bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hand eczema associated with frequent hand washing and use of hand sanitizer during COVID-19 pandemic: A case series
Authors: Sharma Nidhi Raghunandan , Singh Ramanjit , Patil Anant
Published: September 2022

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The disease, because of its associated morbidity, mortality, and fast spread, has created panic among all sections of society. Hand washing and hand sanitizers are useful preventive measures against acquisition of SARS-CoV-2. However, overzealous use may be harmful and can cause hand eczema. People with certain occupations have higher risk of hand eczema. In this article, we report six adult patients who developed hand eczema after frequent hand washing and use of hand sanitizers during COVID-19 pandemic. Treatment and outcome of hand eczema in these patients are also discussed.
Impact of platelet-rich fibrin on pain after mandibular third molar extraction: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Raja Kumara , Devi Kavitha
Published: September 2022

Platelet rich fibrin (PRF) is an autologous biomaterial and has many clinical applications. It is produced without the addition of anticoagulant and with no gelling agent, through the immediate centrifugation of blood after collection. The effect of PRF on post-surgical pain is unclear. Thus the aim of this systematic review was to assess whether PRF was effective in controlling pain after the extraction of bilateral mandibular third molars. A comprehensive literature search was performed for articles published from January 2000 to January 2021 in the PubMed, PubMed Central, Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), Campbell systematic review, Scopus, Cochrane review, Embase and Google scholar. Randomized clinical trials with PRF used as one of the comparison groups PRF after extraction and articles assessing pain as an outcomes measure were included for the systematic review. Results: A total of 160 records were found by preliminary screening through database search and 30 records were retrieved by additional sources, of which eleven were selected for qualitative analysis and four for quantitative analysis. A meta-analysis was performed only for pain, due to the considerable heterogeneity among studies for the other outcome variables. The overall quality of evidence was low for all outcomes of included studies. In these studies pain was assessed using a visual analog scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (most severe pain) point scale. Post-operative pain on day 1, 3 and 7 showed statistically significant difference between the PRF and non-PRF groups. In conclusion PRF administered after third molar extraction significantly reduced pain. But, further randomized controlled trials with larger cases and well-designed models are essential to validate the current findings.
What are “health” and “oral health”?
Authors: Foley Michael Anthony , Lalloo Ratilal , Spencer Andrew John , Do Loc Giang
Published: September 2022

Health and oral health for individuals and societies are a worthy goal, but few consider the meanings of “health” and “oral health.” Definitions may seem inconsequential, and no definitions can fully capture the complexities of health and oral health, but they serve as guidelines for care and direction markers of health policy. The 1946 World Health Organization definition of health as “… complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” led to a greater acceptance by many that “health” extends beyond the prevention and treatment of disease, and that an individual’s subjective, self-determined health status based on their own experiences, values, and priorities is as valid as a clinician’s objective view based on clinical indicators. However, this broad, holistic view of health was not accepted as readily in dentistry. Definitions of oral health have changed substantially in recent years, but their development continues to lag behind definitions for general health.
Computational Codes for the Hydrogeological Modeling in the Safety Assessment of Nuclear Facilities
Authors:   Nuclear Safety Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Kapyrin I. V.
Published: September 2022

The paper analyzes modern trends in the development and use of software systems for three-dimensional hydrogeological modeling. It provides an analytical overview of most recent and widely used software products, their development process, the implemented models and the numerical methods applied. The study specifies a range of typical tasks addressed by Russian nuclear industry requiring the development of numerical geofiltration and geomigration models. To demonstrate the use of modern computational technologies, studied was the case involving calculations in the GeRa software package performed for LRW DDF. The paper identifies the trends for further software evolution taking into account the Russian needs in the development of near-surface and deep RW disposal facilities, decommissioning, as well as the accumulated experience in the operation of RW storage facilities and global trends in the code development.
Метод проекции Канторовича в приближении обобщенного квадратичного спектра
Authors: Kamouche S. , Guebbai H. , Ghait M. , Kurulay M.
Published: September 2022

The objective of this paper is to construct a generalized quadratic spectrum approximation based on the Kantorovich projection method which llows us to deal with the spectral pollution problem. For this purpose, we prove that the property U (see Eq. 3) holds under weaker conditions than the norm and the collectively compact convergence. Numerical results illustrate the effectiveness and the convergence of our method.

Целью данной работы является построение обобщенной квадратичной аппроксимации спектра на основе проекционного метода Канторовича, которая позволяет справиться с проблемой спектрального загрязнения. Для этого мы доказываем, что свойство U (см. (3)) выполняется при более слабых условиях, чем норма и коллективно компактная сходимость. Численные результаты иллюстрируют эффективность и сходимость нашего метода.
A peripherally located air recirculation device containing an activated carbon filter reduces VOC levels in a simulated operating room
Authors: Carroll Gregory , Kirschman David
Published: September 2022

Electrosurgery procedures produce airborne contaminants including volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The effectiveness of commercial grade activated carbon at removing toluene, a typical VOC, from the air in an enclosed simulated operating room when interfaced with an air recirculation device was tested. The concentration of toluene in the air was measured using gas sensitive semiconductor VOC sensors. When the air recirculation device containing activated carbon was turned on, the concentration of toluene in the air decayed exponentially. When the device was off, the toluene concentration reduced much more slowly. After 130 min., a VOC sensor placed near the air recirculation device showed VOC reductions of approximately 30% when the device is on and less than 1% when the device is off. Changing the activated carbon filter after 22 h of constant use showed an abrupt increase in the rate of toluene removal.
Fate and Reactivity of Peroxides formed over BiVO4 Anodes in Bicarbonate Electrolytes
Authors: Schanz Tobias , Burek Bastien O. , Bloh Jonathan Z.
Published: September 2022

For the electrochemical and photoelectrochemical synthesis of hydrogen peroxide, aqueous bicarbonate electrolytes have been reported with much higher efficiency compared to other alternatives. It was proposed that this is due to efficient oxidation of the bicarbonate to peroxymonocarbonate (PMC) with subsequently hydrolyzes to hydrogen peroxide. However, as we show herein, PMC forms stable concentrations and does not hydrolyze completely. Due to its much better oxidation kinetics this may influence the sensitivity of the employed peroxide quantification methods. Particularly commercial test strips are susceptible to this, giving rise to uncertainty about the validity of the high peroxide formation efficiency in bicarbonate electrolytes. On the other side, PMC’s superior oxidation kinetics may mean that the resulting solutions are even more potent oxidants than previously suspected.
Accelerated Weight Histogram method to assess membrane permeability
Authors: Benmameri Mehdi , Chantemargue Benjamin , Humeau Antoine , Trouillas Patrick , Fabre Gabin
Published: September 2022

Passive permeation events across biological membranes are determining steps in the pharmacokinetics of xenobiotics. To reach an accurate and rapid prediction of membrane permeation coefficients of drugs is a complex challenge, which can efficiently support drug discovery. Such predictions are indeed highly valuable as they may guide the selection of potential leads with optimum bioavailabilities prior to synthesis. Theoretical models exist to predict these coefficients. Many of them are based on molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, which allow calculation of permeation coefficients through the evaluation of both the potential of mean force (PMF) and the diffusivity profiles. However, these simulations still require intensive computational efforts, and novel methodologies should be developed and benchmarked. Free energy perturbation (FEP) method was recently shown to estimate PMF with a significantly reduced computational cost compared to the adaptive biasing force method. This benchmarking was achieved with small molecules, namely short-chain alcohols. Here, we show that to estimate the PMF of bulkier, drug-like xenobiotics, conformational sampling is a critical issue. To reach a sufficient sampling with FEP calculations requires a relatively long time-scale, which can lower the benefits related to the computational gain. In the present work, the Accelerated Weight Histogram (AWH) method was employed for the first time in all-atom membrane models. The AWH method appears affordable to estimate PMF profiles of a series of drug-like xenobiotics, compared to other enhanced sampling methods. The continuous exploration of the crossing pathway by AWH also allows modelling subdiffusion by computing fractional diffusivity profiles. The method is also versatile as its input parameters are largely insensitive to the molecule properties. It also ensures a detailed description of the molecule orientations along the permeation pathway, picturing all intermolecular interactions at an atomic resolution. Here, AWH was applied on a series of 12 xenobiotics, including four weak acids, and a coherent structure-activity relationship was established.
Sodium silicate and hexametaphosphate promote the release of (oxyhydr)oxide nanoparticles from corroding iron
Authors: Trueman Benjamin F , Locsin Javier M , Doré Evelyne , Hood Kalli , Gagnon Graham A
Published: September 2022

Sequestrants such as polyphosphate and sodium silicate are used widely to control iron precipitation in drinking water, but less is known about their impacts on iron corrosion scale. Here we characterize the nanoparticulate iron (oxyhydr)oxide suspensions that result from corroding cast iron coupons in solutions containing either sodium hexametaphosphate (3 mg P L-1) or sodium silicate (100 mg SiO2 L-1). We determined the elemental composition and size distribution of these suspensions using flow field-flow fractionation with ultraviolet, multielement, and multiangle light scattering detection (FFF-UV-MALS-ICP-MS). Both sequestrants yielded stable iron suspensions, and the pooled median radius of gyration at peak 57Fe intensity was 22 nm, corresponding to a sphere-equivalent geometric diameter of 57 nm. The median Feret diameter and ASTM roundness were 50 nm and 0.4, respectively, as determined by transmission electron microscopy. Lead associated readily with iron nanoparticles, and in the hexametaphosphate suspension it associated preferentially with iron over free hexametaphosphate. Sequestrants then, may interact with iron corrosion scale to yield effective transport vectors for lead in drinking water systems, even when complexation of free lead by the sequestrant is negligible.
Efficient multi-configurational quantum chemistry approach to single-ion magnets based on density matrix embedding theory
Authors: Ai Yuhang , Sun Qiming , Jiang Hong
Published: September 2022

Density matrix embedding theory (DMET) provides a systematic framework to combine low-level (e.g. Hartree-Fock approximation) and high-level correlated quantum chemistry methods to treat strongly correlated systems with remarkable accuracy and efficiency. In this work, we proposed an efficient quantum embedding approach that uses the restricted open-shell Hartree-Fock (ROHF) as the low level solver and combines DMET with the complete active space self-consistent field and subsequent state interaction treatment of spin-orbit coupling (CASSI-SO), and applied it to theoretical description of single-ion magnets (SIMs). We have developed a novel direct inversion of iterative subspace (DIIS) technique that incorporates a regularization term related to the spin polarization entropy, termed as R-DIIS, and ensures ROHF to converge to physically correct ground state, which is found to be crucial for the efficacy of subsequent CASSI-SO calculation. We found that the DMET+CASSI-SO approach can produce reliable zero-field splitting (ZFS) parameters in typical 3d-SIMs with dramatically reduced computational cost compared to its all-electron counterpart. This work therefore demonstrates the great potential of the DMET-based CASSI-SO approach for efficient \textit{ab initio} study of magneto-structural correlations in complex molecular magnetic systems.
Fast and cost-efficient approaches for 17O-isotopic labeling of carboxylic groups in biomolecules: from free amino acids to peptide chains
Authors: Špačková Jessica , Goldberga Ieva , Yadav Rishit , Cazals Guillaume , Lebrun Aurélien , Verdié Pascal , Métro Thomas-Xavier , Laurencin Danielle
Published: September 2022

17O NMR spectroscopy is a powerful analytical technique, which enables to access unique information regarding the structure and reactivity of biomolecules, such as peptides and proteins. However, due to the exceedingly low natural abundance of 17O (0.04 %), it is necessary to work with 17O-enriched samples, which are not easily accessible because of the experimental constraints and high costs associated with the traditional enrichment procedures. Here, we present simple, fast and cost-efficient labeling strategies for 17O-enrichment of amino acids and peptides. First, using mechanochemical saponification, a variety of unprotected amino acids were enriched within 30 min of milling under ambient conditions, consuming only microliter amounts of costly labeled water, and producing pure molecules with high enrichment levels (up to ~ 40 %), and in medium to high yields (~ 60 - 85 %) without the loss of their optical purity (ee > 99%). The labeling efficiency of the mechanochemical protocol was then compared to a re-optimised enrichment strategy based on acid-catalysed oxygen exchange. Subsequently, 17O-enriched Fmoc/tBu-protected amino acids were produced on a 1 g/day scale with high enrichment levels (~ 40 %), and in high synthetic yields (~ 75 - 85 %), by scaling up the mechanochemical enrichment followed by a Fmoc-protection step. Lastly, a direct site-selective 17O-labeling of carboxylic functions in peptide side-chains was developed and applied to the RGD and GRGDS peptides, reaching up to 29% enrichment level. Producing highly enriched molecules enabled to record 17O solid-state NMR spectra at 14.1 T in reasonable analytical times. Overall, this work represents an important step forward in providing easy access to highly 17O-enriched peptides and proteins to be subsequently studied by high-resolution 17O NMR spectroscopy.
Reversible transition of an amorphous Cu-Al oxyfluoride into a highly active electrocatalyst for nitrate reduction to ammonia
Authors: Guiet Amandine , Simonin Alexandre , Bemana Hossein , Li Junnan , Kuruvinashetti Kiran , Moury Romain , Hémon-Ribaud Annie , Chartrand Daniel , Maisonneuve Vincent , Lhoste Jérôme , Rochefort Dominic , Kornienko Nikolay
Published: September 2022

The electrochemical conversion of nitrate (NO3-) to ammonia (NH3) is an emerging alternative to valorize this aqueous pollutant to an essential chemical feedstock and potential fuel. Underpinning the maturation of the field and eventual viability of this technology is the discovery of efficient electrocatalysts, coupled with fundamental insights into the reaction mechanism. Until now, fluorinated materials have not yet been explored in this direction. In this work, we present the first fluorinated catalyst used for electrochemical NO3- reduction to NH3. A new copper-based oxyfluoride, Cu3Al2OF10, prepared through a facile coprecipitation and annealing of the corresponding hydrated fluoride r-Cu3Al2F12(H2O)12, was found to be exceptionally active, attaining a NH3 Faradaic Efficiency (FE) of up to 57% for the 8-electron NO3- to NH3 pathway (-0.4 VRHE) with a mass activity of up to 1220 A.g-1 at -0.6 VRHE, the highest yet recorded. Additionally, Cu3Al2OF10 continually produced NH3 for 2.5 days while maintaining a reasonable FE (55%). Finally, electroanalytical and operando spectroscopic investigations revealed a reversible transition to a phase entailing Cu nanoparticles embedded within the amorphous oxyfluoride matrix that was predominantly responsible for the catalyst’s activity. Overall, this work stands to open avenues for transition metal fluoride materials within the field nitrogen-based electrocatalysis.
Fourfold Double-Bond Substituted Hemiindigo: Highly Functionalized Red-Light Responsive Photoswitches
Authors: Sacherer Maximilian , Hampel Frank , Dube Henry
Published: September 2022

Molecular photoswitches are indispensable tools for responsive chemical nanosystems and are nowadays used in virtually all branches of the natural sciences. Hemiindigo (HI) derivatives were recently introduced as potent photoswitches but full applicability was hampered by the limited possibilities for their functionalization and structural alteration. Here we report on a short and easy to diversify synthesis yielding fourfold double-bond substituted HIs. The resulting chromophores are shown to offer an advantageous property profile combining red-light responsiveness, high thermal bistability, strong isomer accumulations in both switching directions, and strong photochromism. With this progress a new structural realm has been opened up for HI photoswitches, that can now be synthetically tailored to highly advanced applications in e.g. molecular machines and multi-switching research, photoisomerization mechanism studies, or smart and addressable materials generation.
Health-Promoting Lifestyle Assessment Among Nursing Students In East Kalimantan
Authors: Hayati Ifroh Riza , Imamah Indah Nur , Rizal Alfi Ari Fakhrur
Published: September 2022

Nurses as a health professional has a significant role in primary health services in nurturing, and also enabling the community to healthy behavior. Nurse students will become role models for healthy lifestyles and as leaders to enable people to live healthy lives, this is inversely proportional to the possibility of their unhealthy lifestyles since the study period. The purposes of study were to assess the level health-promoting lifestyle among student of nursing and identify the differences in such lifestyle based on socio-demography. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 326 of nursing students in East Kalimantan. The data has been collected by Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLP II) level (i.e., responsibility of health, spiritual, physical activities, interpersonal relationship, student nutrition, and their stress management). Data was taken by online self-administered questionnaire. Participants were recruited by convenience sampling. Descriptive and inferential statistics data analysis has been conducted. It was found that 76.4% were female, 37.7% were in second years study, as much as 58.9% of students from municipality areas. The mean score of 2.79 (good) of total HPLP II. The highest mean score was shown for interpersonal relationship by nurse students 3.25 (excellent) and the lowest was daily nutrition (2.43) and physical activity (2.47) as moderate level. Based on independence t-test analysis there were differences statistically in physical activity between gender (p-value <0.001), there is a difference statistically in health responsibility between student from municipality and regency (p-value = 0.010). In general, the HPLP indicators for nursing students are good, but improvement and promotion of healthy lifestyles is still needed. Further identification as strengthening to determine the cause of low nutrition and physical activity. Aspects that must be maintained are interpersonal relationships and spiritual growth.
Effects of Different Factors on the Heat Conduction Properties of Carbon Films and Fibers
Authors: Chen Junjie
Published: September 2022

The increasing popularity of carbon nanotubes has created a demand for greater scientific understanding of the characteristics of thermal transport in nanostructured materials. However, the effects of impurities, misalignments, and structure factors on the thermal conductivity of carbon nanotube films and fibers are still poorly understood. Carbon nanotube films and fibers were produced, and the parallel thermal conductance technique was employed to determine the thermal conductivity. The effects of carbon nanotube structure, purity, and alignment on the thermal conductivity of carbon films and fibers were investigated to understand the characteristics of thermal transport in the nanostructured material. The importance of bulk density and cross-sectional area was determined experimentally. The results indicated that the prepared carbon nanotube films and fibers are very efficient at conducting heat. The structure, purity, and alignment of carbon nanotubes play a fundamentally important role in determining the heat conduction properties of carbon films and fibers. Single-walled carbon nanotube films and fibers generally have high thermal conductivity. The presence of non-carbonaceous impurities degrades the thermal performance due to the low degree of bundle contact. The thermal conductivity may present power law dependence with temperature. The specific thermal conductivity decreases with increasing bulk density. At room temperature, a maximum specific thermal conductivity is obtained but Umklapp scattering occurs. The specific thermal conductivity of carbon nanotube fibers is significantly higher than that of carbon nanotube films due to the increased degree of bundle alignment.
Interaction of Novel Monomethine Cyanine Dyes with Proteins in Native and Amyloid States
Authors: Zhytniakivska Olga , Tarabara Uliana , Kurutos Atanas , Vus Kateryna , Trusova Valeriya , Gorbenko Galyna
Published: September 2022

Molecular interactions between novel monomethine cyanine dyes and non-fibrilar and fibrilar proteins were assessed using fluorescence spectroscopy and molecular docking techniques. To this end, the fluorescence spectral properties of dyes have been explored in the buffer solution and in the presence of insulin and lysozyme in the native and amyloid states. It was observed that association of monomethines with the native and fibrillar proteins was accompanied with a significant enhancement of the fluorophore fluorescence, being more pronounced in the presence of aggregated insulin and lysozyme. The quantitative information about the dye-protein binding was obtained through approximating the experimental dependencies of the fluorescence intensity increase vs protein concentration by the Langmuir model. Analysis of the spectral properties and the binding characteristics of monomethines in the presence of the fibrillar insulin and lysozyme showed that the introduction of chloro- and fluorine-substitutients to the oxazole yellow derivatives, as well as the long aliphatic substitution on the nitrogen atom of the benzazole chromophore of YO-dyes had a negative impact on the dye amyloid specificity. Molecular docking studies showed that monomethines tend to form the most stable complexes with the B-chain residues Val 17, Leu17, Ala 14, Phe1, Gln 4 and Leu 6 and the A-chain residue Leu 13, Tyr 14, Glu 17 of non-fibrilar insulin and interact with the deep cleft of native lysozyme lined with both hydrophobic (Ile98, Ile 58, Thr108, Thr 62 and Thr 63 residues) and negatively (Asp101, Asp 107) charged residues. The wet surface groove Gln15_Glu17 and groove G2-L4/S8-W10 were found as the most energetically favorable binding sites for examined monomethine dyes in the presence of the insulin and lysozyme fibrils, respectively.
Interactions of Fibrillar Insulin with Proteins: A Molecular Docking Study
Authors: Trusova Valeriya , Zhytniakivska Olga , Tarabara Uliana , Vus Kateryna , Gorbenko Galyna
Published: September 2022

During the last decades growing attention has been paid to ascertaining the factors responsible for the toxic potential of particular protein aggregates, amyloid fibrils, whose formation is associated with a range of human pathologies, including the neurodegenerative diseases, systemic amyloidosis, type II diabetes, etc. Despite significant progress in elucidating the mechanisms of cytotoxic action of amyloid fibrils, the role of fibril-protein interactions in determining the amyloid toxicity remains poorly understood. In view of this, in the present study the molecular docking techniques has been employed to investigate the interactions between the insulin amyloid fibrils (InsF) and three biologically important multifunctional proteins, viz. serum albumin, lysozyme and insulin in their native globular state. Using the ClusPro, HDOCK, PatchDock and COCOMAPS web servers, along with BIOVIA Discovery Studio software, the structural characteristics of fibril-protein complexes such as the number of interacting amino acid residues, the amount of residues at fibril and protein interfaces, the contributions of various kinds of interactions, buried area upon the complex formation, etc. It was found that i) hydrophilic-hydrophilic and hydrophilic-hydrophobic interactions play dominating role in the formation of fibril-protein complexes; ii) there is no significant differences between the investigated proteins in the number of fibrillar interacting residues; iii) the dominating hydrogen bond forming residues are represented by glutamine and asparagine in fibrillar insulin, lysine in serum albumin and arginine in lysozyme; iv) polar buried area exceeds the nonpolar one upon the protein complexation with the insulin fibrils. The molecular docking evidence for the localization of phosphonium fluorescent dye TDV at the fibril-protein interface was obtained.
Enhanced Performance of CuIn1-xGxSe2 Solar Cell Through Optimization of Absorber and Buffer Layer Properties Using SCAPS-1D
Authors: Ibeh Godwin , Lawani Celine , Emmanuel Jayeola , Oyedare Peter , Danladi Eli , Ige Olumide
Published: September 2022

This study is a follow up to our previously published article on “Numerical Simulation of Copper Indium Gallium Diselenide Solar Cells Using One Dimensional SCAPS Software”. Five more parameters were optimized which are: absorber band gap, absorber electron affinity, buffer layer band gap, buffer layer electron affinity and working temperature using the same simulation tool initially used. When the absorber bandgap was varied between 0.8 eV and 1.6 eV, the efficiency of the solar cell increases until it reached its peak at 27.81%. This occurred at absorber bandgap of 1.4 eV. Other photovoltaic parameters at this optimum value are: Voc of 1.00 V, Jsc of 31.99 mA/cm2 and FF of 87.47 %. On varying the absorber electron affinity from 4.20 eV through 4.55 eV, we obtained an optimum value of 4.45 eV at Voc of 0.82 V, Jsc of 37.96 mA/cm2, FF of 84.99 % and an efficiency of 26.36%. The optimization of buffer bandgap resulted in an optimal value of 3.0 eV, when the buffer bandgap was varied between 1.6 eV and 3.2 eV. The photovoltaic parameters at this optimal value are: Voc of 0.80 V, Jsc of 37.96 mA/cm2, FF of 85.22 % and an efficiency of 25.86%. The effect of buffer electron affinity was studied by varying its value between 4.00 eV and 4.40 eV and its best value was found to be 4.05 eV at photovoltaic parameters with a Voc of 0.82 V, Jsc of 37.96 mA/cm2, FF of 84.98 % and an efficiency of 26.36 %. These optimized values in all parameters were used to simulate a solar cell which resulted to device with performances: Voc of 1.11 V, Jsc of 31.50 mA/cm2, FF of 88.91 % and an efficiency of 31.11 %. On varying the working temperature on the optimized solar cell, the optimized device with its best performance at 270 K with Photovoltaic (PV) values of Voc of 1.15 V, Jsc of 31.55 mA/cm2, FF of 88.64 % and an efficiency of 32.18%. The results obtained were encouraging and can serve as a guide to those involved in practical development of solar cells.
Slow Surface Eigenmodes Directed by the Mu-Negative Metamaterial Slab
Authors: Galaydych Viktor , Sporov Oleksandr , Olefir Volodymyr , Azarenkov Mykola
Published: September 2022

The paper presents the results of the study of slow surface electromagnetic waves directed along the flat mu-negative metamaterial slab surrounded by ordinary dielectric material. It is considered the case of isotropic and homogeneous metamaterial without losses. This metamaterial possesses the positive permittivity and the negative permeability over a definite frequency band. It is found that two surface modes of TE polarization can propagate along such waveguide structure. The dispersion properties, the spatial distribution of the electromagnetic field, as well as the phase and group velocities of these slow modes are studied. The first mode is a conventional forward wave, and has a lower frequency and lower phase velocity than the second mode. The second mode may have zero group velocity at a certain frequency. Characteristics of these surface modes for different values of the mu-negative slab parameters have been studied. The studied surface electromagnetic waves can be used for practical applications as in laboratory experiments, as in various technologies.
Blur image detection and classification using edge detection techniques
Authors: Bhuvaneswari P. , Hema M.
Published: September 2022

Blur classification is important for blind image restoration. It is a challenging task to detect blur in a single image without any information. In this paper, we used edge detection techniques and deep learning convolutional neural network named ResNet 50 for the classification of blur-type images. ResNet 50 model effectively reduces gradient disappearance problem and uses skip connection to train the dataset. Generally, images are subjected to defocus and motion blur, which is caused by the improper depth of focus and movement of objects at the time of capture. Kaggle's blur dataset is used in this paper, which consists of sharp, defocus and motion blur images. Edge detection techniques are applied on images using Laplacian, Sobel, Prewitt, and Roberts filters to obtain features like mean, variance, maximum signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), which are used to train the system and classify the images using classification algorithm.
Collegial Computation - Processing Architectural Form
Authors:   , Anderson Jordan
Published: September 2022

This research thesis is an architectural inquiry into how scripting techniques can be used within the conceptual stage of architectural design by architects, students and lay-people as a method to generate and create architectural form. The intention is to create generative procedural programs using Processing, that promote shared agency throughout the design process as a whole. This agency looks at creating an engaging ‘conversation’ between the user and computer, allowing the computer to have an equal share in the design process. By programming a range of varying design tests that experiment with conceptual form finding and massing studies, this research aims to experiment with agency through the development of procedural design processes. Together these act as a vehicle to activate the research question, ‘how can we use scripting techniques within the conceptual design stages of architectural design to generate and create architectural form?’. The results of this research, while provocative, will contribute to understanding how architectural form produced through scripting techniques influences the design outputs, and design process as a whole. The term ‘generative’ is used in this context to define the iterative design process; which involves a program that generates outputs, which meet certain constraints, from a series of input variables, ranges and distributions. This process allows the designer to fine tune the desired region by selecting specific outputs or changing the inputs. Research and discovery through design was used to develop the final generative programs which interpret architectural form. The results show that designing with a digital ‘partner’, and the sharing of design agency throughout the design process; can generate conceptual architectural form from infrequently investigated computational design methods.
In Search of a Polyphony: A Young Person-Influenced Architecture and Planning Process for Wellington
Authors:   , Lauridsen Reuben
Published: September 2022

The focus of this research is to broaden the scope of who can participate in discussions centred around future urban housing, whilst also creating tools for participants to develop an understanding of the factors at play. Young people are one of the most active and pivotal groups in urban centres, yet their voice and participation is limited by two major factors; the way they are expected to engage, and a knowledge gap which prevents a truly equitable freedom of expression. The recent results of the Wellington City Council Planning for Growth submission phase highlighted this under-utilised voice from young people when compared to the percentage of the population they represent.

Horschelmann & Van Blerk say: “[Young people] are ‘designed out’ of many urban spaces… and excluded from adult-dominated spaces, cities are intricately shaped by the presence and practices of young people” (2013, p. 2), which already gears our planning systems away from a fully-encompassing human-centric process of design.

Developing a set of design-based tools, curated for maximum engagement from young people, allows for a greater scope and inclusion of younger citizens in complex discussions centred around future housing. The implementation of these tools affords city planners and stakeholders the option to prepare the young people in their city for engagement with a broader worldview and a future-focused outlook on how to improve their city for tomorrow.

The Wellington City Council say: “young people…are the future of our city. [Young people] are diverse, youthful, creative and talented… [and] are motivated by the challenges facing the city...” (2021a, p. 4).

Current urban design practice needs tools and processes to create dialogue with young people about design processes that engage and equip young people into meaningful action. This research looks to introduce tools that bridge the gap between design professionals, and the young people they are designing to serve. This investigation does not seek to replace the design professional, but instead seeks to raise the design-IQ of young people to better be able to communicate about those factors that matter to them.
Managing Growing Strategic Competition In The South Pacific: Hedging The Pacific Way
Authors:   , Bali Ashika
Published: September 2022

United States (U.S.)-China strategic competition in the Pacific has intensified along with China’s growing engagement with Pacific Island countries. The expanding body of literature on this topic focuses heavily on the geopolitical implications for traditional powers, in particular the U.S., Australia and New Zealand, with less attention on Pacific responses. This thesis helps address this gap with a focus on how the Pacific Island countries are managing growing strategic competition and analysis of Pacific policies and strategies towards China and traditional Western partners. It asks whether Pacific countries are seeking to balance against, adopt a middle position or ally with China, how traditional Western partners factor into this equation and what the driving forces behind Pacific responses and approaches to growing strategic competition are. It goes beyond the dichotomous debate between balancing and bandwagoning to explore mixed strategies like hedging and non-alignment and employs a mixed method approach across case studies on Pacific regionalism, Fiji, Samoa and Kiribati. The thesis finds that each case shares four basic features: a coherent diplomatic strategy and engagement policy toward China and traditional Western partners; a priority for internal development needs and security concerns; a focus on development aid and economic benefits; and an approach that seeks to maximise the benefits of engagement. The findings demonstrate that these Pacific Island countries are not choosing between China and the U.S. (or by extension their traditional Western partners Australia and New Zealand). Rather, they are exhibiting "hedging" and “non-alignment” behaviour and are expressing their preference for maintaining relatively autonomous foreign and security policies. This strategy is driven by regional needs (such as regional self-determination, climate change, ocean management, sustainable development and humanitarian assistance) and individual state needs (such as ensuring autonomy in their foreign policies and domestic development policies and interests). Across all cases, the thesis finds that Pacific leaders are not publicly concerned about having to choose sides and have largely rebuffed the “China threat” narrative. Instead, they are following the “Pacific Way” by stressing their own collective agency through narratives like the Blue Pacific, with emphasis on sovereignty and regional identity, and seeking to utilise relations with China to pursue their own interests.
Clinical Spectrum and Treatment Outcomes of Patients with Developmental and/or Epileptic Encephalopathy
with Spike-and-Wave Activation in Sleep
Authors: Tchah Nuri , Yang Donghwa , Kim Heung Dong , Lee Joon Soo , Kim Se Hee , Kang Hoon-Chul
Published: September 2022

Purpose: Developmental and/or epileptic encephalopathy with spike-and-wave activation in sleep (D/EE-SWAS) is a spectrum of conditions characterized by various phenotypes of cognitive, linguistic, and behavioral regression associated with spike-and-wave activation in sleep. We aimed to investigate the phenotypic spectrum and treatment outcomes of pediatric patients with D/EE-SWAS.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of pediatric patients diagnosed with D/EE-SWAS and treated at Severance Children’s Hospital from 2006 to 2022. We extracted information from their medical records on electroencephalography before and after treatment, types of treatment, seizure frequency, and developmental profiles. The primary outcome was reduction of the spike-wave index on electroencephalography after treatment.Results: Twenty-one patients with a median age of 5.3 years (interquartile range, 4.1 to 6.6) at diagnosis were included. Ten patients had delayed development. The patients received various anti-seizure medications. Fourteen received long-term, high-dose steroid therapy, 10 were placed on a ketogenic diet, four received intravenous steroid pulse therapy, and one each was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin and cannabidiol. The most effective treatments were steroid therapy and a ketogenic diet, which were also effective in reducing seizures and improving cognition. Side effects during treatment were transient and treatable.Conclusion: We described the clinical spectrum of pediatric patients with D/EE-SWAS. Steroid therapy and a ketogenic diet can be considered effective therapeutic options for patients with D/EE SWAS.
Jogos pedagógicos & oficinas: uma parceria nas aulas de Matemática
Authors: Costa Lia Corrêa da , Guerato Elisabete
Published: September 2022

Esta pesquisa surgiu da necessidade de contribuir com o ensino/aprendizagem perante as dificuldades relacionadas à aprendizagem da Matemática. A intenção foi buscar formas de tornar as aulas agradáveis e participativas, possibilitando a construção de hipóteses e a compreensão de alguns conceitos matemáticos. O Jogo Pedagógico foi utilizado como recurso, alguns existentes no mercado e outros construídos durante a pesquisa, pensando em facilitar a compreensão de alguns conteúdos nas aulas de reforço de Matemática. Atualmente, ministrando aulas no ensino superior, em eventos, oficinas ou no decorrer das aulas, procuramos compartilhar dessa experiência com alunos da Licenciatura Matemática mostrando que Jogos Pedagógicos e Oficinas podem ser utilizados como possibilidades na aquisição, produção e contribuição de conhecimentos. Recorremos à pesquisa-ação-intervenção, uma metodologia de pesquisa qualitativa que possibilita a intervenção do professor na sala de aula, atuando como pesquisador. A proposta pedagógica foi embasada em Kamii, Freinet, Kishimoto, Grando, Brougère e outros que desenvolvem atividades através desse recurso e discutem sua importância no contexto social, afetivo, cognitivo e moral como suporte no contexto pedagógico escolar. O jogo, pela sua ludicidade e definido intencionalmente, pode promover conhecimento; a intervenção pedagógica evidenciou sua contribuição como estratégia e recurso didático, facilitando a compreensão dos conteúdos.
O Planetário Móvel Digital da Universidade Cruzeiro do Sul como agente difusor da Astronomia
Authors: Voelzke Marcos Rincon
Published: September 2022

O Planetário Móvel Digital, da Universidade Cruzeiro do Sul, vem atuando no sentido de divulgar e popularizar a Astronomia, entre os alunos e os professores dos Ensinos Fundamental (EF) e Médio (EM), das redes municipal e estadual, da cidade de São Paulo, em particular, bem como para o público leigo em geral. O objetivo desse trabalho é mostrar e divulgar as atividades já realizadas por esse planetário. Nesse sentido registram-se várias apresentações efetuadas em 2010: Escola Cruzeiro do Sul, em São Miguel Paulista, atendendo a 161 crianças do EF; VIII Simpósio de Pedagogia, Universidade Cruzeiro do Sul, 75 universitários; ONG Projeto Educacional Capuano, em Anália Franco, 30 adultos; Feira do Guia do Estudante, no Shopping Center Norte, 455 pessoas; ONG Associação Paulista Beneficente, em Burgo Paulista, 70 crianças; Workshop de Informática e de Computação Avançada, Universidade Cruzeiro do Sul, 37 universitários; Dia da Responsabilidade Social, na Obra Social Dom Bosco, em Itaquera, 133 pessoas. Em 2011 as apresentações ocorreram durante o XIII Encontro Regional de Ensino de Astronomia, Universidade Cruzeiro do Sul, atendendo a 112 professores; Colégio Cruzeiro do Sul, em São Miguel Paulista, 356 crianças do EF; Colégio Brasília de São Paulo, em Anália Franco, 102 crianças do EF e no Grupo Escoteiro Caramuru, em São Paulo, 104 crianças. A metodologia aplicada em todas as apresentações constou na exibição de dois vídeos sobre Astronomia com posterior discussão sobre os temas apresentados. Levantamentos prévios demonstram um grande interesse, na maioria absoluta dos participantes, em querer aprender mais sobre o tema, explicitando claramente a importância da educação em ambientes não formais, para o ensino da Astronomia.
Crenças manifestadas por (futuros) professores em relação à Matemática e seu ensino
Authors: Costa Manoel Santos , Allevato Norma Suely Gomes
Published: September 2022

O presente estudo tem como objetivo analisar as crenças manifestadas por um grupo de (futuros) professores em relação à Matemática e seu ensino. O estudo envolveu estudantes de um programa de formação inicial de professores de uma Universidade Pública do Estado do Maranhão. Trata-se de um estudo de natureza qualitativa, e os dados foram coletados por meio de um questionário, de observações e através da resolução de um problema envolvendo o conteúdo proporcionalidade. Os resultados mostram que os (futuros) professores apresentaram algumas crenças que são fortemente enraizadas em relação à Matemática e seu ensino, assim como em relação ao conteúdo discutido no problema - proporcionalidade, que poderão se refletir em sala de aula com seus (futuros) alunos; por isso, os cursos de formação inicial deveriam discutir e (re)construir essas crenças.
A beleza matemática: uma proposta pedagógica de sensibilização estética para o ensino da MatemáticaA
Authors: Cardoso Virginia Cardia , Paulo Rosa Monteiro , Dalcin Andreia
Published: September 2022

O presente artigo tem por objetivo expor o que se mostra na reflexão suscitada pela intenção de olhar para a razão matemática e ver a beleza, ou olhar para a beleza matemática e ver expressa uma racionalidade que é manifesta em objetos não matemáticos e que pode ser percebida por fatores outros que não apenas o racional. No movimento reflexivo buscamos compreender os fundamentos teórico-epistemológicos que caracterizam a percepção estética presente no processo de criar ou (re)criar Matemática. Para explicitar o que na reflexão se mostrou relevante organizamos o artigo em dois momentos: no primeiro apresentamos uma proposta pedagógica a partir das obras de Da Vinci e de Volpi procurando valorizar o caráter estético e belo da Matemática e no segundo trazemos a discussão sob os pontos de vista positivista, fenomenológico e crítico, revisitando elementos da filosofia das ciências.
Resolução de Problemas: uma proposta didática na formação de professores
Authors: Nunes Célia Barros
Published: September 2022

O presente texto apresenta parte de uma pesquisa de doutoramento que buscou investigar, compreender e evidenciar as potencialidades didático-matemáticas que a Metodologia de Ensino-Aprendizagem-Avaliação de Matemática através da Resolução de Problemas oferece no sentido de incrementar a aprendizagem e melhorar os processos de ensino, bem como o de promover o aprimoramento das práticas dos professores no contexto de sala de aula de Matemática. Para tal, foram criados e aplicados dois projetos de ensino para as disciplinas Didática da Matemática e Laboratório de Ensino de Matemática II, ministradas pela professora-pesquisadora, que se inseriu no ambiente pesquisado a fim de observar e conscientizar os sujeitos da pesquisa de seu papel como futuro professor de Matemática. A junção dessas disciplinas é indispensável para a formação do professor, uma vez que elas propiciam momentos de discussão e investigação de formas de organizar o ensino e a aprendizagem da Matemática. Neste artigo será apresentada, sucintamente, parte do projeto desenvolvido na disciplina Didática da Matemática que se mostrou como um espaço importante de reflexão, de aprendizagem e de desenvolvimento profissional, tanto da professora-pesquisadora quanto dos envolvidos na pesquisa.