bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SHAPING THE COMPETENCIES OF THE FUTURE: THE IMPORTANCE OF DEVELOPING SOFT SKILLS IN HIGHER EDUCATION WITHIN THE LANDSCAPE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES
Authors: BURDA YURII , SAMUS ТЕTIANА , BAZHMINA EVELINA , BONDARENKO OLHA , MYRNYI DMYTRO
Published: May 2024

The article emphasizes that modern professional activity requires mastery of not only highly specialized knowledge but also soft skills. The peculiarities of modern society, which has passed from the VUCA state to the BANI state, are noted, emphasizing that it implies even greater turbulence and unpredictability of the environment, as well as the ever-growing role of information technologies. Today, in the labor market, “soft” skills play a key role in professional activity. Therefore, the task of higher education is to educate a professional who can realize himself in the conditions of high competition, which requires the introduction of educational technologies that form in students' soft skills with solid digital components. The article is devoted to soft skills, which are necessary for young specialists starting a professional career. The objectives of the study were: to determine the optimal composition of soft skills, most in-demand among employers; to evaluate their importance for the successful start of the professional career of young engineers; to reveal the main problems of the formation of soft skills within the educational process. Formulated conclusions can be used to improve university training of young specialists competent in the labor market in the BANI-environment.
MODERNIZATION OF THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A MODERN STRATEGY FOR ENSURING INFORMATION SECURITY
Authors: PALIUKH VIKTOR , TROBIUK VOLODYMYR , TATARNIKOVA TETIANA , YAKYMENKO SERHII , VERBA SVITLANA
Published: May 2024

The article makes an attempt to comprehend modernization of education processes today in terms of information security. The issue of information security in higher education is considered within the planes of radicalization and soft power strategy. It is showed that educational security today became one of the crucial components of national security of any state. The authors claim that he process of internationalization, which today embraces and unites the international, intercultural and global levels, requires rethinking and new design of the goals, functions, and forms of implementation of training, especially in higher education, in particular within the social construction of the individual narrative of higher education student in the information landscape.
ANALISIS KINERJA PERBANKAN SYARIAH DI INDONESIA: MENURUT UNDANG-UNDANG NOMOR 21 TAHUN 2008 TENTANG PERBANKAN SYARIAH
Authors: Novita Regina
Published: May 2024

Berdasarkan Undang Undang No. 21 tahun 2008 tentang Perbankan Syariah, bank syariah merupakan bank yang menjalankan kegiatan usaha berdasarkan prinsip syariah atau prinsip hukum islam. Prinsip syariah Islam yang dimaksud mencakup dengan prinsip keadilan dan keseimbangan ('adl wa tawazun), kemaslahatan (maslahah), universalisme (alamiyah), serta tidak mengandung gharar, maysir, riba, zalim dan obyek yang haram, sebagaimana yang diatur dalam fatwa Majelis Ulama Indonesia.  Selain itu, Undang Undang Perbankan Syariah juga memberi amanah kepada bank syariah untuk selalu menjalankan fungsi sosial sekaligus menjalankan fungsi seperti lembaga baitul mal. Lembaga baitul mal yaitu sebuah lembaga yang menerima dana berasal dari zakat, infak, sedekah, hibah, atau dana sosial lainnya dan menyalurkannya kepada pengelola wakaf (nazhir) sesuai kehendak pemberi wakaf (wakif). Dalam pelaksanaan fungsi pengaturan dan pengawasan Otoritas Jasa Keuangan (OJK) tetap menerapkan tata kelola yang sama dengan bank konvensional, yaitu dengan menjalankan prinsip kehati-hatian dan juga memastikan tata kelola berjalan dengan baik. Meskipun begitu, tata kelola dan pengawasan tetap mendapatkan penyesuaian dengan prinsip-prinsip yang jadi pedoman oleh sistem perbankan syariah.
Secara hakikatnya, bank syariah merupakan lembaga yang menawarkan produk perbankan sesuai dengan prinsip syariah Islam. Lembaga perbankan syariah harus mematuhi pada prinsip syariah Islam yang sudah ditetapkan. Pasalnya, prinsip syariah dalam lembaga perbankan ini jadi hal yang cukup fundamental, mengingat eksistensi dari bank syariah sendiri didasari oleh prinsip syariah Islam tersebut. Tetap teguh dalam menjalankan aktivitas perbankan pada prinsip syariah juga dipandang sebagai sisi kekuatan dari bank syariah. Untuk menjaga konsistensi dalam menjalankan aktivitas perbankan berdasarkan prinsip syariah islam, bank syariah juga diawasi oleh Dewan Syariah Nasional dari Majelis Ulama Indonesia (DSN-MUI). Perihal pengawasan tersebut dijelaskan melalui Undang Undang No. 21 Tahun 2008 tentang Perbankan Syariah. Hal ini terbukti dengan adanya peningkatan kinerja perbankan syariah dilihat dari sisi aktiva, penghimpunan dana pihak ketiga, penyaluran pembiayaan, jumlah jaringan kantor bank, serta rasio-rasio keuangan.
MEMBANGUN KEPERCAYAAN DIRI ANAK DALAM BERBICARA BAHASA INGGRIS (SPEAKING ACTIVITY) MELALUI ENGLISH MATRICULATION PROGRAM
Authors: Aslamiyah Sarah , Shopia Khilda
Published: May 2024

Kemampuan berbicara (Speaking Skills) dengan menggunakan Bahasa Inggris menjadi sebuah keharusaan di masa saat ini. Mitra dalam kegiatan pengabdian ini yaitu SMPIT Asy-Syukriah Kota Tangerang pada peserta didik kelas X. Metode pelaksanaan pengabdian dilakukan dengan beberapa tahap yaitu (1). Melakukan need analysis atau analisis situasi dengan cara Forum Group Discusion dengan pihak sekolah, need analysis juga dilakukan kepada beberapa peserta didik untuk merumuskan masalah tersebar yang dihadapi oleh peserta didik. (2) Melaksanakan pengarahan yang dilakukan di hari pertama saat pembukaan dan ketiga saat penutupan, (3). Melaksanakan pengajaran kepada peserta didik dengan memfokuskan meningatkan kepercayaan diri peserta didik dalam berbicara Bahasa Inggris yang dilakukan selama tiga hari. Kegiatan pengabdian dilakukan pada tanggal 24-26 Agustus 2022. Hasil kegiatan menunjukan bahwa kegiatan mendapatkan respon positif dari peserta didik dan hasil rata rata dari pretest (70.58) dan post test (85.00) menunjukan hasil yang baik dan mengalami peningkatan dalam membangun kepercayaan diri pesertda didik dalam berbicara Bahasa Inggris.
PENDAMPINGAN PEMBUATAN PODCAST MATERI SEJARAH LOKAL BAGI GURU MATA PELAJARAN SEJARAH DI KOTA LUBUKLINGGAU
Authors: Dhita Aulia Novemy , Asmi Adhitya Rol , Syarifuddin Syarifuddin , Yunani Yunani , Hanika Siska Arie
Published: May 2024

PJJ yang ditetapkan oleh pemerintah sebagai kebijakan akibat Covid-19 memberikan pengaruh yang sangat besar bagi pendidikan. Salah satu permasalahan yang dialami oleh para guru MGMP Sejarah Lubuklinggau, Musi Rawas dan Musi Rawas Utara adalah referensi penggunaan media pembelajaran yang mudah dan murah untuk dikembangkan; dapat digunakan secara offline atau tidak begitu bergantung pada jaringan internet yang stabil serta memuat materi sejarah lokal. Untuk mengatasi permasalahan tersebut maka perlu pendampingan pembuatan podcast pada materi Revolusi Fisik Musi Rawas (1945-1949). Pendampingan dilakukakn oleh para dosen di Program Studi Pendidikan Sejarah-FKIP, Universitas Sriwijaya ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis dan meningkatkan kemampuan guru mata pelajaran sejarah melalui Diagnostik Kesulitan Belajar (DKB). Kegiatan ini terdiri dari dua tahapan yaitu pelatihan dan pendampingan. Metode yang digunakan dalam kegiatan ini yaitu metode ceramah, diskusi, praktik dan self group reflection. Hasil dari kegiatan ini menunjukkan bahwa pelatihan dan pendampingan yang dilakukan dapat meningkaktkan kemampuan guru dalam membuat media pembelajaran audio berbasis podcast dengan menggunakan materi Revolusi Fisik Musi Rawas (1945-1949).
 
Kata kunci: podcast, guru, sejarah lokal
PELATIHAN PEMBUATAN MULTIMEDIA INTERAKTIF BAGI KELOMPOK SIM PKB GURU SD
Authors: Febriandi Riduan , Aswarliansyah Aswarliansyah
Published: May 2024

Pelatihan Pembuatan Multimedia Interaktif untuk pembelajaran daring bagi kelompok Sistem Informasi Manajemen untuk Pengembangan Keprofesian yang Berkelanjutan (SIM PKB) Guru SD kecamatan Muara Beliti adalah strategi yang tepat untuk mewujudkan tujuan pendidikan pada masa pembelajaran daring.  Multimedia Interaktif adalah suatu kumpulan dari beberapa media seperti teks, gambar, audio, video, dan animasi yang bersifat interaktif atau yang dapat dioperasikan oleh pengguna sehingga pengguna dapat memilih apa yang diinginkan untuk proses selanjutnya. Dengan menggunakan multimedia interaktif siswa akan lebih mudah memahami materi yang diberikan oleh guru, dan guru jadi lebih efesien dan efektif memberikan pelajaran kepada siswa SD. Setelah dilakukan pengabdian Pelatihan Pembuatan Multimedia Interaktif untuk pembelajaran daring dalam meningkatkan keterampilan mengajar guru SD se Kecamatan Muara Beliti, akan diperoleh luaran sebuah multimedia interaktif yang dapat digunakan oleh beberapa sekolah dan beberapa pelajaran secara daring dalam menerapkan pemebelajaran tematik di tingkat SD. Untuk mendapatkan hasil yang maksimal pengabdian dilakukan secara berkala dengan melakukan pemetaan jumlah guru, sarana dan prasarana yang sesuai, dan waktu pelaksanaan dilakukan 2 kali pelatihan atau 2 minggu. Setelah pelatihan selesai akan dilakukan evaluasi berupa pendampingan sehingga para guru yang mengikuti pelatihan dapat membuat bahan ajar masing-masing.
PENANAMAN TANAMAN OBAT KELUARGA DAN SAYURAN DALAM MENINGKATKAN PRODUKTIVITAS MASYARAKAT RW 04 KELURAHAN SANGIANG JAYA TANGERANG
Authors: Madjid Hisyam Faisal , Wahdah Nandya Aulia , Adam Hamka , Aulia Putri Dwi Irenniza , Purba Fransiska Sari
Published: May 2024

Kelurahan Sangiang Jaya merupakan salah satu dari beberapa Kelurahan yang ada di Kecamatan Periuk, Kota Tangerang, Banten. Permasalahan yang ada di Kelurahan Sangiang Jaya salah satunya yaitu memiliki banyak lahan kosong yang seharusnya dapat dimanfaatkan oleh masyarakat sekitar di Kelurahan Sangiang Jaya terutama di wilayah RW 04 dapat meningkat dari jumlah produktivitas dan penghasilan masyarakat disana. Metode dalam melakukan kegiatan ini yaitu dengan cara, Tahap pertama yaitu melakukan pengamatan dengan mengunjungi lokasi yang akan digunakan oleh TOGA dan Sayuran, Tahap kedua yaitu pengumpulan data lokasi yang tepat untuk dilaksanakan Budidaya TOGA dan Sayuran, Tahap ketiga yaitu melakukan penyuluhan kepada ibu-ibu Kelompok Wanita Tani (KWT) RW 04, Tahap keempat pelaksanaan yaitu melakukan penanaman TOGA dan Sayuran. Berdasarkan kuesioner yang diberikan kepada ibu-ibu pada saat acara, data yang didapat dari kuesioner secara umum Ibu PKK merasa bahwa program ini dapat meningkatkan produktivitas dan memberikan ilmu dalam teknik, proses produksi, serta hasil dari Penanaman Tanaman Obat Keluarga (TOGA) dan Sayuran dapat menghasilkan produk yang memenuhi standar dan bermutu terhadap ibu-ibu PKK yang berada di RW 04 Kelurahan Sangiang Jaya. Berdasarkan hasil yang telah dicapai, kegiatan ini dapat meningkatkan produktivitas Ibu-ibu PKK RW 04, Kader, dan masyarakat dilihat dari tingginya minat pada saat mengikuti kegiatan penanaman TOGA dan Sayuran. Serta dari hasil yang terdapat pada kuiesioner yang telah diberikan, bahwa kegiatan Penanaman TOGA dan Sayuran dapat meningkatkan produktivitas dan memberikan sebuah ilmu mengenai proses produksi dan teknik penanaman.
PENDAMPINGAN PEMBUATAN PERANGKAT PEMBELAJARAN KURIKULUM MERDEKA DAN REDESIGN RUANG PERPUSTAKAAN DI SD NURUL MUTTAQIN KABUPATEN MALANG
Authors: Rawanoko Endrise Septina , Oktaviansyah Aulia Rahman , Y.P Hariyono Saputra
Published: May 2024

Guru merupakan seorang tenaga pendidik yang memiliki tugas mendidik, mengajar, membimbing, memberikan penilaian dan melakukan evaluasi pada peserta didik. Setiap pendidik pada satuan pendidikan berkewajiban menyusun RPP secara lengkap agar meningkatkan hasil proses belajaran mengajar. Kegiatan ini melibatkan kerjasama dengan sekolah mitra. Terdapat satu sekolah yang terlibat dalam kegiatan ini, yaitu SD Islam Nurul Muttaqin Kabupaten Malang.  Untuk menyukseskan kemitraan ini, guru yang akan menjadi peserta pelatihan perlu mendapatkan penguatan konsep materi Kurikulum Merdeka, dan penyusunan RPP. Metode pelaksanaan kegiatan ini yaitu workshop pelatihan, pendampingan dan impelementasi Penyusunan RPP Kurikulum Merdeka. Pada akhir kegiatan ini, guru akan mengimplementasikan RPP yang telah disusun sesuai kelasnya. Dalam pendesiminasian RPP ini, tim akan mendampingi dan melakukan observasi. Dari Hasil observasi ini yang akan dijadikan bahan Refleksi Bersama. Dapat disimpulkan bahwa guru telah menerapkan Kurikulum Merdeka dengan baik. Hal ini dapat diketahui dari RPP yang dirancang dan kegiatan pembelajaran.  Pada permasalahan mitra kedua yaitu terkait ruang perpustakaan maka tim akan membuatkan design perpustakaan yang mumpuni pada peserta didik tingkat sekolah dasar.
Pembinaan Karakter Dan Budaya Jepang Terhadap Tenaga Migran Indonesia Untuk Penguatan Performance Character
Authors: Risda Dianni , Judiasri Melia Dewi , Herniwati Herniwati , Aneros Noviyanti
Published: May 2024

Jepang tengah menghadapi problematik serius, yaitu, menurunnya populasi produktif atau ageing population, secara masif di masyarakat, yang mengakibatkan aktivitas ekonomi, bisnis, industri, dan teknologi Jepang menjadi tidak optimal. Dari permasalahan tersebut perlu dipandang sebagai potensi dalam mengoptimalkan bonus demografi Indonesia untuk bekerja di Jepang. Namun, hal tersebut tidak akan optimal apabila terdapat persoalan kompleks yang menimpa tenaga migran Indonesia, seperti culture shock, akibat standarisasi atau tuntutan kinerja yang tinggi di Jepang, sehingga mencerminkan kemampuan adaptasi yang kurang, termasuk persoalan mengenai diskriminasi pemenuhan hak dan pelayanan kerja terhadap tenaga migran Indonesia. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah pembinaan karakter dan budaya Jepang kepada calon tenaga migran Indonesia yang berada di Lembaga Pelatihan Kerja Indonesia terhadap problematik culture shock dan diskriminasi berdasarkan fenomena yang terjadi ketika tenaga migran Indonesia yang sedang bekerja di Jepang, supaya terbentuk kapasitas sumber daya manusia Indonesia, yang unggul, berkarakter dan kompetitif. Hasil penelitian ini, berupa pembinaan karakter dan budaya Jepang pada tenaga migran Indonesia untuk penguatan performance character, dilakukan berbasis pendekatan kuantitatif dan pengumpulan datanya, berupa angket. Hasil penelitian, yaitu: 1) culture shock dan penguasaan keterampilan yang beraga menjadi masalah utama tenaga migran Indonesia di Jepang, 2) penguatan performance character berbasis karakter dan budaya Jepang, adalah solusi efektif dalam mengatasi masalah tersebut, dan 3) tenaga migran Indonesia memiliki atensi kuat dalam menerapkan performance characterdalam pekerjaan dan keseharian, karena bersifat holistik dan mampu menjadi modal sosial dalam berkarier, berkompetisi dan hidup di Jepang.
Subjetivación política: apatía y participación en la diáspora colombiana en Roma
Authors: Ciurlo Alessandra , Meza Diego
Published: May 2024

A través de la aplicación del concepto de subjetivación política a una investigación cualitativa, en este artículo se analizan las modalidades de participación y de apatía política en el colectivo de migrantes de origen colombiano que residen en Roma. En ambas se involucran los contextos de origen y destino donde contribuyen diversas relaciones microsociales, además del vínculo clásico ciudadano-Estado. Además, se concluye que la apatía, más que una deformación del sistema político, es un modo-estrategia a través del cual las personas entienden su mundo y se ocupan de él.
EFISIENSI SISTEM PENYIMPANAN OBAT DI BEBERAPA PUSKESMAS DAERAH YOGYAKARTA
Authors: Rosita Melia Eka , Fajri M. Alif , Nilansari Anis Febri
Published: May 2024

Medicine storage is an activity to ensure that the medicines received are placed in a place that is considered safe, which includes 3 elements, namely spatial planning and preparation of the medicine warehouse, safeguarding the quality of medicines, and recording medicine stock. Medication storage errors can cause drug shortages, losses due to lost or damaged and expired drugs, and also result in the potency of a drug decreasing which then results in it being ineffective if consumed by the patient. The aim of this research is to determine the suitability of drug storage and determine the efficiency of drug storage at the Sleman Health Center, Yogyakarta City and Bantul. This research is non-experimental research, with a descriptive qualitative research type and design. The results of research on drug storage in the three community health centers meet the standards in the "Very Good" category based on the Pharmaceutical Management Training Materials in Community Health Centers published by the Ministry of Health in 2010, as well as technical instructions for pharmaceutical service standards in Community Health Centers from the Ministry of Health in 2019. Results of drug storage efficiency Value The Turn Over Ratio (TOR) at the Sleman Community Health Center was 10.87 times, the Yogyakarta City Health Center 9.55 times and the Bantul Community Health Center 11.33 times. The percentage of expired and damaged medicines at the Sleman Community Health Center was 5.33%, Yogyakarta City Health Center 7.5% and Bantul Community Health Center 3.63%. The percentage of dead stock medicines at the Sleman Community Health Center is 9.38%, the Yogyakarta City Health Center is 10.12% and the Bantul Community Health Center is 1.35%.
Flipped Classroom: una metodología innovadora para desarrollar las habilidades en estudiantes de la Química y Biología
Authors:   Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, Sánchez Velastegui Verónica Susana , Guamán Coronel Diana Cecilia ,   Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja
Published: May 2024

La metodología Flipped Classroom o aula invertida ha existido desde principios del siglo XXI, pero fue a partir del COVID-19 que ha tomado auge en la educación a causa del distanciamiento social, fomentando estrategias innovadoras, cambiando los roles del docente y el alumno. En este contexto, el objetivo de esta investigación permitió conocer qué habilidades pueden desarrollar los estudiantes de Química y Biología con la aplicación del Flipped Classroom. El trabajo se desarrolló con un diseño cualitativo; donde se realizó una revisión de la literatura mediante la recopilación y clasificación de artículos científicos en referencia al objetivo de la investigación, logrando el análisis de documentación obtenida en bases de datos como: Web of Science, Scopus, Dialnet, Lantindex, Scielo, Erihplus y DOAJ, se sistematizó en el diagrama de flujo Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Los resultados describen la importancia del Flipped Classroom que se centran en la aplicación de conocimientos previamente adquiridos con la ayuda de la tecnología de la información y la comunicación (TIC), las relaciones entre estudiantes y docentes durante el proceso de aprendizaje, fortaleciendo el espacio colaborativo para desarrollar habilidades cognitivas, metacognitivas, creativas, investigativas, organizativas.
Towards the Design of Future Aircraft: A Critical Review On the Tools and Methodologies
Authors: Liu Yaolong , Zhang Siyu , Zhang Jiechao , Yao Kexuan , Luo Mingqiang , Liu Yantao
Published: May 2024

This study reviews tools and approaches developed at universities and institutes for conceptual and preliminary aircraft design. Problem, solution, and behavioral space covered by each tool are discussed and a categorization for the methods underlying the different disciplinary tools is proposed. Special attention is given to the search method, if any, embedded in or supported by each tool to explore the proliferation of Multidisciplinary Design Optimization (MDO) in aircraft design tools. The study shows that many tools are available but most are proprietary and none covers all the aspects of the conceptual and preliminary design process. MDO is only a small element in most of the tools. The review can be used for the formulation of requirements and necessities for future aircraft design tools.
Effects of Zn-EDTA on the health and welfare of the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822), in a recirculating aquaculture system
Authors: Hildebrand Marc-Christopher , Rebl Alexander , Goldammer Tom , Palm Harry Wilhelm , Baßmann Björn
Published: May 2024

As nutrient-rich water in aquaponic systems cannot supply growing plants with all the required trace elements, supplementation with specific fertilizers is performed to make up for this deficit. While chelated fertilizers such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid–zinc disodium complex (Zn-EDTA) are becoming more popular in this context for improving plant growth in aquaponic systems, little is known about their effects on fish. During two experiments, a total of 576 individuals of catfish fry (0.19 g) and fingerlings (220.01 g) of the African catfish (Clarias gariepinus; Burchell, 1822) were kept separately for 32 days under experimental aquarium conditions. The fry was exposed to 0.125 and 0.5 mg/L, while the fingerlings were exposed to 0.5 and 2.0 mg/L Zn-EDTA in a plantless aquaponic system. The third treatment group consisted of a control group without Zn-EDTA. The growth, mortality, and ethological indicators were assessed for all growth stages, while the leukocyte distribution and histopathological changes were additionally determined for the fingerlings. As the feed intake in the experiment was limited, the investigations were focused on the effects of Zn-EDTA and not on the growth process of a respective fish growth stage. While the growth, mortality, and behavior were not significantly different in both growing stages, the number of mature neutrophils changed significantly in all treatments in fingerlings. Zn was not detected in the histologically investigated organs at the tested concentrations using the staining method. However, morphological alterations of the gill epithelium were found on the secondary lamellae. Quantitative multiplex PCR was used to simultaneously evaluate the expression of 17 genes related to Zn metabolism and stress physiology in head kidney samples. The transcripts of several selected genes changed by up to 70-fold. Due to high individual variances, only the copy numbers of the KMT2A (lysine-specific methyltransferase 2a) gene were significantly different across treatment groups and sampling points. However, the present results indicate that the addition of Zn-EDTA at the tested concentrations can be considered relatively benign for the health and welfare of C. gariepinus, as no toxic effects of Zn-EDTA were observed in moderately hard to hard water.
Ultrastructural changes in chronic inflammatory enteropathies—a comparison between dogs and humans
Authors: Fietz Simone A. , Kalusa Mirjam , Jergens Albert E. , Sahoo Dipak Kumar , Stewart Tracey , Heilmann Romy M.
Published: May 2024

Chronic inflammatory enteropathies (CIEs) are an important group of diseases in dogs and involve complex pathogenetic aspects. Endoscopy and histopathology are vital for documenting the disease but are less useful for subclassifying CIEs and predicting the response to treatment. However, healing of the mucosal disease process (deep remission) and ultrastructural evaluation of the mucosa have received little attention in canine CIE. Given that canine CIE shares many similarities with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) in human patients—and presents a good spontaneous disease model for human IBD—this perspective article evaluates the literature on ultrastructural lesions in canine CIE and human IBD and offers future directions for the study of ultrastructural mucosal lesions in canine CIE. Such lesions might have a higher sensitivity of detection than structural changes revealed upon light microscopy and may even precede or remain after the resolution of the clinical signs and histologic lesions.
The role of tolvaptan add-on therapy in patients with acute heart failure: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
Authors: Pratama Vireza , Budiono Jordan , Thobari Jarir At , Widyantoro Bambang , Anggraeni Vita Yanti , Dinarti Lucia Kris
Published: May 2024

Background

Several conflicting reviews have concluded that the use of loop diuretics is associated with poorer clinical and safety outcomes. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of tolvaptan as an adjunct to conventional diuretic therapy in patients with acute heart failure (AHF).

Methods

A comprehensive search was conducted on PubMed, Embase, ProQuest, EBSCO, and Cochrane Library until 24 May 2023 to identify randomized controlled trials that compared the effects of tolvaptan with conventional therapy and placebo in patients with AHF. The quality assessment of the included trials was conducted using the Cochrane risk of bias. A network meta-analysis (NMA) was conducted to examine the dosage effect of tolvaptan.

Result

A total of 17 studies with 18 reports, involving 10,039 patients, were selected. The tolvaptan add-on therapy significantly alleviated dyspnea [24 h: RR 1.16 (1.04, 1.29), 48 h: RR 1.18 (1.04, 1.33)], reduced body weight within 48 h [Asian group, MD −0.93 (−1.48, −0.38); non-Asian group, MD −2.76 (−2.88, −2.65)], reduced edema [RR 1.08 (1.02, 1.15)], increased serum sodium [non-Asian group, MD 3.40 (3.02, 3.78)], and resulted in a change in serum creatinine [MD −0.10 (−0.18, −0.01)]. No significant differences were observed in mortality and rehospitalization. The NMA suggested that an intermediate dosage (15 mg/day) might offer the best efficacy in reducing dyspnea within 24 h, reducing edema, increasing serum sodium, and lowering the incidence of worsening renal function (WRF).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the meta-analysis showed that tolvaptan contributed to the short-term alleviation of congestive symptoms, elevated sodium levels, and a lower incidence of WRF. However, no significant benefits were observed in long-term symptoms, rehospitalization rates, and mortality. An intermediate dosage of tolvaptan might be considered the optimal choice for various clinical outcomes.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/, PROSPERO (CRD42023420288).
Using the thin slices technique to assess interactional quality in early childhood education and care settings
Authors: Vinokic Konstantin , Baron Franka , Kunter Mareike , Linberg Anja , Begrich Lukas , Kuger Susanne
Published: May 2024

There are a variety of instruments for measuring interaction quality of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) teachers. However, these instruments are extremely resource-demanding in terms of time and money. Hence, a more economical and yet accurate method for measuring interaction quality of ECEC teachers would be desirable. The so-called thin slices technique has been applied to observe, measure and predict human behavior with only minimal amounts of information. In a wide array of research domains, thin slices ratings (i.e., ratings based on first impressions) proved to be accurate. The present study explores the accuracy of thin slices ratings of interaction quality in toddler classrooms along two CLASS Toddler domains (Emotional and Behavioral Support and Engaged Support for Learning). Eight CLASS-certified raters assessed interaction quality based on 30-s classroom videos. The findings suggest predominantly good reliabilities of these ratings. Confirmatory factor analysis yielded evidence for construct validity, meaning that thin slices raters could differentiate between two domains of interaction quality. Further, thin slices ratings correlated, at least partly, with ratings based on full-length videos, indicating that thin slices raters and raters watching the full-length videos had a similar impression of interaction quality of ECEC teachers.
Embracing linguistic diversity: Global Englishes language teaching for anti-racist education
Authors: Yunhua Deng , Budiman Asep
Published: May 2024

Racial inequalities persist in education, impacting various aspects, including language teaching. Traditional English language education has often favored standard English, inadvertently marginalizing non-native English speakers and users of diverse English varieties. This perpetuation of linguistic bias reinforces White hegemony within educational systems. This article contends that Global Englishes offers a promising approach to ameliorating racial inequalities in language education. It delves into the core principles of Global Englishes, scrutinizing linguistic, sociolinguistic, and sociocultural diversity and fluidity inherent in English use and its users in our globalized world. Furthermore, it explores how the Global Englishes Language Teaching (GELT) framework can promote equality, emphasizing best practices for implementing GELT to address racial inequalities. Global Englishes advocates for a more adaptable view of language, liberating non-native speakers from native-speaker norms. Global Englishes places learner agency at the forefront, nurturing linguistic creativity, advocating for curricula that acknowledge multilingualism as the norm, and affirming learners’ linguistic repertoires without reference to native norms. It also encourages a critical approach, analyzing the impact of prevailing standard language ideologies and White native-speakerism biases within learners’ contexts. The article concludes by offering insights into future directions to address racial inequalities in education, emphasizing the importance of incorporating multiracial perspectives into educational frameworks.
Comparative analysis and implementation of DC microgrid systems versus AC microgrid performance
Authors: Memon Danish Asad , Ali Khawaja Haider , Memon Abdul Aziz , Ansari Jamshed Ahmed , Badar Jahangeer , Alharbi Mohammed , Banatwala Ali Zain , Kumar Manoj
Published: May 2024

DC power systems have emerged as a cost-effective solution for electric power generation and transmission, challenging the dominance of AC distribution systems. However, a comprehensive efficiency comparison between DC and AC microgrids remains understudied. This study seeks to explore and conduct a thorough survey on development and designing of DC microgrids to address this gap. Firstly, a comprehensive literature review comparing the efficiencies of AC and DC microgrids has been presented. The analysis highlights the superior efficiency of DC distribution systems over AC systems, supported by detailed advantages. Secondly, hardware implementation has been performed to directly compare the efficiency of DC versus AC systems. Research validity and application are further improved by the hardware prototype’s scalability, which in simulation allows for a thorough assessment of system stability over a range of scenarios from four to six terminals. Test results from the built hardware prototype demonstrate an astounding 15% increase in efficiency using the DC system compared to the AC system, demonstrating its potential for improved performance in real-world scenarios. In simulation results, the designed DC microgrid demonstrates stable voltages of 500V under steady state operation and rapid recovery within 80 ms under both symmetrical and asymmetrical faults has been observed. The research being investigated utilizes hardware implementation and simulation to provide useful insights into the efficiency and stability of DC microgrids in comparison to AC systems. These results are important for developing robust power distribution networks in modern energy environments, promoting sustainability and dependability in infrastructure growth.
The power flow algorithm for AC/DC microgrids based on improved unified iteration method
Authors: Dong Xin , Wang Haibin , Zhang Changkun , Yu Wanneng , Yang Rongfeng , Xiao Longhai , Liao Weiqiang , Luo Chenghan
Published: May 2024

In response to the complexity of the Jacobian matrix inversion process in the power flow algorithm for AC/DC microgrids, leading to large memory requirements and susceptibility to convergence issues, a novel power flow algorithm based on an improved unified iteration method for AC/DC microgrids is proposed. Firstly, the fundamental equations of the unified iteration method and the characteristics of DC systems are analyzed. The reactive power correction terms and voltage phase correction differences are removed from the modified equations of the unified iteration method, and result in a reduction in the order of the Jacobian matrix in the power flow algorithm. Subsequently, the improved IEEE 11-node system is subjected to simulation verification to attain precise power flow solutions for hybrid AC/DC microgrids. The theoretical analysis identifies the main influencing parameters of active and reactive power errors and assesses their impact factors. Finally, experimental validation of the improved power flow algorithm is carried out on a physical platform, clarifying the applicability range of the proposed method. The research results indicate that within allowable error margins, the proposed approach reduces the difficulty of Jacobian matrix inversion, resulting in an 80% increase in computational speed compared to the unified iteration method. It is suitable for microgrid systems with short electrical distances and small magnitudes of node voltage amplitudes and phase differences.
Effect of clinical whole exome sequencing in aetiological investigation and reproductive risk prediction for a couple with monogenic inherited diseases
Authors: Wang Yanan , Chai Yuqiong , Wang Jieqiong , Gao Mingya , Zang Weiwei , Chang Yujie
Published: May 2024

Objective

To determine the genetic causes of monogenic inherited diseases in a couple using clinical whole exome sequencing (WES) and advise on their reproductive choices.

Methods

WES was applied to a couple seeking reproductive advice, the female with short stature and the male with congenital cataracts.

Results

(1) The woman exhibited a 13.8 Kb heterozygous deletion at chrX: 591590–605428 (hg19). This region corresponds to exons 2–6 of the short-stature homeobox-containing (SHOX) gene (NM000451). Associated diseases involving the SHOX gene range from severe Leri–Weill dyschondrosteosis to mild nonspecific short stature. Meanwhile, further validation using a quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay confirmed the heterozygous deletion of the SHOX gene in the proband, as well as other family members with similar clinical characteristics (the proband’s mother, aunt, and cousin). Multiple pathogenic reports of this variant have been included in the HGMD database. Per the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) classification criteria, this deletion is classified as pathogenic. (2) For the male patient, a heterozygous variant was detected in the CRYBB3 gene: NM004076: c.226G>A (p.Gly76R). Variants in the CRYBB3 gene can cause Cataract 22 (OMIM: 609741). At present, this variant locus is not included in databases such as the gnomAD, while both SIFT and PolyPhen2 deem this locus ‘damaging’. Moreover, further validation by Sanger sequencing confirmed that the variant was inherited from the male patient’s mother, who also had cataracts. According to ACMG standards and guidelines, the c.226G>A (p.Gly76Arg) variant in the CRYBB3 gene is classified as having ‘uncertain significance’.

Conclusion

WES identified pathogenic variants in both individuals, suggesting a 25% chance of a healthy child naturally. Third-generation assisted reproductive techniques are recommended to minimize the risk of affected offspring.
Genetic diversity and population structure analysis of a diverse panel of pea (Pisum sativum)
Authors: Brhane Haftom , Hammenhag Cecilia
Published: May 2024

Breeding resilient cultivars with increased tolerance to environmental stress and enhanced resistance to pests and diseases demands pre-breeding efforts that include understanding genetic diversity. This study aimed to evaluate the genetic diversity and population structure of 265 pea accessions. The diversity arrays technology (DArT) genotyping method was employed to identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and silico markers. After stringent filtering, 6966 SNP and 8,454 silico markers were selected for diversity analysis. Genetic diversity was estimated by grouping accessions based on plant material type, geographic origin, growth habit, and seed color. Generally, diversity estimations obtained using SNPs were similar to those estimated using silico markers. The polymorphism information content (PIC) of the SNP markers ranged from 0.0 to 0.5, with a quarter of them displaying PIC values exceeding 0.4, making them highly informative. Analysis based on plant material type revealed narrow observed heterozygosity (Ho = 0.02–0.03) and expected heterozygosity (He = 0.26–0.31), with landrace accessions exhibiting the highest diversity. Geographic origin-based diversity analysis revealed Ho = 0.02–0.03 and He = 0.22 to 0.30, with European accessions showing the greatest diversity. Moreover, private alleles unique to landrace (4) and European (22) accessions were also identified, which merit further investigation for their potential association with desirable traits. The analysis of molecular variance revealed a highly significant genetic differentiation among accession groups classified by seed color, growth habit, plant material types, and geographic origin (p < 0.01). Principal coordinate analysis and neighbor-joining cluster analysis revealed weak clustering of accessions at different grouping levels. This study underscores the significance of genetic diversity in pea collections, offering valuable insights for targeted breeding and conservation efforts. By leveraging genomic data and exploring untapped genetic resources, pea breeding programs can be fortified to ensure sustainable plant protein production and address future challenges in agriculture.
STM-ac4C: a hybrid model for identification of N4-acetylcytidine (ac4C) in human mRNA based on selective kernel convolution, temporal convolutional network, and multi-head self-attention
Authors: Yi Mengyue , Zhou Fenglin , Deng Yu
Published: May 2024

N4-acetylcysteine (ac4C) is a chemical modification in mRNAs that alters the structure and function of mRNA by adding an acetyl group to the N4 position of cytosine. Researchers have shown that ac4C is closely associated with the occurrence and development of various cancers. Therefore, accurate prediction of ac4C modification sites on human mRNA is crucial for revealing its role in diseases and developing new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. However, existing deep learning models still have limitations in prediction accuracy and generalization ability, which restrict their effectiveness in handling complex biological sequence data. This paper introduces a deep learning-based model, STM-ac4C, for predicting ac4C modification sites on human mRNA. The model combines the advantages of selective kernel convolution, temporal convolutional networks, and multi-head self-attention mechanisms to effectively extract and integrate multi-level features of RNA sequences, thereby achieving high-precision prediction of ac4C sites. On the independent test dataset, STM-ac4C showed improvements of 1.81%, 3.5%, and 0.37% in accuracy, Matthews correlation coefficient, and area under the curve, respectively, compared to the existing state-of-the-art technologies. Moreover, its performance on additional balanced and imbalanced datasets also confirmed the model’s robustness and generalization ability. Various experimental results indicate that STM-ac4C outperforms existing methods in predictive performance. In summary, STM-ac4C excels in predicting ac4C modification sites on human mRNA, providing a powerful new tool for a deeper understanding of the biological significance of mRNA modifications and cancer treatment. Additionally, the model reveals key sequence features that influence the prediction of ac4C sites through sequence region impact analysis, offering new perspectives for future research. The source code and experimental data are available at https://github.com/ymy12341/STM-ac4C.
Crosstalk between efferocytic myeloid cells and T-cells and its relevance to atherosclerosis
Authors: Ngai David , Sukka Santosh R. , Tabas Ira
Published: May 2024

The interplay between myeloid cells and T-lymphocytes is critical to the regulation of host defense and inflammation resolution. Dysregulation of this interaction can contribute to the development of chronic inflammatory diseases. Important among these diseases is atherosclerosis, which refers to focal lesions in the arterial intima driven by elevated apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins, notably low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and characterized by the formation of a plaque composed of inflammatory immune cells, a collection of dead cells and lipids called the necrotic core, and a fibrous cap. As the disease progresses, the necrotic core expands, and the fibrous cap becomes thin, which increases the risk of plaque rupture or erosion. Plaque rupture leads to a rapid thrombotic response that can give rise to heart attack, stroke, or sudden death. With marked lowering of circulating LDL, however, plaques become more stable and cardiac risk is lowered—a process known as atherosclerosis regression. A critical aspect of both atherosclerosis progression and regression is the crosstalk between innate (myeloid cells) and adaptive (T-lymphocytes) immune cells. Myeloid cells are specialized at clearing apoptotic cells by a process called efferocytosis, which is necessary for inflammation resolution. In advanced disease, efferocytosis is impaired, leading to secondary necrosis of apoptotic cells, inflammation, and, most importantly, defective tissue resolution. In regression, efferocytosis is reawakened aiding in inflammation resolution and plaque stabilization. Here, we will explore how efferocytosing myeloid cells could affect T-cell function and vice versa through antigen presentation, secreted factors, and cell-cell contacts and how this cellular crosstalk may contribute to the progression or regression of atherosclerosis.
Eating away cancer: the potential of diet and the microbiome for shaping immunotherapy outcome
Authors: Nguyen Ngoc-Trang Adrienne , Jiang Yan , McQuade Jennifer L.
Published: May 2024

The gut microbiome (GMB) plays a substantial role in human health and disease. From affecting gut barrier integrity to promoting immune cell differentiation, the GMB is capable of shaping host immunity and thus oncogenesis and anti-cancer therapeutic response, particularly with immunotherapy. Dietary patterns and components are key determinants of GMB composition, supporting the investigation of the diet-microbiome-immunity axis as a potential avenue to enhance immunotherapy response in cancer patients. As such, this review will discuss the role of the GMB and diet on anti-cancer immunity. We demonstrate that diet affects anti-cancer immunity through both GMB-independent and GMB-mediated mechanisms, and that different diet patterns mold the GMB’s functional and taxonomic composition in distinctive ways. Dietary modulation therefore shows promise as an intervention for improving cancer outcome; however, further and more extensive research in human cancer populations is needed.
Status and long-term changes of coral reefs around Zanzibar
Authors: Ussi Ali M. , Mohammed Mohammed S. , Rashid Rashid J. , Sheikh Mohammed A. , Staehr Peter A. , Muhando Christopher A. , Yahya Saleh , Dahl Karsten
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Coral reefs as key ecosystems in Zanzibar are exposed to several anthropogenic and natural stressors.

Methods

The benthic composition and coverage of coral reefs were investigated on three data sets involving ten coral reefs monitored from 1992 to 2016. Firstly, we investigated differences in the reef composition using data from seven reefs in 2015. Secondly, we analyzed communities on three distinctive reefs (2010 to 2012) to understand the importance of seasons and reef zones (slope, crest and flat) on species abundance. Finally, we investigated long-term changes (1992 to 2016) of five reefs.

Results

Branching Porites and Acropora, and soft coral order Corallimorpharia, characterized sheltered reef communities. Soft corals and algal species characterized the reef communities exposed to strong hydrodynamic conditions, which also displayed greater cover of rocks and rubbles. The average dissimilarity between reefs ranged between 60% and 75%. The seasonal changes in community structure for reefs near Stone Town were mostly associated with soft coral Corallimorpharia. Indeed, the bare rock and algae distinguished the northern exposed reef from more sheltered reefs. Acropora was a key genus for the sheltered Chumbe reef, which explained between 14% and 18% of the dissimilarities among the three reefs. Hard corals covered between 40% and 70% in most years, with severe declines following El Niño events in 1998 and 2016. The dominating genus Acropora showed a strong decline from the late 1990s’ with signs of recovery at remote reefs compared to reefs closer to human residence.

Discussion

Our results highlight the importance of seasonality and spatial differences, reflecting differences in human impact and physical exposure and significant long-term changes in coral communities. Continued monitoring of reef health is essential to evaluate the success of ongoing management to sustain the reef services.
Case report: A case of piriformis pyomyositis and pyogenic sacroiliitis due to non-typhoidal Salmonella bacteremia in an immunocompetent healthy adult
Authors: Kanno Atsuhiro , Suzuki Kohei , Narai Daiki , Aihara Akinobu , Ito Takehito , Ohara Takahiro , Sumitomo Kazuhiro , Furukawa Katsutoshi
Published: May 2024

Non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) rarely causes bacteremia and subsequent focal infections as an extraintestinal complication, even in immunocompetent adults. A 25-year-old man was hospitalized for several days with difficulty moving due to fever, acute buttock pain, and shivering. He had no recent or current respiratory symptoms and no clear gastrointestinal symptoms. Physical examination revealed mild redness around the left buttock and difficulty raising the left lower extremity due to pain, in addition to which blood tests showed high levels of inflammatory markers. His clinical course and laboratory findings suggested sepsis, and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a high-intensity area in the left piriformis muscle on diffusion-weighted imaging; therefore, acute piriformis pyomyositis was strongly suggested. Cephazolin was started upon hospitalization; however, blood and stool cultures proved positive for NTS, and the antibiotics were changed to ceftriaxone. Follow-up MRI showed a signal in the left piriformis muscle and newly developed left pyogenic sacroiliitis. On the 25th hospital day, a colonoscopy was performed to identify the portal of entry for bacteremia, which revealed a longitudinal ulcer in the sigmoid colon in the healing process. His buttock pain gradually improved, and the antibiotics were switched to oral levofloxacin, which enabled him to continue treatment in an outpatient setting. Finally, the patient completed seven weeks of antimicrobial therapy and returned to daily life without leaving any residual disability. Invasive NTS infection due to bacteremia is rare among immunocompetent adults. Piriformis pyomyositis and subsequent pyogenic sacroiliitis should be added to the differential diagnosis of acute febrile buttock pain. In the case of NTS bacteremia, the entry site must be identified for source control. Additionally, the background of the host, especially in such an immunocompetent case, needs to be clarified; therefore, the patient should be closely examined.