bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predicting snag fall in an old-growth forest after fire
Authors: Becker Kendall M. L. , Lutz James A.
Published: November 2023

Background

Snags, standing dead trees, are becoming more abundant in forests as tree mortality rates continue to increase due to fire, drought, and bark beetles. Snags provide habitat for birds and small mammals, and when they fall to the ground, the resulting logs provide additional wildlife habitat and affect nutrient cycling, fuel loads, and fire behavior. Predicting how long snags will remain standing after fire is essential for managing habitat, understanding chemical cycling in forests, and modeling forest succession and fuels. Few studies, however, have quantified how fire changes snag fall dynamics.

Results

We compared post-fire fall rates of snags that existed pre-fire (n = 2013) and snags created during or after the fire (n = 8222), using 3 years of pre-fire and 5 years of post-fire data from an annually monitored, 25.6-ha spatially explicit plot in an old-growth Abies concolor–Pinus lambertiana forest in the Sierra Nevada, CA, USA. The plot burned at low to moderate severity in the Rim Fire of 2013. We used random forest models to (1) identify predictors of post-fire snag fall for pre-existing and new snags and (2) assess the influence of spatial neighborhood and local fire severity on snag fall after fire. Fall rates of pre-existing snags increased 3 years after fire. Five years after fire, pre-existing snags were twice as likely to fall as new snags. Pre-existing snags were most likely to persist 5 years after fire if they were > 50 cm in diameter, > 20 m tall, and charred on the bole to heights above 3.7 m. New snags were also more likely to persist 5 years after fire if they were > 20 m tall. Spatial neighborhood (e.g., tree density) and local fire severity (e.g., fire-caused crown injury) within 15 m of each snag barely improved predictions of snag fall after fire.

Conclusions

Land managers should expect fall rates of pre-existing snags to exceed fall rates of new snags within 5 years after fire, an important habitat consideration because pre-existing snags represent a wider range of size and decay classes.
Incidence of thrombophilic gene polymorphism (MTHFR C677T) in Egyptian COVID-19 patients and its clinical implications
Authors: Abdelfattah Eman Badawy , Abdelmaksoud Sahar Samir , Shalaby Heba Mohamed , Abo-zid Saad Shehata , Youssef Mahmoud M. Aboulmagd M. , Elshebiny Ahmed Ali , Ezzelregal Hieba Gamal
Published: November 2023

Background

COVID-19 has an important component of organ damage which is COVID-19-associated coagulopathy. It is necessary to assess the risk in patients to develop a thrombophylaxis plan. The higher prevalence of key thrombophilic genetic variants, such as mutation of the C677T-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene in Eastern Mediterranean countries, makes it challenging to use the same criteria in other world countries with differing thrombophilic panels.

Objective

To find the incidence of MTHFR gene polymorphism in a cohort of Egyptian patients with COVID-19, and its association with thromboembolic events.

Subjects and methods

This was a prospective observational cohort study, done at Ain-Shams University isolation Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt. It included 33 patients with COVID-19 and 13 healthy controls. The patients underwent lab investigations: HRCT chest in which the extent of radiological affection was described in terms of severe form (> 50% of lungs are affected) and non-severe form (< 50% of lungs are affected) and assessment of MTHFR-C677T genotypes. Then follow-up for 28 days for vascular thrombotic manifestations.

Results

Out of 33 patients, MTHFR-gene mutation was found in 10 (incidence rate 30.3%). Severe form of affection in the HRCT chest was significantly related to mutation of the MTHFR gene (P value = 0.009). Patient cure and discharge were significantly related to the absence of mutation of MTHFR-gene (P value = 0.025), whereas death and radiological evidence of thrombosis were significantly related to the presence of MTHFR-gene mutation (P value = 0.027 and 0.022 respectively). Age > 55 years (60% sensitivity, 100% specificity, PPV 100%), albumin ≤ 3.2 gm/dl (50% sensitivity, 95.65% specificity, PPV83.3%), and ferritin > 453 ng/L (70% sensitivity, 82.61% specificity, PPV 63.6%) were predictors of mutation of MTHFR-gene.

Conclusion

Incidence of mutation of MTHFR-gene was 30.3% in COVID-19 patients. Results suggest a potential association between inherited MTHFR gene mutation and severe form of COVID-19, thromboembolic events, and mortality.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05679414. https://register.clinicaltrials.gov/prs/app/action/SelectProtocol?sid=S000CU2V&selectaction=Edit&uid=U00056R5&ts=2&cx=lrrb7q. Retrospectively registered. 9th Jan 2023.
Η ιστορία στη λογοτεχνία
Authors: Κοκολάκη Δήμητρα
Published: November 2023

Στόχος της παρούσας διατριβής είναι να αναδειχθεί η σχέση της Ιστορίας με τη Λογοτεχνία, η μετάπλαση της Ιστορίας σε Λογοτεχνία και η διδακτική αξιοποίησή της στα πλαίσια της διδασκαλίας της Λογοτεχνίας στο Γυμνάσιο και στο Λύκειο κατά τη χρονική περίοδο από το 1964 έως και το 2006. Αρχικά, μελετάται η σχέση των δύο μαθημάτων ως προς το περιεχόμενο και τον σκοπό τους με βάση τις αντίστοιχες θεωρίες της διδακτικής της Λογοτεχνίας και τις ιστοριογραφικές Σχολές και επισημαίνονται τα πεδία σύγκλισης και διαφοροποίησής τους. Ακολούθως, παρουσιάζεται η διδακτική σύνδεση της Λογοτεχνίας με την Ιστορία στα πλαίσια της διαθεματικότητας και της διεπιστημονικότητας και καταγράφονται τα αφηγηματικά, τα ποιητικά, τα θεατρικά και τα άλλα γραμματειακά είδη της Νεοελληνικής Λογοτεχνίας με ιστορικό περιεχόμενο. Ακόμη, εξετάζεται η διδασκαλία του μαθήματος της Λογοτεχνίας στη Δευτεροβάθμια Εκπαίδευση, με έμφαση στις εκπαιδευτικές μεταρρυθμίσεις του 1964, του 1976, του 1985 και του 1997, στο Διαθεματικό Ενιαίο Πλαίσιο Προγράμματος Σπουδών και στα αντίστοιχα Αναλυτικά και Ωρολόγια Προγράμματα Σπουδών. Επιπλέον, παρουσιάζονται τα σχολικά εγχειρίδια των «Νεοελληνικών Αναγνωσμάτων» και των «Κειμένων Νεοελληνικής Λογοτεχνίας» και καταγράφονται οι διαφοροποιήσεις στο περιεχόμενό τους και στην κατάταξη της ύλης τους, όπως αυτές προκύπτουν στις διάφορες εκδόσεις τους κατά τα σχολικά έτη από το 1964 έως και το 2006. Τέλος, καταγράφονται τα λογοτεχνικά κείμενα που εμπεριέχονται στα σχολικά εγχειρίδια της Λογοτεχνίας του Γυμνασίου και του Λυκείου, τα οποία αποτυπώνουν την ιστορική πραγματικότητα σε εθνικό και σε παγκόσμιο επίπεδο από την Αρχαιότητα έως τα τέλη του 20ού αιώνα. Η μελέτη αυτή, μέσω της καταγραφής των κειμένων με ιστορικό περιεχόμενο που περιέχονταν στα σχολικά εγχειρίδια της Λογοτεχνίας, αναδεικνύει τον ιστορικό χαρακτήρα των λογοτεχνικών κειμένων που διδάσκονται στη Δευτεροβάθμια Εκπαίδευση, τον τρόπο που πραγματοποιείται η μετάπλαση της ιστορικής και κοινωνικής πραγματικότητας σε λογοτεχνικό κείμενο, καθώς και τον σκοπό και τον τρόπο της ανθολόγησης των συγκεκριμένων ποιητικών και πεζών κειμένων, στα πλαίσια της διαμόρφωσης των εκάστοτε ισχυόντων Αναλυτικών Προγραμμάτων Σπουδών.
Case Report: Rare case of advanced metastatic Paget's disease of the breast
Authors: Chandak Suresh R , Ramala Sandeep Reddy , Chandak Meenakshi
Published: November 2023

Background A rare type of breast cancer is called Paget’s disease of the breast. It is a nipple-areolar complex condition that frequently coexists with in situ or invasive cancer. The most frequent presenting symptom is itching. The nipple-areolar complex frequently experiences eczematous alterations, which in more advanced stages result in ulcer formation and the eventual loss of the nipple and areola. The epidermotropic theory states that Paget’s cells are ductal cancer cells that have moved from the breast parenchyma to the nipple epidermis. The in situ transformation idea says that without any other pathologic process in the breast parenchyma. This case is unique because the right side of Paget’s disease of the breast was advanced and led to malignant right pleural effusion. A 71- year-old female came with complaints of itching, wound, and destruction of the right nipple and areola of the breast for three years. She also had complaints of breathlessness, weakness, and decreased appetite. This was clinically diagnosed as advanced metastatic Paget’s disease of the breast. Ultrasonography and mammography did not reveal any lump. A detailed clinical examination was done, which revealed left-sided decreased breath sounds on chest auscultation. The rest of the vitals of the patient were within normal limits. A chest X-ray posteroanterior (PA) view was done, which revealed the presence of a right-sided moderate pleural effusion. Chemotherapy was accepted well, and outcome was good. Conclusions Early detection is necessary for Paget’s illness of the breast. About 1%–3% of primary breast cancer cases are caused by Paget’s breast disease. Breast cancer is sporadic in nature. Biopsy is a must for diagnosis of disease in patients with normal ultrasound and mammogram. Disease management depends on the underlying tumor, the spread of the disease, the presence or absence of an underlying lump, and age of the patient.
Discovery and preliminary validation of a new panel of personalized ovarian cancer biomarkers for individualized detection of recurrence
Authors: Ren Annie , Prassas Ioannis , Soosaipillai Antoninus , Sugumar Vijithan , Jarvi Stephanie , Soosaipillai Andrea , Bernardini Marcus Q. , Diamandis Eleftherios P , Kulasingam Vathany
Published: November 2023

Background: Following first-line treatment, over 80% of advanced ovarian cancer cases suffer recurrence. Treatment of patients with recurrence based on CA125 has not resulted in improvements in outcome postulating that we need biomarkers for earlier detection. A tumor-specific array of serum proteins with advanced proteomic methods could identify personalized marker signatures that detect relapse at a point where early intervention may improve outcome. Methods: For our discovery phase, we employed the proximity extension assay (PEA) to simultaneously measure 1,104 proteins in 120 longitudinal serum samples (30 ovarian cancer patients). For our validation phase, we used PEAs to concurrently measure 644 proteins (including 21 previously identified candidates, plus CA125 and HE4) in 234 independent, longitudinal serum samples (39 ovarian cancer patients). Results: We discovered 23 candidate personalized markers (plus CA125 and HE4), in which personalized combinations were informative of recurrence in 92% of patients. In our validation study, 21 candidates were each informative of recurrence in 3-35% of patients. Patient-centric analysis of 644 proteins generated a refined panel of 33 personalized tumor markers (included 18 validated candidates). The panel offered 91% sensitivity for identifying individualized marker combinations that were informative of recurrence. Conclusion: Tracking individualized combinations of tumor markers may offer high sensitivity for detecting recurrence early and aid in prompt clinical referral to imaging and treatment interventions.
The genome sequence of a ground beetle, Pterostichus niger (Schaller, 1783)
Authors: Barclay Maxwell V. L. , Geiser Michael , Vassiliades Danaë , Bayfield Farrell Will , Cristóvão Joana ,   Natural History Museum Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Management, Samples and Laboratory team,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: Sequencing Operations,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Core Informatics team,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: November 2023

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Pterostichus niger (a ground beetle; Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Carabidae). The genome sequence is 674.1 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 19 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 17.16 kilobases in length.
Content analysis of corrupt behavior in anti corruption Film Festival (ACFFest) Films
Authors: Maheswara Kevin , Widyasari Wulan
Published: November 2023

Corrupt behavior is a deviation in life; therefore, the need for mass media assistance that has a role in preventing and eradicating corruption in Indonesia is a medium that conveys knowledge to the public regarding bribery. Anti Corruption Film Festival(ACFFest) films were chosen as the object of research because of the film's themed stories about corruption. This research uses a quantitative descriptive method with Holsti model content analysis. The sampling technique used is saturated sampling (census), where all members of the population are used as samples. The results of this study found a tendency of corrupt behavior in 39 scenes out of 163 scenes. There is an perbuatan curang  form of 59% or 23 scenes of the total scenes observed. For the frequency of scene pemerasan, seven scenes or 18%. Form penggelapan dalam jabatan is 15% or six scenes, and also three scenes or 8% in form suap menyuap. In ACFFest films, there are films that contain petty corruption, active and passive corruption, theft, embezzlement, and conduct creating or exploiting conflicting interests.
Bank Indonesia DIY education campaign strategy in increasing awareness of QRIS electronic payments in the DIY MSME 2023
Authors: Arnada Alya Syafira , Sofyan Nur
Published: November 2023

The use of electronic money is essential in economic activities. Bank Indonesia DIY created an educational campaign related to QRIS to increase the use of QRIS in MSMEs in DIY. In addition, DIY Province won the BI award appreciation for the best Export MSMEs and the best QRIS implementation in Indonesia. This study wants to know and describe the stages of planning an educational campaign by Bank Indonesia Yogyakarta Special Region, using a qualitative method with a case study approach. The validity test uses source triangulation, which compares the degree of trust in data from several sources. The results of this study show that the campaign carried out by Bank Indonesia DIY is through the “SIAP PASAR QRIS” slogan, which means "Healthy Innovative Market with QRIS." DIY, there are 10 SIAP QRIS MARKETS. The most ready market is the Beringharjo market. As much as 50% of the traders have used QRIS—BI DIY in disseminating the educational campaign through Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp, and YouTube media for publication. QRIS is not only for transactions in stores but also for donations or alms at houses of worship with QRIS.
Women as objects of criminal news: Framing analysis of the reporting of women's mutilation murder cases in Sleman on the online media Tribunnews.com and Suara.com
Authors: Noviasari Ayu , Annisa Firly
Published: November 2023

This essay examines the framing of the Sleman female mutilation murder case as reported in web publications Suara.com and Tribunnews.com between March and August of 2023. The framing analysis method is used in this study to identify typical journalism practices like as sensationalism, balance, and attention-grabbing headlines when covering the mutilation murder of women in Sleman in online media outlets like Suara.com and Tribunnews.com. The framing analysis method developed by Robert N. Entman is a qualitative research strategy that is used to highlight the important elements in the news text. The results of the investigation demonstrate that the corresponding online publications, Suara.com and Tribunnews.com, prioritize women as news objects, use bombastic and spectacular news titles, and produce vulgar words in their journalism..
The influence of account @Dolan.Aja posts on Instagram on followers interest in visiting (Survey of followers of the @Dolan.Aja account)
Authors: Aditya Muhammad Rizki , Sumarlan Iman
Published: November 2023

The development of mass media has now become a necessity in supporting various activities in today's society. Mass media, such as verbal messages and signals, have become an inseparable part of human communication in everyday life. Instagram often emerges as a means to encourage people to create new trends and without realizing it can encourage people to do the same thing. Instagram users' posts about an object that is currently viral are often used as a reference to determine the choice to visit a tourist destination. This can be seen from what accounts the user follows. This research focuses on the influence of posts from the @dolan.aja account on Instagram on followers' interest in visiting. The aim of this research is to find out the magnitude of the influence of posts from the @dolan.aja account on Instagram on followers' interest in visiting, namely to find out whether there is an influence between the two variables and measure how big the influence is between the two variables. The method in this research is validity test, reliability test, descriptive test, normality test, linearity testing and simple linear regression analysis with a sample of 100 respondents in this research. The results of the research show that between variables X and Y there is a linear relationship. And the coefficient of determination shows that the correlation between variables X and Y is 58.2% and the rest is determined by other factors. In the final stage, a simple linear regression analysis was calculated to test the hypothesis. It was found that there was a real or significant influence between the @dolan.aja Account Posting variables (X) and Visiting Interest (Y).
Application progress of nursing intervention in cardiac surgery
Authors: Wang Si-Ru , Zhou Ke , Zhang Wei
Published: November 2023

As a stressor, cardiac surgery affects the physiology and psychology of patients, as well as their postoperative recovery. Patients tend to worry about cognitive deficiency, pain, discomfort, the risk of death, sleep, complications, and other factors, resulting in stress and anxiety. Moreover, serious adverse events, such as circulatory and respiratory dysfunction and infection, tend to occur after cardiac surgery and increase the economic burden on patients. Therefore, appropriate nursing interventions should be selected to strengthen patients’ cognitive levels, compliance, and postoperative practices to accelerate their recovery, reduce complications, and shorten hospital stays so as to contribute to patients’ lives and health.
Carotid-subclavian bypass and endovascular aortic repair of Kommerell’s diverticulum with aberrant left subclavian artery: A case report
Authors: Akilu Wajeehullahi , Feng Yi , Zhang Xiao-Xue , Li Shi-Liang , Ma Xian-Tao , Hu Min , Cheng Cai
Published: November 2023

BACKGROUND

Kommerell’s diverticulum (KD) with aberrant left subclavian artery is a rare congenital deformity and also has very little research literature about it (35% of case study). There are three types of aortic arch diverticulum. Even literature concerning the treatment options are limited.

CASE SUMMARY

We present a case report of a 50-year-old male with KD in the right aortic arch with aberrant left subclavian artery. We conducted a total endovascular repair procedure, which is innovative and will spread more light in the medical world. Our patient has no past medical history and is a non-smoker and non-alcoholic. Patient presented with shortness of breath, chest pain and dizziness for six months. Blood tests were done and computerized tomography (CT) angiogram of the chest confirmed the diagnosis, illustrating showed a 3.9 cm KD. On Day 1, the CT angiogram showed mild dilatation of the thoracic aorta, adjacent esophagus, trachea was compressed and displaced. Surgery was planned as the treatment modality. Carotid-Subclavian artery bypass and endovascular aortic repair was conducted. We used prolene 5-0 C1 sutures to precisely anastomose a 6-mm Dacron graft to the left subclavian artery. Haemostasis was secured and wounds were closed. Protamine was administered and patient was shifted to intensive care unit. Post-operative, patient responded favorably and was discharged. Regular follow-up is done.

CONCLUSION

The procedure we performed is novel. This will help the cardio-thoracic surgeons a better insight about the full procedures we conducted, thereby bringing more light and better treatment options in managing KD with aberrant subclavian artery.
Translating migrant Muslim men: strategies of conditional inclusion by Afghan interpreters employed by Western armies
Authors: de Jong Sara
Published: November 2023

This article investigates refugees’ labour to gain inclusion within the ‘host’ community, drawing on interviews with male Afghan former interpreters employed by Western armies. It makes an empirical contribution by centring them as active agents rather than as passive tropes in the racialised and gendered discourses of the ‘War on Terror’ and Western migration policies. It offers a synthesis between concepts from three fields: migration as translation, migrant masculinities and the battleground of conditional inclusion. By focusing on migrants’ self-translations in dialogue with translations of their bodies and stories by host-country institutions, I trace three strategies: insertion, subversion and exemption. While Afghan interpreters largely fail to be recognised as needing protection from harm, their insertion and subversion of discourses of protection based on service are more successful. Finally, they counter their interpellation as dangerous bodies with a strategy of exemption that can be momentarily successful but remains ultimately precarious.
Multiphysics analysis of chip and resonator designs for increased damage threshold of external cavity high-power laser diodes
Authors: Adams Martin , Holly Carlo , Rauch Simon , Traub Martin , Hoffmann Hans-Dieter , Haefner Constantin L.
Published: November 2023

We present a detailed analysis of multiphysics simulation results to evaluate the threshold for catastrophic optical damage (COD) of high-power laser diodes under misaligned external optical feedback. Three different chip designs are investigated: the non-injecting mirror concept, the non-absorbing mirror concept and the introduction of an additional energy barrier within the waveguide near the front facet. Furthermore, a modification of the external resonator that promises a lower sensitivity towards misalignments is considered. The dependence of the COD threshold on the additional design parameters (bandgap change, modification length, focal length) and the impact of the different approaches on electro-optical efficiency as well as beam quality are analyzed. Compared to the initial design, the different chip design concepts promise an increase of the achievable output power by 8%, 27% and 27% respectively, whereas the modified resonator fully prevents feedback-induced failure.
Clutter rejection in passive non-line-of-sight imaging via blind multispectral unmixing
Authors: Hashemi Connor , Avelar Rafael , Leger James
Published: November 2023

Passive non-line-of-sight imaging methods that utilize scattered light to “look around corners” are often hindered by unwanted sources that overwhelm the weaker desired signal. Recent approaches to mitigate these “clutter” sources have exploited dependencies in the spectral content, or color, of the scattered light. A particularly successful method utilized blind source separation methods to isolate the desired imaging signal with minimal prior information. This current paper quantifies the efficacy of several preconditioning and unmixing algorithms when blind source separation methods are employed for passive multispectral non-line-of-sight imaging. Using an OLED television monitor as the source of both the desired signals and clutter, we conducted multiple controlled experiments to test these methods under a variety of scene conditions. We conclude that the preconditioner is a vital component as it greatly decreases the power and correlation of the clutter. Additionally, the choice of unmixing algorithm significantly impacts the reconstruction quality. By optimizing these two components, we find that effective image retrieval can be obtained even when the clutter signals are as much as 670 times stronger than the desired image.
Linewidth narrowing and frequency stabilization of a coin-sized laser module
Authors: Nomura Junia , Akamatsu Daisuke , Hong Feng-Lei
Published: November 2023

We demonstrate linewidth narrowing and frequency stabilization of a coin-sized laser module using both a short imbalance path length Michelson fiber interferometer and Doppler-free spectroscopy of molecular iodine. The linewidth of the coin-sized laser is reduced from 2 MHz to 6 kHz, which is now narrower than the Doppler-free spectral linewidth (670 kHz) of molecular iodine. Laser frequency stabilization based on the Doppler-free iodine signal is carried out by directly controlling the imbalance path length of the fiber interferometer. The frequency stability of the hybrid-locked coin-sized laser is 9.8 × 10−13 at 1-s averaging time and reaches 6.8 × 10−14 at 400 s. The hybrid-locked coin-sized laser with linewidth narrowing and frequency stabilization has a long coherence time and known absolute frequency and can be used for precision measurements in either fundamental science or industrial applications.
La vía antigua y la moderna para justificar lo peor. Los argumentos de Aristóteles y de Hobbes sobre la esclavitud
Authors: Zícari Julián
Published: November 2023

El trabajo apunta a presentar los argumentos de Aristóteles y de Hobbes para justificar la esclavitud. Así, por un lado, se mostrará que Aristóteles intenta defender tal institución bajo argumentos de premisas naturalistas, aunque incongruentes con sus propios fundamentos filosóficos. Por el otro, se señalará que los argumentos de Hobbes apelan a la libertad y el consentimiento, llegando a establecer dos tipos de esclavitud, una de tipo voluntario y otra que no lo es. En consecuencia, con el contraste argumental de ambos autores se podrá ver la vía moderna y la antigua para justificar el esclavismo.
La razón populista de E. Laclau en la racionalidad neoliberal
Authors: Gómez Villar Antonio
Published: November 2023

Este artículo se propone como objetivo problematizar los principales análisis que han abordado las relaciones posibles entre el populismo y el neoliberalismo. Aun cuando existe una extensa literatura sobre ello, aquí no atenderemos a cualquier concepción del populismo, sino sólo a las que se refieren a la razón populista de Ernesto Laclau; y, de la misma manera, no a cualquier concepción de lo neoliberal, sino a la gubernamentalidad neoliberal de Michel Foucault. Y, más en concreto, ponemos la mirada sobre las reflexiones que atienden al vínculo entre la gubernamentalidad neoliberal y la razón populista, entendiendo ésta última como un horizonte de construcción política de un proyecto democrático, una forma de elaborar la voluntad política que tiene una pretensión emancipadora. Así, expondremos y desgranaremos las perspectivas que consideramos fundamentales al tiempo que las someteremos a diferentes consideraciones críticas.
Microelement composition of bottom sediments of water bodies in urban conditions
Authors:   South Ural State University, Chelyabinsk, Russian Federation, Nitskaya S. , Antonenko I.
Published: November 2023

Under the urbanization conditions there is an increase in the technogenic impact on water bodies, which is most clearly manifested in water bodies located on the territory of residential development. The value of reservoirs in cities lies in the possibility of using them as recreation places. Pollutants enter such water bodies with organized wastewater from industrial production and urban storm water. However, in a significant part of urban areas, the system of surface runoff is not organized. In this case, rain and snowmelt runoff enters water bodies disorderly (diffusely). Pollutants decrease the quality of natural waters, disrupt the functioning of aquatic ecosystems and reduce the self-purification ability. As a result, there is an intensification of the processes of eutrophication of water bodies, swamping and disturbance of local biocenoses. Pollutants entering surface water bodies accumulate in bottom sediments and create secondary pollution of rivers. Bottom sediments of reservoirs are accumulators of heavy metals. Due to sorption processes, water is purified from heavy metals, but under certain conditions the desorption of metals and their transition, when in the dissolved state, into the water column are observed, thus, secondary pollution occurs. In this study, the influence of the state of the catchment area on water quality in a reservoir, the content of pollutants in water and bottom sediments have been investigated. It is shown that the quality of water and bottom sediments in terms of content of chemical elements is determined by the type of anthropogenic load. For the river sections, not subject to technogenic load, the main influence is the state of the atmosphere and catchment area, from which the diffuse flow of rain and melt water occurs. The composition of heavy metals in water and bottom sediments mainly characterizes the natural geochemical background. The discharge of industrial wastewater leads to an increase of elements of anthropogenic origin in the composition of water and bottom sediments.
Sol-gel synthesis of nanodispersed solid solutions based on barium hexaferrite SrхBa(1–х)Fe12O19
Authors:   Chelyabinsk State University, Chelyabinsk, Russian Federation, Kovalev A. , Vinnik D. , Zherebtsov D. , Belaya E.
Published: November 2023

The present paper provides data on the sol-gel synthesis of M-ferrite with the SrxBa(1–x)Fe12O19 (х = 0; 0.3; 0.5; 0.7; 1) composition. The synthesis technique is based on the preparation of a polymeric citrate complex from citric acid and nitrates of barium, strontium, and iron, its calcination at 500 °C followed by mechanochemical activation, and calcination at 700 °C. The target product is a dark brown powder, which has been studied by the XRD and SEM methods, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The single-phase state of the obtained samples is confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction. The X-ray patterns of the synthesized hexaferrites match the X-ray patterns of reference com-pounds from the ICDD database for all diffraction maxima. The unit cell parameters of the samples have been calculated from the X-ray diffraction patterns. They linearly depend on the degree of barium substitution in hexaferrite, that is, the successful replacement of barium ions in the crystal lattice by strontium ions, due to the Vegard rule for solid solutions. Morphological pa-rameters have been studied using SEM, the analysis of the obtained images indicates the for-mation of nanodispersed hexaferrites, for which the average particle size is 50 nm. The average particle size, calculated by the Scherrer's formula, equals 25 nm. The usual hexagonal form of hexaferrite particles has not been observed in the SEM images due to the small particle size. En-ergy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy of the obtained images indicates a high degree of homogeni-zation for the chosen synthesis technique. Using the DSC method we obtained values of Curie temperature which show it’s increases linearly with an increasing of Sr weight percent
Composite magnetosusceptible photocatalysts based on the Fe3O4/SiO2/TiO2 oxides
Authors:   South Ural State University, Chelyabinsk, Russian Federation, Gorshkov A. , Avdin V. , Zherebtsov D. , Morozov R.
Published: November 2023

In the present study the composite materials based on the Fe3O4/SiO2/TiO2 oxides, synthe-sized by the sol-gel method, were investigated. At the first stage, magnetite nanoparticles were precipitated by sodium hydroxide from a mixture of aqueous solutions of iron(II) and iron(III) sulfates under continuous ultrasonic treatment, after which they were washed with distilled water and dried under vacuum. At the second stage, the resulting magnetite particles were coated with silicon oxide according to the Stober method by dispersing them under the ultrasonic treatment in a solution of tetraethoxysilane in n-propanol, followed by hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane in the presence of aqueous ammonia, washing and drying the obtained materials under vacuum. At the third stage, photocatalytically active particles based on titanium oxide were introduced into the composite by the solvent replacement procedure via dispersing the samples in an aqueous solution of peroxotitanic acid and adding n-propanol, stirring vigorously, followed by activation based on boiling in the water/ethanol (1:1) mixture, washing and drying under vacuum. The properties of samples influenced by the citrate stabilization and separation of magnetite particles at the stage of their synthesis into “light” and “heavy” magnetic fractions, as well as calcination of samples at 450 °C, were studied. The photocatalytic properties of the synthesized samples were studied during photodegradation of methyl orange, as well as their magnetic extraction from the suspension. The physicochemical characterization of the samples was performed using a high-resolution scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, thermal analysis (TG–DSC), combined with mass spectrometry of gaseous thermolysis products. It has been found that the composites based on the mixed titanium-silicon oxide have a higher photocatalytic activity than the composites based on the pure titanium dioxide obtained via a similar procedure. The resulting photocatalysts can be used to purify water from dyes, followed by their extraction using a magnet.
Effect of salicylic acid on cowpea seedlings under saline stress
Authors: Palheta de Sousa Diana Jhulia , Marcelina da Silva Tamirys , Costa Carmona Junior Marcio Augusto , Dos Santos Nogueira Glauco André , De Araújo Brito Ana Ecídia , Castro de Souza Luma , Ferreira de Oliveira Neto Cândido , Pamplona Albuquerque Gerson Diego
Published: November 2023

The aim of this work was applying salicylic acid (SA) in cowpea seedlings under saline stress. The experiment took place in the seed laboratory of the Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia with a completely randomized experimental design in a 2 x 2 x 3 factorial scheme, with two bean cultivars (Canapu and Pingo-de-ouro), two levels of salicylic acid (0, and 0.50 mM) and three salt stress levels (0, 25, 50 mM). The seeds were previously soaked in salicylic acid (0 and 0.50 mM) for a period of 12 hours and then placed in germitest paper rolls for treatments with NaCl (0, 25, 50 mM) for a period of 12 days at room temperature constant 27 °C. There was a significant effect of cultivars, AS dose and NaCl concentrations and their interactions on most of the analyzed variables. Root and leaf proline concentrations were higher in pingo-de-ouro cultivar, Canapu cultivar had better performance in biomass accumulation. Salicylic acid reduced proteins in the leaves by 13.33%, while in the root there was an increase of 12.61%, ammonium concentrations reduced in the roots by 11.9%. When applied to salinity (25 and 50 mM) there was an increase of proteins in the leaves 40.83% and 27.48% respectively, and a reduction of amino acids of 30.24 and 25.24% in NaCl dosages (25 and 50 mM) respectively. Salinity reduced biomass accumulation and interfered with cellular solute production. However, the application of salicylic acid promoted salt stress tolerance in Canapu cultivar.
Biogenesis and Green Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles and Their Pharmacological Applications
Authors: Ahana Ghosh , Manikantan Pappuswamy , Aditi Chaudhary , Arun Meyyazhagan , Vijaya Anand Arumugam , Balamuralikrishnan Balasubramanian , Gomathy Meganathan
Published: November 2023

Nanomaterial innovation is the primary catalyst of advancement in nanotechnology. Although there are many known chemical processes for creating nanoparticles that use harmful substances, it is now more important than ever to use processes that are safer, greener, and more environmentally friendly. The goal of research in this field is to use diverse life forms as "nanoparticle factories." Phytochemicals can convert salt into the appropriate nanoparticles thanks to their regular biosynthetic routes. In recent years, green chemistry methods for the synthesis of metallic nanoparticles have emerged as a fresh and exciting area of study. Metal nanoparticles, including gold (Au), silver (Ag), iron (Fe), and cadmium (Cd) along with certain oxides, can be synthesized using a variety of chemical and physical techniques as well as biological techniques carried out using plants. It has been discovered that methods involving plant-mediated synthesis are a more efficient and cost-effective way to create these metal nanoparticles. The plant-mediated nanoparticles are used as potential pharmaceutical agents for many diseases, including hepatitis, cancer, malaria, and HIV. Due to the higher efficacy and fewer side effects of nanodrugs compared to other commercial cancer drugs, the synthesis of nanoparticles targeting biological pathways has gained tremendous popularity. This review paper aims to cover the different green methods for the biogenesis of these nanoparticles, the different compounds and salts used, and the metals obtained. Ultimately, the significance and prospects of these metal nanoparticles especially in the fields of medicine, pharmacology, drug designing, and drug delivery engineering will also be commented on.
Technology-enabled higher education academic writing feedback: Practices, needs and preferences
Authors: Ducasse Ana Maria , López Ferrero Carmen , Mateo-Girona M. Teresa
Published: November 2023

Student and teacher perceptions of feedback practices, preferences and awareness of feedback needs may differ and detract from learning. This article explores alignment or misalignment in higher education to argue alignment suggests needs are being met on these issues via technology-enabled feedback on writing. Within the context of academic training, we take a broad view of writing supervision along a continuum that comprises digital feedback on writing assessments at an Australian university. We used a survey comparison of teachers’ and students’ self-reported data to answer the following questions: (1) What digital feedback and assessment practices are reported by teachers and students in Australian higher education? (2) What e-feedback needs are self-declared through teachers’ and students’ self-awareness of assessment practices in that context? (3) What e-feedback preferences are reported by teachers and students? Students and teachers from different academic programmes and levels from social science self-reported their experiences of digital feedback on writing assessments. The quantitative and open-ended responses covered technology-enabled feedback experiences up to PhD supervision. The results on alignment and misalignment of participants’ needs and preferences suggest a need to increase dialogue and incorporate student agency into feedback processes. We discuss further implications for feedback experiences in this context.
Implications for practice or policy

Programme assessment designers might reconsider policies requiring online collaborative work since teachers and students prefer individual assignments.
Assessors might improve digital assessment tools, to increase teacher and student interaction and expediency, without losing individual feedback, in line with unanimous claims that such tools support feedback processes on writing.
Course leaders could implement practices buffering the effect of negative feedback because teachers perceive few complaints, but students react badly to negative comments through digital channels.
Evaluating and expanding usability and user satisfaction of an online research portal
Authors: Holt Christopher J. , Aziz Zahra , McKenzie Stephen , Garivaldis Filia , Gornall Alice L. , Chung Jennifer , Mundy Matthew
Published: November 2023

Whilst online learning has gained rapid momentum, the development of online technology and practices that support the delivery of online courses with a large research component has been slow. In 2017, the School of Psychological Sciences at Monash University, Australia, developed a potentially scalable and transferable online research portal. This is an all-in-one platform that is designed to facilitate and support online research and research supervision, for supervisors and students. The research portal has evolved to currently provide research and research supervision support to over 700 online psychology students at the university. This paper describes the development, implementation and impact of the research portal and presents data from a preliminary evaluation of its usability and user satisfaction. Both research students and supervisors from the fully online fourth-year Graduate Diploma of Psychology Advanced program at Monash University participated in a series of focus groups, individual usability testing sessions, and surveys, and reported favourably on the research portal’s research supervisor and supervisee user satisfaction and usability. Qualitative and quantitative feedback provided useful information supporting research portal improvement and expansion possibilities, allowing an increasingly valuable contribution to online research supervision, research and research teaching.
Implications for practice or policy

All research students will be able to complete their research-related professional training online.
Research supervisors and students will be able to access a standardised best practice online research supervision and research tool across courses and topics.
Course leaders will be able to expand online education with an online research supervision and research tool that supports all research programs.
Universities will be able to provide a research learning pathway for all students.
PhD by LMS: Using a learning management system to facilitate self-directed learning in a doctoral study
Authors: Fanshawe Melissa , Barton Georgina
Published: November 2023

Doctoral studies can be daunting unless candidates are able to implement effective self-directed strategies and motivational tools to ensure success, which is reflected in the high attrition rates of doctoral candidates globally. This paper explores the use of a learning management system (LMS) to support the completion of a PhD for a doctoral candidate in a regional university enrolled in the online offering. The LMS was used throughout the PhD journey by the candidate to manage and organise documents related to the PhD study and reflect on progress. Using a digital ethnographic methodology, we analyse artefacts from the LMS through the lens of self-directed learning including cognitive, metacognitive, affective and social strategies. Findings showed that the LMS proved to be a useful way to organise, access and store information and had tools to enable motivation, both by the doctoral candidate and the supervisor. They also showed that the relationship between the candidate and supervisor was critical in this success. Implications from this digital ethnography highlight important self-directed strategies enabled through the use of the LMS. In addition, the LMS allowed deep reflection on PhD progress and provided the necessary motivation to complete the study. Therefore, LMS use could potentially increase doctoral candidate retention.
Implications for practice or policy

Supervisors within universities could consider facilitating an LMS as an effective learning environment to organise, access and store information for a doctoral student’s studies.
Doctoral students may benefit from the pedagogical tools in an LMS to enhance self-directed study and facilitate communication with supervisors during their doctoral studies.
A Dynamic Latent-Space Model for Asset Clustering
Authors: Casarin Roberto , Peruzzi Antonio
Published: November 2023

Periods of financial turmoil are not only characterized by higher correlation across assets but also by modifications in their overall clustering structure. In this work, we develop a dynamic Latent-Space mixture model for capturing changes in the clustering structure of financial assets at a fine scale. Through this model, we are able to project stocks onto a lower dimensional manifold and detect the presence of clusters. The infinite-mixture assumption ensures tractability in inference and accommodates cases in which the number of clusters is large. The Bayesian framework we rely on accounts for uncertainty in the parameters’ space and allows for the inclusion of prior knowledge. After having tested our model’s effectiveness and inference on a suitable synthetic dataset, we apply the model to the cross-correlation series of two reference stock indices. Our model correctly captures the presence of time-varying asset clustering. Moreover, we notice how assets’ latent coordinates may be related to relevant financial factors such as market capitalization and volatility. Finally, we find further evidence that the number of clusters seems to soar in periods of financial distress.
A case of catamenial erythema multiforme major successfully treated with goserelin
Authors: Tyack Lauren T , Stuckey Bronwyn G A , Walsh John P
Published: November 2023

We report a case of catamenial erythema multiforme major in a 46-year-old female. She was treated successfully with goserelin, a GnRH agonist, until the expected age of menopause; however, its therapeutic effects persisted for longer than expected, possibly due to accumulation in adipose tissue.

Learning points

A group of menstrual cycle-related dermatoses and hypersensitivity syndromes exist but are rarely reported in the literature.

A history of recurrent cutaneous eruptions in premenopausal females should be considered in the context of the menstrual cycle.

The diagnosis of menstrual cycle-related dermatoses is largely clinical, although provocation testing can assist.

Treatment options are broad and are aimed at reducing the immune response and/or suppressing ovulation.

Goserelin may accumulate and have a gonadotrophin-suppressing effect for longer than expected.