bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Teachers’ Awareness, Opportunities and Challenges of Adapting EFL Materials in Bangladeshi Universities
Authors: Shayeekh-Us-Saleheen Md.
Published: June 2023

Choosing a coursebook for a particular group of students involves adapting the material against the context in which it is going to be used because it is easy to understand that most text books are produced for large-scale, commercial use, and therefore are not always suitable for the needs of one’s local, particular group. The teacher then, according to Hutchinson and Tones, “becomes little more than a cipher for a prepared text” (Hutchinson and Tones, 1994 in Tomlinson, 2003, p347). This statement very well refers to Bangladeshi university teachers as most of them have become familiar with using Western textbooks like New Headway, Cutting Age, English for Life, etc. Be that as it may, we should remember that ii this case the teachers might not feel comfortable about using these texts because of the mismatch of the global material and local needs of the learners. Therefore, the situation implies that, as teachers, it is important for us to evaluate teaching materials and then adapt them as toils to help our teachers. But the question is how far our teachers are aware of the need for adaptation of these EFL materials in order to make it context specific and student friendly. This paper presents EFL teachers’ awareness of adapting ELT coursebooks at the tertiary level in Bangladesh. In addition, it focuses on teachers’ opportunities and challenges of adapting ELT coursebooks. It is based on a criterion driven questionnaire.
Tangled Encounters with the Indian Other:
Authors: Alam Zerin
Published: June 2023

The travel narratives of Emily Eden (1797- 1869) and Fanny Parkes (1794-1875), depicting their extensive travel through India, provide valuable insights into the initial encounter in the first half of the nineteenth century between the Europeans and the native Indians from a female perspective. The narratives, which comprise Eden’s letters Up the Country (1867) and Parkes’ journal Wanderings of a Pilgrim (1850), reveal the competing discourses of gender and imperialism at work that create tensions and ambivalences within the texts. On the one hand, the women as English travelers represented colonial power, but on the other hand, their gender placed them within a secondary or weaker position within the power discourse. Thus they wrote from a liminal position and their descriptions of their encounters with the colonial Other are fraught with anxiety and fractures. These travel narratives present an alternate view to empire building, and they manifest a complicated negotiation with Orientalism, evident in their use of the picturesque and in the moments when Eden and Parkes write about meeting Indian women. This paper argues that even though the women travel writers reinforce the dominant imperial and orientalist view, yet at times, they break away from the hegemony of monolithic Orientalism to present more personal and nuanced responses to India and Indians.
Importance of Multi-Stakeholder Needs Analysis to Develop LSP Module:
Authors: Dutta Debashismoy , Gupta Prabal Das
Published: June 2023

This paper reviews and reflects on the needs analysis conducted to develop a trade-specific Language for Specific Purposes (LSP) module for prospective migrant workers incorporating English-Bangla-Arabic in a tripartite collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) and BRAC Institute of Languages (BIL). This paper explores the multifaceted nature of this needs analysis by asking some questions – what module, for whom, to serve what purpose, at what cost, under whose supervision, by whom and under what logistic setting.The analysis was carried out by observing classes and interviewing prospective migrant workers at Technical Training Centres (TTCs), interviewing the TTC instructors, conducting focus group discussions (FGD) with returnee migrant workers, sharing ideas with ILO personnel and advocacy groups such as BRAC Migration Program (MP). This process helped the researchers identify the target groups’ fragmented knowledge about target discourse situations which was somewhat compensated by the experiences of returnees. The expertise of the instructors helped to categorize the typical strengths and weaknesses of target groups and under continuous efforts of ILO to enforce international best practices for a decent working environment for migrant workers. Taking into consideration the multiplicity of issues and various inputs from the stakeholders, this paper underpins the importance of a multi-stakeholder needs analysis for better comprehension of the target discourse situation and appropriate delivery of services with some suggestions for future LSP modules.
The Baloch Who Is Missing:
Authors: Chambers Claire
Published: June 2023

In April 2015, Pakistani entrepreneur, arts patron, and human rights campaigner Sabeen Mahmud was shot and killed by unknown assassins. Sabeen was accompanied by her elderly mother, the redoubtable educationalist Mahenaz Mahmud, who took two bullets but survived. They were leaving an event in Karachi entitled “Unsilencing Balochistan” that the 40-year-old had organized at her arts space The Second Floor, widely known as T2F. It may be mere coincidence that Sabeen was killed immediately after the controversial talk about Pakistan’s explosive southwest province. However, not long before, the Lahore University of the Management Sciences (LUMS) had been …
Clashing Nationalisms and Corrupting Co-Existence:
Authors: Iqbal Asif
Published: June 2023

The Shahbag Protest and its aftermath, the rise of Hefajote Islam, signify the existence of competing ideological interests in the public sphere in Bangladesh. Rooted in the early 20th century Bengali-Hindu nationalist movement as well as in the identity politics that resulted in the Partition of the Subcontinent in 1947, the political polarization that gripped Bangladesh in 2013 has since divided the society. The Shahbag Protest, largely middle-class and urban in nature, was peaceful though it was demanding capital punishment against the war criminals. The proponents of the Shahbag Protest tried to evoke patriotic sentiment by emphasizing Bengaliness, a trait associated with the Bengali people, an “imagined community” created to legitimize the existence of Bangladesh. The violent Islamist rhetoric of the Hefajote Islam carried the insignia of the “Islamization” project. The discourse of global Islamism targets Muslimmajority countries in South Asia and SouthEast Asia as “these countries are not Islamic because their legal structures, norms, the predominant educational systems, popular cultures, etc., are manifestly un-Islamic” (Ahmad 3). In short, the cultural battle that emerged out of a legal demand for maximum punishment of the war criminals, who during the Liberation War of 1971, committed atrocities against their own people, is suggestive of the unresolved problem of nationalism in Bangladesh.
Politics of Gender and Power:
Authors: Nizam Hamalna
Published: June 2023

Lady Macbeth is one of the most memorable of all Shakespearean characters. She stands out because of her disregard for social rules and extremely strong personality. In a male dominated society she dares to trade into the masculine world of power and authority. Such a dynamic woman is also interpreted as a psychologically weak character because of her mental ailment at the end of the play. The paper gives an analysis of Lady Macbeth’s quest for power. It also tries to locate the reason of her neurotic behavior in the politics of patriarchal society that tries to subdue her. A parallel analysis of Lady Macbeth is also made with her character as presented in Roman Polanski’s 1971 cinematic adaptation of Macbeth. At the same time it shows how Polanski creates a much more feminine and vulnerable character out of Shakespeare’s heroine.
The Unheard Stories of Sophocles’s Jocasta and Manto’s Women:
Authors: Rahman Nadia , Zaman Tahmina
Published: June 2023

In the post-liberation period of Bangladesh, women-centered plays in theater were few. The silence of women’s voices led major theater groups to create, translate, or adapt women-centered plays in the post-liberation era, especially in the ’80s. The adaptations of the ’90s became more vocal as they aimed to reach out and bring more opulent foreign texts to the local audience, not blindly following them but serving to increase the self-confidence of the theater in representing women. One of the major theater groups of Bangladesh, Nagorik Nattya Sampraday, began dedicating their productions to the cause by putting women at the center. In the two recent productions of this theater group, Andhakare Methane and Naamgottroheen – Manto’r Meyera, inspired by Oedipus Rex and three short stories of Saadat Hasan Manto, taboo topics like incest and prostitution are addressed. This paper will focus on how these taboos are handled in the two adapted plays. It will also examine how, during the crises, the female characters respond and emerge as strong individuals actively resisting the patriarchal ideologies. To understand the taboo relations in terms of feminism and its relevance in our society, we have taken into consideration Friedman’s ideas on locational feminism, Edward Said’s Travel Theory, and Alcoff’s criticism of feminist theory.
Where Words Go To Die
Authors: Ahmed Fatema Johera
Published: June 2023

Perhaps the book was doomed to die – its inevitability preceded by Roland PBarthes’s eulogy for authors when he declared the “Death of the Author.” Sherman Young writes about books in an age of near saturation, where everyone writes and no one really reads, where the honorary distinctions between writer and author are obfuscated, and books are confused for objects. Young categorizes the types of books published into functional books that one consults for information, anti-books that are devoid of content and are circulated by their sheer brand worth or impulse buying, and ‘real’ books, the “ideas machine” (30), which preponderates towards ideas, critical and intellectual engagement, empowerment, conversation, and reflexivity. Young’s allegiance is obvious.
Front Matter
Authors: Front Matter
Published: June 2023

CrossingsA JOURNAL OF ENGLISH STUDIESDepartment of English and HumanitiesUniversity of Liberal Arts BangladeshSpecial Volume December 2015 | ISSN 2071-1107
Note to Contributors
Authors: Note to contributors
Published: June 2023

Crossings: A Journal of English StudiesSpecial Volume |December 2015 | ISSN 2071-1107
Reading the Language of Children in Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things
Authors: Tasnim Zakiyah
Published: June 2023

Language is considered to be more than a mere means of communication by the postcolonial critics. Language holds a person’s understanding of the world as well as reveals the inner workings of that person. This paper takes Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things as a sample of this postcolonial trait of language. Roy uses language to open the windows of her child protagonists’ minds. A close reading of the text enables the researcher to appreciate the use of children’s language in this text to understand their innocent world and also how they see the experienced world of the adults
Editorial Note
Authors: Editorial Note
Published: June 2023

CrossingsA JOURNAL OF ENGLISH STUDIESDepartment of English and HumanitiesUniversity of Liberal Arts BangladeshVolume 7 | December 2016 | ISSN 2071-1107
El arquetipo de mujer pintora en la prensa gráfica española: El caso de Blanco y Negro (1891-1936)
Authors: Rodrigo Villena Isabel
Published: June 2023

The representation of women artists in the Spanish graphic press in the first third of the 20th century is a field of research that has hardly been approached, which has undoubted value for its contribution to the analysis of the reception of plastic artists in the period in which women began to make their way into the art system. This work analyzes the construction and meanings behind the archetype of the female painter in the particular case of the magazine Blanco y Negro (1891-1936), which was a pioneer in the modernization of the illustrated press in Spain as well as emblematic for its covers and artistic pages, made by the most recognized artists and cartoonists of the time.

La representación de las artistas mujeres en la prensa gráfica española del primer tercio del siglo XX es un campo de investigación apenas abordado, que posee un indudable valor por su contribución al análisis de la recepción las artistas plásticas en el período en que las mujeres empiezan a introducirse en el sistema del arte. Este trabajo analiza la construcción y significados del arquetipo de mujer pintora en el caso particular de la revista Blanco y Negro (1891-1936), que fue pionera en la modernización de la prensa ilustrada en España y, a su vez, emblemática por sus portadas y páginas artísticas, realizadas por los artistas y dibujantes más reconocidos en la época.
Ambrosio del Plano (h. 1612-1672). Pintor y dorador de su alteza Juan José de Austria: aproximación a su vida y obra
Authors: Vicente Romeo Álvaro
Published: June 2023

Member of an important dynasty of painters, Ambrosio del Plano developed his artistic activity in Zaragoza in the central decades of the 17th century. He was a considered and educated painter and gilder, as his skill and ability meant that at the end of his life he was required to work in the service of Don Juan José de Austria, Viceroy of Aragon. The present study analyses his life and family, as well as provides an overview of his oeuvre. It also shows the personal relationships he had with famous painters such as Jusepe Martínez, Francisco Ximénez Maza and other artists such as the sculptor Francisco Franco.

Miembro de una importante dinastía de pintores, Ambrosio del Plano desarrolló su actividad artística en Zaragoza durante las décadas centrales del siglo XVII. Fue un pintor y dorador considerado e instruido, pues su destreza y capacidad propiciaron que al final de su vida fuese llamado a trabajar para don Juan José de Austria, virrey de Aragón. En el presente estudio se realiza un análisis sobre su vida y su familia, además de trazar una aproximación a su obra. Asimismo, se muestra las relaciones personales que tuvo con celebrados pintores como Jusepe Martínez, Francisco Ximénez Maza u otros artífices como el escultor Francisco Franco.
El patronazgo artístico de Francisco Diego López de Zúñiga, VI marqués de Gibraleón, en el convento de Nuestra Señora del Vado (Gibraleón, Huelva).
Authors: Ortega Jiménez José Manuel
Published: June 2023

This article touches upon the artistic goods that Francisco Diego López de Zúñiga y Sotomayor provided for the Madre de Dios del Vado’s monastery (Gibraleón, Huelva). The inventory was done in 1602 after the death of the marquis. Paintings, relics, religious card and sculptures have been counted. All these artistic goods were delivered by his sucessor who was responsible for resolving matters related to the testament. This act contributed to bring to light the family, one of the most important lineages of the Spanish Modern Age.

En este artículo se pretende dar a conocer el conjunto de piezas artísticas que Francisco Diego López de Zúñiga y Sotomayor, V duque de Béjar y VI marqués de Gibraleón, donó a su convento de Nuestra Señora del Vado (Gibraleón, Huelva). El inventario, realizado en 1602 tras la muerte del noble, estaba formado por pinturas, reliquias, estampas y esculturas. El encargado de cumplir las mandas testamentarias fue su sucesor Alonso Diego quien, con este acto, contribuiría a reforzar y visibilizar la imagen del linaje ante la sociedad.
A narrative inquiry into the construction, composition and performance of coaching identities
Authors:   , Pendle Andrew Peter
Published: June 2023

This thesis inquires into how successful, independent coaches construct, compose and perform their professional identities. It focuses on the narratives employed and the performances given in pursuit of this. In reflecting on these performances it suggests an alternative discourse to that which is dominant in the coaching literature and on coach training programmes. Rather than “off-the-peg” coaching identities being arrived at through the prospective coach giving allegiance to specific, pre-existing coaching approaches, genres and markets, it suggests that in practice a more individualistic and idiosyncratic process occurs that proceeds from the multi-faceted personality and biographical history of the individual coach. It employs a constructivist, integrative methodology that blends a dialogical/performance approach to narrative research with a worlds-based approach to the critical evaluation of theatre performances. Eight established and successful coaches were interviewed, and accounts of these encounters have been written up and presented here in a case study format. In analysing the interviews a typology of three narratives were identified that existed across all the interviews. These were characterised as assumption, foundation and encounter narratives. The coaches’ performances appeared to function through aligning and making transparent a number of initially disparate and opaque realms or worlds. This research suggests that the capacity to construct substantive individualistic coach identities and give improvised and perspicacious performances is central to effective coaching and supersedes such elements as employing evidence-based approaches, drawing from lists of competencies, and co-modification of the self in order to meet market expectations. This study contributes to an alternative discourse of coaching that suggests there should be greater emphasis on personal development and identity working for aspiring coaches along with a move towards greater emphasis on relational depth, pluralistic practice and a developmental focus in their work with coachees. It concludes by suggesting that a culture of fragmentation and ambiguity within the terrain of coaching, sometimes characterized as the Wild West of coaching, has positive aspects that are beneficial to the character of coaching.
ИСТРАЖИВАЧКЕ КОМПЕТЕНЦИЈЕ СТУДЕНАТА МАСТЕР СТУДИЈА ПРЕДШКОЛСКОГ ВАСПИТАЊА И ОБРАЗОВАЊА
Authors: Вучковић Дијана
Published: June 2023

Мастер теза први је обимнији истраживачки рад који се у склопу формалног образовања реализује у циљу окончања другог циклуса студија. Студенти мас- тер студија на Универзитету Црне Горе у посљедњем семестру реализују ис- траживање у функцији израде мастер тезе. Циљ овог рада је да се на основу емпиријског истраживања процијене истраживачке компетенције студената предшколског васпитања и образовања, којима методика васпитно-образо- вног рада представља предмет базичне струке. За реализацију истраживања неопходне су компетенције из методологије научноистраживачког рада, уз подразумијевану оспособљеност у области уже струке. У овом истраживању примијењена је комбинована (квалитативна и квантитативна) методологија. Пошли смо од сљедећег истраживачког питања: Које истраживачке компе- тенције и у којој мјери су усвојене код студената мастер студија предшколског васпитања и образовања? Питање је операционализовано за потребе креирања упитника који су попунили студенти (n = 33) и фокус-групних интервјуа у који- ма су учествовали њихови наставници-ментори (n = 11). Упитник је испитани- цима достављен у електронској форми и резултати су статистички обрађени. Тонски записи фокус-групних интервјуа су транскрибовани, а затим тематски обрађени аналогно подацима добијеним упитником. Испитаници из подузорка ментора указују на потешкоће у разумијевању већине методолошких елемена- та, а нарочито се истиче непознавање: израде прегледа релевантне литерату- ре, постављања хипотеза и описа метода и поступака истраживања. С друге стране, студентски респонденти испољавају самопоуздање и самопроцјењују да су методолошки компетентни. Узимајући у обзир искуствени фактор – који за овакву тему има нарочиту релевантност – сматрамо да је рад на усвајању истраживачких компетенција наших испитаника тек на почетку, те да је раз- вој методолошке компетентности потребно систематично и поступно плани- рати кроз низ предмета, а почевши од прве године студија.
Representation of the mind in Russian, French and Chinese languages and cultures
Authors: Golovanivskaya Mariya Konstantinovna , Efimenko Nikolai Aleksandrovich
Published: June 2023

The author examines the idea of "mind" in three linguistic pictures of the world - Russian, French and Chinese. The study is contrastive, the results are compared. The description of each idea is made according to a clear algorithm: the etymology of the word, the mythological roots of the concept, its compatibility, from the compatibility is distinguished real connotation according to V. A. Uspensky, a comparison of dictionary definitions is made. The aim of the study is to identify the peculiarities of the idea of "mind" in the Russian, French and Chinese languages. The purpose of the comparison is to see the similarities and differences in the worldview of different peoples. Scientific methods of research are: comparative-historical method, method of generalization, method of semantic analysis. This topic is understudied, no linguocultural studies analyzing this idea in Russian, French and Chinese culture have been observed earlier, which constitutes the scientific novelty of the work. The results will contribute to mutual understanding between peoples, forming a kind of conceptual bridge, and will also be used in courses on regional studies, comparative studies of cultures, and in the teaching of the respective languages.
Validazione e standardizzazione del questionario «Quin – Quando insegno»
Authors: Lucisano Pietro , Botta Emanuela
Published: June 2023

Validation And Standardization Of The Questionnaire «Quin – When I Teach» The professionalism of a teacher is the topic of a wide-ranging debate aimed at overcoming crises of confidence in this category and reaffirming the teacher as a valuable source for students’ growth and cognitive and socio-emotional development. This questionnaire shows the validation and standardization process of a self-perception instrument aimed at teachers and designed to explore some of the main dimensions of teaching that, overcoming the limitations found in the literature, highlights the need to encourage teachers to reflect on themselves in their work. The tool can be used both by individual teachers and by schools as support in their self-evaluation processes. The information that emerges can be shared within the educating community to orient work and teaching practices in a specific school context. In perspective, the tool will be used in combination with others, intended for teachers and students, and accessible via a dedicated digital platform. The system as a whole will allow us to detect experiences, needs and requirements aimed to focus on the good practices implemented and to design targeted improvement actions.
Morphological and Morphometric Variations in Foramen Transversarium: A Cross-sectional Study in Dried Cervical Vertebrae of Western Odisha Origin
Authors: Behera Sarita , Mishra Srikanta Kumar , Sar Mamata
Published: June 2023

Introduction: Foramen transversarium refers to bilateral foramina found lateral to the vertebral body in the transverse process of the cervical vertebrae. Many variations are observed in these foramina which may lead to vertebrobasilar insufficiency, labyrinthine or hearing disturbances along with neurological symptoms due to compression or tortuosity of vertebral artery as it passes through the foramen. Aim: To study the morphological and morphometric variations of the foramen transversarium in cervical vertebrae. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Department of Anatomy, Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Burla, Odisha, India, from June 2022 to August 2022. A total of 367 human cervical vertebrae were procured from the anthropology section of Department of Anatomy. Vertebrae with any damage to foramen transversarium were discarded. Each vertebra was observed for shape, size, symmetry, number of foramen transversarium and osteophytic encroachment. Distance of foramen transversarium from the medial margin of uncinate process was measured bilaterally in C3 to C7 vertebrae. Data collected was tabulated and analysed by Microsoft excel software 2019. Results: Mean anteroposterior diameter and transverse diameter in left-side were 5.45 mm and 5.42 mm respectively and in right-side the measurements were 5.29 mm and 5.23 mm respectively. Double foramen transversarium was observed in 40 (10.9%) vertebrae. Among them 18 (4.9%) was bilateral and 22 (6.0%) was unilateral. In 2 (0.54%) vertebrae there was triplication of foramen transversarium. In 34 vertebrae (9.26%) there was incomplete duplication of which 9 (2.45%) were bilateral and 25 (6.81%) were unilateral. Six different shapes of foramen transversarium were observed out of which round shape (62.1%) was the most common finding. In 261 (71.1%) of vertebrae the main foramen transversarium was symmetrical in both sides but in 106 (28.9%) it was asymmetrical. Osteophytic encroachment was found in 14 (3.81%) vertebrae. The mean distance of the foramen from medial margin of uncinate process was 5.32 mm on the left and 5.42 mm on the right-side. Conclusion: The morphological data like very narrow foramina and such a high number of accessory foramina produced through the present study definitely points towards the variations of vertebral vessels.
The Role of VARVIMAX™ In the Treatment of Chronic Inflammation and Pain in Arthritis and Fibromyalgia
Authors: Ullah Imdad
Published: June 2023

Background: Arthritis and fibromyalgia are chronic inflammatory conditions that cause significant pain and discomfort in affected individuals. Current treatments, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), are associated with adverse effects and do not always provide adequate relief. Therefore, there is a need for safe and effective treatments for chronic inflammation and pain in arthritis and fibromyalgia.

Review of the Literature: This review aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of VARVIMAX™, a dietary supplement derived from a plant extract, for managing chronic pain in arthritis and fibromyalgia. According to the literature, the prevalence of fibromyalgia and arthritis is still high and even these two conditions occur together. VARVIMAX™ is a dietary supplement derived from a plant extract. VARVIMAX™ contains high levels of anthocyanins, such as Astaxanthins have been shown to possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The formulation includes amino acids and flavonoids such as choline L-bitartrate, GABA, L-arginine, black pepper (piperine), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), trans-resveratrol 98% (polygonum cuspidatum extract), which all have anti-inflammatory effects and play a significant role in pain management. Studies have shown that these ingredients have been effective in reducing pain, and inflammation, and improving joint function in patients with arthritis, fibromyalgia, and other inflammatory conditions. The most common side effects reported were gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea and diarrhea. 

Conclusion: VARVIMAX™, a dietary supplement derived from a plant extract Ephedra, shows promise as a safe and effective treatment for chronic pain in arthritis and fibromyalgia. It is composed of several anthocyanins, amino acids, and flavonoids that impart it its characteristic anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This results in reducing pain and inflammation, and improving joint function. Further research is needed to establish its long-term safety and efficacy in a wider range of inflammatory conditions.
BA.1 Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccine Use and Stroke in England
Authors: Andrews Nick , Stowe Julia , Miller Elizabeth , Ramsay Mary
Published: June 2023

This study investigates the association between bivalent COVID-19 vaccines and ischemic stroke, as well as the effect of simultaneous influenza vaccination on the association.
The case of a 49‐year‐old man with involuntary toe movements
Authors: Pucci Gabriela F. , Berkowitz Aaron L.
Published: June 2023

A 49‐year‐old man presented with 3 years of leg pain and involuntary toe movements. He described the pain as mild burning, radiating from the left foot upward to the leg. On examination, there were involuntary continuous flexion‐extension movements of his left toes (video). Strength, sensation, and reflexes were normal. Lumbosacral MRI demonstrated diffuse degenerative disc disease with multi‐level mild‐to‐moderate foraminal stenosis. Nerve conduction studies were normal. EMG showed neurogenic potentials and active denervation changes in the left anterior tibial and soleus muscles consistent with radiculopathy. The diagnosis of painful legs and moving toes is discussed.
The kynurenine pathway relates to post‐acuteCOVID‐19 objective cognitive impairment andPASC
Authors: Cysique Lucette A. , Jakabek David , Bracken Sophia G. , Allen‐Davidian Yasmin , Heng Benjamin , Chow Sharron , Dehhaghi Mona , Staats Pires Ananda , Darley David R. , Byrne Anthony , Phetsouphanh Chansavath , Kelleher Anthony , Dore Gregory J. , Matthews Gail V. , Guillemin Gilles J. , Brew Bruce J.
Published: June 2023

Objective

To determine the prevalence and natural history of post‐acute COVID‐19 objective cognitive impairment and function, and their relationship to demographic, clinical factors, post‐acute sequelae of COVID‐19 (PASC), and biomarkers.

Methods

A total of 128 post‐acute COVID‐19 patients (age = 46 ± 15; 42% women, acute disease severity: not hospitalized: 38.6% mild: 0–1 symptoms, 52% 2+ symptoms; 9.4% hospitalized) completed standard cognition, olfaction, and mental health examinations 2‐, 4‐, and 12‐month post diagnosis. Over the same time frame, WHO‐defined PASC was determined. Blood cytokines, peripheral neurobiomarkers, and kynurenine pathway (KP) metabolites were measured. Objective cognitive function was demographically/practice corrected, and impairment prevalence was determined using the evidence‐based Global Deficit Score method to detect at least mild cognitive impairment (GDS > 0.5). Linear mixed effect regression models with time effect (month post diagnosis) evaluated the relationships to cognition.

Results

Across the 12‐month study period, mild to moderate cognitive impairment ranged from 16% to 26%, and 46.5% were impaired at least once. Impairment associated with poorer work capacity (p < 0.05), and 2‐month objectively tested anosmia (p < 0.05). PASC with (p = 0.01) and without disability (p < 0.03) associated with acute COVID‐19 severity. KP measures showed prolonged activation (2 to 8 months) (p < 0.0001) linked to IFN‐beta in those with PASC. Of the blood analytes, only the KP metabolites (elevated quinolinic acid, 3‐hydroxyanthranilic acid, kynurenine, the kynurenine/tryptophan ratio) associated (p < 0.001) with poorer cognitive performance and greater likelihood of impairment. PASC, independent of disability associated with abnormal kynurenine/tryptophan (p < 0.03).

Interpretation

The kynurenine pathway relates to post‐acute COVID‐19 objective cognitive impairment and PASC, thereby enabling biomarker and therapeutic possibilities.
The Self‐Adaptive Nanosystem for Implant‐Related Infections Theranostics via Phase‐Change Driven Anti‐Biofilm and the Enhancement of Immune Memory
Authors: Yi Jundan , Xiao Shuya , Yin Mengying , Su Mingyue , Gao Cen , Tang Rongbing
Published: June 2023

Implant‐related infections (IRIs), characterized by the formation of bacterial biofilms and immunosuppressive microenvironment, are a common but tricky clinical issue. In this study, a self‐adaptive theranostics nanosystem is designed based on phase change material (PCM) for IRIs therapy, which can monitor the severity of infection in real time and automatically provide the most appropriate treatment on demand. The nanosystem called CaAlg/LOD/POD@MNO/FAs (CLPM) is made of the fatty acids (FAs) core with dissolved minocycline (MNO) and the calcium alginate (CaAlg) shell with an immobilized lactate oxidase/pyruvate oxidase (LOD/POD) enzyme‐linked system. When the level of infection is mild (wound temperature < 39 °C), the CLPMs perform a bacteriostatic function by slowly releasing MNO from the solid‐phase FAs core. When the infection deteriorates (wound temperature > 39 °C), the solid‐to‐liquid phase change of FAs not only enables a rapid release of MNO but also disrupts the mechanical strength of the biofilm skeleton doped with CLPM, performing a bactericidal function. In addition, CLPM can reduce the accumulation of bacteria‐derived lactate to address lactate‐induced immunosuppression and enhance immune memory response, thereby inhibiting infection recurrence.
Enhancing Memory Window Efficiency of Ferroelectric Transistor for Neuromorphic Computing via Two‐Dimensional Materials Integration
Authors: Xiang Heng , Chien Yu‐Chieh , Li Lingqi , Zheng Haofei , Li Sifan , Duong Ngoc Thanh , Shi Yufei , Ang Kah‐Wee
Published: June 2023

In‐memory computing, particularly neuromorphic computing, has emerged as a promising solution to overcome the energy and time‐consuming challenges associated with the von Neumann architecture. The ferroelectric field‐effect transistor (FeFET) technology, with its fast and energy‐efficient switching and nonvolatile memory, is a potential candidate for enabling both computing and memory within a single transistor. In this study,  the capabilities of an integrated ferroelectric HfO2and 2D MoS2channel FeFET in achieving high‐performance 4‐bit per cell memory with low variation and power consumption synapses, while retaining the ability to implement diverse learning rules, are demonstrated. Notably, this device accurately recognizes MNIST handwritten digits with over 94% accuracy using online training mode. These results highlight the potential of FeFET‐based in‐memory computing for future neuromorphic computing applications.
Bibonding Constructing Coordinatively Unsaturated Zni+(0 < i < 2) Sites for Enhanced Photo‐Fenton Activity
Authors: Sun Jian , Xue Tao , Cui Liying , Liu Juan
Published: June 2023

The coordinatively unsaturated metal sites (CUMSs) have attracted widespread attention for enhancing catalytic activity. This study reports a controllable “bibonding” method to construct the coordinatively unsaturated Zni+ (0 < i < 2) active sites by forming N(g‐C3N4)‐Zn—N(imidazole) under mild experimental conditions. The catalysts with Zni+ are used for the photo‐Fenton reaction to degrade methylene blue (MB) without any oxidant. The degradation efficiency is positively correlated with Zni+. The Zni+ improved the Fe2+/Fe3+ conversion efficiency and the H2O2 generation ability of the catalyst. The optimized catalysts with 2.27% of Zni+ present a photo‐Fenton degradation efficiency of MB as 73.45 mg g−1 at pH 7 and 78.54 mg g−1 at pH 4. This strategy can be used to construct CUMSs for a series of narrow bandgap semiconductor materials containing nitrogen atoms.
Depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation in adults with COVID‐induced parosmia
Authors: Stoller Emily , Hentati Firas , Kallogjeri Dorina , Piccirillo Jay F. , Lenze Eric J. , Farrell Nyssa Fox
Published: June 2023

KEY POINTS

COVID‐induced parosmia is associated with anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation.

Parosmic patients have low rates of treatment benefit and little hope for improvement.

Hyposmia may mitigate the quality‐of‐life burden in patients with parosmia.
Electronic Decoupling and Single‐Molecule Charging of C60 on h‐BN/Rh(111)
Authors: Bommert Max , Günzburger Gino , Widmer Roland , Schuler Bruno , Gröning Oliver
Published: June 2023

A detailed understanding of the interaction between molecules and 2D materials is crucial to implement molecular films into next‐generation 2D material‐organic hybrid devices effectively. In this regard, energy level alignment and charge transfer processes are particularly relevant. This work investigates the interplay between a hexagonal boron nitride (h‐BN) monolayer on an Rh(111) single crystal and self‐assembled C60 thin films. The influence of the corrugated topography and electrostatic surface potential originating from the h‐BN/Rh(111) Moiré superstructure on the electronic level alignment and charging characteristics of C60 is being studied. A combination of scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS) and a theoretical tight‐binding approach is used to gain insight into the C60 bandstructure formation and electronic decoupling of specific C60. This decoupling results from adsorption site‐dependent variations of the molecular energy level alignment, which controls the strength of intermolecular hybridization. The decoupling of specific C60 enables the direct observation of single‐electron charging processes via STS and Kelvin probe force microscopy. The charging of the C60 is enabled by combining two gating mechanisms: the electrostatic surface potential of the monolayer h‐BN/Rh(111) Moiré and the electric field of the STM tip.
Speech‐in‐noise perception in autistic adolescents with and without early language delay
Authors: Ruiz Callejo Diego , Wouters Jan , Boets Bart
Published: June 2023

Speech‐in‐noise perception seems aberrant in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Potential aggravating factors are the level of linguistic skills and impairments in auditory temporal processing. Here, we investigated autistic adolescents with and without language delay as compared to non‐autistic peers, and we assessed speech perception in steady‐state noise, temporally modulated noise, and concurrent speech. We found that autistic adolescents with intact language capabilities and not those with language delay performed worse than NT peers on words‐in‐stationary‐noise perception. For the perception of sentences in stationary noise, we did not observe significant group differences, although autistic adolescents with language delay tend to perform worse in comparison to their TD peers. We also found evidence for a robust deficit in speech‐in‐concurrent‐speech processing in ASD independent of language ability, as well as an association between early language delay in ASD and inadequate temporal speech processing. We propose that reduced voice stream segregation and inadequate social attentional orienting in ASD result in disproportional informational masking of the speech signal. These findings indicate a speech‐in‐speech processing deficit in autistic adolescents with broad implications for the quality of social communication.
Circular supply chain strategy in Industry 4.0: The canned food industry in Vietnam
Authors: Bui Tat‐Dat , Tseng Jiun‐Wei , Tran Thi Phuong Thuy , Ha Hien Minh , Lim Ming K. , Tseng Ming‐Lang
Published: June 2023

This study contributes to investigating the interrelationships among circular supply chain strategy (CSCY) attributes in Industry 4.0 (I4.0), and it provides practical implications for the canned food industry. Prior studies are inadequate in determining CSCY attributes in I4.0 with a thorough viewpoint under qualitative information. To fill this gap, this study aims to determine the crucial CSCY attributes in I4.0 together with their interrelationships. A hybrid method including text mining, cluster analysis, the fuzzy Delphi method (FDM), the fuzzy decision‐making trial and evaluation laboratory (FDEMATEL), and the analytical network process (ANP) is utilized. Five aspects and 25 criteria from the original set of attributes are validated. In the results, the causal group consists of circular production strategy and technological advancement, while the effect group includes waste circulation, a circular product‐service system (PSS), and circular integration. The critical criteria cover cleaner production, resource efficiency, the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics applications, and industrial symbiosis.
Review SPPO guidance concerning photos and videos
Authors: Lyerly Eric
Published: June 2023

A photo or a video of a student can be an education record subject to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
Cost‐effectiveness of adjuvant chemotherapy for high‐risk stage II and stage III colon cancer in South Africa
Authors: Tan Sarah Xinhui , Pumpalova Yoanna , Rogers Alexandra M. , Bhatt Kishan , Herbst Candice‐lee , Ruff Paul , Neugut Alfred I. , Hur Chin
Published: June 2023

Background

Colon cancer incidence is rising in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs), where resource limitations and cost often dictate treatment decisions. In this study, we evaluate the cost‐effectiveness of adjuvant chemotherapy for high‐risk stage II and stage III colon cancer treatment in South Africa (ZA) and illustrate how such analyses can inform cancer treatment recommendations in a LMIC.

Methods

We created a decision‐analytic Markov model to compare lifetime costs and outcomes for patients with high‐risk stage II and stage III colon cancer treated with three adjuvant chemotherapy regimens in a public hospital in ZA: capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CAPOX) for 3 and 6 months, and capecitabine for 6 months, compared to no adjuvant treatment. The primary outcome was the incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio (ICER) in international dollars (I$) per disability‐adjusted life‐year (DALY) averted, at a willingness‐to‐pay (WTP) threshold equal to the 2021 ZA gross domestic product per capita (I$13,764/DALY averted).

Results

CAPOX for 3 months was cost‐effective for both patients with high‐risk stage II and patients with stage III colon cancer (ICER = I$250/DALY averted and I$1042/DALY averted, respectively), compared to no adjuvant chemotherapy. In subgroup analyses of patients by tumor stage and number of positive lymph nodes, for patients with high‐risk stage II colon cancer and T4 tumors, and patients with stage III colon cancer with T4 or N2 disease. CAPOX for 6 months was cost‐effective and the optimal strategy. The optimal strategy in other settings will vary by local WTP thresholds. Decision analytic tools can be used to identify cost‐effective cancer treatment strategies in resource‐constrained settings.

Conclusion

Colon cancer incidence is increasing in low‐ and middle‐income countries, including South Africa, where resource constraints can impact treatment decisions. This cost‐effectiveness study evaluates three systemic adjuvant chemotherapy options, compared to surgery alone, for patients in South African public hospitals after surgical resection for high‐risk stage II and stage III colon cancer. Doublet adjuvant chemotherapy (capecitabine and oxaliplatin) for 3 months is the cost‐effective strategy and should be recommended in South Africa.
Association of blood pressure variability with target organ damage in older patients with essential hypertension
Authors: Jing Zhiquan , Wang Gang , Li Zeya , Wu Shanshan , Qiu Xiang , Huang Rongchong
Published: June 2023

Background

Although multiple measures of blood pressure variability (BPV) have been proposed, whether they are better than mean blood pressure in predicting target organs is unclear. We aimed to determine the relationship between short term BPV and target organ injury.

Methods

This study was a retrospective study, and 635 inpatients in the Department of Cardiology from 2015 to 2020 were selected. We divided participants into four groups on the basis of the quartiles of BPV. One‐way analysis of variance was used to compare the differences between the groups, and linear regression was used to analyze the relationship between BPV and target organ damage.

Results

The average age of 635 patients was 74.36 ± 6.50 years old. Among them, 354 of 627 patients had diminished renal function (56.5%), 221of 604 patients had associated left ventricular hypertrophy (36.6%), and 227 of 231 patients had carotid plaque formation (98.3%). The baseline data indicated significant differences in fasting glucose, total cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein, creatinine, glomerular filtration rate, sex, calcium channel blocker use, and the rate of diminished renal function. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that BPV was negatively correlated with renal injury (creatinine: r = 0.306, p < 0.01; estimated glomerular filtration rate: r = 0.058, p < 0.01), and BPV is positively correlated with cardiac injury (r = 0.083, p < 0.01). Elevated BPV was not found to be associated with vascular injury.

Conclusion

Renal function decreases with increasing BPV and left ventricular mass increases with increasing BPV.
Enhanced Dissolution of Metal Oxides in Hydroxylated Solvents – Towards Application in Lithium‐Ion Battery Leaching
Authors: Bastos Henrique , Schaeffer Nicolas , Pringle Jennifer M. , Coutinho João A. P. , Pozo‐Gonzalo Cristina
Published: June 2023

The recovery of critical metals from spent lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) is rapidly growing. Current methods are energy‐intensive and hazardous, while alternative solvent‐based strategies require more studies on their ‘green’ character, metal dissolution mechanism and industrial applicability. Herein, we bridged this gap by studying the effect of dilute HCl solutions in hydroxylated solvents to dissolve Co, Ni and Mn oxides. Ethylene glycol emerged consistently as the most effective solvent, dissolving up to four times more Co and Ni oxides than using aqueous acidic media, attributed to improved chloro‐complex formation and solvent effects. These effects had a significant contribution compared to acid type and concentration. The highest Co dissolution (0.27 M) was achieved in 0.5 M HCl in 25 % (v/v) glycerol in water, using less acid and a significant amount of water compared to other solvent systems, as well as mild temperatures (40 °C). This solvent was applied to dissolve battery cathode material, achieving 100 % dissolution of Co and Mn and 94 % dissolution of Ni, following what was concluded to be a mixed mechanism. These results offer a simple alternative to current leaching processes, reducing acid consumption, enhancing atomic efficiency, and paving the way for optimized industrial hydrometallurgical processes leaning to ‘greener’ strategies.
Utilization of superconducting magnetic energy storage and doubly fed induction generator for enhancing stability of interconnected power system
Authors: Waheed Kumar Abdul , din Mufti Mairaj Ud , Yaqoob Zargar Mubashar
Published: June 2023

As the share of wind power keeps on increasing, the interaction between synchronous and wind generators pose a challenging issue on power system stability. In order to investigate the impact of wind penetration on stability of power system, appropriate modeling of wind energy conversion systems (WECSs) is necessary. Moreover, it is needed to comprehensively study the impact of wind penetration on power system oscillations. This paper presents a didactic approach for integrating a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG)‐based wind farm from SimPower Systems library to a five‐area 68‐bus power system modeled in Simulink. Inter‐area oscillations with and without wind power penetration are investigated for their characteristics. Renewable energy sources are connected to the grid via power electronics converters at the cost of a reduction in inertia. The concept of virtual synchronous generator (VSG) produces virtual inertia by exchanging active power with the power system. The impact of superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) and DFIG on enhancing damping performance of inter‐area is investigated. The increase in damping ratios of inter‐area oscillatory modes verifies the enhancement in small signal stability by connecting SMES and DFIG to the power system. The usage of SMES operating in VSG mode to improve the dynamic stability with highly erratic wind profile is also investigated. The developed MATLAB/SIMULINK‐based DFIG model is simple to use and can be expanded to build efficient controllers. The fidelity of the DFIG model and VSG technology is verified in real time by Opal‐RT (OP4510).