bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
School-university cluster of disciplines developing the calculative-algorithmic component of computational thinking
Authors: Bazhenova I. V. , Klunnikova М. М. , Pak N. I. 
Published: June 2021

Problem relevance. Due to the multi-departmental concepts and the different content of educational programs of schools and universities, a serious problem arises of the succession and continuity of the education system along the “vertical” in general and subject teaching in particular. Another didactic problem is the need to ensure interdisciplinary connections of basic courses in the traditional disciplinary model of the educational process for more effective and expedient formation of certain student’s competencies sets. In this regard, it is of interest to create new organizational and meaningful approaches to training specialists without a significant restructuring of the traditional educational process.The purpose of the article is to substantiate a collaborative model of subject training of students in a school-university cluster of disciplines, which ensures the succession and continuity of education at school and university.Methodological basis. On the example of three disciplines “Programming”, “Computanional Methods”, “Information Technologies in Education”, a cluster model of teaching schoolchildren and students in the direction of training “Mathematics and Computer Science” has been designed and implemented. A feature of the considered school-university cluster of disciplines is a unified methodological base of target, meaningful and didactic elements that form and develop the calculative-algorithmic component of the computational thinking of students. The basis of the means and methods of teaching in the cluster is made up of cognitive techniques and a platform of “computational and algorithmic primitives” — solving elementary task template. A recursive approach is used in the methods of cluster subject teaching of schoolchildren and students.Results and Conclusions. The model of the created disciplinary cluster “Programming — Computanional Methods — Information Technologies in Education” contributes to the formation and development of the calculative-algorithmic component of the computational thinking of schoolchildren and students, and also forms their assigned groups of competencies. The school-university cluster of disciplines ensures real succession and continuity of school and university education, without unnecessary, sometimes artificial, labor-intensive additional organizational and methodological means and techniques. The approach under consideration can be used to create clusters of disciplines in various educational areas, allowing their meaningful collaboration and forming given competencies sets and schoolchildren’s and student’s cognitive abilities.
Metodología de la enseñanza centrada en el aprendizaje
Authors: Villalpando Calderón Ma. Dolores 
Published: June 2021

En el proceso educativo escolar, la función del profesor es la enseñanza, y la del estudiante es la realización de acciones que conduzcan al aprendizaje. Los enfoques actuales de la educación plantean procedimientos centrados en el aprendizaje de los estudiantes para conducirlos a la construcción del conocimiento y al logro de competencias sociales, profesionales y laborales, entre otras. En este artículo, se presentan algunos elementos que permiten identificar procedimientos de enseñanza para actualizar la labor docente y facilitar el aprendizaje de los estudiantes dirigido a la formación integral de la persona, como se propone en el Modelo Educativo Institucional de la Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes (UAA).
En línea... seguimiento a las organizaciones
Authors: Medina Mayagoitia Norma Isabel 
Published: June 2021

Bajo la consideración de que la apertura, la actualización y la mejora son tres condiciones para innovar, surgió el proyecto “Seguimiento Organizacional en Línea” (SOL), con la idea de abrir posibilidades en la enseñanza y el aprendizaje, renovar métodos, mejorar la dinámica de trabajo y la participación estudiantil.
Reseña del libro Once ideas clave: cómo aprender y enseñar competencias
Authors: Aldana Hernández María de los Ángeles 
Published: June 2021

La obra de Antoni Zabala y Laia Arnau ofrece una propuesta con once ideas clave que integran diversas acepciones sobre el término competencia. Es un intento por clarificar la noción y la implicación de este componente en la educación. Es clara y evidente la postura de los autores con relación a la perspectiva de formación por competencias y el esfuerzo por justificar su implementación en enseñanza. Destaca, además, una clara intención de argumentar que el concepto “competencias” puede ser un medio notablemente eficaz para extender principios pedagógicos, asumiendo que la formación en competencias es renovadora y que a lo largo de las once ideas clave se ofrecen razones y justificaciones que han de adoptarse en la educación.
Sleep Disruption and Depression, Stress and Anxiety Levels in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) During the Lockdown Measures for COVID-19 in the UK
Authors: Kite Chris , Atkinson Lou , McGregor Gordon , Clark Cain C. T. , Brown James E. , Kyrou Ioannis , Randeva Harpal S. 
Published: June 2021

Background: Lockdown measures have been enforced globally in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the comorbidity burden in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), these lockdown measures may have a particularly negative impact on sleep health, quality of life (QoL), and depression/stress levels in this population. The aim of this study was to explore whether such potential problems were present in women with PCOS during the COVID-19 lockdown in the UK.Methods: UK women with PCOS were recruited through social media into a cross-sectional study during the COVID-19 lockdown. The study survey was delivered online, and included demographic and COVID-19 relevant questions, as well as validated questionnaires/scales, namely the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), and PCOSQOL questionnaire.Results: Three hundred and thirty-three women with PCOS [median age: 30.0 (9.0) years] were recruited. Participants were dichotomized based on responses regarding the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on their sleep [negative (N = 242) vs. no/positive (N = 91) impact]. No differences were noted between groups regarding age, time since PCOS diagnosis, body mass index, or number of comorbidities. Based on the ISI, 44.2% of participants reporting a negative impact on sleep exhibited at least moderately severe clinical insomnia. Compared to those who reported no/positive effect on sleep, the participants reporting a negative impact on sleep also reported poorer QoL, based on the total PCOSQOL score, with a greater impact of PCOS and poorer mood in the corresponding PCOSQOL domains. Based on the DASS-21, the latter also had statistically higher depression and stress levels compared to the former. Finally, for this cohort significant inverse correlations were noted between the ISI and PCOSQOL scores (total and domain scores), whilst the DASS-21 and ISI scores were positively correlated (all p-values &lt;0.001).Conclusion: The majority of recruited UK women with PCOS reported that the COVID-19 lockdown had a negative impact on their sleep, which was also associated with impaired QoL and higher depression/stress levels. Whilst further research is required, women with PCOS should be considered a vulnerable population that may experience an adverse impact on sleep, QoL and mental health well-being due to lockdown measures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Acupuncture Point Stimulation Treatments Combined With Conventional Treatment in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis
Authors: Tsai Cheng-Lin , Lan Chou-Chin , Wu Chih-Wei , Wu Yun-Chun , Kuo Chan-Yen , Tzeng I-Shiang , Hsu Pei-Shan , Lee Chang-Ti , Hsieh Po-Chun 
Published: June 2021

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is a disease characterized by dyspnea, cough, and respiratory symptoms, leading to impaired health-related quality of life (HRQL) and exercise capacity, is highly prevalent worldwide. Some studies demonstrated that acupuncture point stimulation treatments (APSTs) are effective and safe in treating patients with COPD. The aim of this systematic review and network meta-analysis is to analyze the effects on HRQL and FEV1% predicted of diverse APSTs in treating patients with COPD.Materials and Methods: We searched seven electronic databases. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with stable COPD patients comparing APSTs and conventional treatment (Tx) were included. The primary outcome was HRQL measured by COPD Assessment Test or St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire. The secondary outcome was FEV1% predicted. We performed random effect network meta-analysis using a consistency model.Results: This network meta-analysis analyzed 21 RCTs with 1,577 stable COPD participants. In comparison with Tx, acupressure massage (AM) + Tx [−5.11; 95% confidence interval (CI), −6.65 to −3.57] was the most effective intervention in improving HRQL, followed by moxibustion (Mx) + Tx (−2.86; 95% CI, −3.86 to −1.86). Moreover, in comparison with Tx, Mx + Tx (7.79; 95% CI, 2.16 to 13.42) was the most effective intervention in improving FEV1% predicted, followed by acupuncture (A) + Tx (5.79; 95% CI, 2.90 to 8.68).Conclusions: Combined interventions (APSTs + Tx) are more effective than single intervention in improving both HRQL and FEV1% predicted. AM, Mx, and A can be considered effective non-pharmacological complementary interventions in treating patients with COPD under Tx.
Risk of Herpes Zoster Among Psoriasis Patients Taking Biologics: A Network Meta-Analysis of Cohort Studies
Authors: Tang Zhenwei , Shen Minxue , Chen Xiang 
Published: June 2021

Background: Herpes zoster (HZ) has raised public concern. An increasing incidence of HZ can be seen in the immunocompromised population, such as the psoriasis patients taking biologics. Real-world evidences are still needed to investigate the risks of HZ among patients receiving different biologics treatments. This study aims to summarize the findings from cohort studies.Methods: Herein, we performed a meta-analysis of cohort studies. We included studies referred to seven biologics (adalimumab, alefacept, efalizumab, etanercept, infliximab, rituximab, and ustekinumab) as well as methotrexate for psoriasis. We estimated summary relative risks (RRs) for HZ using pairwise and network meta-analysis.Results: Overall, five studies were included for analysis. A total of 32827.6 patient-years were observed. The result of the meta-analysis showed that the pooled HZ incidence rate of adalimumab, which accounts for the most patient-years in our analysis, is 2.6 per 1,000 patient-years. Our analysis based on several cohorts showed an insignificant difference among the patients receiving adalimumab, alefacept, efalizumab, etanercept, infliximab, rituximab, ustekinumab, and methotrexate.Conclusions: Based on this analysis, the type of mono-biologic treatment contributes little to the risk of HZ among psoriasis patients. Of note, the negative findings of our study do not mean the unnecessity of vaccination. More efforts must be taken to further determine HZ risk of different therapeutic strategies.
Identification and Prediction of Novel Clinical Phenotypes for Intensive Care Patients With SARS-CoV-2 Pneumonia: An Observational Cohort Study
Authors: Chen Hui , Zhu Zhu , Su Nan , Wang Jun , Gu Jun , Lu Shu , Zhang Li , Chen Xuesong , Xu Lei , Shao Xiangrong , Yin Jiangtao , Yang Jinghui , Sun Baodi , Li Yongsheng 
Published: June 2021

Background: Phenotypes have been identified within heterogeneous disease, such as acute respiratory distress syndrome and sepsis, which are associated with important prognostic and therapeutic implications. The present study sought to assess whether phenotypes can be derived from intensive care patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), to assess the correlation with prognosis, and to develop a parsimonious model for phenotype identification.Methods: Adult patients with COVID-19 from Tongji hospital between January 2020 and March 2020 were included. The consensus k means clustering and latent class analysis (LCA) were applied to identify phenotypes using 26 clinical variables. We then employed machine learning algorithms to select a maximum of five important classifier variables, which were further used to establish a nested logistic regression model for phenotype identification.Results: Both consensus k means clustering and LCA showed that a two-phenotype model was the best fit for the present cohort (N = 504). A total of 182 patients (36.1%) were classified as hyperactive phenotype, who exhibited a higher 28-day mortality and higher rates of organ dysfunction than did those in hypoactive phenotype. The top five variables used to assign phenotypes were neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), ratio of pulse oxygen saturation to the fractional concentration of oxygen in inspired air (Spo2/Fio2) ratio, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and urea nitrogen. From the nested logistic models, three-variable (NLR, Spo2/Fio2 ratio, and LDH) and four-variable (three-variable plus TNF-α) models were adjudicated to be the best performing, with the area under the curve of 0.95 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.94–0.97] and 0.97 (95% CI = 0.96–0.98), respectively.Conclusion: We identified two phenotypes within COVID-19, with different host responses and outcomes. The phenotypes can be accurately identified with parsimonious classifier models using three or four variables.
Non-invasive Diagnosis and Prognosis Values of 3D Pseudocontinuous Arterial Spin Labeling and Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Hou Yanli , Song Shuai , Sun Jiao , Wang Huihui , Wang Yanling , Wang Zhenchang , Li Jing , Li Hongyang 
Published: June 2021

Background: 3D Pseudocontinuous Arterial Spin Labeling (3D-PCASL) MRI and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) have been applied to detect ocular blood flow (BF). We aim to characterize the ocular BF in diabetic retinopathy (DR) using 3D-PCASL and OCTA, to discuss the relationship between ocular and cerebral BF, and to evaluate their potential utility to assess the severity of DR.Methods: A total of 66 participants (132 eyes) were included. Seventy-two eyes were classified in the proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) group, and 60 were in the non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy NPDR group. Ocular and cerebral BF values were detected by 3D-PCASL using a 3.0T MRI scanner with two post-labeling delays (PLDs). Vessel density (VD)/perfusion density (PD) of the macular or peripapillary area were detected by OCTA. Parameters and clinical characteristics were compared between the PDR and NPDR eyes utilizing two-sample t-tests and chi-square tests. Spearman's rank correlation analysis, logistic regression analysis, and receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) analyses were performed to evaluate the factors' role in DR severity.Results: The perfusions of the retinal/choroidal plexus (RCP), optic nerve head (ONH)/optic nerve (ON), and VD/PD of macular/peripapillary area in the PDR group were significantly lower compared to the NPDR group (p &lt; 0.05). They were protective factors for PDR [ORs = 0.842 for RCP (1.5 s PLD), 0.910 for ONH (1.5 s PLD), 0.905 for ON (both 1.5 and 2.5 s PLD), 0.707 for macular VD, 0.652 for peripapillary VD, p &lt; 0.05, respectively]. Ocular BF had a positive correlation with BF of the occipital lobe (OL) and temporal lobe (TL) in the cerebrum. The BF of RCP (lower than 7.825 mL/min/100 g at 1.5 s PLD) indicated PDR [areas under the curve (AUCs) = 0.682, 95% CI: 0.588–0.777, sensitivity: 70.7% specificity: 63.9%]. The AUC of RCP (PLD = 1.5 s) BF combined with peripapillary VD was 0.841 (95% CI: 0.588–0.777, sensitivity: 75.9% specificity: 82.9%).Conclusions: 3D-pcASL and OCTA may be effective non-invasive methods to measure ocular blood flow in DR patients and assess the severity of DR.
Molecular Epidemiology, Genetic Diversity, and Antifungal Susceptibility of Major Pathogenic Dermatophytes Isolated From Human Dermatophytosis
Authors: Salehi Zahra , Shams-Ghahfarokhi Masoomeh , Razzaghi-Abyaneh Mehdi 
Published: June 2021

BackgroundDermatophytes are a homogeneous group of species with low genetic diversity, and there are still many uncertainties about the boundaries among species.ObjectivesAiming at clarifying the relationships among species in the genus and introducing suitable genes for multilocus sequence typing (MLST), a new MLST scheme approach was developed to characterize the major pathogenic dermatophytes.MethodsWe performed maximum parsimony (MP), MrBayes, RAxML, and eBURST analyses, based on the MLST scheme to scrutinize the evolution within 95 clinical isolates and four reference strains belonging to the four major dermatophytes species. Then, the discriminatory power, pairwise genetic distances, ratio dN/dS, and sequence types (STs) of these isolates were determined. Also, to study taxonomy, sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), Beta-tubulin (BT2), and translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF-1α) genes of other dermatophytes species available in the GenBank were analyzed.ResultsFindings of the present study indicated that three genes: BT2, ITS, and TEF−1α, which showed the greatest diversity among dermatophyte species, were suitable for MLST. The most prevalent STs were seen among the species of Trichophyton interdigitale. Also, two new genotypes, i.e., XXVII and XXVIII, were introduced for T. interdigitale and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. The least informative sites were found in Epidermophyton floccosum, Trichophyton rubrum, and T. mentagrophytes, while the most informative sites were observed in T. interdigitale. Furthermore, the most informative locus was TEF-1α. The phylogenetic tree, constructed by the combination of the three genes, shows a new topological pattern that confirms the derivation of the anthropophilic and zoophilic genera from the geophilic genus. Also, the phylogenetic analyses and pairwise distances of the combination of the three loci showed that Trichophyton tonsurans and Trichophyton equinum were a species complex, where T. equinum is derived from T. tonsurans.ConclusionsResults of this study showed that MLST is very effective in determining the boundaries between species and taxonomy. Considering that there is no database for MLST dermatophytes, further studies are needed to determine the suitable genes for MLST. Also, the determination of STs in epidemiological studies and raising epidemiological information are helpful. This study was a new starting point to determine the ST and a foundation for a dermatophyte MLST database.
IL-21 Optimizes the CAR-T Cell Preparation Through Improving Lentivirus Mediated Transfection Efficiency of T Cells and Enhancing CAR-T Cell Cytotoxic Activities
Authors: Du Li , Nai Yaru , Shen Meiying , Li Tingting , Huang Jingjing , Han Xiaojian , Wang Wang , Pang Da , Jin Aishun 
Published: June 2021

Adoptive immunotherapy using CAR-T cells is a promising curative treatment strategy for hematological malignancies. Current manufacture of clinical-grade CAR-T cells based on lentiviral/retrovirus transfection of T cells followed by anti-CD3/CD28 activation supplemented with IL-2 has been associated with low transfection efficiency and usually based on the use of terminally differentiated effector T cells. Thus, improving the quality and the quantity of CAR-T cells are essential for optimizing the CAR-T cell preparation. In our study, we focus on the role of IL-21 in the γc cytokine conditions for CAR-T cell preparation. We found for the first time that the addition of IL-21 in the CAR-T preparation improved T cell transfection efficiency through the reduction of IFN-γ expression 24–48 h after T cell activation. We also confirmed that IL-21 enhanced the enrichment and expansion of less differentiated CAR-T cells. Finally, we validated that IL-21 improved the CAR-T cell cytotoxicity, which was related to increased secretion of effector cytokines. Together, these findings can be used to optimize the CAR-T cell preparation.
Association Between Three-Dimensional Transrectal Ultrasound Findings and Tumor Response to Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: An Observational Study
Authors: Zhang Xun , Fan Jin , Zhang Lijie , Wang Jingwen , Wang Minghe , Zhu Ji 
Published: June 2021

BackgroundThere is a significant demand for the development of non-surgical methods for the evaluation of complete response to tumor therapy. Predicting ability and image quality of routine imaging has not been satisfactory. To avoid the deficiencies, we assessed the capability of three-dimensional transrectal ultrasound in predicting the response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer patients.MethodsThe inclusion criteria were patients with locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma, receiving capecitabine-based neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, distance from anal verge (≤6 cm), clinical stage T3-4 and/or N+ without evidence of distant metastasis, and restaging ycT0-3a (T3a &lt;5 mm) after the end of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Three-dimensional transrectal ultrasound was performed 7 weeks after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy to discern the patients with complete response from the others. Eight main parameters were obtained from three-dimensional transrectal ultrasound: thickness of muscularis on the residual side, thickness of contralateral muscularis, angle of residual arc, regularity of the shape, integrity of the mucosal layer, blurring of the margin, internal echo, and posterior echo. The association between tumor response and three-dimensional transrectal ultrasound parameters was analyzed, and a model was developed by logistic regression.ResultsBetween 2014 and 2019, 101 patients were recruited; 72 cases received total mesorectal excision, and 29 cases underwent watch-and-wait. Among the three-dimensional transrectal ultrasound parameters, the adjusted-thickness of the muscularis (P&lt;0.01), angle of the residual arc (P&lt;0.01), and regularity of the residual shape (P&lt;0.01) were strongly associated with tumor response. In the dataset with total mesorectal excision cases (TME dataset), the residual adjusted-thickness (odds ratio [OR]=4.88, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.44–16.6, P=0.01) and regularity of the residual shape (OR=5.00, 95% CI=1.13–22.2, P=0.03) were kept in the final logistic model. The area under the curve of the logistic model was 0.84. Among these parameters, residual adjusted-thickness correlated significantly with tumor response. Additionally, we observed similar results in the whole population of 101 cases (whole dataset) and in the cross-validation.ConclusionThree-dimensional transrectal ultrasound model is a valuable method for predicting tumor response in rectal cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, which should be included as a factor for evaluating clinical complete response.Trial RegistrationThis trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02605265. Registered 9 November 2015 - Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/record/NCT02605265