Search

Educators are tasked with developing new pedagogical, communication, and assessment strategies to ensure the delivery of quality instruction to students. The nexus that exists between student engagement and teaching methods has been a sustained and distinct focus for higher education institutions. However, the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has forced institutions to adjust to distinct functionalities. With the shift to fully online models, there exists an opportunity to engage both faculty and students in innovative teaching-learning assessments and processes. Despite the myriad of challenges that COVID-19 introduces, our paper presents effective strategies, namely, the pedagogical community's focus on opportunities for student ownership in the learning process, the chance to engage students using an innovative social media strategy discussion format, and the formulation of syllabi that incorporate interdisciplinary strategies. Models that actively engage both sides of the educational spectrum will be catalysts for reform. We propose an educational structure that fosters inclusivity in the context of five focused domains: preassessments, prospective socioeconomic gaps, pedagogy, psychological health of students and faculty, and pandemic assessment.

The proliferation of digital advancements and emerging technologies has led to robust digital transformation across all sectors of the economy. However, regulatory standards in the US have not advanced enough to accommodate artificial intelligence (AI) developments. This study examines the readiness of regulatory structures in the US by assessing the legislative landscape at the state level. We question whether a comparative analysis of state regulations reveals patterns that distinguish effective regulatory frameworks and how these patterns inform the development of successful legislation. We evaluate AI legislative bills in 50 states over four years (n=259) from 2019-2023 to identify commonalities in successful bills and notable disparities in unsuccessful bills. The results underscore the exigency to strengthen AI regulatory frameworks, foster greater transparency and accountability in AI innovation, and encourage cohesiveness among state governments. These findings underscore the need for nuanced regulatory structures to ensure AI systems' ethical and responsible development and deployment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research explores the veracity and reliability of existing approaches to conducting disparity studies by methodologically drawing on a 54-city, nine-firm analysis, with over 900 diverse businesses surveyed. Despite efforts to initiate systemic development opportunities for diverse businesses, disparity studies merely alert society to obstinate challenges that hinder access to government contracts for diverse businesses. The intended rationale for a disparity study is to provide a "strong basis on the evidence" to support race-conscious remedial tools in government procurement. They establish evidence of discrimination that affects businesses, however, the nature of their content and structural form limits their potential for economic reform. This inefficiency presents questions on methods used to procure these studies, implies criticism of the industry that produces these studies, and suggests questions on whether localities are remedying discriminatory practices. A large portion of disparity studies do not adequately address the historical context, challenges to inclusive procurement, or contextual understanding of the communities affected. While some studies have policy chapters that address these issues, this material is not standardized. The tendency towards isomorphism reaffirms past practices for these studies while ignoring the present, enervating challenges faced within these communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Beneath the surface of the acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) iceberg lies a hidden peril, obscured by the well-known cardiovascular risk factors that tip the iceberg. Before delving into the potential time bomb these risk factors represent, it is crucial to recognize the obscured danger lurking under the surface. What secrets does the STEMI iceberg hold? To unveil these mysteries, a closer look at the pathophysiology of STEMI is imperative. Inflammation, the catalyst of the STEMI cascade, sets off a chain reaction within the cardiovascular system. Surprisingly, the intricate interplay between red blood cells (RBC) and lymphocytes remains largely unexplored in previous research. Materials and methods: The study encompassed 163 patients diagnosed with STEMI. Utilizing linear and logistic regression, the lymphocyte-to-red blood cell ratio (LRR) was scrutinized as a potential predictive biomarker. Results: There was a statistically significant correlation between LRR and the prognosis of STEMI patients. Building upon this discovery, an innovative scoring system was proposed that integrates LRR as a crucial parameter. Conclusions: Uncovering novel predictive markers for both immediate and delayed complications in STEMI is paramount. These markers have the potential to revolutionize treatment strategies by tailoring them to individual risk profiles, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The celiac trunk represents an unpaired visceral branch of the abdominal aorta, which detaches at the level of the 12th cervical vertebra. It has a trajectory of 1-2 cm and a caliber of 5-8 mm, having relations with the parietal peritoneum, the vestibule of the omental bursa, the diaphragmatic lymph nodes and the diaphragmatic pillar muscles, the caudate lobe of the liver, the vertical portion of the small gastric curvature and the median arcuate ligament. The celiac trunk trifurcates into three terminal branches: the left gastric artery, the common hepatic artery and the splenic artery. Each of these branches has a specific trajectory and relations, vascularizing the corresponding organs. Given its importance as a source of vascularization, any anatomical variation is eloquent and necessary to be known for the diagnosis and treatment of conditions at this level. Methods: The selection of articles that were included in this paper was made using the PubMed database, where the following keywords were used: variation of celiac trunk, celiac trunk and laparoscopic surgery, clinical implications of celiac trunk, celiac trunk and oncologic extensive surgery. Entering the mentioned keywords generated an initial number of 5428 references. They were subjected to a filtering process: duplicates were removed, only free full-text articles were selected, and inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. Subsequently, the most appropriate articles for the topic of the paper were chosen, according to the Web of Science Impact Factor and suitability criteria, resulting in a final number of 28 articles. Literature review: These 28 articles were reviewed based on the criteria: anatomical variants in the branching of the celiac trunk, implications of anatomical variations of the celiac trunk in: laparoscopic surgery - treatment of median arcuate ligament syndrome, abdominal oncological surgery, liver transplant and interventional radiology. Conclusions: The anatomical variations of the celiac trunk have a significant impact on abdominal surgery, whether oncological or not, liver transplant, as well as minimally invasive radiological procedures. A correct knowledge of the up-mentioned variations significantly decreases the rate of intra- and post-interventional complications, accompanied by a smaller recovery time in the possible event of a complication, and also the general healing time following surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various professional studies have demonstrated that intelligent use of emotions provides for a good capacity of adaptation of the individual in the social environment. Emotional intelligence ensures the quality in interpersonal relations. It represents the ability to relate to people around us, to control our emotions and to direct them towards the achievement of personal goals. Research has shown that children who have learned to better control their emotions / sentiments turn out to be not only more adept from an emotional point of view, but also more competent in school and in everyday life. This study intends to prove to what extent emotional intelligence influences the school results of pupils from vocational schools (music, arts, sports). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

School expects all pupils to be motivated. But the truth is there is a big difference between ideal and reality. Some pupils are motivated from the beginning and stay that way all their life, other pupils lose their motivation along the way, some appear to never have been motivated and there is also a category with those who become motivated in time. A lot of questions spring from this situation. How come some pupils are motivated and some not? Why some pupils give up and in the end quit school? Is the saying "Education pays off" still valid, after moving generations? What solutions are there in order to support and motivate children in their education? In the research I have made with my students I have tried to find the reasons that provoke motivation or demotivation in learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rewards are used as methods of educating pupils / children in the educational system, in school and in the family. Their role is to encourage, enforce, stimulate and confirm the accepted behaviour in the social and cultural environment in which the pupil / child is activating. Reward is actually a compensation for a positive action or activity, for a desirable behaviour. It can be of a material or emotional nature. We reward somebody in order to determine him to continue to be good, to repeat a certain behaviour or action because they help him progress and develop from a personal and professional point of view. The research regarding the reward system was done together with the students from West University of Timisoara. Its purpose was to emphasise the way in which rewards influence the development of one's personality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Punishment is used in the educational system as a strategy to amend undesirable behaviour. The purpose is to determine the child to make a distinction between what is good and what is bad, between what is permitted and what is forbidden. By being punished the child is encouraged to amend his behaviour and find other ways in which to act, so that they will be accepted from a social and cultural point of view. By being punished, the child is forced to realize the connection between his behaviour and the consequences of his behaviour. The research done with the help of students from West University of Timisoara is trying to emphasize the positive or negative impact of punishment on the development of personality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the educational pathway students meet different types of teachers. Some are quickly forgotten, some are remembered because of their presence and just a small number have a decisive and positive effect on the students' lives. These are the model teachers - the standard every teacher should aspire to. There are teachers who have become models for students because they were admired for what they are and for what they stand. They are the teachers that establish lasting connections. These teachers were not just conveyors of information, but they managed to get to the hearts of their students, gaining their love and respect. The purpose of this study was to highlight the characteristics of the model teacher. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People generally tend to assign a word to every type of behaviour or attitude, for instance: beautiful, ugly, good, bad, well-behaved, naughty, etc. All of these are actually labels, either positive or negative ones that are addressed to us by those with whom we interact, and which we assume and even get to identify with them. On the other hand, 'others' expect us to act and behave according to these labels. According to the theory of labelling, when a particular person is assigned a particular label, in time they come to identify themselves with the label that has been attached to them. The research puts forth a qualitative approach that has been used with a target group of students from the West University of Timisoara. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CO2, N2, and N2/H2 radiofrequency plasma exposure was used for functionalization of poly(vinylidene fluoride) surface aiming the fibrinogen immobilization. Fibrinogen was immobilized onto poly(vinylidene fluoride) surface using both simple plasma activation and covalent coupling. The modified surfaces have been characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, near infrared–chemical imaging, atomic force microscopy, and wettability measurements, and the obtained materials were tested as supports for fibroblast cell cultures. The plasma type and the immobilization procedure have influenced the fibrinogen attachment onto the poly(vinylidene fluoride) surface, which was achieved mainly through amide bonds when using coupling agents. Covalent immobilization of fibrinogen onto poly(vinylidene fluoride) surface leads to a more stable protein-modified polymer surface. Non-cytotoxic plasma-based coating technology has the ability to covalently immobilize bioactive molecules for surface modification of some biomaterials that mainly could be achieved by the immobilization of proteins such as fibrinogen that triggers desirable cellular responses. The fibrinogen-modified poly(vinylidene fluoride) materials showed increased cell viability of fibroblasts. Cell viability was enhanced by plasma-activated fibrinogen coatings onto poly(vinylidene fluoride) surface, this being more significant if coating was linked further by a coupling reaction. Hence, they could be good candidates for biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cosmetics, toiletry and household cleaning products are often based on different types of polymeric gels with specific rheological behavior. Dynamic shear oscillation measurements were used for the monitoring of in situ polymerization process, and to determine the viscoelastic properties of the hydrogels based on polyacrylamide and acetone-formaldehyde resin. Both storage modulus G' and loss modulus G" were measured in real time during the gelation process carried out directly between the parallel plates of the rheometer. Correlation between rheological parameters and desired sensory properties were established. All the studied systems presented a gel-like behavior exhibiting different consistencies and degrees of structural stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decades, the synthetic polymers are used in large scale in many areas. These macromolecular substances are usually of petroleum origin and are not biodegradable. The oil resources are limited and the use of non-biodegradable polymers causing serious environmental problems. In addition, non-biodegradable polymers are not suitable for temporary use. The advantages of synthetic polymers are obvious, including adequate physical and mechanical properties and low cost price. Natural polymers are abundant, renewable and biodegradable. Disadvantages of natural polymers refer to the decreasing of physical and mechanical properties. Mixtures of synthetic polymers with natural polymers that contain hydrolytic or enzymatic labile links show the advantage of improving the physical and mechanical properties and are biodegradable. The aim of this paper is to prepare biocomposites by melt blending of the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with natural polymers, such that these mixtures will provide suitable properties required for use in the medical field, respecting the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high performance liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of two additives in o/w cosmetic formulations was developed by using HPLC and UV detection. A simple dilution procedure of the sample was required. The separation obtained for the two antioxidants was good under the chromatographic conditions used. Analysis was carried out on commercial samples, and satisfactory results were obtained for their recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New polymeric materials were prepared by mixing a biodegradable, water soluble synthetic polymer (polyethylene glycol-PEG) with a natural polymer with high degree of biocompatibility (type I collagen from bovine tendon). The blends were processed in the form of membranes by mixing aqueous solutions of components and drying of these mixtures. In vitro biocompatibility of polymer mixtures was evaluated by direct contact method, both qualitative methods (cytochemical staining cells with Giemsa) and quantitative methods (determination of cell viability in a culture of human dermal fibroblasts by MTT assay). Evaluation of these materials interaction with cell culture was also made by analyzing the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) by zymography. It was found that the mixture variant with the best degree of biocompatibility was PEG: Col 1:1 in combination ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By conducting surveys and questionnaires, we have aimed at identifying the needs of students enrolled in academic programs within the domain of Natural and Life Sciences who also study English as a Foreign Language, as well as English for Specific Purposes. The analysis also targets students' perceptions and attitude toward recently developed EFL material and prospected ESP textbook materials targeting "Ecological English", as well as "English for the Life Sciences". With this purpose in mind, we wish to make better use of the students' feedback and be able to adapt our teaching materials to correspond to the learners' genuine needs and interests. The qualitative analysis of the students' feedback indicates that they are largely interested in understanding ecological processes and communication at all levels in nature. We also include examples of activities devised for the English language textbook, in the hope of developing optimized educational models and with a view to sharing best practices in foreign language teaching/learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fever in infants in the first three months of life is no infrequent. Although fever is usually self limited, serious infections may be present, the most important of which are bacteremia and bacterial meningitis. At birth, the capacity of the immune system to defend against infectious pathogenus in not fully developed. The capacity increases during the early months and years of life, with this evolution most pronounced during the first two to three months. The transition to greater immunocompetence is not abrupt. Incidence of bacteremia in febrile infants less than 30 days of age was 6.5 percent, as compared with 2 percent in febrile infants of 31 to 60 days of age. The consequences of misdiagnosis can be grave. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]