bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Deciphering the Omics of Plant-Microbe Interaction: Perspectives and New Insights
Authors: Sharma Minaxi , Sudheer Surya , Usmani Zeba , Rani Rupa , Gupta Pratishtha
Published: May 2020

Introduction:

Plants do not grow in isolation, rather they are hosts to a variety of microbes in their natural environments. While, few thrive in the plants for their own benefit, others may have a direct impact on plants in a symbiotic manner. Unraveling plant-microbe interactions is a critical component in recognizing the positive and negative impacts of microbes on plants. Also, by affecting the environment around plants, microbes may indirectly influence plants. The progress in sequencing technologies in the genomics era and several omics tools has accelerated in biological science. Studying the complex nature of plant-microbe interactions can offer several strategies to increase the productivity of plants in an environmentally friendly manner by providing better insights. This review brings forward the recent works performed in building omics strategies that decipher the interactions between plant-microbiome. At the same time, it further explores other associated mutually beneficial aspects of plant-microbe interactions such as plant growth promotion, nitrogen fixation, stress suppressions in crops and bioremediation; as well as provides better insights on metabolic interactions between microbes and plants through omics approaches. It also aims to explore advances in the study of Arabidopsis as an important avenue to serve as a baseline tool to create models that help in scrutinizing various factors that contribute to the elaborate relationship between plants and microbes. Causal relationships between plants and microbes can be established through systematic gnotobiotic experimental studies to test hypotheses on biologically derived interactions.

Conclusion:

This review will cover recent advances in the study of plant-microbe interactions keeping in view the advantages of these interactions in improving nutrient uptake and plant health.
Bioactive Compounds Isolated from Defatted Microalgal Biomasses of Botryococcus Braunii and Dunaliella Tertiolecta showing a Tyrosinase Inhibitory Activity
Authors: Lee Da G. , Kashif Shaheen A. , Yoo Ah Y. , Choi Ji W. , Park Yong I. , Synytsya Andriy , Park Jae K.
Published: May 2020

Aims:

This study aims to elucidate the structural difference and biochemical properties of bioactive compounds of microalgal biomasses.

Background :

The structural difference and biochemical properties of bioactive compounds termed as water-soluble macromolecules
(WSMs) are interested in evaluating their biological activities.

Methods:

This study was performed to elucidate the structural difference and biochemical properties of bioactive compounds termed
as water-soluble macromolecules (WSMs) isolated from defatted microalgal biomasses of Botryococcus braunii and Dunaliella tertiolecta.

Results:

The compositional analysis of both WSMs revealed that WSM-Bb is a hetero-macromolecule consisting of various monosaccharides, whereas WSM-Dt was characterized as a homo-macromolecule that mainly consists of glucose. Interestingly, WSM-Bb
showed the significant tyrosinase inhibitory activity with the increase of both the concentration and reaction time. Whereas, there was
no significant inhibitory activity observed by WSM-Dt.

Conclusion:

Inhibitory action of WSM-Bb toward both tyrosinase and tyrosine in the either simultaneous or separate reaction may be
mainly due to the physical affinity of WSM-Bb. These results emphasize the identification of the primary components of these WSMs
and their relevance with the antioxidant function.
Obesity: The New Global Epidemic Pharmacological Treatment, Opportunities and Limits for Personalized Therapy
Authors: Milano Walter , De Biasio Valeria , Di Munzio Walter , Foggia Giuseppina , Capasso Anna
Published: May 2020

Background:

The increase in global obesity rates over the past three decades has been remarkable, a true epidemic, both in developed and in developing countries. The projections, based on current trends, suggest an increase in the prevalence of obesity at 60% in adult men, 40% in adult women and 25% in children in 2050. Given the limitations of lifestyle and surgery interventions bariatric, drug therapy approaches for the treatment of obesity, therefore become important options.

Aim:

The purpose of this review is a review of the literature, based on research on MEDLINE until 2019, on the possible pharmacological options in the treatment of obesity.

Results:

Currently, the FDA has approved several molecules for the treatment of obesity, both in monotherapy and in combination. Pharmacological monotherapies focus mainly on a single protein target and include orlistat, lorcaserin and liraglutide while the combination molecules propose a multitarget approach and include phentermine/topiramate and naltrexone/bupropion. All the approved drugs showed, in the different studies, a weight reduction of at least 5%, compared to placebo, in 52 weeks of observation. Phentermine-topiramate and liraglutide have been associated with the highest probability of at least 5% weight loss. Liraglutide and naltrexone-bupropion had the lowest rates of therapy discontinuation due to adverse events.

Conclusion:

The drugs, associated with the standard diet and/or exercise protocols, represent a good therapeutic opportunity to allow not only weight loss but also to reduce the risk of developing diseases caused by obesity, particularly cardiovascular diseases, and to maintain the set objectives over time. However, future research on the pharmacological treatment of obesity should encourage greater personalization of therapy, given the differences in safety, efficacy and response to therapy, in the different subpopulations of patients with obesity.
Xanthoangelol Isolated from Angelica keiskei Roots Prevents Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Treated Colitis in Mice
Authors: Kimura Yoshiyuki , Baba Kimye
Published: May 2020

Background:

The therapeutic effects of a number of natural products on Inflammatory
Bowel Disease (IBD) have recently been examined in detail. The whole herb and roots of Angelica
keiskei (Umblliferae) have traditionally been used as a diuretic, to treat gastrointestinal diseases such
as gastric ulcers and diarrhea in Japan.

Objectives:

The present study was performed to investigate the effects of xanthoangelol, a major
chalcone of Angelica keiskei roots, on diarrhea and inflammation in the large intestine of IBD model
mice.

Methods:

Xanthoangelol (10 & 25 mg/kg) was orally administered to mice with 3% Dextran Sulfate
Sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. Blood samples were collected during the experimental period, subjected
to a full blood count test, and colonic cytokine and chemokine levels were measured.

Results:

Xanthoangelol (25 mg/kg) reduced the Disease Activity Index (DAI) of colitis. It also attenuated
DSS-induced reductions in red blood cell and platelet counts as well as Hb and Ht levels. A
histological examination of the colon using direct fast scarlet staining showed that xanthoangelol
prevented DSS-induced mucosal ulceration and eosinophil infiltration. Xanthoangelol also reduced
DSS-induced increases in colonic MCP-1, IL-1β, and TNF-α levels.

Conclusions:

Xanthoangelol reduced DSS-induced increases in colonic IL-1β, TNF-α, and MCP-1
levels and prevented eosinophil infiltration, which supports its potential as a treatment for IBD.
Deconstructing bond of signifier & signified: a corpus-based study of variation in meaning
Authors: Ahmad Marghoob
Published: May 2020

The study aimed at investigating a bond between the signifier and signified to explore and develop an in-depth understanding of meanings’ variation, by setting qualitative paradigm, textual examples were marked from text corpora and linguistic signifiers, believed to be representing the text were serialized using judgmental sampling. The key informant happened to be a text (The Reluctant Fundamentalist) taken as a unit of study, with the approach of Derrida’s deconstruction, signifiers were decoded and then qualitatively analyzed in terms of binary oppositions to mark variation in meaning. It resulted that words were not intrinsically meaningful but just types of sound or mark being meaningless in itself and they gave meaning by playing a role in something we did with them. The outcome of the whole endeavor was a play of meaning continued endlessly in connection with signifier and signified from one context to another. Stable meaning appeared to be a hopelessly unsuitable task in a text and with the contextual shift, it stood unnaturalized. The usefulness of analyzing text was adequate preparation for teaching turning contents into skill-oriented tasks and the process of meanings’ variation between signifier and signified widened the scope of developing Content Specification Charts concerning learners’ needs.
Evaluation of Participant Patient Satisfaction Evaluation in Childbirth Care at Independent Midwifery Practices
Authors: Ayu Dwie
Published: May 2020

Patient satisfaction is a measure of the quality of care. One important problem that continues to be faced is the lack of good quality service and getting client satisfaction. The aim is to explore the satisfaction of maternity patients using BPJS guarantees for the services provided by midwives in the Midwife's Independent Practice. This research method uses qualitative short narrative or force. PubMed and Proquest searches were carried out systematically from 2008 to 2018. Quality articles were selected based on inclusion and Critical Assessment criteria. Based on the review found k Mothers' satisfaction with prenatal care can be said to be the experience that results from subjective judgments about what the mother expects and what actually happens related to labor. Factors that influence patient satisfaction in labor are environmental factors, technical and professional aspects of nursing, and aspects of care and communication. Quality of service is the dominant concept in quality assurance and quality improvement programs in the health sector. One method for determining quality is evaluating customer satisfaction. One tool for evaluating and analyzing service quality gaps is SERVQUAL to study the difference between customer expectations and perceptions in different dimensions including in five dimensions of service quality namely physical evidence, service reliability, responding, assurance and empathy. To get health services, you can use health insurance (BPJS). The benefits of health insurance are freeing participants from the difficulty of providing cash, health costs can be monitored, quality of service can be overcome and the availability of health data. 
Characteristic Of Demographic Neuropathy Diabetic Perifer In The Agriculture Area
Authors: Nistiandani Ana , Sulistyorini Lantin , Rozsy Muhammad Fakhurur , Fauziah Nuril
Published: May 2020

Jember Regency is a superior area in the agricultural sector, but it is contrary to the health conditions of the people. It was noted that Jember experienced an increase in cases of Diabetes Mellitus (DM). DM causes various complications, one of which often occurs is peripheral neuropathy. This study aims to analyze peripheral neuropathy based on the characteristics of people with diabetes in the agriculture area under the auspices of the Health Department of Jember Regency. This type of research is descriptive with the cross-sectional approach. The sampling technique used is total population sampling. The number of respondents in this study was 102 people with diabetes. The instrument used was a modification of the MNSI (Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument) and MDNS (Michigan Diabetic Neuropathy Score). Univariate analysis is performed, which is presented in the form of frequency distribution tables and cross-tabulation. The results of this study indicate that all respondents experienced peripheral neuropathy (100%) in the mild (43.1%), moderate (44.2%), and severe (12.7%) categories. Domination of neuropathy by women (53.9%), has comorbidities (68.6%), middle adult age categories (71.6%), blood sugar levels 90-199 mg/dL (57.8%), and duration of DM ≥ 1 to 5 years (58.8%). A small percentage of people with diabetes who have peripheral neuropathy have a history of DFU (9.8%) and a history of smoking (32.4%). This nursing intervention is needed to prevent worsening of peripheral neuropathy.
Infodemic during an epidemic
Authors: Santiago Padilla Victor Manuel
Published: May 2020

We're not just fighting an epidemic; we're fighting an infodemic," were the words of Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), referring to the continually circulating false news about the Covid-19 pandemic crisis. WHO explains that infodemics are an excessive amount of both real and inaccurate information about a problem, making it challenging to identify a solution, they create confusion in the population by spreading erroneous information, misinforming with apparently real data. The amount of time and other essential resources that can be affected by this problem make it a priority to combat
Complementing Human Behavior Assessment by Leveraging Personal Ubiquitous Devices and Social Links: An Evaluation of the Peer-Ceived Momentary Assessment Method
Authors: Berrocal Allan , Concepcion Waldo , De Dominicis Stefano , Wac Katarzyna
Published: May 2020

Background

Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) enables individuals to self-report their subjective momentary physical and emotional states. However, certain conditions, including routine observable behaviors (eg, moods, medication adherence) as well as behaviors that may suggest declines in physical or mental health (eg, memory losses, compulsive disorders) cannot be easily and reliably measured via self-reports.

Objective

This study aims to examine a method complementary to EMA, denoted as peer-ceived momentary assessment (PeerMA), which enables the involvement of peers (eg, family members, friends) to report their perception of the individual’s subjective physical and emotional states. In this paper, we aim to report the feasibility results and identified human factors influencing the acceptance and reliability of the PeerMA

Methods

We conducted two studies of 4 weeks each, collecting self-reports from 20 participants about their stress, fatigue, anxiety, and well-being, in addition to collecting peer-reported perceptions from 27 of their peers.

Results

Preliminary results showed that some of the peers reported daily assessments for stress, fatigue, anxiety, and well-being statistically equal to those reported by the participant. We also showed how pairing assessments of participants and peers in time enables a qualitative and quantitative exploration of unique research questions not possible with EMA-only based assessments. We reported on the usability and implementation aspects based on the participants’ experience to guide the use of the PeerMA to complement the information obtained via self-reports for observable behaviors and physical and emotional states among healthy individuals.

Conclusions

It is possible to leverage the PeerMA method as a complement to EMA to assess constructs that fall in the realm of observable behaviors and states in healthy individuals.
Mitigating the Effects of a Pandemic: Facilitating Improved Nursing Home Care Delivery Through Technology
Authors: Edelman Linda S , McConnell Eleanor S , Kennerly Susan M , Alderden Jenny , Horn Susan D , Yap Tracey L
Published: May 2020

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has been particularly challenging for nursing home staff and residents. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regulation waivers are burdening staff and affecting how care is delivered. Residents are experiencing social isolation, which can result in physical and behavioral health issues, particularly for persons with dementia. These challenges can be addressed in part through technology adaptations. Full integration of electronic health record systems can improve workflow and care quality. Telehealth can improve access to outside providers, provide remote monitoring, and improve social connectedness. Electronic and audiovisual programs can be used for end-of-life planning and information sharing between nursing home staff and families. Online learning systems and other online resources provide flexible options for staff education and training. Investing in and adapting technology can help mitigate workforce stress and improve the quality of nursing home care during and after the COVID-19 crisis.
A Lower Leg Physical Activity Intervention for Individuals With Chronic Venous Leg Ulcers: Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)
Authors: Kelechi Teresa J , Prentice Margaret A , Mueller Martina , Madisetti Mohan , Vertegel Alexey
Published: May 2020

BACKGROUND

Individuals with venous leg ulcers (VLUs) suffer disproportionately with multiple chronic conditions, are often physically deconditioned, and demonstrate high levels of physical inactivity.

OBJECTIVE

The primary objective of this randomized controlled trial was to establish the feasibility of a mobile health (mHealth) physical activity exercise app for individuals with VLUs to improve lower leg function.

METHODS

In a 6-week study, adults with VLUs were recruited from 2 wound centers in South Carolina, United States, and enrolled if they were aged 18 years or older with impaired functional mobility and an ankle-brachial index between 0.8 and 1.3. Participants were randomized 1:1 to receive evidence-based, phased, nonexertive physical conditioning activities for lower leg function (FOOTFIT) or FOOTFIT+ with an added patient-provider communication feature. The mHealth Conditioning Activities for Lower Leg Function app also provided automated educational and motivational messages and user reports. Foot movement on the VLU-affected leg was tracked by a Bluetooth-enabled triaxial accelerometer. The study was guided by the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance framework to assess the feasibility of reach, adherence, acceptability, implementation, and maintenance.

RESULTS

A total of 24 patients were recruited, enrolled, and randomized in the study. Most patients reported difficulty following the protocol for exercising and using the accelerometer and mobile phone and did not use the provider contact feature. However, all patients were adherent to the 6-week exercise program more than 85% of the time for duration, whereas 33% (8/24) of patients adhered more than 85% for the frequency of performing the exercises. Across the three exercise levels, adherence did not differ between the two groups. Confidence limits around the difference in proportions ranged from −0.4 to 0.7. Providers in FOOTFIT+ were inconsistent in checking participant progress reports because of lack of time from competing work commitments. The technology became outdated quickly, making maintenance problematic. Participants said they would continue to exercise their foot and legs and liked being able to follow along with the demonstrations of each level of exercise provided through the app.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study suggest that despite initial interest in using the app, several components of the program as originally designed had limited acceptability and feasibility. Future refinements should include the use of more modern technology including smaller wearable accelerometers, mobile phones or tablets with larger screens, an app designed with larger graphics, automated reporting for providers, and more engaging user features.

CLINICALTRIAL

ClinicalTrials.gov NTC02632695; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02632695
Evaluating the quality of YouTube videos on fibromyalgia (Preprint)
Authors: Kawashita Takumi , Shu Sara , Dunnsiri Teevit T , Woo Benjamin KP
Published: May 2020

BACKGROUND

YouTube is a popular American video-sharing platform that has been accessible to the public since 2005. Previous studies have shown that YouTube is potentially beneficial to medical education, but the quality of videos still need to be determined.

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this study is to understand the quality of the YouTube videos by evaluating the characteristics of physicians and the total number of views on videos regarding fibromyalgia.

METHODS

The term “fibromyalgia” was searched on the YouTube search engine by relevance, the default setting. Information from the first 100 videos was analyzed. A search was performed on Scopus to determine the h-index and fibromyalgia-related publication for any physician who was featured in the videos.

RESULTS

Of the top 100 videos, there were 64 academic videos, 18 vlogs, 5 interview videos, and 13 miscellaneous videos. Out of the 64 academic videos, 30 physicians, 7 Doctors of Philosophy (Ph.D.), 5 physical therapists, and 5 chiropractors were identified. The majority of physicians have adequate academic affiliation such as h-index and academic publications.

CONCLUSIONS

Residents and medical students will encounter a large number of academic videos on fibromyalgia on YouTube. This study suggests that many videos were posted for academic purposes and that the quality of the videos can be ensured to some degree. However, developing a better systemic evaluation of the quality of YouTube content is still necessary.
The United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 Is Changing—US Medical Curricula Should Too (Preprint)
Authors: Liu Benjamin
Published: May 2020

UNSTRUCTURED

In recent years, US medical students have been increasingly absent from medical school classrooms. They do so to maximize their competitiveness for a good residency program, by achieving high scores on the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1. As a US medical student, I know that most of these class-skipping students are utilizing external learning resources, which are perceived to be more efficient than traditional lectures. Now that the USMLE Step 1 is adopting a pass/fail grading system, it may be tempting to expect students to return to traditional basic science lectures. Unfortunately, my experiences tell me this will not happen. Instead, US medical schools must adapt their curricula. These new curricula should focus on clinical decision making, team-based learning, and new medical decision technologies, while leveraging the validated ability of these external resources to teach the basic sciences. In doing so, faculty will not only increase student engagement but also modernize the curricula to meet new standards on effective medical learning.
Mobile Phone Use and Acceptability for the Delivery of Mental Health Information Among Perinatal Adolescents in Nigeria: Survey Study (Preprint)
Authors: Kola Lola , Abiona Dolapo , Adefolarin Adeyinka Olufolake , Ben-Zeev Dror
Published: May 2020

BACKGROUND

There are several barriers that may hamper adolescent mothers’ utilization of available health interventions for perinatal depression. Innovative treatment approaches are needed to increase adolescent mothers’ access to mental health care for improved maternal and child health outcomes. Mobile phones have the potential to serve as important conduits to mental health care in Africa. However, mobile phone use patterns and needs among young mothers in Nigeria are not well documented.

OBJECTIVE

This study sought to determine the prevalence of mobile phone use among perinatal adolescents and report patterns of use, as well as to assess the openness of young mothers to mobile health (mHealth) mental health interventions.

METHODS

We surveyed 260 adolescent mothers (ages 16-19 years) in their perinatal or postnatal periods of pregnancies in 33 primary health care clinics in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria in 2020. Respondents were included if they were pregnant with a gestation age of greater than or equal to 4 weeks, or had babies (which they had birthed) that were younger than 12 months.

RESULTS

The total study sample consisted of 260 adolescent mothers with a mean age of 18.4 (SD 0.88) years. The majority of the respondents (233/260, 89.6%) owned mobile phones (eg, keypad, keypad and internet, smartphones); 22 (8.5%) of the 260 mothers had access to phones that belonged to relatives who lived in the same household, while 5 (1.9%) had access only to public paid phones. Only 23% (54/233) of phone owners (which is 20.5% of the total study population) had smartphones. On average, respondents reported first using mobile phones at 15.5 (SD 2.06) years old. The majority of respondents (222/260, 85.4%) reported using their phones for an average of 45 minutes daily for calls to family members. Facebook was the social media platform that was most often used among respondents who had phones with internet access (122/146 minutes per day, 83.4%). The majority of the sample responded as being “interested” and “very interested” in the use of mobile phones for preventive interventions (250/260, 96.2%) and treatment (243/260, 93.5%) information on mental illness such as depression and “hearing voices.” Half of the respondents (126/233, 50.4%) preferred to receive such information in the form of text messages.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings from this study suggest that the vast majority of perinatal adolescents in Nigeria own and use mobile phones and that they are interested in leveraging these devices for prevention, treatment, and informational campaigns focused on mental health. The use of smartphones in this population is relatively low, and health intervention through text messages were favored by the women.
Ser uma semioticista ontem e hoje
Authors: Barros Diana Luz Pessoa de
Published: May 2020

Neste depoimento que fizemos por ocasião de homenagem generosa e comovente que nos prestaram na Universidade Federal do Ceará, discutimos o que é ser uma semioticista ontem e hoje. Retomamos, assim, parte de nossa vida na universidade e as principais pesquisas que atualmente desenvolvemos na perspectiva da semiótica; um pouco da introdução e da história da semiótica no Brasil; as razões, de ordens diversas, que levaram os estudiosos brasileiros a embarcar na aventura semiótica; o paradigma teórico-metodológico em que a teoria se inscreve; o papel da semiótica e do semioticista na produção de conhecimento sobre a sociedade e no aprimoramento das relações sociais.
O ensino de Literatura no caminho da Semiótica: contribuição de Diana Barros
Authors: Leite Júnior José
Published: May 2020

Dados de pesquisa sobre o ensino de Literatura realizada na região metropolitana de Fortaleza (Brasil) estão indicando um resultado pouco satisfatório. Somente 11% da amostra corresponde aos níveis cognitivos mais elevados da Taxionomia de Bloom (análise, aplicação e avaliação). Numa abrangência nacional, Regina Zilberman constata que o texto literário não tem sido considerado como objeto de conhecimento, numa pesquisa realizada sobre os livros didáticos dos últimos duzentos anos no Brasil. Tais dados reclamam o esforço dos semioticistas. Exemplo destacado da contribuição da Semiótica para os estudos literários no Brasil estão os consagrados trabalhos de Diana Luz Pessoa de Barros. No campo propedêutico, nos estudos avançados sobre o discurso e na pesquisa histórica sobre a Semiótica Discursiva na América Latina, Diana Barros reserva um papel especial para o texto literário.
SEMANTIC MOTIVATION OF THE TERMINOLOGIZED LEXIS IN THE FIELD OF DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES
Authors: Celiešienė Vilija , Juzeleniene Saulute
Published: May 2020

Digital technologies are changing people’s lives, the way we communicate, learn and work. Modern language teaching technologies are changing the ways we learn languages as well. On the other hand, the language itself is changing as technology advances. The aim of this article is to reveal semantic motivation of terminologized Lithuanian and English computer lexis. The present research, focusing on semantic motivation of IT terms, is also aimed at identifying similarities and differences between the semantic models of the words in both contacting languages, and revealing the factors that determine the choice of foreign sememes. In addition, the article sheds some light on semantic relations of IT terms,  as well as on tendencies in the shifts of meanings of specific LT and EN common language words, related to the process of terminologization. It has been established that the majority of the analysed words that have entered the Lithuanian IT vocabulary as a result of terminization and transterminization processes can be considered semantic loan-translations, having acquired new meanings from foreign (usually English) words, and based on ‘borrowed’ motivation. Nonetheless, many such words can also be substantiated in Lithuanian, for their terminological meanings can be explained by central, nonterminological meanings. Thus, in the majority of cases, close associations between central meanings of specific English and Lithuanian words have stimulated the development of new terminological meanings related to information technologies. By contrast, only a relatively small number of the analysed Lithuanian terms can be considered semantic formations, having acquired their terminological meanings in the process of turning Lithuanian common language words into terms.
WEBQUEST AS TECHNOLOGY OF DIFFERENTIATED ESP INSTRUCTION AT UNIVERSITY LEVEL
Authors: Synekop Oksana
Published: May 2020

The current study aims to find out teachers’ attitudes to the WebQuest learning and analyze the specifics of WebQuests and possibilities of their use in differentiated ESP instruction of information technology (IT) students. A qualitative type of research was used. The participants of the study were 31 ESP teachers (28 females and 3 males) of the Department of English for Engineering of National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”. The ESP teachers participated in the study voluntarily in 2019-2020. An anonymous questionnaire was used to collect the data. The questioning of the ESP teachers has shown that most of them appreciate the idea of using the WebQuest learning. The analysis of the WebQuest specifics allowed suggesting a classification of WebQuests based on ten criteria. The structure of a WebQuest is described with a focus on IT students’ language learning styles and foreign language proficiency levels. Approaches to the WebQuest learning used by ESP teachers in the differentiated instruction were analyzed. It was concluded that the use of different types of WebQuests with a focus on learners’ differentiation helps to diversify ESP learning at technical university and facilitates the development of professional communicative skills.
Reseña del 10º Coloquio Nacional de Educación Media Superior a Distancia
Authors: Bonilla Gómez Felicidad , López Martínez Ángel , Marmolejo Valle Efrén
Published: May 2020

La Red de Bachilleratos Universitarios Públicos a Distancia (Red) y el Espacio Común de Educación Superior a Distancia (ECOESAD) organizan cada año, desde 2010, el Coloquio Nacional de Educación Media Superior a Distancia, con el fin de crear y consolidar un espacio donde se reúnan los protagonistas de esta comunidad de aprendizaje para intercambiar y compartir experiencias, así como para conocer los avances en el uso de las tecnologías educativas en el bachillerato a distancia y la incidencia de estos en la transformación de la sociedad. En esta edición, previa emisión de la respectiva convocatoria, y mediante una fase virtual y una presencial, se llevó a cabo el 10º Coloquio Nacional de Educación Media Superior a Distancia, con el tema “Transformación digital en la educación 4.0,”. La primer fase se realizó del 2 al 9 de septiembre de 2019 y la fase presencial se desarrolló en la ciudad y puerto de Acapulco, Guerrero, durante los días 18, 19 y 20 de septiembre de 2019. La sede estuvo a cargo de la Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero (UAGro), a través de la Coordinación de Educación Virtual y el Sistema de Universidad Virtual (SUVUAGro).
Diana Toledo: prioridades y retos del bachillerato mexicano
Authors: Vadillo Guadalupe
Published: May 2020

Diana Toledo, responsable del Observatorio de Política Educativa (Education Policy Outlook) de la Organización para la Cooperación y el Desarrollo Económicos (OCDE), comenta en esta entrevista temas importantes para el bachillerato en el contexto internacional, incluido el mexicano. Considera prioridades mejorar la retención y facilitar la transición de la educación media superior (EMS) hacia la educación postsecundaria y el mercado laboral.Asimismo, identifica cinco áreas de política educativa identificadas por la OCDE en su trabajo con México, relevantes en el contexto de los resultados de pruebas como PISA: (1) la mejora de la cobertura y la calidad de la educación temprana, (2) el valor de la profesión docente, (3) la evaluación como aspecto formativo, (4) la equidad entre escuelas y (5) la necesidad de tener aprendizajes relevantes para los alumnos. En cuanto a las lecciones aprendidas en otros países que pueden ser de utilidad para México, destaca la importancia de poner al alumno en el centro y apoyar a los docentes para que puedan desempeñarse en su papel como profesionales.
An Improved Two Independent-Samples Randomization Test for Single-Case AB-Type Intervention Designs: A 20-Year Journey
Authors: Levin Joel R. , Ferron John M. , Gafurov Boris S.
Published: May 2020

Detailed is a 20-year arduous journey to develop a statistically viable two-phase (AB) single-case two independent-samples randomization test procedure. The test is designed to compare the effectiveness of two different interventions that are randomly assigned to cases. In contrast to the unsatisfactory simulation results produced by an earlier proposed randomization test, the present test consistently exhibited acceptable Type I error control under various design and effect-type configurations, while at the same time possessing adequate power to detect moderately sized intervention-difference effects. Selected issues, applications, and a multiple-baseline extension of the two-sample test are discussed.
Conditions for superdecoherence
Authors: Kattemölle Joris , van Wezel Jasper
Published: May 2020

Decoherence is the main obstacle to quantum computation. The decoherence rate per qubit is typically assumed to be constant. It is known, however, that quantum registers coupling to a single reservoir can show a decoherence rate per qubit that increases linearly with the number of qubits. This effect has been referred to as superdecoherence, and has been suggested to pose a threat to the scalability of quantum computation. Here, we show that superdecoherence is absent when the spectrum of the single reservoir is continuous, rather than discrete. The reason of this absence, is that, as the number of qubits is increased, a quantum register inevitably becomes susceptible to an ever narrower bandwidth of frequencies in the reservoir. Furthermore, we show that for superdecoherence to occur in a reservoir with a discrete spectrum, one of the frequencies in the reservoir has to coincide exactly with the frequency the quantum register is most susceptible to. We thus fully resolve the conditions that determine the presence or absence of superdecoherence. We conclude that superdecoherence is easily avoidable in practical realizations of quantum computers.
Artefactos y entidades naturales modificadas por medio de la biotecnología
Authors: Márquez Mónica María
Published: May 2020

El problema filosófico que representan los organismos modificados genéticamente ha sido poco abordado en las discusiones sobre artefactos en la filosofía de la tecnología. El propósito de este artículo es analizar diferentes posturas filosóficas respecto a este tipo de entidades naturales complejas, que no pueden ser definidas como objetos naturales simples, pues han sido intervenidos por medio de la técnica, pero tampoco como objetos artificiales, similares a las máquinas industriales o a otro tipo de objeto artefactual. Se evalúan dos posturas filosóficas: la primera, afirma que dichas entidades son artificiales, en el entendimiento de que los artefactos son objetos hechos por el hombre. La segunda, que estas entidades modificadas son objetos naturales producidos artificialmente, según Quintanilla y Jonas. Se presenta una propuesta que ofrece argumentos para reconocer, desde varias perspectivas, que las entidades naturales son sistemas autogenerativos: la autonomía constitutiva de Maturana y Varela, la autoorganización postulada por Kauffman y la autonomía de Ruiz-Mirazo & Moreno. Se propone una definición del tipo de objetos que serían los organismos modificados genéticamente, afirmando que son sistemas vivientes autogenerativos que tienen un diseño intencional en los componentes artificiales. La consecuencia principal es que tal tipo de entidades no son iguales a artefactos.
A global comparison of corporate value adjustments to news of cyber-attacks
Authors: Hogan Karen M.
Published: May 2020

The growing threat of cyber breach has become one of the most feared risks corporations around the world are currently dealing with. This paper uses a methodology similar to Hogan, Olson, and Angelina (2020) to analyze global shareholder value effects of cyber breaches from 1990 to 2019 for five major non-US countries. Cumulative Average Returns (CARs) are calculated using the first notice date to periods of up to 90 days post-announcement to compare short-term and long-term effects of cyber breaches on the stock price. Results for this data set show significant negative returns for US corporations in all windows. Unlike its US counterparts, short-term results for non-US countries show no significant changes to price as a result of cyber breach announcements. Long-term results for the aggregate non-US sample show significance only at the (0,30) window. Individual country long-term analysis shows some significance depending on the event windows, but no common patterns are seen among countries. These results point to differences in how news of a cyber breach, by country, is perceived in the market. The results help explain some of the patterns insurance companies have seen in the reticent buying habits of global companies with respect to cyber insurance.
Challenges when Auditing Cryptocurrencies
Authors: Vincent Nishani Edirisinghe , Wilkins Anne M.
Published: May 2020

The novelty, ambiguity, and the lack of official guidance surrounding cryptocurrency transactions impose additional audit risks that should be considered during client acceptance and retention and planning audit procedures. We develop a four-quadrant model to assist auditors in client acceptance and continuance decisions and identify cryptocurrency risks that should be considered during audit planning and audit evidence gathering.
Design and Implementation of an Electronic Tool to Measure Medication Adherence at the Point of Care
Authors: Alvarez Kristin , Townsend Clay , McNulty Jacqueline Nicole , Kubik Matthew , Gunasekaran Uma , Ahmed Farhan , Rodriguez Kellie , Moran Brett , McManus Jon , Meneghini Luigi F.
Published: May 2020

Quality Improvement Success Stories are published by the American Diabetes Association in collaboration with the American College of Physicians and the National Diabetes Education Program. This series is intended to highlight best practices and strategies from programs and clinics that have successfully improved the quality of care for people with diabetes or related conditions. Each article in the series is reviewed and follows a standard format developed by the editors of Clinical Diabetes. The following article describes a project to build a point-of-care tool for assessing patients’ adherence to their prescribed medications.
Circulating Retinol Binding Protein 4 is Inversely Associated with Pancreatic β Cell Function across the Spectrum of Glycemia
Authors: Huang Rong , Yin Songping , Ye Yongxin , Chen Nixuan , Luo Shiyun , Xia Min , Zhao Lina
Published: May 2020

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine
the association of circulating retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) levels with β
cell function across the spectrum of glucose tolerance from normal to overt
type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A
total of 291 subjects aged 35-60 with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), newly
diagnosed impaired fasting glucose or glucose tolerance (IFG/IGT) and type 2
diabetes were screened by standard 2-h oral glucose tolerance test (2-h OGTT)
with the use of traditional measures to evaluate β cell function. 74 subjects
from these participants were recruited in oral minimal model test and assessed
β cell function with model-derived indices. Circulating RBP4 levels were
measured by a commercially available ELISA kit.

RESULTS: Circulating RBP4
levels were significantly and inversely correlated with β cell function
indicated by the Stumvoll first-phase and second-phase insulin secretion
indexes, but not with HOMA-β, calculated from the 2-h OGTT in 291 subjects
across the spectrum of glycemia. The inverse association was also observed in
subjects involved in the oral minimal model test with β cell function assessed
by both direct measures and model-derived measures, after adjustment for
potential confounders. Moreover, RBP4 emerged as an independent factor of the
disposition index-total insulin secretion (DI-PhiT).

CONCLUSION: Circulating
RBP4 levels are inversely and independently correlated with β cell function
across the spectrum of glycemia, providing another possible explanation of the
linkage between RBP4 and the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes.
Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion fundamentally requires H2O2 signaling by NADPH oxidase 4
Authors: Admin Ada , Plecitá-Hlavatá Lydie , Jabůrek Martin , Holendová Blanka , Tauber Jan , Pavluch Vojtěch , Berková Zuzana , Cahová Monika , Schroeder Katrin , Brandes Ralf P. , Siemen Detlef , Ježek Petr
Published: May 2020

NADPH facilitates glucose-stimulated insulin
secretion (GSIS) in pancreatic islet (PI) b-cells by an as yet unknown mechanism. We found NADPH
oxidase, isoform-4 (NOX4), to be the major producer of cytosolic H2O2,
essential for GSIS, while the increase in ATP/ADP alone was insufficient. The fast
GSIS phase was absent in PIs from NOX4-null, b-cell-specific knockout mice (NOX4bKO) (not NOX2KO), and NOX4-silenced
or catalase-overexpressing INS-1E cells. Lentiviral NOX4 overexpression or H2O2
rescued GSIS in PIs from NOX4bKO mice. NOX4 silencing suppressed Ca2+ oscillations and the patch-clamped
ATP-sensitive potassium channel (KATP) opened more frequently at
high glucose. Mitochondrial H2O2, decreasing upon GSIS,
provided an alternative redox signaling when 2-oxo-isocaproate or fatty acid
oxidation formed superoxide by electron-transport flavoprotein:Q-oxidoreductase. Unlike GSIS, this ceased with mitochondrial
antioxidant SkQ1. Both NOX4KO and NOX4bKO strains exhibited impaired glucose tolerance and
peripheral insulin resistance. Thus the redox signaling previously suggested to
cause b-cell-self-checking – hypothetically induces insulin resistance when
absent. In conclusion, ATP plus H2O2 elevations
constitute an essential switch-on signal of insulin exocytosis for glucose and
branched-chain oxoacids as secretagogues (partly for fatty acids). Redox
signaling could be impaired by cytosolic antioxidants, hence those targeting
mitochondria should be preferred for clinical applications to treat (pre)diabetes
at any stage.
Clinical Characteristics and Risk Factors for Mortality of COVID-19 Patients With Diabetes in Wuhan, China: A Two-Center, Retrospective Study
Authors: Shi Qiao , Zhang Xiaoyi , Jiang Fang , Zhang Xuanzhe , Bimu Chibu , Feng Jiarui , Yan Su , Guan Yongjun , Xu Dongxue , He Guangzhen , Chen Chen , Xiong Xingcheng , Liu Lei , Li Hanjun , Tao Jing , Peng Zhiyong , Wang Weixing
Published: May 2020

OBJECTIVE: Diabetes is common in COVID-19 patients and associated with unfavorable outcomes. We aimed to describe the characteristics, outcomes and analyze the risk factors for in-hospital mortality of COVID-19 patients with diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This two-center, retrospective study was performed at two tertiary hospitals in Wuhan, China. Confirmed COVID-19 patients with diabetes (N=153) who were discharged or died from January 1, 2020, to March 8, 2020, were identified. One sex- and age-matched COVID-19 patient without diabetes was randomly selected for each patient with diabetes. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were abstracted. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were performed to identify the risk factors associated with the mortality in these patients.

RESULTS: Of 1561 COVID-19 patients, 153 (9.8%) had diabetes, with a median age of 64.0 (IQR, 56.0-72.0) years. A higher proportion of ICU admission (17.6% vs 7.8%, P=0.01) and more fatal cases (20.3% vs 10.5%, P=0.017) were identified in COVID-19 patients with diabetes than in the matched patients. Multivariable Cox regression analyses of these 306 patients showed that hypertension (hazards ratio [HR] 2.50, 95% CI 1.30-4.78), cardiovascular disease (HR 2.24, 95% CI 1.19-4.23) and chronic pulmonary disease (HR 2.51, 95% CI 1.07-5.90) were independently associated with in-hospital death. Diabetes (HR 1.58, 95% CI 0.84-2.99) was not statistically significantly associated with in-hospital death after adjustment. Among patients with diabetes, nonsurvivors were older (76.0 vs 63.0 years), most were male (71.0% vs 29.0%), and were more likely to have underlying hypertension (83.9% vs 50.0%) and cardiovascular disease (45.2% vs 14.8%) (all P-values<0.05). Age ≥70 years (HR 2.39, 95% CI 1.03-5.56) and hypertension (HR 3.10, 95% CI 1.14-8.44) were independent risk factors for in-hospital death of patients with diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 patients with diabetes had worse outcomes compared with the sex- and age-matched patients without diabetes. Older age and comorbid hypertension independently contributed to in-hospital death of patients with diabetes.
Excessive glucocorticoids during pregnancy impair fetal brown fat development and predisposes offspring to metabolic dysfunctions
Authors: Admin Ada , Chen Yan-Ting , Hu Yun , Yang Qi-Yuan , Son Jun Seok , Liu Xiang-Dong , Avila Jeanene M. de , Zhu Mei-Jun , Du Min
Published: May 2020

Maternal
stress during pregnancy exposes fetuses to hyper glucocorticoids (GC), which
increases the risk of metabolic dysfunctions in offspring. Despite of being a
key tissue for maintaining metabolic health, the impacts of maternal excessive
GC on fetal brown adipose tissue (BAT) development and its long-term thermogenesis
and energy expenditure remain unexamined. To test, pregnant mice were administrated
with dexamethasone (DEX), a synthetic GC, in the last trimester of gestation,
when BAT development is the most active. DEX offspring had glucose, insulin resistance
and adiposity, also displayed cold sensitivity following cold exposure. In BAT
of DEX offspring, Ppargc1a expression
was suppressed, together with reduced mitochondrial density, and the brown
progenitor cells sorted from offspring BAT demonstrated attenuated brown
adipogenic capacity. Increased DNA methylation in Ppargc1a promoter had a fetal origin because elevated DNA
methylation was also detected in neonatal BAT and brown progenitors. Mechanistically,
fetal GC exposure increased GC receptor (GR)/ DNMT3b complex in binding to the Ppargc1a promoter, potentially driving its
de novo DNA methylation and transcriptional silencing, which impaired
fetal BAT development. In summary, maternal GC exposure during pregnancy increases
DNA methylation in the Ppargc1a promoter,
which epigenetically impairs BAT thermogenesis and energy expenditure, predisposing
offspring to metabolic dysfunctions.