bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research for the Relationship Between the Motivation of Word-of-Mouth and the Effect of Advertising on the Web
Authors: Ji Feng , Lin Sheng-Liang
Published: January 2023

This paper aims at studying the relationship between motivation of word of mouth and advertising's effect on the web (research materials: 300 pieces of scanner advertisements on the web). After factor analysis, nine factors are abstracted: emotion share, rewards, personal entertainment, community development, service improvement, community power, information rewards, punish/support businessman, self-image improvement. After regression analysis, model is established as follows: Y = 0.224 emotion share + 0.250 community development + 0.117 service improvement + 0.222 information rewards + 0.165 punish/support businessman.
Information Retrieval and Optimization in Distribution and Logistics Management Using Deep Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Yang Li , Sathishkumar V. E.  , Manickam Adhiyaman
Published: January 2023

Resource balance is one of the most critical concerns in the existing logistic domain within dynamic transport networks. Modern solutions are used to maximize demand and supply prediction in collaboration with these problems. However, the great difficulty of transportation networks, profound uncertainties of potential demand and availability, and non-convex market limits make conventional resource management main paths. Hence, this paper proposes an integrated deep reinforcement learning-based logistics management model (DELLMM) to increase and optimize the logistic distribution. An optimization approach can be used in inventors and price control applications. This research methodology gives the fundamentals of information retrieval and the scope of blockchain integration. The conceptual framework of use cases for an efficient logistic management system with blockchain has been discussed. This research designs the deep reinforcement learning system that can boost optimization and other business operations due to impressive improvements in generic self-learning algorithms for optimal management. Thus, the experimental results show that DELLMM improves logistics management and optimized distribution compared to other methods with the highest operability of 94.35%, latency reduction of 97.12%, efficiency of 98.01%, trust enhancement of 96.37%, and sustainability of 97.80%.
A Bibliometric and Co-Occurrence Analysis of Work-Life Balance
Authors: Majumder Soumi , Biswas Debasish
Published: January 2023

Work-life balance helps to maintain an attractive organizational culture and remove work-life conflicts and show the path to employees of how to be more efficient in different work roles. This balanced practice is giving a care and feeling of protection to the employees. It motivates better performance that contributes to employee engagement indices. The main purpose of this study is to report work-life balance pre- and during the COVID-19 pandemic by bibliometric analysis. This study analyzed 4,030 “work-life balance” studies published between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2019, from the pre-pandemic era, and 1,143 studies published during the pandemic (between January 1, 2020-March 24, 2021). The data were extracted from the Scopus database using keywords “work-life balance” and keywords in titles (items) analyzed using VOSviewer software. Co-occurrence connection between keywords in titles and density visualization based on the total link strength clearly shows that COVID-19 significantly impacted work-life balance and related research.
The Place of Smart Occupational Health and Safety in Smart City Design
Authors: Sanchez-Segura Maria-Isabel , Dugarte-Peña Germán-Lenin , de Amescua Antonio , Medina-Dominguez Fuensanta , López-Almansa Eugenio , Viso Rosa Menchén
Published: January 2023

Smart cities are a very clear example of complex systems, and their development focuses on the use of technology to transform every aspect of society and embrace the complexity of these transformations in order to promote the well-being and safety of the people who inhabit these cities. One essential, but often implicit, aspect that must be considered in the design of a smart city is occupational health and safety (OHS). After identifying a significant number of OHS issues that must be effectively addressed, a prospective analysis reveals that there is still an existing gap to be filled in the context of smart city design: an explicit guarantee of safety for workers in uncertain environments open to constant digital transformation changes. In this article, the authors present the VENTURA2020 model, an architectural capabilities-driven model that describes the main aspects to be taken into account to integrate smart OHS into smart city design.
Designing for a Production-Oriented Approach to Blended Learning in English Language Teaching
Authors: Fu Siliang
Published: January 2023

Blended learning has been proven to yield benefits and pose challenges to teachers and students. To address the problems in the blended learning design of the previous offering of English as a foreign language (EFL) courses, this study aims to create a better instructional design for an upgraded EFL course integrating multiple MOOCs by strengthening synchrony-asynchrony cohesion and enhancing the stimulation of asynchronous learning activities. The production-oriented approach (POA) was adopted as the framework for the instructional design of the course. After the upgraded course was offered, a questionnaire survey was conducted among the students to investigate their perceptions of the course, and two tests were administered to measure their learning outcomes. The results showed a highly positive attitude toward the POA-guided blended learning design and significant progress in the overall quality of students' interpreting.
Book Review
Authors: Qin Xiaowan , Peng Keming
Published: January 2023

The field of corpus-based translation studies (CBTS) relies on corpus-linguistic methods and tools to analyze electronic corpora of authentic translations. Since its emergence in the early 1990s under the impetus of Mona Baker, CBTS has grown to become a recognized area of research in translation studies. By offering an overview of the field and presenting a variety of fresh perspectives provided by leading experts, The book Extending the Scope of Corpus-Based Translation Studies extends the scope of CBTS in multiple ways, and sheds light on the future of the translation industry.
The Impact of Collaborative Learning on Speaking Anxiety Among Foreign Language Learners in Online and Face-to-Face Environments
Authors: Bozkurt Buse Nur , Aydin Selami
Published: January 2023

While speaking anxiety is one of the most problematic aspects observed in English as a foreign language (EFL) context, a limited number of studies focused on the impact of collaborative learning on speaking anxiety in different learning environments. This study investigates the effects of collaborative tasks on foreign language learners' speaking anxiety in face-to-face and online learning contexts. In this experimental study, the data were collected from 34 foreign language students with a questionnaire consisting of a background part and a scale for measuring speaking anxiety. Even though the results revealed changes in speaking anxiety levels after the collaborative instruction in the face-to-face environments, no differences were found between face-to-face and online environments in terms of the impact of collaborative instruction on learners' speaking anxiety.
Intelligent Anti-Money Laundering Fraud Control Using Graph-Based Machine Learning Model for the Financial Domain
Authors: Usman Atif , Naveed Nasir , Munawar Saima
Published: January 2023

Financial domains are suffering from organized fraudulent activities that are inflicting the world on a larger scale. Basel Anti-Money Laundering (AML) index enlists 146 countries, which are impacted by criminal acts like money laundering, and represents the country's risk level with a notable deteriorating trend over the last five years. Despite AML being a substantially focused area, only a fraction of such activities has been prevented. Because financial data related to this field is concealed, access is limited and protected by regulatory authorities. This paper aims to study a graph-based machine-learning model to identify fraudulent transactions using the financial domain's synthetic dataset (100K nodes, 5.3M edges). Graph-based machine learning with financial datasets resulted in promising 77-79% accuracy with a limited feature set. Even better results can be achieved by enriching the feature vector. This exploration further leads to pattern detection in the graph, which is a step toward AML detection.
The Enterprise's Willingness to Use Remote Monitoring Technology Under the Background of Green Operation and Service-Oriented Manufacturing
Authors: Zhang Zhe , Chen Jin
Published: January 2023

The current development of remote monitoring technology (RMT) has become increasingly mature. The key to implementing this technology lies in the user's willingness to use it. In order to study the influencing factors of using RMT in green operation and service-oriented manufacturing enterprises, based on organizational behavior, this exploration discusses the reasons that affect the introduction of new technologies into enterprises from the perspectives of perceived risk, conformity and technology acceptance. Moreover, a series of data is obtained through the questionnaire and the results are obtained by analyzing the data. Suggestions to improve the use of RMT in enterprises are put forward. The results show that technology itself, external environment and organizational characteristics can all affect the decision-making of enterprises on new technology.
Estimation of genetic parameters and selection gains for sweet potato using Bayesian inference with a priori information
Authors: Ribeiro Valadares Nermy , Fernandes Ana Clara Gonçalves , Rodrigues Clóvis Henrique Oliveira , Guedes Lis Lorena Melúcio , Magalhães Jailson Ramos , Alves Rayane Aguiar , Andrade Júnior Valter Carvalho de , Azevedo Alcinei Mistico
Published: January 2023

The selection of superior sweet potato genotypes using Bayesian inference is an important strategy for genetic improvement. Sweet potatoes are of social and economic importance, being the material for ethanol production. The estimation of variance components and genetic parameters using Bayesian inference is more accurate than that using the frequently used statistical methodologies. This is because the former allows for using a priori knowledge from previous research. Therefore, the present study estimated genetic parameters and selection gains, predicted genetic values, and selected sweet potato genotypes using a Bayesian approach with a priori information. Root shape, soil insect resistance, and root and shoot productivity of 24 sweet potato genotypes were measured. Heritability, genotypic variation coefficient, residual variation coefficient, relative variation index, and selection gains direct, indirect and simultaneous were estimated, and the data were analyzed using Bayesian inference. Data from 11 experiments were used to obtain a priori information. Bayesian inference was a useful tool for decision-making, and significant genetic gains could be achieved with the selection of the evaluated genotypes. Root shape, soil insect resistance, commercial root productivity, and total root productivity showed higher heritability values. Clones UFVJM06, UFVJM40, UFVJM54, UFVJM09, and CAMBRAIA can be used as parents in future breeding programs.
Correlation of shear strength and physicochemical properties as a criterion for the selection of accessions of Paspalum grasses
Authors: Barros Juliana da Silva , Gomes Vinicius Carreteiro , Meirelles Paulo Roberto de Lima , Matta Frederico De Pina , Pariz Cristiano Magalhães , Castilhos Andre Michel de , Gomes Tiago Gutemberg de Jesus , Costa Ciniro
Published: January 2023

The present study aimed to evaluate the application of shear strength and its correlations with leaf blade morphological and chemical variables as a tool capable of detecting differences between species and accessions of the genus Paspalum in the early stages of a forage plant breeding programme. A total of 13 Paspalum accessions from two species (Paspalum atratum and Paspalum regnellii) were subjected to analyses of shear strength, which also analysed the neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, lignin, and digestibility. Morphological measurements were also performed to standardize the shear strength per unit of leaf tissue. The experimental design consisted of complete randomized blocks, with four replications and eight cuts performed over 2 years. Shear strength was evaluated for its potential usefulness for detecting differences between accessions of the same species and the correlations of accessions. It was possible to use the shear strength measured with the texturometer to detect differences between species and accessions of the Paspalum genus. The results showed significant correlations of shear strength and neutral detergent fibre (r = 0.49), and negative correlations were found between digestibility and shear strength (r = -0.55). These correlations were maintained when the strength variables were standardized according to the morphological variables. Thus, shear strength can be used in the initial stages of the selection of species of the genus Paspalum.
Type I error in multiple comparison tests in analysis of variance
Authors: Rodrigues Josiane , Piedade Sonia Maria De Stefano , Lara Idemauro Antonio Rodrigues de , Henrique Francisco Humberto
Published: January 2023

In a hypothesis test, a researcher initially fixes a type I error rate, that is, the probability of rejecting the null hypothesis given that it is true. In the case of means tests, it is important to present a type I error that is equal to the nominal pre-fixed level, such that this error remains unchanged across various scenarios, including the number of treatments, number of repetitions, and coefficient of variation. The purpose of this study is to analyse and compare the following multiple comparison tests for the control of both conditional and unconditional type I error rates, depending on a significant F-test in the analysis of variance: Tukey, Duncan, Fisher’s least significant difference, Student–Newman–Keuls (SNK), and Scheffé. As an application, we present a motivation study and develop a simulation study using the Monte Carlo method for a total of 64 scenarios. In each simulated scenario, we estimate the comparison-wise and experiment-wise error rates, conditional and unconditional on a significant result of the overall F-test of analysis of variance for each of the five multiple comparison tests evaluated. The results indicate that the application of the means tests based only on the significance of the F-test should be considered when determining the error rates, as this can change them. In addition, we find that Fisher’s test controls for the comparison-wise error rate, the Tukey and SNK tests control for the experiment-wise error rate, and the Duncan and Fisher tests control for the conditional experiment-wise error rate. Scheffé’s test does not control for any of the error rates considered.
Interlocuções de professores e organização do trabalho pedagógico no contexto do trabalho coletivo
Authors: Freire Fernanda , Cunha Renata Cristina Oliveira Barrichelo , Pucci Renata Helena Pin
Published: January 2023

O trabalho coletivo nas escolas é uma instância de formação dos professores, participação e responsabilização colegiada pelo trabalho pedagógico. O artigo discute as contribuições do trabalho coletivo de professores no contexto da educação básica e tem como objetivo analisar a dinâmica de interlocução e de negociação de sentidos para o processo de organização do trabalho pedagógico da escola. Parte-se dos princípios de que o sujeito se constitui na dinâmica discursiva e que a consciência, que forma e altera os modos de estar no mundo, é constituída na interação social. A pesquisa foi realizada no âmbito das aulas de trabalho pedagógico coletivo (ATPC) de uma escola da rede estadual do interior paulista e as análises das intervenções dos professores nos encontros apoiam-se na perspectiva enunciativo-discursiva. Os resultados mostram que os professores, ao retomarem os discursos dos colegas, refutando-os e/ou reiterando-os na dinâmica discursiva, buscam formas de organizar o trabalho pedagógico que atendam às singularidades da escola, de sua comunidade e a produção de um conhecimento que possa contribuir com novas formas de se pensar o mundo. Ressalta-se também que a relação professor-aluno-conhecimento embasa os princípios do trabalho pedagógico desejado e que embora se admita um descompasso entre o desejado e o realizado na prática, o trabalho coletivo orientado pelo diálogo, pelas reflexões e trocas entre os professores potencializa a colaboração e a construção de sentido para a ação educativa.
Jogos de alfabetização do Pnaic PNAIC: contribuições e limitações nas perspectivas das professoras
Authors: Lucca Tatiana Andrade Fernandes de , Osti Andréia , Parente Claúdia da Mota Darós
Published: January 2023

Este artigo analisa como professoras alfabetizadoras que participaram da formação do PNAIC, em 2013, compreendem a contribuição dos jogos do programa para a alfabetização, discutindo a relação que há entre a inserção dos recursos em sala de aula e a formação docente direcionada para essa temática. Considerando a relevância do ensino sistemático dos conteúdos linguísticos e as pesquisas sobre as especificidades da formação docente, a discussão buscou relacionar de que modo a formação específica do PNAIC pode fomentar a compreensão da relevância do uso dos jogos na alfabetização. Para isso, realizou-se uma pesquisa bibliográfica e documental sobre o tema, utilizando-se, inclusive, os materiais de formação do PNAIC e uma análise dos jogos. Também foram entrevistadas dez professoras que participaram do PNAIC, de modo a investigar como ocorreu a discussão dos jogos na formação e como elas avaliam esse material. Infere-se que é necessário o investimento nas formações sobre os jogos e suas possibilidades e limitações no contexto educacional. As participantes compreendem os jogos como recursos contributivos para a alfabetização, mas apontam falhas na discussão do tema na formação. Reitera-se que os processos formativos precisam ser espaços de discussão e de reflexão das ações docente.
Inteligência e moralidade nas altas habilidades/superdotação: perspectivas piagetianas
Authors: Valentim Bernadete de Fatima Bastos , Vestena Carla Luciane Blum , Costa-Lobo Cristina , Schipper Carla Maria de
Published: January 2023

Pessoas com altas habilidades/superdotação têm características específicas tais como, habilidades acima da média, criatividade e envolvimento com a tarefa. Essas características devem ser reconhecidas no meio educacional e social, inclusive no que se refere ao desenvolvimento moral. O artigo tem por objetivo discutir aspectos relacionados à construção da inteligência e da moralidade em pessoas com altas habilidades/superdotação na perspectiva da epistemologia genética, destacando a sua importância para o contexto educacional. A metodologia utilizada consistiu em pesquisa bibliográfica por método de revisão sistemática na base Scielo. Trata-se de pesquisa exploratória sobre os constructos: inteligência e moralidade na visão de Piaget. Na busca realizada, foram encontrados trinta e quatro artigos. Trinta e um foram excluídos por não tratar do tema. A síntese dos resultados aponta para falta de evidência de estudos pois, foram encontrados na última década apenas três artigos. Foi necessário expandir a busca junto a revista Schème - Revista Eletrônica de Psicologia e Epistemologia Genéticas. As pesquisas analisadas evidenciam que na superdotação existe uma complexidade na formação das estruturas do pensamento, ocorre antecipação dos estádios de desenvolvimento da inteligência, aguçado senso de moralidade e características peculiares como reversibilidade e tomada de consciência. Sugere-se, portanto, que um ensino que pressuponha tais características proporcione desafios adequados ao desenvolvimento inteligência e da moral considerando as especificidades dos sujeitos superdotados, que nem sempre estarão alinhados a sua faixa etária. Assim, sugere-se que sejam realizadas outras pesquisas que busquem elucidar a lacuna encontrada para o aprofundamento da questão.
Coordenação pedagógica: percepções dos coordenadores escolares na perspectiva da gestão democrática
Authors: Silva Soane Santos , Pires Ennia Débora Passos Braga , Gomes Marília do Amparo Alves
Published: January 2023

Resultante de uma pesquisa de mestrado, este trabalho tem como objetivo analisar as percepções dos coordenadores escolares sobre o trabalho de coordenação pedagógica na perspectiva da gestão democrática, bem como os desafios na execução do trabalho coletivo. A pesquisa desenvolveu-se na Rede Municipal de Educação - Ensino Fundamental, em Itapetinga-BA, tendo como sujeitos da investigação sete coordenadores pedagógicos escolares, quatro gestores das escolas onde atuam os coordenadores pedagógicos e dois coordenadores técnicos. Como método de análise, o estudo pauta-se na dialética, na perspectiva do materialismo histórico. Apropriamo-nos da pesquisa bibliográfica para o aprofundamento teórico do objeto de estudo e, como instrumentos para coleta de dados, utilizamo-nos da análise documental e da entrevista semiestruturada. Os resultados da pesquisa revelam, entre outros aspectos, importantes pontos de reflexão: as condições do coordenador para ‘articular’ as atividades pedagógicas dentro de espaços que não se constituem democráticos; a formação não pode recair apenas sobre o coordenador pedagógico, mas exige uma atuação do Estado; as dificuldades encontradas pelo coordenador quando não há condições de trabalho e de desempenho das suas atribuições asseguradas pelo Estado.
Relatos discentes sobre o letramento acadêmico: uma análise alinhada à perspectiva dos Novos Estudos do Letramento
Authors: Tôrres Maria Emília Almeida da Cruz , Araujo Carolina de Cássia
Published: January 2023

Este trabalho se insere na área de Educação, com foco em letramento acadêmico e se alinha aos pressupostos epistemológicos sancionados pelos Novos Estudos do Letramento, que o concebem como fenômeno que se dá nas práticas sociais da escrita, influenciadas pelas crenças, valores e cultura do indivíduo ou grupos sociais em que se inserem. O objetivo maior deste artigo foi analisar, da perspectiva discursiva de Gee (1998, 2004, 2005, 2015), um dos precursores dos Novos Estudos do Letramento, a relação que discentes do Bacharelado Interdisciplinar em Ciência e Tecnologia, de uma universidade federal do sul de Minas Gerais entretecem com a escrita. A intenção maior foi a de se conhecer alguns dos motivos que levam muitos docentes desse curso a afirmar que os graduandos dessa instituição, de modo geral, ‘escrevem muito mal’. Os dados foram coletados nas declarações de dois discentes, em que se analisou essa relação a partir dos Discursos ali refletidos. Um dos instrumentos metodológicos utilizados para a geração dos dados foi a entrevista semiestruturada (Gil, 2008), em que se solicitou aos graduandos que rememorassem suas histórias de leitura desde a infância até as histórias atuais, pois propiciariam ao pesquisador compreender melhor a relação que estabelecem com as práticas de escrita valorizadas no contexto acadêmico. Seria deveras importante também, se observar se a universidade procura orientá-los a produzir os textos que ali circulam. Os dados revelam que os alunos têm dificuldades em executar as atividades escriturais demandadas pela academia e que esta, por sua vez, não tem um olhar atento no sentido de expor esses alunos aos textos aí valorizados, o que pode ser interpretado como sendo falta de um plano geral de promoção de letramento em todas as áreas de conhecimento de seu alunado.
Elastoplastic analysis of reinforced concrete space frames using the uniaxial and biaxial bending method
Authors: Vieira Pedro Cláudio dos Santos , Silva William Taylor Matias
Published: January 2023

The scope of the work involves reinforced concrete frame structures with variations in structural design conception for columns with biaxial bending or uniaxial bending. The beams are designed with simple bending criteria for singly or doubly reinforced beams, or uniaxial bending. The analysis and design criteria are according to NBR 6118:2014. Structure analysis in elastoplastic regimen with the incremental analysis method is performed to detect plastic hinge formation order, collapse load factor, displacements, and rotation capacity of cross sections with the criteria established in the current building codes. The study evaluates the influence of the defined concepts on the structure’s elastoplastic behavior. The biaxial and uniaxial bending method is presented as an important formulation for obtaining the collapse load factor using the elastic stiffness matrix with modifications. The algorithms presented enable the development of research without the need for expensive commercial software licenses.
Study of the mechanical behavior of asphalt mixtures in terms of creep and Superpave compaction parameters
Authors: Silva Taciano Oliveira da , Pitanga Heraldo Nunes , Rodrigues Mateus Henrique Ribeiro , Rezende Juliana de Paula , Marques Geraldo Luciano de Oliveira , Simões Felipe de Andrade
Published: January 2023

This was a study on the mechanical behavior of hot asphalt mixtures with regard to permanent deformation, considering static creep tests and the parameters derived from the Superpave compaction curve. For the asphalt mixture production, mineral aggregates and two types of asphalt binder (CAP 50/70 and AMP 60/85) were used. These mixtures were designed using the Superpave methodology and compacted in the content and number of gyrations according to the design. For the design condition, asphalt mixtures using the conventional CAP 50/70 asphalt binder showed better workability and lower deformation than asphalt mixtures with the AMP 60/85 polymer binder. Furthermore, the influence of asphalt binder content on the behavior of asphalt mixtures in relation to permanent deformation and compaction indices was studied, considering the maximum number of gyrations in the design. Regarding this investigation, asphalt mixtures with higher asphalt binder content tend to show higher permanent deformation and better workability. Complementarily, the compaction curve indices (Construction Densification Index, CDI; modified Traffic Densification Index, TDIm and Locking Point, LP) were correlated with parameters obtained from static creep tests (total deformation after the recovery period, Dt; creep modulus, CM and curve inclination, Icurve) through curves obtained by the correlation between these indices. Based on this analysis, a good correlation was found between the results of static creep tests and compaction indices, showing the potential of these indices for predicting the mechanical behavior of the analyzed mixtures in relation to the development of permanent deformations.
Preservation of frozen strawberries enriched with Saccharomyces boulardii using gelatin-based coating
Authors: Prietsch Kennia Mendes , Wachholz Bruna Santos , El Halal Shanise Lisie Mello , Gandra Eliezer Avila , Mendonça Carla Rosane Barboza , Borges Caroline Dellinghausen
Published: January 2023

Although freezing is considered one of the easiest ways to preserve the quality of food, it is harmful to strawberries. Thus, the objective of this study is to evaluate the conservation of frozen strawberries using gelatin as a coating and of the probiotic yeast, Saccharomyces boulardii. Strawberries were selected, sanitized and subjected to the following treatments: Treatment 1 - control 1 (strawberries stored at -18ºC); Treatment 2 - control 2 (strawberries stored at -80ºC); Treatment 3 - strawberries added with citric acid, calcium chloride and S. boulardii stored at -18ºC; Treatment 4 - strawberries with gelatin, citric acid, calcium chloride, glycerol and S. boulardii stored at -18ºC. Drip loss, soluble solids, titratable acidity, color, firmness, ascorbic acid, total phenolic compounds, monomeric anthocyanins, antioxidant activity, polyphenoloxidase activity and viability of S. boulardii were analysed. The gelatin coating added with citric acid and calcium chloride, in combination with freezing at -18ºC, reduced the drip loss, the metabolic reactions and exerted a protective effect on bioactive compounds, making it possible to use them instead of deep-freezing, mainly for agribusinesses that do not have the equipment. The use of gelatin coating on strawberries minimized the effects of freezing and promoted the protection of S. boulardii, obtaining in up to 60 days of storage the minimum viable concentration of the microorganism to exercise its functional property. On the other hand, in the absence of gelatin, S. boulardii had a negative influence on the physical-chemical parameters, in addition to showing less viability. Thus, the study demonstrated that the coating composed of gelatin, citric acid and calcium chloride can represent an interesting alternative for application on frozen strawberries enriched with S. boulardii.
Lifetime of forage grasses submitted to different water regimes using survival analysis
Authors: Lucena Leandro Ricardo Rodrigues , Leite Maurício Luiz de Mello Vieira , Costa Álefe Chagas de Lima , Caraciolo João Pedro Soares , Silva José Raliuson Inácio
Published: January 2023

Forage plants are considered one of the main factors for livestock development, for they present perennial growth, resistance to drought, adaptation to hot climate regions, and wide soil diversity. The water deficit causes changes in their anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry, which can affect all stages of development and productivity. For these reasons, it is necessary to evaluate the lifetime of forage plants under water stress conditions. The design used was a factorial scheme, consisting of two types of grasses, and five levels of water replacement, with ten replications. During the experimental period, grasses were evaluated daily, with more than 70% of leaf area in senescence being considered a dead plant the one with more than 70% of leaf area in senescence. Urochloa mosambicensis lifetime was of 61 days for grasses that were not irrigated, 131 and 195 days for those that received 25% and 50% of field capacity, and greater than 240 days for those that were irrigated with 75 and 100% of field capacity. Digitaria pentzii lifetime was of 54 days for grasses that were not irrigated, 117 and 152 days for those that received 25 and 50% of field capacity, and greater than 240 days for those that were subjected to water regime 75 and 100% of field capacity. Irrigation with 25 and 50% of field capacity doubles and triplicates, respectively, the lifetime of grasses when compared to plants that did not receive irrigation. Irrigations with 75% or more of field capacity do not promote grass mortality.
Influence of mortar coating on the thermal analysis of steel profiles in a fire situation
Authors: Palhares Rodolfo de Azevedo , Nicoletti Renato Silva , Arcine Maicon de Freitas , Souza Alex Sander Clemente de
Published: January 2023

This article aims to perform the thermal analysis of different welded profiles of the VS and CS series with and without thermal protection subjected to fire action according to the nominal fire curve ISO 834. The fire protection studied was the contour type of constant thickness and the coating material considered was Blaze Shield II mortar. The temperature evolution in the profiles was evaluated using the analytical models prescribed by ABNT NBR 14323:2013 and three-dimensional numerical models using the ABAQUS® software. In general, it was observed that the results obtained by the analytical methods were in agreement with the numerical ones and that the use of mortar as fire protection evaluated in this study proved to be an efficient solution for fire protection. It was also possible to demonstrate that the increase in coating thickness, the reduction in thermal conductivity, and the increase in the specific heat of the constituent material provide a slower evolution of the temperature of the steel structural elements.
Effects of solvent extraction on phenolic concentration and antioxidant capacity of the Oedogonium sp. (Chlorophyta) using a simplex-centroid mixture design
Authors: Tofoli Rodolfo José , Ferreira Adriana Luiza , Fernández Núñez Eutímio Gustavo , Haminiuk Charles Windson Isidoro , Branco Ciro César Zanini , Branco Ivanise Guilherme
Published: January 2023

Among the freshwater benthic macroalgae found in Brazilian rivers and streams, species of Oedogonium (Chlorophyta) have shown great ability to produce high biomass in several environmental conditions. Their resilience to eutrophic habitats provides an opportunity to assess the use of Oedogonium biomass for applications in different fields, especially those related to the extraction of biologically active compounds of interest for health, food, and cosmetic applications. Thus, this study assessed the effects of different organic solvents (acetone, ethanol, and methanol) and their mixtures when combined with water (20% v/v), on the extraction efficiency of total phenolic compounds (TPC), and their antioxidant capacity (AC), from Oedogonium sp. biomass, using simplex-centroid mixture design. TPC ranged from 90 to 150 mg of gallic acid equivalent per 100 g dry weight (DW), while AC ranged from 1 to 8 µM of Trolox equivalent per gram (DW). The highest TPC and AC were found for extracts using an ethanol/acetone (50:50) binary aqueous solvent mixture, while the lowest values for both TPC and AC were found for the methanolic aqueous solvent. Considering the relatively low-cost and less adverse environmental impacts of the ethanol and acetone aqueous mixture, our results suggest that the use of this specific mixture of organic solvents may have significant advantages in an eventual industrial process for the extraction of phenolic compounds from Oedogonium species.
Necropolitics and the Covid-19 pandemic: evictions and removals that mark the recurrent housing problem in Brazil
Authors: Vernice Rilton Robson Lima , Silva Beatriz Fleury e
Published: January 2023

This work aims to reflect on the impacts of COVID-19, a disease responsible for the pandemic worldwide status in 2020, on urban housing policies in Brazil, which has faced structural problems since the turn of the century. These problems were accentuated and evidenced with the onset of the pandemic. The paper sought to highlight the dismantling scenario and the setbacks of human rights that are expressed in the manner in which the federal government behaves in the face of the collapse caused by the health crisis. In addition to highlighting that, the housing problem has been sewn with patches that are not effective to supply the gigantic demand for housing in the country currently, besides they do not guarantee the security of tenure to the majority of families in socioeconomic vulnerability. In this context, the focus of the discussion is on the removals and evictions that have occurred during the pandemic, putting at risk an entire population historically neglected by the neoliberal policies of capitalism. Moreover, these policies have been accentuated as a reflection of the recent democratic inflection in the country, which has strongly threatened human and social rights, legitimized by necropolitics, during the pandemic (Mbembe, 2018). The text is presented as a theoretical study carried through an exploratory methodological structure, based on a bibliographic review and documentary analysis of the subject matter. This article does not intend to bring conclusions or final answers, but to present new elements for the debate on the dismantling of Brazilian housing policies, evidenced in the current scenario through the lack of access to decent housing or difficulty in keeping it, mainly for the lowest-income populations.
A simple approach to central disorders of hypersomnolence
Authors: Gunasekera Shania Niromi
Published: January 2023

Abstract Sleep is an essential part of a healthy life which is vital to maintain bodily functions in a well balanced state. Nevertheless, excessive sleepiness can disturb the over all physical and mental health of an individual. Though the day time hypersomnolence is caused by myriad of causes , central disorders of hypersomnolence deserves a special attention. In order to understand abnormal sleep, a thorough understanding about normal sleep is of paramount importance. A normal 8 hour sleep consist of 5-6 cycles of sleep. Each cycle consist of stages of sleep, namely REM, NREM 1, 2 and NREM 3. When evaluating a patient with day time hypersomnolence, its presence must be confirmed with an accepted screening tool such as Epworth sleepiness. A detailed history , examination and laboratory work up is necessary to exclude common medical , neurological and psychiatric illnesses which are common causes of hypersomnolence. This review mainly focus on central causes of hypersomnolence such as insufficient sleep syndrome, narcolepsy type 1 and 2, idiopathic hypersomnolence syndrome and Kleine Levin syndrome. Polysomnogram and multiple sleep latency tests are cornerstone investigations in evaluating these conditions. Despite the central disorders of hypersomnolence are life long chronic illnesses, promising pharmacological as well as non pharmacological therapies are available for the alleviation of troublesome symptoms.
Risk factors for development of febrile seizures in children admitted to Lady Ridgeway Hospital, Sri Lanka
Authors: Wanigasinghe Jithangi , De Silva Poorna A , Dassanayake Udara , Arambepola Carukshi
Published: January 2023

Background Febrile seizures (FS) are reported more frequently in the Asian population. Identifying risk factors for development of FS, would enable health care providers to prioritise health services including preventive and curative measures to the most vulnerable population groups, especially in low resource settings in developing countries. There is no data on risk factors for developing febrile seizures in Sri Lankan children. Method An unmatched case-control study was performed at the premier children’s hospital in the country over a 6-month period. Children aged 6 months to 6 years, who presented with FS (first ever or recurrence), confirmed by a paediatrician, were recruited for the study. The controls were children of presenting with a febrile illness not complicated with seizures. History and examination were used to identify any underlying neurological disorder or developmental delay. Interviewer-administered questionnaire and clinic records were used to collect data. Risk was assessed using odds ratio (OR). Results There were 74 cases and 67 controls. Their corresponding median ages were 28 and 36 months. Among cases, 62% presented with simple FS and all others with complex febrile seizures; 5.4% presented in status epilepticus. This was their first ever seizure in thirty-four (50%); in the balance it was a recurrence of FS. It was only the family history of febrile seizure (OR=6.27) and low axillary temperature at time of seizure (OR= 2.21) that were found to be associated with significant risk of development of febrile seizures in our patients. Conclusion This study described the demographics of FS and identified the risk factors for its development in Sri Lankan children
The Buddha did not have epilepsy
Authors: Wanigasinghe Jithangi , Chang Thashi
Published: January 2023

None
Editoriale
Authors: Corbelli Laura , Migone Paolo
Published: January 2023

Non disponibile
Perceived Advantages and Disadvantages of Work from Home in IT Professionals
Authors: Limaye Om , Karia Sagar , Prajapati Nandlal , Shah Nilesh , Desousa Avinash
Published: January 2023

Background:

Work from home (WFH) was faced with new challenges for many of them.

Aims and Objectives:

The aim is to investigate IT professional's experiences of WFH during the pandemic and to identify the main factors of advantages and disadvantages of WFH.

Materials and Methods:

An online survey was conducted among IT professionals by sending Google forms to them wherein demographic, professional details were collected and questions regarding advantages and disadvantages of WFH were asked.

Results:

61.4% of individuals were males and 38.6% were females with mean age of 29.82 ± 4.25 years. The main advantages of WFH were flexible work timings and reduction in traveling time and costs by employees. Disadvantages perceived were mainly extending working hours and loss of professional and personal life balance.

Conclusions:

This survey suggests that WFH is advantage to employees and it can be enhanced for increasing productivity by overcoming the disadvantages to a maximal extent possible.
Neuroblastic Tumours in Children
Authors: Kumar Basant , Yadav Rajanikant , Upadhyaya Vijai D , Mishra Ashwani , Yousuf  , Mishra Prabhakar , Lal Punita
Published: January 2023

Background:

There is a paucity of uniform literature on the outcome of children with neuroblastic tumours from developing countries. This study aims to present the outcome in children having neuroblastic tumours.

Materials and Methods:

We retrospectively reviewed patients with neuroblastic tumours from January 2014 to March 2020. Data analysed were pertaining to the age, sex, presentation, site, stage, diagnostic evaluation performed, management and follow-up results, etc., The final outcomes were assessed as complete response; partial response (PR); no response (NR) and progressive disease. International Neuroblastoma Risk Group staging was used and patients were categorised on the basis of age, site and stage of tumour. Overall survival (OS) was calculated from the date of diagnosis to the date of last follow-up and event for OS was death.

Results:

Forty-seven patients were included with median age of 60 months (ranges of 2–180; mean = 61.87 ± 47.56). About 72.3% (n = 34) patients were males. Out of total, 6.4% (n = 3), 53.2% (n = 25) and 38.3% (n = 18) were in stage L1, L2 and M, respectively, whereas 2.1% (n = 1) patients were in stage MS. Surgery was performed in 25 (53.19%) patients, but gross total excision was achieved in 48.90% (n = 23) patients. Onlu 10.60% (n = 5) patients were referred, whereas 14.89% (n = 7) patients reported recurrences. Mean and median follow-up time of the patients was 24.64 ± 16.04 and 18 months (range: 3–60 months). Out of total, 53.2% (n = 25) and 29.8% (n = 14) patients had complete and PRs, respectively, whereas 17% (n = 8) patients had NR. Out of the total 47 patients, 8 (17%) achieved events (deaths), whereas the rest, 39 (83%) patients, were censored. Mean event-free OS time was 50.04 months.

Conclusion:

There was a significant difference in patient deaths in recurrence and non-recurred patients (4/7, 57.1% vs. 4/40/, 10%, P = 0.011). Survival time was significantly higher in patients with stages L1-L2 as compared to Stage 4. Stage and age were found predictors of survival.
Epithelioid trophoblastic tumor
Authors: Dash Subhashree Subhasmita , Sakhadeo Uma , Karmarkar Srushti , Mittal Neha , Menon Santosh , Rekhi Bharat , Deodhar Kedar Kamalakar
Published: January 2023

An epithelioid trophoblastic tumor (ETT) is an extremely rare gestational trophoblastic tumor. Cases of ETT present with abnormal vaginal bleeding in women of reproductive age group with marginally elevated beta human chorionic gonadotrophin (B-hCG) levels. Here, we describe a series of four patients (all were females) including histomorphology, immunoprofiles, and diagnostic difficulty of this rare entity. All cases were in their reproductive age group. The mean pre-treatment hCG level was 665.24 (mIU/mL). Microscopically, all cases had a tumor showing an epithelioid appearance arranged in large nests and sheets. Individual tumor cells were round to polygonal with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm, with central vesicular nuclei and prominent nucleoli. Areas of hemorrhage, necrosis, and intercellular hyaline-like material deposition were identified in all cases (100%). Immunohistochemically, tumor cells in all cases showed diffuse positivity for AE1/AE3 and p63 (100%). GATA3 was available in one case (25%), which was positive in the tumor cells. In one case (25%), hPL was focally positive, and in one case (25%), it was negative. SALL4 was performed in two cases (50%) and was negative in tumor cells. The mean Ki67 labeling index was 19.2 (range 10–30%). All four patients underwent surgical intervention and were treated with hysterectomy. The mean follow-up in this series was 39.4 months (range 6–70), and all patients are alive to date with a mean survival of 32.8 months (range, 4–67).
Correlation NKX2.2 IHC and EWSR1 break-apart FISH in the diagnosis of Ewing sarcoma
Authors: Pasricha Sunil , Pahwa Saloni , Pruthi Manish , Jajodia Ankush , Gupta Gurudutt , Sharma Anila , Durga Garima , Kamboj Meenakshi , Tiwari Akshay , Panigrahi Manoj , Mehta Anurag
Published: January 2023

Context:

Ewing sarcoma (ES) are malignant small round cell tumors (MSRCT) characterized by rearrangements of EWSR1 gene. Although gold standard for diagnosis is detection of specific fusion genes by molecular testing, these ancillary tests are costly and only available in limited number of settings. There is a persuasive evidence for reliability of NKX2.2 immunohistochemistry (IHC) as a surrogate marker for EWSR1 gene rearrangement in ES.

Aims:

The aim of this study is to correlate the NKX2.2 immuno-expression with genetically confirmed ES cases and also to assess the reliability and accuracy of NKX2.2 along with combined positivity of NXX2.2 and CD99 in diagnosing ES and differentiating it from other relevant histological mimics.

Settings and Design:

The present study is a retrospective study conducted over a period of 6-year duration in a tertiary cancer care center.

Methods and Material:

We evaluated NKX2.2 immunoexpression in 35 genetically confirmed cases of ES and also in pertaining differential entities (n = 58) of ES including rhabdomyosarcoma (n = 20), lymphoblastic lymphoma (n = 14), Wilms tumor (n = 10), poorly differentiated synovial sarcoma (n = 4), small-cell osteosarcoma (n = 4), neuroblastoma (n = 5), and mesenchymal chondrosarcoma (n = 1). CD99 was performed in the category of MSRCTs showing NKX2.2 positivity to evaluate combined specificity for the diagnosis of ES.

Results:

Of the 35 genetically confirmed cases of ES, 29 cases (83%) showed NKX2.2-positive expression (83% sensitivity). Compared to ES, NKX2.2 was positive in only 05% cases (3/58 cases) of non-ES MSRCT. Only two of five cases of neuroblastomas and one case of mesenchymal chondrosarcoma showed NKX2.2 positivity. CD99 positivity was seen in 100% of ES and in the single case of mesenchymal chondrosarcoma. All five cases (100%) of neuroblastoma were negative for CD99.

Conclusions:

The presented study, which is the first from an Indian oncology center, showed NKX2.2 IHC is quite reliable in diagnosis of ES in the right clinicopathological context. With remarkable sensitivity and specificity of NKX2.2 IHC for diagnosis of ES, we propose that combined positivity of CD99 and NKX2.2 IHC can obviate or minimize the need of EWSR1 gene rearrangement molecular testing for diagnosis of ES.