bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Educación literaria y competencia digital mediante metodologías activas para la formación de los futuros docentes
Authors: Rodrigo Segura Francesc , Ibarra Rius Noelia
Published: December 2022

This study aims to reflect on literary education in on line contexts and on the methodological keys for its adaptation in the specific case of initial training. In accordance with this objective, two investigations based on the use of active methodologies were carried out in the Education degrees. These were: projects and literary creation workshops, which allowed for an integrated development of the competences related to literary education, in addition to other transversal skills like cooperative networking or digital competence. Through different methodological strategies, we outlined a transition from face-to-face teaching to virtual educational settings, derived from the COVID-19 pandemic, especially due to the inclusion of information and communication technologies in the design of the proposals implemented, which was consistent with the current needs of the learners. The analysis of the implementation of both didactic designs led to provisional conclusions about the necessary requirements of future teachers in the Language and Literature Didactics area when it comes to achieving significant and useful learning.

Los autores reflexionan sobre la educación lectora y literaria en contextos educativos no presenciales y las claves metodológicas para su adaptación en el caso de la formación inicial. De acuerdo con este objetivo se plantean dos investigaciones realizadas en el grado de Magisterio basadas en el uso de metodologías activas: proyectos de trabajo y talleres de creación literaria, que permiten un desarrollo integrado de las competencias perseguidas desde la educación literaria, junto a otras competencias transversales como, por ejemplo, el trabajo cooperativo en red o la competencia digital. A través de diferentes estrategias metodológicas, se ha esbozado una transición desde la docencia presencial a los escenarios educativos virtuales, derivados de la pandemia COVID-19, sobre todo, gracias a la inclusión de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación en el diseño de las propuestas implementadas desde una perspectiva coherente con las actuales necesidades de los discentes. El análisis de la puesta en práctica de ambos diseños didácticos permite extraer conclusiones provisionales sobre los requisitos necesarios para conseguir aprendizajes significativos y útiles para los futuros docentes en el área de la Didáctica de la Lengua y la Literatura. Se trata de adaptar las prácticas educativas a un contexto de cambio en el modelo educativo que, posiblemente, evolucione hacia formas híbridas de enseñanza en que se combinen las clases presenciales con la educación a distancia.
Symmetric approximation sequences, Beilinson-Green algebras and derived equivalences
Authors: Pan Shengyong
Published: December 2022

In this paper, we will consider a class of locally $\Phi$-Beilinson-Green algebras, where $\Phi$ is an infinite admissible set of the integers, and show that symmetric approximation sequences in $n$-exangulated categories give rise to derived equivalences between quotient algebras of locally $\Phi$-Beilinson-Green algebras in the principal diagonals modulo some factorizable ghost and coghost ideals by the locally finite tilting family. Then we get a class of derived equivalent algebras that have not been obtained by using previous techniques. From higher exact sequences, we obtain derived equivalences between subalgebras of endomorphism algebras by constructing tilting complexes, which generalizes Chen and Xi's result for exact sequences. From a given derived equivalence, we get derived equivalences between locally $\Phi$-Beilinson-Green algebras of semi-Gorenstein modules. Finally, from given graded derived equivalences of group graded algebras, we get derived equivalences between associated Beilinson-Green algebras of group graded algebras.
Autopercepción del desarrollo de las competencias musicales del futuro profesorado generalista: un análisis diagnóstico
Authors: Oriola-Requena Salvador , Calderón-Garrido Diego , Gustems-Carnicer Josep
Published: December 2022

Los planes de estudios del Grado de Maestro de Educación Primaria incluyen una asignatura obligatoria relacionada con aspectos básicos de didáctica de la música. Su finalidad es dotar al futuro profesorado generalista de herramientas para que puedan utilizar la música como un recurso didáctico más en las aulas. El presente estudio tiene como objetivo principal analizar la autopercepción de competencias específicas musicales del alumnado de dicha asignatura, concretamente, en el Grado de Maestro de la Universidad de Barcelona. Para ello, se ha llevado a cabo una evaluación de programas a través de un cuestionario ad hoc, aplicado antes y después de la realización de la asignatura, a una muestra de 72 estudiantes. Los resultados obtenidos indican la adquisición de unas competencias musicales básicas por parte del alumnado que no poseía conocimientos musicales previos, pero hay algunos factores mejorables como la desigual puntuación en competencias musicales que requieren más tiempo para su consolidación o la poca evolución del alumnado que poseía conocimientos musicales previos. A partir del análisis de los resultados, se plantean algunas propuestas de mejora que pueden ser aplicables no solo a la asignatura aquí analizada sino a otras asignaturas que cumplen una función parecida en otras universidades.
NÚM. 50 (2022): REVISTA ELECTRÓNICA DE LEEME
Authors: Editorial Equipo
Published: December 2022

Ejemplar completo.
BIAYA PENGOBATAN PASIEN RAWAT INAP COVID-19 DI RUMAH SAKIT X TAHUN 2021
Authors: Giusman Reli , Nurwahyuni Atik
Published: December 2022

Pandemi COVID-19 telah menyebabkan berbagai rumah sakit di dunia mengalami kesulitan dalam memberikan pelayanan karena jumlah pasien melonjak dengan waktu singkat. Pandemi yang meluas dengan mortalitas yang tinggi di berbagai belahan negara  mengakibatkan rawat inap pasien karena penyakit COVID-19 menjadi tinggi sehingga biaya perawatannya pun mengalami peningkatan. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk melakukan analisis biaya pengobatan COVID-19 pasien rawat inap Rumah Sakit X. Data yang digunakan adalah data sekunder yang berasal dari data INA-CBGs dan rekam medis sebanyak 1,196 sampel dalam periode Agustus 2020 sampai dengan April 2021. Uji statistik menggunakan Mann Whitney Test, Kruskal Wallis Test dan Spearman Test. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan biaya rata-rata pengobatan pasien rawat inap COVID-19 di RS X adalah Rp 43,595,339.94. Selisih biaya riil pengobatan pasien rawat inap COVID-19 dengan biaya klaim sebesar positif Rp. 48,622,313.07. Faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi peningkatan biaya pengobatan pasien rawat inap COVID19 di RS X adalah usia lanjut (> 60 tahun), jenis kelamin laki-laki, tingkat pendidikan perguruan tinggi, tingkat keparahan dengan gejala sedang, memiliki penyakit penyerta, lama rawat, status keluar dengan sembuh, Dokter Penanggung Jawab Pasien (DPJP) adalah spesialis paru dan kolaborasi dokter > 3 dokter.
PENUNDAAN PEMBAYARAN KLAIM JAMINAN KESEHATAN NASIONAL OLEH BPJS KESEHATAN DI INDONESIA: SEBUAH SCOPING REVIEW
Authors: Tarigan Immanuel Natanael , Lestari Feni Dwi , Darmawan Ede Surya
Published: December 2022

Sejak pertama kali diimplementasikan, pemanfaatan Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional (JKN) semakin meningkat setiap tahun. Saat ini hampir semua rumah sakit melayani pasien JKN. Namun demikian, proses pembayaran klaim JKN tidak berjalan dengan mulus serta sering terjadi penundaan pembayaran. Hal ini menyebabkan hambatan di rumah sakit, terutama rumah sakit pemerintah yang mayoritas pasiennya adalah pasien JKN. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui besarnya penundaan pembayaran klaim serta faktor-faktor apa yang terlibat dalam penundaan pembayaran klaim JKN oleh BPJS Kesehatan (Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Sosial Kesehatan) di rumah sakit pemerintah. Studi ini dilakukan dengan metode scoping review dengan pedoman Arksey dan O’Malley. Studi dilakukan dengan mengikutsertakan publikasi dari tahun 2014 hingga 2022. Pencarian literatur dilakukan pada 3 database elektronik dan pencarian tambahan, menemukan sebanyak 530 studi. Sebanyak 35 studi dianalisis dalam penelitian ini, terdiri atas rumah sakit tipe A hingga D, milik pemerintah pusat maupun pemerintah daerah. Studi menemukan bahwa besar penundaan pembayaran klaim pasien JKN sekitar 2,5-47,7% per bulannya. Adapun beberapa faktor yang ditemukan erat hubungannya penundaan pembayaran klaim ini adalah kelengkapan administrasi, jumlah tenaga, kemampuan dan ketelitian koder, kelengkapan penulisan resume medis oleh dokter penanggung jawab pasien, komunikasi yang baik antara dokter penanggung jawab pasien dan koder, pemanfaatan verifikator internal, dukungan sarana dan prasarana serta adanya standar prosedur operasional.
Dependence of diffusion in Escherichia coli cytoplasm on protein size, environmental conditions, and cell growth
Authors: Bellotto Nicola , Agudo-Canalejo Jaime , Colin Remy , Golestanian Ramin , Malengo Gabriele , Sourjik Victor
Published: December 2022

Inside prokaryotic cells, passive translational diffusion typically limits the rates with which cytoplasmic proteins can reach their locations. Diffusion is thus fundamental to most cellular processes, but the understanding of protein mobility in the highly crowded and non-homogeneous environment of a bacterial cell is still limited. Here, we investigated the mobility of a large set of proteins in the cytoplasm of Escherichia coli, by employing fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) combined with simulations and theoretical modeling. We conclude that cytoplasmic protein mobility could be well described by Brownian diffusion in the confined geometry of the bacterial cell and at the high viscosity imposed by macromolecular crowding. We observed similar size dependence of protein diffusion for the majority of tested proteins, whether native or foreign to E. coli. For the faster-diffusing proteins, this size dependence is well consistent with the Stokes-Einstein relation once taking into account the specific dumbbell shape of protein fusions. Pronounced subdiffusion and hindered mobility are only observed for proteins with extensive interactions within the cytoplasm. Finally, while protein diffusion becomes markedly faster in actively growing cells, at high temperature, or upon treatment with rifampicin, and slower at high osmolarity, all of these perturbations affect proteins of different sizes in the same proportions, which could thus be described as changes of a well-defined cytoplasmic viscosity.
Glycolytic flux-signaling controls mouse embryo mesoderm development
Authors: Miyazawa Hidenobu , Snaebjornsson Marteinn T , Prior Nicole , Kafkia Eleni , Hammarén Henrik M , Tsuchida-Straeten Nobuko , Patil Kiran R , Beck Martin , Aulehla Alexander
Published: December 2022

How cellular metabolic state impacts cellular programs is a fundamental, unresolved question. Here, we investigated how glycolytic flux impacts embryonic development, using presomitic mesoderm (PSM) patterning as the experimental model. First, we identified fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (FBP) as an in vivo sentinel metabolite that mirrors glycolytic flux within PSM cells of post-implantation mouse embryos. We found that medium-supplementation with FBP, but not with other glycolytic metabolites, such as fructose 6-phosphate and 3-phosphoglycerate, impaired mesoderm segmentation. To genetically manipulate glycolytic flux and FBP levels, we generated a mouse model enabling the conditional overexpression of dominant active, cytoplasmic PFKFB3 (cytoPFKFB3). Overexpression of cytoPFKFB3 indeed led to increased glycolytic flux/FBP levels and caused an impairment of mesoderm segmentation, paralleled by the downregulation of Wnt-signaling, reminiscent of the effects seen upon FBP-supplementation. To probe for mechanisms underlying glycolytic flux-signaling, we performed subcellular proteome analysis and revealed that cytoPFKFB3 overexpression altered subcellular localization of certain proteins, including glycolytic enzymes, in PSM cells. Specifically, we revealed that FBP supplementation caused depletion of Pfkl and Aldoa from the nuclear-soluble fraction. Combined, we propose that FBP functions as a flux-signaling metabolite connecting glycolysis and PSM patterning, potentially through modulating subcellular protein localization.
Love in the Time of Coronavirus: Innovation and Tradition in the World of Quarantine Weddings
Authors:   University of Pécs, Hungary, Balatonyi Judit
Published: December 2022

International sociological research based on demographic data has shown that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly shaped the way of getting married. According to this research, varying from minimal to dramatic, there was a decrease in marriage rates worldwide. The marriage rate in Hungary showed a different picture. The number of weddings increased by 3%. It can also be seen that the number of marriages per month during the pandemic tended to decrease in periods of severe restrictions and lockdowns and to increase in periods of temporary loosening. While the period of restrictions was characterized by civil ceremonies and micro-weddings, the period of loosening the restrictions saw a mixture of large and tiny weddings, with or without civil marriages. So, people did not postpone or proceed with their weddings but tried to stick to their original plans despite, or rather besides, the changed circumstances; or, abandoning certain expectations and inventing new ones, they rescheduled their wedding. Based on my digital anthropological research, this paper raises questions: why did some people get married during the lockdown periods, or why did others postpone their weddings until after the restrictions were loosened? In the following, I aim to explore the modified wedding practices adapted to newer circumstances and analyze the ways of selecting and constituting the wedding “tradition” (“bricolage of traditions”).
Ritual Rules in Changing Circumstances: Break, Adapt or Maintain? An Introduction
Authors:   Institute of Slavic Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia, Sedakova Irina , Fournier Laurent S. ,   Université Côte d’Azur, France
Published: December 2022

This issue gathers some of the works presented by the members of the Ritual Year Working Group during the 15th Congress of the International Society for Ethnology and Folklore (SIEF) in Helsinki in June 2021. As the general theme of this congress was “Breaking the Rules? Power, Participation, Transgression”, most of the articles stick to this question and try to understand the relationship between rituals and (the breaking of) social rules. The authors address the major problem from several perspectives: the regulations for performing traditional rituals and the reasons for violating them; ritual behaviour on certain dates when the social norms, the hierarchies, and the gender roles are turned upside down; modification of the ritual year recommendations according to the new environment in emigration; etc. Transgression is seen as breaking the traditional foundations and also as a transition from real performance to virtual participation. And, as in June 2021 the entire world was subjected to the rules of COVID-19, some articles in particular attempt to address the pandemic’s impact on ritual sociability worldwide.
Mediated Easter: Constructing Religious Rituals in a Lockdown
Authors:   The Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, Russia, Radchenko Daria
Published: December 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic led to major lockdowns over the world in 2020. This situation severely limited the possibility of several social activities, including religious gatherings. In Russia, the peak of the pandemic coincided with the central period in the Orthodox calendar – the last week of Lent and Easter. As the Patriarch blessed stay-at-home politics, churches were officially closed for everybody but the clergy, and live streams of services on social media were organized; believers had to adapt swiftly to a new mode of copresence in church by participating in services online. To do this, they had to make a choice from the places from which the live stream was organized, transform the space of their homes to accommodate sacrality of the event, rethink the locality of their own body in being instantly at home and “in church”, and manage communication with the priest, fellow parishioners, and family members during Easter night. This involved subtle mechanisms of balancing authority within the network of sacred objects, gadgets, and people. Based on digital ethnography (including participant observation online) and 40 in-depth interviews, the paper investigates how believers constructed and reflected the space of the Easter service in their homes, and presents three key strategies: synchronization, spacing, and appellation to experience.
Sööme, joome, lükkame, sõidame... Sotsiaalmeediakasutajate mäng Facebooki sündmuse formaadis
Authors:   Department of Folkloristics, Estonian Literary Museum, Tartu, Estonia, Kalda Mare
Published: December 2022

The Internet and its social media platforms offer opportunities to make visible grassroots creative products and activities, which would not otherwise receive wider attention. In November 2018, as Facebook enables to create online meeting spaces for various events, a series of fake events was initiated on this social media platform by Estonian-speaking users. The “actions” were announced exactly like any other Facebook event, yet were not actually intended to be performed. It is reasonable to consider the event-organising game as a special vernacular practice that deserves to be observed from a folkloristic perspective. The analysis focuses on various aspects of fake events – the genre of these actions, the seriality of events, the dialogue between the participants and those interested in the comments sections, but also the peculiarities of the co-created content. The article attempts to frame the groups of internet users that temporarily gathered around the events within the concept of event community, and traces which stages of the formation and operation of an event community occur in the fake events. In a broader context, the author discusses the similarities between the parodies that lie at the forefront of the fake events initiated by social media users’ communities and the Renaissance carnivals in a public city square.
Cryptic population structure at the northern range margin of the service tree Sorbus domestica
Authors: Armbruster Georg F.J. , Lucek Kay , Willi Yvonne
Published: December 2022

Climate change has aroused interest in planting warm- and drought-adapted trees in managed forests and urban areas. An option is to focus on tree species that occur naturally, but have centers of distribution in warmer and drier areas. However, in order to protect the species pool of genetic diversity, efforts of planting and promotion should be informed by knowledge on the local genetic diversity. Here, we studied the macro- and micro-scale population genetic structure of the rare European fruit tree Sorbus domestica at its northern range margin, in western Switzerland. New microsatellite data were combined with published data from across the European distribution of the species. Analyses revealed the presence of mainly one of two species-wide ancestral clusters, i.e., the western European cluster, with evidence that it consists of two cryptic sub-clusters. Average pairwise FST of 0.118 was low across the range, and only allelic richness was reduced in the northern margin compared to more southern and southeastern areas of Europe. Based on our finding of considerable genetic diversity of the species in western and northern Switzerland, we suggest that a national propagation program should focus on collecting seeds from natural, high-density tree stands and propagate locally. More generally, our study shows that rare tree species in marginal areas of their distributions do not necessarily have low genetic diversity or heightened levels of inbreeding, and in those cases probably need no assisted migration in efforts to propagate them.
Presentation Slide Control Based on Hand Gestures
Authors: Sinaga Nelson , . Baharuddin , Fibriasari Hesti , Waluyo Bakti Dwi , Rambey Joni Syafrin
Published: December 2022

In today's digital world, presentation using a slideshow is an effective and attractive way that helps speakers to convey information and convince the audience. There are ways to control slides with devices like a mouse, keyboard, or laser pointer. The drawback is that one should have previous knowledge about the devices to manage them. Gesture recognition acquired importance a couple of years prior and is utilized to control applications like media players, robot control, and gaming. The hand gesture recognition system is built with gloves and markers. However, using such gloves or tags expands the expense of the system. An Artificial intelligence-based hand gesture detection methodology is proposed in this proposed system. By hand gestures, users can change the presentation slides in forward and backward directions. The use of hand gestures causes the connection simple and helpful and does not need any additional gadgets. The suggested method is to help speakers with a product presentation with naturally improved communication with the computer. Specifically, the proposed system is more viable than a laser pointer since the hand is more apparent and thus can better grab the audience's attention.
Innovation of the Development Model of Ideological Education Based on Mobile Device Information Sharing Algorithm in the Era of Big Data
Authors: Hongqing Guo
Published: December 2022

Based on the mobile device information sharing algorithm, this paper proposes an ideological education model of real-time video sharing in the Ad Hoc network self-organized by mobile intelligent terminals. First, real-time video sharing and switching applications can be realized in the Ad Hoc network. APP with video sharing function. On the mobile APP, while students are receiving education, a large amount of knowledge and culture floods the campus, and various values and moral indicators collide with each other, which directly affects the future development of students. To make people realize that how to carry out ideological and political education and ideological purification of college students from the perspective of new media requires innovative development and efficient use of new media for communication.
Mobile Collaborative Robot with Obstacle Avoidance
Authors: F. Mihai Niculae , S. Malhotra Angad , R. Sivasubramanian Kartick , N. Mihai Iulia
Published: December 2022

This product has been designed to scan and inspect the flooring of a predefined space. Essentially, a camera at the tip of an arm mounted on a mobile base scans the environment as the robot moves. The robot’s components can be programmed to halt all motion upon noticing any discrepancies in its scanning, and to then take photographs of said discrepancies before continuing along its trajectory. The applications of such a device can range anywhere from a simple workplace janitorial overview to industrial aircraft jet fuel tanks’ safety inspections, wherein the robot can examine the tank for leaks, cracks, or corrosion
Optimizing Searchers that can Transport and Deploy another Searcher Using an Agent Based Model and Nonlinear Optimization Methods in a Maritime Domain
Authors: K. Grewe Jarrod , Griva Igor
Published: December 2022

This paper introduces a new methodology, nicknamed Pathfinder, for finding optimal search paths for searchers that can transport and deploy other searchers. The methodology applies an Agent-Based Model to model target movement, then uses nonlinear optimization methods to find optimal search plans. This methodology can optimize these search teams effectively and quickly. Pathfinder significantly increase probability of detection and decreases travel distance. In addition to advancing Search Theory, this methodology also has the potential to enhance current search and rescue (SAR) and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) operations.
A New Approached Method for Solving the Four Index Transportation Problem with Fuzzy Parameters and Application Perspective in Industry
Authors: Pham Hoa , Escande Fabien , Klupinski Laurent
Published: December 2022

The four index transportation problem (4ITP: origin, destination, goods type, vehicle type) is an extension of the Hitchcock problem, a problem best suited for the goods allocation planning in the case for using the shuttle type. Based on the research results in 1979, in 2011, we developed an exact method for fully solving the 4ITP with determinist parameters. However, because of the limitation of human in recognizing the imprecise natural events in the decision making science, it is necessary to use fuzzy numbers for uncertain condition. By extending the problem toward this direction, in this paper, we develop a method, an extension of fuzzy programming, solving the 4ITP when all parameters such as the cost coefficients, the supply and demand quantities, the goods type and vehicle type quantities are fuzzy numbers and obey the Gaussian law in order 2. We use Gauss method in the fuzzy programming to obtain the costs under form of point cloud. From these results, we use Pham’s method, a method for the conventional 4ITP, to obtain a point cloud with the agglomerating costs. By using Kronechker’s method, we extract the obtained minimal cost under form of an interval for a given solution. It allows us to obtain a goods allocation planning with the minimal total transportation cost.
Investigating the Impact of Planting Delay on the Performance of Cluster Traits and the Prevalence of Wheat Yellow Rust in the Climatic Conditions of Northern Khuzestan Province (Iran)
Authors: Khouzani Mohammad Reza Zargaran , Limouchi Kaveh
Published: December 2022

Yellow rust disease is one of the important fungal diseases in wheat in the north of Khuzestan province. This research aims to investigate the effect of planting date on the amount of damage caused by wheat yellow rust disease on yield, yield components and agronomic traits of wheat cultivars in the climatic conditions of North Khuzestan (Iran) in the form of a split plot design in the form of randomized complete blocks with 3 replications. Crop year 2010-2011 was implemented. In this plan, planting dates were considered as main plots and cultivars as sub-plots. The results showed that the delay in planting is due to early placement in the growth period of winter rainfall as one of the most important factors in growth. This situation leads to a 25% increase in plants infected with this disease. All traits such as non-seed weight and number of seeds in the hollow of the cluster decreased and other traits (performance, seeds per cluster and length of the cluster) decreased. It is hoped that an effective step will be taken in controlling and reducing damage with resistant cultivars in order to properly manage them, especially at the beginning of the autumn rains. According to the obtained results, the need to breed and improve more resistant cultivars, as well as to use more efficient agricultural management, is clearly felt.
Suitability of Tourism Zone Based on Oceanographic Characteristics and Coastal Ecosystems in Sendang Biru Waters and Sempu Island, Malang Regency
Authors: Kusumaningrum Ani , Bengen Dietriech Geoffrey , Nurjaya I. Wayan
Published: December 2022

Sendang Biru Tourism Beach and Sempu Island are tourism zones based on East Java Provincial Regulation No. 1 of 2018, which are part of the Sempu Strait, Malang Regency. Tourism activities depend on the quality of natural resources as the main tourism commodity. Activities that do not match or exceed the area's carrying capacity will also pressure coastal and water resources. This study aimed to determine the suitability of oceanographic and ecosystem characters in tourism zones as parameters for suitability. This study collects secondary and primary data obtained in January 2021, and the method of analysis uses the overlapping technique of physical and biological parameters. The study results show that these waters have a sloping - steep topography with tidal types is mixed tide prevailing semidiurnal, and a current type with a slow - medium category and conditions of temperature, salinity, and pH are still suitable for aquatic ecosystem life. The tourism zone of Sendang Biru Beach and Sempu Island has an oceanographic character that supports coastal tourism activities and ecosystem life, and aquatic biota. However, the existing ecosystem conditions less support coastal tourism activities in these waters. Based on the analysis, it appears that some coastal areas are suitable and very suitable for coastal tourism activities, and the ecotourism concept is recommended for coastal tourism activities.
Risk Assessment of NH3 and H2S in Coastal and Complex Sectors in Egypt by Using AirQ+ Software
Authors: Mohammed Atef M. F. , Saleh Inas A. , Ibrahim Yasser H.
Published: December 2022

The aim of the present study is to assess the health risks of NH3 and H2S gases in two different sectors in Egypt, one of them is a complex sector (represents a residential, industrial and agriculture sector) and the other is a coastal tourism sector. Hospital admissions respiratory disease (HARD) cases living in the two Sectors was also estimated during one year, due to exposure to NH3 and H2S gases using the AirQ+ Software. Concentration levels of gaseous pollutants (NH3 and H2S) were measured from December 2019 to November 2020.

Daily mean concentrations of NH3 and H2S at the mixed sector (68.15, and 50.06 µg/m³, respectively) were higher than those in the coastal sector (23.92 and 24.10 µg/m³, respectively). The daily mean concentrations of NH3 in both sectors were less than the Egyptian and international Permissible limits.

Non-carcinogenic risk (HQ) of H2S in the mixed region was higher than 1; indicating high adverse chronic health effects occur due to exposure to H2S according to US EPA. In addition, the estimated number of hospital admissions respiratory diseases (HARD) Cases per 100,000 population living were 3 (1 - 6) and 4 (2 - 7) for NH3 and H2S, respectively in the coastal sector, while they were 392 (358 - 410) and 569 (347 - 576) for NH3 and H2S, respectively in the mixed sector. Finally, Air Q+ Software is a valid and reliable tool for estimating short-term risk effects of NH3 and H2S, and can predicts hospital admissions respiratory diseases (HARD) cases attributed to NH3 and H2S gases.
Self-care Behaviors among Sudanese Patients with Heart Failure: A Cross-sectional Assessment
Authors: Ahmed Kannan O. , Abdelmaged Hager Ahmed , Ibrahim Khadiga Mohamed , Abdalgader Nayla Mohammed , Babekir Nusiba Mohammed Ahmed , Ali Nosiba Salah Mohammed , Eltyeb Sabah Badereldean , Osman Tasneem Mahdi , Yousef Bashir A. , Muddather Hiba F.
Published: December 2022

Background: Selfcare is a vital component of heart failure management that is known to improve the outcomes. However, little is known about the status of self-care behaviors among patients with heart failure in Sudan.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the self-care behaviors among Sudanese patients with heart failure at a tertiary hospital in Sudan.

Methods: A cross-sectional single-institutional study was conducted across three-month period in 2021. A total of 200 heart failure patients were enrolled, and data was collected through patients’ interview. Descriptive and binary logistic regression analyses were processed to check the effect of different factors on the patients’ adherence levels.

Results: Out of 200 heart failure patients, 53.5% were females, and the mean age of patients was 60 (± 13.7 SD) years. Among them, only 4.5% of heart failure patients reported adequate adherence to their self-care recommendations and the mean total score was 42.6 (± SD15.5). Adherence to self-care recommendations wasn’t significantly associated with age, gender, marital status, education level, and comorbidity.

Conclusion: In this study, the overall adherence to self-care behavior was found to be extremely low among Sudanese heart failure patients, and selectively adherence to prescribed medications was good. These outcomes put light on a major opportunity for further prospective follow–up studies, which have an intervention approach for each self–care recommendation to improve the heart failure situation in Sudan.
Therapeutic Effects of Butyrate on Pediatric Obesity
Authors: Coppola Serena , Nocerino Rita , Paparo Lorella , Bedogni Giorgio , Calignano Antonio , Di Scala Carmen , de Giovanni di Santa Severina Anna Fiorenza , De Filippis Francesca , Ercolini Danilo , Berni Canani Roberto
Published: December 2022

Importance

The pediatric obesity disease burden imposes the necessity of new effective strategies.

Objective

To determine whether oral butyrate supplementation as an adjunct to standard care is effective in the treatment of pediatric obesity.

Design, Setting, and Participants

A randomized, quadruple-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed from November 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021, at the Tertiary Center for Pediatric Nutrition, Department of Translational Medical Science, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy. Participants included children aged 5 to 17 years with body mass index (BMI) greater than the 95th percentile.

Interventions

Standard care for pediatric obesity supplemented with oral sodium butyrate, 20 mg/kg body weight per day, or placebo for 6 months was administered.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The main outcome was the decrease of at least 0.25 BMI SD scores at 6 months. The secondary outcomes were changes in waist circumference; fasting glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, ghrelin, microRNA-221, and interleukin-6 levels; homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR); dietary and lifestyle habits; and gut microbiome structure. Intention-to-treat analysis was conducted.

Results

Fifty-four children with obesity (31 girls [57%], mean [SD] age, 11 [2.91] years) were randomized into the butyrate and placebo groups; 4 were lost to follow-up after receiving the intervention in the butyrate group and 2 in the placebo group. At intention-to-treat analysis (n = 54), children treated with butyrate had a higher rate of BMI decrease greater than or equal to 0.25 SD scores at 6 months (96% vs 56%, absolute benefit increase, 40%; 95% CI, 21% to 61%; P < .01). At per-protocol analysis (n = 48), the butyrate group showed the following changes as compared with the placebo group: waist circumference, −5.07 cm (95% CI, −7.68 to −2.46 cm; P < .001); insulin level, −5.41 μU/mL (95% CI, −10.49 to −0.34 μU/mL; P = .03); HOMA-IR, −1.14 (95% CI, −2.13 to −0.15; P = .02); ghrelin level, −47.89 μg/mL (95% CI, −91.80 to −3.98 μg/mL; P < .001); microRNA221 relative expression, −2.17 (95% CI, −3.35 to −0.99; P < .001); and IL-6 level, −4.81 pg/mL (95% CI, −7.74 to −1.88 pg/mL; P < .001). Similar patterns of adherence to standard care were observed in the 2 groups. Baseline gut microbiome signatures predictable of the therapeutic response were identified. Adverse effects included transient mild nausea and headache reported by 2 patients during the first month of butyrate intervention.

Conclusions and Relevance

Oral butyrate supplementation may be effective in the treatment of pediatric obesity.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04620057
Harnessing practitioner knowledge to inform the conservation of a protected species, the hazel dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius
Authors: Phillips Benjamin B. , Crowley Sarah L. , Bell Olivia , McDonald Robbie A.
Published: December 2022

Conservation decisions are typically constrained by the availability of published evidence. Practitioners and non‐academic experts often possess additional knowledge, including about the practical plausibility of conservation actions, which may lead to more effective planning and outcomes. However, practitioner knowledge is rarely considered during formal evidence syntheses.

Alongside a formal literature review, we conducted 26 interviews involving 38 conservation professionals to elicit their knowledge of the conservation of a protected and declining species in England, the hazel dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius.

Practitioners and non‐academic experts provided additional insights about dormouse ecology and conservation, beyond those synthesized from the published literature, though we found few contradictions between these different information sources. Instead, practitioner knowledge helped to verify, clarify and expand upon evidence from empirical studies. In general, practitioners emphasized that dormice are far more adaptable than traditionally perceived, with thriving populations found in hedgerows, scrub, road verges and railway verges, rather than solely within broadleaf woodlands.

Proposed opportunities for restoring dormouse populations included improving hedgerow management, creating new woodlands, bringing existing woodlands back into management, setting aside unproductive land and improving habitat connectivity. However, participants emphasized the need for landscape‐scale approaches, accounting for the impacts of climate change, and better surveying and monitoring. Key practical considerations included overcoming time and financial constraints, providing better advice, knowledge and training, changing attitudes of land owners and managers and balancing other demands such as agricultural productivity and the requirements of other species.

Despite the insights they provided, participants highlighted many remaining knowledge gaps. These included uncertainties arising from the published literature, as well as scarcely studied topics that are of major practical importance, namely the effectiveness of dormouse mitigation measures in planning and development, and the impacts of anthropogenic disturbance and pollution on dormice.

Our findings improve the evidence base for restoring hazel dormouse populations and for further empirical evidence gathering. More generally, the study highlights how practitioner knowledge can help both to supplement traditional published evidence and to better frame conservation programmes, which may lead to more successful outcomes.
Rational Integration of Carbon Nanotubes into Chain‐Engineered Bipolar Polyimides as Core‐Shell Heterostructured Electrodes for Polymer‐Based Symmetrical Full Batteries
Authors: Zhang Qing , He Yi , Wang Yonglin , Lu Jing , Jiang Nan , Yang Yingkui
Published: December 2022

Organic redox‐active polymers are promising electrode alternatives to Li‐ion batteries using transition‐metal resources. Such metal‐free electrode materials suffer realistically from low electronic conductivities and insufficient utilization of active sites. Herein, thermally imidized polyimides are synthesized by polycondensation between 2,6‐diaminoanthraquinone (DAAQ) and anhydrides. A quinone‐containing polyimide (PMAQ) derived from pyromellitic dianhydride and DAAQ is found to exhibit the highest capacity and rate performance. Furthermore, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are encapsulated in densely interlaced PMAQ nanoflakes by in situ polymerization to form core‐shell heterostructured composites (CNT@PMAQ). Remarkably, the CNT@PMAQ cathode delivers reversible capacities of 163 mAh g−1 at 0.05 A g−1 and 122 mAh g−1 at 5 A g−1, respectively. CNT@PMAQ is also employed as an anode with a high capacity of 1158 mAh g−1 at 0.05 A g−1. Accordingly, a symmetric full‐battery using CNT@PMAQ as bipolar electrodes is assembled that delivers a high energy density of 103 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 1801 W kg−1. This study crafts an unusual strategy to engineering macromolecular chains and building core‐shell heteroarchitectures to unlock the barrier of low utilization ratio of active sites toward high‐rate charge storage. Coupling bipolar electrode materials into symmetric full batteries will further stimulate the development of low‐cost sustainable batteries.
Self‐Powered Programming of Fibroblasts into Neurons via a Scalable Magnetoelastic Generator Array
Authors: Libanori Alberto , Soto Jennifer , Xu Jing , Song Yang , Zarubova Jana , Tat Trinny , Xiao Xiao , Yue Shou Zheng , Jonas Steven J. , Li Song , Chen Jun
Published: December 2022

Developing scalable electrical stimulating platforms for cell and tissue engineering applications is limited by external power source dependency, wetting resistance, microscale size requirements, and suitable flexibility. Here, a versatile and scalable platform is developed to enable tunable electrical stimulation for biological applications by harnessing the giant magnetoelastic effect in soft systems, converting gentle air pressure (100–400 kPa) to yield a current of up to 10.5 mA and a voltage of 9.5 mV. The platform can be easily manufactured and scaled up for integration in multiwell magnetoelastic plates via 3D printing. The authors demonstrate that the electrical stimulation generated by this platform enhances the conversion of fibroblasts into neurons up to 2‐fold (104%) and subsequent neuronal maturation up to 3‐fold (251%). This easily configurable electrical stimulation device has broad applications in high throughput organ‐on‐a‐chip systems, and paves the way for future development of neural engineering, including cellular therapy via implantable self‐powered electrical stimulation devices.
Single Zinc Atom Aggregates: Synergetic Interaction to Boost Fast Polysulfide Conversion in Lithium‐Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Zhang Xiaomin , Yang Tingzhou , Zhang Yongguang , Wang Xingbo , Wang Jiayi , Li Yebao , Yu Aiping , Wang Xin , Chen Zhongwei
Published: December 2022

Single‐atom catalysts (SACs) pave new possibilities to improve the utilization efficiency of sulfur electrodes arising from polysulfide shuttle effects and sluggish kinetics due to their excellent applicability in atomic‐scale reaction mechanisms and structure‐activity relationships. Herein, nitrogen (N)‐anchored SACs on the highly ordered N‐doped carbon nanotube arrays are reported as the sulfur host for fast redox conversion in lithium‐sulfur (Li‐S) batteries. The cube structure of the aligned carbon nanotubes can promote the rapid mass transfer under high sulfur loadings, and abundant single‐atom active sites further accelerate the conversion of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs). The synergistic enhancement effect induced by adjacent single atoms with interatomic distances <1 nm further accelerates the rapid multi‐step reaction of sulfur at high sulfur loadings. As a result, the obtained Li‐S batteries exhibit outstanding cycle stability with a high areal capacity of 5.6 mAh cm−2 after 100 cycles under a high sulfur loading of 7.2 mg cm−2 (electrolyte to sulfur ratio is ≈3.7 mL g−1). Even assembled into a pouch cell, it still delivers a high capacity of 953.4 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at 0.1 C, contributing to the development of the practically viable Li‐S batteries.
Surface Potential Visualization in Organic Antiambipolar Transistors Using Operando Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy for Understanding the Comprehensive Carrier Transport Mechanism
Authors: Hayakawa Ryoma , Takeiri Soichiro , Yamada Yoichi , Wakayama Yutaka
Published: December 2022

An antiambipolar transistor (AAT) exhibits a negative differential transconductance (NDT) due to a partially overlapped p–n junction formed in the transistor channel. However, the NDT origin remains unclear. In this study, the operando Kelvin probe force microscopy is employed to unveil this issue. When the AAT is turned on, steep potential drops induced by pinch‐off states are visible in the p‐ and n‐type channels. Due to the similarity to the surface potential profiles in the constituent transistors, it is revealed that the pinch‐off points are formed at both edges of the p–n‐stacked layers. This result indicates that the overlapped layers behave like a pseudo‐drain electrode for both transistor channels. Therefore, the AAT drain current can be explained as the overlapped currents in the saturation regions of the p‐ and n‐type transistors. Moreover, the drain current is suppressed when either the p‐ or n‐type channel is completely depleted. The depletion layer formation is responsible for the NDT property. This technique provides a comprehensive understanding of the carrier transport mechanism of AATs, leading to the further evolution of organic electronic circuits.
Conversion of ALD CuO Thin Films into Transparent Conductive p‐Type CuI Thin Films
Authors: Weiß Alexander , Goldmann Jacqueline , Kettunen Sakari , Popov Georgi , Iivonen Tomi , Mattinen Miika , Jalkanen Pasi , Hatanpää Timo , Leskelä Markku , Ritala Mikko , Kemell Marianna
Published: December 2022

Copper iodide (CuI) is a high‐performance p‐type transparent semiconductor that can be used in numerous applications, such as transistors, diodes, and solar cells. However, the lack of conformal and scalable methods to deposit CuI thin films limits its establishment in applications that involve complex‐shaped and/or large substrate areas. In this work, atomic layer deposition (ALD) is employed to enable scalable and conformal thin film deposition. A two‐step approach relying on ALD of CuO and its subsequent conversion to CuI via exposure to HI vapor at room temperature is demonstrated. The resulting CuI films are phase‐pure, uniform, and of high purity. Furthermore, CuI films on several substrates such as Si, amorphous Al2O3, n‐type TiO2, and γ‐CsPbI3perovskite are prepared. With the resulting n‐TiO2/p‐CuI structure, the easy and straightforward fabrication of a diode structure as a proof‐of‐concept device is demonstrated. Moreover, the successful deposition of CuI on γ‐CsPbI3proves the compatibility of the process for using CuI as the hole transport layer in perovskite solar cell applications in the nip‐configuration. It is believed that the ALD‐based approach described in this work will offer a viable alternative for depositing transparent conductive p‐type CuI thin films in applications that involve complex high aspect ratio structures and large substrate areas.
An Effective Charge Neutralization Enabled by Graphene Overlayer in Ambient Pressure XPS Measurements of Insulators
Authors: Yang Chueh‐Cheng , Tsai Meng‐Hsuan , Yang Zong‐Ren , Yang Yaw‐Wen , Tseng Yuan‐Chieh , Wang Chia‐Hsin
Published: December 2022

Ambient pressure XPS is a powerful technique capable of performing measurements with samples kept at mbar pressure. The filled gas, also X‐ray ionized, provides electrons to neutralize positive charges built up on insulating samples. However, this convenient neutralization scheme does not solve the charging problem completely. In this study, the effectiveness of how the electrons generated from conducting mechanical parts mounted in the immediate front of insulating samples neutralize positive charges on the samples during XPS measurements is tested. The mechanical parts range from fine gold mesh, holey carbon film to graphene monolayer, and measured insulating samples are polished sapphire and rough pellets of CaCO3 powder. All these mechanical add‐ons reduce the charging to different degrees at the expense of sample signal. Amazingly, the graphene monolayer is found to effect perfect charge neutralization for both smooth sapphire and rough CaCO3 pellet, evidenced by realistic spectral profile and binding energy values. The finding that an untreated CaCO3 pellet is often terminated with Ca(OH)(HCO3) is consistent with earlier reports. It is speculated that a likely conformal covering with graphene on the sample with rough morphology holds the key to its superb performance in charge compensation.