Dinoflagellate cysts of the shallow marine Neogene succession in the Kalmthout well, northern Belgium

The dinoflagellate cyst associations from the Neogene succession in the Kalmthout well allow a correlation with biozonations and key dinocyst events from the North Sea area and the eastcoast of the USA. The recovered cyst assemblages suggest that an Early Miocene (late Aquitanian - early Burdigalian) age can be attributed to the Berchem Formation, while the Diest Formation is of Late Miocene (late Tortonian - Messinian) age. The age of the Kattendijk Formation remains unclear. The Lillo Formation in the Kalmthout well is of Pliocene age and possibly not younger than early Late Pliocene

Partisan Goals and Electoral Interests: Brazilian Economic Reforms under Lula

Almost everyone was surprised by the reforms proposed by the Lula administration in Brazil. Once in power, they proposed reforms they voted against when in opposition. We analyze a game in which political parties, with partisan and electoral interest, try to approve reforms that benefit the majority of population but face an opposition with substantial power to determine their fate. The Opposition’s behavior may lead to different equilibrium: approval of the reform after an electoral cycle, with the party initially against the reform making it their own; not approval, with the parties taking turn in power; not approval, with the party that originally proposed the reform remaining in power, but with the deterioration of the economic situationEconomic Reforms, Electoral Interest, Partisan Interest

Disused Neogene and Quaternary regional stages from Belgium: Bolderian, Houthalenian, Antwerpian, Diestian, Deurnian, Kasterlian, Kattendijkian, Scaldisian, Poederlian, Merksemian and Flandrian

An overview of eleven disused Neogene regional stages from Belgium is presented. Some of the regional stages were already brought into use in the nineteenth century, but are nowadays considered ill defined and of no use in the light of the modern stratigraphic concepts. An overview of their definition and history is given, together with the argumentation for the abandonment of each unit and its present status. The disused chronostratigraphic units belonged to the Miocene, the Pliocene and the Holocene series

Improving engagement of stroke survivors using desktop virtual Reality-Based serious games for upper limb rehabilitation: A multiple case study

Engagement with upper limb rehabilitation post-stroke can improve rehabilitation outcomes. Virtual Reality can be used to make rehabilitation more engaging. In this paper, we propose a multiple case study to determine: (1) whether game design principles (identified in an earlier study as being likely to engage) actually do engage, in practice, a sample of stroke survivors with a Desktop Virtual Reality-based Serious Game designed for upper limb rehabilitation; and (2) what game design factors support the existence of these principles in the game. In this study, we considered 15 principles: awareness , feedback , interactivity , flow , challenge , attention , interest , involvement , psychological absorption , motivation , effort , clear instructions , usability , purpose , and a first-person view . Four stroke survivors used, for a period of 12 weeks, a Virtual Reality-based upper limb rehabilitation system called the Neuromender Rehabilitation System. The stroke survivors were then asked how well each of the 15 principles was supported by the Neuromender Rehabilitation System and how much they felt each principle supported their engagement with the system. All the 15 tested principles had good or reasonable support from the participants as being engaging. Use of feedback was emphasised as an important design factor for supporting the design principles, but there was otherwise little agreement in important design factors among the participants. This indicates that more personalised experiences may be necessary for optimised engagement. The insight gained can be used to inform the design of a larger scale statistical study into what engages stroke survivors with Desktop Virtual Reality-based upper limb rehabilitation

PENDIDIKAN KESEHATAN DAN PEMBERDAYAAN MASYARAKAT DALAM PEMBERLAKUAN PEMBATASAN KEGIATAN MASYARAKAT SKALA MIKRO

Abstrak: Perkembangan kasus penularan COVID-19 sampai awal tahun 2021 masih tergolong tinggi, pemerintah telah melakukan berbagai kebijakan sebagai upaya pencegahan. Kebijakan PPKM skala mikro merupakan salah satu upaya preventif dan promotif yang di ambil pemerintah. Kebijakan ini harus di jalankan sampai tingkat desa, karena itu pemerintah Desa Sumbertebu dalam upaya mensukseskan program pemerintah tersebut juga akan menerapkan PPKM skala mikro. Untuk itu, pendidikan kesehatan dan pemberdayaan masyarakat dalam PPKM skala mikro ini penting untuk dilaksanakan. Tujuan kegiatan pengabdian masyarakat oleh STIKES Majapahit ini adalah untuk meningkatkan pengetahuan dan peran aktif masyarakat dalam pelaksanaan PPKM skala mikro. Metode yang digunakan dalam kegiatan ini yaitu motode PLA atau Participatory Learning and Action. Rangkaian kegiatan dalam pelaksanaannya meliputi, pendidikan kesehatan, pendampingan penerapan 3M, pembatasan mobilitas melalui zonasi RT dan penanganan dampak pandemic COVID-19. Waktu pelaksanaan kegiatan selama 3 bulan, dengan hasil adanya peningkatan pengetahuan masyarakat, yaitu hampir sebagian berpengetahuan cukup saat pretest (44%) menjadi sebagian besar berpengetahuan tinggi saat posttest (62%) dan terlaksananya PPKM skala mikro di Desa Sumbertebu.   Abstract: The development of cases of COVID-19 transmission until early 2021 is still relatively high, and the government has implemented various policies as prevention efforts. The micro-scale PPKM policy is one of the preventive and promotive efforts taken by the government. This policy must be implemented up to the village level; therefore, the Sumbertebu Village government, to make the government program success will also implement micro-scale PPKM. For this reason, it is essential to implement health education and community empowerment in micro-scale PPKM. The purpose of this community service activity by STIKES Majapahit is to increase knowledge and the community's active role in implementing micro-scale PPKM. The method used in this activity is PLA (Participatory Learning and Action). The series of activities in its implementation include health education, assistance in implementing 3M, restrictions on mobility through RT zoning, and handling the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The implementation time of the activity was 3 months, with the result that there was an increase in community knowledge, namely almost most of them were knowledgeable enough at the pretest (44%) to most were highly knowledgeable at the posttest (62%) and the implementation of micro-scale PPKM in Sumbertebu Village.  Abstrak: Perkembangan kasus penularan COVID-19 sampai awal tahun 2021 masih tergolong tinggi, pemerintah telah melakukan berbagai kebijakan sebagai upaya pencegahan. Kebijakan PPKM skala mikro merupakan salah satu upaya preventif dan promotif yang di ambil pemerintah. Kebijakan ini harus di jalankan sampai tingkat desa, karena itu pemerintah Desa Sumbertebu dalam upaya mensukseskan program pemerintah tersebut juga akan menerapkan PPKM skala mikro. Untuk itu, pendidikan kesehatan dan pemberdayaan masyarakat dalam PPKM skala mikro ini penting untuk dilaksanakan. Tujuan kegiatan pengabdian masyarakat oleh STIKES Majapahit ini adalah untuk meningkatkan pengetahuan dan peran aktif masyarakat dalam pelaksanaan PPKM skala mikro. Metode yang digunakan dalam kegiatan ini yaitu motode PLA atau Participatory Learning and Action. Rangkaian kegiatan dalam pelaksanaannya meliputi, pendidikan kesehatan, pendampingan penerapan 3M, pembatasan mobilitas melalui zonasi RT dan penanganan dampak pandemic COVID-19. Waktu pelaksanaan kegiatan selama 3 bulan, dengan hasil adanya peningkatan pengetahuan masyarakat, yaitu hampir sebagian berpengetahuan cukup saat pretest (44%) menjadi sebagian besar berpengetahuan tinggi saat posttest (62%) dan terlaksananya PPKM skala mikro di Desa Sumbertebu.Kata Kunci: COVID-19; Pemberdayaan Masyarakat; PPKM Skala MikroAbstract: The development of cases of COVID-19 transmission until early 2021 is still relatively high, and the government has implemented various policies as prevention efforts. The micro-scale PPKM policy is one of the preventive and promotive efforts taken by the government. This policy must be implemented up to the village level; therefore, the Sumbertebu Village government, to make the government program success will also implement micro-scale PPKM. For this reason, it is essential to implement health education and community empowerment in micro-scale PPKM. The purpose of this community service activity by STIKES Majapahit is to increase knowledge and the community's active role in implementing micro-scale PPKM. The method used in this activity is PLA (Participatory Learning and Action). The series of activities in its implementation include health education, assistance in implementing 3M, restrictions on mobility through RT zoning, and handling the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The implementation time of the activity was 3 months, with the result that there was an increase in community knowledge, namely almost most of them were knowledgeable enough at the pretest (44%) to most were highly knowledgeable at the posttest (62%) and the implementation of micro-scale PPKM in Sumbertebu Village. Keywords: Community Empowerment; COVID-19; Micro-Scale PPKM 

Catalysis of Proton Reduction by a [BO_4]-Bridged Dicobalt Glyoxime

We report the preparation of a dicobalt compound with two singly proton-bridged cobaloxime units linked by a central [BO_4] bridge. Reaction of a doubly proton-bridged cobaloxime complex with trimethyl borate afforded the compound in good yield. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies confirmed the bridging nature of the [BO_4] moiety. Using electrochemical methods, the dicobalt complex was found to be an electrocatalyst for proton reduction in acetonitrile solution. Notably, the overpotential for proton reduction (954 mV) was found to be higher than in the cases of two analogous single-site cobalt glyoximes under virtually identical conditions

Fluorescent Orthopalladated Complexes of 4-Aryliden-5(4H)-oxazolones from the Kaede Protein: Synthesis and Characterization

The goal of the work reported here was to amplify the fluorescent properties of 4-aryliden-5(4H)-oxazolones by suppression of the hula-twist non-radiative deactivation pathway. This aim was achieved by simultaneous bonding of a Pd center to the N atom of the heterocycle and the ortho carbon of the arylidene ring. Two different 4-((Z)-arylidene)-2-((E)-styryl)-5(4H)-oxazolones, the structures of which are closely related to the chromophore of the Kaede protein and substituted at the 2- and 4-positions of the arylidene ring (1a OMe; 1b F), were used as starting materials. Oxazolones 1a and 1b were reacted with Pd(OAc)2 to give the corresponding dinuclear orthometalated palladium derivates 2a and 2b by regioselective C-H activation of the ortho-position of the arylidene ring. Reaction of 2a (2b) with LiCl promoted the metathesis of the bridging carboxylate by chloride ligands to afford dinuclear 3a (3b). Mononuclear complexes containing the orthopalladated oxazolone and a variety of ancillary ligands (acetylacetonate (4a, 4b), hydroxyquinolinate (5a), aminoquinoline (6a), bipyridine (7a), phenanthroline (8a)) were prepared from 3a or 3b through metathesis of anionic ligands or substitution of neutral weakly bonded ligands. All species were fully characterized and the X-ray determination of the molecular structure of 7a was carried out. This structure has strongly distorted ligands due to intramolecular interactions. Fluorescence measurements showed an increase in the quantum yield (QY) by up to one order of magnitude on comparing the free oxazolone (QY < 1%) with the palladated oxazolone (QY = 12% for 6a). This fact shows that the coordination of the oxazolone to the palladium efficiently suppresses the hula-twist deactivation pathway

The epidemiology of gonorrhoea, chlamydial infection and syphilis in four African cities.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the epidemiology of gonorrhoea, chlamydial infection and syphilis in four cities in sub-Saharan Africa; two with a high prevalence of HIV infection (Kisumu, Kenya and Ndola, Zambia), and two with a relatively low HIV prevalence (Cotonou, Benin and Yaoundé, Cameroon). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study, using standardized methods, including a standardized questionnaire and standardized laboratory tests, in four cities in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: In each city, a random sample of about 2000 adults aged 15-49 years was taken. Consenting men and women were interviewed about their socio-demographic characteristics and their sexual behaviour, and were tested for HIV, syphilis, herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), gonorrhoea, chlamydial infection, and (women only) Trichomonas vaginalis infection. Risk factor analyses were carried out for chlamydial infection and syphilis seroreactivity. RESULTS: The prevalence of gonorrhoea ranged between 0% in men in Kisumu and 2.7% in women in Yaoundé. Men and women in Yaoundé had the highest prevalence of chlamydial infection (5.9 and 9.4%, respectively). In the other cities, the prevalence of chlamydial infection ranged between 1.3% in women in Cotonou and 4.5% in women in Kisumu. In Ndola, the prevalence of syphilis seroreactivity was over 10% in both men and women; it was around 6% in Yaoundé, 3-4% in Kisumu, and 1-2% in Cotonou. Chlamydial infection was associated with rate of partner change for both men and women, and with young age for women. At the population level, the prevalence of chlamydial infection correlated well with reported rates of partner change. Positive syphilis serology was associated with rate of partner change and with HSV-2 infection. The latter association could be due to biological interaction between syphilis and HSV-2 or to residual confounding by sexual behaviour. At the population level, there was no correlation between prevalence of syphilis seroreactivity and reported rates of partner change. CONCLUSION: Differences in prevalence of chlamydial infection could be explained by differences in reported sexual behaviour, but the variations in prevalence of syphilis seroreactivity remained unexplained. More research is needed to better understand the epidemiology of sexually transmitted infections in Africa