bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Teachers’ skills to integrate technology in education: Two path models explaining instructional and application software use
Authors: Dogan Selcuk , Dogan Nihan Agacli , Celik Ismail 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to examine the effect of technology support, teachers’ confidence in using technology, their beliefs about using technology, and their perceived skills on the use of instructional and application software. The data we used were from 1335 K-12 teachers involved in the Technology Uses and Perceptions Survey (TUPS) study. Teachers were located in 40 different institutions across the state of Florida. According to the findings of this study, the most significant factor in the instructional and application software use of teachers was found as perceived technology skills. Therefore, professional development for perceived skills or technology competencies of teachers might contribute to increasing the instructional or application software use of teachers. In terms of confidence and comfort using technology, they both had direct and positive effects on instructional and application software. Also, the total effect of support from technology specialists for instructional software use is more than application software use. As evidenced by the models developed in this research, teachers’ perceived technology skills for instructional and application software use directly and positively affected their beliefs on usefulness. Our effort to provide more emphasis on the combined effect of a collective set of factors to explain teacher use of technology leads us to address the gaps in the literature on technology use (i.e., the effect of demographic factors and technology availability).
Three contextual dimensions of information on social media: lessons learned from the COVID-19 infodemic
Authors: Marin Lavinia 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic has been accompanied on social media by an explosion of information disorders such as inaccurate, misleading and irrelevant information. Countermeasures adopted thus far to curb these informational disorders have had limited success because these did not account for the diversity of informational contexts on social media, focusing instead almost exclusively on curating the factual content of user’s posts. However, content-focused measures do not address the primary causes of the infodemic itself, namely the user’s need to post content as a way of making sense of the situation and for gathering reactions of consensus from friends. This paper describes three types of informational context—weak epistemic, strong normative and strong emotional—which have not yet been taken into account by current measures to curb down the informational disorders. I show how these contexts are related to the infodemic and I propose measures for dealing with them for future global crisis situations.
Intergenerational Transmission of Party Affiliation Within Political Families
Authors: Aggeborn Linuz , Nyman Pär 
Published: August 2020

AbstractWe investigate the intergenerational transmission of political-party affiliation within families with at least two politicians. We use Swedish registry data that covers all nominated politicians for the years 1982 to 2014, as well as their family ties. First, we demonstrate there is a strong link between individuals and their parents concerning party affiliation. We also find that this intergenerational transmission persists over generations and across siblings. Our second aim is to investigate the mechanisms behind this result, which we do by first discussing two hypotheses: the one concerns a socialization pathway, the other a materialistic one. We then bring these hypotheses to the data, and we find that the socialization pathway matters more for intergenerational transmission.
Gastrojejunal Anastomotic Technique. Does It Matter? Weight Loss and Weight Regain 5 Years After Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
Authors: Fehervari Matyas , Alyaqout Khaled , Lairy Ali , Khwaja Haris , Bonanomi Gianluca , Efthimiou Evangelos 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Purpose
The gastrojejunostomy during laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) can be constructed by hand sewn (HSA), linear (LSA) and circular (CSA) stapler technique. They are all considered safe; however, it is not known which the best technique is. Short-term follow-up suggest no difference in weight loss or weight regain between them. However, there is no information on these parameters in the long term. Theatre time and cost are other important factors defining the best way to form gastrojejunostomy.

Materials and Methods
In a prospective longitudinal cohort study consecutive patients following primary LRYGB were recruited to a bariatric database in a tertiary care centre. Anastomotic technique, diameter, the length of operations and associated costs, weight loss and weight regain were recorded. Patients were followed up for 5 years.

Results
A total of 385 patients with an initial body mass index of 47.1 kg/m2 (35–68) were enrolled to this study. This decreased to 33.3 kg/m2 (21–54 kg/m2) after 5 years. There was no difference in %TWL after 3 years, P = 0.296, or 5 years, P = 0.187, between the techniques. The number of patients with weight regain was not different after 3 years, P = 0.224, or 5 years, P = 0.795. All techniques had similar operative time. CSA has a higher material cost. Early anastomotic stricture was more common following HSA; however, the difference was not significant.

Conclusion
Mid-term weight loss and weight regain are not related to anastomotic technique, and there is no difference in operative time associated to them. Circular stapler technique has a higher material cost due to the additional stapler.
Addressing Pitfalls in Phase-Amplitude Coupling Analysis with an Extended Modulation Index Toolbox
Authors: Jurkiewicz Gabriela J. , Hunt Mark J. , Żygierewicz Jarosław 
Published: August 2020

AbstractPhase-amplitude coupling (PAC) is proposed to play an essential role in coordinating the processing of information on local and global scales. In recent years, the methods able to reveal trustworthy PAC has gained considerable interest. However, the intrinsic features of some signals can lead to the identification of spurious or waveform-dependent coupling. This prompted us to develop an easily accessible tool that could be used to differentiate spurious from authentic PAC. Here, we propose a new tool for more reliable detection of PAC named the Extended Modulation Index () based on the classical Modulation Index measure of coupling. is suitable both for continuous and epoched data and allows estimation of the statistical significance of each pair of frequencies for phase and for amplitude in the whole comodulogram in the framework of extreme value statistics. We compared with the reference PAC measures—direct PAC estimator (a modification of Mean Vector Length) and standard Modulation Index. All three methods were tested using computer-simulated data and actual local field potential recordings from freely moving rats. All methods exhibited similar properties in terms of sensitivity and specificity of PAC detection. proved to be more selective in the dimension of frequency for phase. One of the novelty’s offered by is a heuristic algorithm for classification of PAC as Reliable or Ambiguous. It relies on analysis of the relation between the spectral properties of the signal and the detected coupling. Moreover, generates visualizations that support further evaluation of the coupling properties. It also introduces the concept of the polar phase-histogram to study phase relations of coupled slow and fast oscillations. We discuss the extent to which addresses the known problems of interpreting PAC. The Matlab® toolbox implementing framework, and the two reference PAC estimators is freely available as EEGLAB plugin at https://github.com/GabrielaJurkiewicz/ePAC.
Graded and pan-neural disease phenotypes of Rett Syndrome linked with dosage of functional MeCP2
Authors: Chen Xiaoying , Han Xu , Blanchi Bruno , Guan Wuqiang , Ge Weihong , Yu Yong-Chun , Sun Yi E. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractRett syndrome (RTT) is a progressive neurodevelopmental disorder, mainly caused by mutations in MeCP2 and currently with no cure. We report here that neurons from R106W MeCP2 RTT human iPSCs as well as human embryonic stem cells after MeCP2 knockdown exhibit consistent and long-lasting impairment in maturation as indicated by impaired action potentials and passive membrane properties as well as reduced soma size and spine density. Moreover, RTT-inherent defects in neuronal maturation could be pan-neuronal and occurred in neurons with both dorsal and ventral forebrain features. Knockdown of MeCP2 led to more severe neuronal deficits as compared to RTT iPSC-derived neurons, which appeared to retain partial function. Strikingly, consistent deficits in nuclear size, dendritic complexity and circuitry-dependent spontaneous postsynaptic currents could only be observed in MeCP2 knockdown neurons but not RTT iPSC-derived neurons. Both neuron-intrinsic and circuitry-dependent deficits of MeCP2-deficient neurons could be fully or partially rescued by re-expression of wild type or T158M MeCP2, strengthening the dosage dependency of MeCP2 on disease phenotypes and also the partial function of the mutant. Our findings thus reveal stable neuronal maturation deficits and unexpectedly, graded sensitivities of neuron-inherent and neural transmission phenotypes towards the extent of MeCP2 deficiency, which is informative for future therapeutic development.
Characterizing the fecal bacteria and archaea community of heifers and lactating cows through 16S rRNA next-generation sequencing
Authors: Cendron Filippo , Niero Giovanni , Carlino Gabriele , Penasa Mauro , Cassandro Martino 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThe aim of this study was to describe the fecal bacteria and archaea composition of Holstein-Friesian and Simmental heifers and lactating cows, using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Bacteria and archaea communities were characterized and compared between heifers and cows of the same breed. Two breeds from different farms were considered, just to speculate about the conservation of the microbiome differences between cows and heifers that undergo different management conditions. The two breeds were from two different herds. Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Proteobacteria were the most abundant phyla in all experimental groups. Alpha- and beta-diversity metrics showed significant differences between heifers and cows within the same breed, supported by principal coordinate analysis. The analysis of Holstein-Friesian fecal microbiome composition revealed 3 different bacteria families, 2 genera, and 2 species that differed between heifers and cows; on the other hand, Simmental heifers and cows differed only for one bacteria family, one archaeal genus, and one bacteria species. Results of the present study suggest that fecal communities of heifers and cows are different, and that fecal microbiome is maintained across experimental groups.
Detection of HIV-1 viral load in tears of HIV/AIDS patients
Authors: Qian Yujing , Wu Zunyou , Chen Chao , Du Kuifang , Wei Wenbin 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Objectives
The tear, as an important bodily secretion, plays a crucial role in preventing infection and maintaining homeostasis of ocular surfaces. Although accumulating studies have reported on the HIV-1 viral load profile among varying bodily fluids and secretions, little was known concerning HIV-1 dynamics in tears. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to investigate the HIV-1 viral load in tears of HIV/AIDS patients and study factors influencing their tear viral load.

Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted. 67 patients with a confirmed HIV-1 infection or AIDS were recruited from the Beijing You’an Hospital, China between April 2018 and September 2018. Socio-demographic information and laboratory test results were collected. At the same time, ophthalmic examinations were carried out and tear samples were tested.

Results
Of 30 highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)-naïve patients, 53.3% had detectable HIV-1 RNA in tears. Of 37 patients on HAART, HIV-1 RNA was undetectable in their tears, regardless of treatment duration and blood viral load. Tear viral load ranged from TND (target not detected) to 13,096 copies/mL. Viral load was lower in tears than in blood plasma (p < 0.001), and was significantly correlated with plasma viral load (Rho = 0.566, p < 0.001) and AIDS stage (Rho = 0.312, p = 0.01), but negatively correlated with CD4 + T cell count, CD4 +/CD8 + T cell count, and duration of HIV infection (Rho = -0.450, Rho = − 0.464, Rho = − 0.565; p < 0.001).

Conclusions
HIV-1 RNA is present in tears of more than half of the HAART-naïve patients, whereas absent in tears of patients on HAART. Tear viral load is positively associated with plasma viral load while it is negatively correlated with CD4 cell count. This study provides novel insights into the area with limited understanding–HIV-1 viral load in tears.
Investigating a Blended Learning Environment: Contribution of Attitude, Interaction, and Quality of Teaching to Satisfaction of Graduate Students of TEFL
Authors: Taghizadeh Mahboubeh , Hajhosseini Fatemeh 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThe level of learner satisfaction, according to Chen and Yao (J Educ Res 4(7):1667−1671, 2016), has a main role in measuring the effectiveness of blended learning, which is influenced by various factors. The purpose of this study was thus twofold: (a) to explore graduate students’ attitudes, interaction patterns, and satisfaction with blended learning technology and (b) to investigate the extent to which attitude, interaction, and quality of teaching contributed to satisfaction. The participants of this study were 140 graduate students of TEFL at the e-learning campus of Iran University of Science and Technology. The instruments were four types of questionnaire on learner satisfaction, attitude, interaction types, and quality of teaching. The results of quantitative and qualitative analysis revealed learners' positive attitudes towards blended learning technology. The instructor was also successful in teaching theoretical and practical concepts of TEFL, guiding online discussion through giving constructive feedback, and motivating learners to do more online learning. Learner–-instructor interaction was also found to be the most frequent type of interaction. The results of multiple regression analysis also revealed that contribution of quality of teaching to satisfaction was higher than that of interaction and attitude, implying the significance of training online teachers to enhance their knowledge, skills, and strategies required for online teaching.
Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease, prevalence and clinical characteristics in ENT department of a tertiary hospital Tanzania
Authors: Massawe Willybroad A. , Nkya Aslam , Abraham Zefania Saitabau , Babu Kassim M. , Moshi Ndeserua , Kahinga Aveline A. , Ntunaguzi Daudi , Massawe Enica R. 
Published: August 2020

BackgroundLaryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) is a condition with nonspecific symptoms and most of times patients present late with advanced disease which may predispose to malignancy. The magnitude and clinical characteristics of this condition are not well known among patients attending Otorhinolaryngology services in Tanzania.Materials and methodsThis was a hospital based descriptive cross sectional study, conducted in the wards and clinics of Otorhinolaryngology department of Muhimbili National Hospital. Patients with symptoms of Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease were included in the study. Data was collected using questionnaires and clinical examination forms, were processed and analysed by using SPSS. Results presented in frequency tables, cross tabulations and figures.ResultsThis study recruited 256 participants among them males were 131(51.2%).The mean age was (41.38 ± 13.94) years. Prevalence of Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease was 18.4% without gender predilection. The commonest symptoms were globus sensation, hoarseness of voice and excessive urge to clear the throat with 95.7%, 88.1% and 83.0% respectively while the most observed signs were thick endolaryngeal mucus, Vocal cord oedema and partial ventricular obliteration with 90.9%, 88.6% and 72.7% respectively. Lying down less than two hours after meal and spices foods consumption were the leading risk factors. Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus type 2 were the most prevalent co morbid conditions associated with Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease.ConclusionThe prevalence of Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease is high among patients attending Otorhinolaryngology services at Muhimbili national hospital. All patients with Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease related symptoms should get thorough evaluation for early diagnosis and treatment.
Chronological characteristics for snow accumulation on Styx Glacier in northern Victoria Land, Antarctica
Authors: Nyamgerel Yalalt , Han Yeongcheol , Kim Songyi , Hong Sang-Bum , Lee Jeonghoon , Hur Soon Do 
Published: August 2020

AbstractUnder the potential to reconstruct the past climatic and atmospheric conditions from a deep ice core in the coastal Antarctic site (Styx Glacier), an 8.84 m long firn core (73°50.975′ S, 163°41.640′ E; 1623 m a.s.l.) was initially studied to propose a reliable age scale for the local estimation of snow accumulation rate. The seasonal variations of δ18O, methanesulfonic acid (MSA) and non-sea-salt sulfate (nssSO42–) were used for the firn core dating and revealed 25 annual peaks (from 1990 to 2014) with volcanic sulfate signal. The observed declining trend in annual accumulation rate with a mean value of 146 ± 60 kg m–2a–1is likely to be linked to the changes of sea-ice extent in the Ross Sea region. Moreover, the temporal variation of the annual mean δ18O, an annual flux of MSA and nssSO42–also likely to be under the influence of ice-covered and open water area. This study suggests a potential to recover past changes in an oceanic environment and will be useful for the interpretation of the long ice core drilled at the same site.
Nutritional status, diet and viral respiratory infections: perspectives for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Authors: Morais Ana Heloneida de Araújo , Aquino Jailane de Souza , da Silva-Maia Juliana Kelly , Vale Sancha Helena de Lima , Maciel Bruna Leal Lima , Passos Thaís Sousa 
Published: August 2020

AbstractCOVID-19, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was recognised by the WHO as a pandemic in 2020. Host preparation to combat the virus is an important strategy to avoid COVID-19 severity. Thus, the relationship between eating habits, nutritional status and their effects on the immune response and further implications in viral respiratory infections is an important topic discussed in this review. Malnutrition causes the most diverse alterations in the immune system, suppressing of the immune response and increasing the susceptibility to infections such as SARS-CoV-2. On the other hand, obesity induces low-grade chronic inflammation caused by excess adiposity, which increases angiotensin-converting enzyme 2. It decreases the immune response favouring SARS-CoV-2 virulence and promoting respiratory distress syndrome. The present review highlights the importance of food choices considering their inflammatory effects, consequently increasing the viral susceptibility observed in malnutrition and obesity. Healthy eating habits, micronutrients, bioactive compounds and probiotics are strategies for COVID-19 prevention. Therefore, a diversified and balanced diet can contribute to the improvement of the immune response to viral infections such as COVID-19.
Repression and Dissent in Contemporary Catalonia
Authors: Balcells Laia , Dorsey Spencer , Tellez Juan F. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractAn extensive literature in political science and sociology has analyzed how state repression shapes attempts by social movements to pursue political objectives. Less studied, however, is the effect that state repression of activists has on the broader public. Understanding public responses to repression is important, as both states and social movements take action with an eye toward (de)mobilizing broader constituencies. This letter analyzes this dynamic in the context of contemporary Catalonia, where the Spanish state cracked down on efforts by Catalan activists to hold a public referendum on independence. Matching poll respondents in the months before and after the crackdown in late 2017, the study finds that repression increased public sympathy for independence for a short period, and heightened animosity towards actors perceived to be associated or complicit with the Spanish state. The findings speak to the potential for state repression of nonviolent movements to create windows of opportunity for broader mobilization.
Age, growth and reproduction of the golden grey mullet, Chelon auratus (Risso, 1810) in the Golden Horn Estuary, Istanbul
Authors: Kesiktaş Mert , Yemişken Emre , Yildiz Taner , Eryilmaz Lütfiye 
Published: August 2020

AbstractAge, growth and reproduction biology of the golden grey mullet, Chelon auratus (Risso, 1810) have been studied in the Istanbul Golden Horn area. Fish length ranged from 13.4–46.8 cm, and age from 1–10 years, respectively. The sex ratio (female:male) was 1:1.08. The length-weight relationship was estimated as W = 0.0127L2.89, W = 0.0099L2.97 and W = 0.0156L2.82 for both sexes combined, females and males, respectively. The von Bertalanffy growth equation parameters were: L∞ = 57.52 cm, K = 0.1 year−1, t0 = −2.24 year for pooled data. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) values indicated the major spawning period was between August and November, and the minor spawning peak between March and April. The highest GSI values were observed in September. The length and age of sexual maturity were estimated as 26.2 cm and 4 years for males and 24.1 cm and 3 years for females.
Origins of music in credible signaling
Authors: Mehr Samuel A. , Krasnow Max M. , Bryant Gregory A. , Hagen Edward H. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractMusic comprises a diverse category of cognitive phenomena that likely represent both the effects of psychological adaptations that are specific to music (e.g., rhythmic entrainment) and the effects of adaptations for non-musical functions (e.g., auditory scene analysis). How did music evolve? Here, we show that prevailing views on the evolution of music – that music is a byproduct of other evolved faculties, evolved for social bonding, or evolved to signal mate quality – are incomplete or wrong. We argue instead that music evolved as a credible signal in at least two contexts: coalitional interactions and infant care. Specifically, we propose that (1) the production and reception of coordinated, entrained rhythmic displays is a co-evolved system for credibly signaling coalition strength, size, and coordination ability; and (2) the production and reception of infant-directed song is a co-evolved system for credibly signaling parental attention to secondarily altricial infants. These proposals, supported by interdisciplinary evidence, suggest that basic features of music, such as melody and rhythm, result from adaptations in the proper domain of human music. The adaptations provide a foundation for the cultural evolution of music in its actual domain, yielding the diversity of musical forms and musical behaviors found worldwide.