bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ECC Based Encryption for the Secured Proactive Network Forensic Framework
Authors: A Abirami , S. Palanikumar
Published: January 2024

Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) is one of the public key cryptosystems that works based on the algebraic models in the form of elliptic curves. Usually, in ECC to implement the encryption, the encoding of data must be carried out on the elliptic curve, which seems to be a preprocessing step. Similarly, after the decryption a post processing step must be conducted for mapping or decoding the corresponding data to the exact point on the elliptic curves. The Memory Mapping (MM) and Koblitz Encoding (KE) are the commonly used encoding models. But both encoding models have drawbacks as the MM needs more memory for processing and the KE needs more computational resources. To overcome these issues the proposed enhanced Koblitz encoding technique is used with the ECC for enhancing the security. The proposed model was compared to the existing model and found to be more efficient in terms of security. The proposed model ensure confidentiality with the encryption technique, Integrity by using the Hashing method, and authenticity and non-repudiationwith the utilization of digital signature.
Clinical and Histopathological Features of Breast Cancer in Iraqi Patients between 2018-2021
Authors: Mohsin Raghdah Naser , Mohamad Ban Jasim
Published: January 2024

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy in women worldwide and a major cause of cancer-related deaths for women in Iraq. This assignment was created to investigate the characteristics of BC diagnosed in Baghdad from 2018 to 2021. A total of eighty-nine of paraffin embedded tissue blocks of different breast tissue tumors (71 females and 18 males) with their data, were collected from archive of Histopathology Department, Teaching Laboratories of Medical City, Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital, and a private laboratory in Baghdad-Iraq. The clinical information regarding age, gender, tumor size, tumor stage and grade, lymph nodes metastasis, in addition to the findings of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)-2 and molecular subtypes were obtained from reviewed patients medical records and pathologic reports. Results revealed a high incidence of BC in patients at sixth and seventh decades of age, with a rate of 37.78% and 28.89% respectively. The dominant tumor size was 2–5 cm in malignant cases, and 91.11% of cases were in females. Regarding the histological type, the majority of malignant cases (60%) were IDCs. Whereas 53.33% of cases had metastasis to lymph nodes. Stage III was the most common tumor stage and grade II was the most common grade, comprising 64.44%. Furthermore, the hormone receptor status was 46.67% ER positive, while PR results were equally positive and negative comprising 42.22% per each, 62.22% of HER2 status was negative, and luminal subtypes accounted for 46.67% of all molecular subtypes.
A Study on the Instruction of Ratios Involving External Ratios in Korean Elementary Mathematics Textbooks
Authors:   Gyeongin National University of Education, Lee Jeong-Eun
Published: January 2024

This study aimed to determine how elementary mathematics currently deals with external ratio, the ratio between two different types of magnitude, and to find ways to address it in textbooks.
By examining the definition of ratios and the handling of external ratios in the elementary school mathematics curriculum and textbooks, it was found that the method of dealing with external ratios varies based on the curriculum period and is inconsistent.
The suggestions derived for dealing with external ratios in elementary mathematics are as follows. First, the context of internal and external ratios needs to be explained. Second, when dealing with external ratios, the aspect of the ratio and the aspect of the third quantity should be addressed. Finally, the definition of the ratio currently presented in the context of the internal ratio should be established to encompass the external ratio.
The effectiveness of magnesium compounds in the complex treatment of patients with arterial hypertension with concomitant chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors:   Odessa National Medical  University, Nazaruk T.
Published: January 2024

Introduction. The combination of arterial hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular complications. During exacerbations of COPD, almost every second patient has hypomagnesemia. In particular, intravenous magnesium (Mg) administration in stable patients with COPD has been shown to improve lung function and respiratory muscle strength. Numerous publications report positive impact of various magnesium compounds causing the decrease in blood pressure. The above justifies the expediency of further studying the effectiveness of magnesium compounds in hypertension with concomitant COPD. The aim of the study. To determine the effectiveness of a fixed combination of magnesium and vitamin B6 in the complex treatment of patients with hypertension accompanied by COPD. Materials and methods. 60 patients with stage II hypertension and concomitant COPD were subjected to clinical examination. The data of office and home blood pressure monitoring was supplemented with spirometry, electrocardiography, laboratory tests and results of EQ-5D, mMRC, CAT. Results. Treatment with the additional fixed combination of magnesium and vitamin B6 (MgB6) in patients with hypertension accompanied by COPD reduced complaints and improved quality of life from (52.6 ± 3.4) points to (74.2 ± 3.8) points (р less than 0.001). In 25 (83.3 ± 6.8 %) patients treated with MgB6, it was possible to achieve the target blood pressure; while in the control group similar results were obtained only in (26.6 ± 8.1%) (р less than 0.001). Aplication of a fixed MgB6 combination in patients with hypertension and COPD reduced the frequency of tachycardia from (23.3 ± 7.7)% to (3.3 ± 3.3)% (р less than 0.02), and frequency of supraventricular extrasystole from (36.7 ± 8.8)% to (13.3 ± 6.2)% (р less than 0.05). Improvement of repolarization processes was observed in (46.7 ± 9.1)% of patients who additionally received FC MgB6 and only in (16.7 ± 6.8)%, (p less than 0.02) of the control group. Complex treatment with the addition of a fixed combination of MgB6 contributed to the improvement of spirometry parameters: FEV1 – from (55.9 ± 3.0) to (65.8 ± 4.4) (р less than 0.05) and FEV1/FVC – from (62.3 ± 3.1) to (71.6 ± 3.4) (р less than 0.05). Conclusion. Complex treatment of patients with arterial hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, in which a fixed combination of magnesium and vitamin B6 is added to the basic treatment, improved the clinical course of comorbidities, bioelectrical activity of the heart, reduced blood pressure, improved spirometry and quality of life.
EVOLUCIÓN DEL CONSUMO DE SUSTANCIAS PSICOACTIVAS EN ADOLESCENTES USUARIOS DE UN CENTRO DE TRATAMIENTO

Authors: Gogeascoechea Trejo María del Carmen , Meyer Gómez Roberto , Blázquez-Morales María Sobeida Leticia
Published: January 2024

En los últimos años el incremento de consumo de sustancias psicoactivas en adolescentes ha crecido de forma considerable y se considera como una problemática grave de salud pública, que resalta la necesidad de realizar estudios sobre las características del consumo con el fin de ofrecer alternativas de tratamiento específicas. El objetivo fue analizar la evolución del consumo de las drogas de inicio y de impacto en usuarios adolescentes previo al ingreso a un centro de tratamiento residencial. Fue estudio retrospectivo, longitudinal. Se recopiló información de los expedientes de adolescentes masculinos de 12 a 19 años, residentes que ingresaron a la comunidad terapéutica durante el período 2013 a 2021. Se realizó un análisis de la evolución de la edad de inicio, droga de inicio y de impacto durante el período anteriormente mencionado. Los resultados incluyeron 330 expedientes de adolescentes. La edad promedio de inicio de consumo de drogas se mantuvo entre 11.6 y 12.8 años. El alcohol y el tabaco fueron las principales drogas de inicio con excepción del año 2019 que se reportó con mayor porcentaje la mariguana. La principal droga de impacto fue la mariguana, sin embargo, en los años 2019 a 2021 se ubicó en el segundo lugar, ante el incremento en el reporte de cristal. Los resultados mostraron diferencias significativas entre el período de tiempo estudiado y la evolución tanto de la droga de inicio como de la droga de impacto, que fundamentan la necesidad de diseñar estrategias de intervención diferenciadas.
CONSTRUCCIÓN Y PROPIEDADES PSICOMÉTRICAS DE LA ESCALA DE ACTITUDES HACIA LAS RELACIONES INTERGENERACIONALES
Authors: Huapaya Gálvez Sergio Jesús , Vargas D’Uniam Carmen Elizabeth , Quintana Peña Alberto Loharte
Published: January 2024

Se analizan las propiedades psicométricas de una escala para conocer las actitudes hacia las relaciones intergeneracionales. Referimos como relación intergeneracional, a cualquier interacción originada entre personas o grupos concernientes a distintas generaciones, estando implicados miembros de dos o más generaciones en actividades en las cuales interactúan, influyen y cooperan hacia fines comunes, pudiéndose darse cuenta de sus divergencias generacionales, compartir actividades entre sí, y con la tendencia o predisposición asimilada para responder congruentemente de modo favorable o desfavorable para admitir una interacción e influencia entre ellos, tomando en cuenta los componentes cognitivo, afectivo y conductual. Las muestras seleccionadas estuvieron conformadas por 340 adolescentes de ambos sexos, entre 13 a 19 años (media = 15.31), nivel socioeconómico medio, procedentes de Lima Metropolitana; y por 325 adultos mayores, ambos sexos, entre 60 a 98 años (media = 75.78), nivel socioeconómico medio, participantes de un centro del adulto mayor de Lima Metropolitana. La “Escala de Actitudes hacia las Relaciones Intergeneracionales” (EARI) fue construida mediante una metodología cualitativa-cuantitativa, en dos etapas, en la segunda etapa a través del análisis factorial exploratorio se encontró un paradigma de dos factores: Valía de la Diversidad Interactiva e Inclusión Social; la Valía de la Diversidad Interactiva en cuanto a la valoración positiva igualitaria hacia las personas de diferentes edades e interactuantes entre sí, expresada en acciones recíprocamente favorables, agradables y correspondidas,  en tanto que la Inclusión Social es referida al agrado y ejecución de actividades admitiendo la variedad de edades, exteriorizada en la participación igualitaria de personas de diversas edades a entornos públicos. El análisis de la consistencia interna a nivel general de la esta escala se realizó mediante el coeficiente Alfa de Cronbach, cuyo valor fue de .738 y Omega de McDonald de .745 en adolescentes implicando excelente confiabilidad; asimismo, Alfa de Cronbach de .688 y Omega de McDonald de .707 en adultos mayores, muy confiable. En la dimensión Valía de la Diversidad Interactiva, una confiabilidad Alfa de Cronbach de .761 y Omega de McDonald de .763 en adolescentes; asimismo, Alfa de Cronbach de .624 y Omega de McDonald de .678 en adultos mayores, siendo muy confiable y confiable respectivamente. En la dimensión Inclusión Social, una Alfa de Cronbach de .648 y Omega de McDonald de .649 en adolescentes, confiable; asimismo, Alfa de Cronbach de .735 y Omega de McDonald de .736 en adultos mayores, excelente confiabilidad. Se concluye que la EARI cuenta con cualidades psicométricas apropiadas para realizar investigaciones abarcando los indicadores señalados, y amerita continuar estudios que muestren sus bondades psicométricas en otras poblaciones.
Hodowla i odmiany roślin zielarskich
Authors: Seidler-Łożykowska Katarzyna
Published: January 2024

In the Research Institute of Medicinal Plants in Poznań the breeding programs have been conducted from over fifty years. During these years 22 cultivars were bred and successfully introduced into cultivation. The main directions of the medicinal plants breeding programs in the Institute are: content of active substances, yield and its structure, adaptation to mechanical harvest, resistance to abiotic stress. In the Institute of Natural Fibers and Medicinal Plants, the maintenance breeding of these cultivars is done and seeds are obtained for medicinal plants raw material producers.
Działanie olejku tatarakowego (Calami aetheroleum) na grzyby drożdżopodobne
Authors: Kędzia Anna , Hołderna-Kędzia Elżbieta , Szymański Marcin
Published: January 2024

Introduction. The rhizomes and leaves of calamus (Acorus calamus L.) contain essential oil, the composition of which varies depending on the variety. Characteristic are α- and β-azarones, other ingredients are, among others: acorin, spatulenol, borneol, isoazarone, caryophyllene, geranyl acetate, isoeugenol, eugenol, linalool, camphor and cineol. Extracts and essential oil have antimicrobial properties. Aim. Determination of sensitivity to calamus oil (Semifarm) of yeast-like fungi isolated from the oral cavity and estimation of the chemical composition of the oil. Material and methods. Strains of yeast-like fungi isolated from the oral cavity belonged to the species: Candida albicans (7 strains), C. glabrata (6), C. guilliermondii (1), C. krusei (4), C. lusitaniae (1), C. parapsilosis (4), C. tropicalis (3), C. utilis (1), Geotrichum candidum (1), Rhodotorula rubra (2) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (1). 8 reference strains were also included in the experiments. The susceptibility of fungi determined by the plate dilution method in Sabouraud agar. Concentration of the oil (Semifarm) were: 4.0, 2.0, 1.0, 0.5, 0.25 i 0.12 mg/ml. The inoculum, which contained 105 CFU/drop, was applied by a Steers apparatus to the medium with appropriate concentration of the oil or without of the oil (strain growth control). The incubation carried out at 37°C for 24-48 hrs in aerobic conditions. The MICs determined as the lowest concentration of oil inhibiting the growth of yeastlike fungi on the agar. The compositon of the tested oil was determined using the GC-MS method. Results. The results showed, that all tested strains of yeastlike fungi were susceptible to calamus oil in concentrations 0.5-≤ 0.12 mg/ml. The strains from genus of Candida albicans in 57% were susceptible to low concentrations the oil in ranges ≤ 0.12-0.25 mg/ml. The fungi from genus C. glabrata, C. krusei and C. tropicalis were less sensitive (MIC ≤ 0.12-0.5 mg/ml). The oil showed the lowest activity (MIC = 0.5 mg/ml) against strains of the species C. guilliermondii, C. lusitaniae and C. utilis. The tested oil contains 66 chemical compounds. Conclusions. The yeast-like fungus strains of the genus Candida were highly sensitive to calamus oil. The oil showed the lowest activity against strains of C. guilliermondii, C. lusitaniae and C. utilis. The strains of the species Rhodotorula rubra and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were characterized by high sensitivity to calamus oil. The GC-MS study showed that α-asarone was dominant in the oil.
Preliminary Report on the Third and Fourth Seasons of the New Kingdom Scribes Project (2021−2022)
Authors:   Universidad de La Laguna (España), DÍAZ-GLESIAS LLANOS Lucía , JIMÉNEZ-HIGUERAS Ángeles ,   Universidad de Granada (España), MÉNDEZ-RODRÍGUEZ Daniel Miguel ,   Universidad de La Laguna (España), BERMEJA GIGORRO Ignacio , MARTÍNEZ RAMÍREZ Sagrario ,   Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (España), SÁNCHEZ-CORTÉS Santiago ,   Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (España), GÓMEZ LAGUNA Antonio
Published: January 2024

During the third and fourth seasons of fieldwork, the New Kingdom Scribes Project undertook epigraphic, conservation, cleaning and documentation tasks in the burial chambers of TT 61 and TT 87. The aims included: the continuation of the epigraphic study and the restoration of the walls of the burial chambers; the systematic cleaning of the underground structures in TT 87; the detailed digital documentation of both monuments once the archaeological and restoration works had advanced or concluded; and the application of non-destructive techniques to study the materials used by ancient craftsmen and scribes to decorate the walls.
Cultural Similarities between Ancient Egypt and Byzantium
Authors: GRAHAM Lloyd D.
Published: January 2024

This paper is intended as a joint tribute to the scholarship of Egyptologist Erik Hornung and Byzantinist Cyril Mango, both of whom recently passed away. Byzantine traits with obvious parallels in ancient Egyptian culture abound in Cyril Mango’s introduction to The Oxford History of Byzantium, and yet –both there and elsewhere– one looks in vain for an overt acknowledgment that these two very different civilizations nevertheless shared a distinctive cluster of characteristics. Drawing on Hornung’s Idea Into Image as a starting point for Egyptological insights, this paper seeks to establish such a correspondence. Shared features of the two cultures include their self-belief, theocratic disposition, bureaucracy, longevity, feigned immutability, preoccupation with order, dynastic tendency, temporal focus, ritualism and artistic conventions, as well as aspects of their kingship paradigms, afterlife anxieties and relative periodisation. The observed similarities point to a nexus of specific principles, behaviours and outcomes – components which tend to co-occur as a group in complex human societies
Pain Science in Practice (Part 6): How Does Descending Modulation of Pain Work?
Authors: Hoegh Morten , Bannister Kirsty
Published: January 2024

SYNOPSIS: To understand the neuroscience of pain relief, one must know about the descending pain modulatory system. Neuronal pathways that originate in the brainstem and project to the spinal cord to modulate spinal neuronal activity provide a well-documented perspective on the mechanisms of analgesia that underpin pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatment options for people with musculoskeletal pain. Peripheral stimuli or signals from the cortex and subcortical regions of the brain can trigger the descending pain modulatory system (DPMS). The system helps explain how counter-stimulation techniques (eg, acupuncture and manual therapy), the patients’ expectations and beliefs, and social or contextual factors could influence how people experience pain. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2024;54(2):97-100. doi:10.2519/jospt.2024.12112
Evaluating spearmint’s morphological and physiological responses under different artificial lighting systems
Authors: Ali Awais , Cavallaro Viviana , Santoro Piero , Mori Jacopo , Ferrante Antonio , Cocetta Giacomo
Published: January 2024

Indoor agriculture is becoming more relevant as a result of artificial lighting, which makes it possible to increase productivity, improve quality and cultivate where natural light is insufficient. The present study was conducted by growing spearmint inside a glasshouse under light emitting diode (LED), high pressure sodium (HPS), and light emitting diode assisted infrared (LED+IR) light treatments, while the control plants were grown outside the glasshouse under natural sunlight. Morphological analyses revealed that LED supplemental light performed better in terms of plant height, number of stems per plant, and fresh weight of the produce than all other tested light treatments, whereas HPS favored increased internode spacing. The analytical determinations revealed the outperformance of LED in terms of total carotenoids, total anthocyanins, and total sugar accumulation in spearmint leaves. Plants grown under both LED and LED+IR accumulated less nitrate than plants grown under HPS. HPS treated spearmint plants also showed a reduction in the total carotenoids and total sugar levels. Moreover, no significant changes were observed in lipid peroxidation (as measured by the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, TBARS assay) among all treatments. On the other hand, control plants showed the highest phenolic index relative to the other light treatments which provided a brief overview of the effects of the light spectrum of artificial lighting, such as LED, HPS, LED+IR, and natural sunlight on spearmint growth, oxidative stress, and secondary metabolite production
Foliar applications of calcium and potassium increase cracking resistance and enhance fruit quality in sweet cherries
Authors: Varaldo Alice , Alchera Federica , Brigante Lorenzo , Giacalone Giovanna
Published: January 2024

Sweet cherry production represents a competitive sector with important economic prospects but faces many challenges. Rain-induced cracking stands out as a particular issue, as it has been linked to yield losses of up to 90%. To address this concern and meet consumer demand, foliar treatments, involving a mixture of commercial products rich in calcium and potassium salts, have been tested in sweet cherry commercial orchards. This study was a randomized block experiment consisting of three blocks (ten plants each), five of which were treated and five were controls. The treatments were applied in addition to the standard cultivation practice throughout the season. Observations were made on the SPAD index and shoot elongation, and in post-harvest, cherries were analyzed for qualitative characteristics (skin color, caliber, firmness, total soluble content, titratable acidity and cracking index) and nutraceutical parameters (total anthocyanin content, total phenols content and antioxidant activity). Results indicate that foliar salt application can facilitate the maturation process, indicated by a higher soluble solid content (TSS), softening, and darker pigmentation in treated fruits. The applied formulations also provided increased shoot growth and enhanced SPAD index. Furthermore, the treated fruits exhibited a significantly lower incidence of cracking compared to the control treatment and showed improved nutraceutical properties
Dynamic changes of blue/red light supply affect yield, biometrical and biochemical characteristics of tomato cultivars
Authors: Kravchenko Dmitry , Golubkina Nadezhda , Dzhatdoeva Sofya , Luneva Victoria , Sekara Agnieszka , Murariu Otilia Cristina , Tallarita Alessio , Caruso Gianluca
Published: January 2024

The utilization of Light Emitting Diodes (LED) is considered one of the most impacting innovations in modern tomato production systems. The characteristics of artificial light supplied to tomato in greenhouse conditions influence the fruit yield response over the year-round crop cycle. The present work aimed to evaluate the effects of dynamic artificial light application on the growth of two tomato hybrids. The experimental protocol was based on the factorial combination between two artificial light spectra supplied to plants (a spectrum composed of blue 450 nm, red 660 nm with deep pink 400-800 nm as a background, and a white 4000 K light as a control) and two early ripening tomato hybrids (‘Signum F1’ and ‘Meteor F1’). The use of blue/red light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in a growth chamber, accompanied by a gradual increase in the red component during the vegetation phase, significantly enhanced the yield of the two tomato cultivars, with an increase of 1.61 to 1.75 times compared to control plants exposed to white light. Notably, the predominant application of blue LEDs during the early stages of plant development resulted in a reduction in plant height by 1.2-1.5 times. The selected technology involving dynamic adjustments in blue/red light proportions led to a notable increase in chlorophyll and carotene levels in tomato leaves, with enhancements of 1.41-1.46 times and 1.29-1.37 times, respectively. Moreover, the variations in blue/red light demonstrated a significant positive impact on carotenoid accumulation in the fruit, resulting in an increase of 1.29 -1.37 times compared to control plants. The increase in fruit monosaccharide organic acid content in response to blue/red light application resulted in the production of tomato fruit with high taste index and nutritional value, suggesting interesting prospects of this new technology utilization
A global view of T cell metabolism in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Goetz Andrew , Morel Laurence , Dixit Purushottam
Published: January 2024

Impaired metabolism is recognized as an important contributor to pathogenicity of T cells in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). Over the last two decades, we have acquired significant knowledge about the signaling and transcriptomic programs related to metabolic rewiring in healthy and SLE T cells. However, our understanding of metabolic network activity derives largely from studying metabolic pathways in isolation. Here, we argue that enzymatic activities are necessarily coupled through mass and energy balance constraints with in-built network-wide dependencies and compensation mechanisms. Therefore, metabolic rewiring of T cells in SLE must be understood in the context of the entire network, including changes in metabolic demands such as shifts in biomass composition and cytokine secretion rates as well as changes in uptake/excretion rates of multiple nutrients and waste products. As a way forward, we suggest cell physiological experiments and integration of orthogonal metabolic measurements through computational modeling towards a comprehensive understanding of T cell metabolism in lupus.
Continuous flow production of bioactive ceria quantum dots: New paradigms to the effect of process parameters on surface oxygen vacancy tuning
Authors: Sarkar Sayoni , Srivastava Rohit , Kulkarni Ajit
Published: January 2024

Precisely monitored nucleation-growth kinetics for governing the size, surface chemistry, and sought-after attributes of quantum dots (QDs) for large-scale manufacturing remains a formidable challenge. This study evinces the importance of ultrafast mixing and high heating rates for rapid nucleation, particularly in synthesizing monodispersed QDs with enriched surface defects. Recently, cerium oxide (CeO2) nanostructures have gained prominence in antioxidant therapy owing to the co-existence of Ce3+ and Ce4+. However, current batch processes lack scalability, reproducibility, and control over the reaction kinetics, key for fine-tuning the surface defect-driven properties of CeO2 nanostructures. Addressing this knowledge gap, we demonstrate a unique, sustainable, continuous flow platform that allows simultaneous engineering of surface oxygen vacancies (VO●) and regulates the size of L arginine functionalized CeO2 QDs (VO●-rich L-arg-CeO2 QDs). Introduction of the helical coil reactor regulated by dean vortices yields monodispersed QDs with enhanced Ce3+/Ce4+ ratio and VO● at the surface. Through various experimental methodologies, we showed how adjusting temperature, flowrate, and pH enables achieving the desirable size (3 nm), thereby bestowing an optimal surface Ce3+ and VO● fractions, pivotal for size-dictated photo-response, physiochemical properties, and biofunctionality of the QDs. The abundant surface VO● (72%) entails narrowing of the band gap (~ 2.5 eV), resulting in unprecedented photothermal response (ΔT = 19.7±0.6°C) and photoluminescence, features not typically found in defect-free conventional CeO2 nanostructures. With a strategic combination of process parameters, the defect-rich material system displayed excellent biocompatibility (95.6%), and antioxidant efficacy on human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells, and long-term stability (ζ = -29±1.5 mV) in suspensions, even after 120 days. This economical, high throughput continuous flow platform for fabricating biofunctionalized VO●-rich L-arg-CeO2 QDs outperforms conventional batch processes, opening numerous possibilities for lab-to-clinic translation in the fight against oxidative stress-related disorders.
Hydrogen-Bonded Supramolecular Network Triggers High-Efficiency Blue Room-Temperature Phosphorescence
Authors: Wu Sen , Wang Tao , Zysman-Colman Eli
Published: January 2024

Hydrogen bonding has been employed to suppress non-radiative decay in organic compounds that show room temperature phosphorescence (RTP); however, the small number of structurally diverse examples makes it unclear how general is this a strategy to turn on RTP. In this study, we report highly efficient blue RTP from 4,4',4''-nitrilotribenzoic acid (TPA-CO2H) in five structurally and chemically distinct hydrogen-bonded supramolecular networks. In doped films in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) the phosphorescence quantum yield and lifetime (Ph and Ph) reach a PLQY 52% and lifetime of 275 ms. Boric acid also can be used to turn on RTP, and the performance changes significantly with the sample is heated beyond the dehydration temperature of this host where there is a 14-fold enhancement in the Ph after heat treatment. Blue RTP similar to that observed in PVA was also observed using granulated sugar, gelatine and paper has host matrices. We demonstrated how the emission color could be tuned by co-doping the films with Rhodamine 6G. This work elucidates for the first time the role and the generality of hydrogen bonding in activating efficient blue RTP in an organic guest containing no heavy atoms.
Enzymatic activation of caged tetrazines for cell-specific bioconjugation
Authors: Knittel Caroline , Chadwick Stormi , Kuehling Cedrik , Devaraj Neal
Published: January 2024

Tetrazine ligation techniques have evolved into a versatile tool set for bioconjugation. Despite their numerous applications, highly reactive tetrazines can suffer from long-term instability and off-target reactivity, and achieving cell-specific bioconjugation remains challenging. Tetrazine caging techniques intend to overcome these issues by achieving spatial and temporal control over tetrazine activation from stable dihydrotetrazine derivatives. Here we explore enzyme-initiated tetrazine uncaging, allowing for controlled release of reactive tetrazines by enzymes overexpressed in specific cell types. Using a modular synthetic strategy, we connected four distinct enzyme-cleavable motifs to caged tetrazine derivatives using a self-immolative linker unit. We validated cell-specific release using penicillin G amidase (PGA), which we genetically encoded into HEK293Ts. Cells expressing PGA were able to activate tetrazines which subsequently reacted with a dienophile-protected doxorubicin, lowering viability. In contrast, treatment of mammalian cells lacking PGA showed no reduction in cell viability. Additionally, we generated enzyme-cleavable conjugates that are hydrolyzed by enzymes commonly exploited for drug delivery in human cells, including esterases, cathepsin B, and alkaline phosphatases. We demonstrate cell-type specific activation of tetrazines based on the varying expression levels of alkaline phosphatases in different cell lines. Specifically, we compared tetrazine activation in the osteosarcoma cell line SAOS-2, known for its exceptionally high ALP expression levels, to cells that express lower levels of ALP, the colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line HT-29 and the stromal cell line HS-5. Overall, we find that tetrazine release from enzyme-cleavable tetrazine derivatives is dependent on the enzyme activity present in specific cells and therefore constitutes a promising technique for cell-type specific bioconjugation.
Molecular dynamics simulation of hydrocalumite as adsorbent for anionic radionuclides
Authors: Glushak Artem A. , Tararushkin Evgeny V. , Smirnov Grigory S. , Kalinichev Andrey G.
Published: January 2024

Hydrocalumite, is a hydration product of aluminum-rich cements, and is known in cement chemistry as an AFm phase. Structurally, it belongs to the family of layered double hydroxides, or “anionic clays”, where positively charged crystal layers require the presence of negatively charged ions in the interlayer space. Therefore, AFm phases can serve as a potential adsorbents for anionic radionuclides (e.g., 35Cl−, 125I−, 129I−, 131I−) from aqueous solutions. Here we use classical molecular dynamic simulations to analyze the structure and properties of AFm phases containing Cl− and I−. The classical ClayFF force field is used to quantitatively study the structure, energetics and mobility of anions and H2O molecules in the interlayers of these phases and at their interfaces with CsCl and CsI aqueous solutions. The basal (001) surfaces of AFm phases can strongly adsorb hydrated Cl− and I− anions due to the donated hydrogen bonds from the interfacial hydroxyls. However, the adsorption of I− is weaker than that of Cl−, leading to the higher surface mobility of I− due to its stronger chaotropic effect. The interlayer diffusional mobility of the Cl− and I− anions in the AFm phases is investigated by using the Eyring-Vineyard approach and is shown to be significantly lower than in larger nanopores. Hence, the most likely transport of radionuclides takes places through the nano- and micro-pores of hardened cement.
How soft is your ESI-MS anyway?
Authors: Chagunda Ian C. , Williams Peter J. H. , Fisher Tiago , Stock Naomi L. , Beach Daniel G. , Thomas Gilian T. , Zhu Jane , McIndoe J. Scott
Published: January 2024

Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) is a powerful tool for identifying and characterizing organometallic and coordination compounds. However, detection of fragile structures bound by weaker intermolecular forces can be significantly limited in ESI-MS owing to the use of relatively harsh instrument conditions and configurations. In this study, a set of tests was developed to assess the softness of ESI-MS systems. Two variants are presented: positive ion mode, utilizing a mixture of sodium ions and triphenylphosphine oxide producing [Na(OPPh3)n]+ ions (n = 1-4), and negative ion mode utilizing Pd(PPh3)4 and sulfonated triphenylphosphine producing [Pd(L)(PPh3)n]– ions (n = 0-2), where softer instrument conditions preserve a higher proportion of the high-coordinate ions and harsher conditions will result in increased detection of products of ion fragmentation. The results revealed notable variations in instrument softness, which were influenced by a combination of instrument design and experimental parameters. Meticulously optimizing experimental conditions and ESI-MS parameters is essential to achieving the softest ionization possible, ensuring reliable analysis where applicable. This study offers valuable insight through straightforward tests that can be employed to assess the suitability of an instrument for specific research needs.
Considering life through death - introduction to lessons of life
Authors: Takamiya Yusuke
Published: January 2024

I am a palliative care physician for 30 years. And I have been teaching " Lessons of Life " to medical students and elementary, junior high, and high school students for 30 years. Based on the words left behind by the deceased patient, these are classes to think about life through death. I would like to introduce some of the lectures at this conference.

When I took care of a 23-year-old female terminal cancer patient, her pain of bone metastasis, which could not be removed, was relieved by a wedding ceremony. I was taught that pain is relieved not by drugs but by supporting the hopes and dreams of patients. A 21-year-old woman with cancer of unknown primary cancer, who had not been told of her prognosis, realized that she was dying and left a letter for her mother. She wrote, "I am glad I was born as your daughter” with gratitude. A 17-year-old high school male student, who had a brain tumor, left a diary. In the diary, he wrote, "If I were to die tomorrow, what would I do today? All I can do now is to live my life to death as I am.”An 18-year-old woman, battling rhabdomyosarcoma,said,“Walking, talking, seeing, hearing, laughing, crying, and living. You may think it’s normal as someone who always takes it for granted, but that’s not the case.” Through the words and actions left behind by my patients, I learn that we are living a day that is irreplaceable.
The empathy imperative in whole person care - for patients and physicians
Authors: Nowak Anita , Sen Milan
Published: January 2024

Clinical empathy is associated with improved patient satisfaction, treatment compliance, and better health. At the same time, empirical evidence shows that strong empathic connections between physicians and patients increase job satisfaction and decrease malpractice complaints. Plus, doctors with higher levels of empathy also experience less stress, cynicism, and burnout. Empathy in healthcare should be the norm. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Physicians encounter emotionally taxing situations—illness, trauma, suffering, and dying—on a frequent or ongoing basis. Which might explain why they may miss or dismiss signs of patient distress. But there’s a growing body of evidence that points to overwork and a lack of self-care as a major problem. In fact, relative to the general population, doctors suffer from higher rates of compassion fatigue, burnout, depression, and suicide. The long hours, administrative workload, and financial imperatives of today’s medical practice means that many physicians struggle to prioritize self-care, including a lack of sleep, exercise, and healthy eating habits. All of this was further exacerbated by the pressure of the recent COVID pandemic. Yet physicians are not permitted to appear vulnerable or weak because doing so is inconsistent with the culture of medicine.This session will explore why empathy and self-empathy are both imperative to whole person care - for physicians and their patients. And will suggest several strategies and practices to combat empathy fatigue.
Invitations to think and feel in forensic nursing; the role of clinical supervision and reflective practice
Authors: O'Sullivan Nicola
Published: January 2024

Providing nursing care to people who have experienced child sexual abuse, assault and rape is a highly specialised and psychologically demanding task.  Necessarily much focus is on the technical aspects of the task of providing care to patients.  The specialist administrative and nursing team in the Sexual Assault and Treatment Units (SATUs) in Ireland provide complex treatment to a particularly vulnerable group of people from various backgrounds in Irish Society. The service is open to all genders and gender identities, aged 14 and over. The care is free and it is a recognised safe place to go to if you have been raped or sexually assaulted. In the Department of Health’s Policy Review of the SATUs in Ireland they recognised the challenging nature of the work and recommended the provision of high quality emotional supports for all staff (core and on-call).

This paper considers the provision of reflective practice to members of the SATU team, with a particular emphasis on their emotional and psychological experience at work. The introduction of reflective practice into a nursing setting will be discussed including opportunities and challenges that emerged, and how the service gained momentum over a year. The paper will reflect on one case example in the form of a supervisee/supervisor relationship in an effort to deepen and broaden our understanding of the need for professional spaces in which to consider ones experience at work.
Narrative medicine and narrative practice: partners in the creation of meaning
Authors: Colleran Miriam , Donohoe Claire L. , Beug Anna , Bruekel Corina , Launer John
Published: January 2024

Background

Narrative medicine has emerged as an approach to whole person care and to support the clinician-patient therapeutic relationship. Although training in narrative medicine is usually based on the study of literary or artistic works, the same attitude of close reading can also be applied in conversations with patients or learners.MethodWe held a two-day narrative medicine workshop, incorporating two approaches: 'Conversations Inviting Change' (CIC) and humanities-based narrative medicine as taught by Columbia University. The workshop was primarily experiential, with theoretical components of both approaches. Participants brought active concerns for confidential breakout sessions and engaged in text-based and reflective writing exercises. Participants generated metaphors to describe these approaches to narrative medicine.Results

Participants included a mix of community and hospital-based practitioners, pre-dominantly doctors. Participants considered the two approaches to be compatible and enhance each other. One metaphor generated was that Columbia style narrative medicine is ’like an individual lens which allows you to see things clearer’, it allows practitioners a different perspective on their patients and that CIC teaching ‘is a frame of glasses in which the lenses could be placed to enhance the ease of use’. Another metaphor was that the former ‘is like learning from a cadaver in the anatomy lab’, while the latter ‘is like running a clinical simulation’.Conclusion

We believe this was the first workshop integrating these approaches to narrative medicine. They appear to be highly complementary. Both approaches lead to enhanced attention to narratives which has clear applicability to clinical practice.
Whole Person Care in philanthropy - healing & giving
Authors: Komatsu Glen
Published: January 2024

Static reimbursement, rising expenses and decreasing margins for hospice and palliative care programs in the US, limit funding for innovative and creative education, care-giver well-being and resilience efforts and workforce development.  Whole Person Care in philanthropy can lead to healing not only of grateful patients, families and friends but can also be a source of healing, connectiveness and meaning for donors, board members, foundations and the community. 

This presentation will share leadership practices which engage grateful patients, families, prospective donors, board members, foundations and the community to raise significant funds for innovative education and program development.  Conversely, the presentation will share innovative education and program development which engages and excites patients, families, donors, board members, foundations and the community to give significant philanthropic gifts.  A small but excellent hospice foundation staff (5 people) with the help and support of the clinical leadership team raised over 4 million dollars in 2022 for a community-based hospice serving over 300 patients/day and community-based palliative programs serving over 600 patients/day, both adults and children.
Enriching clinical encounters through qualitative research
Authors: Hovey Richard B.
Published: January 2024

Although many medical and dental journals publish qualitative research this does not mean they are being read by those who could directly benefit from their scholarly contributions. From clinician to the patient. This perspective on qualitative research for medical and dental education was written with the intention of introducing qualitative research to those who may be unaware of its possibilities and utility for clinical education. Its task is to inform others about life conditions they may not have experienced themselves other than in a biomedical context. As researchers, clinicians, and especially for students who read academic, medical, and clinical research papers which are appropriately discipline-and methodology-specific, we may find ourselves encultured to privileging one type of research methodology over others. For example, exclusively considering quantitative research methodologies as being more rigorous and trustworthy.

This presentation may offer the opportunity for interested healthcare providers and researchers to expand their understanding of the purpose of qualitative research, its role and application in enhancing patient engagement, clinical practices, and person-centered research.
IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECT-BASED LEARNING TO IMPROVE ORAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS OF 7TH GRADE STUDENTS IN NGANJUK
Authors: Rohmatin Dewi Nur , Widodo Catur Wahyu , Masfingatin Titin
Published: January 2024

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of Project Based Learning implementation on improving students' oral communication skills. The research method used was classroom action research with two learning cycles. The subjects in this study were students of class VII-C at one of the junior high school in Nganjuk. The data for this study were obtained from observation sheets and questionnaires on oral communication skills. This research uses Miles and Huberman's qualitative data analysis with steps data reduction, data display, and conclusions drawing. The observation result showed that the average achievement indicator for oral communication skills in pre-cycle was 14.38%, cycle 1 was 30.72%, and cycle 2 was 47.71%. The results of the pre-cycle student response questionnaire was 19.28%, cycle 1 was 37.90% and cycle 2 was 50.37%. These show that there is an effect of implementing project based learning in the form of improving students' oral communication skills.
PAISAJE TRANSVERSAL, LANDLAB - Urbanismo regenerativo. Santander, Hábitat Futuro
Authors: Monclús Javier
Published: January 2024

Paisaje Transversal, LANDLABUrbanismo regenerativo. Santander, Hábitat FuturoBarcelona, ACTAR - Ayuntamiento de Santander, 2023. 276 pp. Tapa dura. Idioma: español. 35,00 €ISBN: 978-1-63840-102-5
Promoting Learner Autonomy in Competence-Based General Education Curriculum in Vietnam: High School Teachers’ Beliefs
Authors: Phan Thi Thanh Huyen
Published: January 2024

Learner autonomy has recently been adopted as a desirable educational goal in many countries and a dominant topic in teaching and learning English. Despite numerous studies on the initiatives to foster learner autonomy in various contexts, little research has explored how high school teachers interpret and foster their students’ autonomy, especially in relation to the new competence-based curriculum for general education in Vietnam. This paper aimed to address this gap by investing teachers’ beliefs related to learner autonomy using a mixed-methods approach. It drew on data derived from a Likert-scale questionnaire with 71 high school teachers and individual interviews with five teachers of various subjects in a province in the south of Vietnam. The data were analyzed using SPSS software and qualitative thematic analysis. The findings indicated that teachers were well aware of the importance of learner autonomy and its significance in Vietnamese education. They generally took positive beliefs toward learner autonomy, but also expressed some reservations about its feasibility in classroom practice. Despite these challenges, teachers generally believed that they provided various learning opportunities and practices of this competence. This study presented a preliminary investigation into high school teachers’ beliefs about promoting LA in the new competence-based curriculum, which can be a useful resource for researchers and educators in the field. However, the study was small in scope and lacked generality. Future research could thus recruit more participants from various backgrounds and geographical regions or delve deeper into how various factors interact to shape teachers’ practices.
Blended Learning in Post-Pandemic Era: from Students’ Perspective
Authors: Khasanah Nurul , Rochmahwati Pryla , Cabiles Roldan C. , Amrizal Amrizal
Published: January 2024

Coronavirus disease 2019 stroke the world at the end of 2019 and influenced greatly to all of the sectors. One of the sectors is education. Similarly, when the pandemic ended gradually in 2022, learning returned to normal but required gradual adjustments because both instructors and students had become proficient with online learning. Blended learning is a suitable teaching and learning strategy for the current environment. Blended learning is a combination of online and in-person instruction. Given the widespread use of blended learning today, the researcher intends to investigate students' attitudes toward blended learning in the post-pandemic period. This investigation included 29 students from the English Department at IAIN Ponerogo. The results indicated that the majority of students have a favorable view of blended learning. Two fair attitudes showed in student-student interaction and the contribution of blended learning toward the improvement of their skills.