bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Flexibility
Authors: Pessali-Marques Bárbara
Published: June 2021

Activities such as ballet and other dance and rhythmic and artistic gymnastics are often recommended in childhood and adolescence. Among the many required motor capabilities to perform the activities above is flexibility. However, there is a gap between flexibility in scientific production and the proper use of this knowledge in dance classrooms. One of the reasons might be due to dance culture, which regards its knowledge to empirical learning. Many dancers believe that to improve their flexibility, the longer and the more intense they stretch, the better. The excess in the flexibility training might cause acute or even chronic injuries that may preclude dancers' performance without proper treatment. Although the range of motion represents flexibility, understanding how flexibility improves requires understanding how the muscle-tendon unit behaves to the stretches. This chapter aims to assess the flexibility; improve this capability; and explore differences in training, stretch technique, and some other variables that may affect flexibility performance in dance.
Value Creation With Information-Based Products and Services
Authors: Dietz Roland , Posner Neil , Gunter Darrell W.
Published: June 2021

This chapter provides an overview of how scholarly publishing and information-based services have evolved over the last 20 years, and how these activities are fundamental to enabling scientific research and education to improve on the key performance indicators of speed, quality, contextualization, discoverability, enablement of creativity and innovation, and developing the talent pipeline. The authors delve into the exciting prospects for value creation using new business models and patterns of cooperation and co-innovation between stakeholders.
Standards Developments in Scholarly Publishing
Authors: Simon Virginie
Published: June 2021

Publication is an essential step in research and is the responsibility of all scientists. Scholarly publications should provide a comprehensive and detailed record of scientific discoveries. They affect not only the research community, but society at large. Scientists have a responsibility to ensure that their publications are complete, detailed, clear, honest, balanced, and avoid misleading, selective, or ambiguous statements. Journal editors are also responsible for ensuring the integrity of the research literature. Publishers are adapting their roles in response both to changing needs and to these new competing services that can include researchers, research institutes, universities. Aside from their traditional roles in supporting quality assurance and peer review, publishers participate in many initiatives and develop services, often in partnership with universities and other organisations, to support communication and develops standards. This chapter shows the importance of standards and presents some concrete examples of standards organizations and perpetual evolution.
Automating Quality Checks in the Publishing Process
Authors: McIntosh Leslie
Published: June 2021

While technology advances, the applications of those technologies within the scientific publishing ecosystem have lagged. There has never been a greater time to increase the speed and accuracy of scientific reporting. Researchers are under immense pressure to conduct rigorous science, and the publishing industry continues to act as a facilitator. Yet, inefficiencies stall the speed and prohibit the consistency of communicating research. This chapter proposes automating quality checks as a means to scale science. The author also explores the publishing process and potential places to use machine learning and natural language processing to enhance the quality—and thus rigor—of reporting scientific research.
Appendable-Block Blockchains
Authors: Michelin Regio A. , Castagna Lunardi Roben , Nunes Henry Cabral , Dedeoglu Volkan , Neu Charles V. , Zorzo Avelino Francisco , Kanhere Salil S.
Published: June 2021

Blockchain has emerged as a technology that can change the way people and systems interact, providing mechanisms that ensure integrity and ownership of the data produced without reliance on a trusted third-party. Appendable-block blockchain is a novel instantiation that suits for solutions that require a high transaction throughput. Appendable-block blockchains focus on data produced by nodes instead of a relation (transaction) between two entities. This new kind of blockchain can improve how data are stored and managed in distributed systems. This chapter introduces the notion of appendable-block blockchain and exemplifies its applicability in multiple practical domains. Additionally, the authors provide a discussion on the security aspects of this new blockchain. Finally, the chapter presents current issues and possible future directions for appendable-block blockchains.
Blockchain for Healthcare and Medical Systems
Authors: Kaddoura Sanaa , Grati Rima
Published: June 2021

Blockchain is one of the trendy technologies in the current era. All industries are merging blockchain with their production line to benefit from its features such as security and decentralized data. One of the main problems in the healthcare system is the lack of interoperability (i.e., data should be patient-centered and not institution-centered). Healthcare information systems, in the current state, cannot communicate. Each organization works within its boundaries and owns its data. To make this shift, many challenges should be solved such as data privacy, standards, scalability, and others. Blockchain can solve these problems by giving the patients control over their data; therefore, they can share it with any institution for a time period. It is expected that blockchain will improve healthcare data management. In this chapter, the authors study the opportunity of blockchain to leverage biomedical and healthcare applications and research. Blockchain also contributes to the medication manufacturing area.
Non-Mobile Software Modernization in Accordance With the Principles of Model-Driven Engineering
Authors: Favre Liliana Maria
Published: June 2021

Smartphones are at the core of new paradigms such as cloud computing, pervasive computing, and internet of things. Frequently, the development of mobile software requires adaptation of valuable and tested non-mobile software. In this context, most challenges are related to the diversity of platforms on the smartphones market and to the need of systematic and reusable processes with a high degree of automation that reduce time, cost, and risks. To face these challenges, this chapter presents an analysis of non-mobile software modernization through an integration of MDE (model-driven engineering) with cross-platform development. Two approaches are analyzed. One of them is a lightweight process that combines MDA (model-driven architecture) with traditional static and dynamic analysis techniques of reverse engineering. The other approach is based on ADM (architecture-driven modernization) standards. A scenario for the migration of C/C++ or Java software through the multiplatform Haxe language is described.
Design of an IoT-Based Quantity Controlled Pesticide Sprayer Using Plant Identification
Authors: Jacob Jerin Geo , Thomas Siji A. , Biju Bivin , John Richarld , R. Abhilash P.
Published: June 2021

This chapter discusses the design of a quantitative controlled pesticide sprayer and the development of an efficient algorithm for plant identification. The whole system is controlled using the raspberry pi and convolutional neural networks (CNN) algorithm for training the proposed model. Once the algorithm identifies the plant by processing the image, it is captured by using a pi camera, and it determines the pesticide and its dosage. The sensors will collect the information related to the plant condition such as humidity and surrounding temperature, which is simultaneously sent to the farmers/agriculture officers through the internet of things (IoT), for the purpose of live analysis, and they are stored using cloud services, making the system suitable for remote farming. The proposed algorithm is trained mainly for three types of plant leaves, which include tomato, brinjal, and chilly. The CNN algorithm scores accuracy of 97.2% with sensitivity and specificity of 0.94 and 0.95, respectively. The robot is intended to encourage the agriculturists for next-level farming to facilitate their work.
Strategic Management of the COVID-19 Crisis in Rural Tourism Settings
Authors: Vargas-Sánchez Alfonso
Published: June 2021

This chapter is intended to contribute to filling the gap in the scientific literature on crisis management in small and medium-sized rural tourism enterprises in the occasion of the COVID-19 pandemic. Taking as the object of this study the Spanish province of Huelva, and under a qualitative methodological approach, the research aim was threefold: the measures taken to alleviate the crisis, the lessons learnt during the period of coexistence with the pandemic, and the opportunities for the development of rural tourism in the post-viral scenario. The latter ones were related to key topics such as safety and hygiene, risk of rejection of tourism, destinations governance, marketing policies, compatibility between short-term emergency measures and long-term vision, creativity and innovation, and people-centred organizations. Finally, some practical implications were concluded on this strategic issue.
Public Health Risk Environment for Bulgarian SMEs (Guest Houses and Family Hotels) in the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Kiryakova-Dineva Teodora , Bozhkova Ruska
Published: June 2021

At a time of the global health pandemic, the most affected areas are economy and social life. Along with the practical limitations of travel, regarding personal security reasons and the objective risks for the environment, the world of tourism has changed. However, under the circumstances, some small accommodation units have managed to survive, like the Seamen between Scylla and Charybdis – the mythical situation. The purpose of this chapter is to delve into the public health risk environment for Bulgarian SMEs in tourism (guest houses and family hotels) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The extent of the analysis includes hotels and guest houses in the south-western part of Bulgaria that managed to keep operating despite the global pandemic situation.
Establishing Links Between Teacher Effectiveness Research and Research on Teacher Improvement
Authors: Kyriakides Leonidas , Charalambous Evi
Published: June 2021

This chapter draws on teacher effectiveness research (TER) and elaborates on factors associated with teacher effectiveness to make suggestions for professional development. The first part provides a critical review of TER in which the major findings of this field are studied. In the second part, taking into account the limitations of TER, the dynamic model of educational effectiveness is presented. The rationale and major assumptions of this model are outlined. Effectiveness factors operating at the teacher level and their measurement dimensions are presented, and the concept of grouping of factors is introduced. In the third part, the authors provide a summary of national and international studies that were conducted to test the validity of the dynamic model at the teacher level. This part is also concerned with empirical studies that revealed relationships among factors operating at the teacher level which helped the authors define specific stages of effective teaching. In the last part, implications for TER and research on teacher professional development are drawn.
Green Sukuk, Islamic Green Financing
Authors: Musari Khairunnisa
Published: June 2021

As an archipelago with various natural resources and high diversity, Indonesia has great potential to be influenced by the negative impacts of climate change. As part of a responsible and committed global community to realize a low carbon and climate-resilient in the future, many of the programs being undertaken by Indonesia to address climate change mitigation and adaption also deliver important social benefits. One of them is issuing Green Sukuk. To reflect the implementation of Green Sukuk as Islamic green financing, Indonesia can be a lesson learned. The Green Sukuk issuance marked Indonesia as the world's first country to issue a Sovereign Green Sukuk and another milestone as the first to issue Retail Green Sukuk. This initiative has brought Indonesia got some awards by the global community. Therefore, this chapter addresses key topics to Indonesia's Sovereign Green Sukuk as sustainable green financing by focusing on three issues: (1) Green Sukuk framework, (2) Green Sukuk projects, (3) Green Sukuk report.
Sustainability Tourism and Socio-Economic Development
Authors: Unurlu Cigdem
Published: June 2021

The main purpose of this study is to assess sustainable tourism theoretically and practically in a systematic point of view and to provide guidance for future plans and policies related to sustainable tourism. In accordance with this purpose, firstly, the concepts of sustainability, sustainable tourism, and socio-economic development have been discussed, and secondly, the purpose, the principles, and the tools of sustainable tourism were evaluated. Within the scope of sustainable tourism, carrying capacity, environmental impact assessment, and ecological footprint phenomenon were examined.
Green Marketing, Green Management, and Sustainability
Authors: Ayandibu Ayansola Olatunji , Akbar Khalida
Published: June 2021

Green branding marketing techniques have become a popular area of research; however, the use of 'green' terms confuses both businesses and customers. This has resulted in consumers becoming more suspicious about the validity of green marketing and green management practices. The objective of this chapter is to outline the concepts of green marketing and green management in detail to clearly demonstrate how they can effectively achieve their aims of ensuring environmental sustainability. An analysis of current extant literature will be explored, and successful green approaches will be used to develop a theoretical framework for green marketing, green management, and sustainability to foster a more climatic conditions-sustainable economy. The literature in this chapter indicated the need for understanding the impact of green marketing and green management on the sustainability of the financial services sector in order to provide recommendations that can direct funding more effectively towards climate-resilient activities and a more climatic conditions-sustainable economy.
Climate Change and Entrepreneurial Financing
Authors: Ayandibu Ayansola Olatunji , Vezi-Magigaba Makhosazana Faith
Published: June 2021

Entrepreneurs in emerging and developing economies face many challenges curtailing their ability to finance and grow their business ventures. Climate change provides new opportunities for entrepreneurs to gain access to finance and contribute toward more climate-resilient economies. The objective of this chapter is to outline the dimensions of entrepreneurial financing that are sensitive to levels of climate change with emphasis on the financial services sector's role in reacting to these changes. An analysis of current extant literature will be explored, and evidence supporting effective entrepreneurial financing will be used to develop a theoretical framework for climate change and entrepreneurial financing to foster a more climatic conditions-sustainable economy. The literature in this chapter indicated the need for establishing the impact of climate change on entrepreneurial financing in the financial services sector in order to provide recommendations that can direct funding more effectively towards climate-resilient activities and a more climatic conditions-sustainable economy.
Housing Insecurities and Homelessness Among Children and Unaccompanied Youth in Rural Appalachian Communities
Authors: Bender Sara , Bratton Imelda N.
Published: June 2021

Homelessness may have a profound impact on a child's physical, socio-emotional, and/or cognitive development. Cultural context may further exacerbate the impact of such circumstances. Past literature confirms that the Appalachian culture is distinct from mainstream America, suggesting that various interventions, including mental health treatment, may not be received similarly or have the same impact as they would in other communities. This chapter addresses how to support children and unaccompanied youth facing homelessness or housing insecurity within rural Appalachian communities. Existing research addresses the developmental consequences of homelessness; however, there is limited literature dedicated to understanding how the unique context of the Appalachian culture may affect these conditions. The aim of this chapter is to provide educators, counselors, and similar professionals with an overview regarding how to best support homeless children and unaccompanied youth within Appalachian communities.
Improving Career Decision-Making for High School Students Through a Web-Based Expert System
Authors: Asabere Nana Yaw , Amoako Eric
Published: June 2021

Globally, the right and appropriate selection of tertiary programmes by potential students in education corroborates every nation's development progress. In order to explore the effect of career counseling and development in high schools in Ghana with a focus on some selected senior high school (SHS) students, this paper utilized a quantitative (questionnaire) research instrument to corroborate the development a web-based expert system for tertiary programme selection. An analytical summary of questionnaire responses received from the selected SHS students showed that due to limited career assessment processes, SHS students in Accra, Ghana arbitrary select tertiary programmes without realizing how such selections can affect their future careers. In terms of user acceptance testing (UAT), 80% of the selected SHS students (100) found our proposed system to be very useful. Such a system will therefore solve and improve career guidance, counselling, and development problems of SHS students in Ghana.
A Big Data Text Coverless Information Hiding Based on Topic Distribution and TF-IDF
Authors: Qin Jiaohua , Zhou Zhuo , Tan Yun , Xiang Xuyu , He Zhibin
Published: June 2021

Coverless information hiding has become a hot topic in recent years. The existing steganalysis tools are invalidated due to coverless steganography without any modification to the carrier. However, for the text coverless has relatively low hiding capacity, this paper proposed a big data text coverless information hiding method based on LDA (latent Dirichlet allocation) topic distribution and keyword TF-IDF (term frequency-inverse document frequency). Firstly, the sender and receiver build codebook, including word segmentation, word frequency and TF-IDF features, LDA topic model clustering. The sender then shreds the secret information, converts it into keyword ID through the keywords-index table, and searches the text containing the secret information keywords. Secondly, the searched text is taken as the index tag according to the topic distribution and TF-IDF features. At the same time, random numbers are introduced to control the keyword order of secret information.
Applicability of Digital Learning Strategy “Start Playing the Guitar!” in Solfeg.io Music Education App
Authors: Kazaka Lauma , Vilde Ilze
Published: June 2021

The digitalisation of the music classroom has accelerated the development of learning tools that correspond to the mindset and lifestyle of digital generation. Current pedagogical approaches emphasize a diverse and multifunctional use of technology to study music theory, learn to play instruments, and create music on and offline. Solfeg.io music education app is designed according to principles of smart pedagogy that include criteria for a meaningful use of technology in the study process. The app has been developed to meet didactic, cognitive, socioemotional, and technical requirements that create a customizable, user-oriented experience in a pedagogically justified study environment. The digital learning strategy “Start playing the guitar!” (DLS) is designed for students without prior knowledge of playing the guitar. The purpose of the paper is to study applicability of DLS in learning the basics of playing the guitar. The paper contains an analysis of theoretical literature on a technology-enhanced pedagogical process, including the ideas of smart pedagogy and the basic didactic principles for developing digital education tools. The empirical study on the use of DLS includes pedagogical observation, respondent surveys, and analysis and interpretation of the obtained qualitative data.
Phenomenology and Sex Robots
Authors: Liberati Nicola
Published: June 2021

Engineering develops technologies that shape the way of relating to ourselves and others, and the last developments in robotics force us to focus on the effects of their introduction. New robots have been designed to be intimate and even potential sexual partners. Many studies work on the ethical implications of sex robots by providing a normative approach to ethically assess their introduction in the society. However, few works focus on the effects they have on the relations binding people in general, and even fewer works focus on these effects from a phenomenological perspective. This paper aims at analyzing how technologies shape the relationships from a phenomenological perspective by highlighting the process of the constitution of subjects in a love relationship. More specifically, this work shows what happens when a human being is in a love relationship while the partner uses sex robots through the analysis of texts by Husserl and Merleau-Ponty. In conclusion, this paper wants to provide a novel application of phenomenological concepts to intimate relationships with robots.
Student Teachers' Uncertainty Competence and Its Measurement
Authors: Martzog Philipp , Hoyer Svenja , Kuttner Simon
Published: June 2021

Uncertainty, here defined as an experienced information deficit regarding teacher authority, student knowledge etc., is a ubiquitous phenomenon in teachers' professional lives. Teacher education in Germany does however not explicitly prepare student teachers for uncertainty, and there is little conceptual clarity regarding competencies required to successfully cope with uncertainty in the teacher profession. Therefore, the authors first propose a new conceptual framework that defines teachers' uncertainty competence (UC) and, secondly, report on a new measurement approach that was developed to assess student teachers' UC in different educational settings. In a final step, the new approach was administered to 356 Waldorf and non-Waldorf student teachers in Germany to examine two core assumptions behind UC, namely its sensitivity to differences in context and educational experiences. Results lend preliminary support for these assumptions and are discussed with regard to their match with the new response concept and methodological considerations regarding its measurement.
The Effect of the Reflective Learning Model on Student Creative Thinking Skills at Al Majmaah University
Authors: Abu Warda Mona Hamid
Published: June 2021

This study aims to investigate the effect of a reflective learning model on students' creative thinking skills. The researcher employed an experimental method and used a one group pre-test and post-test design. The participants were 35 randomly selected college students enrolling in the 2018/2019 academic year, majoring in faculty of education. This study administered Torrance tests of creative thinking (TTCT), figural form B, and the creative activities questionnaire to measure participants' creative thinking skills. The skills involved fluency, originality, and flexibility. The results showed a significant difference (p < 0.001) between the pre-test (M = 30.95) and the post-test (M = 36.05). This suggests that the reflective learning model was statistically effective in improving students' creative thinking skills. Reflective learning is considered to be an appropriate learning method for faculty of education students in higher education.
LA DIPLOMAZIA PUBBLICA È IMPORTANTE? IL DIBATTITO SUI TEMI E GLI ATTORI DELLA DIPLOMAZIA PUBBLICA IMPEGNO DIPLOMATICO PUBBLICO
Authors: Poggiolini Ilaria
Published: June 2021

A seconda di come definiamo la diplomazia pubblica (PD), le sue radici possono essere fatte risalire al periodo tra le due guerre, agli anni '40, o più recentemente, agli anni '60 e all'era post guerra fredda. Attualmente, politici, diplomatici e studiosi sono sempre più attratti, interessati e coinvolti nella pratica e nella teoria di questo campo impegnativo e in rapidissimo sviluppo. L'accademia, così come il mondo della politica e della diplomazia, si stanno sforzando di capire da un lato, modellare e influenzare dall'altro, il flusso di impegno diplomatico pubblico che può lanciare e sostenere molteplici dialoghi con i pubblici stranieri in una strada a doppio senso senza precedenti, ma anche, inevitabilmente, permette al lato oscuro della disinformazione e della propaganda di trarre vantaggio da un ambiente diplomatico sempre più digitalizzato.
UN APPUNTO SU OAKESHOTT, TRA HEGEL E SCHMITT
Authors: Carrino Agostino
Published: June 2021

Forse non è un caso che alcuni autori, prima facie politicamente assai lontani da Oakeshott, come per esempio Chantal Mouffe, teorica del ‘populismo di sinistra’, abbiano valutato positivamente le argomentazioni di questo filosofo, sia pure nei limiti connessi all’apparente superamento di posizioni liberali e senza prendere in considerazione a sufficienza il fatto che il superamento del liberalismo, in Oakeshott, è un superamento dialettico, proprio nel senso della filosofia di Hegel.
Quel mondo diverso. Da immaginare, per cui battersi, che si può realizzare
Authors: Barca Fabrizio , Giovannini Enrico
Published: June 2021

Fabrizio Barca, statistico ed economista, ha insegnato in Università italiane e francesi ed è autore di saggi e volumi; oggi è coordinatore del Forum disuguaglianze e diversità; è stato dirigente di ricerca in banca d’italia (responsabile delle previsioni macroeconomiche, di indagini sulle imprese e di progetti di studio sugli assetti proprietari delle imprese) e capo dipartimento della politica pubblica per lo sviluppo nel Ministero dell’economia e delle Finanze.
Diabetic Gustatory Sweating
Authors: Sheetal S , Kumar Amith S
Published: June 2021

Gustatory sweating refers to facial sweating after ingestion of food or drink. Gustatory sweating may develop as a symptom of autonomic dysfunction in patients with diabetes. It is reported in long-standing diabetes mellitus with associated complications such as neuropathy and nephropathy. We hereby report the case of a man, with long-standing diabetes, with associated neuropathy, who developed this symptom during an episode of tight control in glycemic status.
Long-term Survivals, Toxicities and the Role of Chemotherapy in Early-Stage Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients Treated with Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy: A Retrospective Study with 15-Year Follow-up
Authors: Wang Lin , Miao Jingjing , Huang Huageng , Chen Boyu , Xiao Xiao , Zhu Manyi , Liang Yingshan , Xiao Weiwei , Huang Shaomin , Peng Yinglin , Deng Xiaowu , Lv Xing , Xia Weixiong , Xiang Yanqun , Guo Xiang , Han Fei , Zhao Chong
Published: June 2021

Purpose This study was aimed to investigate long-term survivals and toxicities of early-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in endemic area, evaluating the role of chemotherapy in stage II patients.Materials and Methods Totally 187 patients with newly diagnosed NPC and restaged American Joint Committee on Cancer/ International Union Against Cancer 8th T1-2N0-1M0 were retrospectively recruited. All received intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT)±chemotherapy (CT) from 2001 to 2010.Results With 15.7-year median follow-up, 10-year locoregional recurrence-free survival, distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and overall survival (OS) were 93.3%, 93.5%, 92.9% and 88.2%, respectively. Multivariable analyses showed cervical lymph nodes positive and pre-treatment prognostic nutritional index ≥ 52.0 could independently predict DMFS (p=0.036 and p=0.011), DSS (p=0.014 and p=0.026), and OS (p=0.002 and p < 0.001); Charlson comorbidity index < 3 points could predict DSS (p=0.011); age > 45 years (p=0.002) and pre-treatment lactate dehydrogenase ≥ 240 U/L (p < 0.001) predicted OS. No grade 4 late toxicity happened; grade 3 late toxicities included subcutaneous fibrosis (4.3%), deafness or otitis (4.8%), skin dystrophy (2.1%), and xerostomia (1.1%). No differences on survivals were shown between IMRT+CT vs. IMRT alone in stage II patients, even in T2N1M0 (p > 0.05). Unsurprising, patients in IMRT+CT had more acute gastrointestinal reaction, myelosuppression, mucositis, late ear toxicity, and cranial nerve injury (all p < 0.05) than IMRT alone group.Conclusion Superior tumor control and satisfying long-term outcomes could be achieved with IMRT in early-stage NPC with mild late toxicities. As CT would bring more toxicities, it should be carefully performed to stage II patients.
Fecal Contamination on the Household Compound and in Water Sources are Associated with Subsequent Diarrhea in Young Children in Urban Bangladesh (CHoBI7 Program)
Authors: Parvin Tahmina , Thomas Elizabeth D. , Bhuyian Md. Sazzadul Islam , Uddin Ismat Minhaj , Hasan Md. Tasdik , Rahman Zillur , Barman Indrajeet , Zohura Fatema , Masud Jahed , Sultana Marzia , Westin Anne , Johura Fatema-Tuz , Monira Shirajum , Biswas Shwapon Kumar , Sack David A. , Perin Jamie , Alam Munirul , George Christine Marie
Published: June 2021

We investigated the environmental and individual-level risk factors for diarrheal disease among young children in slum areas of Dhaka, Bangladesh. A prospective cohort study was conducted among 884 children under 5 years of age. Caregiver reports were collected on sociodemographic factors and hygiene behaviors. Diarrhea surveillance data was collected monthly based on caregiver-reported diarrhea for children in the past 2 weeks during the 12-month study period. Unannounced spot checks of the household compound were performed at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after enrollment to check for the presence of feces (animal or human) and the presence of animals in the child’s sleeping space, to assess child and caregiver hands for the presence of dirt, and to collect samples of the household’s source and stored drinking water. Children with feces found on the household compound during spot checks had a significantly higher odds of diarrhea (odds ratio: 1.71; 95% confidence interval: 1.23–2.38). Children residing in households with > 100 colony forming units/100 mL Escherichia coli in source drinking water had a significantly higher odds of diarrhea (OR: 1.43; 95% CI: 1.06–1.92). The presence of feces on the household compound and source drinking water with > 100 colony forming units/100 mL E. coli were significant risk factors for diarrheal disease for children < 5 years of age in slum areas of Dhaka, Bangladesh. These findings demonstrate the urgent need for comprehensive interventions to reduce fecal contamination on the household compound to protect the health of susceptible pediatric populations.
Césaire’s Contribution to African Philosophy
Authors: Ochieng’-Odhiambo Frederick
Published: June 2021

The essay explicates Aimé Césaire’s contribution to the discipline of African philosophy, which ironically, is unknown to many scholars within African philosophy, especially in Anglophone Africa. In his Return to my Native Land, Césaire introduced two new concepts: “négritude” and “return”. These would later turn out to be crucial to the discourse on African identity and African philosophy. In his Discourse on Colonialism, Césaire raised two very closely related objections against Placide Tempels’ Bantu Philosophy. His first dissatisfaction was that Tempels merely followed Lévy-Bruhl and his adherents by proposing another point of view in support of the misguided theory of the prelogical. Secondly, in so doing, his aim was nothing more than to make a presentation of an argument insupport of European imperialism and colonialism. His Discourse on Colonialism, therefore, set the ground for later criticisms that were levelled against ethnophilosophy as an approach to African philosophy.

Keywords: Négritude, Return, Thingification, Ethnophilosophy, Philosophic sagacity.
The Racial and Olfactory Origin of Social Distancing
Authors: Zhang Dunfu , Nyelade Richard Atimniraye
Published: June 2021

With the rise of the coronavirus crisis, "social distancing," has emerged as a new buzzword. Politicians, journalists, commentators, news  readers, senior executives, and experts use this term blindly. However, scrutinizing the word reveals a terminological mismatch between "physical distancing" and "social distancing." While revisiting the history of physical distancing and social distancing, this article attempts to show how the term "social distancing" moved through time and winded up floating in the atmosphere. This study is based on Critical race theory, which has as its aim to uncover the ideologies that have been constructed to perpetuate the oppression of some social categories on the fallacious pretext of race superiority and purity. After going down to the ancient roots of physical distancing practices, this work will recall social distancing behaviors during the slave trade era before delving into the current confusion between both terms in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This work stresses the importance of social scientists to assess some official terminologies before their popularization.

Keywords: Social distancing, physical distancing, buzzwords, Black, racism, smell
Portraits of ‘angels’: Some Ancient Near Eastern and Old Testament perspectives in relation to ATR belief system(s)
Authors: Human Dirk J
Published: June 2021

For the modern mind the notion of heavenly beings or ‘angels’ is an enigmatic and fascinating phenomenon. In the Ancient Near Eastern world and in the Hebrew Bible the word for ‘angel’, namely mal’ āk, is widely attested and refers to both human and supernatural emissaries. The notion and function of angels as messenger-beings are evident. In the Israelite faith and their confession of a sole monotheistic God, Yahweh, several questions arise regarding these ‘angels’: who were these human and supernatural entities? In addition, the Hebrew Bible also recorded ‘other’ ‘angel’-like beings, such as Seraphim and Cherubim. Then there was the ‘angel’ of Yahweh! Who was this figure, and what role did he play in the portrayal of the theologies of the Hebrew Bible? Were there fallen angels? And what has the Hebrew Bible to
say about Satan?

Ultimately, perspectives on ‘angels’ in the Hebrew Bible are brought into relation with realities of the ‘seen’ and the ‘unseen’ in or from Africa in perspectives of the worldview of African Traditional Religions (ATR). Various categories and agents in African Traditional Religions and their belief systems are apparent. These include the Supreme Being (God), divinities, and spirits. The relationship between the Supreme Being and the other categories describe the character, nature and function of all these entities. Primary and minor divinities are distinguished. They are created, are derivations of God, receive functions to perform in the universe. Furthermore, they serve intermediatory functions between the Supreme Being (the ‘unseen’) and humankind (the ‘seen’). Spirits are similarly ‘created’ entities. In many African narratives they are portrayed in human form, activities and personalities (a change from the ‘unseen’ into the ‘seen’). Hereby the interaction between the ‘seen’ and the ‘unseen’ in African Traditional Religions remain real.
Kimpa Vita (Dona Beatriz) and “Afro-Catholicism”: reexamining controversies and unsolved problems
Authors: Hendrickx Benjamin
Published: June 2021

My paper concentrates on certain unsolved or controversial questions regarding the famous nganga marinda (person communicating with the spiritual world), prophetess and religious leader and rebel, Kimpa Vita (Dona Beatriz) (1684-1706), who - in a period of civil war - "supported" Pedro IV (Nusama a Mvemba) to conquer and maintain the throne of the Empire of Kongo (now part of Angola and the DRC) with Sao Salvador (now Mbanza Kongo) as capital, and then “betrayed” him. She has been compared to Jeanne d' Arc and black Christians have insisted that the Pope make her a saint. She believed that she was the incarnation of St. Anthony of Padua, and her followers have been called Antonines. She has also been labelled in a 2016-film "Mother of African Revolution", trying to free the slaves. The results of these political and religious actions, real or attributed to her, need re-examination and further investigation. In the same context, her Africanism, expressed in her use of traditions, the establishment of an African-Catholic indigenous version of Christianity, her symbolism and philosophy as well as references to another older prophetess, Appolonia (sic!) Mafuta, receive renewed attention. The question is asked whether and in how far her court case and execution as a heretic, resulting from interventions by the Church and the King, were related to the Inquisition. Today, it is recognized that Kimpa Vita has introduced a new theology, an African version of Catholic Christianity. Finally, a post-mortem considers her
influence after her death.
Trivial pursuit? Interpreting San rock art in terms of the mystical bond between hunter and prey
Authors: Dederen Jean-Marie , Munyai Jennifer
Published: June 2021

For more than three decades now, researchers supporting the mainstream theoretical orientation in the field of rock art studies, the shamanistic model, have largely ignored the possibility that the idiom of the hunt could contribute meaningfully to the task of deciphering the often complex and enigmatic masterpieces of the San hunter-gatherers. They may have been mistaken all along. This paper argues that a good deal of the art produced by the hunters related intimately to the hunt, even though this may seem, to some, too obvious or inconsequential an objective to pursue. Importantly, the alternative vantage point on the paintings of the San which is introduced here
aligns itself with the spiritual thinking of the creators of the art. While it is not the intention of the authors of this paper to present a systematic critique of the leading paradigm, they feel strongly that the discussion will benefit from a dialectical engagement with the latter. A selection of five rock art panels is first examined conventionally, i.e. in terms of the shamanistic model. The very same art works are revisited subsequently in order to explore them from an alternative, animistic
perspective. It is concluded, tentatively, that the artists’ visual language emphasized the
significance of the narrative focus of their work, namely the various manifestations of hunter-prey sociability, the spiritual grounding of which characterized, if not defined life in traditional hunting communities across the globe.
Evaluation of sanitary and veterinary inspection results of slaughtered sheep in Poland in 2017-2019
Authors: Górski Krzysztof , Niedziółka Roman , Horoszewicz Elżbieta
Published: June 2021

The aim of this study was to follow and evaluate the sanitary and veterinary inspection results of slaughtered sheep in Poland in the period 2017-2019. More than 175,000 sheep were slaughtered in Poland during this period. Post-mortem veterinary inspection revealed symptoms and/or lesions in 19,799 animals, which constituted 11.30% of all examined sheep. Of these, 134 animals (0.08%) were considered unfit for consumption. The most numerous cases were with foci of pus, contamination and congestion (5.07%) and fasciolosis (4.72%). The highest number of foci of pus, contamination and congestion in sheep carcasses were found in the Małopolskie and Podlaskie voivodeships. Most of the cases deemed unfit for consumption were found in the Podkarpackie (30), Świętokrzyskie (29) and Podlaskie (23) voivodeships, accounting for over 61% of all disqualified sheep carcasses in 2017-2019 in Poland.
Yeni Kamu Yönetimi Anlayışı ve Türkiye'de Yerelleşme Politikaları
Authors: SEZER Özcan , BÜYÜKPINAR Rabia
Published: June 2021

Küreselleşme süreci ile birlikte geleneksel kamu yönetimi anlayışından yeni kamu yönetimi anlayışına geçişin önemli uygulama alanlarından biri de yerelleşme politikaları olmuştur. Türkiye’de liberal ekonomiye geçiş Anavatan Partisi (ANAP) iktidarı döneminde hız kazanmış ve merkeziyetçiliğin azaltılması, yerel yönetimlerin güçlendirilmesi için önemli adımlar atılmıştır. Yerel kamu hizmetlerinde özelleştirme yöntemlerinin uygulandığı bu dönemde yerelleşmenin ekonomik boyutu öne çıkmıştır. 2002 yılında iktidara gelen Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi (AK Parti) döneminde yeni kamu yönetimi anlayışının temel ilkelerine dayalı kamu yönetimi reformu devam etmiş ve yerel yönetimler idari ve mali olarak yasal bağlamda güçlendirilmeye çalışılmıştır. Yerelleşme çabaları mevzuat düzenlemeleri, farklı yöntem ve uygulamalarla devam etmiştir. Bu çalışmada ANAP ve AK Parti Dönemi yerelleşme politikaları yeni kamu yönetimi anlayışı üzerinden değerlendirilmekte ve Türkiye’de siyasi konjonktür, ekonomik ve siyasi gelişmeler bağlamında yerelleşme tartışmalarının seyrinin değişkenlik gösterdiği ve merkeziyetçi gelenekten vazgeçilemediği sonuca ulaşılmıştır.
How Does Guided Inquiry Enhancing Students’ Mathematical Literacy? An Experimental Study for Mathematics Learning
Authors: Azizah Luthfi Nur , Mahmudi Ali
Published: June 2021

Literacy is often seen as knowing literature. As one of the important goal of education across the world, mathematics literacy focuses on concrete dimension with context and content to be studied. This paper reports an quasi experimental study with one group pretest-posttest design on promoting mathematical literacy through the use of guided inquiry method. A total of 32 secondary school students of class VIII participated as a sample in the study and 192 students as a population. Mathematical literacy of students was measured with essay test. The students’ works were analysed and compared using paired sample t-Test. It was found that the guided inquiry method successfully promote students’ mathematical literacy as indicated by the result of paired sample t-test values of significance (2-tailed) of 0.000 < 0.05. Thus, the guided inquiry can be used as one of alternative method in learning mathematcs to improve students'mathematical literacy.
Unlocking a Renewable Energy Future: How Government Action Can Drive Private Investment
Authors: Hutchinson Norma , Dennis Maggie , Damgaard Grann Emil , Clevenger Tyler , Manion Michelle , Bøggild Johannes , Layke Jennifer
Published: June 2021

A renewable energy future is within our grasp: the technology is now widely available and cost-effective in most places around the world. But the current rates of deployment remain well below what is required to avert the worst impacts of climate change. The private sector is poised to invest billions of dollars to massively speed up, scale and support the energy transition. However, many investors, particularly in the private sector, are deterred by some of the risks related to renewable energy investments. As the energy transition is likely to be financed largely by the private sector, governments must work with the private sector to remove barriers and incentivize investment in renewable energy. This working paper, produced in partnership with Ørsted, focuses on the challenges and solutions to scaling investment in renewable energy generation and provides actionable policy solutions to unlock the private sector investment needed to support the energy transition.
Dampak Budaya Kampus terhadap Keputusan Mahasiswa Memilih Tempat Kuliah
Authors: Siswanto Iwan , Hasibuan Lias , US Kasful Anwar , Ridhwan M.
Published: June 2021

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of campus culture on students' decisions to study at STAI Auliaurrasyidin Tembilahan. This study used a quantitative design by random sampling based on the proportions of Isaac and Michael with a significant level of 5% totaling 238 from a population of 748. Questionnaires were used to collect the data in this research and analyzed using simple regression analysis. The results showed that there was a significant cultural influence on student selection decisions. The results also showed that students’ organizations did not attract students' interest in making choices. Therefore, the campus should make culture a tool to make excellence and characteristics that can be used as promotional material to increase the number of students
Prevalence of thyroid malignancy and hormonal dysfunction following
radiation exposure in childhood
Authors: Tiong Yee Sian , Tong Edwin Yuen Hao , Lee Chia Ching , Parameswaran Rajeev , Cheo Timothy , Ho Wei Li Cindy , Yang Samantha Peiling
Published: June 2021

ABSTRACT
Introduction: Childhood radiation exposure is a known risk factor for thyroid malignancy and
dysfunction. However, local data are limited and there is no consensus on the modality and frequency of
screening in this high-risk group.
Methods: Retrospective analysis study evaluating patients with childhood radiation exposure in
2006–2016 and minimum of 1-year follow-up.
Results: Of the 132 childhood cancer survivors in the study, thyroid malignancy was detected in 2 cases
(1.5%) and thyroid nodules in 13 (9.8%). The earliest thyroid malignancy was detected 5 years
post-radiotherapy via ultrasound. Of the 84 patients who had screening thyroid function test, 26 (31.0%)
were detected with abnormal test results post-radiation, majority being subclinical hypothyroidism.
Conclusion: Regular screening via clinical examination for thyroid nodules should be performed at least
annually. Where feasible and if resources permit, consideration should be given to using ultrasound for
thyroid nodule(s) and malignancy screening at 5 years post-radiation therapy. Screening for thyroid
dysfunction can be considered from 6–12 months post-radiotherapy.

Keywords: Childhood post-radiotherapy complications, post-radiotherapy secondary malignancies,
thyroid cancer, thyroid dysfunction, thyroid nodules
ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in post-COVID-19 patients:
A case series
Authors: Wong Shiun Woei , Fan Bingwen Eugene , Huang Wenjie , Chia Yew Woon
Published: June 2021

ABSTRACT
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with an increased risk of thromboembolic events in the
acute setting. However, the abnormal thrombotic diathesis is not known to persist into the recovery phase of
COVID-19 infection.
We described 3 cases of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in healthy male patients who
recovered from COVID-19 with no prior cardiovascular risk factors. They shared features of elevated
von Willebrand factor antigen, factor VIII and D-dimer level. One patient had a borderline positive lupus
anticoagulant. Intravascular ultrasound of culprit vessels revealed predominantly fibrotic plaque with
minimal necrotic core. Clot waveform analysis showed parameters of hypercoagulability. They were
treated with dual antiplatelet therapy, angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor, beta blocker and statin.
These cases highlight the strong thrombogenic nature of COVID-19 that persisted among patients who
recovered from infection. Several suspected mechanisms could explain the association between vascular
thrombosis in the convalescent period (endothelial dysfunction, hypercoagulability, systemic inflammatory
response and vasculopathy). Additional studies on “long COVID” are essential for identifying endotheliopathy
and thrombotic sequalae.

Keywords: Coronary artery disease, hypercoagulability, pandemic, thrombosis