bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Container Type and Fermentation Period Towards Cocoa Beans Quality in Tidore Island
Authors: Masuku Mustamin Anwar , Bahri Syamsul , Albaar Nurjanna , Makarunggala Irwan
Published: August 2023

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of wooden box containers on the quality of fermented cocoa beans. The experimental design used was Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with one factor, namely the length of fermentation consisting of each treatment repeated 3 times so that 9 experiments were obtained. The results obtained are analyzed for variance and if there is a significant difference between treatments, the Dancen test will be carried out. By the results of the treatment and discussion, it can be concluded that after fermenting cocoa beans using wooden boxes, the results obtained were an increase in the fermentation index of dry cocoa beans on the 3rd to 5th days (0.243, 1.147 and 2.027). This number indicates a change in color from purple to brown. Furthermore, the yield of dry cocoa beans, the content of moldy beans, and the skin content were at quality levels B and C and the water content and fat content still met the requirements of SNI-2323-2008. Polyphenols as antioxidants are in the range of 0.06 - 0.08.Â  Based on this research it is also recommended that the fermentation process of beans use wooden boxes because it meets the requirements of the Indonesian National Standard for Cocoa Quality Number 2323-2008.
Interactive Multimedia Tutorial of Discovery Learning Model (iMTDLM); Improving Pre-Service Physics Teachersâ€™ Pedagogical Competence
Authors: Saprudin Saprudin , Rahman Nurdin Abdul , Hamid Fatma
Published: August 2023

This study aims to develop an interactive multimedia tutorial of discovery learning model (iMTDLM) and to examine its effect on the improvement of pedagogical competence and the ability of pre-service physics teachers (PPTs) in constructing lesson plans. This development research follows the ADDIE model (Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement dan Evaluate). The instruments used include a validation sheet for iMTDLM product, an instrument for assessing pedagogical competence, and an instrument for evaluating lesson plans. The implementation phase involved 9 PPTs who were taking the course Teaching Practice 1 at a university in the city of Ternate. The results of the study showed that the iMTDLM was successfully designed by combining the use of Adobe Director 11 and Filmora software. The use of the iMTDLM in the Teaching Practice 1 course yields a positive effect on the improvement of pedagogical competence and the PPTsâ€™ ability to construct lesson plans.
PREDICTIVE BIOMARKERS OF LIVING DONOR LIVER TRANSPLANTATION
Authors: ÇİFTÇİ Ömer Faruk , ŞAHİN Tevfik Tolga , YÜCE Hande , YILMAZ Sezai , BAŞAK TÜRKMEN Neşe , YAŞAR Şeyma , ÇOBAN Tülay , ÜNÜVAR Songül
Published: August 2023

Objective: Liver transplantation using a living donor (LDLT) is currently the most popular method used in the worldwide. Appropriate biomarkers that predict graft status should be used to detect early post-transplant complications that may lead to a rejection reaction.
Material and Method: The study involved a total of 44 liver recipients and 44 liver donors, from whom preoperative blood samples were taken and immunoassay and spectrophotometric studies were carried out. The levels of serum neopterin, interferon-gamma (IFN- y), indoleamine-2,3 dioxygenase (IDO), and -glutathione S transferase (a-GST) were assessed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent test. The activity of glutathione reductase (GR) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) in erythrocytes was measured using spectrophotometry.
Result and Discussion: “Neopterin, IDO, and G6PD levels were significantly higher in the recipient group than in the donor group. The differences in gender and blood groups were statistically insignificant. The rejection reaction developed in 25% of patients and none survived. These findings may facilitate the identification of novel predictive biomarkers for the diagnosis of acute rejection reactions after LDLT. The clinical use of novel non-invasive biomarkers may provide time and cost advantages.
English
Authors: Putri Santy Irene , Asiyah Siti , Hardjito Koekoeh
Published: August 2023

Secara global, penyandang disabilitas merupakan salah satu dari kelompok yang paling terpinggirkan dan tersisih secara social. Kebutuhan kesehatan reproduksi perempuan penyandang disabilitas tidak mendapat banyak perhatian, kemungkinan besar karena anggapan yang salah bahwa perempuan penyandang cacat tidak aktif secara seksual dan tidak ingin melahirkan anak-anak. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk secara sistematis meninjau kesetaraan gender dan inklusi sosial pada perempuan penyandang disabilitas dalam layanan kesehatan reproduksi. Artikel-artikel yang digunakan dipilih dari database jurnal Google Scholar, World Cat, PROQUEST, dan PubMed yang diterbitkan pada bulan Januari 2010 hingga bulan September 2020. Kata kunci untuk penelitian ini meliputi “gender” atau "kesetaraan gender" atau "inklusi sosial" atau "disabilitas" dan “kesehatan reproduksi” atau "kesehatan reproduksi perempuan". Sebanyak 476 artikel dihasilkan dari pencarian awal, penulis mengidentifikasi 10 artikel mengenai kesetaraan gender dan inklusi sosial untuk perempuan penyandang disabilitas dalam layanan kesehatan reproduksi. Kurangnya informasi dan pendidikan tentang masalah kesehatan reproduksi, aksesibilitas fisik dan/ infrastruktur, sikap tenaga kesehatan yang menghakimi, pengetahuan tenaga kesehatan yang terbatas tentang masalah disabilitas dan faktor individu, termasuk hambatan dalam mencari perawatan kesehatan dan hambatan keuangan, diidentifikasi sebagai faktor penghambat layanan kesehatan reproduksi pada perempuan dengan disabilitas
Development of Seaweed Pudding (Eucheuma spinosum) with Kelakai (Stenochlaena palustris) and Papaya as Snack Alternative for the Prevention of Anemia
Authors: Sagita Anisa , Sefrina Linda Riski , Elvandari Milliyantri
Published: August 2023

Women of childbearing age are a vulnerable group to anemia so women need high iron intake. The percentage of anemia in women aged 15-24 years in Indonesia is 35,3%.  Anemia has a more serious impact on the time of pregnancy, namely the risk of maternal death, premature birth and low birth weight.  The purpose of this study was to determine the best formula, analyze the moisture content, ash content, protein, fat, carbohydrates, Iron (Fe) and vitamin C on the development of seaweed pudding (Eucheuma spinosum) with kelakai (Stenochlaena palustris) and papaya as snack alternative for the prevention of anemia. This research is experimental with a Complete Randomized Design consisting of three levels of treatment (seaweed : kelakai : papaya), namely F1 (100:90:210), F2 (125:70:205) and F3 (150:50:200). The results of organoleptic test observations obtained the best formula in formula 3 with the results of the analysis of water content of 95,6%, ash content of 0,49%, protein 0,11%, fat 0,79%, carbohydrates 3,01%, iron 30,6 mg/100 g dry weight and vitamin C 36 mg/ 100 g dry weight. Based on the results and discussion of the research that has been done, seaweed pudding with kale and papaya can be accepted as an alternative food for the prevention of anemia.
Anti-Inflammatory Potentials of Rendang Seasoning (Sumatran Traditional Food) Water Extract in RAW264.7 Cells and Mouse Peritoneal Macrophages
Authors: Sugahara Takuya , Sellen Gurusmatika  , Ishida Momoko , Nishi Kosuke
Published: August 2023

Rendang, one of the most Indonesian traditional seasonings, is composed of many kinds of spices as well as ingredients. Food with rich spice components is gaining recognition as healthy food, because each spice contains many bioactive compounds and has health-promoting potentials, such as anti-inflammation, anti-allergy, and anti-obesity. Hence, the anti-inflammatory potential of rendang seasoning water extract (RSE) was elucidated in this experiment. RSE inhibited nitric oxide, IL-6, and TNF-α production of RAW264.7 cells and P-mac (peritoneal macrophages) with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated by suppressing the gene expression levels in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, inhibition of p38, ERK and JNK as part of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathways result in down regulation of RSE, and also translocation of NF-κB to the nucleus from the cytosol. Water extracts of six spices contained in rendang such as clove, cinnamon, white pepper, garlic, red chili, and ginger suppressed cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α production by RAW264.7 cells with LPS-stimulated. It was suggested that the anti-inflammatory effect of rendang is contributed by the anti-inflammation substances in its spice components. Overall findings indicated that rendang has the potential to contribute to anti-inflammation.
CENTRIFUGAL COMPRESSORS CONTROL CRITICALITY
Authors:   Audubon Engineering, Dasari Ravi Kiran
Published: August 2023

This article focused mainly on the importance of anti-surge control of compressor and how to design the recirculation line for turndown of compressors that’s referred as surge. Also some recommendations will be made for better design and safety
DEVELOPMENT OF ANIMAL TRACKING SYSTEM USINGCOMPUTER VISION
Authors: Rajasekar DR.L , Kumar R Praveen ,   Bannari Amman Institute Of Technology
Published: August 2023

The behavior of animals in the wild is studied animal migration tracking in wildlife biology, conservation biology, and ecology and wildlife management. Animal banding, which involved attaching passive ID tags to animal’s legs to identify it in a sub sequent catch and release operation, was one of the earliest techniques used. A tiny radio transmitter is fastened to the animals during radio tracking, and a receiver tracks the signal.In genius temporary methods use GP tags that retain are cord of the animal’s where abuts as well as satellites to follow tagged animals. Devices tailored to the species or item being monitored by the you look only once algorithm may now be developed thanks to the development of new technology. One of the numerous goals of animal migration research has been to determine the creature’s final locations. The goal of object detection, a field of computer science related to computer vision and image processing, is to find instances of semantic objects belonging to a specific class in digital pictures and videos. Two well researched object detection fields are face and pedestrian detection. Object detection is used in several computer vision domains, including video surveillance and OPEN CV library.
STUDY ON VIRTUAL INTERACTIONS UNDER WORK FROM HOME DURING THE PANDEMICCOVID 19
Authors:   Infosys, Ruhela Etika
Published: August 2023

A company’s greatest asset is its people. Managing Interactions among employees at workplace is an important element in every small or big organization, thus it is a growing area of research. Interactions among the employees when being physically present at the workplace would include Formal Communication, water cooler discussions and small talks over the tea / lunch breaks, knowledge sharing etc. Quality connections are brief, mutually beneficial, and dynamic dyadic interaction, which have the power to energize people with vital resources to do their work well. Managing and stabilizing these in pre Covid 19 – pandemic scenario have altogether a different meaning but in the current scenario everything related to the interactions or employee connect have drastically changed. This article is an attempt to analyze the effect of WFH on the Interactions among employee amid Covid 19-Pandemic.It is an exploratory study, which aims to propose a new definition of connections and interactions among the employees in remote working environment.
BIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES AND THEIR POTENTIAL THERAPEUTIC PROPERTIES OF SORGHUM [SORGHUM BICOLOR (L) MOENCH]
Authors: Subbarayan Sivakumar , Damodarasamy Amirtham , Velusamy Sumitra , banoth Madhu , Ferreira RS , Franco OL ,   Catholic University of Brasilia,   Tamil Nadu Agricultural University
Published: August 2023

Sorghum is one of the important dryland C4 crops mainly grown in sub-saharan Africa and Asia and serves as a source of food, feed, fodder and biofuel. It is the main source of dry season ration to the livestock and provides nutrition and security for livelihood of poor farmers in rural areas. Sorghum can withstand drought and comes up well in adverse climatic conditions and hence, it is considered as an important climate resilient crop. Sorghum possesses diverse phytochemicals especially in the bran layer which represents a promising opportunity to be exploited as a functional food and to reduce the risk of non – communicable chronic diseases. Owing to high phenolic content and gluten free nature of sorghum and low glycemic index the grains are increasingly utilized for human consumption realising concept of eat right food for good health. Red sorghum bran is known as a rich source of anthocyanins. The bran and flour extracts analysis using various colorimetric methods including HPLC (High Pressure Liquid Chromatography) found with presence of several phenolic compounds like anthocyanins particularly 3-deoxyanthocyanin that includes apignenidin and luteolinidin, condensed tannin, ferulic acidetc., which provide the therapeutic properties of antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, prevention of cardiovascular diseases. The data collected from recent studies indicate that these molecules have a promising future as natural biofood agents for the treatment of various diseases, and this is particularly due to their strong antioxidant properties, in addition to modulating the intestinal microbiota. This review is made to understand the bioactive substances present in sorghum grains, their extraction and their potential therapeutic effects.
DETERMINATION OF IDDAH SUPPORT THROUGH EX OFFICIO JUDGES' EX OFFICIO RIGHTS IN VERSTEK TALAK DIVORCE CASES
Authors: Fadhil Muhammad , Hendra Muhammad , Suryani Dewi Ervina
Published: August 2023

This study aims to answer the problem of determining iddah maintenance through the ex officio rights of judges in verstek divorce cases. Divorce cases involving verstek talak mean that the wife has never been present at the divorce hearing and has not filed a claim for her right to support her iddah after the divorce. Even though Article 41 of the Marriage Law and Article 149 of the KHI regulate the husband's obligation to provide iddah maintenance to his divorced wife. The form of research used in this study is normative juridical research (library research) with a statutory approach. This normative legal research is based on secondary legal material obtained through data collection techniques of library studies and the data obtained is then analyzed using descriptive-qualitative methods. This study found that although Article 178 HIR paragraph 3 and Article 189 RBg Paragraph 3 state that judges are prohibited from passing decisions on cases that are not prosecuted or granted more than what is demanded, there are specificities in the procedural law of the Religious Courts as stipulated in Article 54 Law Number 3 2006 concerning Amendments to Law Number 7 of 1989 concerning Religious Courts. The basis for implementing the ex officio right to determining iddah maintenance in cases of verstek divorce is Article 41 letter c of Law Number 1 of 1974 which reads "The court may oblige the ex-husband to provide subsistence expenses and or determine an obligation for the ex-husband".
LEGAL PROTECTION OF THE STATE HOSPITAL AS THE IMPACT OF INDONESIAN
Authors: Kaspan Kaspan , Huda Mokhamad Khoirul , Asmuni Asmuni
Published: August 2023

The purpose of this study is to analyze the legal consequences of implementing Indonesian Case Based Groups in Hospitals and to analyze government hospital laws on the implementation and services in hospitals as a result of the tariffs of Indonesian Case Based Groups. Several studies have found that a number of cases in hospitals have higher rates than BPJS Kesehatan payments, while other cases, for example with a lower severity level, hospital rates are still lower than INA-CBGs rates.The application of the INA-CBGS tariff in health services creates several legal consequences that intersect with administrative law in relation to abuse of authority, criminal law in relation to criminal acts of corruption and civil law in relation to the dispute resolution process, namely the existence of a mediation process beforehand. The form of legal protection for government hospitals in carrying out health services as a result of the INA CBGS Tariff is regulated in several regulations, namely as stated in Article 50 letter a. The Medical Practice Law and Article 75 of the Health Personnel Law, Article 45 of the Hospital Law paragraph (2), Article 58 of Law No. 36 of 2009 Concerning Health, and internally hospitals can also be regulated in Hospital by Laws and can also be in the form of a Director's Regulation Hospital.
“WITHOUT FOUNDATION” BY V. DOMONTOVYCH IN THE LIGHT OF SCHOLASTIC EXEMPLARISM
Authors: Artamonov Oleksandr
Published: August 2023

The paper aims to find an appropriate interpretative key for one of the central episodes in V. Domontovych’s novel “Without Foundation”. In this episode, the protagonist meets a woman for the first time and, solely based on his feelings and emotions, recognizes her as a person to whom a symphony by Karol Szymanowski was dedicated. The analysis of interpretations in the recent works of literary scholars leads to the conclusion that the explanations at hand do not clarify how this episode could actually occur, as they are limited by the Modern concept of relative truth. These interpretations either treat the episode as impossible or suggest a connection to psychoanalytic theory without any supporting evidence from the text. To avoid this limitation, the researcher seeks for a theory that aligns with V. Petrov’s philosophical and artistic interests, treats the episode as possible, and offers the necessary conceptual tools to explain the relationship between a piece of art and a source of inspiration.

The comparative analysis showed that the use of scholastic exemplarism as an interpretative key significantly aids in explaining the episode. Scholastic exemplarism as a teaching about the correspondence between all the created things and the eternal ‘exemplars’ present in divine intellectus, enables the establishment of an objective link between the woman and the symphony, which is inevitably missing in the analysis of the novel through any of the Modern empirical approaches. Thus, the process of human cognition of God, described by Bonaventure, looks like a blueprint for describing the protagonist's recognition of the woman in “Without Foundation”. Moreover, explanation of the specific ontological and epistemological relationships between God and His creature, provided by Thomas Aquinas in “Compendium Theologiae”, clarifies many obscure aspects of the episode and the novel in general. The paper demonstrates the heuristic efficiency of employing scholastic exemplarism for the interpretation of “Without Foundation”.
TO THE ISSUE OF NATIONAL IDENTITY IN THE SELF-PUBLISHED TEXTS BY VASYL STUS
Authors: Mykhailova Tetiana
Published: August 2023

The paper examines four texts by V. Stus, published in the uncensored periodical “Ukrainskyi Visnyk” from January 1970 to January 1971 (“A Place in a Battle or in a Massacre?”, “Nowadays it is clear to everyone...”, “Every normally organized society...”, and the poem in memory of Alla Horska “Burn Bright, My Soul, Burn Bright, and Do Not Weep!”) taking into account the investigative files of the poet, who was convicted of self-publishing. Within the analyzed prose texts, Stus defends well-known representatives of the resistance movement (Ivan Dziuba, Valentyn Moroz, Vasyl Zakharchenko, Ivan Suk), emphasizes every person’s need for freedom, and draws attention to the necessity of dialogue between the state leadership and society as the latter also bears responsibility for the authorities’ criminal actions. The poet underlines the important role of the creative youth, in which he sees the ‘self-recovery’ of the Ukrainian nation.

In the poem “Burn Bright, My Soul, Burn Bright, and Do Not Weep!”, Stus relates his personal profound tragedy, caused by the murder of A. Hors’ka, to the tragedy experienced by the entire generation of the sixtiers and the nation as a whole. There is a variety of colors in the poem (an allusion to painting, to which A. Horska devoted her life) with the dominance of red, embodied in the image of viburnum, the national symbol of Ukraine. The revised versions of the poem, published in the collections “The Merry Cemetery” and “Palimpsests”, were also considered. The issue of national identity in Stus’s texts is presented implicitly: he primarily defends a man and the values of freedom, which is associated with creative opportunities for the development of native culture. It is noteworthy that the national issue constitutes a significant point in the investigative files, forming the basis for accusations of 'anti-Soviet activities' against the poet.
EKSISTENSI TRADISI MANUPING BASIRIH DI BANJARMASIN
Authors: Puspita Sari Risa , Sutardi Edi
Published: August 2023

Penelitian ini berkenaan dengan Eksistensi Tradisi Manuping di Basirih, Banjarmasin. Tradisi Manuping adalah tradisi yang berlangsung secara turun temurun, topeng perwujudan atau karakter dari tiruan wajah manusia. tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk (1) Mendeskripsikan sejarah upacara Manuping di Basirih; (2) Mendeskripsikan fungsi dari upacara Manuping di Basirih; (3) Mendeskripsikan tradisi Manuping pada saat ini; dan Mendeskripsikan pola pewarisan dari tradisi Manuping Basirih. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah metode penelitian kuaitatif dan didukung dengan menggunakan cara triangulasi. Teknik pengumpulan data yang sifatnya menggabungkan berbagai data dan sumber yan telah ada, dari berbagai sumber dengan berbagai cara dan waktu, metode, teori, sumber data, dan antar peneliti. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian yang diperoleh simpulan yaitu tradisi Manuping di Basirih, Banjarmasin termasuk jenis ritual upacara  yang masih bersifat sakral dan memiliki nilai-nilai yang terkandung didalamnya, diantaranya nilai spiritual, nilai edukasi, nilai sosial, dan nilai moral. Lalu memiliki nilai korelasi seperti hubungan yang kuat antar keluarga, maupun keluarga dengan leluhur, nilai spiritual seperti kepercayaan yang ditanamkan sejak dini secara turun temurun, dan nilai edukasi yang berarti pengetahuan tentang tradisi keluarga yang harus dijaga.
Device-based interventions that seek to restore bilateral and binaural hearing in adults with single-sided deafness: a conceptual analysis
Authors: Katiri Roulla , Peters Jeroen P. M. , Fackrell Kathryn , Hoare Derek J.
Published: August 2023

Single-sided deafness (SSD) is defined by severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss in one ear only. This article outlines the etiologies and associated functional, psychological, social, and other consequences of SSD in adulthood. The available hearing aids and auditory implants for SSD are described, alongside an overview of the methods adopted by clinicians and researchers to define and measure their benefits and harms. Current concepts and issues to consider in the field of rerouting and restoring device-based interventions are explored. A contemporary overview of the current challenges in outcome measurement of all available interventions in the field is also provided, and cost effectiveness of SSD interventions is discussed briefly. This article therefore proves a comprehensive summary of the current knowledge on interventions and outcome measurement for SSD for those interested or actively working in the field, and recommendations for future trials. These include recommendations on the timescale of measurements, long-term benefits (or harms), cost utility, and the use of the internationally agreed core outcome domain set for all future clinical trials of device-based interventions for SSD.
Utilizing herbarium specimens to assist with the listing of rare plants
Authors: Molano-Flores Brenda , Johnson Sara A. , Marcum Paul B. , Feist Mary Ann
Published: August 2023

Funding for rare plant conservation is limited. In addition, many aspects of the biology and ecology of rare plants are unknown. Therefore, low-cost data generation approaches to fill these gaps should be pursued. Herbarium specimens can be used as a low-cost alternative to learn about the basic biology and ecology of rare plant species. The information provided on herbarium labels has dramatically increased in recent decades to include precise locality (i.e., latitude/longitude), exact dates, habitat, associated species, and substrate. In addition, herbarium specimens are being digitized and the resulting images and data are available via clearinghouses such as GBIF and SEINet. Already, herbarium specimens of rare plants have been used to develop habitat suitability models, predict range shifts, and assess changes in flower phenology due to climate change. Herbarium specimens can also provide a wealth of information about the reproductive biology and biotic interactions of rare plants. In this paper, we will demonstrate how this information can be accessed and present a practical application for using this information to populate an important federal listing document in the USA, Species Status Assessments (SSA). We will provide examples from the literature, as well as case studies from our own research, to demonstrate how this information can be collected from herbarium specimens and how and where to incorporate this information into SSAs. More generally, data gleaned from herbarium specimens can become part of a conservationist’s tool kit to further our knowledge of past, present, and future trends for rare plants. Additional knowledge of a species’ biology and ecology allows land managers and conservationists to make more informed decisions and allows for greater protection of listed species.
Factors influencing self-efficacy beliefs of interdisciplinary science teaching – the role of teaching experience, science subjects studied, and desire to teach interdisciplinary science
Authors: von Knebel Kevin , Schroeder Sascha , Bögeholz Susanne
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Teacher education for interdisciplinary science teaching at secondary schools shows shortcomings in several countries. One of these countries is Germany. Germany provides teacher education studies for secondary education in biology, chemistry, and physics. This discipline-specific single science subject teacher education results in partly out-of-field teaching of secondary teachers regarding interdisciplinary science. Thus, interdisciplinary science teaching is a new and difficult challenge for (prospective) teachers in Germany. Self-efficacy beliefs refer to the belief in the own abilities to tackle new and difficult challenges, such as interdisciplinary science teaching. Empirical research on self-efficacy beliefs of interdisciplinary science teaching (SElf-ST) is important to foster SElf-ST, e.g., in teacher education. Up to now, empirical research on influencing factors on SElf-ST takes mainly primary education into account. Empirical evidence for influencing factors regarding secondary science education is still needed because of the context-specificity of self-efficacy beliefs. Thus, this paper investigates factors possibly influencing SElf-ST in secondary education: teaching experience, number and type of science subjects studied and desire to teach interdisciplinary science.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire study with German pre-service, trainee, and in-service biology, chemistry, and physics teachers (n = 589) on SElf-ST.

Results

In-service teachers had the highest beliefs in nearly all SElf-ST scales. Hardly any difference occurred between trainee teachers and pre-service teachers. Our study provides empirical support that in addition to teaching experience, the number of studied science subjects, and the desire to teach interdisciplinary science are factors that influence SElf-ST not only in primary education but also in secondary education. The novel examination of the so far unknown influence of studying biology, chemistry, or physics on the SElf-ST reveals an impact of any subject but in different ways. The effect of studying chemistry on the science-teaching-specific SElf-ST stands out.

Discussion

In sum, our results reveal possibilities in the context of, e.g., organizing teacher education to promote (prospective) teachers’ SElf-ST in secondary education.
Beyond academia: a reflexive exploration of a professor’s journey from awareness to advocacy of the African American studies course curriculum
Authors: Scott Lawrence
Published: August 2023

In 2020, African American studies course was unanimously passed as an elective course for high school credit in Texas. Since that time, the course has been met with societal and legislative resistance, due to the ubiquity of anti-Critical Race Theory laws around the nation. This submission seeks to understand the lived experience of a university professor, who minored in History, taught Social Studies in predominantly Black and Brown communities, but discovered the vast absence of African American contributions in the high school and higher education curricula. It was when he led a national advisory team for the Texas State Board of Education that helped revise, pass, and implement the African American studies course for a high school credit, that he realized how vital this course is for all students. This reflexive narrative account seeks to understand the process of the author’s transition from an interested educator aware of Black History to an avid advocate with full appreciation of a comprehensive African American studies course for high school students.
Exercise prevents fatal stress-induced myocardial injury in obese mice
Authors: Dun Yaoshan , Hu Zihang , You Baiyang , Du Yang , Zeng Lingfang , Zhao Yue , Liu Yuan , Wu Shaoping , Cui Ni , Yang Fan , Liu Suixin
Published: August 2023

Introduction

This study aimed to explore whether aerobic exercise (AE) can prevent fatal stress-induced myocardial injury.

Methods

Thirty C57BL/6J mice were divided into either a normal diet, high-fat diet, or high-fat diet plus AE (n=10 per group). The AE protocol consisted of eight weeks of swimming. At the end of the diet and AE interventions, the mice were stimulated with fatal stress caused by exhaustive exercise (forced weight-loaded swimming until exhaustion), after which cardiac function was evaluated using echocardiography, myocardial ultrastructure was examined using transmission electron microscopy, and myocardial apoptosis was assessed using western blotting and TUNEL. Mitophagy, mitochondrial biogenesis and dynamics, and activation of the macrophage migration inhibitor factor (MIF)/AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway were evaluated using quantitative PCR and western blotting. Obesity phenotypes were assessed once per week.

Results

AE reversed high-fat diet-induced obesity as evidenced by reductions in body weight and visceral fat compared to obese mice without AE. Obesity exacerbated fatal stress-induced myocardial damage, as demonstrated by impaired left ventricular ejection fraction and myocardial structure. The apoptotic rate was also elevated upon fatal stress, and AE ameliorated this damage. Obesity suppressed mitophagy, mitochondrial fission and fusion, and mitochondrial biogenesis, and these effects were accompanied by suppression of the MIF/AMPK pathway in the myocardium of mice subjected to fatal stress. AE alleviated or reversed these effects.

Conclusion

This study provides evidence that AE ameliorated fatal stress-induced myocardial injury in obese mice. The cardioprotective effect of AE in obese mice might be attributed to improved mitochondrial quality.
Modeling and simulation of a micro gas-cooled nuclear reactor using Modelica
Authors: Zhang Huimin , Li Yunlong , Zhao Yuer , Wang Jun , Du Shuhong , Ma Weimin
Published: August 2023

Highly compact micro nuclear reactors, which offer extensive energy benefits across ocean, land, space, and sky applications, have recently emerged as a popular research topic within the international nuclear industry. Due to its excellent inherent safety characteristics, the gas-cooled graphite-moderated reactor with TRISO fuel has attained extensive attention. Nonetheless, micro-reactors exhibit a high degree of system integration, characterized by the tight coupling and mutual constraints among various system functions. Conventional discipline-specific decoupled design patterns find it challenging to tackle the complexity arising from multi-disciplinary couplings. In response, this paper investigates the application of Modelica, a multi-domain unified modeling language, to construct models for several subsystems, encompassing the reactor, energy conversion system, and control system. This approach aims to enhance support for cross-disciplinary design. The accuracy of the reactor core model was verified by high-fidelity CFD simulation results, demonstrating a good agreement. Further investigations were then conducted on the safety and operational characteristics of the whole system. Typically, two simulations were conducted on the Gas cooled micro nuclear reactor (GCMR) design: one focused on an anticipated transients without scram accident scenario and the other on load-following operation. The simulation results demonstrated that the reactor possesses excellent inherent safety, even during extreme accidents. In such scenarios, the reactor is able to achieve shutdown solely through the negative reactivity resulting from increased core temperature. Furthermore, considering the heat accommodated in the reactor system and the constantly generated decay heat, a passive air-cooling mechanism has been investigated and successfully demonstrated with the model. The reactor also exhibits good load-following performance, which can be achieved by simply adjusting helium inventory (or pressure) and control drum position, while maintaining constant core temperature and power generation efficiency. These results can be leveraged to provide guidelines for further detailed designs of the GCMR.
Time-synchronized carbon flow metering scheme for electric power transmission, transformation, and distribution networks
Authors: Zhou Feng , Yu Jicheng , Yin Xiaodong , Yue Changxi , Liang Siyuan
Published: August 2023

Faced with the pressure of energy conservation and emission reduction, the power industry is urgently requires low-carbon transformation. The carbon flow calculation theory redistributes the actual carbon generated by the power plant to the branch and loads customers with the power flow. This paper first introduces the theory of carbon flow calculation and the carbon metrics corresponding to the electricity metrics. Second, a time-synchronous technology is introduced for the carbon flow calculation of transmission, transformation, and distribution networks, and a time-synchronous-based carbon metering system is conceived. The impact of time deviation on carbon metering is elucidated through simulation experiments of IEEE14 standard nodes, and finally, relevant suggestions are made for future research ideas and technical routes.
“Midwives are heroes of the country”: qualitative evaluation of a midwifery education program in South Sudan
Authors: Perera Shiromi M. , Isa Guma Patrick , Sebushishe Abdou , Sundararaj Preethika , Piccirillo Megan , Xia Shanell , Langaigne Amaya , Ali Javed , Casey Sara E.
Published: August 2023

Background

Countries affected by armed conflict have higher maternal mortality than stable settings. South Sudan has one of the highest maternal mortality ratios in the world, with an estimated 789 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. Long-term socio-political instability has contributed to significant challenges in its health system. To reduce maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality, South Sudan must increase the number of skilled midwives.

Methods

A cross-sectional mixed methods study was conducted in 2022 to assess the midwifery education program at three schools receiving support from International Medical Corps in South Sudan, including in-depth interviews with 15 midwifery school graduates currently working as midwives, their supervisors, 16 school faculty (in dyads), and two Ministry of Health officials; and nine focus group discussions with women clients of graduate midwives.

Results

Participants identified strengths of the schools, including being well equipped with trained and competent teaching staff, competency-based curriculum, including practical training which prepared graduate midwives to apply their skills in practice. Weaknesses of the program included its dependence on donor funding, inadequate mentorship and number of tutors, and insufficient practice for some services due to low client load at clinical sites. Additionally, participants identified challenges affecting midwives' ability to provide good quality care, including lack of equipment and supplies, low client load, low salaries, and insecurity due to conflict. Nevertheless, women in the community appreciated the immense work that midwives do. Midwives were respected by the community at large, and graduates expressed pride and satisfaction in their job, as well as the positive impact they have had in providing critical services to communities.

Discussion

Overall, the quality of the midwifery education program appears to be strong, however gaps in the program and the provision of quality care remain. The findings highlight the need to ensure sustained funding for midwifery education, as well as health system strengthening to ensure midwives can practice their skills. Continued investment in midwifery education and training is critical to reduce high maternal mortality and morbidity in South Sudan.
Biologics in steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome in childhood: review and new hypothesis-driven treatment
Authors: Angeletti Andrea , Bruschi Maurizio , Kajana Xhuliana , La Porta Edoardo , Spinelli Sonia , Caridi Gianluca , Lugani Francesca , Verrina Enrico Eugenio , Ghiggeri Gian Marco
Published: August 2023

Nephrotic syndrome affects about 2–7 per 100,000 children yearly and accounts for less than 15% of end stage kidney disease. Steroids still represent the cornerstone of therapy achieving remission in 75–90% of the cases The remaining part result as steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome, characterized by the elevated risk of developing end stage kidney disease and frequently presenting disease recurrence in case of kidney transplant. The pathogenesis of nephrotic syndrome is still far to be elucidated, however, efficacy of immune treatments provided the basis to suggest the involvement of the immune system in the pathogenesis of the disease. Based on these substrates, more immune drugs, further than steroids, were administered in steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome, such as antiproliferative and alkylating agents or calcineurin inhibitors. However, such treatments failed in inducing a sustained remission. In last two decades, the developments of monoclonal antibodies, including the anti-CD20 rituximab and inhibitor of B7-1 abatacept, represented a valid opportunity of treatment. However, also the effectiveness of biologics resulted limited. We here propose a new hypothesis-driven treatment based on the combining administration of rituximab with the anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody daratumumab (NCT05704400), sustained by the hypothesis to target the entire B-cells subtypes pool, including the long-lived plasmacells.
Identification of immunodominant T cell epitopes induced by natural Zika virus infection
Authors: Eickhoff Christopher S. , Meza Krystal A. , Terry Frances E. , Colbert Chase G. , Blazevic Azra , Gutiérrez Andres H. , Stone E. Taylor , Brien James D. , Pinto Amelia K. , El Sahly Hana M. , Mulligan Mark J. , Rouphael Nadine , Alcaide Maria L. , Tomashek Kay M. , Focht Chris , Martin William D. , Moise Leonard , De Groot Anne S. , Hoft Daniel F.
Published: August 2023

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a flavivirus primarily transmitted by Aedes species mosquitoes, first discovered in Africa in 1947, that disseminated through Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands in the 2000s. The first ZIKV infections in the Americas were identified in 2014, and infections exploded through populations in Brazil and other countries in 2015/16. ZIKV infection during pregnancy can cause severe brain and eye defects in offspring, and infection in adults has been associated with higher risks of Guillain-Barré syndrome. We initiated a study to describe the natural history of Zika (the disease) and the immune response to infection, for which some results have been reported. In this paper, we identify ZIKV-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell epitopes that induce responses during infection. Two screening approaches were utilized: an untargeted approach with overlapping peptide arrays spanning the entire viral genome, and a targeted approach utilizing peptides predicted to bind human MHC molecules. Immunoinformatic tools were used to identify conserved MHC class I supertype binders and promiscuous class II binding peptide clusters predicted to bind 9 common class II alleles. T cell responses were evaluated in overnight IFN-γ ELISPOT assays. We found that MHC supertype binding predictions outperformed the bulk overlapping peptide approach. Diverse CD4+ T cell responses were observed in most ZIKV-infected participants, while responses to CD8+ T cell epitopes were more limited. Most individuals developed a robust T cell response against epitopes restricted to a single MHC class I supertype and only a single or few CD8+ T cell epitopes overall, suggesting a strong immunodominance phenomenon. Noteworthy is that many epitopes were commonly immunodominant across persons expressing the same class I supertype. Nearly all of the identified epitopes are unique to ZIKV and are not present in Dengue viruses. Collectively, we identified 31 immunogenic peptides restricted by the 6 major class I supertypes and 27 promiscuous class II epitopes. These sequences are highly relevant for design of T cell-targeted ZIKV vaccines and monitoring T cell responses to Zika virus infection and vaccination.
Structural basis of IRGB10 oligomerization by GTP hydrolysis
Authors: Ha Hyun Ji , Kim Ju Hyeong , Lee Gwan Hee , Kim Subin , Park Hyun Ho
Published: August 2023

Immunity-related GTPase B10 (IRGB10) is a crucial member of the interferon (IFN)-inducible GTPases and plays a vital role in host defense mechanisms. Following infection, IRGB10 is induced by IFNs and functions by liberating pathogenic ligands to activate the inflammasome through direct disruption of the pathogen membrane. Despite extensive investigation into the significance of the cell-autonomous immune response, the precise molecular mechanism underlying IRGB10–mediated microbial membrane disruption remains elusive. Herein, we present two structures of different forms of IRGB10, the nucleotide-free and GppNHp-bound forms. Based on these structures, we identified that IRGB10 exists as a monomer in nucleotide-free and GTP binding states. Additionally, we identified that GTP hydrolysis is critical for dimer formation and further oligomerization of IRGB10. Building upon these observations, we propose a mechanistic model to elucidate the working mechanism of IRGB10 during pathogen membrane disruption.
Multi-scale variability features of global sea surface temperature over the past century
Authors: Xu Zhenhao , Huang Gang , Ji Fei , Liu Bo
Published: August 2023

Understanding the multi-scale variabilities of global sea surface temperature (GSST) is extremely critical for deepening the comprehension of surface climate change. Great efforts have been made to study the multi-scale features of GSST, however, aiming to fully reveal the local features, here we propose a combined approach, incorporating an adaptive method named Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition (EEMD), and Pairwise-Rotated EOF (REOF), to separate signals on various frequency bands and eliminate the confounded EOF signatures. The results show that the explained variance of high-frequency components (HFC) in the equatorial central-eastern and south mid-latitude Pacific could reach more than 60%. The grid points where the variance contributions of low-frequency components (LFC) are greater than 40% are mainly concentrated in the subpolar North Atlantic and the Southern Ocean in both Pacific and Atlantic sectors, while that for secular trend (ST) hitting beyond 60% are displayed in the North Indian Ocean, the Southern Ocean from the tip of southwest Africa expanded to the southern side of Australia, Indo-western Pacific, east of the continents in both hemispheres and tropical Atlantic. By applying the EOF/REOF analysis, the leading modes of the HFC, LFC, and ST are then yielded. It is found that the patterns of the HFC are associated with El Niño-South Oscillation (ENSO) diversity, inferring the dominance and independence of the Eastern Pacific (EP) and Central Pacific (CP) El Niño. Meanwhile, Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) emerge in the rotated modes of the LFC, with the former exhibiting an Atlantic-Pacific coupling.
Canine circovirus among dogs and cats in China: first identification in cats
Authors: Xiao Xiangyu , Li Yan chao , Xu Feng pei , Hao Xiangqi , Li Shoujun , Zhou Pei
Published: August 2023

Canine circovirus (CanineCV) is a virus associated with respiratory and digestive diseases in dogs and often occurs in coinfections with other pathogens, thereby aggravating the symptoms of infected dogs. CanineCV was first reported in the United States in 2012. Subsequently, it was reported among dogs in Europe, Asia, and South America. To investigate the prevalence of CanineCV in dogs in China, 331 dog samples were collected in this study. The PCR results showed that 9.06% (30/331, 95% CI = 6.2% ~ 12.7%) of the dog samples were CanineCV positive. CanineCV has also been detected in some carnivorous wild animals, indicating the potential risk of cross-species transmission of this virus. And, cats are also one of the most common pets in our daily lives, who is close contact with dogs. Thus, this study first investigated the prevalence of CanineCV in cats. The PCR results showed that 3.42% (14/409, 95% CI = 1.9% ~ 5.7%) of the cat samples were CanineCV positive. Moreover, 14 canine-derived CanineCV whole genomes and the first cat-derived CanineCV whole genome were obtained in this study. Rep and Cap are the major nonstructural proteins and structural proteins of CanineCV, respectively. In nucleic acid homology analyses, these 15 CanineCV strains showed a high degree of variation in Rep (85.9 ~ 99%) and Cap (85.6 ~ 100%). In phylogenetic analyses, the 15 CanineCV strains clustered into 3 different genotypes (genotypes 1, 3, and 4). Among them, the first cat-derived CanineCV belonged to CanineCV-3. In addition, 4 genetic recombination events were predicted in these 15 CanineCV strains, occurring in multiple regions of the genome. In conclusion, this study is the first to provide evidence of CanineCV infection in cats and successfully obtained the first whole genome of cat-derived CanineCV. The complex circulation and high prevalence of CanineCV among dogs and cats emphasize the importance of continuous monitoring of this virus in various animal species.