bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Postnatal persistence of hippocampal Cajal-Retzius cells has a crucial role in the establishment of the hippocampal circuit
Authors: Glærum Ingvild Lynneberg , Dunville Keagan , Moan Kristian , Krause Maike , Montaldo Nicola Pietro , Kirikae Hinako , Nigro Maximiliano Jose , Sætrom Pål , van Loon Barbara , Quattrocolo Giulia
Published: December 2023

Cajal-Retzius (CR) cells are a transient neuron type that populate the postnatal hippocampus. To understand how the persistence of CR cells influences the maturation of hippocampal circuits, we combined a specific transgenic mouse line with viral vector injection to selectively ablate CR cells from the postnatal hippocampus. We observed layer-specific changes in the dendritic complexity and spine density of CA1 pyramidal cells. In addition, transcriptomic analysis highlighted significant changes in the expression of synapse-related genes across development. Finally, we were able to identify significant changes in the expression levels of latrophilin 2, a postsynaptic guidance molecule known for its role in the entorhinal-hippocampal connectivity. These findings were supported by changes in the synaptic proteomic content in CA1 stratum lacunosum-moleculare. Our results reveal a crucial role for CR cells in the establishment of the hippocampal network.
CXCL12 promotes the crossing of retinal ganglion cell axons at the optic chiasm
Authors: Le Viet-Hang , Orniacki Clarisse , Murcia-Belmonte Verónica , Denti Laura , Schütz Dagmar , Stumm Ralf , Ruhrberg Christiana , Erskine Lynda
Published: December 2023

Binocular vision requires the segregation of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons extending from the retina into the ipsilateral and contralateral optic tracts. RGC axon segregation occurs at the optic chiasm, which forms at the ventral diencephalon midline. Using expression analyses, retinal explants and genetically modified mice, we demonstrate that CXCL12 (SDF1) is required for axon segregation at the optic chiasm. CXCL12 is expressed by the meninges bordering the optic pathway, and CXCR4 by both ipsilaterally and contralaterally projecting RGCs. CXCL12 or ventral diencephalon meninges potently promoted axon outgrowth from both ipsilaterally and contralaterally projecting RGCs. Further, a higher proportion of axons projected ipsilaterally in mice lacking CXCL12 or its receptor CXCR4 compared with wild-type mice as a result of misrouting of presumptive contralaterally specified RGC axons. Although RGCs also expressed the alternative CXCL12 receptor ACKR3, the optic chiasm developed normally in mice lacking ACKR3. Our data support a model whereby meningeal-derived CXCL12 helps drive axon growth from CXCR4-expressing RGCs towards the diencephalon midline, enabling contralateral axon growth. These findings further our understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms controlling optic pathway development.
Differentiated neuroblastoma cells remain epigenetically poised for de-differentiation to an immature state
Authors: Guyer Richard A. , Picard Nicole , Mueller Jessica L. , Ohishi Kensuke , Leavitt Abigail , Murphy Andrew J. , Cornejo Kristine M. , Hotta Ryo , Goldstein Allan M.
Published: December 2023

Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor of childhood and accounts for a significant share of childhood cancer deaths. Prior studies utilizing RNA sequencing of bulk tumor populations showed two predominant cell states characterized by high and low expression of neuronal genes. Although cells respond to treatment by altering their gene expression, it is unclear whether this reflects shifting balances of distinct subpopulations or plasticity of individual cells. Using mouse and human neuroblastoma cell lines lacking MYCN amplification, we show that the antigen CD49b (also known as ITGA2) distinguishes these subpopulations. CD49b expression marked proliferative cells with an immature gene expression program, whereas CD49b-negative cells expressed differentiated neuronal marker genes and were non-cycling. Sorted populations spontaneously switched between CD49b expression states in culture, and CD49b-negative cells could generate rapidly growing, CD49b-positive tumors in mice. Although treatment with the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin selectively killed CD49b-positive cells in culture, the CD49b-positive population recovered when treatment was withdrawn. We profiled histone 3 (H3) lysine 27 acetylation (H3K27ac) to identify enhancers and super enhancers that were specifically active in each population and found that CD49b-negative cells maintained the priming H3 lysine 4 methylation (H3K4me1) mark at elements that were active in cells with high expression of CD49b. Improper maintenance of primed enhancer elements might thus underlie cellular plasticity in neuroblastoma, representing potential therapeutic targets for this lethal tumor.
The use of typologies as heuristic devices in assisted reproductive technology practice: A qualitative analysis of patients and created typologies
Authors: Sutton Elizabeth , Taffs Louis , Sassano Angie , Mills Catherine , Kerridge Ian , Lipworth Wendy
Published: December 2023

Typologies are classification systems often used by people in social settings. Typologies are often developed by people to make sense of complexity and difference (Loeb et al., 2015; Wrede-Sach et al., 2013). In healthcare, patients may use typologies to characterise practitioners (e.g., as empathic or authoritarian) (Timmerman et al., 2021) and different kinds of practices (Senn et al., 2016). They may also be used by practitioners. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients and with health care professionals working in the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) sector. We identified six typologies that were often drawn upon by healthcare professionals. These are: the patient as consumer; the hopeful patient; the misinformed patient; the expert patient; the demanding patient and the resolved patient. Typologies bring with them some risk being that they may reinforce dominant models of care/methods of operating such as close adherence to protocols; obscure individuality and entrench stereotypes. They may also privilege particular kinds of knowledge and diminish other information which may be important to patients. This paper considers how typologies may be used in the assisted reproductive technology setting by health care practitioners when considering how to care for their patients.
NONLINEAR GUIDED WAVE MIXING FOR FATIGUE DAMAGES IDENTIFICATION IN STEEL PIPE
Authors: ZHANG RUI , LI NING , GAO SHULING , YUE YANAN
Published: December 2023

Nonlinear guided wave mixing techniques have been widely used for material degradation characterization in solids. In this study, a method using nonlinear guided wave mixing is proposed to identify fatigue damages, including both material degradation and subsequent fatigue crack propagation, in steel pipes. By means of theoretical analysis, two incident waves are selected to generate combined harmonics in the damaged pipes. Based on finite element (FE) simulations, the combined harmonic at difference frequency is successfully observed, and the nonlinear index, β, based on the combined harmonic at difference frequency is found to be capable of identifying both material degradation and the subsequent fatigue crack. This study provides a promising method for fatigue damages identification in the early stage using nonlinear guided wave mixing approach.
ASSESSMENT OF INTERMETALLIC COMPOUNDS WITHIN DISSIMILAR JOINTS USING NONLINEAR GUIDED- WAVE FEATURES
Authors: MANSOUR MIMA , FAKIH MOHAMMAD ALI , AL-BADOUR FADI , MUSTAPHA SAMIR
Published: December 2023

The welding of dissimilar materials finds a wide variety of applications in the fields of industrial construction and manufacturing. One of the most prominent challenges of these techniques is the development of intermetallic compounds (IMCs) at the joint level, which reduces the strength of the welds. Nonlinear ultrasound detection methods are used as modern non-destructive testing tools for inspecting early damage in various materials. This study investigates the assessment of the thickness of the IMC layer within dissimilar joints using nonlinear guided-wave (GW) features. A numerical investigation was performed on friction-stir-welded (FSW) lap joints, between AA5052-H32 aluminum and ASTM 516-70 steel, with various intermetallic conditions/thicknesses. GWs were excited in the specimens using piezoelectric transducers placed on the aluminum side. The second-harmonic generation (SHG) among the fundamental GW modes was examined within the low-excitation-frequency range. It was found that the relative acoustic nonlinearity parameter ?′ varies linearly with the thickness of the IMC layer. The attained results prove the sensitivity of GW nonlinear features to microstructural variations, within dissimilar FSW joints, and demonstrate the capability of LWs in accurately scrutinizing their strength. Keywords: Friction stir welding, dissimilar welds, intermetallic compound, nonlinear guided waves, acoustic non-linear parameter, numerical modelling.
EXPLAINABLE MACHINE LEARNING FRAMEWORK FOR GUIDED WAVES SIGNAL RECONSTRUCTION AND STRUCTURAL HEALTH MONITORING UNDER VARYING OPERATING AND ENVIRONMENTAL STATES
Authors: FAN YIMING , KOPSAFTOPOULOS FOTIS
Published: December 2023

Lamb Wave (LW) signal has been widely used as a technique for damage identification and localization in Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) due to its sensitivity to varying types of state changes. Analyzing and constructing the guided wave signals then become a critical step in damage detection and assessment. Researchers have discovered features in both temporal and frequency domains for signal description and reconstruction. Yet the related features are challenging to be manually developed as the stochastic acoustic signals captured by sensors can be complex and are determined by various factors such as complex boundary conditions and material properties. Recently, neural network has exhibited the capability for time series reconstruction yet lacking of interpretability. In this study, a convolutional autoencoder (CAE) network has been developed to compress the information of the collected signals along with parameters such as damage levels and external loads into time-invariant and time-variant latent spaces at the bottleneck layer which can be easier to analyze and more efficiently used for state estimation and signal reconstruction. The power of estimating signal and its corresponding conditions has been examined by combining a feed forward neural network (FFNN) with the encoder or decoder extracted from the CAE network so that states of raw signals can be predicted and signals under known states can be reconstructed. The proposed framework has been applied in two test cases to verify its capability and stability in terms of different latent space types. The experiment was conducted on an Al plate under different damage states with PZTs serving as actuators and receivers. It is shown that the state parameters can be estimated with high accuracy and the signals can be generated with low error and thus alleviate the requirements of time-consuming experiments.
TECHNICAL GUIDANCE ON SATELLITE-BASED DEFORMATION MONITORING OF BRIDGES
Authors: CUSSON ANIEL , GONDI FERNANDO GREENE
Published: December 2023

Since 2014, the National Research Council Canada (NRC) has led partnerships in which the application of radar satellite imagery for bridge deformation monitoring has been validated in five major case studies (including the North Channel Bridge in Cornwall (ON), the Jacques-Cartier, Victoria and Samuel de Champlain bridges in Montreal (QC), and the Confederation Bridge leading to Prince Edward Island (PEI). Based on the knowledge and experience developed in these bridge case studies, a set of technical guidelines is summarized and presented in this paper, which discusses the characteristics of bridges and the satellite parameters that can affect and improve the quality of satellite-based bridge deformation monitoring. The overarching goal of these guidelines is to enable more efficient and accurate monitoring of bridges using radar satellite imagery by recognizing the limitations of the technology and by better understanding which bridge and satellite parameters can optimize its application.
DYNAMIC BEHAVIOR OF CABRIL DAM: FINITE ELEMENT MODEL CALIBRATION, STRUCTURAL HEALTH MONITORING (2008–2023) AND SEISMIC SAFETY ASSESSMENT
Authors: OLIVEIRA SERGIO , ALEGRE ANDRE , RAMOS RAFAEL , PROENCA JORGE , MENDES PAULO
Published: December 2023

This paper presents a complete study on the dynamic behavior of the 132 m high Cabril arch dam (Portugal). In operation for almost 70 years, horizontal cracks appeared on the downstream face after the first reservoir filling, and in the 1980s the dam started showing signs of concrete swelling. To address the concerns about its long-term safety, a pioneering continuous vibration monitoring system, designed for Seismic and Structural Health Monitoring, was installed in Cabril dam in 2008. In this work, the vibrations recorded under ambient/operational conditions for more than a decade are analyzed to estimate the modal parameters of the dam, which are then used to calibrate and validate a finite element model of the dam-reservoir-foundation system with the horizontal cracking. After that, the dynamic behavior of Cabril dam is simulated for the next decades, considering a computationally generated scenario of progressive damage due to concrete swelling. The results show that a) the dynamic behavior of Cabril dam is not being affected by the existing swelling phenomenon, and b) vibration-based analysis can be effective for detecting structural changes due to progressive damage. Lastly, the calibrated model is adapted for conducting non-linear seismic simulations, considering joint movements and tensile and compressive concrete damage. A method based on Endurance Time Analysis method is applied to assess the seismic safety of the dam with respect to the Operating Basis Earthquake and the Safety Evaluation Earthquake. The results confirm that Cabril dam can withstand accelerations several times greater than both earthquake levels, showing its adequate seismic capacity.
DAMAGE ASSESSMENT IN A REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURE UNDER QUASI-STATIC SHEAR LOADING USING OFDR-BASED FIBRE-OPTIC DISTRIBUTED STRAIN MONITORING
Authors: HAMDI ISMAIL , MAGNE SYLVAIN , ROUGEAUTLT STÉPHANE , MONGABURE PHILIPPE , VASIC SANDRA , CHARBONNEL PIERRE-ETIENNE , WANG FAN , HERVÉ-SECOURGEON ESTELLE , VOLDOIRE FRANÇOIS
Published: December 2023

EDF and CEA have established an experimental program to improve knowledge of the behavior of wall-slab junctions under both out-of-plane bending and in-plane shear. The program involved reduced-scale mock-ups made of reinforced concrete (RC) that are representative of the structural elements of nuclear plant buildings. In parallel to vast experimental campaigns, numerical models of the junction under study are derived and calibrated in order to improve the computation of building responses under seismic excitations. The analysis of damaging process of these structures is reproduced by nonlinear numerical simulations, realized within the Finite Element framework CAST3M developed at CEA (www-cast3m.cea.fr/) and code Aster (https://code-aster.org), which account for steel plasticity and concrete damage, including crack propagation based on loading conditions and history. Of all the distributed techniques applicable to the Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) of RC structures, Optical Frequency-Domain Reflectometry (OFDR) is well suited because of its high spatial resolution. The OFDR principle relies on swept-wavelength homodyne interferometry. Light from a tunable laser source is split and sent through sensing and reference fibers, both being arms of an interferometer. The backscattered light recombines at an optical detector and an interferogram is recorded as the laser frequency is tuned. The spectral-domain signal is then Fourier-Transformed to yield the backscattering profile along the fiber. Finally, the fiber is segmented into successive centimeter-long gage lengths and a cross-correlation procedure provides the strain profile with respect to a reference state. We implemented the OBR4600 OFDR device from Luna Innovations. The OBR 4600 is a single channel device that provides static distributed strain monitoring over a range of 70 m, with an accuracy in strain of ±5 μm/m, a spatial resolution (gage length) of about 5 mm, and a readout time of typically 10 seconds. On the last mock-up of the experimental program, the jacks applied quasi-static displacements ranging from 0.69 mm to 11.49 mm, yielding progressive structural damage and eventually reaching concrete crack and steel plasticity. Strain profiles and natural frequencies were determined and compared to the modeling. Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing (DFOS) results provide access to continuous strain distributions along the instrumented rebars, localize deficiencies and local deformations around rebar crossings and also the emergence of concrete degradations in the joint. The OFDR technique enables highly reliable in-situ SHM of damage mechanisms within concrete structures, providing effective data for model verification and validation used in safety-related structures assessment.
Task-based Language Teaching TBLT
Authors: Michel Marije
Published: December 2023

When you ask learners why they enrolled in a language class, they typically will give answers like ‘because I need it for my study and work’; ‘because I want to be able to talk with the family of my partner’; ‘because it is my favourite holiday destination and I want to be able to speak to the people’ or ‘because I really like the language’. In all the years, I have worked as a language teacher myself, I have never met a student who answered: ‘I really wanted to learn past progressive’ or ‘I need to become better at phrasal verbs’. Sometimes, a student might wish to have ‘more vocabulary and better grammar’ as they feel they cannot express their intentions well enough for smooth communication. Still, irrespective of whether they are intrinsically motivated to learn the language or take a more instrumental view as they need it for educational or professional reasons, language learners across the globe usually learn a language because they want or should be able to do something with the language in interaction with people that also use that language to communicate. Inherently, second language (L2) learning is to a large extent socially driven: we want to become a member of the community of speakers that use the target language (Atkinson, 2010). These voices stand in contrast to what we still see in a lot of language teaching material and course books, that adhere to a structurefocussed PPP tradition: isolated structures are being presented and explained – followed by exercises to practice them – followed by communicative activities where students can demonstrate that they can perform in the language using the target structure. In the early 1980s, Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) emerged as a functionally oriented alternative to the PPP tradition (van den Branden, Bygate & Norris, 2009). In this short essay, I will present the main concepts and ideas that underly task-based language pedagogy.
Heuristic Search for Rank Aggregation with Application to Label Ranking
Authors: Zhou Yangming , Hao Jin-Kao , Li Zhen
Published: December 2023

Rank aggregation combines the preference rankings of multiple alternatives from different voters into a single consensus ranking, providing a useful model for a variety of practical applications but posing a computationally challenging problem. In this paper, we provide an effective hybrid evolutionary ranking algorithm to solve the rank aggregation problem with both complete and partial rankings. The algorithm features a semantic crossover based on concordant pairs and an enhanced late acceptance local search method reinforced by a relaxed acceptance and replacement strategy and a fast incremental evaluation mechanism. Experiments are conducted to assess the algorithm, indicating a highly competitive performance on both synthetic and real-world benchmark instances compared with state-of-the-art algorithms. To demonstrate its practical usefulness, the algorithm is applied to label ranking, a well-established machine learning task. We additionally analyze several key algorithmic components to gain insight into their operation.

History: Accepted by Erwin Pesch, Area Editor for Heuristic Search & Approximation Algorithms.

Funding: This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant 72371157] and Shanghai Pujiang Programme [Grant 23PJC069].

Supplemental Material: The software that supports the findings of this study is available within the paper and its Supplemental Information ( https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/suppl/10.1287/ijoc.2022.0019 ) as well as from the IJOC GitHub software repository ( https://github.com/INFORMSJoC/2022.0019 ). The complete IJOC Software and Data Repository is available at https://informsjoc.github.io/ .
Dynamic Pricing and Organic Waste Bans: A Study of Grocery Retailers’ Incentives to Reduce Food Waste
Authors: Sanders Robert Evan
Published: December 2023

I use a structural model with perishability data to analyze the welfare effects of two potential solutions to grocery-retail food waste: dynamic pricing and organic waste landfill bans.
Erratum to “Competitive Two-Agent Scheduling and Its Applications”
Authors: Koulamas Christos , Kyparisis George , Pinedo Michael , Wan Guohua
Published: December 2023

Erratum to “Competitive Two-Agent Scheduling and Its Applications”

The paper “Competitive Two-Agent Scheduling and Its Applications” by Leung, Pinedo, and Wan appeared in Operations Research in 2010. Because competitive agent scheduling has become an active area of research, the paper has garnered its share of citations over the years. This particular direction of scheduling research has become so popular that the book Multiagent Scheduling: Models and Algorithms by Agnetis, Billaut, Gawiejnowicz, Pacciarelli, and Soukhal appeared in 2014. However, one of the results in the Leung et al. paper had a minor error in it. The paper considers a two-agent scheduling problem with a single machine, with each one of the two agents having their own set of jobs. The first agent has as the objective the minimization of the total tardiness of her set of jobs, and the second agent has to ensure that the total completion time of her set of jobs is less than or equal to Q. Leung et al. showed, through a dynamic programming formulation, that this problem can be solved in pseudopolynomial time and determined the time complexity of their algorithm. Their proof contains a minor error. The proper algorithm is still pseudopolynomial but of a slightly higher time complexity.
Lélia Gonzalez: Uma Ponte entre a Descolonização e a Contracolonização da Psicanálise Brasileira
Authors: Jardim Raoni , Souza Herivelto
Published: December 2023

Trata-se, neste artigo, de explorar o papel da obra de Lélia Gonzalez a partir de um problema que pode ser pensado nos termos de uma encruzilhada epistemológica para a psicanálise: assumir-se em movimento descolonial, descentrado e destituinte com respeito às heranças do contexto colonial dentro do qual ela se constituiu e segue sendo transmitida, e, a partir daí, realizar um outro movimento que passa por elaborar referenciais teóricos próprios, bem como estabelecer modalidades de transmissão coerentes com a realidade histórico-social na qual ela opera. Defendemos que categorias como as de pretuguês, amefricanidade e a reconsideração da função materna a partir da retomada do lugar histórico-cultural da mãe preta são expedientes teóricos com relevância e incidência clínicas que exemplificam como tal encruzilhada epistemológica pode ser vista como um lugar conceitual tanto de impasse quanto de potencialidade criativa contracolonial. Defendemos ainda que tal guinada epistemológica é fundamental para que psicanalistas brasileiros contemporâneos estejam à altura da escuta e do posicionamento em "seu tempo".
Do Narcisismo das Pequenas Diferenças ao Gozo Narcísico
Authors: Fuks Betty , Farias Ana
Published: December 2023

A proposta desse ensaio é retomar a incursão de Freud, a partir da Primeira Guerra Mundial, na fonte do sofrimento que vem das relações entre os humanos, indicando a novidade que significou o conceito de narcisismo das pequenas diferenças na apreensão dos movimentos coletivos que declaram uma inócua expressão de hostilidade ao outro, ou os que promulgam ações destrutivas e mortíferas contra o outro eleito como seu inimigo absoluto. Com o advento da pulsão de morte, Freud redimensiona o conceito de narcisismo das pequenas diferenças e introduz a ideia de que a satisfação das pulsões que atingem a mais cega fúria de destruição, está conectada a um gozo [Genuβ] narcísico. Esse gozo, na leitura de Lacan, é um mal porque comporta um mal à alteridade. É com esse legado que nos propomos pensar a extensão da psicanálise ao discurso decolonial e outros discursos contra hegemônicos, através do diálogo interdisciplinar, na leitura das linguagens de ódio que enfrentamos em nossa época.
Isaac Goldberg e a literatura brasileira nos Estados Unidos: a trajetória produtiva do intelectual estadunidense nas décadas de 1910 e 1920
Authors: Capobianco Eder Dias
Published: December 2023

O artigo reúne as produções de Isaac Goldberg (1887-1938), nos Estados Unidos, que envolvem a literatura brasileira nas décadas de 1910 e 1920. O objetivo é expor um breve resumo de como cada publicação trata a literatura brasileira, assim como sua estrutura, analisando os aspectos destacados por Goldberg sobre a cultura e literatura nacional. No período em que esta pesquisa propõe, Goldberg escreveu sobre a literatura brasileira em sete ocasiões, entre artigos, ensaios e livros. Suas pesquisas revelam leituras de críticos locais, num movimento que Álvaro Lins (1912-1970) avalia como louvável. Os resultados obtidos a partir dessa metodologia o colocam, pela classificação de Otto Maria Carpeaux (1900-1978), como um historiador da literatura moderno, que busca através do romance e da crítica as particularidades políticas e culturais de um povo.
Extensão Universitária e o Desenvolvimento Rural
Authors: Camargos Gustavo Henrique Silva
Published: December 2023

A agropecuária é importante para a economia nacional, entretanto, a pobreza ainda é problema comum no meio rural brasileiro. A extensão universitária no meio rural permite benefícios mútuos para os municípios e a universidade. Assim, objetivou-se discutir como um projeto de extensão universitária atua na melhoria das condições de vida da população rural e nas habilidades dos estudantes. O projeto foi desenvolvido em parceria da Escola de Veterinária da UFMG e da Prefeitura Municipal de Conceição do Mato Dentro-MG. As principais ações foram assistência técnica aos sistemas produtivos, apoio na elaboração de leis e projetos para o meio rural e valorização do saber tradicional. O projeto atendeu tecnicamente 10,09% dos produtores em parceria com diversas secretarias em 18 comunidades municipais. Foi redigido e aprovado, em parceria com atores locais, as leis do Serviço de Inspeção Municipal e do Conselho Municipal de Desenvolvimento Rural Sustentável. Foram realizadas reuniões comunitárias e organizado curso sobre utilização de plantas medicinais. Foram treinados três estudantes de pós-graduação e nove de graduação. As ações do projeto possibilitaram atendimento aos produtores rurais e melhorias nos sistemas produtivos. O apoio ao poder público com profissionais universitários de alta qualificação na elaboração de políticas públicas permitiu maior eficiência na aplicação de recursos voltados para o meio rural. A participação de estudantes na solução dos problemas do campo contribui positivamente para a formação discente. Conclui-se que a extensão universitária no campo permite benefícios mútuos para o setor agrário municipal e as universidades.
Ensino de Programação para crianças com o uso da ferramenta Scratch
Authors: De Souza Franciely Alves , Junior Ivaldir de Farias
Published: December 2023

Contexto: Este trabalho relata uma experiência vivenciada em um curso de férias com alunos entre 9 e 12 anos, que durante 1 meses e 1 semana de aula, tiveram a oportunidade de aprender conceitos básicos de programação utilizando a ferramenta Scratch. Metodologia: Nas aulas foram realizadas atividades práticas com o uso dos blocos de programação na ferramenta Scratch, que possibilitaram o embasamento para o desenvolvimento de dois jogos lúdicos, que foram avaliados de forma automática através da ferramenta Dr. Scratch. Resultados esperados: O curso foi concluído com 11 alunos, e entre os resultados destaca-se a evolução do aprendizado no decorrer das atividades realizadas, já que os alunos não possuíam nenhum conhecimento prévio. Além disso, os resultados demonstram o quanto a avaliação automática é eficiente para visualizar a evolução do aprendizado dos alunos, e consequentemente adaptar as aulas para suprir alguma dificuldade que seja percebida a partir dos critérios avaliados. Conclusão:  Concluímos que o curso proporcionou um momento de aprendizado diferente, lúdico e dinâmico, onde os alunos tiveram a oportunidade de conhecer novos conceitos e apresentaram resultados significativos ao que foi proposto inicialmente no projeto.
Estratégias para promoção do clima ético positivo sob a perspectiva de enfermeiros hospitalares
Authors: Dalmolin Graziele de Lima , Lanes Taís Carpes , Facin Mariane Buligon , Schutz Thais Costa , Andolhe Rafaela , Ramos Flávia Regina Souza
Published: December 2023

Objetivo: analisar as estratégias de promoção do clima ético positivo sob a perspectiva de enfermeiros hospitalares. Método: estudo qualitativo e descritivo exploratório, realizado com 182 enfermeiros de um hospital universitário do sul do Brasil. A coleta dos dados ocorreu por meio de um questionário sociodemográfico, laboral e uma pergunta aberta sobre estratégias de promoção do clima ético positivo. A organização dos dados ocorreu no software Atlas TI 8.0, versão 2019, e aplicou-se análise temática dos dados. Recebeu aprovação do Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da instituição envolvida.  Resultados: a macro categoria “Organização do trabalho” elencou itens sobre as relações na equipe, gestão, educação permanente e condições de trabalho. A macro categoria “Dimensão ética do trabalho” se referiu a exigências, valores pessoais e profissionais, expressão e sensibilidade moral. Conclusão: as estratégias de melhores condições de trabalho e organização, bem como o tratamento das questões éticas e relações interpessoais promovem o clima ético positivo.
Dimensões da avaliação dos programas de residência em área profissional e multiprofissional
Authors: Morijo Daniel Kleber Santos , Kobayashi Rika Miyahara , Simonetti Sérgio Henrique
Published: December 2023

Objetivo: realizar a autoavaliação dos Programas de Residência em Saúde Cardiovascular sob a ótica dos residentes em curso. Método: estudo observacional, transversal desenvolvido em hospital público cardiológico de São Paulo, cuja coleta foi realizada, após aprovação do Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa, por questionário junto aos residentes em curso, no segundo semestre de 2021. Resultados: residentes com idade média de 25,7 anos, mulheres, brancas, procedentes de São Paulo e região nordeste avaliaram sua satisfação relacionada às dimensões de Infraestrutura (74%), Organização didático-pedagógica (91,1%), Produção científica (92%) e Satisfação com o programa (92,4%). Verificou-se como ponto de melhoria a necessidade de investimentos em locais de repouso (79.5%), de convívio (70,5%), de estudo (15,9%), e em ações de educação permanente (27,3%) aos preceptores. Conclusão: o estudo possibilitou identificar prioridade de investimentos em infraestrutura e a necessidade de fortalecer a capacitação pedagógica dos preceptores fomentando o aprimoramento dos programas.
Phlebosclerosis: An overlooked complication of varicose veins that affects clinical outcome: A case report
Authors: Ren Shi-Yan , Qian Song-Yi , Gao Rong-Ding
Published: December 2023

BACKGROUND

Phlebosclerosis is a common age-related fibrotic degeneration of the venous wall. It is a disorder rather than a disease, which may cause venous dysfunction and even venous thrombosis. It is rarely reported in patients with varicose veins.

CASE SUMMARY

The present report describes the case of a 70-year-old man with varicose veins, vitiligo, and phlebosclerosis. Venous angiography revealed blood reflux in the superficial and deep veins. The patient underwent surgery to remove the saphenous veins. During the operation, a calcified vein resembling a wooden stick was found, which was surprisingly extracted from the thickened venous wall. A cross-section of this wooden stick-like vein revealed venous fibrosis and calcification, obvious thickening of the venous wall, extensive collagen deposition on the venous wall, hyaline degeneration, and venous sclerosis causing closure of the venous lumen.

CONCLUSION

This is probably the first report of a wooden stick-like structure being found in the venous wall in patients with varicose veins and venous ulcers. Phlebosclerosis can be observed in the late stage of varicose veins complicated by frequent infections and worse clinical outcomes. Therefore, it is important to be aware of this condition and address it rather than overlook it.
Evaluation of a Point Source Intervention for Preventing Hearing Loss on Farmers’ Attitudes and Beliefs:A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Ehlers Josie , Lyden Elizabeth , Baccaglini Lorena , Rautiainen Risto Heikki , Achutan Chandran
Published: December 2023

Highlights

About 30% of farmers had moderate or worse hearing in at least one ear for frequencies between 2000 and 6000 Hertz.

Improvements in perceptions were observed by increased HBM concept scores for barriers related to comfort and communication, self-efficacy, and hearing protection benefits.

Older farmers had higher HBM concept scores for barriers related to communication and the benefits of hearing protection compared to younger farmers.

The point source intervention contributed to the effect of education in improving farmers’ HBM concept scores for comfort and self-efficacy.

Abstract. Objectives: Hearing protection devices (HPDs) can effectively prevent hearing loss. However, they are not widely used by farmers. This study assessed factors influencing farmers’ perceptions about hearing protection and evaluated if a point source hearing protection intervention changed these perceptions over time. Methods: Intervention farmers (n=53) received education and the point source intervention (storing HPDs near major noise sources). Control farmers (n=36) received education only. Annually, for nearly four years, farmers from both groups were asked to complete a questionnaire about their perceptions of hearing protection. Results: During the multi-year study, both intervention and control farmers' perceptions about hearing protection improved. Perceptions about barriers related to comfort were better for intervention farms (p=0.007) and for farmers that participated in the study longer (p<0.001). Perceptions about self-efficacy were also better for intervention farms (p=0.001) and for farmers that participated in the study longer (p<0.001). Age was associated with better perceptions about the benefits of hearing protection (p=0.011). Perceptions about communication barriers improved for all farmers as the study advanced (p=0.002) and for farmers that were older (p=0.006). Conclusion: Intervention and control groups improved their perceptions of hearing protection over time. The point source intervention contributed to the effect of education on farmers’ perceptions of comfort and self-efficacy but not to perceptions related to communication barriers or the benefits of hearing protection. Keywords: Agriculture, Farmer, Hearing; Noise, Personal protective equipment.
Trumpism, Cuban Americans, and the Fetishism of Politics
Authors: González Maestrey Rodney A.
Published: December 2023

This article analyses the transfigured way in which President Trump and the Cuban-American far right exercised their power. It assesses both the underlying social relations behind this in both US society as a whole and in particular in its subset of the Cuban-American community in Miami, and the construction of what Michel Foucault called a truth regime which serves to hide the social actors’ true power-related goals. Theoretical perspectives about the nature of power in international relations, and society as a whole, are employed in this endeavour. It is concluded that beyond the predominant Cold War politics and narrative, Trump and the Cuban-American far right’s goal was to maintain the local and national power structure they have benefited from, given the perceived harmful impact of Barack Obama’s policies.
Impacto Socioeconómico de los Resultados Deportivos de Cuba en los Juegos Olímpicos: Socioeconomic Impact of Cuba’s Sports Results in the Olympic Games
Authors: Navarro José Ramón Sanabria , Núñez William Alejandro Niebles , Silveira-Pérez Yahilina
Published: December 2023

Sport is a social phenomenon with economic repercussions, which is why the objective of the research is to analyze the socioeconomic impact of Cuba’s sports results in the Olympic Games. The research methodology starts from the postulates of the materialist dialectics of the reality investigated from its historicity, systematicity, and its systemic character. Using an external secondary information source, the results of Cuba in the 26 events held to date from 1896–2020 were analyzed, as well as the composition of the sports industry and its relation with Cuban society. This study also includes a bibliometric study of 5178 words and a statistical analysis from the sports and teaching perspective, and ends with a prospective analysis of systemic excellence using the MICMAC software. The results show that the socioeconomic impact of Cuban sport is very relevant, thus fulfilling the hypotheses posed.
„Segðu satt“: Pólitískt traust og væntingar til stjórnmálafólks á Íslandi, 2020-2023
Authors: Valgarðsson Viktor Orri , Sigurgeirsdóttir Sigurbjörg
Published: December 2023

Pólitískt traust hrundi á Íslandi árið 2008 og náði sér ekki á strik næstu ár þrátt fyrir verulegan efnahagsbata. Árin 2021-2022 virtist traustið hafa náð fyrri hæðum, en óljóst er hvort það var tímabundin aukning vegna heimsfaraldurs eða merki um varanlega þróun. Í þessari rannsókn skoðum við þróun pólitísks trausts á Íslandi undanfarin ár, með áherslu á tvær ólíkar uppsprettur þess: hæfni annars vegar og heilindi hins vegar. Okkar tilgáta er sú að hrunið hafi ekki bara laskað álit íslensks almennings á hæfni stjórnmálafólks, heldur líka á heilindum þeirra. Við prófum tilgátuna óbeint með því að skoða sambandið á milli pólitísks trausts og ólíkra væntinga almennings til stjórnmálafólks, með gögnum úr könnunum tímabilið 2020-2023. Niðurstöðurnar benda til þess að þau sem leggja meiri áherslu á heilindi stjórnmálafólks treysti alþingismönnum minna en þau sem leggja meiri áherslu á hæfni treysti þeim meira, að teknu tilliti til flokksvals og lýðfræðilegra þátta. Sömuleiðis benda niðurstöðurnar til þess að almenningur hafi árin 2020-2022 lagt mesta áherslu á eiginleika sem tengjast hæfni stjórnmálafólks en árið 2023 hafi áherslan færst yfir á heilindi og þá hafi pólitískt traust minnkað aftur á svipað stig og fyrir faraldur.

Þessar niðurstöður benda til þess að þegar íslenskur almenningur leggur áherslu á heilindi í stjórnmálum sé pólitískt traust lágt, en þegar hæfni þykir skipta meira máli sé traustið hærra. Þetta gæti skýrt hvers vegna pólitískt traust virðist enn ekki hafa náð sér eftir fjármálahrunið þrátt fyrir efnahagsbata, ef íslenskt stjórnmálafólk hefur enn ekki endurheimt orðspor sitt fyrir heilindi.
Wicked Problem of Regional Development Policy in Iceland
Authors: Edvardsdóttir Anna Guðrún , Ólafsdóttir Rannveig , Williams Allison
Published: December 2023

With increasing globalization, the influence of global drivers on local livelihood and prosperity is becoming more apparent at the local level. Global drivers are for the most part driven by economic incentives and often disregard sustainable rural development. This paper uses a political economy perspective to investigate how global impacts are affecting regional development policy. This is accomplished via content analysis and literary study of regional development policy documents post-2000 in Iceland, recognized as a predominately rural island nation. Contributing to the literature on public administration and policy in Iceland and elsewhere, the paper argues that regional development and sustainability in rural regions is a wicked problem and emphasises the importance of a holistic perspective in sustainable regional and rural development. Conclusions suggest that place-specific, nuanced approach needs to be taken to meet the demands of sustainable development. As influenced by the new regionalism, places, and the communities within them, differ in environmental, economic, social, and cultural ways. The uniqueness of places underpins the vital importance of inhabitants´ participation in decision making. Moreover, addressing wicked problems at the community level is an easier and a more transparent way to diagnose and manage issues of concern.
Take-up of social security benefits: past, present – and future?
Authors: Bennett Fran
Published: December 2023

This article reviews evidence on and possible causes of non-take-up of social security benefits, focusing on the UK, and analyses the implications of the introduction of Universal Credit for take-up. It discusses why (non-)take-up is an important issue, in relation to those affected, the performance of social policies in relation to their goals and the nature of social citizenship. It explains how take-up is usually measured (or estimated) in the UK, giving some recent results, and describing recent policy decisions to halt the publication of figures on take-up of working-age benefits. It investigates explanations put forward about why entitlements are not claimed, highlighting analysis of obstacles at the individual claimant level; barriers within benefits administration; problems with system design; and wider structural issues in society. It examines the implications of the introduction of Universal Credit both for take-up and for the evidence base about it. The integrated nature of Universal Credit was argued to favour higher take-up; but features of its design and administration may have the opposite effect. Evidence is, however, lacking on the outcome of this combination. The conclusion reflects on the future of initiatives to boost benefit take-up, especially those relying on automation – often interpreted in different ways. It argues in favour of taking more account of the reasons for non-take-up relating to the nature of potential claimants’ relationship with the state, and the characteristics of benefits left unclaimed, rather than assuming that administrative information and automation will overcome all the obstacles currently resulting in non-take-up.
The West India Regiments and the War of 1812
Authors: Lockley Tim
Published: December 2023

Abstract: The West India Regiments, men of African descent embodied into regular regiments of the British Army, played a hitherto unheralded role in the War of 1812. Knowledge of the military prowess of these regiments was widespread in the US in the early nineteenth century, and the British exploited this, mixed with a large amount of rumour and speculation as a terror tactic during the war. The West India Regiments were used as recruiters in the Chesapeake in 1814, and on active campaigns against New Orleans and Georgia in 1815. They were directly and indirectly responsible for the escape of thousands of enslaved people from slave states to British forces and even forced some US commentators to contemplate the recruitment of their own enslaved soldiers as a counterweight. While their military contribution to the war ended up being small, the psychological importance of regiments of black men within easy reach of the southern states lingered long after peace had been agreed.
The Transgression of the Limits of Husserlian Phenomenology by Edith Stein: Deepening William Tullius’s Insights
Authors: Casanova Carlos A.
Published: December 2023

Abstract: Ancient monism matters today because it reveals an alternative answer to a problem faced by ontology “after the death of god,” namely, how to distinguish between good and bad actions after the disappearance of transcendence. The modern answer in Continental philosophy was systematized by Heidegger and consists in positing that the everyday is permeated by instrumentality whereas there is a different kind of action that is noninstrumental, such as art or the thinking of being. By contrast, ancient monism holds that all actions are instrumental and employs on a typology of action that relies on the distinction between techne and phronesis . Recognizing a different answer from the dominant Heideggerian one has the potential to renew the conception of the ethical and the political in Continental philosophy.
The Boundary Theory of Libertarian Free Will
Authors: Juthe André
Published: December 2023

Abstract: The first purpose of this article is to present a new theory of libertarian free will—the boundary theory of libertarian free will—which provides a new framework by means of employing boundaries as a “conceptual scheme” for understanding libertarian free will. This theory consists of two parts. One part suggests that the agent’s will should be viewed as the intermediate boundary between an agent’s reasons and his alternative choices. The second part is a model where the agent’s will is a faculty that solely operates by permitting or resisting reasons (that are potential causes) to become actual causes for the agent’s choices. The second purpose of the paper is to argue that the boundary theory of libertarian free will has several advantages, the most important of which are: (a) it defeats the charge that libertarian free will is a mystery; (b) it defeats the standard objections against the compatibility of libertarian free will and indeterminism (that is, the luck argument, the roll-back argument, the difference argument, the assimilation argument, etc.); and (c) it is simultaneously an argument for indeterminism as such (that is, that determinism is false).
Liquid lens for adaptive interferometric particle imaging
Authors: Abad Alexis , Idlahcen Saïd , Talbi Mohamed , Brunel Marc
Published: December 2023

A liquid lens is used to realize an adaptive interferometric particle imaging system. The defocus parameter of the system can be changed instantaneously by adjusting the voltage applied to the lens. This enables adjusting the imaging conditions in real time. The setup is first tested on programmable rough particles generated by a digital micromirror device (DMD), and then with real glass particles under nanosecond pulse illumination.