bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Écrire pour reconquérir son corps
Authors: Garrido y Saez Victoria
Published: February 2022

Fondée par Lidia Falcón et Carmen Alcalde en 1976, Vindicación Feminista est la revue phare du féminisme espagnol de deuxième vague. Dans un pays qui sort tout juste de trente-six ans de dictature national-catholique, le magazine détonne. Moderne et irrévérencieux, il aborde sans scrupule ni tabou des thèmes comme l’homosexualité, la diversité du plaisir féminin ou la prostitution. Il s’engage également dans les grandes batailles féministes de l’époque : dépénalisation de l’adultère et de la contraception, accès au divorce, avortement libre, etc., car l’un des objectifs de Vindicación est la reconquête du corps féminin, indûment accaparé par la dictature franquiste. Pour le magazine, il est impératif que les femmes redeviennent maîtresses de leur corps mais aussi des mots pour le dire. En effet, dans les années 1970, le monde politique et médiatique est essentiellement dominé par les hommes. Ainsi, c’est à travers la voix de l’autre que les femmes appréhendent leurs chairs. Les journalistes de Vindicación s’arment donc de leur plume afin de se réapproprier cette intimité confisquée. L’article se propose d’étudier le discours du corps et de l’intime dans Vindicación entre 1976 et 1982, période de parution du mensuel. L’objectif est de comprendre comment l’écriture a pu servir d’arme pour récupérer le contrôle, non seulement sur le corps des femmes, mais aussi sur les mots pour le définir. Il s’agira pour cela d’examiner les thèmes choisis, l’angle abordé, le style d’écriture, le degré de proximité avec la lectrice et le profil des autrices. En quoi cette revue collective, dont la diffusion a été si confidentielle durant sa courte existence, est-elle devenue la référence du féminisme espagnol de deuxième vague le plus avant-gardiste ? L’article tâchera de montrer que Vindicación révolutionne le discours sur les femmes en déconstruisant les codes de représentation, en libérant les corps et en créant un espace d’expression solidaire.
Intégration des patients enseignants dans les études de médecine
Authors: Maury Arnaud , Berkesse Alexandre , Lucas Gilles , Mouriaux Frédéric , Allory Emmanuel
Published: February 2022

Introduction : Dans un contexte sociétal favorable à l’engagement des patients, la littérature scientifique abonde d’arguments pour le développement des patients enseignants. Toutefois, peu de travaux ont objectivé les pratiques actuelles et les obstacles au développement du partenariat avec les patients par les médecins enseignants. But de l’étude : L’objectif de notre travail était de mesurer les pratiques, les freins et les attentes des médecins enseignants de l’UFR de médecine de Rennes en 2019 vis-à-vis du patient enseignant. Méthode : Étude observationnelle quantitative transversale monocentrique par questionnaire en ligne adressé à 565 enseignants. L’engagement des patients a été gradué en quatre niveaux selon le cadre théorique de Pomey allant de l’utilisation de données du patient à la coconstruction des enseignements. Résultats : Le taux de participation des enseignants était de 23 % ( n  = 128). Les profils des répondants étaient variés sur l’âge, la spécialité et le statut. Parmi eux, 35 ont déclaré intégrer les patients aux enseignements dont 4 disaient coconstruire un enseignement avec les patients. Parmi les 93 médecins ne faisant pas intervenir les patients, les principaux freins étaient la méconnaissance du partenariat patient (60 %), la sélection du patient (36 %) et le manque de temps (21 %). Le rôle des patients en tant qu’enseignant n’était pas remis en question. Conclusions : Cette première étude décrivant le partenariat du point de vue académique permet d’identifier les obstacles et les leviers à mobiliser pour développer le partenariat patient dans l’enseignement en médecine.
Concentration behavior of ground states for $ L^2 $-critical Schrödinger Equation with a spatially decaying nonlinearity
Authors: Luo Yong , Zhang Shu
Published: February 2022

We consider ground states of the following time-independent nonlinear \begin{document}$ L^2 $\end{document}-critical Schrödinger equation

   \begin{document}$ -\Delta u(x)+V(x)u(x)-a|x|^{-b}|u|^{\frac{4-2b}{N}}u(x) = \mu u(x)\,\ \hbox{in}\,\ {\mathbb{R}}^N, $\end{document}

where \begin{document}$ \mu\!\in\! {\mathbb{R}} $\end{document}, \begin{document}$ a\!>\!0 $\end{document}, \begin{document}$ N\!\geq\! 1 $\end{document}, \begin{document}$ 0\!<\!b\!<\!\min\{2,N\} $\end{document}, and \begin{document}$ V(x)\!\geq\! 0 $\end{document} is an external potential. We get ground states of the above equation by solving the associated constrained minimization problem. In this paper, we prove that there is a threshold \begin{document}$ a^*\!>\!0 $\end{document} such that minimizer exists for \begin{document}$ 0\!<\!a\!<\!a^* $\end{document}, and minimizer does not exist for any \begin{document}$ a\!>\!a^* $\end{document}. However if \begin{document}$ a\! = \!a^* $\end{document}, it is showed that whether minimizer exists depends sensitively on the value of \begin{document}$ V(0) $\end{document}. Moreover if \begin{document}$ V(0)\! = \!0 $\end{document}, we prove that minimizers must concentrate at the origin as \begin{document}$ a\nearrow a^* $\end{document} and give a detailed concentration behavior of minimizers as \begin{document}$ a\nearrow a^* $\end{document}, based on which we finally prove that there is a unique minimizer when \begin{document}$ a $\end{document} is close enough to \begin{document}$ a^* $\end{document}.
Existence of solutions of an impulsive integro-differential equation with a general boundary value condition
Authors: Hu Bing ,   Department of Applied Mathematics, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China, Xu Minbo , Wang Zhizhi , Lin Jiahui , Zhu Luyao , Wang Dingjiang
Published: February 2022

In this paper, we discuss the existence of solutions for a first-order nonlinear impulsive integro-differential equation with a general boundary value condition. New comparison principles are developed, and existence results for extremal solutions are obtained using the established principles and the monotone iterative technique. The results are more general than those of the periodic boundary problems, which may be widely applied in this field.
Nurturing Secondary School Student Computational Thinking Through Educational Robotics
Authors: Jawawi Dayang Norhayati Abang , Jamal Nurul Nazihah , Abdul Halim Shahliza , Sa'adon Nor Azizah , Mamat Rosbi , Isa Mohd Adham , Mohamad Radziah , Abdull Hamed Haza Nuzly
Published: February 2022

Digital literacy is becoming a key factor in today’s digital revolution age. Computational Thinking (CT) is a new digital literacy that is gradually being introduced in the school curriculum due to its applicability in the daily problem-solving process. Educational Robotics (ER) has been increasingly used as a pedagogical tool to attract students to learn computer programming, and when integrated with CT, they can be used to develop high-order thinking skills. However, intertwining between CT and ER remains a challenge for teachers. This paper describes a method to expose secondary school children to CT concepts and skills through ER learning activities. The method integrates the four CT core concepts, which are problem analysis and algorithm; abstraction; pattern recognition; and decomposition, in a two days’ ER workshop implementation. The result of the study shows that the method of integrating CT with ER has the potential to nurture students’ CT and programming skills. This study shows a statistically significant increase in the students' understanding of the two CT concepts which are pattern recognition and decomposition concepts.
A Student Grouping Method for Massive Online Collaborative Learning
Authors: Wang Yuan , Wang Qi
Published: February 2022

As a brand-new learning strategy, cooperative learning can greatly improve the quality of classroom teaching and the teamwork and learning efficiency of students. The conventional student grouping models for cooperative learning take less consideration of the complementarity of students’ knowledge structures and learning interests, so they are not quite suitable for online teaching, which is provided for a huge number of students and has a large scale of learning resources and great freedom of choice. To this end, this paper studies the student grouping method for massive online collaborative learning. Firstly, the problem of identifying the student’s knowledge state was described and characterized, and a diagnosis model of students’ knowledge state simulating the cooperative learning process was constructed based on the gated recurrent neural network. The creation of an online collaborative learning scenario that considers both the knowledge state and interests of students was regarded as an NP-hard problem, and then, the enhanced particle swarm optimization algorithm was adopted to realize the grouping of students for massive online collaborative learning. The experimental results verified the effectiveness of the model constructed in this paper.
Penser au singulier [1984]
Authors: Dampierre Éric de
Published: February 2022

Il y a plus d’un demi-siècle, un célèbre ouvrage d’E. E. Evans-Pritchard, consacré à l’étude de la causalité et de la divination, attirait à nouveau l’attention sur les sociétés zandé et nzakara. Le présent travail se propose de prolonger ces analyses, toujours à partir de recherches conduites sur place, en Afrique centrale.On essaie d’y montrer que, pour ces sociétés, rien n’est identique ; qu’une infinité d’existants singuliers, hiérarchisés à l’infini, s’accommode d’un univers foisonnant de causes ; que l’« œil du destin » (Zạ̀gị kánà !) — ou du monde — confirme ces êtres dans leur hiérarchie, qui est leur lien ; que tout ce qui n’est pas constitué tel est désordre du monde et, littéralement, vain ; que l’action de l’homme peut seule instituer l’identité, composer avec les différences et, de surcroît, donner aux conséquences un sens.[rabat de première de couverture]
Un procès en légitimité. Adolphe Thiers. La Commune et les fondements démocratiques de la République
Authors: Sawyer Stephen W.
Published: February 2022

Il reste quelque chose de trouble au fond du dossier Thiers en 1871. Quelle était sa responsabilité, et comment la déterminer ? Depuis la Commune, le cadre privilégié pour penser le rôle de Thiers, surtout lors de la semaine sanglante de mai 1871, est le procès historiographique. A maintes reprises, l’instruction a évalué la culpabilité de Thiers. Cet article ajoute des nouveaux éléments clés, surtout du point de vue de la pensée politique et juridique de Thiers, longtemps ignorée. Cet article se permet aussi un regard meta-historiographique qui interroge la mise en récit du rapport entre Thiers et la Commune sur le mode du procès. Vu l’impératif de renouveler sans cesse une discussion qui touche, d’un côté, au bien-fondé d’une Commune révolutionnaire et, de l’autre, au devenir du premier pouvoir exécutif de la République démocratique, la question est de savoir s’il ne s’agit pas d’un procès en légitimité. En ce sens, les verdicts en appel permanents venant statuer sur le rôle de Thiers dans le déroulement de la Commune sont aussi un lieu privilégié pour penser les contours du pouvoir exécutif dans la démocratie contemporaine en France.
A ROBUST TECHNIQUES OF ENHANCEMENT AND SEGMENTATION BLOOD VESSELS IN RETINAL IMAGE USING DEEP LEARNING
Authors: Desiani Anita , Erwin  , Suprihatin Bambang , Agustina Sinta Bella
Published: February 2022

The retina is the most important part of the eye. Early detection of retinal disease can be done through the passage of the blood vessels of the retina. Enhancement of the quality of retinal images that have both noise and noise is the first step in image processing to help improve the accuracy of the results for image segmentation and extraction. Images store a lot of information, but often there is a decrease in quality or image defects. So that images that have experienced interference or noise are easily interpreted, then the image can be manipulated into other images of better quality using image processing techniques or methods. The neural network-based method that is currently popular is deep learning. The segmentation process is currently a widely used method of deep learning that has grown rapidly used in various studies. One of the popular methods is Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). CNN can handle large-dimensional data such as images because the input to CNN is in the form of a matrix. Since the findings of retinal blood vessel segmentation are often inaccurate and there is always noise, this study will look at how to segment retinal images in blood vessels using CNN U-Net and LadderNet methods. Proper segmentation of retinal blood vessels can be the first step to detecting a disease. Segmentation and analysis of retinal blood vessels can assist medical personnel in detecting the severity of a disease. The stages of image enhancement used are Histogram Equalization and Clahe. Segmentation of blood vessels is done using CNN U-Net and LadderNet Methods. The results of the application of the enhancement and segmentation using the U-Net and LadderNet methods on training and on testing data were tested on the DRIVE dataset. The results of measurement of accuracy, specificity, sensitivity and F1 Score of blood vessel segmentation using the U-Net CNN method were 95.46%, 98.56%, 74.20%, and 80.63%, respectively. While the results of the CNN LadderNet method were 95.47%, 98.42%, 75.19%, and 80.86%, respectively. Based on the results of blood vessel segmentation from two proposed methods, the result of the CNN LaddetNet method is greater than the CNN U-Net method in accuracy, sensitivity, and F1 Score. The proposed approach will be further developed in the future, with the aim of increasing the value of the blood vessel segmentation process evaluation outcomes.
Environmental Performance and Capital Structure
Authors: Chen Naiwei , Yu Min-Teh
Published: February 2022

This chapter aims to examine the effect of environmental performance (EP) on the capital structure of firms. Non-financial firms of 12 Asian countries over the period of 2007–2018 are used as the study sample. The results indicate that EP generally has a positive effect on the leverage of firms. When country-level variables such as financial system and legal system are considered, the results are more significant. Specifically, EP positively (negatively) affects leverage in civil (common) law countries. EP also positively (negatively) affects leverage in countries with bank-based (market-based) financial systems. A more in-depth analysis further reveals that the financial system plays a more important role than the legal system in determining the effect of EP on leverage.
Algorithms, Social Rejection, and Public Administrations in the Current World
Authors: Debasa Felipe
Published: February 2022

In 2016 the term 4th Industrial Revolution was coined to define a new era in history based on commercial and industrial activity connected through the internet. Connections to the network and the internet of things facilitate that activity and processes can be stored, generating large volumes of data. Algorithms can analyze and process this data to create new added value. Algorithms already control many basic sectors of the economy and society. Although with some initial rejection, the users have assumed as normal that the algorithms set the prices of supply and demand in the provision of goods and services or that they make investment proposals in financial markets. This new way of acting has created the circular economy, but also a new economic model based on very high amounts of data that comes under the name surveillance capitalism. An economic model based on virtuality, with data as raw materials and driven by algorithms, generates new challenges also in security.
Human Resources as a Stakeholder in Cyber Risk Management
Authors: Alamoudi Alaa Abdulrhman
Published: February 2022

The regulatory and cyber risk landscapes are reshaping the role of human resources. As a result, information security/information technology (InfoSec/IT) professionals are increasingly being asked to assist organisations in determining and enforcing employee data permissions, training employees on cybersecurity policies, and assisting with employee-related cyber incidents in order to be prepared for any kind of cyber attack. This chapter delves into the role of HR in managing cyber risk and provides recommendations on how organisations can manage cyber risk effectively to support their HR departments.
Exploring Adult-Learning Pathways
Authors: Gyamfi Gerald Dapaah , Buabeng Dominic Nti , Essiam Joshua Ofori , Boateng Paul Coonley
Published: February 2022

The challenges of the 21st century and the advancement in technology in this era require continuous lifelong learning for social development and career advancement. This study explores pathways for adult learning to enhance the growth and development of people at work. The team of researchers used qualitative methods and the phenomenological approach to explore the avenues for adult learning. The findings revealed that the pathways for adult learning involve the use of experiential education, student internship programs, outdoor learning, and other approaches to lifelong adult learning. Moreover, adult learners should be guided and supported in order to learn how to self-regulate how they learn to achieve scholarship and career advancement while working. This study contributes to the literature by revealing the pathways for the eradication or reduction of illiteracy through adult learning.
Neighborhood Change in Chicago and Its Suburbs 1990-2019
Authors: Ribant Michael , Chen Xuwei
Published: February 2022

This research empirically examines neighborhood change, as measured by change in per capita income, for 335 Chicago neighborhoods and suburbs for the period 1990 to 2019. Its purpose is to examine the factors associated with neighborhood change in a metropolitan region anchored by a shrinking central city. Using Geographically Weighted Regression, this research analyzes the spatially varying impacts of explanatory variables commonly found in the urban resurgence literature such as race, ethnicity, education, and nativity. The results show that the areas experiencing the highest change in per capita income were the northern neighborhoods of Chicago as well certain suburbs on the suburban fringe, Conversely, decline in per capita income occurred in the inner-ring suburbs, particularly those to the south and west of Chicago. The results further show that some minority neighborhoods in Chicago experienced income ascent relative to the rest of the metropolitan area, which challenges the findings of some previous studies and provides insights for community and suburban planners.
A Mixed-Methods Study of Computer-Mediated Communication Paired With Instruction on EFL Learners' Pragmatic Competence
Authors: Zhang Ying , Zhang Ying
Published: February 2022

The use of computer-mediated communication (CMC) has been growing as an approach to facilitating second/foreign language (L2/FL) acquisition. Existing literature adopting CMC has investigated the efficacy of various devices (e.g., blogs, emails). However, few studies have explored the potential advantages of augmenting CMC-based learning with instruction. This study investigated the impact of CMC paired with instruction on EFL learners' pragmatic competence. Sixty-five Chinese EFL students were divided into two groups; the experimental group engaged in CMC with native English speakers and received instruction in compliment responses (CRs), while the control group had CMC without intervention. Result from an independent samples t-test indicated a significant difference between groups for properly using CRs, favoring the experimental group (p = .023). Furthermore, findings from interviews showed that cognitive load, teachers, and pragmatic knowledge affect EFL learners' pragmatic behaviors. Implications are discussed.
Exploring Multiliteracies and Multimodal Pedagogies in Chinese Language Teaching
Authors: Wang Danping , Li Danni
Published: February 2022

This study explores one teacher's forays into multiliteracies practices and multimodal pedagogies in teaching a language other than English in an international school in Hong Kong. Using the Action Learning Circle as a guiding framework, this study analysed a Chinese language teacher's one-year self-initiated exploration of multiliteracies and multimodality with students of different proficiency levels. Data analysis is unpacked through interview reflections and three digital multimodal composition (DMC) projects that the teacher designed to explore the unique processes of incorporating multiliteracies and multimodality into Chinese language teaching. This study has filled in multiple research gaps by being one of the first to look at DMC in Chinese language teaching through a teacher-focused investigation. It has also included a more balanced focus on both visual and video projects to respond to the linguistic features of the Chinese language. Continuous professional learning and strong institutional support are required to fully embed multiliteracies into language education.
Learning How to Smartly and Adaptively Manage High Functioning Safety Cultures in US Healthcare Organizations During COVID-19
Authors: Burrell Darrell Norman , Shufutinsky Anton , Wright Jorja B. , Mercedes D'Alizza , Aridi Amalisha Sabie
Published: February 2022

The increasing complexity of the United States healthcare system has compounded the likelihood of mistakes. As a result, the ability to learn smart and adaptive approaches to management have never been more critical. Medical errors put undue hardship on the economy resulting in the loss of billions of dollars. The current COVID-19 pandemic revealed gaps in public health strategies, medical treatments, comprehensive patient safety, and human resources strategy. Implementing human resources and performance management processes that promote safety, safe decision making, and reduce medical errors is critical. Adopting methods used by high-reliability organizations (HRO) may reduce medical errors and improve patient safety. Qualitative focus groups were used to collect data around creating organizational cultures focused on safety. This research aims to improve performance by providing healthcare leaders ability to learn how to smartly adapt with tools to enhance organizational culture, reduce medical errors, and improve patient safety in the age of COVID 19.
Differentiated Learning in the Context of Immersive Technologies
Authors: Frolovičeva Valērija
Published: February 2022

This article includes a literature review about the impact of fully immersive virtual reality experiences on a students’ well-being, focusing on side effects such as cybersickness and depersonalization-derealization disorder. The purpose of this article is to emphasize the importance of some aspects of pedagogical work, in case of using virtual reality technology, such as the importance of educators being informed about the reasons why a student may not want to use virtual reality technology, significance of ability to understand student’s reactions during virtual reality experience, the possibility to offer alternatives and find the best solutions, so student can have the most positive and safe virtual reality learning experience. Therefore, this article raises the question of the need for a differentiated learning in the context of extended reality technologies in school education, identifying several possible alternatives such as desktop virtual reality and augmented reality to fully immersive virtual reality.
A Practical Clinical Course Model for use during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Tan Y. J. , Manohararaj N.
Published: February 2022

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic brought unprecedented challenges to and detrimental effects on medical training and education. Due to existing cordon sanitaire measures aimed at containing the infection, clinical courses and professional examinations involving physical contact between participants and with patients have been repeatedly cancelled or postponed. Herein, we describe a tried-and-tested clinical course model designed to lower the risks of transmission between and beyond the participants, whilst remaining practical and pragmatic in its structure, so as to allow the implementation by academic medical centres worldwide during the current and future pandemics.
Reliability and Validity of Peer Assessment at Tutorless PBL Classes
Authors: Aung H. L. , Tashiro Y. , Morio K. , Hori H.
Published: February 2022

Introduction: Learning behaviors in PBL and team-based learning (TBL) at Mie University Faculty of Medicine have been measured with peer assessments in addition to tutor assessments. The change in class components posed a question on reliability of peer assessments at tutorless sessions in TBL. Methods: Correlations between peer and tutor assessments in the PBL program comprised of tutor and tutorless sessions were analyzed with data from 377 students. The three domains for student’s performance, “self-learning in preparation”, “active participation in group discussion” and “cooperative attitude at group work”, were collected at 4 UNITs with the formal PBL and at 4 UNITs with the mixture of PBL and TBL. Results: No statistically significant difference between peer and tutor assessments was found in all three domains in units with the mixture of PBL and TBL. The correlation analysis between peer and tutor assessments in units with the mixture of PBL and TBL demonstrated strong positive correlations in self-learning in preparation (r=0.62) and in active participation in group discussion (r= 0.63), and a weak positive correlation in cooperative attitude at group works (r=0.35). Discussion: This study revealed that students evaluated their group-peers at the units comprised of both tutor and tutorless sessions similarly to those comprised of only tutor sessions. Peer assessments were well correlated with tutors’ assessment at the units comprised of tutor and tutorless session. Our study suggests that TBL might be expanded in the situation where teaching resource is limited.
The Culture of Giving Feedback in Health Professional Education: Reflection of Medical Educators on Effective Feedback Behavior
Authors: Shrestha R. , Sethi S. , Kaur D. , Kingsley P. A. , Chavda P. D. , Moudgil T. , Sharma M.
Published: February 2022

Background: Despite the fact that feedback improves learner performance, the feedback culture remains primitive. This paper explores the feedback behavior from a medical educator perspective. Furthermore, we explored the specific areas of improvement and attempts to suggest solutions to develop an effective feedback culture. Methods: The personal experience and opinion of 33 medical educators from 20 medical institutions of India and one each from Nepal and Sudan on feedback were analyzed with mixed quantitative and qualitative methods. The response to an online self-assessment form and the individual narratives during online discussion were analyzed. Finally, their suggestions on way forward to implementation of an effective feedback culture was summarized. Results: On average 78% of the participants reported having followed the action mentioned in the checklist. Vague terms for giving feedback were used by 18 (54.5 %), and only 15 (45.5%) planned for a specific time frame for student’s reassessment. During deductive thematic analysis, the themes “preparation before feedback”, “elicitation of feedback from the learner”, “feedback delivery”, “improvement plan after feedback”, “application of feedback”, and “review of feedback” were expressed. The proposed strategies for the implementation of effective feedback are summarized under the main headings of to whom, what, where, when, and how. Conclusion: Results emphasize that a culture of continuous and effective feedback should be nurtured in medical education by training the faculties to deliver effective feedback and sensitizing the learners to self-reflect and receive the feedback as it is critical to the achievement of the predefined competency.
Introducing Pediatrics as Early Clinical Exposure to Medical Students. Need of the Hour
Authors: Mahajan A. , Mahajan A. S.
Published: February 2022

No abstract available
A Comparative Study of Online Medical Procedure Learning via Video Versus Text Modalities During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Kritsanaviparkporn C. , Kitcharoen N. , Yimcharoen N. , Thaweesuk S. , Maneerit S. , Treesirichod A.
Published: February 2022

Background: Online learning has become the alternative in medical education during the coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We aimed to compare the efficacy of utilizing video and text modalities in knowledge acquisition of a new clinical procedure in medical students during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Methods: The target population were recruited via convenience sampling and allocated by simple randomization. The chosen clinical procedure was knee arthrocentesis, which participants with prior experience were excluded. Participants were instructed to either watch a demonstration video or read a transcribed manuscript once, before answering 10 multiple choice questions on the procedure. Outcome measure was the average test score in each group.

Results: Demographic characteristics were comparable between the research arms (video n= 56, text n=59). The median score of the video group (median = 8, IQR 7-9) was statistically higher than the text group (median = 6, IQR 4-8) (p
Optimization of Al Heavy Wire Bonds Bond profile in WBG Power Module Design
Authors: Mehrotra Utkarsh , Morgan Adam J. , Hopkins Douglas C.
Published: February 2022

Wide-Band Gap (WBG) semiconductors, such as SiC and GaN, have accelerated the ability to shrink the volumetric size and weight of power conversion systems by optimizing at the module level, due to their inherent high frequency, high temperature and high voltage capabilities. Power electronic module components, specifically flexible welded interconnects, behave like transmission lines at higher frequencies. Therefore, interconnects contribute to the power losses within the power module, and ultimately affect overall efficiency. Voltage and current overshoots and insertion/return losses and phenomena such as proximity and skin effect will also have a noticeable effect on the performance of the module as device switching is pushed into mid to high MHz range. Thus, to aid in design and development of advanced power modules this paper using FEA multiphysics solvers will firstly study the current carrying capacity and fusing time of different diameter Al heavy wire bonds interconnects. Then for a rated current, the multiple wire bond profile is considered to mitigate the negative effects from the fastest rising/fall edge of voltage and current switching high-frequency components. Characteristic impedance is then calculated using parasitic resistance and inductance for different wire bond profiles. The ultimate goal of the paper is to further the establishment of an evolution in thinking and designing when it comes to the WBG power electronic packaging practices and culture.
Wilson’s Disease Update
Authors: Bhattacharya Kalyan , Thankappan Bindu
Published: February 2022

Wilson's disease (WD) is an autosomal recessive disorder due to ATP7B gene mutation, resulting in defective copper metabolism, with liver and brain being primarily affected. Being a treatable disorder, early diagnosis and proper management of WD may result in near complete recovery. It has received significant attention over the past 50 years, with several Indian contributions. This study collates published Indian studies on WD in Pubmed and Embase databases and puts them in perspective. Several Indian case series suggest that WD may be more prevalent than thought. Commonly detected ATP7B mutation in India is p.C271X. Although initial Indian series reported significant osseomuscular presentation, neuropsychiatric and hepatic manifestations dominated the later reports. A significant male predominance is observed in Indian series. Pure hepatic presentation starts earlier than neurological or osseomuscular WD. A positive family history may be seen in nearly 50% of Indian WD cases with a high rate of consanguinity. Up to two-third of Indian cases may be initially misdiagnosed, with a mean diagnostic delay of up to 2 years. Abnormalities in serum ceruloplasmin and 24-hour urinary copper has been reported in more than four-fifth cases. Brain MRI is abnormal in nearly all neurological WD cases. Copper chelation remains the mainstay of therapy, with D-penicillamine being the most widely used chelator in India. Global Assessment Scale for WD is a comprehensive tool for clinical monitoring. Hepatic presentation carries a five-time higher mortality risk than neurological, with up to 90% Indian neurological WD cases recovering to pre-morbid functionality with adequate therapy.
Intestinal microbiota profile in healthy Saudi children
Authors: El Mouzan Mohammad , Al-Hussaini Abdulrahman A. , Al Sarkhy Ahmed , Assiri Asaad , Alasmi Mona
Published: February 2022

Background:

Knowledge of microbiota in health is essential for clinical research on the role of microbiota in disease. We aimed to characterize the intestinal microbiota in healthy Saudi children.

Methods:

In this community-based study, stool samples were collected from a randomly selected sample of 20 healthy school children of Saudi origin. The samples were frozen at –80°C till analysis. Bacterial DNA was isolated and libraries were prepared using the Illumina Nextera XT library preparation kit. Unassembled sequencing reads were directly analyzed and quantified for each organism's relative abundance. The abundance for each organism was calculated and expressed as the average relative percentage from phyla to species.

Results:

The median age was 11.3 (range 6.8-15.4) years, and 35% of them were males. The three most abundant phyla were Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria accounting for 49%, 26%, and 24%, respectively. The most abundant genera included Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, and Blautia accounting for 18.9%, 12.8%, and 8.2%, respectively. Finally, the most abundant species included 14 species belonging to the genus Bacteroides and nine species belonging to Bifidobacterium.

Conclusions:

The abundance of intestinal microbiome in healthy Saudi children is different from that of other populations. Further studies are needed to understand the causes of variation between populations, which might lead to new preventive methods and treatment strategies of diseases caused by microbial dysbiosis.
Validation of the EVendo score for the prediction of varices in cirrhotic patients
Authors: Alswat Khalid , Alanazi Mohammed , Bashmail Ahmed , Alkhamash Maram , Alqahtani Saleh A. , Al-Hamoudi Waleed , Abdo Ayman A.
Published: February 2022

Background:

Screening endoscopy for varices may be deferred when the calculated EVendo score is ≤3.90. This novel score has not been validated in an external cohort. This study aimed to assess the performance of the EVendo score and compare it with the Baveno VI criteria.

Methods:

We identified and calculated this score in all cirrhotic patients who underwent screening endoscopy for the first time with laboratory tests and liver stiffness measurements within 6 months of the endoscopy date.

Results:

In total, 103 patients were included. An EVendo score of ≤3.90 identified patients with no gastroesophageal varices (GEV) and varices needing treatment (VNT) with sensitivities of 82% and 83% and specificities of 57% and 34%, respectively. The negative predictive value for VNT was 94%. A comparison with the Baveno VI criteria in Child–Turcotte–Pugh-A patients showed spared endoscopy and missed VNT rates with EVendo score cutoffs of ≤3.9 and ≤4.5 and the Baveno VI criteria of 25%, 33%, and 16.6% and 1.7%, 1.7%, and 0%, respectively.

Conclusions:

EVendo score is reliable in clinical practice for predicting GEV and VNT. The number of spared endoscopies was higher than that with the Baveno VI criteria; however, there were more missed VNT cases.
Objective measurements of nasal function: necessary before nasal surgery?
Authors: Fokkens Wytske J. , Hellings Peter W.
Published: February 2022

This extra thick December issue of our Journal gives us a number of interesting data on the objective measurements of nasal function.
Challenges of Hospital Oxygen Management during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Rural Nepal
Authors: Bhatt Navin , Nepal Shristi , Pinder Richard J. , Lucero-Prisno Don Eliseo , Budhathoki Shyam Sundar
Published: February 2022

Oxygen support remains essential for treatment of acute and severe manifestations of COVID-19. In Nepal, like many other low-resource settings, medical oxygen availability was inadequate before the pandemic. The mid-2021 wave of COVID-19 transmission starkly exposed the supply–demand imbalance of medical oxygen across the country. Pre-pandemic, more complex cases were typically referred to hospitals with better resources; however, during the pandemic, these hospitals were overrun. Therefore, resource-poor health facilities have been attempting to provide greater levels of care. However, we are faced with numerous challenges to provide a proper oxygen supply in these health settings. At a logistical level, complex geographies, sparse infrastructure, and inadequate electricity supply pose challenges. On a provider level, a shortage of trained staff and equipment necessary to administer and monitor medical oxygen creates additional pressures. Recognizing the end of the pandemic is still a long way off in many parts of the world, it is imperative that scalable, sustainable approaches to provisioning oxygen to those in greatest need are considered at a policy level.
Investigation of the antibacterial activities of methanolic and water extracts of Gongronema latifolium, Psidium guajava and Aspilia africana
Authors: Chidebelu Paul Ekene , Chigor Chinyere Blessing , Ojinna Kenechukwu Francis , Chigor Vincent Nnamdigadi , Chigor Vincent Nnamdigadi
Published: February 2022

The epidemiological consequences of co-infections by enteric, wound, opportunistic, and drug-resistant pathogens, underscore the need for alternative and multi-target therapeutic approaches. Phytochemical properties of some plants are widely known but their potential utility as cheaper multi-target therapeutic options, have rarely been investigated. In the current work, Gongronema latifolium, Psidium guajava, and Aspilia africana extracts were studied for their potential utility as multi-target therapeutic alternatives. The plants were screened for phytochemical constituents. Based on the CLSI disc diffusion assay, the sensitivities of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecalis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa to the plants’ extracts were tested. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the extracts against susceptible bacteria was determined by CLSI broth microdilution protocols. The major families of plant bioactive compounds were detected, with alkaloids, terpenoids, and flavonoids common to the three plants investigated. The plant extracts showed variable activity against the test bacteria (activity index, AI range = 0.43 – 2.59), while the highest activity based on the MIC was recorded for P. guajava (MIC range = 25- 100mg/ml). These results provide the basis of the plants’ therapeutic uses in folk medicine. Their activity index suggests the need for further investigation of their phytochemical components for potential medicinal application. The P. guajava methanolic extract with consistent activity across the test bacteria suggests its potentials in the formulation of multi-target antibiotic therapies
Leaf epidermal and petiole anatomical features as taxonomic characters in some Vernonia species in Nigeria
Authors: Okanume Ogochukwu Esther , Abok Solomon Gabriel , Oso Oluwatobi Adekunle
Published: February 2022

Foliar and petiole micro-morphological characteristics of some members of the genus Vernonia namely; Vernonia amygdalina Del. (bitter variety), Vernonia amygdalina Del. (non-bitter variety), Vernonia cinerea (L) Less., Vernonia galamensis (Cass.) Less., and Vernonia adoensis Sch. Bip. in Jos, Nigeria was investigated to provide additional micro-morphological characters to support existing taxonomic information regarding the species. Epidermal peels of fresh leaves were made and transverse sections of petioles were cut using a rotary microtome. Staining was done using Safranin and slides observed using a light microscope. Quantitative characters were measured and subjected to Duncan Multiple Range Test. Stomatal distribution was amphistomatic except for V. galamensis and V. cinerea with hypostomatic distribution; stomata type was mostly anomocytic except V. galamensis with paracytic stomata. Stomata index varied among taxa with V. adoensis and V. amygdalina (bitter variety) having the highest (10.84 %) and lowest (0.67%) respectively. Anticlinal cell wall patterns were straight to slightly undulate while wavy anticlinal cell wall pattern was diagnostic to V. cinerea. Trichome types observed were glandular and multicellular uniseriate with highest and lowest trichome indices recorded in V. adoensis (2.80%) and V. galamensis (0.02%) respectively. Petiole outline was convex to concave, epidermis was uniseriate, trichome multicellular uniseriate and vascular bundles bicollateral. Variations observed in the stomatal complex, epidermal cell complex, petiole outline, petiole vasculature type, trichome and stomata indices could be employed for species identification and delimitation.
Evaluation of the antibacterial properties of the extracts and fractions of Ipomoea triloba l. (Convolvulaceae) on selected enteric diarrheagenic bacteria
Authors: Alozie Mfonobong Favour , Ekong Ubong Samuel , Effiong Daniel Ekpa , Udofa Edidiong Jumbo , Akinjogunla Olajide Joseph
Published: February 2022

Diarrhoea is a leading killer of young children accounting for approximately 8% of all deaths among children ˂ 5 years worldwide and causes neonatal mortality and hospitalization in geriatrics. Ipomoea triloba L. has been claimed to have antidiarrheal properties. This study evaluated antibacterial properties of the ethanol / aqueous extracts and fractions of I. triloba on diarrheagenic bacteria to validate its use in trado-medical treatment of diarrhoea. Aqueous and ethanol extracts of pulverized I. triloba were prepared by cold maceration and phytochemical screening was performed using standard procedures. Diarrheagenic bacteria were isolated from twenty (20) composite diarrhoeal stool samples by community bioprospecting using appropriate selective and differential media. In vitro antibacterial activity of extracts and fractions of I. triloba was determined by the modified agar-well diffusion technique, while minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was determined by reference standard agar-dilution technique (ADT) after re-incubation of MIC samples at 37o C for 24 h. A total of 74 isolates, belonging to six genera, were identified with their numbers and percentages of occurrence as follows: Escherichia coli, 26 (35.1%), Staphylococcus aureus, 4 (5.4 %), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 9 (12.2%), Shigella dysenteriae, 18 (24.3%), Salmonella typhi, 8 (10.8%) and Vibrio cholera, 9 (12.2%). Flavonoids, saponins, terpenes, carbohydrates and steroids were detected in both extracts. Ethanol extracts (≥30 mm) showed more potent broad-spectrum antibacterial activity than aqueous extract (≥18 mm). The MIC and MBC values ranged from 250 to 500 mg/mL and 500 to 1000 mg/mL respectively, thus establishing a time-dependent bactericidal mode of antibacterial activity. The best antibacterial activity was elicited by dichloromethane fraction. From the study, I. triloba possesses antibacterial potentials and may be exploited in the chemotherapy of bacterial diarrhoea.
Formulation and assessment of nutrient contents of complementary foods from fermented, sprouted, and toasted maize-soybean blend
Authors: Ademulegun T.L. , Alebiosu T , Adedayo O.E. , Abraham M.L. , Olanrewaju O.I.
Published: February 2022

Background: Provision of quality complementary foods is one of the fundamental ways of fostering the all-around development of a child and preventing long-term nutritional problems.

Objective: The study assessed the nutrient contents of formulated complementary foods from fermented, sprouted and toasted maize-soybean blend

Methods: Maize and Soybean were purchased from Kings Market in Owo Local Government while a commercial complementary food was purchased from Ceci supermarket, Akure Ondo state. The two grains were subjected to sprouting, toasting and fermentation, and the grains were ground into flours and then formulated into nine (9) different blends using the ratio 70:30 for maize and soybean flour respectively. Samples were analysed for proximate and mineral contents while sensory evaluation was carried out using a 9-point hedonic scale. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan’s New Multiple Range Test (DNMRT) was performed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 23. The difference is considered statistically significant at P<0.05.

Results: The results showed that the protein, fat, and energy contents of sprouted, toasted, and fermented products ranged (15.67% to 20.39%), (9.79-15.18g), and (435.96kcal/g to 469.69kcal/g) respectively. These values were higher than the protein and energy content of the control sample of 15%, 9%, and 398kcal/g respectively. The protein value of any of the blends was significantly (P<0.05) higher than the WHO recommendations of 9.1-13g/day but lower in mineral content. Likewise, iron and iodine were significantly (P˂0.05) higher in the blends than the commercial food

Conclusion: The results showed that maize-soy blends contained a high amount of protein, fat, carbohydrate, iron, iodine, and potassium irrespective of the processed method adopted and can provide better nutrition for infants during complementary feeding.