bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Implementation of a Leave-behind Naloxone Program in San Francisco: A One-year Experience
Authors: LeSaint Kathy , Montoy Juan Carlos , Silverman Eric , Raven Maria , Schow Samuel , Coffin Phillip , Brown John , Mercer Mary
Published: November 2022

Introduction: In response to the ongoing opioid overdose crisis, US officials urged the expansion of access to naloxone for opioid overdose reversal. Since then, emergency medical services’ (EMS) dispensing of naloxone kits has become an emerging harm reduction strategy.

Methods: We created a naloxone training and low-barrier distribution program in San Francisco: Project FRIEND (First Responder Increased Education and Naloxone Distribution). The team assembled an advisory committee of stakeholders and subject-matter experts, worked with local and state EMS agencies to augment existing protocols, created training curricula, and developed a naloxone-distribution data collection system. Naloxone kits were labeled for registration and data tracking. Emergency medical technicians and paramedics were asked to distribute naloxone kits to any individuals (patient or bystander) they deemed at risk of experiencing or witnessing an opioid overdose, and to voluntarily register those kits.

Results: Training modalities included a video module (distributed to over 700 EMS personnel) and voluntary, in-person training sessions, attended by 224 EMS personnel. From September 25, 2019–September 24, 2020, 1,200 naloxone kits were distributed to EMS companies. Of these, 232 kits (19%) were registered by EMS personnel. Among registered kits, 146 (63%) were distributed during encounters for suspected overdose, and 103 (44%) were distributed to patients themselves. Most patients were male (n = 153, 66%) and of White race (n = 124, 53%); median age was 37.5 years (interquartile range 31-47).

Conclusion: We describe a successful implementation and highlight the feasibility of a low-threshold, leave-behind naloxone program. Collaboration with multiple entities was a key component of the program’s success.
Unexpected ICU Transfer and Mortality in COVID-19 Related to Hospital Volume
Authors: Dahn Cassidy , Maheshwari Sana , Stansky Danielle , Smith Silas , Lee David
Published: November 2022

Introduction: Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) illness continues to affect national and global hospital systems, with a particularly high burden to intensive care unit (ICU) beds and resources. It is critical to identify patients who initially do not require ICU resources but subsequently rapidly deteriorate. We investigated patient populations during COVID-19 at times of full or near-full (surge) and non-full (non-surge) hospital capacity to determine the effect on those who may need a higher level of care or deteriorate quickly, defined as requiring a transfer to ICU within 24 hours of admission to a non-ICU level of care, and to provide further knowledge on this high-risk group of patients.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of a single health system comprising four emergency departments and three tertiary hospitals in New York, NY, across two different time periods (during surge and non-surge inpatient volume times during the COVID-19 pandemic). We queried the electronic health record for all patients admitted to a non-ICU setting with unexpected ICU transfer (UIT) within 24 hours of admission. We then made a comparison between adult patients with confirmed coronavirus 2019 and without during surge and non-surge time periods.

Results: During the surge period, there was a total of 86 UITs in a one-month period. Of those, 60 were COVID-19 positive patients who had a mortality rate of 63.3%, and 26 were COVID-19 negative with a 30.8 % mortality rate. During the non-surge period, there was a total of 112 UITs; of those, 24 were COVID-19 positive with a 37.5% mortality rate, and 90 were COVID-19 negative with a 11.1% mortality rate.

Conclusion: During the surge, the mortality rate for both COVID-19 positive and COVID-19 negative patients experiencing an unexpected ICU transfer was significantly higher.
Pelaksanaan Supervisi Akademik Kepala Sekolah Dalam Pengembangan Profesionalitas Guru
Authors: Posangi Said Subhan
Published: November 2022

This study aims to see the implementation of the principal's academic supervision in the development of teacher professionalism. The research method used in this research is descriptive qualitative with data collection techniques by observation, interviews and documentation. The results of the study found that the planning carried out by the principal was well structured in accordance with the existing provisions, as for the academic supervision carried out by the principal, namely: 1) the principal set goals; 2) conduct discussions with teachers and other personnel by deliberation/meeting; and 3) carrying out the academic supervision schedule which will be carried out in one semester there are 2 times, namely at the beginning of the new school year and at the end. In every implementation of a program that has been planned, it must not be separated from the obstacles and difficulties. From this description, the researcher concludes that the implementation of academic supervision is assistance given by the principal to improve teaching and learning situations, whether success or failure is largely dependent on the supervisor.
Penerapan Iqra Talaqi Dalam Mengatasi Kesulitan Membaca Al-Qur’an Peserta Didik
Authors: Petta Solong Najamuddin , Adrian Andi
Published: November 2022

SDN 3 Telaga has programmed extracurricular activities, that is eradicating illiteracy in the Qur'an. This is an urgent matter that must be implemented, because before the Iqra Talaqi method program was launched, there were still many students who graduated from SDN 3 Telaga who were unable to read the Qur'an well, some were even illiterate in the Qur'an. This research method uses a phenomenological approach so that it starts with maintaining and examining the focus of the phenomenon to be studied, which looks at various subjective aspects of object behavior. The subjects in this study were PAI teachers. The results of the study found that the application of the Iqra Talaqi method in overcoming difficulties in reading the Qur'an at SDN 3 Telaga was carried out in several steps, namely: introduction of hijaiyah letters through direct reading without spelling, using the Iqra Talaqi method with a private system, classical system, guidance on reading Al-Qur'an. Qur'an with the correct tajwid and makhraj, as well as evaluation related to the process and its capabilities.
PENGARUH PENDIDIKAN, KETERAMPILAN, PENGALAMAN KERJA, DAN KOMITMEN ORGANISASI TERHADAP KINERJA PEGAWAI OUTSOURCING PADA PUSAT PEMANDUAN LALU LINTAS PENERBANGAN MAKASSAR PADA PT. ANGKASA PURA I
Authors: Hasiah Hasiah , Fauziah Fauziah
Published: November 2022

Penelitian Ini untuk mengetahui pengaruh faktor pendidikan, keterampilan, pengalaman kerja dan komitmen organisasi berpengaruh terhadap kinerja pegawai Outsourcing  pada Pusat Pemanduan Lalu Lintas Penerbangan Makassar Pada PT. Angkasa Pura I, dengan menggunakan analisis regresi berganda dimana Secara simultan faktor pendidikan, keterampilan, pengalaman dan komitmen organisasi berpengaruh secara positif dan signifikan terhadap kinerja pegawai Outsourcing  Pusat Pemanduan Lalu Lintas Penerbangan Pada PT. Angkasa Pura I  dan Hasil analisis secara parsial dengan analisis regresi linear berganda menunjukkan bahwa faktor pengalaman merupakan variabel yang paling besar kontribusinya terhadap peningkatan kinerja pegawai Outsourcing  pada Pusat Pemanduan Lalu Lintas Penerbangan Pada PT. Angkasa Pura I .Kata Kunci : pendidikan, keterampilan, pengalaman kerja, komitmen organisasi Dan Kinerja Karyawan
ANALISIS KINERJA KEUANGAN PADA KOPERASI PEGAWAI PEMERINTAH DAERAH (KOPEMDA) KABUPATEN MAROS
Authors: Baharuddin Baharuddin
Published: November 2022

Penelitian ini bertujuan tujuan untuk menganalisis kinerja keuangan pada Koperasi Pegawai Pemerintah Daerah (KOPEMDA) Kabupaten Maros tahun 2018 – 2020. Peneilitian ini menggunakan beberapa metode analisis rasio, diantaranya rasio likuditas, rasio solvabilitas, rasio aktivitas dan rasio profitabilitas. Sumber data yang digunakan dalam penelitian adalah data primer berupa laporan keuangan periode 2018 – 2019 yang diperoleh langsung dari KOPEMDA Kabupaten Maros.       Berdasarkan hasil analisis yang dilakukan, dapat disimpulkan bahwa likuiditas koperasi ditinjau dari current ratio dinyatakan tidak likuid. Pada rasio solvabilitas ditinjau dari debt to assets ratio dan debt to equity ratio koperasi dinyatakan solvable. Pada rasio aktivitas ditinjau dari working capital turn over dinyatakan sehat, sedangkan pada receivable turn over dinyatakan sangat tidak sehat. Pada rasio proftiabilitas ditinjau dari return on assets dinyatakan kurang sehat, sedangkan pada return on equity dinyatakan tidak sehat.Kata Kunci : Kinerja Keuangan, Rasio Likuiditas, Rasio Solvabilitas, Rasio Aktivitas dan Rasio Profitabilitas.
DETERMINANTS AFFECTING FINANCING MURABAHAH AT SYARIAH COMMERCIAL BANKS IN INDONESIA 2016-2020 PERIOD
Authors: Radita Fatrilia Rasyi , Asnaini Sri Wahyuni , Maesaroh Siti
Published: November 2022

Islamic banks, like conventional banks, have a function as financial intermediaries, having the main task of collecting funds from the public and channeling them back to the community in the form of financing facilities. The basic difference between the two banks is that Islamic banks carry out their business activities not based on interest (interest fees), but based on sharia principles or the profit and loss sharing principle. Murābahah is Islamic bank financing through a buying and selling system for or services with a profit agreement and a certain period of time. The purpose of this study was to analyze the determinants of Murabahah financing seen from microeconomic factors such as Return on Assets (ROA), Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR), Non Performing Financing (NPF), Financing to Deposit Ratio (FDR), Operational Efficiency Ratio (BOPO) as well as from macroeconomic factors such as Bank Indonesia Syariah Certificates (SBIS), BI rate and inflation. The data that has been collected was analyzed using multiple regression analysis. The results obtained from this study show that the Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR), Non Performing Financing (NPF), BI Rate and inflation have a significant effect on Murabahah financing. Meanwhile, Return on Assets (ROA), Financing to Deposit Ratio (FDR), Operational Efficiency Ratio (BOPO) and Bank Indonesia Syariah Certificates (SBIS) have no significant effect on Murabahah financing. Keywords: Murabahah Financing, Microeconomic Factors, Macroeconomic Factors
PENGARUH KESELAMATAN DAN KESEHATAN KERJA KARYAWAN TERHADAP PRODUKTIVITAS PADA PT. TIGA MUARA EMAS MAKMUR
Authors: SKW Annisa Risqi , Chyrinne Ervana , Kamar Karnawi
Published: November 2022

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh keselamatan kerja dan kesehatan kerja terhadap produktivitas kerja pada PT. Tiga Muara Emas Makmur. Produktivitas kerja adalah kemampuan untuk menghasilkan barang atau jasa (output) dengan sumber daya yang digunakan (income). Penelitian ini menggunakan metode survey, dimana data diambil dari hasil responden yang disebarkan. Sampel dari penelitian ini sebanyak 30 orang. Sedangkan jenis penelitian yang digunakan jenis penelitian eksplanasi dan penelitian asosiatif. Data penelitian ini dianalisis dengan menggunakan program Statistical Program and Services Solutions (SPSS) versi 23 dengan uji statistik validitas, reliabilitas, normalitas, multikolinearitas, heterokedastisitas, korelasi, koefisien determinasi, uji t dan uji F. Analisis data yang digunakan menggunakan analisis regresi linear berganda. Hasil uji simultan (uji F) menunjukan bahwa secara simultan variabel keselamatan kerja dan kesehatan kerja berpengaruh signifikan terhadap produktivitas kerja pada PT. Tiga Muara Emas Makmur. Hasil uji parsial (uji t) menunjukkan bahwa secara parsial variabel keselamatan kerja dan kesehatan kerja mempunyai pengaruh signifikan terhadap produktivitas kerja. Kata Kunci: Keselamatan Kerja, Kesehatan Kerja, Produktivitas.
PENGARUH INFLASI DAN PENGANGGURAN TERHADAP PDB INDONESIA
Authors: Efriani Betharia , . Muhidin , Goestjahjanti Francisca Sestri
Published: November 2022

Tujuan yang dikemukakan pada penelitian ini adalah menganalisis ada dan tidaknya pengaruh inflasi dan pengangguran terhadap PDB Indonesia selama periode 2008-2020. Penelitian ini menggunakan data sekunder time series tahun 2008-2020 selama 13 tahun. Sedangkan teknik analisisnya menggunakan regresi linier, dengan metode kausalitas dengan menggunakan hipotesis yang dikatagorikan penelitian eksplanatori. Hasil uji hipotesis-hipotesis pada penelitian ini antara lain, terdapat pengaruh tidak signifikan antara inflasi terhadap PDB, terdapat pengaruh signifikan antara pengangguran terhadap PDB Indonesia, dan secara simultan terdapat pengaruh signifikan antara inflasi dan pengangguran terhadap PDB Indonesia. Kata Kunci : Inflasi, Pengangguran, PDB, Indonesia.
Mademoiselle Julie – deux traductions françaises contemporaines
Authors: Tegelberg Elisabeth
Published: November 2022

Cet article se propose de comparer – et, dans une certaine mesure d’évaluer – deux des sept traductions qui existent en français du chef-d’œuvre dramatique d’August Strindberg, Fröken Julie, à savoir celles d’Elena Balzamo (1996) et de Régis Boyer (1997).

 

Ces deux traductions adoptent des attitudes traductionnelles diamétralement opposées à l’égard du texte original de Strindberg. Le texte de Boyer respecte scrupuleusement les caractéristiques formelles de celui de Strindberg, lexicalement aussi bien que grammaticalement. Le texte de Balzamo, au contraire, se signale par la liberté dont il fait preuve à l’égard de la forme linguistique du texte strindberguien. La traductrice tient, de façon très conséquente, à donner la priorité au message que communique le texte de Strindberg, en sacrifiant par là, quand le besoin s’en présente, son équivalence formelle.

D’une manière générale, les deux traductions se situent ainsi aux deux points extrêmes de l’échelle qui mène, en matière de comportement stratégique en traduction littéraire, de la fidélité à la liberté. Boyer est fidèle à la forme du texte d’origine alors que Balzamo s’en éloigne pour se rapprocher du lecteur. On peut qualifier Balzamo de « cibliste » là où Boyer est nettement « sourcier ».
Problemas específicos de la traducción del alemán filosófico al español (con especial referencia a Aufenthalte de Heidegger)
Authors: Corbacho Sánchez Alfonso
Published: November 2022

De los propios trabajos que analizan el lenguaje específico de la ciencia y la tecnología, y en general de los registros de tipo académico, se deduce que entre sus marcas distintivas destacan, en el nivel morfosintáctico, la preferencia por ciertas estructuras sintagmáticas y oracionales. Asimismo, se desprende de estas investigaciones que otra marca diferenciadora, en el nivel léxico, es el uso de una terminología propia de cada área de conocimiento y disciplina; y que ese léxico especializado suele contar con formas equivalentes en las demás lenguas, siendo muy frecuentemente de procedencia grecolatina común. Como es lógico, todo esto facilita la comunicación científica internacional e interlingüística y, por lo tanto, la traducción de este tipo de textos. Sin embargo, la lengua especializada del discurso filosófico es una de las excepciones más evidentes en este sentido. Los problemas de conceptualización y de formulación de la terminología apropiada revisten con frecuencia tal complejidad, incluso en la lengua original, que los obstáculos que se han de superar en su traducción resultan a veces insalvables. De ahí que para la traducción filosófica sea inevitable lo que para las demás modalidades es simplemente lo más recomendable: una estrecha colaboración entre el traductor o filólogo y el especialista en la materia objeto de traducción. De esta propuesta trata precisamente el presente estudio, que se ilustra con los problemas que plantean en la traducción al español una serie de conceptos de Heidegger tan complejos y debatidos como Dasein, Geschichte/Historie, Gestell y Andenken.
Saillance, quantité et position. Les syllepses à la fin des poèmes de Francis Ponge
Authors: Romeborn Andreas
Published: November 2022

La syllepse, pouvant être définie comme l’emploi d’une occurrence de mot dans deux sens différents, est une des figures de prédilection de Francis Ponge. Cet article examine les syllepses employées à la fin des poèmes de Ponge et s’intéresse à cette figure du point de vue de sa réception. À l’aide d’une analyse quantitative d’un corpus composé de 90 poèmes de Ponge, nous avons voulu tester l’hypothèse selon laquelle la fréquence de syllepses serait particulièrement élevée dans la partie finale de ses poèmes. Les résultats, inattendus, tendent à infirmer cette hypothèse, car il s’est avéré que la fin des textes étudiés ne se distingue pas par une fréquence de syllepses spécialement élevée. Ainsi, la fréquence ne se présente pas, ici, comme un facteur décisif permettant de comprendre le caractère saillant des syllepses apparaissant à la fin des textes, c’est-à-dire d’expliquer le fait que celles-ci sont susceptibles d’attirer beaucoup l’attention lorsqu’elles sont employées à cet endroit. En revanche, les résultats indiquent, indirectement, l’importance des facteurs positionnels pour la perception de cette figure : il se peut en effet qu’une syllepse soit perçue comme saillante du fait même de son positionnement, par exemple en raison de sa position à la fin du texte.
L’importation de la littérature française : un triple détournement de capital. Réflexions à partir d’une étude de réception journalistique en Suède
Authors: Cedergren Mickaëlle , Lindberg Ylva
Published: November 2022

The background material of the study consists of articles about French literature gathered between 2010 and 2014 in the Swedish press. The aim of the article is to isolate the most widely discussed French literature from France in the Swedish press during the period, in order to explore why the transfer of this literature persists over time, how it is perceived, and which type of mediators bring about this transmission. The study raises questions about the image of French literature in Swedish media, Sweden’s impact on the transnational circulation of literature, and the use of French literature to place Sweden on the literary map.

The results of the reception study show that French literature is presented as both aesthetically disruptive with innovative features and as a normative and traditional model. It incarnates an image of tradition as well as of modernity. French literature from France is principally mediated by orthodox journalists with a consistent symbolic capital, and the posture of these journalists is analyzed through Sapiro’s model, inspired by Bourdieu. The orthodox journalists manage to redirect the symbolic capital inherent to consecrated French literature at three levels: national, personal, and transnational. Firstly, the importation of French literature increases Swedish literature’s symbolic capital. Secondly, this transfer allows for an auto-consecration of the orthodox journalists themselves. Thirdly, this use of highly valued imported literature engenders a supplementary consecration (surconsecration) of a national literature and its dominating language. In conclusion, these observed bilateral literary exchanges show the often overlooked importance of peripheral countries in transnational literary transmission. The results modify Casanova’s (2002) model, since they display the impact on the market from the margins. The transfer of central national literatures in dominating languages towards peripheral countries allows for dominated languages and minor national literatures to take an active part in the construction and reconstruction of the relations on the global literary map.
Discovery Learning Assisted E-Learning to Improve Student Conceptual Understanding About Heat and Its Application
Authors: Zainul Mustofa
Published: November 2022

Synchronizing the concepts of heat and heat transfer explicitly on the competency of expertise in vocational schools still needs further research. This research focuses on the impact of discovery learning assisted by e-learning in improving Student Understanding about concept of heat, its transfer, and its application. Through the one-group, pretest-posttest design with 36 subjects of computer and network engineering students, Al Munawwariyyah Vocational School, this research was applied. The results showed an increase in conceptual understanding with n-gain values ​​of 0.79 (high) and a d-effect size of 3.01 (very high). This value indicates that discovery learning assisted by e-learning has a positive impact on increasing students' conceptual understanding from an average pretest of 39.9 to an average posttest of 84.1. Students' skills in troubleshooting CPU problems increase significantly after learning. Most students can explain the heat transfer by conduction, convection, and radiation that occurs on the CPU along with the impact and benefits of competency expertise.
The economic effects of epidemics: from SARS and MERS to COVID-19
Authors: Ceylan Rahmiye Figen , Ozkan Burhan
Published: November 2022

Around the end of 2019 through to 2020, the world had to encounter an outbreak of the novel COVID-19, a globally devastating virus, leading to mass losses and socio-economic panic. The impacts of previous SARS-COV and MERS-COV on macro-economic conditions, income level and labour market composition of 26 selected countries were evaluated within this paper in order to make economic inferences for COVID-19. The evaluation signed that the more fatal SARS-COV had depreciating effects on all economies in the sample, while MERS-COV had affected a more limited number of countries. Yet, the past epidemics mostly affected the labour market and services sector, as emphasized by the literature on economics of epidemics. It can be foreseen that, the services sector will be affected negatively with supply and labour demand aspects even after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. On the other hand, changing consumption attitudes and the rising tendency for online shopping may lead a closer correlation between agriculture and services sectors in terms of delivery services. It might be possible to understand such impacts as more micro-data can be analysed in the future.
COVID 19 and MSMEs: A revival framework
Authors: Sipahi Esra
Published: November 2022

The economies all around the world is suffering from COVID-19, which has made the entire world panic and the pandemic virus has taken over almost 195 countries in its grip. It is quite evident that the enterprises in the MSME sector are the most vulnerable ones in the era of covid-19 pandemic because of their size, scale of operation, limited financial managerial resources and more importantly they don‟t have the capacity to deal with something so unexpected. Here an attempt is made to identify the problems existing in the way of infusing relief measures to the MSME sector and also evaluates the relief measures for MSMEs announced by the finance minister of India as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharath Abhiyan. A framework for the revival of the MSMEs has also been proposed here as part of the study. As the COVID-19 pandemic is a crisis with an unforeseeable ending, the government and businesses enterprises in every sector have to work together so as to address the root cause of the crisis.
Modification of Ghanaian traditional abatoɔ game to improve the quality of basic education
Authors: Boateng-Nimoh Victor , Nantwi William Kwabena
Published: November 2022

The study focused on using the traditional abatoɔ game as a pedagogical tool for teaching contents in different subject areas and to find out how it motivates learners to learn. The study adopted a qualitative research approach with action and descriptive research methods. It was underpinned by the ‘Game-Based Learning’ (GBL) theory. Artistic techniques such as drawing, painting, printing, and computer Graphics were employed to modify the Ghanaian traditional abatoɔ game to improve the quality of teaching and learning. The modified abatoɔ game was tested at M.A. Bediako Adventist Preparatory school, Amakom-Kumasi Ghana with a population of five hundred and eighty-seven (587) pupils. Out of this, purposive and convenience sampling techniques were used to select forty (40) basic one pupils, thirty-six (36) basic four pupils and thirty-nine (39) basic six pupils as sample for the study.  Observation, tests, feedback cards, and opinionnaire were used to collect data for the study. The study revealed the possibility to modify traditional games into educational games with integration of different learning contents. The study concluded that, learning contents integrated into game reinforce learners’ understanding of learning concepts, motivate learners to learn and prepare in advance for studies. The modified abatoɔ game also have the potential of reducing the workload on teachers as different learning contents can be taught with a single game.
A glimpse of a stratagem for endorsing communication skills in the line of engineering for career excellence
Authors: Chidambaram Kalaiselvi , Mugundhan Divya , Rao Medithe Poornananda
Published: November 2022

Today’s corporate world is increasingly suffered with inexpert manpower as graduate employees lack interpersonal skills which plays an indispensable role in bonding with other professional groups and broader community. Since, employers are now more focused on interpersonal skills rather than Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA), it is an irrefutable fact that imparting technical knowledge along with the knowledge of communicative competence in English takes a lion’s share in professional success. But the graduates are not ready to learn personality traits, behavioral changes, official demureness and decency to find a better place in their career. The Expertise in English language will not be present and come gradually. While inculcating English language, objectives and methods taught are mostly enabling the students to rewrite the learned or by hearted information and facts in written form of examination. It is painful to say that oral communication in English, a medium to express feelings and ideas, is not really given practice as the components to facilitate oral communication, although present, are not adequate. This can be achievable only through a proper strategy that is focused on imparting technical knowledge as well as improving effective communication and persuasive skills rather than emphasizing to incorporate a course on communication skills. This paper attempts to highlight such a strategy on communication skills for engineering students.
Towards reduction of postharvest losses in mushroom farming in Ghana: Methods and strategies
Authors: Gameli Kokoti Kwabla
Published: November 2022

There are about 69,000 known mushroom species of which 2,000 are regarded as edible mushrooms (Chang and Tropics, 1991). Edible mushrooms have been collected and consumed by people for over thousand years ago. Some wild species harvested in Ghana are Termitomyces spp, Volvariella volvacea, Coprinus spp, Cantherellus aurantiacus (Obodai, 2001). Edible mushrooms are good sources of vitamin B2, niacin and foliate, with contents varying in the ranges 1.8 – 5.1, 31 – 65 and 0.30 – 0.64mg/100g dry weight respectively (Mattila et al., 2001). Harvesting is done by twisting the fruiting bodies from the substrate by hand, leaving no bits of stem behind. The survey was conducted between November and December, 2014 to obtain baseline data on farmers’ knowledge on methods of harvesting, postharvest management and ways of reducing postharvest losses of wild mushrooms in the Kpelezo community in the Volta Region of Ghana. Fifty farmers (50) were randomly selected from the community for the survey. From the study, 37% of the farmers suggested that postharvest losses of mushroom can be minimized by digging the soil around the mushrooms before pulling them with hands. 31% of the farmers were of the view that losses can be minimized by handling mushrooms with care and tying them up with threads. 22% of farmers were of the opinion that proper handling of mushrooms after harvesting can reduce losses.
The application of task-driven model in adult computer technology teaching in healthcare sector
Authors: Zheng Yi
Published: November 2022

In the rapidly growing field of information technology, there is a need to provide quality training through on-demand content in the health sector. In addition, there is a demand for developing curricula on an individualized basis to deliver best-fit instruction to learners of varying abilities and interests. Technology is one of the essential aspects of our life that cannot be ignored. As we know, the development in the health sector worldwide is due to the great revolution of computers and the internet. The invention of the machine has completely revolutionized the business world. Today, every field of the health sector depends on computer systems. The current research analyzes the training of computer talent and computational thinking in the healthcare sector of Companies. The study is performed using a quantitative research approach and analyzed by the statistical package of Social sciences in healthcare sectors. It is concluded that computational thinking skills should be enhanced, and teachers and learning institutions can play an active part. It is recommended that teachers should motivate students to learn modern knowledge so that they can effectively contribute and pay back to society.
The characteristics and costs of severe theophylline toxicity in a tertiary critical care unit in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
Authors: Oxley-Oxland JV , Freercks R , Baker D , Van der Merwe E
Published: November 2022

Background. Severe theophylline toxicity requiring haemodialysis accounts for approximately one-third of drug toxicity cases admitted to the Livingstone Tertiary Hospital (LTH) intensive care unit (ICU) in Gqeberha, South Africa, imposing a significant resource burden. Objectives. To investigate the characteristics and burden of severe theophylline toxicity in an Eastern Cape Province tertiary hospital adult ICU. Methods. A retrospective review of all severe theophylline toxicity admissions to the ICU from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2018 was conducted. Demographic and clinical data were captured and analysed. The National Department of Health 2019 fees schedule was used to calculate costs based on duration of ICU stay and number of haemodialysis sessions received. Results. Of the 57 patients included in the study, 84% were cases of deliberate self-harm. The majority were aged <40 years (77%) and female (79%). The mean (standard deviation (SD)) initial serum theophylline level was 612 (269) µmol/L. Complications included convulsions (n=12; 21%), arrhythmias (n=9; 16%), need for mechanical ventilation (n=7; 12%) and death (n=4; 7%). The main risk factors for these complications were age ≥30 years, an inappropriately normal or elevated initial serum potassium level, an elevated serum creatinine kinase level and an elevated initial serum theophylline level. Receiver operator characteristic curve analysis assessing the initial serum theophylline level as a discriminator for life-threatening complications produced an area under the curve of 0.71 for serum theophylline >400 µmol/L (sensitivity 88%, specificity 12%). All the 4 patients who died had an initial serum theophylline level >1 000 µmol/L. The mean (SD) cost per admission amounted to ZAR16 897 (10 718), with a mean of one 4-hour dialysis session per admission. Conclusion. Severe theophylline toxicity, usually in the context of  deliberate self-harm, is a preventable yet life-threatening toxicity encountered at  LTH.  Demographic  risk factors include young females from certain areas in and around Gqeberha.  Risk factors for complications include older age, paradoxically normal or elevated serum potassium levels, elevated serum creatinine kinase levels and an initial serum theophylline level >400 µmol/L. Patients with these clinical features should be closely monitored and treated timeously at an appropriate level of care. The need for ICU admission and dialysis, both limited resources, makes the treatment of severe theophylline toxicity costly. Further studies of the underlying psychosocial drivers, local prescribing practices and preventive interventions related to severe theophylline toxicity are required.
The Entangled Brain
Authors: Pessoa Luiz
Published: November 2022

A new vision of the brain as a fully integrated, networked organ.

Popular neuroscience accounts often focus on specific mind-brain aspects like addiction, cognition, or memory, but The Entangled Brain tackles a much bigger question: What kind of object is the brain? Neuroscientist Luiz Pessoa describes the brain as a highly networked, interconnected system that cannot be neatly decomposed into a set of independent parts. One can't point to the brain and say, “This is where emotion happens” (or any other mental faculty). Pessoa argues that only by understanding how large-scale neural circuits combine multiple and diverse signals can we truly appreciate how the brain supports the mind.

Presenting the brain as an integrated organ and drawing on neuroscience, computation, systems theory, and evolution, The Entangled Brain explains how brain functions result from cross-cutting brain processing, not the function of segregated areas. Parts of the brain work in a coordinated fashion across large-scale distributed networks in which disparate parts of the cortex and the subcortex work simultaneously to bring about behaviors. Pessoa intuitively explains the concepts needed to formalize this idea of the brain as a complex system and how to unleash powerful understandings built with “collective computations.”
High-throughput imaging and quantitative analysis uncovers the nature of plasmid positioning by ParABS
Authors: Köhler Robin , Kaganovitch Eugen , Murray Seán M
Published: November 2022

The faithful segregation and inheritance of bacterial chromosomes and low-copy number plasmids requires dedicated partitioning systems. The most common of these, ParABS, consists of ParA, a DNA-binding ATPase and ParB, a protein that binds to centromeric-like parS sequences on the DNA cargo. The resulting nucleoprotein complexes are believed to move up a self-generated gradient of nucleoid-associated ParA. However, it remains unclear how this leads to the observed cargo positioning and dynamics. In particular, the evaluation of models of plasmid positioning has been hindered by the lack of quantitative measurements of plasmid dynamics. Here, we use high-throughput imaging, analysis and modelling to determine the dynamical nature of these systems. We find that F plasmid is actively brought to specific subcellular home positions within the cell with dynamics akin to an over-damped spring. We develop a unified stochastic model that quantitatively explains this behaviour and predicts that cells with the lowest plasmid concentration transition to oscillatory dynamics. We confirm this prediction for F plasmid as well as a distantly-related ParABS system. Our results indicate that ParABS regularly positions plasmids across the nucleoid but operates just below the threshold of an oscillatory instability, which according to our model, minimises ATP consumption. Our work also clarifies how various plasmid dynamics are achievable in a single unified stochastic model. Overall, this work uncovers the dynamical nature of plasmid positioning by ParABS and provides insights relevant for chromosome-based systems.
Beyond width and density: stable carbon and oxygen isotopes in cork-rings provide insights of physiological responses to water stress in Quercus suber L
Authors: Costa Augusta , Cherubini Paolo , Graça José , Spiecker Heinrich , Barbosa Inês , Máguas Cristina
Published: November 2022

As climate change increasingly affects forest ecosystems, detailed understanding of major effects is important to anticipate their consequences under future climate scenarios. The Mediterranean region is a prominent climate change hotspot, and evergreen cork oak (Quercus suber L.) woodlands are particularly climatically sensitive due to cork (bark) harvesting. Cork oak’s drought avoidance strategy is well-known and includes structural and physiological adaptations that maximise soil water uptake and transport and limit water use, potentially leading to reduced stem and cork growth. Trees’ responses to cope with water-limited conditions have been extensively described based on cork-rings width and, more recently, on cork-rings density, in dendroecological studies. However, so far, tree functional attributes and physiological strategies, namely photosynthetic metabolism adjustments affecting cork formation, have never been addressed and/or integrated on these previous cork-rings-based studies. In this study, we address the relation between carbon and oxygen stable isotopes of cork rings and precipitation and temperature, in two distinct locations of southwestern Portugal–the (wetter) Tagus basin peneplain and the (drier) Grândola mountains. We aimed at assessing whether the two climatic factors affect cork-ring isotopic composition under contrasting conditions of water availability, and, therefore, if carbon and oxygen signatures in cork can reflect tree functional (physiological and structural) responses to stressful conditions, which might be aggravated by climate change. Our results indicate differences between the study areas. At the drier site, the stronger statistically significant negative cork δ13C correlations were found with mean temperature, whereas strong positive cork δ18O correlations were fewer and found only with precipitation. Moreover, at the wetter site, cork rings are enriched in 18O and depleted in 13C, indicating, respectively, shallow groundwater as the water source for physiological processes related with biosynthesis of non-photosynthetic secondary tissues, such as suberin, and a weak stomatal regulation under high water availability, consistent with non-existent water availability constrains. In contrast, at the drier site, trees use water from deeper ground layers, depleted in 18O, and strongly regulate stomatal conductance under water stress, thus reducing photosynthetic carbon uptake and probably relying on stored carbon reserves for cork ring formation. These results suggest that although stable isotopes signatures in cork rings are not proxies for net growth, they may be (fairly) robust indicators of trees’ physiological and structural adjustments to climate and environmental changes in Mediterranean environments.
Photocatalysis and adsorption kinetics of azo dyes by nanoparticles of nickel oxide and copper oxide and their nanocomposite in an aqueous medium
Authors: Ahsan Hajra , Shahid Muhammad , Imran Muhammad , Mahmood Faisal , Siddique Muhammad Hussnain , Ali Hayssam M. , Niazi Muhammad B.K. , Hussain Sabir , Shahbaz Muhammad , Ayyub Mudassar , Shahzad Tanvir
Published: November 2022

Background

Azo dyes are recalcitrant organic pollutants present in textile industry effluents. Conventional treatment methods to remove them come with a range of disadvantages. Nanoparticles and their nanocomposites offer more efficient, less expensive and easy to handle wastewater treatment alternative.

Methods

In this study, nanoparticles of nickel oxide (NiO-NPs), copper oxide (CuO-NPs) and their nanocomposite (NiO/CuO-NC) were synthesized using co-precipitation method. The functional groups present on the surface of synthesized nanomaterials were verified using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Surface morphology was assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) whereas purity, shape and size of the crystallite were determined using X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. The potential of these nanomaterials to degrade three dyes i.e., Reactive Red-2 (RR-2), Reactive Black-5 (RB-5) and Orange II sodium salt (OII) azo dyes, was determined in an aqueous medium under visible light (photocatalysis). The photodegradation effectiveness of all nanomaterials was evaluated under different factors like nanomaterial dose (0.02–0.1 g 10 mL−1), concentration of dyes (20–100 mg L−1), and irradiation time (60–120 min). They were also assessed for their potential to adsorb RR-2 and OII dyes.

Results

Results revealed that at optimum concentration (60 mgL−1) of RR-2, RB-5, and OII dyes, NiO-NPs degraded 90, 82 and 83%, CuO-NPs degraded 49, 34, and 44%, whereas the nanocomposite NiO/CuO-NC degraded 92, 93, and 96% of the said dyes respectively. The nanomaterials were categorized as the efficient degraders of the dyes in the order: NiO/CuO-NC > NiO-NPs > CuO-NPs. The highest degradation potential shown by the nanocomposite was attributed to its large surface area, small particles size, and quick reactions which were proved by advance analytical techniques. The equilibrium and kinetic adsorption of RR-2 and OII on NiO-NPs, CuO-NPs, and NiO/CuO-NC were well explained with Langmuir and Pseudo second order model, respectively (R2 ≥ 0.96). The maximum RR-2 adsorption (103 mg/g) was obtained with NiO/CuO-NC. It is concluded that nanocomposites are more efficient and promising for the dyes degradation from industrial wastewater as compared with dyes adsorption onto individual NPs. Thus, the nanocomposite NiO/CuO-NC can be an excellent candidate for photodegradation as well as the adsorption of the dyes in aqueous media.
Investigation of Distribution Status of Recalled Electric Mat Products and Analysis of Problems through Safety Tests
Authors: Park Kwang-Muk , Choi Jae-Hyuk , Bang Jun-Ho
Published: November 2022

Despite the media publicity regarding fire risks, a sharp decline in market size, and safety tests conducted by the Electrical Appliances and Household Appliances Safety Management Laws, electric mats distributed in the market have problems related to fires every year. The causes and problems of the fire were analyzed from the perspective that fire outbreaks may occur. Recall status and defect analysis, fire statistics analysis, recall product sales status investigation, and safety verification experiment for certified products were conducted. Based on a survey of the sales status of recalled products in traditional markets, recalled products were sold in three out of 10 stores, and recalled products were also traded in the second-hand Internet market. For the safety verification experiment, the KC 60335-2-17 standard was applied to 10 safety-certified products sold on the Internet, and major experiments were conducted. The test results showed seven out of 10 products exceeded the standard value. In confirming the identity of the thermostat of the 10 tested products, three showed a difference from the products at the time of actual certification.
Complete Blood Count (CBC) and CBC derived Ratios in Early Diagnosis of COVID-19: A Retrospective Single-centre Study
Authors: Senthilnayagam Balamurugan , Fathima Afrin , Rajenderan Karthika , Preethi S , Subrajaa Khowsalya , Manjani S
Published: November 2022

Introduction: Abnormalities in Complete Blood Count (CBC) are frequently observed in Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID19) infection. So, CBC can serve as a simple tool for the early diagnosis of COVID-19. Aim: To evaluate the diagnostic ability of CBC test in COVID-19 infection. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective observational study, data were collected from 102 adult non critical care patients who presented with acute fever between May 2020 and December 2020. Among 102 patients’ data, 48 were found Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) positive (‘cases’) and 54 were RT- PCR negative (‘controls’). Non parametric Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the differences in CBC. The p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of CBC tests in COVID19. For this, RT-PCR was used as the ‘gold standard’ and CBC as the index test. Area Under Curve (AUC) was determined for each of the CBC tests. All statistical analysis were done using Medcalc software. Results: The mean age of cases was 48±14 years (62% males; 38% females) and controls was 45±15 years (55% males; 45% females). Median values for haemoglobin, haematocrit, Red Blood Cell (RBC) count and Red cell Distribution Width (RDW) were significantly higher (p-value <0.05) and total White Blood Cell (WBC) count, eosinophil differential count, absolute eosinophil count, lymphocyte count, absolute lymphocyte count, immature granulocyte count were significantly lower in COVID-19 patients as compared to controls. Significant differences were observed for eosinophil (differential% and absolute) count. Almost all the platelet parameters were lower in COVID-19 patients (except Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio); although the platelet count was only mildly reduced in the RT-PCR positive cases (133-475 X 103 / µL; median-227.98 X 103 /µL). Higher AUC values were observed with Eosinophil-differential %, Eosinophil-absolute count, Eosinophil Lymphocyte Ratio (ELR) and NLR. Conclusion: Eosinophil count and associated ratio (Eosinophil Lymphocyte Ratio) are diagnostically useful and can serve as biomarkers for COVID-19. Further larger studies are needed to unravel the underlying mechanism and their clinical utility
Use of Breast Cancer Risk Factors to Identify Risk-Adapted Starting Age of Screening in China
Authors: Zheng Yadi , Dong Xuesi , Li Jiang , Qin Chao , Xu Yongjie , Wang Fei , Cao Wei , Xia Changfa , Yu Yiwen , Zhao Liang , Wu Zheng , Luo Zilin , Chen Wanqing , Li Ni , He Jie
Published: November 2022

Importance

Although current guidelines highlight the need for earlier screening in women at increased risk of breast cancer in China, data on risk-adapted starting ages of screening are limited.

Objective

To explore the risk-adapted starting age of breast cancer screening in China, with comprehensive consideration of breast cancer risk factors.

Design, Setting, and Participants

A multicenter community-based cohort study was conducted under the framework of the Cancer Screening Program in Urban China. Data were collected from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2018, for unscreened community-dwelling women aged 40 to 74 years without a history of cancer, kidney dysfunction, or severe heart, brain, or lung disease. Data analysis was performed from October 1, 2021, to August 16, 2022.

Exposures

Baseline characteristics associated with breast cancer, including first-degree family history of breast cancer, benign breast disease, breastfeeding, age at menarche, and body mass index.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Outcomes included breast cancer diagnosis and age at diagnosis. Risk-adapted starting age of screening was defined as the age at which women with different levels of breast cancer risk attained a 10-year cumulative risk level similar to women aged 50 years in the general population.

Results

Of the 1 549 988 women enrolled in this study, 3895 had breast cancer (median follow-up, 4.47 [IQR, 3.16-6.35] years). Participants were divided into different risk groups according to breast cancer risk scores (driven by risk factors including first-degree family history of breast cancer, benign breast disease, breastfeeding, age at menarche, and body mass index). Using the 10-year cumulative risk of breast cancer at age 50 years in the general population as a benchmark (2.65% [95% CI, 2.50%-2.76%]), the optimal starting age of screening for women with high, medium, or low risk of breast cancer was identified as 43, 48, or after 55 years, respectively. An online calculator was developed to calculate an individual’s optimal starting age of screening.

Conclusions and Relevance

This study identifies the risk-adapted starting age of breast cancer screening based on the principle of equal management of equal risks, which may inform updates of current screening guidelines.
Cervical Lymphadenopathy and Airway Masses in a Child
Authors: Moore Samantha M. , Astle John , Shay Sophie G.
Published: November 2022

A previously healthy 12-year-old boy presented with a 3-month history of nasal obstruction, progressive dysphonia, recurrent deep neck abscesses, and tender, bulky cervical lymphadenopathy. What is your diagnosis?