bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Autoguérison et relation corps-esprit construction d’un cadre théorique et étude de cas
Authors: Di Scala Emmanuella , Malpel Sébastien , Kessouar Dalila
Published: March 2022

L’enjeu de cet article sera d’ouvrir la voie à un futur projet de recherche sociétale portant sur les représentations associées au concept d’autoguérison et à la relation corps/esprit. Pour cela un cadre théorique sera établi et utilisé lors d’une étude de cas. La méthodologie employée consistera en une analyse textuelle qualitative et comparative des discours de quatre scientifiques au sein de quatre ouvrages portant sur la notion d’autoguérison et de relation corps/esprit. Quatre angles d’analyse seront abordés : 1) la représentation du scientifique sur la relation corps/esprit ; 2) la représentation du scientifique sur les limites du champ d’action de l’autoguérison ; 3) la représentation du scientifique sur le rôle de la médecine dans le soin ; 4) l’évaluation de l’ancrage sociologique moderne ou postmoderne de l’auteur. Il apparaît que les scientifiques étudiés possèdent une représentation analogue sur la relation corps/esprit, mobilisant des théories explicatives communes. Cependant, leurs représentations concernant les champs d’actions de l’autoguérison et le rôle de la médecine dans le soin, pourraient différer selon leur ancrage sociologique moderne ou post-moderne. Il sera donc important d’approfondir cette analyse sur un effectif plus important et sur des publics différents, afin de définir les représentations associées au concept d’autoguérison qui sera par ailleurs, à caractériser.
Exponential attractors for two-dimensional nonlocal diffusion lattice systems with delay
Authors: Yang Lin , Wang Yejuan , Kloeden Peter E.
Published: March 2022

In this paper, we study the long term dynamical behavior of a two-dimensional nonlocal diffusion lattice system with delay. First some sufficient conditions for the construction of an exponential attractor are presented for infinite dimensional autonomous dynamical systems with delay. Then, the existence of exponential attractors for the two-dimensional nonlocal diffusion delay lattice system is established by using the new method of tail-estimates of solutions and overcoming the difficulties caused by the nonlocal diffusion operator and the multi-dimensionality.
The number of limit cycles by perturbing a piecewise linear system with three zones
Authors: Zhang Xiaolei , Xiong Yanqin , Zhang Yi
Published: March 2022

First, this paper provides a new proof for the expression of the generalized first order Melnikov function on piecewise smooth differential systems with multiply straight lines. Then, by using the Melnikov function, we consider the limit cycle bifurcation problem of a 3-piecewise near Hamiltonian system with two switching lines, obtaining \begin{document}$ 2n+3[\frac{n+1}{2}] $\end{document} limit cycles near the double generalized homoclinic loop.
Application of machine learning and its improvement technology in modeling of total energy consumption of air conditioning water system
Authors: Zhu Qixin ,   School of Mechanical Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, No. 55 Changjiang Road, Suzhou 215009, China, Liu Mengyuan , Liu Hongli , Zhu Yonghong ,   Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Intelligent Building Energy Efficiency, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, No. 1 Kerui Road, Suzhou 215009, China,   School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, No. 1 Kerui Road, Suzhou 215009, China,   School of Mechanical Engineering, School of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute, No. 27 Taoyang south Road, Jingdezhen 333001, China
Published: March 2022

Accurate energy consumption model is the basis of energy saving optimal control of air conditioning system. The existing energy consumption model of air conditioning water system mainly focuses on a certain equipment or a part of the cycle. However, the coupling between water system equipment will affect the setting of optimal energy consumption of equipment. It is necessary to establish the energy consumption model of water system as a whole. However, air conditioning water system is a highly nonlinear complex system, and its precise physical model is difficult to establish. The main goal of this paper is to develop an accurate machine learning modeling and optimization technique to predict the total energy consumption of air conditioning water system by using the actual operation data collected. The main contributions of this work are as follows: (1) Three commonly used machine learning techniques, artificial neural network (ANN), support vector machine (SVM) and classification regression tree (CART), are used to build prediction models of air conditioning water system energy consumption. The results show that all the three models have fast training speed, but the ANN model has better performance in cross-validation. (2) The improved differential evolution algorithm was used to optimize the parameters (initial weights and thresholds) of the ANN, which solved the problem that the ANN is easy to fall into the local optimal solution. The simulation results show that the root mean square error (RMSE) of the improved model decreases by 20.5%, the mean absolute error (MAE) decreases by 30.2%, and the coefficient of determination (R2) increases from 0.9227 to 0.9512. (3) Sensitivity analysis of the established optimization model shows that chilled water flow, chilled water outlet temperature and air conditioning load are the main factors affecting the total energy consumption.
Digital archives, fandom histories, and the reproduction of the hegemony of play
Authors: Woodhouse Taylore Nicole
Published: March 2022

Fan-made videos documenting the history of video games are growing in popularity on social media platforms like YouTube. These histories help fans imagine their communities by telling stories about who belongs and what modes of fandom are accepted. The fan archives that fan-historians draw from when constructing and narrating history thus play an important role in determining who can and cannot be represented in fan histories. As a case study of a fan-made history video about League of Legends (2009) makes clear, the archive of game play footage that League of Legends fans use to create their history videos contributes to the writing of histories that imagine a fan community devoid of women, people of color, and others who have historically been marginalized within gaming culture. On commercial platforms like YouTube, fan archives are powerfully shaped not only by fans and fan culture but also by the computer algorithms that process, organize, and present information. The algorithmic curation of League of Legends' game play footage archive presents an image of the game’s fandom in which women and people of color are invisible—an invisibility reproduced and reified as fans use the archive to write histories of their community.
Furry fandom, aesthetics, and the potential in new objects of fannish interest
Authors: Dunn Kameron
Published: March 2022

Furry fandom has received little critical scholarly attention to date even though furries have populated the same spaces as other fandoms since the 1970s and engage in the same practices, including cosplay, fan art, and fan fiction. Yet furries deserve further study, particularly in light of the fandom's unique uniting feature: the object of fannish interest is an aesthetic. By deploying an aesthetic of anthropomorphic animals as text, furries broaden the notion of what an object of fandom can be and shed light on the sorts of transformative potential engagement that objects can have for fans. This argument, situated via a history of furry fandom in the 1970s, draws on fan-made sources, including today's furry art, to demonstrate how furry aesthetic manifests in real situations—and how furry aesthetic has the potential to broaden beyond studies of fans to queer and animal studies.
"The republic of games: Textual culture between old books and new media," by Elyse Graham
Authors: Black Suzanne R.
Published: March 2022

Review of Elyse Graham, The republic of games: Textual culture between old books and new media. Montreal: McGill-Queens University Press, 2018, paperback, $24.95 (176p), ISBN 9780773553392.
ICT Self-Efficacy and ICT Interest Mediate the Gender Differences in Digital Reading: A Multilevel Serial Mediation Analysis
Authors: Yu Hangyan , Hu Jie
Published: March 2022

With an increasing number of information has disseminated in the digital form, digital reading, a sub-construct of ICT literacy, is significant for young generations to succeed in the digital era. gender differences, however is ob-served in students’ digital reading performance which calls for meticulous ex-amination. This study aimed to explore whether ICT self-efficacy and ICT in-terest could explain the gender differences in digital reading, and how ICT self-efficacy and ICT interest are associated in explaining the gender differ-ences in digital reading. Data from 6,173 samples from 192 schools in Estonia who took part in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2018 were collected. Multilevel serial mediation analysis showed that both ICT self-efficacy and ICT interest mediated the gender differences in digital reading, the lower level of ICT self-efficacy and ICT interest girls had could explain the decrease of their digital reading performance. Results also indicat-ed that girls were not inherently less interested in ICT, and the seemingly less ICT interest girls had was largely owing to their lower level of ICT self-efficacy shaped by the general sex-role stereotype of computer use. Pedagogi-cal intervention on strengthening girls’ ICT self-efficacy was suggested to in-crease girls ICT interest and their digital reading performance to empower them in the digital era.
Design of a Smart MOOC Trust Model: Towards a Dynamic Peer Recommendation to Foster Collaboration and Learner’s Engagement
Authors: Elghomary Khadija , Bouzidi Driss , Daoudi Najima
Published: March 2022

Recent evolutions in the Internet of Things (IoT) and Social IoT (SIoT) are facilitating collaboration as well as social interactions between entities in various environments, especially Smart Learning Ecosystems (SLEs). However, in these contexts, trust issues become more intense, learners feel suspicious and avoid collaborating with their peers, leading to their demotivation and disengagement. Hence, a trust management system (TMS) has become a crucial challenge to promote qualified collaboration and stimulate learners' engagement. In the literature, several trust models were proposed in various domains, but rarely those that address trust issues in SLEs, especially in MOOCs. While these models exclusively rank the best nodes and fail to detect the untrustworthy ones. Therefore, in this paper, we propose Machine Learning-based trust evaluation model that considers social and dynamic trust parameters to quantify entities' behaviors. It can distinguish trustworthy and untrustworthy behaviors in MOOCs to recommend benign peers while blocking malicious ones to build a dynamic trust-based peer recommendation in the future phase. Our model prevents learners from wasting their time in unprofitable interactions, protects them from malicious actions, and boosts their engagement. A simulation experiment using real-world SIoT datasets and encouraging results show the performance of our trust model.
Technocreativity, Social Networks and Entrepreneurship: Diagnostics of Skills in University Students
Authors: Comesaña-Comesaña Patricia , Amorós-Pons Anna , Alexeeva-Alexeev Inna
Published: March 2022

This paper presents the first exploratory results of a research integrated in a more global project on digital and entrepreneurial skills of students at the University ***. The study reveals gaps in professional skills such as problem solving, strategic thinking and creativity. For this reason, a pedagogical pro-ject is created integrating the use of social media in training (entrepreneur-ship), research (knowledge management) and university transfer. The aim is to develop skills in digital talent, (techno)creativity and to implement work methodologies, such as design thinking and growth hacking. In addition, it will encourage self-learning of the students, improve their e-competences, creative capacity and practical skills for a better adaptation to the needs of social demand, where knowledge transfer generates development and growth scenarios (startup) and fosters innovation (competitive capacity). This inno-vative initiative will enable Higher Education students to acquire the most demanded skills in a multidisciplinary labour market that also requires spe-cific ones in creativity, strategic capacity, project management, product in-novation, solution generation and entrepreneurship. This is what forms the basis of an integral project of triangular synergy between University, Busi-ness and Society.
Using Semantic Patterns in Web Search and Assessment of Professionally Oriented Texts in a Foreign Language for Training Students in Higher Education Institutions of Mineral Resource Profile
Authors: Murzo Yuliya , Chuvileva Natalia , Schetinina Aleksandra
Published: March 2022

The article aims to analyse the possibility to use methods of web search and identification of semantic text patterns with a view to automatising the web search and assessment of professionally oriented texts used to train students at foreign language departments of higher education institutions of mineral re-source development profile. The work provides an overview of relevant AI methods that may be employed to perform the tasks mentioned above and anal-yses a number of similar works. It offers a structure of patterns that can be used to find relevant research articles and describes approaches to assessment of the texts found. It also proposes the front-end structure of an application that can be tasked with web search and subsequent assessment of texts. The case study pre-sents semantic analysis and assessment of a professionally oriented text written in English. The research done shows good prospects for using Semantic Web technologies for web search and assessment of texts available on the Internet not only for training students but also, in broader formulation, for teaching and learning in a chosen direction. This is ensured by flexibility of methods for se-mantic pattern search and identification. With respect to further development of the research, the authors consider designing an operational application for text search and assessment and also outcome analysis for a variety of directions of learning within the mineral resources development domain.
Influence of Learning Engagement on Learning Effect under a Virtual Reality (VR) Environment
Authors: Xin Youyang
Published: March 2022

Abstract—In this study, the differences generated by the scenario resources under a virtual reality (VR) environment to the learning effect and learning engagement were explored. Next, the influences of learning engagement (including emotional engagement and cognitive engagement) on the immediate test performance and the one-week-later test performance were tested. Finally, the mediating role played by the VR technology in the facilitating effect of learning engagement on the learning effect was analyzed. Results reveal that the emotional engagement (3.366) and cognitive engagement (3.854) in the experimental group under the VR environment are higher than those (3.325 and 3.618, respectively) in the control group. The difference between the control group and experimental group in the aspect of immediate test performance is significant at the 0.01 level (t=−3.388, p=0.002), and the same significance level is manifested in the aspect of one-week-later test performance (t=-3.126, p=0.003). Whether VR-based teaching was adopted plays a complete mediating role in the influences of cognitive engagement on the immediate test performance and the one-week-later test performance, but it does not play any mediating role in the influences of emotional engagement on the immediate test performance and the one-week-later test performance. The conclusions have important reference values for giving full play to VR-based teaching design, encouraging front-line teachers to participate in customizing VR-based immersive teaching resources, optimizing the VR learning contents highlighting emotional elements, and designing multichannel perceived knowledge contexts.
Analysis on College Students’ Extracurricular Learning Interests Based on Their Book Borrowing Behaviours
Authors: Li Changliang , Liu Hui
Published: March 2022

Extracurricular reading can broaden the horizons of college students. Exploring the patterns of students’ extracurricular learning and analyzing the relationships between extracurricular learning interests and book borrowing behaviours and the intervention mechanism of book borrowing can provide scientific guidance and basis for the comprehensive development of college students. Most of the existing learning interest analysis models have ignored other feedbacks generated in learner’s behaviours, and there are very few studies on learning interests based on book borrowing behaviours. Therefore, this paper conducts an analysis of college students’ extracurricular learning interests based on book borrowing behaviours. Based on the data of college students’ book borrowing behaviours obtained from the service terminal of the library management system, an extracurricular learning interest model for learners was constructed, and the extracurricular learning interest degrees of college students were calculated based on the borrowing time and the number of borrowing times. A multi-layer interest model based on knowledge graph was also constructed to further improve the accuracy of the analysis results of learners’ extracurricular learning interests.
Assistive Technology to Promote Physical Activity in Students With Disabilities
Authors: Bassette Laura A. , Savage Melissa N.
Published: March 2022

Students with disabilities engage in lower levels of physical activity compared to those without disabilities. Assistive technology (AT) is a strategy that can be used to promote physical activity in students with disabilities. The purposes of this chapter are to discuss (1) the importance of physical activity for students with disabilities, (2) cutting-edge research on the use of digital technology to support physical activity engagement, (3) the implementation of evidence-based physical activity interventions in school settings, and (4) implications for practice and future directions.
Technology-Facilitated Assessment, Monitoring, Treatment, and Intervention for Mental Health and Behavioral Issues Among Individuals With Special Needs
Authors: Liu Xiongyi , Wang Zhilin
Published: March 2022

Children and youth with disabilities are at a high risk of developing mental health and behavioral disorders due to functional limitations in important cognitive, social, emotional, and communication domains. The purpose of this study is to describe the status of current research on technology-based solutions to address mental health and behavioral challenges among individuals with special needs. Several trends were noted. First, there has been an increasing acceptance of telemental health provision. Second, contemporary research has gone far beyond voice calling, texting, emailing, video chatting, or videoconferencing. The authors highlight advanced technologies such as web-based interactive modules, computer games, virtual reality, wearable devices, and artificial intelligence. Third, technology-based solutions have been developed targeting a wide range of mental health and behavioral issues, ranging from anxiety, stress, depression, loneliness, aggression, eating disorder, to PTSD. One population of special needs, autism spectrum disorder, has received an exceptional amount of attention.
Glocalization of Human Rights
Authors: İşlek Serpil
Published: March 2022

The purpose of this study is to analyse the implications of globalisation on human rights. Therefore, this chapter focuses on the mutual relationship between globalization, human rights, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The chapter mainly studies the relationship between globalisation and human rights to show the positive and negative reflections of globalisation. Moreover, it studies the human rights and implications of the pandemic, and general analysis of the emergent glocal focus rather than global trend. The analysis suggests that the globalisation trend has been challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic. In contrast to globalisation, the pandemic has increased nationalist, protectionist, and exceptional local measurements and policies to prevent the transmission of virus and maintain the essential human rights, needs, and well-being of their own people. The significance of the study is its analysis of the mutual relationship between globalisation, human rights, and the recent COVID-19 pandemic.
Environmental Policies for Green Cryptocurrency Mining
Authors: Oğhan Volkan
Published: March 2022

Cryptocurrencies have appeared as a decentralized virtual currency where all users can contribute to the system and special encryption technology is used. Technologies from which cryptocurrencies originate are also promising technologies. Cryptocurrency mining, one of these technologies, provides a consensus algorithm that ensures the processing and security of the unique ledger. However, this algorithm requires a large amount of processing power for proof of operation, resulting in high levels of electricity consumption. The heat generated by cryptocurrency mining and the carbon emission due to high electricity consumption from fossil fuels will harm national and global efforts on the environment. In this respect, it may be possible to introduce various solutions and suggestions, including government intervention and technological changes in cryptocurrency mining.
A Comparative Study of Islamic Fiscal Instrument Securitization from History to the Modern Age
Authors: Musari Khairunnisa
Published: March 2022

In the heyday of Islam, esham attested as a fiscal instrument to raise funds from the public. The Ottoman Empire developed esham for facing a crisis after the war defeat. Esham became the milestone for the presence of the world's first Islamic securitization. In Islamic modern ages, sukuk grows as one of the blooming Islamic financial instruments globally and has become a new investment alternative that promises a return that is safe, competitive, and sharia compliant. Historians mentioned that esham is actually the origin of sukuk. The sukuk that is known today is actually a form of modern esham and cash waqf. In Indonesia, cash waqf that is placed on a sukuk becomes a new fiscal instrument. Through cash waqf-linked sukuk (CWLS), the public can contribute to national development as well as do waqf for social projects, and the fund will be returned at the maturity date. Overall, this chapter provides an overview of these three Islamic fiscal instrument securitizations as alternative sustainable financing to face the challenges in public economics in the globalization era.
COVID-19
Authors: Jha Anand , Jha Nisha , Bhatele Kirti Raj , Patsariya Sanjay , Pahariya Janki Sharan
Published: March 2022

The spread of coronavirus and the resulting lockdown has significantly disrupted every facet of human life including education. Educational institutions from elementary to tertiary level in India were shut. This unexpected move had created a huge gap within the education sector. In India, almost 32 crore learners stopped going to schools, colleges. Since change is inevitable, the education world reacted positively to all elicited challenges and ensured the continuity of teaching-learning by reinventing themselves and adopting to various online teaching tools. This chapter is a depiction of online teaching-learning adopted by educational institutions of India from elementary to tertiary level; hence, it addresses required essentialities, changes, government initiatives, digital revolution opportunities, issues in practical learning in online mode, Ed-Tech start-ups, challenges, and inequalities for the same in Indian context.
Student-Centered On-Line Teaching During COVID-19
Authors: Patmon Denise , Bosneva Jouliana
Published: March 2022

The purpose of this chapter is to share challenges, successes, and continued efforts to keep students at the center while adapting to the demands of integrating technology into the college classroom during a pandemic. COVID-19 disrupted our teaching practice unlike anything most of us have ever experienced. In order to keep communication open with students once the pandemic set in, the authors collected data during and after teaching for two semesters to learn about students' academic behavior self-assessment, their needs, and their thoughts about the changing pedagogy and teaching practice to best respond to their urgency. Collaboration between a faculty member and Instructional Technology Specialist scaffolded learning and teaching in this one course in ways that proved to be transformative.
Drug-Medical Device Combination Product Design and Quality Control
Authors: Magaña Hector , Bucio Emilio , Carrillo-Cedillo Eugenia Gabriela , Cornejo-Bravo Jose Manuel , Palomino Vizcaino Kenia
Published: March 2022

The research and design of new combined products are of high interest and importance for public health. That is why the design of new technologies in medical devices requires the use of robust procedures, such as the use of ionizing radiation. These methodologies favor the modification of the surface of the medical device for the incorporation of analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial drugs. These medical devices will have the ability to generate prophylactic effects against inflammatory and infectious processes when patients undergo a surgical medical procedure. That is why the FDA describes a combination product as “therapeutic and diagnostic products that combine drugs, devices, and biological products.” In this chapter, the characteristics and advantages of using the different ionizing radiation methodologies mentioned previously for designing these new drug-medical device combination products are explored. In the same way, quality control tests are described for these products at the research or industrial level.
Cleaning, Disinfection, and Sterilization of Medical Devices
Authors: Pino-Ramos Victor H. , Daza-Gómez Lucy Caterine
Published: March 2022

Implants and medical devices are essential elements for the success of surgical interventions. Many of these materials come into contact with the sterile tissue or mucous membrane of the patient. As a consequence, they are free of pathogens before use to prevent possible infections, since an inadequate cleaning, disinfection, or sterilization process can result in a nosocomial infection that can cause various complications, including ending the life of the patient. However, not all medical items are treated under the same conditions or with the same rigor; it all depends on the role they play during the medical intervention. This chapter deals with the different cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization methods and their advantages and disadvantages; Traditional and more recently developed methods are also discussed. Innovative methods have emerged as promising candidates for solving the downside of traditional methods, but it didn't take long to spot their downside.
Metrology in Science
Authors: Nava Vega Adriana
Published: March 2022

Metrology is the science of measurements. With critical importance in medicine and healthcare, frequent confusion in terms and definitions affects communications or understanding of either health personnel or manufacturer and engineer instructions and limitations when using devices. In this review, the author presents terms defined by the International Bureau of Weight and Measurements regarding quantities and units, measurements, devices for measurements, properties of measurement devices, and measurement standards. Understanding metrological concepts and recognizing limitations and constraints ensure proper use in health devices. Measurements in health areas are not ubiquitous. An erroneous measurement can expose patients, and therefore, it is crucial to understand the importance of measures. On the engineering side, manufacturing and quality control is an important issue due the applications of its devices and a common understanding of vocabulary should be effective. In this review, metrology terms will be presented, and non-invasive techniques to measure are included.
Strengthening of Reinforced Concrete with Steel Fibre: A Review
Authors: Solahuddin B.A.
Published: March 2022

Cement, sand, aggregate, water and reinforcing bar are the materials in reinforced concrete, while a mixture without reinforcing bar is known as concrete. Concrete and reinforced concrete is the most widely used building material in the construction industry. Brittleness occurs when concrete is unable to withstand tensile loading, resulting in brittle failure. Moreover, fibre has the potential to improve the tensile strength of concrete. Due to this fact, steel fibre reinforced concrete (SFRC) exhibits superior resistance to cracking. It intends to increase the durability and decrease the crack deformation characteristics. This review article discusses the theoretical aspects of SFRC. Numerous references from both early and contemporary writers are included to help tie the subject together chronologically. This historical analysis aims to provide context for what is currently known about SFRC rather than to provide historical reporting. Hence, this paper discusses a review on the strengthening of reinforced concrete with steel fibre based on previous research before this.
Structural and Magnetic Characteristics Evaluation of Iron Oxide Extracted from Printer Toner Wastes
Authors: Nazlan Rodziah , Ghazali Nurul Hidayah , Nazri Nur Asyikin Ahmad , Razali Azaima , Ramli Ros Azlinawati , Lian Yuen Mei
Published: March 2022

The need to recycle and develop valuable materials from waste, and use them in various applications have become increasingly important in recent decades. Printer toner waste is one of the most polluting electronic waste due to the toxic nature of the material content in it. Despite the toxicity of the material in the toner powder, it contains iron oxide that can be extracted and recycled to make a beneficial material. Therefore, this study aims to investigate a facile and effective method to extract iron oxide from printer toner waste powder. Magnetic separation and oxidation processes were used as a method for extraction and phase conversion. The structural transformation was investigated using X-ray diffraction, microstructural observation using scanning electron microscope whereas static magnetic characteristics were investigates using vibrating sample magnetometer. The results from XRD spectra show that printer toner wastes that have been subjected to magnetic separation process and chemical treatment, even without any heat treatment process, have produced a single phase magnetite. Through the process of heat treatment on the sample, phase transformation from magnetite to hematite occurs, in which a single phase of hematite is obtained at a temperature of 1400 °C. The saturation magnetization of the sample also showed a reduction where the sample before undergoing the heat treatment process had a saturated magnetization value of 18.81 emu/g. Meanwhile, after heat treatment, the saturation magnetization value decreased to 0.42 emu/g. These results are in line with the phase transformation shown where magnetite has high ferrimagnetic characteristics, whereas hematite is basically antiferromagnetic at room temperature. However, the saturation magnetization that has been obtained in hematite shows a little difference to that of commercially sold hematite. This proves that iron oxide extracted from printer toner waste has a high potential as an alternative to existing commercial iron oxide in producing high performance magnetic materials.
Prediction on Mechanism Design of Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Synthesis Using Oleic Acid as a Template
Authors: Azhar Siti Maizatul Ameera , Samah Nurlin Abu , Maniam Gaanty Pragas
Published: March 2022

Palm Fatty Acid Distillate (PFAD) consists of more than 80% of free fatty acids, primarily palmitic acid and oleic acid, which can be esterified and added to the biofuel and oleo-chemical industries as feedstock. Oleic Acid is also known as cis-9-octadecenoic acid has the chemical formula C18H34O2 or (CH3(CH2)7CHCH(CH2)7COOH). There have been numerous studies that demonstrate the nutritional value of oleic acid. The objectives of this research were to simulate the mechanism reaction design for Molecularly Imprinted Polymer (MIP) synthesis and to predict the bonding formed after synthesis by comparing the monomers and template. The mechanism and complexes formed were drawn according to the theoretical mechanism of MIP. The chemicals involved were allylthiourea as the monomer, oleic acid as the template, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as the cross-linker, 2,2-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as the initiator, and acetonitrile as porogenic solvent. The monomer, allylthiourea was compared with the other two monomers which are vinylpyridine and acrylamide in MIP synthesis prediction. On average, when the allylthiourea was used as the monomer, the bond length was quite similar for each connection of atoms (1.316 Angstrom). However, when the vinylpyridine and acrylamide were used as the monomers, the length of the bonds was not similar to each other. On top of that, the bond angles prediction for allylthiourea-oleic acid complex agreed with the molecular geometry shape was tetrahedral due to the average angle was 109.5o. Next, two different templates; oleic acid and palmitic acid; were compared in MIP synthesis prediction. The bond length for oleic acid was on average quite similar to each other (1.316 Angstrom) whereas for palmitic acid as the template the bond length was not similar. The palmitic acid-allylthiourea complex showed the angles reading was not synchronized to each other and quite unstable, unlike the oleic acid-allylthiourea complex. The results agree that oleic acid as the template was the best in this setting parameter for MIP synthesis.
Combinatorial Expression of NK Cell Receptors Governs Cell Subset Reactivity and Effector Functions but Not Tumor Specificity
Authors: Rocca Yamila , Pouxvielh Kevin , Marotel Marie , Benezech Sarah , Jaeger Baptiste , Allatif Omran , Bendriss-Vermare Nathalie , Marçais Antoine , Walzer Thierry
Published: March 2022

NK cell receptors allow NK cells to recognize targets such as tumor cells. Many of them are expressed on a subset of NK cells, independently of each other, which creates a vast diversity of receptor combinations. Whether these combinations influence NK cell antitumor responses is not well understood. We addressed this question in the C57BL/6 mouse model and analyzed the individual effector response of 444 mouse NK cell subsets, defined by combinations of 12 receptors, against tumor cell lines originating from different tissues and mouse strains. We found a wide range of reactivity among NK subsets, but the same hierarchy of responses was observed for the different tumor types, showing that the repertoire of NK cell receptors does not encode for different tumor specificities but for different intrinsic reactivities. The coexpression of CD27, NKG2A, and DNAM-1 identified subsets with relative cytotoxic specialization, whereas reciprocally, CD11b and KLRG1 defined the best IFN-γ producers. The expression of educating receptors Ly49C, Ly49I, and NKG2A was also strongly correlated with IFN-γ production, but this effect was suppressed by unengaged receptors Ly49A, Ly49F, and Ly49G2. Finally, IL-15 coordinated NK cell effector functions, but education and unbound inhibitory receptors retained some influence on their response. Collectively, these data refine our understanding of the mechanisms governing NK cell reactivity, which could help design new NK cell therapy protocols.
PRMT5 in T Cells Drives Th17 Responses, Mixed Granulocytic Inflammation, and Severe Allergic Airway Inflammation
Authors: Lewis Brandon W , Amici Stephanie A , Kim Hye-Young , Shalosky Emily M , Khan Aiman Q , Walum Joshua , Gowdy Kymberly M , Englert Joshua A , Porter Ned A , Grayson Mitchell H , Britt Rodney D , Guerau-de-Arellano Mireia
Published: March 2022

Severe asthma is characterized by steroid insensitivity and poor symptom control and is responsible for most asthma-related hospital costs. Therapeutic options remain limited, in part due to limited understanding of mechanisms driving severe asthma. Increased arginine methylation, catalyzed by protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs), is increased in human asthmatic lungs. In this study, we show that PRMT5 drives allergic airway inflammation in a mouse model reproducing multiple aspects of human severe asthma. We find that PRMT5 is required in CD4+ T cells for chronic steroid-insensitive severe lung inflammation, with selective T cell deletion of PRMT5 robustly suppressing eosinophilic and neutrophilic lung inflammation, pathology, airway remodeling, and hyperresponsiveness. Mechanistically, we observed high pulmonary sterol metabolic activity, retinoic acid-related orphan receptor γt (RORγt), and Th17 responses, with PRMT5-dependent increases in RORγt’s agonist desmosterol. Our work demonstrates that T cell PRMT5 drives severe allergic lung inflammation and has potential implications for the pathogenesis and therapeutic targeting of severe asthma.
The genetic counseling in a patient affected by congenital polyneuropathy after a “diagnostic odyssey” recently solved with WES approach
Authors: Crimi Marco , Tarawneh Adnan
Published: March 2022

Counseling after WES/WGS presents challenges for healthcare providers as the availability of consumer-driven is rapidly increasing. The present report uncovers an extremely rare homozygous nonsense mutation c. 1639C>T (p.Gln547Ter) in PRX gene of a patient with heterogeneous manifestation of Charcot-Marie-Tooth. Such studies can help to conduct genetic counseling and subsequently more accurate support to individual cases with neuro-genetic conditions and solved through whole genome/exome-wide screening.
Priorities for access to early childhood development services for children with disabilities in South Africa
Authors: Karisa Amani , Samuels Chantal , Watermeyer Brian , McKenzie Judith , Vergunst Richard
Published: March 2022

Background: South Africa has migrated the responsibility for early childhood development (ECD) centres from the Department of Social Services to the Department of Basic Education. This functional shift has ushered in consultations and discussions on how best to implement ECD, including opportunities the change may bring.Aim: By anchoring the understanding of ECD services in nurturing care, this study aimed to elucidate the provision of appropriate, inclusive services in early childhood development, including early childhood intervention, for children with disabilities in South Africa against the backdrop of the migration of services from one government ministry to another.Methods: This is an analytical article based on South African literature on ECD services, including interventions, with particular attention to children with disabilities, basing our understanding of these services in nurturing care.Results: We elucidate how the ideals of the Nurturing Care Framework can be achieved in the context of children with disabilities in South Africa using five themes: the need to localise services, developing tools and strategies for screening and early intervention, enhancing the efficacy of caregivers, supporting and training staff and collaborations.Conclusion: It is necessary to empower caregivers and professionals to address early childhood intervention and ECD needs of children with disabilities. Early childhood development centres are an important context for nurturing care, providing opportunities to promote and sustain health amongst a large number of children. Considering the function shift of ECD services in South Africa, these centres are well positioned to further nurturing care to children with disabilities through the provision of supportive environments that promote health and well-being.
Intracranial Arachnoid Cysts Presenting with First-Episode Mania and Subsequent Hyperammonemic Encephalopathy: A Case Report
Authors: Kantipudi Suvarna Jyothi , Suresh Navina
Published: March 2022

Intracranial arachnoid cysts are often an incidental discovery in the course of neuroimaging for other conditions. While often asymptomatic, cysts which enlarge can cause mass or pressure effects on adjacent structures. We report a 33-year-old male patient who presented with first episode of manic symptoms. Following treatment with sodium valproate patient developed altered sensorium and was subsequently diagnosed with middle cranial fossa arachnoid cysts and valproic acid-induced hyperammonemic encephalopathy that was successfully treated with enteric lactulose. There are several case reports of arachnoid cysts presenting in patients with psychiatric disorders and debating whether these cysts are a cause or co-occurrence. In 16 reported patients, who had arachnoid cysts with psychiatric symptoms, 9 had cysts exerting mass/pressure effects. Three patients had surgical intervention and showed significant improvement following surgery. So did 1 patient who was treated with mannitol infusion. Intracranial arachnoid cysts may also present with atypical psychiatric symptoms or complicate the treatment process by way of poor response or treatment emergent adverse effects. There is an important role for thorough neurological examination, neuroimaging, and vigilant use of psychotropics in such patients.
A Case of Steroid Induced Psychosis
Authors: Batra Surbhi , Narvariya Ashish , Kandpal Manish
Published: March 2022

Corticosteroids are one of the widely used drugs in medicine; however, the use of steroids is associated with undesirable side effects. We present here a case of 18-year-old girl with nephrotic syndrome who developed auditory hallucinations, muttering to self, social withdrawal, and fearfulness after she was given steroids for her treatment. Steroids were tapered and stopped, and she was started on olanzapine after which she improved completely. Although a relationship between hypothalmic–pitutary axis and psychosis has been clearly established, still there is a dearth of literature in the area of steroid-induced psychosis and its management.
Anxiety, Knowledge, Attitude, and Preventive Practices Toward COVID-19 Among Patients with Psychiatric Illness – A Comparative Study from South India
Authors: Raghuraman Preethy , Simiyon Manjula , Rudravaram Vishnu Vardhan , Mani Manikandan , Thilakan Pradeep
Published: March 2022

Background:

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has induced serious threats to people's mental health. There are increasing concerns about anxiety linked with COVID-19. There are very few studies conducted to understand the needs of the mentally ill during this pandemic.

Aim:

The study aimed to assess and compare the anxiety, knowledge, attitude, and preventive practices related to COVID-19 among people with and without psychiatric illnesses.

Materials and Methods:

A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among patients with psychiatric illnesses and their caregivers in the psychiatry department of a tertiary hospital. All consenting adults with a diagnosed psychiatric illness and scoring < 3 in the Clinical Global Impression-Severity scale were included in the case group. All consenting adult caregivers who accompany the patients were included in the reference group. Coronavirus Anxiety Scale and Knowledge, Attitude, and Preventive Practices towards COVID-19 Questionnaire were administered. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS (19.0 version).

Results:

Less than 10% of the participants in both the groups had COVID-related anxiety. 98.3% of the participants in both the groups knew that isolation and treatment of COVID-19-affected individuals can prevent the spread of the virus. Avoidance of handshaking (case – 85% and reference – 81.7%) and going out of home unnecessarily (case – 83.3% and reference – 81.7%) were the predominant preventive practices in both the groups. Only, the attitude had a statistically significant difference between both the groups (P < 0.05).

Conclusion:

Patients with psychiatric illness had fair knowledge, and they followed preventive practices toward COVID-19 that are comparable with healthy individuals. There were discrepancies between their knowledge and preventive practices.
Psychological Impact of COVID-19 on Female Health Professionals
Authors: Bansal Priya , Agarwal Supriya
Published: March 2022

Background:

The World Health Organization in January 2020 declared an outbreak of novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19, an international public health emergency. The suddenness of this calamity with no end in sight caused a great deal of stress, anxiety, and depression throughout the world.

Aim:

The aim of this study was to assess the psychological impact during the developing COVID-19 situation among female health professionals.

Methods:

This was an observation-based cross-sectional study conducted for a total of 3-month duration between August and October 2020. A structured questionnaire to assess the psychological impact was sent via the (email) electronic mail system, and responses were obtained from 343 female doctors.

Results:

The mean ± standard deviation values for age were found to be 39 ± 8 years. Insomnia, stress, and anxiety were seen in a majority of the respondents.

Conclusions:

The present study has shown severe psychological impact associated with the pandemic on female health-care workers and highlights the major factors associated.
Impact of Covid-19 pandemic on quality of life in persons with alcohol use disorder - A cross-sectional study
Authors: Ponnusamy Sindhu , Kantipudi Suvarna Jyothi
Published: March 2022

Introduction:

Alcohol use disorder has a chronic relapsing course. Various biological, psychological, environmental, and psychosocial factors play a major role in maintaining abstinence and determining relapse in patients. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant changes in every person's life. It is important to assess how this situation has determined alcohol use in the patients who had utilized deaddiction services in the past.

Aim:

The aim of this study is to assess the pattern of alcohol use, perceived stress, and quality of life (QOL) during COVID-19 in patients who had utilized deaddiction services for alcohol use disorder in the preceding 1 year.

Materials and Methods:

A cross-sectional design was employed in the study. After obtaining consent, telephonic interviewing of patients who had utilized deaddiction services during January–December 2019 was done, and questionnaires including sociodemographic details, Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire, Brief Substance Craving Scale, Perceived Stress Scale-10, and WHOQOL-BREF scale were administered to assess the pattern of alcohol use, stress levels, and QOL. Comparisons were carried out on different variables using SPSS version 20.

Results:

A total of 122 patients were inducted into the study. About 70.5% of the relapsed individuals belonged to joint families. There was a significant association between the poor QOL and relapse status of the individuals. High levels of stress were reported among the individuals who have relapsed compared to nonrelapsed individuals.

Conclusion:

High rates of relapse and higher stress levels were found in our study. This study has helped us to understand the pattern of alcohol use in individuals during this pandemic. It is important to address the factors contributing to relapse in individuals so as to focus on developing and implementing feasible and accessible interventions to help the individuals.