bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving the Contrast of Pseudothermal Ghost Images Based on the Measured Signal Distribution of Speckle Fields
Authors: Sun Zhe , Tuitje Frederik , Spielmann Christian
Published: March 2021

In this study, we examine the quality of microscale ghost images as a function of the measured histographic signal distribution of the speckle fields from a nonuniform pseudothermal light source. This research shows that the distribution of the detected signal level on each pixel of the camera plays a significant role in improving the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of pseudothermal ghost imaging. To our knowledge, the scaling of CNR with different pixel intensity distributions of the speckle fields is observed for the first time in the field of pseudothermal microscale ghost imaging. The experimental observations are in very good agreement with numerical analysis. Based on these findings, we can predict the settings for light sources that will maximize the CNR of microscale ghost images.
R1234ze(E) Flow Boiling inside a 2.5 mm ID Smooth Tube and Comparison against an Equivalent Microfin Tube
Authors: Diani Andrea , Rossetto Luisa
Published: March 2021

The air conditioning and refrigeration industry is now dealing with an imminent substitution of widely implemented refrigerants having a non-negligible global warming impact. Among the proposed hydrofluoroolefins, R1234ze(E) has thermodynamic and transport properties close to those of R134a, and thus it can be one of its substitutes. This paper experimentally analyzes R1234ze(E) flow boiling inside a smooth tube with an internal diameter of 2.5 mm. Mass velocity is investigated from 200 to 600 kg m−2 s−1, for vapor quality from 0.15 to 0.99. The test tube is electrically heated by the Joule effect, by supplying heat fluxes from 12 to 60 kW m−2. Heat transfer coefficients and frictional pressure drops were evaluated from the experimental tests, and compared against values estimated by empirical correlations. Additional experimental tests permitted the comparison between the thermal and hydraulic characteristics of the smooth tube and those of a microfin tube with an inner diameter at the fin tip of 2.4 mm. The comparison revealed the higher contribution of convective boiling for the microfin tube compared to the smooth tube for all of the investigated working conditions.
Dynamic Segmentation for Physical Activity Recognition Using a Single Wearable Sensor
Authors: Alhammad Nora , Al-Dossari Hmood
Published: March 2021

Data segmentation is an essential process in activity recognition when using machine learning techniques. Previous studies on physical activity recognition have mostly relied on the sliding window approach for segmentation. However, choosing a fixed window size for multiple activities with different durations may affect recognition accuracy, especially when the activities belong to the same category (i.e., dynamic or static). This paper presents and verifies a new method for dynamic segmentation of physical activities performed during the rehabilitation of individuals with spinal cord injuries. To adaptively segment the raw data, signal characteristics are analyzed to determine the suitable type of boundaries. Then, the algorithm identifies the time boundaries to represent the start- and endpoints of each activity. To verify the method and build a predictive model, an experiment was conducted in which data were collected using a single wrist-worn accelerometer sensor. The experimental results were compared with the sliding window approach, indicating that the proposed method outperformed the sliding window approach in terms of overall accuracy, which exceeded 5%, as well as model robustness. The results also demonstrated efficient physical activity segmentation using the proposed method, resulting in high classification performance for all activities considered.
Computational Intelligence and Data Mining in Sports
Authors: Fister Iztok , Fister Iztok
Published: March 2021

Sport can be viewed from two standpoints: professional and recreational [...]
Optimal Control of an Ultraviolet Water Disinfection System
Authors: MINZU Viorel , RIAHI Saïd , RUSU Eugen
Published: March 2021

The ultraviolet water disinfection process has numerous advantages in comparison with other water treatments. This study deals with this process’s optimal control and presents all its stages, from problem statement to analysis of results. We consider a typical disinfection water system and data presented in the literature. In this case, the control inputs are the water flow rate and the UV light intensity. A nonlinear dynamic model for the UV disinfection system is constructed and generates a method to calculate the bacterial reduction. An optimal control problem (OCP) is stated using the dynamic model and two optimal criteria: the disinfection and energy criterion. The optimal solutions are yielded by a metaheuristic algorithm based on hybrid topology particle swarm optimization. The algorithm determines the optimal flow rate and light intensity for an imposed bacterial reduction. The implemented program was carried out for a wide range of input values for comprehensive analysis. The analysis of the results establishes when an optimal solution exists and the extent to which the disinfection or energy criterion is fulfilled. The method to calculate the bacterial reduction, OCP statement, optimization algorithm, and results’ analysis may be considered findings of this work.
Numerical Insight into the Kelvin-Helmholtz Instability Appearance in Cavitating Flow
Authors: Pipp Peter , Hočevar Marko , Dular Matevž
Published: March 2021

Recently the development of Kelvin-Helmholtz instability in cavitating flow in Venturi microchannels was discovered. Its importance is not negligible, as it destabilizes the shear layer and promotes instabilities and turbulent eddies formation in the vapor region, having low density and momentum. In the present paper, we give a very brief summary of the experimental findings and in the following, we use a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) study to peek deeper into the onset of the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability and its effect on the dynamics of the cavitation cloud shedding. Finally, it is shown that Kelvin-Helmholtz instability is beside the re-entrant jet and the condensation shock wave the third mechanism of cavitation cloud shedding in Venturi microchannels. The shedding process is quasi-periodic.
Experimental Study on the Behavior of Existing Reinforced Concrete Multi-Column Piers under Earthquake Loading
Authors: Kim Jung Han , Kim Ick-Hyun , Lee Jin Ho
Published: March 2021

When a seismic force acts on bridges, the pier can be damaged by the horizontal inertia force of the superstructure. To prevent this failure, criteria for seismic reinforcement details have been developed in many design codes. However, in moderate seismicity regions, many existing bridges were constructed without considering seismic detail because the detailed seismic design code was only applied recently. These existing structures should be retrofitted by evaluating their seismic performance. Even if the seismic design criteria are not applied, it cannot be concluded that the structure does not have adequate seismic performance. In particular, the performance of a lap-spliced reinforcement bar at a construction joint applied by past practices cannot be easily evaluated analytically. Therefore, experimental tests on the bridge piers considering a non-seismic detail of existing structures need to be performed to evaluate the seismic performance. For this reason, six small scale specimens according to existing bridge piers were constructed and seismic performances were evaluated experimentally. The three types of reinforcement detail were adjusted, including a lap-splice for construction joints. Quasi-static loading tests were performed for three types of scale model with two-column piers in both the longitudinal and transverse directions. From the test results, the effect on the failure mechanism of the lap-splice and transverse reinforcement ratio were investigated. The difference in failure characteristics according to the loading direction was investigated by the location of plastic hinges. Finally, the seismic capacity related to the displacement ductility factor and the absorbed energy by hysteresis behavior for each test were obtained and discussed.
Plastic Joints in Bridge Columns of Atypical Cross-Sections with Smooth Reinforcement without Seismic Details
Authors: Srbić Mladen , Mandić Ivanković Ana , Vlašić Anđelko , Hrelja Kovačević Gordana
Published: March 2021

In seismically active areas, knowledge of the actual behavior of bridges under seismic load is extremely important, as they are crucial elements of the transport infrastructure. To assess their seismic resistance, it is necessary to know the key indicators of their seismic response. Bridges built before the adoption of standards for seismic detailing may still contain structural reserves due to the properties of the used materials and construction approach. For example, smooth reinforcement which is found in older bridges due to the material properties, detailing principles, and lower bond strength compared to ribbed reinforcement, allows for greater deformations. In bridges, columns are vital elements employed in the dissipation of seismic energy. Their cross-sections often deviate from the regular square, rectangular, or round cross-sections, which are typically found in building. Based on the behavior of the columns in the vicinity of potential plastic joints, we can determine their deformability. This paper presents an experimental study of seismic resistance indicators around a potential plastic joint for a column with an atypical cross-section, without seismic details and with smooth reinforcement. The experimental results are compared with the numerical and analytical, but also with the experimental results on samples with ribbed reinforcement. Conclusions are made about the behavior of such column elements and their seismic resistance indicators, allowing for the application of an analytical or numerical method with realistic material and element properties and derivation of correction factors due to the effect of the smooth-reinforcement slippage from the anchorage area.
A Review of Requirements for Gamma Radiation Detection in Space Using CubeSats
Authors: Arneodo Francesco , Di Giovanni Adriano , Marpu Prashanth
Published: March 2021

Initially intended as student-led projects at universities and research institutions, the CubeSats now represent a unique opportunity to access space quickly and in a cost-effective fashion. CubeSats are standard and miniaturized satellites consisting of multiple identical units with dimensions of about 10×10×10cm3 and very limited power consumption (usually less than a few W). To date, several hundreds of CubeSats have been already launched targeting scientific, educational, technological, and commercial needs. Compact and highly efficient particle detectors suitable for payloads of miniaturized space missions can be a game changer for astronomy and astroparticle physics. For example, the origin of catastrophic astronomical events can be pinpointed with unprecedented resolution by measuring the gamma-ray coincidence signals in CubeSats flying in formations, and possibly used as early warning system for multi messenger searches. In this paper, we will discuss and analyze the main features of a CubeSat mission targeting intense and short bursts of gamma-rays.
The Role of Spectral Complexity in Connectivity Estimation
Authors: Vallarino Elisabetta , Sorrentino Alberto , Piana Michele , Sommariva Sara
Published: March 2021

The study of functional connectivity from magnetoecenphalographic (MEG) data consists of quantifying the statistical dependencies among time series describing the activity of different neural sources from the magnetic field recorded outside the scalp. This problem can be addressed by utilizing connectivity measures whose computation in the frequency domain often relies on the evaluation of the cross-power spectrum of the neural time series estimated by solving the MEG inverse problem. Recent studies have focused on the optimal determination of the cross-power spectrum in the framework of regularization theory for ill-posed inverse problems, providing indications that, rather surprisingly, the regularization process that leads to the optimal estimate of the neural activity does not lead to the optimal estimate of the corresponding functional connectivity. Along these lines, the present paper utilizes synthetic time series simulating the neural activity recorded by an MEG device to show that the regularization of the cross-power spectrum is significantly correlated with the signal-to-noise ratio of the measurements and that, as a consequence, this regularization correspondingly depends on the spectral complexity of the neural activity.
Reproductive and Developmental Biology of Acroclisoides sinicus, a Hyperparasitoid of Scelionid Parasitoids
Authors: Giovannini Lucrezia , Sabbatini-Peverieri Giuseppino , Tillman Patricia Glynn , Hoelmer Kim Alan , Roversi Pio Federico
Published: March 2021

Acroclisoides sinicus (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) was described in 1988 from China, but recent findings in Europe and North America within the framework of Halyomorpha halys (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) biological control indicate a Holarctic distribution. The few records and fragmented information on A. sinicus are derived from generic observations of other species belonging to the same genus, and its biological and ethological traits are still completely unexplored. It was suspected to be a facultative or obligate hyperparasitoid of many egg parasitoid species (e.g., Scelionidae and Eupelmidae), especially those parasitizing Pentatomidae eggs. Laboratory colonies of A. sinicus were established from specimens collected in the field in Europe and the USA, which allowed us to investigate for the first time the life traits of this somewhat enigmatic species. Our studies confirmed the obligate hyperparasitoid hypothesis for species of Scelionidae but not of Eupelmidae. Laboratory studies revealed that A. sinicus is extremely selective in its host recognition as only the pupal stage of its host species is exploited for parasitization. Taking into consideration its hyperparasitoid habit, the adventive A. sinicus populations in Europe and North America may potentially be severe threats to pentatomid natural control as new components in the trophic chain of pentatomids and their parasitoid guilds.
Spreading of Beta-Amyloid in Organotypic Mouse Brain Slices and Microglial Elimination and Effects on Cholinergic Neurons
Authors: Moelgg Kurt , Jummun Faryal , Humpel Christian
Published: March 2021

The extracellular deposition of β-amyloid (Aβ) is one of the major characteristics in Alzheimer´s disease (AD). The “spreading hypothesis” suggests that a pathological protein (similar to prions) spreads over the entire brain. The aim of the present study was to use organotypic brain slices of postnatal day 8–10 mice. Using collagen hydrogels, we applied different Aβ peptides onto brain slices and analyzed spreading as well as glial reactions after eight weeks of incubation. Our data showed that from all tested Aβ peptides, human Aβ42 had the most potent activity to spread over into adjacent “target” areas. This effect was potentiated when brain slices from transgenic AD mice (APP_SweDI) were cultured. When different brain areas were connected to the “target slice” the spreading activity was more intense, originating from ventral striatum and brain stem. Reactive glial-fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) astrogliosis increased over time, but Aβ depositions co-localized only with Iba1+ microglia but not with astrocytes. Application of human Aβ42 did not cause a degeneration of cholinergic neurons. We concluded that human Aβ42 spreads over into other “target areas”, causing activation of glial cells. Most of the spread Aβ42 was taken up by microglia, and thus toxic free Aβ could not damage cholinergic neurons.
Role of Oxidative Stress in the Pathogenesis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Antioxidant Metalloenzymes and Therapeutic Strategies
Authors: Hemerková Pavlína , Vališ Martin
Published: March 2021

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) affects motor neurons in the cerebral cortex, brainstem and spinal cord and leads to death due to respiratory failure within three to five years. Although the clinical symptoms of this disease were first described in 1869 and it is the most common motor neuron disease and the most common neurodegenerative disease in middle-aged individuals, the exact etiopathogenesis of ALS remains unclear and it remains incurable. However, free oxygen radicals (i.e., molecules containing one or more free electrons) are known to contribute to the pathogenesis of this disease as they very readily bind intracellular structures, leading to functional impairment. Antioxidant enzymes, which are often metalloenzymes, inactivate free oxygen radicals by converting them into a less harmful substance. One of the most important antioxidant enzymes is Cu2+Zn2+ superoxide dismutase (SOD1), which is mutated in 20% of cases of the familial form of ALS (fALS) and up to 7% of sporadic ALS (sALS) cases. In addition, the proper functioning of catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) is essential for antioxidant protection. In this review article, we focus on the mechanisms through which these enzymes are involved in the antioxidant response to oxidative stress and thus the pathogenesis of ALS and their potential as therapeutic targets.
Immunotherapy in Adrenocortical Carcinoma: Predictors of Response, Efficacy, Safety, and Mechanisms of Resistance
Authors: Araujo-Castro Marta , Pascual-Corrales Eider , Molina-Cerrillo Javier , Alonso-Gordoa Teresa
Published: March 2021

Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare endocrine malignancy with limited treatment options in the advanced stages. Immunotherapy offers hope for altering the orthodox management of cancer, and its role in advanced ACC has been investigated in different studies. With the aim clarifying the role of immunotherapy in ACC we performed a comprehensive review about this topic focusing on the predictors of response, efficacy, safety, and the mechanisms of resistance. Five clinical trials with four immune checkpoint inhibitors (pembrolizumab, avelumab, nivolumab, and ipilimumab) have investigated the role of immunotherapy in advanced ACC. Despite, the different primary endpoints used in these studies, the reported rates of overall response rate and progression free survival were generally poor. Three main potential markers of response to immunotherapy in ACC have been described: Expression of PD-1 and PD-L1, microsatellite instability and tumor mutational burden. However, none of them has been validated in prospective studies. Several mechanisms of ACC immunoevasion may be responsible of immunotherapy failure, and a greater knowledge of these mechanisms might lead to the development of new strategies to overcome the immunotherapy resistance. In conclusion, although currently the role of immunotherapy is limited, the identification of immunological markers of response and the implementation of strategies to avoid immunotherapy resistance could improve the efficacy of this therapy.
Enhanced Antimould Action of Surface Modified Copper Oxide Nanoparticles with Phenylboronic Acid Surface Functionality
Authors: Henry Patricia , Halbus Ahmed F. , Athab Zahraa H. , Paunov Vesselin N.
Published: March 2021

Antimould agents are widely used in different applications, such as specialty paints, building materials, wood preservation and crop protection. However, many antimould agents can be toxic to the environment. This work aims to evaluate the application of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) surface modified with boronic acid (BA) terminal groups as antimould agents. We developed CuONPs grafted with (3-glycidyloxypropyl) trimethoxysilane (GLYMO), coupled with 4-hydroxyphenylboronic acid (4-HPBA), which provided a strong boost of their action as antimould agents. We studied the antimould action of the 4-HPBA-functionalized CuONPs against two mould species: Aspergillus niger (A. niger) and Penicillium chrysogenum (P. chrysogenum). The cis-diol groups of polysaccharides expressed on the mould cell walls can form reversible covalent bonds with the BA groups attached on the CuONPs surface. This allowed them to bind strongly to the mould surface, resulting in a very substantial boost of their antimould activity, which is not based on electrostatic adhesion, as in the case of bare CuONPs. The impact of these BA-surface functionalized nanoparticles was studied by measuring the growth of the mould colonies versus time. The BA-functionalized CuONPs showed significant antimould action, compared to the untreated mould sample at the same conditions and period of time. These results can be applied for the development of more efficient antimould treatments at a lower concentration of active agent with potentially substantial economic and environmental benefits.
No Evidence of Perceptual Pseudoneglect in Alexithymia
Authors: Vicario Carmelo Mario , Martino Gabriella , Marcuzzo Alex , Craparo Giuseppe
Published: March 2021

Neuroscience research links alexithymia, the difficulty in identifying and describing feelings and emotions, with left hemisphere dominance and/or right hemisphere deficit. To provide behavioral evidence for this neuroscientific hypothesis, we explored the relationship between alexithymia and performance in a line bisection task, a standard method for evaluating visuospatial processing in relation to right hemisphere functioning. We enrolled 222 healthy participants who completed a version of the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), which measures alexithymia, and were asked to mark (bisect) the center of a 10-cm horizontal segment. The results document a significant rightward shift in the center of the line in participants with borderline and manifest alexithymia compared with non-alexithymic individuals. The higher the TAS-20 score, the greater the rightward shift in the line bisection task. This finding supports the right hemisphere deficit hypothesis in alexithymia and suggests that visuospatial abnormalities may be an important component of this mental condition.
Assessing the Moisture Load in a Vinyl-Clad Wall Assembly through Watertightness Tests
Authors: Xiao Zhe , Lacasse Michael A. , Defo Maurice , Dragomirescu Elena
Published: March 2021

The moisture load in wall assemblies is typically considered as 1% of the Wind Driving Rain (WDR) load that is deposited on the surface of wall assemblies as specified in the ASHRAE-160 standard whereas this ratio has been shown to be inaccurate as compared to results derived from several watertightness tests. Accurate assessment of moisture loads arising from WDR can be obtained through the watertightness test during which different levels of WDR intensities and Driving Rain Wind Pressures (DRWPs) are applied to a test specimen and water that penetrates wall assembly can thus be quantified. Although many previous studies have included watertightness tests, only a few of these have attempted to correlate the moisture loads to WDR conditions as may occur in specific locations within a country. To improve the assessment of moisture loads for a vinyl-clad wall assembly, a wall test specimen was tested following a test protocol based on local climate data using National Research Council of Canada’s Dynamic Wind and Wall Testing Facility (DWTF). The use of this test protocol permitted quantifying the moisture load in the vinyl wall assembly when subjected to several different simulated WDR conditions. The moisture load was formulated as a function of the WDR intensity and DRWP which thereafter allowed evaluating the moisture load based on a given climate’s hourly rainfall intensity and wind velocity. Such work is particularly relevant considering that the intensity, duration and frequency of WDR events across Canada will in some regions increase due to the effects of climate change.
Key Signaling Pathways in Aging and Potential Interventions for Healthy Aging
Authors: Yu Mengdi , Zhang Hongxia , Wang Brian , Zhang Yinuo , Zheng Xiaoying , Shao Bei , Zhuge Qichuan , Jin Kunlin
Published: March 2021

Aging is a fundamental biological process accompanied by a general decline in tissue function. Indeed, as the lifespan increases, age-related dysfunction, such as cognitive impairment or dementia, will become a growing public health issue. Aging is also a great risk factor for many age-related diseases. Nowadays, people want not only to live longer but also healthier. Therefore, there is a critical need in understanding the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating aging that will allow us to modify the aging process for healthy aging and alleviate age-related disease. Here, we reviewed the recent breakthroughs in the mechanistic understanding of biological aging, focusing on the adenosine monophosphate-activated kinase (AMPK), Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathways, which are currently considered critical for aging. We also discussed how these proteins and pathways may potentially interact with each other to regulate aging. We further described how the knowledge of these pathways may lead to new interventions for antiaging and against age-related disease.
Overview of Spark Plasma Texturing of Functional Ceramics
Authors: NOUDEM Jacques G. , XING Yiteng
Published: March 2021

This work reports the progress in the preparation of superconducting and thermoelectric lamellar compounds processed by the unconventional Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS). The SPS equipment was modified with the aim of obtaining the textured and dense superconductor Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10,p-type oxide thermoelectric bulk as Ca3Co4O9 and Ca3-xAgxCo4O9/Ag composites respectively. The new process is referred to as Spark Plasma Texturing (SPT). During SPT, the bulk material can freely deform. As a result, inter-grain preferential crystallographic orientation is created. The series of sintered and textured samples using the same Ag content were processed respectively. From the results, we can evidence: (i) the magnetic and/or structural transition around 350 °C, for both series of samples. (ii) The electrical resistivity (ρ) decreases with increasing Ag-substituted or Ag-added. (iii) The Seebeck coefficient (S) of the textured series is higher than that of the sintered series. In the case of the Ag-substituted, S, decreases with Ag content. The optimized composite is found to be Ca2.6Ag0.4Co4O9/8wt% Ag. We can note the remarkable reduction of ρ, and the improvement of power factor values up to 360 μW.m−1.K−2.The superconducting properties of single phased Bi2Sr2Ca2Cu3O10 (Bi2223) consolidated using SPS and SPT will also be discussed.
The Measurement of Stiffness for Major Muscles with Shear Wave Elastography and Myoton: A Quantitative Analysis Study
Authors: Lee Youngjin , Kim Minkyoung , Lee Haneul
Published: March 2021

The present study was performed to assess the relationship between hand-held myotonometer MyotonPRO and shear wave elastography (SWE) measurements of lower limb muscle stiffness during resting and active voluntary contraction. Forty healthy young adults, (20 males and 20 females) participated in the study. The stiffness of each subject’s rectus femoris (RF), biceps femoris (BF), tibialis anterior (TA), and medial gastrocnemius (MG) was measured repeatedly by MyotonPRO and SWE. Moderate to strong correlations between the two methods’ measurements were found for both resting and active voluntary contraction. (r = 0.416–0.669, p < 0.05; r = 0.398–0.594, p < 0.05, respectively). Muscle stiffness at rest was significantly lower compared contraction in all four muscles measured by both methods (p < 0.05). Intra-rater reliabilities were generally lower when measurements were taken during contraction. Additionally, when compared by gender, muscle stiffness measured by MyotonPRO was significantly higher at rest in men compared to women, except for the TA. However, a significant difference was found in TA muscle stiffness by gender when measured with SWE. When muscles were contracted, all muscles showed significantly higher stiffness in men compared to women. There were moderate to good correlations in muscle stiffness between measurements of SWE and MyotonPRO at rest and during active voluntary contraction. Additionally, both instruments showed good intra-rater reliability.
An Automated Microscopic Malaria Parasite Detection System Using Digital Image Analysis
Authors: Yoon Jung , Jang Woong Sik , Nam Jeonghun , Mihn Do-CiC , Lim Chae Seung
Published: March 2021

Rapid diagnosis and parasitemia measurement is crucial for management of malaria. Microscopic examination of peripheral blood (PB) smears is the gold standard for malaria detection. However, this method is labor-intensive. Here, we aimed to develop a completely automated microscopic system for malaria detection and parasitemia measurement. The automated system comprises a microscope, plastic chip, fluorescent dye, and an image analysis program. Analytical performance was evaluated regarding linearity, precision, and limit of detection and was compared with that of conventional microscopic PB smear examination and flow cytometry. The automated microscopic malaria parasite detection system showed a high degree of linearity for Plasmodium falciparum culture (R2 = 0.958, p = 0.005) and Plasmodium vivax infected samples (R2 = 0.931, p = 0.008). Precision was defined as the %CV of the assay results at each level of parasitemia and the %CV value for our system was lower than that for microscopic examination for all densities of parasitemia. The limit of detection analysis showed 95% probability for parasite detection was 0.00066112%, and a high correlation was observed among all three methods. The sensitivity and specificity of the system was both 100% (n = 21/21) and 100% (n = 50/50), respectively, and the system correctly identified all P. vivax and P. falciparum samples. The automated microscopic malaria parasite detection system offers several advantages over conventional microscopy for rapid diagnosis and parasite density monitoring of malaria.
Conventional Machine Learning versus Deep Learning for Magnification Dependent Histopathological Breast Cancer Image Classification: A Comparative Study with Visual Explanation
Authors: Boumaraf Said , Liu Xiabi , Wan Yuchai , Zheng Zhongshu , Ferkous Chokri , Ma Xiaohong , Li Zhuo , Bardou Dalal
Published: March 2021

Breast cancer is a serious threat to women. Many machine learning-based computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) methods have been proposed for the early diagnosis of breast cancer based on histopathological images. Even though many such classification methods achieved high accuracy, many of them lack the explanation of the classification process. In this paper, we compare the performance of conventional machine learning (CML) against deep learning (DL)-based methods. We also provide a visual interpretation for the task of classifying breast cancer in histopathological images. For CML-based methods, we extract a set of handcrafted features using three feature extractors and fuse them to get image representation that would act as an input to train five classical classifiers. For DL-based methods, we adopt the transfer learning approach to the well-known VGG-19 deep learning architecture, where its pre-trained version on the large scale ImageNet, is block-wise fine-tuned on histopathological images. The evaluation of the proposed methods is carried out on the publicly available BreaKHis dataset for the magnification dependent classification of benign and malignant breast cancer and their eight sub-classes, and a further validation on KIMIA Path960, a magnification-free histopathological dataset with 20 image classes, is also performed. After providing the classification results of CML and DL methods, and to better explain the difference in the classification performance, we visualize the learned features. For the DL-based method, we intuitively visualize the areas of interest of the best fine-tuned deep neural networks using attention maps to explain the decision-making process and improve the clinical interpretability of the proposed models. The visual explanation can inherently improve the pathologist’s trust in automated DL methods as a credible and trustworthy support tool for breast cancer diagnosis. The achieved results show that DL methods outperform CML approaches where we reached an accuracy between 94.05% and 98.13% for the binary classification and between 76.77% and 88.95% for the eight-class classification, while for DL approaches, the accuracies range from 85.65% to 89.32% for the binary classification and from 63.55% to 69.69% for the eight-class classification.
Exercise-Based Muscle Development Programmes and Their Effectiveness in the Functional Recovery of Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy: A Systematic Review
Authors: Dominguez-Romero Juan G. , Jiménez-Rejano José J. , Ridao-Fernández Carmen , Chamorro-Moriana Gema
Published: March 2021

(1) Background: Rotator cuff (RC) tendinopathy causes pain and functional limitation of the shoulder. Physical exercises are effective therapies but there is no consensus on which exercise programme is the most appropriate. Objective: To analyze and compare the effectiveness of different intervention modalities-based exclusively on physical exercise muscle-development programs to improve shoulder pain and function in RC tendinopathy. (2) Methods: Systematic review (PRISMA) through a search in PubMed, WOS, PEDro, Cinahl, Scopus and Dialnet. The PEDro Scale and the Cochrane Risk of Bias analyzed the methodological quality. A pre-established table collected data on: patients, interventions, outcome measures and results. A narrative synthesis of the results was conducted. (3) Results: eight articles were selected (Cochrane: low risk of bias; PEDro: good quality). All assessed programs were effective. Only one study found statistically and clinically significant differences in favour of eccentric training. The exercises used were: eccentric/concentric/conventional, open/closed kinetic chain, with/without co-activation of glenohumeral muscle, with/without pain, and in clinic/at home. (4) Conclusions: All exercise programs were effective in RC tendinopathy, improving pain and shoulder function. No solid results were obtained when the interventions were compared due to their heterogeneity. Patients perception assessment tools were the most widely used. Amount of load applied should be considered.
Alzheimer's disease: family structure and dynamics
Authors: Álvarez-Ormazábal Juan A.
Published: March 2021

This research focused on the study of structure, and dynamic of families containing one member diagnosed with Alzheimer´s disease. The interest in the changes during the cycle life and the study in the family psychology area have brought about new instruments whose objective is to obtain a better understanding of the systemic phenomena. One of these is the fourth version of a questionnaire created by Olson, Gorall y Tiesel (2006): FACES-IV, a test whose purpose is to evaluate a family´s cohesion and adaptability. The investigation was based on two central objectives: one was to examine the psychometric properties of a translated version of FACES-IV. The other was to observe to what extent the disease has influenced the cohesion and adaptability of the family in function of its structure and type. These objectives were realized by administering the test to 135 family members, coming from 69 families. The psychometric properties revealed a lack of validity in the unbalanced scales, but satisfactory in the cohesion and flexibility scales. The Olson’s model did not adequately fit the data. It was observed that the diagnosis of Alzheimer´s affected the family´s cohesion, satisfaction, and general functioning, in accordance with the family´s type and the caregiver.
Comparative Study of Burnout in Professional Caregivers of Institutionalized Elderly with Dementia and other Diseases
Authors: Méndez Inmaculada , Secanilla Esther , Martínez Juan P. , Navarro Josefa
Published: March 2021

In a global approach about the need of paying attention to staff working with and for older people with dementia and other diseases in residential care, it is necessary to investigate their emotional well-being to provide strategies to improve their quality of life and therefore their quality of patient care. Professional caregivers of people with dementia and other diseases have specific psycho-sociological problems. They are more prone to stress which can sometimes lead to the “burnout” due to specific functions in the workplace. To define the sample was decided to compare two residential centers of two regions, Murcia and Barcelona. We proceeded to the administration of the following measuring instruments: the scale Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and an ad hoc survey conducted for professional caregivers. Finally, the results offer the possibility of carrying out programs to prevent emotional exhaustion in professional carers, as well as the possibility of designing psychoeducational programs for staff care and even future proactive and reactive interventions.
The Attention of Caregiver. An Intersdisciplinary Vision
Authors: Secanilla Esther , Bonjoch María , Galindo Margarida , Gros Laura
Published: March 2021

In a global approach to the attention of carers of older people with dementia living at the elder’s home, it is essential to promote their personal, social and emotional wellbeing as well as provide them with tools that improve their quality of life. With this goal we present the experience of CDD and Residencia de Horta, Barcelona. A documentary review of the file was made, covering the period between 2004 and 2010 to define the sample. For the analysis of the semistructured admission interviews, monitoring and mentoring, a research was made through the daily records. Other strategies used were fulfilment questionnaires as well as the validated questionnaire of caregiver’s burden (Zarit and Zarit, 1982). Likewise, there was a systematic active observation of the GAM group. The interviews were made to the caregivers who attended the GAM. It is proven that actions of prevention and monitoring as well as psycho-educational training designed for carers promotes the user’s staying at their home, improves their quality of life and their caregiver’s.
Nutrition Study People over 80 Years
Authors: Benítez Javier , Perejón Nieves , Arriaza Marcelino , Bellanco Pilar
Published: March 2021

Loneliness has always been associated and reported as a risk factor of malnutrition in the elderly. People over 80 who live alone have deserved this study to detect their situation and potential for action to improve their quality of life. Objectives: To determinate the nutritional status of people over 80 living alone in the area of “La Laguna”, Cádiz. Material and method: In PIAMLA`80 program analyse those parameters and their possible correlations in a group of 342 elderly living alone over 80 years old. Different parameters were measured: Integral Geriatric Evaluation, Barthel, Lawton-Brody, Lobo, Gijon, specific analytical blood chemistry and MNA. Results: In a population of 984 people, were selected 342 initially, but finally the group decreases to 247 people. The mean Barthel was 80.42 points, 5.76 Lawton and Gijon from 11.3 Lobo 26.48. The MNA for the whole population was 24.25/30 detecting only a risk age group in women of 85-95. Correlation between nutrition and the biochemical test values showed positive for haemoglobin (0.19), total protein (0.26), Fe (0.32) and albumin (0.46). Conclusions: In our research we have not detected malnutrition in any age group or gender. The use of nutrition test MNA and its MINI version must be generalized as an accurate, clear, quick and easy tool to use.
Stress in Teachers in Secondary Education: an Analysis from the Optimism
Authors: Villardefrancos Pol Estíbaliz , Mariño María José Santiago , Castro Bolaño Cristina , Reinoso Sofía Aché , Otero-López José Manuel
Published: March 2021

There seems to be a remarkable consensus in recent years with regards to the importance of student disruptive behaviors and/or attitudes, conflictive situations, and the lack of social support as factors hindering school life and contributing to the increase of teacher occupational malaise. However, there are few empirical studies about the relationships between said causes and personality variables. The aim of this research based on a sample of 1537 secondary education teachers was to identify which sources of stress establish significant differences between levels of optimism (low, moderate and high) derived from teachers’ self-reports; also analyzed was if the facets of stress (student disruptive behaviors, lack of social support and conflict) discriminate between teachers who report low vs. high optimism. The results suggest that the considered stressors validly differentiate between levels of optimism. Likewise, student disruptive behaviors and conflict facets allow for discrimination based on teacher optimism.
Aggressors in Bullying and Disocial Behaviours
Authors: Cerezo Fuensanta , Méndez Inmaculada
Published: March 2021

Several studies relate antisocial and aggressive behavior in adolescents. This work explores the relationship between aggression in bullying and other antisocial behaviors and analyzes de differences among bullying roles. A sample of 1239 Secondary School pupils from the Region of Murcia (Spain) completed an adaptation of the Drugs State Scale (ESTUDES) and the BULL-S Test for the sociometric evaluation of aggressiveness among pupils. Around 30% of the sample indicated that had consumed some type of drug and there were no differences by gender and more than 50% made some kind of dissocial behavior. Significant differences were found among the roles in bullying, highlighting a positive correlation among bully pupils, consume and antisocial behaviours. Those behaviours were related to personal, scholar and family risk actions as driving under alcohol effects, taking part in fights, being arrested by the police, running away from home for more than a full day or being thrown out of school for a full day or more. Meanwhile “having a conflict or an important quarrel with parents or siblings” do not showed significant differences. There were differences in the type of drug consumed between aggressors and victims.
The Influence of Gender in Usage of Democratic Values for Intercultural Educational Inclusion
Authors: Fernández María Tomé , Berrocal De Luna Emilio
Published: March 2021

Nowadays, society is shaped by individuals of different religions, ethnics or cultures. In this situation, the usage of common values may be the guarantee of a successful coexistence. We call these values “democratic values” due to the guarantee efficacy of pluralist coexistence and intercultural education has a prior role in their transmission. We wonder if gender has an influence on intercultural education and the usage of those values. In this research, we aim analyze the relation between gender and usage of democratic values. We used a sample of 493 adolescents (48.70% female, 100% white, Mage=13.91%, SD=0.29) in Tromsø (Norway). Three sorts of democratic values were assessed (primary, secondary and tertiary values). Results conclude that female adolescents use these values in the intercultural practice more than male ones. Furthermore, male and female samples concur with considering the same value as the less used in the intercultural practice, their preferences differ in choosing the most used value.
Perception of School Life Skills in University Education: Comparative Analysis of the Construct Validity Between Spain and Brazil
Authors: Valdivieso Juan A. , Carbonero Miguel Ángel , Martín-Antón Luis Jorge , Freitas Alvaci
Published: March 2021

This paper makes a theoretical and a descriptive analysis of the psycho-instructional profiles of the teaching styles of Higher Education teachers about social skills and competences directly related to the promotion of school co-existence. The main objective is establishing the comparative analysis of university teaching self-perceived of a sample of teachers of Spanish and Brazilian universities. From the construction and validation of a Likert scale of self-perceived teaching competence in university teaching (CEVES) we develop a conceptual model of professional variables of teaching competence in the Higher Education level, based on integrative approaches of Instructional and Positive Psychology. Through an expert judgment process and sampling of N=205 Higher Education professors in the field of Humanities and Social Sciences, we analyzed the self-perceptions results comparatively between spanish and brazilian universities in each of the variables.
Prevalence of Reading Comprehension Difficulties in Spanish
Authors: García Eduardo , Jiménez Juan E. , González Desirée , Jiménez-Suárez Elisabeth
Published: March 2021

The main purpose of this research was to analyze the prevalence and diversity of reading comprehension difficulties in Spanish students of primary and secondary schools. We evaluated a large sample of students from the Canary Islands region that stretched from second grade of primary until the final year of secondary education. Once the percentage of students with reading comprehension difficulties was determined, we classified them in different categories: students with low intelligence, students with specific reading comprehension (poor comprehenders), students with deficit on reading words/pseudowords, absentee students and inmigrants. The results show that 20.2% of the student population present serious problems in understanding a text and 6.7% of the total is included in the category of poor comprehenders. Also we found a group of students with difficulties in decoding skills but whose performance on comprehension tasks was normal, showing that not all learning disability students have poor comprehension.
Inclusion and School Coexistence: Analysis of Teachers Training
Authors: González-Gil Francisca , Martín-Pastor Elena , Flores Robaina Noelia , Jenaro Río Cristina , Poy Castro Raquel , Gómez-Vela María
Published: March 2021

In our schools, diversity is reflected in different learning rates, abilities, interests, motivations, expectations, needs, and so on. This situation affects coexistence and demands appropriate educative attention. Inclusive education is the best way to achieve this in that involvement and participation of all people in transforming schools is the only way to achieve and fine-tune coexistence in each educational centre. However, this reality justifies the need for teachers training to meet the challenges of achieving success for all the students. For the current study, an ad hoc survey was developed to assess the perceived training needs of teachers for promoting inclusion. A sample of 400 teachers working in Castilla y León schools was utilized. The results showed several perceived training needs for teachers. These needs related to issues for participating in the processes of transforming schools into inclusive settings. Additional perceived needs related to inclusive methodologies to be implemented in the schools and strategies to improve their coexistence.