bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of stakeholders’ contributions to livestock development in Delta State, Nigeria: Rural infrastructure intervention
Authors: Ovharhe Oghenero Joseph , Okpara Oghenesuvwe , Asedegbega Caritas
Published: November 2020

The study assessed the contributions of stakeholders to livestock development through provision of infrastructure to rural areas of Delta State, Nigeria. The objectives were to describe the socio-economic characteristics of respondents, appraise the role of external stakeholders in livestock development, verify any existing relationship between livestock development and rural development indicators and identify the challenges faced by respondents. A purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used to select the three major towns and 180 respondents. Data were collected by questionnaire and subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics. Result obtained showed that majority of the respondents were males (68.3%) with higher national diplomat (HND)/First degree (33.3%) and have a mean age of 42 years. The first four highest external stakeholders were skills training and entrepreneurship programme (94%), youth agricultural entrepreneurs programme (90.6%), job creation agency (89.4%) and FADAMA (80.0%) that promoted livestock development. A significant relationship was observed based on infrastructural contributions to livestock development (p< 0.05) among the variables: market, water project, market and roads. Serious challenges included high cost of feed facilities (mean = 3.69) and insufficient power supply (mean = 3.49). The study concluded that the more available the rural infrastructure intervention, the more developed the livestock sector. The study recommended that stakeholders should make their extension agent available to livestock farmers.
What is in a Name? Rahab, the Canaanite, and the Rhetoric of Liberation in the Hebrew Bible
Authors: Kozlova Ekaterina E.
Published: November 2020

As many native women in conquest accounts (historical and fictional), Rahab in Joshua 2 is often “hypersexualised” in biblical scholarship. One narrative detail gratuitously read in sexual terms is her name, Rahab, which is linked to the idea of “broadness.” Traditionally, “Rahab” is read as a harsh nickname highlighting the woman’s occupation, prostitution, or as a reference to her genitals. Against these readings, this discussion considers the language of “broadness” in biblical profiles of the Promised Land and the Torah, key motifs from Joshua 1–2, and demonstrates that the trope of “broadness/spaciousness” constitutes the rhetoric of liberation in the Hebrew Bible. That is, God is often cast as someone who brings afflicted/landless people to a broad locale or “broadens/enlarges” their hearts through his Torah. Since Rahab is linguistically and thematically linked to these acts, it is argued that through her Joshua 2 offers a midrash on Joshua 1. That is, from within Canaan, her name reverberates God’s earlier promises to Israel (“he [God] has created a wide expanse”) and she, herself, models a life informed by the Torah (vv. 9–12). Arguably, through her, Joshua 2 also offers a microcosm of YHWH’s own nature and modus operandi in the world.
Influence of modern magnetic and insulation materials on dimensions and losses of large induction machines
Authors: François Balavoine , Bertrand Cassoret , Cristian Demian , Raphaël Romary , Christophe Debendere
Published: November 2020

The aim of this study is to present the possibilities of reducing the size of large induction motors with new electrical materials taken into account of thermal constraints. This study highlights the possibilities of reducing losses, increasing the efficiency, and decreasing the weight, by taking different grades of materials. A nonlinear multiobjective optimization is used to determine the best solution, by varying the internal and external geometric parameters.
Convenient and highly sensitive detection of Cu2+ using chitosan solid film with g-C3N4 nanosheets
Authors: Liu Jing , Wang Shan
Published: November 2020

A solid fluorescence sensor composed of g-C3N4 nanosheets and chitosan solid film was fabricated by electrostatic interaction. The g-C3N4 nanosheet/chitosan solid film showed selectivity and sensitivity to Cu2+ which was higher than that of other metal ions in common use. Cu2+ ions were found to efficiently bind and quench the fluorescence of the g-C3N4 nanosheet/chitosan solid film. The absorption band of the g-C3N4 nanosheet/chitosan solid film was at 240 nm in the presence of Cu2+, and the maximum emission peak was at 380 nm. Copper ion concentrations were between 0 and 3.1 × 10−5 mol/L at pH 7, the detection limit is 5 nM, compared with previous reports, it was much lower than before. Good linear relationships existed between the metal ion concentration and fluorescence intensity of g-C3N4 nanosheets in the quenching and recovering processes. This is the first study to report on the detection of Cu2+ by utilizing g-C3N4 nanosheet/chitosan composite film. The as-prepared films were conveniently prepared, easy to operate, and recyclable, as well as sensitive and selective to detect Cu2+ in water. All these features indicate the sensor’s potential application in disease diagnosis.
Development of a radiochemical method for extraction chromatographic separation of Pb and Bi radioisotopes of forensic and environmental interest
Authors: Attallah Mohamed F. , Rizk Hoda E. , El Afifi El Sayed M.
Published: November 2020

This work describes the purification and separation of some radionuclides of 210Pb and/or 210Bi that might be used in calibration of nuclear spectroscopic instruments for forensic purposes and environmental studies. The retention and desorption investigations have been done by Dowex HCR-S/S resin as the cationic exchanger by batch mode. Full retention of metal ions was achieved in 0.1 M HNO3 solution after an equilibration period of 2 h at room temperature. The uptake of Pb and Bi is reached to more than 95 and 85%, respectively. Desorption studies by several reagents indicated that 1 M citric acid and ammonium acetate are efficient to elute and separate Bi and Pb. Taking into consideration all the above obtained results, column applications packed by the Dowex HCR-S/S resin were carried out to separate 214,210Pb and 214Bi radionuclides either in TENORM-concentrate or old certified reference of 226Ra solution. The column application results revealed that the recovery of Pb and Bi radionuclides was ∼93%. In the radiochemical part, the eluted Bi was impure due to presence of 23% Pb. In contrast, 70% of pure Pb was obtained. Thus, the radionuclides 210Pb can be recovered from several waste resources by this method. It can be concluded that the Dowex HCR resin can be an alternative economic material that could be used to produce 210Pb from the TENORM wastes generated from some strategic industries.
Alpha spectrometric characterization of thin 233U sources for 229(m)Th production
Authors: Haas Raphael , Hufnagel Michelle , Abrosimov Roman , Düllmann Christoph E. , Krupp Dominik , Mokry Christoph , Renisch Dennis , Runke Jörg , Scherer Ulrich W.
Published: November 2020

Four different techniques were applied for the production of 233U alpha recoil ion sources, providing 229Th ions. They were compared with respect to a minimum energy spread of the 229Th recoil ions, using the emitted alpha particles as an indicator. The techniques of Molecular Plating, Drop-on-Demand inkjet printing, chelation from dilute nitric acid solution on chemically functionalized silicon surfaces, and self-adsorption on passivated titanium surfaces were used. All fabricated sources were characterized by using alpha spectrometry, radiographic imaging, and scanning electron microscopy. A direct validation for the estimated recoil ion rate was obtained by collecting 228Th recoil ions from 232U recoil ion sources prepared by self-adsorption and Molecular Plating. The chelation and the self-adsorption based approaches appear most promising for the preparation of recoil ion sources delivering monochromatic recoil ions.
Synthesis of ZnO and ZnO/PVA nanocomposite using aqueous Moringa Oleifeira leaf extract template: antibacterial and electrochemical activities
Authors: Dejen Kindnew Demssie , Zereffa Enyew Amare , Murthy H C Ananda , Merga Andualem
Published: November 2020

The application of flexible polymer nanocomposites for food packaging to inactivate microorganisms associated with foods is the demand of the present-day food industry to assure quality throughout the packaging operation. The utilization of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) assisted zinc oxide nanocomposite for food stuff packaging has been very attractive in the recent past. Nanostructured ZnO was synthesized at optimized pH (10.5) from different ratios of zinc acetate and Moringa oleifeira leaf extract (1:7, 1:3, 1:1 and 3:1). ZnO coated polyvinyl alcohol (ZnO/PVA) nanocomposites were prepared from 5, 9, 13 and 16% by wt of ZnO and PVA using solution casting method. The thermal stability of ZnO synthesized with 1:1 ratio at pH 10.5 was investigated with TGA/DTA. The analytical techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultra-violate visible analysis (UV-Vis), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used for the characterization of the synthesized ZnO and ZnO/PVA nanocomposites (NCs). The antibacterial activity of the synthesized ZnO and ZnO/PVA NCs were evaluated against gram negative E. coli and gram positive S. aureus bacteria. The electrochemical stability of ZnO/PVA NCs was also investigated by cyclic voltammetric (CV) method. The thermogram of ZnO indicated that the oxide was found to be stable even beyond 500°C. The SEM analysis revealed rod shaped morphology for synthesized ZnO from 1:1 ratio at pH 10.5. But the nanocomposite prepared with 5% of ZnO of (1:1) at the same pH exhibited uniformly dispersed rod-shaped particle on the surface as well as in matrix of polyvinyl alcohol film. According to XRD result, ZnO synthesized with more percentage of plant extract resulted in the small size crystallites while that with low percentage of plant extract resulted in the larger crystallite size. The antibacterial inhibition efficiency of ZnO/PVA NCs was better and found to increase with increase in the amount of ZnO.
Prevalence of sports-related spinal injury stratified by competition level and return to play guidelines
Authors: Fiani Brian , Runnels Juliana , Taylor Ashley , Sekhon Manraj , Chacon Daniel , McLarnon Michael , Houston Rebecca , Vereecken Sasha
Published: November 2020

Spinal injury is among the most severe and feared injuries an athlete may face. We present an up-to-date review of the recent literature, stratifying recommendations based on injury location (cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine) and type, as well as, the level of competitive play (high school, collegiate, professional). A literature search was completed to identify all publications reporting return to play guidelines for athletic injuries or injury-related surgery irrespective of the study design. Publication dates were not restricted by year. Search terms used included “return to play” and “spinal injury” on National Library of Medicine (PubMed) and Google Scholar. Selection criteria for literature included axial spine injury guidelines for athletic participation post-injury or post-surgery. Literature found from the search criteria was sorted based on level of competition and location of axial spine injury involved. It was found that professional athletes are more likely to suffer severe spinal injuries, require surgery, and necessitate a longer return to play (RTP), with high school and college athletes usually returning to play within days or weeks. Injuries occur mainly within contact sports and concordance exists between initial and subsequent spinal injuries. Adequate rest, rehabilitation, and protective equipment alongside the education of athletes and coaches are recommended. In conclusion, a multidisciplinary approach to patient management is required with consideration for the emotional, social, and perhaps financial impact that spinal injury may have upon the athlete. Consensus from the literature states that in order for an athlete to safely return to play, that athlete should not be actively suffering from pain, should have a full range of motion, and complete return of their strength in the absence of neurological deficit.
Induced drift of scroll waves in the Aliev–Panfilov model and in an axisymmetric heart left ventricle
Authors: Pravdin Sergei F. , Epanchintsev Timofei I. , Nezlobinskii Timur V. , Panfilov Alexander V.
Published: November 2020

The low-voltage cardioversion-defibrillation is a modern sparing electrotherapy method for such dangerous heart arrhythmias as paroxysmal tachycardia and fibrillation. In an excitable medium, such arrhythmias relate to appearance of spiral waves of electrical excitation, and the spiral waves are superseded to the electric boundary of the medium in the process of treatment due to high-frequency stimulation from the electrode. In this paper we consider the Aliev–Panfilov myocardial model, which provides a positive tension of three-dimensional scroll waves, and an axisymmetric model of the left ventricle of the human heart. Two relations of anisotropy are considered, namely, isotropy and physiological anisotropy. The periods of stimulation with an apical electrode are found so that the electrode successfully entrains its rhythm in the medium, the spiral wave is superseded to the base of the ventricle, and disappears. The results are compared in two-dimensional and three-dimensional media. The intervals of effective stimulation periods are sufficiently close to each other in the two-dimensional case and in the anatomical model. However, the use of the anatomical model is essential in determination of the time of superseding.
Spatially averaged haemodynamic models for different parts of cardiovascular system
Authors: Simakov Sergey S.
Published: November 2020

This paper revisits the usage of spatially averaged haemodynamic models such as non-stationary 1D/0D in space and stationary 0D in space models. Conditions of equivalence between different 1D model formulations are considered. The impact of circular and elliptic shapes of the tube cross-section on the friction term and the tube law is analyzed. Finally, the relationship between 0D lumped and 1D models is revealed.
The Net Neutrality Debate is Outdated: Time for a New Wider View
Authors: Glass Victor
Published: November 2020

In 2008, former FCC Commissioner McDowell warned that Net Neutrality regulatory rulings could change every two to four years with election results His prediction was prescient. The democrat-led Wheeler Commission used technical definitions of telecommunication and information services to place all carriers under light touch Title II common carrier regulations. The succeeding republican-led Pai Commission rescinded the Wheeler Commission’s Order. The problem with both orders is that telecommunications and information services as separate categories are losing relevance in the online economy. A new approach to Net Neutrality policy is introduced that recognizes the emergence of large platforms and Internet service providers (ISPs) competing against each other. The recommendation is to break regulatory silos and develop a holistic oversight of the online ecosystem that examines in an integrated way anticompetitive behavior associated with communication, information, and services.
Semeiotic time
Authors: Sabre Ru
Published: November 2020

Charles Peirce has it that ongoing experience in all its richness is all the product of semeiosis. The argument of this paper is that Carlo Rovelli’s book The Order of Time (2018) provides a context for the notion that the immediate sense of the passing of time emerges from the ongoing creation of experience by semeiosis.
The association between selected genetic variants and individual differences in experimental pain
Authors: Lie Marie Udnesseter , Winsvold Bendik , Gjerstad Johannes , Matre Dagfinn , Pedersen Linda M. , Heuch Ingrid , Zwart John-Anker , Nilsen Kristian Bernhard
Published: November 2020

Objectives

The underlying mechanisms for individual differences in experimental pain are not fully understood, but genetic susceptibility is hypothesized to explain some of these differences. In the present study we focus on three genetic variants important for modulating experimental pain related to serotonin (SLC6A4 5-HTTLPR/rs25531 A>G), catecholamine (COMT rs4680 Val158Met) and opioid (OPRM1 rs1799971 A118G) signaling. We aimed to investigate associations between each of the selected genetic variants and individual differences in experimental pain.

Methods

In total 356 subjects (232 low back pain patients and 124 healthy volunteers) were genotyped and assessed with tests of heat pain threshold, pressure pain thresholds, heat pain tolerance, conditioned pain modulation (CPM), offset analgesia, temporal summation and secondary hyperalgesia. Low back pain patients and healthy volunteers did not differ in regards to experimental test results or allelic frequencies, and were therefore analyzed as one group. The associations were tested using analysis of variance and the Kruskal-Wallis test.

Results

No significant associations were observed between the genetic variants (SLC6A4 5-HTTLPR/rs25531 A>G, COMT rs4680 Val158Met and OPRM1 rs1799971 A118G) and individual differences in experimental pain (heat pain threshold, pressure pain threshold, heat pain tolerance, CPM, offset analgesia, temporal summation and secondary hyperalgesia).

Conclusions

The selected pain-associated genetic variants were not associated with individual differences in experimental pain. Genetic variants well known for playing central roles in pain perception failed to explain individual differences in experimental pain in 356 subjects. The finding is an important contribution to the literature, which often consists of studies with lower sample size and one or few experimental pain assessments.
Symptoms of central sensitization in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases: a case-control study examining the role of musculoskeletal pain and psychological factors
Authors: Falling Carrie , Stebbings Simon , Baxter G David , Siegel Corey A , Gearry Richard B , Nijs Jo , Mani Ramakrishnan
Published: November 2020

Objectives

Musculoskeletal (MSK) pain is a common complaint in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). MSK pain in IBD has previously demonstrated association with symptoms of central sensitization; however it is uncertain whether these symptoms are influenced simply by the presence of MSK pain and/or IBD. Primary aim of this study was to investigate whether symptoms of central sensitization differed across three groups: IBD patients with and without MSK pain and healthy controls. Secondary aim was to investigate between-group differences for measures of somatosensory functioning.

Methods

Cross-sectional study was performed on adults with IBD. Assessments included: central sensitization inventory (CSI), pressure pain threshold, temporal summation, conditioned pain modulation, perceived stress, affect style, anxiety, depression, and pain catastrophizing. One-way analyses of variance and covariance were used to investigate between-group differences for measures of central sensitization and potential confounding by psychological factors.

Results

Study participants (n=66) were age/gender matched across three study groups. Between-group differences were solely demonstrated for CSI scores [F(2,63)=19.835, p<0.001, r=0.62], with IBD patients with MSK pain demonstrating the highest CSI scores and healthy controls the lowest. After controlling for individual psychological features, post hoc comparisons indicated that CSI scores were significantly different between-groups (p≤0.025) after controlling for most psychological variables, with the exception of perceived stress (p=0.063) and pain catastrophizing (p=0.593).

Conclusions

IBD patients as a whole demonstrated significantly greater symptoms of central sensitization compared to healthy controls. However, IBD patients with persistent MSK pain demonstrated the greatest symptoms of central sensitization compared to patients without MSK pain and healthy controls. Between-group differences for CSI in IBD patients with MSK were not confounded by psychological features.

Implications

Study results indicate that persistent MSK pain in IBD represents patients with greater central sensitization symptomology. This increased symptomology is suggestive of underlying mechanisms related to central sensitization, highlighting patient potentially at risk for worse pain experiences.
Differences in personality, perceived stress and physical activity in women with burning mouth syndrome compared to controls
Authors: Jedel Elizabeth , Elfström Magnus L. , Hägglin Catharina
Published: November 2020

Objectives

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a long-lasting pain condition which is commonly associated with anxiety symptoms and experience of adverse, stressful life events have been reported by those diagnosed with the syndrome. Stress-related biomarkers have been related to personality traits in BMS and a personality with high stress susceptibility and perceived stress may be of importance. Although biopsychosocial approaches are suggested to manage long-lasting orofacial pain, to date little is known about physical activity in women with BMS. The aim of this study was to investigate if personality, perceived stress and physical activity distinguish women with BMS from controls.

Methods

Fifty-six women with BMS and 56 controls matched on age and gender completed Swedish universities Scales of Personality (SSP), Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ) and a general questionnaire with an item on weekly physical activity frequency. In addition, health-related quality of life was explored by additional questionnaires and reported in a companion article (Jedel et al. Scand J Pain. 2020. PubMed PMID: 32853174).

Results

SSP subscales Somatic Trait Anxiety, Psychic Trait Anxiety, Stress Susceptibility and Verbal Trait Aggression differed between women with BMS and controls and the personality factor scores for Neuroticism and Aggressiveness were higher. Perceived stress measured by PSQ index was higher for women with BMS compared to controls. Women with BMS reported lower physical activity frequency compared to controls and those reporting physical activity <4 days/week scored higher on PSQ compared to those with weekly physical activity ≥4 days/week.

Conclusions

Personality distinguished women with BMS from controls in this study. Perceived stress was higher and weekly physical activity was lower in women with BMS compared to controls. Our findings suggest physical activity should be more comprehensively measured in future BMS studies and, by extension, physical activity may be a treatment option for women with BMS. Pain management aiming to restore function and mobility with stress reduction should be considered in clinical decision making for women with BMS who have a personality with stress susceptibility, especially if reporting high perceived stress and insufficient physical activity.
Long-memory modeling and forecasting: evidence from the U.S. historical series of inflation
Authors: Boubaker Heni , Canarella Giorgio , Gupta Rangan , Miller Stephen M.
Published: November 2020

We report the results of applying several long-memory models to the historical monthly U.S. inflation rate series and analyze their out-of-sample forecasting performance over different horizons. We find that the time-varying approach to estimating inflation persistence outperforms the models that assume a constant long-memory process. In addition, we examine the link between inflation persistence and exchange rate regimes. Our results support the hypothesis that floating exchange rates associate with increased inflation persistence. This finding, however, is less pronounced during the era of the Great Moderation and the Federal Reserve System’s commitment to inflation targeting.
Moments and mechanisms of intervention along textual trajectories: norm negotiations in English-medium research writing
Authors: Hynninen Niina
Published: November 2020

Academic text production usually includes various people intervening in the text at different stages of the writing and evaluation process. By focusing on trajectories of English-medium research papers, this article explores the moments and mechanisms of intervention in the text production processes, as well as the associated norm negotiations. The study takes a dynamic approach to text analysis, with focus on tracing the text histories of the research papers from the perspective of how the writing is regulated by different actors and in different ways at various stages along the trajectories. The data include two detailed text histories, covering research interviews with authors and their colleagues, copies of several drafts of the texts, language revisions, written comments from different brokers (reviewers, editors and colleagues), and recordings of research group meetings around writing. The findings illustrate how various evaluation mechanisms and practices function to enable and restrict interventions by specific actors, and how these actors may evoke different evaluating authorities. It is concluded that the moments of intervention serve as sites for (re)negotiating norms and appropriateness criteria.
EGCG treats ICH via up-regulating miR-137-3p and inhibiting Parthanatos
Authors: Wang Jianjun , Kuang Xuejun , Peng Zhao , Li Conghui , Guo Chengwu , Fu Xi , Wu Junhong , Luo Yang , Rao Xiaolin , Zhou Xiangjuan , Huang Bin , Tang Weijun , Tang Yinjuan
Published: November 2020

Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) causes high mortality and disability without effective treatment in the clinical setting. (−)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) exerts an essential role in the central nervous system and offers a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of oxidative damage-related diseases. MiR-137 can inhibit the oxidative stress and apoptosis to attenuate neuronal injury. However, the role of EGCG in regulating miR-137-3p and neuronal Parthanatos remains to be unclear. In the present study, we build the ICH mice model to investigate the antioxidant effects of EGCG via upregulating miR-137-3p and inhibiting neuronal Parthanatos. We revealed that EGCG upregulated miR-137-3p and inhibited neuronal Parthanatos, and promoted the functional recovery, alleviated ICH-induced brain injury, and reduced oxidative stress in mice following ICH. However, following the inhibition of miR-137-3p and activation of Parthanatos, EGCG was unable to exert neuroprotective roles. These combined results suggest that EGCG may upregulate miR-137-3p and inhibit neuronal Parthanatos to accelerate functional recovery in mice after ICH, laying the foundation for EGCG to be a novel strategy for the treatment of neuronal injuries related to Parthanatos.
Syntheses and structural characterization of manganese and cadmium coordination polymers constructed with bis(4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl)methanone and dicarboxylate ligands
Authors: Wang Gao-Feng , Sun Shu-Wen , Sun Hong , Chang Bing-Wei , Song Jing , Yang Xia
Published: November 2020

Two coordination polymers (CPs), [Mn(bipmo)(pbtda)(H2O)]
n
(1), {[Cd(bipmo)(btda)]·2(H2O)]}
n
(2), (bipmo = bis(4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl)methanone, H2pbtda = 2-phenylbutanedioic acid, H2btda = butanedioic acid), were synthesized by solvothermal methods. The products have been characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectroscopy, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The topological structure of 1 is based on 2-nodal nets with the Schläfli symbol {63}{69·8}, while that of 2 features a system with a sixfold penetration with the Schläfli symbol {66}.
Non-linear optical properties of polystyrene and polyvinyl alcohol composites with 4-methoxy-1-naphthol
Authors: Radkowska Ilona , Bragiel Piotr , Belka Radosław , Ficek Pawel
Published: November 2020

The analysis of the NLO properties of 4-methoxy-1-naphthol (4M1N) reveals that this molecule has the value of polarizability tensor, α, more than 340% greater than that obtained, at the same level of theory, for urea molecule. This improvement grows to 500% when the second-order hyperpolarizability is considered. Calculations performed within LR-PCM-B3LYP/6-311+G(3d,2p) model proved that embedding of 4M1N in the polymer matrix significantly improved these results suggesting applications of 4M1N as the cheap and effective NLO material. The molecule was also studied, both theoretically and experimentally, to determine its full vibrational characterisation and structural description. Calculations were performed with HF, MP2, SVWN and B3LYP methods, in two, varying in size, basis sets, to find optimized structures, conformational isomers and UV–VIS, IR and Raman spectra. The accordance of simulated oscillation and absorption spectra with experimental ones is very good; IR values are slightly red-shifted. NBO charge distribution analysis was made to generate frontier orbitals and find most reactive parts of the molecule.
Catastrophic co-production: A student-staff partnership for developing an educational game
Authors: Glover Nicholas , Knox Kerry J. , Kirman Ben , Topham Matthew , Westbury-Hawkins Katylily , Holland Penelope
Published: November 2020

We describe the production of an educational game (Catastrophic) for supporting biology learning in higher education (HE) that was developed through a partnership between students and academic staff. We consider the ways in which the development project intersects with the use of game-based learning in HE and with Students as Partners (SaP) practice. We describe the rationale for the project, discussing the use of games in the context of a shift from surface to deep learning during the transition to HE. We then reflect upon the development process and the resulting game, drawing on student and staff perspectives gathered using interviews. Finally, we make recommendations for others embarking on student-staff partnerships for the co-creation of teaching and learning tools.
Students as partners in an Australian medical program: Impact on student partners and teachers
Authors: Pereira Jarett Vanz-Brian , Vassil John Christopher , Thompson Rachel Elizabeth
Published: November 2020

In this article, we will discuss and analyse the implementation of a Students-as-Partners (SaP) initiative in a formal medical curriculum. Effective student-staff collaboration led to the development of student-centred lessons that were relevant and engaging, while improving student-staff relationships. In addition, student partners developed leadership and management skills, gained knowledge about educational pedagogies, and acquired metacognitive strategies to improve personal learning. Our experience highlights the important role that medical students can play in driving educational innovation and the immense potential for SaP initiatives to benefit students and staff.
Evaluating community-based research: Hearing the views of student research partners
Authors: Cullinane Mark , O'Sullivan Siobhán
Published: November 2020

Despite the increasing popularity in the academy of collaborative approaches to research, evaluating the impacts of Students-as-Partners (SaP) initiatives has thus far received less systematic attention. This paper presents an evaluation of a participatory community-based research project where academics partnered with 15 mature students in a socio-economically disadvantaged estate in the south of Ireland to co-construct a household survey and conduct field research to gather the views of fellow residents on the regeneration of their area. The paper reports the findings of a subsequent qualitative, participatory evaluation of the student’s experience of this partnership with academics and its impacts. The findings illuminate some of the benefits and challenges of community-based staff-student research partnerships and points to the imperatives of aligning institutional, funder, and community participants’ capacities and objectives throughout the research cycle and the importance of evaluation to inform good practice in community-based research.
Negotiating informed consent: A students-as-partners perspective
Authors: Rifenburg J. Michael , Pridgen Emily
Published: November 2020

Building on our 2019 ISSOTL poster presentation, we (Michael: a tenured English Department faculty member; and Emily: an undergraduate English major) are developing a reflective essay about our in-progress SaP project designed to assess the effectiveness of recent university system mandated curricular changes to multiple sections of an introductory college-level writing course at our home institution, the University of North Georgia, USA. Even though we received the necessary institutional and federal government permissions to conduct this research, and even though the research participants signed the necessary informed consent document, as we continue our data collection we wonder how we might better listen and watch for what Bivens (2018) calls “microwithdrawals of consent.” Bivens describes this phenomenon as the “implied or partial halt of a person’s willingness to participate in one or more aspects of the research process and the researcher’s awareness of that withdrawal.” Bivens calls on researchers to stay attuned to the participant’s body language and vocal tone to notice when participants may want to withdraw consent but not explicitly say so. When undergraduate researchers conduct interviews with other undergraduates, they are well-positioned to perceive these microwithdrawals of consent. With Emily as the lead author for this proposed piece, we wonder: How can students working in partnership with faculty help faculty better understand how informed consent is an on-going and negotiated process that does not end when research participants sign a consent document? Pondering this question emphasizes the “messy, ‘work in progress’ nature of SaP” (Matthews, 2017, p. 4), which, we argue should hold a central place in our SaP publications.
Peningkatan Penguasaan Kosakata Bahasa Jepang dengan Menggunakan Media Teka-Teki Silang
Authors: Stovia Anggita , Firmansyah Dian Bayu
Published: November 2020

Vocabulary mastery is one of the most important in learning Japanese. Lack of mastery of vocabulary will make students look less active when teaching and learning activities take place. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of the crossword puzzle in increasing the mastery of Japanese vocabulary. This research is an experimental study with a Posstest-Only Control Group Design model. The data generated in this study are quantitative data obtained form the results of the post test in class A as an experimental class and class B as a control class. The results of data analysis showed that the level of mastery of vocabulary in the experimental class using crossword puzzles, was higher than the control class using conventional media in the form of lecture activities using textbooks. In addition, The atmosphere of the learning by using crossword media is more interesting and fun. This is confirmed by the average results of the vocabulary test scores in the experimental class at 85.87, while in the control class at 74.8.
Peningkatan Kemampuan Menulis Huruf Kanji Dasar Melalui Penggunaan Aplikasi Kamus Digital Akebi Bagi Pembelajar Tingkat SMA/MA
Authors: Anggraini Renni , Nurhadi Didik , Yulianto Bambang
Published: November 2020

Pelaksanaan pengajaran bahasa diera seperti ini telah memanfaatkan kemajuan teknologi. Namun. pemanfaatan teknologi untuk pendidikan hanya dilakukan oleh beberapa pembelajar saja. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui peningkatkan hasil belajar dalam kemampuan menulis huruf kanji sesuai dengan urutan penulisan huruf yang tepat, dan (2) mengetahui respon pembelajar terhadap penggunaan kamus digital Akebi dalam meningkatkan kemampuan menulis huruf kanji sesuai dengan urutan penulisan huruf yang tepat. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah metode kuantitatif dengan desain penelitian One-Group Pretest-Posttest Design. Sampel yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah 28 pembelajar kelas XI Lintas Minat II SMA Negeri 4 Malang. Teknik pengumpulan data dalam penelitian ini  berupa tes dan angket. Kamus digital Akebi sebagai panduan untuk menulis huruf kanji dasar menunjukkan adanya peningkatan pada hasil belajar dari pretest ke postest dengan rata-rata nilai posttest adalah 74,8. Tanggapan yang diberikan oleh pembelajar terkait penggunaan kamus digital Akebi sebagai panduan untuk meningkatkan kemampuan menulis kanji berada pada kriteria tinggi.

The implementation of language teaching in this era has taken advantage of technological advances. However. the use of technology for education is only done by a few students. This study aims to determine the improvement of learning outcomes in the ability to write kanji in accordance with the proper letter writing sequence, and (2) determine the learner's response to the use of the Akebi digital dictionary in improving the ability to write kanji letters according to the proper letter writing sequence. The method used in this study is a quantitative method with a One-Group Pretest-Posttest Design research design. The sample used in this study was 28 students of Class XI Cross-Interest II of SMA Negeri 4 Malang. Data collection techniques in this study in the form of tests and questionnaires. Akebi's digital dictionary as a guide for writing basic kanji shows an increase in learning outcomes from pretest to posttest with an average posttest score of 74.8. The response given by the learners regarding the use of the Akebi digital dictionary as a guide to improve the ability to write kanji is at high criteria.

Keywords: Digital Dictionary, Media, Writing Kanji.
PENGEMBANGAN BUKU PENGAYAAN TEKS DESKRIPTIF PERISTIWA BUDAYA BERBASIS KONTEKSTUAL BAGI SISWA KELAS VII DI KABUPATEN KENDAL
Authors: Dewangga Arta Permana
Published: November 2020

The objectives of this study were (1) to describe the needs analysis of students, teachers, and the community for textbooks enriching contextual cultural events desciption texts for class VII students, (2) to compile a prototype textbook enrichment description of contextual-based cultural events for students of class VII, and (3) describe the results of expert tests from the prototype enrichment text book description of contextual-based cultural events for students of class VII. This study used research and development (R & D) method with the stages of research carried out, which include, (1) potential and problems, (2) data collection, (3) product design, (4) product validation, and (5) product revisions. The data contained in this study are learning process data and the availability of enrichment books in schools, needs analysis, cultural events from the speakers, and data from validation tests. The subjects of this study were teachers, students, the community and resource persons, as well as material and media experts. Data collection techniques carried out by observation, interviews, questionnaires, and expert test assessment sheets. Analysis of the data used in this study is qualitative descriptive. The research produced was a descriptive text enrichment book on Javanese-language cultural events containing eight cultural events in Kendal District. The enrichment books produced have been validated by material experts and media experts. The results of the validation test are enrichment text descriptions of cultural events that are appropriate and suitable to be used as enrichment books and Javanese language learning media for seventh grade students in Kendal Regency.

Keywords: Enrichment Books, Cultural Event, Contextual.
Pengembangan Media Pembelajaran Sesorah Dengan Video Pepipak (Pembelajaran Pidato Ngapak) untuk Siswa Kelas IX SMP di Tegal
Authors: Fadhliani Nur Izza , Indiatmoko Bambang , Yuwono Agus
Published: November 2020

Objectives of the research are (1) to know the necessity of learning Javanese speech, (2) to know the prototype development of media pepipak video, (3) to know the product validation of media pepipak video for speech learning. This research uses the research and development approach. The development of this media is through five steps, i.e (1) potential problems, (2) data collection, (3) product design, (4) test expert validation, (5) design improvement. The instrument of this research is the nontest instrument in the form questionnaire. Based on the analysis results, the necessity of learning Javanese speech shows the teacher and the students need media pepipak video. The prototype results of media pepipak video have duration 04.18 minutes which consist of: (1) opening of media, (2) content of media, (3) closing of media. The test expert validation of the materials and media are obtained percentage 71.76% and 78,82% which includes a good category with some revisions, that is on the opening of media which is added the identity of the media maker.
Pengembangan Media Flash Player dalam Pembelajaran Legenda untuk Siswa Kelas VIII SMP 2 Dawe Kudus
Authors: Nafi'ah Azmatun , Kurniati Endang
Published: November 2020

Learning legend is learning that provides knowledge to students about an event that is considered really happened in ancient times. Legend stories contain good exemplary values ​​such as religious, social, and cultural values ​​that can serve as examples to better shape student personalities. Therefore, important legend learning is taught to students at school, but the learning of the legend at SMP 2 Dawe Kudus is of less interest to the students. The problem is because of the teaching and learning activities during this run in conventional and not varied and less use of LCD facilities that have been installed in each class. In addition, the learning of the legend in SMP 2 Dawe Kudus using the material Legend Bulusan from LKS in the form of text that is less contextual. Therefore, innovation is required to develop a more creative learning media such as flash media in the form of animated films in order to increase student interest in learning. The approach used in this research was Research and Development (R&D) which conducted with five stages, including potential and problem analysis, data collection, product design, design validation, and product testing. The subjects of this research were teachers of Javanese subject, students of grade VIII SMP 2 Dawe Kudus, interpreters of legend story, material expert, media expert, and media user. Data collection used in this research is questionnaires, interview guides, tests, and observation. The data was analyzed in qualitative-descriptive. The results showed students the experimental class that performed higher learning outcomes than the control class.
Pengembangan Media Pembelajaran Mituhu (Komik Pitutur Luhur) pada Kompetensi Dasar Menulis Dialog Siswa Kelas VII SMP Negeri 22 Semarang
Authors: Zahroh Avella Itsna Fatimatuz , Kurniati Endang , Fuadhiyah Ucik
Published: November 2020

The objectives of this pitutur luhur comic strip study development are (1) to analyze the needs of students and teachers towards mituhu learning media (pitutur luhur comics), (2) to describe prototypes of mituhu learning media (pitutur luhur comics), and (3) to describe the results of expert validation regarding mituhu learning media prototypes (pitutur luhur comics). The design of this research is research and development. The procedures of this study include (1) potential and problems, (2) data collection, (3) product design, (4) design validation, and (5) design revisions. The results of the study are (1) teachers and students of SMP N 22 Semarang need learning media to write dialogue in the form of pitutur luhur comics, (2) pitutur luhur comics consist of three stories namely Becik Ketitik Ala Ketara, Sapa Jujur Bakal Makmur, and Aja Dumeh, (3) the results of the material expert validation got an average value of 3.2 from a maximum value of 4 which means this comic according to the basic competencies to be achieved, the results of the media expert validation got an average value of 3.6 from a maximum value of 4 design meaningful in accordance with the rules of comic development.
Therapeutic Effect of Perioperative Mild Hypothermia on Postoperative Neurological Outcomes in Patients with Acute Stanford Type A Aortic Dissection
Authors: Fu Run , Zou Lei , Song Xiao-Chun , Shen Xiao , Huang Fu-Hua , Xiao Li-Qiong , Mu Xin-Wei , Zhang Cui
Published: November 2020

Background: Postoperative patients of acute Stanford type A aortic dissection (AAAD) often experience complications consisting of nervous system injury. Mild hypothermia therapy has been proven to provide the therapeutic effect of cerebral protection. We aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of perioperative mild hypothermia on postoperative neurological outcomes in patients with AAAD.
Methods: A prospective randomized controlled study was conducted on adult patients undergoing aortic dissection surgery between February 2017 and December 2017. Patients in the treatment group underwent mild hypothermia (34° to 35°C) immediately after surgery, and in the conventional therapy group, patients were rewarmed to normal body temperature (36° to 37°C). Postoperative time to regain consciousness, postoperative serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and S-100β levels, cerebral tissue oxygen saturation, presence of delirium or permanent neurological dysfunction, intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stay duration, and 28-day mortality were compared.
Results: We enrolled 55 patients who underwent AAAD surgery and were randomly allocated into to 2 groups, 27 patients in the treatment group and 28 patients in the conventional therapy group. Compared with the conventional therapy group, postoperative time to regain consciousness was much shorter for patients in the mild hypothermia group (12.65 hours, interquartile range [IQR] 8.28 to 23.82, versus 25.80 hours, IQR 14.00 to 59.80; P = .02), and the rate of regaining consciousness in 24 hours after surgery was much higher (74.07% versus 46.42%; P = .037). At the same time, the ICU stay of patients in the mild hypothermia therapy group was significantly shorter than that in the conventional therapy group (5.53 ± 3.13 versus 9.35 ± 8.76 days; P = .038). Cerebral tissue oxygen saturation, incidence of delirium or permanent neurological dysfunction, duration of hospital stay, and 28-day mortality showed no statistical difference. Postoperative serum NSE and S-100β levels increased compared with preoperative baseline values in both groups (P < .05), and the serum NSE levels of patients in the mild hypothermia therapy was significantly lower than the conventional therapy group 1 hour (P = .049) and 6 hours (P = .04) after surgery. There was no difference in the chest drainage volume or shivering between the 2 groups 24 hours after surgery.
Conclusions: Perioperative mild hypothermia therapy is able to significantly reduce brain cell injury and shorten the postoperative time to regain consciousness, thus improving the neurological prognosis of patients with AAAD.