bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Online ELT during the Covid-19 Pandemic. A Case Study on Students’ Perspectives
Authors: Iori Ilaria 
Published: July 2023

The Covid-19 pandemic has raised interest within many interdisciplinary fields. Researchers in the field of education were particularly interested in reporting teachers’ and students’ experiences (e.g., Hoti, Dragusha, and Ndou 2022) during the period of Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT) (Hodges et al. 2020) and Sustained Remote Teaching (SRT) (Stewart, Baek, and Lowenthal 2022). This article aims to provide a further contribution to education studies by exploring students’ experiences in an English language course organised by an Italian University Language Centre during the 2020/21 academic year. More specifically, it focuses on how interactions were accomplished in foreign language virtual classrooms and whether students’ perceptions on online teaching have changed with SRT. Results showed that although students still preferred face-to-face lessons, they highly appreciated specific tools of online teaching (e.g., recordings) and wished they could be implemented in traditional lessons. The data also confirmed the importance of interactions in modern foreign language virtual classrooms and found that most students who had an overall negative experience with online teaching were also students who had more difficulties in interacting during classes.
Healthcare Delivery in Nigeria: Traditional Medicine Practitioners Perspectives to Universal Health Coverage and Traditional Medicine Integration with Conventional Medicine
Authors: Ibrahim Jemilat Aliyu , Fatokun Omolola Temitope , Jegede Ibikunle Adeola , Egharevba Henry Omoregie , Hamzat Omotayo Tirimidhi , Adigwe Obi Peter 
Published: July 2023

Introduction: The knowledge, attitude, and practice of Traditional Medicine Practitioners (TMPs) are key to achieving effective and sustainable integration of all forms of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (TCAM) and health services towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC). In this study, the operational and psychological readiness of Traditional Medicine Practitioners towards integration with the conventional health system was examined by critically considering the various factors central to traditional medicine integration as recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) Traditional Medicine strategy (2014–2023).
Methods: Paper based questionnaires were administered to Traditional medicine practitioners from three geo-political zones in Nigeria along with Key Informant Interviews. Qualitative – thematic and content analysis using both iterative and interpretative processes, and quantitative –descriptive and inferential analysis were done using statistical package for social sciences version 25.
Results: A total of 337 respondents participated in the study ranging from 21-61 years of age. More than half (61.7%) were males. Most respondents 310 (92%) had one form of formal education out of which those with secondary education constitute over one-thirds, 121 (35.9%). Over three-quarter of the respondents, 290 (86.1%) were into general practice and over half of the respondents had between 11 – 20 years of experience as traditional medicine practitioners. About two-thirds, 216 (64.1%) of study participants had no knowledge of what integration nor Universal Health Coverage 256, (76%) meant. However, many of the respondents (76.3%) had a good attitude towards integration. More than two-thirds of respondents, 241 (71.5%) claimed to keep patient records but only 157 (46.6%) kept written records.
Conclusion: Traditional Medicine Practitioners in Nigeria have a positive outlook towards integration. Salient knowledge and practice gaps among them have been revealed. The study shows that regulatory and policy actions should be centred around the support, capacity building through trainings and conferences to disseminate information on scientific/technological advancements to improve their practice, and also to improve on existing policies and government activities.
Examination of HIV Preexposure Prophylaxis Need, Availability, and Potential Pharmacy Integration in the Southeastern US
Authors: Harrington Kristin R. V. , Chandra Christina , Alohan Daniel I. , Cruz Diego , Young Henry N. , Siegler Aaron J. , Crawford Natalie D. 
Published: July 2023

ImportanceDaily preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use can prevent up to 99% of HIV infections; however, PrEP uptake is low due to poor access to PrEP-prescribing locations for populations at increased risk for HIV, especially in the southeastern US. Pharmacies are a feasible option to increase PrEP access, but little is known about how they could complement current PrEP-prescribing locations.ObjectiveTo examine geographic distributions of current PrEP-prescribing locations compared with pharmacies and the facility to need ratios (PFNRs) according to HIV risk in the Southeast and describe the potential reach of pharmacies to expand PrEP access.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsData for this cross-sectional study of PrEP-prescribing locations and pharmacies were compiled from January 1 to December 31, 2021. States or specific counties in the Southeast included in this study were jurisdictions identified as high-priority areas for the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the US (EHE) initiative.ExposureExpansion of HIV prevention services to pharmacies.Main Outcomes and MeasuresChoropleth maps of 5-year HIV risk per 100 000 persons were developed for EHE jurisdictions in the southeastern US. PrEP-prescribing locations (obtained from a national database of PrEP prescribers) and pharmacies (obtained from state pharmacy boards) were overlayed on HIV risk maps. The PFNRs by state were calculated as number of facilities (PrEP-prescribing locations or pharmacies) divided by 5-year HIV risk per 100 000 persons. Lower PFNRs indicated lower geographic availability of locations to meet the needs of the population at risk for HIV. The PFNRs for current PrEP-prescribing locations vs pharmacies were compared.ResultsAmong the 2 southeastern states and 13 counties in 4 southeastern states included, PrEP-prescribing locations were unequally distributed across EHE areas, with substantially fewer in areas at high risk for HIV. Pharmacies were evenly dispersed across areas regardless of HIV risk. The mean PFNR across all states for current PrEP-prescribing locations was 0.008 (median, 0.000 [IQR, 0.000-0.003]); for pharmacies, it was 0.7 (median, 0.3 [IQR, 0.01-0.1]). The PFNRs were at least 20.3 times higher for pharmacies compared with PrEP-prescribing locations. States with the greatest potential increase in PFNRs with expansion to pharmacies included Kentucky, South Carolina, and Tennessee.Conclusions and RelevanceThe findings of this cross-sectional study suggest that expanding HIV prevention services to pharmacies in EHE areas in the Southeast could significantly increase capacity to reach individuals at increased risk of HIV transmission. Legislation aimed at allowing pharmacists to prescribe PrEP and provide HIV prevention services may be an important next step in ending the HIV epidemic.
Association of Wildfire Exposure While Recovering From Lung Cancer Surgery With Overall Survival
Authors: Zhang Danlu , Xi Yuzhi , Boffa Daniel J. , Liu Yang , Nogueira Leticia M. 
Published: July 2023

ImportanceWith a changing climate, wildfire activity in the US has increased dramatically, presenting multifaceted and compounding health hazards. Individuals discharged from the hospital following surgical resection of non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are potentially at higher risk from wildfires’ health hazards.ObjectiveTo assess the association between wildfire exposure and postoperative long-term overall survival among patients with lung cancer in the US.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsIn this cohort study, individuals who underwent curative-intent NSCLC resection between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2019, were selected from the National Cancer Database. Daily wildfire information was aggregated at the zip code level from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Fire Information for Resource Management System. The data analysis was performed between July 19, 2022, and April 14, 2023.ExposureAn active wildfire detected at the zip code of residence between 0 and 3, 4 and 6, or 7 and 12 months after NSCLC surgery.Main OutcomeOverall survival was defined as the interval between age at hospital discharge and age at death, last contact, or study end, whichever came first. Cox proportional hazards were used for estimating hazard ratios (HRs) adjusted for sex, region, metropolitan category, health insurance type, comorbidities, tumor size, lymph node involvement, era, and facility type.ResultsA total of 466 912 individuals included in the study (249 303 female and [53.4] and 217 609 male [46.6%]; mean [SD] age at diagnosis, 67.3 [9.9] years), with 48 582 (10.4%) first exposed to a wildfire between 0 and 3 months, 48 328 (10.6%) between 4 and 6 months, and 71 735 (15.3%) between 7 and 12 months following NSCLC surgery. Individuals exposed to a wildfire within 3 months (adjusted HR [AHR], 1.43; 95% CI, 1.41-1.45), between 4 and 6 months (AHR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.37-1.41), and between 7 and 12 months (AHR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.15-1.19) after discharge from the hospital following stage I to III NSCLC resection had worse overall survival than unexposed individuals.ConclusionsIn this cohort study, wildfire exposure was associated with worse overall survival following NSCLC surgical resection, suggesting that patients with lung cancer are at greater risk from the health hazards of wildfires and need to be prioritized in climate adaptation efforts.
Rubber‐Like Elasticity
Authors: Sakumichi Naoyuki , Sakai Takamasa 
Published: July 2023

AbstractRubber‐like elasticity, which is a property to sustain very large deformations without rupture up to about 10 times from the original length followed by complete recovery, is manifested in polymeric materials with a three‐dimensional network structure consisting of long, flexible polymer chains. Rubber‐like elasticity originates from the decrease in entropy of the chains between cross‐linking points resulting from the elongation. In addition, there is an internal energetic component to the elasticity, which can be extracted from thermoelastic experiments. This is related to conformational energy changes of the polymer chains and, in polymer gels containing large amounts of solvent, to energy changes in solvent‐polymer interactions. Because the network structures of polymeric materials cannot be directly observed, the theoretical models for predicting the correlation between the structure and physical properties are uncertain. However, estimating structures by combining existing models with measured physical properties is important for guiding material design. This article overviews experimental and theoretical aspects of rubber‐like elasticity.
Electroactive Polymer Actuators
Authors: Ismail Yahya A. , Shabeeba Aranhikundan , Sidheekha Madari Palliyalil , Rajan Lijin 
Published: July 2023

AbstractElectroactive polymers (EAPs) have emerged as feasible materials to emulate biological muscles due to their ability to undergo significant changes in shape or size in response to electrical stimulation. They have received immense consideration in various fields of applications such as robotics, biomimetics, wearable electronics, prosthetics, optical devices, and so on owing to their mechanical flexibility, easy processing, light weight, low density, fracture tolerance, pliability, and the ability to induce large actuation strains than other conventional mechanically responsive polymers. Electronic EAPs including dielectric elastomers, ferroelectric polymers, liquid crystal elastomers, and electrostrictive graft polymers are driven by electric fields or Coulomb forces and require high voltage for activation. While ionic EAPs such as ionic polymer metal composites, ionic gels, conducting polymers, carbon nanotubes, and electrorheological fluids are driven by the drifting or diffusion of ions and operate at lower voltages. The emphasis in this article is on the studies of key materials used in the field of electroactive polymer actuators, reviewing the mechanism that drives the actuation, highlighting their advantages and disadvantages, and discussing their applications.
Self‐Shaping Monolithic Reticular Materials: Ingredients for Success
Authors: Albacete Pablo , Asgari Mehrdad , Yang Yue , Al‐Shanks Ali N. , Fairen‐Jimenez David 
Published: July 2023

AbstractReticular materials are one of the more promising tools that humankind has developed to address the required energy transition. Despite their great potential showcased in the last decade, their use is so far mainly confined to the laboratory bench due to drawbacks derived from their powdery morphology. Unlike zeolites and activated carbons, the challenges in shaping and densification of reticular materials hamper their full implementation in the industry. Hence, strategies for shaping and integrating these materials need to be prioritized. Most of the existing strategies rely on applying mechanical pressure and adding chemical binders, but these approaches, although useful for shaping, diminish their final adsorption capacities and do not bring their theoretical, predicted performance. On the other hand, obtaining self‐shaped, dense bodies—so‐called monoliths—arises as a very promising and scalable alternative. Sol–gel monoliths are still scarce in the scientific literature despite their outstanding performance, particularly in terms of volumetric adsorption capacity. This review intends to help expand this scope by offering a rational guide on the self‐shaping of dense monoliths for reticular materials, as well as a complete revision of the state‐of‐the‐art in the field.
A Versatile Glycopeptide Hydrogel Promotes Chronic Refractory Wound Healing Through Bacterial Elimination, Sustained Oxygenation, Immunoregulation, and Neovascularization
Authors: Wu Ye , Wang Yu , Zheng Cheng , Hu Cheng , Yang Li , Kong Qingquan , Zhang Hui , Wang Yunbing 
Published: July 2023

AbstractChronic refractory wounds have become a severe threat to public health and are characterized by repeated bacterial infections, persistent hypoxia, abnormal immune regulation, and obstruction of angiogenesis. However, current treatment strategies usually perform only one or two therapeutic functions and cannot satisfy the dynamic and complex demands of chronic wound healing. Herein, a versatile dynamic Schiff base and borate ester cross‐linked glycopeptide hydrogel is prepared from phenylboronic acid‐grafted ε‐polylysine (EPBA), epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate (EGCG), and oxidized alginate. Customized polydopamine‐coated honeycomb MnO2 nanoparticles loaded with herb‐derived salvianolic acid B (PHMS) are embedded into the hydrogel before gelation. Under the distinct acidic and oxidative microenvironment of chronic refractory wounds, the hydrogel gradually dissociates, and the released EPBA effectively eliminates bacteria, while the released EGCG and PHMS eradicates reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, promotes M2 polarization of macrophages, and continuously generates oxygen. Then PHMS further disintegrates, and the released salvianolic acid B promotes angiogenesis through the PI3K/Akt pathway. The versatile glycopeptide hydrogel accelerates Staphylococcus aureus‐infected diabetic cutaneous wound repair in vivo and is a promising candidate dressing for chronic refractory wound healing.
Enzyme‐Responsive Nanoparticles for Dexamethasone Targeted Delivery to Treat Inflammation in Diabetes
Authors: Schiffmann Nathan , Liang Yifei , Nemcovsky Carlos E. , Almogy Michal , Halperin‐Sternfeld Michal , Gianneschi Nathan C. , Adler‐Abramovich Lihi , Rosen Eyal 
Published: July 2023

AbstractDiabetes is a global epidemic accompanied by impaired wound healing and increased risk of persistent infections and resistance to standard treatments. Therefore, there is an immense need to develop novel methods to specifically target therapeutics to affected tissues and improve treatment efficacy. This study aims to use enzyme‐responsive nanoparticles for the targeted delivery of an anti‐inflammatory drug, dexamethasone, to treat inflammation in diabetes. These nanoparticles are assembled from fluorescently‐labeled, dexamethasone‐loaded peptide‐polymer amphiphiles. The nanoparticles are injected in vivo, adjacent to labeled collagen membranes sub‐periosteally implanted on the calvaria of diabetic rats. Following their implantation, collagen membrane resorption is linked to inflammation, especially in hyperglycemic individuals. The nanoparticles show strong and prolonged accumulation in inflamed tissue after undergoing a morphological switch into microscale aggregates. Significantly higher remaining collagen membrane area and less inflammatory cell infiltration are observed in responsive nanoparticles‐treated rats, compared to control groups injected with free dexamethasone and non‐responsive nanoparticles. These factors indicate improved therapeutic efficacy in inflammation reduction. These results demonstrate the potential use of enzyme‐responsive nanoparticles as targeted delivery vehicles for the treatment of diabetic and other inflammatory wounds.
A New In Vitro Blood Flow Model for the Realistic Evaluation of Antimicrobial Surfaces
Authors: Valtin Juliane , Behrens Stephan , Ruland André , Schmieder Florian , Sonntag Frank , Renner Lars D. , Maitz Manfred F. , Werner Carsten 
Published: July 2023

AbstractDevice‐associated bloodstream infections can cause serious medical problems and cost‐intensive postinfection management, defining a need for more effective antimicrobial coatings. Newly developed coatings often show reduced bacterial colonization and high hemocompatibility in established in vitro tests, but fail in animal studies or clinical trials. The poor predictive power of these models is attributed to inadequate representation of in vivo conditions. Herein, a new single‐pass blood flow model, with simultaneous incubation of the test surface with bacteria and freshly‐drawn human blood, is presented. The flow model is validated by comparative analysis of a recently developed set of antiadhesive and contact‐killing polymer coatings, and the corresponding uncoated polycarbonate surfaces. The results confirm the model's ability to differentiate the antimicrobial activities of the studied surfaces. Blood activation data correlate with bacterial surface coverage: low bacterial adhesion is associated with low inflammation and hemostasis. Shear stress correlates inversely with bacterial colonization, especially on antiadhesive surfaces. The introduced model is concluded to enable the evaluation of novel antimicrobial materials under in vivo‐like conditions, capturing interactions between bacteria and biomaterials surfaces in the presence of key components of the ex vivo host response.
Advances in the Development of Granular Microporous Injectable Hydrogels with Non‐spherical Microgels and Their Applications in Tissue Regeneration
Authors: Li Haiyan , Iyer Keerthi Subramanian , Bao Lei , Zhai Jiali , Li Jiao Jiao 
Published: July 2023

AbstractGranular microporous hydrogels are emerging as effective biomaterial scaffolds for tissue engineering due to their improved characteristics compared to traditional nanoporous hydrogels, which better promote cell viability, cell migration, cellular/tissue infiltration, and tissue regeneration. Recent advances have resulted in the development of granular hydrogels made of non‐spherical microgels, which compared to those made of spherical microgels have higher macroporosity, more stable mechanical properties, and better ability to guide the alignment and differentiation of cells in anisotropic tissue. The development of these hydrogels as an emerging research area is attracting increasing interest in regenerative medicine. This review first summarizes the fabrication techniques available for non‐spherical microgels with different aspect‐ratios. Then, it introduces the development of granular microporous hydrogels made of non‐spherical microgels, their physicochemical characteristics, and their applications in tissue regeneration. The limitations and future outlook of research on microporous granular hydrogels are also critically discussed.
Bidirectional Venturi Flowmeter Based on Capacitive Sensors for Spirometry
Authors: Becerra Laura L. , Rafeedi Tarek , Ramanarayanan Sankaran , Frankel Ian , Miller Juliana , Chen Alexander X. , Qie Yi , Lipomi Darren J. , Garudadri Harinath , Ng Tse Nga 
Published: July 2023

AbstractIn this work, a portable venturi tube capable of measuring bidirectional respiratory flow is developed and correlated the measurements to pulmonary function. Pressure signals are transduced using flexible and compressible capacitive foam sensors embedded into the wall of the device. In this configuration, the sensors are able to provide differential pressure readings, from which the airflow rate passing through the tube could be extrapolated. Utilizing the venturi effect, the geometry of the spirometer tube is designed through finite element analysis to measure respiratory airflow during inhalation and exhalation. The device tube is 3D‐printed and used to measure tidal breathing and deep breathing, along with peak expiratory flow rates, on a healthy individual. This spirometer design allows for easy‐to‐use point‐of‐care diagnoses and has the potential to improve the care of respiratory illnesses.
High‐Performance Te‐Doped PbSe Film Heterojunction Photodetector with Current Rectification Effect and Broadband Detection Capability
Authors: Peng Silu , Zhang Chaoyi , Han Jiayue , Li Chunyu , Zhou Hongxi , Yu He , Chen Chao , Gou Jun , Wang Jun 
Published: July 2023

AbstractPbSe has attracted wide attention owing to its fascinating physical and chemical properties. It has important technical significance for infrared detectors. However, due to the inherent bandgap, low carrier mobility, and dielectric constant of PbSe, it is a significant challenge to realize fast response and mid‐infrared (MID) photodetection. Chemical doping is an efficient method to regulate the band structure and carrier mobility of materials. Nevertheless, the doped film detector cannot satisfy the demands of high‐performance photodetectors. In this paper, different composition ratios powders are synthesized by a solid‐state method. The PbSe0.5Te0.5 alloy film displays narrower bandgap, higher carrier mobility, excellent photo‐response, and broadband detection capacity. By utilizing the above superiority of PbSe0.5Te0.5 and fast charge transfer in MoSe2, a PbSe0.5Te0.5/MoSe2 p‐n heterostructure device is successfully fabricated that has significant rectifying effect (103) and extremely low dark current density (720 µA cm−2). The photodetector has a maximum responsivity (R) and specific detectivity (D*) of 17.5 A W−1 and 3.08 × 1013 Jones at 780 nm. In addition, the detector displays superior photodetection performance with broadband photodetection (405–5000 nm), high switch ratios (Ion/Ioff = 105), and fast response speed. The above outstanding properties indicate that the PbSe0.5Te0.5/MoSe2 heterostructure provides a promising and efficient strategy for achieving a miniaturized, broadband, and high‐performance photodetector.