University Institute Research Articles

First person – Hung-Ju Chiang

ABSTRACT First Person is a series of interviews with the first authors of a selection of papers published in Disease Models & Mechanisms, helping researchers promote themselves alongside their papers. Hung-Ju Chiang is first author on ‘ Male germ cell-associated kinase is required for axoneme formation during ciliogenesis in zebrafish photoreceptors’, published in DMM. Hung-Ju is a Junior Research Fellow in the lab of Ichiro Masai at Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Japan, investigating the importance of cilia, a largely underappreciated organelle.

Domains of Food Insecurity Experiences Among University Students: The Case of a Public University and Access Institution in the United States

Domains of Food Insecurity Experiences Among University Students: The Case of a Public University and Access Institution in the United States

Testosterone concentrations and associated predictors in men with cystic fibrosis: A retrospective, single-center study

BackgroundMen with cystic fibrosis (CF) have sexual health concerns such as delayed puberty, infertility, and hypogonadism. The causes and prevalence of hypogonadism have not been well studied. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of a low testosterone concentration in men with CF. MethodsThis retrospective study was approved by the Emory University Institutional Review Board (IRB). Data were extracted from the electronic medical records of adult men with CF receiving care at the Emory Cystic Fibrosis Center. A total of 129 men with CF were followed at our center from 2016 to 2023. Of these individuals, 76 men with CF (58.9%) had at least one serum total testosterone measurement. Seven individuals were excluded from this study since they were currently receiving testosterone therapy, leaving a final sample size of 69 individuals for the analysis. Demographic data, serum testosterone concentrations, and other factors associated with low testosterone concentrations were collected. Low testosterone was defined as a value below 300 ng/dL. Regression analyses were used to determine factors associated with low testosterone levels. ResultsThe mean (± SD) age of the 69 eligible participants was 33.34 ± 10.98 years. The mean testosterone concentration was 421 ± 158.5 ng/dL with 27.54 percent of men with a testosterone value below 300 ng/dL. The mean hemoglobin level was 14.23 ± 2.18 g/dL. Testosterone levels were positively related to hemoglobin levels. Time of day of measurement and age were not associated with testosterone levels. ConclusionRoughly a quarter of men with CF demonstrated low testosterone in our sample. Low hemoglobin was associated with low testosterone levels in men with CF. Neither time of day nor age influenced testosterone concentrations in this sample.

Former a l’enseignement du FLE en Algerie, quels defis ?

The article examines the differences in the pre/professionalizing components of training programs between two university institutions (Sorbonne vs. Alger2), and evaluates how these programs influence the development of professional identity among French language graduates in Algeria. The results of our study are based on a survey of education professionals, as well as a comparison between two training offerings aimed at identifying shortcomings in training offerings in Algeria, which enables providing recommendations to strengthen the professionalization of French language undergraduate students in Algeria.

FOREST FOOD RESOURCES IN THE SAKHA REPUBLIC (YAKUTIA)

According to the “Ecosystem Services of Russia” Prototype of National Report (2016), data on terrestrial ecosystem resources in Russia are fragmented. The purpose of this work is to fill the existing gaps in the knowledge of the biodiversity of plant species and the sustainability of traditional food systems across the economic zones of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia). Materials and methods. Although the range of edible plants in Yakutia counts more than 100 species, only nine species of berries, eight species of mushrooms, and three species of other food plants were classified as resource-significant based on the consolidated archive materials of the IBPC at FRC YaSC SB RAS and the results of the field studies carried out in 2002-2019. This list of twenty species was tested via a socio-economic survey undertaken as part of the RISE project in 2021-2023. The study was conducted with the permission of the local biomedical ethics committee of the Medical Institute of the North-Eastern Federal University. Each participant signed an informed consent form to be surveyed, according to the World Medical Association’s Declaration of Helsinki, which regulates the research involving human subjects. The study embraced 400 rural households. Results. The data on biological stocks of resource-significant food species of Yakutia’s forests were presented based on the consolidated archive materials and results of the field studies undertaken by the IBPC at FRC YaSC SB RAS. Coupled research methods of natural and social sciences were used to produce the estimates of the economic reserves of berries and mushrooms across economic zones of the Sakha Republic (Yakutia) and the volumes of their harvesting by rural households and the population of the region in general. Conclusion. Social methods have proven reliable for studying biodiversity in a large-sized region. They allow to fill the gaps in the databases built on the results of field studies, particularly in terms of popularity and, accordingly, the prevalence of certain food species. The higher productivity and diversity of flora in Southern Yakutia were confirmed compared to the Arctic and other economic zones. Funding. The reported study was performed under the e-Asia Climate Call and funded by RFBR, project number 21-55-70104, and project VI.52.1.8. “Theoretical and applied aspects of investigation the diversity of the vegetation of Northern and Central Yakutia (East Siberia)” 0376-2016-0001; registration number АААА-А17-117020110056-0.

외국인 중급 유학생의 한국어 음소 인식 및 철자 능력 분석 연구

This study aimed to explored the relationship between basic Korean literacy skills and Korean language proficiency among international students who are learning Korean in a university language institute. Participants’ basic Korean literacy skills were measured by a set of tests including phonemic awareness and spelling. One hundred and eight international students who attended intermediate level Korean language classes participated in this study. The results showed that there was a significant correlation between their basic Korean literacy and Korean language proficiency. In particular, notable correlations with Korean language procificency were observed for basic vowels and the diphthongs ㅑ (ya) and ㅘ (wa), which are integral components of phonemic awareness and spelling tests conducted in a one-syllable (CV) structure. Furthermore, participants’ average accuracy in phonemic awareness test was only 59.92% and the average accuracy in spelling test was 72.48%. Considering that the test items were constructed with basic phonetic features of Korean language and orthography, their Korean literacy skills were found to be pretty limited, which were comparable to the native first-graders in Korea. Authors also compared the basic Korean literacy test scores between two groups who passes language course and who failed the course. The findings revealed that the basic literacy skills of the failed group was significantly lower than that of the passed group, indicating that phonemic awaeness and spelling abilities may affect Korean language proficiency and academic achievements. Authors discussed that Korean literacy of the foreign Korean language students are in needs of atttention among educators and researchers

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Adverse Drug Reactions Reporting among Health Care Workers at Devdaha Medical College and Research Institute, Bhaluhi, Rupandehi

Background: Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are unintended and noxious responses of a drug when used at normal doses in human beings. Increased incidence of ADRs is the challenge for the health care workers (HCWs) throughout the world. Therefore, we focused to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of ADRs among HCWs at tertiary care hospital, Devdaha. Methods: This study is a cross-sectional questionnaire based descriptive study. The validated questionnaire consists of questions that contains scores to categorize knowledge and attitude among HCWs. It also documented practice adopted by the HCWs at the hospital. Out of 50 HCWs approached, 26 gave consent to participate in the study. The collected data were entered in excel and expressed in percentage or frequency. Results: All HCWs, 26 (100%), have heard about pharmacovigilance. However, only 11 (42.31%) participants have adequate knowledge regarding ADRs. In which, 22 (84.62%) expressed desire to report ADRs that they encounter during their medical practice. But, they have not reported any ADRs till date. Moreover, only 12 (46.15%) participants have positive attitude towards ADRs reporting. In case of practice, nine (34.62%) participants mentioned that the main factor that hinders them to practice reporting of ADRs is unavailability of the ADRs reporting form in the institute. Almost all (21) HCWs wanted training in pharmacovigilance. Conclusion: All HCWs are fully aware of ADRs but most of them show inadequate knowledge regarding ADRs. Over half of them lack positive attitude towards ADRs reporting and the practice of ADRs reporting is not satisfactory. Further, proper training of pharmacovigilance and form to report ADRs reporting should be provided in the hospital.

Estimation of Stature from Head Length and Head Breadth in Undergraduate Medical Students: An Anthropometric Study

Background: Height is a significant parameter for growth and development of an individual. The aim of our study is to estimate stature from Head Length (HL) and Head Breadth (HB) in living and to derive the correlation and regression formulae between them. Methods: This is a descriptive study. A total of one hundred and ninety four medical students, presently studying at Devdaha Medical College and Research Institute, aged between eighteen and twenty four years were selected as the subjects for the present study. Two skull measurements namely head length and head breadth were taken by following standards- Anthropometric methods and technique and the Standing height was measured using a stadiometer. Results: The Regression equation for stature of males using head length is 153.02+0.75HL and using head breadth is 141.65+1.67HB. The regression equation for stature in females using head length and breadth are 100.837+3.081HL and 112.23+3.002HB respectively. Conclusion: From our study we conclude that there is a weak positive correlation between height and head length in both males and females. The data obtained may be useful in anthropological research, forensic, genetic research, as well as in medical clinical practice.

Knowledge on Uterine Prolapse among the Married Women in Banepa Municipality, Kavrepalanchowk

Background Uterine prolapse is a prevalent issue among women, particularly in low- and middle-income countries like Nepal, significantly impacting their quality of life. Despite its impact, there is a lack of comprehensive knowledge and awareness about this condition among the affected population, leading to delayed interventions and suboptimal healthcare-seeking behaviors. This study aimed to assess the knowledge about uterine prolapse among married women of reproductive age group in Banepa, Kavrepalanchowk.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in Banepa Municipality, Nepal, from July to September 2019 after obtaining ethical approval from the Chitwan Medical College Institutional Review Committee. Face-to-face interviews with a total of 251 married women of the reproductive age group were done using a semi-structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and multivariate logistic regression models were performed.ResultsThe study revealed that among all the respondents 86.3% had heard about uterine prolapse, with 42.5% demonstrating satisfactory knowledge. Religious affiliation, education, average monthly income of the family and prime source of knowledge on uterine prolapse were found to be significantly associated in bivariate logistic regression while taking them to the multivariate analysis education status (AOR=6.342, p=0.010) and religious affiliation (AOR=6.138, p=0.003) were found significantly influencing the knowledge level.Conclusions The study revealed significant knowledge gaps on uterine prolapse among married women in Banepa Municipality, Nepal, highlighting the imperative for targeted educational interventions. Socioeconomic factors and healthcare access influence awareness, emphasizing the need for culturally sensitive initiatives.

Investigación sobre calidad en educación superior en Chile: un estudio bibliométrico

The concept of quality in higher education is broad and complex. Achieving quality education is the foundation for sustainable development. One of the most commonly used standards for its evaluation are research activities on the subject. Bibliometric studies contribute to this by highlighting trends or underexplored aspects. Few studies analyze the state of scientific production on the quality of higher education in Chile. This study aims to describe the scientific output related to the quality of higher education in Chile. A longitudinal descriptive bibliometric analysis on 154 publications collected from Google Scholar between the years 2002 and 2021 was conducted. The results were the following: 1) The number of publications has increased over time; 2) Most of the publications are research studies; 3) The majority of publications in this field is mainly produced by a few authors affiliated with certain national university institutions; 4) Most of the publications focus on institutional aspects of quality management in higher education. It is concluded that the topic is relevant, with concentrated production oriented towards policies on the quality of higher education.

Work Environment as a Correlate of Teachers Psychological Wellbeing in Universities in Fako Division: The Case of the Chattered University Institute of Cameroon- CUIC

Purpose: This study investigates the correlation between the work environment and the psychological wellbeing of teachers within Universities in Cameroon: The Case of the Chattered University Institute of Cameroon-CUIC Drawing on theories such as Herzberg's Motivation-hygiene theory, Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, and the Affective Events Theory, the research explores how factors like classroom teaching space and office space availability influence the psychological wellbeing of educators. Materials and Methods: Using a quantitative-based cross-sectional design and purposive sampling, data were collected via a Likert scale questionnaire from 10 participants across seven departments. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed for data analysis. Findings: The findings reveal significant positive relationships between both the availability of classroom teaching space and office space with the psychological wellbeing of teachers. The study underscores the importance of a conducive work environment in enhancing teachers' psychological wellbeing. Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: It recommends measures for improving classroom and office space provisions to support teacher satisfaction and effectiveness. These findings contribute to the ongoing discourse on the role of the work environment in promoting teacher wellbeing and, by extension, student learning outcomes.

Growth and Yield of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) as Influenced by Irrigation Methods and Nano Fertilizers

Background: Globally rice is cultivated under lowland condition. Increasing water scarcity and imbalanced fertilizer application affects the productivity of rice. Effective as well as efficient irrigation method and proper nutrient management enhance the growth and yield of rice besides increasing the input use efficiency. Methods: A field experiment was carried in Agricultural College and Research Institute at Madurai during Kharif season 2022. Design executed was split plot with three main and seven sub plots. Irrigation methods was assigned to main plot and nutrient management to sub plot. Result: The experiment result revealed that adopting alternate wetting and drying irrigation method coupled with combination of 50 percent N and K given as conventional fertilizer + foliar spray of Nano N and K had significant impact on growth attributes, physiological characters and yield beside with limited use of inputs.

Pengaruh Motivasi dan Lingkungan Kerja terhadap Kinerja Pegawai Politeknik Keuangan Negara STAN

The STAN State Financial Polytechnic is an official university institution within the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia that is responsible to the Minister of Finance through the Financial Education and Training Agency (BPPK) of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia. This study aims to determine the influence of Motivation and Work Environment on the Performance of STAN State Financial Polytechnic Employees. The employee population in this study is 261 employees. The sample used in this study was 78 employees who used the purposive sampling technique with criteria, namely Non-State Employees (PPNPN) who had a working period of more than 1 year. Data collection techniques through google form questionnaires. The research methods that will be used are validity tests, reliability tests, normality tests, multicollinearity tests, heteroscedasticity tests, linearity tests, multiple linear regression tests, t tests and F tests and determination coefficient tests. The results of this study show that partially motivation has a positive and significant effect on employee performance. Partially, the work environment has a positive and significant effect on employee performance. And simultaneously motivation and work environment have a positive and significant effect on employee performance.

Practical training of highly qualified personnel is one of the main components of scientifi c support for animal husbandry of Russia

The purpose of the work was to provide an analysis of the practical training of highly qualifi ed personnel as one of the main components of scientific support for animal husbandry in Russia. Some issues of increasing the efficiency of scientific support for the agro-industrial complex of our country, especially animal husbandry have been discussed in the article. The authors note that the productive force of the livestock economy of the Russian Federation is highly qualified personnel selected for training in secondary specialized and higher educational institutions due to their interest in obtaining qualifications in the field of livestock husbandry from school and further improving their practical training in colleges and universities. The main unresolved problem of the present time to improve the quality of training of students to acquire practical skills in working with animals is the lack of educational and experimental farms staff ed with groups of all types and breeds of animals with elements of feed production, feed making, feeding, mechanization, as well as processing of the resulting products. Educational and training farms of universities and experimental farms of research institutes are one of the effective and efficient opportunities not only for practical training of personnel, but also for scientists to carry out experimental research at a high scientific and methodological level. Thus, the targeted selection of future students to colleges and universities from school, under the order of heads of various categories of farms and tireless monitoring of the process of their education, especially practical training and retraining in educational institutions of universities and colleges, timely testing of residual knowledge in the disciplines necessary for further professional the graduate’s activities will contribute to the production of highly professional personnel and their effective work in production, in the educational or research process, as well as the acceleration of scientific support for animal husbandry in the Russian Federation.

Extraction method for superimposed coherent transition radiation using Fresnel reflection in a ring-type resonator

To generate terahertz pulses with a high peak power, a pulse train of coherent transition radiation (CTR) is superimposed by circulating it in a ring-type resonator at an L-band electron linear accelerator facility at the Kyoto University Institute for Integrated Radiation and Nuclear Science. By extracting the superimposed CTR pulses from the ring-type resonator via Fresnel reflection on a low-loss parallel substrate, we show that the cavity loss can be suppressed without being affected by the wavenumber of the CTR pulses. The power of the superimposed CTR pulse is increased to approximately four times that of a CTR generated by plane mirrors in the resonator at a wavenumber of 8.5cm−1, where the diffraction loss of the resonator is lower. Using shorter electron bunches to generate CTR pulses with higher wavenumbers increases the amplification factor caused by superposition and allows CTR pulses with a higher peak power to be generated.

A newly recorded genus of Noctuoidea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae, Xyleninae, Cosmiina) from Xizang, China

A new record genus for Xizang, the genus Ipimorpha Hübner, [1821] 1816, was discovered during a survey of the Lalu Wetland in Lhasa in 2021. This genus which has only two species in China including Ipimorpha retusa (Linnaeus, 1761) and Ipimorpha subtusa ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775), was first reported in Xizang. A detailed description of the adult morphology and external genitalia is given, together with pictures of the adults, photographs of the external genitalia, and information on their distribution in China and abroad. The specimens are preserved at the Institute of Plateau Ecology, Tibet Agricultural and Animal Husbandry University.

Molecular and genetics inquiry program using Drosophila eyes absent gene.

The aim of this study was to develop molecular genetics inquiry programs using the eyes absent gene of Drosophila melanogaster. The program was composed of various molecular genetics experiments, including mutation observation, cross-breeding, searching for genetic information in web databases, gDNA extraction, and PCR. Each experiment was designed to include a reasoning process, thus aligning the program closely with the structure of authentic scientific research. This program was also developed with a modular design to provide flexibility in its implementation. The program was implemented for middle school students affiliated with a university science education institute for the gifted, and surveys indicated that students had positive experiences with the program. Our findings suggest that the program provides students with a contextual understanding of how authentic research is conducted. Finally, we suggest ways to implement the program effectively.

Document Verification and Validation based on Blockchain Technology

Based on statistics provided by the Indian Ministry of Education, it is evident that approximately one million graduates enter the job market or pursue higher education each year. Some individuals will pursue further education at high schools or university institutions, while others will be equipped to seek employment opportunities. The students with performance records, transcripts ofgrades, diplomas, etc., will serve as a crucial point of reference for admission to new institutions or jobs when they have completed their studies. Schools include only the names of students and schools when creating various prizes or diplomas. Events that result in the graduation document being forged are frequently recognized since there is no effective anti-forge system. The blockchain-based digital document system would be suggested as a solution to the issue of document forgery. In this system, issuing digital documents is done in the manner listed below. Create an electronic version of a paper document and add it to the database, along with any relevant data. Meanwhile, it is necessary to determine the hash value of the electronic file. This hash value must then be appendedto the block within the chain system. To attach to the paper document, the system will generate a connected QR code and an inquiry string code. It will enable the demand unitto check the validity of the paper document using website searches or mobile phone scanning. The technology not only increases the legitimacy of various paper-based documents but also significantly lowers the chance of document loss because of the blockchain's changeable qualities. Keywords: Blockchain, Data Mining, Multi-cloud Data Security, Proxy Key Generation.

Effect of Different Planting Density in Cocoa (Theobroma cacao l.) on Leaf Macro and Micronutrient Levels Grown under Coconut Ecosystem

An experiment investigating the impact of different cocoa densities on leaf macro and micronutrient levels within a coconut ecosystem was conducted at the Coconut Farm of the Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. The study employed a Randomized Block Design (RBD) comprising eight treatments, each replicated three times. Notably, among the various spacing configurations, T1 (3m x 1.2m) exhibited the highest levels of leaf nitrogen (1.86%), phosphorus (0.084%), potassium (1.39%), and boron (91.33 ppm) content. This suggests that under Tamil Nadu conditions, high-density planting in the T1 treatment not only resulted in elevated nutrient levels but also correlated with a notable increase in revenue. These findings underscore the potential benefits of adopting high-density planting practices in cocoa cultivation within coconut ecosystems. Further research is warranted to explore the long-term implications of spacing configurations and nutrient interactions on crop productivity and profitability.

Temperature Control of the Self-Assembly Process of 4-Aminoquinoline Amphiphile: Selective Construction of Perforated Vesicles and Nanofibers, and Structural Restoration Capability.

Invited for the cover of this issue is the group of Yosuke Hisamatsu, Naoki Umezawa, and co-workers at Nagoya City University and Nagoya Institute of Technology. The image depicts the selective construction of perforated vesicles and nanofibers, influenced by the heating temperatures during the self-assembly process of the 4-aminoquinoline amphiphile. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/chem.202400134.