bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gamification Design Patterns for User Engagement
Authors: Triantafyllou Serafeim A. , Georgiadis Christos K. GEORGIADIS
Published: December 2022

The rapid development of technology in today’s times make business’ survival a rather complex task. It is therefore necessary for the specialized organization and administration of each company to differentiate and strengthen its competitive advantages. Gamification is an established practice in many business domains and can enforce employees to engage in business processes and change aspects of their behavior. Even though numerous gamification patterns that are described in literature have been used so far by businesses to various working environments, the outcomes were not the best possible that we would expect in terms of their right utilization to business non-game contexts. Thus, there is need for concise gamification patterns that can offer right guidance to game designers in business. Gamification design patterns can provide a distilled knowledge of techniques of how to design object-oriented software. This paper aims to address this gap in existing literature by describing new gamification design patterns, classifying them according to specific criteria and providing new information to this research domain. Our study is a descriptive literature review and is based on review of previous works. This descriptive literature review tries to give a better understanding by proposing new gamification design patterns in the continuously evolving research domain of gamification design patterns.
A Valid and Reliable Scale for Education 4.0 Competency Determination (E4CD)
Authors: Turan-Güntepe Ebru , Abdüsselam Mustafa Serkan
Published: December 2022

The purpose of this study is to develop a valid and reliable “Education 4.0 Competency Determination” scale. The study was conducted in two sessions: In the first session, exploratory factor analysis was applied to 308 students, and then a confirmatory factor analysis was applied to another group and conducted with 172 students. As a result, a scale consisting of 21 items and three- factors was obtained. The internal consistency coefficient of the first factor, which is mastery of digital technology, was α = .925 using the Cronbach’s Alpha formula and .921 using the Guttman’s Split-half method; the internal consistency coefficient of the second factor, which is information management, was α = .880 and .884 according to Guttman’s Split-half method while the internal consistency coefficient of the third factor, which is active participation in the process, was α = .802 according to the Cronbach’s Alpha formula and .783 according to the Guttman’s Split-half method.
Development Study of Binding Agent in Diffusive Gradient In Thin Films (DGT) Technique for Absorption of Phosphate Compounds using Nano-La2O3
Authors: Shafira Hanna , Yunarti Rika Tri , Saefumillah Asep
Published: December 2022

The abundance of phosphate is a concern because it causes problems in aquatic ecosystems. The diffusive gradient in thin films (DGT) technique is a promising method for phosphate absorption because it can be used in situ. The DGT device consists of a membrane filter, a diffusive gel, and a binding gel. The presence of a binding agent in the binding gel makes the specific analyte bound to the binding gel. One of the binding agents that can be used for phosphate absorption is La2O3. Binding gel La2O3 was successfully synthesized that proven by the similarity of FTIR peaks of the diffusive gel and binding gel. The typical absorption of La-O also proves it from the binding gel at 642 cm-1 and 423 cm-1. La2O3 binding gel was made of N,-N'-methylenebisacrylamide as a cross-linker with an elution factor of 97.4%. DGT-La2O3 proved capable of adsorption for 72 hours, with phosphate absorbed at 1.91 x 105 ng. DGT-La2O3 also has the optimum ability to absorb phosphate at pH 3 of 1.93 x 105 ng.
Preparticipation State Cardiac Screening Forms for Athletes
Authors: Blank Zane J. , Spicer Robert L. , Robinson Jeffrey A.
Published: December 2022

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Annual preparticipation physical evaluation (PPE) is used in the United States to screen adolescents for potential causes of sudden cardiac death. The American Heart Association recommends 14 screening elements of history and physical examination. This study sought to define the utilization of these screening elements by each of the 50 states before high school athletics.

METHODS

PPE forms were obtained from the public website of the high school athletics governing body in every state. Form content was analyzed to identify which of the 14 screening elements were explicitly fulfilled. Additional PPE forms provided by private/parochial schools, other professional societies, or independent groups were excluded from this study.

RESULTS

A total of 48 states (96%) had PPE forms posted online. The remaining 2 states (4%) deferred the specific method of PPE documentation to individual school districts and provided no standardized form. Of the 48 states providing PPE forms, 13 (27%) included all 14 American Heart Association screening elements. The median criteria included by each state was 11 (range 3–14). The 3 criteria most commonly absent were (1) the examination of femoral pulses to exclude coarctation (58%), (2) a family history of specific inherited cardiac disease (31%), and (3) personal history of hypertension (27%).

CONCLUSIONS

Annual preparticipation forms are important screening tools. Only a minority of states include all 14 cardiac screening elements recommended by the American Heart Association.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza in Bulgaria - a review
Authors: Stoimenov G. M.
Published: December 2022

The aim of this review was to summarise the information about the cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Bulgaria during the last two decades. According to the EMPRES-I FAO data, from January 2006 to the end of 2019, 141 HPAI outbreaks have been registered in Bulgaria, with two identified virus serotypes (H5N1 and H5N8). The H5N1 outbreaks were reported in 2006, 2010 and 2015. Almost all H5N1 cases were observed in wild birds, with only one outbreak in domestic chickens in a backyard farm in 2015. From 2016 to the end of 2019, 132 outbreaks of HPAI identified as H5N8 were recorded: sixteen in wild birds and the other 116 - in domestic poultry. Large farms with fattening ducks used for foie gras production in four administrative districts (Plovdiv, Haskovo, Stara Zagora, Dobrich) were mainly affected.
Results of the analysis of epidemiological study of medical data on the effectiveness of Nasirus Sinus syrup in the complex therapy of acute viral and postviral rhinosinusitis in children
Authors:   Bogomolets National Medical University, Kyiv, Ukraine, Shevchuk Yu.V. , Dieieva Yu.V. ,   Bogomolets National Medical University, Kyiv, Ukraine, Dikhtiaruk O.V. ,   Bogomolets National Medical University, Kyiv, Ukraine,, Bondarenko Ya.V. ,   Bogomolets National Medical University, Kyiv, Ukraine
Published: December 2022

In pediatric practice, the prevalence of rhinosinusitis (RS) depends on age: so, in the age category of 6-7 years old, acute RS at least 1 time per year old affects 8.5% of children, and at the age of 13-14 years old - 14.6%. Acute RS is one of the most common reasons for prescribing antibiotics, so correct treatment is extremely important, given the global crisis of antibiotic resistance. The tactics of treatment of acute RS depends on the form, nature of the inflammatory process and the presence of complications. Purpose - to study the effectiveness of the plant-based dietary supplement Nasirus Sinus syrup in the complex therapy of children 3-11 years old with acute viral and postviral RS. Materials and methods. Were analyzed medical data of 1176 children 3-11 years old who received outpatient therapy with a clinical diagnosis of “Acute viral RS” and “Acute postviral RS” (ICD-10: J01.9). The difference between these patients was only the duration of the disease. Results. It has been established that the use of a plant-based dietary supplement Nasirus Sinus syrup in the complex therapy of children 3-11 years with acute RS helps to reduce subjective (nasal congestion, difficulty in nasal breathing, cough, snoring) and objective (mucous membrane hyperemia, postnasal drainage, rhinorrhea, wheezing, goopiness) manifestations of acute RS in a shorter time compared to the control group. The assessment of the severity of acute viral and postviral RS by Major Sinusitis Severity in absolute numbers in the main group was significantly different from the control group. Conclusions. When using the complex therapy of acute viral and postviral RS in children 3-11 years with the inclusion of a plant-based dietary supplement Nasirus Sinus syrup, the results indicate a decrease in the manifestation of symptoms already on the 3rd day of therapy, reliably demonstrates positive dynamics on the 5th and 7th days. Nasirus Sinus syrup should be recommended for use in children in the complex therapy of RS. The research was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration. The study protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of all participating institutions. The informed consent of the patient was obtained for conducting the studies. No conflict of interests was declared by the authors.
Antimicrobial peptides (HNPs 1-3 and LL-37) as biomarkers of inflammatory process activity in children with H. pylori-associated duodenal ulcer
Authors:   Bukovynian State Medical University, Chernivtsi, Ukraine, Sorokman T.V. , Moldovan P.M. ,   Bukovynian State Medical University, Chernivtsi, Ukraine
Published: December 2022

Various gastrointestinal and extragastrointestinal diseases are associated with H. pylori in children and adolescents, but the strongest recommendations for testing and treatment are made only in children and adolescents with duodenal ulcer (DU). The inability of natural immune mechanisms to recognize and eliminate H. pylori leads to the development of acute inflammation. The most promising developments so far are studies of the antibacterial effect of endogenous antimicrobial peptides (AP), among which defensines 1-3 (human neutrophil peptides, HNPs 1-3) and cathelicidins (LL-37) are the most important for the human body. Purpose - to investigate the concentration of HNPs 1-3 and LL-37 in the blood of children with DU in order to determine the activity of the inflammatory process of the mucous membrane. Materials and methods. 65 children aged 7-18 years, suffering from DU and 25 healthy children of the corresponding age (comparison group) were examined. The level of HNPs 1-3 and LL-37 was determined in blood plasma by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay according to the manufacturers instructions. Results. Patients were divided by age, sex, location and size of the ulcer, presence of the H. pylori bacterium. A toxigenic strain of H. pylori was detected in 80.9% of examined children, and the level of HNPs 1-3 in blood plasma was 3 times higher and the level of LL-37 was 2.5 times higher in children with H. pylori-associated DU than in healthy children (p=0.01). Concentrations of HNPs 1-3 and LL-37 in blood plasma were higher in patients with an active inflammatory process in the mucous membrane and were positively correlated with the degree of inflammation activity (r=0.67, p=0.05 and r=0.69, p=0.01). After eradication therapy, AP levels decrease, while the degree of decrease directly depends on the activity of the inflammatory process. Conclusions. Probably higher concentrations of HNPs 1-3 and LL-37 were found in the blood plasma of children with H. pylori-associated DU. Considering the direct correlations between the levels of HNPs 1-3 and LL-37 and the degree of activity of the inflammatory process, these indicators can be used as biomarkers of the adverse course of H. pylori-associated DU. The research was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration. The study protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of all participating institutions. The informed consent of the patient was obtained for conducting the studies. No conflict of interests was declared by the authors.
Hereditary microspherocytosis in children: diagnostic algorithm of typical and atypical course
Authors:   I. Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University, Ukraine, Banadyha N.V. ,   Ternopil City Children’s Hospital, Ukraine
Published: December 2022

Anemic syndrome in a child in the practice of a primary care doctor is a frequent problem that requires a balanced differential diagnosis. Features of the course and difficulties in the diagnosis of hemolytic anemia require attention to key points. Hemolytic anemia is characterized by a reduction in the life span of erythrocytes, which is clinically manifested by jaundice due to indirect hyperbilirubinemia, splenomegaly, and skeletal deformities during a long course. Considering the seriousness of the prognosis for hemolytic anemia, it was considered appropriate to demonstrate specific practical nuances of managing such patients in specific clinical cases. Clinical cases clearly demonstrate the need for careful collection of family anamnesis and additional examination of brothers/sisters, parents when hereditary microspherocytosis is suspected. Diagnostic criteria of hereditary hemolytic anemia are: jaundice (due to indirect hyperbilirubinemia), splenomegaly, anemia, reticulocytosis, similar cases in the family. It is presented a case when hemolytic crises in a child were accompanied by a transient increase in liver transaminases, in the absence of changes in ultrasound examination and negative markers of viral hepatitis. Conclusions. An anemic syndrome established in a child in combination with reticulocytosis requires a targeted examination for hemolytic genesis of anemia. At the same time, it should be remembered that in the case of an atypical course of hereditary microspherocytosis, the patient needs a comprehensive examination and dynamic monitoring of the course of hemolytic anemia in order to prevent serious complications. The research was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration. The informed consent of the patient was obtained for conducting the studies. No conflict of interests was declared by the author.
Spolia and Umayyad Mosques
Authors: González Gutiérrez Carmen
Published: December 2022

The use of Roman and Late-antique spolia in the erection of Umayyad infrastructures is extensively documented, from Bilad al-Sham to al-Andalus. Particularly in the latter, spolia were key in the construction of mosques, of which the Friday Mosque of Córdoba is the most paradigmatic example. The reuse of decorative and architectural materials in these religious spaces has been broadly discussed, and it has been often concluded that there were aesthetic, religious and ideological reasons, as well as strong political needs of legitimation and representation of the Umayyad dynasty. In this context, the case of the mosque of Madinat al-Zahra' is quite striking. Here, while spolia seem to have been absent, the capitals designed for its prayer room stand out for their particular characteristics, often described as resembling Visigothic models and as a product of rush. This paper aims to bring together the information available about the use of spolia in Umayyad mosques and its possible explanations, as well as to bring forward the particularities of the series of capitals designed for the mosque of Madinat al-Zahra', suggesting new ideas for their interpretation.
Islamic Lives of Iberian Megaliths
Authors: Lillios Katina T
Published: December 2022

Modernist archaeology involves the dating and ordering of events, construction phases, objects, people, or processes in well-bounded and discrete sequences. The notion that objects or monuments date to one time or one cultural phase, however, is problematic, particularly in the case of large stone monuments, such as megaliths, whose construction and use are generally dated to the Neolithic, between 6000 and 2500 BCE. This paper examines the methodological challenges of such work and surveys what the archaeological record reveals about the nature of Andalusi engagements with megaliths.
Initial and severe cases of influenza in 2020-2022 and population immunity prior to epidemic season
Authors: Kolosova N. P. , Ilyicheva T. N. , Svyatchenko S. V. , Danilenko A. V. , Onkhonova G. S. , Ivanova K. I. , Susloparov I. M. , Ryzhikov A. B.
Published: December 2022

The purpose of the present work was to evaluate population immunity to influenza and molecular genetic analysis of influenza viruses detected in the Russian Federation over 2020-2022. In this study, 1344 samples of blood serum collected prior to the 2021-2022 flu season in Siberian, Southern, Far Eastern, Volga and Ural Federal Districts were studied. Seropositivity to the A/Victoria/2570/2019 vaccine strain (H1N1) pdm09 was detected in 25% to 31% of samples from the four federal districts, and in 8% of samples from the Far Eastern Federal District. Seropositivity to the A/Cambodia/e0826360/2020 strain (H3N2) was detected in 24% to 37% of the samples. The lowest population immunity was revealed to the influenza B/Washington/02/2019 vaccine strain (Victoria lineage), with < 10% of serum samples reactive to the studied strain. Since March 2020, the worldwide turnover of all seasonal respiratory viruses has sharply decreased, except of rhinoviruses. From March 2020 to June 2021, we have identified six B/Victoria influenza viruses from sporadic cases of influenza. From June 2021 to the end February 2022, the State Research Center “Vector” received 901 samples positive for influenza A(H3N2) virus RNA, two specimens positive for A(H1N1) pdm09 virus RNA, and 17 samples positive for influenza B. All studied A(H3N2) viruses belonged to the 3C.2a1b.2a2 subclade (Bangladesh group). The two verified A(H1N1) pdm09 influenza viruses belonged to the 6B.1A.5a clade. All studied influenza B viruses were assigned to the B/Victoria genetic lineage, and to 1A.3a2 subclade. The genomes of all identified viruses did not contain mutations of the NA gene responsible for drug resistance to neuraminidase inhibitors, or mutations in РA gene responsible for baloxavir resistance. All viruses tested by fluorescence assay were sensitive to oseltamivir and zanamivir. The worldwide frequency of influenza isolates resistant to antineuraminidase drugs does not exceed 1-2% of cases. Hence, oseltamivir and zanamivir provide effective treatment for seasonal influenza.
A geopolítica platina da Argentina na Segunda Guerra Mundial
Authors: Doratioto Francisco Fernando Monteoliva
Published: December 2022

RESUMO Este artigo analisa a política da Argentina quanto a Segunda Guerra Mundial e sua repercussão na geopolítica argentina em relação ao Rio da Prata. O argumento central do artigo é o de que a neutralidade argentina nesse conflito significava a recusa de Buenos Aires em aceitar a iniciativa do Presidente Roosevelt de um panamericanismo voltado para a defesa do hemisfério americano, de contenção do nazifascismo, sob liderança dos Estados Unidos. À política hemisférica de Roosevelt, a Argentina contrapôs o projeto de uma integração econômica do Rio da Prata, bloco do qual também participariam o Brasil e o Chile. Esse bloco seria instrumento de contenção dos Estados Unidos na América do Sul e, ainda, constituiria mercado consumidor para produtos argentinos.
“Circular a substância espirituosa que vivifica e faz obrar o corpo político”: o sistema de comunicação de Gonçalo Lourenço Botelho de Castro no Piauí (1770-1777)
Authors: Salvino Romulo Valle
Published: December 2022

Resumo Em 1770, o governador do Piauí uniu a capital a todas as vilas da capitania por meio de um serviço de correios. O caso é peculiar, entre outros motivos, por causa do ensaio de uma teoria da comunicação política nos documentos então emitidos e pela minúcia com que todos os elementos do fluxo de comunicação foram normatizados. Com base em documentos do Arquivo Histórico Ultramarino, o presente artigo procura mapear o episódio à luz do processo de povoamento da capitania e da história do desenvolvimento dos sistemas de comunicação escrita na América portuguesa.
Além do Tempo: Transfigurações Conceituais da Resistência Alemã ao Nazismo
Authors: Liebel Vinícius
Published: December 2022

RESUMO No presente artigo são feitas reflexões sobre a resistência alemã contra o nacional-socialismo, suas possibilidades e ações. A base historiográfica e o debate conceitual estão centrados particularmente na historiografia alemã (em especial da Alemanha Ocidental e reunificada) sobre os processos e sobre as formas de resistência contra o regime hitlerista que podem ser observadas naquele período. Para além do caráter histórico das resistências, apresenta-se algumas das principais controvérsias e problemáticas específicas do tema que estão também, inerentemente, ligadas a uma certa memória do período que se constrói, particularmente, a partir de 1967.
Visões sobre a nobreza no Brasil Oitocentista: discursos políticos e historiográficos
Authors: Martins Amanda
Published: December 2022

Resumo Este artigo analisa o conceito de nobreza na cultura luso-brasileira desde o século XVII até o XIX. A abordagem prioriza a continuidade em detrimento da ideia moderna de transição. A opção por um amplo recorte temporal visa explorar contextos históricos em que distintas linguagens políticas sobre a “nobreza” foram pertinentes. A tese central é que, apesar das semânticas liberal e democráticas disponíveis no Brasil oitocentista, o conceito de nobreza típico do corporativismo ibérico continua a disputar o contexto linguístico da época. Essa investigação se baseia na história do discurso político e usa como fontes jornais, correspondências e obras historiográficas. Particular atenção é aqui concedida ao pensamento do historiador Francisco Adolfo de Varnhagen, principal defensor da Alta Nobreza hereditária.
Social Competence at School: Effectiveness of a Teaching at Distance Program for Teachers
Authors: Del Prette Zilda Aparecida Pereira , Del Prette Almir
Published: December 2022

Abstract Social skills programs usually take place face-to-face in small groups. Aiming at greater reach and dissemination, this study had the objective of experimentally evaluating the impact of a distance learning program on teachers’ social and social educational skills and on students’ socio-emotional development (social skills and behavior problems). Scores obtained with standardized scales in a sample of 35 teachers (15 from the experimental group and 20 from the control) and 231 students (103 and 128, respectively) were statistically analyzed by comparing groups and moments. The results evidenced the program’s effectiveness on the teachers’ social and social pedagogical competence and on the students’ social emotional development, especially among those most compromised in social skills and behavior problems. The program’s potentially effective characteristics, the innovative character of the Distance Education applied to the field of social skills and teacher education are discussed, as well as its limitations and directions for future research.
MACBETH: A Revolution in Catalytic Reaction Technology
Authors: Stenger Frank , Franke Robert , Gallucci Fausto , Liese David , Fabio Angelini , Cosentino Vittoria
Published: December 2022

Membranes and Catalysts Beyond Economical and Technological Hurdles (MACBETH) is a European funded project that aims to implement a catalytic membrane reactor (CMR) technology at Technology Readiness Level 7 (TRL7) in four industrially relevant use cases. This paper gives the background, status quo and future perspective of that innovative technology that could transform current chemical processes into more sustainable ones.
On limit strength of frozen clay undergoing triaxial tension
Authors: Nishimura Satoshi , Kawasaki Hidetoshi , Sato Issei
Published: December 2022

A new interpretation of failure of frozen clay in tension is presented, through a unique test programme applying ‘triaxial tension’, in which the axial stress was reduced to negative values while zero or positive radial stress was maintained. The limit strength is determined by a meeting point of two competing mechanisms – strain hardening in shear, and progressively degrading tensile strength as the shear deformation disturbs the soil structure. In some conditions, the limit strength observed in tension is actually given by the shear resistance limit, not by a true tensile strength. This interpretation is successful in explaining apparently unclear confining stress dependency of the observed failure envelopes at low stresses. The influence of the pre-freezing effective stress, post-freezing total stress and pre-freezing pore-water pressure on the strength was also investigated. The tensile strength degradation was formulated by using the specific work input to estimate the operational tensile strength and the strain at which a tensile rupture occurs. Cooling after shear deformation apparently healed the damage and recovered the initial tensile strength, allowing the stress–strain curve to significantly overshoot the proposed tensile strength line. To explain the combined influence of shear and temperature history on the tensile strength–work relationships will require further study.
Investigation of Pharmaceuticals in Sakarya Sewage Wastewater
Authors: KIRIL MERT Berna , YILMAZ Cemil , ÖZENGİN Nihan
Published: December 2022

Active substances of drugs can cause various adverse effects by accumulating in the ecosystem. Many medications are resistant to biodegradation, given the recipient media in conventional wastewater treatment plants, and are thus released into the environment after only partial purification or no purification at all. The study focuses on 13 different pharmaceutical compounds belonging to drug classes of anti-depressants, antiepileptic’s, anti-inflammatories, beta-blockers, lidocaine, and stimulants. These compounds were selected with reference to the literature as the ones most commonly encountered in domestic wastewater, surface, and groundwater. The presence of these compounds in the wastewater samples from Sakarya sewage and wastewater treatment plant was investigated. For this purpose, composite samples were taken at various sampling points, and duly analyzed. The analysis revealed the presence of the pharmaceutical residues in the sewage waters from Sakarya Municipality. Some of them were still present in the effluent of the treatment plant. On the other hand, fluoxetine, propranolol, and metoprolol drug active ingredients were not detected at any sampling point. Among all the compounds examined, the highest percentage of residues were observed in the case of active caffeine and paracetamol. In the light of these findings, advanced treatment units such as high-pressure membrane systems (including ozonizing, ultrafiltration, and reverse osmosis) can help adsorption rates at the treatment plant, increasing removal efficiency regarding drug compounds.
Structural Strength Properties of Waste Textile Fiber Reinforced Cementitious Lightweight Composite Mortars
Authors: KALKAN Şevket Onur , GÜNDÜZ Lütfullah
Published: December 2022

This study aims to investigate the utilization of recycled textile waste fiber (RTWF) as fiber reinforcement in cementitious lightweight composite mortars. The effect of RTWF percentage on cementitious lightweight composite mortar (CLCM) consistency, plastic and dry set density, splitting tensile and compressive strength was measured. In particular, the effect of RTWF percentage on the structural mechanical properties of hardened mortar was examined in detail. Mohr-Coulomb Failure Criterion was used to examine the structural strength properties of composite mortars. Failure angle, internal friction angle, normal and shear strength and cohesion of RTWF reinforced composite mortars were investigated. Three different types of fibers were used including cotton-polyester mixture (Type 1), only polyester (Type 2) and cotton-polyester-acrylic mixture (Type 3). Different percentages of fibers, i.e. 1%, 2%, 3%, 5% and 7%, were added to CLCM. Test results showed reduction in dry set densities compared with the control specimen. It has been determined that the use of 1 % fiber improves the mechanical properties of light mortars. On the other hand, decreasing trend was observed in compressive and splitting tensile strength of mortars with higher amount of fiber usage. When structural strength properties were considered, same trend was kept. However, this research work has unique value from an innovative perspective in terms of evaluation of structural strength parameters.
Traditional Medicinal Plants Used in Dermatologic Disorders in Ardahan, Iğdır and Kars
Authors: KARAKAYA Songül , KIMIŞOĞLU Zehra , YILMAZ Serdar Volkan , AKSAKAL Özkan , SÜMBÜLLÜ Yusuf Ziya , İNCEKARA Ümit , POLAT Ahmet
Published: December 2022

Ethnobotany is briefly defined as a"human-plant relationship". Mankind has used plants as a food source since ancient times, resorted to healing and accumulated their experiences. About 12.000 plant species grow in Turkey. The World Health Organization (WHO) has determined the number of herbal medicines as approximately 1900 and it has been determined that approximately 20,000 plants are grown in Turkey, 600 of which are used for therapeutic purposes. This investigation was conducted to document the species, family, and local names, usage types and localities of medicinal plants utilized by people living in and around Ardahan, Iğdır and Kars provinces between 2020-2021 for dermatologic disorders. To that end, medicinal plant species utilized by the local mankind for therapeutic aims were collected and detected. The visitations were organised to the investigation regions at regular intervals, and survey investigations were realized by interviewing and talking with the local people one-on-one. 82 medicinal plant taxa belonging to 31 plant families utilized in dermatologic disorders were collected from Ardahan, Iğdır and Kars provinces and their surroundings. Of these, 68 species are wild and 14 are cultivated plants. It has been reported that the most commonly utilized medicinal plant families in dermatologic disorders are Asteraceae (12), Scrophulariaceae (7), Boraginaceae (5), Fabaceae (5), and Salicaceae (5). As a conclusion, despite the deep-rooted history in such regions, the transmission and use of traditional knowledge have remained limited.
Effect of Different Solvents, Pore-Forming Agent and Solubility Parameter Differences on the Properties of PES Ultrafiltration Membrane
Authors: ACARER Seren
Published: December 2022

In the production of polymeric membranes used in water treatment by the non-solvent-induced phase separation (NIPS) method, the materials used in the membrane casting solution and the interaction of these materials greatly affect the properties and performance of the obtained membranes. In this study, polyethersulfone (PES) membranes are produced by the NIPS method using two different solvents, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as pore-forming agent. Chemical functional groups and morphologies of the produced membranes are investigated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The viscosity of the membrane casting solutions and the hydrophilicity, porosity, mean pore size, and mechanical properties of the membranes are characterized. The pure water flux (PWF) of the membranes is determined at 1 and 3 bar pressures. The Hansen solubility parameters (HSP) of the materials used in membrane production are calculated and the effect of the interactions of DMSO, NMP, and PVP with PES and/or non-solvent (water) on the membrane properties are investigated.
Perturbatıon Solution for a Cracked Euler-Bernoulli Beam
Authors: SAKMAN Lütfi Emir
Published: December 2022

The natural frequencies and mode shapes of an Euler-Bernoulli beam with a rectangular cross- section, which has a surface crack, is investigated. The crack is modeled as a change (sudden or gradual) in the cross-section of the beam, and a modified perturbation approach is used assuming that the crack geometry is much smaller than the beam cross section. Computations of natural frequencies and mode shapes were carried out for various crack shapes and compared with a range of experiments and finite element analyses. It is concluded that the suggested modified perturbation approach gives reliable results with minimal effort for eigenfrequencies of cracked beams. Furthermore, as a new feature, the present perturbation method includes the shape of the crack in eigenfrequency computations and in principle, can work for any type of disturbance on the surface including a small bump for example.
AGILITY AND AGILE ORGANIZATIONS FROM EMPLOYEES’ PERSPECTIVES: A QUALITATIVE RESEARCH IN THE CONTEXT OF THE SAAS BUSINESS MODEL
Authors: ÇETİN Funda , TOLAY Ebru
Published: December 2022

The primary purpose of this study is to learn the thoughts of individuals working in an agile organization about agility and contribute to the agility literature from the employee perspective. Through this aim, we conducted face-to-face interviews with 10 participants working in a SaaS (Software as a Service) company that provides software services to its customers. We analyzed the data through the MAXQDA 2022 Qualitative Data Analysis Program. When we examined the most preferred expressions to describe agility, 70 percent of the participants used the word “dynamic” 8 times and “innovation” 7 times. Half of the participants emphasized “stress” and “speed” 5 times each. More than 70 percent of the participants stated that the positive aspects of agility are “having a horizontal organizational structure” (19 times), “flexibility” (12 times), and “the existence of a dynamic and innovative environment” (11 times). On the other hand, we saw that “stress and job training pressure,” repeated 17 times by 70 percent of the participants, was the most frequently emphasized negative aspect of agility. According to the participants, “adaptability to teamwork” and “being open-minded/ flexible” are the leading competencies that individuals working in an agile organization should possess. Studies examining employees' feelings and thoughts about agility are rare in the literature. This situation constitutes the original aspect of the present study.
Experimental study and classification of natural zeolite pozzolan for cement in South Africa
Authors: Sinngu F , Ekolu S O , Naghizadeh A , Quainoo H A
Published: December 2022

The present study investigated the performance of South African natural zeolite for potential use as a cement extender. To the best knowledge of the authors, the natural zeolite studied has not been employed before as pozzolan in the cement industry, and its proposed use would be new in concrete construction. In the investigation, mortar mixtures were prepared using ordinary Portland cement CEM I 52,5N blended with 0, 10, 20 and 30% natural zeolite. The effectiveness of natural zeolite was also compared with performance results of mixtures containing 30% fly ash. The tests conducted were workability, compressive strength, pozzolanic activity with lime, drying shrinkage, alkali-silica reaction, and sulphate resistance. Analytical studies were done using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy. It was found that, while incorporation of natural zeolite in cement reduces workability, its effects on mechanical properties and on durability characteristics were superior to those of fly ash, as the former effectively enhanced long-term strength and mitigated drying shrinkage, alkali-silica reaction and sulphate attack. Incorporation of 20% natural zeolite in cement gave an effective overall performance, meeting the ASTM C618 (2015) criteria for Class N pozzolan. Based on EN 197-1 (2000) / SANS 50197-1 (2013), the blend of natural zeolite and ordinary Portland cement met the criteria for its classification as CEM II/A-P 32.5N,R cement type.
Brazilian occupational apartheid: historical legacy and prospects for occupational therapists
Authors: Ambrosio L , Pereira A , Coelho F , Magalhães L
Published: December 2022

BACKGROUND: Since the colonization of Brazil in 1500, systemic, institutional, and relational racism has produced inequalities for its black and indigenous people. This legacy perpetuates white supremacy and intensifies social inequalities. PURPOSE: This Opinion Piece aims to raise reflexivity on racism in Brazil and its impacts on the occupations of black people within the context of occupational apartheid. KEY ISSUES: We start exploring social justice and occupational justice concepts to map a methodological path for the theoretically informed discussion. Then, we discuss the concept of collective occupations as a possibility for intervention in the face of racial inequalities and introduce some occupational therapy practices to exemplify strategies to tackle the identified challenges. IMPLICATIONS: We conclude by showing that the field of ethnic-racial relations is still only minimally explored in Brazilian occupational therapy. We also point out some possibilities for further studies in the area.
The effect of heat treatment on the formation of MnS compound in low-carbon structural steel 09Mn2Si
Authors:   Industrial University of Tyumen, Russian Federation, Sokolov Roman , Novikov Vitaly ,   Industrial University of Tyumen, Russian Federation, Kovenskij Ilja ,   Industrial University of Tyumen, Russian Federation, Muratov Kamil ,   Industrial University of Tyumen, Russian Federation, Venediktov Anatolii ,   Industrial University of Tyumen, Russian Federation, Chaugarova Larisa ,   Industrial University of Tyumen, Russian Federation
Published: December 2022

Introduction. The properties of steels are determined by many factors, including the manufacturing process and subsequent treatment. Some features of these processes lead to the fact that in steel, apart from alloying elements added to obtain a certain level of physical and mechanical properties, there are also foreign impurities that enter it at various stages. Foreign elements can not only dissolve in the matrix, but also participate in the formation of particles of nonmetallic inclusions acting as defects. Its presence significantly affects the performance characteristics of the material. That is why it is necessary to understand the processes that lead to the appearance of nonmetallic inclusions and affect its shape. Purpose: to consider the effect of heat treatment, leading to the appearance of a ferrite-martensitic structure, on the shape and size of nonmetallic inclusions; to determine its influence on the physical and mechanical properties of the material. In the work, samples of rolled steel 09Mn2Si after heat treatment are studied. Research methods. To study the properties and structure of steel 09Mn2Si, the following methods were used: scanning electron microscopy – to study the structure of the material, chemical composition in the local area and the site under study and to determine the accumulation of impurities; SIAMS 800 software and hardware complex – to compare the structure of the material with the atlas of microstructures, to determine the score of the grain structure, differences in the structural and phase composition occurring during heat treatment; portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer of metals and alloys X-MET 7000 - to determine the chemical composition of the samples under study in percentage terms; Vickers hardness tester with a preload of 20 kg – to measure the hardness of the samples under study. Results and discussions. It is found that in the low-alloy low-carbon structural steel 09Mn2Si in most cases there are nonmetallic inclusions of the type of manganese sulfide formed during its manufacture. When this steel is heated to the temperatures of the intercritical transition, this compound is formed in the area of grain boundaries in the form of spherical inclusions. The presence of these inclusions significantly affects the strength and corrosion properties. Manganese sulfide acts as the point of the corrosion process initiation.
Formation features of a welding joint of alloy Ti-5Al-3Mo-1V by the friction stir welding using heat-resistant tool from ZhS6 alloy
Authors:   Institute of Strength Physics and Materials Science of Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, Amirov Alihan , Moskvichev Evgeny ,   Institute of Strength Physics and Materials Science of Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, Ivanov Aleksey ,   Institute of Strength Physics and Materials Science of Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, Chumaevskii Andrey ,   Institute of Strength Physics and Materials Science of Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, Beloborodov Vladimir ,   Institute of Strength Physics and Materials Science of Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk
Published: December 2022

Introduction. The technological process of fabrication products from titanium alloys is often complicated by low quality of welded joints during electric arc or gas-flame welding operations due to high residual stresses and deformations. An example of a successful solution to this problem is the development and implementation of such high-tech processes of metal joining as friction stir welding, which does not refer to the methods of fusion joining. Friction stir welding as an advanced technology is used to obtain joints of “soft” metallic materials, such as aluminum. For “hard” metallic materials, friction stir welding has been limited due to the high demands on welding tools. The aim of this work is investigation of the possibility of using a tool made of the nickel-based heat-resistant alloy ZhS6U in friction stir welding of the titanium alloy Ti-5Al-3Mo-1V. Results and discussion. Optical and scanning electron microscopy results revealed that the structure of the weld is typical of this type of welding, gradient, consisting of a heat-affected zone, thermo-mechanical affected zone and a stir zone with a fragmented structure. When varying welding parameters, it is shown that the defectiveness of the weld is affected to a greater extent by the axial load on the tool, which is caused by a significant difference in the thermal effect on the material. Metallographic analysis methods revealed dissolution of welding tool material fragments in the stir zone of the non-detachable joint. Fractographic analysis of the fracture surface shows that the fracture in the weld zone is ductile, although in this case there are brittle bridges. Varying the parameters of friction stir welding made it possible to obtain an indissoluble joint with at least 90 % of the strength of the base metal.
La evaluación del presidente de Colombia por parte de los congresistas latinoamericanos: los casos de Uribe (2002-2010) y Santos (2010-2018)
Authors:   Universidad de Valencia, Bohigues Asbel , Rivas Otero José Manuel ,   Universidad de Salamanca
Published: December 2022

La figura presidencial juega un papel fundamental en sistemas políticos presidencialistas como los de América Latina, ya que cuenta con la misma legitimidad popular que el parlamento y generalmente dispone de amplias atribuciones político-constitucionales. Debido a lo anterior, la mayoría de los estudios de opinión pública pide a los encuestados que evalúen de manera positiva o negativa a los principales líderes políticos del país, incluido el presidente o la presidenta. Estos datos sobre la popularidad de los líderes suelen utilizarse como una variable explicativa de los procesos electorales. Sin embargo, existen pocos trabajos que ahonden en la proyección del presidente por parte de las élites políticas, a pesar de contar con información para ello, como los datos disponibles en el marco del Proyecto de Élites Parlamentarias de América Latina de la Universidad de Salamanca. El objetivo de este capítulo es identificar, a partir de la evidencia empírica de los congresos latinoamericanos, qué impulsa a las élites políticas a evaluar mejor o peor a determinados líderes presidenciales, en este caso a Álvaro Uribe y Juan Manuel Santos. Para ello, se tienen en cuenta variables explicativas, como la ideología y la distancia ideológica entre el legislador y el presidente.
Assessment of Farmers’ Perceptions on Soil Erosion and Soil Conservation Techniques in Zing Local Government Area of Taraba State, Nigeria
Authors: Yusuf MB , Abdullahi I , Thomas E , Vincent N Ojeh
Published: December 2022

In Zing LGA of Taraba State, the study evaluated farmers’ perceptions of soil erosion and their soil conservation practices. To gather information for the study from the farmers and the farmland, field observation, informal interviews, and the use of research instruments including questionnaires and remotely sensed imageries were all used. These data were analyzed in a Windows and GIS context using SPSS 23. The results indicate that 68% of respondents are men, while 32% are women farmers, 71% of whom are married and 50% of them fall within the 41–50 age range. Additionally, 70% of farmers have large families with a size range of 9 to 12 individuals, and 86% of farmers are literate. High incomes are generated by the farmers. According to the study, 89.1% of farmers have farms on steep to mild slopes and do not see soil erosion as a specific issue on their property. However, because they believed that the loss of arable land was the primary consequence of soil erosion, they kept an eye out for physical indicators (such as soil color) on their farms. Geographically, soil erosion is more likely to occur in the eastern to the north-eastern portion of the Zing LGA. Terracing, shaping ridges, along contours, and mulching are soil conservation techniques that have been employed for a long time and are advised to be continue.
Deep hind paw incision model v1
Authors: Lu Fanglin
Published: December 2022

The deep hind paw incision model is established to evaluate postoperative pain. Based on TJ Brennan's rat model of incisional pain (1996), several modifications are made. This protocol outlines the procedures from a to data anesthesia to consciousness recovery.
Determining biofilm growth amount (absorbance) v2
Authors: not provided An.Huang
Published: December 2022

This protocol describes a method to determine the growth amount of biofilm at the early stage of biofilm formation by measuring absorbance. Here we use our own engineered bacteria, and it requires induction of IPTG and cultured with silver ion. You may use a different kind of bacteria and different culturing medium.