bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integrated in vivo and in silico evaluation of sweet basil oil as a protective agent against cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity in mice
Authors: Mohamed Doaa Shaaban , Shehata Olfat , Labib Mai Mohamed , Shaban Nema Sayed
Published: July 2023

Background

Cisplatin is a wide-ranging antineoplastic drug. Neurotoxicity is one of cisplatin’s side effects that restrict its usage. This study aimed to investigate the possible protective properties of sweet basil oil against cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity in mice. A docking study was carried out to elucidate the fundamental mechanism of sweet basil oil’s ameliorative influence. Thirty male mice were allocated into three groups as follows: control group, cisplatin group (2.3 mg/kg), and sweet basil oil group (25 µl/kg basil oil + cisplatin 2.3 mg/kg). Cisplatin was given for five successive days, followed by five days of rest, for two cycles, while sweet basil oil was orally administered for 21 successive days.

Results

Our results revealed that sweet basil oil’s antioxidant activity ameliorated the oxidative stress induced by cisplatin in mice’s brains via lowering MDA levels and increasing CAT activity and Nrf2 levels. Also, the anti-apoptotic activity of sweet basil oil was obvious via lowering the gene expression levels of Bid and caspase-3 but did not affect the serum level of P38 MAPK. Changes in acetylcholinesterase activity, serotonin and dopamine levels induced by cisplatin were significantly alleviated by sweet basil oil.

Conclusion

Sweet basil oil can be used as a food supplement to guard against cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity.

Graphical abstract
Association of Polygenic Score With Tumor Molecular Subtypes in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma
Authors: Wang Jennifer R , Zafereo Mark E , Wang Wenyi , Joshu Corinne , Ray Debashree
Published: July 2023

Context

Genome-wide association studies have identified germline variants associated with elevated PTC risk. It is also known that somatic driver mutations contribute to PTC development and as such PTCs can be further categorized into different molecular subtypes based on their somatic alterations. However, it remains unknown whether identified germline variants predictive of PTC risk are associated with specific molecular subtypes.

Objective

The primary goal of the present study is to determine whether germline genetic risk, as assessed using a polygenic score (PGS) is associated with molecular subtypes of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), defined based on tumor driver mutation status.

Methods

This study was carried out using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) thyroid cancer study. A previously validated 10–single-nucleotide variation PGS for PTC derived from genome-wide association study hits was calculated to ascertain germline genetic risk. The primary molecular subtypes of interest were defined by tumor driver mutation status (BRAFV600E-mutated vs RAS-mutated vs “other”). We also explored associations between PGS and molecular subtypes defined by messenger RNA (mRNA) expression, microRNA expression, and DNA methylation patterns. Polytomous logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between PGS and PTC molecular subtype with and without adjustment for clinical variables. Odds ratios (ORs) with their 95% CIs were estimated.

Results

A total of 359 patients were included in the study. PGS was significantly associated specific tumor molecular subtypes defined by tumor driver mutation status. Increasing germline risk was associated with having a higher odd of BRAFV600E-mutated PTC compared to PTCs without driver mutations in the “other” category. No significant difference was detected in terms of PGS tumor categorization in the RAS subtype compared to BRAFV600E. In exploratory analyses, PGS was also associated with mRNA-, microRNA-, and DNA methylation–defined molecular subtypes, as defined by the TCGA PTC study.

Conclusion

PGS has molecular subtype-specific associations in PTC, which has implications for their use in risk prediction.
Development and Psychometric Evaluation of Bilingual English-Urdu Pakistani Critical Thinking Disposition Scale
Authors: Gul Raisa , Sultana Nuzhat , Victor Gideon , Gowani Ambreen , Rubab Huma
Published: July 2023

Objective: To develop and test the psychometric properties of the Pakistani Critical Thinking Dispositions Scale.

Methods: In the item generation phase, constructs of the scale were identified through an in-depth literature review and items were written to measure the constructs. Following this, input of the experts was obtained for content validity index. In the item reduction phase, psychometric properties were measured. Initially, the scale was administered to 580 study participants during May 2018-2020 after approval from the institutional review board. Data was analyzed through SPSS v21, AMOS v21 and Omega extension.

Results: First phase identified 54-items for seven constructs including contextual perspective, perseverance, reflection, intellectual integrity, creativity, open-mindedness, and inquisitiveness. Second phase determined KMO test value of 0.974 and Bartlett’s test (P-Value < 0.001). The second-order confirmatory factor analysis showed a good fit model explaining 73.37% total variance. Parsimony and baseline comparison indices were favorable. Alpha and Omega value of 42-items was 0.869.

Conclusion: Pakistani Critical Thinking Dispositions scale owning seven constructs and 42-items is valid, reliable, and feasible to use in undergraduate nursing education. However, its utilization in other healthcare disciplines can be tested.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.5.6832

How to cite this: Gul R, Sultana N, Victor G, Gowani A, Rubab H. Development and Psychometric Evaluation of Bilingual English-Urdu Pakistani Critical Thinking Disposition Scale. Pak J Med Sci. 2023;39(5):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.5.6832

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Efficacy of Montelukast combined with Sublingual Immunotherapy in the treatment of children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Hypopnea Syndrome Complicated with allergic rhinitis
Authors: Mao Xiuhua , Zhao Wenjuan
Published: July 2023

Objective: To observe the efficacy of Montelukast combined with sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in the treatment of children with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) complicated with allergic rhinitis (AR).

Methods: This is a prospective study. A total of 102 children with OSAHS complicated with allergic rhinitis admitted to Hunan Children’s Hospital from April 2020 to April 2021 were selected and randomly divided into two groups: sublingual group and two-drug combination group. Children in the sublingual group were treated with standardized dust mite drops Nos. 1-4 for SLIT, while those in the two-drug combination group were treated with Montelukast on top of the sublingual group. Statistical analysis and comparison were made between the two groups of children in terms of Sleep apnea hypopnea index (AHI), Hypoxic saturation (Lsao2), interleukin-4, Il-4), interleukin-17 (IL-17), OSA-18 Snoring Symptom Scale for Children (OSA-18), allergic rhinitis symptom scale (TNSS), efficacy, occurrence of adverse reactions, etc.

Results: After treatment, the AHI index of the two-drug combination group was significantly decreased, and the Lsao2 index was significantly increased compared with the sublingual group (P<0.05). Compared with the sublingual group, the levels of IL-4 and IL-17 in the two-drug combination group were significantly decreased (P<0.05), the OSA-18 score and TNSS score were significantly lower (P<0.05). Moreover, compared with the sublingual group, the efficacy of the two-drug combination group was significantly increased (P<0.05), the incidence of adverse reactions was significantly lower (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Montelukast combined with sublingual immunotherapy offers many advantages, such as effectively controlling nasal allergy symptoms in children with OSAHS complicated with allergic rhinitis and improving OSAHS symptoms.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.5.6985

How to cite this: Mao X, Zhao W. Efficacy of Montelukast combined with Sublingual Immunotherapy in the treatment of children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Hypopnea Syndrome Complicated with allergic rhinitis. Pak J Med Sci. 2023;39(5):---------.  doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.5.6985

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Epidemiology of hip & knee replacement across Pakistan according to Pakistan national joint registry: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Bukhari Syed Imran , Allana Asad Rehman , Najjad Kazim Rahim , Noor Syed Shahid
Published: July 2023

Objective: To know about the prevalence of hip and knee arthroplasty according to Pakistan National Joint Registry (PNJR).

Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study with data collection from Pakistan National Joint Registry of number of hip and knee arthroplasty cases across Pakistan in seven years (2014-2019) since inception of PNJR. Stata version 16 was used for data analysis. Mean & standard deviation was reported for quantitative variable & frequency and proportion were reported for qualitative variables.

Results: Our results showed a total of 14,875 people had total knee replacement in last seven years from 2014-2021 with the rate of 14.8/100,000 population. Mean age of the patient was 79.9±15.9 with 67.2% of patients being female and 32.7% being male. Our results showed a total of 5,167 people had total hip replacement in last seven years from 2014-2021, with the rate of 5.16/100,000 population. Mean age of the patient was 41.8±20.9 with 61.7% of patients being male and 38.3% being female.

Conclusion: This is the first epidemiological study in Pakistan on the rates of hip and knee arthroplasty cases in Pakistan based on registry data, showing that more knee arthroplasty cases are being performed as compared to hip arthroplasty.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.5.7006

How to cite this: Bukhari SI, Allana AR, Najjad KR, Noor SS . Epidemiology of hip & knee replacement across Pakistan according to Pakistan national joint registry: A cross-sectional study. Pak J Med Sci. 2023;39(5):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.5.7006

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Effect of different chemotherapy schemes on early-stage breast cancer patients with Low HER-2 expression
Authors: Xu Yurui , Chao Lin , Wang Jianyu , Sun Yonghong , Li Chen
Published: July 2023

Objective: To explore the effect of different chemotherapy schemes on the prognosis, immune function and adverse reactions of breast cancer patients with low HER-2 expression after surgery.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was carried out on the clinical data of 60 breast cancer patients with low HER-2 expression in Wuxi No.2 people’s Hospital from January 2018 to December 2019. The enrolled patients were divided into two groups according to the different chemotherapy schemes. Patients in the DC group were treated with polyethylene glycol-coated liposome-encapsulated doxorubicin+cyclophosphamide, and those in the TC group were treated with TC (docetaxel+cyclophosphamide). Further comparison was performed on the difference in prognosis, immune function and adverse reaction between the two groups after different chemotherapy schemes.

Results: After four courses of treatment, the IgG, CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ values in the DC group after treatment were higher than those before treatment, while the IgG, CD3+ and CD4+values in the TC group after treatment were lower than those before treatment(P<0.05). Meanwhile, the IgG, CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ values in the DC group were better than those in the TC group after treatment(P<0.05). During the treatment, the adverse reactions of leukopenia, alopecia, nausea and vomiting in the DC group were significantly lower than those in the TC group(P<0.05).

Conclusion: The chemotherapy combination of liposome-encapsulated doxorubicin+cyclophosphamide can significantly improve immune function and greatly reduce the occurrence of adverse reactions in early-stage breast cancer patients with low HER-2 expression after surgery. It has the same effect as docetaxel+cyclophosphamide in improving the prognosis of patients.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.5.7446

How to cite this: Xu Y, Chao L, Wang J, Sun Y, Li C. Effect of different chemotherapy schemes on early-stage breast cancer patients with Low HER-2 expression. Pak J Med Sci. 2023;39(5):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.5.7446

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
La informalidad urbana en los municipios circunvecinos de Bogotá medida a partir del Índice de informalidad
Authors: López Walter
Published: July 2023

El modelo de producción del hábitat en los países capitalistas, en general, y en América Latina, en particular, surge de las dinámicas propiciadas por el consumo del suelo. En Colombia la vivienda mantiene una condición de mercancía y funciona bajo las leyes del mercado a pesar de que la Constitución de 1991 la estableció como un derecho. Dado el déficit cuantitativo y cualitativo actual, el desequilibrio producto de la inequidad y el estado de pobreza de amplios sectores de la población, se perpetúa la informalidad urbana como la única alternativa habitacional. Esta forma de construcción social del territorio no solo se da en ciudades como Bogotá, sino que se reproduce en municipios circunvecinos. Con información para caracterizar los municipios, es posible adelantar acciones preventivas que mitiguen el impacto de la informalidad, de ahí el Índice de informalidad, que mide y registra las condiciones en estos municipios.
The Impacts of Heritage Education on Students’ Nationalism and Patriotism: A Case Study at a Private University in Vietnam
Authors: Bay Huynh Van , Van Dao Thi Hong , Sang Vo Minh , Tan Nguyen Khac Binh
Published: July 2023

Heritage education is an integral component of general and higher education programs. It helps students understand the national culture and arouses their love for the country. The quantitative study was conducted with the participation of 822 students in the FPT University system. Multiple linear regression analysis and Pearson correlation results help determine the relationship between heritage education’s learning outcomes, including Vovinam martial arts and traditional musical instruments, and students’ patriotic and nationalistic attitudes. Accordingly, promoting learning outcomes related to Skills, Attitudes, and Behaviors positively impacts the development of students’ patriotism and nationalism. The study affirms the role of heritage education programs in the education system in Vietnam, especially at the university level. It confirms the necessity of this type of education at all stages of learners’ development, especially in the research context at FPT University.
Mathematical Literacy Skills for Elementary School Students: A Comparative Study Between Interactive STEM Learning and Paper-and-Pencil STEM Learning
Authors: Susanta Agus , Susanto Edi , Stiadi Elwan , Rusnilawati Rusnilawati
Published: July 2023

This study aimed to compare and examine the effectiveness of interactive STEM learning and paper-and-pencil STEM learning in terms of mathematical literacy skills of elementary school students. This research is of a quasi-experimental type with a non-equivalent pretest-posttest control group design. Sampling was carried out on the elementary school populations in Bengkulu and South Sumatra Provinces in two stages. In the first stage, schools in rural and urban areas were selected, and in the second, classes in each school were randomly selected. The selected sample consisted of fifth-grade students of the Public Elementary School of Terawas, Musi Rawas, with an experimental class A (n = 20) and an experimental class B (n = 19), as well as fifth-grade students of the Public Elementary School of Bengkulu City, with an experimental class A (n = 25) and an experimental class B (n = 22). Data collection was conducted using mathematical literacy skills tests in reference to the PISA and Minimum Competency Assessment (level 1–3). Data analysis was performed using descriptive and inferential statistics; it employed an independent t-test for the comparative testing and an N-gain test for testing the effectiveness of STEM learning. The results showed that there were differences in math literacy skills between interactive STEM and paper-and-pencil STEM for students in urban schools, but not significantly different for students in rural schools. General STEM learning was effective in increasing the literacy of elementary school students, and interactive STEM in particular demonstrated the highest level of effectiveness in the urban school.
Effect of Computer Based Test on Motivation: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Suparman Achmad Rante , Rohaeti Eli , Wening Sri
Published: July 2023

This meta-analysis study investigates the effect of computer-based tests on motivation. The random effect model is the basis for calculating the summary effect, and it is found that the 30 articles obtained through the PRISMA method, which consist of four parts, namely identification, screening, eligibility, and included, can be generalized. Data analysis was performed using R studio and OpenMEE. Based on the research results, the p-value <.05 was obtained, so it was concluded that using a computer-based test significantly affected motivation. In the moderator analysis, it was found that computer-based tests were most effective for intrinsic motivation for the motivation variable, university students for the participants variable, and the country of Iran for the region variable. Evaluation of publication bias using the funnel plot and regression method shows no publication bias, proving that the 30 articles analyzed represent all existing studies on computer-based tests.
Teachers’ Articulation in Implementing Biology Laboratory Courses in an Online Distance Learning Mode
Authors: Lantaya Gualberto A.
Published: July 2023

Biology laboratory courses (BLC) are designed to enhance and concretize students’ understanding of biology concepts. However, due to threats posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, education institutions were compelled to devise methods for teaching outside of laboratory structures and in a distant learning format. This phenomenological research explored the teachers’ articulation in the delivery of online distance learning (ODL) in BLC. Specifically, this study identified various methods and alternatives employed by biology teachers in conducting laboratory activities. Purposive sampling was used to select participants in survey, interview, and focus group discussion. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The study revealed that teachers articulate the delivery of online biology laboratory courses by employing different instructional practices in the three areas of learning experience: planning, implementing, and assessing stages. The results provide practical implications for the improvement of biology instruction and recommendations to support the delivery of flexible learning modalities during educational disruptions.
Barriers to Teaching English to Non-Native English-Speaking Teachers in Indonesian Secondary Schools: Policy Recommendations
Authors: Wahyuningsih Sri , Afandi Muhamad , Kasriyati Destina , Khoeroni Farid
Published: July 2023

In the Indonesian context, English is considered a local subject and there is no mandated curriculum for English in elementary schools. Meanwhile, English has been a compulsory subject taught at the secondary school level. The present study aims to explore barriers to teaching English experienced by non-native English teachers in Indonesian secondary schools and policy recommendations. The study employed a qualitative case study method. Concerning the data collection, the authors garnered the data through semi-structured interviews with six non-native English teachers teaching at private and public secondary schools in Indonesia. The findings of the study reveal that several barriers experienced by non-native English teachers include lack of training in English teaching and learning, academic literacy among non-native English teachers, school facilities, English-relevant materials, student motivation, and English exposure outside of school. Drawing on these results, some policy recommendations to improve English language teaching in the Indonesian context are discussed in this study.
Strengthening Pedagogical Content Knowledge in Designing Laboratory Activity Based on Small-Scale Chemistry Practicum Approach
Authors: Hidayah Fitria Fatichatul , Imaduddin Muhamad , Yuliyanto Eko , Gunawan Gunawan , Djunaidi Muhammad Cholid , Qomariyah Siti
Published: July 2023

The purpose of this research is to strengthen pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) in designing laboratory activities based on small-scale chemistry approaches. This research is action research involving 60 trainee teachers with stages that include (a) Reflect; (b) Plan; (c) Act; (d) Observe; (e) Reflect (2nd); (f) Plan (2nd). Qualitative data were collected through (a) Questionnaires reflecting on experiences in practicing chemistry learning and responses to the importance of learning, (b) a Portfolio of chemistry practicum design, (c) documentation of the process of carrying out design, implementation, and practicum evaluation activities, (d) field notes, (e) reflection sheet, and (f) Portfolio of follow-up plans. The data is displayed through the R computation system with data pre-processing stages in the teacher's reflection text which includes basic cleaning, case folding, normalization, stemming, and deleting meaningless words. Display data in the form of word clouds, frequency expression diagrams, and tabulations. Descriptive narratives are used to analyze the documentation obtained in the action process. The teacher group demonstrated performance in implementing small-scale practicum activities. Teachers are increasingly skilled in modifying conventional laboratory equipment, minimizing the amount of chemical use, minimizing waste disposal, and increasing efficiency in the duration of practicum implementation. The follow-up plan for this activity includes quality improvement in aspects of (a) skill in using laboratory equipment, (b) understanding of chemical concepts, (c) equipment availability, materials, and work procedures, and (d) implementation of chemistry practicum.
Self-Efficacy and Attitudes Toward Computers of General and Special Education Teachers in Greece During the COVID-19 Period
Authors: Proedrou Alexandros , Stankova Margarita , Malagkoniari Maria , Mihova Polina
Published: July 2023

During COVID-19 in Athens, Greece, 535 general education and 170 special education teachers were tested for computer use self-efficacy, ICT competence, and computer attitudes. Demographic and occupational factors impacted computer attitudes and computer use self-efficacy. The GCAS and GCSES showed that general and special education teachers liked computers. Teachers were computer-savvy and confident. Computer attitudes boosted computer use self-efficacy. Computer self-efficacy is strongly linked with computer attitudes, subscales of confidence and affection and moderately linked with cognitions about computers. Age, position, and ICT training substantially influenced computer attitudes and computer use self-efficacy. ICT-trained teachers had improved their attitudes and computer use self-efficacy. Computer self-efficacy and attitudes about computers did not change for special education teachers, but computer confidence increased. Except for those under 25, younger teachers demonstrated higher computer self-efficacy than older ones.
Kajian Literatur Fase Adiabatik untuk mempercepat Dinamika Kuantum Adiabatik pada Osilator Harmonik
Authors: Hutagalung Mayasari , Setiawan Iwan , Hamdani Dedy
Published: July 2023

This research is a theoretical research by reviewing the literature that discusses the method of accelerating quantum dynamics adiabatically. This method for accelerating quantum dynamics is so- called the fast-forward method. This method was proposed by Masuda and Nakamura in 2010. In this method, the ground state and first excited state wave function is modified by adding an additional term to the wave function which is called the adiabatic phase. This is done so that the time-dependent Schrodinger equation remains fulfilled. The accelerating process is carried out using an adiabatic parameter that goes to zero. Fast-forward method is applied first to get the adiabatic phase. Furthermore, by reviewing the wave function at the ground state and first excited state we get the adiabatic phase which ensures that the harmonic oscillator can move from the initial state to the final state in a shorter time.
Identifikasi Daerah Rawan Longsor secara Mikrozonasi di Jalan Alternatif Provinsi menggunakan Metode Simple Additive Weighting (SAW)
Authors: Fadli Darmawan Ikhlas , Hadi Arif Ismul , Allifya Zagita , Anggriani Septi , Ramdani Rama , Idris Beni Syakban , Refrizon Refrizon
Published: July 2023

The alternative provincial in Bengkulu Tengah Regency is located in a location bordering the Musi Fault segment that is part of the Great Sumatran Fault Zone. This condition makes cross-provincial roads in Central Bengkulu Regency vulnerable to natural disasters such as landslides. The purpose of the study was to determine areas that have the potential for landslides in earthquake-prone areas of Central Bengkulu Regency, Bengkulu Province, Indonesia. We performed the HVSR (horizontal to vertical spectral ratio) analysis and the simple additive weighting (SAW) method to achieve the study purpose. Field data acquisition using the PASI Gemini2 broadband seismometer (triaxial geophone). Next, we analyzed the tremor data recorded in the field using a wave spectrum. From the results of this study, we knew that the possibility of landslides in the survey area classified into three categories that is low, medium and high. Landslide risk should be paid more attention in areas with high potential, especially in densely populated areas. The main threat in the study area is an earthquake along the active Sumatran fault. Earthquakes in areas that are very steep and prone to landslides can increase the risk and cause landslides.
Struktur Bawah Permukaan Pantai Semarang berdasarkan Metode HVSR
Authors: Nurwidyanto Muhammad Irham , Zainuri Muhammad , Wirasatrya Anindya , Yuliyanto Gatot
Published: July 2023

The aim of this study was to obtain a profile for each depth of the subsurface structure of the Semarang coast based on microtremor data. The acquisition of 109 data points in this study was taken using a single-station microtremor tool in the coastal area of Semarang. This study uses the HVSR method to produce the HV curve, amplification factor (A0) and dominant frequency (f0) which can later be used to find the values of vp, vs and vp/vs at each depth. The results obtained in this study include A0 of 0.13 - 5.96, f0 of 0.13 - 7.47 Hz, vs of 154.42 - 1444.404 m/s, vp of 266.40 - 4758.37 m/s and vp/vs of 1,421 – 28,674. Based on the vs analysis, bedrock begins to appear at a depth of 100 m in the eastern and southern parts of West Semarang District and the southern part of North Semarang District. Classification of hard soil, very dense and soft rock from a depth of 100 m shows that it has covered most of the area of Semarang City. However, there are still several areas that still have a medium soil classification, namely most of the areas of Gayamsari District, Genuk District and Pedurungan District, as well as a small part of the area of North Semarang District, West Semarang District and Central Semarang District. Analysis of vp/vs at a depth of 150 m showed a vp/vs classification with a range of 1.4 - 2 in the study area. However, there are still several areas that still have vp/vs values with a value range of 3 – 3.2, namely in the northern part of West Semarang District, eastern Central Semarang District, eastern South Semarang District, northern East Semarang District, northern Gayamsari District, and the central part of Genuk District.
Functionalized Copper Phthalocyanine and Zinc Phthalocyanine as a Coating Layer on the Sensitivity of QCM-Based VOCs Sensor
Authors: Masruroh Masruroh , Tjahjanto Rachmat Triandi , Saroja Gancang , Santjojo Dionysius J. D. H.
Published: July 2023

The sensitivity of a QCM-based VOCs sensor with two kinds of a metal phthalocyanine, i.e., copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) and zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) was examined for various VOCs. The sensitivity of the two metal phthalocyanine was determined by the compatibility of the overlapped metal orbitals (Cu(II) dan Zn(II)) and the corresponding VOCs. The CuPc and the ZnPc layer were deposited on the quartz crystal oscillator by a vacuum evaporation method. The frequency shift and the sensitivity of the sensors with the two functional layers were tested using 5 VOCs: formaldehyde, propanol, ethanol, toluene, and ketone. The CuPc sensor showed the highest sensitivity to formaldehyde. On the other hand, the ZnPc was highly sensitive to ethanol.
Sistem Pengukuran Detak Jantung Menggunakan Arduino Dan Android Berbasis Fotopletismogram
Authors: Nuryani Nuryani , Akshya Muhammad Farrel , Wiyono Nanang
Published: July 2023

Penelitian mengenai perancangan sistem pengukuran detak jantung berhasil dilakukan. Pengukuran detak jantung mandiri dapat membantu dalam menjaga kesehatan. Fotopletismogram atau PPG merupakan metode yang mampu memberi kemudahan dalam pengukuran detak jantung. Sensor PPG Easy Pulse Plugin adalah salah satu sensor PPG dengan modul pengondisi sinyal. Sensor PPG dihubungkan dengan Arduino untuk membaca sinyal dan memberikan perintah pengiriman secara nirkabel ke Android smartphone melalui Bluetooth. Aplikasi pada Android akan menampilkan sinyal dan hasil pengukuran detak jantung. Hasil pengukuran akan disimpan pada penyimpanan internal Android. Perhitungan detak jantung dilakukan berdasarkan interval waktu antar puncak pada sinyal PPG. Algoritma penentuan puncak sinyal PPG asli dapat dilakukan dengan memberikan kombinasi antara threshold dan batas interval pada sinyal PPG. Threshold terbaik adalah 2,13 V dan batas interval terbaik adalah 0,45 detik. Nilai kombinasi ini memberikan error rendah, yaitu 4,26%. Nilai sensitivitas, prediktif positif sekaligus.
China Miéville: Radical SF, Nostalgic Utopianism, and the Politics of the Past
Authors: Sandberg Eric
Published: July 2023

Abstract: Miéville has never claimed that his politically informed, anti-authoritarian, radical SF is a literary innovation. Instead, he locates his work within an older tradition; he is, as he has explained, "staking out remembered territory" rather than exploring new ground (qtd. in Gordon, "Revelling" 367). Miéville's overall literary project can thus be seen as a form of radical remembering, a recovery of a forgotten or neglected generic past, which he uses to write back against conservative versions of the genre, from Tolkien's nostalgic evocation of a rural, orderly, and hierarchical England (and the less important but widely-disseminated work of his many imitators), to Jules Verne's evocations of capitalist expansion and industrial triumph over nature in works like Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea (1871) and The Mysterious Island (1875), to Robert Heinlein's evocations of a militarized free-market neo-liberal future in works like Starship Troopers (1959) and The Moon is a Harsh Mistress (1966).
Teaching Shakespeare Using Dialogic Literary Argumentation
Authors: Seymour Matt
Published: July 2023

Abstract: Despite Shakespeare's appeal, many students remain skeptical. In response, I begin my English language-arts methods class by asking my preservice teachers this question: "Why do we still teach Shakespeare?" When my preservice teachers' future students inevitably ask them, "Why are we reading a 400-year-old play written by some dead white guy?" I want them to be able to respond with a clear and compelling answer. We read Shakespeare because his writing allows us to explore what it means to be a person in different times and spaces in ways that other texts do not. In this essay, I assert that English teachers can involve their students in rigorous academic conversations and engage them in reading Shakespeare to explore important questions regarding what it means to be human.
The Experience of Black Faculty Members in Academia
Authors: Puplampu Vivian , Luhanga Florence , Baffour-Awuah Alberta
Published: July 2023

Abstract: The experiences of Black faculty members in Canadian universities have not been adequately explored and given the attention needed. Employing an exploratory descriptive design, we interviewed five Black faculty members in a mid-sized university in Western Canada and used thematic analysis and critical race theory to gain deeper understanding of the participants' experiences. Findings revealed that most participants have positive feelings despite overt or covert experiences of racism. The most significant highlight was the covert power struggle in the setting particularly between Black faculty members and students, and Black faculty members and some of their colleagues. The empathy and support from some deans, colleagues, and staff, along with resources in the university, have helped participants to remain in their position, make their presence known as professors and succeed in their work. Participants' key coping strategies were faith in God, resilience, and hard work. Many participants shared that mentorship and training on responding to students' evaluations will be beneficial in retaining Black faculty members, which will, overall, increase the number of Black students in Canadian universities. Résumé: Les expériences des professeurs noirs dans les universités canadiennes n'ont pas été suffisamment étudiées et n'ont pas reçu l'attention nécessaire. À l'aide d'un modèle descriptif exploratoire, nous nous sommes entretenus avec cinq professeurs noirs dans une université de taille moyenne de l'ouest du Canada et nous avons utilisé l'analyse thématique et la théorie critique de la race pour mieux comprendre les expériences des participants. Les résultats ont révélé que la plupart des participants ont des impressions positives malgré des expériences de racisme manifeste ou implicite. Le fait le plus marquant a été la lutte de pouvoir dissimulée dans le milieu, en particulier entre les professeurs noirs et les étudiants, et entre les professeurs noirs et certains de leurs collègues. L'empathie et le soutien de certains doyens, des collègues et des membres du personnel, ainsi que les ressources de l'université, ont aidé les participants à rester à leurs postes, à se faire connaître en tant que professeurs et à réussir dans leur travail. Les principales stratégies d'adaptation des participants sont la foi en Dieu, la résilience et le travail acharné. De nombreux participants ont indiqué que le mentorat et la formation sur la façon de répondre aux évaluations des étudiants permettraient de retenir les professeurs noirs, ce qui, dans l'ensemble, augmenterait le nombre d'étudiants noirs dans les universités canadiennes.
Jean Echenoz, “comme une nécessité physique”: Action and Bodies in Space
Authors: Bédard-Goulet Sara
Published: July 2023

Abstract: This special issue, “Jean Echenoz, ‘comme une nécessité physique’: Action and Bodies in Space,” deals with the corporeality at work in Jean Echenoz’s narratives. It builds on the significant scholarship on space in the author’s work to examine more closely how bodies move in the narrative space, how they contribute to shape that space, and how they are affected by it as well
Quand Arcenel fait un tour : Praxis de la marche, poïesis de la lecture
Authors: Vinot Frédéric
Published: July 2023

Abstract: Le treizième chapitre de 14 relate la désertion particulière d’Arcenel. Le mouvement dont elle procède se fait sans préméditation, sans intentionnalité, et sans but: il s’agit de « faire un tour ». Ce registre de l’action est d’abord référé à la praxis au sens d’Aristote (ne rien produire). De l’exécution d’Arcenel, nous montrons comment loi d’un espace bien délimité, loi d’un moi strictement identifié et loi d’une langue bien assujettie vont ensemble. Une articulation entre praxis et poïesis lisible dans l’écriture d’Echenoz est ensuite proposée. Enfin, une interprétation psychanalytique en montre l’envers inconscient: la production d’un rien, tant au niveau du tour d’Arcenel, que de sa lecture.
Entretien avec Josée Dubeau. Le Plan déplié : Occuper les sols échenoziens
Authors: Bédard-Goulet Sara
Published: July 2023

Abstract: Cet entretien avec l’artiste québécoise Josée Dubeau explore son œuvre installative Le Plan déplié , exposé au centre d’artiste autogéré AXENÉO7 en 2014, et inspiré par le récit L’Occupation des sols de Jean Echenoz. L’échange permet de situer les enjeux du récit et ceux de sa mise en espace grâce au dessin architectural occupant tout le lieu d’exposition. Le site urbain du récit est transposé dans l’espace d’exposition, en rendant également le mouvement propre à l’espace urbain, voué éventuellement à l’effacement, comme c’est le cas pour la figure présentée dans le récit d’Echenoz.
Breakdowns to Breakthroughs: Participating in a Decolonial Black Feminism Program
Authors: Roaf Mary
Published: July 2023

Abstract: This essay highlights my first-hand experiences as a participant in the 2019 Black Transnational Decolonial Feminism summer program in Brazil. Grounding the article in critical scholarship—including Black feminist thought and decolonial feminism—I explore, reflect upon, and examine key challenges and possibilities that emerged in the program. I am interested in contributing to fostering transnational, Black feminist solidarity and forging connections across lines of contention.
Decolonization is Imminent: Notes on Boricua Feminism
Authors: Ireland Heather Montes
Published: July 2023

Abstract: In Rican feminist thought, decolonizing is not merely an approach, method, or exercise, but an ongoing way of life. From Puerto Rican nationalist Lolita Lebron's cry that she "came to die for Puerto Rico" to the signal from Boricua author Elizabet Velasquez that "staying alive, well, that too is Puerto Rican history," Rican women have long struggled, resisted, and endured against colonial time. This "ongoing performance of bodily endurance" (Sandra Ruiz, 2019) under US colonialism, most recently marked by Maria, economic violence, the coronavirus pandemic, and femicide is a decolonial yearning, documented in the cultural work of Boricua women writers, artists, and activists. Boricua feminist thought, however, is largely absent in the academic feminist canon. In this paper, I argue Boricua feminism is not often interpolated as feminism since it does not resemble the expected, and particularly, Western, view of feminism as "women's struggles against men and patriarchy," though multiple patriarchies hinder the lives of Puerto Rican women and gender minorities. Rather, anticolonialism is at the forefront of Boricua feminist and queer struggles and subjectivities, yet is dislocated by these same lenses, and interpellated as not properly endemic to gender and sexual identity formations. Yet Boricua feminism is vital to decolonial feminist imaginings.
Resisting the Settler Gaze: California Indigenous Feminisms
Authors: Whitebear Luhui
Published: July 2023

Abstract: The settler gaze has created the conditions in which Indigenous women and Two-Spirit people experience high levels of violence both historically and in current times. This essay analyzes California Indigenous feminist resistance to the violences in the mission impacted region of the Californias. Toypurina, Bárbara Gandiaga, and Yaquenonsat are discussed as examples of California Indigenous feminist resistance to settler colonial systems that contributed to the murdered and missing Indigenous women, girl, and Two-Spirit (MMIWG2S+) crisis during their time period. These historic California Indigenous women are then compared with current efforts to address the MMIWG2S+ crisis in California and beyond. Counter-colonial Indigenous intergenerational storytelling is used as a methodology to read these stories and the settler records in order to resist the settler gaze.
Xicana/x Indígena Futures: Re-rooting through Traditional Medicines
Authors: Zepeda Susy
Published: July 2023

Abstract: A central thread of this article is to open a dialogue around traditional medicines such as sacred tabaco (tobacco) as it connects to Xicana Indígena ceremonial praxis, Mexican traditional medicine, and decolonial feminist futurities. I've argued elsewhere, as in the case of the 2019 Xicanx Futurity art exhibition, Xicana/x people have created a dignified path to self-determination that honors Indigenous roots and complex familial legacies and lineages across the hemisphere (Zepeda 2022, 141–153). In visual artist Gina Aparicio's installation titled, Ipan Nepantla Teotlailania Cachi Cualli Maztlacoyotl (Caught Between Worlds, Praying for a Better Future), she creates a sacred space for collective prayer in the context of an art exhibit through tobacco ties, intentionally creating a place for pause, reflection, and grounding, before taking the next steps into the larger part of the art installation that evokes a sacred circulo (Tello 2017). These tobacco-filled prayer ties in red cloth, because of their public visibility, became a site of contestation. This essay asks: what are the responsibilities and connections diasporic Mesoamerican peoples have to sacred plant medicine? Knowing that sanación (healing) arrives from working in collaboration with plants, what are the most respectful ways to work with tabaco : tobacco : picietl? What shapes the pathway of self-determination of Xicana/x peoples who are consciously re-rooting? How do we honor madre tierra, plant medicine, and ancestors?
A Multiplicity of Selves-in-Coalition: A Decolonial Feminist Witnessing Through Autoethnography
Authors: Fukushima Annie Isabel
Published: July 2023

Abstract: This article offers a specific methodology: an autoethnography of decolonial feminist witnessing to invite the reader into the world of the praxis of navigating institutional spaces recognizing where these entrances and departures are imperfect, messy, violent, and filled with resistance. The author offers examples of coalitional work through local and transnational experiences that were fostered through survivance in colonial systems. Recognizing how multiple institutions shape people's lives, this article highlights lived exemplars where the author traverses academic and legal institutions. The author reflects on witnessing in the courts as a legal expert witness. The role of narrative and witnessing is central to a decolonial feminist praxis; therefore, the author reflects on a state-wide consortium to end violence, where opportunities to narrate stories were facilitated in a performance. To conclude, the author reflects the self-in-coalition as a response to the material violence of coloniality in institutions.
A Conversation with Favianna Rodriguez: World-Making through Decolonial Feminist Artivism
Authors: Bañales Xamuel
Published: July 2023

Abstract: This essay is a conversation with Favianna Rodriguez, an award-winning transdisciplinary artist, cultural organizer, and social justice activist based in Oakland, California. Favianna's projects include visual and public art, writing, cultural organizing, and building power via institutions. Along with her extensive studio practice, she is the co-founder and president of The Center for Cultural Power, a US-based organization that empowers artists to disrupt the status quo and ignite social change. The interview highlights decolonizing feminist world-making possibilities in Favianna's art and activism (or artivism) while traveling through critical topics, such as food, porn, and psychedelics. Committed to the principles of a decolonial feminist praxis, one goal of the essay is to contribute to transcending the coloniality of gender through solidarity and collaboration. Another purpose is to advance conocimiento and inspire others to (continue to) enact decolonial feminisms to further transform.
Chinese Volley Fire and Metanarratives of World History
Authors: Noordam Barend
Published: July 2023

Abstract: Volley fire with gunpowder weapons is often seen by modern scholars as one of the important innovations which allowed Europe to politically dominate other cultures and societies. Many historiographical theories, of the kind Lyotard termed metarécits , “metanarratives,” have attempted to explain this phenomenon. Recently, compelling evidence has emerged that other civilizations also practiced the technique, most notably China. This article brings together existing and new evidence that volley fire with firearms was developed and practiced in China long before it appeared in Europe and challenges several of the grand narratives of European exceptionalism. This new evidence shows that the volley fire technique arose in China primarily as a reaction to domestic and foreign (semi-)nomadic cavalry threats, belying geographically deterministic accounts, which suggest that sophisticated infantry tactics with firearms would not arise in states bordering the steppe. This article will also challenge the claim that volley fire in Europe benefitted from its emergence in a competitive system of states undergoing a tradition-challenging Renaissance. I call for a reconsideration of the innovative potential of Eurasian land empires bordering the steppe, and stress the importance of studying political contingencies and cultures of innovation in shaping world history.
"From desh to desh ": The Family Firm as Trans-Local Household in the Nineteenth-Century Western Indian Ocean
Authors: Wint Hollian
Published: July 2023

Abstract: Using a micro-historical method, this article reconceptualizes the family firm as a trans-local extended household. The family firm plays a central role in the historiography of long-distance trade in the Indian Ocean. Yet it remains a largely under-theorized concept. The conceptual shift that this article proposes enables the significant analytical incorporation of a broader cast of historical actors, including marital and "networked" kin. From this expanded viewpoint, the family firm emerges as a node in overlapping networks of capital—financial, social, and symbolic—and as a site of intersecting intimate and economic transactions. The article also explores the historical transformations—economic, legal, and social—that reverberated across the western Indian Ocean in the late nineteenth century. Eschewing a static institutional model, it argues that any analysis of the family firm must attend to the dynamic and complex shifts in household relationships that were wrought by such transformations.