bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of Leadership Roles on Academic Performance: A Reflection on Student Council Officials in Public Secondary Schools in Kenya.
Authors: Rosemary Wahu Mbogo. Ferdinand Chemwende Wekesa; 
Published: May 2022

This study aimed at investigating the effect of leadership roles on the academic performance of student council officials in public secondary schools in Kajiado North Sub-county in Kenya. The study was descriptive in nature, adopting a descriptive survey design with a quantitative approach. Kajiado North Sub-County was purposefully selected for the study. Ten public secondary schools were, however, considered for the study in Kajiado North sub-County. A random selection of three (3) boys boarding schools, three (3) girls boarding, two (2) mixed day and boarding as well as two (2) mixed days were done. This study targeted the student council officials (prefects) in positions of leadership. Based on the twenty-nine public schools consisting of twelve (12) boarding schools and seventeen (17) day schools Principals and deputy principals were purposefully selected. The study used questionnaires with both open-ended questions and closed-ended questions ranked on a Likert scale. Data analysis was done using the SPSS program, applying both descriptive and inferential statistics. The authors found out that the roles student council officials play in school affect their character, which significantly raises their academic performance as depicted by (r=.023; p<.05). The study concluded that a significant relationship between the roles student council officials play and academic performance was statistical. In addition, roles played by student council officials enhance their commitment to academic performance (r=.014; p<.05).
The dead never die: An African traditional religious perspective
Authors: Osore Omufulukhani Esilaba Caleb 
Published: May 2022

This paper, therefore, analyses the concept of death, its meaning and significance, philosophy, cultural, and social aspects from an African perspective. The study applied narrative theory in order to make sense to the readers. For this matter, the object of study is the story itself. It focuses on how people or groups make logic of events and actions in their lives. This narrative theory addresses the vagueness, complexity and dynamism of a people, group or individuals. In the African Traditional Religion worldview, the narrative theory is used to tell the story of a particular group or culture. The author establishes that Africans still value death and life after it in the sphere of ancestry and that there is a close association between the living and the dead; hence the concept of ‘the dead never die’. Further, it was found that the African social and communal being has affected the relationship between the living and the ‘living dead’. Notably, death is treated with a lot of seriousness because Africans ‘never die’; instead, the living connects with the living dead for as long as they remember him. The living dead thus become a source of blessing or curse to the family according to how he lived and how he was buried.
The impact of training ministry coordinators and facilitators on their performance: An analysis of the training of theological education by extension
Authors: Kariuki Janeviolet W , Muhoho John 
Published: May 2022

The purpose of the study was to determine how the level of training of theological education by extension (TEE) coordinators/facilitators affect its performance in the Anglican church of Kenya. The study adopted 360- degree feedback by Ward (1995), social learning theory by Albert Bandura (1977) and the theory by Maslow’s (1954). A survey was done and inferential statistics were obtained using SPSP. The respondents were 4 people from the sampled 10 dioceses out of the 32 dioceses in the A.C.K. The researcher adopted stratified simple random sampling technique which was most appropriate for the intended purpose of the research. The study conclude that it was evident from the respondents that, although training has a great impact on the performance of the T.E.E department and the organization as a whole, most of the T.E.E coordinators are not trained on T.E.E delivery skills, Majority of the respondents asserted that there is an assumption that the theological training attained by coordinators is adequate for them to coordinate T.E.E. The study recommended that the A.C.K should consider organizing training programme on TE.E delivery skills for the T.E.E coordinators. The purpose of training is basically to improve knowledge and skills and change attitudes at work as the coordinators run the T.E.E programme.
Too Few Black Male Educators
Authors: Jeter Floyd , Melendez John 
Published: May 2022

In the United States, schools and universities have too few Black male teachers. Although many factors contribute to this significant problem, one primary factor is the existing lack of Black male educators to serve as role models for Black male students. This literature review captures information from peer-reviewed research, public scholarship sources, and empathy interviews. The purpose of this literature review was to understand the reasons why so few Black males are successful in school and why there are so few Black male students pursuing careers in education. Based on the literature review, the following themes were identified: a lack of financial resources, a lack of a sense of belonging, a lack of role models and mentors, and institutional racism. Colleges need to consider these issues and determine ways to support Black male students in school and encourage them to pursue a career in education. Increasing the number of Black male educators is one central way to increase opportunities among Black students. To change this narrative, one needs to acknowledge the deficit of representation is due to the system itself. Black males are not lacking in achievement. American schools are exclusive and racist in how they provide opportunities for Black males.
Improved retinal fundus image quality with hybrid image filter and enhanced contrast limited adaptive histogram equalization
Authors: Banupriya V , Kalaivani A 
Published: May 2022

Retinal fundus image preprocessing has contributed extensively to medical image analysis and retrieval of appropriate images. The acquired retinal images are usually messy and come from different sources. They need to be standardized and cleaned up. Retinal image preprocessing enables the improvement of retinal image quality and enhances the image features that are required for processing. The success of the retinal image diagnosis for early prediction of Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) depends on the reliability of preprocessing. The automatic preprocessing of color retinal fundus images without affecting the image quality is still challenging. Retinal images often have issues such as low contrast intensity, uneven light intensity, blurring, noise disturbances, sensor system that lack of focus, low contrast, irregular shapes with high variability, object movement, ill-defined boundaries, heterogeneous pixel intensities and the annotation of medical images to support diagnosis. In this work, issues such as noisy/ill in defined boundaries, uneven light intensity, low contrast, and blurring of images in the retinal fundus images are addressed with the proposed method. The results of the proposed method are reliable, contrast enhanced, edge preserved preprocessed images for given color input images.
The use of simulation-based education in cancer care: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Silva Amina , Galica Jacqueline , Woo Kevin , Ross-White Amanda , Luctkar-Flude Marian 
Published: May 2022

Abstract
Background
Simulation-based education can be an effective strategy to educate nurses and physicians across the continuum of cancer care. However, there is still a lack of studies collating and synthesizing the literature around the types, functionalities and delivery systems of simulation-based education to educate different professional groups about cancer care.
Aim
To collate and synthesize the literature on how simulation has been used to educate nurses and physicians about cancer care.
Methods
Scoping review methodology according to the Joanna Briggs Institute framework. Published literature is going to be searched through Medline (OVID), CINAHL, EMBASE and PsycINFO. Unpublished literature will be searched through ResearchGate, OpenGrey and open access theses and dissertations. Articles will be considered if the population is nurses (including nurse practitioners) and/or physicians, if they use any type of simulation as an educational strategy as the concept of interest, and if the context is cancer care. This review will consider experimental, quasi-experimental, observational, quantitative and qualitative studies designs, text and opinion papers and unpublished literature.
Expected results
Results from this scoping review will generate a solid underpinning for nursing and medical community to empower evidenced innovation through the further development of simulation-based educational interventions.
ДІАГНОСТИКА ДОХОДНОЇ ЧАСТИНИ ПЕНСІЙНОГО ФОНДУ УКРАЇНИ МЕТОДОМ МАТЕМАТИЧНОГО МОДЕЛЮВАННЯ
Authors: Васечко Людмила , Глушак Оксана , Семеняка Світлана , Рамський Андрій , Нестерова Олена 
Published: May 2022

У статті аналізуються проблеми вітчизняної системи державного пенсійного страхування. Зокрема, на прикладі Пенсійного фонду України (ПФУ), методом математичного моделювання досліджується вплив певних макроекономічних, демографічних та фінансово-економічних чинників на формування доходної частини бюджету ПФУ. Встановлено, що в якості визначальних параметрів, змінам яких має приділятися особлива державна увага при прогнозуванні доходної частини Пенсійного фонду України, виступають такі ендогенні показники: динаміка середньомісячної заробітної плати та рівень інфляції (макроекономічні показники), розмір єдиного страхового внеску, що розподілений на загальнообов’язкове державне пенсійне страхування (фінансово-економічний показник), чисельність зайнятого населення (демографічний показник). Здійснено перевірку наявності мультиколінеарності між обраними факторними змінними за допомогою тесту Фаррара-Глобера. Доведено, що оскільки між факторними змінними немає високого ступня кореляції, то етап параметризації доцільно здійснити за допомогою методу найменших квадратів (МНК). На базі побудованої економетричної моделі множинної регресії було встановлено, що при збереженні середнього розміру заробітної плати темп росту доходної частини бюджету Пенсійного фонду України буде становити 0,41 з урахуванням синергетичної дії інших факторів, що розглядаються (темпу росту величини єдиного внеску, темпу зростання кількості зайнятого населення, рівня інфляції). При збереженні тарифів страхових внесків для роботодавців у фонди загальнообов’язкового державного соціального страхування України темп зростання доходної частини бюджету Пенсійного фонду України буде становити 0,73 з урахуванням синергетичної дії інших факторів, що розглядаються (темпу росту середньомісячної заробітної плати, темпу зростання кількості зайнятого населення, рівня інфляції). При збереженні кількості зайнятого населення темп росту доходної частина бюджету Пенсійного фонду України становить 0,86 з урахуванням синергетичної дії інших факторів, що розглядаються (темпу росту середньомісячної заробітної плати, темпу росту величини єдиного внеску, рівня інфляції).
Socioeconomic efficiency of the Araguaia River Valley – Goiás: a deterministic frontier and Malmquist index approach
Authors: Araújo Rildo Vieira , Espejo Robert Armando , Oliveira Michel Angelo Constantino de , Moraes Paula Martin , Martins Romildo Camargo , Ribeiro Ana Cristina Almeida , Herrera Gabriel Paes , Lira Francisco Sousa , Nogueira Micaella Lima , Barcelos Sheyla Thays Vieira , Abreu Urbano Gomes Pinto , Taveira José Carlos , Costa Reginaldo Brito da 
Published: May 2022

The present study aimed to evaluate socioeconomic efficiency in 41 Brazilian municipalities in the years 2014 and 2016 in the area comprised by the Araguaia River Valley, in the Central-West, Goiás state, Brazil. We used the data envelopment analysis and Malmquist index methods to estimate municipality efficiency and its intertemporal variation. In the frontier model, average income, per capita GDP, and average agricultural income were used as input, and for outputs, the following Municipality Performance Indexes: MPI-Work, MPI-Formal Work, MPI-per capita GDP, and MPI-Agriculture. Results obtained showed a desirable socioeconomic efficiency advance in municipalities, related to a period when agriculture impacted positively on indexes of productivity, per capita GDP, population's average gains, and municipal development index (MPI), with average efficiency in 2014 at 0.92 and 0.93 in 2016. The number of municipalities for each sample that obtained Malmquist index with Mₒ> 1 progress was higher than that with regression (Mₒ <1). Results are relevant considering the novelty in the analysis and show, in the period studied, the productivity and efficiency dynamics in municipalities as for inclusive and sustainable economic and social growth of a region so important in Brazil's Central-West context, and can aid effectively public policies for the Araguaia River Valley, in the state of Goiás, Brazil.
Fontes indutoras de inovação nas cervejarias especiais da região metropolitana de Belo Horizonte (MG)
Authors: Carvalho João Francisco Sarno , Carvalho Giovani Brandão Mafra de , Silva Sheldon William , Oliveira João Leandro Cássio de , Sampaio Daniel Fernandes 
Published: May 2022

Este trabalho procurou identificar as fontes indutoras das inovações nas cervejarias especiais da região metropolitana de Belo Horizonte. Para galgar o objetivo proposto, esse artigo serviu-se de pesquisa qualitativa-descritiva com pesquisa bibliográfica, revisão de literatura, emprego de roteiro semiestruturado para entrevistas nas visitas às cervejarias e com análise de conteúdo para o processo de sistematização dos dados encontrados. Os dados encontrados permitiram verificar que ocorrem inovações incrementais e radicais nas cervejarias visitadas e que podemos classificá-las em quatro tipos distintos: produto, processo, posição e paradigma. Como fonte indutora da inovação identificou-se papel da ciência e da tecnologia, apropriabilidade, oportunidades tecnológicas em especial as de base produtiva, cumulatividade e demanda, participação em redes colaborativas. Entretanto, as fontes indutoras de inovação são diferentes nas cervejarias, uma vez que, as cervejarias consolidadas e maiores têm maior acesso à mão-de-obra qualificada, recursos financeiros e tecnologias, alcançando uma quantidade maior de fontes indutoras de inovação.
Novel Multiferroic‐Like Nanocomposite with High Pressure‐Modulated Magnetic and Electric Properties
Authors: Song Chunrui , Xu Wei , Liedienov Nikita , Fesych Igor , Kulagin Roman , Beygelzimer Yan , Zhang Xin , Han Yonghao , Li Quanjun , Liu Bingbing , Pashchenko Aleksey , Levchenko Georgiy 
Published: May 2022

AbstractIn this work, a novel multiferroic‐like nanocomposite is designed and obtained using the high‐pressure torsion (HPT) method. The crystal structure, phase composition, morphology, ferromagnetic (FM), and ferroelectric (FE) properties of the initial powders and ferroelectric/ferromagnetic nanocomposites are studied comprehensively. The initial powders and their composite show the perovskite and spinel crystalline phases for the FE and FM fractions, respectively. After HPT, the particle sizes of the initial powders are decreased significantly. It is shown that the novel nanocomposite consists of exchange‐interacting FE and FM phases and demonstrates improved magnetic and electrical properties in low fields at room temperature. A giant increase in residual polarization with an increase in external high‐pressure is found in new composite. The obtained results make it possible to consider the novel nanocomposite as a new functional material for its use both in electronic devices for monitoring ultra‐high‐pressure and in integrated circuits of high‐speed computing nanosystems with low switching energy. The HPT method is a promising method for obtaining new heterophase nanosystems.
Preferential Location of Dopants in the Amorphous Phase of Oriented Regioregular Poly(3‐hexylthiophene‐2,5‐diyl) Films Helps Reach Charge Conductivities of 3000 S cm−1
Authors: Zhong Yuhan , Untilova Viktoriia , Muller Dominique , Guchait Shubhradip , Kiefer Céline , Herrmann Laurent , Zimmermann Nicolas , Brosset Marion , Heiser Thomas , Brinkmann Martin 
Published: May 2022

AbstractDoping polymer semiconductors is a central topic in plastic electronics and especially in the design of novel thermoelectric (TE) materials. In this contribution, it has been demonstrated that doping of oriented semicrystalline P3HT thin films with the dopant tris(4‐bromophenyl)ammoniumyl hexachloroantimonate), known as magic blue (MB), helps reach charge conductivities of 3000 S cm−1 and TE power factors of 170 ± 30 μW mK−2 along the polymer chain direction. A combination of transmission electron microscopy, polarized optical absorption spectroscopy, Rutherford backscattering, and TE property measurements helps clarify the conditions necessary to achieve such high charge conductivities. A comparative study with different dopants demonstrates that the doping mechanism is intimately related to the semicrystalline structure of the polymer and whether crystalline, amorphous or both phases are doped. The highest charge mobilities are observed when the dopant MB is preferentially located in the amorphous phase of P3HT, leaving the structure of P3HT nanocrystals almost unaltered. In this case, the P3HT nanocrystals are doped from their interface with the surrounding amorphous phase. These results indicate that doping preferentially the amorphous phase of semicrystalline polymer semiconductors is an effective strategy to reduce polaron localization, enhance charge mobilities, and improve TE power factors.
Unveiling the Stress‐Buffering Mechanism of Deep Lithiated Ag Nanowires: A Polymer Segmental Motion Strategy toward Ultra‐Robust Li Metal Anodes
Authors: Li Shaowen , Zhao Ting , Wang Ke , Sun Changchun , Jia Wenqi , Zhang Min , Wang Helin , Shao Ahu , Ma Yue 
Published: May 2022

AbstractThe severe volume expansion and uncontrolled mechanical stress restrict the high‐areal‐capacity Li storage in the alloy‐type or metallic anodes. Hitherto, most of the mitigation coating strategies are still based on the “trial‐and‐error” attempts, without the quantitative elucidation of the stress‐relaxation mechanism. This article herein constructs a prototypical coating model based on the Si‐O bonding, with the virtual and experimental screening of various structural parameters (for instance, the thickness, elasticity and cross‐linking density), for the deep lithiation of the Ag nanowires (AgNWs) framework. The operando X‐ray diffraction analysis and density functional theory calculations show that γ2(Li10Ag3) exhibits the highest Li affinity to induce the piled‐up deposits till 10 mA h cm–2; while the molecular dynamics simulations depict the optimal stress‐buffering pattern of the segmental motion in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coating layer. As pairing the integrated anode of the AgNWs@PDMS slurries that casted on the AlOx modified polyethylene separator with the NMC‐811 cathode (12.5 mg cm–2), the constructed single‐layer pouch cell can balance the robust cyclability even at the mechanical deformations. This study demonstrates a tentative inverse design strategy to realize the stress‐buffering purpose upon the priori defining of the structural properties.
Achievements and Challenges of Graphene Chemical Vapor Deposition Growth
Authors: Liu Fengning , Li Pai , An Hao , Peng Peng , McLean Ben , Ding Feng 
Published: May 2022

AbstractGraphene, since the first successful exfoliation of graphite, has continuously attracted attention due to its remarkable properties and applications. Recently, the research focus on graphene synthesis has been directed to the controllable synthesis of large‐area and high‐quality graphene. In the last decade, there has been great progress in the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) growth of graphene. Theoretical investigations have led to an enhanced understanding of puzzles on hydrocarbon species stability, key reaction pathways, the role of hydrogen gas, the morphology of graphene islands, and the alignment of graphene on substrates. Experimentally, high‐quality graphene is epitaxially grown on both insulating and metal substrates. Progress has also been reported on low‐temperature graphene growth and on controlling the thickness and stacking of graphene layers. In this review, the authors summarize the previous theoretical and experimental studies on graphene CVD growth and discuss the future challenges on the growth of graphene i) on insulating substrates, ii) at low temperature, iii) with controllable thickness, and iv) with selected stacking twist angles. The authors assert that the key to the continuous advancement of graphene growth is the synergy of experimental and theoretical investigations.
Supramolecular Detoxification of Macromolecular Biotoxin through the Complexation by a Large‐Sized Macrocycle
Authors: Zhao Liang , Chen Junyi , Tian Long , Zhang Yahan , Chen Longming , Du Xinbei , Ma Mengke , Li Jian , Meng Qingbin , Li Chunju 
Published: May 2022

AbstractBiotoxins are diverse, complex, and hypertoxic, ultimately serving as grave and lasting menaces to humanity. Here, it is aimed to introduce a new detoxification methodology for macromolecular biotoxin through complexation by a very large macrocycle. A 25‐mer peptide isolated from Lycosa erythrognatha spider venom (LyeTxI) is selected as the model macromolecular biotoxin. Quaterphen[4]arene, with a side length of ≈1.6 nm, has a sufficient cavity to bind LyeTxI. Hence, the water‐soluble derivative of Quaterphen[4]arene (H) is designed and synthesized. H exhibits an overall host–guest complexation toward LyeTxI, resulting in a considerably high association constant of (7.01 ± 0.18) × 107 m−1. This encapsulation of peptide is interesting as traditional macrocycles can only engulf the amino acid residues of peptides due to their limited cavity size. In vitro assay verifies that complexation by H inhibits the interactions of LyeTxI with cell membranes, thereby reducing its cytotoxicity, suppressing hemolysis, and decreasing the release of lactate dehydrogenase. Notably, the intravenous administration of H has a significant therapeutic effect on LyeTxI‐poisoned mice, alleviating inflammation and tissue damage, and markedly improving the survival rate from 10% to 80%. An efficient and potentially versatile approach is provided to detoxify macromolecular biotoxins, with giant macrocycle serving as an antidote.