bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Curriculum Delivery of English Language Macro-skills vis-à-vis Strategic Approach of Bukidnon Jesuit Mission School Teachers
Authors: Diez Kim Peter
Published: June 2024

This study explores the curriculum delivery of English language macro-skills in all Senior High Schools of Jesuit Mission Schools of Bukidnon Province. The participants of the study are all English teachers in Bukidnon Mission District teaching the 21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World, English for Academic and Professional Purposes, Creative Nonfiction, Reading and Writing, Oral Communication, and Creative Writing. The study employed data triangulation to confirm research findings, reduce deficiencies, and provide credible and valid insights into the phenomenon. The quantitative result shows a high congruency of intended and observed curriculum in antecedent, transaction, and outcome; the 21st-century Literature from the Philippines and the World requires in-depth curriculum review and re-alignment in all areas, and Reading and Writing, and Creative nonfiction subjects suggest improvement in the Transaction. Three significant essences are produced in Moustaka Phenomenology as to how the curriculum is delivered: potentials in the developmental stage, pedagogical appropriation in the implementation stage, and actual results in the assessment stage. Twelve (12) syntheses derived from the data triangulation became the rationale for the contextualized development plan.
Nurses' Compliance Towards Infection Control Practices at Sulu Sanitarium and General Hospita
Authors: Sangkula Sahid
Published: June 2024

This descriptive-correlational study assessed nurses’ compliance towards infection control practices at Sulu Sanitarium and General Hospital with 100 samples taken through non-probability sampling method via purposive sampling, and with the use of weighted mean, standard deviation, t-test for independent samples, One-way ANOVA, and Pearson’s r, this study reveals the following findings: In the average, nursing personnel are compliant towards infection control practices; variables such as gender, age, educational attainment, length of service, and status of appointment do not mediate compliance towards infection control practices; Also, those who perceived the compliance towards infection control practice as Strongly Agree in terms of Awareness of Knowledge and Adherence to protocol are most probably the same group of nurses who perceived the compliance towards infection control practice as Agree in terms of Training and communication, Attitude and practices, and Self-evaluation, respectively. Findings support the Health Belief Model (HBM) which elucidates those cognitive processes influence nurses' behaviors in the context of infection control. HBM, nurses' compliance is examined through the lenses of perceived susceptibility to infections, acknowledging the risks they face in healthcare settings, and perceived severity, emphasizing the consequences of non-compliance on both personal and patient health.
The Moderation Analysis of Coping Strategies in the Relationship between Anxiety and Aggression among Security Personnel
Authors: Baldovino John Raven
Published: June 2024

The intricate interplay between emotions and behavior among security personnel is a critical yet underexplored area, particularly given the challenges posed by recent violent incidents in the Philippines. This study delves into the relationships among anxiety, coping strategies, and aggression within this occupational context. Despite the pivotal role played by security professionals, their mental well-being often remains overlooked. This study aims to fill a research gap by investigating how coping strategies moderate the relationship between anxiety and aggression. Data were gathered from a sample of 387 security personnel using self-report measures. Correlation analyses were conducted to assess the connections between anxiety, coping strategies, and aggression. Furthermore, hierarchical multiple regression was employed to examine how coping strategies moderate the link between anxiety and aggression. Results indicate that although anxiety alone may not strongly predict aggression, the interaction with coping strategies notably impacts aggressive behavior. Particularly, problem-focused coping is linked to reduced levels of anxiety and aggression, indicating its protective function in this context. Conversely, avoidant coping exacerbates the anxiety-aggression relationship. Emotion-focused coping yields mixed results. These findings underscore the necessity of tailored interventions to support the psychological well-being of security personnel. Understanding these dynamics is imperative for enhancing the resilience and performance of security teams, ultimately contributing to safer communities. This research advocates for targeted interventions addressing anxiety and promoting effective coping strategies within security organizations.
Effectiveness of an ICT-Skills Enhancement Short Course Program for Barangay Functionaries ICT-Based Office Operation
Authors: Gloria Marianne
Published: June 2024

In an era marked by rapid technological advancements, the role of local government officials and functionaries is transforming due to the growing integration of information and communication technology (ICT) into governance processes. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the ICT-Skills Enhancement Short Course program for enhancing ICT-based operations among Barangay Functionaries within the rural context of the 10 Barangays in the Municipality of Hagonoy, Davao del Sur. This study employed a descriptive-pre-experimental research design, specifically the one-group pre-test post-test design, to assess the effectiveness of the intervention by comparing participants' measurements before and after the intervention. Before the implementation of the ICT Skills Enhancement Short Course program, the descriptive rating indicated a developing stage, suggesting that participants had only acquired a minimum level of knowledge. Following the implementation, the participants’ level of skill transitioned from developing to proficient. Using a paired sample T-test, results revealed a significant difference in the level of skills before and after the implementation. These findings underscore the importance of adopting the ICT Skills Enhancement Short Course program to enhance government services in barangays.
An Evaluation of the Efficiency of the Localize, Locate, and Pinpoint Strategy in Reducing Water Loss
Authors: Jariol Ken Lester
Published: June 2024

This study aimed to assess the efficiency of the Localize, Locate, and Pinpoint (LLP) strategy in curbing water loss within a water district. Employing a descriptive-comparative research design over seven days, the study utilized secondary data sourced from the water district office. This data, collected through noise loggers, electronic ground microphones, and other equipment associated with the LLP strategy, provided insights into the water loss reduction efforts. Before implementing the LLP strategy, the water district suffered from a high water loss exceeding 30%. Following the implementation, although the water loss remained high, it showed improvement, indicating that other factors might contribute to the loss. The results demonstrated a significant disparity in water loss before and after implementing the LLP strategy, suggesting that while complete elimination of losses may not be feasible, the strategy aids in substantial reduction. The study revealed that the noise levels, used as an indicator of potential leaks, exhibited a moderate confidence level before the implementation of the strategy. Conversely, after the LLP strategy adoption, the confidence level dropped to a low, indicating a decreased likelihood of leaks. Moreover, statistical analysis confirmed a noteworthy difference in noise levels before and after the implementation, lending support to the efficacy of the LLP strategy. Furthermore, this study underscores the positive impact of the Localize, Locate, and Pinpoint strategy on water loss reduction, despite not achieving complete elimination. The findings underscore the strategy's efficiency in identifying and minimizing potential leakages, thereby contributing to the reduction of non-revenue water within the water district.
The Interplay among Students’ Social Behavior, Thinking Skills, and Academic Performance in Core Subjects
Authors: Santisteban Abigail , Futalan Maria Chona
Published: June 2024

This study delved into students’ thinking skills in dealing with real-life situations and how such skills are associated with their academic performance in the following core subjects: Mathematics, Science, and English. The research is quantitative, specifically a descriptive-correlational type. The respondents came from four big private schools in Dumaguete City. An adapted questionnaire was utilized to gauge the students’ thinking skills, and their academic performance was garnered based on their grades in the three core subjects. Percentages means, and chi-square tests were utilized as data treatment tools. The data indicated that students demonstrated a "very satisfactory" level of performance in Mathematics and Science, whereas their performance in English was notably "outstanding." Furthermore, the results showed that nearly half of the students use their problem-solving, decision-making, and thinking skills in dealing with real-life situations, while only a few of them struggle to effectively utilize the aforementioned skills. The data further revealed that the students’ performance in Mathematics and Science and their thinking skills in dealing with real-life situations are significantly correlated.
Determinants of Primary School Teachers’ Level of Self-Efficacy
Authors: Zizhan, Song , Rafols Jaruvic
Published: June 2024

In an evolving educational landscape, the competence of teachers plays an important role in shaping the quality of education. This study delves into the intricate relationship between teachers’ selected profiles and their level of self-efficacy. Employing a descriptive–comparative design, this research was conducted among 198 primary school teachers in China. The study utilized the Alternative Teachers’ Sense of Self-Efficacy (A-TSES) instrument to measure teachers’ self-efficacy across various dimensions. The research uncovered a diverse demographic composition of teachers, with significant variations in age, educational attainment, teaching experience, and grade levels taught. Notably, younger teachers exhibited higher self-efficacy beliefs, while the influence of gender on self-efficacy was negligible. Furthermore, educational qualifications and the grade level taught played distinctive roles in shaping teachers’ self-efficacy. By knowing their self-efficacy levels in terms of their selected profile, we can identify which teachers offer more qualifications in teaching and handling a class that will benefit the students and the school.
Analisis Kesesuaian Silabus Pendidikan Agama Islam dengan Kurikulum Nasional
Authors: Sari HS Devi Purnama , Harmi Hendra , Wanto Deri , Nurmal Ifnaldi
Published: June 2024

Kesesuaian silabus PAI dengan Kurikulum Nasional sangat krusial mengingat pentingnya sinkronisasi antara materi yang diajarkan di sekolah dengan tujuan pendidikan nasional yang diharapkan. Ketidakcocokan antara silabus dan kurikulum dapat berdampak pada efektivitas proses pembelajaran dan pencapaian hasil belajar siswa.  Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah penelitian kepustakaan atau library research, dengan fokus pada penelaahan kritis terhadap karya-karya Ibnu Khaldun dan literatur terkait lainnya. Data utama diperoleh dari sumber-sumber primer, seperti buku-buku Silabus, Pendidikan Agama Islam, dan Pendidikan Nasional dan data sekunder dari karya-karya terkait lainnya yang relevan dengan topik. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukan bahwa pertama silabus PAI sudah banyak menyesuaikan dengan standar kompetensi dan kompetensi dasar dalam Kurikulum Nasional, masih terdapat area yang memerlukan peningkatan untuk memastikan pencapaian kompetensi secara menyeluruh. Kedua kendala utama meliputi perbedaan tujuan antara PAI yang berfokus pada pengembangan spiritual dan moral, dan Kurikulum Nasional yang lebih mengedepankan kompetensi untuk dunia kerja dan kehidupan sosial. Selain itu, terdapat tantangan diantaranya kekurangan sumber daya manusia yang kompeten dan fasilitas yang memadai untuk mendukung integrasi ini, serta pelatihan dan pengembangan profesional bagi guru PAI yang masih kurang memadai.. Ketiga integrasi silabus PAI dengan Kurikulum Nasional memerlukan pendekatan yang komprehensif dan kolaboratif. Dengan melibatkan berbagai pemangku kepentingan dan mengimplementasikan strategi-strategi yang telah disebutkan, diharapkan kesesuaian dan efektivitas kurikulum terpadu dapat ditingkatkan, sehingga dapat memberikan pendidikan yang lebih holistik dan bermakna bagi peserta didik.
Build Criteria to Evaluate the Quality of Technical Institutes Performance
Authors: Obaed Mahmood Ass. Prof. Dr. Diaa , Mahmmood Alzawbaee Prof. Dr. Obaid , Obaid Mahmood Ass. Lec. Ahmed
Published: June 2024

DOI:10.5281/zenodo.5822617
Improving the performance of technical institutes is a global concern, and building the criteria produces indicators or measures that are able to support the facts, and facilitate their description, and help to guide the decision.
This paper came to build criteria by which digital indicators or measures can be found that reduce the margin of diligence in a manner that increases accuracy and fairness in the evaluation and what distinguishes these criteria as they remain effective in the case of changing the degrees of hubs or adding new hubs, and that the proposed evaluation model includes of nine main hubs, whose grades are divided on each hub according to its relative importance, as the total score is (100) degrees, and the paper also included the evaluation mechanism. Meanwhile, the paper results a set of conclusions and recommendations, the most important of which are:

Raising the efficiency of the performance of technical institutes by creating a positive competition between the institutions and that the use of indicators makes the decision more correct and away or reduce the margin of diligence.
Can benefits from the feedback for the purpose of the amendment in a way that is compatible with the latest changes by applying proposed model.
The Disparate Impacts of Boko Haram Insurgency and Banditry on Teaching of English in Northern Nigeria
Authors: Chidi-Onwuta Dr. Gift , P.C  Chikamadu Dr. Christabelle
Published: June 2024

English in Nigeria is a medium of instruction and a tool that bridges the communication gap stemmed from the multilingual and multicultural nature of the country and other multifaceted problems associated with learning in a foreign language. When learners are denied access to the only means of instruction, employment opportunities and other paths to greatness are compromised. For over a decade, the educational system of Northern Nigeria has been embroiled and teaching of English language clogged. This study aims to report the activities of an insurgency group, popularly known as Boko Haram and Bandits in Northern Nigeria on the education system and the resultant effects on teaching English Language to students and the professional developments of English teachers. The study generates data through a questionnaire administered to twenty one English teachers in Northern Nigeria through Google forms and the reports of Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attacks (GCPEA). The statistical analyses of the data reveal vulnerability of female students and teachers than their male counterparts due to armed conflicts. The study further reveals incidents of anxiety on teachers and learners, closure and militarization of some schools and other traumatic experiences that inhibited teaching and learning of English in Northern Nigeria. While this study underscores government’s appropriate programmes and policies to support English teacher’s professional development and the teaching of English to children who are out of school due to the nefarious activities of Boko Haram and Bandits, and their impacts in achieving desirable performance goals in English, it could not report efforts the Nigerian government has employed in ameliorating the menace. The pedagogic implication of this study is that loss of performance skills in a target language is possible when learners have not gained remarkable mastery in all levels of language study. Again, in the next twenty years, only few Northern Nigerians would be good users of English in a country where the economic and social resource greatly depend on mastery of English.
Iranian nuclear weapons “Impact of Iranian nuclear weapons in the Middle East
Authors: Y. Khalil Faten
Published: June 2024

Iranian nuclear weapons affected   the situation in the  Middle East  because this problem resulted in a  conflict between Iran and United States allies in the Middle East.  Iran supported groups in the Middle East such as Hezbollah  and Houthis to threaten United States interests, so the Middle East became a tension zone. The  conflict between Iran and the United  States increased when the Western sanctions against Iran  increased, which led Iran to increase Uranium enrichment.
REFORMS IN EDUCATION SYSTEM IN NIGERIA AND PLACE OF ARABIC STUDIES
Authors: M. Jum’ah Alaso Dr. Salih
Published: June 2024

’Reform in education’’ is the center point of this paper it discusses the literal and technical concept of the word “REFORM” in relation to education. It went memory lane on the reforms in education in Nigeria since pre-colonial era till the present time. Historically, Arabic was the first official medium of communication and lingual-fracas during the Sokoto Caliphate (1804-1903) and later suffered a neglect and unjust treatment due to different reforms in the education sector in the country during the colonial era and even after the independence. The paper aims at studying how these reforms affected Arabic Studies in term of development or otherwise and various contributing factors. The main methodology used for data collection are interviews, questionnaires circulated to a number of Arabic experts and education reform specialists in addition to some other methods benefited from. The paper discovers that Arabic was the first international language that brought Nigerians out of illiteracy; Thus, became the most beloved language among them being the language of their religion. And that the language was negatively affected by various education reforms that caused its some set back. and that later became one of the recognized courses in the Nigerian system of education. Various recommendations were made some which is that Arabic must be one of the core causes in the national curriculum. And that private Arabic schools should receive more attention from Government for their development.
The Arabic Pronoun and its Equivalent in English Language An applied contrastive study on students of the Department of Translation- University of Basra
Authors: ِAl Abdullah Assis. prof. Dr.Murad
Published: June 2024

The Arabic language employed the pronoun in its composition for linguistic purposes and connotations, and its existence was not arbitrary, but rather became a necessity for the writer and speaker to resort to in order to reach their goal, away from lengthening inclination to brevity. The same words, so the pronouns were distributed between nominative, accusative and prepositions, separate and connected, apparent and hidden, and each of them denotes the singular, dual and plural, and masculine and feminine, and this is what distinguished the Arabic language from English despite the similarity between the two languages in employing this type of knowledge, but it differed in its employments from Arabic to English.
Ruminant Relations
Authors: Hoogervorst Tom G. , Jákl Jiří
Published: June 2024

Java offers exciting opportunities to trace human–cattle relations in a Southeast Asian context. By foregrounding inscriptions, court poems (kakavin), and other textual and iconographic sources, we aim to unearth some historical and cultural aspects of pre-Islamic cattle management and milk consumption, paying special attention to the words used for different breeds, dairy products, and other bovine terminology. Contacts with the Indian subcontinent heralded the introduction of larger cows and eventually milk-based economies, despite the conventional wisdom that the early Javanese avoided dairy products. When read critically and comparatively, Old Javanese texts reveal that locally domesticated cattle (sapi) had a relatively low status and were often used for heavy work. South Asian zebus (lǝmbu), by contrast, enjoyed more prestige and were valued for their holy profile and superior lactation. The consumption and ritual use of dairy products was especially prevalent in Hindu circles, but appears to have had an impact on rural village life more broadly. When the religious hegemony of Brahmins decreased, the production of milk and butter generally ceased to be seen as a worthwhile investment. As a result, the bovine landscapes reconstructed in this article gradually changed beyond recognition in Islamic, colonial, and postcolonial times.
Rebuking Viṣṇu and Reaping the Rewards
Authors: Sharma Vishal
Published: June 2024

This paper argues that a concept of rebuking God (bhagavannindā) existed as a prohibited act in premodern Sanskrit Brahmanical texts, with the earliest examples in medieval Vaiṣṇava narratives (in the Bhāgavata Purāṇa and Viṣṇu Purāṇa) of Vena and Śiśupāla. The concept of bhagavannindā problematizes the Bhāgavata Purāṇa rereading of the Śiśupāla story: how can someone rebuke a god (here Kṛṣṇa) and be seemingly rewarded (through sāyujya [union] with the god)? I argue that to this problem in Vaiṣṇava and epic narratives the Bhāgavata Purāṇa offers dveṣabhakti / vairānubandha (liberation through enmity or hatred) as a potential solution. Finally, through investigation of two early modern commentaries on the Mahābhārata, I argue that reading this concept of divine censure into the epics was not without tensions. The epic commentators sometimes reveal their own ambivalent readings of episodes where Kṛṣṇa is rebuked. The paper draws attention to the importance of the Bhāgavata Purāṇa as a commentary on the Mahābhārata, upon which later exegetes relied. It surveys how and why the peculiar concept of dveṣabhakti emerges in Vaiṣnava theology and presents narrative as both the source where this orthodox concept of divine censure emerges and the site where the concept is reinforced in commentary.
“As Dry Trees That Have No Fruits”
Authors: Abudraham Ohad , Morgenstern Matthew
Published: June 2024

This article publishes the surviving parts of a hitherto unknown Mandaean spell for the protection of a woman from childlessness. The spell has been reconstructed from two fragmentary amulets that were written on lead lamellae in the Sasanid period (MLSC 18 and 19). The overlapping sections of the two amulets show some linguistic differences but are otherwise clearly parallel copies of the same formula. The spell is narrated in the name of Iauar son of Iauar and mentions other figures known from the Mandaean canonical literature. Iauar witnesses the unnatural behavior of the demons, who cause barrenness and infertility by the purloining of male and female seed, and cause infant mortality through acts of demonic violence. The text breaks off at the point where the narrator binds the demons. The formula adds several words to the Mandaic lexicon and a previously unattested form of the 1 c.s. personal pronoun.
Siyāq Numbers on Copper Coins and Countermarks during the Qajar Era
Authors: Mohammadi Sayid Omid , Soleimani Saeed
Published: June 2024

Iranian copper coins of the Qajar era—all described by the word falus—have a great variety of designs, weights, and sizes. These coins sometimes also include letters and phrases that are undeciphered to date. This article uses siyāq script to read some of these mystery notations for the first time. The multiple fascinating examples of siyāq numbers found thereby on Qajar coins and countermarks show that, contrary to former belief, some copper coins of this era had specific face values written on them in the siyāq script. This research uses these copper coins to take a small step toward a better understanding of the monetary system of the Qajar era by introducing several denominations never reported before. Finally, as siyāq script had never been discovered on coins, this new possibility now allows numismatists and scholars to revisit and correct former interpretations or to intro- duce and decipher new coins in the future.
Final Hymn of the Rigveda
Authors: Katz Joshua T.
Published: June 2024

The final hymn of the Rigveda, 10.191, the last three stanzas of which are dedicated to saṃjñānam ‘unity’, plays in a remarkable way with the preposition/prefix sam(-) ‘with; together’ and the phonetic sequence mā̆n. Some of the words with mā̆n go back to Proto-Indo-European *men ‘think’ (mánas- ‘mind, intellect, thought’, mántra- ‘utterance, spell’, and mantraye ‘I utter an utterance, recite a spell’); others are forms of the adjective samāná- ‘common, the same’. This brief communication shows that the display of phonetic fireworks has analogs in our earliest hymns in Avestan and Greek, in which both reflexes of *men and etymologically unconnected words that have the same pattern of sounds are frequently found in the most “privileged positions”: the beginning and/or end of a section, poem, or entire poetic collection.
Front Matter
Authors: Editors
Published: June 2024

Table of Contents
Review of Bandits in Print: The Water Margin and the Transformations of the Chinese Novel
Authors: Fox Ariel
Published: June 2024

Bandits in Print: The Water Margin and the Transformations of the Chinese Novel. By Scott W. Gregory. New York: Cornell University Press, 2023. Pp. xii + 179. $125 (cloth); $26.95 (paper); open access.
Review of Daily Life in Ancient Egyptian Settlements: Conference Aswan 2019
Authors: Budka Julia
Published: June 2024

Daily Life in Ancient Egyptian Settlements: Conference Aswan 2019. Edited by Johanna Sigl. Sonderschrift des Deutschen Archäologischen Institut, Abteilung Kairo, vol. 47. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 2022. Pp. ii + 262. €89.
Review of Bēl Lišāni: Current Research in Akkadian Linguistics
Authors: Schneider Roey
Published: June 2024

Bēl Lišāni: Current Research in Akkadian Linguistics. Edited by Rebecca Hasselbach-Aandee and Na‘ama Pat-El. Explorations in Ancient Near Eastern Civilizations, vol. 8. University Park, PA: Eisenbrauns, 2021. Pp. xv + 259. $119.95.
Review of The Rise of the Niʿmatullāhī Order: Shiʿite Sufi Masters against Islamic Fundamentalism in 19th-Century Persia
Authors: Boylston Nicholas
Published: June 2024

The Rise of the Niʿmatullāhī Order: Shiʿite Sufi Masters against Islamic Fundamentalism in 19th-Century Persia. By Reza Tabandeh. Iranian Series. Leiden: Leiden University Press, 2021. Pp. xiii + 303. $72, €66 (paper).
Review of Wahhābism: The History of a Militant Islamic Movement
Authors: Heck Paul L.
Published: June 2024

Wahhābism: The History of a Militant Islamic Movement. By Cole M. Bunzel. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2023. Pp. xvii + 385. $39.95, £35.
Putting Barbarians in Their Place
Authors: Pearce Scott
Published: June 2024

In this review, we follow Haun Saussy through his The Making of Barbarians, examining how “those within,” the people of the traditional Chinese world, developed ideas of “those without,” constructing the “barbarian” so as to construct a Self. But the “self,” “that within,” was itself in an endless process of transformation, as new peoples entered the Chinese world to appropriate its various fineries. And of equal interest: some did not wish to enter at all. The route we will take on this excursion with Saussy is a circuitous one, filled with fascinating insights, along with a few troublesome potholes.
Combining Data from Multiple Techniques
Authors: Benmore Chris J.
Published: May 2012

This chapter describes the power of combining experimental data from multiple probes in attempting to address some important current scientific issues facing us today, answer fundamental questions about the world around us, and seize new opportunities in pushing the limits of materials design. In this regard, the role of computer simulation takes on a prominent role and is central for developing realistic models covering a range of length scales. The goal is to push toward finding a common concept connecting a material's atomic and microscopic structure to its macroscopic properties and function. To achieve this, a strong appreciation of what exact information each individual probe measures and a precise knowledge of a technique's strengths, pitfalls, and possible sources of error are all needed in order to usefully combine data from multiple measurements. Consequently, the comprehensive explanations of each technique described in the preceding chapters of this book provide an invaluable resource to experimenters if data from multiple data sets are to be successfully combined.
High‐Resolution 3DImaging and Material Analysis with TransmissionX‐ray Microscopy and Nano‐CT
Authors: Wang Yuxin
Published: May 2012

Lens‐based x‐ray microscopy and nano‐CT is a relatively new approach for imaging and characterizing nanostructures. To date, tens of nanometer resolution in 2D and 3D is routinely achieved with both commercial laboratory systems and instruments based at synchrotron radiation facilities. The nondestructive nature of the technique makes it particularly well suited forin situstudies on dynamic behavior of nanostructures while in or near their real operation conditions. With the use of tunable synchrotron x‐ray sources, the elemental and certain chemical compositions can also be mapped accurately in 3D with 1%‐level sensitivity. This paper provides an introduction to this technique with examples in several application areas.
Identification of rheumatoid arthritis patients using an administrative database: A Veterans Affairs study
Authors: Ng Bernard , Aslam Fawad , Petersen Nancy J. , Yu Hong‐Jen , Suarez‐Almazor Maria E.
Published: May 2012

Objective

The accuracy of the diagnosis is vital when administrative databases are used for pharmacoepidemiologic and outcome studies. Data pertaining to the utility of databases for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are sparse and variable. We assessed the utility of various diagnostic algorithms to identify RA patients within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) databases.

Methods

Using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision code for RA at 2 visits at least 6 months apart, we identified 1,779 patients between October 1, 1998 and September 30, 2009 in our local Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) administrative database. Disease‐modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) use was ascertained from the pharmacy database. Cases were analyzed based on DMARD therapy and RA codes at clinic visits. A total of 543 patients' medical records, selected by stratification and random selection on the basis of their visits, were reviewed to ascertain the clinicians' diagnoses and clinical criteria documentation. Positive predictive values (PPVs) were calculated for various database case identification algorithms using diagnosis of RA by medical record review as the gold standard.

Results

The PPV for identification of RA with 2 RA codes 6 months apart was 30.9%. Addition of DMARD therapy increased the PPV to 60.4%. The PPV further increased to 91.4% when having an RA code at the last VAMC rheumatology clinic visit criterion was added. An algorithm using only 2 administrative RA codes 6 months apart had a low PPV for correctly identifying patients with RA in the VHA database.

Conclusion

Including DMARD therapy and requiring an RA code at the last visit with a rheumatologist increased the performance of the data extraction algorithm.
Effectiveness of self‐management of low back pain: Systematic review with meta‐analysis
Authors: Oliveira Vinicius C. , Ferreira Paulo H. , Maher Christopher G. , Pinto Rafael Z. , Refshauge Kathryn M. , Ferreira Manuela L.
Published: May 2012

Objective

To determine the effectiveness of self‐management for nonspecific low back pain (LBP).

Methods

We performed a systematic review searching the Medline, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, LILACS, PEDro, AMED, SPORTDiscus, and Cochrane databases from earliest record to April 2011. Randomized controlled trials evaluating self‐management for nonspecific LBP and assessing pain and disability were included. The PEDro scale was used to assess the methodologic quality of included trials. Data were pooled where studies were sufficiently homogenous. Analyses were conducted separately for short‐ (less than 6 months after randomization) and long‐term (at least 12 months after randomization) followup. Six criteria for self‐management were used to assess the content of the intervention.

Results

The search identified 2,325 titles, of which 13 original trials were included. Moderate‐quality evidence showed that self‐management is effective for improving pain and disability for people with LBP. The weighted mean difference at short‐term followup for pain was −3.2 points on a 0–100 scale (95% confidence interval [95% CI] −5.1, −1.3) and for disability was −2.3 points (95% CI −3.7, −1.0). The long‐term effects were −4.8 (95% CI −7.1, −2.5) for pain and −2.1 (95% CI −3.6, −0.6) for disability.

Conclusion

There is moderate‐quality evidence that self‐management has small effects on pain and disability in people with LBP. These results challenge the endorsement of self‐management in treatment guidelines.
Casimir Force Contrast Between Amorphous and Crystalline Phases of AIST
Authors: Torricelli Gauthier , van Zwol Peter J. , Shpak Olex , Palasantzas George , Svetovoy Vitaly B. , Binns Chris , Kooi Bart J. , Jost Peter , Wuttig Matthias
Published: May 2012

Phase change materials (PCMs) can be rapidly and reversibly switched between the amorphous and crystalline state. The structural transformation is accompanied by a significant change of optical and electronic properties rendering PCMs suitable for rewritable optical data storage and non‐volatile electronic memories. The phase transformation is also accompanied by an increase of the Casimir force of 20 to 25% between gold and AIST (Ag5In5Sb60Te30) upon crystallization. Here the focus is on reproducing and understanding the observed change in Casimir force, which is shown to be related to a change of the dielectric function upon crystallization. The dielectric function changes in two separate frequency ranges: the increase of absorption in the visible range is due to resonance bonding, which is unique for the crystalline phase, while free carrier absorption is responsible for changes in the infrared regime. It is shown that free carriers contribute ≈50% to the force contrast, while the other half comes from resonance bonding. This helps to identify PCMs that maximize force contrast. Finally it is shown that if this concept of force control is to be employed in microelectromechanical devices, then protective capping layers of PCMs must be only a few nanometers thick to minimize reduction of the force contrast.
Energy Transfer in Nanotube‐Perylene Complexes
Authors: Ernst Friederike , Heek Timm , Setaro Antonio , Haag Rainer , Reich Stephanie
Published: May 2012

A functional surfactant designed to solubilize and individualize nanotubes efficiently in aqueous media and to form energy transfer complexes with the carbon nanotubes through π–π stacking is presented. Upon excitation of the adsorbed perylene unit an emission from the nanotubes is observed that indicates a successful excitation transfer. The efficiency of the indirect excitation via the adsorbant is of the same order of magnitude as the direct excitation of the nanotubes. Under optimized preparation conditions the pH independent perylene‐imido‐diester compound isolates and solubilizes carbon nanotubes in biocompatible aqueous environments without additional surfactants. The resulting solutions are stable over many months.
High Contrast Superlens Lithography Engineered by Loss Reduction
Authors: Liu Hong , Wang Bing , Ke Lin , Deng Jie , Choy Chan Chum , Zhang Ming Sheng , Shen Lu , Maier Stefan A. , Teng Jing Hua
Published: May 2012

Although sub‐diffraction‐limit‐resolution optical imaging has been attained via superlenses in the UV regime, the corresponding resist profile in general exhibits a very poor contrast, far below the minimum requirement for photolithography. Here, it is experimentally demonstrated thin flat silver superlenses, engineered through refining interfacial roughness to reduce scattering loss, capable of resolving grating features of sub‐50 nm resolution with a high contrast of about 2.2. The seed layer effect on the superlens performance at a wavelength of 365 nm has been probed through both experimental and analytical methods. The performance of Ag, Ag/Ni and Ag/Ge superlenses agrees well with theoretical predications. The results show that a smooth interface is a key factor for realizing high performance superlensing, while damping losses become dominant when the roughness is reduced to less than 2 nm. This work verifies that a superlens is a potential tool for sub‐diffraction limit nano‐photolithography.
Preparation and characterization of polypropylene/heart‐of‐peach palm sheath composite
Authors: Magalhães Washington Luiz Esteves , Pianaro Sidnei Antonio , Granado Carlos Jose Fernandes , Satyanarayana Kestur Gundappa
Published: May 2012

This article presents preparation of heart‐of‐peach palm sheath (20–40 wt %) incorporated polypropylene (PP) composites using a single screw extruder. This study is aimed at the waste disposal problem, a societal concern considering that the peach palm cultivation being an important economic activity of some countries, which generate five times more waste than actual heart‐of‐palm itself. Both the raw materials and their composites were characterized for specific gravity, compressive and impact strengths, softening temperature, and hardness. It was observed that with increasing filler content the compressive and impact strengths of composites continuously decreased, while specific gravity, vicat softening temperature, and hardness showed the opposite trend. However, the optimum mechanical properties were attained for 30 wt % filler, which was the same filler content at which the highest PP crystallinity index was observed. Results also indicate that the lignocellulosic residue induce beta phase on the PP matrix and decrease thermal stability of the composite. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Composition control through pH and ionic strength during acrylic acid/acrylamide copolymerization
Authors: Paril Ahmet , Giz Ahmet , Catalgil‐Giz Huceste
Published: May 2012

The possibility of controlling the composition of acrylic acid/acrylamide copolymers by controlling the pH and the ionic strength of the reaction medium is investigated. The reactivity ratios of charged monomers depend on the pH of the medium, acrylic acid is the more reactive monomer below pH 3 and acrylamide above pH 4. The working pH was set at 3.6, a candidate for the crossover point, where no composition drift is expected. Copolymerization kinetics is investigated at this pH at various ionic strengths and a reaction without composition drift up to 80% conversion was achieved. All the chains produced in this reaction contain 30% ± 3% acrylic acid. Copolymer conversions, molecular weights, and composition distributions were measured through Automatic Continuous Online Monitoring of Polymerization (ACOMP) system. The copolymerization data were analyzed by a recent error in variables method (EVM) and reactivity ratios are calculated. The results show that in salt free conditions, the reactivity ratios depend on the ionic monomer concentration (ionic strength) in addition to the pH of the reaction medium. The effect of polyelectrolytic interactions on the reactivity ratios and the resulting composition drift during the reaction, sequence length distribution, and Stockmayer bivariate distribution are discussed in detail. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Block copolymers of acrylonitrile and poly(dimethylsiloxane)s
Authors: Köken Nesrin , Karagöz Serap , Kızılcan Nilgün , Ustamehmetoğlu Belkıs
Published: May 2012

The chemical redox system of ceric ammonium nitrate(Ce4+) and poly(dimethylsiloxane)s (PDMS) with monohydroxy (MH), dihydroxy (DH), and diamine(DA) chain ends was used to polymerize acrylonitrile (AN) to produce monohydroxy poly(dimethylsiloxane)s‐b‐polyacrylonitrile (MH.PDMS‐b‐PAN), dihydroxy poly(dimethylsiloxane)s‐b‐polyacrylonitrile (DH.PDMS‐b‐PAN), and α, ω‐diamine poly(dimethylsiloxane)s‐b‐polyacrylonitrile (DA.PDMS‐b‐PAN) block copolymers. The concentration, reaction time, and the type of poly(dimethylsiloxane) affect the yield and the molecular weight of the copolymers. The ratio of AN/ceric salt/PDMS has remarkably affects the properties of formed copolymers. DH.PDMS‐b‐PAN copolymers were also prepared by electroinduced polymerization in the presence of catalytic amount of Ce4+ in a divided electrochemical cell where Ce3+ is readily oxidized into Ce4+ at the anode. The products were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 1H‐NMR spectroscopy, DSC, and their surface properties were investigated through contact‐angle measurements. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Fundamental studies on lignocellulose/polypropylene composites: Effects of wood treatment on the transcrystalline morphology and mechanical properties
Authors: Borysiak Slawomir
Published: May 2012

Effects of alkalization, esterification, and γ‐irradiation of wood on the transcrystalline morphology of wood/polypropylene composites were investigated using X‐ray diffraction, hot stage optical microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The occurrence of transcrystallization in wood‐polypropylene composites is strongly dependent on the type of chemical modification of lignocellulosic materials. A detailed analysis of the results obtained proved that the transcrystallization is strongly influenced by conditions of mercerization process of wood and kind of anhydrides. Moreover, it has been found that amount of cellulose in wood plays a key role in the development of transcrystallinity. The absence of cellulose in wood seems to be unfavorable for the growth of transcrystallinity. A relationship between mechanical properties of composites and the phenomena taking place at the polymer‐filler interface, controlled by chemical modifications of lignocellulose components has been evaluated. It has been established that the mechanical properties of wood composites depend on the proper choice of a modifier and are obtained after optimization of the process of modification. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Mechanical and barrier properties of poly(lactic acid) films coated by nanoclay–ink composition
Authors: Kim Hyun Kyung , Kim Seong Jin , Lee Hyun Soo , Choi Jae Hoon , Jeong Chang Myeong , Sung Myoung Hwan , Park Seok‐Hoon , Park Hyun Jin
Published: May 2012

In this study, poly(lactic acid) (PLA) films were coated by an ink formulation containing nanoclay dispersed with ultrasonic homogenization for 20 min. Mechanical and barrier properties of the coated films were evaluated according to clay type and concentration. PLA films coated by ink formulations containing Cloisite 30B displayed the best mechanical and barrier properties in six types of nanoclays. PLA films coated by Cloisite 30B‐containing ink varying in clay concentration were investigated. Tensile strength and elongation at break of these coated films were improved in 1% Cloisite 30B. Oxygen permeability decreased significantly upon the addition of clay levels up to 1% and slightly decreased with further increases in the amount of the clay. The value of water vapor permeability also decreased depending on the increases of clay (0%–20%). When the clay content in the sample was 2.0%, the surface of coated PLA films displayed aggregation visible using film emission scanning electron microscopy. X‐ray diffractometry and transmission electron microscopy indicated that a mixture of exfoliated and intercalated structure was formed with addition of 1% (w/w) Cloisite 30B to the ink after ultrasonication. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Adsorption of salicylic acid in aqueous solution by a water‐compatible hyper‐cross‐linked resin functionalized with amino‐group
Authors: Xiao Gu‐Qing , Li Hua , Xu Man‐Cai
Published: May 2012

On account of the high toxicity of nitrobenzene, 1,2‐dichloroethane was used as solvent. A novel water‐compatible hyper‐cross‐linked resin functionalized with amino‐group (denoted as GQ‐04) was synthesized to remove salicylic acid (SA) in aqueous solution. The maximum adsorption capacity of SA onto GQ‐04 was observed at pH of 1.88. The adsorption capacity increased with the increasing salt concentration. The adsorption kinetic data obeyed the pseudo‐second‐order rate equation and the adsorption isotherms can be characterized by Freundlich model. The intraparticle diffusion was the main rate‐controlling step. The saturated adsorption quantity of SA was up to 119.9 mg·mL‐1 according to the dynamic adsorption at 293 K. The resin could be regenerated by the 6 BV mixed solution of 80% ethanol and 0.5 mol/L NaOH. The size matching and hydrogen bonding between GQ‐04 and SA and the micropore structure resulted in the larger adsorption capacity in comparison with XAD‐4 and H103 resin. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
The effect of selective location of carbon nanotubes on electrical properties of thermoplastic vulcanizates
Authors: Zhu Yilei , Zhang Xiaohong , Song Zhihai , Qi Guicun , Wang Xiang , Li Binghai , Wang Haosheng , Qiao Jinliang
Published: May 2012

Three types of conductive thermoplastic vulcanizates (TPVs) were prepared by blending polypropylene (PP), carbon nanotubes (CNT), and carboxylic acrylonitrile butadiene ultrafine full‐vulcanized powdered rubber (xNBR‐UFPR). The CNT locations were different in these three types of TPVs, i.e., CNTs were localized in PP matrix, in the xNBR‐UFPR phase, or mainly in the interface. It had been found that TPV with CNTs localized mainly in the interface had the lowest conductive percolation threshold among these three types of TPVs. The volume resistivity of the TPV with 2 phr CNTs was as small as 220 Ω•cm. Moreover, the conductive TPV possessed good mechanical properties. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Humidity and wetting effects in spin‐cast blends of insulating polymers and conducting polyaniline doped with DBSA
Authors: Haberko Jakub , Bernasik Andrzej , Łużny Wojciech , Hasik Magdalena , Raczkowska Joanna , Rysz Jakub , Budkowski Andrzej
Published: May 2012

In this article, morphological structures are presented that are formed during spin coating of thin composite polymer films, containing a conjugated polymer. The system under study is a mixture of electrically conductive polyaniline doped with dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid and a conventional, nonconducting polymer—polystyrene or poly(methyl methacrylate). The dopant strongly influences film morphology, acting as a surfactant at a polymer/polymer interface. The effect of solution composition, spin‐coating atmosphere, and solvent on final morphology is analyzed. Experimental data were collected by means of several techniques: dynamic Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry, Atomic Force Microscopy, UV–Vis spectroscopy, and optical microscopy. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013