current area
Recently Published Documents


TOTAL DOCUMENTS

122
(FIVE YEARS 50)

H-INDEX

12
(FIVE YEARS 2)

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (11) ◽  
pp. 43-60
Author(s):  
Tatyana Sokolova ◽  
◽  
Olga Ermolaeva ◽  

The article describes a new association of meso-xerophylous forests in the South of the European part of Russia Poo nemoralis–Quercetum roboris ass. nov. hoc loco, its differentiation from analogous syntaxa is discussed, and new data on the distribution of communities of the alliance Scutellario altissimae–Quercion roboris Goncharenko et al. 2020 on the Russian Plain are done. Vegetation classification was carried out by J. Braun-Blanquet approach based on 470 relevés of forest vegetation, collected by the author in 2007–2021 in the northern and central parts of Rostov, Voronezh and Volgograd Regions. In addition, the analysis included 777 relevés from the phytocenary made by G. M. Zozulin in the same regions in 1960–1980s. Based on the studies carried out, the current area of the alliance can be expanded to the lower reaches of the Don River. For a more adequate reflection of the floristic, ecological and geographical features of its communities, it was proposed to change the composition of the diagnostic species of the alliance and it was recommended to amend the current definition of the order Quercetalia pubescenti-petraeae, expanding its area to Eastern Europe.


2021 ◽  
pp. 302-306
Author(s):  
Nadia Yassine-Diab ◽  
Laura M. Hartwell ◽  
Sébastien Dejean

Computer assisted vocabulary learning, i.e. specialized terminology acquisition, is a major tool to learning Languages for Specific Purposes (LSP) necessary to students’ professionalization. One current area of research is digital game-based language learning because of its motivating qualities. This paper discusses electronics students’ acquisition of specific vocabulary as related to the free game-based collaborative platform Check Your Smile (CYS), which is entirely devoted to learning LSP terminology. CYS aggregates various types of games that automatically generate individualized game plays, drawing upon a collaboratively constructed multilingual dictionary. The study focuses on multiple variables including attending a selective engineering course taught in English and the language used to teach the mandatory electronics class. Empirical data shows that students having used CYS tend to obtain better vocabulary test scores than students who did not.


Author(s):  
Ramya Kundayi Ravi ◽  
Suma Paul ◽  
Neethu Jose

The nursing profession is labor intensive and nurses needs to regulate their emotions for the sake of their patients, their families and health care team member’s needs. The aim of the present study was to determine the level of emotional intelligence among nurses working in a selected tertiary care private hospital. A quantitative cross-sectional survey method, data was collected using a self-reported-questionnaires developed by Schutte from 717 registered nurses working in a tertiary care private hospital. A convnininece sampling technique was used to recruit the study participants. Data was analyzed using SPSS Version 24. The mean age of participants was 31.26±4.86 years; 93.4% (670) were females and 6.6% (47) were males. The total EI score ranged from 46 to 155 with a mean of 127.2311±10.1. Out of all, only 12% of the participants had above average, 3.5% had less than average and the remaining 84% had moderate levels of levels of EI levels. A statistically significant relationship was found between emotional intelligence and type of educational qualification and the total years of professional experience in the current area of work at 0.01 level. The moderate level of EI among majority of the participants revealed in the present study necessitates the need for conscious effort, education and training to improve the EI levels among nurses.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abbas Haghshenas ◽  
Yahya Emam ◽  
Saeid Jafarizadeh

Mean grain weight (MGW) is among the most frequently measured parameters in wheat breeding and physiology. Although in the recent decades, various wheat grain analyses (e.g. counting, and determining the size, color, or shape features) have been facilitated thanks to the automated image processing systems, MGW estimations has been limited to using few number of image-derived indices; i.e. mainly the linear or power models developed based on the projected area (Area). Following a preliminary observation which indicated the potential of grain width in improving the predictions, the present study was conducted to explore potentially more efficient indices for increasing the precision of image-based MGW estimations. For this purpose, an image archive of the grains was processed, which was harvested from a two-year field experiment carried out with 3 replicates under two irrigation conditions and included 15 cultivar mixture treatments (so the archive was consisted of 180 images taken from an overall number of more than 72000 grains). It was observed that among the more than 30 evaluated indices of grain size and shape, indicators of grain width (i.e. Minor & MinFeret) along with 8 other empirical indices had a higher correlation with MGW, compared with Area. The most precise MGW predictions were obtained using the Area*Circularity, Perimeter*Circularity, and Area/Perimeter indices. In general, two main common factors were detected in the structure of the major indices, i.e. either grain width or the Area/Perimeter ratio. Moreover, comparative efficiency of the superior indices almost remained stable across the 4 environmental conditions. Eventually, using the selected indices, ten simple linear models were developed and validated for MGW prediction, which indicated a relatively higher precision than the current Area-based models. The considerable effect of enhancing image resolution on the precision of the models has been also evidenced. It is expected that the findings of the present study improve the precision of the image-based MGW estimations, and consequently facilitate wheat breeding and physiological assessments.


Author(s):  
Nolan J. Brown ◽  
Bayard Wilson ◽  
Brian V. Lien ◽  
Alexander Himstead ◽  
Ali R. Tafreshi ◽  
...  

AbstractThe history of academic research on ependymoma is expansive. This review summarizes its history with a bibliometric analysis of the 100 most cited articles on ependymoma. In March 2020, we queried the Web of Science database to identify the most cited articles on ependymoma using the terms “ependymoma” or “ependymal tumors,” yielding 3145 publications. Results were arranged by the number of times each article was cited in descending order. The top 100 articles spanned across nearly a century; the oldest article was published in 1924, while the most recent was in 2017. These articles were published in 35 unique journals, including a mix of basic science and clinical journals. The three institutions with the most papers in the top 100 were St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (16%), the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (6%), and the German Cancer Research Center (5%). We analyzed the publications that may be considered the most influential in the understanding and treatment management of ependymoma. Studies focused on the molecular classification of ependymomas were well-represented among the most cited articles, reflecting the field’s current area of focus and its future directions. Additionally, this article also offers a reference for further studies in the ependymoma field.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Grace M. Lloyd ◽  
Jess-Karan S. Dhillon ◽  
Kimberly-Marie M. Gorion ◽  
Cara Riffe ◽  
Susan E. Fromholt ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The misfolding of host-encoded proteins into pathological prion conformations is a defining characteristic of many neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Lewy body dementia. A current area of intense study is the way in which the pathological deposition of these proteins might influence each other, as various combinations of co-pathology between prion-capable proteins are associated with exacerbation of disease. A spectrum of pathological, genetic and biochemical evidence provides credence to the notion that amyloid β (Aβ) accumulation can induce and promote α-synuclein pathology, driving neurodegeneration. Methods To assess the interplay between α-synuclein and Aβ on protein aggregation kinetics, we crossed mice expressing human α-synuclein (M20) with APPswe/PS1dE9 transgenic mice (L85) to generate M20/L85 mice. We then injected α-synuclein preformed fibrils (PFFs) unilaterally into the hippocampus of 6-month-old mice, harvesting 2 or 4 months later. Results Immunohistochemical analysis of M20/L85 mice revealed that pre-existing Aβ plaques exacerbate the spread and deposition of induced α-synuclein pathology. This process was associated with increased neuroinflammation. Unexpectedly, the injection of α-synuclein PFFs in L85 mice enhanced the deposition of Aβ; whereas the level of Aβ deposition in M20/L85 bigenic mice, injected with α-synuclein PFFs, did not differ from that of mice injected with PBS. Conclusions These studies reveal novel and unexpected interplays between α-synuclein pathology, Aβ and neuroinflammation in mice that recapitulate the pathology of Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annamaria Di Fabio ◽  
Andrea Svicher

This study discusses the contribution of the psychology of sustainability and sustainable development to the wellbeing of vulnerable workers. The psychology of sustainability and sustainable development is a current area of the research study in the field of sustainability science. It deals with sustainability as a framework to recognize and integrate the value of the psychological approach in the construction of processes linked to sustainable development. Accordingly, the psychology of sustainability and sustainable development could provide sustainable development processes for the employment of vulnerable workers. The contribution starts with the definition of the coordinates of a sustainable development process for vulnerable workers, anchoring it to the principles of decent work and inclusivity. Subsequently, positive variables involved in the sustainable development processes and their relationship with decent work and inclusivity are discussed. Moreover, positive healthy organizations are introduced as work environments capable to take care of the wellbeing, also, of vulnerable workers. Lastly, the applications of positive strength-based primary preventive interventions for vulnerable workers are analyzed. Perspectives for further research studies and interventions are also examined.


Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 943
Author(s):  
Laia Riera-Negre ◽  
Berta Paz-Lourido ◽  
Francisca Negre ◽  
María Rosa Rosselló ◽  
Sebastià Verger

The COVID-19 pandemic caused disruptions in schooling and the closure of schools worldwide, how this has affected children’s and youth’s health and wellbeing is a current area of research. However, those who suffer a chronic or temporary disease may be attending hospital classrooms, and this scenario has received little attention in comparison to regular schools. The objective of this exploratory quantitative study focuses on exploring the quality of life and emotional well-being of students attending hospital classrooms. For this purpose, four Chilean hospital classrooms from different regions of the country were randomly selected. A total number of 248 students participated in the survey, each of whom filled out two online questionnaires. The findings show similar scores in children with mental illness and those with other health conditions. In comparison with one year before, students rate their general health as the same or somewhat better now, as well as manifesting an optimistic view of the future regarding the pandemic.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ángel Delso ◽  
Javier Fajardo ◽  
Jesús Muñoz

AbstractMost existing protected area networks are biased to protect charismatic species or landscapes. We hypothesized that conservation networks designed to include unseen biodiversity—species rich groups that consist of inconspicuous taxa, or groups affected by knowledge gaps—are more efficient than networks that ignore these groups. To test this hypothesis, we generated species distribution models for 3006 arthropod species to determine which were represented in three networks of different sizes and biogeographic origin. We assessed the efficiency of each network using spatial prioritization to measure its completeness, the increment needed to achieve conservation targets, and its specificity, the extent to which proposed priority areas to maximize unseen biodiversity overlap with existing networks. We found that the representativeness of unseen biodiversity in the studied protected areas, or extrinsic representativeness, is low, with ~ 40% of the analyzed unseen biodiversity species being unprotected. We also found that existing networks should be expanded ~ 26% to 46% of their current area to complete targets, and that existing networks do not efficiently conserve the unseen biodiversity given their low specificity (as low as 8.8%) unseen biodiversity. We conclude that information on unseen biodiversity must be included in systematic conservation planning approaches to design more efficient and ecologically representative protected areas.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bungo Nishizawa ◽  
Jean-Baptiste Thiebot ◽  
Fumio Sato ◽  
Naoki Tomita ◽  
Ken Yoda ◽  
...  

AbstractAnthropogenic marine debris is a threat to marine organisms. Understanding how this debris spatially distributes at sea and may become associated with marine wildlife are key steps to tackle this current issue. Using bird-borne GPS- and video-loggers on 13 black-footed albatrosses Phoebastria nigripes breeding in Torishima, Japan, we examined the distribution of large floating debris in the Kuroshio Current area, western North Pacific. A total of 16 floating debris, including styrofoam (n = 4), plastic pieces (n = 3), plastic sheet (n = 1), fishery-related items (rope or netting, n = 4), and unidentified debris (n = 4), were recorded across the 9003 km covered by nine birds. The debris was concentrated in the southern area of the Kuroshio Current, where the surface current was weak, and the albatrosses were foraging. The albatrosses displayed changes in flight direction towards the debris when at a mean distance of 4.9 km, similarly to when approaching prey, and one bird was observed pecking at a plastic sheet; indicating that albatrosses actively interacted with the debris. This paper shows the usefulness of studying wide-ranging marine predators through the use of combined biologging tools, and highlights areas with increased risk of debris exposure and behavioral responses to debris items.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document