bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Promoting Youth Employment through Information and Communication Technologies in Vocational Education in Tanzania
Authors: Mtebe Joel S. , Kissaka Mussa M. , Raphael Christina , Steven Josephine 
Published: July 2022

Africa is the most youthful continent in the world with approximetly 20% of the global youth population and is expected to increase by 42% by the end of 2030. This great number of youth which can be used as a huge asset for the country’s economic growth and development is largely unemployed. As a result, governments have introduced Vocational Education and Training (VET) by providing occupation oriented trainings in a bid to reduce unemployment amongst youth. Despite these efforts, the majority of VET graduates remain unemployed due to the inadequate employability skills needed in the current job market. This study implemented a project aiming at enhancing employability skills through ICT in four centres: Nangwa VTC, Manyara VTC, Arusha VTC, Mto wa Mbu FDC, and Ketumbeine secondary school with a total of 100 students and 20 teachers. Through participating in the project, it was expected that students would gain the ICT skills as well as the 21st-Century skills required in the current workplace. At the end of the project, an evaluation was conducted using a self-administered survey where a total of 80 students were involved in the four centres. Moreover, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), non-participatory observation, and documentary review were adopted as qualitative data instruments. It was found that that students’ perceived competence and skills levels on technology knowledge of multimedia as moderate (M=3.63) while that of CISCO were found to be high with 76 students graduated and obtained a CISCO certification. In terms of the 21st-Century skills, it was found that students’ self-reported confidence levels in all four 21st-Century skills domains were found to be high with collaboration skills (M=4.5) being the highest followed by communication skills (M=4.26), leadership (4.20) and creativity and innovation (4.06). Nonetheless, the lowest 21st-Century skills element was critical thinking skills (M=3.9). The findings from this study show that with some planned activities within colleges, students can easily acquire the needed employability skills. The implication of these findings are discussed.
Developing Self-regulated Learning Skills in University Students Studying in the Open and Distance Learning Environment by Using KWL Method
Authors: De Silva D. V. M. 
Published: July 2022

ABSTRACT
Open and Distance Learning (ODL) is considered an important strategy for increasing educational access. However, students learning in ODL environments face many challenges. Studies have indicated that students with self-regulated learning (SRL) skills are more likely to succeed in ODL environments. Studies have demonstrated that through instructional strategies, tutors can teach and help improve SRL skills. This development of SRL skills may lead to reduced drop-out rates. To examine the suitability of SRL skills development strategies, the researcher of this study utilised a KWL (What I Know, What I Want to Know, What I Learned) method in the ODL environment in Sri Lanka to help develop SRL skills in university students. This study adopted an action research approach, and twenty-four (24) Bachelor of Education students and three (03) educators at the Open University of Sri Lanka were the participants. Zimmerman & Moylan's (2009) self-regulated cycle of learning model was used for the intervention. A Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ,1991) was administered to measure students' SRL skills. Observations, reflections, and focus group discussions were used to collect qualitative data. The study's findings indicated that the KWL method contributed to the improvement of self-regulated learning skills among student participants.
Keywords: self-regulated learning skills, Open and Distance Learning environment, KWL method.
Influence of Covid-19 on Students’ Learning: Access and Participation in Higher Education in Southern Africa
Authors: Mphahlele Ramashego , Seeletso Mmabaledi , Muleya Gistered , Simui Francis 
Published: July 2022

Recent experiences of institutions in COVID 19 have heightened the need for research on its impact on higher education institutions globally. This article’s authors are from higher learning institutions in Botswana, South Africa and Zambia, which used a blended learning model before COVID 19. The majority of their students used the traditional part of blended learning, depending on the print, postal service, and face-to-face. These students’ access and participation in learning during COVID 19 were negatively affected. Using Digital Equity as a framework, this paper explores the influence of COVID 19 on students’ access and participation in online learning. There seem to be significant disparities in access and participation in high-quality technologies and severe educational inequities. This digital inequality impact calls for civic awareness in digital literacy among the citizenry if the gap between the rural and urban, have and have not digital immigrants and digital natives are to be bridged.
PENGEMBANGAN POTENSI TRADITIONAL MEDICAL TOURISM DI DESA CIMANDE KABUPATEN BOGOR
Authors: Djunaid Ika Suryono , Mikhael Mikhael 
Published: July 2022

Medical Tourism adalah perjalanan wisata dengan tujuan pengobatan atau pemulihan kesehatan. Hal ini di perkuatan pula oleh pernyataan dari Gill dan Singh (2012:3) yang menyatakan bahwa medical tourism adalah perjalanan dari tempat tinggal seseorang ke tujuan lainnya untuk melakukan kegiatan yang menjaga, meningkatkan, dan mengobati kesehatan seseorang. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah : 1) untuk mengkaji berapa besar potensi medical tourism di Desa Cimande Kabupaten Bogor, 2) menyusun strategi pengembangan medical tourism di Desa Cimande Kabupaten Bogor. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah metode kualitatif deskriptif. Pengumpulan data dilakukan dengan cara observasi, dokumentasi, dan wawancara. Jumlah situasi sosial yang diteliti adalah keseluruhan obyek medical tourism yang terdapat di Desa Cimande. Data yang dianalisis, meliputi 4 unsur yaitu : pihak yang terlibat (penyelenggara medical tourism), tempat/destinasi (pemerintah setempat), manfaat yang dicari (wisatawan medical tourism) dan sumber (penyelenggara pengobatan patah tulang). Hasil penelitian yang diperoleh adalah pengobatan patah tulang Cimande dikabupaten Bogor dalam hal pengobatan patah tulang memiliki potensi sebagai medical tourism hal ini dikarenakan 15 dari 21 unsur yang ada sudah terpenuhi sebagai medical tourism, dilihat dari tujuannya wisatawan yang datang ke desa Cimande kabupaten Bogor memang untuk kebutuhan pengobatan patah tulang, namun hal yang belum terpenuhi dari hasil wawancara kepada narasumber dilihat kembali dari segi fasilitas serta dukungan dari pemerintah yang masih belum ada dan terpenuhi. Berdasarkan permasalahn tersebut disusun strategi pengembangan yang difokuskan pada pembangunan sarana dan prasarana Kemudian untuk itu di sarankan untuk mendorong destinasi desa Cimande sebagai desa potensi medical tourism perlu adanya agensi dari Tour and Travel dan juga agensi kesehatan yang merekomendasikan lokasi penyembuhan desa Cimande kemudian perlu adanya asuransi kesehatan agar memastikan kegiatan pengobatan tradisional ini benar-benar terjamin secara kualitas untuk pembagunan pariwisata medical tourism yang berkelanjutan.
KETERSEDIAN NITROGEN DAN C-ORGANIK PUPUK KOMPOS ASAL KULIT PISANG GOROHO MELALUI OPTIMALISASI UJI KERJA KULTUR BAL
Authors: Arisanti Desi 
Published: July 2022

Kompos merupakan pupuk organik yang mudah dan murah dengan memanfaatkan limbah sisa bahan organik. Kompos mempunyai sifat lama tersedia bagi tanah dan tumbuhan,namun bersifat aman bagi lingkungan. Karena bahan organik berupa kompos dapat memperbaiki sifat kimia, fisik dan biologi tanah. Pada penelitian ini memanfaatkan limbah kulit pisang goroho. Sebagai bioaktivator digunakan BAL dalam bentuk kultur kering. Penelitian ini menggunakan keragaman dosis kultur kering BAL yang terdiri dari 3 taraf yaitu kontrol, 20%, 30%, dan 40% dari bobot bahan organik. Data yang dihasilkan kemudian dilakukan uji analisis kandungan ketersedian nitrogen dan C-Organik. Berdasarkan hasil peneliian di peroleh ketersedian Nitrogen yang sesuai dengan standar SNI pupuk kompos, sedangkan untuk kadar C-Organiknya rata-rata belum sesuai dengan dengan standar SNI
PEMANFAATAN DAUN JAMBU BIJI UNTUK PENINGKATAN PRODUKSI TELUR DAN BENIH IKAN LELE DUMBO
Authors: Lamadi Arafik , Mulis Mulis , Lukum Abdul Madjid 
Published: July 2022

Tutujuan penelitian ini untuk mengetahui efektifitas lama perendaman telur untuk daya tetas telur dan kelangsungan hidup ikan lele dumbo dalam larutan daun jambu biji dengan konsetrasi 0,5 ml/L dalam mencegah serangan jamur Saprolegnia sp. Penelitian ini menggunakan desain eksperimental dengan pola Rancangan Acak Lengkap (RAL) dengan empat perlakuan dan tiga ulangan. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa daya tetas telur ikan lele dumbo tertinggi terdapat pada pada perlakuan D (perendaman 15 menit) 75,50% diikuti oleh perlakuan C (perendaman 10 menit) 70,33%, kemudian perlakuan B (perendaman 5 menit) 67,50% dan yang terendah terdapat pada perlakuan A (tanpa perendaman) yaitu 63,83%. Berdasarkan hasil uji ANSIRA nilai FHitung 7,87 > FTabel pada taraf 1% (7,59). Hasil uji BNT, perlakuan D berpengaruh sangat nyata terhadap perlakuan A, B dan C. Sedangkan pada kelangsungan hidup benih perlakuan A menghasilkan presentase terendah (65,93%) dibandingkan perlakuan B (79,68%), perlakuan C (72,86%) dan perlakuan D (72,24%). Uji ANSIRA menunjukkan hasil yang tidak berpengaruh nyata dimana FHitung (2,40) < FTabel 5 % (4,07).
MEMPERTAHANKAN MUTU KANDUNGAN VITAMIN C DAN UMUR SIMPAN PADA TOMAT (Solanum lycopersicum) DENGAN PELAPISAN LILIN LEBAH
Authors: Angelia Ika Okhtora 
Published: July 2022

Sayuran memiliki sifat voluminous (merekah) dan perishable (mudah rusak). Salah satu jenis sayuran yang memiliki sifat ini adalah tomat. Tomat merupakankomoditas sayuran yang mudah rusak saat pemanenan, baik akibat faktor kerusakan mekanis maupun faktor fisiologi seperti lecet, layu dan busuk sehingga berakibat pada rendahnya umur simpan. Salah satu upaya untuk memperpanjang umur simpan tomat adalah dengan memberikan lapisan lilin pada permukaan kulitnya. Tujuan percobaan ini adalah mengetahui pengaruh pelapisan lilin lebah terhadap kandungan vitamin C serta umur simpannya. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa selama proses penyimpanan, pelapisan dengan lilin lebah tidak memberi pengaruh nyata terhadap kandungan vitamin C. Pelapisan lilin lebah mampu memperpanjang umur simpan dibandingakan dengan kontrol. Selama proses penyimpanan, warna cenderung tidak berubah dibandingkan tomat yang tidak diberi perlakuan pelilinan (kontrol). Lama penyimpanan hingga hari ke-3 menunjukkan bahwa warna tomat masih hijau, kuning kemerahan dibandingkan dengan kontrol. Bahkan hingga hari ke-7, tomat cenderung berwarna kuning kemerahan. Sedangkan pada tekstur, lama penyimpanan hingga hari ke-4 menunjukkan bahwa tekstur tomat masih keras dibandingkan dengan kontrol. Bahkan hingga hari ke-7, tekstur tomat cenderung masih agak lembek dibandingkan dengan kontrol.
Plastic debris in plastic-mulched soil—a screening study from western Germany
Authors: Steinmetz Zacharias , Schröder Heike 
Published: July 2022

Background
Agricultural plastic mulches offer great benefits such as higher yields and lower pesticide use. Yet, plastic mulches may disintegrate over time and fragment into smaller debris. Such plastic debris is expected to remain in the field after removal of the plastic mulch and thus contributes to soil contamination with plastics.

Method
To investigate this, we collected soil samples at 0–10 cm and 10–40 cm depth from three fields covered with black mulch film for three consecutive years. Three fields without any reported plastic use served as control. Visual plastic debris > 1 cm (macroplastics) was collected from the soil surface. Mesoplastics between 2 mm and 1 cm were density separated from the sampled soil using saturated NaCl solution and analyzed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Debris ≤ 2 mm (microplastics) was dispersed from 50 g soil using sodium hexametaphosphate solution followed by the aforementioned density separation. The separated polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) were quantified via solvent-based pyrolysis–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py–GC/MS).

Results
With 89–206 fragments ha−1, the majority of macroplastics were located in fields previously covered with mulch films. 80% of the collected specimen were identified as black PE film. The number of mesoplastics in plastic-mulched soil was 2.3 particles kg−1, while only 1.0 particles kg−1 were found in the reference fields. Py–GC/MS revealed microplastic levels of up to 13 mg kg−1. The PE content was significantly higher in plastic-mulched fields than in reference fields.

Discussion
Although the identified plastic levels are lower than those reported in comparable studies, our results still suggest that plastic mulching functions as a source of plastic debris in agricultural systems. Due to its severely restricted degradability, these plastics are likely to accumulate in soil in the long term and further fragment into smaller and smaller debris.
Evaluation of Disease-related Characteristics in COVID-19 Infected Population of Karachi, Pakistan: An Online Survey
Authors: Aziz Aisha , Sarfaraz Marium , Majeed Saba , Maboos Madiha , Leghari Qurratul Ain , Khurshid Mahrukh 
Published: July 2022

Aims: COVID-19 pandemic brought the medical community into action, to introduce safe and effective strategies to combat the disease. Pakistan has also experienced a significant increase in COVID-positive cases. The objective of this study is to assess the disease-related characteristics and evaluate different treatment responses in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. Data was collected from January to September 2021.
Methodology: An online survey was circulated and analyzed using SPSS and results were reported as frequency and percentages. 1000 questionnaires were distributed, of which 257 responses were received.
Results: The majority of the population 90.3% survived however, a few 9.7% deaths were reported. Fever (65.7%) and cough (53.6%) were the most frequently observed symptoms. Ninety percent (n=230) of the patients required no hospital admission. The results show that 16.3% received anti-viral treatment, mainly Remdesivir. This study will help in assessing the COVID-19 patient’s response to different treatment strategies. It will also provide an insight into the psychological impact of COVID-19.
Conclusion: This study showed encouraging data regarding the disease characteristics of COVID-19 observed in the population.
4D Printed Multifunctional Composites with Cooling‐Rate Mediated Tunable Shape Morphing
Authors: Roach Devin J. , Sun Xiaohao , Peng Xirui , Demoly Frédéric , Zhou Kun , Qi Hang Jerry 
Published: July 2022

AbstractMultifunctional composites can accomplish multiple tasks such as shape morphing, sensing, and load bearing using a single structure. Smart materials including liquid crystal elastomers (LCE) and shape memory polymers (SMP) have long been used as the primary components of multifunctional composites because of their shape and property changes in response to external stimuli. However, LCEs can generate rapid and reversible shape changes but are soft and require a constant temperature to retain their deformed shape; SMPs have favorable mechanical properties but few can achieve reversible actuations. Moreover, both LCEs and SMPs have limited capability for tunable shape morphing. Multi‐material 3D printing of smart materials, also known as 4D printing, has seen significant advances enabling the fabrication of composites with novel functionality. In this work, 4D printing is leveraged to create an LCE‐SMP composite that can achieve not only rapid and reversible shape changes, but also cooling‐rate regulated tunable shape morphing. The latter is achieved by harnessing the distinct time‐dependent thermomechanical properties of LCEs and SMPs. Furthermore, the composite has a high stiffness at low temperature to support heavy loads. The LCE‐SMP composite hence offers a novel approach to achieve tunable shape morphing for future engineering applications.
Skin‐Like Transparent Sensor Sheet for Remote Healthcare Using Electroencephalography and Photoplethysmography
Authors: Araki Teppei , Yoshimoto Shusuke , Uemura Takafumi , Miyazaki Aiko , Kurihira Naoko , Kasai Yuko , Harada Yoshiko , Nezu Toshikazu , Iida Hirokazu , Sandbrook Junko , Izumi Shintaro , Sekitani Tsuyoshi 
Published: July 2022

AbstractThe growing demand for efficient home healthcare applications for brain disorder diagnostics and treatment has inspired the development of wearable devices for monitoring brain activity. However, flexible probes that have improved biocompatibility for wearable devices are markedly affected by noise due to contact interface issues. In this study, a stretchable (≤1500% strain) and transparent (over 85% transmittance) biocompatible electrode that steadily adheres to skin is developed to fabricate an imperceptible sheet‐type device that wirelessly records electroencephalograms (EEGs). The multifunctional characteristic of the electrode results from the double‐network structure in an elastomer/conductive additive blend on a metal‐nanowire‐based track, which contributed to EEG monitoring with ultralow noise (≈0.14 µV noise floor) and sleep‐stage classification. Furthermore, the optical transparency enabled camera‐based photoplethysmography to detect pulse waves and blood oxygen saturation without interfering with the light path, which is a crucial factor in realizing a remote healthcare system.
Gut Microbiota in Monozygotic Twins Discordant for Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Bolliri Carlotta , Fontana Alessandra , Cereda Emanuele , Barichella Michela , Cilia Roberto , Ferri Valentina , Caronni Serena , Calandrella Daniela , Morelli Lorenzo , Pezzoli Gianni 
Published: July 2022

Differences in gut microbiota between Parkinson's disease patients and controls seem to depend on multiple—frequently unmeasured—confounders. Monozygotic twins offer a unique model for controlling several factors responsible for interpersonal variation in gut microbiota. Fecal samples from 20 monozygotic twin pairs (n = 40) discordant for Parkinson's disease were studied (metagenomic shotgun analysis). Paired data analysis detected minimal differences in bacterial taxa abundance at species level (Bacteroides pectinophilus [p = 0.037], Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum [p = 0.050], and Bifidobacterium catenulatum [p = 0.025]) and in predicted metabolic pathways (primary bile acid biosynthesis [p = 0.037]). Additional studies are warranted to understand the role of gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. ANN NEUROL 2022;92:631–636
Tandem synthesis, cytotoxicity, and in silico study of new 1,3,4‐oxadiazoles as potential thymidylate synthase inhibitors
Authors: Sanad Sherif M. H. , Mekky Ahmed E. M. , Ahmed Ahmed A. M. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractA new series of pyrrole‐linked mono‐ and bis(1,3,4‐oxadiazole) hybrids, attached to various arene units, was prepared using a two‐step tandem protocol. Therefore, a benzohydrazide derivative was condensed with the appropriate aldehydes in ethanol at 80°C for 60–150 min to give the corresponding N‐(benzoylhydrazones). Without isolation, the previous intermediates underwent intramolecular oxidative cyclization in dimethyl sulfoxide at 180°C for 90–200 min in the presence of chloramine trihydrate to afford the target hybrids. The cytotoxicity of all hybrids was examined in vitro against the MCF‐7, HEPG2, and Caco2 cell lines. Arene‐linked hybrids 4i and 4j, attached to p‐nitro and p‐acetoxy units, were the most potent ones, with IC50 values ranging from 5.47 to 8.80 and 12.75 to 21.22 μM, respectively, when tested on the above cell lines. At the tested concentrations of 5 and 7.5 μM, hybrid 4i inhibited thymidylate synthase (TS) with the best inhibition percentages of 72.3 and 91.3, whereas hybrid 4j displayed comparable inhibitory activity to the reference pemetrexed. Hybrid 4j had inhibition percentages of 62.7 and 82.6, whereas pemetrexed had inhibition percentages of 59.2 and 80.2, respectively. The capability of hybrids 4i and 4j as potential TS inhibitors is supported by molecular docking studies, while SwissADME predicts their efficacy as drug‐like scaffolds.
Therapeutic management of arthritis: A review on structural and target‐based approaches
Authors: Mahore Anjali , Kamboj Payal , Kaleem Mohammad , Amir Mohammad 
Published: July 2022

AbstractInflammation is the natural defense mechanism against any external stimuli in the human body and it saves us from foreign entities that may alter our bodies' normal functioning. Any anomaly in this natural defense system leads to the development of different pathological conditions associated with chronic inflammation like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, atopy, asthma, allergic rhino‐conjunctivitis, coronary artery disease, cardiac arrhythmias, obesity, insulin resistance and type‐2 diabetes, depression, and aging. These disorders impair the quality of life of affected people in different ways. Among these, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are the most common chronic inflammation‐associated disorders. Different therapeutic strategies are already available for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, but all with pros and cons. Here, we discuss the emergence of several antiarthritic analogs developed by different researchers which could provide the basis for the evolution of newer therapeutic strategies with better activity and safety profiles.
Multivariate dynamic modeling for Bayesian forecasting of business revenue
Authors: Yanchenko Anna K. , Tierney Graham , Lawson Joseph , Hellmayr Christoph , Cron Andrew , West Mike 
Published: July 2022

AbstractForecasting enterprise‐wide revenue is critical to many companies and presents several challenges and opportunities for significant business impact. This case study is based on model developments to address these challenges for forecasting in a large‐scale retail company. Focused on multivariate revenue forecasting across collections of supermarkets and product categories, hierarchical dynamic models are natural: these are able to couple revenue streams in an integrated forecasting model, while allowing conditional decoupling to enable relevant and sensitive analysis together with scalable computation. Structured models exploit multi‐scale modeling to cascade information on price and promotion activities as predictors relevant across categories and groups of stores. With a context‐relevant focus on forecasting revenue 12 weeks ahead, the study highlights product categories that benefit from multi‐scale information, defines insights into when, how, and why multivariate models improve forecast accuracy, and shows how cross‐category dependencies can relate to promotion decisions in one category impacting others. Bayesian modeling developments underlying the case study are accessible in custom code for interested readers.