bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Time-of-flight neutron diffraction applied to the identification of crystalline phases in historical mosaic glasses
Authors:   Università degli Studi di Milano Bicocca, Marcucci Giulia , Scherillo Antonella , Smith Ronald I. ,   ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, Di Martino Daniela
Published: March 2023

We present a completely non-destructive study of the crystalline phases present in the vitreous matrix of ancient mosaic glass tesserae, based on the application of the time-of-flight neutron diffraction (ToF-ND) technique. In contrast, standard phase analysis techniques may involve a sample preparation step, which is not compatible with the requirement of damage prevention of archaeological artefacts. Moreover, superficial or spot investigation by standard methods may not provide a complete description of the samples, especially in the case of inhomogeneous materials such as mosaic glasses, whereas ToF-ND can investigate the whole glass composition at the centimetre scale. The present study aims to obtain a bulk characterization of the glasses in terms of their mineralogical phase composition. Six glass specimens of ancient mosaic glass tesserae, that had been previously analysed with other non-destructive techniques to obtain their chemical and phase composition, were investigated by ToF-ND. These tesserae come from archaeological excavations or mosaics under restoration from different archaeological sites and geographical areas (Italy, Greece, and Syria) and date from the 1st to the 11th century AD. Several crystalline phases based on Ca, Sb, Sn, Cu and Pb minerals were identified, confirming the mineralogical phases identified with Raman spectroscopy in previous analyses. In addition, several other phases were identified for five of the samples. It is concluded that ToF-ND is an extremely important complementary tool for non-destructive bulk investigations of mosaic glass tesserae, which can overcome the heterogeneity of this kind of archaeological material.
Aprendizaje-servicio, cambio de paradigma y revolución educativa
Authors: Puig Josep Maria
Published: March 2023

El artículo se propone justificar por qué uno de los mayores retos a que se enfrenta en la actualidad el aprendizaje-servicio es tomar consciencia que no estamos únicamente ante una mejora metodológica, sino que se trata de un verdadero cambio de paradigma o revolución educativa. Se mostrará que el aprendizaje servicio contribuye al paso del individualismo posesivo al paradigma de la acción común, una visión cooperativa del mundo y de la educación. Esta afirmación se completa con cuatro tesis derivadas: es necesario un cambio en la idea de educación, deben modificarse las finalidades educativas, se impone una distinta metodología de enseñanza y de aprendizaje, y se deberán incorporar novedades relevantes en la organización del sistema educativo. Por último, se muestra que los cambios de paradigma como el que se describirá, aunque son posibles, nada asegura su éxito si no cuentan con la acción consciente y continuada de sus promotores. Algo que se reclama para el aprendizaje-servicio.
Herramientas para la mejora de los proyectos de aprendizaje-servicio
Authors: Martín Xus
Published: March 2023

La importancia de la práctica reflexiva y su impacto en el quehacer diario de los profesionales de la educación es el punto de partida de este artículo. En él se presentan dos materiales creados por el Grup de Recerca en Educació Moral (GREM) que pretenden contribuir a generar procesos de reflexión individuales y colectivos relacionados con el aprendizaje servicio (ApS). El primer material consiste en una Rúbrica para la autoevaluación y la mejora de los proyectos de ApS, estructurada en doce dinamismos pedagógicos que evolucionan en cuatro niveles de dominio. Su principal utilidad es favorecer el análisis y el debate de las características pedagógicas de las experiencias de ApS. El segundo material es el Mapa de los valores del aprendizaje-servicio, en el que se propone un inventario de los valores más presentes en esta práctica. Su aplicación permite a los equipos educativos tomar conciencia de los valores que se activan en cada proyecto y en la medida de lo posible incentivar su presencia
Wide-angle and simultaneously wideband blazing (deflection) enabling multifunctionality in metagratings comprising epsilon-near-zero materials
Authors: Serebryannikov Andriy E. , Skigin Diana C. , Hajian Hodjat , Ozbay Ekmel
Published: March 2023

This paper investigates diffractions by gratings made of a dispersive material in an epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) regime and having one-side corrugations, and those by two-component dielectric-ENZ gratings with the inner corrugations and flat outer interfaces. The goal is to achieve wideband and simultaneously wide-angle −1st order blazing (deflection) that may enable wideband spatial filtering and demultiplexing in reflection mode. Several typical scenarios are discussed, which differ in the maximum magnitude of the blazed wave and size of the blazing area observed on the frequency-incidence angle plane, as well as the contribution of the ranges of positive and negative permittivity in the vicinity of zero. The high capability of ENZ and dielectric-ENZ gratings in asymmetric reflection is demonstrated for three different levels of losses for the dispersive material.
Photon counting probabilities of the output field for a single-photon input
Authors: Dąbrowska Anita Magdalena
Published: March 2023

In this paper, photon-counting statistics for an output field of a single-photon wave packet interacting with a quantum system was derived. The problem was formulated using a collision model with a bidirectional field approximated by two sequences of qubits. It was shown that the collision model formulated for the light with the temporal correlations allows deriving formulae for quantum trajectories in an effective and intuitive way. Starting from the discrete in-time evolution of the composed system, we determined the conditional and unconditional evolution of the quantum system, provided a physical interpretation of quantum trajectories, and determined the analytical formulae for the exclusive probability densities for the reflected and transmitted fields. Finally, our results were applied to a two-level atom, and we also determined analytical expressions for probability densities of arrival times of the successive counts.
Integrated programmable strongly coupled three-ring resonator photonic molecule with ultralow-power piezoelectric control
Authors: Wang Jiawei , Liu Kaikai , Isichenko Andrei , Rudy Ryan Q. , Blumenthal Daniel J.
Published: March 2023

Photonic molecules can realize complex optical energy modes that
simulate states of matter and have application to quantum, linear, and
nonlinear optical systems. To achieve their full potential, it is
critical to scale the photonic molecule energy state complexity and
provide flexible, controllable, stable, high-resolution energy state
engineering with low power tuning mechanisms. In this work, we
demonstrate a controllable, silicon nitride integrated photonic
molecule, with three high-quality factor ring resonators strongly
coupled to each other and individually actuated using ultralow-power
thin-film lead zirconate titanate (PZT) tuning. The resulting six
tunable supermodes can be fully controlled, including their
degeneracy, location, and degree of splitting, and the PZT actuator
design yields narrow PM energy state linewidths below 58 MHz
without degradation as the resonance shifts, with over an order of
magnitude improvement in resonance splitting-to-width ratio of 58, and
power consumption of 90 nW per actuator, with a 1-dB photonic molecule
loss. The strongly coupled PZT-controlled resonator design provides a
high-degree of resolution and controllability in accessing the
supermodes. Given the low loss of the silicon nitride platform from
the visible to infrared and the three individual bus, six-port design,
these results open the door to novel device designs and a wide range
of applications including tunable lasers, high-order suppression
ultranarrow-linewidth lasers, dispersion engineering, optical
parametric oscillators, physics simulations, and atomic and quantum
photonics.
Measurement of the birefringence variation induced by dihydrogen diffusion into a polarization-maintaining fiber
Authors: Aazi Mohamed , Kinet Damien , Renaut Claude , Bertrand Johan , Auguste Jean-Louis , Mégret Patrice , Humbert Georges
Published: March 2023

We report continuous measurements of the transmission spectrum of a fiber loop mirror interferometer composed of a Panda-type polarization-maintaining (PM) optical fiber during the diffusion of dihydrogen (H2) gas into the fiber. Birefringence variation is measured through the wavelength shift of the interferometer spectrum when the PM fiber is inserted into a gas chamber with H2 concentration from 1.5 to 3.5 vol.% at 75 bar and 70°C. The measurements correlated with simulation results of H2 diffusion into the fiber lead to a birefringence variation of −4.25 × 10−8 per mol m−3 of H2 concentration in the fiber, with a birefringence variation as low as −9.9×10−8 induced by 0.031 μmol m−1 of H2 dissolved in the single-mode silica fiber (for 1.5 vol.%). These results highlight a modification of the strain distribution in the PM fiber, induced by H2 diffusion, leading to a variation of the birefringence that could deteriorate the performances of fiber devices or improve H2 gas sensors.
Semi-device-independent certification of indefinite causal order in a photonic quantum switch
Authors: Cao Huan , Bavaresco Jessica , Wang Ning-Ning , Rozema Lee A. , Zhang Chao , Huang Yun-Feng , Liu Bi-Heng , Li Chuan-Feng , Guo Guang-Can , Walther Philip
Published: March 2023

Quantum processes are transformations that act on quantum operations. Their study led to the discovery of the phenomenon of indefinite causal order: some quantum processes, such as the quantum switch, act on independent quantum operations in such a way that the order in which the operations are acted upon not only cannot be determined but is simply undefined. This is the property that we experimentally certify in this work. We report an experimental certification of indefinite causal order that relies only on the characterization of the operations of a single party. We do so in the semi-device-independent scenario with the fewest possible assumptions of characterization of the parties’ local operations in which indefinite causal order can be demonstrated with the quantum switch. To achieve this result, we introduce the concept of semi-device-independent causal inequalities and show that the correlations generated in a photonic quantum switch, in which all parties are able to collect local outcome statistics, achieve a violation of this inequality of 224 standard deviations. This result consists of the experimental demonstration of indefinite causal order with the fewest device-characterization assumptions to date.
Threshold analysis regarding the optimal tax rate and tax evasion. Empirical evidence from Taiwan
Authors: Wang Yu kun , Zhang Li
Published: March 2023

For a long time, governments of all countries have attached great importance to the development of underground economic activities. The reason is that the characteristics of the underground economy are hidden and the information disclosure is not sufficient, which not only distorts the economic data indicators, but more importantly, the existence of the underground economy has led to the loss of a large amount of tax base, affecting the long-term economic development of the country. Whether raising the tax burden rate boosts the tax revenue or expand the scale of the underground economy. In this paper, we use Kuznet Tax Curve (KTC) method to analyze the relationship between GDP and TTR/DTR/ITR. We find that the tax base erosion rate of indirect tax is lower than that of direct tax. In addition, we explore the relationship among economic growth, tax rate and tax revenue and adopt SUR-OLS method and Threshold approach to estimate the response of economic growth on total tax revenue(TTR), direct tax revenue(DTR) and indirect tax revenue (ITR) in Taiwan from 1991-2020. Our empirical research shows that when DTR tax rates are between 12.59% and 13%, an increase in income leads to a decrease, not an increase, in DTR, leading to severe tax base erosion. That is, the relationship between GDP and DTR presents a N-shaped relationship. However, ITR does not exist any tax rate threshold effect. Obviously, with the increase of GDP, ITR also increases. This reflects that the difference of tax structure between direct tax and indirect tax plays a key role in the relationship between tax rate and tax base erosion.
Creatinine recovery from bovine urine under the effect of different times and temperatures of storage
Authors: Silva Júnior Jarbas Miguel da , Rennó Luciana Navajas , Detmann Edenio , Valadares Filho Sebastião de Campos , Rodrigues João Paulo Pacheco
Published: March 2023

Creatinine is a urinary marker used widely in ruminant’s experimental trials. However, despite its great importance no data were found in the literature about the best way to store bovine urine samples. In the sheep urine, was observed an increase in the urinary concentration of creatinine when it was stored acidified (pH 2.5 to 3.5) at a temperature of 28 to 39 °C for 150 days of storage. Nevertheless, urine should be stored acidified (pH below 3) to avoid purine derivative degradation, So, aimed to evaluate creatinine recovery in bovine urine as a function of storage time and temperature. A total of 25 animals’ urine (10 Nellore cattle and 15 Holstein cattle) were collected. The urine (40 mL) was diluted in 160 mL of distilled water and its pH was corrected to a value lower than 3 using sulfuric acid drops. A sample of the diluted urine was analyzed to obtain the creatinine concentration reference value on the collection day. The remaining urine was fractionated and preserved at room temperature, cooled (4 °C) or frozen (-20 °C and -40 °C). In the urine of five Holstein cattle was added creatine solutions (20, 40 and 60 mg/dL) to evaluate the creatine to creatinine conservation. These urine samples were analyzed on different days after collection (1, 3, 7, 15, 30 and 45 days). The urine without any added creatine was analyzed on Days 1, 3, 7, 10, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, and 150 of storage. The addition of creatine in the urine caused an increase in the creatinine concentration (P < 0.05) after 30 days of storage at room temperature and under refrigeration (4 °C). In frozen samples, there was no change in creatinine concentration (P > 0.05). However, creatinine recovery was constant (P > 0.05) until day 15 of storage, regardless of the temperature used, when creatine was not added. After 30 days of storage, an effect of time and/or temperature was observed on creatinine recovery (P < 0.05). Urine samples can be stored at any temperature for up to 15 days after collection to estimate the creatinine concentration. Samples that need storage times longer than 15 days should be frozen (at -20 °C and -40 °C) to avoid creatinine concentration variation.
Comparing the salinity tolerance of twenty different wheat genotypes on the basis of their physiological and biochemical parameters under NaCl stress
Authors: Masarmi Amaneh Ghasemi , Solouki M , Fakheri B , Kalaji Hazem M. , Mahgdingad N , Golkari S , Telesiński Arkadiusz , Lamlom Sobhi F. , Kociel Henryk , Yousef Ahmed Fathy
Published: March 2023

The climate has drastically changed over the past two decades. Rising temperatures and climate change may lead to increased evapotranspiration, specifically soil evaporation, causing water to evaporate and salt to accumulate in the soil, resulting in increased soil salinity. As a result, there is a need to evaluate methods for predicting and monitoring the effects of salinity on crop growth and production through rapid screening. Our study was conducted on 20 wheat genotypes, 10 sensitive and 10 tolerant, exposed to two salinity levels (90 and 120 mM NaCl) with the control under greenhouse conditions. Our results revealed significant differences in the genotypes’ response to salinity. Salt stress decreased chlorophyll index in sensitive genotypes but increased chlorophyll a and carotenoids in tolerant genotypes at 90 mM. Salt stress also increased protein, proline, lipoxygenase, and reactive thiobarbituric acid levels in all wheat genotypes. The study suggests that plant photosynthetic efficiency is a reliable, non-destructive biomarker for determining the salt tolerance of wheat genotypes, while other biochemical traits are destructive and time-consuming and therefore not suitable for rapid screening.
Alginate encapsulation improves probiotics survival in carbonated sodas and beers
Authors: Tan Li Ling , Ang Kai Lin , Loo Say Chye Joachim
Published: March 2023

Probiotic functionalization of non-dairy beverages has been garnering interest to provide dairy-sensitive populations with greater probiotic product varieties. The addition of probiotics into popularly consumed beverages–carbonated sodas and beers, presents an interesting challenge as the presence of acidic pH, hops-derived compounds, and ethanol have highly deleterious effects. Herein, alginate encapsulation was proposed to improve probiotics viability within sodas and beers. Three probiotics, namely Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG, Escherichia coli Nissle 1917, and Bifidobacterium longum were encapsulated in alginate spheres and exposed to Coca-Cola, 7-Up, Tiger Beer, and Guinness under refrigerated, room temperature and simulated gastric fluid conditions. Results demonstrate that alginate encapsulation significantly improved the viabilities of all three probiotics in various beverages and conditions. Refrigerated storage better preserved probiotic viabilities and reduced the formation of the probiotic metabolic by-product, L-lactate, than at room temperature storage. Findings here could provide beverage manufacturers with a novel way to develop probiotic-sodas and probiotic-beers through encapsulation.
Risk factors for blood vessel rupture during vascular access intervention therapy for hemodialysis patients
Authors: Kambayashi Yui , Iseri Ken , Morikawa Tomoki , Yao Atushi , Yokochi Akio , Honda Hirokazu
Published: March 2023

Blood vessel rupture is a major complication associated with vascular access intervention therapy (VAIVT). However, information regarding the risk factors for ruptures related to VAIVT is limited. The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk factors for rupture during VAIVT. This was a single-center, retrospective observational study. Demographic, clinical, anatomical, and VAIVT procedure variables were reviewed and analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. The 211 patients included in the study underwent 628 VAIVT procedures from November 2019 to December 2021, and 20 blood vessel ruptures occurred. Patients with ruptures had significantly lower BMI (p = 0.043), shorter access vintage(p = 0.017), underwent VAIVT for the first time (p = 0.006), and had lower blood flow quantity (p = 0.005), lower brachial artery flow volume (p = 0.018), and higher resistance index (p = 0.011). The multivariate logistic regression revealed that receiving VAIVT for the first time (OR 5.95, 95%CI 1.01–34.84; p = 0.048) and high resistance index (OR 1.86, 95%CI 1.01–3.16; p = 0.02) were significantly associated with a high risk for rupture. Furthermore, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis to assess the sensitivity-specificity profiles of the resistance index for ruptures showed that the optimal threshold was 0.70 (sensitivity/specificity, 0.69/0.70). Heightened surveillance during vascular access intervention therapy is warranted, especially in patients undergoing VAIVT for the first time or patients with a high resistance index (> 0.70).
Rethinking mental health care provided to migrants and refugees; a randomized controlled trial on the effectiveness of Value Based Counseling, a culturally sensitive, strength-based psychological intervention
Authors: Orang Tahereh Mina , Missmahl Inge , Gardisi Maryam , Kluge Ulrike
Published: March 2023

Background

Despite traumatic experiences and persistent psychosocial stressors, many refugees and migrants display resilience and strength in the midst and aftermath of hardships. ‘Value Based Counseling’ (VBC), a low-threshold, short-term and culturally sensitive psychological intervention avoids the stigmatization and pathologization of mental health problems, and, in line with latest research calling for a rethink of mental health care for migrants and refugees, focusses on the resilience and resources of clients.

Method

This pragmatic, assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial employed a pre-post control group design to assess the effectiveness of VBC in the development of psychological assets. Refugees and migrants aged 18 or above were randomly assigned to either VBC sessions delivered by counselors matched with their clients according to gender and native language, or to a waiting list.

Results

Per protocol and intention-to-treat (ITT) analyses revealed that compared with participants in the waiting-list group (n = 50), the VBC group (n = 53) experienced a greater improvement in resilience (adjusted difference 11.59, 95% CI 8.35 to 14.84, effect size .49,p <.001) and perspective taking (adjusted difference 3.98, 95% CI 2.12 to 5.84, effect size .39,p <.001) after four sessions on average. These positive results remained consistent until a 3-month follow-up assessment within the VBC group.

Conclusion

VBC with a focus on personal resources in the Here and Now, and with a culturally sensitive approach, helps clients exposed to persistent psychosocial stressors to develop strength and to increase agency over their lives.
Buggy rides as a tourist attraction in Rio Grande Do Norte, Brazil
Authors: Lira Luisa Nascimento , Cavalcante Islaine Cristiane Oliveira Gonçalves da Silva , Ferreira Lissa Valéria Fernandes
Published: March 2023

Adventure tourism in Rio Grande do Norte (RN) is favored by its geography. One activity in this category, and the object of study of this research, is buggy riding. The aim of this research was to analyze how buggy riding emerged and developed as a tourist attraction in RN, identifying its characteristics and potentialities through interviews with professionals who work in the area. In terms of methodology, the research is characterized as exploratory descriptive, and qualitative in nature, conducted through structured interviews with professionals who conduct buggy tours in RN, most of them working for over twenty years in the region. As results, we point out the positive views regarding buggy tours as an attraction in RN, as well as aspects of its evolution. This demonstrates the importance of this activity for the state, not only for tourism, but for the whole network that is benefited through it.
Uma reflexão sobre as raízes teóricas do preconceito linguístico
Authors: Silva Wellington Santos da
Published: March 2023

O objetivo deste artigo é debater algumas das raízes teóricas do preconceito linguístico. Em nossa concepção, muitos dos discursos discriminatórios acerca das normas populares do português brasileiro são motivados por uma visão de língua construída no século XIX, na qual a morfologia flexional era considerada o ápice do desenvolvimento linguístico, fazendo com que línguas caracterizadas por outras tipologias – como as línguas crioulas e as línguas africanas – fossem consideradas excepcionais. Ao longo do texto, mostramos que tal perspectiva influenciou as primeiras abordagens sobre a emergência do português brasileiro popular, pautadas por um viés negativo acerca do contato com línguas africanas e indígenas. O tema é examinado à luz da Historiografia Linguística, a fim de explicitar a dimensão política do conhecimento produzido sobre as línguas e a linguagem. Como base teórica, utilizamos a proposta de Fleck (2010), para quem o conhecimento científico se articula através de uma complexa dinâmica entre passado, presente e futuro.
Immanent and diffractive critique in scholarship and publication
Authors:   University of the Western Cape, Bozalek Vivienne , Romano Nike ,   Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Published: March 2023

Criticality and critique require careful attention by authors, reviewers, and editors in Critical Studies in Teaching and Learning (CRiSTaL), since they form a central focus of the journal. Conventional views of critique are influenced by unexpressed assumptions that what is needed is an authoritative expert, who from a position of superiority and distance, diagnoses and pronounces on the inadequacies of the text. This article explores more generative approaches to critique and criticality such as immanent critique and diffractive methodologies. We argue that in order for immanent critique and diffractive methodologies to happen, sensibilities such as attentiveness, response-ability, accountability, generosity, and curiosity are necessary. The final section of the paper considers academic practices of reviewing, writing, reading, pedagogy, and conferencing in relation to immanent critique and diffractive methodologies and the sensibilities we propose which make these forms of critique and criticality possible.
Towards a More Capacious, Kindly and Caring Criticality: A Post-Critical Manifesto for Ethical-Relational-Creative Reviewing
Authors:   University of Bath, Taylor Carol , Cranham Joy , Hewlett Sally , Hogarth Hannah
Published: March 2023

The words ‘criticality’, ‘critical’, and ‘critique’ can often summon up painful, exposing, and difficult experiences. In a higher education system shaped by hierarchical cultures, abuses of power, performative metrics and competitiveness, many of us are often positioned as (and internalise a sense of ourselves as) lacking. This imputed sense of ‘lack’ begins early in our educational careers and its affective impress often stays with us. As PhD students, we are required to subject ourselves to critique in order to pass confirmation processes; as article authors, our work stands or falls at the critical hands of journal reviewers and editors who, as gatekeepers, decide which of us is ‘accepted’ or ‘rejected’. We write as four members of the larger Get Up and Move! Collective, using the special issue call from CriSTaL to explore criticality, critical, critique, to revisit our own contested entanglements in/with criticality in higher education. We deploy the methodological approaches of compositing and composting to ponder the inimical conditions, negative behaviours, and ill-judged peer review comments that give rise to damaging modes of critique. From our work in the Collective, we consider what a more capacious, kindly, and caring criticality might look, feel, and be like. The article ends with A Post-Critical Manifesto for Ethical-Relational- Creative Reviewing, which outlines a praxis for doing criticality differently.
What is critical in EdTech research?
Authors:   University of the Western Cape, Gachago Daniela
Published: March 2023

There are a number of editors on the CriSTaL editorial board, whose interest is in educational technologies, emerging technologies, ICTs in education, digital education and digital pedagogies, which are some of the many terms that are used in our field. These are usually the editors I, Daniela, as managing editor, draw on, when we get submissions from authors on issues around the use of technology in learning and teaching. We receive many submissions, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, but the rejection rate is also increasing due to the majority of the papers failing to meet CriSTaL’s aim and scope. I invited some of my editorial board colleagues into a conversation to chat about what we would like to see in a paper tackling technologies in learning and teaching and which papers we feel do not suit CriSTaL’s aims and scope. The colleagues who joined me in this conversation were Dr Najma Agherdien, who is in Curriculum and Teaching at the University of Witwatersrand and Dr Nicola Pallitt, an educational technology specialist and senior lecturer at Rhodes University. We shared our reflections with other members of the board, such as Paul Prinsloo, Research Professor in Open and Distance Learning (ODL) in the College of Economic and Management Sciences at the University of South Africa, and Tutaleni Asino, Associate Professor in the Learning, Design and Technology Program at Oklahoma State University, and invited our critical friend Laura Czerniewicz, emeritus professor at the Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching at the University of Cape Town, to get an outside perspective as well.
Interaction between students with and without disabilities in an inclusive schools from their teachers perspective.
Authors:   King Khalid University, Alshahrani Basmah
Published: March 2023

The success of the inclusion of students with disabilities substantially depends on the collaboration of various social agents, including non-disabled peers, who play a substantial role in the lives of students with disabilities. Peers, as social agent, are responsible for the creation of a favourable social environment, in which one of the key factors is a positive acceptance. This research examined the reality of interactions between non-disabled students and their acceptance to peers with disabilities. A qualitative research approach was employed using interviews with Nine special education teachers. An overall positive attitudes were reported with non-disabled peers being reported as positive and welcoming to including students with disabilities in the same schools and classrooms. The teachers’ responses also indicated that interactions between both student groups are generally positive and teachers believed that this has helped in facilitating the inclusion of students with disabilities.
The impact of input, input repetition, and task repetition on L2 lexical use and fluency in speaking
Authors: Duong Phuong-Thao , Montero Perez Maribel , Nguyen Long-Quoc , Desmet Piet , Peters Elke
Published: March 2023

The present study investigates the impact of meaningful input on L2 learners’ vocabulary use and their fluency in oral performance (immediate and repeat tasks), as well as whether the effects are mediated by learners’ prior vocabulary knowledge and working memory. Ninety university students learning English as a foreign language were randomly assigned to one of three groups: input (N = 29), input repetition (N = 32), and no-input (i.e., baseline group) (N = 29). The input group watched L2 videos prior to performing an immediate oral task, whereas the input repetition group watched the same videos not only before but also after the immediate oral task. The no-input group only performed the oral tasks without watching the videos. The three groups repeated the same oral task after two days. Results did not show a significant effect of task repetition, input, and input repetition on learners’ lexical use and fluency. However, the fluency and lexical complexity in learners’ L2 speech can be predicted by their receptive vocabulary knowledge and working memory capacity to some extent.
Let’s get positive: How foreign language teaching enjoyment can create a positive feedback loop
Authors: Yang Shanshan , Azari Noughabi Mostafa , Botes Elouise , Dewaele Jean-Marc
Published: March 2023

Research on learners’ foreign language emotions has revealed the existence of a positive feedback loop where increased enjoyment leads to better performance which, in turn, strengthens learners’ enjoyment and boosts overall happiness. The current study follows this avenue focusing on teachers’ foreign language teaching enjoyment (FLTE) and its relationships with engagement, mindfulness, and burnout. The participants, who were 496 English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers from Iran, completed four electronic surveys. The proposed mediation model based on data collected from EFL teachers indicated that FLTE partially mediated the relationship between mindfulness and engagement as well as their burnout. The results revealed that mindful EFL teachers who enjoy the profession are more likely to experience higher levels of work engagement and job satisfaction, thus creating a positive feedback loop. In addition, the findings suggest the importance of positive emotions in EFL teachers’ psychological flourishing based on the tenets of positive psychology. Finally, implications and suggestions for further research are offered.
Review of Exploring L1-L2 relationships: The impact of individual differences by Richard Sparks
Authors: Biedroń Adriana
Published: March 2023

This paper is a review of Richard Sparks' latest position, Exploring L1-L2 relationships. The impact of individual differences, which summarizes 30 years of his research in the field of SLA. The author is the originator of the Linguistic Coding Deficit Hypothesis (LCDH), later modified to the Linguistic Coding Differences Hypothesis, which is one of the most cited theories in the context of research into foreign language aptitude. The volume contains 7 chapters representing different strands of research.
What’s in, and what’s out? A study of student choice of learning activities in a flipped EFL classroom
Authors: Shen Yan
Published: March 2023

Flipping pedagogy has gained popularity in higher education. Learning activities are decisive to the effectiveness of a flipped classroom. However, research dedicated to learning activities in flipped classrooms is limited in quantity and even scarcer from learners’ perspectives. This paper explores students’ choice of learning activities in and out of a flipped EFL classroom to find more targeted measures to enhance teaching and learning practices in flipped classrooms. Student proposals (n = 30) for learning activities from 30 sophomores in an integrated English course (IEC) were used as media for data collection. The technology acceptance model (TAM) was used as the analytical framework. The findings showed that the participants proposed a conventional learning method emphasising lectures and revisions, which can result from students’ understanding of effective learning and their perceived usefulness of technology. This study concluded that successful flipped teaching entails considering student needs in the e-learning environment, quality learning activities and sufficient support for students to develop their autonomy.
On the Bivariate Generalized Gamma-Lindley Distribution
Authors: Ghorbel Mohamed Ali , Mecene Rahmouna
Published: March 2023

In this research paper, we propose a new class of bivariate distributions called Bivariate Generalized Gamma-Lindley (BGGL) distribution with four parameters. This model is a mixture of independent Gamma random variables and bivariate generalized Lindley distribution. We investigate various properties of the new bivariate distribution such as graphical representation, joint moments and correlation. Furthermore, we derive a measure of entropy of this bivariate distribution. We also derive the distributions of the random variables X
1 + X
2, X
1/(X
1 + X
2), X
1/X
2 and X
1
X
2 as well as the corresponding moment properties when X
1 and X
2 follow the BGGL distribution. Additionally, we address two approximations of the product of the proposed model and assess their goodness of fit. Next, we elaborate the expectation maximization (E.M) algorithm in order to estimate the BGGL model parameters. Finally, we provide two concrete examples to demonstrate the applicability of the results.
General overview of biopolymers: structure and properties
Authors: Sasikanth Vasuki , Meganathan Bhuvaneswari , Rathinavel Thirumalaisamy , Seshachalam Sindhu , Nallappa Harini , Gopi Brindha
Published: March 2023

Biopolymers are synthesized from a biological origin under natural phenomenon especially during their growth cycle, in the form of polymeric substances that portrays excellent properties such as flexibility, tensile strength, steadiness, reusability, and so on. The amalgamated form of two or more biopolymers leads to the formation of “biocomposites” with novel applications. Several mechanisms were identified for the effective production of biopolymers from diverse life forms such as microbial origin plant and animal origin. Based on their origin, biopolymer differs in their structure and functions. Biopolymers are preferred over chemically synthesized polymers due to their biodegradability and their impact on the environment. Biopolymers play a pivotal role in pharmaceutical industries. The biopolymers could be employed for, the administration of medicine as well as regenerative medicine to reach minimal immunogenicity and maximum pharmacological expressivity in a treated individual. Based on their properties biopolymers were exclusively used in medical devices, cosmaceuticals, and confectionaries, it is also used as additives in food industries, bio-sensors, textile industries, and wastewater treatment plants. Ecological support is of utmost concern nowadays due to the ever-expanding ramification over the planet by usage of plastic as packaging material, turning up scientists and researchers to focus on biodegradable biopolymer utilization. The miscibility-structural-property relation between every biopolymer must be focused on to improve the better environment. Specific biopolymers are designed for the betterment of agrarian and commoners of society. Advanced structural modifications, properties of biopolymers, and applications of biopolymers to achieve a greener environment were discussed in this chapter.
The 3D Structural Architecture of the Human Hand Area Is Nontopographic
Authors: Doehler Juliane , Northall Alicia , Liu Peng , Fracasso Alessio , Chrysidou Anastasia , Speck Oliver , Lohmann Gabriele , Wolbers Thomas , Kuehn Esther
Published: March 2023

The functional topography of the human primary somatosensory cortex hand area is a widely studied model system to understand sensory organization and plasticity. It is so far unclear whether the underlying 3D structural architecture also shows a topographic organization. We used 7 Tesla (7T) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data to quantify layer-specific myelin, iron, and mineralization in relation to population receptive field maps of individual finger representations in Brodman area 3b (BA 3b) of human S1 in female and male younger adults. This 3D description allowed us to identify a characteristic profile of layer-specific myelin and iron deposition in the BA 3b hand area, but revealed an absence of structural differences, an absence of low-myelin borders, and high similarity of 3D microstructure profiles between individual fingers. However, structural differences and borders were detected between the hand and face areas. We conclude that the 3D structural architecture of the human hand area is nontopographic, unlike in some monkey species, which suggests a high degree of flexibility for functional finger organization and a new perspective on human topographic plasticity.
ENDÜSTRİYEL DOMATES ATIKLARINDAN KAROTENOİD EKSTRAKSİYONUNUN YANIT YÜZEY YÖNTEMİ İLE OPTİMİZASYONU
Authors: CERİT İnci , ERDEM Eda Nur , YILDIRIM Mahmut , DURSUN Mehmet Emin , TEKGÜL Sercan , KAYA Zeynep , DEMİRKOL Omca
Published: March 2023

Bu çalışmada, bir domates işleme tesisinden temin edilen atıklardan geleneksel ve ultrason destekli yöntemle karotenoid ekstraksiyonu yapılmıştır. Çözücü olarak etil asetat kullanılmış ve yanıt yüzey yöntemi (response surface methodology, RSM) ile ultrason işleminde uygulanacak parametreler optimize edilmiştir. Ekstraksiyon şartlarından sıcaklık sabit tutularak ultrasonik güç (30-60-90 W), katı:çözgen oranı (1:10, 1:30, 1:50 g/mL) ve süre (5-20-35 dk) üzerinde çalışılmış, elde edilen ekstraktların karotenoid içeriği HPLC cihazında belirlenmiştir. Ayrıca geleneksel yöntemde domates kabuğu:etil asetat oranı 1:30 g/mL olacak şekilde ayarlanarak 75oC’de 120 dk ekstraksiyon işlemi gerçekleştirilmiştir. Box-Benhken tasarımı yardımıyla belirlenen parametreler doğrultusunda örnek:çözücü oranı 1:50, süre 35 dk, güç 60 W koşullarında en yüksek likopen (197.12 mg/kg) ve β-karoten (12.95 mg/kg) miktarları elde edilmiştir. Geleneksel yöntemle karşılaştırıldığında ultrason ekstraksiyonunda likopen miktarı %21.4 daha az, β-karoten miktarı ise %11.0 daha fazla olduğu belirlenmiştir. Uygulanan tasarımda likopen için uyumlu olan model ikinci dereceden polinom olurken, β-karoten için doğrusal modelin uygun olduğu tespit edilmiştir.
ÇÖREK OTUNDAN İZOLE EDİLEN PROTEİNLERİN MODEL GIDA EMÜLSİYONLARINDA KULLANIMI VE ORAL PROSESİNİN TRİBOLOJİK İNCELENMESİ
Authors: YILMAZ Hilal
Published: March 2023

Kültürümüzde önemli yeri olan çörek otu sıklıkla yağı için tercih edilmektedir ve yağı çıkarılmış küspesinde ise protein gibi değerli bileşikler atık olarak kalmaktadır. Proteinler gıda endüstrisinde yaygın kullanılan emülgatörlerdir. Gıdalarda kullanıldığında, bitkisel proteinlerin oral prosesini anlamak, tat almayı ve duyusal kabul edilebilirliği etkilediği için önemlidir. Fakat ağız ortamında salya/mukus ile etkileşime giren çörek otu proteinleri ve bu proteinlerle sabitli emülsiyonların tat alımını etkileyen akış, yağlama, sürtünme ve kayganlık özelliklerindeki (tribolojik özellikler) değişimler daha önce araştırılmamıştır. Bu çalışma ile yağı çıkarılmış çörek otundan elde edilen proteinlerle hazırlanmış sulu çözeltilerin ve emülsiyonların model mukus varlığında ağız ortamında oluşturdukları sürtünme davranış değişiklikleri tribolojik olarak incelenmiştir. Ağız ortamını taklit edici yüzeyler arasında, çörek otu proteiniyle hazırlanmış emülsiyon ve model mukus ayrı ayrı çok iyi kayganlaştırıcı özellik göstermiştir. Fakat emülsiyon ve mukus karıştırıldığında sürtünme katsayısı oldukça artmıştır. Bu durum çörek otu proteini ile mukus proteininin etkileşime girerek emülsiyonda topaklanmaya sebep olduğunu göstermektedir.
FSH promotes immature porcine Sertoli cell proliferation by activating the CCR7/Ras-ERK signaling axis
Authors: Yin Yanfei , Ma Jiajia , Lu Xiaofang , Yan Saina , Jiang Qianqian , Wu Dazhi , Chen Bin , Weng Bo , Ran MaoLiang
Published: March 2023

In brief

The appropriate growth and functions of Sertoli cells are crucial to testis development and spermatogenesis in mammals. This study reveals a novel mechanism of follicle-stimulating hormone in immature porcine Sertoli cell proliferation.

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is a major Sertoli cell mitogen that binds to the FSH receptor. Sertoli cells are indispensable for testis development and spermatogenesis. However, the regulatory mechanisms of FSH in immature Sertoli cell proliferation have not been determined, particularly in domestic animals. In the present study, we identified the regulatory mechanisms of FSH during immature porcine Sertoli cell proliferation. Transcriptome analysis revealed 114 differentially expressed genes that were induced by FSH treatment, which contains 68 upregulated and 46 downregulated genes. These differentially expressed genes were enriched in multiple pathways, including the Ras signaling pathway. Knockdown of the CC-chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7) gene, which was upregulated by FSH, inhibited cell cycle progression by arresting cells in the G1 phase and reduced the cell proliferation and ERK1/2 phosphorylation. In addition, Kobe0065 inhibited Ras signaling in a similar manner as CCR7 knockdown. Furthermore, FSH abolished the effects of Ras signaling pathway inhibition and CCR7 knockdown. Collectively, FSH promotes immature porcine Sertoli cell proliferation by activating the CCR7/Ras-ERK signaling axis. Our results provide novel insights into the regulatory mechanism of FSH in porcine testis development and spermatogenesis by deciding the fate of immature porcine Sertoli cells.
Influence of adhesive type and content on the properties of particleboard made from sunflower husks
Authors: Zeleniuc Octavia , Brenci Luminita-Maria , Cosereanu Camelia , Fotin Adriana
Published: March 2023

The suitability of using milled sunflower husks as a wood substitute for producing medium-density particleboard was investigated. Additionally, the impact of the adhesive type and the amount used on the properties of the panels were evaluated. Urea-formaldehyde (UF) in three commercial variants (UCL, U96, and AG), phenol-formaldehyde (PF), modified melamine urea-formaldehyde (VM), and polymeric diphenylmethane diisocyanate (pMDI), as well as mixtures of VM/AG and of PF/pMDI, were used to manufacture the panels. The adhesive content was varied between 3% and 6% for pMDI, and from 9% and 12% for the other adhesives. Higher thickness swelling (TS) and water absorption (WA) values were observed with the UF panels compared with the PF and pMDI panels. The lowest mechanical strength properties were observed for the UF panels, with the commercial variants ranking (from highest to lowest): UCL > VM/AG > U96. Increasing the adhesive content level resulted in better dimensional stabilities and mechanical properties for the pMDI and PF panels, which met some of the performance requirements for interior uses prescribed by the relevant standard.
Knowledge of pharmacovigilance among healthcare professionals and the impact of an educational intervention
Authors: Shenoy Ashok K , Kamath Ashwin , Chowta Mukta N , Boloor Archith , Aravind Ajith , Thakur Priyamedha Bose , Kumar Sachin
Published: March 2023

Aim. To determine the knowledge regarding various aspects of pharmacovigilance among doctors and nurses of a tertiary care teaching hospital and to evaluate the effect of an educational intervention.

Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted among doctors and nurses of a tertiary care teaching hospital. The participants attended a one-hour educational session during which the concept of pharmacovigilance, the Pharmacovigilance Program of India, the need for reporting ADRs, and the method of reporting were explained by a subject expert. A 20-item questionnaire was used to assess their knowledge regarding pharmacovigilance before and after an educational session. The pre-post comparisons were done using Wilcoxon’s signed-rank test. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results. Forty-two doctors and 115 nurses participated in the study. A significant improvement in the participant scores was seen following the educational intervention in both doctors (Z = −5.344, p < 0.001) and nurses (Z = −8.808, p < 0.001). Lack of knowledge/awareness was perceived as the major barrier for ADR reporting among nurses as well as doctors.

Conclusion. There is need for education and training among doctors and nurses to enhance their knowledge about drug safety and reporting practices. Educational intervention is likely to improve the knowledge regarding pharmacovigilance, and thereby enhance reporting by healthcare professionals.