bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pylephlebitis Complicating Concurrent Sigmoid Endometriosis and Diverticulosis: A Case Report
Authors: Hayes Alastair J. , Reddy Reddivari AK. , Haugk Beate , Gallagher Hugh J.
Published: May 2021

Purpose

To explain an unusually severe presentation of concurrent sigmoid diverticulosis and endometriosis. Intestinal endometriosis can be complicated by colonic obstruction, perforation, fistula formation, and sepsis. Suppurative thrombosis of the portal system (pylephlebitis) complicating intestinal endometriosis has not been previously reported.

Methods

A previously fit and well 44-year-old woman presented with a two-day history of severe, intermittent left iliac fossa pain and loose, brown stools. CT scan revealed thickening of the sigmoid colon and inferior mesenteric and intra-hepatic vein thrombosis with patchy liver perfusion. Conservative management failed and an exploratory laparotomy showed a sigmoid inflammatory phlegmon. The inferior mesenteric vein containing pus and thrombus was excised together with the sigmoid mass.

Results

Histology revealed sigmoid colonic diverticulosis and endometriosis associated with extensive subserosal abscess formation. Widespread suppurative necrotizing venulitis with partial thrombosis of mesenteric veins was found. Literature review revealed that endometriotic cells produce a variety of pro-inflammatory mediators.

Conclusions

We postulate that endometriotic tissue within the diverticular sigmoid colon triggered an inflammatory cascade, leading to bacterial translocation and pylephlebitis.
Effect of grazing management strategies on the yield and nutritional value of Marandu grass in the semiarid of Brazil
Authors:   Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Araújo Maria Catiane  Silva Veloso , Sales Eleuza Clarete Junqueira de ,   Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Monção Flávio Pinto ,   Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Rocha Júnior Vicente Ribeiro ,   Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Gomes Virgílio Mesquita ,   Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Alves Dorismar David ,   Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Reis Sidnei Tavares dos ,   Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Rigueira João Paulo Sampaio ,   Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Alencar Amanda Maria Silva ,   Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Aspiazú Ignacio ,   Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros
Published: May 2021

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of two grazing management strategies on structural, productive and nutritional parameters of Marandu grass (Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu). A completely randomized block design with two pasture management strategies and eight replications (blocks) was used. The grazing management strategies were: (1) low intensity rotational grazing (LI), with a pre-grazing sward height of 40 cm and a post-grazing sward height of 24 cm, i.e., a defoliation intensity of 50%; (2) High intensity rotational grazing (HI), with a pre-grazing sward height of 40 cm and a post-grazing sward height of 10 cm (±70% defoliation intensity). Pastures were sampled before and after grazing for estimation of forage mass, forage accumulation rate, structural characteristics, nutritional value and dry matter intake.The LI strategy resulted in higher dry matter production than HI before (18.33%) and after grazing (49.06%), increasing pre-grazing forage density by 13.21% (P < 0.05). The production of potentially digestible dry matter was highest (P < 0.05) in LI strategy (21.3% before and 39.6% after grazing, respectively). Higher post-grazing green forage mass (45%) increased the residual crude protein in LI. The LI management strategy increased forage mass production and can be used in Marandu grass pastures.
Influence of energy supplementation on associative effects in Nellore bulls on a tropical pasture during the rainy season
Authors:   Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná, Stahlhofer Mariane , Valente Ériton Egidio Lisboa ,   Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná, Barros Lívia Vieira de ,   Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso, Damasceno Matheus Leonardi ,   Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná, Barbizan Mariana ,   Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná, Melo Brenda Vieira Rocha ,   Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná, Arndt Stefani Natani dos Santos ,   Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná, Silva Sarah Stefany da ,   Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná
Published: May 2021

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of energy supplementation on associative effects between forage and concentrate supplements and on the performance of beef cattle on a tropical pasture during the rainy season. Twenty-eight Nellore bulls averaging 19 months of age and 325.2 ± 4.1 kg were allotted to a completely randomized design and distributed into four paddocks of two hectares each with a tropical pasture for 84 d. The treatments consisted of bulls on Urochloa brizantha cv. Xaraés pasture without concentrate supplementation or bulls on Urochloa brizantha cv. Xaraés pasture receiving concentrate supplementation at 15 (S15), 30 (S30) or 45% (S45) of the total digestible nutrients (TDN) requirement All bulls had ad libitum access to mineral supplementation. The amount and chemical composition of the supplement were adjusted every 28 d. Forage and supplement intakes were evaluated in all animals using fecal markers. Crude protein: digestible organic matter ratio decreased with supplementation; consequently, the imbalance between dietary protein and energy increased. Forage intake decreased with increasing supplementation. The substitution rates of pasture for supplementary feed were 0.14, 0.33, and 0.46 for bulls from S15, S30, and S45 treatments, respectively. However, the apparent DM digestibility increased linearly with supplementation level. Supplementation improved the assimilation of ammonia-N in the rumen. Energy supplementation for Nellore bulls on tropical pastures during the rainy season provides excess energy relative to protein, resulting in a substitution effect of supplement intake on forage intake. Moreover, energy supplementation does not improve body weight gain. Protein sources should be added to supplements for balancing protein and energy levels, thereby reducing a likely substitution effect.
Mortality of leaf-cutting ants with salicylic acid
Authors:   Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Fazam Juliana Chiquetti , Shimizu Gabriel Danilo ,   Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Almeida Júlio Cesar de ,   Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Pasini Amarildo ,   Universidade Estadual de Londrina
Published: May 2021

Strategies for the control of leaf-cutting ants have mainly involved granular baits based on fipronil and sulfluramid as active ingredients, which are commonly coated with attractive citrus-based substances. Their constant use and the lack of alternatives in the market may favor the perception of these substances by ants, causing rejection for foraging and consequent difficulty in their control. In this respect, this study examined the mortality of leaf-cutting ants of the genera Atta and Acromyrmex subjected to direct application with dry powders, in laboratory conditions. As a preliminary treatment, a commercial antiseptic talc powder (C. A. P. T.) was used, followed by isolated treatments that corresponded to its components with potential insecticidal action, namely, salicylic acid, sulfur, boric acid, zinc oxide, in addition to an inert talc powder (Quimidrol®) as the control. For each treatment, 40 (worker) ants, whose activity was reduced due to remaining in a refrigerator prior to the treatment, were placed in transparent crystal polystyrene (‘Gerbox’ type) and were sprinkled with a salt shaker. The ants were kept at 25 ± 2 °C, under a 12-h photophase, and cumulative mortality was recorded every 24 h, considering dead ants as those that were unable to maintain the natural position of their body, i.e., even dying ants were considered dead when they exhibited no reaction when touched by a paintbrush. When sprinkled on ants, C. A. P. T. causes 40% mortality in both species 24 h after application. Subsequent studies of the components of this commercial product have found that when sprinkled on both Atta sexdens rubropilosa and Acromyrmex crassispinus, salicylic acid causes 100% mortality of workers in the first 24 h. This result provides a new prospect of control through a low environmental-impact product, representing an alternative for control in nests in the field that can contribute to the integrated control of ants.
Oral Ketorolac as an Adjuvant Agent for Postoperative Pain Control After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Study
Authors: Sivasundaram Lakshmanan , Mengers Sunita , Trivedi Nikunj N. , Strony John , Salata Michael J. , Voos James E. , Victoroff Brian N. , Karns Michael R. , Gillespie Robert J.
Published: May 2021

Background:

Arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (RCR) is associated with substantial postoperative pain. Oral narcotic agents are the preferred analgesic postoperatively. However, these agents are associated with several side effects and a potential for abuse. This study evaluates the efficacy of ketorolac as an adjunctive agent for postoperative pain control after arthroscopic RCR.

Methods:

Adult patients undergoing arthroscopic RCR were prospectively enrolled and randomized to one of two groups. The control received our institution's standard-of-care pain protocol, including oxycodone-acetaminophen 5 to 325 mg on discharge. The ketorolac group received the standard-of-care protocol, intravenous ketorolac at the completion of the procedure, and oral ketorolac on discharge. Pain and functional outcome scores and narcotic utilization were recorded three times per day for the first 5 days after surgery. Repeat magnetic resonance imaging was done at least 6 months postoperatively.

Results:

In our study, 39 patients were included for final analysis; the mean age of the cohort was 55.7 ± 10.6 years, and 66.7% of patients were male. No differences were observed in preoperative demographics, comorbidities, cuff tear morphology, and functional scores between the two groups. Over the first 5 days after surgery, patients in the ketorolac group consumed a mean of 10.6 fewer narcotic pills, a consumption reduction of 54.6% (19.42 versus 8.82, P < 0.001). No difference was observed in functional outcome scores at up to 6 weeks postoperatively between the two groups. No difference was observed in adverse events between the two groups with no reported cases of gastritis or gastrointestinal bleeding. Twenty-two of 39 patients underwent repeat magnetic resonance imaging at a mean of 7.9 months postoperatively, of which 5 (22%) demonstrated a retear of their rotator cuff. No significant difference was observed between the ketorolac and control groups in the rate of retear (P = 1.00).

Discussion:

Adjunctive ketorolac substantially reduces narcotic utilization after arthroscopic RCR.
Exploring EFL Learners’ Comments on Web-Based Peer Feedback: Local and Global Revisions
Authors: Abri Abdullah Al
Published: May 2021

The purpose of this empirical study was to explore the interactional commenting patterns that EFL learners produced in web-based peer feedback and correlate them with the learners’ writing achievement. The study employed a quasi-experimental design built on the Theory of Cognitive Apprenticeship (Collins, 1991), which gives emphasis on coaching (local revision) and scaffolding (global revision) processes. The context of the study was in a public university in Oman and 50 participants were involved in a selected range of online peer-feedback processes, synchronously and asynchronously. A paired samples t-test showed that students were able to improve their grammar range and accuracy in writing essays more than other scaling categories (e.g. content and organization). The results of the qualitative analysis indicated that students produced far more comments synchronously than asynchronously, and most of the students’ exchanges were on forms. The findings of this study could be a practical reference for those who plan to cultivate the use of technology in peer feedback practice. 
Research on Countermeasures and Financing Risk of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in China
Authors: Gong Chuanyang
Published: May 2021

SMEs have played an important role in deepening of construction of socialist market economy in China. Their contribution rate to our country's economy is rising continuously, they also stimulate technical innovation. However, because of their small scale, credit margin and other factors and imperfect market mechanism, SMEs are facing a severe situation in the process of financing, the huge financing risk has become the core problem restricting the development of SMEs. This paper employed the KMV model to make an empirical analysis. Then, the author puts forward corresponding suggestions for the financing of SMEs in the future.
The Impact of Margin Trading on Stock Volatility: Based from 2014 to 2016 Shanghai and Shenzhen 300 Index
Authors: Gong Chuanyang
Published: May 2021

The paper study the impact of margin trading on the volatility of the stock market, We selected 469 observation values among the daily Shanghai and Shenzhen 300 index from May 2014 to March 2016. the Granger causality test results are obtained for the model. Empirically study shows that one of the factors affecting stock price fluctuation does include margin trading business, and shows a negative correlation, which plays a more stable role in the stock market.
2021/3 Application of a collective agreement and discrimination based on membership (non-membership) of a trade union (LT)
Authors: Petrylaitė Vida
Published: May 2021

2021/3 Application of a collective agreement and discrimination based on membership (non-membership) of a trade union (LT)

On 16 December 2020, the Supreme Court of Lithuania (Cassation Court) delivered a ruling in a case where an employee claimed that the employer, JSC ‘Lithuanian Railways’, did not apply the regulations of the company’s employer-level collective agreement and did not pay a special bonus – an anniversary benefit (i.e. a benefit paid to employees on reaching a certain age) – because the employee was not a member of the trade union which had signed the collective agreement. According to the employee, she was discriminated against because of her membership of another trade union, i.e membership of the ‘wrong’ trade union.

The Supreme Court held that combatting discrimination under certain grounds falls within the competence and scope of EU law, but that discrimination on the grounds of trade union membership is not distinguished as a form of discrimination. Also, the Court ruled that in this case (contrary to what the employee claimed in her cassation appeal) Article 157 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) is not applicable because it regulates the prohibition of discrimination on other (sex) grounds. Moreover, the Court found that there was no legal basis for relying on the relevant case law of the ECJ which provides clarification on other forms of discrimination, but not on discrimination based on trade union membership.
2021/4 Budget considerations can justify indirect discrimination (UK)
Authors: Soakell Carolyn
Published: May 2021

2021/4 Budget considerations can justify indirect discrimination (UK)

If an employer has a policy which is indirectly discriminatory and the employer’s aim is no more than saving money, the Court of Appeal (CA) has ruled that this cannot justify the discrimination. However, needing to balance the books can potentially be a valid justification for indirect discrimination.
2021/5 Upper age limit for entrance to police force found discriminatory (IR)
Authors: O’Leary Orla
Published: May 2021

2021/5 Upper age limit for entrance to police force found discriminatory (IR)

An adjudication officer of the Irish Workplace Relations Commission has ruled that an upper age limit for entrance to An Garda Síochána (the national police force) was discriminatory on the grounds of age.
2021/6 Conclusion of the ECJ case on whether obesity may constitute a disability (DK)
Authors: Clasen Christian K.
Published: May 2021

2021/6 Conclusion of the ECJ case on whether obesity may constitute a disability (DK)

In 2014, the ECJ was presented with a preliminary reference from the District Court in Kolding on the matter of whether EU law provides protection against discrimination on grounds of obesity with regard to employment and occupation. Following the ECJ’s ruling, first the District Court and later the High Court found that an employee’s obesity as such did not constitute a disability within the meaning of Directive 2000/78/EC establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation since his obesity had not constituted a limitation or inconvenience in the performance of his job.
2021/12 Expiry of untaken annual leave and entitlement to compensation (SI)
Authors: Smolnikar Petra , Marinček Tjaša
Published: May 2021

2021/12 Expiry of untaken annual leave and entitlement to compensation (SI)

Following ECJ case law, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Slovenia has ruled that a worker is entitled to compensation for unused annual leave in the event that the termination of employment has occurred 15 months after the end of the transfer period (i.e. the period for the transfer of the right to use annual leave) provided for in national legislation. The relevant transposition period is therefore three months longer than the transposition period set out in the Slovenian law.
Polish journal “Issues in Childhood Care and Education” facing the realities and educational policy of the Polish government
Authors: Pilch Tadeusz
Published: May 2021

The aim of the author was to evaluate the cognitive, descriptive and diagnostic values of the social and educational reality presented in the monthly magazine by state and local government institutions in the practice of managing the country and the life of society. According to my estimates, during the 60 years of their editorial work, “Issues in Childhood Care and Education” has included in its monthly magazine over 5,000 publications of various nature, devoted to all phenomena and problems of education, upbringing, care and development of children and youth, as well as institutions implementing a great program for educating young generation. Professional experience allowed me to highly evaluate the cognitive and diagnostic reliability of the published texts. They provide a real image of educational institutions, their work, problems with everyday life, the remarkable work of organizers, instructors and educators. They allow to assess the development value of this work for children and youth.
At the same time, the knowledge of the reality allows for a critical judgement on the way of using these diagnostic and cognitive values to improve the conditions in which a Polish child lives, to improve the work of schools and care and educational institutions.
The dominant style of coexistence between science and the world of politics is the artificial principle of division into problems falling under the competence of the world of science (descriptive, cognitive, diagnostic...) and the second sphere – the world of management, decisions, distribution of resources – belonging to the world of politics and other governing bodies. These are two separate worlds, the contacts and mutual communication of which either does not exist or is only instrumental in nature. Politics does not use the achievements of science, its recognition and diagnosis. And here you can find the sources of many bad decisions, failed projects, and social and economic failures.
Care – education – social work
Authors: Staręga-Piasek Jadwiga
Published: May 2021

Interview with Dr. Joanna Staręga-Piasek, editor-in-chief of the “Issues in Childhood Care and Education” journal in the years 2000–2016
Macro- and microsocial conditions affecting family and the shape of modern childhood
Authors: Matyjas Bożena
Published: May 2021

The theory-oriented article is based on the literature review and analysis related to family in the context of its social and educational functions as well as related to the child who is brought up and influenced by the family. The aim of the article is to discuss macro- and microsocial conditions affecting family and the shape of modern childhood. Both groups of factors/conditions overlap and create a micro world that is specific for each family. Identification and presentation of particular factors as well as their diagnosis should lay the foundations of assistance and support to the families threatened by malfunctioning. The cognitive value of the article is closely linked to its practical value – emphasising the importance of social, pedagogical and institutional assistance to the families who are not able to perform their social and educational functions.
DA MEDIAÇÃO E CONCILIAÇÃO EM AUDIENCIAS TRABALHISTAS NO CONTEXTO PANDÊMICO
Authors: de  Almeida  Strasser Francislaine , Maria  Silvério  da  Costa  Dallefi Nayara , Pimentel  Marconi Lícia , Soares Sartoro André
Published: May 2021

Social rights are fundamental rights, with praise in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, being the State responsible for its supervision and effectiveness.However, it is well known that it is often not fully enforced, which is why the Labour Court becomes a very important body for achieving legal certainty not only for workers' rights, but also for analysing the contradictory and broad defence, by employers.As a means of resolving this dispute between the parties, conciliation and mediation are one of the most valuable ways of trying to pacify this dispute and of possibly satisfying social rights that have not been applied, and that in relation to the latter is the best to be used as correct terminology, adding the fact that Labor Justice is the pioneer in its application in the law of the fatherland.This method has also been of great value in the present times, providing legal certainty between the parties, in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for continuity of the work of the Judiciary Branch in a remote way, noting further, that in relation to the production of evidence, it is divergent, but in relation to mediation in the audience, there is no doubt that it is agrand method to be applied.To achieve the specific objectives, the method used was deductive, starting from the general premise on the concept of Mediation and Conciliation and for that, bringing this approach on social rights, as a fundamental right andits historical aspects.
Covering User-Defined Data-flow Test Requirements Using Symbolic Execution
Authors: Eler Marcelo Medeiros , Endo André Takeshi , Durelli Vinícius
Published: May 2021

Symbolic execution has been used in software testing as a effective technique to automatically generate test data. Most of approaches are based only on control-flow criteria and generate input data only for a whole program or function. However, testers may want to generate test data for covering data-flow criteria and also for satisfying specific test requirements. This paper presents an approach for generating test data to cover only test requirements selected by users, considering both control- and data-flow criteria. A prototype was implemented to support test data generation for Java programs and to perform a preliminary evaluation of the approach. The results, although in a limited context, are encouraging and motivate future experiments.
Aim-P: Um arcabouço de apoio a implantação de práticas de melhorias de pessoas em organizações de software
Authors: De Oliveira Leandro M. , Dos Santos Maxwell S. , Turine Marcelo A. S. , Paiva Débora M. B. , Landre Geraldo B. , Da Silva Márcio A. I. , Cagnin Maria Istela
Published: May 2021

As organizações estão participando de um novo paradigma econômico que estabelece novas necessidades. Esse novo paradigma vem pressionando as organizações em direção à modernização na forma de gerir pessoas. Nesse contexto foi proposto o P-CMM (People Capability Maturity Model), um modelo capaz de guiar as organizações em direção à gestão e ao desenvolvimento de pessoas. Este artigo apresenta o arcabouço Aim-P que visa apoiar a implantação do P-CMM de maneira gradual e incremental em micro, pequenas e médias organizações de software; fornecendo mecanismos e diretrizes para isso. Para observar o uso do arcabouço proposto está sendo conduzido um estudo de caso em uma organização real.
Agilidade em Processos de Software: Evidências Sobre Características de Agilidade e Práticas Ágeis
Authors: De Mello Rafael M. , Da Silva Pedro C. , Travassos Guilherme H.
Published: May 2021

Incorporar agilidade aos processos de software é um tema que vai além do debate sobre a aplicação de métodos ágeis pré-definidos. Visando reforçar as evidências sobre a viabilidade de introduzir características de agilidade e práticas ágeis previamente mapeadas para obtenção de agilidade em processos de software, este artigo apresenta a reexecução em larga escala de um survey sobre a pertinência e a relevância destas características e práticas, coletando a opinião de 292 participantes. Os resultados sugerem um consenso sobre a pertinência da maioria das características e das práticas investigadas, embora a relevância delas não seja percebida na mesma intensidade. Em adição, novas características e práticas foram propostas.
Aplicando Design e Avaliação de Usabilidade para Melhorar a Qualidade de um Aplicativo Web Móvel
Authors: Rivero Luis , Do Valle Raquel , Conte Tayana
Published: May 2021

Usabilidade é um dos atributos chave de qualidade de software que afeta a aceitação e facilidade de uso de aplicativos móveis. Este artigo relata um caso prático do uso de técnicas de design e avaliação de usabilidade para a melhoria da qualidade do aplicativo Web móvel Dona Know. Ao aplicar técnicas de design de usabilidade, foi possível entender melhor os usuários finais do aplicativo. Além disso, a execução de avaliações de usabilidade permitiu apontar problemas de usabilidade que devem ser corrigidos. Os resultados desta experiência mostram que é possível identificar oportunidades de melhoria da qualidade a um baixo custo.
Um Ambiente para Geração de Cenários de Testes para Linhas de Produto de Software Sensíveis ao Contexto
Authors: Santos Ismayle De Sousa , Andrade Rossana Maria De Castro , Dos Neto Santos Pedro De Alcântara
Published: May 2021

Este artigo apresenta um ambiente de geração de cenários de testes para uma Linha de Produto de Software Sensível ao Contexto (LPSSC) que utiliza especificações textuais de casos de uso com informações de contexto. Fazem parte deste ambiente: um template de especificação de casos de uso de uma LPSSC, um método de geração de cenários de testes e uma ferramenta de apoio. Para propor o template para uma LPSSC, foi executado um experimento controlado avaliando o entendimento proporcionado pelos templates existentes para descrição de caso de uso para uma LPS. Além disso, conduziu-se uma avaliação preliminar do ambiente proposto e os resultados indicaram evidências de que o template favorece o entendimento do caso de uso de uma LPSSC e que o método aumenta a cobertura dos testes.
Uma Avaliação da Sustentabilidade de Softwares com Foco em Aplicativos Móveis
Authors: Tonini Aline R. , Marques Milena R. S. , De Brisolara Lisane B.
Published: May 2021

Este artigo discute a avaliação de sustentabilidade de software e propõe uma abordagem para avaliação quantitativa de aplicativos móveis. A avaliação proposta considera a sustentabilidade como um aspecto transversal no modelo de qualidade e discute a relação da sustentabilidade com as demais características consideradas pela norma ISO/IEC 25010:2011. Desta forma métricas de software podem ser empregadas para estimar características desejadas ao produto de software, bem como para avaliar sua sustentabilidade. Estudos de caso envolvendo aplicativos móveis são apresentados, nos quais manutenibilidade, portabilidade e eficiência são avaliadas e usadas para estimar a sustentabilidade destes aplicativos.
Uma Contribuição ao Estabelecimento de Características de Qualidade para Aplicações Educacionais Móveis
Authors: Soad Gustavo W. , Duarte Filho Nemésio F. , Barbosa Ellen F.
Published: May 2021

A crescente utilização de aplicações educacionais móveis permite que alunos e professores tenham facilidades na execução de atividades e práticas educacionais. Nao há, entretanto, um método adequado para avaliar a qualidade deste tipo de aplicação, já que os utilizados para tal são genéricos e não contemplam os aspectos específicos ao contexto pedagógico e móvel. Nesse cenário, o presente trabalho apresenta um conjunto de características de qualidade para aplicações educacionais móveis, considerando os aspectos técnicos, pedagógicos, socioeconômicos e socioculturais, identificadas a partir de uma revisão sistemática.
Infraestrutura para um Corpo de Conhecimento em Melhoria de Processos de Software Baseado no MR-MPS-SW
Authors: Lupo Peter P. , Kalinowski Marcos , Rocha Ana Regina C. da
Published: May 2021

As organizações de desenvolvimento de software geralmente seguem modelos de maturidade para orientar suas iniciativas de melhoria de processos de software, sendo responsáveis por identificar e escolher as tecnologias para atender aos requisitos desses modelos. Este trabalho propõe uma infraestrutura para organizar um corpo de conhecimento de tecnologias que apóie a implementação do MR-MPS-SW com foco nas necessidades dos profissionais de melhoria de processos de software.
Uma Abordagem para Apoiar Avaliações de Usabilidade em Sistemas Web com base em Mineração de Dados
Authors: Souza Matheus , Ribeiro Rafael , Oliveira Pedro Almir , Santos Neto Pedro
Published: May 2021

A usuabilidade é uma característica muito relevante em relação à qualidade de um sistema. Entretanto, avaliar a usabilidade de sistemas geralmente é muito oneroso e complexo. Apesar de existirem diversos métodos propostos com o intuito de mitigar tais desvantagens das avaliações tradicionais, geralmente eles necessitam da alocação de tempo e de participantes exclusivos para a sua realização. Este trabalho apresenta uma abordagem que visa eliminar essas desvantagens, possibilitando a realização de avaliações remotas em sistemas por meio da análise dos dados gerados pelo seu uso cotidiano. A abordagem faz uso de técnicas de agrupamento e mineração de dados para identificar possíveis pontos problemáticos. Uma avaliação da abordagem mostrou que ela foi capaz de encontrar problemas de usuabilidade importantes e que impactam diretamente na qualidade de uso de um sistema.
Integrating Tools to Support Software Measurement
Authors: Fonseca Vinícius Soares , Barcellos Monalessa Perini , Falbo Ricardo De Almeida
Published: May 2021

Software measurement is a key practice to process improvement and project management. Given the nature of measurement activities, supporting tools are essential. Different tools can be combined to support the measurement process and provide necessary information for decision making. However, these tools are usually developed by different developers, at different points in time and without concern for integration. As a result, organizations have to deal with integration issues to allow tools communication and properly support the measurement process. In this paper we present a tool integration initiative performed following the Ontology-Based Approach for Measurement Systems Integration (OBA-MSI) aiming to support the measurement process in a software development organization. The integration involved three tools: Taiga, SonarQube and SoMeSPC.
Lehren aus der Corona-Krise: Modernisierung des Wächterstaates im SGB XI
Authors: Schulz-Nieswandt Frank , Köstler Ursula , Mann Kristina
Published: May 2021

With empathy for the chasm between fundamental social rights and social reality, this study demonstrates there is an urgent need for transgressive cultural transformation of the logic behind care policy. The experience of social exclusion during the COVID-19 pandemic shows us that the landscape of care must be transformed to create a new, radical vision of future social policy according to the paradigm of deinstitutionalisation. The alternative is the idea of caring communities: the development of social capital as supporting systems of social networks in local spaces in the context of regional infrastructures.
Gene Therapy for Heart Disease: Modified mRNA Perspectives
Authors: Zangi Lior , K. Kaundal Ravinder , Kaur Keerat
Published: May 2021

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) presents a gigantic clinical challenge that demands effective therapeutic approaches. With increasing knowledge of the basic molecular mechanisms guiding the progress of this disease, it is now possible to target the key pathological players through gene therapy. Modified mRNA-based gene delivery presents a promising alternative to traditional gene therapy, because modRNA approaches have high potency, non-immunogenicity, greater efficiency and controlled nucleic acid transfer to the body. However, until recently the therapeutic applications of mRNA have been limited, as naturally occurring mRNA is rapidly degraded and cleared from the circulation. In this chapter, we outline the compositional changes made to mRNA to enhance its translational capacity and discuss the available carrier molecules currently being employed to deliver modRNA to the heart. We provide a detailed overview of modRNA applicability for cardiac repair and regeneration and consider future directions for novel delivery methods that can facilitate its cardiac therapeutic use.
Capabilities and Challenges Using Machine Learning in Tunnelling
Authors: Marcher Thomas , Erharter Georg , Unterlass Paul
Published: May 2021

Digitalization changes the design and operational processes in tunnelling. The way of gathering geological data in the field of tunnelling, the methods of rock mass classification as well as the application of tunnel design analyses, tunnel construction processes and tunnel maintenance will be influenced by this digital transformation. The ongoing digitalization in tunnelling through applications like building information modelling and artificial intelligence, addressing a variety of difficult tasks, is moving forward. Increasing overall amounts of data (big data), combined with the ease to access strong computing powers, are leading to a sharp increase in the successful application of data analytics and techniques of artificial intelligence. Artificial Intelligence now arrives also in the fields of geotechnical engineering, tunnelling and engineering geology. The chapter focuses on the potential for machine learning methods – a branch of Artificial Intelligence - in tunnelling. Examples will show that training artificial neural networks in a supervised manner works and yields valuable information. Unsupervised machine learning approaches will be also discussed, where the final classification is not imposed upon the data, but learned from it. Finally, reinforcement learning seems to be trendsetting but not being in use for specific tunnel applications yet.
Nutritional Composition of Game Meat from Wild Species Harvested in Europe
Authors: Soriano Almudena , Sánchez-García Carlos
Published: May 2021

A discussion about the nutritional composition of game meat, with specific focus on wild species harvested in Central and Mediterranean European countries has been conducted. Given the wide range of species, and the climate and vegetation differences among the harvesting areas, game meat shows heterogeneous characteristics and chemical composition, the latter being also affected by sex, age, body condition, physiological and sexual status, and hunting period. However, there are similarities which make it clearly distinguishable from livestock meat. When considering the most consumed species (red and fallow deer, wild boar, hare and wild rabbit), their meat has low fat content (<3 g/100 g for large and <4 g/100 g for small wild game species), high protein content (20–26 g/100 g) and low energy content (90–113 kcal/100 g). Wild game meat has a healthier fatty-acids profile compared to other meats, showing a higher proportion of PUFA, especially n-3, and consequently more favorable PUFA/SAF ratio. Wild ruminants’ meat shows a favorable n-6/n-3 ratio (lower or close to 4). It has a high content of K, followed by P and micro-minerals such as Zn and Fe, together with B-group vitamins and vitamin E. Game meat from wild species harvested in Europe can diversify the market being an alternative to others red meats owing to its nutritional quality and organoleptic characteristics.
Malign Plevral Mezotelyoma Tanısında 18F-FDG PET/BT Görüntülemenin Rolü
Authors: KAPLAN İhsan
Published: May 2021

Amaç: Malign plevral mezotelyoma (MPM) ön tanısı ile 18F-FDG PET/BT görüntülemesi yapılan hastalarda, plevral kalınlık ve mediastinal lenf nodlarının, boyut ile SUVmax değerlerinin tanısal etkinliğini araştırmayı amaçladık.

Yöntemler: Mayıs 2018 ile Şubat 2020 tarihleri arasında kliniğimize, MPM ön tanısıyla başvuran ve 18F-FDG PET/BT görüntülemesi yapılan 54 hasta retrospektif olarak incelendi. Hastaların 28’i kadın (%51,8) ve 26’sı erkek (%48,2) olup ortalama yaşları 58,8 idi. Tüm hastaların plevral kalınlık değerleri, mediastinal lenf nodlarının boyutları ve tüm lezyonların SUVmax değerleri ölçüldü. PET/BT görüntüleme sonrası yapılan histopatolojik inceleme sonucu hastaların 23’ünde MPM, 20’sinde benign plevral hastalık (BPH) ve 11’inde metastatik plevral hastalık (MPH) saptandı.

Bulgular: Tüm gruplar arasında plevral kalınlığın median SUVmax değeri açısından yapılan karşılaştırmada; istatistiki anlamlılık bulundu (p=0.003). Plevral kalınlığın median SUVmax parametresi ikili grup karşılaştırılmalarında; BPH grubun median SUVmax değeri MPM ve MPH’ya göre istatistiki anlamlı olacak şekilde düşük bulundu (p değerleri sırasıyla p:0.034 ve p:0.023). Diğer parametrelerde ise MPM ile diğer gruplar karşılaştırıldığında istatistiki anlamlı fark bulunmadı. MPM grubunu tespit etmedeki SUVmax cut-off değeri 6,75 alındığında %69,6 sensitivite ve %67,6 spesifiteye sahip olup istatistiki anlamlı fark bulundu.

Sonuç: Malign plevral mezotelyomayı diğer plevral patolojilerden ayırt etmede plevral kalınlığın median SUVmax değerinin kullanılabileceği sonucuna varıldı.
Maraş Otunun Ağrı Şiddeti, Ağrı Eşiği ve Ağrı Toleransı Üzerine Etkisi
Authors: SERİNGEÇ AKKEÇECİ Nurten
Published: May 2021

Amaç: Bu çalışma, dumansız bir tütün formu olan maraş otunun kronik kullanımının ağrı şiddeti, ağrı eşiği ve ağrı toleransı üzerine herhangi bir etkisinin olup olmadığını belirlemek amacı ile planlanmıştır.

Yöntemler: Çalışmaya herhangi bir hastalığı bulunmayan 18-39 yaş arası, en az 5 yıldır maraş otu kullanan 10 kişi ve maraş otu ya da herhangi bir tütün ürünü kullanmayan 10 kişi olmak üzere toplam 20 sağlıklı erkek dahil edildi. Maraş otu kullanan kişilere deneylerden en az 12 saat önce maraş otu kullanmamaları söylendi. Maraş otu kullanan ve kullanmayan kişilerin ağrı şiddetleri, ağrı eşikleri ve ağrı toleransları karşılaştırıldı. Ağrı şiddeti vizüel analog skala (VAS) ile değerlendirildi. Ağrı eşiği ve ağrı toleransı soğuk pressör testi ile ölçüldü. Çalışmanın sonuçları Mann-Whitney U testi kullanılarak analiz edildi.

Bulgular: Maraş otu kullanan kişilerde ağrı eşiği 17,11±4,59, ağrı toleransı 47,82±16,27 ve VAS 5,78±0,83; Maraş otu ya da herhangi bir tütün ürünü kullanmayan kişilerde ise ağrı eşiği 21,79±6,11, ağrı toleransı 72,82±22,36 ve VAS 3,78±0,97 olarak tespit edildi. Maraş otu kullanan kişilerin kullanmayanlara göre ağrı şiddeti (VAS) anlamlı olarak yüksek bulunurken (p=0,001); ağrı eşiği ve ağrı toleransı anlamlı olarak düşük bulundu (p=0,016, p=0,012; sırasıyla).

Sonuç: Bu çalışmadan elde edilen sonuçlar kronik maraş otu kullanan kişilerin kullanmayanlara göre hissettikleri ağrı şiddetinin daha yüksek olduğunu, ağrı eşiği ve ağrı toleranslarının ise daha düşük olduğunu göstermiştir. Dumansız tütün ürünlerinin ağrı üzerine etkilerini araştıran daha fazla çalışmaya ihtiyaç vardır.
Offloader knee braces for knee osteoarthritis
Authors: Moller Francesca , Ortíz-Muñoz Luis , Irarrázaval Sebastián
Published: May 2021

INTRODUCTION Knee osteoarthritis is a relevant health problem given its high prevalence and associated disability. Within the non-pharmacological management alternatives, the use of offloader knee braces has been proposed, however, there is no consensus in the literature regarding its indication. METHODS We searched in Epistemonikos, the largest database of systematic reviews in health, which is maintained by screening multiple information sources, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, among others. We extracted data from the systematic reviews, reanalyzed data of primary studies, conducted a meta-analysis and generated a summary of findings table using the GRADE approach. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS We identified 14 systematic reviews including nine studies overall, all of which were randomized trials. We conclude that the use of offloader knee braces in patients with knee osteoarthritis probably increases physical function through walking distance. However, its use may make little or no difference to physical function measured with the Hospital for Special Surgery Knee score, it may slightly worsen the quality of life and increase adverse events, but the certainty of the evidence is low. In addition, we are uncertain whether the use of offloader knee braces reduces pain as the certainty of the evidence has been assessed as very low.
Employability and job insecurity: The role of personal resources on work-related stress
Authors: Ramaci Tiziana , Faraci Palmira , Santisi Giuseppe , Valenti Giusy Danila
Published: May 2021

This study is aimed to assess the effect of both employability and personal resources, in terms of pro-activity and self-efficacy, on the relationship between job insecurity and psycho-social distress. Using survey data from 211 participants, among employed, unemployed and workers in transition, we analyzed the incidence of employability, pro-activity and self-efficacy on psycho-social distress. Our results showed that the above-mentioned variables significantly differed by participants’ gender and age. The structural theoretical model proposed to assess the significance of the hypothesized paths exhibited good fit with the data. Thus, all our hypotheses were supported. Findings are in line with previous research, and practical implications may give significant effects when applied in new labor policies undertaken by local governments.
Gender differences in mother-child conversations about shame and pride in a Hungarian sample
Authors: Pohárnok Melinda , Láng András
Published: May 2021

Although meta-analytic reviews repeatedly found significant gender differences in the experiences of shame and pride throughout the life span, to date, gender differences in conversations about these emotions have not been studied. Our research was aimed at investigating the effect of child gender on maternal conversational style in and emotional content of mother-child conversations about shame- and pride-related past events in preschool years. Fifty four mother—preschool child dyads (52% girls, children’s age M = 70.36 months [SD = 8.13], mothers’ age M = 37.51 years [SD = 3.70]) from middle class Hungarian families were asked to talk about two past events, one in which children felt ashamed, and one in which they felt proud. The conversations were transcribed and coded for maternal conversational style and for emotional content. Maternal conversational style was indicated by maternal elaboration and evaluation of the child’s contributions. Emotional content was indicated by specific emotion terms, emotional behavior and emotional evaluations. In mother-son shame conversations, we found higher amount of negative emotional behavior. Boys also had longer conversations with their mothers, and mothers used more open-ended memory questions and more repetitions with boys in both shame and pride conversations. Girls had shorter contributions to pride stories than to shame stories, which was not the case for boys. Exploration of verbal socialization of shame and pride helps us to understand the development of individual differences in proneness to self-conscious emotions, and their implications for mental health.
Arms manufacture in Pre-Petrine Russia within the Russian historiography
Authors: Alekseev Timofei Vladimirovich
Published: May 2021

The subject of this article is the assessment of the history of establishment and development of arms manufacture in Russia in the period up to the end of the XVII century given by the Russian researchers. The purpose goal consists in conducting a historiographical analysis of the works of domestic researchers of pre-revolutionary, Soviet and post-Soviet periods on the problem, and in formation of the general idea on the emergence of one of the critical branches of military industry in pre-revolutionary Russia. The author explores the initial period of firearms manufacturing in Russia and its geography; emergence and functioning of the Tula and Moscow arms factories in the XVI – XVII centuries; impact of the emerged in the XVII century blast-furnace hydraulic metallurgical plants and specialized arms manufacturing enterprises upon the development of the industry. The novelty consists in giving a new perspective within the domestic historiography on the problem of the initial stage of the history of arms manufacture in Russia. The article follows the evolution of arms industry at its initial stage, the regularities of existence of various forms of production organization and formation of centers of firearms manufacture. It is concluded that by the end of the period under review, the arms production capacities did not meet the actual needs of the Russian armed forces for firearms. The author makes recommendation on filling the gaps that exist in the history of arms manufacture in Pre-Petrine Russia.
A study of the typikon in the Russian historical-liturgical science in the late XIX – early XX centuries (to the question of establishment of the historical-liturgical scientific school in Russia)
Authors: Dashevskaya Zoya
Published: May 2021

The object this research is the works of the Russian liturgical scholars who systematized the source material on the history of typikon (liturgical charter). The subject of this research is the approaches towards studying the charter as a holistic phenomenon – the system that combines the daily, seven-day, and annual (fixed and movable) circles in the Byzantine liturgical tradition. Having refused to consider the charter from the explanatory and edificatory perspectives and trying to research the historical-liturgical monuments in their development, the liturgists systematized liturgical material and examined it in the historical-critical and “historical-genetic” context. The Russian liturgists offered a classification of the types of liturgical charters, distinguishing the cathedral and monastic types, as well as differentiating the worship service of the desert-dwelling and city-dwelling monks. The scientists also developed a periodization of the charter from ancient forms to printed versions. In the works of N. F. Odintsov, I. D. Mansvetov, A. A. Dmitrievsky, I. A. Karabinov, archpriest M. Lisitsyn, M. N. Skaballanovich and others, the liturgical charter is described not as a uniform text, but as a system that has developed over centuries, marking its development stages in Byzantium and Rus’. The novelty of this research consists in determination of the key characteristics of the historical-liturgical scientific direction. The analysis is based on the works of Russian liturgists dedicated to the history of the typikon. The examination of sources on the history of the typikon, as well as the hypotheses advanced by the scholars, allow viewing the history of its formation as a holistic phenomenon, and forego the traditional view of the existing form of worship as historically consistent. The conclusion is made that examination of the history of liturgical charter prompted the use of synchronic and diachronic methods in the study of sources, encouraging scholars to hypothetical constructions and opening new vectors for further development of liturgics as a scientific discipline.