope
Authors: Becker Robert , Vergarajauregui Silvia , Billing Florian , Sharkova Maria , Lippolis Eleonora , Mamchaoui Kamel , Ferrazzi Fulvia , Engel Felix B
Published: October 2021

Non-centrosomal microtubule-organizing centers (MTOCs) are pivotal for the function of multiple cell types, but the processes initiating their formation are unknown. Here, we find that the transcription factor myogenin is required in murine myoblasts for the localization of MTOC proteins to the nuclear envelope. Moreover, myogenin is sufficient in fibroblasts for nuclear envelope MTOC (NE-MTOC) formation and centrosome attenuation. Bioinformatics combined with loss- and gain-of-function experiments identified induction of AKAP6 expression as one central mechanism for myogenin-mediated NE-MTOC formation. Promoter studies indicate that myogenin preferentially induces the transcription of muscle- and NE-MTOC-specific isoforms of Akap6 and Syne1, which encodes nesprin-1α, the NE-MTOC anchor protein in muscle cells. Overexpression of AKAP6β and nesprin-1α was sufficient to recruit endogenous MTOC proteins to the nuclear envelope of myoblasts in the absence of myogenin. Taken together, our results illuminate how mammals transcriptionally control the switch from a centrosomal MTOC to an NE-MTOC and identify AKAP6 as a novel NE-MTOC component in muscle cells.
Early life experience sets hard limits on motor learning as evidenced from artificial arm use
Authors: Maimon-Mor Roni O , Schone Hunter R , Henderson Slater David , Faisal A Aldo , Makin Tamar R
Published: October 2021

The study of artificial arms provides a unique opportunity to address long-standing questions on sensorimotor plasticity and development. Learning to use an artificial arm arguably depends on fundamental building blocks of body representation and would therefore be impacted by early life experience. We tested artificial arm motor-control in two adult populations with upper-limb deficiencies: a congenital group—individuals who were born with a partial arm, and an acquired group—who lost their arm following amputation in adulthood. Brain plasticity research teaches us that the earlier we train to acquire new skills (or use a new technology) the better we benefit from this practice as adults. Instead, we found that although the congenital group started using an artificial arm as toddlers, they produced increased error noise and directional errors when reaching to visual targets, relative to the acquired group who performed similarly to controls. However, the earlier an individual with a congenital limb difference was fitted with an artificial arm, the better their motor control was. Since we found no group differences when reaching without visual feedback, we suggest that the ability to perform efficient visual-based corrective movements is highly dependent on either biological or artificial arm experience at a very young age. Subsequently, opportunities for sensorimotor plasticity become more limited.
Parallel functional testing identifies enhancers active in early postnatal mouse brain
Authors: Lambert Jason T , Su-Feher Linda , Cichewicz Karol , Warren Tracy L , Zdilar Iva , Wang Yurong , Lim Kenneth J , Haigh Jessica L , Morse Sarah J , Canales Cesar P , Stradleigh Tyler W , Castillo Palacios Erika , Haghani Viktoria , Moss Spencer D , Parolini Hannah , Quintero Diana , Shrestha Diwash , Vogt Daniel , Byrne Leah C , Nord Alex S
Published: October 2021

Enhancers are cis-regulatory elements that play critical regulatory roles in modulating developmental transcription programs and driving cell-type-specific and context-dependent gene expression in the brain. The development of massively parallel reporter assays (MPRAs) has enabled high-throughput functional screening of candidate DNA sequences for enhancer activity. Tissue-specific screening of in vivo enhancer function at scale has the potential to greatly expand our understanding of the role of non-coding sequences in development, evolution, and disease. Here, we adapted a self-transcribing regulatory element MPRA strategy for delivery to early postnatal mouse brain via recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV). We identified and validated putative enhancers capable of driving reporter gene expression in mouse forebrain, including regulatory elements within an intronic CACNA1C linkage disequilibrium block associated with risk in neuropsychiatric disorder genetic studies. Paired screening and single enhancer in vivo functional testing, as we show here, represents a powerful approach towards characterizing regulatory activity of enhancers and understanding how enhancer sequences organize gene expression in the brain.
Single-cell growth inference of Corynebacterium glutamicum reveals asymptotically linear growth
Authors: Messelink Joris JB , Meyer Fabian , Bramkamp Marc , Broedersz Chase P
Published: October 2021

Regulation of growth and cell size is crucial for the optimization of bacterial cellular function. So far, single bacterial cells have been found to grow predominantly exponentially, which implies the need for tight regulation to maintain cell size homeostasis. Here, we characterize the growth behavior of the apically growing bacterium Corynebacterium glutamicum using a novel broadly applicable inference method for single-cell growth dynamics. Using this approach, we find that C. glutamicum exhibits asymptotically linear single-cell growth. To explain this growth mode, we model elongation as being rate-limited by the apical growth mechanism. Our model accurately reproduces the inferred cell growth dynamics and is validated with elongation measurements on a transglycosylase deficient ΔrodA mutant. Finally, with simulations we show that the distribution of cell lengths is narrower for linear than exponential growth, suggesting that this asymptotically linear growth mode can act as a substitute for tight division length and division symmetry regulation.
The role of automated evaluation techniques in online professional translator training
Authors: Munkova Dasa , Munk Michal , Benko Ľubomír , Hajek Petr
Published: October 2021

The rapid technologisation of translation has influenced the translation industry’s direction towards machine translation, post-editing, subtitling services and video content translation. Besides, the pandemic situation associated with COVID-19 has rapidly increased the transfer of business and education to the virtual world. This situation has motivated us not only to look for new approaches to online translator training, which requires a different method than learning foreign languages but in particular to look for new approaches to assess translator performance within online educational environments. Translation quality assessment is a key task, as the concept of quality is closely linked to the concept of optimization. Automatic metrics are very good indicators of quality, but they do not provide sufficient and detailed linguistic information about translations or post-edited machine translations. However, using their residuals, we can identify the segments with the largest distances between the post-edited machine translations and machine translations, which allow us to focus on a more detailed textual analysis of suspicious segments. We introduce a unique online teaching and learning system, which is specifically “tailored” for online translators’ training and subsequently we focus on a new approach to assess translators’ competences using evaluation techniques—the metrics of automatic evaluation and their residuals. We show that the residuals of the metrics of accuracy (BLEU_n) and error rate (PER, WER, TER, CDER, and HTER) for machine translation post-editing are valid for translator assessment. Using the residuals of the metrics of accuracy and error rate, we can identify errors in post-editing (critical, major, and minor) and subsequently utilize them in more detailed linguistic analysis.
Underwater light climate and wavelength dependence of microalgae photosynthetic parameters in a temperate sea
Authors: Michel-Rodriguez Monica , Lefebvre Sebastien , Crouvoisier Muriel , Mériaux Xavier , Lizon Fabrice
Published: October 2021

Studying how natural phytoplankton adjust their photosynthetic properties to the quantity and quality of underwater light (i.e. light climate) is essential to understand primary production. A wavelength-dependent photoacclimation strategy was assessed using a multi-color pulse-amplitude-modulation chlorophyll fluorometer for phytoplankton samples collected in the spring at 19 locations across the English Channel. The functional absorption cross section of photosystem II, photosynthetic electron transport (PETλ) parameters and non-photochemical quenching were analyzed using an original approach with a sequence of three statistical analyses. Linear mixed-effects models using wavelength as a longitudinal variable were first applied to distinguish the fixed effect of the population from the random effect of individuals. Population and individual trends of wavelength-dependent PETλ parameters were consistent with photosynthesis and photoacclimation theories. The natural phytoplankton communities studied were in a photoprotective state for blue wavelengths (440 and 480 nm), but not for other wavelengths (green (540 nm), amber (590 nm) and light red (625 nm)). Population-detrended PETλ values were then used in multivariate analyses (partial triadic analysis and redundancy analysis) to study ecological implications of PETλ dynamics among water masses. Two wavelength ratios based on the microalgae saturation parameter Ek (in relative and absolute units), related to the hydrodynamic regime and underwater light climate, clearly confirmed the physiological state of microalgae. They also illustrate more accurately that natural phytoplankton communities can implement photoacclimation processes that are influenced by in situ light quality during the daylight cycle in temporarily and weakly stratified water. Ecological implications and consequences of PETλ are discussed in the context of turbulent coastal ecosystems.
READING THE NEW TESTAMENT STEREOSCOPICALLY
Authors: Nel Marius Johannes
Published: October 2021

This article investigates how the reading of the Bible in the segregated spheres of church, society and academy has been institutionalised in the way Biblical Studies is taught at most state universities and seminaries in South Africa. It proposes that the way students are trained for ministry should be restructured so that they are encouraged to intentionally use the hermeneutical insights they have obtained in their biblical studies to create stereoscopic readings of the Bible for use in ecclesiological settings. A stereoscopic reading of the Bible directly challenges the clear distinction that is often made between the way in which the Bible is read in the sphere of the church in contrast to that of the academic sphere. Students must not only be taught the theory of source criticism, redaction criticism, tradition criticism, narrative criticism and other approaches to the study the Bible; they must also be taught how to create material with which to help others gain a deeper understanding of the biblical text by reflecting on its inter- and intra-texts, as well as the various pre-texts, final-texts and post-texts that all form part of what the church considers to be scripture.
Technical Writing Difficulties Faced by High School Students in Dzongkha Subject
Authors: Phurpa Sigay
Published: October 2021

This study explores the technical difficulties and the causes of writing difficulties school students face in writing in Dzongkha. Using social constructivism, 16 participants (ten students and six teachers) were involved. In addition to document analysis, the participants were also interviewed to find the problems of writing in Dzongkha. The findings suggest that application of Dzongkha in its written form was one of the most difficult tasks among the four language skills. The writing difficulties faced by the students were the usage of correct spelling, grammar, vocabulary, word structure, sentence structure, paragraph structure, expression and handwriting. Among these, spelling was one of the most difficult parts while writing in Dzongkha. The causes of writing difficulties in Dzongkha were the poor foundation of Dzongkha writing and reading skills, low prestige of Dzongkha language/subject, time constraint, pronunciation related problems, limited resource/facility and professional support for the Dzongkha teachers, less career scope for Dzongkha background students and poor reading habit. It was also due to lack of additional Dzongkha medium based subject, inadequate modern ways of teaching learning strategies, and also because of minimal parents’ support, less personal interest and perseverance to learn and write in Dzongkha. The solutions to the writing problems were to give adequate time for Dzongkha subject, maintain reading and writing portfolios to enhance genres writing, teaching the clear meaning and concept of different words and terminologies having same pronunciation, and adequate teacher written response needs to be emphasized and implemented. Based on the findings of the study, recommendations to different stakeholders are also provided.
Numerical Study of Transparent Conductive Oxide (TCO) Layer on the Performance of Methyl-Ammonium Tin Iodide (CH3NH3SnI3) Perovskite Solar Cells Using SCAPS
Authors: Sani Faruk , Abdullahi S.
Published: October 2021

Substrates used in perovskite solar cells as front contact are usually transparent conductive oxide (TCO) to allow light to pass through the device. The dominating TCO employed in perovskite solar cells are indium-doped tin oxide (ITO) and fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO). However, it is imperative to investigate alternative TCOs due to the scarcity of indium metal, relatively low electrical conductivity and high leakage current in ITO and FTO. In this study, simulation has been carried out using Solar Capacitance Simulator (SCAPS) to investigate the efficiency of methyl-ammonium tin iodide (CH3NH3SnI3) based solar cells including various TCOs such as boron-doped zinc oxide (BZO), molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) and zinc oxide (ZnO). TCO parameters such as thickness, donor concentration and operating temperature were varied to study their influence on device performance. The best device performance was achieved using MoO3 with power conversion efficiency of 25.83 % and Jsc, Voc and FF of 32.44 mA/cm2, 0.979 V and 81.38 % respectively. The work shows the potential of fabricating an improved CH3NH3SnI3 perovskite solar cell with MoO3 as front contact.
Evaluation of Serum Presepsin in the Diagnosis and the Prognosis of Cirrhotic Patients with Ascites
Authors: Zian Aziza Mohamed Hamed , Elkhateeb Mervat Abd El-Hameed , Ahmed Amira Youssef , Allam AL Zahraa Abd El-Azeam
Published: October 2021

Background: Liver cirrhosis is a serious problem associated with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and renal dysfunction. Presepsin is a soluble Cluster of Differentiation 14 (CD14) Protein subtype that has been implicated as an important biomarker in many diseases.

Objective: To assess the clinical value of presepsin as a diagnostic and prognostic marker for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in cirrhotic patients. 

Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 60 cirrhotic patients with ascites. The data were collected from Internal Medicine Hospital Inward and ICUs of Internal Medicine.

Results: Serum presepesin had a significant negative correlation with serum albumin (rs = -0.350, p = 0.006) and a significant positive correlation with platelet count (rs =0.547, p < 0.001). In the Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) group, presepesin correlated significantly positively with total leukocytic count (rs =0.547, p < 0.001). The level of serum presepsin significantly increased with the group suffering from Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) than the ascites group after adjusting for age, C-reactive Protein (CRP) level, and total leukocytic count. Similarly, the level of serum presepsin significantly increased with the SBP group than the ascites group after adjusting for age, CRP level, and total leukocytic count.

Conclusion: presepsin is a promising biomarker in the diagnosis of bacterial infections and hepatorenal syndrome in cirrhosis. However, the diagnostic and prognostic value of presepsin needs further studies.
Myths and Perception of Management Students and Faculty towards Covaxin and Covishield Vaccines, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh
Authors: Babu B. Kishore , Reddy A. Yashwanth
Published: October 2021

Introduction: With the vaccination drive underway, it is important to dispel any myths about vaccines circulating in India. Lack of proper understanding and lack of exposure to the science behind the functioning of a vaccine people have different perceptions towards two vaccines i.e., Covishield and Covaxin, which are available in India. It is the need of the hour to dispel the myths and misconceptions around both vaccines.

Materials and Methods:  A study has been undertaken to know the perceptions of management students and faculty towards Covaxin and Covishield vaccines, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. A structured questionnaire is prepared and forwarded to around 2000 respondents of different Management colleges located in Vijayawada. A convenient sampling technique was adopted and got 412 responses and analyzed with SPSS software.

Results: Out of 412 respondents, majority 55.3%(228) respondents are believing that side effects are less with  Covaxin, followed by 27.9%(115) respondents believes that no many differences between both brands, followed by 16.7%(69) respondents are thinking that side effects are less with Covishield in the study area.

Conclusions: It has been concluded that the Majority of the respondents in the study area are well versed with the dose, mode of vaccines. Inefficacy and effectiveness, side effects of vaccines, respondents are different opinions. The government has to promote the two vaccines and take steps to curtail the myths about these two vaccines through advertisements in electronic media, print media
A Observational Study on Hypopigmented \ Depigmented Macules in Geriatric Population Attending Dermatology OPD in a Tertiary Care Centre
Authors: Sharma B. Shea , Thomas Jayakar
Published: October 2021

This article lays out the common hypopigmented \depigmented lesions in geriatric population encountered in dermatology OPD in a tertiary care centre in India. Hypopigmented/depigmented lesions is commonly encountered in a dermatology OPD on a day to day basis. This study is an observational study carried out on 100 patients in dermatology OPD in a tertiary care centre who satisfied the inclusion criteria of age more than 60 years with hypopigmented or depigmented lesions. Hypopigmented/depigmented lesions have a great impact on patients aesthetic  appearance leading to psychosocial impairment. A further research with larger sample size and longer study duration can help us understand hypomelanosis in geriatric population better.
Prevalence and Pathophysiology of Pediatric Urolithiasis - A Review
Authors: Fadl Ahmed Abdelsamie , Pasha Zakiah Esmail , Abanumay Abdulaziz Adel , Baz Albatool Mohammad , Hariri Lena Mohammed Noor , Hussain A. Alghamdi, Abdullah , Alshami M. Alruwaili, Saleh , Mukhlef H. Alanazi, Yousef , Nahedh Z. Albaqami, Khalaf , Ezzat Mohammed Adel , Alabdulqader Dana Khalid , Mohsen Waad Mohammed
Published: October 2021

Urolithiasis is a condition in which hard deposits made of salts and minerals are accumulated inside the kidneys. A lot of studies demonstrated adult urolithiasis but studies on pediatric urolithiasis is still scarce. Studies had shown that pediatric urolithiasis prevalence is progressively increasing worldwide. The main cause for this increase is not totally clear but has been associated to changes in climate, nutritional habits and other environmental factors.  Pediatric urolithiasis is distinctive and different from adult urolithiasis concerning prevalence, etiology and clinical presentation. Over the time while the condition was evolving, the main cause has changed from predominantly infectious to metabolic in nature. Pediatric urolithiasis should not be underestimated as it is associated with morbidity mainly since it possesses a striking feature which is ability to recur. Metabolic risk factors are more communal in pediatric urolithiasis than in adults. The common type of calculi in children is comprised of either calcium oxalate or calcium phosphate mainly and is often associated with a metabolic abnormality. Informed as metabolic abnormalities, Idiopathic hypercalciuria and hypocitraturia are the most frequently reported. A good understanding of the causes and risk factors of pediatric urolithiasis will provide better strategies and techniques for calculi treatment and prevention in children.