Exploring American Indian Students’ Problem-Solving Propensity in the Context of Culturally Relevant STEM Topics

This study presents an out-of-school problem-solving lesson we designed for American Indian students using a culturally relevant STEM topic. The lesson was titled “Shelter Design for Severe Weather Conditions.” This shelter design lesson was developed based on an engineering design allowing us to integrate STEM topics within a traditional indigenous house-building context. This problem context was used to encourage students to apply their prior knowledge, experience, and community/cultural practice to solve problems. We implemented the lesson at a summer program on an American Indian reservation. Using the lesson, this study explores how American Indian students use cultural knowledge and experience to solve a STEM problem. We collected student data through pre- and post-STEM content knowledge tests, drawings and explanations of shelter models on the students’ group worksheets, and classroom observations. We used interpretive and inductive methods to analyze the data. This study demonstrates that our culturally relevant, STEM problem-solving lesson helped the American Indian students solve a complex, real-world problem. This study examines how students’ prior experiences and cultural knowledge affect their problem-solving strategies. Our findings have implications for further research on designing problem-solving lessons with culturally relevant STEM topics for students from historically marginalized populations

Biocompatible and Flexible Nanogenerators for Wearable and Implantable Mechano-Energy Harvester

Department of Materials Science EngineeringBiodegradable and wearable self-powered devices have represented the emerging technology necessary to new life pattern of human. Silk fibroin-based biodegradable composite-type nanogenerators are demonstrated with controllable lifetime for powering to the implantable devices. The 2D thin film- and 1D wire-type composites consist of the well-dispersed lead-free ferroelectric (BaTiO3, ZnSnO3, Bi0.5(Na0.82K0.18)0.5TiO3, and K0.5Na0.5Nb0.995Mn0.005O3) nanoparticles. Ag nanowires are used to enhance the dispersion of the nanoparticles and polyvinylpyrrolidone prevents Ag nanowires from connecting with each other. A maximum output voltages and current densities of 2.2 V and 0.12 µA/cm2 in the thin film, and 1.8 V and 0.1 µA/cm2 in the wire are obtained under the motion of a foot step for when 30 wt% KNN:Mn nanoparticles are well-dispersed in the solution because of the largest piezoelectric coupling figure of merit. The properties of water-soluble composite films are also controlled with the glycerol up to 48 hrs. And textile structures are desirable for wearable device that are stretchable and flexible. In this article, new textile-structured triboelectric nanogenerators are demonstrated for powering to the wearable devices. The tube structured triboelectric nanogenerator consists of PDMS tube, copper wire in center of device, and aluminum wrapped around the outer surface of tube, which are utilized to generate and harvest triboelectricity. We also fabricate the cable structured triboelectric nanogenerator, which is composed of several tube structured nanogenerator with series connection, resulting in 3 times higher output voltage than that of a tube structured nanogenerator. Additionally, textile- structured triboelectric nanogenerator is fabricated with weaving from numerous tube structured triboelectric nanogenerator with parallel connection to generate high output current. A maximum output voltages and currents of 50 V and 180 µA for the textile-structured nanogenerator are obtained under the vertical stress of pushing tester. Moreover, the relationship between output performance and the amount of deformation at stretchable loading in the stretchable textile structured triboelectric nanogenerator is also investigated. This work should play an important role in new direction to wearable electronics.ope

COVID-19 Perception, Knowledge, and Preventive Practice: Comparison between South Korea, Ethiopia, and Democratic Republic of Congo

In Africa, the first confirmed case of COVID-19 was reported in Egypt on February 14, 2020. Since then, the number of cases has continued to  increase with Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Nigeria, Sudan, Angola, Tanzania, Ghana, and Kenya identified as vulnerable  countries. The present study aimed to: 1) identify differences in trust level of COVID-19 diagnosis, recent healthcare utilization experiences, and COVID-19-related knowledge, information, and prevention practices in South Korea, Ethiopia, and DRC; and 2) identify factors influencing trust level in healthcare facilities regarding COVID-19 diagnosis. The present study was cross-sectional. The questionnaire survey was conducted between May 1–14, 2020 using Google forms, and 748 respondents were included in the final analysis. The data collected were analyzed using ANOVA, post - hoc test, and binary logistic regression analysis. South Korea showed higher rate of practice for COVID-19 prevention such as hand washing, mask wearing, and etc. than Ethiopia and DRC. The results showed significant differences with the trust level being 3.129 times higher in respondents from DRC than those from Ethiopia (aOR=3.129, 95% CI: [1.884-5.196], p<.000) and 29.137 times higher in respondents from South Korean than those from Ethiopia (aOR=29.137, 95% CI: [13.869-61.210], p<.000). Gender, age, number of family members, healthcare utilization experience, information, and practice were significant variables. Health education expansion for information and practice about COVID-19 in Ethiopia and DRC is necessary. Keywords: COVID-19, Pandemic, Ethiopia, DRC, South Korea, Online Survey En Afrique, le premier cas confirmé de COVID-19 a été signalé en Égypte le 14 février 2020. Depuis, le nombre de cas n'a cessé d'augmenter avec l'Éthiopie, la République démocratique du Congo (RDC), le Nigéria, le Soudan, l'Angola, La Tanzanie, le Ghana et le Kenya ont été identifiés comme pays vulnérables. La présente étude visait à: 1) identifier les différences de niveau de confiance dans le diagnostic du COVID-19, les expériences récentes d'utilisation des soins de santé et les connaissances, informations et pratiques de prévention liées au COVID-19 en Corée du Sud, en Éthiopie et en RDC; et 2) identifier les facteurs influençant le niveau de confiance dans les établissements de santé concernant le diagnostic du COVID-19. La présente étude était transversale. L'enquête par questionnaire a été menée du 1er au 14 mai 2020 à l'aide de formulaires Google, et 748 répondants ont été inclus dans l'analyse finale. Les données collectées ont été analysées en utilisant une analyse ANOVA, un test post-hoc et une analyse de régression logistique binaire. La Corée du Sud a montré un taux de pratique plus élevé pour la prévention du COVID-19, comme le lavage des mains, le port d'un masque, etc. que l'Éthiopie et la RDC. Les résultats ont montré des différences significatives, le niveau de confiance étant 3,129 fois plus élevé chez les répondants de RDC que chez ceux d'Éthiopie (aOR = 3,129, IC à 95%: [1,884-5,196], p <.000) et 29,137 fois plus élevé chez les répondants sud-coréens que ceux d'Éthiopie (aOR = 29,137, IC à 95%: [13,869-61,210], p <.000). Le sexe, l'âge, le nombre de membres de la famille, l'expérience d'utilisation des soins de santé, l'information et la pratique étaient des variables importantes. L'élargissement de l'éducation sanitaire pour l'information et la pratique du COVID-19 en Éthiopie et en RDC est nécessaire. Mots-clés: COVID-19, Pandémie, Éthiopie, RDC, Corée du Sud, Enquête en lign

Extensive Late-Acquired Incomplete Stent Apposition After Sirolimus-Eluting Stent Implantation

Late-acquired incomplete stent apposition (ISA) is frequently observed after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation. Most incidences of late-acquired ISA induced by positive vascular remodeling were of the focal type and occurred in a single vessel. We present an unusual case of a 45-year-old male subject diagnosed with late-acquired ISA that occurred in multiple vessels