bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acute Gout – A Harbinger for More Serious Outcome
Authors: Premanath Manjunath
Published: January 2022

Gout is a crystal-induced arthropathy which can start as an acute arthritis and over a few years become chronic and cause systemic complications. Acute gout can manifest as an emergency and cause misery. It is considered as one of the risk factors for hypertension, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease and when becomes chronic, may end in nephropathy. It may be primary or secondary. Recognition of gout is a simple exercise most of the times but may manifest with atypical features. This discussion is primarily on acute gout, hence its progression to chronic gouty arthritis and its attending complications has a passing mention.
High-flow nasal cannula versus noninvasive ventilation in the prevention of escalation to invasive mechanical ventilation in patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure
Authors: Agmy Gamal , Adam Mohamed , Hsanen Entsar H.M. , Mahmoud Manal A.
Published: January 2022

Background

High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) is a device for conveying oxygen therapy. Emerging clinical evidence supports that it may be a compatible alternative for noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (ARF).

Objective

To compare the outcome of NIV versus HFNC oxygen therapy in preventing escalation to invasive mechanical ventilation in patients with ARF.

Patients and methods

A randomized controlled trial was conducted. One hundred consecutive patients who had ARF were allocated randomly to HFNC and NIV groups. The patients’ need for endotracheal intubation, dyspnea score, comfort scores, gasometric, in-hospital mortality, and vital sign parameters were the outcome measures. Patients’ baseline characteristics and the serial changes after HFNC or NIV therapy were measured.

Results

The HFNC group had 18% endotracheal intubation rate and 18% in-hospital mortality versus 50% and 48% for the NIV group (P=0.001). The median values of visual analog scale at 24, 48, 72, and 96 h were lower in the NIV group (P=0.000 for all). The median modified Borg scale at 24, 48, 72, and 96 h was lower in the HFNC group (P=0.00, 0.024, 0.040, and 0.001, respectively). The HFNC group had a significantly lower respiratory rate. Significant differences in baseline vital sign parameters between the NIV and HFNC groups were noticed after 1, 6, 24, and 48 h follow-up.

Conclusion

Delivering oxygen by HFNC is a new and efficient option for treating adults with ARF. HFNC showed a reduced rate of escalation to invasive mechanical ventilation and in-hospital mortality in comparison to NIV.
Can high-frequency transthoracic sonography play a competitive role with high-resolution computed tomography in the assessment of dyspnea?
Authors: Agmy Gamal , Adeeb Mariam H. , Adam Mohamed , Mahmoud Manal A.
Published: January 2022

Background

Transthoracic ultrasound (TUS) can potentially give important complementary information in particular conditions like bedside rapid diagnostic evaluation of dyspneic patients who commonly present to emergency (ER) units.

Objective

Assessing the significance and diagnostic utility of B-lines and pleural line abnormalities detected on TUS among patients presented to the ER unit for the assessment of dyspnea against high-resolution computed tomography findings.

Patients and methods

A prospective observational study including 240 consecutive patients was conducted. TUS was done for patients presenting to the ER for the assessment of dyspnea. B-lines and the pleural line were evaluated by a linear and convex transducers. Sonographic findings were reported against high-resolution computed tomography findings, which was considered the gold standard.

Results

Slightly rough, fringed, irregular, interrupted, wavy, coexistence of more than one abnormal type of pleural line were detected in 30.8%, 35.4%, 19.2%, 17.9%, and 30% of cases, respectively. Warrick score classified patients with interstitial lung disease to mild (44.6%), moderate (36.3%), and severe (19.2%). Diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO% predicted) and total lung capacity (TLC% predicted) predicted showed negative correlation with Warrick score (r=−0.66, r=−0.48 respectively, P≤0.001 for both) and positive correlation with distance between B lines (r=0.31 and 0.30 respectively, P≤0.001 for both). Warrick score at a cutoff more than 7 showed 96.3% sensitivity and 64.3% specificity. Distance between B lines at cutoff more than 3 mm had 100% sensitivity and 40.4% specificity. Cutoff more than 3 for B lines number/scan showed 92.6% sensitivity and 31% specificity. Pleural thickness at cutoff more than 2 mm showed 100% sensitivity and 34% specificity. Abolished lung sliding showed 96.3% sensitivity and 50% specificity.

Conclusion

TUS is an important tool for the diagnosis and assessment of pulmonary disorders. B-lines number and distance, pleural line abnormalities, lung sliding, and pleural thickness added diagnostic value for the ER assessment of dyspneic patients.
Detection of coronavirus disease 2019 in patients presenting with influenza-like illness
Authors: Shashibhushan B. L. , Nagaraja C. L. , Vivek K. U. , Arun B. J. , Makandar Irfanahmed M. , Sandesh S.
Published: January 2022

Introduction

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a global public health emergency, has brought life to an unprecedented near-standstill. So many respiratory viruses including the new pandemic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) can be attributed to influenza-like illnesses (ILIs). The differentiation of different respiratory viruses based on symptoms and clinical examination is very difficult without testing for a specific virus. All ILI patients should undergo COVID-19 testing as per WHO revised strategies and Indian Medical Council Research guidelines.

Objectives

To assess the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with ILIs during the present pandemic.

Patients and methods

A prospective study was conducted in a dedicated COVID-19 hospital, Bengaluru. All ILI patients visiting the Victoria Hospital underwent nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swab collection and were tested for SARS-CoV-2 as per the Indian Medical Council Research-approved protocol.

Results

In all, 12 062 patients attended the fever clinic in Victoria Hospital attached to Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute. Out of them, 1167 (12.67%) patients presented with ILI. Of the studied patients, 873 (78%) patients were under 50 years. Male patients constituted 67.09% of the study population. In the present study, 337 (30.55%) of the patients with ILI tested positive to SARS-CoV-2 antigen. Nearly 2/3rd of SARS-CoV-2-positive ILI patients were males and below 50 years. The positive rate of SARS-CoV-2 was higher in the noncontainment zone than the containment zones of ILI patients although statistically not significant (P=0.09).

Conclusion

Thirty percent of ILI patients were SARS-CoV-2 positive. Majority of SARS-CoV-2 positive tested ILI patients were men under the age of 50 years.
Knowledge, attitude, and practice of coronavirus disease 2019 disease among patients attending coronavirus disease 2019-screening OPD
Authors: Vivek Kotyal Umamaheshwarappa , Shashibhushan Bangalore Lakshmanamurthy , Nagaraja Channarayanahalli Lakshmanna
Published: January 2022

Importance

This study was conducted in the early and middle stages of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in India. It helps in gaining knowledge about the virus and taking steps to prevent the pandemic.

Objective

To study the knowledge, attitude, and practice of patients toward COVID-19, this in turn helps to take necessary actions to prevent COVID-19-infection spread in the country.

Design

The prospective cross-sectional study with duration of 3 months from May 2020 to August 2020.

Setting

The study was conducted in Victoria Hospital, the first designated COVID-19 hospital with 1000-bedded capacity established exclusively for COVID-19 in India.

Participants

The study was conducted on 1000 patients aged more than 18 years attending the COVID-19-screening OPD. All patients were asked questions based on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices questionnaire.

Results

In our study, 63.9% patients were male and 36.1% female. Higher knowledge level was seen in males [95% confidence interval (CI) −1.12 to −0.51, P<0.0001), married and widower (95% CI 1.75–2.31, P<0.0001), professional and retired (χ
2=285.45, P<0.00001), participants with high level of education (analysis of variance F=3432.7, P=0), and advancing age (χ
2=16.07, P=0.0003). With regard to attitude, 99.6% patients feel that this pandemic is controllable, 95.5% agree that India will succeed against the pandemic (95% CI −3.77 to −2.40, P<0.0001). With respect to practice behavior, 70.4% patients have not ventured out and stayed home (95% CI 1.50–2.09, P<0.0001) and 96.2% patients always wore a mask while going out (95% CI −4.26 to −2.75, P<0.0001).

Conclusion and relevance

Positive attitudes and actions toward COVID-19 associated with higher knowledge toward the virus. So, the study suggests the need of more and more orientation programs to the public to improve knowledge about the virus.
Study of hypogammaglobulinemia in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Helala Laila A. , Abdelhalem Hesham A. , Gadalla Nisreen N.
Published: January 2022

Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is considered the third leading cause of death worldwide. Severe acute exacerbations of COPD are accompanied by increased number of hospital admissions, decreased lung function tests, decreased life quality, increased risk of recurrent hospital admissions, and decreased survival.

Aim

To assess the deficiency of immunoglobulin G (IgG) subclasses in patients with COPD.

Patients and methodology

The current research evaluated 120 patients admitted for COPD. The study included three groups: group 1 included 40 patients with acute exacerbation of COPD, group 2 included 40 patients with stable COPD, and group 3 included 40 age-matched controls. All of the study samples were obtained from all patients who participated in this study. The serum levels of IgG subclasses were measured using binding site IgG subclasses (IgG1–4).

Results

There were statistically significant differences among the three groups regarding BMI, smoking, and comorbidities. Moreover, there was a statistically significant difference among the three groups regarding white blood cell, lymphocyte%, and neutrophil%. In addition, there was a statistically significant difference among the three groups in the present study regarding respiratory function tests. Immunoglobulin levels (IgG) among the studied groups were statistically different. Moreover, we noticed a statistically significant positive relation among IgG1, IgG2, and BMI.

Conclusion

The current results denoted that IgG1 could be more sensitive, specific, and accurate than IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4 in predicting the status among patients with acute exacerbation of COPD.
Common mental disorder among patients with chronic respiratory disease
Authors: Zafar Mubashir
Published: January 2022

Introduction

Mental disorders are common among patients with chronic respiratory disease, such as depression and anxiety. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of a common mental disorder, among patients with chronic respiratory disease (COPD).

Patients and methods

This is a cross-sectional study that was conducted in a public sector hospital. A total of 255 patients were selected through simple random sampling to be included. A structured and validated Patient Health questionnaire 9 was used to determine the presence of common mental disorder among patients. Logistic regression analysis was done to determine the association between mental disorder and respiratory disease, with adjustment of duration of disease, sex, and age.

Results

The prevalence of mental disorder among patients with COPD was rated as moderate, moderately severe, and severe in 33.5, 23.3, 32%, and 37%, respectively. After adjustment of covariates, females [odds ratio (OR) 1.90; confidence interval (CI) 2.32–4.25], smoker [OR 1.08 (CI 1.65–2.57)], and more than 10-year of duration of respiratory illness [OR 2.25 (1.98–3.21)] were statistically significant predictors of mental disorder in patients with chronic respiratory disease (COPD).

Conclusion

Patients with chronic respiratory diseases had a high prevalence of mental disorder, and common factors such as female sex, smoking, and duration of disease associated with depression. There is a need for developing health promotion programs including counseling of patients with a psychiatrist to reduce the burden of mental disorder among such patients.
Prophylactic Use of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs after Cataract Surgery and Corneal Melt
Authors: Ashena Zahra , Nanavaty Mayank A. , Bardan Ahmed S. , Thaker Riddhi , Bascaran Lucia
Published: January 2022

Purpose:

To describe a case where prophylactic use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) eye drops lead to recurrent corneal melt with loss of vision and a brief literature review.

Methods:

This is a case report of an 84-year-old diabetic female with chronic dry eye, operated by two different surgeons on each eye at different time intervals. She received topical NSAID prophylaxis after the second surgery only, which led to blindness due to recurrent corneal melt and chronic choroidal effusions. We also present a brief literature review.

Results:

This lady presented with corneal melt and perforation 5 days following the use of topical NSAIDs prophylaxis after a routine cataract surgery in the second eye. Unfortunately, all efforts to save her vision and eye were unsuccessful as she developed repeated complications in spite of corneal gluing, amniotic membrane, penetrating keratoplasty, and tarsorrhaphy. She also had chronic choroidal effusions. She ended up with an opaque cornea and a subtotal tarsorrhaphy, with no other option to improve her vision as she did not qualify for sedation or general anesthesia due to her poor systemic health.

Conclusion:

Although it is a common practice for diabetic patients to have topical NSAIDs prophylaxis in combination with steroid eye drops to reduce the risk of cystoid macular edema after cataract surgery, the elderly diabetic patients with concomitant dry eyes should be considered high risk for corneal melt and should be closely monitored. This case highlights the rare but serious complication of topical NSAIDs prophylaxis in the vulnerable cornea, which warrants careful consideration.
Management of Consecutive Exotropia
Authors: Rajavi Zhale , Sabbaghi Hamideh , Behradfar Narges , Yaseri Mehdi , Sheibani Kourosh
Published: January 2022

Purpose:

To determine the clinical characteristics and surgical outcomes of medial rectus (MR) advancement with or without lateral rectus (LR) recession in patients with consecutive exotropia.

Methods:

This interventional case series was performed on patients with consecutive exotropia of more than 15 prism diopters (PD) at least 6 months after the esotropia surgery. All patients were operated using either unilateral or bilateral MR muscle advancement with or without simultaneous LR recession. Ocular deviation at far and near distances, adduction limitation, and exoshift were investigated at the follow-ups of 1 week, as well as 1, 3, and 6 months after the surgery. Operation was considered successful when the postoperative far deviation was <10 PD.

Results:

Thirty patients were evaluated. The mean amount of MR advancement was 5.69 ± 1.33 mm with the mean dose response of 4.7 ± 3.3 and 4.55 ± 4.01 PD at 3 and 6-month follow-ups, respectively. Success rate was reduced from 93% at week 1 to 73% at month 6 due to postoperative exodrift, especially during the first 3 months. Preoperative exotropia was the only contributing factor in our study.

Conclusions:

MR advancement was an effective surgical method for consecutive exotropia correction, especially in cases with MR underaction. Bilateral MR advancement and/or LR recession are suggested in cases with higher preoperative exodeviation. The presence of postoperative exodrift indicates longer follow-ups for patients.
Reliability and Validity of the Persian Version of Quality of Life Impact of Refractive Correction Questionnaire
Authors: Makateb Ali , Nabavi Amin , Naghash Tabrizi Mahsa , Hashemian Hesam , Shirzadi Keyvan
Published: January 2022

Purpose:

To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of quality of life impact of refractive correction (QIRC) questionnaire and its utility in assessment of refractive error-related quality of life (QoL) following photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).

Methods:

Patients with low-to-moderate myopia (−0.75 to − 6.0) were enrolled in this study. Standard alcohol-assisted PRK was performed in all patients. The QIRC questionnaire was translated into a Persian version using the standard method. Patients completed QIRC questionnaire preoperatively and 3-month postoperatively. A group of patients completed the questionnaire twice preoperatively. Psychometric properties were evaluated by internal consistency (Cronbach's α), item-total correlation, and known group construct validity. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were used to examine the repeatability.

Results:

One hundred forty-seven patients (60 males and 87 females) with a mean age of 26.3 ± 5.5 (range, 18–39) years were enrolled. Cronbach's α for total score was 0.923. Item-total correlation was above 0.3 for all items. ICC was 0.978 for total score. Preoperatively, predominantly contact lens wearers showed significantly better total QIRC score than predominantly spectacle wearers (P = 0.017), which showed good known group validity. Total QIRC score significantly increased from 41.31 ± 6.69 preoperatively to 50.47 ± 7.26 postoperatively (P < 0.0001). Improvement in total QIRC score was observed both in contact lens wearers and spectacle wearers.

Conclusion:

The Persian version of QIRC questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool. Refractive error-related QoL assess by QIRC was significantly improved after PRK in an Iranian population.
Endoscopic Management of Esophageal Leak Post-Heller Myotomy for Achalasia Cardia In Children
Authors: Lingegowda Anilkumar Pura , Chandrayya Ramachandra
Published: January 2022

A 9-year-old male child diagnosed to have achalasia cardia when he presented with a history of vomiting of undigested food particles with poor weight gain. He underwent lap Heller myotomy and Dor fundoplication. The immediate postoperative period was uneventful. After discharge, he presented with peritonitis and septic shock. On contrast-enhanced computed tomography abdomen, leak at the lower end of esophagus with intra-abdominal pus collection was identified. After intra-abdominal pus drainage and stabilizing the child, endoscopic covered stent was placed. He recovered well. Endoscopic esophageal covered stent placement is a viable and best option for a sick child with esophageal leak post-Heller myotomy.
A Metabolism Perspective on Pediatric Rhabdomyolysis
Authors: Yazıcı Havva , Kalkan Uçar Sema
Published: January 2022

Rhabdomyolysis is a clinical emergency that can result in life-threatening complications. The etiology for rhabdomyolysis is broad. Infecitons are the most common cause in pediatric patients. Underlying inherited metabolic diseases are also a cause of rhabdomyolysis and can often have a diagnostic challenge, considering their marked heterogeneity and comparative rarity. The purpose of this review is to summarize the essential characteristics and diagnostic clues of inborn errors of metabolism associated with rhabdomyolysis.
Phenylalanine Levels of Patients with Classical Phenylketonuria According to Eating Habits of Caregivers
Authors: Teke Kısa Pelin , Çiçek Abdurrahman , Karagöz Hüseyin , Dağ Mahmut , Güneş Arda , Yavaş Gülşah , Arslan Nur
Published: January 2022

Objective: Diet is the main component in the treatment of classical phenylketonuria (PKU). Living in the same house as a PKU patient affects the lifestyle of family members in many ways. The present study examines the dietary habits of the parents of PKU patients.
Methods: The parents of 32 PKU patients were asked about their socio-demographic characteristics, family dietary patterns (mealtimes; frequency of meals with the PKU patient; content of foods at mealtimes, etc.) the parental dietary regimen and any food allergies.
Results: The mean age of the PKU patients was 11.5±4.3 years, and 14 (44%) were female. The mean plasma phenylalanine (Phe) level over the previous year was 732.4±339.0 µmol/L in the patient group. Within the study sample, 2 (6%) families prepared only low-protein meals in the home, and the Phe levels of the two PKU patients in these families never exceeded >600 µmol/L, and 26 (81%) parents prepared separate meals for the PKU patient and for the other family members every day. The 28 (88%) parents had no special dietary regimen, with a mean Phe level of 774.8±345.4 µmol/L (p=0.055). Finally, 26 (81%) of the parents were careful about the foods they consumed while eating with the PKU patient, opting especially for foods that are low in Phe.
Conclusion: Diet is an indispensable part of the treatment of PKU and can affect the dietary patterns also of parents. Phe levels are lower in the children of parents who adopt a protein-restricted diet as a lifestyle, such as vegan and pescetarian. Large-scale studies are needed to investigate the physical, social and psychological effects of parents’ dietary habits on PKU patients.
The methodology for assessing interest-rate policy rules: a reply
Authors: Smithin John
Published: January 2022

This note is a brief reply to Watts (2021), who has been critical of the conceptual foundations and methodology in a discussion of the impact of different interest rate policy rules on inflation in Smithin (2020). The reply concludes that the case for a ‘zero real policy rate of interest’ (ZRPR), rather than a ‘zero interest rate policy’ (ZIRP), emerges unscathed.
Saving and Investment in the Twenty-First Century: The Great Divergence – some comments from a post-Keynesian perspective*
Authors: Hein Eckhard
Published: January 2022

This contribution discusses the book Saving and Investment in the Twenty-First Century: The Great Divergence by von Weizsäcker/Krämer (2021). It touches upon the underlying theoretical perspectives, von Weizsäcker’s neo-Austrian view and Krämer’s short-run Keynesian theory, and it proposes an alternative based on post-Keynesian distribution and growth theory. It also reviews the economic policy proposals of the book with respect to government deficits and debt, as well as international coordination of current-account balances, and finds broad agreement with modern post-Keynesian proposals, with some deviation when it comes to macroeconomic policy coordination among monetary, fiscal and wage/incomes policies. It concludes that these economic policy agreements should not be taken as a surprise. The requirements of stabilising government deficits and debt, in the face of an excess of private saving over private investment at full employment, and an excess of the private desire to hold net financial assets over the private-sector supply of financial liabilities, are based on solid national income and financial accounting. They are thus compatible with different macroeconomic theories regarding long-run equilibrium and adjustments towards it.
On capital, saving, and investment in the twenty-first century: a reply to Hein
Authors: von Weizsäcker Carl Christian , Krämer Hagen M.
Published: January 2022

With our book Saving and Investment in the Twenty-First Century: The Great Divergence (published as open access), we present a comprehensive theoretical explanation as well as empirical evidence for the phenomenon of low interest rates observed in the OECD countries and China and make various economic policy recommendations based on it. We have developed a new capital-theoretical approach to address these important issues. In what follows, we will discuss some of the more critical parts of Eckhard Hein’s otherwise very sympathetic review of our book.
The political economy of inflation
Authors: Coppola Frances
Published: January 2022

For the last 40 years, macroeconomics has been dominated by Milton Friedman’s view that inflation occurs when the supply of money rises more quickly than economic output – ‘too much money chasing too few goods’, as the saying goes. If inflation is always due to an imbalance of money supply and output, central banks alone determine the path of inflation, and fiscal policy merely has a redistributive function. This paper draws on historical and empirical evidence as well as recent theoretical literature to show that this view is mistaken. Monetary policy has redistributive effects, and fiscal policy affects the money supply. It is therefore impossible to separate them in practice. Both fiscal and monetary policy have inflationary consequences, and because their distributional effects are different, monetary policy cannot fully offset fiscal decisions. Fiscal and monetary policy are influenced by political decisions and are themselves political in nature. Since inflation reflects spending and saving patterns which are affected by political choices, it is fundamentally a political phenomenon.
Personas creation using Google Analytics
Authors: Reiter Miroslav , Čupka Ondrej , Miklošík Andrej
Published: January 2022

This case study investigates how a marketing persona may be created with the use of data gathered by cookies and with the use of Google Analytics. The data gathered originates from the largest IT e-learning platform VITA. The basis of our research was measurement in the Google Analytics tool and the WooCommerce plug-in within the WordPress content management system. Our case study shows how a marketing persona may be created and recommends that once such a persona is created it needs to be validated repeatedly with data on real customers before it may be used for marketing purposes.
Duelo y el duelo complicado: Una revisión de la literatura científica en el tiempo
Authors: Aguinaga-Arcos Sayuri Nicolle , Pérez-Mori Dreyci Nathali
Published: January 2022

El presente trabajo tuvo como objetivo analizar las propiedades psicométricas del inventario de duelo y duelo complicado se realizó una revisión de la literatura científica en el tiempo, que dando reflejado la búsqueda realizada en publicaciones de artículos científicos en la base de datos como “American Psychiatric Association”, “DSM-V”, “Redalyc”, “Elsevier Atención Primaria”, “ScienceDirect”, “Scielo”, “Medicina Paliativa”, “Journal of Pain & Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy”, “ScienceDirect”, “Research Article Plos Medicine”, “European Journal of Psychotraumatology”, entre otros. En la revisión realizada se incluyeron tanto artículos en inglés como en castellano cuyo tema principal fue el duelo y duelo complicado, se excluyeron aquellos artículos que no cumplieran con este criterio. Se realizó las investigaciones de artículos científicos que toman en cuenta el duelo y duelo complicado en diversas poblaciones, los inventarios que se analizaron son de propiedades psicométricas de diversas escalas. Teniendo en cuenta estos datos y la necesidad de mejorar el proceso de adaptación ante la pérdida de un ser querido, se considera de especial relevancia el análisis de los modelos teóricos psicólogos existentes en la literatura para plantear una síntesis que pueda guiar al profesional en su trabajo.
Reflexiones sobre la idea de comunicatividad para la clase de español como lengua extranjera en Noruega
Authors: Llovet Vilá Xavier
Published: January 2022

This article is to be conceived as a reflection on communicative oriented foreign language teaching in Norwegian compulsory education. More specifically, the objective is to succinctly examine some key aspects in the implementation of a communicative approach in the Spanish as a foreign language classroom. Based on existing research on foreign language teaching in Norway, it can be affirmed that despite the communicative paradigm initiated half a century ago, the implementation of communicative oriented practices in lower secondary school is limited. This is due, among many other factors, to the strong impact that language teacher schooling beliefs exert on teaching practices over the theoretical principles upon which the curricular reform is based (Kunnskapsløftet-K06). Thus, the success of the recent curricular renovation (Fagfornyelsen-K20) lies in part on how language teacher development programs, both pre-service and in-service, convey the communicative oriented teaching principles to engage teachers in a critical reflexive process of cognition articulation. This reflection examines these principles and suggests an eventual approach for teacher development programs to facilitate the challenge that students face when establishing connections between theory and practice and the articulation of their cognitions.

Keywords: teacher cognition, Spanish as a foreign language, curriculum reform, teacher development, communicative language teaching.

RESUMEN

Este artículo se concibe como una reflexión acerca de la idea central de comunicatividad en la enseñanza de lenguas extranjeras en la educación reglada noruega. Más concretamente, el objetivo es examinar sucintamente los aspectos clave en la implementación de un enfoque comunicativo en la clase de español como lengua extranjera (ELE). Desde la conjunta investigación en didáctica de lenguas extranjeras en Noruega, se constata que cinco décadas después del inicio del paradigma comunicativo, la enseñanza de lenguas en la escuela secundaria noruega muestra una limitada orientación comunicativa. Uno de los factores que explican este fenómeno es la fuerte influencia que ejercen las creencias de los profesores originadas en su periodo de escolarización por encima de los principios teóricos sobre los que se sustenta la reforma educativa vigente (Kunnskapsløftet-K06). El éxito de la nueva renovación educativa (Fagfornyelsen-K20) radica parcialmente en cómo los programas de desarrollo docente, tanto de manera inicial como continua, vehiculan los principios de la enseñanza comunicativa para que los profesores participen en procesos de reflexión crítica en la articulación de sus creencias. Esta reflexión examina estos principios y sugiere un eventual acercamiento en los programas de formación que facilite el reto al que se enfrentan los estudiantes de relacionar conceptos teóricos con su implementación práctica y la articulación de sus creencias.
A framework for characterizing communication-oriented ELT textbooks
Authors: Tórrez Nahúm Misael
Published: January 2022

Textbooks hold a fundamental position in English Language Teaching (ELT). Today, their main aim is to contribute to the development of the learner’s communicative competence. This paper sets out to set the basis for constructing a framework for characterizing ELT textbooks, in terms of their opportunities to promote communicative competence. In order to provide a theoretical foundation for the framework, it first introduces the notions of input (Krashen, 1989) and output (Swain & Lapkin, 1995). Then, it presents two influential models of communicative competence, i.e., those of Canale and Swain (1980), and the Common European Framework for Reference of Languages (Council of Europe, 2001, 2018). Following that, it presents two significantly quoted sets of principles for the study of learning materials in Communicative Language Teaching (CLT), i.e., the principles of Richards and Rodgers (2014) and Nation (2007). Building on the models and principles, the paper suggests eleven criteria for characterizing communication-oriented ELT textbooks, covering input in the form of topics and texts, and output in the form of activities. A short discussion of the main affordances of the suggested framework is provided at the end of the article.

 

Keywords: Communicative Competence, ELT Textbooks, Textbook Analysis, Communicative Language Teaching (CLT).
Norwegian in-service teachers’ perspectives on language corpora in teaching English
Authors: Kavanagh Barry
Published: January 2022

This study aims to explore potential reasons why the use of the tools and methods of corpus linguistics are not prevalent in English teaching in Norway, using the research question What do in-service English teachers in Norway find useful about corpora and what do they find challenging? The study provides interview data from in-service teachers, contributing to our understanding of the in-service perspective on corpora. The research design consists of teaching corpus use in seminars for in-service English teachers (featuring LancsLex, the concordancer AntConc and the OANC), integrated into a language course that is part of a further education programme, and semi-structured interviews with four of the students who took the course, during which they also interacted with Netspeak, SKELL and COCA. As with previous research, the in-service teachers found corpora particularly useful for teaching and learning vocabulary, and found challenges to use which are categorized here as usability (criticism of AntConc), IT challenges (a lack of IT skills among teachers), learner-corpus interaction challenges (the complexity of software and concordance lines for pupils; pupil uninterest in language), and lack of teacher need (mistakes being “obvious” to teachers in the lower years). The article discusses some implications of these findings.

Keywords: English language teaching, pedagogical corpus application, corpora
Identifying Ethnomathematics in the Old Mosque of Tosora
Authors: Kastolani Negara Mangkubumi
Published: January 2022

The superficial understanding and application of cultural values in the life of a pluralistic community is the main reason to conduct this research as a way to introduce the importance of national identity to students through mathematics learning. The provision of real-life problems in this study is expected to enhance the relationship between reality and mathematical knowledge. The old mosque of Tosora in Wajo can be an alternative to introduce mathematical activities based on local wisdom (ethnomathematics). This is qualitative descriptive research using a case study. Data were obtained through interviews, observation, and documentation. Data triangulation was used to check the validity. Furthermore, the data were analysed through Spradley model based on domain analysis and taxonomic analysis. The results showed that the old mosque of Tosora contains some mathematical concepts, mainly geometry. In addition to the philosophy of the building, the four pillars namely panrita (wise and honest), warani (brave), macca (intelligent), and sugi (rich) become the focal principles of Buginese’s life.
Predictors of Employability of the Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in Mathematics Graduates
Authors: Arpilleda Alcher Juagpao , Manile Anthony Mark Joseph M , Soringa Pacita I
Published: January 2022

The goal of every program provided by a school or university is to make it more responsive to the needs of fast-changing employment demands. This goal also entails enhancing the students' skills to be prepared for their future jobs. This study identified the predictors of employability of the Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in Mathematics graduates of St. Paul University Surigao Academic Year 2005-2015. Descriptive survey research was employed using a researcher-made questionnaire encompassing the personal information, employment status, and exit skills with seven identified subparts. The questionnaire elicited employability through the skills of 81.82% of the participants. Utilizing the employment status variables and the exit skills, Linear Regression Analysis extracted the predictors of employability. The findings revealed that the exit skills of the graduates are the predictors of employability. Thus, the school should create programs and activities which enhance the students' skills, particularly the predictors of employability identified in this study.
Comparison on the Effectiveness of Modular Learning in General Mathematics among the Senior High School Strands
Authors: Gutierrez Imee Borinaga
Published: January 2022

This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of modular learning among senior high school strands and investigate the influence of students’ demographic profiles on their academic performances. Using One Way ANOVA, results showed a significant difference in the test scores obtained from the different strands. Results with Tukey HSD revealed that ABM performed best under modular learning, followed by STEM, GAS, ATS, and EIM, respectively. Pearson’s r revealed a significant correlation between student’s sex, monthly income, and parents’ employment status to students’ academic performance. Furthermore, the z test for two means determined that there was a significant difference in the scores of males and females. From these results, the researcher suggests that teachers handling TVL tracks must exert extra effort in delivering their mathematics lessons to close the gap in academic performance with the students from academic tracks.
Growth Mindset in Mathematics among Ninth-Grade Students via 5Ps Learning Model
Authors: Repuya Christian Renales
Published: January 2022

This paper determined the effects of implementing the Prepare, Perform, Process, Ponder, and Practice (5Ps) learning model in teaching ninth-grade students’ growth mindset in mathematics. This study employed the quasi-experimental design and mixed-method research approach to answer the research questions with 60 ninth-grade students at a public secondary high school in the Philippines. The study administered a growth mindset questionnaire, informal interviews, learning journals, and Focus Group Discussions (FGD) on identifying learning experiences and mindsets of the students. Findings presented that employing the 5Ps learning model significantly influences students' mindset in mathematics. Meanwhile, traditional teaching does not significantly affect students' mindset in mathematics. The implementation of the 5Ps learning model has a significant positive effect on students' growth mindset in mathematics. The results of the study are limited merely to the participants included in the study; similar research utilizing the 5Ps learning model to other learning areas with a larger sample is recommended for more generalizable results.
Evolução de questões e versatilidades da Comunicação Social
Authors: Armesto Leonardo Moraes , Bispo Patrícia Paiva Gonçalves
Published: January 2022

O ambiente urbano, historicamente, é pactuante de uma sociedade necessitada de meios facilitadores das relações e trocas. Essa premissa, desde sempre, tem o intuito da dominação do homem em relação ao meio, e este último expressando, direta e indiretamente seu esgotamento frente à prática desenvolvimentista. Para tanto, a criatividade abjeta fora, ao longo do tempo, uma das ferramentas mais eficazes na variabilidade dessa conquista, e apresenta-se como fonte sólida de equivocada realidade. A busca por instrumentos e ferramentas de poder social que forjem o benefício pleno e perene é produto da reverberação de entidades e de pensadores do tempo presente, os quais são refletidos do passado e trampolins para ao futuro. Dada perspectiva é consonante com as agendas de ordem comunitária e vigorante em um preâmbulo onde o ser humano e a natureza fazem-se mutuamente e são sinergicamente, atores de um futuro tão comum quanto imprescindível.
Improved reproductive performance of captive male broodstock of tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon with 17α-methyltestosterone induction
Authors: Rosmiati Rosmiati , Parenrengi Andi , Suryati Emma , Lante Samuel , Harlina Harlina , Tenriulo Andi , Sahabuddin Sahabuddin
Published: January 2022

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of different 17α-methyltestosterone injection frequencies at optimal doses to improve the quality of spermatophore and reproductive performance of captive male broodstock of tiger shrimp Penaeus monodon. Broodstocks of tiger shrimp weighing 51-65 g for males and 86-161 g for females were collected from ponds and stored in a 3,000 m3 concrete tank. Male broodstocks were injected with 17α-methyltestosterone at the optimized protocol at 300 ng/100 g body weight at different injection frequencies, three times, four times, and five times at seven-day intervals. As a control, male broodstocks were injected with a saline solution to determine the spermatophore quality. Evaluation of the reproductive performance of the captive male was observed in the captive female broodstock tiger shrimp using artificial insemination. The weight of spermatophore (0.041 g), gonadosomatic index (7.71%), the total number of spermatozoa (64 × 106 cells/mL) significantly increased, and the percentage of abnormal spermatozoa significantly decreased by 73% as well as hatching rate increased to 43.14% at the injection frequency of four times compared to the other treatments. In conclusion, injection of 17α-methyltestosterone at the dosage of 300 ng/100 g body weight at the frequency of giving four times was effective enough to improve the reproductive performance of captive tiger shrimp. Therefore, the method proposed can be a strategy to produce better larvae and increase the income of the aquaculture business.
PENGARUH LOAN TO DEPOSIT RATIO (LDR), DEBT TO EQUITY RATIO (DER), NET PROFIT MARGIN (NPM) DAN RETURN ON ASSETS (ROA) TERHAD PERTUMBUHAN LABA (Studi Kasus pada Perusahaan Perbankan yang terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia Periode 2018-2020)
Authors: Usfatun Tri Habibah  , Kusno Hendra Sanjaya , Ghozi Saiful
Published: January 2022

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menguji pengaruh loan to deposit ratio, debt to equity ratio, net profit margin dan return on assets terhadap pertumbuhan laba pada Perusahaan Perbankan yang terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia Periode 2018-2020. Data yang digunakan adalah data sekunder dari laporan tahunan. Teknik pengambilan sampel yang digunakan adalah purposive sampling. Metode analisis data yang digunakan adalah regresi linier berganda. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa secara parsial variabel Net Profit Margin berpengaruh positif terhadap pertumbuhan laba, dan untuk variabel Loan to Deposit Ratio, Debt to Equity Ratio dan Return on Assets secara parsial tidak berpengaruh terhadap pertumbuhan laba
IMPLEMENTASI METODE NEURAL NETWORK BACKPROPAGATION DALAM PREDIKSI INDEKS HARGA SAHAM GABUNGAN (IHSG)
Authors: Barus Okky , Wijaya Christopher
Published: January 2022

Pada era saat ini, Investasi saham di pasar modal merupakan aset yang sangat penting bagi beberapa golongan masyarakat dan juga bagi perusahaan. Dengan adanya investasi, secara langsung maupun tidak langsung dapat memberikan dampak bagi perusahaan maupun bagi masyarakat. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk memprediksi Indeks Harga Saham Gabungan (IHSG) dengan indeks saham: Jakarta Composite Index (JKSE). Metode yang digunakan pada penelitian ini adalah Neural Network Backpropagation. Pengumpulan dataset melalui website finance.yahoo.com dengan periode 8 Mei 2018 sampai dengan 7 Mei 2021 sebanyak 757 data. Setelah melakukan proses pengolahan data, data yang tersisa adalah 724 data. Kemudian data akan dibagi menjadi 70% data training dan 30% data testing yang akan digunakan pada proses pengolahan data. Hasil pengujian menggunakan metode Neural Newtwork Backpropagation mendapatkan hasil terbaik menggunakan Kondisi ke-10 dengan nilai Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) senilai 0.010. Kemudian akan didapatkan hasil perbandingan antara harga Close aktual dengan harga Close prediksi dengan akurasi sebesar 63.06% yang dapat membantu dalam pengambilan keputusan para investor.
Evaluating On-The-Job Training Effect on Employees’ Satisfaction the SMEs Sector of Malakand Division, Pakistan
Authors: Bilal Hazrat , Ahmad Ashfaq , Bibi Palwasha , Ali Sher
Published: January 2022

Employee satisfaction is the key element for the success and failure of an organization. On-the-job training practices significantly increase the employee satisfaction. Thus, it essential for Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to seek and improve the employee satisfaction to gain competitive edge and market survival. Hence in this backdrop the purpose of study is to investigate on-the-job training effect on the employee satisfaction at SMEs in Malakand Division of Pakistan. The data was collected from 623 employees of SMEs to empirically explore the relationships between on-the-job training and employee satisfaction by incorporating the Pearson correlation and Regression. The results shows that the dimension of on-the-job training such as a) Mentorship b) Apprenticeship and c) Job rotation of duty positively influence the employee’s satisfaction.
A genetic history of migration, diversification, and admixture in Asia
Authors: Yang Melinda A.
Published: January 2022

L.L. Cavalli-Sforza spearheaded early efforts to study the genetic history of humans, recognizing the importance of sampling diverse populations worldwide. He supported research on human evolutionary genetics in Asia, with research on human dispersal into Asia and genetic distances between present-day East Asians in the late 20th century. Since then, great strides have been made in understanding the genetic history of humans in Asia, through large-scale genomic sequencing of present-day humans and targeted sequencing of DNA from ancient humans. In this review, I survey the genetic prehistory of humans in Asia, based on research using sequence data from humans who lived in Asia as early as 45,000 years ago. Genetic studies comparing present-day Australasians and Asians show that they likely derived from a single dispersal out of Africa, rapidly differentiating into three main lineages: one that persists partially in South Asia, one that is primarily found today in Australasia, and one that is widely represented across Siberia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia. Studies of ancient DNA from human remains in Asia dating from as far back as 45,000 years has greatly increased our understanding of the population dynamics leading to the current Asian populations.
Based on "Jin L, Underhill PA, Doctor V, Davis RW, Shen P, Cavalli-Sforza LL, Oefner PJ. Distribution of haplotypes from a chromosome 21 region distinguishes multiple prehistoric human migrations. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1999;96(7):3796-3800”.
Determining the Number of Topics to Retain using Tools from Factor Analysis
Authors: Holmes Finch
Published: January 2022

Abstract

Determining the optimal number of topics to retain in the conduct of topic modeling (TM) has received much attention over the last decade. Despite this work, issues remain regarding the best methods to use for making such determinations. Approaches involving the use of relatively simple statistics, most notably perplexity, have proven to be somewhat inconsistent. Recently, researchers have suggested the use of change in perplexity scores as a useful heuristic for determining the optimal number of topics to retain. The current study builds on this earlier work by assessing the utility of several methods borrowed from factor analysis and applied to statistics commonly used in topic modeling, including perplexity and Alpha. These new approaches are applied to several textual datasets and compared with more traditional methods for determining the number of topics to retain. Results of these analyses demonstrate that application of these methods borrowed from factor analysis does appear to be effective for identifying the number of topics to retain.