bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms and functional constipation, and related risk factors among Chinese university students: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Jiang Bochen , Zhang Jing , Yang Man , Zhang Xiaobin , Yang Haidong
Published: February 2024

Background Depression and anxiety disorders are prevalent mental health problems worldwide, and their prevalence in university students is of particular concern. Meanwhile, functional constipation (FC), a chronic gastrointestinal dysfunction, has a high concomitant prevalence with several mental disorders. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms, and FC among university students, and to explore possible risk factors. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted online and general demographic data were collected from 12,721 university students in Jiangsu and Shandong provinces. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, anxiety symptoms were measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder − 7 scale, and FC was assessed using the ROME IV. Results The prevalence of self-reported depressive, anxiety, and comorbid depressive and anxiety symptoms was 16.3%, 24.9%, and 13.3%, respectively, among participating students. Furthermore, the prevalence of FC was 22%, and the prevalence among students with depressive symptoms was 1.811 times higher than among students without depressive symptoms. Female gender, parental relationships, and lower household income were significant risk factors for depressive and anxiety symptoms among university students. Conclusions This study reveals a higher prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms, and FC among the university student population. Given these findings, it is recommended that psychological health services and support systems be strengthened, especially interventions for those at high risk for depressive and anxiety symptoms and FC.
Wildlife conservation on private land: a social-ecological systems study
Authors: Taylor Matthew , Brook Barry , Johnson Christopher , de Little Siobhan
Published: February 2024

As human activity accelerates the global crisis facing wildlife populations, private land conservation provides an example of wildlife management challenges in social-ecological systems. This study reports on the research phase of ‘WildTracker’ - a co-created citizen science project, involving 160 landholders across three Tasmanian regions. This was a transdisciplinary collaboration between an environmental organisation, university researchers, and local landholders. Focusing on mammal and bird species, the project integrated diverse data types and technologies: social surveys, quantitative ecology, motion sensor cameras, acoustic recorders, and advanced machine-learning analytics. An iterative analytical methodology encompassed Pearson and point-biserial correlation for interrelationships, Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) for clustering, and Random Forest machine learning for variable importance and prediction. Taken together, these analyses revealed complex relationships between wildlife populations and a suite of ecological, socio-economic, and land management variables. Both site-scale habitat characteristics and landscape-scale vegetation patterns were useful predictors of mammal and bird activity, but these relationships were different for mammals and birds. Four focal mammal species showed variation in their response to ecological and land management drivers. Unexpectedly, threatened species, such as the eastern quoll (Dasyurus viverinus), favoured locations where habitat was substantially modified by human activities. The research provides actionable insights for landowners, and highlights the importance of ‘messy’, ecologically heterogeneous, mixed agricultural landscapes for wildlife conservation. The identification of thresholds in habitat fragmentation reinforced the importance of collaboration across private landscapes. Participatory research models such as WildTracker can complement efforts to address the wicked problem of wildlife conservation in the Anthropocene.
Tracking green space along streets of world cities
Authors: Falchetta Giacomo , Hammad Ahmed
Published: February 2024

Street green space (SGS) - the presence of vegetation along streets of cities - is an increasingly relevant indicator for sustainable cities. SGS provides a set of local services such as mitigating the urban heat island effect and reducing the impact of extreme precipitation events, while it is also associated with increasing human well-being. Here we present a global analysis of recent trends in SGS based on modelling a street-based indicator of vegetation density (the Green View Index, GVI) with high-resolution multispectral satellite data and additional granular data. Estimating local to continental trends between 2016-2022 based on 190 large cities distributed across seven macroregions, we find that globally SGS has decreased by almost two percent. Statistically significant changes in city-level median SGS (p<0.01) are found in approximately one-quarter of the cities analysed. However, the direction and magnitude of trends both show a high level of heterogeneity between regions, which we explore by assessing SGS inequalities within each city. Our analysis provides an updated picture of SGS across world cities and an open-source, validated approach to assess its future changes in near real-time and support the design of policies for greener cities.
Towards a Natural Treatment for Mania: Red Onion Husk Extract Modulates Neuronal Resilience, Redox Signalling, and Glial Activation.
Authors: Ekeanyanwu Chukwuma Raphael , EKEANYANWU Chidinma Lynda , UGOCHUKWU Kingsley Nnaemeka
Published: February 2024

Background
Red onion husk, a readily available agricultural waste material, contains diverse bioactive compounds with potential health benefits. This study aimed to assess the safety and therapeutic potential of red onion husk extract in managing manic-like symptoms and associated neurochemical dysfunctions.
Methods
Acute and repeated oral dose studies were conducted in mice and rats to evaluate the safety profile of the extract. FT-IR analysis identified functional groups in the extract, while GC-MS analysis identified specific bioactive compounds in the flavonoid-rich fraction. A ketamine-induced manic behaviour model in Wistar rats was employed to assess the extract's efficacy in attenuating manic-like symptoms. Behavioural and neurochemical analyses were performed to further investigate the extract's effects.
Results
The extract demonstrated a favourable safety profile in both acute and repeated dose studies. FT-IR analysis revealed a complex mixture of organic compounds, including hydroxyl groups, alkynes/nitriles, aromatic and non-aromatic C = C bonds, amines, and polysaccharides. GC-MS analysis identified 17 bioactive compounds, including five-methyl-2-phenylindolizine, methadone N-oxide, and 3-phenylthiane, S-oxide. Ketamine administration significantly increased oxidative stress markers, TBARS, and suppressed antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, GPx, CAT) in both the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, alongside elevated acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity, indicating enhanced neuronal excitability. Pre-treatment with FRF (25 mg/kg) effectively mitigated ketamine-induced oxidative stress, as evidenced by reduced TBARS levels and partially restored SOD and GPx activities. Interestingly, FRF significantly increased CAT activity (p < 0.001), potentially suggesting an additional compensatory mechanism. Notably, FRF pre-treatment also counteracted ketamine-upregulated AchE activity, offering neuroprotection against heightened neuronal excitability.
Conclusion
Red onion husk extract exhibits a favourable safety profile and exerts potent antioxidant and neuroprotective effects, possibly through modulating Nrf2 signalling pathways. Its ability to counteract ketamine-induced oxidative stress and neuronal hyperactivity highlights its potential as a complementary therapeutic strategy for managing manic episodes in bipolar disorder. Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise molecular mechanisms underlying FRF's action and explore its clinical efficacy in human studies.
Basal metabolic rate and resting energy expenditure per body weight before and after kidney transplantation in pediatric patients with chronic kidney disease
Authors: Takahashi Yusuke , Nakahara Yasuo , Mukai Wataru , Hitomi Kosuke , Takata Chika , Hamasaki Yuko
Published: February 2024

Background
Few studies on the basal metabolism of pediatric patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have been published. We investigated whether basal metabolism changes in such patients before and after kidney transplantation, during the recovery of kidney function.
Methods
We prospectively enrolled 10 Japanese patients aged 15 years or younger, who underwent kidney transplantation for CKD at the Department of Nephrology, Toho University School of Medicine, for whom the basal metabolic rate (BMR) could be measured before and approximately 1 month after kidney transplantation. The resting energy expenditure per body weight (REE/Wt) before and after transplantation was compared with the age-matched BMR and weight-corrected reference BMR for Japanese individuals. In addition, the REE/Wt and respiratory quotient (RQ) before and after transplantation were compared.
Results
The post-transplant REE/Wt was higher than the age-matched BMR in 5 of the 10 patients studied, all of whom had a standard deviation score weight of − 2 or less. The change in the mean ± standard deviation REE/Wt before and after transplantation was not significant (from 42.6 ± 10.0 to 44.1 ± 11.2), whereas the change in the RQ (from 0.89 ± 0.05 to 1.01 ± 0.05) was.
Conclusions
In pediatric patients with CKD in this study, the similar REE/Wt and increased RQ before versus after transplantation suggest that REE/Wt is influenced by body size rather than kidney function.
Dialectal Detective: Leveraging Feature Selection Techniques to Unearth Moroccan Dialect Arabic
Authors: ABDELLAH AITELOULI , Ouahi Hassan , Cherrat El Mehdi , BEKKAR Abdellatif
Published: February 2024

In the evolving context of automated language processing, unraveling the complex fabric of Moroccan Arabic (Darija) in a multilingual environment is a major challenge. This study embarks on the arduous task of detecting the nuances of Moroccan Arabic within a binary dataset that consists of both Standard Arabic and Darija expressions. Using a comprehensive methodology, we interweave a sophisticated set of feature selection techniques, including well-known extraction techniques in natural language processing (NLP) such as TF-idf, CBOW, and Word2Vec. By leveraging the capabilities of machine learning techniques via LASSO decision and regression trees, we navigate the labyrinth of linguistic diversity, relying on semantic methods that consist of using mostly advanced encoders to deepen our understanding of the distinctive linguistic fabric. We also look at static methods of feature selection, such as ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficient, and mutual information, in order to add strata of analysis. Finally, by emphasizing the paramount importance of dimensionality reduction through principal component analysis (PCA) and singular value decomposition (SVD), our methodology not only preserves the essential structures in the high-dimensional linguistic space, but also strives to contribute significantly to the accurate detection of Moroccan Arabic dialects. The stability of our results is achieved with the XGBOOST algorithm using classical extraction methods and SVD, with a reasonable execution time. This research aspires not only to unveil the specific subtleties of Arabic dialects, but also to open up new horizons in the field of natural language processing within diverse and multilingual societies.
The Brønsted-Lewis acid sites in Metal-organic framework nanozymes for cooperatively enhancing the hydrolysis of lactose
Authors: Yi Chenshu , Xing Keyu , Xu Keyu , Yao Li , Jia Pei , Wu Hao , Wen Li , Cheng Yunhui , Xu Zhou
Published: February 2024

In order to solve the problem of the low efficiency of lactose hydrolysis using traditional metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) nanozymes, Brønsted acid active sites (-COOH) were introduced into Fe-MIL-101 nanozymes to enhance the lactose hydrolysis activity of MOFs bearing Lewis acid sites in this study. When compared to Fe-MIL-101, Fe-MIL-101-COOH exhibited improved catalytic performance, showing a lactose conversion rate of up to 78%. Our experiments suggested that this enhancement could be attributed to the synergistic effect between the Brønsted acidic COOH groups and Lewis acidic Fe clusters. Furthermore, Fe-MIL-101-COOH displayed good stability and reusability with no significant loss in catalytic activity observed after at least five consecutive cycles. Our results showed that the activity of Fe-MIL-101-COOH with Brønsted acid active sites was better than that of Fe-MIL-101. Fe-MIL-101-COOH could be applied to the hydrolysis of lactose in milk powder and the conversion rate of lactose was higher than 48%. This study provided theoretical support for the design of MOFs nanozymes.
Lateral carrier diffusion in ion-implanted ultra-small blue III-nitride microLEDs.
Authors: Slawinska Julia , Muziol Grzegorz , Kafar Anna , Skierbiszewski Czeslaw
Published: February 2024

Ultra-small micro-light emitting diodes (µLEDs), sized below 10 µm, are indispensable to create next-generation augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) devices. Their high brightness and low power consumption could not only enhance the user experience by providing vivid and lifelike visuals but also extend device longevity. However, a notable challenge emerges: a decrease in efficiency with reduced size. This study casts light on this critical issue, investigating the lateral carrier diffusion in ion-implanted µLEDs. The implanted area restricts the carrier injection and defines the µLED size to diameters of 10, 5 and 2 µm without introduction of non-radiative recombination centres in the quantum well area. We observed a drop of efficiency for smaller devices, similarly as in the case of conventional µLEDs with etched sidewalls. Electroluminescence of µLEDs was studied using a Gaussian beam telescope to analyse light intensity profiles and hence the spatial carrier distribution within the active region of µLEDs. Lateral diffusion length was determined to be 11.2 µm at j=1 A/cm2 and decreased down to 2.4 µm for j=1000 A/cm2. We explain the underlying mechanism behind the size-dependent efficiency observed in µLEDs, attributing it to lateral carrier diffusion.
Advancing Skin Cancer Diagnosis through the Comparison of SHAP and Layer-wise Relevance Propagation (LRP)
Authors: ÖZKURT Cem
Published: February 2024

Skin cancer detection stands at the intersection of cutting-edge technology and critical healthcare needs. In this study, we employ a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) on the HAM10000 dataset, showcasing commendable accuracy. However, the inherent opacity of deep learning models sparks a quest for interpretability. We introduce SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) and Layerwise analysis to unravel the decision-making intricacies. SHAP provides a global spotlight on feature importance, while Layerwise analysis offers a step-by-step exploration of the model's learning process. Beyond model performance, our goal is to inject transparency, trust, and innovation into skin cancer diagnosis, paving the way for a novel approach to humanizing artificial intelligence decisions in healthcare. Future work includes testing interpretation methods on diverse datasets and applying them to other healthcare domains for a transformative impact. This study not only contributes to understanding AI decisions in skin cancer diagnosis but also introduces methodologies that may revolutionize interpretability in healthcare AI applications.
digital blueprint: Die Entwicklung eines interuniversitären IT-Baukastens
Authors: Fink Jakob
Published: February 2024

Das Projekt „digital blueprint“ hat sich die Entwicklung von Prozessen, Methoden, technischen Grundlagen und Applikationen für den Aufbau eines „Baukastens“ aus universitären IT-Applikationen zum Ziel gesetzt. Dieser Projektbericht gibt Einblick in die während der Umsetzung gewonnenen Erfahrungen und versucht potenzielle Erfolgsfaktoren für die erfolgreiche Bearbeitung kooperativer, interuniversitärer Digitalisierungsprojekte zu definieren.
Research Trend of Critical HRD in AHRD Conference Proceedings 2009-2021
Authors:   Human Engagement Institute, Baek Pyounggu , Kim Namhee , Song Minhee
Published: February 2024

In this study, we intend to capture diversified and pluralistic views on intellectual territory of CHRD. The central research questions is how CHRD research could be categorized through research papers in AHRD conference proceedings, which enables us to look at the meaning of CHRD on a discursive aspect. For this study, AHRD website (https://www.ahrd.org) was selected and a total of 232 papers included in the proceedings of AHRD international research conference in the Americas in 2009-2021 were collected. As a result, the ten topics are presented using LDA-based topic modeling and intertopic distance map makes five categories with the combination of individual topic as follows; (a) Topic 1 and 8 lie in the first quadrant. They represent understanding and meaning making in HRD with critical perspectives, (b) Topic 6 and 9 lie in the second quadrant. They advocate the nature of CHRD by challenging the status quo in HRD theory and practice. (c) Topic 4 and 7 lie in the third quadrant. They seem to be loosely tied development with organizing/managing in the textual surface, but we propose they show us variation in conceptualizing development in HRD. (d) Topic 2 and 5, Topic 3 and 10 lie in the fourth quadrant. The former covers identity issues, the latter social justice and recognition. In conclusion, CHRD researchers need to embrace multiple truths, politics, emancipation, iconoclasm, complexity as attributes of CHRD concept.
Diferensial Ruang Personal di Café Haus pada Era New Normal
Authors: Kurnia Yosafat Yoakim , Nainggolan Freddy Marihot Rotua , Panjaitan Irwin
Published: February 2024

Title: Differentiation of Personal Space in Cafe Haus in the New Normal Era

The cafe is a new place for visitors; it was initially only used to relax and drink coffee but has increased its function to become a place for other activities, such as studying or working. The period after the COVID-19 pandemic, the New Normal era, made these changes even stronger. Society, especially college students, are used to studying or doing something in a cafe. This indicates a personal space in each cafe that makes them interested and feel comfortable using it as their personal space for learning. Therefore, this study aims to understand the various kinds of personal space in Cafe Haus! The research method used is visual observation techniques and re-drawing of the cafe spaces. The results of these observations show that only two areas with personal space are from the three areas observed. The two areas are Areas 1 and 2 because the elements in those areas have sufficient boundaries to the areas outside them, while in Area 3, there are no similar elements. Boundary elements make an area private so that it is not easily disturbed by outside areas.
DFT2kp: Effective kp models from ab-initio data
Authors: V. Cassiano João Victor , de Lelis Araújo Augusto , Faria Junior Paulo E. , J. Ferreira Gerson
Published: February 2024

The k\cdot pk⋅p method, combined with group theory, is an efficient approach to obtain the low energy effective Hamiltonians of crystalline materials. Although the Hamiltonian coefficients are written as matrix elements of the generalized momentum operator \pi= p+ p_{SOC}π=p+pSOC (including spin-orbit coupling corrections), their numerical values must be determined from outside sources, such as experiments or ab initio methods. Here, we develop a code to explicitly calculate the Kane (linear in crystal momentum) and Luttinger (quadratic in crystal momentum) parameters of k\cdot pk⋅p effective Hamiltonians directly from ab initio wavefunctions provided by Quantum ESPRESSO. Additionally, the code analyzes the symmetry transformations of the wavefunctions to optimize the final Hamiltonian. This is an optional step in the code, where it numerically finds the unitary transformation UU that rotates the basis towards an optimal symmetry-adapted representation informed by the user. Throughout the paper, we present the methodology in detail and illustrate the capabilities of the code applying it to a selection of relevant materials. Particularly, we show a “hands-on” example of how to run the code for graphene (with and without spin-orbit coupling). The code is open source and available at https://gitlab.com/dft2kp/dft2kp.
Precious metals as hedging assets: Evidence from MENA countries
Authors: Dias Rui , Galvão Rosa , Alexandre Paulo
Published: February 2024

In the context of the global pandemic of 2020 and the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, a newfound interest is emerging in understanding the interconnections between the Dow Jones (United States), Amman SE General (Jordan), BLSI (Lebanon), EGX 30 (Egypt), ISRAEL TA 125 (Israel), MASI (Morocco), and MOEX (Russia) indices and the precious metals markets Gold Bullion LBM, Silver, Handy & Harman, London Platinum, from January 1, 2018 to November 23, 2023. The study aimed to determine whether precious metals such as Gold, Silver, and Platinum can be considered hedging assets to the stock markets of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries, i.e., whether investors operating in these regional markets can rebalance their portfolios with these precious metals. The structural vector autoregressive (SVAR) methodology allowed assessing the influence of the analyzed markets on each other regarding price formation. The results show that the markets interacted very significantly during the stress period. Platinum was the market that most influenced its peers (1 to 8 comovements), the MOEX, 1 to 7, MASI, 2 to 6, the Dow Jones went from 4 to 7 comovements, the Amman SE General and EGX 30 markets went from 1 to 4, the Israeli market (ISRAEL TA 125) and Silver went from 2 to 4 comovements, and finally the Gold Bullion LBM from 3 to 4. The study’s conclusions contain important information for investors, policymakers, and other participants in the financial energy markets.
Acknowledgments The authors are grateful for the comments and suggestions from reviewers that helped improve the quality of the manuscript. Rui Dias is pleased to acknowledge the financial support from Instituto Superior de Gestão (ISG) [ISG - Business & Economics School], CIGEST.
Clonagem da Voz Humana por Síntese de Voz com uso de Inteligência Artificial
Authors: Novaes Alessander , Pinto Luiz Alberto
Published: February 2024

Esta pesquisa aborda a síntese de fala para reprodução de vozes em alta qualidade e tempo real no idioma português brasileiro. Nosso objetivo é atender a demanda do ` mercado publicitario por locuções, narrações e dublagens utilizando vozes geradas por modelos de Inteligência Artificial (IA). O modelo e treinado em dados de pares texto-fala e usa um mecanismo de atenção para alinhar o texto a fala gerada. Além disso, propomos uma estimativa automática dos parâmetros de um sintetizador por formantes, usando algoritmo genético (AG), para imitar vozes. Com base nos resultados, alcançamos uma alta similaridade entre as vozes sintéticas e originais, validada por uma medida de similaridade de coseno de 0,90473765. Isso evidencia a qualidade da síntese realizada e reforça nosso foco em produzir vozes sintéticas semelhantes as vozes-alvo.
Risk factors for Cryptosporidium contamination in Minnesota public supply wells
Authors: Walsh James F. , Scher Deanna P. , de Lambert Jane R. , Anderson Anita C.
Published: February 2024

In a recent monitoring study of Minnesota's public supply wells, Cryptosporidium was commonly detected with 40% of the wells having at least one detection. Risk factors for Cryptosporidium occurrence in drinking water supply wells, beyond surface water influence, remain poorly understood. To address this gap, physical and chemical factors were assessed as potential predictors of Cryptosporidium occurrence in 135 public supply wells in Minnesota. Univariable analysis, regression techniques, and classification trees were used to analyze the data. Many variables were identified as significant risk factors in univariable analysis and several remained significant throughout the succeeding analysis techniques. These factors fell into general categories of well use and construction, aquifer characteristics, and connectedness to the land surface, well capture zones, and land use therein, existence of potential contaminant sources within 200-feet of the well, and variability in the chemical and isotopic parameters measured during the study. These risk categories, and the specific variables and threshold values we have identified, can help guide future research on factors influencing Cryptosporidium contamination of wells and can be used by environmental health programs to develop risk-based sampling plans and design interventions that reduce associated health risks.
CONSTRUIR CONEXÕES COM O PASSADO, PENSAR CRIATIVAMENTE OS ESPAÇOS DO FUTURO
Authors: Ruas Dalton Bertini , Feliciano Ana Marta
Published: February 2024

O artigo centra-se na reflexão pedagógica de três aspectos relevantes na experiência docente e discente no IVADS 2023. A escolha destes três pontos objetivou formular uma crítica teórica a partir da prática do estúdio virtual, identificando os limites e complementariedades desta prática condensada em relação aos ateliês de projeto. Nos limites e desafios interculturais, são descritos os procedimentos e dificuldades de implementação pedagógica de um estúdio de projeto virtual em um contexto multicultural; no intervir no construído, são refletidos os dilemas contemporâneos de construir no construído, com o desenvolvimento de estratégias para a sua reabilitação contextualizada; e, por último, são pautados as constituições materiais, programáticas e espaciais, de modo transversal no projeto, a partir da extração, utilização e emprego da madeira no projeto arquitetônico. Metodologicamente, construiu-se a reflexão destes três pontos a partir da experiência dos professores, os relatos dos alunos e a justaposição das imagens que acompanharam gradualmente o desenvolvimento do projeto.  As considerações finais do artigo apontam um amadurecimento metodológico dos discentes a partir da revisão de práticas cristalizadas nos ateliês de projeto, uma desconstrução e reconstrução do programa arquitetônico, para mirar no futuro uma cidade que considera seu passado e a constrói a partir de valores contemporâneos.
ANALISANDO A INFLUÊNCIA DA RELAÇÃO ENTRE PARES NO ESTÚDIO VIRTUAL DE PROJETO
Authors: Medeiros Renato , De Medeiros Luciana
Published: February 2024

O debate em torno dos ateliês virtuais de projeto nos últimos anos tem enfatizado a importância do trabalho colaborativo com o uso das novas tecnologias digitais, sinalizando potencialidades, alcances e limitações desse tipo de prática. Nesse cenário, o objetivo deste artigo é refletir sobre a dimensão social da aprendizagem no Atelier Virtual Internacional de Projeto de Arquitetura - IVADS 2023, pontuando alguns dos seus elementos definidores, compreendido aqui pelas relações estabelecidas entre os seus participantes, a comunicação por eles desenvolvida e a possível associação com o trabalho realizado. A pesquisa inclui informações provenientes de diálogos registrados em um aplicativo de mensagens instantâneas, utilizado como meio de comunicação por dois grupos participantes da oficina. Após a sistematização dos dados obtidos, houve o agrupamento dos principais assuntos e/ou atividades relacionadas a cada um dos grupos, em busca de possíveis elementos de conexão entre o comportamento dos indivíduos e/ou do grupo e o desenvolvimento das tarefas. As análises possibilitaram um entendimento qualitativo da influência dos pares no processo projetual; demonstrando similaridades e diferenças entres os encaminhamentos das equipes. As reflexões finais reafirmam o papel decisivo que as relações interpessoais desempenham nos processos dos grupos ou equipes colaborativas em ambientes virtuais de desenvolvimento de projeto.
O ATELIER VIRTUAL INTERNACIONAL DE PROJETO DE ARQUITETURA – IVADS 2023
Authors: Veloso Maísa
Published: February 2024

Este artigo apresenta e discute uma experiência de atelier de projeto colaborativo, desenvolvida de maneira majoritariamente virtual entre setembro e outubro de 2023. O International Virtual Architectural Design Studio - IVADS 2023, atividade associada ao 11º Seminário PROJETAR, reuniu mais de 60 participantes, entre professores, estudantes de graduação e de pós-graduação de quatro instituições parceiras – UFRN, UFPB, UFPE e ULisboa. O IVADS 2023 teve como tema “Intervenções na Preexistência – Concepção de espaços para economia criativa em edificações de valor patrimonial no Bairro de Varadouro, Centro Histórico de João Pessoa, local de realização do 11º PROJETAR. Os principais objetivos desta experiência pedagógica foram fomentar a interação e a colaboração entre docentes e discentes de diferentes escolas separadas geograficamente, em torno de um tema e de uma área de intervenção projetual comuns, em atividades desenvolvidas sobretudo de maneira virtual, utilizando ferramentas e técnicas de auxílio à concepção e ao desenvolvimento do projeto. As atividades consistiram em aulas, palestras, reuniões coletivas e trabalhos de atelier. Apesar do curto tempo de duração - 10 dias - e da pouca familiaridade de parte dos alunos com o tema e a área de estudo, as propostas em nível de estudo preliminar revelaram o esforço de compreensão dos problemas de projeto, de aproximação com as comunidades envolvidas e de preservar ao máximo as estruturas preexistentes. Pedagogicamente, mais do que uma experiência de ensino, considera-se que o IVADS 2023 consistiu em uma rica experiência de aprendizagem colaborativa, tanto no que se refere a estudantes como professores.
Ev Kadınlarında Tükenmişliğin Yordayıcısı Olarak Kişilerarası Problem Çözme Becerilerinin İncelenmesi
Authors: Çam Sabahattin , Şener Caner
Published: February 2024

Bu çalışmada ev kadınlarının tükenmişliklerinin yordanmasında kişilerarası problem çözme becerilerinin katkılarını ortaya koymak amaçlanmıştır. Araştırmanın çalışma grubunu Adana’nın merkez ilçelerinde (Çukurova, Sarıçam, Seyhan ve Yüreğir) ikamet eden 578 ev kadını oluşturmaktadır. Veriler Kişilerarası Problem Çözme Envanteri, Ev Hanımlarında Tükenmişlik Ölçeği ve Kişisel Bilgi Formu ile toplanmıştır. Araştırmada elde edilen verilerin analiz edilmesinde SPSS programı 20.0 versiyonu kullanılmıştır. Kişilerarası problem çözme becerileri ile tükenmişlik arasındaki ilişki örüntülerini görebilmek için Pearson Momentler Çarpımı Korelasyon Analizi; tükenmişliğin yordanmasında kişilerarası problem çözme becerilerinin katkılarının ortaya çıkarılması için çoklu doğrusal regresyon analizi ve aşamalı regresyon analizi yapılmıştır. Korelasyon analizi sonuçları sıkıcı-yorucu ev ortamının ve destek eksikliğinin probleme olumsuz yaklaşma, sorumluluk almama ve kendine güvensizlik ile pozitif yönde anlamlı düzeyde ilişkili olduğunu; destek eksikliğinin yapıcı problem çözme ile negatif yönde anlamı düzeyde ilişkili olduğunu göstermektedir. Yapılan regresyon analizi sonuçları; sıkıcı ve yorucu ev ortamı’nın probleme olumsuz yaklaşma ve sorumluluk almama tarafından %10’unun yordandığını; destekeksikliği’nin ise probleme olumsuz yaklaşma, yapıcı problem çözme ve sorumluluk almama tarafından %12’sinin yordandığını göstermiştir. Kendine güvensizlik değişkeninin ise sıkıcı-yorucu ev ortamı ve destek eksikliği ile ilişkili olmasına rağmen her ikisinin de yordanmasına katkı sunmadığı bulunmuştur. Bulgular, sonuç ve tartışma kısmında alan yazında yer alan bilgiler çerçevesinde tartışılmıştır.
Osteogenic Differentiation of Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Composite Polymeric Scaffolds: A Review
Authors: Hemati Saideh , Ghiasi Mohsen , Salimi Ali
Published: February 2024

The mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are the fundamental part of bone tissue engineering
for the emergence of reconstructive medicine. Bone tissue engineering has recently been considered
a promising strategy for treating bone diseases and disorders. The technique needs a scaffold
to provide an environment for cell attachment to maintain cell function and a rich source of
stem cells combined with appropriate growth factors. MSCs can be isolated from adipose tissue
(ASCs), bone marrow (BM-MSCs), or umbilical cord (UC-MSCs). In the present study, the potential
of ASCs to stimulate bone formation in composite polymeric scaffolds was discussed and it
showed that ASCs have osteogenic ability in vitro. The results also indicated that the ASCs have
the potential for rapid growth, easier adipose tissue harvesting with fewer donor site complications
and high proliferative capacity. The osteogenic differentiation capacity of ASCs varies due
to the culture medium and the addition of factors that can change signaling pathways to increase
bone differentiation. Furthermore, gene expression analysis has a significant impact on improving
our understanding of the molecular pathways involved in ASCs and, thus, osteogenic differentiation.
Adding some drugs, such as dexamethasone, to the biomaterial composite also increases the
formation of osteocytes. Combining ASCs with scaffolds synthesized from natural and synthetic
polymers seems to be an effective strategy for bone regeneration. Applying exopolysaccharides,
such as schizophyllan, chitosan, gelatin, and alginate in composite scaffolds enhances the osteogenesis
potential of ASCs in bone tissue regeneration.
Promising Role of Theranostic Nanoparticles in Lung Diseases
Authors: Angeline M. Sonia
Published: February 2024

The role of nanoparticles is inevitable in the medical sector in the present era of technology. Though the field of medicine deals with the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases with the development of pharmaceuticals, nanoparticles are nevertheless gaining much attention with the discovery and usage in recent years. Nanoparticles due to their smaller size, efficacy and other potentials such as bio-compatible nature and functionalization have been increasingly used as theranostic agents (diagnosis plus therapy) in various diseases. This chapter reviews the potential and significant role of theranostic nanoparticles in lung diseases.
Nanomaterials for Tissue Engineering: Synthesis, Characterisation and Application
Authors: Prakashan D.
Published: February 2024

Tissue engineering has recently become an effective method for restoring and rebuilding injured tissues and organs. Scaffolds for tissue engineering are essential because they not only give targeted cells structural support, but also act as templates to direct regeneration of tissue and regulate structure of tissue. Nanomaterials of various types have gradually grown and attracted a wide spectrum of research interests over the previous few years due to their distinctive physicochemical properties and exceptional biocompatibility, allowing remarkable advancements in the repair of wounds, wound healing, regeneration of neural tissue, and cardiac tissue engineering. This chapter focuses on the most recent different types of nanomaterials, its synthesis method, functionalisation and characterisation method for the different application in tissue regeneration and engineering. The chapter also focusses on the developments in the usage of scaffolds, nanosheets, or hydrogels based on different nanomaterials that are designed to repair cartilage, bone, and skin tissues. We have also summarised the difficulties and potential of nanomaterial applications in tissue engineering.
Colon Targeted Nano Drug Delivery Systems
Authors: Tarannum H.
Published: February 2024

The colon is the attractive target for the delivery of nano formulation due to distinct advantages such as near-neutral pH, longer transit time, and reduced enzymatic activity. Colon-specific drug delivery not only increases the bioavailability of the drug at the target site but also reduces the side effects and multiple dosing. In recent studies, colon-targeted drug delivery systems are gaining importance to treat local pathologies of the colon such as anorectal problems, Crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and colonic cancer and also for the systemic delivery of protein and peptide drugs. This is because the peptide and protein drugs get destroyed or inactivated in the acidic environment of the stomach or by pancreatic enzymes in the small intestine. Various approaches such as prodrugs, pH-dependent, time-dependent and microflora-activated systems have been developed to achieve successful colonic delivery, the chemical, enzymatic and mucoadhesive barriers within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract for colon-specific drug delivery. Among the different approaches, an attempt has been made to depict vital uses of polymers, specifically biodegraded by colonic bacterial enzymes holds greater promise for the colon-targeted nano drug delivery systems.
Toxicity of Nanoparticles in Biological Systems
Authors: Ijaz Muhammad Umar
Published: February 2024

Nanoparticles (NPs) are minute particles with sizes ranging from 1 to 100 nanometers. They are characterized by their unique physiochemical properties due to their small size, which makes them valuable in several fields such as medicine, electronics, energy and material science. They are also used for drug delivery, imaging, energy applications and improving material properties. However, the potential toxicity of NPs to biological systems has raised concerns in recent years. The toxicity of NPs to biological systems arises from their physiochemical properties and interactions with biological components. These interactions can lead to the induction of various cellular pathways, including oxidative stress (OS), inflammation, genotoxicity and immune dysregulation among others, which can result in cellular damage and adverse effects on various organs and tissues. The toxic effects of NPs can vary with their size, shape, surface charge, concentration, mode of administration, as well as the type of biological system being exposed. Therefore, understanding NPs-instigated toxicity is critical for safe and effective use in various applications. This chapter presents an overview of the toxicological effects of NPs on biological systems with a particular focus on the liver, kidney, reproductive and cardiovascular systems along with mechanisms that trigger toxicity in these organs. Furthermore, the chapter discusses the various routes of exposure of NPs and their biodistribution within the body including the factors that influence their distribution and accumulation in different tissues.
Fabrication of Polymer and Organic-Inorganic Composites
Authors: Bustamante-Torres Moises
Published: February 2024

Polymers are macromolecules that can be classified in many ways. There are natural or synthetic and organic or inorganic materials among these ways. These materials can form a cross-linking forming a network capable of incorporating reinforcement materials. Combining these two materials is known as a composite or hybrid material, which represents a significant advance in materials science due to the possibility of improving the properties of an organic matrix by incorporating an inorganic filler material into it. This chapter details the main characteristics of natural, synthetic, organic, and inorganic polymers. Besides, the synthesis pathways to synthesize organic-inorganic composites such as electrospinning, solution processing, hydrothermal, hot pressing, atomic layer deposition, and three-dimensional printing techniques are described. Finally, the characterization of these hybrid composites based on mechanical, thermal, and microscopy are mentioned.
Materials used in Thermoelectric Polymers
Authors: Khalil Muhammad
Published: February 2024

Nowadays, Polymer based thermoelectric (TE) materials are gaining more and more attention from researchers because of their easy processability, low thermal conductivity, and low cost. These polymers contain conjugation in their structure which helps to conduct electricity through them. Common thermoelectric materials contain conducting polymers and inorganic dopants. The resulting thermoelectric material may be of n-type or p-type. Their properties depend upon the morphology of matrix material, the concentration of charge carriers, and dopants... In this chapter, different types of conducting polymers (CE) and their derivatives, synthesis, properties, and factors affecting the properties of CE will be discussed.
Penerapan Projek Penguatan Profil Pelajar Pancasila (P5) tentang Kearifan Lokal pada Kurikulum Merdeka di MIN 1 Kutai Timur
Authors: Belawati Pandiangan Anjani Putri , Rahayu Resti Novia , Khairunniza Reynaldy Ainun Zasha
Published: February 2024

To support the quality of education in Indonesia, the Independent Curriculum concept is implemented through the Pancasila student profile. The Strengthening Pancasila Student Profile Project is present as an effort to develop the character of students' Pancasila student profiles. Through this project, students are invited to observe the surrounding environment in order to find solutions to various existing problems. This research aims to determine the implementation of the Strengthening Pancasila Student Profile (P5) Project activities at MIN 1 East Kutai and its impact on students.  This research uses a qualitative approach.  Qualitative research methods are used as a study of natural object conditions. The approach used by researchers in the research is a qualitative descriptive approach.  Data was collected through observation and interviews with one of the teachers at MIN 1 East Kutai. Through observations and interviews, field notes are produced which researchers use as a consistent data source and support research findings. In implementing the independent curriculum, students create or implement projects. Implementation of P5 activities is one of the independent curriculum project activities. Activities carried out at MIN 1 East Kutai with the theme of Local Wisdom "Food and Batik Typical of Kutai" resulted in P5 activity projects in the form of 1) making Kutai serabi, 2) making typical Kutai pulut rice, 3) making typical Kutai tamarind vegetables, 4) making typical Kutai batik. The result of this research contributes to understanding the importance of implementing the Independent Curriculum and integrating the six Pancasila Student Profiles in learning. This research also provides guidance for educational institutions in integrating the Pancasila Student Profiles in learning and optimizing the implementation of the Independent Curriculum. Thus, this research provides an overview of the importance of thorough preparation in planning P5 activities in order to form a Pancasila Student Profile that is in accordance with the objectives set by the Ministry of Education and Culture, Research and Technology.

 

Keyword: independent curriculum, teacher preparation, local wisdom, project for strengthening pancasila student profiles.
Beyond Audio-Video Telehealth: Perspective on the Current State and Future Directions of Digital Neurological Care in the United States
Authors: Kummer Benjamin R , Busis Neil A
Published: February 2024

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic transformed neurological care by both requiring digital health modalities to reach patients and profoundly lowering barriers to digital health adoption. This combination of factors has given rise to a distinctive, emerging care model in neurology characterized by new technologies, care arrangements, and uncertainties. As the pandemic transitions to an endemic, there is a need to characterize the current and future states of this unique period in neurology.

Objective

We sought to describe the current state of the pandemic- and postpandemic-related changes in neurological care and offer a view of the possible future directions of the field.

Methods

We reviewed several themes across the “new digital normal” in neurology, including trends in technology adoption, barriers to technology access, newly available telehealth services, unresolved questions, and an outlook on the future of digital neurology.

Results

In this new era of neurological care, we emphasize that synchronous audio-video telehealth remains the predominant form of digital interaction between neurologists and patients, mainly due to pandemic-related regulatory changes and the preexisting, steady adoption of video platforms in the prepandemic era. We also identify a persistent digital divide, with audio-only telehealth remaining a necessity for preserving care access. Asynchronous telehealth methods and services, including care coordination, interprofessional consultations, remote patient monitoring, and teletreatment are becoming increasingly important for neurological care. Finally, we identify several unanswered questions regarding the future of this “new normal,” including the lasting effects of emergency regulatory changes, the value proposition of telehealth, the future of telehealth reimbursement in neurology, as well as privacy considerations and trade-offs in asynchronous neurological care models.

Conclusions

The COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in an era of digital adoption and innovation in neurological care, characterized by novel care models, services, and technologies, as well as numerous unresolved questions regarding the future.