bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Misinformation about medication during the COVID– 19 pandemic: A perspective of medical staff
Authors: Coman Claudiu , Bularca Maria Cristina , Repanovici Angela , Rogozea Liliana
Published: October 2022

Background

Healthcare professionals had to face numerous challenges during the pandemic, their professional activity being influenced not only by the virus, but also by the spread of medical misinformation. In this regard, we aimed to analyze, from the perspective of medical staff, the way medical and non—medical information about the virus was communicated during the pandemic to encourage the development of future research or interventions in order to raise awareness about the way misinformation affected medical staff.

Methods and findings

The study was conducted on Romanian healthcare professionals. They were asked to answer to a questionnaire and the sample of the research includes 536 respondents. The findings revealed that most respondents stated that information about alternative treatments against the virus affected the credibility of health professionals, and that younger professionals believed to a greater extent that trust in doctors was affected. The research also showed that respondents were well informed about the drugs used in clinical trials in order to treat the virus.

Conclusions

Healthcare professionals declared that the spread of misinformation regarding alternative treatments, affected their credibility and the relationship with their patients. Healthcare professionals had knowledge about the drugs used in clinical trials, and they acknowledged the role of social media in spreading medical misinformation. However, younger professionals also believed that social media could be used to share official information about the virus.
Introducing a vignette experiment to study mechanisms of ethnic discrimination on the housing market
Authors: Ghekiere Abel , Verhaeghe Pieter-Paul , Baert Stijn , Derous Eva , Schelfhout Stijn
Published: October 2022

Ethnic discrimination on the housing market has been subject of research for years. While a field experimental approach is widespread, alternative attempts to objectively measure mechanisms of discrimination on the housing market are scarce. In line with labor market research, we stress that to reduce rental discrimination against ethnic minorities, we need understanding its underlying mechanisms. This is the first paper that introduces a vignette experiment to do so. We distinguish between four mechanisms put forward in the literature but hardly ever empirically tested: agent taste-based discrimination, owner taste-based discrimination, neighborhood taste-based discrimination and statistical discrimination, in a multifactorial vignette experiment among 576 pre graduate real estate student. In addition, our experimental design allows us to examine whether unequal treatment is heterogeneous by property owner and neighborhood characteristics.
Diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography in adults with suspected acute appendicitis at the emergency department in a private tertiary hospital in Tanzania
Authors: Nyamuryekung’e Masawa K. , Patel Miten R. , Jusabani Ahmed , Zehri Ali A. , Ali Athar
Published: October 2022

Introduction

The increasing incidence of acute appendicitis in sub-Saharan Africa emphasizes the need for accurate and reliable diagnostic tools. However, the variability in the diagnostic performance of computed tomography for suspected acute appendicitis coupled with comparatively higher negative appendectomy rates in this setting highlight a possible concern regarding the diagnostic accuracy.

This study evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of a computed tomography scan for suspected acute appendicitis at the emergency department in Tanzania.

Methods

A retrospective diagnostic accuracy study was conducted from July to October 2020. All patients above 14 years of age who presented at the emergency department with right iliac fossa abdominal pain of fewer than ten days and underwent computed tomography for suspected acute appendicitis were evaluated, and the Alvarado score was computed. Histological diagnosis and clinical follow-up of 14 days were considered the reference standard. Ethical clearance was sought from the Aga Khan University Ethical review committee.

Results

176 patients were included in this study. The sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy were 100% (95% CI 91.8–100), 96.9% (95% CI 92.2–99.1), and 96.9% (95% CI 93.1–98.3), respectively. The mean Alvarado score in those without acute appendicitis was 4 (95% CI 3.7–4.3) compared to a mean score of 6.6 (95% CI 6.0–7.2) amongst those with acute appendicitis. The area under the receiver operator characteristics curve of computed tomography was 98.4%, and that of the Alvarado score was 84.1%.

Conclusions

The diagnostic performance of computed tomography in this study is similar to that established elsewhere. However, the Alvarado score is not routinely used for the initial screening of suspected acute appendicitis patients. A threshold of Alvarado score of 4 as a guide to conduct computed tomography for suspected acute appendicitis would have decreased computed tomography use by 50%, and missed 4 cases. Implementation studies that address Alvarado score use should be conducted.
The interaction between drought stress and nodule formation under multiple environments in chickpea
Authors: Istanbuli Tawffiq , Abu Assar Ahmed , Tawkaz Sawsan , Kumar Tapan , Alsamman Alsamman M. , Hamwieh Aladdin
Published: October 2022

Environmental stresses, particularly drought, limit symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legumes, resulting in decreased yielding capacity. Drought is one of the most important constraints limiting yield potential in crops and it is the major abiotic stress that can cause more than 70% yield loss in chickpea. In this study, a total of two hundred four chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes were selected to study the interaction between drought stress and nodule formation. This interaction was assessed by using morphological, yield and yield components. The field experiments were laid out in two locations (Terbol and Kfardan stations, Bekaa valley, Lebanon) using Alpha lattice design with two replications and two watering treatments (irrigation and rainfed) during 2016 and 2017 seasons. Parameters that were measured include days to 50% flowering (DFL), day to maturity (DM), plant height (PLH), nodule biomass (NB), nodule fresh weight (NFW), nodule dry weight (NDW), grain yield (GY), Biological yield (BY), 100 seed weight (100SW) and drought tolerance stress (DTS). The results indicated a significant variation between genotypes, environments and other morphological, yield and yield components traits. Drought stress reduced significantly the yield and the nodule’s characteristics, biological and grain yield. The genotypes with the highest levels of drought tolerance, such as IG70399, IG8256, IG71832, IG70270, and IG70272, showed a minimal decrease in yield and nodule biomass. Nodule observations significantly and positively correlated with GY (0.36-0.38) under drought stress treatment. The correlation values for nodule characteristics with DFL and DM were higher under drought stress compared to irrigated conditions. This is a comparative study between drought stress and nodule formation traits associated with morphological, yield and yield components traits.
Polypharmacy and medical intensive care unit (MICU) admission and 10-year all-cause mortality risk among hospitalized patients with and without HIV
Authors: Gordon Kirsha S. , Crothers Kristina , Butt Adeel A. , Edelman E. Jennifer , Gibert Cynthia , Pisani Margaret M. , Rodriguez-Barradas Maria , Wyatt Christina , Justice Amy C. , Akgün Kathleen M.
Published: October 2022

Objective

Medical intensive care unit (MICU) admissions have been declining in people with HIV infection (PWH), but frequency of outpatient polypharmacy (prescription of ≥5 chronic medications) has increased. Among those hospitalized, we examined whether outpatient polypharmacy is associated with subsequent 1-year MICU admission or 10-year all-cause mortality, and if the association varies by HIV status.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Methods

Using a national electronic health record cohort of Veterans in care, we ascertained outpatient polypharmacy during fiscal year (FY) 2009 and followed patients for 1-year MICU admission and 10-year mortality. We assessed associations of any polypharmacy (yes/no and categorized ≤4, 5–7, 8–9, and ≥10 medications) with 1-year MICU admission and 10-year mortality using logistic and Cox regressions, respectively, adjusted for demographics, HIV status, substance use, and severity of illness.

Results

Among 9898 patients (1811 PWH) hospitalized in FY2010, prior outpatient polypharmacy was common (51%). Within 1 year, 1532 (15%) had a MICU admission and within 10 years, 4585 (46%) died. Polypharmacy was associated with increased odds of 1-year MICU admission, in both unadjusted (odds ratio (OR) 1.36 95% CI: (1.22, 1.52)) and adjusted models, aOR (95% CI) = 1.28 (1.14, 1.43) and with 10-year mortality in unadjusted, hazard ratio (HR) (95% CI) = 1.40 (1.32, 1.48), and adjusted models, HR (95% CI) = 1.26 (1.19, 1.34). Increasing levels of polypharmacy demonstrated a dose-response with both outcomes and by HIV status, with a stronger association among PWH.

Conclusions

Among hospitalized patients, prior outpatient polypharmacy was associated with 1-year MICU admission and 10-year all-cause mortality after adjusting for severity of illness in PWH and PWoH.
Protocol for educational programs on infection prevention/control for medical and healthcare student: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Yoshikawa Akira , Tashiro Naonori , Ohtsuka Hiroyuki , Aoki Keiichiro , Togo Shusuke , Komaba Kazuki , Nogawa Satoshi , Osawa Miwa , Enokida Megumi
Published: October 2022

During the COVID-19 pandemic, infection protection/control education has become increasingly important for not only healthcare professionals but also students undertaking medical, nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other related courses. A review of the literature on infection control education reveals that the target participants often comprise healthcare workers, and very few studies of infection control education focus on students. We have developed a protocol for the systematic review of the literature on simulation-based infection prevention/control education for students undertaking medical, nursing, rehabilitation, and other related courses. The protocol for the systematic review and meta-analysis has been drafted in alignment with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement. Systematic literature search will be performed for the period between 1990 (January) and 2022 (September) using the CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and Scopus databases. We will qualitatively and quantitatively examine the effects of simulation-based infection education for students in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Two investigators will independently search the databases according to the defined search strategy. The full-text of the selected articles will be screened independently keeping in mind the inclusion criteria by a pair of reviewers. Descriptive data will be extracted from each study regarding: study design, methods, participants, and outcomes. A meta-analysis will be performed if the quantitative data is suitable. Heterogeneity will be assessed using the standard χ2. Odds ratio for categorical data and weighted mean differences for continuous data and their 95% confidence intervals will be calculated and used for analysis. Where statistical pooling is not possible, the findings of the quantitative papers will be presented in narrative form. The qualitative aspect will employ narrative (descriptive) synthesis. Our review will make a valuable contribution to the domain of simulation-based infection prevention/control for students enrolled in medical and/or related courses.
Is Ethiopian community-based health insurance affordable? Willingness to pay analysis among households in South Central, Ethiopia
Authors: Kaso Abdene Weya , Haji Abdane , Hareru Habtamu Endashaw , Hailu Alemayehu
Published: October 2022

Background

Community-based Health Insurance (CBHI) is a voluntary prepayment mechanism that guarantees the provision of basic healthcare services without financial barriers to underserved segments of the population in developing countries. The Government of Ethiopia launched the CBHI program to protect the community from high out-of-pocket health expenditure and improve health service utilization a decade ago. However, to improve the quality of healthcare services delivery in health facilities and cover the changing costs of healthcare, the government should revise the contribution of the CBHI scheme. Therefore, we determined the willingness to pay for a CBHI scheme and associated factors among rural households of Lemu and Bilbilo district, South Central Ethiopia.

Methods

We conducted a community-based cross-sectional study design to assess willingness to pay for the CBHI scheme and its associated factors among households in Lemu and Bilbilo districts, South Central Ethiopia. We used a double bounded contingent valuation method to elicit households’ willingness to pay for the CBHI scheme. Data were coded, cleaned, entered into Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 25, and exported to STATA 16 for analysis. A logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the presence of statistically significant associations between the willingness to pay for the CBHI scheme and independent variables at a p-value <0.05 and Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) values with 95% CI. Finally, we checked the fitness of the model using Hosmer and Lemeshow’s goodness-of-fit test.

Results

Of the 476 study participants, 82.9% (95% CI: 79.2%, 86.01%) were willing to pay for the CBHI scheme and only 62% of them can afford the average amount of 358.32ETB ($7.68) per household per annum. Primary education (AOR = 3.17; 95% CI: 1.74–5.80), secondary and above education (AOR = 4.13; 95% CI: 1.86–9.18), large family size (AOR = 2.75; 95% CI: 1.26–5.97), monthly income of 500-1000ETB (AOR = 3.75; 95% CI: 1.97–7.13) and distance to public health facilities (AOR = 2.14, 95% CI: 1.04–4.39 were significantly associated with willingness to pay for the CBHI scheme.

Conclusion

In this study, around 83% of respondents were willing to pay for the CBHI and meet the government expectation for 2020. The study also revealed that educational status, family size, monthly income, and distance from the health facilities were significant factors associated with WTP for the CBHI scheme. In addition, we found that a large number of the respondents couldn’t afford the average amount of money that the participants were willing to pay for the CBHI scheme. So, the government should consider the economic status of the communities while revising the CBHI scheme premium not to miss those who cannot afford the contribution.
Investigating the free-roaming dog population and gastrointestinal parasite diversity in Tulúm, México
Authors: Lyons Michael A. , Malhotra Rumaan , Thompson Cody W.
Published: October 2022

Free-roaming domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) pose major conservation and public health risks worldwide. To better understand the threat of domestic dogs to wildlife and people and add to the growing literature on free-roaming dog ecology, a study was conducted to estimate the dog population in Tulúm, México. A modified mark-recapture technique and program MARK were used to obtain dog population estimates along six different transects dividing the city. Population estimates ranged from 19.75 dogs in one transect to 101.841 dogs in another, with 150 total dogs identified throughout the study and an estimated minimum population density of 48.57 dogs/km2. Fecal samples were also opportunistically collected for parasite identification through fecal flotation analysis using the McMaster technique. Out of 25 samples collected, 19 tested positive for gastrointestinal parasites with the most common species found being Ancylostoma caninum, followed by Toxocara canis, Dipylidium caninum, and Cystoisospora spp. Parasite loads ranged from 50 to 10,700 ova per gram of feces. The large population of free-roaming dogs and the prevalence of three zoonotic parasites highlight the importance of understanding free-roaming dog ecology and educating the public on the health risks free-roaming dogs pose. Los perros callejeros (Canis lupus familiaris) representan un gran riesgo para la conservación de animales y la salud pública mundialmente. Para comprender mejor la amenaza que significan los perros domésticos para la fauna silvestre y los humanos y aportar a la creciente bibliografía sobre la ecología de los perros callejeros, se realizó una investigación para estimar la población de los perros en Tulúm, México. Se utilizó una técnica modificada de marcado y recaptura junto con el programa MARK para estimar la población canina en seis transectos de la ciudad. Los estimados varían desde 19.75 perros en un transecto hasta 101,841 en otro, con un total de 150 perros identificados en el transcurso de la investigación y una densidad mínima estimada de 48,57 perros/km2. Además, se hizo una recolección oportunista de muestras de heces para la identificación de parásitos por medio del análisis de flotacíon fecal, con el método McMaster. De las 25 muestras recolectadas, 19 resultaron positivas para parásitos gastrointestinales, de las cuales las especies más comunes fueron Ancylostomoa caninum, seguida por Toxocara canis, Dipylidium caninum, y Cystoisospora spp. Las cargas parasitarias variaron desde 50 hasta 10.700 óvulos por gramo de heces. La alta población de perros callejeros y la prevalencia de tres enfermedades zoonóticas resaltan la importancia de entender la ecología de los perros callejeros y educar al público sobre los riesgos que significan los perros callejeros para la salud.
Anthropogenic noise may impair the mating behaviour of the Shore Crab Carcinus Maenas
Authors: Rising Kara , Hardege Jörg , Tregenza Tom , Stevens Martin
Published: October 2022

Anthropogenic noise is a recent addition to the list of human-made threats to the environment, with potential and established negative impacts on a wide range of animals. Despite their economic and ecological significance, few studies have considered the impact of anthropogenic noise on crustaceans, though past studies have shown that it can cause significant effects to crustacean physiology, anatomy, and behaviour. Mating behaviour in crustaceans could potentially be severely affected by anthropogenic noise, given that noise has been demonstrated to impact some crustacean’s ability to detect and respond to chemical, visual, and acoustic cues, all of which are vital in courtship rituals. To explore if noise has an impact on crustacean mating, we tested the responses of male green shore crabs (Carcinus maenas) from the southwest UK coast by exposing them to ship noise recordings while simultaneously presenting them with a dummy-female soaked in the female-sex pheromone uridine diphosphate (UDP) in an experimental tank setup (recording treatment: n = 15, control treatment: n = 15). We found a significant, negative effect of noise on the occurrence of mating behaviour compared to no noise conditions, though no significant effect of noise on the time it took for a crab to respond to the pheromone. Such effects suggest reproductive impairment due to anthropogenic noise, which could potentially contribute to decreased crustacean populations and subsequent ecological and economic repercussions. Given the findings of our preliminary study, more research should be undertaken that includes larger sample sizes, double blind setups, and controlled laboratory trials in order to more fully extrapolate the potential impact of noise on mating in the natural environment.
Medical student wellness assessment beyond anxiety and depression: A scoping review
Authors: Haykal Kay-Anne , Pereira Lara , Power Aidan , Fournier Karine
Published: October 2022

Background

A significant increase in distress and mental health illnesses has been identified in medical students during their training. As a result, medical schools have attempted to understand factors linked to well-being. Wellness questionnaires present a useful approach to identifying students with risk factors for mental health to provide appropriate resources for support and referrals. This study aims to identify validated questionnaires in the literature that measure medical student wellness.

Methods

A scoping review methodology was selected and an exhaustive search of MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, APA PsycInfo, EPIC, and Education Source, was performed from 1999 to May 27, 2021. A compilation of validated wellness evaluation tools, surveys and questionnaires assessing wellness beyond depression and anxiety was reviewed. All validated methods of wellness assessment for medical students were included.

Results

5,001 studies were identified once duplicate records were removed. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 23 articles were included in a qualitative synthesis and explored in detail. The following six validated questionnaires measuring the wellness of medical school students are reported and discussed: the Medical Student Stress Profile (MSSP), the Medical Student Stress Questionnaire (MSSQ), the Medical Student Well-Being Index (MSWBI), the Perceived Medical School Stress (PMSS), the Perceived Stress Scale for Medical Students (PSSMS), and the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory—Medical Student Version (OLBI-MS). These validated questionnaires provide various aspects to the assessment of wellbeing.

Conclusions

Wellbeing evaluations are reliable in identifying medical students who are at risk for mental health illnesses but must be chosen carefully based on contexts, academic environment and student population. A direct comparison between validated questionnaires for student wellbeing is not possible and individual medical schools must determine the appropriateness and validity of such tools based on population-specific characteristics and demands.
Responses towards eyefluke (Diplostomum pseudospathaceum) in different genetic lineages of rainbow trout
Authors: Karami Asma M. , Duan Yajiao , Kania Per W. , Buchmann Kurt
Published: October 2022

Marker-assisted selective breeding of fish with higher levels of resistance towards specific pathogens may improve fish health, but the impact of host genotype on susceptibility to multiple pathogen infections is still poorly investigated. This study examined the resistance in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss towards infection with the eye fluke Diplostomum pseudospathaceum. We used genetically selected rainbow trout, carrying SNPs associated with resistance towards the parasitic ciliate Ichthyophthirius multifiliis, and exposed the fish to eye fluke cercariae. We showed that fish partly resistant to I. multifiliis were more susceptible to eye fluke invasion. The expression of immune relevant genes (encoding innate and adaptive factors) was also affected as these genotypes responded less strongly to a secondary fluke infection. The complexity of genome architecture in disease resistance towards multiple pathogens is discussed.
Editorial
Authors: Funk Clayton
Published: October 2022

I am excited to join G. James Daichendt and Jason Swift as a co-editor of Visual Inquiry: Learning and Teaching Art. I have served as a reviewer on the editorial board of this journal since its first issue in 2012. Over the past ten years, authors have delivered a breadth of issues in education, studio art, art history, criticism and much more. I am thankful for this dedication to research and even pushing boundaries in the visual arts.
Increasing visual perception in architecture education: An architectural representation study
Authors: Nayeb Aslan , Kutlu İzzettin
Published: October 2022

Representation is a tool that facilitates the transfer of an idea. Architectural representations not only help differentiate the thoughts that the designer has in his mind, but also create a space where he can simplify what he has in mind when uploading it. This article makes a study on developing visual perception ability by including architecture students in the education process. Representation has become a necessary tool, especially in conveying thoughts. In this study, representation was analysed by architecture students through the five structures designed by Louis Kahn, one of the famous architects of the twentieth century. Students were asked to discover the remarkable features of buildings and produced 15 × 15 cm2 architectural representations. As a result, the student’s perception of these buildings increased significantly and provided lesson hours to be more productive while creating architectural representations.
Glyphs, planes and pictorial tales: Restoring hand graphics to centrality in landscape architecture education
Authors: Verma Amitabh
Published: October 2022

Landscape architecture has been transformed in recent decades by technological applications which have displaced a long-established tradition of manual graphic expression. Although advantageous for private enterprise, this development has not been entirely salutary in academia, as the discarding of manual graphics also eliminated an invaluable medium of teaching design thinking, creative exploration and ideological values. This article summarizes the results of an experimental course on advanced hand graphics taught within a technology-dominated landscape curriculum. Intended to cultivate cognitive and analytical abilities vital for successful design practice, it was simultaneously foreseen as a template for future applications to reinforce design education’s connection to manual graphics. An overview of philosophical objectives, structure and implementation is supplemented with student feedback and work specimens, parameters which were collectively evaluated to assess course performance, success and future viability.
Visualizing and deepening thoughts through art appreciation
Authors: Ishizaki Kazuhiro , Wang Wenchun
Published: October 2022

We studied methods to help people visualize and deepen their thoughts through art appreciation and how to apply these methods. First, we present the concept of appreciation skills as a scheme to promote thought visualization during the art appreciation process. Then, we propose a model of metacognition using appreciation skills as a theoretical framework for monitoring and controlling thoughts during art appreciation, and we offer tools to help viewers metacognize their thoughts. Additionally, we present and analyse creative approaches for appreciating art physically through multiple senses (sight, touch, sound, smell) as well as practices for visualizing and deepening thoughts through collaborative visual representations. We found that supporting metacognition during the art appreciation process from the perspective of appreciation skills can be particularly effective for novice viewers. In addition, the collaborative creation of short videos may encourage non-art major students to visualize their thoughts and have more varied interpretations of artwork.
António Jorge Andrade de Gouveia. Um Pedaço de Química Portuguesa
Authors: Formosinho Sebastião J. , Burrows Hugh D.
Published: October 2022

O Professor António Jorge Andrade Gouveia (1905-2002) foi uma personalidade multifacetada envolvida em diferentes actividades e contribuições para a investigação e ensino da química, ciência e história da ciência e governo universitário, como evocado pelos autores do presente volume. A comunidade química reconhece a sua contribuição para a química, mas é a faceta de Reitor da Universidade de Coimbra que é mais conhecida do público. Esta obra traça um retrato vivo e profundo da sua vida e herança científica.
Ricœuriana 2: Ricœur e a Questão da Imagem
Authors: Lavelle Patrícia , Marcelo Gonçalo , Arias César Correa , Moratalla Tomás Domingo
Published: October 2022

Este segundo número da Ricœuriana – Coleção da Associação Ibero-Americana de Estudos Ricœurianos é dedicado à questão da imagem e da imaginação, tema do dossier principal do livro. Este dossier é composto por um conjunto de capítulos explorando tópicos como a hermenêutica crítica, a imagem metafórica e a emancipação, em conexão com o tema principal, e pela tradução para português de dois textos de Ricœur: “Poesia e possibilidade” e “Arquitetura e Narratividade”. Imediatamente a seguir ao dossier temático encontra-se uma secção de varia, com um capítulo e uma recensão dedicados a aspetos do pensamento de Ricœur não diretamente ligados com o tema do dossier.
How islamic finance is resilient during the pandemic
Authors: Ramadhanty Shafitri Arindya , Wijaya Liliana Inggrit , Mahadwartha Putu Anom
Published: October 2022

During the pandemic, Islamic fnance showed good resilience and contributed to the country’s economy. However, few studies are trying to discover the underlying factors of Indonesia’s Islamic fnance resilience and the appropriate measures to achieve sustainability in Indonesia’s Islamic fnance. Therefore, the purpose is to fnd the underlying factors of Islamic fnance’s resilience in Indonesia during the pandemic and discover what makes Islamic fnance in Indonesia sustainable. After analyzing the data using Straus’ grounded theory coding, the fndings indicate that the ﬂexible structure of Islamic fnance becomes the main factor contributing to the resilience and sustainability of Islamic fnance in Indonesia during the pandemic. Other factors such as a variety of “akad” and government agenda also contribute to its resilience and sustainability during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further, Indonesia’s government and Islamic fnancial institutions must develop quality human capital and adapt to technological changes. Lastly, it is hoped that this study could contribute to the development of Islamic fnance in Indonesia.
Financial Factors Contribution to SMEs’ Profitability
Authors: Aisyah Esy Nur , Umami Ana Khabibatul
Published: October 2022

Micro, small, and medium enterprises play a very important role in driving the economy both nationally and internationally. The level of profitability is one indicator of the performance of SMEs. One of the factors that affect profitability is the financial factor. Therefore, this study attempts to analyze the contribution of financial factors (Own Capital, Loan Capital, Assets, Trade Credit, Production Costs, Sales, Average Wages, Taxes, and Lagged Profitability) to the profitability of SMEs. The population consists of all SMEs in the city of Malang. The sampling technique used an iteration formula and obtained a sample of 116 SMEs in Malang that received financing from Islamic financial institutions, banks, and non-banks. Questionnaires and observational interviews collected data. The data analysis technique used Multiple Linear Regression. The result of the determination test on this research model is 0.839 (84%). And based on the results of the partial test, of the nine independent variables in the study, only three variables have a significant positive effect on the profitability of SMEs, namely Own Capital, Loan Capital, and Lagged Profitability. And of the three variables that provide the largest contribution or influence on profitability is Own Capital.
Proximity and Retail Loyalty: Mediation of Time Convenience
Authors:   Faculty of Business, Universitas Katolik Widya Mandala Surabaya, Indonesia, Supriharyanti Elisabeth , Agung Deatri Arumsari , Agrippina Yulika Rosita , Wibiamto Febianus Eka Yudha , Pratama Budi ,   Faculty of Business, Universitas Katolik Widya Mandala Surabaya, Indonesia
Published: October 2022

The success of convenience stores is not only the proximity factor but also time, especially for postmodern individuals who are characterized by the need for speed and social interaction. Research linking proximity and time is still very limited, while the two variables are closely related to shopping activities. This study aims to examine the relationships between both material and immaterial proximity to retail loyalty; and the mediating role of time management and time saving (time convenience). This study used quantitative methods by means of PLS, where a total of 150 responses were collected from minimarket consumers in residential areas in Indonesia using a purposive sampling method. The results show that access, functional and social proximities affect time management, while time saving factors are only functional and relational proximities. Both time management and time saving have a positive relationship with loyalty. The mediation test found that time management mediates the effects of access, functional and social proximities on loyalty. Meanwhile, time saving mediates the effects of functional and relational proximities on loyalty. This finding mainly fills a gap in research that is still limited in linking the immaterial dimensions of intimacy and customer loyalty. This research enriches the concept of location for the service industry, especially retailers and provides practical implications in store operational management.
PENGARUH SALINITAS TERHADAP EFEKTIFITAS EKSTRAK DAUN API-API (Avicennia marina) DALAM MENGOBATI INFEKSI Vibrio harveyi PADA KEPITING BAKAU (Scylla sp.)
Authors: Falah Muhammad , Sarjito Sarjito , Desrina Desrina
Published: October 2022

Kepiting bakau (Scylla sp.) salah satu komoditas yang memiliki ekonomis tinggi. Salah satu faktor yang menyebabkan penurunan produksi kepiting adalah penyakit. Penyakit yang sering menyerang kepiting bakau adalah Vibriosis. Salah satu upaya dalam pengobatan dapat menggunakan bahan alami yaitu ekstrak daun api-api (A. marina) akan dilakukan pada salinitas yang berbeda. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui pengaruh salinitas terhadap efektifitas perendaman ekstrak daun api-api (A. marina) dilihat dari kelulushidupan, salinitas terbaik didalam perendaman ekstrak daun api-api (A. marina) kepiting bakau yang diinfeksi bakteri V. harveyi, dan gejala klinis kepiting bakau (Scylla sp.). Kepiting bakau yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini berjumlah 48 ekor dengan bobot 46-56 g. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode eksperimental dengan Rancangan Acak Lengkap (4 perlakuan 3 kali ulangan). Kepiting seluruhnya disuntik bakteri V. harveyi dengan kepadatan 0,1 x 107 CFU/ml pada bagian pangkal kaki renang. Pasca munculnya gejala klinis, kepiting bakau direndam menggunakan ekstrak daun api-api (A. marina) dengan perlakuan A (perendaman dalam salinitas 15 ppt), B (perendaman dalam salinitas 20 ppt), C (perendaman dalam salinitas 25 ppt), dan D (perendaman dalam salinitas 30 ppt). Kepiting yang digunakan adalah kepiting bakau, dengan kepadatan adalah 4 ekor/akuarium selama 14 hari. Data yang dianalisis adalah gejala klinis, kelulushidupan, histopatologi hepatopankreas dan kualitas air. Data yang telah didapatkan kemudian dianalisis seluruhnya secara deskriptif.Hasil penelitian menunjukkan salinitas tidak berpengaruh terhadap kelulushidupan kepiting bakau (Scylla sp.) yang di infeksi V. harveyi yang direndam ekstrak daun api-api pada berbegai salinitas, namun diperoleh nilai tertinggi pada salinitas 30 ppt (58%) dan terendah pada salinitas 15 ppt (50%). Salinitas terbaik untuk pengobatan menggunakan ekstrak daun api-api (A. marina) pada kepiting bakau (Scylla sp.) yang di infeksi bakteri V. harveyi adalah 30 ppt. Gejala klinis yang diperoleh dari hasil penelitian adalah perubahan morfologis dan perubahan tingkah laku. Hasil pengamatan histologi hepatopankreas ditemukan adanya kerusakan jaringan pada seluruh perlakuan yaitu berupa nekrosis, vakuolisis, dan degradasi lumen. Kualitas air pada media pemeliharaan berada dalam kisaran yang layak untuk kehidupan kepiting bakau.
Towards a feminist theatre in Nigeria: Julie Okoh’s Closed Doors examined
Authors: Yeseibo John Ebimobowei
Published: October 2022

Okoh is a prolific playwright whose feminist inclination is not anyway in doubt. In her plays, especially Closed Doors, she addresses issues bordering on the woman question. Such issues include generally sexual injustices against women such as pedophilia, rape, female genital mutilation, forced abortion and unrequited love. Closed Doors focuses on the psychological crises of subaltern women whose lives have been vexed by a complex array of disturbing and thwarting personal relationships, particularly their relationships with their ‘treacherous’ lovers. The play is an expose on the vulnerability of women as a result of unbridled patriarchal arrogance. The main aim of this study is to situate Closed Doors as a feminist theatre. To achieve this, the salient characteristics of feminist theatre shall be teased out to serve as a tapestry against which this study shall posit whether Closed Doors is or is to become feminist theatre. The literary and sociological methodical approaches are adopted here; sociological because the point is established here that there is a dynamic and complex relationship between a work of art and the social realities under which it is produced.
Human cardiomyocytes are more susceptible to irreversible electroporation by pulsed electric field than human esophageal cells
Authors: Casciola Maura , Keck Devin , Feaster Tromondae K. , Blinova Ksenia
Published: October 2022

Pulse electric field‐based (PEF) ablation is a technique whereby short high‐intensity electric fields inducing irreversible electroporation (IRE) are applied to various tissues. Here, we implemented a standardized in vitro model to compare the effects of biphasic symmetrical pulses (100 pulses, 1–10 μs phase duration (d), 10–1000 Hz pulse repetition rate (f)) using two different human cellular models: human‐induced pluripotent stem cell‐derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC‐CMs) and human esophageal smooth muscle cells (hESMCs) cultured in monolayer format. We report the PEF‐induced irreversibly electroporated cell monolayer areas and the corresponding electric field thresholds (EFTs) for both cardiac and esophageal cultures. Our results suggest marked cell type specificity with EFT estimated to be 2–2.5 times lower in hiPSC‐CMs than in hESMCs when subjected to identical PEF treatments (e.g., 0.90 vs 1.85 kV/cm for the treatment of 100 pulses with d = 5 μs, f = 10 Hz, and 0.65 vs 1.67 kV/cm for the treatment of 100 pulses with d = 10 μs, f = 10 Hz). PEF treatment can result in increased temperature around the stimulating electrodes and lead to unanticipated thermal tissue damage that is proportional to the peak temperature rise and to the duration of the PEF‐induced elevated temperatures. In our study, temperature increases ranged from less than 1°C to as high as 30°C, however, all temperature changes were transient and quickly returned to baseline and the highest observed ∆T returned to 50% of its maximum recorded temperature in tens of seconds.
ARTER: a walking excavator robot for autonomous and remote operations
Authors: Babu Ajish , Danter Leon Cedric , Willenbrock Pierre , Natarajan Sankaranarayanan , Kuehn Daniel , Kirchner Frank
Published: October 2022

The Autonomous Rough Terrain Excavator Robot (ARTER) is a retrofitted walking excavator developed for remote and autonomous operations in environments hostile to humans. This work highlights the key developments related to this robot: system design, terrain adaption controller, and high-level process controller. The original walking excavator is retrofitted with sensors, hydraulic valves, computation devices, etc., to automate it. The terrain adaption controller, which adapts the wheels automatically to the underlying uneven terrain, is implemented using deep reinforcement learning. The tasks for the robot are complex and require switching between autonomy and remote operations. Hence, a custom high-level process controller, based on behavior trees, which helps the operator control complex tasks for the robot, is developed. The remote control and autonomous behaviors of the robot are evaluated for realistic scenarios performed in a test environment.
Humanoid robotic system for grasping and manipulation in decontamination tasks
Authors: Pohl Christoph , Hegemann Patrick , An Byungchul , Grotz Markus , Asfour Tamim
Published: October 2022

The disposal of nuclear waste poses a long-standing problem, which has been conventionally handled by human workers. This includes carrying heavy objects, exposure to radiation, and decontamination in full-body protective suits. To improve the working conditions and safety of the workers, robot systems can contribute to tackling some of these problems. So far, most robots in use are manually teleoperated and lack autonomy. To this end, we propose a fully autonomous decontamination setup with the humanoid robot ARMAR-6 [T. Asfour, M. Wächter, L. Kaul, et al., “ARMAR-6: a high-performance humanoid for human-robot collaboration in real world scenarios,”IEEE Robot. Autom. Mag.,vol. 26, no. 4, pp. 108–121, 2019] that can manipulate unknown objects as a first important step of decontamination without the need for human intervention.
ROBDEKON – competence center for decontamination robotics
Authors: Woock Philipp , Petereit Janko , Frey Christian , Beyerer Jürgen
Published: October 2022

There are still many hazardous tasks that humans perform in their daily work. This is of great concern for the remediation of contaminated sites, for the dismantling of nuclear power plants, or for the handling of hazardous materials. The competence center ROBDEKON was founded to concentrate expertise and coordinate research activities regarding decontamination robotics in Germany. It serves as a national technology hub for the decontamination needs of various stakeholders. A major scientific goal of ROBDEKON is the development of (semi-)autonomous robotic systems to remove humans from work environments that are potentially hazardous to health.
Emerging technology: a definition for laboratory medicine
Authors: Greaves Ronda F. , Kricka Larry , Gruson Damien , Martin Helen , Ferrari Maurizio , Bernardini Sergio
Published: October 2022

The term “emerging technology” (ET) is used extensively, and there are numerous definitions offered, but to our knowledge, none specifically encompass the field of laboratory medicine. An ET definition that incorporates the overarching IFCC aim of “Advancing excellence in laboratory medicine to support healthcare worldwide” would clarify discussions. We discuss key aspects of the term “emerging technology(ies)” as it applies to laboratory medicine with a view to laying the foundations for a practical definition for the profession and propose the definition of an ET as “An analytical method or device that by virtue of its stage of development, translation into broad routine clinical practice, or geographical adoption and implementation has the potential to add value to clinical diagnostics”.
The influence of ionic liquid pretreatment on the physicomechanical properties of polymer biocomposites: A mini-review
Authors: Shamsuri Ahmad Adlie , Jamil Siti Nurul Ain Md. , Abdan Khalina
Published: October 2022

Increasing concern for the environment has led researchers to pay more attention to the fabrication of polymer biocomposites for many different applications. Polymer biocomposites have generally been fabricated utilizing synthetic or natural polymers with natural fillers. Recently, ionic liquids have been used for the pretreatment of natural fillers prior to the fabrication of polymer biocomposites. In this mini-review, four types of ionic liquids used for the pretreatment of natural filler are classified, specifically chloride-, diethyl phosphate-, acetate-, and bistriflimide-based ionic liquids. In addition, the pretreatment processes of natural fillers with ionic liquids are described in this review. Furthermore, the influence of ionic liquid pretreatment on the physicomechanical properties of polymer biocomposites is succinctly reviewed. Besides, the information presented in this review contributes to a clearer understanding of the process of ionic liquid pretreatment and the vital physicomechanical properties of polymer biocomposites. In summary, most ionic liquid pretreatments can improve almost all physicomechanical properties of polymer biocomposites.
Miniaturized wideband implantable slotted loop antenna for biotelemetry applications
Authors: Selvakumaran Palanivel Rajan , Mohanraj Paranthaman
Published: October 2022

Small size of the implantable antenna is the major concern in Implantable Medical Devices. A compact implantable wideband radiator working at the ISM band is proposed for biotelemetry applications. The overall dimension of the proposed radiator is 10 mm ⁎ 15 mm ⁎ 0.8 mm and the thickness includes substrate and superstrate thickness. The Coaxial feeding method is employed here. The inner and outer diameter of the coaxial feed is 1 and 1.5 mm respectively. The design process starts with a creation of rectangular patch of size 10 mm ⁎ 15 mm and the coaxial feed is located at (2.5, 7). Then slot like loops are introduced on a rectangular patch. This compact size is achieved by introducing small loops on a rectangular patch along with triangular cuts at the bottom right and top-left of the patch. The antenna is simulated with a tissue model (Skin, Fat, Muscle, Bone) and measured with a Body Equivalent Fluid (phantom). The −10 dB bandwidth is obtained over 1340 MHz (1.66–3 GHz) and the fractional bandwidth of 54.7% at the ISM band. The simulated gain and radiation efficiency of the radiator are −13.5 dBi and 3.15% respectively. The measured return loss of the proposed antenna is −30.53 dB and the SAR value averaged over 1 g tissue is 302.6 W/kg with 1 W input power. When compared to the previous works mentioned in the literature the proposed antenna displays wider bandwidth, high gain, low SAR and high radiation efficiency.
On classifying map of the integral Krichever–Hoehn formal group law
Authors: Bakuradze Malkhaz , Gamkrelidze Alexander
Published: October 2022

The classifying map of the integral Krichever–Hoehn formal group law is presented as a quotient map of the Lazard ring by some explicit ideal.
Simulation of drift-diffusion process at high Péclet numbers by the random walk on spheres method
Authors: Sabelfeld Karl K. , Aksyuk Ivan
Published: October 2022

In this paper, we address the problem of flow simulation at high Péclet numbers by the random walk on spheres (RWS) method.
Conventional deterministic methods here face difficulties related to high solution gradients near the boundary in the region known as the boundary layer.
In the finite-difference methods, this leads to introduction of very fine meshes which in turn causes problems of stability and high dimensions.
The RWS algorithm is mesh free, but the high Péclet number flows should probably also affect the efficiency of simulations.
However, it turns out that the RWS algorithm can be well adapted to this case.
We present an analysis of the RWS algorithm for different examples of flows with high Péclet number.
Simulations are carried out for different boundary conditions and for two-layered material with different diffusion coefficients of exciton’s mobility.