bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The cost-effectiveness of prostate cancer screening using the Stockholm3 test
Authors: Karlsson Andreas A. , Hao Shuang , Jauhiainen Alexandra , Elfström K. Miriam , Egevad Lars , Nordström Tobias , Heintz Emelie , Clements Mark S.
Published: February 2021

Objectives

The European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer found that prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening reduced prostate cancer mortality, however the costs and harms from screening may outweigh any mortality reduction. Compared with screening using the PSA test alone, using the Stockholm3 Model (S3M) as a reflex test for PSA ≥ 1 ng/mL has the same sensitivity for Gleason score ≥ 7 cancers while the relative positive fractions for Gleason score 6 cancers and no cancer were 0.83 and 0.56, respectively. The cost-effectiveness of the S3M test has not previously been assessed.

Methods

We undertook a cost-effectiveness analysis from a lifetime societal perspective. Using a microsimulation model, we simulated for: (i) no prostate cancer screening; (ii) screening using the PSA test; and (iii) screening using the S3M test as a reflex test for PSA values ≥ 1, 1.5 and 2 ng/mL. Screening strategies included quadrennial re-testing for ages 55–69 years performed by a general practitioner. Discounted costs, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated.

Results

Comparing S3M with a reflex threshold of 2 ng/mL with screening using the PSA test, S3M had increased effectiveness, reduced lifetime biopsies by 30%, and increased societal costs by 0.4%. Relative to the PSA test, the S3M reflex thresholds of 1, 1.5 and 2 ng/mL had ICERs of 170,000, 60,000 and 6,000 EUR/QALY, respectively. The S3M test was more cost-effective at higher biopsy costs.

Conclusions

Prostate cancer screening using the S3M test for men with an initial PSA ≥ 2.0 ng/mL was cost-effective compared with screening using the PSA test alone.
Maternal dietary supplementation with grape seed extract in reproductive hens increases fertility in females but decreases semen quality in males of the F1 generation
Authors: Grandhaye Jérémy , Lecompte François , Chartrin Pascal , Leconte Maryse , Riva Antonella , Barbe Alix , JeanPierre Éric , Caldas-Silveira Erika , Ganier Patrice , Chahnamian Marine , Ramé Christelle , Dupont Joëlle , Froment Pascal
Published: February 2021

Genetic selection in parental broiler breeders has increased their susceptibility to metabolic disorders and reproductive dysfunction. We have recently shown that maternal dietary grape seed extract (GSE) supplementation in hens improves fertility parameters, egg quality, oxidative stress in different tissues and the quality of F1 chicks. Here, we analysed the growth and fertility (both female and male) of the F1 generation animals and the quality of their offspring (F2 generation). Eggs issued from hens supplemented with GSE presented lower ROS production than control hens, suggesting a change in the embryonic environment. However, this did not affect the growth nor the body composition of male and female F1s from hatching to adulthood (37 weeks of age). At 37 weeks of age, the biochemistry analysis of the GSE-F1 muscle has revealed an increase in sensitivity to oxidative stress and a slight change in lipid composition. Both male and female F1-GSE groups presented a delay in puberty with a lower testis volume at 30 weeks of age and lower ovary development at 26 weeks of age. Adult GSE-F1 males did not present histological alterations of seminiferous tubules or semen production, but the semen quality was degraded due to higher oxidative stress and DNA-damaged spermatozoa compared with control F1 animals. In adult GSE-F1 females, despite the delay in puberty, the females laid more eggs of better quality (fewer broken eggs and a higher hatching rate). At hatching, the weight of the chicks from GSE-F1 females was reduced, and this effect was stronger in F2 male chicks (F2) compared with F2 control chicks (F2), because of the lower muscle volume. In conclusion, we can raise the hypothesis that maternal dietary GSE supplementation produces eggs with change in embryonic metabolism, which may affect in adulthood the fertility. The data obtained from the F1-GSE group pointed to a sex-specific modification with higher egg quality in females but semen sensitive to stress in males. Finally, male F2 chicks were leaner than control chicks. Thus, maternal dietary grape seed extract (GSE) supplementation in hens may impact on the fertility of the offspring in a sex-specific manner in subsequent generations.
Reviewing the role of the environment in the talent development of a professional soccer club
Authors: Gesbert Vincent , Crettaz von Roten Fabienne , Hauw Denis
Published: February 2021

This two-part study examined the perceptions of talented Swiss soccer players about their talent development environment. The first study presented the translation and validation of the Talent Development Environment Questionnaire (TDEQ) into French using a recommended methodology for translating and culturally adapting questionnaires. Two hundred and three Swiss athletes (M = 16.99 years old) responded to the 25 items of the TDEQ-5. One item was excluded due to low factor loadings, and the descriptive statistics showed that the re-specified TDEQ-5 instrument had acceptable global model fit according to the thresholds in the literature (χ2 (df = 17) = 484.62, p<0.001, CFI = 0.91, TLI = 0.90, RMSEA = 0.07, SRMR = 0.06). This adaptation is thus valid for assessing the effectiveness of talent development processes. For the second study, a holistic design was used to examine the perceptions of a set of players embedded in a top-level Swiss soccer academy (i.e., 64 elite soccer players from 14 to 18 years old) by using the TDEQ-5. The results showed some relative strengths (i.e., F1-Long-Term Focus for the M15 and M16 age-groups) and weaknesses (i.e., F2-Alignment of Expectations for the M17 and M18 age -groups and F3-Communication for M17). They also highlighted that the talent pathways of these Swiss soccer players could not be summarized by a single type of transition toward a professional team. Rather, there were context-specific requirements, such as the critical period between the M15-M16 and M17-M18 age-groups, suggesting that when the players first entered their TDE they experienced a set of affordances to develop and flourish, which thereafter were perceived as less rich and/or abundant. These results offer a starting point for optimizing talent pathways.
Evaluation of rapeseed varieties using novel integrated fuzzy PIPRECIA – Fuzzy MABAC model
Authors: Nedeljković Miroslav , Puška Adis , Doljanica Suzana , Virijević Jovanović Saša , Brzaković Pavle , Stević Željko , Marinkovic Dragan
Published: February 2021

Decision making is constantly present in agriculture. Choosing the wrong variety carries the risk that the investment in terms of sowing does not pay off at all. Therefore, it is necessary to choose the variety that gives the best results. In order to achieve this, it is necessary to apply multi-criteria decision-making of available varieties, which is, in this paper, done on the example of hybrid varieties of rapeseed that were created by selection at the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops in Novi Sad. By applying fuzzy logic, a novel integrated Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) model is developed and rapeseed varieties were evaluated. For determining four main and 20 subcriteria, fuzzy PIPRECIA (PIvot Pairwise RElative Criteria Importance Assessment) method has been applied based on fuzzy Bonferroni operator, while for ranking alternatives fuzzy MABAC (Multi-Attributive Border Approximation area Comparison) method has been used. The results obtained using the novel integrated fuzzy MCDM model showed that the variety A2 – Zorica has the best results, followed by A1 - NS Ras, while the worst results were seen by the variety A5 - Zlatna. These results were confirmed using other five fuzzy MCDM methods. Sensitivity analysis—changing criteria weights showed the worst results in the variety A6 - Jovana, which took last place in the application of 18 scenarios. The presented model and the results of this research will help farmers to solve this decision problem.
Construction of a reference transcriptome for the analysis of male sterility in sugi (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) focusing on MALE STERILITY 1 (MS1)
Authors: Wei Fu-Jin , Ueno Saneyoshi , Ujino-Ihara Tokuko , Saito Maki , Tsumura Yoshihiko , Higuchi Yuumi , Hirayama Satoko , Iwai Junji , Hakamata Tetsuji , Moriguchi Yoshinari
Published: February 2021

Sugi (Cryptomeria japonicaD. Don) is an important conifer used for afforestation in Japan. As the genome of this species is 11 Gbps, it is too large to assemble within a short timeframe. Transcriptomics is one approach that can address this deficiency. Here we designed a workflow consisting of three stages tode novoassemble transcriptome using Oases and Trinity. The three transcriptomic stage used were independent assembly, automatic and semi-manual integration, and refinement by filtering out potential contamination. We identified a set of 49,795 cDNA and an equal number of translated proteins. According to the benchmark set by BUSCO, 87.01% of cDNAs identified were complete genes, and 78.47% were complete and single-copy genes. Compared to other full-length cDNA resources collected by Sanger and PacBio sequencers, the extent of the coverage in our dataset was the highest, indicating that these data can be safely used for further studies. When two tissue-specific libraries were compared, there were significant expression differences between male strobili and leaf and bark sets. Moreover, subtle expression difference between male-fertile and sterile libraries were detected. Orthologous genes from other model plants and conifer species were identified. We demonstrated that our transcriptome assembly output (CJ3006NRE) can serve as a reference transcriptome for future functional genomics and evolutionary biology studies.
Motor strategy during postural control is not muscle fatigue joint-dependent, but muscle fatigue increases postural asymmetry
Authors: Penedo Tiago , Polastri Paula Favaro , Rodrigues Sérgio Tosi , Santinelli Felipe Balistieri , Costa Elisa de Carvalho , Imaizumi Luis Felipe Itikawa , Barbieri Ricardo Augusto , Barbieri Fabio Augusto
Published: February 2021

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ankle and hip muscle fatigue on motor adjustments (experiment 1) and symmetry (experiment 2) of postural control during a quiet standing task. Twenty-three young adults performed a bipedal postural task on separate force platforms, before and after a bilateral ankle and hip muscle fatigue protocol (randomized). Ankle and hip muscles were fatigued separately using a standing calf raise protocol (ankle fatigue) on a step and flexion and extension of the hip (hip fatigue) sitting on a chair, at a controlled movement frequency (0.5Hz), respectively. In both experiments, force, center of pressure, and electromyography parameters were measured. The symmetry index was used in experiment 2 to analyze the postural asymmetry in the parameters. Our main findings showed that muscle fatigue impaired postural stability, regardless of the fatigued muscle region (i.e., ankle or hip). In addition, young adults used an ankle motor strategy (experiment 1) before and after both the ankle and hip muscle fatigue protocols. Moreover, we found increased asymmetry between the lower limbs (experiment 2) during the quiet standing task after muscle fatigue. Thus, we can conclude that the postural motor strategy is not muscle fatigue joint-dependent and a fatigue task increases postural asymmetry, regardless of the fatigued region (hip or ankle). These findings could be applied in sports training and rehabilitation programs with the objective of reducing the fatigue effects on asymmetry and improving balance.
Conflict processing networks: A directional analysis of stimulus-response compatibilities using MEG
Authors: Rosenberg Jessica , Dong Qunxi , Florin Esther , Sripad Praveen , Boers Frank , Reske Martina , Shah N. Jon , Dammers Jürgen
Published: February 2021

The suppression of distracting information in order to focus on an actual cognitive goal is a key feature of executive functions. The use of brain imaging methods to investigate the underlying neurobiological brain activations that occur during conflict processing have demonstrated a strong involvement of the fronto-parietal attention network (FPAN). Surprisingly, the directional interconnections, their time courses and activations at different frequency bands remain to be elucidated, and thus, this constitutes the focus of this study. The shared information flow between brain areas of the FPAN is provided for frequency bands ranging from the theta to the lower gamma band (4–40 Hz). We employed an adaptation of the Simon task utilizing Magnetoencephalography (MEG). Granger causality was applied to investigate interconnections between the active brain regions, as well as their directionality. Following stimulus onset, the middle frontal precentral cortex and superior parietal cortex were significantly activated during conflict processing in a time window of between 300 to 600ms. Important differences in causality were found across frequency bands between processing of conflicting stimuli in the left as compared to the right visual hemifield. The exchange of information from and to the FPAN was most prominent in the beta band. Moreover, the anterior cingulate cortex and the anterior insula represented key areas for conflict monitoring, either by receiving input from other areas of the FPAN or by generating output themselves. This indicates that the salience network is at least partly involved in processing conflict information. The present study provides detailed insights into the underlying neural mechanisms of the FPAN, especially regarding its temporal characteristics and directional interconnections.
Change detection of auditory tonal patterns defined by absolute versus relative pitch information. A combined behavioural and EEG study
Authors: Coy Nina , Bader Maria , Schröger Erich , Grimm Sabine
Published: February 2021

The human auditory system often relies on relative pitch information to extract and identify auditory objects; such as when the same melody is played in different keys. The current study investigated the mental chronometry underlying the active discrimination of unfamiliar melodic six-tone patterns by measuring behavioural performance and event-related potentials (ERPs). In a roving standard paradigm, such patterns were either repeated identically within a stimulus train, carrying absolute frequency information about the pattern, or shifted in pitch (transposed) between repetitions, so only relative pitch information was available to extract the pattern identity. Results showed that participants were able to use relative pitch to detect when a new melodic pattern occurred. Though in the absence of absolute pitch sensitivity significantly decreased and behavioural reaction time to pattern changes increased. Mismatch-Negativity (MMN), an ERP indicator of auditory deviance detection, was elicited at approximately 206 ms after stimulus onset at frontocentral electrodes, even when only relative pitch was available to inform pattern discrimination. A P3a was elicited in both conditions, comparable in amplitude and latency. Increased latencies but no differences in amplitudes of N2b, and P3b suggest that processing at higher levels is affected when, in the absence of absolute pitch cues, relative pitch has to be extracted to inform pattern discrimination. Interestingly, the response delay of approximately 70 ms on the behavioural level, already fully manifests at the level of N2b. This is in accordance with recent findings on implicit auditory learning processes and suggests that in the absence of absolute pitch cues a slowing of target selection rather than a slowing of the auditory pattern change detection process causes the deterioration in behavioural performance.
Identifying barriers and facilitators in HIV-indicator reporting for different health facility performances: A qualitative case study
Authors: Gesicho Milka B. , Babic Ankica
Published: February 2021

Identifying barriers and facilitators in HIV-indicator reporting contributes to strengthening HIV monitoring and evaluation efforts by acknowledging contributors to success, as well as identifying weaknesses within the system that require improvement. Nonetheless, there is paucity in identifying and comparing barriers and facilitators in HIV-indicator data reporting among facilities that perform well and those that perform poorly at meeting reporting completeness and timeliness requirements. Therefore, this study aims to use a qualitative approach in identifying and comparing the current state of barriers and facilitators in routine reporting of HIV-indicators by facilities performing well, and those performing poorly in meeting facility reporting completeness and timeliness requirements to District Health Information Software2 (DHIS2). A multiple qualitative case study design was employed. The criteria for case selection was based on performance in HIV-indicator facility reporting completeness and timeliness. Areas of interest revolved around reporting procedures, organizational, behavioral, and technical factors. Purposive sampling was used to identify key informants in the study. Data was collected using semi-structured in-depth interviews with 13 participants, and included archival records on facility reporting performance, looking into documentation, and informal direct observation at 13 facilities in Kenya. Findings revealed that facilitators and barriers in reporting emerged from the following factors: interrelationship between workload, teamwork and skilled personnel, role of an EMRs system in reporting, time constraints, availability and access-rights to DHIS2, complexity of reports, staff rotation, availability of trainings and mentorship, motivation, availability of standard operating procedures and resources. There was less variation in barriers and facilitators faced by facilities performing well and those performing poorly. Continuous evaluations have been advocated within health information systems literature. Therefore, continuous qualitative assessments are also necessary in order to determine improvements and recurring of similar issues. These assessments have also complemented other quantitative analyses related to this study.
“Everything in this world has been given to us from cows”, a qualitative study on farmers’ perceptions of keeping dairy cattle in Senegal and implications for disease control and healthcare delivery
Authors: Craighead Laura , Cardwell Jacqueline M. , Prakashbabu Bhagyalakshmi Chengat , Ba Elhadji , Musallam Imadidden , Alambédji Rianatou Bada , Ayih-Akakpo Justin , Guitian Javier , Häsler Barbara
Published: February 2021

The dairy industry in Senegal is growing and evolving against a backdrop of rapid urbanisation and increasing consumer demand for dairy products. Consideration of appropriate cattle healthcare delivery and disease control in these evolving farming systems is of paramount importance given the risks posed by zoonotic pathogens and the economic consequences of disease for livestock keepers. Planning and implementation of disease control and healthcare delivery generally follows a top down approach. Often this does not take into account the views and perceptions of the farmers it impacts and who must behave in the expected way for successful outcomes to materialise. In this study, we asked 76 farmers to discuss their experience and opinions of farming milk producing cattle in 11 focus group discussions conducted in two peri-urban areas of Senegal. The objectives were to investigate farmers’ perceptions of the current conditions in farming, to understand how these might impact the future direction of this particular system and how this might affect the feasibility and appropriate methods of cattle healthcare delivery and disease control. The data collected were subjected to thematic analysis and four themes were identified; 1. Revered cattle, 2. The changing face of livestock keeping, 3. Powerlessness, 4. Optimism for the future. Farmers in our study had a deep affinity with their cattle, they respected the traditions surrounding cattle keeping at the same time as striving for advances within the system and their animal’s productivity. Within strong social groupings and hierarchical structures they recognised the inherent challenges they face but were hopeful and optimistic about growth and opportunity in the future of milk production. A holistic approach to embedding healthcare delivery and disease control within the broader context in which farmers operate may prove successful. This could involve consideration of funding channels for farmers, access to appropriate inputs and utilising the strong community spirit and social norms of farmers to initiate and facilitate change.
Cancer cluster among small village residents near the fertilizer plant in Korea
Authors: Lim Hyungryul , Lee Yong-Han , Bae Sanghyuk , Koh Do-Hyun , Yoon Mira , Lee Bo-Eun , Kim Jeong-Soo , Kwon Ho-Jang
Published: February 2021

Objectives

In Jang-jeom, a small village in Hamra-myeon, Iksan-si, Jeollabuk-do, South Korea, residents raised concerns about a suspected cancer cluster that they attributed to a fertilizer plant near the village. We aimed to investigate whether the cancer incidence in the village was higher than that in the general Korean population when the factory was in operation (2001–2017) and whether living in the village was associated with a higher risk of cancer.

Methods

Using national population data and cancer registration data of South Korea, we estimated the standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) in the village to investigate whether more cancer cases occurred in the village compared to other regions. The SIRs were standardized by age groups of 5 years and sex. In order to investigate whether residence in the village increased the risk of cancer, a retrospective cohort was constructed using National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) databases. We estimated the cancer hazard ratios (HRs) using the Cox proportional hazard model, and defined the exposed area as the village of Jang-jeom, and the unexposed or control area as the village neighborhood in Hamra-myeon. We considered potential confounding variables such as age, sex, and income index in the models. Additionally, we measured polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs), suspected carcinogens that may have caused the cancer cluster, in samples collected from the plant and the village.

Results

Twenty-three cancer cases occurred in Jang-jeom from 2001 to 2017. Between 2010 and 2016, the incidence rates of all cancers (SIR: 2.05, except thyroid cancer: 2.22), non-melanoma skin cancer (SIR: 21.14, female: 25.41), and gallbladder (GB) and biliary tract cancer in men (SIR: 16.01) in the village were higher than those in the national population in a way that was statistically significant. In our cohort analysis that included only Hamra-myeon residents who have lived there for more than 7 years, we found a statistically significant increase in the risk of all cancers (HR: 1.99, except thyroid cancer: 2.20), non-melanoma skin cancer (HR: 11.60), GB and biliary tract cancer (HR: 15.24), liver cancer (HR: 6.63), and gastric cancer (HR: 3.29) for Jang-jeom residents compared to other Hamra area residents. We identified PAHs and TSNAs in samples of deposited dust and residual fertilizer from the plant and TSNAs in dust samples from village houses.

Conclusions

The results of the SIR calculation and cancer risk analyses of Jang-jeom village residents from the retrospective cohort design showed consistency in the effect size and direction, suggesting that there was a cancer cluster in Jang-jeom. This study would be a good precedent for cancer cluster investigation.
Optical multi-channel interrogation instrument for bacterial colony characterization
Authors: Doh Iyll-Joon , Kim Huisung , Sturgis Jennifer , Rajwa Bartek , Robinson J. Paul , Bae Euiwon
Published: February 2021

A single instrument that includes multiple optical channels was developed to simultaneously measure various optical and associated biophysical characteristics of a bacterial colony. The multi-channel device can provide five distinct optical features without the need to transfer the sample to multiple locations or instruments. The available measurement channels are bright-field light microscopy, 3-D colony-morphology map, 2-D spatial optical-density distribution, spectral forward-scattering pattern, and spectral optical density. The series of multiple morphological interrogations is beneficial in understanding the bio-optical features of a bacterial colony and the correlations among them, resulting in an enhanced power of phenotypic bacterial discrimination. To enable a one-shot interrogation, a confocal laser scanning module was built as an add-on to an upright microscope. Three different-wavelength diode lasers were used for the spectral analysis, and high-speed pin photodiodes and CMOS sensors were utilized as detectors to measure the spectral OD and light-scatter pattern. The proposed instrument and algorithms were evaluated with four bacterial genera, Escherichia coli, Listeria innocua, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Staphylococcus aureus; their resulting data provided a more complete picture of the optical characterization of bacterial colonies.
‘Visualizing dysfluency’: An interview with Conor Foran
Authors: Foran Conor , Stuart Maria , Martin Daniel
Published: February 2021

In 2018, designer Conor Foran presented his work on Dysfluent Mono, a typeface that represents the vocal repetitions of stammered speech, at the symposium Metaphoric Stammers and Embodied Speakers at University College Dublin, Ireland. In 2020, Foran self-published the first issue of Dysfluent Magazine, a magazine about the positive experiences of people who stutter that is set exclusively in Dysfluent Mono. Maria Stuart and Daniel Martin had the occasion to interview Foran on his work in both typography and advocacy for people who stutter.
Az 1990-2000 között benyújtott magyar szabadalmi bejelentések környezeti hatásának idősoros elemzése (Time series analysis of environmental effects of submitted Hungarian patents between 1990 and 2000)
Authors: Szűcs Gergely
Published: February 2021

A szerző e kutatás keretében az 1990–2000 közötti időszak magyar intézményi és egyéni szabadalmi bejelentők, illetve jogosultak („szabadalmasok”) szabadalmainak környezeti hatását vizsgálja. Konkrétan az ebben az időszakban a Magyar Szabadalmi Hivatalnál benyújtott szabadalmi bejelentésekből elfogadott szabadalmakat tanulmányozza, a PIPACS adatbázisban található szabadalmi leírások alapján. A pozitív környezeti hatású szabadalmak száma, valamint az összes szabadalomhoz viszonyított aránya alapján von le következtetéseket a magyar környezeti innovációs tevékenységről, és ennek potenciális magyar környezeti hatásáról. A pozitív környezeti hatású szabadalmak összes megadott szabadalomhoz viszonyított aránya az időszakban 92%-os szignifikanciaszinten növekszik. _______
Vállalkozói személyiségjegyek – avagy mi teszi a vállalkozót?
Authors: Lukovszki Lívia
Published: February 2021

A cikk célja, hogy bemutassa a magyar kis- és középvállalkozók jellemvonásait a külső befolyásoló tényezők figyelembevétele mellett. Az eddigi vállalkozói jellemvonásokat kutató elméletek arra törekedtek, hogy univerzális tulajdonságokat, karakterisztikákat azonosítsanak. Ezen kutatás középpontjában a korábbiakkal ellentétben az a feltételezés áll, miszerint a vállalkozók a tulajdonságok szempontjából is különbözőek, e heterogén csoportokon belül azonban lehetséges kialakítani olyan homogén klasztereket, melyekre hasonló környezeti tényezők közepette sajátos tulajdonság-kombinációk jellemzőek. A létrehozott vállalkozói klaszterek esetében lehetőség nyílik a csoportra jellemző belső tulajdonságok és a csoportot meghatározó külső tényezők azonosítására.
Hogyan bonthatók le a látható és láthatatlan falak? – Kooperatív kutatás a megváltozott munkaképességűek foglalkoztatásával kapcsolatos mentális gátak lebontásáról (How to break down the visible and unvisible walls? – A cooperative research about the breaking down of mental barriers of the employment of disabled people)
Authors: Csillag Sára , Hidegh Anna Laura
Published: February 2021

A szerzők tanulmányukban egy kooperatív kutatási projekt eredményeit mutatják be, melyet emberierőforrás- menedzsment szakos master hallgatókkal folytattak megváltozott munkaképességűek foglalkoztatásával kapcsolatban. Magyarországon rendkívül magas a munkanélküliség a fogyatékkal élők körében, és a szerzők úgy vélik, hogy a HR-szakértőknek kulcsfontosságú szerepük van abban, hogy a foglalkoztatási korlátokat fenntartják-e, vagy változtatnak a jelenlegi helyzeten. A kritikai emberierőforrás-fejlesztés és a kritikai pedagógia hagyományait követve kutatásuk kettős célt tűzött ki. Céljuk volt egyrészt a jövő HRszakembereinek megváltozott munkaképességűek foglalkoztatásával kapcsolatos mentális mintázatainak, attitűdjeinek és hiedelmeinek feltárása, amelyek az elnyomás, diszkrimináció vagy kizsákmányolás gyökerei lehetnek. Másrészt pedig a kooperatív kutatás alkalmazásával a hallgatók emancipációját szándékoztak előmozdítani, továbbá az üzleti felsőoktatást uraló pozitivista filozófiát és értékrendszert kívánták kihívás elé állítani, s ily módon segíteni egy kritikusabb világnézet kibontakozását. ________ In this paper we present the results of a cooperative inquiry research project undertaken with Master students specialized in Human Resource Management on the employment of disabled people. Unemployment among people with disabilities is very high in Hungary and HR professionals have a key role in maintaining or reducing employment barriers and modifying the present situation. Following the tradition of critical Human Resource Development and critical pedagogy, the aim of the research project was twofold. First, we aimed to reveal the mental patterns, attitudes and beliefs of future HR professionals to the employment of people with disabilities, which might become roots causes of domination, discrimination or exploitation. Secondly, through applying cooperative inquiry, researchers aimed to emancipate students and challenge the positivist philosophy and value system which usually dominate business education and thereby engender a more critical worldview.
Influence of solution properties and gas addition on hydrogen peroxide production by a novel plasma source
Authors: Kozáková Zdenka , Krčma František , Možíšová Aneta , Durrová Anastasia
Published: February 2021

The paper evaluates concentration of hydrogen peroxide produced by a novel pin-hole plasma source in electrolyte solutions with or without gas addition. An effective production rate of hydrogen peroxide is decreased by the increased argon as well as oxygen flow rate through the plasma region. Further, it is enhanced by higher solution conductivity while it is decreased in the strongly basic conditions with the highest pH values.
EFFECT OF PHOTOPERIOD ON INTESTINAL MICROBIOTA AND CIRCADIAN RHYTHM, AND ITS INFLUENCE ON PERFORMANCE, THE IMMUNE SYSTEM AND THE WELFARE OF BROILER CHICKENS
Authors: Oliveira e Alvarenga Bauer , Macanhão Biavatti Adrieli , J. Piantino Ferreira Antonio
Published: February 2021

A microbiota intestinal de frangos ainda reserva uma grande quantidade de segredos e mistérios. Entretanto, se sabe que ela atua de forma direta sobre a saúde do hospedeiro, mas que também é influenciada por diversos fatores, dentre eles a luz. Este ano a carne de frango se tornou a proteína animal mais consumida em todo mundo. Visando atender um consumidor cada vez mais exigente, atento ao bem-estar animal e a qualidade do que consome. Esta revisão de literatura teve o objetivo de abrigar os estudos mais recentes, que relacionam ritmo circadiano e fotoperíodo, com o desempenho zootécnico, o bem-estar, o sistema imune e a microbiota intestinal de frangos de corte. Consolidando a existência de uma relação bilateral entre a microbiota intestinal, o sistema imune e seu hospedeiro, e que pode ser influenciada de modo direto, através do manejo da luz.
Black African Scholars in European Academia before 1800
Authors: De la Croix David
Published: February 2021

How many members of European Universities and Academies originated from Sub-Saharan Africa during the Early Modern Period? Most people would say zero, and this is what I would have said a few years ago as well. Since I started collecting data on scholars and literati at European Universities and Academies, I had to revise my prior. Among 46,363 persons in my Repertorium today, there are three Black African scholars.
Design Options for Long-lasting, Efficient and Open Hardware and Software
Authors: Pohl Johanna , Höfner Anja , Albers Erik , Rohde Friederike
Published: February 2021

High energy consumption and data traffic, critical production conditions and proprietary software ensure that the production and use of digital technologies and applications have so far been environmentally and socially problematic. We present basic approaches and policy measures for a sustainable design of hardware and software.
Towards Digital Growth-independent Societies
Authors: Wagner Josephin , Lange Steffen
Published: February 2021

Growth-independent areas are a prerequisite in enabling the environmental policies needed to prevent environmental depletion. Yet, digitalisation is reshaping our economy in a way that could both hamper and benefit growth-independent areas.
The determinants of murabaha margin income in Islamic banking companies in Indonesia
Authors: Musaroh Musaroh , Margasari Naning , Laili Nindya Nuriswati , Pratama Mahendra Ryansa Gallen Gagah
Published: February 2021

This research was conducted to examine the effect of the operational costs, third-party funds, murabaha financing volume, Bank Indonesia’s interest rate and inflation on murabaha margin income at Islamic commercial banks in Indonesia. The period used in this research is 3 years, from 2016 to 2018. This study's population were 14 Islamic commercial banks that have been and are still registered with the Financial Services Authority from 2016 to 2018. The sampling technique used was purposive sampling and obtained a sample of 9 Islamic commercial banks. The data analysis technique used is multiple linear regression. Before conducting the multiple linear regression analysis, a classic assumption test was carried out to ensure that the model did not have normality, heteroscedasticity, autocorrelation, and multicollinearity. The results show that partially operational costs have a positive and significant effect on murabaha margin income, third-party funds have a negative and significant effect on murabaha margin income, murabaha financing volume has a positive and significant effect on murabaha margin income, while the Bank Indonesia’s interest rate and inflation do not influence on Murabaha margin income.
Vom Maß der Zeit
Authors: Saur Markus
Published: February 2021

Wie das Leben zu einem gelingenden Leben werden kann und wann die rechte Zeit für etwas sei, sind Grundfragen weisheitlichen Denkens. Kohelets Reflexionen über die Zeit bewegen sich in diesem Kontext und machen das konkrete Erleben von Zeit zum Ausgangspunkt. Auf empirischer Grundlage entwickelt Kohelet Deutungen der Zeit, die bei ihm immer handlungsleitend gewendet werden: Das Erleben und Deuten von Zeit hat Konsequenzen für die Gestaltung des Lebens als eines Zeitraums, in dem sich Gelingen ereignen kann.
Konzepte von Zeit und Ewigkeit in der Geschichte der Religionswissenschaft
Authors: Feldtkeller Andreas
Published: February 2021

Die Geschichte der Religionswissenschaft lässt sich als Geschichte der fortschreitenden Säkularisierung einer Wissenschaftsdisziplin beschreiben. Diese These wird im vorliegenden Artikel dokumentiert durch die exemplarische Analyse des Umgangs mit den Themen »Zeit« und »Ewigkeit« bei Friedrich Max Müller (1870/74), Rudolf Otto (1917/36) und im »Handbuch religionswissenschaftlicher Grundbegriffe« (1988–2001).
Identity Construction in Academic Writing of Student Writers Who Use English as an Additional Language: A Literature Review1
Authors: He Fangzhi
Published: February 2021

Academic writing is social interaction between writer and reader, during which writers can employ discursive and non-discursive features to construct their identities. However, many student writers who are users of English as an additional language (EAL) may find it challenging to construct their identities in academic writing. Properly constructed identity in academic writing can help EAL student writers develop a stronger sense of self, exercise their agency, and negotiate the academic discourse. Therefore, this paper reviews empirical studies on EAL student writers’ identity construction when they write in English to investigate the features of identities that EAL student writers construct in texts and the factors that influence their identity construction. The findings show that, compared with expert writers and native-English-speaking (NES) counterparts, EAL student writers tend to present a weak authorial identity. Furthermore, EAL student writers tend to be more engaged with texts than with readers and lack commitment to their claims. The identities that EAL student writers construct in academic writing are also interwoven with EAL students’ English proficiency levels, educational experience, disciplinary conventions, genre affordances, and audience awareness. The findings of this literature review can help teachers and educators raise EAL students’ identity awareness and facilitate students in strategically constructing writer identities in academic writing.
Vom »aer perso« zum »giallo de la rosa sempiterna«: Farbabstufungen von Luft und Erde in der ›Landschaft‹ der Commedia
Authors: Ippolito Antonella
Published: February 2021

Riassunto

Il contributo prende in esame gli effetti cromatici associati nella Divina Commedia alla rappresentazione di aria e terra. Partendo dalle premesse teoriche alla base della concezione dantesca del colore, come pure dal rapporto con la concezione patristica e medievale che vede nell’aer caliginosus la sede delle potenze diaboliche, si mostrano i connotati metaforici dell’oscurità e della densità dell’aria, che rinviano alla correlazione tra tenebre e peccato, ma anche, in un’ottica filosofica, tra tenebre e lontananza dal vero. Riferimenti a precise tonalità acquistano inoltre una funzione chiave che rivela i livelli di significato interni al testo, in relazione all’impianto metaforico dell’intero poema. Nel corso dell’analisi, inoltre, uno sguardo ad una selezione di esempi consente di osservare come gli aspetti discussi si riflettano nelle illustrazioni medievali della Commedia.
Il fuoco del cielo nella terra degli uomini
Authors: Ciccuto Marcello
Published: February 2021

Riassunto

Dante widmet der Beschreibung von Naturphänomenen große Sorgfalt: ganz gleich, ob es um die Bewegung der Sterne oder um die Mondflecken, um geologische Formationen oder das Verhalten von Tieren, die Bewegungen der Erdkugel oder die vielfältigen Phänomene des Lichts geht.

Der Dichter, der seinen Blick auf die irdische Physik richtet, legt großen Wert auf die Kenntnis und Beschreibung des mundus elementatum – dies bereits in den Rime petrose, um nur ein Beispiel zu nennen. Nur scheinbar ist diese Welt von jeder sakralen oder himmlischen Perspektive deutlich abgeschieden (man denke nur an die Themen des Schattens oder des Winters, die alle Elemente der Physik miteinzubeziehen scheinen, oder an gewisse Stellen in Inferno XXIV und XXVI, wo die Bedeutung von Zeichen, die vom Himmel kommen, zwar bestätigt wird, diese aber zugleich so gelesen werden, als seien sie auf die irdische Welt projiziert); in Wirklichkeit trägt sie die Bedeutungen einer höheren, ›sakralen‹ Ebene fast immer schon vom Anfang an in sich. Das beste Beispiel dafür ist der berühmte Vergleich des villanello in Inferno XXVI, wo die Zeichen und Elemente der physischen Natur auf eine Lesart zugerichtet werden, die eher eine jenseitige Hoffnung ausdrückt denn menschliche Schläue. Die menschliche Kondition selbst, eingeschränkt auf begrenzte, ›niedere‹ Werte, erfährt in Dantes Reflexion eine regelrechte Umwertung: Einmal dort, wo es um den Unterschiede zwischen Machen und Erschaffen geht, einmal in der Diskussion über die Mondflecken, wo sich die bezwingende Vorstellung einer Sakralität, die – gut augustinisch – allen menschlichen Dingen innewohnt, einen Weg bahnt. Dieser Umstand wird an vielen Stellen der Commedia deutlich, an denen die Erscheinungsform des Feuers stets ein irdisches Vergleichsmoment mit sich führt. Bis am Ende alles seine deutlichste Auflösung in Beatrices Gesang erfährt, der den ganzen Kosmos in einer Perspektive erfasst, die sich endlich von der Höhe in die Tiefe richtet, um dann in einen Tanz der Sterne zu münden und in die Affirmation eines Feuers und eines Leuchtens, die ›anders‹ sind als die physischen Phänomene, auch wenn sie immer noch umgeben sind von einem Rest Nostalgie für das Menschliche, das nicht weniger werden wird, nicht einmal in der visio ultima des paradiesischen Feuers.
Dante verstehen und missverstehen: zu Karl Wittes Danteinterpretation
Authors: Bartuschat Johannes
Published: February 2021

Riassunto

Karl Witte non è stato soltanto un grande filologo, considerato a giusto titolo come il fondatore della filologia dantesca moderna, ma anche un importante traduttore, commentatore e esegeta di Dante. Questo contributo si propone di individuare i presupposti del lavoro interpretativo di Witte e di caratterizzare il suo approccio critico analizzando i suoi saggi danteschi e le sue edizioni commentate della Commedia e delle Rime.
Discrepancies in Teachers’ Perceptions and Reported Practices: The Case of Written Feedback in an EFL Context
Authors: Saeli Hooman , Cheng An
Published: February 2021

As Ferris (2014) states, teachers have received insufficient research attention regarding their perceptions and practices of feedback. This study, therefore, was an attempt to qualitatively explore Iranian EFL teachers’ feedback-related perceptions and practices. In addition, the discrepancies between the reported perceptions and practices were examined. The data collection consisted of qualitative interviews with 14 teachers. The data analysis (i. e., data coding using the grounded theory approach) helped develop a coding scheme in which a number of thematic categories and subcategories were delineated with regard to feedback. The findings, accordingly, revealed some noteworthy discrepancies between the teachers’ perceptions and practices. For instance, although the teachers valued peer-feedback and selective correction, they reported providing teacher-generated feedback and comprehensive commentary on grammatical errors, respectively. Also, the teachers were aware of the importance of indirect methods of correction (e. g., to promote learner autonomy), but mostly gave explicit feedback on their students’ grammatical issues. Overall, we showed that these discrepancies primarily resulted from students’ expectations. We also discussed the findings in light of sociocultural considerations and the tenets of learner engagement with feedback.
A history of sermons and carrots but no sticks
Authors: Granfeldt Jonas
Published: February 2021

This paper is concerned with a historical analysis of educational policies on Modern languages or second foreign languages (SFLs) like French, German and Spanish in Sweden. Using a typology from policy instrument theory, colloquially phrased assermons,carrotsandsticks, the paper provides an historical overview and a discussion of acess policy objectives and policy instruments since 1945 with a particular focus on lower secondary school the last 20 years. The analysis shows that while policies and policy instruments naturally have varied over the last 70 years, there are also similarities. A finding is that in the domain of SFLs, sermons have not been perceived as enough, carrots have tended to lead to inequalities and sticks have been avoided.
The hit or miss guesswork figuring the deictic centre of the Russian patronymic
Authors: Korostenskienė Julija
Published: February 2021

Set within the framework of Proximization Theory, which focuses on the construal of deixis (Chilton 2004, Cap 2006, 2010, 2013), the present study explores address terms (ATs) as used by the Russian-speaking minority in Lithuania (RuL). The collected data strongly suggest that forms of address of this ethnic group have shifted from the mainland standard Russian full name + patronymic to the full name only. Moreover, the previously consistently used polite form of address with the patronymic is now largely regarded as causing discomfort and consequently avoided, especially in mixed groups. The shift in address strategy is attributed to the deictic shift along the axiological axis in the mental representations of the speakers. The patronymic-less ATs, previously placed within the outside deictic centre are shown to be reanalyzed and placed within the interactants’ inside deictic centre. Hesitations in selecting a given AT, a potential issue between the interactants from different age groups, is indicative of the internal conflict of the speaker and their mental switching between the IDC and the ODC. The proposed analysis determines the placement of patronymic and name-only forms on the axiological axis and discusses implications for the differences in Anglo-Saxon and Russian terms for address study.
Introducing Chinese Hanzi at the beginning of teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language (CFL)
Authors: Yu Aihong , Geng Gretchen
Published: February 2021

The high dropout rate of students studying Chinese is a concern for educators in teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language (CFL). However, very limited studies have been undertaken to investigate the impact of the important part of CFL learning ‘Hanzi’ in the successful teaching and learning of CFL. This paper therefore investigated the rationale and significance of Hanzi’ instruction and the need to integrate Hanzi instruction into teaching of CFL from the very beginning of teaching CFL. Readers will find this paper useful in understanding the importance of Hanzi instruction in teaching CFL, and how to construct a contemporary, international curriculum that can adequately address the fundamental concerns of the teaching and learning of CFL. This paper can be used to initiate a research agenda and inform an initiative thinking for curriculum development, to be used as a signpost to set up a conceptual framework on international curriculum development of CFL.
影响少数民族学生阅读理解能力的语言及认知因子研究———以藏族和彝族小学生为例
Authors: 张 露蓓 , 丛 铁华
Published: February 2021

本研究对两组12岁的少数民族学生(66名藏族学生和45名彝族学生)和1组12岁的汉族学生 (42名) 的汉语叙述性和说明性文本阅读能力进行了比较。我们假设言语工作记忆, 正字加工和句子加工这三个因子分别有两个指标能预测三组学生语篇理解的不同表现。通过结构方程建模和多元回归分析, 我们发现言语工作记忆、正字加工和句子加工对汉语叙述性和说明性语篇理解的组间差异有很大的预测作用。因此, 要提高少数民族学生阅读理解能力必须要加强汉字, 词语和句子的结构及其功能教学。
Ein iranisches Assyrien. Die Macht der Vergangenheit in der Spätantike
Authors: Payne Richard
Published: February 2021

Das Assyrische Reich war 612 zerstört worden, doch bewahrte es seine identitätsstiftende Bedeutung bis in die Spätantike. Die Stadt Aššur ging im dritten Jahrhundert unter; vermutlich wurde sie von sasanidischen Herrschern zerstört. Aufgrund des starken iranischen Einflusses veränderte sich die religiöse Topographie der Region grundlegend. Allerdings wurden auch christliche Gemeinden gefördert und wuchsen erheblich. Dies führte zu einem Ende der religiösen assyrischen Traditionen, die allenfalls verborgen weiterlebten. Während die sasanidische Regierung in einem besonderen Maße Relikte der achaimenidischen Zeit pflegte, bezogen christliche Gemeinden im nördlichen Mesopotamien sich auf assyrische Traditionen. So entstanden Kultstätten für Heilige an assyrischen Erinnerungsorten, und Assyrien tauchte in der Historiographie auf. Auch der Name der Syrer wurde von den Assyrern abgeleitet. Führende Familien schufen assyrische Genealogien, die sich oft auf bestimmte Orte bezogen. Derartige Erinnerungen wurden noch im 13. Jahrhundert unter islamischer Herrschaft gepflegt. Damit blieb die Geschichte des nördlichen Mesopotamien noch lange in eine assyrische Tradition eingebettet.