bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development and application of a dynamic transmission model of health systems’ preparedness and response to COVID-19 in twenty-six Latin American and Caribbean countries
Authors: Santoro Adrián , López Osornio Alejandro , Williams Ivan , Wachs Martín , Cejas Cintia , Havela Maisa , Bardach Ariel , López Analía , Augustovski Federico , Pichón Riviere Andrés , Rubinstein Adolfo
Published: March 2022

The global impact of COVID-19 has challenged health systems across the world. This situation highlighted the need to develop policies based on scientific evidence to prepare the health systems and mitigate the pandemic. In this scenario, governments were urged to predict the impact of the measures they were implementing, how they related to the population’s behavior, and the capacity of health systems to respond to the pandemic. The overarching aim of this research was to develop a customizable and open-source tool to predict the impact of the expansion of COVID-19 on the level of preparedness of the health systems of different Latin American and the Caribbean countries, with two main objectives. Firstly, to estimate the transmission dynamics of COVID-19 and the preparedness and response capacity of health systems in those countries, based on different scenarios and public policies implemented to control, mitigate, or suppress the spread of the epidemic. Secondly, to facilitate policy makers’ decisions by allowing the model to adjust its parameters according to the specific pandemic trajectory and policy context. How many infections and deaths are estimated per day?; When are the peaks of cases and deaths expected, according to the different scenarios?; Which occupancy rate will ICU services have along the epidemiological curve?; When is the optimal time increase restrictions in order to prevent saturation of ICU beds?, are some of the key questions that the model can respond, and is publicly accessible through the following link: http://shinyapps.iecs.org.ar/modelo-covid19/. This open-access and open code tool is based on a SEIR model (Susceptible, Exposed, Infected and Recovered). Using a deterministic epidemiological model, it allows to frame potential scenarios for long periods, providing valuable information on the dynamics of transmission and how it could impact on health systems through multiple customized configurations adapted to specific characteristics of each country.
Exploring the role of human resource development functions on crisis management: The case of Dubai-UAE during Covid-19 crisis
Authors: Alketbi Amir Hamad Salim Binnashira , Jimber del Rio Juan Antonio , Ibáñez Fernández Alberto
Published: March 2022

Employee welfare represents a critical element of success for companies to remain competitive. Human resources increasingly encompass the management of critical situations that affect the employees’ wellbeing. This research analyzes the effect of Human Resource Development (HRD), functions on the effectiveness of crisis management. It is an attempt to include HRD in the theory of Crisis management. Using Structural Equation Models-Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) analysis, the study analyzes how training, leadership, organizational strategy, and organizational culture directly positively impact the efficiency of Crisis management (CM) during the Covid-19 crisis in the public entities of Dubai-UAE. In particular, training showed to be the best predictor, followed by the Organizational culture. Organizational structure, Values and uniqueness show no impact on CM within the context of public entities of Dubai-UAE.
Cost-effectiveness and budget impact analysis of siponimod in the treatment of secondary progressive multiple sclerosis in Italy
Authors: Cortesi Paolo Angelo , Antonazzo Ippazio Cosimo , Gasperini Claudio , Nica Mihaela , Ritrovato Daniela , Mantovani Lorenzo Giovanni
Published: March 2022

Background

Siponimod is an effective treatment for patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS), with active disease evidenced by relapses or imaging features characteristic of multiple sclerosis inflammatory activity, however there is a need to evaluate its economic value and sustainability compared to other disease modifying-therapies (DMTs).

Objective

To estimate the siponimod cost-effectiveness profile and its relative budget impact compared with other DMTs, by using the Italian National Healthcare System perspective.

Methods

We performed: 1) a cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) vs interferon beta-1b using an analytical Markov model and a life time-horizon, and 2) a budget impact analysis by using 3-years time-horizon. The results were reported as incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) and net-monetary benefit (NMB) for CEA, using a willingness to pay threshold of €40,000 per QALY gained, and as difference in the overall budget (Euro) between the scenario with and without siponimod for budget impact.

Results

In the base case scenario siponimod resulted cost-effective compared with interferon beta-1b 28,891€ per QALY. Overall, the market access of siponimod was associated to an increased budget of about 3€ millions (+0.9%) in the next 3 years simulated.

Conclusion

Compared to interferon beta-1b, siponimod seems to be cost-effective in SPMS patients and sustainable, with less than 1% overall budget increased in the next 3 years. Future studies need to confirm our results in the real word setting and in other countries.
Association of renalase with clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients with COVID-19
Authors: Safdar Basmah , Wang Melinda , Guo Xiaojia , Cha Charles , Chun Hyung J. , Deng Yanhong , Dziura James , El-Khoury Joe M. , Gorelick Fred , Ko Albert I. , Lee Alfred I. , Safirstein Robert , Simonov Michael , Zhou Bin , Desir Gary V.
Published: March 2022

Renalase is a secreted flavoprotein with anti-inflammatory and pro-cell survival properties. COVID-19 is associated with disordered inflammation and apoptosis. We hypothesized that blood renalase levels would correspond to severe COVID-19 and survival. In this retrospective cohort study, clinicopathologic data and blood samples were collected from hospitalized COVID-19 subjects (March—June 2020) at a single institution tertiary hospital. Plasma renalase and cytokine levels were measured and clinical data abstracted from health records. Of 3,450 COVID-19 patients, 458 patients were enrolled. Patients were excluded if <18 years, or opted out of research. The primary composite outcome was intubation or death within 180 days. Secondary outcomes included mortality alone, intensive care unit admission, use of vasopressors, and CPR. Enrolled patients had mean age 64 years (SD±17), were 53% males, and 48% non-whites. Mean renalase levels was 14,108·4 ng/ml (SD±8,137 ng/ml). Compared to patients with high renalase, those with low renalase (< 8,922 ng/ml) were more likely to present with hypoxia, increased ICU admission (54% vs. 33%, p < 0.001), and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (10% vs. 4%, p = 0·023). In Cox proportional hazard model, every 1000 ng/ml increase in renalase decreased the risk of death or intubation by 5% (HR 0·95; 95% CI 0·91–0·98) and increased survival alone by 6% (HR 0·95; CI 0·90–0·98), after adjusting for socio-demographics, initial disease severity, comorbidities and inflammation. Patients with high renalase-low IL-6 levels had the best survival compared to other groups (p = 0·04). Renalase was independently associated with reduced intubation and mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Future studies should assess the pathophysiological relevance of renalase in COVID-19 disease.
Effects of intra-articular Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injections on osteoarthritis in the thumb basal joint and scaphoidtrapeziotrapezoidal joint
Authors: Swärd Elin , Wilcke Maria
Published: March 2022

Intra-articular injection of platelet rich plasma (PRP) has been reported to decrease pain and improve function in knee osteoarthritis. There are few reports on the effect of PRP in the treatment of osteoarthritis in the hand. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of PRP-injections on pain and functional outcome in the short-term for osteoarthritis in the thumb basal joint and scaphoidtrapeziotrapezoidal (STT) joint. A retrospective analysis was performed of 29 patients treated with intra-articular PRP injection for painful osteoarthritis in the thumb basal joint (21 patients) or STT joint (eight patients). The patients received two consecutive, radiologically guided PRP injections at an interval of 3–4 weeks. Pain at rest and on load (numerical rating scale (NRS) 0–10), Patient-rated Wrist and Hand Evaluation (PRWHE) score (0–100), grip strength (Jamar) and key pinch were recorded pre-injection and 3 months after the second injection. Mean age was 63 (range 34–86) years and 17 patients were women. We used generalized estimating equations (GEE) to analyze the effect on the outcome variables. Possible predictors were included in the model (high pain level pre-injection, gender, age, manually demanding work, affected joint (thumb base or STT) and use of analgesic). The GEE analysis showed that PRP injections had no effect on reported pain, PRWHE score, grip strength or key pinch. 16/28 patients experience a positive effect according to a yes/no question. The short-term effect of PRP for osteoarthritis in the thumb base and STT-joint is doubtful and needs to be properly investigated in placebo-controlled studies.
Reduced IFN-ß inhibitory activity of Lagos bat virus phosphoproteins in human compared to Eidolon helvum bat cells
Authors: Papies Jan , Sieberg Andrea , Ritz Daniel , Niemeyer Daniela , Drosten Christian , Müller Marcel A.
Published: March 2022

Eidolon helvum bats are reservoir hosts for highly pathogenic lyssaviruses often showing limited disease upon natural infection. An enhanced antiviral interferon (IFN) response combined with reduced inflammation might be linked to the apparent virus tolerance in bats. Lyssavirus phosphoproteins inhibit the IFN response with virus strain-specific efficiency. To date, little is known regarding the lyssavirus P-dependent anti-IFN countermeasures in bats, mainly due to a lack of in vitro tools. By using E. helvum bat cell cultures in a newly established bat-specific IFN-promoter activation assay, we analyzed the IFN-ß inhibitory activity of multiple lyssavirus P in E. helvum compared to human cells. Initial virus infection studies with a recently isolated E. helvum-borne Lagos bat virus street strain from Ghana showed enhanced LBV propagation in an E. helvum lung cell line compared to human A549 lung cells at later time points suggesting effective viral countermeasures against cellular defense mechanisms. A direct comparison of the IFN-ß inhibitory activity of the LBV-GH P protein with other lyssavirus P proteins showed that LBV-GH P and RVP both strongly inhibited the bat IFN-β promotor activation (range 75–90%) in EidLu/20.2 and an E. helvum kidney cell line. Conversely, LBV-GH P blocked the activation of the human IFN-β promoter less efficiently compared to a prototypic Rabies virus P protein (range LBV P 52–68% vs RVP 71–95%) in two different human cell lines (HEK-293T, A549). The same pattern was seen for two prototypic LBV P variants suggesting an overall reduced LBV P IFN-ß inhibitory activity in human cells as compared to E. helvum bat cells. Increased IFN-ß inhibition by lyssavirus P in reservoir host cells might be a result of host-specific adaptation processes towards an enhanced IFN response in bat cells.
CXCR4 expression in tumor associated cells in blood is prognostic for progression and survival in pancreatic cancer
Authors: Gardner Kirby P. , Tsai Susan , Aldakkak Mohammed , Gironda Stephen , Adams Daniel L.
Published: March 2022

The aggressive nature and metastatic potential of pancreatic cancer (PC) results in poor prognosis and high mortality. A better understanding of the underlying biology of PC and the ability of tumor cells to spread to distant sites is needed to advance the treatment of PC. The chemokine receptor CXCR4 has been heavily implicated in the spread and mobility of many solid cancers based on its role in cancer cell chemotaxis as well as increased metastatic potential. To better elucidate CXCR4’s role in the metastatic spread of PC, we examined its expression on various tumor associated cells (TACs) in the peripheral blood of PC patients, including circulating tumor cells (CTCs), epithelial to mesenchymal transition cells (EMTs), and cancer associated macrophage-like cells (CAMLs). In this pilot study, blood samples were procured from 30 PC patients prior to the start of therapeutic intent. CXCR4 expression was analyzed on TACs captured from the blood samples and evaluated in relation to cell migration as well as patient clinical outcomes. In total, CTCs, EMTs, and CAMLs were found in 27%, 60%, and 97% of PC patients, respectively. High CXCR4 expression in CTCs, CAMLs, and EMTs was found to significantly relate to their increased numbers in circulation. Further, higher expression of CXCR4 in CAMLs and EMTs was significantly related to faster progression and worse survival. These data suggest that CXCR4 expression in PC is strongly related to the intravasation and presence of TACs into circulation, as well as being a possible biomarker for aggressive metastatic disease.
A hospedagem compartilhada em arquiteturas icônicas: uma análise do Edifício Copan em São Paulo, SP
Authors: Socal Ana Júlia Scortegagna , Fialho Aline Britto , Ceretta Caroline Ciliane
Published: March 2022

A hospedagem compartilhada vem se configurando como uma nova alternativa aos usuários, principalmente por meio da plataforma Airbnb, no qual também é possível optar por hospedar-se em arquiteturas icônicas, como o Edifício Copan. O objetivo do estudo é analisar as percepções dos usuários que se hospedam no Copan através do Airbnb. Especificamente, busca-se compreender quais as suas motivações, avaliar se a atratividade está ligada à sua referência como marco da paisagem e investigar a oferta de hospedagem no Copan pelo Airbnb. A eleição do Copan como lócus de estudo ocorreu em razão deste se configurar como um marco na paisagem urbana de São Paulo, além de sua importância no contexto da arquitetura residencial modernista. O estudo de caráter exploratóriodescritivo baseia-se em uma pesquisa bibliográfica e na análise de 3.587 comentários extraídos dos anúncios do Airbnb, analisados com o auxílio do software Iramuteq. Os resultados apontam que os aspectos mais presentes, tanto nos anúncios quanto nas avaliações, estão relacionados a experiências visuais proporcionadas pela arquitetura do Copan. Percebe-se, portanto, que há uma correlação entre o que é apresentado pelos anfitriões e o que é apontado nas avaliações pelos usuários.
The role of regionalism for tourism: an analysis of responses to Covid-19 in the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
Authors: Fornari Fabio Gonçalves Pais , Allis Thiago
Published: March 2022

This article analyses the role of regional integration schemes in the management of the COVID-19 crisis and the policies towards the tourism sector, focusing on the policies and strategies developed by the European Union (EU) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) during the pandemic crisis. It presents the concepts of old and new regionalism from the International Relations field of studies and how regional integration correlates with policies and strategies for tourism, which have been put to the test by the need to bring the activity to a halt. This is an exploratory article, which relies on a qualitative methodology based on documental research, content analysis and access to secondary data. It presents the hypothesis that the tourism sectors from countries which are part of regional organisations benefit from these structures, once they provide mechanisms for developing coordinated
recovery plans and the management of tourism mobilities. As a conclusion, the article provides a possible scenario where tourism will take place in a “world of regions”, with long-haul transit between continents returning at a slower pace in comparison with a faster restart of the activity within “intraregional bubbles”, such as the EU and ASEAN.
Como os turistas percebem os atributos de atrativos turísticos em Bonito (MS)? Uma análise calcada em princípios da netnografia
Authors: Silva Maurilio Barbosa de Oliveira da , Mariani Milton Augusto Pasquotto , Santos Jean Flávio da Silva , Arruda Dyego de Oliveira
Published: March 2022

O turista baseia cada vez mais suas percepções e decisões sobre um destino turístico através de textos, mapas, imagens e vídeos produzidos principalmente por outros turistas e disponibilizados na internet. Essas informações compõem o electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) e são o alvo do presente artigo, que tem como objetivo analisar os principais atributos valorizados por turistas que teceram comentários no site TripAdvisor acerca de atrativos turísticos visitados na cidade de Bonito/MS − um relevante destino turístico do Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul e do Brasil. Para atingir tal propósito, conduziu-se uma pesquisa de abordagem qualitativa, com amostragem crítica e calcada em princípios da netnografia, além do uso do software Iramuteq para o processamento de dados. Verificou-se que os turistas valorizam atributos relacionados ao meio ambiente, corroborando a ênfase de Bonito/MS em atividades ligadas ao turismo de natureza e aventura, sobretudo com o elemento água ocupando posição de destaque para atração de turistas. Ademais, investigou-se como a figura do ‘guia’, o ‘preço’ e as atividades de lazer praticadas na região impactaram na avaliação geral dos turistas.
Testosterone replacement therapy and its relationship with hyperestrogenism and obesity. Problems of laboratory diagnostics of hyperestrogenism
Authors: Golodnikov I. I. , Pavlova Z. Sh. , Kamalov A. A.
Published: March 2022

Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is one of the most effective and common treatments for testosterone deficiency today. It is often prescribed, focusing only on the level of testosterone and the presence of patient complaints about a decrease in sexual function. Quite rarely, doctors additionally assess the level of estradiol and, as a consequence, the initial presence of a symptom of hyperestrogenism. One of the likely consequences of the appointment of TRT may be an excess of estradiol, the excess formation of which is associated with the enzyme aromatase, which converts testosterone into estradiol. Despite the availability of laboratory determination of the level of estradiol, the result may not always coincide with the clinical picture, one of the reasons is the difference in the methods for determining the level of estradiol in each laboratory, there is no single standard or «reference» today. This article describes the evolution of TRT, and also focuses on the variability of estradiol levels from laboratory to laboratory, and explains in detail why the assessment of estradiol over time should be carried out in only one laboratory. A systematic literature search was carried out in the databases Medline, Scopus, Web of Science and Elibrary, CyberLeninka.

The purpose of our review was the need to engage the attention of specialists to the problem of hyperestrogenism, the not always justified prescription of TRT in patients with obesity, hypogonadism and hyperestrogenism, as well as to the problem of laboratory diagnosis of hyperestrogenism, which is acute not only in our country, but all over the world.
Clinical and laboratory features of hereditary pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma
Authors: Rebrova D. V. , Vorokhobina N. V. , Imyanitov E. N. , Rusakov V F. , Krasnov L. M. , Sleptsov I. V. , Chernikov R. A. , Fedorov E. A. , Semenov A. A. , Chinchuk I. K. , Sablin I. V. , Alekseev M. A. , Kuleshov O. V. , Fedotov Ju. N
Published: March 2022

The widespread introduction of genetic testing in recent years has made it possible to determine that more than a third of cases of pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPPGs) are caused by germline mutations. Despite the variety of catecholamine-producing tumors manifestations, there is a sufficient number of clinical and laboratory landmarks that suggest a hereditary genesis of the disease and even a specific syndrome. These include a family history, age of patient, presence of concomitant conditions, and symptoms of the disease. Considering that each of the mutations is associated with certain diseases that often determine tactics of treatment and examination of a patient, e.g. high risk of various malignancies. Awareness of the practitioner on the peculiarities of the course of family forms of PPPGs will allow improving the tactics of managing these patients.

The article provides up-to-date information on the prevalence of hereditary PPPGs. The modern views on the pathogenesis of the disease induced by different mutations are presented. The main hereditary syndromes associated with PPPGs are described, including multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2A and 2B, type 1 neurofibromatosis, von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, hereditary paraganglioma syndrome, as well as clinical and laboratory features of the tumor in these conditions. The main positions on the necessity of genetic screening in patients with PPPGs are given.
The formation of endocrinology in the ancient times
Authors: Kurinova A. N. , Nikitina T. V. , Trukhina D. A. , Pigarova E. A. , Trukhin A. A. , Yasuchenia V. S.
Published: March 2022

The formation of endocrinology as an independent medical discipline was preceded by the accumulation of medical experience during many centuries. The medicine of the ancient times was developing on the basis of continuity according to the basic principle «relata refero» (I tell what I have been told). Medicine and pharmacy in the countries of the ancient world had many similarities, but at the same time each civilization had its own geographical, cultural and historical particularities. The pathology of the thyroid was among the most studied pathologies in Ancient world. There are frequent mentions of the endemic goiter in the works of doctors from Ancient China, Ancient India and Ancient Greece.

Although the link between iodine and the thyroid was not known, algae and dried sea sponges were using for treating swollen neck.

There are many descriptions of neuroendocrine pathologies in historical sources, for example the Bible describes gigantism and the Talmud — hypoprolactinaemia.

Special attention was paid to the study of diabetes mellitus, although the pathogenesis and treatment of the disease remained unknown until the 20th century.
Cuidados intensivos y cuidados paliativos pediátricos
Authors: Garaycochea Cannon Virginia
Published: March 2022

La tecnificación biomédica de la segunda mitad del siglo XX ha llevado a considerar a la ciencia omnipotente. Esto ha influido en las instituciones sanitarias y en el personal de salud, y ha llevado a cambios en las conceptualizaciones de salud, enfermedad y muerte.

La tecnificación de las unidades de cuidados intensivos dirigidas a revertir enfermedades graves ha priorizado el aspecto biológico de la persona, deshumanizando la medicina. Los cuidados paliativos pediátricos rescatan la integralidad del ser humano y proporcionan cuidados apropiados y respetuosos, acordes a la dignidad de la persona, especialmente al final de la vida, lo que constituye una propuesta humanizadora.
De la beneficencia a la ciencia, de la moral a la ética
Authors: Pellicer Eduard , Hernández Moscoso Balma Soraya
Published: March 2022

El Trabajo Social Sanitario (TSS) nace del acompañamiento a personas enfermas y en el final de la vida. Más de un siglo después de que las pioneras de la profesión empezaran a reflexionar sobre los valores, técnicas y marco ético que deben guiar la intervención, sigue habiendo más interrogantes que respuestas.

Actualmente la profesión afronta nuevos retos y conflictos que obligan a reflexionar y cuestionar aspectos del quehacer diario. La apuesta por un modelo de intervención biopsicosocial y centrado en la persona, todavía en construcción, requiere una actitud crítica con el estado del bienestar y el espejismo de la atención integrada que, aunque cada vez hay más esfuerzos, sigue sin cuajar.

Este artículo plantea algunos conflictos éticos a partir de tres experiencias de acompañamiento de las trabajadoras sociales sanitarias de una unidad de atención paliativa pediátrica y paciente crónico complejo.
El desarrollo de la competencia espiritual en clínica
Authors: Miquel Diego Pau , Ciccorossi Mario , Ferrer Svoboda Inma
Published: March 2022

El cuidado de lo espiritual es un componente nuclear en la comprensión de los cuidados paliativos. Sin embargo, la integración asistencial de la espiritualidad en clínica es todavía un tema pendiente de resolver. Este estudio analiza el proceso de diseño y evaluación de un programa formativo de espiritualidad en clínica basado en las necesidades formativas de los profesionales dedicados a la atención paliativa pediátrica en España. El desarrollo de habilidades, actitudes y la adquisición de conocimientos sobre espiritualidad en el ámbito sanitario puede verse favorecido a través de una formación orientada a la práctica, situada culturalmente, bajo un marco teórico de consenso y con una perspectiva interdisciplinar.
Selling and resisting English-medium schooling on Milwaukee’s multilingual Near South Side: A typology of choice schools’ marketing strategies
Authors: Hurie Andrew H. , Palmer Deborah K.
Published: March 2022

Extant research has emphasized the importance of information to help families of English learner-identified children to navigate school choice structures, and raised critical questions about the information that is made available through school marketing. At a time of increasing tension around school choice and the rapid expansion of certain forms of bilingual education, we argue for the importance of documenting language minoritized parents’ experiential knowledge as one means of combating choice-based exclusion. Drawing from theories of racial capitalism, language ideologies, and language policy, we analyze charter and voucher school websites and interview data from a nine-month critical bifocal ethnography on the intersections and tensions between bilingual education and school choice policy in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Our findings identify six marketing strategies that choice schools employed on Milwaukee’s Near South Side, a place with high concentrations of Spanish-speaking, low-income Latinx families. We also present one working-class Mexican father’s narrative of choosing a school for his child as an example of the ways in which parents actively resist the racializing logics embedded within choice-based, marketized school systems. The article provides policy agents with a typology to help generate additional, place-specific analyses of the marketization of language education in multilingual communities.
Data-driven vs. Deductive Learning of English L2 Collocations Using Online Resources: A Convergent Mixed Methods Study
Authors: ÇEKİÇ Ahmet
Published: March 2022

This convergent mixed methods study aims to compare effectiveness of using three online consultation resources entailing deductive vs. data-driven learning on learning and retention of 18 verb-noun collocations by EFL learners. The participants (N=45) randomly assigned to treatment conditions consulted three different online resources in different orders to complete the same online error correction tasks and gap-fill exercises in three sessions. The participants were given the Vocabulary Size Test (VST), and a productive collocation translation test (CTT) as the pretest, the posttest and the retention test. A sub-set of the participants also performed think aloud protocols during the treatment. After the treatment, the participants were given the CTT and responded a rating scale and an open-ended question. The results indicated that all of the resources led to significantly higher learning and retention rates with no significant differences among the resources. It was also found that the participants rate the resources differently and go through different cognitive processes when consulting resources. The VST scores positively correlated with the posttest scores, suggesting that participants’ vocabulary sizes can be a moderating variable. The findings are discussed based on previous research and within the framework of data-driven learning.
A Research on Primary School Teachers’ Proficiencies on Inclusive Education and Teaching Mathematics for Inclusion Students
Authors: TURGUT Sedat , UĞURLU Mahir
Published: March 2022

This study was aimed to examine primary teachers’ proficiencies on inclusion and teaching mathematics to inclusive students within the scope of some variables. Survey design was adopted in the research. The study group consists of 324 primary teachers. The data were collected through the Teacher Efficacy for Inclusion Scale and Teaching Mathematics in Inclusive Settings Scale. The Mann-Whitney U test, and the Kruskal-Wallis H test was used. As a result of the current study, it was determined that female teachers have more proficiencies on maths teaching in inclusion in terms of the gender variable. It was determined that primary teachers with a master's degree have more proficiencies in terms of proficiencies on inclusion and mathematics teaching in inclusion. It was determined that primary teachers who has fewer inclusive students in their class has higher proficiencies on inclusion and maths teaching in inclusion. It was determined that more experienced primary teachers have higher proficiencies on inclusion and maths teaching in inclusion. It was determined that the inclusion proficiencies of primary teachers teaching in the second, third and fourth grades and the proficiencies of teaching mathematics in inclusion were higher than those teaching in the first grade. It was determined that proficiencies of primary teachers who teach in less crowded classrooms on inclusion and maths teaching in inclusion.
A Qualitative Study on the Impact of Covid-19 on Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Families’ Coping Strategies and Beliefs about Online Education
Authors: KOÇAK OKSEV Birgül , YAZICI Sedat , UĞURLU Mahir , KAYA Tülay , NAZİK Ayşenur , ÇELEBİ DEMİRARSLAN Pınar
Published: March 2022

Most studies on individuals with ASD and their families during the pandemic were conducted via online data collection with short question-answers. For a more in-depth understanding, we have conducted a qualitative study to understand the extent of the impact of the early stage of the pandemic on children with ASD. The findings in this study were obtained from two groups of participants. The first one included 92 parents or caregivers of children with ASD from six cities in Turkey. The participants in this group reported 159 negative behavior changes in 28 different behavior types. We also selected 32 parents, some of them from the first group, to investigate their coping strategies, use of online education, and expectations from institutions and organizations. We found mixed evidence about the impact of the pandemic. Whereas most families report increased anxiety and stress, aggressive, obsessive and repetitive behavior, violence towards self and others, a significant number of families declared improvement in speech, social communication, academic skills, and eye contact. They explained that parents’ spending quality time and paying close attention to their children’s needs led to positive developments in their children. The participants also stated that online special education for children was dysfunctional and inefficient.
Self-Efficacy Beliefs and Self-Regulated Learning Strategies of Prep School Students and Their Relation with Language Proficiency Levels
Authors: ÇİMENLİ Betül , HIRÇIN ÇOBAN Merve
Published: March 2022

The main purpose of this study is to uncover prep school students’ self-efficacy beliefs and self-regulated strategy use in different proficiency levels. In accordance with this, this study aims to find out the relation between self-efficacy beliefs of students and their use of SRL strategies, and figure out to what extent self-efficacy beliefs, SLR strategies use of students and gender can predict their proficiency level. The study was conducted at a private university in Ankara in the academic year 2017-2018. The participants are all preparatory class students with A2 (n=35), B1 (n=27) and B2 (n=30) level of proficiency in English as an L2 and were recruited by convenience sampling method. Data of the study were collected through two Likert type questionnaires. The findings of the study revealed that there was a significant difference for listening and writing efficacy of participants between A2 and B2 level. Also, there is a significant positive correlation at moderate level between self-efficacy beliefs and SRL strategies use of participants regardless of their proficiency level. The current study has some implications for L2 language education especially in higher education such as including self-efficacy and SRL strategies into their curriculum.
The Effect of 21st Century Skills Training on Foreign Language Teachers’ Perceptions Regarding Their Educational Technology and Materials Development Competencies
Authors: YENİ Gökçen
Published: March 2022

This study aims to show whether 21st Century Skills Material Design Teacher Training and Professional Development Program enhance foreign language teachers’ perceptions regarding their educational technology and material development competencies. It is worthy of recommendation that teachers should learn what 21st century skills are and how to bring these skills into classroom by creating their own foreign language teaching materials through digital technologies. To that end, an 8-week teacher-training program was held at Istanbul University. Thirty-three English teachers participated in the study. Application-based Educational Technology and Material Development Competencies Scale was conducted as pre-test and post-test before and after 8-week training in order to measure changes of the teachers’ perceptions. In addition, teachers' opinions have been obtained through structured interview technique to deepen the parts that are not acquired from quantitative data. Results of the study indicate that this type of strategy training was found useful for developing teachers’ perceptions regarding their educational technology and material development competencies on 21st century skills.
Pre-school Teachers’ Opinion on Active Learning
Authors: ÖZBAY KARLIDAĞ İpek
Published: March 2022

The study was aimed to determined preschool teachers’ opinions about active learning. The data of the study were obtained through semi-structured interviews. The study group of the study consists of 10 preschool teachers being selected through purposive sampling. Content analysis method was used in the analysis of the data. As a result of the study, it was seen that teachers defined active learning as a process in which the learner is active, that activates the senses, in which the learning skills develop, in which learner obtain learning experience by doing and living. While teachers stated that the teacher and learner have various responsibilities in active learning; it was observed that they expressed that the small class size, the crowded classes, classroom management problems, lack of materials, and the introvert learners are as challenges to active learning. It was seen that the practices of teachers regarding active learning are asking interesting questions, encouraging children to ask questions, designing activities that stimulate the senses, creating a collaborative classroom environment, and using different teaching techniques.
A Formative Approach To Translator Training
Authors: OKATAN Semih , YUMRU Hülya , YAZICI Mine
Published: March 2022

This study aimed to identify the challenges that might occur during the implementation of the seven strategies used in formative assessment, to find solutions, and to examine the role of the translation course in teaching the source language English and the students' attitudes towards the translation course in the context of these strategies. For this purpose, the study used mixed methods research design, based on a case study using a performance-based measurement method associated with a constructivist approach. In the study, the researcher's field notes, in which he recorded his observations about the use of formative assessment strategies in the classroom; semi-structured focus group interviews, conducted after the completion of each text translation; student drafts, to determine the improvement the students made after self-assessment; and, to examine the students' attitudes towards the translation class, a Translation Class Evaluation Questionnaire and semi-structured pre- and post-interview forms, were used. In the analysis of the collected data, the researchers used quantitative and qualitative data analysis methods. In line with this data analysis, it was observed that students took an active role in the self-assessment process and made progress in forming the equivalence between source language and target language in the translation courses; and in this sense, it was determined that they developed a positive attitude towards the translation classes. The researchers discussed the findings and results of the study in the light of the research context and presented pedagogical recommendations.
Keywords: Formative assessment, Self-assessment, Constructivism, Translation classes.
Organizational Results of Secondary School Teachers' Formal and Natural Group Relationships in Schools
Authors: ÇİMİLİ GÖK Ebru Burcu
Published: March 2022

The aim of this study is to determine the organizational results of formal and informal group relations of teachers at schools. In accordance with the holistic multiple case pattern, study group of the research has been selected on the basis of volunteerism and maximum diversity sampling out of purpose sampling methods. The group consists of 12 teachers from 3 middle schools Muratpaşa, Kepez and Aksu towns of Antalya province, respectively. Descriptive analysis has been used in the analysis of the qualitative data and consistency testing has been utilized. The Cohen’s Kappa reliability coefficient has been calculated as meaningful with the level of 0.818.

According to the results of the research; group relations increase organizational commitment and job satisfaction, while reducing stress. In addition, good friendship relationships increase school loyalty and reduce the intention of relocation. However, negative results such as conflicts between different groups have an adverse effect on the organizational climate and the resistance of the members of the group to the decisions of the administration by taking power from each other. Emotional commitment levels of teachers were higher than continuation commitment and normative commitment. Relationships with other employees and perceived social support were mostly affected by job satisfaction. The most stressful resource among the participating teachers is school administrators and it is seen that the participants have been observed emotion-focused coping strategy in the first place.
What Are the Key Issues in the Development of Effective Poverty Alleviation Policies and Their Implementation in China’s South West Regions?
Authors: Feng Haying , Squires Victor
Published: March 2022

In this paper we examine, against the background of the government’s poverty alleviation agenda, issues that influence (negatively or positively) the widespread adoption of entrepreneurial initiatives by farmers, foresters, fisherman and others that could contribute to defeating poverty. We summarize trends in poverty levels, the inequality ‘gap’ and touch on government-led initiatives. These include inputs to modernize farm equipment, to provide start-up capital to returning entrepreneurial migrant workers and to foster digital marketing of locally produced (but in demand) commodities.
Identity, Citizenship and the Teaching Profession: Theoretical Insights in the Study of Zambian Teachers Living with Human Immune–deficiency Virus (HIV)
Authors: Mulubale Sanny , Bwalya Katongo , Mundando Janet
Published: March 2022

This article discusses HIV positive teachers’ medicalisation in the Zambian context. It makes a theoretical appraisal of the dynamics of health in this HIV treatment era, viewing the era as leaving the AIDS pandemic between two streams: a disappearing tragedy and a treatable illness with latent psychological, social and economic effects [1]. Teacher training, teachers’ economic status, their use of effective pedagogy and many other factors have been chronicled extensively by various scholars across disciplines in research on education in developing countries. However, teachers’ experiences of illness and health conditions, as key actors in implementing the development agenda of many countries in Africa, have received very limited attention. The HIV/AIDS burden in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is higher than available resources to deal with the pandemic effectively [2] while the number of people living with the virus and on ART in SSA countries, such as Zambia, remains high [3]. The above proposition in this paper is supported by three fundamental concepts which can be surmised as: governmentality and identity. These two concepts – when effectively synthesised – offer new ways of understanding the medical solutions, normalcy, and their limits in the everyday living of teachers who are on ART. Based on this theoretical analysis and its relation to existing empirical data, the central argument in the paper is that teachers’ daily lives seem to be filled with the socio-political and economic consequences of HIV  medicalisation and that these consequences seem to shape and limit how teachers manage and make sense of their acquired ‘therapeutic citizenship’ status.
Assessing Pre-Service Teachers’ Person-Centered Attitudes: Validity Evidence for the APBS Instrument Based on Internal Structure
Authors: Teistler Nadja
Published: March 2022

Person-centered teacher behavior is positively related to cognitive and affective-motivational student outcomes. Although underlying teacher attitudes are thought to be of great importance for person-centered teacher-student relationships, this aspect has not been considered in empirical studies to date. This study examined the internal structure and reliability of a new self-report measure assessing attitudes on person-centered behavior toward students (APBS) in a sample of 363 German pre-service teachers aged 18-40 years (M = 22.28, SD = 3.48; 72.7% female). Exploratory factor analyses and internal consistency analyses based on polychoric correlations provided evidence for a theoretically grounded four-factor model with “unconditionality” (α = .91), “empathic understanding” (α = .92), “trust” (α =.89) and “genuineness” (α = .83) explaining 46% of the total variance. Interfactor correlations ranged between .53 and .72. There is thus preliminary evidence that the APBS test scores can be interpreted as intended. However, further validation studies are required to replicate the internal structure using confirmatory factor analyses and to examine the relations between APBS test scores and external variables. The instrument can be used in research in the field of teacher-student relationships as well as in teacher education courses addressing participants’ educational attitudes.
Adhesive wear behavior of gas tungsten arc welded FeB-FeMo-C coatings
Authors: Yaz Mehmet
Published: March 2022

In this article, a gas tungsten arc welding is used as a high energy density beam to form a surface over 0.15% carbon steel with FeB, FeMo, and graphite powders. The microstructure, microhardness, and dry-sliding wear behavior of the composite coating were investigated using optical micrography, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry. Microstructural investigations reveal that FeB-reinforced coating exhibited a homogeneous microstructure that consists of dendrites and eutectic. A lot of types of carbide and borides were formed. MoB4, Fe2MoC, B8C, Mo2BC, MoB, Fe3Mo, Fe3B, B25C, Fe7C3, FeB, Mo2B5, and MoC were seen in coated surfaces. Graphite iron boride coatings obtained by the gas tungsten arc welding process improved the wear resistance of carbon steel.
Application of machine vision-based NDT technology in ceramic surface defect detection – a review
Authors: Dong Guanping , Sun Shanwei , Wang Zixi , Wu Nanshou , Huang Pingnan , Feng Hao , Pan Minqiang
Published: March 2022

For its good mechanical, thermal, and chemical property, ceramic materials are widely used in construction, chemical industry, electric power, communication and other fields. However, due to its particularity and complex production process, quality problems usually occur, of which the most common one is surface defects. For ceramic products, the defects are usually small and complicated, and manual methods are difficult to ensure the accuracy and speed of detection. Relevant researchers have proposed a variety of machine vision-based ceramic defect detection methods, but these methods still need to break through in solving the key problems of ceramic surface glaze reflection, complex detection environment, low algorithm efficiency and low real-time performance. To this end, this article reviews the application status of machine vision on ceramic surface defect detection in recent years, summarizes and analyzes the existing non-destructive testing (NDT) technology method, and points out the main factors that affect the development of ceramic surfaces defect detection technology and puts forward the corresponding solutions.
Tribological and adhesion properties of microwave-assisted borided AISI 316L steel
Authors: İpek Ayvaz Safiye , Aydin İbrahim
Published: March 2022

In this study, AISI 316L stainless steel alloy samples were borided with powder-pack boriding method using Ekabor II powder with the support of a microwave furnace with a power of 2.9 KW and a frequency of 2.45 GHz. Boriding was carried out at 850, 900 and 950 °C temperatures for 2, 4 and 6 h of operation. A distinct diffusion barrier consisting of Fe–Ni–Si elements was detected in borided samples at 950 °C for 4 and 6 h. As a result of the Daimler Benz Rockwell-C adhesion tests, regions with insufficient adhesion strength were detected in these samples. In other samples, adhesion qualities between boride layers and substrate were in the range of HF1–HF3. The lowest specific wear rates were determined as 5.208 (mm3 Nm−1) × 10−6 and 5.210 (mm3 Nm−1) × 10−6 for the samples borided for 6 h at 850 °C and 4 h at 900 °C, respectively. It was determined that the increase in thickness of the brittle FeB compound increased the wear with the three-body abrasive wear mechanism.