bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Boat engine maintenance training for Rezki Mahakam Baru fishermen group, Samarinda City
Authors: Patayang Mika , Syam Herdi , Wahyudianto Wahyudianto
Published: February 2023

Catching fish, both small and large scale must be supported by the feasibility of the ship and good fishing equipment so that the results obtained are also maximized. RT 32, Rawa Makmur Village, Palaran District, Samarinda City has several fishermen groups, one of which is the Rezki Mahakam Baru fishermen group consisting of 15 people. One of the obstacles faced by the community in operating their ships is damage to the ship's engine due to lack of maintenance. Therefore, this community service is carried out with the aim of increasing the ability of fishermen to maintain ship engines. The activity was carried out by providing training on single cylinder ship engine maintenance. The results of this activity indicate an increase in the knowledge and understanding of fishermen in overcoming ship engine damage.
Monetary Policy For Economic Growth In Russia: Accumulative Slowing Effect
Authors: Suharev Oleg
Published: February 2023

The study is devoted to assessing the impact of monetary policy on economic growth in Russia in 2000-2020, with a separate analysis of the main directions of monetary policy in 2022, formulated with a perspective up to 2025. The purpose is to demonstrate the inhibitory effect of monetary policy, as well as to identify the conceptual contradictions embedded in the main legal documents. The methodology is based on the theory of economic growth and economic policy, empirical-statistical and regression analysis. The application of the methodology allows us to come to the conclusion that over the period under study, monetary policy aimed at reducing inflation, while achieving this goal, in general, contributed to the slowdown of economic growth in Russia, in no way ensuring balanced and sustainable growth. Thus, relatively low price dynamics was not a condition for sustainable growth. Monetary policy in Russia in 2000-2022 was characterized by a negative effect, that is, the elimination of the sensitivity of the main macroeconomic development goals to monetary policy instruments. This blocked new growth factors. The way out is to change the basic principles and postulates of monetary policy in Russia.
Working with Jack – An Influential Quarter Century Experience
Authors: Burns Anne
Published: February 2023

Professor Jack C. Richards has been an enduring and highly influential contributor to the field of applied linguistics and English language teaching for the best part of 60 years. He has touched the professional lives of many people working in these fields all over the world – researchers and academic colleagues, materials writers, undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students, teacher educators and teachers, and language learners, and publishers. His publication output is legendary and it continues to guide and inspire the ELT profession. To provide an example of how Professor Richards influences, supports and mentors those he works with, in this paper I trace my own personal history and experiences of my encounters with his publications, and my collaborations with him as an author. My intention is to tease out, at least in part, the scope of his many professional interests and the way in which they have affected my own work. These works include a focus on the teaching of speaking and listening, second language teacher education, language teaching, pedagogy and curriculum development, and language learning. The account is necessarily and unavoidably selective, as it is derived from my personal experiences of working with him for the last quarter century. However, my overall intention is to pay tribute to his remarkable career.
The Influence of Jack C. Richards on My Personal Journey from EFL to EMI: A Narrative Exploration
Authors: Wu Chiu-Hui (Vivian)
Published: February 2023

Jack C. Richards (2021) suggests that language teacher identities are shaped by their past experiences, teacher education and language proficiency. His recent publications in English Medium Instruction (EMI) (Richards & Pun, 2022a; 2022b) inspired reflection on my multiple teacher identities. In this paper, I offer a narration of past experiences as a language learner and a non-native English-speaking teacher. As part of this narration, I reflect on the shift from being an English as a Foreign Language teacher (EFL) to being an English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI) teacher. While making this shift from EFL to EMI, I was searching for the meaning of what it means to be a “good language teacher” (Barkhuizen & Mendieta, 2020, p. 1). I propose that the transition was a natural evolution to respond to the global EMI trend. Richards’ work not only provided a systematic examination of the emergence of global EMI programs, but it continues to have a profound impact on my dual roles as language and content specialist.
Exposure to Target Language Vocabulary through Novel Extracts and Computer Game Cutscenes
Authors: Altınbaş Mehmet Emre
Published: February 2023

Following Richards’s (2015) ideas of using movie clips, videos, and games as valuable technological tools for language learning, the present study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of using novel extracts and computer game cutscenes based on the same story to develop the vocabulary knowledge of English as a foreign language (EFL) learners. The study employed a quasi-experimental design with a control group and an experimental group. Initially, both groups studied a target vocabulary list of 20 words and their definitions. The participants were asked to complete a multiple-choice definition matching test after studying the list to find out whether their levels of vocabulary knowledge were comparable prior to the applications. For the experimental group, a second vocabulary test equivalent to the first one was conducted after they read a novel extract including the target vocabulary items, and a third test was carried out after they watched two computer game cutscenes that were based on the same events as the novel extract to understand whether seeing the target vocabulary items in these contexts repetitively would result in a significant increase in their target vocabulary knowledge. For the control group, the second and the third vocabulary tests were undertaken immediately after the first one to investigate whether mere exposure to equivalent vocabulary tests without the interventions would lead to a significant increase in their target vocabulary knowledge. The findings of the study indicated that the scores of the participants in the experimental group increased descriptively on the second test and significantly on the third test, whereas the scores of the participants in the control group decreased significantly on the second test and descriptively on the third test. The study provides practical and academic implications based on the findings.
Rethinking Teaching Listening Skills: A Case Study
Authors: Rahman Md Nabinur , Chowdhury Sharifa , Mazgutova Diana
Published: February 2023

This study explores EAP teachers’ views of underlying problems in teaching listening skills and the strategies adopted by them to overcome problems at the tertiary level in EFL contexts. The study is based on the theoretical assumption of listening perception processes and its role in language development as hypothesised by Richards (2008). In this instrumental case study, one EAP teacher was purposively interviewed to identify their understanding of the investigated issue. The generated data were analysed following the basic qualitative analysis method. The findings demonstrate that in teaching listening skills both the top-down and bottom-up approaches should be adopted to integrate process-based listening skills teaching, which promotes target language acquisition in and out of the classroom. The findings may make the EAP practitioners reconsider incorporating the bottom-up approach to improve the existing strategies of teaching listening skills at the tertiary level.
A Personal Tribute to the Life and Work of Jack C. Richards
Authors: Barnard Roger
Published: February 2023

This paper is a tribute to J.C. Richards, whose publications over 50 years have inspired many thousands of language teachers and student-teachers. Particular attention is paid to the three editions of Approaches and Methods in Language Teaching, co-authored with Theo Rodgers, which are reviewed in detail. The author has known Jack Richards for thirty years, whose professional life has influenced his own, especially in terms of encouraging emerging scholars to co-author academic articles and co-edit volumes of case studies. Jack Richards’ contributions to academic society extend beyond language teaching and applied linguistics to embrace music, literature and the fine arts, for which he has been honored by many universities. He has been recognized by the international TESOL organization as one of the most significant applied linguists in the world.
In Vitro Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Activity of Flavonoids and Flavonoid Fractions of Scoparia Dulcis L.
Authors: Sharma Abhishek , Jain Priya , Singh Saluja Manmeet
Published: February 2023

Scoparia dulcis L. is widely used in the traditional system of medicine for treating liver ailments. In the present study the flavonoids and flavonoid fractions isolated from 9:1 Ethyl acetate and methanol (EAM) extract of Scoparia dulcis L. were tested for their in vitro 1, 1- Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity. Selected samples from the assay were further tested for their in vitro hepatoprotective activity against CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes. In the in vitro antioxidant study, fractions 2, 4, and 9 and EAM extract show the DPPH radical scavenging activity. The phytochemical screening of all these fractions shows the presence of flavonoids. In the in vitro hepatoprotective study all these fractions and the EAM extract significantly prevent the CCl4 induced changes in the aspartate aspartate amino transferase, alanine amino transferase and alkaline phosphatase levels (p < 0.05). The above results are comparable with the standard, silymarin. The results of the study indicate that, the EAM extract of Scoparia dulcis L. possesses potential hepatoprotective activity and this may be attributed to its free radical scavenging potential, which in turn may be attributed to the presence of flavonoids.
Las habilidades básicas para propiciar el desarrollo del pensamiento crítico en ambientes de aprendizaje digital
Authors: Archundia Sierra E. , Contreras Juárez R. , Cerón Garnica C. , Garcés Báez A.
Published: February 2023

Los docentes universitarios deben propiciar en los alumnos el pensamiento crítico en la solución de problemas para la transformación social. La presente investigación es de tipo descriptiva – transversal, se centra en el estudio del pensamiento crítico, analizando los datos recolectados mediante el instrumento CAPPLE, en la dimensión del pensamiento crítico, el cual se aplicó a 108 alumnos de la Facultad de Ciencias de la Computación de la Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla FCC BUAP, durante el confinamiento de la pandemia de COVID-19. Los resultados presentados identifican la credibilidad de la información, reconociendo la importancia del experto o docente que les indica dónde y qué aprender en la escala de casi siempre y siempre en un 48%, además la interpretación según mis puntos de vista a menudo en 42%. El estudio también permitió ubicar el nivel de dominio del desarrollo del pensamiento crítico de los alumnos.

University teachers should promote critical thinking in students when solving problems for social transformation. This descriptive-cross-sectional research is focused on the study of critical thinking, analyzing the data collected through the instrument validated by the CAPPLE, in the dimension of critical thinking, which was applied to 108 students of the Facultad de Ciencias de la Computación de la Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla FCC BUAP, during the confinement of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results presented identify the credibility of the information, recognizing the importance of the expert or teacher who tells them where and what to learn almost always and always in 48%, in addition to the interpretation according to my points of view often in 42%. The study also made it possible to locate the level of domain of the development of critical thinking of the students.
ВІД РИЗИК-МЕНЕДЖМЕНТУ ДО РИЗИК-ЕКОНОМІКИ
Authors: Бабайлов Василь , Курденко Олександ
Published: February 2023

Як свідчить теорія і практика, проблема визначення основних аспектів ризику зараз в основному вирішена. Але актуальним стає удосконалення управління ризиками. Зараз ризик-менеджмент використовується як управління всіма видами ризиків, без їх професійного розподілу між трьома основними видами менеджерів (економістами, інженерами, адміністраторами). Це знижує його ефективність. Автори вважають за необхідне поділити ризик-менеджмент на три основні, строго адекватні трьом основним видам ризиків частки: ризик-економіку, ризик-інженерію, ризик-адміністрацію. Тоді кожен зі трьох видів ризик-менеджменту робитимуть професіонали у своєї сфері діяльності. Це підвищить ефективність управління ризиками.
Remarks on an approach to study flocking phenomenon in animals
Authors: Gerard Francois
Published: February 2023

In theoretical discussions of the potential effects of collective interactions in such biological systems, statistical physics principles and methodologies have been applied.In order to enhance their capacity for collective computation, it has been suggested that such collective systems should function close to a phase transition, specifically a (pseudo-)critical point. This paper will discuss the phenomenon of flocking that animal communities exhibit in biological systems.
Criminal Policy in Countering Terrorism in Indonesia
Authors: Juffandi  , Setyawanta Lazarus Tri , Setiono Joko
Published: February 2023

This study aims to analyze criminal policy in tackling criminal acts of terrorism in Indonesia. The research used a juridical empirical technique. The results of the study show that the criminal policy in the prevention of criminal acts of terrorism that occurs in Indonesia is a form of government responsibility, as stated in Article 43a paragraph (1) to paragraph (3) of Law Number 5 of 2018 concerning Amendments to Law Number 119 15 2003 concerning the Stipulation of Government Regulation in Lieu of Law Number 1 of 2002 Concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Terrorism Into Law. Further regulations, as described in Article 43b paragraph (1) to (5) of Law Number 5 of 2018 concerning Amendments to Law Number 15 of 2003 concerning Stipulation of Government Regulations in Lieu of Law Number 1 of 2002 Concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Terrorism Into Constitution. In National Preparedness. In addition to increasing the capacity of the Indonesian Anti-Terror Organization to carry out the prevention and countermeasures of terrorism, the Indonesian government has formed a special organization (unit) to deal with terrorism that is developing in the country. These units include the National Counter-Terrorism Agency (BNPT), Densus 88, Counter-Terrorism Detachment, and Intelligence.
Legal Protection for the Public against the Circulation of Counterfeit Goods
Authors: Yudha Edo Damara , Santoso Budi , Setiono Joko
Published: February 2023

The purpose of this study is to analyze the legal protection for the community against the circulation of counterfeit goods. The research used a normative juridical method. The results showed that; 1) legal protection against the circulation of counterfeit goods can be carried out based on criminal, civil and administrative law. Trademark infringement in the form of brand counterfeiting is further regulated in Law Number 20 of 2016 concerning Trademarks and Geographical Indications. In more detail, the act violates the Criminal Provisions of Article 100, Article 101 and Article 102. While the use of a trademark is without rights, it can be sued based on an act of violating the law in accordance with Article 1365 of the Civil Code. Administratively, it can be reviewed based on related laws, for example, in online transactions referring to Law Number 11 of 2008 concerning Electronic Information and Transactions. 2) Obstacles in legal protection against counterfeit goods dealers are a) Violation of counterfeiting goods constitutes a complaint offense so that it requires an active role from the brand owner, b) limited information to the public (consumers) on the existence of a trademark registration application. c) Difficulties of trademark rights holders to find the perpetrators of trademark infringement. d) The existence of a lawsuit from the owner of the brand rights will worsen the reputation of the product, e) Awareness of the law and legal culture of the community.
Online Buying and Buying Regulation Based on Law Number 8 Year 1999 Concerning Consumer Protection and Law Number 19 Year 2016 Regarding Amendment to Law Number 11 Year 2008 Concerning Electronic Information and Transactions
Authors: Manurung Iwan P , Santoso Budi , Setiono Joko
Published: February 2023

This study aims to analyze the online trading arrangements based on Law Number 8 of 1999 concerning consumer protection and Law Number 19 of 2016 concerning amendments to Law Number 11 of 2008 concerning electronic information and transactions. The study used a normative juridical approach. The results show that legal protection for online shopping consumers can be provided in terms of legal certainty as stipulated in the laws and regulations governing online shopping, namely Law Number 19 of 2016 concerning Amendments to Law No. 11 of 2008 concerning Electronic Transaction Information in conjunction with Law No. 8 of 1999 concerning Consumer Protection. The existence of an electronic contract, as regulated in Article 18 (1) of the ITE Law, is recognized and has the same position as a conventional sale and purchase contract. Through electronic contracts, consumers can sue business actors if a dispute arises due to the electronic transaction.
The persistent effect of equity market timing on capital structure during right issue
Authors: Pamungkas Wihandaru Sotya , Supriyono Edi , Rahayu Meika Kurnia Puji
Published: February 2023

This research aims to find empirical evidence of the persistent effects of market timing equity on capital structure (CS) in Indonesia as measured by book leverage (BL) and market leverage (ML) due to inconsistent results of previous studies, both inside and outside Indonesia. The data was collected from companies that published the right issue (RI) from 2000 to 2019 and listed on Indonesia Stock Exchange. The companies which were used as sample, they had leverage higher than 1. The hypothesis was examined using two types of regression analysis: ordinary least squares regression to examine cross-section and Fama-McBeth regression for testing the panel data. The results of this research uncovered the persistent effect of equity market timing on the capital structure using BL and ML at RI+1, RI+2, RI+3, RI+4, RI+5, and in total, from RI+1 to RI+5. Moreover,a two-pair sample t-test was used to analyze the issuance of new shares or new debt. The results revealed that when RI+1 used ML and RI+3 used BL and ML, the company issued new shares (NEI) in large numbers, so debt issues (NDI) decreased. Further, this research is beneficial for companies to determine the right time during a rights issue to obtain a high share price so that the cost of share capital remains low.
Analysis of Science Literacy Ability of Junior High School Students with the NOSLiT Method of South Konawe Regency
Authors: Syarifuddin Syarifuddin , Hasnawati Hasnawati , Lasaima Ordiman , Saranani Muh. Safiuddin
Published: February 2023

Scientific literacy is seen not only as an important component of science education, but also as an ethical/moral competency. Science education plays an important role in creating responsible citizens, in this case scientific literacy is needed in making social-scientific decisions. Currently the concept of scientific literacy is a learning goal in the educational curriculum in various countries. Scientific literacy emphasizes students to analyze, predict, and apply scientific concepts in everyday life. Likewise with students in South Konawe district for the junior high school level, the majority of whose scientific literacy results are classified as lacking. Therefore, this research focuses on the Analysis of Science Literacy Ability of Junior High School Students Using the Nature of Science Literacy Test (NOSLiT) Method in Konawe Selatan Regency. The research method used in this research is quantitative with a descriptive approach. The sampling technique in this study used a simple random sampling technique. The result is that the scientific literacy skills of SMPN Konawe Selatan students based on the NOSLiT instrument in class IX are still in the low category while those in class VII and class VIII are classified as very low. This can be seen from the acquisition of the overall average NOSLiT score for all grade levels, namely 37%, 39.4% and 45.5% respectively, and after calculating the overall score, the average percentage of scientific literacy ability of Konawe Middle School students is obtained. South is in the low category of 40.8%. The achievement of scientific literacy for the NOSLiT indicator of SMPN Konawe Selatan students at all grade levels obtained the highest percentage of achievement in the scientific naming aspect, followed by the scientific misconception aspect, and the ability to process skills and the lowest percentage of achievement lies in the aspect of science postulates. In general, the highest achievement for all NOSLiT indicators was obtained by class IX, followed by class VIII and class VII. The percentage achievement for class IX for indicators of scientific naming, process skills ability, and major misconceptions reached 50% and was above 50% but still this percentage is still in the low category.
Associations of Residential Exposure to Pesticides and Cleaning Agents with Asthma and Related Symptoms.
Authors:   , Bukalasa Joseph Stephen
Published: February 2023

Evidence suggests that the prevalence of asthma and allergic symptoms have risen rapidly over the past decades. It has been suggested that occupational exposure to pesticides is associated with an increased risk of asthma and related respiratory symptoms in adults. There is also the suggestion that adults who use cleaning agents professionally or in the home have an increased risk of asthma and related respiratory symptoms. In addition, there is increasing concern that some cleaning agents being used in households might be associated with an increased risk of asthma and allergic symptoms in children. However, the current evidence on the effect of exposure to pesticides and cleaning products among children and adolescents is limited.
In Chapter 2, It was found that a small proportion of the study participants lived near (i.e., within 50 or 100 m) agricultural fields with the selected crops relevant for pesticide use (approximately 7% of the population residing within the 100 m). The results indicated further that 40 and 64 percent of the PIAMA participants lived within 500 and 1,000m buffers, respectively. It was hypothesised that participants who lived within 500 and 1,000m buffers tended to have minimal pesticide exposure compared to participants who lived within 50 and 100 m.
Chapter 3 examined whether living close to crops that are likely treated with pesticides is associated with asthma and related respiratory symptoms among PIAMA participants at the time of 14 years of follow-up. However, we found no evidence that living close to agricultural fields assumed to have been treated with pesticides is associated with an increased risk of asthma and related respiratory symptoms.
In Chapter 4, it was found that the use of cleaning agents in the household was not associated with increased risks of asthma, rhinitis, and eczema in adolescents who participated in the PIAMA study at the time of 14 years of follow-up.
Chapter 5 presents the opportunity for the development of studies investigating the effects of environmental exposure to pesticides on the development of asthma and related respiratory symptoms in children. However, this Chapter cannot provide a comprehensive review of the effects of pesticide exposure on human health in Tanzania due to limited data and literature on the subject.
This thesis set out to investigate the effects of environmental exposure to pesticides and cleaning agents on the prevalence of asthma and allergic symptoms in adolescents who participated in the PIAMA. We observed no association between these environmental factors (environmental exposure to pesticides and cleaning agents) and the risk of asthma, related respiratory symptoms, and allergic symptoms in adolescents. There is a need to develop a birth cohort study that will investigate the influence of environmental exposure to pesticides and the use of cleaning agents on the development of asthma, allergic symptoms and lung function in children in developing countries.
Development of a methodology for geoinformation support for geological research of ordovician rocks of Gorny Altai
Authors:   Siberian State University of Geosystems and Technologies, Katsko S. Yu. , Ilyin D. A. ,   Siberian State University of Geosystems and Technologies, Karasyuk M. A. ,   Siberian State University of Geosystems and Technologies
Published: February 2023

At present, outcrops of Ordovician rocks in the territory of the Altai Mountains are being investigated. One of the methods of geological research is the use of geoinformation technologies. In free access for researchers, one can find only diagrams and maps without coordinate reference to the territory of the Altai Mountains. The article deals with the problem of the lack of free access to thematic digital maps for Altai researchers studying geology and paleontology of the Ordovician period. The results of the study of geological sections of Ordovician age are presented, the coordinates of outcrops of Ordo-vician rocks are obtained, and the lithology and taxonomic composition of faunal groups are de-scribed. For web-GIS, a cartographic basis was prepared, a database structure was developed, elements of thematic content have been plotted. A trial version of the NextGIS Web server geoinformation system was chosen as a software product for publishing the developed web-GIS.
Calculation of local correction coefficients of the cadastral value for land plots bordering on highways by the method of sales comparison (on the example of the Republic of Crimea)
Authors:   Agrotechnological Academy V. I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University, Melnichuk A. Yu. , Antonenko E. V. ,   Agrotechnological Academy V. I. Vernadsky Crimean Federal University
Published: February 2023

With the development of society and its socio-economic relations, the growth of industrial production, the intensification of anthropogenic impact on the environment, the area of land with an unsatisfactory ecological state has increased. When cadastral valuation of real estate objects, the impact of stationary sources of pollution is most often taken into account, the emissions of which are 3.2 times higher than air pollution from mobile sources. The authors considered the method of paired sales for calculating local correction factors in the cadastral valuation of roadside areas of highways. It was established that in the zone of increased pollution level (from 0 to 50 m from the edge of the roadway) there are 34 land plots with the type of permitted use "individual housing construction" (IZhS). The results of the calculations showed that the correction factor for the location is 0.83 in the urban area. Zuya and 0.76 in the village. Kind. Thus, the cadastral value of these real estate objects will be reduced by 17 and 24 %, respectively. The results obtained make it possible to accurately cadastral value of land plots experiencing a strong technogenic impact of highways.
Application of probabilistic methods of geoinformatics for the study and estimation of earthquakes circumstances
Authors:   Siberian State University of Geosystems and Technologies, Basargin A. A.
Published: February 2023

The struggle of mankind against the consequences of strong and catastrophic earthquakes has been going on throughout its history, and so far, success in this field is rather modest. This is due to the complexity and inaccessibility of objects for studying deep geological processes that lead to defor-mation and destruction of the Earth's crust, in which seismicity is manifested. Earthquake risk assess-ment for earthquake mitigation is one of the most important issues for a country where such natural disasters can occur. Tectonic and structural-geological studies using modern space remote sensing tools and their integration with spatial data in a geographic information system (GIS) environment are becoming increasingly popular among scientists. Ruptures and associated surface deformation due to ground shaking can be observed with remote sensing data. The use of remote sensing methods to rec-ognize the displacement of faults was carried out in Isfahan (Iran). Based on the obtained data, a map of seismic activity was compiled with field checks and laboratory data analysis. Thus, the purpose of the article is to show the possibilities of geoinformatics for the study of earthquakes. This will increase resilience to future earthquakes, especially for those historic buildings and bridges that are over 400 years old.
Conceptual design of a geoinformation system for accounting of technical condition of small architectural forms
Authors:   Siberian State University of Geosystems and Technologies, Bugakov P. Yu. , Golovachev N. S. ,   Siberian State University of Geosystems and Technologies
Published: February 2023

The article raises the problem of injury hazard small architectural forms (SAF) of residential areas due to their wear or damage. As a solution to the caused by problem, it is proposed to consider the creation of a geoinformation system for registration of technical condition of the SAF with elements of automation of the process of collecting and processing citizens' appeals. The article presents the results of the analysis of the systems for collecting citizens' appeals in the field of housing and communal services and transport, on the basis of which the requirements for the projected GIS were formulated. The formulated requirements made it possible to develop a conceptual scheme of GIS functioning and identify 3 main user groups. The projected geoinformation system is built on the basis of a database containing information about small architectural forms obtained during their cataloging. Cataloging implies the placement of special tags on the SAF, which makes it possible to uniquely identify an object and obtain necessary information from the semantic GIS database. Citizens using GIS will be able to leave appeals in case of the detection of defects of an object. To prevent attempts to create false appeals in the system, it is proposed to implement a number of measures to ensure the reliability of the transmitted data.
Disentangling Pandemic and Teaching Strategy Effects:Flipping Research Methods in Treacherous Times
Authors: Corbetta Renato
Published: February 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected students' learning outcomes at all levels. It remains unclear whether such negative effects are due to socio-psychological factors -isolation, hopelessness, depression, etc.- which continue to linger after the general 2020 shut-down or to the sudden transition to forced remote learning. These two factors are often conflated in the public discourse, and their relative impact is still to be explored. This paper attempts to assess their relative effects by taking advantage of a natural experiment of sort that took place in the authors research methods course between spring 2018, when the course began being taught in hybrid format, and spring 2022. Neither the course content nor its delivery format changed during this time period. Any observable average treatment effects emerging at the end of the current spring semester provide the opportunity to isolate the negative socio-psychological impact of the pandemic from classroom-related changes in pedagogy.
Field Work, Pedagogy, and Re-Energizing Active Learning through Group Projects
Authors: Wheeler Deborah , Ostermann Susan
Published: February 2023

After decades of research immersed in the politics of the Middle East and South Asia, we are reversing the gaze (Rudolph and Rudolph, 2011) to reflect on the ways in which fieldwork has impacted our pedagogy. We find that being in close proximity or even participating in ones research setting; having conversations with ones research subject, both formally (surveys; structured interviews) and informally (everyday conversations and just hanging out) adds at least six layers of value and insight. In the paper we explore how these six layers connect to our own work. This manuscript takes a jointly authored, comparative regional look at fieldwork and pedagogy from a mixed methodological perspective. To demonstrate the power of active learning informed by fieldwork, we share examples of the types of learning via play that we use in our classrooms. We argue, after systemic and empirical exploration, that fieldwork informs effective teaching.
Историк и этнограф Георгий Иванович Карпов
Authors: Demidov S. M.
Published: February 2023

The monograph of the famous specialist in ethnography of the Turkmen people Sergei Mikhailovich Demidov is dedicated to one of the founders of the Turkmen Soviet ethnography, who played an important role in the formation and development of the historical science in Turkmenistan – Georgy Ivanovich Karpov (1890–1947). Despite the presence of a small number of publications about this such an in-depth study of his life and contribution to science, is being published for the first time.
Establishment of national standard for anti-SARS-Cov-2 neutralizing antibody in China: The first National Standard calibration traceability to the WHO International Standard
Authors: Guan Lidong , Mao Qunying , Tan Dejiang , Liu Jianyang , Zhang Xuanxuan , Li Lu , Liu Mingchen , Wang Zhongfang , Cheng Feiran , Cui Bopei , He Qian , Wang Qingzhou , Gao Fan , Wang Yiping , Bian Lianlian , Wu Xing , Hou Jifeng , Liang Zhenglun , Xu Miao
Published: February 2023

Neutralizing antibody (NtAb) levels are key indicators in the development and evaluation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines. Establishing a unified and reliable WHO International Standard (IS) for NtAb is crucial for the calibration and harmonization of NtAb detection assays. National and other WHO secondary standards are key links in the transfer of IS to working standards but are often overlooked. The Chinese National Standard (NS) and WHO IS were developed by China and WHO in September and December 2020, respectively, the application of which prompted and coordinated sero-detection of vaccine and therapy globally. Currently, a second-generation Chinese NS is urgently required owing to the depletion of stocks and need for calibration to the WHO IS. The Chinese National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) developed two candidate NSs (samples 33 and 66–99) traced to the IS according to the WHO manual for the establishment of national secondary standards through a collaborative study of nine experienced labs. Either NS candidate can reduce the systematic error among different laboratories and the difference between the live virus neutralization (Neut) and pseudovirus neutralization (PsN) methods, ensuring the accuracy and comparability of NtAb test results among multiple labs and methods, especially for samples 66–99. At present, samples 66–99 have been approved as the second-generation NS, which is the first NS calibrated tracing to the IS with 580 (460–740) International Units (IU)/mL and 580 (520–640) IU/mL by Neut and PsN, respectively. The use of standards improves the reliability and comparability of NtAb detection, ensuring the continuity of the use of the IS unitage, which effectively promotes the development and application of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in China.
Whole genome sequencing of Malaysian colorectal cancer patients reveals specific druggable somatic mutations
Authors: Mohd Yunos Ryia Illani , Ab Mutalib Nurul-Syakima , Khoo Jia-shiun , Saidin Sazuita , Ishak Muhiddin , Syafruddin Saiful Effendi , Tieng Francis Yew Fu , Md Yusof Najwa Farhah , Abd Razak Mohd Ridhwan , Mahamad Nadzir Norshahidah , Abu Nadiah , Rose Isa Md , Sagap Ismail , Mazlan Luqman , Jamal Rahman
Published: February 2023

The incidences of colorectal cancer (CRC) are continuously increasing in some areas of the world, including Malaysia. In this study, we aimed to characterize the landscape of somatic mutations using the whole-genome sequencing approach and identify druggable somatic mutations specific to Malaysian patients. Whole-genome sequencing was performed on the genomic DNA obtained from 50 Malaysian CRC patients’ tissues. We discovered the top significantly mutated genes were APC, TP53, KRAS, TCF7L2 and ACVR2A. Four novel, non-synonymous variants were identified in three genes, which were KDM4E, MUC16 and POTED. At least one druggable somatic alteration was identified in 88% of our patients. Among them were two frameshift mutations in RNF43 (G156fs and P192fs) predicted to have responsive effects against the Wnt pathway inhibitor. We found that the exogenous expression of this RNF43 mutation in CRC cells resulted in increased cell proliferation and sensitivity against LGK974 drug treatment and G1 cell cycle arrest. In conclusion, this study uncovered our local CRC patients’ genomic landscape and druggable alterations. It also highlighted the role of specific RNF43 frameshift mutations, which unveil the potential of an alternative treatment targeting the Wnt/β-Catenin signalling pathway and could be beneficial, especially to Malaysian CRC patients.
Integration of immunoinformatics and cheminformatics to design and evaluate a multitope vaccine against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa coinfection
Authors: Gouda Ahmed M. , Soltan Mohamed A. , Abd-Elghany Khalid , Sileem Ashraf E. , Elnahas Hanan M. , Ateya Marwa Abdel-Monem , Elbatreek Mahmoud H. , Darwish Khaled M. , Bogari Hanin A. , Lashkar Manar O. , Aldurdunji Mohammed M. , Elhady Sameh S. , Ahmad Tarek A. , Said Ahmed Mohamed
Published: February 2023

Introduction:Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) are the most common Gram-negative bacteria associated with pneumonia and coinfecting the same patient. Despite their high virulence, there is no effective vaccine against them.

Methods: In the current study, the screening of several proteins from both pathogens highlighted FepA and OmpK35 for K. pneumonia in addition to HasR and OprF from P. aeruginosa as promising candidates for epitope mapping. Those four proteins were linked to form a multitope vaccine, that was formulated with a suitable adjuvant, and PADRE peptides to finalize the multitope vaccine construct. The final vaccine’s physicochemical features, antigenicity, toxicity, allergenicity, and solubility were evaluated for use in humans.

Results: The output of the computational analysis revealed that the designed multitope construct has passed these assessments with satisfactory scores where, as the last stage, we performed a molecular docking study between the potential vaccine construct and K. pneumonia associated immune receptors, TLR4 and TLR2, showing affinitive to both targets with preferentiality for the TLR4 receptor protein. Validation of the docking studies has proceeded through molecular dynamics simulation, which estimated a strong binding and supported the nomination of the designed vaccine as a putative solution for K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa coinfection. Here, we describe the approach for the design and assessment of our potential vaccine.
A multi-scale pooling convolutional neural network for accurate steel surface defects classification
Authors: Fu Guizhong , Zhang Zengguang , Le Wenwu , Li Jinbin , Zhu Qixin , Niu Fuzhou , Chen Hao , Sun Fangyuan , Shen Yehu
Published: February 2023

Surface defect detection is an important technique to realize product quality inspection. In this study, we develop an innovative multi-scale pooling convolutional neural network to accomplish high-accuracy steel surface defect classification. The model was built based on SqueezeNet, and experiments were carried out on the NEU noise-free and noisy testing set. Class activation map visualization proves that the multi-scale pooling model can accurately capture the defect location at multiple scales, and the defect feature information at different scales can complement and reinforce each other to obtain more robust results. Through T-SNE visualization analysis, it is found that the classification results of this model have large inter-class distance and small intra-class distance, indicating that this model has high reliability and strong generalization ability. In addition, the model is small in size (3MB) and runs at up to 130FPS on an NVIDIA 1080Ti GPU, making it suitable for applications with high real-time requirements.
Effect of closing material on hearing rehabilitation in stapedectomy and stapedotomy: A finite element analysis
Authors: Lim Jongwoo , Goo Woonhoe , Kang Dae Woong , Oh Seung Ha , Kim Namkeun
Published: February 2023

Stapedotomy or stapedectomy operations are often performed to treat otosclerosis. During the operation, the space created by bone removal is usually filled with a closing material such as fat or fascia. In this study, the effect of the Young’s modulus of the closing material on the hearing level was investigated through the 3D finite element model of a human head including auditory periphery. The Young’s moduli of the closing material used to implement stapedotomy and stapedectomy conditions in the model were varied from 1 kPa to 24 MPa. The results showed that the hearing level improved when the closing material was more compliant after stapedotomy. Therefore, when the stapedotomy was performed using fat whose Young’s modulus is lowest among the potential closing materials, the hearing level recovered the best among all simulated cases. On the other hand, in stapedectomy, the Young’s modulus did not have the linear relationship between the hearing level and the compliance of the closing material. Hence, the Young’s modulus causing the best hearing rehabilitation in stapedectomy was found not at the end of the investigated range of Young’s modulus but somewhere in the middle of the given range.
Dietary supplementation of Acanthopanax senticosus extract alleviates motor deficits in MPTP-induced Parkinson’s disease mice and its underlying mechanism
Authors: Li Jingbin , He Yang , Fu Jia , Wang Yimin , Fan Xing , Zhong Tian , Zhou Hui
Published: February 2023

Acanthopanax senticosus extract (ASE), a dietary supplement with antifatigue, neuroprotective, and immunomodulatory properties, has been widely used due to its high polyphenol content. Our previous study showed that ASE could be used to treat Parkinson’s disease (PD) as it contains multiple monoamine oxidase B inhibitors prescribed in early PD. However, its mechanism remains ambiguous. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of ASE on MPTP-induced PD in mice and explored the underlying mechanisms of action. We found that the administration of ASE significantly improved motor coordination in mice with MPTP-induced PD. As shown by quantitative proteomic analysis, 128 proteins’ expression significantly changed in response to ASE administration, most of which were involved with Fcγ receptor-mediated phagocytosis in macrophages and monocytes signaling pathway, PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, and insulin receptor signaling pathway. Furthermore, the network analysis results showed that ASE modulates protein networks involved in regulating cellular assembly, lipid metabolism, and morphogenesis, all of which have implications for treating PD. Overall, ASE served as a potential therapeutic because it regulated multiple targets to improve motor deficits, which could lay the strong foundation for developing anti-PD dietary supplements.
Association between heavy metals exposure and infertility among American women aged 20–44 years: A cross-sectional analysis from 2013 to 2018 NHANES data
Authors: Lin Jie , Lin Xiaoyan , Qiu Jiahui , You Xiumi , Xu Jinbang
Published: February 2023

Background

Infertility has been confirmed as a significant medical and social problem. Heavy metal exposure refers to a risk factor for infertility, which is capable of damaging the reproductive system of males and females. However, heavy metal exposure and female infertility have rarely been investigated. The aim of this study was to analyze the association between heavy metal exposure and female infertility.

Methods

A cross-sectional study using data from three cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2013–2018) was performed. Female infertility was evaluated by positive responses to question rhq074 in the questionnaire. Cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and arsenic (As) levels in blood or urine were examined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The correlation between heavy metal and female infertility was analyzed through weighted logistic regression.

Results

A total of 838 American women aged 20–44 years were covered in the study. Among all participants, 112 (13.37%) women were subjected to infertility. Urinary Cd and urinary As levels were significantly higher in infertile women than in control women (P < 0.05, P < 0.05). Urinary As showed a positive correlation with the prevalence of female infertility, and the risk of infertility rose with the increase of urinary As levels (P for trend = 0.045). Urinary Cd was associated with female infertility in some weighted logistic regression (Crude, Q2: OR = 3.99, 95% CI 1.82, 8.74, Q3: OR = 2.90, 95% CI 1.42, 5.92. Model 1, Q2: OR = 3.68, 95% CI 1.64, 8.27, Q3: OR = 2.33, 95% CI 1.13, 4.48. Model 2, Q2: OR = 4.11, 95% CI 1.63, 10.07, Q3: OR = 2.44, 95% CI 1.07, 5.53. Model 3, Q2: OR = 3.77, 95% CI 1.52, 9.35). Moreover, blood Pb (OR = 1.52, 95% CI 1.07, 2.16), urinary Pb (OR = 1.68, 95% CI 1.11, 2.55), and urinary As (OR = 1.02, 95% CI 1.00, 1.03) were positively correlated with the risk of infertility in women aged 35–44 years. The blood Pb (OR = 1.67, 95% CI 1.16, 2.40, 2.49) and urinary Pb (OR = 1.54, 95% CI 1.00, 2.38) in women with BMI ≥25 were positively correlated with the risk of infertility.

Conclusions

Urinary As was significantly associated with female infertility, and the risk of infertility increased with higher urinary As levels. To some extent, urinary Cd was correlated with infertility. Blood/urine Pb was related to infertility in advanced age and overweight/obese women. The results of this study need to be further validated in future prospective studies.