bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Linear Model Predictive Control of Olefin Metathesis Process
Authors: Andrei Andrei Maxim , Bildea Costin Sorin
Published: July 2023

The applicability of linear model predictive control to the 2-butene metathesis process is studied. Similarly to industrial practice, the model predictive controller is configured on a supervisory level, providing set points to basic process controllers. The development of the process model is based on open-loop identification from input–output data extracted from dynamic simulation performed in Aspen Plus Dynamics. The model predictive controller, designed using MATLAB tools, supervises a system consisting of two inputs (feed rate and reaction temperature) and two outputs (ethylene and propylene production rates). The performance of the model-based control strategy is assessed by Aspen Plus Dynamics-Simulink co-simulation and compared to regulatory control through several indexes (mean square error, integral square error, peak error, and integral absolute error). The model predictive controller outperforms the feedback controller. Considerations regarding the workflow for the implementation of model predictive control in an industrial environment are provided.
Magnetotelluric Deep Learning Forward Modeling and Its Application in Inversion
Authors: Deng Fei , Hu Jian , Wang Xuben , Yu Siling , Zhang Bohao , Li Shuai , Li Xue
Published: July 2023

Magnetotelluric (MT) inversion and forward modeling are closely linked. The optimization and iteration processes of the inverse algorithm require frequent calls to forward modeling. However, traditional numerical simulations for forward modeling are computationally expensive; here, deep learning (DL) networks can simulate forward modeling and significantly improve forward speed. Applying DL for forward modeling in inversion problems requires a high-precision network capable of responding to fine changes in the model to achieve high accuracy in inversion optimization. Most existing MT studies have used a convolutional neural network, but this method is limited by the receptive field and cannot extract global feature information. In contrast, the Mix Transformer has the ability to globally model and extract features. In this study, we used a Mix Transformer to hierarchically extract feature information, adopted a multiscale approach to restore feature information to the decoder, and eliminated the skip connection between the encoder and decoder. We designed a forward modeling network model (MT-MitNet) oriented toward inversion. A sample dataset required for DL forward was established using the forward data generated from the traditional inverse calculation iteration process. The trained network quickly and accurately calculates the forward response. The experimental results indicate a high agreement between the forward results of MT-MitNet and those obtained with traditional methods. When MT-MitNet replaces the forward computation in traditional inversion, the inversion results obtained with it are also highly in agreement with the traditional inversion results. Importantly, under the premise of ensuring high accuracy, the forward speed of MT-MitNet is hundreds of times faster than that of traditional inversion methods in the same process.
Preconcentration of Volatile Organic Compounds on Carbon Magnetic Sorbents in the Analysis of Air by Using the Configuration Change of the Sorbent Bed during the Transition from Sorption to Thermodesorption GC-FID
Authors: Rodinkov Oleg , Postnov Victor , Spivakovskyi Valery , Znamenskaya Ekaterina , Zheludovskaya Anastasia , Nesterenko Pavel
Published: July 2023

The new scheme of the rapid preconcentration of volatile organic substances followed by the thermodesorption and gas chromatographic determination by using a flame ionization detector is proposed for the analysis of air. The scheme implies a change in the geometry of the adsorbent layer in a column during the transition from adsorption to thermal desorption steps. The extraction of analytes is carried out in a wide tube, allowing quantitative adsorption at higher flow rates of the analyzed air passed through the magnetic sorbent held in a thin layer retained by a permanent magnet without any supporting frits. Novel magnetic adsorbents composed of magnetite or a zirconia/magnetite core and pyrocarbon shell are developed for this application. At the end of the adsorption step, the magnet moved out of the system, and the adsorbent transferred under the gravity force into a narrow tube, which provides the more efficient heating of the adsorbent and minimal blurring of the analyte zones during the subsequent thermal desorption. The proposed scheme allows a significant reduction (approximately 10 times) of the time required for the preconcentration of analytes, which is illustrated by the GC determination of alcohols (butanol-1, pentanol-1), phenol, and o-cresol in the air.
Route Planning for Emergency Evacuation Using Graph Traversal Algorithms
Authors: Gaitanis Alexandros , Lentzas Athanasios , Tsoumakas Grigorios , Vrakas Dimitris
Published: July 2023

The automatic identification of various design elements in a floor-plan image has gained increasing attention in recent research. Emergency-evacuation applications can benefit greatly from automated floor-plan solutions, as they allow for the development of horizontal solutions instead of vertical solutions targeting a specific audience. In addition to that, current evacuation plans rely on static signs without taking into account the dynamic characteristics of each emergency case. This work aims to extract information from a floor-plan image and transform it into a graph that is used for pathfinding in an emergency evacuation. First, the basic elements of the floor-plan image, i.e., walls, rooms and doors, are identified. This is achieved using Panoptic-DeepLab, which is a state-of-the-art deep neural network for the panoptic segmentation of images, and it is available from DeepLab2, an image segmentation library. The neural network was trained using CubiCasa5K, a large-scale floor-plan image dataset containing 5000 samples, annotated into over 80 floor-plan object categories. Then, using the prediction of each pixel, a graph that shows how rooms and doors are connected is created. An application that presents this information in a user-friendly manner and provides graph editing capabilities was developed. Finally, the exits are set, and the optimal path for evacuation is calculated from each node using Dijkstra’s algorithm.
An Emotional Design Model for Future Smart Product Based on Grounded Theory
Authors: Chao Chiju , Chen Yu , Wu Hongfei , Wu Wenxuan , Yi Zhijie , Xu Liang , Fu Zhiyong
Published: July 2023

Recently, smart products have not only demonstrated more functionality and technical capabilities but have also shown a trend towards emotional expression. Emotional design plays a crucial role in smart products as it not only influences users’ perception and evaluation of the product but also promotes collaborative communication between users and the product. In the future, emotional design of smart products needs to be regarded as an important comprehensive design issue, rather than simply targeting a specific element. It should consider factors such as design systems, values, business strategies, technical capabilities, design ethics, and cultural responsibilities. However, currently, there is a lack of a design model that combines these elements. Currently, there are numerous practices in emotional design for smart products from different perspectives. They provide us an opportunity to build a comprehensive design model based on a large number of design case studies. Therefore, this study employed a standardized grounded theory approach to investigate 80 smart products and conducted interviews with 12 designers to progressively code and generate a design model. Through the coding process, this research extracted 547 nodes and gradually formed 10 categories, ultimately resulting in a design model comprising 5 sequential steps. This model includes user requirements, concept definition, design ideation, design implementation, and evaluation, making it applicable to most current and future emotional design issues in smart products.
Three-Dimensional Mass Transfer Modeling of Hydroquinone Adsorption on Phragmites australis Biochar
Authors: Shi Shengli , Luo Aiguo , Hao Jianwei , Xie Shulian , Feng Jia
Published: July 2023

In this work, the overall adsorption kinetic process of hydroquinone on Phragmites australis biochar (PAC) was analyzed in depth. A 3D mass transfer model of pore volume and surface diffusion was established, and the diffusion mechanism was analyzed. The characterization results show PAC has a higher porosity value, which is conducive to the adsorption of hydroquinone. The adsorption process modeling results show that the combined effect of pore volume diffusion and surface diffusion promotes the total diffusion process of hydroquinone in the PAC particles, and the two mechanisms of pore volume and surface diffusion exist simultaneously. Under the different operating concentrations, the range of surface diffusion coefficient Ds is 2.5 × 10−10–1.74 × 10−9 cm2/s, and the contribution rate of surface diffusion SDCP% is close to 100%, which is much larger than pore volume diffusion, revealing that regardless of the contact time and position, surface diffusion occupies the main position in intraparticle diffusion.
Synergistic Antitumor Effect of Combined Radiotherapy and Engineered Salmonella typhimurium in an Intracranial Sarcoma Mouse Model
Authors: Liu Zhipeng , Lim Sa-Hoe , Min Jung-Joon , Jung Shin
Published: July 2023

Intracranial sarcoma is an uncommon aggressive cancer with a poor prognosis and a high recurrence rate. Although postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) is the most recommended treatment strategy, it does not significantly improve survival rates. In this study, we used an attenuated Salmonella typhimurium strain engineered to secrete Vibrio vulnificus flagellin B (SLpFlaB) as an immunotherapy to assist with the antitumor effects of RT on intracranial sarcoma. In vitro, the expression of γH2AX and cleaved caspase-3 was analyzed by Western blot. In vivo detection of SLpFlaB colonization time in tumors was measured using an in vivo imaging system (IVIS). Tumor growth delay and elimination were demonstrated in an intracranial mouse model, and the distribution of macrophages, M1 macrophages, and CD8+ cells after treatment was measured using FACS analysis. Our findings in vitro suggest that combination therapy increases S-180 radiosensitivity, the expression of DNA double-strand breaks, and programmed cell death. In vivo, combination treatment causes intracranial sarcoma to be eliminated without tumor recurrence and redistribution of immune cells in the brain, with data showing the enhanced migration and infiltration of CD8+ T cells and macrophages, and an increased proportion of M1 macrophage polarization. Compared to RT alone, the combination therapy enhanced the radiosensitivity of S-180 cells, promoted the recruitment of immune cells at the tumor site, and prevented tumor recurrence. This combination therapy may provide a new strategy for treating intracranial sarcomas.
Vasszennyeződés okozta korrózió vizsgálata rozsdamentes acéllemezek felületén
Authors: Breznay Csaba , Varbai Balázs
Published: July 2023

A vasszennyeződés okozta korrózió a rozsdamentes acélok egy lehetséges korróziós károsodása. A korrózióálló acél felületén megjelenő rozsdás elszíneződés létező probléma az épített szerkezeteken és a gyógyszeripari berendezéseken. A károsodás utólagos javítása költséges, de kialakulása megfelelő gyártási eljárás és ellenőrzés mellett megakadályozható. Kutatásunkban négy különböző, gyakran alkalmazott anyagminőségű és eltérő felületi kiképzésű rozsdamentes acél anyagminőséget hasonlítottunk össze. A kísérlet során a minták szénacél kéziszerszám okozta sérüléseit és a korróziós folyamat időbeli lefutását vizsgáltuk.
March 2020-Printed Issue
Authors:   Patient Safety Authority
Published: July 2023

The spring 2020 issue of Patient Safety is available to read online and download at no charge.

Each issue of Patient Safety brings you the latest evidence-based research and data analytics, interviews with healthcare experts and advocates, thought-provoking editorials, and inspiring stories from patients and families. Our cover story, “I Am the Zebra,” (https://patientsafetyj.com/article/73585-i-am-the-zebra-one-woman-s-five-year-quest-for-the-truth) is a patient commentary from Missy Adams and her husband, Solomon, detailing her long, difficult journey toward an accurate diagnosis.

In this issue we also hear from Mary Ellen Mannix, who shares the tragic story of her son James (https://patientsafetyj.com/article/73597-one-on-one-mary-ellen-mannix) and how her efforts to understand what happened to him led her to speak up for other patients. Additional highlights: A practice improvement paper about an organization’s efforts to decrease medication errors (https://patientsafetyj.com/article/73587) related to patient weight discrepancies, a new safety self-assessment tool (https://patientsafetyj.com/article/73589) to help prevent vancomycin-related events, and a look at how safety is compromised when hospital equipment cannot accommodate obese patients (https://patientsafetyj.com/article/73590). Members of the LGBTQ community tell us in their own words about their healthcare experiences (https://patientsafetyj.com/article/73592) and how we can provide safe care for all patients, and we celebrate the winners of the Patient Safety Authority’s 2020 I AM Patient Safety Awards (https://patientsafetyj.com/article/73593).

Patient Safety is fully open access (no fees for authors or readers). We welcome manuscripts from all over the world. If your work can help advance patient safety, please submit it to us for consideration (https://patientsafetyj.com/for-authors), and kindly share our journal with friends, family, colleagues, and caregivers.
Biophilic design: Creating biophilic healing spaces
Authors:   , Keerthana Ram Sethuraman
Published: July 2023

Healthcare space are spaces that are meant for the healing; it is important to create an environment which helps to facilitate the healing in these places. In theory, the concept of biophilia has proven to improve the well-being of the occupant in any built spaces. This study focuses on understanding the importance of incorporating the concept of biophilic architecture in healthcare setting. The practical implication of applying this concept was verified through specific literatures about biophilic architecture in healthcare and stakeholder interviews with experts from the field, which helped in understanding the importance of introducing a healing environment in healthcare design. In this research, a new perspective to the biophilic architecture was explored, which is the cultural dimension. Culture and Biophilia are closely linked, yet this perspective has never been explored in biophilic design. For this, the local culture specific to New Zealand was considered and cultural expert Ron Bull was contacted to understand how people can connect themselves to New Zealand and understand cultural appropriation. Furthermore, the cultural context was compared to the concept of biophilia which helped in developing a conceptual framework that can be applied to a design. This thesis explores the role of culture and biophilic environment can help to improve the health and well-being of a person in a healthcare environment.
Urban Renewal Mapping: A Case Study in Beijing from 2000 to 2020
Authors: Ni Hao , Yu Le , Gong Peng , Li Xuecao , Zhao Jiyao
Published: July 2023

Understanding the distribution and land history of old urban areas (OUAs) and renewed urban areas (RUAs) has become the key point of urban management. However, it is hard to acquire adequate information for lack of pertinent detection methods. Here, we established a complete mapping framework on Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform to identify OUAs and RUAs and detect the temporal information of urban renewal, which was implemented in Beijing during 2000–2020. We used Landsat imagery and LandTrendr algorithm to fit the spectral trajectories of 14 bands/indices with specific segment attributes as the feature inputs for Random Forest classification. We produced the maps of OUAs and RUAs with an overall accuracy of 95.36%. On this basis, we further utilized LandTrendr to detect the start year, end year, and duration of urban renewal with the accuracies within the ±5-year difference of 85.52%, 80.97%, and 74.53%, respectively. These maps all present informative spatiotemporal patterns. Furthermore, the urban renewal process is likely to be influenced by major national or international events. The study answers the issues about urban renewal from multiple angles and provides scientific support for future urban planning.
The Effectiveness of Intravenous lidocaine in Burn Pain Relief: A Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Trial
Authors: Haghighi Mohammad , Naderi Nabi Bahram , Khoshrang Hossein , Rimaz Siamak , Haddadi Soudabeh , Parvizi Arman , Mobayen Mohammadreza , Biazar Gelareh , Zarei Tayebeh
Published: July 2023

Objectives: Poor pain control in burn patients as a great public health problem disrupts the healing and rehabilitation process and results in several adverse outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of intravenous lidocaine in reducing the pain of burn injuries. Materials and Methods: From August 2014 to March 2015, 66 eligible burn patients participated in the study and were randomly divided into two groups of lidocaine (L) and placebo (P). In group L, lidocaine 2% was injected at a bolus dose of 1.5 mg/kg followed by infusion at the dosage of 1.5 mg/kg/h, and in group P, saline was administrated. Pain severity was measured during 24 hours at baseline and 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24 hours after intervention based on Numerical Rating Scale (NRS-11). Morphine consumption, Ramsay score, and side effects were also documented. Results: Finally the data from 60 patients were analyzed. Comparing baseline with 24 hours after intervention, NRS-11 scores decreased from 7.12±1.42 to 3.33±0.76 (P<0.001) in group P and from 6.45±1.02 to 2.50±0.72 (P<0.001) in group L. Moreover, the mean of NRS scores during 24 hours in the lidocaine group was significantly lower compared to the placebo group, 3.93±0.72 vs 4.73 ±1.14, (P=0.03). The mean amounts of morphine consumption in group L were significantly lower compared to group P, 14.41 ± 4.86 vs 21.07±6.86, (P=0.001). The mean of Ramsay score in group L was significantly lower compared to group P, 1.38±0.59 vs 1.45±0.6, (P=0.014). Conclusions: This study revealed that intravenous lidocaine was an effective and safe drug for pain reduction in burn patients.
Diseases of the parathyroid glands in chronic kidney disease
Authors: Moonesan Mohammad Reza
Published: July 2023

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a prevalent health condition that affects millions of people worldwide. One of the common complications of CKD is CKD-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD), which involves the disturbances in mineral metabolism and skeletal health due to complications of CKD. The parathyroid glands, which is a small gland located near the thyroid glands in the neck, plays a vital role in regulating calcium and phosphorus metabolism in the body. CKD can result in the dysfunction of the parathyroid glands, leading to a range of complicated disorders.
Analisis Kemantapan Jalan Kayuagung-Pedamaran Timur dengan Metode IRI Menggunakan Aplikasi RoadBump Pro
Authors: Muslikah Siti , Yuliana Idaya
Published: July 2023

Steady and stable roads are needed to distribute goods and services smoothly. It is necessary to check the performance of the road network on a regular basis for planning effective and efficient road improvements. The level of road flatness (International Roughness Index, IRI) is one of the service factors/functional performance of a pavement that greatly influences the driver's comfort (riding quality). One of the smartphone applications to get road IRI scores is Roadbump Pro. The results of the assessment of the Kayuagung-Pedamaran Timur (Jalan Sebuku) road using IRI based on the Roadbump Pro application, mostly include unstable roads, and road improvement efforts that must be carried out are road improvements. Meanwhile, based on the type of vehicle used, the measurement of the IRI value based on the RoadBump Pro application is smaller if using an SUV vehicle than using a pickup vehicle. The level of road flatness (International Roughness Index, IRI) is one of the service factors/functional performance of a pavement that greatly influences the driver's comfort (riding quality). One of the smartphone applications to get road IRI scores is Roadbump Pro. The results of the assessment of the Kayuagung-Pedamaran Timur (Jalan Sebuku) road using IRI based on the Roadbump Pro application, mostly include unstable roads, and improvement efforts must be carried out.  Meanwhile, based on the type of vehicle used, the measurement of the IRI value based on the RoadBump Pro application is smaller if using an SUV vehicle than using a pickup vehicle.
Investigations of potential pharmaceutical biofillers based on pregelatinized starch-reinforced with pine-extracted cellulose
Authors: Albarahmieh E. , Tabbalat S. , Muhaisen R.
Published: July 2023

Starch unique physical properties and abundance makes it an ideal candidate as diluent or filler in tablets. Therefore, this work aims to produce a modified starch known as ‘pregelatinized’ with the support of renewable cellulosic wood and characterize its properties in an effort to improve its application versatility that notably appeal to the pharmaceutical industry for greener and more sustainable excipients.
QCARxE: Qatar-based cardiovascular risk assessment using the English/Arabic version of the EPI·RxISK™ mobile application
Authors: Kattan Lana Abdulkarim
Published: July 2023

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for almost one-third of the total global deaths. Early CVD risk assessment and management (RAM) has demonstrated to be effective in decreasing CVD-related burden. However, CVDRAM services face many challenges and barriers in the community. Mobile technology has been advocated to facilitate access to CVDRAM for both healthcare providers and patients to overcome these barriers. Nevertheless, there is limited availability and use of CVDRAM-related mobile technology in the Middle East region.

Objectives: To develop and implement an English and Arabic version of a mobile and a web application for CVDRAM in both, community pharmacies and selected primary care centres in Qatar.

Methodology: This study was conducted in two phases. In Phase 1, translation of the EPI·RxISK™ CV risk calculator (ERC) into the Arabic language was conducted based on guidelines developed by the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research. The English/Arabic version of the ERC was pilot tested by potential end users, consisting of a sample of community pharmacists (CRxs) and members of the public (MOP) accessing community pharmacy services. Semi-structured interviews were conducted based on the constructs of the Mobile Application Rating Scale (MARS) and data were analyzed using deductive content analysis. In Phase 2, a prospective observational study (QCARxE) is underway to explore the feasibility of using the ERC in patients accessing primary health care services for CVDRAM, including community pharmacies and primary health care centers (PHCC).

Results: In Phase 1, a total of 10 CRxs and 5 MOP were interviewed. The data derived from the interviews indicate that the ERC web and mobile application were overall, positively perceived as having quality engagement, functionality, aesthetics, information and subjective quality attributes. To date, a total of 36 patients have enrolled in the QCARxE study (20 from PHCC and 16 from community pharmacies). At their initial CVD risk assessment visit, the mean CVD risk score for these patients was 28.3%, and the most prevalent risk factor was obesity (mean BMI = 30.2 kg/m²).

Conclusion: The themes derived from the interviews indicate that the ERC was overall, positively perceived. Preliminary data derived from the QCARxE study indicated a significant proportion of patients accessing primary health care services are at high CVD risk. It is speculated that the use of the ERC will enable patients to become better aware of their CVD risk and improve access to risk factor interventions.
Barriers and facilitators of inappropriate surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis in endourological procedures: a qualitative study from Jordan
Authors: Abdaljaleel Sondos , Hijazeen Rima , Abdel Jalil Mariam , Awwad Oriana , Edwan Ghazi , Amaireh Mohammad
Published: July 2023

Background: Inappropriate surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis (SAP) practice increases patients’ morbidity, healthcare cost, and antimicrobial resistance. Several guidelines have been published to set guidance for SAP before endourological procedures. Such guidelines include the American Urological Association (AUA, 2019) and the European Association of Urology (EAU, 2020). Literature reported that compliance with the recommendations of these guidelines has been suboptimal.

Aims: to investigate healthcare professionals’ (HCPs) perspectives on the barriers to international guideline adherence regarding SAP for endourological procedures and the potential strategies to optimize adherence to guidelines recommendations.

Methodology: This study was a qualitative study based on face-to-face semi-structured interviews conducted with urologists in multiple medical centers across Jordan using a preformulated interview guide regarding barriers and facilitators to the adherence to international guidelines of preoperative SAP during endourological procedures.

Results: Nineteen urologists were interviewed. Interviews identified many barriers influencing HCP adherence to guidelines, these included factors related to patients, HCPs, the healthcare system, or other external barriers. Also, during the interviews, HCPs suggested many strategies to enhance SAP practice which included increasing patients’ awareness about their actual need for antibiotics, providing training sessions for HCPs about appropriate SAP before endourological procedures, developing national guidelines and conducting local clinical studies, and promoting awareness of the clinical pharmacist's role. In addition to imposing national policy to control antibiotic use and prevent over-the-counter (OTC) prescriptions.

Conclusion: Factors related to nonadherence to guidelines were determined. Such knowledge will constitute the backbone for planning appropriate antimicrobial stewardship programs that involve all stakeholders and address all those aspects to optimize SAP prescribing and reduce antibiotic misuse.
Development and Characterization of Anticancer Model Drug Conjugated to Biosynthesized Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Loaded into Different Topical Skin Formulations
Authors: Obaid Ruwa Zuhier , Abu-Huwaij Rana , Hamed Rania
Published: July 2023

Doxorubicin (DOX) is an anthracycline antineoplastic agents, which interacts with DNA and shows sever toxicity due to its lack of specificity. The cytotoxic effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) is mainly concerned in changing the cytoskeleton and nucleoskeleton of proteins and/or producing reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells exposed to ZnO NPs. The green synthesis of ZnO NPs from plant extracts has been recently employed as a simple, eco-friendly, safe, and cost- and time-effective approach with higher stability and reproducibility. Phoenix dactylifera, due to its chemical component (tannins, phenolic acid, and carotenoids), was employed in the preparation of ZnO NPs. The main objective of this study is to greenly synthesize ZnO NPs conjugated with DOX (DOX-ZnO NPS) and loaded into various types of gel preparations (hydrogel and oleogel). P.dactylifera solution extract was mixed with 0.6M zinc acetate at 1:1 v/v ratio to prepare ZnO NPs. The prepared NPs was characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, particles size, PDI, and zeta potential. The maximum wavelength of ZnO NPs was detected at 360 nm. Dialysis method was used to determine the effect of ZnO NPs on enhancing DOX release. The cumulative amount of DOX was calculated via UV-vis spectroscopy at 480 nm after 48 h. Spherical nanoparticles of size range 15.35–28.74 nm and -22mV zeta potential was obtained. The rheological results showed that both gel formulations exhibited a pseudoplastic (shear-thinning) flow and viscoelastic behavior. The in vitro release studies showed that ZnO NPs enhanced the release of DOX, where the amount of DOX released from DOX-ZnO NPs hydrogel and oloegel was higher than that of DOX-hydrogel and oleogel. In addition, DOX-ZnO NPs hydrogel showed a faster release that DOX-ZnO NPs oleogel. Therefore, an eco-friendly and low-cost greenly synthesized ZnO NPs were successfully developed, conjugated with DOX, and loaded into hydrogels and oleogels for dermal delivery.
Pensar al neoliberalismo. Una visión crítica desde la pedagogía analógica de lo cotidiano
Authors: Vilchis Jardón Jair Alejandro
Published: July 2023

Cuando se hace mención a problemáticas que giran en torno a la pedagogía, casi de manera inmediata se tocan temas como el aprendizaje, el currículum, la didáctica, entre otros elementos. Y aunque lo dicho muestra una parte importante de lo que es la realidad en el campo educativo –sea este formal o informal–, son pocos los que nos aventuramos a profundizar, hondar, analizar y poner sobre la mesa al neoliberalismo como punto de análisis, pues, considero que el modelo capitalista –hegemónico actualmente– no solo actúa en el sector económico, sino que ha logrado permear al sistema educativo a través de políticas, condiciones de trabajo y excesivas cargas y/o jornadas de trabajo justificadas bajo la lógica de producción, obtención de puntos y la adquisición de capital económico o simbólico que, de analizar bajo los planteamientos o teorías de lo “oculto” o implícito, preparan humanos enajenados, adoctrinados y listos para el consumo de mercancía –de aquí que el pensamiento neoliberal también alcanzó la vida cotidiana de las personas–, impulsando un tipo de educación basada en competencias, en el desconocimiento del otro y en la idea de que un número como la calificación o los puntos en caso del académico, los define.
Cultura de paz en la campaña TEB sobre desapariciones forzadas en España
Authors: Escudero Carolina
Published: July 2023

Este estudio se propone analizar el contenido de la campaña Te Estamos Buscando (2017) en la que participaron las familias víctimas de la desaparición forzada de bebés en España. Siguiendo una metodología cualitativa con el método de etnografía para la paz, el objetivo de esta investigación es indagar cómo percibe esta población las violencias del Estado, conocer cuáles son los conflictos a los que está expuesta y examinar si el contenido de TEB responde a forma parte de una construcción de cultura de paz. Los resultados obtenidos demuestran que la campaña responde a una acción de construcción de cultura de paz en la que se identifica el incumplimiento de los derechos humanos durante y después de la dictadura, se confirman tres tipos de violencia –de Estado, obstétrica y simbólica– al tiempo que se identifica que los grupos afrontan este tema mejor desde que están unidos a través de organizaciones.
Educación para la paz: Reflexiones desde la literacidad crítica
Authors: Calderón Leyton Elia
Published: July 2023

En las siguientes páginas se analizará la importancia de la literacidad crítica en las prácticas educativas para poder contribuir a la educación y cultura de la paz. Las reflexiones serán realizadas desde la literacidad crítica, analizando estudios y propuestas de enseñanza de aprendizaje en relación con la desigualdad y la violencia. Se plantea la desigualdad mediante las prácticas educativas en el discurso y narraciones desde la literacidad crítica. Dentro de este texto se discute la confrontación de saberes y conocimientos de las personas pertenecientes a esferas culturales diferentes, en el marco de las desigualdades dentro del discurso en relación con las prácticas pedagógicas dentro de un contexto global. Por último, se plantean posibles soluciones para mejorar el pensamiento crítico para contribuir a la pedagogía de la paz y lograr su revitalización mediante la literacidad crítica.
Chiapanecas transitando colectivamente hacia una vida libre de violencia: desafíos y aprendizajes
Authors: Carrasco Gómez Mónica
Published: July 2023

El objetivo del artículo es analizar a través del ejercicio del poder la construcción de un proyecto colectivo de mujeres para construir independencia económica con la finalidad de vivir una vida libre de violencia en San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, durante el segundo año de la pandemia de COVID. Utilicé como método la etnografía del proceso organizativo a través de la observación participante y entrevistas. Los resultados permiten analizar el proceso en función de la temporalidad, la integración de nuevas mujeres, la conformación de alianzas y la evasión y resolución de conflictos, así como identificar las estrategias de poder empleadas, como intentar tomar ventaja unas sobre otras, mantener privilegios, el acto de comunicar y saber disciplinar, y la intersección de estos elementos con sistemas de opresión como la clase y la raza. En las conclusiones parto de que en toda interacción humana se establecen relaciones de poder y planteo una reflexión a partir de la experiencia en la puesta en marcha de proyectos colectivos, a la vez que resalto la importancia de trabajar colectivamente el cuestionamiento de los ejercicios de poder y la resolución de conflictos de manera pacífica.
A STUDY OF COMMON UNETHICAL PRACTICES AND CHALLENGES TO COMPLYING WITH A CODE OF CONDUCT AMONG PROFESSIONALS IN THE MALAYSIAN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
Authors: Mohammad Hanapi Normadiana , Ab Rani Nur Izzati , Mohd Kamal Mohd Mawardi
Published: July 2023

The construction industry is a complex and demanding commercial area. As in other disciplines, ethical practices in the construction industry are crucial. The quality of the project, customers' trust, and investors' confidence in the construction business are all negatively impacted by unethical acts and the practices themselves. Hence, the goal of this study is to identify the most prevalent types of unethical practices among professionals in the construction industry and to evaluate the obstacles that prevent them from upholding the code of ethics. A quantitative approach was used to collect empirical data by sending the questionnaire survey amongst professionals in the construction industry, such as contractors, consultants, and project managers. The collected data was analysed using a descriptive version of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences for Windows Version (SPSS) 29 software, such as mean score, percentage, and frequency. The study found that unethical practises like rate overpricing, bid cutting, delay, and short payments; bribes for projects; nepotism; use of lower-grade materials than specified; tender manipulation; and contractors' personnel failing to dispose of waste in an appropriate, safe, and environmentally acceptable manner are still common and persistent. This is true even though the majority of organisations have their own standards of conduct and professional bodies that encourage good ethics. The main obstacles to eliminating the unethical conduct mentioned above are greed, acceptance as standard procedure, ignorance of laws and regulations, lack of authorization for the compliance department, cognitive biases and psychological tendencies, and insufficient support from the government. It is hoped that the study's findings will significantly help regulatory agencies and legislators recognize and prevent unethical practices, and the study also suggests that there may be fewer unethical practices in the construction industry if there are adequate punishments for unethical practices at different stages of a project's life cycle and more people know about the ideals of ethical practices at different stages.
DETERMINATION ON THE RESPONSE AMONG QUANTITY SURVEYORS TO BENEFICIAL OF IMPLEMENTING ISLAMIC WORK ETHICS (IWE) IN MALAYSIAN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
Authors: Ismail Nur’Ain , Baharin Muhammad Asyraf , Wan Ismail Wan Norizan , Mat Isa Siti Sarah , Yusop Norhafizah
Published: July 2023

The concept of Islamic Works Ethics (IWE) is a ground-breaking one in terms of ethics and professionalism. It is founded on Islamic teachings and principles, which are based on faith. Implementing IWE has a number of advantages, including increased job satisfaction, performance, organisational commitment, growth in behaviour and manners, motivation, and more. Regrettably, only a small number of businesses, particularly in Malaysia's construction industry, have integrated IWE into their operations. Based on previous studies, mostly researcher focused on implementation IWE in construction industry as general not specific towards person who are involed in the construction. As a result, the objective of this article is to determine the response among Quantity Surveyors in the Malaysian construction industry on beneficial of implementation on IWE. The questionnaire was given to the quantity surveyor who works in Kuala Lumpur in order to accomplish the objective. There were 68 responses in all, accounting for 85% of the response rate. The finding was reported as descriptive statistics, and the most recent SPSS version was used to determine the means of each variable. It concluded that the IWE contribute positively to organisational commitment, work satisfaction, and justice. Hence, this article looks insights of the effects of Islamic work ethics (IWE) on employees’ behavior in construction industry in Malaysia.
EFFECTIVENESS OF FERMENTED FRUIT JUICE APPLICATION ON FLOWERING AND YIELD OF Solanum Melongena
Authors: Omar Nur Faezah , Mohd Zohir Nur Syahirah Akmal , Kamarul Zaman Nurul Najwa Afiqah , Abdul Aziz Azlan , Kasim Nur Nasulhah
Published: July 2023

The use of chemical fertilizer might be effective for crop yields. However, it can cause pollution in a long terms period and reduce the quality of the soils. The growers tend to use chemical fertilizer as it is fast release fertilizer and able to produce a higher yield. Fermented Fruit Juice (FFJ) is an organic fertilizer which has been used in natural farming practices. It is produced by using natural ingredients as fruits and molasses. Besides being useful to promote flowering and fruiting, Fermented Fruit Juice can also be used as a foliar spray. Thus, a study was carried out to evaluate the effects of Fermented Fruit Juice (FFJ) application on the flowering and yield of Solanum melongena. The experimental design was a complete randomized design (CRD) with three treatments and four replications; T1 (30g of NPK green 15:15:15 and 40g of NPK blue 12:12:17), T2 (NPK 15:15:15 & FFJ) and T3 (solely FFJ). FFJ was prepared using over-ripe Musa acuminata fruits with brown sugar and left fermented for seven days. The first application of FFJ was done at two weeks after transplanting and the second application was done after one month after transplanting. The result shows that there is no significant difference among the treatments applied on plant height and number of flowers. However, T2 (application of NPK fertilizer together with FFJ) is effective in inducing the number of fruits. Furthermore, T2 resulted in significantly higher fruit fresh weight as compared to T3 (solely FFJ). Thus, it can be concluded that FFJ can be applied as plant stimulant in inducing flowering and the number of fruits for Solanum melongena to reduce chemical fertilizer amount by combining FFJ with NPK fertilizer.
ROBUST MANGROVE CHANNEL ASSESSMENT FOR MANGROVE CHANNEL VULNERABILITY VALUATION: A CONCEPT
Authors: Abd Aziz Khairul Naim , Hashim Siti Syafiqah , Tajam Jamil , Mohd Fazly Amri , Roslani Muhammad Akmal , Kamaruddin Sharir Aizat , Abd Latif Zulkiflee , Abdul Maulud Khairul Nizam
Published: July 2023

Despite being a highly beneficial marine ecosystem that offers unique habitats and biodiversity opportunities, mangrove areas have significantly degraded in recent decades due to unsustainable use, particularly along creeks and channels. This degradation will eventually have an impact on the services provided by mangrove forests, with factors such as sea level rise and human activities being found to be contributing factors. Changes in channel morphology caused by these factors also lead to the loss of mangrove trees in bank areas. While such changes occur naturally over long periods, the increasing prevalence of ecotourism activities is accelerating their effects. Even though some valuations with complex assessment have been developed but, those complexity are not viable to be carried out easily by community and the assessment through the mangrove channel have not yet been well addressed. Thus, this paper proposed a feasible assessment focusing on mangrove channel that is robust and practical for implementation. The two main objectives of this study are to thoroughly investigate relevant parameters and to examine appropriately the parameters rank for mangrove channel vulnerability assessment. The proposed assessment should include six important parameters which signifies their importance to the mangrove channel environment. All parameters studied will be rank from one to five (lowest to highest) to indicates their contribution to the mangrove channel vulnerability. The total average scores of the parameters will determine the vulnerability status of a particular mangrove channel. Keeping track of the state of mangrove channels is crucial for achieving sustainable development, even in situations where climate factors are beyond our control. The proposed concept should be evaluated and perhaps it will be useful in the exploration of mangrove and brings mutual benefits between the community and the environment.
THE ROLE OF HUMANITY CULTURAL VALUES TOWARDS STRENGTHENING SOCIAL COHESION AMONG THE COMMUNITY OF STUDENTS OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION
Authors: Ishak Mohd Sobhi , Abdul Hamid Norsiah
Published: July 2023

Social Cohesion is an important measurement for the achievement of unity among society in Malaysia, especially unity between ethnic groups. The National Cohesion Index (IPNas) 2018 shows that Social Cohesion has increased to a good level due to the influence of National Ethos and Cross-Ethnic Social Relations. This study aims to explore the direct influence of the Humanity Cultural Value variable on the National Ethos and Cross-Ethnic Social Relations towards strengthening Social Cohesion among Malay and Non-Malay students in public and private higher education institutions. The Humanity Cultural Value variable was developed from Al-Quran sources and operationalized into a universal value that is suitable as a value measurement for all ethnicities. A total of 445 respondents consisting of ethnic Malay, Chinese and Indian students were involved in this study. A snowball sampling technique was used to obtain voluntary student commitment through the student's social media community network. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to describe the demographics of the respondents while PLS-SEM analysis was employed to test the study's hypothesised model. The results of the overall analysis found that the appreciation of the Humanity Cultural Value significantly directly affects the National Ethos and Cross-Ethnic Social Relations as well as strengthening Social Cohesion. The Humanity Cultural Value is found to tend to increase the value of the National Ethos and Cross-Ethnic Social Relations for the Malay Ethnicity while the Humanity Cultural Value is more likely to increase the National Ethos for the Non-Malay Ethnicity. In conclusion, the Humanity Cultural Value is an important initiating factor to be moulded into the student’s community so that efforts to strengthen unity in the multi-ethnic society in the country will be empowered in a more focused manner.
THE OCCURRENCES OF WTC AMONG MALAYSIAN PRE-UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN AN ESL ONLINE CLASSROOM
Authors: Abu Bakar Anna Lynn
Published: July 2023

The English language is regarded as an important mode of communication in Malaysia, particularly in higher education institutions and the workplace. The perception that graduates lack English communication skills renders them unemployable upon graduation. Therefore, a great deal of effort has been expended to produce students who can communicate effectively in a variety of social and professional settings. The Ministry of Education has taken numerous steps to improve the English proficiency of students. This study examines pre-university students' willingness to communicate (WTC) in a digital setting at a local university. This study employed a qualitative methodology and included 12 classroom observations. The classroom observation data was subjected to an inter-rater reliability analysis, and the results revealed that the mood and role of the English Language Instructors (ELIs) significantly influenced the occurrences of WTC in English among pre-university students. The findings of this study are intended to provide stakeholders, curriculum developers, and ELIs with a better understanding of the teaching and learning factors that must be considered in order to ensure students' WTC in English.
MEASURING THE RESEARCH EFFICIENCY OF UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA (UITM) BY USING DATA ENVELOPMENT ANALYSIS (DEA): A CASE STUDY IN UITM PERLIS
Authors: Ariffin Anas Fathul , Azahari Muhammad Amir , Ab Hamid Mohd Halimi , Teoh Yeong Kin , Samian Muhammad Hilmi
Published: July 2023

This paper aims to measure research efficiency of UiTM Perlis by using two different models, which are the Charnes, Cooper, and Rhodes (CCR) model and the Banker, Charnes, and Cooper (BCC) model. The data used is secondary data started from 2018 to 2022, obtained from the departments involved such as the Academic Affairs Division (HEA); Industry, Community, and Alumni Network (ICAN) Office, and Administration Office, UiTM Perlis. It has also been distinguished the competencies for each year and examined the current trends towards 2025, with the aim of achieving the mission of the UiTM2025 strategic plan. There are five decision making units (DMU's) for both aspects studied; 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022, which are the five distinguished years for this study. The use of the two models in this study, namely CCR-I and BCC-I is to ensure that the ranking analysis results are more accurate and precise. Both models use input-oriented model functions as a way of maximizing efficiency in order to increase the number of fairies. For research efficiency, two DMU’s which is 2018 and 2020, were ranked first for both models. Thus, making this DMU's ranked first for both models.
EDUCATION AND RESEARCH AS THE BASIS FOR ISLAMIC LEADERSHIP: A HIGHLIGHT
Authors: Che Mat Azman
Published: July 2023

Leadership is the source of all human journeys related to life. The rise and fall of a civilization or nation can refer to the leadership pattern that leads a community group at a certain period. The fact is, the birth of leadership in one generation is different from another generation and is greatly influenced by the education system that is applied to the generation in question. Education is always changing according to the current needs of a generation. Therefore, education should always develop in a better direction for the survival of a generation. Next, educational progress cannot be innovated except through creative and viable research efforts. This article covers the main concepts related to Islamic-based leadership covering research and education. While the scope of the study is confined, that is in the context of education and research in Malaysia.