bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aptamer Development for Cancer Diagnostic
Authors: Juliana Nordin Fariza , Wan Ming Lim , Yee Mun Teo Michelle , Lian Aun In Lionel
Published: July 2023

Early diagnosis improves the prognosis for cancer patients by allowing early intervention to slow or prevent cancer development and lethality. Aptamers are short single-stranded oligonucleotides that have a length of about 25–80 bases. They are produced chemically and extracted using the systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX). The use of aptamers as diagnostic tools in cancer is highly recommended due to their ability to recognize various cancer-related molecules and biomarkers with high affinity and specificity. Despite the clear advantages of aptamers, the potential of aptamers in cancer diagnosis is yet to be reached. This chapter will present the best available knowledge on using aptamers as the biorecognition element in the development of cancer biosensors. We will first present the advantages of aptamers in cancer diagnosis as well as various types of SELEX methods with emphasis on clinically relevant samples such as serum, whole cells, and tissue slices. We will also cover the various aptamer detection platforms, such as colorimetric, fluorescence, and electrochemical platforms. Furthermore, the updates on aptamers specific to KRAS mutation detection in cancer will be reviewed. Finally, the future direction of aptamers in cancer diagnosis will also be discussed.
Real-time qPCR and Rapid Antigen Testing of COVID-19 Testing: A Review and Comparison of Analytical Validity
Authors: Hays Priya
Published: July 2023

Laboratory real-time qPCR (RT-qPCR) diagnosis and rapid antigen testing of COVID-19 variants have become a cornerstone of diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acids and antigens. This article proposes a comparative analysis of the benefits and limitations of these qualitative and quantitative methods through a literature review, and discusses how the validation of biomarker discovery in precision medicine could be applied to rapid antigen testing and molecular diagnostic workflows taking into considering testing sensitivity and specificity. Considerations of analytical validity and clinical validity are a focus. Diagnostic accuracy as shown by overall sensitivity and specificity of laboratory diagnostic RT-qPCR as compared with rapid antigen testing will be presented. This review is timely since the existing literature on RT-qPCR and rapid antigen testing for COVID-19 is significant containing large amounts of data, which at times is conflicting along with recommendations for streamlining these distinct methods for diagnostic testing of COVID-1 based on symptomatic presentation, vaccination and contact status. Since many cases currently are long COVID syndrome, the timeliness of the review may be paramount for potential future public health emergencies, especially involving respiratory illnesses.
Mice as an Experimental Model to Understand the Pathobiology of Diseases
Authors: Jana Rishika , Karmakar Souvik , Hazra Bishal , Roy Subhadeep , Das Sarma Jayasri
Published: July 2023

Murine models are widely used in scientific research because they share many genetic similarities with humans, making them a valuable tool for studying various diseases. C57BL/6 is an experimental mouse model to study the demyelination and inflammation aetiology of multiple sclerosis (MS). Intracranial inoculation of neurotropic murine β-coronavirus strain of mouse hepatitis virus in C57BL/6 mice induces demyelination with or without axonal loss, providing many insights regarding the mechanism of MS as well as SARS-CoV-2-mediated pulmonary and neuropathology in humans. By selectively using knockout mice in the wild-type C57BL/6 background, researchers can gain insights into the immunomodulatory nexus and can identify pathways involved in immune regulation which further can be efficiently studied with CD4−/−, CD40−/−, and CD40L−/− mice. In addition, C57BL/6 mice can also be used to generate syngeneic mouse models to investigate the aetiology and mechanism of various cancers, including ovarian cancer. Similarly, along with C57BL/6 mice, different immunocompromised mice models, such as nude mice, SCID mice, and NOD/SCID mice, can be used to study the aetiology, host-tumour interaction, function of the microenvironment, and tumour heterogeneity in tumour metastasis.
Graphene Nano Sheets for the Fuel Cell Applications
Authors: Das Barsha , Das Sagnik , Tewary Soumyabrata , Bose Sujoy , Ghosh Sandip , Ghosh Avijit
Published: July 2023

The Chapter will be consist of following topic:
1) Introduction of Graphene Nanosheets: The important of nanosheets and their properties will be discussed for the various electrochemical activities.
2) Role of Graphene nanosheets as PEM fuel cell Electrocatalyst: Graphene as a electrocatalyst for PEM fuel cell will be discussed and compared with the recent trends.
3) Application of Graphene nanosheets on PEM Fuel Cell: The application in different components in PEM fuel cell will be discussed.
4) Role of graphene Nanosheets on ORR and HAD activity: The properties will be discussed on the effect of nanosheets.
5) PEM Fuel Cell Performance: Over all performance improvement will be discussed
Adaptation of Desert Goats to Solar Heat Load and Water Restriction as Indicators of Climate Change Under Semi – Arid Condition
Authors: Abdelrahman Salih Hind , Bushara Ibrahim , A. Rahmatalla Siham
Published: July 2023

This experiment was conducted at Elobeid ARC Farm, North Kordofan State, Sudan, and covered hot summer, rainy, winter, and warm summer seasons for 310 days. Thirty-six non-pregnant Desert goats were used in this experiment. One group was randomly allocated to a shaded condition and the other to an unshaded condition. Each group was randomly subdivided into two groups, one group receiving water every day and the other receiving water every other day. Does were mated by using two healthy Desert bucks. For both shaded and unshaded conditions, respiration rate (RR) and rectal temperature (RT) were significantly (P < 0.001) higher in unshaded than shaded conditions. The watering regime seemed to have no effect. Conception and kidding rates were lowest with the every other day watering regime under both shaded and unshaded conditions, while abortion rates were highest with the every other day watering regime under unshaded conditions. Does the mortality rate was highest in the shaded condition with the everyday watering regime and under the unshaded condition with the every other day watering regime? Kids’ mortality rate was 100% under the unshaded conditions with the every other day watering regime. Kids’ birth weights were higher under shaded conditions with every day watering regime or under unshaded conditions with every other day watering regime.
Better Measures of the Labor Market for the Future of Work
Authors: Sheen Veronica
Published: July 2023

The world of work has changed dramatically over recent decades, but the unemployment rate continues to be a core measure of how well or badly an economy and its labor force are doing. This chapter examines how in the emerging labor market—the future of work—the measure of unemployment is increasingly compromised. As so much employment fails to deliver ongoing security and adequate income, unemployment of itself is not a sufficient indicator of the health of the economy and its workforce. The chapter argues that there is a need for better measures of what constitutes labor market status including security and income. To be considered, in some countries, unemployment is low, but many jobs are insecure and poorly paid. In others, it may be high, but jobs are highly protected and hard to obtain, especially for some groups such as young people or older people.
Potential of anaerobic digestates in suppressing soil-borne plant disease
Authors: Irie Mami , Sugiyama Tomomi
Published: July 2023

This study was designed to assess the suppressive effects of various anaerobically digested
slurries (ADSs), and the microorganisms inhabiting them, against Fusarium wilt in spinach. We used five different ADSs from a range of source materials (dairy cow manure, sewage sludge, food garbage, pig manure, night soil sludge), combined in different proportions. All five raw ADSs suppressed the growth of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. spinaciae (Fos) on agar plates using a co-culture test. In contrast, filtrate ADSs did not suppress the growth of Fos. In total, 32 bacterial strains were isolated from five ADSs, and eight isolates showed antagonistic activities against Fos. Based on 16S rDNA sequences, the strain AD-3 isolated from ADS from dairy cow manure belonged to Bacillus velezensis. Genome analysis revealed that AD-3 had two kinds of genes related to the production of the non-ribosomal lipopeptides, fengycin/plipastatin (pps genes), and surfactin (srf genes). In pot assays, inoculation of AD-3 (1.0 × 106 CFU·g −1 dry soil) into Fos-infected soil (1.0 × 105 bud-cells·g −1 dry soil) significantly reduced the severity of Fusarium wilt disease at 28 d after seedling. The percentage reductions in disease severity in two replicates were 64.3% and 44.3%, respectively. Thus, bacterial strain AD-3 could be applied to reduce Fusarium wilt in spinach.
Perspective chapter: Quantifying the Carbon Footprint of a High School: A Three Part Study
Authors: Rüya Uludağ Pınar , Kiliç Taşeli Başak
Published: July 2023

Reducing the impact of human activities on the environment requires prioritizing awareness. Measuring the direct and indirect effects of human actions is crucial to increasing awareness and prompting behavioral change. The carbon footprint is a widely used method of measurement in this regard. This study comprises three parts. The first part involved providing pre-training to students and teachers at Lokman Hekim Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School, which has 304 students and 29 teachers. A 15-question awareness questionnaire was then administered to determine their understanding of carbon footprints. The results showed that the students were knowledgeable about climate change and global warming but lacked sufficient understanding of carbon footprints. In the second part of the study, a face-to-face measurement study was conducted with 295 students to calculate the annual average amount of CO2 emitted by the students based on categories. The results showed that the students emitted an average of 7.43 tons of CO2 per year. The highest amount of emissions, 3 tons CO2e/year, was attributed to household factors, while 2.135 tons CO2e/year resulted from lifestyle habits. In the third part of the study, the institutional carbon emissions released by the high school building were calculated. The emission amounts from Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 were determined to be 85,368, 16,716, and 18,916 tons CO2e/year, respectively. As a result, the total institutional carbon footprint of the high school was calculated to be 120,984 tons of CO2e/year.
DERIVATION AND INTEGRATION ON A FRACTAL SUBSET OF THE REAL LINE
Authors: Bongiorno Donatella
Published: July 2023

Ordinary calculus is usually inapplicable to fractal sets. In this chapter, we introduce and describe the various approaches made so far to define the theory of derivation and integration on fractal sets. In particular, we study some Riemann-type integrals (the s-Riemann integral, the sHK integral, the s-first-return integral) defined on a closed fractal subset of the real line with finite and positive s-dimensional Hausdorff measure (s-set) with particular attention to the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus. Moreover, we pay attention to the relation between the s-Riemann integral, the sHK integral, and the Lebesgue integral with respect to the Hausdorff measure Hs, respectively, and we give a characterization of the primitives of the sHK integral.
Residential Segregation by Education in the U.S., 2016–2020
Authors: Friedman Samantha , Tom Thalia
Published: July 2023

While there is much research on income segregation, we know less about the factors that contribute to the uneven distribution of households across neighborhoods by educational attainment. Although globalization is thought to influence segregation, its association with socioeconomic segregation is debated. Using data from the 2016–2020 American Community Survey, the Globalization and World Cities Research Network, and the MIT Election Data + Science Lab, we investigate the correlates of educational segregation within large core-based statistical areas in the United States, focusing on globalization, income inequality, and political preferences in the 2016 presidential election. Multivariate results reveal that globalization and income inequality are the most significant correlates of educational segregation. Political preferences are only significantly associated with residential dissimilarity between those with a master’s degree or higher and those with some college. We discuss the implications of these results for understanding residential inequality on the basis of education in metropolitan America.
The Development of Oral Therapeutic Vaccine Against Cancer and Working Out on the Fast Testing of Immunogenic and Oncolytic Effector Antigens
Authors: Rekoslavskaya Natalya , Salyaev Rurik , Stolbikov Alexey
Published: July 2023

In the study of “the herd immunity”, it was found that antigenic “late” proteins L1 of human papillomavirus of types 6,16,18,31 and 45, “early” proteins E2, E6 and E7 induced the generation of interferon, CD4/CD8 T lymphocytes and T cell receptors, as well as apoptotic enzymes: granzyme B, perforin and granulysin in mice peripheric mononuclear blood cells and in splenocytes (according to Elispot). Cancer HeLa cells provoked tumour formation in mice testis and in intact lungs in a month after injection and in isolated lungs after 1–2 days of inoculation. “Early” protein E2, L-amino acid oxidase and D-amino acid oxidase blocked the growth of HeLa cells in vitro, working as an effector. There was the activation of the generation of interferon, immunogenic T lymphocytes as well as apoptotic enzymes: granzyme B, perforin and granulysin in blood, spleen and lung T lymphocytes in tumours of isolated lungs mice treated with HeLa cells. Even when anti-PD-L1 antibody (“checkpoint” control receptor for cancer blocking) was added to isolated tumorigenic mice lung, regardless of the presence of HeLa cells, there was the induction of the immunogenicity. The testing of immunogenic and oncolytic activities of antigens via isolated lung tumour formation lasted 5–7 days including Elispot and HeLa inoculation and provided rapid analysis of immunogenic effector activity and tumour suppressors.
Unraveling the Mystery of the Cosmos: A Review
Authors: Ho Yeap Kim , Chieh Teoh Hui
Published: July 2023

Cosmology is a discipline that describes the physical nature of the universe. This discipline encompasses the branch of physics, metaphysics, and astronomy. In general, the universe is believed to start from the Big Bang, followed almost instantaneously by the cosmic inflation approximately 13.8 billion years ago, and it is conjectured to end, very likely, with the Big Freeze. Cosmologists are interested on the origin, evolution, and the ultimate fate of the universe. This chapter brings readers to take a glimpse on the mystery of the universe. It gives a succinct elucidation on the growing journey of the universe—from its birth, its advancement to the present and future, to its demise. The technology used to detect cosmic sources, the theories that underpin the universe, and some of the equations used to estimate its properties are also briefly illustrated here.
HISTORY OF THE HORSES AND BIOTECHNOLOGIES APPLIED TO ITS REPRODUCTION
Authors: Carlos Gardón Juan , Satué Katy
Published: July 2023

The history of horses can be traced back to over 50 million years ago when they first evolved in North America. According to a study published by Prothero in 2017 [1], horses' evolution can be traced through their teeth, and they found that the earliest known horse, called Hyracotherium or Eohippus, was about the size of a small dog and had four toes on its front feet and three toes on its back feet. Over time, horses evolved into larger and more powerful animals with a single toe on each foot.
Spices Are Also Medicine: Some Studies on Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of Spice Plants in Vietnam
Authors: Quynh Mai Le
Published: July 2023

Spices are commonly used in the daily meals of Vietnamese families. They not only bring a specific flavor to the dishes but are also drugs that help naturally increase disease resistance. Spices are also used in folk remedies to cure or prevent certain diseases. When the world faces the quick change of pathogenic microorganisms, antibiotic-resistant bacteria regularly appear, then searching for more natural sources of medicine becomes necessary. Many studies have been conducted to screen bioactive substances from the rich and diverse plant sources of Vietnam. Extracts from spices and several spice mixtures were evaluated for their antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, indicating their potential as medicine. In this chapter, some research on the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of spice plants in Vietnam and some traditional ways to use spices as medicine will be presented.
ICT and Physical Activity
Authors: Namba Hideyuki
Published: July 2023

An overview of research using web-based physical activity assessment systems and wearable devices is presented.
The following three topics will be discussed.
1) Sensing technology and applications using wearable devices and smartphones. 2) The market for mobile health and its potential for promoting physical activity. 3) Examples of research using online systems.
Wearable devices (a generic term for information terminals that are worn and carried around) have made remarkable progress in recent years, and physical activity promotion and weight loss interventions using PCs (personal computers) and mobile devices are considered to have advantages in terms of human and economic costs compared to traditional face-to-face interventions. A wide variety of data will be collected using various wearable devices, and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies such as machine learning and deep learning will be incorporated to develop applications that introduce future risk projections and other information. Rather than people catching up with technological advances, it is important to take a viewpoint of how technology can be used to enrich people's lives.
The spread of online chatting and global developments in reading literacy during 2000-2018
Authors: Luyten Hans
Published: July 2023

This chapter addresses the relationship between increased online chatting during 2000-2018 and changes in reading literacy. The findings relate to per-country changes and involve 39 countries from five continents. The data was derived from the international PISA surveys. Two groups of countries are distinguished: those with a low prevalence of online chatting in 2009 and accelerating growth during 2009-2018 and those with high chatting prevalence in 2009 but decreasing growth afterward. The first group shows substantially improved reading literacy during 2000-2009. However, this positive trend changed around in the subsequent period when online chatting clearly accelerated in these countries. In contrast, the second group shows improvement during 2009-2018, when the growth in online chatting decelerated in these countries. By 2009 the prevalence of online chatting was already high in these countries. This coincided with a small decrease in reading literacy. Additional analyses indicate that during 2000-2009 the relationship between increased online chatting and decreased reading literacy is mediated by changing percentages of students reading fiction at least once a month. During 2009-2108 the relationship is mediated by changing awareness of useful reading strategies.
Electromyography biofeedback to improve dynamic motion
Authors: Kibushi Benio
Published: July 2023

Electromyography biofeedback (EMG-BF) has been used to train muscle activation or relaxation but the application of EMG-BF to improve dynamic motion (e.g., walking or pedaling) is open to investigation. This chapter deals with an introduction to our previous work and the latest research we are working on. In our previous study, we investigated whether auditory EMG-BF is effective in improving muscle co-contraction. Unfortunately, we found that individual EMG-BF does not immediately improve muscle co-contraction during pedaling. To improve muscle co-contraction by EMG-BF, it may be necessary to convert muscle activation into muscle co-contraction. In our latest study, we investigated whether visual EMG-BF is effective in stabilizing walking. We found that EMG-BF during normal walking partially stabilizes the center of mass acceleration. Finally, based on our research findings, I will discuss the construction of an EMG-BF system that can contribute to the improvement of dynamic movements.
Decision-Support Algorithm for Agronomic Practices: A Software Approach for Modeling Mechanized Tillage Planning
Authors: Roberto Martinez Martinez Carlos
Published: July 2023

This article introduces an advanced decision-support software aimed at enhancing mechanized agricultural tillage practices. It emphasizes the necessity of detailed planning before sowing to efficiently utilize resources and prevent soil deterioration. The developed algorithm, harnesses the power of compatibility matrices to analyze the complex interrelationships among various factors such as soil types, crop types, and machinery options. The study collected exhaustive data on tillage practices and uses this information to create compatibility matrices, enabling an intelligent algorithm to guide decision-making processes. The central feature of this software is its ability to generate a comprehensive tillage plan in natural language, serving as a detailed guide for farmers and other stakeholders. This algorithm is incorporated into a user-friendly web application, offering stakeholders an interactive platform for decision-making. The software is thoroughly validated by domain experts to ensure its reliability and accuracy.
Evaluation of the Correlation of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) with the Pulmonary Artery Trunk Diameter and Serum Level of N-Terminal Pro B-Type Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP) in Patients with PAH
Authors: Gharibi Sara , Ghavami Mojgan , Khederlou Hamid , Ghorashi Seyyed Mojtaba , Dabiran Soheila , Zeinalkhani Fahimeh
Published: July 2023

Background: Due to its non-specific symptoms, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is difficult to diagnose via non-invasive methods. Various diagnostic tests are required to evaluate PAH patients. The increased diameter of the main pulmonary artery in computed tomography (CT) imaging represents a high probability of PAH. Moreover, N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and pro B-type natriuretic peptide (proBNP) can be considered as prognostic predictors in patients with PAH. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation of CT-based main pulmonary artery diameter (MPAD) and the serum level of NT-proBNP (as a strong pro-inflammatory factor) with the severity of PAH in echocardiography among patients with PAH. Patients and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 63 hospitalized patients with PAH due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were recruited from 2019 to 2020 after initial evaluations and collection of serum NT-proBNP measurements and echocardiographic findings. On the chest CT scans, the largest diameter of the pulmonary artery trunk was determined, and then, correlation of CT-based MPAD with both PAH severity on echocardiography and NT-proBNP level in patients with PAH were evaluated. Results: The results of the present study on 63 patients (70% male; mean age, 67.02 years) showed a significant positive correlation between the MPAD and NT-proBNP level (r = 0.444, P < 0.001). Moreover, a significant positive relationship was observed between the pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and NT-proBNP (r = 0.353, P = 0.005) and also between MPAD and PAP (r = 0.306, P = 0.015). In PAH patients, the mean values of MPAD, PAP, and NT-proBNP were 32.58 mm, 47.9 mmHg, and 6563 pg/mL, respectively. Conclusion: Considering the significant positive correlation between PAP, MPAD, and NT-proBNP level in subgroup comparisons based on MPAD and PAP, if the MPAD is abnormal on CT scan, additional echocardiographic assessments and serum NT-proBNP measurements can be helpful.
Conveyor
Authors: McCarthy Ciaran ,   After Dinner Conversation
Published: July 2023

Should exceptionally horrible crimes be given exceptional horrible punishments? In this work of philosophical fiction, Arthur Montague wakes just moments before his defense attorney walks into the door to greet him. The defense attorney informs him his trial is about to begin. However, Arthur has no memory of the horrible crimes he’s being accused of committing. In fact, he has no memories at all. During his brief trial, he learns that decades earlier he led a genocidal government. As punishment for leading mass executions, he has been put on trial, hung, and reincarnated, hundreds of times. His punishment, it seems, is to be found guilty and put to death for decades, regardless of his memory (or lack of) of the crimes he previously committed.
Leave a Message
Authors: Pellouchoud Britney ,   After Dinner Conversation
Published: July 2023

What obligations do a divorced couple have to each other? Is there an obligation to return phone calls, or check in on an ex’s welfare? In this philosophical short story fiction, the narrator and Dawn have recently gone through a divorce. They were childhood friends, so they have known each other forever and were married for seven years. However, Dawn refuses to pick up the phone and refuses to return the narrator’s phone calls. He continues calling to “check-in” over a period of years with no response. He reaches out to Dawn’s parents to make sure she is okay. She never responds and, in fact, moves to another city. Eventually, the narrator hears she has committed suicide.
Ought We to Believe the Truth and Nothing But the Truth?
Authors: Rönnedal Daniel ,   Romanian Academy - Iasi Branch
Published: July 2023

According to the so-called truth norm, we ought to believe that A if and only if A is true. There are many possible interpretations of this norm. What does 'ought‘ in this norm mean? Does 'ought‘ have a wide or a narrow scope, etc.? In this paper, I will investigate one version of this norm and I will discuss two arguments for it. The 'ought‘ in the paper will be interpreted as a kind of 'rational‘ ought that takes wide scope. I will call the first argument for the truth norm 'the extrapolation argument‘ and the second argument 'the abductive argument.‘ According to the extrapolation argument, we 'derive‘ the truth norm from a reflection on what it means to be a perfect believer. According to the abductive argument, the truth norm is supported by the fact that it can be used to deduce many other plausible doxastic norms. If this argument is successful, the truth norm can be conceived as the fundamental norm of (theoretical) rationality (or wisdom).
An Examination of Race Strategies in NCAA Cross Country Championship Events
Authors: Finley Peter S , Fountain Jeffrey J
Published: July 2023

This research sought to evaluate race strategies in Cross Country running to determine whether a fast, predicted, or slow start would yield the best results when coupled with an advancing or regressing strategy from the 1st checkpoint through to the finish. Twelve National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championship races were analyzed from 2021 to 2022 (N=315 teams; 2,205 runners). Success was defined by each team's finish relative to their anticipated finish, as determined through pre-championship national rankings. Results indicated that starting well ahead of a predicted finishing place and advancing throughout the race can yield finishes well ahead of a team's ranking. Still, less than 5% of teams could employ that strategy. A more likely positive result came from a conservative start, coupled with consistently advancing through the field for the remainder of the race, as nearly 14% of teams could employ that strategy. Starting a race slowly did not typically lead to success, even if a team consistently advanced through the field after the 1st checkpoint. Teams that regressed throughout the race were not likely to have a successful race.
Meningkatkan Hasil Belajar Matematika Menggunakan Alat Peraga Stik Es Krim pada Siswa Kelas II SDI Alexandria
Authors: Magdalena Ina , Nurchayati Aan , Asrifah Diah Nur
Published: July 2023

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of ice cream stick teaching aids in improving students' learning outcomes in mathematics multiplication material. This research is a classroom action research. The research approach used is a qualitative approach with a class action research type. The source of the data in this study were class 2 students at SDI Alexandria. The method used is the method of observation (observe). In the initial conditions of learning cycle 1 students did not understand what was conveyed by the teacher. At the learning improvement stage in cycle 2, some students almost understood what was conveyed by the teacher. At the stage of improving learning cycle 3 the delivery of objectives and concepts has been understood by students. And the activeness of students and learning outcomes are satisfactory. Student learning also increased, namely some students who got satisfactory grades.
Peningkatan Kemampuan Guru dalam Mengefektifkan Pembelajaran melalui Supervisi Kelas pada SD Negeri 45 Ampenan
Authors: Muttaqin Zainul
Published: July 2023

The purpose of this school action research is to find out the increase in the teacher's ability to make learning effective through Class Supervision at SD Negeri 45 Ampenan for the 2022/2023 school year. This research is classified as School Action Research involving 8 teachers who need to improve their ability to effectively manage their learning. The research was conducted in two cycles and each cycle consisted of four stages: planning, implementing, observing and reflecting. The performance indicators set are: if there is an increase in the ability to effectively manage learning. The results of the study show that there is an increase in the teacher's ability to make learning effective through classroom supervision. It can be concluded as follows: (1) The application of learning models through class supervision by the principal has proven successful in increasing the ability of SD Negeri 45 Ampenan teachers in managing the learning process. (2) By increasing the ability of SD Negeri 45 Ampenan teachers in managing the learning process, in addition to making the students' learning process more meaningful, their learning outcomes have also increased. (3) The application of academic supervision of class visits has a positive impact because it can assist the teacher's duties in planning and implementing learning in the framework of increasing professionalism.
HUMECU KURGUCULUĞUN KENDİLİKSİZ BİLİŞ ANLAYIŞI
Authors: USLU POOYANI Ayşe
Published: July 2023

Geleneksel bilişselci yaklaşımlar, algılama, akıl yürütme ve hafıza gibi bilişsel süreçlerin gerçekleşmesini olanaklı kılan, arka planda özdeş ve bütünleşik bir zihnin varlığını ön dayanak haline getirirler. Deneyci ve natüralist bir perspektiften bilişselliği anlayan David Hume’un insan doğasına dair görüşleri, bu geleneği bozarak, özdeş ve bütünleşik bir zihnin varlığı olmadan da bilişsel etkinliğin gerçekleşebileceğini kanıtlar. Hume’un kanıtlamasının merkezinde, bedenin iç ve dış dünyalara dair öz-duyumsamalarının sağladığı çekime tekabül eden duygulamlar vardır. Bedenin duygulanımları, algılama sürecini anlamlı hale getiren çerçeveyi çizer. Ancak, duygulamların bilişsel süreçlerin merkezinde olduğunu gösterebilmek için zihin-beden ikiliği terminolojisini aşmak gerekir. Bu çalışma, Hume’un epistemolojik kurgucu olduğunu iddia ederek, zihin-beden ikiliği terminolojisini kullanmanın natüralizmi üzerindeki olumsuz etkilerini bertaraf etmeyi ve ontolojik kurguculuğunu çağdaş bilişsel bilimlerle diyaloğa sokarak yeniden ele almayı hedefler. Bu amaçla, birinci bölümde, Hume’un epistemolojik ve ontolojik iki yoldan kurgucu olduğu iddia edilmiş ve Hume’un töz ve nitelik ikicisi olmadığı gösterilerek bu iki kurguculuk biçiminin de kavramsal zemini açımlanmıştır. İkinci bölüm, üst-düzlem bilişsel süreçlerin zihin terminolojisinden arındırılmış bir dille Humecu perspektiften açıklamayı deneyerek, zihne dair dile yerleşik düşünce metaforlarını sorgular. Son olarak, Humecu perspektif çağdaş bilişsel kuramlarla diyaloğa sokularak, arka planda bütünleşik bir algılayıcının varsayılmasına gerek duyulmadan, bilişselliğin dinamik, konumlu ve bedenli yapısının imkânı tartışılmıştır. Sonuç olarak, Humecu perspektiften, izlenim ve tasarım olarak algılama süreci, temsiller gibi bir aracıya ve tüm bilişsel süreci değerlendirici işleviyle kontrol edecek bütünleşik bir zihne ihtiyaç duymadan, bedenin duygulanımsal geri bildirim sistemlerine bağlı olarak geliştiği gösterilmiştir.
Instructional Note: Living in Good Relations: On Campus and Off
Authors: Delgado Francisco
Published: July 2023

This Instructional Note elaborates on a definition of a decolonized classroom as one that champions Indigenous epistemologies, connects students to community events and organizations beyond the college, and unsettles dominant perceptions of a college education as strictly for capitalistic advancement.
Development of low-cost IOT based infant incubator in Tanzania: a case of east African community region
Authors:   , Rwechungura Daniel
Published: July 2023

Physical adjustment to life outside of the mother's body of a baby might be challenging due to health issues and other environmental factors. Prematurity is one of the most crucial problems in Tanzania since it contributes to a greater infant mortality rate. Despite the vital function that infant incubators play, their operation cost is too expensive for low-income countries to obtain and it relies only on electricity for their operation. The fundamental goal of this project is to create an inexpensive, efficient, and dual-powered incubator that saves premature infants' lives. We developed the system which utilizes ESP32 as the Microcontroller Unit board interfaced with DHT22, a thermistor for skin temperature computation, MAX30102 to evaluate heart rate and oxygen saturation in the blood. An oxygen sensor measures the air quality in the chamber, and a ultraviolet sensor records the light intensity of the phototherapy unit used to treat jaundice. The computed information is displayed and transferred to a webpage that tracks the infant's data. When the system detects a critical condition, it sounds an alarm and sends short messege services to medical personnel via Global System for Mobile Communication. The system adjusts the environment using a heater, humidifier, and oxygen valve. The final design was implemented on a Printed Circuit Board and tested after a circuit was designed and simulated. The sensors were calibrated against standard sensors to receive accurate measured data, and then transferred via Wi-Fi through the ESP32 to a webpage for remote monitoring and control. In conclusion, based on the test-performed the developed system can save the lives of premature babies, is low-cost, and is applicable in areas with limited resources. Furthermore, we recommend an easy way to assess the functionality of the locally developed systems by the regulatory institutions involved so as to be implemented successfully.
Mobile-based system for solid waste management to improve customer satisfaction and revenue generation: a case of Shinyanga municipal council
Authors:   , Manyonyi Stanley
Published: July 2023

Solid waste management has recently reached the top of the priority list in the modern world, but solid waste disposal practices are often neglected. In addition, managing municipal solid waste is one of the most challenging municipalities in Tanzania. Municipalities in Tanzania are responsible for the management of solid waste in their cities, but they have significant obstacles to providing a system that meets the needs of customers and improving revenue collection using the electronic payment system. This study determined the efficacy of solid waste management systems in Shinyanga municipality in customer dissatisfaction with waste collection service and unfriendly revenue collection. The objective of this study was to analyze the current waste collection system to determine the strength and weakness of the method used by solid waste generators and collectors to access the solid waste collection service, their willingness to pay for the service, municipal officials to manage revenues and complaints, and the participation of political leaders in offering cooperation. The analysis was to identify the requirements for the development and validation of the mobile-based system to improve customer satisfaction and increase revenue collection. The study used a mixed method approach, which included quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques to collect primary data with two sampling techniques, purposive sampling and multistage sampling. The developed mobile application adopted the evolutionary prototyping steps from the software development life cycle to implement all modules of the mobile application by allowing iteration of the development phases to ensure that user requirements are satisfied. The developed mobile based system was evaluated by the technical and end-user on the availability, scalability, user friendliness, consistency, navigation, feedback, performance, and security at both levels of. Although the results from the 10 ward areas indicate that 57% have access to solid waste collection services and collection is carried out daily at 31%, while two-thirds expressed dissatisfaction with the current waste collection system, the results after validating the developed mobile app show that the majority (85%) are willing to use the developed mobile app because it is useful to them since their negative emotions associated with solid waste collection were resolved, such as waiting for a waste collector for an extended period, paying informal waste collectors who increase waste collection costs, and being charged without receiving service, as they already felt overcharged. The study proposes a mobile application for solid waste management that will be used at and outside the Shinyanga Municipal Council for customer satisfaction and revenue growth.
Usability and user experience of Moodle learning management system into higher learning of Tanzania
Authors:   , Mwengwa Doris
Published: July 2023

According to previous works, Learning Management Systems (LMSs) have been facing obsolete rendering barriers such as accessibility of the system due to network disruption and bandwidth expenses, Digital literacy, user’s perception towards the use of an online LMS in taking a course, policies towards E-learning acceleration and support, Information literacy, technological barriers, lack of relevant technical training and assistance in using LMS for the instructors, LMS’s lack the ability to cater for the cultural differences, navigational issues, and misrepresentation of contents and insufficient content and credible resources. This study applied a mixed methodology and data collection was carried online, with sample survey of open and closed ended questionnaires and online interviews. Sampling technic used was snowball and the case of convenience which involved 338 participants inclusive of 112 facilitators/teachers and 226 students. Identified prominent existing barrier by users was navigational issues, and misrepresentation of contents, which associated user experience and usability issues, using an open and free learning management system Moodle, a “Jifunze kwa Moodle” prototype was created. Assessment was conducted to identify tools to be applied and improve user experience and usability in the final prototype of the “Jifunze Kwa Moodle” platform using Rapid Application Development. Online teaching and learning tools such as H5P and BigBlueButton were integrated into the platform to entice interaction between facilitator and students. The platform was shared, and only 20 users had accomplished the tasks assigned, thus 6 facilitators and 14 students. Users assessed the platform through task-based scenarios so as to accommodate responses and improve the platform, tasks such as initiating a class using H5P and BigBlueButton were essential for the instructors and students had to attend some sessions. Conclusively this study opens up the opportunity to engage in making learning management systems user friendly, interactive and simpler using online teaching and learning tools to accommodate different users’ need.
Detection and prevention of username enumeration attack on SSH protocol: machine learning approach
Authors:   , Agghey Abel
Published: July 2023

Over the last two decades (2000–2020), the Internet has rapidly evolved, resulting in symmetrical and asymmetrical Internet consumption patterns and billions of users worldwide. With the immense rise of the Internet, attacks and malicious behaviors pose a huge threat to our computing environment. Brute-force attack is among the most prominent and commonly used attacks, achieved out using password-attack tools, a wordlist dictionary, and a usernames list – obtained through a so – called an enumeration attack. In this study, we investigate username enumeration attack detection on SSH protocol by using machine-learning classifiers. We apply four asymmetrical classifiers on our generated dataset collected from a closed environment network to build machine-learning-based models for attack detection. The use of several machine-learners offers a wider investigation spectrum of the classifiers’ ability in attack detection. Additionally, we investigate how beneficial it is to include or exclude network ports information as features-set in the process of learning. We evaluated and compared the performances of machine-learning models for both cases. The models used are k-nearest neighbor (KNN), naïve Bayes (NB), random forest (RF) and decision tree (DT) with and without ports information. Our results show that machine-learning approaches to detect SSH username enumeration attacks were quite successful, with KNN having an accuracy of 99.93%, NB 95.70%, RF 99.92%, and DT 99.88%. Furthermore, the results improved when using ports information. The best selected model was then deployed into intrusion detection and prevention system (IDS/IPS) to automatically detect and prevent username enumeration attack. Study also recommends the use of Deep Learning in future studies.
Mathematical modeling of covid-19 transmission dynamics between healthcare workers and community
Authors:   , Masandawa Lemjini
Published: July 2023

COVID-19 pandemic has posed an unprecedented threat to global public health. Health profes sionals caring for COVID-19 patients face insomnia, mental stress, physical exhaustion, stigma, the pain of losing patients and colleagues. Many of them acquired SARS-CoV-2 and some died. Protection of this workforce is of paramount importance to ensure optimal care to patients. Thus, this study contributes to the subject by formulating a deterministic mathematical model SW E IsIaHR (Susceptible - Healthcare workers - Exposed - Symptomatic - Asymptomatic - Hospi talized - Recovered) that combines both healthcare workers (as an independent compartment) and community and focuses on the protection of the healthcare workforce against SARS-COV-2. Benefiting the next generation matrix method, the basic reproduction number (R0) was computed. Routh-Hurwitz criterion and stable Metzler matrix theory revealed that disease-free equilibrium point is locally and globally asymptotically stable whenever R0 < 1, respectively. Lyapunov func tion depicted that the endemic equilibrium point is globally asymptotically stable when R0 > 1. Further, the dynamics behavior of R0 was explored when varying the use personal protective equipment (ξ) and physical distancing (θ). In the absence of protective measures (ξ and θ), the value of R0 was 6.7125 which implies the expansion of the disease. When θ and ξ were introduced in the model, R0 was 0.6713, indicating the decrease of the disease in the community. Numer ical solutions were simulated by using Runge-Kutta fourth-order method. The numerical results illustrated mathematically that protection of health care workers can be achieved through effec tive use of personal protective equipment and minimization of transmission of COVID-19 in the community.
Music as a medium for communication, education and information dissemination: enhancing resilience among urban dwellers in Zimbabwe
Authors: Chipendo Claudio , Chimbudzi Western , Moyo Khulekani Face
Published: July 2023

The major focus of the study was to use music to communicate, educate and disseminate information that helps curb suicidal and drug abuse cases among Zimbabwean communities. Zimbabwe as a country is facing severe economic challenges, which in turn has brought about much suffering to the people. As a result, some of them end up engaging in drugs or committing suicide in response to the challenges bewildering the country. This study was qualitative, superimposed on action research and a survey. Roadshows targeting some members of the Gweru communities were organised. The songs performed at the road shows carried lyrics meant to disseminate information about hope, inspiration, and patience. Purposively sampled respondents were drawn from a population of three communities in Gweru who attended the road shows that were held in their respective constituencies. The informants were picked up on the researchers’ knowledge of their capacity to inform the study. Open-ended interviews were conducted after the shows were held, to appreciate how effective the songs were in disseminating intended messages. The findings of this study revealed that the songs that were performed at roadshows helped in giving the people hope, encouragement, and perseverance in the wake of economic challenges as well as cultivating the spirit of hard work and resilience among them.  It can therefore be recommended that music therapy centres, road shows and other such performances be organised in various communities to help counsel people reeling from depression and other related illnesses.