bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The instructional design of Convergence-based music education for prospective music teachers
Authors: Im Saerom , Choi Kyeongsik
Published: June 2024

This study designed convergence-based music education classes for prospective music teachers to achieve the successful purpose of music education. To this end, after contemplating Maxine Greene s philosophy of art education, LCE art education, and convergence education, the core teaching principles derived in consideration of the commonalities and characteristics of the three fields were used. To this end, after contemplating Maxine Greene s philosophy of art education, LCE art education, and convergence education, the core teaching principles derived in consideration of the commonalities and characteristics of the three fields were used. To this end, after contemplating Maxine Greene s philosophy of art education, LCE art education, and convergence education, the core teaching principles derived in consideration of the commonalities and characteristics of the three fields were used. This class aims to improve teaching expertise and positive identity by strengthening aesthetic experiences and music-oriented convergence capabilities for prospective music teachers through convergence-based music education. Based on learners concept development and understanding, there is a class stage of conscious attention-embodied recognition-meaning creation based on constructivism so that learners can reorganize their meanings, and each stage consists of lectures, teacher modeling, and micro-teaching. There are 6 areas of achievement standards and the descriptive three-step achievement level of not enough-possible-outstanding were divided, and the class model was selected as Bybee’s 5Es. This class, which runs for a total of 12 sessions for a semester, is expected to help prospective music teachers grow into music teachers who can guide music deeply into learner’s lives as well as their own musical lives by demonstrating their teaching expertise
The Correlation Between Self-Confidence and English Speaking Achievement of the Secondary School Students
Authors: Oktaria Putrika
Published: June 2024

In the foreign language (FL) learning process, self-confidence is also important especially when speaking the language because self-confidence is the basis of student motivation to attain a success of FL learning. In fact, some students still feel afraid and not confident when learning English, especially in speaking English. One of their fear is afraid of being laughed by their schoolmates. These problems then make students inactive in the FL learning process. So, they do not want to participate either to ask questions, answer questions from the teacher and also express opinions to talk in classroom interaction. The objective of this study is to examine the correlation between students’ self-confidence and English speaking achievement of the secondary school students. The method used in this study was correlational research design. Samples were taken by purposive sampling technique. There were 37 students (18 male students and 19 female students) taken as the sample who were in the tenth graders of high school. To collect the data, the researchers used a questionnaire to measure students' self-confidence, and they also used a speaking test by a speech monologue made by students to determine speaking achievement. The results show that the correlation between self-confidence and English speaking achievement is r=0.346 and p<0.05 which means there is a positive correlation between both variables.
The Effect of Word Mapping Technique in Teaching Vocabulary
Authors: Sonata Pita , Fauzi Iwan , Saman Tampung N
Published: June 2024

In teaching vocabulary, the Word Mapping technique is considered the one of appropriate and applicable techniques used by the teacher in the classroom, particularly in building up a large store of words in order to arrange a sentence. The objective of this study is to find out the significant effect of teaching vocabulary by using the word mapping technique. This study used a pre-experimental design where researchers only used one sample to be treated with the teaching using word mapping technique. The pretest and posttest were given before and after treatment made. The data were collected using tests where the scores of the tests were analyzed using paired-sample t-test computation. Then the result showed that teaching vocabulary using word mapping technique is effective to enhance students’ mastery of English vocabulary.
Analisis Gerakan Literasi Baca Tulis di Kelas II SDN-12 Palangka Kota Palangkaraya
Authors: Wulandari Yeny , Mardiana Dina
Published: June 2024

The aim of this research was to analyze the implementation of the School Literacy Movement (GLS) Program at SDN-12 Palangka, as well as to find out the supporting and inhibiting factors during the implementation of the GLS Program. This research opted qualitative ethnopedagogical design with a descriptive method. Data collection was carried out through observation, interview, and documentation techniques. The subjects were the school principal, teacher of the second graders, students of the second graders, and parents of those students. To analyse the data, researchers used procedures from Miles and Huberman which included data reduction, data presentation, and drawing conclusions and verification. The results showed that the implementation of GLS program for the second-grade students of SDN-12 Palangka were varied based on the adapting stage, developing stage and learning stage. In the adapting stage, the 15-minute reading activities provided a reading corner in the classroom, a cultural activity of reading and writing literacy, and a public involvement for students. In the developing stage, the activity facilitated a guided reading activity and reading togetherness for students. Then, in the learning stage it organized several literacy-based classes for learning, carried out reading and writing literacy evaluations, and built a school literacy team. The benefits of the GLS program conveyed supporting factors such as facilitating a reading corner in the classroom, learning posters, a cooperation between all school components and parental involvement. However, the program also has inhibiting factors such as the lack of varied reading books in the school library, and the negative reading habit of students where they are not familiar with reading activity.
PEMELIHARAAN SARANA DAN PRASARANA RUANG KULIAH PROGRAM STUDI HUKUM, UNIVERSITAS KRISTEN INDONESIA MALUKU
Authors: Tiwery Charles J
Published: June 2024

Kampus Universitas Kristen Indonesia Maluku dikenal dengan nama â€œKampus Orang Basudaraâ€ adalah salah satu Universitas yang berada di kota Ambon berlokasi di Tanah Lapang Kecil. Saat ini UKIM memiliki 5 Fakultas dengan 12 Program Studi didalamnya, ditambah 1 Program Doktor dan 2 Program Studi yang baru yaitu, Informatika dan Hukum yang masih di bawah naungan Universitas. Lokasi Kampus UKIM ini mempunyai luas areal kurang lebih 2 Ha yang terdiri dari sarana prasarana (Gedung perkantoran, ruang kuliah, ruang laboratorium, perpustakaan dan ruang terbuka). Dibalik dari UKIM sebagai Universitas Swasta ternama di Kota Ambon , ternyata tidak terlepas juga dari dampak penyebaran Virus Corona. Hal yang pertama terlihat adalah pada sisi kebersihan,dimana banyaknya samapah-sampah yang berserahkan di beberapa tempat, ini terjadi bukan kerana UKIM tidak mempedulikan kebersihan lingkungan tapi hal ini terjadi dampak dari penyebaran virus corana yang membuat aktivitas kampus di hentikan, sehingga lingkungan Kampus menjadi tidak terurus. Dari aspek kebersihan sarana dan prasarana, dimana pada dinding-dinding ruang kelas kampus UKIM telah memudar dan kotor ketika di lihat secara langsung.sarana pendidikan harus tersedia semaksimal mungkin guna mendukung pelaksanaan proses belajar mengajar. agar mahasiswa dan calon mahasiswa dapat mengikuti proses pembelajaran dengan nyaman dan tanpa ada kendala, sarana dan prasarana dalam sebuah kampus harus terpenuhi dari beberapa aspek. Permasalahan lain yang ditemui adalah tidak teraturnya istalasi listrik pada kampus UKIM. kata â€˜listrikâ€™ adalah rangkaian yang dapat menghasilkan power (daya) atau kekuatan yang ditimbulkan karena adanya pergesekan melalui suatu proses kimia, yang dapat digunakan untuk menghasilkan panas ataupun cahaya untuk menjalankan mesinserta perangkat elektrik. Bahaya listrik dapat disebabkan kepada setiap orang yang tersengat aliran listrik baik secara langsung ataupun tidak. Berdasarkan paparan kejadian dan peristiwa yang ada pada Kampus UKIM, terkait dengan hal-hal yang menjadi perhatian bersama dan perlu untuk dibenahi kembali untuk kemajuan UKIM ke arah yang lebih baik lagi. Kegiatan yang akan kami lakukan terkait masalah-masalah yang bersifat melakukan suatu perubahan demi kemajuan UKIM ke depan.
PKM MANAJEMEN KEBERSIHAN MENSTRUASI MELALUI PENDEKATAN VIDEO BASED INSTRUCTIONS DAN PEER GROUP SUPORT DI SLB
Authors: Parinussa Nenny , Lilipory Mevi
Published: June 2024

Masa remaja merupakan masa yang sangat penting bagi proses perkembangan hidup manusia.. Pada remaja putri khususnya ditandai dengan dimulainya siklus menstruasi. Seperti remaja pada umumnya, remaja putri dengan disablilitas juga mengalami menstruasi. Namum, mereka kesulitan dalam melakukan perawatan diri. Remaja putri dengan disabilitas perlu mengenali tubuhnya, apa yang akan terjadi. Mereka juga membutuhkan dan menginginkan informasi tentang mengelola menstruasi secara sehat dan bersih, bagaimana membuang pembalut yang benar, apa yang harus dipersiapkan dan diantisipasi ketika menstruasi dan resiko kesehatan apa saja terkait menstruasi. sehingga mereka tidak terkejut atau ketakutan pada saat haid pertamanya tiba. Penelitian UNICEF di Indonesia pada 2015 menemukan fakta satu dari tujuh anak perempuan terpaksa tidak masuk sekolah selama satu hari atau lebih, pada saat menstruasi sedangkan satu dari empat perempuan melporkan permasalahan gatal atau sakit pada daerah kemaluannya dan 9% menyatakan sakit sewaktu buang air kecil ketika haid. Tiga penyebab utamanya adalah 1) rendahnya sarana sanitasi yang layak di sekolah, 2) minimnya akses informasi mengenai cara mengelola kebersihan menstruasi secara baik dan benar, dan 3) terbatasnya pengetahuan guru tentang Manajemen Kebersihan Menstruasi (MKM) (Burnet Institute, 2015). Di Provinsi Maluku khususnya kota Ambon terdapat sekolah yang memfasilitasi remaja dengan disabilitas yaitu salah satunya di SLB Negeri Batu Merah Ambon. Di SLB Negeri Batu Merah Ambon didapatkan data bahwa jumlah siswa remaja usia 13 sampai 17 tahun berjumlah 48 siswa terdiri dari laki-laki 30 siswa dan perempuan berjumlah 18 siswa. Ada beberapa permasalahan yang dialami oleh mitra yaitu : 1) Belum pernah dilakukan sosialisasai tentang Manajemen Kebersahan Menstruasi bagi siswa/siswi. Sehingga dapat dilakukan metode FGD untuk meningkatkan pengetahuan siswa/siswi; 2) Belum ada pelatihan dan pembentukan peer grup support untuk mendampingi siswi yang mentruasi dalam melakukan MKM. Berdasarkan masalah dan rencana yang telah didisuksikan dengan mitra, maka Tim mengimplementasikan: 1) Melakukan Sosialisasi melalui penyuluhan, diskusi dan tanya jawab kepada seluruh siswa SMP dan SMA dengan menggunakan video based learning Didapatkan hasil bahwa ada peningkatan pengetahuan siswa yang signifikan sebelum intervensi dan sesudah intervensi diberikan sebesar 12 responden (57,1 %); 2) Melakukan simulasi dan membentuk peer group support yang diikuti oleh tim pengabdi, guru dan siswa untuk menerapkan MKM menunjukan data bahwa perilaku siswa setelah diberi simulai peer group suport adalah sebanyak 30 responden (93,8%). Luaran dari kegiatan ini telah dipublikasikan pada media cetak online; https://lintas-berita.com/2022/10/05/pkmfakultas-kesehatan-ukim-memperkenalkan-keberhasilan-mestruasi-bagi-perempuan/. Video pelaksanaan kegiatan di web LPM UKIM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzTbNWNrzo4
PENGELOLAAN KEUANGAN KELUARGA DALAM RANGKA PENINGKATAN LITERASI KEUANGAN
Authors: Persulessy Grace , Silooy Marissa , Joseph Chricela
Published: June 2024

Keluarga merupakan inti terkecil dalam mendukung pembangunan suatu Negara. Negara dapat berjalan dengan baik apabila seluruh warga negaranya memiliki ekonomi keluarga yang kuat. Oleh karena itu pengabdian ini berfokus pada peningkatan kemampuan pengelolaan keuangan keluarga melalui pelatihan pengelolaan keuangan. Adapun sasaran pada pengabdian masyarakat ini adalah warga di Negeri Nuniali Kecamatan Taniwel, Seram Bagian Barat. Pengabdian ini dilakukan karena adanya permasalahan keuangan keluarga masyarakat negeri Nuniali, dimana masyarakat cenderung melakukan hutang demi memenuhi kebutuhan yang secara mendadak, masyarakat tidak memiliki simpanan, pendapatan yang diperoleh selalu digunakan habis untuk keperluaan sehari-hari. Program pengabdian ini dilakukan bertujuan agar masyarakat Desa Nuniali dapat memperoleh pengetahuan dan ketrampilan dalam mengelola keuangan keluarga yang dapat meningkatkan kesejahteran keluarga. Sehingga materi yang diberikan adalah konsep dan aplikasi pengelolaan keuangan keluarga. Luaran dari kegiatan telah dipublikasikan pada artikel berita pada media elektronik Mimbar Rakyat News http://mimbarrakyatnews.com/50-warga-Nuniali-ikut-pelatihankeuangan-fekon-ukim/ dan video kegiatan telah diupload pada chanel youtube https://youtu.be/RcxiSm8WpD8
The Rhizobial effector NopT targets Nod factor receptors to regulate symbiosis in Lotus japonicus
Authors: Bao Hanbin , Wang Yanan , Li Haoxing , Wang Qiang , Lei Yutao , Ye Ying , Wadood Syed F , Zhu Hui , Stahelin Christian , Stacey Gary , Xu Shutong , Cao Yangrong
Published: June 2024

It is well-documented that type-III effectors are required by Gram-negative pathogens to directly target different host cellular pathways to promote bacterial infection. However, in the context of legume-rhizobium symbiosis, the role of rhizobial effectors in regulating plant symbiotic pathways remains largely unexplored. Here, we show that NopT, a YopT-type cysteine protease of
Sinorhizobium fredii
NGR234 directly targets the plant’s symbiotic signaling pathway by associating with two Nod factor receptors (NFR1 and NFR5 of
Lotus japonicus
). NopT inhibits cell death triggered by co-expression of NFR1/NFR5 in
Nicotiana benthamiana
. Full-length NopT physically interacts with NFR1 and NFR5. NopT proteolytically cleaves NFR5 both
in vitro
and
in vivo
, but can be inactivated by NFR1 as a result of phosphorylation. NopT plays an essential role in mediating rhizobial infection in
L. japonicus
. Autocleaved NopT retains the ability to cleave NFR5 but no longer interacts with NFR1. Interestingly, genomes of certain
Sinorhizobium
species only harbor
nopT
genes encoding truncated proteins without the autocleavage site. These results reveal an intricate interplay between rhizobia and legumes, in which a rhizobial effector protease targets NFR5 to dampen symbiotic signaling. NFR1 appears to counteract this process by phosphorylating the effector. This discovery highlights the role of a bacterial effector in regulating a signaling pathway in plants and opens up the perspective of developing kinase-interacting proteases to fine-tune cellular signaling processes in general.
The robust, high-throughput, and temporally regulated roxCre and loxCre reporting systems for genetic modifications in vivo
Authors: Shi Mengyang , Li Jie , Liu Xiuxiu , Liu Kuo , Pu Wenjuan , Weng Wendong , Zhang Shaohua , Zhao Huan , Lui Kathy O. , Zhou Bin
Published: June 2024

Cre-loxP technology, a cornerstone in fate mapping and in vivo gene function studies, faces challenges in achieving precise and efficient conditional mutagenesis through inducible systems. In this study, we introduce two innovative genetic tools designed to overcome these limitations. The first, loxCre, facilitates conditional gene targeting by allowing any CreER line to induce Cre expression with significantly enhanced efficiency. The second, roxCre, enables DreER-mediated Cre release, paving the way for intersectional genetic manipulation that permits both increased precision and efficiency. Both tools incorporate a fluorescent reporter for genetic lineage tracing, revealing efficient gene knockout in cells marked by the reporter simultaneously. These strategies hold great potential for precise and efficient exploration of lineage-specific gene functions, marking a significant advancement in genetic research methodologies.
Sleep need driven oscillation of glutamate synaptic phenotype
Authors: Vogt Kaspar E , Kulkarni Ashwinikumar , Pandey Richa , Dehnad Mantre , Konopka Genevieve , Greene Robert W
Published: June 2024

Sleep loss increases AMPA-synaptic strength and number in the neocortex. However, this is only part of the synaptic sleep loss response. We report an increased AMPA/NMDA EPSC ratio in frontal-cortical pyramidal neurons of layers 2–3. Silent synapses are absent, decreasing the plastic potential to convert silent NMDA to active AMPA synapses. These sleep loss changes are recovered by sleep. Sleep genes are enriched for synaptic shaping cellular components controlling glutamate synapse phenotype, overlap with autism risk genes, and are primarily observed in excitatory pyramidal neurons projecting intra-telencephalically. These genes are enriched with genes controlled by the transcription factor, MEF2c, and its repressor, HDAC4. Sleep genes can thus provide a framework within which motor learning and training occur mediated by the sleep-dependent oscillation of glutamate-synaptic phenotypes.
Cold induces brain region-selective neuronal activity-dependent lipid metabolism
Authors: Min Hyeonyoung , Yang Yale Y , Yang Yunlei
Published: June 2024

Previous studies have been focused on lipid metabolism in peripheral tissues such as adipose tissues, while little or nothing is known about that in the brain. It is well recognized that cold acclimations enhance adipocyte functions, including white adipose tissue (WAT) lipid lipolysis and beiging, and brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis in mammals. However, it remains unclear whether and how the genes responsible for lipid metabolism in the brain are also under the control of cold acclimations. Here, we show that cold exposure predominantly increases the expressions of the genes encoding lipid lipolysis in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVH). Mechanistically, we find that inactivation of neurons in the PVH blunts the cold-induced lipid peroxidation and lipolysis. Together, these findings indicate that lipid metabolism in the PVH is cold sensitive, potentially participating in cold regulations of energy metabolism.
Addressing epistemic injustices in species at risk assessments through improved credibility and legitimacy: case study of narwhal management in Ittoqqortoormiit
Authors: Sandré Tanguy , Vanderlinden Jean-Paul , Gherardi Jeanne-Marie , Zhu Zhiwei , Wickson Fern
Published: June 2024

The regulation of seal and whale hunting in Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland) belongs to the Naalakkersuisut (National Government), which is notably informed by the work of the Scientific Committee (SC) of the North Atlantic Marine Mammal Commission (NAMMCO). Since 2004, quotas were set in Kalaallit Nunaat to regulate hunting practices and promote ecologically sustainable harvesting. In South East Greenland, the SC's recommendations for the closure of the narwhal (Monodon monoceros or qialuar) hunt since 2019 has met both national disagreement and local resistance due to a desire to preserve the long-standing relation with narwhals organised around hunting, which is strongly intertwined within place-based communities’ experiences. The situation requires further attention to deploy an informed dialogue in the light of both available literature and local narratives capturing knowledge and values which are underrepresented within scientific discussions, as are social sciences. Grounded in repetitive and long-standing research fieldwork in Ittoqqortoormiit, and extensive qualitative data collection from 2019 to 2023, the article shows that community members express strong attachment and concern towards narwhal hunting together with the social, economic and cultural importance of mattak (narwhal skin). Local narratives also suggest that the resistance against limitations on narwhal hunting is not to be understood only as a conservatism that aims to preserve traditional hunting practices or about sustaining economic incomes for hunters, but in a significant way as protest against epistemic injustices, resulting from a feeling of being systematically unheard, distrusted and uninvolved in decision-making processes. Together with the expression of concern and attachment for narwhal hunting, the tensions between scientific knowledge and local value and knowledge were reiterated while shared concern for the preservation of the species is affirmed. We show that legitimacy and credibility of the scientific evidence and species management are contested. Ultimately, we ascertain the situation of epistemic injustices and raise the need to shift towards decolonial practices to open the possibility for the emergence of a fair and respectful dialogue that would support narwhal preservation, through securing hunters' material living conditions, community food security, and ensuring consideration and respect is given to individual and collective immaterial dimensions associated with narwhal.
Improving smart home surveillance through YOLO model with transfer learning and quantization for enhanced accuracy and efficiency
Authors: Dalal Surjeet , Lilhore Umesh Kumar , Sharma Nidhi , Arora Shakti , Simaiya Sarita , Ayadi Manel , Almujally Nouf Abdullah , Ksibi Amel
Published: June 2024

The use of closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems is widespread in all areas where serious safety concerns exist. Keeping an eye on things manually sounds like a time-consuming and challenging process. Identifying theft, detecting aggression, detecting explosive risks, etc., are all circumstances in which the term “security” takes on multiple meanings. When applied to crowded public spaces, the phrase “security” encompasses nearly every conceivable kind of abnormality. Detecting violent behaviour among them is challenging since it typically occurs in a group setting. Several practical limitations make it hard, though complex functional limitations make it difficult to analyze crowd film scenes for anomalous or aberrant behaviour. This article provides a broad overview of the field, starting with object identification and moving on to action recognition, crowd analysis, and violence detection in a crowd setting. By combining you only look once (YOLO) with transfer learning, the model may acquire new skills from various sources. This makes it more flexible for use in various object identification applications and lessens the time and effort required to gather large annotated datasets. This article proposes the YOLO model with transfer learning for intelligent surveillance in Internet of Thing (IoT)-enabled home environments in smart cities. Quantization concepts are being applied to optimize the YOLO model in this work. Using YOLO with quantization, the model is optimized for use on edge devices and mobile platforms, which have limited computing capabilities. Thus, even with limited technology, object detection systems may be used in various real-world applications. The proposed model has been validated on two different datasets of 7,382 images. The proposed model gains an accuracy level of 98.27%. The proposed method outperforms the conventional one. The use of the YOLO model and transfer learning with quantization has significant potential for enhancing ecological smart city monitoring, and further research and development in this area could contribute to developing more effective and efficient environmental smart city monitoring systems.
An accurate irrigation volume prediction method based on an optimized LSTM model
Authors: Yan Hui , Xie Fahuan , Long Duo , Long Yunxin , Yu Ping , Chen Hanlin
Published: June 2024

Precise prediction of irrigation volumes is crucial in modern agriculture. This study proposes an optimized long short-term memory (LSTM) model-based irrigation prediction method that combines bidirectional LSTM networks. The model provides farmers with more precise irrigation management decisions, facilitating optimal utilization of water resources and effective crop production management. This proposed model aims to fully exploit spatio-temporal features and sequence dependencies to enhance prediction accuracy and reliability. We aim to fully leverage crop irrigation volumes’ spatio-temporal features and sequence dependencies to improve prediction accuracy and reliability. First, this study adopts a bidirectional LSTM (BiLSTM) model to simulate the temporal features of irrigation volumes and learn the sequential dependencies of crop growth data from historical records. Then, this study passes the irrigation volume data through a convolutional neural network (CNN) model to extract spatial features and capture correlations among various features such as temperature, precipitation, and wind speed. Our prediction performance significantly improved after incorporating an attention mechanism that involves weighting features and enhancing focus on crucial aspects. The proposed BiLSTM-CNN-Attention approach is used to predict irrigation volume for spring corn in significant irrigation areas in Jilin Province, China. The results demonstrate that the proposed method surpasses recurrent neural network (RNN), CNN, LSTM, BiLSTM, and BiLSTM-CNN methods in terms of mean square error (MSE), root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE) (0.000004, 0.005968, 0.004599), and R2 (0.9749), making a superior solution for predicting the volume of crop irrigation.
Rainfall Pattern in Kenya: Bayesian Non-parametric Model Based on the Normalized Generalized Gamma Process
Authors: Langat Amos Kipkorir , Mutinda John Kamwele
Published: June 2024

Understanding the pattern of rainfall in Kenya is crucial for a range of sectors, including agriculture, water management, and disaster risk reduction. In this research, we propose a Bayesian non-parametric approach to model the rainfall patterns in Kenya. Specifically, we use a hierarchical Dirichlet process mixture model to cluster the rainfall stations and identify groups of stations with similar rainfall patterns. We then model the rainfall distribution within each group using a Bayesian non-parametric model based on the normalized generalized gamma process. We apply our method to a dataset of daily rainfall measurements from 150 stations across Kenya for the period 1980-2021. Our results reveal distinct regional patterns of rainfall, with some regions experiencing bimodal rainfall patterns while others have unimodal patterns. We also find that the rainfall distribution within each region exhibits heavy tails and skewedness, which cannot be accurately captured by parametric models. In conclusion, our approach provides a flexible and interpretable framework for modeling complex spatio-temporal data such as rainfall patterns, and can inform decision-making in various sectors.
Ebstein Anomaly in an Adolescent: A ‘Miranda Warning’ against Blaming Sickle Cell Cardiomyopathy: A Case-Based Scholarly Update
Authors: SI Wala , IG Abubakar , BA Ibrahim , NI Jelani , AG. Farouk
Published: June 2024

Background: Ebstein's anomaly (EA) is a rare congenital heart disease characterized by apical displacement of the tricuspid valve associated with atrialisation of the right ventricle. The defect arises from failure of the normal process by which the tricuspid valve is separated from the right ventricular myocardium. Most cases are diagnosed in childhood, but asymptomatic ones may remain undiagnosed until adulthood.
Case Summary: We present a rare case of EA diagnosed for the first time in a 13-year-old female sickle cell anaemia patient when she developed biventricular heart failure with severe tricuspid regurgitation and biventricular thrombi which was managed medically; however, patient died 17 days into admission.
Conclusion: The Ebstein anomaly can presents in adolescents for the first time and is usually associated with pericardial effusion and ventricular thrombi. Due to its similarity in presentation to sickle cell cardiomyopathy, it can be missed in sickle cell anaemia patients. Echocardiography can help unravel this diagnostic dilemma.
Epidemiological and Clinical Insights into Pulmonary Tuberculosis among Diabetic Patients: A Descriptive Retrospective Study in N'Djamena, Chad
Authors: Rangar Ngakoutou , Bolti Mahamat Ali , Abdulaye Ahmet , Dlinga Dieudonne , Aboulbachar Yusra , Abba Oumar , Ouchemi Choua , Moussa Ali Mahamat
Published: June 2024

Introduction: association with HIV tuberculosis is a real public health problem according the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease. The objective of this work is to study the epidemiological, progressive and therapeutic aspects of pulmonary tuberculosis in diabetic.
Methods: This is a descriptive retrospective study evaluating the association between pulmonary tuberculosis and diabetes in the pneumo-phtisiology department of the Reference National University Hospital Center over a period of 3 years about 51 cases.
Results: During our study period, we collected 51 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis and diabetes out of a total of all hospitalised patients. with a prevalence of Tuberculosis/Diabetes co-infection of 5.6%. The sex ratio was 2.18 in favour of men. The average age was 52.3 ±13.8 years with extrems ranging from 20 to 80 years old. The notion of tuberculosis infection was found in 21.6% of cases. Other comorbidities were present, such as hypertension (41.2%, n=21) and HIV (15.7%, n=8). The GenXpert results revealed MTB Detected in 62.7% of cases with 9 cases of Rifampicin Resistance Detected. The type of diabetes found was mainly Type 2 diabetes (88.2%) and the most common complication was diabetic foot. The treatment consisted of a quadruple therapy, Oral Antidiabetic (OAD) and insulin, or a combination of both.
Conclusion: This study shows that the association of tuberculosis and diabetes is a reality in our countries. The prevalence remains relatively high and the treatment regimen remains the same. Prevention of TB and correct management of diabetes could reduce the prevalence of this pandemic.
High Prevalence and Antibiotic Resistance of MRSA and Acinetobacter spp. among Healthcare Personnel and Neonatal Units: Implications for Infection Control and Hygiene Protocols
Authors: Obe Oluwadamilare Afolabi , Akingbola Adewunmi , Mutiu Bamidele , Nnakwue Margaret , Odulate Ibrahim Oladipupo
Published: June 2024

Objective: To assess the efficacy of current hygiene practices at the tertiary center through comprehensive microbiological surveillance, and to provide targeted recommendations for enhancing hospital hygiene to mitigate infection risks.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study employing microbiological surveillance to evaluate microbial contamination across various hospital settings in a tertiary healthcare facility in Lagos, Nigeria, focusing on high-risk areas such as personnel body parts, operating theaters, specialized care units, and staff areas. The study involved collecting microbial samples from the hospital environment, including surfaces in operating theaters, neonatal units, and healthcare personnel.
Microbial samples were collected from 38 different locations and personnel within the hospital. Culturing was conducted on appropriate media. Antibiotic susceptibility was tested using the disc diffusion method. Statistical analyses included ANOVA and logistic regression to determine the prevalence and distribution of microbial contaminants and to assess the effectiveness of current hygiene practices.
Results: The surveillance detected microbial growth in 33.33% of samples, with significant pathogens like MRSA and Acinetobacter species present. ANOVA showed significant differences in microbial contamination among different hospital locations (F(3,32) = 4.267, p = 0.0121). Logistic regression analysis didn’t find statistically significant predictors for microbial presence but highlighted higher odds of contamination in personnel areas (OR = 2.78, p = 0.406).
Conclusion: The study highlights the need for continuous microbiological surveillance to identify and mitigate infection risks in hospital settings. Despite effective sterilization practices in some areas, the presence of pathogens like MRSA indicates the necessity for enhanced hygiene protocols, particularly in personnel areas.
Influence of City Waste Manure and Different Levels of Inorganic Fertilizers on Soil Health Parameter, Growth and Yield Attributes of Black Gram (Vigna mungo L.) in Inceptisols
Authors: Mishra Malay , Bharose Ram , David Arun Alfred , Reddy Iska Srinath , Singh Surbhi
Published: June 2024

The objective of the experiment was to evaluate the Influence of city waste manure and different levels of   inorganic fertilizers on soil health of black gram. The design applied was FRBD. The study consisted of 16 combination of treatments in which was replicated thrice. The lowest bulk density and particle density recorded in NPK 80% and it was observed that treatment NPK 80% improved the soil WHC, OC, available N, P and K due to effect of fertilizer levels. Due to effect of city waste manure lowest value of bulk density and particle density of soil was recorded in treatment CWM 7.5 tha­‑1 and it was observed that treatment NPK 80% improved the soil WHC, OC, available N, P and K. The various level of NPK and City Waste Manure with different soil health parameter used from in the experiment, Economically the treatment combination T10 (RDF NPK @ 80% + City Waste manure @ 2.5t ha-1) was found to be the best treatment for Black gram (Vigna mungo L.) Var. Shekhar- 2.
Effect of Sowing Date and Irrigation Frequency on Wheat (Triticum aestivium L) Production in Southern Niger Republic
Authors: Soulé Abdelkader Mahamane , Mansur Auwalu Bindawa , Mainassara Zaman Allah , Salami Issoufou , Souley Soumana
Published: June 2024

The objective of this study was to find out the optimum sowing date and irrigation frequency for better performance of the wheat variety ‘’NORMAN’’ in Niger.
The study was carried out at Djirataoua (13°25’59’’N, 7°8’12’’E) in the southern part of Niger republic during the dry season 2015-2016.
Three sowing dates (15-Nov, 30-Nov and 15-Dec) and three irrigation frequencies (5, 10 and 15 days) were tested in a Split Plot Design with 3 replications. The wheat variety used in this study was “Norman”. Data were recorded on yield and yield components as well as on some growth and phenological parameters.
Results showed that sowing date on 15-Nov and 30-Nov took respectively 78 and 75 days to heading while the late planting (15-Dec) achieved heading in 71 days. The irrigation interval of 5 days gave the highest number days to heading (78 days). Physiological maturity was achieved at 109 and 102 days for 15-Nov and 30-Nov and decreased to 96 days when sowing was on 15-Dec. At 5 days interval of irrigation the number of days to maturity was 107 days and dropped to 101 and 99 days for 10 and 15 days interval of irrigation. Plant height was greatest (98 and 96 cm) for planting at 15-Nov and 30-Nov respectively, and became lower (90 cm) with 15-Dec. The highest plant height (103 cm) was achieved with 5 days interval of irrigation. Also the highest yield (5545 kg/ha) was achieved at 5 days interval of irrigation while the planting date on 15-Nov gave 4395 kg/ha. The thousand kernel weight was greatest (38.68 g and 39.02 g) with sowing date on 15-Nov and 30-Nov respectively and was lowest (31.43 g) when planting was delayed to 15-Dec. But the weight of thousand grains was statistically similar (39.12 g; 36.53 g and 33.48 g) for the three irrigation intervals. The interaction between the two factors was not significant for all parameters.
This study was relevant for the determination of the right planting window and irrigation interval for best performance of wheat in the study area. However further studies with more options of irrigation regime are needed to evaluate the irrigation water cost in order to achieve an optimum and economic yield.
Navigating the Challenge of Tuberculosis Drug Resistance: Unveiling Intrinsic and Acquired Pathways to Overcome the Threat
Authors: Aslam Hafiz Muhammad , Sharif Muhammad Umar , Uroos Amna , Rana Mahnoor , Farooq Waqas
Published: June 2024

Tuberculosis (TB), caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), continues to be a persistent worldwide health problem, made worse by the appearance of strains that are resistant to drugs. This review thoroughly examines the complex phenomenon of drug resistance in TB, investigating both the intrinsic characteristics and acquired changes that contribute to the bacterial ability to withstand treatment. It explores the progression of tuberculosis treatment, starting with the basic medications that target cell wall formation, then moving on to more advanced tactics that overcome resistance. It also discusses the new third-line therapies, providing insights into the dynamic landscape of TB treatment. Considering the increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant strains, it is crucial to adopt innovative strategies. These may involve altering existing antibiotics, investigating new chemicals, and gaining a more comprehensive understanding of new targets. This review emphasizes the need of knowing MTB medication resistance mechanisms that will enhance our understanding of MTB medication resistance and prepares us for future study, providing insights and approaches to address this global health issue more effectively.
A Descriptive Study on Stunting in Toddlers & Contributing Factors in Cibungur Village, Sumedang District, Indonesia
Authors: Simarmata Vidi Posdo Ahapta , Patriawati Keswari Aji
Published: June 2024

Aims: This research aims to determine the relationship between parents practicing Clean and Healthy Living Behavior (PHBS) and the incidence of stunting in toddlers aged 2-5 years in Cibungur Village, Sumedang Regency in 2023.
Study Design:  This research is an analytical observational study with a cross-sectional design.
Place and Duration of Study: The research was carried out in Cibungur Village, Sumedang Regency, West Java in May 2023.
Methodology: The sample in this study was 139 parents who had children aged 2-5 years in Cibungur Village, Sumedang Regency, West Java. The sampling technique used in this study was consecutive sampling, that is, all subjects who came and met the selection criteria were included in the study until the required number of subjects was met. A questionnaire instrument was used to obtain data on variables that influence (X1) parents' healthy hygiene behavior. The variable influenced by (Y) is the incidence of stunting in toddlers aged 2-5 years in Cibungur Village, Sumedang Regency. The data source is parents of toddlers aged 2-5 years in Cibungur Village, Sumedang.
Results: The results of the correlation test of the 10 PHBS indicators studied with the incidence of stunting found a relationship between exclusive breastfeeding (p = 0.004) and the habit of washing hands with soap (p = 0.001) with the incidence of stunting while history of childbirth assisted by health personnel (p = 0.066), weighing toddler routine at posyandu (p=0.070), eradicating mosquito nests (p = 0.778), daily physical activity (p = 1.000), consumption of fruits and vegetables every day (p = 0.594), not smoking in the house (p = 0.877), use of clean water (p = 0.066) and use of healthy latrines (p = 0.066) were not associated with stunting.
Conclusion: Of the ten indicators of a Clean and Healthy Lifestyle, it was concluded that only two of them were related to the incidence of stunting, namely the Exclusive Breastfeeding indicator and the Habit of Washing Hands with Soap indicator.
Methylamines
Authors: van Gysel August B. , Musin Willy
Published: January 2012

The article contains sections titled:1.Introduction2.Physical Properties3.Chemical Properties4.Production4.1.Synthesis4.2.Purification5.Environmental Protection6.Quality Specifications7.Storage and Transportation8.Uses9.Economic Aspects10.Toxicology and Occupational Health
Fibers, 14. Metal Fibers
Authors: De Bruyne Roger , Lefever Ignace
Published: January 2012

The article contains sections titled:

1.

Production

1.1.

Bundle Drawing

1.2.

Melt Spinning

1.3.

Other Processes

2.

Bundle‐Drawn Fibers

2.1.

Form and Dimensions

2.2.

Composition

2.3.

Uses

2.4.

Manufacturers

3.

Melt Spun Fibers

3.1.

Properties

3.2.

Uses
Fibers, 15. Carbon Fibers
Authors: Fitzer Erich , Foley Andrew , Frohs Wilhelm , Hauke Tilo , Heine Michael , Jäger Hubert , Sitter Sandra
Published: January 2012

The article contains sections titled:1.Introduction2.Raw Materials (Precursor Fibers)3.Production3.1.Carbon Fiber Production Process (Rayon‐Based)3.2.Carbon Fiber Production Process (Pitch‐Based)3.3.Carbon Fiber Production Process (PAN‐Based)3.3.1.Polyacrylonitrile Polymer and Fiber3.3.2.Stabilization of PAN Fiber3.3.3.Carbonization of PAN‐Ox3.3.4.Graphitization of PAN‐based Carbon Fibers3.4.Chemical Composition4.Properties4.1.Mechanical Properties4.2.Structure4.3.Physical and Chemical Properties5.Uses5.1.Stabilized Fiber for Textile Applications5.2.Carbonized Fibers for Electrical Conductivity and Reinforcement Applications6.Economic Aspects
Paper and Board, 5. Water Circuits
Authors: Stetter Andrea
Published: January 2012

The article contains sections titled:

1.

Introduction

2.

Fresh Water

3.

Process Water

4.

Water Circuits

4.1.

White Water Circuit System

4.2.

Water Circuit Systems in Stock Preparation

4.3.

Examples of Mill‐wide Water Circuit Systems

4.4.

Current Limits on Circuit Closure

4.5.

Zero Effluent Systems
Paper and Board, 7. Coating of Paper and Board
Authors: Kogler† Werner , Tietz Martin , Auhorn Werner J.
Published: January 2012

The article contains sections titled:

1.

Objectives of Coating

2.

Requirements of Coated Papers for the Printing Process

3.

Requirements of Base Papers/Board for Coating

3.1.

General Aspects

3.2.

Specific Base Paper Properties Affecting Coating

4.

Principles of Coating Techniques for Paper and Board

5.

Components and Properties of Coating Colors

5.1.

Pigments

5.2.

Binders

5.3.

Other Coating Additives

5.3.1.

Production Additives

5.3.2.

Product Additives

6.

Coating Color Formulations

7.

Coating Color Preparation

7.1.

General Aspects of Coating Kitchen Setup

7.2.

Pigment Dispersal

7.3.

Processing of Binders

7.3.1.

Latexes

7.3.2.

Starch

7.3.3.

Other Binders

7.3.4.

Additives

7.4.

Tanks

7.5.

Screens and Filters

7.6.

Degassing of Coating Colors

7.7.

Batch Preparation of Coating Colors

7.8.

Continuous Coating Color Preparation

7.9.

Coating Color Supply Systems for Coaters

8.

Measurements of Coating Colors

8.1.

Viscosity

8.2.

Viscoelasticity

8.3.

Water Retention

8.4.

Solids Content

8.5.

pH

8.6.

Screening Residue

8.7.

Bacteria Level

9.

Measurements of Coated Surface

9.1.

Coat Weight

9.2.

Smoothness

9.3.

Gloss

9.4.

Ink Absorption

9.5.

Surface Strength

9.6.

Dusting or Linting

9.7.

Piling

9.8.

Visual Defects

9.9.

Brightness and Whiteness

9.10.

Opacity

9.11.

Mottling

9.12.

Print Unevenness

9.13.

Taste and Odor

10.

Coating Machines

10.1.

Overview

10.2.

Applicators

10.2.1.

Direct Coating

10.2.2.

Indirect Coating

10.2.3.

Curtain Coating

10.3.

Application Concepts

10.4.

Drying

11.

Coated Paper and Board Grades
Structure‐Based Enhanced Capacitance: In Situ Growth of Highly Ordered Polyaniline Nanorods on Reduced Graphene Oxide Patterns
Authors: Xue Mianqi , Li Fengwang , Zhu Juan , Song Hang , Zhang Meining , Cao Tingbing
Published: January 2012

A novel method is described for fabricating an all‐solid‐state flexible micro‐supercapacitor. The microelectrodes of the supercapacitor are prepared by in situ electrodeposition of polyaniline (PANI) nanorods on the surface of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) patterns that are fabricated by micromolding in capillaries. The morphologies of PANI nanorods could be controlled by the concentration of aniline and the growth time in the electrodeposition process. The micro‐supercapacitor possesses electrochemical capacitance as high as 970 F g−1 at a discharge current density of 2.5 A g−1, as well as good stability, retaining 90% of its initial capacitance after 1700 consecutive cycles for the synergistic effect of these new rGO/PANI nanostructures. The results show that the method could represent a route for translating the interesting fundamental properties of rGO and conducting polymers into technologically viable energy devices. Furthermore, this study might further guide the preparation of functional graphene‐based materials.
Wavy Ribbons of Carbon Nanotubes for Stretchable Conductors
Authors: Xu Feng , Wang Xin , Zhu Yuntian , Zhu Yong
Published: January 2012

Wavy ribbons of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are embedded in elastomeric substrates to fabricate stretchable conductors that exhibit excellent performance in terms of high stretchability and small resistance change. A CNT ribbon with a thin layer of sputtered Au/Pd film is transferred onto a prestrained poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) substrate and buckled out‐of‐plane upon release of the prestrain. Embedded in PDMS, the wavy CNT ribbon is able to accommodate large stretching (up to the prestrain) with little change in resistance. For a prestrain of 100%, the resistance increases only about 4.1% when the wavy CNT ribbon is stretched to the prestrain. A simple stretchable circuit consisting of a light‐emitting diode and two wavy ribbons is demonstrated and shows constant response on significant twisting, folding, or stretching. Fabricated with a simple buckling approach, the wavy CNT‐ribbon‐based stretchable conductors (e.g., interconnects and electrodes) could play an important role in stretchable electronics, sensors, photovoltaics, and energy storage.
Highly Efficient and Fully Solution‐Processed White Electroluminescence Based on Fluorescent Small Molecules and a Polar Conjugated Polymer as the Electron‐Injection Material
Authors: Xue Shanfeng , Yao Liang , Shen Fangzhong , Gu Cheng , Wu Hongbin , Ma Yuguang
Published: January 2012

Highly efficient and fully solution‐processed white organic light‐emitting diodes (WOLEDs) based on fluorescent small molecules and a polar conjugated polymer as electron‐injection material are reported. The emitting layer in the WOLEDs is a blend of new blue‐, green‐, and red‐fluorescent small molecules, with a blending ratio of 100:0.4:0.8 (B/G/R) by weight, and a methanol/water soluble conjugated polymerpoly[(9,9‐bis(30‐(N,N‐dimethylamino)propyl)‐2,7‐fluorene)‐alt‐2,7‐(9,9‐dioctylfluorene)] (PFN) acts as the electron‐injection layer (EIL). All the organic layers are spin‐coated from solution. The device exhibits pure white emission with a maximum luminous efficiency of 9.2 cd A−1 and Commission Internationale d'Eclairage Coordinates of (0.35, 0.36). PFN acting as the EIL material plays a key role in the improvement of the device performance when used in solution‐processed small‐molecule WOLEDs.
Paleolithic diets as a model for prevention and treatment of western disease
Authors: Lindeberg Staffan
Published: January 2012

Objectives:

To explore the possibility that a paleolithic‐like diet can be used in the prevention of age‐related degenerative Western disease.

Methods:

Literature review of African Paleolithic foods in relation to recent evidence of healthy nutrition.

Results and Discussion:

Available evidence lends weak support in favor and little against the notion that lean meat, fish, vegetables, tubers, and fruit can be effective in the prevention and treatment of common Western diseases. There are no obvious risks with avoiding dairy products, margarine, oils, refined sugar, and cereal grains, which provide 70% or more of the dietary intake in northern European populations. If stroke, coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer are preventable by dietary changes, an ancestral‐like diet may provide an appropriate template. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.