bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Similar and Distinct Roles of Satellite Glial Cells and Astrocytes in Neuropathic Pain
Authors: McGinnis Aidan , Ji Ru-Rong
Published: February 2023

Preclinical studies have identified glial cells as pivotal players in the genesis and maintenance of neuropathic pain after nerve injury associated with diabetes, chemotherapy, major surgeries, and virus infections. Satellite glial cells (SGCs) in the dorsal root and trigeminal ganglia of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and astrocytes in the central nervous system (CNS) express similar molecular markers and are protective under physiological conditions. They also serve similar functions in the genesis and maintenance of neuropathic pain, downregulating some of their homeostatic functions and driving pro-inflammatory neuro-glial interactions in the PNS and CNS, i.e. “gliopathy”. However, the role of SGCs in neuropathic pain is not simply as “peripheral astrocytes”. We delineate how these peripheral and central glia participate in neuropathic pain by producing different mediators, engaging different parts of neurons, and becoming active at different stages following nerve injury. Finally, we highlight the recent findings that SGCs are enriched with proteins related to fatty acid metabolism and signaling such as Apo-E, FABP7, and LPAR1. Targeting SGCs and astrocytes may lead to novel therapeutics for the treatment of neuropathic pain.
Novel Strategy for Surface Modification of Titanium Implants towards the Improvement of Osseointegration Property and Antibiotic Local Delivery
Authors: Silva Isabela da Rocha , Barreto Aline Tavares da Silva , Seixas Renata Santos , Paes Paula Nunes Guimarães , Lunz Juliana do Nascimento , Thiré Rossana Mara da Silva Moreira , Jardim Paula Mendes
Published: February 2023

The topography and chemical composition modification of the titanium (Ti) implants play a decisive role in improving biocompatibility and bioactivity, accelerating osseointegration, and, thus, determining clinical success. In spite of the development of surface modification strategies, bacterial contamination is a common cause of failure. The use of systemic antibiotic therapy does not guarantee action at the contaminated site. In this work, we proposed a surface treatment for Ti implant that aim to improve its osseointegration and reduce bacterial colonization in surgery site due to local release of antibiotic. The Ti disks were hydrothermally treated with 3M NaOH solution to form a nanostructured layer of titanate on the Ti surface. Metronidazole was impregnated on these nanostructured surfaces to allow its local release. The samples were coated with poly(vinyl alcohol) - PVA films with different thickness to evaluate a possible control of drug release. Gamma irradiation was used to crosslink the polymer chains leading to a hydrogel layer formation and to sterilize the samples. The samples were characterized by XRD, SEM, FTIR, contact angle measurements, “in vitro” bioactivity, and drug release analysis. The alkaline hydrothermal treatment successfully produced intertwined, web-like nanostructures on the Ti surface, providing wettability and bioactivity to Ti samples (Ti+TTNT samples). Metronidazole was successfully loaded and released from Ti+TTNT samples coated or not with PVA. Although the polymeric film acted as a physical barrier to drug delivery, all groups reached the minimum inhibitory concentration for anaerobic bacteria. Thus, the surface modification method presented is a potential approach to improve the osseointegration of the Ti implant and to associate local drug delivery to dental implants, preventing early infections and bone failure.
Progress and Trends of Affective Prosody Research over 25 Years: A Bibliometrics-Based Visualization Analysis (1997–2021)
Authors: Tang Enze , Fan Xinran , Ding Hongwei
Published: February 2023

Affective prosody is an indispensable cognitive cue that moderates social activities, and has become a prevailing research topic in psychology-related disciplines. The present study conducts the first bibliometrics-based visualization analysis concerning affective prosody to evaluate the influential cases, including countries/regions, institutions, publication venues, academic articles, and disciplinary contributions, and the diachronic changes of publication trends and research hotspots. With the combination of statistical results and a qualitative literature inspection, limitations of extant studies and promising research directions were also proposed. The present study extracted the bibliographic data of 1,624 articles retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection, which were published over the past 25 years (1997-2021). Statistical results revealed four leading powers (the U.S., Germany, England, and Canada) and four emerging fronts (China, France, Netherlands, and Switzerland), and identified three primary research themes in this field, including clinical implication, measurable index, and modality-specific issues. Literature inspection demonstrated current limitations in individual characteristics control and experiment-related influential factors, and proposed two prosperous research directions. Findings of the present study could facilitate academic retrieval of affective prosody research, help concerned researchers identify thematic hotspots and seek appropriate collaboration, and provide convenience for research policy and management in this field.
The Significance and Ethics of Digital Livestock Farming
Authors: Neethirajan Suresh
Published: February 2023

The emergence of precision and digital livestock farming presents an opportunity for sustainable animal farming practices that enhance animal welfare and health. However, this transformation of modern animal farming through digital technology has several implications for the technological, social, economic, and environmental aspects of farming. It is crucial to analyze the ethical considerations associated with the digitalization of modern animal farming, particularly in the context of human-animal relationships and potential objectification. This analysis can help develop frameworks for improving animal welfare and promoting sustainability in animal farming.One of the primary ethical concerns of digital livestock farming is the potential for a digital divide between farmers who have access to advanced technologies and those who do not. This could lead to a disparity in animal welfare and health outcomes for different groups of animals. Additionally, the use of artificial intelligence in digital livestock farming may lead to a loss of personal connection between farmers and animals, which could impact the animal's well-being. Another ethical concern of digital livestock farming is the potential for objectification of animals as mere data points. The use of sensors and other monitoring technologies can provide valuable data on animal health and behavior, but it is important to remember that animals are sentient beings with complex emotional and social needs. The use of digital technologies should not lead to neglect of animal welfare or a lack of human responsibility towards animals.Furthermore, social context becomes essential while integrating technologies in the livestock farming to overcome ethics. By considering the cultural and societal norms of different communities, we can ensure that the use of digital technologies does not undermine these values. To address these ethical challenges, the development of standards and codes of conduct for the adoption and implementation of digital livestock farming tools and platforms can help ensure that animal welfare and sustainability are prioritized. This can help alleviate the privacy concerns of stakeholders and improve sustainability in animal farming practices. Additionally, the use of virtual and augmented reality technologies can provide a way to enhance human-animal interactions and provide more personalized care to animals, further promoting animal welfare.
Analytic Error Function and Numeric Inverse Obtained by Geometric Means
Authors: Martila Dmitri , Groote Stefan
Published: February 2023

Using geometric considerations, we provide a clear derivation of the integral representation for the error function, known as the Craig formula. We calculate the corresponding power series expansion and prove the convergence. The same geometric means finally help to systematically derive handy formulas that approximate the inverse error function. Our approach can be used for applications in e.g. high-speed Monte Carlo simulations where this function is used extensively.
Roles and Responsibilities for Referees of International Peer Reviewed Journals
Authors: Nash Carol
Published: February 2023

Scholarly publication in international journals depends on qualified, unbiased and available referees: (1) qualified in their ability to assume each role inherent to being a peer reviewer and in willingly and competently accepting the responsibilities that coincide with these roles; (2) unbiased in focusing on the submitted research content irrespective of their own research programs in judging the submission’s merit; and (3) available to devote time to read and understand the paper, check the accuracy and relevance of references, and write a comprehensive review commenting on the strengths and weaknesses of the manuscript, the ability of the research to be replicated, and the contribution of the work to the discipline. This study investigates the range of reviewer’s roles and responsibilities in relation to author’s own assessment as a frequent reviewer for fourteen journals representing five publishing houses—and as an active researcher—in comparison with a 2019 comprehensive study of the views of 224 authors on peer review. Based on this investigation, advice will be provided to potential reviewers regarding what is expected of them in undertaking their work. Recommendations will be offered for peer review to mitigate weaknesses in the process and increase the pool of qualified peer reviewers.
Exploring the Use of AI in Sustainable Sourcing: Insights into the Impact and Potential of Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Obinnaya Chikezie Victor Nwosu
Published: February 2023

IKEA is a massive international conglomerate company, and the purpose of this exploratory qualitative research is to investigate how the burgeoning academic field known as "artificial intelligence" (AI) could assist IKEA in resolving some of the challenges that it is currently dealing with in relation to its efforts to source sustainable materials. According to the conclusions of this study, artificial intelligence has the potential to aid in the resolution of at least some of the issues associated with sustainable sourcing, at least to some degree. This was developed by mapping the issues, analyzing the potential for adopting artificial intelligence as a solution, and defining the components that are required for efficient adoption of the technology. A number of prerequisites need to be satisfied by businesses before artificial intelligence may be used in the area of sustainable sourcing. In addition, a number of artificial intelligence's constraints need to be addressed before the technology can be put into practice by the same businesses. In conclusion, the findings of this study offer some management implications and ideas for businesses that have the goal of sourcing in a way that is less harmful to the environment by making use of technological breakthroughs such as artificial intelligence. This can be accomplished through the utilization of innovative technologies.
Decreased Soil Microbial Biomass and Changed Microbial Community Composition Following a Defoliation Event by the Forest Tent Caterpillar
Authors: Dansereau Éléonore , Despland Emma , Handa I. Tanya
Published: February 2023

With climate change projected to increase the frequency and severity of episodic insect outbreak events, assessing potential consequences for soil microbial communities and nutrient dynamics is of importance for understanding forest resilience. The forest tent caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria) is an important defoliator of deciduous tree species in temperate and mixed forests of eastern North America with an invasion cycle every 10-12 years and outbreak events that can last 3-6 years. Following a defoliation episode on trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) from 2015 to 2017 in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, QC, Canada, we sought to test if defoliation resulted in changes to soil bacterial and fungal communities. We hypothesized an increase in soil microbial biomass due to increased caterpillar frass inputs and potential changes in community structure following the event. Soils were sampled in July 2018, May 2019 and July 2019 from sites that had been subject to defoliation during the outbreak and from sites where no defoliation had been recorded. We assessed soil microbial biomass and fungal to total microbial activity ratio on all sampling dates, and Community Level Physiological Profiles (CLPPs) for 2018 only using a substrate induced respiration method. Contrary to our hypothesis, we observed a significant 50% decrease in microbial biomass (g biomass-C g-1 soil hour-1) in defoliated stands suggesting tree carbon normally allocated towards root exudates was reallocated towards foliage regeneration. We noted a differentiated carbon-based substrate usage following defoliation, but no change in the fungal to total microbial activity ratio. The observed changes in the two years following the defoliation event suggest that defoliation episodes aboveground could trigger changes in soil chemistry belowground with effects on soil microbial communities that may, in turn, feedback to influence forest plant dynamics.
Increasing the Voltage – Sequencing Decarbonisation With Green Power & Efficiency
Authors: Buettner Stefan M. , Döpp Josefine , Strauch Liane , Gilles Marina , König Werner , Klingler Anna-Lena
Published: February 2023

The quickest and easiest way to avoid greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is to purchase renewable electricity and offset the remaining emissions. However, the industrial sector’s electricity needs already exceed renewable electricity generation. Moreover, electricity accounts for only one third of the industry’s energy needs. Simultaneously, the advance of sectoral coupling and the decarbonisation of industrial processes, as well as the desire to rapidly decrease dependence on fossil fuels, are creating significant additional demand for renewable energy. Neither existing nor planned generation and transmission infrastructure will suffice to meet the expected short-term demand. Based on survey data from the German Industry Energy Efficiency Index, this article therefore examines the share of GHG savings that companies intend to achieve on- and off-site. Understanding how much additional generation and transmission capacity is needed by the industry to decarbonise and by when is crucial to identify and address the extent of excess demand. On average, companies plan to avoid 22 % of their 2019 emissions by 2025 and 27 % by 2030, primarily through on-site measures. In combination with the extrapolation of the entire industry’s needs for off-site capacity, the data calls for a rapid expansion of planning authority and green generation capacities.
TINGKAT PENERAPAN TEKNOLOGI PENGELOLAAN TANAMAN TERPADU (PTT) PADA USAHATANI PADI SAWAH DI KECAMATAN BIBOKI MOENLEU KABUPATEN TTU
Authors: Joka Umbu , Abani Maria Anita , Nubatonis Agustinus , Mambur Yohanes P. V
Published: February 2023

Integrated Crop Management is a major technology component and an adaptive option that can be adapted to local agroecological conditions. This study aims to determine the level of application of Integrated Crop Management (ICM) technology and the obstacles faced by farmers in the application of ICM technology. This research was conducted in August - September 2020, which was located in Oepuah Utara Village, Biboki Moenleu District, North Central Timor Regency, while the method used to see the success rate of ICM technology application was using scoring. The results of the research on the level of application of ICM technology are; low with a percentage of 55%. There are still obstacles to be faced (a) The technical application of the jajar legowo plant system with the jajar legowo 2:1 and 4:1 technique has not been able to be implemented by farmers because many use the jajar legowo 8:1 and 10:1 technique. (b) planting seeds 1 to 3 per clump cannot be carried out optimally because there are still attacks by the golden snail, so farmers are still doing a lot of planting. (c) fertilizing should be 3 times per planting season, farmers cannot do it because they do not use basic fertilizers. (d). pest control using chemical drugs because farmers do not observe pests and clean by hand.
PENGUKURAN KINERJA RANTAI PASOK TEMBAKAU PADA BAGIAN HULU DI PR. X MALANG
Authors: Febriana Riska Ayu , Riana Fitria Dina , Aprilia Anisa
Published: February 2023

Activities in the supply chain have problems related to uncertainty, to be faced in this condition the business actors need to know their performance and improve their performance. The level of best or bad performances of a company has based on the application of supply chain management in managing the business activities. The implementation of supply chain management is faced with a problem such as uncertainty of market conditions about price and quantity of supply and demand that can affect the operational activities of the supply chain. The supply chain problem also occurs in the tobacco supply chain as the plantation commodity with high economic value and the seasonal characteristic. The upstream side of the tobacco supply chain is needed to determine the performance that has been achieved. Therefore, research on the performance measurement of upstream tobacco supply chain at PR. X Malang is important. The purposes of this study are to describe the mechanism of implementation of tobacco supply chain management on the upstream side, and analyzing the performance of the upstream of the tobacco supply chain, and formulate a strategy to improve the upstream of supply chain performance. The analysis used in this study is based on the SCOR model with five core processes (plan, source, make, deliver, return) and five performance attributes (reliability, responsiveness, agility, cost, asset). This study uses 3 key informants consisting of farmers, collectors, and manufacturers with purposive techniques. The result of this study shows that the farmer performance needs an improvement based on the flexibility and TSCC (total supply chain cost) matrix performance, the collector performance needs an improvement based on TSCC performance matrix and manufacture performance needs an improvement based on the flexibility and TSCC matrix performance.
WILLINGNESS TO PAY BERAS MERAH ORGANIK “BERASKITA” DI PERUM BULOG SUB DIVRE MADIUN
Authors: Preliana Dewi Primatora Citra Eka , Relawati Rahayu , Mufriantie Fithri
Published: February 2023

Organic red rice has many health benefits compared to white rice. Organic rice includes special rice that is not subject to the Highest Retail Price (HET) regulation set by the government, so this rice does not have a maximum price limit.The purpose of this study is to describe consumer market segmentation, analyze the value of consumers’ Willingness to Pay and analyze the factors that influence consumers’ Willingness to Pay. Organic red rice has many health benefits compared to white rice. Organic rice includes special rice that is not subject to the HET (Highest Retail Price) regulation set by the government, so this rice does not have a maximum price limit. The data analysis used is descriptive analysis, Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) analysis and Mutiple Linear Regression analysis. The research was conducted at Perum Bulog Sub Divre Madiun. The sampling method used was the accidental sampling method. The results showed that consumer market segmentation has an influence on determining the value of consumer Willingness to Pay. The Willingness to Pay value for organic red rice “BerasKita” is Rp 23.825, which is higher than the current price. Factors that have a significant effect on Willingness to Pay are attribute of organic red rice. Improvement recommendations should be able to maintain and improve product quality.
ANALISIS KARAKTERISTIK DAN MOTIVASI SOSIAL EKONOMI PETANI KAPULAGA DI LAHAN PERHUTANI KABUPATEN BANYUMAS
Authors: Putri Dindy Darmawati
Published: February 2023

Cardamom is a commodity with export advantages. The demands of cardamom continue to increase from year to year. The increase in cardamom production is inseparable from the role of farmers as the main players in supporting cardamom productivity. This study aims to analyze the socio-economic characteristics and motivations of cardamom farmers in Pekuncen and Kedungbanteng, Banyumas, Central Java. This research was conducted using descriptive analysis method using a Likert scale. The results of this study were as many as 66% of cardamom farmers were male and 75% were in productive age. As many as 52% of cardamom farmers have the last education in elementary school and are in the low education category. As many as 79% of farmers have just started cultivating cardamom in less than 5 years. 72% of cardamom farmers have family responsibilities of 3-5 people. Socio-economic motivations that encourage farmers to cultivate cardamom are divided into three, namely economic, psychological and sociological motivations. 34% of cardamom farmers in Pekuncen and Kedungbanteng are driven by economic motivation which is in the medium category. 52.6% of cardamom farmers are in the low category for the fulfillment of psychological motivation in cultivating cardamom. As many as 49.5% of cardamom farmers are driven by sociological motivation which is in the high category.
FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF FOOD SMES: A CASE STUDY IN SUKOHARJO REGENCY
Authors: Sundari Mei Tri , Rahayu Endang Siti , Irianto Heru , Handayani Sugiharti Mulya , Setyowati Setyowati
Published: February 2023

This research aims to determine the costs, receipts, business advantages, and business feasibility of food Small Medium Enterprise (SMEs).  The primary method used in this study is analytical descriptive with survey techniques. This research involved food SMEs entrepreneurs in Sukoharjo Regency with several 50 respondents. The sampling method uses a simple random sampling method. Data is obtained by interview and observation methods. The analytical techniques used are profit analysis, R/C ratio, liquidity analysis, solvency, business rentability, and risk analysis. The results showed that the RoA value was 12.102% so that the Food SMEs in Sukoharjo Regency showed possible outcomes to be developed. SMEs' solvency value represents a figure of 0.016%, based on creditors funding the business of 0.016% of the total assets held. 
Implementasi Kriptografi Secret Sharing Scheme dan Steganografi Audio Least Significant Bit (LSB)
Authors: Kartika Yulianti  , Alvira Firjan Humaira  , Marwati Rini
Published: February 2023

Selama komunikasi teknologi terus berkembang, keamanan informasi menjadi sangat penting karena kejahatan di dunia maya semakin marak terjadi. Untuk meningkatkan keamanan informasi, pada penelitian ini dikonstruksi penggabungan kriptografi secret sharing scheme (t, w) dengan steganografi audio least significant bit (LSB). Kriptografi secret sharing scheme merupakan kriptografi modern yang mampu mencegah terjadinya situasi informasi terpusat karena tidak memerlukan kunci untuk enkripsi. Selain itu, metode ini juga menyulitkan peretas dalam merekonstruksi pesan karena sulitnya mengumpulkan minimal share.  Implementasi dari penggabungan tersebut, dihasilkan suatu prototype program menggunakan bahasa pemrograman Python 3.10 dengan skema (3,4). Media cover steganografi yang digunakan adalah audio, dan pesan yang dapat diolah program adalah PIN angka enam digit dengan digit pertama tidak nol. Hasil yang diperoleh dari program enkripsi dan embedding adalah 4 buah audio-share yang terdengar sama dengan audio yang asli, sehingga keberadaan informasi di dalam audio sulit diketahui. Hasil pada program dekripsi dan extracting adalah PIN yang dapat dikonstruksi kembali.
PENGARUH SELF EFFICACY DAN MOTIVASI BELAJAR TERHADAP KEMAMPUAN BERPIKIR KRITIS MATEMATIS SISWA
Authors: Arjun Yoga Pratama
Published: February 2023

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh self-efficacy terhadap berpikir kritis matematis, pengaruh motivasi belajar terhadap berpikir kritis matematis, serta untuk mengetahui pengaruh self-efficacy dan motivasi belajar terhadap berpikir kritis matematis pada siswa SMPN 7 Kota Serang. Metode yang digunakan adalah metode deskriptif korelasional. Sampel penelitian ini merupakan siswa kelas VIII SMPN 7 Kota Serang sebanyak 30 orang. Teknik pengumpulan data menggunakan instrumen berupa angket dan tes. Validitas butir diuji dengan menggunakan korelasi Product Moment, sedangkan koefisien reliabilitas instrumen diuji dengan menggunakan teknik Alpha Cronbach. Untuk mengetahui pengaruh masing-masing variabel penelitian dilakukan dengan menggunakan aplikasi program SPSS 20.0. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa: (1) terdapat pengaruh secara parsial self-efficacy terhadap berpikir kritis matematis dengan sumbangan pengaruh sebesar 16%. (2) tidak terdapat pengaruh secara parsial motivasi belajar terhadap berpikir kritis matematis dengan sumbangan pengaruh sebesar 1,1%, (3) terdapat pengaruh yang signifikan secara bersama-sama self-efficacy dan motivasi belajar terhadap berpikir kritis matematis dengan sumbangan pengaruh adalah 20,3% dan sisanya 79,7% dipengaruhi oleh faktor lain.
Pengaruh Penerapan Model Problem Based Learning terhadap Hasil Belajar Siswa
Authors: Umayrah Umayrah , Sripatmi Sripatmi , Azmi Syahrul , Arjudin Arjudin
Published: February 2023

This study aims to describe the application of the model problem-based learning as well as know the effect on student learning outcomes. This research is quantitative research using a true experimental type posttest-only control group design. The research population was class XI students of SMK Negeri 2 Mataram with a sample of class XI RPL 2 as the experimental class and XI RPL 1 as the control class which was selected by purposive sampling technique. Data collection techniques using test instruments. Data analysis techniques in the form of descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The results of the study show: 1) there is a positive and significant influence from the application of the model problem-based learning on student learning outcomes, where the influence exerted is included in the large category with a significance value of 0.6 or with an influence percentage of 38.2%; 2) application of the model problem-based learning works well according to the steps on the model problem-based learning which includes: the stages of student orientation to problems, organizing students, guiding individual and group investigations, developing and presenting results, as well as analyzing and evaluating the process and results of problem-solving.
Projections and Epidemiology of Primary Hip and Knee Arthroplasty in Medicare Patients to 2040-2060
Authors: Shichman Ittai , Roof Mackenzie , Askew Neil , Nherera Leo , Rozell Joshua C. , Seyler Thorsten M. , Schwarzkopf Ran
Published: February 2023

Background:

National projections of future joint arthroplasties are useful for understanding the changing burden of surgery and related outcomes on the health system. The aim of this study is to update the literature by producing Medicare projections for primary total joint arthroplasty (TJA) procedures until 2040 and 2060.

Methods:

The present study used data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare/Medicaid Part B National Summary and combined procedure counts with use of Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes to identify whether the procedure was a primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA) procedure. In 2019, the annual volume of primary TKA was 480,958 and that of primary THA was 262,369. These values formed a baseline from which we generated point forecasts for 2020-2060 and 95% forecast intervals (FIs).

Results:

Between 2000 and 2019, the estimated annual volume of THA increased by 177% and that of TKA increased by 156% on average. Regression analysis projected an annual growth rate of 5.2% for THA and 4.44% for TKA. Based on these yearly projected increases, an estimated increase of 28.84% and 24.28% is expected for each 5-year period after 2020 for THA and TKA, respectively. By 2040, the number of THAs is projected to be 719,364 (95% FI, 624,766 to 828,286) and the number of TKA is projected to be 1,222,988 (95% FI, 988,714 to 1,512,772). By 2060, the number of THAs is projected to be 1,982,099 (95% FI, 1,624,215 to 2,418,839) and the number of TKAs is projected to be 2,917,959 (95% FI, 2,160,951 to 3,940,156). In 2019, Medicare data showed that THA constituted approximately 35% of TJA procedures performed.

Conclusions:

Based on 2019 total volume counts, our model forecasts an increase in THA procedures of 176% by 2040 and 659% by 2060. The estimated increase for TKA is projected to be 139% by 2040 and 469% by 2060. An accurate projection of future primary TJA procedure demands is important in order to understand future health-care utilization and surgeon demand. This finding is only applicable to a Medicare population and demands further analysis to see if this extends to other population groups.

Level of Evidence:

Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Revolutionizing Education: Exploring the World's Most Engaging Interactive Technologies and Effective Teaching Approaches
Authors: Shermukhammadov Shermukhammadov
Published: February 2023

The aim of this study is to explore the latest innovations and advanced foreign experiences in teaching pedagogical sciences. A qualitative research approach was employed to gather data from various sources, including academic literature, interviews with pedagogy experts, and case studies of innovative teaching practices in foreign countries. The results of this study indicate that there are several innovative teaching methods and practices that have been successfully implemented in foreign countries, such as flipped classrooms, project-based learning, and the use of technology in education. These practices have been shown to improve student engagement and achievement, as well as foster critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The implications of this study suggest that there is a need for greater collaboration and knowledge sharing between educators and institutions across borders, to promote the adoption of innovative teaching practices and enhance the quality of pedagogical education. Additionally, this study highlights the importance of continuously reviewing and updating teaching practices in response to the evolving needs and demands of the educational landscape.

Highlight

The study explores innovative teaching practices used in foreign countries, such as flipped classrooms and project-based learning.

These practices have been shown to improve student engagement, achievement, and critical thinking skills.

The study emphasizes the need for greater collaboration and knowledge sharing between educators and institutions to enhance pedagogical education.
THE INFLUENCE OF BASEL III ON ISLAMIC BANK RISK
Authors: Ding Xiaoling , Haron Razali , Hasan Aznan
Published: February 2023

This paper investigates the impact of bank regulatory capital on Islamic bank risk using bank-level data from 29 countries and covering the period from 2004 to 2020. Applying the Generalized Method of Moments technique for dynamic panels, we discover that, on average, Islamic bank regulatory capital ratios exceed the level required by Basel III.  Our findings provide evidence in support of the Moral Hazard Hypothesis; that is, there is a negative relationship between capital and risk. These findings indicate that Islamic banks are better protected against risk when they fulfil Basel III and IFSB regulatory capital requirements. According to our findings, authorities that aim to improve the financial stability of the banking industry should reinforce their policies and oblige banks to adhere to regulatory capital requirements during a crisis, such as COVID-19. Finally, we observe that different risk indicators have diverse correlations with regulatory capital, and our findings are robust across a variety of estimation methodologies.
AQUARIA-BASED OBSERVATIONS OF THE OPHIUROIDOPHIOLEPIS SUPERBAAND THE TRACKWAYS IT PRODUCES
Authors: MORTON RILEY C. , MYERS REED A. , GINGRAS MURRAY K. , ZONNEVELD JOHN-PAUL
Published: February 2023

An array of trace fossils have been ascribed to brittle-star behaviors including locomotion traces such as Biformites. Brittle-star locomotion has been well described but little work has been done to link modern brittle-star behavior to the trace fossil record. To draw this connection, a brittle star was kept in an aquarium and isolated in a “walking” tank with a fine glass-bead substrate. The animal was left in the walking tank for 30 minutes then the substrate was examined for traces. A digital camera was used to record the animal's movements and to document the resulting traces. Photographs were processed with photogrammetry software to produce digital models in order to acquire high-resolution images. Walking traces were described in detail and two morphologies were identified, which correspond with the ‘rowing' and ‘reverse-rowing' modes of brittle-star locomotion. Interestingly, traces similar to Biformites were not formed although some Biformites characters are observed. Morphological similarities include elongated lobate depressions and bioglyphs. Trackway dissimilarities include a repeating, paired, symmetrical pattern observed in the lab contrasting with Biformites that is often expressed as a texture of dense and overlapping, or isolated imprints. Another dissimilarity is the expression of bioglyphs in the lab as striae compared to the positive protuberances observed in Biformites. This study illustrates the utility of using actualistic observations to: (1) refine interpretations of locomotory mechanisms, such as rowing and reverse rowing, for a better understanding of walking behavior, and (2) to expand recognition criteria for ophiuroid (and other taxa) tracks in the fossil record.
Technology Focus: Mature Fields and Well Revitalization (January 2023)
Authors: Jain Siddarth
Published: February 2023

Capitalizing on untapped potential and quantifying risk is the key to success in a turbulent commodity industry. Mature fields have seen it all. Periods of high oil price have invited increased investment and pushed boundaries, while low-oil-price periods have had a severe effect on the fields’ sustainability and development. Mature fields have existed through a time of great technological change and stand on the cusp of their ultimate fate—either to maximize recovery with the lowest possible expenditures amid tightening environmental regulations or to close the taps and prepare for painful abandonments. In a capital-intensive industry, mistakes often are unforgiving and the costs of uncertainty and error are great.

Fluctuating technological, political, and business influences add to the volatility and risk in selecting the next big idea for mature fields. The framework and success of future opportunities is reliant on the data used to quantify them, and this is something of which all mature fields have plenty. As they have delivered value throughout their life, the uncertainty associated with them reduces, and the new ideas discussed here come to light.

Alternative use of wells for geothermal energy generation, carbon sequestration in depleted reservoirs, and the use of machine learning to maximize recovery are solutions that provide insight into how diverse the scope of mature field rejuvenation ideas can be. These solutions have something in common, however; they aim to capitalize on data, modularize problems, and structure a sustainable solution. These solutions are scalable, upgradable, and, most importantly, cost-effective for large and small operators. The upstream sector has long valued efficiency and accuracy. Small improvements in mature fields can make a significant economic difference with an established infrastructure in place. Value in large mature fields still exists, but one has to know where to look and what lenses to use.

Recommended additional reading at OnePetro: www.onepetro.org.

IPTC 21436 Permeability Prediction Using Rock Typing, Flow-Zone Indicator, and Machine-Learning Techniques in a Brownfield Offshore Malaysia by Budi Priyatna Kantaatmadja, Petronas, et al.

SPE 208204 Generating Value From Mature Gas Fields by Quantifying Well-Integrity Assurance With a Critical Analysis of Multiple Logs and Retrieved Tubular Surface Inspection by Christna Golaco, Sharjah National Oil Corporation, et al.

SPE 209988 Successful Reservoir Management and Optimization of Mature Steamflood Projects Using Artificial Intelligence by Andrei Popa, Chevron, et al.
Development of a qualitative data analysis codebook informed by the i-PARIHS framework
Authors: Ritchie Mona J , Drummond Karen L. , Smith Brandy N. , Sullivan Jennifer L. , Landes Sara J.
Published: February 2023

Background: The integrated-Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (i-PARIHS) framework, and its predecessor PARIHS, have been widely utilized in implementations studies. Although i-PARIHS developers have focused on creating tools to guide facilitators in its application in practice, tools are also needed for evaluation and research. Codebooks with clear and meaningful code labels and definitions are an important component of qualitative data analysis and have been developed for other widely used frameworks. There is no such codebook for i-PARIHS. Additionally, sub-constructs for the Innovation, Recipients, and Context constructs lack definitions and there is no sub-classification of facilitation activities for the Facilitation construct. The lack of a standardized codebook hinders our ability to synthesize research findings across studies, explore and test the range of activities that are utilized in facilitation efforts, and potentially validate and further refine i-PARIHS. This paper describes a rigorous process of developing a detailed qualitative codebook informed by the i-PARIHS framework.Methods: A workgroup of qualitative researchers conducted a rigorous four-phase process to develop a codebook informed by i-PARIHS. In phase 1, workgroup members reviewed and discussed literature, consulted an organizational scientist, and drafted and refined subcodes and definitions for i-PARIHS constructs. In phase 2, they obtained feedback from an expert panel and further refined subcodes and definitions. In phase 3, they obtained feedback from i-PARIHS developers/experts and incorporated it into the codebook. Finally, two studies piloted application of the codebook which informed the final version.Results: The resulting i-PARIHS-informed codebook includes definitions for the four main constructs of the framework: Innovation, Recipients, Context, and Facilitation; subcodes and definitions for characteristics of each of these constructs; and instructions for the suggested application of individual codes and use of the codebook generally.Conclusions: The standardized codes and definitions in the codebook can facilitate data exploration, pattern identification, and insight development informed by the i-PARIHS framework. Qualitative analysts can also use them to explore interactions between i-PARIHS constructs, maximize the potential for comparing findings across studies, and support the refinement of the i-PARIHS framework using empirical findings from multiple studies.
An analytical insight of discussions and sentiments of Indians on Omicron-driven third wave of COVID-19 using twitter data
Authors: Vatsa Deepika Vatsa Deepika , Yadav Ashima Yadav Ashima
Published: February 2023

Microblogging has become one of the most crucial tool for expressing and sharing the opinions and views of everyday life events. Digital channels are being used to monitor public health issues on the Internet. Twitter is a very popular source that provides tweets related to the sentiment of the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many researchers have used tweets to monitor the opinion of the people towards the coronavirus vaccine, mental health problems, treatment received by the doctors, impact of lockdown, etc. However, these works were mostly limited to the first and second waves of the pandemic. In this work, we aim to study the impact of the third wave of the pandemic, which started in December 2021 in India. We accomplished this by collecting tweet data set of two months, i.e., December 2021 and January 2022, discussing COVID-19 and having country code as "IN". We employed the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) technique for topic modeling and labeled each tweet message with the topic words that best describe it. We also utilized sentiment labels for each tweet and analyzed the distribution of different topics across different sentiment labels. This helped us to analyze the perspectives and sentiments of the people with respect to different topic discussions. Our analysis discovered that the two most discussed topics were ``precautionary measures" like get well soon, stay safe, wear mask, etc., and ``vaccine" where people have discussed about its effectiveness and vaccination drive in India. We found that people mostly had neutral sentiments for the former topic while for the latter, overall sentiment polarity was negative, reflecting peoples' mistrust in the COVID-19 vaccine.
Xeno-free generation of human induced pluripotent stem cells from donor-matched fibroblasts isolated from dermal and oral tissues
Authors: Ali Hassan R.W. , Suliman Salwa , Osman Tarig Al-Hadi , Carrasco Manuel , Bruland Ove , Costea Daniela-Elena , Ræder Helge , Mustafa Kamal
Published: February 2023

Background
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) can be generated from various somatic cells and can subsequently be differentiated to multiple cell types of the body. This makes them highly promising for cellular therapy in regenerative medicine. However, to facilitate their clinical use and to ensure safety, iPS culturing protocols must be compliant with good manufacturing practice guidelines, and devoid of xenogenic products. Therefore, we aimed to compare the efficiency of using humanized culture conditions, specifically human platelet lysate to fetal bovine serum, for iPS generation from different sources, and to evaluate their stemness.
Methods
iPS were generated via a platelet lysate or fetal bovine serum-based culturing protocol from matched dermal, buccal, and gingival human fibroblasts, isolated from healthy donors (n=2) after informed consent, via episomal plasmid transfection. Pluripotency, genotype, and phenotype of iPS, generated by both protocols, was then assessed by various methods.
Results
More attempts were generally required to successfully reprogram xeno-free fibroblasts to iPS, as compared to xenogenic cultured fibroblasts. Furthermore, oral fibroblasts generally required more attempts for successful iPS generation as opposed to dermal fibroblasts. Morphologically, all iPS generated from fibroblasts formed tight colonies surrounded by a reflective "whitish" outer rim, typical for iPS. They also expressed pluripotency markers at both gene (SOX2, OCT4, NANOG) and protein level (SOX2, OCT4). Upon stimulation, all iPS showed ability to differentiate into the three primary germ layers via expression of lineage specific markers for mesoderm (MESP1, OSR1, HOPX), endoderm (GATA4), and ectoderm (PAX6, RAX). Genome analysis revealed several amplifications and deletions within the chromosomes of each iPS cell line.
Conclusions
The xeno-free protocol had a lower reprogramming efficiency compared to the standard xenogenic protocol. The oral fibroblasts generally proved to be more difficult to reprogram than dermal fibroblasts. Xeno-free dermal, buccal, and gingival fibroblasts can successfully generate iPS with a comparable geno/phenotype to their xenogenic counterparts.
Clinical and microbiological outcomes of subgingival instrumentation supplemented with high-dose omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in periodontal treatment – a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Stańdo-Retecka Mirella , Piatek Paweł , Namiecinska Magdalena , Bonikowski Radosław , Lewkowicz Przemyslaw , Lewkowicz Natalia
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of dietary supplementation with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) combined with scaling and root planning (SRP) in untreated periodontitis stage III and IV.

Methods

Forty patients were randomly assigned to test group receiving SRP plus omega-3 PUFAs (n = 20) and control group receiving SRP alone (n = 20). Clinical changes of pocket probing depths (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), bleeding on probing (BOP) and proportions of closed pockets (PPD ≤ 4 mm without BOP) were evaluated at baseline and after 3 and 6 months. Subgingival biofilm Phorphyromonas gingivalis, Tanarella forsythia, Treponema denticola and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans counts were analysed at baseline and at 6 months. Serum was subjected to lipid gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis at baseline and at 6 months.

Results

Significant improvement of all clinical parameters over 3 and 6 months was observed in both groups. For the primary outcome “change of mean PD,” no significant differences were detected between the groups. Patients treated with omega-3 PUFAs demonstrated significantly lower rates of BOP, higher gain of CAL and higher number of closed pockets at 3 months in comparison to the control group. After 6 months, no clinical differences between the groups were found, with exception of lower BOP rates. Moreover, in the test group, the number of key periodontal bacteria was significantly lower than in the control group at 6 months. Increased proportions of serum n-3 PUFAs and decreased proportions of n-6 PUFAs in the patients form the test group were detected at 6 months.

Conclusion

High-dose omega-3 PUFA intake during non-surgical treatment of periodontitis results in short-term clinical and microbiological benefits.
The study protocol was approved by the ethical committee of Medical University of Lodz (reference number RNN/251/17/KE) and registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04477395) on 22/07/2020.
Resculpting Carbon dots via electrochemical etching
Authors: Yang Qingsong , Gavalas Spyridon , Ejsmont Aleksander , Krysmann Marta J. , Guo Jiangtao , Li Li , Guo Xuhong , Kelarakis Antonios
Published: February 2023

Substantial efforts are directed into exploring the structure-properties relationships of photoluminescent Carbon dots (C-dots). This study unravels a resculpting mechanism in C-dots that is triggered by electrochemical etching and proceeds via extensive surface oxidation and carbon-carbon breakage. The process results in the gradual shrinkage of the nanoparticles and can enhance the quantum yield by more than half order of magnitude compared to the untreated analogues.