bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quantile Regression for Survival Data
Authors: Peng Limin
Published: March 2021

Quantile regression offers a useful alternative strategy for analyzing survival data. Compared with traditional survival analysis methods, quantile regression allows for comprehensive and flexible evaluations of covariate effects on a survival outcome of interest while providing simple physical interpretations on the time scale. Moreover, many quantile regression methods enjoy easy and stable computation. These appealing features make quantile regression a valuable practical tool for delivering in-depth analyses of survival data. This article provides a review of a comprehensive set of statistical methods for performing quantile regression with different types of survival data. The review covers various survival scenarios, including randomly censored data, data subject to left truncation or censoring, competing risks and semicompeting risks data, and recurrent events data. Two real-world examples are presented to illustrate the utility of quantile regression for practical survival data analyses.
Mutual Positioning Method in Unknown Indoor Environment Based on Visual Image Semantics
Authors: Ma Lin , Dong He , Wang Bin
Published: March 2021

In our society, realizing intelligent positioning in indoor environments is important to build a smart city. Currently, mutual positioning requirements in the unknown indoor environment are growing fast. However, in such environment, we can obtain neither outdoor radio signal nor the indoor images in advance for online positioning. Therefore, how to achieve mutual positioning becomes an interesting problem. In this paper, we propose a vision‐based mutual positioning method in an unknown indoor environment. First, two users take images of the unknown indoor environment, use semantic segmentation network to identify the semantic targets contained in the images, and upload the generated semantic sequence to the user shared database in real time. Then, every time two users reupload a semantic sequence due to a change of location, it is necessary to retrieve whether another user has uploaded the same semantic sequence in the shared database. If the retrieval is successful, it means that two users have seen the same scene. Finally, two users select a target from the two user images taken based on the same scene to establish a three‐dimensional coordinate system, respectively, calculate their own position coordinates in this coordinate system, and realize mutual positioning through position coordinate sharing. Experiment results show that our proposed method can successfully realize mutual positioning between two users in an unknown indoor environment, while ensuring high positioning accuracy.
Trust in Intrusion Detection Systems: An Investigation of Performance Analysis for Machine Learning and Deep Learning Models
Authors: Mahbooba Basim , Sahal Radhya , Alosaimi Wael , Serrano Martin
Published: March 2021

To design and develop AI‐based cybersecurity systems (e.g., intrusion detection system (IDS)), users can justifiably trust, one needs to evaluate the impact of trust using machine learning and deep learning technologies. To guide the design and implementation of trusted AI‐based systems in IDS, this paper provides a comparison among machine learning and deep learning models to investigate the trust impact based on the accuracy of the trusted AI‐based systems regarding the malicious data in IDs. The four machine learning techniques are decision tree (DT), K nearest neighbour (KNN), random forest (RF), and naïve Bayes (NB). The four deep learning techniques are LSTM (one and two layers) and GRU (one and two layers). Two datasets are used to classify the IDS attack type, including wireless sensor network detection system (WSN‐DS) and KDD Cup network intrusion dataset. A detailed comparison of the eight techniques’ performance using all features and selected features is made by measuring the accuracy, precision, recall, and F1‐score. Considering the findings related to the data, methodology, and expert accountability, interpretability for AI‐based solutions also becomes demanded to enhance trust in the IDS.
Genomic Characterization of Radiation-Induced Intracranial Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma
Authors: Hong Christopher S. , Partovi Edwin , Clune James , Huttner Anita , Park Henry S. , Omay Sacit Bulent
Published: March 2021

Intracranial undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma remains a rare pathology within the sarcoma literature that may arise primarily or secondary after radiation therapy. Despite first-line treatment with maximal surgical resection, followed by nonstandardized adjuvant chemotherapy/radiation regimens, clinical prognosis remains exceedingly poor. Furthermore, there is a lack of genetic or molecular characterization to guide potential for targeted therapies. We present genomic analysis of a radiation-induced intracranial undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma in an 83-year-old woman with notable KIT and PDGFRA alterations. Further similar genomic studies of intracranial pleomorphic sarcoma are needed to develop better therapies for this rare but challenging disease entity.
Prevalence and Etiological Factors of Dental Trauma among 12- and 15-Year-Old Schoolchildren of Lebanon: A National Study
Authors: Abdel Malak Chirine , Chakar Carole , Romanos Alain , Rachidi Samar
Published: March 2021

Background. Traumatic dental injuries represent nearly 5% of children and adolescents’ injuries leading to serious medical and psychological issues. This current study aims to evaluate the prevalence of dental trauma and its potential association with different predisposing factors among 12-and 15-year-old schoolchildren in Lebanon. Materials and Methods. 7902 schoolchildren, 3806 male and 4096 female aged 12 years (n = 3985) and 15 years (n = 3917), were recruited by a stratified multistaged randomized cluster sampling method from public and private schools and were clinically examined in a national cross-sectional study. WHO criteria were used to assess anterior permanent teeth; the nature of trauma, the tooth involved, the size of the incisal overjet, and the type of the lip coverage were furthermore assessed. Data regarding age, sex, and causes of TDI were recorded through a structured questionnaire. Results. The prevalence of dental trauma to anterior teeth was 10.9%. Maxillary central incisors (83.7%) were commonly affected. The most common type of injury was enamel fracture (68.3%), falls being the main reason (52.5%). Increased overjet (OR = 2.32,

p

 = 0.034), deficient lip coverage (OR = 5.73,

p

 = 0.019), and gender (OR = 5.36,

p

 ≤ 0.001) were significant predisposing factors for dental trauma. Conclusion. This research highlighted many predisposing factors for dental trauma that affect commonly the anterior teeth. Based on these results, the implementation of strategic preventive measurements targeting especially the identified risk groups remains crucial.
Link Trustworthiness Evaluation over Multiple Heterogeneous Information Networks
Authors: Wang Meng , Qin Xu , Jiang Wei , Li Chunshu , Qi Guilin
Published: March 2021

Link trustworthiness evaluation is a crucial task for information networks to evaluate the probability of a link being true in a heterogeneous information network (HIN). This task can significantly influence the effectiveness of downstream analysis. However, the performance of existing evaluation methods is limited, as they can only utilize incomplete or one‐sided information from a single HIN. To address this problem, we propose a novel multi‐HIN link trustworthiness evaluation model that leverages information across multiple related HINs to accomplish link trustworthiness evaluation tasks inherently and efficiently. We present an effective method to evaluate and select informative pairs across HINs and an integrated training procedure to balance inner‐HIN and inter‐HIN trustworthiness. Experiments on a real‐world dataset demonstrate that our proposed model outperforms baseline methods and achieves the best accuracy and F1‐score in downstream tasks of HINs.
ETCC: Encrypted Two-Label Classification Using CNN
Authors: Li Yan , Lu Yifei
Published: March 2021

Due to the increasing variety of encryption protocols and services in the network, the characteristics of the application are very different under different protocols. However, there are very few existing studies on encrypted application classification considering the type of encryption protocols. In order to achieve the refined classification of encrypted applications, this paper proposes an Encrypted Two-Label Classification using CNN (ETCC) method, which can identify both the protocols and the applications. ETCC is a two-stage two-label classification method. The first stage classifies the protocol used for encrypted traffic. The second stage uses the corresponding classifier to classify applications according to the protocol used by the traffic. Experimental results show that the ETCC achieves 97.65% accuracy on a public dataset (CICDarknet2020).
Association of Early and Late Contrast-Associated Acute Kidney Injury and Long-Term Mortality in Patients Undergoing Coronary Angiography
Authors: Lun Zhubin , Liu Jin , Liu Liwei , Liang Jingjing , Chen Guanzhong , Chen Shiqun , Wang Bo , Li Qiang , Huang Haozhang , Huang Zhidong , Xu Danyuan , Hu Yunzhao , Tan Ning , Chen Jiyan , Liu Yong , Ye Jianfeng
Published: March 2021

Background. Contrast-associated acute kidney injury (CA-AKI) is a common complication in patients undergoing coronary angiography (CAG). However, few studies demonstrate the association between the prognosis and developed CA-AKI in the different periods after the operation. Methods. We retrospectively enrolled 3206 patients with preoperative serum creatinine (Scr) and at least twice SCr measurement after CAG. CA-AKI was defined as an increase ≥50% or ≥0.3 mg/dL from baseline in the 72 hours after the procedure. Early CA-AKI was defined as having the first increase in SCr within the early phase (<24 hours), and late CA-AKI was defined as an increase in SCr that occurred for the first time in the late phase (24–72 hours). The first endpoint of this study was long-term all-cause mortality. Kaplan–Meier analysis was used to count the cumulative mortality, and the log-rank test was used to assess differences between curves. Univariate and multivariate cox regression analyses were performed to assess whether patients who developed different type CA-AKI were at increased risk of long-term mortality. Results. The number of deaths in the 3 groups was 407 for normal (12.7%), 106 for early CA-AKI (32.7%) and 57 for late CA-AKI (17.7%), during a median follow-up period of 3.95 years. After adjusting for important clinical variables, early CA-AKI (HR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.02–1.74,

P
=
0.038

) was significantly associated with mortality, while late CA-AKI (HR = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.65–1.31,

P
=
0.633

) was not. The same results were found in patients with coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, and percutaneous coronary intervention. Conclusions. Early increases in Scr, i.e., early CA-AKI, have better predictive value for long-term mortality. Therefore, in clinical practice, physicians should pay more attention to patients with early renal injury related to long-term prognosis and give active treatment.
Multiplex Network Embedding Model with High‐Order Node Dependence
Authors: Ning Nianwen , Li Qiuyue , Zhao Kai , Wu Bin
Published: March 2021

Multiplex networks have been widely used in information diffusion, social networks, transport, and biology multiomics. They contain multiple types of relations between nodes, in which each type of the relation is intuitively modeled as one layer. In the real world, the formation of a type of relations may only depend on some attribute elements of nodes. Most existing multiplex network embedding methods only focus on intralayer and interlayer structural information while neglecting this dependence between node attributes and the topology of each layer. Attributes that are irrelevant to the network structure could affect the embedding quality of multiplex networks. To address this problem, we propose a novel multiplex network embedding model with high‐order node dependence, called HMNE. HMNE simultaneously considers three properties: (1) intralayer high‐order proximity of nodes, (2) interlayer dependence in respect of nodes, and (3) the dependence between node attributes and the topology of each layer. In the intralayer embedding phase, we present a symmetric graph convolution‐deconvolution model to embed high‐order proximity information as the intralayer embedding of nodes in an unsupervised manner. In the interlayer embedding phase, we estimate the local structural complementarity of nodes as an embedding constraint of interlayer dependence. Through these two phases, we can achieve the disentangled representation of node attributes, which can be treated as fined‐grained semantic dependence on the topology of each layer. In the restructure phase of node attributes, we perform a linear fusion of attribute disentangled representations for each node as a reconstruction of original attributes. Extensive experiments have been conducted on six real‐world networks. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed model outperforms the state‐of‐the‐art methods in cross‐domain link prediction and shared community detection tasks.
Assessment of Near-Earth Asteroid Deflection Techniques via Spherical Fuzzy Sets
Authors: Fernández-Martínez M. , Sánchez-Lozano J. M.
Published: March 2021

Extensions of fuzzy sets to broader contexts constitute one of the leading areas of research in the context of problems in artificial intelligence. Their aim is to address decision-making problems in the real world whenever obtaining accurate and sufficient data is not a straightforward task. In this way, spherical fuzzy sets were recently introduced as a step beyond to modelize such problems more precisely on the basis of the human nature, thus expanding the space of membership levels, which are defined under imprecise circumstances. The main goal in this study is to apply the spherical fuzzy set version of Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), a well-established multicriteria decision-making approach, in the context of planetary defense. As of the extraction of knowledge from a group of experts in the field of near-Earth asteroids, they rated four deflection technologies of asteroids (kinetic impactor, ion beam deflection, enhanced gravity tractor, and laser ablation) that had been previously assessed by means of the classical theory of fuzzy series. This way, a comparative study was carried out whose most significant results are the kinetic impactor being the most suitable alternative and the spherical fuzzy set version of the TOPSIS approach behaves more sensitively than the TOPSIS procedure for triangular fuzzy sets with regard to the information provided by our group of experts.
On Unique and Nonunique Fixed Points and Fixed Circles in

M

v

b

-Metric Space and Application to Cantilever Beam Problem
Authors: Joshi Meena , Tomar Anita , Nabwey Hossam A. , George Reny
Published: March 2021

We introduce

M

v

b

-metric to generalize and improve

M

v

-metric and unify numerous existing distance notions. Further, we define topological notions like open ball, closed ball, convergence of a sequence, Cauchy sequence, and completeness of the space to discuss topology on

M

v

b

-metric space and to create an environment for the survival of a unique fixed point. Also, we introduce a notion of a fixed circle and a fixed disc to study the geometry of the set of nonunique fixed points of a discontinuous self-map and establish fixed circle and fixed disc theorems. Further, we verify all these results by illustrative examples to demonstrate the authenticity of the postulates. Towards the end, we solve a fourth order differential equation arising in the bending of an elastic beam.
Aflibercept Intervention in Experimental Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion Results in Upregulation of DnaJ Homolog Subfamily C Member 17
Authors: Cehofski Lasse Jørgensen , Kruse Anders , Alsing Alexander Nørgård , Sejergaard Benn Falch , Nielsen Jonas Ellegaard , Pedersen Shona , Muttuvelu Danson Vasanthan , Kirkeby Svend , Honoré Bent , Vorum Henrik
Published: March 2021

Aflibercept is an inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) used to treat macular edema following branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). Despite well-documented efficacy, there is limited knowledge about proteome changes following aflibercept intervention in BRVO. Proteome changes may provide insights into mechanisms of action as well as aspects related to safety profile. In seven Danish Landrace pigs, BRVO was induced with a well-established experimental model of argon laser-induced BRVO. BRVO was induced in both eyes. Three days after the induced BRVO, aflibercept was injected intravitreally in the right eyes, while the left eyes received intravitreal isotonic saline water. Retinas were collected 15 days after the induced BRVO and analyzed with label-free quantification liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LFQ LC-MS/MS). Fourteen proteins were changed in expression following aflibercept intervention in the BRVO model. LFQ LC-MS/MS identified an upregulation of DnaJ homolog subfamily C member 17 (DNAJC17) (fold change = 6.19) and a modest downregulation of isoform 2 of the protein encoded by N-myc downstream regulated gene 2 (NDRG2) (fold change = 0.40). NDRG2 was unchanged by Western blotting. In the additional significantly regulated proteins, only discrete changes were observed (fold changes 0.52–1.59). Our study is the first to report an association between aflibercept intervention and the heat shock protein DNAJC17. Our results indicate that the role of heat shock proteins in the treatment of BRVO should be further explored.
The Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, Pathological, and Behavioural Effects of Medicago sativa L. (Alfalfa) Extract on Brain Injury Caused by Nicotine in Male Rats
Authors: Raeeszadeh M. , Mortazavi P. , Atashin-Sadafi R.
Published: March 2021

Nicotine is one of the most important compounds in cigarette which can cause changes in the concentration of neurotransmitters and damage to the nervous system. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the hydroalcoholic extract of Medicago Sativa L. (alfalfa) on controlling nicotine-induced brain damage and anxiety behaviour in rats. Forty-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six equal groups and treated daily as follows: a control group, T1 and T2 groups where animals were subcutaneously injected 250 and 500 mg/kg alfalfa extract, respectively, T3 and T4 groups where animals were injected subcutaneously 0.2 mg/kg nicotine and 250 and 500 mg/kg alfalfa extract, and T5 group in which only nicotine at the dose of 0.2 mg/kg was injected. At the end of the period after weighing, the elevated plus-maze test was taken from the animals. Serum assay was conducted to measure TCA, IL-1, and TNFα, and half of the brain tissue was used to measure oxidative stress parameters (GPx, SOD, TAC, and MDA) and the other parts were used for histopathological studies. Body weight in the T5 group was significantly different from that of the other groups. The time and number of open arms reduced in the T5 group. The duration and number of times in the open arm significantly decreased in the treated groups in a dose-depended manner. Malondialdehyde concentration was the highest in the nicotine group and the lowest in T2. The concentration of GPx and SOD was significantly increased in the presence of alfalfa extract in nicotine groups. TNFα and IL-1 in the T5 group showed a significant increase compared to the other groups. Moreover, the number of neurons and the level of necrotic neurons and gliosis significantly decreased and increased in the nicotine group, respectively, while these histopathological damages improved by treatment with alfalfa extract in T3 and T4 groups. Alfalfa extract can have a significant dose-dependent therapeutic effect on inducing oxidative damage and inflammatory responses of nicotine in the brain and reducing anxiety behaviours.
Comparison of Multispectral Image‐Processing Methods for Brain Tissue Classification in BrainWeb Synthetic Data and Real MR Images
Authors: Chen Hsian-Min , Chen Hung-Chieh , Chen Clayton Chi-Chang , Chang Yung-Chieh , Wu Yi-Ying , Chen Wen-Hsien , Sung Chiu-Chin , Chai Jyh-Wen , Lee San-Kan
Published: March 2021

Accurate quantification of brain tissue is a fundamental and challenging task in neuroimaging. Over the past two decades, statistical parametric mapping (SPM) and FMRIB’s Automated Segmentation Tool (FAST) have been widely used to estimate gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) volumes. However, they cannot reliably estimate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) volumes. To address this problem, we developed the TRIO algorithm (TRIOA), a new magnetic resonance (MR) multispectral classification method. SPM8, SPM12, FAST, and the TRIOA were evaluated using the BrainWeb database and real magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. In this paper, the MR brain images of 140 healthy volunteers (51.5 ± 15.8 y/o) were obtained using a whole‐body 1.5 T MRI system (Aera, Siemens, Erlangen, Germany). Before classification, several preprocessing steps were performed, including skull stripping and motion and inhomogeneity correction. After extensive experimentation, the TRIOA was shown to be more effective than SPM and FAST. For real data, all test methods revealed that the participants aged 20–83 years exhibited an age‐associated decline in GM and WM volume fractions. However, for CSF volume estimation, SPM8‐s and SPM12‐m both produced different results, which were also different compared with those obtained by FAST and the TRIOA. Furthermore, the TRIOA performed consistently better than both SPM and FAST for GM, WM, and CSF volume estimation. Compared with SPM and FAST, the proposed TRIOA showed more advantages by providing more accurate MR brain tissue classification and volume measurements, specifically in CSF volume estimation.
Attitudinal factors among elementary school teacher education students
Authors: Kaltsum Honest Ummi , Hidayat Muhamad Taufik
Published: March 2021

In second or foreign language learning, attitudinal factors were one of the key factors that determine language success and achievement. In Indonesia, foreign language (English) has been taught since elementary school, however research showed most Indonesian language learners in English showed unsatisfactorily result. This research aimed at disclosing the students’ attitudinal factors in learning foreign language by exploring their first experience in learning foreign language. This qualitative study employed exploratory case study design to interview students’ attitudinal factors by exploring the students past experience at first time learning foreign language. These students were from different education unit background when they were in elementary school. This study applied thematic analysis to interpret and analyze the data. The findings showed in case of attitudinal factors were categorized into three components that were cognitive, affective, and behavior. In case of cognitive and affective components, those who had good experiences felt happy in their first experience in foreign language and the vice versa. However, both were having similar learning behavior when they serve as an English teacher, they adopted particular learning behavior that was able to make students enjoy the foreign language learning.
The impact of problem-based learning with argument mapping and online laboratory on scientific argumentation skill
Authors: Jumadi Jumadi , Perdana Riki , Riwayani Riwayani , Rosana Dadan
Published: March 2021

Students in Indonesia still have the low level of scientific argumentation skills. This studypurposed to examine the impact ofProblem-based Learning (PBL) with Argument Mapping and Online Laboratory in improving the scientific argumentation skill. It describes the significance of the differences between participants who learn through PBL, PBL with Online Laboratory (PBL-OL), Problem-based Learning with Argument Mapping and Online Laboratory (PBL-AMOL) model. The population of this study were students from Madrasah Aliyah Negeri (MAN) Yogyakarta, Indonesia with a random sampling technique. This was quasi-experiment with pre and post test designs. In this study, there were 97 students at MAN 1 as respondent. Paired sample t-test, independent sample t-test and ANOVA mixed design was used to analysis data. The PBL-AMOL group has a significant difference based on pre-test and post-test (sig. 0000). The PBL-AMOL was most effective to improve the skill with gain score 0.43 (medium). Learning with the PBL-AMOL model can be an alternative to solve the problems of creative thinking skill.
Pedagogical pattern of running a course on secondary school students’ achievement in waves
Authors: Nkwo Nkwo Inyang , Anugwo Margaret Ndidiamaka , Ugama J. O.
Published: March 2021

This study investigated the comparative effectiveness of pedagogical pattern of running a course and talk-chalk methods on senior secondary school students’ achievement in waves. It is triggered by reports of persistent students’ low achievement in physics contributed largely by students’ poor performance in waves-related items. It adopted the quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group design. Three research questions and hypotheses guided the study. There were 216 students who participated in the study. Physics Achievement Test (PAT) containing 50 multiple-choice researcher-developed items were used as instrument for data collection. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions while ANCOVA was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Results showed that: the pedagogical pattern of running a course method was superior method in fostering students’ achievement in waves; female students achieved higher than male students using pedagogical pattern of running a course strategy to teach waves; and there was no significant interaction effect of teaching methods and gender on students’ achievement in waves. From the findings, it was recommended that the pedagogical pattern of running a course strategy should be used in teaching physics in secondary school education system and in training of teachers.
Influencing factors and knowledge gaps on anemia prevention among female students in Indonesia
Authors: Munira Lafi , Viwattanakulvanid Pramon
Published: March 2021

Adolescents (10-19 years old) are at high risk of developing iron deficiency anemia. Prevalence of anemia in young women in Indonesia was 37.1% which increased to 48.9% in 2018, with the proportion of anemia in the age group of 15-24 years and 25-34 years. The objectives of this study were to understand the influencing factors and gaps of knowledge related anemia prevention among female high school students. A qualitative case study design was conducted (April-May 2020) among nine female students (15-18 years old) from two senior high schools in Banjarmasin, Indonesia. Sampling technique used in this study was purposive sampling. Registered student who has total study period in the school not less than six months and students who refused to participate in this study were excluded. Data collection was used focus group discussion via WhatsApp messenger video call. Data analysis was mixed between content analysis and thematic analysis. Female students admit that they lack the initiative to find out about anemia. With the lack of understanding about anemia, the female students admitted that they did not really know whether preventing anemia was an important thing to do. The anemia education program at schools needs to enhance the female student’s knowledge about iron tablet consumption.
Religiosity, religious coping and psychological distress among Muslim university students in Malaysia
Authors: Abdul Rashid Mohd Hazreen , Hashim Nurul Azreen , Nikmat Azlina Wati , Mohamad Mariam
Published: March 2021

High demands of academic life and social changes caused relatively high prevalence of psychological distress among university students compared to the general population. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of psychological distress among university students and to examine the factors associated with them. This was cross sectional study involving 467 Bachelor degree students from various faculties in Universiti Teknologi MARA. Participants were assessed using the Brief Religious Coping Scale (Brief RCOPE), the Hatta Islamic Religiosity Index 1996 (HIRS96) and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS 21). This study highlighted relatively high prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among the students of UiTM Shah Alam. We also found consistent significant association between negative religious coping with both anxiety and depressive symptoms. Consistent with the earlier studies done among Muslim samples, the positive religious coping is not significantly associated with better psychological outcomes although only small effect was observed towards the depressive symptoms.
Teachers’ perceptions and readiness toward the implementation of virtual learning environment
Authors: A Rashid Ana Haziqah , A Shukor Nurbiha , Tasir Zaidatun , Si Na Kew
Published: March 2021

The current trend of education is towards the implementation of technology in teaching in order to attract the attention of 21st century learners whereby teachers need to adopt technology-enhanced environment such as the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) in their teaching. This study aims to investigate the teachers’ perceptions and tendency to use VLE as a tool for teaching. The teachers’ perceptions were investigated based on the main constructs of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The respondents were 178 teachers in southern state of Malaysia. The data were collected using a questionnaire and it is validated through the use of Rasch model. The finding was found that the teachers were moderately ready to use VLE and they moderately accepted the implementation of the VLE (mean=3.67 and 3.65). Besides that, the teachers felt that the VLE was useful (mean=3.58) and was easy to use (mean=3.34). It was also found that 84.2% of the teachers’ acceptance was influenced by the teachers’ readiness, and the teachers’ perceptions of the usefulness and ease of using the VLE in teaching. Therefore, it can be concluded that Malaysian teachers has intention to use VLE in their teaching. The use of VLE can improve the innovative way of teaching that can increase students’ interest in constructing knowledge through their learning process.
Cloud-based platforms for LoRa internet of things: a survey
Authors: Gassara Mouna , Elleuchi Manel , Abid Mohamed
Published: March 2021

Internet of Things (IoT) establishes a smart communication system between the human being and the surrounding objects (or “things”) while using the internet as the backbone of this system. Cloud is the fundamental constituent of IoT. It offers important application services in numerous application domains. Indeed, many IoT cloud platforms are competing to provide appropriate and very specific IoT services. The LoRa platform in particular presents a long-range, low-bit rate, low-power, wireless telecommunication protocol for IoT. As such, end-devices make use of LoRa through a sole wireless hop in order to communicate to the gateway(s) that is (are) considered as relay messages and transparent bridges between these end-devices and an IoT cloud while connecting to the Internet. This article surveys the most used IoT cloud platforms suitable for the LoRa communication protocol through a deep and detailed study of previously published works related to this topic. Moreover, a comparison is made between these IoT cloud platforms according to their characteristics and application domains. The overall aim of the present paper is to provide researchers in the field with detailed knowledge concerning the IoT cloud platforms appropriate to the LoRa communication system including the advantages and drawbacks of each one of them.
Cardiovascular disease risk factors and anthropometry features among seemingly healthy young adults
Authors: Kalanjati Viskasari P. , Oktariza Rury T. , Suwito Bambang E. , Pradana Krisnawan A. , Rahmawan Dzanuar , Abdurachman Abdurachman
Published: March 2021

We explored association between the levels of total cholesterol (TC) and uric acid (UA) to the middle upper arm circumference (MUAC), waist circumference (WC) and hip circumference (HC) amongst seemingly healthy university students in Kediri, Indonesia aged 17-23 years (n=150); no history of major previous diseases were found (i.e. metabolic syndrome). TC and UA measured from the capillary blood; standardised anthropometry measurements were done by trained medical doctors. Correlation, linear regression, independent t-test or Mann-Whitney analysis were performed with the level of significance of p<0.05. We found higher TC (p=0.053), UA (p<0.001), MUAC (p=0.009), HC (p=0.865) and WC (p=0.001) among males than among females. TC was significantly correlated to the UA with prevalence of hypercholesterolemia of 46.7% and hyperuricemia of 30% of all participants. All anthropometry was significantly correlated to the TC and UA among males (p<0.001); TC and UA were strongly corresponded to all anthropometry parameters among males. Hypercholesterolemia and hyperuricemia could be found amongst the seemingly healthy young adults in Indonesia; among males these are strongly correlated to the higher MUAC, WC and HC. Daily physical activity and proper healthy diet might help to decrease these cardiovascular disease risk factors.
Systematic review of community efforts in early handling post-exposure prophylaxis cases of rabies animal bite transmission
Authors: Marjiana Tanti , Astari Asti Melani , Zuhriyah Lilik
Published: March 2021

Rabies is acute progressive encephalitis, caused by a virus that enters the body after the bite of an infected animal, and migrates to the brain. Management of rabies animal bite transmission (GHPR) with post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is the most important strategy for preventing rabies-related mortality. GHPR victims need the right PEP. Effective post-exposure provision depends on good individual awareness about rabies and access to health services. To find out the efforts made by the community in raising public awareness to get PEP by doing initial handling after GHPR appropriately. This systematic review begins by identifying the literature on scientific articles that have been published in 2014-2019 in international databases namely Proquest, ScienceDirect, Springer and Ebsco. Selection is done by systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) flow diagram and selected using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist format tools. The nine relevant articles were obtained to be analyzed into a systematic review, namely four articles from the Proquest database, two articles from the ScienceDirect database and three articles from the Ebsco database. Community efforts in initial treatment of victims exposed to GHPR are immediately carried out by applying wound washing, providing antiseptics and immediately to health care facilities to get further treatment. The community should understand important information about handling practices in GHPR wound management appropriately. PEP was an immediate action for early relief when victims are exposed to GHPR. PEP was conducted as an effort to prevent the virus from developing into dangerous stages that could result in death
Subjective well-being: Mental health study among student in the Islamic boarding school
Authors: Dewi Lharasati , Tentama Fatwa , Diponegoro Ahmad Muhammad
Published: March 2021

The purpose of this study was to analyze the model of the influence of family social support, gratitude, and self-acceptance on subjective well-being in student in Islamic boarding schools. The population in this study was all student of class VII in boarding school X and boarding school Y in Yogyakarta, with a total of 430 students. The sample in this study was 150 students. The sampling technique used for this study was cluster random sampling. The data were collected by using several instruments in the form of scales. The scales consisted of family social support scale, gratitude scale, self-acceptance scale, and subjective well-being scale. Data analysis was performed by testing the outer model and the inner model. The data were analyzed using structural equation model (SEM) through the Smart Partial Least Square 3.2.8 program. The results of this study suggested that the formation of a model of the influence of family social support, gratitude, and self-acceptance on subjective well-being fits with empirical data obtained. In other words, there was a significant positive correlation between all variables being studied and subjective well-being. The theoretical model formed in this study was considered fit, so it can be used as a valid model reference in investigating adolescents' subjective well-being.
Student satisfaction level among allied health sciences students at King Edward Medical University
Authors: Bashir Afisa , Ahmad Shahzaib , Sarwar Muhammad Zeeshan , Naqi Syed Asghar
Published: March 2021

The purpose of this study was to evaluate student satisfaction with their program, academic environment and administrative services in terms of its effectiveness on their professional attitudes, lives and career. A total of 261 students of allied health sciences program at King Edward Medical University, were examined in terms of personal satisfaction by means of a specifically designed student satisfaction survey. A qualitative analysis approach was used to interpret the data generated by a three‐part survey form circulated to the four proceeding sessions of allied health sciences program and satisfaction of students in 12 major disciplines was evaluated. The data was entered in statistical product and service solutions (SPSS) version 22 using quantitative variables and descriptive statistics including frequency distribution tables and diagrams. The study revealed a student satisfaction of only 22.1% with their program with different levels of recommendation in different sub-disciplines. A total of 20.9% students agreed to the library facilities, 53.9% with computer lab, 35% with administrative support, 29.6% with sports facilities and 49% with teaching methodologies. The present study concludes that most of the students had little satisfaction concerning their field of study. So, it is necessary to make an attempt for continuous development of quality services.
A novel uniquely ovary-expressed insulin-like receptor in the female prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (Decapoda, Palaemonidae)
Authors: Xu Hai-Jing , Li Jian-Wen , Chen Yi-Lai , Yang Jin-Shu , Ma Wen-Ming , Qian Guo-Ying
Published: March 2021

The insulin signalling pathway is one of the most studied pathways, including ovary maturation and female reproduction. However, downstream elements involved in this cascade remain unknown. Here, we identified and characterized an insulin-like receptor (IR) in female Macrobrachium rosenbergii, and named as Mro-IR. The deduced Mro-IR contained conserved domains of IR proteins, including two ligand-binding domains, a furin-like domain, two fibronectin-3 domains, a transmembrane domain and an intracellular tyrosine kinase domain in order. Multiple sequence alignment of the first ligand-binding domain and the tyrosine kinase domain in Mro-IR revealed a high degree of similarity to other representative IRs. Mro-IR was clustered into a separate branch with IRs from decapods by phylogenetic analysis. Additionally, tissue distribution analysis showed that Mro-IR was uniquely expressed in the ovary of M. rosenbergii. This study would possibly provide a new highlight to the molecular mechanism of insulin-like signalling cascade, regulating female sexual differentiation in crustaceans.
The Effect of Platelet-Rich Plasma on Endothelial Progenitor Cell Functionality
Authors: Sidiropoulou Sofia , Papadaki Styliani , Tsouka Aikaterini N. , Koutsaliaris Ioannis K. , Chantzichristos Vasileios G. , Pantazi Despoina , Paschopoulos Minas E. , Hansson Kenny M. , Tselepis Alexandros D.
Published: March 2021

Platelets mediate circulating endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) recruitment and maturation, participating in vascular repair, however the underlying mechanism(s) remain unclear. We investigated the effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on the functionality of CD34+-derived late-outgrowth endothelial cells (OECs) in culture. Confluent OECs were coincubated with PRP under platelet aggregation (with adenosine diphosphate; ADP) and nonaggregation conditions, in the presence/absence of the reversible P2Y12 platelet receptor antagonist ticagrelor. Outgrowth endothelial cell activation was evaluated by determining prostacyclin (PGI2) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) release and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) membrane expression. Similar experiments were performed using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Platelet-rich plasma increased ICAM-1 expression and PGI2 and MCP-1 secretion compared with autologous platelet-poor plasma, whereas ADP-aggregated platelets in PRP did not exhibit any effect. Platelet-rich plasma pretreated with ticagrelor prior to activation with ADP increased all markers to a similar extent as PRP. Similar results were obtained using HUVECs. In conclusion, PRP induces OEC activation, a phenomenon not observed when platelets are aggregated with ADP. Platelet inhibition with ticagrelor restores the PRP capability to activate OECs. Since EPC activation is important for endothelial regeneration and angiogenesis, we suggest that agents inhibiting platelet aggregation, such as ticagrelor, may promote platelet-EPC interaction and EPC function.
Generous to Workers ≠ Generous to All: Implications of European Unemployment Benefit Systems for the Social Protection of Immigrants
Authors: Gschwind Lutz
Published: March 2021

Record-high levels of international migration both toward and across Europe have recently given rise to a new body of research on the social protection of immigrants. A recurring argument in this literature maintains that migrants are generally more likely to gain access to social benefits in generous welfare states. The article offers a critical review of this hypothesis with a focus on unemployment benefit provision. The tides of European welfare politics have produced a set of systems in the past which are today highly stratified on the basis of employment. This mechanism generates a considerable benefit gap in reference to migration, especially for those who arrived to their country of residency only recently. Empirical analyses with micro-level data for 14 Western European countries provide supporting evidence for this argument. The findings indicate a negative relationship between generosity and social protection which has not been accounted for in previous research.
Social Transformation and Violence: Evidence from U.S. Reconstruction
Authors: Stewart Megan A. , Kitchens Karin E.
Published: March 2021

How do political actors create and institutionalize revolutionary social transformation, and what are the consequences of their efforts? In this paper, we provide a framework for understanding the conditions under which revolutionary social transformation unfolds and becomes institutionalized over time. We argue that a direct consequence of social transformation and the institutionalization thereof, however, is violence against the revolution’s beneficiaries which can likewise endure over the long-term. We test our arguments using historical, county-level data on post-U.S. Civil War Reconstruction and we supply both quantitative and qualitative evidence for our mechanisms. We ultimately demonstrate that social transformation and violence are often causally linked, not mutually exclusive outcomes, thereby expanding our understanding of how social orders are created and maintained.
How “Us” and “Them” Relates to Voting Behavior—Social Structure, Social Identities, and Electoral Choice
Authors: Bornschier Simon , Häusermann Silja , Zollinger Delia , Colombo Céline
Published: March 2021

The last decades have seen the emergence of a divide pitting the new left against the far right in advanced democracies. We study how this universalism-particularism divide is crystallizing into a full-blown cleavage, complete with structural, political and identity elements. So far, little research exists on the identities that voters themselves perceive as relevant for drawing in- and out-group boundaries along this divide. Based on an original survey from Switzerland, a paradigmatic case of electoral realignment, we show that voters’ “objective” socio-demographic characteristics relate to distinctive, primarily culturally connoted identities. We then inquire into the degree to which these group identities have been politicized, that is, whether they divide new left and far right voters. Our results strongly suggest that the universalism-particularism “cleavage” not only bundles issues, but shapes how people think about who they are and where they stand in a group conflict that meshes economics and culture.
Two-step synthesis of polyurethane/multi-walled carbon nanotubes polymer composite to achieve high percentage particle reinforcement for mechanical applications
Authors: Kumar Dinesh , Bansal Suneev Anil , Kumar Navin , Jindal Prashant
Published: March 2021

The present work has been aimed to synthesize Polyurethane (PU)/Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) composite using a two-step method to enhance mechanical properties. In the first step, films (0.2 mm thickness) have been synthesized using a solution mixing method to disperse MWCNTs in the PU matrix. In the second step, thin films of uniformly dispersed MWCNTs in the PU matrix have been compression molded to synthesize PU/MWCNTs composite required for real mechanical applications. The two-step method has the advantages of solution mixing as well as compression molding method. The results of quasi-static nanoindentation tests indicated that in comparison to pure PU, elastic modulus and hardness have been enhanced by 124% and 53% respectively for 10 wt% PU/MWCNTs composite. Fracture resistance of PU/MWCNTs composites, with 7 wt% of MWCNTs, has been enhanced by 52% as compared to pure PU. To understand bulk behavior, nanoindentation results have been cross-verified with compression testing. Results of compressive testing shown that the modulus of composite material has been significantly improved under the influence of the increasing composition of MWCNTs. A noticeable improvement of 52% has been observed in compressive modulus of 10 wt% composite in equivalence to pure PU. The overall improvement in mechanical behavior has been attributed to the uniform dispersion of MWCNTs in the PU matrix by the two-step synthesis method.