bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Energy and Pollutants analysis of a Series HEV Equipped with a Hydrogen-Fueled SI Engine
Authors: Frasci Emmanuele , Cervone Davide , Nacci Gianluca , Sementa Paolo , Arsie Ivan , Jannelli Elio , Vaglieco Bianca Maria
Published: August 2023

The growing concern about Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions led institutions to further reduce the limits on vehicle-related CO2 emissions. Therefore, car manufacturers are developing vehicles with low environmental impact, like Hybrid-Electric Vehicles (HEVs), which in the series architecture employ an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) coupled with an electric generator for battery recharging, thus extending the range of a Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV). For this kind of application, small four-stroke Spark Ignition (SI) engines are preferred, as they are a proven and reliable solution to increase the driving range with very low environmental impact. In series hybrid-electric powertrains, the ICE is decoupled from the drive wheels, then it can operate in a steady-state high-efficiency working point, regardless of the power required by the mission profile. The benefits of lean combustion can be exploited to increase efficiency and reduce CO2 and NOx emissions. This work analyzes the energy consumption and pollutant emissions of a series-HEV equipped with a hydrogen-fueled SI engine. Hydrogen fueling promotes faster flame development and propagation, thus improving the combustion stability also under lean mixtures, with benefits on fuel consumption and emissions. The effects of the lean-burn operation on engine combustion and NOx emissions are investigated by a 1-D engine model, validated against experimental measurements at the test bench. Based on 1-D simulation results, the benefits of high-efficiency engine operation on a series-HEV in terms of energy consumption and NOx emissions are assessed by vehicle model simulations on different driving scenarios. The main purpose of vehicle simulations is to evaluate the best compromise between battery pack downsizing, charging power, and energy consumption for a fixed target vehicle driving range.
Analytical Models for the Sizing Optimization of Fuel Cell Hybrid Electric Vehicle Powertrains
Authors: Carlos Da Silva Daniel , Kefsi Laid , Sciarretta Antonio
Published: August 2023

Improving the development of electrified vehicles requires finding efficient methods for the component sizing of complex powertrains, since they may require a control optimization (for the energy management) which, when added to the sizing optimization, significantly increases the design space. A methodology to estimate the fuel consumption with a closed-form expression is found in the literature, which can be used to reduce the control/plant co-optimization to a static optimization problem. This approach can be used by either estimating the consumption of an existing powertrain: the descriptive level; or by predicting how the consumption will vary with the sizing parameters of the powertrain components: the predictive level. In previous works, the descriptive level was applied to the Toyota Mirai, a Fuel Cell Hybrid Electric Vehicle, showing that it can be extended to vehicles with a fuel cell system. In the present work, the models required for the predictive level are presented, which allow the actual sizing optimization to be performed. The model coefficients are fitted with data from components of different sizing: the battery pack model is fitted with experimental data from roller test benches, the electric machine model is fitted with numerically generated efficiency maps, and the power electronic models are derived from datasheets of discrete components, which are then integrated into the model of the boost converters and the inverter. Finally, the fuel cell system of the Toyota Mirai 2 is used as a reference system for the model. The validation was done by evaluating the errors introduced by each component model. A MATLAB routine was used to calculate the vehicle consumption on driving cycles using the Equivalent Consumption Minimization Strategy for the energy management. The results show that the proposed models adequately estimates the vehicle consumption through the considered cycles, with all errors remaining below three percent.
Fuel Cell/Battery Hybrid Lightweight Quadricycle with Metal Hydride Hydrogen Storage for Improved Performance
Authors: Tribioli Laura , Di Ilio Giovanni , Jannelli Elio
Published: August 2023

Owe to their high electrical energy density, lithium-ion batteries are the most employed technologies in electrified vehicles, whose market share is growing very fast. As a matter of fact, their thermal management is of crucial importance to keep the operating temperature within an appropriate range, as this might greatly affect performance and durability of such devices. Heat generation during cyclic charge and discharge processes, occurring during a vehicle mission, may cause critical temperature variations and, therefore, a suitable thermal management is indispensable. This is particularly true for fuel cell hybrid electric vehicles, where the battery undergoes more severe thermal stresses than in battery electric vehicles, due to higher operating C-rates. A hybrid energy storage system, which integrates the battery pack with a metal hydride hydrogen storage tank, may be a promising solution to store energy while implementing an effective, integrated and yet simple thermal management. In fact, if the system is properly designed, it becomes possible to exploit the endothermic desorption process of hydrogen in metal hydrides to remove heat from the battery during vehicle operation. In this work, starting from a battery electric L-class vehicle, a plug-in fuel cell/battery hybrid powertrain with a hybrid energy storage system is designed in order to improve its performance in terms of driving range, by enhancing the on-board gravimetric and volumetric energy densities. Due to the homologation constraint on the maximum vehicle weight, i.e. 450 kg without battery for L-class vehicles, particular attention is taken to the influence of weight increase associated to the fuel cell and metal hydride hydrogen storage tank. Simulation results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness and potentialities of the proposed solution.
Improving Computational Efficiency for Energy Management Systems in Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles Using Dynamic Programming based Controllers
Authors: Spano Matteo , Anselma Pier Giuseppe , Misul Daniela , Amati Nicola , Rizzoni Giorgio
Published: August 2023

Reducing computational time has become a critical issue in recent years, particularly in the transportation field, where the complexity of scenarios demands lightweight controllers to run large simulations and gather results to study different behaviors. This study proposes two novel formulations of the Optimal Control Problem (OCP) for the Energy Management System of a Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) and compares their performance with a benchmark found in the literature. Dynamic Programming was chosen as the optimization algorithm to solve the OCP in a Matlab environment, using the DynaProg toolbox. The objective is to address the optimality of the fuel economy solution and computational time. In order to improve the computational efficiency of the algorithm, an existing formulation from the literature was modified, which originally utilized three control inputs. The approach involves leveraging the unique equations that describe the Input-Split Hybrid powertrain, resulting in a reduction of control inputs firstly to two and finally to one in the proposed solutions. The aforementioned formulations are referred to as 2-Controls and a 1-Control. Virtual tests were conducted to evaluate the performance of the two formulations. The simulations were carried out in various scenarios, including urban and highway driving, to ensure the versatility of the controllers. The results demonstrate that both proposed formulations achieve a reduction in computational time compared to the benchmark. The 2-Controls formulation achieved a reduction in computational time of approximately 40 times, while the 1-Control formulation achieved a remarkable reduction of approximately 850 times. These reductions in computational time were achieved while obtaining a maximum difference in fuel economy of approximately 1.5% for the 1-Control formulation with respect to the benchmark solution. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the development of efficient and optimal controllers for PHEVs, which can be applied to various transportation scenarios. The proposed formulations reduce computational time without sacrificing the optimality of the fuel economy solution, making them a promising approach for future research in this area.
Second-Life of Electric Vehicle Batteries from a Circular Economy Perspective: A Review and Future Direction
Authors: De Luca Cristina , Silvestri Luca , Forcina Antonio , Silvestri Cecilia , Bella Gino
Published: August 2023

The second-life use of batteries from electric vehicles (EV) represents an excellent and cost-effective option for energy storage applications, including the control of fluctuations in energy supply and demand or in combination with solar photovoltaic and wind turbine. Indeed, these batteries are normally replaced from EV use before the end of their service life, when they still have 70-80% of the original capacity. Depending on the cell chemistry and the specific design, such batteries can still be employed in less stressful applications than the automotive one, including commercial, residential, and industrial applications. With the aim to promote the transition to a circular closed-loop economy for spent traction batteries, this study consists in a systematic literature review of available options for reusing EV batteries as a storage system in a factory environment, highlighting benefits and critical aspects.
Evaluation of Battery Power Losses During the LCA Use Phase of Electric Vehicles: An Experimental Analysis of Different Li-Ion Battery Chemistries
Authors: Silvestri Luca , De Santis Michele , Falcucci Giacomo , Serao Paola , Bella Gino
Published: August 2023

Vehicle electrification is one of the most important emerging trends in the transportation sector and a necessary step towards the reduction of polluting substances and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, electric vehicles still present some environmental criticalities, such as indirect emissions related to the electricity used for charging the traction battery, which depends on the considered national electricity generation mix. The leading approach for quantifying the potential environmental impacts is the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), a standardized methodology that takes into account the whole life cycle of a product, including production, use phase, and end-of-life. Among them, the use phase is the most controversial and heterogenic part of the battery LCA, being environmental impacts depending on different national electricity generation mixes and several factors difficult to estimate, such as charge-discharge power losses that provide significant contributions to the overall environmental impacts of the battery system. The purpose of this research is to conduct an LCA to investigate the Global Warming Potential (GWP) impact category associated with the use phase of two battery packs based on different NMC batteries but equivalent total capacity, equipping the same powertrain of an A-segment battery electric vehicle (BEV). The overall GWP ranges between 45.4 and 47 gCO2eq/km and total power losses between 2.5 and 3.19 gCO2eq/km, respectively. Finally, the M50LT battery model results in a greater GWP impact up to 3.5% than the 40T battery type.
Improving the Feasibility of Electrified Heavy-Duty Truck Fleets with Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer
Authors: Costantino Trentalessandro , Miretti Federico , Spessa Ezio
Published: August 2023

This study assesses the capabilities of dynamic wireless power transfer with respect to range extension and payload capacity of heavy-duty trucks. Currently, a strong push towards tailpipe CO2 emissions abatement in the heavy-duty transport sector by policymakers is driving the development of battery electric trucks. Yet, battery-electric heavy-duty trucks require large battery packs which may reduce the payload capacity and increase dwell time at charging stations, negatively affecting their acceptance among fleet operators. By investigating various levels of development of wireless charging technology and exploring various deployment scenarios for an electrified highway lane, the potential for a more efficient and environmentally friendly battery sizing was explored. Furthermore, the additional energy provided by the eRoad can be beneficially exploited by commercial fleet operators to extend the range of electric trucks, reduce the purchase cost by adopting rightsized battery packs and reduce dwell time. This could lead to reducing both economic and environmental costs of the fleet. In particular, a use case was developed to be representative of a long-haul delivery mission. To this end, the long-haul mission defined by the European heavy-duty CO2 regulation was modified to include the eRoad segment. The study considers a 6x2 rigid truck belonging to group 9 as defined by the EU regulation. Different payloads were also considered to reflect the inherent variability in freight activity. A parametric study was conducted by changing the travel speed during dynamic charging events and the eRoad segment’s length, which reflects current and future technology development and costs. The study was carried out by first investigating the effect of each parameter individually and then simultaneously, with the aim of optimizing the range extension or battery right-sizing as well as the delivery time of goods.
Battery Surface Temperature Measurement Correction for an Accelerating Rate Calorimeter with Sapphire Optical Access
Authors: Pastor Jose V. , Micó Carlos , Lewiski Felipe , Golke Diego
Published: August 2023

Upcoming legislation towards zero carbon emission is pushing the electric vehicle as the main solution to achieve this goal. However, electric vehicles still require further battery development to meet customer’s requirements as fast charge and high energy density. Both demands come with the cost of higher heat dissipation as lithium transport and chemical reaction inside the battery need to be performed faster, increasing the joule effect inside the battery. Due to its working principle, which guarantees an adiabatic environment, an accelerating rate calorimeter is used to study thermal phenomena in batteries like a thermal runaway. However, this equipment is not prepared to work with optical access, which helps to study and to comprehend battery surface distribution and other thermal aspects. This paper aims to show a methodology to correct temperature measurement when using a thermographic camera and optical access of sapphire in an accelerating rate calorimeter. The problem comes from the warm environment inside the calorimeter that heats the sapphire window and emits radiation for the thermographic camera, masking the battery surface temperature measurement. For this reason, the paper presents how this problem affects temperature measurement and how to overcome this problem with the methodology described using a thermocouple on the battery surface.
LCA and LCC of a Li-ion Battery Pack for Automotive Application
Authors: Di Vittorio Natalia , Accardo Antonella , Spessa Ezio , Viscido Lucio , Tam Edwin
Published: August 2023

Lithium Ion (Li-ion) batteries have emerged as the dominant technology for electric mobility due to their performance, stability, and long cycle life. Nevertheless, there are emerging environmental and economic issues from Li-ion batteries related to depleting critical resources and their potential shortage. This paper focuses on developing the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC) of a generic Li-ion battery pack with a Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt (NMC) cathode chemistry, being the most used, and a capacity of 95 kWh as an average between different carmakers. The LCA and LCC include all the relevant phases of the life cycle of the product. The costs related to the LCC assessment have been taken as secondary data. Lastly, the same system boundary has been chosen both for the LCA and LCC. The results of the LCA and LCC show that the carbon footprint is 119.7 kgCO2eq/kWh while the economic impact is 147.3 €/kWh if Europe is assumed as the production, use and recycling location. The assumed location significantly affects the analysis, and a sensitivity analysis has been conducted on both the LCA and LCC considering four different locations for the battery pack life cycle.
A Bi-Level Optimization Approach for Eco-Driving of Heavy-Duty Vehicles
Authors: Zhu Jiamin , Michel Pierre , Zonetti Daniele , Sciarretta Antonio
Published: August 2023

With the increase of heavy-duty transportation, more fuel efficient technologies and services have become of great importance due to their environmental and economical impacts for the fleet managers. In this paper, we first develop a new analytical model of the heavy-truck for its dynamics and its fuel consumption, and valid the model with experimental measurements. Then, we propose a bi-level optimization approach to reduce the fuel consumption, thus the CO2 emissions, while ensuring several safety constraints in real-time. Numerical results show that important reduction of the fuel consumption can be achieved, while satisfying imposed safety constraints.
Trailer Electrification – A HIL Approach for MPC Powertrain Control to Ensure Driver Safety in Micromobility
Authors: Miller Marius , Pfeil Markus , Kennel Ralph
Published: August 2023

Bicycle-drawn cargo trailers with an electric drive to enable the transportation of high cargo loads are used as part of the last-mile logistics. Depending on the load, the total mass of a trailer can vary between approx. 50 and 250 kg, potentially more than the mass of the towing bicycle. This can result in major changes in acceleration and braking behavior of the overall system. While existing systems are designed primarily to provide sufficient power, improvements are needed in the powertrain control system in terms of driver safety and comfort. Hence, we propose a novel prototype that allows measurement of the tensile force in the drawbar which can subsequently be used to design a superior control system. In this context, a sinusoidal force input from the cyclist to the trailer according to the cadence of the cyclist is observed. The novelty of this research is to analyze whether torque impulses of the cyclist can be reduced with the help of Model Predictive Control (MPC). In addition, the powertrain of the trailer is intended to support the braking process of the system with regenerative braking. In the context of this research, a first MPC controller design is carried out and analyzed with the help of a Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) approach where the microcontroller of the power electronics is included as hardware to ensure the vehicle dynamics control interacts properly with the lower-level field-oriented control. The battery and motor subsystems are simulated in a Typhoon HIL 604, which is supplemented by a vehicle dynamics model of the trailer that is integrated as a Functional Mock-Up Unit (FMU). First results indicate that the MPC longitudinal dynamics controller supports the driver during acceleration, attenuates the sinusoidal oscillations and reduces the force with which the trailer pushes the bicycle during braking.
Look at the past, vision for the future with the groundwater sustainability approach in desert regions
Authors: Radaei Mahjabin , Salehi Esmaeil , Moghaddam Hasan , Dehkordi Forood Azari , Radaei Mahshid
Published: August 2023

Ancient civilizations long practiced sustainable and integrated water resource management. To implement groundwater sustainability policies and strategies, this study introduces ecological wisdom as a transdisciplinary integrated approach. The present study aims to present strategies for the development and evolution of ecological wisdom governing Qanat hydraulic structure (QHS) with the groundwater sustainability approach in an Iranian desert region. Thus, the constraints of the development and evolution of ecological wisdom governing QHS were extracted using the structural-interpretive model, and the strategies for their development and evolution were presented with an operational-prescriptive approach. The results indicate that 14 variables can be identified as strategic constraints for the development and evolution of QHS. Also, based on eleven extracted scenarios with strong consistency, only two highly adaptable scenarios would design strategies for developing and evolving ecological wisdom governing QHS. Therefore, Rethinking the ancient heritage and developing ecological wisdom which governs it not only manifests the ecological considerations and cultural-social values of local communities but also considers a comprehensive and transdisciplinary approach to addressing materialism and reductionism challenges as well as providing a pattern for making visible the invisible treasure and groundwater sustainability in dry regions
Genetic Algorithm Based Approach for Algorithmic Trading in Financial Markets
Authors: SANTUR Yunus , ULAŞ Mustafa , KARABATAK Murat
Published: August 2023

Software that enables realtime buy and sell transactions in financial markets according to predetermined conditions is called algorithmic trading. When developing algorithmic trading robots, indicators used in technical analysis are generally used. For the strategy selection of the robot, a process called Backtest is performed on the historical time series. The purpose of the Backtest process is the process of obtaining and interpreting values such as the number of successful/unsuccessful trades, the portfolio cash value after the commission to be paid to the intermediary institution, the profit factor and the sharpe ratio. The biggest disadvantage in this process is the selection of the appropriate stock, period, indicator and their parameters. Linear programming approaches are mostly used in the selection of these parameters that optimize the Backtest process optimally. However, according to the strategy to be used, the coding of these algorithms can have a linear, quadratic or polynomial complexity. This requires more long testing times for investors and algorithmic robot developers. Genetic algorithm-based approaches inspired by nature, on the other hand, converge to the optimal solution with much less iteration and require less processing power and time. In this study, a genetic programming-based approach is proposed for the selection of optimal conditions in algorithmic trading. In the experimental studies section, it has been seen that the use of traditional and genetic algorithm-based approaches in algorithmic trading operations has advantages when comparing complexity.
Awareness of Physicians on Celiac Disease and the Effect of Education
Authors: Karaoğlu Ayşe Sümeyra , Yılmaz Tuğba , Şencan İrfan
Published: August 2023

Celiac disease is a genetic in origin, systemic autoimmune disease that can be occur at any stage of life. The onset of the disease is triggered by dietary intake of wheat, barley and rye containing gluten prolamins. The prevalence of the disease is around 1% and this rate is expected to increase as awareness increases. Due to celiac disease mimicking the symptoms of other diseases and being known as a rare disease, the diagnosis rate is low, and patients are often diagnosed late. In this study, we evaluated the awareness rates of physicians and investigated the effect of celiac training on awareness rate. Our research is a pre-test and post-test compatibility study prepared in cross-sectional style. Family physicians who participated in the meeting on May 9, 2019, Celiac Day were included in our study. The pre-test was distributed to physicians just before the meeting. A training module on celiac disease was presented to the participants and a final test was performed afterwards. When the pre-test and post-test were matched, the questionnaires of 88 physicians were analyzed. Kappa coefficient was calculated for nominal scale information and Kendall’s tau-b correlation coefficient for ordinal scale questions were calculated. A binary logistic regression model was created according to the situation of encountering celiac patients in the study environment. In the whole study, type-I error value was taken as 5% and p<0.05 value was accepted as statistically significant. The mean age of the participants was 30.91±6.69 years. The mean number of patients suspected of celiac disease was 3.13 in the participants who stated that they had seen 767 patients in a month. The mean for patients diagnosed with celiac disease was 1.56 in the last year. When celiac-related conditions are evaluated, the states with the highest awareness are chronic diarrhea (100%), weight loss (98.9%), and anemia (96.6%), respectively, while the least common conditions were genetic syndromes (14.8-20.5%) and gynecological problems and infertility (39.8-42%). In the last test after the training, it was found that almost all the awareness was around 90%. The change between pre-test and post-test was significant for most statements (p<0.001). When the comparisons between the pre-test and post-test on the self-sufficient visual scale provided to the physicians were made, the difference was observed as significant in both (Wilcoxon test, p <0.001). Chronic diarrhea, weight loss, anemia, and dyspepsia were the most well-known conditions related to celiac disease in our study, while gynecological problems and genetic syndromes were the least known. It was determined that typical celiac disease is known more, and atypical celiac disease is less known. At the end of the training, it was observed that the awareness rate increased in all findings. The results of the study support that reminding of celiac disease with in-service training given both in residency training and in primary care can increase the diagnosis rates.
Synthesis, characterization, and antimicrobial activity of novel 2-ferrocenyl1,3-thiazolidin-4-thiones
Authors:   University of Niš, Faculty of Agriculture, Serbia, Todosijević Anka , Jančić Minić Aleksandra ,   University of Priština, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Serbia, Mihailović Vladimir ,   University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Science Department of Chemistry, Serbia, Srećković Nikola ,   University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Science Department of Chemistry, Serbia
Published: August 2023

Synthesis of five novel 2-ferrocenyl-1,3-thiazolidin-4-thiones has been achieved in good to excellent yields through the treatment of 2-ferrocenyl-1,3-thiazolidin-4-ones with Lawesson’s reagent. The reaction was performed by refluxing the reactants mixture in toluene overnight. All prepared compounds were characterized by the IR and NMR spectral data. Further, the obtained products were evaluated for their antibacterial and antifungal activity.
STUDY OF THE FUNGICIDAL PROPERTIES OF OZONE TREATMENT, Ag AND Cu NANOPARTICLES AND THEIR COMBINED ACTION ON THE MODEL OF SANITARY SIGNIFICANT MOLD SAPROPHYTE ASPERGILLUS FLAVUS
Authors: Taran G.V. , Kadolin B.B. , Yaroshenko M.O. , Stegnii B.T.
Published: August 2023

A study was conducted to determine the fungicidal activity of a sanitary contaminant of feeds – representatives of the genus Aspergillus Mich. – species of Aspergillus flavus using the ozone treatment method, treatment with the composition of Ag and Cu nanoparticles and the combined effect of these methods. When studying the combined effect of ozone, NPAg and NPCu, it was found that at the concentration ratio of 100:100 μg/cm3, there was a fungicidal effect on museum strains of Aspergillus flavus test cultures, i.e., the combination with ozone enhanced the antifungal properties of nanocomplex.
EFFECT OF PLASMA CHEMICAL OXIDATION OF ETHYLENE IMPURITIES ON THE EFFICIENCY OF KIWIFRUIT STORAGE
Authors: Yegorov M.O. , Taran G.V. , Zamuriev O.O. , Opalev P.O.
Published: August 2023

The effectiveness of plasma chemical technology in reducing the concentration of ethylene impurities in order to extend the shelf life of kiwifruit has been studied. Ethylene and mold were controlled by plasma treatment, which slowed the ripening of kiwifruit and significantly inhibited rotting. When storing kiwifruit using the plasma chemical system, the level of ethylene was twice lower than that measured in the control batch. Also, the level of ethylene practically did not change during the entire period of the experiment, since the ethylene released from the fruit was quickly oxidized by ozone. Air treatment of kiwifruit storage environment resulted in the fact that ripening mechanism was delayed and the loss of fruits during their further transportation and storage was almost completely prevented. Thus, high efficiency of plasma-chemical method for extending kiwifruit shelf life was shown as well as the prospects of its application. Storage period can be doubled while preserving the subtle aroma of fruits. The effectiveness of plasma chemical technology in reducing the concentration of ethylene impurities in order to extend the shelf life of kiwifruit has been studied. High efficiency of plasma-chemical method for extending kiwifruit shelf life was shown as well as the prospects of its application. Storage period can be doubled while preserving the subtle aroma of fruits.
International governance of technological carbon removal: Surfacing questions, exploring solutions
Authors: Lebling Katie , Schumer Clea , Riedl Danielle
Published: August 2023

This paper examines questions about governing technological carbon removal methods, proposes potential avenues for resolving emerging challenges, and explores the role that existing international bodies and processes may be able to play in resolution. It aims to inform research and orient civil society, academic, and other groups focused on supporting responsible scale-up of technological carbon removal, as well as international bodies able to implement guidance that countries may use as they develop plans for technological CDR deployment. Key questions and proposed solutions were informed by a literature review; a series of consultations with experts in carbon removal, international climate governance, and deep decarbonization; plus an expert stakeholder meeting. The goal of this work is to spur discussion among stakeholders interested in, or supporting development of, carbon removal policy, including those working with or in international bodies responsible for guiding and overseeing international climate planning. It is important to note that carbon removal approaches traditionally known as “nature-based” or “natural,” including tree restoration and forest management, are not within the scope of this paper, as they have long been included in climate plans.
An Exploration of Trauma Handling Techniques Perceived by School Psychologists to Train Preservice Teachers
Authors: Mansha Shumaila , Khanam Afifa
Published: August 2023

A tragic incident, such as an accident, physical abuse, or a natural disaster, can cause trauma, which is an emotional reaction. It is a detrimental mental state that overwhelms a person's ability to deal with difficulties in a typical manner. There is a significant trauma prevalence among pupils. Nearly 50% of girls and 60% of males suffer various traumas up until puberty, and nearly 75% of people encounter various traumas at least once in their lives (SAMHSA, 2020). Unfortunately, due to teachers' and parents' ignorance, many cases in Pakistan go undetected.  The psychological, emotional, and cognitive facets of pupils' personalities are most negatively impacted by trauma. After their parents, teachers are the second stakeholders that students spend the most time with.  Teachers can provide their students sage advice on how to handle trauma. They are able to support their students cognitively, emotionally, and psychologically. Unfortunately, due to a lack of thorough discussion of this subject in the pre-service training curriculum, instructors in Pakistan lack adequate training in trauma-informed treatment. This qualitative study explores the methods that seasoned psychologists working with educational institutions use to deal with trauma. The research involved 15 skilled psychologists and was intended to improve educators' understanding of trauma identification and intervention options. The study's goal was to gather thorough information from in-depth semi-structured interviews that would help teachers recognize trauma and use trauma-handling strategies efficiently. Participants were carefully chosen using purposive sampling. Twelve thorough themes emerged as a consequence of meticulously applying thematic analysis to the interviews. These ideas are extremely valuable for teacher preparation and provide important direction for teachers. In addition, curriculum designers and policymakers can use the study's findings to improve their materials and guidelines for dealing with trauma and trauma-informed therapies. This study illuminates an essential element of students' well-being and advances current efforts to make classroom instruction more trauma-sensitive.
An Exploration of Teachers’ Pedagogical Knowledge on Teaching Practical Skills in Fashion and Fabrics to High School Learners
Authors: Mpofu Molyn , Magagula Hlengiwe , Manwa Lokadhia , Manwa Lilian
Published: August 2023

Fashion and Fabrics is a discipline that involves practical and theoretical skills, and to achieve better results, teachers need to possess pedagogical knowledge for teaching practicals as well. This study aimed to establish the teachers' pedagogical knowledge for teaching Fashion and Fabrics practical skills in Eswatini High Schools. This qualitative study utilized a descriptive research design to get in-depth information. A sample of 16 Fashion and fabric teachers was purposively selected, with eight being interviewed, while the others were observed during their practical lessons. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The study results show that Fashion and Fabrics teachers need to gain pedagogical knowledge in teaching Fashion and Fabrics practical skills. They must prepare for valuable lessons, as evidenced by a need for proper student-sitting arrangements. Teachers were found not to use visual aids and supervise students' work for corrective feedback when necessary. The study concludes that Fashion and fabric teachers need to be stronger in content knowledge and pedagogical competencies, essential for effective learning; hence, students' achievements could have been higher. The study recommends that the training institutions stress peer teaching of Fashion and Fabrics practicals for more practice.
Development of Literacy-Based Interactive Learning Media in Improving Critical Thinking Skills of Junior High School Students in Islamic Religious Education
Authors:   UIN Kiai Haji Achmad Siddiq Jember, Indonesia., Zuhro Ika Nafisatus , Ubaidillah, M.Ag Dr. H. ,   UIN Kiai Haji Achmad Siddiq Jember, Indonesia., Mukaffan, M.Pd.I Dr. ,   UIN Kiai Haji Achmad Siddiq Jember, Indonesia.
Published: August 2023

Critical thinking is very important in learning because it will improve students’ thinking skills in learning practices. So far, critical thinking has not become a culture among students, so there are still students who are passive in the learning process and do not dare to argue or ask questions. Critical thinking skills are the ability to organize themselves in producing interpretation, analysis, and evaluation as well as exposure using evidence, concepts, methodologies, and contextual considerations that are used as the basis for making decisions. Indicators of critical skills, namely: solving problems, making decisions, persuading, analyzing assumptions and conducting scientific research. This study aims to develop literacy-based interactive learning media in improving the critical thinking skills of junior high school students in Islamic religious education subjects that are valid, practical, and effective. Learning media that can support the success of learning activities in improving students’ critical thinking skills must be developed by meeting several criteria, namely valid, practical, and effective. The validity score obtained for each aspect is the media aspect with a percentage of 76.33% and for the material aspect with a percentage of 78.66%, therefore the learning media is declared valid. The average score of the overall learning implementation observation results obtained a percentage of 82.73%. There were 26 students who were complete or around 81.25%, the average score percentage of student activity was 84%, and as many as 92.83% of students gave a positive response. The findings of this study indicate that the development of literacy-based interactive learning media is effective in improving students’ critical thinking skills in Islamic Religious Education subjects. The implication of this research is the need for literacy integration in Islamic learning to help students’ develop a deeper and more critical understanding of the subject matter.
The Maternity Regime Reform in Vietnam: Demand and Income of Female Employees Leave Period to Take Care of Children, Safety of Maternity Insurance Fund
Authors:   University of Labour and Social Affairs, Ha Noi, Viet Nam, Trong Pham Duc
Published: August 2023

In 2014, Vietnam carried out a series of maternity regime reforms that have brought some benefits. The focus of this reform is to increase childcare leave from 4 months to 6 months, but this is still not enough to meet the needs of maternal and child health care. This paper examines the effects on female employees of the labor-demand response to the costs of mandated maternity programs and the safety of the maternity insurance fund when increasing the duration of the maternity regime. This study focuses on two key outcomes: the need for and decreases in income for female employees’ leave periods to take care of children, and the maternity insurance fund's safety when increasing the maternity regime's time. We discovered all female employees have a desire to extend childcare for more than 6 months despite their average income falling by 42%, up to 54%, during parental leave. And the maternity insurance fund is still safe if the childcare leave is increased from 6 to 9 months. These findings have important implications for the Vietnamese Government's policymaking.
Country of Origin and Brand Awareness on Smartphone Purchase Decisions
Authors:   Faculty of Economic and Business, Universitas Pembangunan Nasional “Veteran” Jawa Timur, Indonesia, Bachtiar Maulana Mahesa , Kusumawardhani Nuruni Ika ,   Faculty of Economic and Business, Universitas Pembangunan Nasional “Veteran” Jawa Timur, Indonesia
Published: August 2023

This study aims to determine 1) the effect of country of origin on purchase decisions for Samsung smartphones, and 2) the effect of brand awareness on purchase decisions for Samsung smartphones. The research employs a quantitative approach. Population consisting of students in Surabaya who are familiar with the Samsung smartphone brand and have either used or are currently using smartphones of that brand. The study's sample includes 105 respondents determined using a nonprobability sampling method, specifically convenience sampling, often referred to as accidental sampling. The data collection process was carried out by distributing surveys via QR codes linked to Google Forms to potential participants. Furthermore, the information collected was analyzed using the Structural Equation Model (SEM) technique, using the Partial Least Square (PLS) approach, with the help of SmartPLS. The research results indicate that: 1) the country of origin has a positive and significant influence on purchase decisions, and 2) brand awareness has a positive and significant influence on purchase decisions.
The Level of Consumer Satisfaction with the Purchase of Gacoan Noodle Food Merr Surabaya Branch through E- Commerce
Authors:   Agribusiness Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture, UPN “Veteran”Jawa Timur, Indonesia, Nuraini Anis , Winarno Sri Tjondro ,   Agribusiness Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture, UPN “Veteran”Jawa Timur, Indonesia, Tondang Ika Sari ,   Agribusiness Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture, UPN “Veteran”Jawa Timur, Indonesia
Published: August 2023

The presence of Mie Gacoan is driven by the growth of culinary business that continues to grow in the city of Surabaya. The marketing concept has begun to focus on providing satisfaction to consumers so as to generate high profits. Research on consumer satisfaction plays an important role in helping companies to know what consumers want. The purpose of this study is to identify the decision-making process of gacoan noodle consumers through e-commerce and analyze the level of consumer satisfaction with the purchase of gacoan noodle through e-commerce. Determination of the number of samples using nonprobability sampling, namely accidental sampling with the number of respondents as many as 96. The analysis methods used in this study are descriptive analysis, Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) and Important Performance Analysis (IPA). The results showed that consumers were satisfied with the purchase of gacoan noodle food through e-commerce with a CSI value of 73.91%. The attributes that need to be considered and improved to increase consumer satisfaction through e-commerce can be seen through the cartesian diagram in the IPA analysis in quadrant I (top priority).
Biokinetic mechnisms of anthocyanins in red fruits produced in the state of Michoacan, Mexico
Authors: Quiroz Jesús , Lizarazo Cristian , García Jesús , Torres Jorge , García Israel , Hernández Jose
Published: August 2023

Berry fruits are a rich source of phytonutrients, especially phenolic compounds such as flavonoids, which have antioxidant properties. Among these fruits, the most cultivated and consumed are those of the genus Fragaria (Strawberries) and Rubus (Raspberries, blackberries, dewberries), which have been widely studied for their beneficial effects on human and animal health. One of the most important bioactive compounds of these fruits are anthocyanins, which have shown potential benefits for health by their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activity. Therefore, the study of anthocyanins is of great pharmaceutical and nutraceutical interest. The objective of this research is to analyze the biokinetic mechanisms of anthocyanins in Rubus adenotrichos and Fragaria x ananassa produced in the state of Michoacán, Mexico. For this purpose, research strategies that included the extraction and quantification of anthocyanins, as well as bioinformatic tools to understand their biosynthetic pathway in the mentioned fruits were used. The use of informatic platforms allowed to identify the regulatory genes and enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of anthocyanins in R. adenotrichos and F. x ananassa, finding that most are common, with some specific differences, and that there are only a few exceptions, such as the enzymes catechol-O-methyltransferase (OMT), UDP-glucosyltransferase (UGT) and beta-glucuronidase (GUSB), which only occur in Rubus adenotrichos and not in Fragaria x ananassa.
Blue Rubber Bleb Nevus Syndrome with Large Ulcerated Cutaneous Lesions: First Yemeni Case Report
Authors:   Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Sana’a University, Sana’a, Yemen, MA Alshami , HM Alshami ,   Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Sana’a University, Sana’a, Yemen, MJ Mohana ,   Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Sana’a University, Sana’a, Yemen
Published: August 2023

Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome is a rare, sporadic, congenital disorder characterized by numerous cutaneous and internal venous malformations. We report the case of a 2-month-old male with multiple large, bluish, bleb-like, nodular lesions on the face, scalp, neck, trunk, and limbs present since birth. Some of these lesions exhibit central ulceration, which is an unprecedented observation.
Gender Disparity in the Management of Diabetes among Residents of Sabon Gari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria
Authors:   Department of Human Physiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria, Mustafa Ibrahim Oladayo , Tanko Yusuf ,   Department of Human Physiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria, Yusuf Rasheed ,   Department of Chemical Pathology, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria
Published: August 2023

Gender has been shown to play a major role in the level of management of diabetes mellitus (DM) especially in this part of the world. This study therefore looked into the possibility and level of difference in the management of the condition among patients resident in Sabon Gari Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State, Nigeria. The number of diabetic patients recruited for the study was 250 (aged 35 and above), comprising of 135 and 115 female and male patients respectively. A total of 5mL of blood was taken from the subjects after 10 hour fasting, out of which 3mL was centrifuged and the separated serum analysed for glucose. The remaining 2mL was analysed immediately for glycated haemoglobin (HbA1C). Samples were collected over a period of eight months after which comparison of parameters between both genders was done in order to determine extent of diabetes management. There was a significant difference between the parameters of the female diabetic patients (Mean Fasting Blood Glucose, FBG = 189±82.30mg/dL; Mean HbA1C = 8.5±3.18%) and those of the male diabetic patients (FBG = 223±89.00mg/dL; Mean HbA1C = 9.8±3.39%). The glycaemic markers were significantly lower (though still within the diabetic range) among the female patients as compared with the male patients. Conclusively, the female patients had their diabetes better managed and controlled than their male counterparts.
Evaluation of Patients with Gall Bladder Perforation: Experience at a Tertiary Centre
Authors:   Department of Surgery, JNMCH, AMU, India, Alvi Emad
Published: August 2023

Introduction: Gall bladder perforation is a rare but serious complication that presents to our emergency setup. It is usually a sequelae of acute cholecystitis. It requires urgent intervention, failing which mortality can be as high as more than 50%. Neimeier classification of GB perforation has since become the guide to its management. Because of infrequent and rare occurrence of GB perforation the data regarding incidence and management of it is lacking. We present our experience at a tertiary centre of 35 cases of gall bladder perforation that presented to us since January 2020 till June 2022
Obstetric Fistulas: Epidemioclinical Aspects and Management at the Maroua Regional Hospital Summary
Authors:   Regional Hospital of Ngaoundéré, Cameroon, Ngaroua Ngaroua
Published: August 2023

Obstetrical fistula is an abnormal communication between the vagina and the urinary tract or between the vagina and the rectum, or both, leading to urinary incontinence. The cameroonian government with its developmental partners have set up centers to deal with these fistula among which, the one of the Maroua Regional Hospital. After two years of active operation, it was judicious for us to evaluate the functioning of the said center. Hence, the interest of this study led to the general objective of the evaluation of the management of obstetric fistula at the Maroua Regional Hospital Center. We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study with retrospective data collection based on 118 records of patients managed during the study period. Results obtained showed that, the age group of [20-25] years were mainly represented in the sample. The vesico-vaginal form was the most common fistula with 72.90%. The surgical approach by the lower route with fistulorraphy was practiced in 84.70% of the overall cases. The success rate was 96.62% against 3.38% failure at hospital discharge. Long-term follow-up gave us a cure rate of 77.23% against 22.77% cases of recurrence. Concludingly, the results obtained are encouraging, however, more efforts are needed in terms of awareness and early detection of cases in the communities in ordre to eradicate this pathology.