bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SISTEM PENDUKUNG KEPUTUSAN PENENTUAN KELULUSAN MAHASISWA MENGGUNAKAN KOMBINASI ALGORITMA C 4.5 DAN PROFILE MATCHING
Authors: Gustiana Zelvi , Nia Sari Afni
Published: January 2022

Perkembangan teknologi menuntut perguruan tinggi harus menaikkan kualitasnya. Salah satu faktor yang memengaruhi kualitas perguruan tinggi adalah ketepatan waktu mahasiswa dalam mencapai kelulusannya. Mahasiswa yang mampu tepat waktu untuk menyelesaikan studinya menandakan Perguruan Tinggi tersebut memiliki kredibilitas tinggi dalam mendampingi mahasiswa dalam masalah pendidikannya, karena hal tersebut merupakan salah satu penilaian yang dilakukan Badan Akreditasi Nasional Perguruan Tinggi (BAN-PT) untuk akreditasi. Maka dari itu, Universitas Dharmawangsa berusaha melakukan pengoptimalan dalam meningkatkan kelulusan mahasiswanya dengan cara mencari apa saja yang menjadi kendala mahasiswa untuk mencapai kelulusannya, dibantu oleh data mining dalam pengolahan data didapatkan aturan baru berupa pohon keputusan tepat waktu atau terlambat mahasiswa dalam mencapai kelulusannya. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah metode Algoritma C 4.5 dan Profile Matching. Metode Algoritma C 4.5 digunakan untuk mendapatkan aturan baru sementara Profile Matching untuk mendapatkan peringkat mahasiswa berdasarkan bobot. Pada penelitian ini didapatkan nilai akurasi sebesar 89.5%. Hasil dari penelitian ini akan bermanfaat dan berguna untuk masa mendatang dalam membantu mahasiswa dalam menyelesaikan masa studi mereka dengan tepat waktu, dengan demikian Perguruan tinggi dan mahasiswa dapat tertolong dengan adanya pengolahan data dengan data mining.
PENERAPAN MODEL E-LEARNING READINESS DAN UTAUT UNTUK EVALUASI KESIAPAN DAN PENERIMAAN E-LEARNING
Authors: Maulida Mutia , Setya Wijaya Eka , Misnariyani
Published: January 2022

Pemanfaatan E-Learning pada institusi pendidikan sering digunakan untuk membantu proses pembelajaran. Universitas Lambung Mangkurat (ULM) merupakan salah satu institusi yang mengembangkan E-Learning untuk digunakan oleh seluruh civitas akademik. Sejak digunakan pada tahun 2017, diketahui pemanfaatan dosen ULM terhadap E-Learning dalam hal ini SIMARI belum maksimal. Hal ini diketahui dari data PTIK ULM bahwa persentase penggunaan E-Learning yaitu 48%. Berdasarkan hal tersebut, perlu dilakukan evaluasi terhadap kesiapan dan penerimaan dosen terhadap E-learning. Model evaluasi yang digunakan pada makalah ini yaitu E-Learning Readiness (ELR) untuk mengukur tingkat kesiapan dan UTAUT untuk mengetahui penerimaan dosen. Faktor yang digunakan pada model ELR yaitu manusia, teknologi, inovasi dan pengembangan diri. Sedangkan, pada model UTAUT terdapat faktor harapan usaha, harapan kinerja, kondisi fasilitas, pengaruh sosial serta keterbatasan waktu yang merupakan faktor tambahan pada makalah ini. Dari hasil analisa data disimpulkan bahwa tingkat kesiapan penggunaan E-Learning berada pada kategori siap namun membutuhkan sedikit peningkatan. Sedangkan penerimaan dosen terhadap E-Learning dipengaruhi oleh faktor harapan usaha, pengaruh sosial, kondisi fasilitas dan keterbatasan waktu.
Separatism as a threat to the European Union (The Case of Catalonia)
Authors: Cherkasova E.
Published: January 2022

The Catalan crisis raises deep concerns about the very nature of European democracy. This is no longer an internal affair of Spain – rather a European and global crisis. Brussels, having declared that the Catalan problem is an internal affair of Spain, cannot completely abstract from it, both for economic and political reasons. It is quite obvious that the Spanish political elite failed to come up with an attractive alternative for Catalonia, or even a basis for a positive dialogue. By decisively taking the side of Madrid after the unilateral declaration of independence, the European Union has caused great disappointment among the Catalan nationalists. The EU is “tired” of crises and seeks to avoid involvement where possible, and it also lacks political or legal tools to resolve separatist-related problems. The European Union turned out to be unprepared for the Catalan crisis politically and intellectually. An extensive network of the EU authorities in the field of crisis management has shown its ineffectiveness. The example of Catalonia clearly demonstrates that the issue of separatism in general poses a serious threat to the European Union and the future of European integration. This threat is twofold. The rise of separatism in Catalonia led to a deep constitutional and political crisis in Spain itself, superimposed on economic problems, especially aggravated during the pandemic. The fourth EU economy is faced with an acute problem of maintaining territorial integrity. The Catalan crisis demonstrated the inability of Brussels to resolve this kind of conflict with mechanisms at its disposal. New mechanisms are needed that can ensure an optimal balance between supranational, state and local government institutions. The events in Catalonia have clearly demonstrated that separatist movements can pose no less a threat to integration as such recognized challenges as terrorism, migration, climate change and cybersecurity. Crises emerging within the European Union have become a serious obstacle to further integration; consequently, the focus of the EU’s anti-crisis policy is gradually shifting from external problems to internal ones.
apropriação das classes nouvelles francesas
Authors: Franco Millena Miranda
Published: January 2022

O texto do professor Laurent Gutierrez, que será apresentado a seguir, foi publicado no final de novembro de 2019 no primeiro número da revista Futuro do Pretérito, a partir da transcrição da conferência proferida pelo professor Laurent Gutierrez, por ocasião das comemorações de 50 anos de fundação da Faculdade de Educação da Universidade de São Paulo (FEUSP) e 60 anos da fundação da Escola de Aplicação (EA). A revista Futuro do Pretérito, criada em outubro de 2019, por Millena Miranda, então aluna do curso de graduação em Pedagogia da FEUSP, idealizou homenagear o Centro de Memória da Educação - USP, o aniversário de 50 anos da FE-USP e 60 anos da Escola de Aplicação (EA), bem como divulgar atividades de ensino, pesquisa, cultura e extensão universitária. Ao longo dos anos, o projeto complexificou-se e assumiu novos contornos devido à intercomunicação coletiva, ao estudo do contexto histórico, político e social e à diversidade dos sujeitos que passaram a integrar a organização do periódico (FRANCO, M. M.; PAIVA, B. M.; OSTETI, G.R.; SILVA, N. R. P.; SILVA, B. H.; OSTETI, G.R; COSTA, P. S. R., 2021). O link de acesso à publicação é este: http://www4.fe.usp.br/futurodopreterito
On the Additive and Subtractive Representation of Even Numbers from Primes
Authors: Shehu Ali , Uka Jetmira
Published: January 2022

We demonstrate a new quantitative method to the sieve of Eratosthenes, which is an alternative to the sieve of Legendre. In this method, every element of a given set is sifted out once only, and therefore, this method is free of the Mobius function and of the consequential parity barrier. Using this method, we prove that every sufficiently large even number is the sum of two primes, and that every even number is the difference of two primes in infinitely many ways.
PirAB from Vibrio parahaemolyticus Exhibits a Binary Toxin Action with Bactericidal Activity and Cytotoxicity in Penaeus vannamei
Authors: Soto-Rodriguez Sonia A. , Lozano-Olvera Rodolfo , Ramos-Clamont Montfort Gabriela , Zenteno Edgar , Sánchez-Salgado Jose Luis , Vibanco-Pérez Norberto , Rendón Aguilar Karla G.
Published: January 2022

PirAB is a binary protein complex secreted by specific strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp) that harbor the pVA1 virulence plasmid and express PirAVp and PirBVp toxins. PirABVp causes acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND), a newly emergent penaeid shrimp disease that can cause 70–100% mortality and has resulted in great economic losses since its appearance. The cy-totoxic effect of PirABVp on the epithelial cell of the shrimp hepatopancreas has been extensively reported. Our studies found that the PirBVp subunit has lectin activity and recognizes mucin-like O-glycosidic structures in the shrimp hepatopancreas. The PirAVp subunit may have a stabiliza-tion function of the binary complex. However, we also found that Vp AHPND changes the water microbiota community structure and causes a significant reduction in several bacteria, especially Neptuniibacter spp. We propose that the PirABvp toxin could exhibit a dual role: damage the shrimp hepatopancreas and kill surrounding bacteria.
Crop Detection Using Time Series of Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-1 and Existing Land Parcel Information Systems
Authors: Snevajs Herman , Charvat Karel , Onckelet Vincent , Kvapil Jiri , Zadrazil Frantisek , Kubickova Hana , Seidlova Jana , Bartlova Iva
Published: January 2022

Satellite Crop Detection technologies are focused on detection of different types of crops on the field in the early stage before harvesting. Crop detection is usually done on a time series of satellite data by classification of the desired fields. Currently, data obtained from Remote Sensing (RS) are used to solve tasks related to the identification of the type of agricultural crops, also modern technologies using AI methods are desired in the postprocessing part. In this challenge Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 time series data were used due to their periodic availability. Our focus was to develop methodology for classification of time series of Sentinel 2 and Sentinel 1 data and compare how accuracy of classification can be increased, but also how to guarantee availability of data. We analyse phenology of single crops and on the basis of this analysis we started to provide crop classification. Original crop classifications were made from Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) layers made from Sentinel-2 time-series data and then we added also . To increase accuracy we also integrate into the process parcel borders and provide classification of fields..
Computational Models in Neurosciences Between Mechanistic and Phenomenological Characterizations
Authors: Gauld Christophe , Brun Cédric , Boraud Thomas , Carlu Mallory , Depannemaecker Damien
Published: January 2022

Computational neuroscience combines mathematics, computer science models, and neurosciences for theorizing, investigating, and simulating neural systems involved in the development, structure, physiology, and cognitive abilities of the brain. Computational models constitute a major stake in translational neuroscience: the analytical understanding of these models seems fundamental to consider a translation towards clinical applications. Method: We propose a minimal typology of computational models, which allows distinguishing between more realistic models (e.g., mechanistic models) and pragmatic models (e.g., phenomenological models). Result: Understanding the translational aspects of computational models goes far beyond the intrinsic characteristics of models. First, we assume that a computational model is rarely uniquely mechanistic or phenomenological. Idealization seems necessary because of i) the researcher’s perspectives on the phenomena and the purposes of the study (i.e., by the relativity of the model); ii) The complexity of reality across different levels and therefore the nature and number of dimensions required to consider a phenomenon. Especially, the use of models goes far beyond their function, and requires considering external characteristics rooted in path dependence, interdisciplinarity, and pluralism in neurosciences. Conclusion: The unreasonable use of computational models, which are highly complex and subject to a shift in their initial function, could be limited by bringing to light such factors.
The Effectiveness of Fiscal Policy on Economic Growth in South Africa: An Empirical Analysis
Authors: Pamba Dumisani
Published: January 2022

The study uses annual time series data from the South Africa Reverse Bank (SARB) from 1980 to 2020 to examine the effectiveness of fiscal policy on economic growth in South Africa. The Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) and Phillips-Perron (PP) unit root tests, as well as the Johansen Co-integration test, Granger causality test, and Vector Auto-Regression (VAR) method, were used in the study. Real GDP per capita (RGDP) is used as proxy of economic growth and gross fixed capital formation (GFCF), government expenditure (GEXP) and government deficit (GOVD) as the proxies of fiscal policy. The ADF test results show that all variables are stationary at the first difference, with the exception of GFCF and GEXP, which are stationary at I(0), whereas the PP test results show that all variables are stationary at I(1), with the exception of GEXP, which is stationary at I(0). At Maximum Eigenvalue, the four variables are not cointegrated. The findings of the Granger causality test demonstrated a unidirectional causation from GOVD to RGDP, as well as a bidirectional causality from RGDP to GFCF and GEXP. Error Correction Model Estimated using VAR shows that GFCF, GEXP have positive effect on RGDP whereas GOVD has a negative effect on RGDP in the short run. The findings also presented that the VAR's residuals are homoscedastic, which means they are normally distributed and have no serial correlation.
Landscape and Settlement over 4 Millennia on the South Side of Lake Issyk Kul, Kyrgyzstan: Preliminary Results of Survey Research in 2019-2021
Authors: Chang Claudia , .Ivanov Sergei Sergievich , Tourtellotte Perry Alan
Published: January 2022

This paper discusses the preliminary results of archaeological surveys conducted in the Juuku Region of north-central Kyrgyzstan on the south side of Lake Issyk kul. Our goal was to document ancient and contemporary agropastoral systems over a four millenia time period. During the surveys about 350 loci were identified as settlements, burial mounds, graves, single artifact finds, and artifact scatters (ceramic). The areas of Juuku Valley survey included two discrete polygons: Polygon 1, Lower Juuku at 1750 to 1950 m asl in elevation and Polygon 2, Chak Juuku or Upper Eastern Branch Juuku Valley at 2060 to 2100 m asl in elevation. Three radiometric dates and preliminary archaeobotanical studies were conducted at three exposed profile cuts. The methods included here are: (1) pedestrian surveys; (2) use of digital maps (Google Earth, Encarta); (3) placing archaeological loci within known chronological time periods; (4) AMS dating of charcoal samples collected from profile deposits; and (5) preliminary identification of plant remains found from archaeobotanical samples. The results of our research represent the first step toward inventorying and interpreting archaeological data in the Juuku Valley derived from field studies.
Enhancing Race and Ethnicity using Bayesian Imputation in an All Payer Claims Database
Authors: El Ibrahimi Sanae , Hendricks Michelle A. , Hallvik Sara E , Dameshghi Nazanin , Hildebran Christi , Fischer Michael A. , Weiner Scott G.
Published: January 2022

Background: All Payer Claims Databases (APCD) are a rich source of health information, however, race and ethnicity (R&E) data are largely missing. Bayesian Improved Surname Geocoding (BISG) is a common R&E imputation method, yet, validation of BISG in APCDs is lacking. We used the BISG to impute missing R&E in the Oregon APCD. Methods: BISG imputed R&E for Asian Pacific Islanders (API), Blacks, Hispanics and Whites were contrasted to the gold standard (vital statistics) and sensitivity and specificity improvements were assessed. Logistic regression examined whether missing R&E was random across patient characteristics. Results: Among 85,857 individuals in the study, 32.1% (n=27,594) had missing R&E. Missing R&E was not randomly distributed. There were higher odds of missingness among males, Whites, those age 65 and older, and commercially insured individuals. Differences in the percent missing were also found by co-morbid conditions and mortality causes. Imputing the missing R&E with BISG method improved the sensitivity to identify White, Black, API, and Hispanics. Conclusions: APCDs can benefit from enhancing missing R&E with BISG imputation to perform more robust population-health level analyses and identify inequities according to R&E without losing power or dropping non-random records with missing R&E data.
Refusal Parenting Style Is Easier for Students to Perceive Non-physical Bullying in the Upper Grades of Elementary School: Mediation Effect of Negative Affect Experience and Negative Coping Style
Authors: Zhou Houyu , Wang Qinfei , Yu Shuxu , Zheng Quangquang
Published: January 2022

To explore the impact of parenting styles on the perception of campus non-physical bullying, 492 students in upper elementary school grades were surveyed by using the Delaware Bullying Victimization Scale, the Negative Coping Style Scale, the Negative Affect Scale, and the Egna Minnen Beträffende Uppfostran Questionnaire. The questionnaire survey was conducted in the fifth and sixth grades of eight primary schools in Zhejiang province. The results showed that cyberbullying was not significantly related to an anxious parenting style, but negative affect experiences, negative coping styles, negative family parenting styles, and the perception of campus non-physical bullying were all positively correlated with each other (p < 0.05). The refusal parenting style was shown to be an important factor that affected students’ perception of campus non-physical bullying; it was observed to directly affect students’ perception of campus non-physical bullying and indirectly affect students’ perception of campus non-physical bullying by influencing negative affect experiences and negative coping styles. In conclusion, negative affect experiences and negative coping styles had a chain-like mediating effect between the refusal parenting style and students’ perception of campus verbal bullying. Moreover, negative affect experiences had a partial mediating effect between the refusal parenting style and students’ perceptions of campus cyberbullying, relationship bullying, and non-physical bullying total scores. Implications and suggestions based on these results are also discussed.
Graviton Detection
Authors: Kizka Valeriy
Published: January 2022

The article discusses the possibility of detecting of gravitons using recently created devices with cold atoms at picokelvin temperatures.
New Derivation of Redshift Distance Without Using Power Expansions. II. Additional Redshift Distances, Analyzing the Data of More Quasars, of Some SNIa, of the One Black Hole in Galaxy M87 as Well as a Newer Estimation of H0
Authors: Haase Steffen
Published: January 2022

In this part of the two-part series of essays, we first derive some equations for further physical redshift distances. We then analyze a catalog with 132,975 quasars, for which both the apparent magnitude m and the redshift z are given, in order to find the today’s value of the parameter β0 of the theory presented. We then use this value to determine the today’s value of the radius R0a of the Friedmann sphere using a magnitude redshift diagram of 19 SNIa. With the help of the known values of R0a and β0, statements about astrophysical data from the black hole in the galaxy M87 can be made. In addition, the today’s Hubble parameter H0 results from both parameters. Furthermore, we calculate the values of the further physical redshift distances for the black hole in M87 and all 19 SNIa. The resulting parameter values are: β0 ≈ 0.731, R0a ≈ 2,712.48 Mpc and H0 ≈ 65.638 km / (s ∙ Mpc). The today’s mass density of the Friedmann sphere is ρ0 ≈ 4.843 x 10-27 g / cm 3. For the mass of the Friedmann sphere we find MFK ≈ 1.206 x 1056 g. Annotation: Knowledge of the first part [1] of the series of articles is a prerequisite for understanding this article.
Prospects of Triangular Modular Structures for Roadside Service Buildings
Authors: Samoilov Konstantin , Kuspangaliyev Bolat , Sadvokasova Gaukhar , Kuanyshbekov Nurlytan
Published: January 2022

The need for a relatively quick solution to the problem of providing highways with roadside service facilities necessitates the development of a series of appropriate standard projects. To increase the efficiency of these series, it is advisable to carry out the interconnection of space-planning solutions based on a particular module. Taking into account the variety of planning and landscape characteristics of the sites for the placement of objects of the mainline service, it seems advisable to choose as a module not a square or rectangular, but a triangular configuration, which allows in most cases to harmoniously block the modules. The proposed roof module in the form of a "regular" triangle facing the tetrahedron has a structural basis in the form of a single-tier rod spatial plate. The principal space-planning solutions of all four dozen objects from the approved nomenclature of the mainline service performed in the process of analyzing the possibilities show the real possibility of solving the development tasks on the basis of this system. The use of the proposed modular system makes it possible to successfully solve a number of tasks to reduce the harmful impact on the environment and effectively use renewable energy sources.
Paleoenvironmental Evolution of a Forearc in Response to Forcings by Drainage, Climate, Volcanism, and Tectonics: The Quillagua Depocenter, Chile
Authors: Jordan Teresa , Quezada Andrés , Blanco Nicolás , Jensen Arturo , Vásquez Paulina , Sepúlveda Fernando
Published: January 2022

The Late Miocene and Pliocene Quillagua depocenter lake system existed in a forearc basin on the west side of the Andes Mountains in northern Chile, alternating between standing-water and salar conditions. Quaternary incision of the Loa River Canyon resulted in bypass of the prior depositional surface and drainage of groundwater from the abandoned depocenter. Systematic regional geological mapping, 32 new chronological constraints on the strata in the basin, outcrop-scale facies analyses, and geophysical data underpin a revised evaluation of the controls on the lake system. The progressive stages, ages, and causes of the Quaternary destruction of the lake system are reconstructed based on mapped distributions of superficial fluvial sediments, chronological studies of terrace deposits, and landform analysis. The lake system occurred at the junction of small catchments draining the slowly rising western Andean foothills and the large paleo-Loa River catchment draining the Andean volcanic arc, during a time span of intense caldera activity. Small magnitude climate variability affected both the hyperarid low elevation sectors and arid upper sectors of the catchments. By 10 Ma, the regional climate was extremely arid, limiting water and sediment to small amounts, and during the Late Miocene and Pliocene, there was no surface-water outlet to the Pacific. Hydrological variations from 9 to 2.6 Ma led to sediment accumulation in variable lake environments, alternating with long hiatuses. Minor deformation within the Quillagua depocenter shifted the topographic axis and groundwater outlets. Simultaneous headward erosion from the Pacific shore captured the Loa River, which triggered large-magnitude incision that persists today. The progression of surface water environmental change was accompanied by changing composition and amount of surface and groundwater, which determined deposition of primary evaporite minerals, extensive diagenesis, and eventually, complex patterns of dissolution expressed as karst.
ESTROGEN HORMONE PROFILE AND ESTRUS RESPONSE OF THIN TAILED EWES SYNCHRONIZED WITH CONTROLLED INTERNAL DRUG RELEASE
Authors: Kumala Seraphina , Asmarawati Widya , Ismaya Ismaya , Bintara Sigit , Aji Riyan Nugroho , Widayati Diah Tri
Published: January 2022

This research was conducted to identify the estrogen hormone profile and estrus response in the thin tailed ewes synchronized with controlled internal drug release (CIDR) implant. This research was carried out by employing 8 thin tailed ewes, CIDR, and estrogen kit. The ewes were distributed into: 3 ewes as control group and 5 ewes as treated group (with 12 days-CIDR implantation). Ewes were raised in the Sidomukti farm group, Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta. The data obtained were estrogen hormone profile during estrus examined by using ELISA method and estrus response marked with the reddening and oedema of vulva, mucus vaginal discharge, behavioral changes, vaginal pH, and superficial cells population. The data were analyzed by applying independent sample T-test. The result did not show any significant difference (P0.05) in the normal range between the control and CIDR group in estrogen hormone profile, estrus response, and pH level, but showed significant differences with positive correlation (P0.05) in population of superficial cells. In conclusion, CIDR was an effective tool for estrus synchronization at the farmer group, and gave positive estrus response towards thin tailed ewes with estrogen hormone profile, pH level, and superficial cell percentage on the normal range.
Efficiency of Spinal Anesthesia versus General Anesthesia for Minimal Invasive Single Level Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A Retrospective Analysis of 178 Patients
Authors: Rangnekar Ameya , Praveen Goparaju VNR , Chugh Amit , Raut Saijyot , Kundnani Vishal
Published: January 2022

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of spinal anesthesia in patients undergoing minimal invasive single level transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion surgery (MIS TLIF) and to compare the results with that of general anesthesia.Method: 178 patients were included in the study, 86 were in general anesthesia and 92 were in spinal anesthesia. Patients aged between 20 to 70 years who had undergone MIS-TLIF not responding to 6 weeks of conservative treatment were included. The routine steps of anesthesia for both general and spinal anesthesia were adhered. The VAS, blood loss, duration of surgery, time from entering operation theatre to time of incision, time of bandaging to exit from operation theatre, time of stay in Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), nausea/vomiting, urinary retention, duration of stay in hospital, peri-operative complications were compiled and assessed. Appropriate statistical analysis was applied.Results: The mean time for entering the operation theatre to the incision; mean time from bandaging to the exit; mean PACU time and the mean hospital stay were significantly lower in the spinal anesthesia group (p<0.05). The other parameters are comparable except, urinary retention which was significantly higher in spinal anesthesia group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Spinal anesthesia offers efficient operating room functioning with decreasing overall operation theatre time. It is very efficient alternative technique to general anesthesia which can be considered for elective lumbar surgeries with a lower late of adverse events especially at lower lumbar levels.
The Physician Assistant/associate Medical Workforce: 2020-2035
Authors: Hooker Roderick S. , Kulo Violet A. , Kayingo Gerald , Jun Hyun-Jin , Cawley James F
Published: January 2022

Background: Physician assistant/associates (PAs) are health care professionals whose roles expand universal access to a broad range of people across many nations. In the US, there is a growing shortage of physicians. PAs and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) were developed to help span medical providers' supply and demand gap. A forecasting project was undertaken to predict the likely census of PAs in the medical workforce spanning 2020 to 2035. Methods: Microsimulation modeling of the American PA workforce was performed using standard stock and flow format. The number of clinically active PAs employed in 2020 formed the baseline. Graduation rates and PA program expansion were factored as critical parameters to predict annual growth; attrition estimates balanced the equation. Two models, one based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and another based on data from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA), were analyzed to estimate future annual PA numbers. Results: As of 2020, the BLS estimated 125,280 PAs were employed in the medical workforce; the NCCPA estimate was 148,560 PA in active practice. The mean age was 40, and 76% were female. The Accreditation Review Commission accredited 277 PA education programs for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA), and 99% had a graduating class. The mean annual graduation cohort was 45. The BLS model predicted approximately 204,243 clinically active PAs by 2035; the NCCPA-based model predicted 211,537 PAs in clinical practice. Conclusions: A physician assistant/associate predictive model based on two data sources projects the supply of PAs by 2035 between 204,000 and 212,000: a growth rate of ± 35% (3.5% model differences). If the most likely scenario is realized, the 15-year growth of the PA will help improve the gap in the supply and demand of American medical service.
Structural Investigation, Chemical Durability, And Kinetic Characterization of Sodium-Tungsten-Titanium Phosphate Glasses
Authors: Es-soufi Hicham , Bih L.
Published: January 2022

Solid electrolytes of sodium ions were applied in many technologies, from chemical sensors to batteries. In this work, we focused on the study of electrolytes-based phosphate glasses prepared within the system 20Na2O-(50-x)Na2WO4-xTiO2-30P2O5 (with 0≤x≤25 mol%). These glasses were elaborated via a melt-quenching method. The DSC technique was exploited to estimate the activation energy depending on the crystallization (Ec). Where the glass (x= 5) was characterized by Ec= 144.77 kJ/mol. Avrami parameter (n) allows determining the mechanism of crystallization. This parameter value is found around ≈ 2; it can anticipate that the crystallization mechanism is a one-dimensional, periodic landscape. The Raman spectroscopy analysis showed that the bonds constituting the framework of these glasses are essential constituted from the PO4 units. The insertion of TiO2 into the glass framework leads to formation of the new bonds P-O-Ti and/or Ti-O-Ti. Changing the Na2WO4 mol% by TiO2 mol% leads to switching the structural units Q2 to Q1 units then Q0 units. Obtained results of the durability analysis verified that the dissolution of the explored glasses relies on glassy composition. When TiO2 replaces Na2WO4, durability is increased.
Direct Degradation of Methylene Blue by Unactivated Peroxymonosulfate: Reaction Parameters, Kinetics, and Mechanism
Authors: Zuo Xu , Nie Jianxin , Jiang Beier , Jiang Aijun , Zou Shiyang , Wu Junrong , Ding Bingquan , Wang Xue hui , Liu Yang
Published: January 2022

Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are efficient methods for water purification. However, there are few studies on direct oxidation with inactive peroxymonosulfate (PMS) to remove pollutants. In this study, methylene blue (MB) was oxidised efficiently by PMS. MB was decomposed through a non-radical pathway, as verified by the scavengers and electron paramagnetic resonance experiments. Although singlet oxygen was formed, the possibility of it degrading MB was ruled out via kinetics calculations. Therefore, the obvious conclusion was that PMS reacted directly with MB. Additionally, the operating parameters, including PMS dosage, MB dosage, temperature, and initial pH, were investigated. MB degradation followed pseudo-first-order kinetics, with rate constants ranging from 0.0082 to 0.3912 min−1. The second-order rate constant (kPMS,MB) for the reaction of MB with PMS was 0.08 M−1s−1 at pH 3–6, but kPMS,MB increased dramatically to 4.68 M−1s−1 with increasing solution pH. Chloride in the PMS/MB system reacted with PMS to form HClO, which was catalysed by PMS to rapidly decompose MB. Interestingly, MB is effectively mineralised by PMS in the presence of chlorine. In addition, humic acid, a common scavenger, did not inhibit MB degradation. In an alkaline environment, the removal rate of TOC reached 16%, but PMS caused almost no mineralisation of MB in an acidic environment. This study provides new insights into pollutant removal based on AOPs and an additional strategy for water purification.
Human centromere formation activates transcription and opens chromatin fibre structure
Authors: Gilbert Nick , Naughton Catherine , Huidobro Covadonga , Catacchio Claudia , Buckle Adam , Grimes Graeme , Nozawa Ryu-Suke , Purgato Stefania , Rocchi Mariano
Published: January 2022

Human centromeres appear as constrictions on mitotic chromosomes and form a platform for kinetochore assembly in mitosis. Biophysical experiments led to a suggestion that repetitive DNA at centromeric regions form a compact scaffold necessary for function, but this was revised when neocentromeres were discovered on non-repetitive DNA. To test whether centromeres have a special chromatin structure we have analysed the architecture of a neocentromere. Centromere formation is accompanied by RNA pol II recruitment and active transcription to form a decompacted, negatively supercoiled domain enriched in ‘open’ chromatin fibres. In contrast, centromerisation causes a spreading of repressive epigenetic marks to surrounding regions, delimited by H3K27me3 polycomb boundaries and divergent genes. This flanking domain is transcriptionally silent and partially remodelled to form ‘compact’ chromatin, similar to satellite-containing DNA sequences, and exhibits genomic instability. We suggest transcription disrupts chromatin to provide a foundation for kinetochore formation whilst compact pericentromeric heterochromatin generates mechanical rigidity.
Prevalence of Computer Vision Syndrome and Patterns of Electronic Devices Usage before and during COVID-19 Pandemic among Medical Students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Almousa Abdullah , Aldofyan Munirah , Kokandi Bushra , Alsubki Haneen , Alqahtani Rawan , Gikandi Priscilla , Alghaihb Shatha
Published: January 2022

Purpose: To estimate the prevalence of CVS (computer vision syndrome) among university medical students in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia after establishing remote learning during COVID-19 pandemic and to compare patterns and settings of electronic devices used by students before and during this pandemic. Methods: This is an observational descriptive cross-sectional study. 1st to 5th year medical students actively enrolled at the governmental colleges of medicine in Riyadh were asked to fill an electronic online questionnaire. The questionnaire included demographic information and various variables to be studied. Results: A total of 300 medical students were included in this study. 282 (94.0%) reported at least one symptom of CVS. The most frequently reported symptoms were musculoskeletal: neck, shoulder and back pain in 253 (84.3%), headache in 213 (71.1%) and dry eyes in 204 (68%). 38% of the students experienced more severe symptoms while 48% experienced more frequent symptoms during COVID-19 pandemic. The risk factors for experiencing three or more symptoms of CVS were using electronic devices for longer periods (6.8 hours ±2.8) during COVID-19 (p<0.001) OR 1.21 [1.09-1.35] 95% CI, and being of female gender (p<0.001) OR 3.29 [2.00-5.43] 95% CI. Conclusion: CVS prevalence during COVID-19 era among medical students is high. This necessitates increasing the awareness of CVS and its preventive measures.
Information Measures for MADM Underm-Polar Neutrosophic Environment
Authors: Naeem Khalid , Divvaz Bijan
Published: January 2022

Multiploar information plays a vital role in making reliable decisions in one’s daily life encompassing micro to large scale decisions. These decision making problems often include imprecise and inconsistent data. This article presents some information measures including similarity, distance, correlation, divergence and Dice measures for m-polar neutrosophic sets. Desirable characteristics of these measures are also presented. The notions of angle of similarity between two m-polar neutrosophic sets, λ -similarity, entropy and less and more fuzzy are also made part of the discussion. An application of m-polar neutrosophic sets using the suggested measures in health sciences accompanied by five algorithms is also presented. Finally, comparative analysis of the proposed information measures with some existing measures is also presented.
Next of Kin, An Invisible Resource In The Drug Treatment of Nursing Home Residents: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Bell Hege Therese , Vaage Helga
Published: January 2022

Objective: Explore next of kin’s perceptions of the ongoing drug treatment given to nursing home residents, and their perceptions of the collaboration with health personnel at the nursing home. Design, setting and subjects: A qualitative study with ten next of kin to nursing home residents who participated in semi-structured individual interviews in Central and Southern Norway. The data were analysed thematically by using systematic text condensation.Results: Next of kin express a trust towards the drug treatment given, however, the trust is fragile. There was an urge for information and of being in control, not necessarily with the aim to influence treatment but to know what happens to their loved ones. Due to long-lasting knowledge of the resident, they viewed themselves as the resident’s advocate to ensure appropriate drug treatment. The collaboration between health personnel and next-of-kin were scarce and described as an “us-them” relationship. Next of kin perceived having to force an entry for dialogue and of health personnel being inaccessible and invisible.Conclusion: Next of kin want to be informed about the ongoing drug treatment given to the resident, however, information given are scarce and delayed which affect the trust towards health personnel at the nursing home. Input from next of kin could be used to offer person-centered care, however, next of kin perceive their input often being ignored. Implications: Effort must be put to unite expectations and seek a mutual understanding of which role next of kin should hold regarding information and collaboration about the ongoing drug treatment of the nursing home resident.
LncRNA-mRNA expression pattern in invasive pituitary adenomas: A microarray analysis
Authors: Peng Chao , Wang Shuaikai , Yu Jinxiu , Deng Xiaoyi , Chen Zhishan , Ye Huiyu , Yao Hongru , Cai Hanjia , Li Yanli , Yuan Yong
Published: January 2022

BackgroundsLong non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in tumorigenesis and progression of various cancer types; however, their roles in the development of invasive pituitary adenomas (PAs) remain to be investigated.MethodslncRNA microarray was performed in three invasive and three noninvasive PAs. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis were performed, and coexpression networks between lncRNA and mRNA were constructed. Furthermore, three differentially expressed lncRNAs were selected for validation by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in PA samples. The diagnostic values of these three lncRNAs were further evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.ResultsA total of 8872 lncRNAs were identified in invasive and paired noninvasive PAs using lncRNA microarray. Among these, the differentially expressed lncRNAs included 81 that were upregulated and 165 that were downregulated. GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis showed that these differentially expressed lncRNAs were associated with post-translational modifications of proteins. Furthermore, we performed target gene prediction and coexpression analysis. The interrelationships between the lncRNAs and mRNAs with significant differential expression were identified. Additionally, three differentially expressed lncRNAs were selected for validation in 41 PA samples by qRT-PCR. The expression levels of FAM182B, LOC105371531, and LOC105375785 in the invasive PAs were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than in the noninvasive PAs, and these results were consistent with the microarray data. ROC analysis suggested that FAM182B and LOC105375785 expression levels could be used to distinguish invasive PAs from noninvasive PAs.ConclusionOur findings demonstrated the lncRNAs expression patterns in invasive PAs. Thus, FAM182B and LOC105375785 may be involved in the invasiveness of PAs and serve as new candidate biomarkers for the diagnosis of invasive PAs.
Harmonising Alzheimer's Disease Cohorts using a Common ETL Tool
Authors: Almeida João Rafael , Pazos Alejandro , Oliveira José Luís
Published: January 2022

Background: Many scientific studies have sought to obtain better understanding of specific medical conditions. Concerning Alzheimer’s Disease, there is a lack of reliable diagnostics and this can be related to the availability of only small-scale ongoing biomarker studies and longitudinal cohorts including these subjects. Aiming to generate more substantial clinical evidence, researchers have started to perform multiple cohort analyses. While this is currently possible by harmonising these cohorts into a common data model, the migration pipelines are usually implemented using programming languages. Therefore, cohort owners may have difficulties in contributing during the validation stage of these pipelines.Results: To reduce the dependency on technical teams’ support when validating the data transformations, we propose the use of an ETL tool with visual features. BIcenter is a collaborative web platform designed to implement ETL tasks through the browser. These pipelines are constructed using drag-and-drop features and intuitive forms to customise the ETL steps. This tool is an open-source project and is accessible at https://bioinformatics-ua.github.io/BIcenter/.Conclusions: Our methodology produces interoperable cohorts for multicentric disease-specific studies. Therefore, we validated this using Alzheimer’s Disease cohorts from several countries, combining at the end 6,669 subjects and 172 medical attributes. The harmonised cohorts now enable multi-cohort querying and analysis, helping in the execution of new studies.
How Carbon Emission Trading Effects Enterprise Technological Innovation: A Quasi-Natural Experiment from China
Authors: Shao Wei , Yang Ke , Chen Ziqi
Published: January 2022

As an important policy tool to realize the vision of "carbon peaking and carbon neutralization", the carbon emission trading system is considered to be useful for alleviating enterprise financing constraints and stimulating high-quality technological innovation. Based on the data of Chinese listed companies, this paper tests the above policy effects by setting a quasi-natural experiment. The conclusions are as follows: (1) The introduction of the market mechanism for carbon emission control can improve the quality of enterprise R & D, and the mitigation of financing constraints has a positive contribution to this improvement; (2) The innovation incentive effect of carbon emission trading system is significant in the sample of state-owned enterprises with government credit endorsement, but it shows the opposite statistical results in non-state-owned enterprises; (3) The incentive effect of carbon emission trading system on innovation quality is higher in heavy pollution industries than others. The above conclusions have important reference value for developing countries to achieve the dual goals of high-quality economic development.
Pollutant Emissions in Livestock Buildings: Influence of Indoor Environment, Rearing Systems, and Manure Management
Authors: Andrade Leonardo de Brito , Martín-Gómez César , Zuazua-Ros Amaia , Ariño Arturo
Published: January 2022

The issue of air pollutants from livestock buildings is prevalent in the literature. Because they and their emissions impact both animal production and livestock building users as well as the outdoor environment. This paper aims to compile and review data available in the scientific literature on the types of pollutants for a better understanding of their generation form, their distribution according to the kind of animal, and the main factors affecting their generation and concentration, i.e., the rearing system, the indoor microclimate, and the manure management. The elevated generation of pollutants in animal buildings is tied to the dense occupancy in this industrial activity. The indoor air quality is defined according to the type of livestock in animal housing, considering its welfare needs, and the types and concentrations of pollutants generated as a function of the family of animal and the management used in production. The main gases generated are CH4, CO2, H2S, NH3, N2O, in addition to particulate matter and airborne microorganisms such as fungi and bacteria that very negatively affect the health of animals and users of the animal buildings. Furthermore, knowledge about the main contaminants generated, the form of generation, their origin, their concentrations, and their distribution throughout the shed is essential to achieve a permanent and adequate indoor air quality and, with that, a high-quality product that will lead to high production yield without neglecting animal welfare.
Viscoelastic polyurethane foams from unmodified kraft lignin dispersed into methoxy polyethylene glycol and palm kernel oil as partial substitutes of petroleum-based polyols
Authors: Flôres Camila Campos , Rufino Thiago C , Nahra Lara Robert , Rodrigues Isabelle Zavecz , Oliveira Maurício Pinheiro
Published: January 2022

Kraft lignin (KL) dispersions in methoxy polyethylene glycol (MPEG) and in a mixture of palm kernel oil (PKO) with MPEG (PKO/MPEG) were evaluated for v iscoelastic polyurethane foams (VPFs) production with different contents of KL (0-3.9 pphp) and PKO (0 -15 pphp). The influence of the dispersed KL on the foam structure, foam growth profile, foaming reactivity, mechanical properties, and final properties of VPFs were studied. The appearance of the VPF produced with KL dispersion in MPEG/PKO was similar to the control VPF foam. The addition of KL dispersion (0 to 15 pphp), had a significant effect on the growth profile, foaming reactivity, density and consequently on the foam morphology. VPFs produced with 3.9 pphp of KL presented shrinkage values about 4 times when compared to the control. The presence of the KL and PKO did not improve the burning rate of the foam samples compared to the control foam, without KL and PKO. Thermal stability of the produced foams showed no relevant differences regardless of the contents of KL/MPEG/PKO used in comparison to the control. Mechanical properties of VPF can be adjusted by making changes to the standard formulation. It can be concluded that the dispersion of KL in a mixture of MPEG and PKO represents an alternative for incorporating fractions of KL and PKO into VPF. In addition, this study provides new insights for the production of VPF using renewable resources for packaging applications, as well as in the mattress industry.
Effects of Bioactive Peptides Derived From Feather Keratin On Small Intestinal Function, Meat Quality, And Performance of Broiler Chicks
Authors: Alahyaribeik Samira , Nazarpour Madineh
Published: January 2022

In this research, the effect of mixed feather bioactive peptides (MFBPs) added in water, on intestinal health, meat quality, and plasma cholesterol level of broiler chickens was evaluated. Eighty-day-old male broiler chick (Ross 308) were randomly divided into two treatments with four replication pens. The dietary treatments were: the drinking water with no additives (control), and drinking water containing 50 ppm MFBPs. Live weight and feed intake were measured at the end of starter (1-10 d), grower (11-24 d), and finisher (25-36 d) periods with calculating average daily gain, and feed conversion ratio. The results indicate that body weight gain was greater (P<0.05) in birds received MFBPs in the final period. At 24 days of age, the villus height and muscle layer thickness in different parts of the intestine were higher in birds that received bioactive peptides but epithelial thickness was lower than control birds (P<0.05). In addition, the administration of MFBPs decreased (P<0.01) serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein in broilers. Supplementation with MFBPs significantly reduced (P<0.01) the malondialdehyde (MDA) amount in the thigh muscle. In conclusion, using the MFBPs in the diet of broilers could improve meat quality, cholesterol concentration in serum, and gut health.