bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
BUSINESS ANALYSIS AND MARKETING OF TILAPIA CASE FLOATING NET CAGES IN ALANG RIVER VILLAGE, KARANG INTAN DISTRICT, BANJAR REGENCY, SOUTH KALIMANTAN PROVINCE
Authors: Dekayanti Tri , Febrianty Irma , Annisa Mira
Published: October 2023

Alang river Village, Karang Intan District is a village that has a lot of potential in the field of fisheries, especially in the floating net cage media with the commodity of Tilapia which is commonly used by the community, this fish cultivator business is a source of income in the village by utilizing the river that stretches around Alang river village. The problem that occurs in the Jasmine Fish Cultivator Group is the death of the fish which results in many losses and problems in access to fish marketing outside the South Kalimantan area. The purpose of this research was to analyze the feasibility of the business and to analyze the marketing of rearing tilapia in POKDAKAN Melati floating net cages in Sungai Alang village. The method this research is Primary, Secondary, Interview, Observation, Snowball Sampling, and Documentation Methods. The results of this research indicate that the business run by POKDAKAN Melati is feasible and profitable to be developed with profit the average per month is Rp. 5,309,863.2 within a repayment period of 0.46 years or 5 months 16 days, with a total NPV of 7% of Rp. 418,052,002, Net BCR 7% of 1.35% and IRR value of 136.74% Meanwhile, for the marketing channels, there are 2 marketing channels, namely semi-direct channels and indirect channels with the amount of Farmer Share analysis of 78% which can be said to be efficient.
 
Desa Sungai Alang Kecamatan Karang Intan merupakan desa yang memiliki banyak pontensi dibidang perikanan khusus nya pada media Karamba Jaring Apung dengan komoditi Ikan Nila yang biasa digunakan masyarakat, usaha pembudidaya ikan ini merupakan sumber penghasilan yang ada di desa tersebut dengan memanfaatkan sungai yang membentang disekitaran desa sungai alang. Permasalahan yang terjadi pada Kelompok Pembudidaya Ikan Melati adalah kematian ikan yang mengakibatkan banyaknya kerugian yang dialami dan permasalahan akses pemasaran ikan untuk luar daerah Kalimantan Selatan. Tujuan penelitian ini ialah menganalisis kelayakan usaha dan menganalisis pemasaran pembesaran ikan nila pada POKDAKAN Melati Karamba Jaring Apung Desa Sungai Alang. Metode dalam penelitian ini ialah Primer, Sekunder, Wawancara, Observasi, Snowball Sampling, dan Dokumentasi. Hasil dari penelitian menunjukkan bahwa usaha yang dijalankan POKDAKAN Melati layak dan menguntungkan untuk dikembangkan dengan hasil keuntungan rata-rata per bulan nya sebesar Rp. 5.309.863,2 dalam kurun waktu pengembalian 0,46 tahun atau 5 bulan 16 hari, dengan jumlah NPV 7% sebesar Rp. 418.052.002 , Net BCR 7% sebesar 1,35 % dan nilai IRR 136,74% sedangkan untuk salurannya pemasaran didapatkan 2 saluran pemasaran yaitu saluran semi langsung dan saluran tidak langsung dengan jumlah analisis Farmer Share 78% yang mana dapat dikatakan efisien.
Efektivitas Teknik Group Discussion Melalui Layanan Bimbingan Kelompok untuk Meningkatkan Kematangan Karir pada Siswa Kelas XII C Jurusan Akuntansi di SMKN 1 Banjarmasin.
Authors: Elvina Nur
Published: October 2023

Pentingnya memiliki kematangan karir padaasiswa sebagai bekal untukkmenjadi individuuyang berkualitas dannmemiliki masa depannyang cemerlang. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untukkmengetahui efektivitas teknik group discussion melalui layanan bimbingan kelompok untukkmeningkatkan kematangan karir pada siswa. Penelitianiini merupakannpenelitian kuantitatif menggunakan metodeeeksperimen dengannrancangan pre-eksperimen design dalam bentuk one group pretest-posttest. Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah siswa pada kelas XII C Jurusan Akuntansi yang berjumlah 34 orang. Sampel pada penelitian ini diperoleh dari kuesioner Skala Likert dannkriteria inklusi dengannmenggunakan teknik purposiveesampling yang berjumlah 4 orang. Prosuder pelaksanaan penelitian yang digunakannadalah bahan perlakuan berupa “Panduan Teknik Group Discussion untuk meningkatkan Kematangan Karir pada siswa kelas XII C Jurusan Akuntansi di SMKN 1 Banjarmasin”. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian menggunakan uji Paires Sample T- Test menunjukkan nilai signifikansi 0,006mmaka Hooditolak dan Ha diterima. Sehingga diharapkan dengan adanya penelitian ini terutama untuk guru BK dapat mengimplementasikan teknik Group Discussion secara inovatif dan untuk peneliti selanjutnya dapat memiliki landasan pengetahuan yang kuat dan matang mengenai kematangan karir dan teknik Group Discussion.
PENGARUH GOAL SETTING DAN KONTROL DIRI TERHADAP PROKRASTINASI AKADEMIK PADA SISWA KELAS XI DI SMKN 4 BANJARMASIN
Authors: Rahmawati Sri Indah
Published: October 2023

Penelitia mini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh antara Goal setting dan Kontrol diri terhadap Prokrastinasi Akademik siswa Kelas XI di SMK 4 Banjarmasin. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekata kuantitatif dengan jenis penelitian Pengaruh. Alat pengumpulan data menggunakan angket dan teknik penarikan sampel dengan sampel jenuh yaitu dengan menggunakan semua populasi 210 orang siswa. Teknik analisis data menggunakan statistik deskriptif, regresi liniear sederhana dan regresi liniear berganda. Hasil dari penelitian yang dilakukan, siswa kelas XI memiliki Goal setting dalam persentase tinggi, sedangkan pada Kontrol diri dalam persentase Tinggi, dan pada Prokrastinasi Akademik dalam persentase Tinggi. Hasil penelitian diperoleh berdasarkan pada perhitungan regresi linear berganda sig 0,176 > 0,05 dan nilai Fhitung 1,752 > Ftabel 3.04 menyatakan bahwa tidak terdapat Pengaruh yang signifikan antara Goal Setting dan Kontrol diri terhadap Prokrastinasi Akademik dikalangan siswa kelas XI di SMKN 4 Banjarmasin. Hal ini karena berdasarkan analisis data yang diambil skor total setiap siswa mendapatkan bahwa siswa yang memiliki goal setting sangat tinggi, kontrol diri sangat tinggi memiliki prokrastinasi akademik tinggi, dan siswa yang memiliki goal setting sedang, kontrol diri sedang juga memiliki perilaku prokrastinasi akademik, sehingga dapat di simpulkan bahwa siswa yang memiliki goal setting dan kontrol diri yang baik juga memiliki perilaku prokrastinasi akademik.
EFEKTIVITAS LAYANAN BIMBINGAN KELOMPOK DENGAN TEKNIK SELF-MANAGEMENT UNTUK MEMINIMALISIR KECANDUAN GAME ONLINE PADA SISWA KELAS X DI SMAN 2 BANJARMASIN
Authors: Cahayani Feby
Published: October 2023

Penelitian ini dilatarbelakangi oleh fenomena tingginya kecanduan bermain game online pada siswa. Kecanduan game online merupakan perilaku memainkan permainan melalui internet yang dilakukan berulang-ulang dan sulit untuk diakhiri. Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mengetahui apakah layanan bimbingan kelompok dengan teknik self management efektif untuk meminimalisir kecanduan game online pada siswa kelas X di SMAN 2 Banjarmasin. Penelitian ini merupakan jenis penelitian eksperimen dengan pendekatan kuantitatif. Design penelitian yang digunakan menggunakan pre-experimental designs dengan bentuk pretest-posttest control group design. Pengumpulan data dilakukan melalui angket kecanduan game online pada populasi yaitu 90 siswa yang berasal dari kelas X Mipa 1, X Ips 2 dan X bahasa sehingga didapatkan 6 siswa sample yang dibagi menjadi dua kelompok yaitu kelompok eksperimen dan kelompok kontrol. Berdasarkan hasil analisis pre-test dan post-test dengan menggunakan rumus uji mann-whitney u di aplikasi SPSS versi 21 pada table test statistics, baris Mann-Whitney U diperoleh harga U = 0,000 dan nilai pada p-value = 0.050/2 = 0,025 < 0,05 atau Ho ditolak dan Ha diterima, maka dapat dinyatakan terdapat penurunan skor setelah diberikan perlakuan. Sehingga hipotesis yang menyatakan layanan bimbingan kelompok dengan teknik self management efektif untuk meminimalisir kecanduan game online pada siswa kelas X di SMAN 2 Banjarmasin.
EFEKTIVITAS ROLE PLAYING DALAM MENINGKATKAN KEMAMPUAN INTERAKSI SOSIAL PADA SISWA KELAS VIII SMP NEGERI 25 BANJARMASIN
Authors: Safitri Amelia
Published: October 2023

Penelitian ini dilatar belakangi oleh adanya tingkat interaksi sosial yang rendah pada siswa di lingkungan sekitarnya. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menguji keefektifan layanan konseling kelompok dengan teknik role playing untuk meningkatkan interaksi sosial pada siswa. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian kuantitatif dengan menggunakan metode eksperimen dengan rancangan intact-group comparison yang dibagi menjadi kelompok eksperimen dan kelompok kontrol. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan di SMP Negeri 25 Banjarmasin. Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah siswa kelas VIII yang berjumlah 129 orang. Sampel dalam penelitian ini diperoleh dari kriteria dengan menggunakan teknik purposive sampling yang berjumlah 4 orang. Instrumen pengumpulan data berupa skala pengukuran kuesioner skala Likert untuk meningkatkan interaksi sosial. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa berdasarkan pengujian dari data yang diperoleh dengan menggunakan rumus Uji T-test yang menunjukan bahwa Thit > Ttab (8 > 4,303 dengan probabilitas kesalahan 0,05 atau 5%). Jadi kesimpulan yang dapat diambil yaitu H0 ditolak dan Ha diterima yang berarti teknik role playing dalam layanan konseling kelompok efektif terhadap peningkatan interaksi sosial siswa. Diharapkan dengan adanya penelitian ini terutama untuk guru BK dapat mengimplementasikan teknik role playing secara inovatif pada siswa untuk meningkatkan kemampuan interaksi sosial dan untuk peneliti selanjutnya diharapkan mampu mengembangkan tahap-tahap pelaksanaan teknik role playing dan mampu mencari planning jika terjadi suatu hambatan dalam pelakasanaan layanan konseling kelompok menggunakan teknik role playing.
UPAYA MENINGKATKAN RESILIENSI AKADEMIK MELALUI BIMBINGAN KELOMPOK DENGAN TEKNIK PEER COUNSELING PADA SISWA KELAS VII SMP GIBS BARITO KUALA
Authors: Sabila Farah Nur , Jamain Ririanti Rachmayanie , Ildiyanita Rizky
Published: October 2023

Tujuan penelitian ini yaitu untuk menganalisis keberhasilan dalam menggunakan layanan bimbingan kelompok dengan teknik peer counseling untuk meningkatkan resiliensi akademik siswa kelas VII di SMP GIBS Barito Kuala. Penelitian ini berjenis penelitian tindakan bimbingan dan konseling (PTBK) dengan menggunakan mix methods dan dilaksanakan dalam dua siklus. Adapun sampel diperoleh menggunakan purposive sampling dan didapatkan sampel kelas VII yang berjumlah 4 orang siswa. Alat pengumpulan data yang digunakan diantaranya: lembar observasi disertai rubrik, pedoman wawancara, dan angket berbasis google form. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan adanya peningkatan pada setiap kali pertemuan, untuk aktivitas peneliti mencapai kategori “baik”, untuk aktivitas siswa mencapai kategori “aktif” serta hasil pelaksanaan bimbingan kelompok dengan teknik peer counseling mencapai kategori “berhasil”. Dari penelitian tindakan tersebut dapat diambil kesimpulan bahwa resiliensi akademik dapat meningkat setelah diberikan layanan bimbingan kelompok dengan menggunakan teknik peer counseling.
KONTRIBUSI PENGGUNAAN MEDIA SOSIAL DAN PERGAULAN TEMAN SEBAYA TERHADAP PENGELOLAAN DIRI PADA SISWA KELAS XI SMAN 12 BANJARMASIN
Authors: Maysarah Maysarah , Rachman Ali , Ildiyanita Rizky
Published: October 2023

Penelitian bertujuan guna mengetahui mendeskripsikan penggunaan media sosial instagram dan pergaulan teman sebaya terhadap pengelolaan diri kepada siswa kelas XISMAN 12 Banjarmasin, serta buat mendeskripsikan pengaruh penggunaan media sosial instagram dan pergaulan teman sebaya terhadap pengelolaan diri pada siswa kelas XI SMAN 12 Banjarmasin.Eksplorasi ini menggunakan metodologi kuantitatif dengan jenis penelitian dampak. Perangkat pengumpulan informasi ini menggunakan metode survei dan pengujian skala Likert melalui contoh yang direndam, khususnya mengambil contoh lengkap dari 166 siswa kelas XI. Dengan strategi investigasi informasi dan menggunakan pengukuran ilustratif dan kekambuhan langsung yang berbeda.Hasil review adalah siswa kelas XI SMAN 12 Banjarmasin. Dalam pemanfaatan media berbasis web Instagram, pergualan teman sebaya dan pengelolaan diri berada pada klasifikasi sedang. Akibat dari strategi investigasi informasi menggunakan Uji Banyak Kekambuhan Lurus dan berdasarkan hasil pengujian diketahui bahwa ada pengaruh antara faktor X1 (media sosal Instagram) dan X2 (afiliasi teman sebaya) selama ini . Hal ini memberikan pengaruh pada pengelolaan diri sebesar 36,9% dan selanjutnya sebesar 63,1% sisanya dipengaruhi oleh unsur-unsur yang berbeda. Sehingga dapat dimaklumi bahwa semakin tinggi pemanfaatan media sosialInstagram dan pergaulan teman sebaya, maka semakin tinggi pengelolaan diri seseorang. Bagaimanapun, kembali ke setiap individu yang unik, seseorang harus memiliki kebijaksanaan penuh dalam mengendalikan diri dalam bereaksi terhadap berbagai kesempatan dan keadaan yang mampu.
Practical Autonomous Driving: A Survey of Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: De Shuvodeep , Saha Debanjan , Sallam Karam , Mohamed Ali , Radwan Ibrahim
Published: October 2023

Autonomous Driving (AD) has become a prominent research area in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in recent years. This opens the door wider for self-driving cars to surpass conventional vehicles in the current market share. Despite its apparent simplicity, AD is composed of complex and heterogeneous systems, which are in need of a high level of coordination and alignment to ensure both full automation and safety. Therefore, numerous research studies have been conducted over the last few years to facilitate such coordination and accelerate the capacity of these types of vehicles to be self-managed in complex situations. The paper summarises these approaches that led to building what is known nowadays as the autonomous driving pipeline. Moreover, although skepticism exists regarding the practicality of AD as a viable alternative to traditional vehicles, extensive research suggests the multiple benefits of relying on them for mobility. While challenges remain in implementing AD in the real world, including regulation and technical issues, substantial progress in recent years indicates a growing acceptance of AD in the near future. This paper further explores the advantages and opportunities of the conducted such systems in facilitating the practicality of Autonomous Driving.
Formal Calculation
Authors: Peng Ji
Published: October 2023

Formal Calculation uses an auxiliary form to calculate various nested sums and provides results in three forms. In addition to computation, it is also a powerful tool for analysis, allowing one to study various numbers in a unified way. This article contains many results of two types of Stirling numbers, associated Stirling numbers, and Eulerian numbers, making a great generalization of Euler polynomials, Wilson's theorem, and Wolstenholme's theorem, showing that they are just special cases. Formal Calculation provides a novel method for obtaining combinatorial identities and analyzing q-binomial.This article has obtained a large number of results in q-analogues, including inversion formulas for q-binomial coefficients. This article also introduces a theorem on symmetry.
High Sensitivity for Detection of Primary Diagnostic Variants in Autism Spectrum Disorder, Including De Novo Variants, with Trio Whole Genome Sequencing and Data Reanalysis
Authors: Bar Omri , Vahey Elizabeth , Mintz Mark , Frye Richard Eugene , Boles Richard Gregory
Published: October 2023

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common condition with lifelong implications and a strong hereditary component suggesting genetic underpinnings. The last decade has seen dramatic improvements in DNA sequencing and related bioinformatics and databases.

We analyzed the raw DNA sequencing files on the Variantyx® bioinformatics platform for the last 50 ASD patients evaluated with trio whole genome sequencing (trio-WGS). “Qualified” variants were defined as coding, rare, and evolutionarily conserved. Primary Diagnostic Variants (PDV) additionally were in genes directly linked to ASD and matched clinical correlation.

A PDV was identified in 34/50 (68%) of cases, including 25 (50%) cases with heterozygous de novo and 10 (20%) with inherited variants. De novo variants in genes directly associated with ASD were far more likely to be Qualifying than non-Qualifying versus a control group of genes not associated with ASD (P = 0.0002, odds ratio 29), validating that most are indeed disease related. Only 14/34 (41%) of PDV cases had the variant listed on the laboratory report, and reanalysis increased diagnostic yield from 28% to 68%. Variants that we assigned as PDVs yet not on the report were predominately de novo in genes not yet reported as ASD associated. Many subjects both with and without a PDV had inherited Qualifying variants in known ASD-associated genes, suggesting polygenic inheritance. Thirty-three subjects (66%) had treatment recommendation(s) based on DNA analyses.

Our results demonstrate high yield of trio-WGS for revealing molecular diagnoses in ASD that is greatly enhanced by re-analyzing DNA sequencing files. In contrast to previous reports, de novo variants dominate the findings, mostly representing novel conditions. This has implications to the cause and rising prevalence of autism.
Experimental Early Stimulation of Bone Tissue Neo-Formation for Critical Size Elimination Defects in the Maxillofacial Region
Authors: Patlataya Nadezhda N. , Bolshakov Igor Nikolaevich , Levenets Anatoli A. , Medvedeva Nadezhda N , Cherkashina Mariya A
Published: October 2023

Abstract: A biomaterial is proposed for closing extensive bone defects in the maxillofacial region. The composition of the biomaterial includes high-molecular chitosan, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronate, heparin, alginate and inorganic nanostructured hydroxyapatite. The purpose of the study is to demonstrate morphological and histological early signs of reconstruction of a bone cavity of critical size. The studies were carried out on 84 white female rats weighing 200-250 g. The study group consisted of 84 subjects in total, 40 in the experimental group and 44 in the control group. In all animals, three-walled bone defects measuring 0.5 x 04 x 05 cm were applied subperiosteally in the region of the angle of the lower jaw and filled in experimental group using lyophilized gel mass of chitosan-alginate-hydroxyapatite (CH-SA-HA). In control animals, the bone cavities were filled with an auto-blood clot after bone trepanation and bleeding. The observation periods are 3.5.7 days, 2.3.4.6.8 and 10 weeks. The control of bone regeneration was carried out using multiple morphological and histological analyses. Results showed that following implantation the chitosan construct actively replaced early-stage defects with the formation of a full-fledged new bone tissue as compared to the control group. Already, by the 7th day morphological analysis showed that formation of spongy bone tissue could be seen. After 2 weeks there was a pronounced increase in bone volume (P<0.01), and at 6 weeks after surgical intervention the closure of the defect was 70-80%, after 8 weeks - 100% without violation of bone morphology with a high degree of mineralization. Thus, the use of modified chitosan after filling eliminates bone defects of a critical size in the maxillofacial region, reveals early signs of bone regeneration, and serves as a promising material in reconstructive dentistry.
Elimination of Arsenic in Groundwater by Sorbents Derived from Chitosan and Iron Oxides. Applying Factorial Designs
Authors: Batistelli Marianela , Bultri Julian , Hernandez Trespalacios Mayra Alejandra , Mangiameli María Florencia , Gribaudo Lina , Bellù Sebastian , Frascaroli María Ines , González Juan Carlos
Published: October 2023

Arsenic is highly toxic, affecting millions of people in many regions of the world. That is why developing economic and efficient technologies is imperative to eliminate it. Sorption techniques are attractive as efficient and inexpensive sorbents can be used. Chitosan is an abundant, naturally occurring, biodegradable, low-cost biopolymer that can be combined with metal oxide to enhance its removability. This work aimed to synthesize a new chitosan-magnetite-based sorbent for arsenic removal. The synthesized sorbent does not present pores, and by FT-IR, functional groups of the chitosan and the presence of As(V) in the sorbent treated with arsenic were identified. The synthesized magnetite was characterized by XRD spectroscopy. Application of the Composite Central Design model showed that 0.22 g of the sorbent at pH 6.0 could remove 27.6% of As(V). Kinetic data, fitted with the pseudo-first and second-order models, indicated an ion exchange sorption and activation energy of 28.1-31.4 kJ mol-1. The isotherms were fitted with the Langmuir model, indicating a favourable monolayer adsorption with high affinity. The sorption energy, calculated by Dubinin-Radushkevich, 9.60-8.80 kJ mol-1, confirms a sorption mechanism mediated by ion exchange. The thermodynamic parameters of the process were ΔG°(-21.7/-19.7 kJ mol-1), ΔH°(16.7 kJ mol-1) and ΔS°(123.3 J mol-1 K-1).
Correlation of Anthropometric Characteristics and Movement Behavior with Lower Extremity Muscle Power and Dynamic Knee Valgus in Adolescent Basketball Athletes
Authors: Stojiljkovic Aleksandar , Karagianni Eleni , Antoniou Varsamo , Pepera Garyfallia
Published: October 2023

Obesity in adolescents combined with the increased exposure time to electronic devices, enhances a sedentary lifestyle and is linked to the risk of developing musculoskeletal injuries. The aim of this study was to identify possible correlations between anthropometric characteristics, body composition, exposure time to electronic devices or screen time (ST) and physical activity (PA) level along with muscle power and dynamic knee valgus (DKV) in young athletes to avoid future injuries. A total of 125 adolescent basketball athletes (66.4% boys), 12 to 17 years old (13.94±1.58 years) participated. Anthropometric and demographic characteristics were recorded. PA level was assessed through IPAQ and ST through a single question from the HELENA study. The Counter Movement Jump test was used for the evaluation of the lower limb muscle power, while the Single Leg Drop Jump test was used for the evaluation of the dynamic knee valgus via two-dimensional (2D) kinematic analysis. The Pearson index showed a statistically significant positive correlation between muscle power and height (r=0.788, p<0.001), while the Spearman index showed a smaller but equally statistically significant positive correlation with BMI (rs =0.651, p<0.001) and age (rs=0.579, p<0.001). The ST (rs= -0.194, p=0.03) showed a weak negative correlation with DKV, while PA (r=0.85, p<0.001) showed a high, statistically significant, positive correlation. The anthropometric characteristics of adolescent athletes can determine their ability to produce muscle power. A high level of physical activity could play a key role in compensating and thus reducing the negative effects of high exposure to screen time on the dynamic knee valgus
Healthcare Sustainability: Educating Clinicians through Telementoring
Authors: Katzman Neil F , Pandey Navin , Norsworthy Kent , Maury John MIchael , Lord Sabrina , Tomedi Laura E
Published: October 2023

Climate Change is the most serious planetary emergency of our time. Carbon emissions secondary to the healthcare industry account for about ten percent of all emissions in the United States. Health professionals, therefore, need to understand how they can make a difference in their profession, by understanding the health-related impacts of climate change and the importance of healthcare sustainability. An 8-week telementoring Climate Change Healthcare Sustainability ECHO series was developed to educate healthcare professionals in these topics such as the health-related effects of climate change, healthcare sustainability, quality healthcare and carbon accounting. A total of 376 participants from throughout the US and 16 other countries- completed this 8-week series and received no-cost continuing medical education credits. The evaluation consisted of pre and post Zoom polls, weekly post-session surveys and the registration demographics. Participants were primarily physicians and public health professionals who significantly improved their knowledge and communication skills after the course as compared to starting the training.
Substance Use-Related Curriculum for Paramedic Students in British Columbia: A Document Analysis
Authors: Bolster Jennifer , Batt Alan
Published: October 2023

Background and Aims: Paramedics attend an unprecedented number of drug poisoning events daily in British Columbia (BC), Canada due to the ongoing public health crisis related to an increasingly toxic and unregulated supply of illicit drugs. Paramedics have the potential to support alternative models of care to reduce harm, but their perspectives towards harm reduction initiatives are polarized. Understanding the drug-related substance use content in paramedic curriculum documents is important for deploying effective harm mitigating programs. The objective of this study was to understand what drug-related substance use content currently exists within paramedic curriculum documents in British Columbia. Methods: We performed a document analysis of curriculum documents in BC’s paramedic training institutions, the primary program textbook, and the 2011 National Occupational Competency Profile (NOCP). We used the Checklist for Assessment and Reporting of Document Analysis (CARDA) tool to perform our analysis. We analysed and coded documents both inductively and deductively and subsequently combined, refined, and used the codes to inform the development of themes via reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Of the 44 documents analysed, 22 included codes relevant to the research questions. Paramedics are primarily taught to care for people who use drugs in an acute drug-poisoning response only, with little consideration of holistic care, and no meaningful mention of harm reduction. Some stigmatizing language was found within the content. Conclusions: Many opportunities to introduce holistic models of care for people who use drugs along the entire continuum of care are unaddressed by paramedic curriculum documents in BC. Curriculum developers should include people who have lived and living experience of drug use in the co-design of educational programs involving their care. Further qualitative analyses are required to evaluate the relationship between paramedic education and provider-based stigma.
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Associated with Maize (Zea mays L.) in the Formation and Stability of Aggregates in Two Types of Soil
Authors: Gómez-Leyva Juan Florencio , Segura-Castruita Miguel Angel , Hernández-Cuevas Laura Verónica , Íñiguez-Cortez Mayra
Published: October 2023

This research was carried out to know the species composition of the Arbuscular Micorrhizal Fungi (AMF) communities native to two contrasting soils, and to establish the development and stability of aggregates in those soils contained in pots, as substrates for corn plants in the greenhouse. These soils were inoculated with allochthonous AMF. The experiment had three factors: Soil (S with two levels [S1 and S2]); AMF (A with three levels: without application [A0], with application of Claroideoglomus claroideum [A1] and with application of a consortium [A2]) and Fertilization (f with two levels (without fertilization [f0] and with fertilization [f1]); which generated 12 treatments, each with five replicates (60 experimental units [EU]); the EU consisted of a pot with a plant of corn; with a completely random distribution. The results showed that the Typic Ustifluvent presented nine species of native AMF, while the Typic Dystrustert had only three species. The native AMF in each soil influenced the activity of the allochthonous AMF, with differences being found in the stability of the macro-sized aggregates (0.5 to 2.0 mm) of each soil when they did not receive fertilization
Crystal Growth and Structure of a New Quaternary Adamantine CuGaGeS4
Authors: Tomm Yvonne , Többens Daniel M. , Gurieva Galina , Schorr Susan
Published: October 2023

Single crystals of quaternary adamantine type Cu•GaGeS4 were grown by chemical vapor transport technique using iodine as transport agent. Dark red transparent crystals grew in a temperature gradient of dT = 900–750 °C. Chemical characterization by X-ray fluorescence showed an off-stoichiometric composition of the Cu•GaGeS4 crystals, in particular a slight Ge-deficit. By X-ray diffraction, Cu•GaGeS4 was found to adopt the chalcopyrite-type structure with the space group I-42d. The cation distribution in this structure was analyzed by multiple energy anomalous synchrotron X-ray diffraction and it was found that Cu and vacancies occupy the 4a site, whereas Ga and Ge occupy the 4b site. The band gap energies of several off-stoichiometric Cu•GaGeS4 crystals were determined by UV-Vis spectroscopy and are in the range of 2.1 to 2.4 eV. A non-linear correlation of the band gap energy with the Ge-content of the compound follows the usual bowing behaviour of semiconductor alloys with a bowing parameter of b = 1.45(0.08).
Diabetes in a Dish: Modeling and Phenotyping Acute and Chronic Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus In Vitro in Rodent Heart and Skeletal Muscle Cells
Authors: Kopp Elena Luise , Deussen Daniel Nils , Cuomo Raphael , Lorenz Reinhard , Roth David M , Mahata Sushil K. , Patel Hemal H
Published: October 2023

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) has a complex pathophysiology which makes modeling the disease difficult. We aimed to develop a novel model for simulating T2D in vitro, including hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and variably elevated insulin levels targeting muscle cells. We investigated insulin resistance (IR), cellular respiration, mitochondrial morphometry and the associated function in different T2D -mimicking conditions in rodent skeletal (C2C12) and cardiac (H9C2) myotubes. Physiological controls included 5mM glucose with 20mM mannitol as osmotic controls. To mimic hyperglycemia, cells were exposed to 25mM glucose. Further treatments included insulin, palmitate, or both. After short-term (24h) or long-term (96h) exposure, we performed radioactive glucose uptake and mitochondrial function assays. Mitochondrial size and relative frequencies were assessed by morphometric analyses using electron micrographs. C2C12 and H9C2 cells treated short- or long-term with insulin and/or palmitate and HG showed IR. C2C12 myotubes exposed to T2D -mimicking conditions showed significantly decreased ATP-linked respiration and spare respiratory capacity, and less cytoplasmic area occupied by mitochondria, implying mitochondrial dysfunction. In contrast, H9C2 myotubes showed elevated ATP-linked and maximal respiration and increased cytoplasmic area occupied by mitochondria, indicating better adaptation to stress and compensatory lipid oxidation in a T2D environment. Both cell lines displayed elevated fractions of swollen/vacuolated mitochondria after T2D -mimicking treatments.Our stable and reproducible in vitro model of T2D rapidly induced IR, changes in ATP-linked respiration, shifts in energetic phenotypes, and mitochondrial morphology, which are comparable to the muscles of patients suffering from T2D. Thus, our model should allow studying disease mechanisms, potential new targets, and screen candidate therapeutic compounds.
A Case Series of Potential Pediatric Cyanotoxin Exposures Associated with Harmful Algal Blooms in Northwest Ohio
Authors: French Benjamin W. , Kaul Rajat , George Jerrin , Haller Steven T. , Kennedy David J. , Mukundan Deepa
Published: October 2023

Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (CyanoHABs) are increasing in prevalence and severity globally and locally in the Great Lakes region. CyanoHABs have the potential to produce serious adverse human health effects due to the production of cyanotoxins from cyanobacteria. Common routes of exposure include recreational exposure (swimming, skiing, and boating), ingestion, and aerosolization of contaminated water sources. Cyanotoxins have been shown to adversely affect several major organ systems contributing to hepatotoxicity, gastrointestinal distress, and pulmonary inflammation. We present three pediatric case-reports that coincided with CyanoHABs exposure with a focus on presentation of illness, diagnostic work-up, and treatment of CyanoHAB-related illnesses. Potential cyanotoxin exposure occurred while swimming in the Maumee River and Maumee State Park in Northwest OH during the Summer months which coincide with peak CyanoHAB activity. Primary symptoms included generalized macular rash, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and severe respiratory distress. Significant labs included leukocytosis and elevated C-reactive protein. All patients ultimately recovered with supportive care. Symptoms following potential cyanotoxin exposure coincide with multiple disease states representing an urgent need to develop specific diagnostic tests of exposure.
Improvement of the Genome Editing Tools Based on 5FC/5FU Counter Selection in Clostridium acetobutylicum
Authors: Boudignon Eglantine , Foulquier Céline , Soucaille Philippe
Published: October 2023

Several genetic tools have been developed for Clostridium acetobutylicum utilizing 5-fluorouracil (5FU) or 5-fluorocytosine (5FC) resistance as a selection method. A method based on the integration, by single crossing-over, of a suicide plasmid (pCat-upp) followed by selection for the second crossing-over using a counter-selectable marker (the upp gene and 5FU resistance) was recently developed for genome editing in C. acetobutylicum. This method allows the modification of the genome without any marker or scar left in a strain of C. acetobutylicum that is ∆upp. Unfortunately, 5FU has strong mutagenic properties inducing mutations in the strain’s genome. After numerous applications of the pCat-upp/5FU system for genome modification in C. acetobutylicum, the bacteria became completely resistant to 5FU in the presence of the upp gene, resulting in failure in the selection for the second crossing-over. It was found that the potential repressor of the pyrimidine operon, PyrR, was mutated at position A115, leading to the 5FU resistance of the strain. We developed two plasmids, one overexpressing the native pyrR gene and a suicide plasmid carrying a non-mutated and optimized pyrR gene (pyrR*) and upp, which allowed us to restore the 5FU sensitivity of the strain. We also improved the pCat-upp/5FU system by reducing the concentration of 5FU from 1mM to 5 µM using a define synthetic medium.
Marine Cultural Target Detection for Underwater Robotics Based on Deep Aggregation Network with Deformation Convolution
Authors: Yang Yutuo , Liang Wei , Zhou Daoxian , Zhang Yinlong , Xu Gaofei
Published: October 2023

Underwater robotics equipped with visual detection systems have the function of detecting un-derwater artifacts, which is of great significance to deep-sea archaeology. Underwater artifacts are located in complex environments with poor imaging conditions, and the targets have chal-lenging problems such as breakage, stacking, and sediment burial, which causes the marine cul-tural target detection failures. To solve these problems, this paper proposes an underwater cul-tural target detection algorithm based on the deformable deep aggregation network model for underwater robotics exploration. To fully extract the target feature information of underwater targets in complex environments, this paper designs a multi-scale deep aggregation network with deformable convolutional layers. Besides, the BAM attention module is designed for fea-ture optimization, which enhances the potential feature information of the target while weak-ening the background interference information. Finally, the target prediction is achieved through feature fusion at different scales. The proposed algorithm has been extensively validat-ed and analyzed on the collected underwater artifact datasets, and the precision, recall, and mAP of the algorithm have reached 93.1%, 91.4%, and 92.8%, respectively. In addition, the present al-gorithm has been practically deployed on the underwater robotics. In the deep-sea tests, the ar-tifact detection frame rate reaches up to 19 fps, which satisfies the real-time target detection。
Thyroid Disease and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Athanassiou Lambros , Kostoglou-Athanassiou Ifigenia , Kaiafa Georgia , Tsakiridis Pavlos , Koukosias Nikolaos , Mitsoulis Spyridon , Savopoulos Christos , Athanassiou Panagiotis
Published: October 2023

Background and Objectives: Thyroid disease has been associated with autoimmune disorders. As systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease with diverse manifestations spanning across all organ systems, the relationship of SLE with thyroid disorders needs investigation. In particular, the relationship of SLE with autoimmune thyroid disease has attracted the interest of the research community. The aim was to evaluate the relationship of SLE with autoimmune thyroid disease. Materials and Methods: A cohort of 45 consecutive patients, mean age 47,97 years (range 21-79 years) and 45 age and sex-matched controls were prospectively studied over a period of 12 months for the presence of thyroid disease and the prevalence of antithyroid antibodies. Results: Four patients (8.9%) were found to suffer from primary hypothyroidism, 5 (11.11%) from subclinical hypothyroidism and 1 (2.22%) from hyperthyroidism, whereas 1 (2.22%) of the controls had primary hypothyroidism and 1 (2.22%) had hyperthyroidism. Five patients (11.11%) had a thyroid hormone profile compatible with the presence of euthyroid sick syndrome. Thyroid peroxidase (TPOab) and thyroglobulin (Tgab) antibodies were detected in 20/45 and 15/45 of the SLE population and in 7/45 and 5/45 of the controls, respectively (p<0.05, chi square test). Conclusions: In conclusion, the incidence of clinical thyroid disease is greater amongst SLE patients than in a control population and in a significant number of these patients antithyroid antibodies are detectable. Thus, a subset of lupus patients appears to be predisposed to the development of thyroid disease and this should be considered when evaluating patients with SLE.
Carbon Accumulation and the Possibility of Carbon Losses by Vertical Movement of Dissolved Organic Carbon in West Siberian Peatlands
Authors: Zarov Evgeny A. , Lapshina Elena D. , Kuhlmann Iris , Schulze Ernst Detlef
Published: October 2023

We studied peat stratigraphy at the Mukhrino peatland, which is a typical ombrotrophic bog for the middle taiga zone of Western Siberia, to gain insights about its history, hydrology and carbon fluxes. Seven cores were collected from locations chosen to represent the typical present-day vegetation types, for dating of separated dissolved (DOC) and particulate (POC) organic carbon fractions using the Accelerator Mass Spectrometer (AMS) radiocarbon ($^{14}$C) method. The oldest peat was found at the bottoms of an underlying lake (10,053 cal. year BP) and an ancient riverbed (10,989 cal. year BP). For the whole history of the peatland the average peat accumulation rate was estimated to be 0.067±0.018 cm yr-1 (0.013-0.332 cm yr-1) and the carbon accumulation rate was 38.56±12.21 g m-2yr-1 (28.46–57.91 g m-2 yr-1). There were clear age differences between the separated samples of DOC and POC. DOC was older than POC in the uppermost 150 cm of the peat deposit, and younger in the deeper layers. The difference in age increased with depth, reaching 2,000–3,000 years at the bottom of the peat deposit (depth 430--530 cm). Following consideration of a range of factors that could potentially cause the dating discrepancy, we hypothesised that DOC continuously moves down into the mineral sediment beneath the peat, as an additional carbon flux that results in mixing of younger and older carbon. On this basis we estimated the apparent rate of DOC downward movement and the associated rate of carbon loss. The first estimate of the average rate of DOC downward movement in Western Siberia is 0.047±0.019 cm yr-1.
SPOP Gene Mutations in Prostate Cancer: Deciphering Their Role in Disease Characterization and Targeted Interventions on AR Signaling
Authors: Zakari Suleiman
Published: October 2023

Background: Prostate cancer is a global health concern, necessitating ongoing research to enhance our comprehension of its molecular foundations and develop more efficacious therapeutic approaches. Among the emerging protagonists in this arena is Speckle-type POZ (pox virus and zinc finger protein) (SPOP), an E3 ubiquitin ligase substrate adaptor protein. SPOP's recent ascent to prominence in prostate cancer research is attributed to its crucial role in regulating the Androgen Receptor (AR) signaling pathway. This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive synthesis of existing knowledge concerning SPOP mutations in prostate cancer. It seeks to elucidate their significance in characterizing the disease and their potential as therapeutic targets. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in multiple databases, including PubMed, Web of science, Scopus and google scholar to identify relevant studies published up to September 2023. Eligible studies included investigations of SPOP mutations in prostate cancer and their implications. Data extraction, quality assessment, and synthesis were performed in conformity to the PRISMA guidelines. Results: The review revealed that SPOP mutations are recurrent events in prostate cancer, with a notable prevalence in specific molecular subtypes. These mutations primarily affect the MATH domain of SPOP, disrupting its substrate recognition function. Notably, SPOP mutations have profound consequences on the AR signaling pathway, leading to increased AR protein stability and transcriptional activity. The clinical implications of SPOP mutations remain diverse, with varying associations with prognostic outcomes. Conclusion: SPOP mutations represent a significant facet of prostate cancer biology, influencing disease heterogeneity and clinical behavior. While their precise prognostic significance is evolving, their functional impact on the AR pathway highlights their potential as therapeutic targets. This systematic review provides a comprehensive overview of SPOP mutations in prostate cancer, contributing to our understanding of the disease's molecular landscape and therapeutic avenues.
Curvature Coding in Human Vision: A Classical Review Across Psychophysics, Neurophysiology and Computer Vision. What’s Missing?
Authors: Nisar Irfa
Published: October 2023

A study of curvature along the contour provides important sources of information about the shape of an object. Knowledge of contour curvature allows for the perception of and interaction with 3D objects. In this review, we will explore the value of contour curvature in the field of neurophysiology, psychophysics, computer vision, and psychology.

The serial consolidation of disjoint edges, oriented in a particular manner, into composited curves allows building of identifiable shapes in occluded natural environments [Hess1999, Wertheimer1923, Zucker1989, Feldman2001]. Examples are our ability to pick objects, sort and manage shapes otherwise hidden or confounded by occlusion in messy natural environments. Contour curvature has been intensively studied in psychology as it forms the first steps in 2D shape building which eventually becomes 3D object recognition in the human brain.
Advancements in Payments Does Influence Inflation Rate
Authors: Albarrak Najla Saleh , Alsanousi Hessa Abdulaziz
Published: October 2023

Inflation is a crucial macroeconomic indicator which measures changes in the general level of prices of goods and services. In recent years, a series of successive events affected the inflation rates. To fight this increase in inflation, governments start to take different actions through their monetary and fiscal policies. In this research 10 independent parameters were used to see their effect on inflation rates. Some are traditional like GDP, Population, and exchange rate while others are some new technology related parameters like E-money payments transactions and number of Institutions offering payment services/instruments. The dependent parameter is the consumer price index (CPI). All parameters were taken in 8 years period (2013-2020). Supervised machine learning is used to run a robust regression model. The results show that technology advancement in payments is not a catalyst for price inflation if it is used properly and under regulations and control monetary policies. The results direct regulators to have a good understanding of the situation and take the right action in their policies of adopting fintech businesses.
Evaluation of Cell Rupture Techniques on the Extraction of Proteins from Microalgae Tetradesmus obliquus
Authors: Silva César Augusto Sodré da , Sibaja Karen Vanessa Marimón , Cizilio Sabrina de Ramos , Miranda Júnior José Roberto , Santana Rejane de Castro , Martins Marcio Arêdes , Leite Maurício de Oliveira , Oliveira Eduardo Basílio de , Coimbra Jane Sélia dos Reis
Published: October 2023

The high protein content of several microalgal species makes them attractive and unconventional for applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Due to microalgae's robust cell wall, cell rupture is necessary to improve the extraction of their intracellular proteins. Thus, choosing a suitable cell-breaking treatment before protein extraction is a vital downstream processing step. Additionally, it is necessary to use an effective technique for monitoring and measuring the impact of rupture treatments on microalgal cell walls. In our study, Tetradesmus obliquus cells were disrupted by three different mechanical rupture methods: high-pressure homogenization (HPH), ultrasound (US), and ball milling (BM). The ruptured biomass cells were counted, and soluble proteins were extracted and quantified. The cell counting technique did not detect differences between intact and damaged cells after BM treatment because the dye (erythrosine B) did not permeate the microalgae biomass accurately. The US treatment promoted the highest yield of total protein extraction (19.95%). The yields of protein extraction of T. obliquus with HPH (15.68%) and BM (14.11%) were significantly (p value ≤ 0.05) lower than that achieved in the US treatment. The increase in the number of extraction steps increased the protein recovery. Thus, the content of extracted soluble protein was a reliable indirect index for a quantitative comparison of the cell disruption level.
Image Encryption Using Improved Hybrid Chaotic Map and Spiral Transformation
Authors: Yang Hengfu , Jiang Mingfang
Published: October 2023

Image encryption based on chaotic maps is an important way to ensure the secure communication of digital multimedia on the Internet. To improve the encryption performance and security of image encryption systems, a new image encryption algorithm is proposed by employing a compound chaotic map and random cyclic shift. Firstly, an improved Hybrid chaotic system is designed by coupling Logistic, ICMIC, Tent, and Chebyshev maps (HLITC). Comparison tests with previous chaotic maps in terms of chaotic trajectory, Lyapunov exponent, and Kolmogorov entropy illustrate the new hybrid chaotic map has better chaotic performance. Then the proposed HLITC chaotic system is used to develop a new chaotic image encryption scheme with the double cyclic shift. The improved HLITC chaotic system is performed to generate key sequences used in the image scrambling and diffusion stage. The spiral transformation controlled by chaotic sequence is used to scramble the pixels of the plaintext image, while the XOR operation based on a chaotic map is used for pixel diffusion. Extensive experiments of statistical analysis, key sensitivity, and keyspace analysis are conducted. Experimental results show the proposed encryption scheme has good robustness against brute force attacks, statistical attacks, and differential attacks, and is more effective than many existing chaotic image encryption algorithms.