bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Measuring extraordinary experiences and beliefs: A validation and reliability study
Authors: Wahbeh Helané , Yount Garret , Vieten Cassandra , Radin Dean , Delorme Arnaud
Published: May 2020

Background: Belief in the paranormal is widespread worldwide. Recent surveys suggest that subjective experiences of the paranormal are common. A concise instrument that adequately evaluates beliefs as distinct from experiences does not currently exist. To address this gap, we created the Noetic Experiences and Beliefs Scale (NEBS) which evaluates belief and experience as separate constructs.

Methods: The NEBS is a 20-item survey with 10 belief and 10 experience items rated on a visual analog scale from 0-100. In an observational study, the survey was administered to 361 general population adults in the United States and a subsample of 96 one month later. Validity, reliability and internal consistency were evaluated. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to confirm the latent variables of belief and experience. The survey was then administered to a sample of 646 IONS Discovery Lab participants to evaluate divergent validity and confirm belief and experience as latent variables of the model in a different population.

Results: The NEBS demonstrated convergent validity, reliability and internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha Belief 0.90; Experience 0.93) and test-retest reliability (Belief: r = 0.83; Experience: r = 0.77). A confirmatory factor analysis model with belief and experience as latent variables demonstrated a good fit. The factor model was confirmed as having a good fit and divergent validity was established in the sample of 646 IONS Discovery Lab participants.

Conclusions: The NEBS is a short, valid, and reliable instrument for evaluating paranormal belief and experience.
Optimization of glutaminase-free L-asparaginase production using mangrove endophytic Lysinibacillus fusiformis B27
Authors: Prihanto Asep Awaludin , Yanti Indah , Murtazam Mohammad Achsanil , Jatmiko Yoga Dwi
Published: May 2020

Background: The mangrove, Rhizophora mucronata, an essential source of endophytic bacteria, was investigated for its ability to produce glutaminase-free L-asparaginase. The study aimed to obtain glutaminase-free L-asparaginase-producing endophytic bacteria from the mangrove and to optimize enzyme production.

Methods: The screening of L-asparaginase-producing bacteria used modified M9 medium. The potential producer was further analyzed with respect to its species using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Taguchi experimental design was applied to optimize the enzyme production. Four factors (L-asparagine concentration, pH, temperature, and inoculum concentration) were selected at four levels.

Results: The results indicated that the endophytic bacteria Lysinibacillus fusiformis B27 isolated from R. mucronata was a potential producer of glutaminase-free L-asparaginase. The experiment indicated that pH 6, temperature at 35°C, and inoculum concentration of 1.5% enabled the best production and were essential factors. L-asparagine (2%) was less critical for optimum production.

Conclusions: L. fusiformis B27, isolated from Rhizophora mucronata, can be optimized for L-ASNase enzyme production using optimization factors (L-ASNase, pH, temperature, and inoculum), which can increase L-ASNase enzyme production by approximately three-fold.
Efficient Inaccuracy: User-Generated Information Sharing in a Queue
Authors: Wang Jianfu , Hu Ming
Published: May 2020

We study a service system that does not have the capability of monitoring and disclosing its real-time congestion level. However, the customers can observe and post their observations online, and future arrivals can take into account such user-generated information when deciding whether to go to the service facility. We perform pairwise comparisons of the shared, full, and no queue-length information structures in terms of social welfare. Perhaps surprisingly, we show that the shared queue-length information may provide greater social welfare than full queue-length information when the hassle cost of the customers entering the service facility falls into some ranges, and the shared and full queue-length information structures always generate greater social welfare than no queue-length information. Therefore, the discrete disclosure of congestion through user-generated sharing can lead to as much, or even greater, social welfare as the continuous stream of real-time queue-length information disclosure and always generates greater social welfare than no queue-length information disclosure at all. These results imply that a little shared queue-length information—inaccurate and lagged—can go a long way and that it may be more socially beneficial to encourage the sharing of user-generated information among customers than to provide them with full real-time queue-length information.

This paper was accepted by Terry Taylor, operations management.
APRESENTAÇÃO DO PRIMEIRO NÚMERO DA REVISTA DE COMUNICAÇÃO DIALÓGICA
Authors: Macedo Marcelo Ernandez , Galdeano Luany Lima
Published: May 2020

Apresentação dos artigos que compõem o primeiro número da revista e agradecimentos à equipe envolvida.
Reflexões sobre a cobertura da morte de Cristiano Araújo no Jornal Nacional
Authors: Pereira Lucas , Negrini Michele
Published: May 2020

Este artigo tem como foco a realização de uma reflexão sobre a cobertura da morte do cantor Cristiano Araújo no Jornal Nacional, da Rede Globo. Vamos verificar a perspectiva da construção do cantor como um “ídolo” da música sertaneja pelo telejornal e observar o programa a partir de discussões sobre a Indústria Cultural. Tomamos como objeto de estudo a edição do telejornal que foi ao ar no dia 24 de junho de 2015, data em que o cantor faleceu.
Nurses step up to the challenge of working during the pandemic
Authors: White Jean , McArdle Charlotte , McQueen Fiona , May Ruth
Published: May 2020

Chief Nursing Officers for Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England Jean White, Charlotte McArdle, Fiona McQueen and Ruth May all agree that, although plans to mark International Nurses' Day are on hold, we must still find time to celebrate nurses across all specialties who have responded with speed and flexibility
A simple method to secure data-driven improvement of perioperative care
Authors: Jakobsen Dorthe Hjort , Kehlet Henrik
Published: May 2020

Background:

Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programmes have been adopted to a varying degree by most surgical departments, not only in Denmark, but worldwide.

Aims:

To report the process from a local ERAS unit in a tertiary university hospital to accelerate implementation of ERAS programmes in all surgical specialties.

Methods:

All surgical departments receive twice-yearly procedure-specific data on length of stay (LOS), readmission rates and death within 30 days, based on surgical codes and the Danish National Patient Register. The ERAS unit and clinical experts review data followed by a clinical audit where appropriate.

Findings:

Setting up data presentation for clinical and nurse leaders has documented progress in implementing ERAS. The combination of outcome data, together with audits have been essential.

Conclusion:

The local ERAS unit has been shown to accelerate implementation of ERAS programmes in all surgical specialties, facilitated by procedure-specific LOS and re-admission data, combined with audit data.
The decline of the charismatic Parnassius mnemosyne (L.) (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) in a Central Italy national park: a call for urgent actions

Authors: CINI ALESSANDRO , BARBERO FRANCESCA , BONELLI SIMONA , BRUSCHINI CLAUDIA , CASACCI LUCA PIETRO , PIAZZINI SANDRO , SCALERCIO STEFANO , DAPPORTO LEONARDO
Published: May 2020

Here we report the strong decline of a population of the endangered species Parnassius mnemosyne (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) in the National Park of Foreste Casentinesi, Monte Falterona and Campigna (Italy). We compared historical presence data (before 1969) with current data from two years of monitoring (2018–2019) and provided evidence of a drastic reduction in the number of sites inhabited by the species. A preliminary assessment suggested that the population of P. mmemosyne occurring in the Park is limited to a few individuals. We argue that the population of this iconic and charismatic butterfly is at the verge of extinction in this National Park, probably because of a combination of habitat loss (i.e. decrease in size and number of areas of open grassland on the mountain belt) and climatic changes. Being one of the few populations of P. mnemosyne in the Northern Apennines, the implementation of protection measures is a high conservation priority. Several other butterfly species on the Italian mountains that are facing the same survival challenges would also benefit from the establishment of conservation actions aimed at improving habitat quality for P. mnemosyne. Present article is meant to call for action researchers, stakeholders, and especially decision-makers in order to increase the efforts to upturn the evident decline in abundance of this population. Key words: biodiversity conservation, butterflies, habitat loss, habitat management, Lepidoptera, Parnassinae
Desenvolvimento de Competências e Metodologias Ativas: a Percepção dos Estudantes de Graduação em Administração
Authors: Ayres Rosane Maria Soligo de Mello , Cavalcanti Maria Fernanda Rios
Published: May 2020

As competências passaram a ser vistas como elementos centrais na formação de profissionais e também como garantidoras de empregabilidade em um cenário de altas taxas de desemprego entre jovens. O objetivo do artigo é examinar se e como, na percepção dos estudantes do curso de graduação em Administração, a utilização de metodologia ativa contribui para o desenvolvimento de suas competências profissionais Um estudo de caso foi realizado em Instituição de Ensino Superior IES do estado de São Paulo que adota, no curso de bacharelado em Administração estratégias ativas de ensino-aprendizagem, fundamentadas nos métodos Problem-based learning (PBL) e Case-based learning (CBL). Os resultados mostram que são nas práticas realizadas no ciclo de trabalho PBL/CBL que os estudantes percebem estar adquirindo capacidades específicas agrupadas em três dimensões de competências: básicas (CBs); sociais (CSs), e para a solução de problemas (CSPs). O desenvolvimento de competências no ambiente educacional requer que a aprendizagem de seus componentes (conceituais, procedimentais e atitudinais) ocorra por meio de procedimentos (fontes de aprendizagem) disciplinares, interdisciplinares e/ou metadisciplinares, e com o apoio de metodologias que possibilitem a aprendizagem ativa, transferível, cooperativa, porém, autônoma dos aprendizes. Analisamos que nas metodologias ativas, fundamentadas no modelo problem-based, dois componentes do processo tutorial influenciam no desenvolvimento das competências: o problema e o professor. O problema pela qualidade da estruturação com que é constituído. O professor pelos vários papéis de orientação dos estudantes que assume nos estágios do ciclo de aprendizagem. Os resultados obtidos contribuem para o campo do Ensino em Administração, no sentido de auxiliar tanto gestores na tomada de decisão sobre a implementação de metodologias ativas no currículo dos cursos de Administração quanto professores na (re)organização de suas práticas educativas e na conscientização sobre novos papéis que devem assumir no processo de ensino-aprendizagem.
Valorização da produção científica em tempos de COVID-19
Authors: Coelho Thereza Christina Bahia , Sanabria Clara Aleida Prada
Published: May 2020

A pandemia da infecção pelo COVID-19 é o evento mais catastrófico do século XXI, mas tem trazido algumas lições. Uma delas, é a importância da ciência e seus métodos e protocolos de produção de conhecimento. A outra lição diz respeito à valorização dos sistemas universais de saúde e das iniciativas sociais que os fortalecem continuamente. Em especial, aí se destacam as ações das universidades públicas apoiadas por governos comprometidos com a saúde das populações sob sua responsabilidade que dão respostas imediatas enquanto o setor privado reage sob um outro estímulo regulado pela lógica do lucro, mas ainda sob a égide da direção estatal.
Flight model characterization of the wide-field off-axis telescope for the MATS satellite
Authors: Park Woojin , Hammar Arvid , Pak Soojong , Chang Seunghyuk , Gumbel Jörg , Megner Linda , Christensen Ole Martin , Rouse Jordan , Kim Dae Wook
Published: May 2020

We present optical characterization, calibration, and performance tests of the Mesospheric Airglow/Aerosol Tomography Spectroscopy (MATS) satellite, which for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, for a satellite, applies a linear-astigmatism-free confocal off-axis reflective optical design. Mechanical tolerances of the telescope were investigated using Monte Carlo methods and single-element perturbations. The sensitivity analysis results indicate that tilt errors of the tertiary mirror and a surface RMS error of the secondary mirror mainly degrade optical performance. From the Monte Carlo simulation, the tolerance limits were calculated to

±

0.5

m
m

,

±

1

m
m

, and

±

0.15
∘

for decenter, despace, and tilt, respectively. We performed characterization measurements and optical tests with the flight model of the satellite. Multi-channel relative pointing, total optical system throughput, and distortion of each channel were characterized for end-users. Optical performance was evaluated by measuring the modulation transfer function (MTF) and point spread function (PSF). The final MTF performance was 0.25 MTF at 20 lp/mm for the ultraviolet channel (304.5 nm), and 0.25–0.54 MTF at 10 lp/mm for infrared channels. The salient fact of the PSF measurement of this system is that there is no noticeable linear astigmatism detected over a wide field of view (

5.67
∘

×

0.91
∘

). All things considered, the design method showed great advantages in wide field of view observations with satellite-level optical performance.
Picometer-differential twice-exposed element for three-dimensional measurement with extremely long depth of field
Authors: Li Chao , Zhou Changhe , Lu Yunkai , Miao Chaofeng , Yu Junjie , Yin Zhengkun , Ye Jin
Published: May 2020

The accuracy of optical three-dimensional (3D) shape measurement is always influenced by the defocusing of a projection or imaging system. In this paper, a novel optical element made by picometer-differential twice-exposed holography, called a picometer comb, is proposed to generate the projection pattern for 3D shape measurement. Two interference fields with picometer-scale period difference are recorded on a substrate to fabricate the picometer comb by twice-exposed laser holography; this element reconstructs the diffraction field, which is essentially the interference between the holograms of two object waves with a slight angle. This picometer comb has the advantage of the generation of a stable light field distribution with extremely long depth of field and small divergence angle. We demonstrate that this diffraction field provides a solution for non-defocusing 3D shape measurement.
Scattering characteristics of a metasurface covered chiral sphere
Authors: Awan Z. A. , Seetharamdoo Divitha
Published: May 2020

An analysis of the scattering characteristics of a chiral sphere covered with a metasurface is presented. The electromagnetic fields inside and outside of a metasurface covered chiral sphere are expanded in terms of spherical vector wave functions. The influences of chirality and surface impedance of a metasurface upon the scattering cross section are investigated. It is seen that a specific type of metasurface can be used to significantly enhance and diminish the back scattering cross section from a chiral sphere having a fixed value of chirality but different radii. It is also observed that a chiral sphere having chirality close to unity apparently cannot be cloaked using a lossless metasurface as compared to a dielectric sphere, both having the same electromagnetic and geometrical parameters. A comparative study of the scattering characteristics of metasurface covered realistic chiral and low-loss Teflon dielectric spheres is developed. It is found that a metasurface covered realistic chiral sphere can be used to significantly reduce the scattering as compared to scattering from a metasurface covered Teflon sphere at a specific angle, provided that both spheres have the same radii and surface reactance.
High-resolution wide-field OCT angiography with a self-navigation method to correct microsaccades and blinks
Authors: Wei Xiang , Hormel Tristan T. , Guo Yukun , Hwang Thomas S. , Jia Yali
Published: May 2020

In this study, we demonstrate a novel self-navigated motion correction method that suppresses eye motion and blinking artifacts on wide-field optical coherence tomographic angiography (OCTA) without requiring any hardware modification. Highly efficient GPU-based, real-time OCTA image acquisition and processing software was developed to detect eye motion artifacts. The algorithm includes an instantaneous motion index that evaluates the strength of motion artifact on en face OCTA images. Areas with suprathreshold motion and eye blinking artifacts are automatically rescanned in real-time. Both healthy eyes and eyes with diabetic retinopathy were imaged, and the self-navigated motion correction performance was demonstrated.
Beam characterization by phase retrieval solving the transport-of-intensity-equation
Authors: Merx Sebastian , Stock Johannes , Widiasari Fransiska R. , Gross Herbert
Published: May 2020

A new method for the characterization of coherent laser beams is proposed. It is based on the non-iterative solution of the transport-of-intensity-equation. The phase to recover is decomposed into paraxial properties of laser beams and a set of lateral shifted radial basis functions, which allows for the derivation of a direct solution of the phase by a least-squares fit without the need of an initial guess. The method is tested with synthetic data to deduce an accuracy metric. Additionally, two real laser beams are characterized. Including the real light source in terms of the reconstructed field allows for a more holistic simulation of optical systems.
Transverse drag of slow light in moving atomic vapor
Authors: Solomons Y. , Banerjee C. , Smartsev S. , Friedman J. , Eger D. , Firstenberg O. , Davidson N.
Published: May 2020

The Fresnel-Fizeau effect of transverse drag, in which the trajectory of a light beam changes due to the transverse motion of the optical medium, is usually extremely small and hard to detect. We observe transverse drag in a moving hot-vapor cell, utilizing slow light due to electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT). The drag effect is enhanced by a factor

3.6
×

10
5

, corresponding to the ratio between the light speed in vacuum and the group velocity under EIT conditions. We study the contribution of the thermal atomic motion, which is much faster than the mean medium velocity, and identify the regime where its effect on the transverse drag is negligible.
Polarization splitting directional coupler using tilted subwavelength gratings
Authors: Luque-González José Manuel , Herrero-Bermello Alaine , Ortega-Moñux Alejandro , Sánchez-Rodríguez Marina , Velasco Aitor V. , Schmid Jens H. , Cheben Pavel , Molina-Fernández Íñigo , Halir Robert
Published: May 2020

On-chip polarization splitters are key elements for coherent optical communication systems and polarization diversity circuits. These devices are often implemented with directional couplers that are symmetric for one polarization and strongly asymmetric for the other polarization. To achieve this asymmetry, highly dissimilar waveguides are used in each coupler arm, often requiring additional material layers or etch steps. Here we demonstrate polarization splitting with a directional coupler composed of two fully etched subwavelength waveguides, differing only in the tilt angle of the silicon segments. Our device exhibits deep-UV compatible feature sizes, is 14 µm long, and covers a 72 nm bandwidth with insertion losses below 1 dB and an extinction ratio in excess of 15 dB.
Synchrotron-based VUV excitation-induced ultrahigh quality cool white
light luminescence from Sm-doped ZnO
Authors: Kaur Puneet , Kriti  , Rahul  , Kaur Simranpreet , Kandasami Asokan , Singh Davinder Paul
Published: May 2020

We report that the rare-earth (RE) ion, Sm-doped ZnO, acts as white
light emitting vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) phosphors and possesses an
ultrahigh color rendering index (CRI) and color quality scale (CQS).
The VUV-excited emission spectra measured from the synchrotron source
reveal the emergence of multi-color emission bands in the visible-IR
region and substantially depend on the concentration of

S
m

3
+

ions. A mechanism is proposed to
elucidate the origin behind the high-energy bandgap excitation of the
host charge carrier and subsequent energy transfer to the

S
m

3
+

states leading to additional
green-yellow-orange emission bands of

S
m

3
+

(
4

G

5

/

2

→
6

H

J

(

J

=

5

/

2

,

7

/

2

,

a
n
d

9

/

2

)
)

. High-quality cool white light
(correlated color temperature 5600 K) having CIE coordinates (0.33,
0.35) with a CRI as high as 95.89 and a CQS value of 94.49 is achieved
for

Z
n

0.985

S
m

0.015

O

under synchrotron VUV radiations.
This Letter demonstrates that RE activated ZnO-based phosphors are
expected to be a promising candidate in solid state lighting, as well
as plasma display devices.
Partially coherent Ince–Gaussian beams
Authors: Yepiz Adad , Perez-Garcia Benjamin , Hernandez-Aranda Raul I.
Published: May 2020

We report on the study and generation of Ince–Gaussian beams in the spatially partially coherent regime. The inherent random fluctuations both in time and space of these partially coherent fields make their characterization difficult. Our results show that the cross-correlation function (CCF) provides insight into the composition of the Ince–Gaussian beam, as well as into its spatial coherence structure and singularities. Our experimental findings are in very good agreement with the numerical simulations, particularly revealing a rich structure of nodal lines in the CCF.
Air-stable perovskite photovoltaic cells with low temperature deposited NiOx as an efficient hole-transporting material
Authors: Mahmud Hasan A. K. , Raifuku Itaru , Amin N. , Ishikawa Yasuaki , Sarkar D. K. , Sobayel K. , Karim Mohammad R. , Ul-Hamid Anwar , Abdullah H. , Shahiduzzaman Md. , Uraoka Yukiharu , Sopian Kamaruzzaman , Akhtaruzzaman Md.
Published: May 2020

The electron-beam physical vapor deposition (EBPVD) technique was selected for nickel oxide (NiOx) film deposition at room temperatures. NiOx film (18 nm thick) was deposited as a hole transporting material (HTM) for inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs) onto a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO)-coated glass substrate at a chamber vacuum pressure of 4.6×104 Pa. PSCs were fabricated as a glass/FTO/NiOx(HTM)/CH3NH3PbI3/PC61BM/BCP/Ag structure with as-deposited and annealed (500 °C for 30 min) NiOx films. Under 100 mW cm-2 illumination, as-deposited and annealed NiOx as HTM in PSCs (0.16 cm2) showed a high-power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 13.20% and 13.24%, respectively. The as-deposited and annealed PSCs retained 72.2% and 76.96% of their initial efficiency in ambient conditions, correspondingly. This study highlights the possibility of achieving highly crystalline and finely disseminated NiOx films by EBPVD for fabricating efficient inverted PSCs.
Discovering high-performance broadband and broad angle antireflection surfaces by machine learning
Authors: Haghanifar Sajad , McCourt Michael , Cheng Bolong , Wuenschell Jeffrey , Ohodnicki Paul , Leu Paul W.
Published: May 2020

Eliminating light reflection from the top glass sheet in optoelectronic applications is often desirable across a broad range of wavelengths and large variety of angles. In this paper, we report on a combined simulation and experimental study of single-layer films, nanowire arrays, and nanocone arrays to meet these antireflection (AR) needs. We demonstrate the application of Bayesian learning to the multiobjective optimization of these structures for broadband and broad angle AR and show the superior performance of Bayesian learning to genetic algorithms for optimization. Our simulations indicate that nanocone structures have the best AR performance of these three structures, and we additionally provide physical insight into the AR performance of different structures. Simulations suggest nanocone arrays are able to achieve a solar integrated normal and 65° incidence angle reflection of 0.15% and 1.25%, respectively. A simple and scalable maskless reactive ion etching process is used to create nanocone structures, and etched samples demonstrate a solar integrated normal and 65° reflection of 0.4% and 4.9%, respectively, at the front interface.
Prediction of tissue optical properties using the Monte Carlo modeling of photon transport in turbid media and integrating spheres
Authors: Cook Patrick D. , Bixler Joel N. , Thomas Robert J. , Early Edward A.
Published: May 2020

Monte Carlo methods are an established technique for simulating light transport in biological tissue. Integrating spheres make experimental measurements of the reflectance and transmittance of a sample straightforward and inexpensive. This work presents an extension to existing Monte Carlo photon transport methods to simulate integrating sphere experiments. Crosstalk between spheres in dual-sphere experiments is accounted for in the method. Analytical models, previous works on Monte Carlo photon transport, and experimental measurements of a synthetic tissue phantom validate this method. We present two approaches for using this method to back-calculate the optical properties of samples. Experimental and simulation uncertainties are propagated through both methods. Both back-calculation methods find the optical properties of a sample accurately and precisely. Our model is implemented in standard Python 3 and CUDA C++ [J. Nickolls, I. Buck, M. Garland, and K. Skadron, ACM Queue 6, 40 (2008)] and is publicly available in Code 1.
Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the growth hormone receptor gene and Alu1 polymorphisms in the diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 gene as related to meat production in sheep
Authors: Altwaty Nada H. , Salem Lamiaa M. , Mahrous Karima F.
Published: May 2020

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the polymorphisms in genes related to meat production, including growth hormone receptor (GHR) and diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) genes, in different breeds of sheep, including Barki, Najdi, and Harri. Materials and Methods: Blood samples were collected from 75 randomly selected healthy Barki, Najdi, and Harri breeds of sheep, with 25 samples per breed. GHR and DGAT1 genes were identified using a single nucleotide polymorphism assay followed by digestion with the restriction enzyme Alu1. Results: The analysis of the GHR gene sequence showed nucleotide substitutions at nt 69 in exon 10 (c.69 G > A); this mutation is considered a transition mutation. The sequences of detected SNPs in the GHR gene in the different sheep breeds were submitted to the GenBank database with accession numbers MG906773 to MG906781. The substitutions at exon 10 (c.69 G > A) results in an alteration to the amino acid (p. Lysine > Arginine). At c.69, the A allele frequency was 0.61, 0.59, and 0.54, while the G allele frequency was 0.39, 0.41, and 0.46, for Barki, Najdi, and Harri breeds, respectively. The genotype AG at nt 69 locus had the highest frequency in the Najdi and Harri sheep. The frequency of AG was 0.62, 0.61, and 0.64, while the frequency of AA was 0.30, 0.28, and 0.22, for Barki, Najdi, and Harri sheep, respectively. After digestion with the restriction enzyme AluI, the DGAT1 locus had two genotypes, CC and CT. The highest frequency, 0.88, was found for allele C, which was detected in Barki breed. The lowest frequency, 0.75, for the same allele was found for Harri. Conclusion: The detected CT genotype may explain the moderate intramuscular fat content and muscle marbling in the Barki sheep breed.
Water-retaining polymers on the early growth and quality of bushy cashew (Anacardium humile A. St. Hill) seedlings
Authors: Soares Antonio Gabriel Ataide , De Oliveira Ruthanna Isabelle , Venança Thaynara Mota , Pinheiro Gabriela de Oliveira , Matos Alex Pinto , Pereira Gustavo Alves , Junior Gabriel Barbosa da Silva
Published: May 2020

Bushy cashew (Anacardium humile A. St. Hill) is an endemic plant species to the Brazilian Cerrado, a region characterized by scarce and poorly distributed rainfall. The use of hydrogel, a water-retaining polymer that features massive water storage and promotes its release into the environment throughout time may be an alternative to reduce the frequency irrigation in the production of bushy cashew seedlings. This study aimed to evaluate the quality and early growth of bushy cashew seedlings as a function of hydrogel doses. The experimental design adopted was in five randomized blocks, with five hydrogel doses (0; 1,0; 2,0; 3,0; and 4,0 g L-1 of soil), and each plot consisting of 10 seedlings, totaling 250 plants. A Yellow Latosol with sandy-loam texture was used for seedling production. The growth evaluation was performed through the variables of emergence speed index, germination percentage, height, diameter, root volume, number of leaves, shoot dry mass, root dry mass, and the Dickson quality index. The results revealed a positive influence of the hydrogel on the growth and quality of bushy cashew seedlings, notably at the dose of 4 g L-1 of soil.
Economic impact of Ebola virus disease outbreak on an extractive firm: a case study
Authors: Tariq Hisham , Emes David Tresco , Boo Yebeen Ysabelle , Light Alexander , Sadique Zia , Khan Mishal , Knight Alan , Dar Osman , Manikam Logan
Published: May 2020

Purpose:

The recent Ebola virus disease (EVD) epidemic was one of the most severe public health emergencies in modern times. The economic impact of epidemics has mostly been analysed at the macroeconomic level. Conversely, we aimed to estimate the economic costs of preventive measures of the epidemic to an extractive firm, ArcelorMittal (AM), using data in the epidemic region from March 2014 to December 2015. AM is the world’s largest steel producer and is particularly important in West Africa, where the extractive industry is economically crucial.

Methods:

Qualitative methods, in-depth interviews (IDIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs), were used to investigate the events and channels of impact of the epidemic on the firm, as perceived by employees and contractors. Quantitative data regarding these costs were also collected. Retrospective cost analysis estimated the actual cost of preventive methods adopted.

Results:

Most respondents indicated the largest cost impact was suspension of the Phase II expansion, a series of projects designed to increase iron ore production in Liberia. The next largest cost was the preventive measures adopted to counter disease spread. Total costs incurred for adopting preventive measures were USD 10.58–11.11 million. The overall direct costs of preventive measures adopted within the fence, meaning within the physical boundary of the firm’s sites, shared 30–31% of the total costs incurred. The share of external donations supporting humanitarian response was 11–12% of the total costs, followed by 7–12% of relational costs.

Conclusions:

The firm’s response during the EVD epidemic focussed on its employees and operations, which was later expanded to the wider community and then in supporting the international humanitarian response.
Temas contemporâneos integrados ao currículo de Matemática do Ensino Médio: projeto com o tema Arte
Authors: Olgin Clarissa de Assis , Groenwald Claudia Lisete Oliveira
Published: May 2020

Este artigo é um recorte da pesquisa referente à tese de doutorado Temas para o Currículo de Matemática do Ensino Médio que visa contribuir para discussão da seleção de temáticas a serem inseridas no Currículo. O objetivo deste artigo é evidenciar as contribuições do tema Arte, com a utilização do software GeoGebra, na construção e/ou revisão de conceitos matemáticos relativos à Geometria Espacial. A metodologia utilizada baseou-se em uma abordagem qualitativa, na qual se buscou compreender os fenômenos que ocorrem no contexto de sala de aula, quando se trabalha com essa temática. Foi aplicado um experimento com 21 alunos do 1º ano do Ensino Médio, no município de Caxias do Sul. As análises dos dados coletados apontam que desenvolver atividades com o tema Arte juntamente com recursos computacionais, pode potencializar o processo de ensino e aprendizagem da Matemática, proporcionando ao aluno relacionar o conhecimento matemático com outros assuntos. Neste sentido, considera-se importante buscar/desenvolver atividades didáticas relacionadas a temas que favoreçam o processo de ensino e aprendizagem da Matemática, oportunizando aos estudantes estabelecerem relações entre a teoria e a prática.
Транснациональный мигрант в интернете: теоретические основания исследования транснационализма в режиме онлайн
Authors: Трегубова Наталья Дамировна
Published: May 2020

Цель настоящей статьи — определить теоретические основания ответа на вопрос: можно ли стать транснациональным мигрантом в интернете, не пересекая национальных границ? Автор приводит аргументы, которые уточняют смысл вопроса и намечают возможные ответы на него: если да — то в каком смысле, если нет — то по каким причинам? Статья включает определение транснационализма, характеристики транснациональной миграции, обоснования теоретической и эмпирической значимости распространения онлайн-технологий для изменения транснационализма. Автор дает дефиниции понятий «интернет», «всемирная паутина», «кибер», «виртуальный», «онлайн» и «офлайн» и проводит разграничение между ними. Основываясь на социологии пространства А.Ф. Филиппова, автор предлагает три возможных ответа на вопрос о том, является ли интернет пространством: 1) интернет пространственно не организован, но пространство в интернете может быть тематизировано; 2) в интернете существуют пространства, где люди являются участниками и наблюдателями социальных взаимодействий; 3) интернет представляет собой пространство (а именно пространство возможных маршрутов). На основании сформулированных положений обосновываются два типа транснационализма в режиме онлайн: транснационализм маршрутов и транснационализм мест взаимодействий. В заключение сделан вывод, что их наиболее плодотворно рассматривать в качестве идеальных типов транснационализма.
Благодарность. Исследование выполнено при поддержке Российского научного фонда, грант № 18-78-10049.
Зачем молодежь создает контент о здоровом образе жизни: факторный анализ тематических блогов
Authors: Кульпин Сергей Владимирович , Савчук Галина Анатольевна , Якимова Ольга Александровна
Published: May 2020

В статье предпринимается попытка рассмотреть, как отражается в контенте блогов, связанных с тематикой здорового образа жизни, мотивация молодежи к их созданию и ведению, а также зависимость популярности блога от типа контента.

Опираясь на выявленные с помощью неформализованного интервью мотивы (принести общественную пользу, показать свой опыт и личностный рост, коммуникация с друзьями, возможность заработать), авторы выдвинули гипотезу, что та или иная мотивация влияет на контент, который создает блогер, а следовательно, она может быть выявлена через соответствующую символическую репрезентацию. Для проверки этой гипотезы был использован факторный анализ (метод главных компонент).

Результаты исследования показывают, что популяризация здорового образа жизни может осуществляться как за счет повышения социальной ответственности молодых блогеров, стремления обсуждать и предлагать аудитории социально одобряемые паттерны поведения, так и через коммерциализацию блогов, которая возможна на росте популярности данной темы и внимания к ней со стороны подписчиков. Наибольшими возможностями по монетизации контента обладают блогеры, ориентированные прежде всего на коммуникацию с аудиторией (при второстепенности остальных мотивов): у них больше всего подписчиков, активно реагирующих на контент.

Благодарность. Исследование проведено при финансовой поддержке Российского фонда фундаментальных исследований (проект № 19-010-00850 «Институциональное моделирование экономики интернет-пространства России»).
The effect of nature of science activities on 4.th grade students’ scientific process skills
Authors: Türköz Ü. Gülözge
Published: May 2020

Scientific process skills are the foundations of science and allows doing research and drawing conclusions. Scientific process skills, perhaps one of the most important tools to produce and edit information about people around the world. Therefore, the students needed to have the understanding and skills to do scientific researches. Hence, the aim of this study is to investigate the effect of nature of science activities on elementary 4th grade students’ scientific process skills. The study group of the study is 65 fourth grade students educating in Denizli in a medium socio-economic elementary school in the term of 2012-2013. The study was conducted with quantitative research methods. One group pretest-posttest measurement in this study was applied to the experimental model. For data collection; scientific process skills scale was used. The application of the study lasted 9 weeks and all students were given the scales as pretest and posttest. The results showed that there are significant differences between pretest and posttest with respect to science process skills in favor of posttests.

​Extended English summary is in the end of Full Text PDF (TURKISH) file.

 

Özet

Bilimsel süreç becerileri, bilimin temelidir ve araştırma yapmayı ve sonuç çıkarmayı sağlar. Bilimsel süreç becerileri, kişinin etrafındaki dünya hakkında bilgiler üretmesi ve düzenlemesi için belki de en önemli araçlardan biridir. Bu yüzden, öğrencilerin, bilimsel araştırma yapmak için gerekli anlayışa ve becerilere sahip olmaları gereklidir. Buradan hareketle bu çalışmanın amacı Bilimin doğası etkinliklerinin ilkokul 4. Sınıf öğrencilerinin bilimsel süreç becerilerine etkisini incelemek olarak belirlenmiştir. Bu çalışma kapsamında deneme modeli türlerinden deneme öncesi, tek grup ön ölçüm-son ölçüm modeli kullanılmıştır. Denizli ili merkezinde bulunan orta sosyo-ekonomik düzeydeki ilkokullardan birinde, 2012-2013 eğitim-öğretim yılında öğrenim gören 4. sınıf öğrencileri kapsamında (65 öğrenci) uygulamalar yapılmıştır. Çalışma kapsamında veri toplama aracı olarak “Bilimsel Süreç Becerileri” testi kullanılmıştır. Bu testin 4. Sınıf öğrencilerinin bilimsel süreç becerilerini ölçmek amacıyla seçilmesinin temel nedenlerinden birisi alan yazında Fen Bilimleri dersi kapsamında geliştirilmiş ve yayınlanmış en yeni test olmasıdır. Çalışma sonucunda bilimin doğasına yönelik etkinliklerle öğrenim gören çalışma grubu öğrencilerinin bilimsel süreç becerileri ölçeği son-ölçümden aldıkları puanların ortalaması, ön-ölçümde aldıkları puanların ortalamasından yüksek çıkmıştır.
Prävention, Gesundheitsförderung und Verminderung geschlechtsbezogener Ungleichheit von Gesundheitschancen
Authors: Faller Gudrun , Becker Jennifer
Published: May 2020

Problemstellung

Frauen und Männer sind in der Arbeitswelt vielfach unterschiedlichen Belastungen ausgesetzt. Dabei fühlen sich Frauen regelmäßig stärker beansprucht als Männer. Zudem weisen sie – mit Ausnahme von Arbeitsunfällen und Berufskrankheiten – bei den meisten arbeitsbezogenen Gesundheitsindikatoren Werte auf, die auf vergleichsweise höhere Fehlbeanspruchungen hindeuten.

Zielsetzung

Es werden theorie- und datenbasierte Empfehlungen zu geeigneten Interventionen mit dem Ziel des Abbaus geschlechtsbedingter Ungleichheit von Gesundheitschancen formuliert.

Methodik

Basierend auf einer Recherche in einschlägigen Statistiken und Berichten werden aktuelle Datengrundlagen zu Erscheinungsformen, Einflussfaktoren und Folgen geschlechtsbezogener Gesundheitsdifferenzen im Sektor Arbeit nachgezeichnet.

Ergebnisse

Die erhobenen Daten liefern die Grundlage für die Formulierung von Eckpunkten für eine genderkompetente Gestaltung gesundheitsfördernder betrieblicher Strukturen und Prozesse.

Diskussion

Eine genderkompetente Gesundheitsförderung muss sich auf gendertheoretische Überlegungen stützen und die Nahtstellen zwischen Arbeits- und Lebenswelten einbeziehen. Zudem legt das Ziel, nachhaltig wirkende Verbesserungen der Gesundheit zu erreichen, die Notwendigkeit einer Kritik an der gegebenen, androzentrisch strukturierten Ökonomie nahe.
Hepatoprotective effects of chamazulene against alcohol-induced liver damage by alleviation of oxidative stress in rat models
Authors: Wang Xu , Dong Ke , Ma Yujing , Jin Qizhi , Yin Shujun , Wang Shan
Published: May 2020

Liver injury and disease caused by alcohol is a common complication to human health
worldwide. Chamazulene is a natural proazulene with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
properties. This study aims to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of
chamazulene against ethanol-induced liver injury in rat models. Adult Wistar rats
were orally treated with 50% v/v ethanol (8–12 mL/kg body weight
[b.w.]) for 6 weeks to induce alcoholic liver injury. Chamazulene was administered
orally to rats 1 h prior to ethanol administration at the doses of 25 and
50 mg/kg b.w. for 6 weeks. Silymarin, a commercial drug for hepatoprotection,
was orally administered (50 mg/kg b.w.) for the positive control group.
Chamazulene significantly reduced (p < 0.05) the levels of
serum alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and
malondialdehyde, whereas the levels of antioxidant enzymes (glutathione peroxidase,
catalase, and superoxide dismutase) and reduced glutathione were significantly
restored (p < 0.05) in contrast to the ethanol model group.
The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumour necrosis factor-α and
interleukin-6) were suppressed by chamazulene (p < 0.05) with
relevance to ethanol-induced liver injury. Histopathological alterations were
convincing in the chamazulene-treated groups, which showed protective effects against
alcoholic liver injury. Chamazulene has a significant hepatoprotective effect against
ethanol-induced liver injury through alleviation of oxidative stress and prevention
of inflammation.
Large Brunner’s gland adenoma of the duodenum for almost 10 years
Authors: Yang Bo , Li Ke , Luo Runlan , Xiong Zuming , Wang Lianwei , Xu Jinming , Fang Dengyang
Published: May 2020

Background

Brunner’s gland adenoma is a rare benign tumor arising from
Brunner’s glands. It is mostly small in size, and patients with this tumor
are asymptomatic.

Case presentation

We report the case of a 63-year-old woman with upper gastrointestinal obstruction
for almost 10 years, who was pathologically diagnosed with large Brunner’s
gland adenoma of the duodenum. Postoperatively, no sign of recurrence has been
noted until now.

Conclusion

This study may help clinicians to understand and provide a more accurate diagnosis
of Brunner’s gland adenoma.
Spontaneous Local Calcium Transients Regulate Oligodendrocyte Development in Culture through Store-Operated Ca2+Entry and Release
Authors: Rui Yanfang , Pollitt Stephanie L. , Myers Kenneth R. , Feng Yue , Zheng James Q.
Published: May 2020

Oligodendrocytes (OLs) insulate axonal fibers for fast conduction of nerve impulses by wrapping axons of the CNS with compact myelin membranes. Differentiating OLs undergo drastic chances in cell morphology. Bipolar oligodendroglial precursor cells (OPCs) transform into highly ramified multipolar OLs, which then expand myelin membranes that enwrap axons. While significant progress has been made in understanding the molecular and genetic mechanisms underlying CNS myelination and its disruption in diseases, the cellular mechanisms that regulate OL differentiation are not fully understood. Here, we report that developing rat OLs in culture exhibit spontaneous Ca2+local transients (sCaLTs) in their process arbors in the absence of neurons. Importantly, we find that the frequency of sCaLTs markedly increases as OLs undergo extensive process outgrowth and branching. We further show that sCaLTs are primarily generated through a combination of Ca2+influx through store-operated Ca2+entry (SOCE) and Ca2+release from internal Ca2+stores. Inhibition of sCaLTs impairs the elaboration and branching of OL processes, as well as substantially reduces the formation of large myelin sheets in culture. Together, our findings identify an important role for spontaneous local Ca2+signaling in OL development.
Coexistence of DIPNECH and carotid body paraganglioma: is it just a coincidence?
Authors: Pedro J , Cunha F M , Neto V , Hespanhol V , Martins D F , Guimarães S , Varela A , Carvalho D
Published: May 2020

We describe the case of a 56 year-old woman with the almost simultaneous appearance of diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia (DIPNECH) and a carotid body paraganglioma. Of interest, 6 years earlier, the patient underwent total thyroidectomy due to papillary thyroid carcinoma and, in the meantime, she was submitted to mastectomy to treat an invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast. In order to explain these lesions, an extensive genetic study was performed. Results showed positivity for the presence of the tumor suppressor gene PALB2, whose presence had already been detected in a niece with breast cancer. The patient underwent different procedures to treat the lesions and currently she is symptom-free over 2 years of follow-up.

Learning points:

The presence of two rare neoplasms in a single person should raise the suspicion of a common etiology.

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case that shows the coexistence of DIPNECH and paraganglioma.

The contribution of the PALB2 gene in the etiology of these rare neoplasms is a possibility.
Milk-alkali syndrome: a ‘quick ease’ or a ‘long-lasting problem’
Authors: Wang Mawson , Cho Catherine , Gray Callum , Chai Thora Y , Daud Ruhaida , Luttrell Matthew
Published: May 2020

We report the case of a 65-year-old female who presented with symptomatic hypercalcaemia (corrected calcium of 4.57 mmol/L) with confusion, myalgias and abdominal discomfort. She had a concomitant metabolic alkalosis (pH 7.46, HCO3- 40 mmol/L, pCO2 54.6 mmHg). A history of significant Quick-Eze use (a calcium carbonate based antacid) for abdominal discomfort, for 2 weeks prior to presentation, suggested a diagnosis of milk-alkali syndrome (MAS). Further investigations did not demonstrate malignancy or primary hyperparathyroidism. Following management with i.v. fluid rehydration and a single dose of i.v. bisphosphonate, she developed symptomatic hypocalcaemia requiring oral and parenteral calcium replacement. She was discharged from the hospital with stable biochemistry on follow-up. This case demonstrates the importance of a detailed history in the diagnosis of severe hypercalcaemia, with MAS representing the third most common cause of hypercalcaemia. We discuss its pathophysiology and clinical importance, which can often present with severe hypercalcaemia that can respond precipitously to calcium-lowering therapy.

Learning points:

Milk-alkali syndrome is an often unrecognised cause for hypercalcaemia, but is the third most common cause of admission for hypercalcaemia.

Calcium ingestion leading to MAS can occur at intakes as low as 1.0–1.5 g per day in those with risk factors.

Early recognition of this syndrome can avoid the use of calcium-lowering therapy such as bisphosphonates which can precipitate hypocalcaemia.