bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Game-Based Learning in an Online Environment
Authors: Ko Stephen , Kong Eric
Published: January 2021

A game-based learning team exercise was specifically designed as a teaching tool which aimed to unlock the black box of cultivating student engagement in an online learning environment. In the exercise, online distance learning students were divided into police and prisoner groups whereby they were required to use different resources for catching the prisoners or for escaping from the police on a virtual map. The team exercise helped to create an innovative online learning environment that was active, cooperative, and encouraged student engagement, these being some of the key elements to enhance the quality of student experience. To evaluate the effectiveness of this exercise, an experiment was conducted using survey data from undergraduate students in an online learning environment. Results showed that the online class with a team-based activity had significantly higher scores in students' behavioral engagement than the other online class without a team-based activity while the differences in cognitive and emotional engagements were not significant.
Biometric Authentication Techniques in Online Learning Environments
Authors: Curran Jack , Curran Kevin
Published: January 2021

The deployment of online e-learning can lead to many security risks, such as confidentiality loss, exposure of critical data, availability and destruction of publicly available information services. Security and proper authentication is critical in any online learning environment because any flaws can affect perceptions of its trustworthiness. Biometric authentication is increasingly being used in the newer generation of online learning environments for authentication of remote learners. Biometrics scan unique physiological characteristics in humans to identify people. These include fingerprints, iris, retina, voice, face, gait, and odor. The authors look at the state of biometric authentication techniques applicable to online learning environments and provide a more in-depth examination of face- and iris-based authentication systems for proper identification of learners.
Teacher Induction for Teachers Prepared Online
Authors: Richardson Michael D. , Yates Marguerite H. , Lemoine Pamela A.
Published: January 2021

Innovation and change in university preparation of teachers requires acquisition of technological pedagogy in response to the demands of a knowledge economy where students are engaged in technology implementation in a constantly changing world. Teacher preparation programs historically have been contained on campus using face-to-face instruction. As the second decade of the twenty-first century unfolds, universities have adopted online learning in teacher preparation to accommodate the needs of a more diverse clientele. Educator preparation now faces two major challenges: a critical mass generated by net generation students who have increased demands for online access to learning and a teaching force without prerequisite skills and dispositions to dramatically alter modes of instruction.
Communication in Online Learning
Authors: Chametzky Barry
Published: January 2021

An online learning environment is a rather lonely, isolated place. Because of this seemingly dismal venue, learners suffer in invisible ways such as attrition and disempowerment. While great educational things can and do happen online, it is vital to remember that because of the reduced visual clues, a number of things that need to be accomplished if learners are to succeed in this environment. In order to understand more clearly what is required in an online environment for learners to be successful, under the umbrella of communication, this author will discuss a number of ways to help course members break down feelings of isolation, increase meaningfulness, and increase empowerment.
Benefits and Challenges of Collaborative Learning in Online Teacher Education
Authors: Zygouris-Coe Vassiliki I.
Published: January 2021

Demand for online learning is increasing in US colleges and universities. Learning does not occur in a vacuum; students learn independently and collaboratively. But, is there room for collaborative learning in online courses? This chapter presents information on how a teacher educator designed and implemented collaborative learning in a developmental reading online course for preservice and inservice educators in grades P-12. The author presents details on course design issues, instructional practices, benefits, and challenges associated with collaborative learning in this online course, and implications for further development and evaluation of collaborative learning in teacher preparation programs. The author also provides recommendations from lessons learned for promoting collaboration in online teacher education courses.
Developing a Sense of Community Through Engaging Platforms in Support of Online Graduate Students Socialization
Authors: Eakins Amanda
Published: January 2021

Graduate schools often operate in a decentralized community due to the diversity of disciplines and needs within; as such, the success of graduate students and their involvement are then left to the purview of the colleges and programs. However, we know that collaboration with programs and other campus departments are important in developing a sense of community for students in support of student success, retention, and graduation. Yet, the availability of student resources that fosters and supports student academic and professional socialization which are evident in traditional graduate programs are not always reciprocated in online programs. In this chapter, the author will draw from the theories of socialization, community of inquiry (COI) and the equivalency theory to create a sense of community for successfully engaging and preparing students in online graduate programs for their professional roles post-graduation.
Students' Perceptions About the Impact of Using Padlet on Class Engagement
Authors: Nadeem Nahla Helmy
Published: January 2021

Student engagement is a multidimensional construct that includes four distinct, though interrelated, aspects: behavioral, emotional, agentive, and cognitive engagement. The present study investigates students' perceptions about the impact of Padlet as a learning and assessment tool on the four aspects of class engagement. Padlet is a virtual wall that allows students to interact and contribute to class discussions and at the same time provides teachers with feedback on the learning process. The exploratory study was conducted on 27 female students in a 3-credit sociolinguistics course in which Padlet was used as a learning and assessment tool. At the end of the course, a survey and a personal interview were used to get students' feedback on the effectiveness of Padlet through addressing various aspects of their perceived engagement. The results showed that using Padlet enhanced student engagement, fostered active learning and offered positive assessment experiences. Its perceived effectiveness was mainly due to Padlet features that supported student collaboration, promoted students' agency and helped in creating a positive learning atmosphere. Its major shortcoming as an assessment tool was the lack of written feedback to students. However, teachers could use a combination of online and written assessments to compensate for this shortcoming.
Destabilizing the Activity System of Online Teaching Through Critical Theory
Authors: Wang Viktor , Torrisi-Steele Geraldine
Published: January 2021

Despite the rapid and prolific uptake of online learning across higher education, the promised positive impact of digital technologies on the quality of learning has mostly failed to materialize. The need for change or reshaping of teaching practice in online environments is well documented, and there is much literature encouraging educators to exploit the affordances of digital media to provide rich learning experiences. However, efforts to affect the needed changes in practice are not very successful. In the present chapter, the authors adopt a framework of activity theory and integrate it with principles of critical theory and transformative practice to better understand why change in teaching practices in online environments has been difficult to realize. The authors also provide a theoretical framework that may be applied to driving change in online teaching practices.
The Relationship and Impact of Communication on Leadership
Authors: Galli Brian J.
Published: January 2021

A manager is the one who is competent to fulfill this by effective leading, sound planning, monitoring, and communicating. It is the manager's communication skills that motivate and inspire teammates to work hard and achieve team target and organizational goals, as well. Furthermore, this paper later explains the idea of leadership communication, steps, and solution, which involved in overcoming the problems. Notably, future leaders must also certainly ensure that the subordinates are treated as members of the organization, whereby consistency in providing sound leadership would determine employee motivation and performance. This paper study also identifies trust in direction, which is related to work outcomes and trust in each other to improve better communication. Therefore, with the help of better communication, one can fulfill their job satisfaction and communication competency.
Students of the Imaginary
Authors: Su Xin , Harrison Neil , Moloney Robyn
Published: January 2021

This article applies the work of French psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan to interpret the experiences and struggles of students who attend Xinjiang classes, a Chinese government-funded ethnic minority boarding school program. The psychoanalytic domains theorized by Lacan are used in this article to argue that the decisions made by Xinjiang class students are subject to the desire of parents and ethnic community customs as much as they are to government policies. Students want to take advantage of their newfound opportunities in Eastern China, but they also want to please their parents and respect ethnic traditions. They oscillate between the desires of others and what they want for themselves, both of which cause them endless uncertainty and anxiety.
Research on Pre-Processing Methods for License Plate Recognition
Authors: Zhai Weifang , Gao Terry , Feng Juan
Published: January 2021

The license plate recognition technology is an important part of the construction of an intelligent traffic management system. This paper mainly researches the image preprocessing, license plate location, and character segmentation in the license plate recognition system. In the preprocessing part of the image, the edge detection method based on convolutional neural network (CNN) is used for edge detection. In the design of the license plate location, this paper proposes a location method based on a combination of mathematical morphology and statistical jump points. First, the license plate area is initially located using mathematical morphology-related operations and then the location of the license plate is accurately located using statistical jump points. Finally, the plate with tilt is corrected. In the process of character segmentation, the border and delimiter are first removed, then the character vertical projection method and the character boundary are used to segment the character for actually using cases.
Enhancing the Readership of Teacher Students With Digital Book Subscription Services
Authors: Aerila Juli-Anna , Lähteelä Johanna , Mäkelä Teemu , Kauppinen Merja
Published: January 2021

This article aims to illustrate a 7-month trial of digital book subscription services in teacher education. Student teachers of the University of Turku in Finland were encouraged to implement the service as part of their free time reading. The experiences of the digital subscription service were investigated using a questionnaire, and data were analyzed through a combination of qualitative analysis and quantitative analysis. The aim of the study was to consider the value of digital book subscription services in terms of reading for pleasure and to describe the readership of teacher students as well as their assessment of digital book subscription services as a pedagogical approach for supporting the reading of primary school students. The results indicated that digital book subscription services might enhance the readership of occasional readers and that audiobook services should be implemented more frequently in education since they seem to connect reading to other free time activities. More effort should be placed in supporting the readership of teacher students in teacher education. Currently, the attitude and amount of reading rely primarily on childhood experiences.
Towards Better Segmentation of Abnormal Part in Multimodal Images Using Kernel Possibilistic C Means Particle Swarm Optimization With Morphological Reconstruction Filters
Authors: Sumathi R.  , Mandadi Venkatesulu
Published: January 2021

The authors designed an automated framework to segment tumors with various image sequences like T1, T2, and post-processed MRI multimodal images. Contrast-limited adaptive histogram equalization method is used for preprocessing images to enhance the intensity level and view the tumor part clearly. With the combination of kernel possibilistic c means clustering with particle swarm optimization technique, a tumor part is segmented, and morphological filters are applied to remove the unrelated outlier pixels in the segmented image to detect the accurate tumor part. The authors collected various image sequences from online resources like Harvard brain dataset, BRATS, and RIDER, and a few from clinical datasets. Efficiency is ensured by computing various performance metrics like Jaccard Index MSE, PSNR, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and computational time. The proposed approach yields 97.06% segmentation accuracy and 98.08% classification accuracy for multimodal images with an average of 5s for all multimodal images.
Understanding User Engagement With Multi-Representational License Comprehension Interfaces
Authors: Avande Mahugnon Olivier , Gandhi Robin A. , Siy Harvey
Published: January 2021

License information for any non-trivial open-source software demonstrates the growing complexity of compliance management. Studies have shown that understanding open-source licenses is difficult. Prior research has not examined how developers would use interfaces displaying license text and its graphical models in studying a license. Consequently, a repeatable eye tracking-based methodology was developed to study user engagement when exploring open-source rights and obligations in a multi-modal fashion. Experiences of 10 participants in an exploratory case study design indicate that eye-tracking is feasible to quantitatively and qualitatively observe distinct interaction patterns in the use of license comprehension interfaces. A low correlation was observed between self-reported usability survey data and eye-tracking data. Conversely, a high correlation between eye-tracker and mouse data suggests the use of either in future studies. This paper provides a framework to conduct such studies as an alternative to surveys while offering interesting hypotheses for future studies.
Electronic Healthcare Records
Authors: Bhardwaj Aashish , Kumar Vikas
Published: January 2021

Patient data is very valuable and must be protected from misuse by the third parties. Also, the rights of patient like privacy, confidentiality of medical information, information about possible risks of medical treatment, to consent or refuse a treatment are very much important. Individuals should have the right to access their health records and get these deleted from hospital records after completing the treatment. Traditional ways of keeping paper-based health records are being replaced by electronic health records as they increase portability and accessibility to medical records. Governments and hospitals across the world and putting huge efforts to implement the electronic health records. The present work explores the different aspects of health privacy and health records. Most important stakeholders, technological and legal aspects have been presented from both the Indian and international perspectives. A comparative analysis has been presented for the available EHR standards with a focus on their roles and implementation challenges.
Role Conflict as Mediator Between Transformational Leadership and Change-Related Outcomes
Authors: Brouns Tim , Rexin Roxane , Externbrink Kai
Published: January 2021

The purpose of the paper is to contribute to the inner workings of transformational leadership in the context of organizational change. According to the organizational role theory, role conflict is proposed as a mediator between transformational leadership and affective commitment to change and irritation. Cross-sectional data were collected in a German company in the textiles sector, undergoing a pervasive IT-related change. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling was performed for validity and hypothesis testing. The findings suggest that role conflict acts as a full mediator in the relationship between transformational leadership and affective commitment to change, as well as irritation. Transformational leadership is often discussed in terms of change-oriented leadership. Surprisingly, only a few studies have examined the specific impact of transformational leadership on attitudinal outcomes during change processes, yet. Consequently, research on the underlying psychological mechanisms of the relationship is scarce, too.
A Study of the Factors That Influence the Willingness of Users to Leave Comments on E-Commerce Platforms
Authors: Ye Pinghao , Liu Liqiong
Published: January 2021

This study aims to better understand the elements of e-commerce platforms that cause users to be more willing to leave behind comments. The authors summarize the literature of influencing factors and construct an influencing factor model for user comments. Self-expression questionnaires were used to provide data for structural equation modeling (SEM). They found that user reputation, perceived moral responsibility, and emotional tendency each exert a positive impact on the willingness to comment; that reciprocity psychology moderates the correlation between moral responsibility and commenting willingness; and that platform feedback moderates the correlation between economic reward and emotional tendency. This study helps merchants better understand when users are more likely to leave comments helpful to improving customer satisfaction levels.
The Relationship Between Intention to Use, Popularity Information About a Technology, and Trust in Predecessors and Vendors
Authors: Vedadi Ali , Greer Timothy H.
Published: January 2021

Perceived uncertainty is a major trigger for herd behavior. Trust is also known to have a key role on decision making under conditions of uncertainty. This research contributes to the literature by examining the role trust plays in the context of herd behavior. The analysis shows that under conditions of uncertainty, receiving popularity information about a technology (as the experimental manipulation) substantially strengthens the relationship between end user trust in predecessors and their behavioral intention toward using the technology. In contrast, receiving popularity information significantly weakens the relationship between trust in vendor and behavioral intention. Furthermore, the effect size of the trust-related constructs on behavioral intention was found to be large, and so indicative of its substantial influence on decision making in uncertain circumstances.
Preparation of Ethanolic Butterfly Pea Extract Using Microwave Assisted Extraction and Loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carriers: Evaluation of Antioxidant Potential for Stabilization of Fish Oil
Authors: Saejung Tipparat , Don-In Julinta , Chimsook Thitiphan
Published: January 2021

Fresh whole flowers of the butterfly pea were extracted with 95% ethanol and analyzed the antioxidant activity. The total phenolic content (TPC) of butterfly pea ethanolic extract (BE) was 26.90±1.12 mg gallic acid equivalents/g of dry weight and radical DPPH scavenging activity of ethanolic extract was. The ethanolic extract-loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carriers called BE-NLC were prepared by the high shear homogenization method using compritol 888 ATO, miglyol oil, poloxamer 188, extract and tween 80, respectively. Particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential 27.78±0.12 mg Trolox equivalents/g of dry weight and entrapment efficiency (EE) were determined. The morphology of the BE-NLC was spherical. The entrapment efficiency of extract was 72.51±1.11% in NLC system. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by the estimation of peroxide values (PVs) of fish oil from catfish, treated with natural antioxidant (BE and BE-NLC) and compared with butylated hydroxy toluene (BHT) as synthetic antioxidant by incubating at 65 °C for a period of 12 days. BHT was found to have higher antioxidant activity than BE and BE-NLC in fish oil. Treatment containing BE-NLC and BHT in fish oil showed similar PVs after the 4 days. However, the antioxidant activity of BE-NLC in stabilization of fish oil is higher than that of BE.
Investigation on the Improvement of Surface Quality by the Magnetic Plate-Assisted Magnetic Abrasive Finishing Process
Authors: Zou Yan Hua , Xie Hui Jun
Published: January 2021

The traditional magnetic abrasive finishing (MAF) process, the magnetic flux density at the bottom of the magnetic pole is unevenly distributed, resulting in poor uniformity of the finished surface. Therefore, it is proposed to improve the surface quality by attaching a magnetic plate at the bottom of the workpiece to improve the magnetic field distribution. It is confirmed by simulation that the magnetic field distribution at the bottom of the magnetic pole is effectively improved after the magnetic plate is attached. It is proved through experiments that the magnetic plate-assisted MAF process can obtain a smoother surface. The experimental results show that the surface roughness of the glass lens improves from 246 nm Ra to 3 nm Ra through the magnetic plate-assisted MAF process within 45min.
Segment Matrix Design and Drilling Test of Diamond Bit for Sapphire
Authors: Xu Liang , Liu Yi Bo , Xu Qiang
Published: January 2021

This paper introduces the characteristics of sapphire and sapphire digging bits in LED field. The segment matrix design principle of bit and the rule of diamond selection are put forward. In addition, this paper analyzes the function of different metal powders and diamond parameters in the segment matrix. The results show that the finer grained (for example 80/100 mesh) diamond should be used with the concentrations of 30-60%. In the segment matrix, tin element can make the matrix more brittle and then the bit is sharper. Copper, silver and nickel element can enhance the matrix toughness and strength, cobalt and tungsten element can increase abrasive resistance. All of the above designs enable the sapphire bit to high sharpness and long life. A 4-inch sapphire bit was prepared for drilling sapphire crystal, the efficiency is increased by 8% than the Taiwan drill bit with the same specifications, the life is equal to Taiwan's drill bit, and the defect rate of sapphire bar is less than 0.5%, which satisfies the requirement of customers.
Generation of an HLA-DQ2.5 Knock-In Mouse
Authors: Dewan Alisa E , Koentgen Frank , Johannesen Marie K , du Pre M Fleur , Sollid Ludvig M
Published: January 2021

The human MHC class II molecule HLA-DQ2.5 is implicated in multiple autoimmune disorders, including celiac disease, type 1 diabetes, and systemic lupus erythematosus. The pathogenic contribution of HLA-DQ2.5 in many of these disorders is not fully understood. There is thus a need for an HLA-DQ2.5 humanized mouse model with physiological expression of this MHC molecule that can be integrated into disease models. In this article, we report the generation of an HLA-DQ2.5 knock-in mouse strain on a C57BL/6 background in which sequences encoding the extracellular moieties of mouse MHC class II H2-IAa and H2-IAb1 have been replaced with those of HLA-DQA1*05:01 and HLA-DQB1*02:01. In heterozygous knock-in mice, the expression of HLA-DQ2.5 is superimposable with the expression of H2-IA. This was not the case in a regular untargeted HLA-DQ2.5 transgenic mouse. HLA-DQ2.5 in the knock-in animals is functional for T cell development and for Ag presentation to HLA-DQ2.5–restricted and gluten-specific T cells. Because C57BL/6 mice do not express H2-IEa, the only functional MHC class II molecule in homozygous HLA-DQ2.5 knock-in mice is the knock-in gene product. This alleviates the need for crossing with MHC class II knockout mice to study the isolated function of the MHC transgene. Our novel mouse strain provides an important tool to study the involvement of HLA-DQ2.5 in models of diseases with association to this HLA allotype.
The Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase Is a Key Metabolic Enzyme and Critical Virulence Factor of Leishmania major
Authors: Barazandeh Aida Feiz , Mou Zhirong , Ikeogu Nnamdi , Mejia Edgard M. , Edechi Chidalu A. , Zhang Wen-Wei , Alizadeh Javad , Hatch Grant M. , Ghavami Saeid , Matlashewski Greg , Marshall Aaron J. , Uzonna Jude E.
Published: January 2021

There is currently no effective vaccine against leishmaniasis because of the lack of sufficient knowledge about the Ags that stimulate host-protective and long-lasting T cell–mediated immunity. We previously identified Leishmania phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK, a gluconeogenic enzyme) as an immunodominant Ag that is expressed by both the insect (promastigote) and mammalian (amastigote) stages of the parasite. In this study, we investigated the role of PEPCK in metabolism, virulence, and immunopathogenicity of Leishmania major. We show that targeted loss of PEPCK results in impaired proliferation of L. major in axenic culture and bone marrow–derived macrophages. Furthermore, the deficiency of PEPCK results in highly attenuated pathology in vivo. BALB/c mice infected with PEPCK-deficient parasites failed to develop any cutaneous lesions despite harboring parasites at the cutaneous site of infection. This was associated with a dramatic reduction in the frequency of cytokine (IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-10)-producing CD4+ T cells in spleens and lymph nodes draining the infection site. Cells from mice infected with PEPCK-deficient parasites also produced significantly low levels of these cytokines into the culture supernatant following in vitro restimulation with soluble Leishmania Ag. PEPCK-deficient parasites exhibited significantly greater extracellular acidification rate, increased proton leak, and decreased ATP-coupling efficiency and oxygen consumption rates in comparison with their wild-type and addback counterparts. Taken together, these results show that PEPCK is a critical metabolic enzyme for Leishmania, and its deletion results in altered metabolic activity and attenuation of virulence.
Gut Commensal Segmented Filamentous Bacteria Fine-Tune T Follicular Regulatory Cells to Modify the Severity of Systemic Autoimmune Arthritis
Authors: Bates Nicholas A. , Li Anna , Fan Tingting , Cutcliffe Madeline P. , Dagenet Caitlyn B. , Sleiman Kiah C. , Ma Heqing , Tahsin Shekha , Garrett Candace S. , Altemus Jesse , Wu Hsin-Jung Joyce
Published: January 2021

Autoantibodies play a major pathogenic role in rheumatoid arthritis. T follicular helper (Tfh) cells promote germinal center B cell and Ab responses. Excessive Tfh cell responses lead to autoimmunity, and therefore, counterregulation is crucial. T follicular regulatory (Tfr) cells, mainly differentiated from T regulatory cells, can negatively regulate Tfh and germinal center B cells. Dysbiosis is involved in rheumatoid arthritis’s pathogenesis. We previously demonstrated that the gut microbiota, segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB), promote autoimmune arthritis by inducing Tfh cells. However, little is known regarding whether gut microbiota influence systemic (nongut) Tfr cells, impacting gut-distal autoimmunity. In this study, using SFB in autoimmune arthritic K/BxN mice, we demonstrated that SFB-induced arthritis is linked to the reduction of Tfr cells' CTLA-4, the key regulatory molecule of Tfr cells. This SFB-mediated CTLA-4 reduction is associated with increased Tfr glycolytic activity, and glycolytic inhibition increases Tfr cells' CTLA-4 levels and reduces arthritis. The surface expression of CTLA-4 is tied to TCR signaling strength, and we discovered that SFB-reduced CTLA-4 is associated with a reduction of Nur77, an indicator of TCR signaling strength. Nur77 is known for repressing glycolytic activity. Using a loss-of-function study, we demonstrated that Nur77+/− haplodeficiency increases glycolysis and reduces CTLA-4 on Tfr cells, which is associated with increased arthritis and anti–glucose-6-phosphate isomerase titers. Tfr-specific deletion (KRN.Foxp3CreBcl-6fl/fl) in autoimmune condition reveals that Tfr cells repress arthritis, Tfh cells, and autoantibody responses and that SFB can mitigate this repression. Overall, these findings demonstrated that gut microbiota distally impact systemic autoimmunity by fine-tuning Tfr cells.
Is there an association between upper limb claudication and handgrip strength in Takayasu arteritis?
Authors: Dos Santos A.M. , Misse R.G. , Borges I.B.P. , Pereira R.M.R. , Shinjo S.K.
Published: January 2021

Limb vascular claudication and hand muscle weakness are common symptoms of Takayasu arteritis (TAK). However, no studies have correlated these two symptoms. Therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate handgrip strength and its correlation with both upper-limb vascular claudication and imaging of the vessels. This cross-sectional study compared 36 patients with TAK who were matched by age, gender, and body mass index with 36 individuals without TAK (CTR). Hand strength (assessed with handgrip dynamometer), functional capacity (Health Assessment Questionnaire, HAQ), upper-limb vascular claudication symptoms (patients’ selfreported form), and disease activity (Indian Takayasu Clinical Activity Score [ITAS] 2010; Physician Global Assessment [PGA], C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate) were evaluated as well as vessel imaging (e.g., angiotomography or angioresonance) and blood pressure. The median age of the patients was 42.0 years (35.5-51.5 years), whereas the mean disease duration was 13.1±6.8 years. No patient had active disease. Compared to the CTR, the patients with TAK showed reduced strength in the left-hand (22.9±5.9 vs 26.3±5.6 kg; p=0.014) and increased HAQ scores [0.50 (0.12-0.87) vs 0.00 (0.00-0.00); p<0.001]. Both groups had comparable blood pressure. Among patients with TAK, lefthand strength was inversely correlated with HAQ (Spearman correlation: rho=–0.584; p<0.001) and positively correlated with right-hand strength (rho=0.644; p<0.001). Moreover, neither hand’s strengths in the patients were correlated with subclavian stenosis imaging, blood pressure or limb vascular claudication. The reduction of strength in the upper left limb is inversely related to the functional capacity (HAQ score) of TAK. This reduction appears unrelated to classical vascular claudication, vessel imaging or blood pressure.
Top 100 cited articles on ankylosing spondylitis
Authors: Bagcier F. , Yurdakul O.V. , Ozduran E.
Published: January 2021

Ankylosing spondylitis is a global health problem. There are continuous innovations in terms of etiopathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment. Here, the top 100 most cited articles on ankylosing spondylitis during the last three decades are analyzed. On April 6, 2020, the Web of Science was screened from 1984 to 2020 using the terms ankylosing spondylitis; the top 100 most cited articles were identified. For bibliometric analysis, the name of the article, year of publication, author information, number of citations, name of the publishing journal, H-index, impact factor, countries of the authors, types of articles, and funding sources were recorded. The Altmetric attention was recorded using a program that automatically calculates the score. The total number of citations of the articles in the list ranged from 176 to 3700. Arthritis and Rheumatism (n=31) and Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (n=27) were the two leading journals in which the majority of the articles were published. Germany produced most of the articles; Braun J was the most cited author. Randomized controlled clinical trials were found to constitute most of the articles (n=35). According to the citation number, studies evaluating classification criteria and disease activity indices and, according to the Altmetric Attention Score, studies addressing the prevalence and biological agents were prominent. We present a perspective on the extent to which the most cited articles on ankylosing spondylitis draw interest in the scientific community and on social media platforms.
Noncommutative Borsuk–Ulam-type conjectures revisited
Authors: Dąbrowski Ludwik , Hajac Piotr M. , Neshveyev Sergey
Published: January 2021

Let

H

be the C*-algebra of a non-trivial compact quantum group acting freely on a unital C*-algebra

A

. It was recently conjectured that there does not exist an equivariant *-homomorphism from

A

(type-I case) or

H

(type-II case) to the equivariant noncommutative join C*-algebra

A\circledast^\delta H

. When

A

is the C*-algebra of functions on a sphere, and

H

is the C*-algebra of functions on

\mathbb{Z}/2\mathbb{Z}

acting antipodally on the sphere, then the conjecture of type I becomes the celebrated Borsuk–Ulam theorem. Taking advantage of recent work of Passer, we prove the conjecture of type I for compact quantum groups admitting a non-trivial torsion character. Next, we prove that, if the compact quantum group

(H,\Delta)

admits a representation whose

K_1

-class is non-trivial and

A

admits a character, then a stronger version of the type-II conjecture holds: the finitely generated projective module associated with

A\circledast^\delta H

via this representation is not stably free. In particular, we apply this result to the

q

-deformations of compact connected semisimple Lie groups and to the reduced group C*-algebras of free groups on

n>1

generators.
Exceptions to the rule? Ethnographic alternatives to cumulative cultural evolution
Authors: Steiner George F.
Published: January 2021

In suggesting that the rules that govern the evolution of cumulative culture are observed in all modern societies, gene-culture coevolution theory implies that the biases that affect the successful ‘ratcheting’ and efficient transmission of innovations are cross-cultural universals. In the modeling of the theory the stress is placed on demographic strength, the absence of which would render small and isolated populations vulnerable to the ‘treadmill effect’, the inevitable consequence of impaired social learning. However, the ethnographic literature documents small groups of isolated hunters and gatherers who have devised intricate risk-reduction networks that do not necessarily proliferate technological innovations and function only in low demographic settings. Moreover, with merit and abilities being equally distributed, the model-based and conformist biases that influence social learning in gene-culture coevolution theory become irrelevant and elaborate ‘leveling mechanisms’ inhibit the acquisition of status and prestige. As a result, no cultural models can rise to prominence and sway the trajectory of cultural change. Contrary to the predictions of the theory, these societies do not seem to be plagued by cultural loss and, instead of hopelessly running the treadmill and living in poverty, they have developed egalitarian and, to an extent, ‘affluent’ societies. The model forwarded in this paper resolves this apparent paradox by enrolling the hypothesis of ‘cultural neoteny’. It is contended that egalitarian societies – despite their simple (immediate-return) mode of subsistence – are not the vestiges of an ancestral/universal stage from which more complex (delayed-return) economies would linearly evolve, but a relatively recent and idiosyncratic achievement through ‘subtractive cultural evolution’.

Keywords: anarchic theory in ethnography, cultural heterochrony, cumulative/subtractive cultural evolution, immediate-return/egalitarian societies, ratcheting/leveling mechanisms.
Multiobjective optimization of parboiled rice quality attributes and total energy consumption
Authors: Sanusi Mayowa Saheed , Akinoso Rahman
Published: January 2021

This study was designed to investigate, model and optimize the effect of process factors (soaking temperature, soaking time, steaming time and paddy moisture content) on rice quality attributes and total energy consumption of a commercially grown rice variety (FARO 60) using response surface methodology. The optimum processing conditions obtained for the rice quality attributes and total energy consumption varies from one another. The milling recovery, head rice yield, white bellies, lightness, colour, and total energy consumption values of the parboiled rice ranges from 68.46 - 72.34%; 67.71 - 71.42%; 0.50 - 4.30%; 22.03 - 33.00; 14.10 - 21.21 and 45.27 - 73.68 MJ, respectively. The second-order polynomial models were observed to be fit in predicting milling recovery, head rice yield, white bellies and total energy consumption with the coefficient of determination (R2) that range from 78.71 to 95.03% while colour and lightness values were not fit with R2 ranging from 24.05 to 52.95%. The multiobjective optimization for desirable parboiled rice quality attributes and total energy consumption showed that universal optimum condition was found at 64°C soaking temperature, 11 h soaking time, 35 min steaming time and 17% paddy moisture content. The approach used and information obtained from this study would be useful for rice processors as a strategic means of minimizing total energy consumption, without compromising its desirable quality attributes.

Keywords: Multiobjective Optimization; Parboiled Rice Quality Attributes; Total Energy Consumption
Anticancer activity of isomultiflorenol against human cervical cancer cells due to G2/M cell cycle arrest, autophagy and mitochondrial mediated apoptosis
Authors: Li Juan , Chen Yuanyuan
Published: January 2021

Purpose: To determine the anticancer effect of a pentacyclic triterpenoid, isomultiflorenol, against human cervical cancer.Methods: The proliferation of cancer cells was determined using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5- diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Cell viability was measured with colony forming assay, while flow cytometry was used to study phase distribution in cancer cell mitosis. Electron microscopy was employed for the determination of autophagy induction in the cancer cells, while western blotting was used to assay protein expressions.Results: Isomultiflorenol significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited the proliferation and viability of cervical cancer cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The IC50 of isomultiflorenol was 10 μM for HeLa cells, and 90 μM for normal EV304 cells. The anti-proliferative effects were exerted as a result of arrest of HeLa cells at G2/M phase. The G2/M phase cells increased from 10.34 % in control to 30.21 % on treatment with 20 μM isomultiflorenol. Furthermore, administration of isomultiflorenol led to induction of cancer cell autophagy via mitochondrial apoptotic signaling.Conclusion: Isomultiflorenol inhibits human cervical cancer cells in vitro by inducing cell cycle arrest and autophagy. Thus, it is a potential lead molecule in the development of cervical cancer chemotherapy.

Keywords: Cervical cancer, Terpenoids, Isomultiflorenol, Autophagy, Cell cycle arrest, Apoptosis
Comparative studies of the anti-thrombotic effects of saffron and HongHua based on network pharmacology
Authors: Jiang Jinyan , Lin Susu , Li Qiaoqiao , Jiang Shanshan , Hu Yingjie , Liu Ling , Jiang Yu , Chen Shuting , Tong Yingpeng , Wang Ping
Published: January 2021

Purpose: To investigate the comparative anti-thrombotic effects of saffron and Honghua, and also to explore possible mechanisms in thrombosis based on network pharmacology.

Methods: A network pharmacology model was used for bioactive components, targets and pathways for saffron and HongHua via Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP), PharmMapper, Genecard, Uniprot and KEGG databases. In animal experiments, 72 rats were randomly divided into 9 groups: normal control group (NC), model control group (MC), crocetin groups (80, 40, 20 mg/kg), hydroxysafflor yellow A(HSYA) groups (80, 40, 20 mg/kg), and aspirin group (40 mg/kg). Using in vitro thrombosis models and an acute blood stasis model in vivo, the anti-thrombotic effects of these treatments on clotting time, hemorheology parameters, Thromboxane B2 (TXB2), plasmin activator inhibitor (PAI), protein C (PC), protein S (PS), and thrombinantithrombin complex (TAT) were determined and comparisons made for saffron and HongHua.

Results: Five potential compounds, 16 anti-thrombotic targets and 27 pathways were predicted for saffron, while 22 compounds, 37 disease targets and 35 pathways were found for HongHua (p < 0.05). Pharmacological experiments revealed that crocetin and HSYA had significant effects on thrombus length, thrombus wet/dry mass, whole blood viscosity (WBV), erythrocyte aggregation index (EAI), clotting time and D-dimer for the high and middle groups. Unlike HSYA, crocetin also had significant and dose-dependent effects on PAI, prothrombin fragment 1+2 (F1+2) and PS and had highly significant effects on TXB2 and TAT.

Conclusion: This research provides a systematic, comprehensive and comparative analysis of component, target and anti-thrombotic pathways of saffron and HongHua based on network pharmacology, and also shows that saffron has more significant anti-thrombotic effect than HongHua.

Keywords: Saffron; HongHua; Network pharmacology; Anti-thrombosis; Network model
Effect of aqueous ginger (Zingiber officinale) extract on sperm quality and haematology in lead acetate-treated male albino rats
Authors: Odo Rita I. , Mbegbu Edmund C. , Anyanwu Lawrence N.
Published: January 2021

Purpose: To evaluate the ameliorative effects of aqueous ginger extract on sperm quality and haematology in lead acetate-treated male albino rats.Methods: Twenty-four male albino rats used for this study were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 6). Group 1 was the normal control. Lead acetate (4 mg/kg) was given to group 2 for 6 weeks. Lead acetate (4 mg/kg) and ginger (300 mg/kg) were given to group 4 simultaneously for 6  weeks, while group 4 was given lead acetate (4 mg/kg) for 6 weeks, and then, ginger (300 mg/kg) for another 6 weeks. Haematological parameters, including packed cell volume (PCV), white blood cell (WBC) and red blood cell (RBC) counts, hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, and differential  leukocyte count were evaluated in blood obtained from the retrobulbal plexus of the rats.Results: Sperm motility and viability were markedly lower (p < 0.05) in group 2, in comparison to groups 1 and 3, while sperm motility and viability in group 3 were similar, but differed from group 1 (p < 0.05). The sperm motility and sperm viability of groups 4 and 2 were comparable.  Haematological profile showed a marked reduction in the RBC of rats in group 2, when compared to those in groups 1 and 3. The WBC of group 2 was significantly higher than those of groups 1, 3 and 4 (p < 0.05).Conclusion: The results indicate that aqueous ginger extract has the potential to protect sperm quality and haematology in lead acetate treated male rats.

Keywords: Ginger, Lead acetate, Sperm quality, Haematology
Development and validation of spectrophotometric and spectrofluorimetric methods for determination of cilnidipine
Authors: Fraihat Safwan M. , Al Khatib Hatim S.
Published: January 2021

Purpose: To develop simple and reliable quantitative methods for the determination of cilnidipine (CLD) in pharmaceutical tablets.Methods: Two simple and sensitive methods (spectrophotometric and spectrofluorimetric) were developed for the determination of cilnidipine (CLD) in pure form and in a pharmaceutical preparation. Spectrophotometric method (A) is based on oxidation of CLD with a known excess amount of Nbromosuccinamide (NBS) in acidic medium, followed by addition of methyl orange indicator and absorbance measurement at 510 nm. The spectrofluorimetric method (B) is based on oxidation of CLD to cerium (IV), followed by measurement of fluorescence emission of Ce (III) at 350 nm. Factors that affect the performance of the two methods were studied and optimized.Results: The spectrophotometric and spectrofluorimetric procedures were successfully used for measuring CLD levels in pharmaceutical dosage form, in the ranges of 2.0 - 25.0 and 0.25 - 11.2 μg/mL, at detection limits of 1.05 and 0.13 μg/mL, respectively. There were no significant differences between the proposed methods and a standard reference method (p < 0.05).Conclusion: The developed methods provide simple and reliable procedures for quantitative measurement of CLD in bulk and tablet forms.

Keywords: Cilnidipine, Oxidation, Spectrophotometric, Spectrofluorimetric, Drug formulation
Quantitative assessment of available probiotic products in community pharmacies in Benin City, Nigeria
Authors: Oloton Enosakhare , Obaseki Emmanuel
Published: January 2021

Purpose: To assess four probiotic products available in community pharmacies in Benin City, Nigeria for accuracy of information on product labels with regard to the quantity and type of microorganisms, pH and bile tolerance, and antimicrobial activity.Methods: Percent label compliance of products was determined, in addition to isolation, identification and enumeration of microorganisms. Determination of pH and bile tolerance was conducted using turbidity studies in MRS broth. Antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans pathogens was investigated using agar overlay technique.Results: In each product, there was 100 % label compliance with regard to name of probiotic organism, storage condition, dose, expiration date, contact details and batch number. Three-quarters (75 %) of the probiotic products indicated product net quantity, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) number, and microbial count; 50 % of products indicated the excipients used, while only 25 % of the products showed their indications. None of the products indicated strain designation. In species identification, Enterococcus faecium was absent in a multi-species product PB1, while PB3 contained Saccharomyces cerevisiae instead of Saccharomyces boulardii. Enumeration showed comparatively low quantities of probiotic organisms. Tolerance to pH 3 and pH 7, and bile levels of 0.3 and 2 % were within acceptable range. The probiotic organisms demonstrated antimicrobial effect specifically against P. aeruginosa, E. coli, B. subtilis, K. pneumonia, S. aureus and C. albicans.Conclusion: Antimicrobial effect and tolerance to pH and bile salts were consistent with acceptable properties of probiotics. However, there is need for total compliance with the indications, strain designation, excipients, and actual quantity of the individual probiotic organisms in the formulations.

Keywords: Probiotics, Strain designation, Agar overlay technique, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomyces boulardii