bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analisis Kemampuan Berpikir Kritis Matematis Siswa dalam Menyelesaikan Soal pada Materi Perbandingan
Authors: Kie Jahra , Waliyanti Ida Kurnia , Sari Diah Prawitha
Published: March 2024

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan kemampuan berpikir kritis matematis siswa SMPN 8 Satap Wasile dalam menyelesaikan soal materi perbandingan senilai. Subjek pada penelitian ini adalah siswa kelas VII SMPN 8 Satap Wasile Halmahera Timur, yang terdiri dari 20 siswa. Jenis penelitian ini adalah kualitatif. Metode yang digunakan adalah tes dan wawancara. Siswa diminta untuk mengerjakan soal tes kemampuan berpikir kritis matematis, kemudian diwawancarai untuk memperoleh informasi yang lebih mendalam tentang kemampuan berpikir kritis matematis siswa dalam menyelesaikan soal perbandingan. Teknik analisis data yang digunakan penelitian ini adalah reduksi data, penyejian data, dan penarikan kesimpulan. Dari 20 siswa dalam subjek penelitian diperoleh hasil bahwa jumlah siswa mewakili kategori sangat tinggi 1 siswa (5%), kategori tinggi 2 siswa (10%), kategori sedang 5 siswa (25%), kategori rendah 6 siswa (30%), dan kategori sangat rendah 6 siswa (30%). Selanjutnya dipilih 5 siswa diambil sebagai perwakilan setiap kategori dan dianalisis. Siswa dengan kemampuan berpikir kritis kategori sangat tinggi mampu menuliskan yang diketahui dan yang ditanya dengan tepat dan lengkap, membuat model matematika dari soal dengan tepat dan memberikan penjelasan yang benar dan lengkap, menggunakan strategi yang tepat dalam menyelesaikan soal dengan lengkap dan benar, membuat kesimpulan dengan tepat, sesuai konteks soal dan lengkap.Â
Penerapan Model Pembelajaran Kooperatif Tipe Think Talk Write untuk Meningkatkan Kemampuan Pemecahan Masalah Matematis Siswa pada Materi Sistem Persamaan Linier Dua Variabel
Authors: Basir Mirna , Afandi Ahmad , Angkotasan Nurma
Published: March 2024

Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian eksperimen yang bertujuan untuk: 1). Mengetahui peningkatan kemampuan pemecahan masalah matematis siswa pada materi persamaan linier dua variabel kelas VIII MTs Muhamadiyah Halmahera Selatan.  2). Mengetahui apakah penerapan model pembelajaran kooperatif tipe think talk write dapat meningkatkan kemampuan pemecahan masalah matematis siswa kelas VIII MTs Muhamadiyah Halmahera Selatan pada materi persamaan linier dua variabel. Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah seluruh siswa kelas VIII MTs Muhamadiyah Halmahera Selatan yang berjumlah 43 siswa yang kemudian tersebar pada dua kelas dan Sampel yang secara acak di ambil yaitu siswa kelas VIII1 yang berjumlah 20 siswa, Pengumpulan data dilakukan melalui tes kemampuan pemecahan masalah matematis siswa dengan 6 butir soal sebagai instrumen yang telah divalidasi oleh validator. Analisis data yang digunakan adalah Kriteria kemampuan berpikir kritis, N Gain (g), uji normalitas dan uji one sample t-test. Sesuai dengan hasil perhitungan dengan menggunakan Kriteria Kemampuan Pemecahan Masalah Matematis, diperoleh 12 atau 60% yang sudah mencapai nilai di atas rata-rata 82,5 dan 8 atau 40% siswa mencapai nilai di bawah rata-rata sehingga dikategorikan sebagai siswa yang kemampuan pemecahannya kurang. Dengan demikian model pembelajaran kooperatif tipe think talk write dapat meningkatkan kemampuan pemecahan masalah matematis siswa.
Optimalisasi Prestasi Belajar Matematika pada Materi Fungsi Eksponen dan Logaritma dengan Menerapkan Metode Kooperatif Learning pada Siswa Kelas X-MIA
Authors: Waitira Yesih Marice
Published: March 2024

Untuk bisa mempelajari sesuatu dengan baik, kita perlu mendengar, melihat, mengajukan pertanyaan tentangnya, dan membahasnya dengan orang lain.  Siswa juga perlu menyelesaikannya, yakni menggambarkan sesuatu dengan cara mereka sendiri. Permasalahan yang ingin dikaji dalam penelitian ini adalah (1) Apakah penggunaan metode kooperatif learning dapat meningkatkan prestasi belajar siswa pada pembelajaran matematika, (2) Bagaimanakah prosedur penggunaan metode kooperatif learning yang efektif untuk meningkatkan prestasi belajar siswa pada pembelajaran matematika. Sedangkan tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah (1) Untuk mengetahui efektifitas penggunaan metode kooperatif learning dalam meningkatkan prestasi belajar siswa pada pembelajaran matematika, (2) Untuk menemukan prosedur penggunaan metode kooperatif learning yang efektif untuk meningkatkan prestasi belajar siswa pada pembelajaran matematika. Penelitian ini menggunakan penelitian tindakan sebanyak empat pertemuan. Setiap pertemuan terdiri dari empat tahap yaitu: rancangan, kegiatan dan pengamatan, refleksi, dan revisi. Dan sasaran penelitian ini adalah siswa kelas X-MIA SMA Swasta Kristen DOBO, Kabupaten Kepulauan Aru. Data yang diperoleh berupa hasil tes formatif, dan kegiatan belajar mengajar. Dan dari hasil analis didapatkan bahwa prestasi belajar siswa mengalami peningkatan dari siklus I sampai siklus II yaitu, Siklus I pertemuan pertama (50,61 %), Siklus I Pertemuan kedua (56,80 %), dan pada Siklus II pertemuan pertama (61,73 %) dan pertemuan kedua (72,88 %). Simpulan dari penelitian ini adalah metode pembelajaran Kooperatif learning yang dipadukan dengan Model STAD dapat berpengaruh positif terhadap motivasi dan prestasi belajar Siswa X-MIA SMA Swasta Kristen DOBO, Kabupaten Kepulauan Aru Tahun Pelajaran 2022 - 2023. Selain itu juga, model pembelajaran ini dapat digunakan sebagai salah satu alternative yang sangat membantu guru pada pembelajaran di kelas.
Pembelajaran Berbasis Komputer: Kategori, Teori Pembelajaran Pendukung, Kelebihan, dan Kekurangannya
Authors: Suratno Joko , Wahyudi Dahlan , Muchsin Sitti Busyrah , Tonra Winda Syam
Published: March 2024

Tujuan penulisan artikel ini adalah untuk menjelaskan beberapa karakteristik pembelajaran berbasis komputer melalui kajian pustaka. Bagian pertama membahas beberapa kategori pembelajaran berbasis komputer, yaitu drill-and-practice, tutorial, problem solving, simulation, inquiry, electronic performance support system, testing, and programming. Tambahan penjelasan makna interaktif yang sering disematkan dalam pembelajaran berbasis komputer dibahas pada bagian kedua. Bagian ketiga, membahas empat macam teori pembelajaran yang berhubungan dengan penggunaan teknologi dalam pembelajaran, yaitu: behaviorisme, kognitivisme, konstruktivisme, dan sosial konstruktivisme. Bagian terakhir membahas kelebihan dan kelemahan pembelajaran berbasis komputer.
Peran Penting Critical Thinking Matematika dalam Kehidupan Sehari-hari
Authors: Purba Celine Dwi Stephani , Sinuhaji Nia Br , Ishak Hasriani
Published: March 2024

Kemampuan berpikir kritis atau critical thinking sangat penting dalam kehidupan sehari-hari karena membantu individu untuk membuat keputusan yang informasinya terbatas atau kompleks, mengevaluasi argumen, dan menyelesaikan masalah. Penelitian ini mempunyai tujuan untuk mendeskripsikan tentang pentingnya keterampilan berpikir kritis dalam kehidupan sehari-hari. Penelitian ini mengunakan metode penelitian kepustakaan (library research) yaitu dengan studi literatur menggunakan metode analisis bibliometrik.  Analisis bibliometrik dilakukan dengan melihat persebaran publikasi untuk mengevaluasi kontribusi artikel terhadap kemajuan pengetahuan berbagai literatur atau fakta-fakta tentang pentingnya keterampilan berpikir kritis dalam kehidupan sehari-hari. Pada penelitian ini menggunakan teknik analisis data isi yang bersifat pembahasan mendalam terhadap isi dari jurnal yang berhubungan dengan keterampilan berpikir kritis dalam kehidupan sehari-hari.
Protection of the Welfare of Children by the Youth Welfare Office - Implementation of the Guidelines and Requirements of the Bavarian State Youth Welfare Office in Individual Cases
Authors: Holzheimer René Gordon , Ballhorn Detlef
Published: March 2024

Introduction: Violence against children and young people: recognizing and acting of the Bavarian State Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (StMAS), physicians are requested to act with the involvement of the youth welfare office (YWO) to protect the child's well-being. The handling of the welfare of children by the YWO may be of relevance for citizens from the USA and European countries in case of joint custody. Methods: The Bavarian State Youth Welfare Office (BSYWO) published on 15.03.2006 recommendations for the local youth welfare offices in Bavaria on how to react to threats to the child’s welfare. Guidelines of the BSYWO set the path for the local YWO on how to analyze and decide in every single case of child welfare endangerment. Examples of how the local youth welfare office doesn’t comply with the guidelines are presented. The analysis of the application may reflect the observance of the recommendations of the state youth welfare office by the local youth welfare office. Since the YWO is designated as the "central contact" in the event of a suspected threat to the welfare of the child, the guidelines of the state YWO are particularly important when implementing the legal requirements and case law. Results: These targets of the BSYWO are suitable to reduce the suffering of the children, provided they are applied correctly by the YWO. However, the guidelines may have been ignored and the child’s welfare may have been damaged. Conclusion: The basic goal of youth welfare, to help young people and their families, would be changed into its opposite, especially if by the measures of the youth welfare office the young person has been harmed to such an extent that his livelihood and future would have been endangered. The credibility of an institution that is important for the family and children would be damaged by a lack of transparency and the embezzlement of files.
Residual risk in vascular disease and heart failure
Authors:   , Burger Pascal Martijn
Published: March 2024

Despite the routine use of lipid- and blood pressure-lowering therapies, anticoagulation, and heart failure medication, many patients with cardiovascular disease remain at high risk of recurrent cardiovascular events. This is referred to as residual risk. This thesis identifies several risk factors that contribute to this residual risk. It was shown that patients with low-grade inflammation, as measured by high plasma concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), have a one-and-a-half to two-and-a-half times greater risk of recurrent cardiovascular events. Also, it was shown that patients with the metabolic syndrome, a cluster of obesity-related metabolic disturbances, have a 32% higher risk of heart failure. In addition, this thesis demonstrates how prediction models can be used to predict residual risk and the effects of treatment for individual patients. The LIFE-HF model was developed, and it was shown how this model can be used to accurately predict the life expectancy and lifetime benefit from medication for individual patients with heart failure. Existing prediction models were used to estimate the effects of colchicine (an anti-inflammatory agent) and icosapent ethyl (a triglyceride-lowering drug) for individual patients. This showed that in 68-70% of patients, colchicine was expected to more effectively reduce residual risk than intensified lipid- or blood pressure-lowering therapy. Icosapent ethyl lowers residual risk by 22-38%, depending on a patient’s residual risk at the start of the treatment. Finally, the results of all relevant studies on lipid-lowering therapies were combined to show that the effects of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reduction remain stable over time in patients who already have a history of cardiovascular disease (secondary prevention), but decrease with increasing age in patients who only have a high risk of developing cardiovascular disease in the future (primary prevention).
Investigations of the Global Budget of Carbonyl Sulfide Using Data Assimilation of Surface and Satellite Observations
Authors:   , Ma jin
Published: March 2024

Carbonyl sulfide (COS) is a significant trace gas in the atmosphere. It is taken up by ecosystems and proves useful in tracking gross primary production (GPP). However, our understanding of COS is insufficient, given that it originates from various sources and undergoes various pathways in the atmosphere. In this thesis, I employ inverse modeling and data assimilation techniques to address several critical questions and advance our understanding of the global budget and cycle of COS. The sources and sinks of COS are not balanced, suggesting the existence of missing sources in the global COS budget. Utilizing the inverse model TM5-4DVAR, I assimilate data from the NOAA surface network, pinpointing these missing sources in tropical oceans and underestimating sinks in northern high latitudes. Additionally, I collaborate with international scientists to execute a TransCom-COS protocol, where we transport state-of-the-art fluxes from the TM5-4DVAR and LMDz inversions into seven atmospheric transport models. The results exhibit good agreement between the inversions and alignment with model simulations based on aircraft observations. Furthermore, I assimilated MIPAS satellite observations to enhance the initial inverse model. The MIPAS satellite data significantly improves the inversions, particularly in distinguishing between fluxes from oceans and land. Sulfur isotopes within COS are also a captivating topic of study. Therefore, I utilize TM5 to simulate the isotopic composition and explore the influence of photolysis and vertical resolution on COS isotope signatures in the stratosphere. The investigations within this thesis will contribute to our comprehension and broaden our knowledge of the global cycle and budget of COS.
IDENTIFIKASI BKO (Bahan Kimia Obat) PADA JAMU PEGAL LINU YANG BEREDAR DI GERUNG KABUPATEN LOMBOK BARAT
Authors: Jannah Miftahul , Idawati Sri , Purmafitriah En , Hardani Hardani
Published: March 2024

Latar belakang: Obat tradisional adalah bahan atau ramuan bahan yang berupa bahan tumbuhan, bahan hewan, bahan mineral, sediaan sarian (galenik) atau campuran dari bahan tersebut yang secara turun temurun telah digunakan untuk pengobatan dan dapat diterapkan sesuai dengan norma yang berlaku di masyarakat. Jamu adalah produk obat tradisional Indonesia yang telah digunakan secara turun-temurun untuk menjaga kesehatan. Umumnya jamu dibuat dari bahan-bahan alami, berupa bagian dari tumbuhan dan hewan. Tujuan: Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengidentifikasi adanya Bahan Kimia Obat (BKO) dalam sediaan jamu pegal linu yang beredar di Gerung Kabupaten Lombok Barat. Metode: Metode yang digunakan pada penelitian ini adalah metode kromatografi lapis tipis (KLT). Hasil : analisis menunjukkan sampel P dan MA positif mengandung natrium diklofenak karena diperoleh nilai Rf sampel 0,69 dan nilai Rf pembanding 0,69
ANALISIS PERENCANAAN SEDIAAN ANTIBIOTIK DENGAN METODE KONSUMSI DI INSTALASI FARMASI RUMAH SAKIT UMUM DAERAH KOTA MATARAM SEPTEMBER 2021
Authors: Sari Purnama , Utami Evi Fatmi , Rahmawati Sri , Syamsuriansyah Syamsuriansyah
Published: March 2024

Pengelolaan obat merupakan suatu rangkaian kegiatan yang menyangkut aspek perencanaan, pengadaan, penerimaan, penyimpanan, pemusnahan, pengendalian, pencatatan dan pelaporan obat yang dikelola secara optimal. Pengelolaan obat dapat digunakan dengan metode konsumsi. Penelitian ini bertujuan Untuk memperoleh informasi dan gambaran mengenai pengelolaan obat di instalasi farmasi rumah sakit umum daerah kota mataram dengan metode konsumsi berdasarkan tingkat pemakaian dan investasinya. Penelitian ini menggunakan penelitian non eksperimental dengan Analisa secara deskriptif dengan menggunakan data kuantitatif dan kualitatif. Penelitian dilakukan secara retrospektif. Data kuantitatif adalah data penggunaan antibiotik tahun 2021, data harga pembeliaan obat antibiotik, dan dana anggaran perencanaan obat. Data kualitatif adalah data proses perencanaan dan sistem pengadaan obat di rumah sakit umum daerah kota mataram. semua data perencanaan obat antibiotik periode september 2021. Hasil penelitian analisis perencanaan sediaan antibiotik dengan metode konsumsi di Instalasi farmasi RSUD Kota Mataram. Didapatkan hasil untuk analisis metode konsumsi obat dengan pemakaian terbanyak terdapat pada obat dengan sediaan tablet adalah Cefadroxil 500 mg, Cefoperazone 1 gr untuk sediaan injeksi, Metronidazole Infus, dan gentamycin salep, dengan pemakaian terkecil adalah amoxicillin syirup
UJI ACCEPTIBILITAS MINUMAN KESEHATAN KOMBINASI JAHE (Zingiber officinale) SEREH (Cymbopogon citratus), KAYU MANIS (Cinnamomum burmanni) DAN CENGKEH (Syzygium aromaticum) SEBAGAI IMUN BOOSTER PADA MASA PANDEMI COVID-19
Authors: Aini Qurratul , Irawansyah Irawansyah , Rahmawati Sri , Hardani Hardani
Published: March 2024

Minuman Kesehatan kombinasi adalah minuman campuran bahan alam yang dapat menyehatkan tubuh atau menjaga kesehatan tubuh. Tujuan dilakukannya penelitian ini untuk mengetahui daya terima minuman kesehatan kombinasi jahe (Zingiber officinale) sereh (Cymbopogon citratus), kayu manis (Cinnamomum burmanni) dan cengkeh (Syzygium aromaticum) sebagai imun booster  pada masa covid -19, untuk mengetahui daya terima masyarakat dilakukannya uji sensori menggunakan data kuesioner yang akan di sebarkan kepada responden. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah Ekperimental deskriptif kuantitatif dengan lagkah-langkah membuat sediaan minuman Kesehatan kombinasi, uji tingkat kesukaan dan menghitung scornya pada setiap uji, Penilain uji yang dinilai adalah warna, aroma, rasa dan tekstur. Berdasarkan  pengolahan data hasil uji daya terima yang dilakukan oleh 50 responden menyatakan minuman kesehatan kombinasi jahe, sereh, cengkeh dan kayu manis dapat di terima di masyarakat.
The Mediating Role of Learning Goal Orientation on Psychological Capital and Performance Goal Orientation among Gen Zers
Authors: FERNANDO Maria Socorro Cristina L.
Published: March 2024

The research considers Generation Z (Gen Zers) who are characterized by diversity, innovation and resiliency. They have also been called Generation Resilient having hurdled the challenges brought about by the global pandemic and emerged with confidence and numerous possibilities for themselves. The study aims to explore how learning goal orientation significantly mediates psychological capital and performance goal orientation. A sample of 120 Gen Zers from the Philippines participated in an online survey. Descriptive and Inferential statistical analysis (simple and multiple linear regression) were used for data analysis. The Mediation analysis was based on four step approach mediation analysis by Baron and Kenny (1986 as cited by Newsom, 2024). Simple linear regression results showed that (1) psychological capital has a significant influence on performance goal orientation; (2) psychological capital has a significant influence on learning goal orientation; (3) learning goal orientation has significant influence on performance goal orientation. Multiple linear regression shows that both Psychological capital and learning goal orientation has significant influence on performance goal orientation and therefore based on the mediation analysis approach it can be concluded that learning goal orientation has significant partial mediation on psychological capital towards performance goal orientation. The results are significant for the development at the personal and professional levels of Gen Zers, whether they are self-employed or entrepreneurs or as reference for human resource development in companies where the Gen Zers are employed and being developed for future capabilities in their career moves.
Effectiveness Study on Mind Mapping Approach to Students’ Operation Position Performance and Creativity on Traditional Chinese Painting
Authors: SHI Wei , MENG Xian Ping
Published: March 2024

Under current diplomaism, students’ painting ability is cultivated, but the creativity development is restricted. Students mainly learn painting skills that technique training is mostly emphasized. To improve such a problem, it is necessary to build the operation position performance ability and the value and attitude towards creativity, cultivate creativity with multiple intelligences as the structure, stress on the creativity process and taking pressure in the experience, and integrate creativity into course teaching. Using experimental design model for this study, 202 art major students of a university in China, as the experimental subjects, are preceded the 18-week (2 hours per week for total 36 hours) experimental teaching research. The research results show that 1.mind mapping approach would positively affect operation position performance, 2.mind mapping approach would positively affect creativity, and 3.operation position performance shows significant and positive effects on creativity. According to the results to propose discussions, it is expected to provide students with the learning strategy of creative thinking through teachers’ teaching model, cultivate students’ operation position performance and creativity on traditional Chinese painting with the system structure and divergent thinking of mind mapping symbolism, as well as actually apply to the artistic creation of traditional Chinese painting.
Tata Kelola Organisasi dan Dominasi Sosial
Authors: Yudithadewi Dien , Darsono Dodo , Parikesit Bonifasius , Pratama Yudha
Published: March 2024

This study focuses on the governance of Kelompok Perempuan Kreatif Mandiri/Independent Creative Women Group (KPKM) which is the beneficiary of women's empowerment program from Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) PT Perusahaan Gas Negara Tbk. The paper aims to identify and describe, how organizational structure impacts governance patterns and the outcomes. It used a persuasive case study approach, where the data collection process is carried out through in-depth interviews with relevant stakeholders. Likewise, researchers conducted close observation, supported with literature review from journals, digital media and books, to enrich the study. The research findings reveal that the absence of regeneration in the organizational structure causes repetitive governance pattern since its establishment, same persons are appointed as caretakers in several bodies, depending on a central figure, and only able to innovate through the intervention of outsiders (other parties). Furthermore, there is a concern regarding potential digression, as quoted from Lord Acton's letter to the Bishop of Creighton in 1887; "Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely”.

Penelitian ini berfokus pada tata kelola Kelompok Perempuan Kreatif Mandiri yang merupakan penerima manfaat program pemberdayaan perempuan dari PT Perusahaan Gas Negara Tbk. Studi bertujuan untuk mengidentifikasi, dan menguraikan bagaimana struktur organisasi berdampak pada pola tata kelola, dan hasil. Penelitian menggunakan pendekatan studi kasus persuasif, dimana proses pengumpulan data dilakukan melalui wawancara mendalam (in-depth interview) terhadap para pemangku kepentingan yang relevan, didukung dengan observasi dan telaah literatur. Temuan penelitian menyatakan bahwa tidak adanya regenerasi dalam struktur organisasi menyebabkan organisasi bergerak dengan pola tata kelola serupa sejak berdiri, bergantung pada figur sentral, dan hanya mampu berinovasi melalui intervensi pihak lain. Lebih lanjut perlu diwaspadai potensi timbulnya penyimpangan, sebagaimana kutipan surat Lord Acton kepada Uskup Creighton pada 1887; “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely” (kekuasaan cenderung korup, dan kekuasaan mutlak pasti korup).
Pengaruh Realisasi Hutang Pajak, Realiasi SKPKB, dan Jumlah Wajib Pajak Terhadap Penerimaan Pajak Penghasilan
Authors: Aulia Azzahra  , Ernawati Widi Dwi , Djajanto Ludfi
Published: March 2024

The aims of this study are to examine, both partially and simultaneously, the effects on realization of tax debt, realization of SKPKB, and the number of taxpayers on income tax revenues at the Pratama Tax Office in Southern Malang. This is a quantitative research with causal associative research. The instruments of the data collection are documention and interview. The data used in this research are monthly realization reports, which amount to 60 samples (starting from January 2016 to December 2020) of income tax revenue paragraph 25/29, tax debt settled, (SKPKB) Notice of Tax Underpayment Assessment, and the number of registered individual and corporate taxpayers. The data are analyzed with classic assumption, and Multiple Linier Regression analysis of SPSS version 25. The analysis shows realization of tax debt, realization of SKPKB, and the number of taxpayers have a significant value of 0.013. It means that there is a simultaneous effect on income tax revenues. This research also found that realization of tax debt has a significant value of 0.045 and the number of taxpayers has a significant value of 0.012. It means that there is a partial effect on income tax revenues. However partially, realization of SKPKB does not have a significant effect on income tax revenues. This is evidenced by the significance value of t > α which is 0,117 > 0,05. Thus, when the realization of SKPKB is high or low, it will not have an effect on the income tax revenues.
Laser weed seed control: challenges and opportunities
Authors: Andreasen Christian , Vlassi Eleni , Salehan Najmeh , Johannsen Kenneth S. , Jensen Signe M.
Published: March 2024

Farmers are greatly interested in reducing weed seeds in their fields to avoid unnecessary weed infestation. Autonomous vehicles equipped with plant recognition systems and lasers can be used to control weed plants and may therefore be used to replace or supplement herbicides and mechanical weed control. However, less is known about the ability of laser to control weed seeds. In this study, seeds of weeds (Alopecurus myosuroides, Anisantha sterilis, Avena fatua, Centaurea cyanus, Silene noctiflora) and crops (wheat (Triticum aestivum), maize (Zea mays)) were exposed to increasing dosages of laser energy. The species represented dicots and monocots with different seed sizes and morphology. We used a thulium-doped 50 W fiber laser with a wavelength of 2 µm and a diameter of 2 mm developed for weed control. The seeds were exposed to laser directly on the seed surface or after been covered with soil (2.5 and 5 mm). Small doses of energy (0.4 J mm−2 and 0.8 J mm−2) affected the germination ability of small seeds (S. noctiflora and C. cyanus) when the seeds were irradiated directly on the seed surface, and they were completely burned at the high doses (8.0 J mm−2 and 15.9 J mm−2). However, there was not a clear relationship between seed size and sensitivity to laser dose. Additionally, increasing the laser dose on the seed surface resulted in increasing infection of fungi. Seeds covered with soil were not affected by the laser treatments except C. cyanus seeds. Controlling large seeds on the ground while weed seedlings are controlled with laser robots seems realistic in the future. However, dosages higher than 50 J (~15.9 J mm−2) is necessary to control large seeds.
Functional human skin explants as tools for assessing mast cell activation and inhibition
Authors: Villanueva Clarence Rachel , Barksdale Keane , Owolabi Tinuola , Bridges Donavan , Chichester Kristin , Saini Sarbjit , Oliver Eric T.
Published: March 2024

Mast cells are activated through a variety of different receptors to release preformed granules and mediators synthesized de novo. However, the physiology and function of mast cells are not fully understood. Traditional studies of mast cell activation in humans have utilized cultures of tissue-derived mast cells including CD34+ progenitor cells or well-characterized commercially available cell lines. One limitation of these methods is that mast cells are no longer in a natural state. Therefore, their applicability to human skin disorders may be limited. Human skin explant models have been utilized to investigate the short-term effects of cell mediators, drugs, and irritants on skin while avoiding the ethical concerns surrounding in vivo stimulation studies with non-approved agents. Nonetheless, few studies have utilized intact human tissue to study mast cell degranulation. This “Methods” paper describes the development and application of an intact skin explant model to study human mast cell activation. In this manuscript, we share our protocol for setting up ex vivo human skin explants and describe the results of stimulation experiments and techniques to minimize trauma-induced histamine release. Skin explants were generated using de-identified, full-thickness, non-diseased skin specimens from plastic and reconstructive surgeries. Results were reproducible and demonstrated FcɛRI- and MRGPRX2-induced mediator release which was inhibited with the use of a BTK inhibitor and QWF, respectively. Thus, this explant model provides a quick and accessible method of assessing human skin mast cell activation and inhibition.
Test-retest reliability of remote home-based audiometry in differing ambient noise conditions
Authors: Thoidis Iordanis , Hazan Amaury , Snik Ad , Rivilla Jonatan , Budzyński Kamil , Mendez Num , Kinsbergen Jacques
Published: March 2024

Background

Home-based remote audiometry has been emerging due to the increasing accessibility of mobile technology and the need for healthcare solutions that are available worldwide. However, the challenges presented by uncontrolled conditions, such as noisy environments, could compromise the reliability of the hearing assessment.

Method

In this study, we evaluate the reliability of the Jacoti Hearing Center (JHC) smartphone application in differing ambient noise environments. Hearing test data were synchronized from the JHC application to the Jacoti earCloud database (JEC). We collected, de-identified, and analyzed real-world, home-based audiometric test data spanning from 2015 to 2023, extracted from the JEC database. A set of exclusion criteria was defined to perform data cleaning, ensuring the removal of incomplete and unreliable data, as well as, data from users who had completed a large number of tests. The final dataset comprised 9,421 test and retest threshold pairs from 1,115 users. Hearing tests conducted under relatively quiet and noisy conditions were categorized based on threshold-to-noise ratio.

Results

The test-retest reliability of the JHC application demonstrated an average absolute difference of 4.7 dB within the range from 20 to 75 dB, ranging from 3.7 dB to 6.2 dB across frequencies. A strong positive correlation of 0.85 was found between test and retest thresholds. Moreover, the pure tone average differences were within 5 dB for 84.6% of the audiograms. No clinically significant effects of ambient noise were observed on thresholds determined between 20 and 75 dB HL.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate that the JHC application can provide reliable audiometric data for hearing loss, even in non-ideal acoustic conditions. This highlights the potential of home-based audiometric assessment, reinforcing the idea that, with continuous noise monitoring and noise-aware control of the testing procedure, remote audiometry can be reliable.
A systematic evaluation of state-of-the-art deconvolution methods in spatial transcriptomics: insights from cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease
Authors: Slabowska Alban Obel , Pyke Charles , Hvid Henning , Jessen Leon Eyrich , Baumgart Simon , Das Vivek
Published: March 2024

A major challenge in sequencing-based spatial transcriptomics (ST) is resolution limitations. Tissue sections are divided into hundreds of thousands of spots, where each spot invariably contains a mixture of cell types. Methods have been developed to deconvolute the mixed transcriptional signal into its constituents. Although ST is becoming essential for drug discovery, especially in cardiometabolic diseases, to date, no deconvolution benchmark has been performed on these types of tissues and diseases. However, the three methods, Cell2location, RCTD, and spatialDWLS, have previously been shown to perform well in brain tissue and simulated data. Here, we compare these methods to assess the best performance when using human data from cardiovascular disease (CVD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) from patients in different pathological states, evaluated using expert annotation. In this study, we found that all three methods performed comparably well in deconvoluting verifiable cell types, including smooth muscle cells and macrophages in vascular samples and podocytes in kidney samples. RCTD shows the best performance accuracy scores in CVD samples, while Cell2location, on average, achieved the highest performance across all test experiments. Although all three methods had similar accuracies, Cell2location needed less reference data to converge at the expense of higher computational intensity. Finally, we also report that RCTD has the fastest computational time and the simplest workflow, requiring fewer computational dependencies. In conclusion, we find that each method has particular advantages, and the optimal choice depends on the use case.
Ventilation and air conditioning design approach based on ASHRAE psychrometric chart and Mollier diagram
Authors: Lešinskis Arturs , Strauts Uldis , Metāls Mārtiņš , Millers Renārs , Afoņičevs Viktors
Published: March 2024

Society needs long-term sustainability and healthy building projects, and indoor air quality assurance engineering systems play a pivotal role in the energy performance of buildings. Therefore, when designing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, it is crucial to make the most technically sound decisions in terms of energy consumption and assess their impact on the building’s energy performance. This article delves into the design of ventilation and air conditioning systems, presenting a method for evaluating their performance. The foundation of project development is an agreement on the design criteria, which are developed based on a preliminary analysis of the building concept. This agreement ensures cohesive collaboration among all stakeholders: the client, the architect, the system designer, the contractor, and ultimately the personnel responsible for commissioning, operating, and maintaining the systems post-construction. We suggest conducting a comprehensive analysis of the processes occurring within the space without initially linking them to room air exchange. From this analysis, we derive the angular coefficient for the direction of the air condition change on both a psychrometric chart and a Mollier diagram. The process line on the psychrometric chart provides insights into how the performance factor of the air distribution system will influence the desired supply air parameters. We can then evaluate how significantly the gap between the supply air and the exhaust air parameters expands if the room’s air exchange volume is reduced for budgetary reasons. The article showcases this design methodology using a simplified case study.
Revolutionizing pediatric neuroblastoma treatment: unraveling new molecular targets for precision interventions
Authors: Zheng Min , Kumar Ankush , Sharma Vishakha , Behl Tapan , Sehgal Aayush , Wal Pranay , Shinde Nirmala Vikram , Kawaduji Bhosale Sachin , Kapoor Anupriya , Anwer Md. Khalid , Gulati Monica , Shen Bairong , Singla Rajeev K. , Bungau Simona Gabriela
Published: March 2024

Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most frequent solid tumor in pediatric cases, contributing to around 15% of childhood cancer-related deaths. The wide-ranging genetic, morphological, and clinical diversity within NB complicates the success of current treatment methods. Acquiring an in-depth understanding of genetic alterations implicated in the development of NB is essential for creating safer and more efficient therapies for this severe condition. Several molecular signatures are being studied as potential targets for developing new treatments for NB patients. In this article, we have examined the molecular factors and genetic irregularities, including those within insulin gene enhancer binding protein 1 (ISL1), dihydropyrimidinase-like 3 (DPYSL3), receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 1 (ROR1) and murine double minute 2-tumor protein 53 (MDM2-P53) that play an essential role in the development of NB. A thorough summary of the molecular targeted treatments currently being studied in pre-clinical and clinical trials has been described. Recent studies of immunotherapeutic agents used in NB are also studied in this article. Moreover, we explore potential future directions to discover new targets and treatments to enhance existing therapies and ultimately improve treatment outcomes and survival rates for NB patients.
Klebsiella pneumoniae exhibiting a phenotypic hyper-splitting phenomenon including the formation of small colony variants
Authors: Doğan Eyüp , Sydow Katharina , Heiden Stefan E. , Eger Elias , Wassilew Georgi , Proctor Richard A. , Bohnert Jürgen A. , Idelevich Evgeny A. , Schaufler Katharina , Becker Karsten
Published: March 2024

In this study, we characterized a Klebsiella pneumoniae strain in a patient with shrapnel hip injury, which resulted in multiple phenotypic changes, including the formation of a small colony variant (SCV) phenotype. Although already described since the 1960s, there is little knowledge about SCV phenotypes in Enterobacteriaceae. The formation of SCVs has been recognized as a bacterial strategy to evade host immune responses and compromise the efficacy of antimicrobial therapies, leading to persistent and recurrent courses of infections. In this case, 14 isolates with different resisto- and morpho-types were distinguished from the patient’s urine and tissue samples. Whole genome sequencing revealed that all isolates were clonally identical belonging to the K. pneumoniae high-risk sequence type 147. Subculturing the SCV colonies consistently resulted in the reappearance of the initial SCV phenotype and three stable normal-sized phenotypes with distinct morphological characteristics. Additionally, an increase in resistance was observed over time in isolates that shared the same colony appearance. Our findings highlight the complexity of bacterial behavior by revealing a case of phenotypic “hyper-splitting” in a K. pneumoniae SCV and its potential clinical significance.
Planning for wastewater infrastructure adaptation under deep uncertainty
Authors: Allison A. E. F. , Lawrence J. H. , Stephens S. A. , Kwakkel J. H. , Singh S. K. , Blackett P. , Stroombergen A.
Published: March 2024

Infrastructure in low-lying coastal areas faces challenges from climate change, sea level rise, and the impact of compound hazards. Dynamic adaptive pathways planning (DAPP) is increasingly being applied as a way of planning under deep uncertainty. Stress testing for robustness is an integral part of DAPP which provides decision-makers with confidence. We outline a seven-step approach—combining scoping workshops, systems mapping, DAPP, exploratory modelling, robust decision-making, real options analysis and validation workshops—to support decision-making for infrastructure in low-lying coastal areas. We apply the seven steps to two wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) case studies in New Zealand to quantify indicators, signals, triggers and adaptation thresholds within DAPP plans and to identify adaptation pathways that are robust against future uncertainty. Case study one focuses on the implementation of an existing DAPP at Helensville WWTP. Our modelling enabled the challenge of quantifying indicators for adaptation thresholds and triggers to be overcome. We show that an adaptation threshold occurs at 31 cm of RSLR, the trigger point is sufficient lead time to enable relocation, and the indicator is the rate of observed RSLR. Case study one demonstrates in a quantitative way how an existing DAPP can be functionally implemented by a water management agency. Modelling for case study two, the Seaview WWTP, showed that 26 cm and 56 cm of RSLR are key thresholds. Nuisance flooding may occur after 26 cm of RSLR, which could happen as early as 2040 under a high emissions scenario. Inundation of plant assets may occur after 56 cm of RSLR, which could occur as early as 2060. Modelling showed that implementing changes to plant layout would allow the plant to remain on site for its design life (until 2080). Five adaptation archetypes were developed—sequences of adaptive actions that achieve the performance objective of continuing levels of service and avoid inundation of WWTPs. The seven-step approach is a way to stress-test a DAPP, to quantify signals, triggers and adaptation thresholds and to simulate implementation of a DAPP under a range of scenarios. This can facilitate more robust decision-making for wastewater infrastructure assets under future uncertainty.
Whole person healthcare as social and environmental justice: new research directions toward a paradigmatic integration of an ecological whole system medicine framework
Authors: Agarwal Vinita
Published: March 2024

With increasing recognition of the interdependencies of human and planetary health, calls for a socially and environmentally just framework of health have centered on whole person healthcare (WPHC) approaches. This perspective piece proposes an argument for broadening the definition of human health from WPHC to one that is guided by the philosophical orientation of traditional whole system medicine (WSM) approaches, undergirded by the values of social and environmental justice, and supported by the practices of an allopathic-integrative medicine-based WPHC framework. This piece presents opportunities for praxis offered by a WSM–WPHC framework to address global inequity, environmental disparities, and sustainability challenges. An ecological WSM–WPHC framework envisages social and environmental justice in material and discursive ways by foregrounding environmental planetary ecological consciousness as constitutive of human consciousness and biopsychosocial composition. It argues for structural support through formalized programmatic pathways targeting funding opportunities and mechanisms that invite investigations addressing epistemic challenges of expanding definitions of evidence constituting basic science knowledge domains beyond mechanistic, causal, and formative paradigms. Furthermore, it calls for innovative research directions examining the integration and validation of evidence-based approaches incorporating the ontologically diverse and epistemically distinct ontological orientation of WSM and clinical approaches. A WSM–WPHC framework that positions human health within the parameters of social and environmental justice principles envisions the material enactment of the practice of health and medicine as a universal planetary value.
Content teachers’ beliefs and attitudes toward working with multilingual learners through integrative approaches
Authors: Kim Sujin , Park Jung Yeon , Zhao Manqian
Published: March 2024

Introduction

The fast-growing population of multilingual learners (MLs) in U.S. schools calls for ML-focused instructional support from content classroom teachers to acquire content knowledge and language proficiency simultaneously. However, teachers in general lack competency in content-language integrative pedagogy that builds on MLs’ transliterate capabilities, placing MLs at a greater disadvantage in the content classroom. Given that teachers’ classroom practices are shaped by their underlying language ideologies, it is important to examine what ideological beliefs and attitudes teachers are operating with for their day-to-day work with MLs. Framed by scholarship on content-language integrated instruction, language ideologies, and transliteracies approaches, this study examined the relations between content teachers’ ideological beliefs and attitudes toward teaching MLs in the content classroom and several teacher-related variables.

Methods

This study employed a sequential mixed-methods design for a more comprehensive understanding of teachers’ ideologies about working with MLs. Quantitative data analysis was conducted by confirmatory factor analysis and multiple regressions using survey responses of in-service content teachers (N=100) followed by focus group interviews (N=24).

Results

Results of a confirmatory factor analysis using a survey suggested that teachers who were more likely to endorse English-only monolingual pedagogy did not necessarily view themselves as having lesser sensitivity to MLs’ backgrounds in their classroom. Results of regression analyses showed that teachers using pull-out or push-in instruction were more inclined to support language-integrated content teaching and considered themselves more sensitive to MLs’ backgrounds than teachers who instruct specialized content. Interestingly, the specialized content teachers having a greater percentage of MLs in their classroom were more supportive of the language-integrated content teaching pedagogy than other teachers using the teaching role. Analysis of focus groups provided contextualized rationales for teachers’ chosen stances toward the English-only monolingual, separatist pedagogy or the transliterate, integrative pedagogy for MLs.

Discussion

The findings demonstrated that teachers’ ideologies were not merely individual beliefs but also intertwined with the hegemonic language ideologies of the larger education system. The complexity of the shifting ideologies points to the pressing need for integrating ML-specific attention into teacher education and ongoing professional development programs.
Five percent weight loss is a significant 1-year predictor and an optimal 5-year cut-off for reducing the number of obesity-related cardiovascular disease risk components: the Japan Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome Study
Authors: Yamakage Hajime , Jo Takaaki , Tanaka Masashi , Kato Sayaka , Hasegawa Koji , Masuda Izuru , Matsuhisa Munehide , Kotani Kazuhiko , Noda Mitsuhiko , Satoh-Asahara Noriko
Published: March 2024

Objective

This study aimed to identify the amount of weight loss needed in patients with obesity to improve metabolic syndrome (MetS), a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), over a long period of time.

Methods

A total of 576 patients with obesity were enrolled in this study. Effects of continuous physician-supervised weight loss on the cumulative MetS components excluding abdominal circumference (defined as obesity-related CVD risk score) were investigated during a 5-year follow-up period. The extent of weight loss required to reduce the obesity-related CVD risk components was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses.

Results

Of the 576 participants, 266 completed 5-year follow-up, with 39.1% and 24.1% of them achieving ≥5.0% and ≥7.5% weight loss at the 5-year follow-up, respectively. The area under the ROC curve for reducing the obesity-related CVD risk components was 0.719 [0.662–0.777] at 1 year and 0.694 [0.613–0.775] at 5 years. The optimal cut-off value for weight loss was 5.0% (0.66 sensitivity and 0.69 specificity) and the value with 0.80 specificity was 7.5% (0.45 sensitivity) at 5 years. Greater reductions in weight were associated with greater improvements in the obesity-related CVD risk score at all follow-up periods (P-trend <0.001). Obesity-related CVD risk score was significantly improved by 5.0–7.5% and ≥7.5% weight loss at 1 year (P = 0.029 and P < 0.001, respectively) and ≥7.5% weight loss at 5 years (P = 0.034).

Conclusions

A weight loss of ≥5.0% at 1 year and ≥7.5% at 5 years could reduce the number of obesity-related CVD risk components in patients with obesity.