bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Results of Minimally Invasive Methods in the Treatment of Liver Hydatid Cyst
Authors: DALBAŞI Erkan , TÜZÜN Abidin 
Published: December 2021

Objective: The most common cause of hydatid cyst disease is Echinococcus granulosus. Nowadays, minimally invasive methods such as laparoscopy used in the treatment of hepatic hydatid cyst (HHC). In this study, it is aimed to share the clinical, surgical and postoperative data of patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery with a diagnosis of HHC in our clinic.
Methods: Data of 105 patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery for HHC between January 2011 and January 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients who were diagnosed with HHC by clinical, indirect hemagglutination test, upper abdominal ultrasonography (USG) and upper abdominal tomography were included in the study. All patients received 10 mg / kg / day albendazole therapy for a total of six weeks, two weeks preoperatively and four weeks postoperatively. Demographic information, clinical characteristics, and the incidence and percentage of complications were analyzed by simple manual calculation.
Results: 64 (60.95%) of 105 patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery were male and 41 (39.05%) were female. The mean age was 40.6 ± 11.7 years (18-65 age range). The mean cyst diameter was 8.4 cm in size (minimum: 6 cm, maximum: 16 cm). The mean operation time was 55 ± 11.45 minutes (Range: 42 to 70 minute). The mean hospitalization period of the patients was 3.7 days (Range 2 to 7). No recurrence was observed in the 18-month follow-up of the patients.
Conclusıons: HHC is a common disease in our country, and we think that laparoscopic approach is an effective surgical treatment option in suitable patients and in experienced centers.
Socioeducational gaps derived from the impact of digitization in Spain 2020
Authors: Vidal Inés María González , Gewerc Barujel Adriana 
Published: December 2021

La pandemia de COVID-19 visualizó cómo los activos digitales influyen en la sociedad contemporánea y juegan un papel decisivo en la recuperación económica. El objetivo de este trabajo es identificar las brechas sociales y educativas derivadas del impacto del nivel de digitalización en España 2020. Esta investigación se basa en la educación comparada como metodológica, relacional y crítica con implementación tecnológica; que intenta vincular la educación con los cambios en su entorno social; con el fin de contribuir a la mejora del sistema educativo. En este sentido, a partir del informe DESI de los últimos tres años, se analiza el caso de España en relación con lapuntuación media del resto de países miembros de la UE. Las brechas sociales apuntaban a perfiles de población vulnerable por tener pocas competencias digitales o por estar prácticamente excluida de los servicios y recursos digitales, lograr una nueva perspectiva centrada en el ser humano significa lograr el desarrollo económico. Las brechas educativas apuntaban al Capital Humano y sus bajas competencias en software, pocos especialistas en especialidades TIC y baja representación femenina en especialidadesTIC. Estos resultados mostraron la importancia de la educación STEM sensible al género, que parece ser la clave para el crecimiento económico y la competitividad nacional.
The COVID-19 pandemic visualized how digital assets influence contemporary society and play a decisive role in economic recovery. The objective of this work is to identify the social and educational gaps derived from the impact of the level of digitization in Spain 2020. This research is based on comparative education as methodological, relational and critical with the technological implementation; who tries to link education with changes in their social environment; in order to contribute to the improvement of the educational system. In this sense, based on the DESI report for the last three years, the case of Spain is analyzed in relation to the average score of the rest of the EU member countries. The social gaps pointed to profiles of vulnerable populations for having few digital skills or for being practically excluded from digital services and resources, achieving a new perspective centered on the human being will mean achieving economic development. The educational gaps pointed to human capital and its low skills in software, few specialists in ICT specialties and low female representation in ICT specialties. These results showed the importance of STEM and gender-sensitive education, which appears to be the key to economic growth and national competitiveness.
When means become ends: technology producing values
Authors: Hofmann Bjørn 
Published: December 2021

Technology has become the symbol of our culture. The claim that we are subject to a technological imperative is therefore a fundamental cultural critique: we do not control technology, rather technology controls us. An alternative way to formulate this is to claim that technology cannot be “made down” when it is made up; we just have to make the best of it. Accordingly, it has been argued that technology has evolved from being merely a means to becoming an end in itself. This article investigates this claim by analyzing the relationship between technology and values. The examples stem from the technologies of medicine and weapons because they clarify this relationship. It is argued that technology relates to values in two ways. Technology both raises general questions about values and it is value-laden due to its very function. However, although technology is value-laden, it does not necessarily give an imperative mandate. One reason for this lies in our responsibility. We are inevitably responsible for all aspects of technology, i.e. development, construction, production, commercialization, implementation, and use. Referring to a technological imperative to explain and defend our decisions with respect to technology constitutes an unjustified renunciation of our own responsibility. Hence, the article tries to underscore our responsibility by developing a technological axiology.
Enhancing engagement, enjoyment and learning experiences through gamification on an English course for health care students
Authors: Korkealehto Kirsi , Siklander Pirkko 
Published: December 2021

Student engagement in traditional learning environments is in decline resulting in decreased learning results and lack of engagement. Gamification is one option to trigger interest and enhance engagement in learning activities. Aim of this study was to investigate the potential of gamified course design in language learning from students’ perspective. Particularly, we explored students’ experiences of engagement, enjoyability and language learning. Theoretical framework consists of process of interest and engagement, and gamification in language learning. Language learning is understood through socio-cultural and ecological approaches.
The research was conducted and data were collected at a 3-credit field-specific English course. The participants (N = 23) were 1st-year healthcare students conducting their studies with a blended learning approach. The used applications were Seppo, Kahoot, Padlet and Quizlet. The data includes students’ learning diaries and a post-course on-line questionnaire. The diaries and the open questions of the questionnaire were analysed according to content analysis method.
The results suggest that gamified course design and related applications can enhance student engagement, foster language learning, and offer positive learning experiences. However, there are differences between gamified applications. Supporting collaboration and creating positive atmosphere are important in gamified learning process. Implications for teachers are discussed.
Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management on Plant Growth and Tuber Yield of Dahlia (Dahlia variabilis) cv. Kenya White
Authors: Raghunandan T. , Collis J. P. , Saravanan S. , Barman K. S. 
Published: December 2021

The experiment was carried out at Experimental field, Department of Horticulture, Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture Technology and Sciences [formerly known as Allahabad Agriculture Institute Deemed University, AAI-DU] during the Spring season 2014-2015. The experiment consists of Thirteen treatments viz., (T0) Control-RDF (100:120:100 N P K kg ha-1,), (T1) 75% RDF + AZ@ 2.5 kg ha-1,, (T2) 75% RDF + FYM @ 10 ton ha-1, (T3) 75% RDF + VC@ 10 ton ha-1, (T4) 75% RDF + AZ @ 2.5 kg/ha +FYM @ 10 ton ha-1+VC @ 10 ton ha-1, (T5) 50% RDF +AZ@ 2.5 kg ha-1, (T6) 50% RDF + FYM@ 10 ton ha-1, (T7) 50% RDF + VC@ 10 ton ha-1, (T8) 50% RDF + AZ @ 2.5 kg ha-1+FYM @ 10 ton ha-1+VC @ 10 ton ha-1, (T9) 25% RDF + AZ@ 2.5 kg ha-1, (T10) 25% RDF + FYM@ 10 ton ha-1, (T11) 25% RDF + VC@ 10 ton ha-1+, (T12) 25% RDF + AZ @ 2.5 kg ha-1+FYM @ 10 ton ha-1+VC @ 10 ton ha-1. The treatments were replicated thrice in a Randomized Complete Block Design. The results revealed that Plants treated with 75% RDF + AZ @ 2.5 kg/ha +FYM @ 10 t/ha +VC @ 10 t/ha (T4) significantly recorded maximum vegetative and Tuber yield attributes like plant height (91.87 cm), plant spread (92.38 cm), Number of Branches per plant (7.27), number of leaves per plant (26.53), number of tubers per plant (4.80), maximum tuber weight (958.53) and Maximum tuber yield per plant was recorded in T4 (75% RDF + AZ @ 2.5 kg/ha +FYM @ 10 t/ha +VC @ 10 t/ha) (43.33g) followed by T3 (75% RDF + VC @ 10 t/ha) (40.95g).
Residential history, repair, and renovation of housing complexes: KEP estate Tsurumaki 3 complex, a mid‐rise building
Authors: Minami Kazunobu , Chiba Saori , Ma Lingxiang , Suzuki Atsuya 
Published: December 2021

AbstractIn this study, the authors investigated the housing estate “Tsurumaki 3” in Tama New Town, which is one of the first experimental projects, named Kodan Experimental housing Project (KEP). It was started by the Japanese Housing Corporation in 1973 to research and develop the flexibility and adaptability of housing. The authors examined whether the adaptability worked over the last 35 years of occupancy, and they found that the many residents performed infill renovation in their units using the KEP movable partitions and storage systems. As the children grew and left home, some families used the KEP system to adjust room arrangements to meet their changing lifestyles.
All‐Polymer Based Stretchable Rubbery Electronics and Sensors
Authors: Rao Zhoulyu , Thukral Anish , Yang Pinyi , Lu Yuntao , Shim Hyunseok , Wu Wenjie , Karim Alamgir , Yu Cunjiang 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThe dissimilarity of material composition in existing stretchable electronics and biological organisms is a key bottleneck, still yet to be resolved, toward seamless integration between stretchable electronics and biological species. For instance, human or animal tissues and skins are fully made out of soft polymer species, while existing stretchable electronics are composed of rigid inorganic materials, either purely or partially. Soft stretchable electronics fully made out of polymeric materials with intrinsic softness and stretchability are sought after and therefore proposed to address this technical challenge. Here, rubbery electronics and sensors fully made out of stretchable polymeric materials including all‐polymer rubbery transistors, sensors, and sensory skin, which have similar material composition to biology, are reported. The fabricated all‐polymer rubbery transistors exhibit field‐effect mobility of 1.11 cm2 V‐1 s‐1 and retain their transistor performance even under mechanical stretch of 30%. In addition, all‐polymer rubbery strain and temperature sensors are demonstrated with high gauge factor and good temperature sensing capability. Based on these all‐polymer rubbery electronics, an active‐matrix multiplexed sensory skin on a robotic hand is demonstrated to illustrate one of the applications.
Bridging mRNA and Polycation Using RNA Oligonucleotide Derivatives Improves the Robustness of Polyplex Micelles for Efficient mRNA Delivery
Authors: Yoshinaga Naoto , Uchida Satoshi , Dirisala Anjaneyulu , Naito Mitsuru , Koji Kyoko , Osada Kensuke , Cabral Horacio , Kataoka Kazunori 
Published: December 2021

AbstractPolyplex for messenger RNA (mRNA) delivery requires strong yet reversible association between mRNA and polycation for extracellular robustness and selective intracellular disintegration. Herein, RNA oligonucleotide (OligoRNA) derivatives that bridge mRNA and polycation are developed to stabilize polyplex micelles (PMs). A set of the OligoRNAs introduced with a polyol moiety in their 5′ end is designed to hybridize to fixed positions along mRNA strand. After PM preparation from the hybridized mRNA and poly(ethylene glycol)‐polycation block copolymer derived with phenylboronic acid (PBA) moieties in its cationic segment, PBA moieties form reversible phenylboronate ester linkages with a polyol moiety at 5′ end of OligoRNAs and a diol moiety at their 3′ end ribose, in the PM core. The OligoRNAs work as a node to bridge ionically complexed mRNA and polycation, thereby improving PM stability against polyion exchange reaction and ribonuclease attack in extracellular environment. After cellular uptake, intracellular high concentration of adenosine triphosphate triggers the cleavage of phenylboronate ester linkages, resulting in mRNA release from PM. Ultimately, the PM provides efficient mRNA introduction in cultured cells and mouse lungs after intratracheal administration, demonstrating the potential of the bridging strategy in polyplex‐based mRNA delivery.
Efficiently Regulating the Electrical Properties of Flexible Fabric‐Based Cu3(BTC)2 Thin Film by Introducing Various Guest Molecules
Authors: Sun Chongcai , Wang Weike , Mu Xueyang , Zhang Yifan , Ma Chuang , Zhu Jiankang , Wang Chengbing 
Published: December 2021

AbstractRecently, the flexibility of 2D conductive metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) is an important precondition for manufacturing high‐performance smart electronic devices. Preparation of MOFs thin film has drawn much attention, and increasingly more MOF thin films have been deposited on different rigid substrates like glass, silicon, and metal electrodes. However, they do not meet the requirements for flexible materials, such as wearable electronic devices. Here, the fabric‐based composites (the integration of MOFs and fabric materials) can solve this problem. Insulating polyester fabric is chosen as a flexible substrate and atom layer deposition (ALD) and the layer‐by‐layer (LBL) method (also called the liquid phase epitaxy method) are combined to synthesize Cu3(BTC)2 thin film. 7,7,8,8‐tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) and polypyrrole (PPy) are chosen to improve the conductivity of the MOF thin films. The conductivity of Cu3(BTC)2 thin film is improved by more than four orders of magnitude compared to that of the original sample. This research shows that the large‐area lightweight fabric‐based Cu3(BTC)2 thin films, which possess excellent uniformity and flexibility and controllable thickness, can be prepared at room temperature; this allows MOFs to be applied in more areas, such as large‐area electronic devices and smart wearable sensing equipment.
Spatiotemporal Affordability Evaluation of Water Services in China: A Functional Cost‐Price Model
Authors: Liu Bin , Fang Huajian , Zhang Feilian , Zhong Zhen , Chen Yan 
Published: December 2021

AbstractAffordability of water services is an important part of the UN's sustainable development goals (SDGs), especially for a highly populated, developing country such as China. Previous studies have mainly focussed on unique index systems, from different perspectives for water affordability evaluation, while large‐scale studies at a national level are rare, and the understanding of water affordability is still not complete and scientific. In this study, a functional cost‐price model coupled with assessment index system and comprehensive evaluation method is developed for the description and assessment of water affordability degree (WAD) in China. The assessment index system integrates a cost‐price perspective of water affordability into a general model by incorporating 20 indicators belonging to six dimensions, including cost affordability of water pollution control, flood control and drought relief, soil and water conservation, and price affordability of irrigation water, residential water, and production water. This study obtains the spatiotemporal characteristics and the list of serious problems of water affordability in China, then discusses the regulatory focus of the water conservancy industry and the water pricing methods, so as to provide a reference for the national policy formulation of sustainable water management.
Programmable High‐Speed and Hyper‐Efficiency DNA Signal Magnifier
Authors: Zhang Xiao‐Long , Yin Yang , Du Shu‐Min , Kong Ling‐Qi , Yang Zhe‐Han , Chang Yuan‐Yuan , Chai Ya‐Qin , Yuan Ruo 
Published: December 2021

AbstractHerein, a programmable dual‐catalyst hairpin assembly (DCHA) for realizing the synchronous recycle of two catalysts is developed, displaying high reaction rate and outstanding conversion efficiency beyond traditional nucleic acid signal amplifications (NASA). Once catalyst I interacts with the catalyst II, the DCHA can be triggered to realize the simultaneous recycle of catalysts I and II to keep the highly concentrated intermediate product duplex I‐II instead of the steadily decreased one in typical NASA, which can accomplish in about only 16 min and achieves the outstanding conversion efficiency up to 4.54 × 108, easily conquering the main predicaments of NASA: time‐consuming and low‐efficiency. As a proof of the concept, the proposed DCHA as a high‐speed and hyper‐efficiency DNA signal magnifier is successfully applied in the rapid and ultrasensitive detection of miRNA‐21 in cancer cell lysates, which exploits the new generation of universal strategy for the applications in biosensing assay, clinic diagnose, and DNA nanobiotechnology.
Vanadium Disulfide Nanosheets Synthesized by Facile Liquid‐Phase Exfoliation for Ammonia Detection with High Selectivity
Authors: Kang Jianlong , Xu Feicui , Zhang Chen , Li Feng , Al‐Hartomy Omar A. , Al‐Ghamdi Ahmed , Wageh Swelm. , Zhao Guanghui , Yang Tingqiang , Zhang Han 
Published: December 2021

AbstractVanadium disulfide (VS2), a typical layered transition‐metal dichalcogenide, has drawn extensive attention in energy storage devices, catalysts as well as sensors due to its intriguing electronic peculiarities, whereas its chemiresistive gas sensing properties have seldom been investigated. In this contribution, first the ammonia sensing properties of VS2 nanosheets (NSs)‐based chemiresistive gas sensor are reported. VS2 NSs are synthesized through facile liquid‐phase exfoliation, and their crystal structure, micromorphology, and elemental component are characterized. Density functional theory calculation has revealed that VS2 (100) is highly affinitive to ammonia molecule, and sufficient electron transfers from ammonia to VS2, which implies VS2 NSs possess high potential for ammonia sensing. The computational results are verified by gas sensing measurement that the resistance of VS2 NSs remarkably increases upon injecting ammonia gas at low working temperature of 40 °C. Additionally, the VS2 NSs exhibit superb selectivity to ammonia. The probable mechanism for ammonia sensing can be that ammonia molecule absorbed at edge sites of VS2 NSs transfers electron to p‐type VS2 NSs, reduces hole concentration in the NSs, and thus leads to resistance enhancement of VS2 NSs.
Wake‐Up in Al1−xBxN Ferroelectric Films
Authors: Zhu Wanlin , He Fan , Hayden John , Fan Zhongming , Yang Jung In , Maria Jon‐Paul , Trolier‐McKinstry Susan 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThe polarization wake‐up process is demonstrated here for ferroelectric switching in epitaxial Al0.93B0.07N films on W coated c‐axis oriented Al2O3 (sapphire) substrates. During the wake‐up process, the remanent polarization grows from ≈0 to >100 µC cm−2. As it does so, both the reversible and irreversible Rayleigh coefficients rise substantially, suggesting that the concentration of mobile interfaces that separate regions of opposite dipole orientation is increasing. The irreversible Rayleigh coefficient is very small (≈3.5 × 10−4 cm kV−1), four to five orders of magnitude below those of perovskite ferroelectric films such as PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3. These small values are consistent with the high coercive fields observed in the nitride ferroelectrics. The temperature dependence of the Rayleigh coefficients suggests that the interface motion is thermally activated. On increasing frequency, the Rayleigh coefficients drop, suggesting time‐dependent pinning processes also occur in this family of materials. With information from anisotropic etching experiments upon field‐cycling, a self‐consistent model that describes a polar domain microstructure evolution process during wake‐up is proposed.
A novel missense variant of SCN4A co‐segregates with congenital essential tremor in a consanguineous Kurdish family
Authors: Asif Maria , Mocanu Ionut Dragos , Abdullah Uzma , Höhne Wolfgang , Altmüller Janine , Makhdoom Ehtisham Ul Haq , Thiele Holger , Baig Shahid Mahmood , Nürnberg Peter , Graul‐Neumann Luitgard , Hussain Muhammad Sajid 
Published: December 2021

AbstractEssential tremor (ET) is a neurological disorder characterized by bilateral and symmetric postural, isometric, and kinetic tremors of forelimbs produced during voluntary movements. To date, only a single SCN4A variant has been suggested to cause ET. In continuation of the previous report on the association between SCN4A and ET in a family from Spain, we validated the pathogenicity of a novel SCN4A variant and its involvement in ET in a second family affected by this disease. We recruited a Kurdish family with four affected members manifesting congenital tremor. Using whole‐exome sequencing, we identified a novel missense variant in SCN4A, NM_000334.4:c.4679C>T; p.(Pro1560Leu), thus corroborating SCN4A's role in ET. The residue is highly conserved across vertebrates and the substitution is predicted to be pathogenic by various in silico tools. Western blotting and immunocytochemistry performed in cells derived from one of the patients showed reduced immunoreactivity of SCN4A as compared to control cells. The study provides supportive evidence for the role of SCN4A in the etiology of ET and expands the phenotypic spectrum of channelopathies to this neurological disorder.
Bone tissue homeostasis and risk of fractures in Costello syndrome: A 4‐year follow‐up study
Authors: Leoni Chiara , Bisanti Cristian , Viscogliosi Germana , Onesimo Roberta , Massese Miriam , Giorgio Valentina , Corbo Fabio , Acampora Anna , Cipolla Clelia , Flex Elisabetta , Dell'Atti Claudia , Rigante Donato , Tartaglia Marco , Zampino Giuseppe 
Published: December 2021

AbstractCostello syndrome (CS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with a distinctive musculoskeletal phenotype and reduced bone mineral density (BMD) caused by activating de novo mutations in the HRAS gene. Herein, we report the results of a prospective study evaluating the efficacy of a 4‐year vitamin D supplementation on BMD and bone health. A cohort of 16 individuals ranging from pediatric to adult age with molecularly confirmed CS underwent dosages of bone metabolism biomarkers (serum/urine) and dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans to assess bone and body composition parameters. Results were compared to age‐matched control groups. At baseline evaluation, BMD was significantly reduced (p ≤ 0.05) compared to controls, as were the 25(OH)vitD levels. Following the 4‐year time interval, despite vitamin D supplementation therapy at adequate dosages, no significant improvement in BMD was observed. The present data confirm that 25(OH)vitD and BMD parameters are reduced in CS, and vitamin D supplementation is not sufficient to restore proper BMD values. Based on this evidence, routine monitoring of bone homeostasis to prevent bone deterioration and possible fractures in adult patients with CS is highly recommended.