bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of Dietary Supplementation of α-Lipoic Acid on Early Glomerular Injury in Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: MELHEM MONA F. , CRAVEN PATRICIA A. , DERUBERTIS FREDERICK R. 
Published: May 2021

Abstract.
Antioxidants, in particular vitamin E (VE), have been reported to protect against diabetic renal injury. α-Lipoic acid (LA) has been found to attenuate diabetic peripheral neuropathy, but its effects on nephropathy have not been examined. In the present study, parameters of glomerular injury were examined in streptozotocin diabetic rats after 2 mo on unsupplemented diets and in diabetic rats that received the lowest daily dose of dietary LA (30 mg/kg body wt), VE (100 IU/kg body wt), or vitamin C (VC; 1 g/kg body wt), which detectably increased the renal cortical content of each antioxidant. Blood glucose values did not differ among the diabetic groups. At 2 mo, inulin clearance, urinary albumin excretion, fractional albumin clearance, glomerular volume, and glomerular content of immunoreactive transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and collagen α1 (IV) all were significantly increased in unsupplemented D compared with age-matched nondiabetic controls. With the exception of inulin clearance, LA prevented or significantly attenuated the increase in all of these glomerular parameters in D, as well as the increases in renal tubular cell TGF-β seen in D. At the dose used, VE reduced inulin clearance in D to control levels but failed to alter any of the other indices of glomerular injury or to suppress renal tubular cell TGF-β in D. VC suppressed urinary albumin excretion, fractional albumin clearance, and glomerular volume but not glomerular or tubular TGF-β or glomerular collagen α1 (IV) content. LA but not VE or VC significantly increased renal cortical glutathione content in D. These data indicate that LA is effective in the prevention of early diabetic glomerular injury and suggest that this agent may have advantages over high doses of either VE or VC.
Expression of a Soluble Complement Inhibitor Protects Transgenic Mice from Antibody-Induced Acute Renal Failure
Authors: SCHILLER BRIGITTE , CUNNINGHAM PATRICK N. , ALEXANDER JESSY J. , BAO LIHUA , HOLERS V. MICHAEL , QUIGG RICHARD J. 
Published: May 2021

Abstract.
Crry is a potent complement regulator in rodents that inhibits C3 convertases. In rats, intrarenal arterial injection of anti-glomerular endothelial cell (GEN) antibodies leads to complement-dependent microvascular injury and acute renal failure. In this study, a mouse variant of this model and the effects of complement inhibition were examined. Transgenic mice that overexpressed soluble Crry systemically and in their kidneys were studied. Anti-GEN IgG was injected intravenously into eight Crry transgenic mice and seven transgene-negative littermates (which were used as control animals). Thirty h after injection, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels were 30.3 ± 4.4 and 114.8 ± 23.5 mg/dl for transgene-positive and -negative animals, respectively (P = 0.012). Four of five transgene-negative animals with BUN levels of >100 mg/dl were anuric; the remaining animal exhibited minimal albuminuria and no detectable urinary C3. In animals with renal failure, glomerular capillary collapse and tubular necrosis were observed. There was significant tubular staining for C3 in transgene-negative animals, with cellular and basal distributions, both of which were statistically greater than those in transgene-positive animals. Tubular cell C3 staining was strongly correlated with BUN values (r = 0.83, P < 0.001), as was C9 staining (r = 0.56, P = 0.037), suggesting that complement activation to the C5b-9 membrane attack complex had a casual role in renal failure. Thus, systemic injection of anti-GEN antibodies into mice leads to acute renal failure, with glomerular and tubular injury. Animals that overexpress soluble Crry in renal tubules and elsewhere are protected from the acute renal failure that occurs in this model, which ultimately seems to develop because of complement activation focused on tubules.
Drafting a Code of Conduct for Research under the Protection of Personal Information Act No. 4 of 2013 (with corrigendum)
Authors: Adams Rachel , Veldsman Susan , Ramsay Michèle , Soodyall Himla 
Published: May 2021

This Commentary sets out why a Code of Conduct for Research is being developed under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), its purpose and scope, and why ASSAf is the body that is coordinating its development.
The full scope of the Code of Conduct for Research is set out in the accompanying Discussion Document available at https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2021/10933
Exploring the Necessity for Students to Exercise Digital Minimalism While Studying Online: Case of 35 Master Students at the Department of English of Abdelhamid Ibn Badis University, Algeria
Authors: Sarnou Dallel 
Published: May 2021

This study aimed at exploring the philosophy of digital minimalism, and put forward its importance for an effective online learning in higher education during the lockdown. The long quarantine that the COVID 19 pandemic imposed on most countries of the world has brought radical changes in the way schools, colleges and universities operate. In Algerian higher education, creating online platforms for students was the only solution to move on. However, ignoring that most Algerian students often go online for self-entertainment may lead to a failure or an incomplete success of online teaching during this critical period. To investigate this issue, a questionnaire with only open-ended questions was designed and distributed to 35 students of Language and Communication master, at the English department of Abdelhamid Ibn Badis University. The 35 participants were the researcher’s students in the classes of e-learning. Results showed that most participants were distracted by social media notifications. Also, it turned out that the 35 students had no idea of what digital minimalism or digital maximalism is. As a matter of fact, it is suggested that before launching online lectures and webinars for our students, it is of paramount importance to guide them during their online
existence and to show them how to be digital minimalists.
İnflamatuar bağırsak hastalığında non-alkolik yağlı karaciğer hastalığı sıklığı
Authors: GERÇEKER Emre , CERRAH Serkan , BAYKAN Ahmed Ramiz 
Published: May 2021

Giriş ve Amaç: Non-alkolik yağlı karaciğer hastalığı, inflamatuar bağırsak hastalığında (İBH) yaygındır. Bu çalışmanın amacı İBH’da prevalansını eşleştirilmiş bir kontrol grubuyla karşılaştırıldığında değerlendirmek ve İBH’da non-alkolik yağlı karaciğer hastalığı ile ilişkili özellikleri tanımlamaktır.
Gereç ve Yöntem: Karın ağrısı nedeniyle gastroenteroloji poliklinik kontrollerinde USG tetkiki yapılan 225 İBH tanılı olgunun tıbbi kayıtları geriye dönük olarak incelendi. Bu olgular yaş ve vücut kitle indeksi (VKİ) ve diabetes mellitus (DM) varlığı açısından eşleştirilmiş İBH olmayan 70 kontrol grubuyla karşılaştırıldı. Batın USG verileri, karaciğerdeki hepatosteatoz varlığı veya yokluğu açısından analiz edildi.
Bulgular: Çalışma popülasyonu içinde non-alkolik yağlı karaciğer hastalığı oranı %38,3 saptandı. İBH hasta grubunda kontrol grubuna göre anlamlı olarak daha yüksek oranda non-alkolik yağlı karaciğer hastalığı izlendi (%43,3’e karşı %25; p=0,004). Ülseratif kolit alt grubunda kontrol grubuna göre anlamlı olarak daha yüksek oranda non-alkolik yağlı karaciğer hastalığı izlendi (%43,9 karşı %25, p=0,007). Crohn hastalığı alt grubunda kontrol grubuna göre anlamlı olarak daha yüksek oranda yağlı karaciğer izlendi (%42,4 karşı %25, p=0,015). İBH varlığı, DM varlığı, VKİ>25 üzerinde olması bağımsız olarak non-alkolik yağlı karaciğer hastalığı gelişimi riskini arttırdığı saptandı.
Sonuç: İBH varlığı non-alkolik yağlı karaciğer hastalığı gelişim riskini artırmaktadır. İBH olgularında sistemik iltihaplanma ve bağırsak mikrobiyomunun değişmesi non-alkolik yağlı karaciğer hastalığı gelişiminde potansiyel nedensel faktörler olarak önerilmiştir, ancak patofizyolojiyi aydınlatmak için daha fazla çalışmaya ihtiyaç duyulacaktır.
To study the incidence of pre-hospital antibiotic therapy among critically ill patients admitted in rural tertiary care hospital
Authors: Shetti Akshaya N , Geetika Guntupalli Suma , Natekar Suhit 
Published: May 2021

There is considerate amount of stress which lies in the application of antibiotics in critically ill patients. A study on pre-hospital antibiotic administration in such patients would provide crucial data and go a long way in determining and understanding trends in antibiotic prescribing, to identify where necessary steps to be taken to improve prescribing are most needed and to measure progress. After ethical committee approval, we have conducted an observational cross-sectional study for four months. We collected the data from patient or the relatives regarding prehospital antibiotic therapy on admission.A total of 137 patients got admitted in the Medical intensive care unit (MICU) during the study period. Out of them, 91.24% of patients got admitted directly in MICU and 8.75% were referred from different hospitals. Those who received antibiotics prior to the admission were 2.18% and 93.43% of patients had not received antibiotics; the other patients who were not sure of antibiotic consumption were 4.37%. Among those 2.18% of patients who received, it was observed the most commonly utilized first antibiotic in our study was amoxicillin clavulanate potassium 66.66%. In all the patients that received more than one antibiotic, Metronidazole was the second antibiotic that was administered via intravenous route. Amoxicillin clavulanate potassium was the most commonly and metronidazole was the second most antibiotic prescribed in prehospital admission. Proper guidelines should be initiated for the starting of the antibiotic therapies in India for general practitioners.
Introducing IWB to preservice mathematics teachers: An evaluation using the TPACK framework
Authors: Gonzales Gamaliel G. , Gonzales Roselyn R. 
Published: May 2021

The study used the intervention mixed methods design to evaluate the technological, pedagogical and content knowledge (TPACK) of mathematics preservice teachers while doing their lesson planning and teaching with interactive whiteboards (IWBs). The method has the following parts: (1) qualitative data collection to establish the priority competencies for the intervention, (2) conducting a single-subject experimental design to equip the preservice teachers with technology-enhanced lessons and (3) final qualitative data collection on experiences in planning and teaching with IWBs. The results revealed that the TPACK framework reflects improvements in lesson planning and teaching demonstration skills of the preservice teachers. While the preservice teachers quickly responded to digitise their lesson activities, the formulation of lesson objectives is left behind. Thus, in lesson planning and teaching with IWBs, the pedagogical skills must align with the technological skills they expect to employ. Although the Philippine basic education is not fully implementing IWB technologies in the classroom, policymakers may want this technology to become part of the system.

Keywords: Interactive whiteboard, mathematics teaching, TPACK, preservice teachers, educational technology.
Examination of educators' self-efficacy for effective communication
Authors: Yahşi Ömer 
Published: May 2021

The aim of this study is to determine the perceptions of self-efficacy, effective communication skills of administratorsand teachers in Izmir. For learning processes to be effective, it is very important that educators have effective communication skills and develop their self-awareness in this regard. Determining the effective communication self-awareness of educators will contribute to the literature and guide higher policy practices. This study considers the following questions: Is there a significant difference in effective communication self-efficacy subscale scores according to educators’ task type and gender, years of service and branch? This study uses the scanning model, a quantitative research method. The data collection tool consists of two parts: first, personal information about the educators; second, the scale items of the Effective Communication Self-Efficacy Inventory. The Inventory was consists of 41 items. Four main results were obtained from the findings of this study. A significant difference was found in favor of managers in all three subscales of the inventory. This can be explained by the fact that administrators see communication as a more necessary requirement than do teachers, in order to better maintain the education process.

Keywords: administrators, communication skills, self-efficacy, administrators-teachers.
Evaluation of the educational administration program in light of the academic accreditation standards from the point of view of the faculty staff members of the Universities of Jordan in Irbid
Authors: Al-Azmi Issa Falah   Dhiab , Al-Ta'ani Worod Maarouf Mohammad , Bani Irshaid Muhammad Noor Hussain 
Published: May 2021

The aim of this study was to evaluate the degree of the evaluation of the educational management program in light of the academic accreditation standards in the universities of Jordan in Irbid from the point of view of the faculty members. The researchers used the descriptive analytical approach and the study sample consisted of (17) faculty members specialized in educational administration. The results showed that the degree of evaluation educational administration program in the light of academic accreditation standards from the viewpoint of faculty members was average (3.47), and a mean of (0.46) and the results showed that there were no significant in estimates of faculty members to the degree of evaluation of the educational administration program due to variables (gender, academic rank, and experience), the recommendations include working on improving the educational administration program in light of the academic accreditation standards in terms of the content and goals, study plan.

Keywords: Evaluation, Educational Administration Program, standards, Academic Accreditation, universities of Jordan.
Students’ opinions about studying from home during the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
Authors: Hermanto Hermanto , Rai Ni Gusti Made , Fahmi Arfan 
Published: May 2021

The implementation of online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic may affect students’ learning attitude and motivation to some extent. This paper aims to describe the university students’ opinions about learning attitude and motivation while studying from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia. A non-experimental research design was used with an exploratory quantitative method. A total of 238 respondents participated in the online survey from April 22 to 29, 2020. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse the collected data by using SPSS 23. The results showed that 52.5% (n = 125) of the respondent did not enjoy studying from home and 91.5% (n = 218) did not gain as much knowledge as in the traditional mode, although they still had a higher motivation to learn and had a better relationship with their family members. Interesting materials and enjoyable teaching methodology and interaction are therefore suggested.

Keywords: Covid-19; studying from home; online learning attitude; learning motivation
The impact of peer-peer learning and student-lecturer interaction on Biology pre-service teachers’ achievements
Authors: Mafugu Tafirenyika 
Published: May 2021

Because of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an emergency shift to online learning in tertiary institutions worldwide. Here, I aimed to determine the impact of guided peer-peer interaction on students' achievement. A Biology Achievement Test was used to collect data. I used a quasi-experimental design and analysed the data using the independent sample t-test and one-way ANOVA. A comparison of the experimental group mean marks before and after the lockdown did not reveal significant differences. However, the control group’s mean mark was significantly higher before than during the lockdown period. Before the lockdown, the performance of the experimental group did not show any significant difference with that of the control group. There was a significant difference in performance between the two groups during the lockdown. Lecturer guided interaction had a significant impact while the digital divide did not have a significant impact on students’ performance.

Keywords: online learning; tertiary institutions; peer-peer interaction; digital divide
Indonesian teachers’ emotional exhaustion and commitment to teaching: A correlational study
Authors: Werang Basilius Redan , Leba Seli Marlina Radja , Agung Anak Agung Gede , Wullur Mozes Markus , Yunarti Berlinda Setyo , Asaloei Sandra Ingried 
Published: May 2021

This study intends to explain whether or not emotional exhaustion and organisational commitment of Catholic primary school teachers in Merauke regency correlate prospectively. This study was guided by one research question: ‘Does the Catholic primary school teachers’ emotional exhaustion and organisational commitment correlate significantly negatively?’ To answer the research question, two survey questionnaires were disseminated to 157 teachers. Employing the SPSS programme version 21, the study shown a significant negative correlation among the surveyed research variables. The findings may be authoritative for the Catholic primary school leaders and the Chief of the Catholic Foundation for Education in Merauke regency, Indonesia, to take major efforts to eliminate emotional exhaustion of teachers in order to foster the organisational commitment of teachers at the Catholic primary schools to teaching the youth.
Keywords: emotional exhaustion, primary school, organisational commitment, teacher
Graduate students' perceptions of and recommendations pursuant to Saudi Arabia’s COVID 19 “Stay-at-Home” initiative
Authors: Alghamdi Amani Khalaf , Aldossary Ali Tared , Deraney Philline 
Published: May 2021

The global spread of COVID-19 has prompted countries worldwide to design initiatives and measures to ensure public health and safety. Saudi Arabia launched a “Stay-at-Home” initiative in March 2020 involving all sectors of society. This exploratory study employed a qualitative research design using written journal reflections to discern the views and opinions of Saudi female graduate students at a large public university in the Eastern Province. The research posed three questions: (1) What were participants’ perspectives of the impact of the “Stay-at-Home” initiative; (2) What values did participants manifest during the initiative; and, (3) What were participants’ recommendations and innovative solutions to deal with the initiative’s effects? Findings reveal that boredom and loneliness, fear of infection, and financial concerns dominated students’ perceptions of the impact of the initiative. Participants further identified divine protection and global unity as two key values that were heightened to deal with the initiative and the pandemic. Finally, innovative solutions to mitigate the effects of the initiative were categorized into 13 sub-themes organized around two main spheres of Saudi life — public (governmental/societal) and private (family/home).

Keywords: COVID-19, Saudi Arabia, higher edducation
Free reading activities at village institutes: Why and how?
Authors: Kızılhan Pinar , Güneyli Ahmet 
Published: May 2021

In this study, it was aimed to discuss the free reading activities (FRA) practised for 1 hour at 21 different Village Institutes in Turkey in pedagogical respects. In this regard, FRA, applied within the scope of an extra programme, was analysed in terms of content and method on the basis of cognitive and affective learning. When the findings of this research were evaluated, it was seen that raising literary readers is a part of the educational activities at the institute. The FRA is a programme design supporting the enrichment of intellectual, emotional, social and aesthetic developments. The main purpose of education in the village is the problem of selecting and preparing the books to be read during free reading hours in a well manner. The educators of the period implementing the FRAs created an original model of education appropriate to the social reality of the people and in accordance with their educational needs.

Keywords: Free reading activities (FRAs), village institutes (VI), Turkish curricula, document review.
Speaking as a musical expression tool according to teachers’ views
Authors: Bilen Sermin 
Published: May 2021

The aim of the study is to evaluate the relationship between speaking as a musical expression tool and music in effective communication according to teachers’ opinions. The qualitative research method is used in this study. The data were collected with the ‘opinion form’ that prepared online and consists of three open-ended questions. The research group consisted of 400 teachers, 131 of whom music teachers and 269 of whom other field teachers. The results of the research are that body language is at the forefront of communication tools other than music; musical expressions are mostly used in speech; emotional expression and effective expression are common aspects of music and speech; and music teachers are willing to learn this strategy. Training arrangements for teachers to use body language and speech effectively are in line with these results, and in-service training programs for music teachers to develop a musical expression are among the suggestions.

Keywords: Language; speech; music; musical education; musical expression.
EFFICACY COMPARISON OF VARIOUS REPAIR TECHNIQUES FOR FLEXOR TENDON INJURIES: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS
Authors: Maha Putra Anak Agung Gde Duta , Karna Made Bramantya , Asmara Anak Agung Gde Yuda , Meregawa Putu Feryawan 
Published: May 2021

Background: Flexor tendon injuries are potentially disabling, as flexor tendons are essential to hand function, playing a vital role in all types of grip, including power grip and fine pinch grip. However, there has been no consensus regarding the most effective repair technique for this pathology.Methods: A systematic search was conducted based on PRISMA guidelines to identify relevant studies through PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane. A total of 9 studies (266 tendons from 108 patients) were included.Results: In comparison between Modified Kessler and Four-stranded Cruciate technique, Four-stranded Cruciate Suture produces higher 2 mm gap strength (I2= 93%, P< 0.00001), higher ultimate strength (I2= 99%, P=0.02), and better Functional Outcome as measured by Strickland Criteria (I2=0%, P< 0.0001). In comparison between the 2-Stranded and the 4-Stranded Kessler technique. The 4-Stranded Kessler technique produces higher 2 mm gap strength (I2= 98%, P=0.02) and higher ultimate strength (I2= 60%, P<0.00001).Conclusion: Current systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that the 4-stranded cruciate repair technique has better strength and functional outcome than the modified Kessler, especially in zone II and III injuries. Four-stranded Kessler is also proven to have better strength compared to the two-stranded Kessler.