bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Les apports d’une analyse statistique des données textuelles pour les recherches en didactique : l’exemple de la méthode Reinert
Authors: Emprin Fabien
Published: April 2022

Dans cet article nous analysons les potentialités offertes aux didacticiens par l’analyse statistique des données textuelles au moyen de la méthode Reinert. Les méthodologies de recherche nous amènent en effet à analyser des corpus comportant de grandes quantités de texte. Sans en faire l’unique outil d’analyse, nous montrons sur deux exemples spécifiques comment ce traitement statistique permet d’accéder à des corpus difficilement accessibles sinon ou d’émettre des hypothèses pour faciliter ensuite l’analyse « manuelle ». Nous commençons par exposer les fondements et les techniques liés à ce type d’analyse puis nous développons l’analyse autour de deux exemples : le traitement des échanges formateurs/stagiaires au travers d’un portfolio numérique et l’analyse des programmes de mathématiques de l’école primaire en France depuis 1976.
Use of Activity Theory to make sense of Mathematics Teaching : a dialogue between perspectives/Test
Authors: Abboud Maha , Goodchild Simon , Jaworski Barbara , Potari Despina , Robert Aline , Rogalski Janine
Published: April 2022

This paper examines the interactions between teachers’ decisions, discourses and acts, and the intended students’ learning. The focus is theoretical and methodological as it attempts to exemplify theoretical perspectives in studying mathematics teaching in its complexity. It takes into account, together or separately, the overall setting : sociocultural and institutional and the epistemological point of view on mathematics and its teaching in class. For some of the authors, the study of teacher activity in relation to students’ mathematical activity, and affective and social needs has been the focus of their research for many years, using different theoretical constructs and empirical data. As for the others, their research in the same area was focused more on the presumed cognitive needs, in relation to the practices and the mathematics at stake. The article reveals that Activity Theory has been used differently by the two traditions (English and French) as a framework for analyzing and interpreting the relations and interactions between teacher and students’ mathematical activity in research studies of the authors. This article exemplifies these different ways of using AT and discusses issues the perspectives raise for interpretation and analysis.
Implication dans un enseignement renouvelé et recherches en didactique des mathématiques
Authors: Kuzniak Alain , Rauscher Jean-Claude
Published: April 2022

François Pluvinage did not associate his name with a didactic theory, but more profoundly he animated with his powerful and friendly breath a school of thought, a way of doing and acting always open to the world and the future. Through this article, which is very incomplete, we would like to specify his originality as a researcher particularly involved in the community. Throughout this evocation of his scientific career in phase with the evolution of educational practices, the reader will be invited to rediscover some of the traits of his rich and endearing personality.
Entrer dans un genre procédural : l’écriture d’un programme de construction en géométrie
Authors: Millon-Faure Karine , Roubaud Marie-Noëlle , Assude Teresa
Published: April 2022

The discovery of a procedural genre: the writing of a program of construction in geometry. The writing of a program of geometrical construction is a particular kind of task in so far as it requires the respect of some strict expectations in addition to mathematical work. Thanks to analysis of in-class sessions in primary school, we wonder how three pupils with difficulties appropriate these expectations and succeed in (or do not succeed in) overcoming various obstacles in order to enter in this specific genre.
A model to analyze the complexity of calculus knowledge at the beginning of University course
Authors: Bloch Isabelle , Gibel Patrick
Published: April 2022

Our research focuses on the difficulties students encounter with the learning of calculus, considering that they have to cope with many more mathematical objects but also with new ways of reasoning – not only algebraic calculation, but also the practice of approximation, and a scaffolding way of using functions, limits, derivative, integrals, etc. to justify their answers. The semiotic facet of new objects, and the way to manage it, is also a source of great difficulties. In this article we establish that the model we built (Bloch & Gibel, 2011) is adequate to describe the work of University students who have to deal with the resolution of exercises about parametric curves and differential equations, even if this context is not an adidactical situation. In 2018, L2 students of Pau University were asked to solve little problems about limits, integral calculations or recurrence questions. They revealed difficulties to organize their knowledge and conclude about a limit, for instance. We give some examples of these troubles. We conclude for the necessity to implement adequate devices to help students better understand these 'new mathematics'. Calculus, students' understanding of mathematical signs and objects, reasoning processes, parametric curves, differential equations
Étude comparative de systèmes tutoriels pour l’exercice de la démonstration en géométrie
Authors: Tessier-Baillargeon Michele , Richard Philippe R. , Leduc Nicolas , Gagnon Michel
Published: April 2022

This article proposes a state of the art of tutorial systems for high school planar geometry proof learning. The chosen approach is part of exploring the research problem that motivates the development, by our research team, of a tutorial system named QED-Tutrix, that we will present in another paper. In the following article, a synthesis and a comparison of existing tutorial systems is carried out on the basis of a set of original indicators highlighting the differences between the systems covered by our analysis. Each indicator aims to describe the functioning of the studied software according to the geometric work made possible at their interface. Eleven tutorial systems are compared according to their integration of a geometric figure, the structure they impose on the student's reasoning and the tutorial intervention they offer.
Les Dessins trans-conscients de Stéphane Mallarmé par Ernest Fraenkel : une méthode originale
Authors: Samson Anna , Chamchinov Serge
Published: April 2022

Сet article analyse le procédé d’improvisation à la fois graphique et linguistique, élaboré en 1952, puis en 1960 par Ernest Fraenkel à partir de Un coup de dés jamais n’abolira le hasard de Stéphane Mallarmé. Un procédé qui sera développé presque simultanément, en 1968 et 1969, par Mario Diacono et de Marcel Broodthaers. Les auteurs proposent une présentation de la méthode de Fraenkel d’après son livre Les Dessins trans-conscients de Stéphane Mallarmé (1960), et un examen historique de la réception critique et artistique de ce livre. Ils expliquent l’originalité de la conception de cet ouvrage et son rôle dans le développement de la tradition du livre d’artiste en France.
The Rumor of the Earth: Anti-nuclear Ecologies in Lam and Char’s Contre une maison sèche
Authors: Frost Jackqueline
Published: April 2022

This essay considers the collaborative projects of Cuban artist Wifredo Lam and French poet René Char as thematizing an imbrication between two different ends of the world: the end of the colonial world through decolonization and the end of terrestrial life in nuclear war. This connection, I argue, is pursued by Lam and Char through a set of socio-ecological commitments in which the relation between humanity and the earth heralds an apocalyptic vision of planetary crisis. I proceed to my argument by reconstructing Char and Lam’s investments in a political aesthetics of inter-species and earthly habitation, beginning in the 1950s. By the mid-1960s, the threat of nuclear destruction transforms the meaning of the earth, especially in Char’s poetics. At the center of my analysis is their collaborative book, Contre une maison sèche, which I read in continuity with late 1960s anti-nuclear struggles. Finally, I suggest that we think formal decolonization and anti-nuclear ecology together as a point of historical reference for the current ecological crisis. What I call “the rumor of the Earth,” after Lam’s 1950 painting, names the possible but as-yet undiscovered forms of inhabiting the Earth and of making new relations at all levels of the general ecology.
Frankétienne poto-mitan
Authors: Chemla Yves
Published: April 2022

Le séisme qui a considérablement endeuillé la ville et la région de Port-au-Prince en janvier 2010 a entraîné le renforcement des bâtiments qui n’étaient pas considérés comme dangereux et voués à la destruction. La maison de l’écrivain et peintre Frankétienne a été ainsi réparée et consolidée à l’aide de piliers de béton, rapidement transformés en surfaces picturales et support de sentences par l’artiste. Cette dimension monumentale qui met en forme la résistance contre tous les désastres récurrents en Haïti prend place à l’intérieur de l’espace domestique de la famille Étienne et de l’espace de travail de l’écrivain.
Écrire le code du code
Authors: Rossi Julien
Published: April 2022

Comme le laisse entendre la célèbre formule de Lawrence Lessig selon laquelle « le code est loi », le code informatique qu’exécutent les ordinateurs produit des effets de régulation sociale. Or, ce code est lui-même encadré par tout un ensemble de standards techniques qui forment une sorte de code du code dont la rédaction est porteuse de nombreux enjeux techno-politiques débattus dans des arènes spécialisées. Cet article propose des pistes méthodologiques sur la façon d’investiguer ces controverses qui encadrent l’écriture de ces standards. Ces pistes prennent appui sur un travail d’enquête de terrain sur des projets relatifs à la protection de la vie privée par deux groupes de travail du World Wide Web Consortium, l’organisme qui publie les standards du Web. Les conditions particulières de fonctionnement d’un tel organisme conduit ses membres à communiquer essentiellement en ligne. Souvent, ces échanges sont archivés publiquement, donnant notamment accès à de vastes corpus d’e-mails échangés sur des listes de discussion dédiées. La norme du consensus qui règne dans ces arènes, et qui découle de la nature particulière des formes d’énoncés performatifs que sont les standards techniques, complique toutefois le travail d’interprétation qui ne peut faire l’économie d’une démarche ethnographique plus classique.
The Sentiments of Indonesian Urban Citizens Regarding the Lockdown-Like Policy During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Putra Zulfikar Dinar Wahidayat
Published: April 2022

Indonesia implemented “Large Scale Social Restrictions” (LSSR) to cope with COVID-19. This policy generated various opinions between people that demonstrated their sentiments in daily life and social media. This study aims to analyse the sentiments of Indonesian urban citizens with respect to the policy. Using Drone Emprit Academic, a data mining tool that retrieved data from Twitter, this study examined tweets mentioned: “Pembatasan Sosial Berskala Besar” or “PSBB” from March 2nd, 2020 to January 11th, 2021. It reveals that significant events in the real world influence the sentiments pattern and classification during that particular period. The spatial distribution of the tweets reveals that the conversation is concentrated in cities throughout Java. Twitter-based sentiment analysis can be an alternative method for the Government to monitor and evaluate its policies in the future, specifically in a pandemic situation.
Daily and seasonal dynamics of littoral zone fish communities in the lowland Włocławek Reservoir (central Poland), with a special emphasis on alien invasive gobies
Authors: Błażejewski Maciej , Król Jarosław , Kakareko Tomasz , Mierzejewska Katarzyna , Hliwa Piotr
Published: April 2022

The aim of the study was to examine the daily and seasonal dynamics of changes in fish communities in two environmentally different littoral zones of the Włocławek Reservoir (central Poland), i.e., the floodplain (limnic Dobiegniewo site) and lotic area (Murzynowo site). During seasonal catches using trawl nets, in the daily cycle (at 00.00, 06.00, 12.00, and 18.00 hours), the presence of 18 fish species representing 4 families (Cyprinidae, Percidae, Gasterosteidae, Gobiidae) was confirmed. In both localities, the domination of native taxa, such as roach Rutilus rutilus (L.) and Eurasian perch Perca fluviatilis L., in Dobiegniewo (26.6 and 26.6%, respectively) and Murzynowo (13.6 and 22.7%, respectively) of all caught specimens was noted. The quantitative share of three alien invasive gobies, racer goby Neogobius gymnotrachelus (Kessler, 1857), monkey goby Neogobius fluviatilis (Pallas, 1814), and western tubenose goby Proterorhinus semilunaris (Heckel, 1837), varied in the range between 2.7 and 35.3% in samples throughout the season. The results indicate the significant role of gobies in the structure of the sublittoral fish communities of Włocławek Reservoir and the necessity of expansion process studies, as well as the observation of the interactions with native fish species in invaded areas.
New model of PIRADS and adjusted prostate-specific antigen density of peripheral zone improves the detection rate of initial prostate biopsy: a diagnostic study
Authors: Huang Chen , Cai Zong-Qiang , Qiu Feng , Pu Jin-Xian , Xi Qi-Lin , Wei Xue-Dong , Wang Xi-Ming , Zhao Xiao-Jun , Guo Lin-Chuan , Hou Jian-Quan , Huang Yu-Hua
Published: April 2022

This study explored a new model of Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PIRADS) and adjusted prostate-specific antigen density of peripheral zone (aPSADPZ) for predicting the occurrence of prostate cancer (PCa) and clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa). The demographic and clinical characteristics of 853 patients were recorded. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA), PSA density (PSAD), PSAD of peripheral zone (PSADPZ), aPSADPZ, and peripheral zone volume ratio (PZ-ratio) were calculated and subjected to receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The calibration and discrimination abilities of new nomograms were verified with the calibration curve and area under the ROC curve (AUC). The clinical benefits of these models were evaluated by decision curve analysis and clinical impact curves. The AUCs of PSA, PSAD, PSADPZ, aPSADPZ, and PZ-ratio were 0.669, 0.762, 0.659, 0.812, and 0.748 for PCa diagnosis, while 0.713, 0.788, 0.694, 0.828, and 0.735 for csPCa diagnosis, respectively. All nomograms displayed higher net benefit and better overall calibration than the scenarios for predicting the occurrence of PCa or csPCa. The new model significantly improved the diagnostic accuracy of PCa (0.945 vs 0.830, P < 0.01) and csPCa (0.937 vs 0.845, P < 0.01) compared with the base model. In addition, the number of patients with PCa and csPCa predicted by the new model was in good agreement with the actual number of patients with PCa and csPCa in high-risk threshold. This study demonstrates that aPSADPZ has a higher predictive accuracy for PCa diagnosis than the conventional indicators. Combining aPSADPZ with PIRADS can improve PCa diagnosis and avoid unnecessary biopsies.
A core curriculum for basic EUS skills
Authors: Karstensen John Gásdal , Nayahangan Leizl Joy , Konge Lars , Vilmann Peter
Published: April 2022

Background and Objectives:

During recent years, the demand for EUS has increased. However, standardized training programs and assessments of clinical quality measures are lacking. We therefore aimed to establish a basic curriculum for EUS fellows that includes a prioritized list of interpretational capabilities and technical skills.

Materials and Methods:

International key-opinion leaders were invited to participate in a Delphi process. An electronic three-round iterative survey was performed to attain consensus on skills that 70% of the participants found either very important or essential for a newly graduated endosonographer.

Results:

Of 125 invited experts, 77 participated in the survey. Initially, 1,088 skills were suggested, resulting in a core curriculum containing 29 interpretational skills and 12 technical skills. The top-five interpretation skills included abilities to discern between normal anatomy and pathology, to identify the entire pancreas and ampullary region, to identify solid versus fluid-filled structures, to detect bile duct and gallstones, and to identify a pancreatic mass of 5 mm or larger. For technical skills, ability to insert the endoscope from the mouth to the second part of duodenum, to obtain FNA adequately and safely, to navigate the scope tip to follow anatomical landmark structures, to achieve endoscopic position of each of the four stations, and to perform passage of the scope past a hiatal hernia were given the highest ranking.

Conclusions:

After a structured Delphi process involving 77 international experts, a consensus was reached for a basic curriculum for EUS fellows to be included during training.
An Update on Autosomal Recessive Hearing Loss and Loci Involved in It
Authors: Koohiyan Mahbobeh , Hoseini Masih , Azadegan-Dehkordi Fatemeh
Published: April 2022

Hearing plays an important role in human development and childhood speech learning for the proper functioning and development of people in society. Hearing loss (HL) is one of the most abnormal disabilities that affect the human senses. This disability may be due to genetic or environmental factors or both. Congenital HL is a disorder that occurs in at least 1 in 1000 births. At least 42 genetic loci are associated with syndromes, while more than 163 are associated with nonsyndromic HL (NSHL), and no specific gene therapy treatment has yet been proposed. Investigate the types of genes involved in regulating hair cell adhesion “and evaluate functions such as intracellular transport, the release of neurotransmitters, ion homeostasis, and hair cell cytoskeleton, and whether defects in them can impair cochlear and inner ear function.” Can help diagnose and treat the disease through various methods, including gene therapy. Given the complex internal and external structures of the ear, nervous system, and auditory mechanisms, it is not surprising that abnormalities in hundreds of different genes may lead to HL. In recent years, with the increasing number of studies on genes involved in congenital HL, counseling and treatment options with the help of gene therapy have increased. In this study, we aimed to describe genes and proteins and their functions in NSHL in the inner ear for screening and diagnostic programs of live birth and classify the genes involved in this model of deafness to open the door to gene therapy. It is on these genes. We hope to develop new molecular and gene therapies for autosomal recessive NSHL.
Management of Earlobe Pseudocysts Using the Bolster Technique
Authors: Djosan Al Hafiz , Irfandy Dolly , Azman Ferdy
Published: April 2022

Pseudocysts of the ear are asymptomatic noninflammatory cystic enlargements without pain, are idiopathic, and relatively rare, usually located in the lateral or posterior region of the earlobe. The definitive etiology is still unclear, but it is thought that constant compressed trauma to the earlobe can be a trigger for the pseudocyst's development. Management is mainly carried out to achieve complete resolution, preventing the possibility of recurrence and maintaining the structure of the auricle. Corticosteroid injection, needle aspiration, and suppression techniques are common management modalities. Bolster compression technique is an emphasis on both sides using gauze. There were two cases of patients reported who performed procedures with a bolster. The first case was a 35-year-old male patient with right ear pseudocyst. The second case was a 49-year-old male patient with recurrent right ear pseudocysts. Management of ear pseudocysts with suppression using a bolster is safe and effective, inexpensive, and has minimal risk for recurrence.
Bilateral Otomastoid Tuberculosis with Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Immunocompetent Young Patient
Authors: Zamaili Ahmad Mahfuz , Nik Othman Nik Adilah , Zainor Safinaz
Published: April 2022

Tuberculous (TB) otitis media is rare and usually seen secondary to pulmonary tuberculosis or associated with it. TB is one of the major infectious diseases with predominant involvement of lung and lymph nodes which is common in Malaysia. Regarding the tubercular otitis media or tubercular mastoiditis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the principal causative agent, however, other atypical agents such as Mycobacterium bovis, Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium fortiutum are also responsible. TB otitis media may present with other middle ear problems whereby clinicians also unfamiliar with its typical presentation. Diagnosis is difficult because it needs specific culture and pathologic studies. Early diagnosis and effective treatment may prevent ear damage as well as central nervous system complication. The objective of this study was to report a rare case of bilateral TB otitis media to alert physicians to the rare presentation of the disease as well as to discuss the diagnosis and management plan based on the literature review.
Unilateral Double-Barreled Internal Auditory Meatus with Severe Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Authors: Selvarajan G. , Vaishnavi R. , Prateep Mithun Anand , Jeevanandham Balaji
Published: April 2022

Internal auditory meatus duplication is an exceedingly rare temporal bone anomaly. All of them being bilateral duplication or narrowing of internal auditory meatus with profound sensorineural hearing loss. We report a very rare case of unilateral double-barreled internal auditory meatus with severe sensorineural hearing loss without any inner ear anomalies in an adolescent, being benefited with an air conduction hearing aid.
Cochlear Implantation in a Case of Jervell and Lange-Nielsen Syndrome Presenting with Absence Seizure and Anemia
Authors: Bharathi Murundi Basavarajaiah , Medikeri Shankar , Dharmarajan Sandhya , De Kumar Shankar
Published: April 2022

Here, we describe the case of a pediatric patient who presented with an episode of absence seizures and was later diagnosed to have Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome (JLNS) and underwent cochlear implantation (CI). A 4-year-old male child born out of a third degree consanguineous marriage presented with congenital profound sensorineural hearing loss and an episode of absence seizures. Electrocardiogram showed a prolonged QT interval of 509 ms. The patient subsequently underwent CI. Here, we outline the challenges anticipated and the precautions to be taken when performing implantation on a patient with JLNS. JLNS is a rare autosomal recessive form of congenital long QT syndrome associated with congenital sensorineural deafness and a high incidence of sudden cardiac death in childhood. Patients with JLNS face added intra- and postoperative challenges during CI which require multidisciplinary and intensive care unit care.
Impact of Social Media on Young Bank Employees during COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Prabhu Saloni , Maldar Arif , Dhagavkar Pooja S. , Narasannavar Ashwini , Angolkar Mubashir
Published: April 2022

Background:

During the COVID-19 pandemic, social media (SM) use saw a sharp raise, especially for obtaining information regarding COVID-19 during the lockdown. SM platforms also led to misinformation about the disease which caused negative psychological effects on individuals. Bank employees (BE) are special workgroups who experience various levels of mental stress at their workplace due to workload. During lockdown and till date many of the BE work from home which enabled them to use SM accordingly.

Objective:

The study was conducted to assess the stress levels and anxiety levels due to usage of SM in young BE during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Materials and Methods:

In this cross-sectional study, an online Google form questionnaire was distributed to the participants using convenient and snowball sampling method. The final sample consisted of 126 Goan young BE. Statistical analysis was performed using descriptive analysis.

Results:

The results of the study revealed that SM use had significant impact on the BE, with a potential negative effect on developing stress and anxiety. 10.3% (13) of the participants experienced low stress and 89.7% (113) experienced moderate stress. 51.6% (65) of the participants had mild anxiety, 10.3% (13) had moderate anxiety, and 38.1% (48) had severe anxiety.

Conclusion:

The present study concludes that increased SM use among the BE was associated with negative psychological outcomes. Anxiety and stress were associated with the time spent on using SM sites.
Role and Significance of Ghrelin and Leptin in Hunger, Satiety, and Energy Homeostasis
Authors: Kharbanda Charu , Bansal Savita , Aneja Prachi Saffar
Published: April 2022

Hunger is a set of internal experiences that lead a human or animal to seek food. Satiety is a desire to limit further food intake or the state of being gratified after completing a meal. The objective of this review article is to discuss the influence of ghrelin and leptin in hunger, appetite, satiety, and long-term energy homeostasis. The data for this review were collected through an extensive journal search. Electronic databases (Medline and PubMed) were thoroughly consulted, and few articles were obtained from the website: Google Scholars (http://scholar.google.com). Ghrelin and leptin are concerned with food intake and energy homeostasis. Ghrelin increases food intake and affects food patterns, whereas leptin induces satiety. Circulating leptin levels are directly proportion to the amount of body fat, thereby reflecting the status of long-term energy stores. Recent work suggests that leptin plays a more important role in the maintenance of weight loss than weight loss per se and ghrelin increases appetite, adjusts energy balance, and enhances the release of growth hormone from the pituitary gland
A Comparative Study to Assess Mental Health Literacy, Impact of Event, Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Levels of Medical and Other Students during the Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Chaudhuri Arunima , Paul Suhrita , Saha Enakshi
Published: April 2022

Background:

COVID-19 pandemic is negatively affecting the mental health of medical professionals as well as medical students, as they stand in the frontline. Medical education is recognized as stressful across the globe and in the hour of present crisis, students have to stay back home and continue their studies online.

Aims:

The aim of the study is to compare the emerging evidence of the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak on mental health and assess mental health awareness of medical students and other students studying in a Medical College of Eastern India.

Materials and Methods:

This cross-sectional observational study was conducted in a period of 3 months after taking Institutional ethical clearance and informed consent of the subjects. 212 medical students and 101 students of other courses studying in the college participated in the study. The present survey was conducted online using Google Forms. In the first section of the form, purpose of the study was explained and informed consent was taken from the participants. In the second part of the form, participants were asked to fill up demographic details and relevant history; in the third part, participants had to fill up three scales: Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21, Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IRE-R), Mental Health Literacy Scale.

Results:

There was no significant difference in depression scores between the two groups. Anxiety scores and stress scores were significantly higher among medical students as compared to the other group with P = 0.0017 and 0.008, respectively. Group A: Anxiety scores 12.34 ± 8.5; Stress scores - 13.07 ± 8.01. Group B: Anxiety scores 9.34 ± 7.34; Stress scores - 10.55 ± 7.62. There was no significant difference in mental health literacy scores between the two groups. Mental Health literacy scores of Group A: 96.84 ± 17.29; Mental health literacy score of Group B: 99.86 ± 13.39; P = 0.09. No difference in IRE-R scores between the two groups was observed. Group A: Total score - 21.81 ± 14.34; Avoidance scale - 9.43 ± 6.1; intrusion scale 8.58 ± 5.12; Hyperarousal scale - 3.79 ± 2.94. Group B: Total score - 20.39 ± 14.34; Avoidance scale - 9.06 ± 6.5; Intrusion scale - 7.84 ± 5.95; Hyperarousal scale - 3.49 ± 3.21.

Conclusions:

Mental health literacy scores and impact of event score were similar in medical and other students studying in the same medical institution. Medical students had significantly higher levels of anxiety and stress as compared to the other group, though depression scores of both groups were comparable. Hence, it may be concluded that medical students perceived higher levels of anxiety and stress during the second wave of the present COVID-19 pandemic.
A Giant Tonsillolith
Authors: Swain Santosh Kumar
Published: April 2022

Foreign body sensation in throat is a common complaint by patients at the outpatient department in routine clinical practice. Long-standing tonsillolith is an uncommon cause for foreign body sensation in throat. Tonsilloliths are also called as tonsillar calculi or tonsillar stones or throat stone which form in the crypts of the faucial or palatine tonsils. They are usually small in size. The exact etiopathogenesis for the formation of tonsillolith is not known. It may protrude out of the tonsillar crypt and provide foreign body sensation in throat and usually not harmful to the body. It is a common cause for bad breath or halitosis in adult patients with tonsillolith. Finding giant tonsilloliths is rare in clinical practice. Here, we report a case of a giant tonsillolith in left palatine tonsil which was associated with long standing foreign body sensation in throat. Here, we report a 62-year-old man presenting for giant tonsilloliths with complaint of long-standing foreign body sensation in throat.
Evaluation of biological wastewater treatment in stabilization lagoons from Punta Carnero, Salinas – Ecuador
Authors: Cabrera Juan José Humanante , Alcivar Lucrecia Cristina Moreno , Navarrete Carlos Alberto Deza , Endara Ana Mercedes Grijalva , Moreno Juan Humanante , Tomalá Joan Alberto Suárez
Published: April 2022

This research evaluated the wastewater treatment system of the Punta Carnero sector, in relation to pollutant efficiency load removal, final effluent quality and impact on the ecosystem, and finally to determine if the final discharge can be reused for agricultural irrigation. The research was based on the affluent and effluent characterization of the system, carried out in three phases: i) Taking of simple samples, analyzed in an accredited water laboratory and analysis of the contaminant loads efficiency; ii) Review of results compared to the Table of “Discharge limits to a freshwater receiving body”; iii) Examination of results based on the “Water Quality Criteria for Agricultural Irrigation” Table of the Ecuadorian regulation TULSMA (2015). BOD (62.42%), COD (62.41%) and FC (53.58%) removal efficiencies did not comply with current Ecuadorian regulations. The quality of the effluent with respect to the parameters evaluated for discharges to a freshwater receiving body denoted a non-optimal quality of final discharge, negatively impacting the ecosystem. Finally, the evaluation determined parameters that exceed the water quality criteria for agricultural irrigation allowed: Oils-Fats (5.65 mg/l), FC (62,900 NMP/100ml), Hg (0.00141 mg/l), OD (8.86 mg/l). After evaluating the wastewater treatment system, it was determined that the pollutant load removal efficiency and effluent quality is not optimal for discharge into a receiving water body, so it’s not suitable for reuse in agricultural irrigation.

Keywords: affluent, effluent, water quality.
Wise Choices in Health Care Especially Benefit Older People
Authors: Alderman Chris
Published: April 2022

In the real world of medical interactions, it is necessary to simultaneously manage several comorbidities. Moreover, in each case there are usually several different treatment options and only some of these will include medication. If medication is to be used, then it often needs to be deployed in the context of organ dysfunction, such as chronic renal impairment. For older people, how choice is made can be even more complicated because when there is cognitive impairment it may be necessary for consumer decisions to be made by a proxy such as a legal authority or a doctor. How then can the complexities of the medical decision-making process be negotiated logically, safely, and equitably?
Influence of NaOH concentration on the decolorization of crystal violet dyed cotton fabric
Authors: Mardenborough Kristen , Florentino Maya , Haxhari Robert , Lin Yu-Chung , Rafailovich Miriam , Halada Gary , Jung Hye Jung , Kim Taejin
Published: April 2022

Synthetic dye removal is a topic of increasing interest as textile recycling has become more popular in industries. While methods involving dye removal from wastewater effluent have been widely studied and reported on, research on decolorization of fabric itself remains quite unknown. In regard to the lack of research, this study presents cotton fabric samples dyed with crystal violet (CV) that were treated with varying concentrations of sodium hydroxide (NaOH). Fabric decolorization was studied using several characterization methods. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Raman spectroscopy data showed that the cellulose structure remained unchanged after CV and NaOH treatment. Characteristic CV peaks in the FTIR and Raman spectra were apparent only in the control sample, while the spectra of NaOH-treated samples were very similar to that of the cotton fabric. X-ray diffractometry (XRD) data also confirmed that the crystallite size of cellulose was not affected by CV and NaOH treatment. A visible violet hue remained in all NaOH-treated samples, though CV intensity was inversely proportional to NaOH concentration. The L*a*b* values were utilized to complement characterization results. As the concentration of NaOH was increased, the CIELAB parameters aligned more with those of the plain untreated fabric.
Virtual Modelling of Real- Driving Conditions for Early Evaluation and Validation of Vehicles Design
Authors:   Applus IDIADA, SPAIN, Arroyos Marina Roche , Bertolí Xavier ,   Applus IDIADA, SPAIN, Diaz Fancisco ,   Applus IDIADA, SPAIN, Didac Didac ,   Applus IDIADA, SPAIN, Pablo Cano ,   Applus IDIADA, SPAIN, Roger Salat ,   Applus IDIADA, SPAIN
Published: April 2022

"The vehicle validation at the end of the development process has to guarantee the vehicle will fulfill the expected reliability, consumption, emission, safety and performances in the variety of possible use- case scenarios, ranging from city to hilly roads and autobahnsmotorways, from extremely hot to extremely cold conditions and from gentle to aggressive driving. IDIADA is a leading company in validation for real- driving conditions, conducting over 15.000.000 km per year in the five continents. However, problem-solving in the validation phase is commonly difficult and expensive. For this reason, real- driving conditions are gaining relevance in the vehicle design phase, hence, the need arises to shift these real conditions to a model basedmodel-based development process in order to perform target setting and early virtual validation for real- driving conditions. For the modelling of the different real conditions a data collection process must be carried out. The data acquisition system and specific instrumentation typically represent a high- cost activity that hinders the data collection coverage. For this purpose, IDIADA has developed the NAVIMU-20, a cost- effective, versatile, compact and accurate data acquisition system that involves navigation and inertial measurements as well as logging functionality for collectingon all the data required to generate virtual mission profiles. This paper covers the development of this solution, starting with the measurements definition, standardization of the logs format for compatibility with the post-processing system, the comparison and verification with high- performance data acquisition systems to validate and ensure the data quality, the and algorithm development for the slope calculation with post- processing. Finally, the generated mission profiles are validated to calculate powertrain demand, through correlation between calculated operative point and measured torque for sample routes. As a result of the activity, the paper shows the application of a mission profile to virtually simulate the implications in real use of a combustion and a hybrid vehicle oin the same route. This methodology aims to build a real- driving usage profile database with wide coverage of the five continents suitable for early virtual evaluation of real- driving implications in powertrain in terms of consumption, emissions, durability, driveability, cooling and thermal comfort."
Electric Quadricycle Concept for Urban Mobility
Authors:   University of Pitesti, ROMANIA, Turcescu Vlad-Nicolae , Olaru Dănuț-Gabriel , Arsene Ana-Maria
Published: April 2022

This paper reveals the virtual L7e vehicle, GRAND TWIZY concept for the first time into an conference. The concept is an academic project and is developed within at the “Alternative Propulsion Systems –Electric and Hybrid Vehicles” Laboratory of the “Automotive Engineering” Research Centre, University of Pitesti, Romania. The main objective of the project is minimal costs development of a L7e concept, starting from the RENAULT TWIZY quadricycle and increasing its habitability, versatility and autonomy, similar to the competitors`. The vehicle design is influenced by four elements: the exterior design, legal requirements, the powertrain components and the vehicle components provided by RENAULT TWIZY. To increase the habitability, the body has been modified in transversal direction, keeping the same wheelbase of the vehicle. This solution allows minimal chassis and body transformations, taking over many mechanical components of the front axle, of the rear axle and the electric powertrain and taking as many body parts as possible, especially from the lateral sides of the original RENAULT TWIZY vehicle. The new body has a new anti-rain system for the doors and heating and ventilation system. This allows extending the period of use in rain conditions and low temperatures (winter). For increasing the versatility the passenger seat is placed on the lateral side of the driver. The rear space can be usable for the placement of luggage or the placement of children's seats. The increasing luggage transport space we have created a space modularized in the passenger`s seat place. For the transport of oversized equipment or luggage it was built a folding outer trunk. In order to increase the autonomy and the additional electricity consumption caused by the heating and the ventilation system for the passenger compartment, a new 48 V traction battery with NMC technology (Nickel Manganese Cobalt) is proposed. It contains elements from the Renault ZOE 50 battery, produced by LG Chem. This battery is charged with a bidirectional charger, able to function “Vehicle to Grid” (V2G), both by cable and wireless. The charging system, was built from a charger-inverter assembly, compatible with lithium-ion batteries. In the case of the proposed wireless charging system, the transfer of station and vehicle energy was made trough by means of a magnetic field that circulates between an emitter (coupled to the 230V-50Hz single-phase alternating current) and a receiver mounted on the vehicle (coupled by charger to the 48 V traction battery). In addition, the traction battery is charged with a photovoltaic cell system located on the roof was provided. This solution was favored by the extension of the roof surface caused by the vehicle. To reduce vehicle mass and increase the reliability of the servitude battery, is propose to replace the 12 V battery with AGM lead technology with a Panasonic DLC (Double Layer Capacitor) battery.
Use of Hydrogen in a Combustion Engine with an Advanced Combustion
Authors:   Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, CZECH REPUBLIC, Vavra Jiri , Syrovátka Zbyněk ,   Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, CZECH REPUBLIC, Takáts Michal ,   Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, CZECH REPUBLIC
Published: April 2022

A hydrogen fueled experimental single cylinder engine with cylinder displacement 375 cm3 was tested in steady state operation on an engine test bed. The engine was operated in a low-temperature combustion mode with a lean mixture with the air excess ratio between 2.6 and 3.0. In this way, the engine was able to operate free of irregular combustion phenomena. At the same time, the engine reaches high thermal efficiency. Molar fraction of NOx below 10 ppm was achieved within the whole range of operational points. Low-temperature combustion therefore shows a potential to comply with contemporary as well as future limits of NOx emission without exhaust gas aftertreatment. Specific emission of CO2 even involving the CO2 inflow into the intake air was lowered by 2 to 3 orders of magnitude compared to state-of-the-art automotive diesel engines. Emissions of other gaseous pollutants as well as the emission of particulate matter were negligible.
Assessment of the Influence of Human Body Diversity on Passive Safety Systems: A State-of-the-art Overview
Authors:   Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt / CARISSMA, GERMANY, Plaschkies Franz ,   Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt, GERMANY, Vaculín Ondřej ,   Bergische Universität Wuppertal, GERMANY, Schumacher Axel
Published: April 2022

In technical development, the product, including its robustness, is determined through the requirements and tests. In many cases, the robustness is validated by several sample tests. This paper focuses on the development process in the field of systems for the passive safety of vehicle occupants. The state-of-the-art in the development and assessment of such systems is based on both physical and virtual testing. The physical tests are mainly used for validation and final approval purposes. The prominent role of virtual methods is played with a digital twin of the physical configuration. For the assessment of the interaction of the vehicle with its occupants, few anthropometric configurations are usually tested. Assuming a Gaussian distribution of body shapes in a population, the 5th, 50th, and 95th percentiles crash test dummies are widely applied. Nevertheless, the human body does not necessarily vary in a whole, but in all its measures. The reason for using only those few percentiles lies in the limitation of the resources, especially for physical testing, and the advantage of synchronizing physical and virtual testing. Due to the limitations, the potential of virtual methods cannot be used fully. In this state-of-the-art overview paper, the approaches to speed up and broaden the testing during the system's development to increase the solutions' robustness are presented. The state-of-the-art occupant safety development methods are summarized, including the human representation, tested scenarios, as well as evaluated criteria. The second part of this paper reviews available databases for human body measurements. The transition between the anthropometric data to virtual models plays an essential role in the virtual assessment. This part also includes metamodeling approaches to reduce the parameter space and methods for the automated creation of virtual models. Recent studies using multibody systems or finite element analysis are reviewed. Finally, relevant studies on accelerating the virtual process are presented together with approaches from machine learning, which has rapidly developed in recent years. The comparison of the approaches in the passive safety domain is presented. The supervised learning algorithms are taken as a basis for estimating simulation results for different anthropometric configurations. On the one hand, such algorithms can provide a significant reduction of the development time. However, on the other hand, they need a vast amount of data, while generating simulation results can be a time-consuming process. Therefore, also approaches to overcome this obstacle are also mentioned.
Suspension damping force control algorithms using vehicle states with driver and road inputs
Authors:   TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION, JAPAN, KOUMURA SHINGO , Liu Yanqing ,   TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION, JAPAN, Yamamoto Masaki ,   TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION, JAPAN
Published: April 2022

"The damping force control system of the shock absorber is relatively simply constituted and adopted widely. Skyhook semi-active control logic is representative algorithm which reduces vehicle vibration due to road input and vehicle posture changes such as roll or pitch angle due to driver operation input. However, it is difficult to reduce both of vehicle vibration and vehicle posture change when road input and driver operation input occur simultaneously like a case to run through the corner with road undulation. For this problem, control method considering the frequency range difference between vehicle behavior due to road input and that due to driver operation input is suggested. Also, the effectiveness of changing control constant depending on the vehicle state such as tire contact load is reported. In this paper vehicle behavior due to road input and that of driver operation input is calculated for analysis of skyhook shock absorber control using random wave which simulated actual road surface and driver maneuver.Non-linearity caused by the difference between target damping force and actual damping force increases vehicle behavior due to driver operation input in case of combination with road input. Also amplitude dependency was evaluated by changing the scale of road and driver input. As a result, it was confirmed that the effect of combination input is particularly remarkable when road surface input is large compared to driver input. Countermeasure control logic with additional damping force calculated with vehicle model is proposed to decrease vehicle behavior due to driver operation input. The vehicle model based on 3DOF of roll, lateral and yaw direction estimates vehicle behavior due to driver input. In addition, improvement of the estimation precision was attempted by digitizing suspension properties considering change of the damping force due to shock absorber damping force control in a frequency domain. The estimated state accuracy and the vehicle performance improvement were confirmed in actual vehicle tests."