Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Digital Game-based Pedagogical Activities in Primary Education: A Review of Ten Years’ Studies

In primary education, digital games give students the opportunity to explore and participate in digital learning environments. Several researchers have found that digital game-based learning in primary education has many benefits. However, studies have also identified certain problems related to the use digital games in learning. This paper presents the findings of a systematic review of empirical studies published between May 2009 and May 2019 focusing on students’ learning outcomes and teachers’ pedagogical activities in digital game-based learning in primary education. The results indicated that support, guidance, and interaction are the most frequently used pedagogical activities during gameplay sessions in primary education and that teachers’ most significant concern with regard to learning outcomes is knowledge acquisition, followed by attitude and motivation, skill outcomes, and behavior change. The findings will be useful for enabling researchers and teachers to integrate effective pedagogical activities into digital game-based learning strategies. Further studies are proposed to explore teachers’ competencies in relation to digital learning environments in primary education.
Solid and Liquid Waste in Manjai-Kotu: A Potential Source of Energy for Agriculture and Households in the Serekunda Area (The Gambia)

Due to rapid population growth and economic activity, disposal of solid and liquid waste has become a major problem in and around Serekunda (Gambia). The solid waste collected in the Kanifing Municipal Council, which is the most densely populated municipality in the Gambia, is dumped openly on the Kotu landfill site. The only technique used to dispose of this waste at the site is open burning. As for the liquid waste collected in households and industries, it is discharged in open air at several sites and in rivers. All of this constitutes a significant environmental and health hazard. They are sources of air, soil and groundwater pollution, and acute respiratory infections (AIRs). Despite this, no recycling technique for this waste, which is concerned with the environment and human well-being, has been developed by the Gambian Government so far. However, this waste can be renewed and used as energy in several areas, including agriculture and households. This study, carried out as part of the research themes of the West African Institute for Research and Development (WARDI), aims to identify technologies that can be used to recycle waste for irrigation, compost, and energy.
High Frequency Ultrasound for High Resolution Skin Imaging

High frequency and broadband ultrasound in the frequency range above 20 MHz is an efficient modality for the non invasive and high resolution imaging of skin structures and skin diseases like skin tumors and inflammatory processes. However, special system designs and signal processing strategies have to be applied to account for the strong and frequency dependent attenuation of high frequency ultrasound in tissue. In this paper the design of an ultrasound imaging system with a minimum spatial resolution of about 9 , utilizing the frequency range from 30 to 150 MHz, is presented. This system enables the high resolution visualization of the uppermost skin layers, which is of great interest in dermatology and cosmetics. To quantify the imaging properties of the system reference measurements were performed by imaging a glass plate and a wire phantom. Furthermore, image processing techniques for the analysis of three dimensional data sets were adapted to investigate the topology of skin structures like skin layers. Results from in vivo measurements on healthy skin and skin tumors are presented. Übersicht Hochfrequenter und breitbandiger Ultraschall im Frequenzbereich oberhalb von 20 MHz stellt eine leistungsfähige Modalität zur nichtinvasiven und hochauflösenden Abbildung von Hautstrukturen und Hauterkrankungen wie Hauttumoren und entzündlichen Prozessen dar. Es müssen jedoch spezielle Systemkonzepte und Signalverarbeitungstechniken angewandt werden, um der starken und frequenzabhängigen Dämpfung des hochfrequenten Ultraschalls im Gewebe Rechnung zu tragen. In dieser Arbeit wird der Entwurf eines Ultraschallabbildungssystems, das den Frequenzbereich von 30 bis 150 MHz nutzt, mit einer kleinsten räumlichen Auflösung von etwa 9 vorgestellt. Dieses System erlaubt die hochauflösende Darstellung der obersten Hautschichten, was von großem Interesse in der Dermatologie und der Kosmetik ist. Zur Quantifizierung der Abbildungseigenschaften des Systems wurden Referenzmessungen durch Abbildung einer Glasplatte und eines Drahtphantoms durchgeführt. Femer wurden Bildverarbeitungstechniken für die Analyse dreidimensionaler Datensätze adaptiert, um die Topologie von Hautstrukturen (Hautschichten, Haarfollikel) zu untersuchen. Es werden Ergebnisse von Messungen in vivo an gesunder Haut und an Hauttumoren vorgestellt. Für die Dokumentation Hochfrequenter Ultraschall / Ultraschallabbildung / Medizin / Dermatologie / Haut / B/D-scan
Validation of spectrally encoded interferometric microscopy (SEIM) in finding ciliary beat frequency of human ex vivo upper airway tissue

Mucociliary clearance facilitated by healthy cilia beating is crucial to normal upper airway function. Phase-contrast microscopy (PCM) is the current golden standard for measuring ciliary beat frequency (CBF) and has limitations. With PCM, one cannot appreciate how CBF varies across the complex landscape of the nasal vault and sinus tissues. With Spectrally encoded interferometric microscopy (SEIM), en face imaging of cilia can be achieved, providing insight into the changes in CBF across tissue surfaces. This study aims to validate the use of SEIM to quantify ciliary beat frequency across ex vivo upper airway tissue.
The Distribution and Polymerization Mechanism of Polyfurfuryl Alcohol (PFA) with Lignin in Furfurylated Wood

There is increasing interest in furfurylated wood, but the polymerization mechanism between its internal polyfurfuryl alcohol (PFA) and lignin is still uncertain. This paper investigated the distribution of PFA and the feasibility of the polymerization of PFA with lignin in furfurylated balsa wood. The wood first immersed in the furfuryl alcohol (FA) solution followed by in situ polymerization and the distribution of PFA was characterized by Raman, fluorescence microscopy, SEM, and CLSM. Then, the mill wood lignin (MWL) of balsa wood and lignin model molecules were catalytically polymerized with PFA, respectively, studying the mechanism of interaction between PFA and lignin. It was concluded that PFA was mainly deposited in cell corner with high lignin concentration, and additionally partly deposited in wood cell cavity due to high concentration of FA and partial delignification. TGA, FTIR, and NMR analysis showed that the cross-linked network structure generated by the substitution of MWL aromatic ring free position by PFA hydroxymethyl enhanced the thermal stability. New chemical shifts were established between PFA and C5/C6 of lignin model A and C2/C6 of model B, respectively. The above results illustrated that lignin-CH2-PFA linkage was created between PFA and lignin in the wood cell wall.
Potential of keratinolytic fungi isolated from chicken and goat farms soil, North Sumatra

Efforts have been made to develop fungal isolates with the ability to degrade chicken feather waste. The goal of this study was to find and test the ability of keratinolytic fungi isolated from the soil around chicken and goat farms to degrade chicken feather waste. The keratinolytic fungi were preliminarily screened for their proteolytic activity on skim milk agar medium. The study obtained forty six isolates that were characterized based on the fungal colonies color or fungal morphotypes. Eight fungal isolates (A2, A7, A12, A18, A29, A31, K1, and K2) displayed considerable proteolytic activities and total degradation of chicken feather in the fermentation medium or feather meal broth in 10 days. Based on the molecular analysis, the species identity of potential isolates namely K2, and A18 were assigned as Yunnania carbonaria and Penicillium citrinum.
Formalizing Creativity: Academic Writing in Early College Years

The transition from high school to college can easily be deemed to be one of the biggest changes in a student’s life. However, due to its dramatic nature, one may fail to fully consider the intricacies of this change. In college, the criteria for evaluating students’ academic standing shifts from simple examinations to a blend of assignments and exams. Multiple assignments need the students to write authentic pieces of academic writing. This perspective article aims at providing a conceptual description, and analysis, of academic writing during early college years. We evaluate the structure and components of various stages in academic writing. The outcomes of the paper provide a thorough analysis of dichotomies that exist in students’ experiences using two models of literacy: The Autonomous Model, and The Ideological Model. To further reemphasize how crucial early college years are, a contrast has been made between what academic writing is and should be in high school; and what academic writing is in college. This contrast is exemplified using the Central Board of Secondary Education, which is India’s primary board for education. This article also explores the academic and cognitive dimensions of academic writing. Taking the current status quo and the recent transformation of the academic world into consideration, the outcome also highlights the challenges and limitations posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and provides recommendations to tackle the same. The article also introduces and appraises the idea of students in today’s world, who majorly identify as “digital natives. ” It subsequently analyses how this identity impacts their academic life in a pandemic-struck online system of education. A brief yet elaborate account of the Indian context, and its structural realities were the key focus while making inferences. Finally, the article presents limitations and challenges faced by students in three ways, reiterating the contrast between high school and college in terms of academic instruction, briefly analyzing the social environment in college along with its possible implications, and commenting upon the ambiguity in academic expectations.
Nutraceutical qualities of Cucurbita, Vernonia amygdalina Del and Ocimum
gratissimum leaves vis-à-vis- vitamins A and C: a source of health benefits

The inadequate information on the nutritional values associated with the consumption of vegetables by the people in our communities demands from the researchers to evaluate the benefits and recommend the highly nutritious vegetables to the host communities. The study was aimed at quantifying the vitamins A and C contents of the three selected indigenous vegetables widely consumed in Akure, Nigeria. Three vegetables were obtained from a local market in Akure, the leaves were processed into powdered form by drying and blending using laboratory scale grinder (Sumeet CM/L 2128945) and sifted through 300 μm sieve. Vitamin C and A were determined according to the recommended procedure. The vitamin A contents were in the range (8.03±0.10 to 21.55±0.04 mg/100 g) with the composite being the highest. The vitamin C contents were recorded in the descending order of composite (10 g of mixture of powdered leaves), Cucurbita, Vernonia amygdalina Del and Ocimum gratissimum. It was interesting to uncover that the composite formulation was highly rich in vitamins A and C and this mixture of vegetables for consumption should be encouraged.
Automatic Assessment of Individual Stem Shape Parameters in Forest Stands from TLS Point Clouds: Application in Pinus pinaster

Tree morphological characteristics, particularly straightness and lean, significantly influence the value of the commercial products that can be obtained. Despite this, they are not usually evaluated in timber field inventories because traditional techniques are labor-intensive and largely subjective, hence the use of these parameters is limited to research and genetic breeding programs. Here, a non-destructive, fully automated methodology is presented that estimates the parameters for describing straightness and lean using terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) data. It is based on splitting stems into evenly spaced sections and estimating their centers, which are then used to automatically calculate the maximum sagitta, sinuosity, and lean of each tree. The methodology was applied in a breeding trial plot of Pinus pinaster, and the results obtained were compared with field measurements of straightness and lean based on visual classification. The methodology is robust to errors in the estimation of section centers, the basis for calculating shape parameters. Besides, its accuracy compares favorably with traditional field techniques, which often involve problems of misclassification. The new methodology is easy to use, less expensive, and overcomes the drawbacks of traditional field techniques for obtaining straightness and lean measurements. It can be modified to apply to any species and stand typology.
Physico-chemical, in-vitro cytotoxicity and antimicrobial evaluation of L-valine functionalised CuO NPs on polyvinyl alcohol and blended carboxymethyl cellulose films

ABSTRACT The novel L-valine functionalised polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/CuO NPs and PVA/carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)/Copper oxide nanocomposite (NCs) films were prepared by the solvent casting method. The required CuO NPs for NC films are prepared by the novel biogenic method using Euphorbia heterophylla plant leaves extract. Various spectroscopic techniques were employed for the characterisation of biogenic prepared CuO NPs and polymeric NC films prepared, namely X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and UV–visible spectroscopy. In-vitro cytotoxicity of the prepared NC films showed cell viability (%) >80% against human embryonic kidney cell lines (for films F3 & F4). In addition, the prepared NC films (F3 & F4) exhibited potent anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activity towards E. coli, S. aureus, C. tropicalis, and C. albicans. Furthermore, the prepared NCs films showed promising results in water contact angle (66.1%), water vapour permeability (28.09%), moisture retention capacity (94%), soil biodegradable test (42%), optical transparency (58.63%) and thermal properties. The obtained results suggested us the prepared PVA/CMC/CuO NPs films can be implemented in biomedical, environmental protection, and food packaging purposes. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Study of efficiency of berry extracts in the technology of semi-smoked sausages

The work is devoted to the study of the effectiveness of the use of berry extracts (Aronia melanocarpa Elliot and Ribes nigrum L.) in the technology of semi-smoked sausages. The aim of the study was to study the effectiveness of the use of berry extracts (Aronia melanocarpa Elliot and Ribes nigrum L.) in the technology of semi-smoked sausages. The raw minced semi-smoked sausages were supplemented with the above-mentioned extracts in concentrations of 0.2–0.5 % of the weight of raw materials in order to slow down the oxidative processes in the lipid fraction of the product. Studies of the antioxidant efficiency of berry extracts and the effect on microbiological stability were performed during the shelf life of the finished product. It has been found, that the introduction of the chokeberry extract in a concentration of 0.2 to 0.5 % of the weight of minced meat significantly inhibits the hydrolytic oxidation of lipids in the finished product, resulting in reduced intensity of lipid peroxidation. It has been confirmed, that the stabilization of lipid peroxidation in semi-smoked sausages leads to inhibition of the formation of primary oxidation products. At the end of the shelf life of the PV (peroxide value) of the test samples was at least 0.017 mg/KOH (potassium hydroxide), which was 63.04 % less than in the control. The study of the content of secondary oxidation products allowed to estimate the depth of oxidation processes, occurring in the samples of semi-smoked sausages when stored for 25 days at a temperature of 0–6 °C. It has been proved, that the amount of secondary oxidation products, reacting with thiobarbituric acid, was the lowest at the end of the shelf life of the finished product with a concentration of the chokeberry extract of 0.5 %. TBV (thiobarbituric value) of this sample was 0.197±0.001 mg MA/kg, which was 3.74 times lower than in the control. The introduction of extracts can reduce microbiological contamination and achieve a bacteriostatic effect. The lowest total contamination was recorded in a sample with a concentration of the chokeberry extract of 0.5 %. The tendency to decrease MAFAnM (number of mesophilic aerobic and facultative anaerobic microorganisms) was noted in all experimental samples. And in direct proportion to the concentration of extracts. Comparative evaluation of the effectiveness of the preparations showed that the extract of chokeberry in a concentration of 0.5 % more effectively inhibits oxidative processes than the extract of black currant
Proximate, Microbial and Sensory Properties of Moi-Moi Produced with Crayfish and Grasshopper

The research assessed the proximate, microbial and sensory properties of moi-moi produced with crayfish and grasshopper (Zonocerus variegatus). Cowpea seed, crayfish and grasshoppers were processed into flours using standard procedures. Cowpea-crayfish flour and cowpea-grasshopper flour were formulated with the ratios: 90:10, 85:15, 80:20 and 75:25 respectively. Proximate properties showed the range of values for Protein: 5.50-12.80, Fat: 5.27-8.07%, Carbohydrate: 28.30-38.87%, Moisture: 40.00-52.67%, Ash: 1.32-4.27% and Fiber: 1.63 -8.50%. Microbial analysis indicated bacteria count range of 4.1 × 105 - 8.5 × 105 CFU/g; fungal 2.1 × 105 - 4.2× 105 CFU/g and coliform 1.6 × 105 -3.8 × 105 CFU/g. Sensory attributes of the moi-moi samples were evaluated and the result ranged from 6.27-7.60 for colour, 6.33-7.13 for texture, 5.60-7.73, 6.13-7.00 for flavour and 6.20-7.60 for overall acceptability. The study established that moi-moi produced with crayfish and grasshopper contains high amount of nutritive value when compared with moi-moi produced only with cowpea flour. The result of the sensory evaluation showed no significant difference (p>0.05) between the samples indicating that moi-moi produced with grasshopper is acceptable.
Beta-blocker therapy in refractory ascites: A steady march towards the truth

Non‐selective beta‐blockers (NSBB) are a mainstay for primary and secondary prophylaxes of variceal bleeding in patients with decompensated cirrhosis. Multiple international guidelines recommend their use in select patients at high risk for variceal hemorrhage. [1,2] However, the use of NSBBs in some cirrhotic patients has not been without controversy, specifically in those with refractory ascites. In the last decade, several studies have demonstrated increased mortality,[3] increased risk of the hepatorenal syndrome after an episode of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP),[4] no difference in mortality,[5] and in contrast, a survival benefit. [6] This heterogeneity of results is likely the consequence of subgroup variations and varying practice patterns highlighted by retrospective data. When closely examined it appears that when lower doses of NSBBs are used and mean arterial pressure (MAP) is largely unaffected, there is at least no significant effect, and perhaps a benefit, on overall survival in patients with refractory ascites. [5‐7] Therefore, both the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) and the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) recommend caution in the use of NSBBs in refractory ascites, but they do not outright recommend against their use. [1,2]
Nonribosomal Peptide Synthesis Definitely Working Out of the Rules

Nonribosomal peptides are microbial secondary metabolites exhibiting a tremendous structural diversity and a broad range of biological activities useful in the medical and agro-ecological fields. They are built up by huge multimodular enzymes called nonribosomal peptide synthetases. These synthetases are organized in modules constituted of adenylation, thiolation, and condensation core domains. As such, each module governs, according to the collinearity rule, the incorporation of a monomer within the growing peptide. The release of the peptide from the assembly chain is finally performed by a terminal core thioesterase domain. Secondary domains with modifying catalytic activities such as epimerization or methylation are sometimes included in the assembly lines as supplementary domains. This assembly line structure is analyzed by bioinformatics tools to predict the sequence and structure of the final peptides according to the sequence of the corresponding synthetases. However, a constantly expanding literature unravels new examples of nonribosomal synthetases exhibiting very rare domains and noncanonical organizations of domains and modules, leading to several amazing strategies developed by microorganisms to synthesize nonribosomal peptides. In this review, through several examples, we aim at highlighting these noncanonical pathways in order for the readers to perceive their complexity.
Keratinocyte cancer incidence in Australia: a review of population-based incidence trends and estimates of lifetime risk.

OBJECTIVES To review the most recent population-based estimates of keratinocyte cancer incidence in Australia, to describe the trends over time and to calculate lifetime risk of developing these skin cancers. METHODS We conducted a literature search of PubMed/MEDLINE from 2001 to August 2021 to identify relevant literature. We defined eligible articles as those reporting population-based studies of adults and excluded studies that reported only on high-risk or paediatric populations, or on incidence of precursor or related lesions. We summarised identified studies qualitatively. We calculated lifetime risk of developing keratinocyte cancer using the methods of Cancer Research UK, adjusting for multiple primaries and the competing risk of death. RESULTS We identified six eligible studies. In the absence of compulsory notifications of keratinocyte cancer to state and territory cancer registries in Australia, all estimates of national incidence rates of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) have limitations. The most recent population-based estimates of people annually affected for the period 2011-2014 (BCC: 770/100 000 person years; SCC: 271/100 000 person years) represent the lower end of the possible range of incidence rates nationally. Because many people are affected by multiple lesions, the lesion-based incidence estimates are more than double the person-based rates (BCC: 1565/100 000 person years; SCC: 580/100 000 person years). Analyses of temporal trends in treatment rates (excisions, cryotherapy/curettage) show increases over time, most marked for people aged 55 years or older. We estimate that 69% of Australians will have at least one excision for histologically confirmed keratinocyte cancer in their lifetime (60% to age 79 years). CONCLUSION The available evidence on national incidence rates is out of date and of moderate quality, but indicates very high rates of keratinocyte cancer in Australia. We recommend that population-based cancer registries work towards statutory notification and routine reporting of keratinocyte cancer in Australia.