bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhanced High-Performance Aqueous Zinc Ion Batteries with Copper-Doped α-MnO2 Nanosheets Cathodes
Authors: Li Gang , Liang Hai , Ren Haifang , Zhou Linhan , Hashem Mohamed
Published: November 2023

Aqueous zinc ion batteries (ZIBs) have garnered considerable interest due to their eco-friendly nature, cost-efficiency, and remarkable safety features, making them a compelling contender for next-generation energy storage systems. Within the extensive array of cathode materials investigated
for ZIBs, manganese-based materials stand out for their notable attributes, including low toxicity and high voltage. Nevertheless, their widespread application has been impeded by challenges related to poor cycling stability, low electrical conductivity, and intricate energy storage mechanisms.
In this study, we present a novel approach to address these challenges by synthesizing copper-doped α-MnO2 nanosheets through a facile hydrothermal route. The resulting cathode material exhibits remarkable electrochemical properties when integrated into Zn/MnO2
batteries. At a low current density of 0.1 Ag−1, these batteries demonstrate an impressive reversible capacity of 445 mAh g−1, signifying their substantial energy storage capabilities. Furthermore, even when subjected to a demanding high current density of
1 Ag−1, they exhibit an exceptional cycling life of up to 1000 cycles, highlighting the enhanced durability of the copper-doped α-MnO2 nanowire cathode. This research paves the way for the development of high-performance Zn/MnO2 batteries,
leveraging the advantages of manganese-based cathode materials while mitigating their inherent limitations. These findings represent a significant step forward in the development of environmentally sustainable and economically viable energy storage solutions, offering hope for a more sustainable
energy future.
Kidney disease characteristics, prevalence, and risk factors in León, Nicaragua: a population-based study
Authors: Strasma Anna , Reyes Ángel Mejía , Aragón Aurora , López Indiana , Park Lawrence P. , Hogan Susan L. , Thielman Nathan , Wyatt Christina , González-Quiroz Marvin
Published: November 2023

Background

CKD of unknown etiology (CKDu) disproportionately affects young people in Central America who lack traditional CKD risk factors (diabetes and hypertension) and has instead been variably linked to heat stress, occupational and environmental exposures, nephrotoxic medications, and/or genetic susceptibility. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of CKD and identify risk factors for traditional CKD and CKDu in Nicaragua.

Methods

Surveys and assessment for CKD markers in urine and serum were performed in 15–59 year olds in households of the León municipality of Nicaragua. The survey included questions on demographics, health behaviors, occupation, and medical history. Participants with CKD were subdivided into traditional CKD and suspected CKDu based on history of diabetes, hypertension, or other specified conditions. A multinomial logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with traditional CKD and suspected CKDu, compared to the non-CKD reference group.

Results

In 1795 study participants, CKD prevalence was 8.6%. Prevalence in males was twofold higher than females (12% vs 6%). Of those with CKD, 35% had suspected CKDu. Both traditional CKD and CKDu were associated with male sex and increasing age. Traditional CKD was associated with a family history of CKD, history of urinary tract infections, and lower socioeconomic status, while CKDu was associated with drinking well water and a lower body mass index.

Conclusions

Both traditional CKD and CKDu are significant burdens in this region. Our study supports previous hypotheses of CKDu etiology and emphasizes the importance of CKD screening.
LGBTQI content on obstetrics and gynecology residency websites
Authors: Soltani Amythis , Baban Saman , French Katherine , Annand Kathryn , Pelle Annemarie , Stifani Bianca M.
Published: November 2023

Background

In the United States (US), many obstetrics & gynecology (OB-GYN) trainees feel unprepared to care for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) individuals, but interest in this topic is rising. Residency program websites are one way that directors can advertise whether this training is offered within their program. We aimed to describe the extent to which LGBTQI content is currently featured on OB-GYN residency websites across the country.

Methods

We identified all OB-GYN residency programs in the United States using a publicly available database. We systematically searched for select LGBTQI keywords on program websites. We collected data on mentions of LGBTQI didactics and rotations. We also searched whether LGTBQI keywords were included in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) statements. We used multivariable logistic regression to compare the characteristics of programs that do and do not include this content. We used STATA SE Version 16.0 for all analyses and set the level of significance at 5%.

Results

We included 287/295 US OB-GYN residency programs in our analysis (97.3%) and excluded 8 that did not have websites. We identified any LGBTQI content on 50 program websites (17.4%), and specific mention of didactics or rotations on 8 websites (2.8%). On multivariable analysis, programs in the West were more likely to include any LGBTQI content compared to programs in the South (OR 2.81, 95%CI 1.04–7.63), as were programs with 1 or 2 fellowships (OR 3.41, 95%CI 1.43–8.14) or 3 or more fellowships (OR 4.85, 95%CI 2.03–11.57) compared to those without fellowships. Programs in departments led by female chairs were also more likely to include LBTQI content (OR 3.18, 95%CI 1.55–6.51).

Conclusions

Academic programs, West Coast programs, and those with departments led by female chairs are more likely to mention LGBTQI keywords on their websites. Given the increasing interest in LGBTQI education for OB-GYN trainees, program directors should consider providing training opportunities and including this content on their websites.
Short animated video increases knowledge and perceived comfort in clinical counseling on inequitable health impacts of air pollution among interprofessional health learners and clinicians
Authors: Doheny Brenna M. , Inglis Jack J. , Boll Karly A. , Lunos Scott , Surapaneni Vishnu Laalitha
Published: November 2023

Background

Air pollution is a major health risk contributing to global morbidity and mortality, yet clinicians do not routinely engage in counseling patients on this topic. Clinicians cite their lack of education as a common barrier. We developed a two-minute animated video on mitigating air pollution health risks and evaluated the efficacy of this video as an educational tool.

Methods

In March-June 2021, a convenience sample of Minnesota interprofessional health learners and clinicians viewed the video and completed an electronic survey that assessed pre-/post-video intervention changes in (a) didactic and clinically applied knowledge on health impacts of air pollution, (b) perceived comfort in identifying at-risk patients and counseling them on relevant preventive health behaviors, (c) intentions/barriers to counseling patients, (d) beliefs and attitudes related to the health harms of air pollution, and (e) perceptions of the overall acceptability of the intervention.

Results

The 218 participants included learners and clinicians in medicine, nursing, and advanced practice provision. Respondents’ knowledge scores and self-reported level of comfort in identifying high-risk patients and counseling them on preventative health behaviors increased significantly pre-/post-intervention. The video also effectively altered participants’ misperceptions about the health impacts of air pollution. While less than half of participants (43.6%) reported they intended to engage in counseling patients as a result of watching the video, 52.3% indicated they might do so. Lack of time during clinical encounters and lack of training were reported as persistent barriers to engaging in this counseling. Overall, participants found the video to be an effective educational tool, indicating that they wanted their colleagues and patients to watch the video and would like to see further short, animated videos on other environmental health topics.

Conclusions

A two-minute animated educational video significantly improved knowledge of inequitable health impacts of air pollution and improved perceived comfort in identifying and counseling at-risk patients among health professional learners and clinicians regardless of profession, level of training, or pre-intervention knowledge level. Academic health professional training programs and health systems should consider adopting this modality as a tool for educating learners, clinicians, and patients on environmental health risks.
Co-teaching in medicine and nursing in training nurse anesthetists: a before-and-after controlled study
Authors: Ma Xiaobei , Duan Yi , Ma Yanli , Gao Zhifeng , Zhang Huan
Published: November 2023

Background

Clarifying the effectiveness of co-teaching in medicine and nursing (CMN) is important as it is crucial in clinical practice to improve the quality of patient care and prognosis. In this study, we aimed to determine the efficacy of CMN in nurse anesthetist training.

Method

The study comprised a 6-month training session and a before-and-after controlled study. In total, 59 nurses were recruited. The first 30 nurses were enrolled in the conventional single-teaching in nursing (SN) group and only took nursing-related courses. The next 29 students were enrolled in the CMN group and received both general medical and nursing-specific curricula. Before and after training, medical and nursing collaboration competency scores and knowledge scores were compared between the two groups. At the end of the study, qualitative comments on teaching satisfaction and clinical reasoning skills improvement were queried, and content analysis was performed.

Results

Participants in the CMN group outperformed those in the SN group in tests of medical and nursing collaboration abilities as well as knowledge. The CMN group outperformed the SN group in terms of teaching satisfaction evaluation, particularly in terms of fostering learning in the anesthetist specialty, improving clinical practice, fostering motivation, and influencing how people think about challenges at work. Furthermore, participants in the CMN group felt that their clinical reasoning abilities had improved.

Conclusion

In comparison to the SN group, the CMN group had enhanced outcomes of patient care, medical and nursing collaboration, and clinical reasoning skills.
Deconstructing the masculinized assumption of the medical profession: narratives of Japanese physician fathers
Authors: Kamihiro Noriki , Taga Futoshi , Miyachi Junichiro , Matsui Tomoko , Nishigori Hiroshi
Published: November 2023

Background

Gender studies in the medical profession have revealed gender biases associated with being a doctor, a profession often regarded as more suitable for men. The path to gender equality inevitably involves deconstructing this masculinized assumption. Despite the decades-long expectation that ikumen–men who actively participate in childcare in Japan–would contribute to a change toward gender equality, Japanese society is still male dominated, and women suffer from a large gender gap. With the aim of exploring implicit gendered assumptions concerning being a caregiver and a doctor, the authors focused on the experience of individuals juggling the binary roles of a professional and a caregiver.

Methods

The authors conducted subjectivist inductive research, recruited ten Japanese physician fathers through purposive sampling, and collected data through one-to-one semi-structured interviews between October 2017 and December 2018. The authors recorded and transcribed the narrative data, and extracted themes and representative narratives.

Results

The study identified three themes about the reproduction and potential change of the gender gap: maintaining gendered assumptions of the medical profession without experiencing conflict, maintaining gendered assumptions of the medical profession while experiencing conflict, and deconstructing gendered assumptions of the medical profession through conflict. The authors found that these negotiations interplayed with the gendered division of labor between male doctors and their wives as well as the patriarchal family structure.

Conclusions

The study revealed how gendered assumptions of the medical profession, as well as gender stereotypes and gendered division of household labor, were reproduced in the course of male doctors’ negotiations when they became fathers. For male doctors to question their unconscious gender bias, the authors emphasize the importance of men gaining knowledge about gender stereotypes, and propose that educators create such opportunities. Moreover, the authors assert that increasing doctors’ awareness of how masculinized assumptions implicitly interact with ideas of being a doctor—an aspect rarely discussed among medical professionals—is crucial for deconstructing the gendered normativity in the medical field.
Impact of statin treatment on cardiovascular risk in patients with type 1 diabetes: a population-based cohort study
Authors: Yoo Joonsang , Jeon Jimin , Baek Minyoul , Song Sun Ok , Kim Jinkwon
Published: November 2023

Background

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major complication in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) patients. Previous studies have suggested that statins may be helpful for prevention of CVD in T1D, but there are limited data on the role of statins in T1D. We investigated the relationship between statin treatment and cardiovascular risk in T1D patients using a population-based cohort.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the Korean nationwide health insurance database from January 2007 to December 2017. This study included 11,009 T1D patients aged ≥ 20 years without a prior history of CVD. The primary outcome was a composite development of stroke or myocardial infarction. Statin use during follow-up was treated as a time-varying variable. We performed a multivariable time-dependent Cox regression analysis adjusting for sex, age, type of insurance, hypertension, renal disease, and use of antiplatelets and renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system inhibitors.

Results

During the mean follow-up of 9.9 ± 3.7 years of follow-up, 931 T1D patients (8.5%) suffered primary outcome. Statin treatment was associated with a reduced risk of the primary outcome (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.76; 95% confidence interval 0.66–0.88; p < 0.001). Statin use led to decreased risks of ischemic stroke and myocardial infarction, but was not related to hemorrhagic stroke. We also found that the risk of cardiovascular events decreased as the cumulative exposure duration of statins increased.

Conclusions

Statin use was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular events in T1D patients. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm the potential role of statins in prevention of CVD in patients with T1D.
Reciprocal relations between cardiovascular disease, employment, financial insecurity, and post cardiac event recovery among Māori men: a case series
Authors: Lisipeki Samantha , Masters-Awatere Bridgette , Hodgetts Darrin , Liew Tze Vun
Published: November 2023

Background

Disparities in cardiovascular outcomes between Māori and non-Māori persist despite technological advances in the treatment of cardiovascular disease and improved service provision. Little is known about how social determinants of health, such as income [in]security affect Māori men’s access, treatment, and recovery from cardiovascular disease. This paper explores the contexts within which cardiovascular disease is experienced and healthcare becomes embedded.

Methods

This study utilized a case-comparative narrative approach to document and make sense of the patient experiences of four male Māori patients who, in the previous 6 months, had come through cardiac investigation and treatment at Waikato Hospital, a large tertiary cardiac center in New Zealand. Participant accounts were elicited using a culturally patterned narrative approach to case development, informed by Kaupapa Māori Research practices. It involved three repeat 1–3-hour interviews recorded with participants (12 interviews); the first interviews took place 5–16 weeks after surgery/discharge.

Results

Each of the four case studies firstly details a serious cardiac event(s) before describing the varying levels of financial worry they experienced. Major financial disruptions to their lives were at the forefront of the concerns of those facing financial insecurity—as opposed to their medical problems. Financial hardship within the context of an unresponsive welfare system impacted the access to care and access to funding contributed to psychological distress for several participants. Economic security and reciprocal relationships between employers and employees facilitated positive treatment experiences and recovery.

Conclusion

Findings suggest that although multiple factors influence participant experiences and treatment outcomes, financial [in]security, and personal income is a key determinant. The heterogeneity in participant narratives suggests that although general inequities in health may exist for Māori as a population group, these inequities do not appear to be uniform. We postulate diverse mechanisms, by which financial insecurity may adversely affect outcomes from treatment and demonstrate financial security as a significant determinant in allowing patients to respond to and recover from cardiovascular disease more effectively.
Fasciola hepatica soluble antigens (FhAg) induce ovine PMN innate immune reactions and NET formation in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Muñoz-Caro Tamara , Gómez-Ceruti Marcela , Silva Liliana M. R. , Gutiérrez-Expósito Daniel , Wagner Henrik , Taubert Anja , Hermosilla Carlos
Published: November 2023

Fasciola hepatica causes liver fluke disease, a worldwide neglected and re-emerging zoonotic disease, leading to hepatitis in humans and livestock. In the pathogenesis, flukes actively migrate through liver parenchyma provoking tissue damage. Here, parasites must confront leukocytes of the innate immune system in vivo. Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) are the most abundant granulocytes and first ones arriving at infection sites. PMN may display neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), consisting of nuclear DNA, decorated with histones, enzymes, and antimicrobial peptides. We investigated for the first time whether F. hepatica soluble antigens (FhAg) can also trigger NETosis and innate immune reactions in exposed ovine PMN. Thus, isolated PMN were co-cultured with FhAg and NET formation was visualized by immunofluorescence and scanning electron microscopy analyses resulting in various phenotypes with spread NETs being the most detected in vitro. In line, NETs quantification via Picogreen®-fluorometric measurements revealed induction of anchored- and cell free NETs phenotypes. Live cell 3D-holotomographic microscopy revealed degranulation of stimulated PMN at 30 min exposure to FhAg. Functional PMN chemotaxis assays showed a significant increase of PMN migration (p = 0.010) and intracellular ROS production significantly increased throughout time (p = 0.028). Contrary, metabolic activities profiles of FhAg-exposed PMN did not significantly increase. Finally, in vivo histopathological analysis on F. hepatica-parasitized liver tissue sections of sheep showed multifocal infiltration of inflammatory cells within liver parenchyma, and further fluorescence microscopy analyses confirmed NETs formation in vivo. Overall, we hypothesized that NET-formation is a relevant host defence mechanism that might have a role in the pathogenesis of fasciolosis in vivo.
A qualitative study of infection prevention and control practices in the maternal units of two Ghanaian hospitals
Authors: Sunkwa-Mills Gifty , Senah Kodjo , Breinholdt Mette , Aberese-Ako Matilda , Tersbøl Britt Pinkowski
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) remain a common challenge in healthcare delivery, with a significant burden in low- and middle-income countries. Preventing HAIs has gained enormous attention from policy makers and healthcare managers and providers, especially in resource-limited settings. Despite policies to enforce infection prevention and control (IPC) measures to prevent HAIs, IPC compliance remains a challenge in hospital settings. In this study, we explore the experiences of healthcare providers and women in the post-natal phase and investigate factors influencing IPC practices in two hospitals in Ghana.

Methods

The study used a qualitative approach involving semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and observations among healthcare providers and women in the postnatal phase in two maternity units from January 2019 to June 2019. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim for thematic analysis. The data sets were uploaded into the qualitative software NVivo 12 to facilitate coding and analysis.

Findings

Healthcare providers were driven by the responsibility to provide medical care for their patients and at the same time, protect themselves from infections. IPC facilitators include leadership commitment and support, IPC training and education. Women were informed about IPC in educational talks during antenatal care visits, and their practices were also shaped by their background and their communities. IPC barriers include the poor documentation or ‘invisibility’ of HAIs, low prioritization of IPC tasks, lack of clear IPC goals and resources, discretionary use of guidelines, and communication-related challenges. The findings demonstrate the need for relevant power holders to position themselves as key drivers of IPC and develop clear goals for IPC. Hospital managers need to take up the responsibility of providing the needed resources and leadership support to facilitate IPC. Patient engagement should be more strategic both within the hospital and at the community level.
PREDICTING DEFORMATION RESPONSE AND FAILURE OF 3D TEXTILE COMPOSITES USING REALISTIC MICROMECHANICAL MODELS
Authors: AGNIPROBHO MAZUMDER AGNIPROBHO MAZUMDER , LI ZHENG LI ZHENG , YANG JIAO YANG JIAO , YONG YU YONG YU , YOUQI WANG YOUQI WANG
Published: November 2023

3D woven composites are increasingly being utilized to construct structural components due to their ability to obtain high fiber volume fractions, potential for improved interlaminar properties, and ability to reduce manufacturing time via automated formation of component-shaped preforms. Properties of the 3D woven composite are determined by weaving architecture and the constituent material system. A detailed representation of its woven unit cell architecture is thus sought to closely capture local variations and imperfections arising during the weaving process, in order to predict mechanical properties with greater accuracy. Accurate mechanical property prediction can reduce the material selection cost and cycle time by minimizing coupon fabrication and testing. In this paper, a complex 3D woven angle interlock (3DWAI) unit cell is first modeled using DEA Fabric and Composite Analyzer (DFCA). Cross-section slices from the numerical model are compared to micrographs from the corresponding test sample to highlight the important meso-scale features that are captured by the model in a detailed fashion. Then a progressive damage model based on a gradual stiffness reduction technique is implemented to predict the tensile, compressive and shear stress-strain responses as well as failure strengths of the 3DWAI unit cell. The numerical predictions are compared to the test results and a discussion on the failure mechanisms is presented. The results demonstrate that the proposed modeling methodology not only captures the actual microstructures, but also predicts properties of 3D woven composites with a high degree of accuracy.
MATRIX CRACK DETECTION IN CROSS-PLY CFRP LAMINATES WITH AN FBG SENSOR BASED ON OPTICAL FREQUENCY DOMAIN REFLECTOMETRY
Authors: IKEDA YUKINO , TAKEDA SHIN-ICHI , HISADA SHINSAKU , OGASAWARA TOSHIO
Published: November 2023

Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) composites are expected to be used in liquid hydrogen (LH2) tanks for hydrogen-powered aircraft and reusable launch vehicles due to their superior specific strength and specific stiffness and their suitability for weight reduction. However, in cryogenic environments such as LH2 temperature, large thermal stresses occur due to the difference in coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) between 0° and 90° layers as well as between carbon fiber and matrix resin. In addition, low temperature embrittlement occurs at the fiber/resin interface and in the resin itself. Therefore, matrix cracks propagate at much lower tensile strains than at room temperature condition. Since matrix cracks are pathways for gas leakage, it is important to monitor their initiation and evolution. Fiber optic sensors are lightweight, small in diameter, and flexible, making them easy to embed in CFRP. They have the advantage of having little effect on the mechanical properties when embedded in CFRP. Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors can measure strain with high accuracy, and their application to structural health monitoring is being investigated. In general, FBG sensors are used for single-point measurement or quasi-distribution measurement by multiplexing multiple FBGs on a single optical fiber. On the other hand, a distribution measurement method that applies optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR) to FBG sensors has been developed. However, previous studies have been limited to measuring the spatial distribution of strain, and there are no examples of detailed measurements of the location of matrix cracks in CFRP. This study investigates the applicability of the OFDR-FBG method for the detection of matrix cracks in CFRP laminates. An FBG sensor of 100 mm gauge length is embedded in a cross-ply CFRP specimen. The specimens are subjected to tensile loading. Transverse matrix cracks in the 90° ply are observed at the edge of thespecimen using an optical microscope and an X-ray inspection system. The results confirm that matrix crack propagation can be successfully detected as a strain change at low matrix crack densities. The matrix crack positions detected by the FBG sensor are directly compared with those obtained from the microscopic observation, and the difference is generally less than 2%. It is demonstrated that the matrix cracks can be detected with high accuracy using FBG sensors based on the OFDR method. The OFDR-FBG system can detect cracks with high accuracy in areas where the crack density is relatively low. On the other hand, when a large number of cracks are generated, it is difficult to distinguish individual cracks due to the flattening of the measured strain.
ULTRASONIC WELDING OF GLASS FIBER REINFORCED VITRIMER COMPOSITES
Authors: BISWAL AGNI K , NANDI ANKUSH , WANG HUNG , VASHISTH ANIRUDDH
Published: November 2023

The welding of composites has become a crucial step in the production of complex composite parts. Typically, various welding and joining techniques are used to manufacture composite assemblies. However, ultrasonic welding is one of the most popular methods for welding thermoplastic composites and cannot be used for composites with a thermosetting matrix. This study employed ultrasonic welding process for fiber-reinforced polymer composites with a dynamic covalent adaptive network (CAN). We used a thermosetting polymeric network with an associative dynamic CAN, commonly known as vitrimers; the dynamic nature of these polymers makes them reprocessable, recyclable, and reusable. These polymers can be crosslinked like thermosets but flow as thermoplastics at elevated temperatures. Thin composites were fabricated by reinforcing glass fibers into the vitrimer polymeric matrix and then welded together using ultrasonic welding. This work represents the first demonstration of welding vitrimer glass fiber-reinforced composites (vGFRC). The vGFRC matrix employed transesterification molecular exchange reactions to initiate chain mobility, leading to interlocking and rearrangement reactions on the bondline during the welding process. We evaluated the mechanical, chemical, and morphological properties of welded lap joints before and after mechanical testing. Shear strengths of 10 MPa were observed for vGFRC, indicating good weldability properties of vitrimer surfaces. The reprocessable nature of these composites was evaluated by repeated testing of lap shear strength followed by ultrasonic welding over five cycles. Additionally, we evaluated the surface functionality and atomic percentage on the fractured surface using FTIR and XPS, respectively. This exciting discovery shows that high frequency and pressure can be used to weld and reprocess polymers with dynamic molecular networks by exploiting molecular fusion and rearrangement reactions at the bondline.
Size Reduction and Harmonics Suppression in Microwave Power Dividers
Authors: Roshani Sobhan , Salah I. Yahya  , Ghadi Yazeed Y. , Roshani Saeed , Parandin Fariborz , Yaghouti Behnam D.
Published: November 2023

In this paper, several types of microstrip power divider are studied and compared in terms of harmonics suppression and size reductions. The importance of this research lies in the fact that power dividers are critical components in various communication systems, and their performance directly affects the overall system efficiency. The conventional structure of the power divider has an acceptable performance at operating frequency in terms of excellent output ports isolation, low insertion loss, and high return loss, but occupies large size and passes unwanted signals at higher frequencies along with desired signal without any suppression. Harmonics are popular distortion and has different distortion impacts in many different facilities. Recently, several techniques are introduced to overcome these drawbacks. Applied open stubs, applied resonators, lumped reactive components such as capacitors and inductors, coupled lines, defected ground structure (DGS), and electronic band gaps are common methods, which are widely used to overcome these drawbacks. Finally, the study results show that the resonator-based power dividers and coupled-line-based power dividers have good performances in terms of size reduction and harmonic suppression but increase insertion loss parameter. Furthermore, the lumped reactive component-based power dividers and applied DGS and electromagnetic bandgap cells suppress unwanted harmonics, but they need extra process to fabrication, which is undesirable. Moreover, the open-stub-based power dividers have moderate performance with simple structure, but size reduction and harmonics suppression are not so superior in this method.
Augmented Reality Facilitates Students' Learning in Pandemic Times of Crisis in Higher Education
Authors: Alqahtani Ebtisam
Published: November 2023

Teaching and learning activities swiftly transitioned to remote modes as an urgent response to the situation crisis, of the COVID-19 pandemic. The reliance on advanced technology to facilitate teaching and learning has become increasingly vital, making it important to understand the perspectives of academic staff regarding Augmented Reality (AR) as one of the advanced technologies that could address these needs. This paper aims to explore the viewpoints of academic staff regarding the use of AR facilities in higher education. To achieve this goal, a quantitative research approach was employed. The research methodology involved administering a questionnaire to gather responses from academic staff experiencing health restrictions due to the ongoing pandemic. The questionnaire used in this study was the Instructional Survey, a research tool specifically designed to elicit insights into the perspectives and opinions of academic professionals. the questionnaire was distributed to academic staff members across various faculties at five universities in Saudi Arabia, the response was from 851 academic staff. The study's findings show a consensus among academic staff members, indicating that they agree on the potential of AR to enhance teaching and learning activities. This alignment of perspectives underscores the significance of AR in the context of higher education. his research provides valuable insights into the perspectives of academic staff during a time of crisis and their recognition of AR as a valuable tool for teaching and learning. Additionally, the study identifies areas of interest for future research, suggesting potential avenues for further exploration and investigation
Atividade enzimática de fungos endofíticos das plantas medicinais amazônicas Mulateiro (Calycophyllum spruceanum) e Sucuuba (Himatanthus sucuuba)
Authors: Queiroz Mendonça Gleison Rafael , Barreto dos Santos Coradin Aline , Santana de Almeida Neto Rubens , dos Santos Romualdo Marcio , Viana Diniz Fernanda , Maia Carvalho Clarice
Published: November 2023

Os microrganismos endofíticos residem nos tecidos das plantas sem tipicamente causar malefícios durante parte do seu ciclo de vida e são conhecidos principalmente por seu papel benéfico para a planta hospedeira. Dentre suas diversas aplicabilidades, fungos endofíticos são uma fonte de muitas enzimas industriais interessantes, como lipases, amilases, proteases e celulases. Assim, esse trabalho teve como objetivo analisar a atividade enzimática de fungos endofíticos associados às plantas medicinais amazônicas mulateiro (Calycophyllum spruceanum) e sucuuba (Himatanthus sucuuba). Foram reativadas morfoespécies de fungos endofíticos em meio Batata-Dextrose-Ágar e incubados a 28 ºC. Os fungos reativados foram identificados pela análise macro e micromorfológica e avaliados quanto a atividade enzimática in vitro. Os fungos endofíticos de C. spruceanum avaliados produzem protease (52%), celulase (33%), lipase (33%) e amilase (24%). Os fungos endofíticos de H. sucuuba avaliados também apresentaram alto potencial na produção de enzimas extracelulares como celulase (69%), protease (62%), lipase (12%) e amilase (6%). Os gêneros fúngicos Phomopsis e Fusarium apresentaram maior quantidade de estirpes com atividade positiva. Os fungos endofíticos de C. spruceanum e H. sucuuba são promissores produtores de enzimas de interesse industrial.
Transmembrane Channel-Like (Tmc) Subunits Contribute to Frequency Sensitivity in the Zebrafish Utricle
Authors: Sun Peng , Smith Eliot , Nicolson Teresa
Published: November 2023

Information about dynamic head motion is conveyed by a central striolar zone of vestibular hair cells and afferent neurons in the inner ear. How vestibular hair cells are tuned to transduce dynamic stimuli at the molecular level is not well understood. Here we take advantage of the differential expression pattern of
tmc1
,
tmc2a
, and
tmc2b
, which encode channel subunits of the mechanotransduction complex in zebrafish vestibular hair cells. To test the role of various combinations of Tmc subunits in transducing dynamic head movements, we measured reflexive eye movements induced by high-frequency stimuli in single versus double
tmc
mutants. We found that Tmc2a

function correlates with the broadest range of frequency sensitivity, whereas Tmc2b mainly contributes to lower-frequency responses. Tmc1

, which is largely excluded from the striolar zone, plays a minor role in sensing lower-frequency stimuli. Our study suggests that the Tmc subunits impart functional differences to the mechanotransduction of dynamic stimuli.

Significance Statement
Information about dynamic head movements is transmitted by sensory receptors, known as hair cells, in the labyrinth of the inner ear. The sensitivity of hair cells to fast or slow movements of the head differs according to cell type. Whether the mechanotransduction complex that converts mechanical stimuli into electrical signals in hair cells participates in conveying frequency information is not clear. Here we find that the
transmembrane channel-like 1/2
genes, which encode a central component of the complex, are differentially expressed in the utricle and contribute to frequency sensitivity in zebrafish.
Identity and sovereignty in the system of institutional resources of the nationally rooted economic development of Ukraine
Authors:   State Institution “Institute for Economics and Forecasting, NAS of Ukraine”, Yaremenko Oleh
Published: November 2023

The author shows that identity as a historically given social reality develops under the inverse influence of the entire set of value-institutional resources of society generated by it, including its active subjectivity, integrating potential of national interest, process sovereignty, stable institutional structure and dynamic factor of exogenous reforms. The conclusion is substantiated that the imprint of relevance on the historical essence of the national identity adapts it to today’s needs, but at the same time there are limits of adaptation that the society cannot cross without losing its identity. Based on such an understanding, the author proves the possibility of consistently developing criteria for the coordinated use of internal trust tools as those that should be directly correlated with national identity: stability of the monetary unit, stability of the tax regime, stimulating state investment policy, social guarantee policy, and foreign economic strategy. This provides an opportunity to significantly increase the degree of coherence of the main areas of state regulatory policy.
THE LABOR MARKET THROUGH THE PRISM OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Authors: Stoyanova D. , Madzhurova B.
Published: November 2023

The paper examines the new economic realities of the labor market, caused by the pandemic of COVID-19. The analyses of the effects of the crisis as a whole are systematized, and the most affected sectors are highlighted. Urgent policies are needed to overcome the negative trends and slow economic growth. This is complemented by the study of the integrated indicator for the economically active population in the period 2008-2021, which confirms the deterioration and insufficient effectiveness of the measures by the state.
A szenzoros ételelutasítás a kora gyermekkori evészavarok korszerű megközelítésének tükrében
Authors: Gulácsi Ágnes , Scheuring Noémi , Stadler Judit , Siba Mónika , Danis Ildikó
Published: November 2023

A kora gyermekkori evészavarok közé tartozó szenzoros ételelutasítás a
válogatósság egy súlyos, perzisztáló formája, melyben a gyermek következetesen
és kitartóan utasít el bizonyos ételeket valamely tulajdonságaik alapján, egy
vagy több korábbi averzív élményt követően. Kialakulásában biológiai adottságok
(szenzoros feldolgozási zavar, fokozott ízérzékenység) és környezeti hatások
együttesen játszanak szerepet. A beszűkült étrend miatt egyes tápanyagok
abszolút vagy relatív hiánya fordulhat elő, de súlygyarapodási zavar nem
jellemző. Az evészavar gyakran társul viselkedésproblémákkal, szorongásos
zavarral, autizmus spektrum zavarral. A diagnózis a részletes anamnézis alapján
már többnyire valószínűsíthető, a kivizsgálást gyermekorvosi vizsgálat,
dietetikai és pszichológiai konzultáció, gyógypedagógiai felmérés egészítheti
ki. A terápia alapja a szülők edukációja és támogatása elsősorban az étkezések
körüli szorongás csökkentése, másodsorban pedig az ételrepertoár bővítésének és
az új ételek elfogadásának lehetőségeiről való közös gondolkodás érdekében. Az
interdiszciplináris ellátás keretein belül a társszakmákkal együttműködve a
gyermekorvos feladata a gyarapodás és a fejlődés ellenőrzése, a tápanyagok és a
vitaminok hiányának kizárása, szükség esetén ezek pótlása. A tanulmányban jó
gyakorlatként ismertetjük, hogy a Heim Pál Országos Gyermekgyógyászati Intézet
Koragyermekkori Evés-alvászavar Ambulanciájának protokolljába hogyan épült be a
szenzoros feldolgozási zavar szűrése és ellátása az evésproblémák kezelésének
részeként. Orv Hetil. 2023; 164(45): 1767–1777.
Topological structure of functions with isolated critical points on a 3-manifold
Authors: Prishlyak Alexandr Olegovich , Loseva Maria , Hladysh Bohdana
Published: November 2023

To each isolated critical point of a smooth function on a 3-manifold we put in correspondence a tree (graph without cycles). We will prove that functions are topologically equivalent in the neighbourhoods of critical points if and only if the corresponding trees are isomorphic. A complete topological invariant of functions with fore critical points, on a closed 3-manifold, was constructed. A criterion for the topological equivalence of functions with a finite number of critical points on 3-manifolds is given.
How to Tell Easy from Hard: Complexities of Conjunctive Query Entailment in Extensions of ALC
Authors: Bednarczyk Bartosz , Rudolph Sebastian
Published: November 2023

It is commonly known that the conjunctive query entailment problem for certain extensions of (the well-known ontology language) ALC is computationally harder than their knowledge base satisfiability problem while for others the complexities coincide, both under the standard and the finite-model semantics. We expose a uniform principle behind this divide by identifying a wide class of (finitely) locally-forward description logics, for which we prove that (finite) query entailment problem can be solved by a reduction to exponentially many calls of the (finite) knowledge base satisfiability problem. Consequently, our algorithm yields tight ExpTime upper bounds for locally-forward logics with ExpTime-complete knowledge base satisfiability problem, including logics between ALC and µALCHbregQ (and more), as well as ALCSCC with global cardinality constraints, for which the complexity of querying remained open. Moreover, to make our technique applicable in future research, we provide easy-to-check sufficient conditions for a logic to be locally-forward based several versions of the on model-theoretic notion of unravellings. Together with existing results, this provides a nearly complete classification of the “benign” vs. “malign” primitive modelling features extending ALC, missing out only the Self operator. We then show a rather counter-intuitive result, namely that the conjunctive entailment problem for ALCSelf is exponentially harder than for ALC. This places the seemingly innocuous Self operator among the “malign” modelling features, like inverses, transitivity or nominals.
The Effectiveness Data-Driven Vocabulary Learning: Hands-on Concordancing through a Pedagogical Corpus
Authors: Tosun Sibel , Sofu Hatice
Published: November 2023

Introduction: Although extensive studies have been carried out on the effectiveness of corpora on teaching vocabulary, the exploration of whether learners can benefit from a pedagogical corpus, particularly regarding hands-on engagement by lower-level learners, has received little attention.

Purpose: To address this gap in the literature, this study sets out to explore the effectiveness of Data-Driven Learning (DDL) in enhancing the vocabulary acquisition of EFL students at a state university in Turkey through a pedagogical corpus.

Method: The quasi-experimental study employed a mixed-method research design, in which both quantitative and qualitative data were gathered through vocabulary tests, student questionnaires, and semi-structured interviews. Fifty-eight low-level students with an average age of 19 served as participants. The experimental group made use of hands-on concordancing while the control group received conventional course book-based instruction to learn the target words.

Results: The results indicate that pedagogical corpora have significant potential in facilitating vocabulary learning of low-level learners. The vocabulary tests revealed that the students who practiced with DDL outperformed the students who received traditional vocabulary instruction in both the post-test and the delayed post-test. The findings from student questionnaires, and semi-structured interviews also denoted that the participants held positive attitudes towards using concordancing to expand their vocabulary and grow aware of some aspects of words such as part of speech information, different meanings and usages, lexico-grammatical structures, and collocations.

Conclusion: The present study provides useful implications for collection and use of a pedagogical corpus for classroom use.
Perceptions of Situational Factors of Willingness to Communicate inside and outside the classroom: Thai EFL First-Year University Students’ Reflections
Authors: Rotjanawongchai Satima
Published: November 2023

Background: Although previous studies have reported WTC variables in the EFL context, limited studies have investigated learners’ perceptions of WTC outside the classroom. In addition, insights into learners’ perceptions from qualitative data have rarely been presented in this study area.

Purpose: This study investigated the perceptions of willingness to communicate (WTC) of Thai English as a Foreign Language (EFL) first-year university students. It focused on their perceptions of situational factors of WTC inside and outside the classroom. Also, it investigated the reasons behind the perceptions.

Methods: As a mixed-method study, a questionnaire adapted from Baghaei’s (2013) and Peng and Woodrow’s (2010) was used to collect quantitative data, while reflective reports and semi-structured interviews were used to reveal explanations for the quantitative data.

Results: The present study found that the students were more willing to speak outside the classroom than inside the classroom. Interlocutors were significant factors affecting WTC both inside and outside the classroom. Also, speaking topics that are suitable for students' perceived level of proficiency but still pose a challenge for their language development have the potential to increase WTC in the classroom.  At the same time, a stimulating environment was powerful for WTC outside the classroom due to a lack of an English-speaking environment in the EFL context. The qualitative data revealed that foreign language anxiety concerning the interlocutor’s competence, familiarity with the interlocutor, and language classroom experiences, as well as social support from friends, were the rationale behind the impact of the situational factors.

Conclusion: Teachers can apply the results of this present study to enhance WTC in the classroom and increase students’ opportunities to speak inside and outside the classroom through pedagogical support.